Far North
by Will Hobbs

Another tale of survival full of action, adventure, daring and heartbreak. A trip by floatplane strands Gabe, his roommate Raymond and an old Dene Indian elder, Johnny Raven, in the frozen wilderness of the Canadian Northwest Territories when disaster strikes. They face extreme cold, starvation, injury, and wild animals as they struggle to survive the crushing winter weather. Fast-paced and never dull. Grades 6 to 9.

Reviewed by Mrs. Reinhart (10/2007)

Boston Jane: an Adventure

by Jennifer L. Holm

Jane Peck has enjoyed a relatively unconventional upbringing in the mid-1800s in Philadelphia until she attends Miss Hepplewhite's Young Ladies Academy to learn how to be a proper lady so she can impress her childhood idol, William Baldt. Her life changes when she turns sixteen and she receives a proposal from William who has left the East Coast for the Washington Territory. A long and trying journey by sea lands her on his doorstep, but he's not there. Quickly dubbed, Boston Jane, by the Chinook Indians, she learns that her finishing school education is no help at all and she must rely upon her own wits and intelligence. Jane emerges as a strong, self-reliant young woman who not only survives but thrives in the wilderness. An enjoyable tale written by an author with a gift for storytelling. Grades 6 to 9.

Reviewed by Mrs. Reinhart (10/2007)

Crossing the Wire

by Will Hobbs

Fifteen-year old Victor Flores lives in Mexico and has been supporting his family by growing corn. Faced with starvation, he has no choice but to leave his home and head to the United States to try to make money to feed his family. The trip is fraught with danger, thirst and hunger. Successive attempts to reach the north are met with failure as he treks over mountains, gets involved with drug traffickers, and faces near-death situations. Eventually, he makes it but he has paid a high price.

The author has once again created a tale of survival and adventure. He also addresses the controversial issue of illegal immigration that is so often in the news these days and puts a very human face on it. Action-packed and thought- provoking at the same time. Grades 6 to 9.

Reviewed by Mrs. Reinhart (10/2007)

Blood Fever: a James Bond Adventure
by Charlie Higson

Evidently, James Bond's adventures didn't start when he was an adult. As a schoolboy, first in SilverFin: a James Bond Adventure (the first in the The Young Bond series) and now in this title, he has an unerring ability to get himself into life-threatening situations, solve mysteries and still live to fight another day.

This time his adventure begins at Eton and quickly moves to Sardinia where the real action takes place. It seems James has stumbled upon a secret Italian society whose members are involved in stolen art, kidnapping and murder. Along the way, he meets new friends, performs daring feats, narrowly escapes a horrible death, and stops an insane villain. This fast-paced entry in the series is far better than the previous offering SilverFin. A fun and engrossing read. Grades 6 to 10.

Reviewed by Mrs. Reinhart (10/2007)

Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt

I love a book that forces me to stay up until the wee hours to finish it. In this romantic medieval tale, 16 year-old Keturah, orphaned at birth and raised by her loving grandparents, has just one day to find her one true love in order to elude Lord Death. Thus begins a story woven with romance and fantasy. The story within a story leads one to ponder if the storyteller is destined to relive the story she tells. This short book is recommended as a book to read if you liked Loving Will Shakespeare.