THE SILENCED by James Devita

Marena is a girl who lives under the rule of the Zero Tolerance party, an oppressive government that has swept through her nation, setting up "Youth Training Facilities," building walls around the borders, and "neutralizing," or killing, anyone who doesn't fit in or speaks out. Marena is somewhat resigned to hiding everything -- from her writing and pencils (a law has been passed against them) to the memories of her "neutralized" mother, until Eric, a new boy, is transferred to her training facility and inspires her to resist. She creates a group called the White Rose, but before she knows it, her actions have put her, her friends, and her family, in mortal danger.

THE DIAMOND OF DARKHOLD by Jeanne DuPrau

This croaking awesome book, The Diamond Of Darkhold, is the most recently published book in the Ember series. Be sure to read the first three books before this one. When Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow decide to visit the City of Ember (an underground city that they used to live in with a huge population of people) from the City of Sparks, (an aboveground city that was already populated and had no electriciry that the Emberities came across) disaster occurs.

THE MIDNIGHT TWINS by Jacquelyn Mitchard

Meredith and Mallory Brynn are the appropriately named Midnight Twins. One born a minute before the new year, one a minute after, there has always been something different about them. Aside from the personality differences -- Mallory is quiet, sporty, and thoughtful, while Meredith is popular, a cheerleader, and doing so-so in school-- the twins are unique because of the incredible bond between them. You've heard of twin telepathy, right? Well, imagine that for these two, only heightened about fifty times.

THE TALES OF BEEDLE THE BARD By J.K. Rowling

Before I even start talking about how phenomenal this book was, I would like to say that J.K. Rowling is my all time favorite author ever because of her famous series of Harry Potter, the best books IN THE WORLD, and I am a Harry Potter fanatic. I worship the books. OK, now that that's settled, let's get on with the actual review.

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Seventeen year old Bella Swan, an ordinary and average klutz, is visiting the Forks, the rainiest place in all of America. It has quite a difference from her previous home in sunny Phoenix where she lived with her divorced mother. Bella's father, Charlie, is taking care of her for a while, and, of course, he has to be a police officer. Bella doesn't like attention, and she is embarrassed to find that in her new school, she is the center of it all for quite some time because of her father's job. Life is hard in the Forks, but it gets even worse for Bella.

Free Baseball by Sue Corbett Take Me Out

Take me out to the ball game… Young Felix of eleven is absolutely obsessed with baseball. His father was a famous Cuban player on a professional team. Obsessed as he is, he is at a baseball game, the Miracle against another team, (My little toad mind can’t remember the name of the other team, but you can read it to find out,) when a little incident happens.

A House Called Awful End

A House Called Awful End is a very funny, yet slightly grim at times, and wonderful book. Over a course of 117 pages, this book is filledwith many hilarious twists, mostly about 11 year old Eddie Dickens who is sent away for his own good. I think I like this book because for me it's easier to relate to Eddie in a lot of ways more than the other chareters. Plus if I was a boy, my name would have been Eddie.

YAY! Interview with Katie Davis, author of THE CURSE OF ADDY MCMAHON

Toad Hill Reviews: Lollipops or gum?

Katie: Well, it depends on what day you ask me. Since you asked me today, however, I'd have to say lollipops. Because I'm a candy freak. But if you posed this question, say, last Thursday, a day upon which I was trying to quit candy and was therefore chomping on piece after piece of sugarless gum, I would've said…gum.

S.A. Bodeen Visits Toad Hill!

Briar Kasvi had the toad-aly awesome job this week of interviewing author S.A. Bodeen for Toad Hill. Besides earning 5+ toads on our review, THE COMPOUND has been nominated for ALA's 2009 Best Books for Young Adults and 2009 Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers lists.

T.H.Reviews -- Thank you for agreeing to talk to us! You're our very first author interview! To start off, we have a somewhat sticky issue we've been debating on Toad Hill, perhaps you can give us your vote -- Twizzlers or red vines?

THE COMPOUND by S.A. Bodeen

When I read The Compound, by S.A. Bodeen, I was so riveted I barely even noticed when the flies whizzed about my face and the croaking sounds echoed in the distance. At the time, my brother had stuck me in a camp while he tried to visit six countries in a month, and I couldn't help bringing the book with me to every single meal, every activity. By toads, it was good!

WHAT THE DICKENS by Gregory Maguire

WHAT THE DICKENS by Gregory Maguire, is about three children who are stuck in their house without their parents during a violent storm. Their cousin, an English teacher,decides to tell them a story about an orphan skibbereen (tooth fairy). The skibbereen knows nothing about the world, himself or even his name until one day when a cat tries to get him out of a can and he hears a voice say, "What the dickens?" He thinks that's his name.

SABRIEL by Garth Nix

Sabriel is a student at Wyverly college. One day a strange ape-like figure enters her college to tell her the Abhorsen (her father) is missing. The strange figure left her with her father's sword and vanished. Shortly after Sabriel finds herself in search of her missing dad. On her journey Sabriel encounters some strange characters, Mogget, A strange white cat that speaks in a voice of the Abhorsen's servant yet holds a mysterious secret. Touchstone a man of royal blood frozen in the figurehead of a ship, becomes her best friend.

OTHERWISE KNOWN AS SHEILA THE GREAT by Judy Blume

Sheila was working hard in Tarrytown. She was making newspapers all by herself. Sheila was also having a lot of fun in Tarrytown but the only problem was, the house they were renting for the summer had a dog. Sheila did not hate dogs, but she certainly did not love dogs. I think Sheila was afraid of dogs. In Tarrytown Sheila also made a friend.

CORALINE By Neil Gaiman

This awesomely scary book is being turned into a stop motion movie, directed by the director of The Nightmare Before Christmas, so if you see it, expect it to be good.

When Coraline moves into her new house, she has to put up with some put-up-able stuff, such as some old ladies calling her Caroline. That soon changes to more serious problems.

Gilda Joyce: The Ghost Sonata