A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb

Do you believe in the existence of the afterlife? Where will you go when you die? Heaven or hell? What if you don’t end up in either place? What if you are stuck on Earth, a purgatory of such, where you must haunt people or places but can never touch or talk to anyone? An existence where you can love but no one can love you or even see you. This is Helen’s life. She died 130 years ago but is stuck between Heaven and Hell, right here on Earth, as a Light. She has had many hosts, the current Mr. Brown, whom she cares for deeply but can never touch or communicate with. She has come to accept her reality until one day a boy in Mr. Brown’s English class looks at her and actually sees her. That is because this boy is not your typical teenager. He is really a shell who has been inhabited by one of Helen’s kind, a ghost named James. James unlocked for Helen a world she never thought possible, a world where she might finally be able to touch and communicate with others, a world where she can love, a world that will unveil the answers to how and why she became Light and how she can finally be free.

Emily's Review: The Aeneid by Vergil (and translated by many!)

Okay, I confess. This is a weird choice. I have but one way to defend myself, and that is to mention that I've been translating The Aeneid since last fall. Why, Emily, you ask, would you translate an epic poem from the original Latin? And why, Emily, would you recommend it to us?
Well, as I am a dedicated Latin student, Plus, The Aeneid is a lot more awesome that it sounds.
After the Trojan war, the last few Trojans flee the Greeks, carrying with them the household gods and the memory of their homeland. The prince Aeneas leads the way. They have to find a new homeland and found a race destined to rule the world--the Romans. Because this is like The Odyssey with twice as much action, sex, and gore, the Trojan fleet obviously faces extreme peril on their journey (and even more when they reach their destination). The goddess Juno hates them, they don't know what to do, and their leader is a whiny brat. Characters like Dido, the overly passionate Carthaginian queen who falls for Aeneas, and the vicious warrior Turnus (called a second Achilles) liven the narrative, which is already...well, awesome. Seriously. It may be old, but that doesn't mean it's not exciting. Plus, YOU don't have to read it in the original language (like I did). Pick up one of the more recent translations and you won't regret it.
Rating: 5Q, 5P ---I am SO not exaggerating.

Mary's Review: Lord Loss by Darren Shan

Shan's pulled out all the stops on this one, at least as far as names are concerned. This reviewer happens to believe that any inane soul guilty of naming their child "Grubsitch" should be shot on-sight for the good of mankind, but that is not the point. Grubsitch "Grubbs" Grady is narrator and hero, and so the name serves to be...distinctive, if nothing else. Lord Loss begins with a bang, a very gory bang, as Grubbs witnesses the murder of his older sister and parents by the titular demon's familiars. Shan always has had a talent for colorful descriptions of gore. From there the story becomes rather start-stop interest wise, not choosing to remain on a steady increase of intensity until around midway through the book. Shan's forways into exposition would be more inksome if they failed to pay off later, but after some 16 Shan books this reviewer has yet to see it happen. The lovely thing about Lord Loss, for the casual reader, is that the book does not necessarily require the reading of the rest of the current ongoing story. The plot within wraps up nicely enough, and though another of Shan's Demonata books (Slawter and the upcoming volume as well) feature Grubbs as well (with Demon Thief involving a younger version of Grubb's uncle Dervish) those books could be considered "stand alones" as well. Shan has promised to tie the novels together at a later point, but for now we give Lord Loss: 3Q, 4P.

Jessica's Review: Dave Barry is Not Making This Up by Dave Barry

This book was good although not your typical read. There's not a plot, climax, hero, or villain, at least not in the normal sense. This book is a collection of articles written by the award winning Dave Barry that are based on anything from getting lost in the Bermuda Triangle, to the all time hated elementary school science fair. From the dedication in the beginning to the last word of the last article on the last page, Barry keeps the reader entertained and in fits of hysterical laughter. I'd recommend this book to people interested in a journalist who relates to the readers, even on topics a little out there.
Rating: 4Q, 3P

Dane's Review: Leaving Dirty Jersey by James Salant

Okay, this book is NOT, and I can't emphasize that enough, for any of the following people: anyone who dislikes or disapproves of drugs, drug use, profanity, violence, sex, or anyone who isn't comfortable with graphic descriptive literature or is squimish. I know, not the most "wowing" of intros from yours truly, however I'm sure that many of you are adult enough to handle some more intense reading. Heck, I know 14 year olds that are more mature about sex than people in their twenties. So yeah, it's like this: drugs are bad, nuf said, but I had to read some drug stories for a class, I hope you like reading about me btw, and this book is like James Frey's Million Little Pieces, with maybe less shock. Reminded me of a book called Junky, albeit an easier read.
So Jimmy, "Jim", he's out of rehab or GSL or whatever they call it, and he's staying clean of drugs like a good kid would, has himself a place to stay down in Cali (California). He & Luke & Wendy are doing well, his cohorts are, were, using drugs like him. But like most addicts, when confronted with the choice of using again, don't have as much will as they would like to believe. It's a story of meth and all the side drugs he does, connections he makes, and stories he has. I have a hard time describing the book without some profanity myself. The scary part is that it's all so real, how he and his friends are constantly paranoid, or making or breaking themselves. The sheer nonchalantness and calousness in all of the charaters is frightening. But when Wendy gets sent to prison, Jim has quite the time working his way around the town, borrowing money, cause it's always about the money, from his parents, stealing and living to feed his drug addiction.
It's awfully hardcore reading about his paranoia and loss of his mind. And with all that aside, it's pretty much one of the best books I've read in a long, long time. I recommend it only to those who think they can handle the most lewd of things, because Mr. Salant isn't shy when it comes to this novel.
Rating: 5Q, 2P

Josh's Review: The Black Tattoo by Sam Enthoven

The Black Tattoo by Sam Enthoven is a book that really doesn’t live up to its title. With a title as cool as The Black Tattoo, it is a bit of a downer that the book really doesn’t talk much about a black tattoo. Instead you are pulled into a world of secret societies and a battle with an age old demon, The Scourge. Charlie and Jack are best friends through thick and thin. One minute they are walking down the street and the next they are training in martial arts and learning to fly. One morning Charlie wakes up with a mysterious moving black tattoo and from then on it becomes a struggle for the existence of the universe. Sam Enthoven writes a good beginning to a book but the middle and the end seem to need a bit more developing, a little more explanation than “That is the way it has always been”.
Rating: 2Q, 3P

Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli

**This title is on the nominee list for the 2007-2008 Soaring Eagle book award**

The first thing I remember was running, hugging stolen bread to my chest despite the shouts of "Stop! Thief!" Then another boy was dragging me and running. He was much bigger/older than me. He had been going after the bread too, but I was quicker. His name was Uri. We split the bread and he asked me my name. "Stopthief," I said. He took me to meet the others in a stable. They teased me about my size, and my adopted name. Was I a Jew? they asked. How old was I? I asked what a Jew was and the one-armed boy said a Jew was less than a bug, less than anything. I was a Gypsy, they decided. And laughed and threw food. And then we heard the explosions and the clouds were brown and black and we ran to a small building in an alleyway and into the cellar. It was home, at least as much of a home as I would know for a long time. I didn't understand much of what was going on. The bombing, the hatred of the Jews. When the Jackboots and Flops lined us up and screamed and poked at us, I thought of the stone angel so silent and still. I pretended that I was the stone angel and that I could not move. It was all a game to me. When people ran, I thought it was a race and was determined to win. I was innocent, and young, and small, and quick. I entered the Ghetto in Warsaw because I wanted to. And escaped each night to pillage for food through an opening too small for anyone else. I never got caught. And, I survived in my ignorance and innocence. Unlike so many others. (This booktalk was written by Sam Marsh, Booktalking Colorado).

Josh's Review: Give a Boy a Gun by Todd Strasser

If you are a guy and can't find anything to read or nothing interests you then read this. Give a Boy a Gun is a FICTIONAL book about two sophomore boys who are at the bottom of the food chain when it come to school. Written in a the format of interviews from several people who knew the boys, this book paints an accurate picture of what happens before, during, and after a school shooting. Brendan and Gary are two boys who are the dregs of the school. Ridiculed and laughed at by the jocks, these boys finally get fed up. This book shows what can happen when it all becomes too much and people snap under the strain of having to put up with being the butt of everyone's jokes. This book, while providing excellent reading material, also provides startling facts and phrases taken from various magazines, newspapers, and surveys about guns and guys.

Rating: 4Q, 3P

Josh's Review: Lady Friday by Garth Nix

The latest installment in the Keys of the Kingdom series. Lady Friday once more picks up the story of Arthur Penhaligon and his struggle with the House and the Morrow Days. Lady Friday has sent out a letter to Arthur which is either a cunning trap or a golden opportunity. Meanwhile, Arthur's friend Leaf is being held captive by Lady Friday on her remote mountain in one of the Secondary Realms. Garth Nix once again writes an amazing story. However this book seems to have lost some of the fire that has been in the last four books. With two more books to go in the series is it going to be a downward spiral or is this the low point in a fabulous tale?

Rating: 4Q, 4P