When I first read The Invisible Tower by Nils Johnson-Shelton I expected a lot. It was compared to favorites of mine such as Artemis Fowl, Rangers Apprentice, and Percy Jackson. Happily, I was not disappointed. The book is about Artie Kingfisher, a boy who is good at video games and not much else. He has an older sister named Kay and a father named Kynder. One day he receives a message in a video game. "You are special, Arthur. In one weeks time you will come to me at the IT" This leads him and his family on an epic quest bringing Arthurian legends to life in new ways. I thought that the book might be a slight rip off of the Percy Jackson series but I was pleasantly proved wrong. The book had its own style and flow and introduced memorable and likable characters. I think this book is perfect for tweens everywhere and I look forward to the next book in the series.

Rangers Apprentice #1: Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan

John Flanagan has sent us back into a time where knights and kings still reign. The central character of the story is Will, a runty orphan whose only connection to the past is a note that was on him when he was dropped at the orphanage. The note read "His mother died in childbirth. His father died a hero. Please take care of him. His name is Will."

Will longs to be a knight and become a hero, just like his father. However, he is chosen to become an apprentice ranger, a profession shrouded in secrecy and myth. Rangers are the equivalent of the modern day special forces. Stealthy and quick, they are the ones who fight the battle before it reaches the people. Does Will have what it takes to become a ranger, and more importantly, does he have the courage to take part in the battle on the horizon?

This book is the first in the Rangers Apprentice series. The series is one of my favorites. The right combination of action, humor and suspense make it a thrilling read. Starting out as a story for his son, this book and series is sure to appeal to teens and slightly younger children as well.

Max McDaniels is an ordinary kid living in the suburbs of Chicago with his dad. Simple right? Well simplicity becomes a thing of the past in this whirlwind of an adventure written by Henry H. Neff. The first in the series of books called The Hound of Rowan, When Max stumbles upon a mysterious tapestry depicting an ancient Celtic myth his life is forever changed. He also finds out that he is a Potential, a child with extraordinary powers and is approached by a Recruiter from Rowan Academy, A secret school for other Potentials like him. There he has to cope with his own mythical pet, hard classes, and the genius of his roommate. Here Max must learn to use his power and learn fast because an ancient evil is stirring, and it wants Max McDaniels.

The Tapestry is a blend of excitement and intrigue. Add in a few comic moments and you have the perfect book. I highly recommend it for teens between 11-14 years of age.

Kane Chronicles #1  Red Pyramid

From the author of the hit series Percy Jackson and the Olympians comes a new saga, The Kane Chronicles. The series centers on Egyptian mythology. In the first book, The Red Pyramid, we learn that Carter and Sadie Kane have been kept apart since their mother died. Sadie lives in London with her grandparents and her cat Muffin. Carter lives with his dad, a famous Egyptologist. Carter and his dad are constantly moving from country to country. His home is literally in one suitcase.

Sadie has everything Carter wants, a normal life with school friends and a home. But Carter has one thing Sadie wants, time with their father. They only see each other once a year on Christmas, so their more like distant cousins than brother and sister. But suddenly when their father makes the famous Rosetta Stone blow up in the British Museum and unleashes a mysterious fiery figure they learn the truth. They learn that their father was a powerful Egyptian magician and he has just unleashed Set, the god of chaos. Not good, not good at all. The only good news is that Julius Kane also unleashed four other gods. It’s now up to Carter and Sadie, with a little help from Muffin, to find them and convince them to stop Set.

Filled with wisecracks, suspense, and plenty of action this book is a work of art. I highly recommend this to all Percy Jackson fans and new readers. This book gets a perfect A+ from me.

The 5th and latest book in the Percy Jackson saga

Star Wars

The book Steel Trapp 2 is the sequel to the book Steel Trapp – The Challenge.

The book's main character is Steven “Steel” Trapp, a teenage boy with amazing photographic memory and his friend Kaleigh. After foiling a terrorist organization plot in Washington D.C. they go back to their normal mediocre lives. Or so they think.

Soon they find themselves in a private school that has its own irregularities. Why did their parents send them there, why are teachers hosting secret meetings, and most of all, what is the purpose of the mysterious “Program”?

Steel Trapp 2 is a thriller, through and through. The action, wit, and suspense is unmatched. Ridley Pearson has outdone himself in Steel Trapp 2