Comparisons of Covers- The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

Ok this is just somthing I came up with after looking at some US vs UK covers post. I decided I wanted to do something like that but with any covers not just US and UK. So I decided first I am going to The Monstrumologist, a great YA historical fiction/ horror novel. If anyone wants to do this too they can. So here are the covers:

US Hardback:

US Paperback:

UK Paperback:

German Hardback:

If you want to comment on what you think of the idea and of the covers.

Blogger Hop!

Time for a new blogger hop. Blogger hop is a lovely meme hosted by Crazy for Books. It is where you can discover cool, new book blogs and be discovered. It goes on every Friday. So have a good time!

In My Mailbox (1)

Ok this is my first In my Mailbox post. It is hosted by the wonderful blog The Story Siren . So go and check it out. Oh yes, I am not doing just books I got this week I will be doing anything that is a book, movie, or cd. But I usually only get just books if I get anything at all.

(Sorry for the quality, I have a bad camera.)

Bought off of Barnes and Noble Online

A Spy In The House (The Agency) by Y.S. Lee

This is a colourful, action-packed Victorian detective novel centred around the exploits of 'agent' Mary Quinn. At a young age, Mary is rescued from the gallows by a woman masquerading as a prison warden. She is taken to Miss Scrimshaw's Academy for Girls. The school, Mary learns, is a front for a private investigation agency and, at 17, she is taken on as an agent. In her new role she is catapulted into the family home of the Thorolds to investigate the shady business dealings of Mr Thorold.

(from fantasticfiction.co.uk)

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

The novel focuses on the romance between Jane and Rochester, but Bronte clearly reveals a feminist message through a heroine arguing for sexual equality and refusing to adhere fully to the restrictive expectations of early Victorian society.

(from fantasticfiction.co.uk)

We Hear the Dead by Dianne K Salerni

It started out as a harmless prank. But soon enough, spiritualism was the fastest growing movement of the nineteenth century, and Maggie Fox was trapped in a life of deceit.

Meticulously researched by the author, We Hear the Dead reveals the secret of how the Fox sisters faked their rapping sounds and their motives for inventing the séance and founding spiritualism.

Maggie:

I began the deception when I was too young to know right from wrong. No one suspected us of any trick, because we were such young children. We were led on by my sister purposely and by my mother unintentionally. Only with the passing of time did I come to understand the consequences of my actions. As Doctor wrote to me: "Weary, weary is the life by cold deceit oppressed."

Kate:

My sister has used the word "deception." I object to her use of that word, for I do not believe that I have ever intentionally deceived anyone. Maggie has a different understanding of all the events that have happened since that night in Hydesville forty years ago. To her the spirits were always a game. For my sister Leah, they were a means to an end. For my mother, a miracle. And for me, they were my life's calling. I have no regrets.

(from fantasticfiction.co.uk)

Ginger Snaps (Movie)

A movie that compares turning into a werewolf to puberty. One of the best movies ever

Mom Bought for Me

The King's Rose by Alisa M Libby

Life in the court of King Henry VIII is a complex game. When fifteen-year-old Catherine Howard catches the king's eye, she quickly transforms from pawn to queen. But even luxury beyond imagination loses its luster as young Catherine finds her life - and her heart - threatened by the needs of an aging king and a family hungry for power. Will their agendas deliver Catherine to the same fate as her infamous cousin, Anne Boleyn - sacrificed at the altar of family ambition?

Engaging historical fiction with a throbbing YA heartbeat, this thrilling novel will draw readers into the intrigues and dangers of the Tudor court.

(from fantasticfiction.co.uk)

The Year of the Hangman by Gary Blackwood

In 1776, the rebellion of the American colonies against British rule was crushed. Now, in 1777-the year of the hangman-George Washington is awaiting execution, Benjamin Franklin's banned rebel newspaper, Liberty Tree, has gone underground, and young ne'er-do-well Creighton Brown, a fifteen-year-old Brit, has just arrived in the colonies. Having been shipped off against his will, with nothing but a distaste for English authorities, Creighton befriends Franklin, and lands a job with his print shop. But the English general expects the spoiled yet loyal Creighton to spy on Franklin. As battles unfold and falsehoods are exposed, Creighton must decide where his loyalties lie... a choice that could determine the fate of a nation.

(from fantasticfiction.co.uk)

Newes from the Dead by Mary Hooper Book Review

Genre: Historical Fiction

Age: 13+

Pages: 241

Gender: Female (Some males maybe)

Publication Year: 2008

Plot: 5/5
Description: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Developed: 4/5
Fast Paced: 5/5
Cover: 2/3
Memorable: +2

Total: 26/28
Percent: 93%
Grade: A-

   After I dropped the book, The Silver Blade down is frustration, I went to my bookshelf and picked up Newes from the Dead, for I wanted a nice, short historical fiction novel to read really quickly. I then started the book around 12 o'clock at night. I could not put it down. I am not sure how long I was reading it, but I must of put it down around 2! This book was really exciting and just yanked me in.

   The plot was really good, since I have been interested in the historical figure Anne Green for a really long time, of course I would think the plot was good, but anyway here it goes. There are two different "parts" of the books really. There is the part when it tells about Anne Green's life before she "died" and what led up to it. All this being narrated in first person by Anne Green herself while she is I guess, I don't know what you would call it. A coma? Well, she tells about how she was seduced by a Sir Geofferey Read and about everything else too. Then the other part of the story happens while she is in a "coma" thinking through her life. It is told in third person from the eyes of a medical student with a stutter named Robert. He has come to see Anne Green dissected, but soon he notices he eyelids flicker and a rattling sound comeing from her throat. He realizes that she is alive, so the doctors don't dissect her, but try to revive her! So it goes on to tell about how the doctors revive her. I think the plot is really good and very interesting so I gave it a 5/5.

   The description was good, but not the best. They described the execution very nicely, but there were a lot of things that were just lacking. But it was a short book.

   The characters were good, but I think they could of developed the character Robert more. From what the reader was told, I liked him a lot. But he was just lacking, the author didn't give enough information about him. Also the character Anne kind of annoyed me a times. She was so gullible. Did she really think that Sir Geofferey would raise her to power? Really? I just wanted to yell at her to think. She didn't see how much better off she would be with John Taylor. It made me so mad at her. I didn't like Sir Geofferey at all, he was really just so evil.

   The story was pretty well developed for a book that short. I think they could of developed as I said in the character section, Robert more. But the author still did a pretty good job. There were some parts I wish they would linger longer at, though.

   This book was very fast paced. As you see I read it in all of about 3 hours. I read two hours yesterday night and this morning I probably read less then an hour. It is a very good book, like as I said with Vampire Plagues, to read in between other, bigger books. A book that you can just relax with.
  
   The cover looks nice. But I have a serious problem with the model. Isn't Anne supposed to have fair hair with blue eyes. The model has green eyes with blackish hair. Even thought the England hard back cover look very pretty since it has a painting on the front, it has the same problem. The England paperback does much better though. I go like the little swirly things on the cover, it makes it real pretty, The font is nice too.

   I thought this book was pretty memorable, so I gave it a +2. It is memorable, to me at least, since it is a quite odd story and because the basis for the story is true.

   I liked this book a lot. It was fast and very enjoyable. I recommend this book too people who like easy read historical fiction based on a real facts.

Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue Book Review

Genre: Historical Fiction
Age: 14+ (Strict Parents: 16+)
Pages: 334
Gender: Female
Publication Year: 2000

Plot: 5/5
Description: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Developed: 5/5
Fast Paced: 3.5/5
Cover: 2/3
Memorable: +2

Total: 26.5/28
Percent: 95%
Grade: A

   This book took me a little while to read, but it was not because it was bad, obviously by the grade I gave it it wasn't. I just was reading a lot of books at the same time and I didn't want it to end. Actually now that I am done reading it I have this aching feeling in my stomach to just pick it up and read it again, but I can't do it because it is a library book, but eventually I will buy and add it to my bookshelf. It was that good. I warn you though it deals with a lot of adult topics.

   I liked the plot, even if it can be thought as a little disgusting at times. This book is about a girl named Mary Saunders who lived in 1700s England. At age 14 this girl longs to better herself up, have pretty things and such. Well, one day she sells her body to the ribbon maker so she can have a beautiful red ribbon. Well, eventually her mother finds her out because she got pregnant and through her out on the streets. There Mary is taken in by a prostitute named Doll. At first Mary refuses to turn into a harlot, but eventually she does. Oh yes, and she also gets rid of her baby before it is born so she won't have to care for it. Well the first half of the book tells about their life as whores in England. After that something happens and Mary goes off to Monmouth to live with a friend of her mothers and becomes a seamtress. There she has many very interesting adventures. This book is based off the few surviving facts about a girl named Mary Saunders who lived in the 1700s, who did something I am not going to say or it will ruin the book. Anyway I thought the plot was pretty good.

   The description was good. At some parts a little too good. I absolutely loved how Mary described things, she was just so opinionated and she used some good words. So I think the description deserved a 5/5.

   I liked most of the characters a lot. But I had one wee little problem. Well, when the character Daffy was first introduced I liked him a lot, he was infact my favorite character. But at the end (sorry I am going to be vague or I might give the plot away) he was just so uncaring to Mary, well at the very very end. Other then that I had no problem with the characters. On other reviews of this book some people found Mary unlikeable, but I actually liked her a lot. I thought Mrs. Jones was a pretty good character too, also was Abi. I liked Doll a lot when something happened to her in the middle of the book I was pretty sad.

   As always I can't really say much for developed. I thought the author developed the story perfectly.

   I gave the book a 3.5/5 for pacing because it wasn't really fast, but It wasn't slow either. I think the pacing was perfect actually. It was very steady. Except for at the end, but it was drawn out to make it more dramatic, which in my eyes worked very well.

   Ok the cover, well I liked the Canadian cover way better. This one isn't my favorite cover in the world, but it isn't bad either. It fits the story really well and the ribbon is kind of cool. So I gave it a 2/3.

   This book was memorable, not a +3 memorable but I almost gave it a +2.5. It was a very good book that a lot of people would not forget.

   In all I liked this book a lot. I am for sure going to check out some other books by this author. I recommend this book for people who want to learn what women had to do to make money in the 1800s and if they just enjoy gritty historical fiction.

The Effects of Captivity by R. Hunt

Ok, here is my short story. Yes it is very short. I am really not sure if it is good, my friends like it, but I just don't know. Please comment on how I could make the story better. Thank you so much.

______________________________

I am sitting in a cell, a dark and grimy cell. I am the victim of falsehoods. The proof, of course, was false. How could I, a poor boy who has suffered so much, kill another man? That’s it, I couldn’t. But why accuse me? What did they get out of it? Nothing, nothing at all. Oh, how unfair life is. In this horrible place they never feed or bathe us. They treat us as if we are not human, like we are a worthless smudge of dirt on their boots. Yes, some of the criminals here are quite vulgar. But why do they have to treat us so poorly? I have to get out and that is exactly what I am going to do. I have a plan. I must admit it is a good one and now it is time to put it into effect.

I walk over to the corner of my cell. There, there is a pile of rage which they call a “bed”. Underneath the rags I have hidden a knife. I grab it and hide it behind my back. I saunter to the door and peek out. After a while, I see a guard and I know it is time.

“Please sir, Kind sir! Can ye just give me a wee bit of food? Sir, I’m starvin’ in ‘ere,” I plea.

“I don’t think so runt!” the guard grunted.

The guard turns to me and comes closer. That is exactly what I want him to do. I reach through the bars and grab for the key with my free hand, but I miss. Unfortunately, the guard notices and he reaches in the cell and grabs me by the neck.

“Don’t you do that again, filthy boy, or I’ll break your scrawny little neck!” he yelled.

Then in my panic, I take my hand holding the knife from behind my back and stab the guard through the heart. His hands loose hold of my neck and he holds his stomach while sinking to the floor gasping. I stand there until he breathes his last breath. I reach through the bars and pry the key from his could dead fingers, put it in the lock and walk out of the cell. Once I am out, I stare at the dead man. As I watch his blood drip to the floor, I realize that I am a murderer. I have become who I was accused of being. I walk back in the cell and close the door. After all it is where I belong.

                                                                 

Short Stories

We, the contributors on this site have made the decision to each post a short story we wrote on this blog.
The short stories will probably be posted today or in the next few days. Mine (Rachel's) is most likely to be posted today or Saturday, for Mickey's I have no idea what hers is. They might not be that good, I'm not really sure about mine, but please comment on what you think, if there is anything we could do to make them better. Thank you.

New Blogger Hop!

Time for a new Blogger Hop! Blogger Hop is a wonderful meme by Crazy for Books . It helps bloggers become known, and while you are becoming more well known you also find a lot of cool blogs. So yes this is a very wonderful meme.

Epidemic (Vampire Plague/Dusk) by Sebastian Rook Book Review

Genre: Horror and Historical Fiction

Age: 10+

Pages: 220

Gender: Male (Females might like it)

Publication Year: 2005

Plot: 5/5

Description: 5/5

Characters: 4/5

Developed: 4/5

Fast Paced: 5/5

Cover: 1/3

Memorable: +1

Total: 25/28
Percent: 89%
Grade: B+

   This is one of my absolute favorite series. It is very simple, doesn't make you think much. But yet it is very enjoyable. Also, the series was originally called Vampire Plagues, but I ordered this book from England and recently England rereleased this series, most likely since the vampire craze that is currently happening. So for some silly reason they changed the title to Vampire Dusk which I think was a really dumb idea.

   Well, off that topic, the plot was pretty good, even though I think all the plots are good in this series. Ok, since at the end of the third book they defeated the original types of vampires, created by Camazotz. In the fourth book a new vampire is created by the ring of a bell, the vampires are called Lampirs, (they are Polish, unlike in the first part of the series when they were Mayan). So now it is after the Lampirs are supposedly gone, Benedict gets the plague. After an examining from his sister, Emily and his friend, Jack, they find a thin scratch on him made from the Lampir hand that jumped out of the box on Christmas in the last book. So they go to a friend of theirs from Poland who helped them defeat the Lampirs in the last book. So then they go with him to Poland to get help from their friend's brother who is created a medicine to cure the plague, even though he thinks the plague is something scientific, not supernatural, but when they get to Poland they realize the Lampir plague has become an epidemic. Some parts seem a little cheesy, but in all the book and the book series it is really just very entertaining.

   The description was good, well at most parts. I loved how they describe the sick people and the Lampirs, at the end I like how Emily described the Dhampir Bell.

   The characters were good, of course. They didn't really develop them much, but they did that in the previous in the books, so it is ok. One character I don't like is Emily, never did. I just don't know why, maybe it is because I like Benedict and Jack way too much, so she just seems boring. Well, I just don't like her. Another character I have a slight problem with is Roman, the doctor, he is just not open minded to the possibilities, that maybe the supernatural exists, even though he does come around when the supernatural grips him, but it just took too long. I gave characters a 4/5, I probably could of gave it a 3/5 but I just love the characters Jack and Ben so much I couldn't.

   I can't really say much for development, I usually can't. There were some parts where I thought the author could of described more, but I think they didn't do that bad of a job either, for a childrens book.

   This book is very fast paced. It took me two days to read it. In all about 2 hours. If you are looking for a quick book to read in between other books you are reading, choose this book series, they are very short and good.

   I absolutely hate the cover, it is hideous. First thing both people on the front cover don't match any of the main character's appearence. First glance you would think the guy on the cover was Jack, but his eyes are red. Where did they get that from? The girl looks nothing like how they described Emily, and none of them look anything like Benedict. So what the heck? There models are obviously not even standing together when the shot was taken. The guy has big pupils so he is in a room with little light and the girl has little pupils so she is in a room with a lot of light. The little yellow smoke thing looks like a cheesy rip off of the Soulstice smoke on the cover. The only reason I gave it a 1/3 is because the font they used to write Vampire Dusk is wicked cool.

   The book wasn't really memorable out of all the books in the series, but becuase the series itself is memorable I gave it a +1.

  In all this was a good edition to a great series. I recommend this books to people who like children's horror that has a lot of traveling in it and someone who likes books based in the Victorian Era.

Book Review On Wolf Island By: Darren Shan

Genre: Fantasy

Age: 13+

Pages: 196

Gender: Mostly male but female can too

Publication Year: 2008

Plot: 5/5

Description: 5/5

Characters: 5/5

Developed: 5/5

Fast Paced: 4/5

Cover: 3/3

Score: 27/28

Percent: 96%

Grade: A

A very good series the Demonata is. This book is the 8th one. If you haven't heard of this I highly suggest it. The first one is Lord Loss. Now get it!! Anyway, this book was sooo good. A very thought out plot, with amazing twists and turns. I didn't know what was going to happen next!!! Beranabus, Kernal, and Grubbs are searching for answers on the Shadow. What is it? What is its plans? How do we destroy it? They kept going from universe to universe...Until they get an unexpected surprise visit for Meera and Shark. They had come because they were attaked by, not demons, but werewolves! Dervish was the target and with him having a heart attack he needed help. Grubbs, able to do anything for his beloved uncle, he goes to the rescue. All kinds of questions stir up and they need answers. After all, time is of essence...Just that makes me excited for the next Grubbs Grady adventure! The description made me feel like I was really there. With all the gruesome gore, the horrible tension and fear. Gave me shivers it did. The characters....Don't get me started. Grubbs( I just love him. He is awesome, kick butt) is still well explained and the author really shows his enternal emotions and thoughts. Beranabus, you never know with that guy. Darren Shan gives you a veiw( a little in this book since he is only in the beginning) that he is the type of guy that is always going, straight to the point. Kernal.....He is sometimes a mystery. Shark is the army, love of the fight guy. Shan shows his traits very well. He does very well with Meera too. This must have took some time to fix and put together the twists and all the events s well. But never gives to much away. Let's you make your own prediction and thoughts. It is fast paced except for some spots. The cover is really cool. A different type of werewolf. Read this series!!!!!! It got me definately hooked. I bet it will to you too.

BLogger Hop!

New blogger hop hosted by crazy-for-books.com . So yay! I finally joined early!

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton Book Review

Genre: Realistic Fiction (Could Be Considered Historical Fiction)

Age: 12+

Pages: 180

Gender: Male

Plot: 3/5

Detail: 4/5

Characters: 5/5

Fast or Slow: 5/5

Enjoyment: 3.5/5

Cover: 0/3

Memorable: +2

Total: 22.5/28

Percent: 80%

Grade: B-

I was supposed to read this book for school over the last two boring weeks, but since I was sick I read it in a day. I was surprised, I thought I would hate it, but it wasn't too bad for a book that is labled as a textbook. The plot didn't really attract me. It is about a boy named Ponyboy, who is a greaser. He belongs to a group of I guess, friends who are also greasers. The Socs (people that have more money then the greasers) often hurt the greasers, because they different then them. So one day Ponyboy goes to the movies with two of the other people in their gang, Johnny and Dally, there Dally talks dirty to these two Soc girls, one of the girls, named Cherry gets mad at him after that Dally leaves and the two girls talk to Johnny and Dally. Later Two-Bit another person in their group comes and hangs out with the girls for awhile. The girls are by themselves because they got mad at their boyfriends. So after the movies their boyfriends come and pick the girls up, but they notice that they were hanging out with greasers. So later that night, after Ponyboy gets into a fight with his brother who is also his guardian because his parents died is a car crash, him and Johnny go on a walk. There the boyfriends find them and try to beat them up since they were hanging out with their girls. One of the guys tries to drown Ponyboy, so Johnny stabs him (the guy also hurt Johnny awhile ago, permently scaring him emotionally). So after Johnny kills him a whole new adventure starts up. So there is the plot, sorry I had to give away some of it because I couldn't figure out any other way to explain it. I think the details were pretty good, but two parts of the story bothered me, there were three deaths in the book and I don't think any of them were explained well. They made them way too short. Otherwise the details weren't that bad. The characters were great. Very well developed. They just seemed so real. The author made you care what happened to them. All of the characters were very original, full of emotion. The main character Ponyboy, was a very good character and a ok narrator. The book was very fast. Obviously, since it took me only a few hours to read. It gripped me by the throat and dragged me in. I enjoyed it but there were some things that bothered me. The author sometimes stops in the middle of telling the story and started describing something else, like a flashback of something of the sort. So that bothered me a little, or a lot. Another thing that bothered me a little was that when he was sick he kept saying the Johnny wasn't dead and that he, Ponyboy, really killed that Soc boy. Well, I was pretty sure that Johnny was dead, but all of a sudden I thought I might of missed something about Ponyboy actually killing the other boy, but he really didn't it was explained later. The cover was horrible, I would of  never picked this book up based on the cover, but the edition of the cover of the that I have checked out is the ugly 90s version. So maybe another edition would be better. I gave this book a +2 for memorable, because even though it is not my favorite book I think it is memorable, for the strong friendship feelings from this book. In all it was a ok book, for a book I have to read for school. I recommend this book for anyone who likes kind of tougher books and maybe the movie Grease because I think it is based around the same time.

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar Book Review

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age: 12+

Pages: 279

Gender: Male and Female

Plot: 4/5

Detail: 4/5

Characters: 5/5

Fast or Slow: 5/5

Enjoyment: 5/5

Cover: 1/3

Memorable: +1

Total: 25/28

Percent: 89%

Grade: B+

   This was a enjoyable book, that gives you a frightening view of highschool. The plot was pretty good for this book, but sense I am not that fond of realistic fiction, the plot didn't 100% suck me in. The book is about a boy named Scott who is entering highschool with his 3 friends. He hopes that they can all stary friends and have a good time in highschool, but he soon figures out highschool isn't so easy. A lot of homework, a crush that doesn't know you exist, bullies, and your friends leaving you. His mother just also has to be pregnant as well. Scott's year is full of surprises as he drags his way through highschool. The details were just ok, there were some parts that the author could of described better, but I love how he put what Scott was learning in his English class in his writing, it was pretty cool. The characters were very interesting, my favorite were for sure Lee, Mouth, and Wesley, since all the other people were just so normal, like Julia for example. She was so bland and normal. Ew. Lee was so cool, she was different and she had attitude. This book is very fast, we started reading it aloud in school,but I thought a chapter a day was way to short, so I bought it. My family and I were driving to the city and I read the whole thing on the car ride with still an hour to spare. I actually enjoyed it, it caught my attention and held me to the very end. It was a fun, overly exaggerated story. I did not like the cover at all, but I guess it fits the book so I gave it a little points. The book was good, but I don't think it was too memorable, but it was a little, so I gave it a +1. In all this book was good, I recommend this book to someone who likes exaggerated realistic fiction.

Blogger Hop!

New blogger hop! Yay! Hosted by http://www.crazy-for-books.com/2010/05/book-blogger-hop-new-linky.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+crazy-for-books+%28Crazy-for-Books%29 ya, that link. Anyway some updates, sorry that I haven't been able to finish books, I have been changing them a lot. First I was reading the book of fires, then since it was new I could only rent it for 7 days so I had to return it, then I started to read Pet Sematary, I got really bored so I just had to stop. So write now I am farthest along in Slammerkin, and my partner on this website is in a manga craze so yea thats why we are so slow sorry, anyway soon once summer is here a lot more reviews will go up.

-Thank you for reading

The Boy Who Couldn't Die by William Sleater- May 2010 Book of the Month

Ok, time for the next book of the month, and I swear I will find something interesting to do with it. And that Mickey and I will both post a review on it so here it is:

When his best friend dies in a plane crash, sixteen-year-old Ken has a ritual performed that will make him invulnerable, but soon learns that he had good reason to be suspicious of the woman he paid to lock his soul away. (from fantasticfiction.co.uk)

Hazel by Julie Hearn April Book of the Month Review

Genre: Historical Fiction

Age: 12+

Pages: 389

Gender: Female

Plot: 5/5

Detail: 5/5

Characters: 4/5

Fast or Slow: 5/5

Enjoyment: 4/5
Cover: 2/3
Memorable: +2

Total: 27/28
Percent: 96%
Grade: A

   This book was really good and enjoyable. The plot was really good. It is about this girl named Hazel, who saw Emily Wilding Davidson's death at the Epsom Derby. After she becomes friends with a American girl from her school named Gloria, Gloria is a little rebelious. She eventually convinces Hazel to do a bold action for women to vote. After, Hazel gets in extreme trouble and is sent off to live with her father's parents in the Caribbean, oh yea and by the way her dad tried to kill himself. There is the Caribbean she learns a family secret that can change her life forever. The details in this story were good too. I just loved how the story was written in Hazel's voice at most times even though it was in third person. I liked how they compared the colors in the Caribbean and in England. I gave the character's a 4/5 because I think the character Gloria should have been in the story longer. She was just there and then she was gone and they didn't ever tell who was writing on the typewriter and Hazel, just didn't care to figure out, that annoyed me a little. Otherwise I thought the characters were really good the character Hazel definety had personality, and Miss Amelia was so coo-coo it was fascinating. The book was really fast, I read about 3 hundred pages yesterday. I gave total enjoyment a 4/5 since I should of read Ivy first, because her mother was the main character in that book. It was enjoyable, but some things were left too open at the end. I think the cover is pretty good, but not the best because I don't really like picture covers. I gave it a +2 for memorable. I will remember it for being a original historical fiction novel. So in all this book was really good. I recommend it too girls who like adventure and historical fiction.