|
Alexie, Sherman. The
Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian. (120
pp.) Imagine being born with a disability that makes you
look strange. Imagine being the center point for all racism and
having your entire community turn on you. This is the situation
of Junior, the fourteen-year-old Native American protagonist of
this story. He is expected to amount to nothing but a drunk like
his father. But when his teacher inspires him to change schools
and get a better education, he steps outside his reservation and
his comfort zone. When he gets to the new school and gets a good
dose of racism, he keeps on trying against great odds and shows
that he has something special. At the reservation, his people think
of him as a traitor and call him white boy. He experiences great
tragedy, pain, and suffering. His best friend hates him and his
new friends are much different. I loved this book. It was full of
great decisions and Sherman Alexis was able to put a good amount
of humor into it so that it was not only sad. I cried and laughed
my way through this book and I think you should, too. Reviewed
by Jonathan P.
Allison, Jennifer. Gilda Joyce: Psychic Investigator
(pp. 336) A prickly feel behind her ear, is all Gilda
Joyce needs to tell her that she is on to a ghostly mystery. In
the book Gila Joyce: Psychic Investigator, Gilda, a spunky
thirteen year old invites herself to her uncle and cousin's home
in San Francisco. Although she barely knew them, she had a feeling
that there was something up there in San Francisco that she
had to solve. Gilda soon finds herself at the Splinter's mansion
in San Francisco where many secrets seem to be kept. For example,
the witch-hat shaped tower that was locked up and forbidden to go
into. She soon learns that Juliet (her cousin) has been seeing images
of her dead aunt that had passed away years before. Through sleepless
nights with echoing footsteps on the other side of her bedroom wall,
and a secretive uncle, Gilda and Juliet work together in solving
the mystery of what really happened to Juliet's aunt. The author,
Jennifer Allison, does a wonderful job in blending together a spooky
mystery with a touch of humor. Her creative way of having Gilda
type up her thoughts on her father's typewriter, and the cliff hanging
ends of each chapter is especially interesting. I can connect to
this book very well because I also like to write down my thoughts.
People like me, who enjoy mysteries, should try this book. I was
immediately hooked onto not only this book, but the rest of the
series as well. Join Gilda Joyce in an exciting mystery and discover
what you may really enjoy reading. Reviewed by Aparna A.
Barry, Dave. Peter and the Shadow Thieves (556 pp.)
Peter is a young orphaned boy who lives on Mollusk Island with his
mates the "Lost Boys'. When peter over hears that his friend
Molly and her family are in trouble it is up to him and Tinkerbell
to find Molly in London. But, where could Peter find molly's home?
Specialty when she lives in London, England? It's a race against
time to find Molly and save the Starcatchers and the whole world,
once again. I loved this book. After I read Peter and the Starcatchers
I had to read the second book, Peter and the Shadow Thieves.
I would recommend this book for 6th graders and up. It's an outstanding
book that is hard to put down once you get into it. I can't wait
to read the third book in the series, Peter and the Secret of
Rundoon. This series is the best book series I have ever read.
The action and the little romance in it makes it a great series
to read for the ones who live lots of action and romance. Oh and
magic. Reviewer: Signe C.
Bloor, Edward. Tangerine (305 pp.) Paul is legally
blind. His parents tell him that he stared into an eclipse of the
sun too long. Paul never really hears more than that story though.
He's heard these words a million times, but he still doesn't remember.
Paul Fisher is a twelve-year old boy who moves to the town of Tangerine,
Florida where muck fires burn constantly and friendship is hard
to win. There he battles himself onto the school's soccer team as
a goalie and tries to get some attention from his parents, who only
have eyes for Paul's older brother Erik, the incredible "football
star." Soon Paul begins to recall memories of his earlier life
(much to his parent's despair) and the whole truth comes clear.
I recommend Tangerine to all children and teenagers. I like
this story because it makes you feel like you are walking beside
him every step of the way. The author does a great job describing
his actions, and his emotions. This story pulls you in and never
lets you go until the end. Reviewed by Lina T.
Burch, Christian. The Manny Files (304 pp.) Keats
is a unique, oddball third grader with a lot of big ideas. He dresses
up as a television news anchor for Halloween, makes connections
to everything he does, has three crazy sisters, and has had five
nannies, and is about to get a new one. But when the new nanny turns
out to be a male nanny, or a "manny", life is turned upside-down
for Keats, and life takes a turn for the best. With a fishing trip,
a piano recital, a wishing fountain, and a bully named Craig who
constantly picks on him, life is never boring for this American
boy. This book is full of adventure, excitement, and sadness, as
well as a lot of laughs. The Manny Files is a wonderfully
quick-paced story, with many conflicts to resolve. As Keats connects
what people do to other things like TV shows or book characters,
you too can connect what's happening to real life characters and
events, and actually visualize the people and events. I have experienced
many of the things that happen to Keats, and it's nice to see how
he deals with similar scenarios. The Manny Files may not
be for fans of more action-packed novels, but its one in a million
for those who love great fiction novels. The book is everything
and more. I would recommend the book for ages 10 and up, because
some of the humor is hard to get at a young age. If you're trying
shake off a lot of stress or need a book for a rainy day, then you
should read this book in a heartbeat. Reviewed by Isaiah S.
Brontë, Charlotte. Jane
Eyre. At first, Jane Eyre is an unloved orphan who lives with
the family of her uncle. But then Jane becomes a governess at the
strange house of Mr. Rochester. It's not an easy job. Mr. Rochester
is a temperamental man, and Jane hears strange noises coming from
the attic. In time, however, she sees the good qualities of Mr.
Rochester, and he becomes more to her than just an employer. Read
Jane Eyre for a great story of romance and innocence that is an
immortal classic. Caroline K.
Dan Brown. The Da Vinci Code. In this book Robert Langdon gets pulled
into a fast paced mystery. It starts when he gets an urgent phone
call in the middle of the night. The curator of the Louvre has been
murdered. He's left behind clues to solving his murder and with
clues leading to ancient secret society and something that has been
searched for for ages to no avail. Miriam A, Emma W. & Emily
M.
|
Cabot,
Meg. All American Girl. Samantha Madison is a girl
who has a really popular sister but she is an outcast. She is an artist.
Her parents sign her up for art lessons, and her whole life changes.
She is set apart from everyone else once again during the first art
class, so she skips the next one. That sets her up to save the presidents
life and she becomes famous. To top it all off the president's son just
might be in love with her. Caitlin M.
Cabot, Meg. Avalon High is
a book about Ellie who is a teenage girl who must try to figure out
if the teenage boy that she likes is the reincarnated king William.
Ellie doesn't think so but the clues are really making her change her
mind. The clues are really good and actually make you think that he
is the king. Find out what happens in the end and what might happen
to Ellie and her teenage boy Will. Lindsay G.
Card, Orson Scott. Ender's Game
is a science fiction book about a boy, Andrew Wiggin, whose nickname
is "Ender", with extraordinary intelligence for his age. When
the International Fleet tries to find a new commander to fend off a
possible second invasion by the Buggers, a sentient alien species, Ender,
at the age of six, enters Battle School along with many other brilliant
potential commanders to be trained for command. He encounters few friends
and many enemies there, while moving up through the ranks. It all comes
down to the final war with the Buggers. If you like action, futuristic
ideas, and many interwoven subplots, you'll love this book. Bei
D. and Trey R.
Carlson, Melody. Mixed Bags (224
pp.) Have you ever had to repeat your name to someone over and over?
Well Desiree Carter had to live with that every day all because he mom
was killed in a car accident. She was a tomboy living with internationally
famous 60s fashion model Katherine carter who is her grandmother. Ms.
Carter wont let Desiree even be called by the name DJ. She expects Desiree
to walk, talk, eat and most importantly dress like a lady. At this
point her grandmother has decided to start a mini prep school for girls
where she would teach them to be "lady's". This old lady didn't
know what she was in for trying to raise 5 completely different girls
and her grand daughter who had nothing in common with any of them but
money. There are rules that get broken, hearts that get hurt and thing
there ashamed of. Taylor, Casey, Eliza, Kriti, Rhiannen and DJ couldn't
be more different but when they had to go to the same same school, live
in the same house and put up with the same grandma they might just learn
how to put up with each other. At some point DJ might even be catching
on to the other girls ways when she goes out and actually spends money
on cute clothes and to DJs surprise she acutely looks good in them.
There might even be a boy involved... The way Melody Carlson brought
Mixed Bags to life amazed me. This book is a great story with
real life problems some teen-age girls go through. It brought me in
with a page turning story about friends, love, fashion and boys. There
was never a boring moment where I wanted to put it down. If you love
fashion and talking about clothes, this is most definitely a book for
you. After I finished this book, I was hooked right away through the
six book series. It is a must read that will change your perspective
on friendship forever! Reviewed by Sydney S.
Carter, Alden. Bull Catcher (288 pp.) Neil
Larson (Bull) and Jeff Hanson are the best baseball players in their
town. They are the eighth grade baseball team coaches, captains and
top team players. They play baseball every day between April and September.
If you like baseball, than Bull Catcher by Alden R. Carter is the perfect
book for you. The characters develop a lot throughout this book as they
go through high school. At the beginning of book, Jeff and Bull start
in eighth grade, and then at the end they are seniors in high school.
Bull's mom wants him to come to her house and work, but Bull doesn't
want to leave and miss out on baseball. Almost anything can change instantly
and you will be on your up until midnight seeing what happens next.
The plot of this book is great, so you should read this great novel
by Alden R. Carter. I would recommend this to anyone 12-15 who is interested
in baseball. This is a great read and I could barely put it down. There
are also a bunch of surprises in it and things twist and turn almost
instantly. Once you pick up Bull Catcher you will not be able
to put it down until it's done. You have to read this book to find out
what happens next. Reviewed by Peter U.
Chabon, Michael. Summerland. If you travel to
Clam Island, you will soon realize that there's a special corner of
the island called Summerland. In Summerland, the weather is always perfect
when the local Little League team plays baseball. This weather is caused
by the small creatures called ferishers. The fate of Summerland, the
ferishers, and indeed the entire world, however, is threatened by the
ancient trickster Coyote. The ferishers need a hero, and that hero turns
out to be Ethan Feld. Ethan really hates baseball, and that turns out
to be a problem, because he's about to embark on an adventure involving
Sasquatches, giants, learning about his own inner strength, and a whole
lot of baseball. This book is a magical story that will leave you searching
for your own Summerland. Caroline K.
Choldenko, Gennifer. Al Capone Does
My Shirts. When Moose and his family move to Alcatraz, his life
changes drastically. He has to leave all his friends behind, and his
dad doesn't even have time to play ball with him anymore. And it's all
so his autistic sister can get into a special school for kids with her
disability. But when she doesn't make it in, everything seems to fall
apart. As if that isn't enough, he lives on an island with some of the
world's most dangerous criminals! All he wants to do is help and protect
his sister, live up to his parents' high expectations, and most of all,
stay out of trouble. But with the warden's cute, annoying, nosy daughter
around, it seems rather unlikely. In this entertaining but truthful
novel, you learn about the sad and frustrating illness autism, while
laughing out loud at Gennifer Choldenko's witty writing. This is a fantastic
summer must read! Emily B.
|
Collins,
Susan. The Hunger Games (374 pp.) The apocalypse
has passed and the world is in ruins. The world has been through a civil
war and there is not much left in the world to treasure. Most humans
are living like cave men, using a basic bow to hunt. The place formerly
know as the U.S.A, is now eleven "districts". The capital
is the only place left with technology, but the way they use it is horrifying.
The government's cruel way to punish civilians for rebelling is to force
eleven kids(one kid from each district) to fight to the death every
year-the Hunger Games. Katniss Everdeen is sixteen years old.
She lives with her mother and sister on the edge of society. Her father
died in a coal mining accident. Her mother has never been the same since
Katniss' father died, so Katniss is responsible for taking care of the
family. When Katniss' sister is selected for the Hunger Games, it is
a no brainer for her to volunteer in her sister's place. In the Hunger
Games, Collins shows what a child would do given the situation of
killing and "running for their lives." This book shows great
ethics and I strongly recommend it. I know that you will love the
Hunger Games. The book gives a moral lesson as well as being a great
thriller. I would recommend this book for children over ten. The
Hunger Games are coming! Reviewed by Anders B-H.Michael
Colfer, Eoin.
Artemis Fowl and The Opal Deception is a thrilling story about a
brilliant boy named Artemis who has discovered the hidden life of fairies
underground. This boy is a major criminal mastermind at age 12 who is
insanely rich and has the best bodyguard in the world. Unfortunately,
he is torn between abandoning his criminal life and becoming a normal
teenager or having the pleasure of perfectly executing a plan. The fairies,
on the other hand, are three times as smart as humans and have far more
technology. However, they face a problem: their most dangerous criminal
has escaped from a coma and has plotted and commenced a plan that threatens
to wipe out the fairies and expose them to humans. A great book to read
over the summer. Jack B.
Colfer, Eoin. The
Supernaturalists is a thrilling, futuristic tale in which a young
boy, escaped from an orphanage, joins a group of teens and young adults
who are chasing down supernatural parasites. These parasites are sucking
the life out of wounded and injured people. It is Eoin Colfer's latest
book, and it is every bit as good as Artemis Fowl and The Wish List.
It keeps twisting and turning until the very end. As you read, make
sure you know who are your enemies and who are your friends. If you're
looking for an explosive, action packed book this summer, look no further.
Zach S.
Cooney, Caroline. Whatever Happened
to Janie? is a novel of a girl who suddenly finds that her family
isn't hers. Janie's real family has been looking for her since she was
three years old after she was kidnapped at a mall. Janie goes to live
with her birth family trying to make the transition from being an only
child in a rich family to a child of five in a cramped, small house
with one bathroom. What happens when she finds she could never love
her birth family? Who is she really, Jennie or Janie? Read this heart
wrenching story to find the answers. Johanna B.
Farmer, Nancy. The House of Scorpion
is about a young clone named Matt. Clones are considered dirty and inhuman,
and are used for organ transplants for the ruling Drug Lords. When a
clone is born, by law it is required to have its brain stunted. Matt's
genetic father, El Patron, is the most powerful Opium Drug Lord in Mexico,
so he broke the law to get to know his clones. Matt is the next in line
to rule and El Patron is very old. Matt must escape El patron's organ
needs and overthrow him. Connor S., Pedro C. & Parker M.
Fletcher, Susan. Alphabet of Dream (432
pp.) Across oceans of sand and ancient villages of red brick and flowing
streams, through vanished marshes and over fields of calmly grazing
sheep, a miracle takes place. Far away, a girl lives with her brother
in an underground world walled with bones. But her brother has a gift.
The girl is Mitra, disguised as a boy so she can live undiscovered.
Her brother is Babak, and his gift is dreaming. Mitra and Babak are
the children of an exiled Persian king. They have only each other, and
yet Mitra is willing to risk that to get back to her family and the
life she lost. Babak has the power to dream other's dreams, and they
come true. He only has to sleep with a possession of there's, and he
can see there hopes, and there futures; but at what cost. Blinded by
hopes of Palmyra, the city her relatives were said to have fled to,
Mitra does not see how weak Babak is getting, until it is too late.
Traveling with the Magi, who find Babak's dreams about a star very interesting,
Mitra makes her way to the tiny city of Bethlehem, where she will discover
things about herself that she never knew before. Susan Fletcher, the
author of Alphabet of Dreams, skillfully intertwines the nativity
with the story of an exiled Persian girl, layering a familiar story,
with one that is entirely new. The events that carry the characters
along are biblical, though the book is really about Mitra, as she struggles
to hide her identity, while she longs to be herself. Susan Fletcher
has created a character that any girl could relate to, while setting
the scene of a remarkably different place and time. I loved reading
Alphabet of Dreams. The characters are developed and believable,
and Mitra's story pulled me in. It was a book I couldn't put down, and
I reread parts even when I had finished. I would suggest it to readers
in middle school, girls especially, but I think older and mature younger
readers could enjoy it as well. It is a wonderful book, and I think
that anyone who reads it will love being immersed in the world of Mitra
and her brother. Reviewed by Kristen P.
Funke, Cornelia. Inkheart.
Meggie's father is only a bookbinder, so she can't understand why when
a stranger shows up in the middle of the night her father invites him
in as if he knows him as a friend. In the morning, Meggie finds out
that she and her father have to move. When she moves, though, she finds
out that everything is not as she suspected, and she finds herself in
the middle of an adventure full of magic, books, and danger. It is very
scary, exciting, and full of adventures. Lupi L., Sonya G., Michaela
H., and Rachel M.
|
|
Harrison,
Lisi.
It's Not Easy Being Mean.
This is the seventh amazing Clique book. What happens when you receive
a key from the most popular eight grader hinting you on how to get the
key to the secret room that only popular either graders can go to? But
the only thing stopping Massie Block (the most popular seventh grader,
with designer clothes, best friends, new boyfriend, Derrington, and
huge house) from getting the key is that there are LBR's (losers beyond
repair) who are also looking for it. In a fast-paced, competitive fight
to be number one, Massie and the PC (pretty committee) come up with
a scheme to solve the problem. But will she have what it takes to win?
Kate D'Orsi, Annafaye Dunbar, Ella K.
Hale, Shannon.
The Goose Girl. Suddenly Ani heard a fierce clank of swords
and many screams in the air. Her first instinct was to run back as fast
as she could to help out and see what was going on. Then it struck her.
It had happened. Syria, her lady in waiting, was taking over, trying
to take her position as crown princess. I have to run to save myself,
she thought, All the guards want to kill me! She nearly screamed at
the thought but covered her mouth instead. She ran to her horse and
began to gallop away, This is a fabulous fairy tale that everyone should
read. It the story of a de-crowned princess who needs to find herself
to win back her crown. Rebecca W.
Karen Hesse. Out of the Dust is a book
written in the form of poetry. It's about a young girl living in Oklahoma
during the 1930's. When drought strikes, ruining her father's crops,
the rest of her life starts to go downhill, too. If you want to find
out if this girl's life turns around, read this book. Kate K.
Carl Hiaasen. Hoot is a great movie
for little kids to see and the book is an easy read. This book is about
owls that have burrowed in the ground. The owls are in danger because
the construction workers are saying the den is abandoned but really
it's not. The main character, Roy, and his friends are trying to save
the owls. They pull some crazy stunts on the workers and the cops. Allison
M.
Hornby, Nick. High Fidelity (340 pp.)
Top five things is like about this book: 1) The main character, Rob
Fleming, owns a record shop called Championship Vinyl in North London.
2) His only friends are his two employees at the shop, Dick and Barry,
who like Rob, spend most of their time listening to music, making fun
of customers, or at the local pub. 3) Most of Rob's life revolves around
music, and therefore you find hundreds of 70's rock n' roll and pop
music lyrics and references in the story. 4) Rob's relationships with
women are a constant problem in his life, and the ups and downs he experiences
with them are comical and thought provoking. 5) High Fidelity
is narrated through the eyes of Rob, and is filled with his cynical
and hilarious thoughts and opinions of people and of life. I will never
be able to forget some of the quotes, passages, and ideas that Nick
Hornby presents so well in the novel High Fidelity. Throughout
the book, Rob, Dick, and Barry, compose many top-five lists like the
one you just read while sitting around in Championship Vinyl waiting
for a customer. They categorize everything, from favorite movies to
girlfriends to best side-one track-one songs ever released. The comedic
trio fills the story with funny dialogue and musical history, as well
as frequent trips to bars and clubs. Because of this, High Fidelity
is rich with English culture, and Nick Hornby contrasts the differences
between our lifestyle and theirs when a young American singer winds
up at Championship Vinyl. Another main figure in Rob's life is Laura,
his girlfriend who leaves him one day for the man who lives in the apartment
above Rob. The breakup sets off a chain of events that compels Rob to
check up on his all time top five worst breakups. Starting at the bottom
of the list, Rob makes phone calls, talks, and visits with the women
who broke his heart. His thoughts and feelings throughout the book fill
up pages of hilarious, sad, and inspiring passages. I would recommend
High Fidelity to any teen or adult willing to risk falling into
ups and downs with Rob as he scrapes through his slightly depressing,
mundane, yet hilarious life. A Londoner himself, Nick Hornby combines
mid-life crisis with his knowledge of English culture and skill as a
writer, to produce this great, must-read novel. Reviewed by Sam B.
Horowitz, Anthony. Stormbreaker (260 pp.) Fourteen
year old Alex Rider wants to be a normal kid, but he just can't. His
parents died when he was born and now his uncle Ian, his only other
relative, dies in a car crash. Alex has suspicions about his uncle's
death. He goes to the junkyard and spots Ian's car, with bullet holes
through the steel and blood on the seats. He finds out that everything
he knew about his uncle is a lie. Alex learns that his Ian worked for
M16, Britain's intelligence agency. Now, M16 wants Alex to spy as well,
and they won't take no for an answer. M16 wants Alex to finish what
his uncle started, operation Stormbreaker. In Operation Stormbreaker,
Alex will nearly escape death many times and will have to save thousands
of lives. Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz is good because it's
written really well and when you read it you feel like your actually
there. Anthony Horowitz gives you great images of the dramatic scenes
Alex Rider is in. I loved this book and lots of other seventh graders
like it too. This book leaves you on the edge of your seat chapter after
chapter. It is full of action, suspense, adventure, and fighting. Most
every chapter ends in a cliff hanger. If you like action, adventure,
and suspense this book is great for you. Reviewed by Mattson R.
Horowitz, Anthony. Scorpia (388 pp.) He has been trapped
with a giant Portuguese man of war, snowboarded down a cliff, nearly
been blown to pieces by a nuclear bomb, and saved the world from many
disasters, once again Alex Rider is back in one of his very best adventures
yet. Alex Rider wants to be a normal school boy but what some people
might think of as awesome or cool he's got a job filled with blood,
fear, and one that takes a whole lot of bravery. Alex is a spy. Horowitz's
masterpiece Scorpia is a constant thriller with action at every
turn. He keeps the reader satisfied with the constant feed of suspense.
I really liked this book because it is a good mixture of mystery and
action . The Alex Rider series is one of the best and if you like nonstop
escape, gadgets, and fights this book is for you. Speaking of audience
this New York Times best selling author produces wonderful books that
work for almost any age. From young teens to 90 year olds, this fourteen-year-old
character entertains everybody. Reviewed by Max S.
Hosseini, Khaled. The Kite Runner
follows a boy named Amir in his boyhood and through to adulthood. He
deals with issues such as rape, suicide and various other issues dealing
with his religion and life in Afghanistan. This book is a harder read
and is for a more mature reader. His childhood friend Hassan is there
with him throughout the book and the main story is about how friendship
prevails all else. Lottie B. & Nico G-H.
Hunter, Erin. Into the Wild (288 pp.)
"You haven't been taken by the two legs to see the cutter"
meowed Bluestar gravely, "You would be very different then. Not
quite so keen to fight a clan cat I suspect!" Rusty, is a six month
old house cat who decides to go hunting in the woods one day. While
he is hunting, he is attacked by another cat named Graystripe. Some
other cats who watched them fight were impressed with Rusty's fighting
capability and invite him to join the life of the forest. When he decides
to stay in the forest, he is faced with new challenges. He must learn
all new ways of living and how to live with cats that don't want to
coincide with him. He now must fight for survival and support his clan,
Thunderclan. Thunderclan is one of the four clans that live with in
boundaries and live by the "warrior code". His leader is Bluestar,
and he makes friends with Graystripe. He is unsure whether he made the
right decision. He knows secrets he shouldn't know and his life is threatened
by another cat who's treacherous plans depend on that secrets not getting
out. This book is one of the only books I have read and decided to read
the sequel to. It is fast moving, when there are battles, its interesting
with all the different parts of the codes and how the clans live together
and the world they live in seems so realistic. I would recommend this
book to everyone. I know it might sound cheesy with a book about cats
who fight, but there is a lot more to it than that. Reviewed by Tucker
C.
Iverson, Allen. Only the Strong
Survive. A young ADHD basketball all-star in the hood who sleeps
where he wants and goes to school when he wants gets caught with drugs
right before college. The judge has Allen Iverson's life in his hands.
Will Allen Iverson go to jail and lose his college opportunity or will
he light up the score board at George Town University? This book is
all about Iverson's path to the NBA. I recommend this book to any basketball
fanatic. Micki S. |
Klass, David. You Don't Know Me (272 pp.) A boy John about
fourteen years old plays the tuba; he says, "The tuba plays him."
John's stepfather is a cruel man; beats John for no reason. Johns mother
is unaware of that and doesn't believe it. John spends too much time
inside his head. He gives nicknames to his friends and teachers. Calls
his teacher Ms. Moonface, and calls his friend Billy Beazer because
of his big nose. You Don't Know Me is a wonderful and sad book.
It's a sad book because of the violent and cruel things John has to
deal with at home. I recommend this book to someone who does not mind
cruel and violent things. This genre is realistic fiction. This age
range would be about thirteen to about fifth teen years old. You
Don't Know Me by David Klass is great book; once you start you have
to finish. Reviewed by Aphrodite P.
Krakauer, Jon. Into Thin Air.
This book is a suspenseful book about the dangers of climbing Mt.
Everest. Krakauer travels to Nepal where he becomes acquainted with
some of the best known-climbers while traveling to base camp. He fights
the physical and emotional challenges while climbing Everest, which
included a terrible disaster on summit day. Krakauer's incredible tale
of hardship and success grabs the reader and takes them on the journey
up Mt. Everest. Lucy S. & Erin D.
Lawhead, Stephen. In the Hall of the Dragon King (384
pp.) Quentin, a young boy who lives in a large church, knows
he doesn't want to work there his whole life but never expected to be
dragged into a quest to save a king. He meets Ronsard, the king's dying
body guard who tells him that he must bring an important message to
the queen. He then must travel long and far on an epic quest to save
the king. Quentin encounters many enemies, human, and not quite so human.
On his way he meets many people such as a banished hermit, and knight
and many others. I read this book and got cut and pasted into this story.
It was almost as if I was in the story and riding alongside fending
off wizards and giant snakes. If you read this book, you will know what
all the people that read and enjoyed this book think. Reviewed by
Alex B.
L'Engle, Madeline. A Wrinkle in Time (232 pp.)
Have you ever imagined yourself traveling through space and time to
rescue your father? That's exactly what happens in A Wrinkle in Time.
Meg Murry (an awkward high school student), her little brother Charles
Wallace (a brilliant six-year-old) and her friend Calvin O'Keefe (one
of Meg's classmates), aided by Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which
take a dangerous journey across the universe. They travel through space
and time to reach the planet Camazotz, where trouble awaits them all,
especially Charles Wallace. On Camazotz, something is fishy. Everything
is in order. There are no wars or disagreements, but something is very
wrong with the planet. I liked this book because of the original plot
line about journeying through outer space and trying to reunite a family.
I would recommend this book to kids and teenagers. It has an original
plot and pulls you in from the first sentence. You will find yourself
wrapped in a world of space and time travel, friendly aliens, and dangerous
planets. Reviewed by Cathleen B.
Mah, Adeline Yen. Chinese Cinderella
is a heartbreaking true story of an unwanted daughter, Adeline Yen.
Unable to visit friends, eat what she wants, or be loved by her family,
her only outlet is her Aunt Baba, who is despised by Adeline's stepmother.
Adeline's aunt encourages her and acts like a mother, but when Adeline
is separated from her and put in a boarding school right in the path
of the Communists during the Cultural Revolution, she is in grave danger.
What will happen to Adeline? Will she ever win the respect of her family?
Elizabeth F.
Maynard, Joyce. The Usual Rules (382 pp.) It is just
like any other day, September 11, 2001. While Wendy is at school the
news spreads that terrorists attacked the World Trade Center. Immediately
after she hears the news, her step-dad and half-brother come to pick
her up. Where is her mom? Isn't she taking a day off work? Shouldn't
she be with them? All of these questions are haunting her for weeks,
as her mother never comes home. Soon her biological father calls indicating
that she must live with him for the time being. Her world turns upside
down as the outrage builds up inside her. She is forced to leave her
loving, hysterical brother whom she'll miss very much and her step-dad
who she has recently become close to. How will she go on without the
loving mother she's never been away from? Joyce Maynard's novel The
Usual Rules thoughtfully explores the changes and emotions a thirteen-year-old
girl faces after tragically losing her beloved mother. This book is
filled with adventure, melancholy, and a little bit of romance. The
Usual Rules is a wonderful book and once you begin reading it you
can't put it down. I would highly recommend it to any middle school
student. I could easily relate to this book considering all of the emotions
I felt when I lost a loved one and moved away . Reviewed by Isa B.
Meyer, Stephanie. Twilight (498 pp.) What
would happen if you were unconditionally and irrevocably in love with
a villain? If your boyfriend thirsts for the sweet fragrance of your
blood? And if at any moment he can crush you to pieces? When already
klutzy Bella Swan arrives to one of the rainiest towns in the country,
she becomes even more of a danger magnet. Seventeen-year-old Bella decides
to leave sun-drenched Phoenix to visit her father in Forks, which she
detests. Bella thinks that she's ending up in an inclement town in the-middle-of-nowhere
Washington, where the only think that happens is rain showers. Bella's
thoughts are way out of line because she ends of finding her soul mate.
Bella falls deeply into love with an angelic monster, Edward Cullen.
Just when it seems that this relationship will work, disaster hits.
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer is a book full of thrills, romance,
and suspenseful events. Twilight is a classic story of romance
with an unusual twist. The book got more intriguing as the further I
read because the plot evolved into being action-packed. While reading
Twilight, I could feel the intensity in Edward Cullen's eyes
and I felt as if his heavenly face appeared before me. When I noticed
the length of Twilight I thought, I'm never going to be able
to read 498 pages! I taught myself wrong when I plowed through Twilight
and was craving the sequel New Moon. Reviewer: Hannah N.
Meyer, Stephanie. New Moon (547 pp) When Bella
and Edward get married and go on an island honeymoon, things couldn't
seem better, their love can't be stronger when suddenly something goes
wrong. Bella is weak and nauseated while everyone around her doesn't
know how to help, or if she'll survive. While this is happening, Jacob
is having problems of his own; he and the pack leader, Sam get into
a big fight, and Jacob has had enough. All is in chaos and with Bella
sick Charley is starting to get suspicious. Stephanie Meyer the author
of New Moon's prequels: Twilight, Breaking Dawn and
Eclipse brings an exciting and suspense filled novel to the Twilight
saga. I have read all of the Twilight books and New Moon is my
favorite, once a started reading it pulled me in and I didn't put it
down until I was done, once I was I wished there was more. New Moon
is a romance novel with plenty action, schemes and schisms. I recommend
this book for people anywhere from eleven to teen and anyone else who
enjoys fictional vampire romance. Reviewed by Mesa |
| Nimmo,
Jenny. Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors (410 pp.)
Charlie Bone, an eleven-year-old boy, has a perfect life at
his school, Bloors Academy, except for a few minor problems. His father,
Lyle Bone, has been missing for ten long years, and an evil mythical
horse named Borah is after him. Everything in Charlie's life is changed
after an evil shadow named Count Harken comes out of a picture, and
Charlie's mom, Amy Bone, starts to forget her husband. Charlie learns
where his father might be, when his friend Gabriel says there is a man
in the Castle of Mirrors, in the book Charlie Bone and the Castle
of Mirrors by Jenny Nimmo. Charlie learns that one of his friends
has a mysterious talent from the Red King. He now has to get his mom
to remember his dad. Meanwhile the Bloors are after Borah and will do
whatever they can to get the horse. Will Charlie ever save his dad and
save his friends in time to get away from Borah. I was attached to the
Charlie Bone I couldn't stop reading. I felt as though I was in the
life of Charlie Bone, and having to go through what he has to do. I
was also attached to the Charlie Bone series after reading the
other 3 books; Midnight for Charlie Bone, Charlie Bone and
The Time Twister, and Charlie Bone and the Hidden Boy. The
Charlie Bone series has action, friendship, and mystery. I believe
that any reader who likes Harry Potter and the Lighting Thief,
will love the book Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors. Reviewed
by Christopher S.
Nolan, Han.. If I Should Die Before
I Wake is a very compelling story that drags you back to a time
during the Holocaust. It's about a girl named Hilary, who is part of
a neo-Nazi gang in her hometown. After a terrible motorcycle accident,
she ends up in a Jewish hospital near to death. While fighting for life
in the hospital bed, Hilary falls back into a "dream land"
where she becomes a Jewish girl named Chana, living during the Holocaust,
with Nazis ruling her life. The book contains vivid details and descriptions
of the horrible ways that women and girls were treated at concentration
camps in Germany. If I Should Die Before I Wake gives you a really good
sense of what it was like living during the Holocaust, and you won't
be able to put it down until the very last word! Katie C.
Paolini , Christopher. Eragon (503 pp.) What would you
do if two mysterious men dressed in black killed your uncle and burned
down your house? How would take care a dragon? These difficult questions
are what Eragon has to answer in the book Eragon by Christopher Paolini.
The book is about Eragon a local farm boy that lives with his Uncle
Garrow and his cousin Roran in a local village called Carvahall, because
Eragon's parents mysteriously disappeared. Little does Eragon know his
life is about to change when he finds a mysterious blue stone in the
Spine woods. One night Eragon hears strange noises coming from the blue
stone and discovers that the blue stone is really a dragon egg. Eragon
names the dragon Saphira and pets on the head. When Eragon touches Saphira
he gets a strange scar on his hand. Eragon worries that Roran and Garrow
will not accept Saphira so he decides to secretly take care of Saphira.
A decision Eragon will soon regret. In this story Eragon and Saphira
will meet powerful foes, brave friends, and fight in many battles. Eragon
has action, suspense, and things to think about on every page. When
I read Eragon I felt sad when a character died, I got mad when the bad
guys won some battles, and I fell in love with the characters. At first
glance Eragon might look boring, but Eragon is definitely a book you
want to put on your reading list. Reviewed by Jack R.
Paulsen, Gary. Hatchet. is life or death book
is about a boy named Brian who gets lost in the woods after a plane
crash and has to save himself. With no food or water, will he survive?
This is a great novel about a person versus nature conflict. In this
amazing book one boy connects with nature in a most astonishing way.
It is a must read over the summer. Anything could happen. Will he die?
It all happens in Hatchet! Sean G.
Paulsen, Gary. Winterdance
is a hilarious, sad, exciting nonfiction book about Gary Paulsen's experience
training and running in the Iditarod. It includes his encounters with
animals such as skunks and moose, near death experiences, inside details
on the race itself, and much more. Each chapter is like a little story
in itself explaining each experience in such detail. It really helps
you respect sled-dog racers and understand a whole different type of
lifestyle. What happened to Paulsen after being trampled by a moose,
being sprayed by six skunks, and witnessing a murder? You'll just have
to find out yourself. Elizabeth F.
Paterson, Katherine.
Bread and Roses, Too. Man, if you like historical
fiction, do I have a book for you. This is a fantastic book about two
children born into a poor Italian family, without a father. When the
mother and the older sister go on strike, the younger brother, Ricci
and the middle sister, Rosa, are sent away to a small town in Vermont,
to conserve what little money they have left. A delightful combination
of rebellion, love, and regret, this book is a must-read for anyone
who wants to learn about the terrible working conditions of 1912, or
wants to have an extremely satisfied feeling of content at the end of
the best 288 pages you'll ever read. Nick B.
Picoult, Jodi. Nineteen Minutes. (455 pp.)
Imagine that kid in your grade who nobody wants to hang out with, the
loner. The guy who will lower somebody's reputation for just talking
o them in the hall. Peter Houghton's goal in school is just to keep
from getting beaten up every time he walks to his cubby. Being the unloved,
unpopular guy is hard, and Peter decides he's had enough, he wants revenge.
This thrilling mystery unwinds and unravels before your eyes. Flashbacks
to early years race through the book, and uncover true evidence about
a school shooting at Sterling High. Nineteen Minutes uses many
different perspectives that come together to explain a shooting that
should never have happened. I mean it when I say this book changed my
life. I look at the kids who get ignored, shoved into, and I can almost
understand how they feel. Anger boiled up inside can cause so many more
problems than anybody could expect.This is an amazing book, and I suggest
it to anybody who's up for an exciting book with twist and turns. If
you are easily disturbed by death or murder this book is probably not
for you. Keep in mind it is an adult book, and should be read with that
in mind. Reviewed by Molly C.
Picoult, Jodi. My Sister's Keeper is
a moving book about a family and their struggles with their daughter
Kate. Kate was diagnosed with leukemia when she was just a small girl.
It was a serious diagnosis and they needed to find a donor. Anna, Kate's
sister was the only one that could supply Kate with what she would need
to survive. Many years go by with Anna unwillingly donated and going
through surgeries to keep her older sister alive. Finally Anna was fed
up with all the surgeries. Her parents refused to let her stop so she
filed a lawsuit. If Anna doesn't donate to Kate there might not be any
other way to keep Kate alive. Ariel S., & Bridget H.
Pullman, Philip. The Dark Materials
Trilogy: The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass.
Most of the time I absolutely hate fantasy books, but I loved these.
They are very fast paced and have tons of action, which makes up for
them being so long. These books take place in many different worlds
which two children travel through, and in the end determined the fate
of the universe. They can get a bit confusing so they're not a quick
read. I know it may sound a little corny, but they're really not and
I would recommend them to anybody. Mac M. |
Raskin, Ellen.
The Westing Game (192 pp.) What if you could win 2 million
dollars, just by solving a riddle asked by a dead man? That is a question
asked of the 12 heirs, who have no idea why they were chosen. Each of
them thinks they know the answer, but only one will find out. Is it Turtle,
aged thirteen, who kicks the shins of anybody who touches her hair? Is
it Chris, or his brother Theo, sons the of the coffee-shop owners? Or
is it Judge Ford, a black woman who broke all the barriers to become a
state-appointed official? These four, as well as eight others, find themselves
at Sunset Towers, which neither faces the sunset, nor has any towers,
with one question in their mind. Who will win two million dollars?
If you like a good mystery (or even if you don't) this is a great
book for you! I loved how the author easily switched between the different
points of views and showed all the pieces of the puzzle without revealing
the final picture. Also, her different characters have really believable
problems or weaknesses, which makes it easy to connect to at least one
of the characters. The whole story weaves through all the alliances and
betrayals that come up in the process of finding the answer to the question:
Who killed Mr. Westing? Was it the delivery man in the parlor with the
candlestick? Or the cook in the kitchen with the bomb? These questions,
and others, are asked and answered with surprising plot twists in between.
Reviewed by Kaily A.
Rowling, J. K.. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (312
pp.) Doesn't everyone wish they could do magic? Well in the book
Harry Potter, most of the people use magic. There's everything that you've
ever imagined magic to be and more in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's
Stone, by J. K. Rowling. Harry Potter lives with his aunt and uncle
and their son Dudley. Harry gets bullied a lot, not just Dudley but the
whole family. He also finds that he can make odd things happen when he's
sad or angry. Suddenly Harry starts getting letters sent to him, but his
letters never seem to get to him. His uncle goes out of his almost crazy
trying to keep the letters away from him, his uncle even moves the whole
family to a shack on a large rock out at sea. Then in the middle of the
night just as harry turns eleven, a very large man with a bushy beard
and a lot of hair, knocks down the door of the cabin. This man has come
to take harry to a school named Hogwarts. I like this book because it
has clues along the way to help you figure out what's going to happen
along the way. Also many things happen in this book that you would never
have expected. Read the book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's stone to
find out what amazing adventure he finds at Hogwarts! Reviewed by Aoife
F.
Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation (288 pp) McDonald's,
a very popular fast food chain but do you know what really goes on behind
closed doors. Eric Schlosser does a great job of describing the brutal
and in part illegal work that goes on to bring you a Big Mac. Fast
Food Nation covers every aspect of fast food from the history to how
fast food changed the meat and potato industry. I would definitely would
recommend this to anyone who would really like to see the truth behind
corporate america. Fast Food Nation is a very well written and
gripping book, its description is absolutely perfect and burns an image
into your mind that may change your opinions all over the world about
fast food. This book is great for most teens and for people who wish to
see the "dark side of an all American meal." Note: Fast Food Nation
may not be a great book for the squeamish of the faint of heart. Reviewer:
Andy M.
Shepherd, Sara. Pretty Little Liars (304 pp.) In Rosewood,
PA, nothing is ever what it seems. Best friends Allison DiLaurentis, Spencer
Hastings, Hanna Marin, Aria Montgomery, and Emily Fields are living near
to perfect lives. Or so it seems... each one of them has a disturbing
secret that only Allison knows. But when Allison goes missing at an end-of-seventh-grade
sleepover, no one knows what to do. Now it's three years later. Ever since
Allison's disappearance the girls have drifted away from one another and
formed new lives. Shortly after the start of sophomore year, all of them
start getting threatening texts, emails, and notes to spill their secrets
only Allison knows. Could these messages signed with only the letter "A"
be from Allison? Is she back in Rosewood after all these years? Pretty
Little Liars was a page-turner for me. I recommend it to all who are
drawn to mysteries and slightly haunting story lines. I couldn't put it
down, with the thrill of each chapter uncovering a new piece of the puzzle,
I had to go on. Shepherd is amazing at giving a new clue to the mystery
and timing it with all the characters. Each chapter of her books focuses
on one character's point of view, giving you multiple ideas on how they
see things. Every novel in the series ends with an exhilarating event
that will make you have to read on to the next book. I recommend Pretty
Little Liars and the rest of the series to all people of middle school
or high school age, and I guarantee it will be a fast read. Reviewed
by Eleanor G. |
| Westerfeld,
Scott. Uglies (425 pp.) If you could change the way you looked
and become "pretty" would you do it? Tally Youngblood who is almost
sixteen years old changes from a normal person like us, also known as
an "ugly" into a "pretty" on her 16th birthday just by a simple
operation. Later though everything seems to be wrong, but what, she's
finally like everyone else a "pretty"? This book Uglies
by Scott Westerfeld is the kind of book you won't want to put
down, always wondering what's going to happen next. The main character
Tally loses her best friend and becomes friends with a girl named Shay.
Together they begin their many adventures. As Tally and Shay become
best friends they realize they don't know if they want to become "pretty"
yet. Later through the book Shay leaves to go to the town smoke, which
nobody is supposed to know about. The special circumstances force Tally
to go after her. Tally goes on an adventure of a lifetime trying to
find her friend and this old town, all she has is short note with clues
to where it is. Tally does find Shay but isn't sure she wants to go
back. This Is an amazing adventure book, when I read it I felt like
I was right there with Tally. It's not just adventure It has romance,
hard choices to make, fights with friends, and sneaking around being
a spy. It's a fight to stay herself, can she do it? Reviewed by Grace
C.
Wilhelm, Doug. The Revealers.
Parkland Middle School is home to bullies, cliques, and their tormented
victims until three rejected kids get together. A new girl from the
Philippines, a dinosaur geek, and their leader Russell, a quiet kid
ignored until now. They start an online newsletter, The Revealer, to
spread the truth about bullies at their school. To their surprise, it
becomes popular and starts to slowly change the way kids are treated.
This does not go smoothly though; they run into trouble with jocks,
a popular clique and the principle. See how they make their school a
better place, increase awareness of bullying, and escape trouble in
this new, suspenseful story that anybody can learn from. Jocelyn S.
Yancey, Richard. The Extraordinary Adventures
of Alfred Kropp. - If you're looking for a very funny and thrilling
book, this book is for you. Alfred Kropp is a normal boy who lives with
his uncle. His uncle has dreams of being a millionaire but has to steal
something to get there. This something is sacred, and has people guard
it with their lives. Alfred leaves the sword in the wrong hands, and
has to attempt to recover it. The only problem is that people do guard
this item, and the people who guard this item with their lives chase
Alfred through many adventures that will leave you on the edge of your
seat. What we loved about this book is the jump from a calm talking
moment to a chaotic fighting scene. Jack W. & Jake R.
Zevin, Gabrielle. Elsewhere (304
pp.) Elizabeth found herself in the middle of Elsewhere after
dying in a car accident on her bike at 15 (almost 16) years old. She
came to realize it was not a dream after meeting Betty, her grandmother
who died at 50 from breast cancer. Liz had never seen her and thought
it odd for her to look in her 30's until she understood how in Elsewhere,
lives were lived backward. Liz could never get her Massachusetts driver's
license, she could never finish high school or go to college, she could
only become fourteen, then thirteen, until becoming one again and being
sent back to earth to get a new name and mother. In Elsewhere there
are observation desks (OD's) where people in Elsewhere can watch their
families and friends go about their lives on earth. Liz spends hours
and days at the OD - even watches her own funeral her best friend didn't
attend - until she realizes that watching her family will not help her
live her life in Elsewhere, her new home. Can Liz ever talk to her parents
again? Can she let go of the only life she has ever known and take in
a new one? Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin is an excellent fantasy/science
fiction book for all teen readers. It leaves readers wanting to find
out what will happen next until the very last sentence that will captivate
everyone. Reviewed by Sarah M.
Zusak, Markus. The Book Thief (550 pp.) Death has seen
Liesel once before, on a train. He saw her just briefly, as he took
her five year old brother in his arms, out of the frost bitten train.
But he stayed to watch, as she picked up a book, a grave digging book.
The book thief's first book. Liesel is a young girl, and she is adopted
into a family because her mother cannot take care of her. She starts
to get used to her new life, but there are other hardships. For one,
she lives in Nazi Germany. Also, her country goes to war, and her family
is hiding someone. Someone illegal. But even so, she has something to
take her mind off it; books. Ever since she picked up a book at her
brother's grave, she has loved books, and reading. Soon, she is stealing
more and more books, from book burnings, and the mayor's library. Meanwhile,
her town, and family, is in more and more danger. The war goes on, and
the Nazi regime is harder to live under. More and more trouble comes,
in the turbulence of the war. With more bombings, and lines of Jews
walking through the town from the nearby labor camp, Liesel's life seems
closer to the edge every day. The Book Thief is impossible to
put down, as the narrator, Death, leads you through the life he has
seen only when he carries a soul away in his arms. The minute I started
reading, I was captivated. Zusak uses unique ways of conveying his story,
with Death's narration and commentaries. It's unlike any other book
I've read. Reviewed by Sam G. |
