The Coldest Winter Ever

The title of my book is The Coldest Winter Ever written by Sister Souljah. Sister Souljah’s written Midnight a gangster love story, Midnight and the meaning of love, a deeper love inside, no disrespect. In the coldest winter ever it talks about every child and family’s worst nightmare. It talks about a loving devoted father and husband at his house with the two youngest kids and the his wife having family quality time all of a sudden they all look up because they hear a big loud sound it was the police raiding their house. The book also talks about a family in jeopardy to stay together and to be able to now live in the conditions of losing their home becoming very broke having no type of income because the income that they did have it got tooken from them.

               

From the beginning to end I liked the book. This book tells you about a rich family and the father being raided at his house. Sister Souljah tells you about a family that ends up getting destroyed. Sister Souljah tells you about this girl named winter and her dad Santiago. Winter ends up losing her virginity to a boy she knows named bullet because it was her birthday.

               

The book starts off with winter and her family living in the urban area and out of the ghetto. Winter on night goes out with some of her friends. It was her and one of her other friends who is a girl and the other two were boys. Winter picked all of them up in a new Mercedes Benz. They went into the ghetto even though winter’s dad Santiago told her not to go over and into the ghetto because he can’t protect her cause he isn’t there with her. Winter and her friends ended up not going to the school party that they said they was going to go to instead they decided to have a party of their own. They all went to a hotel and they were drinking liquor play strip tease. After they got very drunk and was a little into playing that game winter and her friend Bullet ended up in their own hotel room. That night they ended up sleeping with each other whiles her other two friends were in their own room and they slept with each other too. After all of them were done sleeping with each other they made a video. The next morning when winter finally got back home her mom had told her that her father had gotten arrested.

               

I liked this book and I would recommend that everybody should read this book because it was a really good book. People would really like this book as much as I like this book to. Sister Souljah keeps you very interested in what is going to happen next. So therefore everybody should go and check out this book and read it.

Book Review by Lakayla M.

Wereworld, Rise of the Wolf

The title of my book is Wereworld, Rise of the Wolf. The author of Wereworld is Curtis Jobling. Some other books by Curtis Jobling include Haunt and Fishbone. The theme of Wereworld is fantasy. This story centers around how one person can change the world as we know it. Drew shows us all, that with some determination you can do anything.

Drew, a regular farm boy discovers a horrifying truth  about himself. He can turn into some type of wolf creature. He decides to run away. He runs into a group of people just like him. They call themselves Werelords. Drew finds out that he is threat to the current king with his royal blood. While escaping capture from the king, he is picked up by the Count Vega (who is loyal to the king) and is taken to to king. The king then hands him a death sentence.

This book is really good. I would give it  4 out of 5 stars. I liked this book because it lets people imagine  stuff that could never happen today. The author helps us to imagine by adding tons of details. He also talks a lot about every character so we can understand the story better. You should read  this book ,if you like were-animals or just like to read books about kids our age.

Book Review by Cameron Y.

The Freedom Writers Diary

The FreedomWriters Diary is a great non-fiction/memoir book. The authors are the Freedom Writers, and their teacher Mrs. Gruwell. It is in letter format, and it has entries from the freedom writers throughout their high school career.

Everything they say, and you read truly happened. Their friends get killed, their family went to jail. A lot of terrible things happened in their lives. Their teacher Mrs. Gruwell, or Erin Gruwell, helped the students push through their tough times, and Preserver. She helps the freedom writers find ways to take out the anger. Mainly, through writing. The students come love, and respect, worship, and love their English teacher. She is probably the most loved person. That’s because most of the students have been abandoned by their parents.

She helps them learn by bringing in guest speakers, and taking them on field trips. Some of the guest Speakers are Zlata Filipovic, the author of the diary of Zlata Filipkov, and Meip. Who is the lady who hid Anne Frank, her family, and the family of Anne’s father’s friend. The field trip is Washington D.C. She also takes them to a holocaust museum so they can learn what the holocaust was, and why it is a very important piece of history.

Mrs. Gruwell was a great influence on the freedom writers. I would say that this book for people who like writing. The book tells a true story of the life of Teenages that live in “the Hood”. People who like to read true stories, or people who like books in letter format. I think this was a great, inspirational book. Definetly a great read!

Book Review by Isaac G.

Pictures of Hollis Woods

‘Pictures of Hollis Woods’ is an Newbery Honor award winning book written by Patricia Reilly Gif. It’s about a girl who has spent her whole life traveling through foster homes and causing trouble. Hollis doesn’t want a foster family, she wants a real family. She ends up finding a family who accepts her and she is finally happy. She ends up messing up with this family too. The last lady is someone who is equally crazy as her and Hollis takes care of her because she can’t lose another family. Read this story to find out how Hollis changes and what she will do for the ones she loves. The author wanted this story to tell that there is always someone who will love you and shows what you will do to keep the ones you love safe.

Hollis woods is the main character of the story. She is a witty, ignorant, independent little girl that does not care for the foster families that don’t care for her. She has always had an amazing talent at drawing and art.  The chapters give us flashbacks of her life through the pictures she has drawn. Hollis has had two families she has loved. She proves that she will do anything for them. The first family she stumbled upon on accident in the midst of her running away from a foster home. It all started with a game of checkers and they took her in after that. Hollis had never felt so at home, until one day there was a terrible accident and she has to leave them. She is then sent off to live with an old eccentric lady by the name of Josie and her feisty old cat. Josie is a little forgetful, a little too forgetful. This concerns the foster care agency so they plan on taking Hollis away from Josie. The two are now each other’s best friends and family, they need to escape so they can’t take hollis. Read the story to find out how Hollis’s plan will work and what amazing things happen toward the end of the story. It’s very shocking and you will have mixed emotions!

This was a great story, but it was an easy read. I think it could have had more plot twists but it was still good enough to keep me fascinated and wondering what will happen next. I would recommend it to people! It wasn’t the best but it was still good maybe a 7-10. If you are interested in realistic stories I would suggest this, it is just a normal sad story.

Book Review by Allie K.

No Way Out

The book No Way Out by Peggy Kern is what I've recently finished reading. There were no information about the author herself on the book, instead, the book advertised the other books in its series: The Fallen and Shattered by Paul Langan, and Search for safety by John Langan. The book is about a high school freshman struggling against the finance problem and ended up working for a neighborhood drug dealer.

The series is called Bluford High.

Harold Davis, a Bluford High freshman, was facing a big trouble. There was medical bills piling up and he was told that he has to be extremely careful about the budget. Urging for money, he didn't wanted, but had to choose to work for Londell James, a neighborhood drug dealer. Showing us the internal struggle in a ighschool freshman's mind when he had to choose one of these and leave the other behind: Working for Londell for the money to help his family or the warn of his gradnma and his friends to never interfere with such a drug dealer.

Harold's grandma, who was Harold's only relative, accidentally injured herself, and she had to get treatments which led to bills demanding thousands of dollars. Despite that his grandma told him not to worry about her business-- the bills for the treatments. Despite the help from Cindy, Harold's good friend, he struggled to do anything to get the money, which also included, working with a drug dealer--Londell James.

Conflicts are within and outside Harold, but the main ones,and the ones that author may want to show most, are the ones within. He had to lie to his closest friends that he was working for such a horrible person, and he had to be in fear about the day that his friends and his grandma found the truth, which led to conflicts between Harold and his friends, who were furious to find that their closet friend was acting strange and avoiding their questions, and later isolated Harold.

Personally, I strongly recommend this book, for it clearly depicted how a high school student struggled in his own mind to work for some people that he should never go near, and how he changed from ignoring helps from his friends from understanding them at last.From the author's extremely detailed description, we could see the hard decisions fighting each other inside Harold's mind, and all the worries and fear he's hiding deep inside his heart, as if we could read his mind and as if we were seeing Harold fighting against his 'enemies' in person.

Book Review by John Z.

Hunger Games

Suzanne Collins has written many amazing pieces including the Hunger Games.  Some other books include “Catching Fire” and “Mocking Jay” which are the 2nd and 3rd books to the series.  In the Hunger Games, the main character, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to enter a “game” in which her and 23 other tributes fight to the death. She must be smart and plan strategies in order to stay alive. The theme of the book is independence, bravery, and having the heart to fight for what you want and who you love.

Katniss volunteers to go to into the Hunger Games.. Every year a boy and a girl from the ages of 12-18 are chosen from each of the 12 districts to fight to the death. At the end the last one is declared the victor and will forever be remembered.  The boy chosen is named Peeta. Both of the young adults are taken to what’s called the “Capitol”. All the rich people live in the Capitol and are what are called “sponsors”. They send the kids in the arena food or water or anything that they may need- if they like them. Katniss and Peeta decide to be “star-crossed lovers” as a strategy to get sponsors. Will Katniss AND Peeta survive the Hunger Games? Or will one of them turn on the other one in order to win?

This book was amazingly detailed and full of life. I felt like I was right there the whole time. The Hunger Games is hands down the most creative, exciting, and eventful book I have ever read. It was a creative idea and well had well developed characters. The only thing I would change is the understanding Gale and Katniss’s relationship better. I think Gale could be a more important and useful character than he is betrayed as in the book. Other than that, the Hunger Games is the best book I have ever read.

Book Review by Mia R.

Batman Knightfall, Volume 2: Knightquest

I have read Batman Nightfall, Volume 2: Knightquest. This is a collection of many comics from the Batman series (comic #21-40) in one book, so it is easy to finish the story and not have to get every comic. The author is a whole D.C. comics team, consisting of Alan Grant, Doug Moench, and Chuck Dixon. This book is the sequal to the first volume of Nightfall written by the same team.

Mentally defeated and physically broken, Bruce Wayne suffered a crippling blow while battling Bane. Now, the title of the Batman must be passed on to another, and Jean Paul Valley takes the opportunity to own Gotham City. But as the new dark knight slowly loses his grip on sanity, his idea of justice takes a violent and deadly turn. Witnessing this dangerous behavior firsthand, Nightwing and Robin try to come to grips with Bruce's highly controversial decision to come back from a severly broken back to become the Batman once again while the new Batman sets his sights on taking revenge against Bane. Along the way, Nightwing and Robin face the problems of still cleaning the streets from the Arkham Asylum break out and taking out the likes of the Joker, Anarky, and The Scarecrow, while still having to worry about Bane and their best friend and better enemy, Jean Paul.

I really loved the book. This was much better than Volume one, which is saying a lot considering my review of that. The plot and characters came together better than volume one and the final battle between Jean Paul and Bruce Wayne was awesome! If you enjoy comic books, stop what you are doing and go to the nearest comic shop and find the sequal to the first volume of Nightfall.

Book Review by Jordan S.

Harris and Me

Harris and Me

Gary Paulson

Gary Paulsen is the author of hatchet He often writes about outdoors and the natural environment. Gary Paulson usually writes about the outdoors and the importance of nature. He often uses a changing of environment themes in his novels. The boy narrating this story has to learn to live in different environments.

The theme of this book is pretty much no matter where you live try to have fun. Harris and Me is about a boy that has to live with a cousin because his parents are alcoholic's abusers. His cousin's name is Harris. Harris is an adventurous boy he lives in a family of 5. Throughout the time he lives with his cousin on the farm.

Harris and Me is set in the 1950's and is a good look at farm life through an 11 year old city boy. The narrator of this book is sent to live with relatives on their farm because of his unhappy home life, an eleven-year-old city boy meets his distant cousin for the first time. His name is Harris.  Harris introduces the Narrator to a beginning to a whole new world. Harris is one of those boys that always get heard swearing throughout the story. He would get into trouble for it often.

My opinion on this book is that it was kind of a funny book. I recommend this book to people who like funny stories and want to laugh a little. The author adds good descriptive detail. I think the books detail makes you feel like you’re actually with them doing all the fun crazy adventures in the book. This story is a good book to read if you want to laugh. It’s a short story, so perfect to read on a rainy or snowy day. 

Book Review by Lena B.

The White Mercedes

The white Mercedes

Philip Pullman

The Golden Compass and The Scuttle Knife are a few of his dark novels. The White Mercedes is more true to our world without all the dark material that you would find in other books he has written. The author uses the same settings in most of his books like it takes place in Oxford. The book is set in modern time. I have read most of his dark material novels and not much can compare with this specific story to the others he was written.

The theme to this book is, don’t trust everyone you know well. This theme is tell Chris that he should not trust people before he has a chance to get to know them better.

This story is about a boy and girl that fall in love with one another after meeting at the Oxford Collage summer ball. The boy is named Chris and he discovers something while searching for Jenny. He found out that trusting the wrong person can lead up to a tragic endings.  Jenny is killed by Chris’s boss. Carson kills her due to a mistaken identity.

The plot of this book was confusing to me through out some parts. I don’t understand how Jenny was mistaken for an identity. The book was week in explaining the crime and mystery part. This book also had a part with a graphic sexual scene.

I could tell by the first sentence I read in the story that someone would get killed at the end. The story overall was okay to read if you like love and romance with a tragic ending.

Book Review by Lena B.

The Book Thief

"A human doesn't have a heart like mine. The human heart is a line, whereas my own is a circle, and I have the endless ability to be in the right place at the right time. The consequence of this is that I'm always finding humans at their best and worst. I see their ugly and their beauty, and I wonder how the same thing can be both."

As said by the embodiment of Death in Markus Zusak’s , TheBook Thief. The book is set during World War II and to make the story more interesting and to give a great view of what is happening,  Zusak makes the narrator of the story Death himself. The story follows a young girl named Liesel Meminger who was first spotted by Death when her own little brother died of the cold. When Death comes to take her little brother’s soul away he stays to see how Liesel and her mother deal with the death of the brother. Death only finally chooses to continue to watch Liesel when he sees her steal a book at her brother’s funeral. “The Gravediggers Handbook” was the first of many books Liesel would steal after being sent away to live with another family to keep her away from the war.

But as Death continues to watch her, he watches her join the BDM, a youth group aimed at instructing young girls in Hitler’s ideas. He also watches as her and Rudy, a local boy her age who is famous around the town for his impersonation of an Olympic Athlete, play soccer, race each other, and live what they believe is the perfect life. But then Death notices a new character entering the story; Living in the basement of Liesel’s foster family’s house. But who is this character? What happens to them?

This historical fiction is definitely a book that I would recommend to other teens my age. Everything in the book caught my eyes and made me urging myself to read more. I rate this book a 9/10 because it is so perfectly put together and it faces many controversial historical events. However it does not get a full 10/10 because the book is set up in such a way that it seems like the reader is reading a play. There are different scenes, acts and random additions of dialogue from Death. But when you start reading the book all of those little bits and pieces of the book don’t change the reading for you, so don’t decide not to read this book because of it. If you haven’t got time to read this book, make time because you will not regret reading it! 

Book Review by Sam B.

Butterflies

Butterflies by Susanne Gervay is an inspiring yet sad story about Katherine, an 18 year old girl who was severely burned at the age of three. All Katherine wants is to be normal, have long beautiful hair, beautiful skin and for a guy to love her for who she is. Thats when she finds William a boy who loves and care for her no matter the scars. Throughout this book Katherine is put in many challenges all because of this burn, but she has to stay strong and remember life is short. Butterflies is told through a combination of Katherine’s family, and sometimes disconnected thoughts, recollections of events in the past – how she was burnt, time in hospitals – and Katherine’s present life.

As a kid obsessed with fantasy, reading through the painfully realistic Butterflies was an interesting experience. The world of Katherine was still a bit too abnormal for me to fully relate to or appreciate, however, it had a strong emotional core that really drew me to its characters. You don't need to be a fellow burn survivor to relate with Katherine's hatred over her self-image, and the journey she goes on to accept herself and her troubled past was genuinely touching. I can really appreciate now, having a normal childhood with loving parents. All the realistic messages it sent about not only burns survivors, but of their families, nd that even though times can be rough, theres always going to be a way to make life worth it.

Katherine's story was definitely one worth telling, and I'm glad I gave it a chance.  I would rate this book an 8 out of ten. I would definitely recommend this book. Although some times the book can get slow and boring, reading through the whole book will be worth it. It can teach you some life lessons and let you learn about an extremely lucky tragedy survivor and how she put her self out there and was always herself and the very best she could always be.  

Book Review by Alex H.

Pop

Gordon korman write the book pop which was the number one best seller for children's books. Gordon had written many stories for children and young adults. A few of those novels are swindle, schooled, and son of the mob. Pop is the story about a teenager named Marcus who moves to a new high school and meets an older man named Charlie.Charlie coaches Marcus about the game of football. The two become close friends and Marcus finds out that Charlie was the NFL king of pop.The theme of the novel is that family is very important and that some things are better kept as a secret. Because if those secrets get out then a sequence of events can happen causing something bad to happen to the person the secret is about. This theme shows up many times in the novel.for example, when Troy and his family are trying to keep Charles identity a secret so everybody won't know that he is the king of pop.

    

Pop is a book about a  kid Marcus who moved to this new town. He really likes football, so he joins the school's football team. While he is trying to make it onto the team he was practicing in a park called Three Alarm Park. He meets this man named Charlie who has been giving him free practices. He meets this guy named Troy, who is a complete jerk towards Marcus. Troy is trying to get Marcus away from Charlie who is his father. Troy and his family are desperate to keep a secret from everyone about his father. Turns out, Charlie has Alzheimer's. Well, to Charlie Marcus is his best friend.  Marcus soon finds out that Charlie is the "King of Pop" of football.
    

This novel is really good.There is big twist in the end that makes you say. "Wait! What! This can't happen!."This book is so good. This book is one of the best sports novels I've ever read. This book it's so good because of the details that the author gives making it seem add if you are really inside the novel. I also enjoyed the book because of the crazy ending.This book is absolutely fantastic.

Book Review by Joshua H.

Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane

When i finished Gregor the Overlander, the first book in the overlander series with a cliff hanger. I couldnt just leave Suzanne Collin's series alone. I had to read the next book in the series, Gregor and theProphecy of Bane. When Gregor and his sister Boots first fell into the Underland, Gregor swore to himself that he would never return. That desicion will soon be forgotten when the humans of the Underland need Gregor to return to fulfill a key part in a new prophecy that could possibly change the Underland and Gregor forever.

Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane is a fantasy action adventure book that follows our main charecter Gregor as he returns to the Underland to retrieve his little sister who was just kidnapped by the humans of the Underland and fulfill his duty as a key player in another quest of the Underland. Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane is told in chapters that are told in Gregors perspective from his time on his journey for the Bane. As you get further and further into the book im sure you wont beable to stop for its the suspence and hope that Gregor and his friends will make it through their quest alive.

When I was reading this book, I had to push through the book because of the hope that through bad time our main charecter, Gregor would pull through and fulfill the Prophecy of Bane. With this book comes the suspence which there are plenty of moments of. In conclusion I would say this was a pretty satisfying book that I would recomend to anyone who was interested in the first book and I am sure you wont be disapointed.

Book Review by Jaykub R.

Found: The Missing Book 1

This is a very great book by Margaret Peterson and the title of the book is called The Missing Book 1 Found. Margaret Peterson has written many book series such as The hidden series, 39 clues series and this series called The Missing. Margaret Peterson has received a few rewards for her great books. The theme of this book is that it is an investigation into the adoption of Jonah and Chip.

A mysterious plane had landed at the airport with not a single sign of a captain in the cockpit. The plane had not shown up on radar. Amanda was starting her first day as an employee at the airport. Amanda had decided to take a walk down the tunnel and wondered how the jet door was open if there was no sign of anybody on the plane. The plane was very dark and not a single noise or sign came to show that there was anybody on the plane. The seats were empty... or so Amanda thought. Until she heard a slight noise come from below her. Suddenly she was them. The babies filled all of the seats in the plane. She had to wake her self up from this dream. That wasn’t going to happen though because this situation was really happening.

13 years later: Jonah had always known that he was adopted but there was just one problem with that, he had no idea who his birth parents were nor did he know all of the back ground information of where he came from or how he even got here. A few months after Jonah had turned 13 he began receiving mysterious letters saying things like “you are one of the missing” and “beware, they’re coming back for you. Jonah didn't think anything of it in fact he thought it was all just a prank. Until his friend chip also started receiving these mysterious letters as well. Chip had not yet known about his adoption until he received the same letters as Jonah and Chip had asked his dad about the letter and if he was adopted. Unfortunately for Chip, he was adopted. Now Chip really started to worry about these letters. Could they all just be pranks? Or could the letters really mean something? Now was the great time to start investing what really happened 13 years ago.

This book is really recommended to others to read because this book has a lot of action packed scenes in it as well as great investigating. Margaret Peterson is a great author and has written a great number of books. Out of all of the books I have read of hers this one is most definitely the best book of hers.

Book Review by Shawn C.

The Red Pyramid

This book is called The Red Pyramid. Its author is Rick Riorden. That name sound familiar, well it should. Rick Riorden is the author of The Percy Jackson series of books. This book along with most of his others is based on mythology. This books mythology is based on Egypt.

In this story two siblings, Carter and Salie, who come from an ancient magical royal bloodline are informed of what is to be their destiny. After being fused with the minds of two gods the two discover and explore the newly transformed world around them, trying to stop the evil plans of another god Set. Carter and Salie have a cat that turns out to be a goddess sent to protect them.

I would definitely recommend this book to someone who is into fantasy books or likes good action books. Don’t wait the sooner the better because if you start reading you won’t be able to put it down. The plot line and the cliffhangers are good and makes for an interesting story.

Book Review by CJ W.

Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods

The book that I’m reading is called “Gregor and the curse ofthe Warmbloods”. The author of this book is “Suzanne Collins” she has written other books like the “hunger games” and many other great novels. All of her books are greatly detailed and descriptive. In this story “Gregory the human” is needed to come back to the under land, because there has been a plague going on around the land. He goes down there but his mother refuses to let him go, the under Landers’ send mice’s to scare them out of their apartment.  After that situation, his mom agrees to let him go to the under land and attend the meeting, but only if she goes, so they do. During the meeting, an infected bat comes from one of the secret tunnels and falls dead on the ground in front of all the people attending the meeting, they all run for safety. A guard riding on his bat comes in with a torch and drops it on the dead bat to burn its carcass, one of the giant rats tried to warn him not to drop the torch but it was too late.  When the bats body started burning, a bunch of infected flees jump from its body, and one of the flees end up biting Gregory’s mom. The bite mark on his mother leads him to a quest to find the cure to save his mother’s life, and the rest of the Underlanders.

The book is about a young boy who has been summoned to the underlands to help the people that have been infected with the disease, on his journey, he meets two new people, one of them whom once was the prince of the underlands, he had disappeared one day after he had killed many of the kingdoms rat and many of his own men’s in a war.  The prince saw his father and told him to leave or he wouldn’t help Gregor through his journey. His dad did as he was told, the man had a son and a giant lizard friend. The lizard helped him and his little sister Boots when they got tired and when they needed food. They find out later that his mom gets sicker and on the edge of death. He finds himself in many difficult accidences, and a horrible thing happens to his companions. when he finds the plant, he has to face a common enemy and something happens, he return home to find out that all the things he went through was just a distraction to keep him away from the person who told them to go in the first place, who actually created a cure while they were gone.

I would absolutely recommend this book to others to read. Everyone should read this book; it’s great, exciting, and adventurous! You could find it here in our Roosevelt library. This book has anything you are looking for in a book; it will hook you right away in the first peregrah! This book is great for someone that loves realistic fiction.    

Book Review by Miguel C.

The Freedom Writers Diary

The book I have read is Freedom Writers. By the Freedom Writers, and put together by their teacher Mrs. Erin Gruwell. In the book all of the freedom writers share their stories and what is going on their lives. All of the problems and what they think of each of the class. Mrs. Gruwell is trying to help her students with the difficulties in their lives. She and her husband also run in to problems of their own and she deals with her issues and her student’s issues.

The story is about the freedom writers and their adventures around the US. Mrs. Gruwell is trying to teach other grades so she can stay with her “Kids” and she is spending so much time with them that something very unexpected happens and she must get through it and help her students get through high school. She is like no teacher anybody has ever had. To them she is their mother and has taken the role of a very important figure to her students.

I recommend this book; everybody should know the story of the freedom writers and how they changed the way schools works. They have made it so anybody can be friends. They can all have the same opportunities and they can all be in the same room. The only problem I have with this book is that you don’t know who is talking or writing. There is no identification of who is who. 

Book Review by Cait M.

The 39 Clues

The 39 clues

It starts out with this boy and his older sister, and they have to go to a funeral, because there grandma died and she is really rich so they are hoping to get or inherit some of her money and so is the rest there family. They all got a choice of one big thing of money or the first clue to the 39 clues. The two main characters I’ll just call family one and another family who gets anything and everything they want I’ll just call family two, both families took the first clue, because if you find all the clues the prize is billions of dollars, and the first clue is hidden in the house then family two finds out, gets the clue then the next thing you know both families are flying a plane around the world and going underground into the catacombs with a bunch of human skulls and bones.

This book is around $8.00 it comes with these cards that you can use on the website, the cards are apparently collectable, and each card has a part of a picture so as you collect them it shows more of the picture. Go buy this book if you like adventure books.

Book Review by Adam R.

The Fellowship of the Ring

J.R.R Tolkien writes the book “The fellowship of the Ring”, J.R.R Tolkien has written the Lord of the Rings trilogy, which are great books because they are about how people are fighting this evil person and how they have an adventure meeting new people, creatures, going to a new place. I really like adventure books like the “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy.  The theme of the book is that you should always have confidence in yourself and try to have an adventure once in your lifetime instead of sticking in on place for the rest of your life.

The fellowship of the ring is about named Frodo Baggins who has been given the ring and it is his job to destroy the ring in the fires of Mordor.   Even though Frodo don’t have a clue where Mordor is located he has some help from the wizard known as Gandalf the Grey, Frodo also has his friends go along with him their names are Sam, Pippin, and Merry.   While Frodo and his friends arrive at Bree they meet, a person named Aragon also known as “Strider” who helps them get to Riverdale because Gandalf did not show up at Bree to help them because he went to see his other wizard friend known as Sarumon, but Sarumon ends up betraying him and trapping Gandalf in his tower. Frodo and his friends left Bree because it was under attack by the Black Riders so they could not let them capture Frodo or the ring. When they got to Riverdale Gandalf was already there, when they set out for their quest there was nine of them Frodo, Sam, Gandalf, Merry, Pippin, Boromir, Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli. When they got to Moria Gandalf was separated from them, but they kept going on with their quest. When they went on with their quest they went to Lothlórien, where Frodo saw the Eye of Sauron in a magic mirror, after a stopover in Lothlórien, they head down the River Anduin. That is where they all were separated because the orcs attacked them Frodo and Sam continued going towards Mordor, Merry and Pippin were captured by some of the orcs so Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli went after them and Boromir was killed by the orcs.

I would recommend this book to those who like adventure type books because this book is mostly about how the people travel from one place to another, if you do not like the book than you should not read it and get a different book that you like better.

Book Review by Ramla U.

The Good Ghoul's Guide to Getting Even

The Good Ghoul’s guide to getting even is written by national bestselling author Julie Kenner.

Overachiever Beth Frasier is a junior at Waterloo High in Austin, Texas. She even has a chance to become Valedictorian when she graduates. That is until Tamara; head cheerleader, tricks her into thinking that she is joining the squad and have a chance to date quarterback of the football team Stephen Willis. But really Stephen Willis organized the whole thing and just wanted to turn Beth into a vampire and she wounds up dead. Technically she is still alive but she is a now a vampire as well.

Beth now battles trying to figure out how to be human again, relationships, and a way to get revenge on Stephen Willis. The book is all in Beth’s point of view. This story has so many turning points which keep readers into the story and waiting to see what happens next. As you read each page you feel Beth’s suspense and it makes you feel for Beth and hope that she finally finds a way to get out of her vampire situation.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in fiction and mysteries. This book may be one of Julie Kenner’s best fictional stories. There is also a sequel to this book named Good Ghoul’s Do. 

Book Review by Shimae O.

Thirteen Reasons Why

I had the opportunity to read the novel Thirteen Reasons Why, By Jay Asher. Jay Asher has not only written this novel but he’s wrote The Future of US, in which I have not yet had the chance to read.

After hearing the devastating news of Hannah Bakers death, Clay Jensen receives box of tapes on his against his front door. In which he’s curious to what it is he opens the box, plays the tapes only to find out is recordings that Hannah baker herself made. With each secret and each person it reveals that Clay himself and others are somewhat related to her death, and what brought her to her breaking point. Throughout the day and the night, Clay keeps listening. As he listens carefully he goes throughout town following Hannah’s steps, and recorded words. What Clay finds out as he listens changes his life, and I’m sure it changed the others on the tapes life as well.

This novel unfolds various plot twist, that shows a since of mystery focuses on Clay Jensen. Not only does it focus on Clay but it focuses on what really happened to Hannah Baker and how was he involved. With each tape told in chapters, the plot advances and grows with each secret revealed. Readers instantly become drawn into what will happen next, curious of how each person and Clay Jensen adds up to the death of Hannah Baker.

Some characters were left somewhat undeveloped, making us as the readers to ask questions. Thirteen Reasons Why is a real eye catcher, page-turner and it just keeps you wanting more. In which I’m sure others would enjoy this book.

Book Review by Cierra D.

Rosa Parks: My Story

Rosa Parks My Story

Written By: Rosa Parks

On December 1st, 1955, Rosa Parks got arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a segregated bus, in Montgomery Alabama. One year later after the boycott ended, segregation on buses was illegal. The Civil Rights Movement was a huge national cause for African Americans. There is much more to Rosa Parks’ story than just being arrested. Rosa Parks tells her side of the story in the struggle for equality for African Americans.

In the book “Rosa Parks, my story” Rosa Parks goes through an awful struggle fighting for her rights, and equality. Rosa Parks is a strong African American woman who does not give in for anyone. She is a lovable, phenomenal woman. Rosa Parks was actively involved in the NAACP which stands for “National Association for the Advancement of Colored People”. The day Rosa Parks had gotten arrested for not giving up her seat for a white man, she wasn’t just tired, all the tired she was, was tired of giving in.

I would recommend this book to everyone whether you’re black, white, mixed, red, or purple. The best thing about this book is that Rosa Parks wrote it herself, and you actually get her side of the story instead of getting someone else’s point of view and it’s just better to hear the real story. 

Book Review by Cassandra B.

Confetti Girl

The book I read was titled “Confetti Girl”, written by Diana Lopez. Other writings of hers include “Ask my mood ring how I feel” and “TheArvon Book of Literary Non-Fiction. I have not read other books written by her so I am not able to compare them. The story is about Apolina “ Lina” Flores a young girl who is currently going through a personal tragedy with the loss of her mother. Not only that, but her father has barely anything to say anymore and is constantly hiding behind his books. There is one person Lina can confide in, her best friend Vanessa who has troubles of her own.

Lina has begun to give up. School is no longer her priority, until one of her teachers removes her from doing sports until she catches up in school. As if this was any worse she is starting to develop a crush on a boy named Luis, who has a lisp. People make fun of Lina for liking him, but she doesn’t care. Lina also must support her best friend Vanessa at this time, recently her parents have gotten a divorce and Vanessa`s mom is constantly going on about how all boys are bad. So when Vanessa starts hanging around a boy named Carlos this just makes matters worse. She decides to hide Carlos from her mom. Lina and Vanessa experience conflict when Vanessa goes to her fathers for the holidays and promises to get together with Lina during that time. When Vanessa doesn’t follow through and instead hangs out with Carlos it causes friction between the two. More than that Vanessa and her Mom have started to go at it and Lina wants her Dad to come out of his “Rabbit Hole”.

Personally I felt Confetti Girl was an okay book. It was a good inspirational read, a family dealing with a tragedy, a boy trying to get over his lisp, and a girl trying to get over her parent`s divorce. I recommend this book if you enjoy reading about people getting over the hurdles of life. If you enjoy Spanish this book also includes a selection of “dichos”, which are little phrases written in Spanish. It also contains a bit of Spanish culture since both Lina and Vanessa`s family are of Spanish heritage. The books overall message is that we need to be thankful for what we have and I think the end of the book was a strong writing finish. Confetti Girl is a book I would recommend to you if you enjoy reading any of these things. 

Book Review by Liz Z.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

After being kicked out of just about every other boarding school in New York, Percy Jackson has to go to camp half blood with the other Demi-gods. Before Percy realizes his real power in the world, he goes through a huge realization of what his life hides behind the scenes. He first encounters a mythological creature when on a field trip with his class to the Greek history museum. His math teacher Mrs. Dodds turns into a gargoyle and attacks him.

The elaborately crafted novel by Rick Riordan “Percy Jacksonand the Olympians : The Lightning Thief is an amazing book. Percy battles with the troubles of the mythological creature encounters, and the burden that his mother has been taken. Throughout the book, Percy ignites the power within him that has been kept away for all this time. Percy discovers all of the secrets about the world, and the dangers that lie ahead of him are more than he could ever imagine.

Despite the fact that Percy is a little more naïve to the idea of monsters being real at first, and a little more dialogue than expected, this book is a great read. It makes you develop your perspective on the characters and the aspects the story carries on. Percy Jackson and the Olympians : The lighting thief is a great book for all ages, and a perfectly constructed page turner, from the streets of New York, to the palaces of Olympus 

Book Review by Aaron B.

The Skin I'm In

The book I read is called, the skin I’m in. it was written by Sharon G. Flake, this is the first book that I’ve read that’s written by Sharon g. flake. This book was written in first person point of view, I think the theme of it is perseverance because the main character Maleeka doesn’t quit on herself instead she always tries to find a reason to keep on going. These are some of the books Sharon G. Flake wrote, To Battle the Gods, HaughtySpirit, Flame of Fury, and many more.

In this book Maleeka is a 7th grader that attends a school where she is taunted and teased everyday about her skin color. Then one day a new teach came into the with a very odd birthmark on her face. The teacher made the situation between Maleeka and her friends even worst then it was. The teacher got Char her friend who she gets clothes from to where to school and the person sometimes stick up for her when the other kids are making fun of her if she does her homework for her to get in trouble. So they made a plan to mess the teachers classroom, but when they got caught they all blamed it on Maleeka and so she said she’ll tell the truth to the teacher because she wasn’t the only one who messed up the classroom and wasn’t the one who lit the fire in the classroom. So in my opinion I would say that this book was about a girl over coming her thoughts and feelings about what people would say or think of you, but instead just be yourself and do things that would pleased you and not just pleased others only.

I would recommend this book because it relates to real life, like if you someone is using you like Char was using Maleeka well you need to speak up for yourself even if it means losing the only friends you got because any good friend wouldn’t blame stuff on you if they know it wasn’t your fault. And they wouldn’t gossip behind your back because those are not people worthy to be called your friends. It was also easy to understand and it’s not a long time consuming story that has no ending, you could also finish it in a day or 3 if you choose but I finished it in a week.

Book Review by Hassatu D.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck

This yet another book of Diary of a wimpy kid series. At the beginning of the series Greg Hefley the main character just started middle school, now Greg is in 8th grade the end! Well almost. In all his adventures in these books his best friend Rowley has always been there by his side weather it means getting trouble, hurt and most commonly embarrassed. But lately Rowley hasn't been around, but it couldn’t help that Rowley has a new Girlfriend named Abigail. Problem is though that Abigail doesn't like Rowley’s Friends too much infect she doesn't really like them at all. Not only that but she doesn't like how they hang out or where. She hates what they do for fun! Worst of all she is changing Rowley...a lot. Greg’s losing his best pal and missing him.

Greg’s mom tells him that friends move on, but unfortunately for Greg family is forever. This book tells all the struggles Greg has and is noticing without Rowley they have become 10 times harder. Not only does Greg have to deal with his Mom, Dad and brothers but also relatives. Not only does Greg have to put up with his horrible family but now there are more of them. Greg’s always wondered why his mom has forced him and his brothers to cherish each other. Will now he is finding out why, his Aunts haven’t gotten along at all and to mention he hasn't seen them in years! Well now he has, and his family has gotten even crazier. As much as Greg gets annoyed with his boundary less family he has learned and importantly found a few things. Overall this book was just as good as others and keeps you desiring more from the laugh out loud books.

Book Review by Kayleigh C.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

The author of this novel is Douglas Adams, sci-fi writer extraordinare!  He has written four other books, each one more confusing than the last.  Each one follows up from his first novel.  Arthur Dent—the main character—has just lost his house, found out that his best friend is an alien, and has been pushed into an inter-galactic adventure.

Earth has been demolished, destroyed, blown-up, vaporized!  “What for?”  you may ask.  To make room for an inter-galactic by-pass, that’s why.  But not to fear, two humans have been spared from this tragedy.  One is the main character, Englishman Arthur Dent, saved accidentally by inter-galactic President, Zaphod Beeblebrox.  The other human survivor who happened to be traveling with Beeblebrox is a woman named Trillian.  Together they travel together to a mysterious planet.  Why do they do this?  Because they can—that’s why.

The tale itself is wacky.  The plot went missing awhile ago, and is probably holding the story’s common sense for ransom.  The novel is extremely hard to follow, but is really funny and is worth quite a few laughs.  If you are looking for a book to pass the time with—this is the book for you.

Book Review by Morgan D.

The Outsiders

The book Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is about a 14-year-old boy named Ponyboy and the struggles with the gang that he calls “family.” Other books that this author has written was that was then, this is now, rumble fish and taming the star runner.

Two gangs called the Greasers and Socs have a strong hate for  eachother. Two soc girls fall inlove with two grease boys. The socs doesn’t approve of this affair. The two gangs get into a bad situation and stuff goes downhill there read the story to find out more.

I would recommend this book because I myself thought I was a very interesting. I got caught on to this book easy because it got straight to the point unlike some authors that take forever to tell the story, it kept me on edge as to what was happening next like when Johnny killed the soc and ran away I automatically knew something bad was going to happen.

Book Review by Aryon C.

Unforgettable

Unforgettable by Cecily von Ziegesar is the sequel to the “It Girl” series. Some books in that series include The It Girl, Notorious, and Reckless. She also wrote the Gossip Girl Series, including Gossip Girl, YouKnow You Love Me, All I Want Is Everything, Because I’m Worth It, I Like It Like That, and seven other books are also included into the series. In this book and series there is a lot of judgment between the Waverly owls, a balance between justice and judgment. Another theme is good and evil, Jenny the sweet heart, is secretly battling against Callie, the evil self centered roommate, over Easy Walsh.

Unforgettable takes place at Waverly Academy, a high school that resembles college life; students live in a dorm, and do not live with their parents during the school year. For high school students, having a dorm also means nightly sleepovers and double the wardrobe to share. Though, Callie Vernon did not really favor the idea of late night gossip, or of sharing her favorite sweaters with her roommate Jenny Humphrey. So when Jenny stole Callie’s boyfriend Easy Walsh, Callie could care less about how Jenny would feel about her kissing Easy without Jenny knowing, and Jenny would not stop Callie from enjoying that kiss either. It is time for Easy to make up his mind, who will it be? Callie or Jenny? While Callie and Jenny are sharing a boyfriend, a new club pops up in Waverly. A club for the women of Waverly. Where girls can share their deepest secrets with other Waverly students, creating a closer bond among them all. Some of these secrets are job dropping, like who leaves their dorm at night… and with whom they do. Who will be the next it-girl of Waverly?

I would recommend this book and series to anyone who likes a good drama! I would recommend you start with the first book of the series to get an understanding to the plot of the story though. Each book and chapter of this series leaves you on a cliff hanger, from a character finding out what another character said about them, or another character doing something they know is a bad decision, making you wonder what will happen to them after the incident. Each chapter alternates between the main characters of this academy, and what kind of new drama they bring to the story. At the end of each chapter it shows an email conversation among two of the characters talked about in the chapter, sometimes the emails reveal untold secrets. Overall I would give this story five stars out of five, because I like books that have many cliff hangers, with lots of drama, because it makes me feel included as if someone is gossiping to me new stories, and that makes me want to continue reading, to see what the outcome of all of the incidents. Want a good read for winter break? Read the “It Girl” series!

Book Review by Emina B.

The Stowaway

This book is The Stowaway, by R.A. Salvatore, and his son, Geno Salvatore. It is The Stowaway, the first book in the Stone of Tymora trilogy. R.A. Salvatore is a writer of fantasy novels, and many of his books are considered some of the best in the genre. I have not read any of them, but so far I do look forward to reading the next one. The Stowaway follows the adventures of a young boy by the name of Maimun, who is an orphan.  Maimun does not know his birth name. His first caretaker, Elbeth, called him Lucky Child. She did not believe in names, and so called him that, for him being lucky to have made it to her. His second caretaker, Perrault, gave him a name. This name was “Maimun”, which means “twice-lucky”.

Maimun is only twelve years old, and so far has already travelled much across the lands of Faerûn. He has the past six years of his life wandering the lands with Perrault, reading books, learning many things. Many things changed on his twelfth birthday, he was given a stone. This stone holds power, according to Perrault, though he will not say what. This stone has brought great tragedy to Mamun, and he is now on the run for his life.

He stows away on a ship leaving Baldur’s Gate, a large city in Faerûn, and sets sail. He encounters many things during his stowaway; one of them is a mysterious Dark Elf by the name of Drizzt Do'Urden. Drizzt is a mysterious person, he says things in a very wise manner the same way the Perrault does. Along his journey he will also encounter pirates, battles, and a demon by the name of Asbeel, and will come face-to-face with death more than once.

Maimun is a very strong-willed individual, he is cunning, and thinks quickly. He shows all these things on multiple occasions while on his travels, whether it being as simple as deciding where to go next, or fighting a giant lizard in an enclosed space. Maimun is one of those characters in a book that you will love to know more about, and will want to know his entire story. It will be very interesting to read about the rest of his journey in the other books by R.A. Salvatore.

I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys fantasy novels. It is a very good book, and will keep you reading until the end. The book introduces interesting characters, all of whom are mysteriously intriguing. These characters all either aid Maimun in his journey, or they attempt to foil him. Either way, each and every one of them is interesting. The characters are what make this tale a good one; all of them are unique, and all of them have a part in the story.

Book Review by Joe B.

Eragon

Eragon is written by Christopher Paolini and the author has completed a four book series including Eragon. The books are as follows, Eragon, Eldest, Brisinger, and Inheritance. My personal opinion is he is an awesome writer. While yes the books can be long and at some points boring, what draws the readers the most are the bonds that Eragon makes throughout his journey. Eragon started off a simple farm boy and become the last free Dragon rider. His future is a long and difficult one, riddles with deceit and grief, but if he fails the fates of Alagaesia’s people will be forever darkened by the high king’s shadow. He is not alone in his journey, though, he will make many friends who would lay down their life for him. But one thing is clear if things are hard keep moving forward there’s going to be a light at the end of the tunnel even if you have to fight to get there.

Eragon is about a boy who becomes a man, and rise to his statin as the last free Dragon rider. Alegaesia, where the story takes place is rules by the iron fist of King Galbatorix. Eragon is a farm boy living in a secluded village called Carvahal when he comes across a mysterious blue stone. The stone turns out to be a dragon egg and his journey along with his dragons truly begins as Eragon and the story teller Brom race to escape the Empire’s soldiers. “The songs of the dead are the lamentations of the living” (Paolini 1). Eragon is forced to join a rebel group called the Varden, they aim to bring Galbatorix down from his throne and appoint another, better ruler. Eragon’s biggest enemy is Durza, a Shade, a being made when a magician is overpowered by dark spirits.

I love these kinds of books, its medieval themed as the people fight with long swords and shields along with magic, elves and dwarves. I you aren’t into fantasy where there are long and often times bloody battles, then I wouldn’t recommend this book for you. The author incorporates the use of magic and massive battles over huge battle field really well. He also shows the growing relationship of Eragon and his Dragon. If you love action and big fights and things like that then this series is for you.

Book Review by Natasha W.