City of Glass

To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters -- never mind that enter-ing the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadow-hunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadow-hunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City -- whatever the cost?Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Times bestselling trilogy The Mortal Instruments.

from Amazon.com

Beth says 5 stars...
This book was fantastic! It kept me reading past 1 o'clock in the morning while I knew all along that I should have been sleeping. This book was worth the lost sleep, though. Clare has an incredible and unique way of writing, fusing sarcastic humor with striking descriptions. City of Glass lost none of that, and it feels like Clare's writing is just getting better. It is the backbone and driving force of the stories, and what makes them so wonderful. All of the characters became more complex, and none more so than Jace. His development was so fascinating and one of the most engaging portions of the book. The existing relationships also deepened and some new ones were introduced. It was interesting to finally get a real look at the Shadowhunters' homeland. That in itself gave insight into why some of the characters behave the way they do. Some of the "plot twists" I was able to figure out fairly easily, however I was blindsided on more than one occasion. I love (most) of the characters and the stories, so it's very sad for me to have to part ways with them. I must admit that this book had the most satisfying epilogue that I've ever read. This was a fitting end to an amazing series and I can't wait to read more books from Cassandra Clare.


Nathan says 5 stars...
I'm entirely convinced that Cassandra Clare could write about the rate at which paint dries and I would read every word. Her writing is amazing. I would put her in the top three YA prose writers today. I loved every sentence. The crew is back again and they are remedying (and creating) more havoc, but this time in Idris, the capital of the Shadowhunters. The dialogue is as amazing as always with a lot of quirk and biting sarcasm. I have one issue with the book-predictability. Most of the plot points were easily guessed, though a few were unexpected. It's so well-written that I really didn't mind. Denouement is one of my favorite parts of a novel and this book had plenty of it. There is a truly massive epilogue; this thing is awe-inspiring. Every minor plot was addressed and we find all of our characters reach a conclusion. I love all of the couplings in this book. It helps that Clare makes her characters realistic, which is hard to do when dealing with demon-slaying Nephilim, warlocks, vampires, and other breeds of mystical beings. This book is truly well done. I love Clare's writing and all I can say I can't wait for her next series*.

*Her next series is about the Shadowhunters and is set in Victorian England-I love Victorian England.

Confessions of a Serial Kisser

EVANGELINE LOGAN WANTS a kiss. A spectacular, heart-stopping, life changing kiss. Somehow The Crimson Kiss (a romance novel she’s become obsessed with) and Four Steps to Living Your Fantasy (a self-help book she’s reading) have fused in Evangeline’s mind and sent her on a quest for a kiss. But the path to perfection is paved with many bad kisses—the smash mouth, the ear licker, the “misser.” The phrase “I don’t kiss and tell” means nothing to the boys in her school. And worse: someone starts writing her name and number on bathroom walls. And worst of all: the boy she's just kissed turns out to be her best friend’s new crush. Kissing turns out to be way more complicated than the romance novels would have you believe . . .

from amazon.com

Beth says 4 Stars...
I was very skeptical of this book when I started it. From the pink cover to the title it appeared like another terribly shallow chick-lit book. I'm willing to admit that I was wrong. This book was so much better and deeper than the title implied. The main character, Evangeline, had to confront her own demons and issues raised by her parents' divorce. The plot moved along fairly well, and the commentary on romance was biting and spot on. It served as a reminder that quite often we end up looking for the wrong thing , or that we look for the right thing in the all of the wrong places. I enjoyed the book and found it to be a fun and insightful read.

Blue is for Nightmares

"I Know Your Secret . . ."

It started with weird e-mails and freaky phone calls. Now someone's leaving Drea white lilies-the same death lilies that have been showing up in Stacy's dreams. Everybody thinks it's just a twisted game . . . until another girl at school is brutally murdered.

There are no witnesses. Worst of all, no one has a perfect alibi. With everyone as a potential suspect, Stacy turns to the one secret weapon she can trust-the folk magic taught to her by her grandmother. Will Stacy's magic be strong enough to expose the true killer, or will the killer make her darkest nightmares come true?

from bn.com

Nathan says 4 stars...
Laurie Faria Stolarz knows how to draw in readers. Stolarz defies the niches of YA literature and writes in multiple genres, but one of her most popular series is her Blue is for Nightmares set. The books focus on Stacey who is dealing with the transition to boarding school...oh yeah, and the ominous premonitions she is having of her best friend's death. Part coming-of-age, part super natural thriller, part romance, and wholly interesting, this book proves that Stolarz is a writer worthy of our admiration. The dialogue is fairly well-written, and the characters are suitable, but the real key to this book is the plot. It's fast-paced and Intense (note the capital "I"). This series swept through my school like the Black Plague through Europe; contagious is seriously a great word to describe the series. It's a fun, fast read that will have readers ready to continue the rest of the series. The verdict- If you like super-natural thrillers this book should definitely be on your reading list.

A Note On Bloggy Things.

Well, first we must say THANKS to the amazing MssJos at Reviews of Young Adult Literature who just gave us our very first award. We'll save you the Oscar speech, but a general thank you is in order to all of our lovely readers.

Here is our fantabulamazing award. YAY for putrefied poultry.

The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all...

So to avoid the wrath of chickens, zombies or otherwise, here are our nominees~
Tasha at And Another Book Read...
Sharon at Sharon Loves Books and Cats
Stephanie at Juiciliciousss Reviews
Carrie at Carrie's YA Bookshelf
Steph Su at Steph Su Reads


Our second order of business is in regards to our poll.
The winner of the "What to Review Next" poll was Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr. There's only one problem - we don't have Fragile Eternity. We're working on that though. We will post as soon as we have it, pinky promise. We'll probably review City of Glass first, but don't despair, Marr will receive her fair share eventually.


I'll close with a small teaser. We will soon be holding our first ever CONTEST. It will involve free things, bookish things, so come back next week for your chance to win. We promise excitement, and we mean Harry Potter Midnight Madness excitement, oh yeah we went there.

Bloodhound

Beka Cooper is finally a Dog—a full-fledged member of the Provost’s Guard, dedicated to keeping peace in Corus’s streets. But there’s unrest in Tortall’s capital. Counterfeit coins are turning up in shops all over the city, and merchants are raising prices to cover their losses. The Dogs discover that gamblers are bringing the counterfeit money from Port Caynn. In Port Caynn, Beka delves deep into the gambling world, where she meets a charming banking clerk named Dale Rowan. Beka thinks she may be falling for Rowan, but she won’t let anything—or anyone—jeopardize her mission. As she heads north to an abandoned silver mine, it won’t be enough for Beka be her usual “terrier” self. She’ll have to learn from Achoo to sniff out the criminals—to be a Bloodhound. . . .

from bn.com

Beth says 5 stars...

I'm going to try and keep the gushing to a minimum. However, I LOVE Tamora Pierce's books. Bloodhound is no exception. It read even more like a detective novel than Terrier, but it worked. It's set about a year after Terrier ends and skips some major events (like when Beka is made a Dog). Pierce subtly shows how many of the characters have grown through brilliant dialogue and their actions. After a series of incidents, Beka finds herself in Port Caynn investigating some counterfeit coins that have made their way into circulation. The plot moved forward beautifully, its complexities neither getting lost nor hampering the flow of the story. Because most of the story took place outside of Corus, I missed some familiar characters (Rosto, Kora, Aniki, Lady Sabine, etc.). Pierce attempted to make up for this by introducing some new characters that were fantastic. This pulled me in and refused to let me go. Beka continued to grow and develop. It will be interesting to see what Pierce will do with her in the next book. This book reminded my of why I love Tamora Pierce's writing so much. Her versatility and ability to create a story are anstounding and distinguish her as an extraordinary talent. Simply put, this book was AMAZING!

Nathan says 5 stars...
My love affair with Tamora Pierce began long ago, and this latest tryst left little wanting. As I began Bloodhound, I was once again walking in the muck of the Lower City trolling for Rats next to our favorite Dog, Beka. The instant pull of her writing sucked me in totally. The partner storyline felt a bit ominous, and I guessed the outcome, but I love Pierce so much it didn't matter. I enjoyed the ride to the inevitable. The detailed and believable characters create the magnetism in Pierce's books which has made her a powerhouse in the YA world, this is true of Bloodhound also. The Port Caynn crew made a welcome addition to the series. Readers will be anxious for more of this well-conceived bunch. It was a fairly quick read, but that may be because my life was nearly paused until I finished. As I'm writing this I'm trying keep my book-self from gushing onto the keyboard. Pierce fans will be ecstatic and new readers will be hooked, though I would suggest reading Terrier first. Wait-why are you still reading this? You should be pre-ordering Bloodhound. Go! No really, now, I promise it won't dissapoint.

How to Ditch Your Fairy

Welcome to New Avalon, where everyone has a personal fairy. Though invisible to the naked eye, a personal fairy, like a specialized good luck charm, is vital to success. And in the case of the students at New Avalon Sports High, it might just determine whether you make the team, pass a class, or find that perfect outfit. But for 14-year-old Charlie, having a Parking Fairy is worse than having nothing at all—especially when the school bully carts her around like his own personal parking pass. Enter: The Plan. At first, teaming up with arch-enemy Fiorenza (who has an All-The-Boys-Like-You Fairy) seems like a great idea. But when Charlie unexpectedly gets her heart’s desire, it isn’t at all what she thought it would be like, and she’ll have resort to extraordinary measures to ditch her fairy. The question is: will Charlie herself survive the fairy ditching experiment? From the author of the acclaimed Magic or Madness trilogy, this is a delightful story of fairies, friendships, and figuring out how to make your own magic.

from amazon.com

Beth says 4 Stars...
I was looking forward to reading this book. I really enjoyed the Magic or Madness trilogy, and therefore expected great things from this book as well. Although it wasn't quite as good as I expected it to be, I still enjoyed reading it. I loved how unique the fairies in this book were, they weren't like Tinker Bell. I thought it was cute how they all had their little quirks and all did such different things. I also found the culture of New Avalon fascinating, and felt a little bit of scathing social commentary. The complete obsession with sports and the city itself was another facet to this almost real world. Charlie was a decent character, but, as with all the characters in the book, there was really nothing special that made her stand out in my mind. She may as well have been any other host of female characters. Despite its shortcomings, this book was really fun and absolutely adorable. It had some thought provoking points about what you really want, but managed to somehow remain rather foofy. This was a fun, light read.

Teen Angst? Naaah...A Quasi-autobiography

The events in these stories are real. Some names have been changed so I don’t get yelled at.

Ned Vizzini writes about the weird, funny, and sometimes mortifying moments that made up his teen years. With wit, irony, and honesty, Teen Angst? Naaah . . . invites you into his world of school, parents, street people, rock bands, friends, fame, camp, sex (sort of), Cancun (almost), prom, beer, Nintendo, the cool (and almost cool), and more. A Holden Caulfield for Generation Y, Ned Vizzini is an original voice to be reckoned with, read, and enjoyed.

from bn.com

Nathan says 5 stars...
I opened this book to find the first chapter entitled "Nintendo Saved Me," and I instantly fell in love. Ned Vizzini captures the essence of the teenage years with a realism that seems achieved so easily. Vizzini recalls all the quirky details of junior high to senior year with a humor, wit, and depth that makes one look beyond his prose into the very soul of the author. Whether it be ranting about the evils of the Collegeboard or explaining how he tried illegal narcotics before sampling alcohol, Vizzini involves the reader in the story at a core level. Oh, I haven't mentioned yet, there are footnotes*. The book looks a little kid-ish, with its cartoons and large text, but I promise, it's not. I would suggest this for slightly older demographic, but most YA book audiences will be fine with it. Final verdict - this book is bold and refreshing. A must-read for YA fanatics, I mean the word quasi is in the title, what's not to love?


*I LOVE footnotes. They are delicious and quirky interjections that make a book all the more interesting.

Dragon's Egg

It is a rare talent, and only she can care for the Inn's herd. She feeds them, gathers their eggs, and tends to their injuries. But Mella dreams about the dragons of legend, even though hardly anyone believes they still exist. Dragons are small farm animals, not huge fire-breathing monsters. Everyone knows that.

Until one day changes everything.

A Knight of the Order of Defenders arrives at the Inn. Signs of the mythical dragons have led him there, he says. Then a simple errand takes Mella through the forest, where she stumbles across a dragon's egg—and faces the true, terrifying dragon guarding it. On the spot, Mella vows to get the egg safely to the fabled Hatching Grounds. She must leave her home for the first time, and she finds an unlikely companion in the Defender's squire, Roger.

For Mella and Roger, this one day is the beginning of an adventure. Where will it take them?

from amazon.com

Beth says 3 Stars...

This book is adorable! This was an interesting take on dragons, having several different types that are both tame and wild. I definitely loved the concept of dragon keepers. The connections that the keepers and dragons had was great. I found everything about that interesting. The plot was relatively straghtforward, with very few twists and turns. Despite this, however, the book was fun. Even though it was predictable, I enjoyed it. The characters were all well done and felt fairly realistic. The book was short and a quick read. One thing that I thought was less than stellar was the writing style, which felt choppy at times. However, this is still a good middle grade book. It is a perfect read for younger readers who are fostering a love of dragons.

Anthem

Ayn Rand's classic bestseller, Anthem, is the unforgettable tale of a nightmarish totalitarian future—and the ultimate triumph of the individual spirit. First published in 1938, and often compared with Orwell's 1984 and Huxley's Brave New World, this beautifully written story has introduced millions to Rand's provocative worldview.
Rand's protagonist, Equality 7-2521, describes a surreal world of faceless, nameless drones who "exist through, by and for our brothers who are the State. Amen." Alone, this daring young man defies the will of the ruling councils and discovers the forbidden freedoms that prevailed during the Unmentionable Times. In other words, he finds and celebrates the power of the self. In doing so, he becomes the prototypical Rand hero—a bold risk-taker who shuns conformity and unabashedly embraces egoism.

from bn.com

Nathan says 4 stars...

Some may pound me for trying to rate this book, or for underrating it. So, as always this is my opinion, and I'm basing this more on what it made me think, and how I reacted. This is one of the "modern classics," so it's hard to judge. Now that I've ended the preamble, here we go. Ayn Rand knows what she is doing when it comes to making a point. Anthem is the perfect vehicle for her ideals on individualism. The book is a bit conceptual, and there isn't much in the way of detailed explanation. The story is written in first person, which really adds to the general mood of the novel. I don't exactly agree with Rand's ideas, so that takes away from my opinion, but still I appreciate Rand's fantastic writing. The novel is fast-paced, so don't expect a long read. I actually read it on my iPod (it's a free e-book, check out the Stanza app) and it didn't take long at all. In the end my take is read it, make your own decisions on Rand's philosophies, and get back to me, our comments section is always open.

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

It all starts when Nick asks Norah to be his girlfriend for five minutes. He only needs five minutes to avoid his ex-girlfriend, who’s just walked in to his band’s show. With a new guy. And then, with one kiss, Nick and Norah are off on an adventure set against the backdrop of New York City—and smack in the middle of all the joy, anxiety, confusion, and excitement of a first date.
This he said/she said romance told by YA stars Rachel Cohn and David Levithan is a sexy, funny roller coaster of a story about one date over one very long night, with two teenagers, both recovering from broken hearts, who are just trying to figure out who they want to be—and where the next great band is playing.
Told in alternating chapters, teeming with music references, humor, angst, and endearing side characters, this is a love story you’ll wish were your very own. Working together for the first time, Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have combined forces to create a book that is sure to grab readers of all ages and never let them go.

ever from bn.com

Beth says 5 Stars...
I was skeptical of this book. Hmmm... this may become a theme: Beth is a skeptic! I'd read a few reviews, and it seemed that people either loved or hated the book. I put myself into the LOVED category! First of all, this book was cool. The kind of cool that we all wish we were, but aren't. The kind of cool that knows all of the right music and movies without even trying. This book is genius. It's extremely short and a quick read, but everything had some meaning. No words were wasted. A word of caution; there is quite a bit of swearing. However, even the swearing feels organic. The authors aren't writing swear words just to have them there; it honestly feels like that's what Nick or Norah would have said if they were real. What makes the book so phenomenal are the characters. Almost all of them are incredibly complex and layered. I feel like I'm gushing, but this book deserves it. From the wonderful two person narrative to the crazy plot and pop culture references, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist is a fun and fulfillinf ride that will leave you wanting more.


Nathan says 5 stars...
You know how some things just exude cool? Well, Nick and Norah goes one step further and is made of cool(I'm not kidding). This book is one of the greatest YA achievements of the last few decades. Rachel Cohn and David Levithan capture what being a teenager is in such depth that the reader is immediately sucked into the lives of Nick and Norah. The characters are phenomenally real. Something I love about the novel is that the authors were brave enough to write characters that were round and real, rather than the character sketches many teen novels have. The writing style is _____________(insert the most positive adjective in your vocabulary) and each sentence is a delight to read. The story is fast-paced, but still detailed which just adds to the frenzy of the couple's crazy night. As Beth said, pop culture abounds, and every little reference just adds to the depth and complexity of the novel. There is even a fantastic Heathers reference (note: everyone should see Heathers, dark comedy genius). There is some swearing in it, but it's not gratuitous and many of you will hear more swearing on a daily basis at school. There is only one major problem with this book...it's way too short.

P.S. - I beg all of you to not judge the book from the movie. The movie was an awful, awful skewing of such a fantastic novel. The book's 3-D characters were smushed into these flat zombie imitations of their written counterparts. The plot seems disregarded to a degree and some of the casting is off (though Kat Dennings could have been the perfect Norah). Read the book, skip the movie.

So Yesterday

We are all around you.
You don’t think about us much, because we are invisible. Well, not exactly invisible. A lot of us have hair dyed in four colors, or wear five-inch platform sneakers, or carry enough metal in our skin that it’s a hassle getting on an airplane. Quite visible, actually, come to think of it.
But we don’t wear signs saying what we are. After all, if you knew what we were up to, we couldn’t work our magic. We have to observe carefully, and push and prompt you in ways you don’t notice. Like good teachers, we let you think you’ve discovered the truth on your own.
And you need us. Someone has to guide you, to mold you, to make sure that today turns into yesterday on schedule. Because frankly, without us to monitor the situation, who knows what would get crammed down your throats?
It’s not like you can just start making your own decisions, after all.

Ever wonder who was the first kid to keep a wallet on a big chunky chain, or wear way-too-big-pants on purpose? What about the mythical first guy who wore his baseball cap backwards? These are the Innovators, the people at the peak of the cool pyramid.
Seventeen-year-old Hunter Braque is a Trendsetter, on the second level of the pyramid. His job: find the newest, coolest thing for the retail market. His MO: observe, don’t get involved. But from the moment he meets Innovator Jen James, he can’t help getting involved in a big way.
Part love story, part mystery, part stinging satire, Scott Westerfeld’s spellbinding new novel will make you question everything you’ve ever believed about how to be cool.

from bn.com

Nathan says 4.5 stars...

If you've never read a Scott Westerfield book...you really need to. This is actually a fairly good place to start. It's one of his only stand-alone novels and it serves as a good introduction to Westerfield's writing. The book's premise is fairly unique, but isn't so far out as to lose the reader. The characters are what make this book worthwhile. Hunter and Jen are realistic and likable characters, while the supporting cast are well-conceived and unique. The other major character in the novel is New York City. The reader can tell that Westerfield feels that NYC is home (well for half the year). The plot is pretty well-paced. Something that doesn't really matter, but I still loved about the book was the design. The fonts and layout are superb. Anyway, the point is, check this one out, you won't be disappointed.

Stargazer

The vampire in me was closer to the surface . . .

Evernight Academy: an exclusive boarding school for the most beautiful, dangerous students of all—vampires. Bianca, born to two vampires, has always been told her destiny is to become one of them.

But Bianca fell in love with Lucas—a vampire hunter sworn to destroy her kind. They were torn apart when his true identity was revealed, forcing him to flee the school.

Although they may be separated, Bianca and Lucas will not give each other up. She will risk anything for the chance to see him again, even if it means coming face-to-face with the vampire hunters of Black Cross—or deceiving the powerful vampires of Evernight. Bianca's secrets will force her to live a life of lies.

Yet Bianca isn't the only one keeping secrets. When Evernight is attacked by an evil force that seems to target her, she discovers the truth she thought she knew is only the beginning. . . .

from harperteen.com

Beth says 4 Stars…
This book is the second in a series (the first book is Evernight), and you definitely have to have read the first book to understand anything. That being said, I enjoyed this book. The characters are interesting, and some of Gray’s ideas are fresh. However, the main problem with this book is that quite often you feel like you’ve read it before. As I said earlier there are some unexpected twists, including the inclusion of another group of the supernatural, but most of the plot “twists” are predictable. The plot moved rather slowly, and most of the problems I had with the book were with the plot. The writing itself is good, but the plot did feel forced at times. Overall, this book is a fun read and I look forward to the next book in the series.

Nathan says 3.5 stars...

For me this book is really stuck in the middle. It's good, and I'll read the next book, sure, but there were definitely issues. The writing was really subtle and beautiful. Gray was able to nuance her writing so that we could always feel where the book was going; however, this is also a bad thing. The book is a little predictable. The first half is close to boring. Twilight fans may draw comparisons to New Moon, HP fans to Order of the Phoenix. The second half picks up and is great-until the last five pages where a contrived and forced ending ruins the experience. Minus the first half and the ending, this book may have had a 4.5 star rating, but those flaws are way too big to overlook. Good, but could have been great. Look for it on shelves soon-see if you agree.

Deerskin

Summary: As Princess Lissar reaches womanhood, it is clear to all the kingdom that in her breathtaking beauty she is the mirror image of her mother, the queen. But this seeming blessing forces her to flee for safety from her father's wrath. With her loyal dog Ash at her side, Lissar will unlock a door to a world of magic, where she will find the key to her survival-and an adventure beyond her wildest dreams.

from bn.com

Beth says 5 Stars...

I fell in love with Robin McKinley the first time I read The Blue Sword and Deerskin made me love her even more. Deerskin is an extraordinary novel. The subject matter was more than a bit disturbing at times, but McKinley's beautiful prose treats it with great humanity. This is a "grown-up" fairy tale where evil isn't always obvious and happily ever after doen't always come easily. There is a powerful combination of pain and beauty, which makes the book unflinchingly human. It shows the altering power of love, and that love sometimes comes in unexpected ways that aren't always good. Everything about this book was breathtaking, from the characters, to the plot, to the writing itself. It was a powerfully engrossing read, magical and emotional. This is an unforgettable book that begs to be read over and over again.

Project Sweet Life

Summary

For most kids, fifteen is the year of the optional summer job: Sure, you can get a job if you really want one, but it isn't required or anything. Too bad Dave's dad doesn't agree! Instead of enjoying long days of biking, swimming, and sitting around, Dave and his two best friends are being forced by their fathers into a summer of hard labor.
The friends have something else in mind, though: Not only will they not work over the summer, but they're determined to trick everyone into believing they really do have jobs. So what if the lifeguard doesn't have a tan or the fast-food worker isn't bringing home buckets of free chicken? There's only one problem: Dave's dad wants evidence that his son is actually bringing in money. And that means Dave, Curtis, and Victor will have to get some . . . without breaking the law and without doing any work!
Project Sweet Life is designed for the funny and lazy bone in all of us—a true comedy of errors (without any effort!) from seasoned storyteller Brent Hartinger.

from amazon.com

Beth says 3 Stars...

This book was just fun! The three main characters invent crazy schemes to earn money that inevitably end in failure... or do they? This plot contained both the expected in equal measure. At times the plot felt forced, however. One has to wonder if a bunch of lazy teenage boys would go through all of the effort that they did in the book. Not to knock booys, but I'm a teenager and I know about the summer. The writing style was good, though. The characters were pretty well done, however I feel like there could have been more emphasis placed upon them versus the plot. Despite this, the wildly different personalities of the characters all compliamented one another to create a fun group. The main reason I'm giving this book a lower rating is that it lacked depth. Even though this book was never about anything really deep, I feel like there could have been a little something more put into it. Anyway, this book would be a good summer read because it appeals to the slacker in all of us!