Eyeliner of the Gods

Rating:
Summary: I was a little disappointed
Review: As a huge fan of Katie's "Emily" series (see end of review), I was really looking forward to this book. I was a little disappointed. This book is better suited for a younger audience, which is, of course, the book's target audience. But with the "Emily" series, even an older person like me could enjoy it. Younger girls might like this one. I'd have no problem letting my 12 year-old niece read it. The romance was sweet and very tame. The characters were likable enough, but I found the story a bit dull. I think Katie does a great job of researching the places where she sets her stories. The references to Egypt and Egyptian history were nice. I think maybe I unfairly compared this book to Katie's other Young Adult books: "The Year My Life Went Down the Loo," "They Wear What Under Their Kilts?" and "What's French For Eww?" They were tough acts to follow. I would recommend anyone who hasn't read those to read them first. Now I'm just looking forward to the last book in that series, "The Taming Of the Drew."

Rating:
Summary: I was a little disappointed
Review: As a huge fan of Katie's "Emily" series (see end of review), I was really looking forward to this book. I was a little disappointed. This book is better suited for a younger audience, which is, of course, the book's target audience. But with the "Emily" series, even an older person like me could enjoy it. Younger girls might like this one. I'd have no problem letting my 12 year-old niece read it. The romance was sweet and very tame. The characters were likable enough, but I found the story a bit dull. I think Katie does a great job of researching the places where she sets her stories. The references to Egypt and Egyptian history were nice. I think maybe I unfairly compared this book to Katie's other Young Adult books: "The Year My Life Went Down the Loo," "They Wear What Under Their Kilts?" and "What's French For Eww?" They were tough acts to follow. I would recommend anyone who hasn't read those to read them first. Now I'm just looking forward to the last book in that series, "The Taming Of the Drew."

Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: I was so excited to see another book by Katie Maxwell--I love her Emily series. I had been in the airport's book store, trying to find something to read during my flight. I found two books--Eyeliner of the Gods, and the first of the Barry Trotter series. I haven't read the latter yet, probably because I've already lost it. But Eyeliner of the Gods...I really, really liked that book. I don't feel much like going on about what was IN the book, just mainly how it affected me as a reader. It was a really, really good book--Well written, with only ONE typo ('heard' instead of 'heart')...Which is good, I think. And the characters are great--January shows that you don't have to be the thinnest, most gorgeous girl to get the totally scrumdiddlydumptious guy. Which Seth is, by the way. Completely gorgey. But anyway...It's a great teen romance novel, completely appropriate for our age. If I had to pick a range that it'd be suitable for...I'd have to say 14+...I know that's not exactly a range, per se, but I definitely think that's about right. Alrighty, I'm done.
I can't wait for the next book in the Emily series!

Rating:
Summary: Another fun teen read from Katie Maxwell.
Review: January James, called Jan by her family, arrives in Egypt as one of a group of teens volunteering for an archaeological dig. Jan is part of a family of ten children, but she has always felt out of place, because all of her brothers and sisters have artistic talent, while she doesn't. From the time she arrives in Egypt, her trip is off to a bad start. Then she meets a cute but mysterious guy named Seth, and also finds herself saddled with a "cursed" bracelet. There's also a pushy girl named Chloe who is also part of the dig, and is trying to steal Seth from Jan. This book was another cute, funny read from Katie Maxwell, and I highly recommend it to teen readers.

Rating:
Summary: Teen Fiction At It's Best
Review: Sixteen-year-old January James is ecstatic to have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to leave Seattle, and head for the Sahara Desert, where she will be working side-by-side with real life archaeologists. I mean, it's not like Jan plans on being an archaeologist, she plans on being a journalist, but going on this dig will look great on her college resume, and will give her a chance to see what it will be like when she has to head out on assignments in the future. Of course, Jan has no idea that she will be entirely stranded with an annoyingly pushy girl named Chloe, an absolutely gorgeous hottie named Seth, and a cursed bracelet. Who knew that a great opportunity like this would turn into such aggravation?

Katie Maxwell, one of the new queens of teen fiction, has managed to do it once again. While her infamous character Emily (from THE YEAR MY LIFE WENT DOWN THE LOO, and other titles), isn't featured in EYELINER OF THE GODS, Maxwell has created a new character that will keep Emily fans begging for more. January James is a determined, yet lovable character, who will have readers rooting for her from the opening sentence to the closing one. I look forward to reading more about January in the future, and am ecstatic to to read CHLOE, QUEEN OF DENIAL, the companion to EYELINER OF THE GODS, written by Naomi Nash as soon as possible.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper