Briana's Review: Luna by Julie Anne Peters

Reader's Name: Briana
What grade are you in?: 12th
Book Title: Luna
Author: Julie Anne peters

When Liam was was very young, his sister and mother began to notice that something was very different about the boy. Liam had a secret life, one he only shared with his sister Regan, and one he only displayed at night. Liam is a trans-gender. He believes that he was born in the wrong body, the body of a boy, when all he really wants is to be a girl. Regan knows that because of his "situation" he could get hurt, he even attempted suicide once. Regan knows her brother needs to change, but when he displays himself in public, she is embarrassed by him and even says that he is ruining her life. All her life, Regan has been catering to Luna (Liam's chosen name). What happens during this trying time for Luna could be the deciding factor between staying hidden, or changing.

Why I picked the book up:: This book was the December Teen book Club book, and I was very wary about the situation of the book at first.

Why I finished it:: Once I got further into the book, I started to enjoy this story. This is a story about a girl and her brother.

I'd give this book to:: I would give this book to anyone of my friends, especially those going through a hard time. This novel exhibits one boy's will to change the way he is and would be very appropriate for all teens.

My rating for this book:: **** Really Liked It

The Fall- Albert Camus

Name: Caitlin

Grade: 12

Book: The Fall by Albert Camus

The Fall is a beautifully written first-person narrative from the point of view of Jean-Baptiste Clamence, who is discussing with a stranger his "fall" from grace. Clamence was once a highly respected lawyer, but as time wore on, he found himself falling from this position to a mere man at a bar in the "shady" part of town. Clamence's story is tragic and at times shocking. His utter detachedness from people and society clearly shows in the stories he tell you, the reader. As you travel with Clamence through Amsterdam, he tells his stories, spewing bits and pieces of advice for life and developing further his philosophies. The further Clamence falls from the "garden of Eden" the more apparent it becomes that he has lived his life the wrong way.

This book was a book unlike any I have ever read. It's almost impossible to describe to anyone that hasn't read it. The way the first person is written draws you in as an active character listening to this man, walking down the dirty streets of Amsterdam. Often, I found myself underlining the copy I was reading because parts of what Clamence said applied so well to me as a person, as well as applying to much of society.

It was a beautiful look into the human perspective and how we, as humans, can fall from even our highest positions. It discussed human innocence, judgment, truth, and imprisonment. I I loved this book and all it described and I definitely hope to read more by Camus in the very near future.

Why I Picked up the Book: I actually bought it because I loved the cover.

Why I finished it: Whenever I piked it up, I found it very hard to put down. It was also really thought provoking.

I'd give this books to: Anyone up to reading some philosophy; the nice thing about Camus is that his fictional philosophical narratives are typically very short.

I wouldn't give this book to: Anyone who finds philosophy boring, or hates reading books translated from their original languages.

My Rating for this book: *****

Misery

Name: Serina

Grade: College

Title: Misery

Author: Stephen King

"I'm your biggest fan," was the first thing Paul Sheldon heard after waking up in an unfamiliar room. His female caretaker, Annie Wilkes, informs him that she found him near her home after he had had a car accident, had pulled him from his vehicle, and had brought him to her home. She then tells him once more that she is his biggest fan, referring to his award winning romance series with a female lead named misery. At first he is touched by her sacrifice and admiration for him, but soon he starts to question Annie's charity. For instance, since his legs were broken so badly during the wreck, why had she not taken him to the hospital or at least called them? At his questioning, Annie flies into a rage and smashes a bowl she had been feeding him soup out of. Apparently she has an unstable temper that Paul will see the worst of in his state of immobility. Things get even worse when Annie reads his final novel in which he had killed off his character Misery. She goes on a violent rampage and demands that he write a new book in which Misery comes back to life, or he will never leave her secluded farm house alive. Kept as a prisoner, Paul has no choice but to write for his deranged fan. And as time passes and chapters pile up, he is beginning to suspect that he will not live even if he does finish the book; he will not leave Annie's home. At least, not with all his limbs intact.

This book was suspenseful, horrifying, and sometimes downright cringe inducing. The things Paul suffers at Annie's hands are as grotesque as Annie's character is.

I picked this book up because I am trying to read everything by Stephen King.

I finished this book because I had to know if Paul lived or not.

I'd give this book to any Stephen King fan or to anyone who plans to become a writer. You never know, there could be a fan like Annie Wilkes in your future.

**** Really liked it!

Steven Colbert's I Am America and So Can You

Yes folks this month I felt a bit political. While shelving books I was walking down a shelf when I saw this baby. And it called to me. It called out to me like a siren's song calling a ship to its destruction. As I picked this book up I felt intrigued. As I opened the book I felt patriotic, and as I read these pages I felt empowered. Empowered by the word the this man wrote. If this book tells me something about Colbert, its that he is pretty dang insane. But if anything it shows that he is a rebel. A man who says and does so many great things that it becomes patriotic. Let me tell you a story. There once was a boy who was constantly given rules by his father. He grew up with so many rules and boundaries that he became enraged. So when he got older, he decided to rebel against his father, and become something great. His father tried to set him straight but ended up with a slap to the face and dumb witted look. The son than left his father, and went on to make something of himself. You know who that son was? America. The greatest rebel ever known. When I saw this book I read it because it was witty, hilarious, and surprisingly true about what America really is. This book is is a good 9 out of 10, since, in the word of Colbert, nothing is perfect. I guarantee that just by opening the book you will become 20% more patriotic.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl (Caster Chronicles #1)

Since the death of his mother, Ethan Wate has been haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl. When Lena Duchannes arrives in Gatlin, South Carolina, Ethan realizes that he has been having no ordinary recurring dream. Lena is the girl he sees every night. Her entrance in the old Civil War town where nothing happens and everyone knows everyone stirs the fires of gossip, jealously, and disapproval. It doesn't help that she is the niece of the town recluse, Macon Ravenwood, that she drives around in his old black hearse, and dresses all in black.

Ethan and Lena are drawn together and it isn't long before they realize that the dream is only one of the connections between them. Secrets will be revealed and the world as Ethan knows it will never be the same.

Why I picked up the book: The cover! I received an advanced copy of the book but it has been on my to-read stack ever since. The library copy is always checked out and I was looking for something a little different as a possible book club selection, so I grabbed it.

Why I finished it: I felt like I was living in Gatlin. While I usually don't have time to read sequels, I have already put Beautiful Darkness on hold.

I'd give it to: people who liked City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. Readers who want supernatural and romance, without too much sap.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

View all my Goodreads reviews

Visit the authors' website and listen to a clip of "Sixteen Moons".
Check out the publisher's website as well. They include a map of Gatlin.