The Skin I'm In

The Skin I'm In


By: Sharon G. Flake
Reviewed by: Teralyn E., 14
Rating: Really liked it


I believe I've done a review on another Sharon Flake book, a grouping of short stories about girls and the boys they liked.

This book was very similar, about a young African-American girl who didn't quite know who she was. But her issue was the tone of her skin. She was dark, and people teased her about it.

The story was good, it wasn't stereotypical, wasn't overly-dramatic, and wasn't overly-raw. It was really a good read, and I enjoyed it a lot.

While there was some violence (high-school type fights) and a lot of attitude/wrongdoing, these action were made clear to be wrong. There was no swearing, even from the bullies!

The story had a positive message: Love the skin you're in.


Recommended to: Girls, 12+

Eleventh Grade Burns

Eleventh Grade Burns


By: Heather Brewer
Reviewed by: Kimmy, 13
Rating: It was amazing!


This is my second time reading The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, but I do not have the last book. So, I'm stuck reading a suspenseful ending in the forth book. I have no idea why I like this series so much, it can't be that I like vampire books because I hated every other vampire book I've read. Maybe it's the fact that you can tell what his life would be like if Vlad wasn't a vampire;The books don't just keep talking about how he is a vampire. And, the author, Heather Brewer, talks about Vlad like normal, like being a vampire is normal.

The series can always make me laugh. Because Vlad can read minds and make people think or do anything, he almost always finds away to make it humiliating for them but funny for the reader.

The series can also make me feel sorrow for characters. Like when Vladimir talks about how his parents died and thinking it is all him to blame. I think that could make anyone at least feel something...

I would also like to know how Heather came up with the idea of a character like Vladimir Tod. Vladimir is like no other character I have ever read about before. I think it would be awesome if I got to met her.


Recommended to: Everyone that loves goth-vampire skinny boys

Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451


By: Ray Bradbury
Reviewed by: I wish I had a witty name, 15
Rating: Really liked it


Fahrenheit 451 evolves around a futuristic, totalitarian America in which up is down and down is up. Firemen create fires instead of putting them out, literture is outlawed, death and suicides are the norm- society is on the verge of collapse and no one is willing to step up and do something about it. Except for Guy Montag.

I usually don't read books twice because life is just to short, but maybe I'll reconsider just for this one.


Recommended to: everyone

Carrie

Carrie


By: Stephen King
Reviewed by: Angel R., 14
Rating: It was amazing!


What an amazing book.The first book by stephan king.And they have a right to call it brillant. I give it 5out of 5 stars. A rare rating review by me.


Recommended to: anyone who loves horror

I Am J

I Am J


By: Cris Beam
Reviewed by: Teralyn E., 14
Rating: It was amazing!


I got this book from the 'Free Friday' event hosted here on the Fresno Libary's website. I didn't read the synopsis until after I had been declared the winner. After reading what it was about, I thought it would be a little weird (I can't reacall ever reading anything in the category of 'queer lit') but I also thought it would be interesting.

J, formerly known as Jeni, was born as a girl. J never thought of himself as a girl, he always thought as a boy. Until puberty. His body began to (obviously) show signs of the fact that he was a girl, and he began to hate evry inch of himself for it.

During J's senior year, he was finally determined to make his lifelong dream come true- He wanted to be a real boy. Known by society as a male, not just to himself in his head.

This book shows how difficult it is to be accepted for who we really are, it shows the bias of people, and how it affects those who are being biased against. It shows the celebration of gender-differences, not by how we look, but by how we percieve ourselves.

There is some language, and the subject of the book itself may not be appealing to some readers, but this was a really nice book. It let the reader get a glance into the truth behind transgender people, and the process it takes to transition.

Very touching story.


Recommended to: Older Teens