Sam and CY students & staff are reading…

Who would like this book? This book would appeal mainly to girls, grades 8 and up, who like fantasy-reality mash-ups and especially those who like Grimm’s Fairy Tales.

The goods on this book: Mira, 16, has been raised by her loving godmothers but is now exasperated that they will not tell her about her parents  (who died when she was young) nor will they let her visit the town of her birth, Beau Rivage. With few provisions and even less of a plan, Mira runs away to the town to seek some answers. Destiny seems to take over in Beay Rivage, and Mira falls in with a group of mysterious characters. The strange dynamics of their lives leads Mira to gradually realize that the powers of Grimm’s Fairy tales are very much alive, and she begins to see why her godmothers were so overprotective. Now alone with her eagerness for romance, Mira is in constant danger. I kept wanting to scream at her, “No! Stop!” Though some of the situations were too convoluted and disjointed, readers who like suspense, romance, and the dark side of fairy tales will love this book. Be prepared for some mature content.

The details: 2012; 331 pages      Review by Samrarian

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Review by Anne H.

Who would like this book? Harry Potter fans and Percy Jackson fans would like this book.

The goods on this book: The seven main characters — Percy, Annebeth, Leo, Hazel, Frank, Jason, and Piper — are on a quest to defeat the evil earth goddess Gaea. The prophecy:
Wisdom’s daughter walks alone
The Mark of Athena burns through Rome.
Twins snuff out the Angel’s breath,
Who holds the key to endless death.
Giants’ bane stands gold and pale
Won through pain in a woven jail.
This prophecy means that Annebeth, the daughter of Athena, has to go to Rome to save the statue of Athena that the Romans stole from the Greeks to end the war. Percy and the rest of the gang go to save Nico Deangleo because in Spanish Deangleo means angel, and he the son of Hades and is the only one who knows how to close the doors of death. After that, they need to get the statue of Athena to defeat the giant.  We won’t find out how until the next book.

The details: 586 pp. 2012      Review by Anne H.

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Review by Annalea H.

Who would like this book? Anyone who can handle a deep, powerful and awesome storyline that revolves around abuse and a terrible truth. This book is definitely for older readers that are quick and understand the way it’s written, in poetry.

The goods on this book: Because I Am Furniture is a raw, powerful book about the struggle of an abusive father and a family who lets him abuse them. Anke is an average girl who lets her steam out with volleyball: what kind of steam? Her father is an abusive man who hurts everyone around him except Anke; he cheats on his wife and abuses her siblings. Will the nightmare end? Maybe. Read Because I Am Furniture to figure it out.

The details: 352 pages; 2009      Review by Annalea H.

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Review by Jack T.

Who would like this book? People who like basketball and are ages 11- 15 would like this book.

The goods on this book: Danny, a middle schooler, is one of the smallest kids in his grade. He tries out for the Travel Team but doesn’t make it. Ty, his best friend, makes the team. Danny might have to make his own team. His dad comes back and says he will be the coach. Will Danny’s dad follow through with his plan? Danny has some trouble getting people on his team. Will he have his team? I have read a lot of Mike Lupica’s books, and this book is one of my favorites.

The details: 274 pages, 2004          Review by Jack T.

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Review by Carsten K.

Who would like this book?  Anyone who liked the book Ruins of Gorlan, the first book of Ranger’s Apprentice.

The goods on this book: The Burning Bridge is an epic adventure in a foreign land, with the Araluens Horace, Will and Gilan fighting evil bear-men. Horace, Will and Gilan, are sent to go on a diplomatic mission in Celtia, Araluen’s ally. But Celtia is deserted, and after some bandits attack them, they meet a mysterious girl who proclaims to be a noble. Will Will find out where the Celts are? Will he find the identity of the girl? The Burning Bridge is an exciting, good book.

The details: 262 pages, 2005              Review by Carsten K.

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Review by Taylor P.

Who would like this book? This book is good for all action lovers out there. From romance to action, from thriller to heart breaker – this book is good from top to bottom.

The goods on this book: The book starts off in the future Los Angeles. A character named Day, a rebel to the government, finds out his family has the virus, a sickness that tore apart what was once America. Day tries to get the antidote in a hospital facility but barely escapes and is empty handed. He is framed for killing a Captain. The Captain’s younger sister June goes undercover and tries to find Day and turn him in, but she soon finds out he is not what she expects. I hope you like this wonderful book as much as I did. Have fun reading!

The details: 305 pages, 2011     Review by Taylor P.

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Review by Nick H.

Who would like this book? Both boys and girls, grades 6 and up, would like this book.

The goods on this book: The main character is named Oliver. He is a genius, and he is 12. He is the third richest person in the world and not many people know that, not even his family. In school everybody thinks he’s idiotic. He has bodyguards at school that protect him from boys. He loves his mom but despises his dad. His dad doesn’t like him very much because he thinks he’s idiotic. Oliver wants to be the class president because his dad was the class president when he was a kid. His dad was talking about how much it meant to him. Oliver wants to do it because it would mess up his dad’s entire childhood. I really love this book because it’s hilarious but has a bit of a serious side to it. It has a bit of bad language but besides that it’s all okay.

The details: 302 pages; 2009    Review by Nick H.

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Review by Annalea H.

Who would like this book? Everyone! I would suggest this book to anyone and everyone if I could; it’s just that good! This is the second book to Splintered (Read that one first, please!) and it is a wonderland parody, so it’s kinda creepy. Okay, so maybe it’s not everyone, but it is for people who like action, romance, and an absolutely crazy ending that will have you begging for more! This book may be for older people, but I would still suggest it to everyone.

The goods on this book: Unhinged is the second book to Splintered and is a wonderland parody, a creepy wonderland parody (But what wonderland parody isn’t?). It circles around a girl named Alyssa, who is the grandest of granddaughters to Alice Liddell, the first wonderland girl. After winding through wonderland, saving her boyfriend Jeb, and rescuing her mother from the asylum, she is now in high school. Everything is going as it should except Jeb is meeting with beautiful women, and Alyssa is scared that he might not be in his business for the art (Jeb lives in London and sells his art). It seems Morpheus is back and is in wonderland trouble, and wonderland is decaying! And is Alyssa’s mother hiding something? Find out in this second book of the Splintered books!

The details: 387 pages; 2014       Review by Annalea H.

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Review by Carsten K.

The goods on this book: Will, a castle ward in medieval times, has never known much about the Rangers. Choosing day is when a castle ward turns 15, and then he is chosen by a craftmaster. Will has always wanted to go to battle school. But after no one chooses him as an apprentice at the choosing day, Halt, a ranger, chooses him as an apprentice. Horace, another castle ward, gets chosen to be trained at battle school. Will the two apprentices succeed in their apprenticeships? This book has a very interesting story and great characters.

The details: 249 pages; 2005                 Review by Carsten K.

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