20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
Reviewed by Rishi Sud
The book starts out extremely slow, as the world building has to be done. When it finally picks three of the main characters are on a ship that’s gets destroyed by the Nautilus with Captain Nemo at the helm. Nemo does not see the trio as a threat and decides to take them on board his submarine as guests for the feast of their lives. To the trio they were treated as prisoners yet, they were never put in a cell for long periods of time. The nautilus was put through a multitude of tests, proving that the submarine was built for the worst. Eventually the trio became sick of being at sea for a year and they decided to escape. Their opportunity arrived when something that every sailor dreads, was about to occur where they were, a malestorm. When the sub was caught in the storm they ran to the covered dingy. As they released from the sub they all knocked their heads on something and it all went black.
A Time to Kill by John Grisham
Reviewed by Sarina Sokoloff
In Clanton, Mississippi, two white men are on trial for raping a 10 year old girl. The girls father, out of rage kills them. A white lawyer, Jake Brigance is now going to defend him, a black man in the south in the 1980's. This is a great book about the whole trial and what happens to Jake Brigance for defending this man.
After by Amy Efaw
Reviewed by Grishma Shah
Ar Points: 14
Number of pages: 350
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4/5
"An infant left in the trash to die. A teenage mother who never knew she was pregnant . . .
Before That Morning, these were the words most often used to describe straight-A student and star soccer player Devon Davenport: responsible, hardworking, mature. But all that changes when the police find Devon home sick from school as they investigate the case of an abandoned baby. Soon the connection is made—Devon has just given birth; the baby in the trash is hers. After That Morning, there’s only one way to define Devon: attempted murderer."
When I first picked up this book, I was so sure I was going to hate the main character, Devon. Surprisingly, when I started reading this book, I sympathized Devon. Amy Efaw does a remarkable job at taking you inside Devon’s world, making you feel what Devon feels, and understand why she did what she did. After keeps you hooked from the start to the end. My only problem with this book was that it ended abruptly, and the wording was a bit confusing at times. The book is extremely well thought of and ultimately worth reading.
Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly
Reviewed by Lauren Fredrick
The book I would like to recommend is Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly. This book is about a version of our world where it is common to see angels. In fact there are whole communities of people that dedicate their lives to becoming personal food sources for the angels, although they don't know that. They believe that the they are just following the calling of God. Even as this is happening there is a few people that belong to an organization that fights these so called heavenly beings in order to protect the people of earth from angel burn. The total burn out of the human mind. Alex is one of the few who know the truth about angels. Or thought he did until he meets Willow. Willow knows she's different from other girls. And not just because she loves tinkering around with cars. Willow has a gift. She can look into people's futures, know their dreams, their hopes and their regrets, just by touching them. But she has no idea where she gets this power from.Until Alex appears in her life. The rest of the story is about their fight for survival and freedom for both them selves and the human race. The novel has a little something for everyone: action, romance, and the supernatural.
Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet
Reviewed by Anna Gjertsen
“Born on a Blue Day” can end one of the world’s main problems, a lack of tolerance for people’s differences due to a lack of understanding. Okay, so maybe it won’t end this problem, but it could increase people’s understanding, thereby creating a more accepting world. This exceptional book was written by Daniel Tammet, an autistic savant. The reader follows Daniel through his whole life and sees his constant struggle to understand himself and those around him. This book gives us a glimpse into a life completely foreign to most of us. Mr. Tammet is able to express his experiences in an incredibly eloquent, and easy to understand way. He brings all preconceived notions about those with mental handicaps, specifically those on the autistic spectrum, crashing down. I would most definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for an eye-opening experience and a good read. All in all, I am extremely grateful to Daniel Tammet for having given the gift of this book to the world and in doing so made it that much better for those who choose to read it.
Born To Run by Christopher McDougall
Reviewed by Luke Dermody
The book I would like to recommend to the class is "Born To Run" by
Christopher McDougall. The book explores a hidden tribe in mexico full
of super athletes using their natural skill of long distance running.
It explains how running is in our genes and was used by our ancestors
to travel, hunt and many other things that technology has now
replaced. It is not only an ideal book for someone interested in
running/athletics but is also great for anyone interested in the
amazing things the human body is capable of doing. (National best
Seller).
By the Time You Read This I’ll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters
Reviewed by Jenny Boyer
I recommend the book, By the Time You Read This I’ll Be Dead written by Julie Anne Peters. This is a story about a lost girl named Daelyn Rice; after several suicide attempts she has also lost her social life. Not that Daelyn cared the least bit that she was being watched practically twenty-four-seven, because she never was good at making any friends in the first place. Which is also why she was okay with not being able to speak; that was a result of one of her many suicide attempts. Daelyn wanted to be left alone, and even more then that she wanted to get her death right. This is what leads Daelyn to discover a website called www.throughthelight.com ,for people who have attempted and completed suicide. Although she would like to Daelyn cannot spend all of her life at home on that website. The other half of her life is spent at a private school where she is known as the freak who can’t talk, but it barely fazes Daelyn considering this has been her life for as long as she could remember. This thing that does come to her surprise is when a boy named Santana begins to sit with her after school when she is waiting for her parents to pick her up. Daelyn was not about to start letting people into her life when she only had a few weeks left before she would finish what she started. But Santana refuses to give up on her. Daelyn wants to allow herself to feel loved by Santana, but she can’t do it. Daelyn lost herself a long time ago and now it’s too late for her to find herself.
Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
Reviewed by Tiffany Dorn
A book that I would recommend to people is Dear John by Nicholas Sparks. My reason for
recommending this book is because it's a book that could keep almost anyone intrigued. It starts off as a story of a man named John who is on leave from the army. He then meets a girl who catches his eye from afar, and later finds out her name is Savannah. After a couple of dates with her he realized he hasn't just developed and interest in her, he fell in love. This book is about the stressed relationship that a man in the military faces and how he and Savannah try to make it work.
Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Reviewed by Luke Vuolle
The most interesting book that I read this summer was Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes. This book was about a mentally challenged adult who under went a operation to make his IQ go up, he soon learned how to get mad and to feel bad about things. The surgery wore of and he wasnt able to keep any of his brain power, this was an extremely good book.
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
Reviewed by Olivia Ernst
An attention grabbing novel that I have read was Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeanette Walls. The novel, Glass Castle: A Memoir, explains the horrific experiences of Jeanette Wall's childhood. The childhood of Jeanette Walls was far from ordinary, it was a period of time in which she had to learn to cope with a manipulitive, selfish and alcoholic father. Without the protection of her parents to provide love and hope, Walls relied on the comfort of her siblings and her pets. Along with the absence of love, Walls and her family had little to no money to be able to have the fortune of shelter and food. However, when little income came in from her Father, he would feed his addiction and purchase alcohol. Reoccuring themes throughout the novel were loneliness, forgiveness, and lost dreams. Jeanette's Father promised her all the fortunes of the world, but the world he could not give.
Wall's life consisted of empty promises, however, she wanted nothing but to be able to believe her Father and his convincing words. Though she knew her Father and his series of lies, she could never have the strength to say no to him but had the strength to forgive her Father time and time again. This novel is one that tells the story of the obstacles thrown at Jeanette Walls and her siblings. Filled with resentment and anger towards her Father's drinking and her Mother's blindness toward the addiction, Jeanette and her siblings have had their childhood stolen from beneath them and sent to a world where life shared no sympathy or compassion. Given the memories of her childhood experiences, Jeanette grew incredible strength but yet, her biggest weakness was always her Father. Her memoir tells a story of a troubling past that with her strength and hope guided her to a life full of acheivement and success.
Gone Series by Micheal Grant
Reviewed by Ciara Francis
The books I reccomend to the class are the Gone Series by Micheal Grant. I am currently on the fourth novel from the series. They are excellent books. They give you insight on how the world would be without parents and the rest of the world. Though the books are a little thick; I can promise you that if you pick it up you won't be able to put it down.
Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult
Reviewed by Jordan Virgil
Charlotte and Sean O’Keefe are overcome with grief when their newborn daughter, Willow is born with severe osteogenesis imperfect (OI). OI, osteogenesis imperfecta, is a condition in which the body’s bones are extremely fragile. A sneeze, a hug, a fall can make the most devastating impact. Being born with OI, Willow’s life is full of trips to the hospital, casts and wheelchairs, and the constant knowing that she will never be normal. From the day Willow is born, the O’Keefe’s lives are changed forever. But when Charlotte O’Keefe enters a wrongful birth lawsuit behind her husband’s back, the whole family’s ethics are tested. Would they have aborted Willow had they known she had OI? Who has the right to take away a life?
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Reviewed by Rayyan Sayeed
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is a very fast-paced and exciting book that is guaranteed to pound on the pleasure centers of the brain. The plot of the book is thoroughly satisfying and enjoyable, and segues to a phenomenal trilogy of novels. Lina Mayfleet is the main character, a young teenage girl found in the heart of a bitter, cynical society. The setting in The Hunger Games, although fictional, is very seemingly real- a technologically advanced, futuristic civilization in which social caste is magnified into entire cities. The story revolves around an annual competition that is held every year for the entertainment of the wealthy- The Hunger Games. In these games, randomly selected participants are chosen from the low class cities, and are forced into a computer-generated arena. The competition quickly unfurls into a desperate fight for survival, with the winner being the last person to survive. This book is a true work of entertainment, and will not be easy to put down once opened.
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
Reviewed by Chris Bruno
Inkheart is a fantasy book written by author Cornelia Funke. It is about a book binder named Mo who has a special ability; his voice can bring characters out of books. Because of this ability, he ends up finding himself, along with his daughter Meggie, roped into a situation involving characters from one of his favorite books. This is the first book of an amazing trilogy and it is a great read.
Jars of Glass by Brad Barkley & Heather Hepler
Reviewed by Gina Etha
Chloe and Shana, two close sisters, are the complete definition of opposite. Chloe is caring and mother-like, while Shana is rather insecure and defines her look as ‘emo’. Their mother is an alcoholic. She was sent to the hospital and then an institution for addicts. Since Chloe and Shana’s mother has been away, their Dad has been distant and his business is falling apart. He didn’t seem to be portraying the character of a dad at all, since their mother had left home. Chloe and Shana’s adopted younger brother, Micah, who is rather crazy, has been left in their hands, giving Chloe and Shana the responsibilities of a parent. They loved Micah so much, especially Chloe. Although Chloe and Shana seem like they are dealing with their problems well, their life is no easy one. And who says sisters don’t fight? Chloe and Shana sure did. Through everything that has happened and everything yet to come, Chloe and Shana realize the only way the can make it through this crazy thing called life is by never letting go of each other.
Just Don't Fall by Josh Sundquist
Reviewed by Kelly Falco
Just Don't Fall by Josh Sundquist is a memoir about a 9 year old boy who gets his leg amputated because there was cancer found. The story goes on to tell about his progression in over coming having only three limbs. I have only read about half of the book but it is absolutely amazing and there is so much voice that comes through each sentence and makes you feel as if you knew and grew up with Josh himself.
The Knife of Never Letting Go
Reviewed by Neel Chowdhary
The youngest person in his town full of only men, Todd is forced to runaway when he is being hunted by his Mayor. He had not seen a women since his mother’s passing as a child. As he journeyed away from his home, he discovered many dark secrets about his town, and what every man there had done to gain their reputation. Along his way he gains a reputation he can’t willingly break, discovers what really happened to his mom, and finds an unlikely friend.
The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
Reviewed by Kelly Mankowich
Last year, I read a book called The Last Song, by Nicholas Sparks, and although now most people have seen the movie, you really need to read the book to understand. It is much more mature than the movie, and is very detailed. The story is all about a person changing from being angry all the time, to becoming nice and happy with their life. the girl in the story soon notices that that's all you need, and you'll be okay. I think that that's why it was interesting to read, because it was an unconventional way of getting to a happy ending. she had to go through many different things, including a death, that made her stronger and want to move on with her life. It is also really easy to relate to, because the girl was only a little older than girls in our grade now. I think that a lot of people would love to read this book. From the moment i started it, i couldn't put it down.
The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
Reviewed by Brie D'Ambrosia
This is my favorite book of all time. Nicholas Sparks has to be one of my favorite authors and I love every single one of his books. This book was about a girl named Ronnie who goes out to North Carolina to visit her father for the summer. At the beginning of the book, she has a horrible attitude but over time, all of that changes. She reconnects with her dad and even falls in love with a boy she meets. Her summer may turn out being great, but there are definitely a lot of obstacles she has to overcome. At the end of the summer, she finds out something surprising and it hurts Ronnie really bad but she tries to find the good in it. Over all, it’s an emotional and inspiring book to read.
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Reviewed by Tanya DeSandre
Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. The capitol is not happy with her being free. They believe she will become the face of the rebellion that is happening in the districts. Little do they know she will become much more than that. Hiding in district 13, Katniss has had time to heal from the last Hunger Games. District 13 leaders are training her to help in the rebellion. Along with Gale, Peeta, and any other rebels, Katniss will try to take down the capitol.
Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre
Reviewed by Clementina Jaramillo
Nausea takes place in France, early 1900's. A 30 year-old man has a normal life, talking to the Self-Taught Man (an acquaintance) about life, existentialism and other areas of philosophy, working on his book, regularly visits a pretty bartender, and reminiscing memories of a past lover, Anny. He does not have family or friends. Throughout the story he visits normal places: a library, a cafe, a bar, an apartment building, a park and a hotel. Everywhere he finds disgust in inanimate objects and constantly questions his existence. Antoine believes he is ugly and is probably the worse thing one can be in life:content. No happiness, no sadness. Non-quintessential. Whenever he feels this feeling of existence crawling on his skin, he calls it the Nausea. The moment I read "The Nausea is not within me. I feel it within the walls, the suspenders, everywhere around me. It makes itself one with the cafe. I am the one who is within it.", I felt it too. I felt it as a step to truly understanding how extraordinary and under-appreciated life is.
The novel is a college level book. I only recommend it to students with patience and large attention spans.
Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
Reviewed by Sara Mermelstein
The book I recommend is Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. The book begins at Sterling High School in Sterling, New Hampshire, and a high school student named Peter Houghton, who has endured years of physical and verbal abuse by his classmates, decides to take in action in a different way - a shooting. The judge of the court case is Alex Cormier, who is Josie Cormier's mother, and Josie used to Peter's best friend. Josie was present when the entire event unfolded, but she seems to not remember what exactly happen, as Alex is also torn between presiding over the case and if she does it will create a more strained relationship with her daughter. This is one of my favorite books that I've ever read and I recommend it to everyone!
On the Fringe by various authors
Reviewed by Clementina Jaramillo
"Chickens are packed tightly into trucks and factory farms. Those that have broken wings, are undersized, bald, diseased or are different in anyway, they are tortured, killed and eaten away. We humans are not as savage as chickens, but that is certainly the way too many high schoolers feel today." This is a paraphrase of how On The Fringe begins. It is a collection of how bullied students stand up, stick together, deal with, positively or negatively, with harassment from classmates who feel greater. Generally the victims within the book are those with multi-colored hair, multiple piercings, acne, are religion-obsessed, underweight or overweight, are cross-dressers, not heterosexual, are disabled physically or mentally, wear spikes, skulls, leathers and chains, are girls with too short hair or guys with too long hair.
I love these short eleven stories as it makes the unaware, aware to bullying. It's not a crime to be different. I recommend this book to every and any student.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosk
Reviewed by Danielle Solomon
This book, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is an amazing book. This book is told in a very interesting way. It is in the form a several letters. The letters are written by the protagonist, Charlie, and he tells the reader what he encounters between the ups and downs of high school. It includes the friendships made, and lost, typical high school drama and everything in between. I recommend you to read this because it's very relate able and is just an all around great book.
The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordian
Reviewed by Nick Foster
The book is about 2 siblings who grew up apart and when they are reunited they are told that both their father and mother are magicians. Carter and Sadie are their names. Carter grew up with his father who was an Egyptologist who traveled all over studying the Egyptians. Sadie grew up in England like any normal teenager except she lived with her grandparents. This book is similar to The Lightning Thief by the same author. This series focuses on the gods of Egypt instead of Greek and Roman gods. It is a rather good book and series. I just finished the second book over the summer. If people have read any of the Percy Jackson books then I believe they would enjoy this series.
Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
Reviewed by Jennifer Aparicio
A very good book I read this summer was Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks. It is about a woman named Katie running away from a dangerous past and looking for a fresh start somewhere safe. She manages to keep a low profile until she meets the love of her life. She starts living her life again but as she begins to let lose her past catches up with her. Then she must confront her past in order to save the ones she loves.
Shooting Star
Reviewed by Kevin Risch
The book that I read was called "Shooting Star" this book is about a high school footbal player that was always told only if. He played conerback for a private school and was considered one of the best coners around. But he was smal and light. If he gained a few pounds and grew acouple more inches he would be unstopable. He took this into mind and decied he was going to start juicing aka. Doing steriods. He becomes bigger faster and strong but turns into an animal. He does not act himself anymore. This book is about the struggles of steriods in teenage year and how he trys to overcome. I would highly reccomend this book it is very interesting and starts off fast I found myself reading after midnight one night because it was so good. You can not put this book down. I loved it!
Unwind by Neal Schusterman
Reviewed by Jenna Hurler
I would reccomend the book Unwind by Neal Schusterman. Its my favorite book and I've already read it three times. Its a book that takes place in the future where the world is a completely different place. It puts so many things in perspective and really makes you think.
Valhalla Rising by Clive Cussler
Reviewed by Leah Chen
Starting in July of 2003, the adventurer, Dirk Pitt, has to stop an evil oil tycoon from taking over all of the oil companies in the world. How does he get himself into the middle of this crazy situation? It starts with a luxury cruise ship blowing up, saving a girl from the ocean who is holding onto her father’s briefcase for dear life and getting into a fight with a strange man. Throughout his journey to find out who is responsible for the cruise ship situation and trying serve them justice; Dirk Pitt faces more and more challenges. The story follows Dirk Pitt and some friends as they try to figure out the connection between the oil CEO, the owner of the mysterious briefcase, Vikings and Captain Nemo’s submarine, Nautilus.
This book contains many adventures, twists and turns and will really keep the reader wanting more. When I started reading this book, I wasn’t too thrilled because I’m not one to like pure adventure stories but while sitting at the poolside at work, I would pull out the book and read it, a little bit each day and soon I was engulfed into the story. The story is all about Dirk Pitt’s race against the clock and all the adventures and problems that come with it.
Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen
Reviewed by Briana Kupper
The book was about a man in a nursing home remembering when he was a veteranarian at a traveling circus during the Great Depression. It is about how he fell in love with the star performer in the show. It is a very good book and I would recommend it to anyone.
Morgan Kentsbeer suggests:
The Hunger Games
The City of Bones
Alba Vivar recommends:
The Hunger Games