Read@Paly

2012-01-24T08:25:00.000-08:00

Matched by Englishhigh school teacher Ally Condie is a fiction romance novel set in a dystopianworld in the eyes of Cassia Maria Reyes, teenager who lives in a Society whereeverything is decided for the citizens to live an optimum life. So when herbest friend Xander Thomas Carrow appears on-screen during her Matching Banquet,Cassia is sure that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees her neighbor KyMarkham appear for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Societytells her it’s a rare malfunction, a mistake, but Cassia can’t help but wonderabout Ky. As they begin to fall in love, Cassia is forced to choose between apath she’s always known and a risk no one dares to take. Matched has abeautifully handled love triangle and a coming of age development that wasexhilarating to read. It will definitely have you thinking about freedom andwhat we all really need. AH

2012-01-17T12:02:00.000-08:00

In D.J. MacHale’s sixth Pendragon book, The Rivers of Zadaa, protagonist Bobby Pendragon, in his quest to save the ten Territories that form Halla, finds himself on Zadaa. All the Territories are reaching their decisive turning point, which can send a Territory down a path of harmony or spiraling into chaos. On the desert world of Zadaa, aided by the native Traveler, a Batu warrior named Loor (a strong and strong-headed young woman who has helped Pendragon several times previously) he must find out what the deceptive and cunning antagonist Saint Dane has in store for this world. On Zadaa, the Batu lived in mutual symbiosis with the Rokador. The technologically advanced Rokador would provide irrigation and the Batu would serve to protect them from the savage desert tribes that inhabit the rest of the known world. However, a mysterious drought leads to social tension, accusation, and the brink of war. Meanwhile, back on his home world of Second Earth, his old friends Mark and Courtney prepare their home for its turning point while Saint Dane sets the first domino in motion. As always, Saint Dane’s plans reach further than any of them could have guessed. BS

2012-01-17T11:49:00.000-08:00

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is an adventure that tells the story of Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year old self-sufficient girl. Katniss comes from District 12, the lowest-ranked of the twelve districts of Panem, or what used to be North America years ago. Against all odds, Katniss is willed to participate in the nation’s annual Hunger Games, an event in which one boy and one girl from each district fight to their deaths in an arena located in the far-off Capitol of Panem. When it is revealed that the boy who goes with her happens to be in love with her, things get complicated… Through pain, suffering, and lots of intense moments, Suzanne Collins takes the reader into the roller coaster ride of the games and what Katniss has to face. CC

2012-01-17T11:45:00.000-08:00

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud, first book in the Bartimaeus Trilogy, is a fantasy novel that describes the story of Nathaniel. Living in London in an alternative history from us, Nathaniel is a pre-adolescent boy studying to become a magician. When Simon Lovelace, a powerful magician, makes a fool of Nathaniel, Nathaniel decides to strike back. Summoning his first spirit, he summons Bartimaeus to help him steal Lovelace’s Amulet of Samarkand. Bartimaeus, a witty and strong djinni (class of demon), successfully steals the amulet. When Lovelace realizes that the amulet is gone, he panics and sends his small army of demons to hunt Nathaniel. This book is written from the point of view of Bartimaeus. This book is a great read because it has an intriguing plot and the captions at the bottom of almost every page (Bartimaeus’s thoughts on current events) are hilarious. EA

2012-01-17T11:42:00.000-08:00

My Sister's Keeper, a book by Jodi Picoult, explores how familial relationships become strained when put in intense situations. Told from multiple points of view, My Sister's Keeper tells the tale of the Fitzgerald family. Sara and Brian, the parents, lived happily with their eldest child, Jesse, and his younger sister, Kate, until Kate was diagnosed with an extreme cancer at a young age. Anna, the protagonist and youngest Fitzgerald, was conceived to donate blood to her sister. Sara and Brian pay little attention to their youngest daughter until Anna decides to sue for medical emancipation, preventing her parents from forcing her to donate a kidney to her sister, Kate. The family separates over this issue as Anna's case goes to trial. --CM

2012-01-17T11:36:00.000-08:00

When Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, are assassinated, the Great War begins.
Leviathan, a steampunk novel by Scott Westerfeld, tells the tale of two young individuals: Alek, the son of the recently assassinated Austrian Archduke and Duchess, and Deryn, a girl who decides to disguise herself as a boy in order to enter the British Air Navy. Amidst the brewing war, Deryn and Alek’s paths somehow cross, leaving them stuck together on a wild adventure that neither will ever forget. Set in an alternate version of World War I Europe, this exciting first installment in the Leviathan trilogy is a great book you don't want to miss! JE

2012-01-17T11:18:00.000-08:00

Staying Fat For Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher is about two best friends, Sarah Byrnes and Eric who are both outcasts as children due to their horrible scars. While Eric started to swim and slim down, Sarah Byrnes is the toughest and smartest person Eric knows. Eric suddenly discovers that Sarah Byrnes is in the hospital, and that Eric has to reveal Sarah’s deepest secret. The answer is within the pages of this suspenseful book, and if you like suspense, I would recommend this book. WC

2012-01-17T11:14:00.000-08:00

Legend is a fiction novel that takes place in a dark and distant dystopian future, where the United States has split into two warring nations. Written by Marie Lu, the story follows 15 year old criminal Day, and the 15 year old prodigy hired to hunt him down. When their paths cross, they uncover a truth that will become legend. The first book in a trilogy, Legend's compelling heroes and sharp plot makes it a 'must read.' CR

2012-01-17T11:07:00.000-08:00

Traitor, by Andy McNab, is a realistic fiction bookthat takes place in 21^st century England. The main character, Danny Watt, has alwaysdreamed of serving in the Great Britain Army. The only thing stopping him from getting a scholarship and admission intomilitary academy is his family name. Danny’s grandpa betrayed Great Britain for money and Danny must hunt himdown and turn him in in order to join the military. This book is full of twists and turns andwill be glued to your hands once you start reading. JS

2012-01-17T10:58:00.000-08:00

Z for Zachariah by Robert C. O’Brien is an adventure story that is an autobiography of Ann Burden, a sixteen year-old girl who is logical and skillful. Ann is alone and thinks everyone else in the world is dead, but one day a scientist, Mr. Loomis, comes into the isolated valley where Ann lives. Unfortunately, Mr. Loomis is obsessed with controlling everything and having things his own way and does not really care what happens to Ann. Mr. Loomis's actions become more and more extreme, culminating in attempting to shoot Ann in the foot. Things come to a dramatic climax as Ann decides how she will live her own future. This book, written by a Newbery winning author, is both exciting and fun to read. LL

2012-01-11T08:35:00.000-08:00

Misery, by Stephen King, is the horror story of popular novelist Paul Sheldon's recovery after a major car accident on a desert road during a blizzard. He is held captive by his number one fan, Annie Wilkes, a retired delinquent nurse rumored to already have gotten away with a murder. The retired nurse has access to materials to heal Paul, however Paul Sheldon's recovery and return to daily life will be far more treacherous than originally planned as he tries to escape his imprisonment and acquire a real treatment. Misery is a thrilling and horrific novel which shall captivate until the very last page.ES

2012-01-10T09:11:00.000-08:00

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin is a fantasy story of Elizabeth or "Liz" Hall, a 15 year old dead girl, who is progressively aging backwards on an island named Elsewhere. A place that seems tauntingly similar to Earth. After her premature death by a hit-and-run accident, she finds herself stuck in the past, until a handsome boy, Owen Welles, falls in love with her, and she begins to open her eyes to the possibilities Elsewhere has to offer. This heart touching novel is creative, intriguing, and puts a new, more beautiful spin on the idea of death.CA

2012-01-10T09:09:00.000-08:00

On a Wave is a memoir of the boy, now man, Thad Ziolkowski and his recollection of life surfing and living on the beach, while dealing with damaging family problems and bad influences. As Thad and his family move around on the moody coast of Florida, he explores the ocean and its waves as an escape from his problems at home. You follow him as he learns to cope with his star of a little brother, busy mother, absent father and stepfather affected by smoking, anger, and depression.CA

2012-01-09T14:17:00.000-08:00

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld is a historical fiction, steampunk novel taking place at the start of World War I. The Germans and Austro-Hungarians (Clankers) operate their iron machines, and the British (Darwinists) use living creatures evolved for war.
Deryn Sharp, a girl disguised as a boy in the British Air Service, and Aleksander Ferdinand, prince of the Austro-Hungarian empire cross paths in an unexpected way, finding themselves on board the Leviathan, a whale airship. The book is a fantastic adventure; exploring an alternative 1914 Europe based on radical machinery and biological manipulation.
-JW

2012-01-09T08:31:00.000-08:00

Eragon is but a poor farmer out hunting for meat for his family. But when he stumbles upon a strange blue stone, his life takes a dramatic twist. Eragon soon realizes that he has a dragon hatching, and is thrust into a world of power and magic. Eragon's uncle is killed, and his farm burned down by two mysterious creatures called the Ra'zac. In the mystical land of Alagaesia, Eragon and his dragon must traverse vast and dangerous territories, and evade enemies from the Empire, ruled by the twisted, evil king Galbatorix. With the aid of Brom the storyteller and his own wits, Eragon journeys across the Empire on a quest to find his uncle's killers.
An entrancing book by Christopher Paolini of fantasy and action, this story engulfs you in a world with adventure at every turn. TT

2012-01-06T14:11:00.000-08:00

The first book of the Pendragon series by DJ MacHale called Merchant of Death tells a story of adventure, action and fantasy. Bobby Pendragon, a normal fourteen year old teenager had a great life as the girl of his dreams confessed her love to him. But Bobby's life soon plummets into a deep abyss of confusion when his uncle Press brings him through a portal to save a people from another world, Denduron. The antagonist Saint Daine is a shape-shifting person who controls the world with his persuasion. He brought the Denduron into chaos and it is now Bobby's job to fix it.GH

2012-01-06T14:08:00.000-08:00

The Golden Compass, ByPhilip Pullman, is a fantasy novel that takes place in an alternate dimensionthat is only slightly different from our own. Humans have animal companions,which are bonded to them in magical ways that no one truly understands. Thestory begins with Lyra Belacqua, a young girl living at Jordan College andbeing raised by the professors there, and a young boy that goes by Roger. Thetwo are inseperable, until Roger mysteriously disappears at the hands of TheGobblers. Then a mysterious woman named Ms. Coulter arrives at Jordan Collegeto whisk Lyra away on an adventure that will twist the very fabric of time andLyra will find herself at the center of it all.SK

2012-01-04T13:56:00.000-08:00

Mockingjay by Suzan Collins is the third and final book in the highly acclaimed Hunger Games Trilogy. This book picks up after Katniss Everdeen; the girl on fire is rescued from her second hunger games by the rebels of District 13. With her home, District 12, bombed out of existence by the evil Capitol, she has no choice but to join the rebels fighting against the ones who destroyed her home. The rebels want Katniss to be the revolution’s mockingjay; a figurehead to unite and rally the soldiers of the rebellion. Though Katniss loathes the Capitol, she doesn’t know if she can trust rebels either, who only want to use her as a pawn for their revolution. The fate of the revolution rests in Katniss’s hands. Will she give up her freedom to destroy the Capitol; that has caused her and countless other people so much unjust pain and anger for generations, or will she choose to keep her freedom and abandon the revolution, letting the Capitol continue its unjust reign? The fate the revolution is in her hands. Find out what Katniss will do in this thought-provoking, violent, and drama-filled conclusion to the Hunger Games series. EL

2012-01-04T13:53:00.000-08:00

Waiting, by Ha Jin, is an award-winning love story. Lin Kong, a married army doctor, falls in love with a young nurse, Manna Wu. Despite all the criticism about the affair, they decide to marry each other. Every Summer, Lin Kong returns to divorce his wife but fails, and returns to Manna. Manna grows impatient, and doubts Lin Kong's love towards her. Is Manna patient enough to wait and trust Lin Kong? Will Lin Kong ever get to divorce his wife? Taking place in modern China, Waiting is a slow-paced cultural novel that deals with trust and love among the characters. JIP

2012-01-04T13:44:00.000-08:00

Eragon, by Christopher Paolini, is a fantasy novel that takes place in
the fictional lands of Alagaësia. When a 15 year-old boy named Eragon
finds a shiny blue stone, which turns out to be a dragon egg, his life
instantly transforms. When Eragon’s dragon hatches, he embarks on a
journey to face the evil, fallen dragon rider, Galbatorix, who
tyrannically controls all the lands. Along the way, they encounter
mythical creatures such as elves, dwarves, urgals, and much more. This
is a gripping read that engulfs you in a unique, magical world, NB

2012-01-04T13:41:00.000-08:00

Ann Brashares’ latest realistic fiction novel, Sisterhood Everlasting, is a sequel to her best-selling saga, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Now, ten years later, Bridget, Tibby, Carmen and Lena are all approaching 30 and losing touch with each other as they each subtly struggle with their lives as adults. Specifically, Tibby distanced herself from the girls when she suddenly moves to Australia. Then, all the girls receive a letter from Tibby, with plane tickets for each of them to reunite in Greece. the place where all their greatest milestones took place. But, when the girls arrive they are each forced to embark on their own journey, which changes each of their lives for the better, as they regain touch with the sisterhood they lived in for so long and find each other once again, this time forever. KM

2012-01-04T13:30:00.000-08:00

The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy is a thrilling historical fiction about an experimental Russian nuclear submarine that defies orders during the Cold War. The novel follows the intertwined paths of the captain of the sub, Marko Ramius, and CIA analyst Jack Ryan, as the Americans race to deduce Ramius's intentions. The submarine, named "The Red October", is equipped with a new silent propulsion system developed by the Russian navy, allowing the sub to sneak under American detection and fires its missiles with little or no warning. Jack Ryan, however, is convinced that Captain Ramius is using this propulsion system to defect, and employs the help of the Brits to prove his point to the CIA. Tremendously written and packed with suspense, this book will keep you guessing on the edge of your seat. JS

2012-01-04T13:24:00.000-08:00

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman Richard Mayhew has a good job and a beautiful girlfriend, both of whom he loses when he finds a girl bleeding on the sidewalk. He brings her back to his apartment, but when two mysterious men arrive he finds himself trapped in London below, a dark and treacherous land in the sewers and back alleys of London. GS

2012-01-04T13:08:00.000-08:00

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown is a mystery and adventure novel that tells the story of a symbologist Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu investigating the murder of Jacques Saunière in Paris, France's Louvre Museum. The investigation soon becomes a race to find the Holy Grail as they both travel from country to country trying to solve mysteries left behind by the victim. Langdon and Neveu collect clues while running from Teabing, a rival competitor whose goals includes finding the Holy Grail in order to ruin the Vatican. This exciting novel is perfect for anyone looking for a thriller novel to read. MN

2012-01-04T13:04:00.000-08:00

Christopher Paolini’s book Inheritance is the fourth and final book in his fantastical Inheritance Cycle. The main character, Eragon unexpectedly became a Dragon Rider after coming across a dragon egg and in previous books fought evil and learned many things about not only himself but the people around him, who he could trust and who he could not. In the conclusion to the epic series, Eragon and his dragon, Saphira find themselves pitted against the evil tyrant Galbotorix who rules cruelly over the land of Alagasia. The novel follows Eragon as he delves into himself and into the world around him for the power he needs to defeat the king, and as he discovers things that he never would have thought possible. Be sure to read the prequels as they allow one to truly connect with the characters and feel at one with the people in Paolini’s realm. For those who love fantasy, this book is one for the ages. JH

2012-01-04T13:01:00.000-08:00

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin is a fantasy novel in which you follow Liz Hall as she explores the afterlife. Liz died young, and she does not want to accept the fact that she has landed in a place called Elsewhere. In Elsewhere everybody ages backwards untill they are a baby, then they are sent back to the real world. When Liz arives she finds her dead grandmother waiting for her, and Liz has to start her life all over. Can she accept these new ways? Will Liz ever find a niche in this new world? Can she overcome her sadness, or will Liz waste away watching the poeple she loves on earth? PB

2012-01-04T12:58:00.000-08:00

Abraham Verghese’s fascinating, cutting edge new novel, Cutting for Stone, is told from the perspective of Marion Stone, a British-Indian boy growing up in Addis Abada. He and his brother, Shiva, were born of a secret tryst between a British surgeon and his probationer, a Carmelite nun. His life is marked with tragedy and despair from the beginning, and his childhood is a struggle to discover his own identity. Cutting for Stone follows Marion from his birth into his adolescence, and finally his adulthood. His story provides a fascinating glimpse into Ethiopian culture, and the political and social discord that redefined it. Cutting for Stone is quite unlike anything written previously, and its vivid portrayal of Marion’s family, situation, upbringing, and coming of age puts it at #1 on the “to-read” list. SL

The Kite Runner

2012-01-04T08:01:00.001-08:00

The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, is an award-winning historical fiction novel. Divided into three sections, the novel follows the life of Amir, a young boy from Afghanistan who befriends his servant, a loyal Hazara boy named Hassan. But through an act of cowardice, Amir betrays Hassan, an action that will forever haunt him and transform his life. From his friends, family, and past experiences, Amir eventually learns about the bonds of brotherhood, guilt, and redemption. Taking place during the Soviet invasion and leading into the rise of the Taliban, The Kite Runner is a riveting novel that is both emotional and powerful. PS

2011-12-13T12:27:00.000-08:00

Cryptid Hunters by Roland Smith is a fiction adventure book about 2 twins named Marty and Grace who are both exceptional in very different things, Marty being athletic and Grace being more of an academic. The two are sent to live with their uncle who sends them back to boarding school, but they fall from the plane and land in the Congo. They must survive in the wilderness on their own, from man-eating crocodiles and dinosaur eggs, to a criminal named Butch McCall who seems to have a reason for hunting Grace. This action-packed novel is immensely interesting and will leave you longing to read its sequel. ET

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

2011-11-10T08:33:00.001-08:00

Clockwork Angel, by Cassandra Clare, is a fantasy novel that takes place in London during the 1800’s. When Tessa Gray, a sixteen-year-old orphan, first arrives in England in search of her brother Nate, she is kidnapped by a pair of old women. Tessa quickly learns of a magical world larger than her own and discovers that she has the extraordinary power to assume the shape of any person, alive or dead. Held in captivity, Tessa is told that she is being prepared for the Magister, who she presumes to be a powerful and influential individual. She is soon rescued from her captors by Shadowhunters and makes several close friends, but the threat of the Magister still looms over her. Tessa must uncover the mystery of the Magister and his plans before it is too late. DG

Lebron James A Biography

2011-11-07T18:07:00.000-08:00

Lebron James a Biography is written by sports fanatic LewFreedman. This book is a biography onbasketball superstar Lebron James. Itfollows James’s life from his childhood up until 2007. The book provides great information on hispoverty-stricken upbringing in Akron, Ohio and how it affected him throughouthis life. Another main aspect of thebook is Lebron’s early seasons in the NBA and his rookie experience on the USAOlympic team. This is a greatbibliography for anyone interested in learning about Lebron James’s rise tofame. JS

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

2011-11-07T11:07:00.000-08:00

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver is a fabulous fantasy fiction novel tying all kinds of elements together. It tells the story of Samantha Kingston one of the most popular girls at school surrounded by her friends and classmates feeling as if nothing in her life could be better. She has a amazingly good looking boyfriend, three amazing friends that stick by her through thick and thin, and always the occasional loser to pick on. This lasts a few chapters into the book until they encounter a car accident on their way home from a party. Samantha ends of dying; or so she thinks. She wakes up the next morning to find herself in her bed, but not on the next morning it is exactly the same day as her day had started before the accident. Friday, February 14th. Her friends are oblivious to anything strange occurring and so Samantha is left alone with the burden of knowing what will happen later that coming evening. Samantha soon realizes she will wake up every morning on the same date and she does--seven times. So she begins to realize would she change things in her life, follow her heart instead of what people expect her to do? Meander back into her past to unveil a person that is still truly and utterly still present beneath her exterior? All this you will discover and no matter how old you will have to tear through this book, there is something beneath these pages to intrigue everyone. RL

The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

2011-10-21T09:07:00.000-07:00

The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian by Native American author ShermanAlexie is a realistic fiction novel that tells the semi-autobiographical storyof Junior, a creative yet physically fragile Native American boy. Junior decides to leave his impoverishedreservation school to get a better education by transferring to an all whitehigh school where the only other Indian on campus is the mascot. Leaving “the rez” creates almost as manyproblems as it solves for Junior, but eventually he finds his place whilemaking sense of the family tragedies that surround him through humor andcartooning. This multiple award-winning shortnovel is an entertaining and emotionally satisfying read. RK

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

2011-10-07T10:48:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher is a realistic fiction story about a boy named Clay Jensen and how he goes around his small town lead by some audio tapes, learning more and more about a girl who had recently committed suicide. Hannah Baker left thirteen tapes blaming different people for her suicide; Clay, however, never knew Hannah that well. The tapes Hannah left behind give insight into her life, how she was actually feeling compared to what she was showing, things she never told anyone, and the truth behind all the rumors in her life. Clay always wanted to be close with Hannah but never had the courage to actually talk to her. Why was Clay, a boy no one had anything bad to say about, on these tapes being blamed for a girl’s suicide? The answer is found in the lines of this suspenseful book. XM

Fixed by Beth Goobie

2011-10-07T10:44:00.000-07:00

Fixed by Beth Goobie tells the science fiction story of Nellie Joanne Kinnan, a teen cadet in Detta Academy’s Black Core Program. Detta is a mysterious place with a dark secret that its residents all know but just fail to remember, because of the filing system implant in their brains. Nellie is trained to hate and kill in the name of the all-powerful goddess and doesn’t know any better until meeting a very surprising character, her own twin coming to save her from Detta! Together, they discover the power of unity and of themselves. So if you like action, adrenaline, mystery and blood, this is a book for you. MS

Going Bovine by Libba Bray

2011-10-07T10:38:00.000-07:00

GoingBovine by Libba Bray is an adventure that takes place in modern America and is about a sixteen year old guy named Cameron. Cameron has Mad Cow disease. He is going to die, but an angel named Dulcie tells him that there is a cure for his disease if he goes on a mission to find it. Cameron goes to find the cure with his friend Gonzo. They travel all over America looking for random signs that will tell them where to find the cure for Cameron’s disease. At the same time, the Wizard of Reckoning, an enemy that is following them, tries to kill Cameron and Gonzo so they don’t find the cure. This fiction story is interesting and very funny. So if you like to laugh them go check this book today.AP

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2011-10-07T10:35:00.000-07:00

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is a Fiction story of a girl, Katniss Everdenn and a boy, Peeta Mellark who are chosen by lottery to fight to the death on live television from District 12, along with people from the other 11 districts. But Katniss wasn’t originally chosen; she replaced her younger sister Primrose, a decision she made herself. Now she must fight for survival in a cruel game created by President Coriolanus called The Hunger Games where there is one survivor, 23 deaths of random kids from age 12-18, and where North America used to be. This story is very suspenseful, and you will want to know if both Katniss and Peeta survive together or maybe have to fight to the death. The Hunger Games was named one of Publishers Weekly's "Best Books of the Year" in 2008 and a The New York Times "Notable Children's Book of 2009". BG

Football Genius by Tim Green

2011-10-07T10:31:00.000-07:00

Football Genius is a fiction story written by Tim Green, an Atlanta Falcons defensive end. In this book Troy White, a ten year-old boy has a skill from the football gods. He can predict any football play before it even happens. Troy lives with his single mom who has been offered a job with the Atlanta Falcons. Troy knew this was his chance to help out the struggling Falcons, and finally proves his football genius. But there is one problem; Troy has to convince star linebacker Seth Halloway he’s telling the truth. The Falcons championship and Troy’s mom’s job are in serious danger. This book is as close as you can come to NFL action without putting a step on the field or putting on the pads. This book is filled with excitement, suspense, and great football. JL

Hunger by Michael Grant

2011-10-07T10:26:00.000-07:00

Hunger by Michael Grant is a fantasy story about how a giant barrier is placed on Peridio Beach, California. Everyone 15 years old and older vanishes. All phones and internet connections are down. There is no connection with whatever is going on outside of the barrier. When kids start getting powers, due to the FAYZ (Fallout Alley Youth Zone), they have to make the decision to use their powers for good or evil. Animals start mutating too: snakes with wings, worms with razor sharp teeth, and seagulls with huge claws. Non-normal creatures are the only things around in the FAYZ. Starvation strikes and the “Darkness” is gaining power. Everyone will have to work together if they want to live. If you want to learn how to work together, to survive, then read this book.AF

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

2011-10-07T10:22:00.000-07:00

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer tells the unfortunately true story of a failed Mt. Everest attempt. Krakauer describes his experience climbing to the top of the tallest point in the world. He was a long-time fan of mountain climbing and when a magazine called Outside Magazine asked him to write an article about the mountain he knew he wanted to do it. Unexpected weather and getting behind schedule causes a chain of unfortunate events that ends in the death of many climbers. See the story from multiple points of view as Krakauer interviews many of the other survivors to get all the facts and the full story. Check this book out and learn what really caused the death of 12 climbers on that mountain that day. CM

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2011-10-07T10:19:00.000-07:00

The Hunger Games is a fantasy fiction story by Suzanne Collins about games that involve 24 kids from 12 districts. The games are a celebration of a rebellion that happened many years ago. The capitol of the districts pick two kids from every district who are forced into weeks of fighting and killing to get out of the arena alive. Katniss and Peeta are the two kids that get selected from district 12, which is a dirty district known for mining. Katniss comes from a poor family and Peeta’s father is a baker in the town. They have almost nothing in common but they need each other to get out of the games alive and to go back to their family and friends. Will they make it out alive? Read this exciting page turner to find out. NL

How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Friendship, and Muscial Theatre by Marc Acito

2011-10-07T10:16:00.000-07:00

How I Paid For College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship, and Musical Theatre by Marc Acito tells a humorous tale about an increasingly bi-curious, flamboyant “Play Person” named Edward Zanni. This realistic fiction takes place in a small yet pretentious suburb of New Jersey in 1983. While his mother is away in South America connecting with past lives and “being Zen”, Edward’s father, Al, re-marries an evil, greedy, controlling second wife. This causes Al to refuse to pay Edward’s tuition to Julliard, his dream college. With no way of obtaining financial aid or affording $10,000 dollars a year, Edward and his friends turn to theft, money laundering, identity theft, Buddha stealing, and a dreadful food court job. If sarcasm, wit, adult content, and gay piano bars are for you, pick up this book and never let it go. IT

To Ride Gods Own Stallion by Diane Lee Wilson

2011-10-07T10:10:00.000-07:00

To Ride Gods Own Stallion by Diane Lee Wilson is an adventure about a boy named Soulai that takes place in the Assyrian Empire. Soulai lives in a small village in the mountains. When his house and everything inside burns down his father can’t pay a trader, so he sells his son, Soulai, into slavery for three years. The trader takes him down the mountain to the capitol of the country. Soulai is then sold to the prince. The prince makes Soulai take care of five horses. There is one horse named Ti that has been blessed by their God and has God’s mark on his shoulder. Later one of the prince’s servants tries to kill the prince and Ti. The prince makes Soulai flee the capital with him, Ti and his dog because he still wants a servant to do the hard work. They run to an abandoned town to hide out. The rest of the story is for you to find out. This is a great adventure that I would recommend to anybody. CY

Bale Fire by Cate Tiernan

2011-10-07T10:06:00.000-07:00

Bale Fire by Cate Tiernan is a fantasy fiction book about two twin witches named Thais Allard and Clio Martin. They are both seventeen and live in New Orleans. They both have a certain element that they can use in their spells. Thais’ is water and Clios is fire. They both live in New Orleans under the supervision of Clios’ grandma, Petra Martin. Thais used to live with her dad until he dies in a car accident. This is when she moved in with Clio who ends up being her twin. Together they work on and have to learn to use their powers to change their lives and the coven forever. If books with suspense and scary settings and moods are exciting to you, I would read this interesting novel. NC

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

2011-06-07T13:38:00.000-07:00

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is a science fiction novel that takes place in London during the year 2540 where the majority of the population is under direct control of The World State. In this futuristic world, scientific and medicinal technologies are used by the government to manipulate everything, from the job you have, to the social class you are born into. John, the protagonist, is the only main character that did not grow up in The World State therefore he is unable to understand the ethics and lifestyles of the people and is alienated from society. In conclusion this novel is exceptionally interesting and entertaining and is a great read for anybody interested in the science fiction genre.TG

North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley

2011-06-07T09:59:00.000-07:00

North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley is a romantic, realistic fiction novel telling the troubled life of Terra Firma and her unmistakably “flawed” face. As she struggles to make peace with her silently cruel father, and having to constantly reassure and take care of her insecure mother, Terra is stuck mentally with a dream to escape her small stifling town in the Northwest to an East Coast art school. Along the way, Terra literally stumbles upon Jacob, a handsome but quirky Goth boy who questions her, opening her eyes and her heart to see herself and her life progress in a different light. Will Terra be able to find her own path? Check out North of Beautiful to find out.NSF

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

2011-06-07T09:54:00.000-07:00

The Greatest Horror Story of All Time

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, one of the great American fiction writers, is a horror story set in Victorian England. During a Christmas party, a guest volunteers to read an old manuscript written by a woman (we never learn her name), about her first post as young governess. Her employer, a charming, urbane young man tells her that if she takes the post, she must never contact him under any circumstances whatsoever. She accepts, and is sent to Bly, a large manor house, where she is to have sole charge of two beautiful, bright children – Flora and Miles. Soon after she arrives, the notes of strangeness are sounded. A letter arrives to say that Miles has been expelled from school, but no reason is given. Can such a lovely child, seemingly untroubled by guilt, have done something bad? A dreadful man appears and disappears, on the turret, and then staring in at a window. Mrs. Grose, the simple, good-hearted house-keeper, upon hearing the description, is horrified. It sounds like the image of the master’s former valet, Quint, a strange man who had charge of the house for a while. He had fallen ill and died. A few days later, our narrator is with Flora and she sees across the lake a woman staring at the girl. Why does Flora pretend that she has not noticed the woman across the water? Is the apparition the former governess who had been seduced by Quint according to Mrs. Grose, and who had also died? Our young governess is certain that she has seen two ghosts, and that they are looking for the children. And the children? What lies behind their beauty, their silence, their innocent pranks? With a mounting sense of dread of encroaching evil, the screw turns, page by page, until the shocking, unforgettable ending. The Turn of the Screw has elements of a classic gothic horror story and a modern psychological thriller. It has become part of the canon of English literature, entangling every generation of readers in its mystery. AS

Outliers by Malcom Gladwell

2011-06-07T09:44:00.000-07:00

In Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell, common ideas and theories of success are challenged and make one wonder if some people really do have innate talent. Throughout the book, the idea that success is not only achieved by hard work and talent but also by an extreme amount of luck and preparation is repeated over and over in countless short stories about some of the most successful people ever. Gladwell tells of the lives of musical prodigies, professional athletes, and greats such as Bill Gates, The Beatles, and Steve Jobs. Every success story has something in common- each person accumulated 10,000 hours of practice, which leads to a mastery of whatever it is that they do. This is an extraordinary feat, because 10,000 hours is a giant amount of time that can only be accumulated over the course of around 10 years of life. This said, each one of the success stories had to have some luck that allowed them to get the time and opportunity to put in all those hours of practice, because it would be impossible for a normal person with every day distractions to practice that much. Without a flaw Gladwell’s theory is continually proven to be correct, even though the people vary in profession, background, and upbringing. As an example, The Beatles are presented with the opportunity to be pioneers of all day music clubs, practicing live for 8 hours a day. Another example is Bill Gates, who was one of the first in the world to be able to access a time sharing computer and be able to program on it for as many hours as he wished. This book changed my ideas about how people succeed, and it will hook the reader from start to finish.AF

Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher

2011-06-06T22:43:00.000-07:00

Ten Cents A Dance by Christine Fletcher is a lovely historical fiction book set in Chicago, 1941. It is the story of fifteen-year-old Ruby, living with her ill mother and little sister, who drops out of school to support her family. Her dull, low-salary job as a factory worker is concluded when she meets “bad boy” Paulie Suelze, who introduces her to the world of taxi dancing. Whilst keeping secrets from her mother, dancing with her “fish”, and falling for Paulie, Ruby ultimately discovers the important things in life—responsibility, dignity, and trust. This heartfelt story captures the tough, yet fascinating life of the 1940’s, while incorporating historical elements, such as racism, Pearl Harbor, and the Second World War. Ten Cents A Dance is truly a one-of-a-kind, fantastic book that you won’t be able to put down, so check it out today. SL

Long Distance by Bill McKibben

2011-06-06T21:55:00.000-07:00

Long Distance by Bill McKibben
This a true story about pushing your body to its physical limits. The main character Bill is in his late thirties when he decides to take a year off of work to test his bodies physical limits as a cross-country skier. He consults personal trainers, coaches, and doctors at the US Olympic Center to follow an intense training regime and become the best cross country skier he can be. He learns to deal with his physical limitations and when his father is diagnosed with a life threatening brain tumor, he learns the true meaning of endurance. This book tests the limits of the body and spirit in a year of living strenuously and gaining important life lessons.CC

Riverworld: To Your Scattered Bodies Go by Philip Jose Farmer

2011-06-06T21:49:00.000-07:00

Riverworld: To Your Scattered Bodies Go by Philip José Farmer

There are many theories on what happens after you die. Some say that nothing happens, but your life force is transferred into another being. Some say that based on what kind of a person you were, you get eternal salvation, or damnation. Imagine, if everything you’ve ever heard is wrong. What if every human that ever lived and died on Earth is resurrected along the banks of a seemingly never ending river with no idea of how this happened, or who is behind it all? This is the basis, for Philip José Farmer’s Riverworld. Rivewrworld is actually a five book series and has been adapted into a TV movie. This review is on the first book in the series, To Your Scattered Bodies Go. This book follows the English explorer, Sir Richard Francis Burton and his experience along the River.

I thought that this was an excellent science fiction book. It dabbles in religion, history and psychology. It crosses over into these other subjects, but it allows finds a way to come back to the base topic. I thought Farmer did an excellent job with the characters. Even though they are dead, they still retain a sense of life. Farmer really gets into the characters human psyche. You can see the moral and mental trauma left in them from the life on earth. Even though they are given a chance to start over, it still haunts them. This adds a layer of depth to the characters that history couldn’t provide. Since most of the characters are from the past, Farmer does a great job of bringing them out of the textbook without destroying who they really were. Farmer also is a master of imagery. He can clearly define how a person or scene should look so well, that he only has to do it once. I have found that while reading this book, the scene can come into my head without a second thought. Even though I have seen the movie, the images implanted into my mind are not from memory. These are fresh and new that have been translated from the book.

I would definitely recommend this book. While it is science fiction, it can appeal to readers who favor different genres. It is adventure, mystery, science fiction and philosophy all wrapped together in one impressive work of fiction. It leaves the reader questioning society as all good books do. Philip José Farmer a wonderful job. This was seemed like a difficult task to take on, with all the history he had to research, while still making this a work of fiction and for that I applaud his bravery and execution. It has definitely left me with a greater respect for literature and the human mind. BB

A Darkness at Sethanon by Raymon Feist

2011-06-06T21:41:00.000-07:00

A Darkness At Sethanon by science fiction and fantasy writer Raymond E. Feist is the ultimate and final battle between Order and Chaos. It is the tale of Pug, one of the most powerful magicians in Midkemia, Tomas, the Valheru dragon rider reborn, James, the former thief and senior squire to the prince’s court, and Arutha, prince of the realm and brother of the king. This takes place in Midkemia, a fantasy land similar to Earth, over the course of time from the beginning of time to whatever year they exist. It starts off with an odd feeling of evil sweeping through the land. Then, another assassination attempt on the prince takes place. Then there comes an invasion of dark forces, but using strange tactics, as if they didn’t care for their lives or time. The protagonists must figure out what they are doing and why, then stopping them before it is too late. This book is the finale of the New York Times bestselling series of the Riftwar Saga, so pick it up today. AH

The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton

2011-06-06T21:38:00.000-07:00

In Michael Crichton’s book The Andromeda Strain, a SETI project goes haywire when a satellite returning to earth lands in a remote part of Arizona, unleashing a biological agent that wipes out the population. A Special Forces team is deployed to the area but all contact is lost with them moments after they report unusual biological phenomena affecting the dead people in the area. A top-secret team of scientists is placed in a race against time to prevent the virus from spreading and wiping out all human life on earth. Crichton’s debut science fiction book is the perfect balance between real science and a good fiction story. The plot is well developed with stunning scientific accuracy and plot constructs. This book is extremely suspenseful, enjoyable and an excellent read. Given that the author went on to write classics such as Jurassic Park and Timeline, you definitely don’t want to miss out on his debut novel.SV

The Ranger's Apprentice Erak's Ransom by John Flanagan

2011-06-06T21:33:00.000-07:00

The Ranger’s Apprentice: Erak’s Ransom is the seventh fantasy adventure novel in John Flanagan’s series, The Ranger’s Apprentice. This novel continues the story about Will’s life. Will, a ranger at the age of 16, travels to the land of the Arridi, a continent of vast plains and sand dunes. He travels with his friends in the form of a delegation party to pay the ransom for his viking friend, Erak, who was taken captive while raiding an Arridian town. In this novel, the plot takes a nasty twist, Will faces many trials and hardships, he loses his horse, almost dies of dehydration, and barely lives through an injury from an ambush, all due to the betrayal of an ally. Through bonding with the friendly nomadic tribes that roam the country, Will and his friends are able to extract Erak after violent battles against the Temujai. The Temujai are bloodthirsty bandits and sworn enemies of the Arridian tribes who had taken Erak captive. Through their alliance, the delegation and Arridians help each other to resolve each other’s problems. This fantastic book is one of many award-winning adventures written by John Flanagan, but you have to read the first six in order to understand Will’s unpredictable and dangerous life.TR

Have Space Suit Will Travel by Robert Heinlein

2011-06-06T21:27:00.000-07:00

Have Space Suit – Will Travel by award-winning science fiction author, Robert Heinlein takes the reader to 1950s style future where mankind is just colonizing the moon. Clifford Russell better known as Kip (a kid fresh out of high school living in Centerville, Ohio) dreams of finding his way there. Kip gets more than he bargained for when he wins seventh place in a soap company slogan contest and wins an antique space suit whom he calls Oscar. Baddies from space pick him up while he's testing out his suit and he goes places never before witnessed by man. On the spaceship, Kip meets Peewee (an eleven year old girl) and an alien known only as the mother thing. Together they take down an invading alien force and stand trial for all of humanity. HC

Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden

2011-06-06T21:19:00.000-07:00

Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden tells the story of US forces in the attempt to capture the leaders of a prominent Somali clan led by warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid in Somalia in October of 1992. US Army “delta” operatives were to be flown in by helicopter and storm the compound containing the clan leaders, while four groups of rangers were to be dropped at each corner of the building to pull corner security. All the men were then to be extracted by a convoy of Humvees and three-ton trucks. From the very beginning, everything went wrong. The convoy was delayed by endless roadblocks, and one of the rangers fell out of his helicopter when it swerved to dodge an incoming RPG. From then it was a steep downward decline. Two helicopters were soon after downed by RPG fire, diverting the convoy and leaving the men without extraction. The ensuing chaos raged as trapped American soldiers fended of waves of Somali militia approaching from all sides. Exhausted, low on ammo, and with countless wounded needing extraction, the American forces managed to hold overnight until a convoy from a local UN base was able to rescue them. In total, 18 US servicemen were killed, and another 73 wounded, along with an estimated 1-2,000 Somalis killed as well. The resulting operation was the most intense urban combat American soldiers had faced since the Vietnam War. This grisly non-fiction narrative is a true testament to the chaos, horror, and confusion of modern combat, and has more than a few moments where the reader will feel sick to their stomach from the vivid detail. The book was later made into an Academy Award winning film, so you should definitely either read this book or watch the movie, if you want the condensed version. AH

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

2011-06-06T12:45:00.000-07:00

Breaking Dawn "Don't be afriad," I murmured. "We belong together." I was abruptly overwhelmed by the truth of my own words. This moment was so perfect, so right, there was no way to doubt it. His arms wrapped around me, holding me against him... It felt like every nerve ending in my body was a live wire. "Forever," he agreed. In the fourth book of the Twilight Saga Bella is in deep unconditional blinding love with the one and only Edward Cullen, as she reassures him of her love for him. In a beautiful white dress with a tiara Bella grips Charlie's arm firmly as she’s half way down the aisle in the chilling but suspenseful part one of the beginning of the end of the love affair between Bella and Edward. Will he turn her? What events lie in the future honeymoon for the two love struck teenagers? Why is Jacob MIA while Bella is going through the most trying time of life? Why wouldn't her best friend be there for her during the most trying time of her life?JB

NIght Shift by Stephen King

2011-06-06T09:51:00.000-07:00

Night Shift written by Stephen King in 1976 is a collection of short stories ranging from out right horror, to more mild, but still chilling tales. From a post apocalyptic California, to an 1800s New England Mansion, each story takes place within a new setting in which a strong main character is presented. Stephen King’s chilling writing style is most prominently shown in the story I am The Doorway in which an unnamed astronaut becomes infected with an alien parasite after returning from outer space. As the story progresses, the malicious parasite slowly manifests itself through several clusters of eyes located on the astronaut’s hands. The story begins to escalate after the astronaut realizes that the eyes are slowly beginning to take over his mind, and that in order to keep the parasite from using him as a tool of destruction, he must wage a war against his own infected body. Through his powerful writing in Night Shift, King continues to change the world of literature, and gives a new meaning to the word horror. So to the reader working the night shift, take a break to read a bit of this book, and prepare to dive into the darkest depths of your imagination.AL

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

2011-06-06T09:39:00.000-07:00

The Outsiders by S.E.Hinton is a fictional coming-of-age story of Ponyboy Curtis, a young greaser who is smart and sensitive and not much like the others in his social class. The book takes place in 1965 Tulsa, Oklahoma; where Ponyboy is facing problems from the greasers enemies, the Socs. Ponyboy has problems with his older brother, and after a loud argument Ponyboy runs away and gets his best friend Johnny to come with him. Ponyboy and Johnny get into a bad situation with the Socs after running away and it leads to more problems and more realizations. The story has a lot of emotion and drama and will have you become very sympathetic with the characters. The book has won an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, so you should read it as soon as possible, even if you’re not a young adult. DK

Whip It by Shauna Cross

2011-06-06T09:22:00.000-07:00

Whip It by Shauna Cross chronicles the life of Bliss Cavender, an indie-rock loving teenager stuck in what she has deemed, "Hickville USA", or Bodeen, Texas. In this realistic fiction novel, Cross gives a youthful voice to the main character, Bliss Cavender, a sixteen-year old rebel looking for a cause. Bliss's pageant-obsessed mom pushes her to run for the coveted Miss Bluebonnet crown, but Bliss has other plans. As she tries to find solace from her pushy mother and The Job So Awful We Dare Not Speak Its Name, she stumbles across an Austin roller Derby League. Bliss's best friend, Pash Amini, attempts to convince her not to try out, but Bliss is set in her ways. Bliss tries to navigate through life, but she is often sidetracked by boys in bands, and trying to keep her home and derby life, where she has been dubbed "Babe Ruthless", as far away from each other as possible. However no matter how hard she tries her two worlds will eventually collide, and it isn't pretty. JA

The Year We Disappeared by Cylin & John Busby

2011-06-06T09:18:00.000-07:00

On August 31, 1979, robust policeman John Busby was shot at close range while driving to his 11:00pm-8:00am shift on Cape Cod. Bleeding profusely from his jaw, with the lower half of his face unrecognizable, John realized that somebody wanted him dead, and identified a brazen local bully as the culprit, an arsonist with whose family Busby had clashed on the job. John and his daughter, Cylin, who was nine at the time of the shooting, recount the year that followed in their joint novel, in alternating chapters, incorporating commentary and sometimes-disturbing detail about a crime that never resulted in arrests. With the entire Busby family under 24-hour police protection, John began the reconstructive surgeries that would stretch for years, while Cylin and her two brothers tried to cope with guards accompanying them to school and the resulting social isolation. John Busby is frank about the corruption in the local police department that let his attacker intimidate anyone he chose, and bluntly describes his frustration and need for revenge in the months following the attack. Cylin speaks with a voice of innocence shattered as she struggles to comprehend what happened to her family and why her friends have abandoned her. When the town balked at the continuing expense of providing personal protection and the constant fear brought the family to the breaking point, the Busby’s went into hiding, seeking a return to some semblance of normalcy. The page-turner pace is frequently interrupted by awkwardly placed flashbacks to moments in John's police work, but, ultimately, this is a story of survival, resilience and triumph. CF

1984 by George Orwell

2011-06-06T09:14:00.000-07:00

1984 by George Orwell
Political Fiction, Science Fiction, Dystopian Fiction
1984 by George Orwell is a novel on the life in a communist nation. The protagonist, Winston Smith, is a civil servant who perpetuates the Party’s propaganda by editing historical records, so that the Party is always right. Winston meets a girl named Julia, and together they seek to join a rebellion against Big Brother, the leader of this communist country. Joining the rebellion leads to Winston and Julia’s arrest, where they will be tortured until they agree to the Party’s principles. IO

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

2011-06-06T09:05:00.000-07:00

Daniel Keyes’ Novel, Flowers for Algernon, is a science fiction story narrated by the main character, Charlie Gordon, a retarded young man who becomes the first human test-subject for a brain experiment. The experiment is supposed to make him very smart. It has successfully been used on a white mouse named Algernon, who Charlie eventually becomes very close to.

Keyes style of writing shows how Charlie's intelligence increases after the surgery and eventually declines as well. Keyes shows the increased intelligence through his sentence structure, spelling, and vocabulary of Charlie's journal entries that were full of errors (as in Charlie's excessive use of commas early in the book). These changes in his writing make it much easier for the reader to feel Charlie’s emotions. In the words of another reviewer “this is a real tear jerker”. Charlie documents his emotions and fears as he understands them. He talks about how many people treat him as a non-person because they know he is retarded or because he is the subject of an experiment.

As his intelligence improves he is able to help with the experiment and can project the outcomes. For example at the beginning of the book he is told to do a Rorschach test, or the ink blot test, he doesn’t know that he is supposed to use his imagination he just says that he sees a piece of paper with a bunch of black dots all over it and he argues with the therapist. When he becomes intelligent he is more cooperative and he is also able to see things he couldn’t see before. Other people, including workers and people Charlie thought were his friends, used to tease him because he was retarded and he couldn’t do anything about it because he thought they were only playing with him. When he becomes smarter he realizes what people have been truly been saying to him. With his new found intelligence he believes that he is smarter than everyone else, he becomes a jerk and starts acting like he is better than everyone he knows including his very close friend and eventual girlfriend, Alice Kinnian, the person who Charlie had been working with at the institute. Near the end of the book a very traumatic event happens to Charlie causing him to change his ways becoming nicer than he has been acting to everyone.

If I had to write a tagline for this book it would be, “What would YOU do for a better you?” I really enjoyed reading this book. When I read it for the first time in 8th grade the themes were a lot more mature. I think that this is a great book and everyone should get the chance to read this novel. It was an excellent novel the first time I read it and it was even better the second time through. The way that Daniel Keyes decided to write the story through the eyes of Charlie instead of the traditional third person view, made it a lot easier to read. I think that writing from this perspective made an emotional bond between the reader and Charlie. MH

The Burn Journals by Brent Runyon

2011-06-06T08:58:00.000-07:00

Book Title: The Burn Journals
2. Book Author: Brent Runyon
3. Book Genre: Realistic Fiction
4. Main Characters: Brent Runyon, the burn patient; Mrs. & Mr. Runyon, Brent's main source of support throughout his experience.
5. Setting: Many different hospitals
6. Plot: Brent is kind of depressed and has a moment of self-doubt and decides to set himself on fire, but in a failed attempt to commit suicide, his life is spared once again, and he goes through a series of tests and challenges to heal and recovery from his incident.
7. Tag Line: The Burn Journals by Brent Runyon tells the semi-autobiographical story of a young 14 year old teenage boy in middle school, going through depression, though the reasons are unclear on the outside. Brent appears to be a fun-loving, charming and a comical, well-rounded happy kid that's well liked by his peers. Though, having a little fun, gone bad, Brent is filled with a since of over-whelming guilt and decides his punishment leading to the house fire. Miraculously, Brent's life was not one worth taking quite yet, as he goes through a series of tasks mentally and physically in his path to recovery. This honest fiction tells the story of life in a teenager's body, when living doesn't seem like enough, when things seem to not make since, and when living life starts to lose its meaning, and how it can be turned around with love and support, if that life holds on long enough, to see that it was worth it in the long run. DB

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

2011-06-04T14:33:00.000-07:00

In the realistic fiction novel Sweethearts, by Sara Zarr, you are taken through the life of a Jennifer Harris, a teenage girl who is abandoned by her only friend Cameron Quick, causing her to go through an identity change and become Jenna Vaughn. As a young child, Jennifer was overweight and constantly tormented by her fellow classmates. She and another student, Cameron Quick, created a rare bond where as long as they had each other they knew everything would be ok. When Cameron suddenly disappears, and is said to be dead, Jennifer is lost, alone, and unable to continue on as Jennifer Harris. Years Later, Jennifer has taken on the new identity of Jenna Vaughn, a popular high school senior, with a new body to match her new personality. When everything in Jenna’s life seems to be going alright, Cameron appears out of nowhere and her whole life is turned upside down when Cameron wants to confront their horrifying shared childhood memories. Sweethearts was a nominee for the National Book Award, and is an easy to relate to story, so you should get a copy and get drawn into the intriguing life story of Jennifer Harris, and her powerful experiences. BA

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by author Carrie Ryan

2011-06-03T08:25:00.000-07:00

The Forest of Hands and Teeth, written by author Carrie Ryan, weaves the adventurous tale of protagonist Mary, set in a post apocalyptic era. Mary, a charming young teenager, curiously investigates after sensing something amiss about her village. Everyone from the village believes that they are the last civilized village left in the world, but Mary believes otherwise. She is proved correct when she sees an outsider enter the village through an arcane path leading through the forest. However, the village Sisterhood (an omnipotent church) captures the outsider before anyone else sees, and feeds her to the zombies in the Forest of Hands and Teeth to destroy any evidence of outside villages. Shortly afterwards, the village defenses are overrun by the zombies, and the village is demolished. Everyone perishes but Mary, her brother, her best friend, and each of their consorts, all of whom are forced onto the forbidden path. They are forced to live on the brink of death, protected by the forest’s zombies on either side by a fence and surviving off of supplies secretly stocked by the village Guardians (elite men trained to defend the village). During this exodus, a complex romance unfolds, galvanizing the plot and amplifying the suspense. Deaths of multiple key characters generate fathomless desolation to the story, while Mary’s lifelong aspiration to find unknown villages and mythical oceans beyond the Forest of Hands and Teeth comes true at a horrific cost and with a shocking twist. This action-packed escapade flawlessly brings a future world into existence. Although overrun with horror, the intense action, sensational descriptions, and genuine diegesis make the book remarkably enjoyable. OW

Sherlock Holmes the Complete Novels and Stories by Arthur Conan Doyle

2011-06-02T09:21:00.000-07:00

Sherlock Holmes the Complete Novels and Stories Volume I by Arthur Conan follows the life of the famous detective Sherlock Holmes in a series of adventures toward the catching of crime. Though this mystery follows Dr. Watson, an accomplice to Sherlock Holmes, the reader can fully picture the suspense and surprise towards the final confrontation with the criminal. Set in London in the late Victorian era, criminals are on the loose with many ingenious crimes waiting to be cracked by Sherlock Holmes. One of the stories within the story is Sherlock Holmes’ perilous chase towards Moriarty, London’s greatest criminal mastermind and Holmes’ arch enemy. Regarded as Sherlock Holmes’ final mission in his life, he and Watson set out in the final pursuit of Moriarty to see him in justice’s hands. But what has become of Sherlock Holmes? SC-H

When the Game was Ours by Jackie MacMullan

2011-06-02T09:12:00.000-07:00

When The Game was Ours by basketball icons Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics and Earvin “Magic” Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers is a dual biography of two of the basketball’s biggest stars. This book chronicles their journey through the beginnings of their careers as high school athletes to the storied rivalries of the National Basketball Association in the late 80’s. Written along with Jackie MacMullan, these two soon to be basketball stars tell of the intense desire they had to beat one another as both were fierce competitors on the court. After having competed against each other as college stars, Bird for Indiana State and Magic for Michigan State, both men speak of their journey through college match-ups to their professional season with the Lakers and Celtics. Sports enthusiasts interested in a thrilling memoir of how the sport of basketball was transformed by this rivalry while learning how these men grew to deeply care for one another will enjoy the journey of how this pair dominated and impressed fans all over the world. EJF

Out of the Shadows by Sue Hines

2011-03-28T13:33:00.000-07:00

From the blurb of Out of the Shadows: "Ro thinks her family is totally unlike anyone else's. Jodie is afraid of herself so they spend a long time stepping carefully around the truth, hiding secrets that they know are too terrible to reveal.
These shadows from the past just won't go away, and in a hostile society Ro and Jodie end up with only each other-and that grab bag of feeling that make up a friendship: love, hate, guilt-and forgiveness."

Checkers by John Marsden

2011-03-28T13:22:00.000-07:00

From the blurb of Checkers: "Tonight before I started writing this, it was me confronting Jack. It was so real I could smell it.
Suddenly, according to my imagination, I'd be on my feet, screaming, "Why didn't you leave us alone? Why did you have to drag us in? You're scum, filth. I hate you. Go away. You deserve everything, everything, you understand? Everything that you get. It's not my fault. IT'S NOT MY FAULT."
She has everything going for her: good looks, a nice school, friends, and a silly dog to remind her not to take life too seriously. But suddenly her life spins out of control. Nothing seems to make sense anymore. It takes confinement in a hospital-and a lot of time to think-before she can once again get handle on life."

Jack by A. M. Homes

2011-03-28T13:10:00.000-07:00

From the blurb of Jack: "In Jack, A. M. Homes gives us a teenager who wants nothing more than to be normal-even if being normal means having divorced parents, and a rather strange best friend. But when Jack's father takes him out in a rowboat on Lake Watchmayoyo and tells his son he's gay, nothing will ever be normal again. Out of Jack's struggle to redefine what 'family' means, A. M. Homes crafts a novel of enormous humor, charm and resonance, the most convincing, funny insightful novel about adolescence since The Catcher in the Rye."

"Hello," I Lied by M. E. Kerr

2011-03-28T12:59:00.000-07:00

From the blurb of "Hello," I Lied: "When sixteen-year-old Lang has the chance to spend the summer at the ritzy East Hampton estate of retired rock star Ben Nevada, he's pretty sure that it will be the summer of a lifetime. But what Lang doesn't expect is that in addition to hobnobbing with the rich and fame of the rock world he'll find himself coming out about his homosexuality to his childhood friends, reevaluating his relationship with his boyfriend, Alex, and-most surprising of all-falling in love with a girl."

The Dream Where the Losers Go by Beth Goobie

2011-03-25T13:40:00.000-07:00

From the blurb of The Dream Where the Losers Go:
"She began dreaming about him in the dark dream, the one with the endless tunnels, stone walls that slid by cold under her fingertips, invisible because it was too dark to see.

No one knows why she hurt herself, least of all Skey. After five long months in treatment for self-destructive behavior, Skey continues to dram of dark tunnels with mysterious designs carved into their stone walls, a place where she is safe and alone. Then she encounters another dreamer, a boy her own age, dreaming the same dream, wandering the same tunnels. A boy with secrets much like her own."

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

2011-03-25T13:29:00.000-07:00

From the blurb of Just Listen: "Annabel Greene is the girl who has everything. At least that's who she plays in the commercial for Kopf's Department Store: top student, popular cheerleader, dazzling prom queen surrounded by friends. In real life, though, Annabel is the girl who has nothing: no best friend since her friendship with mean-but-exciting Sophie ended with malicious rumors flying, no peace at home while her older sister's eating disorder preoccupies the family, and no ability to tell anyone what's on her mind.
And then she meets Owen Armstrong-intense, obsessed with music, and determined to always tell the truth, no matter what the consequences.
Can a girl who hates confrontation find a way to connect with a guy who thrives on it? And can Annabel find the courage to tell what really happened the night she and Sophie stopped being friends?"

Freak by Marcella Pixley

2011-03-23T13:15:00.000-07:00

From the blurb of Freak: "I can remember some things so clearly, I could trick myself. Imagine that I was falling all over again. The sounds of wings, of feathered voices, whispering.
For Miriam Fisher, budding poet and proud outsider seventh grade is a year etched in her memory "clear as pain". That's the year her older sister Deborah, once her best buddy and fellow "alien," has bloomed like a beautiful flower and joined the high school in-crowd. That's the year high school senior Artie Rosenberg, the "hottest guy in drama club" and, Miriam thinks, her soul mate, comes to live with Miriam's family. And that's the year the popular "watermelon girls" turn up the heat in their cruel harassment of Miriam, ripping her life wide open with shocking, unexpected ways.
Teased and taunted in school, isolated at home, Miriam is pushed toward breaking. With nowhere else to turn, she decides to take matters into her own hands and prove she's a force to be reckoned with. But what will be the cost? And who will she be when it is over?"

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan

2011-03-23T13:01:00.000-07:00

From the blurb of Will Grayson, Will Grayson: "It's not that far from Evanston to Naperville, but Chicago suburbanites Will Grayson and Will Grayson might as well live on different planets. When fate delivers them both to the same surprising crossroads, the Will Graysons find their lives overlapping and hurtling in new and unexpected directions. With a push from friends new and old-including the massive, and massively fabulous, Tiny Cooper, offensive lineman and musical theater auteur extraordinaire-Will and Will begin building toward respective romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history's most awesome high school musical."

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson

2011-03-23T12:44:00.000-07:00

From the blurb of Twisted:
"Everybody told me to be a man.
Nobody told me how.
High school senior Tyler Miller used to be the guy that faded into the background average student, average looks, average dysfunctional family. But since he got busted for doing graffiti on the school and spent the summer doing outdoor work to pay for it he stands out like you wouldn't believe. His new physique attracts the attention of queen bee Bethany Milbury, who just happens to be his father's boss's daughter, the sister of his biggest enemy...and his biggest crush. This sets off a string of events that have Tyler questioning his place in the school, in his family and in the world."

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

2011-03-21T13:34:00.000-07:00

From the blurb of The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks:
"Frankie Landau-Banks at age 14:
   Debate Club.
   Her father's "Bunny Rabbit".
   A mildly geeky girl attending a highly competitive boarding school.
Frankie Landau-Banks at age 15:
   A knockout figure.
   A sharp tongue.
   A chip on her shoulder.
   And a gorgeous new senior boyfriend:
   the supremely goofy, word-obsessed Matthew Livingston.
Frankie Landau Banks:
   No longer the kind of girl to take "no" for an answer.
   Especially when "no" means she's excluded from her boyfriend's all-male secret society.
   Not when her ex-boyfriend shows up in the strangest places.
   Not when she knows she's smarter than any of them.
   When she knows Matthew is lying to her.
   And when there are so many, many pranks to be done.
Frankie Landau Banks at age 16:
  Possibly a Criminal mastermind"

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

2011-03-21T13:22:00.000-07:00

From the blurb of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian: "Junior is a budding cartoonists growing up on the Spokane Indian reservation. Born with a variety of medical problems, he is pick on by everyone but his best friend. Determined to receive a good education, Junior leaves the rez to attend an all-white school in the neighboring farm town where the only other indian is the school mascot. Despite being condemned as a traitor to his people and enduring great tragedies, Junior attacks life with wit and humor and discovers a strength inside of himself that he never knew existed."

The Last Exit to Normal by Michael Harmon

2011-03-21T13:06:00.000-07:00

From the blurb of The Last Exit to Normal: "When Ben Campbell was fourteen years old, his father made an announcement. He called it coming out. Ben called it selfishly blowing apart the family without stopping to think about anyone else.
Three years, countless joints, and one arrest later, Ben finds himself yanked out of his city life and plunked down in Eastern Montana with his father and Edward, the Boyfriend. As if arriving in a hicksville town with hair spikes, a skateboard habit, and two dads isn't painful enough, Ben realizes that something is gravely wrong at the house next door.
Eleven-year-old Billy is guarding a secret about his family, and Ben is determined to set things right. Under that bright and unforgiving Montana sky, Ben's search for the truth reveals an unexpected malice in the sleepy little town-and a situation much more tangled than he could have imagined. "

David Inside Out by Lee Bantle

2011-03-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

From the blurb of David Inside Out: "David Dahlgren finds solace running with his high school track team; he's a fast runner and enjoys the sport. But practices become a source of tension when David develops a crush on one of his teammates--Sean. Scared to admit his feelings, David does everything to suppress them: he dates a girl, keeps his distance from his best friend who has become openly gay, and snaps a rubber band on his wrist every time he has 'inappropriate' urges. Before long Sean expresses the thoughts David has been trying to hide, and everything changes for the better. Or so it seems. In this hard-hitting young adult novel, Lee Bantle offers a raw and incredibly compelling account of a teenager who learns to accept himself for who he is."

Out of the Pocket by Bill Konigsberg

2011-03-18T09:29:00.000-07:00

From the blurb of Out of the Pocket: "Bobby Framingham is the star quarterback at Durango High School and one of the most talented high school football players in California. He's waiting on scholarship offers from big schools and hopes he'll go pro after college. On the field, his teammates are like his brother. But off the field he knows he's different--Bobby is gay. Can he still be on of the guys and be honest about who he is? And even more, if people knew, could he still get that scholarship? Bobby's not sure. After all, there are no openly gay male athletes in any of the major college or pro sports. Can he help change that? He doesn't want to be a hero or a poster boy for gay rights--he just wants to play football--but how he handles his situation will send a big message. Just like in football, once Bobby's forced out of the pocket he'll have to make a play. He'll have to deal with the changing dynamics of the team and his changing relationships with his friends and family and accept that his path to success might be more difficult, and more public, than he'd hoped."

Eights Seconds by Jean Ferris

2011-03-18T09:19:00.000-07:00

From the blurb of Eight Seconds: "Each ride on the bucking bull is a lesson in pain. Each landing on the packed dirt is a jarring reminder of reality. Rodeo camp is a tough way to spend a summer, but John is having the time of his life. No clingy girlfriends, no nagging mom, no annoying sisters. Just him and the guys and the biggest bulls he's ever seen. All he has to do is stay on a bull for eight seconds. It may feel like an eternity to his aching body, but for once John feels in control of his own fate. Then he learns his new rodeo buddy Kit is gay. Shaken by the news, he tries to deal with the others guys' reactions and his own self-doubts. Suddenly, riding a bull seems easy....
Award winning author Jean Ferris delivers a gripping look at a young man's struggle to understand himself and the world around him. The charged fusion of rodeo excitement, bucking bulls, and new friendships makes for a wild ride--with a startling ending."

Ash by Malinda Lo

2011-03-18T09:07:00.000-07:00

From the blurb of Ash: "In the wake of her father's death, Ash is left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother. Consumed with grief, her only joy comes by the light of the dying hearth fire, rereading the fairy tales her mother once told her. In her dreams, someday the fairies will steal her away, as they are said to do. When she meets the dark and dangerous fairy Sidhean, she believes that her wish may be granted.
The day that Ash meets Kasia, the King's Huntress, her heart begins to change. Instead of chasing faries, Ash learns to hunt with Kaisa. Though their friendship is as delicate as a new bloom, it reawakens Ash's capacity for love -- and desire to live. Bu Sidhean has already claimed Ash for his own, and she must make a choice between fairytale dreams and true love.
Entrancing, empowering, and romantic, Ash is about the connection between life and love, and solitude and death, where transformation can come from even the deepest grief."

Haze by Kathy Hoopmann

2011-03-18T08:54:00.000-07:00

From the blurb of Haze: "Seb is a loner. Brilliant with numbers but hopeless with people, he prefers the company of computers and his only friend, Guzzle. Things change for the better when he makes friends with Kristie, Madeline, and Jen, and a new computer teacher -- Miss Adonia -- arrives. However, Seb is soon caught up in a web of computer fraud and lies and turns to Madeline's mysterious cyber friend for help.
Weaving the facts of Asperger Syndrome into the story, this fast-paced book is acclaimed author Kathy Hoopmann's best novel yet and is a riveting read fir teenagers of all sorts and abilities."

Crush by Carrie Mac

2011-03-18T08:45:00.000-07:00

From the blurb of Crush: "Hope's world is turned upside down. Isn't she fazed by any of this? Does she do this all the time? Make unsuspecting, seemingly straight girls squirm? Or am I making it all up? But making what up? The butterflies are real. The fact that I want to kiss her is real.
Would kissing a girl be different from kissing boys? If all I did was kiss her, would that make me queer? Are you queer for just thinking it? Or does doing it make you queer? And what if I don't want to be queer? Do I get a say in this at all?"

Burger Wuss by M.T. Anderson

2011-03-18T08:38:00.000-07:00

From the back cover of Burger Wuss: Kirkus Reviews says "Savaging young love, male adolescence, and -- with tender attention to detail and wildly funny results -- the fast-food business, Anderson pits a teenage doormat against a larger, smarter, nastier rival...Did somebody say McSatire?"

Metamorphosis Junior Year by Betsy Franco

2011-03-18T08:34:00.000-07:00

From the blurb of Metamorphosis: "Life. Love. Death. Identity. Ovid's got a lot on his mind, and he pours it all into the pages of a notebook. Inspired by his namesake, he wryly records his classmates' dramas as modern-day Roman mythology. There's Sophie and Caleb, the Psyche and Cupid of cyber-couples; poetic Paula, who pursues filmmaker Franny like Apollo chasing Daphne; and graphic-novelist Duwayne, a Proserpina shuttling between divorced parents. Meanwhile, Ovid hides his own Olympian struggles and disturbing secret. As he plaintively puts it, 'There better be some god of journals and blogs who cares what I'm saying or I'm screwed.'

In her striking YA debut, Betsy Franco introduces an expressive soul with a heart-breaking authentic voice. Fantastical ink illustrations by her son Tom enhance the intimate tone, delving deep into one intriguing teen's imagination."

Luna by Julie Anne Peters

2011-03-07T11:02:00.000-08:00

From the blurb of Luna: "'Luna she,' she repeated softly, more to herself than me. 'Appropriate, wouldn't you say? A girl who can only be seen by moonlight?' Regan's brother, Liam, can't stand the person he is during the day. Like the moon from whom Liam has chosen his female namesake, his true self, Luna, reveals herself only at night. For years, Liam has transformed himself into the beautiful girl he longs to be with help from his sister's clothes and makeup in the secrecy of their basement bedroom. Now, everything is about to change--Luna is preparing to emerge from her cocoon. But are Liam's family and friends ready to welcome Luna into their lives?"

Schizophrenia Losing Touch With Reality by Carol C. Nadelson, M.D.

2011-03-07T10:52:00.000-08:00

From the blurb of Schizophrenia Losing Touch With Reality: "Seeing things that no one else can see, hearing voices that don't exist, or generally being unable to separate fantasy from reality--these are some of the common symptoms of schizophrenia. Though it may seem a bizarre disorder, about one person in every 100 suffers from it. To these people, life becomes a strange and often terrifying dream. Some believe the world is trying to injure them. Some become convinced they have extraordinary mental or physical powers. Whatever the specific symptoms, it is a lonely and frequently sad existence, and in severe cases schizophrenics may turn to suicide for escape. Today, researchers who study the human brain are learning more and more about disorders like schizophrenia. At the same time, advances in drug treatment and therapy have brought new hope for those who suffer from the disease. This book explores the symptoms and diagnosis of schizophrenia, its possible causes, and its effects on family members and on society at large. In addition to describing professional treatment, the book discusses steps that friends and family can take to help schizophrenics lead happy and productive lives. The Encyclopedia of Psychological Disorders, written specifically for young adults, provides up-to-date information on the history of, causes and effects of, and treatment and therapies for problems affecting the human mind. The series has been developed in association with the American Psychiatric Press, and each book, focusing on a specific disorder, includes the American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic criteria for that disorder, as well as a glossary of key terms and an appendix with information on organizations and agencies that help people who are diagnosed with that problem. The Encyclopedia of Psychological Disorders will help young adults to better understand mind-affecting disorders."

Decoding Love by Andrew Trees

2011-02-04T11:29:00.000-08:00

From the blurb of Decoding Love: "Relationships should be so simple. You meet someone. You fall in love. If all goes well, that person falls in love with you. And you live happily ever after. Yet is finding love really so straightforward? As Andrew Trees reveals in Decoding Love, this "romantic story line" has shaped our thinking about relationships for centuries, but the fair tale is deeply flawed. Despite what we have been taught to believe, the game of love is much more complex and there are fundamental forces at work that we are only dimly aware of. In fact, researchers today are making fascinating, and often shocking, discoveries about how, why, and when we choose our partners. In this lively and playful examination, Trees draws from the latest studies in economics, neurochemistry, game theory, evolutionary psychology. and other fields to take on a topic we all think we understand-how we fall in love-and turn it on its head. Throughout, Decoding Love reveals the often bizarre scientific findings about attraction-from the powerful influence of smell to the mathematical theory that you need to date twelve people to find Mr. or Ms. Right. Everything from the way birth control pills can sway a woman's choice of partner to how economic markets can be used to understand dating is explored in this astonishing and throughly amusing account of what really happens when on person falls in love with another. Page-turning, thought-provoking, and sparkling with it, Decoding Love offers surprising new insights into the nature of attraction, as well as an intimate look at the strange intersection of romance and the modern world of dating. It is an uncommon look at that most common of human pursuits: finding true love."

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

2011-02-04T11:13:00.000-08:00

From the blurb of This Lullaby: "The science of breaking up... Remy always knows when to give a guy 'the speech'-right after the initial romantic rush, but before anything gets too serious. She's had her fair share of boyfriends, and she's learned all there is to learn from her mother, who's currently working on husband number five. So why is it that Remy can't seem to dump Dexter? It can't be his name. It can't be that he;s messy and disorganized. And it certainly isn't that he's a musician-just like Remy's father, a man she never knew because he left before she was born. Could it be that Remy's romantic rules to live by don't apply anymore?"

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

2011-02-04T11:06:00.000-08:00

From the blurb of The History of Love: "'The interwoven threads of this marvelous tapestry offer delights at every turn. The writing is gorgeous, and Krauss's questing characters follow surprising and touching paths.' - Andrea Barrett

'Nicole Krauss's Leo Gursky is all voice-frisky, aching, jittery, stunning, heart-rending, irresistible. There's nothing like his voice, nor will there ever be. A cross between I. B. Singer and Woody Allen, Kafka and Leopold Bloom, Krauss's gripping new voice doesn't work its way into the pantheon of American voices: it literally walks straight up to them and asks them to move over-or else it will haunt their living days and nights. And it does just that. You can't shut it off, can't out it out of your mind, can't live without hoping to run into it again and again. Leo Gursky is here to stay. And we are the luckier for it.' Andre Aciman"

Eight Men Out by Eliot Asinof

2011-01-24T10:55:00.000-08:00

From the blurb of Eight Men Out: "But to the horror of the entire nation-it was. The headlines proclaimed the 1919 fix of the World Series and attempted cover-up as "the most gigantic sporting swindle in the history of America!" In this timeless classic, Eliot Asinof has reconstructed the entire story of the infamous scandal in which eight Chicago White Sox players arranged with the nation's leading gamblers to throw the Series to Cincinnati. Scene by scene, he vividly describes the tense meetings, the hitches in the conniving, the actual plays in which the Series was thrown, the Grand Jury indictment, and the famous 1921 trial. Further, he perceptively examines the motives and backgrounds of the players and the conditions that made the improbable fix all too possible. Here, too, is a graphic picture of the American underworld that managed the fix, the deeply shocked newspapermen who uncovered the story, and the war-exhausted nation that turned with relief and pride to the Series, only to be rocked by the scandal. Far more than a superbly told baseball story, this compelling American drama will appeal to all those interested in the history of American popular culture."

I Am the Darker Brother by Arnold Adoff

2011-01-24T10:46:00.000-08:00

From the blurb of I Am the Darker Brother: "Simple, spare, and revealing, this new edition of a superb collection of poetry leads the reader into the heart of the African American experience. I Am the Darker Brother exposes the quintessential African American, a proud, lonely, vulnerable yet independent human being who has forged out of hardship that combination of endurance, understanding, and spirit called soul. The poet speaks in many voices, some celebrated, many unknown, all assembled in this unique, wide-ranging-and enduring-anthology. Included are, among others, Langston Hughes, James Weldon Johnson, Maya Angelou, Lucille Clifton, Amiri Baraka, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Paul Laurence Dunbar, and, in a foreword that is an original poem written for this new edition, Nikki Giovanni."

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

2011-01-19T09:59:00.000-08:00

The Outsiders, by S.E Hinton, is a fiction novel book about three brothers that are in a gang called the Greasers. The oldest brother, Darry, takes care of his younger brothers, Pony-Boy and Soda Pop, because their parents died in a car accident. They are from the east side. The Socs are from the Westside part of the town. It was nicer than the eastside and more civilized. The Socs are rich snobby kids who come and pick on the Greasers for no reason. The main character Pony-Boy has a chance to talk to a Soc named Cherry at the movies theaters and he notices that both gangs have similarities. The plot of the book is that there are two many fights and arguments between the gangs and Pony-Boy wants to stop it. There is a lot of adventure and action in the book, and I would recommend it to anyone. MP

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas

2011-01-19T09:55:00.000-08:00

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas is a historical fiction story about Edmond Dantes, a man imprisoned in France under false accusations of being a traitor. His whole life taken away from him, Dantes promises himself that he will make the people who put him in prison suffer like they made him suffer. This story of revenge and scheming will make readers think about the rights and wrongs of revenge. CV

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

2011-01-19T09:53:00.000-08:00

Mockingjay is the third and final installment of the realistic fiction trilogy, the Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. This book continues to follow Katniss Everdeen through her post-apocalyptic world. In the previous book, the rebels rescued Katniss from the horrors of the Quarter Quell, but the Capitol was able to capture Peeta and they destroyed Katniss’ home. Now, Katniss is faced with the challenges of uniting the suppressed districts and leading the rebels to victory against the Capitol while living with the guilt of all the families and homes she unwittingly destroyed, including her own. Will she accept her role as the people’s symbol of freedom, the Mockingjay, and overcome all of the obstacles with the immense weight of her admiring people on her back? Can she end the long, tyrannical rule of the Capitol that has unjustly caused so much pain, sadness, and anger for generations? Find out in this thought invoking, high-speed, and action-packed conclusion to the critically acclaimed series, The Hunger Games. TB

Repossessed by A.M. Jenkins

2011-01-19T09:49:00.000-08:00

The book Repossessed by A.M. Jenkins it is a fiction book about a demon from hell that wants to come up to the real world because he is tired of hell. The demon takes over a teenage boy's body named Shaun. The demon possesses Shaun’s body right before a car crashes into him and kills him and he starts to experience the things that humans do. At the same time he is still trying to act like Shaun so that people won't get suspicious about him. When he comes near Shaun’s dog, the dog can sense that it isn’t actually Shaun and it starts barking at him until he gets in to the room. Throughout the entire book he is just trying to experience human life and as he does people start liking him better than the old Shaun. This book is an exciting story anyone well enjoy. AS

Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden

2011-01-19T09:48:00.000-08:00

The Horrors of War

Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden captures the brutality and horrors of war. What really happened in Somalia had been told through the stories of the helicopter teams Super Six 1 and 4 and few different soldiers of those teams that actually made it out alive. This book is nonfiction because it’s factual and really happened. The two helicopter teams Super Six 1 and 4 crash in the middle of a Somali city. The Soldiers are pinned down on all sides, so the soldiers have to fight for their lives, with little to no supplies. The most interesting character to pay attention to is Durant who after crashing was thought to be a valuable leader and was captured and held by Somalis. The capture of Durant really is the turning point for America; people were finally realizing what was really happening over in Somalia. This book takes place in Somalia in the early 90’s. So If the story of real life war interests you then check this book out now. JR