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Airborn
By: Kenneth Oppel
YA Fic SF
Matt, a young cabin
boy aboard an airship, and Kate, a wealthy young girl traveling
with her chaperone, team up to search for the existence of mysterious
winged creatures reportedly living hundreds of feet above the
Earth's surface.
 It
was like an adventure at sea, but in the air instead. There were
mysterious creatures and an ending that was (literally) suspenseful.
I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys books about regular
ships but any person who is looking for a good book should read
it
Max W., age 15
This story is about a young man who is
working on a ship called "Aurora." On this ship, he
discovers adventure, meeting good friendship and hardship. I
recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure and action.
Jordan T., age 13
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Fair
Weather
By: Richard Peck
Juv Fic
In 1893, thirteen-year-old
Rosie and members of her family travel from their Illinois farm
to Chicago to visit Aunt Euterpe and attend the World's Columbian
Exposition which, along with an encounter with Buffalo Bill and
Lillian Russell, turns out to be a life-changing experience for
everyone.
This book is about a girl named Rosie and
her family and the events of the Columbian Exposition Fair. It's
a fun, enjoyable book that anyone would enjoy! The summer of
the fair is to be remembered by this family for a lifetime!
Kelsey M., age: 14
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The Book
Thief
By: Markus Zusak
YA Fic
Trying to make sense
of the horrors of World War II, Death relates the story of Liesel--a
young German girl whose book-stealing and story-telling talents
help sustain her family and the Jewish man they are hiding, as
well as their neighbors.
This was a really well written book. The
way the narrator described what he saw and felt was very descriptive
without using too many words. It was really easy to get into
the book and to "become" the character. Although I
had to read the beginning twice to understand it, for people
who have a good imagination and like a good read, I would definitely
recommend this book. Other pluses: historically accurate; good
word usage; an interesting way to look at WWII through Death's
eyes.
Anna A., age: 15
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Sisterhood
of the Traveling Pants
By: Ann Brashares
YA Fic
Four best girlfriends
spend the biggest summer of their lives enchanted by a magical
pair of pants.
This was a story about 4 girls who were
best friends since they were babies and their first summer apart.
One of the friends finds a pair ofjeans at a thrift store and
a few days before they part, they discover that even though they
are different sizes and shapes, it fits them all. They decide
to take turns with the pants, each taking them for one week.
Even though it sounds like it, the book isn't all about a magical
pair of pants. It's really about four friends and their four
stories. The pants just tie them together. I would recommend
this book to girls who like stories that make them laugh and
cry. Boys probably wouldn't enjoy it as much, since it is about
4 teenage girls, so they couldn't relate as much.
Emma V., age: 12
This book is from 4 different
girls (best friends) that spend their first summer apart. Carmen
finds her divorced father has a new "blonde" family.
Lena spends her summer with her grandparents in Greece. Bridget
is at soccer camp, leaving Libby at home to find 12-year-old
Bailey, a wise, leukemia girl.
Annie R., age: 11
Bridget, Tibby, Lena
and Carmen have grown up together and this is their first summer
apart. They hope this pair of pants will keep them together.
A good book for anybody.
Lydia S., age 14
It
has a great storyline about four girls. And you want to keep
reading because it keeps you on the edge of your seat. All the
girls are different and individual. I will keep reading this
series.
Rebekah F., age 13
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Jacob
Have I Loved
By: Katherine Paterson
YA Fic
Having felt deprived
all her life of schooling, friends, mother, and even her name
by her twin sister, Louise finally begins to find her identy.
This is the most aptly named book I have
ever read. It made me extremely mad and made me cry. Yet it is
so real. Life isn't fair. That message yells loud and clear in
this book. The reason I give it a thumbs up is not because it
was a good book. When you read it, you are Louise. You
feel her uncontrollable and seething anger. (I, particularly,
because I also have a younger sister who makes me want to throw
things at her.) The reader feels and wholly understands the emotions
and ideas being portrayed. This book makes me so mad because
it seems the main character is trapped in her sister's shadow
and not given any of the special treatment of her sister. Any
attention given to her is stolen by her sister. Her friends and
her parents seem to have deserted her for her sister since the
day she was born. (As a matter of fact, they have.) What really
gets me is that at the end, her parents basically say that it
was herself holding her back the entire time. It makes me fume.
Anyway, I only rated it a thumbs up because it is well written
and real.
Katie A., age: 14
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Flush
By: Carl Hiaasen
YA Fic
With their father
jailed for sinking a river boat, Noah Underwood and his younger
sister, Abbey, must gather evidence that the owner of this floating
casino is emptying his bilge tanks into the protected waters
around their Florida Keys home.
It is an interesting book. It seems like
a twist of mystery and adventure but not your usual. After you
think it could be over, something amazing happens. It is like
a roller coaster that you never want to end. It is not a predictable
book and it leaves you wanting more.
Christine T., age 14
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Pictures
in the Dark
By: Patricia McCord
YA Fic
Life with their mentally
ill mother becomes unbearable for twelve-year-old Sarah and fifteen-year-old
Carlie as they are deprived of food and forbidden to use the
bathroom.
It is a story of two girls with a hard
life. It shows that even if you can't tell, your family loves
you. If something is tough, you never quit, just keep going and
hope for the best. It has a very satisfying ending. The book
is sweet and you can't put it down until you are done.
Christine T., age 14
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Tamar
By: Mal Peet
YA Fic
In England in 1995,
fifteen-year-old Tamar, grief-stricken by the puzzling death
of her beloved grandfather, slowly begins to uncover the secrets
of his life in the Dutch resistance during the last year of the
Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, and the climactic events
that forever cast a shadow on his life and that of his family.
This book started out giving the reader
a certain idea and at the end, everything is flipped aruond.
It is very unpredictable. Two different stories are being told
at the same time and you don't know how they really relate until
the last part of the book. It was extremely well written in that
sense. Even though this story is about a war, it is still an
actual story, and not a bunch of facts of biography. That's
what I like about it.
Katie A., age: 14
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If
I have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince?
By: Melissa Kantor
YA Fic
When the father of
high school sophomore Lucy Norton remarries, Lucy finds herself
tormented by two bratty stepsisters and a wicked stepmother.
This
book is a modern twist on Cinderella. Lucy has to deal with a
new stepmom, two stepsisters and a new school. Luckily her Prince
Charming comes to the rescue, but Lucy learns that you need more
than a prince to make you happy. It's a really cute and funny
story!
Sarah B., age 15
This book showed the realistic side of
high school. It showed real feelings and showed what someone
in high school might act like. I also liked the way it kept referring
back to Cinderella throughout the book.
Becca A., age: 13
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Soccer
Chick Rules
By: Dawn Fitzgerald
YA Fic
While trying to focus
on a winning soccer season, thirteen-year-old Tess becomes involved
in local politics when she learns that all sports programs at
her school will be stopped unless a tax levy is passed.
I play soccer a lot so this book really
speaks to me. The characters had great personality. I loved how
this book showed how soccer and life can't always mix.
Rachel O., age 13
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A Girl
of the Limberlost
By: Gene Stratton Porter
YA Fic
Elnora Comstock, an
impoverished young girl growing up on the edge of the Limberlost
swamp in Indiana, is a lover of nature who has an opportunity
to pay for her education by collecting moths.
It is definitely a good idea to read FRECKLES
before this book. It was a bit confusing at times but it had
a good expanse of vocabulary that made you think. The plot changed
half way through with the introduction of a new character. Although
this book is not a direct sequel to FRECKLES, it is still a good
one and definitely worth a read.
Katie A., age 14
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Eldest
(Inheritance, #2)
By: Christopher Paolini
Juv Fic SF
After successfully
evading an Urgals ambush, Eragon is adopted into the Ingeitum
clan and sent to finish his training so he can further help the
Varden in their struggle against the Empire.
This book was awesome! If you've read the
first book (ERAGON), you have yet to be amazed. ELDEST starts
slower but closer to the end, picks up the pace. So read ERAGON
then ELDEST and trust me, it will be a book like no other.
Abby D., age: 12
This is the sequel to
ERAGON. I had loved the book because it was full of adventure
and excitement. It was a very good book!
Jordan T., age: 13
This was a great book.
It was neat how the author told the story of 2 different characters.
Anyone who loves Harry Potter will love this book too. It was
full of all the same fantasy themes and made you want to sit
and read for hours.
Rachel O., age: 13 |
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Outbreak:
Plagues that Changed History
By: Bryn Barnard
j614.49
Describes symptoms
and paths of deadly diseases that have impacted the course of
human history. Explores how major medical events and plagues
impacted society and forever changed the course of history, including
a review of the black plague and its effects on the feudal system
and yellow fever and its impact on the slave trade.
It
shows the dangers of disease in the world around us and throughout
time. With terrifying facts, this book describes many plagues
that inverted the course of history. These diseases also taught
a lesson even though it came with a price.
Kirsi K., age 12 |
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Snowfall
By: K.M. Peyton
YA Fic
Desperate to see the
world beyond her grandfather's vicarage, sixteen-year-old Charlotte
convinces her older brother to take her along on a mountain-climbing
trip to Switzerland, where her life becomes intertwined with
an assortment of people in Victorian society..
The
plot of this book is extremely good. It doesn't bore you and
still isn't too confusing. The first part of chapter one drew
me in like no other. But if you don't like sad endings, this
is not the book for you. The end is extremely heartwrenching,
so be prewarned. This story involves the climbing of mountains
and exploring of exciting places. If you like adventure, this
is a good book. The main character climbs both physical and emotional
mountains in her struggle to find herself.
Katie A., age 14
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Terrier
(Beka Cooper, #1)
By: Tamora Pierce
Juv Fic SF
When sixteen-year-old
Beka becomes "Puppy" to a pair of "Dogs,"
as the Provost's Guards are called, she uses her police training,
natural abilities, and a touch of magic to help them solve the
case of a murdered baby in Tortall's Lower City.
 It
was an awful book. All the characters were corrupt. How can you
cheer for a girl who accepts bribes and a love interest who sleeps
around? Not to mention a sadistic child killer. I have enjoyed
other books by Ms. Pierce but I believe everyone can safely bypass
this one.
Sarah W., age 15
I
give this book a thumbs up because no matter what Beka goes through,
she still has strength to put up a fight. This book will sweep
you into it and you can barely get out. I'd recommend this book
to pretty much anyone.
Hannah D., age 13
It
is a great book because of the adventure and unusual magic. Another
one of Ms. Pierce's great books, I'd say!
Jordan W., age 13 |
