The Secret Life of Sparrow Delanely

by Suzanne Harper

Rating (1-10): 9


Sparrow wants one thing from life, and that is to be normal. No one really cares for people un-normal, and she is the epitome of un-normal. See, people don’t typically like to hang around sophomore girls who can see ghosts. Sparrow has kept her secret vision from everyone, even her six older sisters, who are all mediums. All Sparrow wants is a fresh start; so when the opportunity arises to go to a new school, she jumps at it. She blends in well, except for a few brush-ins with a boy in her history class who just happens to be the most-sought-after guy in the entire tenth grade. Sparrow even makes a new best friend! But then a ridiculously cute ghost boy starts haunting her for help… and things head downhill from there. Sparrow soon finds herself wrapped up in a confusing tragedy… will she be able to help this poor ghost?


I enjoyed this book a lot. On a scale of one to ten, I would probably give it a nine. Suzanne Harper spins this tale set in a real place, Lily Dale, NY, which is brimming with mediums ready to bring back the dead to talk to you. Harper gives Sparrow real emotions, so any teenager could relate to the story. Then Harper added a special touch to Sparrow, giving her the ability to see ghosts! That is a talent I think we all wish we could have. Harper’s writing was fun and energetic, and kept me reading until the end. It wasn’t scary at all, like I imagined it would be. As I said before, I enjoyed this book very much, and recommend it to all pre-teens and teens.

The Secret Life of Josephine

by Carrolly Erickson

Everyone knows about Napoleon, the guy who wanted to take over the world and conquer everything. Well, what do people know about his first wife, Josephine? Not much, really. She’s always in the wings; no one ever thinks about her and her past. When Josephine was a girl, her name was Rose. It actually was Rose until she married Napoleon—he changed it because she needed to sound more French. Rose lived in a tropical paradise, moving to Paris when she was a teenager to marry her cousin. Eventually, her husband dies in “The Terror”, with Rose narrowly escaping the guillotine. After the Terror, Rose marries Napoleon, a famous general with a commanding presence. After that, the rest is history.

Carrolly Erickson made history come to life, but in a new way. I have always heard of Napoleon, but not his wife. She really influenced Napoleon in ways I didn’t think of. Carrolly Erickson’s novel made me think of all these things, and I learned much more about the time period. Because Erickson wrote so descriptively, I was never left in the dark how bad things were during “The Terror” and Napoleon’s rule. Erickson has other historical novels about wives of great rulers, and since I enjoyed The Secret Life of Josephine so much, I have ordered copies of her other books.

The Chicken Dance

by Jacques Couvillon

Once there was a boy named Stanley. Stanley grew up surrounded by chickens; his family's chickens, actually. He loved his chickens, and, since he wasn't a very popular boy, confided in them. Stanley learned everything he could learn about chickens; what made them good and what made them bad, what ones where good eggs producers, which weren't. He became an expert on chickens by age 11. No one noticed this though; especially not his parents. So, when he entered a chicken judging contest, no one thought he'd win. But he did. And it brought him instant fame and glory. His parents barely notice his accomplishment, though, and went on with their lives as normal. Poor Stanley then starts discovering secrets to his family's past that he would have never dreamed of... and his mother and father start fighting a lot more. Stanley needs to find the source of the fighting, and bring things back to normal.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was a breath of fresh air; a change in what I usually read. Couvillon wrote as though it was his own journal, which made it very funny. Personally, I was reminded of Junie B. Jones, but older, and a boy. The main character thought very literally, which led to many twists and turns in the plot. It was a very easy read, and I suggest it to anyone who needs a break from life to read something simple and carefree.

Leaving Simplicity

by Claire Carmichael

Everyone knows the world is covered in advertisements today—from seeing them on cars, to ones in the mall, and even in the back of books. They’re everywhere, but can you imagine if the advertisements controlled your emotions, and made you want to run out and buy the product right away? In the world that Taylor lives in, New York City set in the future, this is her life. She is so accustomed to the advertisements, and they are normal to her now. But her cousin Barrett has lived in an area where farmers have always lived, and has never grown used to technology today. So when Barrett is forced to live with his Aunt and Cousin, he finds this new world strange and wrong. His aunt takes advantage of his naiveté, which angers Barrett. Together, Barrett and Taylor team up to fight against advertisements and what they stand for.

Claire Carmichael does a superb job creating the world that is Barrett and Taylor’s. Even though it is supposedly set in the future, it seems very real and even scary. It makes you think…. Will this happen? Or something like it? What can we do to prevent it? Leaving Simplicity is an excellent book, which I have already recommended to my friends.

The Salamander Spell

by ED Baker

In the fifth addition to the Frog Princess series, Emma and Eadric are missing from the story. It’s because the story is a prequel—and it explains Grassina’s story on becoming a witch. Grassina is thirteen years old, and her sister Chartreuse is fifteen. Like all sisters, they fight constantly. Chartreuse is Greater Greensward’s Green Witch-in-training, only she hasn’t ‘come to’ her magic yet. Everyone is tense waiting for her to become magically inclined, but things aren’t looking up. Then, disaster strikes, and Grassina has to save the day.

ED Baker breathes life into Emma and Eadric’s world yet again, even though the couple isn’t in the story. It’s filled with all the magical problems that consume the other Frog Princess books, making it entertaining and fun. At first, the story was a little hard to get into, but eventually the story picked up and became entertaining. ED Baker pulled off another tale in the series—and now she leaves her fans wanting more!

The Salamander Spell is available in stores August 21, 2007

No Place For Magic

By ED Baker

In the fourth installment of the Frog Princess Series, Emma and her wannabe-husband Eadric set out to get Eadric's parents' blessing on their marriage. Emma is a witch-- freshly made "The Green Witch" of her Kingdom, Great Greensward. She uses her magic for anything and everything, which is fine in her kingdom, but what will happen when her finace's subjects find out she is a witch? She learns that they aren't as open to magical beings as most countries are; leaving her stranded magic-wise. Emma and Eadric are in for another adventure before they know it; Emma not being able to use magic, and Eadric trying to be the hero constantly. They have to battle Vampires, Trolls, and other unknown creatures, and still be able to love eachother when they come home from their adventures.

ED Baker does a senstaional job describing the magic and making up all of the spells Emma uses. Her plot is always changing, so you never know what will happen next. While the story can be a little corny at times, all of the characters are lovable and sweet. Everything is well-thought out, with every detail in place. I enjoyed this book; it was an easy, fun, and quick read, perfect for a vacation.

Other books by ED Baker:

The Frog Princess

Dragon's Breath

Once Upon a Curse

and coming in September,

The Salamander Spell

Before Midnight: A Retelling of Cinderella

by Cameron Dokey

Okay, so recently I've been into this series called "The Once Upon A Time Series". All of the books in the series are retellings of fairytales; this one in particular being a retelling of Cinderella. The book was an easy read, but very good. Here is a short explanation about the book....

Cendrillion (the french form of Cinderella) was shunned by her father at an early age, because it was her birth that caused her mother's death. Cendrillion stayed on her home land until her Father marries again-- without telling Cendrillion. The new stepmother and stepsisters come to Cendrillion's home, and that's where all of the mysteries of Cendrillion's past unfold...

This verson of Cinderella was different from any I've ever read. The evil stepmother and stepsisters showed sides to themselves that I never thought of. There were plenty of twists and turns, so you were kept interested in the story, and eventually you forgot it was a retelling of Cinderella. I normally don't enjoy Cameron Dokey's writing, but I enjoyed this book. I would recommend it to anyone that is looking for a quick and easy read, and someone who also has a love for fairytales with a spin.