Going Bovine by Libba Bray

Sixteen year old Cameron has just sort of floated through life, never really finding his niche or discovering his passion. That is until he receives the worse news of his life. Cameron is diagnosed with the human form of mad cow disease (Creutzfeldt-Jakob's disease). The kicker is that the disease is incurable, destroying his brain and eventually killing him.

But Cameron is given a second chance, courtesy of a punk angel named Dulcie. He must embark on a quest to find the mysterious Dr. X and the cure. Cameron is not alone on his journey. Cam convinces his hospital roommate Gonzo, a hypochondriac dwarf, to join him and soon they acquire a third member, a Viking yard gnome named Balder. Get ready for a crazy road trip.

Why I picked the book: This is the 3rd time I've picked up the book and tried to read it. It won the Printz award and has received many positive reviews. Our high school book group is also interested in reading it, so I've promised them I will (attempt to) finish it.


Why I finished the book: Once I got past page 60, the story really took off and it was hard to put down.

I'd give the book to: high schoolers, teachers, & librarians looking for something different and literary, with humor, fantasy, science, and a dose of "what the..". Warning: the book contains cursing, drinking & drug use, and reference to sex.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Back of Beyond by C.J. Box

Cody Hoyt is a detective for the Lewis & Clark Sheriff's Department in Montana. He's rogue, but good at being a cop. Cody left his Denver job under bad circumstances, is in AA, and is a chain smoker. While on-call one night, he is summoned to the scene of a fire and apparent suicide. The victim was his sponsor and Cody immediately suspects foul play. His investigation will get him suspended and ultimately lead him into Back of Beyond in the remote reaches of Yellowstone, tracking a killer while trying to save someone he loves.

Why I picked up the book: CJ Box is a local Wyoming author, who grew up in Casper. I've read his stand alone novels and love them. Plus it was time for a change of pace in my reading.

Why I finished it: Cody Hoyt is a very realistic character, complete with flaws. The author does an amazing job with description, of characters & landscapes. He had me guessing all the way to the end as to the identity of the killer.

I'd give it to: high school students and adults looking for a good mystery or something set locally (Wyoming & Montana). I would caution readers that the books includes drinking, smoking, murder, and mention of sex (but no sex scenes).

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

Name: Caitlin

Grade: 12+

Book: The Mists of Avalon

Author: Marion Zimmer Bradley

The Mists of Avalon is a 900 page epic novel- and it's not 900 pages with big font, either. We're talking 900 pages of size 10 font; needless to say, this book took me a while to read. In fact, it took me most of the summer to get through it. Even for it's wordy and intimidating size, this book is a beautifully crafted, in-depth story of King Arthur. What makes it so unique is that it isn't told from the point of view of Arthur, but rather the women that shaped him.

The book has several main characters, ranging from a druidic High Priestess (The Lady of the Lake), her daughter forced into marriage(Igraine), to the daughter of Igraine (Morgaine), to Arthur's wife, and his aunt, Morgause. The book follows all of these characters at different intervals through the years, but if I had to pick which character was most focused on, it would have to be Morgaine.

Morgaine is the daughter of Igraine and Uther Pendragon, raised as a priestess for the Goddess (part of the oldest religion in Britain at the time)and is the most followed voice throughout the story. She faces many hardships throughout her life, like that of becoming a priestess and suffering through the loss of her own faith. To describe to you Morgaine is a difficult task. Bradley has given all of her characters such depth and character that I feel like trying to re-state it would be an insult to the character; still, at the very least, Morgaine is a solemn, intelligent and devoted woman. She is closest to my heart in this story because her voice is followed from the moment she is born until the moment she is no more.

Trying to explain what The Mists of Avalon is about is an almost impossible task because it truly tells the life story of so many characters. One of the main focuses is religion; Christianity versus the worship of the Goddess. This issue is brought to focus time and time again through both Morgaine, a devoted follower of the goddess, and Gwenefwyar, a pious Christian and wife to Arthur. Their faiths clash against each other constantly, creating a lot of tension and drama for everyone. The book also focuses on how women were expected to behave in that time, as well as how women who don't act that way are viewed by the public. These two main conflicts within the book make the story rich and fascinating in ways that are hard to describe to people who haven't read it.

Seeing as this book is so terribly long, I feel that I can't do it justice by writing a review about it that isn't a book in itself. The story is bold and rich and beautiful. The characters are vibrant and I found myself cheering (or in Gwen's case, booing) them on through every page. I gasped out loud with them as something dramatic or tragic happened, I laughed with them and I went with them on their journeys as they became great women who guide King Arthur and helped make him such a wonderful king. I feel that everyone should read this book. It is a gorgeously woven tapestry of colors and the lives of the people in King Arthur's court. I was so intimidated by it's length before, but I am more than happy that I read it. It's one of the best books I have ever read in my entire life, if not the best book period.

Why I picked up this book: Everyone gave it very high recommendations and I love storied about Merlin and King Arthur and all that.

Why I finished it: Though I did put it down for sometimes a week at a time, I never really tired of it and in the end I had to know what was going to happen to all the characters I had grown to love.

I'd give this book to: Anyone who is looking for a really brilliant book; as long as they're willing to start such a long novel :P

My Rating for this book: ******* --That is 7 stars.

Catching Fire

Catching Fire is Suzanne Collins's second book in the Hunger Games Trilogy. It continues the story of Katniss, one of the victors of the Hunger Games. Katniss is still distraught with her sudden victory. Not only has she survived the impossible, but she has save Peeta as well. With there being two victors, Katniss is worried that this will anger the Capitol. Unfortunately she is right. With a sudden visit from President Snow, Katniss is forced to continue her charade of being in love with Peeta. Otherwise there could be some "consequences."
Katniss is frightened at the idea of what the Capitol has in store if she fails to keep up appearances. She asks Haymitch for help and he tells her that she should just keep playing along. It is better to be safe than sorry. And so Katniss does. However the fear eventually gets to her. Katniss begins to make plans for running away from District 12 with whatever friends and family she can bring. But when Katniss is invited to the Mayors house she accidentally stumbles on a news report from District 8. It turns out the people of begun to rebel. Violence and death have become rampant in the District. Katniss now tries harder to run away, feeling guilty like she started the uprising. She asks Gale if he wants to go with her. Gale happily accepts. However when she accidentally lets Gale know about the uprising, Gale begins to change his mind. Now Katniss has to choose whether she should stay hidden and continue living under the Capitol, or if she should help start an uprising that will surely change the way that all the people live. This book is amazing and extremely well written. Every page excites me and only builds up my suspense. I can hardly wait to see how it all plays out. I give this book a 5/5. Its great for readers of all ages. I highly recommend anyone to read this amazing novel!

Match Point by Erynn Mangum

Self-proclaimed matchmaker Laurie Holbrook has matched all her friends and family. Now that her father has remarried, Laurie is reconsidering her life, aspirations, and living situation. While living in with you parents at 24 is cost effective, it might not be worth it when they switch your coffee for soy substitute and get rid of the sugar cereal and chocolate.

With all the recon she has done, Laurie is blindsided by her loved ones attempt to get her and Ryan to the altar. Will their love survive (or even proclaimed)?

Why I picked up the book: I had flown through the first 2 books in the series and wanted to know what would happen with Laurie & Ryan.

Why I finished it: This was easily the fastest read in the series.

I'd give it to: fans of chick-lit, Christian fiction, and high school girls. Anyone looking for a good summer beach read or a new series.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Rematch by Erynn Mangum

Lauren is quirky, crazy, a chocoholic coffee addict who loves to match make, yet can't see or accept the love in front of her face. She has a bit of a panic attack when her widowed father decides to head to a Christian singles conference called "Meet Your Match in Michigan." There is also the pending arrival of her sister Laney's 2nd set of twins, babies #4 & 5, as well as a few more matches to make. Oh yeah, what will happen when Laurie thinks about adopting a dog? Are you ready for a "rematch"?


Why I picked up the book: I was looking for a quick, easy, & fun summer read. This was the 2nd book in the series.

Why I finished it: I was hooked and had to see what would happen next.

I'd give it to: fans of chick-lit, Christian fiction, and high school girls. Anyone looking for a series.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Ripple

Name: Krystiana Graham

Grade: 12th grade +

Title: Ripple

Author: Mandy Hubbard

Review: She had murdered once before, and she was determined not to do it again; that was how the book seemed to start. Focusing on that fact, a fact that was explained in better terms quiet quickly. Our main character in this story, is a young girl, only eighteen, named Lexi. On her sixteenth birthday - as it has been for all of her ancestors before her, a unique change happened . . . Lexi became a siren. For those who do not know, a siren is a mystical creature, who swims in large bodies of water, and sings to lead males into the water, and drown them. To avoid ever hurting anyone else, Lexi developed a few rules. Don't have friends. This one rule cost her, as you learn in the beginning of the book. Two years she was hated, because she couldn't explain what happened to her clique. And she refused to let herself be welcomed back among them. She also never swam in the ocean - when she had to swim. And yes, as a siren, she had to swim. Every night, rather than sleeping, she had to swim - or the next day she would feel completely ill. The night before the first day of school, two years after her first murder, she goes up to a lake in the mountain, a lake she refers to as her lake. However, she doesn't get far, before she sees someone already there. Cole, a friend of the man she killed, a man that was her best friend's brother, that was her boyfriend. Terrified to swim, even if Cole was to leave, Lexi turned and ran to her car, going home, and the next day at school - she was left more out of it then before. That first day of school, Hubbard really illustrates in words, just how much Lexi went through, especially in those two years. All the teasing, pushing, and shoving. However, you get to another one of her classes, and you find Cole there. He sits down beside Lexi to try and get her to talk to him.

Slowly, she lets Cole in, and Cole continues to pry at her curiously. And at the same time Lexi finally notices the new kid. Who had bright blue eyes. Eyes she'd seen before; in her mirror. At this point, she wasn't quite sure what it meant. One day, before she went up to her lake, however, she was in the graveyard, at her deceased boyfriend, Steven's grave, talking to him, when she heard something behind her. And it was then she was discovered by Steven's sister, her ex-best friend, who then demanded how often Lexi came there. Lexi didn't hesitate to answer, 'every day' before running out of the graveyard. Over the next bit, you see Lexi slowly being welcomed in by all of her friends once again, as well as the new kid finally being introduced.

Erik was the very first to come across Lexi - while she was swimming and singing, and not be drawn into the water. Soon, he approached Lexi with the truth, or his truth. That he was a Nix, a form of a Siren, but the male equivalent, and helped her understand more about her curse, and explain his to him. He also brought into her attention, that the curse could be broken . . . if they were to fall in love. Under Erik's determined command, she broke up with Cole, who had finally become her boyfriend, in an attempt for her and Erik to fall in love, so the spell could be broken. After that Erik was around her constantly, refusing to leave. And eventually she had to pull away for a few days just to get some space on her own, after he told her he loved her. The story concludes with you learning that Lexi took Cole up to her lake, intending to keep him safe, so he might learn about what she is, followed by learning the truth about Erik - who wasn't trying to fall in love with her at all. He was determined to kill her, finding Sirens a challenge to destroy. The final battle was fought - but to find the conquer and everything that happened in between, you'll have to pick up this book for yourself.

Why I picked this book up: My favorite mythical creature, though I'm not certain why, is a Siren. And so, this book, with a main character as a siren, was a must read for me. Not that I minded, I was addicted to the book quite easily - finishing it in a single day, and wishing I had more on Sirens to read.

Why I finished it: When I get into a book about a subject I really like, I can't not finish it, and so, when my parents took me, and my sister up to falls for a lunch; a read the entire time there, and got hooked, ending up with reading it for the rest of the evening, finishing it well before when I wished I had, if only it had meant that I'd get to read more about Sirens, for longer.

I'd give this book to: For anyone who likes Sirens, and mythical love stories meets high strung adventure, I'd suggest this book to. While it was a love story, it was still an amazing story, that still had a lot of action.

Rating: Five out of Five; I wouldn't give this book anything less. It was completely captivating, and I didn't know how to stop reading it. So, you want my advice, go and find your own book - as well.

Anya's Ghost

Name: Serina

Grade: College

Title: Anya's Ghost

Author: Vera Brosgol

Anya is an average teenager, who is embarrassed by her Russian heritage, worried about her image, and is very conscious about her body weight. Though she tries hard to have nothing to do with being Russian, even going so far as to practice losing her accent and not associating with the only other Russian boy in her school- partially due to his nerdy behavior- and constantly watches what she eats, Anya just doesn't fit in as much as she would like to. Her crush Sean has a beautiful, popular girlfriend, and doesn't even seem to notice her existence. On one particularly bad day, Anya has a fight with her only friend about cigarettes while waiting for the bus to her school, and she ends up storming off by herself in frustration to a nearby park. Emotionally compromised and not looking where she is going, Anya takes a tumble down a deep hole, which is actually an old well. When she wakes up at the bottom, she is mortified to discover a skeleton across from her, but even more terrifying is the apparition attached to the old bones. Emily, as the ghost calls herself, has been dead for nearly ninety years and no one has ever found her body. Sheis unable to leave the well because she has to remain near her bones. She forlornly tells Anya of her tragic past, where the love of her life was killed during WWI, and how she couldn't call for help after falling into the well because she 'landed wrong' and broke her neck, eventually dying of thirst. However, Anya has a bit more luck than Emily when she is able to catch the attention of a punk rocker passing by who threw a can down the well. After two days in the dark, Anya is hoisted to safety, leaving Emily and her skeleton behind. Or so she thinks. It turns out that Emily's pinky bone accidentally ended up in Anya's bag, so now she is able to follow Anya around. At first Anya is reluctant company, but Emily comes in handy on tests and even helps Anya to be noticed by her crush, so Anya decides the ghost can stick around. But the more Anya gets to know Emily, the more she begins to suspect that she isn't telling her the truth about everything... It just may be that Emily wants Anya to live the life that she never had, regardless of what Anya wants for herself, and anyone who denies Emily could be in danger of the deadliest kind.

I picked this book up because it was a comicbook and looked interesting.

I finished this book because I had to know what happened.

I'd give this book to any teenage girl who feels like she doesn't belong.

Rating: **** really liked it.

Miss Match by Erynn Mangum

Laurie Holbrook is the youngest of three sisters and has vowed to never get married. However that doesn't mean Laurie has sworn off love. She fancies herself a matchmaker and she will do whatever it takes to help her matches make it to the altar (READ: meddling). But what does God have in mind for Laurie? Will the matchmaker find her own love match? God only knows! ;)

Why I picked up the book: I've read the Maya Davis series by the same author and really adored it. I wanted to read something along the same lines.

Why I finished it: It is a quick, easy read and Laurie is very relate able. She is quirky, crazy, and fun, which all could be due to her chocolate/coffee addiction.

I'd give it to: high schoolers and adults who are looking for fun Christian fiction and a little bit of love/romance.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Read my review of Cool Beans (Maya Davis #1) and Double Shot (Maya Davis #3).

Read Shelby's review of Cool Beans.