January

Author Gabrielle Lord has set quite a task for herself: she has to write 12 fantastic action novels for teens during 2010. That's one a month, and they're all part of a huge conspiracy novel that has multiple parts, secrets, betrayals, treachery, and one mystery after another. The series is being billed as a 24 for teens. The first novel, Conspiracy 365 January, starts out with a bang. Fifteen year old Callum Ormond `s life is in constant jeopardy, first from a storm, then a life jacket that doesn't function right, and finally by sharks that circle him and attack. And that's just the opening chapter, folks. After that, things turn wicked. Callum's father is dead, passing away after a lingering illness that mentally drained him. At the end of his days, Callum's father was tied to a bed, watched over constantly, and spent his lucid moments drawing sketches that no one understands and everyone seems to want. Man, I was totally sucked in by everything Callum's facing, and I know he's not going to catch a decent break the rest of the year. Just like Jack Bauer has those incredibly long days. Callum finds out about the sketches, but before he can get his hands on them, his Uncle Rafe manages to get away with them. Since it was Uncle Rafe that got their boat into trouble in the storm, I didn't like the guy from the get-go, but things get worse the more Callum explores. Even though Uncle Rafe is his father's twin, the two of them couldn't be more different. After figuring out that his uncle knows more about the "Ormond Singularity" (whatever that is) than Callum does, our hero tries to outwit his uncle. Unfortunately, his dastardly uncle isn't the only one searching for the secrets Callum's father left behind. Once Rafe ended up getting shot with his own gun and Callum's little sister ends up in a coma, I knew things were about to turn worse. In no time at all, Callum is the most wanted young fugitive around - and wanted by just the police. His mysterious enemies are closing in as well. Through it all, though, Callum's good friend and electronic wizard Boges hangs with him. I like the friendship the two have, but the pacing is just too tightly constructed to show much of it. Still, there are eleven books to go. The books are very stylistic as well. Chapters cover the days, sometimes only a page long, and sometimes they mark the passage of a few days. The individual chapters are also broken down by time stamps that keep the clock ticking for the reader. Another interesting twist on the book is that the pages are numbered backward, so you're always reading down to page 1. The device has been done before, but I doubt today's young readers have seen it, or that they will be any less intrigued by it than I was the first time I saw it done. The book is incredibly fast-paced, so even reluctant readers and boys who'd generally rather play video games will probably get sucked up into the story. Plus, with one coming out every month, t

The Conspiracy 365 series has promised to pack a punch, and so far it has delivered. The concept is simple: 12 books, 12 months. Fifteen-year-old Callum Ormond is thrown into a 365-day countdown after he's chased down the street by a wild man with a deadly warning. 'They killed you father . . . They'll kill you too . . . You must survive the next 365 days.' He has 365 days to solve a massive mystery - the Ormond Singularity - while he's on the run and being hunted by a number of criminal gangs. The action kicks off on the very first page, and instantly creates intense intrigue and urgency. The books are split into months, the chapters into days, and the story is timecoded into hours and minutes. Even the page numbers count down, backwards, so there's no escaping that anxious, race-against-time feeling! The line between fiction and reality often blurs. I did a search on Twitter and even found that the main characters have their own pages. There's not a lot going on there now, but a little bit of the back-story is revealed in the months prior to the start of the countdown, like when Cal's dad dies, six months before the story even begins. Like the concept, the covers are cleverly designed, resembling attention-grabbing Hollywood film posters, but it was a real pleasure to find that the hype has been backed up by a great story, rich characters and strong writing. There isn't any dumbing-down or sugar-coating, which makes the story more convincing, in spite of the extreme situations. I've found that lots of kids who aren't that big on reading are already hooked - both boys and girls. There seems to be a real sense of achievement from them too, proving that a commitment to such a big series promotes not only reading stamina, but reading satisfaction.

On December 31st, fifteen year old Callum Ormond heard his name being called by a stranger he didn't even know. Before he could run away he shouts out to him "They killed your father. They're killing me! You must go into hiding until December 31st next year." After hearing those devastating words, he must uncover the mysterious history of his family and do so by using the few clues his father left behind. Now being framed for a crime he didn't commit, Callum is the most wanted fugitive and not just by the authorities. While Callum races against time to uncover the secret, he must also be aware of the people who are willing to get to him by any means necessary. Will Callum uncover the dark secret which his father died over? Will he even survive the next 365 days? Wow.. that's all I pretty much have to say about this book! It got directly to the point at the beginning, and it started picking up pace immediately. It sort of reminded me of a Bourne Identity, but the story is totally different. It was definitely a quick read because it only took me a couple of hours to read, but it sure keeps you on the edge of your seat. I definitely think this book is a best seller series in the making, and anyone who likes books with tons of action and a mysterious twist to it will really enjoy Conspiracy 365. I would recommend this for ages 12 and up. Reviewed by a young adult student reviewer Flamingnet Book Reviews Teen books reviewed by teen reviewers

On December 31st, fifteen year old Callum Ormond heard his name being called by a stranger he didn't even know. Before he could run away he shouts out to him "They killed your father. They're killing me! You must go into hiding until December 31st next year." After hearing those devastating words, he must uncover the mysterious history of his family and do so by using the few clues his father left behind. Now being framed for a crime he didn't commit, Callum is the most wanted fugitive and not just by the authorities. While Callum races against time to uncover the secret, he must also be aware of the people who are willing to get to him by any means necessary. Will Callum uncover the dark secret which his father died over? Will he even survive the next 365 days?? Wow.. that's all I pretty much have to say about this book! It got directly to the point at the beginning, and it started picking up pace immediately. It sort of reminded me of a Bourne Identity, but the story is totally different. It was definitely a quick read because it only took me a couple of hours to read, but it sure keeps you on the edge of your seat. I definitely think this book is a best seller series in the making, and anyone who likes books with tons of action and a mysterious twist to it will really enjoy Conspiracy 365. I would recommend this for ages 12 and up. Guest reviewer on [...]