Bone Warriors

by Bron Bahlmann

278 pages.
Fantasy.
Ages: 11-15

Craving power and lusting for human souls, the wicked necromancer sweeps the land, leaving behind nothing but death and devastation. Returning home, fifteen-year-old Derrik and his friend Tweaks find their homes burning and families missing. They immediately embark on a rescue quest for redemption and retaliation. Such evil cannot be allowed to roam exempt.

Sinister Giants, colossal green jungle cats, and undead monsters confront them as Derrik and Tweaks encounter inconceivable threats in the forbidden woods, as well as gain unlikely allies. The boys soon realize that their only hope to save their families comes from the very creature they cannot trust. But they re running out of time. How can they put an end to the necromancer's terrifying reign?

Read the first two chapters HERE.

Derrik and Tweaks—best friends since children—are out in the fields when their village is destroyed and their parents and neighbors are taken hostage by the necromancer. The two boys set out on a long journey to rescue their families. Along the way, they meet Ssaska (a reptile man), Clatterin (a set of reanimated bones), a group of giants, "scales" and "furries" (man-like reptiles and mammals), boar-men, old men that turn to stone, and a whole host of other intriguing creatures—born from the imagination of Bron Bahlmann.

Derrik and Tweaks, the two main characters, were well developed. They grow and change, and become prepared to make the final battle when they stand against the necromancer and his army of bone warriors. I loved Tweaks (almost cried at the end). I wasn't quite as fond of Derrik, but that's probably because he behaved more like a typical 15-year-old boy. They gain a couple of traveling companions on their journey to save their family. I liked Ssaska; I wish Clatterin had been a little better developed.

I was amazed at the unique characterizations of the various groups of "people" Derrik and Tweaks encountered—the giants, the boars, the bird people, the alligator pirate, and more. Bahlmann gave them very distinct voices and personalities. I also thought the various fauna and flora in this world were ingenious and very clever.

The storyline was complex and kept me interested. However, as a hero's journey, I felt there needed to be a little more change and growth in Derrik's character. I also thought we needed a little more foreshadowing of the eventual demise of the necromancer and his bone warriors.

The writing was pretty good, with just a few exceptions (a couple of story holes, like how did they know Clatterin was female?). The plot and dialogue were good and tight. My biggest complaint about this book is the overuse of adjectives. It was sometimes too distracting. I'd recommend that on his next book, Bahlmann pull out half of them. And I do hope there is a next book. Bahlmann's book was good, regardless of his age. Overall, I really liked the book and read it in two days.

Oh, and one more thing—the author, Bron Bahlmann, is only 15! Yes. Remember when Eragon came out? And everyone was raving over what a wonderful book it was and that a 15-year-old was capable of writing such a great story? Personally, I didn't like it. I didn't think it was a wonderful book. The writing was weak. Good for a 15-year-old, perhaps, but not good enough to stand against other books in the genre. But guess what? Bone Warriors really is good.

If you like fantasy, I think you'll enjoy this book. I'm looking forward to seeing what this young man will come up with next.



Plot:

Characters:

Ending:



Content Ratings

Language:

Violence: The necromancer is evil. His army slaughters people in real time, but it's not gorey. The main characters fight various "people" and get hurt. Some of the good guys die.

Drugs/Alcohol: The alligator pirate, an adult, drinks something that is similar to ale.

Immorality: No romance.

Values/Themes: Good wins; evil loses. Selfless acts save the day.

Age Appropriate: Pre-teens, teens.

Writing Mechanics: A few typos; adjectives run amok. Other than that, pretty good.



Bone Warriors by Bron Bahlmann
Release Date: May 15, 2009. Sweetwater Book. 278 pages. ISBN# 978-1599553221.

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© Book Mom of Books 4 Teens

The HourglassDoor

by Lisa Mangum

432 pages.
YA Paranormal Romance
Ages: 15-18

His past. Her future. Can love bring them together in time?

Abby’s senior year of high school is going according to plan: good friends, cute boyfriend, and college applications in the mail. But when Dante Alexander, foreign-exchange student from Italy, steps into her life, he turns it upside down. He’s mysterious, and interesting, and unlike anyone she’s ever met before. Abby can’t deny the growing attraction she feels for him. Nor can she deny the unusual things that seem to happen when Dante is around. Soon Abby finds herself drawn into a mystery whose roots reach into sixteenth-century Florence, and she uncovers a dangerous truth that threatens not only her future but the lives of those she loves.

Read Chapter 1 HERE.

Abby is a senior in high school, with her life all lined up. Then she meets Dante—and her world turns upside down. He's cute, mysterious, and odd things happen when he's around.

I really liked this book. In fact, the only thing I didn't like was I felt Abby abandoned her girlfriend to a guy she at first knew was a bad influence, and later learned was downright evil. The consequences to her friend were pretty shattering. I would talk to my kids about this and that in a similar situation, they had a moral responsibility to help their friend and to tell an adult what was happening. Other than that, I loved this story.

The Hourglass Door is a paranormal romance—meaning that it mixes fantasy and reality into the love story and that one or more of the characters have paranormal powers/strengths. Immediate comparisons with Twilight come to mind. Dante is not quite as compelling as Edward, however, he's got more depth. His goodness comes from his character, and not simply from the fact that he's beautiful and he doesn't eat people.

(But he wouldn't—eat people, that is—because this is not a vampire story, and he's not a vampire, and there are no vampires anywhere in the book. Dante is the paranormal character in the story but I'm not saying anything more because who and what he is and what he can do is a huge part of the story.)

Abby is more likeable than Bella. She's sensible and has a good head on her shoulders. She doesn't change her entire life because she meets a cute guy. Abby has brains, and although not perfect, she tries to be a good person.

The love story is also more believable than Twilight. It's based on shared experiences, communication, and you can see why Abby and Dante would like each other. Also, he doesn't watch her while she sleeps (creepy), nor does she keep trying to seduce him.

That said, if you liked Twilight, you'll probably like this one as well. The action is good. There are good guys and bad guys (really bad guys). It's intense and thrilling—and the ending sets up a great sequel. I loved this book.


Plot:

Characters:

Ending:



Content Ratings

Language: There might be one or two words, but I can't really remember.

Violence: The bad guys are pretty bad but there's not gore.

Drugs/Alcohol:

Immorality: Light kissing.

Values/Themes:

Age Appropriate:

Writing Mechanics: A few out-of-character remarks by Abby about herself, but overall, good. Also, I read the ARC which was given to me by a friend, so these remarks may have been changed in the final book.



The HourglassDoor by Lisa Mangum
Release Date: May 13, 2009. Shadow Mountain. 432 pages. ISBN# 978-1606410936.

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© Book Mom of Books 4 Teens

Just One Wish

by Janette Rallison

272 pages.
YA, Romance
Ages: 12-16

Seventeen-year-old Annika Truman knows about the power of positive thinking. With a little brother who has cancer, it’s all she ever hears about. And in order to help Jeremy, she will go to the ends of the earth (or at least as far as Hollywood) to help him believe he can survive his upcoming surgery.

But Annika’s plan to convince Jeremy that a magic genie will grant him any wish throws her a curveball when he unexpectedly wishes that his television idol would visit him. Annika suddenly finds herself in the desperate predicament of getting access to a hunky star actor and convincing him to come home with her. Piece of cake, right?

When Annika's little brother faces the prospect of surgery, she is determined that he will pull through successfully. A firm believer in the power of positive thinking, she convinces Jeremy that she has a magic lamp that will grant him a successful surgery and his greatest desire—which she believes is a Teen Robin Hood action character. Jeremy upsets her well-made plans when he wishes instead to meet the "real" Teen Robin Hood, an actor from his favorite TV show.

Annika sets off to make Jeremy's wish come true by taking an extended road trip from Nevada to LA with her best friend Madison. They sneak onto a closed studio where Teen Robin Hood is filmed and stalk Steve Raleigh, the actor who plays the part. Through a series of ridiculous situations, Annika and Steve end up making the return trip to Arizona together, stopping by his home first. It's crazy, funny, and at times unbelievable, but this is a teenage girl's dream come true and girls will love this bit of wish fulfillment.

There are some parts that stretch credulity a bit, like the aforementioned sneaking into a closed set. It seems a bit too easy. Also, that she catches the heart of the handsome TV star and generates feelings in such as short time. And that he would actually come home with her. But still, the "it could happen" scenario is part of what drives a light-hearted romance and I'm willing to believe it for the fun of the story.

The best part of the book, however, is the relationship between Annika and her brother. It is sweet, tender and heart-tugging. I like that they're close, where so many teen books these days have siblings at each others' throats.

Janette's usual humor shows up in this book, even though it deals with a serious, and often sad, topic. There were places where I laughed out loud at Annika's antics. The romance was sweet and clean with just a bit of kissing. I recommend it to teen girls who like light-hearted romance.

Plot:

Characters:

Ending:



Content Ratings

Language:

Violence:

Drugs/Alcohol:

Immorality: Light kissing.

Values/Themes: I like the strong family unit. Might want to discuss other choices Annika could have made instead of taking off to LA without permission.

Age Appropriate:

Writing Mechanics: Pretty good.


Just One Wish by Janette Rallison.
Release Date: March 5, 2009. Putnam Juvenile. 272 pages. ISBN# 978-0399246180.

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© Book Mom of Books 4 Teens

Frostbite (Vampire Academy, bk 2)

by Richelle Mead

336 pages.
Paranormal/Urban Fantasy.
Ages: see Content Rating below

Rose Hathaway's got serious guy trouble. Her gorgeous tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason has a huge crush on her, and she keeps getting stuck in her best friend Lissa's head while she's making out with her boyfriend, Christian. (So not cool).

Then a massive Strigoi attack puts St. Vladimir's on high alert, and the Academy crawls with Guardians—including the legendary Janine Hathaway...Rose's formidable, long-absent mother. The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy's not taking any risks. This year, St. Vlad's annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only provide the illusion of safety. When three students run away to strike back against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. Only this time, Rose—and her heart—are in more danger than she ever could have imagined...

Read Chapter 1 HERE.

Series Books: The Vampire Academy

Even though I couldn't recommend The Vampire Academy (the first book in the series), this is such a popular series with teens that I decided to give the second book a try. Pretty much it's second verse same as the first.

The basic plot is quite intriguing. There's a subplot with Rose's mother that explains a lot about the chip on Rose's shoulder. The Strogoi/Moroi conflict escalates and it's discovered that the Strogoi are a lot more organized and focused than anyone imagined. There's also some hinting that the good guy/bad guy delineation isn't as clear cut as Rose and Lissa have always believed. Cool stuff. I can see why teens like this series.

But once again, it's all the mature content that leaves me unable to recommend this series. Early in the book, there is wholesale slaughter of a Moroi royal family and it's pretty gorey. We also get torture and murder of secondary characters, in real time. One murder is of someone we've become attached to.

Also, as with the first book, there is quite a bit of swearing and vulgar language. There is underage drinking. Rose gets drunk. There's heavy kissing and steamy make-out scenes. The reader experiences some of these scenes between Lissa and Christian, with Rose in the position as reluctant voyeur due to the connection between her mind and Lissa's.


Plot:

Characters:

Ending:



Content Ratings

Language: Frequent and casual use of multiple swear words, some quite vulgar. Use of the name of deity.

Violence: Hand-to-hand combat, torture, murder—in real time; detailed description of slaughter aftermath.

Drugs/Alcohol: Underage drinking.

Immorality: Several steamy make-out scenes, some casual.

Values/Themes: Casual sex and drinking is treated as acceptable behaviors.

Age Appropriate: Publisher lists it as YA (16+), but due to language, violence, and mature themes, I believe that's too young.

Writing Mechanics: There are a few glitches in plot and characterization, but nothing major.

Frostbite (Vampire Academy, bk 2) by Richelle Mead.
Release Date: April 10, 2008. Razorbill/Penguin. 336 pages. ISBN# 978-1595141750.
Paperback release.


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© Book Mom of Books 4 Teens

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, bk 1)

by Richelle Mead

336 pages.
Paranormal/Urban Fantasy.
Ages: see Content Rating below

Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with an unbreakable bond to the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest and most dangerous vampires—the ones who never die.

The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, makes her a Dhampir; she is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making her one of them.

After two years of illicit freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. Rose will continue her Dhampir education. Lissa will go back to being Queen of the elite Moroi social scene. And both girls will resume breaking hearts.

Fear made Lissa and Rose run away from St. Vladimir's—but their world is fraught with danger both inside and out of the Academy's iron gates. Here, the cutthroat ranks of the Moroi perform unspeakable rituals and their secretive nature and love of the night creates an enigmatic world full of social complexities. Rose and Lissa must navigate through this dangerous world, confront the temptation of forbidden romance, and never once let their guard down, lest the Strigoi make Lissa one of them forever...

Read Chapter 1 HERE.

The Vampire Academy has some good twists in it. It keeps you guessing at who the "bad guy" is right up until it's revealed at the end. I liked the basic plot line and pacing. I really liked the Moroi/Strigoi/Dhampir spin on the vampire legend. I liked the idea of the St. Vladimir's Academy, where the Moroi and Dhampir go to learn to use their skills and magic. Although Lissa's character was inconsistent (sometimes strong, sometimes weak but no clear reasons for the difference), the characterization of Rose was strong and solid. I found her fascinating and likeable, even when she was being a bully and a brat. I liked the character of Dimitri, whom Rose has a crush on even though he's seven years older than she is. I also liked Christian, the guy who's ostracized because members of his family were turned Strogoi.

But as much as I liked those things about the book, overall it just had too much—too much violence, too much vulgar language, and too much sex. It was too edgy for me to fully relax and enjoy the story and there's no way I'd feel comfortable letting a teenager read it. Although it's marketed to teen girls, it's definitely a book for mature (as in fully adult) readers.

***Spoiler Alert***
Rose is sexually active and makes out with boys for the fun of it. Lissa has her first sexual experience at the age of 15, and thinks it's no big deal. Although under the influence of a "lust charm," Rose and Dimitri have a pretty steamy make-out session. Rose has strong feelings for him and its pretty clear he has feelings for her, even though when not under a spell he refrains from acting on those feelings most of the time. The entire attitude of this book is that sex is for casual recreation, not meaningful relationships.

As for violence, there's the usual vampire biting and fighting. However, in addition to that, there's some pretty detailed descriptions of bloody killings and gore. Lissa's uncle and cousin set her up, leaving dead and nearly dead animals in her room. Her uncle eventually sacrifices his own daughter, turning her into an evil Strigoi, so that he can use Lissa for her healing powers.

Because of the frequency of swearing, the detailed violence, and the casual attitude toward teens participating in adult behaviors, I can't really recommend this book.


Plot:

Characters:

Ending:


Content Ratings

Language: Frequent and casual use of multiple swear words, some quite vulgar. Use of the name of deity.

Violence: Hand-to-hand combat, murder, gore, animal mutilation.

Drugs/Alcohol: Underage drinking.

Immorality: Several steamy make-out scenes, some casual. Lust charm.

Values/Themes: Rose is an atheist. Casual sex and drinking is treated as acceptable behaviors.

Age Appropriate: Publisher lists it as YA (16+), but due to language, violence, and mature themes, I believe that's too young.

Writing Mechanics: There are a few glitches in plot and characterization, but nothing major.

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, bk 1) by Richelle Mead.
Release Date: August 16, 2007. Razorbill/Penguin. 336 pages. ISBN# 978-1595141743.
Paperback release.

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© Book Mom of Books 4 Teens