Sam and CY students & staff are reading…

Who would like this book? All fans of Percy Jackson won’t want to miss this exciting book!

The goods on this book: This new Percy Jackson series does not start with Percy, but that’s okay because the three characters that keep the action going are great! Jason wakes up on a bus headed to a wilderness school for unruly kids, and he seems to be in a relationship with Piper. The problem for Jason is that he can’t remember anything, and the problem for Piper is that she’s not sure about Jason’s feelings. Leo rounds out the threesome on the ill-fated bus trip. They soon discover that their demigod status means that they are in for a dangerous quest with serious consequences for mankind as well as the gods. Their quest, received at Camp Half-Blood amid all the usual teen in-fighting, catapults them into non-stop action. Each of the characters brings unique problems and potential into the plot, and it’s great to experience them meeting and overcoming challenges. I especially like Leo and his heartbreaking backstory and formidable talents with dragon-building. When you start this book, be prepared to not want to put it down and to want the next volume immediately!

The details: 557 pages; 2010      Review by Samrarian

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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 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 Lee T.

Who would like this book? I think the targeted audience is people ages from ten to fourteen.

The goods on this book: The Giver is set in a town in the future were everyone but a person named “the Receiver” is oblivious to the past. The government controls everything people know and even see. Jonas, the main character, is selected to be the new Reciever. He knows nothing about the past, but he has to learn about it. Also the government took away the peoples’ abilty to see color. When Jonas see color, he thinks he is going insane. Every thing Jonas knows is nothing compared to what he is about to learn.

The details: 180 pages; 1993     Review by Lee T.

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Review by Taylor P.

Who would like this book? Any young reader would enjoy this action-packed thriller from beginning to end.

The goods on this book: This action-packed book starts with Thomas, a teenage boy 15 to 16 years old, who is trapped in a pitch-black shaft going up. Thomas has no memories of his past; he can only remember his name. The shaft stops and the roof opens to find a group of boys from the ages of 13 to 19. Thomas finds himself getting out of the shaft and being in a large area with massive sized walls around it; the other boys seem to call it the Glade. Thomas’s adventures in the Glade are tremendous. Every chapter leaves you hanging. I love this book so much; I love how in every chapter you know as much as Thomas does. I hope you love it, too.

The details: 375 pages; 2009      Review by Taylor P.

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Review by Carsten K.

The goods on this book: Percy has lead a rough life. When we discovers he’s the son of a powerful god he doesn’t knew existed, he is framed for stealing a powerful weapon of another god. If Percy doesn’t find it, a huge war will commence between the gods. He has his friends Annabeth, daughter of Athena, and Grover, the satyr, to help him! It’s mythical fiction set in modern America! I really liked this book!

The details: 375 pages; 2005    Review by Carsten K.

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Who would like this book? People, 13 and up, looking for a first person narration dealing with a teen’s suicide and the reasons for it would appreciate this book.

The goods on this book: Clay Jensen is a quiet, shy high school student and has been disturbed by the suicide of his friend, Hannah. He becomes distraught and obsessed when he unwraps a package of cassette tapes of Hannah recording the story that led to her decision to take her own life. As Clay listens to the tapes, he navigates through their town so that he can listen to each part of Hannah’s story in close physical proximity to where it took place. The book alternates between the text of Hannah’s voice from the tapes and Clay’s reaction as he  listens to these tapes. Clay had a crush on Hannah and shared an evening with her shortly before she died, so the experience of the tapes is very hard for this sensitive guy. My heart really went out to him even more than Hannah. The strong message of this book, to see other people for who they truly are and to care for one another, comes through to the reader as it comes through to Clay. Though this book might not be the best for understanding suicide, it is important in showing how a steady stream of difficulties and hurts can push a person such as Hannah over the edge. It is tragic that she has nobody to turn to.

The details: 288 pages; 2007    Review by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? If you like real life stories in a graphic novel format and/or liked Smile by this same author, then you’ll probably really like Drama.

The goods on this book: Callie, a 7th grader with purple and pink hair, loves the theater and has found her spot as the set designer. She’s jazzed about her plans for the new production, Moon over Mississippi, but the boy she’s interested in has his heart set on someone else. When twins Justin and Jesse show up to be part of the production, Callie’s life gets more complicated. As she works with her stage crew to bring the set together, trouble with friendships, romances, and the production keep Callie, Jessie, and others on their toes. Their stories deal with issues such as sexual identity in a seamless blend of humor, heartbreak, and happiness. I loved going on this roller coaster ride with Callie and her crew!
This book is a YRCA 2015 nominee.

The details: 233 pages; 2012 Review by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? Readers, grades 5 and up, who are interested in what happened when the Titanic sank.

The goods on this book: To prepare for writing this book, Deborah Hopkinson conducted extensive interviews with survivors and witnesses of the Titanic disaster. Combining the riveting stories of passengers and participants with thoroughly researched information about the ship and its voyage, Hopkinson has written a book that is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the Titanic. The story follows the voyage from its departure to after its sinks from the point of view of a wide variety of 27 people: young and old; crew members; and first, second, and third class passengers. It’s a nonfiction account, so she does not embellish the stories. Her straightforward prose allows the heartbreaking, horrific experiences speak for themselves. The book is not only a riveting story of people meeting death or escaping near death, it is also an excellent presentation of the ship itself and an explanation of the facts of what happened and when. Photographs, a timeline, diagrams, statistics, the official final report from 1912, short biographies of the people in the book, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index make this book a useful tool for research. I learned so much from reading this captivating book and found that I had many misconceptions about what really happened.
This book is an ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults 2012 nominee and an ORCA 2015 nominee.

The details: 289 pages; 2012 (910.9163 Hop) Review by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? Mature readers, ages 13 and up (language, content), who are looking for a moving story of friendship that explores family relationships and sexual identity.

The goods on this book: It’s 1987 and the summer is a hot one in El Paso, Texas. Ari, 15 and bored, narrates the complex and moving story of his friendship with Dante, a friendship that starts with Dante’s offer to teach Ari to swim and the discovery that Ari’s complete name is Angel Aristotle. Their friendship grows through the summer as they have fun reading old comic books and fooling around as they ride the bus all over town. As Ari’s story unfolds, it’s clear that he is haunted by his own insecurities and by secrets that are being kept by both his mom and his dad. These secrets begin to emerge when a significant event happens. Without wanting to give away too much, I can say that Ari makes discoveries that bring him from boyhood to manhood, from lonely and lost to loved and self-aware. Sáenz’s writing is for patient, mature readers who appreciate clear prose that brings the reader into Ari’s world. It’s a moving exploration of sexual identity and of the power of love in family and friendships.

This book is a Printz Honor Book, 2013, an ALA Best Book 2013 nominee, an ORCA 2015 nominee, and a 2015 Battle of the Book selection at the Senior High level.

The details: 359 pages; 2012     Review by Samrarian

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