Dane's Review: The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

Classic, epic, and by no means platitudinous, is the novel, known far and wide, by Ray Bradbury. The Martian Chronicles is a piece of literature, nay a work of art, that boggles the mind with plausibilities, unique fantasy, expert craftsmanship and imagery that is simply superb. The book is a collection of "mini-stories", each building amazing scenery and voice; taking us from the existence and culture of the Martian race, to Earth's own expeditions to the red globe, and even to far beyond, colonization of the planet. Bradbury's incredible mind paints wonderous pictures of Martians that aren't incredulous, but believable. The book will pull any avid lover of the abstract, abnormal, and all that it is SCI-FI, into its clutches.
Wonderful writing and awesome plot join the main peoples of Earth in their pilgrimage to Mars! This book is so much better if you read it by choice rather than in class; so make the best of a great book and do yourself a favor and read this classic.
Rating: 5Q, 3P.

Emily's Review: A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

Are you a fantasy fan searching for something, you know, original? Tired of trudging through nonsense-laden, logic-lacking wrecks (with stereotypical elves and dwarves and I-don't-really-care-what-else)? Then you should read the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin. If you don't, I will probably punch you. (Alternately, I will slay you with the twelve words of death I learned from Knockoff Fantasy #87.)
Inspired by The War of the Roses (a fierce fight over royal succession), the Ice and Fire books are more politically focused than the usual high fantasy plot; they're also entirely character-driven, rather than having to rely on some quest or prophecy for the story's sake. None of the cast are entirely good or evil -yeah, some are twisted and some are saintly, but mostly they're just people. This, if you didn't know, is TOTALLY AWESOME.
I feel I should note that Martin is infamous for the brutal treatment of his characters. In addition to this, the books are graphic -sometimes more than they should be- in all respects (blood and gore, adult situtations, etc.) Drama, violence, and depression. There's nothing you can't love! The series begins with A Game of Thrones and has yet to be finished.
Rating: 5Q, 3P

Jessica's Review: Name Dropping by Jane Heller

Although this particular book carried the same plot as so many television shows, movies, and other novels, it was still enjoyable. What I mean in these similarities is where girl meets guy, pretends to be someone else, falls in love, breaks his heart with her lies, and somehow they still end up together. The twists and turns are predictable for the most part, but its the smaller details that kept my attention, like Fischer Levins and his continuous disruptions and each new level added to the mystery.
Rating: 3Q, 3P

The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron

At age 10, Lucky has already lost her mother and been abandoned by her father. The one thing Lucky is sure about is that her backpack survival kit is always packed and ready to go, along with her faithful companion, HMS Beagle. Everything else in Hard Pan, CA., Pop. 43, she’ll have to learn to live without. Lucky is sure that Brigitte, her guardian, is going back to France so Lucky’s gonna have to run so she won’t end up in an orphanage. And it’s really too bad because she’ll miss her best friend Lincoln, although he might not stop tying knots long enough to notice she’s gone, and Miles, although at age 5, he’s young enough to find someone else to share stories and cookies with.
What Lucky will miss the most is eavesdropping on 12-step anonymous meetings and learning how she can find this “Higher Power”.

2007 Newbery Award Winner

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang [Graphic Novel]

American Born Chinese is a collection of three parallel stories of adaptation. The first tale is of the Monkey King, whose only goal is to be part of the dinner party in heaven. After he is shunned for being merely a monkey, the Monkey King decides to continue to master the disciplines of Kung Fu and fight those who won’t accept him.
Jin Wang starts a new school and is introduced as being from China, although he was born in San Francisco. He is a loner and is often bullied. When Wei-Chen, a new student from Taiwan, joins the class, Jin Wang is unsympathetic and tells him to speak English in America. Jin Wang develops a crush on a Caucasian girl but her friend delivers him a harsh message –that he (an ABC) is not good enough for her.
Danny is the All-American white boy. His cousin Chin-Kee comes to visit once a year and Danny is humiliated. Chin-Kee is the ultimate representation of the negative Chinese stereotype and Danny feels Chin-Kee is ruining his life.
When these three stories collide, the reader learns about identity and what it might feel like to be an American Born Chinese.

This is a graphic novel and the 2007 winner of the Printz Award.

Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde

Ever wonder what it would be like to ACTUALLY be a part of the video games you love to play? Be able to really make the slam dunks in NBA Live, go fishing in Runescape, or be a sniper in Halo?
Well—here’s your chance. Rasmussen Enterprises now offers a total immersion video game, where your brain is wired to the computer for the total experience of the game –sounds, smells, etc. You are in the game. And it’s only $50 for a half hour of play. Rasmussen Enterprises newest Total Immersion game is Heir Apparent. In this game, you are a sheepherder and the illegitimate child of the newly deceased king and must return to the kingdom to be crowned Heir Apparent. There are many ways to win but along the way you must… find the magic ring, outwit your 3 half-brothers and the queen, recite poetry to a head chopping statue, save the kingdom from barbarians, find the stolen treasure, chase away a group of pesky ghosts, answer riddles from a lonely dwarf, and steal a crown from a man-eating, gold loving dragon.
Sounds easy, right? And like all video games, if you die, you have to start the game over from the beginning. But there is one catch. The group Citizens to Protect Our Children has broken in and damaged the computer system. So time is limited, not just for your character but for you. If your character loses another life, so could you…
Wanna play?
Rasmussen Enterprises is not responsible for any personal injury occurred on the premises. A small number of users participating in Total Immersion may experience short term effects not limited to but including “light-headedness, decreased appetite, increased heart rate, blurred vision, memory loss, inability to concentrate, and/or loss of motor control.”

Mary's Review: Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K Hamilton

When one is tired out from classics, books that have that frustrating component of thought, there is something to be said for pulp. No meat, all frills novels that you won't remember in the morning, but made for great reading material while it was there. And that's exactly what this is. Ms. Hamilton certainly isn't going to win any awards, but take it for what it is and the book is certainly accessible--enjoyable even. A healthy dose of love for fiction on the mystical side doesn't hurt either. Anita Blake, vampire executioner, lives in a version of America where vampires, necromancers, and lycanthropes not only exist ; they have legal rights too. An interesting idea, and well and believably put into practice here. This first volume of a current fifteen-some book series finds our heroine (and kudos to Ms. Hamilton for creating a heroine not only un -annoying but tough and even likable, even in the eyes of a reviewer with a distate for female progtagonists), who raises the dead for a living by-the-by, investigating a series of vampire murders. This requires not only conquering her hatred of vampires but working with the irresistable, incorrigable Jean-Claude, vampire master, extraordinaire. Sounds pulpy, and really it is. Lots of blood, shootings, and some sexuality thrown in for good measure (it's a vampire book--this almost goes without saying). The later books ratchet up the sordid content a considerable amount, but here we have something not quite but (almost) middle school friendly. Don't forget to rest those brain cells occasionally, children.
Final Verdict: 3Q, 4P

The Freedom Writers Diary & Teach With Your Heart by Erin Gruwell

The Freedom Writers Diary by The Freedom Writers and Erin Gruwell

You think you know the story: teens in an intercity school who give their first year teacher a run for her money. Actually that isn’t this story. True, the 150 teens in Ms. G’s class are mostly disciplinary referrals that will probably never finish high school, “the unteachable”. They are more colorful than a box of crayons and most are part of a gang. Nearly all have witnessed a murder and are living below the poverty level. They are only in school because the other options are prison or the grave. This isn’t a story of how a teacher tries to reach her students and fails. The Freedom Writer’s Diary are the narrative accounts of the 150 students that Erin Gruwell believed in. Students that decided to pick up a pen rather than a gun to prove to themselves and the world that anyone can change and rise above their circumstances. Students who opened (and read!) a book and saw themselves in the lives of Anne Frank and Zlata Filipovic. 150 students who walked across the podium to receive their high school diploma and became the first in their families to attend college. Students who have now gone out into the world to make their own differences.

Teach With Your Heart by Erin Gruwell

Teach With Your Heart is Erin’s follow-up to her students’ book The Freedom Writer’s Diary. Erin describes her decision to teach, her struggles in the classroom with both students and fellow teachers, the demise of her marriage, and her determination to make a difference in the lives of 150 “unteachable” students. Erin takes readers along with her to the office of Steven Speilberg, on trips with her students to Washington D.C., New York City, and to Europe to visit Anne Frank’s attic. Erin illustrates how she captivated her students with visits from Miep Gies, the woman who hid Anne Frank’s family, and Zlata Filipovic, a 15-year-old Bosnian refugee. This book is a wonderful selection for current and future teachers. Erin expresses hope to those highly motivated and creative individuals who truly want to make a difference in the classroom.

I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

Ed lived a pretty ordinary, routine life until the day he unintentionally stopped a bank robbery. Little did he know that single act would change his life forever. Soon Ed receives a mysterious message in the mail, a single playing card, the Ace of Diamonds. On that card are 3 addresses. If Ed chooses to play the game, he will have to determine what is located at the addresses and what he must do at each one. Choosing to play, Ed must make his way through town helping (and possibly hurting) others. Only one question remains: Who is sending these messages and why have they chosen Ed to be the messenger?

Jessica's Review: Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella

Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella is a modern day fairytale based in the wonderful city of London. The narrator is the average, everyday, nothing special girl who believes that someday she'll walk around a corner and her life will change for the better. I enjoyed this book because the main character is someone I can relate to. She has an ordinary job, lives in a flat with her best friend, and is going to move in with her absolutely perfect boyfriend. Sounds just like a fairytale, doesn't it? Enter Jack Harper, multimillionare. It's this man that brings out the best, and worst, in Emma, and it's Jack who will reveal her secrets to the world and change her life forever.
Rating: 4Q, 4P