Blogcritics Category: Books: Young Adult

Book Review: Summer Secret (Sonshine Girls #1) by René Morris

Jennifer Bogart — Thu, 8 Jan 2009 06:34:52 EST

Girls, friendship, makeup and boys - 'tween-lit meets Jesus, providing strong moral guidance through the rocky years of adolescence.
When 13-year-old Kristin moves from Georgia to Texas she is thankful to quickly find a new group of friends. Charli, Jessica and Anna eagerly open the doors of their life-long friendship to include her as a fourth member. Life in Rimsfield sparkles with new promise as the girls plan for the summer youth group church camp and the upcoming school...

Book Review: Shimmer by Dallas Reed

Mel Odom — Mon, 5 Jan 2009 19:04:24 EST

A mysterious box unleashes a maelstrom of terror on a town already besieged by a blizzard.
Shimmer is Dallas Reed’s first novel, and is a horror tale aimed at the young adult market. But here’s a caveat: the book is definitely written more for high schoolers and for aggressive junior high school students. The language and casual mention of drug paraphernalia and usage could be offensive to some readers and parents. ...

Book Review: Faeries of the Dreamdark - Blackbringer by Laini Taylor

Mel Odom — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:13:08 EST

Magpie Windwitch has to face the greatest evil the Faeries have ever known, and discover her own incredible secret.
Laini Taylor’s debut fantasy novel, Faeries of Dreamdark: Blackbringer, is hard to classify regarding audience. The publisher designates it as a YA book targeting nine to twelve year olds. That would put it in the same category as Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series and J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books. On some levels, I think...

The New Canon: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Ted Gioia — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:58:34 EST

Is J.K. Rowling's writing just "clich�s and dead metaphors" as Harold Bloom argues, or is there something more to Harry Potter?
The New Canon is a regular feature, contributed by Ted Gioia, focusing on great works of fiction published since 1985. These books represent the finest literature of the current era, and are gaining recognition as the new classics of our time. In this installment of The New Canon, Gioia looks at Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K....

Graphic Novel Review: Green Lantern: Secret Origin by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert

Mel Odom — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:39:16 EST

Hal Jordan's assumption of the Green Lantern role held more secrets than anyone knew -- until now.
Green Lantern is undoubtedly one of the most recognized heroes in the DC universe. Especially the Hal Jordan version of Green Jordan. The initial concept of having a fearless jet pilot was fantastic, yet people saw fit to keep jacking around with his origin. Thankfully, Geoff Johns figured out a way to save Hal Jordan from the tangled web of...

Book Review: The Case of the Left-Handed Lady (An Enola Holmes Mystery) by Nancy Springer

Mel Odom — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:25:49 EST

Sherlock Holmes's fourteen-year-old sister investigates again, and the game is afoot!
With The Case of the Left-Handed Lady Enola Holmes is back in her second adventure, and this time she’s in the heart of London. While she’s prowling the dark streets and dangerous alleys of 19th century England, she’s also being hunted by her brother Sherlock Holmes. Nancy Springer has created an excellent series for young readers...

Book Review: The American Twins of the Revolution by Lucy Fitch Perkins

Jennifer Bogart — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 04:58:30 EST

1777, the American Revolution. A vital mission, unexpected danger and intense loyalty mingle in this vintage reprint from Salem Ridge Press.
In the countryside surrounding Philadelphia two opposing engines of war are converging. The Continental Army is falling back, short on funds, struggling to keep their soldiers paid in the fight for freedom. The British army approaches providing fierce competition for food and supplies, seizing homes for temporary bases as their commanding officer...

Book Review: Lamplighter by D.M. Cornish

Ryan Fair — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 04:09:56 EST

Another fantastic addition to what could be one of the best new works of fantasy in a long time.
Lamplighter, book two of D.M. Cornish’s Monster Blood Tattoo series, takes the reader deeper into the fantastic world torn between an undying struggle between mankind and monsters - a world where good and evil are difficult to distinguish and the boundaries of man and monster are crossed as humans use chemicals and monster organs to alter...

DVD Review: Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2

The Masked Movie Snobs — Tue, 2 Dec 2008 20:41:54 EST

Like your favorite pair of jeans, true friends are reliable, comfortable, and perfect even with all the flaws.
Written by Pollo MisteriosoThe title of this film immediately connotes “chick flick.” Not only does it seem to be a movie only about women, there is a magical element that refers to jeans that can travel. But there is something much more to Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 and it isn’t just that it is the sequel. This film is a...

Book Review: Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin

Violet Nesdoly — Tue, 2 Dec 2008 05:40:40 EST

Travel with three beautiful Swedish sisters to a time and place 100 years ago.
The only way 19-year-old Elin Carlson can make sure her sisters are safe from Uncle Sven is to keep them in sight every moment or move away from their Swedish farm. When Uncle Lars sends tickets, she knows moving to America is the solution. But how will she convince shy 16-year-old Sofia and willful 18-year-old Kirsten that leaving home is best...