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The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer

How do you imagine the "City of the Future"? For me, it is a place where we've figured out how to stop harming ourselves, our environment, and each other. But knowing how far technology has come in such a short time and how it has dominated all our lives, it isn't hard to imagine a world like Satellite City, a super city of 25 million. The Satellite controls everything from news, traffic, to rotating the location of buildings. But the Satellite is going haywire and creating chaos.

In this future world, orphans, known as no-sponsors, are taken in by places like the Clarissa Frayne Institute for the Parentally Challenged. In order to keep its doors open, the Institute must make money by any means necessary including risking the lives of the no-sponsors, who don't normally live past age 15, due to all the food and drug testing they undergo. Cosmo Hill is a no-sponsor who doesn't want to die at Clarissa Frayne, so he is always on the lookout for an escape.

When a Satellite malfunction provides Cosmo with an opportunity, he takes it. But his escape is less than perfect and as Cosmo lays dying, he sees a mysterious blue creature land on his chest and begin to suck the life from him.

Before he blacks out, three teenagers appear with weapons pointed straight at him. Cosmo later awakens in their warehouse and learns that this group, who call themselves the Supernaturalists, can see these blue creatures and are trying to destroy the Parasites.

Can the Supernaturalists be able to defeat the Parasites and continue to evade capture from the government? Is anything really what it seems to be?

Why I picked up the book: I'm rereading it for my middle school book club. I read it once about five years ago.

Why I finished it: I kept wondering if this really what the city of the future will be like and hoping it won't. I also really wanted to know what these Parasites really were all about.

I'd give the book to: anyone, especially fans of adventure or futuristic/dystopian sci-fi.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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19 minutes

Name: Eric

Grade: 12

Book: 19 Minutes

Author: Jodi Picoult

America was rocked by the Columbine shootings, and later, those of Virginia Tech. These are events that are perpetually evil in our eyes, and seen as the simplistic good vs. evil. Jodi Picoult, however, explores the idea that the monsters we see on TV and in the news are not always what they seem, in her novel, 19 minutes. A story on one level about a school shooting, but more accurately, about the social ties and nuances that drive human behavior every day. 19 minutes captures the story of a boy and a girl(as every good story does), and how their paths intertwine into one climactic moment, when as a reader, you begin to question your world around you.

Jodi Picoult is known for her romances, and in a way, this novel is also a romance. Yet is not a romance in the traditional Lover style, it is more the love felt between Friends, Family, and That Person You Once Knew. I am not a fan of mushy books; I find them to be lacking in body and cheap. But this story is deep, meaningful, and impacting. I enjoyed it immensely, and would recommend it to any and all students especially.

I picked this book up because I won it in a contest, and decided to give it a shot.

I finished this book because of its power. It pulls you in, as you begin to feel for the most unlikely of subjects.

I'd give this book to any and every student. Shootings are a part of life now, and are a very serious matter in today's school systems. But this book brings a whole new light to that area, and acts as a method of prevention for such tragedies.

Rating: *****

Kaitlin's Review: The Noticer by Andy Andrews

Name: Kaitlin
10th grade
Book Title: The Noticer
Author: Andy Andrews

Seventeen-year-old Andy had just lost everything, his parents, his home, his friends. He was living under a pier by the ocean when one day, an old man saw him laying there in his sleeping bag, and told him, "Son, step into the light." Come to find out, Jones, the name of the old man, knew everything about Andy. Andy had never seen this man in his life before and was sure of it. This man carried and briefcase and called himself a Noticer. Throughout the book, Jones gives Andy, and a number of other people, a new perspective on life and the situations they are in. No one knows where he came from or where he goes every time he is not with them, but they think of Jones as a blessing. This was a real eye-opener for me and really changed my perspective on life. Pick it up if you need a moral booster.
Why I picked the book up:: It was recommended by a teacher.
Why I finished it:: I wanted to know what happened in the end.
I'd give this book to:: Anyone who needs a new perspective on life.
My rating for this book:: **** Really Liked It

Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors

Katrina wasn't looking for a reward or even a pat on the back. She just did the right thing, a random act of kindness. While emptying the trash on a cold morning outside her grandmother's coffee shop, Anna's Old World Scandinavian Coffeehouse, Katrina sees a homeless man curled up in the alley asleep. So she places a hot cup of coffee, day old pastries, and a bag of chocolate-covered coffee beans on the doorstep for him. What happens next isn't so ordinary. The man shows up at Katrina's school, during an assembly and announces to the whole school that he must reward her generosity and selflessness. Not only is Katrina embarrassed but she refuses to accept the reward.

It turns out the man, Malcolm, is a messenger angel. He is between missions and can not/will not be able to leave until Katrina lets him grant her wish and give her the thing she most desires. Is this guy for real? Would you be able to refuse the charms of a cute "Coffeehouse Angel"?

Why I picked up this book: I love books about coffee and the cover grabbed me as well. This has been on my to-read list for a long time. I've probably checked it out a dozen times and never had a chance to read it. Started it this time because I was looking for something fun, easy, and light. Fits the bill and might work into a great book club.

Why I finished it: It is a sweet story about friendship, family, and forgiveness.

I'd give it to: fans of light romance, teens and adults.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Lockdown (Escape From the Furnace #1) by Alexander Gordon Smith

What is your worst nightmare? I would be willing to bet that you could never dream of a place as horrible as Furnace. Furnace Penitentiary was built following the "Summer of Slaughter" when teenage gangs reigned, terrorizing and murdering, sending society into a state of fear and panic. Now it is a state of zero tolerance. You do the crime, you will do hard time, forever. If you are convicted, you are sentenced to life in this underground prison, where horrors beyond your wildest dream exist. Muscular, meat-eating guard dogs. A warden with black eyes like vortexes that seem to suck out your soul. Guards who wheeze due to the gas masks covering their faces, the gas masks that appear to sewn into their skin, the guards that come for you in the dark of night.

In exchange for safety and security, the government and society have turned a blind eye to the prison. If they only knew what was really going on, would they allow the teenagers prisoners, who are children really, to be treated this way? Don't they deserve a second chance, especially if, like Alex, they maintain their innocence?

Welcome to Furnace, where there is no escape. Or is there?

Why I picked up the book: My alternative high school book club picked it. It had been recommended to me before but I'd never made the time to read it.

Why I finished it: I was hooked from the first page as Alex is running up the prison stairs to avoid whatever monstrous thing is chasing him and the other prisoners. I'm underwater claustrophobic so I know the threat of spending my life in an underground prison would do me in. I will definitely be picking up the sequels (will be 5 in the series by 2013).

I'd give it to: fans of horror, like Stephen King or Darren Shan. In fact I gave it to my King/Shan fan the minute I saw her. Definitely teen boys, especially those looking for a new series, although I've had girls like it too.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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Hater

Name: Serina

Grade: College

Title: Hater

Author: David Moody

It all started on an exceedingly normal day when a seemingly harmless businessman suddenly impaled an elderly woman with an umbrella. No one saw it coming, nor could they possibly fathom why he attacked her out of nowhere, and why he looked so utterly terrified of her while he did it. What seemed like a singular freak incident suddenly becomes an epidemic of violence. People everywhere, no matter what age and gender, are suddenly becoming murderers, and their targets are just as diverse, but all are killed in shocking, bloody ways. A girl smashes her friend's head in with a rock during a leisurely walk in the park. A guitarist of a popular band suddenly flies off the handle during a concert and bludgeons a fellow band mate with his guitar. The media begins to call the onslaught of aggressive people 'Haters' and the Haters could be anyone, a stranger, a best friend, or even a loving family member. No one is safe, either from becoming a victim, or from becoming a Hater themselves...

I picked this book up because it had a very interesting cover.

I finished this book because I had to know what was happening!

I'd give this book to anyone who can stomach it.

Rating: **** Really liked it!

Double Identity

Michelle Sherwin
12th Grade
Double Identity
This book begins with a girl, by the name of Bethany, who has been sheltered her entire life being suddenly dropped off with a relative she had not even heard of before. The woman she is dropped off with, her Aunt Myrlie, is left with no phone number and no knowledge of where her Bethany's parents are going. Throughout the novel she begins to learn about her aunt, her cousin and her sister Elizabeth as well as learning more about her parents. Thought the entire book as Bethany finds more out about her relatives she discovers why her parents dropped her off in this place, why she had been so shelter her entire life and why she did not know any of these relatives she was now staying with. I enjoyed the new arising questions with every one which was answered. I also enjoyed unexpected twists that came each time she met a new person.
I picked this book because I had read several other books by this author and had enjoyed many of her other books.
I finished it because up until the very end there was always another question to be answered and more to be asked.
I would recommend this book to people who enjoy suspense, mystery and excitement.
Rating: ****

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

"Imagine this:
You're in your favorite bookstore, scanning the shelves. You get to the section where a favorite author's books reside, and there, nestled in comfortably between the incredibly familiar spines, sits a red notebook.
What do you do?
The choice, I think, is obvious:
You take down the red notebook and open it.
And then you do whatever it tells you to do." (page 1)

Lily left the aforementioned red notebook next to Salinger's "Franny and Zooey" in the Strand, a hip used book store in New York City. It was discovered by Dash. Dash decides to follow the literary clues and then leave one of his own for the mysterious Lily, thus beginning a city-wide "treasure hunt", passing the notebook back and forth yet never meeting. Dash and Lily employ friends and family in the quirky and often hilarious dares, sharing their thoughts and feelings along the way. Is it possible to start a friendship or even a relationship when you have never laid eyes on the each other? I dare you to pick up this book and find out.

Why I picked up the book: I like author Rachel Cohn and have seen the movie based on their book "Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist". Dash & Lily was the next book for CY's Teachers as Readers book club so it gave me a good reason to finally read it.

Why I finished it: It was a fun and festive holiday book and a nice change from supernatural, undead fiction. Lily reminded me a bit of Mia from Meg Cabot's series "The Princess Diaries". I think it was her quirkiness but could have been the NYC setting. Dash, on the other hand, was very verbose and a bit quirky in his own way. Snarly, as other characters referred to him.

I'd give it to: readers looking for a little holiday cheer. Probably high school and up, because there is some mild language, a small reference to drinking, and some kissing.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Animal Farm

Name: Eric

Grade: 12

Book: Animal Farm

Author: George Orwell


This book in its simplest form is about animals taking over a farm. Manor Farm is run by the negligent farmer Jones, and is taken over in a revolution by the animals, led by the pigs, and turned into Animal Farm. This is not however, what this book is really about. Instead, animal illustrates the nuances of Communism, democracies, and the "animal" like nature of humans. Using the heirachal nature of everyday farm animals, Orwell makes an excellent analogy to how humans view themselves when lined up with eachother, and how our goverments truly run. Characters like Snowball and Napolean the pig will seem familiar to those who know their history, while everyone will recognize what the hard working horse represents.

This does not mean that the book is dry or a history lesson however. Instead, it paints the issues of humans in a fun and relatable way, that anyone can enjoy. While it is one of Orwell's lesser known books, it is one of his best, in this reviewers humble opinion. My only warning would be that it is based in England, and as such certain references and jargon are lost on an American reader. I would enjoy a seeing a modernized version, myself.

I picked this book up because I had read George Orwell before, but had never heard of Animal Farm, and was intrigued.

I finished this book because it engrossed me. I had an obligation to the animals to see it through to the end.

I'd give this book to anyone who knows their history or is politically inclined, but also anyone who is a fan of Orwells.

Rating: ****

Mangaman

Name: Serina

Grade: College

Book: Mangaman

Author: Barry Lyga

Illustrator: Colleen Doran

In this bizarre book, East meets West when Ryoko, a Japanese manga character, falls through a rip into an American comic book. There, he is almost immediately disliked for his very feminine anime looks, and also for the strange powers he possesses, like being able to jump from one panel to another and easily defeating anyone that challenges him to a fight with his martial art moves that defy the laws of gravity. Since he cannot get back to his own comic book, he decides to attend the local High School, where he also has great difficulty fitting in. However, something good does come out of his tumble into the Western world, and her name is Marissa Montaigne, the most gorgeous and also one of the most popular girls in the school. Ryoko gets hearts in his eyes whenever he see her, which greatly creeps out his male classmates, and with a bit of luck, Ryoko is able to befriend her and describe his own manga universe to her, as well as teach her a few of his panel jumping tricks. But will his love for Marissa, and her possible love for him, be able to survive between their two very different worlds?

This graphic novel was very strange, funny, and actually quite satisfying to read. There were quite a few parts of it that were a bit dry or unsettling for me, but most of it was a very unique look on how manga and western comics are different, as well as how they are also the same.

I picked this book up because I had never seen anything like it!

I finished this book because I wanted to see what happened at the end.

I'd give this book to any fan of comic books, whether they are a manga fan or a Marvel fan, or both!

Rating: *** Liked it!

The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

Josh and Emma have been neighbors for as long as they can remember and up until the incident last November they were best friends. Now it is May 1996 and they haven't been in each other's houses in six months. Emma just received a computer from her father and so Josh brings over an AOL CD-ROM that she can download to get 100 hours of free Internet. What she didn't expect was to get access to a strange website called Facebook. Sure, you know what Facebook is, but did you know it wasn't actually launched until 2004?

As Emma and Josh begin to investigate this Facebook, they realize what they are seeing is their future selves in 2011, fifteen years in the future. And everytime they log on or refresh Facebook their future is a little different.

If you could see your future, would you like it? Would it make you want to change the present? How would it affect your relationships with others, and most importantly for Josh and Emma, the future of us?

Why I picked up the book: In May 1996, I was a sophomore in high school and did NOT have my own computer until the summer before my junior year of college in 2000! I remember going to my other parents' house to use their computer to type papers and listening to that horrible pinging dial of the Internet when my younger brother would log on. We never used AOL but constantly got the CD-ROMs in the mail. (when did that stop anyway??) I wonder if any of my teens would even remember the sound of dial-up, which I haven't had since 2003.

Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler are rockstar YA authors so of course, I had to read this! Plus it is a change from the dystopian, zombies, and vampires I've been reading lately.

Why I finished it: I'm a sucker for this type of novel. It was like brain candy and just want I needed. Like I mentioned, I kept thinking about myself in high school and would I have been content with where I am today (by the way, I am loving my life right now, but again what would my 16 year old self think?).

I'd give it to: fans of realistic fiction with a small amount of romance (nothing over the top). Teens who like to think about what their future will be like and adults who can look back and remember how they felt at 16 about their future life.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Running in the Family

Name: Alex Trimble

Grade: 12

Author: Michael Ondaatje

"Running in the Family" is a form of autobiography the author wrote from photos he has of himself and his family. He tells his life story and the life stories of many different people in his family in fragments, each small chapter seeming unconnected to the previous or the following. It's a method that makes sense though, and as long as you don't try too hard to connect each chapter, it's quite enjoyable. Ondaatje has a way with descriptions, and being a poet first and foremost, this really isn't all that surprising. His "chapters" have different formats, some of them no format at all, and the reader is forced to simply follow along and take in each absurd - or touching - story the novel tells. One of the hardest things about reading piece may be believing all the stories are true, and did exist in this one family and, often, to this one man. It's very touching and yet raw, in a way; realistic and interesting because they are true events, with true people. I feel like that aspect almost makes it more personal, even as a reader. Throughout, of course, are pictures that each section is supposed to be associated with (again, with Ondaatje, it's hard to find an order) and these help provide insight and a nice break from the reading. It's a great collection of random family memories, and although not exactly revolutionary in reading, it is enjoyable.

Why I picked up the book: Class assignment

Why I finished the book: Class assignment, but it was also intriguing

I'd give this book to: Those with a taste for 'different' literature, poets

My rating: ***

Eighth Grade Bites (The Chronicles of Vlad Tod #1) by Heather Brewer

Junior high is hard enough for a "normal" teenager. But what if you had a massive secret that involved the death of your parents three years ago and the disappearance of your teacher. A secret so dark it could get you beat up or worse, killed?

Vladimir Tod isn't your typical 8th grader. Yeah sure, he is a bit on the skinny side, with pale white skin, and he loves to wear hoodies, t-shirts with witty, sarcastic sayings, and shoes with holes in them. Vlad is quiet, has a crush on a cute girl, and a best friend who is more outgoing but also knows how to keep secrets. It's Vlad's appetite and dietary issues are a bit, shall we say, unique.

You see, Vlad is a vampire, well half-vampire. He must drink blood in order to survive. Luckily his guardian, Aunt Nelly, is a nurse and has a constant supply of blood bags, snack packs, and blood capsules to keep him nourished.

The school bullies have taken an interest in Vlad. But they aren't the only ones. Someone is looking for Vlad and will stop at nothing to find him. Is the new substitute, the pale, top-hat wearing Mr. Otis just a strange character with a keen interest in mythology or is he dark and dangerous?

Even if you aren't a vampire, sometimes Eighth Grade Bites.

Why I picked up the book: It is nominated for the Wyoming Soaring Eagle book award. I have had a lot of boys tell me about it as well as a middle school teacher.

Why I finished it: The book is quick, fast paced and intriguing. It was less about Vlad being a vampire and more about him trying to find his identity, outwit or outrun the bullies, and dealing with the loss of his parents.

I'd recommend it to: boys, fans of series, readers who want vampires but not a lot of blood, gore, romance, etc.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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The Maze Runner by James Dashner

"Nice to meet you shank. Welcome to the Glade."

Imagine waking up in a strange place, not knowing where you are, how you got there, or worse yet, how to get out. Not remembering anything about your life except for your name.

Thomas arrives in the Glade, just the same way as everyone before him. Once per month a newbie is delivered through the Box, a strange, dark elevator shaft, through which you can enter but you can't leave.

"Where am I?" Thomas asks. "Nowhere good" is the reply.

The Glade is in the middle of a Maze, and surrounded by huge stone walls that open like clockwork every morning and close tight every night at sunset. The group of boys that live in the Glade have created their own society and are working hard to survive. Every morning, a team of eight Runners enter the Maze in an effort to map every inch and find a way out. They must be back by sunset though because hideous, deadly beasts called Grievers live in the Maze and come out at night.

While Thomas's arrival in the Glade was expected, he is nothing like the normal newbie. Several of the Gladers think they remember him and say he is bad. Thomas also has a strong desire to be a Runner. And the day after he arrives, someone else is sent up through the Box. This time it is a girl, with a message.

After two years, the Gladers are beginning to suspect there may be no way out.

Why I picked up the book: It has been on my to-read pile for quite awhile since it is a Soaring Eagle nominee. It was recommended to me by a guy in my high school book club.

Why I finished it: We were looking for a book to use for our inaugural Teen One Book selection and one of our high school librarians recommended this one. Also I was invited to join CY's Teachers as Readers book club and this was their first book. Besides the obligation, I was sucked in. I wanted to know how they got there and if they would solve the maze. It kept me guessing and now I have to read the sequels (Scorch Trials & Death Cure) and the prequel (The Kill Order, to be released in August 2012)

I'd give it to: fans of Hunger Games, teens (especially boys!) and adults looking for a new series. The author himself called it a mix between "Ender's Game" and "Lord of the Flies".

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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The Enemy by Charlie Higson

It has been a year since the disease ravaged London, Those over 16 either died or became horrible disgusting monsters. The children and teenagers left behind have found shelter in abandoned buildings and have had to adapt in order to survive. They must hunt and scavenger for food and do whatever it takes to protect themselves.

If it is possible, things are getting worse. While they don't know what caused the disease and why only adults were affected, they have known how to survive up until now. The "Grown-ups", the zombies in human shells, have always been easy to kill but now they appear to be getting stronger, more organized, and even more dangerous.

When a teen named Jester shows up telling the Holloway gang that there is a thriving community living at Buckingham Palace, raising animals and growing food, the group must decide whether to stay in their relatively safe, known environment with dwindling food rations or make their way across the unknown dangerous city to the promise of a better life.

What or who is the real Enemy? Will they be able to survive?

Why I picked up the book: I haven't read any zombie books. My book group at Roosevelt chose this for their first book club.

Why I finished it: I had to know if they were going to survive, especially Small Sam. I think I would have a hard time surviving for a year with limited food and no electricity, so it is amazing to me that teens and children can adapt and try to survive. (Yeah, yeah I know. I'm an adult so the disease would have either killed me or turned me into the feared grown-ups!)

I'd give it to: teenagers, especially boys. Fans of zombies.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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You by Charles Benoit

It didn't have to be like this. Thinking back, you could have made different choices and avoided this.

You used to care about school and grades. You used to have real friends, not just the "hoodies", the group of guys you hang with, that wear the uniform of black shirt, pants, and of course the black hoodie. The group who no one expects anything from but trouble.

You could have ignored the new guy, who you never would have met it hadn't been for the suspension.

You could have had the girl, if you had only spoken up.

You can look back now and see it, and the way it should have been. But realize, it is all because of YOU.

Why I picked up the book: I was looking for something different, for myself and for our high school book club. This definitely fit the bill and it was a quick read.

Why I finished it: The 2nd person narration instantly draws you in as well as the fact that the initial section gives away part of the ending but has you guessing how it get there (LOTS OF BLOOD). I love guessing, especially when I don't see it coming.

I'd give it to: boys, teens who feel misunderstood, reluctant readers, someone looking for a short book that will draw them in, teachers and parents--anyone who works with or will be raising a teenager.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Everlost (Skinjacker, #1) by Neal Shusterman

Nick & Allie never knew each other in life but literally ran into each other in death. When the cars they were riding in hit head-on, both Nick & Allie were ejected. Nick was in the middle seat which lacked a seatbelt and Allie had just taken hers off to adjust her shirt. They both remember seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and then feeling something (or in this case someone) bump them off course.

When they awaken after a dreamless nine month sleep, Nick and Allie discover they are in a place called Everlost. Only children and teenagers find themselves in Everlost, as adults always seem to get where they were going. The dead world of Everlost exists parallel to the living world. The Afterlights, the name for those souls in Everlost, can see the living world but can't touch it. In fact they can sink into the living earth and become trapped for eternity.

Certain places also exist in Everlost. Those that were truly loved will cross over, like the World Trade Center. Nick & Allie eventually find their way to New York City and meet the Queen of Lost Souls. Mary Hightower has created a community in the World Trade Centers, where children are able to spend their time and do what they love.

But Allie isn't willing to let go of life so easily. She wants to find a way out of Everlost at any cost.

Why I picked up the book: Lots of teens had been recommending it to me.

Why I finished it: Very compelling. While the characters are dead, it isn't that grim of a story.

I'd give it to: Neal Shusterman fans. Readers who like realistic fiction but with a twist of fantasy and sci-fi.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Book review: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Name: Alex Trimble

Grade: 12

Author: Ron Hansen

This book goes beyond just telling the story of the western gangster Jesse James and his death at the hands of the infamous Bob Ford. It reveals aspects of James most people probably don't know, nor expect. It draws you in to getting to know both Jesse and Bob, and by the end of it, you are stuck trying to decide who was the good guy and who was the bad guy. This is another novel I read after seeing the film, and much as with Atonement, it's one of the most spot-on adaptations I've ever seen/read. This story is written in a way that makes it appealing both to fans of westerns and those who aren't (I'm of the latter group, and still love this novel). It's not about cowboys and robberies, persay. It's about an unstable man(James) who rose to fame for his violence and intelligence, and the young man(Ford) who goes from ardent admirer to murderer. As with the film, this book captures all the characters and their stories and emotions wonderfully, while simultaneously rooting you in the plot and surroundings of the story. I've seldom read a novel with so many lines I've wanted to write down, purely because they're so gorgeously written, I want to keep them around. I find The Assassination of Jesse James is a bit difficult to describe or summarize well, although it should be a fairly straight-forward story - but all the reasons to read it are locked in the writing itself, with the characters and situations and dialogue. I ask only that you take my word that it is a beautiful book, and one that pulls you from admiring of Jesse to repulsed by him, and tugs you back and forth from sympathetic for Bob and spiteful. Brilliantly written - and although fictional, more of it is actually rooted in truth than you would think. Hansen did his homework before he wrote, and all that's really made up is some of the conversations. It's beautiful.

Why I picked up the book: Loved the movie

Why I finished it: It was beautiful and compelling

I'd give this book to: Any fan of westerns, or any admirer of brilliant writing

Rating: *****

Review: Star Wars Fate of the Jedi: Ascension

Name: Eric Morales

Grade: 12

Author: Christie Golden

For fans of the brand, Ascension is one of the better Star Wars books out there. The second to last book in the acclaimed Fate of the Jedi series, Ascension continues the tale of Luke Skywalker and his Jedi on the search for a mysterious ancient being, while dealing with a hidden tribe of evil Sith. Coups, conspiracies, and shadowy motives create a darker setting for this novel, something that is not often seen in the Star Wars series of novels. The galaxy is about to hit a climax point, culturally, politically, and in war, and Ascension captures this tense feeling perfectly. Author Christie Golden is a master of suspense and action, and rarely leaves the reader bored. Her character development should also be praised, as she continues to build upon already set in stone characters, creating new twists and turns that surprise even veteran readers. The book is not without its faults of course; while her writing is good, one does not pick up the book with the intention of finding a unique and world changing read. Above all else, its intention is to further the Star Wars story, and should not be taken too seriously. I highly recommend it for any veteran readers of Star Wars novels, and I look forward to its sequel, Apocalypse.

Why I picked up this book: I’m a huge fan of the series, and I had yet to read this one.

Why I finished it: The amount of suspense and surprises that Golden delivers made me want to see just how it all ended.

I’d give this book to: any Star Wars fan or fan of Sci-Fi

Rating: ****