My policy on Need To Read is to only write about books I love. In the past, I have turned down offers of free books because I was afraid an author might send me their book and I would hate it. I’d either have to lie (not an option) or I wouldn’t post about it and then they’d know I didn’t like it, totally defeating the point of Need To Read (to share great books and give authors kudos when they earn them). However, recently, a couple of authors who are veterans in children’s writing, and already quite successful, offered me ARCs (Advance Reader Copies) and I figured, you know…if they sent me their book and I didn’t like it, and didn’t write about it, they could probably take it, so I accepted.

I am happy to say that the first one I received was just fabulous! I just finished Stefan Petrucha’s new book, THE RULE OF WON, and it’s fantastic. Like his other book, TEEN, INC. which I read recently, Petrucha is truly masterful in the way he works in themes and ideas from history, as well as current events, without seeming preachy or teachy. His characters are real, if not a little eerie at times, and there is humour in even the most serious situations. I think Petrucha really hits his mark in that he is excellent at making the reader feel the sheer force of the situation getting totally out of hand. He draws you in and makes you feel the same panic that the main character feels as things spin crazily out of whack. Even books with great climaxes don’t always accomplish the task of making the reader feel like they want to “do something” to stop the madness themselves. Petrucha really gets his readers’ hearts engaged, as well as their minds in his new book, THE RULE OF WON.