A Feast for Crows

A Feast for Crows

By: George R. R. Martin

Reviewed by: Han Wang, Age 16

Rating: It was all right.

I'm hesitant to rate a Martin novel as just all right, because A Feast for Crows (AFFC) is well-written but a little stale. The main problem I have with AFFC is the book isn't the tiniest bit immersive.

One reason for its lack of readability is the introduction of chapters shining a spotlight on several new characters.

Noticeably absent from the list of POVs are any Jon, Tyrion, or Daenery chapters. The result of Martin's decision to hold off on telling the fate of fan favorites is a ridiculous amount of POVs that are book-closers instead of page-turners.

The plot barely progresses in addition to lacking climatic elements. Fans expecting resolution to the various cliff-hangers apparent by the end of the turbulent third book, A Storm of Swords, will surely be disappointed.

I would recommend this to: Followers of the series devoted enough to read the book instead of just reading the Wikipedia plot summaries.

What library do you go to?: Woodward Park

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (DVD)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

By: J.K. Rowling

Reviewed by: Yaz, Age 17

Rating: It was all right.

I think this movie was a pretty good movie in itself however, when you really compare it to the actual book, the movie "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoeniz" was kinda like a Cliff's Notes version of the book. A lot of parts in the book that really had emotion and a lot of twists and heart wrenching moments, were pretty much left out of the movie! Like the whole thing between Harry and Cho. That was totally restricted to just the kiss. No real emotions to intrigue the viewer.

One major thing is that people tend to compare it to the previous movies...which were WAY better than this one. The actors were brilliant as usual, it was just the directing that bothered me. Either way, if you have the time, this is a good movie to watch! I mean c'mon, it's Harry Potter.

I would recommend this to: Everyone

What library do you go to?: Woodward Park

Something Borrowed

Something Borrowed

By: Emily Giffin

Reviewed by: awesomeVia, Age 17

Rating: It was all right.

A few weeks ago I picked up the book called "Something Borrowed." I heard from my friends that it was an amazing book. When I read it, I did not think it was amazing, but okay.

here's how the story goes (*SPOILER ALERT!): Rachel, a single, [recent] 30 year old lawyer living in Manhattan, feels the pressure to get married and to start a family. Her best friend Darcy is engaged and about to get married to Dex even though she is only a few months younger than Rachel. She blabs in the first chapter how she thought turning 30 would be all that and amazing, but when she actually turns 30, she does not feel joyful but depressed of all the things she would be doing already at 30. She also discusses how her best friend [from childhood], Darcy, has always been the outgoing, flashy one [who partied in high school] while Rachel was the good girl who stayed at home studying for tests and got straight-A's. On the night of Rachel's birthday, Rachel got really drunk and without knowing, she slept with Dex, Darcy's fiance. And after all that involves drama, a love triangle, and friendship problems.

the one thing I disliked about the book is how Rachel keeps feeling bad about herself for not being what Darcy is and I feel Rachel is probably jealous of Darcy. And Darcy being mad is absolutely not a good sight.

I would recommend this to: Women

What library do you go to?: Woodward Park

The Omnivore's Dilemma

The Omnivore's Dilemma

By: Michael Pollan

Reviewed by: awesomeVia, Age 17

Rating: Really liked it!

The main reason why I liked the book is because it involves where our food comes from and straightforwardly, it is about food.

I have learned many things from this book, like how most processed food has some sort of corn product whether that be fillers, preservatives, starches, sweeteners, non-caking agents, etcetera. Also, organic food may not necessarily come from where the majority think it comes from, harmonious, peaceful pastures. Also, the book has the history of human agriculture and animal domestication and what the ideal meal would be composed of.

I would recommend this to: Foodies, almost everyone.

What library do you go to?: Woodward Park

A Clash of Kings

A Clash of Kings

By: George R. R. Martin

Reviewed by: Han Wang, Age 16

Rating: Really liked it!

Following the death of the King's Hand and war buddy Ned Stark, several self-proclaimed kings seek to unseat the incestuous product of the Lannister twins, Joffrey Baratheon, from the throne. In addition to potential usurpers, the House of Lannister must also deal with a pissed-off Lord of Winterfell who seeks retribution for his father's death and fights to free his sisters, who presumably remain at King's Landing.

Reading the second book in a series seven books long, readers should expect both character development and cliff-hangers. Although, since this is Martin's lengthy, twisted work, it would be foolish to rule out any jaw-droppers.

Through new point-of-views, he carefully introduces insight to otherwise unlikeable characters. We learn soon enough that House words shape and guide the actions of everyone in the family. Though torn with sympathy for all, we root for those we presume to be good.

As summer winds down in Martin's Westeros, the reader would be wise to remember the Stark word: winter is coming. The others are not dead: just sleeping. and when they march toward the wall, intending to rain down destruction on an ignorant realm consumed in war, who but the sorely undermanned Night's watch will be there to stop them?

I would recommend this to: Fantasy-loving teens who want to ditch the Harry Potter fandom

What library do you go to?: Woodward Park

The Skin I'm In

The Skin I'm In

By: Sharon G Flake

Reviewed by: Naatika, Age 10

Rating: It was amazing!!

I want to read it again!

I would recommend this to: People who like books about segregation.

Green Lantern

The Green Lantern

By: Martin Campbell

Reviewed by: awesomeVia, age 17

Rating: Really liked it!

I admit, I never really read the Green Lantern comics. But I could still understand the movie. The movie had many funny scenes and when I read the Fresno Bee review saying that in the comic version, the costumes were made of energy (hard to believe though) but in the film version, that could not be duplicated so it had to be made of spandex and other materials so the movie in some aspects couldn't be true to the comics but since I am not a die-hard comic fan, I can't really say how true the movie was to the comics. But as a theater-goer, I liked it. I loved Blake Lively's performance in the movie and that she was not cast as some sex object to lure the male audience and Ryan Reynold's character but as a serious co-worker and love-interest. Plus she looks stunning as a brunette. Ryan Reynolds does a good job in making some of the scenes hilarious. And I also loved the romantic ending of the movie.


I would recommend this to: Fans of superhero movies

What library do you go to?: Woodward Park

Some Like It Hot

Some Like It Hot

By: Billy Wilder

Reviewed by: awesomeVia, age 17

Rating: It was amazing!

Seriously, this is the best Marilyn Monroe movie I have seen and it involves drag queens which then makes it more awesome and hilarious.

The start of the movie has a serious tone in which two guys (Joe and Jerry) try to flee from gangsters. Then they hop onto some train and pretend to be women to join in on the traveling band going to Florida. they then meet Sugar Kane (Marilyn Monroe) and fall for her. Many funny scenes go on during the movie. The ending was really, really hilarious. The movie is best to be seen as it is hard to put its amazingness in words.

I would recommend this to: Everyone

What library do you go to?: Woodward Park

Forever Summer

Forever Summer

By: Alyson Noel

Reviewed by: Tahrima, age 14

Rating: Really liked it

Forever Summer includes two books about teenage girls going through hard times with their parent's divorce. As you follow these girls throughout their hard times you begin to fall in love with the characters within. These books include romance, family, and exotic places. Showing how teenage girls cope with their problems you are shown a new view on life. In this book you follow the girls into their passionate world of falling in love and fitting in to new places. If you want to forget about your problems for a while, this book is the book for you!

The Warlock

The Warlock

By: Michael Scott

Reviewed by: Tahrima, age 14

Rating: Really liked it

The Warlock is an awesome book. Michael once again crafts a novel for this unusual chain of books, perfectly. The best thing I like about this series, is about how the characters can use their auras differently than any other books that I have read. I just cannot wait for the final one to complete this heart stopping series.

I would recommend this to: Ages 14 and up

Always a Witch

Always a Witch

By: Carolyn MacCullough

Reviewed by: Tahrima, age 14

Rating: It was all right...

This book was pretty good, but took a long while to get into. It's nice plot was embedded so far into the overabundance of details and side stories that it was difficult to remember all the main points. I would have enjoyed it more if the author hadn't put in so many sensory details. This did enhance the picture in my head but made the book far too wordy. I had to reread paragraphs several times to get back into it at some parts. This book was enjoyable to a point, but after reading it for too long I stopped being interested. I read like a good Fanfiction, which is by no means a bad thing, but gives you an idea of how incredibly detailed it was. I would only recommend this book to avid fantasy readers, and I do think that most of the people that enjoy fantasy would enjoy it. I read the two books out of order, so I think it works well as a standalone book, and will also be enjoyed by people who liked the first book.


I would recommend this to: Ages 13 and up

Oedipus Rex

Oedipus Rex

By: Sophocles

Reviewed by: Szoghi, age 17

Rating: Didn't like it

Although this play was considered one of the greatest Greek tragedies in history, I personally didn't enjoy reading the story. It is extremely controversial because Oedipus has, without knowing it, killed his father and married his mother. His quest to cure the kingdom of the plague has led him to figuring out this horrible truth. As a result, his mother kills herself, and Oedipus pokes his eyes out. This is a tough story to read, especially since it is very hard to follow the plot and understand the language. However, despite the controversy, many schools require students to read this classic. However, I did like how Sophocles used dramatic irony to enhance the intensity and emotions of the story.


I would recommend this to: Ages 18 and up

Ordinary People

Ordinary People

By: Judith Guest

Reviewed by: Szoghi, age 17

Rating: It was all right...

This is a book about the struggles of a family to survive, despite the hardships they have encountered. The main character, Conrad, is a teenage boy who has blamed himself for his brother's drowning. As a result, he tried slashing his wrists and killing himself. His father is much more conscientious and caring for Conrad, while his mother has never overcome her disappointment for Conrad. People reading this book feel pity for the main character because of the poor way he is treated and babied by mother and father respectively. I have conflicting feelings about the age people should read this book. While reading it, it made me feel so sad and actually somewhat gloomy. I don't think schools should require students to read this book, since the maturity of students differ. The main moral of the story I think is to never take anything for granted.


I would recommend this to: Ages 16 and up

Small Acts of Amazing Courage

Small Acts of Amazing Courage

By: Gloria Whelan

Reviewed by: Tahrima, age 14

Rating: Really liked it

I love how Gloria Whelan expresses Rosalind's character -- daring, persistent and socially concerned. Whelan has other characters that are well developed, too. I could clearly picture the setting because of Whelan's descriptive writing. The chapters stop at intriguing point in the story, which keeps the action going. This book also has sudden plot twists, some of which are funny. I wasn't pleased with her conclusion, however, because some of the characters' fates are left untold. I had never read a book by Gloria Whelan before, so this book has prompted me to read some of her other works. Since I love historical fiction, I really enjoyed learning about India's Ghandi era. The vocabulary is a little advanced but, other than that...

I would recommend this to: other fans of historical fiction

All My Sons

By: Arthur Miller

Reviewed by: , age 17

Rating: Really liked it
This controversial book was written during the war, but published afterward. It dealt with the corruption and manipulation of businesses at the time. The story was about an owner of a weapons manufacturing plant, and how he had lied about selling broken parts to the army responsible for the death of 21 soldiers. As a result, he accused his partner of selling those broken cylinder heads for the airplanes. One of the owners son's was to marry the girl of the assistant. However, since he was MIA for a few years, his brother proposes to the girl. The issue in the story is between the families and how the wrongly accused business partners son wants to stop the marriage to a tainted family. Overall, it is an interesting book. It was very nice and effective in conveying its message.

I would recommend this to: Ages 13 and up

Savvy

By: Ingrid Strong
Reviewed by: Danica, 14

Rating: Really liked it
the book was interesting, i couldn't put it down! the story has some twists in it. the was also a bit of romance, comedy things i really like.

I would recommend this to: anyone who's interested