by Rainbow Rowell
Summary:
Park never thought that being nice enough to share his seat on the bus with some random girl would change his life. Eleanor never thought that deciding to take the bus would become the best decision she's ever made. But as the school year progresses, Eleanor and Park slowly fall in love. And while they know that first loves don't usually last, they are going to give everything to try to make it.
Review:
This was a fantastic love story. Set in 1986, it's the story of 2 teens who fall in love over a shared love of music and comics. Their star crossed tale is absolutely fantastic While younger teens might be slightly confused over the talk of batteries, cassettes, and only having a home phone line to talk on, I thought that setting it in the 80s made the book even better. Neither character is perfect, but their flaws are what makes them relatable and wonderful. I loved that Eleanor was not your typical skinny girl heroine, and that Park wasn't the tall and handsome tough guy. It's not all love for these two, the book hits some heavy themes about drinking and abuse which results in an ending I won't spoil. I couldn't put the book down, and I bet you won't be able to either.
Genre: Love Story
Age Level: 9th Grade
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Six Months Later
by Natalie Richards
Summary:
Imagine waking up to discover you've missed the last 6 months of your life. You haven't been in a coma, but you can't remember anything from the last 6 months. But now you're suddenly a star student, one of the popular kids, you're dating the most popular guy in school and you've got your choice of colleges just waiting for you. You might be happy about the great turnaround in your life, but wouldn't you wonder about the cost? Chloe will stop at nothing to figure out why she can't remember the last 6 months, because if she doesn't she just might end up dead.
Review:
Six Months Later is a great read for anyone who likes mysteries. While slightly far fetched, Richards' book is fast paced and hard to put down. Chloe is a likable character who's desire for the truth is pretty realistic. She doesn't want her fancy new life if it comes at a terrible price. The intrigue, danger and suspense make this a solid read for anyone who likes these types of novels.
Genre: Mystery
Age Level: 10th Grade
Summary:
Imagine waking up to discover you've missed the last 6 months of your life. You haven't been in a coma, but you can't remember anything from the last 6 months. But now you're suddenly a star student, one of the popular kids, you're dating the most popular guy in school and you've got your choice of colleges just waiting for you. You might be happy about the great turnaround in your life, but wouldn't you wonder about the cost? Chloe will stop at nothing to figure out why she can't remember the last 6 months, because if she doesn't she just might end up dead.
Review:
Six Months Later is a great read for anyone who likes mysteries. While slightly far fetched, Richards' book is fast paced and hard to put down. Chloe is a likable character who's desire for the truth is pretty realistic. She doesn't want her fancy new life if it comes at a terrible price. The intrigue, danger and suspense make this a solid read for anyone who likes these types of novels.
Genre: Mystery
Age Level: 10th 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
These Broken Stars
by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Summary:
Tarver and Lilac couldn't be more different. He's a war hero who is on board the Icarus as a publicity, she is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. But when the massive spaceship crashes on a uninhabited planet, and chance leaves them the only two people to survive, they must work together to try and seek help. The planet holds many secrets, and as Lilac and Tarver search to find a way off it they will discover they aren't the same people that landed there.
Review:
I was completely drawn in by These Broken Stars. Told in alternating perspectives, it's a love story that is both predictable but not. It's a science fiction book that will appeal to non-science fiction lovers, and has some surprising twists at the end that will leave you hoping for a sequel.
Genre: Science Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Summary:
Tarver and Lilac couldn't be more different. He's a war hero who is on board the Icarus as a publicity, she is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. But when the massive spaceship crashes on a uninhabited planet, and chance leaves them the only two people to survive, they must work together to try and seek help. The planet holds many secrets, and as Lilac and Tarver search to find a way off it they will discover they aren't the same people that landed there.
Review:
I was completely drawn in by These Broken Stars. Told in alternating perspectives, it's a love story that is both predictable but not. It's a science fiction book that will appeal to non-science fiction lovers, and has some surprising twists at the end that will leave you hoping for a sequel.
Genre: Science Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Monday, January 27, 2014
The Midnight Dress
by Karen Foxlee
Summary:
Rose is used to travelling with her father; it's not a perfect existence, but she's at least got a system for dealing with it. When they arrive in their latest town, she finds that she's ready for things to change. She doesn't want to keep leaving every time her father runs out of work and goes on a drinking binge. She's made friends and is going to the Harvest Festival. But as she makes her dress for the Festival, with the help of an old lady named Edie, the past and present are set on a collision course which someone won't survive.
Review:
I really enjoyed The Midnight Dress. It's a mystery which keeps you guessing until the end. Rose is an interesting character, as is her utterly romantic friend Pearl. The book moves swiftly, keeping the reader engaged until the end. The book takes place in Australia, but you can't really tell too many differences. All in all it's a good read for anyone who likes mysteries.
Genre: Mystery
Age Level: 9th Grade
Summary:
Rose is used to travelling with her father; it's not a perfect existence, but she's at least got a system for dealing with it. When they arrive in their latest town, she finds that she's ready for things to change. She doesn't want to keep leaving every time her father runs out of work and goes on a drinking binge. She's made friends and is going to the Harvest Festival. But as she makes her dress for the Festival, with the help of an old lady named Edie, the past and present are set on a collision course which someone won't survive.
Review:
I really enjoyed The Midnight Dress. It's a mystery which keeps you guessing until the end. Rose is an interesting character, as is her utterly romantic friend Pearl. The book moves swiftly, keeping the reader engaged until the end. The book takes place in Australia, but you can't really tell too many differences. All in all it's a good read for anyone who likes mysteries.
Genre: Mystery
Age Level: 9th Grade
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Ketchup Clouds
by Annabel Pitcher
Summary:
Have you ever done something truly horrible? Something that no one knows the truth of but you? Something like murder? Zoe has no one she can tell about what really happened on May 1st, so she decides to write to a man on death row, because as murderers they share a common bond. As she tells him the story of the events leading up to May 1st we learn that not everything is as simple as what it seems. And that sometimes love can be deadly.
Review:
Written as an epistolary novel, Ketchup Clouds is a captivating book that is hard to put down til the end. Zoe is a eloquent and smart girl whose letters are both entertaining yet told without bias. She starts off each letter in the present before returning to the story of the events leading up to May 1st, which can be a little confusing at first. The story is one about unintended consequences and heartbreak, and will definitely stay with the reader. Best for slightly older teens due to the prevalence of drinking throughout, but a good read for anyone who enjoys a tragic romance.
Genre: Epistolary Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Summary:
Have you ever done something truly horrible? Something that no one knows the truth of but you? Something like murder? Zoe has no one she can tell about what really happened on May 1st, so she decides to write to a man on death row, because as murderers they share a common bond. As she tells him the story of the events leading up to May 1st we learn that not everything is as simple as what it seems. And that sometimes love can be deadly.
Review:
Written as an epistolary novel, Ketchup Clouds is a captivating book that is hard to put down til the end. Zoe is a eloquent and smart girl whose letters are both entertaining yet told without bias. She starts off each letter in the present before returning to the story of the events leading up to May 1st, which can be a little confusing at first. The story is one about unintended consequences and heartbreak, and will definitely stay with the reader. Best for slightly older teens due to the prevalence of drinking throughout, but a good read for anyone who enjoys a tragic romance.
Genre: Epistolary Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Pawn
by Aimee Carter
Summary:
In a world where there are 7 classes, Kitty Doe is a III. It's not as bad as being a I or II, but it means she's in for a life of misery and deprivation. When she's given the chance to become a VII she leaps at it, not knowing what she's getting into. Now she's been surgically altered to be the double of the niece of the Prime Minister, and she's finding out that nothing is as it seems.
Review:
Pawn stands out in the sea of dystopians out these days. While the class system has been covered in many other novels, Carter does a good job of creating a world that's both believable and plausible. The characters are well developed, and the plot has a few good twists which keep the reader guessing. The trilogy is just beginning, but you could even read the first one as a standalone.
Genre: Dystopian
Age Level: 8th Grade
Summary:
In a world where there are 7 classes, Kitty Doe is a III. It's not as bad as being a I or II, but it means she's in for a life of misery and deprivation. When she's given the chance to become a VII she leaps at it, not knowing what she's getting into. Now she's been surgically altered to be the double of the niece of the Prime Minister, and she's finding out that nothing is as it seems.
Review:
Pawn stands out in the sea of dystopians out these days. While the class system has been covered in many other novels, Carter does a good job of creating a world that's both believable and plausible. The characters are well developed, and the plot has a few good twists which keep the reader guessing. The trilogy is just beginning, but you could even read the first one as a standalone.
Genre: Dystopian
Age Level: 8th Grade
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