Kaitlin
11th
Keeper
By: Mal Peet
Paul Faustino is interviewing El Gato about his World Cup win. As he tells him about this life, he starts with his father's life as a logger and how he was always supposed to follow in his footsteps. When Faustino asks about how El Gato got involved in soccer, he tells Faustino the story of "The Keeper".  He explains that he was wandering through the rain forest and found a clearing when he was a teenager, and at the end of the clearing was a soccer goal. And out steps a man who is to be know to El Gato as "The Keeper". This story tells about the mystery that is "The Keeper"and El Gato. I picked up this book because my soccer coach recommended it to me, and I finished it because I  wanted to learn the truth of it all. I would give this book to any young athlete out there looking for some inspiration and fellowship. I would give this book 4 stars! ****

The Hobbit

Name: Serina

Grade: 12+

Title: The Hobbit

Author: J.R.R. Tolkien

Hobbits are about the least likely people to ever do anything extraordinary. They live their lives full of comfortable things like their warm homes, smoking pipes, and second suppers. But the Hobbit Bilbo Baggins is destined for an adventure, whether he wants anything to do with one or not, when a wandering wizard by the name of Gandalf quite suddenly arrives at his door one fine morning. Not much after, Bilbo soon finds his house brimming with dwarves, who demand he accompany them on their journey to make their unlucky number of thirteen people into the lucky number fourteen. The Dwarves tell Bilbo of the perils their ancestors had suffered at the hands of a dragon named Smaug and of the large hoard of gold that he had stolen from them. Their ultimate quest to take back what is theirs, or die trying. They dub the reluctant Hobbit their 'Burglar,' or as he prefers, 'an expert treasure hunter.' A part of Bilbo actually longs for adventure, though he would never admit it as it is very un-hobbit-like, and he decides to join the dwarves and the wizard Gandalf for the long and dangerous journey, one he stands gain everything on, or lose everything, in which they deal with trolls, goblins, dragons, and a mysterious ring of power that can turn its wearer invisible.

I picked this book up because I loved The Lord of the Rings

I finished this book because it was easy to read as well as entertaining.

I'd give this book to any Middle Earth fan.

Rating: **** Really liked it

Escape from memory

Reader's Name: Michelle Sherwin
Grade 12+
Book Title: Escape From Memory
Author: Margaret Peterson Haddix

Hypnosis seemed like a very harmless way for Kira and her friends to pass the time late one night at a slumber party, but when she wakes up from the hypnosis her friends begin to question her about a different language that she is speaking and why she was talking about a different country she had lived in as an infant. It did not make sense to her at all, because as far as she had known she had lived in California prior to her moving. Things get stranger when her mother who refuses to drive a car or own a computer also refuses to answer any of her questions and only says she is thankful that there was not more that she remembered. Kira begins to decide that she needs to find out for herself what her mother refuses to tell her. Kira comes up empty handed except for a safety deposit key until her mother does not come home one day from work and takes a moths leave without letting Kira know anything. Still puzzled and furious at her mother for keeping things from her she finds a note telling her to take the car that hasn't been driven in 13 years and go live with her friend until her mother gets back in a house that is left in total disaray. In a mix of confusion, defiance, lack of trust in herself and the old car, and a want to know more about her mother she decides not to do it. She is then visited by a woman who will only identify herself as Aunt Memory. This Aunt Memory is a peculiar person who tells Kira of a strange land hidden in California. She also explains that her parents have both passed away and that the person she calls mother is really not her mother at all. She insists Kira must give a speech begging them to release the person she has been calling mom for 13 years. She does not know  anything of this culture or the way that it works beyond what her Aunt Memory has told her, but she is told that her mother and father were great people in this land and the mere sound of her name will make everyone in the country respect her. She is given her old room and all the best things she can ask for in a day. Kira doubted this very much and refused to go through with it partially by the advice of her friend who had come along for the ride when she sensed Kira was in danger. Furious Aunt Memory throws her in prison.  Now Kira, her mother and her friend all find themselves in a prison cell in the middle of a ruined country not even known by the rest of the world. Will they make it out of this prison and live to tell the tale? Will Kira be able to find her true self in the midst of all the lies and broken pieces of memory that she has? Will any of them ever be the same again? Follow Kira and the others through it all in Escape from Memory.

I liked this book because of the style and form of it. There was never a dull moment in the book where I considered not finishing it. I found that every time I tried to predict something about the book my predictions would be turned upside down. I also found this book questioned the way memory worked and what truly makes us who we are. I had the same problem with this book as I have with many other of Haddix's books. The ending does not wrap itself up in a neat little bow like other books. It leaves the reader questioning what might happen next and what road the characters will take from there. Haddix always does a wonderful job of leaving the reader wanting more or imagining what might happen next.

I was drawn to this book for a few reasons. First of all since it was a Haddix book I had a feeling I would like it since I have loved so many of her other works. I also saw when I first picked it up that it was going to have an interesting story line simply because of the title and the cover.

I finished the book because from the very first page that the story was going to be interesting and carry me along. I also found that once I picked the book up I could hardly put it down because it was thrilling and brought me right into the story.

I would give this book to anyone who has read and enjoyed one of Haddix's books before. I would also give it to someone who likes a thrilling book and has plenty of free time to read it because if they enjoyed it as much as me they would want to read it straight through.

My rating for this book is: *****