Svetlana's Reads and Views

Twelve-year-old Remember Patience Whipple ("Mem" for short) has just arrived in the New World with her parents after a grueling 65-day journey on the MAYFLOWER. Mem has an irrepressible spirit, and leaps headfirst into life in her new home. Despite harsh conditions, Mem is fearless. She helps to care for the sick and wants more than anything to meet and befriend a Native American. Her wish comes true when she meets Squanto, who helps Mem and her family face a year of trial, tragedy, and thanksgiving. PRAISE FOR DEAR AMERICA: "More than a supplement to classroom textbooks, this series is an imaginative, solid entre into American history." --PUBLISHERS WEEKLY "An impressive series that will challenge students to make connections from prominent historical events to relevant life situations. . . . A wonderful asset to the classroom as well as to home libraries." --CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW SERVICE "Engaging, accessible historical fiction....

Name of Book: Night Game Author: Carol Davis Luce ISBN: 9780821752876 Publisher: Zebra Part of a Series: Night Trilogy Type of book: Las Vegas, casino, 1990s, Utah, mystery, suspense, romance, revenge, twists, survival Year it was published: 1996 Summary: The exclusive King's Club resort casino is a glittering playground for gamblers with everything to gain and the hunting ground for a killer with nothing to lose. Until casino owner Jay King hires P.I. Kasey Atwood. Kasey's attraction to King is immediate. As their love affair heats up, she becomes a pawn in a dangerously seductive game of passion and revenge. Characters: While I liked Kasey and her quirky mother from the start, the character of Jay took awhile for me to grow, and due to an obstacle of marriage, I kept hoping Kasey would like someone else. I found the characters to be well rounded and very strong, at least the female characters in particular. Kasey works as a spotter for the clients, t...

Name of Book: The Music of Dolphins Author: Karen Hesse ISBN: 0-590-89798-5 Publisher: Scholastic Type of book: Dolphins, feral children, speech therapy, giving back, survival, young adult Year it was published: 1996 Summary: Mila creates headlines around the world when she is rescued from an unpopulated island off the coast of Florida. Now a teenager, she has been raised by dolphins from the age of four. Researchers teach Mila language and music. She learns, too, about rules and expectations, about locked doors and broken promises, disappointment and betrayal. The more Mila finds out what it means to be human, the more deeply she longs for her ocean home... Characters: The only character that I knew and understood is Mila. Dr. Beck, Shay and others I couldn't understand them, although I did kind of understand Shay and wished to know more about her. We also learn about dolphins, Mila's family. I did feel that there is some contradictions, such as when t...

Name of Book: The Starlight Crystal Author: Christopher Pike ISBN: 0-671-55028-4 Publisher: Archway paperback Type of book: 2100s, infinity, repetition, eternal love, science fiction, aliens, war, young adult, genetics Year it was published: February 1996 Summary:  It is two hundred years in the future. Eighteen-year-old Paige Christian has been given a chance to join the crew of the Traveler- a special spaceship designed to circle the solar system at near light speed. One day aboard the Traveler is equal to ten years on earth. The Traveler is a time capsule as well as a spaceship. Its purpose is to study the changes on earth throughout two centuries, and then return home. But something happens to the Traveler. Something also happens to the earth, an awful thing. And the years pass, billions of them, and still Paige Christian lives, and remembers all those she left behind. Until the day she finally does come home, to a world and a future no human being could ...

Name of Book: I'll be Seeing You Author: Lurlene McDaniel ISBN: 0-553-56718-7 Publisher: Bantam Skylark Type of book: disfigurement, true love, 1990s, blindness, hospital,  loyalties, ugly duckling, young adult Year it was published: 1996 Summary: Carley Mattea never expected to meet a boy as handsome as Kyle Westin- certainly not in the hospital. Seventeen-year-old Kyle was blinded when a chemistry experiment exploded. His doctors don't know if he'll get his vision back, and he's deeply depressed. Sixteen-year-old Carley understands how miserable it is to be in the hospital. Soon Carley and Kyle become good friends. But Carley is keeping a secret from Kyle. She knows that boys like girls who are pretty- and she is not. Scarred by a facial deformity, she has, over the years, used her sense of humor to cope. But now that she's become so close to Kyle, she's worried that once his bandages are removed- if they are removed- and he sees her, it w...

Name of Book: Angels Watching Over Me Author: Lurlene McDaniel ISBN: 0-553-57098-6 Publisher: Laurel Leaf books Part of a Series: Angels trilogy Type of book: bone cancer, miracles, Amish, angels, 1990s, hospital Year it was published: 1996 Summary: Happy Holidays! Bah humbug. "Happy" is not the way Leah Lewis-Hall would describe herself at the moment. She's spending her twelve days of Christmas in an Indianapolis hospital, while her mother is thousands of miles away on a honeymoon with husband number five. Leah went to the doctor with nothing more than a broken finger, but he ordered her to undergo some tests. Now she's stuck in the hospital, alone. Then Leah meets her hospital roommate, a young Amish girl named Rebekah, and her big family. Cynical sixteen-year-old Leah has never known people like this before. From Rebekah's handsome brother, Ethan, who can barely look Leah in the eye, to her kind older sister, Charity, the Amish fami...

Name of Book: The Fowlers of Sweet Valley Author: Francine Pascal ISBN: 0-553-57003-X Publisher: Bantam books Part of a Series: The Sweet Valley Saga Type of book: 1773-1989, France, multi-generational saga, SV Year it was published: 1996 Summary: Discover the sweeping, romantic history of the men and women who made Lila Fowler who she is today! Beautiful sixteen-year-old Lili de Beautemps is rescued from guillotine during the French Revolution by a dashing young man--but he disappears before she can even thank him. Will Lili ever see him again? While working as a maid in the Marquis de Bocage's chateau, Celeste Chardin unexpectedly wins the love of the Marquis's son, Marc. Will Marc give up his family riches to be with her? Wild and reckless Rose de Bocage grew up with Pierre Oiseleur in the turbulent 1890s. But when Pierre declares his everlasting love for Rose, she tells him she'll never settle down. Will she regret that decision forever? Isa...

Name of book: The Sign of Fear Author Name: R.L Stine ISBN: 0-671-00291-0 Publisher: Parachute Press Part of a Series: Fear Street Sagas: prequels: A New Fear, House of Whispers, Forbidden Secrets Sequels The Hidden Evil, Daughters of Silence, Children of Fear...all the way to The Hand of Power Type of book: Young adult, 1710, 1679, 50 A.D, horror, Fier Saga Year it was published:  December 1996 Summary: Fieran. A young warrior driven by revenge. He created the Fear amulet-and cursed the Fear family for all eternity. Christina. A young servant girl struggling for survival. She found the Fear amulet centuries later-and may be destroyed by its evil. Characters: Although the characters are somewhat interesting, there is not much depth to them and again they seem like caricatures more than anything else. Theme: Revenge is not worth it, and things can go wrong. Plot: This is told from two points of view in third person; from Christina and Fieran. It's ...

Name of book: House of Whispers Author Name: R.L Stine ISBN: 0-671-52953-6 Publisher: Parachute Press Part of a Series: Fear Street Sagas: prequels: A New Fear,  Sequels Forbidden Secrets, The Sign of Fear, The Hidden Evil...all the way to The Hand of Power Type of book: Young adult, 1863, horror, Fier Saga Year it was published:  June 1996 Summary: Amy Pierce knows nothing of the terrifying Fear history when she arrives for a visit with Simon and Angelica Fear. Their New Orleans mansion is beautiful-but Amy senses something evil there. Something that watches her. Waits for her. Will Amy be strong enough to escape the powers controlled by the Fear family? Characters: Again this is one of the better Fear Street novels because the characters are much more evident and are drawn better than in previous books. Despite this though, they are caricatures once more. It's interesting to see Angelica ruling the nest while her husband Simon is away. (I wouldn't ...

Name of book: Forbidden Secrets Author Name: R.L Stine ISBN: 0-671-52954-4 Publisher: Parachute Press Part of a Series: Fear Street Sagas: prequels: A New Fear, House of Whispers, Sequels The Sign of Fear, The Hidden Evil, Daughters of Silence...all the way to The Hand of Power Type of book: Young adult, 1861-1865, late 1800s early 1900s?, horror, Fier Saga Year it was published:  September 1996 Summary: The dark power of hte Fear family consumes all those connected with it. The Fears themselves. Those they love-and hate. No one can escape the evil of the family's curse. Savannah Madison (Gentry) doesn't believe that! She marries Tyler-event hough he's a Fear. But then she goes with him to Blackrose Manor. That's when the deaths begin. That's when the horror surrounds her. That's when she learns his terrible secret... Characters: Again, the characters are caricatures of sorts and don't change at all throughout the novel....

Name of book: A New Fear Author Name: R.L Stine ISBN: 0-671-52952-8 Publisher: Parachute Press Part of a Series: Fear Street Sagas: House of Whispers, Forbidden Secrets, The Sign of Fear...all the way to The Hand of Power Type of book: Young adult, 1900-1901, 1919, horror, Fier Saga Year it was published: March 1996 Summary: Nora Goode and Daniel Fear hoped to end the curse of hte Fear family. But on their wedding day, a horrible fire swept through the Fear mansion, taking the life of every member of the doomed family. Except one. A new Fear. The child of Nora and Daniel. Will he be able to live hsi life untouched by the evil of his family? Or will the dark forces claim yet another Fear for their own? Characters: In this book, it's obvious, very obvious, who is the bad guy and the good guy. No hidden motives or memorable characters. This book is a masquerade of modern trying to be historical. Theme: There are times where you cannot escape your destin...