Mary's Review: Sugar Rush by Julie Burchill

Let's begin with a few basic facts.
1.) Kim, our heroine and would be protagonist, has recently changed schools from an all girls private high school to the infamous Ravendene public high.
2.) Kim's first step in this land of the unknown is to fall in love with Raver party girl, Sugar.
The novel spends the majority of its time chronicling Kim's use, abuse and uncertainties in her relationship with Sugar (one must use the term relationship loosely, as Sugar seems nothing if not phobic at the idea of settling into something requiring commitment). One is not entirely sure whether to pity Kim or grow frustrated with her and the emotion tends to change back and forth as the novel goes on. However, the ending is a form of full circle and the book leaves the reader less than utterly depressed (always something to hope for).
Final Verdict: 4Q-Better than most; 3P-Some teen appeal

Abbie's Review: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho's novel, The Alchemist, is a wonderful book that would appeal to readers of all ages, especially those at a crossroads in their life. The novel is about an 18-year-old boy named Santiago. Santiago meets with an old man who tells Santiago what his personal legend is, or the path he should take in life. Santiago's personal legend is to find a treasure in the pyramids of Egypt, but as the story progresses you find out that the treasure is not exactly what he discovers in the end. This book was originally written in Portugese, and later translated to English, but it's theme is definitely universal. This book will make you think about your path in life and realize that you may have known it all along. It is a definite recommendation!
Rating: 4Q-Better than most; 5P-Everyone wants to read it

Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan

Have you ever really hated someone? Hated someone enough to give him a really big scare, to teach him a lesson he'll never forget? Or maybe even kill him?
Mr. Griffin was the toughest teacher at Del Norte High School in Albuquerque. Everyone hated taking his English classes. He hardly ever gave out A's, and his classes weren't very fun. He made the lives of the students who took his classes miserable. Surely something should be done. Sue McConnell is a student in one of Mr. Griffin's classes. She's one of his better students, and she's still earning B's. Jeff, Mark and Betsy are also students in Mr. Griffin's classes, only they aren't nearly as studious. Mark is repeating Mr. Griffin's class, and he needs the credit in order to graduate, so he can't blow it. It's Mark's idea to kill Mr. Griffin. At first, Jeff and Betsy think he's nuts, but eventually they get used to the idea. They decide to disguise themselves, kidnap him, and give him a good scare. Mark is the ringleader, and he's got a mean streak. Jeff first noticed it when he set fire to a cat in junior high. They begin to devise their plan and get people involved who wouldn't be likely suspects. Like the senior class President, Dave Ruggles. And Sue McConnell, the brain. Soon Dave is part of the group, then Sue. She'll be the one to lure Mr. Griffin to them. It's perfect, because she's smart, dependable, and not a likely suspect. So the plans are made. Sue lures Mr. Griffin into the hands of the rest of the group. They blindfold him and take him to the mountains. They ask Mr. Griffin to beg to be let go. When he refuses outright, they decide to leave him there and come back later. Jeff is doubtful about leaving Mr. Griffin, but Mark is determined:
"But how long can we keep him here?" "Long enough to crack him. Man, he'll break," Mark said determinedly. "I promise you that. He'll break, and he'll beg, and he'll crawl, just the way we planned, and when he gets back in that classroom he'll be a shell, man, just a shell. He'll look out at that class, and he'll know somewhere out there, scattered around behind those Shakespeare books, there are a bunch of kids who watched him crawl. He'll know they're picturing him here on the ground, begging. Don't you think that's going to do something to him?" (p. 94)
But nobody realized Mr. Griffin's bottle of heart medicine had slipped out of his pocket during the walk.
(BookTalk by Lisa M. Kreutter from NoveList database)

Just Like That by Marsha Qualey

Have you ever noticed that the moments in our life seem to occur in a chain reaction, and JUST LIKE THAT our world is never the same. Hanna is a senior in Minneapolis. Her boyfriend is away at college and when she goes to the airport with his family to pick him up, she realizes JUST LIKE THAT that she doesn’t have feelings for him. Her friends and family expect her to be heartbroken by the breakup. But here’s the thing: She’s NOT. On that cold winter night, she makes the choice to take a long late night walk around the lakes and her whole world changes, JUST LIKE THAT.
Hanna’s sitting on a bench watching two ice skaters, who later warn her that the ice is too thin. Then a crazy couple on an ATV comes zipping by. Frustrated, Hanna leaves without warning them about the ice. The last thing she sees is them headed across the lake. On the news the next morning, Hanna learns that the ATV fell through the ice and the teens are dead. Hanna feels responsible although she can’t bring herself to tell anyone she was the last person to see them alive. Hanna is an artist and goes back to that spot near the lake to draw. There she finds a boy in a yellow cap with green stripes, kneeling in the snow. He appears to be mourning the dead teens. Hanna feels immediately drawn to him and can’t stop herself from sketching him over and over again and soon after adds the sketches to her website. She decides she must find this boy. But when she does, the secrets they share change their lives, JUST LIKE THAT.

Teach Me by R.A. Nelson

That’s what Nine thought. Nine, short for Carolina, is 18 and she’s starting her last semester as a senior in high school. She loves science but has decided to shake up her semester by taking a poetry class. Little does she know how much change this decision will bring to her boring life! Mr. Mann is the new teacher assigned to teach the poetry class. He’s different from most teachers. He’s young, handsome, fun, and really wants to make his students understand and get personally involved in the class. Nine, however, doesn’t realize how personal this class, this semester, will become. She develops a typical high school crush on Mr. Mann and like most of us, although we’d never admit it, she becomes obsessed, driving by his house and calling his answering machine. However, unlike most innocent crushes, Mr. Mann begins to reciprocate Nine’s feelings and flirtations by showing up at her fast food job and eating dinner there every night that she works. This crush escalates to a new level when one night, Mr. Mann is waiting by Nine’s car after closing. They talk and Nine ends up following him to a dark parking lot. Nine’s nervous because if she leaves the safety of her car and goes to his car, things will never be the same. There is no telling what could happen. Will Nine and Mr. Mann cross the line? If they do, how will it affect their professional relationship and what lessons will they TEACH each other?

A Bad Boy Can Be Good For A Girl by Tanya Lee Stone

Have you ever been in love? How about lust? Maybe just those giddy feelings and butterflies in your stomach? I’m sure we all have. But more often than not, young love doesn’t last, no matter how hard you try. How do you view the relationship once it has ended? Would you be influenced by who broke it off? What if you found out the guy you thought was wonderful turned out to be a player? Would you share your story with others and warn the girl destined to be next? Josie did and created an uprising.
Josie is a freshman worried about fitting into high school and then she meets the perfect guy-good looking, popular, jock. He’s a senior and she’s excited he’s even noticed her. Yeah, so what if his friends call her “freshmeat” and he’s constantly trying to hook up. He pays attention to her (most times) and says she’s special. But he suddenly ends it after she says she wants to wait. Josie is heartbroken but eventually takes solace in the library thinking about the book Forever by Judy Blume. Then it dawns on her. Why not write a warning to the female student body of Point Beach High in the back of the book. Josie makes sure to spread the word.
One person who fails to care is Nicolette. She’s a junior and doesn’t even date guys at Point Beach. Then she notices “the guy” and he notices her. They meet several times in the art supply closet before going all the way. One day he acts cold and reminds her they were never exclusive. Nicolette finally decides to find out what secrets Forever holds.
Aviva is a senior and a self-proclaimed “criss-crosser.” She’s comfortable with herself and hangs with lots of crowds. The guy takes her to a party (the weekend before ending it with Nicolette) and they begin to spend every weekend together. Sure he doesn’t always call when he says he will but he’s so sweet when they are together. One afternoon she gives herself to him and in the heat of the moment says those three fateful words: “I LOVE YOU” and suddenly the phone doesn’t ring. Aviva eventually reads Forever which is crammed with notes from tons of girls and realizes she’s not alone.
Teenage love can be exciting and heartbreaking. But coming through on the other side and realizing you are one of the survivors (and not alone) is enlightening. And sometimes A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl.

**This book is written in verse and each girl tells their own story. It is a fun, quick read.**

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

I’d never given much thought to how I would die---thought I’d had reason enough in the last few months---but even if I had, I would not have imagined it like this. I stared without breathing across the long room, into the dark eyes of the hunter, and he looked pleasantly back at me. Surely it was a good way to die, in the place of someone else, someone I loved. Noble, even. That ought to count for something. I knew that if I’d never gone to Forks, I wouldn’t be facing death now. But, terrified as I was, I couldn’t bring myself to regret the decision. When life offers you a dream so far beyond any of your expectations, it’s not reasonable to grieve when it comes to an end. The hunter smiled in a friendly way as he sauntered forward to kill me. (p.1)

It all started when Bella Swan moved to the small town of Forks, WA. It was completely different from Phoenix-the rain, smaller school, friendly classmates, and of course Edward Cullen. Bella had never met anyone quite like Edward. He’s absolutely gorgeous with porcelain skin, dazzling eyes and she’s immediately drawn to him. But for some reason, Edward wants nothing to do with her. He even appears to be repulsed by Bella. Then unexplainable events start to occur. When an out of control vehicle is headed straight for Bella in the parking lot, Edward suddenly appears and saves her from being crushed. Then when Bella is on a girls’ afternoon shopping trip in a neighboring town, she becomes disoriented and stumbles into an unsafe situation, Edward again arrives out of nowhere to save her. How is it that appears when Bella is in trouble? Why does Edward pull away when Bella can feel the electricity, the undeniable connection between them? And what will happen when Bella learns that not only is she in love but in love with a vampire?

Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher

What a concept! Losers in letter jackets! I could show those small town jocks, those crown princes of athletics, just how much those jackets really meant!
Hi. I'm T.J. Jones, and while I love to play sports, I hate being told what to do, and that's what high school coaches do. I'd decided four years ago to go all the way through high school without one semester on any team, and I almost made it. What happened? Mr. Simet happened. He was my English teacher, one of the few folks on the faculty that I had any real respect for. In September of my senior year, he asked me for a favor. He didn't want to coach wrestling, and he'd have to unless he and I could come up with a swim team.
It sounded crazy — a swim team in a town that had only one pool, at the 24-hour health club, which wasn't even close to meeting the rules for a regulation pool, so we'd never have a home swim meet — we'd be on the road 100% of the time. I was going to turn him down — I mean, he's a great teacher and a great human being, but this was a BIG favor, when I saw something that gave me the perfect motivation.
Two of the bigger, meaner football players were hassling Chris for wearing his dead brother's letter jacket. Chris was brain-damaged, and everyone knew it, including these two lamebrains. Wearing Brian's jacket was the only way Chris could feel close to his brother. I chased them off, and then later that day, when I went by the health club and saw Chris swim with his beautiful, natural stroke, my plan burst into my head, fully formed and ready to put into play.
I'd create a swim team of the very guys the jocks hated, the ones they saw as losers, and then watch how those jocks felt when guys they'd spit on wore the same letter jackets they did! YES!
So who made the team? Chris, of course, Dan, the original multi-syllabic genius geek, Tay Roy, a bodybuilder who decided he'd rather swim, Jackie, who's so average that he's nearly invisible, Simon, who's 5'7" and almost 300 pounds, and Andy, who's terminally angry, has a major bad attitude, and walks with a limp that he's never explained. In other words, the team consisted of one real swimmer of color (I'm a mix, white/black/Japanese), two representatives from the top and bottom of the IQ curve, a muscle man, a giant, a chameleon, and a psycho. Would we succeed in yanking the chains of every jock and ex-jock in town, or go under for the last time?
Come to practice, take a ride on our team bus, and find out for yourself. We just might manage to surprise you-more than once!
(BookTalk by Joni Richards Bodart -from NoveList database)

Inexcusable by Chris Lynch

Does it ever seem to you like you might see yourself and the world differently than it sees you? Have you ever uttered the phrase “the way it looks is not the way it is”? That’s what’s happening to Keir. Keir is a jock, part of the football team and an honorary soccer teammate. He wasn’t noticed much by his classmates until that fateful football game his senior year. Keir is the kicker; he’s not a part of the defense or the offense. But for some reason, that game he was playing cornerback. And what happened wasn’t his fault. That’s the way it was decided. He was just playing the game exactly the way he’d been taught. The play he made was textbook. It wasn’t his fault that the guy he tackled never got up and is crippled. That event resulted in his moniker “Killer” or more appropriate “Killier”. Since then Keir has become invincible. He and the other senior football players have gotten away with behavior that by most would seem INEXCUSABLE. But where do you draw the line? When do you become responsible for your actions? When do drugs and alcohol blur your perceptions of who you are and who others see you to be? What is the truth and what is a lie?

**Be aware that the subject of this book is date rape and there is some strong language.**

Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman

My name is Shawn McDaniel and I’m 14. I’d like to share my story with you, but first, you have to know that I have some good news and some bad news. I’ll share the good news first, because that’s how it always works. I have a secret, wonderful, weird ability. I can remember everything I’ve ever heard, “perfectly, with total recall”. Anything anyone says, TV commercials, elevator Muzak, everything. I’ve been able to do this since I was four. “I hope I’m not coming off as conceited here. I’m sure I am. I mean, I do think that my hearing memory is kind of amazing, but it’s not like it’s made me rich or famous. I just happen to have this one talent that I know makes me gifted and special-yuck! I hate that word “special” when it’s applied to people.” So that’s the good news. On to the bad, and there happens to be a lot of that. “My being born changed everything for all of us, in every way. My dad didn’t divorce my mom, or my sister, Cindy, or my brother, Paul—he divorced me. He couldn’t handle my condition, so he had to leave. My condition? Well, that brings us to the guts of my bad news.” Bad news is to the world I’m a total retard. That’s what everyone thinks, but that’s not the truth. The truth is I have cerebral palsy. “When I was born I got brain damaged. A tiny blood vessel burst inside my head, and as luck would have it, this blood vessel was in exactly 100 percent the wrong spot. I don’t know enough about the brain to be able to say where in my brain this injury happened but wherever it was, it wiped out my muscle control. I can’t control any of my muscles. If you asked me to blink if I understand, I can’t make myself do it, even though I do understand. So you see, people think I’m a vegetable. They think I can’t hear, I can’t understand, and that I don’t know what’s going on. It’s so frustrating. It’s like I’m STUCK IN NEUTRAL. But that’s not the worst news of all. Maybe I shouldn’t even tell you. I think my dad is going to kill me…

Son of the Mob by Gordon Korman

Vince is a pretty typical high school senior. He’s trying to get and keep a girlfriend, make it through the year with decent grades, and deal with his father’s constant nagging about college and not being motivated. Vince knows he doesn’t want to be a part of the family business but how many teens do. The thing about Vince and his family that separates them from you and me is that Dad’s vending machine business isn’t all it appears to be. It turns out Dad is really ‘Honest Abe Luca’, the head of the Mob. And while Vince doesn’t want to be a part of it, Dad’s Mob ties always seem to affect Vince’s day to day life.

Take the time Vince took Angela O’Bannon to the beach on a date and found a body (not dead, yet) in his trunk. Or the time he joined the football team and never got tackled because the other team found out who he was. What about the time he got thrown in jail because the Porsche he got for his 16th birthday turned out to be hot. No matter what, Vince can’t seem to escape the mob. And then he meets Kendra Bightly, the school newspaper reporter, who turns out to be the daughter of an FBI Agent, the same agent after Vince’s dad. Will things work out with Kendra? Will Vince ever be able to lead a normal life and be more than just the SON OF THE MOB.

**Son of the Mob was a 2005-2006 Soaring Eagle nominee. To find out more about what happens next for Vince, check out Son of the Mob: Hollywood Hustle. Hollywood Hustle is a 2006-2007 Soaring Eagle nominee.**

Down the Rabbit Hole: An Echo Falls Mystery by Peter Abrahams

“It’s all about shoes.” That Ingrid knows for sure. “Sherlock Holmes believed you could find out just about all you needed to know about people from the little things.” Ingrid loves Sherlock Holmes and is herself a bit of a super sleuth detective. At thirteen, her life should be easy. School, soccer, family, and practice for the big production of Alice in Wonderland. It seems, however, that Ingrid can’t keep herself from being in the wrong place at the right time or would it be the right place at the wrong time. Rather than waiting for a ride and being late for soccer practice, Ingrid decides to walk and before she realizes it, she’s in a strange neighborhood and the rain is pouring. Cracked-up-Katie offers to call her a cab and invites her in. Ingrid takes this opportunity to change into her soccrer gear, when the cabbie honks. Ingrid runs out and never sees Katie again. That’s because Katie is found that night… murdered, strangled to death in her own house. Rather than admit she was the last to see Katie alive, Ingrid decides to stay quiet. But wait, why can’t she find her cleats? After ransacking her house, Ingrid remembers where she was the last time she had them. Katie’s. And in order to get them back, she’s going to have to break into Katie’s house, cross the police tape, all alone and in the dark of night. But it won’t be as easy as Ingrid hopes. Because you see, whoever killed Katie doesn’t want the police to stumble upon clues that were left behind. And the killer has decided to break in the same night, same time as Ingrid. All she sees from her hiding spot are a pair of Adidas shoes with green paint splotches. See… It’s all about the shoes…

**If you enjoyed Down the Rabbit Hole, check out Ingrid's next adventure in Behind the Curtain.

Avalon High by Meg Cabot

Ellie Harrison has just transferred to Avalon High in Annapolis, Maryland because her parents, both professors of medieval studies, are taking sabbatical. Avalon High seems like a typical high school, with your typical students: Lance, the jock; Jennifer, the cheerleader; and Will, senior class president, quarterback of the football team, and just really nice guy. But everyone is not quite who they appear to be.

Have you ever hear of King Arthur of Camelot? How about Queen Guinevere, Sir Lancelot, Merlin, Mordred, or Elaine-Lady of Shalott? Ellie is named for Elaine, the heroine of the Tennyson poem Lady of Shalott. Lady Elaine killed herself because of her unrequited love for Sir Lancelot, who was in love with Queen Guinevere, the wife of King Arthur. Quite the historical love triangle. What if I told you that this part of history keeps repeating itself? That there are people who believe that these characters from history are reincarnated every generation so that King Arthur can overcome the dark forces that killed him and finally bring the world into enlightenment. It sounds pretty far-fetched to me and to Ellie. However strange things begin to happen at Avalon High that cause Ellie to reevaluate her beliefs. How is it that even though they just met, Will and Ellie feel like they have known each other in a past life? Why would Will’s girlfriend Jennifer be seeing Lance, his best friend, behind his back? Could it be that they are all part of a cast of characters from another time?

The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer

Fourteen year old Cosmo is a no sponsor living in Satellite City. Life for a no sponsor is no picnic. Cosmo is a resident of on orphanage that uses the children as guinea pigs for food and drug testing. The life expectancy of a no sponsor is 15 years and Cosmo knows his time is just about up. But a malfunction in the satellite feed that runs just about everything in the city allows Cosmo a chance to escape. Unfortunately, the escape leaves him seriously injured. As he lies dying, a small blue creature lands on his chest and begins to feed. Desperately fighting the creature, Cosmo knows he is a goner. But then he meets one of the supernaturalists -- a ragtag group of young people who have dedicated themselves to destroying the Parasites that suck energy from injured people. When Cosmo joins the group, he learns about the mysteriouscreatures that only a few can even see. Are the creatures what they seem to be? And why is the Myishi Corp so interested in them?
(Booktalk borrowed from www.nancykeane.com)

Sam Stern's Cooking Up a Storm: The Teen Survival Cookbook

Looking for a great snack or a new recipe to spice up your turn to cooking dinner? Sam's got great recipes for after school snacks, meals, and desserts that will have you Cooking Up a Storm. Sick of soup from a can? Try the recipe for Top Tomato Soup (p. 33). Whip up your own fresh Two Fruit Smoothies (p. 15) or homemade Guacamole and Salsa (p. 66). Try your hand at Brilliant Burgers and Fat Fries (p. 80-81). If fun food is what you want, this cookbook is a great place to turn.

Looking For Alaska by John Green

“First drink, first prank, first friend, first girl, last words.” Miles Halter is fascinated by the last words of famous people. His favorite last words have become his words to live by: “I go to seek a Great Perhaps.” Miles is tired of his boring old life in Florida with no friends, so he has decided to spend his last two years of high school at Culver Creek Preparatory School in Alabama looking for his Great Perhaps. His roommate and first friend Chip Martin, AKA The Colonel, makes sure that Miles’ year is full of fun and new experiences including a new name “Pudge”. Even better than a friendship with The Colonel is Alaska Young, the wild, moody, exhilarating, beautiful girl who loves poetry, pranks, wine, and cigarettes. The girl who will change his world into Before and After. And it isn’t long before Pudge realizes that rather than seeking the Great Perhaps, he will spend his time LOOKING FOR ALASKA.

**This book was the winner of the 2006 Michael Printz Award for the best in Young Adult Literature. **
This book has been in my pile for quite sometime and I'm glad I finally picked it up. It left me wanting more. I can definitely see why it was chosen for the Printz Award.

Book Reviews by You

Are you a teen who love to read and wants to share great books with other teens? Here's your chance. Write reviews for our Books @ NCPL page by completing the form at http://fs11.formsite.com/ncplteenzone/form497451004/index.html
You can also pick up a form from the Teen Zone desk.