I read this book a few months ago when my younger sister checked it out at the library. This book is supposed to be for preteens, but I'm 16 and I loved it! The stories are well-written, thought-provoking, and very creepy. The stories not only give you a chill, they make you think more about them after reading them. It's pretty rare to find a scary story book that doesn't contain a story that I think is corny or flat-out stupid. I'd recommend this book to kids, teens, and even adults who love horror, but younger kids may find this book too scary and too hard to understand. I can't wait to read this again!

I've followed the Star Shards Trilogy since the beginning and all I can say is that, Shusterman's conclusion is chilling. The story reaches inside you, it really affects you. In my opinion, it is one of his best works, and one of the most memorable. The messenges in it are ageless and the book will no doubt be read more than once.

This science fiction novel is written in informal style. The story is told from the point of view of the main character, Jason. The contemporary setting is a small U.S. town named Billington. The theme is: what being human really means. Young adult readers would identify with Jason at the beginning of the story when he feels that he lives in a dull town where nothing exciting ever happens. This soon changes as exciting facts are revealed to him. Even his ordinary parents are not what they appear to be. The main conflict is man against himself. Jason and other characters in the novel must ultimately decide whether to remain human or prepare to join the Warrior Fools in their alien take over of the world. This book would probably appeal to reluctant readers. The fun of seeing the mystery unravel provides enjoyable recreational reading.

This book was really great. I borrowed it from the library and read it in one night. I just couldn't put it down. I think if anyone wants an exciting book they should read this one. After reading it, I just had to get it. I haven't read any of Neal Shusterman's other books, but I intend to..in the mean time, this book is my favorite.

When I really think about this book, it's so amazing..and I dont know how to describe it. I think that when everyone that really liked this book thought about it hard..they wouldn't be able to either. How the writer made it so..interesting and kept you there so that you feel like you're actually in it. How he seemed to be able to describe a normal teenager's life..until Jason discovers something so different from his little boring town, Billington. This story is so great because it keeps u reading it. After every sentence, you want to read another until you get to finishing a chapter..then you want to read the next. A sequel would be nice, I'd like hear what happens to Jason and Paula. But otherwise..I recommend this book to anyone who likes excitement in their reading.

My daughter and her friends(ages 11-12) played this mystery game at her birthday party. We decorated the house accordingly, and all the girls really got in to playing their character parts, costumes and all. It comes with an excellent guide on how to host the mystery, including food ideas and a time line to follow.
We had some confusion as to how exactly the game itself proceeds, but we improvised a little and it turned out to be easily played and all had a great time. The game did take longer to play then expected. Be sure all players are strong readers. My daughter and her friends are looking forward to playing another such game.

We used this game at my daughter's 11th birthday. The subject matter was not too "adult" for them, but it was a good thing they were all strong readers. I think it is a perfect storyline right through the suggested ages. It took longer than the 2+ hours the game stated. If the clues are just read out it may take that long, but the girls at this party spent time conversing about the scene and it took more than three hours. The whole time they were engaged and reading and using their reasoning skills. It was a hit with everyone. If you are looking for a great party game with both a luau theme (suggested menus and timing schedule) AND an alien theme, this is it. The kit comes with name tags, individual dossiers, clues, invitations, a poster, and a tape to introduce the mystery. For boys and/or girls, some names are not gender specific. Well worth the money.

The premise of the book is fantastic. Lindsay, a girl who has recently moved to live with her father in New York, stumbles across Talon, a boy who lives underneath New York City. In a friendship that grows Lindsay learns about the world of the mole people or downsiders from Talon. Talon comes to learn of the topside world because of the relationship as well. But what may seem to be an innocent friendship at first could be the pin of a grenade that is pulled resulting in a war of downsiders against topsiders.

The book does have a rich premise, with wonderful details, and charming characters... but it suffers from having an implausible group of cows running through the underground of New York and a weak ending. Downsiders, is a good book that Shusterman and his editor should have spent more time on in order to make it a great one.

Crazy James

i didn't really have any expectations when i picked up the book, but i thought the inside cover sounded like a original set-up. and so it was! the story centered around talon, a teenage boy who resides UNDER new york city, and a teenage girl, lindsey, who has just moved to the city. we are first introduced to talon's world, called the "downside." the vivid descriptions made his world come alive. yet, talon longs to visit the "topside", which is forbidden, esp. when he needs to get medicine for his little sister. that's when lindsey comes into play. i don't want to ruin anything, but the struggles talon and lindsey face together are great to read about. i began to think about if talon's world could be possible, and found myself looking around storm drains. :)

The book Downsiders by Neal Shusterman is a fabulous tale of secrets, lies, and the fear of the unknown. A teenage boy named Talon was out on a mission with his friends completing their first few tasks in order to enter adulthood. They were patrolling the underground tunnels that they live in, looking for fallers. Fallers are people from the topside who the dowsiders save and make them convert into downsiders and vow to leave their other world behind. Including thier names, clothes, and memoris. During this task, Talon meets a topsider named Linsay and they become very close. Unfortunately, thier frienship seems to cause thier two worlds to collide into what the downsiders called a "war", in reality Lindsay's father was drilling into Talon's world and both their lives seem to crash and burn, until Lindsay comes top the rescue.

Cheri Currie was the beginning of the all-female rock n roll movement. This book depicts the ups and downs of her music career with "The Runaways". From performing music in truck stops to touring Europe! Then drug abuse and a victim of crime! A must read for all females contemplating the music industry.

This is a wild book. One minute I wished I was there hanging out and partying with Cherie, then the next chapter would start and I'd feel such horror at what I was reading. Kind of like if you were on a roller coster, laughing and having fun, then you notice your harness is missing... and that loop is coming up. That sums up her teenage/young adult life.
Cherie Currie is not afraid to tell all. Even if it means exposing her darkest moments in life, her fears, her failures, addictions, etc.

She has overcome a lot. But she is more than a survivor. She knows how and why she conquered her demons and prevailed.

I think its strong by cherie to write a book about her life, cause she hadn't exactly "the perfect life" I really liked the book and give it 5 stars!

This book was really great, suspenseful, full of action but the end just really disappointed me. I would recommend it, it had a great plot. He goes through many adventures and meets new friends in Russia.

Dissidents is a book about a boy named Derek. Derek's parents were divorced, when his father dies he has no choice but to go live with his mother and sister in Russia. It's a very big change for Derek. His mother is the American Ambassador in Russia and because of that Derek has bodyguards follow him everywhere. Throughout his journeys he makes some friends. One of his friends name is Anna. Anna and Derek don't really start off on the right foot but they soon grow to become friends. To find out more, I recommend you read this book.

Three months after the original story (though published 14 years later), a new kid comes to school and gets on everyone's nerves. Bad things start happening to him, and Jared is the natural scapegoat considering what he and his friends did before.

I caught two errors in reference to the original book, but I ignored them. But since I see the first book as taking place in the 1980s, references to the '90s and 21st century do not work for me. And I don't think it is funny to have fourteen-year-olds joking about letter and pipe bombs. It also doesn't help that we know very little about the people who turn out to be the bad guys. It's like the author did not know where he was going with this at the time. Good effort, but ultimately fails in the end.

The book could stand on its own. But since it is a sequel, it is necessary to keep things consistent. The characters hold up, but the story falters.

I thought this book, well, downright creepy. I mean- Shadow Club Rising. Already sounds creepy. But the story just backs it up. I can't believe the cruel and sick things that those kids do to eachother. To heavily dislike someone because they're better than you and to keep it to yourself is ok.... but hating someone so much that you could seriously hurt them and not care... just because they're better than you.it's wrong. i think that if this is really what kids are like today, than our earth has no future.

Having not read The Shadow Club (1988), I found this sequel able to stand on its own. In October, Jared and the six other members of the Shadow Club were suspended when the school discovered the devious doings of the Shadow Club--kids who were always second best in the student body.

It's February now, and Jared has changed his ways. The problem is no one believes him. When Alec Smartz ("It was one of those cruel parental jokes a that would be an eternal mystery. But then on the other hand, it was so obvious that only a moron who try to take advantage of it. Whenever someone called him "Smart Alec," he would say .... 'Gee that's clever...'") comes to school and is perfect at everything, the student body takes note.

Practical jokes start to plague Alec, and all fingers point to Jared. Jared tries to re-convene the Shadow Club in an effort to find the source of these attacks but the six other members want to stay as far away from their previous deeds. Jared is on his own. As the practical jokes get worse and worse, Jared discovers that sometimes telling the truth isn't enough. The Shadow Club has taken on a life of its own.

I don't want to give away the important aspects of the story, so I will jump past the exciting and surprise ending and say that I found "Shadow Club Rising" a great and believable story. Many authors would have gone over the top and made this a tall tale, but Shusterman respects his characters. I love books that feature mean kids at this age level. It is so much a part of the daily life of a junior high student. The relationship Jared has with his guidance counselor is credible. It's good to see adults who aren't caricatures.