Diane Tullson

It's hard to enjoy a story when you despise the protagonist; Libby was such a brat, I wished she would be killed by the pirates. When her long suffering stepfather dies as a result of her adolescent pique, I wanted to vomit. Talk about teen wish fulfillment! Unfortunately, Libby's battle for survival did nothing to make me respect , let alone like her character anymore. The ending was predictable and the characters two-dimensional; a disappointing effort for a story that could have been show more really gripping. show less

Daniel, an average kid, suddenly draws the attention and affections of hottie Cyn. She makes him feel like he can do anything and then asks him to do just that: take her car across the border into Mexico for "gas." Daniel becomes involved in running drugs -- with increasing awareness -- and is left wondering whether or not Cyn is sincere. An excellent hi-lo read with a surprising amount of suspense, character, and food for thought. Appealing to all but esp. teen boys. The book begs the show more question: what would you do for love? show less

Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

Corbin and Darius are close friends. They are into the party scene and spend considerable time at Riley Park. This is the story of the last party they attended and its tragic end.

There was the usual drinking and stunting that fateful night. Corbin remembers their daring jump from high on the cliff into the lake. It was a thrill they would be able to share for the rest of their lives. Who knew Darius would be dead by the next show more day?

After everyone left the party, the two friends were about to head home as well, when three strangers attacked them. All Corbin remembers is being hit on the head with incredible force. The next thing he knows he is in the hospital. When he begs a nurse to tell him how Darius handled the attack, she tells him his friend is dead.

What follows for Corbin is a difficult recovery filled with the knowledge that he will never be the same both physically and emotionally. His attempt to deal with the loss of his friend and his physical challenges is complicated by the fact that he is a suspect in the investigation surrounding the attack. He couldn't possibly be responsible for Darius's death, but who were the three strangers, and who can help him solve the mystery?

Diane Tullson uses just over 100 pages to weave a complex story about the tragic death of one young man and the guilt and pain of another. Readers will sense frustration and anger as Corbin searches for answers and adjusts to the changes in his life. show less

Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

"Ms. Topett turns to the class. Her voice shakes. 'Sometimes this happens in nature. Sometimes, if conditions are harsh, like there isn't enough food.'"

Students in the science class are still groaning as they react to the hamster eating her own young. But Josh knows it wasn't just nature, it was the cruel behavior of his fellow classmates.

Josh is not like everyone else. He dresses differently. He doesn't interact well with show more others. He stutters and is often the butt of cruel jokes. Maybe that's why he runs from the classroom that morning and makes the decisions that lead to tragedy.

Adam tells the story of what happened that day. He believes he knows the real Josh, and unlike his classmates, he tries to make a difference. When it becomes obvious that Josh is the gunman terrorizing the school, Adam chooses a path of positive action to avoid disaster.

LOCKDOWN focuses on an all-too-common situation in today's schools. School shootings are often the result of bullying and teasing. Josh is pushed beyond his limits and decides violence is the answer. This short novel (103 pages) highlights this problem in current society. Although the plot is simple, readers are taken into a frightening situation in enough depth to make it a worthwhile read. show less