Batman: Dark Victory * * * *

Batman: Dark Victory is a graphic novel about the rich and famous Bruce Wayne and his secret life as Batman. Bruce gets tickets to go see a trapies act one day. While he’s there he notices a young child named Dick Grayson. Bruce watches as Dick’s parents get killed. Bruce decides to adopt Dick Grayson. What happens when Dick finds out that Bruce is Batman?

This is the new Batman game http://www.batmanarkhamcity.org/  

Reviewed by KP

13 Little Blue Envelopes * * *

A girl named Ginny receives thirteen blue envelopes from her deceased Aunt Peg. These envelopes contain letters telling her where to go and what to do. There are only four rules 1) You can only bring what fits in your backpack. 2) You may not bring a guide book, phrase book, or any kind of foreign language aide. 3) You can not bring any extra money or credit/debit cards. 4) No electronics--including Cell phones, laptops, music, or cameras. Ginny’s first stop is London where she meets an artist named Keith. Ginny then starts to wonder what she’ll do next.

Read here for more information on the book! http://www.maureenjohnsonbooks.com/books/13-little-blue-envelopes/

Reviewed by LC

Heroes of the Valley * *

This book is definitely in the action genre. Though I did NOT particularly like this book because it would slow down for about twenty pages and then it would get you super exciting for two pages and then slow down for another twenty. So, my rating is low. Halli Sviensson, descendant of Svien who is an ancient Hero of the Valley, is reckless and always dreamed of battling the vicious Trows who Svien once fought. The Trows are concealed behind a wall so they have freedom and the people can only stay in the small Valley. The Valley has houses that each hero owns. When the leaders of the Hakon house kill Halli’s Uncle Brodier, he goes to find revenge. In that revenge, he goes on a journey that will change his life forever. 

Reviewed by DMD

The Crowfield Curse * * * * *

Will is an orphan who lives at an abbey in the middle of the woods with monks. One day, when gathering firewood, he  stumbles upon a hob, a diminutive fairy, stuck in a steel trap. He frees the hob, and in his gratitude, the hob tells Will a great and terrible secret: An angel is buried in the wood behind the abbey! I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is a fan of angels, fairies, mysteries, and all things unearthly supernatural. This wonderful novel by Pat Walsh will have you raving for more after you reluctantly put it down! 

Reviewed by RL

Pleasing the Ghost * * *

Pleasing the ghost is about a boy named Dennis and a dog named Bo, who gets visited by Uncle Arvie who is a ghost.  Uncle Arvie wants Dennis to do him favors or pleases for his wife, because he can’t do anything himself since he’s a ghost. On the way, Dennis gets into trouble, but I’m not going to tell you what kind of trouble he gets into. If you want to find out more,  then check the book out!

Here is some more information about the book: http://sharoncreech.com/novels/05.asp

Reviewed by JL

Toby Alone * * * * *

Toby Alone is an amazing story of adventure and betrayal. Young Toby Lolness is 13 years old and is being hunted by his own people. Toby is only a millimeter and a half tall, he lives in a civilization of small people that live in the Tree. Toby’s father Sim is a renowned scientist who has made a huge discovery about their beloved Tree, but the evil Joe Mitch wants to use Sim’s newfound technology to keep destroying the Tree. The Lolness family is captured, but Toby escapes. Now the whole Tree is after him because he knows the secret to the technology. Follow Toby in his adventures in the Tree. If you like this book-- there’s a sequel!!! Toby and the Secrets of the Tree.

Here’s another good book review! http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/apr/26/featuresreviews.guardianreview18

Reviewed by MK

Montmorency: Thief, Liar, Gentleman?

THIS WAS A GOOD BOOK BE CAUSE IT GIVES INFORMATION AND DOESN’T GIVE ALL THE INFORMATION AT ONCE. THIS BOOK HAS ACTION THAT MAKES YOU WANT TO KEEP READING. THIS BOOK WILL MAKE YOU WONDER WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN EVERY CHAPTER. I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO PEOPLE WHO LIKE ACTION AND WANT TO GET HOOKED INTO READING.

REVIEWED BY RV

House by Thomas Nelson * * * *

House is about a “haunted” house that three people live in, then four other people come along: Jack, Stephanie, Leslie, and Randy. Jack and Stephanie are married but are struggling in their relationship. Steven, Betty, and Pete lived there first as a family. Before dinner began, everything was normal. When they started eating, everything began to go wrong. This book has many twists and turns, you wont ever want to put the book down.

Reviewed by TR

From the Two Rivers * * * *

From the Two Rivers is a really good start to a series by Robert Jordan.  This book is fiction and I really loved it!  It is about three boys that live in a small village.  But when trollocs attack their home, the three friends have to leave with a strange woman.  On their journey the group encounters many horrible and awesome things.  The three boys have never left their village before so when they see some of the big cities they are amazed at how small their village seems.  Through the whole book, the main character (Rand) and his friends (Matt and Perrin) are being chased by the trollocs and their leader.  If you liked this book, then good news!  It is the first in a series so check out part two!

Here is a good website that tells you a little more about the book: http://wot.wikia.com/wiki/Two_Rivers

Reviewed by MM

The Last Olympian * * * *

This fiction series book is about Percy Jackson as he tries to defeat Kronos. However, Luke turns into Kronos and Percy has to know his past to try to defeat him. Kronos has a spy at Camp Half-Blood to see what is going on.  While the gods are trying to destroy the Titan, Percy tries to warn the gods that he is only a distraction. Meanwhile Percy learns about the prophecy and he has to make a choice in four days to either save the world or destroy it.  While every one is distracted something surprising happens.

Get more information on all the books in the Percy Jackson series! http://percyjacksonbooks.com/

Reviewed by EW

Mockingjay * *

Mockingjay is the third, and final book in the Hunger Games trilogy. If your wondering why i ranked this only a two star book, it’s because i think this book is pretty slow. I also didn’t like the ending, but i don’t want to spoil anything.But anyway, in this book Katniss, and the remaining members of district 12 are brought to district 13 after district 12 is destroyed. Katniss decides she needs to take charge and put these bad things to an end. The districts all go to war. Katniss, Gale, Finnick, Peeta, and the rest of the crew all set out to the capital to kill President Snow. But some other things get in their way. Read the book to find out what!

Here’s a link to a site all about Mockingjay. Enjoy!  http://mockingjay.net/

Reviewed by AM

Beyond the Grave * * * * *

This book is part of the series 39 Clues. It’s the fourth one out of an amazing ten book series. This book is about two children, Dan and Amy, who are on a hunt for 39 clues to be the most powerful people in the world. Even though they are terribly outmatched by their competition, they have found a way to stay in first place in the hunt for the clues. Traveling from continent to continent, they are discovering clues set before them by their great ancestors. These kids do not get out easy!  They are eavesdropped on, betrayed, and double-crossed. For this fourth clue they have to travel to a mysterious tomb. Can they find the clue? This exciting book is a must read. If you like this book, consider reading the rest of this series. I hope you enjoy this book!

This is a website on more information about Nefertiti’s tomb: http://www.ancient-egypt-online.com/nefertari.html

Reviewed by MO

Danny, the Champion of the World

This book is funny and makes you want to keep reading. It takes you through a lot of adventures. If you like to read funny adventurous books this is a good book for you. I like the book a lot. 

Reviewed by ID

The Naming * * * * *

In this fiction fantasy a slave girl,(Maerad), in Gilmon Cot is found by a bard and escapes with him to Annar. The man that helped her escape is Cadvan and he tells her she is also a Bard. Maerad travels with Cadvan through Annar with a lyre and the clothes on her back as her only possessions. In her journey she experiences human kindness for the first time in her life and learns to love. The road she travels is also dark as well as good and she and Cadvan are forever moving being chased by the dark. Maerad learns that she will be very important in the upcoming war and may be the light’s only chance against the Dark and the Nameless One. 

Check out the series' website!  http://booksofpellinor.com/pellinor/index.html

Reviewed by HR

The Looking Glass Wars * * * * *

The Myth: Alice Liddel was an ordinary girl who fell in a rabbit hole, looking for a late rabbit in a waistcoat.

The Truth: Wonderland is not fantasy, it is real. Alyss Heart is the heir to the throne until her treacherous Aunt Redd kills her parents and steals the crown. Alyss has no choice but to leave through the Pool of Tears with her trusted bodyguard, Hatter Madigan. Ending up in our world, they are seperated. Alyss is alone in Victorian London and nobody believes tales of Wonderland until she meets an aspiring author. Alyss tells him her violent and heart-wrenching story, but he gets it all wrong! Meanwhile, Hatter Madigan is searching the workd to find Alyss before it’s to late and so she can battle Redd for her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts.

This book changes your perceptions on what you thought happened in Wonderland! 

Reviewed by AG