Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 30 of 189
Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network
Messenger Of Fear, Ashley Roggow
Messenger Of Fear, Ashley Roggow
Children's Book and Media Review
In this suspenseful, gripping tale, the Messenger of Fear inflicts an awful cat and mouse game upon unsuspecting victims, who may or may not deserve their worst fears coming true. In the most recent game, Mara, a young girl, wakes up in an eerie, misty field with no recollection of how she got there. She soon learns that she has been chosen as the Messenger’s apprentice, to help him guide his twisted game. If those chosen to play lose, their worst fears will become reality. Mara feels like a pawn rather than an apprentice in the Messenger’s creepy game, but …
The Freemason's Daughter, Liz Sugihara
The Freemason's Daughter, Liz Sugihara
Children's Book and Media Review
Jenna MacDuff and her small clan have been on the run for months. Moving from place to place to gather support for their exiled monarch sends them away from Jenna’s beloved Scotland to a family estate in England. The clan is hired to build a garrison for the Duke of Keswick, but they have secret plans of their own. Jenna’s father warns her to not draw attention to herself or the clan, but it becomes increasingly difficult when she catches the eye of Lord Pembroke, son of the duke. Strong-willed and opinionated, her growing friendship and attraction to Lord Pembroke …
The Way I Used To Be, Abigail Packard
The Way I Used To Be, Abigail Packard
Children's Book and Media Review
Eden, a fourteen year old just beginning her freshman year, is a good girl. But her entire world collapses one night when her older brother’s best friend, Kevin, rapes her. She knows she supposed to tell someone—her mom, her dad, her brother, her best friend—but she can’t bring herself to say anything. And so her world begins adapting to the trauma she’s experienced. Eden finds love in a senior basketball star named Josh, but can’t bring herself to tell him her true feelings. Rumors begin to circulate around the school about Eden’s loose morals. And after a series of parties, …
He Has Shot The President!, Kristie Hinckley
He Has Shot The President!, Kristie Hinckley
Children's Book and Media Review
He Has Shot the President! recounts the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth. Booth, a popular and handsome actor who regularly performed at Ford’s Theater, knew that Lincoln planned to be at the theater that night. He didn’t agree with Lincoln’s political decisions so he plotted to kill Lincoln, carrying out his assassination. When Booth shot Lincoln during the show, confused audience members initially thought it was part of the show. This book also recounts the aftermath of Lincoln’s assassination, the attempted assassination of Secretary of State William Seward and President Andrew Johnson, and the eventual capture …
Wait For Me, Caroline Leech
Wait For Me, Caroline Leech
Children's Book and Media Review
It is 1945 and World War II has yet to end. Lorna Anderson’s days are filled with working on her family’s farm, going to school with her best friend Iris, and trying to not worry about her two brothers who are away fighting. Lorna is shocked when her father allows Paul Vogel, a German prisoner of war, to work on their Scottish farm. At first, his presence on the farm worries her, but when she gets to know Paul she realizes that he isn’t so different. Despite the ongoing tensions around them, the two grow to care for each other. …
The Revolution Of Evelyn Serrano, Sarah Rawle
The Revolution Of Evelyn Serrano, Sarah Rawle
Children's Book and Media Review
It's 1969 in El Barrio, Spanish Harlem, New York, and ever day feels the same to Evelyn. Every day Puerto Ricans work and work but don’t really get anywhere. But El Barrio takes a turn when the Young Lords activist group rises. Evelyn senses a change when her Abuela comes to stay with her family and she learns the history of her family and Puerto Rico. The activist group soon sets fire to the garbage that was not being picked up by the city’s sanitation department. They then petition and use the First Spanish Methodist Church building, lasting twelve days …
League Of Archers, Tessa Mcmillan
League Of Archers, Tessa Mcmillan
Children's Book and Media Review
Elinor Dray can’t handle being a novice nun. Mercifully, the Reverend Mother uses Elinor’s archery skills to supplement the nunnery’s scarce provisions. Escaping the abbey, Elinor rejoins her friends, the League of Archers, to hunt and daydream about Robin Hood’s deeds. One night, Elinor meets a mysterious archer who is shot by a poisoned arrow. While the man dies in the abbey, Elinor learns he is Robin Hood and the Reverend Mother is Maid Marion. As if planned, the constable arrives to arrest Marion (still a wanted criminal) and take Elinor to Baron Lord de Lay’s castle. The baron spreads …
Sleep No More, Loretta Farnsworth
Sleep No More, Loretta Farnsworth
Children's Book and Media Review
Sixteen-year-old Charlotte sees the future, but the unpredictable episodes cause blackouts, and classmates avoid her because of her bizarre behavior. But Charlotte feels that it is best they stay away: after the death of her father, she knows the consequences of interfering in the fates she sees in her visions. However, when she begins to see the murders of her classmates, Charlotte can no longer stand on the sidelines. Choosing to ignore the instructions of her oracle aunt, Sierra, and following the guidance of a mysterious man called Smith, Charlotte begins exploring her powers and seeking to protect her town. …
Amity, Lisa Packard
Amity, Lisa Packard
Children's Book and Media Review
Conner has just moved to a new house with his family. The first night, he wakes up at exactly 3:14 AM and sees a dead girl in the window, but then she disappears. Eventually the house, Amity, makes him have strange dreams that tell him what to do. One night he dreams about a binder that is full of newspaper clippings from the future that says that a family was killed at Amity and Conner was the murderer. Now driven mad, Conner sets out to kill his dad, but his twin sister follows him and Conner kills her by accident, …
Chase Garrety #1: The Lost Planet, Emilee Bell
Chase Garrety #1: The Lost Planet, Emilee Bell
Children's Book and Media Review
Chase Garrety is literally dropped into the heart of the action in a galaxy connected by controversial political ties. As Chase deals with his amnesia and random powers, he must trust strangers to guide him in his journey to discover his past and find his mission. While unsettled by the conflict and lies that he encounters almost constantly, Chase chooses trust and honor, even when faced with death. Misunderstandings flush out both friend and foe, as well as a sister he can't even remember, and Chase discovers he has a major role to play in ending the corruption infiltrating the …
Bound By Blood And Sand, Abigail Packard
Bound By Blood And Sand, Abigail Packard
Children's Book and Media Review
Jae is a Closest, a slave cursed to obey all commands. She lives in the outskirts of her desert country and works as a gardener of Aredann. But a water shortage sends Elan, a Highest, to analyze the small estate and decide whether to keep it running. But Elan is convinced the magic binding the water to the kingdom can be found in Aredann. During her work, Jae unwittingly awakens the magic that has been slowly evaporating. Elan discovers her magic and commands her to not use it outside of his presence. But Jae is able to finally break free …
Falling Into The Dragon's Mouth, Jarrett Bell
Falling Into The Dragon's Mouth, Jarrett Bell
Children's Book and Media Review
Jason Parker is an American foreigner in sixth-grade attending a Japanese public school. Despite the advice of his parents to keep his head held high, Jason keeps his head low to avoid detection and constant harassment at his local middle school in Japan. He finds himself in a culture that condones corporal punishment and turns a blind eye to bullying, and the locals find every excuse to harass Jason just because he is different. His only solace is his brave little sister and his ability to find his center in the Aikido martial arts.
Liars,Inc., Ariel Woodbury
Liars,Inc., Ariel Woodbury
Children's Book and Media Review
During their senior year in high school, Max, Preston, and Parvati, decide to make a little money at school by forging signatures, creating alibis, and assisting cheaters. It starts off really well and they make good money. One night, Preston asks Max to pretend to go camping with him so he can go visit a girl he has been talking to online, but afterwards Preston goes missing. Parvati and Max find an address that might lead to Preston, but when they get there the house is on fire. Preston's body is found with the body of his real mom. Later, …
Beautiful Idols #2: Blacklist, Kati Penovich
Beautiful Idols #2: Blacklist, Kati Penovich
Children's Book and Media Review
Although Layla, Aster, and Tommy’s lives have taken different turns after the nightclub competition, they can’t seem to stay away from each other. Curiously, each of them shares a connection with the rich and powerful Ira Redman: he is Tommy’s father, he gives Layla a good job she isn’t qualified for, and he gets Aster out of prison for a crime she didn’t commit. But how is Ira linked to Madison? He may be the generous and successful businessman he appears to be, or he may be the one holding Madison captive. The three teens continue to hunt for clues …
The Stray, Phyllis Rosen
The Stray, Phyllis Rosen
Children's Book and Media Review
A young family is falling apart because the father is never home due to the pressures of his job. The dad suggests getting a dog, but his wife concedes only if a stray magically shows up on their doorstep. Soon after, a stray does show up! The dog protects the kids, gives the family lots of love, and becomes a member of the family. When the family moves to Colorado, the young father takes his nine-year-old son, the family dog, and two of his son's friends backpacking in the mountains. However, the group is literally struck by lightning. The dad …
Fablehaven: Dragonwatch, Olivia Noli
Fablehaven: Dragonwatch, Olivia Noli
Children's Book and Media Review
Dragonwatch is the first novel in the second Fablehaven series. The story continues just a couple months after the finale of the previous series. Kendra and Seth Sorensen are on their grandparent's magical preserve during the summer, but trouble soon takes them to Wyrmroost, a magical preserve for dragons. Kendra and Seth's powers make them the only eligible candidates as the new caretakers. Accepting the job has its risks as enemies exist within and without the magical stronghold, but Kendra and Seth ultimately save the day and strengthen their preserve. Unfortunately, word spreads that another dragon preserve has fallen, leading …
Cloudwish, Lisa Packard
Cloudwish, Lisa Packard
Children's Book and Media Review
Van Uoc Phan makes a wish that her long time crush, Billy Gardiner, would notice her for once. She didn’t think her wish would come true, but it does! As Van Uoc gets to know Billy better she starts to discover things about herself. She doesn't want to be what everyone expects her to be. She wants to be an artist and a normal girl with a cute boyfriend; she wants to have parents who understand her and let her be the kid for once. Van decides to take back her wish and begins to realize she can do anything …
The Glittering Court, Abigail Packard
The Glittering Court, Abigail Packard
Children's Book and Media Review
The young Countess of Rothford does not want to marry her distant cousin. So when handsome Cedric Thorn arrives on her doorstep pitching a glamorous life in the Glittering Court to her lady’s maid, the countess takes her maid’s place as Adelaide Bailey. Adelaide travels to a country cottage with the other recruited girls to learn to become a lady. Adelaide does her best to fit in by pretending she doesn’t know any of the genteel skills that the girls are supposed to learn. But as she becomes better acquainted with her roommates, mysterious Mira and fiery Tamsin, and more …
Michael Vey #6: Fall Of Hades, Abigail Packard
Michael Vey #6: Fall Of Hades, Abigail Packard
Children's Book and Media Review
Michael and his friends are to capture the Joule to cut off the Elgen’s money and power. Michael and the Electroclan go to Taiwan to rescue Hatch’s ex-right-hand man, Welch, who has extensive knowledge of Elgen protocol. They also rescue Tara, Torstyn, and Quentin, three of Hatch’s rogue electric children. Michael and the crew head to Hades, a newly rechristened island that hosts the Elgen’s main headquarters. But on the way, Gervaso’s friend betrays them and their plan is compromised. The team is able to make it to Hades and into the prison that dominates the island. They recruit the …
Steve Jobs: Insanely Great, Jarrett Bell
Steve Jobs: Insanely Great, Jarrett Bell
Children's Book and Media Review
Entrepreneur. Rule-breaker. Designer. Inventor. While other authors have attempted to create a biography about the man behind Apple appropriate for children, this is the first biography, presented as a graphic novel, written and drawn from the perspective and level of a sixth grader. The life of Steve Jobs is a story of revolutionary change; a man who significantly affected how the technology industry perceives design, functionality, and the power of thinking outside the box.
Bomb: The Race To Build-And Steal-The World’S Most Dangerous Weapon, Robyn Lee
Bomb: The Race To Build-And Steal-The World’S Most Dangerous Weapon, Robyn Lee
Children's Book and Media Review
Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon takes young adult readers through the years leading up to the first use of the atomic bomb by the United States against Japan in World War II. Bombreads like a thriller as you follow the story lines about the scientists in the United States trying to build a functional bomb, their counterparts in Great Britain, and the espionage the Soviets used to successfully steam information. Steve Sheinkin takes you behind the scenes to learn about some of the most influential people in scientific history and what they had to sacrifice …
Crown Of Three #3: A Kingdom Rises, Tessa Mcmillan
Crown Of Three #3: A Kingdom Rises, Tessa Mcmillan
Children's Book and Media Review
While Elodie is imprisoned by Lord Vicerin, she uses her powers to summon the dead warriors Vicerin had killed. With the dead’s help, Elodie and her friends escape and fight their way to Melchior and the troops loyal to the triplets. Meanwhile, Gulph wakes up from his fatal jump into the chasm fully healed by Celestis’s waters. Returning to Celestis, Gulph overthrows Lady Redina and leads Celestis’s inhabitants up to Idilliam. Tarlan soon arrives to fly Gulph and their mother to Elodie. Together the siblings lead an army of local men, the dead warriors, and animals to contend with Vicerin's …
Flashfall, Carly Schmutz
Flashfall, Carly Schmutz
Children's Book and Media Review
Set in a futuristic, dystopian society, Flashfall is an adventurous, fast-paced read telling the story of two oppressed teens, Orion and Dram, who rebel against their overlords and change the course of their world in the process. Orion and Dram are Subpars, assigned to mine a precious element called Cirium, which the central government collects—they are told—to create a barrier that protects their world from the intense radioactive rays of the sun. The barrier does not protect the Subpars and they are dying from over-exposure, or Flash Fever, every day. Orion and Dram are exiled to a dangerous outpost where …
Blackhearts #2: Blacksouls, Tessa Mcmillan
Blackhearts #2: Blacksouls, Tessa Mcmillan
Children's Book and Media Review
Finally reaching Nassau, Anne and her friends, Cara and Coyle Flynn, seek out their uncle, Alastair Flynn, for work and safety. Meanwhile, Teach’s ship, the Deliverance, is attacked by pirates. The captain refuses to fight and is killed, causing Teach to take command. Teach and the crew are arrested for mutiny in Nassau by Governor Webb. Webb releases Teach but holds the crew hostage to force Teach into capturing the pirate, George Easton. Anne and Beth discover Mrs. Webb's secret, but she kills Beth and tortures Anne to hide her crimes. Teach rescues Anne and locates Easton, but realizes Webb …
Assassin's Heart #2: Thief's Cunning, Rachel Wadham
Assassin's Heart #2: Thief's Cunning, Rachel Wadham
Children's Book and Media Review
Thief's Cunning by Sarah Ahiers is the companion novel to Assassin's Heart, set eighteen years later. Allegra is raised by Lea Saldana, her aunt, as an assassin. Feeling caged in, Allegra is excited to go to Lovero, where Lea was raised. Lovero is exciting and everyone revels at night, however, Allegra learns of her true heritage while there: she is a Da Via. She is half Saldana and half Da Via. All her life she wanted to know about her heritage, but finding out that she is from the rival Family was not what she wanted. Seeking solace in a …
Daughter Of The Pirate King, Aylea Stephens
Daughter Of The Pirate King, Aylea Stephens
Children's Book and Media Review
When Alosa, daughter of the famed pirate king, is captured by a group of enemies she's not worried. After all, she planned her own capture so that she could find a legendary treasure map that her father desperately wants to uncover an incredible treasure. She uses this opportunity to search her captors' ship and learn more about her father's enemies while building her own reputation for the day that she will take over from her father. She has more than enough skill and cunning to find the map and escape, but when she starts to fall in love with Riden, …
They Both Die At The End, Bethany Stevens
They Both Die At The End, Bethany Stevens
Children's Book and Media Review
Mateo and Rufus are two ordinary teenagers and total strangers with nothing in common . . . except that they’re both destined to die in the next twenty-four hours. They Both Die in the End is set in an alternate version of our world where science has cracked the code to predict death. A company called Death-Cast calls individuals destined to die within the next twenty-four hours so that they have time to set their affairs in order, say your goodbyes, and fully live out your End Day. Death-Cast is never wrong and no one has ever lived after receiving …
Red Queen, Abigail Packard
Red Queen, Abigail Packard
Children's Book and Media Review
Mare is a Red in a world where silver-colored blood marks citizens of Norta with superhuman abilities (controlling fire, water, minds, etc.) and red blood marks the ungifted, lower class. Mare tries to rob a young man named Cal after learning that her best friend is going to be conscripted unless they find money to pay off a group of Red rebels called the Scarlet Guard. Cal catches her, but takes pity on Mare and secures a job for her in the palace. While she is serving the Silver nobility, she falls into an arena’s electric shield. Instead of being …
The West Wing: Evidence Of Things Not Seen, Emilee Bell
The West Wing: Evidence Of Things Not Seen, Emilee Bell
Children's Book and Media Review
Just as with most episodes of The West Wing, many things are happening simultaneously: A spy drone went down in Russia and the president has to try to ask for it back without telling the Russian leader they were taking pictures. The entire episode revolves around Leo and the staff trying to convince the president he can lie to the the Russian president about the situation. President Bartlett takes their advice, but makes no progress until he tells the truth to his Russian counterpart. Josh interviews a Republican lawyer to take Ainsley Hayes' place in the legal counsel office of …
(Don't You) Forget About Me, Lisa Packard
(Don't You) Forget About Me, Lisa Packard
Children's Book and Media Review
Skylar lives in a special place called Gardnerville where no one ever gets sick and no one ever dies, but it comes at a cost. Every fourth year something happens to the teenagers of the town and their emotions get out of control. Sometimes people get turned into trees or their lips are glued together. Skylar's sister, Piper, killed sixteen people when they followed her to a bridge and drowned. Skylar, full of despair, starts to take forget-me-not pills so she won't remember anything. When people start escaping from the prison, Skylar realizes that she must break her sister out …