Animorphs by K.A.Applegate

Animorphs: animal morphers. Used to be 5 normal teenagers...until they met an alien when coming back from the mall. It gives them the power to morph any animal they can touch, and when the alien gets eaten, a hatred for the species who enslaves free races--the yeerks.

The Yoerks are a parsitic species who enslave creatures by going into their "hosts" heads: (in short, they possess other species.) Marco, the joker, Jake, the leader, Cassie, the nature-lover, Rachel "Xena, warrior princess", Poor Tobias, a nothlit, someone trapped in a morph, and Axmili-somehting-de-something(Ax for short). This assorted group--a lone voice in this pit of insanity--will fight the Yeerks. Enjoy this series!

--A.S.

Click here to visit the author's website.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

These are another set of games, this time a contest of survival instead of for fun, even for a hunter like Katniss. 74 years ago, the districts rebelled against the capital. They were defeated by the Capitols superior technology and District 13 was destroyed completely. The Capitol created the Hunger Games as well in which each district is required to send a boy and girl to a slaughter in an arena where all of the tributes fight to the death. 

Katniss, the hunter, however, shows more promise than any at the other District 12 tributes yet. Will she win...or die? Find out in this thrilling trilogy!

--A.S.

click here to visit the author's website.

Demon in My View by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Witches. Vampires. Humans. What luck that I stumble on a nice Gothic read just in time for Halloween! From what I hear about Twilight, (No, I have not actually read the series) this book is very good for its fans.

I like books that are "fantangence" (a combination of science and magic and a wee bit of fantasy). Other fans of this genre should enjoy her other books, which include In the Forests of the Night and Shattered Mirror. 

In Demon in My View, Jessica is a typical outcast at her high school. Only she's also a fairly well-known author under the pseudonym of Ash Night (of course). And then her characters turn out to be real, and she finds out that the vampire community she has unwittingly revealed is not pleased. An understatement, in fact--they are furious. Only one thing stops them from silencing her forever (and it is more of a who)--Aubrey, one of --if not THE-- most powerful vampire(s) in her "story".

I hope you like Jessica and Aubrey's tale as much as I did!

click here to visit the author's website.

-A.S. 

Rangers' Apprentice by John Flanagan

Rangers are like spies in Araluen, but are also protectors. There are 50 parts of the kingdom, and one Ranger takes care of each part. Halt, a legendary ranger, accepts Will as his apprentice...the first Ranger's apprentice in years. 

At first, Will is unsure of what to make of this...but throughout the series, he develops an undying loyalty to the King's Rangers, Halt and all of his new friends. Not quite the fine knight he'd always wished to be, but still incredibly noble, as much as (if not more) than the Battleschool future he knows he will now never have.

My favorite bit is Alyss, Horace, Jenny, and all of Will's wardmates. 

Read more about them in the series.

Click on the link to visit the website.

yours,

A.S.

The Gollywhopper Games by Jody Feldman

 Probably my most recent read. It's an incredible book of puzzles, but also people of different strengths and (of course) an accusation with no evidence. This book contains bullies, a false contest, and a poor character everyone can't help but adore. Gil, who bears a resemblance to Charlie from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, (a nice old classic which I feel everyone should have read),is a lifelike character who is not at all at home in his hometown,but is constantly experiencing a "too-good-to-be-true" type of sensation. What kid wouldn't want to have Gil's experience, and get to go to a perfect toy factory? The Gollywhopper Games is an exciting book and I think that most fans of fiction will enjoy it as much as I have. I (literally) could not put it down!

Click on the link to visit the official website.

thanks,

A.S.