This is a story about Billy, a young teenager who begins to develop special powers after losing his father in a plane crash. This prompts him to seek out more details about his father's life and mysterious death.

I have read an enjoyed several of Mike Lupica's sports novels for children/young adults, and was excited to see what he would do outside of the world of sports. Unfortunately, it did not work for me at all. I thought the characters were formulaic, he seems to have the same setup in all of his novels: main character is basically a good, average boy, struggling with issues of self confidence; a smart, pretty, female friend, and a wise-cracking side kick for comic relief.

Lupica's writing style is simple and inelegant, and while I've never loved it, this is the first time I've felt it really prevented me from getting invested in the story. He never really made me care about any of the characters.

Overall, I also felt that the story was just, unfortunately, boring. It had potential, but too much of the novel was Billy trying to figure things out, and no progress actually being made. I actually read through this book very quickly, simply because I kept telling myself that surely something would actually happen in the next chapter. The ending felt completely anticlimactic to me, as I didn't think many questions had actually been answered or that Billy's character had really developed at all.

It may be that young boys will find this story more appealing, but I would show more recommend any of Lupica's sports stories first, and sadly suggest you leave Hero on the shelf. show less

This was a book I picked up at a library sale on a whim. I don't read too much non-fiction, and generally prefer books in the fantasy genre. However, once I picked this one up, I couldn't put it down. It may not be anything life-changing, but it is a fun and often informative read, as we join Jacobs in his quest to read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica. There were many laugh-out-loud moments (my apologies to those sitting next to me on the plane), and I may have even learned a thing or two along the way. Highly recommended.

This is the first book that I have read by award-winning author, Julius Lester, and I appreciated his work from the first page. He has a beautiful writing style and effortlessly brings the reader in to the time and place of the story. The book takes place in a small southern town in 1946, through the eyes of a young white boy. Racism is the main theme of the book, but lessons are also learned about honesty, standing up for oneself, and finding your own identity. Mr. Lester does not shy away from difficult subject matter, and his descriptions can be a bit graphic at times, especially for younger readers. However, events like the ones that took place in this story were really happening in this country not too long ago, and it is so important that children and teens continue to get exposed to the issues of racism and prejudice. This is a great book for adults to read and discuss with teens (I would recommend for ages 14 and up).

This suspense novel tells the story of Hailey Maniates, a graduate student who is attacked by an unseen pursuer and then rescued by a mysterious homeless man. As the story progresses, Hailey (and the readers) begins to question who or what could possibly be behind her attacks--or if, in fact, it could all be in her head.

I was not immediately impressed with this book, perhaps because I have not had much experience with suspense novels. The action starts very quickly, which may please many readers, but I felt it jumped around too much at the beginning, leaving me a bit confused. I would have liked to learn a bit more about the characters before the action began.

However, by the time our two main characters meet, I began to get a little more comfortable and was able to enjoy the story. Olson definitely does a good job of blurring the lines between fantasy and reality, and keeps the reader guessing about who can really be trusted. In addition, I very much appreciate the message of this novel. It is nice to see some good Christian fiction breaking in to the fantasy/suspense genre.

A woderful book of stories about Pooh and all of his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood. I missed out on reading this book as a child, but found that I very much enjoy it as an adult. In fact, adults may appreciate much more of the humor in the stories than many younger readers.

Many moments to make you smile, and some that may even make you cry. A charming book.

This is the story of Esperanza Ortega, daughter of a wealthy ranch owner, who is forced to leave home with her mother and start a new life in the United States. She goes from a life of luxury to a life of poverty and hard labor, living in a camp for Mexican farm workers. Esperanza must learn to adapt to her new environment and overcome difficult circumstances in order to build a new life.

This is a fast and relatively easy read, but deals with many important issues, including racism and social inequality . A great book to read and discuss with children and young adults.

Edward Tulane is a china rabbit who thinks rather highly of himself and not so much of those around him. He lives his life in comfort, until he gets lost. During the long journey home, Edward meets people from many walks of life and learns important lessons about love and not taking others for granted.

Kate DiCamillo does not disappoint. This is a beautiful story with an excellent message. Highly recommended.

As a certified Disney fanatic, I enjoyed this book. We follow Finn Whitman and four other teens as they work to save the Magic Kingdom from Maleficent and the evil Overtakers. It is such fun to run through the parks and go on the rides after dark with these characters.

At times I felt that the dialogue was forced and a little too hokey, even given the setting. This surprised me, since author Ridley Pearson is the co-author of the Peter and the Starcatcher books, which I love. However, the more I read it, the more I am able to simply enjoy the characters, setting, and creative story. Recommended for those who love a little Disney magic.