The Skin I'm In

The Skin I'm In


By: Sharon G. Flake
Reviewed by: Myesha, 17
Rating: Really liked it


I am a dark skinned young girl, and i was teased for a while too. Until I chose to stop caring about what other say about me, and call myself beautiful if nobody else would.


Recommended to:

Sellout

Sellout

By: Ebony Wilkins
Reviewed by: Anne, 16
Rating: Really liked it


I kept seeing this book every time I searched "dance" on the library site. Not sure why it took me so long to request it. The cover isn't really appealing, but that is no excuse.

I ended up really liking it. It was one of those books I wish was longer. It's about a black girl who has all white friends and is always trying to fit in. Then she goes to help out at a rehab center with her grandma. She doesn't expect that she's the one who will be changed.

The girl's stories are sad, but there is no graphic detail, which I appreciated. Overall a really worthwhile read.


Recommended to: Everyone!

Entwined

Entwined


By: Heather Dixon
Reviewed by: Anne, 16
Rating: Really liked it


This is a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses. I really enjoyed reading it, it wove a good plot. However, and this could just be me, but it seemed a lot like every other retelling of this fairy tale that I have read. I would have liked a little more original plot. Still really good and worth reading.


Recommended to: Everyone

Extraordinary Measures

Extraordinary Measures


Directed By: Tom Vaughan
Reviewed by: szoghi, 17
Rating: It was amazing!


First off, this was an excellent movie. It was about a dad trying to find a cure for the fatal muscular disease of Pompe, a disease which his kids and many other kids in the movie were diagnosed with. It shows his and researcher Harrison Ford's struggle in trying to come up with this cure. This movie was based on a true story. I really enjoyed this movie from start to finish because it was very inspirational. Although it was somewhat sad at parts, I think it was necessary in order to keep the plot realistic and keep viewers on the edge of their seat. Even though I love action movies, I believe this was a great change of pace and I think everyone should definitely watch it!


Recommended to: Ages 12 and up

The Feminine Mystique

The Feminine Mystique


By: Betty Friedan
Reviewed by: awesomeVia, 16
Rating: It was alright...


I get that this book sets up the mood for the 60s feminist revolution but I feel that she hits too hard on women being unhappy. I know that in this book, she talks about women being unhappy as housewives in this era of baby boomers.
I certainly learned a lot from this book about the statistics of the time and how many women go to college just to find a husband, not just for a proper college education and degree.


Recommended to: Feminists, history classes, etc..

Knight Angels: Book of Love

Knight Angels: Book of Love


By: Abra Ebner
Reviewed by: Jade, 14
Rating: Really liked it


knight angels is told from about 5 different p.o.v.'s. it's about a girl (Jane) who was supposed to die in a car crash with her father when she was little, but surprisingly survived thanks to her guardian angel. her sister Emily can read minds while Jane can see how a person might die by being around them or by touching them. when the 2 new boys come to their high school, Jane feels drawn to one (max) while Emily has a very bad feeling about both of them. when she passes by max, she hears calm whispering.... like a death lullaby but when she passes Greg (other brother) she hears all kinds of voices screaming at once. Emily knows something is wrong with Greg but is caught in his trap. Jane, max, and Wes (Jane's old best friend and a shape-shifter) must save Emily from Greg before it's too late..


Recommended to: anyone

The Deathday Letter

The Deathday Letter


By: Shaun David Hutchinson
Reviewed by: Jade, 14
Rating: It was alright...


The Deathday Letter is about a boy named Ollie who lives in a town where you get a letter a day before you are supposed to die. one morning he came down for breakfast. his family stared at him with sad eyes. he knew he got his deathday letter. this tells how he spent his last day of life and how he died.


Recommended to: anyone

Gimme a Call

Gimme a Call


By: Sarah Mlynowski
Reviewed by: Jade, 14
Rating: Really liked it


Gimme A Call is about a girl names Devi who spent her whole years of high school with her boyfriend, Bryan. she put all her time towards him but his dad wants him to go to collage far away, so he breaks up with her. now devi doesnt have any close friends to rely on and cant go to a good collage. the day she dropped her phone in the mall's fountain changed her life......literally. when devi tries to call anyone, it calls devi at age 14. she has a chance to change her whole life now, but can she do it?


Recommended to: anyone

Pink

Pink


By: Lili Wilkinson
Reviewed by: Jade, 14
Rating: It was alright...


Pink is about a girl who is trying to find who she really is. is she straight, or not? is she a pastel, or a SCREW? Ava changes to a very rich and super smart private school. but, she doesnt know what to do. she feels like she doesnt belong with the pretty, popular's and like she doesnt belong with the school's freaks. should she leave her girlfriend behind just because she is confused with what gender she likes? read it till the end!


Recommended to: anyone

Love, Inc.

Love, Inc.


By: Yvonne Collins and Sandy Rideout
Reviewed by: Jade, 14
Rating: Really liked it


Love Inc. is about three totally different girls (Zahra, Kali, and Syd) who go to a "group" because their parents think they need to talk about their feelings. So they all go. They find out that their boyfriend's is actually ONE person. So they get revenge on him. They decide to start Love Inc. to get people together, find out if someone is cheating on the other, and if so to get revenge on them.


Recommended to: anyone

Twenty Boy Summer

Twenty Boy Summer


By: Sarah Ockler
Reviewed by: Jade, 14
Rating: Really liked it


Twenty Boy Summer is about Anna and her best friend Frankie. For a while, Anna has liked Frankie's older brother Matt and he liked her. So they secretly went out. But then a year after Matt's unexpected death, Anna and Frankie's parents go to spend twenty days of their summer in Zanzibar Bay. The girls have a little deal to get one boy per day. Anna still hasn't told Frankie about her and Matt and is trying to build up the courage to.


Recommended to: anyone

Eternal

Eternal


By: Cynthia Leitich Smith
Reviewed by: Jade, 14
Rating: Really liked it


I think this is a good book on the view of vampires (enternals) and angels. I just thought that the ending was kind of sad for Zachary. I love the dis...moreI think this is a good book on the view of vampires (enternals) and angels. I just thought that the ending was kind of sad for Zachary. I love the discriptions of the characters and their settings because it made me feel like I was in the book. Overall, I think it is a great book for everone who enjoys angels, vampires, and any other fictional characters.


Recommended to: anyone

Girl v. Boy

Girl v. Boy


By: Yvonne Collins & Sandy Rideout
Reviewed by: Jade, 14
Rating: Really liked it


I like this book because I can relate to it. I can relate to Lu and how people do crazy things just to get the attention from the other gender. I also love the romance story between Lu and her friends. This is, in my opinion, a good book for teens because it has the same amount of stress and maybe some situations that we can get ourselves into. Over all, i think this is a very good book and would recommend this to teenagers.


Recommended to: anyone

Never Back Down

Never Back Down


Directed By: Jeff Wadlow
Reviewed by: szoghi, 17
Rating: It was amazing!


This is definitely my favorite movie of all time. It has a perfect blend of action and drama, along with a little bit of romance as a sort of side plot line. The movie is about a high school student who gets in a fight and loses, and works hard in order to fight the bully one last time. It is a really fantastic movie, especially for guys. There is a lot of action in the movie. The great thing about this movie is that it motivates people to do better things and work for what we want. The moral is that we can achieve whatever we put our hearts to. I love that this movie is actually realistic, rather than those James Bond movies where it's one versus one hundred enemies. I very highly recommend it to all people, due to the action, however, i would say about 13 and up.


Recommended to: Ages 13+

The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter


By: Nathaniel Hawthorne
Reviewed by: szoghi, 17
Rating: It was amazing!


I really enjoyed reading The Scarlet Letter. We read this book in class and did an essay on it, so I am very familiar with the content and depth of this book. I recommend the book to those mature enough to understand the somewhat difficult concepts of sin and adultery. In the book, the author explores the method of Hester's sin of adultery as well as the man who committed it with her. While she sins in public, he does so in private. The book goes on to show that those who take responsibility for their actions will be rewarded more than those who are afraid of what they have done. There are many themes to watch out for, mainly the setting of the three scaffold scenes on which the story revolves around. As I stated earlier, this was a great book to read. I recommend reading it on the weekends, vacations, or summers so you can be more attentive to what you read.


Recommended to: Ages 14+

Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice


By: Jane Austen
Reviewed by: szoghi, 17
Rating: Really liked it


Before I began to read this book, I had the mentality that it was going to be another book that girls will fall in love with and guys will hate. However, I was actually very much surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this book in class. Without giving away the book, I will give you some background description of what you can expect in this book. It begins with a family of five unmarried girls searching for new husbands. A wealthy new bachelor moves to town and causes a great stir among these girls and the other girls who are willing to fight for his affection. The book is very funny in exposing the flaws of society. Also, there is a lot about the topic of love in the story, it's not as bad as people expect. I think it's well worth the read.


Recommended to: Ages 12+

Recovery

Recovery

By: Eminem
Reviewed by: szoghi, 17
Rating: It was amazing!


The explicit album, Recover, by Eminem, consists of 17 songs. Almost all the songs contain explicit language, which is why I recommend it to older age listeners. However, that being said, it is one of the best albums ever made. Almost every song is great. I love how Eminem mixes up the styles so that no two songs sound similar. Personally, my favorites are 25 to Life and Love the Way you Lie based on the style I generally listen to. Most of the songs are the standard 4 minutes in length. I recommend buying the cd album for 10 dollars rather than each one individually from itunes. Some people have complained about his new style since there is less rapping. However, I think it has a good balance of everything.


Recommended to: Ages 16 and up

Macbeth

Macbeth


By: William Shakespeare
Reviewed by: szoghi, 17
Rating: Really liked it


The play, Macbeth, is something every individual should read before going to college. It starts with the main character, Macbeth and his friend, who are approached by three supernatural witches. After Macbeth finds out what his future entails, he wants to make sure he accomplishes everything he has been promised. The play is about what he does to gain power and how he deals with it. However, Macbeth isn't for everyone. There are many bloody scenes, which is why I recommend it to high school students. Overall, it was a great book. The language can be difficult to understand at times since it's not modern english, but with a little bit of practice it is quite enjoyable.


Recommended to: Ages 16 and up

Winter Longing

Winter Longing


By: Tricia Mills
Reviewed by: Aaliyah, 13
Rating: It was amazing!

Its a really great book. It had me hooked! It makes me appreciate my friends. I can also relate to the book when loosing the one you love. Its unbareable as shown in this amazing book! I recommed it to everyone!


Recommended to: Anyone

The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby


By: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Reviewed by: szoghi, 17
Rating: It was amazing!


We just finished reading this book in class and it was great. There are lots of things to look for and analyze, such as the color symbolism, religion, and weather. I will try providing a brief summary so I don't give away the story. It starts with the narrator, Nick, who lives next door to the wealthy Mr. Gatsby. Mr Gatsby host's parties week after week, for seemingly no reason. Many show up uninvited, but are still welcome. As becomes clear near the end, Gatsby was searching for the girl he lost 5 years before. Read the book to find out if he falls short again or gets what he wants. Fitzgerald is trying to convey to us how life was like back in the "roaring" twenties, where people's hobbies centered on materialistic things. His use of symbolism, such as the color green or the pouring rain, help create an atmosphere that is needed to assist the reader's analysis of the story. It is a very funny book and I highly recommend it to all people, especially those in high school.


Recommended to: Ages 15 and up

Major Barbara

Major Barbara


By: George Bernard Shaw
Reviewed by: szoghi, 17
Rating: Really liked it


This book is a funny short story, approximately 80 pages long. The key themes which jump out at the reader are religion and cynicism of society. The story starts out the Britomart family in need of money. The ex-husband, Andrew Undershaft, a successful arms dealer, is needed to assist the three children financially. On a surprise visit, Andrew sees his children whom he hasn't seen for many years. The main character, Barbara, of the Salvation Army, is very religious and dedicated to change her father's views on warfare and religion. Thus, without spoiling the book, the story shows the approaches Barbara and Undershaft take in trying to convert eachother's beliefs. This was a very funny story that took me a weekend to read. The language isn't too complex, thus in general, people won't have trouble understanding the diction.


Recommended to: Ages 12 and up

Billy Budd

Billy Budd


By: Herman Melville
Reviewed by: szoghi, 17
Rating: Really liked it


Although the book, Billy Budd, is difficult to read, the amount of depth that is packed into it makes it a very worthwhile. Since I don't want to give out too much about the book, I will provide a background for it. The story is about a young British sailor, Billy, who is very loyal to his shipmates and captain. He is loved by many. However, he is also hated by many because they are jealous of him. Thus, the story is about his experiences and struggles with those around him. It is a very interesting book. However, I recommend reading it with a parent, teacher, or friend if you want to understand the deep meaning in it.


Recommended to: Ages 14 and up

Someone Like You

Someone Like You


By: Sarah Dessen
Reviewed by: awesomeVia, 16
Rating: Really liked it


The reason why I love this story is because the plot between the characters Halley and Scarlett are relatable and also the issues in it interest to me.

Halley and Scarlett are both juniors in high school and are best friends. In the story, they have mentioned much of what the two have done together as best friends. The story starts with Scarlett losing her boyfriend Michael in a motorcycle crash. And not too long after, Scarlett realizes that she is pregnant with her deceased boyfriend's baby. And at that time, she needs her best friend the most to help her get through these hard times. Also at the same time, Halley is dealing with her new boyfriend, Macon and problems with her parents about rules.

Many of the issues are issues that many teenagers can relate to. I am very envious of the strong relationship that Halley and Scarlett have as friends and how long they have been friends for. Also, I like the description the author used of the various scenes.

The story is pretty touching and the story has a fantastic ending and teaches many lessons about life and friendship.


Recommended to: Almost everyone especially teenage girls

Doo-Wops & Hooligans

Doo-Wops & Hooligans

By: Bruno Mars
Reviewed by: awesomeVia, 16
Rating: Really liked it


Bruno Mars is, what I think, one of the rare singers that actually write and use their actual voices (his singing voice is beautiful) in songs these days.

One of his songs, "Just the way you are" has a good message to people out there, to just be the way you are. That's a sentence that a guy could say to a girl that will brighten her day very much. Also, the chorus isn't repetitive at all compared to many songs today but is really creative. Another song, "Grenade" has a creative chorus and lyrics and effectively expresses his feelings to that person he is singing about.

Overall, the album is worth checking out but the radio stations have overplayed the songs to the point of not wanting to her them again.


Recommended to: Almost everyone

Loud

Loud

By: Rihanna
Reviewed by: awesomeVia, 16
Rating: It was alright...


Alas, I have not reviewed in over a month. Anyways, the last time I reviewed Rihanna was on her last album titled "Rated R" which I said I did not like. With her most recent album "Loud", I would say it is better than her last album but it is not as good as her songs in the past (e.g. from her "Good Girl Gone Bad" album).

The song I enjoyed was "What's my Name" with Drake featured in it. I like the content of the lyrics and how much of a mini-love story it sounds and with Drake included, it makes it even better. Also, that was probably one of the only few songs that did not sound too electronic and shows Rihanna's true singing ability (The accompanying music video shows the chemistry between the two). The song "Only Girl (in the World" sounds very repetitive in the chorus, but I like the idea that one wants to feel like they are the only girl in the world to that guy. The song "S&M" makes Rihanna seem very sadistic and masochistic (the whole purpose of the song) and again, the chorus is very repetitive. The song "Cheers (Drinks to That)" is a song that has Avril Lavigne as one of the writers and has some qualities from one of Lavigne's songs "I'm with you" and also has repetitive lyrics. All the songs on the album are catchy but have very lacking lyrics with a few exceptions. Overall, if it weren't for "What's my Name", then the album would have been far more lacking. Overall, the album is okay.


Recommended to: Rihanna fans, etc...