Gameinformer

Gameinformer is the most popular videogame magazine in the US today. It gives the best info on the latest tech, updates, and of course the best video games to date. I enjoy reading the columns and reviews put in this magazine with all it's wittiness and just funny humor. Reading the ideas of every other nerd as the either rant or praise a game is plain old fun. Not to mention the excitement I get when they write about a new game that everyone is dying to play. I've had a subscription for two months and I have not been disappointed yet. To all gamers out there I highly recommend you read this. 5/5 and still more to come.

Under the Dome

Name: Serina

Grade: College

Title: Under the Dome

Author: Stephen King

It was the usual kind of day that all the residents of Chester's Mill had come to expect at noon in late October; a calm Autumn wind blew through the leafless trees and the townspeople went about their daily business. All except for Dale Barbara, also known as Barbie, a former Army lieutenant who had previously worked as a cook at the Sweetbriar Rose cafe before he got in a scuffle with some rude teenagers in the parking lot. Attempting to leave Chester's mill, Barbie had been two feet away from freedom before the "dome" came down. An airplane flying overhead was unfortunate enough to smash into the side of the invisible barrier and left a large, black smudge that seemed to float in the middle of the sky. Barbie, as well as over a thousand other town members, have been trapped under something that no one can even begin to comprehend. Some believe it is a new terrorist weapon. Others believe that their own government is responsible. There is no knowing what exactly the dome is or where is came from, and slowly the air supply is becoming thinner and more and more polluted. However, one thing is for certain: no one can get in, and no one can get out...

Stephen King is a master at horror, but is also a master at showing the ugly side of humanity, and things get really hideous in Under the Dome.

I picked this book up because it is by Stephen King and it was huge.

I finished this book because I had to know what the heck the dome was and if anyone could possibly survive it.

I'd give this book to any apocalypse fans or anyone who likes Stephen King.

Rating: **** Really liked it.

The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan

Name: Krystiana Graham

Grade: 12th grade +

Title: The Throne of Fire

Author: Rick Riordan

Review: Have you ever been interested in the gods of the ancient times? Perhaps you have heard of this author then. Rick Riordan? The famous author of the Percy Jackson series. But, for those of you like myself, who prefer the Egyptian Gods, then, you should check out this man's latest series, called the Kane Chronicles. The stories are written in the point of view of two siblings. Sadie Kane, and her older brother Carter Kane. Now, in the first book you learn many things about the two siblings. The first one being, that until the last year (or the start of book one) the two rarely had contact. The other thing, they were the descendants of two lines of royals. Now, the story then goes to explain that if you are descended from the lines of the Egyptian Pharaohs then you have the potential to become magic users, magicians. Of course, that doesn't quite explain why the rest of the magic world want Sadie and Carter dead, though, now does it.

You see, I have to explain the first book for you to understand the second. In the first book, Sadie and Carter are hosts for the two Egyptian gods. Horus, the god of war, to residence in Carter. While his mother, Isis, wife to Osiris, to residence in Sadie. The entire first book was about them defeating the god Set, and keeping chaos from taking over the world. Simple enough - you'd assume. Until you learn that their Uncle Amos had also been possessed, and that they had to fight him, as well, to save the world. Now, onto the second book - and the real review. The second book continues the story of Sadie and Carter - but this time, it is a year in the future. The entire book spans the distance of six days. The day before Sadie's birthday, the day of her birthday - and when they learn they have four days until Apophis comes out of his cage, and eats the sun, to ensure the world falls into chaos. Sadie and Carter spend the next four days gathering the three pieces of the book of Ra, so they might revive Ra, so that the King of the Gods can help them take over. Along the way they get help form Bastet "Bast" the Feline God, and Ra's right hand god. Bes, the dwarf god, Walt, one of their trainees, and at the end, the mysterious Zia also offers her help.

Carter and Sadie manage to awaken Ra - but trouble begins to brew when it causes their original Host gods, Horus and Isis to be more then a little angry with them. Ra is a bit . . . senile, after his awakening though he once more takes on the ways of the old, continuing his trek across the sky with the sun. But that is as far as I will tell you. If you want to find out if Ra was able to defeat Apophis, or if the snake took over and created chaos, well, you'll have to read the book for yourself. But do it fast - before the entire world begins to fall under the power of chaos. Don't you want to be prepared too?

Why I picked this book up: Ever since I was a girl, Egyptian Mythology has amazed me. It's so creative, and so many other religions sprung from it. Besides, who doesn't like a religion where the gods can have dogs for heads. When I read the first in the Kane society I couldn't get enough. When the second came out - I was super excited - though I had to wait until a few days ago to get my hands on it.

Why I finished it: Who doesn't want to know that Chaos won't or will take over the world. O want to be prepared too you know! So I just had to finish it. Make sure I knew what would be going on . . .

I'd give this book to: For those who follow the path of Ma'at, or even those interested in Egyptian Mythology - this is a book for you. It's enchanting and wonderful, and you can't come across a more exotic book.

Rating: Four out of Five; I would give it a five, but I was a bit put out by the lack of Anubis in the story . . . He's soooo amazing, and I loved his personality from the first one. But regardless, it was an amazing story that anyone would love to read - so my advice, head out to the nearest library and check it out.

Carter Finally Gets It

Will Carter is about to start his freshman year of high school. Nervous and completely lost, he has no idea how to fell about the situation. Carter is a stuttering ADD high school kid who has nothing to stand out. Because of his little speech impediment he also has a hard talking to any girl he meets. I feel that this book is a bit childish in the fact that it does sound like Carter is talking. In other words the book sounds like it was written by an eighth grader. To some it might seem pretty ingenious but I feel that the book could have been written better. On the back of the book it gives readers a warning that the book contains lewd humor. Let me say that I've heard sixth graders say worse things. Throughout the entire story the only lewd humor I read was Carter describing his little crush's boobs. Yes I said boobs deal with it. The entire story is basically Carter freaking out every time he feels pear pressure. Unless you have lived in a cave for all your life or your extremely religious and judgmental then this book is in no way as bad as you might think. Honestly I haven't been more disappointed since Catcher in the Rye. But the book had some great things too. It was high school. If their was any book more realistic to high school life it's this one. Carter deals and thinks like any other high school boy his age. If anything is was extremely relatable. I recommend it to teens around fifteen years old. The only problem I see is that it was written by a man from a completely different age group. Lets face it guys back then this was shocking, but today it's what happens every year. I give this book a solid 4/5. A funny read for young teens but a bit of bore as you get older. Check it out if your interested.

Here, There Be Dragons by James A. Owen

Name: Caitlin

Grade: 12+

Title: Here, There Be Dragons (Book 1 of the Imaginarium Geographica Chronicles)

Author: James A. Owen

I love dragons. That is a simple fact of my life. So, when I picked up Here, There Be Dragons, I was expecting a really good fantasy read chocked full with magic, mythical creatures, and adventure. I'm very happy to say that this did not disappoint in any way.

In the book, three Oxford scholars are joined together by the mysterious death of Stellan, a mentor to John, one of the men; they are given a book called the Imaginarium Geographica to protect with their lives, as it seems whoever killed Stellan killed him to get their hands on it. The trio find themselves whisked off into a magical land ruled by Mordred, the Winter King; Mordred is creating an army of shadow minions to take over the land of Archipelago...he wants to use the Geographica for his own evil purposes. When the trio learns this, they decide to destroy the Geographica and all of it's power; this leads them on a journey through beautiful, magical and definitely dangerous places as they try to save themselves and the Archipelago.

This book was awesome; it had everything I could have ever wanted from a fantasy adventure book. Magical lands, an evil king, pirates, ancient maps, dragons, and three normal people who have to save the day. Here, There Be Dragons is like every fantasy novel I've ever read crammed into 300 pages and that made it spectacular. If for any moment while you're reading it, you think to yourself "this is familiar," hold out until the final pages. The twist at the end left me surprised and pleased; I hope to continue the series as soon as I possibly can.

Why I picked up the book: It looked like a really good book about dragons. It also had a really cool title.

Why I finished it: It was super spectacular.

I'd give this book to: Anyone looking for a really great, fast, fantasy read.

My Rating for this book: *****

Those Who Went Remain There Still by Cherie Priest

Name: Caitlin

Grade: 12+

Book: Those Who Went Remain There Still

Author: Cherie Priest

When I picked up a copy of this little-known, 120 page long book by Cherie Priest, I was expecting a western about a small town fighting off zombies. However, the book had nothing to do with zombies-- instead it's a tale told from the points of view of three main characters, one of which being Daniel Boone, and the other two being the sons of two feuding southern families. The story hooks you at the very beginning with Boone's point of view; apparently there was more to his journey than everyone originally anticipated. Daniel and his crew of men are working their way through Kentucky when strange things start to happen. The animals they kill for food are being found dragged away from their camp and torn apart; to top off that, whatever animal is stealing their food has also started stalking them. Almost a hundred years after Boone left Kentucky cleared, two men from different sides of feuding families have managed to escape their home town and build lives for themselves elsewhere. The death of the distant and rich relative brings them back to their home town and sends them on a horrible mission.
Three men from each of the feuding families are sent into a large cave at the back of their relative's property to retrieve the will; if that wasn't strange enough, the cave seems to be filled with some viciously mean monsters that want to make sure none of them get out alive...
I wasn't expecting this book to be at all as good as it was. I thought it would just be a short story with mediocre plot, but it actually turned out to be a really fast-paced page turner that I couldn't put down. The different points of view, switching between people that can be hundreds of years apart really pushes the story faster. It was also mysterious enough and scary enough to make the story really, really great. The ending was blunt and leaves the reader questioning so many things, which kind of made me say "wait...what?" at some points , but it also really left the story where it needed to be because you're left questioning as much as the characters are.

Why I Picked Up This book: I just grabbed it on a whim.

Why I finished it: I hated putting it down.

I'd give this book to: Anyone looking for a fast-paced, one or two day read. Especially if they like sci-fi and crazy monsters.

My Rating for this book: ****

Sisterhood Everlasting: A Novel by Ann Brashares

How does time and distance affect a friendship (or four)? You are about to find out. It has been years since we last connected with Carmen, Lena, Bridget, & Tibby. For the girls, now women, it has been two years since Tibby moved halfway across the world with Brian to Australia. The lack of contact has left its mark on each of them. Carmen is living in NYC, engaged to a famous actor (but does she love him?), and is the lead actress in a TV drama (complete with highlights and a body created by counting calories and not eating). Lena is still living in Providence, teaching a few art classes, but no longer finding her muse. Bridget is living in San Francisco with Eric, riding a bike covered in flowers all of town, giving away what she doesn't need, and moving them frequently. Tibby's surprise package of tickets to Greece excites them all. Finally they will be back together again. Will their reunion in Greece be everything they are hoping for or will it change them forever? The Septembers will be faced with the reality of a Sisterhood Everlasting.

Why I picked up the book: I've read the other four books in the SOTTP series and loved them so I had to read this one. It is the first book I've purchased in a long time.

Why I finished the book: Reading this was like reconnecting with old friends. You know them but you also learn how adulthood has changed them.

I'd give it to: fans of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series. You could read it without having read the other four, but you would be missing a lot.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars (really liked it)

View all my Goodreads reviews

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to totally reinvent yourself? Become someone different than the person everyone thinks you are? New wardrobe, new interests?

For Mclean Sweet, reinvention is her specialty. Her parents are divorced and her decision to live with her father has created much hatred, hurt feelings and tons of lawyer/courtroom drama. Because her father relocates often for his job, each new place they land provides an opportunity for Mclean to be whoever she wants to be: Eliza, Lizbet, Beth. When it is time to move, without a word she leaves that persona behind and becomes someone different in the next place. That is until moving to Lakeview.

Somehow Lakeview is different. Mclean is making a real group of friends, including Dave, the most real guy she’s ever met. But can you trust saying hello to the first place to feel like home in a long time.

What happened to goodbye?

Why I picked up the book: I love Sarah Dessen and this is her newest book. I'm listening to it because I don't have a lot of time to just sit down and read. This way I get to listen to it as I'm driving back and forth to work.

Why I finished it: I felt like I knew Mclean and her friends. My parents divorced when I was a preteen and I could definitely relate to Mclean's struggles with her mom.

I'd give it to: fans of Sarah Dessen, readers looking for great realistic fiction, teens who have moved around a lot.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

View all my Goodreads reviews

April's final YA reviews

Beaudoin, Sean. You Killed Wesley Payne. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2011. 362pp. Grades 9-12.

Scooter-riding, sharp-talking private dick Dalton Rev aims to solve the mystery behind the death of Salt River High student Wesley Payne, who was found duct-taped and hanging from the goalposts on the football field. Dalton transfers to Salt River to take on the case, assisted by a series of unlikely allies. Mole is his wannabe sidekick, Macy is the petite blonde that Dalton can’t stop thinking about, and Cassiopeia Jones is his ex-girlfriend with a new look – thigh-high boots and punk-dyed hair – who leads the ass-kicking girl troupe Foxxes. But as Dalton investigates, he finds that the case has more twists than a king-sized corkscrew. Beaudoin’s vivid writing, snappy dialogue, and slightly askew high school setting make this a great choice for readers bored with too-realistic fiction. The book includes a glossary to define the unique terminology, such as “fish stick” (loser), “splash box” (toilet), and “Thank Bob!” The oft-used “farck” may become teen readers’ favorite new word. Recommended.

Jago, Lucy. The Coven’s Daughter. New York: Hyperion/Disney, 2011. 246pp. Grades 6-8.

May Day in sixteenth-century Montecute, England, means maypoles, dancing, drinking, and lectures from the village parson. For Cecily Perryn, who is about to turn thirteen, May Day is just another day to tend the chickens at the earl’s manor and avoid the scornful looks of the villagers. “Cess” is fatherless and poor, and her only friend is William, who is also scorned because of his clubfoot. But on this May Day, the villagers are distracted by news of boys disappearing from a nearby village. One of the boys’ bodies was found, bruised, broken, and covered in boils – all signs of the “shaking” sickness. When William goes missing, Cess must look within herself for the strength to help him, and to protect the whole kingdom from a growing evil. With the aid of benevolent witches, she learns to control her scrying dreams to see ahead of time, and she is taken in as a daughter of the coven. Jago’s writing is filled with the details of the time period, including pungent smells, well-described clothing, and turns of phrase such as the oath “God’s wounds!” Younger teens will be drawn in to this richly woven tapestry of witches, superstition, and conspiracy, complete with secret tunnels and an evil sorcerer. Highly recommended.

Marchetta, Melina. The Piper’s Son. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2011. 328pp. Grades 9-12.

Thomas Mackee just can’t get it right. He’s still hung up on his one-and-a-half-night stand and former best friend, Tara. He dropped out of university and spent the year after his Uncle Joe died getting wasted, and only occasionally playing guitar. He’s still waiting for his alcoholic father, the charismatic Dominic, to reclaim Tom’s mother and reunite their family. Meanwhile, Tom’s aunt Georgie is pregnant by her ex-husband, who had a son with another woman after a meaningless fling, but none of the family knows what to say about this news. Without his usual role as the piper’s son, Tom is adrift. And everyone is still grieving for Joe, who died in a train bombing in London. In chapters alternating between Tom and Georgie, this follow-up to Saving Francesca (2004) shows the havoc grief and separation can wreak. The Australian setting is not as important as the well-developed relationships, especially among the friends and family who help Tom limp back to the right path. Prepare for tears. Highly recommended.

Whiskey on the Rocks by Nina Wright

Name: Krystiana Graham

Grade: 12th grade +

Title: Whiskey on the Rocks

Author: Nina Wright

Review: This is a book I've passed many times while reading, and slowly grew more and more curious about. So one day, I read the back - and discovered a new favorite series. Whiskey on the Rocks is the first installment of the series, Whiskey Mattimoe Mysteries, by Nina Wright. The main character is a real estate broker (with a knack for finding dead bodies on the properties she tries to sell) named Whitney Mattimoe. Of course, everyone calls her Whiskey - despite the fact she doesn't drink. You learn in the beginning of the book, about a dog named Abracadabra. Or, Abra for short. A spoiled afghan hound who belonged to Whiskey's late husband. An afghan hound who is in 'rehad' for a habit of stealing . . . purses.

It is because of this habit that Whiskey finds herself knee deep in a mystery surrounding a few dead people, some missing artwork, and her rock star neighbor's son. Not to mention a chopped off finger, and a suave mysterious man. Tie that up together in a pretty little package, and you have the starting of a Whiskey Mystery. Of course, you'll need some help, like from the police, a homosexual woman named Jenx. And the deputy, a man whose canine partner tends to get Abra acting . . . horny for lack of a better term. Mix in some Odette, who works with Whiskey, and Whiskey's ex-husband, Jeb. And you have an interesting mystery with all the key players. Now, in this mystery, it starts out with some folks wanting to rent out their home, and before long, someone comes to find the home ransacked, while they were renting it, and an expensive painting mystery. When Whiskey and Abra get on the trail, they discover a purse with a severed finger in it.

As the story continues, you learn all about Whiskey (and Abra's) odd way of all ways getting their guy.

Why I picked this book up: It was a book I had been curious about. Seeing it many times, and when I read the back, it was right up my alley, and I couldn't put it down.

Why I finished it: I was constantly curious about what would happen next, so I kept reading, until it left me stranded, and in need for the next book.

I'd give this book to: Anyone who likes a good mystery.

Rating: Five out of Five; it was an amazing book, that I could see anyone enjoying, and the next book in the series gets better and better.

The Kite Runner

Khaled Hosseini's master piece is honestly the best book I have ever read. Taking place in 1980's Afghanistan, two boy's stories are told. Amir, a rich Pashtun, and his servant Hassan, a hazara. Hazaras are lower in class in Islam then Pashtuns. These to boys are bes of friends who have been raised together since birth. Amir's father, which throughout the story is refered to as Baba or father, loves both the boys. However he looks down on Amir for not being as manly as him and spending too much time in books. Amir works hard to gain his father's respect. One day Amir and Hassan run into the town bully Assef. Hassan threatens to shoot him in the eye with a slingshot if he doesn't leave the boys alone. Amir, Hassan, and many other boys participate in kite fighting. At the age of 12 Amir and Hassan participate in a tournament. Afterwards Hassan chases down Amir's kite and ends up being cornered by Assef and his gang. I won't go into details but lets say that life for the two boys would never be the same. Amir and Baba end up leaving Afghanistan during the war with the Soviet Union. The story picks up years later when Amir is in his twenties. Amir begins to write books whil Baba works at a gas station. A major step down from being a rich honored man in Afghanistan. After a few years Amir get married and becomes a famous writer. He then gets a call from Rahim Khan, an old friend from Afghanistan. He asks Amir to come back to visit. Amir takes up his offer but when he arrives Rahim tells him the real reason of his call. Hassan has met with a terrible fate and Rahim wants Amir to find and take care of Hassan's only son. After searching, Amir finds that he was taken by the Taliban. Needless to say, Amir didn't get the boy back easily. Amir takes Hassan's son to the U.S to raise him away from fear or worry. I read this book because I heard a lot of great things about the book. Of course they weren't wrong. I recommend this book to all young adults because I know that once they pick up the book, they won't be able to put it down. The Kite Runner is a solid 5 out of 5.

Kitchen Princess

Name: Serina

Grade: 12+

Title: Kitchen Princess

Author: Miyuki Kobayashi

Artist: Matsumi Ando

Najika Kazami has a dream to cook good food that puts a smile on everyone's face. After growing up in a humble foster home in Hokkaido called Lavender House, Najika sets out to complete her chef parents' dream, as well as her own by joining Seika academy, a prestigious school for the rich and talented. Najika is certainly not rich, and at first the other students think she has no talent, either. However, after witnessing a young girl try and confess her love to a boy by giving him her handmade flan, only to have him refuse it and knock it out of her hands, Najika steps in to help the girl make flan that the boy will have to eat. After making the perfect flan, it is discovered that Najika has a very special gift that allows her to cook amazingly delicious food: an absolute sense of taste, meaning Najika can eat anything and know the ingredients in it as well as how it was made, and can remake it to perfection. The director's son, Sora, sought Najika out because of this talent, and guided her along through the school and her trials, to the anger and jealousy of the other female students. Najika also learns that the boy who refused the girl's flan earlier, Daichi, is also the director's son, and that the two brothers do not get along. Najika tries to bring them closer together by them both enjoying her food, and soon the two are a bit enamored by her, though Daichi would never admit it. While Najika mostly thinks about making the best food in the world, she also dreams about her flan prince, a young boy who saved her as a child from drowning in a river and then gave her flan to cheer her up, along with a silver spoon with the Seika academy logo. Najika has a suspicion that Sora is her flan prince, but doesn't know how to ask him. Will Najika be able to get both her dreams? Only the comic will tell.

While I initially avoid shojo manga like the plague, I was quite curious about Kitchen Princess. The delicious illustrations and the included recipes at the back probably helped, but I have to admit that I got a bit caught up in the plot as well. Najika, while the terribly cliche shojo lead with her large eyes, long hair, and upbeat personality that somehow all the handsome guys in the school fall for, she also had a lot of things that the other shojo manga protagonists didn't. She was awfully positive, even when the other girls in her class treated her horribly and kept trying to get her to leave the school. It was obvious to the reader that it upset her, but she was strong enough to not let it get in her way, and she even fought back a bit instead of running to the nearest male character to cry in his arms. The whole series had its ups and downs, and some of it I hated, but some of it I actually liked. Now I can honestly say that I have read a decent shojo manga that I appreciated rather than disdained. Kitchen Princess is a great manga for shojo fans, as well as for food fans. My suggestion would be to try out some of the recipes at the back of each book and see if you have the makings to be a kitchen princess as well.

I picked this book up because of the yummy looking pictures.

I finished this book because I got sucked in along the way.

I'd give this book to anyone who likes shojo manga or who likes cooking, or who likes food, or all three.

*** Liked it

Flight Vol. 2 by Kazu Kibuishi

Name: Caitlin

Grade: 12+

Book: Flight Vol. 2

Author: There are many authors in this book, but it is edited by Kazu Kibuishi

Lately, I've been on a huge graphic novel/comic book kick; while I was browsing the shelves I noticed that there was a pretty large chunk of the graphic novel section dedicated to the Flight novels. These books are compilations of many up and coming graphic artists and writers, edited and brought together by Kazu Kibuishi.

What makes these graphic novels so unique is how so many different types of stories and art styles are brought together in one place. Even for the differences of art and varying types of stories, one thing can be said about the entire novel put together; it's beautiful. The opening story of Flight Vol. 2 is about a fox that lives alone on a barren planet, but soon the fox encounters a beautiful ball of light that transforms into all kinds of forms, including a pretty purple fox. The story ends in just a few pages, but the ending still leaves the reader feeling warm and fuzzy inside, or at least it did for me.

In a completely different change of pace from an adorable story about foxes, there are sections with quirky, rectangle shaped creatures setting up a party, robots, ordinary people going on extraordinary adventures, and many more. No story is even remotely the same, but all of them are wonderful for what they are.

The uniqueness of these stories makes the novel very interesting because no one knows what kind of story will be up next; it's also different from many other graphic novels because these are all short, compact stories as opposed to one long one. That was definitely different for me because I'm not used to reading so many different stories in one novel, but I'm glad that I read it because there's nothing else like it. The graphic novel universe seemed to be lacking any kind of compilations that showcase artists in big numbers. The introduction of Flight was really something that the graphic novel scene needed; it's a brilliant way to introduce people to the world of graphic novels and it has really made a wonderful impact on readers.

Why I Picked Up the Book: It looked promising and the cover was really cool :)

Why I finished it: It was a fast read, but it was hard to put it down.

I'd give this book to: Anyone who wants to start reading graphic novels, but maybe hasn't before. It's a really good showcase of what graphic novels and comic books can offer readers.

My rating for this book: *****

The Old Man and the Sea

Briana
Freshman in college

The Old Man and the Sea
By Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway is a great author whose books have started a revolution of dreamers and led to the reinvention of English prose in the 20th century. The Old Man and the Sea is one of his most enduring novels because it is told in simplicity, but represents power. This story is about an old Cuban fisherman, down on his luck and just going through the motions, always believing that the next day will be his lucky day. After the 85th day at sea with no luck, the old man hooks a fish. He knows it is a big one because the fish doesn't fight the hook, but instead starts swimming away- pulling the small skiff with him. The man believes that the fish will soon tire and eventually kill himself from over-exertion, but instead the fish pulls strong and hard for three days. The old man is forced to hold the line, using his back and legs to support him as he braces himself. Finally, the fish rises for air and the old man realizes that the fish is indeed much larger than the skiff and very powerful.
The Old man has a chance to catch the fish, and he swiftly harpoons the great beast and ties his next to the skiff as he makes his slow progress back to the Cuban coast. The old man is elated and joyous because he knows that this fish will feed many people for a long time! Unfortunately, sharks begin to terrorize the man and slowly the fish is diminished to nothing more than a corpse- a forgotten promise of what could have been... The next morning, the skeleton of the beautiful beast is found, and all the other fisherman are in shock of what the old man accomplished. The novel finishes with the old man dreaming of his adventures.

Why I picked up this book:
I enjoy Ernest Hemingway's novels because they reveal human nature in it's simplest and most common form. I also wanted to read a classic and award wining novel, so I put this novella on my summer reading list.

Why I finished this book:
This book took me just a few hours to read because it is so small- only 130 pages cover to cover. It was also a good book, because it showed the strength of humans, and the respect that we should all have towards nature and beast greater than us. This novella has a great message.

Who I would recommend this book too:
I would give this book to anyone who is unsure of what to read next next. If you are in between books and need a short easy read, this is the book for you. It has a great message, and it invokes so many feelings in such a short time. This novella is available on audio books, the Internet, and many other sources- making it easily accessible.

Rating:
**** Very Good

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

2007 Printz Award Winner, the first major award given to a 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.

Why I picked this book: The first time I read it because the book won the Printz Award. I chose it for our May teen book club selection because the group wanted to read a graphic novel.

Why I finished it: I liked the three stories. Monkey King is based on an ancient Chinese myth, Jin Wang's story was autobiographical, and Danny/Chin-Kee's story was set up in a tv show (which I didn't catch while reading!)

I'd give the book to: avid readers looking for a good introduction to graphic novels.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Hero Type by Barry Lyga

Name: Caitlin

Grade: 12+

Book: Hero Type

Author: Barry Lyga

What does it mean to be a hero? I consider myself and my peers to be part of a superhero generation, but even that doesn't make the question any simpler. For Kevin Ross (Kross to his friends) the question is even more complicated. Kross is a hero; he saved a girl, Leah, from being raped by a notorious criminal. That makes him a hero, right? Unfortunately for Kross, it's definitely not that simple. Admired by everyone in his small town, Kross finds himself in a tricky situation; his father never speaks because of a mysterious war accident, his friends are the biggest pranksters in town and to top it all off, the entire town is turning on him because his father took the "support our troops" stickers off of the car awarded to him for saving Leah. As the dark secrets of his father's past, as well as his own, emerge, Kross starts to question if he ever really was a hero. Kross has to learn to accept his life for what it is and learn to stand up and do the right thing in the face of complete opposition before he can ever ask himself what it means to be a hero.

Barry Lyga is one of my favorite authors. I've read all of his books except one, but out of all of them Hero Type is definitely my favorite. Lyga has a way of binding the weirder, darker side of real life with the things that people actually feel when they're experiencing. Kross is put into a very, very difficult position when his father takes the "support our troops," stickers off his car, made even more difficult when he has to face the most popular kid in school to stand up for why his father did it. This book has so many controversial issues in it, which makes it difficult to write a review; there's too much to talk about. The complexity of the story and characters, however, make this book more than amazing.
By the end of the book, I was totally rooting for Kross to win and for everyone to love him again, but Lyga also has a way with focusing on the reality of the story. Nothing about this book is sugar coated; Kross is extremely unlikeable and creepy in many parts of the book, but for all of these major flaws, Kross is extremely human. All of the characters are flawed and confused enough for me to actually believe them and all of this makes the book totally convincing. The lives that Lyga built for the people in this small town are remarkable and fantastic. Not everything is resolved by the end of the book, but it's obvious that Lyga planned for it to be that way and it only adds to the reality of the entire story. The reality and humanity Lyga wrote into this book are definitely what made it so utterly great.

Why I picked up this book: It sounded interesting and I love Barry Lyga.

Why I finished it: I totally couldn't put it down.

I'd give this books to: Speech kids. Definitely speech kids. But, honestly, I think everyone should read this book.

My rating for this book: *****

Stay by Deb Caletti

Name: Krystiana Graham

Grade: 12th grade +

Title: Stay

Author: Deb Caletti

Review: From everyone I've talked to, I've heard amazing words about Deb Caletti, and I must say, she does not disappoint. Stay is only the first book of hers that I have read, but it's a book worth reading. It's a wonderful story, with a twisted plot, that will literally leave you clinging to the edge of your seat. The story travels between two different time periods, the past and the present. In the present you meet Clara, the main character - who is suffering from an obsessive boyfriend, and has gone on a vacation of sorts, in an attempt to get away from him, but it is the short chapters between the chapters of Clara's life now, that you get to meet Christian, her obsessive, possessive ex-boyfriend.

Christian came into her life by pure conciounsedence, and has stayed in it because of Clara not wanting to hurt him by leaving. You learn that Christian holds Clara captive by his obsession with her, as well as his low self esteem that makes it to where she feels it is her job to be close to him, and to stand by him. Unfortunately, it also leaves Clara stuck between a rock and a hard place. Eventually, Clara is able to send him away - and to get further away her father takes her to a remote place by the sea in hopes of putting some distance between Clara and Christian. And to keep up this 'distance' no one is to know where she is.

Clara welcomes a new, but simple life with the change of scenary, as well as a new crush in the form of a local sailor. Clara finds a job at the light house, her father finds a girl friend in her boss, and she's beginning to get used to things, until her crush turns into her boyfriend, and she calls up her best friend to tell her about it. Clara tells her friend where she is, and in turn her friend tells her mother. And then Christian learns of where Clara is that way. And suddenly, Clara's heaven isn't so heavenly anymore. Her haven turns into a nightmare the night Christian shows up, and it leads to a chase that ends as she's cornered out at sea, with Christian approaching. And from there . . . well, you'll have to read the story yourself to find out.

Why I picked this book up: I'm not sure why I picked up Stay. I didn't hear any good remarks about the author, until others had already seen me reading it. It was just a book I had found on a whim. To be honest, it was one of those random 'Oh what's this' moments. And after I read the inside cover, I knew it was a book I'd have to read.

Why I finished it: This is a book I'd happily call hypnotic. Caletti definitely knows how to hold a girl captive, from my perspective. This book kept you wanting to read more, curious as what would happen next, and dying for the information in between chapters, that were like the secrets of Clara's past. The more you read, the more you wanted to read. However, Caletti also did a wonderful job pulling the book together at the end, finishing it up in a delicate way, and leaving you with a feeling of peace. An ending worthy of the book.

I'd give this book to: I'd give this book to anyone - though I've already suggested it to a friend who has similar problems as Clara. It's a book that is almost informative at just how dangerous relationships can be, as well as a good book for anyone who wants a realistic modern, relationship based fiction book. This is a book I'd happily hand to people down the street, because it's an interesting story, and I don't think there is anyone who wouldn't like at least one section of it.

Rating: Four out of Five; I'd give it a higher rating, but I do hate giving a book a five. So maybe it's more of a four and three quarters. Yes. that sounds more likely, more appropriate. This book was wonderful. Cleverly written, designed to capture attention and hold it. It was very consistent, as well. And over all. It's an amazing story, worthy of being noticed.

The Saga of Larten Crepsley: Ocean of Blood

Name: Serina

Grade: College

Title: The Saga of Larten Crepsley: Ocean of Blood

Author: Darren Shan

Larten Crepsley is a young vampire with great aspirations. After leaving his mentor Seba Nile for a period of time that all Pups (as young vampires are called) take to find themselves, Larten is living the high life with his companion Wester. The two of them gamble, drink ale, consort with women, and follow along behind battles to feed on the fallen humans. It truly is paradise, but Larten still feels like he is missing something. So, even though his current life is so appealing, he and Wester return to their master to complete their vampire training. Seba then takes them to vampire mountain to participate in the council. While there, Seba is given the job of quarter master and asks if his two apprentices would like to stay. Wester is eager to remain in the mountain, but Larten is far less certain. Regardless, he agrees to train and become a vampire general. Eventually, after years of training, Larten becomes fed up with the hierarchy system of generals and princes, and after becoming angered by his master's words telling him to go, he leaves vampire mountain. Larten then falls back into old habits, drinking ale until he passes out and flirting with women. He is still not pleased with his life, and runs into the rowdy and rude vampire Vancha March, who he accompanies until Vancha is called back to vampire mountain. When Larten is alone again and missing any form of company, he decides to seek out the sorceress Evanna, who he had previously met and been dazzled by while still in the service of his master. Fate takes things from there, and the hands of destiny lead Larten into some very unsavory situations that he may end up paying the ultimate price for in blood. And it is not necessarily his own...

I picked this book up because I love Darren Shan.

I finished this book in one night because it was exciting as well as easy t read.

I would give this book to anyone who likes the Cirque Du Freak series, or to anyone who is sick of vampires that glitter in the sunlight rather than burn.

Rating: **** I really liked it!

Choke by Chuck Palahniuk

Name: Cailtin

Book: Choke

Author: Chuck Palahinuk

Victor Mancini's mother is in a home; a home that costs 3,000 bucks a month, a price that medical school dropout Victor can't afford. His solution to this is simple- he forces himself to choke in restaurants. Victor spends his nights choking and his days coping with (sort of, but not really) his sex addiction; every Saturday he visits his mother. It's while he's visiting his mother that he meets the beautiful Paige Marshall, one of the resident doctors that cars for his mother. As Victor delves deeper into his mother's past and his own, he is drawn into an insane world where the people who save your life are responsible for you forever, his best friend is collecting boulders and rocks to stave off his sex addiction, and Victor himself has to separate fact from crazy as his mother suggests that his father might be divine.
Choke was very, very typical Palahniuk. The story is funny in it's absurdity, but also encompasses the dark and bleak worlds that Palahniuk's characters always find themselves in. this book, like most other books by this author, was very theatrical, with a corrupted main character and a very unique writing style. The story itself was also really interesting. Palahinuk put a spin on the typical "parent in a home, child can't afford, con people into giving them money so they can keep their parent alive" plot. He makes it ultimately stripped down the the core of what the bleak, dirty side of humanity is.
The only complaints I have with this books is that it is so similar to all of the other works Palahinuk has done. His writing style seems to be very set-in-stone. This books is also depressing, insulting and infuriating at times, so it's not a good read for a sunny day.
The whole book is filled with twists and the reader is forced to fall into the insanity of the characters. This books is ultimately disgusting and horrible and insulting (I think it might actually need a warning label) and I honestly could not put it down.

Why I picked up this book: I generally like Palahinuk's books and this one has been in my to-read pile forEVER.

Why I finished it: I couldn't really put it down. It's disgustingly fascinating.

I'd give this book to: Anyone who is looking for a truly bleak and unique read.

I would NOT recommend this books to: People who are sensitive to generally horrible things and people who have parents who are very sick or in homes. This is NOT a feel-good read...unless it makes you feel better about yourself.

My Rating for this book: ****

Rules of Attraction

Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles
Briana, 12th grade

Just like Elkeles novel- Perfect Chemistry, we are introduced to Carlos, the middle Fuentes brother. A rough, tough, and egotistical Mexican who's got a problem with everyone is forced to leave Mexico to live in Colorado with his oldest brother, Alex. Carlos is reluctant to do anything, much less live with his brother's professor and his annoying daughter. Kiara- a level headed, recently confident girl is immediately drawn to Carlos. It might be his love for cars, one she shares, or maybe it's the hidden depths that Carlos rarely shows. Either way, they are forced to test the boundaries of love as Carlos gets tied up in a gang- something Alex tried to prevent from happening by shipping Carlos to Colorado. As this story unfolds, many secrets are revealed in this action/ romance novel.

Why I picked up this novel:
I had read Perfect Chemistry and obviously loved it, so I grabbed Rules of Attraction to see what it would be like.

Why I finished the book:
Well lets just say that it was incredibly hard to put this novel down! I loved it- maybe it was the forbidden romance, or the tall, dark, and handsome Fuentes brothers that keep me intrigued. Either way it was a great book.

Who I'd recommend this novel to:
I think this is a book that would appeal to girls more than guys because we are looking for these forbidden romances and love stories that leave us astounded. There is action- the gang affiliations and fights, but I think it's more of a "coming of age" novel. It's really worth reading is all I can say!

Rating: *****
Really good!