Goosebumps: Welcome to Dead House

Goosebumps: Welcome to Dead House
by R.L. Stine

Josh and Amanda's dad just bought a really old house in Dark Falls. After they get there, Josh and Amanda see no one outside. Josh stays in the car with the dog. Amanda finds her room, but she starts to hear weird noises.

One day, Josh and Amanda's parents go to a party, but after a few hours, they never came back. Josh, Amanda, and their real estate agent went to a cemetery to look for them, and Josh ran into a gravestone with the real estate agent's name on it.

This is a great mystery story to read, because Josh and Amanda's parents seem to be kidnapped by a ghost. Did the whole town once live in the same old house? Everything is spooky in "Welcome to Dead House".

-C. Smith

Goosebumps: Welcome to Horrorland

Goosebumps: Welcome to Horrorland
by R.L. Stine

When the Morris family are going on a trip to the zoo gardens, the car breaks down. They had to walk to find a phone. On the way, the Morris family finds an amusement park called Horrorland. A monster comes up out of nowhere and tells them that there are no phones in Horrorland. The Morris family buy four tickets to Horrorland, and they see another monster holding a head. The head says, "stay away from the guillotine ride, it has sharp turns." The Morris family realize that Horrorland has no lines, no crowds, and heart stopping rides...but something is wrong.

I like this book because it has adventure in it. "Horrorland" is a 10 out of 10 because you will like it if you give it a chance. R.L. Stine should write more books involving Horrorland!

-C. Smith

The Tale of Despereaux

The Tale of Despereaux
by Kate DiCamillo

Despereaux is a little mouse who has very big dreams. He is not like the rest of the mice. He says he wants to be a knight in shining armor and to save the awaiting princess. In this case, the princess is a real human, and his family doesn't like that. Since he is such a disgrace, he decides to do something horrible (I'm not going to tell you what).

Every story has a villain, and in this one it's a rat who is just like Despereaux, but evil. He wants to prove to the other rats that he can be tough too, so he finds this girl who is nearly dead and was sold by her father to an evil farmer. Since she wants to be a princess so bad, the rat has an offer. If you want to know the rest, you'll have to read!

-R. Gorrin

Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul: II

Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul
Volume two
By: Jack Canfield,
Mark Victor Hansen,
Kimberly Kirberger.

To me, there has never been a book so real. Chicken Soup is truly the antidote for any girl’s issue. This book publishes the real life testimonies of girls and even guys all over the world. It will make you laugh, and make you cry, but nevertheless you will get something out of this book. It includes stories of love, hardships, losing people close to you, your self image, and everything in between those four. Chicken soup is a must read and will be sure to lift your spirit. If you read it and end up falling in love, there are always opportunities to write the authors. Who knows, your story may end up in the next Chicken Soup.

-J. McVerry

Into the Mist

Into the Mist
by Patrick Carmen

The book is about two boys that want to escape an orphanage that's like a prison. They head to a city that they think the orphanage owner won't find them. They meet this person that has a way to a magical realm. The boys want to find a tower that will lead them to their father.

I think that this is a good book because it's got an interesting story line and amazing places. "Into the Mists" is a perfect book if there's nothing to read or do.

-C. McCoy

Blood is Thicker

Blood is Thicker
by Paul Langan

Hakeem and his family go to stay with his aunt, uncle, and younger cousin. They live in Detroit, Hakeem was coming from California . But when Hakeem and Savon (his cousin) were little they were the best of friends until Hakeem moved away. So Hakeem notices when he gets there that Savon was acting like he was against him. He was taunting him calling him “Cali Boy”. He was wondering why he was acting this way. Then he notices that Savon had all this jewelry and money and all these cd’s. Hakeem is under a lot of pressure right now plus his dad is sick with cancer. And he is thinking about telling his aunt and uncle about Savon. Read this book to find out what happens.

-A. Caldwell

Animorphs: The Invasion

Animorphs: The Invasion
by K.A. Applegate

Young teenagers Jake, Marco, Rachel, Cassie, and Tobias go out and take a short cut behind the abandoned construction site where they discover an alien spacecraft: unbelievable! When an alien has his last fight with his enemies trying to save the world, he knows it's his time to die and he decides to give the young teenagers powers. These powers help them to change into any animal they touch: they are called Animorphs. Now they are no longer human, they are half-human and half-animal. Will they help save the alien? Read this book and find out their adventures.

I picked this book because I wanted to find out what they will decide to do, and because I like reading about things that aren't realistic. You should try reading this book, it's very exciting!

-E. Fernandez

What My Mother Doesn't Know

What My Mother Doesn't Know
by Sonnya Sones

What I like most about this book is the way that it's set up. The whole story is told in free verse poem. The story is about a 14-year-old girl who falls in love not once, not twice, but three times. There are multiple stories leading up to the things that she does. This book is very entertaining and hilariously dramatic. The poems are from Sophie's point of view, and she writes about her life and how she is becoming more and more mature.

This book is easy to relate to for your average middle to high school girl, or even if you are past college and just need a good flashback.

-N. Ortega

Goosebumps: A Night in Terror Tower

A Night in Terror Tower
by R.L. Stine

Two kids named Eddie and Sue are on a trip to London. The kids are on a tour while their parents are at a meeting at their hotel. The kids are in a tour at Terror Tower, which used to be used for executions. The kids find it really familiar. When they meet a black man with a cape who tells them to follow him, it is revealed that he is a Lord High Executioner of the Tower.

This book is awesome because it has horror and fiction in it. People should read it. I would rate this book a 10 out of 10. This book also talks about history and what life was like back in the 1700's.

-C. Smith

Tuck Everlasting

Tuck Everlasting
by Natalie Babbitt

"Tuck Everlasting" is a book about a family with a huge secret and a girl named Winnie. The family with the secret is the Tuck family. Winnie is a young girl who lives in a village called Tree Gap and her family has lived in the same house for a very long time. Winnie is used to staying inside her gate at her house. Beside her house is a forest that her family owns which contains a secret that nobody in her family knows about. Winnie has decided that she was going to run away. But the night before she does, a stranger comes and talks to her. The next morning she runs away into her forest. She hears a noise, it's Jesse Tuck, soon Mae Tuck is there too, and so is Miles. They decide to kidnap her and once they are far away they tell her their secret. But they don't know that a stranger is eavesdropping on them. The Tucks take Winnie back to their house and she spend the night, but many things go on before they get her home. The whole story is full of many more crazy things.

I like this book because it's full of adventure. Lots of fairytale stuff goes on in this story and really crazy stuff that would never happen in real life. But this is a great book for anyone to read. Even some real life stuff goes on in this book, like when Winnie was kidnapped, and other dangerous stuff, but it's mostly fairy tale.

-L. Conyers

The Secret of Platform 13

The Secret of Platform 13
By: Eva Ibbotson

If you enjoy reading Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling, then you should love this book titled “The Secret of Platform 13”. This book is filled with mythical creatures and exciting adventures. When a queen organizes a group to rescue a missing prince named Raymond, the journey begins. The group consists of a giant, a fey, a young wizard and a young hag. They try to find Prince Raymond and take him back home, but it isn’t as easy as it seams. The Secret of Platform 13 is a great book for anyone to read with a big imagination.

-A. Houston

The Summer of the Swans

The Summer of the Swans
By: Betsy Byars


Sara Godfrey classifies herself as the most pitiful, ugliest fourteen year old girl. She basically spends her summer feeling sorry for herself and wishing she was more like her older sister. Sara hardly spends time thinking about anybody else’s problems because all she can think about is her ugly body, ridiculous hair and especially her big feet! She thinks she has the worst life and biggest problems, though she has a mentally challenged brother named Charlie. Charlie goes through problems everyday, but that does not even seem to cross Sara’s mind. At least until something happens with Charlie. This story is great to read because the average healthy American usually picks on mentally challenged people, but do not think about what they go through. It also will help you to understand to not worry so much about the misfits, (which we all have), and to start thinking more about the importance of life.

-A. Houston

The Best Little Girl in the World

The Best Little Girl in the World
By: Steven Levenkron


Casey Powell is a young 17 year old girl, whose friends all are stuck on dieting and staying fit and healthy for their ballet class, while Casey doesn’t really worry about it. But one day, Casey’s ballet teacher tells her that she would be an excellent ballet dancer if she just dropped some weight. Casey really starts thinking about that especially when her friends laugh at her about her weight and her food choices. Casey decides that she will eat less and loose weight which leads to her becoming anorexic and bulimia. She now names herself Kessa. As you read this book you will see the troubles that she goes through and the help that she gets, but doesn’t want. When I started to read this book, I couldn’t put it down. I recommend this book for eighth graders and up only. It’s a really great book to read if you like drama.

-A. Houston

Lost in the Shadows

Lost in the shadows
By Anne Scharff

This kid named Roylin Bailey goes to school one day and sees this pretty girl. Her name is Corie and Roylin really wanted her to be his girl. So during lunch he took her outside by this big tree. They ate lunch together under the tree. But he kind of lied to her by telling her he had lots of money and basically telling her that she can have whatever she would like. But he and his family were caught up with bills all the time. After school, he took Corie to the jewelry store because she wanted to show him this necklace that hopefully one day she could get. Once they got to the necklace the price was three-hundred dollars. Even though it was very expensive he had to find a way to get it to her. So he decided he would take it from a friend. But his friend disappears. If you want to know what happened to the friend, go get this book from your local library.

-A. Caldwell

Killing Mr. Griffin

Killing Mr. Griffin
by Lois Duncan

Brian Griffin is a strict and proper high school English teacher who never accepts late homework and is extremely tough on students, and gives projects every two days. His students want revenge, so a group of them decides to kidnap him. Mark Kinney is the most often singled out by Mr. Griffin, for example, when Mark does not seem to be listening, Mr. Griffin asks an unrelated question that no one in the class knows to test Mark and see if he notices this. Mark lives with his aunt and uncle. He and his friends, David ,president of the high school's senior class, Jeff ,a basketball player, and Betsy ,the head cheerleader decide to kidnap Mr. Griffin as a prank to scare the teacher and "teach him a lesson."

Susan McConnell, one of the students involved in the kidnapping plan, acting as the decoy, is a good student in Mr. Griffin's class. She walks with him to the school parking lot, where Mark, David, and Jeff kidnap Griffin. They drive him to a secret place in the mountains. Mark wants Mr. Griffin to beg them for his freedom, as Mark had to beg to be able to retake Mr. Griffin's class when he was caught plagiarizing his term paper, but Mr. Griffin refuses, so Mark abandons him there, blindfolded and bound. When Susan and David return to check up on Mr. Griffin, they fine something much unexpected. Secrets are revealed and stories are unfolded and by the in of the story you find out who or what KILLED MR GRIFFITH.

-M. Jefferson

Peaches

Peaches
by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Peaches is a great summer read, as it takes place during one juicy summer. Murphy, Leeda, and Birdie couldn’t be any different. Murphy is what you could call the wild child. She is always doing something a little bigger and better than everyone else. Murphy marches to the beat of her own drum and doesn’t listen to what other people think or feel. Then there’s Leeda. She’s perfect, well from the outside looking in at least. Leeda is pretty, popular, rich, but she lacks one thing. She feels she doesn’t have a family, and just wishes her mom would pay attention to her, even if it means giving up her title of queen bee around campus. And, finally Birdie. She lives on a peach orchard and would rather be with the animals and the fresh air then the people all around her. She feels like everything is turning upside down and the ice cream just isn’t helping anymore.

Long story short, fate leads all three of them to a spring break and summer vacation on Darlington Peach Orchard. They all become the best of friends. The question is can their friendship stand the test of time, drama, and boys?

-J. McVerry

Warriors: Into the Wild

Warriors: Into the Wild
by Erin Hunter

This cat named Rusty is getting bored with being a pet. He longs for the wilderness and its tasty treats. One day he decides to go hunting in the forest. He finds a mouse and is just about to pounce on it, when suddenly he gets knocked off his paws! Later he joins a bunch of cats that have weird beliefs. There turns out to be four other groups like that. Rusty is taken in with weary paws but eventually those paws turn welcoming. Having been a pet Rusty has to prove himself worthy to the cats and their leader!

Find out what happens next by reading the book! This fantasy book is unique because it uses cats and they behave like humans, but despise us. Warriors are a thrilling series full of twists and turns! This is the first book in the Warriors series! If you like adventure and action this is a great book for you!

-L. Hall

Rusty is a house cat. He has always wanted to go into the wild. One day, while ha was sitting on his fence that faces the forest, he saw a cat go by. The next day, he smells a mouse and goes into the forest to try and find it. As he kills it and is going to eat it, the cat that he saw the day before jumps on him and says, "this is Thunder Clan territory, you do not hunt here." They start to get in a fight when Rusty runs back to his fence. The other cat thinks he has won when Rusty turns around and runs at him. Rusty jumps on him and tackles him. The other cat says, "Get off!" Rusty listens to him, and they end up becoming friends. The other cat is named Graypaw. Graypaw ends up going back to his camp and telling his leader about Rusty. The next day, the leader goes and talks to Rusty. He goes with her to be in the Clan, and his new name is Firepaw. Read more to find out what happens!

You should read this book because it is very good. It is also funny to read. It has lots of adventures, and do not forget the action! They have a lot of fights. So read this book!

-D. Smith

Breaking Dawn

Breaking Dawn
by Stephanie Meyer

"Breaking Dawn" is the last book of the Twilight series. It’s about how Bella and Edward's wedding went and how she ends up, well, pregnant. It’s confusing because in the beginning it was Bella’s point of view and then around chapter four or five it’s Jacobs’s point of view. But then it switches back to Bella’s point of view. After Bella found out she was pregnant, she was horrified, and so was Edward. After a week, Bella was really sick and she almost died by keeping the baby. Then, after two weeks, she had the baby, and almost died. But, if it wasn’t for Edward, she would have. Read the book to find out more!

-C. McGee



Bella and Edward are getting married. And the honeymoon trip is going well until Edward notices that Bella is eating a lot lately. She was eating a lot of eggs: she had gone through cartons and cartons of eggs. So one day when Edward went hunting Bella went in her suitcase and found a pregnancy test. See, her sister in law packed her bag. She thought maybe, just in case, because you know they were on their honeymoon. So she took the test and the test can out positive. So when Edward arrived from hunting she told him and he kind of went in total shock. Because vampires were not suppose to have babies. But at the end of the book she almost died while having the baby but her Edward saved her. You have to read the book to find out what happen after Edward went in total shock.

-A. Caldwell


Bella was always in danger but now Bella, Edward, and the family are in more danger then ever! She has been wanting to become a vampire, she thought she was meant to be a vampire. She and Edward has been in-love for a very long time. But does that bring danger to the family? Well when Aro, the head vampire of the coven called, Volturi, comes to see if they have changed Bella, he gets a bigger surprise! What was that surprise? Will it bring Bella and Edward apart? Will they get through this together? Will they be together forever? Read Breaking Dawn to find out!

-A. Pepper

Song of the Sparrow

Song of the Sparrow
by Lisa Ann Sandell

This wonderful book, written in free-verse, tells of the legendary King Arthur through the eyes of Elaine, a young girl growing up in Arthur's war camp. All the familiar elements of the story are present: Arthur, Lancelot, Gawain, and Merlin, not to mention the tensions created when Gwynivere arrives at the camp. The story is unique, despite the similarity it has to the traditional versions of the legend: Elaine is a spirited character who offers not only an intimate portrait of life in a medieval war camp, but also of the legendary figures she knows as older brothers.

Blending myth with historical detail, this book is a delightful read for anyone with interest in the Arthurian legends, or for anyone looking for a strong female protagonist.

-Ms. McConnel

Hattie Big Sky

Hattie Big Sky
by Kirby Larson

Hattie is sixteen, and not quite the girl next door. I guess you could say she's out of the box. Or maybe eccentric is a better word for her. Hattie is not always the best friend to the people who love her and has gone through many hardships. Her parents died when she was very young, and ever since she has been shipped from place to place to be with a new family member. Hattie is practically immune to it now...being the new kid, that is. However, Hattie receives a letter from an uncle she has never met offering her a place to stay. It sounds crazy, but all Hattie really wants is a home. So she jumps at the chance and off to Montana she goes.

This is a great book for the avid reader. It takes you through a whirlwind of love, sorrow, and adventure. It is interesting to see how Hattie handles the tragedies that come, but even greater to see her realize that all she really needs are her friends.

-J. McVerry

Forged by Fire

Forged by Fire
by Sharon M. Draper

"Forged by Fire" talks about how a little kid who was left in the fire alone while his mom went to go and get drugs. A neighbor came to see the little kid and found him behind the couch passed out. Now Aunt Queen a loving aunt who always took care of Gerald must take him in while his mom gets sober. In the middle of the story a tragic death affects Gerald and he must live with his mom and angel Gerald’s little sister and her dad Jordan. Later in the story secrets are revealed about Jordan and he goes to jail for 10 years when he comes back he swears he has changed but Gerald still doesn’t trust him. By the end of the story Gerald finds Jordan going back to his old ways and he and Jordan have one final fight. But forget to cut off the stove and a fire irrupts. While some make it out others are forged by the fire!

-M. Jefferson

Gerald is a very smart and strong minded boy. When he was three years of age, his mother was a drug addict and abused him physically and mentally. Till one day when Gerald's mother was out, Gerald accidentally started a fire. When he went to the hospital, his aunt came in to comfort him. The doctors told her that he was going to have to go to child protective services, but she said no. Although she is in a wheel chair, she took Gerald home and raised him until he was 8, nurturing him into a respectful little boy. On his 9th birthday, the worst thing that could possibly happen does. His mother shows up, saying that jail changed her. She is married and has a wonderful job. While Gerald is looking at his aunt, puzzled, his mom tells him that she wants to take him home. Gerald is upset and hurt that this would all be thrown at him on his birthday. Gerald gets on his bike and leaves. His mother and her new husband, Jordan, get up and tell his aunt that they are going to leave for a little bit, and could she watch Angel, their new baby for them? When they leave, Gerald comes back. He is calm now, and tries to get to know his little sister. They go outside, but suddenly his aunt passes out from a heart attack and dies. Things continue to change for Gerald, and he faces tragedy after tragedy.

I like this book a lot because it's sad but it can still happen to anyone, and many people can relate to it.

-M. Colon

Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul

Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul
by various authors

This is a nonfiction book about teens and their life stories. It helps teens know that they aren't alone and people have gone through tough situations that you may have been through and things turn out okay. This book is 100% by teens and for teens.

I really like it because the stories are just so good and I can go on for hours reading them. Plus they aren't boring and have not just one problem to solve, but multiple ones on just about every other page of the book. I recommend this book to any teen who is looking for inspiration and hope, or even an adult to see that "if a teenager can do that, so can I."

-N. Ortega

The City of Ember

The City of Ember
by Jeanne DuPrau

A mysterious happening occurs on Earth and makes it impossible for people to live there, thus forcing them to move underground. The underground city is powered by an over sized generator. It is only supposed to provide power for 200 years and time is racing.

All the mayors in Ember had one thing in common, and that was the secret to Ember. The secret was inside the box in Lina's house. It is there because Lina is related to one of the former mayors who had passed away. Lina stumbles across it in her closet and realizes that there is a map. You can barely see what it says, but it's up to Lina and her best friend Boon to read it and maybe find a way out of Ember.

-N. Ortega

Beyond the Burning Time

Beyond the Burning Time
by Kathryn Lasky

Mary Chase lives a quiet life with her mother on a farm outside of Salem Village. The quiet is shattered in the fear and blood lust generated as the girls in Salem Village begin to accuse their neighbors of witchcraft. Mary is mesmerized by the evil powers at work, but her mother is skeptical of the proceedings. When her mother is accused of being a witch, Mary and her brother must decide if the charge is true or false, and how to stand against the town and save their mother.

Filled with colorful characters and intense descriptions of the events of the Salem witch trials, this is a gripping historical novel.

-Ms. McConnel

Day of Tears

Day of Tears
by Julius Lester

Told through monologues, dialogues, and theatrical scenes, this novel tells the story of the largest slave auction in America and the way the lives of the slaves sold at that auction changed forever. It follows Emma, a young girl born into slavery and sold from Georgia to Kentucky, her parents, and the people she encountered after being sold.

Although this is a work of fiction, it is based in historical fact: in 1859 Pierce Butler sold off over 400 of his slaves (the largest slave auction in American history) to pay his gambling debts. This novel is a unique, powerful, and emotional look at a tragic slice of American history.

-Ms. McConnel

The Graveyard Book

The Graveyard Book
by Neil Gaiman

Nobody Owens has grown up in a graveyard. His family was murdered brutally when he was just a baby, but through luck and the interference of some kindly ghosts, Nobody was adopted by the graveyard community. His childhood is unusual to say the least: the only person alive among hundreds of dead souls, Nobody is well educated in history but misses out on simple things like companions of his own age and time period.

Nobody can not remain safe and hidden in the graveyard forever, but the man who assassinated his family is still out there, hunting Nobody. Will the protection of the ghosts and the graveyard be enough, or will Nobody face the murderer before he has a chance to grow up?

This book is a chilling fantasy with well-developed characters. It is the 2008 Newberry Award Winner.

-Ms. McConnel

This book is about a child that is raised by ghosts. There is a murderer after him that killed his family. The child grows up trying to be a ghost. He learns how to fade and has never met a living person until he's six. His teacher helps him understand that he is not an ordinary boy. This book is great for readers who like ghosts or mystery.

-C. McCoy

The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn

The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn
by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler

Seikei believes he has the heart of a Samurai warrior, but he will never be able to fight as one. In ancient Japan, you knew that the only job you would be able to do is that of your parents, and Seikei is the son of a merchant. But then, one night changes Seikei's destiny forever.

After witnessing a ghostly crime, Seikei is employed by a retired Samurai to hunt down the thief and solve the case. Drawn into a world where nothing is as it seems, Seikei solves the crime but loses a valuable friend and mentor. Seikei also realizes that good and evil are not always clearly defined, and that sometimes a criminal can be more noble than a Samurai.

This is a wonderful mystery story with a very surprising ending.