Carrie's Review: The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place by E.L. Konigsburg

Margaret Rose is an extremely artistic and unique teen, and the sources of her talents are not hard to discover. Margaret is thrilled when her two beloved, yet eccentric uncles rescue her from the uptight and stuffy camp in which she is imprisoned in. She is thrilled to be able to stay at her Uncle's home for the summer. Their house is like a treasure trove of old fashioned odds and ends. However, the real heart of the place is the three looming towers that stand in the backyard. Margret's Uncles have been constructing these steel scrap and glass towers for over 45 years and are the essence of her childhood. Unfortunately, this would be the summer that Margaret discovers the city is ordering a demolition of these very towers. Margaret not only bands together with a group of unexpected allies in order to save the towers, but she also discovers who she is and what these structures truly mean to her. E.L. Koingsburg weaves a magnificent tale of friendship, family, and self discovery that I personally recommend for any teen.
Ratin: 5Q, 5P

Rachel's Review: The Host by Stephenie Meyer

Melanie Stryder is a normal human being, and that's the problem. See, in Melanie's time, people are held captive in their minds by "souls". These "souls" take over the people's minds, and control their bodies. Melanie has had a soul inserted into her body, and will not keep quiet. Her soul goes by the name of "Wanderer" and is being followed by a Seeker. This Seeker is trying to find the last of the real humans so they can stop the war. Melanie is protecting their whereabouts, by thinking only of Jared, the man she loves. Can Melanie keep Jared and the others safe from the Seeker and her soul's mind-probing?
Rating: 4Q, 3P

Shelby's Review: Mixed Bags (Carter House Girls #1) by Melody Carlson

The book I chose to read and respond to this month was the book called Mixed Bags by Melody Carlson. Melody Carlson has a style of writing that is different than most authors I have read, and I think that the originality of this story is a 5. The story is about a teenage girl named DJ who is living with her grandmother who enjoys fashion, and keeping up with the latest trends. Her grandmother thinks that fashion is more important than most aspects of teenage girls lives, and with that she invites 6 other girls to live at the house and study fashion. Each one of the girls has a different story to their lives, and together the girls including DJ must live together. The main focus of the book is on DJ and her life as a teenager. I really enjoyed the fact that although DJ was different than all the girls Carlson did a nice job creating a character thant most girls can relate with in their lives. Melody Carlson is one of my favorite authors. Although her books are not all popular, they appeal to certain teenagers that enjoy Christian fiction authors. I would recommend this story to any teenage girl who wants a funny and touching story about a girl who goes through troubles of life just like any other girl out there.
Rating: 4Q, 2.5P

Peak by Roland Smith

Peak Marcello was born into climbing. His parents were rock rats so he comes by it naturally. His mom quit climbing years ago and his father hasn’t stopped. Josh was climbing the day Peak was born (hence the name) and has been absent for most of Peak’s 14 year life. Peak has gone to summer climbing camps and tried the indoor climbing gyms but they don’t provide the rush he desires. So he’s taken to climbing NYC skyscrapers and tagging them with a blue mountain. Unfortunately his latest climbing stunt has left him standing in front of a judge, about to be slapped with hard jail time and a hefty fine, not at all what the 14 year old was looking for. However Josh has returned to save the day and take Peak to Nepal. But it quite isn’t the father son reunion Peak anticipated. Is the experience of a lifetime worth sacrificing the truth? Is it possible that Peak will become the youngest person ever to summit Mount Everest? Talk about the climb of a lifetime.

Peak is a 2008-2009 Soaring Eagle Award Nominee and will be the November selection for Afternoon Book Club.

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

It is 1958 and Landon Carter is beginning his senior year of high school. He is student council president, the son of a weathly Congressman, and getting ready to apply for college at the University of North Carolina. Landon expects this year to be a breeze and has even signed up for drama rather than endure Chemistry-II. What Landon didn’t except was that he would end up inviting Jamie Sullivan to the homecoming dance. Jamie Sullivan, the daughter of a Baptist minister; the girl who wears plaid skirts, a plain brown cardigan sweater, hair pulled up in a bun, and carries an old Bible every single day; the girl who believes that everything is part of God’s plan. Jamie, the girl who will teach Landon that appearances aren’t everything and the love can change us forever. Join Landon on A Walk to Remember.

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Peter Houghton is tired of being bullied. It started the first day of Kindergarten when he was tripped walking down the aisle of the bus and a bigger kid threw his Superman lunchbox out the window; it hasn’t stopped since. He’s tried to ignore it but the abuse has continued and escalated. He’s tried to defend himself but ended up being the only one punished. He’s tried to get help from adults, to no avail. He’s even lost his childhood best friend, Josie, who wants a shot at being part of the popular crowd.

Peter has retreated to the world in his computer, where he is in control, where he is smart, popular, and respected for his craft. But one fateful morning he finally snaps. The nineteen minutes he spends doling out his version of revenge to Sterling High School will forever alter the lives of everyone involved.


“In nineteen minutes, you can mow the front lawn, color your hair, watch a third of a hockey game... It’s the length of a sitcom, minus the commercials… In nineteen minutes you can order a pizza and get it delivered… You can walk a mile… In nineteen minutes, you can bring the world to a screeching halt… In nineteen minutes, you can get revenge.”

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules by Jeff Kinney

Greg is back for another year of middle school. He’s decided to continue his journaling, although he has a few secrets that aren’t even safe enough for the journal to keep.

Greg’s family is pretty typical. Mom is a preschool teacher who thinks any problem can be solved by talking it out and drawing pictures. His dad would rather be hiding out in the basement working on his model-size Civil War battle replica than watching chick-flicks with Mom. Greg has two brothers, Rodrick and Manny. Rodrick is in high school and loves to bully Greg. He also knows a secret from the summer that could ruin Greg’s life forever. Manny is 3 and a huge tattle tale.

So what else is new! Well, Greg still has the Cheese Touch from the end of last school year and he’s got to find someone to give it to. His parents decide to leave he and Rodrick alone for the night and Rodrick throws a huge party. Rodrick locks Greg in the basement but then threatens him to secrecy. Will the parents find out and if so, is there any sort of punishment that could make Rodrick finally leave Greg alone? Welcome to another addition of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley's Journal by Jeff Kinney

Greg Heffley just started middle school and he’d like this year to be different from the past. He’d like to be more popular, right now he’s ranked about 52nd or 53rd; more muscular, so he wouldn’t have to wrestle Fregley—the weirdest and 2nd lightest kid in class; not be embarrassed by his family during the school play, which Mom made him tryout for; and get the new “Twisted Wizard” videogame for Christmas. Will this year be all the Greg imagines it will be or will it be only year in the life of Greg Heffley, the self-proclaimed wimpy kid?

By the way, he specifically told his mom to buy a JOURNAL not a DIARY, so don’t get the wrong idea. This book isn’t about “feelings”. It was his mom’s idea, but will come in handy when he’s older, rich and famous. And it has great cartoon illustrations and a plan for a spectacularly spooky Halloween haunted house.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is an Indian Paintbrush Nominee for 2008-2009.

Tyrell by Coe Booth

Tyrell Green is 15 and ain’t been to school since December cuz someone gots to be out making money. Tyrell, his moms, and 7-year-old brother Troy are livin in a dirty, roach infested motel room cuz they got evicted 2 weeks ago. Moms knows Tyrell could make a killin selling weed but he don’t wanna go down that road. That road leads to jail, the same one where Tyrell’s pops is right now. Tyrell’s got a girl, Novisha, who says she loves him but has been keepin secrets of the worst kind. Tyrell just met a girl, Jasmine, who has a smokin hot body, a nicotine addiction, and don’t have a home either.

Tyrell’s gotta figure something out and fast. He got a plan and one week to make enough money to find a safe place to live. He gotta to find a location, equipment, promote, and host a party. Tyrell knows he gots the skills to DJ but will he be able to pull this off to save himself and his family before it’s too late?