Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Book Bite: "The Fault in Our Stars"


“As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.”
- The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (2012)

Friday, August 29, 2014

New books to read over the holiday weekend

Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid
During her cross-country adventures following the tragic death of her family, Leila touches the lives of four strangers--Hudson, Bree, Elliot, and Sonia. While forever changing the lives of these four, Leila also discovers an important truth about herself.

The Vanishing Season by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Girls started vanishing in the fall. For Maggie Larsen, the town of Gill Creek is only a stopgap before college and freedom. Until she meets Pauline and Liam. What starts as an uneventful year suddenly changes. Someone is killing teenaged girls, and the town reels from the tragedy. As Maggie's and Pauline's worlds collide and change around them, they will both experience love and loss. And by the end of the book, only one of them will survive.

The Secret Side of Empty by Maria Andreu
M.T. is a high-achieving high school student, who hiding the fact that she's an undocumented immigrant in the United States

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo
Conclusion to the Grisha trilogy. The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne. Alina forges new alliances as she and Mal search for Morozova's last amplifier. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that alters her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields.

Through to You by Lauren Barnholdt
When bad-boy Penn reaches out to cautious Harper, a tumultuous relationship blossoms, and the two learn that their bond may not be strong enough to overcome their obvious differences.

Frozen by Erin Bowman
Sequel to Taken. "Gray Weathersby and a small team of rebels set off on a frozen, icy journey in search of allies to help them take down the cruel Franconian Order--but they quickly learn that no ally or enemy is truly what they seem.

The Rule of Thoughts by James Dashner
2nd book in the Mortality Doctrine series. Michael and his friends, Sarah and Bryson, are still being chased by a cyber-terrorist. And now the government is after them, too.

Renegade by Debra Driza
Sequel to Mila 2.0. Mila is back on the run--this time with potential boyfriend Hunter by her side. As they search for a man who might know more about her mysterious past, Mila must rely on her android abilities to protect them from the people who want her dead. But embracing her identity as a machine leads her to question the state of her humanity, as well as Hunter's true intentions.

The Body in the Woods by April Henry
While helping the Portland County Sheriff's Search and Rescue to seek a missing autistic man, teens Alexis, Nick, and Ruby find, instead, a body and join forces to find the girl's murderer, forming an unlikely friendship, as well.

Fat Boy vs. the Cheerleaders by Geoff Herbach
When the high school cheerleading team takes over a soda vending machine's funds, which were previously collected by the pep band, Gabe Johnson, an overweight "band geek" tired of being called names and looked down on, declares war.

The Fallen by Charlie Higson
5th book in The Enemy series. The Holloway crew, having made it to the Natural History Museum barely alive, continues to seek a cure for the Disease but when the children return to the streets for medical supplies, it is no longer clear who--or what--is their enemy.

Rumble by Ellen Hopkins
Eighteen-year-old Matt's atheism is tested when, after a horrific accident of his own making that plunges him into a dark, quiet place, he hears a voice that calls everything he has ever disbelieved into question.

Conversion by Katherine Howe
When girls start experiencing strange tics and other mysterious symptoms at Colleen's high school, her small town of Danvers, Massachusetts, falls victim to rumors that lead to full-blown panic, and only Colleen connects their fate to the ill-fated Salem Village, where another group of girls suffered from a similarly bizarre epidemic three centuries ago.

Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally
To honor her dead boyfriend and cope with her grief and guilt, college student Annie trains for a marathon with athletic Jeremiah, who flirts with Annie on the trails and makes her feel alive and happy and guilty all at the same time.

Like No Other by Una LaMarche
Though their relationship is strictly forbidden, Devorah and Jax arrange secret meetings and risk everything to be together. But how far can they possibly go? Just how much are they willing to give up?

Illusive by Emily Lloyd-Jones
After a vaccine accidentally creates superpowers in a small percentage of the population, seventeen-year-old Ciere, an illusionist, teams up with a group of fellow high-class, super-powered thieves to steal the vaccine's formula while staying one step ahead of mobsters and deadly government agents.

The Revenge of Seven by Pittacus Lore
5th book in the Lorien Legacies series. The Garde, broken and divided, discover that the Mogadorians have commenced their ultimate invasion plans and will stop at nothing to thwart it.

Take Me On by Katie McGarry
Abandoning kickboxing after a tragedy in the ring, champion fighter Haley is forced to train an attractive mixed martial arts student who secretly fights on Haley's behalf to redeem his troubled past.

Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead
5th book in the Bloodlines series. In the aftermath of an event that ripped their world apart, Sydney and Adrian struggle to pick up the pieces and find their way back to each other. But first, they have to survive.

#scandal by Sarah Ockler
When pictures of Lucy kissing her best friend's boyfriend emerge on the world of social media, she becomes a social pariah after the scandal rocks the school.

The Kiss of Deception by Mary Pearson
On the morning of her wedding, Princess Lia flees to a distant village. She settles into a new life, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive--and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deception abounds, and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets--even as she finds herself falling in love.


Trouble by Leonie Pratt
When Aaron willingly signs on to be the pretend father of Hannah's unborn baby, he is looking for redemption from a past that has a stranglehold on him. Hannah, more simply, needs support in the absence of the real father, but she'll discover so much more.

Four: A Divergent Collection by Veronica Roth
A collection of four pre-Divergent stories plus three additional scenes from Divergent, all told from Tobias's point of view, that follow Tobias's transfer from Abnegation to Dauntless, his Dauntless initiation, the first clues that a foul plan is brewing in the leadership of two factions, and the weeks after he meets Tris Prior.

Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater
Cole St. Clair has come to California for one reason: to get back Isabel Culpeper.

The Young World by Chris Weitz
Jefferson, with his childhood friend Donna, leads a tribe of teenagers in New York City on a dangerous quest to find an antidote for a mysterious illness that wiped out all adults and children.

The Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang, illustrated by Sonny Liew
In the comics boom of the 1940s, a legend was born: the Green Turtle. He solved crimes and fought injustice just like the other comics characters. But this mysterious masked crusader was hiding something more than your run-of-the-mill secret identity: the Green Turtle was the first Asian American super hero. The comic had a short run before lapsing into obscurity, but Gene Luen Yang has revived this character in Shadow Hero, a new graphic novel that creates an origin story for the Green Turtle.

Friday, August 15, 2014

Teen review of "Twenty Boy Summer" by Sarah Ockler

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

When I started reading the book Twenty Boy Summer I did not know what to expect. I really enjoyed reading this book, and could not put it down once I started reading it. This book is a mixture of realistic fiction, and romance. I would recommend this book to teenage girls who like to read heartfelt books that they could relate to. Twenty Boy Summer is a heartfelt book about a teenage girl learning to love and let go.

Anna and Frankie are best friends. What Frankie doesn't know is that Anna has been in love with Frankie's brother Matt since she was ten years old. Their whole lives, Matt, Anna, and Frankie have been really close and really good friends. At Anna's birthday party, Matt and Anna finally share a kiss. After that, they spent many nights sneaking out, and talking under the stars. Anna had made a promise to Matt that she would not tell Frankie about their love, because Matt wanted to tell her himself. When Matt tragically dies in a car crash that the two others survived, Anna is forced to keep that promise forever. A year later, Frankie and Anna are going to spend 20 days in Zanzibar Bay. Frankie is set on making sure Anna has a summer romance. But Anna believes that if she does, she will forget all about Matt.

This book's author, Sarah Ockler, did a very good job in writing this heartfelt, emotional book about love and loss. I could relate to the pain of losing a best friend and that kind of relationship. I would be lying if I said I didn't shed a few tears reading this book. This book explains how it feels to lose someone that is close to you and that is someone you love. I know that there are many people that can relate to that pain. In Twenty Boy Summer, Anna is trying to let go and learn to love again. This is what makes this book inspirational in a way. I would definitely recommend this book, and I loved reading it.

- Julia

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Summer reading: more teens recommend...

Jonah recommends Hero by Mike Lupica:

"It keeps you guessing after every page, and it took an unexpected turn in the final pages."
Jessica recommends Bloodlines by Richelle Mead:

"It's the second series of a great number of books, full of romance, action, adventure, and mystery."
Robin recommends 12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northrop:

"Solomon Northrup tells how he survived being a slave for 12 years after being kidnapped from the north. He opens readers' eyes to understand what he, and many other slaves, went through and exposes the horrors of slavery in his own words."
Martha recommends Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins:

"It is both funny and romantic."
Andrew recommends Divergent by Veronica Roth:

"It was a great read and once I started I couldn't put it down."
Tanya recommends Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell:

"I definitely recommend this book! It was an amazing journey I happened to take at 2:00 a.m., but I couldn't put it down. Literally. I felt like it'd be a book many readers (hard-core readers) would be able to relate with. All of it, the romance and the humor. They all made an extraordinary plot."
Elizabeth recommends Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard:

"I recommend this book because it is a little spooky, but you can still relate to it."
Emily recommends Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater:

"This book contains thorough character development added with an interesting plot that tells a tale on individuality and life choices."
Jocelyn recommends Dangerous Girls by R.L. Stine:

"The story involves two teenage girls who become vampires during summer camp, one of them tries to restore her normal life, the other does not. This story is filled with adventures and mysteries."
Glorielly recommends Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer:

"I recommend this book because being a nerd it was good to see for a change that the nerdy A+ student gets the guy and actually has a life other than studying."
Chance recommends Lockwood and Co. by Jonathan Stroud:

"I recommend it if you like ghost stories and horror."
Daniyah recommends Drama by Raina Telgemeier:

"A very good comic interesting and funny."
Kenyan recommends Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool:

"You will never view ∏ (3.14 etc.) the same again."
Alexa recommends The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak:

"It's very descriptive. The author puts a lot of figurative language into the book that makes you read more and more. An absolutely breathtaking plot by the narrator, Death. If you like historical fiction and feel words are a source of power, this is the book for you!"

Deniz recommends Dear Life, You Suck by Scott Blagden:

"It takes you on a journey of self-discovery. The main character's life 'sucks' and wants out, but things start to change for him and he learns to let go."

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Summer reading: Teens recommend...

Throughout the summer middle school and high school students have been filling out Recommend Read entries, recommending books they've enjoyed. Here is a small sampling (more to come soon!):

Olivia recommends The Finisher by David Baldacci:

"I recommend this book because it is a thrilling, non-stop adventure in a town called wormwood and the Quag."
Erika recommends Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo:

"I would recommend this book because is very interesting and fascinating. You can't put it down."
Delaney recommends The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter:

"It is an interesting take on the Persephone myth. It shows the deeper relationships between the gods and what they have gone through."
Keri recommends City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare:

It keeps your interest with some twists and suspense! It is action based and rarely is there a time where you feel even a little bored with this story!"
Emma recommends Skinny by Donna Coomer:

"This is a great book and is very compelling. It talks about a rising problem in the U.S… obesity. This talks about one girl's story to overcome her weight."
Martha recommends Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen:

"It is beautifully written and has a great romance."
Emily recommends Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick:

"This book had a well-thought plot and amazing characters. The story incorporated suspense and mystery, making it a rivetting and wonderful read."
Deniz recommends The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith:

"It is a very good mystery/crime book and it's actually by J.K. Rowling. Who doesn't like her? ;)" 
Emma recommends Looking for Alaska by John Green:

"This is by far the best book I have ever read written by the best author! This book discusses deep thoughts and really gets you thinking while telling a great story!"
Maeve recommends Yellow Fang's Secret by Erin Hunter:

"If you like sorrow and everything going wrong this book is for you. P.S. You will definitely cry while reading this book. The cruelty of reality really shows in this book."
Tanya recommends From What I Remember by Stacy Kramer:

"I highly recommend this book -- it had an addictive plot, with excessive humor and action, very well written. The adventure of the school loner and the school heartthrob is sure to hook many teenagers. You do learn a lot from Kylie Flores, about taking risks, about living life."
Jessica recommends Trapped by Michael Northrop:

"It is a great book with a lot of cliffhangers and is full of mystery and will keep you on the edge of your seat."
 
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