The Secret Language Of Girls

The Secret Language of Girls by Frances O'Roark Dowell was not my favorite book, at all. I did not like this book and I will tell you why in just a minute.

But first... let me give you a summary. It's about two friends Marylin, and Kate who are BFF's... or so they thought. They go through their rough patches and stuff like that, yadda... yadda... yadda. That's basically all it is.

So... you know how when you write in your journal and there is that month when you just write... nothin' important or anything like that. I mean, there might be some good parts... just there's nothing really that good to tell about. Well... that's how this was. It just wasn't anything exciting. it's just normal everyday life. But I guess that this wasn't normal, it was way to... what's the word? Different? for 11 year olds life. I mean, "normal life" was like being in 4th grade all over again. And then some parts, you'd think that they were immature 17 year olds. There is gossip about relationships, (4th grade), silly little relationships (4th grade), and spin the bottle at a party. (immature 17 year olds, although I guess it could still be classified under 4th grade.) I mean, nothing is really age appropriate in this book. It's stupid. And there are stupid little fights like in fourth grade. Really guys??? Really??? There are a lot of parts that people can relate to, but overall, I just didn't like this book. I thought it was pretty stupid the whole time I was reading it, and to be honest with you there was probably only one part I liked. That was it. So if your at the library, DO NOT PICK THIS BOOK UP!!! Go pick up something a lot better, such as Harry Potter. Grade: D-.

Sleeping Freshman Never Lie

I thought this book looked kind of good in a quirky, crack me up sort of way. And at first it was nothing like that. At first it was really sort of cliche. I mean the main character is going into his first year of high school. He has a tight band of four friends including him. And what else? His mom is pregnant. I don't know about you but I find that plot very boring.

But then the story started picking up, not in the plot. ( That didn't pick up until about midway/ 3/4ths of the way) But in the way that the author wrote the story. You see when he finds out his mom is pregnant he thinks of all the things that would be helpful to know going into high school. So he starts a journal for his baby whatever it's going to be. Once he started doing that I fealt more connected to the charachter. I started viewing the whole book as a journal for me.

Furthermore once I started feeling more connected to the charachter I really started changing my viewpiont. It changed my frame of mind from uuugh this guys a nerd. To liking the charachter because he was just being who was and people liked that and respected it.

Overall I loved this book. Because the author did such a good job of making me feel connected to the charachter. Even to the piont of me feeling incredibely sad when the book was over. This is a must read if your in the mood for a book that makes you feel like you have a new friend when the book is over.

Uglies

Scott Westerfeld creates an amazing adventure in the book Uglies, the first book in a series of four.



Tally Youngblood, and fifteen-year-old "ugly", sneaks away to find her friend that had already been turned pretty only weeks before. But she finds out that he doesn't want to see her again until she has become pretty. When she's running away from the other pretties that are chasing her, she meets another ugly named Shay.

They find out that they have the same birthday, they become good friends, and Shay teaches Tally how to hoverboard.

But the night before they're both about to have to operation, Shay comes to Tally's window. Tally thinks that Shay wants to do one last ugly trick before they become pretty, but that's no the plan. Shay wants to run away to the Smoke, where there are uglies who have never had the operation. Tally doesn't like the idea, so she doesn't go. But Shay leaves directions, just in case Tally wanted to join her.

The next day, Tally gets ready to go to New Pretty Town to get her operation. but when she gets there, a doctor comes out and says that there's something wrong with her operation. Dr. Cable, head of Special Circumstances, tells her that she Tally needs to find Shay and all the other people that have escaped to the Smoke. But they'll only give her the operation if she helps them. Dr. Cable gives her a pendant that she can open and scan her eye with when she gets there, and Special Circunstances would be there in a few hours.

So she hops onto her hoverboard and follows Shay's legible but confusing directions, conquers challenging tasks, and fnally makes it to the Smoke.

When she gets there, she finds Shay and all the people who had been runing away for all these years. But she doesn't want to betray Shay but bringing in Special Circumstances.

Later, Tally falls in love with the son of the founders of the Smoke, David, and doesn't want to leave the Smoke. But when Special Circumstances arrives, the Smoke is in big trouble. They're all taking them back to their original hometowns to be made pretty!



I really liked this book. It's full of action, adventure, suspence, and some romance. But the best part is that it shows the true meaning of friendship. Tally really cared about Shay, and didn't want to turn her back on her and ruin their friendship. I really think they should turn this into a movie. It would be awesome! Anyways, I really liked this book, and I hope you'll all read it over the summer...including the rest of the series. A

Specials (book 3 of the Uglies series)

Scott Westerfeld's Specials is a continuation of the first book Uglies. This book was full of action and technology, all mixed together with its *pre-rusty ways and its technological advances of the post apocalyptic world.

This book in my opinion was some what amazing and pointless at the same time. It was boring and pointless at the beginning and the middle but soon began unraveling at the end. I love this book however, because of how westerfeld's secret messages that I understood. He used different problems that we have today and placed them in this perfect world that's beginning to crumble.

This book is all about Tally Youngblood an ugly turned pretty turned special. This book focuses on Tally's struggle as a special. She has been constantly "rewritten" threw out her life. So this book starts out with her trying to free her love interest Zane from new pretty town and how she is trying to adjust to life as a surgically improved deadly dangerous weapon of destruction. I'm going to skip the boring parts of the story (which there is more then I would have liked). But the story continues as she follows the newly freed Zane to the New Smoke. A rebellious civilization trying to bring down the system of uglies and pretties. She soon discovers shes all part of an evil plot to over take a city not playing by the rules of an evil Hitler dictator. one mistake after another she causes a war between cities (which isn't supposed to happen since everything is perfect). This is a major point in the story so I'll end here and let your imagination run wild (or you could just pick up the book and find out).

But all in all this book is a great at some points and bad at others. But this is an amazing series and if I were you I would pick up the first book Uglies and start reading. B+

* pre historic times and times we live in today

The Tale of Despereaux

Kate DiCamillo's wonderful book, The Tale of Despereaux, is quite enthralling through the three different sections in the book. The first section, or Despereaux, mainly focuses on the story of the mouse, Despereaux. Despereaux was born with abnormally large ears that he gets made fun of by everyone. His many siblings, friends, and even the humans! He begins his perilous journey and soon meats many friends... and enemies.

This book could either be fictional or nonfictional. It could be nonfictional due to the fact that mice do exist and can rome and be heroes to their own race. On the other hand, it can be fictional because mice and rats cannot talk.

I really liked this book, because, unlike other books, it is split up into three different sections. With all three different sections focusing on a different character, it really add to the adventure and thinking process throughout the entire book.

I would strongly recommend this to a friend. This book is entertaining, adventurous, and action packed! This book is a great book for all ages. B

Fablehaven: Keys to the Demon Prison

Fablehaven

Fablehaven Keys to the Demon Prison is the fifth book in the Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull. This explosive series finale is jam packed with action and intensity. Compared to the other Fablehaven books, this one is the best. The other books are all really good but this one is amazing. It kept me turning the pages until I was so tired that I just fell asleep with the book still in my hands.

After hundreds of years of planning and preparing, the Society of the Evening Star is after the final artifacts to open up the demon prison. Opening this prison would certainly be the end of the world, but the Sphinx (leader of the Evening Star) has set his mind on the opening of the prison and isn't about to give up.

Trying to stop the Sphinx from gaining all of the artifacts, Kendra and Seth travel to dangerous new preserves. After hundreds of years of battling between the light and the dark forces, it all comes down to this. Will the world be destroyed or will the Sphinx be stopped?

The theme for this book is to do what you know is right. For instance, in one part of the book, Kendra is walking through a forest where all of the fruit on the trees smells good and looks like it will taste good, so good that it is almost irresistible, but if you eat it it will kill you. Kendra knows that it will kill her so she closes her eyes and keeps going. It is a resemblance to drugs, everyone is doing it and says that it is fun, but you know that they can kill you if you try them. Brandon Mull does a good job of putting that into this book and teaches a good lesson with it.

Anyone who enjoys fantasy books, this is a great book for you. This book is mostly for young adults but anyone could read this and still enjoy it. This series is funny yet serious and is just as good if not better as the Harry Potter series. If you choose to read this book, don't forget to read the other books in the series in order first.
A

Where The Red Fern Grows

Where The Red Fern Grows is onw of the best Wilson Rawls I've read. On the cover of the book it says that you will never forget it and I haven't yet. The whole story makes you think that you are actually Billy, the main character. Running, driving, swimming, whenever Billy wants to go somewhere or get something he will eventually get there, or it. Even if it means working for a couple of years to get hte money just to get "two of the best hunting dogs around". I loved it and when you read it, you will too.

Set in Cherokee country, Billy has been struck with a case of puppy love since he was ten years old, he worked any job he could find and put the hard-earned coins in a little hand-made can piggybank. Most kids would spen the money in a heartbeat but not Billy; he is the sharpest knife in the drawer. After saving up his money, he buys two dogs and names them Old Dan and Little Ann, and trained them every day until they are the best hunting dogs around, at least in his eyes. They win medals and money, but good things sometimes lead to bad ones...

Where The Red Fern Grows is a must read if you like adventure and a little drama.A+

Confessions of Georgia Nicolson: Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging

This is the first book in the series Confessions of Georgia Nicolson by English writer Louise Rennison. In my opinion, Louise Rennison is an amazing writer. I found myself laughing out loud so many times reading this hilarious, fictional book. I'm pretty sure that most girls would love this book.

Georgia Nicolson is just like many 14 year old girls. But unlike some, she has an incredible sense of humor. Going to school with her best friend Jas, coming home to the parents she loves (not), her evil cat, Angus, and her three year old sister, Libby, can be rough. Plus, what are you supposed to do when you accidentally shave your eyebrows off? These are some of the troubles Georgia goes through day by day. Her life revolves around things such as: friends, drama, make-up and most importantly...boys. Georgia is busy learning about snogging, getting rid of spots and winning the guy of her dreams. When her dad has moved away, Robbie has a girlfriend, and her mum may be having an affair with the living room decorator, Georgia may be depressed. And on top of that, her eye has been swollen because she stuck the mascara stick into it. Dilemmas, dilemmas...her mum wants to ruin her life even more by moving her to New Zealand. What is she going to do?

This is such a funny book! But, I would only recommend it to girls, I'm almost positive that boys wouldn't like it very much. This book relates to teenage girls in a big way. Also, it can show many girls that they aren't the only ones with things happening to them that are so called, "ruining they're lives". It's not just like in movies with all the happy endings that never happen in real life, I think it actually relates to some girl's lives. The author did an amazing job of making me laugh while reading this. I really liked this book and it was very fun to read. I think many girls, including myself, would enjoy this book. It's the perfect story for girls in middle school. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging was truly a hilarious book, I can't wait to start reading the second! B+

Demon King

The Demon King, by Cinda Williams Chima was one of the worst books I've ever read.

It's a cliche "power corrupts" story about several drama queen teenagers with nothing better to do than piss and moan about how unlucky they are. The story was remarkably similar to Disney's Alladin movie, if only through the main characters and plot. For example, we have Raisa, the "trapped" princess with bipolar standards on men and a ridiculous habit of slobbering all over the closest one to her. She will be following the Jasmine role as she is almost forced to marry a young, dense wizard who would play Jafar, except he's too pathetic to do anything useful (He actually has to rely on his dad to get Jasmine spiritually drunk enough to look at him with a straight face). The absolutely useless, but oddly necessary Alladin character is an ex-street lord named Han (hmmm, Alladin with stones). He gets to sit around and do nothing relevant to the plot until the very end of the book, where he realizes he is the far off descendant of an evil wizard and is shipped off to evil wizard training school, which is left off for the unknown, presumably for the next book in the series.

The odd thing about this book that leads me to believe that is is a prelude is that throughout the whole 506 pages of text needed to explain it all, nothing ever really happens. However, while I still say that it was absolute crap, I am taking into consideration that it is just an explanation to a later -and hopefully better- part of the series. However, if this is a preview for some shining series, the least Cinda could have done was make it bearable, because no great series will ever come to be if it is built upon trash. Imagine you want to build the tallest building in the world, and the only open lot you can come up with is six square feet, populated with two-dimensional morons, and covered with dog feces. Sure, by the time you're done, the building will have done its job and look pretty, but it won't change the fact that it still smells like poo and it's still filled with pathetic idiots. Cinda could have at least followed Tolkien's example; while his building was ridiculously long with so many dead end corridors, you'd think you were navigating a Halloween corn maze with wizards and midgets, at least the Shire was still a nice place to put the stunning foundation that was the Hobbit.

For the final and inevitable conclusion, my verdict is that trash is trash, no matter how many IOU's and coming attraction previews you pile up on it. C

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Jerry Spinelli wrote this amazing book about a girl named Stargirl. Her real name is Susan Caraway, but she believes that since she changes, so should her name. She isn't your average 10th grader, not even close. She has a pet rat, plays the ukulele, and she wears abstract clothing. Stargirl is outgoing, friendly, and unique in her own way, but nobody likes her because she is just so different.

Leo Borlock is surprised as he finds himself falling in love with Stargirl though. Later, they eventually become boyfriend and girlfriend and really enjoy their time together. It's actually the happiest days of Stargirl's life.

However, the whole school begins shunning the both of them and Leo debates whether he should risk all of his friends for Stargirl. Not wanting to decide though, he convinces Stargirl to become normal. She does this for Leo, just because she's afraid of losing him and because she loves him.

Stargirl becomes normal, but the shunning continues. She decides that since things didn't get better, she'd mindaswell just go back to being Stargirl again. So she does. Basically, Stargirl and Leo are trapped in tight situations where neither of them know what to do. The peer pressure is just killing them and their relationship. Typical teenage drama. And you'll just have to read this book if you want to find out who wins in the end-the rest of the student body or Mr. and Mrs. Stargirl.

I love how Spinelli uses Stargirl's story to prove three things. Ifyou give in to peer pressure, you're really missing out on something wonderful. (Hope I didn't spoil the ending there!) Another thing he points out is to break away from the crowd and be different, be yourself. And lastly, be a good person no matter how much people dislike you. I totally agree with all three of these ideas. I really learned a lot of good life lessons from this book!

After I read this book, I felt different. I wanted to be myself and become a better person, just like Stargirl. I guess you could say that Stargirl was a role model to me.

Overall, this book is pretty close to real life as teenagers. It relates to friendships, drama, and peer pressure. It's something you as readers can definitely relate to. But if I were you, I'd just read Stargirl. Love, Stargirl is okay, but not as great as Stargirl in my opinion. This book should really be on your summer reading lists!

A Wrinke in Time

A Wrinkle in Time is a very....interesting book. Although strange, it pulls you in and keeps you there until you turn the last page. It is intriguing, unique, and thought provoking. You know that nothing in this book could happen in real life, but you can't help wondering what lies beyond our solar system...could there be other life? Maybe magic? This book can make you think about things that may have never crossed your mind or seemed at all possible.

It all starts when a strange visitor comes to Meg's family's house in the middle of a stormy night. Meg's little brother, Charles Wallace, seems to know the woman under the pile of scarves. He calls her "Mrs. Whatsit", and tells Meg that she lives with her two friends Mrs. Which and Mrs. Who in the haunted house in the woods. Meg, who thinks the whole idea is ridiculous, decides to ignore it. That is, until she finds out that these three "women" can help her find out where her dad is, who disappeared in time a couple of years earlier. Together, and with Meg's new-found friend Calvin, they embark on a journey to save Meg's dad.

This book talks about the value of family and love. One of the unique themes to it is that it also talks about how you should see things with your heart, not your eyes. It teaches some valueable lessons if you can pay close enough attention.

This book also has a movie, and I would suggest you read the book first as it has much more detail, and of course it is much more fun to visualize the story yourself.

Overall, I think this book deserves a B+

Give a Boy a Gun

As we all know, school shootings are becoming a much to real thing in our country and around the world. Guns are becoming easier to obtain and even more deadly as technology advances. The whole topic of weapons at school is seen in news and happens way too often for even a sense of safety anywhere in the world.

In this book, Give a Boy a Gun, Todd Strasser paints the frightening image all to well. Using interviews and quotes from victims and offenders, he pieces together an amazing story of a school shooting at Middletown High.

Over the duration of their whole time at school Gary Searle and Brendan Lawlor have been bullied and teased by their classmates for not fitting in. Finally in their 10th grade year they decide to revolt. They steal guns from a neighbor and take the student body along with some faculty members hostage during a school dance. One eventually commits suicide and the other is beaten to death before anyone has a say in it.

This is a fantastic book, Strasser really put his best work into this book, I absolutely loved every word. I couldn't set the book down and it was definitely one of the best books I've ever read. I wouldn't think twice about recommending this book to anyone. A-

A Long Way Gone

Ishmael Beah brought his nightmare to life, in A Long Way Gone. Ishmael gets caught up in Sierra Leone's civil war. Through the first of the book he's running away from his home, his family, and his childhood. He is running away from the war, afraid of becoming a boy soldier. When he doesn't have an option but starve to death, or join the army, he becomes a murderer.

Killing, drugs, and Rambo movies become his life. Until he is taken into rehabilitation and his life turns around, again.

This book brought me close to tears on every other page. It makes you feel the pain of losing everything, and appreciate what you have. This book is the real deal, it happened to a boy two years younger than us. Think of a seventh grader with an RPG and bayonets... Children should be able to play soccer, and listen to music. Not fight each other til the death.

This book is a very good read. Some of it is very hard to swallow.
Like when the messenger comes into camp with RUF engraved into his middle, and all the fingers but his thumbs are missing... This book makes you open your eyes when your complaining about your parents grounding you, at least you still have them.
I suggest this book to anyone who is sick of perfect fairytales. It gives you insight on other countries problems. And it is always on the move. Read it!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Before I tell you a little bit about this book, I would like to say that, first of all, it is absolutely amazing, and second of all, it is the last book in the Harry Potter series, so you need to read the other 6 books in order to understand this one at all.
In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling, Harry sets out on a mission Dumbledore has assigned him that can save the wizarding world. Voldemort is rising to power fast, and getting closer and closer to Harry, but luckily, Harry always has a “feeling” when Voldemort gets a little too close, and he makes several narrow escapes. He discovers the truth about many people, places, and items that are darker secrets than he could ever have imagined.
This nonfiction book is based on the power of love, and if you pay attention, it also mentions the value of family; whether your real family or adopted family.
I definitely recommend reading this fantastic book, especially after all the other great books in the series. The Harry Potter series are by far the best books I have read in my entire life, and this final book is just icing on the cake!!! A+

Rash

Rash is an incredible book by Pete Hautman. It is 2074 and the USSA (United Safer States of America) is all about safety. French fries, football, alcohol, ownership of guns, body piercings, and running without safety gear is all illegal. Bo Marsten, a teen, is used to all of these cruel laws. However, when Bo loses his temper and he is sent to do manual labor, the world that he knows is completely changed. He is forced to live and work in a factory. His warden is completely insane and doesn't care about anyone's safety. Meanwhile, Bo's AI program, Bork, is looking for a way to get all of the Marstens out of their manual labor, but can Bork get away with it or will he get hunted as a rogue AI? During his stay at the factory, Bo passes a physical test and is invited to be on the factory's football team. The team gets treated better, but they are also forced to hurt each other and play football without any flaws or the coach will hurt them. Will Bo ever find out why his warden is trying to get them good at football? Read this book to find out.

I really liked this book and Hautman's style of writing is without flaw. The way he puts the plot together and how he always makes every next page uncover a new mystery is superb. This book also makes every second of reading highly enjoyable. There is a hook on every page and I couldn't stop reading. I was so glad I read this book and it also changes your view on the world around us. I would recommend this book to almost anyone. A

Ender's Game

Ender’s Game, a science fiction book unparallel to any other of its kind. Written by Orson Scott Card, one of the most notable Sci-Fi writers it is a masterpiece. It deserves a spot on anyone’s shelf, in one of the most easily accessible places. Its settings, from Earth, to a numerous space-stations, seem realistic, even though they are set in the future.

Ender’s Game is based in the future when the human population has exceeded the food supplies, forcing people to only have two children per family. Kids who are the third and over children are made fun of and beaten by other children. One third is called Ender, he was bred to be the smartest of the smart, and to save the human race from the "Buggers". Looking like giant ants they are about the size of humans, some a bit taller. They have attacked Earth twice, barely held off by the humans both times. Ender is asked to go to a space station at an early age. When he is older learning everything he can there he moves on to different schools floating in space, meets a strange and very old tutor who teaches him that no matter where you are, there is always someone better than you. And he proves this by beating up Ender

Friendship, companionships, relationships, action, smarts, and a struggle to survive are what await you when you open up the book, leaving you screaming for more when you have to stop to do something. I recommend this book to everyone, young or old for it is truly great book. A+

The Lightning Thief

Now what would you do if there were Greek Gods, Goddesses, and Demons walking into your daily life? In Rick Riordan's book The Lightning Thief this happens to young Percy Jackson every day. For as long as he can remember weird things have happened to him. As he attends yet another new school Percy has difficulties adjusting; and having your English teacher turn into a evil flying demons doesn't quite help him. But through his journey to camp Half-Blood (a camp for half Gods and humans to attend) Percy soon finds of his father, Poseidon, God of the Sea. Now considering that the three main Gods ( Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades) are strictly forbidden to have kids, this does posse some difficulties for Percy. But now Zeus's master bolt is gone and the main suspect is young Percy Jackson. He must go on a journey to find and retrieve it for Zeus before the Summer solstice to avoid the next World War III. As they set out for their journey they encounter a bus full of furies, (that's the evil guys) jumping out of buildings, and some creepy lady with snakes on her head.

The Lightning Thief is a very enthralling fiction book, well that is if your into the whole Greek mythology thing, if not put the book down because you'll have a hard time even getting to page 5. If so... then you will love this book. But if you want to read something that will really keep on grabbing you by surprise or jolt you around, I would move onto another better book...such as Harry Potter. (Unless your name is N.W.)

Flipped

A suspense thriller. The perfect fantasy novel. Always keeping you on the edge of your seat.Is that what you want me to say. Well, quite frankly this book was not like. It was not the typical young adult book that you find today. But ya' know what, I loved it.

This is a story that is told from two different perspectives. One is relating the experience of an 8th grade girl with a huge crush on an 8th grade boy. And the other side is that of the 8th grade boy. The book switches between the two every chapter, and it can take a little while two get used to the different writing styles.(which is amazing by just one author) But you get used to it about four chapters in.

Secondly this is a story that doesn't always keep you guessing but more so keep you laughing. Also it is not suspense that is keeping you reading. But the relationships between the families of the two main characters and those two themselves. There were even some times that I found myself laughing out loud in my bed. This is accompanied with Office like awkward

moments that make you cringe.

I think it is clear that this book is definitely unique in it's plot and format. I would recommend it to anyone that is interested in a light hearted book that is full of laughs.(yeah i'm talkin to you Charles) I loved this book and you should give it a shot.

And Then There Were None

Agatha Christine kept me on the edge of my seat while i read this thrilling, fictional story. It is filled with mystery and suspense and captured my attention until the very end.

The mystery begins with ten strangers who have been invited by an unknown host to an island off the coast of Devon. The house on Soldier Island had been built by a millionaire and they'd all agree that they'd heard nothing about it but what pure luxury it was. Who wouldn't want to except an opportunity of that for a weekend? However, upon their arrival there are many surprises. Each guest has a questionable past including the fact that each one of them is accused of murder. One by one, they begin falling as victims to an unknown murderer. Their inability to call for help or leave the island because of bad weather makes them wonder how somebody could arrive there. Plus, the island is small which makes them come upon one thought; it must be one in their party of ten committing the crime...but who? Will the mystery be solved? You'll have to read to find out.

This story gave me the chills and I couldn't stop turning the pages. The characters the author created are amazing as well as the plot. This story really shows how different people are from each other. Also, it shows what people do and how they act under certain circumstances. The author really confuses you, but the confusion is what makes you think. The point to this book may be very different depending on who you ask. That is kind of what makes the book what it is. It may sound like the classic murder story with the thrill and suspense, but expect the unexpected. Although I was not in love with And Then There Were None, it was really an insane book. I think lots of people would enjoy this book even more than I did. If you're up for a thrill, this is the book for you. Its intensity keeps you wanting more! B+

The Luxe

My most recent time consumer has been The Luxe series. It's written by Anna Godberson and it is the perfect combination of three types of genres; historical fiction, romance, and mystery. Why is it the perfect mix? Because it gives you background on the era of late 1900 century, it gives you romance, with a bit of a scandal, and a mystery.

This book is about one huge love circle. It goes something like this, Henry Schoonmaker has to marry Elizabeth Holland, but Henry falls in love with Elizabeth's younger sister, Diana. Penelope Hayes is in love with Henry and determined to marry him. So she meets up with Elizabeth's fired lady in waiting for gossip on the Hollands. Turns out that Lina (lady in waiting) loves Will the stable boy, but Elizabeth and Will are in love. Lina tells Penelope of Will and Elizabeth's secret affair, and how the Holland's supply of money is steadily decreasing. It's sounds like middle school, right? The only way it could work out is if someone dies... Luckily someone does.

I loved this book and I think that most GIRLS would. I doubt any boy would enjoy this book. It shows you what it was like to be rich, beautiful, and famous in the 19 century. The girls go to dances and dress in beautiful gowns. This book has a real romance, nothing like the whole Twilight Edward Jacob nonsense. Henry Schoonmaker is a charmer, and you can't not love Will. And the best part is that you don't have to choose between two boys! I can't say anything bad about the Hunger Games, but I have to admit, once I had to decide between Peeta and Gale, I decided one of them just has to die in the next book so I don't have to decide.

It is mostly intriguing the whole way, but there are some slower parts. It is a bit scandalous, but it's better than any PG 13 movie. I sometimes wish I had a little bit more information on the characters and the time period.

I have read the first to and can't wait to get my hands on the third! B+

The Hunger Games

In this kick-butt action book Suzanne Collins has shown us that a girl can be just as good as the main character as any guy. The book starts when a girl named Katniss is hunting in the forbidden woods of what is now called District 12 of a post-apocalyptic U.S. controlled by what is called The Capitol. The Capitol is a city in the Rockies that rules the districts with an iron fist. For example, every year it forces a boy and a girl from each district to compete in what is called the Hunger Games, where they are all put in an arena to fight to the death and only one can win. So Katniss has to come back from hunting for food because she must go to see whose names have been picked. Shockingly, she hears her little sister's name called and she becomes frantic to save her sister, Prim. So she actually volunteers herself to go in place of her so Prim will be able to stay.

Now Katniss has to be able to survive in an arena for days with people trying to kill her and living off of the land. Luckily she has her hunting skills or else she would be as good as dead in that arena. Though she also has some extra edge because of a romance between her and the boy from District 12, which just may be the key to their survival. Which either may or may not be a real romance. Though the whole time Katniss is in the relationship she wonders about her friend Gale and how he must feel about it because he likes her too. Which actually is sort of the love triangle in Twilight just 100 times better because Katniss can actually take care of herself. Where Belle is hopeless and completely dependent on her two boyfriends to save her. Katniss has the ability to make this predicted book trilogy into a great movie trilogy (which is actually happening). She has the skill to do well in that arena but I always think that she might not be able to actually kill someone. In this book you're not really sure if she will until it comes right down to it. All the while keeping you guessing about that love triangle. In addition, like everyone else in her district, she thinks the Hunger Games are a terrible thing and she needs to show the Capitol that. I also wondered if Katniss could show the Capitol while I was reading the book. Though how or if she does will both surprise you and make you love the book even more. Almost everything that she does is the book is unusual and really effective. If you wish to find out you will be completely satisfied as I was and be hooked into the series until you finish the third book.
Grade:A

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

John Boyne's amazing story set in the holocaust war time period was wonderful in a sense of literature but not in the sense of happy endings. While I was reading the book it gave me a feeling of remorse and sadness and I felt as if I were going through the book living it in real life, that is probably because of Boyne's realism and rash reality of the book and I especially felt it through out all the book.

The story is about a young boy named Bruno, who's father is a commander in the Nazi army. When his father is relocated from Berlin to Out-With, a concentration camp positioned miles from their house, is when the real story begins. This mix of non fiction realism of this time period and of the fictitious made up story by Boyne is somewhat tragic and yet grasps you with a sense of reality that this actually could happen during this specific historical event (the holocaust). I was intrigued to find more about the holocaust and the conditions of the concentration camps that's when my friend recommended I read this book. As I began reading I was overwhelmed by the tragic state of the house and of the camp, I never would imagine being sent to an awful place like that. What I gathered by reading this depressing story was that while youth are still innocent in the sense of reckless "adventure" some things are meant to be left "unexplored".Though this is my opinion there can be many other central themes around this story. Bruno begins exploring his new environment and this leads to trouble because as he can see the camp from his room he feels he needs to explore it so he sets off walking almost an hour and reaches a fence where a sad boney child sits on the ground, this boy's name is Shmuel, Bruno's new found friend. As the boys become friends by Bruno's daily visits, complications and questions arise. Such as why were they separated by a fence and when would Bruno leave Out-With. As the story continues Bruno's mother grows tired of the awful environment that she is bringing up her children in so she decides to move back to Berlin. Hours before they are to leave, Bruno sets out to say his last good bye to Shmuel. I don't want to spoil the ending for anyone so that is where I'll end it, so if you want to find out more you have to pick up this book and read it.

I'm very happy I read this amazing book. It may strike you as a little dark and depressing but that is what makes this book so realistic and it grips you right at the beginning and it was, in my opinion, the best historical fiction book. If you like this book you should try reading some other books by John Boyne like Mutiny and Next of Kin. Not only that but by reading this book I gathered more info about the holocaust, and I was moved to tears by this entertaining book (which by the way was recently turned into a movie). A

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland? or Alice's Adventures in Crazy Land?

Everybody knows the classic story of Alice in Wonderland from the beloved Disney movie. Alice follows a late rabbit with a pocket watch down a rabbit hole, then eats a cupcake and drinks something that changes her size a few times. She meets a caterpillar smoking a hookah, a Mad Hatter and the March Hare. but most importantly the Queen of Hearts. The Story line makes sense in the Disney Movie but not so much in the Lewis Carroll Classic.

The Main character is of course Alice, and she is a young girl, I picture to be around 11 years old. She loves her cat Dinah and to recite school lessons. She is also very insightful and imaginative. She seems pretty normal right? Think again. In this book Alice seems as if she has multiple personality disorder. She always talks to herself and will go off on tangents. Sometimes having complete conversations with herself. odd...

One of the worst things about the book though is how hard it is to follow after a certain point. The beginning of the book makes sense and is understandable, but after the first several chapters the book just gets too confusing. It's hard to explain but the crazy confusion actually adds to the story in a way, because it shows how utterly mad Wonderland is.

Another downside to the book is the characters are badly described if they are even described at all. There is one character called the Mock Turtle. The name implies he is some sort of fake turtle but I had no clue what he really was until I saw a picture of it farther into the chapter. it was basically a cow with a large turtle's shell on it's back, but nowhere in the text did it describe it. For most of the characters in this book you need to rely on prior knowledge to picture the characters in your head while reading.

But, my favorite part of the book is how Lewis Carrol has so many weird quotes, ideas, and symbols. He also uses word play. in one part of the story Alice confuses a mouse's tail with it's tale. and on the next page it shows a mouse with it's tail made out of words of a story. Little things like this make the story exciting, different, and fun to read. One symbol I found in the book was when the caterpillar tells Alice if she eats one side of the mushroom it will make her grow larger and the other side will make her shrink. Try to figure out the symbol. ;) Just food for thought.

Although this book is a little weird and took me a while longer to understand what was happening at the end of the book, I would recommend you to read it, not only because it is a classic written in 1865, but because it is an unique entertaining writing style and it is a generally quick read. It's actually pretty funny. Grade B-

P.S. - Sadly, the Mad Hatter does not sing the Unbirthday Song in the book and there is no Tweedle Dee or Tweedle Dum either.

Funny Quotes from This Book That I Love:

"In that direction," the Cat said, waving its right paw round, "lives a Hatter: and in that direction," waving the other paw, "lives a March Hare. Visit either you like: they're both mad."

"But I don't want to go among mad people,"Alice remarked.

"Oh, you can't help that," said the Cat: "we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad."

"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.

"You must be,' said the Cat, "or you wouldn't have come here."

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"Tut, tut, child! Everything's got a moral, if only you can find it."

"There's a large mustard-mine near here. And the moral of that is -- The more there is of mine, the less there is of yours."

- The Dutchess

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"Speak English! I don't know the meaning of half those long words, and I don't believe you do either!"

-Eaglet

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The Hatter opened his eyes very wide on hearing this; but all he said was,"Why is a raven like a writing-desk?"

"Come, we shall have some fun now!" thought Alice. "I'm glad they've begun asking riddles.--I believe I can guess that," she added aloud.

"Do you mean that you think you can find out the answer to it?" said the March Hare.

"Exactly so," said Alice.

"Then you should say what you mean," the March Hare went on.

"I do," Alice hastily replied; "at least--at least I mean what I say--that's the same thing, you know."

"Not the same thing a bit!" said the Hatter. "You might just as well say that "I see what I eat" is the same thing as "I eat what I see"!"

"You might just as well say," added the March Hare, "that "I like what I get" is the same thing as "I get what I like"!"

"You might just as well say," added the Dormouse, who seemed to be talking in his sleep, "that "I breathe when I sleep" is the same thing as "I sleep when I breathe"!"

"It is the same thing with you," said the Hatter, and here the conversation dropped, and the party sat silent for a minute, while Alice thought over all she could remember about ravens and writing-desks, which wasn't much.

...

"Have you guessed the riddle yet?" the Hatter said, turning to Alice again.

"No, I give it up," Alice replied: "what's the answer?"

"I haven't the slightest idea," said the Hatter.

"Nor I," said the March Hare.

Alice sighed wearily. "I think you might do something better with the time," she said, "than waste it in asking riddles that have no answers."