Teen Reads

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

2012-02-12T11:41:00.000-08:00

I read the book I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore. There are 9 aliens in the beginning of the story who left their home planet and came to Earth. They left their home planet, Lorien because the Mogadorians destroyed it. Every time the Magadorians capture any of the 9 aliens, each of the aliens get a scar on their leg. The nine aliens were supposed to all go to different places around the World. The Mogadorians captured the first three aliens, therefore they are set to find Number Four and kill him.The Magadorians capture the Aliens in order, and when they capture the third alien, Number Four knows he is next.
But Number Four is constantly moving and changing his name. His guardian's name is Henri, and Henri is the one who makes sure Number Four (also known as John Smith) is safe and travels with John. John wants to live a normal life but it is hard to because he has super powers. Once he develops his legacy, he is able to control light and do other things he never knew he could do. It is hard for him to pretend to be a normal teenager because his hands glow when he becomes too emotional about anything. In one of his schools, there is a bully who gets John upset and John's hands glow. Throughout this story, John struggles to stay alive and yet pretend to be a normal teenager. Constantly moving, it is impossible for Number Four to make friends. Until now, when he meets Sam (a nerdy boy) and Sarah. His new relationships make the thought of leaving very difficult. And now, that his legacies are starting to develop, it's becoming harder to keep his true identity a secret. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to reading a Science Fiction book that has aliens in it.
~Kyle, Teen Book Reviewer

Pick-Up Game: A Full Day of Full Court edited by Marc Aronson and Charles R. Smith Jr.

2012-02-11T11:28:00.000-08:00

In the book Pick-Up Game: A Full Day of Full Court, there are various short stories that show a day in the life of The Cage, the famous, well-known basketball court in NYC. Poems and photographs by Charles R. Smith JR. help introduce each new short story which consists of a different player. The short stories were written very well and excellent, especially the two stories from Walter Dean Myers and Sharon Flake, which stand out and are very interesting due to the in-depth details of those two stories. Each story is written by a different author from a different character's perspective. In each story, the main character reflects on what he thinks of the game. The short stories give you a sense of the drama inside the game and out. However, this book can be confusing at times because of various different viewpoints. One thing that is the same in all of the short stories is the location, The Cage, located at the corner of West 4th Street and Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, where players from many different places got together to play ball. This book gives you a good idea of what street ball is, opposed to a normal basketball game. Street ball players go by the rule "no blood, no foul", therefore you could infer that street ball is rough.

I would recommend this book to teenagers and adults who have a good sense of the game of basketball, because there are times in the book when players talk about "picks and rolls" and "give and go's", and these sayings to someone who doesn't understand baskeball could cause confusion and affect their full comprehension of understanding this book. Anyone who enjoys basketball and just loves the game should most certainly read this book.
~Carson, Teen Book Reviewer

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell

2012-02-10T12:19:00.000-08:00

Most people do not like to read works of historical fiction, but it encompasses many famous and/or enjoyable books. The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell is not one of them. The plot moves fast, slow, and jumps around too much. This makes it hard to even figure out what year/season it is. Also, Mitchell’s use of antiquated language sometime clouds what the characters are attempting to convey.
Amelia is an average girl living with her brother and his wife in Broken Tooth, Maine. After a series of arguments, they decide to send her to live with her cousin Zora Stewart in Baltimore. The glamour and charm of Baltimore enchant Amelia. Then she discovers her strange ability to see the future, but only at sunset. At first her powers are fun and harmless, but she then sees darker and more lethal things. Amelia is also in love with a painter named Nathaniel who has an ability of his own.
On a scale of 1-10 I would rate this book a 5. The language clouded meaning and the plot was at many times dull. If you want to read historical fiction I would recommend you read a book like I was Jane Austen’s Best Friend.
~Luke, Teen Book Reviewer

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

2012-02-09T11:43:00.000-08:00

In Unearthly by Cynthia Hand, Clara is part Angel. Her mom is half angel and her brother is also part angel. Clara is receiving her purpose and she keeps having the visions at random times. In school, at the mall, anywhere. Then she moves to Wyoming to await the time for when the purpose happens. She meets Wendy and Angela who become her BFF’s. Wendy’s brother, Tucker, and Clara are teasing and not liking each other from the start. Then Clara meets Christian Prescott and right away, Clara knows that this is the boy in her visions. I found this book very interesting and I hardly put it down. It was so intense and adventurous and so mysterious. But, I did not like the ending. It’s end was just so abrupt and sudden and was a little bit confusing. Other than that, I would say that this was an awesome book.
~Victoria, Teen Book Reviewer

Z by Michael Thomas Ford

2012-02-08T11:06:00.000-08:00

The book Z by Michael Thomas Ford centers around a teenage boy named Josh in the year 2038. He loves torching zombies in his holographic video games, an obsession he can’t brush aside. Charlie, one of the best players in the game, makes an offer too good to be true – to join the In Real Life games and torch the zombies for real. Josh accepts, ignorant to the web he entangles himself him. The zombies are real, their lives are actually at stake, players are dying, and the mysterious drug named Z has a cost that’s anything but monetary.
This book was a fast-paced, action-packed thriller that kept on the edge. I enjoyed the non-stop action, and the overall plot of the book. It was an interesting read, different from the book I usually read. The subplots of friendship and love contributed to the main plot of the book – the game. I enjoyed reading it and recommend this book to anyone who likes action.
~Joanna, Teen Book Reviewer

Wish by Aledandra Bullen

2012-02-07T10:48:00.000-08:00

I recently finished a book titled: Wish by Alexandra Bullen. To briefly summarize it, it's about a girl named Olivia. She is very independent and shy. She used to be more cheerful...before her twin sister drowned. Olivia misses Violet (her twin sister) greatly, and she wants more than anything in the entire world to have her back. After Violet drowned, Olivia's mother decides to move the family to where she used to live. After they got there, Olivia's mom was invited to a welcoming party for them. Olivia, unlike her sister, has absolutely no fashion sense, so she has nothing to wear...until she remembers Violet's lovely pink dress. One problem: there is a gargantuan rip down the side of it. Olivia knew that she would have to get it fixed. She brought it to a run down seamstress run by Posey. Posey promises to have the dress fixed by the next day. The next day, there IS a dress at the door, but it's not Violet's dress. To fast forward a bit, on the way home from the party, Olivia says: "I just wish I had my sister back." After she says this, a glowing butterfly appears. She returns home...and finds Violet's ghost waiting for her. Although having Violet back is a miracle, it isn't exactly what Olivia expected it to be. But, Violet helped Olivia improve her wardrobe, make a plethora of friends, and have a boyfriend as awesome as Soren. Before long, Olivia learns how to stand on her own and to be her own person. She uses her last two wishes up, and lets Violet go. She no longer needs Violet to push her along. Olivia has now gained confidence. I really enjoyed reading this book. It was interesting to see an author take a story that could potentially be realistic fiction, and to add a bit of fantasy into it to make it all the more interesting to read. I also liked the author's style of writing. Bullen (the author) allows the reader to know all of the main character's thoughts without actually telling the story in first person point of view. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a very detailed, but very excellent story. Caution: this novel contains a 1/4 cup of funny, 3/8 of a cup of suspense, 1/2 a cup of romance, and 3/4 of a cup of interesting!!! Enjoy!
~Brynn, Teen Book Reviewers

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

2012-02-06T10:39:00.000-08:00

Where She Went by Gayle Forman is a novel told from the point of view of rock star, Adam Wilde. He has everything that most people want: he is the vocalist and guitarist for the chart-topping band "Shooting Star," has a celebrity girlfriend Bryn, and has tons of adoring fans. However, Adam is far from happy, struggling to get through everyday because of his breakup with his ex-girlfriend Mia Hall, a cello prodigy. Mia has her share of struggles too; her entire family was killed in a car crash that she narrowly suriveved. But when the two happen to meet in New York City, they both embark on a journey to explore the city and their past relationship. This book is written in a format with all the even chapters being about Adam in the present while the odds are about what he went through in the past. This book is a real page turner because it is a romance along with giving the reader a glance into the world of the "rich and famous," showing that everything isn't how it seems. Another cool thing about this book is in some chapters, there are some lyrics from Shooting Star's first album Collateral Damage, which Adam write about his feelings when Mia broke up with him. So go out and read this book!
~Divya, Teen Book Reviewer

Afterlife by Claudia Gray

2012-02-05T09:57:00.000-08:00

The book , Afterlife by Claudia Gray, is about two characters named Bianca and Lucas. They have always been together, despite the number of obstacles they had to overcome. However, when a twist of fate transforms Lucas into a vampire, the creatures that he had spent his whole life hunting, and Bianca into a wraith, things don't seem so easy anymore. Lucas now possesses a strong desire to drink blood and is a threat to all humans. He turns to the only place that can provide him with peace and teach him how to cope with his need to kill...Evernight academy. However, the sanctuary for Lucas has become a dangerous place for Bianca, but she's determined to stay by Lucas's side. Surprisingly, the leader of Evernight, Mrs. Bethany, welcomes Lucas kindly, despite the fact that he had hunted them before. Bianca and the others start to uncover a plan of Mrs. Bethany's- one to hunt wraiths, like Bianca. Lucas doesn't seem to suspect Mrs. Bethany as he begins to trust her due to her help with his new vampire troubles. Mrs. Bethany's plan may seem more dangerous than it appears and Bianca and Lucas will find this particular challenge harder to overcome...especially when it threatens to tear them apart and the strength of their love is tested.
I highly recommend this book. It kept me on the edge of my seat with the new twists and turns that appeared one after the other. I was extremely eager to find out the fate that awaited Bianca and Lucas. With Lucas having nightmares and struggling to keep his hunger under control and Bianca learning about her new amazing powers, they are both still determined to stay together. Although somewhere in my heart I knew that they would have their happily ever after in the end, I was still interested to find out how they managed to achieve their desires. I thought that the whole plot was extremely creative, with vampires and wraiths in the story. I also loved the displays of love shown in the book. Although losing their loved ones can drive them to hatred, some of them still managed to regain their sanity in the end, as shown in the book. Even after all of the troubles that Bianca and Lucas had to face and their insecurities, their determination to stay together never wavers in their heart. Overall, I extremely loved this book. However, I recommend that you read the first book, Evernight, before getting a jump start on the series. I guarantee that you won't regret reading the books!
~Cynthia, Teen Book Reviewer

Lockdown, Escape From Furnace by Alexander Gordon Smith

2012-02-04T09:45:00.000-08:00

Lockdown, Escape From Furnace by Alexander Gordon Smith is a science fiction novel that takes place in the future and kids can receive a life sentence if they kill a person. This life sentence is a danger was approved because of the summer of slaughter. Many teenagers and kids murdered others during this summer and this scared many people, so the life sentence for kids was approved. Also, the Furnace Penitentiary was created for those kids sentenced to life in prison. Many gangs were sent to this prison, and this reduced the number of people that were killed by teenagers. However, the killings did not end. Sometimes, the kids were even framed! This is what happened to Alex Sawyer, the main character of the story. Alex Sawyer is a teenager going through adolescent becomes a bully with his best friend Toby. They bully smaller children and take their money. As they grow older, they start robbing houses. They are an intelligent pair of teenagers and have been very successful and lucky in their raids, until one night- the night that changes everything in the teenagers’ lives.
They were planning their biggest robbery that night and were going to be set for a good chunk of their lives if they were successful. The beginning of the robbery seemed pretty successful, until they split up. Many men in dark black suits showed up and halted Alex and Toby. At first they looked like police, but then they soon realized that men who had guns with silencers weren’t part of the police forces. The men in black had very intimidating expressions. A very tiny man in a gas mask appeared and pointed at Toby. Almost immediately, Toby was shot dead, leaving Alex without a best friend and framed for murder. The next morning he was caught and sentenced to life in prison Furnace, the maximum security prison. The men in black appeared again, and they turned out to be the prison guards of the Furnace. Why would prison guards frame innocent teenagers for murder?
Arriving at the prison with 3 others also framed for murder, Alex had made some friends. As he entered the underground prison, despair begins to sink into his brain. He realizes that there is no chance of escaping underground. When he is transported underground, he meets the skulls. They are a ruthless gang during the summer of slaughter that would kill you even if you looked at them funny. The warden introduces himself, and his face is deformed. You can’t stare at his eyes. Alex is soon introduced to his cell, and he has a roommate-Donovan. Donovan soon becomes Alex’s best friend in prison. The prison however, is no ordinary prison. Strange tests happen in the prison, and people get killed in these test. At night when lights are flashing red in the covers, you have a chance of getting taken to be experimented on. These tests are cruel changing you into an inhuman form and making you a mutant.
There are also many strange creatures in this prison such as the scrawny figures in gas masks and oxygen tanks, the men in black suits with super human strength, skinless dogs ready to attack you in an instant and mutant human taken for experiments. At any time they can take you and you just have to just hope they don’t. Every day, the prisoners have to do chores, including shoveling tunnels, cleaning toilets, laundry, and cooking. As Alex is shoveling tunnel, he noticed a glimpse of bright light coming from inside a doorway, and the smell of fresh air. The prisoners are about a mile underground, so how could there be light and air? Alex soon finds out that this is the only means of escape, and he needs all the help he can get from the prisoners if he ever wants to see sunlight again.
I liked the book because it gave me a feel about what life was like in prison. Every chapter made me want to read more, and this is a great book for those who like action. Some parts i didn't like, however. I didn't like all the cruel deaths of the prisoners, and the images formed in my mind were disturbing, but overall, this was an amazing read, and i would like to coninue reading more books in the series.
~Dylan, Teen Book Reviewers

Subject Seven by James A. Moore

2012-02-03T15:15:00.000-08:00

Subject Seven is an exciting and interesting novel. Its plot was creative and compelling. It is about a group of teenagers, who as children, were turned into deadly assassins by a group of scientists. Subject Seven is one of the children, who is able to escape, and aware of his situation, lashed out violently against the people who captured him, and others throughout the story. He attempts to round of the other “subjects;” Hunter, Cody, Gene, Tina, and Kyrie, who have since been released following the Subject Seven incident. The plot moves fast, as narration is first person, and switches between the other teens in the story, as they struggle for their lives, and the truth of their respective pasts. The story has some graphic scenes, and some vulgar language, so I would not recommend it to younger readers. However, I would recommend it to older teens who enojy fast-paced action.
~Eric, Teen Book Reviewer

Grace by Elizabeth Scott

2012-02-02T14:35:00.000-08:00

The book Grace by Elizabeth Scott is about a young girl named Grace who was born and raised to be a suicide bomber. Her people are unhappy with their tyrannical ruler and Grace is sent on a suicide mission to sabotage the government. But when Grace decides that she cannot do it and that she is meant to be something more than a suicide bomber, she must learn to live with the consequences.
I would not recommend this book to another middle school student. It was too slow and unexciting for me and the way the author talks is confusing. It is not one of the better books that I have read and I think the author could have made it more interesting and faster paced. I liked the idea but not the plot.

~Alexis, Teen Book Reviewer

Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr

2012-02-01T14:31:00.000-08:00

The novel, Ink Exchange, by Melissa Marr is a story of a girl named Leslie. Just like any other teen she wishes she could escape from the life she's living and start a new one somewhere else new and fresh. After her mother passed away, everything in her life changed completely. Her father was no longer a father figure to her and her brother always sold her to his friend in order to make money. Leslie spends most of her time at the ink parlor around the corner from her house. The only problem is, she doesn't know the secret that the parlor hides. The novel is like any teenage life but with a twist. It's full of love, magic, complications, and much more. You could think of it as the Romeo and Juliet of the 21st century with a little umph added on. The beginning could be a little confusing at first but you understand it more in the middle. Ink Exchange is one of those books only a female can read to deeply understand and in my opinion I think it was written to reach out to teenage girls. The book is one of those books you just cannot put down, you just need to know what happens to the characters. Another way to think of it, it's that movie that's so full of suspense that you just can't watch but you constantly ask the people around you "What's going on?! Did he find her?! Is she hiding? Did she run away? Someone jsut please tell me what's going on!" Ink Exchange is a must read. Melissa Marr is a great writer and one of my personal favorites.

~Nabiha, Teen Book Reviewers

Something Upstairs by Avi

2012-01-31T09:56:00.000-08:00

The book Something Upstairs, a Scholastic book was about a twelve year old boy named Kenny Huldorf who goes back in time to help a friend named Caleb. Kenny meets this “friend” in his room and only he can see him. It is really interesting and even a little scary. It is a fictional story about friendship and how unfairly African American’s were treated in the past. The story seems like it could really happen. It has ghosts, adventure and mystery. I hope you like the book as much as I did.

~Wendi

Tyger Tyger by K. R, Hamilton

2012-01-30T13:58:00.000-08:00

The novel Tyger Tyger, by Kersten Hamilton, is a very interesting and enjoyable story. The story is about a teenage girl who has her life planned out, but everything changes when Finn, a relative of her mother, comes to vist. Stange things began occuring, and at first Teagan is unsure whether what she is seeing and experiencing is real, or simply her mind playing tricks on her. She soon learns from Finn that the strange creatures she has been seeing are real, and Finn, Tea, and her brother set off on an adventure to fight the goblins and evil from Mag Mell and to protect their family.
The were parts in the story that talked about face book and myspace and I liked the fact that the story was based in modern times. The story that is told about Teagan ,the main character, and how the story shifts from reality to fantasy is another aspect of why I enjoyed this book. I feel young adults and teenagers would be able to relate to some of the things that happened in this story, such as when Teagan met Finn, and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for an intresting and good book to read.

~Justin, Teen Book Reviewer

A Brief History of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper

2012-01-29T13:49:00.000-08:00

In A Brief History of Montmaray Sophie FitzOsborne is a royal sixteen-year old girl living in a crumbling castle on the island Kingdom of Montmaray. She records her adventures in a well-hidden journal. She writes about everyday things like her mentally disoriented Uncle throwing chamber pots around his room, or other things like a pair of Germans trespassing the island. Each character has their own traits, and every person is different. For example, there is Henry. She is a tomboy who often does dangerous things without thinking. Then there is Victoria, who is beautiful and brilliant and likes political debates. Each character has a very important role in the book and their different personalities make the story come alive. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good plot, with some history, and a dash of supernatural. I thought that the story was really strong--even until the very end. I don’t know if there will be a sequel, but if so, I would love to read another adventure of Sophie FitzOsborne!

-Morgan, Teen Book Reviewer

Brain Jack by Brian Falkner

2012-01-28T13:45:00.000-08:00

Brain Jack by Brian Falkner is a great book. It is about a senior named Sam, who is a computer hacker. In a world where one of the biggest cities was turned into a desert after a terrorist attack, and many turn to video game addiction, Sam is still living his is life. After the biggest hack in the world, Sam's life becomes a dream. Then, when he accused of attacking a government official, he, along with two of his friends, becomes fugitives, and that dream turns into a nightmare. He is on the run from the largest thing in the world, the internet itself. He has no way of escaping. The internet is everywhere, every computer, phone, headset, and satellite on Earth and in space, is the internet. How can Sam run from something that has a bird's eye view on the entire world? How can 3 teenagers defeat the internet?

Brain Jack is a pretty lengthy novel, but a great read. It is very interesting. There is a twist in every chapter. I suggest it to anyone who enjoys fiction books, adventure books, or loves computers. Brain Jack is amazing.

Ravjot, Teen Book Reviewers

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

2012-01-27T11:58:00.000-08:00

Please Ignore Vera Dietz is a big mystery book. Vera Dietz, the main character in the story, is an eighteen year old pizza delivery girl who has many, many issues. Her mother gave birth to her at seventeen years old and left Vera and her Dad when Vera was only twelve. Her mother was also a stripper, but Vera tries to make sure no one knows about that. Her Dad is having problems trying to raise Vera. He also tries to get Vera be a blue-collar person in life, just like himself. Though Vera’s biggest problem was her childhood friend, Charlie Kahn, dying. The only problem is that nobody knows what happened before his death or how he really died. Only Vera really knows, but she doesn’t want to talk about or know about it because she believes Charlie betrayed her after hanging out with the detention kids and druggies. But as her life goes on, Charlie begins to haunt her. Vera believes he is trying to get her to clear his name. Vera remembers her past and links it to the present to try and find out how to clear Charlie’s name and find out all that happened to him.
Please Ignore Vera Dietz is a story with many twists and turns and surprising things happening to the characters as you read along. I would recommend this book to anyone older then 16 years old as it does include strong language. However, I still enjoyed reading through this book.
~Ronald, Teen Book Reviewer

Trapped by Michael Northrop

2012-01-26T11:51:00.000-08:00

The book Trapped is a very interesting book by Michael Northrop. In the book, three friends and four other students are the last in the high school to be picked up after everybody else went home early due to a massive snow storm. Unfortunately the students get trapped in the school when the blizzard gets out of control and forces them to stay in the school. Everything seems fine until the power goes out and the heat. The water pipes freeze so there’s no water and even part of the school roof collapses and one of them dies. Stuck there, they have to learn to work together and survive on what the school provides and the extreme cold environment. The beginning was kind of slow but you get pulled in quickly. It’s a good suspenseful story with great characters and a good plot. It’s a real page turner and got me hooked. It even has a little bit of romance between the characters. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes some suspense and who is looking for something new and original. Next time you’re at the library come check this book out.

~Josh, Teen Book Reviewer

Rose Sees Red by Cecil Castellucci

2012-01-25T11:42:00.000-08:00

The book Rose Sees Red by Cecil Castellucci was a quick, yet intriguing read. I personally could see aspects of my own life through the words of Castellucci. Her captivating story about a young girl in love with dance displays the reality of the jealous friends that try to get in one's way of success. Rose finds a great friend in her neighbor from Russia, Yrena, who shows her that life is truly worth living and enjoying. The experiences that these two share together demonstrate the true bond of friendship that Rose had never before known. She was always use to being bosses around by her former best friend, Daisy. What Rose soon finds out was that Daisy held her back all along and that her real passion should be pursued: dance.
Rose has given up. She's given up on friendship, on happiness, on life being anything other than black, black, black. Yrena wants out. She's a dancer who doesn't want to dance, a prisoner in her own home, a resident of New York who never gets to see the city. To Rose, Yrena has always been the Russian girl who lives next door, seen through the window but never spoken to. At least not until Yrena crashes into Rose's room-and Rose's life-and sets in motion a night in New York City that none of them will ever forget.
I personally could relate to Rose as her friend controlled her every move and she finally let go of her in order to fufill her own expectations about life. I believe that the book involved Rose's coming of age as she ventures out into the strange and unknown streets of NYC with a girl who she had just met (Yrena). Also, I could see the point that the author might be aiming at: learn to trust again after being hurt by someone you love. It is important for any girl to be able to trust those around her. I personally, unlike Rose, would not have trusted a former friend such as Daisy. Daisy was far too controlling in the beginning-- how would she ever be able to change?
This book was a fast read. It took me about two weeks to complete. I enjoyed the fast pace and flow of the book. If you're looking for a fast and entertainning read, be sure to pick up Rose Sees Red at the library.
~Brittany, Teen Book Reviewer

The Not-So-Great Depression

2012-01-23T12:48:00.000-08:00

The Not-So-Great Depression is a book that a majority of middle school students can relate to considering our current economy. Everything seems to be going well for Jacki, a big house with money never being an issue, until now. Jacki’s mother has been laid off which put her family in a financial crisis. Many problems begin to unravel as her mom’s struggles to find a job. Jacki, an optimist, tries to look on the brighter side of her family’s crisis. But is it enough? This book shows the financial difficulties experienced by a family that many people can relate to, but is draped with entertainment and humor. This book is a realistic fun book, so I highly recommend this book!
-Nisha

Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick

2012-01-22T17:24:00.000-08:00

Revolver is a great book that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Though the story is hard to follow because it jumps around in history a bit it is still readable. The main character Sig, after the unfortunate death of his father, finds himself with a stranger who is asking about receiving the payment of half his father’s gold. Sig has no idea what the stranger is talking about and finds himself beat up because he doesn’t know if his father has any gold. The story jumps around a bit and you learn that his mother was murdered and that a little faith can go a long way.
Revolver is a great book and I would recommend it to any of my friends. It is filled with sorrow and suspense. If you like books with suspense than this is the book for you. You also will feel sadness toward the main character because of everything he went through in his life. And remember even the dead tell stories…..
~Wesley, Teen Book Reviewer

Reality Check by Jen Calonita

2012-01-21T17:17:00.000-08:00

Reality Check was a page turning novel that I would recommend to any one and everyone. It reflects on the effects of reality T.V. in the new world in which we live. In the book four main characters who are also best friends enter a reality T.V. show and watch how their lives and friendship crumble. Each chapter took you into a new episode of their T.V. show "Charlie's Angels". The book had the same effect on me as would a real television show. At the end of any real reality T.V. show you are left anxiously waiting to discover what will happen on the next episode. Reality Check by Jen Calonita made it so that every chapter made you anxiously read the next. The book can be described by no adjective less than fantastic or outstanding. I already made my little sister read it!

~Jordan, Teen Book Reviewer

Papercraft

2012-01-20T17:07:00.000-08:00

Paper craft is the art of cutting and folding paper into fun shapes and a great way to keep yourself amused when it's just too cold or rainy to go outside and there is nothing good on TV. It's also a great way to amuse siblings or baby sitting charges as long as you stick to simpler creations.

Cubeecraft provides fun full color templates that you can print, cut out and fold into your favorite video game, movie, cartoon and book characters, such as Mario Bros, Scott Pilgrim, various incarnations of Batman and the guys from Ghost Busters. They also have various inanimate objects, such as the mushrooms from Mario Bros, and pretty much every video game console. Each item is marked with a difficulty level between one (the easiest) and five (the hardest) scissors.

Another great papercraft site is Boxpunx. They have all kinds of crazy and fun unique monsters that you can cut out and create. They also have selection of blanks; the cutting template is there but you can create your own designs.

A thicker paper is recommended for this; I used 24 lb paper. You can use regular paper, but it is much harder. You can use scissors to cut everything out but it is much easier to use an exacto knife to cut the slots, and also make sure to put cardboard or some kind of mat underneath your paper, so you don't cut tables or floors. Make sure to double check the printing directions on the site, if you aren't careful you could end up losing tabs.

Three Black Swans by Caroline B. Cooney

2012-01-19T15:37:00.000-08:00

Missy Vianello appears very interested upon hearing about new born babies in the radio. However, life turns upside down when Missy has to make a scientific class project. She chooses to make a hoax about herself and her cousin, Claire who is exactly a copy of Missy. They are truly alike with the same appearance, thoughts and actions. With the present in peril, Claire and Missy makes a video about the two girls being twins and puts it on YouTube. This might open the key to the world’s attention and one other infamous person and look alike of the cousins: Genevieve. However, Genevieve, Claire and Missy are all mirror images of themselves, each having different parents. When a school project brings them all together, relationships are revealed and the secrets come out. Are they really adopted or are they just triplets? The three girls are very intrigued about the “Three Black Swans”. Will Claire, Missy and Genevieve find the truth about the three black swans? Read this book to find out. I would recommend this book to teens who like the author Caroline Cooney, and teens who like to read science fiction novels.
~Erem, Teen Book Reviewer

A Gift of Magic by Lois Duncan

2012-01-18T15:34:00.000-08:00

A Gift of Magic is when three young kids inherit gifts. Brendon receives the gift of music. Nancy gets the gift of magic and the most interesting gift. Kirby receives the gift of dance. As Nancy and Kirby develop their gifts they both realize that these gifts are not just toys. They have to be used carefully and delicately. They both have some difficulties, like when Nancy gets in trouble and is accused of cheating when she accidentally used her gift and when Kirby hurts herself and has to recover and get back on her feet. They all have to attend public school for the first time and has to overcome fears and in Brendon’s case, bullies. I enjoyed this book very much because I love fantasy and because you learn a lesson in this book: Don’t give up and follow your dream. I hope you guys enjoy it too!
- Alex, Teen Book Reviewer

Gringolandia by Lyn Miller- Lachmann

2012-01-17T10:07:00.000-08:00

I recently finished a book titled: Gringolandia by Lyn Miller - Lachmann. I enjoyed this book very much. This book was very interesting and intriguing to read. It is about a young boy named Daniel whose father (Marcelo) writes a newspaper that exposes Chile's military regime. Marcelo was then put into jail. His family were forced to flee the country and started a new life in the United States while the father was in jail. Many years later, Marcelo was bailed out of jail, and came to join his family in the United States. He was tortured in jail, and is paralyzed in half of his body. He cannot be touched, and no one can come near him without him cringing. Although he was tortured there, he still wants to return to Chile to make it a safer place to live. After doing many things to speak about the current state of Chile, he then planned to return to Chile. After returning to Chile, Marcelo says he wants to make Chile a safer place to live, or he will die trying. A few years later, Marcelo tells Daniel that he has done it. He has achieved his goal, after all of his hard work! Daniel decides to move back to Chile and live there with Marcelo. In the end, they develop a close bond, and Marcelo is no longer afraid of being close to people, and he learns the true meaning of family. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a story with a lot of action, adventure, and a bit of history. If you enjoy history and adventure, then this book is PERFECT for you. Thank you for reading my review of this book!
~Brynn, Teen Book Reviewer

Z by Michael Thomas Ford

2012-01-16T09:52:00.000-08:00

The book I read is called Z by Michael Thomas Ford. This is about a teen named Josh, and his friends on a game about killing zombies. This book takes place far in the future after a virus spread and turned humans into zombies by mutating their brain. After armies of “Torchers”, wiped out the infection, Josh was born. He has no experience with actual zombies and treats the game like it is harmless but hurts his mom on the inside because of what she has experienced with zombies in her family. Josh meets up with those friends from his game in real life and he gets involved in some underground Z making system. Z is the virus that is produced from zombie blood. This wasn’t a scary book but it did have suspense. I would definitely recommend this book to those who like fiction that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
~Rayne, Teen Book Reviewer

Slick by Sara Cassidy

2012-01-15T13:30:00.000-08:00

Slick is a high-interest novel packed with action and is fun and quick to read. Liza is a thirteen-year-old girl whose parents recently got divorced, but her mom already has a new boyfriend. Liza hates her mother’ new boyfriend and is suspicious that he is up to no good. Liza discovers that her mothers’ boyfriend, whose name is Slick, owns an oil company that has a history of political disputes with the Guatemalan Farmers. Liza researches more into politics and forms a group in school to combat Slick’s oil company, Argenta oil. As she plans more and more on her strategy to combat Argenta oil, tension grows between Liza, her mom, and Slick. It’s an interesting novel that introduces a young teenage girl to the world of politics, and could do the same to any young teenage reader.
I enjoyed reading this book very much and would recommend it as a quick fun read for any teenager. It is entertaining and politically educational. Even though the main character is a female it is certainly a good read for and gender.
~Derek, Teen Book Reviewers

Found: The Missing by Margaret Peterson Haddix

2012-01-14T13:18:00.001-08:00

Found: The Missing is the first book in the series; Found, by Margaret Peterson Haddix. The book was a dark mystery story about Jonah, and his best friend Chip. Jonah is an adopted 13 year old who knows full well and accepts the fact that he is adopted. His parents love him just as much as they love their younger daughter, Katherine, who is directly related. The story takes of when Jonah and Chip (also an adopted child) start receiving strange letters from an unnamed sender. The letters explain they are of "the missing" and that people were out to get them and that they should beware. They also learn that they were found on a plane, which disappeared, full of babies with no adults, not even a pilot. Chip, Jonah, and his younger sister Katherine are now determined to solve the strange mystery surrounding their past. Their paths cross intertwine with the FBI, ghostly apparitions, time travel, and a war between two conspiracies involving Jonah's and Chip's fate. It is difficult to explain more of the plot without giving to much away, but their are many twists.

I found the book exciting because the book makes you question what is going to happen next and how the events will unfold. It will leave you with many questions that keep you reading for the answers and how the events will come together. The book may be too dark for younger readers, but it is lightened by the the main characters' personalities. Young teens could maybe even relate to the main characters and the way they solved the problems they were faced with in the book. The way Haddix wrote the book and describes the events going on in the book makes it easy for young teens although the story is a complex mystery. It is nice to not have to read back a section multiple times because of complex wording. Instead, one can keep reading, looking for the next twist or answer. I think this book does a great job reaching out to its target audience, therefore, I definitely recommend; Found: The Missing.

~Ian, Teen Book Reviewers

The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson

2012-01-13T17:17:00.000-08:00

In The Miles Between Us Destiny is the new kid at school. Whenever she starts a new school, she tends to keep her distance from everyone. This is because she promised herself not to get attached to anyone because in the past, she had to move so many times, sadly leaving her friends behind. Against her better judgement, Destiny and her classmates Seth, Mira, and Aidan find a car and they go on the biggest adventure of their lives! Where will this adventure take them and most of all, will Destiny get attached to them?
I like this book because it is exciting and full of adventure! I think that anyone between the ages of 10 and 14 will enjoy this book. The book started off somewhat slow, but as I read it further, it took off and it became more interesting and entertaining.
~Sarah, Teen Book Reviewer

Demon Glass by Rachel Hawkins

2012-01-12T16:52:00.000-08:00

Sophie Mercer, from the novel Demon Glass by Rachel Hawkins, isn't your typical girl. For one, she is a demon, being one of the two alive on Earth today. Also, her crush, Archer Cross, is working for The Eye, and may or may not being trying to murder her. Even more, Sophie, her vampire best friend Jenna, and her fiancee Cal, are being whisked away from their school, Hex Hall. They are being taken to England by none other than Sophie's dad who she hasn't seen in her life until now. All the while, Sophie has been thinking about going through a removal in order to become human, after she witnessed her great-grandmother Alice murder her friend and having to kill Alice herself. Read the book to find out the rest! I would rate this book eight out of ten stars because it is a book that has action and mystery in it, along with romance. It is also really funny because of Sophie's sense of humor! This is a great read for any teen but I do reccomend reading the books that come before this one in the Hex Hall series.

~Divya, Teen Book Reviewer

Double Helix by Nancy Werlin

2012-01-11T16:43:00.000-08:00

The novel, Double Helix, by Nancy Werlin is a mystery for the science lover. It is about a boy named Eli Samuels, who while working at the prestigious Wyatt Transgenics Lab, discovers more about himself, his family, and the nature of his very existence. His father is completely against Eli working with Dr. Quincy Wyatt at the lab but for reasons unknown to Eli. Eli and his father have a strained relationship following the decline of Eli’s mother’s health. Mrs. Samuels suffers from Huntington’s disease, and because the disease is hereditary, Eli’s chance of having the same debilitating mental illness is a common theme in the story. Although Eli has a loving and intelligent girlfriend, he often distances himself from her and others due to the possibility of having Huntington’s disease and hurting them in the end. With that said, Eli is overjoyed with his position at Wyatt Transgenics because not only does he make a substantial amount of money but he also is able to explore his love of science. However, he soon realizes that Dr. Wyatt has a strange connection to his family, and the knowledge of the truth questions the very ethics of science and of his own existence.
Overall, I enjoyed reading the book, but at times, I felt that the book was slow and uneventful. However, near the end, the book showed an intense array of action and thrill, one that both action buffs and science nerds would love.

~Jane, Teen Book Reviewer

2012 Authors Unlimited

2012-01-10T12:45:00.000-08:00

The public libraries of Suffolk County in collaboration with St. Joseph’s College will
be holding their second annual Authors Unlimited event on Saturday, April 28, 2012 from 10 am to4 pm at the St. Joseph’s College campus 155 West Roe Boulevard, Patchogue, NY.
Authors Unlimited provides an opportunity for teens to connect with young adult authors and
celebrate reading.

Authors scheduled to attend and present dynamic workshops for teens include: Michael D. Beil,
Sarah Beth Durst, Madeleine George, Christopher Grant, Lisa Greenwald, Adele Griffin, Paul Griffin, Jenny Han, Marthe Jocelyn, Janet Lee, Robert Lipsyte, David Nayeri, George O’Connor, Lauren Oliver, Dave Roman, and Mark Shulman.

No tickets required and admission is free. Preference will be given to teens for seating and workshops. Lunch is available for purchase in the St. Joseph’s cafeteria throughout the afternoon.

For further information and to see a complete list of event sponsors for Authors Unlimited go to http://www.authorsunlimited.org/ or call (631)286-1600 ext. 1352. You can also find us on Facebook! Don’t miss out on this exciting event!

Authors Unlimited is also looking for volunteers. Special perks include: exclusive breakfast with the authors, reserved auditorium seating for the authors' panel, and a community service certificate. To find out more about volunteering and how to apply, visit http://www.authorsunlimited.org/volunteer.htm.

Beatle Meets Destiny by Gabrielle Williams

2012-01-09T12:10:00.000-08:00

Beatle Meets Destiny, by Gabrielle Williams, takes place in Melbourne, Australia and tells a charming story of teenage love, anxiety about school (both Beatle and Destiny are high school seniors), and the embarrassing and annoying aspects of one’s family. This book is written from the point of view of alternately Beatle and Destiny and the relaxed and witty writing style used by Williams further adds to the feelings of connection between the reader and the characters in the story.
Beatle, whose real name is John Lennon, meets Destiny McCartney (yes, Lennon and McCartney) at a tram station on Friday the 13th. Although there is an instant connection between the two, Beatle feels uneasy about asking Destiny out because he already has a girlfriend, who also happens to be his twin sister’s best friend, and who also happens to have stayed by Beatles side during the stroke that led to his limp leg. Meanwhile, Destiny feels an instant connection with Beatle. He is somewhat mysterious and he uses his wittiness and charm to win her over as opposed the usual “You’re my Destiny” pick-up lines that she had grown so used to hearing. The plot further thickens when Beatle discovers that his sister is secretly dating Destiny’s brother, Frank, who also happens to be their English teacher. Add in stalker, missing cats and undergarments, and the tapestry chair incident (it’s a long story) and trust me, you’re in for a long, but enjoyable ride.
I truly enjoyed Beatle Meets Destiny and it had me both laughing and on the edge of my chair for more until the very last page. Rumor has it that this book has been optioned for a motion picture, and I can’t wait to see the film!
~Alison, Teen Book Reviewer

Adios Nirvana by Conrad Wesselhoeft

2012-01-08T15:28:00.000-08:00

Adios, Nirvana by Conrad Wesselhoeft is one of those books that feels like it is reality. This book reminds adults of their childhoods and relates to teenagers. This story is about a high school junior boy named Jonathan. Jonathan is on the verge of flunking out after his twin brother, Telly, was killed. This behavior is not normal for Jonathan. In fact, he was named Best Young Poet just last year. Since the death of his brother, Jonathan has not been the same and neither have his poetry and music. Jonathan used to be a guitar player with his brother. Although Jonathan wants to give up, his friends, mom, and teachers aren’t going to let him get off that easy. Jonathan ends up having to write the life story of a dying World War II veteran in order to pass junior year. David, the World War II veteran, and Jonathan have the mission of memorializing the old man’s wartime demons. Thus, the poet who cannot describe his own pain must find the words to describe someone else’s. This was a great book. It applies directly to teenagers in high school. However, teens of all ages can relate to Jonathan and his world. The characters in this novel are extremely realistic and at times the reader feels he/she is reading a factual story. I would recommend this book to any teenager, especially those in high school. Conrad Wesselhoeft manages to capture almost all emotions in this very interesting novel.
-- Jon, Teen Book Reviewer

Ender's Game: Battle School by Orson Scott Card

2012-01-07T15:22:00.000-08:00

I read the book Ender's Game: Battle School by Orson Scott Card. This book is about a kid named Andrew Ender. The earth was attacked by aliens three times before this. His brother was supposed to be the one that goes to battle school but the leader chose Andrew. He believes that Andrew will save the earth from the Formics(aliens). The kids play Formics vs. Astronauts instead of cowboys and indians. Now Andrew goes to battle school. He is only six years old. You stay at battle school until you are sixteen. He wont see his family, and his siblings will be older and he probably wont recognize them. At battle school Andrew makes new friends. He spends a lot of time with them. He learns from them too. Battle school is based on the ranking you are. There is the first type of soldier, the second, than the third etc. He learns to fly and keep his balance while he trains in the battle school. In my opinion this book should be reccomended for early teenagers. I think this book is very interesting and very imaginative. Hopefully Ender will save the world. Will he or will he die in this war?

~Lucas, Teen Book Reviewer

Poetry for the HART Contest

2012-01-06T14:57:00.000-08:00

The Town of Huntington Public Art Advisory Committee invites teen writers (ages 14-18) residing or attending school in the Town of Huntington to submit poems whichy they hva written for possible inclusion in Poetry for the Hart, a Public Art Initiative Teen Poetry Project.

Winners will have their poem: Displayed in interior advertising spaces of HART buses for one year; published in The Long Islander newspaper; posted in the Huntington Public Art Inventory on the Town of Huntington's website; and a recognition at public reception & opportunity to particpate in poetry reading with adult poet mentors.

All poems must be received no later then February 1, 2012.

For more information and entry forms click here.

The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

2012-01-05T14:27:00.000-08:00

The book I chose was The Iron Witch. I recommend this book to kids that like stories about alchemy and imaginary characters, like dragons and elf's. There is also a lot of drama in this book. The character Donna Underwood had a lot to deal with. She is an alchemist and had a choice to let her secret out to her best friend Navin or to keep it to herself, and keep him under suspense or maybe even lose him as a friend. Besides having to deal with that, she had the weight over her shoulders of having to keep a legacy of her parents being alchemists into perspective even though she didn't really want to do it. Donna has a lot of stress, but deals with it. She has distractions, she has a growing attraction to a guy named Xan. They were both attracted to each other since the first night they met; at a party. Donna didn't want to deal with the drama going down at the party, so she went upstairs and met Xan, who was the hostess but wasn't having fun at his own party. In my opinion, this book is a great book. Especially if you enjoy books about non-existent creatures, and magical powers.

~Arielle, Teen Book Reviewer

Solitary / Escape from Furnace 2 by Alexander Gordon Smith

2012-01-03T10:20:00.000-08:00

Framed for murder, Alex and his friends try to escape from a prison called the Furnace in Solitary/Escape from Furnace 2. They are discovered by the warden and sent back to jail. Instead of their regular cells, they are put into a separate part of prison called solitary. Solitary is literally a locked up hole in the ground. While placed in it, Alex is haunted by the bad things he has done in his life. Days later, a kid that is mutating into a monster, opens up Alex’s cells and tells him and his friends about another way to escape the Furnace. This gets the boys excited. Will they all make it out alive?

This book was very good. It’s not a long read, but it is full of action. “Solitary: Escape From Furnace” was scary and exciting, which is why I liked it. The action could be pretty intense, so I don’t recommend this book for kids under 10. If you are over that age, than you should definitely get this book; it’s that good!

~Matthew, Teen Book Reviewer

Atom Eve & Rex Splode

2012-01-02T09:34:00.000-08:00

The graphic novel Atom Eve & Rex Splode describes a story about two superheroes, their origins and their adventures. The story first starts off explaining Atom Eve’s origin. She was born as a weapon used by the secret government and has the abilities to control and manipulate atoms to her will. In a attempt to save her from the dark clutches of this evil organization, she was exchanged at the hospital to an unsuspecting couple. Her name is Sam and she grows up like an average girl, until one day, she finally understands her powers and began her quest to find her evil creators. Rex Splode, on the other hand, was an poor child picked up off the street and was given super powers that allowed him to explode anything with a touch. As a child, he was sent off on missions destroying whatever his rescuer told him. Soon, his self morals begin to conflict with his missions and in a freak accident, he disobeys his orders and destroys the facility. Atom Eve and Rex Splode are then thrusted into each other’s confusing lives, as they fight off the evil organization.

As a graphic novel, the pictures are artistically illustrated with a smooth word flow that smoothly pushed the readers through the story. While being short, this graphic novel has a great ability to introduce new characters and explain old ones. The only problem I saw was how short it was, but I would recommend this novel to people wanting a good, short read.

~Edward, Teen Book Reviewer

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T02:30:00.000-08:00

From all of us at the Half Hollow Hills Community Library, have a Happy and Safe New Year.

Wolf Pack of the Winisk River by Paul Brown

2011-12-31T09:14:00.001-08:00

I think that the novel Wolf Pack of the Winisk River by Paul Brown is a great book. This book was told through the eyes of a wolf. If anyone is interested in seeing how a wolf or a group of wolves live, they should read this book. I don’t want to give away the entire plot, but it is about a lone male wolf who tries to get a family to call his own. If you want to find out if he gets a family, you must read this book. This book is has a lot of suspense, that keeps the reader interested throughout the entire book. This book is very easy to read, but it does have a little violence so young kids may not like this book. The book shows what wolves must do to survive even the harshest of conditions. This book has everything; including love, violence, comedy and more. I enjoyed reading this book a lot and hope that many other young teens read this book in the future.

-Jonathan, Teen Book Reviewer

13th Annual Huntington Youth Writes Contest

2011-12-30T02:34:00.000-08:00

The Town of Huntington in conjunction with the folks at Project Excel are running their annual Writing Contest for kids and teens in grades 4 through 12 that attend school in the Town of Huntington (this includes Half Hollow Hills, Huntington and Harborfields).

Cash prizes are awarded for 1st through 3rd place and Honerable Mentions in Poetry, Short Story and Essay categories in various grade levels. Your writing will also be published in a journal.

Deadline for the entries Friday February 17, 2012 by 5pm. For further details click here for the submission form or come into the library and pick up a submission form.

Cloaked by Alex Flinn

2011-12-29T13:48:00.000-08:00

Cloaked is a quirky twist on a mashup of a variety of fairly widely known fairytales such as the frog and the princess. This gives the story a certain charm and the originality makes it enjoyable. Everyone knows about the princess kissing the frog and finding her ever-so-charming prince. Alex Flinn spins off that idea in less of a romantic way, and more of an adventure way. Do not confuse this for a high action thriller, rather a story of a young boy who finds himself on a quest to find the brother of the princess he recently befriended. The twist is that the brother is a frog. The adventure starts when Johnny (the main character) is seduced and bribed into finding the princess’s long lost frog brother. There are many of his kind, and they are known as the use-to-bes (as in “use to be human”). It incorporates a magical cloak, witches, and mystical talking animals. The main character Johnny is humble, sweet, and develops a certain sympathy from the reader. He evokes emotional appeal from the reader as one awes at his persistence to aid his family’s monetary issues. The book is all around cute and has an air of youth and imagination, just shy of juvenile. Cloaked was a pleasure to read, and its quirkiness added all the more charm and appeal.

~Megan, Teen Book Reviewer

Homemade Belgium Waffles and Ice Cream

2011-12-28T12:28:00.000-08:00

There are a few spaces left in our Homemade Belgium Waffles and Ice Cream program tomorrow night. Make your very own Belgium Waffle from scratch. Then top it with ice cream, whipped cream, sprinkles, chocolate syrup and bananas. Yum!

We will be making waffles tomorrow, December 29, from 6:30-8pm. To sign up click the link above, search our catalog from program code DXY646 or call us and a librarian will help you register.

Hope to see you there!

Because I am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas

2011-12-22T14:06:00.000-08:00

The book I read was called Because I am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas. It was a book that was in poem form with stanzas and such. In this book, a girl name Anke goes through a life of having a abusive father and being lonely. She sees and hears what her father is doing which is abusing her sister, Yaicha, and her brother, Darren, but not her. She is ignored by her father and craves for the attention for it even if that means she must get abused as well. Her mother is hopeless, her siblings are being threatened with their lives, and Anke has no courage to stand up to her father. Since she hears and sees everything that happens as a witness but doesn't do anything, she refers to herself just as a living room sofa. She just stays there watching and listening and being torn inside. Eventually, she joins the school's volleyball team and finds out that she has the potential to speak up to get points and progress done. Will she able to stand up to her father then? With that included, she also has to deal with love interests and friends. She's in a connection with her neighbor while she has feelings for a soccer player in her school. Who does she go with? Her friend, Ange, is a person she is forced to be friends with but how can she be friends with someone so weak? Ange irritates Anke also because she thinks that Anke's father is the utmost coolest person she's met when in reality, he really isn't. Anke now must go though her life to find something she never had. An inner voice.

I was impressed with the story. The story was interesting and the format of the book created a nice emphasis of the characters and their feelings. The stanza format also made it easier and faster to read. The message had a nice meaning to it and it was that people should always speak out for what is meant to be right. Overall, I would give the book a high rating because of it's realistic story and for it's unique style of telling the story. I recommend this to people who are either impatient and non patient readers and to people who like realistic teen fiction or drama.

~Natalie, Teen Book Reviewer

20,000 Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne

2011-12-21T11:37:00.000-08:00

The book 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne truly is a classic. The story takes place right after the American Civil War. It starts out with ships at sea that were being sunk by an unknown source. Most people believe it’s the Kraken (a fabled giant squid) or creatures from Ancient times that were being revived. A scientist named Professor Aronnax is hired by the U.S. government to lead an expedition. The professor sets out on a U.S. frigate (a ship) named Abraham Lincoln to find what creature (if one is responsible) causes all of the boats to sink. Along with him is disgruntled harpooner Ned Land, his servant Conseil, and the Abraham Lincoln crew. While sailing on the seas they come across the creature. Ned fires a harpoon at it but discovers that he hit something man-made. It turns out that the creature was actually the Nautilus an incredibly advanced ship captained by none other than Captain Nemo himself. The Nautilus destroys the Abraham Lincoln which shipwrecks Ned, Conseil, and Aronnax. Nemo takes them aboard his aboard his ship as part of his crew. After that the Nautilus goes on adventures from the mythical city of Atlantis to the 20 degree below zero environment of the South Pole all under the sea. One day an unfortunate event happens when the Nautilus resurfaces for air. A maelstrom had occurred and was beating the Nautilus in man vs. nature battle. Conseil, Ned, and the professor got away but would not tell how. It ends with the professor wondering if the Nautilus surviving the pressure of the maelstrom or if captain Nemo lives to take back his country the Sea. This book was really good and that is why I think it deserves to be a classic. This book was also a good adventure for those that like that genre. This book may have a lot of chapters but once you get hook on it you breeze right through them.

-Matt, Teen Book Reviewer

Teen Community Service

2011-12-19T11:14:00.000-08:00

Project Excel Why Try?? DXY652
Wednesdays, January 4, 11, 18, 25, February 1, 8, 6:30-7:30 pm (DH)
Life skills workshop. Earn 6 hours of community service. Registration is underway.

Homework Help High School Honor Society Students DXY661
Wednesdays, January 4, 11, 18, 25, February 1, 8, 15 (DH)
Register now.

Teen Book Reviewers
Thursdays January 5 and February 2, 6-7 pm (DH)
Read and write a book review for our Teen Reader's Blog. Earn 3 hours community service. No registration required.

Friday Game Nights DXY653
Fridays, January 6, 13, 20, 27, 6:30-8:30
Play board games with kids. Register now.

Homework Help for Middl School Students DXY654
Thursdays, January 5, 12, 19, 26, February 2, 9, 16, 6-7 pm
High School Honor Society and Key Club members are needed to help middle school students with homework. Register now.

Kids and Teens Valentine Craft DXY656
Tuesday, February 7, 6-7 pm (DH)
Help kids create Valentine crafts. Registration begins 1/30.

Unity Fair Volunteers For Library Craft Table DXY657
Sunday, February 12, 11 am-1pm OR 1-3 pm, High School West
Volunteers need to help kids with crafts. Registration begins 1/31.

Ariella's Friendship Circle
High School Students DXY658
Wednesday, February 15, 7-8:30 pm (DH)
Middle School Students DXY659
Mondays, March 5, 12, 19, 26, 7-8 pm (DH)
Training session for volunteers to visit children with special needs. Registration begins 2/1.

Teen Programs

2011-12-18T09:25:00.000-08:00

Project Excel Employment Counselor
Wednesdays, January 4, 18 February 1, 15, 2:30-3:30 pm (DH)
A job counselor will be available in the Teen Area.

Kaplan SAT Full Length Practice Test DXY651
Saturday, January 14, 10 am-2 pm and Tuesday, January 24, 7-8 pm (DH)
Practice for the SAT in a test-like environment. Registration begins 1/3

SAT Prepartion Course
Tuesdays, March 6, 13, 20, 27, April 3, 17 or Wednesdays, March 7, 14, 21, 28, April 4, 18, 6:45-8:45 pm (DH)
Certified teachers will help prepare you fro the SAT. Students need to purchase and bring to the first day of class McGraw Hill's SAT 2012 Edition and a calculator. In person registration begins 2/14. Cost: $80

Project Excel Babysitting Workshio DXY655 Mondays, January 23, 30 & February 6, 13, 6-8 pm (DH) Registration begins 1/4.

Corner of 6th & 7th
Fun Chocolate Fondue Fountains DXY660
Thursday, February 23, 6:30-7:30 pm (DH)
Dip strawberries, pineapples, bananas and cake into fountains of chocolate. Registration begins 2/1.

Drop in Homework Help for Middle School Students
Thursdays, January, 5, 12, 19, 26, February 2, 9, 16, 6-7 pm

Heat by Mike Lupica

2011-12-15T13:40:00.000-08:00

Did you ever have a dream to play Little League and then become a famous baseball player? If you did, Heat, by Mike Lupica, is the book for you. Michael is the main character. He is from Cuba and comes to the US. His father dies and he lives with his 17 year old brother. No one knows that his father is dead. Michael is 12, but very big for his age. He plays Little League but the other coaches question his size and do not believe that he is 12. He cannot prove his age, since no one knows his 17 year old brother is taking care of him. His birth certificate and papers are in Cuba. This book is so interesting and inspiring, especially if you like baseball like I do. Michael’s dream was to play at Yankee Stadium. He was good enough to play but the coaches suspended him for not having proof of age. If you want to find out if he makes it to the stadium right near his house, read Heat. I really enjoyed this book.

~Justin, Teen Book Reviewer

Between Sisters by Adwoa Badoe

2011-12-14T15:39:00.000-08:00

Between Sisters is about a very poor family who lives in modern day Ghana. Gloria Bampo, the protagonist, is a sixteen year old girl. She failed in school and now has to face many challenges. Her parents decided to send her to live with a wealthy family in another town in hopes to change her life. The woman Gloria went to work for is named Christine. While Gloria is there, her job was to take care of one child and clean the house. In payment for her work she received room and board. She was so happy working there that she called Christine “sister”. Christine felt she was doing a very good job, but still Gloria did not receive any wages. Gloria made new friends and began to make a new life for herself. Christine began to teach Gloria to read and write. A tragic event occurred when Gloria’s close friend came to visit and stole money from Christine. Christine accused Gloria of stealing the money. When Gloria tried to explain that she was not the one who took the money, Christine did not believe her. Christine would not talk to her, and was ready to throw Gloria out. When the truth eventually came out, only then was when Christine could forgive Gloria.

I highly recommend reading this book because it shows the importance of family in one’s life. A clear example of this is how Gloria and her real sister would always be there for each other regardless of the circumstances. Christine on the other hand who was her sister in name only, did not stand by Gloria or believe in her when she should have. I read this book in two days and thoroughly enjoyed it. It showed the importance of family, education, and hard work. If you want to learn more about Gloria’s experiences while living with Christine you must read this book.

~Raymond, Teen Book Reviewer

Being Nikki by Meg Cabot

2011-12-08T16:45:00.000-08:00

The second installment of Meg Cabot’s “Airhead” series is just as good, if not better, than the first, which is a rare accomplishment. Being Nikki was a fantastic book. For all of us who have ever wondered what it would be like to step into the glitzy and glamorous life of a supermodel, we can live vicariously through Emerson Watts daily existence, after a near fatal accident that almost killed her in book one, her brain was implanted into the body of Nikki Howard, the beautiful, and famous face of Stark Enterprises. Although this would be most peoples dream come true, tomboy Emerson Watts spent her former life mocking people like Nikki, so this is her absolute nightmare. The reader grows enticed as Em struggles to hold onto her former life, while trying to keep her promise to Stark Enterprises that she will do whatever they say unconditionally in return for them saving her life. Without giving away too much, all I can say is that this book had surprising and exciting twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very last page. And the final installment of the Airhead trilogy is just as great as the previous two. All in all, this book is perfect for anyone who loved the Gossip Girl series, the Pretty Little Liars series, or the Gallagher Series, or anyone whose just looking for a fun quick read.

~Nina, Teen Book Reviewer

Return of the Dapper Men By Jim McCann and Janet Lee

2011-12-07T11:44:00.000-08:00

Return of the Dapper Men by Jim McCann and Janet Lee is a very interesting story of a boy named Ayden and a robot girl named Zoe. The kids live underground in a place where only kids are, and the robots live above ground and neither group bothers each other. Time has stopped and the kids never grew up and all they do is play. Until one day 314 dapper men fell from the sky. Ayden, Zoe and one of the Dapper men known as 41 have to fix whatever caused time to stop, and figure out their place in the world. Everthing begins to change for the first time since the sun is setting for the first time. I would reccomend this bbok to kids 10- 13 years old if they are looking for a good and guick read.

~Jesse, Teen Book Reviewer

The Great Wide Sea By M.H. Herlong

2011-12-05T12:06:00.000-08:00

The Great Wide Sea is an exciting survival story about 3 young boys lost at sea in a small sailboat. To make the situation even worse, the boys are still recovering from a tragic accident that killed their mother just a few months back. When the boy’s father decides to sell their house, buy a sailboat, and travel the Caribbean for a year, tensions become high between the already broken family. They must learn to work together and eventually learn how to survive. This book was very well written and very exciting. I found myself unable to put the book down with a desire to know what was going to happen next. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a thrilling novel about survival, an unforgettable adventure, and the powerful bond of brotherhood.

~Meghan, Teen Book Reviewers

The Latte Rebellion by Sarah Stevenson

2011-12-03T13:09:00.000-08:00

The Latte Rebellion by Sarah Stevenson is a powerful book that focuses on one of society’s biggest troubles, Race. When high school senior Asha Jamison gets called a "towel head" at a pool party, the racist insult gives Asha and her best friend Carey a great money-making idea for a post-graduation trip. They'll sell T-shirts promoting the Latte Rebellion, a club that raises awareness of mixed-race students. However, unexpectedly her cause goes viral threatening to ruin her life. When the peaceful underground movement turns militant, Asha's school launches a disciplinary hearing. Facing expulsion, Asha must decide how much she's willing to risk for something she truly believes in. After, I read this book I was ready to start up my own rebellion after gulping down Sarah Stevenson's deftly written, multi-layered story about growing a voice, growing apart, and most of all, growing up as a typical girl. I think many people can relate to any aspect of this book. I strongly recommend it!

~Chelsea, Teen Book Reviewers

Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

2011-12-01T16:30:00.000-08:00

The book "Falling Under" is a very captivating and romantic novel. In this book, Theia Alderson, a very shy and non-rule breaker girl, starts having these very vivid and haunting dreams, of a boy she's never seen, but very badly wants to meet. When a black rose and other objects appear on her bed from her dreams, she can't explain how pieces of her dreams are brought with her in reality, but only knows something isn't right.

When one day, the new guy in school, Haden Black, appears, Theia recognizes him immediately,- not from around town, but as the guy in her dreams. She doesn't know how she dreamed of him before they met, but each day with him, in reality and in her dreams, pulls her closer and closer to him, even though she knows it's not safe for either of them.

Theia knows Haden isn't like other guys, -he's dangerous, but irresistible. Her love for him is stronger than her fear, but when she finds out what he really is, she knows she must resist him, -because the cost is her soul if she doesn't.

This book is really good!!! I literally finished this in two days, because I couldn't stop reading it! This book has a "vampire" or "Twilight" feel to it, even though there are no vampires in it. I would recommend this book to any girl who likes romance, mystery, and a little comedy. It has really good story line and reading about the characters makes you really fall in love with them. :)
If you had to read one book in your whole life, choose this one!! Hope you enjoy it! :)

~Vinnie, Teen Book Reviewer

DoSomething.org

2011-12-01T15:51:00.000-08:00

DoSomething.org is a great site for anyone looking to volunteer their time or start their own community service project.

You can:

Get help with funding for a project of your own.

Find local and national community service projects in your own are to volunteer.

Forums where you can chat with others about the things you feel passionate about.

This site really helps you find a way to volunteer that is geared towards your own interests and allows you to connect with others that have the same interests.

Crusade by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie

2011-11-30T17:40:00.000-08:00

The book Crusade is a novel written by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie. It is about a team of Hunters that must save their town and the world from the Cursed Ones. This team of hunters is made up of many different people, including a werewolf, an American, an Irishman, a witch, the Hunter, and a Spaniard, who just happens to be a Cursed One himself. These six people -- Holgar, Jenn, Jamie, Skye, Eriko, and Antonio -- must stop the Cursed Ones from taking over the world and fooling people into thinking that they are harmless. Along the way, friendships are strengthened, two hunters fall in love with each other, and many new secrets are revealed. Jenn is betrayed by someone close to her, and Skye is plagued by memories from her past.

This book would be a good read for teenagers who like books with action, romance, and mythical creatures. If you enjoyed reading the Twilight series, you will probably enjoy this book too. This is a 4.5-star book, and I would recommend it to teens all over. It leaves you hanging until the very last page. Happy reading!

~Catherine, Teen Book Reviewer

Rampant by Diana Peterfreund

2011-11-23T07:04:00.000-08:00

Rampant by Diana Peterfreund is a book about killer unicorns. I know this may sound strange, but truthfully this is the most exciting book that I have read in a while. It is about a girl name Astrid who has had to live through her mother telling stories of how Astrid was the descendant of a unicorn hunter. Then, Astrid's boyfriend is attacked by a unicorn and Astrid gets sent off to Rome to train at the ancient Cloisters to become a unicorn hunter. Unicorns all around the hunters wait to attack and destroy them. The hunters are in a frenzy to prepare to slaughter unicorns and prevent alliances between their sponser and the unicorns. Astrid makes a strange alliance herself with the most powerful unicorn. She is like Giovanni, an art student in Rome, who might just ruin everything for Astrid. Astrid finds herself learning new things along her long and hard journey.

I liked this book because it was like I was on the journey too, I felt what Astrid felt. I would recomend this book to every person who wants to read an exciting and exhilerating novel. This book is definitely worthy of a five star rating.

~Victoria, Teen Book Reviewer

The Hunger Games

2011-11-21T10:16:00.000-08:00

Last Monday The Trailer for the Hunger Games movie was released on Good Morning America. If you haven't seen it yet or just want to watch it again, and again, and again here it is for your viewing pleasure:

Want to countdown the minutes til the movie opens on March 23, 2012 check out the clock at the Hunger Games movie website

Not quite sure what I'm talking about and want to catch up on the Hunger Games trilogy? Place a reserve on The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay today.

The House of Dead Maids by Clare B. Dunkle

2011-11-21T07:57:00.000-08:00

The House of Dead Maids is about a young orphan girl who is hired by a very strange household to be nursemaid to a little boy. The boy, who has no name, is the “master” of the huge mansion that is haunted by the maids and masters that have come before them. As the story unfolds, the girl senses that they are both in danger in that dark, ominous, very creepy, and swarming with ghosts house. She will need all her courage and wits to save them both!

I liked this book because it was fast paced and “edge-of-your seat” reading. I could not put it down until I knew what happened in the end. The storyline was quite thrilling and I never got bored. The novel started and ended in action.

~Christopher, Teen Book Reviewer

Shadowland by Alyson Noel

2011-11-16T11:53:00.000-08:00

I highly recommend the book Shadowland by Alyson Noel.

Despite the fact that they are immortal, Ever and Damen have yet another challenge to face and overcome. Tricked by Roman, Ever adds a drop of her blood to Damen's antidote...An antidote meant to save him, not to make things worst. Now, if Ever and Damen have even a single touch of skin-to-skin contact, Damen would die and be sent to the Shadowland...an isolated place meant for lost souls. Unexpectedly, Ever seeks and finds help from a surfer named Jude. He seems familiar, as if they have met a long time ago or perhaps in a different lifetime. Ever's love for Damen is being tested as she grows closer to Jude. Will she choose the one that she thought she was destined to be with, Damen or Jude, someone who has just appeared in Ever's life? This story takes an unexpected turn when Roman captures one of Ever's friends, one named Haven. Roman gives Ever two choices...Save the dying Haven and make her an immortal, or get the antidote to release Damen from his curse. She has to decide between commiting her best friend to the Shadowland, or finally having the happily ever after she had wished for with Damen.

This book is probably among one of the best that I have ever read. However, before you read this book, be sure to read Evermore and Bluemoon first. They mark the start of Ever and Damens' journey, one full of many obstacles. I guarantee that you will not be able to put the books down and stay on the edge of your seats!

~Cynthia, Teen Book Reviewer

Havoc by Chris Wooding

2011-11-12T09:39:00.000-08:00

Havoc by Chris Wooding, is an amazing tale of adventure. The story revolves around 4 kids: Seth, Kady, Justin, and Alicia and is told from Seth and Kady's perspectives. These 4 kids try to take down the world of Malice, a comic book brought to life. Knowing that adults wouldn't believe them, these kids have to figure out how to defeat Tall Jake, the new ruler of Malice from the inside and outside of the comic book. Under his rule, Tall Jake has zombies, robots, and things you have only seen in nightmares. As his name becomes more feared, he gains strength. As he takes readers of the comic away at night into Malice and leaves them there to rot, he gains more strength. What are 4 kids going to do to defeat a monster who gets stronger as more people read the comic? All they have are each other, a rag-tag group of kids who have escaped from Tall Jake’s trap with no fighting experience called Havoc, and a painting that holds a trapped power stronger than Tall Jake himself called The Shard. Can they figure out how to unleash the The Shard in time before Tall Jake attacks the real world, or will they be too late and let Tall Jake win and destroy everything in the comic and the real world?

This book is the second book in Chris Wooding's series with the first book being Malice. This story is a great tale of adventure, suspense, and action. With story and comic scenes, this book is a new tale of good vs. evil. It is a book that you can not put down. After going in, there is no going back.

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy action. Chris Wooding makes this book and characters seem as real as if they could pop right out of the book itself. This book is not slow-paced and you will never get bored. It is so amazing that you will want to read it over and over again until you memorize every word.

~Ravjot, Teen Book Reviewer

You by Charles Benoit

2011-11-09T14:11:00.000-08:00

I have recently read the book You by Charles Benoit. In this book, this student at Midlands High named Kyle Chase who gets in trouble for stealing Jake's wallet. Then, he meets another kid that eventually becomes his new friend and invites him out to parties. This new friend of his is named Zack. Zack likes to find out people's weaknesses and keeps on pushing them. He tries to find your weak spot and makes you feel really bad. So later on in this book, he tries to find Kyle's weakness. A few days later, Zack invites Kyle over to the school at night and they break in. Then, they enter in the boy's locker room in the gym and opens Jake's locker. Zack does something really bad and makes Jake think that Kyle did it. The next day, Zack invites Kyle over to the school at midnight and tells him many things trying to get to his weakness and then finally he gets Kyle really upset and angry. Zack gives an award to Kyle and Kyle punches him so hard that blood bursts out and the glass of the award cracks.

The book You, is really interesting. I would recommend readers (age 12+) to read this book and find out what Kyle's weakness is that leads him to punch Zack. I would rate this 5 (the best).

~Jack, Teen Book Reviewer

The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had by Kristin Levine

2011-11-07T11:22:00.000-08:00

The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had by Kristen Levine is a story set in 1917, Moundville, Alabama. It is about a boy named Harry or “Dit”, looking for a new friend to play with through the summer. He gets excited after finding out that the new postman coming to town will have a boy his age. He is wrong when he finds out that the the boy is really a black girl that came from Boston. Dit and the girl, Emma, have almost nothing in common. Dit likes to fish, play baseball, and hunt animals in the woods while on the other hand, Emma likes to read out on her front porch. Although the differences, Dit tries to get along with Emma who is a bit stubborn. As they start to play with each other every day, they start to grow a bond. The people in Moundville don't think it's right that Dit is playing with a black girl and Dit's friends also have been making fun of Dit and Emma's friendship. As their friendship grows, it seems to only cause problems for everyone else.

I would recommend this book for anyone interested on the effects of prejudice down in the south or just people who just like to read stories on friendships and bonds between people. I enjoyed this story a lot and hope others get a chance to enjoy it too.

~Ronald, Teen Book Reviewer

Crave by Laura J. Burns

2011-11-05T09:14:00.000-07:00

In Crave Shay Mcguire isn't your average high school senior. Her rare and life threatening blood disorder keeps her from lead a relatively normal life. Her sickness defines her, changing the way everyone veiws her, shes treated like a breakable doll as if any movement could shatter her already fragile heart. She isn't able to go to her friends parties or stay out late, sometimes she can't even remain in school all day. Shay has had this disease her whole life, the only diffence now is that she's dying, but her mother refuses to accept the inevitable. Her stepfather (and doctor) believes he's come up with a cure: a special blood transfusion. But these tranfusions come with visions, beautiful, vivid visions of a man named Gabriel. During each transfusion Shay comes out feeling invicible like she can rule the world, almost like she can be normal. With every transfusion come a vision of Gabriel, slowly Shay comes to realize thatGabriel is a vampire, but the question remains: Is Gabriel real or is he just a figment of Shay's imaginaiton. The mysteries surrounding Shays life begin to unravel: What happened to her father, why is she sick and Who is Garbiel?

This book, in my opinion was well written an d had an interesting story line that comes with an unexpected twist. I recommend this book to everyone.
~Neilab, Teen Book Reviewer

Zen and the Art of Faking It By Jordan Sonnenblick

2011-10-31T11:07:00.000-07:00

Zen and the Art of Faking It by Jordan Sonnenblick is a book about a boy named San Lee. San is always moving around, so he never lives in one place for long. After moving for the seventh time, he starts to settle in. Before doing anything, he has to decide what people will see him as. He thinks of being a hippie or a loner, but can't decide. At school, after answering a long and difficult question on Zen Buddhism and then researching it, everyone starts to see him as "the Buddha kid". San also meets this girl and falls in love with her. She likes him, too, but not for the traveling kid he really is. She likes the Buddhist San. He is forced to tell her the truth after she meets his mom, who is nothing like a Zen Buddhist. In the end everyone sees him as the boy he really is: San Lee, not a Zen Buddhist.

I liked this book very much. It is funny and very realistic. I would recommend it to middle-schoolers that like a funny story that is easy to read.

~David, Teen Book Reviwer

Teen Community Service Opportunities

2011-10-29T10:11:00.000-07:00

6th-12th Graders Welcome

Employment Workshop for Teens DXY648
Wednesday, November 16, 6:30 pm (DH)
Project Excel presents this workshop: learn interviewing skills, find out who is hiring and become eligible for job placement. Registration begins 11/1.

Teen Book Reviewers
Wednesday, November 9 or Thursday, November 10, 6-7 pm (DH)
Wednesday, December 7 or Thursday, December 8, 6-7 pm (DH)
A teen librarian will be available for you to choose from a delction of new books to read and write a review for our Teen Blog. You may only read one book a month for 3 hours of community service. No registration required.

Chess for Kids DXY649
Fridays, November 4, 11, 18, 6:30-7:30 pm
Help children learn to play chess.

Letters to Veterans
Friday, November 11, 2-5 pm
Drop in the Teen area on Veterans Day and write a holiday card for a a verteran that will be sent to the VA hospital in Northport. Earn one hour of Community Service. No registration required.

Teen Photography Favorite Pet Pictures
Thursdays, December 1, 8, 15, 6-7 pm (DH)
Share a picture of your favorite pet for our display in our Teen Art Gallery. Creatively matte an 8 x 10 photo for display. Earn 3 hours of community service. No registration required.

Seen Behind the Scenes
Wednesday, December 7, 7 pm (DH)
Explore the inner workings of television, documentaries, comedy, and films. Receive 2 hours of community service. No registration required.

Gingerbread Houses DXY650
Friday, December 9, 6:30-7:15 pm (DH)
Friday December 9, 7:45-8:30 pm (DH)
Help kids and their families decorate gingerbread houses for the holidays. Registration begins 11/22.

Teen Programs

2011-10-29T09:55:00.000-07:00

ePrep Demonstration DXY647
Drop that expensive SAT Prep Course and learn how to use this new online test preparation resource. Registration is underway.

Project Excel Employment Counselor
Wednesdays, November 16 & 3, Decmeber 7 & 14, 2:30-3:30 pm (DH)
A job counselor will be available in th eTeen Area to help guide you in your job search. No registration required.

Corner of 6th & 7th
Pumpkin, Pumpkin & More Pumpkin DXY645
Thursday, November 17, 7 pm (DH)
Create your own pumpkin mousse parfait, truffles and cider. Registration begins 11/3.

Homemade Belgian Waffles and Ice Cream Sundaes DXY646
Thursday, December 29, 6:30 pm (DH)
Make waffles from scratch and top them off with ice cream, whip cream, chocolate sprinkles, chocolate syrup and bananas. Registration begins 12/8.

The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

2011-10-29T08:56:00.000-07:00

I read the book The Lying Game by Sara Shepard. This book is about a girl's adventures of trying to find her long lost twin sister's murderer. One day, when Emily was at her foster parent's home, her new brother showed her a video of a girl who looked exactly like her getting strangled. Emily thought maybe she could be related to her, and made plans to meet up with her. But when Emily can't find her twin, everything takes a turn for the worse. Emily is taken away by Sutton (her twin's) friends. Emily had no choice but to pretend to be her sister. Emily learned to trust no one, because anyone could have been her sisters killer. I would reccomend this book for girls in 7th or 8th grade. I really liked this book. I couldn't put it down because it was so suspenseful and interesting.

~Alicia, Teen Book Reviewer

Four Eyes by Joe Kelly

2011-10-27T14:59:00.000-07:00

Four Eyes is a graphic novel about Enrico, a young boy who must skip the joys of childhood, and work to support his family during the Great Depression in New York City. Mystical creatures known as Dragons exist in this dark world and live their lives well away from human civilization without causing any harm to people. Usually anybody with a right mind will stay away from them, but a greedy man has taken advantage of them and is using them for underground ring fighting. Enrico’s father, as well as many other desperate men, are paid to dig deep into their nests for eggs that will soon hatch new fighters. Enrico must take this job after his father violently gets killed by a dragon during his raid. This job is very dangerous, but Enrico can’t make money anywhere else. Now Enrico is caught between two things: taking over the life of his father or defending this innocent race.

I greatly enjoyed reading “Four Eyes.” All the pictures were brilliantly illustrated and the text gently guides the reader through the story. A grim and sad mood of despair grips the readers and forces them to read more. The graphic novel also strikes a fine balance between both print-text literature and image literate. I highly recommend this story to a any teenager that wants a good read.

~Edward, Teen Book Reviewer

Z by Michael Thomas Ford

2011-10-26T17:49:00.000-07:00

Z takes place in the future when zombies actually existed in the past. The main character Josh and his friend Firecracker are both addicted to a virtual reality video game where you can play against zombies and kill them. Josh still plays it even though his mother doesn’t want him to. Then one day Josh gets a chance to play an IRL game (in real life) he jumps at the chance and says yes to the offer. When players, as well as his best friend, go missing he soon finds out that it isn’t all that fun to play this game and uncovers a plot to make money by turning people into zombies.
Z is an amazing book. It has love, tragedy, and sorrow. If you love zombie books and suspense then this is a book for you. If you are creeped out by zombies or by explicit details of body parts that have been ripped off then this is not a book for you. I personally loved this book and would recommend the book to any of my friends. Overall I would give this book 5 stars.

~Wesley,Teen Book Reviewer

Empty by Suzanne Weyn

2011-10-20T15:49:00.000-07:00

This book is about the future, the very near future that is bound to come. Gas and fuel is running out, nearly making the world empty. The food is scarce and what everyone takes for granted is running out. Sage Valley is a town where the people don’t lose hope even though the world is turning upside down for them. Some teens including Gwen, Niki and Tom survive through the disastrous future. Gwen runs away when a fire leaves her homeless. How will she survive? Niki and Tom, survive through the flood and hurricane by making many sacrifices. They live weeks without good food, shelter and heat. Is the world really ending or are we making it end for ourselves? Read this book to find out. I would recommend this book to teens who like to read about science-fiction novels. In this book, Sci- fiction will invade your mind and remind you of near future. Suzanne Weyn has an inspiring touch in this classic book that will make the reader interested throughout the story.

~Erem, Teen Book Reviewer

Bloody Horowitz by Anthony Horowitz

2011-10-19T10:35:00.000-07:00

I read the book Bloody Horowitz by Anthony Horowitz. This has 12 different stories in it that all do not have happy endings. One of the stories in this book was about a guy named Henry who accused Darren Shan of stealing his story and rewording parts of it in his own words. Then Henry tries to murder Darren Shan by sending him a letter with poision on the envelope. Henry hopes Darren Shan will open the letter and and lick the poison off the envelope before sending him a letter back. Darren Shan recieves Henry's letter in the mail. It is all over the news that Darren Shan was murdered by licking poision off an envelope that one of his fans sent to him. You have to read the story to find out what happens next.

This was my favorite story out of the other ones in this book because I thought it was weird how someone would try to murder another person by putting poision on an envelope. This was a scary,yet very interesting and fun book to read. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a bunch of different scary stories without happy endings.

~Kyle, Teen Book Reviewers

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

2011-10-17T11:57:00.000-07:00

I have just read the book The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. This book begins at Arthur Dent's house, he wakes up in the morning and notices contractors with bulldozers waiting for Arthur to leave his house so they could destroy it and build a new bypass. Arthur wanted to keep his house which he felt was special to him, so layed on his lawn. Arthurs friend, Ford Perfect, finds Arthur laying in front of the bulldozers. That is how the story starts, Ford Perfect was unusual for the reason that he was an alien. Ford tries to explain to Arthur that the earth will be desroyed by the Vogons because the greedy aliens wanted to make space for a hyperspace bypass. If I told you anymore about this book, I would ruin the suspense of the book. I would recommend this book to more advanced seventh or eight graders. This was a great book, and you would like it more especially if you are into action packed books.

~Vikram, Teen Book Reviewer

Draw the Dark by Ilsa J. Bick

2011-10-12T17:16:00.000-07:00

This book is about a seventeen year old boy named Christian Cage. Both of Christian's parents disappeared when he was little. Due to Christian having no mother or father, he got to live with Uncle Hank, the town sheriff. Christian's mother left clues behind for him. These clues led to Christian's development of the idea that his parents are trapped in a place called "the sideways place." In school, Christian Cage is considered to be an outsider who doesn't fit in with the rest because people believe that he caused the near death of his first-grade teacher years earlier. Christian spends extremely great amounts of time drawing images of the sideways place. In the beginning of the story, he discovers that in his sleep he has painted the official emblem of the Nazi Party on a prominent citizen's barn. After that, he begins to have nightmares. In his nightmares, he sees violent incidents from the past in the perspective of a young Jewish boy. This scares Christian, so he researches Winter's history for an explanation, and there are World War II-era events involving a camp for German prisoners of war. Christian also researches and tries to find out about how he is able to draw the thoughts and nightmares of those around him. With Christian in Winter, Wisconsin, the town will not be able to ignore or forget what actually happened where they live.

I'd recommend this book to people who like reading books that are mysterious, intense, and creepy. The whole idea of this book is so unique that it will be one memorable book. However, I would not recommend this book to little kids because the writing style can be random at times and hard for some people to get through.

~Carson, Teen Book Reviewer

Super Human by Michael Carroll

2011-10-10T09:47:00.000-07:00

I recently read a book called Super Human by Michael Carroll. This book is about a teenage boy named Lance McKendrick that earns money by pulling scams on people. Lance wants to keep his identity a secret so it does not go on his record. A group of superheroes are trying to take control of a nuclear power plant that the super villains took over. Lance wants to help. The superheroes are teenagers that have super human abilities. They recruit other super humans to help. Their next target for the super villains is a bigger nuclear power plant. The super villains are looking for something that would bring back Krodin, a ruler of the past of 4,456 years ago. He also had super human abilities and ruled the world. He was said to be immortal, but one day when the sun rose he burned to death. Lance and the superheroes try to prevent Krodin from awakening and defeat the super villains.

I think this book is very interesting but it changes events a lot and you have to be able to learn about the characters quickly or else you will get confused. On the most part it explains everything clearly and is very interesting and it hooks you in at every chapter. I recommend this book to teenagers and early adults because some parts of the book may get confusing and you might need to read parts over and over again. I also recommend this book to people that have lots of time on their hands because the book keeps reeling you in and you want to read more. Lastly, I recommend this book to someone that likes superheroes and super villains and is interested in a comic like story. I highly recommend this book.

~Ryan, Teen Book Reviewer

Emily The Strange: Dark Times by Rob Reger and Jessica Gruner

2011-10-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

Emily The Strange: Dark Times is a very good book. It is about Emily and her adventures. She is very wacky and crazy which I could definitely relate to, but is also kind and patient. She is home-schooled by her mom and has no friends. She also has about four cats. Emily has many inventions and she had used this black rock substance to help power her inventions, but when she runs out, she is helpless. She tries to go back to the place where she located it but the source was gone. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mystery and adventure. When I was done reading it, I was disappointed because I wanted to know more but then I found out that it is the first book of a series.

~Alex, Teen Book Reviewer

You Wish by Mandy Hubbard

2011-10-03T10:44:00.000-07:00

You Wish by Mandy Hubbard is about Kayla, who was soon to be turning 16. Her best friend is Nicole, who is dating dreamy Ben. For Kayla's 16th birthday wish, all she wants is for her birthday wishes to come true. Of course, she doesn't believe it will happen because it never did before. One morning she wakes up to see a pink pony in front of her house. Was this real? One by one, all of her wishes come true, except there's a twist: she doesn't know when each wish will happen and she'll have to kiss Ben! I really like the ending and it was very good. I kept wanting to know what was going to happen next. It seemed like Nicole and Kayla wouldn't be friends ever again. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did! The ending will surprise you and Kayla will never be the same.

~Mary, Teen Book Reviewers

Brain Jack by Brian Falkner

2011-09-29T06:39:00.000-07:00

Brian Falkner’s newest creation brings the reader inside the inner workings of a teenage technological mastermind. Brain Jack is a fast paced thriller that keeps the reader enticed throughout. This book, however, could leave the reader confused with the technical terms and tech savvy jargon. This mysterious sci fi thriller explores a world with vastly advanced technology. In our present world that is constantly fixed upon the newest and fastest technology, Brain Jack amps up our fixation and explores the possibility of taking technology “too far”. Falkner brings the level of technology to a whole new medium. He brings the reader into a world where not only computers can be hacked into... so can the mind. New mind video games dominate society and produce over obsessive game addicts. These new video games surpass the present day creations like the Wii or Xbox that require controllers and screens. In this alternate world, the brain functions as both the controller and the screen. “Your very own neuro connection will allow you to put away your keyboard mouse” and “even your computer screen” and let you operate solely using your own brain. The brain is described as acting like a piece of technology, which leads the reacher to ponder the possibility of a “brain hack”. Brain Jack resembles the very popular mind warping Inception, yet leaves the reader similarly confused. Far from being a “must read”, Brain Jack is enticing as it dramatizes the growing technological aspects of society.

~Megan, Teen Book Reviewer

Legacy by Thomas Sniegoski

2011-09-28T11:04:00.000-07:00

The book Legacy by Thomas Sniegoski is an action packed, mysterious adventure about an 18 year old boy named Lucas Moore who finds out that his dad is a superhero. Legacy, takes you inside the lives of two superheroes who have to fight crime, keep a low profile and overcome sadness. Personally, I loved this book I think the author tied up all the loose ends. I also think he wrote the book so descriptively that you would think it could be a famous motion picture. Another great thing about this book is that it is a quick and very detailed read. I would recommend this book to anybody who loves action and adventure. I believe any person who loves those types of genres would enjoy this book. So read this awesome book!

~Justin, Teen Book Reviewer

Nicholas Dane by Melvin Burgess

2011-09-26T10:34:00.000-07:00

Nicholas Dane by Melvin Burgess is a book about fourteen-year-old Nicholas Dane, who seems like your typical popular boy (good lucks, leader,etc.), getting everything whisked away from him when his mother dies after a heroin overdose. Nicholas goes to live with Jenny, his mother's best friend but he is eventually relocated to Meadow Hill Assessment Center after he gets into a fight at school. This isn't just any boarding school, its one for boys with violence issues and he soon realizes that after a couple of fights. There, he befriends a boy named Oliver and both them have to face the inhumane wrath of the home's deputy head, Tony Creal. Read this book to find out if they boys get out alive and sane! I would give this book eight out of ten stars (ten being the highest) because it is very interesting and keeps you on the edge of your seat. However, this story takes place in Britain, so there are many English terms that you may not be familiar with!

~Divya, Teen Book Reviewer

Zombies vs. Unicorns ed. by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier

2011-09-22T16:56:00.000-07:00

Zombies vs. Unicorns was certainly unlike anything I have ever read. This book was funny, a bit disturbing, and everything in between. The basic premise of the book is simple; it is an anthology of short stories that answers the question that has plagued mankind for centuries: “Which is better, the zombie or the unicorn?” Each story was unique and enjoyable.

My favorite story had to be “Innoculata” by Scott Westerfeld, which is on the zombie side of the argument. This story takes place in a world that zombies have taken over, and only a few humans remain. They are protected, and have food, water and shelter. Aside from being in a world dominated by zombies they face one other monster: boredom. An interesting look at a dreadful situation, “Innoculata” was just one of the stories I enjoyed in this story.

I would recommend this to teenage readers looking for something new and completely different to read, but be forewarned; Zombies vs. Unicorns is interesting, to say the least.

~Eric, Teen Book Reviewer

13 R3asons Why by Jay Asher

2011-08-08T13:09:00.000-07:00

13 R3asons Why by Jay Asher explores one girls suicide as well as the events leading up to it, and the reverberations it had on individuals that had touched her life. Hannah Baker, the girl who fell victim to suicide left in her wake thirteen tapes that were intended to be sent to thirteen people. These thirteen people are strategically picked as the people who played the biggest role in her decision to take her own life. The book is narrated by Clay Jensen, who was completely in love with Hannah before and probably will remain so long after her death. The reader becomes enticed as they are lured into Clay's mind as he listens to the life altering tapes. The reader experiences his pain,his overwhelming adoration for Hannah Baker, and his guilt, as he hears how he played a role in Hannahs' decision. This book was absolutely fantastic, with just the right amount of suspense and anxiety it is highly addicting. I was unable to put it down once I started, and I wound up finishing the whole book in a single day. Each chapter is more gripping than the last, each corresponding to one of the tapes, and one of the people, which just makes it all the more intense. It deals with real life problems, and you can watch how Hannah's at first seemingly normal world, falls apart at the seams with a series of events that fit together perfectly in the end like a jigsaw puzzle. All in all this book was absolutely incredible. I loved it and am already highly anticipating the prospective movie that is currently in the works.

~Nina, Teen Book Reviewer

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

2011-08-01T11:16:00.000-07:00

The Summer I Turned Pretty has just about everything-- death, love, hope, beauty and pain. I would recommend it to anyone who loves the hot summer air and salty sea water. At the beginning of the school year, Belly (nickname of Isabelle) begins her countdown till next summer. Its all about the boys to her, Conrad and Jeremiah to be exact. As the summers grow on, so does Belly. First a nerdy girl hiding behind her glasses, Belly makes some minor yet huge changes to her appearance and the next summer she endures, everything changes. When faced with death and hardships, how can one teenage girl last through this especially different summer? Well, you have to read it to find out!

When I first picked up the book, the first thing that struck me was the title. If you like summer like I do, this book will also grab your attention. The book is relaxing, yet has a type of sadness that drips off of each page. The combination of both will keep you eyes, and heart, glued from cover to cover. It make you wonder what you would do if you were faced with three complicated obstacles-- boys, a forgotten cancer, and your teenage years. Every summer Belly has spend up there has been in preperation for this one-- this extraordinary, eminent summer.

~Darci, Teen Book Reviewer

Dirty Jersey by Philip Thomas Duck

2011-07-30T09:07:00.000-07:00

At Eric Posey's High School, being cool means you'll get a lot of respect. Unfortunately for him, he is one of the most uncool kids in school. Kenya, Eric's sister, is the complete opposite. She's all fly and and is the girlfriend of the coolest boy in the school, Ricky. As life goes on, Kenya and Eric start losing there relationship, and they begin to go there separate ways. Eric struggles with the humiliation at school while Kenya goes to all the parties. Though as there lives go on, Eric gets in touch with the hottest rapper around, Fiasco, while Kenya is starting to behave a little more. She breaks up with Ricky and her popularity goes down the drain. Eric is now in the shoes of how Kenya was with popularity but now Kenya is in the shoes of Eric from before. Things start to stir up when a gang member comes and picks up Kenya off the road and takes her away to a warehouse. Eric has to now try and save her before something happens to Kenya.

I would recommend Dirty Jersey to those who like long reads, realistic fiction, and R&B. There are many references to singers that some may like and find very interesting and some people can even relate to Eric's story to their life.

~Ronald, Teen Book Reviewer

Accomplice by Eireann Corrigan

2011-07-07T14:02:00.000-07:00

Accomplice by Eireann Corrigan , is an amazing story about two girls who are having some trouble with school. Chloe and Finn are two best friends who care a lot about which college they get into. They get good grades and participate in a bunch of extracurricular activities, but apparently, that's not enough. If you don't write a good entrance essay, forget about getting into a college. But how are Chloe and Finn supposed to write and interesting essay when nothing interesting happens in their small town, Colt River. One day, Chloe comes up with a master plan that can change everything. If you enjoy books that keep you on the edge of your seat, this is the book for you.

~Saadia, Teen Book Reviewer

Cinderella Cleaners Change of A Dress by Maya Gold

2011-06-27T10:45:00.000-07:00

In Change of A Dress Diana Donato is a girl of fashion and she loves designing clothes! When she was young, she would always go to the Cinderella Cleaners to visit her grandparents who owned it. Eventually, her grandparents gave the cleaners to her dad, and now she was going to start working there. Even though she would have rather gone out for the school play, she promised her dad that she would work at the cleaners to help the family. One day, Diana finds an invitation to a N.Y. City gala in someone’s coat pocket! Now that Diana has the invitation, she came up with a brilliant plan! Diana decides to make up a fake identity, dress fashionable, and go to the gala! There’s only one big question, will anyone see through her disguise?

I thought that this book was okay. The book was pretty boring at the beginning because of the entire back story that needed to be told. It starts out with Diana in school and wanting to try out for her school play but she can’t because she promised to work at Cinderella Cleaners. Diana also works at the cleaners and she thinks it’s okay but she would rather be in the play. Then as I read on, it got more interesting, especially when she found the invitation! I felt that some parts of the book were not that exciting or interesting, but at other times it was the opposite. I recommend this book for girls from the age of 8-11 because I think that the book is more for younger girls. If someone reads this book that is older then 11they might think that it’s a little immature and might get bored.

~Sarah, Teen Book Reviewer

The Blending Time by Michael Kinch

2011-06-25T07:32:00.000-07:00

The Blending Time is a science fiction book that takes place in the future. In the year 2069, Jaym, Reya, and D’Shay are forced (along with all of the others chosen to be blenders) to reproduce with Africans because of the harmful diseases in Africa. The three teens meet each other on the trip to Africa, and become friends. After the trip, everyone goes to their new family in Africa. Each of the three teens face their own problems in Africa, but there are also people who try to kill all of the blenders. Will the three teens meet again in safety, or will they die?

I did not enjoy this book much. It was interesting at some points, but a little boring at others. The characters were very diverse, but none of them were that entertaining. The worst part of the book was the ending. Unlike books that had an open-ended ending, it seemed like the plot just paused in The Blending Time. I would not recommend this book to everybody, but if you are interested in this book, you should be at least 12 years old (there are some inappropriate words).
~Matthew, Teen Book Reviewer

Once by Morris Gleitzman

2011-06-23T10:35:00.000-07:00

Once is about a young boy named Felix whose parents are Jewish booksellers. This book takes place during the time of the Nazis, so to protect Felix, his parents leave him in a Christian orphanage. Felix's first encounter with the Nazis was at the orphanage. He saw them burning jewish books outside the orphanage. He thinks that all the Nazis are doing is burning books, which is very serious to him. He later escapes from the orphanage and goes on a quest to find and warn his parents about the Nazis. On the way he matures; saves a girl from a burning house, finds out what the Nazis are actually doing, and gets caught. During the journey one of the only things keeping Felix going are his exaggerated stories about his parents, which help him believe that they're still out there. Throughout the whole journey he has to use his creativity to get out of bad situations. This book is definitely worth reading.

~Max, Teen Book Reviewer

The King of Ithaka by Tracy Barrett

2011-06-22T14:36:00.000-07:00

The new book entitled The King of Ithaka is about a boy named Telemachos. He is the son of Odysseus, the decorated Trojan War veteran and the king of Ithaka. Years have passed since the end of the Trojan War. The men returned in person, telling tales and bearing riches from the fallen city, or in the words of friends telling how they had died bravely in battle. Telecamos alone didn’t know what had happened to his father. He consulted Daisy the half- titan who gave him a prophecy: Return to the place that is not, on the day that is not, bearing the thing that is not, on that day the king shall return. So, Telemachos embarks on an epic adventure, sailing to find the father he never knew with only a confusing prophecy to guide him. He travels to Pylos and then Sparta in order to find his father without luck.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and anyone who enjoyed reading the Greek myths; especially for readers who enjoyed reading the Iliad because this story talks about what happens to many of those characters after the Trojan war ended.

~Alexis, Teen Book Reviewer

Ender's Game: Battle School by Orson Scottcard

2011-06-18T06:42:00.000-07:00

Ender's Game: Battle School by Orson Scott Card is an extremly short graphic novel, but that doesn't make it not intresting. I read it in about 30 minutes, so you could consider it to be like a tv show. The story, which takes place in the distant future, is about a 6 year old boy named Ender, who has been recruited into a military training facility. This one is more about when he first gets recruited and learns to deal with all the hardships, after all he is only 6 years old. I would strongly recommend this book to action and sci-fi fans. It has alot of refrences to things such as null gravity, virtual reality and much more. As for action, this book packs a punch, whether its Ender taking out a bully old fashion style or laser action fight scene, its jam packed. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick sci-fi action comic book.

~Dean, Teen Book Reviewer

The Unidentified by Rae Mariz

2011-06-13T10:47:00.000-07:00

The Unidentified is about Katey [a.k.a kid], who goes to school in a mall that is run by corporate sponsors. As kid goes deep inside the facts to find the unidentified, she gets tangled in a two way triangle. On one side, Katey is recommended to be branded by her sponsors. As she struggles to keep away, she will become involved in the unidentified and make new friends. As Katie begins to uncover more clues about the unidentified, she learns that they are a rebellious group that are protesting the power structure of the school by overthrowing the game. Worst of all, she learns that everything can’t be kept as a secret in the open world. All the cameras are watching, with the spotlight on Katey. The public soon watches Katey and makes her popular. Who is doing this, the corporate sponsors, or the Unidentified? That is left to be unanswered. I would recommend this book to teens who like fiction and suspense novels. Will Katey change and lose her identity to the world and the unidentified? Read the book to find out more about the story.

~Erem, Teen Book Reviewer

Beasts of Burden by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson

2011-06-12T12:29:00.000-07:00

Beasts of Burden is a graphic novel that is a little different than that of everyday comics. Instead of a story about human superheroes and their valiant fights against evil, we have average cats and dogs investigating not so average paranormal happenings. Zombie animals, demonic frogs, and a werewolf are a few of their problems. Together, a group of dogs and a single cat keep their seemingly innocent and quiet community safe.

To start off, “Beasts of Burden” is a brilliantly crafted graphic novel. Each gorgeous illustration is watercolored, not photoshoped. The watercolor really does help tell the story. It doesn’t stop there. The story has the right blend of adventure, suspense, comedy relief and heart. While appealing to horror lovers and animal lovers alike, this book no doubt will leave a smile on your face. I highly recommend this story to anyone, however it does get a bit graphic at points. Nonetheless, “Beasts of Burden” is easily one of my favorite books.

~Edward, Teen Book Reviewer

Falcon Quinn and the Black Mirror by Jennifer Finney Boylan

2011-06-09T11:21:00.000-07:00

Falcon Quinn and the Black Mirror is the first book in the Falcon Quinn series and it is amazing. Anyone who read the Percy Jackson series and loved it, will also love this book. After the death of his dad and after his mother left him, the main character Falcon Quinn was left with his grandmother in the cold town of Cold River, Maine. As he waits for the bus to take him to school, he talks with his two friends Megan and Max. They soon find out that something is wrong when the bus driver passes by bus stops and takes them to a completely different school. There at their new school, for monsters, Falcon feels the same way as he felt at his old school. He doesn't fit in. Soon he will find out why and what really happened to his parents, and who they really are. With two hearts and a choice between two lives, one as a monster and one as a monster destroyer, which side will he pick? Read the book to find out.

Falcon Quinn and the Black Mirror is a book that will force you to keep reading it to find out more. It has fighting, love, betrayal, sorrow, friendship, and some unexpected turns of events. I would highly recommend this book to any of my friends. I loved the Percy Jackson series and I loved this book too. I couldn't put this book down and I hope you will feel the same too, drawn to find out more by turning the page.

~Wesley, Teen Book Reviewer

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park

2011-06-08T15:37:00.000-07:00

Most young people love to read fiction and fantasy novels. The otherworldly elements and enticing plot lines draw them to these types of stories. Historical fiction is an equally effective genre which satisfies one’s crave for reading. A Long Walk to Water is one such book.

The book takes place in Africa, specifically the countries Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya. It follows the lives of Salva, the son of the judge of the Loun-Ariik village, and Nya, neice of the head of the Nuer village. Salva is growing up in a warring 1985 southern Sudanese village. The government is in turmoil and war is engulfing the country. One day while at school a shooting occurs nearby, so the students run out so the army won’t recruit them. Salva has no relatives nearby and is lost. His journey to refugee camps takes him to Ethiopia, Kenya, and later the United States.

Nya is a young girl of the Nuer village. Every day she must walk miles to get water and miles to go home. At noon when she gets home she gets a quick bite to eat and makes the long trek for water. Then some mysterious men come to the village. They say there is water where they perform their traditional ceremonies, but the Nuer are doubtful of this. The people begin to drill a well; will there be water?

This book is a great quick read. On a scale of 1-10 I would rate this book a 7.5. The plot keeps your attention and makes you want to read more. The book is also very short with large type, so if you’re looking for a break between novels this book is right for you.

~Luke, Teen Book Reviewer

I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett

2011-06-06T11:07:00.000-07:00

In the book I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett, a young witch by the name of Tiffany Aching has spent years of studying amongst other witches. Now she is on her own. She does little bits of witchcraft but they aren’t that fun. Translation: She does the not-so-much-fun work for the poor and helpless. But then one day, someone or something has brought fear to her village and she must set out to find this evil being.

I have read many books on witchcraft and wizardry. It’s my favorite to read about. So I was really excited to read this book. But when I picked it up and started it, at first it was all drawn out and a little bit boring. So I stopped reading it and later on, I picked it up again and it started to get better. So, if your patient and you like witchcraft and wizardry stories, then you might like it. I do recommend it for people who do like this type of story. I hope you enjoy it.

~Alex, Teen Book Reviewer

Sila’s Revenge by Jamie Bastedo

2011-06-05T09:58:00.000-07:00

Sila’s Revenge by Jamie Bastedo is about a teenage girl named Ashley who lives in the North Pole. Her icy environment is melting due to global warming. She gets invited to play on her drums at Carnegie Hall. Then some crazy stuff happens! The man who has invited Ashley to play secretly kidnaps her and her friends and forces them to play in a concert in Australia that will be broadcast all over the world. Her kidnapper, Jack, thinks a lot about global warming and is always trying to find new ways to prevent it from happening. Jack believes that humans are responsible for global warming so he plans to “do the earth a favor” and eliminate about 500,000 people. The whole story unravels in Australia at the Scorching Earth concert. If you want to find out what happens, you should read the book.

I think this is a very interesting book because it discusses the current issue of climate change. I would recommend this book to kids ages 11-15 because it contains profanity throughout the entire book. Besides that, it is a great book!

~David, Teen Book Reviewer

Witch & Wizard Battle for Shadowland by James Patterson

2011-06-04T07:40:00.000-07:00

I read the book WITCH & WIZARD BATTLE FOR SHADOWLAND, an original graphic novel adventure by James Patterson. It was an interesting book about a brother and a sister named Wist & Wisty. Wist and Wisty have magic powers. They can do amazing things like heal themselves from gunshot wounds and freeze people. They are fighting with lots of help from their friends to beat the evil adults in the New Order. They go into different dimensions through portals and are faced with danger all the time. They go to a dimension called Shadowland that is really scary. The illustrations, by Victor Santos are terrific and make the book as exciting to read as it is to look at. I enjoyed this graphic novel and would recommended it to everyone who likes scary adventure stories.

~Wendi, Teen Book Reviewer

Empty by Suzanne Weyn

2011-06-02T11:40:00.000-07:00

Empty is an eye-opening novel with a plot that is relevant to the modern day energy source uncertainties. Taking place in the near future, Empty is the story of teenagers Gwen, Tom, Niki, and Gwen's childhood friend Hector, who have grown up in fictional town Sage Valley, New York. Gwen has always watched Tom from afar, and when she helps him to get gas, which in the story costs $80 per gallon, he finally starts to notice her. But soon Niki starts to like Tom, and the love triangle has been created. In the story, the United States is about to go to war over supposedly dwindling oil reserves over in the Middle East, now that Alaska and Canada are oil-less deserts. For teens in the small town of Sage Valley, the reality of being without oil is about to hit, and things are not going to be pretty. The economy is in shambles, electricity is unreliable, and food and medicine are scarce. The story accounts the teens’ struggle for mere survival in a world where everything is uncertain. This story is excellent for teen readers because not only does it involve stories of romance and modern teen problems, but it provides an interesting look at what might become our future if we don’t fix this energy crisis. It is a page-turner that makes me wonder myself about what can be done to fix this energy crisis.

~Eric, Teen Book Reviewer