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Kaylee's Review: A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers

A Voice in the Wind is a historical fiction novel, which is effortless to enjoy. Hadassah, a young woman of deep faith, is battling starvation and disease with her two siblings day-by-day in 117 A.D. Jerusalem. They know that it is only a matter of time before the Roman army destroys their entire race. Several months into these hardships, Jerusalem falls, and with their beloved city, the children's mother breathes her last. Days later, Soldiers shove down the family's door, and kills the girls brother, and takes the remaining two hostage. The next night, Leah, Hadassah's sister, dies. Even when she lost everything that mattered, Hadassah deepened her faith even more, and began to find joy in the small things of life, even though her situation was unbearable. After a long a tiresome journey to Rome, Hadassah is chosen to become a slave in a very wealthy home. There, she is exposed to the fullness, corruption, and passion, her new family, Rome, and anyone else, can offer her.

Ratings: 5Q, 4p

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

A Thousand Splendid Suns is Hosseini's second moving portrayal of the social and political turmoils of Afghanistan. This novel follows two women who are swept up and form a unique and life saving relationship with one another. Hosseini is a master story teller who weaves poetic fiction with historical fact. The novel not only provides readers with a strong and spellbinding plot, but with a rich taste of Afghanistan's beautiful culture. A must read for those looking for a book that they won't be able to put down. Also fans of The Kite Runner will not be disappointed.
P:5 Q:5

Petshop of Horrors by Matsuri Akino

Enter China town, where weirdo's run rampant and men look like women. Count D, a mysterious Pet-shop owner, has recently moved into China town, and his merchandise is all too questionable. To many, the animals in his shop simply look like animals, to others, they look very human. Count D's rules are simple. A person may buy a pet, but he will no longer be held accountable for it after the purchase. More often than not, the people that buy the pets meet strange and sometimes gruesome deaths, some find their dreams. Officer Leon Orcott, a hot-headed, typical American in the eyes of the Japanese, is determined to expose Count D's business for what it is. Which he isn't really sure of. Running on nothing but instinct and gut feeling, Leon visits Count D's pet-shop. There, he embarks on the wondrous and sometimes horrifying world of the pet-shop. With usual animals as well as unusual ones, Count D sells a variety of pets, including the ones that aren't supposed to exist. Yet as officer Orcott is dragged along by the feminine, sweet-toothed Count, he may find that he is far in over his head. China town is a magical place, and Count D's shop proves the fact all too well.

5Q

3P

The Kite Runner By: Khaled Hosseini

The Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini is a touching story of devotion, friendship, betrayel, and redemption. Amir and Hassan two boys that are close enough to be brothers have been raised in Afghanistan culture, and life together; although they couldn't be more different from each other. Amir is an educated Pashtun and Sunni Muslim with a father that has provided him with an education, as well as almost anything he could ever imagine. On the other hand Hassan is a Hazara and Sh'ia muslim whos father is Amir's fathers servent. Although both boys have things that in their life that make them different both boys bond in an inseperable friendship or so it would seem; however, at the age of twelve an event changes the boys' friendship forever, and sets the story in motion. Amir becomes tested on the things that matter most in his life, how far he will go to have redemption for the past events that haunt him. Amir's decision will lead him to the place he's tried all his life to forget. Travel with Amir from the culture of Afghanistan- and be shocked by the events in Afghanistan's history, as well as how different it is from the United States.

I would rate this novel:
5Q-hard to imagine a better book.
4P-broad teen appeal

Hidden Talents by David Lubar

Talent, noun: a special often athletic, creative, or artistic aptitude OR a general intelligence or mental power: ability.

When you think of talents, your mind probably jumps to someone who is a gifted poet, artist, musician, chef, or carpenter; maybe someone who plays a school sport or an extreme sport (skateboarding, motocross, etc.); or perhaps someone who has the ability to work with children or animals.

What if your talent wasn’t so widely accepted or recognized? What if your talent was construed as misbehavior, a problem so big that you were sent away to a last resort for the most dangerous and rebellious teenagers?

Martin Anderson has been assigned to Edgeview Alternative School, after being expelled from every junior high he’s attended. I guess you could say he’s been expelled from his family as well, all due to his lack of respect for authority mixed with his inability to restrain himself from speaking his mind. Call him a smart-aleck or worse, but it’s like a disease he can’t control. He finds your weakness and uses it to verbally insult you.

When Martin gets off the bus at Edgeview, he walks into a world full of students deemed out of control. A world with a bully named Bloodbath, who lives up to his name, and teachers who either try too hard or scream too loud and a principal with a taste for electric shock therapy.

Not everyone at Edgeview is bad. There are a select group of students that Martin becomes friends with. Students, like Martin, who seem to misbehave but really have Hidden Talents. Torchie has a flair for fire, starting them; Cheater can hear other’s thoughts; Lucky has a gift for finding lost objects; Flinch possesses the ability to see what’s coming; and Trash has the capacity to move objects with his mind. Once Martin discovers they all have psychic abilities, he realizes that what once was bad can be used for good. But will it really be so easy? What would you do with your Hidden Talents?