Monday, October 28, 2013

The Pregnancy Project Review

The Pregnancy ProjectThe Pregnancy Project by Gaby Rodriguez
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gaby Rodriquez is a very intelligent girl who was brave enough to take on stereotypes in a big way. She faked her pregnancy for her senior project and touched the world when all she wanted to do was point out that teens are treated unjustly when they become pregnant.

This book was a real eye-opening experience for me since I work at a public high school. Yes we do have students who are pregnant or to be fathers wandering our halls. Not only as staff, but other students are quick to judge how these teen parents' lives are going to turn out and we may know nothing about them. I agree with Gaby whole-heartedly when she points out that we should give these students our encouragement instead of letting them hear second hand what we think they can't achieve or how hard their lives are going to be from now on. They already know how much their lives are going to change so lets give them the support they need.

I think this is a book for everyone. Young and old, teachers and students, parents and granparents, and the general public who may encounter any of these young people along the way. This is a message for all to hear and it encompasses so much more than just teen pregnancy. This book covers stereotyping, and we all know we are guilty of this at one time or another. It's time to change the way we think and the way we act and make a better world for all of our young people.

Kuddos to you Gaby!

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Saturday, October 26, 2013

Everybody Sees the Ants Review

Everybody Sees the AntsEverybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lucky has been bullied since he was 7 years old by the same guy. As time progresses, the incidents become worse until Lucky's family decides to take him away from school and go to stay with his aunt and uncle for an extended vacation. But the bullying is not the only reason they want him to take some time off. He also started a school project about suicide which upset school officials enough call in his parents and make a request of them to send him to counseling. Lucky, is having no luck at the current moment. But the trip to somewhere new just might open his eyes about life and how to deal with his life when he goes home.

This book does an excellent job of getting inside the head of a victim of bullying. Although tackling an very touchy subject, the book is also humorous enough to take the edge off and allow the reader to enjoy the story. Many books of this nature go for the overly serious approach which turns a lot of readers off of the subject. The author's way of presenting the issue is sure to draw in more readers and also allow for more types of readers to understand the mind of a teen who is bullied.

The book does contain some strong language at times and there are also some sexual references but I don't think anything that a high school students can't handle. Because the content varies from episode to episode, the book may be difficult for some readers to follow. However I found these transitions necessary to maximize the value of this book. This is a great contender for the Abe Lincoln Award.

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Out of Reach Review

Out of ReachOut of Reach by Carrie Arcos
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rachel's brother is missing and she has taken it upon herself to be the one to find him. The only problem is that her brother Micah is a meth addict and probably doesn't want to be found. Along with his friend Tyler, a friend of Micah's, Rachel dives into the dark world of drug addicts and street people. But her search leads her closer to closure than the possible finding of her brother.

The author examines what life is like for the family members of a meth addict. By giving a private view into the mind of Micah's sister, the reader can really understand the conflicting emotions of bouncing back and forth between hope that your loved one will recover and giving up on them completely. The reading transitions through reflections of the past and the current time, which doesn't work well in many books but this one does it seemlessly. Through Rachel's reflections the reader obtains a clear view of what life was like before and her relationship with her brother. Though Rachel is viewed as the "perfect kid" she has no problem exposing her own flaws for the reader to see. This is an all encompassing book and a great read if you want a realistic account of what life is like for the family of a drug addict.

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Thursday, October 10, 2013

The Man Who Broke Into Auschwitz Review

The Man Who Broke Into Auschwitz: A True Story of World War IIThe Man Who Broke Into Auschwitz: A True Story of World War II by Denis Avey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a fascinating story that had my attention from the very beginning. The true story of one soldier who did what he could to try to make the life of another human being better, just because he felt someone must bear witness to the atrocities that went on in Auschwitz. The one thing I really enjoyed was the honest way Denis shares his experience as only a person can 70 years after going through this horrible ordeal.

Denis tells his story from the very beginning of his military career so don’t expect to jump straight into Auschwitz. But the background story is essential to everything he shares. You really get a sense by the end of the book that you know Denis. He could be a family member or a friend. His story is one the experiences which most people don’t share during their time in the military, and it is one of survival and hope. No matter what he faced, he never gave in completely to the despair around him which is the true sense of what kept him alive. You can feel the emotion pouring out of the pages which rocks you to the core. No one can walk away from this book unchanged. I only wish it hadn’t taken so long to get Denis’s story out to the public.

This is for more advanced readers and though it is a great story, I am leery to recommend it to anyone lower than high school age. Of course the content is something most have been exposed to by this age, but I do know the first-hand account was, at times, even difficult for me to continue. You must also remember this is the story from an older gentleman who, at times, does get a little off-track so you must be patient and you will be rewarded.


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Monday, September 30, 2013

The Death Cure Review

The Death Cure (Maze Runner, #3)The Death Cure by James Dashner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thomas has made it to the next stage in the game. Even though he has survived the Maze and the Scorch, he still has no more answers as to the part he really played in the making of the Maze. However he does remember more than WICKED thinks and every memory will help him survive the final stage.

Thomas and his friends must make some very difficult decision including when to let go when you know there is no hope, and discoving who to trust when you don't feel you can trust anyone. Through it all Thomas will find a way to get to the truth. He will find himself changed and more of a man than he ever thought he would live to become. With the help of his friends, Thomas will get the answers and maybe save the world in the process.

I have to say this is the most violent of the Maze Runner series but other than that it was an awesome read. You can see many of the characters mature as the story progresses and you feel tied to the characters, almost so much that you hate to see it end. This is a great ending to a very memorable series and I look forward to reading more of Dashner's work.

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Saturday, September 28, 2013

The Shade of the Moon Review

The Shade of the Moon (The Last Survivors, #4)The Shade of the Moon by Susan Beth Pfeffer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really thought this series would be over since Miranda decided to end her journaling in the last book. So this book was a very big and welcome suprise for me. I was happy to see that Jon took over the accounts in this book because you really didn't hear much of his point of view up until now.

Basically Jon makes it to the enclave. A saftey point for those who have a pass to get in. But life in the enclave is anything but perfect. Now his life is riddled with being part of the elite or "clavers" while the rest of his family are considered "grubs". Jon is torn between wanting to enjoy the new life he has been give but the guilt that goes along with how he came to be there in the first place. Tensions rise between the two groups and Jon has to analyze what side of the line he stands on and where he belongs. It is far from a perfect world.

A great continuation to a fantastic series. I would love to see more of how this plays out. This is for fans of dystopian of any age. The best part about this series is how the author alternates between male and female protagonists making the appeal even better for all readers.

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Sunday, September 22, 2013

Totally Unrelated Review

Totally UnrelatedTotally Unrelated by Tom Ryan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Most teens have had a dream of rocking out with friends. Neil is a guitar player in his family band, but rocking is not what they do. He is part of family band which plays Celtic music. Though Neil loves his family he feels somewhat disconnected from them because he doesn't look like the rest and he just can't seem to get into the whole family band thing.

Then one day his friend makes a suggestion they should try out for the town talent show and actually "rock the house". Neil is definately game for this and find out the date should be clear for any of his family shows so he eagerly agrees. Then a scheduling conflict comes up and Neil must choose between his family and his friends.

This is one of those High-Low books that I really enjoyed and I can see it really appealing to many readers. Teens want to have that one time where they can stand in the spotlight. Neil give them that moment when he describes his emotions about being on stage yet still being a regular kid. I would really like to look at more books from this Orca Limelights collection. If they are as good as this one, I would really like to add them to my collection!

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Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Daughter of Smoke and Bone Review

Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, #1)Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Karou is more than in touch with the world of fantasy. She was raised by a man/monster that collects teeth for a living and has a half serpent/half human woman who was like an aunt or mother to her. Now older, Karou is living in a flat of her own and attending art school where she excels. But she still can't help but feel alone or different from her normal, human classmates.
Karou’s father figure still sends her out on errands such as collecting teeth for his collection which he will never tell her what they are for. However, Karou knows he deals in some kind of magic, and she wants to know what it is. He gives Karou trinkets of wishes but never anything more powerful than the lowest forms of magic because she is often immature in her use of the power. Little does she know she might one day need those larger wishes for protection?

During one of her outings she discovers large black handprints appearing on the doors which house portals to the world of magic. More of them appear as time goes by and then one day they all burn, locking Karou away from her family on the other side of the magic door. Stopping at nothing to get answers she finds herself face to face with the enemy, an angel named Akiva. But neither of them can seem to kill the other, or forget them. Soon they find themselves drawn to each other even though it may cost them everything.

This is an edge of your seat book for all from high school age and up. I could help but be drawn into the magic aspect of the story and I had to wonder, just like Karou, what all those teeth were for. The explanation wove a story which drew me further into the lives of Karou and Akiva until I felt they could almost be people I knew. The author does an excellent job of not only painting a realistic world but making the characters come alive through the pages of the story. Awesome! I can’t wait to read the next book!


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Thursday, September 5, 2013

The Lost Prince Review

The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten, #1)The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Once again I fell in love with the characters in Kagawa's book. I didn't think I could enjoy these characters as much as I liked Puck, Ash, and Meghan but I guess I am drawn to those with ties to the fey. Reading the struggles that Ethan went through after Meghan disappeared from his life made him even more endearing. Though Meghan's story went full circle, I always wondered what happened to the family she left behind. Ethan was emotionally scared by his sister's disappearance and became withdrawn from those around him. But he could only stay out of the fey world for so long before he was drawn back in. His story is one of seeking answers to the questions he has carried for so many years and reconnecting with sister and her new family.

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Virals Review

Virals (Virals, #1)Virals by Kathy Reichs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tory just can’t seem to stop seeking adventure, and since she lives on a small island, she sometime has to go out of her way to find it. After her mother’s death, she has to move to the island with her newly found father. As though both flounder through their new found heritage, Tory feels compelled to spend time either by herself or with her pack of local friends.

Tory and her science geek friends begin to keep track of a local wolf dog for their entertainment. But when Coop comes up missing, they have no idea what adventure they will get into when they find him. And he has an added bonus for the group… he carries a disease which will give the group heighten powers. As the group works through their new found “gifts” they fall upon a mystery of a missing girl from decades before. The more the look into the girl’s disappearance, they more they feel that people are working against their efforts of discovering the truth. When they find a body, they suddenly become targets; and who knows what lengths people will go to in order to keep the past buried.

This books appeals to readers of all kinds. If you like sci-fi, you are an animal lover, a science geek, or just the average kid looking for adventure, you will love this book. Even as an adult reader, I couldn’t help but be drawn into the mystery of the missing girl and the story of the wolf pup. The books is filled with humor and one liner which will keep you on your toes. You can’t help but think two steps ahead and wonder what will happen next. This was a great transitional book from the adult genre which Reichs came from and I look forward to more of her YA books to come.


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Sign Language Review

Sign LanguageSign Language by Amy Ackley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The theme of this book is loss and survival which the author embraces whole heartedly. Abby and her family is dealing with the fact that her father has cancer and he has only been given months to live. As his illness progresses, the whole family has to find their own way of dealing with what is to come. Her father often takes a light hearted approach which her mother hates. Her brother becomes more of a caregiver than a son and Abby feels lost in the shuffle. She has moments when she is sad but cannot seem to mourn the coming loss, and other times she just wants to escape from everything around her. But life has to go on, and Abby has to find her own way to deal with how she wants her life to proceed.

I didn’t give the book five stars more because I felt Abby was often self-centered so this had nothing to do with the overall quality of the book. I will admit I had times when I wanted to shake her and tell her to snap out of it. But everyone deals with grief differently and I do respect the author’s perspective of Abby. I think this is a book for everyone, even with a girl cast as the main character. We all need a little insight to understand what others are going through in times such as these. Maybe you have already been through it yourself, but if you haven’t, you might have a better understand of how to be supportive and a good friend during someone else’s time of need. The book might also explain why a friend or relative is behaving in a way you just can’t understand. I highly recommend this book for all readers from junior high and up.


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Every Day Review

Every Day (Every Day, #1)Every Day by David Levithan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Imagine what your life would be like if every day you woke up in someone else’s body. You could never really establish friendships, never have parents of your own, and most of all, you could never fall in love. This is what life is like for A. This is the only life A has ever known for A has been changing bodies since birth. A has never really thought about how life could be different if you only stayed in one body, until A meets Rhiannon. Suddenly A wonders is finding ways to stay connected to her, and has even explained how much different life is when you are in different shoes daily. But there is a price to pay for making time for Rhiannon in each new body, and A will find out the hard way why love is such a fragile thing.

If you want a book that really makes you think about life and love, this is the most thought provoking book I have read in a long time. You will think about how others perceive you, how far would you go for love, how fragile trust can be and what you would have to give up to make someone trust you in return, as well as how does sexual orientation figure into relationships. I guarantee you will not walk away from this book without taking a good hard look at yourself, what you have to offer the world, and what you would change if you could be someone else every day.

The story is moving on many different levels. I became really wrapped up in the budding relationship between A and Rhiannon but I could also see all the ways that it could never work out. Not only is there the difficultly of moving around to different places, there is also someone else is involved every time A goes to see her; the person whose body A is occupying that day. As the story progresses you begin to worry about the people A is “hijacking” during his stay and how a missed opportunity could pass while the person is “away”. This is a fantastic book and I highly recommend this for high school readers and up. Everyone can take something away from this great read!


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Friday, August 9, 2013

The Scorch Trials Review



I am always apprehensive when continuing a series.  I often fear I will be let down and no longer want to continue.  I had all of the apprehension wiped away within minutes of starting The Scorch Trials!

The book begins within hours of Tom, Teresa, and the other Gladers escape from the maze.  Their time of relief is short lived when Tom discovers that Teresa is missing and a strange man in white explains they will be moving on to the next phase.  Included in the next phase, they have all been given a disease which is used to influence any of them who might want to not participate in the next phase.  They also notice they have all been tattooed with what part they will play in the next phase.  Thomas has been labeled “to be killed by Group B.”

As they move through the Scorch, they are met with many different types of enemies.  They meet the people who have gone crazy from the disease, the girls from Group B, and many other wonderful creatures created by WICKED.  More of Thomas’s memories return but he still can’t figure out the part he played in the creation of the maze and he still can’t find Teresa.  He and the Gladers also find other allies to help them reach the safe point, hopefully before time runs out.

This book is even more action packed than The Maze Runner.  It keeps the reader on their toes and always guessing what will happen next.  Another major influence of the book is the sense of not being able to trust anyone, and when it comes to Thomas, that includes himself.  Readers will not be disappointed in the second installment of the series.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Confessions of a Murder Suspect Review

This is the story of a crime. Tandy's parents have been murdered in the night, and before she can discover their bodies, the police are already knocking at the door. With the doors locked tight, the only possibility for a killer is someone who is already in the house, including Tandy herself. She is not willing to cancel anyone in her family out of her investigation, and she will do her best to find her parents' killer.

The writing in this book is quite phenomenal. The story bounces from chapter to sections called confessions. The story is directed right at the reader and it is especially obvious in the confessional sections which feel like a private conversation between Tandy and the reader. As you read, you often wonder if Tandy could be the killer because she never rules herself out. The depth of the family’s oddities becomes more and more evident as the story progresses. These are not children who were raised in the typical way. They were raised to be wealthy and great, and their parents were determined to do everything in their power to make sure the children become what they want them to be.

The story is fast paced and filled with a feeling that you are on the edge of your seat through the entire book. Pieces of background help fill in the gaps and help you understand the Angel family. You never doubt for a moment what any of them are capable of doing. This was a pleasure to read and I highly recommend it for Junior High reading level and up.

Prisoner 88

This is a good historical fiction book for younger readers. Jake Evans is convicted of manslaughter at age ten. He is sent to the Idaho Territorial Penitentiary to serve his 5 year sentence. But the prison is not equipt to handle having such a young inmate. Jake meets a variety of characters during his incarceration and he learns how to survive in the prison setting. But he also is allowed to take a job, and have a couple more privledges than most of the other inmates, including having his own pet.

These types of fringe benefits also breed irritation with the other inmates so Jake has another obstacle to overcome. He must figure out how to survive, and be viewed as not a threat from either inmate or guard, so he can last out his 5 years. The allows for you to think about what life was like for this boy and really allows you to get inside his head.

Puppet Review


When I originally selected this book, I did not notice that the focus time period was 1882. I thought I was selecting a book about the persecution of the Jews in World War II. After I realized the story took place many years before WWII I was even more intrigued by the story.

A young girl disappears from her small Hungarian village. Everyone in the town is quick to blame the Jews for her death even though a body has not been found. Julie, a good friend of the girl who vanished remembers that she seemed very sad when she last saw her, and she just can’t bring herself to believe that the Jewish people committed the crime. Julie tries to focus on her own problems which consist of her mother who is dying, her abusive father, and a younger sister for whom she is responsible. But then she notices that the Jews have been beaten and a boy about her age has been turned into a puppet for the court. After enduring beatings and threats against himself and his family, Sam will say whatever the authorities want him to say in order to save his family and himself. Julie can’t shake the idea that the truth must be told, no matter what the cost.

This book takes a good hard look at the darker side of human nature. It also examines how the character of people will change during times of war and fear. Beware of the choices you make and how simple words can fuel an unimaginable fire which could consume an entire town.

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Of Poseidon Review

I am not a big fan of mermaids, syrens, etc. but I have to admit that I really enjoyed this book. The action was enough to keep you on your toes and though things were hinted at, nothing was given away. Even the ending was enough to get you geared up to want to read the second book RIGHT NOW!

The story begins with Emma on the beach with her friend, when her friend is attacked by a shark. Galen is also at the beach but he is one of the water and he can't help but notice Emma's violet eyes which are a sign of mer-people. He becomes intrigued by this girl even through the disaster which happens at the beach and he can't help but think she is the one who is meant to be his brother's mate. No matter how much is sister and he try to get her to transform to her mermaid self, she can't seem to find her fins. But she has to be what he thinks she is because she has the gift of Poseidon. (She can communicate with fish) In addition to that problem,the more he is around her, the more he feels pulled to her. This will have severe consequences when it comes time to get her to marry his brother.

This is one that everyone should give a try. There is a little language but no sex or drugs. Basically it is a pretty clean book, I would recommend it for 8th grade and up.

I Had Seen Castles Review



Rylant shines in this fiction work about World War II. This book shows the brutal honesty of what life was like in America during the months leading up to the war and the years that followed. The most poignant part of the book were the raw emotions of what life was like on the front lines and what the soliders, few more than boys, endured during their time overseas.

Unlike most stories told about World War II, this book does not focus on just one event (the Holocaust, Hiroshima, the bombing of Pearl Harbor). Instead, it envelops all the stages of the war through one soldier’s eyes including his return after the war. When you read it you feels as though you are sitting and listening to the soldier's first hand memories of his time leading up to and in the service.

This book could not have been written better. The size of the book is small but it really packs a punch that the reader will feel right down to their very core. This would be an excellent book for struggling readers when working on a WWII unit. I would definitely say this should be only high school and above because it does contain sex, underage drinking, and very vivid accounts of the atrocities of war.

A must read for all.

Tiger's Curse Review

 

A great new twist in the fantasy genre! I have to admit I am a little behind by just now taking the time to read this book after the entire series is already out. The good news is, I can read the entire series and not have to wait for the next book to come out.

This book breathed fresh new life into the YA Fantasy collection. No vampires or werewolves here! Kelsey takes a job working with the circus and finds herself working with the one tiger the circus owns. She feels drawn to the creature and even trusts it enough to pet it one day. When a man comes to buy the tiger she is invited to assist the tiger’s move to India and she jumps at the chance to see the world. But soon after arriving in the foreign country strange things start happening. The driver of the tiger and herself leaves them stranded at a gas station and they have to journey through the jungle to get to the reserve where the tiger is being relocated. Along the way, a strange man appear claiming to be the tiger and Kelsey finds herself playing the part of the person who can save him and his brother from the curse.

The story is filled with old overseas legends and plenty of adventure. Of course the book would not feel complete without a little romance between Kelsey and Ren (the tiger/man) and a little sibling rivalry between the two brothers in both human and tiger form. This book was definitely a page turner and I would say the romance is not so overwhelming that the book would not appeal to the male YA reader.

The book is clean of language, and other than a little romantic banter (nothing inappropriate) is a book anyone would approve of their child reading. The reading level for this would be junior high and up because of length and detail of the story but more mature younger readers would enjoy this book as well. I will be quick to point out that adult alike can also find this book very appealing!

Friday, August 2, 2013

15 Curious Things Found in Library Books!

15 Curious Things Found in Library Books!

The Catastrophic History of You and Me Review


Starting out with this book, I was not sure how I could get through the overzealous drama of a girl who die from “a broken heart”. It took me a while to warm up to Brie but once I did, I couldn’t put the book down. I loved the cover so this was one I just had to read and I received it as a review book. Now I am oh so grateful I took the chance to try this one out.

Not only does Brie die, but she must move through the stages of her death similar to those of mourning. She meets a guy on the other side who she finds annoying but he seems to serve as her guide to the afterlife. (Since she won’t read the book he gives her on the subject!) As she works her ways through the stages, she also decides to drum up a little drama back on Earth for the boy who broke her heart and caused her death. Revenge will be had, but at what cost?

This book is a whole new look at the afterlife for teens and though it is a fun read for about 80% of the book, it also tackles some highly charged emotional issues. I have to admit, some tears were shed. What happens to the family of the loved one who has died? What about her friends? Would she give up her soul for one more day on Earth no matter the cost? What about reincarnation?

From an educator’s opinion, I would say this book is high school and up on the ratings. It does contain: sex, smoking, suicide, sexual identity issues, and if I remember right, some underage drinking. The language is pretty much clean as nothing really jumped out at me when I reflect back. All and all I would say that if you don’t have an issue with the things listed, then let your reader decided if they are mature enough for the content.

Divergent Review


Great book!  I feel like the best parts of The Hunger Games and The Giver have been rolled together to come up with something splendid.  This is a great example of dystopian at its finest. 
Basically the world has been dividing into 5 different factions.  At the age of 16, children can choose to stay in the faction they were born into or they can choose another.  If they chose another, they must pass initiations.  Even they don’t pass, they become factionless.

 Tris comes from the selfless faction Abnegation, but she can’t help but be drawn to the life of the daredevils who are the Dauntless.  As she progresses through the initiations, she discovers she is somehow different from everyone else around her.  She is Divergent, which is the ability to side with more than one faction at a time.  And in a world where the thinking is “faction before blood” she has just become a target. 

Above all else this story is action packed.  This appeals to both sexes and keeps the reader on their toes throughout the book.  There is a little bit of a love story though it is downplayed for most of the book.  It is enough to make this a book for girls as well.  And even though the lead is a girl, there are plenty of rough, tough guys to keep the boys interested as well.  Something for everyone and I am looking forward to the theatrical version which is coming out soon.

Teens will love this book and I can see why is has been nominated for the Abe Lincoln Award.