5 comments about Hellboy: Odd Jobs.

1. Another good Hellboy book, like Odder Jobs, this has a reasonable number of Mignola illustrations throughout.
   
   There are some good stories here, including one with Bigfoot, some remniscing over a lost colleague because of a scarecrow demon, an encounter with a Medusa, and a ratboss that wants to help the BPRD for employee services reasons.
   
   Hellboy Odd Jobs : 01 Medusa's Revenge - Yvonne Navarro
   Hellboy Odd Jobs : 02 Jigsaw - Stephen R. Bissette
   Hellboy Odd Jobs : 03 A Mother Cries at Midnight - Philip Nutman
   Hellboy Odd Jobs : 04 Delivered - Greg Rucka
   Hellboy Odd Jobs : 05 Folie a Deux - Nancy Holder
   Hellboy Odd Jobs : 06 Demon Politics - Craig Shaw Gardner
   Hellboy Odd Jobs : 07 A Grim Fairy Tale - Nancy A. Collins
   Hellboy Odd Jobs : 08 Scared Crows - Rick Hautala and Jim Connolly
   Hellboy Odd Jobs : 09 Where Their Fire is Not Quenched - Chet Williamson
   Hellboy Odd Jobs : 10 I had Bigfoot's Baby! - Max Allan Collins
   Hellboy Odd Jobs : 11 The Nuckelavee - Christopher Golden and Mike Mignola
   Hellboy Odd Jobs : 12 A Night at the Beach - Matthew J. Costello
   Hellboy Odd Jobs : 13 Burn Baby Burn - Poppy Z. Brite
   Hellboy Odd Jobs : 14 Far Flew the Boast of Him - Brian Hodge
   
   Shield support snake lady staking.
   
   3.5 out of 5
   
   
   Hotel hell, bad books and a demon.
   
   4 out of 5
   
   
   Nuke man and lost boy.
   
   2.5 out of 5
   
   
   Ratman wants better conditions.
   
   4 out of 5
   
   
   Soldier's demon suicide.
   
   4 out of 5
   
   
   Captain America analogue and old ally possessed.
   
   3.5 out of 5
   
   
   Fairy's baby snacks.
   
   4 out of 5
   
   
   Scarecrow spirit monster.
   
   4 out of 5
   
   
   Evil congregates.
   
   4 out of 5
   
   
   Drug ring and interbreeding, sasquatch style.
   
   4 out of 5
   
   
   Garden variety skinless horse monster.
   
   3 out of 5
   
   
   Coney Island sea creepies.
   
   3 out of 5
   
   
   Liz learning.
   
   2 out of 5
   
   
   Grendel re-enactment rampage revenged.
   
   3.5 out of 5



2. I gotta start reading the fine print on these titles; I got totally fooled. I thought it was a comic book, just like the titles right above and below it. It's prose fiction. As in short stories. Yes there are some illustrations by Mike Mignola, but I thought I was getting a collection of Hellboy comics! ...



3. The book was better than I had expected. Having read some of the earlier comics where hellboy is first descovered this is a huge leap of discovery. The first of the short stories leads you to read more and more into how hellboy reacts and thinks. His charecter is dimensional having feelings of Good over Evil and cares for his friends more than he would any thing else in the world. It is a good book and would be well worth the buying.



4. Well this book is full of another looks on Hellboy himself and his world. Each story is pleasant and leads to a new contact with the stone handed red tall guy. From childhood to some pretty piece of horror, you'll have all the keys to unlock what was missing to the original comics: a character study...



5. I'll admit that I'm a Hellboy neophyte. Other than this collection of short stories, I know nothing of the Hellboy universe, and I've not even seen any of the comic book issues.

   Fortunately, a detailed understanding of the life and times of Hellboy is not necessary, because the short stories published here serve to provide plenty of background material. In any event, none of the plots hinge upon some fan-boy level of knowledge about our hero.

   To some degree, these stories can be described as a mutation of "The X-Files", except with Scully and Mulder being replaced by a cynical and world-weary demonic hellspawn with a heart of gold and a burning passion to kick butt. Hellboy is, as his name might suggest, literally from Hell, and has been on this Earth since the middle of World War II, when a failed Nazi occult ceremony evidently zapped the young demonlet into England. Since then, he's been helping the BPRD track down and eliminate paranormal threats to humanity.

   Most of the stories, unfortunately, follow a very standard formula: think of a cool ghost story or legend or myth, and then inject Hellboy in the midst. Hence, despite whatever technical merits they might have, Christopher Golden and Mike Mignola's "The Nuckelavee", Matthew Costello's "A Night at the Beach", and Max Collins' "I Had Bigfoot's Baby" are not particularly gripping, and they largely reduce Hellboy to a bystander or an observer, who occasionally throws a punch.

   Other stories are much more successful. Brian Hodge gives us "Far Flew the Boast of Him", which is both horrifying and poignant, and which, with its inclusion of a certain monster, offers a reward for those with degrees in English literature. Stephen Bissette's "Jigsaw" is disturbing and painful and has a beautifully sad ending. In a more lighthearted vein, Greg Rucka's "Delivered" shows that Hellboy isn't always fightin' mad and that not every encounter with the arcane ends in tragedy. And in "A Mother Cries at Midnight", Phillip Nutman explores the Mexican folk tale of the Weeping Woman, and its parallel to the childhood of Hellboy himself.

   The contributions from the other authors are not altogether memorable, but are at least sturdy and well-crafted, although a couple of them really fail to reach a meaningful conclusion.

   Illustrations are provided throughout the text by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola. It's a handsome volume and a good way to pass a dark and rainy evening alone. Certainly, it's provocative enough to make me want to seek out more Hellboy material.

5 comments about Tales of the Slayer, Volume 3 (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

1. The Third Tales of the Slayer collection is better again. This time there are four longer novellas by Holder, Golden, Odom and Navarro. We have a Chinese slayer in the time of the British hold on China, a Native American slayer, a Louisiana slayer in Hollywood in the 1940s, and finally an slayer than lives on an American military base in Japan, who has to deal with the 47 Ronin.
   
   Tales of the Slayer 3 : 01 Dark of the Moon - Yvonne Navarro
   Tales of the Slayer 3 : 02 Ch'ing Shih - Mel Odom
   Tales of the Slayer 3 : 03 Voodoo Loubge - Christopher Golden
   Tales of the Slayer 3 : 04 The Code of the Samurai - Nancy Holder
   
   
   Native American slayer does her best with little help.
   
   3.5 out of 5
   
   
   Chinese girl dealing with vamps, crimelords and protecting the people gets Irish help, but has to face vampire lord.
   
   4 out of 5
   
   
   Louisiana girl's Hollywood demon murder debut.
   
   4 out of 5
   
   
   American girl is welcome relief for the living side of a Japanese family's monster war.
   
   4 out of 5



2. This collection is a must-have for any serious Slayer collector. Why? Because the last story is about India Cohen, Buffy's predecessor. Also, this story is set in Japan, so anyone into manga or anime will find it interesting as I did since it use some words and legends of Japanese culture. That said, let's review the other stories.
   The first story is set in a Native American community, and I have to say I found it rather bland and confusing. I expected more action and most of the time the story is quite predictable.
   The second story takes a lot of time to get to present the Slayer and by the time it does you may have lost interest in the story. It is set in China and the Slayer is not sure if she wants to be a selfish brat or a selfless savior. The watcher is a character used before by the author in another Tales of the Slayer volume.
   The third story is set in 1920's Hollywood and revolves around a series of murders. It is pretty good since you keep guessing who the murderer is and till the last minute the answer is not revealed.
   As I said the fourth one was my favorite as it combines romance, martial arts, a little bit of comedy and slayer action.
   This volume has the talents of Nancy Holder and Christopher Golden, two of the best Buffy novels writers.I hope this review was useful and sorry for any mistake but it is my first review ever. Thanks for reading!



3. The 'Tales of the Slayer' books are a brilliant collection of short stories about the past and present slayers, including stories about Nikki Wood,the first slayer, and even some tales about Buffy herself. You may be a bit disapointed though, because this volume only contains 4 tales unlike the other volumes which contain around 8-10,but, what you will not be disapointed about is the quality of the stories inside.



4. Unlike the first two Tales of the Slayer books which consisted of 8-10 short stories, this one consists of four fairly meaty novellas.

   The first novella was set in a Native American community in 1229. While I didn't enjoy this story immmensely, it was extremely well executed. Its the story of a slayer who was trained without understanding her calling. When she was called she still didn't understand the rules of the game. The story follows her frustration and angst and she realizes that she has failed to fulfill her duty because she doesn't understand her duty.

   The second story is set in China in 1856 and revolves around yet another Slayer who doesn't really understand her calling. She has been trained. But when her Watcher died she ran away from the monastery where he trained her and posed as a man to survive on her on in the city. Her new Watcher finds her and they (reluctantly) set out to destroy an extremely powerful vampire. Another excellently executed story.

   The third novella is set in Hollywood in the 1940s. The then current slayer and her Watcher set out to find a Watcher that has gone AWOL from the council. In the process they encounter a bar full of demons and stars, someone who is killing demons - both dangerous and peaceful - indiscriminately, and vigilante demons who want to find and punish the demon killer. This story is particularly captivating for the amount of gray in it. In this story, the slayer spends a lot of time tredding in the space between black and white, between good and evil.

   The final novella is set in Tokyo in 1993 and involves Buffy's predecessor, India. India is able to move freely around Tokyo with her Watcher because her parents don't have the time to pay much attention to her. She has a bit of a crush on her handsome young watcher, Kit, only adding to the dramatic tension of the story. India and Kit have been called to help a clan destroy their ancestor who was turned into a vampire, along with over 50 of his fellow warriors. Another ancestor vowed that no one in the family would rest until the vampire samauri was destroyed. But, they're running out of descendents and time. So, India is called in as reinforcements.

   As with any short story (or novella) collection, the topics and writing are varied. So, one story may not appeal to you simply because you're not interested in China in the 1800s or in Samauri stories. But all the stories are well written, with the well developed characters allowed by this longer form. If you're interested in exploring the history of the slayers, this collection is for you.




5. I really enjoyed this book. I got it last week and finished it within a couple of days. I had read the reviews that other people had posted and wasn't expecting much, in fact I was expecting it to be horrible. But luckily I'm one of those people who read what people say about things but that like to find out for myself if I actually like it.

   Most of the reviews have had people complaining that the book only had 4 Stories.... For the previous books people complained that some of the Stories didn't go into Detail enough... This book may have only had 4 stories but they went into Detail about their lives, instead of just their deaths or one of the many Big Battles that they Fought... Plus, it may have only had 4 stories but it was longer than the first book and I think the second Book as well (can't find the second one right now though) The first Book was only 276 pages worth of stories, the third was 319 pages worth of stories.

   I have to say, I liked the fact that these stories were more Detailed than the ones in the other Books. You learned more about the Slayer in the stories, who she was, what she was like, what she thought of things, how she reacted to her calling.. Etc. Etc... I really liked that.

   The first story, while I thought it was good it wasn't my favorite... I think that it could have been written better but I still enjoyed it. It took place in 1229 A.D... I liked the Descriptive Detail that was given of things. It was almost like you were there. They described the Smells, the way things looked and how they felt, What life was like back then and the way people lived and their Traditions, what it was like suddenly being the Slayer after waiting for many many years for it to happen... What it was like being the Slayer back then and not knowing much about the Vampires, such as their weaknesses.
   It kinda gave the Impression that she was the First Slayer or at least the first Slayer in a very long time... I don't know what I think about that.

   The Second Story I think was my favorite. I really liked the Story of Ch'ing Shih. Not only did it go into great Detail about the Slayer's Life but it went it detail about how life was for people back then... In particular women... It went into detail about how she reacted to being told that she was the Slayer. About the relationship between her and her Watcher. It also went into some Detail about her past, before being Called.... Which I really liked and enjoyed.... The way that they described the fights that they were involved in was great, I could actually picture the fights in my mind.... Again I REALLY enjoyed this story.

   Really quick though, to the person that said her name meant "Moon Kissed Petals", maybe the reason that you didn't like the story was because you didn't read it thoroughly... That name was a name that was used to refer to another little girl, a thief in the Tavern... Not only that but the girl who used it, made it up, it was fake. I suggest reading it again.

   I liked the third story as well. I think that it probably came into a close second whenever it came to being on of my favorites... Again, I liked the fights.. I liked that the Slayer's Watcher was a woman, a very capable woman who could also hold her own in Battle... I liked the way that the Slayer thought, what she thought of her calling, how she missed certain things back home, and how they mentioned "'Kakistos" in this story (The Vamp that Faith was afraid of whenever she first came to Sunnydale)... I also liked the fact that she was willing to Compromise with Demons, that she knew not all of them were evil and that she wasn't interested in killing the ones who were harmless... She reminded me of Buffy ALOT.

   Now for the last one. I liked this story but I didn't love it. India was never one of my favorite characters, I enjoy her but not as much as I wish that I could. The fact that she was the Slayer before Buffy makes her very appealing to me though..... She doesn't like being the Slayer sometimes but at other times she does, kinda like Buffy... If it wasn't for being the Slayer, she really wouldn't have a purpose, her parents could give a rats ass about her and they're never around, she's lonely.. If it wasn't for Slaying, she wouldn't have "Kit", her Watcher and the man she loves... I think that more than anything she likes being the Slayer.. More than she dislikes it.
   I like that she's an American Slayer stationed in Tokyo and the fact that her parents aren't around much and don't seem to care much for her, which makes her Job.. Her calling.. Easier. She can Travel more with Kit without them noticing than she could with them around.... I like that Kit is not only her Watcher but that he's also talented in the Magics. Which also helps them out.... The story itself was interesting, I liked it. I liked that the Vampires that she and the others Fought had a long history behind them... They had a Purpose.. It made the characters involved more interesting.... And that they threw in some details about the Traditions in Tokyo... Both Past and Present.... India seems like one of those Laid back kinda Girls who happens to be the Slayer. I highly enjoy that.. I also find that in some ways, she's alot like Buffy. Again.

5 comments about Midnighters #1: The Secret Hour.

1. Okay, let me start out by saying I WISH I could do just a half point off. Really. I love these books. This is a great start to a great series. Maybe I'm partial to Westerfeld because I have yet to read any of his work and not fall in love with it.
   
   My only problem (and I have to admit, kindof a huge one for me) is that I live about 30 minutes from the place where this book takes place and its nothing like the place described in the book. Westerfeld makes this place sound like the smallest little po-dunk town there ever was. Not true. Second, he has the landscape totally wrong. He refers to salt flats, and desert type land all the time. Uhm no. Not even close. Try farm land. Prairies. Lots of green. Kinda famous around here for supplying corn. And the icing on the cake... the school mascot and colors are wrong. :( Spartans, Red White and Blue, not tigers with purple and yellow. It just bugs me. I feel like if you're going to get that detailed with the setting, do some research. Minor things like the school mascot aren't such a big deal. But changing the entire environment? ugh.
   
   OKAY sorry for my little rant. I won't do it any more.
   
   I just love this book. And the two that follow. They effectively creeped me out. For a fast reader they don't last very long but still definitely worth it. If you like surreal/supernatural stories, or if you're like me and just love Scott Westerfeld, you will NOT be disappointed.



2. This book is the beginning to the series. It was very entertaining, not up to the same par as his Uglies series, but still entertaining.



3. I really loved this entire series. The first book is about Jessica, who moves to Bixby and finds herself in the midnight blue hour, with few others. It is interesting to explore this hour within the book and all the creatures that inhabit it. The first book pulls you in and doesn't let you go until the series is up! I suggest buying them all at once!



4. I was interested in this book mainly because it is based near where i live. However, Westerfeld must had never visited the area before writing the book. A few mistakes he makes is saying that Oklahoma is flat which is only true in some areas but definitely not in the Bixby area which is lush with trees and rolling hills. Another part is that her dad says he can see lightning in Texas which again can not be done because Bixby is in the Northern part of the state and along with the trees, hills and mountain range between here and the state line it can't be done. Another is saying things about the desert areas but this area is full of trees and green grass. Lastly there isn't a Broken Arrow County but there is a city called Broken Arrow.
   I had read the Uglies, Pretties and Specials and was looking forward to reading a wonderful book by Scott Westerfeld but these things made it hard for me to get into the story because I thought he would have done more research on the area his book is based. I still give it four stars because it is a great idea and could be good for those not familiar with the area.



5. At midnight, the world freezes and blue light covers the area. Only four kids, calling themselves Midnighters, are able to move around during the mysterious hour. When Jessica Day comes into town, she pretty much destroys the equilibrium between the Midnighters and the darklings, creatures who are able to come out during the midnight hour.
   
   It's a fast-paced book, with a wide variety of personalities depicted through the five children. So far, however, they seem a little one-dimensional, but perhaps that is because of their talents as Midnighters. There is the seer/lore reader, the empath, the polymath, the flyer/jumper and Jessica's mysterious power (which we only find out within the last few pages of the book). For some reason the darklings are intensely after Jessica so with her presence things are chaotic, and she unwittingly brings together the other four (the flyer didn't really like the seer).
   
   I read Westerfeld at first for his commended Uglies series, but this is also a fast, entertaining read. While not a social critique like his more famous series, fans of supernatural creatures should like this book. It leaves with a slight cliffhanger but nothing so dire I feel I must buy the second book if the public library doesn't have it (it does).

5 comments about A Deadly Game of Magic.

1. As an avid suspense and horror reader, the title, "A Deadly Game of Magic", immediately caught my attention. However, when reading this story, the expected feeling of thrill and suspense was replaced with discontent and regret.
   
   In this story, four friends become stranded in, what they believe is, an abandoned house. The friends, Lisa, Teena, Julian, and Bo explore the house, and they find a room full of magic props. Strange things begin to happen, such floating balls of light. These magic tricks start to become more dangerous as the book progresses. The friends predict that the previous owner of the home (and magician), The Great Chamberlain, is in the house trying to scare them. Can the friends escape the house unharmed?
   
   If you enjoy the plot of a book to keep you guessing, avoid this book. This story was very predictable, and it followed a cliché plotline. The predictable plot is a result from the unoriginal events in this book. The storm, phone dying, and power outage are very overdone happenings in the land of suspense and horror. These unoriginal events take away from the suspense and thrill this book had the potential to have.
   However, one reason you should read this book is because of its length. It is a quick, easy read, with just over 200 pages and larger-sized font, making it simple to read.
   
   In all, this book lacked originality and a suspenseful plot. However, the short length of the book made it easy to get through. When deciding to pick up this book, determine if you would rather have a simple-read, or a book with substance. If you would rather have a book with nail-biting, heart-pounding, sitting-on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense, then I would advise you to stay away from "A Deadly Game of Magic".
   
   -Lindsey W.



2. Four students try to return home from a school debate contest, and thankfully four return, but not in the best shape. On there way back they get caught in a terrible lighting/thunder rainstorm. Where they then are forced to finally give up driving all night long to return home and stay somewhere. They stop at a house and meet the owners, but to the students it seems that it really isn't people's home. The people seemed really anxious to leave and were what it looked like in a hurry. What where they doing there? And why? The people leave and let them stay .Later they hear noises and find clues that are finally put together and solved to reveal that they aren't the only ones in the house. Throughout the book there is a conflict between the four students and one mystery person in the house that won't leave them alone until they finish his Deadly Game of Magic.



3. This is one scary book. Four teenagers driving home from a speech and drama tournament in a blinding rain storm are stranded by car trouble north of Dallas. They're let into a home to call for help, but the man and woman they meet there almost immediately leave for a party. Left on their own to wait for a mechanic, the kids begin to think that the couple who let them in may not in fact be the owners of the house. And they begin to suspect as well that there's someone else in the house with them. When the storm knocks the power out, plunging the foursome into darkness...well, like I said, this is one scary book.
   
   Joan Lowery Nixon's YA novel, originally published in 1983, isn't entirely successful. The occasional conclusion is jumped to without sufficient evidence, and the dialogue can be clunky. Also, Nixon's protagonists tend to say things and otherwise behave in ways that aren't credible given the context. For example, when it's pitch dark in a strange house that you think may be haunted and/or inhabited by a killer, and when there's a room down the hall in which you suspect there just might be a dead body, you don't react to finding an old scrapbook with a cheery cry of, "This is terrific! Look! Photographs!"
   
   What's particularly impressive about A Deadly Game of Magic is how Nixon manages to instill the story with dread. We aren't told specifically what's wrong with the behavior of the couple whom the teenagers first meet in the house, for example. But there's something off about it. We sense it just as well as the teenagers do, and we want them to get out of there as soon as possible. But of course they don't, and things just get worse from there.
   
   While facing their fears in the house Nixon's protagonists reveal their back stories. They are all bowed down, in various ways, by their parents' expectations for them. Battling evil in the house, we are to understand, will also give them the courage to choose their own paths in life. This is the uninteresting part of the book, the part that's meant to make the story relevant to its underage readers. Maybe they'll like the character development and maybe not; for sure they'll like the main story line.
   
   Highly recommended to its intended audience and as a quick read for adults. But don't read this one right before bed.



4. It was okay.... i guess. I'm just not to sure. Its about these kids whos car breaks down so they enter this house and some really weird things happen... including a disenbodied hand and a glass head and a mysterious back room... and some dissappeirenses of a dog, a boy and wheres the owner of the house? Is their anyone in the house with them? Do you want to know? Read a deadly game of magic.



5. The book is overall good. The plot keeps you reading, and the characters are mildly realistic. The problem with the book is it lacks key details that can develop the plot and characters on a deeper level. This would make the book excellent. The plot in the beginning is a little confusing. Later in the book you get the answers you seek, but they still are not explained well. The characters have some personality, but I feel them to be lacking besides what is given. There are some questions left unanswered in the end- what happened to the magician's wife and her sister- and you have to conclude the answers yourself. The book never truly tells you. Overall, the book is a good light read. There are one or two curse words in the book which parents should be advised of. I give it 3 stars out of 5.

5 comments about Inside the Illusion (EverWorld, Book 9).

1. This book is a bit different because it comes from Senna. I've been wondering why she is the way she is and this book helps explain it. I never really liked Senna and even with this book I still don't but I do feel a bit sorry for her. Here we meet the god of the alligators and travel on into Egypt to find Senna's mother. We find that she isn't much different than Senna herself. We also find out some of the plans Senna has in store including what she is rallying over in the real world. Her own mother even goes behind her back and lets Merlin know where Senna is. Is this a good thing or bad? Is Merlin able to catch Senna?



2. I agree with some thoughts already posted. The books have always overdone each other, which makes the series so good. But it also gets a bit tedious, as mentioned in another post. But overall, the series is the best I've ever read...

   This book, gets in deep detail with Senna, whom I have always wanted to read about. You really get to know her more, and your opinions about her will most likely change. You get to see her past and how she developed into what she is now. If you've read the previous books, read this one: It answers most of the questions you have about the series!




3. I have read the entire series and it is just the best thing ever! I mean it. I just finished the last book and it is just sooooo good of an ending I wish I could just read it over and over. If you enjoy mythology stuff and fantasy you will love these books!



4. Now this was a book I didn't want to put down! If you've read all or even some of the previous ones, this book is must. Finally, some of the mysteries of Everworld begin to unravel, as Senna finally explains her place in everthing...and everyone else's. As the five kids make their way into Egypt, hoping to find Senna's mother, instead they're captured by a large group of Amazons who have conquered the land... I won't say anything else to avoid spoiling the story, buy truly, this one is the best so far. Senna isn't a character I expected to hear from, but somehow, getting inside her twisted head for the first time, it was hard not to identify with her, and sympathize with her at least a bit. Prior to this book, I despised Senna, but now she just might be my favorite. Also, the Amazons as well were simply above cool! Nothing like some good strong females to make a story more exciting. Anyway, this book was great, and I recommend it to anyone who's been following the series. These books don't stand well on their own, and you'd be hopelessly lost otherwise.



5. At last, we get to know the real Senna. This book was more psychological than adventure, since the whole book is basically Senna talking about her past, her future plans, and why she is the way she is (which is why this book is worth a read). This series still keeps going well.

5 comments about The Afterlife.

1. I was really bored with *Afterlife*, despite the fact I was really looking forward to my first read of Gary Soto's.
   
   Chuy tries to impress a girl at school. However, his attempt is not appreciated by another boy and is stabbed to death.
   
   Throughout the remainder of the book, he, as a ghost, hovers around his loved ones to see them grieve for him and soon recognizes that he was loved by everyone.
   
   At the same time, he soon meets a troubled girl, who is also a ghost. He soon realizes that he has fallen in love with her.
   
   That's just about it, which is probably why it's such a short book. There's not much substance in it, conflicts and whatnots.
   
   Nah, don't waste your time with this book.



2. I read this novel while studying Latino authors for a multicultural project. To begin with, this novel was the first one I read by Gary Soto and I really enjoyed it. The novel kept my attention and upon reflection I can see how Soto's love of poetry influences his writing.The Afterlife vivid imagery places the reader in the setting. The reader can almost expereince the smells and the sounds of the city. I believe the story started off strong but the conclusion of the novel is weak. Questions are left unanswered. Some of Soto's other works such as his short stories in Baseball in April offer stronger resolution and are more satisfying. Still, I recommend The Afterlife for young adult readers. The themes of friendship, compassion and romance will keep young readers interested in the outcome.



3. Although I find _The Afterlife_ to be a somewhat mediocre (if unique) book, I have had several students in my classes read this and respond with much enthusiasm. It is important to keep in mind that adults are not the target audience here, and there is something that really grabs the interest of male adolescent readers, at least those in my classes who have read this book.
   
   As a teacher of often reluctant readers, I am always keeping my eyes open for interesting new books, not just from lists of recommended reading, but by seeking input from my students as well. This is how I was first introduced to _The Afterlife_ by Gary Soto. One of my students read the book and began to recommend it to others. After reading _The Afterlife_, many students have responded that it is one of the best, if not the best book they have ever read.
   
   Several students read the book, then I decided it was time to read it for myself. I was disappointed. However, after reflecting, I could see the appeal for my students. In order to attempt to define the appeal, I need to explain the basic plot.
   
   The main character, Chuy, a young Latino, is stabbed and killed after complimenting another teenager's yellow shoes. His spirit leaves his body, and his spirit slowly begins to pass into the next world. However, he is still able to move around and observe his world without being seen. Along the way, he meets a young lady who has also left her body and become a spirit.
   
   If all of this sounds fantastic, it is, but although it can be unusual, Soto never lets his book become sensational.
   
   I believe the reason this novel holds the interest of my students is that it focuses on one of the deepest desires of teenagers: the desire to stand back and analyze their world without the world looking back at them, the desire to do good things without considering "image" or the disapproval of their peers, the desire to establish a relationship with a member of the opposite sex without the discomfort of their own body always getting in the way. In fact, although Chuy seems like a good guy before his death, he is better able to define his world, does some of his kindest acts, and forms more meaningful relationships after.
   
   By the time we are adults, most of us have established a certain balance in our lives. It only stands to reason that a book like _The Afterlife_ appeals less to adults than those who are in the midst of a time in their lives that can seem very unbalanced at times. I give this book four stars based on the average between the three it would receive from me and the five it would receive from my students if they were writing this review.



4. "The Afterlife" by Gary Soto was a facinating, well written book. Chuy was murderd in Club Estrella. A man in yellow shoes who shares the same name as Chuy murders Chuy after a comment"I like your shoes" Chuy said. Then the man in yellow shoes just starts stabbinhg Chuy three times to his xchest and back. Chuy shares with us the experience he had being a ghost. He met a girl that was also a ghost and fell in love with her. Then he satrted to meet other ghost and try to comfort them about being a gohst which he thought was fun. H liked the idea of walking through people and buildings and making people feel his cold presence. He found it fun being a gohst and finds out his body is vanishing away. I loved this book sand recommend it for everyone.



5. The Afterlife by Gary Soto was a fascinating book. In the story, a man with yellow shoes has murdered Chuy. The book is about Chuy, and his thoughts and actions in the afterlife. Now being a ghost, he can pass through buildings and people, but his touch leaves behind a cold chill. The story is fascinating because you feel sorry for him, and his lost life. You can understand his emotions. Chuy is an average kid who tries to do good in his afterlife, to make things better for at least one person. It is also about his meeting with other ghosts and the impacts he has on them. I liked this book because it makes you think about what you would do as a ghost. The story was really well told, and Gary Soto puts you into the life of this kid. I recommend this book to anyone who can stand blood and gore, but likes a happy ending. It was a great read and you don't want to put it down until you've finished.

5 comments about The Chase (The Forbidden Game, Vol. 2).

1. I got the book very fast and it was in perfect condition. I bought it for my wife, she had read it years ago and wanted to read it again. We were afraid that no one would have it so we were exited that we could find it here and that the original book was too.



2. Completly forgotten that I bought this item however it was a Fast delivery and well wrapped item. Haven't had the chance in reading the book yet but will evently get there.



3. This book though not as good as books 1 and 3 is still very good. I loved the scene were Julian and Jenny meet face to face for the first time since the last book. We get to see Jenny's character development and every scene with Julian and Jenny is Just Fabulous. I strongly recommend this trilogy........these books are great beach reads.



4. I enjoyed this book, but I didn't like the way you had to wait until half way into it before the game started and Julian came along. He's my favourite character, and I really feel Jenny should have just gone with him! That being said, it's a good book and you HAVE to read it! I've set up a Yahoo! group called THeforbiddenGame to talk about it, so if you like these books as muchh as I do, please join!



5. Jenny and her friends are dealing with the aftermath of the events of the first book. No one believes them about their friend's death and the paper house is still missing. When they finally find the paper house it is ripped to shreds and they don't know if Julian was released or not. All is soon reveled and they begin a new deadly game where Jenny's friends are disappearing one by one.

   This book wasn't nearly as good as the first one. The first half of the book is pretty dull. The action does pick up but it's barley enough to make up for the first half. I did like how we got to know the characters better but I didn't like how little Julian there was. The book kind of struck me as a filler book but I'm sure the last in the series will be much better.

5 comments about The Confession (Fear Street, No. 38).

1. Julie and her friends, Hillary, Taylor, Sandy and Vincent, all hated Al. Al used to be part of their group, he used be their friend. Just lately he started hanging out with some tough guys from a city called Waynesbridge, which is near Shadyside. They drink beer and smoke. Al has started drinking and smoking to now. Al is always drunk. Hillary, Julie and Taylor were hanging out at Julie's house. Taylor just became part of their group. She just moved here and is going out with Sandy. So she became part of the group. When they were hanging out, Al came to the backdoor. They went to answer it and saw Al. He was completely drunk. He started bugging them. Then he threw a beer can into the sink. He started asking for $20. But Julie wouldn't give it to him. Then he lit a cigarette. Julie's parents don't allow smoking at their house. So he threatened to make a cigarette burn on the counter if she didn't give him the money. Then he dropped it onto the floor. He started pestering Hillary. He said that if she didn't give him the money then he would tell the teacher that she cheated on the chemistry test. But Hillary didn't cheat; Al GAVE the answers to her. She didn't ask for them. Al was blackmailing them all. So Hillary gave him the money. When Al was leaving, Julie's mom walked in. She saw the beer bottle and the still lit cigarette and grounded Julie. Julie tried to tell her mom it was Al's fault but she wouldn't listen. After that, Al started bugging Hillary, he started borrowing money or her car. He was blackmailing her, along with Julie. They went over to Sandy's house. He told them that Al got into a fight and was suspended from school. Then Al was at the back door. He came in and stated pestering them. He looked in the refrigerator. And was asking if they had any beer. They said no. They realized that he was REALLY drunk this time. Sandy tried to calm him down and he punched Sandy and knocked out his tooth. Then Hillary went on a rampage and attacked him. Al thought he could fight and beat Hillary but he was surprised to see that she was just as strong as he was so he left. Julie was late to meeting Vincent for a chemistry experiment. When she got there he was pacing in his yard. He wasn't goofing around like usually. He was worried. He told Julie that he let Al borrow his parent's car. Vincent went out for a ride the other night in the car when he wasn't supposed to. He accidentally sped and got a ticket. Al was walking by when he got a ticket. Al threatened to tell his parents about the speeding ticket if Vincent didn't let him borrow the car. He promised to return it when Vincent got home. But now he was late. Then they saw the car come down the road. It was totaled. Al said it wasn't his fault. Yeah right. Vincent was so upset. When his parents got home he was grounded for life. Julie went rollerblading with her friends. Then everyone had left and she skated a little longer. Then when she went into the alley she found Al... Dead! Everyone thought she killed him but the detectives believed her. Then after the funeral they all went to Sandy's house. He got them into a group for a confession... He killed Al...



2. I liked it. But i didn't love it. R.L.stine has done better. I suggest "the halloween party" if you want to see a good book. the goosebump books are really good too. This book was predictable and boring. UNEVENTFUL throughout most of the book. The good parts were here and there, there was some good parts. But i have read better from R.L. Stine and this is not one of his best. Don't let the awsome cover decive you.



3. Julie, Hillary, Taylor, Sandy, and Vincent all hate Al. Al has been ruining all their lives and getting them in trouble. But that doesn't mean that they want to kill him. Right? Wrong! Not when Sanndy confesses the murder. But we know Sandy will never kill agin... Right?
   
   --Scottie Schaeffer age ten



4. 
   
   This book The Confession by R.L. Stine is one of
   the Fear Street Series. This is no doubt a great book. The
   end of this book had a huge twist, one you never would
   have guessed in a million years! This is my first Fear
   Street book but I am certain it won't be my last!
   
   
   A group of students a Shady Side High School
   are being Bullied by Al, a tough kid in their school.
   He always is making them give him money or beer.
   If they refuse, he either blackmails them or threatens
   them. When bad goes to worse, he is found dead
   in the alley way. Who did it? They all hated Ll, but who
   would murder him? Who?
   
   
   
   
   I would recommend this book to 6th and 7th graders
   because of the creepy and scary parts. I was creeped out when a girl
   goes into her garage to find the killer in the back walking to
   her. The book takes about a week to finish if your a fast reader.
   Maybe two for a slower one.
   
   
   Written by a student at MVMS in Goffstown NH



5. This book is amazing. Ross in this book is WAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY two absesive about what his mother thought about him. Even if he did live in my town and was hotter than hott, I dont want to go on a date with a mother absesive MURDERER! (Murderer is bad enough). By the way, Im also writing a book. Im 13 and my book is call "Text Absesive", Soon to be a best seller! Later!

5 comments about Remember Me 2: The Return.

1. I was really looking forward to this book because of how much I enjoyed the origonal... but quickly learned that this was an unworthy sequel.
   The back description said that the Shari Cooper would return, from death, into a body not her own. These beings are called Wanderers, but she is attacked by creatures that have a special hatred toward Wanderers.
   Shari Cooper did not return into another body until the last 20 pages of the book. In fact, she was barely in the book that was supposed to revolve around her.
   There were no creatures that she falls into conflict with. There was no conflict at all... or a plot for that matter. After reading this painfully boring novel, I thought to myself, "What was the point of this?"
   It was very uneventful... boring if you will, which is shocking for a Pike book because I had never read one I didnt like before "Rememebr Me 2".
   Pike's usually so brilliant but this sequel did not live up to its origonal. It was as if he had no real ideas to put Shari through a second time. I probably wont read the 3rd one, and cant see why anyone would want to after reading this horrible piece of fiction.



2. A good and supernatural book!It makes me wonder what dead is like...Nigel..



3. Like all Christopher Pike books, this is another amazing one added to it. The moment when Jimmy realized that his sister came back to life was amazing, and when Lenny realized who he was before he nearly killed Shari. This book didn't have so much a deep meaning or conclusion, but it's the perfect book LEADING to book three.



4. WARNING: This reveiw tells parts of the end, since it was written for school!
   
   Remember Me 2: The Return by Christopher Pike was an okay book. Wait, I take that back. It was not bad, or anything, but it was not okay. Why don't we settle on unpleasant?
   Jean Rodrigues had just gotten pregnant with her boyfriend's baby. She had just told him when she fell off a balcony and the baby died. She would've died too-except now Shari Cooper is assuming the position of Wanderer in her body.
   Shari's job now is to help the world somehow, in a human's body-particularly Jean's. In this case, it is her job to write books inspiring and helping others.
   And here is where the problem ensues. (In the book itself.) We have the basis, correct. But where is the actual plot? The rest of the book is almost an unorganized, boring journal entry, lacking plot and excitement. It drabs on to say that Jean meets a patient in the hospital (who later dies) for whom she writes a story. Then, ofcourse, the reader wonders what the story is about, so Christopher Pike makes me wish I never asked, by putting in the entire story. Around fifteen pages.
   To make things more complicated, the story is completely weird and a tad psychotic. It is about a writer and how one day she discovers how she has a troll for a muse who likes women, money, and long phone calls. She is then forced to give her muse most of her money until she goes to a local author and gets him to solve her problem by presenting it to him in the way of a story-line. So she seduces the troll-muse (content not suitable for children under the age of thirteen (in other words, not exactly pleasant to read)) and locks him in the closet. The end.
   Then Shari goes on to put to rest the wonders of her friends and family. (Like her house cleaner, for example, (her real mother) who she let know that Shari really loved her as a mother and knew who she was)
   Okay. Analysis time! Put on your seat-belt, because it is time for my trademark rant. The exits are at the top of the page incase you decide to click the "back" button in exhaustion!
   (deep breath)
   Even though this book was at my reading level, written by Christopher Pike, a sequel to an awesome book, and liked by most, I still can't understand why the publisher published it. Maybe because Christoper Pike signed a book-deal?
   Okay. It would appeal to the majority of today's teen population as an okay book. I say that mainly because there were a majority of characters who were buff Hispanic gang members who smoked pot and drunk. And were essentially "good for nothing" as some would put it. However, I think I am the only one (that I know of) to go that far. Most would say Pike accurately depicted the inner-city atomosphere. Which might be true, but I found it as though he was going by some huge stereotype. Another reason most would like it is because it has the whole "go for hope", "there is such thing as a heaven", "if you do well in this life you get to go back and do good for human kind" message. Maybe most teenagers need to believe that, or they do already, and so this book can relate to their beliefs (therefore they like it). Does it make a difference that I don't believe such things? Maybe. Hehe, look at me, as I am ranting on and on here I realized another major reason why I don't like this book:
   Religious content.
   Okay, so Christopher is not (to my knowledge) a die-hard religious freak preaching to others who god is and whatnot. But, he did go a bit over-board with the whole god-afterlife thing. Even though in this book god was... well, not what most people believe, you still had to read about three chapters of Shari asking some super-natural from heaven questions about it. That was a little much for me.
   To go back to the whole plot-thing:
   This book also had so many different plots and chapters dealing with so many people it didn't work, it was too overwhelming. This might have worked if it was some novel where you needed to know everything, otherwise you wouldn't get anything, but not here, where knowing too much could lead your brain to nearly explode and, therefore, take away from the main enjoyment of even reading the book.
   As I am sitting here typing this, I realize that maybe Christopher Pike wanted to kind of do an epilogue on Shari and whatnot. But then his publisher told him it had to be around three hundred pages and be an actual story, resulting in a hodge-podge of an epilogue and Christopher Pike's interpretation of the afterlife and Shari's struggle with it. This will remain a mystery forever to those not Christopher Pike or his editor, and so we can only infer.
   I admit, this book did nicely sum up Shari's life and whatnot. It answered some questions that I had at the end of the first book. But I still would've been better-off if I hadn't read it and left those things to my imagination.
   I think if I don't end this soon it will never end.
   So I will end with these last few sentences:
   All in all, this book didn't really "click" for me. It was a bit lovey-dovey, without a real plot, and dull. An unpleasant read. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, simply because I didn't like it, but I'm not saying others would hate it. Some people may have loved it, that's just how I felt.
   (whew)



5. I liked it. Jean/Shari are two different people. One spiritually dies, the other comes back. I am glad that Shari was given another chance. I am aslo glad that a few old characters from the first book are back.

5 comments about Gallows Hill (Laurel-Leaf Books).

1. A very good book. But remember, this book will only make sense to you if you have read some books on witchcraft, such as The Crucible by Arthur Miller. I highly recommend that you should read The Crucible before reading this book.



2. I requested this book, not realizing it was a young adult book. I am 25 , so I typically dont read young adult books, but I went ahead with this one. I have to say I really enjoyed it, and even had a hard time putting it down. I give it 5 stars, for being well written and interesting.



3. This is one of my absolute favorites by Duncan. I read it in high school and was hooked to every word. Goodness, but why can't horror writers for teens write like this anymore?! It is an absolutey fascinating story that is the perfect guilty pleasure or companion for a stormy night. It was everything a good story needs: a bit of Salem Witch Trial history, romance, teen angst, and Duncan's brilliant way of bringing out everyone's psychological moves without dragging down the story. The sheer supernatural flavor of the dreams was a brilliant touch, and Duncan once again combines nervous, self-conscious teenagers with brooding horror.



4. This is probably the most supsensful book I have ever read, I was always "interested" in what happened with the Salem Witch Trials but never really got around to reading anything about it. This book got me started!! I finished it within two days and decided that for my history project (it was 5 months away) I was going to do it on The Salem Witch Trials. Those five months I researched all about them till I almost knew it by heart. I will soon be reading other books involving the Salem Witch Trials : A Break with Charity by Ann Rinaldi and The Sacrifice by Kathleen Benner Duble. I cannot wait to start reading Lois Duncan's other suspense novels!! Please read this!! Trust me it WON't waist your time.



5. This story starts with an unusual paperweight that an old woman bought at a shop. She looked into it and when she died she had all of her affairs in order. Now it falls into the hands of her granddaughter, Sarah. Sarah saw a reflection of a yellow dress in her mothers mirror before she bought it. She saw Charlie fall down the stairs before it happend. Is Sarah a witch? Or is she just losing her mind? A great read, and 110% recommened!