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

Little Women is about 4 sisters and the progress they mak in their lives from adolescents to womanhood. Each of these sisters have unique personalitys. The youngest girl Amy March is an artistic and aristocratic girl who desperatly wants here nose to be straighter. Next is Beth who is a very calm and gentle girl who takes comfort in staying home and playing the piano. Jo is the tomboy in the family she's wild and carefree with a passion for writing. Meg is the oldest she longs for pretty things and being rich. All in all as Jo would say, "the sisters are a jolly group."

I would give this book a 4 star rating. You will laugh and cry with the four sisters as they go through their little trials in life.
--Priyanka, Grade 8

Jip is a boy who fell off a wagon at a young age and no one found him for a long time. Then they took him to the local poor farm were all the outcasts go. Jip grew up this way and met many friends, but when Put, the farms lunatic, and the Wilkens' come to the poor farm then Jip meets more friends and tries even harder to find out his past. When he goes to school he feels as though he has to find out about his past. Some people try to aid him like the man who keeps trying to talk to him, but does he really want to help or is he doing something else.

I enjoyed this book and it's ability to make you never want to put it down. In my opinion, though, Jip loses to many friends along the way.
--David, Grade 7

Zoe and Zoe Louise are best friends, living in both the past and present. While Zoe's grandma can't see Zoe Louise, Zoe Louise's family can't see Zoe. Zoe finds out that a little girl dies a few days ahead. Zoe has to figure out the mystery of the past, to save the present.

I liked the book a lot. I thought it was cool to read about 2 different time periods. I give this book 4 stars.
--Maggie, Grade 7

The book Following Fake Man was very interesting. It was about Homer Winthrop, a natural drawer, who has no idea what happened in his past and what happened with his father. He, his mother and his mothers assistant, Madeline, travel to Maine. Homer's mother (normally referred to Dr. Winthrop) has never explained anything about his father, and often ignores Homer's questions. Homer realizes he is where is father used to live, in the house his father lived in, maybe even standing in the same places he did. Upon meeting a new, lively and exciting friend, Roger, Homer vows to find out things about his past, his dad, and this new 'Fake Man' that Roger suspects is hiding something. Roger has been pestering this supposedly old man, thinking he is hiding his youth by wearing a wig and make-up, but doesn't know why. Roger and Homer go on an adventure..........they get in some trouble........but they also get some answers.
--Maggie, Grade 7

Among the Barons is the 4th book in the Shadow Children series. In Among the Barons Luke continues his journey at Hendricks school and beyond. He meets Lee's younger brother, Smithfeild, and Smits body guard, Oscar. Luke also meets the parents of the grant family. They seem to have more interest in him then Smithfeild and Luke wonders. Smits really seems to miss Lee and unfortunitly for the Grant mentions his mysterious death while skiing. In this story Luke finnallly gets away from Hendricks, though not to his likings.

I thought that Among the Barons wasn't quite as intriging and suspenceful as the other 3 books in the series, but was still worth reading. The seting changed away from Hendricks which seems like a nice change.
--Maggie, Grade 7

My book was called Catherine, Called Birdy. It is by Karen Cushman and has 205 pages. It's a diary written by a girl named Catherine, who lives in England in the time when marriages were arranged by the parents. In this small book (diary) Catherine has 100's of adventures! Her father, Lord Rollo, is forcing her to marry - not just anyone though, someone RICH . All of the rich men Catherine meet do not want to marry her though, because she always finds a way to disgust them. Until... Shaggy Beard (thats what Catherine calls him). He is determined to marry her! She has tried putting mouse bones in her hair, and dust on her teeth, but it doesn't work. Will Catherine have to marry this awful pig? Read the book and find out!

I thought this book was extremely funny and gross in some parts and sad in many others. I give this book 5 stars.
--Lauren, Grade 6

This book is one of the books of the Redwall series and it takes places a long time before Matthias finds the sword of Martin the Warrior in the book Redwall. Storm Gullwhacker finds herself washed up in the beach of a place unknown to her and with her weapon, the Gullwhacker, she sets out to find Redwall Abbey. Once at Redwall she remembers about Gabool the Wild and sets out to avenge her father. But Gabool the Wild is having trouble keeping his crews loyal to him and soon find his right-hand rat, Greypatch has betrayed him.

This book is pretty boring the first 1/2 and if your not a very patient reader I advise you not to read this book.
--David, Grade 7

Because of Anya is a book about a girl who suffers from a disease called alopecia areata. Alopecia areata usually starts out as circular spots on the scalp where the hair has fallen out or stopped growing. Sometimes the hair grows back, sometimes all the rest of the hair on the body falls out also. When this happens to Anya, she is horrified of what her classmates will say at school, so after rejecting other solutions decides to get a wig full of synthetic hair. At school the first day or two run normally, but she fears the day when she is to attend physical education especially because their new unit is gymnastics. Meanwhile, Stef has noticed the wig Anya was wearing and tells her group of friends, Keely, Tory and Nicole. Stef, leader of the pack, decides they should do something nice for Anya, but doesn't know what they should do. Stef also dares Keely to go over and talk to Anya and to pull her wig to see if it falls off. Keely talks to Anya but doesn't even attempt at pulling off the wig. Stef is angry at her and asks Tory and Nicole to perform the task but they both decline. The day of gym class has arrived and Anya is terribly worried. With triumph, she completes cartwheels and other moves but the somersaults are next. As she is tumbling her wig gets snatched on some Velcro on the mat and as soon as she realizes she is mortified and runs out of the gym. She runs home and then refuses to return to school. Keely's classroom teacher tells the class about alopecia areata and Keely feels the need to help Anya. She eventually does find a way to help her and does so by cutting off her own long brown hair to make a wig for Anya.

I thought Because of Anya was touching . I also now know a lot more about alopecia areata and the millions suffereing from it. Maragret Peterson Haddix created life-like characters and put them in a very realistic school setting.
--Maggie, Grade 7

Mattimeo is one of the books in the Redwall series. Mattimeo is the sequel to Redwall the book. In this book Mattimeo, son of Matthias who is Warrior of Redwall, is captured by Slagar the Sly One and Mattimeo and his friends are put in to a slave line and taken to an unknown destination. Meanwhile, Matthias, Jess Squirrel, and Basil Stag Hare meet up with a large assortment of friends and foes who can help save and return the young ones to Redwall.

I really enjoyed this book and I just love the series. The beginning was a little slow, like all the other Redwall books, but as you get into them they become much better.
--David, Grade 7

O.K., Harry Potter is going into his 5th year at Hogwarts, after Cedric Diggory's death in his 4th year, and Harry must return to number 4 Privet Drive. Harry has been waiting for something to happen and has been listening to the "Muggle" news without his uncle and aunt knowing. Nothing has been reported that has to do with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named after his recent uprising during the Triwizard Tourament. He also has had little or no communication with the wizarding world except for "stay out of trouble" and "keep your nose clean".

Harry begins to wonder whether people care about him anymore, but then Harry is rescued from Privet Drive and is whisked away into the wizarding world once again.

I really enjoyed this book because I really enjoy the Harry Potter series and because of the greatly detailed storyline that makes the Harry Potter books even more enjoyable.
--David, Grade 7

The first book I read was called The Great Good Thing, by Roderick Townley. It is a book about a 12 year old princess named Sylvie who is a character in a book. She is very bored with her life. She likes the book she's in an all, but the entire kingdom has to do the same things over and over, plus, no one ever reads her book. Someone once read the book, but that was a long time ago. Soon everything changes though. A new reader comes and Sylvie soon finds out that she has the ability to go into her dreams. Chaos happens soon enough when the girl's brother tries to burn the pages of the book to make it look old. Now Sylvie and her kingdom must embark on a perilous journey for their own safety. I liked this book very much because it was very exciting and nerve wracking. I would give this book a perfect 5 stars!
--Lauren, Grade 6

Twisted Summer is a story told by a fourteen year old girl named Cici. Every summer, Cici’s family went to Crystal lake on vacation, and knew everyone at the lake, sort of like an extended family. Every summer, Cici would look forward to going to the lake and meeting her friends again.

One summer, Cici’s family skipped their annual trip to Crystal lake. And when they came back the next summer, it seemed like everything had changed. Cici is shocked when her cousin, Ginny tells her that Cici’s friend, Jack’s brother, Brody, was arrested last summer for murdering a girl that Cici had always envied. Jack and Cici are sure that Brody couldn’t have killed Zoe (the murdered girl). So that summer, Cici tries to piece together the clues of who killed Zoe. At first it seems like there are no suspects, that no one in Cici’s “extended family” could have commited this crime. But later on, it seems like any one, even someone from Cici’s real family, whom Cici loves, could have killed Zoe.

I liked this book. It was fun to try to piece together all of the clues in the mystery. It was hard to put the book down, because you always want to try to find more clues.
--Elizabeth, Gr. 8

Falling From Grace is the story of a thirteen-year-old girl, Cassie, from a small town in Arkansas. This book tells the story of the year she turns thirteen, and how her small town changes.

First, Cassie’s older sister runs away from home after her boy friend died. Cassie’s parents do not forgive Cassie’s sister right away. Then, Cassie’s older brother gets married, and the only children left at her home are Cassie and her fourteen-year-old brother, Jake, who doesn’t always get along with Cassie. Also, Cassie befriends a foreign boy, who is not welcomed much by the people in her town. But Cassie learns a lot from this boy, who forgives the townspeople and helps them, although they do not help him.

I really liked this book. It has a good moral, and the setting is interesting, because it is in the 1920’s in a small town in the south. And the characters all have defining characteristics.
--Elizabeth, 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

This is an amazing book. The main character, Wise Child, was abondoned by both her parents at a young age. She lives with Junpier, a sorceress from whom she learns to read and herbal lore. When her mother, Maeve the 'black witch', reappers she must chose between luxury and ease with her mum or stay and become a 'doran'.
--Katie, 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

Mummy by Caroline B. Cooney tells the story of a theft of a mummy from a city museum. The main character, Emlyn, seemed to be ‘perfect’ to everyone. She had straight A’s, was a great athlete, and always followed rules. But no one knew that Emlyn had always had a secret desire to commit a crime. One day in October, four of Emlyn’s classmates ask Emlyn to help them steal a mummy, and hang it from a tower for a mischief night prank. It was a senior tradition at Emlyn’s school.

Emlyn sees this offer as a perfect oppurtunity and steals the mummy. But when Emlyn’s classmates realize there is gold inside the mummy, they decide to destroy the mummy to keep the gold for themselves. They Emlyn sort of started to become a good person again, like when the Grinch brought all the toys back to the Whos. She realized the integrity of the mummy, and started to almost befriend the mummy, as if she had known her when she was alive three thousand years ago. Emlyn realized that because she had stole the mummy, she had to rescue it from being destroyed.

I liked this book. I really like books by Caroline B. Cooney because they all have the genre of 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

P.S. Longer Letter Later is the story of two twelve-year-old girls, Tara*Starr and Elizabeth, who are best friends. They are very different. Tara*Starr loves to be the center of attention, and is very outgoing. Elizabeth is very shy and cautious.

When Tara*Starr moves away, neither of the girls are allowed to call each other on the telephone, so the girls must write letters to each other. P.S. Longer Letter Later is a book made up of all of the girls’ letters.

When Elizabeth’s father gets fired, things quickly change for Elizabeth. While for Tara, her parents are just starting to actually act responsible, and things quickly change for Tara, although she doesn’t always see them as changes for the better. Through their letters, Tara and Elizabeth help each other cope with each other’s hard times.

I really liked this book. Everything was in order, so it made sense and was not confusing. Also, it was interesting to see two different points of view: Tara’s and Elizabeth’s.
--Elizabeth, Gr. 8

Jacob Have I Loved is the story of a thirteen-year-old girl named Louise Bradshaw living on a small Island named Rass Island. This book is the story of her life from the ages of thirteen through about twenty-five.

Louise has a twin sister, Caroline, who is loved by almost everyone on the island. Louise is very jealous of Caroline, and considers her to be very selfish. Caroline steals Louise’s friends, attention, schooling, etc. Jacob Have I Loved tells the story of how Louise copes with this, and how eventually, Louise and Caroline go their separate ways.

I really liked this book. The only thing I didn’t like was that a lot of the characters died, and the events were not spaced out, so there were about ten important events in each chapter, which made it more difficult to keep track of the plot of the story.
--Elizabeth, Gr. 8

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

*Please note that, unlike most books on this page, this book is an autobiography found in the Adult section.

If you are into stories about people's lives in faraway or hazardous places, then this is a good book for you. It is about a girl named Latifa who spent most of her teen years struggling to survive in downtrodden Afghanistan. In 1997, when Latifa was sixteen, Taliban extremists take over Kabul, Afghanistan and overthrow the former good, modern king Mohammed Zahir Shah. They shut down all the international radio stations and television shows so that the only station that's left is Radio Sharia; where followers of the Taliban chant religious hymns. They make strict laws, such as the ones that forbid women to wear anything bright colored or revealing. The only apparel an Islamic women can wear outside is a burkha, a veil covering everything from head to toe. The only exception is that they force non-Islamic people to wear yellow clothes or a piece of yellow cloth with their apparel, so that the Taliban cannot mistake them for Muslims. Latifa and her sister have to spend day after day struggling to keep from getting bored and smuggling in whipped, beaten or raped women who were paralyzed by the Taliban; so that their mom can fix them. Latifa and her friends as well as family have to survive the rough times. Some extraordinary and surprising events happen during the course of this book, but you will have to read the book to find out about that.

I give this book 4 stars because I thought it was interesting to read one girl's thoughts about the new government of her country and how she feels about everything around her. If you are looking for a book to read to spicen up those boring summer nights, then this suspensful book is the perfect read.
--Harini, Gr. 7

*Please note that, unlike most books on this page, this novel comes from the fiction section in the adult area.*

While searching for college websites on the Internet, I discovered that certain schools create a booklist depicting the campus bestsellers. This was quite intriguing and as a result, I stumbled across a wonderful novel, The Passion of Artemisia, by Susan Vreeland. Narrated in the knowing first person voice, Artemisia Gentileschi tells of her life, her loves, her passions, and most importantly her struggle as a woman painter, seeking commission through her work. Set in the backdrop of Renaissance Italy, this historical fiction novel comes to life with Vreeland's descriptions and narrations. "In the afternoon two days later, the clouds broke apart and sunlight brushed with a light sienna the stone arches and crenellations of Porta Romana, the southern entrance to the city of Florence. Ochre buildings with red tiled roofs and shutters the color of cinnamon or basil lined the road."

Following a traumatic and life-altering experience that leaves her bitter towards her father, Artemisia accepts an arranged marriage at the age of eighteen. She marries a painter from Florence, Pietro Stiattesi and leaves Rome, her father, and her past behind. At first the marriage seems to lack love, but it is strengthened by the birth of their daughter, Palmira. It does not last though. Pietro and Artemisia are both struggling artists, and when Artemisia succeeds, the tension between them mounts. Artemisia refuses to be only a common housewife, when she has a love, a passion for art and painting. Her perseverance and determination bring her acceptance (as the first woman) into The Accademia del Arte Disegno - a difficult goal for which Pietro has been struggling. As the novel continues on, Artemisia learns of Pietro's lovers, causing her to leave him and establish a life on her own as a single mother and painter.

Artemisia's life choices bring her acquaintances such as Cosmio de Medici II, Galileo, and Michelangelo's nephew. Artemisia learns something new and inspirational from each and every one of them. She carries their knowledge with her throughout her life.

The story comes full circle when she returns to her father near his death. Ultimately she learns the strength and power of forgiveness. Even with many barriers in her path, Artemisia manages to maneuver around them. Her determination and artwork are still greatly admired and appreciated today all over the world. The Passion of Artemisia explores the importance of determination and perseverance, in the hope that hard work, surrounded by obstacles, will eventually pay off, even if it is only 400 years later.
--Jena, Gr. 10

Reunion, the third book in The Mediator series by Jenny Carroll, is an outstanding book. Like the first two, Shadowland and Ninth Key, Reunion keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Gina, Suze's best friend, has come to California to visit. Little does she know, her visit to Suze won't be as she expected. This is because Suze has 4 ghosts who she needs to help get to the "other side". With Gina in town, Suze isn't in the mood for mediating, but she has to do it to save someones life. In school, Suze becomes aquainted with Michael Meducci, who was involved in a car accident that killed 4 people. These four ghosts now want to kill Michael for what he did, only this will allow them to happily move on to the "other side". Because Suze is a mediator, she needs to help them and to do this, she needs some help from Gina. The only problem is, Gina wants an explanation from Suze of whats going on, and she wants the truth. Suze has no choice but to explain to Gina that she is a mediator. But now Suze has another problem. Because she has been saving Michaels life from the ghosts, he thinks Suze likes him. Read Reunion by Jenny Carroll to find out if Suze is successful in sending the four ghosts to the "other side" and if she can get Michael to understand without hurting him, that she doesn't like him.

I rate Reunion 5 stars. It was suspensful just like the first 2 books in the series and it has an extremely unexpected ending.
--Brittany, Gr. 10

Darkest Hour by Jenny Carroll is the fourth book in The Mediator series. I would rate Darkest Hour 5 stars because the ending has a very suprising twist. It is similar to the first 3 books in the series and is very exciting.

It's summer time now and Suze is 16. She wants to spend the summer at the beach with friends but her stepdad, Andy, has a different idea. He expects Suze (as well as her stepbrother Sleepy) to get a summer job. Suze isn't thrilled about this but she ends up getting a job as a babysitter in a hotel where her stepbrother works. It turns out that the kid Suze is babysitting for is also a mediator, and Suze needs to help him understand what being a mediator means. Meanwhile back at home, Andy and Dopey (Suze's other stepbrother) are digging a hole in he backyard so they can install a hot tub. But there's a problem. Jesse (the ghost who lives in Suze's room) has an old girlfriend, Maria De Silva. Maria doesn't want Andy and Dopey digging in the backyard because buried in the yard is Jesse's body, which Maria murdered over one hundered years ago. When the ghost of Maria shows up in Suzes room one night, it threatens to kill her if she doesn't stop her stepdad and stepbrother from digging. Suze of course, being the brave person that she is, is not frightened by Maria. So Suze doesn't stop Andy and Dopey from digging, and that causes a major problem. Read Darkest Hour by Jenny Carroll to find out what Maria does to Suze and Jesse because they didn't listen to her.
--Brittany, Gr. 10

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

In Ninth Key, the second book in the Mediator series by Jenny Carroll,Susannah Simon encounters another ghost that she needs to help. The ghost appears to Susannah in the middle of the night and screams at her that she needs to tell Red that he didn't kill her. Then the ghost disappears without telling Susannah who she or Red is. So with the help of some friends, Susannah attempts to find out who Red is. It turns out that Red is the nickname for Mr. Beaumont, who is a very successful businessman and the father of a boy, Tad, who attends their school. Knowing this, Susannah goes to Mr. Beaumont's house to give him the message from the mysterious lady. But there's a problem, Mr. Beaumont wants to know more about this ghost, like who it was that appeared to Susannah and how she communicates with ghosts. Susannah begins to get creeped out by this man and tries to leave, but there's no way out go the room. Eventually, someone comes into the room and saves Susannah, but now the man is after her and she finds out shocking information about him. He could possibly be a murderer. Does Mr. Beaumont kill Susannah? Read the Ninth Key by Jenny Carroll to find out.

I rate this book 5 stars. It was very suspenseful and had an extremely unexpected ending. If you enjoy reading about ghosts and paranormal things, then you should read The Ninth Key by Jenny Carroll.
--Brittany, 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

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli is an outstanding book about Stargirl who is a nonconformist. This means that she doesn't act or dress like anyone else in her school. At first, Stargirl has a hard time making friends and being accepted by others. But after about a week of being in school, the students start to accept her differences and begin to dress and act like her. Soon Stargirl becomes a cheerleader. During the basketball and football games, Stargirl cheers for the other teams. This upsets the students at school and eventually all her friends betray her and no one will talk to her except for a boy named Leo, who falls in love with her. When the kids at school find out that Leo and Stargirl are in love, they won't talk to Leo either. Leo has to make a decision on weather he should love Stargirl for who she is or change her so she is more like the other kids. At first Stargirl begins to dress and act like everyone else, then the unthinkable happens. Does she become accepted? Does she change back to the way she used to be? Does she remain with Leo? Read this excellent book Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli to find out.
--Brittany, Grade 9

The Book Izzy Willy Nilly is a heart warming story about a young girl who is involved in a terrible car crash. Izzy or Isobel is a freshmen who is popular has lots of friends and gets lots of attraction from boys. When a senior named Marco asks her to go to a party before a football game she agrees. Her parents are at first very reluctant to let her go but finally let her go with a curfew. At the party Marco gets drunk. He refuses to let another senior drive her (Izzy) home. While on the road the orange beetle moves from side to side of the paved road and Izzy knows she has made a big mistake. While driving Izzy sees something, big a tree. Izzy is found after the car crash and rushed to the hospital to find out that her legs are badly broken. One with a 25% chance of amputation. Izzy was the unlucky 25%. Her leg was amputated. After this her friend Suzy starts to act very weird around Izzy. She rarely visits and always has and attitude then she met a new friend. Rosamunde. Just the opposite of Izzy, Rosamunde was built strong with broad shoulders, a bonny nose, and her only good features were her gray and blue eyes. Rosamunde and Izzy start to become good friends at the hospital, they talk, laugh and tease each other but grow close. When it is time to go home Izzy is mortified. Her younger sister Francie acts very meanly to her thinking Izzy cannot do anything about it. After months of PT Physical Therapy) Izzy gets a prosthetic leg and is finally happy, she also learns to except what had happened to her. You can find Izzy Willy Nilly in the young adult section of the Wells Turner Memorial Library.
--Casey, Grade 7

Although I can never resist a mystery, this book had to be one of the lowest numbers on my list. The beginning gave a brief introduction of the characters and then immediately jumped to a police investigation of a shooting and leaving the main character confused by why she is involved with the victim and determined to find out why before the police. The next couple chapters go downhill from there, the long slow story afternoons with little clues contrasting greatly with the shocking and action-packed first chapter. I also didn't think that the author did a very good job trying to lead the reader away from the real killer-want-to-be. In fact, I figured the entire mystery shooter out before halfway through the book. If your a mellow mystery reader and like easy cases, read this book, but for me, it was basically a waste of time.
--Carolyn, Grade 9

This has got to be one of the greatest books I've ever read. The start of the book starts out innocent enough when many but not all of the characters are introduced and a short backround and thoughts about them are given. As the story progresses, a murder takes place where the murderer is seen by the main character and for fear of her life, moves to the Wittness Protection Program under a new identity. I really like how Clark changes views throughtout the book from one character to another, making everyone more suspicious as you find out more of their thoughts and clues from other people. This mystery was very difficult to piece together, especially because the author told you exactly who the murderer was but you had to figure out who was instructing the murders. The smallest clues gave way to an even smaller group of suspects, and eventually each were narrowed down, leaving me on the edge of my seat until the very last page.
--Carolyn, Grade 9

The book Mother, Help Me Live tells the story about a girl named Sarah who has lived with her mom, dad, brother Richie, and sister Tina for her whole life and when her leukemia starts to get worse and she has to go to a hospital in Tennessee to have tests. When the doctor gives news that without a bone marrow match Sarah won't make it. When Sarah arrives home, her parents tell her that she is adopted and Tina and Richie aren't her real brother and sister. Sarah tells them that the only person who could possibly be a match for her bone marrow, would be her REAL MOTHER. She starts a search to find her and her birth mother is speechless as she opens her front door to strangers!!!

This story was well-written and extremely exciting how hard Sarah tried to find her birth mother. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories, where the main character has to fight for their life!
--Kelly, Grade 9

Who Put That Hair in My Toothbrush? is a comical book written by Jerry Spinelli. It is about a brother and sister who are nothing alike. Greg is neat, well organized and Megins is well.... not. The one thing they both love is hockey. As Megin enters seventh grade and Greg enters ninth grade they split up even more. A newly made friend of Megins who lives in a nursing home dies. Megin believes it is her fault for she snuck her buddy French cruller donuts. Also a "new" girl from California moves to town. Greg had worked out all summer just to impress a girl he liked. she move unexpectedly. Greg is heart broken until he meets another girl named Sarah. Will Greg ask out Sarah? Will Megin be friends with the "new" girl? Will these two ever get along?! To find out read Who Put That Hair in My Toothbrush?

I rate this book 5 stars because it is a very funny yet truthful book about relationships between siblings.
--Casey, Grade 7

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

Murphy's Boy tells the story of a young teen boy named Kevin. Kevin suddenly becomes non-verbal at the age of seven. Torey Hayden, a determined therapist, was hired to work intensely with Kevin. When Torey entered his padded room she knew she had a challenge in front of her. Kevin was rocking under the table. He was silent even when he cried or was frustrated. Kevin made no sounds what so ever. Torey read to him out loud and asked him to read to her. His mouth would open but there was silence. Tears rolled down from Kevin's eyes often. After months of hard work and dedication by his therapist Kevin starts to talk. Something inside of Kevin finally snaps and he tells the horrid truth of his childhood. His step-father had molested his sisters and even committed murder. Read Murphy's Boy to find out what happens. (Some mature and difficut issues discussed. Might be upsetting to some readers)
--Casey, Grade 7