Cycles

Feb 28, 2012 Ashley (Firestarbooks) rated it 3 of 5 stars

The plot was amazing! So unique but with a hint of familiarity. I was attracted to it immediately! And I, myself, is a guesser. By that I mean I would guess with the characters, trying to figure out what is the mystery. I just kept on flipping pages. I can't believe that I didn't read the book when I first got it.

Though the characters are fairly young-ish. But they are very sophisticated and mature, but this made it a little unrealistic. :/ They are 13 after all. But often this fact was forgotte...more

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Jun 09, 2012 Majibookshelf Juhina & Farah rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was addicting, to say the least. The beginning might be a bit misleading, 13/14 year old best friends, one with a love of horses and the other with a love of books and knowledge. But this book definitely surprised me and exceeded my expectations! This book is a mix of mystery, contemporary, and paranormal, which is a mix i'm starting to really warm up to!
The novel opened up with Renee getting into an accident and losing a large percentage of her blood, therefore a blood transfusion is...more

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May 06, 2012 Mary rated it 3 of 5 stars

After an accident, thirteen-year-old Renee Beaumont needs a blood transfusion, which shouldn't be a big deal, but it turns out her blood is unique. Her neighbor Dr. Dawson fortunately has some blood that he claims is hers that the doctors can use to save her life, but Renee can't remember ever giving him her blood. When she and her best friend Sam investigate, they discover a cache of blood in Dr. Dawson's lab that's all labelled with his dead daughter's name. What does it mean that Renee's bloo...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Jeanbooknerd rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews

Cycles by Lois D. Brown was an interesting read with a unique concept. Imagine you wake up at the hospital and they tell you that your blood type didn’t match any known type. This is the case of Renee after taking a hard fall from an accident. With this newly found information, she discovers that the life she was living was a lie and sets on a journey to find the answers of her true self.

Cycle was tremendously inventive in every aspect. It had great mystery elements stemming from Renee’s cloudy...more

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Mar 08, 2012 Erika rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012

Title: Cycles
Author: Lois D. Brown
Number of Pages: 198
Date of Release: December 15th, 2011
Summary From Goodreads:

She remembers things that never happened.
She's a stranger in her own home.
She always knew she was different.
She just didn't know why.
Until now.

Renee Beaumont is about to die . . . again.

Review: With a beautiful cover and an intriguing summary, Cycles drew me in immediately. It wasn’t just one thing that made me enjoy reading Brown’s writing it was a combination and I loved and ap...more

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Feb 17, 2012 Juhina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-books, ebook

This book was addicting, to say the least. The beginning might be a bit misleading, 13/14 year old best friends, one with a love of horses and the other with a love of books and knowledge. But this book definitely surprised me and exceeded my expectations! This book is a mix of mystery, contemporary, and paranormal, which is a mix i'm starting to really warm up to!

The novel opened up with Renee getting into an accident and losing a large percentage of her blood, therefore a blood transfusion is...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 02, 2012 Michelle Isenhoff rated it 4 of 5 stars

I always tread cautiously when my blog (Bookworm Blather) attracts requests for book reviews. I see a wide range of talent and professionalism, but Cycles, by Lois D. Brown, I am pleased to say, rates among the best stories I’ve received.

Within, an accident leaves13-year-old Renee Beaumont’s life completely shaken. Not only does she narrowly escape death, but doctors in the hospital identify abnormalities in her blood. Abnormalities that lead to questions concerning her parentage. Abnormalities...more I always tread cautiously when my blog (Bookworm Blather) attracts requests for book reviews. I see a wide range of talent and professionalism, but Cycles, by Lois D. Brown, I am pleased to say, rates among the best stories I’ve received.

Within, an accident leaves13-year-old Renee Beaumont’s life completely shaken. Not only does she narrowly escape death, but doctors in the hospital identify abnormalities in her blood. Abnormalities that lead to questions concerning her parentage. Abnormalities that may be linked to an increasing number of dizzy spells and memories that cannot possibly be her own. Abnormalities that prompt the sudden interest of individuals who do not have Renee’s best interest at heart. Abnormalities that push Renee, along with her best friend Sam, on a wild ride of discovery that lands them smack in the center of a most peculiar blending of science and legend.

I have lots of good things to say about the story’s mechanics. Intrigue begins right away. The opening chapters create a host of questions that are skillfully unraveled throughout the remainder of the story. A deadly horse epidemic, Renee’s habit of drawing spirals, Sam’s father’s death, solar eclipses - all these details come back around to tuck nicely into the story later on. The plot is original, engaging and creative. There is a measure of predictability, but I think the kids for whom the book is intended (12-16) will enjoy figuring out the clues artfully planted along the way. And in all fairness, there were elements I didn’t foresee.

As to Ms. Brown’s writing, it’s very nice. There are moments it doesn’t read as smoothly as a title with a whole publishing team behind it, but I was very pleased with the overall effect. She creates some wonderfully descriptive word pictures, often in tandem with bright humor. For example, “Dawson cleared his throat again. He was either allergic to the hospital’s disinfectant spray, or he was nervous.” The title, too, is wonderfully metaphorical and clever.

The characters, as is often the case with contemporary teen fiction, feel a bit cliche. Rich girl with parents that ignore her. Geeky guy with a crush on a cheerleader. But they are given quirks that make them feel realistic and warmth that wins a reader over. Gamma Didi, on the other hand, is hugely original. An old Indian woman with gentle wisdom, odd habits, tribal memories, and modern intelligence, she’s the perfect counterpoint to the teens. Indeed, she’s the character that jumped off the page and became my favorite.

I would rate this book easily appropriate for kids 10 and older. Romance is kept sweet and innocent, language is perfectly clean. There is some violence at the end, but it isn’t graphic or overwhelming. There is an element of spiritualism – souls of the departed watching out for the living and the mention of a seance – but it’s very background, and a bit of mysticism is necessary for the story’s magical elements. Ms. Brown nicely blends legend with science.

I enjoyed Cycles a great deal, and I’m happily putting out my recommendation. Besides, with a 2.99 price tag, you can’t afford to pass it up!
(less)

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Jan 23, 2012 Tiffany (Book Cover Justice) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own

Cycles is the story of Renee, a 13-year-old girl who, after a fall from a horse, discovers that there is something strange about her and everyone around her is keeping secrets. Renee and best friend Sam decide to do some investigating of their own, only they don't realize just how deep the deceptions go. I hadn't heard of Cycles until I was fortunate enough to receive a review request by the author. As soon as I read the synopsis, I knew I was interested.

Cycles is told from three character's po...more Cycles is the story of Renee, a 13-year-old girl who, after a fall from a horse, discovers that there is something strange about her and everyone around her is keeping secrets. Renee and best friend Sam decide to do some investigating of their own, only they don't realize just how deep the deceptions go. I hadn't heard of Cycles until I was fortunate enough to receive a review request by the author. As soon as I read the synopsis, I knew I was interested.

Cycles is told from three character's points of view: Renee, Sam, and someone named Helen that we aren't introduced to right away. The majority of the book alternates chapters between Renee and Sam while only on a few occasions do we have insight to Helen's thoughts through journal entries. I always enjoy books that have more than one character telling the story. I always connect with the characters more if I am able to hear directly from each of them. This also gives us the opportunity to see what is going on in two places at once when Renee and Sam aren't together.

You know within the first few pages that this is going to be a page turner. Right away we are thrown into the action and wondering just who the enemy is. I had a very hard time putting this down and even when I had to I was still going over it in my head trying to think of what was going to happen next. I thought I had it figured out a few times but I was wrong. There is nothing I love more than being wrong when it comes to books. So many times I can see where a story is going and with Cycles I was happily surprised.

The writing was solid and the idea completely original and new. Sadly, I think a lot of books are too focused on what is "in" these days and are starting to repeat themselves. I have yet to come across another book like Cycles. I would have liked to see more interaction between Renee and her parents and even Sam and his family, but thankfully this is the beginning of a series and I have high hopes for the next book. While Cycles may not be a very long book , about 200 pages, it is definitely not lacking. I recommend this to all YA fans and to everyone else who is looking for a fresh, new kind of story.(less)

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Feb 24, 2012 Melissa ( Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned-ebook, reviewed-other

I flew through this novel at record pace. The writing flowed easily, the characters were all quite likable and believable and I found the premise to be interesting and unique. I have to admit that I was quite pleasantly surprised by this one. I wondered how I would relate to such young characters but I needn't have feared. Sam is wise beyond his years and Renee, well she also has much more experience than one would assume. (I don't want to give anything away!)

Lois Brown does a wonderful job of...more

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Feb 27, 2012 Jodie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, own

From the first page, CYCLES is blasting with action and suspense. It never stops or slows down until the end. Lois has written a very unique and intriguing read that many will love and enjoy. As you learn to know Renee and not only what she has came from, but about to go through, you can't help but soften your heart towards her.

It all started when Dr. Dawson needed to go out of town, leaving Renee tending to his horse and to lock up when she was through. Obviously, Dr. Dawson felt the need to...more

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Apr 16, 2012 Urban Fantasy Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

To see this review and other like it check out my site, Urban Fantasy Reviews at www.ufreviews.com

I am sure I have said it about a million times now, but YA books are not my favorite type of book on the planet. But lately this view of mine has been challenged. I have had the opportunity to read a lot of really quality YA books, with writing that has seriously impressed me. I personally love it when a YA author uses language that doesn't talk down to people just because their young, I think it m...more To see this review and other like it check out my site, Urban Fantasy Reviews at www.ufreviews.com

I am sure I have said it about a million times now, but YA books are not my favorite type of book on the planet. But lately this view of mine has been challenged. I have had the opportunity to read a lot of really quality YA books, with writing that has seriously impressed me. I personally love it when a YA author uses language that doesn't talk down to people just because their young, I think it makes a younger person learn and it makes the book more enjoyable for adults. Thankfully this book is one of the YA books I have enjoyed.

I think one of the things I enjoyed the most about this novel was the pacing of it. You get brought into the novel very quickly and the situations introduced make it so much easier to get into the book and to care about the characters. I think a dramatic beginning in a book makes the reader want to read more, they want to find out what happened, why it happened, and how the character is going to respond. This was done really well in this book. Renee, the main character was in an accident in the beginning of the novel that required her to have a blood transfusion. That starts the plot off for Renee and the rest of the characters.

The book had a bit of a mystery element to it, with Renee and Sam (her best friend) trying to figure out why her neighbor had some of her blood (the same blood used to save her after her accident). I think the mystery element works exceptionally well in this book, especially if I were a younger reader. Any book that makes a person think or try to figure out what is going on/what is going to happen next is a book I like.

I spent most of the time with this novel wondering what was going to happen next, and trying to piece the puzzle together in my own head. I was glad that when I thought I had things figured out or created my own theory to the situation a curve ball would make me rethink things.

I also thought the characters were really well done. Renee and Sam are easy to like, easy to pull for, and in general identify with them. I do think that maybe they would have been older judging by their maturity throughout the book, but other than that I thought they were both good characters.

I have to say once more I liked this YA book, and I would recommend it for anyone who enjoys reading YA, or anyone who wants a little bit of a non-conventional mystery to sink their teeth into. It was really a fun read.(less)

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Apr 08, 2012 Becky rated it 4 of 5 stars

I recieved an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I must admit I have had this for a couple of months, I am so far behind with my review books it's unreal, I just don't seem to have time to sit down with my laptop and read (excuses, excuses I know) and actually once I sat down and read this I got through it very quickly, took me just over 2 hours to read.

Renee gets on very well with her neighbor Dr Dawson, but other people say he is weird, odd and shouldn't be trusted. When Rene...more I recieved an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I must admit I have had this for a couple of months, I am so far behind with my review books it's unreal, I just don't seem to have time to sit down with my laptop and read (excuses, excuses I know) and actually once I sat down and read this I got through it very quickly, took me just over 2 hours to read.

Renee gets on very well with her neighbor Dr Dawson, but other people say he is weird, odd and shouldn't be trusted. When Renee has an accident she finds out that Dawson has bags of blood stored in his cellar, her best friend Sam and her decide to find out whose blood it is and why he has got it. But the secrets she find changes her life forever, and things are about to get much worse.

To be honest when I was asked to review this I did have hesitation, I am a bit of a wimp and don't do well with blood, this sounded a bit like a thriller, but I kept going back to the email and couldn't make myself delete it, so in the end I replied with a yes. For some reason I was drawn to this book, and I'm glad I accepted it.
It isn't scary at all, there is plenty of mystery and some fantastic bad guys and some nail biting moments, but that's all part of what makes it such a gripping story.
It's also refreshing to see something that has a bit of mystery and edging on sci-fi/paranormal without having to mention wolves/vampires/dragons etc. You don't get many like that any more and I liked having a change, this is more about scientific discoveries and ancient legends.
Renee comes to life on the page, I got a real feel of life from her, I could see where she was coming from and I started to like her. Sam, her best friend, is a bit of a nerd, would rather read than kick a football, to be honest - my type of guy. He has moments where he is really insensitive and a bit dim, but he has a good heart and I liked him as a sort of unlikely hero.
There are a lot of possibilities as to who is the bad guy in this book and I had plenty of theories and guesses but I was surprised by who it was, I mean that character was on my villain list but not near the top, they kept wavering on and off my radar.
The book is well written and flows really well. I literally sat down last night thinking I would read 50/60 pages before switching off my computer and going to be, but I ended up reading 160 pages and I only put it off then as it was 12.30 at night and my eyes were hurting from staring at the screen so late. I then finished it first thing this morning.

Overall a great story of suspense and intrigue, well worth a read.(less)

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Jan 15, 2012 Cheyenne Williams rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was lucky enough to receive an e-book copy from the author. I loved the summary right away: it's short, interested me from the first line, and ended in a way that guaranteed I was going to read it.

What I Liked:

This book totally blew my expectations out of the water.

I have read a lot of YA books, and within those books, a good portion were paranormal. I have read every kind of plot line, from vampires to werewolves, from fairies to half-bloods. Also, I've become insanely good at guessing betwee...more I was lucky enough to receive an e-book copy from the author. I loved the summary right away: it's short, interested me from the first line, and ended in a way that guaranteed I was going to read it.

What I Liked:

This book totally blew my expectations out of the water.

I have read a lot of YA books, and within those books, a good portion were paranormal. I have read every kind of plot line, from vampires to werewolves, from fairies to half-bloods. Also, I've become insanely good at guessing between which paranormal branch a story is written about. (Flighty thoughts? Fairy. Unexplained animal damage and missing memory? Werewolf.) I think after a certain number of books, it's easy to assume you're going to be able to predict what's going to happen.

Cycles was different; I had no idea what was going on. I didn't have a single prediction for what was going to be uncovered in the end. There was all these unexplained problems and none of my old plot lines helped because this book totally traveled off the beaten path.

This was the first book I'd read in a long, long time when I didn't automatically know whether a character was to be trusted or not. It was really cool to be along for the mystery, just like the characters, instead of being like an outsider, knowing what was going to happen and just waiting to get there.

Sam, Renee's friend, was quirky, and I liked how he wasn't immune to pretty girls. Some books have the main guy character totally and completely hung up over the main girl character, and it's not really realistic. There's little flashbacks throughout the book to pages from a journal belonging to a Helen. I really liked the entries; they added to the mystery and created one more piece to the puzzle to fit together.

What I Didn't Like:

I would've liked to have seen more detail to the writing: descriptions of places visited and of the character's appearances. That being said, I also understand that the target audience for Cycles is 12-15 year olds, so I think the more brief kind-of style probably fits it better than a novel that's always going into detail. That's just a personal preference of mine.

Another thing I would've like to see was a cameo from one of Sam's siblings; I've read very few books where a main character has a sibling, much less multiple. (Or seven, in Sam's case.) I think you can tell a lot about a character by the way they interact with their siblings. And since there's eight kids altogether, I would think a scene at Sam's house with all of them has the potential to be very interesting.

The Bottom Line:

I definitely enjoyed this book: get it! I'll be looking out for the sequel. I can't wait to see what happens next in the series.(less)

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Mar 09, 2012 Jasmine Villanova rated it 4 of 5 stars

Beneath the Moon and Stars review

This wasn't what I was expecting at all. This isn't something I would normally read. I really liked it. The action starts right off the bat. I think the best part was the mystery. Some of the biggest parts I guessed. That could mean it was hidden poorly or I'm just good at figuring things out. In other reviews people said they were shocked. I was shocked by the plot but not the character relationships.

I really liked Renee. Her life was practically falling apart....more

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Mar 19, 2012 ReadingDiva rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, young-adult

Originally posted on ReadingDiva's Blog

I just finished reading Cycles by Lois D. Brown and the concept of the book is unique, interesting and one that will keep you turning pages. This book has an interesting plot. Regardless of how good of a reader you think you are you will not be able to guess the end.

The plot though a bit disturbing is also fascinating. I can’t help but compare this story to The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button. I enjoy this book because of the different aspects that come to...more

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Jul 27, 2012 Farrah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-reviews, e-books

TOTALLY not what I expected. PLEASANTLY surprised and CAN’T WAIT to read the next in the series. Who would have thought I would not have been able to put down another young adult fiction within the same week?! I seriously was impressed that I could not stop reading until I was done, and surprising to me I could really connect with 13 year old Renee, but then again, she did have an old soul. I was constantly on the edge wondering what was going to happen next to Renee, her neighbor doctor, and he...more

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Feb 26, 2012 Star (The Bibliophilic Book Blog) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

When I read the synopsis of Cycles, I wasn't sure what I was in for once I started reading. Cycles blew me away! Cycles is a beautifully written blend of the scientific and spiritual which explode into the life of a 13 year old girl named Renee. I don't want to give much away about the plot because this is definitely one you need to read - pronto! Renee's life is falling apart around her and she doesn't know who to trust anymore, except for her best friend Sam and an older woman, Gamma Didi. Fro...more

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Feb 29, 2012 Tess rated it 5 of 5 stars

One word to describe this book-Beautiful. Beautiful writing, beautiful plot, and beautiful characters! Cycles is very different from my normal read. It has that Sci Fi type of aspect to it, but it is very much a mystery read. The writing in this book is exquisite! It made me immersed in the world Brown created, and her writing captivated me. I really felt I was right there along with Sam and Renee trying to figure out the mysteries of Renee's past! Throughout the book there are these journal ent...more

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May 27, 2012 Jaiden rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-books, for-review, 4-stars, idk-genre

Originally posted at: http://girlzandtheirbooks.blogspot.co...

This. Is a book I have procrastinated on giving a review because of my vaction. I am sooooo VERY sorry!!!! But without further adue....

Here is a short review (my reviews might be shorter from here on out fyi!)

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I agreed to read and review Ms. Lois D. Brown's book. And too be honest...as you can see....I procrastinated..ALOT! And I feel really bad. Things got ruff in my life and I lost track. And I...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Stephanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 50-book-2012, science-fiction, mystery, paranormal, young-adult

The author of Cycles, Lois Brown, sent my other blog, Teen Text Talk, her book to review. There was a contest for however many reviews she received by a certain date. There was no way that I was going to get this book read in such a short amount of time, so I didn't bother with the contest, but told her that when I got to the book I'd give it an honest review. A month later, on my birthday no less, I read it in one sitting...seriously, it's that entertaining.

Renee Beaumont is a typical 13 year-o...more

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Feb 25, 2012 Roxy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, reviewed

Taken from my book blog: Keeping Up With Roxy's Books
Review Copyright © of Keeping Up With Roxy's Books

I'm really glad I received an e-book copy from the author because this book was really awesome. It didn't involve a lot of steamy romance, which was great because I felt like I needed a break from that. This story was like on of those puzzle stories, where you mentally piece together the story as you went a long with it. I literally felt like a modern day Nancy Drew. This book had a little bit...more

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Apr 08, 2012 Christie's Book Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-books

Cycles by Lois D. Brown
★★★★☆

Renee was just a normal girl, until she was left to watch her neighbor’s horse, Mercury. She had never ridden a horse before, until people broke into the barn to steal the horse. When she put the saddle on to ride Mercury, she noticed that it had a spiral on it, which tended to be her signature doodle. During her escape with Mercury she took a tumble and blacked out. When Renee woke up in the hospital she learned that her blood type didn’t match any known blood type,...more

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Jan 30, 2012 Robin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The trouble with reading a book like this is that it eventually has to end. I really enjoyed this book. Cycles has a fresh, unique story line. I loved the mystery of not really knowing what was happening nor where the story was heading. When I was pretty sure I had figured it out, I still couldn’t imagine what the conclusion would be. And I was totally satisfied with the ending. I can’t wait to read the sequel.

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Jan 30, 2012 Robin rated it 5 of 5 stars

The trouble with reading a book like this is that it eventually has to end. I really enjoyed this book. Cycles has a fresh, unique story line. I loved the mystery of not really knowing what was happening nor where the story was heading. When I was pretty sure I had figured it out, I still couldn’t imagine what the conclusion would be. And I was totally satisfied with the ending. I can’t wait to read the sequel.

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Apr 11, 2013 Lynne rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: young people, people who enjoy "light" science fiction

Shelves: fantasy-sci-fi, ya-fantasy-sci-fi

Original concept, well-paced.

BUT

Sloppy editing ("breath" instead of "breathe" in some places but not in others, so Brown obviously knows the difference; using singulars where there should be plurals--again, inconsistently and in places where she should have known the difference) and some cringeworthy sentence construction; I kept finding myself trying to edit as I read.

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Jan 04, 2012 Jennifer Jenkins rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Great book with an extremely unique plot! Fast paced and so much fun. Can't wait to read more from this author!

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Apr 30, 2013 Angela rated it 5 of 5 stars

A very good young adult novel. I enjoyed the storyline and the character development.

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Jun 06, 2012 Shaunda Wenger rated it 4 of 5 stars

The plot kept me gripped until the very end! Looking forward to the sequel.

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May 21, 2012 fern rated it 5 of 5 stars

looks and sounds wonderful!!!

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May 21, 2012 Patty rated it 5 of 5 stars

looks and sounds wonderful!!!

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