Title: I Woke Up Dead at the Mall
Author: Judy Sheehan
Publisher: Delacorte, 2016
Pages: 288 p
Source: Library ebook
Compensation: None
Read: October 2016
This is another one of those books that I found while searching my library's ebook collection for something quick and fun. The title stuck out at me as something I might be interested in.
16 year old Sarah has her whole life ahead of her--until she wakes up dead at the mall. That's right, purgatory is at the mall. Sarah hasn't moved on because she still has unfinished business that she can't let go. Although there was nothing exciting or dangerous about Sarah's life, she was murdered and she needs to find out who did it. Her death coach wants her to find peace and accept that her life is over, but when Sarah has a pretty good idea who the culprit is and discovers that her father's life is also in danger, she knows she can't move on until she does everything she can to save his life. In the meantime she flirts with fellow ghost Nick and hatches a plan for them to stay together and avoid the dreaded "mall walker" curse of ghosts who lose focus and get stuck at the mall.
This was a solid ok read. It was nice and quick and entertaining. There wasn't anything really groundbreaking or extraordinary, but it was a good book.
Title: Dying to Tell Me
Author: Sherryl Clark
Publisher: Kane Miller, 2011
Pages: 217 p.
Source: Purchased
Compensation: None
Read: June 2016
Sherryl Clark's Dying to Tell Me
Let me start out by saying that I did not get paid anything to write this review. I purchased the book with my own money but I did get a 25% discount for being an Usborne Books & More consultant. I chose to buy the book and review it.
Dying to Tell Me is a quick middle school read. Sasha is a cranky teenager, angry at her mother for leaving the family, angry that she has to move to the secluded country, angry that she has no friends. Her father is the new policeman so when the family moves to Manna Creek, Sasha and her younger brother are left alone to explore the tiny Australian town. Things don't go well right from the very first day-- Sasha slips running near a creek and winds up with a concussion. Someone is not happy to have a new policeman in town and tries to scare the family away. Sasha's father adopts a retired police dog to help watch over the kids while he investigates a series of art burglaries. Just when Sasha thinks things can't get weirder, she starts hearing and seeing things that no one else can. Their dog, King, winds up being more comforting than Sasha could have ever imagined.
This was a really quick read--granted I was on a bus for multiple hours--with the right amount of adventure, suspense, and mystery, with a bit of supernatural thrown in. If you're a regular reader of this blog you know how I love my Australian authors (Garth Nix, Melina Marchetta) so I had a feeling I would respond to this one. Sasha's voice as a disgruntled teenager torn between her anger at her mom and her desire to make her Dad happy is authentic. In a weird twist of coincidence, Dying to Tell Me was selected for VOYA's Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers List (February 2011)-- a list that I chaired many moons ago. This was a good entertaining read that will keep middle school readers engaged.
******
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Title: Lady Midnight
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry, 2016
Pages: 720 p.
Source: Library e-book
Compensation: None
Read: March 2016
Cassandra Clare's Lady Midnight
Oh, the FEELS.
I am officially proclaiming my membership in the Shadowhunter fan club. I wasn't sure how I would react to this book... I am a Jace/Clary fan and I found the Emma parts of the previous series to be a bit distracting. So I went into this new series a little hesitant. I mean, I knew I would read it, but would I love it? Would I respond to Emma the way I did to Clary?
I'm getting ahead of myself though.
Lady Midnight takes place five years after the events in City of Heavenly Fire. The Shadowhunters are trying to recover from Sebastian's treachery and the Dark War. 17 year old Emma is still trying to recover from the murder of her parents--blamed on Sebastian although she doesn't believe it--and bent on revenge. Afraid that she would be taken from the only family she's known, she agreed to be parabatai with Julian Blackthorn when she was just 12 years old. Julian's father was also killed during the Dark War and even though his Uncle has legal custody of him and his 4 siblings, Julian is the one who really takes care of both the family and the Institute.
As parabatai, Julian and Emma have a sacred bond. One that prohibits romantic love. This isn't a problem until a series of events occur that push the two closer together. The Clave has laws that seem unjust and unnecessary, but sometimes their laws really are intended to protect Shadowhunters. But for Emma and Julian, it might be too late.
At the same time Emma and Julian are dealing with forbidden love, dead bodies have been turning up with cryptic writing on them--just like the writing found on Emma's parents. Some of the bodies have been fairies, so the Wild Hunt makes a bargain with the Blackthorns. If they investigate, they will release half-fey Mark Blackthorn from his service to the Wild Hunt and allow him to choose his own fate. Mark has been gone 5 human years, but countless fairy ones, so his transition back to the family is not as smooth as the younger Blackthorn siblings had hoped.
There are twists and big plot reveals that I am trying very hard not to spoil. It is going to be quite difficult waiting for the next book!
So, yes, I did fall in love with Emma and Julian. I did get swept up in the story and invested in their futures. Fans of the Shadowhunters will love this one as well. Those unfamiliar will want to read the earlier books. Although this is Emma and Julian's story, our favorites do make tiny cameos. Clary and Jace, Magnus, Jem and Tessa. Others are mentioned as well giving us updates on characters from the other series. I can't wait for the next one!
******
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Title: Rogue
Author: Mark Frost
Publisher: Random House, 2015
Pages: 368 p.
Source: Library e-book
Compensation: None
Read: January 2016
Mark Frost's Rogue
At the end of the last novel, Will West discovers that the old man he has been interning with is actually his grandfather and his grandfather is not only in league with the bad guys--he's in charge. Forced to make a tough decision to save the people he loves, Will pretends to go along with his grandfather. He works "undercover" as a dutiful grandson learning about his family legacy, all while building a plan to end the Other Team's nefarious plot to take over our world. Will is not alone in his work. Trusted friends Ajay, Nick, Elise and Shaman/cross country coach Jericho all assist him in his most daring plan ever--to break into the Never-Was, rescue good guy Dave, and save the world from the bad guys (humans and demons).
This final novel is a non-stop action ride. While a lot of the second book was surveillance and information-gathering, this one is one battle after the next. The majority of the story takes place in the demonic realm, the Never-Was, and is appropriately full of monsters and supernatural events. Will and his friends are able to use more of their new-found powers. The Paladin Prophecy dipped its toes in the supernatural, but Rogue is fully immersed in it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this trilogy. I would have liked just a bit more with Dave and the Hierarchy, but I was satisfied with the ending of this series. (Although a short story featuring Dave would be pretty awesome. And if there is ever a movie made he should be played by Jason Statham). Fans of action packed adventure stories will not be disappointed.
Title: Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2015
Pages:
Source: Library e-book
Compensation: None
Read: January 2016
Cassandra Clare's Tales of the Shadowhunter Academy
Welcome to Shadowhunter Academy The Lost Herondale The Whitechapel Fiend Nothing But Shadows The Evil We Love Pale Kings and Princes Bitter of Tongue The Fiery Trial Born to Endless Night Angels Twice Descending
There are many people that think Cassandra Clare has gone too far with the Shadowhunter series...and there are many people who will read anything that has to do with the Shadowhunters. I guess I fall into the latter category. This is a series of stories or novellas that chronicle Simon Lewis's time at the Shadowhunter Academy. The regulars from both The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices make appearances throughout the different stories to help support Simon on his quest to graduate the Academy and be a real Shadowhunter (and get his full memories back).
I read each of the novellas as separate books because that's how my library had them as e-books. I think they will be bound together at some point under the title Tales From the Shadowhunter Academy. I finished many of them (sometimes more than one) in a single day. They were quick to read and I enjoyed them all. Some were better than others. Like the Bane Chronicles, they were co-authored by different people. Many of them gave some background info to the characters we already know from the other series and some set up the next series. If you're a Shadowhunter fan, you'll enjoy revisiting the world.
******
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Title: Lady Renegades
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's, 2016
Pages: 272 p.
Source: VOYA
Compensation: None
Read: December 2015
Rachel Hawkins's Lady Renegades
Normal school girl Harper Price has accepted her new life as a warrior Paladin--a mystical bodyguard for the future-predicting Oracle. She has accepted her new role as the Oracle's girlfriend. She has accepted her ex-boyfriend's new position as the Oracle's Mage. After finally doing all this accepting, Harper's life drastically changes once again when Oracle David cannot control his powers and escapes the safety of Pine Grove. As David loses more of his humanity, he unwittingly turns teenage girls into more Paladins who believe his number one threat is Harper. As if battling her sadness over David's departure wasn't enough, now Harper has to protect herself from his new Paladins, all while her powers grow weaker in David's absence. Determined to save him from himself, Harper embarks on the ultimate summer road trip to find David and make things right.
Reminiscent of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer tv show, Rachel Hawkins does not disappoint in this final book of the Rebel Belle trilogy. Funny and sassy, Harper is the perfect combination of strong heroine and Southern lady. Although Hawkins gives enough information for new readers to pick up the story, reading the first two books greatly enhances enjoyment of the third. Lady Renegades is a must read for fans of books with the "chosen one" storyline, as well as strong female lead characters.
****
This is obviously my VOYA review since it's well-written but I feel compelled to add: I really really loved this series.
Title: Miss Mayhem
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile, 2015
Pages: 273 p.
Source: Library e-book
Compensation: None
Read: December 2015
If you haven't read Rebel Belle yet, you may want to do that before you read this review.
Rachel Hawkin's Miss Mayhem
Harper Price's life has been turned completely upside down but she's finally got a handle on it. She and ex-boyfriend new-Mage Ryan have teamed up to protect new-boyfriend Oracle David and keep his powers in check. There don't seem to be any threats on his life anymore and Harper can breathe a little easier. Until, of course, things change. The Ephors (or Powers-That-Be) have decided that instead of try to kill David, they should train him instead. But before they can train him, Harper has to go through a final test to be a true Paladin. A test that will either make her stronger than ever or kill her. On top of it all she's decided to be in the Miss Pine Grove pageant.
I loved this so much. Fun and quick to read. It was just as good as the first one. I truly don't know how I missed this series when it first came out, but I will blame the children. The end is a bit of a cliffhanger which is unfortunate for people who didn't get the ARC mailed to them to review. Luckily, I did.
******
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Title: Rebel Belle
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile, 2014
Pages: 345 p.
Source: Library e-book
Compensation: None
Read: Dec 2015
Rachel Hawkin's Rebel Belle
Harper Price is the perfect student, the perfect daughter, the perfect girlfriend. She has everything planned out and is in complete control. Until a regular trip to the bathroom turns fatal--her school janitor has been stabbed and before he bleeds to death on her he manages to strangely kiss her and the teacher who stabbed the janitor goes after Harper but she manages to defend herself with inhuman strength she didn't have before. Harper has no idea what is going on and when she discovers she's been given super powers to protect her one "enemy" in the whole school, she officially loses control of her life. Harper is a Paladin now and sworn to protect the Oracle, even if he's been annoying her since kindergarten.
Rebel Belle reminded me so much of Buffy--the reluctant chosen one who is just as concerned about what to wear to prom as much as getting out of it alive. Harper is funny and interesting and Rebel Belle is great for readers who want an apocalypse story without a big apocalypse. Just like Buffy saved the world a lot without most people ever knowing, Harper has to do the same all while perfecting her walk for the Cotillion.
******
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Title: Carry On
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Publisher: St. Martin's, 2015
Pages: 522 p.
Source: Library e-book
Compensation: None
Read: Dec 2015
Rainbow Rowell's Carry On
Simon Snow made his first appearance in Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl as the subject of Cath's fan fiction. Very reminiscent of Harry Potter and the Hogwarts magical universe, this book tells Snow's story as the chosen one destined to defeat the evil Humdrum. Unfortunately Snow is not a very good chosen one. His spells don't work right, he often doesn't know what to do, and he's more focused on his nemesis Baz than the actual Humdrum. He should be having a great final year at his wizard school--Watford School of Magics--but instead he's having problems with his perfect girlfriend, feeling distant from his father-figure school head, and he can't stop thinking about Baz.
Carry On has plenty of magic and monsters and supernatural things, but at it's heart it's a love story between two very unlikely people. Anyone who ever read Harry Potter fanfic (particularly the Harry/Draco plots) will love this book. Carry On was the name of Cath's story in Fangirl, but this book is not written by her (or by the author of the Simon Snow series in that world). This is Rowell's story inspired by her own work. It's not necessary to have read Fangirl to appreciate Carry On. The story itself is entertaining, especially to fantasy fans, but as usual it's Rowell's characters who make us come back for more. Simon is the main character, but Baz is the most complex and interesting and proof that everyone is not always show they seem to be.
******
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Title: Alliance
Author: Mark Frost
Publisher: Random House, 2014.
Pages: 352 p.
Source: Library e-book
Compensation: None
Read: August 2015
Mark Frost's Alliance
This second book in the Paladin Prophecy series picks up where the last left off. Will has exposed the school's secret society, the Knights of Charlemagne. He decides to stay at the Center for the summer working with his new mentor in developing his new magical talents. Will learns more about his father, his new friends, and the sinister history of the school. Just as thrilling as the first book, this one will leave you desperately wanting more.
******
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Title: The Paladin Prophecy
Author: Mark Frost
Publisher: Random House, 2012
Pages: 560 p.
Source: Library e-book
Compensation: None
Read: August 2015
Mark Frost's The Paladin Prophecy
Will West is an average kid living in an average town. His parents have worked VERY hard to make sure he is just average and does not excel at anything, whether it be academics or athletics. When Will takes a national standardized exam and accidentally aces it, he begins to understand his parents odd demands. He is instantly courted by an exclusive prep school and is followed by strange men in black sedans. His parents begin acting strangely and he quickly learns his only chance at safety is to enroll in the mysterious prep school. While there he uncovers a lot more than he ever expected.
This is an entertaining read that fans of supernatural stories, as well as spy stories, will both respond to. It's fun to read and hard to put down.
******
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Title: When My Heart Was Wicked
Author: Tricia Stirling
Publisher: Scholastic Press, 2015.
Pages: 192 p.
Source: VOYA
Compensation: None
Lacy
is grieving for her beloved father with her kind-hearted stepmother when her
troubled mother shows up demanding custody. Although clearly the better parent,
Lacy's stepmom has no legal claim to her and must give her up to the wild and
evil-spirited Cheyenne. Lacy fears that all of the work she has done to
overcome her own troubled past will be undone as soon as she is under her
mother's influence. She tries to fight it but little by little she loses
herself until she must confront her mother and battle for her own soul. On the
surface this is a normal story about a girl trying to find her own identity
separate from her mother's. But underneath the surface, there is an element of
magic. Cheyenne has always turned to dark magic and included her very young
daughter in her spells. Now that Lacy is older and trying to resist her mother,
Cheyenne goes so far as using magic against her. Lacy's battle for her soul is
a very real one and not just a metaphor.
When My Heart Was Wicked is not a traditional
fantasy story, nor is it traditional realistic fiction. Fans of Francesca Lia
Block's magical realism will enjoy this quick and powerful debut from Tricia
Stirling.
******
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Title: far far away
Author: Tom McNeal
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, 2013
Pages: 371 p.
Source: Library
Compensation: None
Jeremy Johnson Johnson is an unusual boy and this is an unusual tale. It is a tale of a boy who can hear voices and the ghost who speaks to him; of a boy and the girl who looks past his weirdness and accepts him for who he is; and of a small town where strange things happen but nobody notices. Fairy tale, romance, suspense, supernatural, mystery all wrapped up into one engaging book.
Jeremy's ghost and the narrator of the story is none other than Jacob Grimm--the fairy tale expert himself--who has made it his mission to protect Jeremy from the unknown "Finder of Occasions." Jacob is not sure how the Finder of Occasions will strike so his best idea is to help Jeremy get out of his strange little town by attending a University elsewhere. He helps Jeremy with his studies and urges him to concentrate on his schoolwork and nothing else. It all goes fine until a fiery Ginger takes a liking to Jeremy and starts involving him in her crazy pranks and schemes. Unbeknownst to them all, the Finder of Occasions is watching and waiting for his opportunity to forever change their lives.
This book is so hard to put down. From the moment it begins we are drawn into Jeremy's tale, wondering what horrible fate awaits him and if he will get out of it unscathed. We sympathize with the poor ghost Grimm who still suffers from memories of his mortal sorrows and will stop at nothing to protect Jeremy. McNeal has written a powerfully captivating tale that would make the Grimm brothers proud.
******
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Title: Son
Author: Lois Lowry
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin, 2012
Pages: 400 p
Source: Library
Compensation: None aside from tears
This was not an easy book for me to read. The language is easy enough and the target audience of middle schoolers will have no problem it, but as a mother, particularly as a mother with an infant sleeping upstairs, this was not an easy book for me.
Son is the fourth and final book in the "series" that began with The Giver back in 1994. Son goes back to the time period and story told in The Giver but tells it from a different point of view. Instead of Jonas's tale of the perfect society with a secret, we have Claire's tale of the secret. In this strange utopia there's no pain or fear or conflict and everyone has a role to play in the community. Claire's role is of birthmother--an important albeit unglamorous job--until she has complications delivering her product and must have an emergency c-section. Removing pain and fear from society has also removed love and joy. Birthmothers deliver their products and caregivers apply to adopt them. There are no bonds between mother and child which is why Claire is completely unprepared for her feelings of love and care for the baby she had to give up. She does the unthinkable and locates him in the nursery and attempts to connect with him--without attracting too much attention to herself. The baby is designated "failure to thrive" because he doesn't like to sleep or stay quiet and just when Claire wonders if she should try to take him and escape the village, her baby is taken by a boy on a bicycle. She doesn't hesitate to jump on a trading boat and try to follow.
We know from The Giver who the boy is and who the baby is and we know from Messenger that they survive their journey. But Son is Claire's story. So we watch as her boat is ravaged in a storm and she washes ashore in yet another strange community. This community is missing the sterile technology of Claire's home and is full of people having *feelings.* Claire has amnesia from the storm and is able to assimilate into society before she remembers her former life and the baby she needs to find. Once she does remember it still takes years for her to be physically strong enough to climb out of the valley the community is in so she can begin her search.
Son answers many "what" questions from the previous books and ties all of them together, but not many "why" questions. We still don't know why there are all of these little communities that are so remote from each other and so vastly different. But it doesn't really matter. Reading Son does not make one think about what the apocalyptic event occurred to fracture this society could be, reading Son makes one's heart beat faster wondering if Claire will find her way out and find her baby. Although we know that the baby grows up and is well taken care of (from Messenger), we don't know whether Claire ever makes it or not, and that consumes us as we read her story to find out.
It is not unreasonable for kids to read Son and any of them who have read The Giver will certainly want to finish the story. But the fast heart beat, sweaty hands, nervous reading will probably be reserved for the mom (or dad, but probably mom) who truly understands the deep emotional connection made with motherhood and how mothers will do anything for their children.
******
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Title: Such Wicked Intent
Author: Kenneth Oppel
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 310 p.
Source: library
Compensation: None
Victor Frankenstein is a lonely grief-stricken sixteen-year-old boy mourning the death of his twin brother and his inability to save his brother's life. He is sad and moody and inconsolable until he discovers the unthinkable--a way into the world of death--and attempts to bring his brother back to life. He is aided by his brother's love Elizabeth and their best friend Henry.
I was sucked into this story from the very beginning. I've enjoyed Kenneth Oppel's work in the past and that was part of the reason I picked this book off the new YA book shelf without knowing much about it (more on that later). Oppel has done a great job of creating a teen version of Frankenstein--the scientist not the monster we erroneously call Frankenstein--we can see how Victor starts off with understandable intentions, to be reunited with his twin, but then quickly becomes consumed with power and less noble motivations. The setting and time period are firmly established by Oppel; there is a good blend of modern science and old world magic. Elizabeth and Henry are not quite as complete as Victor is, but that's okay. This is Victor's story and his is the one we want to read about.
The entire time I was reading I felt like I was *in the middle* of Victor's story, that it had already begun and I was just allowed to witness this episode. I thought it was just a literary device and was not bothered by it at all. In fact, I liked it and thought it worked well. Then, just moments ago, as I was thinking I had better write my review soon the title "His Dark Endeavor" came to me. I didn't know why. I searched it and sure enough Such Wicked Intent is Book TWO of The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein with the first book This Dark Endeavor (I was close). I did not feel like I was missing anything having not read the first book, Such Wicked Intent easily stands alone, but now I understand a few of the references to Victor's previous exploits.
This is a perfect gateway into Mary Shelley's classic Frankenstein. Teens (or grownups) who have already read the original will be interested in this story of the doctor's past and the events that shaped him into the man who created the monster. Teens who have not yet read Frankenstein may be prompted to pick it up after reading Oppel's page-turner prequel(s).
******
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Title: Borrowing Abby Grace Episode 2: Girl Steals Guy
Author: Kelly Green
Publisher: Backlit
Pages:
Source: Kindle eBook from the author
Compensation: None
Fans of Borrowing Abby Grace are in luck... As of December 2011 Amazon has both of the first episodes in the series on sale for just $0.99. Don't miss your chance to get these books at a bargain price.
We first met Abby Grace when she woke up in the back of a van during a kidnapping attempt and discovered she was a shadow--a soul sent into other bodies to solve a crisis. In this second episode, Abby thinks her mission is pretty cut and dry. Her best friend is inconsolable over her breakup with the star quarterback, so clearly she needs to reunite them. It turns out to not be quite as clear-cut as she thought. Abby's (host's) best friend has a pretty big secret and the fact that she's *not* pining for the quarterback is only a small part of it. Abby also helps her host body with an overly aggressive boyfriend.
Girl Steals Guy is just as enjoyable as The Shadow, although the romance aspects might turn off some boy readers. The more we read of Abby--the real Abby underneath her host body--the more we like her and hope that she is able to find her way back to her true self. Kelly Green's writing is sharp and witty. There's just enough information to help Abby (and the reader) solve the mystery without a bunch of boring backstory. The stories truly are episodes--quick reads that we hungrily devour and eagerly look for the next one.
******
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Title: Borrowing Abby Grace Episode 1: The Shadow
Author: Kelly Green
Publisher: Backlit, 2011
Pages:
Source: Kindle eBook from the author
Compensation: none
Borrowing Abby Grace had me hooked from the very first line:
"The first thing I realized when I woke up in the back of the van was that I had no idea at all how I'd arrived in the back of the van."
A young girl wakes up (in the back of the van) not knowing who she is or why she is there. She quickly feels the danger of her situation and jumps out of the back of the moving van. She is brought to her home--that she doesn't remember--and the image she sees in her bedroom mirror does not match the image she sees when she looks down at herself.
This exciting new episodic series is reminiscent of Quantum Leap, but not a blatant copycat. In this first episode we learn that Abby is a shadow: people in trouble "borrow" her soul, her essence, her being, so that she can solve their problems. In The Shadow, Abby must help find "her" missing brother and reunite her dysfunctional family. Once she does, she leaves that body and goes on to the next, always hoping the next will be her own body. She's helped by a mysterious boy Will who is only visible to her and can only tell her certain things. She guesses that she (and Will) are dead and ghosts, but Will never confirms this. Okay, so it's pretty close to Quantum Leap for teenagers (without the time travel), but as a big fan of Quantum Leap I didn't feel offended.
The Shadow is an excellent introduction to the series. Kelly Green has written a suspenseful page-turner (or whatever one calls the quick swiping of digital pages). Each episode is short and packed full of action with a strong snarky, yet vulnerable, female lead character. We're interested in the mystery Abby has to solve, but also in *her* mystery. This series is perfect for reluctant readers, particularly those who may not be interested in picking up a hardcover printed book, but will check out anything with technology. Although the main character is a girl, this isn't an overly girlie series, and boys shouldn't be ashamed to read it.
Readers will be eager to continue Abby's adventures and see if she ever makes the final leap home (I couldn't resist).
******
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This review was originally written--handwritten no less--in August 1999 before the Age of Blogs. I'm not editing it at all because I don't believe in tampering with history. For other old reviews, click on the "From the Vault" tag.
Title: Companions of the Night
Author: Vivian Vande Velde
1995
Genre: Supernatural
Subjects: vampires; morality
Summary: 16 year old Kerry encounters murder, kidnapping and vampires when she visits a laundry to retrieve her brother's teddy bear. Through it all she learns about morality, lying and betrayal.
Critique: Great story. One complaint--I would have liked to see Kerry reunited with her family at the end. I'd like to know what story she gave them!
******
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