Identical by Ellen Hopkins

Kaeleigh & Raeanne
Raeanne & Kaeleigh
Identical Twins
Mirror images of each other
Yet underneath it’s
Good girl vs wild child
Both keeping a secret
Holding inside
Ugliness
Self hate
Repressed anger
Does anyone notice?
That appearances
Aren’t everything
District court judge father
Plus
Politician mother
Does not equal
Happy home

Why I picked up this book: I like the author and it was on my to-read pile. Book club members had suggested it.

Why I finished it: I love Hopkins style and the fact that she doesn't shy away from tough & troubling subject matter (drug & alcohol abuse, sexual abuse, cutting, promiscuity, suicide). Even though she writes in verse, it reads like a regular novel. Some pages/poems are in a shape and I liked that the end of one section and the beginning of another were mirror poems. I also had to know what the resolution would be.

I'd give the book to: fans of Hopkins. Readers who aren't afraid to tackle tough subject matter.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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River Marked by Patricia Briggs

Name: Krystiana Graham

Grade: 12th grade

Title: River Marked (Book Six in the Mercy Thompson Series)

Author: Patricia Briggs

Review: If you have never read any of the Mercy Thompson series, then you must head directly towards your nearest library and pick up the first in the series, Moon Called. It was an accident when I first got into the Mercy Thompson series. I'd actually read another book by Patricia Briggs, and thought Moon Called was the next one in the series, I'd never been so happy to be wrong. Mercy Thompson is the main character in the series, a Native American (Blackfeet) and Anglo American girl, who can shape shift into a Coyote. She calls herself a walker, and is led to believe that she is the only kind left of her species, do to vampires hunting them out. Raised by werewolves, the marrok's pack, none the less, when Mercy moved to tri-cities, she didn't think she'd get into to much trouble. Unless you count he black witch, the faerie that wanted to kill her, the gray lords, the Queen of the Vampires. The alpha of the pack near her, and his pack members (after all, coyotes and wolves don't get along to well). Ya... no trouble at all. But, none of the past problems are like what she faces in River Marked. Finally her life is suppose to be falling into place. She and Adam are getting married, Adam being the alpha of the Tri-Cities' Pack. And for the honeymoon. They go camping.

Harmless, delightful fun, right? They think so... Until Mercy sees the ghost of her father, then they learn that some fae have manipulated them into coming to the camp site. Then they run into a guy with his foot cut off... And then... Mercy meets more walkers. The story continues, encounters with walkers, with some Indian gods, not to mention the delightful otterkin in the river. Though, nothing is as bad as the real danger hiding under the murky depths of the water. Adam and Mercy are thrown into a world they weren't expecting to be a part of. They're forced to help the Indians they meet along the way, and have to save the world from a creature that will only bring dow the world. And one thing is certain. Under no circumstance, is the River Devil to win this new fight. Allied with only her mate, and alpha werewolf. A handful of walkers, a medicine man, his apprentice, Coyote, and some other Indian gods, Mercy will take on her biggest challenge yet... But you have to read the book if you want to know if she'll survive.

Why I picked up this book: Patricia Briggs has always been a favorite author of mine. I got hooked on her when I read the first book in the Alpha and Omega series, and when I hit it of with the Mercy Thompson series, a companion series, I knew I was in love. Every book that has come out, I make sure I'm one of the first on hold. I'll actually search up on Barnes and Nobles just to find out when it was to come out. So, I was quick about getting this one on hold for me. And when it finally came in, I was more then happy with the next turn of events in Mercy's life.

Why I finished it: It is rare that I never finish a book. Extremely rare. I love reading, and if I hold out long enough I can usually trap myself with in the pages, and get lost in the story. This one was no different - though a bit harder to finish do to an overwhelming about of stuff going on lately. But, never the less, once I got into the book, and had some time to actually finish it, I couldn't put it down. Near midnight last night, I finally closed the book after reading the last page, only to grown when I realized, now I have to wait for the next one. With Patricia Briggs, it isn't the question of 'why I finished?' but 'How long it will take me to finish.'

I'd give this book to: Really, this book has a little bit of everything. Gorgeous werewolves, gay couples, a vampire with an addiction to Scooby Doo, Fae, monsters. You name it. They have it. And, it's the sort of book that anyone can relate to the heroine, because of all of her natural flaws, and strong points. There's a part in the series that will appeal to everyone. So you can't limit the story by saying 'so and so should read this.' or 'people who like this should read it.' No... This is a series for everyone. Besides, if the end of the world is coming, because of the River Devil, we all need to know how to fight her. And this book will give you detailed instructions.

Rating: Five out of Five; for this book. Nothing less fitting for the top quality that Patricia Briggs never fails to deliver.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Name: Caitlin

Grade: 12

Book: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Katniss Everdeen is a typical girl living in district 12 or maybe not so much. Katniss is an extraordinary girl living in district twelve. She is smart, loving, thick-skinned and will do anything to protect her family. Her personality makes her descision to take her sister's place in the Hunger Games an obvious one. The Hunger games is a horrifying spectacle put on by the oppressive Capitol, an even in which two people from each district are forced to fight and kill to save their own lives: only one can survive. Katniss is soon wrapped up in a game of personal survival in the Hunger Games, fighting to save her own life so she can get back to her family. Of course, nothing is simple in the Hunger Games and soon Katniss finds herself befriending Peeta. Their friendship dims her will to live and soon surpasses that urge; Katniss is soon not so determined to save her own life as she is determined to save his. The horror of the games drags on as Katniss fights for Peeta's survival and soon climaxes with a shocking ending that leaves readers dying to read more.

The Hunger Games was an pretty good book. The reason I don't use fantastic or amazing is simply because the most enthralling part of the book didn't happen until Katniss entered the games. I felt that the book before the games was not nearly as intriguing or exciting as the games themselves. The entire plot within the games, however, was an I-can't-put-this-book-down situation. Collins writes with urgency about Katniss's survival and it pushes the book forward at an alarming rate. The rest of the book paled in comparison to how wonderfully written and composed the Hunger Games were. I loved the idea of Panem, the continent they lived on, and I loved the politics Collins slipped in regarding the Capitol and how it controls it's citizens. Overall, the book was very impressive. I liked it well enough to read the next one and I'm very excited to read the final book in the trilogy. This books was definitely the best book I have read all year in terms of something I couldn't put down.

Why I picked up the book: I thought it was about time I got on the Hunger Games train, if you know what I mean.

Why I finished it: I could not put down

I'd give this books to: Anyone looking for an interesting and fast-paced read. OR anyone into sci-fi or post-apocalyptic stories.

My Rating for this book: ****

Malice

Malice
Chris Wooding

Briana- 12th grade

Malice is unlike any other book I have read. It is half novel, half comic with all the same amount of suspense as a normal book would have. The story opens with a boy named Luke, who tries his hand at an old fable. Legend says that if you say the words six times, and burn the right objects, you will be taken away by a man named Tall Jake, to a different world. Luke recites the words and has suddenly dissappeared the next night. His friends Seth and Katy know that something is fishy, and try to uncover the truth about this "alternate reality" and in doing so encounter many obsticles along the way. Seth soon decides that the only way to uncover this mystery once and for all is to enter the mystery world for himself and try to save Luke- if he is still alive that is... Many horrors await the brave boys and girls who enter the world of Malice, and few ever see real daylight again- many die and are never heard from again, and the poor parents who believe that their children have run away, fear they will never see their little boys and girls again.

I picked up this book because it was for the Library's Teen Book Club, which I attend regularly- and I was interested in reading it since it was different from any other novel I have ever read.

I have not yet finished the book entirely, but I will because it has kept my attention and has been a good read. It is filled with suspense and the characters are continually trying to overcome the newest obsticle .

I would recommend this book to anyone, but it is not for everyone. I have suggested it to a few people, they have started reading it, and have not liked it. On the other hand, I know of some who have read this novel with gusto and have really enjoyed it. If you like suspense and are in need of something a little bit different, I suggest you give this book a try.

Rating: *** Good, I liked it

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, is a great American tale about a a crazy kid named Huck, and his black friend Jim. Huck is a wild boy who is uneducated and has no intent to every be civilized. Unfortunately Huck is also burdened by his drunk father and the fact that many people are trying to civilize him. In the end Huck decides to run away. This is the start of his many adventures. On the way he meets up with Jim who seems to also have his own troubles. Together, they both head down the river trying to escape from all their worries. Along their travels they get mixed up in some crazy events and Huck begins to learn a thing or two about himself. It's a great story for anyone who loves good old fashion writing. This book has many great characters that I'm pretty sure everyone can relate to. I read it because Mark Twain has always been a great author. His books go down as some of the best in American History. And that's the reason I finished the book. It's a funny and strange book. I give it a good 4.5 out of 5. The only bad thing that got my attention was that it was written a southern dialog. So it is a very hard book to read. But eventually it grows on you. I recommend it to all teens. Believe me it's a book you can have fun with so get yourself a copy.

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon

Name: Serina

Grade: College

Title: The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon

Author: Stephen King

Nine-year-old Trisha is sick of her mother and her older brother's bickering on their hiking trip. In an attempt to escape them, she goes off the path on her own, planning to meet back up at the trail through a shortcut. However, she accidentally stumbled down an embankment and becomes hopelessly lost. She soon consumes all the food in her pack after being lost for a couple of days, while her mother and brother call out a search party. Trisha's only comfort in the dark and cold of the woods is her walkman, which she uses to listen to the baseball games with her favorite player, Tom Gordon. Eventually, either from the girl being delirious or from supernatural causes, Trisha imagines that Tom Gordon is there with her and he actually speaks to her and gives her advice. With his help she is able to find edible berries and last through the freezing nights alone. However, the longer Trisha is lost, the more she begins to think that her and Tom aren't the only things in the woods. There is something sinister waiting for her in the darkness, watching her as she tries to follow a stream to find civilization. Trisha will have to be careful is she wants to evade what it is that hunts her, but her body is quickly diminishing from starvation and even her hero Tom Gordon may not be able to save her. . .

I picked this book up because Stephen King rocks!

I finished this book because it was very suspenseful.

I'd give this book to any Red Sox fan or any Stephen king fan.

Rating: ****

Malice by Chris Wooding

What are you afraid of?

We’ve all probably heard some form of the urban legend Bloody Mary. There is a ritual which usually includes looking in the mirror and chanting her name a certain number of time. Supposedly you will summon her ghost or spirit in the mirror and she will scratch your face off. But we all know that urban legends are just that. Tales that have been repeated over generations, changed a million times, and are a way of expressing our fears and scaring ourselves. But what if it the rumors and stories weren’t just an urban legend?

“I have to show you something.” Malice is an extremely rare and underground comic book. If you are “lucky” enough to find a copy, once you break the wax seal and take a look, you’ll discover the world inside is filled with your most terrifying and darkest fears, a world of torture and death. The images are so real; the characters so human. They say if you perform the ritual and call on Tall Jake, you too will disappear and find yourself in Malice. But books don’t have that kind of power, or do they? Are you brave enough to discover the world of Malice?

The Ritual:
Put the following ingredients in a small bowl-a black feather, a twig, a knot of cat fur, a tear (a single drop is all that is necessary), and a lock of your own hair. Then add fire and chant six times: “Tall Jake, take me away!”

Why I picked up the book: It was recommended for our Teen Book Club and I hadn't read any teen horror lately (or anything by Wooding.)

Why I finished it: Curiosity. I had to know if they would make it out of Malice alive. Maybe that is why the teens in the book summoned Tall Jake and believed in Malice in the first place.

I'd give it to: Fans of horror, graphic novels, Cirque du Freak. Reluctant readers.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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After Ever AfterAfter Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick

If you've read Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie, then you might remember Steven's little brother Jeffrey, "That Boy Who Had Cancer". At age four, Jeffrey Alper was diagnosed with cancer and underwent three years of treatment. Although he is in remission and past that critical five year mark, the treatments had residual effects. Jeffrey walks with a limp/drag, and it takes him a bit more time than normal to process information. And much to his father's chagrin, Jeffrey stinks at math. It is now 8th grade and life is throwing all sorts of curveballs. Steven, Jeffrey's brother, has decided to move to Africa to join a drumming circle and find himself. A smokin hot California girl named Lindsey Abraham has moved to NJ and Jeffrey is in love and even more tongue-tied. Oh yeah, and the state of New Jersey has decreed that all 8th graders must pass the state standardized tests in order to graduate and move on to the 9th grade. Jeffrey's best friend Tad is also a cancer survivor. Tad has a plan to tutor Jeffrey and Jeffrey is hoping to get Tad up out of his wheelchair to walk across the stage at graduation. Everyone wants a happily ever after but this is no fairy tale. What really happens After Ever After?

Why I picked up the (audio)book: I loved Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie so I wanted to see how Jeffrey was doing 8 years later. I decided to listen because I loved the narrator Nick Podehl and since it was only a 4 hour recording, I could listen to it driving to work and home.

Why I finished the book: I could listen to Nick Podehl read the stock report and still laugh. I wanted to know if Jeffrey would graduate 8th grade and defeat the horrible beast that is standardized testing.

I'd give it to: fans of DGADP. Guys who want realistic, humorous fiction.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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April's Review: Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness

The Knife of Never Letting Go (#1)

The Ask and the Answer (#2)

Monsters of Men (#3)

It’s the story of a boy and his dog. Well, no, it’s actually much more than that. It’s the story of New World, where a group of humans came to create utopia. Instead, they created division, war, and secrets.

Todd Hewitt is about to become a man. He lives in Prentisstown, where everyone hears each other’s Noise, all the time. Even animals have Noise. Todd’s dog, Manchee, is his closest friend. All the other boys in Prentisstown have become men, and they no longer speak to Todd. Soon, he will learn what they know.

For now, all Todd knows is that when he was a baby, his father and mother (and all the other women of Prentisstown) were killed in the war against the Spackle, the native inhabitants of New World. He has been raised by two men, who were close friends of his parents. His whole life, all 13 years of it, has been filled with farm chores and Noise. As Ness writes, “The Noise is a man unfiltered, and without a filter, a man is just chaos walking.”

When everything Todd knows is turned upside down, he must flee with Manchee. He begins an adventure across New World, with his new companion, Viola. Together they must learn what is true, and fight for what they know is right. You won’t be able to put down the books until you find out what happens to Todd, Viola, and all of New World.

Why I picked this book: After finishing the Hunger Games trilogy, I needed another can’t-put-down trilogy to get me through the holidays. And guess what? It worked. I finished all three books in less than a week – that’s a grand total of 1,600 pages.

Why I finished it: I got hooked. The pace is fast, and at the end of every chapter, you want to read just one more. With so many things happening at once, there’s always a detail left hanging.

Who I would give this book to: Anyone who likes a good story with a fast pace and realistic characters in a fantasy-like world, and who has a week to devote to these books.

Rating: ****