I think this is a really great series by Darren Shan. This boy Darren goes and sees a freak show and meets a vampire and is forced to become one, well half vampire really, to save his best friend. Then he is taught to become a vampire and is forced to leave his life behind as he begins a new life. I really love the series and you will too!
--Joel, Gr. (not given)

This eighth book in the Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul series blows away the rest, by far. With a new format including sidebars like "Consider This"s, "How about you"s, "For Real?"s, "Read It?"s, and "Seen It?"s, as well as tons of fun quizzes and awesome tips for Web Sites to check out and things to write about in your journal. I really enjoyed reading through this book, especially since I could really tell that these Teens had put their hearts and souls into their poems and stories. I cried, I laughed, and I felt excitement and tension well up inside of me as I eagerly leafed through the pages of the newest "Teenage Soul" book, reading through articles about issues like "The Social Scene", "Everyday Life", and "Tough Stuff". Editors did an awesome job creating this book so that it would be an endless source of advice and creative content. I feel positive that I'll go back to read these articles over and over for years to come. Though I may have been attracted by it's flashy cover, I was sucked in to the world of these 13-19 year olds in an instant as soon as I started Deborah Reber's introduction. This book truly does present "The Real Deal". I'd fully recommend this book to ANYONE, boy or girl, who wants to read a heartfelt, interesting piece or two that will certainly keep your eyes glued to the pages for hours.
--Ann, Gr. 8

Freakonomics is a fascinating look at the world around us based on numbers and facts put together by economist Steven D. Levitt. The matters he addresses are trivial but intriguing, as he compares the organizational structure of a drug-dealing gang in Chicago with McDonalds, explains how teachers can (and do) cheat on standardized tests, shows the corruption inherent in Sumo wrestling, and more. The writing is excellent, simplified without being condescending. This book really makes you think.
--Sara, Gr. 10

This is an awesome book, so it deserves at least 4 stars. Although the begining and end were a little hard to follow, this was a fantastic book. Harry, who is now in his 4th year at Hogwarts, found his name put in the goblet of fire, illegally. Names submitted had to belong to any student over the age of 17. Things get sneaky when Hogwarts turns out with not one, but two champions compeating in the Triwizard Tournament. Will Harry survive his 4th meeting with Lord Voldemort?
--Trisha, Gr. 9

Every year, the fifth grade at Hardy Elementary School of New Hampshire takes a trip to a state park and stays for a week. Mr. Maxwell always runs the program, and he’s always prepared; from the beginning of the school year (even though it’s not until April)!

Mark Robert Chemsley never lived in one place for very long. The most was three years in a house in New York. So anyway, Mark was moving to New Hampshire in the middle of fifth grade. He loved the out doors, and every day at his new school he would enter the car in a bad mood, and then in the fifteen minutes of driving (and seeing all the nature) his attitude completely changes.

But, even with all of Mr. Maxwell’s preparations, there was no way he could be prepared for Mark R. Chemsley and this year’s Week in the Woods.
--Sara, Gr. 6

Artemis Fowl and the Opal Deception is an outstanding book in which Artemis Fowl, a criminal mastermind, is plotting to steal Fairy Thief, Pascal Hervé’s famous sixteenth painting, depicting a fairy stealing a tiny infant from it’s crib. Artemis plans to be the youngest criminal mastermind who has ever stolen the Fairy Thief, at age fourteen. Little does he know that his every move is being watched by an old fairy rival, Opal Koboi. Opal has plans to humiliate him for the rest of his life, if he survives what she’s got in store for him. This thrilling cliff-hanger will make you hang onto the edge of your seat as you turn the pages. This is the fourth in the Artemis Fowl Series.
--Carolyn, Gr. 7

This book is about a half Arab half American girl named Liyana. Liyana lives in St. Louis, Missouri until her Dad decides to move to Israel where he grew up. Liyana has many reletives in Israel including her grandmother. At first Liyana misses her friends in the US but learns to make new friends and like living in Israel. I give this book four stars.
--Melissa, Gr. 7

Cold Fire was a kind of fantasy book. It was about a smith mage named Daja and her adventures in a place called Kugisko. She and her teacher, Dedicate Frostpine, battle fires with a man who she thinks is her friend and she discovers some new mages and must take on the responsibility of helping them control their magic before its too late.

Cold Fire is the third book in a series called The Circle Opens. It is a really awesome book. It is filled with danger and suspense. Some parts of it are really funny while other parts are serious and complicated. Tamora Pierce is a very talented author and can weave many emotions into her stories. It is a story that many people would like.
--Katie, Gr. 7

Chanda’s Secrets was a very touching book it makes you appreciate your life and how even when everything around you is falling apart you still have to stay strong for the ones you love and care about. This story is a about a teen age girl living in the African Sub Sahara dealing the everlasting prospect of AIDS and how she fight for rights and proper respect in a close minded community. This book really showed what a lot of people are going through in that area and how no matter how much pride you have even when your in the toughest times sometimes you just need help.
--Rashida, Gr. 7

I loved this book and I highly recommend it. It was awesome, especially the part where Harry, Hermione, and Ron have an incounter with Sirius Black. This book is so captivating, thrilling, and eventful you won’t want to put it down. It puts a sort of ‘spell’ on you. This is a very good piece of literature. If you’ve seen the movie and haven’t read the book you should definitely read this book. Vice versa the movie is pretty good too but the book is definitely better.
--Michelle, Gr. 7

I thought that Thorn Ogres of Hagwood was an amazing book full of fantasy, magic and missions. It talks of the existence of werlings (a small peaceful creature that lives in trees and is able to turn into any animal) The High Queen, Thorn Ogres and other missticle creatures/monsters. The story talks of a young werling going to his first day of trainig but finding that he is terrible at shifting into animals and is unable to change into a mouse like his other classmates. Soon finding his home of werlings in danger he finds the courage to step up and help his community in their time of crises. Will his peaceful tree creatures make it through the battle against the Thorn Ogres?
--Nahila, Gr. 6

I liked this book because it is my favorite genre - fantasy. The author put in a lot of detail and it was easy to picture what was going on, in my head. I also liked how the author added so many twists that I had no idea of what was going to happen next. I really like that because that made me want to keep reading and not put it down. I didn't like the ending, I thought it was too short and too cheesy. I will read the sequal so I guess it makes the bad ending better because it just continues in the next book, but I think that the author still should have wrapped it up better.
--Brenna, Gr. 7

I heard about this book through some other people who said it was great. I wasn’t so sure but I read it anyway and they were definitely right. I highly recommend it. This book is truly touching. The story is about a child named David who has an abusive mother. Her abuse gets worse and worse throughout the book. Some of the stuff she did to him shocked me. Finally she demoted him from David to ‘it’. Throughout this book you will follow the third-worst case of child abuse on record in the entire state of California. David’s courage is remarkable. This book will keep you reading until the end to find out if David escapes his horrible mother.
--Amanda, Gr. 10

Yet again Mary Higgins Clark pulls off an amazing mystery that leaves you guessing right up till the end. This time the main charachter Celia, or only those in her past that know her as Liza, finds herself confused in what she should do when her new husband buys her and her son a house. But this house is also known as Little Lizzie's Place a place where Liza herself accidently killed her mother and attempted to do the same to her stepfather. While nobody knows it it actually Liza that has returned she needs to find out what truly happened that night and why before they find out who she really is. As she goes through the clues, and pieces them together there is an incredible twist. I highly recomend this to any mystery lovers.
--Rebecca, Gr. 10

I think this book is pretty cool. It wasn't a mystery, but more like an imaginative/fantasy story. One thing I really liked about this book is the description of the wizard tournament. However, sometimes I thought it was a little hard to follow all the characters in the book.

It all started when Harry's name came out the goblet of fire, which lights up every 100 years. Other names that came out were : Victor Crum, Fluer Décor and Ceddric Diggory. The first event in the tournament is getting past a dragon and taking the golden egg. Harry is assigned to a Hungarian Hornback, the fiercest dragon in the county! He summons his broom and flies to the egg. When Harry finally retrieves it, the crowd goes wild. The last task is the hardest and most difficult because it is a maze filled with Blast-ended skrewts, giant spiders, and rhyming cats. The maze leads to a trophy. Surprisingly, the trophy was turned into a porkey and leads to Lord Voldemort's hide -out. Will Harry be safe? What happens to him? Read this book to find out!
--(Monica, Gr. 6

Glubbslyme is about a girl named Rebecca. When Rebecca gets in a fight with her friend Sarah, she wants to prove that she isn't a coward. She wades into the witch's pond and a toad attaches to her leg! She screams but finds out that he can work magic and talk. Rebecca doubts that Glubbslyme can make her and Sarah friends again.

I rate this book 4 stars because it has a great beginning and middle, but a unexciting ending. It is a story of magic and friendship. My favorite part was when Rebecca was riding the umbrella and got caught on top of the tree and was scared of coming down!
--Megan, Gr. 6

I thought this was book was okay. The mystery was so suspenseful and had so much action in it, but I was very disappointed with the ending and what the conclusion to the mystery was. I felt like there should have been more to the story. I liked the fact that even though this is a mystery it wasn't scary at all. There was no murder that made me scared to turn the page. I would read another book by this author because the beginning and middle of this book were written very well.

This book was about a teenage girl who is hanging out with her friends and then a new girl starts hanging out with them. She seems pretty strange, but with Bianca's knack for seeing more then what meets the eye sees differently. With just a little investigating Bianca finds out that this girl is not who she says she is. Could she be in danger? Does she need someone's help? Is she lying about anything else besides her name? These are just a few of the thought buzzing through Bianca's mind, but will she be in time to save Sadie if she is in trouble?
--Kathryn-Grade 7

The Sea of Trolls is a pretty good book (although definitely not as good as Nancy Farmer’s others, such as The House of the Scorpion and The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm, although this last one is unmistakably weird). It takes place in a village in the year 793 A.D. A boy named Jack, an apprentice to the town “Bard,” is kidnapped along with his sister by a band of “berserkers” who are bringing them by boat to an unknown place. It ends up turning into this ridiculous combination of fantasy and historical fiction. The book includes a lot of fanciful events, (like fights with dragons and mythical wells of knowledge,) as though the author was trying to achieve the integrity of a King Arthur style folktale, disguised as a historical fiction book. It didn’t quite work out as she intended it to, I think. One of its worst faults is that it has the kind of relentless motion and action that forsakes the plot for temporary excitement, definitely a mistake. Despite these flaws, it is a fun, lighthearted read, and those who enjoy a good fantasy, this book will hold great appeal. Those looking for a touching, inspirational, type book, should look elsewhere; this isn’t the type of book that could be classified as poignant or evocative.
--Hannah, Gr. 6

I disagree with Matt Gr. 10's review of Slaughterhouse Five. Although I agree that Kurt Vonnegut is a talented and eccentric writer, his black humor and graphic descriptions in this book don't really appeal to me. Instead of telling his own story, the narrator chooses to focus on a soldier, Billy, that he knew of in the army. Although he is not fit to be a soldier, Billy witnesses the bombing and destruction of Dresden, Germany by the Allies in WWII. Most of the book is how this event affects the rest of his life. He starts traveling in time with his mind and he imagines he is abducted and kept in a zoo by aliens. The book was too surreal for me, although it does give you a unique outlook on life. I give it 3 stars.
--Cassie, Gr. 10

WOW! For any Harry Potter fan this book is a must have! The book is really packed with adventure, fun, and a bit of romance. I think many people will enjoy this book but, some won’t so you might not like it. I enjoyed reading this book and I can’t wait to read the 7th one when it comes out! I would totally recommend this book to any teen who hasn’t read it!
--Tori, Gr. 6

I loved this book. I first saw the movie and I loved it so I decided it was best to read the book since usually the books are better. This book is about a man home reading to a woman a story about some guy, Noah Calhoun and a teenage girl, Allie Nelson falling in love. After their summer together they were forced to separate because one is poor and the other lives the rich life. This book talks about their summer together and how they fall back in love all over again. You get to find out about the older man and woman in the home. It is a great love story and I absolutely loved this book. I cried and laughed and not that many books can make me feel that. If you don't know what book to choose next time you are at the library I would strongly suggest The Notebook.
--Kaite, Gr.

Princess in Waiting is about a 14 year old girl named Mia who was just told she was the Princess of a very small country named Genovia. Her grandmother has planned for her to go to Genovia for her first public viewing. The only problem is, is that the day before Mia left to go to Genovia something special happens. Now for 32 days Mia has to worry about losing something she loves the most.
--Courtney, Gr. 8

I pretty much love Meg Cabot, because she is such a funny and believable author. Teen Idol was definitely a really great book. In the book, a helpful but quiet girl named Jenny Greenley, who is the anonymous advice columnist for the school paper, is given the task of accompanying celebrity Luke Striker during his two week visit to her high school. Luke is undercover, learning what high school is truly about, since he will appear as a high school student in his newest movie. During his stay, Luke pushes Jenny to do what he knows she can: make her high school a better place.

I’ve read other books by Meg Cabot, and in most of them, a girl seems to be put in a situation rarely occurring in real life, then realizes she is in love. Despite the fact that the plot becomes slightly predictable to the avid Meg Cabot reader, I still LOVE her books. There is, however, one thing that bothers me about them: she uses the words “fully” and “totally” too much. I started dreading a sentence where those words might appear. Even with the same-ol’, same-ol’ plot and the overuse of words that true teenagers hardly say, this book is creative, wacky, and still, somehow, realistic. I would definitely recommend this book!
--Elizabeth, Gr.

This book was about a girl named Melinda who enters high school hated. Her old friends hate her, people she doesn't even know hate her, and no one wants to be friends with her. All of this is because she busted an end-of-the-summer party by calling the cops. Melinda has given up at being the best she can be, and just wants to be left alone. Her grades are going down to unacceptable levels and her attitude is going even further. This is because there is something that Melinda is hiding from others and trying to hide from herself. Find out what it is in this great book, Speak.
--Elizabeth, Gr. 8

This book is about a cat named Fireheart who lives in a clan of wild cats, the Thunderclan. He is in trouble, because another clan, Windclan, has gone missing, and he needs to find them so that the wild cats' clan meetings can continue. Meanwhile, he must train his apprentice, Cinderpaw; watch over his niece, Cloudkit; and deal with his friend, Graystripe,who is breaking the rules of the warrior code by meeting illegally with the cat of another clan.

This book is both a mystery and an adventure. I liked it because it was very suspenseful and exciting, and there are a lot of unexpected plot twists. You don't have to like cats to like this book, because the story would be exactly the same if the characters were humans; they just happen to be cats. My favorite part was the battle at the end of the book, because it was so descriptive, you felt like you were actually there.
--Colin, Gr. 6

I thought this book was awesome!! The sisterhood isn’t some over the top clique; their story is told like any other group of girls. It is a quick read that takes you on a suspenseful ride through their summers in Greece, Mexico, South Carolina and Maryland. Anyone who likes realistic fiction will get sucked into the whirlwind. It holds your attention for long periods of time.
--Meredith, Gr. 7

This book is about a young english lady who is going on a voyage to America to join her family in Rhode Island. While she is aboard the Seahawk she meets some new friends. During the book Charlotte took a big leap from being a lady to being a sailor aboard the Seahawk. But in the end some friends aren't as true as you think they might be.

I think this book was intense with emotion and how Avi had put Charlottes emotion into every scene there was. It was very interesting because Avi had put so much detail into the book that you felt like you were there and how he described the way the boat worked.
--Nora, Gr. 8

There is no doubt in my mind that Kurt Vonnegut is one of the greatest writers the world has ever seen. He's one of those writers whose works are so unique that after reading five words of it you know that he wrote it. His satirical outlook on life, war, and practically everything else provides a very different insight on many serious topics. Slaughterhouse Five is a war book, but it isn't just any war book. It's a book that constantly challenges your mind and stretches your imagination and sense of humor to the limit. It involves aliens, Nazis, bombs, and tramaldaforian zoos. As a warning to all who want to try Vonnegut for the first time, he is quite eccentric. Often times you'll find your self reading a personal anecdote of his somewhere in the middle of the story and not know how you got there. If this annoys you, just keep reading until you come back to the story. In a nutshell the best way to sum up the story is what Vonnegut himself said about it "All this happened, more or less. The war parts, anyway, are pretty much true."
--Matt, Gr. (10?)
Return to Cassie's review.

If lame, slapstick humor is not your style, i wouldn't read this book. The jokes are ridiculously lame, ex. putting alligators in porta-potties. I give it one star because it also did not even have a great plot. The supposed "mystery" was who was the practical prankster. To me, this is not a strong plot. It didn't create enough action in the book for it to hold your attention for long periods of time.
--Meredith, Gr. 7

This book is AWESOME!!! The suspense in it is mind boggling. When you first find out that Devon’s (the main character) dad dies and he is going to move to Connecticut to live with some one that he has never met before in a creepy ghost ridden house with no friends. Many people would be scared enough but the fact is Devon is not normal. The is a blood clan member of the Nobel Order of the Nightwing. This means he has had to live his childhood life in the fear of real monsters in his closet. They have attacked him before but he has always managed y knowing what his father told him before he died. “You are stronger then them remember that you are stronger.” This is what helps Devon defeat the Evil Apostate to the Order, Jackson Muir. He has been dead for some time but when he was alive he was the one who opened the Hellholes (gateways leading to hell and that is what lets the demon out) and controls the demons to do his evil bidding. Devon eventually has to dive into hell to save a child and to close up the Hellhole trapping Jackson inside.
--Erik, Gr. 8

I chose the book Ashes of Roses. In the begining, Margaret Rose and her family are just arriving in America from Ireland. They are taken to Ellis Island, where Margaret changes her name to Rose. She finds out that her little brother has something wrong with his eyes, and that he can't stay in America. Rose's father leaves with the baby. Rose, her mother, and two younger sisters are living with their uncle. Rose finds a job, but then her mother takes her youngest sister back to Ireland, and Rose's 12-year-old sister stays with her. Rose finds a place to live and a new job. Everything is fine, until the day Rose sees her sister come to work as an under-age worker. Then there is a horrible fire. Will Rose ever see her sister again?

I really enjoyed reading this book. My favorite part was when Rose finally found a place for her and her sister to live. The worst part, in my opinion, was when Rose was safe after the fire, but didn't know about her sister or friends. I hope that whoever reads this book will enjoy it as much as I did.
--Patty, Gr. 8

The Jacket is about a boy named Phil who’s looking for his brother in the hallways while looking for him he sees someone with Jimmy’s one of a kind jacket and automatically thinks its Jimmy but then he sees a black kid wearing Jimmy’s Jacket..... .

The Jacket by Andrew Clements really blew me away this summer. Not only does it help people really understand prejudice on black people in particular, but it also helps people realize not to judge different ethnic groups as well. Witty, Clever, and very understandable I give The Jacket five stars : ) !! I think every kid should read this book.
--Aurora, Gr. 6

My 13th Season is about a girl named Fran who is on an all boys' baseball team. Fran does not fit in on the team because she is of a different gender and has the ability to be a star on their team. Fran dreams about being the first girl to play in the majors but her coach, Foster gets in the way. He thinks that his team should toughen-up so he throws baseballs at them. When it is Fran's turn, he does not stop throwing the baseballs at her. She must hit all of the baseballs away. Foster goes to jail. Now, whenever Fran is batting she is scared, she does not even swing for at the ball. She concludes that she is just in a slump. She then goes home, rips all of her baseball posters of her wall, all of her baseball items come out of her room. She hates baseball so she quits the team. Will her team survive without her there and will she ever like baseball again? I really enjoyed reading this book.
--Jena, Gr. 7

One thing that struck me while reading this book was how incredibly smart the author is, and how much time and research went into writing this book. Not only are parts of this book historically accurate, they are combined with a suspenseful mystery novel. The story follows Robert Langdon, professor of art and religious history at Harvard University, when he is summoned by the police to the murder scene of a museum curator in Paris. He is wanted as a possible suspect, even though he has never met this man before in his life. The curator has left mysterious clues behind that the police do not understand, the only thing they can be sure of from them is that Robert Langdon was the culprit. Robert escapes their inaccurate arrest and with the curator’s cryptologist grand-daughter Sophia sets out to solve the mysterious codes left behind, and clear his name. I read this book in a day and loved it.
--Rachel, Gr. 10

This book is about a world that was created so that earth would never die out and so people would always have what they needed. Over the last few years the city has been running out though and things that we take for granted some kids have never even had the chance to try. Some of the things that ember needs to survive are very low if not already gone such as lightbulbs. Lina and her friend doon find what they think are directions out of the city to a bigger and better place.Lina cant leave her sister Poppy alone in Ember so she takes her with her. Doon and Lina plan to tell the rest of Ember about the new world but that never seems to happen. Will the people of Ember make it out before they run out of what they need?

This book grabs your attention and you will be begging your parents to let you stay up late just to finish the book. If you like books where you think everythings in place but at the same time you know its not then this book is for you.
--Lily, Gr. 7

I would have to disagree with Maria about this book. I think that Stargirl is one of the worst books I have read in my life. I am even having trouble finishing it, because it doesn't keep me occupied. The story seems to just drag on and on about one little thing that might happen. A few things didn't even fit into the story. I would say that this is a "don't waist your time on," book.
--Kacie, Gr. 7

This book is the story of an English boy named Edmund living in Providence, Rhode Island with his aunt and twin sister in 1848. His father died at sea and his mother is missing. One day, his aunt doesn’t come home searching for his mother, and Edmund and his sister, whom he calls Sis, wait in their small, single tenement room for 3 days. So, once they have run out of food, Edmund uses the little money they have to get some food. He locks the door. Yet when he comes back, Sis is gone. No one he asks will help him until he meets a strange man in the street who calls himself Auguste Dupin. Half the time, Mr. Dupin is trying to unravel the mystery of Sis’s disappearance. But he often times, he drinks and has no idea what he’s doing. The story ends up being much more complicated than Edmund thought it would be and it doesn’t end up the way Mr. “Dupin” wants it to either.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction and mysteries. The complexity of the story is intriguing and it’s amazing to wonder how Avi ever thought the idea. This book is a great read.
--Julia, Gr. 7

Heir Apparent is a great book of both sci-fi and fantasy. The book goes into these two areas by telling of Giannine, a video game loving girl, who on her birthday gets a gift card from her workaholic father who hardly knows his daughter exists. When Giannine goes to play the virtual reality games a pack of anti- video game protesters breaks into the arcade and breaks the games to the point that Giannine becomes trapped in the game. The worst part is that the only way out now is to win. But Giannine keeps losing and time is running out. Can she beat the game that has a million ways to kill you? Can she get the magic ring, find the stolen treasure, answer the dwarf's dumb riddles, and defeat the man-eating dragon?

This book will hook you in and make you read the book over and over again. It’s a big book but it goes by fast and will leave you begging for a sequel.
--Bret, Grade 9

Before I begin, I have to say that this book is a sequel to The Golden Compass. You must read that book in order to understand the whole plot of this book. Also, if you haven’t read the first book, this review will make no sense. In The Subtle Knife, Lrya sets off into the new world to find and destroy dust. While there, Lyra finds a world of only children because all of the adults have been scared away by creatures that only harm adults. The first person Lyra meets is Will, a murderer who ran away from his world to escape his enemies and find his lost father. From here, the plot starts to twist and become really interesting. One day, Will comes into the possession of the Subtle Knife. The Subtle Knife has the ability to cut through air into different worlds and open and close those openings. Also, the Subtle Knife can cut through any material, metal, wood, or rock. Will and Lyra set off on a mission to find Will’s father under the protection of Serafina the witch and her clan. All while Lyra and Will are on their mission, Lord Asriel (Lyra’s father) is plotting to attack and destroy heaven. The twisted part to this is that Will has the only weapon that could destroy heaven, the Subtle Knife. Also, although Lyra doesn’t know it, she will play an important part of history.

This book is really suspenseful and I couldn’t put it down. This book is an excellent book even though it has some topics that the devout Christian wouldn’t like. As I said above, Lord Asriel is planning to attack and destroy heaven and in turn, God. But overall, this is an action packed book that most people will love.
--Kevin, Grade 8

So Yesterday, by Scott Westerfeld, is about Hunter, a 17 year old "cool hunter", or trend setter, living in New York City. When he meets Jen, an innovator, his world is turned upside down. Together they go for a meeting with his boss, only to find her MIA, and an amazing sneaker, made by the "anti-client", with a crossed out Nike logo on the front. They quickly fall into a search for both Hunter's boss and the makers of the shoe, and become wrapped up in a plot to unravel the world built around consumerism.

While this book brought up some interesting ideas about whose really making certain decisions, and how things become "cool", as well as spouting interesting facts, the story itself I found fairly uninteresting. I liked the world the author built up, and I liked some of the ideas that he had about consumerism, but the plot and characters I found boring, to say the least. Despite all that, it's still worth reading, but don't get your hopes up.
--Mindy, Grade 10

A Child Called It was a sorrowful novel about the life of one boy who struggles to survive the painful emotional and physical abuse by his mother. To his mother, he is nothing but a slave. He was no longer referred to by his name David, but as "It." It describes the disgusting and sick things that his mother did to him and the way he survived it all and was brought to freedom. This book will touch your soul and make you more aware of your surroundings. It will help those in the same situation and try to help provide them with the courage to speak up about what is happening to them.
--Sofia, Grade 8

This book’s main premise is an original one: it deals with an alternate history where the Third Reich won World War Two and the subsequent World War Three (in the early 1970’s), and the Germanic Empire now controls the entire world except for Japan, some small African colonies and some European nations. However, this book isn’t just a typical “war” story about fighting between the Wehrmacht (German armed forces) and the US Resistance. It actually has to do with a respectable, well-liked family living in Berlin, with a secret: they are Jews. In this Nazi dominated world, Jews and their entire way of life are almost entirely gone, with only a few thousand left throughout the world. The Reich has a no-tolerance policy: even suspicion of being a Jew sends a person to the Gestapo prisons for life, or (most horrifyingly likely) to the showers (gas chambers). The Reich has endured for over 70 years at this point, and seems invincible. However, when the current Fürher dies and a new one takes over, the stability of the Reich wavers. The new Fürher has radical ideas about the Empire, but some disagree about where they might lead. Could the Reich be nearing the end of its time, and never fulfill the “thousand-year” prediction made by Hitler, the first Fürher?

This book’s thoughtful premise was a refreshing change to me: it wasn’t just a “shoot ‘em up” war story. This story sheds some light on what might have happened if the Nazis triumphed, and offers more speculation on how long the Third Reich might’ve lasted if it had the chance. Combining these elements with a highly descriptive writing style, sub-plots, and plot twists, this book was immensely enjoyable for me. In the Presence of Mine Enemies surely deserves a 5 star rating.
--John, Gr. 9

I think Stargirl is the absolute best book I have ever read so far in my life. Its the type of book you will immediately love or hate. I loved it so much that I read it 3 times(I Owen it). this book will blow you away Stargirl is so incredibly brave!!I definitely agree with Brittany that this book was outstanding!So read it.
--Maria, Gr. 8
Return to Kacie's review.

The True Colors of Caitlynne Jackson was more of a sad book. Two sisters help each other get through their mother’s hurtful actions. Their mother hits them and threatens them often, but no one else knows, they keep it a secret from their friends. Then, their mother just leaves them alone in the house one night and doesn’t come back. They must take care of themselves with little food and money their mother left behind. With a little help from a neighbor next door, they are able to survive half the summer with enough food, but a problem soon comes upon them. How will they survive with only a week’s worth of food left? Where can they go where they are wanted if their mother never returns?

Well, the rest of the story tells of their hard journey by bicycle to their Nana’s house, not knowing if she wants them or not. If she does not want them, they might have to be split apart and live in different homes which would break their hearts. This story was sad to read at times with their abusive mother, but the sisters are so lucky to have each other, have great friends willing to help them out, and a wonderful grandmother to take them in and let them stay. It taught me to be very thankful for what I’ve got and to know that there are mothers like Caitlynne’s out there in the world, many of them, and dads too. So this story can teach you many lessons as it did me, and was a page turner to see how they will manage one day after the next.
--Danielle, Gr. 8

This is a book filled with true poems. All written by different people. I liked the book a lot. It showed the qualities of different dogs. Some were similar, but all of them unique.
--Melinda, Gr. 6

This book is bursting with poems by teens and adults. The teens wrote about their own dogs and geuss what their dog is thinking at differant times. Funny poems and descripsions are written by the adults. Some of the poems make you feel like you are a dog of some kind. This short, 72- page book is full of dog poem to make you feel like you are in a doggyish world!
--Cassandra, Gr.

This is a strictly girls only book. This book is about a girl named Jessica Darling who is sixteen years old and lives in Pineville, New Jersey. She has a best friend Hope Weaver who moves away because her brother died at 18 and her parents don't want that to happen to her. Hope was the only one who helped her fit in, so now she has to hang out with her other group of 'friend' nicknamed the "Clueless Crew". There is Bridgit-Jessica's ex-best friend who is really pretty, Sara who is a huge gossiper, and Manda who can get any guy she wants. She doesn't like them, but she hangs out with them anyway so shes not a total outcast. At home her dad pressures her to be good in track and she feels like she can't take it anymore. Her mom won't talk about anything but her older sister Bethany's wedding. She also is really into this guy...who doesn't know she exsists. And on top of all that there is a guy named Marcus Flutie who is one to stay away from, but he keeps coming up to her and saying things. I'm warning you, once you start reading this book you can't stop.

I thought this book was very, very good. It hooks you in after the first chapter because you really want to find out how Jessica solves her problems and what happens to her. This book is not a guy book, and there is some situations and swearing that younger girls shouldn't read. Overall though, it was great, and I recommend it.
--Amanda, Gr. 9

This was one of the best Harry Potter books I have read so far. In this book there is even more action then there was in the last book. In this book there is a big problem that no one can solve. Not even the Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. But of course Harry, Ron, and Hermionie want to explore the problem and solve it. Unfortunately something terrible happens to Hermionie so Ron and Harry have to solve the problem by themselves. It is a very suspenseful book with lots of action but it's not one of my most favorites.
--Kristin, Grade 6

This book was very interesting and will make the reader think about whether or not cloning is ethical and what clones should be used for because its main character, Matt, is a clone. The book follows Matt’s life from essentially six to fourteen years old. As a result of such a long time being covered, there is a huge amount of character development going on with Matt.

A prospective reader should keep in mind that this is really a science fiction book, but it is one that has a lot of other types of content, too. It is kind of like the author took most genres a book could be and put a little bit of each genre into one book. I think it was a little slow in the beginning, but picks up pace later. This book seems like one that some people will like a lot, and others will not like it at all. Overall, it was good, but not quite as good as Nancy Farmer’s other book, The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm. The House of the Scorpion won the National Book Award, was a Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book, and a Newberry Honor Book.
--Alison, Gr. 8

This book is about a 13 year old boy and his little sister. They live in a village in Guatemala. They were both born into a peasant family with very little money, food, and only a small hut for a house, but one night their whole life changes. Many soldiers come and destroy their village. They killed many people including the boy and girls family. The kids manage to escape, but have no idea of how to survive. Later, they figure out that they must travel to America and start a new life. The journey they both have to take will not be easy. They must go through shark-infested waters, raging storms, and soldier guarded narrow channels, and they have to do all of this in only a canoe. I thought that this book was an amazing suspense novel. I could understand it really well and there was excellent description. I give this book three stars.
--Alex, Gr. 6

This book is about a boy, Ken, who just can't seem to do anything right. His father is always mad at him for one reason or another. One time, Ken followed his father and brother to the place where they were rounding up the horses. Ken had fallen asleep, with the animals in the distance and woke up with Rocket, one of the wildest in the herd, standing right by him. He jumped up and as she spooked and ran towards the Rock Slide, the rest of the group followed. Luckily, the stallion, Banner, stopped Rocket just in time. Ken has always dreamed of getting a foal like his brother, but each day it seemed like he was getting farther and farther away from having one. Soon, his mother persuades his father to let Ken get one. As Ken is riding up to look at all of them, he sees Flicka.He knew that she was the one for him. Although her spirit is very wild, Ken and Flicka form a special bond for one another. The boy soon learns the true meaning of friendship.

I enjoyed reading My Friend Flicka so much. It was fun to find out how they were going to cope with each other, Flicka being so wild, and Ken being so dreamy. It was like an adventure book. Some parts were very realistic. I felt like I knew the characters very well. It was also a very horsey book, which is the kind of book I especially enjoy.
--Rebecca, Grade 7

Whale Talk is about a boy named TJ. He doesn't care what other people think about him so he just does what he thinks is best. He is an amazing athlete, but he doesn't like the idea that only the best kids get the high school letter. As he is walking through the halls TJ finds a football player giving a disabled kid a hard time, for wearing his brother's jacket. TJ then has an idea. He organizes a swim team, but only under certain circumstances will he swim on the team. The guys on the swim team either have disabilities or don't fit in with everybody else. How many swimmers will make the cut to get the letter?

This book was remarkable because when you turned the page you never knew what trouble TJ was going to be in or who might try to get in the way of their goal. The suspense keeps you reading until you are forced to put the book down to eat or sleep.
--Katelyn, Grade 9

I'm agreeing with another review I found on this page. I really like this book because it is really crazy and funny. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is about Arthur Dent. The town is trying to bulldoze his house to build an expressway. Then as Arthur's weird friend Ford told him the Vogons blow up Earth to build their own transport route. Arthur and Ford then have an amazing adventure in the Galaxy. I highly recommend this book.
--Alex, Grade 7

I'm agreeing with another review I found about The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson. I thought that this book was very good as well. The writing was good, and it was unpredictable, which I liked. It wasn't really high-class literature, and there was no deeper meaning hidden anywhere, but it was really fun, and I enjoyed reading it. I would also give this book five stars. Other books that I've read by Eva Ibbotson are Which Witch, and Island of the Aunts, both of which I also enjoyed immensely.
--Jamie, Grade 9

This book is about a boy named Palmer LaRue who lives in a town where when you become of age and are a boy, you become a wringer. At a Family Fun Fair the town has, men come and pay to shoot down pigeons. When a pigeon is shot and does not die, a wringer wrings its little neck until it dies to put it out of its misery. All the boys want to be a wringer, except Palmer. He has been terrified of this day ever since he went to the fair for the first time, but he must decide whether he should or should not. And, just to make the decision harder, he found a pigeon outside his window and is keeping it as a pet and trying to hide it from the guys. What is Palmer LaRue to do?

I liked this book because it always kept you interested because there would always be another problem Palmer had to solve. I also liked the amazing climax and the powerful ending that made this book a nice read.
--Adam, Grade 7

This book is about two twins, Madrigal and Mary Lee, who are extremely close. They can talk to each other inside their heads, and they have spent every hour of their lives in each other's company. Their parents can barely tell them apart. But one day, Mary Lee is sent to boarding school, thousands of miles away. Her life falls apart - she doesn't try to make friends with anybody at her new school - she has never needed friends before. One weekend, Madrigal comes to visit her. But Madrigal has not been spending her time pining for her twin like Mary Lee has - she is popular, beautiful, and has a boyfriend. She instantly becomes friends with all of the girls who had already rejected Mary Lee. Then, in a strange twist, Mary Lee starts living Madrigal's life - and finds out the sick truth about her sister.

This book was not one of Cooney's best works, but it was okay. The plot was exciting, and it wasn't predictable, which I liked, but other than that it didn't really stand out as being an amazing book.
--Jamie, Grade 9

I am doing a review that is disagreeing with another one that I found on this page.

I didn't think that this book was very good at all. The idea was good, but neither the characters nor the plot were well developed. I have never read any other books by this author, but I would not seek out more books by her if I was in a bookstore.
--Jamie, Grade 9

This book is a true story of Alice, a teenage girl's frightening experience with drugs. This book isn't preachy or too fake. Instead, it feels as if you're going through the exact same things Alice is going through. When Alice describes her "bad trips", you feel sick to your stomach and nauseated too.When Alice feels terrified and afraid, you feel like you're falling off the edge of the world with her. Also,Alice is so dead honest and innocent that you'll feel like you've known her forever. This book is so amazing that you can't put it down. Once you enter Alice's world, you'll never forget her.
--H.B., Gr. 10

Jack Torrance has screwed everything up. He broke his son's arm, almost killed one of his students and was always drunk. After being fired from his teaching jobs his last chance to put the pieces together is as a caretaker at an old hotel for the winter. The caretaker can bring his family if he wishes, and he is sure his family would love to come. His wife, Wendy, who is secretly thinking of divorce, and has been for a long time, is the daughter of an ungrateful, over-the-top perfectionist mother and a careless father. Danny, his son, knows things. Not regular things, but where things are hidden and what people are thinking. And then sometimes his friend Tony comes and shows him things. Fun things. Happy things. But lately the things Tony shows are scary and he wishes Tony would stop. And then REDRUM. Danny is so confused, but he bottles his feelings and seals them tightly against his parents, who have no idea he has second-sight, because he does not want the MEN IN THE WHITE COATS to take him the asylum.

This book has many swears and is very scary. It's only suggested to the stout-hearted.
--David, Gr. 8

The Secret of Platform 13 is the story of a "gump", which is a hole in England that opens every nine years or so for nine days to a beautiful island. During the nine days, anyone can come in or leave, but after, noone can do so until it is open again. Tragically, the king & queen of the island's baby was stolen from his nurses when taken through the gump. The nurses then had to go back through the gump and wait for it to open again. It is the story of the search to find the stolen prince before the gump closes again!
--Julia, Gr. 6
Go back to Jamie's review.

Arthur Dent is having a normal day, other than the fact that the town he lives in is trying to bulldoze his house. Then, his somewhat odd friend Ford Prefect comes and tells him the world is about to end. At first, no one believes him -- until the Vogons arrive declaring that they are going to destroy Earth!

This is an AWESOME book! It's really funny and totally zany.
--Sarah, Grade 8
See Alex's review of this book.

When Sal goes on a trip with her grandparents to see her mother's grave, she entertains them with a story. This story is about a 13 year old girl who wants to be reunited with her mother. As Sal tells the story, she sees how her own story begins to unfold inside it.

The title, Walk Two Moons, stands for a phrase in this book, don't judge someone until you've walked two moons in their moccasins. I would recommend this book to kids because it's interesting and has 2 stories in one book. This book won the Newbery Medal.
--Kevin, Grade 7

I agree with David in 7th grade that Artemis Fowl deserves 4 stars. This book is action-packed, suspenseful and very surprising at some points. Artemis Fowl is a boy genius who has used his intelligence to break in and steal things from all over the world. Now he wants to go beyond ordinary theft and steal fairy gold. He creates a plan, but it is foiled when he discovers that the fairies are just as tricky as he is. It turns into a battle of wits and humor that doesn't end with the first book.
--Cassie, Grade 9

This book was a suspense-filled, action-packed book from when Charles Wallace sees his “dragons” to when the kitchen door mysteriously crashes open without the slightest trace of wind.

In A Wind In The Door, Meg is faced with three tests that can either save or kill her brother, Charles Wallace who’s mitochondrion are being taken over by the evil Echthroi, which in turn, can mess up he whole world. I would recommend this book to people who like a short, easy, but good book.
--Haley, Grade 6

This book is about a girl named Leanora Sutter who is an African-American and a Jewish six year old named Esther. Thes two girls live a life which is very hard at least for Leanora. In a small town in Vermont in the year 1924. Leanora and her father are in danger when The Klu Klux Klan come into town. Leanora has heard the very mean and harsh things that the klan had said to them. Leanora is stuck and cannot bear the witness.
--Robia, Grade 6

This story is about a teenage girl who goes to become a servent to a rich household and finds that the girl she is in charge of serving looks exactly like her. Her name is Mary Cooke but Amanda Whitwell changes her name to Miranda. They both end up loving the same two men and each is engaged to marry one. Miranda ends up marrying one and then Amanda and Miranda go to America from England to meet Amanda's fiancé. The boat they take is the Titanic. The rest you need to figure out for yourself.

I would recomend this book to anyone who likes romance (or needs it for the summer reading program).
--Alex, Grade 9

Juniper is the first in a series of three books by Monica Furlong. Juniper is a young princess who is sent to her Godmother's house to learn how to become a doran (a sorceress). She encounters many hardships and finds out that learning magic is not easy work. Then, her evil Aunt Meroot tries to take over the kingdom. Juniper and her godmother Euny, try to save everyone from Meroot.

I liked this book a lot and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. If this author makes another book I would definitely read it. It is very interesting and I couldn't put it down. I think everyone should read this book! --Brenna, Grade 6

I enjoyed reading this book. I only like to read books that are very interesting. In the book Wanted, the mystery of who killed Alice's father was interesting to me. It made me really want to read the book. I like mystery books with mysteries that make me want to be in the book and be that character that gets to solve the mystery. I think that it would be cool to be Alice because it seems interesting to be in the situation that she was in. When someone broke in her house right after she found the tapes her father told her about. It was weird how she hid under the car in the garage. Also because the cops are looking for her because they think that she killed her father even though she really didn't. If I were Alice, I would want to find the person that murdered my dad and make him suffer for murdering my dad and for lying about me killing my father.

I would recommend this book for people who like exciting and mystery books!
--Jessica, Grade 7

I really enjoyed reading this book. I am one that never reads unless I have to but enjoyed reading this book because it kept you on the edge of your seat the whole book. I would recommend this book to anyone that doesn't mind swearing but makes it funny.
--Jacob, Grade (not given)

In school this year as part of our English curriculum, we read Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Then later on when I heard Mildred Taylor had written a prequel, The Land, I knew I had to read it. Both books are well written and full of so much detail.

Mildred Taylor takes you on a long yet wonderful adventure through the life of Paul-Edward in the book The Land. It is an amazing book told through the eyes of a young boy who grew up during segregation. Paul-Edward Logan, the main character, grows up down south in Mississippi during this time. With a white daddy and an African-American mom, he struggles to live through this horrible time. He has three white brothers, a new friend Mitchell Thomas who was once no more than a bully to him, and witnessed a betrayal by a close friend which will always stand out in his mind. Then later on, both Mitchell and Paul face many hard times, including the death of Paul's mother. Will Paul survive and get the land of his dreams, or will he fall into dusty, dark pieces and end up crawling back to his white father for help? Also, will Mitchell find the woman of his dreams or end up as a black single? To find the answer, read this fantastic book and find out!

The Land was a book I could not put down. Because The Land was so interesting and full of excitement, I rate this book 5 stars. :) I would rate it more, but 5 is the limit. I recommend it to anyone who wants a good book to read on a boring, hot summer day. You can find The Land in the Teen room of the library. And hey, don't stop there, read all of the books in the series! That includes Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Let the Circle be Unbroken, and The Road to Memphis. They are all excellent books.
--Shruthi, Grade 9

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey is a book especially written for teens about how to do your best in life, and reach your goals. It's full of short stories, fun facts, comics, quotes, and pictures. It talks about a lot of the most important issues facing teens today, and what you can do to deal with them. This book is great for teens who don't like to have to find the meaning of the story. This book just tells you the meaning.

Even though this book might sound stupid at first, it's a great book and I highly recommend reading it. There's something that every teen will learn from this book. It really encourages the reader to stick to their goals, no matter what disadvantages they may have.
--Elizabeth, Grade 9

The Terrorist by Caroline B. Cooney is a story about an American teenager named Laura whose brother was killed by a terrorist’s package in a London subway while their family was staying in England. Laura and her family were devastated by this tragic event, but after Laura’s sadness passed, all she had was anger, and the need for revenge. Laura set out on a goal to find her brother’s killer, and soon trusted no one. She even started to believe that her friends at school could’ve had a reason to murder Billy. The characters in this book are of all different cultures, because Laura attends an international school in London. So this book also teaches a little bit about culture, which Laura uses in her investigation.

I really liked this book. It was always interesting and suspenseful. Events will come up that you would never think of, and everything has a twist. I give this book 5 stars.
--Elizabeth, Grade 9

David is a normal average kid, until he changed his name to the Blue Avenger. First, his saved his principal from a swarm of killer bees. Then he invents a "weepless" lemon meringue pie. And, he even finds a way to help his friend, Omaha, find her father.

I really enjoyed this book can't wait to read the sequel. This book was very funny and I enjoyed its choice of words.
--David, Grade 7

The Blue Avenger's friend Louie is invited to go to Venice for his job and he invites Blue to accompany him. While in Venice Blue has to babysit his Grammy's dog. Then Blue meets Mr. Agostino who, Blue thinks, has information about the Shakespeare mystery. The mystery is that some people think that the Shakespeare plays were written by the Earl of England and not by William Shakespeare.

I thought this book was good, but not as good as the first one. I liked how everything fit together in the end. This book is good for readers who really pay attention to the details because it the end, it brings up events that happened in the beginning.
--David, Grade 7

Snail Mail No More is the sequel to P.S. Longer Letter Later. This book tells the story of the school year following best friends’ Elizabeth and Tara Starrs’ first year after Tara Starr moved away. In this book, Tara and Elizabeth realize that their friendship is changing a lot, because they are very different people. Elizabeth is calm and organized, and Tara is very outgoing. This book is made up of the emails that they sent to each other through out the year. Since Tara and Elizabeth tell each other everything, you can find out a lot about their lives just from these emails. In this year, both the girls have to deal with changes in their families. Tara gains a younger sister, and Elizabeth deals with a lost father. But through writing to each other, the friends help each other cope with these events.

I liked this book. It was nice to read something that you don’t have to think about much, but you still learn from. I give this book 3 stars.
--Elizabeth, Grade 9

The Chosen is a marvelous book that tells the story of two Jewish boys from different communities brought together in an accident that could have well been avoided. The Chosen involves two different cultures, two different boys, and two very different fathers. Throughout the book, you travel through different stages of the characters life, starting when they are young teen years, then coasting through to the time where they are graduating college. Will they both follow in their fathers footsteps as leaders of their synagogues, or will choose to do something different? Read this extremely well written book to find out.

I rate this book 5 stars because it shows you that real friendship will always prevail. It also screams to always listen to what people have to say, because it might just be what you were looking to hear.
--Casey, Grade 9

The book is about a girl named Robin. She finally gets her chance to be a lead in the school's ballet recital Beauty and the Beast. Her friend Thomas teases her about being too fat while walking home from school. Robin gets angry and swings her backpack around to hit him. Instead she loses control and hits the window of a fish store. The owner makes her work for him for 3 months to pay for it. Robin tells her grandmother about him. Her grandmother said the name sounds familiar so she takes Robin to a woman called Auntie Ruby. She says that Mr.Tsow was a famous dancer in China. His most famous dance was called Dragon King. So Robin and her grandmother solve the mystery and reveal the famous Dragon King.

This is a very good book and can be read by all ages. From a 1-4 star rating I would give it a 4 :)! I gave it a 4 because it was very realistic. While I was reading it I felt like I was in the book. Also reading Angelfish taught me about the Cultural Revoulution.
--Gunjan, Grade 6

Paperquake is about a young girl named Violet. She absolutely hates earthquakes. The fear really get in her way, considering that she lives on a fault line in San Francisco. Her family is renovating an old building, so they can use it as a florist's shop. Small quakes continually rattle the old building and the whole town. After each earthquake Violet finds letters dated 1906, written to a "Baby V", which she instantly thinks is connected to her. She soon finds that she must solve an almost ancient mystery.

I liked the book a lot because is was a historical mystery, and it was fun to read. I give the book 5 stars.
--Maggie, Grade 7

Another Way to Dance by Martha Southgate is about a fourteen-year-old girl named Vicki who loves ballet, and has been accepted into the summer program at the School of American Ballet in New York City. In the beginning of the book, Vicki has a hard time accepting reality. She’s in love with a famous ballet dancer who she’s never met before, and hates to believe that her parents got divorced. While staying in New York City with her aunt when she is in the ballet program, she runs into issues that she must accept. One of these issues is the racism around her, especially in the school. Only one other student at SAB is African American, and many of the other students judge Vicki and this student because of their race. This is the story of how Vicki finally realizes that in life, you can never fix anything by living in a pretend dream world.

I liked this book. It’s short and to the point, and displays a powerful message without telling every little detail.
--Elizabeth, Grade 9

Jewel is a story told from the point of view of a mother of six, Jewel, who loves her children more than anything, and has to deal with many sudden changes that turn her life around. In the beginning of the book, Jewel takes her youngest child, Brenda Kay, who is only a few months old, to the doctor because she senses something wrong with her health. The doctor tells Jewel and her husband, Leston, the heartbreaking news that Brenda Kay is mentally and physically retarded. The doctor told Jewel and Leston that he didn’t expect Brenda Kay to live beyond the age of two, to walk, or to talk. He recommended, for what he considered the best for Brenda Kay, to give her up to an institution.

Jewel realized at that moment that this baby was her test in the world, the one purpose why she was put on this earth. Jewel set a goal to overcome Brenda Kay’s health problems and find a way to give her the chance to be all she can be. This book explains all of the actions Jewel took for the best of Brenda Kay.

This book was sad sometimes, but it has important lessons in it, and makes the reader realize everything that they take for granted in life. I liked this book, and I thought that it was well written, but if you don’t like books where you have a lot to remember about the story, then I don’t recommend reading it.
--Elizabeth, Grade 9

Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul is a book full of stories written by teenagers about important lessons they learned in life. The stories are really touching and cover the topics of relationships, family, and everything else important to teenagers today. Some of my favorite stories are about teens who had a major setback in their life, but had the courage to not let their situation kill their dreams. One story like this one is about a high school basketball player who was in an accident that nearly burned him to death, and the doctors in the emergency room were convinced that if he didn’t have his legs amputated, he would live a life of pain, and would never walk again. This young boy refused to let the doctors cut off his legs, and was determined to play basketball again. He spent the next year in training, trying to grow back the muscles that had been burned off so he could follow his dreams. And when he was accepted back onto his basketball team, he shocked everyone by leading his team to victory.

I really liked this book. The stories inspired me to do my best in life, and none were corny. It was nice to know that all of the stories were true, and were written by teenagers just like me. The lessons displayed in this book are things that everyone should know about.
--Elizabeth, Grade 9

Tangerine by Edward Bloor is the story of a soccer player, Paul, who has had extremely blurry vision since he was five years old. He had always accepted the explanation of this from his parents: that he had stared into an eclipse at the age of five. But when Paul and his family move into Tangerine County, Paul starts to wonder what really happened to his vision. Paul’s new town is full of weird, unexpected events. For example, lightning strikes the same house more often than any other, and lightning strikes this town more often than any other. Just as Paul starts to wonder about his new town and his vision, he also starts to wonder about who his older brother, who everyone thinks of as a hero, really is. All of the book’s strange events are tied into one shocking discovery at the end.

I really liked this book. It was one of a kind, and the ending was very interesting. It was fun trying to piece together the mystery. I give this book 4 stars.
--Elizabeth, Grade 9

The Face on the Milk Carton By Caroline B. Cooney is a suspense book about a high-schooler named Janie who looks on a milk carton in school one day, and develops a theory that the three-year-old in the “Missing” ad is her. This one small discovery drives Janie crazy as she tries to uncover the truth, but also keeps her investigation a secret as to not hurt her parents. As Janie struggles to find who she is, she realizes how much she took for granted before she found that fateful milk carton. She starts to miss the life where she knew who she was, and for the most part, was happy. This book ends in a cliff-hanger, but for the most part, you do find out whether or not Janie was right.

I really liked this book. It was very suspenseful and I didn’t want to stop reading until I knew the ending.
--Elizabeth, Grade 9

Lismond has been chosen to go on a raid in Europe to help his village thrive. But seventeen-year-old Lismond knows nothing about fighting and being a warrior. There was a lot of fighting and Lismond and the other warriors travel to steal gold and sell it. But these villages are very poor so they continue to travel and fight. On the way he meets a European boy named Wiglaf who Lismond is supposed to guard. Lismond cares for Wiglaf, but he knows Wiglaf will die if he stays there to long. What does Lismond do?

I enjoyed this book because of its great detail. It throws quite a few characters at you in the beginning, but not to many. This book is a little gory, but describes life it the 7th century quite well.
--David, Grade 7

The Delany Sisters’ Book of Everyday Wisdom, by Sarah and Elizabeth (Sadie and Bessie) Delany, is a book of passages about simple lessons in life, written by two sisters who are ages 105 and 103. In this book, the Delany sisters tell short stories about mostly funny things that have happened to them in their life, and what they’ve learned from them. They even tell their secret as to how they’ve lived so long. As a bonus, this book is full of recipes that the sisters have grown to love over the years. The style of the book is very unique, and the stories are told truthfully. Some of my favorite passages are about when they compare life in the 1990’s with life in the 1890’s, and explain the traditions they’ve kept with them for over a hundred years, including making homemade soap (recipe included) and using it to wash your clothes, clean your dishes, and even brush your teeth!

I really enjoyed this book. It’s never boring, and every passage has new suprise. I give this book 3.5 stars.
--Elizabeth, Grade 9

Just Ella is the classic Cinderella fairy tale with a comical twist. You can see how much the story changed from the actual version. Prince Charming doesn't live up to his name and the fairy godmother never showed up. Ella is the perfect character; she's a funny, rebellious young girl who's just being herself.

I thought that along with all her other books, Just Ella was great and is fun to read. I give this book 5 stars.
--Maggie, Grade 7
Go back up to Jamie's review.

Artemis Fowl is a child genius who wants fairy gold and the only way to get it is to take a fairy hostage and then ask for ransom. But fairies are very tricky and they will stop at nothing to get back that hostage. But how far will Artemis go for gold?

This book was great and I really enjoyed it. I am glad that there is a series because, first of all, it needs a sequel and second, you just want more Artemis Fowl because its that good.
--David, Grade 7

It all begins when Rob the leader of the senior class decides to turn the class nerd, Simon Glass into a version of Mr. Popularity and Prince Charming. Rob and his buddies befriend the nerd, making all Rob’s peers’ wonder what is up his sleeve. Rob, Young, Coop, Bob (Rob’s buddies) transform Glass physically, but can they transform who he is on the inside? Along the way of changing Glass the buddies: discover the truth of Rob’s past; help Coop with his struggle to pass the ACT test, in order to get a football scholarship for college; and fight over the concept of girlfriends, who likes who, and who stole whose girlfriend. But in the end, a form of betrayal will bestow upon these boys leaving all of them locked up some how. Whether, put in jail, or haunted with guilt for the rest of their lives. What happens remains in their minds forever and this book will remain in yours forever as well.

I loved this book!!! It was definitely a page-turner for me. I liked it, because it related to the everyday lives of teenagers and how things can go too far. It was a little scary, because things that happened in the book occur everyday in my school, now I wonder if those circumstances will go too far to. At the end of each chapter you were left wondering what would happen next. Also, in the beginning of each chapter there was a quote from a character in the book. Every quote was reacting to what happens at the end of the book. The author set up the quotes, so that as you near the final chapters all the quotes you have read come together in order to give you an idea of what happens, within the last three pages. Trust me the ending is the biggest twist and surprise you could think of! Enjoy!
--Grace, Grade 9

The Grey King is the 4th book in the Dark is Rising series, so if you want to read this book I suggest that you read the other 3 books first. If you don't you're kind of clueless to what is happening some of the time. In this book Will Stanton youngest of the Old Ones, an immortal race whose only goal is to destroy the Dark, is sick and sent to Wales for recuperation. But also he must find the golden harp, one of the things of power, and use it rid the land of one of the Dark Lords, the Grey King. In this quest Will meets a boy named Bran and his dogs who help Will on his quest.

I really enjoyed this book because, first of all, I really enjoy the Dark is Rising series. Second, because the book is so well put together. And third, because it finally shows Will using his Old One power fully for the first time.
--David, Grade 7

Okay, it's winter. I know you have tons of homework to do, you have to shovel the driveway, chores have to be done, and you have to find time to shop for that cute new spring outfit. But I must say, make time to sit down with a cup of hot chocolate and read Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson. As soon as I read the back cover, I was immediately hooked, probably because I can relate to the main character, Kate Malone.

Kate Malone is one of those kids who is going somewhere - she dreams of going to MIT. She studies hard, takes tons of AP classes, runs for the track team, and loves her boyfriend, along with her family. Doesn't her life sound perfect?? She has her life organized like an AP Chemistry book, or so she thinks.

Kate has been waiting for days to hear from MIT. "When I walk into AP Chem, twenty-six sets of eyes follow me to my table. Twenty-six pairs whisper the same question. 'Are you in? Are you in? Are you in, Kate?'" She only applied to one school, and would be in for one of the biggest letdowns in her life. Meanwhile, while her worries about MIT continue, tragedy strikes. Her neighbor's house bursts into flames, causing her minister father to invite the family to move in with them for awhile. Of course, this enrages Kate because she is forced to live with her archenemy, Teri Litch and her annoying, but cute little brother. But what starts out as problematic, ends in surprising friendships.

Days after the Litch family moves in, Kate receives terrible news - rejected at MIT and she has no safety schools. She refuses to talk to anyone about this, for she is extremely disappointed. After she receives this bad news, more is on the way. Because Kate's father is a minister, he decided to help the Litch family build a new house. But during the construction, an unexpected and fatal accident takes place, an accident that changes Kate's life forever. You'll have to read the book and see what Kate decides to do with her life.

All in all, I'd have to rate this book three stars. I was intrigued in the beginning, because I loved to read about her dreams about college. But as the book continued, I thought it lagged in substance. However, I'd still recommend it because Anderson's writing style is superb - it will definitely make you laugh. I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from the book. "It's only quarter after one and there's no way I'm going to fall asleep, not with all this crap running through my head. Insomnia rocks, actually. You can get a lot done if you don't sleep . . . I wish this had happened last year. It would have given me more time to study for my AP exams."
--Jena, Grade 11

Josh Swenson is not at all like all the other seventeen year old boys in Boston Massachusetts. Unlike most teens he is not at all materialistic. In fact he only has seventy-five items in his possession, and that includes his clothing. Josh wants to make a contribution to the world but he doesn't know how, or if he can. Not until he does something that creates a LOT of commotion. So he donates to the world one sermon at a time. Read The Gospel According to Larry to find out what Josh does and how he helps the world become a better place.

I rate this book 5 stars because It is a GREAT book. I highly recommend it.

There is also a website called www.thegospelaccordingtolarry.com. It sends out the same message as the book. Check it out.
--Casey, Gr. 8

Silent to the Bone by E. L. Konigsburg is told by Connor, the best friend of Branwell. One day, Branwell’s baby sister, Nikki, had to go to the hospital because she hit her head. The injury was very serious, and could have killed Nikki.

Branwell is accused of hurting Nikki on purpose, but Connor knows that Branwell would never do that. But Branwell was struck dumb on the day of the accident and would not speak for anyone. Because of his inability to defend himself, Branwell was sent to a Juvenile Behavioral Center. Connor is the only person who finds a way to communicate with Branwell. So Connor has to investigate and prove that Branwell did not commit this crime.

I really liked this book. It was very exciting, and new characters were always being introduced. It was also fun to try to piece together all of the clues that Connor discovers on the road to helping Branwell. But just when you think you have everything figured out, Connor finds evidence to go against it.
--Elizabeth, Gr. 8

Stuck In Neutral is the story of a fourteen-year-old boy, Shawn McDaniel, who can not move a muscle voluntarily. But Shawn has a wonderful gift: Shawn can remember anything perfectly, from any point in his life, from age four and on. But because of Shawn’s condition, he can’t tell anyone about his abilities to think, understand, or remember. Everyone thinks (this has been ‘scientifically proven’) that he has a mental age of three or four and his IQ is 1.2.

Also, Shawn has seizures several times each day. Shawn likes his seizures, but Shawn’s father thinks that the seizures cause him pain. Shawn’s father thinks that Shawn’s life is constant pain.

Because Shawn’s father loves him, Shawn’s father may want to kill Shawn, to end his pain. But if you don’t like cliffhangers, don’t read this book; because at the end you have to come up with your own conclusion of what Shawn’s father decided to do.

I really liked the book Stuck In Neutral. You might think that a book like this would be really sad. Although it was really sad at some times, some parts were funny and some were even happy. This book was a really fast read; it only took me two days! Once you started reading, you did not want to stop, because the book had so much suspense.
--Elizabeth, Gr. 8

"Sometimes I just know things." Sometimes I just know when the phone will ring. Sometimes I just know when I'll be swamped with math homework. And sometimes I just know when I'll sink into a great book. What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones is one of the new books in the YA room. It is such a sweet novel that I strongly recommend, especially to the girl out there looking for Mr. Right. What My Mother Doesn't Know ,written in verse form, is about artistic Sophie and her relationships, including one with her mother. Sophie wants to figure out the difference between love and lust and in turn wishes to discover a love that requires her heart, mind, body, and soul. After dating her boyfriend Dylan for some time, she understands that something is missing. As a result, she calls it quits. However, once in awhile Sophie would take notice of Murphy - an unattractive boy in her art class, who her peers do not approve of. Unexpectedly, at a costume dance, Murphy, hidden by a mask, sweeps her off her feet in a slow, romantic dance. However, Sophie does not realize his true identity for some time.

As winter break approaches, Sophie decides to plan an in-town vacation in Boston while her best friends are away on their holidays. While in Boston, Sophie visits an art museum where Murphy meets up with her. If it wasn't for this meeting in front of a beautiful Renoir painting, Sophie may have never learned the difference between love and lust. As their friendship blooms into a wonderful relationship, and as winter break ends, she is not sure what to do. How will Sophie's friends react when they find out she is dating Murphy? Later, when her mother appears at Sophie's door and asks what is wrong, she tells her mother everything. It helps Sophie to know that her mom is truly listening. In the end, however, Sophie knows that ". . . everything's going to be all right. Sometimes I just know things."

I would rate this book with four stars. It is funny, cute, and one that many girls are sure to enjoy!!
--Jena, Gr. 11

Attention Teens: Do you need a good book to read over summer vacation? One that you can crash on the beach with on a hot summer day? Boy, do I have the book for you! RAZZLE by Ellen Wittlinger is an awesome summer read. The first sentence alone will have you hooked. "Looking back, I'd have to say my life was one long snooze until the day I met Razzle Penney at the Truro Dump."

The novel tells of Kenyon Baker, who moves to Cape Cod with his parents in order to run a summer cottage colony. On one of his first days at the Cape, he meets up with Razzle Penney, a unique and mysterious girl with her own set of problems. Her exotic personality intrigues Kenyon. They soon spend alot of time together. They journey to the Flea Market and Kenyon snaps wonderful photos of Razzle, photos that he feels really capture her sense of spirit.

Later, boy crazy Harley moves into the picture with her eyes on Kenyon. They become a couple later in the novel, but not for the right reasons. Kenyon soon takes his friendship with Razzle for granted and lets her down at the Truro Art Show and Dance.

Nearing the end of the novel, the reader discovers the answer to one of Razzle's family problems and the reader is also in for a surprise ending involving Kenyon! I would rate this book with four stars and remember to pack it in your Old Navy Beach Bag!!
--Jena, Gr. 11

You'll feel sorry when you finish this book! A few weeks ago a librarian recommended a book for me to read – Feeling Sorry for Celia. She couldn’t have picked a better choice! When I first took a look at it, I admit, I rolled my eyes when I discovered that the entire book was written in the form of letters, messages, and postcards. I thought how could a novel have any substance if it is not conveyed in normal form. Boy, was I wrong!

Jaclyn Moriarty, author of Feeling Sorry for Celia, brings her characters to life through her writing. The book is about Elizabeth Clarry - an athletic, caring teenager whose best friend, Celia keeps disappearing. Elizabeth’s relationship with her mother is displayed through funny messages left on the refrigerator and her father, after being away for a long while, finally returns to the scene. Also, Elizabeth’s English teacher assigns her class pen pals to “rekindle the Joy of the Envelope.” She ends up with a wonderful pen pal named Christina. Christina and Elizabeth share their laughs, their loves, their advice, and everything else that is going on in their lives. Through Elizabeth’s and her friends’ adventures, the reader really gets to know these characters.

When I was finished with this book, I rated it five stars because I felt like I actually knew these people. Feeling Sorry for Celia is an awesome book you can sink your teeth into and one that is impossible to put down! Kudos to Jaclyn Moriarty’s first novel – Well done!!
--Jena, Gr. 10

The Mediator, Shadowland by Jenny Carroll is an outstanding book. It is about a girl, Susannah Simon, who recently moved to California from New York, because her mother was recently remarried. Susannah is a normal teenage girl except for one thing, she can see ghosts. Ever since she was a young girl she has been able to see ghosts and she is a mediator. This means that she helps ghosts go to wherever it is they're supposed to go once they die. When Susannah moves into her new room she encounters a ghost whose name is Jessie. Jessie died in the house many years ago and he sort of looks out for Susannah throughout the book. At Susannah's new school, she is assigned the locker of a girl, Heather, who recently commited suicide because of a breakup with her boyfriend. Susannah can see Heather since she's a mediator and she has to help Heather reach the 'other side'. But Heather insists she kills her ex-boyfriend. Susannah can't let this happen so she has to figure out a way to get rid of Heather. What does Susannah end up doing? Read Shadowland by Jenny Carroll to find out.

I rate this book 5 stars. It was an excellent book and extremely suspenseful. It was almost impossible to put this book down. If you are interested in reading about ghosts then I suggest you read this incredible book.
--Brittany, Gr. 10

If you are into scary things like vampires, then this is the perfect book for you. It is about a young boy, Darren Shan, who is into freaky things like spiders and freak shows. One night, Darren and his best friend Steve decide to sneak out and go see a freak show. Little did they know this would change the rest of their lives. The day after the show, Darren insisted on going back and stealing an incredible spider that was in the show. This was the biggest mistake in his life because just one bite from this spider could instantly paralyze the victim. Aside from Darren having to worry about the spider biting someone, he has to worry about being caught by the owner of the spider, because the owner is after him. The spider causes Darren a lot more trouble then he expected and now he has to pay the price. To find out what happens to Darren, read Cirque Du Freak by Darren Shan.

I would rate this book 2 stars, mainly because I don't espcially enjoy reading about vampires. Also, the events that occur in this story are extremely unrealistic and it was hard to continue reading the book because it was very predictable what would happen next. If you are intrested in vampires and freaky things, then this book would most likely be more intresting to you and would probably choose to give it a higher rating.
--Brittany, Gr. 10

The book Locked Inside tells you the story of Marnie, a 16-year-old girl, who attends a private school. Marnie's mom is a former gospel singer who passes away when Marnie was only 10 years old. Marnie doesn't remember much about her mom and wants to learn more about her. Marnie's legal guardian never really talks about Marnie's mom and won't answer any questions about her. Then one day Marnie's chemistry teacher, Mrs. Slaight, claims that she knows something about Marnie's mom. what is the secret that Mrs. Slaight knows? What has Marnie's legal guardian been keeping from her?

Locked Inside is a well written mystery that will keep you reading on and on. This is an excellent book for anyone who enjoys mysteries. It was constantly suspenseful and hard to stop reading.
--Brittany, Grade 9

STICK FIGURE by Lori Gottlieb (YA 616.85 GOTTLIEB)

In Stick Figure Lori Gottlieb tells the story of herself as an eleven-year-old in 1978. As a precocious child, she noticed all the pressure put on girls to be skinny. Responding to this, she decides not to eat for a while. What started as a skipped meal here and there turned into full-blown anorexia. Slowly, she comes to the realization that being skinny is not everything.

Extremely funny and perceptive, Stick Figure is for everyone who wants an entertaining read that will make you think at the same time.
--Cecily, Grade 10

Shadow People is a story about a high school student who recently moved from New York City to a rural town in New Jersey. Gabriel gets involved with a group of rebels known as the "Lords of Destruction". While dealing with his brother's murder, he deals with the guilt and pressures that go along with belong to a gang. Throughout the book, Gabriel struggles to ignor the shadow people that haunt him. Will he become a shadow person?

When I started reading Shadow People, I couldn't put it down. About two-thirds of the way through, it got really boring and tedious. The ending is a let-down also.
--Cait, Grade 10