tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75110129042010659952023-11-15T08:35:56.625-08:00Teen and Tween Book ReviewsSummaries and reviews of great books and movies by a teen librarian! The blog also suggests specific age levels for each book and asseses book content.Jacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590375549846302990noreply@blogger.comBlogger265125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511012904201065995.post-26959007104145319142015-09-22T14:44:00.002-07:002015-09-22T14:44:50.675-07:00Code of Honorby Alan Gratz<br />
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Summary:<br />
When Kamran's brother is accused of being a terrorist, he doesn't believe them. Even when videos come out showing his brother leading attacks on American bases and embassies, Kamran knows it can't be true. When he realizes that his brother is sending him secret messages in the videos, proving he's innocent and working undercover against the terrorists, it's up to Kamran to try and clear his name. Even if it means going against the government in order to save America.<br />
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Review:<br />A great premise, but it does absolutely require a complete stretch of the imagination that any of this could even slightly occur. I do like the idea of the 2 brothers having a code that enables them to figure out the other's plans-though who can remember childhood games in such detail! It's a great action read that packs a lot of twists and turns in it. Great for those who like Andrew Smith or Trent Reedy. There is a bit of violence in there-terrorist killing and talk about a beheading, but little language.<br />
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Age Level: 8th Grade<br />
Genre: Realistic FictionJacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590375549846302990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511012904201065995.post-38225949095482735222015-09-22T14:39:00.001-07:002015-09-22T14:39:36.262-07:00Mechanicabv Betsy Cornwell<br />
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Summary:<br />Nicolette has always been gifted mechanically, she inherited it from her mother. But when her mother dies, and her father remarries and then dies leaving her with a stepmother and stepsisters who turn her into their maid she has had to put her abilities aside. On her 16th birthday, she receives a letter showing her how to get into her mother's old workshop. Maybe, just maybe, she'll be able to use her skills to gain a patron who will help her finance her own shop. But first she has to make it to the ball.<br />
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Review:<br />A great twist on Cinderella. Nicolette is a strong independent character. I enjoyed the love story twist and that she ended up stronger than ever at the end-and didn't need a prince to fix her life! Great for younger readers and older. Give to fans of Gail Carson Levine.<br />
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Age Level: 7th Grade<br />
Genre: Fantasy FictionJacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590375549846302990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511012904201065995.post-79252375837063349742015-08-18T15:58:00.002-07:002015-08-18T15:58:35.699-07:00The Secrets We Keepby Trisha Leaver<div>
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Summary:</div>
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When Ella wakes up in the hospital, she can barely remember what happened. When everyone starts calling her Maddy, her twin sister's name, she remembers everything and more. Rather than face her own guilt about the accident, Ella decides to just become Maddy-who was always the better, prettier, more popular twin anyway. As the months pass, Ella has to decide whether or not it's better to come clean about being Maddy, or whether she should give up her own dreams to live her sisters forever.</div>
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Review:</div>
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A good quick read, it's one of several of the same theme that have come out lately. This one is slightly believable, but also not on a lot of levels. Ella ultimately comes clean with few real reprecussions, which is also a little unbelievable. Overall its good for anyone who likes realistic fiction that's not too deep.</div>
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Age Level: 8th Grade</div>
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Genre: Realistic</div>
Jacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590375549846302990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511012904201065995.post-53696423336109331582015-08-18T15:53:00.000-07:002015-08-18T15:53:03.218-07:00Rot and Ruinby Jonathan Maberry<div>
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Summary:</div>
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It's been 14 years since First Night, the night the dead came back to life. Now 15, Benny reluctantly agrees to join the 'family business' and become a zombie hunter like his brother Tom. But life in the Rot and Ruin isn't anything like Benny thinks, and he's about to discover that the zombies aren't the only monsters out there. Just because the world ended doesn't mean that the only people left are good.</div>
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Review:<br />A diferent kind of zombie book. Tom addresses the zombies not as 'monsters' but as the people they used to be, which is not something you normally see. It's a good read even for those who don't like the genre.</div>
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Age Level: 7th Grade</div>
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Genre: Horror</div>
Jacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590375549846302990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511012904201065995.post-8026471964176677092015-08-18T15:47:00.000-07:002015-08-18T15:47:14.455-07:00Black Dove, White Ravenby Elizabeth Wein<br />
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Summary:<br />
Emilia and Teo's lives changed the instant war came to Ethopia. It was supposed to be a place they could be free, that they and their mothers could live without the genderism or racism that dominated 1930's America. Now Em and Teo find themselves in the middle of the conflict between Ethopia and Italy, and they are about to discover how many things are worth fighting for.<br />
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Review:<br />
Another wonderful read by Wein. Em and Teo are wonderful characters, and the opportunities they have are rare for both their genders and race in this time period. A good read for historical fiction lovers.<br />
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Age Level: 8th Grade<br />
Genre: Historical FictionJacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590375549846302990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511012904201065995.post-25466544394536335202015-03-13T13:34:00.000-07:002015-03-13T13:34:09.920-07:00Rites of Passageby Joy Hensley<br />
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Summary:<br />
Sam has never backed down from a bet. When her now deceased brother Amos bet her she couldn't be the first female to graduate from the prestigious Denmark Military Academy, she took it as a challenge to be completed no matter what. Now, one of only 5 girls accepted to the Academy, she's finding that not everyone is as accepting of women as they should be. As a secret society puts moves into play to eliminate her and her fellow female recruits in any way possible, Sam will be lucky to finish out the year alive.<br />
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Review:<br />
I wasn't sure what to make of this book. At first I thought it was going to be a realistic drama about a girl dealing with the rigors and difficulties of attending a male oriented military academy and all that that implies. I wasn't a huge fan of the whole secret society aspect, it added kind of a silly element that was wholly unnecessary to the plot. Other than that it was a great story about overcoming odds and believing in yourself.<br />
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Genre: Realistic Fiction<br />
Age Level: 8th GradeJacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590375549846302990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511012904201065995.post-19070748395701843652015-03-13T13:11:00.001-07:002015-03-13T13:11:44.696-07:00Wicked Thingby Rhiannon Thomas<br />
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Summary:<br />
You might think you know the story of Sleeping Beauty, but I bet you never thought of it from Aurora's perspective. Asleep for a hundred years, she's been awoken by 'true love's kiss,' and now is expected to marry him. While she was asleep her kingdom fell to pieces, and the new royal family expect her to conform to their ways and unite the kingdom. But Aurora is done doing what she's told, and is ready to step up and protect her people in her own way.<br />
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Review:<br />An imaginative take on a well known tale, I liked the new Aurora. Rather than meekly doing what she's told she stands up to those around her in her own way. She doesn't just submit or believe what she's told, though she does show a bit too much reliance on Finnegan after disbelieving everyone else. There is a lot of subplots going on in the book that could use more explanation. I thought the ending was a bit too quick, it seemed like there wasn't much segue-way between the novel and the ending, she just kind of decides and everything falls into place. Hopefully the sequel will remedy this!<br />
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Genre: Fantasy<br />
Age Level: 7th GradeJacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590375549846302990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511012904201065995.post-20981462753763625282015-03-07T12:32:00.000-08:002015-03-07T12:32:34.765-08:00Kalahariby Jessica Khoury<div>
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Summary:</div>
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When an educational safari leaves 5 teens stranded in the middle of the Kalahari Desert, it is up to Sarah to try and lead them to safety. Having grown up in the field with her zoologist parents, she's well equipped to lead the teens to safety. But when a silver lion starts stalking them, they realize there might be more going on than they think. Now on the run not only from the lion, but also from the silver disease and the company that created it, Sarah will have to use everything she knows to keep them alive.</div>
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Review:</div>
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<i>Kalahari </i>was not what I expected when I picked it up. An adventure novel with a scifi twist, it does require quite a bit of suspension of belief, all while trying to be as realistic as possible. It succeeds for the most part, and will find many readers who truly enjoy the book. Good for more advanced middle grade readers, the characters both play into typical teenage stereotypes while making them believable. </div>
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Genre: Scifi Adventure</div>
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Age Level: 7th Grade</div>
Jacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590375549846302990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511012904201065995.post-65582369334939776652015-03-07T12:24:00.000-08:002015-03-07T12:24:40.128-08:00The Red Queenby Victoria Aveyard<br />
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Summary:<br />
Mare's world is divided by blood. Born a red, she is forever bound to a life of wanting and servitude to the silvers, those with silver blood and supernatural powers. When a chance encounter leads to a job in the palace, she doesn't question it. But when she discovers she has supernatural powers of her own, and discovers this in front of the entire court. Now forced to pretend to be a silver by the king, she is betrothed to the prince and finds herself playing a much more dangerous game than she ever thought possible.<br />
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Review:<br />
While this type of theme is being played out in numerous trilogies, <i>The Red Queen</i> is absolutely marvelous. It will find a readership in those who love the semi-dystopian romance with a bit of fantasy thrown in. It's difficult to put down and leaves readers anxiously awaiting the rest of the series.<br />
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Genre: Dystopian Fantasy<br />
Age Level: 8th GradeJacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590375549846302990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511012904201065995.post-91007764867488361122015-02-18T11:23:00.000-08:002015-02-18T11:23:30.230-08:00The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavenderby Leslye Walton<br />
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Summary:<br />
Born with wings, Ava has been kept in her house with her wingless twin brother since she was born. Now 16, Ava just wants to experience the world and perhaps discover more about her family's past in an attempt to figure out why she is the one with wings. In a world where love makes us all fools, Ava is about to find out that while love can be a many splendid thing, it can also be the thing that kills us.<br />
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Review:<br />
This was an extremely odd book, but also oddly compelling. The book starts with a history of Ava's family, and their extreme bad luck when it comes to love. The misfortunes of her ancestors are what leads to Ava being born with wings. Ava's innocence to all things evil is quite endearing, but her extreme strength is what is lasting. It's a nice read for those who don't mind suspending belief for a bit, and would be good for those who aren't necessarily into full fledged fantasy but don't mind a sprinkling.<br />
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Genre: Fiction<br />Age Level: 8th GradeJacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590375549846302990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511012904201065995.post-74904903339116727092015-02-18T11:17:00.000-08:002015-02-18T11:17:44.966-08:00They All Fall Downby Roxanne St. Claire<br />
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Summary:<br />
Every year the list of the 10 prettiest girls comes out. For these girls the list is a ticket to popularity, entrance into the best parties, and more. When Kenzie finds out she was named number 5, she's both surprised and ambivalent. Being number 5 isn't going to help get her into Columbia. But when girls on the list start dying, Kenzie realizes that maybe it's time to take her number seriously.<br />
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Review:<br />I was surprised at how great this mystery novel was! While a lot of the characters play into some pretty typical stereotypes, and it was definitely far fetched, it was a fun read that kept you guessing until the end. There's some alcohol use and a bit of violence, but overall things are pretty tame. Highly recommend to teens that like mystery and suspense novels.<br />
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Genre: Suspense Fiction<br />
Age Level: 8th GradeJacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590375549846302990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511012904201065995.post-35373711394587040852015-02-18T11:12:00.000-08:002015-02-18T11:12:33.767-08:00The Carnival at Brayby Jessie Ann Foley<br />
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Summary:<br />
When her mother falls in love, Maggie knows the cycle. It'll be great for a bit, but then the inevitable breakup occurs and after her mother falls apart and puts herself back together, life goes on. But this time her mother has gotten married and moved them from their hometown of Chicago to Bray, Ireland, a little town outside of Dublin. Now, away from everyone she has ever loved, especially her rocker uncle Kevin, Maggie might just learn something about love and loss herself.<br />
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Review:<br />
Set in 1993, this book is a great illustration of both teenage life then and now. It was remarkable to me how little the book felt like it was set 20 years ago, before cell phones or the internet. The author does a great job of focusing on the characters and the interplay between them. Kurt Cobain might not be on too many teenage radars these days, but the book does a great job of illustrating just how important he was to many. Maggie's uncle's drug abuse is barely talked about, and his fairly horrid death is talked about briefly. It's suitable for slightly mature teens, and will mostly likely find it's main audience in older teens or adults.<br />
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Genre: Historical Fiction<br />
Age Level: 9th Grade<br />
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<br />Jacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590375549846302990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511012904201065995.post-54671664104974634272014-12-20T17:20:00.000-08:002014-12-20T17:20:05.948-08:00The Tyrant's Daughterby J.C. Carleson<br />
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Summary:<br />
When her father is killed in a coup, Laila flees to the United States with her mother and brother. As she struggles with daily life in the States, Laila begins to discover the truth about her father's regime. While her mother schemes and plots for them to have her younger brother inherit the country's rule so they can return to the country, Laila is left trying to figure out what her path is. Does she have to return to a county where she will have no real rights again? Should she stay in America even though life here isn't as easy as they might have thought? What is true in a world where everything she was told was a lie? An interesting read about a girl from a sheltered past coming to terms with truths she was never told.<br />
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Review:<br />This book mildly frustrated me. There were times when I wanted to yell at Laila that family loyalty should only go so far. The mother's plots to return to their country and put her young son 'in charge' and have a family member as regent angered me, mainly because you can see this kind of scheming today and in our recent past. The human rights atrocities that were touched on were equally frustrating as you watched the mother ignoring them to try and continue to live the life she wanted. It's a good read that gives some insight as to what it would be like to grow up in that environment.<br />
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Genre: Realistic Fiction<br />
Age Level: 9th GradeJacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590375549846302990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511012904201065995.post-83629414552180441942014-12-20T17:12:00.000-08:002014-12-20T17:12:18.976-08:00Don't Look Backby Jennifer Armentrout<br />
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Summary:<br />
If Sam could remember that night, or anything from her life before that night, maybe she could help them find Cassie. If the person she is discovering she was, the mean girl who was both loved and hated alongside Queen Bee Cassie, was anything like the person she thinks she should have been maybe things would make sense. But nothing is adding up. As Sam tries to remember what happened, threatening notes begin to appear warning her off the case. But nothing is adding up, and Sam is left to wonder, can she not remember because she killed Cassie herself?<br />
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Review:<br />A thriller which will keep you guessing until the very end, <i>Don't Look Back</i> is a fantastic read for anyone who likes suspense fiction. Sam is a very realistic character, and you struggle along with her wishing she could just remember what happened. The book builds to a big reveal, with a little romance on the side (though her love interest just might end up being the killer himself...).<br />
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Genre: Mystery<br />
Age Level: 8th GradeJacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590375549846302990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511012904201065995.post-58254860541528993522014-12-20T17:05:00.000-08:002014-12-20T17:05:04.966-08:00The Kiss of Deceptionby Mary E. Pearson<br />
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On the morning of her wedding to a stranger she's never met, Princess Lia runs away to a remote village with her maid. When two handsome strangers arrive in the same village, she views their flirtations with her has harmless, not knowing that one of them is her jilted fiance and the other an assassin sent to kill her. As an ancient rift between kingdoms comes to a head with Princess Lia at the center, it will be a miracle if she survives it. A planned trilogy, this book is hard to put down, and will leave you wishing the second was already out!<br />
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Review:<br />While a slightly similar story to many that are out there, <i>Kiss of Deception </i>is incredibly well written and engaging. Lia is fairly naive, though she learns quickly and is willing to work despite having grown up a princess. The book doesn't tell you which man is the assassin and which the jilted fiance as we watch them both fall for her, and it definitely keeps you guessing until the end. A great read for both adventure and romance novels, it's a fantasy novel that even non fantasy novel lovers will enjoy.<br />
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Genre: Fantasy Fiction<br />
Age Level: 8th Grade<br />
<br />Jacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590375549846302990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511012904201065995.post-41097594046840738592014-08-12T15:39:00.000-07:002014-08-12T15:39:41.127-07:00The Truth about Aliceby Jennifer Mathieu<br />
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Summary:<br />
It started as a flippant remark. Then got passed around by text message. Then got written in the bathroom stalls. It was just a rumor, but immediately everyone assumed it was true. You see Alice was asking for it. She was a slut, everyone knew it. She dressed up for school, wore lipstick, flirted with everyone. So when the rumor that she slept with 2 boys in one night starts everyone believes it. And when one of those boys dies in a car crash, and another says it's because she was sending him dirty text messages while he was driving, Alice is blamed. But no one knows the truth, and no one seems to care that they don't.<br />
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Review:<br />
Told in 4 perspectives, but only at Alice's in the very end, this is about the aftermath of a rumor. Each character has a different perspective on what happens both before and following the start of the rumor. Each character has the ability to clear Alice's name, and we learn the reasons each one uses that information. A haunting book about the power of a rumor, its a good read for slightly older teens due to the many references to sex and drinking.<br />
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Genre: Realistic Fiction<br />Age Level: 10th GradeJacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590375549846302990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511012904201065995.post-2275316044778709152014-08-12T15:31:00.001-07:002014-08-12T15:31:28.937-07:00Teaseby Amanda Maciel<br />
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Summary:<br />
No one likes a bully. We're all taught that bullying is wrong, and that you should say something if you see it. You're supposed to stand up to bullies. But what if you are the bully? Where is the line between teasing and bullying? When is your "harmless prank" no longer harmless? When Emma Putnam kills herself, everyone immediately blames Sara and her friends relentless bullying of Emma. But Sara doesn't see it as bullying, it was just standard frenemy behavior. But with a trial on the horizon, Sara is going to have to do some soul searching to find out just where she went wrong.<br />
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Review:<br />
There are a slew of anti-bullying books out there, but <i>Tease</i> stands out. Sara is a character you want to hate but at the same time can understand how she let things get so out of control. Told in flashbacks, the reader learns what happened leading up to Emma's death and sees Sara evolve in the aftermath. It's a good book told from the bully's perspective, and the ending does manage to pack a surprise as (spoiler alert) Sara finally realizes how wrong she was. Best for older teens due to many references to drinking and sex.<br />
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Genre: Realistic Fiction<br />Age Level: 10th GradeJacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590375549846302990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511012904201065995.post-11173135641846939662014-07-29T14:09:00.000-07:002014-07-29T14:09:23.577-07:00After the Endby Amy Plum<br />
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Summary:<br />
Growing up in a commune in the Alaskan wilderness, Juneau never had any reason to doubt what her elders told her. That there was a world wide war that wiped out everyone. That they were lucky to have survived. But that was a lie. When Juneau returns to camp after being out hunting she finds her entire commune gone, and now she'll have to find them in a world she's been told doesn't exist.<br />
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Review:<br />
Most dystopian novels start with the end of the world, and <i>After the End </i>is no different. But from here it changes. Instead of the world actually being over, it has thrived. It's an interesting twist that Plum pulls off. The novel is told in alternating perspectives between Juneau and Miles, the boy who becomes her companion. It's the first in a series, so don't expect it to be resolved in this one book.<br />
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Genre: Dystopian Fiction<br />
Age Level: 7th GradeJacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590375549846302990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511012904201065995.post-6768106643024245402014-07-29T14:03:00.000-07:002014-07-29T14:03:01.236-07:00Conversionby Katherine Howe<br />
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Summary:<br />
When girls at Colleen's high school in Danvers start having seizures, losing their hair, developing tics, and more, it starts off a panic. At first it's just a few girls, but as more and more develop symptoms that can't be explained by any disease, it becomes clear that maybe something else is at work. What few people remember is that Danvers wasn't always called Danvers. It used to be Salem. And maybe the witchcraft that once infected Salem village is back.<br />
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Review:<br />
Told in alternating perspectives by Colleen and Ann Putnam from Salem village in 1706, Howe's story is remarkable because it is based on true events. Ann's story is told verbatim from her confession about the accusations from the Salem Witch Trials. Colleen finds herself in the middle of a modern day bewitching, and while she doesn't believe that the girls are really ill, falls prey to the illness herself. It's a shocking tale because it's based on a story that actually happened just a few years ago, but it's also a cautionary tale about just how much pressure high schoolers are under. Great for slightly older teens, or those who have an interest in the Salem Witch Trials.<br />
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Genre: Fiction<br />
Age Level: 9th GradeJacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590375549846302990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511012904201065995.post-69243669285728581102014-07-29T13:54:00.000-07:002014-07-29T13:54:56.195-07:00We Were Liarsby E. Lockhart<br />
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Summary:<br />
If Cadence could remember her 15th summer, maybe things would make more sense. If she could remember, maybe her cousins would stop acting so odd. Maybe her aunts and mother would be ok. She had hoped spending the summer with everyone on their island would make things better. But remembering might just be worse than anything she could imagine. Maybe it's better to remain a liar.<br />
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Review:<br />
I had read a lot of really positive reviews about <i>We Were Liars</i>, and as a result wasn't too optimistic about it being as good as everyone said. However I found myself pleasantly surprised by the title, and unable to put it down once I started. Lockhart has created a title with a shocking twist at the end. A great read for teens who like realistic mysteries, and who don't mind a tragic tale.<br />
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Genre: Realistic Fiction<br />
Age Level: 9th Grade<br />
<br />Jacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590375549846302990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511012904201065995.post-54444654595340467292014-06-17T15:54:00.000-07:002014-06-17T15:54:14.929-07:00A Breath of Eyreby Eve Marie Mont<br />
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Summary:<br />
Emma has always loved stories. But she never expected this. When a lightening strike catapults Emma into the world of the novel she is reading, which just happens to be <i>Jane Eyre</i>, she finds herself in a world where she truly fits in. As the days go by she realizes that she has a choice to make, stay in heroine Jane's world, or go back to her less than perfect real world.<br />
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Review:<br />I had low expectations on picking up this book, but I could not have been more pleasantly surprised. The plotline spans both present day and Jane's world, and Emma is a great character in both. This book-and it's 2 sequels- made me want to pick up and reread the original books that Mont bases them on. It's a great book to give to those who love to read, though I think that it might be less exciting to someone who is not a huge book lover since so much of the books are taken almost right from the originals. It's better for slightly older teens as well, as there is some drinking in them.<br />
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Genre: Fiction<br />
Age Level: 10th GradeJacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590375549846302990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511012904201065995.post-33436354452227303922014-06-17T15:47:00.000-07:002014-06-17T15:47:07.200-07:00Torn Awayby Jennifer Brown<br />
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Summary:<br />
When Jersey hears the tornado alarm go off, she's not too worried. They go off all the time, and 99.99% of the time nothing happens. But she goes down into the cellar anyway, cause she doesn't want her mom to yell at her if she found out she hadn't. This time is not a false alarm. As the tornado recedes and leaves her town devastated, Jersey has lost everything and everyone she loves. Now, sent to live with relatives she's never met, Jersey will have to discover that there are some things you keep even when you thought you'd lost everything.<br />
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Review:<br />
Author Jennifer Brown is known for her brilliantly written and poignant books, and this title definitely fits the bill. Jersey is a very empathetic character, and her struggles as she tries to move forward are heartbreaking. The relationships between the characters are believable. I thought the storyline with her stepfather to be extremely realistic and as such very difficult to read. The lack of sex or alcohol or drugs make this a safe bet for even younger teens.<br />
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Genre: Realistic Fiction<br />
Age Level: 7th GradeJacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590375549846302990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511012904201065995.post-67125610619443041312014-06-04T14:14:00.000-07:002014-06-04T14:14:19.212-07:00Expiration Dayby William Campbell Powell<br />
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Summary:<br />
Tania has always believed she was rare. One of the few human children in a world where most are actually robots. But when that turns out to be a lie, she finds herself at the center of a debate about what it truly means to be human. And she only has until her 18th birthday to prove she has a right to exist.<br />
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Review:<br />
A poignant book about what it means to be human, <i>Expiration Day</i> is a good read to hand to teens who like science fiction. Tania is very relatable as explores what she is and what that means for her life. Though a robot, she is extremely human, making her struggles growing up very similar to those we all undergo. The book wraps up pretty neatly, with a twist at the end that makes the difficult choices leading up to it ok. Good for younger teens as well as slightly older ones, it would be a little simple for older teens to really appreciate.<br />
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Genre: Science Fiction<br />
Age Level: 7th GradeJacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590375549846302990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511012904201065995.post-60752555573923279512014-05-13T15:07:00.000-07:002014-05-13T15:07:28.592-07:00Silverby Chris Wooding<br />
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Summary:<br />
It was just supposed to be another weekend at Mortingham Academy. Most of the students at the boarding school had gone home for the weekend, the rest were ready to just relax. When a small silver beetle bites one of the students, an infectious disease is released that will leave nothing but destruction in it's path. Now it's up to the few that are left to try and escape, but survival is not as easy as they hope.<br />
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Review:<br />
<i>Silver</i> seems pretty thrown together as a novel. Told in third person from various characters perspectives, it's had to keep track of who is who. The disease transforms rapidly, taking over the bodies of it's hosts and absorbing others to become larger. The story progresses pretty rapidly, but it doesn't seem to really have any sense of where it's going. The story kind of just ends as well, with no resolution or cliffhanger that makes you really want to read a sequel if one comes out. Good for teens who like a quick action packed read, but definitely not one that is worthy of any real study.<br />
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Genre: Science Fiction<br />
Age Level: 7th GradeJacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590375549846302990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7511012904201065995.post-47412690530138267902014-05-13T14:59:00.000-07:002014-05-13T14:59:57.636-07:00Nearly Goneby Elle Cosimano<br />
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Summary:<br />
Nearly just wants to keep her head down until the end of the school year. She's one of the top 3 contenders for a huge chemistry scholarship that is her ticket out of town and into college. But when the students she tutors start turning up dead, she finds herself the prime suspect in the police investigation. When she discovers an ad in the personal section that promises more attacks, she realizes that it's up to her to figure out who's behind the killings before she becomes the final victim.<br />
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Review:<br />
There's not too many books that glorify girls who love math and chemistry, but this one does a great job of making up for that! Nearly is a great character. She's incredibly smart and knows it, and is using those smarts to get a better life for herself. The premise of the book is good, and the twists and turns in the plot keep you guessing who's behind it all until the very end. There are references to drugs and alcohol, and an entire plotline about a drug dealer. And there's a little romance mixed in for Nearly as well. It's a great read about a strong female character, but one that will appeal to both boys and girls.<br />
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Genre: Mystery<br />
Age Level: 9th Grade<br />
<br />Jacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09590375549846302990noreply@blogger.com0