Product Description
Janie's two families appear to have made peace. Life seems almost normal. Janie has even decided to speak to her former boyfriend, Reeve, again. But then Janie's Connecticut father suffers a sudden stroke, and this tragedy leaves her mother reeling. Janie must step in to manage family finances and to support her mother emotionally.

While handling her father's business matters, Janie discovers the one undeniable fact that could destroy both of her beloved families. And she alone must decide what to do.


From the Hardcover edition.Amazon.com Review
The story began when teenage Janie Johnson recognized heryounger self as TheFace on the Milk Carton. It continued when she tried to fit inwith her birth family, leaving her "real" parents grieving about Whatever Happened toJanie. The complicated saga took a vicious turn when Janie'sboyfriend Reeve betrayed her, broadcasting her troubles as The Voice on theRadio. Finally, we are provided with a suspenseful,satisfying conclusion as Caroline B. Cooney reveals What JanieFound.

The discovery that her adoptive father has been secretly supporting Janie'skidnapper, Hannah, fills Janie with anger and loathing. True, Hannah is hisdaughter, but long ago she abandoned her parents for a cult, coming backonly for a few hours to leave a 3-year-old child with them she claimed wastheir granddaughter. Janie grew up thinking they were her parents--untilthat day when her own face looked back at her from the milk carton. Now herfather lies unconscious in the hospital, and Janie has found an address inhis files that will lead her to the woman who decimated two families. Withthe reluctant help of Reeve and her brother Brian, Janie sets out to findthe enigmatic Hannah and face her down with questions, even though sheknows the answers may destroy them all.

Caroline Cooney is a master of the psychological page-turner, and here shepulls together all the threads of this emotionally complex story for arousing finale to her most popular series. (Ages 10 to 14) --PattyCampbell ... Read more

Customer Reviews (84)

Resolution?
Each of the sequels to "The Face on the Milk Carton" has lacked what the original possessed.The original was a masterwork of a young adult thriller.Since that book the other storylines have been watered down, and in the case of "The Voice on the Radio" unnecessary.

The storyline of "What Janie Found" creates the unlikely opportunity for Janie to confront her kidnapper.To buy into this plot, the reader must suspend the disbelief in so many implausible circumstances that create the opportunity.While this is intented to be the last book in the series, I am concerned that the opening at the end creates the opportunity for another book.To the disappointment of readers, many of the storylines presented in the book are unresolved.It seems as the Cooney's decided to take the safe route in completing this fourth book and avoid any conflict which may upset or disturb the audience.

The original "The Face on the Milk Carton" book holds a special place in my heart.But if readers chose not to go any further beyond that book, I am not sure they will be missing much.

The best of the four!
As the librarian in a small private school, I am amazed when older children/middle school students choose to read books in a series out of order. However, the Janie series is not episodic, but a time-line continuum and must be read in order:
The Face on the Milk Carton
Whatever Happened to Janie?
The Voice on the Radio.

"What Janie Found" is the last in the series and, in my estimation, the best. Caroline Cooney uses multiple viewpoints in telling "what Janie found" and concludes most satisfactorily. Just as in real life, all ends are not tied up, not everything is discovered, but that's all right. Janie reaches peace concerning her kidnapping. That's as much as I will say about book four.

In last words I leave this:
*"She was last seen flying west."
Stephen is going to college in Colorado.
Brian and Brendan untwin with Brian becoming a major player in Book Four.
Reeve is a fine example of the kind of boy girls should seek.
The air in Colorado is just right.
Janie finally chooses to be a "good guy."
Friendship matters.
Family matters.

Great series of books for preteens
I got the first book in this series for my 5th grader.She loved it so I boughtthe whole series.She has been sharing the books with other girls in her class.The series has become quite popular with these preteen girls-perfect for this age girl.

Great Series
Couldn't wait to get the last book of the series.It came very quickly and the book was not disappointing.My whole family enjoyed the series.

Not satisfied
Janie realizes that Frank had been financially supporting Hannah Javensen (H.J.), his long-lost daughter and Janie's kidnapper. Janie is furious and uses a visit to her brother Stephen Spring as an excuse to see Hannah and confront her. At the end of the book, Janie finds peace with her older brother. She forgives Reeve and falls for him again, and they (supposedly) get back together at the end of the book. However, Janie never finds Hannah.

... Read more

Product Description
Brit has had her driver’s license only 11 days when her parents drop her off to stay at her grandmother’s house for two weeks while they go on vacation. Little do they know Brit is headed for a three-state road trip with Nannie to pick up her college roommates, Florence, Aurelia, and Daisy, and bring them to their alma mater for their 65th—and most likely final—reunion.

A reluctant recruit at first, Brit is anxious as well as annoyed when she finds herself responsible for her fragile passengers. But things change as she sits behind the wheel up front and listens to “the girls” in the backseat laugh and reminisce about their 65 years of friendship. Inspired by their lifelong loyalty, Brit is willing to do whatever it takes to get the former college roommates to their reunion safely.

From bestselling author Caroline B. Cooney, a heartwarming look at friendship, both young and old.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Hit the Road with Brittany & the Girls
Brittany Bowman has had her driver's license for exactly eleven days. If she were a normal soon-to-be high school senior, she'd be spending her summer vacation driving around her Connecticut home town. Sadly, Brittany's parents have left their one and only car at the airport and flown off to Alaska for a vacation.Brit will be spending the next two weeks with her grandmother, who doesn't even have a car. Boredom guaranteed...or maybe not.

Day one of her summer vacation and Nannie has roped Brit into a truly outrageous plan. Brit will be chauffeuring Nannie and her three life-long best friends to their sixty-fifth college reunion in Maine. There are just a couple of problems with the plan. Brit is not old enough to drive a rental and, oh yeah, they'll have to break one of`the girls' out of the facility to which her son has had her committed (in order to get control of her money, the girls contend.)

Bolstered by occasional cell phone calls from her friend Cooper, Brit has to decide just how far she's willing to let the girls go.Along the way, she'll learn a lot about friendship and loyalty and a little about criminal mischief!

Fast, but exciting and exhilarating read
I wouldn't say that this was one of the funniest, or even best books that I have ever read, but it did keep me entertained until the very last page. This book had many unexpected, but clever turns that helped the story better progress. I would recommend this book for someone who isn't looking for something amazing, but for a book that is defiantly worth $6.50. (Which is what I paid for it.)

Entertaining tale about the search for independence
Hit the Road by Caroline B. Cooney is another terrific YA title by a prolific author. 16 year old Brit's parents have gone on vacation, leaving her under the care of her grandmother, Nannie. But Nannie has no intention of babysitting her teenage granddaughter or being babysat as well. Nannie and her two lifelong friend are determined to make it to their 65th college reunion, and if that means non-licensed Brit doing the driving and kidnapping a friend as well, so be it. Cooney has a real talent for getting inside teenagers' minds. Brit is selfish and rebellious, all without being unsympathetic. The idea of spending time with Nannie isn't what she wants to spend her free time. But as she spends time with her grandmother, she findsthat they are in similar places in their lives. Both are on the verge of independence. Brit is about to break free from her parents' authority, while Nannie is just coming under it. Both struggle with the restraints place upon them, and Cooney manages to make the reality of growing old come alive even for a teen audience. This wonderfully written book is enjoyable to read and has a good message a well about doing what's right, even when it hurts.

Very good book
This is a very good book that I have read!! It is very good for teenagers!!!!!

WONDERFUL!
This story by Caroline B. Cooney was delightful.I could not put this book down and read it in a day.The book is written using relatable context and has a similie so adorable, that I can't get out of my mind:

"Nannie was wearing a mauve silk suit and looked rather like a tulip."

I simply loved this book and hope there will be more adventures with Brit and "the girls"! ... Read more

Product Description
This bestselling author explores the destructive nature of hatred, the crime of indifference, and the power of accepting love and responsibility.

Fifteen-year-old Macey Clare has always loved her quiet, beautiful Connecticut hometown. It's the place where her grandparents live, the place where her mother grew up. Macey is looking forward to the summer to come. She's hoping for fun and romance with her neighbor's perfect grandson Austin. But when Macey wants to research the facts behind who set fire to a barn across the street from her grandparent's home, she is shocked no one wants to answer questions about the place that burned down 38 years ago. And when a tragedy strikes a new friend who lives in the inner city, something clicks in Macey. She must discover her own true colors and face whatever it is she is going to find. Can she stand alone and take responsibility for the present while uncovering the past?Amazon.com Review
This is a story rife with fire. In Shell Beach, where teenaged Macey Claredivides her life between her busy parents and her sweet-naturedgrandparents, neighbors gather around driftwood bonfires. Arson in theinner-city church where Macey volunteers leaves her asking why life shouldbe so hard for some people--a question that becomes more urgent when hernew friend Venita is killed in the crossfire of a gang shootout. Andprimary to the story is the mysterious fire of 1959 that burned down a barnacross the street from Macey's grandparents' house. When Macey and her newlove Austin begin to explore the barn's history for a school project, theirfamilies and neighbors become strangely evasive. But the pieces begin tofit together when Macey and Austin discover that long ago the barn had beenturned into an apartment, the inhabitant of which was the first--andlast--black high school teacher in Shell Beach. Why was the building burneddown? And, more importantly, whose hand lit the match? As they dig deeper,Macey and Austin become more frightened of the truth--of answers that willrekindle fires of bigotry much too close to their own lives.

Caroline Cooney, the popular and prolific author of The Face on the MilkCarton and many other young adult novels, hasrisen to new heights of suspenseful storytelling with this wise andcompassionate story. Teens will be riveted by the gradual revelation of themystery, and inspired by Cooney's clear message that young people--as wellas their elders--can be caught up in the apathy of "doing nothing" aboutevil. (Ages 12 and older)--Patty Campbell ... Read more

Customer Reviews (77)

Burned
This book called Burning Up its about a 14-year-old girl doing a report on a burned out barn. She moves in with her grandparents and meets this boy she really likes. He helps her do the report and find out stuff horrible.

The Fire Within Her
Your life has been turned upside down to the point where you can't recognize it anymore. Family will never be the same. Could you handle it? Macey was far stronger then she ever imagined. Though some people thought she was the ideal fifteen year old, she felt as though she wasn't quite who she was destined to become. Her life was moving along, but she wasn't living it. Somehow through all of this she began to fall in love to the boy next door. The first time she realized it was when he saved her from a burning church.
The one person that affected her life the most, died in a gang war. When life is not worth living do you give up and quit? No, you live your life in honor of those who cannot live theirs. In spite of everyone else persuading her not to uncover the truth of the fire of arson that nearly killed a black man, Macey Clare stands up to not only the community, but to the world. The main character taught me bravery as well as courage to grasp a dream and never let go. This book will truly change your life.

Burning Up
Macey is a normal girl, living in a small town in Connecticut with her grandparents, until she hears of a mysterious fire that burned down the first African American teacher's house. Everyone refuses to answer her questions. Teaming up with the boy next door, Austin, Macey struggles to reveal the truth about the fire of 1959.

Burning Up was an average book, in my opinion. Caroline Cooney may be one of my favorite authors, but this book was not her best. The main characters, Macey and Austin, were not very deep and seemed to be too persistent. Even after everyone in town had told Macey to drop the fire, that it happened a long time ago, that things had changed, she refused. I am very much against racism, but every other page in this book has to do with Macey or Austin comtemplating how horrid it was to burn down a black's home. We understand that! Also, the ending to this book was lame and disappointing. Maybe the ending threw me for a slight twist, but not in a good way. All in all, the book was average. Maybe something to read when there's nothing else on the shelf.

leave this one at the store or library.....
okay, I think this is one of the lowest ratings I have given a book.If you're thinking about reading this one, choose a different Cooney title.I've enjoyed her other titles a lot more.

This book does try to tackle a tough subject--racism.But, the way it is presented to the reader, by talking about it on every other page, just really rams it down the reader's throat.While I was reading, I felt like there were big red banners waving and yelling, "Racism is WRONG!" This became annoying after a while.Sure, we all know that racism is wrong, but we also reluctantly realize that some people will never have their minds changed and that they will lead sad, shallow lives.But to be hit over the head with the preachy moral of this book every other page was just too much for me to bear.

The characters are not well-developed.The reader never gets that "connection" with any of them and therefore, never cares about any of the characters.Also, the ending feels too rushed...like there was a deadline for the manuscript and this was just the product.There is very VERY little resolution to the conflict.

If you're looking for a good YA book on racism, you might want to try "Witness" or "The Watsons go to Birmingham".

blah...
This book, while fascinating, was rather disappointing. The writing is not in any way exeptional. I could write better, and I'm still in high school. But it was the plot and mystery that drew me in, and kept me reading late into the night. It is a relatively short read, and is fairly straightforward. There isn't much unraveling to do.
I appreciated the stand they took against racism, since I am disgusted by racist people. This was virtually the only thing that made this book a worthwhile read. Macy's story was so superficial and stupid, that I didn't even feel like reading it. What was important is what she uncovers about her town, and the people she knows and loves.
This book doesn't have any happy ending. It ends with a few loose ends. Like an ending when the author is planning a sequel. Which probably won't happen, so I wasn't happy with the ending.
On a better note, this would be really good for a book report... so if you want an easy book. Pick this one up. ... Read more

Product Description
THE FINCH FAMILY did not know that five refugees landed from Africa on the day they went to the airport to welcome the family sponsored by their church. The Finch family only knew about the four refugees they were meeting - Andre, Celestine, Mattu, and Alake - mother, father, teenage son and daughter.

Soon Jared realizes that the good guys are not always innocent, and he must make a decision that could change the fate of both families. This story presents many points of view and a fresh perspective on doing the right thing.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Caroline B. Cooney Weaves a Masterful Mystery
Author Caroline B. Cooney masterfully illustrates the terror of war and how it vastly differs from the simplicity of suburban life in the United States. When Jared's family hosts a refugee family from war-town Africa, he doesn't want to share his room or his life. Mopsy, his little sister, is thrilled to host Alake, hoping she'll be her best friend. Both Jared and Mopsy are surprised at the strange family that comes to live in their home.

Jared realizes the refugees don't act like a normal family, but his parents accept the refugees' pretense.His parents enjoy teaching the refugees the conveniences of American life.

The refugee family brought only two boxes of cremated ancestors with them and no other luggage. Jared and Mopsy discover raw diamonds in the boxes and find themselves trapped in an evil plan to ruin the refugee family's freedom and future.

Unable to escape the pain of their previous lives, the refugee family discovers true freedom with grace, forgiveness, and peace. Jared and his family bond from the surreal experience. This eye-opening mystery-thriller is sure to please both teen and adult readers.

Diamonds in the Shadow
Diamonds in the Shadow is a mystery of what happens to an African Refugee family when they end up living with a Connecticut family after an apartment falls through. The church was looking for a family to take in the Amabo family until they can find another apartment for them to stay. The Finch family had agreed to take the four of them.

Jared Finch does not want to share his room or his life with a boy he knows very little about. Although, his eleven-year old sister, Mopsy, is eager to have the sister she had always dreamed of. She said, "It'll be like sleepovers every night." When the Amabo family arrives, the Finches find out there are more problems than expected. Andre's hands were cut off, making it hard to find him a job and Alake does not speak a word. Other problems arose because Mattu carried his grandparent's ashes all the way from Africa. Celestine, the mom, and Andre, the dad, also do not pay much attention to their children, which creates a suspicion to Jared. The Finches help Andre and Celestine find jobs as well as help teach them everything they will need to know to make it on their own. They are also teaching Mattu how to drive.

As the book continues, a fifth refugee, a killer, is revealed and the Amabos have something he wants. He is a threat to the Amabos and the Finch family. Alake will be forced into a dangerous situation where everyone's life will change.

The fast paced, action filled mystery by Caroline B. Cooney will keep you wanting to read more. This is one of her best books ever. The plot helped me learn about different cultures and the struggles we overcome everyday as well as what other cultures have had to forget.

The Finch's oldest son Jared realizes "something isn't right"
The Finch family open their home to the Amabo family, refugees from Africa.The refugees suffered horrible atrocities in their homeland.Adjusting to American culture was difficult.There is more than meets the eye when it comes to the Amabo.The Finche's do not know they agreed to carry diamonds into the country for a fifth refugee who is a soldier intent on violence.The Finch's oldest son Jared realizes "something isn't right" and must decide what to do with the information.Who should he tell?Will he help or make matters worse?

Diamonds In The Shadow is a good read.Caroline B. Cooney mixes suspense and intrigue to form a good plot.Diamonds InThe Shadow is thought provoking.It shines light on the plight of the refugees.Cooney makes the reader revaluate their life.Diamonds In The Shadow will make you grateful for all you have.

A Gem of a Tale
An American family of four. An African family of four ... plus one shadow figure with a murderous agenda.

Jared Finch is less than pleased when his parents agree to host the Amabos - an African refugee family - in their home until an affordable apartment can be found for them. It means, among other things, that he will be forced to share his private space with a teenage boy, who shows up carrying the ashes of his dead grandparents in boxes. How weird can things get?

Jared's sister, Mopsy, also shares a room, but the little girl is happy - even excited - to do so. Too bad her roommate turns out to be a skinny teen so traumatized by the horrors of her past that she no longer speaks, and barely knows there is a world around her. Dead, but still breathing.

As the two families learn to co-exist under the same roof, each of them has much to learn. The Amabos come from a lifestyle and culture their hosts don't even want to imagine; the Finch family is dealing with a painful betrayal of their own. In the midst of all the newness and scars, each member of the group learns and grows.

Perhaps more than any of the others, Jared finds something changing within himself. Then he becomes aware of the danger stalking the refugees - and, by association, his own family. Will he find a way to save his new friends without compromising the safety of his own household?

Diamonds in the Shadow is a dynamic blend of suspense, mystery, family relationships - and just plain good reading. Probably best categorized as young adult fiction, it's a tale that will be enjoyed by many adults, as well. It digs in and won't let go. The author paints vivid pictures of a war-torn country and it's scarred and beaten citizens, while underscoring this harsh reality with the healing power of love, compassion, generosity, and humanity. Pages turn, hearts pound, tears fall ... and the last page comes all too soon, leaving the reader wanting to know what happens after.

Excellent storyline, believable characters, great writing!

Diamonds in the shadow
When the apartment that the Amabo family was to stay in falls through - Jared is forced to share his bedroom with Mutto - their teenage son. He is not very happy about this -not happy at all. Mopsy, Jared's younger sister, is overjoyed at the fact that their teenage daughter Alake will be bunking with her.

The Amabo family are refugees from Africa. They have received passage to the states and are being sponsered by Jared's church. They will help to give them training and find jobs - but there is trouble from the start. The biggest being that the fifth refugee on the plane doesn't like not being in control. Then Andre Amabo, the father, has had his hands chopped off during the war in Africa - one at the wrist, the other at the elbow. Alake doesn't speak - and doesn't appear to hear either. She has to be prodded to even eat. And what is up with Mattu and the two cardboard boxes that contain the ashes of his grandparents?

Jarod doesn't believe in the same God that his parents do, and that the Amabo's seem to also. He feels praying is a waste of time. But while the Amabo's are staying with them, his reality begins to change. He finds that doing things for other people really isn't that much trouble. He discovers that his younger sister isn't so annoying, but has great insight and can even be trusted. And he discovers what secrets the ashes of Mattu's grandparents contain. What he does with that information will decide the fate of both families - but will he make the right choice?

This would be a great book for middle schoolers and maybe early high school. It is well written, but seems a little simplistic for older than that. I would not recommend it for younger thatn middle school because of some of the violence that it describes.

People are not who or what you expect in this book - and that helped to make it a quite a page turner. I was able to read it in just two sittings.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (122)

"There is no room for play in Islam..."
..."It is deadly serious about everything."---Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini

I've been reading novels and factual books about the Middle East since
high school and had Iranian friends 1975-1980 who were protesting the Shah
and Savak and an Iranian boss (Sgt. Jafari) 1985-87, etc...In fact, I
seemed to know about Iranian politics than my well-to-do, highly educated
Iranian friends!"You no understand," was their constant complaint before
the Shah abdicated---With lots of Carter/US diplomatic pressure.

All my predictions about post-Shah politics proved accurate---much to
the disgust of my Iranian friends.They lost face and I lost contact.

Afghanistan:'The Horsemen,'The Kite Runner,' 'Caravans,'...etc
Iran:'The Satanic Verses'
Pakistan:'Kim'
The Middle East: 'The Outline of History,' 'Terrorist Hunter' by Anonymous
'1001 Arabian Nights,' etc...
Turkey, Iraq, Saudi Arabia:Lots of History books
Islam:'The Politically Incorrect Guide' (PIG) to Islam*****

Anyway, I find it fascinating the one star reviews.Most are from Muslims,
most act as if they haven't read the books, most call books like this
racist (?!) when Muslims can be any race---a Brotherhood of Believers,
Brothers of the Book, etc...

Most of these 'reviewers' complain that 'Islam is a religion of Peace!'
when their own mullahs and leaders like Khomeini preach:"Those who
preach that Islam is a Religion of Peace are WITLESS!...The Koran states:
Death to the Infidel!..."

Here in Atlanta, Georgia, I have talked with moderate Muslims, Sufi and
Shiite who tell me that the mullahs preach hatred towards their adopted
country the US of A, preach Peace and Love to infidels and politicians,
and make these moderate Muslims feel like apostates who must be stoned
to death as unbelievers.Sampling of mullahs' preaching hate has been
recorded at over 200 mosques.Over 90% of mosques surveyed over past
20 years preach hate, Jihad! (by sword), Death to America!, etc...

So, words to the wise:"If you're reading a review of any book---factual
or novel---about Islam of an Islamic nations check the one star ratings
which bring the overall ratings of some great, must read books down to the average
rating.

Sincerely!

Stereotypical View of Islam From an Ignorant Ethnocentric Author
I read this book years ago and even then, was struck by how cliche it was for the terrorist villain to be an Arab Muslim. Reading it again years later after having learned a lot more about the Muslim culture and having had Muslim friends, it shocks me how this book is still being read and enjoyed. Everything about the way Islam is portrayed is flat-out wrong and comes from a very limited, media-influenced view of Muslims. For someone who grew up in affluent Greenwich, Mrs. Cooney seems to lack the basic knowledge that Islam is a peaceful religion and that the terrorists we hear about in the media practice a very radical and very rare form of Islam.

Besides being blatantly racist, this idea isn't even remotely creative. If only the terrorist had been a white Christian, think of what a story that could have been. Laura (and the reader) would never have suspected this person, and it would teach children a valuable lesson about the dangers of profiling. But no, post-9/11 Islamophobia persists and is perpetuated by uneducated authors publishing children's novels about subjects they didin't even bother to properly research. I wouldn't give this to my child even if someone paid me a million dollars if it meant having him grow up with these racist notions in his head. I strongly advise you NOT to give this book to your children.

A great read
A very great read for sure. Stereotypes in most instances are based on truth. Think about it: 99% of all terrorist
incidents the past four decades have been caused by Arabs under the guise of Islam. Unfortunately the stereotype is true. People will say, well all religions committed terrorism. Perhaps, but not nearly to the extent Islam has. Terror and killing in the name of intolerant Islam continues even today as we speak.

THis has taken a toll on our country. We need profiling, and stop insinuating that grandmothers and babies could be terrorists. We need to hone in on people from Islamic countries.

I look forward to a sequel to this book. Perhaps one of the hunter of terrorists.

mr d
A very great read for sure. Stereotypes in most instances are based on truth. Think about it: 99% of all terrorist
incidents the past four decades have been caused by Arabs under the guise of Islam. Unfortunately the stereotype is true. People will say, well all religions committed terrorism. Perhaps, but not nearly to the extent Islam has. Terror and killing in the name of intolerant Islam continues even today as we speak.

THis has taken a toll on our country. We need profiling, and stop insinuating that grandmothers and babies could be terrorists. We need to hone in on people from Islamic countries.

I look forward to a sequel to this book. Perhaps one of the hunter of terrorists.

A Worthy Read
All in all I think the book The Terrorist was a good book for just about any age group 6th grade and up, that is definitely worth reading.It really raised my awareness of terrorism in the real world, making it more than just an idea in the back of my mind about something happening on the other side of the world.
This fictional book took place in European London in the late 1900s and was about a teenage girl named Laura whose family had just moved to London from America because of her dad's job.Soon after the move, Laura's young and energetic brother, Billy, got blown into pieces by a terrorist's bomb.After being handed a package from a stranger in the Underground, Billy realizes the package must be a bomb and therefore wraps his body around it to shield the crowd around him, instead of throwing it into the crowd and saving himself.After this event, Laura focuses all of her sadness into an obsession of finding her brother's killer, thinking of everyone around her as a suspect, even her closest friends.
Caroline Cooney did a great job with the beginning of the book and creating enough suspense and mystery to catch the reader and cause him/her to not put the book down.She also explained Laura's character and her obsession of finding Billy's killer amazingly well and did a great job of putting you in Laura's shoes.Though the beginning of The Terrorist is great, the story really slows down in the middle and gets pretty depressing after the pages and pages of Laura and her family mourning Billy's death and of Laura risking all of her friendships to try and find Billy's killer.Once you get past this point, the story picks up again and speeds toward a very thrilling and surprising climax.Caroline also ingeniously leaves you hanging at the end of the book.This really caused me to think over the book and the meaning of the last few chapters.
I personally am not a very big fan of mystery books and even I greatly enjoyed this book so, though I would recommend this book to just about anyone, I would say that anyone who particularly enjoys mystery books should definitely go to their local library and pick up this book for a good read.
... Read more

Product Description
When Kit's ex-stepmother thrusts a baby into her arms and speeds away, Kit's world is turned upside-down. Now she must save herself and the baby from the crazy, desperate people who want it.Amazon.com Review
Kit Innes is surprised to see her airheaded ex-stepmother looking sorumpled and unkempt (if there was one thing Dusty always did well, it wasaccessorize). And she is startled when Dusty casually hands her ablanket-wrapped parcel in passing. But Kit is absolutely stunned when sheunwraps the bundle to discover a wrinkly pink baby--and looks up to seeDusty driving away. Whose baby is it? And what is Kit supposed to do? Whenan ugly, savagely angry man pounds on her door and peers in her windows,things grow more sinister, and soon whirl totally out of control. Kit, heralmost-boyfriend Rowen, and his sturdy little sister Muffin are flung intowild car chases, kidnappings, and face-offs with a menacing couple for whomthe baby is a pawn in a complex criminal scheme.

Caroline Cooney, who is best known for engrossing psychological thrillerslike The Face on the MilkCarton and Driver'sEd, with this book has written a furiously paced mystery that teenswill not be able to put down. Intriguing situations and breathless escapesare layered one on another, until the action rockets to a satisfyingconclusion with a roundup of the bad guys--as well as clean diapers, awarm blanket, and a bottle for the baby.--Patty Campbell ... Read more

Customer Reviews (33)

Great plot, tedious at times
The action sure took a while to get started. It was very suspenseful. The whole time Kit kept making remarks on Dusty's small IQ, and yet she makes some idiotic decisions herself. Let's not call the police when strange people are trying to kidnap a baby; let's hand the baby over to creepy people we don't know who have no qualifications, etc. I suppose it's necessary to set the story up though. The ending was kind of abrupt but leaves you to draw your own conclusions. All in all a good book that could get tedious at times. Very original.

Hush little baby, don't say a word.
Imagine you're standing on the front steps of your house, when your dad's ex-wife pulls up in the driveway and hands you a practically newborn baby boy.What would you do? In this fictional book, this is what happens to Kit on what seemed to be a normal day in the fall. Her ex-stepmother comes to Kit's dad's house and just hands her this precious baby boy, and drives off. Kit has no idea who's baby it is, and why Dusty gave it to her.
I think most of Caroline B. Cooney's other books were more interesting than this one. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes suspense, and the feeling of never knowing what is happening next. I think teenagers would be most interested in this book. I generally like fiction books because of the randomness, and the anything-could-happen feeling, and this book definitely delivered on that. The style of writing left you hanging at the end of every chapter, which keeps you reading for hours at a time. Over all this was a very good book.

Hush little baby
"Hush little baby don't say a word", This book is about ababy that has been left to a girl named Kit. Kit had a stepmother that is called Dusty and Dusty left the baby with her. Dusty didn't want the baby and then she tried to run away or just leave so that Kit would start to worry. After that Dusty decided to come back and find her baby a new home and she did ,but the catch was that she was going to get paid a lot for giving Cinda and Burt her baby. Cinda and burt did not pay her what she was suppose to get and then took the baby back. Dusty was not suppose to this and Cinda and Burt then started to chase after her. All this led to was to a bad car chase and scamming.I really injoyed this book because it makes you think. Also it is really interesting at know what some mothers can do to their child. My favorite part was when Kit first found the baby and started to take pictures of the baby and her together. Later in the story Dusty wanted
to take back the baby. Could she take the baby back with her?
Read to find out!!!!

Hush little baby
"Hush little baby don't say a word", This book is about ababy that has been left to a girl named Kit. Kit had a stepmother that is called Dusty and Dusty left the baby with her. Dusty didn't want the baby and then she tried to run away or just leave so that Kit would start to worry. After that Dusty decided to come back and find her baby a new home and she did ,but the catch was that she was going to get paid a lot for giving Cinda and Burt her baby. Cinda and burt did not pay her what she was suppose to get and then took the baby back. Dusty was not suppose to this and Cinda and Burt then started to chase after her. All this led to was to a bad car chase and scamming.I really injoyed this book because it makes you think. Also it is really interesting at know what some mothers can do to their child. My favorite part was when Kit first found the baby and started to take pictures of the baby and her together. Later in the story Dusty wanted
to take back the baby. Could she take the baby back with her?
Read to find out!!!!

Hush Little Baby Review
When Kit Inne's ex-stepmother Dusty gives her a baby and drives off, Kit assumes it's just like an unexpected babysitting job. As time passes she realizes Dusty isn't coming back any time soon, and a strange man is trying to take Sam the Baby away. Soon Kit gets herself into an adventure she never asked for. Kit, Rowen who is Kit's friend, and Rowen's little sister Muffin are all in one mystery of who should have Sam and whose baby he really is. The three are in a dangerous nighttime turmoil over an innocent baby that they are just trying to protect. Sam is snatched away from them, and it is up to the people who love Sam to bring him back safe, even if it puts their own lives in jeopardy.
The authors style of writing is fast paced, lacks detail, but very suspenseful. The whole book's time frame is a day and a night; this shows how the author writes not in a lot of detail, but rather lots of dialoge and action. The author would not describe how a brick wall looked, but rather how the car full of characters is going full speed at it.This story is not one to sit back, relax and read, but it works well if you love to be on the edge of your seat. I did not really enjoy this book, although I love action in books, I prefer them with more detail. This book lacks characters who you fully know, but who you are starting to like or dislike. If only this book was longer it could have been a whole lot better. ... Read more

Product Description
Drawn to Jethro from the moment she first sees him, Nicoletta is unaware that the seemingly ordinary teenage boy she has fallen for has a monstrous side to his nature. Reissue." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

An Ill-Fantasy Love
Caroline B. Cooney used to be my favorite author when I was younger. Her books are full of suspense, drama, and thrills. This is a little different from her usual work, but not by much.
This is a classic teen love story except for one unexpected twist: the boy Nicoletta (the main character) loves isn't really a boy at all. In fact, he's not even human. He's part of a curse placed on a cave long ago - he's now part of the cave and can only appear in human form in the sunlight. Otherwise, he's a big, moving piece of nature (dirt, plants, rocks, etc...)
Nonetheless, Nicoletta is hopelessly in love with him. She's never been in love before. And it's not like she doesn't have her options; the most desired boy in school desires her.
But their romance is difficult, for Nicoletta can rarely see him and when she does, she usually messes something up. Plus, she's having a very fake romance with that guy that everyone but her wants at school.
When Nicoletta brings her companions to the cave unknowingly, danger is imminent and tragedy is now destiny.
It's entertaining, but that's all. Not much substance, but very enticing.

Gratifying yet painful to read at the same time
Synopsis: Nicoletta loves being a part of the Madrigal Singers. She has good friends in the group and feels a sense of identity and belonging in it. One day, Ms. Quincy (the head of the group) tells her that a new girl named Anne-Louise is a much better singer and removes Nicoletta from the group.

Feeling dejected, Nicoletta enrolls in the Art Appreciation class, where she meets a mysterious boy named Jethro. Nicoletta is drawn to Jethro at first sight, even though he doesn't speak to her. After school, knowing that she cannot drive home with the Madrigals, Nicoletta follows Jethro, curious to know everything about him. She follows him through the woods, past a big boulder, but before going any further, Jethro turns around and guides her back to the main road, warning her to come this way again.

Nicoletta cannot stop thinking about him, and the next day follows the trail and comes across a cave. Inside the cave, the walls start closing in on her and Nicoletta finds herself getting crushed. Somehow, an unknown force grabs her and pulls her out of the cave and warns her never to come back again.

Nicoletta soon realizes that Jethro and the cave monster have a connection, and tries to find out what it is to help him. However, Christo, a boy from the Madrigals who is in love with Nicoletta, sees her with the creature and vows to kill it for her. Can Nicoletta stop Christo and Jethro from hurting each other and find out what Jethro's secret it?

Review: Have you ever read a book which you found gratifying and painful at the same time? That is how I felt after reading this book.

STORY:-

* Positive: I thought the story had a really interesting concept. It's the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast with a twist.

* Negative: I don't know why this was published in the Point Horror/Thriller series. There is nothing horrifying or thrilling about it. This story is basically a fantasy/romance novel, which is why I feel some people (like me) would be disappointed after reading, anticipating it to be scary. However, if you don't have any expectations and just pick up this book, you would like it.

WRITING:-

* Positive: It was beautifully written. The author wrote Nicoletta's thoughts like poetry, giving a symbolic importance to her feelings. I could really empathize with Nicoletta in trying to sort out her feelings with the Madrigals, Christo, and Jethro while trying to come to a peaceful solution for all of them.

* Negative: The author goes on for pages with only mentioning how Nicoletta feels about Jethro. The wind reminds her of Jethro; the sand reminds her of Jethro; the snow reminds her of Jethro....We get it. Everything reminds Nicoletta of Jethro because she loves him deeply. It got tiresome on repeatedly reading Nicoletta's feelings without the story progressing in anyway.

Overall, this is one of those books that I would probably never read again but I would definitely remember it (if that makes any sense).

Amazing story
I literally COULD NOT put this book down. For three hours I didn't eat, drink, or move - just read! The storyline is so interesting, so unique, so beautiful. Not to mention it's well written. Everyone should give this book a try, it's definitely worth your time.

To anyone who enjoys this book, I recommend The Vampire's Promise trilogy, also by Cooney. ^_^

How could someone NOT like this book!!!!!!!!!
If you dont like this boook and say bad stuff about it u must be very confused and u must like very boring books :p

I LOOOOOOOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I Read tis book in one day because i just couldn't put it down! It has a really great plot and is tottaly awesome! It has a really sweet ending and that just makes it rock more! But i think Nickie should have done something about Christo. I love this book SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much.
and everyone else is right the cover has little to do with the book. ;P ... Read more

Customer Reviews (33)

Flash Fire
This book is like being in a room of obnoxious people. You want to pick them up and slap them. It's a good book, but the characters are all very aggravating. Are people really that selfish and inconsiderate? I'd hate to meet one. From whiny to stupid, if you want an annoying person to hate, you'll find it. The book isn't like "OMG I CAN'T PUT IT DOWN!", but it makes you want to keep reading.

Flash Fire
You can run but you can not hide. the book that i been reading is a teen fiction. The main characters are jeff adn Caroline. There are thes two kids name Josh and Rachel. They are we playin with the matches and gas and they make a fire that gets out of hand. They drop the gas jug and the fire spreads to the woods. fire fighters try to put it out but its too much. No one thought that th fire would reach Pinch Canyon Moutain. The rich folks lived on that mountain and they did not Know that there houses was fisten to be burnt down. So the fire jumps the ditch and Jeff and Caroline try to run but caroline falls and her Jeff try to help her up. The fire is hot they are poring down with sweet. They keep on running they might make it alive and the might not maket out alive.

A Fiery Book
I honestly believe that this is a very good book, aimed mostly at teens though.Although I did like the book a lot, I wouldn't recommend it as a book meant to be "time consuming," as I finished it in a half an hour. There are some good points and bad points of this story. I didn't like the fact that there were, like 20 different characters. After a while, I got used to it, but it was hard to figure out at first. Another thing I didn't like was the fact that the storyline was sometimes confusing and I had to read over again. I feel that"Flash Fire" wasn't the best book by Ms. Cooney . That said, I like the book a lot. Some of the good points of the book were the thrilling, edge-of-your-seat plot, the nonstop adventure, and the thoroughly realistic storyline. I feel that "Flash Fire" is the perfect book for someone looking for adventure who has a tight schedule.

Okay
Flash Fire by Caroline B. Cooney was an okay book, to put it lightly, but certainly not the best novel, and it has a lot of characters.

It makes the plot kinda confusing. Anyways, inside the story, it switches to what's happening from character to character sort of, and they're not only talking about what's happening to the teenagers.

In the book, they are also discussing what's occuring to the parents, so it's kinda interesting.

not Cooney's best
I have to admit, I am a huge fan of Caroline B. Cooney. Her 'Losing Christina' series kept me in suspense the entire time and I couldn't stop reading 'the face on the milk carton.' However, this book did not add up. I really enjoyed the way it was told from different people's point of view and how the story took place over the course of a few hours but the characters were without emotion and unbelievable.

First off, Elisabeth, the eight-year-old sister of Beau drove me crazy. Her brother had just died in a fire and she was asking her mom for a kitton. I know we're supposed to feel sorry for her because her mom doesn't care about her but the entire time I wanted to erase her from the book entirely.

Also, when Danna had her leg broken from a horse stepping on it, all she could say for herself was "nice going" to the horse.

Beau and his mom were entirely self absorbed and I din't feel sorry for them either.

The best part of this book was when the little brushfire turned into a huge fire but after that it got pretty slow. I spent about two weeks without reading it before I realized that I had to give it back to the library and finished it.

I would recommend this book if you don't mind wooden characters and the same thing being repeated billions of times from different people's point of view.

... Read more

Product Description
A fast-paced story set in a city hospital places two young volunteers at the center of life-and-death situations, as Diana and Seth struggle to find their places in the emergency room. Reissue." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (39)

The Store of a hospital emergency room
It is what we don't see that happens in the emergency room and how everybody copes with it and that gives you a better perspective.

Fast-paced realistic fiction
Seth and Diana are college freshmen who dream of being doctors. They are not in medical school yet, but they volunteer at City Hospital, a famous teaching hospital in a large city. Their reasons for volunteering are mixed--they want to help people, of course, but they also want to make themselves look good to medical school admissions officers. And, they want a front-row seat to the drama of serious injuries. On this particular day, Seth and Diana will get more education about medicine and themselves than they ever dreamed.

Definitely a page-turner and fans of medical drama or suspense will enjoy Cooney's face-paced, realistic style.

A great read!
I read this book with my 7th graders, and some were so interested that they had more order them their own copies! It's a little high for 7th grade, but if you do a read aloud, the kids love it!

An absolute must-have for action-seeking readers

Recently in my English class, the class was assigned a project. The project was to find a book, read it, and review it. So I decided to review mine on Amazon.com. I was looking for a book with a lot of action, suspense, and thrills. During my endeavor to find a book that fits my standards, I found a book entitled Emergency Room, by Caroline B. Cooney. Let me tell you right now, if you are looking for a book with lots of action, thrills, and suspense, look no further than Emergency Room! Emergency Room wasted no time getting into the action, as a gun battle unfolded in the first few pages. There was also a motorcycle accident that was brought in. At the end, one of the volunteers must save a baby's life. There were also incredibly detailed descriptions of all of the characters. That made for a very well-written book. I certainly recommend this book to other readers, but I may warn that it is a bit violent, therefore unsuitable for some younger readers.

I honestly enjoyed this book tremendously, and there was never a dull moment. Ms. Cooney really wrote a magnificent book, as it was very hard to put the book down. Emergency Room will definitely keep you entertained and will never lose your interest. The one thing that I really enjoyed about this book was the fact that there were multiple storylines unfolding at once. For example, there were gunshot wounds, knife wounds, motorcycle accidents, and people conversing in the waiting room all at the same time, all connecting with each other. It made for quite an action-filled book. This is a must read book for all readers interested in fast-paced books. The action flies by and is over before you know it. As humans, we are naturally interested when an accident occurs, and this book keeps you on your toes with excitement. I highly recommend this book to all action-seeking, thrill-wanting, suspense-craving readers!!!!

Emergency Room by Ashley C.
Have you ever been in a hospital when they were rushing in a stab wound or gunshot victim and you feel the thrilling, horror of reality?

Well that's what it's like for Diana and Seth, two young volunteer's who are eager to save lives in the ER. In the book EMERGENCY ROOM by Caroline B. Cooney.At6:39pm an eighteen-year-old girl named Jersey (the main character in the first couple chapters of the book) an innocent victim in the cross fire of a gang's drug battle. Around 7:15pm another patient is rushed in seventeen-year-old, Alec, a motorcycle crash victim.He was wearing no helmet and could barely drive a car never mind a motorcycle.Then at 8:27pm Seth must save a babies life. These are some of the events that are going on in this book that make it so great. This book keeps you on your toes as it goes from ER to Waiting Room from one accident victim to another. You will never be bored reading this book.

I like this book because it's thrilling and full of drama. Even though it's fiction it feels real like it really happened and you feel like you were there watch these grisly events the whole time. I think the author's message in this book is "Don't take things for granted" and"You can never be to careful."Some other books by this author are Drivers ED, The Face on the Milk Carton, and Burn.
... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (6)

Not as good as the other books in the series.
Synopsis: Six teenagers decide to party at "The Mall House", a strange dark mansion with broken shutters. The group comprises of:

- Randy, the wannabe of the group who everyone likes only for his fancy gadgets and equipment, who also decides to have the party at the Mall House to scare the girls;
- Bobby - the jock of the group who feels he can physically overcome anything
- Zach - Bobby's friend who is the one class act of the group
- Roxanne - one of Bobby's girlfriends who wants to achieve everything she sets her mind to
- Sherree - The beautiful self centered girl who is also Bobby's girlfriend
- Lacey - Randy's date, who she really doesn't care for, but she wants to be part of the group and make new friends.

Lacey is the first one who notices the vampire during the party. The Vampire soon appears before everyone and tells them that he possesses the door, and none of them can leave, until they have decided to choose one from their group to be his victim. The group members try various ways of escaping the mansion, but the Vampire can read their thoughts and is always one step ahead. Who will be selected as the vampire's sacrifice?

Review: Initially when I started reading this book, I thought it was going to be great. Having read the previous two books of the Vampire series ("The Cheerleader" and "The Return of the Vampire", or for newer versions, retitled "Deadly Offer" and "The Evil Returns") I had high expectations for this book and thought it would be better than the first two. For one thing, unlike the previous two books which both contained a similar storyline of one particular girl who makes a deal with the devil to become popular, this book focused on a group of teenagers rather than just one person(even though Lacey is somewhat the main character, but it didn't feel that way). Secondly, I thought the storyline would be interesting to see how the characters would fight from choosing each other.

However, these two reasons which made me want to read the story were somewhat destroyed for me as I continued reading the book. In terms of the storyline, I felt that the author went overboard with characters and simply decided to add new ones just to fill pages. We have thrown in to the story, a policewoman who is looking for some action, a car thief who stumbles upon the mansion and decides to steal one of the teenager's cars, Kevin (Lacey's brother) and his friend Mardee (Bobby's sister) who decide to scare their siblings at the party, and Ginny and Jordan, who are searching for Ginny's brother, who is supposedly someone at the party.

Even though the policewoman is supposedly someone who appeared in one of the previous stories (as she remembers going to parties regularly at the mansion when 'someone' she knew from high school lived there), her name (nor the then resident of the house) is not mentioned, which I found really disappointing, because I thought it would have been a good reference to one of the previous stories. Moreover, Cooney really doesn't specify who Ginny's young brother is from the group of teenagers. If she did, then I did not notice it. And then there is the car thief. What his role in the story was, I will never understand. If he is a car thief, then why doesn't he take the car away when Mardee and Kevin see him?

(SPOILERS BELOW)
I think the worst part was when the author decided to add a second vampire into the storyline, even though there is no mention of him in the earlier books of the series. Where this vampire came from or why he decided to appear now, we will never know.

This is not to see that the book was completely bad though. I liked the reference that the author makes to Althea and Devnee (from the previous books) in the beginning of the story. I also liked Mardee's character, as I thought she brought some humor to the story. I also like Lacey's character and reading how the teenagers responded to the vampire's promise.

Overall, I thought the concept of the storyline was really interesting as a climax for the Vampire series, but the execution of the story was overall disappointing compared to the previous two books. Unless you had read other books in the series and you want to read how the series ends, I would avoid reading this one.

Boring!
Usually, Caroline B. Cooney is enthralling when she tells a story, but throughout the entire book, I was bored, bored, bored. This book is actually three books in one, and all three were equally dull. The same discriptions were used over and over, and the characters were boring and lifeless, and it could hardly hold my interest. I am not one to not finish a book once I start, and that is the only reason I was able to finish. Please, save the money on this one and buy one of her better ones, such as Flight 116 is Down, or The Stranger.

Passable, but nothing great
Why oh why can't anyone seem to write a decent vampire book? What a waste of a good genre.

This book was okay, but I wouldn't bother reading it again. Thankfully, it was quite short. The premise of this book is that a vampire traps a group of teens in a haunted house, and forces them to choose which one of them shall be his victim. As a plot, that sounds interesting, doesn't it? A kind of an undead Sophie's Choice. However, I soon found that most of the teenagers were so annoying and superfluous that by fifteen pages into the book I was barracking for the vampire to do away with the lot of them! The teens get slightly less annoying as time goes on, but not enough to make me like them...except for Lacey, who's the only decent character.

Not only were the teens annoying, but the author's writing left a lot to be desired too. I felt like saying to her: enough adjectives already! The author spent too much time saying that things were like other things (i.e. 'pinned to the atmosphere like a Velcro wall-jumper' and other similarly weird similes), and not enough time actually developing the plot. There were some interesting observations on the thoughts and relationships of teenagers, but these were counterbalanced with huge logic gaps, especially in the conclusion. Also, the writing style was pedestrian, with a real 'first novel', rushed feel.

Still, if you're a teen who likes vampire stories, but you don't want them to be scary, then you'll probably like this.

Original
I loved this book it really made you look at the diffrent charicters and how they really thought about the other charicters. They each think it shouldn`t be them. It really gives you a look at everyones dark side, and your dark side as well. Although when the others are bringing out there selfish sides, some are finding the good that they always had, but never showed.

Vampires Promise
I didn't like this book at all, but the author tricked me a few times.I thought the book would scare me but it didn't so I gave it two star rating.My favorite part was the beginning when stuff started happening. ... Read more

Product Description
Devnee is tired of being ignored. Tired of feeling ordinary. All she wants is to be beautiful. If she's beautiful, everything else will fall in to place: popularity, friendship, even love. Devnee's family has just moved into a new house--a house with a vampire in it. He can grant Devnee's wish, but there's a price. Is she willing to pay it? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Awesome
I LOVE this book. It's my favorite of the trilogy. I believe every girl at some point in her life has wished she were better looking or more intelligent, and therefore can relate to this book.

All Devnee wants is to be liked at her new school, but she soon discovers that her classmates think she's plain and boring. She wishes she could be beautiful like Aryssa and interesting like Victoria. The vampire in her bedroom can grant her wishes and make her "perfect" for a price, but are shallow relationships and overexposure really what Devnee needs to make herself happy?

I wish...
The story is about Devnee, a plain girl who constantly wishes to be beautiful. Her wish is finally granted by a vampire but as everything does, it has consequences.

I wish...

I wish that they never reprinted this book. It was a waste of time and money. I absolutely hated Devnee as a main character, she was selfish, self-centred and cared about no one but herself.

Devnee was probably even worse then the vampire, and so dumb witted. The plot was stupid, the dialoge good but the internal dialoge beyond redemption. The ending should have been trashed and Devnee made me want to rip out my hair. She knew what she was doing was wrong, but she was like a damn osterich.

There is really no words to describe how stupid this book is and if i were you i'd stay as far away from it as possible.

If by some mishape you do read this, you have my condolences.

Devnee made a wish, she wished she hadnt....
All Devnee wanted was to be popular, but most of all, the one thing whe wished for was, beauty. Moving to a new school is hard enough, but when you find out that your buddies, that volunteered to help you, really despise you! Upset, and wanting Devnee wanted revenge against Aryssa, her beautiful buddy, who cant wait to get rid of her. When Devnee finds out that the vampire in her tower can grant her wish for beauty, what will she do..? If she wishes for Aryssas Beauty, what will happen to Aryssa...... ... Read more

Product Description
Annie Lockwood is testing Time. She’s traveled through it before, but always at Time’s bidding. Now she is asking Time to take her to the year 1899, when Strat is in Cairo. But Time doesn’t like to be tested. In what feels like a cruel joke, Annie is transported to ancient Egypt, thousands of years before Strat was born — to a world far removed from the one she knows. Meanwhile, in 1899, Strat is photographing the same pyramids that Annie walks among. But while Strat eagerly awaits Annie’s arrival, another visitor arrives: his father, Hiram Stratton, Sr., has come to Egypt to collect his son.
Powerless, Annie and Strat both look to Time. Can its force, which brought them together once, help them find each other again?


From the Hardcover edition.Amazon.com Review
The romantic time-travel series by the popular Caroline Cooney (Both Sides of Time, Out of Time, Prisoner of Time) continues with this fourth volume, in which the lovers, Annie and Strat, are again out of sync through the centuries. From modern times Annie sets out to find Strat at the Egyptian pyramids in 1899, where she suspects he is working as a photographer for an archeological dig. But Time overshoots the mark, and she ends up in ancient Egypt, where she is walled into a tomb as an official sacrifice! Meanwhile, Strat has his own troubles when his evil father shows up and frames him for grave robbing. Will the two time-crossed lovers ever find each other again? A fun, fast-paced read. (Ages 10 to 14) --Patty Campbell ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

Good Book
I have enjoyed this writer and this series of books. I would recommend this book to others.

Wonderful Conclusion to the Series
My mom and I read these books together and both of us loved For All Time.It is wonderful and exciting and the multiple story lines were neat.I liked Camilla and Renifer,who were strong women.I screamed when Strat was wrongfuly accused of theft,cheered when Renifer's loathsome suitor,Pankh the tomb robber,died,nearly threw the book across the room when Time tore Strat and Annie apart AGAIN(arrrggghh!!!)and gave a whoop of joy when I realized that Strat was reincarnated in Lockwood Stratton.Time has,at last, made it posible for the star-crossed(and time-crossed!)lovers to be together.My only complaint is that the book should have been longer!

loved everything about this book but the ending
I loved the book and thought the whole series was very well written but in the end I still had unanswered questions. So for me I'm not going to buy it until or if the author makes a fifth.

My opinion of the ending...
So...when I first read this book, I had a fit at the ending and now 5 years later I just read it again and I get it!!!! I totally understand the ending.

1. Lockwood Stratton
My biggest issue with him was that he was a descendent of Devonny yet his last name was Stratton even though she had married Winden. HOWEVER...as I reread the book and I came to the part on page 55-56 where Lockwood is explaining his name.
"Devonny Stratton married an Englishman. They had two children. The older son became an earl or something, but the younger son came back to America and called himself Lockwood Stratton. His son, my father was plain old Bill Stratton and now I'm Lockwood Stratton again."
MYSTERY # 1 SOLVED. lol.

2. I loved the side stories with Renifer and Pankh and Camilla and Archibald. And I think Caroline B. Cooney was very crafty in her reasons for having so much subplot. Annie was meant to go back and help Renifer to grow and save her. I think in a way Annie was also meant to go back a thousand years to save Strat from his Father. Meaning Strat came through time to save Annie from being Sacrificed, and in turn she had again saved him from the wrath of his dad.

3. The Mystery of Lockwood Stratton/Strat: ENDING
In the end when Camilla realizes that Strat is good and that Hiram Stratton Sr. wants him destroyed, she finds the strength to accuse him of murder, giving Strat time to run after the half image of Annie. The last we hear of Strat, he is running toward the Nile. Here is the quote.
"He could see the Nile in the distance, a dark and shining ribbon, like the ribbons of Annie's hair, and he ran on and on, sure he could reach them both."

That's it. That is the end of Strat's story. soooo....lol...we cut to Lockwood Stratton finding Annie once again in the museum. She wants to find out more about him so she asks him to walk her to the train station. When he tells her about his dream.
"I was trying to find you, I didn't want to lose my new Lockwood on the very day we met, and I was on the Nile, sailing upstream with a bunch of British soldiers. We didn't have enough to eat and te tribes were attacking from both banks and what I did have was a camera. On a tripod, isn't that a kick? I lost it in a swamp. There was a crocodile."

Now, this never occurred in the Strat chapters. So here is my conclusion. What Lockwood Stratton "dreamed" was Strat's last memory. He died that same day. In running after Annie he ran into death and then, reincarnation to be with her. Reincarnation and Time gave Strat a better life and Annie all at once. The sand was Time's way of telling Annie the truth and that is why the book is called For All Time.

If you don't agree with me, that's cool...I just was saying what I gathered.

Now, my BIGGEST problem with the book was that Caroline B. Cooney totally forgot her characters. If you remember in Both Sides of Time the year was 1895 and Strat was eighteen and ready to go to college. Then in Out of Time it was 1898 and Strat was 21. Now, in this book it is 1899 and twice in the book it says Strat is 19 when he should be 22. So...thats the only issue. Otherwise the book was perfect. In my opinion.

So I gave the book 5 stars, it was a great read along with the entire series. I wish for another book, though I doubt we'll get one.

SD

bad ending
This book was just O.K.I was so excited to read the last book, and was very dissapointed.There was too much of camilla and renifer, and not enough of the main characters.The ending was very bad! I was sooooooo confused! Was Strat born again? Will anny forget about the old strat and take the second strat? What was the deal about the sand in the watch? How did the second strat have a dream that he was floating on the nile? My other friend couldn't figure this out either. The book would of been good if it diddn't have that ending. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

This book is so ROMANTIC!!!
I love the book. It's about 5 girls teenagers who mostly are about senior and going to college. And they have their own problems.Anne Stephen, who problem was having a baby and she going to the Last Dance with her boyfriend, Con Winters, and she was embarassed and just one to survive the dance. Kip Elliot, who was having boyfriend problems. Her boyfriend, Mike Robinson,will take her to Lasr Dance but just taking her "as friend". And he doesn't semm interest in her anymore. Emily Edmundson, having family problem, whose mother and father doesn't care for her, want her boyfriend Matt O'Conner help her to make it right. Beth Rose Chapman, who was having romance problem. She want Gary Anthony to love her back and more than anything. Molly Nelmes, who was got rejected by Con Winters, are out there having revenge and trying to make Con stay with her. Will these 5 girls having their time and their lives and their dreams comes true or this will be the last Last Dance forever? Will the Last Dance would be the night that are romantic, heartbreaking and wonderful for them? It will be a dance they will never forget!

Awesome book!
I absolutely love this book! I've read it countless times over the past 3 years, but I never get tired of it! Although, having been published in 1989, it's a little outdated, anyone who loves teen romance should read it!

Pretty Good
This book follows the lives of four different girls and their boyfriend. And there is at least one girl that you can relate with. Wheter it's Anne, the beautiful and seemingly perfect one who has to deal with giving her baby up for adoption, or Kip who has to change herself in order to be with the guy she loves, or Emily who's parents are splitting up and has to face the reality of not having anywhere to live, or Beth Rose who wants her boyfriend to want her all the tim, not just some of the time. This book is a very nice young adult romance and I reccomend you read it ... Read more

Product Description
The fall of the Awesome Threesome is the talk of the junior class. The three friends—Jennie, Emily, and Hillary—thought they’d be a trio forever. But what with Jennie’s relentless ambition, Emily’s jealousy, and Hillary’s building resentment, it seems the Awesome Threesome is over. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

A Great Book About Friendship
I have to say I realy enjoyed this book! I especialy liked the fact that it was presented in diary format - making it fun to read. After all: who has not wished they could read someone's diary? As you get to know the people in the book you start to understand the secret's they hide and feel like you can conect with them. I think boys and girls will like this book.

Journal of Friendship
Three girls who had been friends since 3rd grade are given a daunting assignment.Their aptly-named 11th-grade English teacher, Ms. MacBeth, has a fondness for Shakespeare and journals.She assigns her students the task of keeping a journal with the clear understanding that their privacy will not be violated.

Jennie Quint, an over-achiever, pressured by driven parents to succeed at all costs is the leader of a clique called "The Awesome Threesome."Bright and talented, she has written a musical and scores of music and is in the accelerated academics program.

Hillary Lang is also an only child.She shares some of Jennie's classes and over time, her adoration of Jennie starts to ebb as jealousy and resentment set in.

Emily Weinstein has one younger brother and is determined to catch up to Jennie.Dubbed "the Star of the East," in part a nod to the Christmas musical she has written and also in part a mocking nickname for her high academic ranking on the East Coast, Jennie comes under scathing attack from Emily.

The fall of the Threesome is an insidious, gradual progress that accelerates during the months of December and January.The three girls and two classmates try to ferret out the screts of a new boy in their grade, a boy whom they nickname Paul Classified.Paul in turn has a journal rife with tragic family secrets, such as a mentally ill stepmother and a sister who left home.

In time, the students develop a startling awareness of themselves and the words of George Harrison seem sadly apt in this book, "it's easier to see the books upon the shelf than it is to see yourself."Jennie sadly discovers that in her household, she is viewed more as a trophy than as a daughter.Hillary confronts her resentment and makes some startling self discoveries as well and Emily realizes that she has let anger erode her part in the Threesome and that of the three, it is her daring to step up to the plate for Paul that expands the Threesome to include other students.They all see themselves and discover their true feelings about themselves and each other and how they evaluate other people.

An excellent, well written book that I think all ages will enjoy.It is intense and compelling and a richly drawn portrait of several very realistic and appealing characters.

Among Friends
Among Friends is a good book for teenagers in high school. It is interesting in the way it deals with real-life situations that happen in school.

This book is about a group of kids in high school that keep diaries for one of their classes. It is intriguing to see how they all respond to different situations. Mainly, the story is about the "awesome threesome", Jennie, Hillary, and Emily. They were the best of friends until high school, when jealousy split them up. Jennie, always being perfect at everything she did got to Hillary and Emily, and made them despite her. What Hillary and Emily didn't know is that Jennie was going through a hard time. Jennie wanted to be perfect to make her parents proud, but if she did that, her friends would dislike her.

I liked this book because I could relate to the situations that happened in the book. I given this book four stars and highly recommend it.

I liked it and I'm 20!
I bought this book because I am trying to write teenage fiction and the books I've read on the subject say to read teen fiction so you can get familiar with the genre. Well, I still consider myself a teen anyway so I bought this book also because it looked interesting.

This book seemed very realistic. There is your classic overachiever (Jennie) and the two friends in her shadow (Emily and Hillary) who are jealous of her. I've been in their place with a friend who could just do no wrong. The book is fast-paced and enjoyable. I really liked the ending. This book could really happen!

"Among Friends" Review
Caroline B. Cooney seemed to have written an amazing book on the problems that teenagers face while in their high school years. "Among Friends" tells the story from the teenagers point of view.
There isnt just one main character. Instead the author did a wounderful job keeping your attention by having six main characters. Each teenager is writing in their journals and discussing the problems that are accuring at school.
I found this unique way of writing to be cleaver and catchy because each problem that comes up is seen in a different piont of view. Also it made you think of which character you could relate to the most and what you would do if you were put in that posision.
A good example of the different perspectives would be when Pual first came to school. Everyone thought that the reason of why Pual was telling anyone about himself was because he was keeping all these exciting adventures from the class. Unforutantley that wasnt true. Instead the reason why Pual wasnt saying anything was because he was scared of fasing the truth and he was ashamed of his life at home. Not knowing this, all the kids at school were pressuring him to tell them information about his life.
By reading the other kids journals it was helpful to see how the same situation should be solved in different perspectives. Amy was going to wait untill he felt like he wanted to tell and the other kids just felt like they needed to know.
Overall I felt that this book was an excellent book. I also felt that it was extreamly helpful seeing that other kids went through the same things that teenagers today are going throught and being able to read about it. This book was something that I could relate to in real life and I would highly recommed this book for anyone who likes to read suspenceful books that will always keep you guessing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (160)

It's ok
This is a good book, and I like the idea. I didn't realize it was about such young kids though, kind of weird lol

Simply a treat!!
In Both Sides of Time Caroline B. Cooney has captured a simple desire to live in another century and transformed it into a book filled with passion, mystery and the unknown. If you are a reader interested in love, falling through time and the uncanny narrative voice Cooney has so often portrayed throughout her career, you will love Both Sides of Time.

Cooney's characters will steal your heart and your time--at least they stole mine, I couldn't put it down. The main character Annie and her love interest Strat live in the same town yet are from two different worlds, one 1995 the other 1895. Annie's ability to be so bold in a century of politeness catches Strat off-guard. Drinking her in he finds that he can't live without her, suddenly she has slipped away and returned to her own time once more. Cops, friends and the whole town have been searching for her. Her parent's marriage is disintegrating right before her eyes. When she falls into Strat's world full of charming people, and enchanting culture and the love of a man she never could have dreamed up, she is uneasy about having to choose one and leave the other behind. The inner battle to help her family stay close and to have Strat in her life are suddenly the only things she can think about. She is given another chance to fall back, one that maybe she doesn't deserve. `

This is a story for ages 13-18. I read it once as a 14 year old and again today as a 20 year old. I loved it both times through and through! This story has everything a girl could want. I love this author and I was sucked into the world of the Stratton's that Cooney brought to life right in front of me. This book was fast paced, exciting and unpredictable. If you pick it up are in for a real treat.

ps.... this is my husbands account.

More Shallow than the Kiddie Pool
I was really looking forward to this book--I'm a huge fan of time-traveler books (Jude Devereaux's "A Knight in Shining Armor", among others) and after hearing a friend dote on this series I couldn't wait to try it out.

I made it a little over halfway through before I just couldn't stomach another word. Not only are the characters shallow and barely constructed, but their thoughts sound like the words of a four-year-old enamored with her favorite TV show. The story itself--the setting, the research, the plot--have the potential to produce a five-star product, but Cooney seriously fails somewhere between her thoughts and the act of writing them down.

If you love Harlequin books, shallow romances, and fuddy-duddy teen novels, definitely give this one a go. If you prefer substance, keep moving! (:

--By the way, this is one of my first ever negative book reviews. That, in itself, should be saying something. I feel oddly dirty now. ):

An enjoyable time travel novel aimed at teens.
Annie Lockwood is a typical fifteen-year-old girl: she wants Romance with a capital R. Trouble is, she's not going to be getting it from her current mechanics-obsessed boyfriend:

"I am a romantic in the wrong century, she thought. I live in the 1990s. I should be in the 1890s. I bet I could have found true love a hundred years ago. Look at Sean. All I'm going to find around here is true grease."


When Annie pedals her bike into 1895, she does indeed find true love waiting for her, but her sojourn back in time makes things worse in both centuries. No matter the century in which she chooses to live, she's going to be forced to abandon someone she loves.

I enjoyed the characters and the plot of this book. Annie was very believable, and although she was a typical teenager, she did have a sense of responsibility. She wanted to do the right thing. Cooney's characters, both youngsters and adults, had depth to them-- and surprises. Just when I thought I had them figured out, another layer was revealed, and I had new motivations to follow.

The only thing that pulled me out of the story was my own ignorance. I couldn't quite believe that Annie could ride a 1990s bike into 1895 and no one would notice the difference. No one said a word, so I went online and conducted my own research. Just what did bicycles look like in 1895? Well, it turns out that there were so many different styles of bicycles back then (and a couple looked quite a bit like modern bikes), that the people back in 1895 probably would not have noticed anything all that odd about Annie's bicycle. So Both Sides of Time was not only entertaining but educational. I'll keep that in mind when I look for the author's other titles!

love it!
this book had me reading nonstop from the beginning- it's like a mini-thriller for kids/young adults.

i'd recommend this book.:] ... Read more

Product Description
Lily has settled into life in Connecticut after her parent's divorce but it's been harder on her eight-year-old brother Michael. After their mother remarries, her brother chooses to go live with his father in Washington, D.C., until the day he calls home from the Baltimore-Washington Airport where his father has abandoned him.

Lily is home babysitting her baby stepbrother when she answers the phone. She has no idea the extent to which her faith in God will be tested.There is no choice for Lily. She will rescue Michael, but will she be able to rescue herself from the bitterness and anger she feels?


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Wonderful story!
Very captivating story that will keep you wondering and on the edge of your seat.

Touching and through-provoking
Lily is watching her baby brother when she gets a call from her other brother, Michael. Their father just dropped eight-year-old Michael off at the airport in Baltimore without money or a plane ticket. Michael begs Lily to help him get home and to keep what Dad did a secret. Lily risks everything to rescue her brother. She can't believe that her dad would abandon his son in such a way. And after everything that Dad said and did to Michael, how can Michael still love him?

This book was excellent. Cooney does a masterful job of getting into three sibling's very different views of their parent's divorce. I was drawn into the mystery of what was going on, and then to the characters as they struggled through life and their relationship with their father. I loved how Cooney ended it all. Touching and through-provoking. Highly recommended.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Blended families, a deadbeat dad, religion, sibling rivalry, abandonment.These are all issues that Caroline B. Cooney tackles, quite deftly, in A FRIEND AT MIDNIGHT.

When eight-year-old Michael decides to go live with his father, it's a strain on the entire family.His mother pretends as if it's not happening.His stepfather, Kells, attempts to placate his wife.His oldest sister, Reb, doesn't have a lot of time to deal with it, as she's preparing to leave for college.His baby half-brother, Nathaniel, doesn't understand what it means until after the fact.And his fifteen-year-old sister, Lily, knows that it's destined to end badly.

And badly it does end, when dear old dad drops Michael off, alone, without any money, luggage, or a plane ticket, at the airport to go back to his mother.In his father's words:"You're not the son I had in mind."What happens next involves a fraudulently-obtained credit card, a teenager and a toddler on an airplane, a brush with airport security, and a quick trip back home -- all before Mom and Kells arrive back home after dropping Reb off at college.

The next year is filled with changes, for everyone, but especially for Michael and Lily.Younger brother has promised older sister to absolute secrecy, and Lily's finding it harder and harder to keep the matter quiet.No one else knows how horrible their father is; no one knows the terrible thing he did to his youngest child.But Michael refuses to tell the truth; in fact, Michael refuses to hold a grudge against the fathers he loves so much, even though everyone sees that Michael is not the same since he's returned home.

When things come to a boiling point, it will be up to Michael to let the truth be known.It will also be up to the entire family to deal with the resulting fall-out, and with learning what it means to forgive -- and, even more, what it means to really be "a friend at midnight."

Ms. Cooney has written another emotional winner that will have you glued to the pages until the end.This is a sad, heartbreaking tale that still manages to be uplifting, and everyone will find something in it that they can relate to.

Reviewed by:Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

Girls needs anger management for brother's misfortune
Caroline Cooney diversifies her writing portfolio with an inspirational fiction novel for teens. I am unaware of any former ventures on the part of Cooney in writing this type of fiction. If any of my readers know of any such works, please leave them in the comments.

When the novel begins, eight-year old Michael is being told to get out of a car by an unidentified voice. He is being dropped off at the La Guardia airport without breakfast, money, luggage, or a plane ticket. We are then told the unidentified voice belongs to Michael's father. Michael has grown up living with his mother, stepfather, and brothers and sisters. When he decides to go live with his estranged father, the whole family is worried about him, especially his older sister, 15-year old Lily.

Lily receives the call from Michael, who is trapped in the airport, without any means of helping himself. She doesn't know what to do. Her mother and stepfather have left to take her older sister, Reb, to college. Lily is alone with Nathaniel, her toddler stepbrother. Finally, Lily, who is not old enough to drive yet, decides to fly herself and Nathaniel to Michael and fly them all back.

The beginning part of the book is suspenseful as we watch Michael trying to survive 4 hours in an airport by himself. He is hungry, tired, and hurt, but he can't risk telling the police the truth or his Dad might get in trouble.

When the trio gets back home, Michael makes Lily promise not to tell anyone what really happened. Lily promises, and so begins the rest of the story. Lily is a smoking furnace. She is mad at her father but cannot say why. She has no outlet for her anger and so her anger festers inside and escalates to dangerous proportions. At one point, she almost hits another boy her age with a chair. The majority of the book is about how Lily tries to cope with this deep secret.

The family who has no idea what happened, can't understand why Lily is so upset. Shouldn't she be happy her brother is home? The different members of her family all feel let down by her: Boring, predictable Kells (her stepfather) doesn't believe for a second the lame story she tells, Lily's mom is just happy Michael picked her over the Dad, Nathaniel is hurt that no one believes he went on a plane, and Reb, worst of all, blames Lily for turning Michael against Dad. Lily is the center of this solar system of lies and it tears at her all through the book.

This is a frustrating book to read. It has one of those characters in it that is just blinded by love. Michael loves his Dad without reason, despite what has happened. In turn, his accusations turn to himself and how he let his Father down. It is Michael and Lily who pay the price of their father's sins.

Lily feels let down by everyone, including God. How can God expect her to honor her Father? Is she expected to forgive him for the terrible wrong he has inflicted on her brother? There are no easy answers in this book. It has a spiritual message but similar to the Melody Carlson books, there is little preachiness to be found. Lily's distrust and anger to her real father turns to the same for her heavenly Father. This book is about forgiveness and the price of telling a lie to protect someone else.

Good realistic story
Have you ever read The Face on the Milk Carton? The book A Friend at Midnight was written by the same author, Caroline B. Cooney. This fiction novel is 183 pages long. It was published by Delacorte Press in 2006. The main characters are Lily Rosetti and her brother Michael. Lily finds her faith in God tested as she struggles to rescue herself from all the anger and bitterness she feels towards her father.
Lily's parents are divorced and when her mother remarries and has a baby she copes with it. Her little brother Michael feels differently about it though and decides he wants to live with his dad. His dad, however, doesn't like the idea of having a son when he sees the responsibility that comes with taking care of a child and abandons him at the airport. Lily comes and picks her brother up and never tells anyone about why her brother suddenly came back home. She has all these angry and bitter feelings towards her dad and when her older sister, Rebecca, decides to get married and says she's going to invite him to the wedding she has to face what happened in the past and try to forgive her father.
One good thing about this book is that it's never boring. You want to keep reading and see what happens. It starts right away with Michael being abandoned and I like books that start out with action. Another thing I enjoyed about the book is that the book is about her faith being tested and her relationship with God. I think what Caroline B. Cooney writes about is relevant to real life because a lot of girls go through tough times and have struggles and at times have their faith tested.
I think that the book was really good and that it portrays the strength of a person in times of crisis and the resiliency of the human spirit. I would definitely recommend reading this book.
... Read more

Product Description
When the invitation to the Preffyn family reunion arrives interrupting a perfectly decent summer vacation, 15-year-old Shelley Wollcott is anything but enthusiastic. It’s not that Shelley has anything against her relatives, she just can’t stand it when they give her that “what a pity” look. It’s not her fault that her real mother walked out on the family or that her father has remarried yet again. With Dad away on business and her older sister visiting their mother in Paris, Shelley must face the “perfect” Preffyns’ reunion with only her prankster younger brother and her insecure new stepmother at her side. It’s an opportunity to uncover the family’s secrets, but Shelley isn’t sure whether, when she discovers the truth, she’ll laugh or cry.

In this funny and poignant novel by Caroline B. Cooney, Shelley learns to appreciate all the members of her unusual family—including herself!—in ways she never anticipated. And she discovers things are often not as perfect as they seem. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Surprise Surprise
Definately surprising and nothing is what it seems Boys, love, broken families, divorce, annyoing families, Paris, siblings, cousing, rivalries. A big family story with a good ending that might make you cry.

I laughed, I cried, it was great, Bob!
(sorry if you don't get the Veggie Tales reference there.)This is one book that truly made me laugh but honestly, I cried at so many different points.Being a child of divorce helped me see just how true-to-life the main character's feelings are, how awful it is to be "in" a family's that's been torn apart, how difficult stepmothering can be, and how expectations are sometimes just too high to meet.These themes are all brought out in the book with a huge dose of humor and a satisfying, if not traditionally happy, ending.Other reviewers suggest the characters and/or plots are unbelievable.I say if your parents are divorced and you remember all the pain that went along with that divorce, this book will be extremely believable, but will still leave you smiling.

Family Reunion
ISBN 0553285734 - An ALA Recommended Book for the Reluctant YA Reader, Family Reunion is surprisingly good.Shelley's family is spending the summer at their summer home in Vermont - bought by her father to provide stability to the family.Stability, as defined by Shelley's Aunt Maggie, her father's sister, is vital, as are backyards.Especially to Shelley's family, because her mother abandoned them to marry Jean-Paul and go live in France.Her family is broken, according to Aunt Maggie, whose family is Perfect, of course.

Shelley's father, Charlie, has been married to Annette, his third wife, for a year and a half.The kids haven't exactly welcomed her with open arms, and Charlie's commuting between their home in New York and the summer home, leaving Annette with Shelley and Angus most of the time, while their older sister Joanna visits their mother in Paris.Things get even more interesting when the Perfect side of the family invites them all to a family reunion.

Finding out that no one's actually perfect helps Shelley to connect to all of her family, from her overbearing aunt to her faraway mother, from her stepmother to the father she adores.There were a few details that bothered my - Cooney refers to "developing" videotape, not something anyone ever did or needed to do, since videotape can be played immediately in a VCR (even in 1990).On page 141, various people are entering the living room, and in the very next paragraph she says nobody ever used the living room.Little things, but they bother me.

This book's target audience is the young adult age group, (although inside it says RL 5, ages 5 and up) so language and sexual content shouldn't be an issue.Still, if you're the parent who's a little over-protective, you should know there's an "a**hole" and references to the sort of sex-ed stuff (no details, no sex scenes, just referenced) any teenager should have been introduced to in 7th grade.Overall, a nice book!

Family Reunion
Fourteen year old Shelly's aunt, Maggie Preffyn, says her family is unstable. Her dad just married his third wife, Annette, her twelve year old brother, Angus, is selling shares for a bomb shelter behind their Vermont summer cottage and carrying around an old mannequin's leg instead of a backpack, and her sixteen year old sister, Joanna, is in Paris for the summer visiting their estranged mother and their new stepfather. In a few weeks, Shelly has to go with Annette and Angus to the Perfect Preffyn'sfamily reunion, deal with her dad's side of the family and all the people in Barrington (her dad's hometown) making jokes about how may wives he's had, introduce Annette, while her dad is on a business trip. On top of all this, Shelly has to deal with family secrets, family fights, and confessions. This story was very exciting and comical. O didn't want to put it down.

This book had many real life situations, such as interpersonal relationships and family problems. Shelly has a crush on two boys, DeWitt and Toby. DeWitt is staying in the same little village in Vermont where Shelly's summer cottage is. Toby is visiting his grandparents in Barrington over the summer. Shelly first thought that Toby was her brother because he is the son of her dad's first wife, Celeste, but then finds out that his dad died when he was two.

The author's characters are very vivid. She describes them well and also lets you hear their voices. When Shelly talks about her different situations such as with her brother Angus, Miranda, a mean girl in Barrington, the Perfect Preffyns, Annette, and her cousin, Brett, who has run away from home and is living with a friend, become her.

The way the author depicts her settings makes them very lifelike. You can picture your self walking down the streets of both Vermont and Barrington. You can see all of the buildings and parks that are described. You can hear the lap of the water against the docks and the voices of the people and the kids playing in the street. The cars zooming by.

This book is good for sitting outside on a sunny day. It made me laugh a lot because of its hilarious situations. It's a wonderful story with great characters. It kept me interested the entire time and made me want to share it with my friends. There were some sad parts but they didn't last for long with Angus around. He always made everyone, including me, smile. Family Reunion was very enjoyable.

Could have done better
I don't really like books that are non-fictional. This book realtes to real life. So, if you like reading about family and friends and a mystery, you will like this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Cheerleaders are beautiful, popular and exciting - girls that Althea longs to be. But Althea is nobody - she gets no phone calls, shares no laughter and has no friends. Then one day she meets him, a vampire who offers to make her a cheerleader in exchange for a simple bargain. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Fifteen Years Later, Still Great.
I read this book many years ago, and I still think about it from time to time. It features a creepy, well-crafted story that both teens and adults can appreciate. Whenever I pull "The Cheerleader" out to re-read it, I'm immersed in the storyline just as much as I was the first time I read it. I highly recommend it!

good book!
This book is about Althea. She lives in a house that people say is haunted. It is, there is a vampire living in the dark tower of her house. She makes a deal with him that if she brings him people then he will make her popular. She is really happy being popular, but when she realizes what he does to the people she offers him, she feels bad about it. She has a party and asks him to leave her alone but he says she has to give him someone else. She tells him that she will give him a sign to which person he can have, but she accidentally gives him the sign to take her best friend that she was just starting to become friends with again. She decides not to do it anymore and says that she doesnt need him to make her popular anymore and he says ok, see if you can last a day, you do need me to be popular but find it out the hard way.... Althea goes through one day without his powers making her popular and she realizes she really doesnt have any friends and needs him. But to be popular, theres a price to pay, giving him the souls of unsuspecting people, and she just cant stand it much longer. Read the book to find out what she does in the end to solve this problem and live her life without destroying the lives of others.

The Cheerleader~
"She was a nobody.Alone and ignored.She wanted what they had. Althea wanted to be a Cheerleader.Which meant popularity.To be noticed, to have friends, and possibly a boyfriend.She would do anything it takes.."

I thought it was ok, the whole high school cliche seems to be overly done in this though.. Like I don't think it's like this anymore in high school, but I could be wrong ;)

The ending was nice, but it could have tied up some lose ends.Overall it was ok.

good
This was an eccelent book for people of all ages. My mom even thoughtit was good! This book is simply about a girl who meets a vampire and he feeds off of peoples doubts and fears. I highly reccomend this book and i'm only 12!!

The Cheerleader By Caroline B. Cooney
Caroline B. Cooney writes ,in The Cheerleader, a thriller about a girl who would do anything to be popular and when she gets the chance she doesn't want to give it up, but does she?

A lonely junior girl would do anything to be popular like the freshman Celeste. Celeste is pretty, has many friends, and is on the cheerleading squad. She agrees to an evil scam to bring Celeste to a vampire she meets in the tower of her house, so then she can be popular like her. She agrees to bring Celeste to the vampire. What will happen? Althea starts getting weird feelings about what he is going to do to Celeste so she can be popular. Will it work or is it just an evil scam?

This book made me realize, be happy with what you have and not to do something crazy to get what you want. If you want something bad enough, just wait. It will come someday! ... Read more

Product Description
Devnee is tired of feeling plain and ordinary. If only she had beauty, she could gain acceptance, friendship - even love. Then the Vampire comes to Devnee, tempting her with her heart's desire - but at a terrible price. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Devnee's wish comes true, but with a deadly price!
Synopsis: Devnee Fountain has just moved in with her family to an old Victorian Mansion. When Devnee first sees the house, she is intrigued by the tower. Being a lonely, dull girl with no interesting personality or friends, she pictures herself living like a princess in her room on top of the tower. She wishes more than anything to be beautiful, because with beauty, she feels she can make friends easily and achieve anything she wants.

When Devnee starts going to school, she meets Trey, Aryssa and Nina who are part of the school's buddy system, and show her around. Devnee thinks Trey and Aryssa are really friendly, but then realizes that like Nina, they were just pretending to be nice with her. Devnee feels completely rejected.

Little does she know that there is a vampire living in the tower room where she now lives; a vampire who can make her wishes come true, who can make her really beautiful and have everyone befriend and adore her. In the beginning, all her dreams come true when the vampire makes her beautiful and all the kids start noticing her. But then she realizes this vampire does his work for a price; a price that could destroy Devnee's life if she is not careful.

When Devnee realizes that she is borrowing her beauty from Aryssa, by sending Aryssa to fulfill the vampire's appetite, she knows that she is under the vampire's power, because in order to stay beautiful, she needs to supply the vampire continuously. Is there any hope for Devnee to keep her beauty and escape from the vampire?

Review: I actually read "The Cheerleader" before I read this book, because they both involve the same vampire, and are part of "The Vampire" series written by the same author. I must say I enjoyed this book better than "The Cheerleader" mainly because this story felt more believable.

For one thing, I liked the fact that unlike "The Cheerleader", this book actually mentions Devnee's parents and involves her mother to the plot twist. I felt like the author also expresses Devnee's reactions very realistically, where Devnee feels angry towards Victoria one minute for nominating Aryssa as the Sweet Heart for the Valentine's Day dance, but in the next minute, wishes that she were as nice as Victoria, or sad that William fancies Victoria for her smartness rather than her looks.

Although I really enjoyed reading the book throughout, I felt the ending was a little rushed and could have been written better, or in more detail. But other than that, I thought this was a well written vampire book by Caroline B. Cooney.

If you enjoyed reading this book, I would recommend reading the others in the Vampire series, namely "The Cheerleader" and "The Vampire's Promise".

The Return of the Vampire
With a new turn on the old vampire, Caroline B. Cooney expresses the old motto `beauty is on the inside' skillfully in this thrilling tale following the life of Devnee. A dull, boring girl, Devnee yearns for beauty and all the wonderful things it brings. The vampire can grant her this wish, and many others, but they come with a price. Devnee begins to learn as she sees friend and foe suffer because of her selfishness, that even though she is beautiful on the outside, the vampire is slowly rotting her from within with her own greediness.

"The Return of the Vampire" is a different type of vampire book, because it really isn't about the vampire. A great English teacher of mine once said, "Good authors use extraordinary situations to teach ordinary lessons." Cooney does just this through the vampire, addressing ordinary teenage wishes.

Return of the Vampire written by Caroline B.Cooney
Ordinary,dull, boring Devnee longs to be the most popular, beautiful girl in school. It's bad enough she had to move into the old house with a tower. Devnee wants the in-crowd to be her friends but they all hate her. Onenight Devnee was in the tower, (which happens to be her room) out comes thevampire who has been trapped there for a long time.He promises to give heranything she wants, that is for a price. Devnee didn't think much of it atfirst, but later on she realized that what she did was wrong and that shehad to undo what she did and stop him before he hurts anyone else. WillDevnee be strong enough to defeat him? Find out as you turn the pages.

Return of the Vampire written by Caroline B.Cooney
Ordinary,dull, boring Devnee longs to be the most popular, beautiful girl in school. It's bad enough she had to move into the old house with a tower. Devnee wants the in-crowd to be her friends but they all hate her. Onenight Devnee was in the tower, (which happens to be her room) out comes thevampire who has been trapped there for a long time.He promises to give heranything she wants, that is for a price. Devnee didn't think much of it atfirst, but later on she realized that what she did was wrong and that shehad to undo what she did and stop him before he hurts anyone else. WillDevnee be strong enough to defeat him? Find out as you turn the pages.

Caroline B. Cooney is great!
This is a really suspensive book. I've read this series of the vampire stories. I love all of Caroline's books and trust me. this book is worth reading and you'd wish you buy it. ... Read more