Plot: Arthur Dent the last living being of Earth continues his journeys with Zaphod Beeblebrox, Zaphod's girlfriend (also from Earth) Trillian, Ford Prefect, and their mentally depressed droid Marvin. The Restaurant

at the End of the Universe picks right up after the book before it and continues the random events that seem to happen to the characters. The book itself seems to have no plot but is very enjoyable and comes

together into a nice calm ending after the chaos going on through it.

Commentary: After reading this book I can only think of Douglas Adams as a genius. He is able to drop and pick up characters in the most bizarre but, through the world he has created, logical way. He is able to focus on one or two characters at one time and by doing this you really get to know them. The characters are very developed and it is enjoyable to see their world through their eyes. Arthur seems to be the only character that doesn't know what's going on while Zaphod and Ford are the two drunk and sporty characters that are always at parties and picking up woman. Marvin is the character that always knows what is going on but is very depressed and usually doesn't say anything unless asked. Trillian is the woman that keeps Zaphod in shape. I would request this book to anybody age 13 years old and up. If you are thinking of reading The Restaurant at the End of the Universe I would recommend reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe first (the first book in the hitchhiker series by Douglas Adams). The following books are part of the series: Life, The Universe and Everything, So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish, Young Zaphod Plays it Safe, and Mostly Harmless. Reviewed by Conor in 2005

Plot: The book Feed by M.T Anderson is a funny yet chilling book. It is set in the future, in a world where people have a chip (a feed) implanted into their heads at birth. The feed is a computer, TV, game station, and any electronic thing you can imagine rolled into one. It broadcasts advertisements into the owner’s head, and lets you know about shopping deals. You can message your friends through it, buy clothes, watch your favorite shows and look up anything you’ve every wanted to know. It eliminates the need for school. Sounds awesome, right? Well the main character, Titus, thinks so too. He is a teenage boy who gets almost everything he wants. He’s living a seemingly perfect life. The book starts with him being bored on a trip to the moon, there he meets Violet. Violet was brought up in a whole different way, she got her feed late, and so she thinks differently from the people Titus is used to. After Titus meets Violet, he begins to question what the feed is actually doing to him.

Commentary: The book proposes a brilliantly chilling view of what the future might actually be like. It’s very scary to read, because you can just envision that our world is turning into Anderson’s prediction. The only thing I found bad about this book was how annoying the main character was at times. He was so overly spoiled, after awhile you just want him to get over himself. Overall an outstanding read. Reviewed by Kate in 2006

Plot: Who doesn’t remember Ender’s Game, the instant classic that set critics running? Well, can you recall one of the supporting characters, Bean? The smallest one of Ender’s group, his past is shrouded in mystery. However, with this new parallel series, Orson Scott Card discusses the past of Bean, and where he goes in the world. Meeting with Peter, Ender’s older brother, the two quickly begin on a mission to achieve world peace, a concept that has only been dreamed of. However, after the release of the mastermind killer Achilles (Ash-eel), Bean and his lover Petra break their ties with Peter. Now, they must survive the workings of Achilles, who has seduced Peter (Who has been appointed Hegemon, keeper of peace across Earth) into thinking he is harmless and is plotting to dispose of him. However, Peter avoids this murder attempt with the help of his parents, and escapes into space. Now Bean is left alone on Earth, in which the Chinese have conquered the entire subcontinent and are beginning to overextend themselves. Little expected however, is the possible defenders of the Indian people: the Muslims.

Commentary: Card writes with a style that is not only completely his own, but is simple enough for a child to understand, yet deep and complex enough to entertain the minds of adults. The tactical discussions of the book are understandable, yet complex and vague enough for the mind to imagine the details of any movements or treaties. The intricate plot however, becomes at least slightly predictable towards the mid-portion of the book, as the whole idea of the series is beginning to draw to a close and before he knows it, Card will have finished the entire series while still intending to write one more book. That is very nearly the case, but the desire to find the answer to the characters’ problems is as of yet, still compelling.

Thankfully, Card is only planning to write one more book on the series. Interestingly enough, any one of these books could stand on its own, while they are not intentioned to be able to. While the characters’ inner emotions might not be as apparent from reading just one of these books, the twists and turns of the convoluted plot are still graspable. I do recommend, however, that one starts from the beginning of the series with Ender’s Game (and then proceeding in order of the books) before reading this book. After reading the others of this series, the entire world in a few hundred years opens up, and the mind quickly grasps Card’s welcoming and believable mastermind of a story. Reviewed by Jon in 2005

Plot: Wizard’s First Rule by Terry Goodkind starts out with Richard Cypher looking for clues about his father’s murder. As he is doing so he helps keep a beautiful woman named Kahlan from being murdered. Richard ends up getting sucked into Kahlan’s world of magic, wars, and death. After being named Seeker of Truth, he and Kahlan have to find a way to stop Darken Rahl from becoming an absolute ruler of the world of life. Richard and Kahlan journey all over Kahlan’s homeland, the Midlands, trying to stop Darken Rahl. From terrifying secret to terrifying truth Richard and Kahlan journey ever closer to person they’re trying to stop. When they find the object capable of stopping Darken Rahl their hopes return, only to be destroyed again. Will Darken Rahl become the absolute ruler of the world of life, or will Richard and Kahlan have prevail?

Commentary: Wizard’s First Rule is a book in a series of nine and counting. The books all have a strong connection with this world, which makes them all the more powerful. Hidden beneath the cover of the books are lessons that can be learned about life. The characters Terry Goodkind has been able to make are amazing. After nine books, you get to know them almost as well as yourself. These characters are what drives me to read. To see what will happen next. The characters make the themes come to life. Each book has a wizard’s rule, and the book revolves around bringing that rule to life. The rules help everybody in everyday life. Wizard’s First Rule is about wizards first rule. The second book is about the second rule and so on. If everybody followed these rules perfectly, I am sure that the world would get along perfectly. These rules let people guide their lives peacefully and intelligently. Reviewed by Ethan in 2006

Plot: The magic is waning in the Valley, and their protection with it. Tilja and Tahl set off on a desperate journey with their grandparents to find the one magician who can restore the ancient power to the Valley. They must travel into the world of the unforgiving Empire, where magic is outlawed and uttering the magician’s name proves fatal. This is where Tilja comes to realize her peculiar gift that subsequently allows her to stumble upon a stranger with mysterious powers of his own. He becomes a crucial part to the success of Tilja. For whether or not this man proves a friend, will decide the outcome of the people of the Valley.

Commentary: Peter Dickinson does an impeccable job of weaving this story and its characters. The world he has shaped is realistic and complex, addressing such things as the act of government, to the subject of gifts and their use in the world. The characters in this book made identifiable progress that fits with the choices they faced and the experiences they had been through. For instance, Tilja began the story with the feeling that she had no gift of great importance. Through her experiences she learns that she not only has a gift, but that she must use it, because everyone has a role. In order to work well, everyone needs to contribute what they have to offer. This book also touches upon the fact that there must be some form of government in order for peace to reign. At the same time Dickinson recognizes the tyranny government can bring. The most interesting thing I find though, is the way the author presents time, delving into the fantasies of stopping time itself or reversing age. Although its world and its story are fictional, I believe people can relate to this book. Just as C.S. Lewis had the ability to incorporate significant truths and real life connections into his writing, Dickinson does similar work. I rate this book a four out of four because of the intricate and flowing details that are shown throughout this incredible storyteller’s tale. Reviewed by Isaiah in 2007

Plot: I read the book the house of the scorpion. This book was about this young boy who lived in a little house in the middle of a poppy field. This boys name is Mat and he is six. This day was like any other day. Matt’s mom had to leave to go to work and Matt had to stay alone. Matt’s mom always locks the door and nailed the windows shut so that no one could get in and so Matt could not get out. After a while Matt got board when a group of kids showed up. The kids asked him if he wanted to come out and play but Mat was locked in so he smashed the window out. He then jumped out the window and landed on the glass bare foot, he had cut his foot bad. The children carried him back to their big house in a little town, where there was a doctor. When the doctor was treating Matt’s foot, he saw a mark that shows that Mat is a clone. When they realized that he was a clone they locked him up in a room for a long time. They hardly gave him food and they never let him take a shower. The person that Matt was a clone too was very powerful and very old. When he found out that Matt was kept held in a room he went there and had him token out. Everyone hated Matt except when the guy who he is a clone of is around because everyone is scared of him. Matt was living pretty safe and good. One day the guy who he was a clone of died. Matt was not sure if this was a good thing for him or a bad thing.

Commentary: The way the author wrote this book was in a third person but still always based around Matt. The book was based on some where in Mexico, and I think the author did a good job adding a little bit of Spanish in the book and Spanish names. The genre to this book is realistic fiction. The only part of the book that is not realistic is the part that Matt is a clone. I would give this book a two stare because it has a good plot and it is interesting but it does not have a lot of action parts in it. Reviewed by Casey in 2007

Plot: Runaways Prosper and his kid brother Bo have snuck their way to Venice where they meet up with a gang of other misfits living in an abandoned movie theatre. While supported by their leader, the Thief Lord, they are constantly provided for and are living a good life thanks to the secret market with a local trader who is eager to pay cash for the Thief Lord’s small but plentiful crimes. However, with the two orphans Prosper and Bo constantly on watch by a detective hired by their aunt and uncle, soon secrets of the group begin unraveling, as the family of street kids find themselves in a labyrinth of surprises with one ultimate choice.

Commentary: I think that The Thief Lord is a diamond in the rough. Throughout the past few months, I have read average books, which weren’t anything to get excited about. However, this novel was just the book I’ve been searching for. Cornelia Funke’s sophisticated, yet easy to follow writing style makes this book understandable, with many different characters, and interesting plot twists. Another interesting characteristic of The Thief Lord is that it is written in a way that is constantly flopping between each of the sub plots. In addition, some chapters continue on with the plot, yet from a different character’s prospective. Despite initial concern, this style was not difficult to follow at all. In fact, it makes the novel even better because it truly gives the reader a feel for each character, making you feel almost a part of the story because you know so much about each character. I would recommend this book to anyone who is ready for an exciting story with a very surprising plot. With multiple twists and turns, it leaves the reader with a numerous amount of guesses as to what will happen next to the Thief Lord and the rest of Funke’s cast of characters. Reviewed by Tim in 2006

Plot: Cayce Pollard is the top marketing consultant in the world. Her job is to predict what will be cool next and she travels the world to do so. Cayce has many interesting characteristics and friends. She only wears black clothing and it cannot have any labels. When she is nervous she tells herself, “He took a duck in the face at two hundred and fifty knots.” She has several friends but has only ever met several in person. The rest, she knows through a website called Fetish Footage Forum. The site contains over a hundred video clips. Everyone wants to know what they are and who created them. In order for Cayce to find out this information she must call in favors to people with access to highly advanced technology and work her way around high security.

Commentary: I enjoyed this book. The characters are well developed and although there is not much emotion in the book the author does develop some. Dorotea Benedetti, an Italian client, is immediately hated by the reader as the author has developed her to be a nasty woman who will do almost anything to get what she wants. The author’s plot does make the book slightly hard to read. There is some suspense in the book but it is hard to appreciate as the author incessantly bounces from element to element. This made it difficult to completely understand what was going on at all times. However, the ending of the book was emotionally satisfying. Reviewed by Melissa in 2006

Plot: This book has two different plots due to there are two novels in this book. One is the book Aquamarine and the other is Indigo. Aquamarine takes place at the Capri Beach Club. This book was engaging, never knowing what would happen next, from Claire moving to Florida with her grandparents and to see what will happen at the beach club. Claire and her friends Raymond, and Hailey had spent a lot more time together now that hardly anyone came to the beach club any more. Moving or in the process of moving Claire did not want to stop living her life with Hailey. She did not want Hailey to become friends with the girl that was moving into Claire’s old house, Read the book to see how they overcome the mystical adventures they may come across.

Commentary: If you are looking for a fun, quick book that will leave a lifted feeling in you than this is the book for you. If you like mystical things this book will hit your mystical spot in you. Claire, the main character has to deal with having to deal with the fact of moving and leaving the beach club behind, having to leave her best friend behind. This book interested me because it is a different version of a story I have heard of before and when you have these two different story’s you will understand the writer’s style a lot more than if you just read one of them. This book is written very well and how the story’s flow together and have some same components. Reviewed by Ashley in 2007

Plot: A Crown of Swords continues the enthralling, albeit lengthy yarn, that Mr. Jordan has brilliantly spun over the course of six other books thus far. The Black Ajah still rule over the White Tower of the Aes Sedai under the lead of Elaida. Meanwhile, Egwene, the Amyrlin Seat, remains far away from Tar Valon collected Aes Sedai and planning to supplant the fiends in the White Tower. Two other chief characters, Nynaeve and Elayne, both Aes Sedai, search vigorously for the Bowl of Winds, a device that can change the weather patterns that have been negatively affecting the world. Their perfervid search is joined by Mat Cauthon, a jejune young man who has quite a hand at gambling and games of chance leading to his military triumphs. Concurrently, Rand is in a constant state of setting the world straight, fighting his inevitable madness, and preparing for the Last Battle. These characters tie together via a tight knit weave. Reading the last six books is required for entire comprehension of this novel.

Commentary: The Wheel of Time is an absolutely marvelous serious. The most pivotal key to understanding is that the series starts at book one and each book builds off the last. Another fact, sad but true, is these novels progressively get worse and more drawn out. The two star rating is a result of this book’s inability to move the plot forward in an effective and meaningful way. I, being an avid reader of this excellent series, and intrigued by much of the myriad plot twists and turns, as well as the side-plots which develop quite often and are resolved with no real significance to the greater story. This book can be seen as a part of a cohesive whole much rather then a great book into itself. Rand, the previously most interesting character, has nearly become a bore to read about. His life has become politics, and time and time again it is the same old song. I find myself most intrigued when reading about those characters that have remained bright and fruitful with untold stories and a life ahead. Perrin in particular, along with his merry bunch, remain ever intriguing in his more down to earth escapades that don’t involve saving the world, a concept most can’t relate to, but rather to saving his hometown and those people he grew up with. Perrin has been the most unchanged since the beginning, and he has maintained my attention throughout. There are those occurrences that keep me reading; Mr. Jordan throws them in sparingly, but when they present themselves, reading speed nearly doubles. This book encounters a few of those character’s life altering events that make each book worth reading. Most importantly, and the same in all the other novels of the series, this book perpetuates teaching of the world Mr. Jordan has created. A world so deep with stories untold, mystery, beauty, description, and every facet a fantasy series should cover, that it dwarfs even those as marvelous as the one created by J.R.R. Tolkien in the Lord of the Rings. I’d only suggest this book to enthusiastic readers of the series who are completely immersed in all that is for the Wheel of Time. Reviewed by Brent in 2005

Plot: In the novel The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, four children are set out on a quest for the freedom of an unknown land to planet earth itself. When Susy, the youngest of the siblings in the book, finds a wardrobe that leads into Narnia, a whole other world, the adventure starts to sweep you off your feet. Susy quickly goes to tell her brothers Peter and Edmund, and her sister Susy, but they don’t believe her about the magical land. Susy’s secret remains to herself, until on one day when all four children are forced to enter the wardrobe themselves and find themselves in Narnia, just as Susy had told them. They are then told about the history of Narnia, by a friendly beaver, who claims there is a prophecy that two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve would come and enter Narnia, to destroy the evil White Witch. With the help of Aslan, the great lion who created Narnia, Peter, Susy, and Lucy help aid the good forces of Narnia, try to reclaim their brother Edmund from the white Witch’s evil persuasion, and fulfill the prophecy.

Commentary: The author, CS Lewis really puts the book in a very good perspective. The fact that he created this whole new world of Narnia with all different sorts of beasts and other various living beings, is amazing. The author completely puts your mind at ease. The author makes the book come to life by putting in exquisite detail for the characters and places. He really made an impression on me with his portrayal of all the main characters. The main moral of this story is to love your brother and treat him with respect, and I think the author truly put the meaning of that into the book in a very good way. This book greatly interested me with the fantasy involved in it and the epic-ness of the tale, and the giant battle at the end of the book which defines the meaning of good versus evil. If you have ever read a fantasy book such as the Lord of the Rings, and enjoyed it greatly, I highly suggest this book. Reviewed by Matt in 2006

Plot: Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister is yet another Cinderella story, but this time, it’s told from another point of view: one of the stepsisters. Sisters Iris and Ruth escape England and run to Holland with Margarethe, their mother, after the death of their father leaves them penniless. At first, the family finds shelter with a temperamental painter, but soon thereafter moves to live with and work for a wealthy merchant who has an extremely beautiful daughter named Clara. After the death of Clara’s mother, the stepsisters’ mother, Margarethe, takes full control of the household and scrambles to keep the family taken care of. Of course, at the end, Clara goes to the ball and meets a handsome prince, but the real story is everything that leads up to that legendary night.

Commentary: This is a pretty dark retelling of the story, full of superstition and depressing events. For this reason, I did not especially enjoy reading this book, although it was expertly written and I did like the change in perspective. The most interesting thing about this book is that I began to feel sorry for Clara, whose stunning beauty becomes more of a curse than a blessing. There are many interweaving plotlines in this story that keep it moving along as the reader learns more and more about the stepsisters, who in this version, are simply misunderstood. I would recommend this book to those who like fantasy and are ready to witness character development that will challenge their views on a well-known story. Reviewed by April in 2006

Plot: Gregory Maguire starts off with the beginning of life for a young, green child named Elphaba. With details weaved in from the original Wizard of Oz by Lyman Frank Baum, Wicked tells the tale of the Wicked Witch of the West from her point of view, discerning plausible reasoning for her allegedly “wicked” actions.

Starting from her birth, Elphaba was always different from the other children, not only by her green skin, but also her razor-sharp teeth and inability to show emotions. As she grows older, she loses her pointed baby teeth and the adult ones come in normally, causing her parents to believe there is hope for normality for their eldest daughter. When she is eighteen, Elphaba attends the prestigious Shiz University, and meets many different characters, some of which are the precursive counterparts of other well-known characters from the Wizard of Oz. Elphaba’s journeys eventually lead her to Vinkus, the westernmost country of Oz, where she winds up studying sorcery and begins to earn her nickname as a Witch. It is in Elphaba’s estate in the Vinkus that youthful Dorothy comes to pay her respects for Elphaba’s dead sister, who was landed on by Dorothy’s house. A skirmish occurs, and Dorothy tosses a bucket of water, which Elphaba is allergic to, onto the Witch, ultimately killing her and ridding the world of the “Wicked Witch of the West”.

Commentary: Maguire writes with a captivating and innovative style, appealing to the open-minded and strong of heart. The character that may once have given us nightmares is now depicted reasonably in the imaginative life created and justified by Gregory Maguire. Wicked helps readers understand more about the characters and story behind the Wizard of Oz in great depth. However, it does not simply follow the details that need to be created in order to precede the Wizard of Oz, but also contains many more twists and turns that keep the reader curious and eager to continue reading. The novel also contains hints at another chronicle, which was written by Gregory Maguire as a follow-up: Son of a Witch.

Many people are also privy to the hit Broadway musical that was inspired by Maguire’s novel. Also titled Wicked – but without the extension – the musical is a much lighter, happier depiction of Maguire’s fairly sinister tale. Seeing the musical before reading the book would typically be a letdown, as I would already have known the story before reading a four hundred-page book of the same nature. However, the novel has a much more in depth and mature way of presenting more information, than the fast-paced, PG Broadway show. It is also noted that the show was inspired by the book, not based upon it. Seeing or reading either before the other does not ruin the second at all, but rather enhances it, and makes the reader strive to understand the differences and perhaps why the occurred. In fact, reading the book myself, I was even more surprised and intrigued since I had seen the musical beforehand, because I was waiting for an answer I already knew to come out, but instead I discovered that different events happen for different reasons in both the book and musical, while each still make fascinating pieces of entertainment.

Gregory Maguire presents his classic idea of a two-sided story such that it plausibly tells of a time before the Wizard of Oz, and not just what leads up to it. The difference is that Wicked describes the life of Elphaba and her journey from birth to death, with more details to support her story instead of merely telling the audience why the Cowardly Lion is a coward, or why the Wicked Witch of the West is indeed wicked. Reviewed by Katerina in 2007

Plot: Shades Children is based on earth in the near future. Everyone above the age of 14 has disappeared. Monstrous mechanical monsters roam the ruined cities. Children are raised in dormitories by the Overlords until their 14th birthday when they are taken to the meat factory and have their brains transplanted into the mechanical monsters. Few children escape from these prisons only to be hunted down by other types of monsters such as ferrets, myrmidons, wingers, trackers, and screamers. One such lucky one is a young boy named Gold-Eye after the color of his eyes. Mysteriously some of these children have gained special powers suck as Gold-Eye’s precognition powers (seeing the future). Children gather around a mysterious computer program by the name of Shade who tells the children that he will lead them to victory over the Overlords. They go on an amazing journey full of horror to discover the origins of the Overlords and how to defeat them.

Commentary: I think this book was fantastic. It was easy to read and pulled you in every page. This book is also very creepy as it is based in a time very close to now. The author uses a lot of grim detail when describing the dormitories and meat factories but he refrains from showing too much gore. This book even though chilling in some scenes is good for most readers. As you read the book shifts from happy to sad and from calm to terrified very quickly which just makes you want to read more. Shades Children has a fantastic ending that really wraps it up and gives you a great feeling, and it has been written in a way that people who skip to the last page will be forced to read the entire book. Altogether I think this book is captivating and interesting for most readers and I highly recommend it. Reviewed by Tyler in 2006

Rating: 4 stars I thought this book was excellent and it was one of the best books I have read in a long time.

Plot: This story is about a mouse named Mrs. Frisby and her family. Her son Timothy gets sick with pneumonia. After getting medicine for Timothy he still has to stay in bed for a month while he regains his strength. In the mean time moving day isn’t far away (when the farmer Mr. Fitzgibbon plows the garden that they are living in so they have to move out of their house). This leads Mrs. Frisby to go on an adventure to save her son Timothy. On her adventure Mrs. Frisby meets some fascinating characters and she learns some interesting background about her family.

Commentary: This was a great book. It always kept my attention. I always wanted to keep reading just so I could find out more. I also liked how a lot of the characters were animals that had human characteristics. The author keeps you guessing on the true potential for the characters abilities. This book is a really fast read because of the mystery of what is going to happen next. There are two parts of the book that I really like. The first part was when one of the rats named Nicodermus tells the story of their life before living on the Fitzgibbon’s farm. It’s a great story and it keeps you thinking about what will happen next in the story. There is another part in the book that I really liked that is actually an argument between two of the characters about the future of the rat colony. The characters both have some strong points to back up their own side. The author also will keep you interested in the story because of the way it is worded. He uses some cool similes and metaphors. I would recommend this book to all people, especially people that like books that incorporate animals with human characteristics. Reviewed by Cameron in 2007

Plot: Yeah uhm its bases on two species rats and mice and they live on a farm the rats are scientifically mutated so they like are really smart. Then the main character Mrs. Frisby has a son that is sick and cant move. So that farmer is going to mow em down unless she moves her house. So she goes to the rats for some help.

Commentary: The author wrote in a kind of 3rd person view where he moved the characters around and that’s what he did through the entire book. It was really easy to follow and he used his words kind of carefully and understood not to make any confusing sentences because they were all kind of easy. All in the entire book was a descent read and would be recommended to lower classes. Reviewed by Jon in 2007

Plot: The book Lord of the Rings the Two Towers by J.R.R Tolkien is a wonderful and enchanting book. It is the second book of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. A Hobbit by the name of Frodo Baggins must take the one true ring to Mordor where it must be destroyed. He is accompanied by his long time friend and gardener, Samwise Gamgee. Two other hobbits by the names of Merry and Pippin have been captured by orcs, but are being pursued by their friends, Legolas, Gimli and Aragorn. The orcs plan a huge attack on Helms Deep, the last safe haven for the people of Rohan. The keep has never been destroyed before and Saruman sends 10,000 orcs to destroy the keep. Will the keep hold? Will Frodo ever make it to Mt. Doom? Will the fate of middle-earth be saved?

Commentary: The Two Towers is a great book. It is filled with great detail along with the other books of the trilogy. Frodo’s actions to take the ring to Mordor by himself goes to show that he is a great man because he doesn’t want to harm the other companions. The author is trying to tell us that you should worry about the situation of the others around you and what long term effects would happen. They always have flashbacks of their home land, the Shire, because they always relate to their customs like, “It would be tea time right now back home.” or “I can just imagine my self smoking my pipe weed right now with a beaker of ale in one hand, pipe in the other.”

This is a great fantasy book for people who have a broad imagination. It really makes your mind create the characters and their appearance all by your self. I would give this book four starts, because it has a variety of plots going on at once, so you don’t get bored reading about on person all throughout the book. Make sure you read the first book, The Fellowship of the Ring first because it will make the second one much easier to understand. READ THIS BOOK! Reviewed by Zack in 2007

Plot: Alfred Kropp is not an ordinary fifteen-year-old boy. He has a big body and to top it off an enormous head and this does not necessarily give him the reputation of being too smart. His mom died of cancer when he was a young boy and his dad left him before he was born. He lives with his Uncle Farrell who devises an evil scheme to become 'filthy rich' over the course of one night. Little does Alfred know he is getting pulled into a scheme to steel the ancient sword that gives undefeatable power to its wielder, the Excalibur. He learns about what really happened thousands of years ago with King Arthur and the Sword in the Stone (the Excalibur), while speeding down a back country road in a Ferrari Enzo, while Dark Knights glide on there Suzuki Hayabuses behind him.

Commentary: This book has suspense that tightens like a screw. There is always a surprising twist around every corner. One of the ways Rick Yancey makes this book a 'gripper' is by putting a bunch of little 'rising action' and 'climaxes' in the book, but some how makes those smaller ones all fit into one big story plot of one main 'rising action', 'climax', and 'resolution'. The only disappointment with the binding suspense parts is, in a way, it just seems too fake for the main character Alfred. The book goes along and seems to be a good story about a 'screw up' that tries to change his ways somewhat realistically, but later solves his problems with the help of angles and ancient events. The ending of the book is definitely surprising; it is totally unexpected, but great. It is like most books out there in there in the last few chapters, they seem abrupt and were blunt, lacking in detail, and emotion. Although it was still okay and pleasing to the reader, a stronger ending would have topped off how great the book was. One of the things in this book that is the most realistic is the main character Alfred Kropp. His abnormal traits and bad fortune helps him be relatable a wide range of readers. Although the events that Alfred goes through are not normal, to say the least, he remained able to develop as a relatable character, from a self thought nobody to a guy you can always count on to save the world. The twists in where the book takes place help the book to be more of an interesting read. Instead of an oversized teen learning life lessons, Rick Yancey adds the ancient Excalibur and knights, which makes the story a lot more interesting than just a 'stroll in the park'. This book in a way creates a believably parallel world at the mercy of dark knights. Just looking at the overall picture of the book it is an extraordinary story. If you dig a little deeper you may find the book has many hidden messages. One of the hidden messages being everyone has got a purpose in life no matter how abnormal they are. Overall this book is extremely well written, with surprising twists and turns. It is not a book to read if you are looking for a book about life in paradise, in fact, this book shows a world far from that. In has many lessons about life ties into every chapter of the book. It is a great book for people who like suspense and it is an enjoyable read. Reviewed by Jenna in 2007