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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