by Roxanne St. Claire
Summary:
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.
Review:
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.
Genre: Suspense Fiction
Age Level: 8th Grade
Showing posts with label Murder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Murder. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Nearly Gone
by Elle Cosimano
Summary:
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.
Review:
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.
Genre: Mystery
Age Level: 9th Grade
Summary:
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.
Review:
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.
Genre: Mystery
Age Level: 9th Grade
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
True Blue
by Deborah Ellis
Summary:
Would you be able to stand up for your best friend if she was accused of murder? What if all the evidence pointed to her? What if everyone else already believed it? Jess might have thought she would, but when her best friend Casey is arrested for the murder of a young girl who was in their cabin at summer camp, she finds herself swayed by the masses. As Casey is put on trial, Jess harbors a secret that could set her free. But she has to be brave enough to say it. And what happens if she is not?
Review:
When I picked up this book I thought it would end pretty typically, with Jess coming to Casey's rescue and becoming a better person. Without too many spoilers, it doesn't, and in not coming to a perfect happy ending the book becomes more realistic. It is incredibly hard to stand up for something when everyone else isn't behind it. We'd all like to think we'd stand up for the right thing, but how many of us actually would? Jess' story is a bit of a cautionary tale, and one that is definitely worth reading.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 8th Grade
Summary:
Would you be able to stand up for your best friend if she was accused of murder? What if all the evidence pointed to her? What if everyone else already believed it? Jess might have thought she would, but when her best friend Casey is arrested for the murder of a young girl who was in their cabin at summer camp, she finds herself swayed by the masses. As Casey is put on trial, Jess harbors a secret that could set her free. But she has to be brave enough to say it. And what happens if she is not?
Review:
When I picked up this book I thought it would end pretty typically, with Jess coming to Casey's rescue and becoming a better person. Without too many spoilers, it doesn't, and in not coming to a perfect happy ending the book becomes more realistic. It is incredibly hard to stand up for something when everyone else isn't behind it. We'd all like to think we'd stand up for the right thing, but how many of us actually would? Jess' story is a bit of a cautionary tale, and one that is definitely worth reading.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 8th Grade
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die
by April Henry
Review:
As she comes to, she has no memory of who she is. Of how she came to be in this cabin with two men arguing about whether or not to kill her. All she knows is that one of them just left, and if she's going to survive, she's going to have to find a way to fight back and survive.
Summary:
"The girl who was supposed to die" is a quick paced thriller about a girl who must remember her past before it catches up with her and kills her. While for the most part the book is fairly unbelievable, the quick plot will keep readers attention as they try and figure out who she really is with her. A good quick read, good for teens who like thrillers where they don't have to think about.
Genre: Mystery
Age Level: 8th Grade
Review:
As she comes to, she has no memory of who she is. Of how she came to be in this cabin with two men arguing about whether or not to kill her. All she knows is that one of them just left, and if she's going to survive, she's going to have to find a way to fight back and survive.
Summary:
"The girl who was supposed to die" is a quick paced thriller about a girl who must remember her past before it catches up with her and kills her. While for the most part the book is fairly unbelievable, the quick plot will keep readers attention as they try and figure out who she really is with her. A good quick read, good for teens who like thrillers where they don't have to think about.
Genre: Mystery
Age Level: 8th Grade
Saturday, September 21, 2013
The Loop
by Sandy Lawson
Summary:
Ben and Maggie are destined to meet, fall in love, and die together. There's no way of avoiding it, because they've tried to countless times. Stuck in a loop which ends in their deaths, they constantly relive their last days. But they've decided this is the last time, they will break the cycle. Even if it means they have to give each other up, they'll do it for their survival. But the loop is more powerful than they are, making it seem like the impossible.
Review:
A good quick read, In the Loop is a fast paced story about trying to outwit fate. The book doesn't dwell much on the intricacies of a time loop, making it easier to understand than going into any sort of depth about the concept. Maggie and Ben must use everything they have to break the loop, though the whole falling in love at first sight aspect is a little contrived. Overall a good read for anyone who likes a thriller, I'd peg it for a slightly older teen just because the repeated death scenes are a little much for a younger one.
Genre: Adventure
Age Level: 9th Grade
Summary:
Ben and Maggie are destined to meet, fall in love, and die together. There's no way of avoiding it, because they've tried to countless times. Stuck in a loop which ends in their deaths, they constantly relive their last days. But they've decided this is the last time, they will break the cycle. Even if it means they have to give each other up, they'll do it for their survival. But the loop is more powerful than they are, making it seem like the impossible.
Review:
A good quick read, In the Loop is a fast paced story about trying to outwit fate. The book doesn't dwell much on the intricacies of a time loop, making it easier to understand than going into any sort of depth about the concept. Maggie and Ben must use everything they have to break the loop, though the whole falling in love at first sight aspect is a little contrived. Overall a good read for anyone who likes a thriller, I'd peg it for a slightly older teen just because the repeated death scenes are a little much for a younger one.
Genre: Adventure
Age Level: 9th Grade
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Truly Madly Deadly
by Hannah Jayne
Summary:
When Sawyer's boyfriend dies in a car crash, she's full of both grief and relief. You see, Kevin wasn't that nice of a boyfriend. He was the kind that would intimidate her constantly, manipulate her, even hit her. But no one knew that but her. To everyone else they had a great relationship. But someone knew. And that someone killed Kevin for Sawyer, and they're coming for whoever hurts her next.
Review:
Jayne's novel is full of suspenseful twists and turns. At times you think it's going to be predictable, but then she hits you with another twist. Well written, this book will keep you glued to the pages until you get to the end. Definitely a read for slightly older teens, it reads like any great thriller.
Genre: Suspense
Age Level: 9th Grade
Summary:
When Sawyer's boyfriend dies in a car crash, she's full of both grief and relief. You see, Kevin wasn't that nice of a boyfriend. He was the kind that would intimidate her constantly, manipulate her, even hit her. But no one knew that but her. To everyone else they had a great relationship. But someone knew. And that someone killed Kevin for Sawyer, and they're coming for whoever hurts her next.
Review:
Jayne's novel is full of suspenseful twists and turns. At times you think it's going to be predictable, but then she hits you with another twist. Well written, this book will keep you glued to the pages until you get to the end. Definitely a read for slightly older teens, it reads like any great thriller.
Genre: Suspense
Age Level: 9th Grade
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
The Silence of Murder
by Dandi Daley Mackall
Summary:
What if your brother had been accused of murder? Would you stand by him? Accuse him? Stay to the side and do nothing? Hope knows that her brother didn't murder Coach Johnson. But her brother has always had problems, developmental ones that were just a part of his life. But now those problems are what has caused the town to turn against him, and his unwillingness to talk about the events of that night might result in him going to jail for a crime he didn't commit. Unless Hope can find a way to unearth the truth.
Review:
This was an excellent read about a girl who's never been given a break, a family that has been torn apart so many times they don't know how to stand together. Its realistic portrayl about how mental disbilities are misunderstood by those who are scared is well done. It's a whodunit with a great twist at the end, but at it's core its about the staying power of family in terrible circumstances. Definitely a good read for those who like murder mysteries.
Genre: Fiction
Age Level: 8th Grade
Summary:
What if your brother had been accused of murder? Would you stand by him? Accuse him? Stay to the side and do nothing? Hope knows that her brother didn't murder Coach Johnson. But her brother has always had problems, developmental ones that were just a part of his life. But now those problems are what has caused the town to turn against him, and his unwillingness to talk about the events of that night might result in him going to jail for a crime he didn't commit. Unless Hope can find a way to unearth the truth.
Review:
This was an excellent read about a girl who's never been given a break, a family that has been torn apart so many times they don't know how to stand together. Its realistic portrayl about how mental disbilities are misunderstood by those who are scared is well done. It's a whodunit with a great twist at the end, but at it's core its about the staying power of family in terrible circumstances. Definitely a good read for those who like murder mysteries.
Genre: Fiction
Age Level: 8th Grade
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Shadowlands
by Kate Brian
Summary:
Rory was the first girl who escaped serial killer Steven Nell. Now, hidden by the FBI with her family as they try and track him down, she has to pretend that everything is ok. That she's not terrified every time she steps outside. That she's not plagued with visions of what could happened. But their new community might not be as safe as they had hoped. When Rory starts to hear Nell saying her name in crowded rooms, and finding his things outside their new house, she realizes that maybe no where at all is safe enough to protect her.
Review:
The first of a planned trilogy, Shadowlands is excellently written. The engaging plot grabs the reader from the get go. Rory and her family have already dealt with heartbreak (her mother died of cancer a few years before) and this new incident seems to highlight everything that is wrong with her family now. Rory and Darcy are great characters, very realistically portrayed sisters who get along but also don't. I saw the the twist at the end coming, but it was a little different than I expected. Overall a great read for teens that like suspense stories.
Genre: Suspense
Age Level: 10th Grade
Summary:
Rory was the first girl who escaped serial killer Steven Nell. Now, hidden by the FBI with her family as they try and track him down, she has to pretend that everything is ok. That she's not terrified every time she steps outside. That she's not plagued with visions of what could happened. But their new community might not be as safe as they had hoped. When Rory starts to hear Nell saying her name in crowded rooms, and finding his things outside their new house, she realizes that maybe no where at all is safe enough to protect her.
Review:
The first of a planned trilogy, Shadowlands is excellently written. The engaging plot grabs the reader from the get go. Rory and her family have already dealt with heartbreak (her mother died of cancer a few years before) and this new incident seems to highlight everything that is wrong with her family now. Rory and Darcy are great characters, very realistically portrayed sisters who get along but also don't. I saw the the twist at the end coming, but it was a little different than I expected. Overall a great read for teens that like suspense stories.
Genre: Suspense
Age Level: 10th Grade
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Breathe My Name
by R. A. Nelson
Summary:
Frances has worked hard to forget her past. Her parents, her friends, her life now are what matters. But when she receives a letter telling her her birth mother has been released from jail, she is forced to remember the past. The past where she had 3 little sisters. The past where her mother murdered them, and tried to murder her too. It was only luck that someone heard her yelling, luck that she survived where her sisters didn't. But when her mother writes to her, telling Frances she needs to finish what was started, Frances realizes the only way she is going to be able to move on from her past is to confront it face to face.
Review:
A fast paced psychological thriller, Breathe My Name is a hard hitting book about one girls struggle to move on from a horrific event. The book does an excellent job of discussing mental illness in relation to the mother and the crimes she commits. The reader is left guessing her motives for contacting Frances until the very end, where a plot twist upends most of the readers assumptions. It's a great book for teens who like thrillers, but best for slightly more mature teens since the subject is pretty dark.
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Age Level: 9th Grade
Summary:
Frances has worked hard to forget her past. Her parents, her friends, her life now are what matters. But when she receives a letter telling her her birth mother has been released from jail, she is forced to remember the past. The past where she had 3 little sisters. The past where her mother murdered them, and tried to murder her too. It was only luck that someone heard her yelling, luck that she survived where her sisters didn't. But when her mother writes to her, telling Frances she needs to finish what was started, Frances realizes the only way she is going to be able to move on from her past is to confront it face to face.
Review:
A fast paced psychological thriller, Breathe My Name is a hard hitting book about one girls struggle to move on from a horrific event. The book does an excellent job of discussing mental illness in relation to the mother and the crimes she commits. The reader is left guessing her motives for contacting Frances until the very end, where a plot twist upends most of the readers assumptions. It's a great book for teens who like thrillers, but best for slightly more mature teens since the subject is pretty dark.
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Age Level: 9th Grade
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
The Night She Disappeared
by April Henry
Summary:
Kayla, Gabie and Drew aren't really close friends, but they go to school together, and work together at a pizza place. The night Kayla goes missing on a delivery, Gabie was supposed to be working. Gabie should have been the one delivering that pizza. So now Gabie and Drew are left to wonder not only if Kayla is still alive, but if the killer is waiting to get Gabie next.
Review:
This is a fast paced read that draws readers in quickly. The book alternates between the perspectives of all three characters, which lets you get to know all of them in a different way. Gabie and Drew work to find the kidnapper to save Kayla, which while a little far fetched makes for an exciting plot. It's a good book for teens that like mysteries.
Genre: Mystery
Age Level: 8th Grade
Summary:
Kayla, Gabie and Drew aren't really close friends, but they go to school together, and work together at a pizza place. The night Kayla goes missing on a delivery, Gabie was supposed to be working. Gabie should have been the one delivering that pizza. So now Gabie and Drew are left to wonder not only if Kayla is still alive, but if the killer is waiting to get Gabie next.
Review:
This is a fast paced read that draws readers in quickly. The book alternates between the perspectives of all three characters, which lets you get to know all of them in a different way. Gabie and Drew work to find the kidnapper to save Kayla, which while a little far fetched makes for an exciting plot. It's a good book for teens that like mysteries.
Genre: Mystery
Age Level: 8th Grade
Monday, October 22, 2012
Dead End in Norvelt
by Jack Gantos
Summary:
Norvelt, Pennsylvania has always considered itself to be a special town. Built because Eleanor Roosevelt herself wanted more places built where everyone could have a house and a job and a life, the town has always prized itself on being a place where neighbors help each other. But now the jobs are fewer and people are moving away. When Jack accidentally fires his dad's rifle (the one he wasn't supposed to even touch), his mother makes him help out Miss Volker, the town's first and only medical examiner, as a punishment. As he helps her write obituaries, Jack discovers there's a lot more to the town than he ever thought. Norvelt has a lot of secrets, and Jack is the one who gets to discover them.
Review:
Dead End in Norvelt is a great read for tween boys. Jack is adventurous and relatable, this adventures with Miss Volker amusing and inventive. The book deftly weaves in a bit of history, reminding readers that there's a lot more to the places we know than we think.
Genre: Fiction
Age Level: 4-5th Grade
Summary:
Norvelt, Pennsylvania has always considered itself to be a special town. Built because Eleanor Roosevelt herself wanted more places built where everyone could have a house and a job and a life, the town has always prized itself on being a place where neighbors help each other. But now the jobs are fewer and people are moving away. When Jack accidentally fires his dad's rifle (the one he wasn't supposed to even touch), his mother makes him help out Miss Volker, the town's first and only medical examiner, as a punishment. As he helps her write obituaries, Jack discovers there's a lot more to the town than he ever thought. Norvelt has a lot of secrets, and Jack is the one who gets to discover them.
Review:
Dead End in Norvelt is a great read for tween boys. Jack is adventurous and relatable, this adventures with Miss Volker amusing and inventive. The book deftly weaves in a bit of history, reminding readers that there's a lot more to the places we know than we think.
Genre: Fiction
Age Level: 4-5th Grade
Friday, August 10, 2012
Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone
by Kat Rosenfield
Summary:
Becca can't wait to move away from college, to shake off the trappings of her small town life and move somewhere new and exciting, never to come back. But when a girl from out of town is found murdered on the same night Becca graduates, the repercussions shake the entire town's foundations. Becca finds herself trapped, worrying about the girl that no one knows, unsure of who is telling her the truth. Murders don't happen in her hometown, or at least they didn't. Now they are left wondering who among them could have done it, who among them has gotten away with it.
Review:
Rosenfield's book is both well written and engaging. The book is told mainly from Becca's point of view beginning at the time when the murder occurs, the book is interspersed with chapters from Amelia Anne's point of view from her last day alive. The resulting novel draws readers in and leaves them guessing til the very end about who did it. It is a great story about the repercussions a tragic event has not only on those immediately involved but also all those peripherally around it. The book is great for any teens who like murder mysteries.
Genre: Mystery
Age Level: 8-9th Grade
Summary:
Becca can't wait to move away from college, to shake off the trappings of her small town life and move somewhere new and exciting, never to come back. But when a girl from out of town is found murdered on the same night Becca graduates, the repercussions shake the entire town's foundations. Becca finds herself trapped, worrying about the girl that no one knows, unsure of who is telling her the truth. Murders don't happen in her hometown, or at least they didn't. Now they are left wondering who among them could have done it, who among them has gotten away with it.
Review:
Rosenfield's book is both well written and engaging. The book is told mainly from Becca's point of view beginning at the time when the murder occurs, the book is interspersed with chapters from Amelia Anne's point of view from her last day alive. The resulting novel draws readers in and leaves them guessing til the very end about who did it. It is a great story about the repercussions a tragic event has not only on those immediately involved but also all those peripherally around it. The book is great for any teens who like murder mysteries.
Genre: Mystery
Age Level: 8-9th Grade
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
The Season
by Sarah MacLean
Summary:
Lady Alexandra Stafford could care less about the fact that she is a debutante this year. But unless she gets herself ruined, a possibility that although tempting would probably result in her mother murdering her, she will find herself paraded throughout the marriage mart that is the London Season. As the Season progresses, she finds herself entangled in the investigation into her old friend Gavin's father's death, which is much more exciting than balls or tea parties. As danger looms over them Gavin and Alexandra might find more than they bargained for in each other. Will they live happily ever after? Or die at the hands of a traitor.
Review:
The Season is a fantastic regency romance written for teens. It has all the elements of the more adult romance novels written, but without the more racy bits, making it suitable for teens or older tweens. I really enjoyed the book personally and with there was a sequel!
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Level: 8-9th Grade
Summary:
Lady Alexandra Stafford could care less about the fact that she is a debutante this year. But unless she gets herself ruined, a possibility that although tempting would probably result in her mother murdering her, she will find herself paraded throughout the marriage mart that is the London Season. As the Season progresses, she finds herself entangled in the investigation into her old friend Gavin's father's death, which is much more exciting than balls or tea parties. As danger looms over them Gavin and Alexandra might find more than they bargained for in each other. Will they live happily ever after? Or die at the hands of a traitor.
Review:
The Season is a fantastic regency romance written for teens. It has all the elements of the more adult romance novels written, but without the more racy bits, making it suitable for teens or older tweens. I really enjoyed the book personally and with there was a sequel!
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Level: 8-9th Grade
Thursday, June 7, 2012
The Knife that Killed Me
By Anthony McGowan
Summary:
Paul has always considered himself to be a loner. It's never been that bad for him, mostly it lets him fly under the radar of bullies or anyone else. But then Roth notices him. Roth, the most notorious guy at school. Infamous for his violence and bullying, Roth is just the kind of person Paul is hoping to avoid. But then Roth does something surprising. Instead of beating up Paul, he becomes his friend. Paul, instead of running from a person he knows to be dangerous, falls right into his trap. He likes being respected by his fellow students, even if that respect is tinged with fear. And when a knife comes into the mix, and a terrible fight, Paul will find out that being friends with nefarious people is the worst mistake he could have made.
Review:
McGowan's book is written in the blink of an eye for the character, as he relives the moments that led to him being about to be stabbed. None of the characters in the book are particularly sympathetic. While you want to feel for Paul as he feels forced into doing Roth's bidding, you don't because he continually is given opportunities to extricate himself from the situation and doesn't. The book does have a good twist at the end but on the whole you don't feel very resolved when it finishes. Most of the characters who should get caught don't, which I suppose also makes it more true to life. A decent read for male tweens.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Summary:
Paul has always considered himself to be a loner. It's never been that bad for him, mostly it lets him fly under the radar of bullies or anyone else. But then Roth notices him. Roth, the most notorious guy at school. Infamous for his violence and bullying, Roth is just the kind of person Paul is hoping to avoid. But then Roth does something surprising. Instead of beating up Paul, he becomes his friend. Paul, instead of running from a person he knows to be dangerous, falls right into his trap. He likes being respected by his fellow students, even if that respect is tinged with fear. And when a knife comes into the mix, and a terrible fight, Paul will find out that being friends with nefarious people is the worst mistake he could have made.
Review:
McGowan's book is written in the blink of an eye for the character, as he relives the moments that led to him being about to be stabbed. None of the characters in the book are particularly sympathetic. While you want to feel for Paul as he feels forced into doing Roth's bidding, you don't because he continually is given opportunities to extricate himself from the situation and doesn't. The book does have a good twist at the end but on the whole you don't feel very resolved when it finishes. Most of the characters who should get caught don't, which I suppose also makes it more true to life. A decent read for male tweens.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Friday, May 18, 2012
What I saw and how I lied
by Judy Blundell
Summary:
Now that the war is over and her stepfather Joe is back, Evie is thrilled that life is getting back to normal. No more rationing or not being able to buy new things. Joe is even taking her and her mother down to Palm Beach for a proper vacation. A vacation where she can finally meet a boy to fall in love with. Peter is everything she could dream of in a man. But she's about to find out that things aren't always how they appear, and that she might not really know what even the people she loves the most are truly capable of. Terrible things don't just happen in war.
Review:
A historical fiction novel, What I saw and how I lied, combines a WWII story with lessons of prejudice and doing the right thing. Evie is a girl who can't wait to grow up, but when her parents go to trial for killing Peter, she learns that growing up is not all black and white. She has to make the choice about whether to tell the truth about what she knows, or to lie to save her parents from jail. The book talks about wartime injustices as well as war looting and profiteering (which is how Joe made his money). Evie must struggle with seeing her first real examples of prejudicism, when friends are kicked out of their hotel for being Jewish, and rectify that with her belief that that problem should have been over and done with now that such a huge war had been fought. It's a well written book that will hold ones attention.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Level: 7-8th Grade
Summary:
Now that the war is over and her stepfather Joe is back, Evie is thrilled that life is getting back to normal. No more rationing or not being able to buy new things. Joe is even taking her and her mother down to Palm Beach for a proper vacation. A vacation where she can finally meet a boy to fall in love with. Peter is everything she could dream of in a man. But she's about to find out that things aren't always how they appear, and that she might not really know what even the people she loves the most are truly capable of. Terrible things don't just happen in war.
Review:
A historical fiction novel, What I saw and how I lied, combines a WWII story with lessons of prejudice and doing the right thing. Evie is a girl who can't wait to grow up, but when her parents go to trial for killing Peter, she learns that growing up is not all black and white. She has to make the choice about whether to tell the truth about what she knows, or to lie to save her parents from jail. The book talks about wartime injustices as well as war looting and profiteering (which is how Joe made his money). Evie must struggle with seeing her first real examples of prejudicism, when friends are kicked out of their hotel for being Jewish, and rectify that with her belief that that problem should have been over and done with now that such a huge war had been fought. It's a well written book that will hold ones attention.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Level: 7-8th Grade
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Desert Angel
by Charlie Price
Summary:
Two nights ago Scotty killed her mother. Yesterday he tried to kill her. Today Angel is running from him, with nothing but the clothes on her back and the kindness of strangers keeping her safe. But can she justify putting others in danger to save herself? Is her life worth more than theirs? She knows Scotty will stop at nothing to find her. So maybe it's time to turn the tables. Maybe it's time to find him before he finds her.
Review:
Angel is a girl with a difficult life. Her mother dragged her from boyfriend to boyfriend, resulting in a skewed and jaded perspective on life. When she finds people to help her, people who never met her and have no connection to her at all, she must confront the fact that she can't go it alone like she wants. The book is an interesting read about a strong female character who learns that it's ok to lean on someone else once in awhile. The book does have language and violence in it, and addresses the topic of illegal immigration.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Summary:
Two nights ago Scotty killed her mother. Yesterday he tried to kill her. Today Angel is running from him, with nothing but the clothes on her back and the kindness of strangers keeping her safe. But can she justify putting others in danger to save herself? Is her life worth more than theirs? She knows Scotty will stop at nothing to find her. So maybe it's time to turn the tables. Maybe it's time to find him before he finds her.
Review:
Angel is a girl with a difficult life. Her mother dragged her from boyfriend to boyfriend, resulting in a skewed and jaded perspective on life. When she finds people to help her, people who never met her and have no connection to her at all, she must confront the fact that she can't go it alone like she wants. The book is an interesting read about a strong female character who learns that it's ok to lean on someone else once in awhile. The book does have language and violence in it, and addresses the topic of illegal immigration.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Unwind
by Neal Shusterman
Summary:
Years before Connor, Risa, or Lev were born, a war raged in America between those who were pro-choice, and those who were pro-life. In the end a compromise is reached: abortion is ruled illegal but instead a new practice is put into place. A practice which allows parents to choose to retroactively terminate teens between the ages of 13 and 17 though a process called unwinding. This solution meant that the child itself would not be killed because all of their body parts would be used for transplants, ensuring that they live on just in different forms. Now it's been in place for years, and few question it, but for these 3 teens the death sentence put upon them might just cause the spark that causes people to see reason.
Review:
Unwind is an incredibly interesting, though disturbing, book which grabbed me from page one. More than once I wondered how something like this could happen, and then realized how easily it possibly could. The solution that was reached at the end of the war was supposed to be so ludicrous that it would shock the opposing ideological factions into realizing that their needed to be compromise. Instead it became a death sentence for many teens, and resulted in babies being born and abandoned to the state until they were of age to be harvested themselves. At first you think that everyone will see reason, but instead the demand for healthy body parts overshadows where these parts came from. In one scene the unwinding process happens to one teen, who is conscious throughout the entire procedure. It was deeply disturbing, and as a result I hesitate to recommend this book to any younger teen. The book raises a lot of flags about the danger of being too ideologically wedded to a cause, about the necessity of compromise and reason, and discusses the courage needed to finally stand up to injustice.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 10th Grade
Summary:
Years before Connor, Risa, or Lev were born, a war raged in America between those who were pro-choice, and those who were pro-life. In the end a compromise is reached: abortion is ruled illegal but instead a new practice is put into place. A practice which allows parents to choose to retroactively terminate teens between the ages of 13 and 17 though a process called unwinding. This solution meant that the child itself would not be killed because all of their body parts would be used for transplants, ensuring that they live on just in different forms. Now it's been in place for years, and few question it, but for these 3 teens the death sentence put upon them might just cause the spark that causes people to see reason.
Review:
Unwind is an incredibly interesting, though disturbing, book which grabbed me from page one. More than once I wondered how something like this could happen, and then realized how easily it possibly could. The solution that was reached at the end of the war was supposed to be so ludicrous that it would shock the opposing ideological factions into realizing that their needed to be compromise. Instead it became a death sentence for many teens, and resulted in babies being born and abandoned to the state until they were of age to be harvested themselves. At first you think that everyone will see reason, but instead the demand for healthy body parts overshadows where these parts came from. In one scene the unwinding process happens to one teen, who is conscious throughout the entire procedure. It was deeply disturbing, and as a result I hesitate to recommend this book to any younger teen. The book raises a lot of flags about the danger of being too ideologically wedded to a cause, about the necessity of compromise and reason, and discusses the courage needed to finally stand up to injustice.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 10th Grade
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Brother/Sister: just give them a chance to explain
by Sean Olin
Summary:
They didn't mean to do it. Any of it. It all just sort of happened. Will and Asheley have had a hard life. Not hard like they've never had a home, or enough food, or trauma. But their father left them when they were little. Their mother is an alcoholic who got violent with them on occasion. It's not an excuse you see, but an explaination. It all became too much, got out of hand. Will didn't mean to murder those people, classmates and their sort-of stepfather, but they were all trying to hurt Asheley, and he couldn't let that happen. What kind of brother would he be if he did? Asheley was just trying to protect her brother by not telling anyone what he did. At least that's what they say....
Review:
Brother/Sister alternates between Will and Asheley's point of view. They explain the events of that summer pretty matter of factly, trying to explain why Will murdered 3 people tyring to defend his sister and why Asheley was completely innocent. All along the book we are led to believe Will is the crazy one, the one at fault, but it's not until the very last paragraph that everything the book tells us is called into question. It is a book that leaves the reader in suspense, wondering how much of the story they told us was real and how much was made up. The ending is definitely what made the book.
Genre: Realisic Fiction
Age Level: 8th-9th Grade
Summary:
They didn't mean to do it. Any of it. It all just sort of happened. Will and Asheley have had a hard life. Not hard like they've never had a home, or enough food, or trauma. But their father left them when they were little. Their mother is an alcoholic who got violent with them on occasion. It's not an excuse you see, but an explaination. It all became too much, got out of hand. Will didn't mean to murder those people, classmates and their sort-of stepfather, but they were all trying to hurt Asheley, and he couldn't let that happen. What kind of brother would he be if he did? Asheley was just trying to protect her brother by not telling anyone what he did. At least that's what they say....
Review:
Brother/Sister alternates between Will and Asheley's point of view. They explain the events of that summer pretty matter of factly, trying to explain why Will murdered 3 people tyring to defend his sister and why Asheley was completely innocent. All along the book we are led to believe Will is the crazy one, the one at fault, but it's not until the very last paragraph that everything the book tells us is called into question. It is a book that leaves the reader in suspense, wondering how much of the story they told us was real and how much was made up. The ending is definitely what made the book.
Genre: Realisic Fiction
Age Level: 8th-9th Grade
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