"Capt. Hook: The Adventures of a Notorious Youth", by J.V. Hart

While much has been written about Peter Pan, "Capt. Hook" tells the story of his nemesis. When young James Matthew arrives at Eton boarding school, it is immediately apparent that he is quite different from his peers. He is smallish in stature, sports long black curls and has an affinity for deadly spiders. Dubbed King Jas. he is picked on by most of the other Eton boarders, particularly Arthur Darling, who becomes James' most hated rival. His only friend, whom James has dubbed Jolly Roger, soon becomes a target as well.
While 2/3 of this book takes place at boarding school (and the ending certainly leaves room for a sequel, though ends the story being told) there is some amount of pirating and adventure on the high seas. We do see young James become "Captain Hook" though not quite yet of the Peter Pan infamy. The book is a lot of fun, and a great read for most ages. The author treats the character of Hook lovingly...and his love for all things Peter Pan becomes apparent in reading the author's thanks at the end (J.V. Hart was also a writer for the movie "Hook", starring Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman). Like Barrie's "Peter Pan", a portion of the author's royalties are donated to the Peter Pan Children's Fund, an organization that supports children's hosipital's through youth philanthropy programs.

For more fun on the high seas, true pirate stories, and real life sailing adventures, check out Tall Sails Adventures!
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"The Silver Crown", Robert C. O'Brien

"She had known all along that she was a queen, and now the crown proved it..." (excerpt from page 1, "The Silver Crown" by Robert C. O'Brien)
When ten-year-old Ellen awakens to find a silver crown for her birthday, left mysteriously on the pillow beside her, she finds herself thrust into a strange world. When she leaves to go for a walk, taking only the crown with her, she returns to to find her family missing and her house burning to the ground. Not knowing where else to go, and if her family is even alive, she sets off in search of her Aunt.

The crown seems to have a mind of its own, and Ellen is thrust into a dark and strange world. I don't want to give too much away, because the book is terrific at giving just enough information to keep you reading and guessing. It does have some mature themes (Ellen accepts a ride from a stranger, witnesses a murder, a fire destroys her home) but I first read this at the age of 12 myself (though I was also reading Stephen King novels at this age too). If you are a concerned parent, I'd rate this book a PG/PG-13.

As a side-bar, if you are a silver-lover, now you can invest in Silver. Silver has actually become more valuable (many jewelry companies have been raising their prices lately) and can be a great long-term investment.
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"Bridal Bargains:The Secrets to Throwing a Fantastic Wedding on a Realistic Budget"

"Bridal Bargains" has a lot of great tips on throwing a budget-minded wedding. The book is easy and fun to read, and comes with a ton of websites for helping you plan your dream wedding. But, from personal experience, not every company and website is a good one. I urge you to use caution when when dealing with some of the DIY paper companies (a quick search on the BBBs website will clue you in). As with any website, if it sounds too good to be true, do a search and see if anything negative comes up. But the majority of the websites listed in their book will be most helpful. To plug my own site :), you can find custom invitations and DIY invitation and paper supplies here: Lasso'd Moon Designs.

As today's wedding costs increase (according to "The Knot" a 150 person wedding can easily cost $25,000!) one good way to save some money is to use Wedding Cameras at your tables, instead of hiring a photographer to stay the length of your reception. Your DJ can encourage guests to take good photos...and you'll probably end up with some wonderful candid shots (I know many who have done this and gotten some great photos).

Need a credit card to help cover some of your wedding expenses? Search for great credit cards when you click on the link. You can also get pre-paid cards. Be sure to choose the best card for your lifestyle, and that you don't get too in debt before your wedding. Make sure that you have a pay-off plan so you won't be beseiged by debt in your first year of marriage.

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"Twas the Night Before: A Love Story" by Jerry B. Jenkins

While a little earlier to be thinking about the holidays for some...this is also the time of year others start their holiday shopping. I was reminded today of a great romance...with a Christmas twist. "Twas the Night Before: A Love Story", by Jerry B. Jenkins, is the story of Noella and Tom: she's a happy-go-lucky believer in Santa, and he's a jaded newspaper reporter. Even though Tom believes Noella is crazy, she claims to have proof...a necklace given to her one Christmas that no one could ever account for. Tom falls for Noella, but her firm beliefs in the big man make Tom question his love for Noella, and ultimately drives him to go on a quest to find Santa. I don't want to give away too much, but the ending is magical, and will inspire you to believe, if only for a short time, that there is such a thing as magic, and that Santa is really real...not just a figment of our hearts. This is a great read any time of year.



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"Green Angel" by Alice Hoffman

Alice Hoffman's "Green Angel" is a haunting book that will stay with you long after you finish it. The story is short, yet far from simple. Green, a 15 year old with an uncanny talent for gardening, stays home while her family goes to sell their produce in the city. In a flash of fire and confusion (a chilling 9/11 parable)Green loses her entire family. She retreats into grief and begins tatooing her body, the only way she can express it. As she lives in her family's home, she is joined by a young man who doesn't speak (she calls him Diamond) and a ghost dog. Green's story is one of grief and redemption and finding the will to live again after experiencing horrific tragedy.

This book is short, and a quick read...but again it is by no means a simple book. Hoffman's prose is beautiful and real and "Green Angel" will stay with you.
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The Southern Vampire Novels

Sookie Stackhouse is a telepath in Bon Temps, Louisiana. Unusual, yes, but not as much as the shape-shifter she has for a boss or the new "man" in town, who also happens to be a vampire. In "Dead Until Dark", author Charlaine Harris creates a completely believable world where vampires have recently come forward to integrate themselves into society (vampirism is actually caused by a virus)and not only do they exist, but so do "Weres" a human who can only transform into one shape (like a wolf or panther), fairies, goblins and witches. Sookie's association and romance with the vampire, Bill, leads her into a world she didn't quite know existed and one that usually ends up putting her and those around her in danger.

These novels, which include "Living Dead in Dallas", "Club Dead", Dead to the World", "Dead as a Doornail" and "Definitely Dead" are tons of fun, filled with great characters that are realistic despite the fact that they live in a supernatural world. One of the best in-jokes of the novels is the true identity of the vampire, Bubba. I won't reveal it here, because it would spoil the fun...so you'll just have to read the books to find out. These books are geared more for adults than teens, as sometimes the language is blunt (I'd give it an "R" rating) and there are some "adult" scenes as well. But if you love vampires, mysteries, humor and romance, then these books are for you.
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"Blue Smoke" by Nora Roberts

"Blue Smoke," from romance-writer Nora Roberts, is another good read by the author. While romance stories can be a little formulaic, Nora's stories always have great characters and interesting backstories. "Blue Smoke" is no exception. The story focuses around cop/arson investigator Caterina Hale (Reena) who, since age 11, has been followed by fire in one way or another. This story is a little different in that we actually get to meet Reena when she is 11, and get to grow up with her a bit over the years. The main story really starts when Reena is now 31 and an arson investigator with her local Maryland police department. She has just bought her first home, and discovered a handsome carpenter for a neighbor. What follows is fairly predicatable (as far as the romance goes) but really, the fun in any romance novel is in the getting there. The playful banter between Reena and Bo (the carpenter extraordinare) and Reena's boisterous Italian family make the book great. This book is a fun summer read (or anytime read really).

This is another book that deals with adult subject matter. Not recommended for teens (unless a parent reads it first).

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Nora Roberts

"Clockwork" by Phillip Pullman

"Clockwork", by Phillip Pullman, is a wonderful novella. Phillip Pullman is probably best well known for his series, "His Dark Materials", but "Clockwork" is just as good. The story begins in a tavern, where the people of Glockenheim have begun to gather on the eve of Karl's (a clockwork maker's apprentice) grand unveiling. The next day, Karl is supposed to unveil his clockwork piece that will signal his end as an apprentice. But Karl has a secret.

Meanwhile, master story-teller Fritz begins a story of a King and Queen who longed for a child, but were unable to have one for many years. When the baby dies in childbirth, the king devises a plan to save his wife and turns to a master clockwork maker for help, a man who may not have the best intentions.

This story is spooky and moves quickly, and is accompanied by great drawings by Leonid Gore. I had initially planned to read it to my 5-year-old, but after finishing it, decided it was a little to scary for him. Pullman does a great job creating tension throughout the story, as well as bringing all of the stories together at the end. I would definitely recommend this book to those who like fairy tales and stories that are a little different. It's a short read as well...an average reader can probably finish in just a few hours.
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"The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold

Alice Sebold's book,"The Lovely Bones", is a bittersweet coming of age story with a twist. It is not a book for young adults, however, I would recommend the reader be at least 16 years old as this book deals with some harsh subjects.

In "The Lovely Bones" 14-year-old Susie Salmon is murdered on her way home from school. But Susie isn't gone...she watches her family struggle through their grief from a playground presumably in some part of Heaven and tells us her story. As they grow older and struggle to come to terms with what happened to Susie, she changes as well. The ending will make you cry, because while it is sad, there is a happiness to it as well that will affect you long after you have finished the book. Sebold's writing is clear and effective, and her first-person narrative will leave you feeling like Susie was a part of your family.

Again, my recommended reading level is 16 and up, but some younger teens may be ok with the subject matter.

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The Pendragon Series

In The Merchant of Death Bobby Pendragon felt like a normal 14-year-old boy. He was a natural at sports, loved his family and got along great with his Uncle Press. Until one day when his life abruptly changed. Bobby learned that his Uncle was a traveler, able to ride a magical flume between the Territories (other worlds, perhaps alternate Earths). Bobby soon finds himself in the middle of a civil war in a world called Denduron where he, and other travelers from different worlds must come together despite their differences to stop Saint Dane, a traveler with an evil agenda.

The Pendragon Series are a great read from author D.J. McHale. To date, there are 7 books in the series, and I have a feeling there will be 10 once the series is finished (one for each Territory). If you enjoy a mystery, love Sci-Fi/Fantasy these books are sure to please. They are well written and move along at quick pace. However, I recommend reading them in order, because many things happen in each novel to the characters and it would be easy to get lost.