Making Predictions

Prediction Practice
Prediction Game
 Puzzle Game - Predict what is behind the squares
 Prediction/ Infer

Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Synopsis from book cover:

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.




What did I love about the book?
So author's have undoubtly jumped on the new train rolling through town.  They are quickly leaving the vampires, werewolves, and faires behind and picking up on the latest trend - dystopian societies.  Honestly, I'm thrilled.  I was becoming quickly bored with the same ole' Edward - Bella copycats.  More importantly, I was yearning (yes yearning) for a new Katniss - Peeta love story.  After much searching (most of this summer has been spent reading the new dystopian society books), I finally got the love story in Roth's Divergent. 

I really don't know where to begin.  I simply could not stop reading (which is so cliche, but totally true), and when I think about why that was it comes down to the world that Roth creates.  At first, it seems like Tris' big problem is really just that she went against her family (sure, it's a conflict but not one that's gonna make me read), but then when we go deeper into Tris' new world we realize that this world is scary.  It's not at all what I thought it would be, and it's not at all what Tris thought it would be.  Roth writes in twists up until the last second of the book, and she keeps her readers enthralled by creating such a beautiful relationship between Tris and her friends and family. 

Roth writes spectacularly, leaving her readers holding their breath as the read through the action scenes and pulling for Tris as she deals with her internal conflicts.  You simply will not find a better book out there right now.  If you LOVED Hunger Games, this book is something you just MUST pick up. 




What bothered me about the book?
Nothing.  Which is probably why this was the book that made me want to come back to blogging.  It was just that fantastic. 

Where have you been???!!!

I can't believe, truthfully, that it's been so long since I've sat down to blog about a book.  Don't believe for a minute than I haven't been reading.  I've read many great books, but school got in the way.  I never took the time to sit down and tell you about the books.  I did, however, spend much time talking about the books in my classroom. 

I'm sorry, readers, for leaving you "high and dry."  Thank you to those of you who called me out on my slacker tendencies with a quick "Where have you been?"  I'm back and hoping that this school year doesn't make me hide from this wonderful world. 

Review: After by Amy Efaw

Synopsis from the book jacket:
Who would leave her own baby in the trash to die?

Certainly not someone like Devon - straight-A student, soccer player with Olympic dreams, more mature than her own mother.  But desperation and panic drover her to do what most people can't even imagine.  Now Devon's in a juvenile detention center, charged with attempted murder.  If she's tried as an adult, she faces life in prison.

Does Devon deserve that punishment? Your answer depends on whether you believe her story - that she didn't evne know she was pregnant.  Was she buried in a denial so deep that she was unable to register the seemingly obvious signs of pregnancy? Or were her actions the result of a more devious, premeditated plan?

WIth the utmost empathy and precision, author Amy Efaw carefully peels back the layers of Devon's past as she faces a possible future behind bars.  The result is a gripping, page-turned that will challenge your beliefs abotu conscience and conciousness. 

Was This Book Worth My Time?
Yes.

This was a very difficult book to read.  It is centered around the "dumpster baby" phenomenon.  I could never understand the idea of it.  A mother bares a child and then throws it away as if it is some trash they want to get rid of.  This is an account of Devon, a perfect student, athlete and child, who does the unthinkable and is arrested for her crime. 

The novel starts with Devon laying on the couch in pain.  She has already delivered the baby and has taken it to be the trashcans out back.  The police have found the baby and her mother comes in with the sad news. 

This book hooked me from the very beginning.  There were times when I became annoyed at Devon.  However, you quickly realize why it is that Devon chooses to simply not care.  I became emotionally involved with this book and with Devon as I read through the flashbacks and traveled with Devon through her court battle. 

I think this book is geared for the older YA group, and I would not reccomend this book to my junior high school kids as it deals with challenging topics. 

What Bothered Me About the Book? 
The novel is written in third person.  I don't know if this is because Efaw wanted us to feel as detached from The Night as Devon does are if she just would rather write in third person, but I think that if the book was written in first person we could have felt more of a connect to Devon. 

Review: Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Synopsis from the book jacket:
BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.







PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.






Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.






Jennifer Donnelly, author of the award-winning novel A Northern Light, artfully weaves two girls’ stories into one unforgettable account of life, loss, and enduring love. Revolution spans centuries and vividly depicts the eternal struggles of the human heart.

Was This Book Worth My Time?
I'd say it was ... sorta...

I was anxious to read this book because I love the story of Marie-Antoinette and  thought it would be refreshing to read something that is not your typical YA novel. 

Donnelly's idea to create a book like this is ambitious.  She somehow weaves the story of Alexadrine, a french girl who was brought on by Marie-Antoinette to be a friend to Louis-Charles, and Andi, a troubled girl in Brooklyn who doesn't quite know how to get over the death of her brother Truman.  Andi travels to Paris at the demand of her father.  She is to work on her senior thesis paper on a French musician so that she may have a chance at graduating on time.  While there Andi discovers a diary that was writtern more than two centuries ago by Alex.

In the novel, Donnelly weaves the stories together to create a world where the girls are one. It is quite a beautiful and well-written book.  I loved Andi's character. Actually, I loved all of the American characters.  They were written to be flawed teenagers (like all are) instead of the atypical perfect gods or godessess that some authors write into their novels.  Andi is real.  She is depressed, sarcastic, and strong. 

What Bothered Me About This Book?

I think what bothered me most about this book is the lack of character connection to Alex.  I know that through only a diary entry I wouldn't feel a huge connection to Alex, but I never felt like I got her whole picture.  Maybe I just felt more attached to Andi with all of her family drama. 

Also, I am still wondering why this book was published for YA.  Don't get me wrong, it is PG.  However, I don't think any of my students would pick it up and read more than the first 4 pages.  The diary entries are long, and she shifts from one time frame to the next which I think will throw off some. 


I would say this book is written for the older YA group. 

Review: Jane by April Lindner

Synopsis from the book jacket:
Forced to drop out of an esteemed East Coast college after the sudden death of her parents, Jane Moore takes a nanny job at Thornfield Park, the estate of Nico Rathburn, a world-famous rock star on the brink of a huge comeback. Practical and independent, Jane reluctantly becomes entranced by her magnetic and brooding employer and finds herself in the midst of a forbidden romance.



But there's a mystery at Thornfield, and Jane's much-envied relationship with Nico is soon tested by an agonizing secret from his past. Torn between her feelings for Nico and his fateful secret, Jane must decide: Does being true to herself mean giving up on true love?


An irresistible romance interwoven with a darkly engrossing mystery, this contemporary retelling of the beloved classic Jane Eyre promises to enchant a new generation of readers.

 
Was This Book Worth My Time?
 Yes.

My favorite book of all time is Jane Eyre.  So, when I read about this book I knew I had to get my hands on it.  Lindner takes the classic tale of Jane Eyre and spins it into a modern, rock-star version.  I'm not usually a fan of "do-overs", but this book was a fantastic read. I think a say that because Lindner was true to the original story.  It doesn't get better than that. I just kept thinking, "This would be a great book to teach with Jane Eyre."  Not that I plan on tackling Jane Eyre in my junior high class.  However, it is a good cross-over. 

Jane is a strong, independent protagonist.  I loved the idea of showing her using that strength even when she had nothing.  The message it sent was one of "no excuses."  

I do think those girls who pick up this book without reading Jane Eyre will find it mysterious, almsost scary. It is romance, mystery, and strength all roled into one.


 
What Bothered Me About This Book?
Not a thing.

Review: Trackers by Patrick Carman

Synopsis from the book jacket:
In the 21st century landscape of bits and bytes, everyone leaves a digital footprint ... even the most advanced cyber criminals. And that’s where the Trackers come in. Four tech-savvy kids armed with high-tech video cameras and esoteric coding skills, the Trackers can find almost anyone, anywhere. Told through a collage of videos, text, and websites, Trackers #1 follows Adam, Finn, Lewis, and Emily as they become entangled in a high-tech, high-stakes game of cat and mouse with Shantorian, the world’s most dangerous hacker. At least, that’s who they think they’re tracking....







As the four dig deeper into the shadowy world of online crime, they soon learn that things aren’t always as they seem.

Was This Book Worth My Time?
Two years ago at our annual book fair, my students came across a book that told a story about a mysterious abandoned mill and a small town with lots of secrets.  Not only was it a "scary" book but the book had stops along the way where readers had to go online to watch video of what the characters had found on their adventure.  Skeleton Creek is still the one book in my library that never actually stays in my library.  Patrick Carman had me at that book.  If you can get my reluctant readers to read to the back cover, you are my hero. 
 
I was anxious to get my hands on this new series by Carman.  Trackers is a mystery book aimed at techies.  Like Skeleton Creek, Trackers also had videos to view.  I like that the story is written as an interview as many reluctant readers are drawn to a novel that doesn't "look" like a novel. 
 
One thing that I thought was ingenius was that Carman attached all of the transcripts of the video segments.  This way, if you weren't able to get to a computer, you could just flip to the appendixes and read the transcripts. 
 
Overall, this book was a hit with me, and I'm sure it will be another one those books I just can't keep on my classroom library shelf.  :) 
 
 
 
What Bothered Me About the Book?
The ending was a bit of a let down.  The whole way through the book I thought these kids had got themselves into a big mess of danger.  However, at the end I realize that it wasn't as much danger as I had been lead to believe.  Also, Carman absolutely leaves you hanging.  As much as I like series, this is the part I despise. :(

Review: The Bad Queen: Rules and Instructions for Marie - Antoinette by Carolyn Meyer

Synopsis from book jacket:
Marie- Antoinette is given endless instructions before she leaves Austria at the age of fourteen to marry the dauphin of France.  In her new home at the grand palace of Versailles, her every move is scruntinized by the cruel and gossipy members of the French court.  Marie-Antoinette tries to adhere to their stifiling rules of etiquete, but sometimes, this fun-loving young woman can't help by indulge herself with scandalous fashions, taboo recreations, elaborate parties - and even a forbidden romance.

Most damaging to her reputation is that after years of marriage, Marie -Antoinette has not fulfilled the most important requirement to produce an heir to the throne.  Sadness and frustration lead the young queen to become ever more recklessly extravagant in her ways, much to the outrage of the poor and suffering common people of France.

When angry revolutionaries arrive at Versailles to take her and the king to Paris, Marie-Antoinette has no idea what horrors are in store.  The luxurious life she led, and the monarchy she spent her life serving are about to come crashing down.  Though she would be remembered by the revolutionaries as an obscene spendthrift, perhaps Mare-Antoinette had more in common with them than they thought - for she too was a rebel who lived by her own rules.

Was This Book Worth My Time?
Yep.

Without my even noticing it, I choose a lot of historical fiction on my last trip to the library.  Like I said in an earlier post, I am not a history buff.  Embarassingly enough, I didn't know much about Marie-Antoinette before reading this book. 

I know a lot now, and I found that has much to do with the way the book is written. It is written strictly in 1st person - an awesome decision on the author's part because it helps to make Marie-Antoinette more real to the reader.

The story flows seamlessly and tells of a girl who really is just trying to do what she must do -obey. I think that, to some extent, the book does help to shift the idea that Marie-Antoinette was shelfish to an idea that she was loyal and maybe even a little misunderstood. 

I did like the book, and I think that for those girls who want to read about "princessess and drama" this would be a book that they would enjoy. 


What Bothered Me About the Book?
Not a thing.

Review: Sources of Light by Margaret McMullan

Synopsis from book jacket:
All you have to know now is that a camera is like your eye.  To foccus, keep on eye clocked while you're looking with the other.  It brings everything closer.  You can hide behind a camera.

It's 1962 and the heat of Jackson, Mississippi, holds more than a potential romance with the wrong kind of boy for fourteen year old Sam.  There's also the hand me down dresses and bobby cock from cousin Tine.  There's a gift from her mother's new friend, Perry - a balck Asahi Pentax camera.  there's their stoic maid, Willa Mae.  There are lunch counter sit-ins and black voter registeration drives that turn violent.

In a world that sees only in black and white, this is the year Sam learns to use her camera for shades of gray.


Was This Book Worth My Time?
Without a doubt. McMullan does an amazing job of giving so many raw emotion and detail that you, as a reader, begin to immerse yourself in the story - you become Sam.  It is not easy after that to ignore what Sam feels as she and her mother are targeted for being supporters of the African American vote. 

I was impressed by the shear amount of history that was intertwined into the book.  It never is protrayed as history because you are living it in this book.  McMullan is a fantastic writer, and this is a book that I would suggest to my students.  It is an easy, but thought-provoking read that does stay with you after you've turned the last page. 

What Bothered Me About the Book?
The only thing that bothered me was the realization of how many people suffered during segregation in the south.  It is always hard to me grasp history concepts, but this book makes you see just how unjust the actions against African Americans and their white friends were.

Review: The Cardturner by Louis Sachar

Synopsis from jacket:

The summer after junior year of high school looks bleak for Alton Richards. His girlfriend has dumped him to hook up with his best friend. He has no money and no job. His parents insist that he drive his great-uncle Lester to his bridge club four times a week and be his cardturner—whatever that means. Alton’s uncle is old, blind, very sick, and very rich.



But Alton’s parents aren’t the only ones trying to worm their way into Lester Trapp’s good graces. They’re in competition with his longtime housekeeper, his alluring young nurse, and the crazy Castaneda family, who seem to have a mysterious influence over him.


Alton soon finds himself intrigued by his uncle, by the game of bridge, and especially by the pretty and shy Toni Castaneda. As the summer goes on, he struggles to figure out what it all means, and ultimately to figure out the meaning of his own life.


Through Alton’s wry observations, Louis Sachar explores the disparity between what you know and what you think you know. With his incomparable flair and inventiveness, he examines the elusive differences between perception and reality—and inspires readers to think and think again.





Was this book worth my time?
Sure. 

I loved the way this book was written as if Alton was just telling his story.  It was full of humor and sarcasm.  I also liked the way it ended with the awful, immature parents getting what they deserve (or even a little better than they deserve).  I fell in love with Trapp and was continually reminded of both of my grandfathers.

What bothered me about the book?
 I spent most of the book skipping over the parts where Alton, Trapp, and Toni playing bridge or talked about bridge.  I think if I had given the rules and description a better read I might not have been confused and bored by the game. I wonder if some of my students would "hang on" through those parts or just put it down and choose another books. 

I also found the book to be predicable.

Review: I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Synopsis from book jacket:
Nine aliens and their guardians are hiding on Earth … protected by a charm that means they can only be killed in numeric order, three are already dead. John Smith is Number Four.



John has to keep moving: he’s got to outrun his past; escape his mortal enemies the Mogadorians;and blend into normal student life. But above all he must pray his newly found powers – alien legacies from home Planet Lorien – don’t give him away before he can complete his destiny, unlock his powers and protect his future.


In the beginning we were nine.


We left when we were very young, almost too young to remember. Almost. And now …


Three are gone.


We are here to keep our race alive, which was almost entirely obliterated. We’re just trying to survive.


Six are left.


But we are hunted, and the hunters won’t stop until they’ve killed us all.


They caught Number One in Malaysia.


Number Two in England.


And Number Three in Kenya.


I am Number Four.






I know that I am next.





Was This Book Worthy My Time?
Interestingly enough, I first heard of this book on my Facebook page. I logged on the week before Mockingjay was released, and I saw an ad in the corner of my screen that read something like, "Need something to tide you over until Mockinjay comes to bookshelves? Read I Am Number Four." I immediately put my name on the waiting list at the library and waited patiently for it to come to me.






I was apprehensive about the ideas of aliens as I am not usually a science fiction lover. After beginning this book, though, I quickly realized that this book wasn't anything like the stereotypical alien story. It opened my eyes to a world I didn't think I would be interested in. I think the fast-paced storyline and the little bit of teenage drama makes for an excellent combination.



John, the protagonist, is a typical teenage except for the fact that he is really an alien. I loved that the authors didn't spend much time talking about the fact that he was an alien, but I wonder how the fans of real science fiction would feel about it.



I also loved the idea of "Pittacus Lore" being the leader of Lorien and also the author of the book. It gives the book a little mystery. All in all, this book is something fresh and new in that it doesn't have to do with vampires. I am thankful to these authors for giving the YA world another great book for boys Let's face it, there aren't many.



I think that this book will take off over the course of the next year especially with the movie due out in February.





What Bothered Me About This Book?

If the authors do intend on making this a six book series, it doesn't seem like they give enough of a back-story to give the series a takeoff that will be needed to make the series successful. I would've liked to have learned a little bit more about Lorien and John's life before earth. I do think that the idea of giving John's history through his dreams is a good one, but I think these authors will have to take it up a notch if they want the books to get the same fan-base as Harry Potter.



Sidenote: The authors James Frey and Jobie Hughes wrote this book under the collective alias "Pittacus Lore".

Review: Epitaph Road by David Patneaude

Synopsis from book jacket:
2097 is a transformed world. Thirty years earlier, a mysterious plague wiped out 97 percent of the male population, devastating every world system from governments to sports teams, and causing both universal and unimaginable grief. In the face of such massive despair, women were forced to take over control of the planet--and in doing so they eliminated all of Earth's most pressing issues. Poverty, crime, warfare, hunger . . . all gone.
But there's a price to pay for this new "utopia," which fourteen-year-old Kellen is all too familiar with. Every day, he deals with life as part of a tiny minority that is purposefully kept subservient and small in numbers. His career choices and relationship options are severely limited and controlled. He also lives under the threat of scattered recurrences of the plague, which seem to pop up wherever small pockets of men begin to regroup and grow in numbers.


And then one day, his mother's boss, an iconic political figure, shows up at his home. Kellen overhears something he shouldn't--another outbreak seems to be headed for Afterlight, the rural community where his father and a small group of men live separately from the female-dominated society. Along with a few other suspicious events, like the mysterious disappearances of Kellen's progressive teacher and his Aunt Paige, Kellen is starting to wonder whether the plague recurrences are even accidental. No matter what the truth is, Kellen cares only about one thing--he has to save his father.


Was This Book Worth My Time?
Sure.

I think the Epitaph Road is a book for those kids that really like dystopia or post-apocalyptic books.  It poses great questions.  What would the world be like if women were in power? Aren't women sympathetic and caring? Can there be evil lurking in those motherly personalities?

I was interested throughout the book to find out how Dr. Mack, Keelen's mom, and Aunt Paige all played a part in the way the society functions.  Patneaude does present a conflict pretty early on so that did keep me reading; however, I wouldn't say that it had me on the edge of my seat. 

It's an okay book, and I'm glad I picked it up.  Would I buy it for my classroom library? No.

What Bothered Me About the Book?
I learning quickly that mysterious post-apocalyptic novels need to be FULL of action for me, or I will become disengaged quickly.  This was the case with Epitaph Road.  I wasn't really into the book until Keelen and the girls arrived at the lab and began to unravel important information. 

I also felt the book stayed very much on the surface for most of the book, and we never really delve into why these women want to stay on top, or why Kellen's dad decides to leave his son behind.  I feel like if I had been given these sort of answers, I might have been more connected.

Review: Three Black Swans by Caroline B. Cooney

Missy and her cousin Claire are best friends who finish each other’s sentences and practically read each other’s minds. It’s an eerie connection—so eerie that Missy has questions she wants to put to her parents. But she’s afraid to ask. So when Missy hears an expert discussing newborn babies on the radio, it makes her wonder about her family.







Missy just can’t let go of those nagging questions, and decides to use a school project about scientific hoaxes to try to uncover the answers. She enlists Claire to help. As part of the project the girls perform a dramatic scene that is captured on video at school. After the video is posted on YouTube, Missy and Claire realize that they’ve opened Pandora’s box and much more than they ever imagined has come out. Not only are their identities called into question, but so is the future of everyone involved.






In this riveting, heartrending story by thriller author Caroline B. Cooney, the truth changes the lives of three families—as the bonds of blood must withstand the strains of long-hidden secrets that are at last revealed.
 
 
Was This Book Worth My Time?
Sadly, no.
 
I was anxious to get my hands on this book as Caroline B. Cooney usually has great mysterious storylines with lots of action. 
 
The premise of the book lead me to believe that this book would be no exception to her other novels.  However, after delving in I realized that, this time, that may not be the case. 
 
I liked that the book held some form of mystery in that I did keep reading to find out what exactly was the connection between the three identical girls, and there were moments when I found myself second guessing my predictions.  At one time, I believed they might have been cloned after learning a little more about the sketching Dr. Russo. 
 
 What Bothered Me About the Book?
The many different points of view all stuck in one chapter were quite confusing to me. A chapter that was supposed to be all about how Claire another had a point of view of her parents.  There wasn't really a clear transistion, and I could see how that might be something that might make readers stay away from the book. 
 
I also had a problem with ending.  Without spoiling the ending for readers, I really thought the whole "mystery" was going to be way more complex, and the end I was a little disappointed to read that it was actually not so mysterious afterall. 
 
I never really was "in the dark" as I read through the book.  There wasn't any "shocking" elements. 
 

Review: Fallen by Lauren Kate

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.







Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.






Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.





Was This Book Worth My Time?
Not really. 

In defense of the book, the end of the book was great and full of action, danger, and one twist I didn't see coming.  I might be crazy in predicting that the next book in the series might be better as Kate does not need to spend another 200 pages setting up the story. 

What Bothered Me?
Somewhere between pages 50 and 75 I became really bored with the book.  I felt like it was taking to long to get to the real conflict.  Yeah, I knew that Luce and Daniel knew each other from another life, but I wanted to know how they met, and I also wanted to know why Daniel was avoiding her.  There wasn't must action, and absoutley no danger until the battle at the end.  Frankly, I am glad I did not spend any money on this book. 

Review: Trance by Linda Gerber

Synopsis from the book jacket:
It begins with a subtle vibration, a tingling. There is time to take only one breath.  The trance begins.  When it is through, Ashlyn is certain of two things.  Somone she knows is about to die, and .... she is powerless to stop it.

Was this book worth my time?
Yes. 

I was really worried that this book was going to be a lot like Num8ers.  However, I was pleasently surprised that this was not the case.  Although this book has some sadness, the romance between Jake and Ashlyn gives this book the uplift it needs to produce a perfect combination of light and dark. Gerber does a fantastic job of incorporating Ashlyn's trances into her everyday life.  As a reader, we realize how burdensome these trances are for her.  I also liked that Gerber had a valid reason for every single charcter she introduced to her readers.  They all held a big position in helping Ashlyn combat her trances. You will be sucked into a trance as you read this book.  It is an engrossing read.  I read this book in one sitting. 



What bothered me?
Nothing. 

Review: The Compound by S.A. Bodeen

Synopsis from the book jacket:
Eli and his family have lived in the Compound for six years.  The world they knew is gone.  Eli's father built the Compound to keep them safe.  Now, they can't get out.  He won't let them.


Was this book worth my time?
This is a fascinating book.  It is disturbingly good.  What I mean by that is the book introduces ideas that are far from ideas that would be presented in our world.  However, the point in bringing up these ideas is to pose the question, how far would we go to survive?

I liked how this novel was both full of action and mystery.  The protagonist, Eli is on a hunt for the REAL reason why they are stuck in an underground "prison." 

I think this book would be loved by those that liked the Hunger Games mainly because of the unsettling story line of both books. 

What bothered me about the book?
Honestly, I felt like there wasn't a true conflict.  Sure, they escaped from a nuclear explosion, but there anything else.  I was needing something more.  I found it about half way through the book.  After that, I was good to go. :)

Review: Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials by Rosaline Wiserman

Book description:
Charlie Healey thinks Harmony Falls is the beginning of a whole new life. Middle School was brutal. Mean girls were all around her. But High School’s going to be Charlie’s big chance to start over and stay out of drama, except that on her first day who does she run into? None other than Will, her ex-best friend, who had moved away. Now he’s back, looking a lot cuter and hanging out with a questionable crew. But Charlie doesn’t understand just how questionable until an innocent delivery guy falls victim to a near-deadly hazing prank.



All Charlie wanted to do was have a drama-free freshman year, but now she must decide whether to turn in her very best friend, who just told her he loves her, or live with the guilt of knowing what he did.

Rosalind Wiseman’s first novel for young adults is a fresh, funny, and juicy read about friendship, betrayal, and how far some will go to be accepted.


Was this book worth my time?
Yes

This book is so close to the real-life trials and all out fun that high school brings. I found myself remembering the drama, the gossip, the heartbreaks, and the oddities as I read the book. 

Her characters are true to life, and I think you would be hard-pressed to walk into a school that didn't have the kids that were protrayed in the book. 

My favorite part of the book is the fact that Charlie realizes that she can stand on her own.  I was proud of her, and, honestly, a little jealous that she figured it out so quickly and it took me 4 years of high school to figure it out. 

I'm not usually a fan of "girlie" book about crushes and gossip; however, this is a book that got me because of deeper issues addressed.  I really am glad that I took the time to give this book a shot.  You should too.

The conflicts are real; the drama is real. 


What bothered me about this book?
Nothing

Review: One Survivors by Susan Shaw

Book description:
24 DEAD, 2 SURVIVORS



HOW CAN YOU FIX THAT?


TELL ME HOW!
Anger. Sadness. Rage. Grief. Guilt.


Joey Campbell experiences them all, even though he knows what he should really feel is lucky. Lucky to have survived the fire that burned Village Park High School to the ground. Lucky that his best friend, Maureen, also survived, when no one else in his freshman history class managed to make it out alive.


Writing in a journal provides some solace, but Joey knows that redemption lies with the living. If only the living students and parents didn't blame him for the fire...


Startling, relevant, and honest, Joey's story is simply unforgettable.

 
Was this book worth my time?
Somewhat. 
 
This book is only 199 pages and, thus, was a very short read.  It was a book the holds the reader in suspense in that you really aren't sure what happened on the day of the fire until about half way through the book. 
 
I was pleasantly surprised that the book got drastically better in the second half. Ultimately , this book left me full of joy. 
 
 
What bothered me?
The book is written partly as a novel and partly as Joey's journal entries.  Truthfully, the journal entries at the beginning were most ramblings and a little boring to read.  If the book wasn't so short I would've probably stopped reading.  Luckily, I didin't.  I just wish Shaw had connected her readers to Joey sooner. 

Review: Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder

Book Description:
Restless souls and empty hearts


Brooklyn can't sleep. Her boyfriend, Lucca, died only a year ago, and now her friend Gabe has just died of an overdose. Every time she closes her eyes, Gabe's ghost is there waiting for her. She has no idea what he wants or why it isn't Lucca visiting her dreams.

Nico can't stop. He's always running, trying to escape the pain of losing his brother, Lucca. But when Lucca's ghost begins leaving messages, telling Nico to help Brooklyn, emotions come crashing to the surface.

As the nightmares escalate and the messages become relentless, Nico reaches out to Brooklyn. But neither of them can admit that they're being haunted. Until they learn to let each other in, not one soul will be able to rest.


Was this book worth my time?
Yes. 

This book was such an easy, fast read.  I literally couldn't put it down.  I felt like there wasn't a good place to stop.  The story flows so seamlessly.  It never stops.  It never slows down. 

The free verse is wonderful and perfect for the story. I don't believe that I would've felt the grief that the characters were feeling if it was written in prose. 

It's haunting; it's devestating; it's joyful; it's triumphant. 




What bothered me?
NOTHING! Fabulous book especially for girls who claim they hate to read.  ;)

Review: Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Book Description:
The longing.

Once Grace and Sam have found each other, they know they must fight to stay together. For Sam, this means a reckoning with his werewolf past. For Grace, it means facing a future that is less and less certain.


The loss.
Into their world comes a new wolf named Cole, whose past is full of hurt and danger. He is wrestling with his own demons, embracing the life of a wolf while denying the ties of being human.


The linger.
For Grace, Sam, and Cole, life is a constant struggle between two forces - wolf and human - with love baring its two sides as well. It is harrowing and euphoric, freeing and entrapping, enticing and alarming. As their world falls apart, love is what lingers. But will it be enough?






Was this book worth my time?
Yes, but I don't know if I would have been that interested in this book had I not been in love with Shiver. 

I love the idea of a cure for the cure.  I think it adds suspense and mystery to the novel, and I was surprised when I found myself trying to figure out the "cure" along with Cole. 

I also liked that Stiefvater gave Isabel and Cole chapters in the book.  It helps understand both of their emotions and motivations. 

Stiefvater totally set the stage for the next book of the series, and I am ready to see what is in story for the Mercy Falls wolves. 




What bothered me about the book?
I was disappointed that there was not more romance.  I was looking forward to being drawn in to Stiefvater's way of protraying the passion and love between Sam and Grace.  I didn't feel that like I did in Shiver.