Grace, Gold, and Glory: My Leap of Faith by Gabrielle Douglas

If you watched the 2012 London Olympic Games, you've heard of Gabrielle Douglas. She was a member of the Fierce Five, who won team gold for the USA and she became the first woman of color from any nationality to win the all around gold. But there is a lot more to know about this sixteen year old phenom. Learn about her siblings, her family struggles, and what she sacrificed in order to fulfill her Olympic dreams.

Why I picked up this book: I love reading current "celebrity" biographies and this looked like it would be appealing to teens. Gymnastics and ice skating are my favorite sports to watch in the Olympics.

Why I finished it: The book is very simple and a fast read.

I'd give it to: Gymnasts. Fans of the 2012 Olympics and those who want to know more about the "flying squirrel". Teens looking for a fast, easy read.

While the book was good, it lacks depth that would come from an older teen/adult. It has only been five months since the London Games so it is apparent that the book was rushed to publication.

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

I reviewed this book in Jan 2010 when I first read it.  Click here to read the review.

I reread it today to refresh myself for our middle school book club. They read "A Wrinkle in Time" not too long ago so I thought this would be a great choice. I would say I appreciated it more this time around because I knew what was coming and was able to pick up on the clues the author was leaving.

Leverage by Joshua C. Cohen

Danny is a gymnast who hopes to be captain of the team by his senior year and earn a scholarship to college. He is small (even though he is a sophomore, he is often mistaken for a freshman) but so are the other members of the team, and being small has its advantages when you are throwing yourself in the air doing flips, cartwheels, back handsprings, and the high or parallel bars. It isn't always so great in the hallways of the hell that is high school or in the locker rooms that the football team thinks they are kings of.

Kurt is a monster, size-wise. The football coach has seen to it that his foster mom is treated well so that Kurt will play for Oregrove. The horrors that Kurt has seen in his past have left him with a scar on his face and a terrible stutter that convinces others that he is less than intelligent. But Kurt is smarter and more sensitive to the plight of others than anyone might imagine.

The football coach thinks he has an ace up his sleeve. His stars have an extra boost in terms of a "vitamin supplement", which has made them even more mean, huge, and violent. What starts as "boys will be boys" pranks, bullying, and entitlement has escalated to life threatening levels. The football team doesn't care for the gymnasts, especially after the gymnastics coach calls dibs on the "football" weight room. Will Danny and Kurt survive the pressure of the season and of high school?

Why I picked up the book: One of the books for the CY staff readers club. My husband is a huge sports fan, so there is plenty of sports info buzzing around my house, but I don't usually read sports novels.

Why I finished it: I had to know if someone would finally step up and stop the violence. I realize that we put some people and especially sports heroes on pedestals but we are all human and everyone deserves to be treated with respect. I also wanted to make sure that Kurt survives the horrors that those in power have brought upon him. I wanted to reach into the book and give him a hug and tell him he would survive.

I'd give it to: high school readers and adults who work with teens. Readers who won't be turned off by the violence and brutality.

Some reviewers feel that the violence was too over the top but I think it is realistic, especially in communities where sports/football are a religion.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Nathan's Review: The Listless by Steven Mohr

Reader's Name (First & Last):: Nathan Green
What grade are you in?: 11
Book Title: The Listless
Author: Steven Mohr
: It's a simple story about finding ourselves again. It’s really only a couple of weeks in young college grad’s life. It's written in way that's easy to understand and relate to. If you're ever feeling down or just weird about life, read this book. The end is like some different, bittersweet (sort of depressing but sort of freeing) speech that is oddly motivational. It made me smile. I felt inspired. I recommend this to anyone who has ever felt the pangs of heartbreak, the compression of work life, or the depression of figuring out where to go in a world that’s full of capable people but less opportunity.
Why I picked the book up:: I love books about bands
Why I finished it:: It started slow but it got to be fun, funny, and just good
I'd give this book to:: A friend
My rating for this book:: **** Really Liked It

**This is an ebook and is not currently available through the library.**

My Sisters Keeper

Name: Michelle Sherwin

Grade: 12+
Title: My Sister's Keeper
Author: Jodi Picoult


What would you do if you were born specifically to save someone else? Maybe like Anna it was meant to be a one time save or maybe it would be time after time. Anna who is 13 at the time of this story looks at how she was born and made for a different purpose than any of the other people who are around her. The unfortunate truth that she is in the midst of discovering is that unlike girls her age who are trying to figure themselves out and who they are she is trying to see herself not connected to her sister and her sisters leukemia. What would it be like, she thinks, if her sister were not always sick and in need of another piece of her? Anna sets out to find the answer to this question when she files for medical emancipation. This whole ordeal takes her family and many of the other people around her by surprise. She continues to get help from her lawyer Campbell Alexander. Although he is not thrilled by the case he finds that it challenges him in every way he never would have expected it too. During this Kate begins to get sick and in need of another transplant and their mother Sara seems to be continually living in the past and never wanting to get beyond that. The dividing lines begin to be seen throughout the family, but is this problem bigger than the lawsuit. Everyone must explore some of the simplest concepts of life including how do you define who you are? and don't take things from people without asking. But will it be to late for Kate by the time anyone can ask Anna?

I liked the way the book seemed to always be moving and how each of the characters got to tell parts of the story from their own point of view. It took a little getting use to in order to understand each characters point of view.

I did not like the way that the author did not reveal how some of the characters were affected by the ending from their own point of view. The only character we do hear the ending from is Kate and I was hoping that the rest of the characters would give a little insight on their feelings at the end of the book.

I picked this book up because it looked interesting and it seemed like a book that would bring a bit of a challenge to me. While this book did not present a challenge to me on the level that it was written it did present a challenge to me in thinking about what I would do given the choices Anna was given.

I finished it because even in to the epilogue there were new things to discover about each of the characters and a chance to get to know them better.

I would give this book to anyone who likes to be challenged in the way they think about life.

My rating for this book is a ***

Leslee's Review: Double Identity by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Leslee

11^th Grade

Double Identity

By:  Margaret Peterson Haddix

This story is about a thirteen year old girl named Bethany.  Her life seems fairly normal up until recently, when everything seems to upset her parents.  Eventually, her parents randomly take Bethany to her Aunt Myrlie’s house and leave with no explanations.  Now Bethany’s life is turned upside down as she begins to hear things about a girl named Elizabeth and as she starts to uncover her history.  She worries about her parents and constantly tries to figure out what kind of trouble they may be in.  Furthermore, Bethany is the talk of the town, where everyone that sees her not only recognizes her, but acts as though they have seen a ghost.  Similarities and differences emerge between Bethany and Elizabeth, strange clues that Elizabeth eventually pieces together to discover who she really is and where she really came from.  We discover what happened to Elizabeth and what Bethany’s parents are running from.  This is an intense book that is hard to put down.  I picked it up because I like Margaret Peterson Haddix, and I finished it because it kept me interested.  I had to know the answers Bethany was searching for.  I would recommend this book to anyone who likes suspense, mystery, and excitement.  I would give this book a 5***** star rating. 

Long Lankin

Name: Serina

Grade: 12+

Title: Long Lankin

Author: Lindsey Barraclough

Said my Lord to my Lady,
as he rode away
'Beware of Long Lankin
that lives in the hay.'

Cora and her younger sister, Mimi are sent to live with their elderly aunt, who is not at all happy to see them, in the small village called Byers Guerdon. Aunt Ida is strict and cold, and she treats the girls distantly, making them yearn for their home back in London, and she even asks that their father come get them and take them away even though they have to stay. But what the girl's can't know is that there is a history of disappearing children in their aunt's family, and she will do anything to keep the same fate from befalling her nieces. Cora is curious about the strange town, and about the secrets that are hidden there, so she befriends a couple of village boys that are eager to help her unravel things. However, an ancient evil has been patiently and silently waiting for its next victim, and it has set its sights on Mimi. Cora has to race against time to save her sister's life from a darkness that has an insatiable hunger for children.

Kaitlin
Fiela's Child
By:  Danele Matthee
Fiela's Child is a book of self identification. It tells the story of a young white boy named Benjamin who was raised by a colored family during the 18th century in South Africa. One day, two men from the village come to collect information about each family for census. When they see that Benjamin is white, and is living with and calls a colored family his family, the men start to ask questions. The believe that Benjamin is a lost child that wandered into the forest at age 3 and was forever lost, nine years ago. They take him to the village for the magistrate and the family of the lost boy can decide if he is theirs'. Read the book to find out if Benjamin ever finds out who he really is. I started reading the book because my English teacher recommended it to me. I continued reading it and finished it because Matthee does a wonderful job of keeping the reader interested and throws in some unexpected twists. I would give this book to anyone looking for a easy, descriptive read. I give this book three stars! ***

Insurgent by Veronica Roth (Divergent #2)

Insurgent picks up right where Divergent ends. Tris, Tobias/Four, Caleb, Peter, and Marcus are on the train headed for Amity. Many questions and few answers are to be found. Can Tris deal with the aftermath of the simulation attacks, losing loved ones, and face the truth of her actions? What is the secret that the Abnegation leaders were willing to die for? Will Jeanine and the Erudite find a way to control the Divergent? What role do the Factionless play? Will the factions survive, form alliances, or be destroyed?

Why I picked up the book: I normally don't pick up sequels but I *HAD* to know what happened next.

Why I finished it: Even though there is a lot of fighting and confusing in the middle of the book, it keeps pulling you along. As the reader you want to know what the secret is and if it is revealed or lost. The last page cliffhanger left me wanting to throw the book at the wall. Now to wait until Fall 2013 for an ending.

I'd give the book to: Fans of Divergent, Hunger Games, Maze Runner, and Twilight.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Divergent by Veronica Roth

The world Beatrice Prior lives in vastly different from ours. In the future, society has divided themselves into factions. Each faction believes in and honors a specific core value: Abnegation practices selflessness; Candor are honest; Erudite value intelligence; Dauntless are brave; and Amity are the peaceful. At the age of 16, you take an aptitude test, the results of which help you decide whether to stay a member of the faction you were born into or to choose a different one.

It is supposed to be simple but Beatrice's test results are abnormal, which means she is Divergent. She is told by the test administrator to keep her results a secret, as being Divergent is dangerous. At the Choosing Ceremony, she picks Dauntless and must leave her Abnegation family behind (faction before blood). Tris (the name she has chosen to be called) discovers that her initiation begins even before reaching Dauntless headquarters. Jumping onto a moving train, then onto a rooftop, and finally jumping into a dark unknown. Those Dauntless initiates who made it that far then learn that only half will become members. Those who don't rank in the top during initiation will have to leave and become part of the factionless.

Initiation is not for the weak of heart. Fighting and weapons training are a far cry from the selfless environment Tris was raised in. Not all initiates believe in fighting fair. Will Tris' survive? What does it really mean to be Divergent? What would happen if her secret is discovered?

Why I picked up the book: I've had it recommended to me by both teen and adult readers many times and it is on this year's Soaring Eagle nominee list. The CY staff readers are using it for a discussion so I jumped at the chance to be "forced" to finish it.

Why I finished it: Very fast paced. I'd look down and be 50 pages deeper in no time.

I'd give it to: Fans of the Hunger Games & Maze Runner (teens, adults, guys & girls).

My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

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Kaitlin
Crazy In Love
By: Dandi Daley Makall
Have you ever made a promise to yourself, and then meet someone new or discover something different about yourself, and find your promise to yourself harder and harder to keep? This is the situation Mary Jane Ettermeyer finds herself in in her senior year of high school. She finally makes contact with a guy named Jackson House, who she has had a huge secret crush on for years. Once they start talking, there is no stopping them. But the only problem is, Jackson is dating one of Mary Jane's best friends. Mary Jane know her friend Star does not treat Jackson right, so what does she do now? I picked up the book for a fun read. I finished it to find out if Mary Jane was strong enough to do the right thing. I would give this book to anyone looking for a fun, entertaining read. I give this book 3 stars ***

Lock and Key

Name: Michelle Sherwin
Grade:12+
Title: Lock and Key
Author: Sarah Dessen





What kind of life can you have if you can count on no one? That is exactly what Ruby tries to do. She tries to count on no one, just as her mother has taught her to do. Her mom and her have moved around so many times and tried to keep anyone from know where they are because of her mother's shady past. So when her mother doesn't come home Ruby decides to continue living by herself. She does her mom's job, does the housework, goes to school and gets by alright. That is until the people she is renting from stop by and find out that she has been abandoned. Now Ruby's whole life is going to change. Her sister, who has not been in the picture since she left the house at 18 is now going to be the one taking care of Ruby. At first Ruby absolutely hates the house and everything about it. She hates her new room, her new school, her sister and brother in law's willingness to help her. Nothing seems right and she doesn't want any part of it. She tries running away, going back to her old home and skipping class just to see what will bring back her old life, but when she finds  the boy next door, popular Nate, to be charming things seem to take a turn for the better, but do they really? She gets a job and beings to settle in.  Suddenly she is not sure that either her or Nate are ready for where their relationship seems to be going and Nate seems to be just as wary. Will Ruby be able to survive this relationship and this life or will this just bring on another move and another new life?

I found the conflict to be the best part of this book. Ruby was always in conflict over what her next move might be and where her life and home truly were. It was a little difficult to get into the book at first because there did not seem to be much going on.

I picked this book up because I liked the last book that I had read by this author. This one look to be interesting as well.

I finished this book because there was always something else left to find out, although it did seem like there were still quite a few things left unsettled in the end that could have been wrapped up.

I'd give this book to people who liked any of this author's other books. I would also give this book to people who have  had a lot of conflict and not a lot of stability in their lives because Ruby really shows what it is like to transition and to not be sure who to trust.

I give this book: ***

The Woman In Black

Name: Serina

Grade: 12+

Title: The Woman In Black

Author: Susan Hill

Arthur Kipps, a young solicitor in Victorian England, is called to the small town Crythin Gifford to attend the funeral of a widow named Alice Drablow, and to sort the paperwork left behind on her large estate called the Eel Marsh House. It is in this small town that Arthur first spots the woman in black, an eerie phantom who is known to bring calamity in her wake. Upon Arthur's arrival, the townsfolk are very reluctant to tell him much about the recently deceased widow, which causes him to suspect something is terribly amiss. Everything begins to unwind when Arthur is taken to the Eel Marsh House which resides on the marshes at the edge of town and is impossible to reach after nightfall, when the tide comes in and swallows up the treacherous road that only a pony and trap can cross. Not wanting to be taken to and from the house every day, Arthur decides to stay there as many nights as needed to get his work done. However, it isn't long after his arrival when he discovers that he is not quite alone on the estate. A shadowy woman dressed all in black haunts the halls, a rocking chair in a nursery moves all on its own, and a child's screams can be heard from out in the foggy marsh in the dead of night. Arthur must solve the mystery, and what the deceased widow had to do with the terror Arthur is now experiencing from the woman in black.

I picked this book up because I saw the movie was based on a book.

I finished this book because it was quite different from the film version.

I'd give this book to an fan of traditional gothic horror.

Rating: **** Really liked it!

The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, #7) by Jeff Kinney

Greg is at it again. The new year starts with new student council elections. It seems those students who were elected in the fall haven't been attending meetings. While Greg thinks he'd make a great politician and has brilliant ideas, you must be in good academic standing, with no record of detentions, in order to run. Oops!

So Greg does the next best thing and encourages Rowley to run in his place. Rowley wins! Which wasn't hard when you are the only candidate on the ballot for Social Chairperson. Greg plans to "attend" meetings via walkie-talkie. First order of business post-election is the winning president's platform, stocking student restrooms with soft toilet paper. But in order to do that, they must raise money, which isn't an easy feat for students who'd rather eat candy bars than sell them. The guys on the council think a WWE meets X-games motocross is a perfect event. But the planning committee ends up full of girls who like the idea of a Valentine's Dance.

It is hard enough to find a lab partner in a class where there are more boys than girls. How in the world do you find a date to the dance? Lucky for Greg, four-times married Uncle Gary is living on the Heffley's couch. Maybe he'll have some sound relationship advice?!?

Why I picked up the book: I really like the series. I couldn't wait for the library to get copies, so my husband went out and bought it for me. Greg cracks me up and reminds me of my younger brother.

Why I finished it: The series is fast paced, funny, and makes you want to keep reading. I have a hard time not picturing the movie actors as the characters now. This one started out a bit slow but by the end, I wished there were another hundred pages.

I'd give it to: fans of the series (books or movies). Although they are easy reads, they are set in middle school. Great for reluctant readers. Fans will be eager to know that an 8th book is planned, hopefully in 2013.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Leslee
11th Grade
The Art of Racing in the Rain
By:  Garth Stein

This is a very unique story told from a dog's perspective.  Denny Swift brings Enzo home from a farm in Springfield, Washington when he is a puppy.  From that moment on they are inseperable.  Enzo is the epitome of man's best friend, who shows the very perceptive and human-like qualities in dogs.  Throughout the story, Denny is aspiring to be a successful race-car driver and is simultaneously going through a custody battle for his daughter because the truth of an event was twisted and turned ugly.  Enzo is there by his master's side the entire time.  The novel is extremely inspirational, showing not only the art of racing in the rain, but also of the art of living life.  "Your car goes where your eyes go," and "That which you manifest is before you," are two of my favorite quotes from the book.  I picked this book up because my sister loved it and recommended it to me.  I finished it because I absolutely loved the story.  I have actually read it twice and would dare to say it is currently my favorite book.  I would recommend this to anyone who loves dogs or just animals in general, and also to anyone who loves a good inspirational story.  I would give this book a 5+***** rating. 

  

Andrew Zimmern's Field Guide to Exceptionally Weird, Wild, and Wonderful Foods: An Intrepid Eater's Digest by Andrew Zimmern

Andrew Zimmern is the host of the Travel Channel show "Bizarre Foods", where he travels, documents, and eats weird, wild, wonderful, and bizarre foods from around the globe. This guide highlights 40 foods like bird's nest soup, maggot cheese, and tarantulas as well as those we eat like crazy here in the US: circus peanuts, hot dogs, SPAM, and twinkies.

Each "food" section is only 4-6 pages long and includes a brief history of the food, along with information about how it is prepared. Then Zimmern adds fun and scientific information either with facts about the animal, food, or region, possible recipes to make it at home, and tie-ins to pop culture. The guide includes black and white photographs as well as illustrations.

Why I picked up the book: I was looking for something new to take on my middle school booktalking visits. This fit the bill as I love to share fun, exciting, and gross non-fiction that you don't have to read cover to cover.

Why I finished it: I literally didn't want to put it down.  Then you  The only thing that would have improved the book would have been color photos.

I'd give it to: reluctant readers, especially guys. I found myself reading parts to my husband knowing he'd either laugh or think it was gross and disgusting.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult & Samantha Van Leer

What happens between the lines "once upon a time" and "happily ever after". You're about to find out.

We all know the classic fairy tales. But for most of us, they are merely just stories we enjoyed as children, stories we escaped into to get away from the real world. Just tales, right? But what if your favorite story could come to life or had a life of its own when you weren't reading it?

Delilah would rather be buried in a book than be anywhere else, especially school. She finds a fairy tale stuffed into the stacks in her high school library and can't seem to put it down. She is drawn to it and one day something crazy happens. Prince Oliver, the fairy tale's Prince Charming, speaks to her from the pages. Delilah knows this isn't possible but what if? What if he is real and what if they could find a way to be together?

Find out what really goes on "Between the Lines."

Why I picked up the book: I love Jodi Picoult. The premise of this book sounded fun, although I'm not usually one for fairy tales. I wanted to see how a partnership with her daughter worked and if it would work for a teen audience.

Why I finished it: I wanted to know if Delilah and Oliver would get their "happy ever after".

I didn't particularly like the different colors for each section. I'm used to each character/narrator having a different font, but the colors messed with my eyes. It probably wouldn't bother teens.

I like Jodi's other books better than this one but I can see the huge teen appeal.

I'd give it to: readers who like fairy tales. Teenage girls who love to read and want a sweet romance/love story.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Split by Swati Avasthi

Jace shows up on his older brother Christian's doorstep with $3.84 in his pocket, having driven all night across the country, hoping for a fresh start and to understand why and how Christian left and never came back.

You see, even though he's a prominent court judge, Jace & Christian's father has demons that he has taken out on his family for years. He is abusive and has hit them all. Christian left, changed his name, moved a few times, and has started a new life. The only contact with his family being discreet letters sent to their mom with money to escape. Money she gave Jace when their father kicked him out.

Will it be possible for Jace to make a clean break, and realize he can't save his mom if she doesn't want to leave, that he isn't responsible for her or her choice? Will the secret he is keeping split the relationship he and Christian are building?

Why I picked up the book: It will be the KW One School One Book selection for Fall 2012, and was highly recommended by adults and teens I've talked to. I want to use as our teen book club as well.

Why I finished it: I was hooked on the first page. Will Jace and Christian survive? Will their father find them? Will mom make it?

I'd give it to: anyone, teen or adult, who has ever been in a domestic abuse situation, knows someone who has been in that situation or works with teenagers. I would definitely warn younger readers that there are some violent situations described in the book.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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Right Behind You by Gail Giles

Could it really be all about a baseball glove? It was Bobby Clarke's 7th birthday and he came over to show it to Kip, who was 9. Bobby said one of those horrible things kids say to each other and all Kip wanted to do was destroy the glove. The next thing Kip remembers is four months later. Kip is a patient at a mental facility for serious juvenile offenders, where he will stay for four long years. Turns out Kip lit Bobby on fire and Bobby died. Was it an accident or murder?

When Kip is finally released, his father and step-mother move him across the country and change their identities for a chance to start over. But will it really be that easy? How can someone recover or repent after an incident like that? Once you pay your debt to society, can you ever really be free? Is it possible to keep a secret as big as Kip's?

Why I picked up the book: My book club and I loved "What Happened to Cass McBride" and they have been asking that we read another of her books.

Why I finished it: I was hooked by the first page. You have to know what happened and find out who Sam is.

I'd recommend the book to: fans of edgy, realistic fiction. Readers looking for mystery/suspense. Guys.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Ashfall by Mike Mullin

How many of you have ever thought about or even considered the fact that we live close to one of the largest active super volcanoes in the world, right there in Yellowstone National Park? Does it concern you or do you think that 640,000 years is a long time ago and if it blew again, we'd be decimated in an instant so no need to panic? But if history shows us anything, it is that Yellowstone will erupt again and life as we know it will never be the same.

Alex is a typical fifteen year old boy, tired of being harped on by his family and just wanting to be left alone for a while. After winning an argument with his mom, Alex gets to stay home in Cedar Falls, IA while his parents and sister travel to his uncle's farm in Warren, IL about 140 miles east. The last thing Alex said to his mom was probably something smart and horrible and now all he wishes he could do is take it back and give her a hug. Alex would do anything to see his family again, including risk his life to trek through the ashfall and devastated world left in the aftermath of the eruption of Yellowstone, over 900 miles away. Will he be able to survive? Would you?

Why I picked up the book: Our book club at Roosevelt High School chose it for our book discussion.

Why I finished it: The action begins right in Chapter 1 and leaves you breathless, wanting to know more, and wondering if you'd have even survived that much.

I'd give it to: fans of dystopian & apocalyptic novels. If you liked Susan Beth Pfeffer's "Life As We Knew It", you'll probably love this. It is more dark and raw. Because of the violent acts, I'd probably say high school and up.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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