September 30th 2008
Who would like this book? Do you like graphic novels? Definitely read this one! Never read a graphic novel before? This one is a great place to start.
Why? Jen Dik Seong, a Korean American teenager also known as Dixie, lives in Los Angeles with her parents and two annoying little brothers. She and her best (and only) friend Avril study the ancient martial art of hapkido and are planning for a big upcoming tournament. Dixie can’t concentrate, though, because she has a huge crush on Adam, a Caifornia surfer who is also studying hapkido. The plot heats up with a birthday party, a birthday present, and multiple surprises. The artwork is a superb complement to the story and characters. After reading this graphic novel, I’m going to be reaching for more.
The details: 148 p. 2007 Samrarian!
September 27th 2008
Who would like this book? People who want a true-to-life story about how a 6th grade girl copes with her mom’s verbal abuse and finds meaningful relationships in unlikely places would like this book. If you like purple boots, you’ll also want to read this book.
Why? Hope, the 6th grade protagonist of Call Me Hope, lives up to her name even though her mom calls her “Hopeless” and much worse. Inspired by Anne Frank’s writing, Hope devises a point system that helps her gauge the effects of the abuse. Hope likes her 6th grade teacher and is totally excited about camping at Outdoor School at the end of the year. When a cool pair of purple boots in a second-hand shop catch her eye, she seeks to buy them and ends up with two great friends. Hope finds help in many places, but the abuse hurled at her by her mom is still heartbreaking. The good outweighs the bad in this book, and even though it made me really cry at the end, I still felt that it was more of an upper than a downer. It’s a Battle of the Book 2008-2009 selection, probably because the author is from Oregon.
The details: 288 p. 2007
September 25th 2008
Who would like this book? This book is for people who likes soccer and someone who reads most of the time because this book isn’t very long.
WHY? It’s a good book for peole who likes soccer because the whole story is about a girl who wins a contest to make a goal and win one million dollars. She doesn’t like socer, but her sister does. Her sister was too young to enter, so she put in her sister’s name and she won. she decided to take the shot, and she found someone to train her. She trained real hard and really put her heart into it. The day came and she was nervous. She couldn’t decide where to kick it.
The details: 202 p. 2001 Submitted by Elsie
September 23rd 2008
Who would like this book? I would say anyone 12 and above would like this book, and for someone who likes a vampire romance every now and again.
Why? Breaking Dawn is a wonderful, vampire romance. As the concluding chapter in the Twilight series, it’s got some high expectations, and don’t worry, it definitely fulfills them. In Eclipse, Bella makes her choice, and Breaking Dawn follows it from several perspectives. She makes the choice that she knows she can live with, but what about Jakob? Can he live with that choice? What will he do to try and change that choice? How far will he go? And how far will everyone else go, before changing Bella’s newest, (and worst) choice, a choice that most likely, will kill her. My advice? Read Breaking Dawn… otherwise you’ll regret it.
The details: 756 p. 2008 Submitted by Chance
September 23rd 2008
Who would like this book? Anyone who has a taste for magic, action, and adventure.
Why? The story has an exiting plot filled with magic and adventure that will make you want to keep reading!
The details: 403 p. 2003 Submitted by Carley
September 23rd 2008
Who would like this book? Someone who would like this book is someone who likes the combination of adventure and horror, although I recommend you’re in 7th grade at least.
Why? Why? Why not? This book takes place in the legendary world of Mid-World where a gunslinger is a hero, but they are all dead but one. His name is Roland Deschain who visits the town of Tull and meets the woman, Alice, who tells him of Nort, the weed-eater, and The Man In Black. Then, Roland saves the boy Jake from New York and they venture forth. This is the start of a great series by Stephen King. In fact, this book sort of goes backwards in the first chapter but moves forward after. The famous beginning “The Man In Black fled across the desert and the Gunslinger followed” is the first and famous sentence of this great tale.
The details: 300 p. 2003 Submitted by Thomas U.
September 21st 2008
Who would like this book? If you’ve read The Diary of Anne Frank and are interested in how the events of the Holocaust affected the children in Germany, this book is a must-read. If you’re interested in the point of view in writing, this book is also a must-read.
Why? Bruno is nine years old, the privileged and naive son of a commandant in Hitler’s forces. Bruno refers to Hitler as “the Fury,” and is upset that after a visit from the Fury and his beautiful blond wife, their family must move from the large, lovely house in Berlin to a small, isolated house in Out-With. Slowly, the reader realizes the true location of this place that Bruno calls “Out-With,” and the reader also recognizes the identity of the hundreds of people in striped pajamas that Bruno can see from his bedroom window. Bruno, of course, has no idea about what is going on or what his father’s important job entails. Bruno is mainly concerned about his lack of friendship, and he goes on an adventure with the hope of finding a friend. He does find a friend, and what unfolds with this friendship moves with depth, honesty, and poignant simplicity toward a climax that reveals the truth of the situation. This selection is a 2008-2009 YRCA nominee in the Intermediate Division; it would also fit in the Senior Division and be a worthwhile read for adults.
The details: 224 p. 2006
September 21st 2008
Who would like this book? Anyone who likes adventure and lots of suspense.
Why? This boy named Peak was caught climbing the Empire State Building illegally and was arrested. He had 2 options to take: go live with his father in Thailand or go into Juvenile Detention. He ends up trying to climb Mt. Everest.
The details: 246 p. 2007 Submitted by Spencer
September 21st 2008
Who would like this book? People who like history, mainly WWII history.
Why? Because it literally puts you in the middle of action! Once you start reading it, you wou’t want to put it down. Watch as Rommel storms across the desert with the Africa Korps! Can the British stop the desert fox?
The details: 191 p. 1982 Submitted by Blake
September 18th 2008
Who would like this book? I would say anyone above 12 would definitely like this book! Read the first two first though…
Why? Why read Eclipse? Because Stephenie Meyer is a literary genius! She writes so fluently that you’d swear you were there yourself. It’s as if you were going through everything she’s going through. Meyer creates such a beautiful world with creative backgrounds, and marvelous characters. But most of all, she shows us a love so strong nothing can stop it, except for perhaps the horde of oncoming vampires! Bella has known what’s coming for her, but she is shocked when it finally does, and with Jakob’s secret out in the open, she knows she has to make a choice. A choice that will change everyone’s lives forever. So who will she choose? Jakob, or Edward? Read Eclipse to find out.
The details: 629 p. 2007 Submitted by Chance