Summer Reading 2014: Crewel

Crewel

Reviewed By: Emily P.
By: Gennifer Albin
Rating: Really liked it!

Crewel by Gennifer Albin was a great read. It is very similar to the book, The Giver and I had a hard time not comparing the two, or referring to The Giver while reading Crewel. Additionally, some of the concepts in the book where hard to grasp because of its supernatural nature. Overall though, I enjoyed the book and can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy.
Adelice has been chosen to be a spinster, a job any other girl would love, but not her. In her new life the Guild she experiences, love, enemies, secrets, death and a world she never imagined.

I would recommend this to: Teen Girls.

Summer Reading 2014: Starcrossed

Starcrossed

Reviewed By: Magali J.
By: Josephine Angelini
Rating: It was Amazing!

Helen was always trying to hide who she was in her sheltered home on Nantucket, but it kept getting harder for her since her hallucinations and nightmares began to happen more and more often. When she meets Lucas Delos she finds out who she really, but she can never really be with Lucas unless they can break free from the fates.

I would recommend this to: People who like Greek Myths.

Summer Reading 2014: Evermore

Evermore

Reviewed By: Magali J.
By: Alyson Noel
Rating: It was Amazing!

After Ever lost her family to a tragic accident she started to see auras, hears peoples thoughts, and know a person whole story by just touching them. 
Then she meets Damen who is gorgeous, wealthy, and really exotic. HE can help her deal with her new life. Every time she gets drawn closer she is left with more questions.

She's sure about one thing...that she keeps falling deeper in love with him

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

Summer Reading 2014: The Midnight Dress

The Midnight Dress

Reviewed By: Avery W.
By: Karen Foxlee
Rating: It was Amazing!

When Rose Lovell and her father first arrive in the Australian beach town called Leonora, she is a bitter, quiet loner. She hasn't ever belonged somplace and she doesn't want to, either. Then she meets Pearl Kelly, a bubbly and sweet girl she can't help but like being around. They form a great friendship. Pearl eventually convinces Rose to sew a dress to wear at the local Harvest Festival, which Rose does with the help of rumored witch Edie Baker. It's a beautiful dress, midnight blue with antique glass beads. But then, on the night of the Harvest Festival, everything goes completely wrong. One of the girls goes missing, and life in Leonora will be changed forever.

"The Midnight Dress" was gripping to the very end. Once I picked it up I couldn't put it down again. It does have some swearing, but the book is definitely worth it. I reccomend it wholeheartedly.

I would recommend this to: Teenage girls

Summer Reading 2014: Of Posiedon

Of Posiedon

Reviewed By: Magali J.
By: Anna Banks
Rating: It was Amazing!

Galen, a Syrena Prince, was sent out to find a girl who had a special gift. She could talk to fish. After several encounters with Emma including one with a deadly shark, Galen becomes convinced that Emma is thee girl he's looking for. Now all he has to do is convince her that she's the one that holds the key to his kingdom. An amazing book the leaves you in a cliffhanger that makes you want to find out what happens.

I would recommend this to: Anybody!

Summer Reading 2014: Out of the Easy

Out of the Easy

Reviewed By: Emily P.
By: Ruta Sepetys
Rating: It was Amazing!

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys was a great book! I loved her bestselling first book, Between Shades of Gray, so when I found out she had written a second book, I just had to read it. The character's life and struggles are absolutely nothing like my own, and yet I completely understood her. Sepetys is an amazing author with the ability to spin these tales that make you want more, more, more.  Josie comes from an embarrassing lineage and was forced to raise herself. Throughout the book she works to leave her life behind and make a name for herself somewhere else. But in the end, is that really what she wants?

Great Read!

I would recommend this to: Teen Girls

Summer Reading 2014: The Selection

The Selection

Reviewed by: Magali J.
By: Kiera Cass
Rating: It was Amazing!

A chance to escape the life that they were born into and an opportunity to live in the palace with glittering jewels and compete for the heart of Prince Maxon.
But, for America Singer being one of the thirty-five girls means that she has to leave Aspen, her love, leave her home, and live in a palace that is always under constant rebel attacks.
Once she's there she meets Prince Maxon and starts to question all the things she had planned for herself. This book will have you hooked from start to finish with many surprises along the way.

I would recommend this to: Anyone and Everyone!

Summer Reading 2014: A people's history of the United States

A people's history of the United States

Reviewed by: Ravi K..
By: Howard Zinn
Rating: It was alright

In my opinion, this book was more about teaching American history from the point of view the lesser-known or lower classes. Zinn speaks from the point of view of Indians, farmers, and even women, defending their positions. It didn't really teach American history; moreover, it expanded on a teens knowledge of previously learned history to "complete the story".

I would recommend this to: People who enjoy learning about history.

Summer Reading 2014: The Fault In Our Stars

The Fault In Our Stars

Reviewed by: Ofelia F..
By: John Green
Rating: It was Amazing!

All Hazel Grace can think about is dying after being diagnosed of lung cancer when she was 13-years old. Not until her mom sends her to Support Group one afternoon that she realizes she isn't alone. There she meets Augustus Waters the one who will change her life completely. She starts to know the meaning of true friendship and love. "The Fault in our Stars" is a book you won't be able to put down; it will have you hooked from the start to the end.

I would recommend this to: Anyone who wants to read an amazing love story, and having hope within yourself.

Summer Reading 2014: Little Bee

Little Bee

Reviewed by: Marchbaby330
By: Chris Cleave
Rating: It was Amazing!

Upon a trip to Nigeria Sarah O'Rourke, editor of a posh British women's magazine, and her husband come in contact with a teenager, Little Bee, escaping the destruction and pillage of her village. Sarah and her husband, knew nothing of the on going problems in Nigeria and become confronted with a choice: Save the girls at great personal cost or ignore them.
Little Bee gets taken to a detention center in which she plots various ways to commit suicide in case "the men" come for her.The novel flashes in between Sarah and her husband's lives. After some time, Sarah's husband falls into depression after their crisis on the Nigerian beach and commits suicide. Sarah is left to take care of their 3 year-old son on her own, and also Little Bee who appeared at her door after escaping the detention center. This novel emphasis the impact the women had on each other's lives and the way they continue to live it.

I would recommend this to: Anyone!

Summer Reading 2014: 5 Centimeters per Second

5 Centimeters per Second

Reviewed by: Trina N.
By: Makoto Shinkai
Rating: It was Amazing!

This is one of my favorite manga books. It is also a novel and was made into a movie. The story is set in Japan beginning from the 1990s and ending in modern day. Takaki Tono is the main character. As a kid he meets Akari and becomes best friends with her. As time passes, Akari has to transfer and Takaki eventually has to transfer also. They keep in touch by letters but eventually grow apart. The rest of the story is basically the rest Takaki's life. This is a story of romance and life. I can relate to this story so much.

I would recommend this to: Anime and manga fans. Ages 12 and up. People who love romance and want a relatable story to their lives.

Summer Reading 2014: Summerland

Summerland

Reviewed by: Avery W.
By: Michael Chabon
Rating: It was Amazing!

An ancient villain, known as Coyote, wants to poison the Lodgepole, the giant invisible tree that connects all the worlds. Ethan Feld, a kid who is terrible at baseball, has been chosen by the Ferishers (a very old race of small humanoids from another world) to save the Lodgepole, and the universe with it. He and the baseball team he creates while traveling through fantastic lands have to get to Murmury Well in time to stop Coyote and rescue Ethan's father. This is an amazing tale that seamlessly blends mythology from cultures around the world (including Native American), high-paced action, baseball, airships, and the power of underdogs into something you'll never forget. This is definitely one of the best books I've read in a long time. I highly recommend that you read it, too.

I would recommend this to: Anyone 12+ who likes baseball and fantasy but has yet to find a book that combines the two into something so incredible.

Summer Reading 2014: Extras

Extras

Reviewed by: Juliette Z.
By: Scott Westerfeld
Rating: Really Liked It

In the conclusion book of the Uglies series, we get to see the world from the point of view of Aya. She is a fifteen year old living in the world "After Tally" and the mind rain. The government is a system of ranking. Everybody has a feed starting at a very young age and depending on their popularity and how popular their feed is, they are ranked. The higher ranked people get more privileges and nicer things than the lower ranked. Aya is ranked in the 400,000's and is considered an extra. Her older brother Hiro is a "kicker" and among the top 1,000. One night, Aya follows a girl after a party and meets the mysterious Sly Girls. They are legendary and Aya knows she has found the story that will make her famous. The only problem is the Sly Girls don't like to be popular, so to become accepted by the girls, Aya must first disappear. As her rank drops lower and lower Aya begins you don't need a high rank to be happy. In fact, she feels more free now. Will she be loyal to the girls, the only true friends she's ever had? Or will she take the chance and use their story to become famous, but betray the girls in the process? Oh yeah, and Tally Youngblood might get involved... ;)

I recommend you read the first 3 books in the series before tackling this one.

Here are the books in order:
1) Uglies
2) Pretties
3) Specials
4) Extras

Happy Reading!!!

I would recommend this to: Anyone 12 and up

Summer Reading 2014: The Fault in our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars

Reviewed by: Rodolfo T.
By: John Green
Rating: It was amazing!

It was good and it was very romantic I really liked it but I cried at the end and yes its about cancer.

I would recommend this to: People who love romance

Paws to Read: Summer Reading Program 2014

Summer is here and so is your chance for some amazing prizes and activities! Just click on the paw logo to visit the "Paws to Read" website and start your journey today. As a bonus, every teen that submits a review during the summer reading program will automatically receive a free book!