Teen Book Club movie casting for Beautiful Creatures by Garcia & Stohl

For the past 9 months or so Teen Book Club has been creating their "perfect" cast for each book we discuss. They just finished discussing Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl and this is the casting options they brought to the table. **Side note: In creating the perfect cast, current age of the actor and/or book character is not important. This gives the group free reign to pick the actor that most fits the character in their mind. They are only in the order of suggestion, not necessarily rank.

Macon Ravenwood
Michael C Hall


John Hodiak


Ralph Fiennes


Johnny Depp


Ethan Wate
Logan Lurman


Matthew Gray Gubler


Lena Duchannes
Zooey Deschanel


Amy Lee (of the band Evanescence)


Drew Barrymore


Anna Paquin


Ethan's Father - Mitchell Wate
Robert Downey Jr.


Colin Firth


Marian (the Librarian)
Thandie Newton (Might she also make a good Amma?)


Emma Thompson


Amma
Queen Latifah


Ridley
Lindsey Haun


Saraphine
Helena Bonham Carter


Link
Aaron Yoo

Shapeshifter by Holly Bennett

Name: Krystiana Graham

Grade: 12th Grade

Title: Shapeshifter

Author: Holly Bennett

Review: Shapeshifter is about a girl named Sive, who lives in the land of the Fae. It's about a girl who can take the form of a deer, and with a voice that can enchant as well as spellbind others. When she turned sixteen, she gave her first concert to an old familiar friend, and it was there that she was discovered by a man who used his power over others to, in short, take over the land. Or attempt to anyways. Sive did the only thing she could, to avoid being his new pet, and turned into a deer, keeping to the form, as she ran from him. From years, Sive traveled in hid, staying mostly in the form of a deer, before she found love in the human realm. Protected with in his walls, she was able to return to a human state, before, finally, she was captured by the sorcerer, who took her back to his lands. She fought, and fought him, till at last, he gave her peace by commanding she turn into a deer, and never turn back human. And she ran away. Soon the sorcerer was found, and ultimately destroyed, all of his spells broken, but Sive was to remain a deer, lost in the thoughts of a deer, with no way out... Of course, if you want to find out if she ever did return to her human form, then you'll have to read the book yourself, and find out for yourself... how the story of Sive was to end.

Why I picked this book: I've always had a thing for the mystical aspect in stories, and just reading the snippet in the cover had grasped by interest. It wasn't a matter of decided to pick this book, oh no... it was a matter of when I'd be able to read it.

Why I finished it: I had to finish this book,there was just no other option in the world but for me to finish reading it. It was such a good book, and kept you so interested. not to mention the sad fact that I couldn't put it down. It was the fastest book I had read in a long time. It was just one of those books you COULDN'T help but finish.

I'd give this book to: Really, this is just one of those books that if you didn't sit down and read it, you'd be missing out, so who would I recommend this book to? Easy, I'd tell EVERYONE to read it. Especially if you like reading about superstitious, magical things. Shapeshifting lovers defiantly need to put this book in their to read pile, as well.

Rating: ****

The Book Thief

by: Markus Zusak

Briana, 12th grade

The book thief is the story of a young German girl living in Nazi Germany. The story opens to the girl, Liesel Memminger, holding her dead brother on the train ride into a town called Molching so that her brother and her can meet their new foster family. While stopped, Leisel and her mother find a few gravediggers and ask them to bury the dead boy. As they leave, Leisel notices that one has dropped a book, which she promptly steals and keeps hidden. This is the first of many books Leisel steals, whether saving them from bonfires, stealing them from important households, ect. Leisel Meminger is the Book Thief.
While living with her foster family, Leisel discovers her hatred for the furher Hitler, her love for reading, how to keep secrets, and how to provide food and items for her family, all the while putting on a charade of a good German girl. Slowly, Leisel's world is utterly shaken when first, her family hides a jew, second, she gets caught stealing, and three, when those she loves begin to die off because of the hatred Hitler brings upon his country. The book thief is a great account of Nazi Germany, and one girl's fight against conformity.

Who would I give this book too: I loved this story, and know that many people would feel the same. I would give this novel to anyone looking for a good story. This novel is filled with action and at the same time sadness that will hit the heart of all who read it.

Why I picked up the book: Many of my friends have read this book, and suggested it to me. I have only heard good things about this novel, so I figured I might as well read it.

Why I finished the book:I was a bit skeptical about this book once I began reading it, because it took me a while to understand the style in which this novel is written. The speaker in the novel is also one I never would have expected, so that adds yet another twist. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, so there was never a question of not finishing it.

My rating: **** Really liked it!

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Name: Caitlin

Grade: 12

Title: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Author: Jonathan Foer


On September 11, 2001, thousands of people lost the ones they loved. Among them is nine-year-old Oskar Schell. In Extremely Loud and Incredibly close, the reader follows Oskar and his grandparents as they discuss their journeys to find Thomas Schell, Oskar's deceased father. Oskar's journey begins when he finds a mysterious key with his father's belongings and decides to track down the one lock in New York City that the key will fit in. Oskar's grandmother and grandfather intercept his story with stories of their own; they had been involved in the horrific Dresden bombings, lost the people they truly loved and decided to settle for each other.

This book was one of the best books I have ever read. What made it so wonderful were the individual voices of the characters. Oskar is one of those amazing kids that change the lives of everyone around him, even if he doesn't realize it. Every person Oskar encountered in the book came away feeling better about their lives because of him.

Foer has taken this book filled with devastating stories and horrible situations and put it into a nine-year old's perspective. Both 9/11 and the Dresden bombings left thousands dead and millions devastated, but in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, the reader follows each character as they struggle with their pain and find ways to help them cope. This book was beautifully, if unconventionally, written and speaks to the human perspective. I cared about Oskar as a character more than I have cared for a character since Harry Potter. His story and innocence draws you in and captivates you until the very last page. I was rooting for him the whole way. I think Oskar understands what he's doing in life more than I do- and I'm almost a decade his senior. Oskar and his grandparents and their stories may or may not have changed my perspective on things. If they did anything, they made this book one of the most spectacular books I have ever read.

Why I picked up the book: My sister dropped it on my bed and said "You should read this." So, I eventually picked it up on a whim and started it.

Why I finished it: I couldn't abandon the characters like that. I really didn't want to put the book down at all.

I'd give this book to: Anyone and everyone up for an amazing book.

My rating for this book: *****

Naughts and Crosses

Malorie Blackman's Naughts and Crosses is what you would call an upside down tale on history and is a great book for all young teens and up. As we all know, back around the 1960's there was quite a lot of racial discrimination between Black and White people. Well this book turns it around and makes history tell the tale of when Black people thought white people were below them. This is the first book in the series and it tells the story of Sephy, a black girl who daughter of a man who is to be a prime minister, and Callum, a white second class citizen. Black people are referred to a Crosses, while white people are referred to as Naughts, which is how you get the title. Anyway, these two kids have known each other, since they were children, and have been friends ever since. However they keep their friendship a secret since Crosses should never interact with Naughts. Their lives only get more complicated as the story unravels revealing some "complicated" feelings. This is truly one great story of friendship, hatred, and love as these two kid's tales reveal some dark facts about people. I began to read this book f0r a class but each page just became more exciting. It lead me to begin reading the next book in the series. I give it a solid 8/10 since it does get a bit to dramatic for me. But hey for all you drama lovers out there I recommend reading it.

The Brothers Torres by Coert Voorhees

Work, family, friends, girls, explosives, respect, loyalty, gangs. How do you find your place in the world? What does it take to become a man? Frankie Torres is about to discover that in life there is no clear line between good and evil. Sometimes you had to decide what you believe in and stand for.

Why I picked up the book: It is one of three titles for the 2011 Great Stories CLUB grant, which provided the books for our book club at Roosevelt High School.

Why I finished it: It was required. I probably wouldn't have finished the book otherwise. It is more of a character profile and didn't have a lot of action. It also uses a lot of Spanish phrases, slang, and meal names that I had to look up (since there wasn't a glossary). This one might be hard for our group, who may not be great readers.

I'd give the book to: Guys who are trying to find their way and not be defined by their siblings or by cultural expectations.

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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Clover

Name: Serina

Grade: College

Title: Clover

Author: CLAMP

In the quest for happiness, everything can be lost. Kazuhiko, an ex-military soldier is called upon to complete one last mission. Reluctantly, he finds himself in the position of delivering a young girl named Sue to Fairy Park. It would have been an easy mission, after all, teleportation is the quickest form of travel, but something went wrong in the teleporting process and Kazuhiko and Sue found themselves dropped off in dangerous territory. Kazuhiko is forced to fight for his own life and the girl's, but as the mission progresses, he begins to wonder if Sue wants to get to Fairy Park at all, and if she has the power to hinder their quest; because Sue is a Clover, one of the gifted children sought out by the government and imprisoned for their own use. Each leaf of the clover tattooed on the children's skin states their rank and the strength of their powers. Sue is a four leaf clover, the most powerful of all, but she has one simple wish that can only be granted by Kazuhiko, no matter her abilities. And her wish will turn out to be ultimately bittersweet...

CLAMP, the masters of shojo manga, put all their beautiful creativity and ravishing art into the making of Clover, a science-fiction adventure that seemingly has no happy endings. For the first time, all four volumes were brought together into an omnibus compilation- meaning one very thick book. By far one of the best works of CLAMP, Clover was a unique experience that every manga fan should read, even though they may be brought to tears.

I picked this book up because I love CLAMP.

I finished this book because of the perplexing plot and the gorgeous art.

I'd give this book to any manga fan.

Rating *****

Savvy by Ingrid Law

Ever feel like your family was out of the ordinary? Not quite like any of your classmates' families. Let me introduce you to the Beaumonts. They may be one of the most unique families around. The members of this family are born with a savvy, which is revealed on a person's thirteenth birthday. What is a savvy, you ask? A savvy is like a magical power or a special gift. An ability to do something that normal people aren't able to do.

Momma's savvy is perfection. Rocket is electric. Fish has a way with water and his emotions can create huge storms. Grandpa moves mountains and other tracts of land and Grandma was able to trap radio waves and can them in jars for future listening.

While it may seem like having a savvy would be a great thing, it can also be a burden. Savvies are hard to control and even harder to explain the damage caused by them to those without a savvy.

Mississippi, known as Mibs, is closing in on her thirteenth birthday and is excited to discover her savvy. Poppa is involved in a devastating car accident right before her special day and all Mibs can hope for is that her savvy will be something that can save him.

Why I picked up the book: I liked the idea of everyone having a savvy (special power). The book has been on my to-read list since it was awarded a Newbery Honor Medal in 2009. I thought it might be a good choice for our middle school book club, as the group reads a wide range of books and may have missed it on their own.

Why I finished the book: I had to know if Mibs and the group would make it to Poppa and how their adventure would turn out.

I'd give this book to: tweens and teens looking for a good story and something that won't make you blush.

Savvy is a 2010-2011 Indian Paintbrush nominee.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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