Cougar Book Corner

My Sister's Keeper

2009-06-05T08:01:00.003-04:00

My Sister's Keeper
by Jodi Picoult

This story shows just how unbreakable a bond is between sisters. Kate suffers from Leukemia. Kate is 16 and her sister, Anna, is 13. At this point, Kate needs a kidney transplant, and Anna is required to give her own kidney. Kate wants to make her own decisions, though, so she hires a lawyer and sues her parents so she can make her own medical decisions. However, there is one crucial decision that might tear the entire family apart and change their lives forever. This book will be sure to inspire you, and definitely change you perspective on things.

-N. Ortega

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

2009-06-05T07:55:00.003-04:00

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
by J.K. Rowling

Most of you have probably seen the movie, but there are things in the book that aren't in the movie. The ghosts of Hogwarts are in the book much more than in the movie. Harry, Hermione, and Ron are very good friends by the end of the book. You'll have to read the book to find out what I mean!

J.K. Rowling did a spendid job! Everything is detailed and vivid. It is a very imaginative adventure. Some of the concepts are hard to picture, but it's all so interesting! I couldn't put this book down.

-L. Hall

Twilight

2009-06-04T11:40:00.000-04:00

Twilight
By Stephanie Meyer

This book is about a young girl named Isabella who moves to a place in Washington called Forks. Bella gets attached easily to he new school she goes to : she has plenty of friends to talk to but she's a very shy girl. Of course, she sees a nice young man named Edward Cullen the first day of school. Edward seems repulsed by her in a strange way: he tries not to be around her, and she overhears him asking the office to change his class. All of a sudden, he's gone for a few days and when he comes back, things are better. One day Bella was in the parking lot at school next to her truck, then all of a sudden a van was heading her way in fast motion and she sees Edward far away from her. As the van gets closer, Edward mysteriously saves her with his bared hands.

Bella is full of questions and constantly pesters Edward. Bella is still constantly trying to figure it out, until Edward tells her: he can't control how he reacts to the scent of her blood. Later on Bella and Edward fall so deeply in love, but Bella is in some trouble with other vampires who eat human blood instead of eating animal blood like Edward's family. These other vampires try hard to find her because her blood smells the richest to them, too. Bella wants Edward to turn her into a vampire, but Edward isn't sure.

Will the other vampires find her? Is Edward going to turn Bella into one of his own and let her be part of the family? What's going to happen? Read the book to find out what happens to Bella and Edward when the bad vampires find her.

-E. Fernandez

Bella is a magnet for danger, but never in her life has she been in as much danger as she is in Forks, Washington, a small, rainy town where her father is on the police force. In Forks, Bella meets Edward Cullen. Edward is different: his eyes are intense, he moves with speed quicker than the blink of an eye, and he saves Bella’s life on multiple occasions. There is one other remarkable thing about Edward: he’s over a hundred years old, and a vampire: and he thinks Bella smells tastier than anything else. This book is the first in the series and introduces readers to a world of romance, mystery and danger.

-Ms. McConnel

I read the Twilight series since my daughter was reading the books and I enjoyed them. The creative way the author treated the subject matter was fun to read, and it presented a fresh take on an old subject.

-Mrs. Grogan

Twilight is a book about a girl named Isabella Marie Swan, they call her Bella for short. She moves from Phoenix,Arizonan to Forks,Washington to live with her father. She meets new friends and on her first day of school their names were: Mike,Jessica,Ben,Angela,Lauren,and some more teenagers. She also meets the Cullen's: Edward,Rosalie,Jasper,Emmett, and Alice. They weird thing is they were all vampires! Edward was a cute,old-fashion vampire that falls in-love with Bella... and Bella falls in-love with Edward. Along the way she meets Jacob Black, a Native American boy, with long brunette hair, he has beautiful eyes. Also, along the way of a little fairy tail... let me rephrase that, NIGHTMARE, a vampire was after Bella and not for her beauty... for her blood! The smell of her blood triggered to him and he started chasing after her sent. Near the end she tells her father that she wants to go home, and not to be cooped up in this house anymore. So she left with Edward... where she would be safe. But when Edward leaves her with Alice and Jasper... They leave to somewhere far away from the vampire, James. But there were three other vampires helping him but one that was with James gave the Cullen's a heads up about James saying that he will never stop until he gets Bella... and he didn't...

-A. Pepper

Bella, who can help her bad luck streak? Clumsy, quiet, smart, ECT. She is 17 years old and she just moved in with her father in Forks, Washington, and the rainiest city in the U.S. She meets Jessica and Mike and a lot of other people at school. When she saw Edward, she didn’t mind him. But then in Biology class, He was being rude and couldn’t stop staring! He left in a hurry and didn’t come back for almost a week. She thought it had to do with her being there. But then, Edward starts talking to her and he finds out from Jacob, an old friend, that he is a vampire . She asks him and he tells her everything she needs to know about vampires. He told her it’s very dangerous to be together but she didn’t care. They were in love. At the end, she asks him if she can be a vampire with him and he, of course, said no.

-C. McGee

May Bird and the Ever After

2009-06-04T09:09:00.000-04:00

May Bird and the Ever After
By:Jodi Lynn Anderson

Ghosts, darkness, dead people, scary creatures! If you enjoy those things in stories, then May Bird is a great story for you to read. This story is about a girl named May Ellen, who lives near the woods.May is consider the ''weird'' girl at school so her only friend is a hairless cat named Somber Kitty. Her cat acts like a guardian to her. May enjoys the woods. It makes her feel free.One day though May finds a letter and a map in the woods. The letter is calling for her help to go to the lake. May looks for the lake and one day falls in. After May falls into the lake, the journey and adventure begins.Join May and her cat in this story, and see if May is able to get out before she becomes a ghost! If you can not handle scary books, then this may not be good for you.

-A. Houston

The Twinkie Squad

2009-06-04T09:08:00.000-04:00

The Twinkie Squad
By: Gordon Korman

The Twinkie Squad is a overall good book. It has a lot of really funny moments in it.Serious moments are in it as well. This book is about a group of kids who are in a after school counseling group,called the Special Discussion Group.This group is also called "The Twinkie Squad". They are all referred to as weirdos and names of that manner. When Douglas Fairchild comes to Thaddues G. Little Middle School, things change.He is the son of the ambassador,but Douglas has also flunked! It does not take long to figure out that Douglas will be in the '' Twinkie Squad'' after all the disasters and troubles he has caused. It's not like his old private school at all! In this book you can see the friendships that Douglas makes, and all the hilarious things that goes on. At first no one wants to even be apart of the Twinkie Squad, but at the end many more students do.

-A. Houston

Stargirl

2009-06-04T09:06:00.000-04:00

Stargirl
by Jerry Spinnelli

It was the first day of school at Mica High School and the halls are buzzing about the new girl who calls herself Star girl Caraway. To say she is different is an understatement. Her clothes are different as are her mannerisms, and she has a pet rat she carries around in a bag that has a picture of a Sunflower on it. Leo Borlock learns about Stargirl from his best friend Kevin Quinlan. During lunch, while Leo and Kevin are sitting together, Star girl pulls out a Ukulele and begins to strum on it and dance around the lunchroom. Day after day, she does this focusing on one particular person to whom she sings Happy Birthday. It is unclear how she knows that someone has a birthday. Hillary Kimble says she thinks Stargirl is a "plant," someone put in the school by the administration to get students interested in school, to create school spirit. Through this whole book, she is someone you would most likely never meet at school and that is what makes this book so interesting. There is no one like Stargirl.

-M. Jefferson

Bridging Beyond

2009-06-04T09:04:00.001-04:00

Bridging Beyond
by Kathleen Benner Duble

"The Bridging Beyond" is a wired, scary, crazy book that makes you think about life in a unusual way it’s a book that will give you nightmares, make you scared to finish, but also make you scared that if you don’t finish than the dreams will stay with you forever. But that’s what makes it so great it’s a book like no others it has scary parts, it has funny parts, and a lot of tragic parts in it .But that’s what makes you want to flip on to the next page and keep reading and that’s, also the kind of book you tell all your friends you half to read. This is really a book I will never forget.

-M. Jefferson

The Pearl

2009-06-04T09:03:00.000-04:00

The Pearl
by John Steinbeck

The pearl is about a poor family that lives in a small poor town called “Las Paz”. Kino always hears songs in his head that either expresses his feelings or they tell him that something’s about to happen. He has a son named coyotito and his wife’s name is Juana. One morning as Juana was making their small amount of food for breakfast, Kino heard the song of evil and instantly coyotito was bit. As Kino’s small village gathered around to see what the commotion is about, Juana suggest that they go to the doctor. Now the doctor is a very greedy and selfish man, he’s racist and only helps the rich with problems. He tells Juana and Kino that he won’t treat coyotito unless they come up with the money to pay him for it. So desperate to find money Kino, Juana and coyotito sail out on Kino’s canoe and try to find clam pearls. When Kino dives into the water he sees something glisten in a clam and instantly the clam shuts. So he takes the clam and brings it back to the canoe. When he opens it he finds “the pearl of the world” as some pay call it. At first the pearl seems like a blessing, that it will help all of Kino’s problems. Juana warns Kino that such a great pearl will cause many problems for them. Kino doesn’t listen. Many problems come their way such as greed, rubbings’ and even killing. It’s to the point that it’s so crazy, that the family has to run away.

This book was great. It kept me interested the whole journey. It hits all of your emotions. On a scale of one to 10 I give the book a 10.

-M. Colon

Swindle

2009-06-04T09:01:00.001-04:00

Swindle
by Gordon Korman

Did you ever think what money would make a person do? Griffin Bing will do anything to stop a con-artist. One day when Griffin and his best friend Ben decide to have a sleep- over at the soon to be demolished Rockford house. When Ben and Griffin finally realize that everybody else was too afraid to come that’s when they start to look around the house. As they look around, Griffin looks inside of a draw and finds a rare Babe Ruth baseball card. So old that they know they would get fortunes for it. s the next day Griffin and Ben decide to go to the pawn shop and sell it to the owner, S. Wendell. Not knowing of his collectibles to baseball cards, S. Wendell cons Griffin into selling the baseball card. Later finding out of this great fortune he just lost, he holds a meeting at his school with a unique set of talents. He tells the kids what happened to the card and tells them his plans on stealing it back. Hesitant at first, the kids then agree after hearing that they get a cut of the money. In the plans, Griffin is the tools and brains (leader) of the group. Ben is just his partner in crime. “Pitch” is the rock- climber and takes care of the scaling of the house. Logan, the dedicated actor, takes care of keeping the nosey neighbor out the way so he doesn’t know what happens. Savannah, who loves animals a lot, whispers the mean Doberman so he doesn’t attack them. Melissa, who is a computer “whiz”, takes down the alarm systems. The master plan is set and the kids are ready to get the card back.

I enjoyed this book because of the action and the great plan the kids made up themselves. I also likes this book because the kids stand up for kid rights.

-M. Colon

New Moon

2009-06-03T16:02:00.000-04:00

New Moon
by Stephanie Meyer

Edward's family throws a birthday party for Bella, she slices her finger on an envelope and Jasper attacks her because he cannot control his blood urges. Edward decides to leave Bella forever because he thinks its best for her so she can have a normal life. Bella lives her life in a depressed trance and spends a lot of time with Jake at La Push where she learns that he and his whole family are werewolves. Bella and the Cullen’s go to Italy to rescue Edward where he is attempting to make the "Volturi" mad which are a powerful family because he thinks Bella is dead and is trying to get the Voluturi to kill him. They rescue Edward and Bella and Edward are reunited. It was so close because Edward was like 2 seconds of almost being killed. Bella was so happy because she and Edward were meant to be and they deserve each other.

-A. Caldwell

As you know Bella Swan is addicted to Edward Cullen, a vampire she fell in-love with. Well Edward decides that it would be better if he left Bella alone and leave and never come back. She gets all depressed and well her father,Charlie is sick and tired of her being so sad all the time so he threatens her to go to Jacksonville to live with her mother. Then she says she would straighten up and all of a sudden she starts hanging out with Jacob Black, a Native American boy with long beautiful hair and gorges eyes. They kind of fall-in-love. Well along the way Alice, Edward's -sister- if u could say visited Bella and said that Edward thought that she was dead because she jumped off a cliff to go cliff-diving... Alone. So he thought she was trying to kill herself because he left her, well he was going to show that he was a vampire to the whole world... So she goes after him to show him she is alive. Will she get there in time? Will she save Edward from showing himself and getting killed? Read the book to find out!

-A. Pepper

In the beginning of New Moon, Bella turns eighteen! Another year of not becoming what she wants to become, a vampire. Edward and his family throw Bella a birthday party, but a simple paper cut can throw off EVERYTHING! Bella was opening her presents from the Cullen family and she cuts herself opening one. No big deal right? Wrong. Edward reads Jaspers thoughts and pushed Bella across the table, and she cut her self up more because there was shattered glass. Alice pulled Jasper out of the house. Edward felt so bad, on the way home, no one said a word. However, the next day, Edward announced that he was leaving and Bella could not believe it. So she goes into a “depression” stage until Charlie, her dad, tells her to go and hang out with Jacob. And she falls in love with him, or so she thinks. They hang out every day and one day Jacob offers to go cliff diving. When Jacob leaves to get something, Bella goes and tries to cliff dive herself. But, she does not know that Alice saw her do that before she even done it. When she is in the water, she hears Edwards voice, not for the first time. When Bella gets home, Alice is waiting for her, but with bad news. Edward was so upset that he thought Bella was going to kill herself that he is going to expose himself to humans! So Bella, Alice, and Jasper are on their way to Italy to save the day!

-C. McGee

Romiette and Julio

2009-06-03T14:48:00.000-04:00

Romiette and Julio
By Sharon M. Draper

This book is about teenage love. Romiette is a very nice smart teenager. She lives with her father and mother. Her father is an anchorman and her mother owns her own shop of African art and clothing. Her best friend is Destiny. Destiny believes in the stars and always tries to find her and Romiettes soul mates. Every night Romiette has a dream that she’s drowning and that a man either saves her or drowns her. She has a terrible fright of water. The closest she gets to it is taking a shower or a bath. Julio is sweet, nice and always dreams of moving back to Texas where he moved from. In Texas he had to move because of the gang violence. He doesn’t like the new state he moved to. His dad tried to move away from the gangs and now there’s a gang at Julio’s school that dislike him because he’s from Texas. Julio doesn’t understand it; it made him very angry because he doesn’t even like gangs. So the first day of school all of his frustration was let out on this boy Ben, he punched him in the nose. After they talked it out, Julio and Ben became good friends. They started talking on the phone and even the computer Julio liked using the computer and so he started to have room chats. There he met Romiette. After a while of them talking they begin to like each other and that’s where all the problems began. But the biggest problem is the gangs don’t like seeing them together, so now they have to fight for their love.

I like this book because it’s about love and shows the troubles people go through. It also shows friendship, which I think is very important in life.

-M. Colon

When Julio and his family leave Texas to move to Ohio, he thinks the worst has happened in his life. He hates the cold weather, and he misses his friends and family down in Texas. But everything changes when he meets Romiette in a chat room and finds out she goes to his high school. The two begin spending more time together, despite objections from the local gang, the DevilDogs, who don’t like Julio because of his Latino heritage. When Romiette and Julio decide to entrap the gang members and get them punished, their plan goes horribly wrong. Will the two make it through the ordeal alive, or are they doomed to repeat the deaths of Shakespeare’s characters Romeo and Juliette? This book will have you on the edge of your seat.

-Ms. McConnel

I thought this book was really good. It kept me interested. Some books get boring after a while, but this one didn't! In the middle of the book it gets REALLY interesting!!! I could not stop reading because I wanted to see what happened next. You want to read books that will make you keep reading. This book also has a very good endiing. I think you should read this book because it's very good. BUt be careful, because it can be addicting!

-B. Clark

Gossamer

2009-06-03T11:32:00.000-04:00

Gossamer
By Lois Lowry

Gossamer can be described in one word. Heartwarming.I loved it.This was one of those books when you start it, and you can not put it down. This book is about a young boy named John who has gone through so much.When you read what he has had to put up with and do, you may actually cry(like me!). John stays with a lonely old woman and her dog after all that has happened. The old lady does not have all the latest electronics and gadgets, so as much as John didn't want to stay before that made him not want to stay even more.
Each night John, the dog, and the old woman are visited by two creatures. The oldest is named Eldest and the youngest is named Littlest One. They give them all their dreams at night,by using objects that are close to them by heart or physically.The problem is though sinisteeds are soon coming. These are creatures that make bad nightmares in their dreamers. Littlest has just been learning how to distribute dreams though, and it may be up to him to strengthen John before they come.After all that John has been through it would take a miracle to get him to be healed from his past.Most of him has healed though, so if Littlest powers are not stronger then the sinisteeds, then John will always be a angry eight year old boy. I think Louis Lowry was very creative and smart.This book has persuaded me to read more of her stories.

-A. Houston

Littlest is a strange creature: a dream giver. Not quite human, but not quite animal, Littlest exists in a strange place between reality and imagination. Her duty is to bestow pleasant dreams to sleeping humans (and on occasion, their pets), and with the help of her teachers, Fastidious and Thin Elderly, she begins to develop a perfect gossamer touch. But just as Littlest learns to bestow happy dreams, so do Sinisteeds inflict nightmares. Can Littlest strengthen the humans she gives dreams to enough to resist the pain of nightmares? One of her assignments is particularly fragile: a boy, John, whose father used to abuse him, and whose mother has been forced to give him up to foster care. John has a lot to be angry about, and very little to be happy about, making him a perfect victim for the Sinisteeds.

-Ms. McConnel

The Giver

2009-06-03T10:20:00.000-04:00

The Giver
by Lois Lowry

The book "The Giver" was an amazing book about a boy named Jonas, and how he lived in a perfect community, and how when he turned 12 he would receive his final assignment .The assignment he receives is actually the receiver he is meant to receive memories. Also Jonas assignment teacher is called The Giver.
Jonas starts to receive memories that are painful and sad and since he’s not used to these feelings he starts to react to different things very funny. By the end of the story Jonas finds out a lot of things he decided later in life he didn’t want to know he also experiences some things that takes him to a whole different world.

-M. Jefferson

"The Giver" is all about a boy named Jonas and his fighting chance to get out of the world he lives in. Jonas lives in a "perfect" society, an extreme modern day spin on Communism. Everything in his life is equal to everyone else, and the rules are strictly enforced. Once he is assigned the job of Receiver, he realizes there is more to his life. There is a world out there with feeling, emotion, and color: if he could only find a way to reach it. His job as receiver is to receive memories from the Giver, some with pain and some that are fun and happy. Whether he wants it or not, the secrets of his society come out and he is forced to face them. Once he becomes sick of the way he lives, he plans an escape. It's dangerous and daring, but he knows something has to be done. Will he make it out with a future? This book is great, and allows you to use your imagination. The story is beyond belief and makes you appreciate the way we live, with individuality.

-J. McVerry

Aquamarine

2009-06-02T10:20:00.001-04:00

Aquamarine
by Alice Hoffman

I love this book. It's about two best friends named Claire and Hailey who find a mermaid in a swimming pool. The mermaid is named Aquamarine. There was a storm that day and that's how she ended up in the pool. There are two problems in the story, one of them being Hailey having to move all the way to Australia for her mom's job as a marine biologist, and the other problem is that Aquamarine is in search of true love. Luckily, Aquamarine will give the girls one wish if they succeed in helping her find true love. Aqua falls for the hot lifeguard, Raymond. So it's Claire and Hailey's duty to make him fall in love with her, although that doesn't work out too well. But in the end it all works out and shows just how strong the power of friendship really is. If you have a best friend, then you're probably going to love this book just as much as I did.

-N. Ortega

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw

2009-06-02T09:16:00.002-04:00

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
by Jeff Kinney

This book is about a kid named Greg Heffley. Greg is an ordinary middle school kid, but his brother Rodrick keeps on getting him in trouble. Greg needs to try to ignore Rodrick and try to impress Holly Hills.

The book is really good to read because it has a lot of comedy. This book is the best!

-C. Smith

Eclipse

2009-06-02T08:54:00.000-04:00

Eclipse
by Stephanie Meyer

"Eclipse" is about how Edward and Bella are doing. Bella is a magnet to danger, but this type of danger is a whole lot worse. There has been a rampage of mysterious killings in Seattle and the Cullen’s think it is a whole flood of newborn vampires. So now, instead of just Bella being in danger, the Cullen’s and Jacob are also in danger. They have to prepare to fight and kill all the newborn vampires. But, the master mind behind all of this is Victoria. But, in the end, the good guys win. Oh, and Edward proposes to Bella.

-C. McGee

The new Twilight craze has really been heating up. As you know, there are four books in the series. "Eclipse", book three, is great all around.

With the return of Edward Cullen, things have gotten closer to normal, but Bella is still hurting. She's scared he will up and leave again. However, that's not the only problem she faces. Edward and the family are in danger, from people of their own kind. Along with the danger and risk of Edward and Bella being together, Jacob is bitter. He loves Bella with all of his heart, and it pains him to see her with Edward. Bella understands because they had become so close when Edward left. Will she be faced with a hard decision? Pick up a copy of "Eclipse" to find out!

Stephanie Meyer shows just how talented she is in this book. The writing style is unlike any other. It will be sure to have you trapped in. You'll never put it down. The mix of action, risk, romance, and lust makes for the perfect novel for people of all ages.

-J. McVerry

Bella had always gotten into danger but not as much like now. She has endangered the Cullen’s family and Jacob. Now they are in war. Who may you ask they are up against? The funny thing is that Jacob and the Cullen’s are not fighting each other but they are working together. Even though the werewolves and the vampires are enemies they have to work together to keep Bella safe. The Cullen’s and Jacob’s pack of werewolves have to make a truce. They are up against Victoria, a vampire who despises Bella. Why does she despise Bella? The reason why is because her mate, James got killed by the Cullen’s and she never got over it. So the war has begun. Who will win? Who will die?

-A. Pepper

The Host

2009-06-02T08:14:00.002-04:00

The Host
by Stephanie Meyer

This is about a "spirit" who is put in a body that they other person is still in. The person leads the spirit to the last surviving normal people. The spirit, or alien, then becomes attached to the people there. She helps the people to learn about the other spirits, the Souls, and she helps them to live on.

In my opinion this book is thrilling yet unusual in many different ways. I have to applaud Stephanie Meyer for this awesome book. It is filled with twists and turns that most people never see coming. The very end will surprise you! It is sort of hard to read due to the two voices (of the spirit and the body), but I think it is worth any confusion.

-L. Hall

Stormbreaker

2009-06-01T14:30:00.000-04:00

Stormbreaker
by Anthony Horowitz

This book is about a kid named Alex Rider who unfortunately lost his parents. His uncle, Ian Rider, watches him until an accident occurs. Alex is attracted to where his uncle used to work. When he arrives at the building (a so-called bank) he thinks it looks a little weird for a bank. He figures out that it isn't really a bank, and he thinks the people there are a little crazy.

When I started this, I was like "is this about a regular kid with a semi-real life?" Later in the book, I realized it's not. It is filled with a lot of action, mysteries, and more. If you want to see what it's about, read it! This book was so exciting, I carried it everywhere I went until I finished it.

-J. Clemson

Alex Rider thinks his uncle is a bank manager and that their lives are quiet and simple. After his uncle is killed in rather mysterious circumstances, Alex realizes that nothing is what he thought. His uncle was a spy for an elite British agency, M16, and now they want Alex to finish the mission his uncle died on. Forced into spying, Alex is trying to uncover the secret of a computer donation which, from all appearances, will change the educational system for the better. But there is something sinister at work here, from the businessman who runs a plant like it is a secret military zone to the murder of Alex's uncle, nothing is safe. Alex must work quickly, or all the children in Britain may face disaster.

This is an exciting read with lots of action and plot twists, and Alex is clearly meant be to be a teenage counterpart to 007 and other famous spies.

-Ms. McConnel

Small Steps

2009-05-29T12:38:00.002-04:00

Small Steps
by Louis Sachar

This is the companion book to "Holes". This book is about Armpit trying to stay out of trouble after being released from Camp Green Lake. Because he wants to make some money, he teams up with X-Ray, a friend from camp, to buy some tickets and scalp them. At the concert, Armpit finds out that the tickets weren't real, and they are about to get in major trouble. Also in this book, Armpit creates a really good relationship with a little girl who lives in his neighborhood. This relationship helps him stay out of trouble, because he wants to be a good role model.

I think this is a really good book because of the relationship between Armpit and the little girl. I myself think this book is even better than "Holes", but less people know about "Small Steps".

-L. Conyers

Warriors: Fire and Ice

2009-05-29T12:09:00.000-04:00

Warriors: Fire and Ice
by Erin Hunter

In this book Fireheart faces a new war between all the clans. He becomes a higher rank and meets new friends. Fireheart tries to figure out if there is a betrayal in his own clan. It’s hard for him because he travels the whole forest. Fireheart faces new challenges in his clan and outside.

I recommend this book because of the action. For me it was better than the 1st book. By reading this book I know that I have to work with others to succeed.

-C. McCoy

Stardust

2009-05-29T12:03:00.001-04:00

Stardust
By: Neil Gaiman

The story starts with Dunstan then moves on to his son
Tristan. Dunstan try’s to find the perfect gift for his
sweetheart Daisy. Years later when his son is about thirteen he
sets off on a journey to find his love a star. He’s gone for
months and can’t find a fallen star. He meets new friends
and enemies as well. Tristan gets a big surprise half way
through his journey.

This book is good because it has a lot of places from England. Like forests, mountains, an old city, and a castle. Stardust was one of my favorite books last year. Read the book to see what happens.

-C. McCoy

Bat 6

2009-05-29T10:45:00.002-04:00

Bat 6
by Virginia Euwer Wolff

"Bat 6" is a book about a softball game that is played between two schools that was started a long time ago to bring together two towns. The people who play in this softball game are sixth grade girls only. This year is the 50th anniversary of the game, and it is expected to be the biggest so far. However, both teams receive a new girl. The two girls are very different. Something has happened to one of the girls' father, and this event causes hatred toward the other new girl. This causes a big crisis that happens at the softball game.

This story takes place a few years after World War II. This is a major factor to the event that happens at the softball game. In addition, many other little events hint at clues as to what is going to happen on the field at the big game.

I recommend this book because in a way it's a mystery about what is going to happen at the softball game. There are hints, but nothing give away the whole thing, and when it happens, it only takes a second.

-L. Conyers

Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam

2009-05-29T10:30:00.003-04:00

Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam
by Cynthia Kadohata

There is a dog named Cracker. She is a German Shepherd. Her owner is named Willie. Willie used to live in a house, but when his dad got laid off, they had to move to an apartment. The only bad thing is that the apartment does not allow dogs. Because of this, they have to send Cracker to the military, so she can become a military dog. Rick becomes Cracker's new owner, but Cracker still misses Willie a lot. She is going to Vietnam with the military.

Read this book to find out what happens to Cracker. Will she come back to America, or die saving Rick? You will have to read to find out more! This is a really good book because it is based on a true story, and tells what happens when dogs go into the military.

-D. Smith

Among the Hidden

2009-05-29T10:00:00.000-04:00

Among the Hidden
by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Among the hidden tell the story about a 3rd child that isn’t supposed to be alive. He is known as a shadowchild. His name Luke and is raised in secrecy from the government. His father doesn’t really like him because he almost gives away his secret a lot. He later becomes friends with another shadow child who wants to stop the law.
Among the hidden is a good book because of the suspense. Imagine being kept a secret from the world. The only people who would know you is your family. This is why it’s a great book.

-C. McCoy

Luke is an illegal child. In his society, families are not allowed to have more than two children. Because Luke is the third child, he lives a secret life. Hidden in the attic, Luke has never met anyone other than his parents and brothers, and he never will. No one can know that he exists or he will be killed and his parents charged as criminals.

Luke's life changes one day when he notices a face in the window of a neighboring house. This is unusual because Luke has already seen both parents and two children leave the house.

This is the first in a thought-provoking series set in a world that feels frighteningly similar to our own.

-Ms. McConnel

"Among the Hidden" is about a kid named Luke who is a third child. Third children aren't allowed because of the population law. One day, other houses start being built near Luke and his family. Luke has to hid in his house, but one day he looks out his window and sees another 3rd child. He starts planning how he is going to go over to the house. He finds a way over and meets a girl named Jen who is starting something big. Read to find out what!

This book was amazing. I just read and couldn't stop. But when I got to the end, I couldn't believe what happened.

-J. Clemson

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

2009-05-29T09:43:00.001-04:00

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
by Jeff Kinney

This book is mostly about Greg's brother, Rodrick. Rodrick is a teenager and he is a drummer. Greg's life is ruined because of Rodrick. Rodrick has many friends that destroy Greg's property. Their dad will make them stop, or maybe ground Rodrick for the mess.

The book is really good to read because it has a lot of comedy. It is really funny! When I read it, I started to laugh a lot. That means you should read it, too!

-C. Smith

Over Sea, Under Stone

2009-05-29T09:24:00.002-04:00

Over Sea, Under Stone
by Susan Cooper

There are three kids on vacation with their parents: Simon, Jane, and Barney. Their uncle Merry found them a nice beach house on a hill. While the kids are exploring the house, they find an attic. While eating a picnic lunch in the large attic, they find a map. That map sends them on a wild and crazy adventure. It's a race between good and evil, and the kids have help from their uncle, too!

I love this book. It is an exciting read filled with thrilling happenings. During many points in the book, I felt like I was there. I think people will like this book even though it is old. They will probably like it because it is the first in a series of action packed stories. You should read this book!

-L. Hall

Island of the Blue Dolphins

2009-05-29T09:13:00.003-04:00

Island of the Blue Dolphins
by Scott O'Dell

My 5th grade teacher read this book to us, and I was surprised by how much I liked it. It is about a native girl who lives on an island with her tribe. One day, soldiers came to claim the island, not knowing the Indians lived there. When they found them, they traded. Many months passed in peace. However, things started to change.

What will happen? How will the girl survive if she is left alone on the island? You'll have to read this book to find out!

-R. Gorrin

The Clay Marble

2009-05-29T08:57:00.003-04:00

The Clay Marble
by Minfong Ho

Dara is one of the thousands of Cambodian families that got separated or destroyed by the war, but there is still hope for her family as they head to a refugee camp by the Thailand border. When safely there, Dara meets and becomes friends with a young girl named Jantu who has almost a magical touch in creating things like toys with mud and scraps of fabric. When the camp is bombed, Jantu makes a clay marble to help Dara track down their families and then return to help Jantu and her brother at the hospital. This book is a very intense read, you need to read it to find out what will happen!

-E. Fernandez

Journey to Jo'Burg: A South African Story

2009-05-28T10:08:00.002-04:00

Journey to Jo'Burg: A South African Story
by Beverly Naidoo

Mma lives and works in Johannesburg, far from the village where Naledi and her brother, Tiro, stay home. hen their sister becomes sick, Naledi and Tiro know, deep down, that only one person can save her. Bravely, they set off on a journey to find Mma and bring her back. It isn't until they discover the city that they come to understand the dangers of their country, and the painful struggle for freedom that is taking place all around them. Read this book to find out what will happen: will Dineo get well, and will Mma get permission to see Dineo?

-E. Fernandez

Holes

2009-05-28T09:52:00.003-04:00

Holes
by Louis Sachar

"Holes" is about a boy who gets sent to a camp in the desert for punishment. His job there is to dig holes all day. There is a secret mystery there that the owners of the camp want to find. Along the way, Stanley makes lots of new friends. Plus, he helps solve the mystery of Camp Green Lake. This camp is located in the Texas desert, and Stanley soon gets along with everybody there and has lots of friends.

I think his is a good book because it has a mystery, and you have to keep reading to figure it out!

-L. Conyers

"Holes" is about a boy named Stanley Yelnats the IV. He is sent to Camp Green Lake, but it is not really a camp. It is really a juvenile facility where kids that made mistakes have to dig a five foot deep hole every day. Stanley got sent there because this pair of shoes fell and hit him in the head. He picked them up and started walking with them. The cops saw him and chased him down. The shoes were from a famous baseball player, who had donated them to the homeless shelter, where they had been stolen. The kid who actually took them was sent to Camp Green Lake too, but for another crime. The boys went through a lot, and eventually Stanley and Zero (the other boy) ran away. In the end they find something important.

You will have to read it to find out what they find! This book is good, it shows that things are sometimes meant to be.

-D. Smith

Hatchet

2009-05-28T09:00:00.000-04:00

Hatchet
by Gary Paulsen

This book is about a boy named Brian and he is going to the Canadian oilfields to visit his father. When the pilot dies of a heart attack, Brian has to land the plane in the middle of nowhere. He has to use his survival skills, the little ones he has to survive in the wilderness. He has to dodge animal attacks, hunger, and even a tornado! Overall, this book is a good book because it is a little boring at first, but then it gets good.

-C. McGee

This story is about a boy named Brian who is going to see his dad. While he is going to the airport Brian's mom gives him a hatchet which he puts in his belt for later use. Brian's parents are divorced because of the SECRET that you'll have to find out during the book. While Brian is going to see his dad, the pilot has a heart attack and dies. After Brian lands the plane, he builds a shelter and hunts animals for food. With his hatchet, he builds weapons, fires, and more.

To me this book is awesome, it shows how a boy could live in the wild with animals, tornadoes, etc. This book made me want to yell for it ending!

-J. Clemson

"Hatchet" is a book about a boy going to the Canadian oil fields to see his father over summer break. His parents had just divorced and Bryan knows his mother's secret. Before getting on the plane his mother gives him a hatchet. As he is on the way to see his father, the pilot has a heart attack and dies. Shortly after the pilot dies the plane runs out of gas and crashes. But Bryan survives the crash. Bryan is now stuck in the wilderness with nothing but a hatchet. He learns how to do things on his own. He learns how to build a fire, hunt, catch fish, and more. Right as everything was good, a tragedy happens. But later it turns out to be great.

I like this book because it shows you that if you try you can do anything. And no matter what, you have to work hard. It shows you that anything is possible just believe in yourself and keep trying.

-L. Conyers

"Hatchet" is about a kid named Brian, and his parents got divorced. He was leaving his mom for the summer to spend time with his dad. On the way the pilot has a heart attack and the plane crashes into a lake. There, he must find a way to survive until someone finds him. Find out all the nasty, amazing, and scary things that happen to Brian in "Hatchet".

-R. Gorrin

Sounder

2009-05-28T08:32:00.003-04:00

SOUNDER
By: William .H. Armstrong

This book is about this boy and his dog named Sounder. Sounder was a special dog. His bark was so special it was not like any other dog’s bark. Even though Sounder was a street dog with no place to stay, the little boy loved him. The boy and his family were sort of poor: they barely had stuff to eat at night. Even though they went through all this, the little boy always stayed happy. Sounder made the boy feel good.

However, one day there was this big red faced man, he was really mean and evil and he did not like the dog Sounder at all. He was just evil like that. It seemed like he did not want anyone to be happy because he was not a happy person. However, one day he put Sounder in harm. I wonder what he did to him? You must read the book in order to find out!

-A. Caldwell

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

2009-05-28T08:32:00.002-04:00

Diary of a Wimpy Kid
by Jeff Kinney

This book is about a kid named Greg. Greg is a normal middle school kid. He likes to joke around with his friends, and he likes video games. He also has a weakness. That weakness is Rodrick, his brother. Rodrick always teases him. That's why Greg's life is upside down.

The book is a really good one to read. The book has a lot of comedy. That's why I like it so much!

-C. Smith

Summer vacation is almost over! Greg and his friend Rowley are getting ready to go back to middle school.

This book will take you through Greg and Rowley's crazy adventures in school. These two characters always seem to be at the wrong place at the wrong time!

"Diary of a Wimpy Kid" is the first book in the Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney.

-N. Heilman

Among the Betrayed

2009-05-27T10:57:00.002-04:00

Among the Betrayed
by Margaret Peterson Haddix

This book is the third book in the "Shadow Children" series. In this book, a girl named Nina goes to jail because of someone in the second book. In this book, she is put in a jail cell to get information about three children. These children don't get very much food or water. This girl is either supposed to betray these three young children or save them. Read to see if she helps them or if she betrays them.

When this was ending, I said "please keep going, please!" If you want a good book, you have to read this. This book has some drama.

-J. Clemson

Among the Imposters

2009-05-27T10:53:00.003-04:00

Among the Imposters
by Margaret Peterson Haddix

This book is about a kid named Luke Garner who is an illegal 3rd child. With the help of his friend's father, he is now attending Hendricks School for Boys and it doesn't have any windows. When he gets there he has a few problems: he has a bully in his room, he has no clue where his classes are, and he has no friends. Near the end, someone either wants to help him or get rid of him. Read to see if the problems are solved.

This book was amazing! Whenever I got the chance I read this book. When I got to the end, in my head I was like "keep going". This is the second book in the Shadow Children series.

-J. Clemson

The Outsiders

2009-05-27T08:29:00.001-04:00

The Outsiders
by S.E. Hinton

There is a boy named Ponyboy Curtis. He has two older brothers named Sodapop and Darry. Their parents died in a car accident. The brothers are in this gang called "Greasers". They are called that because they have long hair and put a lot of hair grease in it. They have four other people in their gang; their names are Two-Bit, Johnnycake, Steve, and Dally. They all stick together.

There is another group calls "Socs". The Socs are a bunch of West-Side rich kids. They will jump a Greaser walking by them for no reason whatsoever. The Greasers go through a lot in this book. Two of the gang members in the Greasers group will die...read the book to find out who!

This is a very good book, and it shows how brothers stick together. Read "The Outsiders".

-D. Smith

This is a wonderful novel about a boy named Ponyboy. He lives in a divided town. You're either a Soc, or a Greaser. Ponyboy is a Greaser, and has gone through many hardships, such as being bullied by Socs, experiencing a murder, running away, and having to run through a burning building to save some kids. While saving the kids, his friend Johnny gets severely burned, along with a broken back, and ends up being hospitalized. There is also a big fight between the Socs and the Greasers. Read it to find out what happens!

-Y. Zarrouk

This is a story about a boy named Ponyboy. You have to decide if you are going to be a Greaser or a Soc, and Ponyboy and his brothers hang with the Greasers. They currently live in a different town where no Socs should come around. Ponyboy has to go through a lot to learn and understand what life can do to you when you decide to make bad choices. Ponyboy is a great writer and loves to read books. He has a really good friend named Johnny who in the past has been beaten by some Socs. Ponyboy and Johnny experience a terrible murder, run away, and Johnny gets severally burned with a broken back: what will Ponyboy decide to do now?

I think you should read this book because it teaches you lessons that you don't have to experience, and this book is very emotional.

-E. Fernandez

Tupac Shakur: The Legacy

2009-05-26T10:49:00.003-04:00

Tupac Shakur (the legacy)
By: Jamal Joseph

This book is about Tupac growing up as a child into being an upcoming rapper. He had a sad childhood because his mother was in and out of jail. She was in this group called the Black Panthers. He did not really have a father figure until his mother met his stepfather. He said in the book that his stepfather was a big father figure to him. Then it ended. His stepfather was also in the group his mother was in. And as I said, some of stuff they did was kind of wrong so they had some charges against his stepfather and he had to go to prison.

Tupac never thought he would become a rapper it just happened. He loved poetry and he was a great poet. Therefore, he took all his pain and heartache and put it into poetry. Then the poetry turned into songs. So that is when his career started. His lyrics were deep and what I mean by that is they meant a lot they made you think. He was an awesome rapper. Everyone loved him. He had it made until… one night he had just left a boxing match in Las Vegas . And he was at the stop light and car pulled right beside him and started to fire the gun. This occurred on September 8, 1996. Then 5 days later on September, 13th, 1996 Tupac was pronounced as dead. Everyone was terribly sad. He still is missed to this day. But will always be known as the best rapper ever.

-A. Caldwell

Battle of the Labyrinth

2009-05-11T08:10:00.003-04:00

Battle of the Labyrinth
by Rick Riordan

In the fourth installment of the Percy Jackson series, the battle between the gods and the titans is only a matter of time away. Percy and his friends must enter the mystical labyrinth, once the home of the minotaur and the testing ground for the hero Theseus, now the lair of Kronos as he gains power and prepares to take a human form. The dangers faced in the labyrinth are fresh and frightening, and this is probably the best in the series since "The Lighting Thief". Greek gods, heroes, half bloods, and monsters permeate the pages, and as Kronos moves from a disembodied voice to a "living" being, the reader will be chilled to realize exactly what the children from Camp Half Blood will be fighting.

A wonderful read full of adventure and action.

-Ms. McConnel

The Lightning Thief

2009-05-11T08:08:00.000-04:00

The Lightning Thief: Percy Jackson and the Olympians
by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson is a boy who is troubled academically. Every year he has been expelled from every boarding school he has ever gone to. He has a friend named Grover (or should I say goat-friend) and a paralyzed Latin teacher, and a freaky pre-algebra teacher. Percy is sent to camp "Half-Blood" which contains mythical satyrs, Naiads, and even sons and daughters of the twelve Olympian gods and goddesses. Through many events in his life, and with Greek mythology taking over his half-blood world, he is yet to see the adventure that awaits him in the Underworld, the Realm of Hades...and Percy must find out which one of the twelve Olympians is his father.

If you want to know some of the dangerous people, places, and things Percy must face:
Hades: God of the Underworld
Chimera: Wild, savage beast
Echidna: Mother of Beasts
Medusa: Snake woman
The Three Fates: they know who will die and who will live
The Three Furies: the most dreaded of the monsters of Hades
Hellhound: a huge, savage dog sent to kill heroes
Ares: God of War
Clarisse: Daughter of Ares, threatens Percy

These are but some of the evil things Percy must face. But there is a good side to all, and that is why you must READ!

-A. Davis

I have recently read the book "The Lightning Thief", about the son a a normal New Yorker mother but a larger than life father. This book rotates around the Greek myths, and is full of adventure and humor.

Everything starts when, on a field trip, an annoying little girl bothers Percy's best friend, Grover (who turns out to be a Satyr, half man and half goat). Percy tries to hold his anger in, but somehow he gets Nancy, the annoying girl, into a fountain. Later, Percy goes to a camp called "Camp Half Blood", where he meets other demigods (half human, half god). He learns about his father, and how all the old Greek myths are actually true.

Percy also discovers that he should never have been born, because his father is one of the most powerful gods, the Big Three (Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon) and the children of those three gods caused World War II, so the three gods promised not to have any more children.

Percy leaves on a quest, but I will stop there so I won't spoil it for you. You're going to have to read for yourself to find out what happens.

-Y. Zarrouk

Percy is just an average kid. Well, not so average. He was born with ADHD and other issues he was born with. Every school he attends, he got expelled from so far. The Latin class decides to go on a field trip. So their Latin teacher and the class including Percy and his best friend, goes to a local museum. His teacher turns into some weird monster thing and attacks him. Even more weird is that his Latin teacher threw him a pen that somehow turned into a sword. When he returned the next day the teacher is gone and no one seems to remember what had happened. He eventually gets caught up with a war that involves the Gods from the Classical Greek myths. Apparently, Zeus’s lightning bolt was stolen, everyone suspects each other and Percy is one of those suspects. So unless he brings back the lightning bolt a war of Gods will break out.

-S. Kim

Percy Jackson is a straight "F" student who has ADHD. He's been kicked out of every boarding school he goes to. He finally stays at school for almost a year, but then they go on a field trip to a local museum. There he is attacked by one of his teachers who turns into an ugly monster, and what's really weird is that his paralyzed Latin teacher tosses him a pen that turns into a sword. He soon finds out his friend Grover is a Satyr, and that he is a demigod. Turns out that his real father isn't a drunk, mean, gambler, he is one of the three main Greek gods. Percy is told about a camp called Camp Half-Blood. On the way, he gets attacked by another creature, the Minotaur. You won't believe what happens next, I didn't!

-R. Gorrin

The Sea of Monsters

2009-05-11T08:06:00.000-04:00

The Sea of Monsters
by Rick Riordan

This is a sequel to the book The Lightning Thief. In this book, Percy figures out that his friend Grover is in trouble through a dream. Because it’s a dream, he’s not sure if it is real or not. In the end, it turns out that it was real and Percy and his friends need to save Grover. On the way, he teams up with both friends and enemies. I personally liked this book because it used a lot of humor to keep the reader interested and there were constant battles which also kept me interested.

-S. Kim

The Titan's Curse

2009-05-11T08:01:00.000-04:00

The Titan's
by Rick Riordan

This is the third book of the series. In this one, Percy and his friends go on a quest to figure out what Luke and Chronos are up to. They team up with Artemis’s “Hunters.” They also bring along a new character in the book named Bianca. She ends up dieing and this upsets Nico, (her brother) who blames everything on Percy. I liked this book for the exact same reason, it kept me interested by using humor, dialect, and with constant battles.

-S. Kim

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

2009-05-11T08:00:00.001-04:00

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks
by E. Lockhart

Frankie Landau-Banks was a mildly geeky girl who attended a very prestigious boarding school. That was her freshman year. In her sophomore year, everything changes. Frankie starts growing up, looking more like a woman, and investing in a leave in conditioner to take care of her frizzy hair. Oh, did I mention she secretly heads the largest secret society on campus without anyone knowing it's her? Her intelligence, cunning, and creativity give her the personality of a leader, the leader of the Secret Society of the Basset Hounds. Some of the things she's done are "the night of a thousand dogs", and "the canned beet rebellion", and many, many more. Frankie will grab hold of you and take you for a ride in this very realistic, but somehow not, adventure.

-A. Ellis

Frankie attends an exclusive prep school which was once for boys only but is now coed. Left over from the days of being a school for boys only is a secret society which does not admit girls. Frankie is very upset about this and decides to use the secret society to do her bidding. She has them do all kinds of pranks and pulls their strings in a number of creative and inventive ways.

A major problem for Frankie is that she has a major attraction to Matthew, who is one of the leaders of the secret society and her criminal masterminding has a serious effect on their relationship.

This is a girl power book in the best sense with attractive and interesting characters, both female and male. One wants to encourage Frankie all through the book with, "You go girl!".

-Mr. Dale

Brisingr

2009-05-08T08:19:00.000-04:00

Brisingr
by Christopher Paolini

Eragon is more skilled and more intelligent than ever. Unfortunately, he has no sword because Morzan's son Murtaph took it. Eragon goes on a quest to retrieve Roran's beloved fiance, and to forge a new sword with the elves. Eragon opens up a whole new Pandora's Box with this adventure. He fights other dragons and their riders, more monsters, and overcomes the most difficult thing: himself. Along with a girl he accidentally cursed to be a shield for others, Eragon rides through this new adventure with fear, excitement, and courage. This book will sweep you off your feet and on to Saphira's back.

-A. Ellis

This book continues from the Inheritance cycle, after Eragon fights on the Burning Plains. It starts off as Eragon and Roran seek revenge on the Raz'ac by fighting their way through the enemy's lair. Then they go back to camp. After a short while, they decide it's time to part. Roran goes to help command a brigade to fight against the empire, and Eragon goes to try to convince the Dwarves to join allies. Roran disobeyed orders by saving the brigade and is whipped 100 lashes. Whereas Eragon helps the Dwarves elect a king in order to get allies for the Varden. Then, Eragon departs to the Elves' home, learns a little, and finally gets a proper Dragon Rider sword. Then he departs again and his Master decides to get out of hiding to help the Varden fight as well. There is a tragic death later, but you'll need to read to find out more! You need to read the other two books for this to really make sense.

-Y. Zarrouk

More Horowitz Horror

2009-05-07T07:43:00.002-04:00

More Horowitz Horror
by Anthony Horowitz

This is a very good book. The stories are very scary, the one I like the best is the one called "The Sound of Murder". What I like about it is that there is a girl named Katie who gets a new teacher named Mr. Spencer. Every time he comes near her, her hearing would mess up. On the first day of class, she could hear what he was thinking, and one day she heard that he wanted to kill his wife. She tried to tell her best friend, but he did not believe her. She kept hearing him say that he wanted to kill his wife, using a kitchen knife. If you want to know the rest, then read this story. It's number one on my list!

-J. Wilson

Little Brother

2009-05-06T09:24:00.000-04:00

Little Brother
by Cory Doctorow

A near-future terrorist attack on San Francisco's Bay Bridge leads to the arrest and detention of Marcus by the Federal government. The fear and humiliation he experiences when he is questioned are detailed and convincing. These experiences lead him to take a stand and become a leader of the resistance and a civil rights activist.

This thriller shows how one can defend themselves digitally from the government's efforts to spy on you. Although the flow of the story is often broken up by Marcus's explanations of RFD cloners, cryptography, and Bayesian math it is a fascinating tale deserving of its choice as one of the ten best books for youth in 2008. A great read.

-Mr. Dale

Marcus Yallow is not the average San Fran teenager. He is a hacker, and a highly skilled one at that. After ditching school, San Francisco is blown up by terrorists. Marcus is unfortunately at the wrong place at the wrong time. They find all his gear and believe he and his friends Darrel, Van, and Juloup are the ones responsible. Of course, they are not, but the Department of Homeland Security thinks they are. Get ready for a techy adventure that will blow your mind by the time you read the first page.

-A. Ellis

Bridge to Terabithia

2009-04-07T09:45:00.003-04:00

Bridge to Terabithia
by Katherine Paterson

This is a book about a boy from Virginia who makes a new friend. Back in the woods they create a fairy tale place which they name Terabithia. They go there everyday after school and create lots of fairy tale creatures. One day the boy goes to a museum with his teacher and something terrible happens to his friend. He doesn't want to believe it, but then he realizes that it is for real. He decides to fix up Terabithia and then he takes his little sister there.

This is a good book because it has lots of fairy tale stuff in it, and is very sad at the end. But it's great because of the imaginary land called Terabithia!

-L. Conyers

The Skin I'm In

2009-04-07T09:36:00.002-04:00

The Skin I'm In
by Sharon Flake

This book is about Maleeka. Maleeka is very uncomfortable about her skin. She is very dark and kids make fun of her for it. They make up names, jokes, and comments about everything about her. Not only is she mad about her skin, but her mother also sews her clothes. Her mother isn't very good at sewing, but she started to sew when Maleeka's father died. It seems that everything went wrong in Maleeka's life when she lost her father. Before that happened, Maleeka loved her skin, her father made her feel beautiful. Also there was enough money for her to buy clothes. The only reason Maleeka won't say anything to her mother about the clothes it that she knows sewing is the only thing holding her together after her father's death.

There are four main people in Maleeka's life at school. Char, Midd Saunders, Caleb, and John-John. Char is one of the people who give Maleeka problems. Maleeka met her when she went up to Char and asked her to make her cool, offering to do her homework in exchange. At first Char laughs, but then she thought about it and agreed. The next day she brings in clothes for Maleeka, tells her that she always has to stand with her and her back-up crew, Raina and Raise. Char tells Maleeka to do the twins homework, too.

Miss Saunders is a new teacher, who in most students' eyes is very rich. Many people notice that she is big, but they mostly notice this big white birthmark on her face. She gets made fun of just like Maleeka does. Even though Maleeka doesn't like her, she helps Maleeka along with her struggles and helps her to understand that her skin is beautiful.

I like this book because it can relate to many kids that are made fun of. I also like this book because Maleeka likes to read, and so do I.

-M. Colon

Coraline

2009-04-07T09:20:00.004-04:00

Coraline
by Neil Gaiman

Coraline is a very active and curious girl. She just moved into a new home with her mother and father, and she already doesn't like it. Her neighbor upstairs is a weird man who is obsessed with his pet rats. Although she does enjoy being at her other neighbors' home, Miss Forcible and Miss Spink. They are old women who always talk about the days when they were young actresses on the go. Even though Coraline loves spending time with them, she can't always go to their house. So in her spare time she explores outside and watches T.V. Now, Coraline isn't fond of doing this every day and tries to find other things to do in her free time. She isn't in school yet so there is nothing else to do, and her parents are always busy and telling her to go play. So one day Coraline finds a secret door in the spare bedroom and asks her mom about it. Her mom said she didn't know much about the house but she gave Coraline the key to the secret door. When her mom is out grocery shopping and her dad is working she opens the secret door. There in the door is a mirror image of her world, but much better. There's a cat there that leads her through an adventure as she finds out that this amazing world is all a set up. She has to now fight her way back into the real world.

This book is amazing because it has a lot of adventure that will knock your socks off.

-M. Colon

Warriors: The Darkest Hour

2009-04-07T09:03:00.002-04:00

Warriors: The Darkest Hour
by Erin Hunter

FireHeart us a warrior cat that used to live with a human. He didn't know how to live in the wild or hunt. He stays with the Thunder Clan, who live in the forest. He learns that there are five clans and that they are neutral until war. FireHeart gains experience on how to survive and fight.

-C. McCoy

Animorphs: The Predator

2009-04-02T09:00:00.001-04:00

Animorphs: The Predator
by K.A. Applegate

They can't tell you who they are or where they live: it's too risky for them. They can't trust anyone anymore. A boy named Marco never wanted the power to morph, he just wants to be normal and be himself, but he has no choice anymore. He has to help his friends Jake, Rachel, Cassie, an Tobias destroy the Yeerks. Marco is too worried about his dad, the only family that Marco has left. Marco knows that if something happens to him his dad will be alone, but something seems to change Marco's mind. The Yeerks have a bit of a surprise waiting for Marco, and of course it's not nice. Now Marco wants to fight.

I liked reading this book because you never know what's going to happen next. It's full of adventure. Every time you flip the page you can't help but keep reading to find out what is going to happen next.

-E. Fernandez

Sweet Valley High- #26-Hostage

2009-04-01T09:40:00.001-04:00

Sweet Valley High- #26-Hostage
by Francis Pascal

Regina Morrow has returned unexpectedly to Sweet Valley from Switzerland where she is supposed to be getting her hearing restored, when Elisabeth finds out (Regina’s best friend) she figures Regina's there to surprise her boy friend,but to her surprise he didn’t even know she was in town. Therefore, they call the Morrow house, where a strange woman says that no one is home and is Regina ’s aunt, she is watching the house. Elisabeth is suspicious and worried considering the things she just got through and decides she is going to Regina ’s house again to see what is wrong, as the gate was locked and that is arousing her suspicions.

A weird woman answers the door, says Regina is not there, and slaps the door in Liz’s face. Then Elizabeth sees that Regina has entered the foyer! The woman harshly tells Regina ” I thought I told you to stay upstairs”, and Regina ” helplessly” goes up the stairs. Jessica tells Elizabeth she does think that maybe something is wrong at the Morrows’. Jessica has a plan that the twins could ask Eddie Strong, the delivery dude, when he is next due to deliver something at the Morrow house, and they could sneak a note in with the package delivered. In addition, Jess says they could ask Eddie about making the delivery for him. Jess says Bruce can pretend to be the delivery boy. Jessica gets the idea that they can sneak the note for Regina into a fashion magazine, and figures the strange lady won’t pick it up,so they do this and Regina gets the package and they set up a plan by the end of the story a lot is revealed and a lot of relief and satisfaction justice will be served.

-M. Jefferson

Goosebumps: Welcome to Dead House

2009-03-31T09:00:00.002-04:00

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

2009-03-30T08:59:00.002-04:00

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

2009-03-30T08:25:00.003-04:00

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

2009-03-25T10:23:00.000-04:00

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

2009-03-25T09:45:00.001-04:00

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

2009-03-23T09:06:00.001-04:00

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

2009-03-23T08:18:00.002-04:00

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

2009-03-23T08:15:00.002-04:00

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

2009-03-23T08:08:00.002-04:00

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

2009-03-23T07:47:00.003-04:00

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

2009-03-20T09:10:00.001-04:00

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

2009-03-20T09:06:00.001-04:00

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

2009-03-20T09:04:00.000-04:00

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

2009-03-20T08:19:00.001-04:00

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

2009-03-20T08:04:00.001-04:00

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

2009-03-19T09:06:00.001-04:00

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

2009-03-19T09:00:00.002-04:00

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

2009-03-18T10:54:00.003-04:00

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

2009-03-18T10:20:00.003-04:00

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

2009-03-18T08:35:00.002-04:00

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

2009-03-17T07:24:00.005-04:00

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

2009-03-16T08:11:00.002-04:00

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

2009-03-13T09:09:00.003-04:00

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

2009-03-10T12:43:00.003-04:00

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

2009-03-06T13:54:00.002-05:00

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

2009-03-05T10:17:00.004-05:00

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

2009-03-03T12:21:00.003-05:00

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.

Fever 1793

2009-02-26T10:52:00.002-05:00

Fever 1793
by Laurie Halse Anderson

Matilda is an adventuresome young girl. Her mom owns a busy coffee shop in Philadelphia in the 1790's. Philadelphia is suddenly hit with a plague of illness. What's even worse, Matilda's mom catches it. The she send Matilda and her grandfather to a farm, but her grandfather gets a summer sickness on the way. They are forced to stop till his illness blows over. Matilda catches the fever while looking for food away from her grandfather. Does he find her in time to get help? This is a thrilling story and it even has a little romance in it!

-L. Hall

The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm

2009-02-25T10:18:00.003-05:00

The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm
by Nancy Farmer

It is the year 2196. The technology of Zimbabwe has become very advanced: hover cars are the main for of transportation, and creatures like speaking monkeys run wild in the streets. This novel focuses on the three kidnapped children of a major military officer and their adventures, dangerous encounters, and near escapes.

The detectives who have been hired to bring the children home are the Ear, the Eye, and the Arm. Each of these men have been genetically mutated and posses superhuman traits: the Ear has amazing hearing, the Eye can see at far distances, and the Arm can feel the emotions of the people around him as if they are his own.

The three detectives make an almost unstoppable team, and you will stay on the edge of your seat waiting for the children to be rescued. This book focuses on adventure and mystery, with just a touch of science fiction elements.

-Ms. McConnel

A Year Down Yonder

2009-02-24T12:39:00.003-05:00

A Year Down Yonder
by Richard Peck

In the aftermath of the Great Depression, Mary Alice is sent to live in the country with her eccentric grandmother while her parents get back on their feet. Grandma is a woman to be feared, totally unpredictable and unconcerned with the impression she leaves on other people. At first, Mary Alice can't bear to be away from her life in Chicago, but living with Grandma in the middle of nowhere has certain advantages, like watching Grandma pull out her shot gun whenever things don't go her way.

This is a delightful book with a realistic narrator and the feeling of a classic tall tale.

-Ms. McConnel

Maniac Magee

2009-02-17T09:36:00.003-05:00

Maniac Magee
by Jerry Spinelli

Maniac Magee wasn't always called Maniac. His parents named him Jeffrey, but his parents died in a tragic accident when Jeffrey was only three years old. Jeffrey became known as Maniac because of his bravery and how fast he could run. All the kids wanted to be like Maniac, but no one knew the real truth: he was lonely, frightened, and living out on the streets.

This is a fast read about a character who uses his negative circumstances to transform the lives around him for the better. Maniac crosses boundaries of class, race, and location to prove that people are people and home is a precious thing.

-Ms. McConnel

Jazmin's Notebook

2009-02-13T08:38:00.005-05:00

Jazmin's Notebook
by Nikki Grimes

Jazmin's daddy loved jazz music, which is how she got her name. Jazmin loves music, but more than that, she loves writing: poetry, stories, journals, she simply can't get enough! Even though she has been in a series of foster homes and is now living with her older sister, Jazmin has a bright outlook on life and a strong desire to get out of the projects and really make something of herself one day.

This is a wonderful, quick read about a character with a lot of spunk in some pretty awful situations. Jazmin is realistic, the kind of character you may wish you knew in real life. A powerful story.

-Ms. McConnel

Tamar

2009-02-11T09:04:00.000-05:00

Tamar
by Mal Peet

Tamar is the spy name of a man who parachuted into occupied Holland during World War II with another man code-named Dart to help the Dutch resistance against the Nazis. There is also a third person in the story, Marijke, who is loved by both men. Years later one of the two, asks his son to name his daughter Tamar, but doesn't tell him why. Tamar, when she is fifteen finds a box full of information and clues left behind by her grandfather before he died. As she pieces together his mysterious past, she is schocked to find out the truth about his actions during the war.

The story goes back and forth between time periods from the action in Holland to Tamar's search for the truth in the present day.

This book won the Carnegie Medal for best book last year in England. Not sure why. While it is an interesting read I found many of the characters unsympathetic. If you like to read stories about love, jealousy, and tragedy then this is one title you might like to try.

-Mr. Dale

Standard Hero Behavior

2009-02-11T09:03:00.000-05:00

Standard Hero Behavior
by John David Anderson

The town of Highsmith was once filled with heroes competing to wipe out the local goblin population, seek treasure, and go off on adventures. But now, the town has only one hero - Duke Darlinger, who has named the town "Darlington" after himself. Mason, a poor freelance bard-poet finds out a dreadful secret when he applies for work at Duke Darlinger's house. The town is in GRAVE DANGER. Armed with a borrowed sword, his best friend, Cowel, and a copy of Quayle's Guide to Adventure for the Unadventurous, the pair sets off on a desperate quest to find heroes to save their town.

A book which, as you read, encourages smiles and sometimes outright laughter.

-Mr. Dale

Climbing the Stairs

2009-02-11T09:02:00.000-05:00

Climbing the Stairs
by Padma Venkatraman

In British-occupied India in 1941, girls don't have many options. Fifteen year old Vidya is an exception. Her father supports her dream of going to college. When tragedy strikes her family, Vidya and her family move into the home of relatives who are members of the strict Brahman class. In this family women live on the first floor and men on the second only mixing at meals when the women serve the men their food. Vidya's only escape from this world is up the stairs to her Grandfather's forbidden library.

Climbing the Stairs, is a historical novel about finding oneself in time of political and social turmoil. It is an interesting look at a culture far different from out own.

-Mr. Dale

The Goodness Gene

2009-02-06T07:39:00.002-05:00

The Goodness Gene
by Soma Levitin

It is the year 2305. The eastern continents (now called Dominions) are going through war and turmoil. The American Dominion is in much better shape. Synthetic food, dance domes, and other places flourish. Will is the son of the Compassionate Director. He lives in a world where childbirth happens in a lab and you don't know who your parents are.

After an incident involving a mysterious girl named Leora, he realizes who he is and what he was made to do. All he hopes now is that he can stop himself from doing it. His actions will change his view of the world forever.

-A. Ellis

Tiger

2009-02-05T14:10:00.003-05:00

Tiger
by Jeff Stone

Tiger is the first in the series. It introduces you into the world of KungFu, companionship, and secrets to be discovered. Fu, the tiger KungFu master, wakes up in the middle of the night to find that his grand master is dead and that his brother Ying wants the scrolls that can unlock secret training techniques. Ying killed the grand master to get the scrolls. Fu steals the scrolls and runs into the froest. Ying is after him! Read more to find out what happens!

-A. Ellis

Fu is a master of the tiger arts of Kung Fu. "Fu" means tiger in Cantonese. He and his four other brothers life at the Cangzhen Temple. The four are not really his brothers, but that is what they are called at the temple. The temple is under attack by their former brother Ying, which means "eagle" in Cantonese. The grand master tells them to spread, just as Ying kills him. All Ying wants are the Dragon Scrolls. Fu does not listen and goes back to get the scrolls. He fights a guy named Tonglong, which means "mantis" in Cantonese. Fu is able to knock him out and take the scrolls. Fu gets locked up after he hurts the son of the Major of a village. The Major calls Ying and takes the scrolls from Fu. A bunch of soldiers come and are taking Fu back to Ying when one of Fu's brothers, Malao ("Monkey") comes out. He has a bunch of monkeys with him to help get Fu out of the cage. They do. Read the book to find out more!

This is a great book for kids who like series books. It has action and mystery, so read it and enjoy!

-D. Smith

H.I.V.E.

2009-02-02T07:30:00.002-05:00

H.I.V.E
by Mark Walden

Before I start with this review, I would like to explain something. I will rate book on a scale of 1 to 10. 1 is the lowest and 10 being that highest. So at the ends of my reviews I will give a number. Now on to my review.....

H.I.V.E. is about Otto Malpenze. A student who has an enormous gift for intelligence. But when he is kidnapped to H.I.V.E (or as it stands for) The Higher Institute for Villainous Education. Once at H.I.V.E. Otto sees some of its features. But when he learns that the has to stay here for 6 years, Otto refuses. But there is nothing he can do about it.....or is there? Join Otto with his Friends Wing and his other companions, as they attempt to be the FIRST STUDENTS EVER to escape form H.I.V.E. Will Otto make it out alive. Or will his brain fail him for the first time ever. Find out in H.I.V.E.

Review number: 8

-S. Rauf

Otto Malpenze was brought to the Higher Institute of Villainous Education against his will. Wing Fanchu is also kidnapped. Once they arrive Otto and Wing quickly become friends. Along with Shelby Trinity (world class thief) and Laura Brand (ultimate hacker), they plot to escape that infernal school.

H.I.V.E. is the first book in a two part series that will have you awake at midnight.

-A. Ellis

The Thief Lord

2009-01-29T12:23:00.002-05:00

The Thief Lord
by Cornelia Funke

Prosper and Bo are two incredibly resourceful orphans. When they discover that their aunt wants to separate them, the brothers make their way to Venice, Italy, and find adventure and a new life. Living in an abandoned movie theater with three other children, Prosper and Bo are introduced to the mysterious world of the Thief Lord. Stealing from some of the wealthiest homes in Venice, the Thief Lord takes care of the children, letting them have the money he earns and using them to help prepare for robberies. But things start to unravel when a detective starts looking for Prosper and Bo, and nothing is as it seems. Magic creeps in unexpectedly, altering the lives of all the characters forever.

This is a great story about childhood adventures with lots of surprises along the way.

-Ms. McConnel

Alcatraz Smedry vs. the Evil Librarians

2009-01-28T13:48:00.003-05:00

Alcatraz Smedry vs. the Evil Librarians
by Brandon Sanderson

This was a really funny book. It has some dark parts, but for the most part it's funny. The main character, Alcatraz (he thought his parents must've had a twisted sense of humor, and who could blame him, named after the most infamous prison?), has a "talent" for breaking everything he touches, even chickens! He has gone through about 27 foster families, but his life gets turned around on his 13th birthday when he gets a present from his parents. Naturally, he doesn't trust it at first-after all, his parents couldn't know where he was living all this time.

When he opens the present, he finds a bag of sand. Then, someone knocks on the door. WHen he opens it, an old man who claims to be his grandfather comes in. Soon Alcatraz finds out almost everything he believed is a lie, such as only three continents, talking dinosaurs, Oculators and evil librarians. Also, the world is basically split into two types of places: Hushlands and Freelands.

This is a great book, and I reccomend reading this and its sequel.

-L. George

Lights Out: Terror Academy

2009-01-23T08:28:00.003-05:00

Lights Out: Terror Academy
by Nicholas Pine

It's the end of the junior year for Mandy Roberts at Central Academy. Her father is the guidance couselor at the school. While at the graduation ceremony for the senior class there is a terrible accident and Mandy's father dies.

With the help of her best friends, Steve and Tara, Mandy investigates her father's death herself.

Central Academy gets a new and strange assistant principal that takes interest in Mandy's mom. They get engaged, and Mandy is very upset and suspicious of this man. Mandy and her friends do lots of investigating and find out many bad things about the assistant principal. Mandy and her mom find themselves in danger!

"Lights Out" is the first book in the Terror Academy series by Nicholas Pine.

-N. Heilman

Unwind

2009-01-22T11:56:00.001-05:00

Unwind
by Neal Shusterman

In the future there has been a second civil war between those who are pro-life and those who are pro-choice. The war is ended by the two sides compromising on a "Bill of Life" that states all pregnancies must come to term; however parents and guardians have the right when their child is between the ages of thirteen and eighteen to "unwind" them. The child does not die. Each and every part is kept alive though in separate pieces. Eyes to someone, ears to another, skin to someone else. Once the parents have given their children up to unwinding it cannot be reversed.

Connor discovers his unwinding when he finds holiday tickets to the Bahamas, which has everyone in his family's name on them except his own. Risa is an orphan and the orphanage is overcrowded so when she makes five mistakes during her piano recital she knows where she is headed. Lev is devout and when, he, as the tenth child in his family, is given to be a human tithe, a sacrifice to the unwinding, he enjoys the attention and is happy to fulfill what he thinks is his destiny.

The three all meet when Connor decides to run rather than submit to his unwinding order and the book becomes the story of the three's attempts to continue to live their lives under the threat of unwinding.

A thought provoking and challenging book.

-Mr. Dale

The Order of Odd-Fish

2009-01-22T11:55:00.000-05:00

The Order of Odd-Fish
by James Kennedy
This is a totally weird book. If you like fantasy that is completely crazy you will like this book. Jo, was left in a laundry room with a note pinned to her blanket which read, "This is Jo. Please take care of her. But beware. This is a DANGEROUS baby".

And she is.

The Order of Odd-Fish is an organization of knights whose main occupation is compiling disreputable and disputed facts for an encyclopedia which will never be written or published. Wasting time in creative ways, collecting facts, is an art form in Eldritch City and the more "dithering" done in the attempt to compile questionable "facts", the greater a Knight of the Order of Odd-Fish is considered to be. Jo lives in the same house as this crazy organization.

Eldritch City, itself, is a strange and wonderful place with talking three-foot-tall cockroach butlers, centipede journalists, and flying armored ostriches to name only a few of the weird inhabitants. The Knight's house is in Eldritch City.

As was said earlier, Jo is truly dangerous and you really want to read the book to find out why.

-Mr. Dale

Schooled

2009-01-22T11:18:00.001-05:00

Schooled
by Gordon Korman

Capricorn Anderson has lived with his grandmother Rain on a commune his whole life. Suddenly, because of a fall and the need for his grandmother to be hospitalized, the home-schooled, long-haired, tie-dyed, corn-husk sandal wearer is dumped into a regular middle school. Talk about culture shock. Capricorn has lived his whole life without telephones, television, iPods, money, or friends.

Because it is a tradition at Caverage to elect the weirdest kid in school to be eighth grade president, guess who fits the bill? Clueless about everything related to the position Capricorn still takes the job very seriously. So the evil kid's plans backfire as Capricorn in his totally naïve but personable way wins over the student body.

A book which brings up serious questions about identity, bullying, and peer pressure with lots of humor and great characters.

-Mr. Dale

Saga

2009-01-22T11:17:00.000-05:00

Saga
by Conor Kostick

In the virtual world of Saga, Ghost is a fifteen-year-old airboarder, with a past she doesn't remember and strange abilities she is just beginning to use. She must be someone special because she is becoming involved in a battle with the warped leader of Saga - the Dark Queen. As the story of Ghost unravels Eric and his avatar, Cindella Dragonslayer, show up from Kostick's first book Epic.

While this is an interesting story and one I wanted to finish I did not enjoy it as much as Epic.

-Mr. Dale

Hope was Here

2009-01-21T13:27:00.003-05:00

Hope was Here
by Joan Bauer

Hope and her aunt Addie have never really had a stationary home. Addie is a top-notch chef and Hope is a great waitress, yet the diners they work in seem to close, forcing them to move on. After an awful experience which left them both broke and disheartened, they move from New York to a small town in Wisconsin. At first, Hope is devastated by the loss of big city life and her friends, but she soon begins to find a place for herself in the new community.

Packed with Hope's wonderful outlook on life, intrigue in the race for the local mayor, and the painful absence of Hope's parents, this novel is a wonderful, realistic read. Hope if a character who makes her own way and keeps smiling despite the curves life throws at her.

-Ms. McConnel

Uglies

2009-01-16T08:14:00.003-05:00

Uglies
by Scott Westerfield

In this world, once you turn sixteen you get to have an operation to make you look absolutely flawless. Right now, Tally is fifteen and is ready to be pretty: she will reach that point in a few weeks. Shay, Tally's new friend, wants to take risks and be adventurous. In other words, Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty at all. So Shay decides to run away. But Tally now has to do a not-so-simple task in order to become pretty: to locate Shay, bring her to the authorities, or never become the stunningly beautiful person she wants to be. Do you think she makes the right decision?

This book is just great all around. It's truly hard to put this book down without knowing what's going to happen next. It is very exciting and not very hard to picture what's happening. This book would definitely be at the top of my list!

-N. Ortega

In the beginning of this book there is a girl that is ugly. She wants so bad to be a Pretty, something that she will become after a minor operation on her 16th birthday. Her best friend was a few months older than her and had already turned into a Pretty. The girl who is ugly decides to sneak into Pretty Town to see her friend. She gets in so much trouble while she is there. She meets someone new, and they become best friends. They do everything together. The weird thing is that they have the same birthday, so they will turn pretty on the same day. Read this book to see what happens on their journey to become Pretties!

-B. Clark

When Zachary Beaver Came to Town

2009-01-08T11:32:00.000-05:00

When Zachary Beaver Came to Town
By Kimberly Willis Holt

Zachary Beaver claims to be the heaviest boy in the world. He also claims to have travelled all over Europe, seeing sights and having adventures. The summer he comes to Texas as a one-act side show changes everyone in the small town of Antler. Things are changing fast, and not just because of Zachary. A local boy if fighting bravely in the battlefields of Vietnam, and a local woman runs off to make her fortune in Nashville, leaving her baffled husband and son behind. This book is wonderful story, even when it turns serious. Be warned, you may need Kleenex!

-Ms. McConnel

Once Upon a Marigold

2009-01-07T07:56:00.001-05:00

Once Upon a Marigold
By Jean Ferris

Marigold is a princess, but she’s miserable because of a curse from her childhood. Christian is a runaway living in the forest with a troll for a father. Against all odds, these two form a friendship which will transform the lives of everyone in the kingdom. Written like a fairy tale, this is definitely not like any fairy tale you have ever read before. Sure there are trolls, evil queens, and even the tooth fairy, but there are also lots of dogs, flying machines, and twist after twist. This is an enjoyable read, and the characters are incredibly real.

-Ms. McConnel