5 comments about Sins of the Father (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

1. Set in an alternate season three, SINS OF THE FATHER features two interesting, although slightly competitive, plots. The first one has Pike (remember him from the movie and the comic, The Origin?) coming to town for Buffy's help with a stone demon, while the second deals with Giles and his past. Obviously demons of all kinds are the theme of the book.
   
   This is my first foray into the Buffy novels and I have to say it was a pretty good one to start with. The characterizations were well-done, most notably Willow and Xander (I could just hear their dialogue and see their expressions), with the exceptions of Cordy, who sounded like herself about half the time, and Giles, who just seemed off somehow. The plot moves well enough along and the action was well-written. I especially liked their new vampire equipment that you can't help but think, "Why didn't anyone come up with this before?" The banter was great and definitely had the feel of the show, it made me laugh quite a few times. The only thing I had a problem with was Buffy's indecision about Pike and Angel. While I get the part about Pike being a 'normal' guy who knows that she fights paranormal crime and isn't put off, but why does she have such strong feelings for him still? It's been two, two-and-a-half years since she even saw him, I just don't see it. Also, the 'impossible love' between Buffy and Angel was redundant. If anyone has ever seen the show (and how many are going to read the books if they aren't a fan?), they already know all the angsty melodrama on the subject. One remark on the subject was all we needed, not repeatedly using just about the same two phrases a million times. With those two quibbles said, this was an entertaining book that took me back to my favorite time of the show, the high school years.



2. I really enjoyed this book; it's probably one of my favorite Buffy books. I really enjoyed the introduction of new characters and I really like how Pike was brought back. The story line developed well and the dialogue was excellent. I felt as if I were watching an episodeo of the tv show. You must read this book if you are a Buffy fan!



3. When I heard that Pike would be appearing in this Buffy novel, I was excited. But then, I was shocked at how poorly Christipher Golden wrote his character. Pike went from a street wise mechanic with an alcohol problem to a taxi driving beach bum who, despite his superior fighting skills, has given up the good fight to simply ignore it. HORRIBLE characterization of Pike. When I think of Pike, I choose to omit this novel. If I could, I would unread this book. I love Christopher Golden and Pike, but this book is an accurate representation of neither.



4. After reading the back cover of "Sins of the Father" I got totally excited! I thought I'd finally found an actual Angel/Buffy story based on their pre-Angelus relationship. I have gotten really tired with all of the stories of the Buffy/Angel trials post season two. Their relationship just became too predictable. And I thought now with "Sins of the Father" it was going to be different. Christopher Golden came up with the best story/plot line. Pike, Angel. Angel, Pike. Past love meets the Present. Perfect! Think of the conflict. I was looking forward to Angel fighting with Pike for Buffy's love. But no! Of course not! It's based in season three. So if you are an extreme Buffy/Angel fan like me, you can see the disappointment with the entire situation.

   All in all I did up finishing the book in a couple hours. I was pretty impressed with the story line and the various conflicts. But I was slightly disappointed with the conclusion of the story.

   My final total for: "Sins of the Father" 3 stars. On a personal note, I'd like to take the time and say this to all ;of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer novelists out there : "Please, Please, write a novel based on an adventure with the Scoobies before the gang really finds out about Angel -Angelus curse issue before Buffy and Angel do the naughty-naughty!" Every other Buffy/Angel story just ends up becoming too predictable. Everyone knows how the relationship ends. Thus, the story ends up being a little disappointing. So here's an idea, write a story about Buffy and Angel in some alternate universe. Where somehow Angel's able to get around the circumstances of his curse and be with Buffy. Allowing them to forever fighting the forces of darkness. Or for as long as they shall live. This, in their case may not be particularly long!




5. This book is great for a good read(espicially if your a buffy fan,like me)can get boring in thhe middle though, but what gets me is that giles' dad is a vampire until the end when you find out the truth(they never mentioned that in the t.v series).Also pike,isn't he the guy in season two lie to me? anyway this is a good book with lots of questions to it and also good if your a big fan of giles.

5 comments about All-Night Party (Fear Street, No. 43).

1. On Cindy's birthday her friends throw her a surprise party on Fear Island. It should've been great except that there's a madman loose on the island who crashes the party.
   
   Good as usual from Stine.



2. All Night Party was a really good. The action began as soon as the story started and in my opinion that's a plus. I never got bored reading this book and the ending was totally unexpected. I can usually guess who the killer is but not this time. The characters were okay but not as likeable as some of R.L. Stine's other works.
   
   I definitely would recommend this book. Especially to anyone who likes mysteries. I finished this book in about 2 - 3 hours.



3. This is a teen horror. Some teens are having an all-night party to celebrate a birthday. The book takes place in a night, and it is a very good book. The suspense will keep you reading until you are done.



4. Somehow, my library said this was the first book in the Fear Street series, but it's not...its way down on the list, it's 45 in the series. All-Night Party does fine as a stand alone book, though I do wonder if there isn't more about the location and background (since I believe all the stores are set in and around the town of Shadyside). In this book we have a medium cast of teenagers who set out to jokingly kidnap their friend Cindy to her birthday party out at a deserted cabin on Fear Island. During the botched kidnapping, one of the friends reveals that here is an escaped prison inmate out on the loose, but that doesn't stop our intrepid party goers. All in all, it's a pretty typical set up; kids alone on an island with no phone, a remote cabin, dark and stormy night and tension amongst friends while the spoiled and selfish birthday girl is unaware that she's made her very last birthday wish!
   
   The characters include Hannah Waters, Cindy's oldest best friend; Gretchen Davies, a relatively new girl who's just glad to be accepted by the group but is sometimes put off by Cindy's selfish and vain behavior; Gil Shepherd, Hannah's boyfriend (who used to be Cindy's boyfriend until her parents wouldn't let her see him anymore); Jackson Kane, the kinda intense and creepy guy, a loner; Patrick Munson a friend whom Cindy loves to tease; and Cindy, the spoiled and self-centered birthday girl. They're all pretty typical teenage characters full of angst and melodramatic goings on...Hannah and Cindy vie for Gil's attention; Cindy likes to have whatever Hannah is wants whether she really wants it or not, and so on.
   
   All-Night Party takes all that, throws in the prospect of an escaped killer convict, mixes in a dark and stormy night and you've got an easy set up for a teenage murder-mystery! When Cindy turns up dead, the party goers initially think the maniac is on the island, but it slowly dawns on them that the killer isn't some unknown lunatic...it's one of them. That's when things get interesting...who did it? Read though this quick little mystery and see if you can piece it together before the big "reveal" at the end.
   
   Overall, All-Night Party has good atmosphere and the antagonism between the characters is good, but occasionally grating (a bit overdone), and I enjoyed figuring out who done it (early on unfortunately), but it was still a fun read, kind of the way a B movie is still fun to watch even though you figure out who the killer is halfway through the movie! I give it three stars, a light and entertaining murder-mystery with classic horror elements.



5. 
   This is a great book by R.L. Stine of
   the Fear Street books. As all R.L . Stine books
   this is a mystery. But this is a much different way
   to approaching the genre of mystery.
   
   
   This is about a group of students at Shady Side
   High School. When one girl's birthday approaches, they
   decide to throw a surprise birthday party for her on
   Fear Island which is about two miles away from their houses. Little
   did they know one boy brought a gun. When one girl
   noticed it she asked him about it and then
   he looked down and said that his dad gave him
   the gun for the trip because he told his son
   there was an escaped murder on Fear Island. He said he did not want to ruin the
   party so he never mentioned it. So they go anyway but
   when the party girl is found dead in the kitchen they
   all fear for their lives. Was it one of their friends
   or the escaped murderer?
   
   
   
   I would recommend this book to Sixth, Seventh, and Eight
   graders. This is considered a young adult book. I would
   definately agree with that because even being in seventh
   grade the book actually scared me at parts.

3 comments about Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Script Book, Season Two, Volume 1.

1. As fine as Season One of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER had been, it was nonetheless at the start of Season Two merely a very good show. During the second season, however, Joss Whedon and his stable of crack writers would transform the show into something truly great. Nonetheless, it took some time for Season Two to achieve the greatness that it ended up being. So, in a sense, the scripts in this volume represent the last shows where Buffy was struggling to realize its enormous potential. Not that they aren't very good, or even in a couple of instances quite exceptional; they simply aren't as stellar as what immediately followed.

   "Lie to Me" is, like many season openers, the product of Joss Whedon. As fine as other writers on the show are, I don't think anyone would question that Whedon always remained the King of the Hill. This script provides a marvelous transition from "Prophecy Girl," the Season One finale. Buffy returns to Sunnydale after spending the summer in L.A., and she is obviously reexperiences the trauma of her encounter with and death by the Master. She completely supplants Cordelia as the Queen [word that rhymes with "witch"] of Sunnydale high. Not only is she indifferent to almost everything, she is positively nasty to Cordelia, and engages in an over-the-top sexy dance with Xander that both unmercifully steams him up only to dash him with cold water, and cruelly makes Angel jealous. As Xander and Willow agree, Buffy has always been different, but she had never been mean before. But when vampires kidnap Willow, Giles, Jenny, and Cordelia to perform a ritual to resurrect the Master, Buffy not only saves her friends, but as Xander puts it "works out her issues" by killing all the vampires.

   "Some Assembly Required" is one of the weakest episodes in the entire run of the show. When fans are polled on the worst episodes ever, it usually garners one of the highest vote totals. As a rule, Buffy is a highly nonderivative show, but this episode is a fairly lame updating of BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN. It does contain one of my all time favorite exchanges. Upon seeing Giles, who is trying to work up the nerve to ask out Jenny Calendar, Xander says: XANDER: And speaking of love . . . WILLOW: We were talking about the reanimation of dead tissue. XANDER: Do I deconstruct your segues?

   "School Hard," written by David Greenwalt, is a very good episode, with several memorable moments. I don't think it is quite up to the level of the better scripts later in the year, but it is still extremely fine. Two things make it especially memorable. First, we meet Spike and Druscilla for the first time. Spike's part is especially well written, but reading the script demonstrates just how much James Marster's brings to the role. All the performers bring a great deal, but I believe he adds more to his part than any other performer. The second great thing in the episode is Spike's killing "the Annoying One" near the end of the episode. The episode is also crucial for reemphasizing the nontraditional nature of our heroine. Most heroes are loners, bereft of friends and family, but Buffy is great because of her friends and family. As Spike remarks, "A Slayer with family and friends. That sure as hell wasn't in the brochure."

   "Inca Mummy Girl," written by Matt Kiene and Joe Reinkemeyer, continues the pattern of the first season and a half of Buffy, of one very strong script followed by a fairly weak one. This episode isn't as bad as "Some Assembly Required," but it is one of the weakest of the season.

   David Greenwalt's "Reptile Boy" is an odd bird: unpleasant story with a bevy of absolutely great lines. If you focus on the story, this isn't a very good episode, but if you focus on the lines, it is great. The opening bit with Buff, Will, and Xander watching TV is a stitch. The episode contains one of the greatest of all Angel/Buffy exchanges: ANGEL: This isn't some Fairy Tale: when I kiss you you don't wake up from a deep sleep and live happily ever after. BUFFY: No. When you kiss me, I want to die.

   "Halloween" was the only script that Carl Ellsworth wrote for Buffy, and while it isn't an especially great one, it is definitely a lot of fun. The idea of people becoming who or what they dress up as on Halloween seems a tad familiar, but it is all done in fun fashion. One of the great things about the show is the continuity from one episode to another. On several occasions in the future, Xander's having been a soldier briefly plays a crucial role in plotlines.

   So, overall, not nearly as strong a group of scripts as we would see later in the season. Season Two is unquestionably great, but it is on the basis of what came after what we find here. In fact, the greatness would start with the very next script that follows these: "Lie to Me."




2. In what is apparently the first of four books with the scripts from Season Two of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the one-liners come fast and furious with a liberal dose of drama.

   The book begins with "When She Was Bad." At the end of Season One, Buffy was killed by the evil vampire known as the Master (albeit just for a minute) and this episode deals with the aftermath of that trauma. Buffy's friends try to find out why she's being such a...er, witch...to them while a group of vampires tries to revive the Master.

   The second episode is "Some Assembly Required." Although well-written, it's probably one of the less impressive episodes in the book. It features Buffy and gang trying to find the secret behind grave robbers who now have their sights set on a living person...acerbic queen Cordelia.

   "School Hard" introduces Spike and Drusilla, two of the series' mainstay villains (and sometimes hero, in Spike's case). Parent-Teacher Night at Sunnydale High happens to correspond with the Night of St. Vigeous, the day when vampires' power is at its peak. Needless to say, things get a little hairy in what is probably the best episode of the bunch.

   Regular guy Xander gets a showcase in "Inca Mummy Girl". He's finally found a girl he likes (who isn't a giant praying mantis). Unfortunately, she's an ancient mummy who must survive by draining people's life force. Is it any surprise that it doesn't end well?

   "Reptile Boy" is probably the worst episode in the book. It's still good, but not up to par with the other five. In it, evil frat boys are planning to sacrifice Buffy and Cordelia to a gigantic snake.

   And finally, in "Halloween" one of Giles' old friends comes to town, and as a result everyone turns into their costumes - Willow becomes a ghost, Xander becomes a military private, and Buffy becomes a helpless aristocrat from the eighteenth century. It drops hints of Giles' past, which will come back to haunt him later in the season.

   Without a doubt, a good buy for anyone who enjoys Buffy or wants to see what the fuss is all about (although newcomers might want to start with the Season One scripts).




3. The writing of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the Television series is much celebrated by fans and critics alike. This book is a collection of the original shooting scripts for the first 6 episodes of season two. Included are When She Was Bad, Some Assembly Required, School Hard, Inca Mummy Girl, Reptile Boy and Halloween. Some of these scripts contain dialogue or scenes which were cut due to time or other concerns. This volume is a must for the Buffy collector and wonderful for anyone that appreciates quality television.

5 comments about The Boy Next Door (Fear Street, No. 39).

1. Synopsis: Crystal Thomas and Lynne Palmer are best friends. They are your average teenagers and like talking about fashion, gossip and prospective boyfriends. Crystal lives in Fear Street and gets a new neighbor. His name is Scott Collins and he seems to have a mysterious past. Crystal and Lynne immediately get a crush on him, and decide to play a game on who can become his new girlfriend. Lynne and Crystal try to get Scott's attention by wearing sexy outfits and inviting themselves over to his place. However, Scott seems more interested in Crystal's sister Melinda, who isn't interested in fashion or boys. Crystal notices Scott's interest in Melinda and tries to help her sister out by giving her a makeover.
   
   What they don't know is that Scott is crazy. He doesn't like girls who are materialistic, wear makeup, short clothes and throw themselves at him. In fact, it is because of the same reason that he killed his last girlfriend and made it look like an accident. Can the three girls realize the truth about Scott before he decides to end their lives?
   
   Review: On the upside, I liked how the story was written. Some parts were written from the point of view of the killer, which I thought was interesting, because it was like looking into his mind. I thought Stine did a good job in making Scott really think like a crazy person.
   
   The downside to this book was the story itself. It was a little slow paced compared to other Fear Street books. For the first fifty pages or so, all we read about is Crystal and Lynne pining over Scott. It was only after a certain character's death in this book that the story really started to pick up. Even though the ending was somewhat predictable, it was still intense to find out what happened.
   
   Also, since we already knew who the killer was in the beginning of the story, there was hardly any suspense in the book. If Stine had written the book in such a way that kept us guessing who the killer was, this would have been a great story to read.
   
   Therefore, even though this wasn't a bad book, because it had some shocking parts to it, it was overall a bit boring and predictable compared to the other Fear Street books.



2. When good-looking Scott moves in next to Crystal, she desperately wants to get his attention. And she gets it.
   This one really disappointed me.
   It was so obvious what happened (I won't give anything away here, though) all through the book, leaving no surprises at all. Very unlike Stine.



3. Scott moves to shadyside after his last girlfriend was killed in a accident. Crystal and her friend Lynne are obsessed on their looks to impress scott but the only thing that impressed scott is how he wants them to die. Will Crystal and her friend know the real scott or will they love him to death ?



4. If you like thrillers, here' a real thrill. It's been a while since I've read it and I've read TONS of his books- and trust me, if I ever start selling stuff on here, I promice you they'll be in amazeing condishion, try lookin' new! Anyways, to the book. It takes place in two points of view, both the girl and boys! From what I remember, it has a pretty good ending- but, again, I do low standerds for good endings. He write okay endings and Lurlene McDaniel (my other fave author)has death endings. Still, she's great, you should check her out! So is R.L., just get the book, great adition to your collection!



5. The first time I read it, I didn't like it. The fact I knew who the killer was kinda took all the suspense out of it. But then, when I read it the 2nd time, I ended up actually liking it.
   
   Scott is a weird character. I wear make up and dress up too, and honestly, I would get really freaked out if somebody was trying to kill me because of that.
   
   i liked the characters. I liked how the relationship between Crystal and her sister Melinda is portrayed. And I liked how RL Stine gives us an insight to Scott's twisted mind.
   
   I wouldn't recommend this book if you like suspense, but if you read for the plot and characters, you should definately read it.

5 comments about Children of Fear (Fear Street, No. 7).

1. Leah Fier has a power to control animals. When strange things start to happen to people who are close to Leah's sister, Luke he realizes that Leah may be using her powers for evil. His girlfriend is killed by a spider, his parents are killed by wild hogs, a bully is killed by leeches, ect.
   Luke then decides enough is enough and he has his sister thrown in an asylum. Later that night he realizes that he might have made a mistake, it may not be Leah after all who is responsible for all the killings.



2. I loved this book it was very good and scary. I hate snakes and the story has alot of snakes in it. I recommend reading it. It's good. the ending was great.



3. A short read. Took me about an hour to read.
   
   Leah Fier has a power to control animals. When strange things start to happen to people who are close to Leah's sister, Luke he realizes that Leah may be using her powers for evil. His girlfriend is killed by a spider, his parents are killed by wild hogs, a bully is killed by leeches, ect.
   Luke then decides enough is enough and he has his sister thrown in an asylum. Later that night he realizes that he might have made a mistake, it may not be Leah after all who is responsible for all the killings.



4. Hello! My name is Marissa. I'm almost 15 years old. I was assigned to read this book for literature class at school two days ago. We have to finish reading it in four days but the auther in this book makes you imagine everything thats going on as if you were there, inside the book everything instead of reading it. So I finish the book just today. The last two paragraphs you need to finish, no matter how much you have to go somewhere or do something, you just have to know what is going to happen next before you close the book. There is no pictures in this book but like i said, the auther made it so easy for me to imagine what the characters looked like and what the rest of the story looked like wether it was two people walking down a street or a house burning. I really do recommend this book to all ages. It doesnt matter how old you are I still think you will enjoy this book if you give it a chance and read all of it. Especially the end, I'ts really exciting.



5. FEAR STREET SAGAS-CHILDREN OF FEAR,by R.L STINE: A story of a responsible brother who tries to keep his family together after the death of their parents.However,there are a few obstacles to keep the family in tact and there are EVIL beyond it...

5 comments about Blooded (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Book 5).

1. This was my first time reading a Buffy novel and it started out surprisingly good with an exciting prologue about the gang fighting a vampire called King Lear who's kidnapped Xander and Cordelia. Other stuff happens (I'm not going to give it all away!) then during a school field trip to the museum Willow cuts herself on an ancient Chinese sword and ends up possessed by a powerful warrior demon. At first nobody realizes she's been possessed (they just think she suddenly turned into an [...]), but then when she starts flying around and gathering a army of vampires to take over the world they figure it out.
   
   For the majority of the story I was really enjoying myself then things just got formulaic at the end. Lame. Despite the weak third act I would still recommend it to Buffy fans if only for the deeper insight into Xander and Cordy's relationship.



2. this book has to be one of the best buffy books in the series. it shows not only love , but if you make yourself feel worthless, people or things can take over you. the parts between xander, willow, and buffy will keep you on the edge of your seat. also the twists and turns will keep you reading until the book is over!



3. I have read many Buffy books, but I couldn't even finish this one. I found it to be very boring and uninteresting. It may just be me, but I won't attempt a second try. This book put me to sleep.



4. Blooded has to rank in one of the top five Buffy books I've ever read--and believe me,I've read a few! It's an awesome book with great suspense and I would recomend it to anyone.



5. BLOODED

   By Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder (1998)

   RATING: 3/5 Stakes

   SETTING: Season Two or Season Three

   CAST APPEARANCES: Buffy, Giles, Xander, Cordelia, Willow, Angel, Oz, Principle Snyder, Sheila Rosenberg

   MAJOR ORIGINAL CHARACTERS: King Lear (vampire), Lord Chirayoju (Chinese Demon Sorceror), Sanno (Japanese Mountain King), Kobo (Watcher), Emperor Kammu

   BACK-OF-THE-BOOK SUMMARY: "Chirayoju, a vampire of Chinese lore, and Sanno, the legendary Japanese Mountain King, have been locked in deadly battle for centuries. Literally. An ancient curse imprisoned the spirits of these two warriors in an antique sword. Until the sword arrives in Sunnydale. Freed by accident, Chirayoju searches for a host body that will allow him to continue wreaking havoc among the living and the dead. Now Buffy's on the trail of this legendary vampire . . a bloody trail that leads straight through the heart of the Buffy-Xander-Willow triangle."

   REVIEW

   The fourth original Buffy novel, Blooded opens quickly with a fun and rousing battle between the Scoobies and a vampire who fancies himself King Lear. Soon after the Whitehats' success, Willow accidentally pricks her finger on an ancient sword while visiting the museum. Not surprisingly, havoc ensues as Willow is slowly possessed by an ancient Chinese vampire named Chirayoju--only things become even more complicated as Chirayoju's ancient enemy, Sanno, decides to possess Xander in order to fight Chirayoju, with Buffy caught in the middle. Golden and Holder worked hard to draw upon Japanese and Chinese mythology, and incorporated several elements into the novel's backstory.

   Overall, Blooded is an average Buffy novel. The dialogue is okay with a few good laughs sprinkled in. Perhaps the best part of the novel concerns Willow (pre-possession) where she deals with her sense of vulnerability and inferiority to Buffy after being mugged by some street thugs. Other good moments include Cordelia and Xander's constant bantering, and demon-possessed Willow beating Xander savagely. Unfortunately, the idea of one of the Scoobies being possessed by some sort of demon isn't exactly unique in the Buffy mythos, and the novel has an overly long and melodramatic ending. Blooded isn't a terrible novel, but with better ones to choose from should probably be of interest only to completists.

   (c) 2004 Jeremy Patrick-Justice (jhaeman@hotmail.com)

   Return to Main Page: www.geocities.com/jhaeman

2 comments about Wolf Pack.

1. This story is about a group of wolves who were rescued by a ranger and raised by the ranger and his wife as human children. This story targets that difficult to find 'tween category, whereas it is not quite created for children, nor is it created for the YA crowd. However, this book is the first in a series that has definite promise to grow with the children from the first stages of 'tween literature into solid Young Adult literature. It is exciting, energetic, and sweet at the same time. It reminds children that there is no greater love in the world than the love of family (no matter the form that family takes). It will most certainly be interesting to see how Van Belkom matures the characters with the upcoming novels. Highly recommended for that difficult stage between children's literature and YA. **Thanks to Tundra Books for a copy of this great story to review**



2. Edo van Belkom, Wolf Pack (Tundra, 2004)
   
   Horror writer van Belkom (Blood Road) turns his attention to kidlit with Wolf Pack a few years back, and as with his adult novels, he starts with an unusual spin on a classic horror premise; in this case, werewolves. As the book opens, a forest ranger finds four wolf cubs in a forest fire, and is shocked to discover that the cubs are actually werewolf babies. Fast-forward to fifteen years later, and the ranger, Garrett Brock, has adopted the four and attempted to socialize them while keeping their secret. All is going relatively well until a researcher, studying something completely different, accidentally captures the kids changing on camera. The researcher, Dr. Monk, kidnaps Toda, one of the kids, and the rest of them, along with Brock and Toda's aspiring boyfriend, have to get her back.
   
   Van Belkom's kidlit has more in common with his adult novels than his usual take on premises; his shortcomings have transferred over as well, including two-dimensional characters and an almost complete lack of complexity in plot (though this latter problem is amply provided for by making the book much shorter than his adult novels; this clocks in at one hundred eighty-four pages of unusually large print). Still, if you're looking for a quick, simple read, this is a capable beginning to the series. ***

5 comments about Witch.

1. I personally LOVED the old hand-painted covers featuring the 80's dressed teens but maybe that's just me. This book left me in tears and I have read it probably five times in 15 years. It is so beautifully paced. You fall in love with the main character and you really feel for her. She is a which and when she stares into sunlight reflecting into water she can see things. One night she looks at the water in moonlight... something she was warned never to do, and sees a future she MUST change at ALL costs!!
   A great read front to back.
   Loved it.



2. Truly amazing book! Not only for teenagers and young adults, but for anyone who loves a good plot! Highly recommend you to read this book and other Christopher Pike's books.



3. At 25.... i still like 2 think back when i was younger and how u used 2 read C. Pike and R.L. Stine.. Witch was one of the BEST Pike novels... It pulls you in and makes u care about whats happening 2 the characters even with the sad endings i STILL LOVED IT!!!! Also my fav was the Remember Me series.. and of COURSE The Last Vampire.....



4. It is a novel that has a sad ending, but it is GREAT! I read in a day; I couldn't put it down, not even for a second.



5. In this hokey, meandering novel, Julia is a girl gifted with a healing touch and the power to glimpse the future. When she sees a vision of her best friend's boyfriend, Jim, shot and bleeding to death, she does her best to keep him out of danger. But then another friend is shot while witnessing a gas station holdup, and Julia and Jim set out to wreak revenge on the gunman. Meanwhile, Julia's best friend discovers that the gunman just happens to be the deranged former boyfriend of Kary, the recently deceased half-sister Julia never knew. Julia's mother--also a healer--had died in an attempt to save Kary's life. In another part of town, a carload of good witches is hot on Julia's trail, determined to keep her from abusing her powers. Typically, Pike's writing is peppy enough to animate his most tangled plots; here, however, his style becomes choppy and unconvincing--unable to sustain the coincidence-riddled story. In addition, the text is littered with sexist one-liners which, along with a humorless running "joke," are as irritating as they are offensive.

4 comments about Oddest of All.

1. In this book of short stories you will find nine interesting tales.
   What would you do if an alien announced that the fate of the world was in your hands and that you could save the planet by voting for them to run the country instead of the President? Would you vote "yes" or "no"? Read "In our own hands" to decide what the better choice might be. Find out also what lies at the bottom of a pond & what happens to frogs when they are exposed to toxic waste.



2. Master storyteller Bruce Coville continues to wow readers with his quirky tales in this anthology of nine stories that are magical, frightening, hilarious and touching.
   
   ODDEST OF ALL opens with the thought-provoking "In Our Own Hands," in which Earth is given a mind-boggling choice. It all begins in a time set in the future when Johnny, home from college, is getting ready to dig into his breakfast cereal in front of the television. Suddenly he notices that the newscaster has been replaced by a female with blue scales, green hair and huge eyes. Although Johnny and his mother believe at first that someone is playing a joke when she greets the "people of Earth," they soon realize it's no prank. Of course they are terrified, especially after the aliens demonstrate their power. But they soon discover that Earth's inhabitants are being given an opportunity to decide the planet's future. The story's ending will make readers ponder for a very long time.
   
   Most of the collection's tales are fantasy, but "What's the Worst That Could Happen?" is a realistic "horror" story that any teen can relate to. Murphy Murphy is not exactly rolling in good luck (there's that name, just to start with). Will his life get rosier now that his crush, Tiffany, seems to be noticing him, too? How much is Murphy crazy about Tiffany? After she asks if she can speak to him, he is tempted to say, "Your words would be like nectar flowing into the hungry mouths of my ears..." Thus, when Tiffany asks him to take part in her drama club skit, Murphy readily agrees, ignoring for the moment that he suffers from literally paralyzing stage fright, in a setup for hilarious tragedy.
   
   While "The Ghost Let Go" begins as a typical campfire ghost tale, it takes some unexpected turns with satisfying results (Coville fans will likely recognize the intriguing main characters Nine Tanleven and her buddy, Chris Gurley, from three of his novels). "In the Frog King's Court" deals whimsically with the main character's heritage while touching on environmental issues.
   
   We find out why Margaret hates water in the mysterious and evocative "The Thing in Auntie Alma's Pond." Although it's hard to pinpoint a favorite in a collection this entrancing, this is one tale that is sure to haunt readers while giving them a major case of goosebumps. Geoffroi goes to the ends of the earth for the strangest and most perfect present in "The Hardest, Kindest Gift," and the long-ago mystery of a boy's disappearance is solved in "The Mask of Eamonn Tiyado" (this story is truly creepy and another of my personal favorites).
   
   Even in the afterlife, a dead boy manages to continue his lifelong bad habits as we discover in the sizzling "Herbert Hutchison in the Underworld." The collection ends on the perfect note with the high fantasy "The Boy with Silver Eyes," filled with unicorns, talking trees, goblins and mermaids --- as well as a harp-strumming hero.
   
   I sometimes forget how satisfying a book of truly great short stories can be. There's something fine about savoring complete plots in brief snatches; it's like sampling several delicious dishes instead of sitting down to one huge meal. ODDEST OF ALL is packed full of luscious treats. Readers may be hard-pressed to decide if they will gulp them down in one sitting or pace themselves. Either way, they are sure to be reluctant to reach the end of this pleasurable repast.
   
   --- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon



3. This collection of short stories by Bruce Coville has something for any kid who's ever enjoyed fantasy, science fiction, or ghost stories. The tales range in length and genre, as well as in level of seriousness. Some address very serious topics, like the fate of Earth as we know it, while others are more humorous, such as one story that deals specifically with the vagaries of being thirteen. All of the stories are compelling tales told about people the reader can relate to and set in worlds you really want to explore.
   
   Some of the stories in this volume seemed like typical horror/ghost tales; "The Ghost Let Go" and "The Mask of Eammon Tiyado" both fit into this category. "The Thing in Auntie Alma's Pond" was a nice change from this typicality that addressed some of the same issues as the other tales from a different viewpoint.
   
   One of my favorite stories in the book, "In Our Own Hands," focuses on a future in which aliens come to Earth, not to take it over and destroy it, but to take it over so that they can improve it for humans, since we have not been doing our part to take care of this world. However, these aliens do appear to be benevolent in their intentions; they announce that everyone on Earth will have the opportunity to cast a vote and decide the course of action that their planet will take. This story deftly addresses important issues of ecology and human initiative while placing the focus not on the environmental message but in the head of an average college-age boy named Johnny who struggles over his own decision about how to cast his vote.
   
   Other notable tales, in my opinion, were "The Hardest, Kindest Gift" and "Herbert Hutchinson in the Underworld"--the former sprawling and poignant, the latter short and sparkling with satire.
   
   I would recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed Coville before; there's something in it for fans of all of his different series, though the focus is primarily upon stories of the fantastic or the paranormal.
   
   Reviewed by: Candace Cunard



4. Ages 12 and up will relish this fine gathering of nine magical stories by Bruce Coville, who uses the strange and supernatural in a series of astonishing secrets and oddities. Three have never been published before: the result is a fine gathering of chillers that will prove hard to put down - and perfect for middle school leisure readers.

5 comments about The Cheater.

1. Carter Phillips is under a lot of pressure. She needs to get a 700 in order to get into Princeton. Someone overhears her plea for help and agrees to take the test for her in exchange for a date. Carter agrees and she does get a 700. But Adam wants more. Much more. He blackmails Carter.



2. Carter's dad pressures her into making a 700 on her math exam in order to get into Princeton. Her dad is a judge and a Princeton graduate. Carter knows she can't make that high of a score in math. . . . without cheating. Does she cheat to satisfy her dad? If so, does she get caught? If so, does that put her under more pressure and stress? I will not answer these questions because that will ruin the book for those who haven't read it.
   
   Carter has a boyfriend who is crazy over her. . .
   
   Even though it did have a little bit to do with the plot, it bothered me that a pretty young girl's name was Carter. . . How yuck.
   
   The ending was pretty good. I would recommend this book to a teen but not to an adult (unless they are a die-hard fun-loving adult like me).



3. This is the one of the many books of the Fear Street series, and it's really good. Fear Street is a series about scary and/or supernatural events that happen to teenagers in a ficitional town called Shadyside. In this book, an attractive wealthy girl named Carter is panicked about failing the math portion of her SAT's. Her dad is a judge, and has big plans for her to go to an Ivy League college. Panicked, pressured, and scared, she gets a boy from the bad side of town who happens to be brilliant in math take the exam for her. However, their original agreement isn't enough, and he keeps blackmailing her for more and more. The reader feels for Carter as she slips deeper and deeper with each lie she tells. Will she ever be free of this, and how??This has a pretty good twist ending and gives a good taste of future books in the series.Pulitizer material it's not, but for young teens, or anyone wanting a quick thrilling read, this suits the bill just fine. This is one of my fave books in this series!



4. This book was different, it had like a stalker plot to it. the guy who stalks the girl sort of thing. It follows the R.L. stine fear street thing, her living on fear street and bad things happening so yea the book was pretty good.



5. I have always enjoyed reading novels by R.L. Stine, from his series of Goosebumps to his Fear Street, and this one - "The Cheater," was no exception. This is my second time reading this novel, the overall experience was exhilarating.
   
   In my opinion, the plot was predictable - I knew it was Dan who killed Adam all along. In chapter 14, Dan tells Carter not to give any more money to Adam, but Carter panics and explains giving money is her only way out. Prior to leaving Carter's house, Dan promised, "I'll try to think of something." At the end of this chapter, the police found Adam dead. However, the most surprising part of this thriller is the identity of the man who attempts to kill Carter.