Hunger (Gone #2) by Michael Grant

Title: Hunger (Gone #2) 
Author: Michael Grant 
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Reviewer: Shira (11)
Rating: 11/10

 Readers won't be able to put the book down, and will be submersed in the world of the 'FAYZ' -- A world of kids all under 15 years of age, trapped in a forcefield like bubble, and gaining mutant superpowers.

 In Hunger, we follow the main character, Sam Temple, and his friends as they try to survive in the world of the FAYZ while fighting Sam's brother, Cain Soren,and his posse. In the end, the kids team up to fight the 'Gaiaphage',a mutant power that has been growing in the depths of the earth, living off of nuclear power from a meteorite that hit Perdido Beach, CA, 13 years prior.

 This book is undoubtedly the best book I'v read ,I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves action, drama, and excitement.

Happenstance Found by P.W. Catanese

Title: Happenstance Found (Books of Umber)
Author: P. W. Catanese
Publisher: Aladdin
Publication date: January 2009
Reviewer: Shira (11)
Rating: 4 1/2 Cheeseburgers

Happenstance is a boy with strange abilities. With no past and no memories, he is found by the amazing Lord Umber and taken under Umber's protection in a medieval world.  


Happenstance was found with a letter from a mysterious creature named WN. It tells Umber that Happenstance, will see abilities arising. Strange ablilities like his amazing green eyes that can see future, past and what could be along, with amazing night vision. His legs are capable of propelling him 7 feet or higher in the air, and his mind always curious.

On top of Hap's numerous questions like, "Where am I? What am I?" and "Why am I so strange?" there is a creature, an eye hunter, named Occo, who is hunting Hap for his all-seeing eyes.

Happenstance gets the help of Umber's bodyguard and friend, Oates, Umber's archiver, Sophie, a small man Umber rescued from a mean noble, Thimble,and the librarian Smudge.  And with Smudge's help he discovers that he is something called a "Meddler". A creature, small in numbers, that can bend history and future to its will.

<Editor's note: The paragraph below contains spoilers. If you want to read it, highlight the text!> 

After a fight with Occo and defeating the creature, Umber shows Hap his secret. A secret that he has kept to himself for 10 years. "Project Reboot". This was a project in Umbers' world (Our 21st century) in case the world were to have a global cotastrophy. He helped collect info about everything in his world on a computer in case this were to happen. 


Eventually it did. Umber was still collecting the information needed when the catastrophy became reality. He was knocked out and woke in Hap's world. The world he lives in to this day.

Follow Hap, as he and his friends discover new and interesting abilities and fight new monsters hunting Happenstance the Meddler.

The Magic Thief by Sarah Prineas

Title: The Magic Thief
Author: Sarah Prineas
Publisher: Harper Collins Kids
Pub Date: June 2008
Reviewer: Shira (11)
Rating: 3 1/2 Cheeseburgers


One night, Conn, a boy just wanting to fill his stomach, picks the wizard Nevery's pocket.  He takes out the wizard's power stone. Shocked that Conn was not immediatly killed by the stone, Nevery takes Conn on as a servant. Seeing Conns inquisitive nature and promise for magic, Nevery keeps him around.  But Conn must find his own unique stone, his "Locus Magicalus" that will focus his magical powers.

One of Neveries fellow wizards convinced Nevery that one of his friends was in cohoots with the city's dark underlord.  On a quest to defeat the evil underlord, Conn also must find his Locus Magicalus in time.

Readers will love this unlikely adventure by Sarah Prineas.

I rate this book 3 1/2 cheeseburgers.

Note: Sarah Prineas has a new book out for 2012: Winterling

Scepter of the Ancients by Derek Landy

Title: Scepter of the Ancients
Author: Derek Landy
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication Date: April 21, 2009
Reviewer: Shira (11)
Rating: 5 Cheeseburgers

Meet Stephanie Edgley, a girl who's life changes when a tall stranger appears at her uncle's funeral. Follow Stephanie through an adventure to fight vampires, werewolves, and other assorted mean monsters, all along side Skullduggery Pleasant. Skullduggery Pleasant is a mage who dodged death and is now a living skeleton who uses his head , that he won in a poker match, in innovative and creative ways to always get Stephanie out of danger.

In "The Scepter of Ancients" Skullduggery and Stephanie solve the mystery of a scepter which, when activated correctly, could bring about the end of the world with the rule of the gruesome gods, the Faceless Ones. They must find and destroy the power crystal in the scepter, once owned by the good gods of the universe, the ancients, so that the evil can never touch it. All readers are sure to get addicted to the crazy adventures of Skullduggery Pleansant and love the witty jokes and emotion in this story. I rate it 5 Cheeseburgers.