Book Review: The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

It is the summer before Emaline leaves for college and it seems like everything is set. She has the perfect, gorgeous boyfriend, Luke, who she has been dating since freshman year and who will be attending the same college two hours from home (East U); a full time job at her family's realty office; and great friends. But is it really what Emaline wants?

There is a line from her favorite childhood book that Emaline and her mom loved. Mom has always wanted Emaline to have "the moon and more" and not make the same mistakes that she did. Emaline was born when her mom was a senior in high school and she didn't even know her biological father until she was 10; only then because she was doing a class project on her family tree and was interested. Her father came from wealth and was a tourist when mom had a summer fling. He wasn't interested in being a father and altering his chances of success. Once he and Emaline met, they only talked about school and college. He wanted Emaline to go to a great school (Columbia!) and get out of the small beach town of Colby, NC. But when she actually gets accepted, without explanation he tells her he isn't able to hold up his end of the bargain to pay for it (and he doesn't even attend her graduation!)

Suddenly her father and his 10-year-old son, Benji, show up in Colby for the summer. Emaline also meets a new cool guy, Theo. Emaline has spent so much time being good that she no longer knows if the "right" thing is actually right for her.

Why I picked up the book: I love this author and since we are reading her last book What Happened to Goodbye for our June high school book club I wanted to read this one too. Plus, even though I have about five other books that I'm reading, I decided to take my own advice and read something for fun.

Why I finished it: The characters and their situations are always relate-able. Emaline is a lot like me (type A, taking care of others before yourself, blended family). I remember the first time I had to make those type of decisions that forced me to look at what I wanted rather than what others expected or thought was best for me. Even as an adult I still face that.

I'd give it to: Fans of Sarah Dessen's other novels, especially since they almost all take place in Colby and old characters and places make cameo appearances.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars (Really liked it)

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**Extras: Check out the book trailer from Penguin.**

Underwater Dogs by Seth Casteel

In a 21st century world full of pet memes and cellphone memory cards packed of images of your dog or cat sleeping, this is a fun change. The photographer meant to capture the dogs doing ordinary things and when his muse dove into the pool after a toy, the project shifted gears. The book is a collection of photographs of different sizes and breeds of dogs, taken with the camera underwater shooting up.

Why I picked up the book: I saw it on the cart of books that were just returned and the cover drew me in. I love labs!

Why I finished it: It is cute and fun and an interesting perspective. Some of the teeth pictures were almost a bit scary. Made me wonder what I would look like underwater.

I'd give it to: Anyone, especially those who love dogs, animals, or photography. It could be paired with "Monkey Portraits" (I like to take it and see how long it takes students to start making the faces!). Teachers could use it for a creative writing class, photography assignment on perspective, etc.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be different, so different that others would stop and stare, or worse? Have you ever wondered why we judge people based on their physical appearances? Have you ever stopped to wonder how you treat others and if it is always with kindness?

August Pullman was born with a facial deformity. He has been homeschooled his entire life due to his health. Finally Auggie has the opportunity to attend public school for fifth grade. Wonder is the story of his fifth grade year, told from the points-of-view of August, her sister Via, Via's boyfriend Justin, her best friend Miranda, as well as Auggie's friend Jack.

Why I picked up the book: It has been recommended to me numerous times by a variety of people.

Why I finished it: I could not put the book down. I especially loved Auggie's parents. I would hope to be that great of a parent in that type of situation.

I'd give it to: Absolutely anyone. It has a great message about kindness, love, and acceptance that we all (teens, adults, parents, teachers, students) need to hear and be reminded of on a frequent basis. I took the book with me to school visits, in case I had a few minutes to read between classes, and anyone who had read it and saw it in my hand always said "Wow! That's such a great book."

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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Paige Torn (Paige Adler #1) by Erynn Mangum

Paige Adler stays plenty busy and thought she was happy with her life. But after a year she thought her job as a receptionist at an adoption lawayer's office would turn into a counselor position. Is it possible to be too good at your job? Her bff has asked for help planning an anniversary party for her parents and then her upcoming wedding. Paige helps with various ministries at church (toddler Sunday school, teen youth groups) and has trouble finding time for her own study and reflection time. Where do you drawn the line? Is it possible to give too much of yourself in the attempt to serve God and others? Paige is torn but about to discover some answers, with a little help from Tyler, a cute Christian guy who thinks she needs to take some time for herself.

Why I picked up the book: I love this author's previous series (Maya Davis & Lauren Holbrook) and I needed something light and fun to read.

Why I finished it: I could relate to Paige. She likes to help but that could be more of a detriment to herself rather than a blessing. I liked the message that just because you are single doesn't mean you don't have an opportunity to serve God and others.

I'd give it to: fans of Christian fiction and "chick-lit". Teens and adults would both like it.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Ouran High School Host Club

Name: Serina

Grade: 12+

Title: Ouran High School Host Club

Author/illustrator: Bisco Hatori

Haruhi is a poor scholarship student at a prestigious school called Ouran High, where only the richest and most cultured people can attend. Haruhi breaks this norm by being neither. Haruhi can't even afford the stupidly expensive uniform. One day, while looking for a place to study quietly and in private, Haruhi encounters the Host Club, a group of dashing male students that sell their time and charm to young women. Overwhelmed by their enthusiastic greeting, Haruhi bumps into an expensive vase and smashes it. The Host Club then demands that Haruhi pay for it by taking on clients as a member of their club. There's just one problem. Haruhi is a girl. With her short, disheveled hair and gender neutral shape, the Host Club mistakes Haruhi for a boy, and Haruhi, who is used to the mistake and thinks gender identification is overrated anyway, doesn't tell them otherwise. Even after discovering Haruhi is a girl, Tamaki, the eccentric head of the Host Club, insists that she stay and hide her true identity. But secretly, Tamaki wishes to see a feminine Haruhi, and often fantasizes about it while Haruhi learns the trade of charming women with the other members. Is this the start of love for Tamaki, who has never truly loved anything but his own reflection? Will the dense and easygoing Haruhi even notice his feelings?

This manga is full of slapstick humor, cliches, and bountiful breaking of the fourth wall.

I picked this book up because I have always been curious about it.

I finished the first book because it was a funny play on traditional shojo series and doesn't take itself too seriously.

I'd give this book to any fan of shojo manga, or anyone who isn't a fan of it and wants to see jokes about it in an endearing way.

Rating: **** Really liked it!

Three Brides No Groom

Name: Michelle Sherwin
Grade: 12+
Title: Three Brides No Groom
Author: Debbie Macomber

Three friends Gretchen, Maddie and Carol are about to reunite at their 50 year reunion. Many things have changed over the course of those years, but one thing that has not changed in that they all remember all the old flames. Every one of them was expecting they knew exactly who they were going to come back to the reunion with, but every one of them is also wrong. After not having seen each other since their college years they have all changed so much. Each one has their own story of how they loved and lost in the years following their separation. Each found that the guy they thought was forever was just not for them and each finds an unlikely match in people they never would have even though of. Each of these women has a story to tell and a husband to bring to the reunion in Three Brides no Groom.

I liked how it was almost like each one of the girls had their own book within the book. Each one told their own story. There was no overlapping so the focus was on whichever girl was telling their story at that time. It was also nice that there was some introduction to the story so that the reader would know the story behind the school and the fountain and how these three girls met up. I wish that the story would have told more about the girls and their husbands during the reunion. I would have liked to known what the reactions were of the women towards the husbands.

Why I picked this book up: I picked this book up because it looked like an interesting story that was about how not everyone is what they seem to be at first.

Why I finished this book: I finished this book because each one of the stories told something new about the girls and what they felt. Each story also revealed more about how the girls lived their lives and how each experience changed them.


I'd give this book to someone who would enjoy the a story  unlike any typical romance story. In order for someone to enjoy this book they would need to put away all of their previous experiences with romance novels.

My rating for this book is a ****

Barefoot in Baghdad

Kaitlin
11th grade
Barefoot in Baghdad: A Story of Identity- My Own and What it Means to be a Woman in Chaos
By: Manal Omar
Manal M. Omar, author of Barefoot in Baghdad, an international aid worker from an Arab and Muslim heritage, has provided valuable first-hand insights into events a world away following the 9/11 World Trade Center disaster. One of the book's major characters is now a prominent member of San Diego's Iraqi community.Her book also provides a landscape of emotions and love between men and women in a war-torn environment. She uses a Charles Dickens’ analogy in her description of Baghdad: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” The best of times could be Omar stating, “I enrolled in the prestigious Hunting Club in Mansour and went swimming every Tuesday and played Bingo every Friday night.” The worst of times included harrowing close calls with checkpoints and roadside bombs, as well as poignant losses of people she came to know and love. I chose this book because I am fascinated by the historical background of this story. I kept reading because of the suspense involved. I would give this book to anyone interested about women's rights in the Middle East. I give this book 4 stars! ****

Leslee
11th Grade
Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder
By: Richard Louv

In 'Last Child in the Woods,' Richard Louv addresses the troubling fact that many children in today's society are lacking an exposure to nature, thereby hindering their emotional and physical development.  Through demonstration of numerous studies, Louv explains that nature is crucial for our health.  Evidence has shown correlations between health issues such as obesity, attention disorders, and depression.  Throughout the novel, factors are presented as to why there is a decline in exposure to nature occurring.  These include society's increasing dependence on technology, a growing fear (most people do not let their children go roam around outside unattended like past generations have done), etc.  The effects that this lack of nature seems to be having on society is deemed as the Nature-Deficit Disorder, and this novel encourages people to get outside in an attempt to save future generations from the severe consequences this deficit may cause.

I picked up this book right before I attended the Wyoming Youth Congress.  Upon being accepted to go up to Teton Science School to participate in the event, they asked all attendees to read it before coming.  I kept reading because I found the points very fascinating and alarming.  It made me consider how frightening society's dependency on technology truly is.  However, while I think the information presented in the book are important and worthwhile, I found it to be a very slow, boring read. 

I would recommend this book to adults who love being outside, have kids, realize the negative effects technology could be having on society, or simply want to make a difference in the world.

I give this book a 3*** rating. 

Anna Dressed in Blood

Name: Serina

Grade: 12+

Title: Anna Dressed in Blood

Author: Kendare Blake

Cas Lowood has an interesting job for a teenage boy, one that he took up after his father's terrible death. Cas hunts and kills ghosts. One might wonder how you can kill something that is already dead, and the answer is with a magical blade called an athame. Cas lives with his kitchen-witch mother and their ghost sensing cat, and their odd family is constantly moving for Cas' occupation. Their most recent place to call home is Thunder Bay, Ontario, where Cas is determined to go after one particularly bad spook that the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood. Anna was murdered on her way to a school dance, and she still wears the same white dress from that deadly night in 1958, only now the dress is soaked and dripping with blood. Anna haunts her old family home, and brutally kills anyone that dares to step inside. Cas has never dealt with such a bloodthirsty ghost, and things go less than ideal when his new schoolmates' 'prank' goes very wrong after a party and Cas wakes up from unconsciousness to find himself inside Anna's domain. To his great surprise, Anna spares his life. Cas doesn't know why Anna let him live when she hasn't let anyone else leave her house without being in pieces, or why she seems more self aware than any of the other ghosts he has faced, but Cas is determined to unravel the mystery or join Anna in death by trying.

I picked this book up because it had a cool cover and sounded interesting.

I finished this book because I wanted to know what was going on.

I'd give this book to any ghost fan, or any romance fan looking for a dark twist.

Rating: *** Liked it

The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door by Karen Finneyfrock

Sweet revenge
Would mean
Everything to Celia. An opportunity to
Even the score and show 
The world (or at least the mean girls).

Reinvention (new look and new moniker).
Enter Celia the Dark, a new
Version, hiding behind a hoodie and chunky boots.
Emptying her feelings into a poetry
Notebook. 9th
Grade should be a new start.
Evidently not. Until

Cool Drake, from New York,
Enters Celia’s world, a
Light in her darkness. 
Instantly, he entrusts her with a secret. When the mean girls strike
Again, Celia must make a choice:

Drake’s friendship and trust
Or revenge, sweet revenge.
Oh tortured soul,
Read this book!

Why I picked up the book: I love the perspective of the cover and the author's last name is really fun to say.

Why I finished it: I could immediately identify with Celia.

I'd give the book to: anyone who can identify with being the outsider (so really anyone who has ever attended middle or high school).

Interesting article on the author's back story.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Most of us have probably read a book or watched a movie about the Holocaust and the horrors the Jews went through at the hands of Germany. But until now, I wasn't aware that they were not alone. At the same time as the Nazi's reign of terror, Stalin and the Soviet Union were rounding up Eastern Europeans who opposed him and forcing them into work camps in Siberia.

Lina, her mother, and younger brother are arrested in Lithuania and forced upon a train. The trip seems endless and is full of horrors, not limited to lack of food, space, no proper bathing and bathroom facilities, and watching the weak perish. Those who didn't die on the trip are forced to live in cramped shacks and to work for no pay and barely any food rations in camps in the frigid arctic regions. Lina is an artist and uses her skill to secretly document their journey and try to contact their father, who was taken to a separate facility.

Will they survive? Who can they trust and who would allow humans to be treated this way? This novel is based in part on the author's family history.

Why I picked up the book: Several book clubs I'm in have read it and it is NCHS's one school one book this spring. I wanted to read it as a possible book club.

Why I finished the book: Like the author, I wasn't aware of this part of WWII. I couldn't put the book down. Someone from another book club I attended mentioned that she didn't think she would have been able to survive just not having being clean, much less the lack of food. I think I agree.

I'd give it to: Readers who like historical fiction and holocaust books; those who read and liked "Sarah's Key" by Tatiana de Rosnay and/or "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak. I started reading "The Storyteller" by Jodi Picoult at the same time I was reading this and they fit together well too.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves

Kit and Fancy Cordelle are the teenage daughters of the infamous "Bonesaw Killer". The sisters live in Portero, Texas where weird is the norm. Monsters lurk and destroy at will, and no one seems a bit surprised by odd and mysterious happenstances just as long as you don't mess with one of their own. While Daddy is behind bars awaiting execution for his crimes, Kit and Fancy are receiving fan mail, hate mail and the occasional prowler looking for a piece of memorabilia. What fans, hatemongers, and their own Madda don't realize is how much like Daddy Kit and Fancy really are. 

Kit and Fancy have decided to move from dissecting animals to carving, slicing, and dicing bad guys. The prowler gives them the perfect opportunity to try out their new interests. But they have also learned from Daddy's mistakes. They don't want to get caught and need a way and a place to hide the evidence. Thankfully in Portero, Texas, it isn't unusual to find invisible, magical doorways. And the happy place in Fancy's mind might provide the opportunity they need to make the bad just disappear.

Why I picked up the book: My book club at Roosevelt High School wanted something that was horror, graphic, with lots of detail and that would hook you. I read the first scene online, where Kit & Fancy are awakened by the prowler lurking in their room and it seemed to fit the bill perfectly. Plus the cover of the book is fascinating.

Why I finished it: I'm a fan of the HBO series Dexter, so the premise is intriguing to me (killing bad guys as a service to the public). Even though the book is 500 pages, I felt the ending was a bit rushed. I'd love it if the author wrote a companion novel about Daddy so we knew more about him and the motivations behind his crimes. The world the author creates is odd and quirky, but you just have to let that go and remember that it isn't real and isn't supposed to make complete sense.

I'd give it to: high school and adult readers, who won't be offended or scared off by the serial killer aspects. Fans of the TV show Dexter.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Ashfall

Name: Serina

Grade: 12+

Title: Author

Author: Mike Mullin

Wyoming's Yellowstone National Park is home to beautiful geysers and springs, but it is in fact an enormous supervolcano just underneath the surface. Luckily, it is dormant, but unluckily, it is also overdue for an eruption that could wipe out half the states and cover the rest in poisonous fumes and ash. This actually happens unexpectedly one fine day when Alex, a teenager home for the weekend by himself while his family is on vacation, finds his house quite suddenly tipping sideways and on fire. He manages to get himself out of the burning wreckage and into the care of his next door neighbors who saw something had happened. But Alex's house is just the beginning. An earthquake rumbles under their feet and Alex and his neighbors are forced into the safety of their large plastic tub. Things go from bad to worse when a thunderous noise starts up and continues on for what seems like forever. Alex forces toilet paper into his ears and covers them with thick headphones to try and drown out the ear shattering sound. When the rumbling finally ceases and the three are sure they are not deaf, they look outside in what should be the brightest part of the day to see nothing but a black sky raining ash down in huge piles. No communications are working, and Alex becomes increasingly more desperate to find his family until he finally sets out into this new hellish world, determined to be reunited with them.

I picked this book up because it was about Yellowstone erupting.

I finished this book because it was full of action.

I'd give this book to any dystopian or apocalyptic fan.

Rating: *** Liked it.

Kaitlin
Junior
The Handmaid's Tale
By: Magaret Atwood
Imagine a world completely controlled by men. Women were given very specific jobs and that was all they did. Wives were not allowed to sleep with their own husband because any sort of love or feelings between two people was seen as dangerous and it was illegal. In this novel, we hear the story of a handmaid that is alive during the ruling of the Gilead in present day America. We learn that her handmaiden name is Offred, but we never learn her real name. She tells us the fall of the US and the rise of the Gilead and her new life because of it. Full of suspense and secrecy, this book will keep you reading! I read this book because I was looking for something different to read. I continued because I wanted to know if Offred escaped or not, and also because this awful story could one day happen for real. I would give this book to anyone who loves conspiracies or someone who is looking for something different to read. I give this book three stars! ***

Sent

 

Name: Michelle Sherwin
Grade: 12+
Title: Sent
Author: Margret Peterson Haddix


In the second adventure of the missing series Jonah and Chip must take on the challenge of trying to set time back to the way it should be. This is the first of many attempts to essentially fix time and in order to do that Jonah and Chip along with Katherine and Alex must travel back in time to the 15 century. They soon discover that Chip and Alex were a king and a duke. They also discover that in order for their plan to work they must join Chip and Alex with their tracer while still being able to keep their identity as the children from the future with family and friends there. They begin to discover that fixing time is going to prove to be more difficult than they had originally intended it to be. With every minute that Chip and Alex spend in their tracers they loose more and more of who they are. The also discover that while the idea of being a king and a duke does sound nice at first they are in no way prepared for what they begin to unfold. When they discover that they were supposed to be murdered by their uncle how will they ever fix time and make it out alive and safely back to the 21st century? Will they fix time in their endeavor or will they ruin history forever? Find out in Sent!

I liked the flow of the book and how there was always something that made me want to read more and more. There was always another curve ball that history threw at them every time they thought they had it figured out. I also like the underlying message of how even the smallest things can make a huge difference in the end.

I picked this book up because I wanted to read what happened after Found.

I finished the book because I enjoyed every bit of it and wanted to know how the story was going to end for Chip and Alex.

I'd give this book to people who like adventure and enjoy a little bit of history sprinkled in.

My rating for this book
*****

Coraline Graphic Novel

Name: Serina

Grade: 12+

Title: Coraline, the graphic novel version

Author: Neil Gaiman

Adapted and illustrated by: P. Craig Russell

Coraline's life is dull. Her mother and father are always busy and have no time for her, and none of the neighbors can get her name right. She spends her time wandering around the Pink Palace, the name of the home that is now a set of apartments that her family has moved into. The two women downstairs are washed up actresses with annoying dogs, and the strange man upstairs keeps to himself and seems to be crazy. Coraline is lonely and bored out of her mind until she discovers a door that seemingly leads to nowhere, but allows her to enter a world that looks like her own only better. There she meets her other mother and other father, both of whom have plenty of time and activities for her. The two women in the basement put on amazing performances and turn themselves young, while the man upstairs puts on a rat circus for Coraline to enjoy. Things seem good, and Coraline is tempted to stay with her other mother rather than go back to her real one, but something about this new world makes Coraline uncomfortable; the people there have buttons for eyes. Coraline's fears are confirmed when her other mother tells her that she can stay forever as long as she sews buttons into her eyes. Coraline is frightened and flees back to the real world, only to discover her parents aren't there. The other mother has stolen them. Coraline will have to go back and face her other mother in a dangerous game to get her real parents back, or fail and be trapped there forever.

I picked this book up because I had read the original novel and wanted to read the graphic novel.

I finished this book because it was interesting and a little different from the book.

I'd give this book to anyone unsatisfied with their normal life and parents are to anyone looking for a good fantasy adventure.

Rating: **** Really liked it, though the art was a little dull and flat at times.

Leslee
Age 17
Title:  Turnabout
Author: Margaret Peterson Haddix

Melly and Anny Beth were in their 100s when they were asked to participate in a top-secret experiment called Project Turnabout.  They agreed, along with many others.  That was year 2000, and now it is 2085.  This experiment reversed the aging process, and they are now in their teens.  What the Agency conducting this experiment did not tell them was that along with growing younger each year, the women would also experience memory loss.  Their families were told they were dead.  Now Melly and Anny Beth must figure out who will take care of them as they continue to grow younger, and also must worry about what will happen when they hit age 0.  Furthermore, the injection that was supposed to reverse the de-aging process proved to be deadly for some of the other participants.  As the story progresses, Melly and Anny Beth concern themselves with searching for a suitable family, hiding from the media, and realizing they are on their own.  One of the people they are avoiding, a descendant of Melly, might be the only person who can help. 

I picked up this book because I really like Margaret Peterson Haddix and it sounded interesting.  I finished it because it kept me engaged, was suspenseful, and made me want to know what happened in the end.  I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys science-fiction.  It is good for anyone interested in advancements in science and medicine.  I give this book a 3*** rating!

 

Pandemonium

Name: Serina

Grade: 12+

Title: Pandemonium

Author: Chris Wooding

Artist: Cassandra Diaz

Seifer is an average guy (in a place where having bat wings and horns is normal) in an all too average town deep in the mountains. He spends his time playing Skullball, hiding the books he reads from his sport obsessed dad, and taking care of his delusional grandfather. But Seifer dreams of leaving his hometown to explore the world, wishing for something more. He gets exactly that when he is ambushed one night by three midgets in red robes that beat him into unconsciousness and stuff him in a bag. When he awakens, Seifer finds himself in a large kingdom where he is forced to pretend to be Prince Talon, one of the rulers of Pandemonium, who has gone missing. As the leader of the army protecting the borders has disappeared, war is brewing on the horizon and can only be prevented by the return of the prince. Since Seifer looks exactly like said missing prince, he is blackmailed into being the young royal until the real one can be found. As he goes along with the charade, Seifer begins to see that most people prefer him to the original prince and that he is more talented at being a kind dictator than he would have thought. However, not everyone is happy for the 'prince's' return, and many attempted assassinations ensue while the threat of war still lingers. Will Seifer escape with his sanity and life still intact or will he be discovered as a fraud?

I picked this book up because the art looked awesome.

I finished this book because it was freaking hilarious!

I'd give this book to anyone who likes comedy with a little bit of a dark twist.

Rating: ***** It was amazing! I can't wait for the next book!

Period 8 by Chris Crutcher

Period 8 is a group of high school students that meet in Mr Logs' classroom during lunch. Logs is the teacher/mentor every student needs and deserves to have in their lives. He listens, supports, and cares about his students and only offers advice as a last resort. Period 8 is a safe haven where any subject or conversation is fair game. The only rule is complete honesty (no bs) and like in AA, what is said in Period 8 stays in Period 8.

Paulie Bomb is a senior swimmer, who enjoys spending his early mornings and late afternoons racking up mileage in the freezing lake with Logs and even his girlfriend Hannah. Paulie makes a mistake and when he comes clean to Hannah, she kicks him to the curb and doesn't want a petty explanation. Come to find out Paulie and Hannah's relationship is the least complicated drama unfolding in Period 8. What Logs, Paulie, and Hannah are about to learn is that not everyone is honest or has the group's best interests at heart.

Why I picked up this book: I was introduced to Chris Crutcher's books during my YA lit class in grad school. I've loved his stuff ever since and I've seen him twice at conferences. I needed some realistic fiction so I jumped at the chance to read this new one.

Why I finished it: It wasn't traditional Crutcher but it was good. What I love about Crutcher is that he doesn't sugarcoat anything. He has worked with teens, especially those in high-risk situations, and he knows how they talk and that life doesn't always have a happy ending. Some teens need to see themselves in a story and others need to safely explore what it might be like if...

I'd give it to: fans of Crutcher's other novels. High school students and adults. Readers looking for an edgy thriller that doesn't wrap everything up in a pretty bow at the end.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Witch & Wizard #1 by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet

Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to the police banging at your door, bursting into your home, and then pulling you away from your parents and throwing you into jail for no apparent reason. You then learn that they are accusing you and your sibling of being a witch and wizard. Rather than being given a phone call, attorney, or a fair trial, the charges are read, you are promptly found guilty and sentenced to a speedy death.

Sounds a bit far fetched, but what if all the turmoil in our world prompted citizens to elect a government that promised safety and security in exchange for a few personal freedoms?

For Wisty and Whit Allgood, that scenario was all too real. They had no idea they had any powers until they were fighting for their lives. Join them in the first volume of a new series as they fight to escape prison, find their parents, discover their magic potential, and try to stay alive.

Why I picked up the book: I've intended to read it many times but it kept getting pushed to the bottom of the pile (James Patterson doesn't exactly need my help finding readers!). My book club at Roosevelt wanted to read it so here was my chance.

Why I finished it: I wanted to know what happened to make this type of government and allowing it to take away freedoms. Plus I love all the parodies of book titles, singer and artist names. Patterson's books have short chapters and are perfect for readers with not a lot of time or short attention spans.

I'd give it to: dystopian fans who want a new series. Fans of Maximum Ride or Daniel X, maybe even Harry Potter fans. Teens and adults.

I would say this is probably my least favorite of his books. I think it had to many unexplained things. The beginning grabbed me, the middle dragged, and the end wrapped up too quickly. That said, readers who like it will want to pick up the next books in the series.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Kaitlin
Junior
Title: A Thousand Splendid Suns
By: Khaled Hosseini
Imagine having every aspect of your life decided for you from the time you were 13. Who you live with, who you marry, what you wear, who you talk to. These are all beyond Marium's control, and later beyond control of Laila. Set in Kabul, Afghanistan during the 1980s, A Thousand Splendid Suns tells the story of these two unlikely friends and how they get their start from the same controlled setting. Soon, they have to decided for themselves and those around them whether or not they want to live, and do what it takes to survive. I picked up this book because I loved Hosseini's first novel The Kite Runner and I continued to read because this book is full of suspense and won't let you stop reading! I would give this book to anyone looking for an amazing read about the lives of women in Afghanistan and all the horrors they face everyday. I give this book 5 stars! *****

Zom-B

Name: Serina

Grade: 12+

Title: Zom-B

Author: Darren Shan

B is an average teenage delinquent with a freshly shaved head and a very bad temper. B likes to stay out at night with friends, listen to music, and bully people. While B breaks a lot of rules and is on the racist side, B never thought that life would be different from what it was. At first B doesn't believe what is on the T.V. and thinks it is some kind of prank that someone is pulling by putting their zombie movie footage on the news, but B soon finds out that it is real. Zombies attack B's school, sending everyone running in terror or being torn apart and eaten by the walking dead. Once they are killed, the fallen students turn into zombies themselves. B and friends are trapped in the school; someone has blocked all the exits, and it is becoming increasingly apparent to B that this slaughter has been done on purpose. But who would do such a thing and why?

Darren Shan, author of Cirque du Freake, has put out another gory, gut churning beginning of a series with Zom-B. Unfortunately, the writing is a bit flat and the main character is hard to like, but things may change for the better in the future books in the series. However, there is a pleasantly surprising ending for the reader who picks up this book.

I picked this book up because I read everything by Darren Shan.

I finished this book because it was a quick read.

I'd give this book to any horror movie zombie gore fan.

Rating: ** It was okay

The Truth About Forever

Name: Michelle Sherwin
Grade:12+
Title: The Truth About Forever
Author: Sarah Dessen

What was Macy Queen to do with a whole summer with her boyfriend Jason away at Brain Camp? Well that depended on who you wanted to talk to. For Jason she was to be filling in for him at the library's reference desk with two snobby, better than though type girls who thought that she could hardly handle even the most simple of questions. For her mother it was studying and strive to be one day as good as her sister. For her the memories of her dad  and watching him die haunted her with every time she turned the corner it seemed.For her sister it was helping with every detail of the beach house renovations the rest of the family doesn't even want to consider. But everyone has a wild side and Macy's was about to show up for better or worse. After a chance meeting with a bumbling catering group called Wish who could use a little help and a few emails back and forth between her and Jason Macy finds herself lost in what she should be doing and contemplating everything she thought summer was going to be. Wish however chaotic seems like just the thing that Macy wants. A little fun and chaos is sure to turn her world upside down, but will living her own dream hurt the ones she loves more than it is worth? Will the boy she meets be bad news, a heart break, or the best thing that could have ever happened to her? Find out in The Truth About Forever.

I liked the compelling and often romantic aspects of this book. It brought a new and exciting level to how the choices we make do affect our lives, but weather that change is good or bad it will change none the less.


I picked this book because I had enjoyed Sarah Dessen books before and thought I might enjoy this one as well.

I finished this book because I wanted to know where all of the choices Macy had made would take her in the end.

I'd give this book to anyone who would enjoy an adventurous, funny and romantic book.

My rating *****

Leslee
11th Grade
Wringer
By:  Jerry Spinelli

Palmer Larue lives in a town called Waymer.  He grows up with a tradition that is held during Family Fest- a festival of contests, amusement rides, and fun.  The main tradition is known as Pigeon Day, where shooters compete for a Sharpshooter's trophy by shooting at pigeons.  The birds that are only wounded and not killed are retrieved by 'wringer-boys' that wring their necks.  This tradition is somewhat of a rite of passage, because you are allowed to do so as a boy when you turn ten.  It is considered an honor.  The problem is that Palmer has been forever haunted from when he was very young when he first attended this ritual.  He does not want to be a wringer.  Through keeping a pigeon named Nipper as a pet, being pressured by Henry, Beans, and Mutto, convincing this group of boys that he is one of them, and the upcoming Pigeon Day, Palmer struggles with this difficult issue of disagreeing with society and tradition. 

I picked up this book because I thought it seemed interesting and continued reading because I thoroughly enjoyed the story.  I would recommend it to anyone who loves animals and standing up for what they believe in.  It is great for all ages. 

This is a great novel that touches on moral dilemmas, vulnerability, doing the right thing, and having courage to change tradition.  I give it a 4**** rating. 

Oh My Goddess!

Name: Serina

Grade: 12+

Title: Oh My Goddess!

Author/Illustrator: Kosuke Fujishima

College student Keiichi Morisato is down on his luck until he accidentally calls the Goddess Techinical Helpline, which promptly sends him the Goddess Belldandy to grant one wish. Not knowing what to wish for, he jokingly says that he would Belldandy to be by his side always. Before either of them can stop it, the wish goes through and is granted, leaving Keiichi with a beautiful, stranded Goddess in his dorm. This wouldn't be much of a problem if women were allowed in, but he is quickly found out and given the required boot by his friends from the Motor Club, a renegade group of oddballs with a love for anything that can be driven. At a loss of where to go, Keiichi stops by a few of his other friends' places, but all of them have their eyes on his gorgeous Goddess, so he and Belldandy end up taking refuge at what Keiichi thought was an abandoned shrine. However, it is occupied by a Buddhist Priest that is convinced Belldandy is a demon. But after seeing many of the miracles Belldandy can perform, he decides she must have achieved true perfection and that he must leave the shrine in her care while he takes another self enlightening journey. This leaves Belldandy and Keiichi with a new, albeit odd, home, but Keiichi still has much more to worry about. The contract he formed with Belldandy means she has to be near him at all times or bad things will happen. This results in Belldandy placing herself in Keiichi's college, which gets all the girls annoyed at her perfection and all the guys mad at Keiichi for landing such a babe. Even with a Goddess at his side, life is everything but perfect for Keiichi, with insane rivals, suspicious teachers, and possibly even more Goddesses to handle. What's an average guy like Keiichi to do?

I picked this manga up because it looked amusing.

I finished this manga because it was hilarious.

I'd give this book to any guy down on his luck or anyone who enjoys slapstick comedy.

Rating: *** Liked it

With the Light

Name: Serina

Grade: 12+

Title: With the Light

Author/Illustrator: Keiko Tobe

Newly made mother Sachiko Azuma is very excited to have a baby boy, who she names Hikaru, because he is the light of her world, and she feels happier than ever before. But after bringing hikaru home from the hospital, Sachiko notices over time that Hikaru is not like the other children his age. His development is slow, and he doesn't like to be cuddled or touched. When it comes time for Hikaru to start speaking his first words, he remains silent and doesn't react when Sachiko and her husband try to get him to listen to them. At a doctor's appointment, the doctor tells Sachiko that he thinks Hikaru may be deaf. Not wanting to believe her son can't hear, Sachiko gets a second opinion, one which may be more difficult for her to handle than the first: Hikaru isn't deaf, he has autism. Sachiko lapses into denial, wanting to believe her child is still the perfect ray of light she thought he was before, but things get harder and harder as even outside people start to notice Hikaru's differences. Sachiko has to make a choice. She can pretend that nothing is wrong, or she can get Hikaru the help he needs. Being a good mother, she goes with the latter, even though it estranges her from her husband and her mother in law. Sachiko and Hikaru have to struggle everyday, dealing with everything from enrolling Hikaru in a special school to creating a schedule that Hikaru can easily follow. They face problems at every step they take, but Sachiko is determined to give her ray of light the hope and chance he deserves in a place that isn't very understanding of autism.

I picked this book up because it was a manga that covered a topic I had never seen done before.

I finished this book because it was so interesting, funny, and at points heartbreaking. It gives an awareness of autism that I haven't found in other books.

I'd give this book to anyone with an autistic child, anyone with autism, or anyone who wants to learn about autism.

Rating: **** Really liked it.

F for Effort: More of the Very Best Totally Wrong Test Answers by Richard Benson

Like the first book, this addition showcases funny incorrect answers. The first section is elementary school (probably 4th-6th grade) and the errors tend to be misused or misspelled words. The section section is high school and divided up by subject. If you were the teacher grading a zillion of these, it would probably drive you insane. But as a reader, it is definitely a good laugh.

Why I picked up the book: I liked "F in Exams". I didn't realize there was a second book. We needed a laugh in my house so I grabbed this one.

Why I finished it: Super fast and they beg to be shared. Most of the humor in the elementary section comes from seeing the spelling errors and the handwriting.

I'd give it to: Anyone high school and up, and especially teachers and parents who need a laugh.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Click here for my "F in Exams" review

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

"COME TO THE EXIT 8 BIG TOP MALL & VIDEO ARCADE, HOME OF THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, MIGHTY SILVERBACK."

Ivan has lived in his domain at the Big Top Mall for decades. He has become accustomed to his glass walls, hard cement floor, dirty water pool, tire swing, and an old TV. Ivan is used to humans watching his every move, attending the shows at two, four, and seven, 365 days a year.

His adopted family include Mack, the very increasingly moody owner and show clown; Stella the elephant; Bob, the dog of unknown origins who enjoys sleeping on Ivan's belly; Julia, an artist and the daughter of George, the mall custodian. Julia visits daily and gave Ivan his first crayons and paper. His artwork is sold in the store of $20, $25 with frame.

Each animal has their own story of how they came to the Big Top Mall and each can sense when change is coming. Hard times means less attendance and Mack buys another younger elephant named Ruby, hoping to boost interest.

Ruby is innocent and bonds with Stella, Stella who is old and sick. Stella has always told Ivan stories and she wants Ivan to remember his past. There is something else Stella wants from the One and Only Ivan. She wants him to make and keep a promise to her, a promise to take care of Ruby. Ivan has an idea, one that could change not only Ruby's life but his own.

Why I picked up the book: I had heard good things about it and then Ivan won the 2013 Newbery.

Why I finished it: I liked Ivan and wanted to see if and how he would keep his promise to Stella. It was interesting to find out that the author was inspired by a real gorilla named Ivan. I can't wait until my child is older and I can read it with him.

I'd give it to: anyone looking for a Newbery winner, a class read-aloud, or a book told from an animal's perspective.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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The Kite Runner
By: Khaled Hosseini
Review by: Kaitlin
Imagine one of the worst things you can imagine happening to one of your friends. Now imagine having the power to stop it, and choosing to run the other direction instead. That's what Amir has to deal with for the rest of his life when he lets the unthinkable happen to his dear friend since birth, Hassan. This story takes place in 1980's Afghanistan during the Russian invasion. This story is about tragedy and triumph, and learning from your mistakes. It tells the tale of Amir's fight to make things right again after his horrid mistake, and the struggle that comes with it. I picked this book to read because I heard that Hosseini was an amazing author and really knows how to tell a story. I agree one hundred percent after reading his book!  I would recommend this story to anyone looking for something new to read about, or someone interested in the Middle Eastern culture. I finished the story because Hosseini is one of the best writers I have ever come across and he truly knows how to hook you. I would give this story 5 stars! *****

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Kristina
the perfect student
happy life

A second chance
to reconnect with
absent father.

Rather
than the reunion
hoped for

Dad on drugs
dirty apartment
empty fridge

Adam/Buddy
A new reality
Chance to experiment

New discoveries
the monster
and Bree.

Return home
New person
Bad habits

The monster’s
hold
won’t let go.

No longer Kristina
Bree will do
anything

For a taste of
the monster:
Crank.

Sequels: Glass and Fallout

Why I picked up the book: It was a pick for our book club at Roosevelt. I had read it in 2008 when it was nominated for, and subsequently won, the Wyoming Soaring Eagle (Teen Choice) Award. I have seen the author speak a few times.

Why I finished it: Hopkins' style isn't for everyone but I'm continuously amazed by it. Not only does the poetry work but she crafts it so well that each time you read it, you find something new, from the shape of the poems to the secondary verses.

I'd give it to: teens looking for edgy, gritty, realistic fiction. Hopkins' story is loosely based on her daughter and she definitely holds nothing back.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Metro Girl

Name: Michelle Sherwin
Grade:12+
Book Title: Metro Girl
Author: Janet Evanovich

Alex is a girl who just wants to start acting like one. She has had just about enough of the living under a car constantly helping her dad at his auto mechanics shop. She wants to lead a fairly normal life, but with her family that is apparently just too much to ask. She gets just what she wants in one sense. She gets the chance to get out from under cars, but only to find her trouble making brother Bill. Somewhere along the lines she stummbles into the arms of NASCAR Guy aka Sam Hooker who attempts to help her find her brother and the "borrowed boat" her brother has possession of. Along the way these two have their ups and downs. Will Sam get a chance to find more than just his boat on his break? Will Alex find the time to get away from cars or is there no way around her love of them? Will Bill and the boat return safely? And why is the Cuban government chasing the two of them ? Find out in Metro Girl.

Janet Evanovich's style in this story is very similar to her other styles and yet she finds ways to mix up the story and create something all new and different. The way that she characterizes Alex in this book is one of the strongest aspects. Alex is constantly surrounded by the bad boy type and  it seems like no matter where she turns there is another one waiting for her. Another good aspect of the book is the twists that are added to the story all the time. One of the biggest down sides to this book is the way that it ends. While the story itself is finished there are many loose ends left to be tied up and I have yet to read the next book and see how well she does that.

I picked this book up because it looked like an interesting book that I might enjoy given Janet Evanovich's other works.

I finished this book because it had many twists and turns to keep me interested and wanting to read the next one.

I'd give this book to anyone who cared for this author's other works or anyone interested in a good search and rescue type book.

I give this book a 

****

Broxo

Name: Serina

Grade: 12+

Title: Broxo

Author/Illustrator: Zack Giallongo

Princess Zora is on a quest through dangerous lands to seek out the people of the Peryton clan, a secluded group of warriors, so that she and her Granitewings clan can establish trade with them. However, the Perytons are nowhere to be found and their village is abandoned. The only person remaining is a young boy named Broxo, who claims to be king of the mountain. Broxo seems to have no idea of what happened to the rest of his clan and has been alone for years, fighting off beasts and the undead. It doesn't take long for Zora to discover that the walking corpses that keep attacking her and the boy are the missing Perytons. Zora and Broxo must unravel the mystery of the rising dead and what happened in the past so that they can save their future before they also end up as rotting flesh and bones.

I picked this book up because I read most of the graphic novels at NCPL.

I finished this book because the art was appealing and the story was interesting.

I'd give this book to anyone who loves traditional fantasy.

Rating: **** Really liked it.

Leslee
Grade 11
The Kite Runner
By:  Khaled Hosseini

Now an adult living in America, Amir receives a call from a man named Rahim Khan- a very important figure in Amir’s life.  This man brings the haunting memories of Amir’s past rushing back as he gives Amir hope of redeeming himself.  Throughout the novel, our questions of Amir’s past are all answered as he recounts them.  Beginning with the final days of the Afghan monarchy and the Russian invasion, Amir is a young boy living in Kabul.  His father is rich and powerful, and their Hazara servants, Ali and his son Hassan, live in a mud shack behind their mansion.  Amir shares a close bond with Hassan, spending every waking moment together, running kites, going to movies, and being best friends.  Yet as things begin to change and go terribly wrong, the struggles of the two young boys are revealed.  As the story moves along, characters and lives are drastically changed and Amir eventually makes his way to America in the present.  This powerful story tells a tale of fear, love, mistakes, redemption, and how the struggles in life can be forever haunting, all the while providing a phenominal display of Afghan culture.   

I picked up this book because my sister recommended it.  I recently and happily reread it as an assignment for my English class.  I finished it because it truly is a page turner and an incredible story that is written beautifully.

I would recommend this book to anyone who appreciates the power of strong bonds, love, mistakes, and redemption.  Some of the events are hard to get through, and the interpretation of whether the ending is happy or sad varies among individuals, but the story is eye-opening and strong.

I would give this book a 5***** rating. 

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

Bee’s mother, Bernadette, mysteriously disappears, seemingly vanishing into thin air shortly before Christmas. Using a series of emails, letters, articles, and even doctor bills, Bee is able to piece together the events of Bernadette’s last days in an effort to find out where she may have gone. This fun and quirky novel will have you laughing, shaking your head, and wondering if Bee will figure out what happened and find her mom.

Why I picked up the book: I was browsing the "new releases" shelf and the cover jumped out at me. It had been on my radar after being an Alex Award winner (adult books that will appeal to teens).

Why I finished it: I didn't want to put it down. It is quirky and funny. It is told in a series of emails, articles, bills, etc. as Bee is trying to find out what happened to her mother. The ending wasn't as great as the beginning, though. It is still an interesting look at how a collective group can view an incident so different from one another.

I'd give it to: fans of Louise Rennison, Meg Cabot, and Jaclyn Moriarty.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice, #1) by John Flanagan

Will has always dreamed of being a warrior and a hero, like the father he never knew, but his small stature almost guarantees that dream won't be a reality. On Choosing Day, Will and the other wards of Baron Arald's Castle Redmont one by one are assigned to their apprenticeships. Will is disappointed when he is denied for Battleschool and Horseschool. But Will's curiosity is piqued by the appearance of the Ranger Halt, who gives the Baron a letter. The Baron looks at the note and tells Will that he will give his answer on Will's fate in the morning. Will is too intrigued by the prospect of what might be in the note and decides to break into the Baron's office that night. It turns out that the note was a set-up, to see if he indeed would break in. Halt has requested Will for Ranger training. Little is known about Rangers and it seems that the skills that often get Will into trouble (sneaking around, eavesdropping, climbing, etc) are perfect for being a Ranger. He must also learn to shoot a bow and arrow, use a knife, and disappear into the shadows. While being a Ranger's apprentice might not seem like a stellar appointment, Will may find himself right in the middle of the battle of his dreams.

Why I picked up the book: I haven't read it before because this series doesn't need my help finding readers. I have fans in my book club who want to discuss it so it is time. I tend not to read fantasy so it is a good stretch for me.

Why I finished it: Once I got past the prologue, which I read 3 times and am still lost, it is very quick and easy to follow. I won't continue reading the series now, but maybe when my son is older.

I'd give it to: anyone but boys particularly. (I have a lot of families and dads reading it!) Fans of Harry Potter.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Just One Day by Gayle Forman

Imagine that for just one day, you could be anyone you wanted and do something out of the ordinary, something you've always wanted to do but may seem out of character for the person others view you as. Would you jump at the chance to do it? Would you think about the consequences and repercussions of your choice or let the cards fall as they may?

Allyson is on the tail-end of the "trip of a lifetime", a high school graduation gift. She and her bff Melanie have been part of a three week European tour, which hasn't quite lived up to Allyson's expectations. Allyson and Mel decide to skip the final evening's planned culture event, Hamlet, in order to attend a free outdoor offering of Twelfth Night, performed by a traveling Shakespearean troupe called Guerrilla Will, and are not disappointed. The next morning Allyson & Melanie catch a train to London to enjoy their last weekend in Europe before flying back to the States. In the food car, Allyson runs into Willem, one of the actors from Guerrilla Will. They strike up a conversation. He calls her Lulu, saying she looks like a 1920s silent film actress named Louise Brooks, and they talk about Allyson's European experience. She mentions that she is sad they had to bypass Paris. She was looking forward to Paris. Then Willem makes Allyson an offer. He will take her to Paris for one day, 24 hours.

Allyson knows it would be crazy to say yes. He is a stranger and she has plans with Melanie. But the fact that she doesn't know Willem means that she can be whomever she pleases and part of her really wants to be spontaneous, impulsive, daring, and adventurous. So Allyson takes a chance and says yes.

Just one day, 24 hours, in Paris will change everything: the trip, the summer, the rest of her life. What would you do with the opportunity of "just one day"?

Why I picked up the book: I loved "If I Stay" and "Where She Went" by Gayle Forman plus I hadn't read a good "chick-lit"/romance in awhile.

Why I finished/kept reading: Allyson/Lulu's decision to board the train to Paris with Willem reminded me of what it felt like to choose Honolulu for grad school and leave all the safe choices behind. "I think you do things that scare you, and that makes you braver than those adrenaline junkies who bungee-jump off bridges (p85)". Now I can't wait to read "Just One Year", Willem's side of the story, which is due out this fall.

I'd give the book to: Those readers who tend to be pleasers and over-achievers might see parts of themselves in Allyson. Fans of Forman's other novels as well as fans of Sarah Dessen and Nicholas Sparks. Fans of Shakespeare will probably get more out of those scenes than I did. Readers looking for a book about finding themselves, after high school, and making choices separate from their parents.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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TEENS: It's Time! VOTE for the Soaring Eagle Book Awards

Warm Bodies

Name: Serina

Grade: 12+

Title: Warm Bodies

Author: Isaac Marion

R is a zombie. He wears an old, blood covered suit, he ambles along with the other walking dead, and he doesn't remember anything about who he was in his previous life. R lives with the other zombies at the abandoned airport, where he joins them on their hunts for warm flesh and has almost conversations with his best friend, M. But R feels a little different from the other undead. He has an interest in the living world and even has dreams. On one trip into the city, R eats the brain of an unfortunate young man and also consumes some of his memories. In them, he sees a beautiful girl full of sunshine and life named Julie. Julie also happens to be hiding in the corner of the room R and his friends have infiltrated. R feels a connection to the girl after eating her boyfriend's brain, and decides to save her by smearing her with the blood of a fallen zombie. He then takes her to the airport where he keeps her hidden in his home, an old jet. Julie is terrified at first, but her terror turns to fascination when she finds out that R can speak, even if he can't form complete sentences. She is also surprised to find that he likes music and has an old record player that he listens to often. Julie wants to leave and go back to the stadium, the safe haven for the few people who remain alive, but she also feels a connection to R, not knowing that he is the one who killed her boyfriend. R shows Julie bits of his world, feeling more alive just by being around her. Something in him is changing, and it is slowly spreading to the other zombies as well. When Julie finally leaves without saying goodbye, R is determined to see her again, even if it means his second death.

I picked this book up because I wanted to see if the plot was different from what the movie seems to be about. It was.

I finished the book because it was very interesting and full of fresh ideas, even though the plot circles around rotting corpses.

I'd give this book to any fan of romance and zombies.

Rating: *** Liked it.

Leslee
Grade 11
The Five People You Meet in Heaven
By:  Mitch Albom

This novel tells the story of a man named Eddie.  He works at Ruby Pier maintaining the rides, keeping everyone safe.  The story begins with Eddie's death on his 83rd birthday at this amusement park when one of the rides breaks down and he tries to save a little girl from a falling cart.  At the last second, he feels two small hands in his and wakes up in Heaven.  Eddie realizes heaven is not a beautiful paradise, but rather a place where you are reaquainted with five people who had an impact on your life.  Some of these people are strangers, while some have played more of a noticable role.  Each time Eddie meets a person, a lesson about life is explained to him.  Throughout the series of trials with all five people, his purpose and the meaning of his life are explained to him.  Throughout the entire novel, Eddie desperately searches for answers and redemption for his mistakes. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever felt strongly about anything or anyone.  It is truly incredible and much can be learned from it.  It has the power to make you realize that everything you do matters and no act goes unnoticed. 

I picked this book up because I had heard it was amazing and my parents gave it to me for Christmas.  I finished it because I could not put it down- I read it in about a day.  It is an amazing story and an easy read. 

I would give this book a 5***** rating.

Fullmetal Alchemist

Name: Serina

Grade: 12+

Title: Fullmetal Alchemist

Author/Artist: Hiromu Arakawa

"Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange."

Alchemy is a complex system of science that includes changing matter from one thing into something else of equal value, and only certain skilled people are able to master it. These people are called Alchemists. Brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric mastered Alchemy at a young age, and thinking they were performing equivalent exchange, tried to bring their dead mother back to life through Human Transmutation, the one thing that is totally forbidden to Alchemists. The result was a terrible failure, and the boys paid the price. Alphonse's entire body disappeared, and Edward lost his left leg. Thinking quickly, Edward managed to seal his brother's soul into a suit of armor in the room where they had performed their treachery, but had to give up his right arm in return. Fast forward some years, and Edward is now one of the youngest and most highly esteemed State Alchemists. Because of his automail arm and leg he is known as the Fullmetal Alchemist. Even though Edward works for the government, he and his brother are given lots of leeway, which they use to gather information about Alchemy's largest legend, the Philosopher's Stone. Ed and Al believe that the stone will allow them to break the rules of equivalent exchange so that they can get back their complete bodies. However, the Philosopher's Stone is considered to be a myth. and even if it isn't, its secrets are well guarded and possibly deadly.

I picked this manga up because it had an interesting concept.

I finished the whole series because it was amazing! No character is insignificant (an amazing feat considering how many there are) and the plot is enthralling as well as brilliant.

I'd give this book to any anime fan! It has a little something for everyone.

Rating: ***** It was amazing!

Between Shades of Gray One book One School NCHS

Name: Michelle Sherwin
Grade: 12+
Book Title: Between Shades of Grey
Author: Ruta Sepetys

Have you ever wondered what it was like to live as a prisoner during the times of WWII? Between Shades of Grey gives an account of what it was like to be a child prisoner during those times. This fictional account is given in first person from the point of view of Lina a 15 year old Lithuanian whose father had been taken earlier. They ended up in some very miserable conditions going to Siberia. The flash backs that are set in throughout the book help to show the life that this family had prior to being taken captive and their father being taken captive. Along the way Lina and her family meet new people and watch people die. They hope for home and think that they will never make it there. Will this family make it home in one piece alive and well and is it really better for them if they do or don't?

This book has some very good qualities to it. One of the best qualities that it has is the historical accuracy and context. This book seems to follow right  along with what happened during that time, but it is told from the perspective of a person who was involved which makes it much more personal. The facts that would have truly mattered to these people were included, but it also keeps with the fact that no one would really have access to much news or information from loved ones. There are a few important things that are not tied up at the end, but I feel that they should be.

My mom brought this book home because it was the one book one school book for NCHS. It looked like an interesting book so I read it.

I finished this book because it just seemed to suck me in. The emotions that were tied to it and the good writing of the book seemed to bring me right through. There was always something new to look forward to in the next page or the next chapter.

I'd give this book to anyone who enjoys the history of WWII, but wants a more personal look at the concept.

My rating for the book:
*****

Schooled by Gordon Korman

Have you ever been the new kid? Do you remember how hard it was to fit in? Even if you haven't, think about the first day of school? Do you stress about what to wear, if you have the right backpack/shoes/supplies, and who you would sit with at lunch?

For Capricorn (Cap for short) Anderson, his first day might have been torture. But he didn't know any different. You see, even though he is an 8th grader, he has never attended public school, had a teacher other than his grandmother, watched television, or had any friends. Cap has lived his whole life on Garland Farms, a 1960s hippie compound, living off the land with Rain, his grandma. He wears cotton tie-dye clothes, has long flowing blonde hair, and wears natural corn husk shoes. He knows how to drive and can use duct tape to fix anything.

But when Rain falls out of a tree and breaks her hip, his whole world is turned upside down. Rain has to stay in rehab for 8 weeks and Cap can't stay alone. The social worker takes him in because she knows how hard it will be for him to adjust, since she lived at Garland when she was young.

When Cap shows up at Claverage (C Average) Middle School, he can't help but stand out. He doesn't know how to use a locker or even why you'd want to lock away your stuff. The unofficial rule is that the popular kids nominate the biggest nerd for 8th grade class president and spend the year torturing him. Cap immediately becomes their target. Will they break him or will Cap and his innocence loving ways turn the school around?

Why I picked up the book: I love the cover. CY is using it for their Spring One School One Book and it seemed like a good reason to finally pick it up. We will also use it for our middle school book club.

Why I finished it: It is a fast read. Makes you think about what is really useful and wasteful in our society and how we treat others. It took awhile to get used to the multiple narrators.

I'd give it to: anyone, especially middle schoolers.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Kaitlin
Safe Haven
By: Nicholas Sparks
Imagine always running from a past; looking over your shoulder because you feel like someone is watching you, changing your name and what you look like, leave everything behind. That is what Katie had to do, in order to start over, and get over her awful past. Working, fixing up her house, and meeting someone, someone who would change her life forever, help her get through what happened. But you can never escape the past, you just can't beat it. And when Katie tries to beat the past, it only come roaring back. I chose to read this book because I love suspense, and Sparks knows how to keep you hanging on to the edge of your seat until the final pages. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a love story with a twist. I give this book 4 stars. ****

Independence Hall (I.Q., #1) by Roland Smith

Hello Q (thirteen year old Quest Munoz)!

Your mission, should you choose to accept it:
For the next year, you will travel across the country with your family (mother Blaze, new stepfather Roger, and new step-sister Angela, age 15) as your parents kick off a cross-country tour for their band Matched. You will live in and being homeschooled on the tour bus. You will meet new people; learn secrets, including those regarding national security; and gather information about current issues, terrorism, and historical landmarks.

You possess skills that will benefit this mission including:
being sneaky and taking pictures without detection, card tricks, knot and rope tying, and the love of fast food.

First stop: Philadelphia, PA , the City of Brotherly Love.

Determine whether those following you are paparazzi or worse. Discover what family and national secrets lie hidden in the depths of Independence Hall.

Are you ready? 

Why I picked it up: I like Roland Smith. Frontier is using this for their Spring 2013 One School One Book so I thought it might be good to use it for our middle school book club as well.

Why I finished it: It is a really fast paced story. I would have easily finished it in one night if I hadn't started it so late.

I'd give it to: Boys, for sure (although girls will like it to). Readers looking for action, adventure, and mystery.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Pure by Julianna Baggott

Before Pressia lived a normal life, although because she was 6 when the Detonations happened she doesn't remember it. Now what wasn't completely destroyed by the nuclear Detonations has been transformed into something else. Those who survived are called Wretches and they are usually fused with some object, animal (beasts), land (dusts) or each other (groupies). Pressia was holding her doll at the time and now the doll's head is her hand; her grandfather has a handheld fan fused in his throat. Survival is becoming increasingly difficult and if you reach the age of 16, the OSR takes you. Pressia's birthday is just a few days away and grandfather has been helping her prepare to hide and escape.

There are a select few who did survive the blasts without becoming fused. The Pures live under the Dome in a controlled environment, waiting and preparing for the day they can reenter the world. Partridge is a Pure. His father is one of the leaders who helped design the Dome. He has never been close with his father and lately things are getting worse. His brother committed suicide not long ago and his mother died in the blast. But Partridge is starting to suspect that she may have survived and he wants to find away out of the Dome to find her.

Is it really possible to escape and survive outside the Dome? What fate awaits Pressia and Partridge? What brings their worlds together? How did society and the world even come to this? Would you be one of the wretched or the Pure?

Why I picked up the book: Our Roosevelt HS book club picked it. The butterflies on the front and back covers are beautiful.

Why I finished it: While I don't normally choose dystopian, I couldn't put it down. I'd find myself reading 80 pages or more in a sitting. Now I want to read Fused and find out what happens next.

I'd give it to: Older teen and adult readers who like science fiction dystopian and apocalyptic stories. Readers who like "The Host", "Hunger Games", "Divergent", or "The Maze Runner".

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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