Reviews Blood Ninja - Nick Lane Set in 1565 Japan, this wild novel is no history tale. Taro is the son a fisherman, a good man, if a little plain. Taro and his muscular friend Hiro make the days pass in dull routine. Until one night, Taro comes home to his slightly unhinged mother, and very sick father. Events unfold, and Taro is spirited away by Shusaku, a ninja. Forced into an adventure he morally objects to, Taro must learn horrific truths, and come to question the very ideals he was brought up on. Blood Ninja brings a whole new meaning to the word vampire… Blood Ninja can be a little stodgy at times, but turns out to be a satisfying and worthwhile novel, and it has ninjas. Blood Ninja is not for the fainthearted, blood, death and violence all lurk under the imposing cover. More for the teenagers, ones without romantic tendencies, though the book does hint at it, this novel is for ages 13+. Title: Blood Ninja Author: Nick Lane Published: 2009 Simon and Shuster Children’s Publishing Division Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Teenager, Horror Pages: 409 Suitable age: 13+ No other books in the series (as of yet) The Looking Glass Wars - Frank Beddor Forget everything you know about Alice in Wonderland. Forget benevolent Card-men and insane tea parties. Get ready to enter the world of the Looking Glass Wars. Alyss Heart is the Princess of the Queendom of Wonderland. It is her seventh birthday and she is horribly bored. Alyss has the most promising imagination of all the Queens before her, and is using it to amuse herself. On the day of the party, she and her best friend Dodge Anders disappear for a while into the city, for a few hours Alyss is perfectly happy and has no sense of what is about to transpire. Her Aunt Redd, spurned from the throne, has returned after twelve years, to claim it. Killing Alyss’ parents in a brutal massacre, Redd anoints herself queen. She sends her primary assassin, The Cat, to track down Alyss, and kill her, too. Her mother’s loyal bodyguard, Hatter Madigan, takes Alyss to the pool of tears, a sort of portal to our world. Halfway there, they are separated, and Alyss must learn to survive in a disbelieving world. Years pass, and Redd only gets stronger and more vicious, but now, Alyss must return to Wonderland, and take back what’s hers. A delightful and sinister twist to one of the most beloved of classic literature, The Looking Glass Wars is a triumph of imagination and ingenuity. Every one of Lewis’ amiable characters is twisted into a dark and dire version of themselves. Cleverly arranged and plotted, The Looking Glass Wars is one of my favourite books, and I recommend it to ages 13+ (Disclaimer: Certain parts may be frightening for children under the age of ten. Contains violence and death) 9 Out Of 10 The Looking Glass Wars Frank Beddor Egmont Books 2004 Pages – 376 Genre – Young Adult/Adult First in the series, other books being: Seeing Redd Arch Enemy Maximum Ride: The angel Experiment. James Patterson Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment is the first in a thrilling series about five kids; Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy and Angel. The flock, as they call themselves, are mutated humans, 98% human, 2% bird. They have wings. Born and raised in a horrific, disgusting, sickening scientific lab called The School, until they escaped. They lived in secrecy, always on the lookout for the schools henchmen, erasers. The flock is in for a surprise when the erasers hunt them down and kidnap angel. This spurs on the rest of the flock to hunt her down and bring her back. Max tries to keep her cool, when the flock begin to rebel, when she’s shot, when she must reveal her wings to save herself and when she discovers she has a Voice - what, you don’t? “Strap yourself in, you’re in for the ride of your life.” Title: maximum ride: the angel experiment Author: James Patterson Published: 2005, headline publishing Genre: fantasy, sci-fi, teenager Pages: 406 Suitable age: I read this book first when I was 9-ish, but have I re-read it over and over again, and am fourteen now. Other book in the series Maximum Ride: Schools out forever Maximum Ride: Saving the world and other extreme sports Maximum Ride: The final warning Maximum Ride: MAX Maximum Ride: FANG Alanna: The First Adventure. Alanna of Treebond, in most people’s opinion, should have been born a boy. Impressive at archery and a fair hand with horses, Alanna was born with a sense of chivalry and a lust for adventure. In short, Alanna wants to enter the world of the knights. Which is very unfortunate for her, as girls cannot become knights. Even more unfortunate, her twin brother is sentenced to knighthood, when all he wants, is to become the world’s greatest mage. Magic suits him, but Alanna is afraid of it, and shuns her gifted side. So, Alanna and Thom manage to pull off the impossible, they switch places. Following Alanna through her ordeals and troubles, as well as her overcoming challenges and making very kind and powerful friends, The First Adventure is the first in an amazing quartet about The first Lady Knight of Totall, Alanna the Lioness. Set in a fantastical world of knights and magic, the Alanna is Tamora Pierce’s first heroine, and the starting point for five more amazing series, Alanna The First Adventure is a journey every person should go on. There is no way I can do justice to the astounding depth and intrigue of this novel. Pierce is a descriptive genius, and every one of her books is amazing in it’s own way. Tamora Pierce is my favourite author of all time, and even though I have read each book one hundred times, I am always drawn to the plotline and sucked into a vivid world you’ll wish was real. Title: Alanna The First Adventure Author: Tamora Pierce Published: (originally in 1983) My volume in 2007 Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Teenager Pages: 186 Suitable age: I read this book first when I was 8-ish, but have I re-read it over and over again, and am fourteen now. There are some undetailed sex scenes in later books, and the violence and character death may upset young readers, so I rate it 10 yrs and older. Other book in the series: In The Hand Of The Goddess The Woman Who Rides Like a Man Lioness Rampant Books set in the Tortall universe: The Immortals: Wild Magic Wolf Speaker The Emperor Mage The Realms of The Gods Protector of the Small: First Test Page Squire Lady Knight Trickster: Trickster’s Choice Trickster’s Queen Beka Cooper: Terrier Bloodhound If you would like to chat to us about a review you can email us at: bookreview@giftedminds.com.au | 
