Erak's Ransom -- a review by Jacob Duerr

Ranger’s Apprentice: Erak’s Ransom

By: John Flanagan

***** stars

Ranger’s Apprentice: Erak’s Ransom is all about a trade agreement gone all wrong. The story begins with Erak, the highest ranking person from Skandia, a country far north, raiding a town in the deserts of Arridia. Needless to say, he gets captured and a ransom is required to get him back. His fellow Skandians go to their friends the Aruleans Halt, Gilan (both rangers), Will (ranger in training), and Horace (a young warrior). One of Erak’s trusted men, Svengal, arrives and asks them for help. Halt contacts the royal family of Arulea and they agree to help him, since Arulea and Skandia are good friends of each other. Cassandra, the princess, is assigned to negotiate a price for Erak’s safe return.

Cassandra, along with Halt, Gilan, Will, Horace, Svengal and his crew, all go to Arridia to negotiate a price. After a few days stay in Arridia, a price is determined, but Erak is on his way to a prison city for holding, so the party of Aruleans and Arridians must go get him. Along the way, a sandstorm crosses their path and Will loses his horse. Once the sandstorm passes, Will decides to go looking for his horse while the main party continues on to get Erak.

From this point on, Will goes searching for his horse and the main party intercepts a nasty battle scene, in which Erak’s party was attacked, and Erak is nowhere to be found. What has happened to Erak, and will they ever find him? Is Will ever going to find his beloved horse ever again? Find out in the events that follow in Ranger’s Apprentice: Erak’s Ransom.

In my opinion, this is a very excellent book and you should definitely read it. I particularly enjoyed the adventure aspect of this book, mixed in with multiple fights, twists and turns, and many other various things. The suspense comes in when you read about one part of the story and then you're left hanging while you read what has happened while the part you read happened. However, this is book seven in a series, and as such you should at least read books one through four. Reading books five and six is not entirely necessary, but reading in order is always helpful. I would not recommend reading this book as a stand alone book, for you will understand nearly nothing about the characters and what is going on. I still highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good adventure in medieval times, especially if you like crazy turns and twists in the story and astonishing outcomes. Much more is to come at the end of this incredible book!

Merlin's Dragon -- a review by Jon Luna

Merlin’s Dragon

Author: T.A. Barron

*****stars

Merlin’s Dragon is a fantasy story (the first in a trilogy) that focuses on the adventures of a character named Basil. The setting takes place in the fictional land of Avalon (Mentioned in the story of King Arthur). Basil was born in a realm called Woodroot, one of the many realms in the world of Avalon. Basil does not know who he is or what his destiny would be. Basil constantly evades the realm’s predators just to survive and eat. The only power Basil knows so far is to produce a sent based on what he thinks of the environment around him, giving him a good advantage over his surroundings. One night, he has a nightmare of Merlin the Wizard being attacked by a creature of unknown origin. What’s even worse is a warlord named Rhita Gawr has come to conquer Avalon. Urgent to warn Merlin, Basil, accompanied by the wind sister Aylah, embarks on a journey to save Merlin from the worst possible fate.

Merlin’s Dragon is a really good fantasy story. The story is very descriptive on the creatures of Avalon and how Avalon itself was created and what the land looks like. There are many clues about what creature Basil might be. This can be considered the first prequel to the events that happened before Merlin taught King Arthur. If you read the Artemis Fowl series and loved them, then you will love to read this and if you liked this story, then track down the sequels of the Merlin’s Dragon Trilogy.

Nightlight: A Parody -- a review by Sara Downs

Nightlight

by Harvard Lampoon

** stars

Belle Goose has moved from Phoenix, Arizona to Switchblade, Oregon. She is quirky, full of herself, and just plain weird. At her new school Belle meets the mysterious Edwart Mullen. He is dark, secretive, and the school super nerd. However, there is one secret that is connecting the two of them, Edwart is a vampire...maybe. Before she knows it, Belle has fallen head over heals for this possible vampire. Edwart does not know what to do with this weird girl who keeps referring to him as her sexy vampire boyfriend. Are these two destined to be together? Or will the other vampire Josh keep Belle from Edwart?

This book only gets two stars for many reasons. Nightlight is cleverly written as a parody to the novel Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. It is a romantic comedy that lacks certain emotional depth. Obvious jokes are made about the names, sparkling vampires, and a teen romance that occurs over night. However, many of the jokes are ones only the readers of Twilight would understand. Those who have never read the actual series first would not get how funny the book really is. This is not a deep novel. The story line isn't very clear and a lot of the time I was trying to make sense of what was going on. There is no emotion in the writers words and sometimes it just doesn't make sense. I wouldn't recommend this novel as a serious read. However, if you're looking for a light read that lacks emotional depth, this is the book to read.

Darkness Before Dawn -- a review by Derri’Anna White

Darkness before Dawn

By: Sharon M. Draper

***** Stars

Keisha is an eighteen year old senior at Hazelwood High School. She struggles through high school due to a death someone really closed to her, after recovering from the lost of her friend she realizes that she has to grow up and become a better person in life. As Keisha goes through her senior year she has friends that are always by her sides which are Rhonda, Tyrone, Gerald, and Jalani. Throughout all her up’s and down’s she has learned not to get involved with the wrong men or man. She also learns not to fall in love for all the wrong reasons. Getting over her friend tragic death she now spots a new eye candy Named Coach Jonathan Hathaway, he is the principal son at Hazelwood High School. Coach Jonathan Hathaway is a tall, dark, handsome man; he owns a jeep and has his own condo, can discuss anything with anybody, and is a very good listen! The bad part about him is that he is twenty-three years of age, but is set on Keisha Montgomery. Keisha is overjoyed to be loved again and someone to treat her like woman instead of a little girl; Jonathan Hathaway makes her feel like woman and wakes her up from her nightmares. Will Keisha new knight and shining amour help her with her struggles through the challenges of her senior year?

I think that this book is very well put together, and it kept me on the edge. Also “Darkness before Dawn” kept me thinking. This book was very easy to read and very understandable. I also think that this is a wonderful book for teens to read because they would find similarities with the characters in the book. Before you read “Darkness before Dawn” make sure you read “Tears of a Tiger” to know about the past of Keisha and her friends, after you read “Darkness before Dawn” I recommend you also “Forage by Fire”. Tell me what you think, and I hope that you enjoy!

Wake -- a review by AJ McCracken

Wake

by Lisa McMann

3.5 out of 5 stars

I would suggest this book to friends because it is an easy read and very interesting

This girl by the name of Janie who has abilities that nobody she knows has. She has the ability to enter other people's dreams. Janie has no control over this and doesn't know what to do when she is pulled into another dimension of someone's dreams...or nightmares.

Janie is a lower middle class teen who lives with her alocoholic mom. Her mom barely knows she is there and nobody knows where her dad is.

Janie has episodes when someone around her has fallen asleep. She will pass out and not be able to move until the dream is over. If it's a nightmare, she becomes paralyzed and goes numb.

Helping her along this journey is her strange friend Cabel, her best friend Carrie and whatever dreams she gets pulled into. She will find out that there is good in being able to do this and that there is also bad things that come along with this, especially deep dark secrets. Will Janie, Cabel, and Carrie find out what's going on with their friend? Will Janie be able to stop getting pulled into unwanted dreams? And how will this affect her future, her love life, her carrier, her life?

My response to this book is how did the author come up with all these good ideas to put into a book. She made it easy to read and interesting at the same time.

Your dreams are not your own!