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Ford, Michael
9 Reviews
(3)
4-6
After a plant-growing product called Waste ravaged the world, Kobi and his scientist father survive alone in a school in contaminated Seattle. When Kobi's father fails to return from a supply run, the boy ventures out, meeting unexpected young survivors with unusual abilities similar to his own. A quick and engrossing post-apocalyptic adventure with a cliffhanger ending; readers will eagerly await the next installment.
Reviewer: Jenn Matters
(3)
YA
After her mother dies, fifteen-year-old Abi is forced to be a servant in Greave Hall, a mansion governed by decrepit Lord Greave and his tyrannical housekeeper. Abi senses a lurking supernatural presence in the house; when a dark family secret is unveiled, everything Abi knows is transformed. With crisp prose and suspenseful drama, Ford weaves a straightforward yet chilling Victorian London ghost story.
Reviewer: Kayla Cottingham
(3)
YA
Josh's skill in a virtual reality zombie-hunting game gets him recruited for a real-life version. He becomes suspicious of the game organizer's motives when he encounters overly realistic "animatronic" zombies and a recreational drug that mimics a zombie's instinct-only mental state. Though the novel starts off like an Ender's Game derivative, Ford raises thoughtful questions about humanity's own capacity for monstrosity and mindlessness.
Reviewer: Katie Bircher
(3)
4-6
Spartan Quest series.
Lysander (The Fire of Ares, Birth of a Warrior) is unsure if he can truly be a Spartan. Caught up in a brutal war in a far-off city, Lysander must come to terms with who he is. In this engaging novel, readers see life in ancient Sparta through the eyes of a boy trying to understand his destiny.
Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo
(3)
4-6
Spartan Quest series.
Lysander is a slave of Sparta whose only possession is a pendant, the Fire of Ares. This pendant proves to be the key to his destiny not as a slave but as a Spartan warrior. The story offers an intriguing look at life in ancient Sparta through the eyes of a boy searching for his true identity and purpose in life.
Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo
(3)
4-6
Spartan Quest series.
Lysander (The Fire of Ares) is no longer a slave, but he isn't yet a Spartan warrior. His training at the academy is brutal, but he soon faces even greater challenges: survival in the wilderness, political intrigue, and battle against the Persians. Readers see life in ancient Sparta through the eyes of a boy trying to fulfill his destiny in this fast-paced, action-packed novel.
Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo
(3)
YA
After attempting suicide, self-described smart-ass Jeff finds himself in a psychiatric ward. At first hiding behind sarcasm, Jeff eventually accepts the help of the other residents and his psychiatrist. He also learns to confront his feelings--including those he has toward guys. Like other successful witty-kid-in-a-hospital novels (e.g., It's Kind of a Funny Story), this one confronts challenging, emotional topics head-on.
Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith
(2)
YA
These interviews with eleven religious leaders provide intriguing introductions to a variety of religious faiths. The impressive range of people interviewed includes Starhawk, cofounder of the Reclaiming witchcraft tradition, and the late John Cardinal O'Connor. The stories of personal spiritual experiences should prove a fount of information and inspiration to young adults setting off on their own spiritual journeys.
Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
January, 2001
(2)
YA
This compilation of interviews with eleven gay men and lesbians representing a variety of professions illustrates that there are as many different ways of coming to and participating in the gay community as there are people in it. Those interviewed include Canadian boxer Mark Leduc, actor Dan Butler from the sitcom 'Frasier', cartoonist Alison Bechdel, and young adult author Nancy Garden.
Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.
9 reviews
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