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The Book Thief by Marcus Zuzak
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Nov.06, 2014, under Historical Fiction, Student Reviews, Teen Top 10, War, Writing, YRCA
Review by Jaden L.
Who would like this book? Anyone who is interested in history, particularly people who like to study the era of World War Two. This book is inspirational and will pull at the heart strings of any readers.
The goods on this book: The time is World War Two. Death, the narrator, has never been busier and will become busier still. He become captivated by a girl known as The Book Thief. Her name is Liesel Meminger. Her world as she knew it has been changed. She finds a book at her brother’s gravesite, before she has to go live with a new family. She soon becomes captivated by books and learns to read with the help of her foster father. She steals books from book burnings and the Mayor’s library. I strongly suggest you read this book.
The details: 552 pages; 2005 Review by Jaden
True Legend by Mike Lupica
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Oct.29, 2014, under Battle of the Books 2014-2015, Real life, Sports, Student Reviews
Review by Jack T.
Who would like this book? I think that sport fans would like this book.
The goods on this book: Drew Robinson, a high school basketball star, moves to Los Angeles from the Bronx. Drew likes to go to this one park at night and sees someone there. The thing was wearing a grey sweatshirt. It was jumping high and dunking the ball. It was old and Drew thought he was a ghost. Drew does this research project at school about him. Drew asks what his name is, and he said Donald. He didn’t say a last name. Will Drew find out if he is a ghost or is he just some ordinary person? Mr. Gilbert takes care of Drew when he needs something and gives his mom a job. He also gives Drew free things, but Drew gets into an awful accident. Will he be suspended from basketball?
The details: 292 pages; 2012 Review by Jack
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Beautiful Music for Ugly Children by Kristin Cronn-Mills
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Oct.27, 2014, under Bullying, Multicultural Fiction, Sam's Reviews
Review by Samrarian
Who would like this book? People interested in the transgender experience and music would appreciate this book. Its content makes it best for 8th grade and up.
The goods on this book: Gabe narrates his own story about transitioning to being the guy that he knows he is even though he was born as a girl and is known to all but his family and best friend as “Liz.” Gabe is counting the days to graduation from high school, when he feels that he can move and establish himself in his new identity. Meanwhile, his friendship with his hip grandfather-type neighbor nourishes his love of music and gains him a gig at spinning discs at the local radio station on Friday nights. Gabe calls his show “Beautiful Music for Ugly Children” and is able to be “Gabe” during this show, gaining a fan club called the Ugly Children Brigade that do his bidding. The narrative pushes toward an inevitable crisis climax that works because of the careful character development that has come before. Gabe’s story is significant to read, and Cronn-Mills includes a helpful explanation of vocabulary related to the transgender experience as an afterword.
The details: 271 pages; 2012 Review by Samrarian
Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Oct.22, 2014, under Grief, Student Reviews, Supernatural, Thriller
Review by Anne H.
Who would like this book? This a book for the dark at heart.
The goods on this book: This book is about a girl named Hanna. She likes the not so bad “bad boy” of her school. She watches her little sister Arial. She’s also haunted by the ghost of her deceased best friend who knows how to connect a bunch of brutal murders. Now these deceased victims are reaching out to Hanna from behind the grave. Once they give Hanna enough clues, she knows who it is. Hanna receives her own paper valentine. Is she strong enough to save her sister and take on the Valentine’s Day killer? You tell me. Do yourself a service and read this tale of beauty, love, and heart-shattering sadness.
The details: 304 pages; 2013 Review by Anne H.
The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus Book 1) by Rick Riordan
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Oct.20, 2014, under Adventure, Battle of the Books 2014-2015, Fantasy, Mythology, ORCA, Sam's Reviews, YRCA
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
Because I Am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Oct.17, 2014, under Abuse, Real life, Student Reviews
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.
Legend by Marie Lu
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Oct.15, 2014, under Battle of the Books 2014-2015, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Student Reviews, Teen Top 10, YRCA
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.
I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to be Your Class President by Josh Lieb
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Oct.15, 2014, under Bullying, Humorous, Student Reviews
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.
Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger’s Apprentice Book 1) by John Flanagan
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Oct.05, 2014, under Adventure, Battle of the Books 2014-2015, Fantasy, Student Reviews
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.
Th1rteen R3asons Why by Jay Asher
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Sep.09, 2014, under Grief, Real life, Sam's Reviews, Teen Top 10
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
