Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Witches Night Out

Bethany Salem is at sixteen-year-old girl who practices the religion of Wicca. Her and her friends decide to start a coven named “Witches’ Night Out” and anyone who wants to practice Wicca can join. But, when Bethany’s boyfriend Joe(who is also a coven member) dies in a freak car accident, Bethany calls upon her friends to work together to find Joe’s killer. Will Bethany be able to use the power of magic and some common sense to do just that? –Stacey B.

Walk Softly, Rachel

This whole book was mainly about a fourteen-year-old girl named Rachel. She had a brother named Jake who died when she was seven years old. Rachel didn’t know that much about her brother because her parents never told her what exactly happened on the night of Jake’s death. Even though they never talk about him, Rachel and her family have kept Jake’s room the way it was since the day of his death. One day, Rachel found Jake’s journal in one of his drawers. The journal becomes an invitation o the past. Rachel is able to hold on to some of her brother’s life. –Jenna H.

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson.

Ginny’s aunt Peg was always very interesting. One day her Aunt left without any warning to go to Europe. There she envelopes a brain tumor and died. Now Ginny has received a package from her Aunt that contains thirteen little blue envelopes. Each envelope contains different instructions that soon have Ginny traveling all across Europe. Ginny’s life is soon changed all because of these thirteen little blue envelopes. AN interesting part of this book is that her aunt wrote these letters to help her niece. She wanted to show her how interesting in the world can be if you go out and see it. I think that is a very good life lesson. –Natalie M.

13 At Dinner by Agatha Christie

Jane Wilkinson is not happy with her husband and everyone knows that. She’s always talking about how she’ll just have to call a cab and o him off. So when this actually happens Jane is of course the main suspect. The only problem is she has a perfect alibi. It’s up to Hercule Poirot to solve the case. Agatha Christie is a superb mystery writer. She leaves you on the edge of your seat with all of her twists and turns. And a mystery that seems impossible is so easily solved by the detective Hercule Poirot. You’ll never be able to guess the ending. –Natalie M.

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Scarlet Letter is a mandatory story that has to be read by all students entering their junior year at Gateway High School. Although mandatory, this story’s plot and characters are round and interesting,, though actually reading it may be difficult. The plot consists of a women, Hester Prynne, who has committed a sin against God. Her sin, one of adultery, is seen as unforgivable in the eyes of the townsfolk, who therefore condemn hester ot wear a scarlet letter (A) upon her breast as a symbol of her crime. Bearing the consequences of her actions by raising her bastard child, Pearl, while at the same time enduring the ridicule and disgust of the townsfolk. The only one who could possibly lighten her burden is the man with whom the crime was committed with. But he, Roger Dimmesdale, holds such a high position in town as part of the clergy that she cold not bare to disgrace him, a man who she must passionately loves. As the events draw on the story opens a bitter sweet ending , with Pearl grown and Hester an old women. - Christine Y.

The Man Who Ate the 747 by Beo Sherwood

This is the story of J.J Smith who finds love in the small city of superior Nebraska. He is keeper of the records. He ends up there when he finds out about Wally Chubbs, a man attempting to eat a plane to prove his love for Willa Wyatt. In the process he ends up falling in love with her. It all might work out until l they decide the record can’t bedone. And well I’ll let you find the rest out on your own. –Melissa L.

The Mango Season by Amulya Malladi

The main chracter Priya Rao, is returning back to her hometown in India after spending seven years in America as a student then as a worker in San Diego. Going to India means she’ll have to tell her family about her engagement to an American, Nick. Priya was looking forward to her trip and dreading it at the same time. She missed the mangoes and making mango picle but she also knew her parents wouldn’t approve of Nick, when they want her to marry a nice Indian boy they pick out. After Priya’s stay a little while in India she discovers her parents already have a match made for her, but what about Nick? What if Priya never tells her parents about Nick and just goes on with the wedding? What about he boy Priya’s parents have in mind for her to see? I found this book very enjoying ot read, even when it was mostly written for adults to read. The author really emphasizes about mangoes and India that you almost feel like you are inside the story. Priya had her ups and downs and was stressed out about Nick, and you felt like you were almost standing there with her going through it. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys to read. –Ina K.

The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman

In this extraordinary book, Lyra, a young girl living at Jordan College among much precedence scholars, is fairly happy with her life playing with other children. That is, until she hides away in a cabinet in the room where the senior scholars meet and finds out about mysterious expeditions to the North. While eavesdropping, Lyra hears about a mysterious Dust that is attracted to adults and their demons. (Daemons are the physical embodiment of their person’s soul.) When a mysterious group known as Gobblers began kidnapping children form all over, Lyra’s life takes a turn for adventure. With her best friends taken by the Gobblers, she vows to locate him. When called to the master’s home for dinner among scholars, Lyra finds a woman, Mrs. Coulter, she is mesmerized by and joins her as an assistant. When leaving, she is called to the master’s study and given a alethiometer which is able to tell things fo interest to those able to read it. While living with Mrs Colter, Lyra discovers Mrs. Coulter is a Gobbler. Running away form Mrs. Coulter, Lyra is found by a gyptian famil she knew form Jordan College. This family and others are gin north to find the missing children and are accompanied by Lyra. IN her thrilling adventure s in the northk, Lyra encounters witches, armored bears, horrible people hurting and terrifying the missing children, and surprising truths about her parents. “I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys page-turning books filled with fantasy and adventure. –Sam B.

The Boy Who Couldn’t Die

This book is mainly about a boy named Ken. Ken’s best friend is killed in a plane crash. Ken now makes a very huge decision. He decides that he will never die. Ken is the only child of very rich parents. Ken then searches and he finds a woman who can make him invulnerable to pain and death and it works. Ken cannot be burned, shot, or even stabbed. Ken can’t die, but he can kill as long as he is awake he has complete control of his life. Dreams take over him, he can’t stop, he dreams of murdering someone he loves. He can’t stop. –Jenna H.

Tell Me Everything

This book written by Carolyn Coman, is basically all about a twelve-year-old girl named Roz. Roz has a phone relationship with a boy named Nate. Nate is the only piece of her mother she has left. Nate was saved, well technically rescued by Roz’s mother. The mother died trying to rescue Nate. Roz doesn’t know what went on that day, but she will do anything to get Nate to answer her questions. Roz needs to find Nate and find out everything before he disappears like her mother did. –Jenna H.

Talk Talk Talk by T.C. Boyle

A different spin on the concept of identity theft is written about in this story, Talk Talk Talk by T.C. Boyle. One woman, Dara Halter, istrying to live her life as normally as possible, and so far in life she has been successful. She has a wonderful teaching job at a local school. A new, caring boyfriend (Bridger Martin), and she has no debt. Until one day, after being pulled over by the police for running a stop sign, she is arrested for outrageous charges such as bad checks, auto theft, and more. Dana, who had lived a successful life meanwhile with the struggle of being deaf cannot believe that this could be happening to her. Being deaf was a handicap enough but now with an identity thief, how could she possibly continue? So as a result, Dara and her devoted boyfriend Bridger go on a chance to find the thief! This story is a good book to read, if extremely bored. This story is a good and the idea is good, but at times the story drags and becomes dull. If I were to rate this story out of ten, I would give it a seven. –Christine Y.

Skeleton Key by Anthony Horowitz

Skeleton Key, the third Alex Rider adventure by Anthony Horowitz is a great book. It is longer than both the Storm Breaker and Point Blank, but packs more action. Teenage super spy Alex Rider finds himself in several suspenseful situations in locations all over the world. These locations include Wimbledon, England (the place where the Wimbledon Tennis Championship takes place), Murmansk, Russia, and island called Skeleton Key, and more. In this novel, Alex works for the CIA to investigate a man suspected of having a nuclear weapon while the people of MI6 try to clean up a situation Alex got himself into near the beginning of the book. Skeleton Key deserves the five-star rating I gave it, and it remains suspenseful to the last. –Bruce H.

She Died Too Young by Lurlene McDaniel

This is the story of Chelsea James who is in need of a heart transplant and Jillian Longodo who needs a heart and lung transplant. They meet at the hospital and become fast friends. When Chelsea, Katie, and Laceyt decide to meet at Jenny’s house, Jillian comes to. They end up as very good friends. IN the end though one will die. Will it be Chelsea or Jillian? One will die wating for the transplant and one will get it. Either way, it’s a wonderful story. Like a lot of Lurlene McDaniel books. It paints the perfect picture for those who have no medical disease, showing them how wonderful and how great a gift their life truly is. –Melissa L.

Scorpia by Anthony Horowitz

Scorpia is the fifth novel in the superb Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz. Folowing the information given to him by Yassen Gorogovich in his last breaths, Alex Rider goes to Venice ot search for Scorpia. Scorpia, whatever it is, is aid to have information about Lex’s father, John, and his past as a contract killer. Alex, who is a teenage spy for Britain’s M16, ends up getting himself tangled with a world-wide group of criminals. The story is a very suspenseful and fast paced. Anthony Horowitz is a brilliant author and wrote this story very well. The story is fantastic and deserves a five star rating. However, has Alex finally gotten himself into too much trouble? -Bruce H.

Rakkety Tam

Rakkety Tam is abut a squirrel named Rakety Tam Macburl and a cannibal wolverine named Gulo the Savage. While Rakkety Tam searches for Gulo to kill him, he becomes many animals that he befriends, including some from Redwall Abbey. I like how the author tells what is going on in different places at the same time. The climax of the book and one of my favorite parts of the book is when Rakkety Tam and Gulo finally meet. Rakkety Tam is a good book that makes you want to find out what happens next. – Michael K.

Point Blank by Anthony Horowitz

Point Blank by Anthony Horowitz is the sequel to Stormbreaker, and it is a great, suspenseful book. In this story, protagonist Alex Rider is sent to Point Blank under the fake name of Alex Friend to investigate a school for the delinquent children of famous, very rich families. Point Blank has many suspenseful sections where it is very hard to set the book down. Even in the last chapter, Anthony Horowitz found ways to keep the book exciting. It even ends mysteriously. Point Blank is a very well-written, fast-paced novel that deserves five-star rating. –Bruce H

Mugglenet.com’s: What Will Happen in Harry Potter 7

If you like the Harry Potter books and want to know some theories of what will happen in the seventh Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, you should read this book. In this book, the creators of the website Mugglenet.com discuss how they think the seventh book will unfold, who lives and who dies, and how the story will end. The book also discusses some of the characters’ destinies. I thought that the first chapter should be taken out because everything in ti has been confirmed or changed. I thought the ook was good, but some people might become disappointed if the books predictions are not right. –Ronak P.

Missing Persons: The Chocolate Lover by M.E. Rabb

This book is a hilarious mystery of two girls (Sam and Shattenburg) are trying to find and solve a missing persons case about a chocolate loving, elderly woman who had disappeared fifty years before. Sam and Sohpie end up in Venice Indiana after their father dies in order to escape being split up. When they leave Sophie’s name is changed to Fiona in order to throw off investigators. They also find about someone who could be their long time missing relative Leo, that’s when they find out about the missing persons case. This time’s story by M.E. Rabb is a story with plenty of laughter and suspense. I think it was awesome how the story was developed and I just love it in general! Hopefully this sounded interesting and you now want to read it but remember it’s a sequel! Thanks for reading! -Melissa L.

Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult is a fantastic author and in this story, Harvesting the Heart, she does not fail to deliver another fantastic novel with interesting characters and phenomenon plot. This story is about a woman named Paige, who struggles with the fact that her mother left her behind at an early age. Without a mother’s guidance, Paige fell into troubled times as a teen, and had to kill her child through abortion. Now years later, Paige has run away to start a new life with a knight of shining armor Nicholas. Their lives are quickly beginning and soon Paige is pregnant, but the fact is she has never told Nickolas about her first abortion. With nowhere left to go and self- doubt quickly suffocating her, Paige must run away. Paige goes on a journey of discovery and realizations, but will everything still be the same when she returns? This is an excellent story for anybody to read. It offers amazing insight with its creature plot and amazing characters. I would rate it a ten out of ten! - Christine Y.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the last book in the Harry Potter series, and we finally find out who lives and who dies. Harry is searching for horcruxes, objects that contain a piece of Voldemort’s (the evil wizard) soul. Many problems arise during his search, such as the legend of the Deathly Hallows. I really like the mystery of the book and how the author gradually reveals us the answers to the questions. The book is full of surprises. I think this was my favorite book of the Harry potter series. –Michael K.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Finally, the long awaited book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, has been published to complete the phenomenon series by J.K.Rowling. This anticipated book has been well worth the wait and contains everything a good book need: action, love, and drama. With the three loved main characters, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, Rowling takes you on a final adventure. This adventure includes many struggles like breaking into a government office(ministry of magic) or stealing from a highly guarded bank (Grinngotis). Along with the trouble comes tragedy as many beloved characters pass away. But even through theses troubles the main concepts of love, friendship, and togetherness, pulls these characters through. All of the questions that arose will finally be answered in this final and exciting book! In my personal opinion, this was the best Harry Potter book out all seven published. J.K.Rowling, the amazing author that she is, pulled together all the key elements with a creature that could shock anyone. I would recommend anybody to read the Harry Potter series, but I would have to warn them that once picked up, it takes a while to put them back down! -Christine Y.

Game Over: How Nintendo Zapped an American Industry, Captured Your Dollars, and Enslaved Your Children

If you like Nintendo games or just want to know how Nintendo became a huge success you should read this book. First, the author had researched the Nintendo Co. Ltd.; then he gave the story of the extraordinary invention the Nintendo Entertainment system. The author also writes about some of the competitors, for example in 1990 the president of Apple was asked, what company he fears the most, he answered, “Nintendo”. The author makes Nintendo products look bad, but I think they were great and still are. Since this book was published in 1993, it does not contain anything about recent products Nintendo released over the past seven years. –Ronak P.

Eldest

Eldest, the second book in the Inheritance Trilogy, is continuing a story about a boy, Eragon, and his dragon Saphira. While I liked the first book in the trilogy better because it had more action, I like this book because it shows Eragon maturing and learning new things. The part of the book that grabbed me the most was the surprise ending of the book. Because of how much this ties back to the first book, I would certainly recommend this book to someone only if they’ve read the first book of the trilogy. –Michael K

Down the Rabbit Hole (An Echo Falls Mystery) by Peter Abrahams

Ingrid Levin-Hill is living an ordinary life in the ordinary town of Echo Falls. Until the day she gets lost walking to her soccer field. That day, she meets one of the town’s eccentrics, cracked-up Katie, and the very next, the town’s local paper blares a headline that changes the rest of her life. Local resident found dead. That resident is cracked-up Katie. Now Ingrid is on a mission to find cracked-up Katie’s murderer. Along with the added stress of soccer, school, and her new starring role as Alice In the Echo Falls production of Alice in Wonderland. However, the more curious her town becomes in the murderer. Who is the new play director, Vincent Dunn? And who was the person deep inside of cracked-up Katie’s seemingly insane exterior? Peter Abrahams has woven a cunning, suspenseful book of intrigue and mystery, allowing the reader to constantly guess ahead and keep one step ahead of Ingrid, constantly fearing for her. –Olivia R.

Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie

Linnet Ridgeway was the perfect reason for murder. She was beautiful, smart, rich, and had just married a handsome young man named Simon Doyle. But their honeymoon is cut short when Linnet is murder. As more murders occur and more evidence is found the plot gets more twisted and it’s up to Hercule Poirot to solve the case. This book is a great mystery. Including a great plot and a wonderful detective. This is an edge of your seat thriller that will have you guessing until the very end. –Natalie M.

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Kristina Georgia Snow is perfect. Straight A’s, obedient, quiet, never any trouble. But after a trip to visit her troublesome father, Kristina discovers, through a boy, what would change her life forever. The monster, crank. After discovering the monster, Kristina disappears, and Bree takes her place. Bree is fearless, the exact opposite of Kristina. Bree abandons Kristina’s friends, makes new, monster-loving friends, and becomes more reclusive, continuing to hide secrets from her family. Her grades start to slip, and she starts skipping classes. She starts meeting different boys to get more of the monster, and she discovers what it feels like to love and be loved. However, one thing happens that destroys her wild ride. A baby. Now, she must deal with being pregnant, and her addiction to crank. What started as a wild ride for the monster becomes a struggle for her mind, and her life. Ellen Hopkins has written, in prose, a heartbreaking and disturbing story about the effects of drugs and how they can destroy one’s life. –Olivia R.

Circle of Three: In the Dreaming

It is midsummers eve and Kate, Annie, and Copper find themselves dressing up to go to a Midnight Dance in the woods where coven members will be calling upon faerie magick, but each will find surprises waiting for them there. –Stacey B.

Burned by Ellen Hopkins

It all started with a dream. A simple dream about a boy that most teen girls experience. But Pattyn Von Stratten is not like most teen girls. Raised in a strict Mormon family who believes that women are only good for childbirth and for serving their husbands. And the only kind of boy a Mormon girl is allowed to marry, or even date, is a good Mormon boy. Pattyn might, outwardly, have the perfect family and the imperfect life, but her father is an abusive alcoholic who hits her mother, and terrorizes Pattyn nad her seven other sisters. After that one dream, Pattyn changes, and begins to question her religion, how it treats women as servants, and how unfair it seems. She begins to see a non-Mormon boy, and is caught in a situation with her father, who threatens to kill the boy if he ever touches Pattyn again. Pattyn becomes so angry and frustrated, she breaks a girl’s nose, and ends up breaking a window and becoming suspended. Her family decides to send her to an aunt she doesn’t even know, so that she can find “redemption” and “salvation.” However, she finds love she would never have known in her Aunt J, and her true love, Ethan. During those few summer months, she is at her happiest, until a letter from her favorite and closest sister and a phone call from her father brings her crashing down to reality. Now she must go home, away from the happiness and love of rural Nevada back to the cruelty of her home and her father. Ellen Hopkins, the author of Cran, writes another heart breaking and provoking story, in verse, of a girl who has never felt loved or has loved, who finds love an acceptance in the last place she would think to look.
–Olivia R.

Big Mouth and Ugly Girl by Joyce Carol Oates

Two lives unexpectedly collide in this warm and humorous story written by well-known author Joyce Carol Oates. Matt “Big Mouth” Donaghy is a straight A student. Ideal. Funny. A bit too funny. After making a thoughtless comment in his schoool cafeteria, he ends up being taken into custody by the police. Ursula Riggs calls herself “Ugly Girl.” A basketball star, she ends up quitting after a loss that she believes her entire team will hate her for. After hearing of Matt’s “arrest,” she decides to stand up for him, and for what is right. The case might be over, but the problem that arises from it causes both Matt and Ursula to struggle through school and their own lives. Luckily, they have each other to help them through thick and thin. Joyce Carol Oates has written a thought-provoking story about what is right, what is wrong, the matters of the heart, and acceptance.
-Olivia R.

Behind the Curtain (An Echo Falls Mystery) by Peter Abrahams

Ingrid Levin-Hill is back for another chilling mystery. After the events in Down the Rabbit Hole, Ingrid’s life is back to normal, or so she thins. Now, her dad’s job seems to be coming out of hand, while mysterious people keep trying to get her grandfather to sell her farm, no matter how many times he says no. to top it all off, her brother ahs been having mysterious mood swings, he’s not acting like himself, and he’s becoming extremely buff, too buff, and all too fast. That’s just in her family, but outside of her family, she has even more problems. Her soccer coach has been replaced by the very person who might take over her father’s job, and while going to the dreaded Math Fefst competiton she was unwillingly picked for, she is kidnapped, yet no one believes her story. Can Ingrid get out of this mystery without getting into too much trouble? Best selling author Peter Abraham had done it again with this suspenseful sequel to Down the Rabbit Hole. –Olivia R.

Ark Angel by Anthony Horowitz

Ark Angel is the sixth Alex Rider book by Anthony Horowitz, and alike all of its predecessors, it is captivating. Ark Angel is a “space hotel” being assembled by Nikolei Drevin, a billionaire, and hacked by the British government. However, a group called Force Three kidnaps Paul Drevin, Nickolei’s son to demand a ransom. As it turns out, they kidnapped Alex Rider instead. Alex escapes, however. Nikolei decides to take Alex with him to his home for some rest and to have a good time with Paul in return for saving with him to his home for some rest and to have a good time with Paul in return for saving Paul form being kidnapped. However, bad events follow Drevin and things begin to not add up. Is Nikolei innocent, or is he some how involved? Will Alex survive, or has death finally found him? Ark Angel is well-written, very suspenseful, and most definitely thrilling to the end. I give five stars to Anthony Horowitz and his masterpiece, the Alex Rider series. –Bruce H.

Animal Farm by George Orwell

If you enjoy fantasy books where animals talk, this is a book for you. There was a farmer named Jones who mad the animals work a lot. One day the animals become weary of working and rebel. There are tow pigs, Snowball and Napoleon, who decide that they must become the leaders of the farm. They succeed in getting the other animals pay attention for a while, but when the pigs realize how excellent the power is they lose control so read how chaotic animal farm becomes after power controls animals. The story of animal farm is based on the Russian Revolution I thought the book was easy to read and the writing style was simple to comprehend. –Ronak P.

Alex Rider: Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz

The first installment in the acclaimed Alex Rider series by the British author Anthony Horowitz was well-written and captivating. It made me want to continue reading. The book contained many exciting moments, most of which will take the reader by surprise. It all starts when Alex Rider’s uncle and guardian, Ian Rider, mysteriously dies. Alex soon learns that Ian was a spy for the British intelligence agency, MI6. Alex is then sent ot complete his uncle’s mission for investigating Herod Sayle and his powerful computers, the Stormbreakers, many of which will be given to British schools. Is Sayle’s donation too good to be true, or is he just a generous man? Find out when you read Strom breaker, which I feel deserves a five-star rating. As a side note, a Stormbreaker movie was made which, to me, was not as good as the book for several reasons, including the fact hat characters were added that somewhat changed the plot and that some names were changed. –Bruce H.