Brutal

Brutal


By: Michael Harmon
Reviewed by: Lynna, 17
Rating: Really liked it


This novel was just outright hilarious! The tone of the narrator and buildup of the characterization of, well, the characters is awesome. This was really amusing book to read, with it's typical-yet-lol-able swing.

So basically, it's about a girl name Poe Holly who gets sent off to live with her dad (aka counselor at her new HS) in the suburbs because her wealthy doctor mother is too busy saving other people's lives in South America to look after her rebellious daughter. She finds some friends, and ends up encountering a bully who totally sets her off because of his stupid pranks. She decides to step it up and, well you gotta read it to find out! Along the way, she realizes that her rebellious streak in which she vividly expresses through her fights and shouts with her mother is what makes her her.She misses her LA-city-lifestyle and all, but she learns a lot staying with her father too.

This book was well-written, and sure kept me reading!


Recommended to: Anyone!

The Boyfriend List

The Boyfriend List


By: E. Lockhart
Reviewed by: Catherine, 16
Rating: It was alright...


Ruby Oliver is forced by her parents to see a shrink following her numerous anxiety attacks which are the result of her breakup with her boyfriend of six months and the catastrophies which ensue. Her shrink suggests that Ruby make a list of all the boyfriends or crushes she's had throughout her fifteen years. Through this list and the sessions with Ruby's shrink, the reader gains a comical insight to the life of an average teenage girl.

While this book may seem like just another novel on the melodrama of a teenager's life, it was very entertaining and funny. Ruby's witty narratives and amusing footnotes literally had me laughing out loud. While this book may not contain sunstantial material, it is- as my parents like to call- "brain candy". If you're looking for a good laugh and a pleasantly interesting book, E. Lockhart's charming novel presents an amusing experience.


Recommended to: a lgihthearted reader

1984

1984


By: George Orwell
Reviewed by: Jack Attack, 13
Rating: Really liked it


George Orwell tells the story of a repressive, totalitarian regime led by the mysterious "Big Brother." Winston Smith, an ordinary man, sets out with a secret organization to destroy the completely-powerful government.

Big Brother has grown so powerful that any tiny detail in the history of Oceania can be changed in a moment; after all, Winston shows that even the dates in 1984 are transmutable; the people of Oceania have grown so brainwashed that they believe every lie said to them by their government.

That tiny detail about dates makes 1984 as timely today as it was when it was first published in 1949. Orwell states that he wrote it to demonstrate how much of a threat dictatorship, fascism, and communism is in any place and time.

Orwell's writing style uses simple, yet precise language that keeps the reader turning the page. 1984 draws you in even more than Animal Farm, which is saying something. Reading it sparks weeks of deeper thoughts without making the reader feel as if he/she is doing English homework. If nothing else, its a hugely entertaining way to exercise your mind. As dull as that may sound, 1984 is guaranteed to give you a few chills and perhaps even a couple of nightmares about the potent danger that is repressive government.


Recommended to: Anyone 14+ interested in politics or conspiracy theories.

Airhead

Airhead


By: Meg Cabot
Reviewed by: Tina R., 13
Rating: It was amazing!


When Emerson Watts, a tomboy goes to the new SoHo Stark Megastore grand opening for her sister, where Gabriel Luna, a singer, and teen model sensation Nikki Howard will be, disaster strikes and her life is changed forever. Emerson Watts, who hated fashion and preps, is no longer...Emerson. This review might sound really confusing but Meg Cabot is a very creative author and this book has many twists and turns. This novel also has a sequal, "Being Nikki". Go to the library and check this book out!!! :) :) :)


Recommended to: Teens

Always and forever

Always and forever


By: Lurlene McDaniel
Reviewed by: Mel, 13
Rating: It was alright...


Always and forever is two novel Too Young to Die and Goodbye Doesn’t Mean forever. The first book, Too Young to Die, the book is when Melissa is diagnose with leukemia and has a hard time believing she was diagnose leukemia.
The second book Goodbye Doesn’t Mean Forever, Melissa has a relapsed and has to go back to the hospital. Melissa is facing the decision now to get a Bone Marrow Transplant or not. The Bone Marrow Transplant could save her life. If she does have B.M.T. it her body could reject it. If Melissa body rejects she could die.


Recommended to: To anybody who like a tear dripper book

Fly on the Wall: How One Girl Saw Everything

Fly on the Wall: How One Girl Saw Everything


By: E. Lockhart
Reviewed by: Pamela B.
Rating: It was alright...


Girls, we all wonder what goes on inside guys' minds right? What do they talk about when they know there aren't any females around? Well, what if there was some way you could find out? Enter Gretchen Yee,the main character in this story. She feels like a fish out of water in the Manhattan School for Art and Music.She has only one best friend and is pretty much a loner at her school. She's also crushing on a guy called Titus, but seems to not want to do anything about it due to her insecurities. One day she makes a wish; to be a fly on the wall in the boys’ locker room, and strangely enough, that wish comes true.

This book is guaranteed to give you a little insight into what guys might be thinking. If it's wrong, it certainly gives you a couple of good laughs and gets you thinking about what goes on inside the guys' locker room.


Recommended to: Teens, anyone who's looking for a good laugh and for something different to read.

Azumanga Daioh Volume 1

Azumanga Daioh Volume 1


By: Kiyohiko Azuma
Reviewed by: gothiclolitamaiden, 15
Rating: Really liked it


Azumanga Daioh is amazingly funny. Like School Rumble, it takes place in high school, but the similarity ends there. Azumanga Daioh relies on quirky characters and situations for humor, while School Rumble relies on ridiculous antics and love triangles. Azumanga's comedy is often more effective than School Rumble's, and I would recommend it to every manga fan.
Kiyohiko Azuma's art and character designs are not very flashy, but they are unique and distinctive. Azumanga's art doesn't need to be eye-catching when the comedy is entertainment enough. The characters are all very odd, but in a good way. It's no use trying to explain it, read it for yourself! It's best to read this one with a friend, to share the laughs.
Some manga fans will find the four-panel comic strip format strange, but I would recommend it.


Recommended to: All manga fans 12+ There is a bit of perverted humor.

Fun Home

Fun Home


By: Alison Bechdel
Reviewed by: Matt, 13
Rating: It was amazing!


Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic...the epic tale of the lives of Alison Bechdel and her family. Her dad was a closet homosexual and kind of a petaphile who taught english, ran the family funeral ("fun") home, and was an enthusiast of historical restoration and, to a lesser extent, reading classic literature. Alison Bechdel described herself as (and I qoute) "Spartan to my father's Athenian". This tale expresses the feelings and lifestyle associated with her childhood, teen years, and college life. Alison Bechdel is a lesbian, a discovery that she made in college, and she accepted this and connected to her father for some time with that and classic literature. A common sight in this book is her father's death, and reflections of her life in general. Fun Home is an amazing, erotic and insightful portrait of the life of the Bechdel family, and if you have the chance, read it.


Recommended to: people 16 or older for (extremely, at some points) graphic content

A Game of Thrones

A Game of Thrones


By: George R.R. Martin
Reviewed by: Matt, 13
Rating: It was amazing!


The first book of the epic A Song of Ice and Fire a wild ride from the viewpoints of a character from a great/formerly great houses of the Seven Kingdoms. War, intriuge, incest and murder. This book shows the lives of these characters be they beggar king or bastard child each one has a role to play in the ever dangerous world of the Seven Kingdoms and the eastern lands/freeciies. This an all around great book. There are five books in the series so far:
1) A Game of Thrones
2) A Clash of Kings
3) A Storm of Swords
4) A Feast for Crows
5) A dance with Dragons
book six and seven are going to be published within the next few years.


Recommended to: readers between the ages of 15-until you can't take this stuff any more, for very obvious reasons

Aishiteruze Baby

Aishiteruze Baby


By: Yoko Maki
Reviewed by: gothiclolitamaiden, 15
Rating: It was amazing!


Kippei Katakura is a 17-year-old playboy who spends his time chasing girls, careless of their feelings. But when his 5-year-old cousin Yuzuyu comes to live with his family after her mother's sudden disappearnce, Kippei is put in charge of taking care of her. As Kippei gets to know Yuzuyu and starts to understand how she feels, he also begins to realize that all girls were like Yuzuyu once...

Aishiteruze Baby is a very enjoyable and emotional shojo manga. It may not be brimming with bishojo boys or tenderly romantic moments that most shojo fans tend to enjoy, but it is very intelligent, emotionally engaging and thought-provoking. The reader empathizes with innocent, abandoned Yuzuyu, who is starting to have trust issues because of her mother's betrayal, and we can all relate to Kippei as he slowly matures. The author brings to light the difficuties of single parenting and the effects of a parent's absence on their children.

The characters are all very fascinating and fairly well developed, even though this is just the first volume. Kippei, the selfsih teen, is at first a bit despicable. He is almost an embodiment of instant-gratification mindset, but the reader learns that he does indeed have a heart. Yuzuyu is sweet and innocent, and as a child, she does not understand why her mother would leave her. It is easy to imagine yourself in Yuzuyu's place, making the series very captivating. Many of the secondary characters, including Kippei's family and school mates, as well as Yuzu's, are multifaceted characters.

Yoko Maki's art is very attractive, with distinctive character designs and background art that is often both functional and aesthetic. The panel layout is very easy to read, not confusing or overcrowded in the least bit.
Aishiteruze Baby is one of the manga series that everyone manga fan, shojo or not, should read, even though it isn't a wildly popular title.


Recommended to: Any manga fans 13+

Trickster's Choice

Trickster's Choice


By: Tamora Pierce
Reviewed by: kk09, 13
Rating: Really liked it


When I read this book I was really captured by the author's intriguing way of using the history of Tudor England and combining it with the exotic culture of Indonesia. I really enjoyed this book because the author writes another fascinating adventure about a female and the author involves the use of politics. I also enjoy how the author really tries to capture the reader’s imagination as the read the book by using very vivid descriptions of the main character’s surroundings.

In this story, Alianne of Pirates Swoop, better known as Aly, gets captured by a group of pirates who make her a slave and sell her. As she goes on this adventure, she makes a wager with the God Kyprioth to keep a family alive that was in his particular interest. Learn more about Aly and her journey as she finds new ways to defend the royal family.

I really enjoyed this book and would really recommend it to other readers. I would also like to add that before reading this book, you might have a better understanding if you read the Tortall Books by Tamora Pierce such as The Song of the Lioness Quartet and The Immortals Quartet. After reading this adventurous book, to learn more about Aly’s journey then read further about her journey with the Trickster’s Queen.


Recommended to:Everyone

A Walk To Remember

A Walk To Remember


Directed By: Adam Shankman
Reviewed by: Lynna, 17
Rating: Didn't like it


Okay, I've watched this movie once a long time ago and I really liked it. Then, recently, when I was bored, I watched it again and I wondered why I even did. It wasn't like really poorly written or anything, it's just that I felt like, "Whoa, it just wasn't as good as I remembered it..." I mean, I was like DEEPLY touched for week after watching this movie and I thought it was one of the best love movies I've ever seen in my life.

Either I changed a lot, or I was just a crazy little tween... but yeah, back to the topic, I honestly and sincerely would like to say that this movie is depressing. And even though I cried my eyeballs out in the end, it doesn't necessarily mean I cried because it was so good, but I cried because I wasted how many hours? of my life when I could've done something else meaningful, like fly a kite or helped the sleeping cat out of the tree...

It's like I watched a beautiful romance beginning to form, and BAM! the news it hard and she dies and he just visits her grave, etc. That is just too depressing for me... lol. It was a good story, but I'm not a huge tragedy lover because I feel like I watched the whole thing for nothing since the ending ends up being the opposite of what the movie seemed to intend you to think.

And, in my opinion, Shane West is not that cute anymore, anyways. :P


Recommended to: Whoever is in for tragedy, I guess...

A Single Shard

A Single Shard


By: Linda Sue Park
Reviewed by: Henry L., 13
Rating: Really liked it


A Single Shard is a historical fiction novel written by Linda Sue Park. In the novel, a young orphan boy named Tree-ear who lives with Crane-man, a handicapped elderly man, living under a bridge. Tree-ear admires the best potter in the village, Min, and when he accidentally breaks a pot, his life changes from then on. From the story, Tree-ear learns about courage and responsibility.

Linda Park uses many writing techniques to create this novel. One of the writing techniques Park uses is the realism. The realism of the place, Ch'ulp'o, was actually real, but today, Ch'ulp'o is Puan. Also, the Korean pottery presented in this book is actually true, with the potters making celadon pottery. The pottery that is described in the novel actually exist in a museum or private collection somewhere in the world. To summarize, most of what is described in the novel is true.

In conclusion, A Single Shard is a novel that can appeal to young teens and people who like historical fiction books for its realism. I strongly believe that readers will enjoy this novel.


Recommended to: young teens and anyone who likes historical fiction literature.

Ghostgirl

Ghostgirl


By: Tonya Hurley
Reviewed by: Catherine, 16
Rating: Hated it!


Charlotte Usher dies after choking on a gummy bear(which is probably the only funny part of this whole book). However, she can't seem to "move on" and she continues to lust after popularity and the boy of her dreams, Damen, in the world of the living, all the while attending a school for dead teenagers. Charlotte seems to be invisible to every one of the living with the excpetion of a girl named Scarlett, sister of the most popular girl in the school, Petula. Charlotte convinces Scarlett to help her win over Damen's affections by possesing Scarlett's body. However, everything doesn't work the way Charlotte and Scarlett both plan and these two girls ultimately learn lessons about popularity and love.

I will admit that I only got this book because of the decorative and attractive cover. After reading this story I realized that you should never judge a book by its cover. The author Tonya Hurley presents the extremely annoying character of Charlotte Usher who is just empty-headed and superficial and she only slightly redeems herself at the end of the story. Hurley's other protaganist, Scarlett, is hardly less obnoxious. Tonya Hurley depicts her idea of a "goth" girl in Scarlett but is only able to achieve a sad wannabe character. I feel like the author is trying really hard to be young and hip but it just comes off as moronic and irritating. Truthfully, I'd rather choke to death on a gummy bear than read that book over again. In fact, I cannot even bring myself to recommend this to anyone because I don't want anyone to have to endure the imbecility and ludicrousness of this pitiful attempt at a witty novel.


Recommended to: no one

Living Up the Street

Living Up the Street


By: Gary Soto
Reviewed by: Catherine, 16
Rating: It was alright...


Fresno's own Gary Soto describes his childhood through brief, quirky memories. Whether he's revealing how he entered his brother in a beauty contest as a child or describing his experiences as a cotton picker in his teenage years, Gary Soto manages to be funny and prosaic at the same time. Soto conveys to the reader, his fear of continuing the impoverished cycle of his Mexican ancestors.

While the stories are somewhat entertaining, I did not find the book that interesting. Being Mexican myself in addition to growing up in Fresno, CA, I can really relate to Gary Soto and I appreciate the values and lessons he imparts on the reader. However, this book just didn't captivate my attention, and it frankly concluded with an unsatisfactory ending. On the other hand, I know a few people who really enjoyed everything about this book, so it really depends on the reader!


Recommended to: ages 11 and up

The Hobbit

The Hobbit


By: J.R.R. Tolkein
Reviewed by: Catherine, 16
Rating: Really liked it


Almost everyone has seen the Lord of the Rings Movie Trilogy (which happens to feature my future husband as a certain elfan warrior). The Lord of the Rings Trilogy starts with two hobbits named Frodo and Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo gives Frodo a magic, yet evil ring which instigates Frodo's perilous journey to destroy this sinister object. Bu who is Bilbo Baggins and how did he end up with the ring? J.R.R. Tolkein presents a prelude to the Lord of the Rings, in an adventure packed book called "The Hobbit".

Bilbo Baggins was living in his peaceful hobbit hole in the Shire when Gandalf the Wizrd makes his fateful visit, accompanied with a troop of dwarves. Bilbo, somewhat hesitantly, joins their quest in facing the dragon Smaug to bring back a vast amount of treaure. But along the way Bilbo encounter numerous dangers-from orcs to giant spiders-making a wonderful fantasy tale which captivates the readers attention from page one.

I really enjoyed this book, with its action-packed storyline and comical characters. It's full of excitement and entertainment. It is one of the most well written fantasies I've ever read, and I would recommend it to just about everyone.


Recommended to: anyone 11 years old and up

Cat's Cradle

Cat's Cradle


By: Kurt Vonnegut
Reviewed by: Catherine, 16
Rating: Really liked it


The story starts out with a man named John who is attempting to write about the day the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Along his journey he meets the strange and dysfunctional family of Felix Hoenikker, the man who invented the atom bomb. John is spiraled into a series of bizarre events which ultimately lead him to the end of the world. All the while, the narrative is accompanied by the entertainingly eccentric philosophy of Bokonon, which lends yet another refreshingly original aspect to this story.

I found this book to be extremely hilarious and found myself laughing out loud at times (resulting in curious and quizzical glances from my parents). The sarcastic and quirky humor is executed perfectly in a way only Vonnegut could achieve. This books contains a little science fiction, a touch of romance, a substantial amount of satirical commentary, and a whole lot of laughs. What else could a reader ask for in this book?


Recommended to: an adventurous reader

Tantalize

Tantalize


By: Cynthia Leitich Smith
Reviewed by: Lynna, 17
Rating: It was alright...


TWILIGHT LOVERS: You might just be interested in this book. Haha...

Alright, well to start off with on my intake of this novel... it's not nearly as good as Twilight, but it's a good read if you're doing nothing. It's kind of funny, but not laugh-out-loud funny... just ironically humorous - you know, just a twang here and there with how the story is written. If you think about the whole idea and the plot and everything, you're just going to smirk.

It's about a girl name Quincie who has a werewolf-hybrid boyfriend and lives with her uncle, who's an Italian chef. Her parents are dead, and later on her uncle dies too and they need to find a new chef. With that said, Brad the vampire comes strolling in for the job. Everyone seems to be amused by his presence, everyone, that is, except for Kieren (aka the werewolf beau), who has a dislike for vampires for (idk why, but it seems to be official now) vampires and werewolves have always been 'destined and instinctual' enemies. And Brad seems to take a liking for Quincie, and this threatens her and Kieren's relationship. The ending was a little uncalled for, but I won't spoil it for you...

Well, anyways, that's what the story is all about. I guess it's sort of supposed to be passionate, but really, it's a book you want to read just cuz you have nothing to do. I read it on a long road trip and finished it, feeling a little disappointed in the ending but, overall, I was just glad just because I had something to read!


Recommended to: Teenage girls

Tangled Threads

Tangled Threads


By: Pegi Deitz Shea
Reviewed by: Lynna, 17
Rating: Really liked it


When I read this book, I was totally captivated by the the factual background and history behind the story. This book was really well-written in the form of the character's personality and voice.

It's basically about a 13 year old girl named Mai and the deep relationship she has with her grandmother. In the beginning, it starts out with the escape of both her and her grandmother from Laos since communism has taken it's toll and the lives of both Mai's parents. for ten years they had lived in the Thai refuge, where they suffered much in hunger deprivation and beatings/abuse from several disgusting soldiers. The story turns a tide when both of them were finally able to rejoin Mai's lost-long uncle in America with all of her cousins, aunts, and relatives.

While her grandma found the American culture and society painfully ruthless and terrible in every way possible, Mai found it exciting, new, and full of hope. This difference in thought threatens to break apart their strong bond, as Mai develops an urge to go with the American culture and her grandmother wants to stick to their Hmong roots.

The story had a lot of meaning to it, and was able to surface the Hmong culture and traditions very well. If you're in for a good, meaningful book then go for it!


Recommended to: Girls: 14 +

The Bluest Eye

The Bluest Eye


By: Toni Morrison
Reviewed by: Catherine, 16
Rating: Really liked it


"The Bluest Eye" is Toni Morrison's first novel and it was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Morrison depicts the story of a little eleven-year old black girl named Pecola Breedlove living in the prejudiced town of Lorain, Ohio in the 1940s. Pecola prays for blue eyes so she will become beautiful in the eye's of society like the blong, blue-eyed white children. Devastation and pain continually follow Pecola and her life takes on an even more distressing tone (I know that seems a little ambiguous but I don't want to give too much away).

This novel was an extremely powerful, yet troubling piece of literature. It is a story of fear, loneliness, and misery, but as the reader, I came away feeling empowered. Morrison's prosaic narraration is exposed and raw and provokes so much emotion (be prepared to cry your eyes out). She switches points of views to provide all sides of the sotry which ultimately offers essential lessons to the reader. It was a difficult read, due to the distressing content, but it captivated my attention in addition to leading me to think differently of the world around me.

While I do believe "The Bluest Eye" is a compelling and significant work of literature, I would not reccomend this book to just anyone. This is a very heavy read and is full of disturbing and upsetting material which requires substantial maturity. However, I think the message of the story is very redeeming and I encourage everyone to attempt to read this award-winning novel.


Recommended to: serious readers

Anthem

Anthem


By: Ayn Rand
Reviewed by: Catherine, 16
Rating: It was amazing!


Ayn Rand’s uplifting novel, Anthem, presents a compelling story about a man’s struggle to accept his own individuality. The main character, Equality 7-2521, lives in a society in which man's sole purpose is to serve the civilization in which he lives. However, Equality 7-2521 rebels against this communal mentality upon discovering electricity. After his invention of the lightbulb, Equality 7-2521 undergoes a transformation in which he is able to construct a world where the true purpose of man’s existence is to seek his own happiness.

Truthfully, I was a little skeptical before reading the actual book because I was only reading it for a scholarship essay. But as soon as I began, I literally could not put the book down. Not only is the story amazing, but the author's prose is captivating. The way Rand refrains from using personal pronouns to convey Equality 7-2521's lack of independence is simply igenous. "Anthem" is simultaneously a contemporary work and a book pertaining to any time. This book is simply amazing and if you do not request it this very second, you will miss out on one of the greatest literary experiences a reader can have!


Recommended to: everyone

Vampirates - Demons of the Ocean

Vampirates: Demons of the Ocean


By: Justin Somper
Reviewed by: Shaki, 13
Rating: It was amazing!


i loved this book it makes me feel so addicted to it, its makes want to go hunting for the outher stories i and to know what happens next.


Recommended to: teenagers who like a bit of horror and fantasy.

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games


By: Suzanne Collins
Reviewed by: Annabelle L., 14
Rating: It was amazing!


Future North America; everything is in ruins and a corrupt power is at the top. Showing no mercy, they remind all of the twelve outlying districts about the Capitol's power- to destroy their present and future. With the Hunger Games. A deadly game for teenagers in a battle to the death- where only one can win. Katniss- a sixteen-year-old gil- faces the odds of death when she takes her sister's place in the deadliest game ever broadcasted throughout the state of Panem.

From twisting histories, to their unfair government system and conditions, to the underlying, questionable romance, Ms. Collins brings in the amazing past and the disturbing present to bring us something utterly transcending of any era. What will happen when only one winner out of twenty-four competitors emerge from the Hunger Games? What of a forbidden, yet confusing romantic entanglement? To what limit will teenagers like ourselves go through to make it for another day?

Can Katniss survive? What will the Capitol and the Gamemakers have to say in the 74th annual Hunger Games? Survival or sanity? Life or love? Prisoner or Rebel? Read the Hunger Games to find out.

I really enjoyed this novel. It was well-written, though the vocabulary isn't that challenging, but, nonetheless, it helps you envision the story in your mind's eyes. It's hard to resist the temptation of continuing to turn page after page after page... It's just that riveting. Say you don't like it? Well, open your eyes; it shows some truths to our society now and reveals the underlying realities of the past empires. You can relate to many people from here. Whether it's the unrequited (maybe) lover Peeta, the headstrong yet naive Katniss, the sly Foxface, the brute Cato, the innocent and perceptive Rue- among many others. It entwines character development from stage one to stage two, and the plot just keeps making me more intriguied as I continue. I heartily can't wait for the sequel.


Recommended to: anyone!

I Love You, Man

I Love You, Man


Directed by: John Hamburg
Reviewed by: Lynna, 17
Rating: It was alright...


I just saw this movie with a couple of friends over the weekend and to be honest, it wasn't as funny as I hoped it would be. There were some awkward moments that made you laugh out loud, and you do laugh throughout the movie, but just not continuously. Some of the scenes were just stupid.

It wasn't necessarily a visually bad movie, but the dialogues were pretty uncalled for. It was grossly humorous - you know, something you'd hear in Friends.

If you're up for a movie that can just un-stress you for a moment/while, make you laugh on and off, and well, just want to have fun watching it with your friends, go for it and watch it. You can expect a mixture of Friends and The Office. :P


Recommended to: 16+

If I Stay

If I Stay


By: Gayle Forman
Reviewed by: Tina R., 13
Rating: Really liked it


When Mia, a 17 year old has to make some tough choices, should she stay true to her love for music? Or are her family and friends more important? When a car accident changes her life forever, there is only one choice that matters.


Recommended to: Teens

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button


Directed by: Eric Roth
Reviewed by: Lynna, 17
Rating: It was alright...


I watched this movie a while ago, but I will never forget the interesting story. The unique plot and idea really draws people in to the point where they really want to see it.

This movie was a little draggy on some parts, but you really can become emotionally attached once you really sit down and watch it.

It's basically a romance story that revolves around a normal aging woman and a man who's getting younger... Brad Pitt stars as Benjamin Button, who ages backward. He meets a girl in which he sort of grew up with, and then they meet in the middle where they are both in their twenties and fell in love. But mysteriously and sadly Benjamin cannot age with his love and they drift apart.

It was a really sad movie, and it really makes you think. This was a good movie to watch if you're ready for Kleenex. :P


Recommended to: Teens +

Fairy Tail

Fairy Tail


By: Hiro Mashima
Reviewed by: ha110w33nm4n, 15
Rating: Really liked it


ok this is the 2nd time im wrighting this and im doing it on my wii so this is going to be short because i don't whant to type all that again ok

this is like rave master by that i mean all the characters look the same they brought back plue from rave master what more do i have to say i mean plue thats all it takes but basicly every one knowes magic and whell im tired im sorry i said alot more in the first 1 but it didnt go through and i need my sleep so sorry


Recommended to: to new manga readers and rave master fans

Sister Wife

Sister Wife


By: Shelley Hrdlitschka
Reviewed by: Lynna, 17
Rating: Really liked it


All I can say is HOLY COW...!

This is quite a novel... I couldn't put it down, and if I did, I would hurry to do whatever mishap I had to do so I can get right back to the book. It was like a rollercoaster ride through the point of views of three main characters, each with TOTALLY different perspectives, voices, and opinions. And it revolves around Unity, aka a small community of the beliefs of polygamy, aka multiple WAY younger wives assigned to one really old husband to make lots of kids, aka future people of Unity... and the cycle goes on. But this novel has much more in stored than you can imagine. It was very written. Kudos to Hrdlitschka (and kudos for me in remembering how to spell her last name without looking.)

Alright so here's 1/3 of the scoop: A girl named Celeste hates Unity but she doesn't want to disgrace her family in questioning the beliefs of Unity. To get to eternal kingdom, she must let the Community's Prophet assign her to a much older guy to get married to and she has to live with him and his wives for eternity. I was on Celeste's side throughout the whole book until the end in which she stupidly let the prophet assign her to her lover's father... and well, this story was really good!!! Read more, you'll get into it.

It's crazy how there's more to this world than we'd ever know. There are so many other people out there believing in things we may find absolutely absurd and delusional but they find completely right. Faith is quite a complicated subject... :P Ah well, so I was a little disappointed in the end but things work out and reality really hits you hard when you read this book.


Recommended to: Anyone and Everyone

Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There

Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There

By: Lewis Carroll
Reviewed by: Janette, 15
Rating: It was amazing!


The sequel to the infamous Alice in Wonderland, our heroine returns for a second novel written by Lewis Carroll. In this segment, Alice is very bored, sitting at home with her black kitten. She wishes she could have something to do and her imagination rises to the occasion. She touches her hand to the looking glass, and is automatically absorbed into to chaotic world where NOT ONLY is everything backwards, NOTHING makes sense!! In this world, where you must run twice as fast as you already can to go somewhere, where there are bread-and-butterflies fly about, where you meet people like the Tweedle twins, and everything works like a chess board, it is full of manic fun. For people who are looking for their dose of zany insanity, with a side of humor and subtleness, this book is the one to read, not to mention it's a classic. The story is set up like a chess game, in which the characters are given specific roles and the way they move parallels a chess game which is VERY clever indeed. Speaking of cleverness, Alice, the main character, retains her curious nature, though it is accompanied with an accumulation of wit. If you are looking for a classic to enjoy because of the demands of your English teacher, why not give this novel a try? The humorous plot and characters are bound to give you a laugh or a chuckle.


Recommended to: Those who are 12+

Wizard's First Rule

Wizard's First Rule


By: Terry Goodkind
Reviewed by: Lizzie, 17
Rating: It was amazing!


Wizard's First Rule is about the seeker Richard Cypher, and his friends- Kahlan, and Zedd. They have to stop Darken Rahl, before he takes over the world.

This. Book. Is. Amazing. To be honest, I first heard about this book by watching the show (based on the books) "Legend of the Seeker". Anyhow, what I really loved about this book, is it's orginality. It has romance, action/adventure, and suspense. And it's not corny! Thumbs up for that.

The book is very long. Unlike the Twilight series, this book dosen't repeat words. Basically, from the begining of the book, to the end, it's non stop action. There is always something that comes up, making you not what to put the book down.

The characters, are pure amazing. Okay, first what I adored about each character, is that they are real. For example, the seeker (main hero) Richard, he battles within himself, because he is the choosen one. And he gots his own fears, making you feel what he is feeling. *cough* Unlike the twilight series. Secondly, Kahlan. She is the Mother Confesser. She totally represents a strong, independent woman. She is feared among people, and she isn't scared of them. However, her weakness is snakes. See?

Zedd is a powerful Wizard, but he gots his own emotions, that make you realize, he is still human. Richard, Kahlan, and Zedd have a beautiful friendship, and with each passing adventure, they learn and grow. Together they strive to stop Darken Rahl. It makes you feel part of their adventure.

I suggest you read this book. Remember, it's a series, and there is a T.V. show base on them.


Recommended to: 14+

Marked

Marked


By: P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Reviewed by: Janette, 15
Rating: It was alright...


Marked, not your typical vampyre novel that follows the character of Zoey Redbird and the world that she lives in. In this world, vampyres have always existed, and one has to be "marked" and go through certain growing phases before turning into a fully fledged vampyre. These vampyres worship their goddess Nyx, and high beings in the society are given much respect because of their special affinity for certain unusual powers. Zoey REdbird becomes "marked" and comes to the House of Night, a school for vampyres. There she meets new friends, new teachers, new enemies, and even discovers unknown powers within her powers that make her special.

***Review***
I read this book, believing that it was well written and make my heart pound because of the suspense. It didn't. I admit, it was moderately well written, but it wasn't the GREATEST novel ever. Even Twilight made my heart pound with suspense a little bit, but my heart was silent for this book. I took me a while to finish the whole book. In the beginning, I thought it was taking too long for the story to get started. Once it did get started, it took to long for the climax to finally come around. The word choice wasn't diverse as I thought it would be, and the imagery was low. The character, Zoey Redbird, seems to me, to be very "mary-sue" with her affinity for the 5 elements, the knack for controlling them, and her over friendliness. The character of Aphrodite, seemed to symbolize the typical villain, mean, bitchy, a slut, and overall, a bully. That's how villains were in previous eras of literature, but nowadays, villains have takena turn and become very complex. The characters in this book were not. Overall, this book is moderately well written, but it lacks the fire which great novels have. The characters were general, the plot didn't seem complex either, and I seemed very disappointed in this book. Though I admit this book has it charms for the avid Twilight fan, and those who are very much into vampires, I still would give this book a grade of a C.



Recommended to: Anyone who is a Twilight Fan

How They Met

How They Met


By: David Levithan
Reviewed by: Cindy, 14
Rating: Really liked it


A collection of stories written over the years, How They Met is full of sweet and awkward moments. Each story is told with a different tone and style. Some clumsy and funny while others are somber and serious. Each invokes a different emotion but there is an overall underlying feeling.

Basically, its a bunch of romance stories and I like it. Which is very rare, since I'm no big romance fan.

What really drew me in is that these stories, no matter how short, had a certain depth about them. Of course, some were better than others. Plus, he had matchmakers. I've always had a soft spot for matchmakers. No matter what he wrote, I always had a reaction.

The biggest plus for this book in my opinion was the fact that he wrote about love regardless of gender. The purpose of these stories was love and he stayed absolutely true to that. Actually, not "love" exactly. It didn't have to be "love". The concept of "like" and "infatuation" were there but I guess that's part of the package. I think this portion would make more sense if you read the book...

Lastly, David Levithan can write! I mean, his style constantly changed with the tone and that can be pretty hard. One story was a mixture of lyrics and narration and I seriously felt like a musician wrote it.

To sum it all up, I thought it was a great read and hope romance fans share my feelings.


Recommended to: Romance fans. 15+ Mentions of sex.