5 comments about Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 1.

1. Maximum "Max" Ride and her "Flock" of five friends are ordinary young people--with one important exception: They have wings. Unfortunately, although they are capable of flying free high up in the air, they live in fear of being taken against their will back into bondage, back to the sinister lab known euphemistically as the "School," the place where they were permanently altered into their current mutant forms.
   
   Still, they have survived on the proverbial outside for four years now, at first under the care and guidance of Jeb Batchelder, a scientist who helped them escape from the lab, and now under Max's protective wing. Unfortunately, even she is not able to keep them safe forever, and goons from the school overpower them and kidnap their youngest, the innocent Angel. With their safe haven no longer safe, the Flock takes to the skies after the bad guys. They will get Angel back...if it's the last thing they ever do. Too bad it might indeed well be the last thing they ever do!
   
   This volume of the Maximum Ride: The Manga is adapted from James Patterson's young adult novel The Angel Experiment, the first of an ongoing series starring Max and her friends. It follows the original overarching plot closely, though much detail has been omitted. Even so, it is relatively easy to follow the manga's story, even as a newcomer to the franchise. The premise and large cast of characters are introduced in a readily comprehensible fashion, generally speaking, if not the most dynamic or exciting one.
   
   Korean comic book artist NaRae Lee was specifically recruited by Yen Press to do the Maximum Ride manga, and she is a solid choice for attracting the attention of teenage and female readers. Her illustrations are polished and professional, and she draws in a style that is heavily influenced by Korean sunjeong manhwa, which is in turn heavily influenced by Japanese shoujo manga. Lee's main weakness is her action sequences, which are a bit heavy-handed and clumsy. The character designs of the members of the Flock are most reminiscent of those drawn by Su-yeon Won (Let Dai) or Yoko Kamio (Boys over Flowers), especially in the shape of the eyes. There are definitely some American influences as well, though. Ari, for example, looks like a steroidal, mutant wolf-man cut and pasted straight out of an X-Men comic, and the assertiveness of her lines seems to take into consideration the manga's American audience.
   
   Maximum Ride: The Manga is a strong so-called global manga production that simultaneously capitalizes upon a popular franchise and potentially extends its reach to a new, manga-reading demographic. Though not necessarily revelatory, the multinational production is entirely convincing and of much higher quality than similar endeavors from other publishers. Plus, with eight color pages, excellent paper quality, and a larger than average trim size, the volume will look quite well placed on the manga shelves of bookstores. The $10.99 price point is also very competitive. This is a manga that boasts unexpected pleasures, and even fans who would otherwise be tempted to be dismissive ought to give it a chance.
   
   -- Casey Brienza



2. I haven't read this one yet.And I really want to.But I gotta wat till we have money in the bank.X/ I wanna see what they look like!



3. I've always been a big Maximum Ride fan, and was excited to read a Manga that actually re-accounted the book. The artwork is very good, however I did picture some of the characters a little different then it was drawn. The book just mainly covers the main plot. It's a very fast pace book, and if you haven't read Maximum Ride before, I don't recommend to start reading it from these books. Even reading the books I was glad to have some background knowledge on how the books were in order to get the plot. I can't believe how lost someone who has no knowledge of the series would get lost. I understand that this is a Manga book, so only so much plot can be put into this. However, back to the artwork, and the characters. Max is what - 14? and yet she could pass for twenty, and I'm not so happy with the way Fang came out. I never, pictured him with long hair that goes down almost to his feet, and I feel like his character is portrayed wrongly in the Manga. Don't get me started on Nudge she's what - 11 and she looks like she's 17 in the book with her big boobs.
   
   Personally, if you haven't read the Maximum Ride series before, don't start with these. The artwork is good, minus the fact that the characters don't seem to be right to me. I expected more from this. I was finally excited to actually get a Manga book for one of my favorite books, but it wasn't what I thought.



4. Teenagers love graphic novels and this one is a must-read. Every teenager loves it.



5. Well, this is the first Manga book I ever read, so I don't really have anything to compare it to. I like it. it was a fun story and the pictures made it come alive. I was disappointed when I got to the end and it wasn't the end. But I should have expected that, I guess, since it was labeled "Vol. 1." I picked it up at B&N on a gift card to go with my frappacino.

5 comments about Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 2.

1. This is a great book if you love Maximum Ride and manga! It's even pretty good if you just love manga. The pictures are excellent. It dosen't go into details that much, but you get the picture! I, in fact, liked it a tiny bit better than the first one. I loved when the flock got their makeovers! I read the whole thing without putting the book down in two hours. I mean, it's not a super-fast read, I just read Maximum Ride really fast! If you're a beginer at manga (like my daughter) then you could use this book for some examples of facial expressions and anatomy and stuff like that. So, anyway, it'a a great book!



2. I love this manga.
   It's so funny and filled with action.
   I ADORE Fang's new haircut.
   I was kinda pissed on how his hair was in the first manga.
   But I knew that NaRae Lee was going to change that, she had to.
   Anywho.... It's AMAZINGLY AWESOME!



3. The kids have escaped their cages from Vol. 1 and are hiding out, trying to recover. They've saved Angel and are all together once again. But soon Max starts to have bizarre headaches and a voice convinces her that they all need to head to New York City to find the Institute of Higher Living.
   
   The children reach NYC and are amazed at the city spread before them. The voice inside Max's head encourages her to experience some fun. What that means, she doesn't know, but she follows the voice's direction. The kids find themselves on a bus stopping in front of a toy store. While in the store, they learn of a new power Angel has acquired: she's able to manipulate people with her thoughts.
   
   But no matter where the kids go, the Erasers always seem to find them. They can't seem to get a decent night's rest, nor a good meal. Cops even force them out of the high tree branches in Central Park, alerting them to the fact that the signs say no climbing the trees.
   
   When they finally discover the Institute, what they find inside is beyond surprising. The discovery creates more questions than it answered. With clues in their hands, the kids head off to learn their beginnings....in Vol. 3.
   
   The artwork and storytelling in Vol. 2 is just as appealing and beautiful as was found in the first volume. And as with the first work, readers do not have to know the full story to understand the action that is going on. The graphics do a wonderful job of revealing the plot and the action at just the right pace.
   
   Anticipation is already building for their next adventure in Washington, DC.
   
   Reviewed by: Jaglvr



4. received this couple months ago.
   but heck
   it never fails to impress me!!
   by the way volume 1 and 2 equals the first book of maximum ride series
   Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment



5. Loved this one too. Just noticed that #3 is out. Putting it on the wish list. Guessing there is no end to this.

5 comments about Inkdeath (Inkheart).

1. The book came from UK. Because of that it took a bit longer to get here.
   Thanks to the seller.



2. Inkdeath is the final book in the Inkheart Trilogy. I loved the set from the beginning to end. There was humor, saddness, good and evil, violence and tender moments. A fantasy and real world blend that was fun to read.



3. Sydney LOVE THIS BOOK.....THANKS for helping me with the perfect Christmas gift for her!!! GO SEE THE MOVIE!!!



4. The greatly anticipated end of the Inkheart trilogy is here! As a fan, I quickly rushed to the bookstore and bought a copy. Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke is the best book in the series. Every chapter is filled with suspense and excitement until the end. The translator, Anthea Bell, does her job well, making Cornelia Funke's language vivid and imaginative in English (the original was in German).
   
   For readers not familiar with this series, it begins with Inkheart; the second book is Inkspell. Inkdeath is the third and final installment. Luckily, for readers who are new to the series, Inkdeath comes with a synopsis of the first two books.
   
   The main characters, Mo and his daughter Meggie, have the ability to "read" themselves into books. In Inkdeath, we find them in Inkworld, a fantasy world where certain storybook characters live. One of the main conflicts, in a complicated plot, involves an immortal, evil ruler named Adderhead, who desperately wants to prevent his flesh from rotting. Only Mo, who is a bookbinder, can make the book Adderhead needs and read him out of this problem. But Mo refuses to help; he is only interested in getting back home safely with Meggie.
   
   This series is just right for fantasy and adventure book lovers. The story is well-crafted, and any good reader will at least appreciate Funke's imagination. The only thing a potential reader might not like is the length, but it is really worth the time. For non-readers, there's always the Inkheart movie!
   -- Reviewed by Veronica L. Hernandez



5. This last entry in the Inkheart series was difficult for me to get through, unlike the first two books, which were real page-turners. I believe this book would have been vastly improved by some major editing. Also, a warning for parents of younger readers: this book is quite dark; cruelty and gory descriptions abound. Meggie's character is shortchanged, as she is shunted to the sidelines with a weak love triangle subplot. Both her and her father's ability to make words into reality through their voices is not explored fully in this book, to my disappointment.
   
   The translation may very well be to blame, but certain phrases pop up at an annoyingly frequent rate, and I find this distracting. The biggest offender? "All the same..." This is true of all three books.
   
   I persevered and finished this book, being a completist and having enjoyed the first two very much, though there were times I considered abandoning it for one of the many books I've been meaning to read. The book did have its moments, but not enough of them to keep me engaged.

5 comments about Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover (Gallagher Girls).

1. This was an OKAY book.
   Did it blow me away? no, but it did keep me occupied for a couple hours as i read it.
   I personally like CHHS better, but thats just me.
   At some points in the book, it sounded a lot to me like a Fan Fiction story.
   It was a little juvenile for me, but still a good read.
   I think the age here is from maybe 9-12, maybe 13.
   
   Likes - The new character (Aunt Abby) was a fun new character, and i really like her
   I also liked that Ally Carter kept you think **SPOILER** that Macy was the target.
   I loved Joe Solomon in the whole book..but i love him anyway (:
   
   Dislikes - this lack of Zach!!
   Also, it just got REALLY slow at times for me.
   
   Over all an OKAY book, maybe a little to young for the ages 14,15+



2. yay! this book was ah-mazing! i totally love zach..what a cute couple he and cammie make eh? what i was confuzzled about though is this..is preston and macy 2gether? but 5 stars hand down for this excellent third book...keep on writing amy!



3. in the first 2 books, you were like oh this isnt like theyre gonna die this is just training. then suddenly in this book someone is out to kill them. it happened to fast for my taste. and what ever happened with her and zach? i was confued at the end of this... but good read



4. Every new book in this series gets better and better. This book started off with action from page one. Cammie goes to stay with Macey, only to have people try and kidnap Macey. Only to learn later on that maybe Macey isn't the one they are after.
   I was also very excited when Zach came back into this book. Towards the beginning he isn't mentioned much. But I love his and Cammie's relationship.
   Also a new character came into the series. Cammie's Aunt, Abby who hasn't been around since Cammie's father, died. She was a very cool and fun character that Ally Carter brought into the series.
   I can not wait to read book 4. Cammie is going to London with Bex. And the book was left open as to who is after someone in the Gallagher school.



5. Cammie Morgan, our favorite teen spy, is back in action. Its summer time and Cammie is excited to finish it out with a bang when she goes off to visit her roommate Macey in Boston. When you're a spy though the word "exciting" is synonymous with "dangerous," and danger is exactly what Cammie and Macey for that matter, get.
   
   When the girls return to school for the start of junior year, Cammie can't shake what happened to them in Boston and nowhere feels safe anymore, not even her school. She feels like there are secrets everywhere and old flames are popping up every which way Cammie turns. Cammie and her friends are also quite confused with the answerless questions of who was after Macey and Cammie on that fateful day in Boston.
   
   Soon though Cammie and Becks are asked to accompany Macey (as her personal security guards) on her dad's campaign trail. Together the three of them keep up with their spy training while trying to uncover the answers to many, many secrets and possibly discovering the shocking truth.
   
   This series is one of a kind and just plain great. Cassie is such an independent person and I love the adventure that takes place. Ally Carter is also such a fabulous author that I get lost in her writing every time I pick up one of her books. DON'T JUDGE A GIRL BY HER COVER is no exception to this said awesomeness.
   
   The characters were a lot of fun. Cammie was determined to succeed in her missions, which I had to admit I was very jealous of and completely wanted to partake in, and very resbonsible. I have to admit though, she was a little boy crazy which made me a little annoyed, but hey a teen girl has to have her priorities! Talking about boys, I loved how admist politcs and spies and such Ally Carter incorporated something as common as boy drama, which really made the reader connect with the story. I also loved Bex. She was such a strong character and she could seriously kick some butt!
   
   Overall I really, really liked this book and thought it was a great addition to the series, it may almost be the best one yet. The writing was fun, but intense at times and the author really knows how to suck you in. I know that I cannot wait for the fourth Gallagher Girl book.

5 comments about Swimsuit.

1. I swa this book and was interested in buying it as I like to do alot of my reading in ebook format. Well the price of overe $15.00 is alot for a book that has been out awhile. The hardcover is only a few dollars more and the paperback is less! Wht would i want to buy an electronic version of something I can get physically for less? These are turbulant times for ebooks, publishers, and readers. I just hope there is going to be a happy medium. I am willing to pay more than the advertized 9.99 that kindle books are, but I am not willing to pay more than the paperback price of that same book.



2. I love James Patterson's books. I have read all of his Alex Cross novels and the Women's Murder Club novels, his drama based novels like Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas, and I always enjoy them. Swimsuit was not my favorite book however I really enjoyed how the story focused mostly on the killer. Most murder mystery stories focus on the detective and the families of the victims so I loved that this allowed you to really focus on the twisted mind of a psychopath. However I rated this as a 3 star book because it left too many unanswered questions. The second half of the book starts to jump back and forth between the two main characters. There were two different versions of Henri's life and why he does what he does but there is never confirmation as to which one is the truth. The end of the book gives little to no closure. This is a quick and easy read, that despite its flaws I still enjoyed very much and would pass the book along to family and friends. I wouldn't place it high on recommendation list but I would also not deter anyone from reading it either.



3. Did I miss something? No paper, no distribution cost but yet, more expensive. Hmm. In fact, I bought this in paperback and Nob Hill foods for $8.99 and regret even that purchase. Don't waste your money.



4. Loved Loved Loved it. If you are a "real" Patterson fan like me you will love it too.....



5. This book wasnt that bad,But I think it could of been written better and had a better ending,I could tell you how But Id be giving away the ending,so Ill let you decide.

5 comments about Die Trying (Jack Reacher, No. 2).

1. Jack Reacher is larger than life. A superman so to speak, but I sure like the character and the series. I have just done three so far but if you are into the genre, Lee Child delivers. I like this one better tha the first. Hope they keep getting better! You can not go wrong eith Lee Child. Highly recommended.



2. Much of what I read on my daily commute to work is for entertainment and let's face it, Lee Child entertains with Jack Reacher. Reacher's the larger than life go to guy of fictional characters, the modern cowboy righting wrongs and riding or walking off into the sunset.
   In DIE TRYING Lee Child gives us a kidnapping of an FBI agent and Reacher who just happens to get caught up in the mix. There's a right, far right militia to contend with, some bad guys in interesting places and enough action to make a daily commute in the rain tolerable.
   This is the second book in the popular series and the more I read, the more I don't mind my commute so keep writing Mister Child, I'm too young for social security.



3. I'm not even up to page 100 yet, but the writing style of this book annoys the crap out of me. Luckily I didn't start the Jack Reacher series from the beginning or I might not have read past Killing Floor. I will say the writing improves with his later books. Anyway, what's really bugging me is that EVERY character in this book at some point or other ends a sentence/statement with the word "right", in essence turning it into a question. Be it Reacher, Holly, the FBI agents, the local cop who's in the book for no more than a page, they all do it. Nobody talks that way. "We're the FBI, right?", "I'm the general's daughter, right?", "They stole a car and burned it, right?". Happens at least 3 times every page. And yes, as with Killing Floor, everyone in this book shrugs too, all the time.



4. Jack Reacher is walking down a Chicago street when he stops to help a woman with a cane, struggle with her dry cleaning. Three men approach her with weapons drawn and abduct her, bringing Reacher along with them.
   
   They bring the prisoners to their enclave in Montana and hold the woman, FBI agent, Holly Johnson, as a bargaining chip for what they plan with the government.
   
   Reacher shows the reader his many talents in this second installment of his stories. We see him as the lone man against seemingly insurmountable odds. He's highly analytical and possesses keen inteligence. He's also able to rationalize what his captors are planning and figure out a possible escape. In "Die Trying," Reacher shows his feelings and develops a fondness for Holly. His compassion and strength are two of the reasons why readers enjoy Reacher as a character and are able to sympathise with him.
   
   The plot is original and the author provides a number of surprises and plot twists that keep the reader's attention and add to the enjoyment of the story.



5. Another fun read by Lee Child. Not as good as Killing Floor, but still entertaining.

5 comments about The Ranger's Apprentice Collection.

1. I bought this collection for my 9 year old daughter. She loves adventure books and she has been really pleased so far with the first book in this series.



2. in the manner of 1001 nights...Mr. Flannagen leads you on to the next book...so have the next one on hand before you start! I'm a 63 year old grandma reading this series and discussing with g'son. I can't put these things down. I finish one and immediately start the next....I know I will go back and reread the whole series when I finish what has been written. I almost had a panic attack when I thought I'd left the current one I'm reading home and not available for lunch hour reading. Full of adventure and action it has enough human story and emotion to satisfy girls too. Highly recommend this series for a parent or grandparent to give to the younger members of their family or friends. The Ranger's Apprentice Collection



3. I read the reviews on this book and decided to take a chance. They were right on target. I ordered the first three books in the box set and my son finished all three in 2 weeks on his own and can't wait to get the rest. I haven't even had a chance to catch up to him to read but I can tell you how excited he was over them. They are now on loan to my nephew who doesn't enjoy reading but wanted to see what was so exciting. Highly recommend.



4. While the books have a certain charm and interest that pull you into the story; there are many elements that can be quite scary and overwhelming for many children. I would hesitate to purchase these books for children under 14 or 15 and by then they are not as interested in the story line. My daughter did not like them at all and did not even finish the first book (and she is 13 to 14 when she read it). "The Spook's Apprentice" series is much better and has a broader range of readability.



5. I am an avid reader of authors such as Tolkien, Erin Hunter, Brian Jacques, etc. Being a Lord of The Rings fan, the Ranger's Apprentice books caught my eye. After reading the first book, I was completely hooked. The first book in the series is the only book that I ever read twice because it was so good. I would have read it over and over except my mother told me to "get a life"! These books are my favorite of any other books that I have read, and I have read a lot of books for my age!
   
   The series is so good because it has a lot of action, but also a meaning. It is not just another action book, and it also has humor in it. It makes me want to be a ranger. When you read it, you feel like you are there, fighting, laughing, crying... etc. The other nice thing is that the storyline is not predictable, so there are lots of surprises!

5 comments about Woods Runner.

1. 
   Woods Runner, Gary Paulsen's latest novel, has what readers love about the famed author: the adventure, nature, and fast-paced narrative. This one has something more - the grittiness of the Revolutionary War - as seen through the eyes of 12-year-old Samuel, along with a unique style of presentation.
   
   The story begins as most classic Paulsen's do, in the woods, and quickly segues into the encroaching war. In an effort to set the historical context, Paulsen augments the third-person omniscient chapters with short notes (one to two page) to help the reader understand the historical context of the story.
   
   Paulsen's arrangement of alternating fiction and non-fiction is like having a friendly history teacher giving you short bursts of pertinent information while you are reading. The inclusion of the historical context is why this book is perfect for literature circles or a class read-aloud. At only 161 pages, the book is written for ages twelve and up. The depiction of war and how impacts both soldiers and local families is realistic and somewhat graphic, so squeamish people might squirm. The descriptions are not gratuitous or over-the-top, however, and add to the authenticity of Paulsen's writing.
   
   In New York State, 7th grade students study American history, so WOODS RUNNER would be a great offering for students who like action and read at a normal reading level. It also could be supplemental reading for an older student who has a lower reading level. If you are a teacher or librarian, make sure you add this one to your mix! Parents, if your child loves this popular author or gritty historical fiction, make sure to add it to your gift list. As an added bonus, an author study kit will be available through the publisher Wendy Lamb Books, a division of Random House.



2. Samuel, a thirteen year old boy, lives on the frontier of
   Pennsylvania with his parents. One day, Samuel was out
   hunting and he saw smoke above the trees about where his
   village was located. He thought it was his neighbor, but he
   thought wrong. It was a group of attackers. They had burned
   down every cabin in his settlement plus more. They had
   killed everyone, except a few prisoners, including his
   parents. Samuel is terrified as he tries to find his
   parents. Once he catches up to them, a very small war
   starts and it is right in between him and his parents. He
   was hit in the head by a tomahawk, a small axe, and fell
   suddenly to the ground. Six to seven days later, he wakes
   up with a group of Indians. They said they would take him
   to New York to find his parents. When he grows stronger,
   the Indians are too slow for him, so he tells Coop, the
   Indian that saved his life, that he was going ahead of them
   by himself. As he travels, he meets Annie and her family.
   He goes through many adventures on his way to save his
   parents. Will he be able to save his them in time? Read
   Woods Runner to find out.
   
   This book was very well written. Once I got into a good
   part, I simply couldn't put it down. I loved this book, but
   there was one thing I didn't like about it and that was
   there is always someone dying. Other than that, this book
   was amazing. I like the action and how there was never a
   time when there wasn't action going on in it.
   
   Reviewed by a young adult student reviewer
   Flamingnet Book Reviews
   [...]



3. In //Woods Runner//, Gary Paulsen has successfully shaped his woodsman experience into a compelling adventure set in the American Revolutionary War period. Thirteen-year-old Samuel, like Paulsen, more akin to the woods, than the city, spots smoke rising and returns to find his parents missing and their cabin and barn burned to the ground. Using his tracking skills he determines the parents are both alive and follows the kidnappers. Along the way he meets a young family. The five-year-old daughter covers for him. He leaves, but something tells him to return and he witnesses the five-year-old girl witnessing her parents being killed before her eyes. She runs away blindly and escapes. He follows her and comforts her, and they head together to find his parents. He encounters British soldiers, Hessian soldiers, warring Indians, as well as others that keep him alive while he continues his search that leads him into the heart of British-held New York to find his missing parents.
   
   Paulsen provides historical references to both build the drama and provide an experience of what it meant to be alive during this war. A page-turner for young readers seeking adventure.
   
   Reviewed by Susan Roberts



4. In WOODS RUNNER, Gary Paulsen takes readers inside the American Revolution. It is not the history book version, but instead, the story of one young boy's fight to survive and save his parents.
   
   Thirteen-year-old Samuel loves the woods. He spends his time exploring the forest and hunting for game to feed his family. One day while in the woods, Samuel sees black smoke in the distance. The longer he watches the smoke, the more uncomfortable he feels.
   
   He heads for home, but when he arrives, he discovers his house and all of the other buildings in his small settlement burned to the ground. As he searches for survivors, he finds casualties, but his parents are not among them. He stays long enough to bury those who were killed, and then he heads off in search of his parents.
   
   Samuel travels cautiously. He keeps to the brush and ducks for cover whenever he hears a noise. As he follows the trail of the Redcoats, he hears news about how they are traveling toward New York, where most prisoners are being held. His goal is to get there, too, and rescue his mother and father.
   
   Along the way, Samuel witnesses horrible scenes of death and destruction. He is badly injured in one attack, but thanks to the help of strangers, he recovers enough to continue his journey. Other strangers also step in and lend a helping hand as Samuel heads east.
   
   Gary Paulsen not only tells Samuel's adventurous tale, but he also inserts factual information telling about the British, the Colonists, and others involved in this tumultuous time in history. WOODS RUNNER is definitely not your typical, boring historical recap. There is action, suspense, and touching moments about what it was like to live and die during the American Revolution.
   
   Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"



5. After spending the past 30 years researching, writing and doing school presentations on the Revolutionary War, I always have mixed feelings when I learn about a newly published YA novel on this subject - I look forward to reading it, but am apprehensive it will be full of historical inaccuracies. I am also hard to please. I consider Johnny Tremain too slow, April Morning too philosophical, My Brother Sam is Dead too depressing, and Octavian Nothing much, much too difficult for young readers.
   I recommend L.M. Elliott's Give Me Liberty for how it shows how political events on the eve of the war impact ordinary Virginians. Also, Ann Rinaldi's The Fifth of March for her excellent portrayal of life in 1770 British army occupied Boston, with a nice love story thrown in. As for stories showing how inexperienced teenage soldiers cope with their first battle, I have yet to see any book as good as my own two, Patriots and Gone to Meet the British.
   Now I'm adding WOODS RUNNER to this short "recommended" list. It has all the elements I consider essential to a good children's novel: a main character the reader can identify with, and it's exciting, suspenseful, fast paced and easy to read. Gary Paulsen's description of how Samuel uses his woods skills is right on, as well as the boy's feelings and thoughts. The story is believable, and I read it straight through to see how the conflict was resolved.
   However, nearly every chapter had an extra page or two after it where Paulsen provided historical context info that took me out of the moment; those pages would have been better placed in a lengthy Afterword. I suspect this book will be around for a few decades.
   If Mr. Paulsen is reading this, please consider these corrections before the next edition: On page 26, the bayonet should be 16" not 3'. Page 91 refers to New York City, but it was just called New York in 1776. Page 122 refers to the Hudson River, which was called the North River then. Perhaps mention both names? Page 127 refers to British soldiers carrying bayonetted rifles; no such thing, they were muskets. And, on page 127, the boy "worked his way up to Boston and joined Morgan's Rifles." Daniel Morgan was not in Boston in 1776, nor in 1777. In 1777, he was released from captivity in Quebec & rejoined Washington's army in Philadelphia. - Gregory Edgar, Somers, CT

5 comments about The Sorcerer of the North: Book Five (Ranger's Apprentice).

1. not very complete i do like these books but not really this one as much.
   *SPOILER* kinda
   i hate the keren guy for messing with alysse. it ticks me off XP but it was pretty good anyways



2. I found the 5th book to be very good. John Flanagan does an excellent job at pulling most of the loose ends together and yet still leave a good cliff-hanger at the end, making the reader yearn for the next book. I did like the rather large cliff-hanger at the end, and I love how Flanagan always has his next book nearly finished by the time the reader finishs readign.



3. My son and I have been huge fans of this series, but I had to downgrade this entry on general principles: There is almost no action, and the story does not even conclude at the book's end. In fact, this entire book merely sets the stage for the next book. Flanagan obviously started out with enough story for one book, then decided to pad it out into two books.
   
   Which is dirty pool as far as I am concerned. It would be like ending the very first "Star Wars" movie right after the scene where the heroes come across the astro-rubble of Alderan and, oh no, what are we going to do now?
   
   So, I recommend you read a synopsis of this book and skip ahead to Book 6. You won't be missing much.
   
   OK, that's where my "Star Wars" analogy falls apart because there was a LOT more action in the 1st half of "Star Wars" than in this book, in which, let's see, a guy holding a spear gets disarmed, and later the same guy gets hit in the leg with an arrow. The rest is all dialog and wandering around. Even the scenes with the good ol' fun-loving Skandians are boring.



4. Love the entire series so far!!
   
   Book 5 actually takes place after book 7, so if you just read Book 4 (Skandia), I recommend reading Book 7 (Erak's Ransom) next. Then read books 5 and 6!
   
   You won't be disappointed in this series!! I'm a 27 year old married mother and recommend them to everyone!!!!! As I've said in my original review for the series (books 1-3 review), I would raise the recommended age to about 12 years old due to some gory war descriptions and monster like descriptions.



5. All I can say is that Will has matured to be a great Ranger in this book. It is an awesome story line and very hard to put down.

2 comments about The Sable Quean (Redwall).

1. Brian Jacques has done it again. The Sable Quean is a terrific book, a worthy additon to the acclaimed Redwall series.
   
   The beginning starts out well, but as the story began to follow the familiar routes of the previous books, I was a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong, I love the Redwall books. However, Jacques brilliantly rescues the story halfway through the book.
   
   The Sable Quean is a magnificent book from Redwall, rivalling the first Redwall books and is quite possibly the greatest book yet from the Redwall shelf. This book is written proof that the amazing Brian Jacques is definitely NOT losing his touch. I'll be eagerly awaiting the next book in the Redwall series.



2. I admit it: I'm a sucker for Redwall books. I've read all of them; when my Library ordered The Sable Quean, I was the first to place a request for it.
   
   Of Jacques' most recent Redwall books, High Rhulain was the most disappointing, though Eulalia and Doomwyte were better -- but this one! The Sable Quean is, in my opinion, the best Jacques book to come out since Triss. (Taggerung is my all-time favorite, for those dying to know.)
   
   Alright, I'll try to keep this spoiler-free:
   
   The plot has a number of familiar Jacques elements, but he keeps you guessing here more than I might have anticipated. Memorable villains (if not the most ostentatiously evil) and an ensemble of sympathetically displayed woodlanders give the novel an excellent cast. I feel that Jacques should have focused more on his hero rather than on his hero's comical friend, but that is a minor quibble. This novel does not have the epic feel of Mossflower or The Long Patrol, but tends to convey even more than usual the folksy atmosphere of Jacques' world.
   
   I can recommend this entry in the Redwall cannon with great enthusiasm. Check out your library and start reading. I did, and it only took me less than a week to finish, college work aside (yes, I still read Redwall books at 19). Happy reading!