The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean

Fourteen-year-old Symone's only friend is an imaginary incarnation of Captain Laurence "Titus" Oates, an explorer who accompanied Robert Scott on his failed expedition to the South Pole. Sym is passionate about the Antarctic and her infatuation is fed by Uncle Victor, an eccentric family friend who has cared for Sym and her mother since Sym's father's death. When Victor surprises Sym with a trip to "the Ice," she has some doubts, especially when she discovers that her mother can't come. But her excitement overshadows her initial misgivings--until realizes that Uncle Victor has an obsession of his own that runs deeper than the glaciers and threatens her life. It's not always clear whether Titus' voice is imagined or if it's meant to be shy, bookish Sym's only link to the outside world, but McCaughrean's lyrical language actively engages the senses, plunging readers into a captivating landscape that challenges the boundaries of reality.

I wanted to like this book--at times it was fascinating--but for long periods of time it was just strange. It had the feeling of being set in an earlier time; yet, there are satellite phones and other modern conveniences. Sym is just so naive; I couldn't like her. Uncle Victor's obcession was so complete! So, OK, it's a Printz award winner--I bet when the book is discarded in 5 years it won't have been read 4 times.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

In a society where unwanted teens are salvaged for their body parts, three runaways fight the system that would "unwind" them.

What a fascinating concept; it seems so logical...an ideal solution to some of our medical problems. And as a parent, I think there are times when it might seem like a feasible solution; however, this premise is horrifying. Loved the book, but I was more involved in the logic of the story than the story itself.

Rating: 9 of 10

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

Frankie Landau-Banks attempts to take over a secret, all-male society at her exclusive prep school, and her antics with the group soon draw some unlikely attention and have unexpected consequences that could change her life forever

I'm not sure who will read this book...most girls will not get past the first chapter; however, for the right smart girl, this will be a great read. Strong powerful young girl showing off her capabilities. Strong showing that there is more to high school than boys!

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

When U.S. Marine Logan Thibault finds a half-buried photograph of a smiling young woman in the desert in Iraq, he carries it with him and soon discovers that it brings him luck in games and during combat; after returning to Colorado, his obsession with the picture leads him in a fateful search for what may be the love of his life.

This was a fun read. Yes, it's a sappy love story--but that is great to read occassionally. It was typical Nicholas Sparks--sure to please his many teenage fans. The ending was unexpected; but it tied up loose ends nicely.

Rating: 8 of 10

Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott

Eighteen-year-old Danielle grew up learning how to steal from her mother, and the two have spent their lives traveling around and targeting wealthy homes, but in the beach town of Heaven, when Dani realizes her new friend's home is actually her next target and her potential boyfriend is a police officer, she must try to hide her true identity.

This is a great read about a girl who wants to change but isn't sure she can. I thought the ending might be just a little too good to believe; but, the conflict between what the girl wants and what she knows her mother expects of her is very well done. I think my high school girls will like it for the love story.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Burned by Ellen Hopkins

Seventeen-year-old Pattyn, the eldest daughter in a large Mormon family, is sent to her aunt's Nevada ranch for the summer where she temporarily escapes her alcoholic, abusive father and finds love and acceptance, only to lose everything when she returns home.

This is a book teenage girls will love. It is very sad and contains powerful scenes of first lust and first love (not the same thing!). The novel in verse concept is very good at making every word count. The abusive father graphically shows how some families have very difficult home situations that they do not let the "outside" world know about.

Rating: 8 out of 10...maybe even a 9

The Misadventures of Maude March by Audrey Couloumbis

After the death of the stern aunt who raised them since they were orphaned, eleven-year-old Sallie and her fifteen-year-old sister escape their self-serving guardians and begin an adventure resembling those in the dime novels Sallie loves to read.

What's not to like? Plucky young girls under dire circumstances who are trying to find a new life for themselves...the ending was too quick, it just didn't feel right; however, the book was a fun read. Unfortunately, I don't think any of my high school students will ever read (or like) this book.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Sara's Face by Melvin Burgess

Seventeen-year-old Sara wants so much to be famous that when a legendary, plastic-surgery-addicted rock star offers to take her under his wing and pay for her to have surgery too, she jumps at the chance despite her misgivings.

This is one weird book...written in part like a fan magazine. The point of view keeps jumping around and it was impossible to get a real view of Sara...which was probably the point. Strange...too strange for me to really like it and very creepy. Very much a modern horror story in a medical way.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Jennifer Government by Max Barry

This is an Abe Book this year; I doubt if it wins, but it is thought provoking. In it's way, it seemed like a spin off the old classic 1984. As I was reading it, I kept thinking that it seemed like it should be a movie...one of those over-the-top farces. This is not my favorite book; I don't know that I even liked it; but satire probably isn't something that I enjoy reading. Rating: 7 out of 10.

Hearts of Stone by Kathleen Ernst

What a great read...Civil War story, destitute family under terrible circumstances being held together by the oldest sister (who isn't very old), terrible living conditions...makes Gone With the Wind look like a good-time book! I guess I had never thought about the refuge camps during Civil War time. I really liked the main character who was trying to do the right thing even though it wasn't always possible.

Rating: 8 out of 10.

Marines of Autumn

The Marines of Autumn. James Brady. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2001. 274pp.
His mission was complete; he did what he was told to do and now he can go home, or so Tom Verity thought. Verity was granted compassionate relief from the Marines to take care of his young daughter after the recent death of his wife, when he was called by the Marine Corps. He was told to travel to Korea to listen to Chinese “chatter.” He was not supposed to fight, just listen. As MacArthur was promising the Nation that “the boys might be home for Christmas,” the Chinese were positioning themselves all across North Korea. Since the war would soon be over, or so they thought, the government stopped shipment of winter clothing. Some soldiers wore summer fatigues. As Verity, his gunnery sergeant “Gunny” Tate, and the driver “Izzo,” drove closer to the thirty-eighth parallel, the sense of Chinese soldiers in the area becomes more evident. Amongst threats and warnings, MacArthur is determined to march the Marines all the way to China. Verity follows the lead division and as the Chinese attack and Marine divisions are scattered all over Korea, Verity is given a weapon to join the Marines to fight. As the Marines try a hasty retreat through snowy mountains with temperatures reaching thirty-below zero Fahrenheit, and suicidal Chinese attacking every night, Verity tries to stay alive in the freezing Hell. This is a book targeted for all freedom-loving Americans.
THE MARINES OF AUTUMN is a book that describes and recreates the struggles Marines encountered in Korea. In the end Brady adds his own surprising twist overall, leaving the book with need for little improvement. The suspense and interest are captured not only with the Korean War story itself, but also by how Brady tells it. This book, once read, will inspire respect, honor, and thanks for those who served in Korea, “The Forgotten War.” On a scale of 1-10, this exceptionally well-written book would receive a 10.
Reviewed by: Brock

Locked in Time

Locked In Time. Lois Duncan. New York: Dell Publishing,1985. 210pp.
Nore Robbins, a seventeen-year-old girl, had just arrived in Louisiana from Boston. Her father was waiting for her, but he did not bring his new wife and family. Charles Robbins is an author who loves his daughter but is blinded by love for his new wife and family after his first wife’s death by cancer. As the story progresses, it is clear that Lisette Berge feels threatened by Nore. This could be due to Gabe Berge’s crush on her or Josie Berge’s sisterly bonding with her. Throughout the story, Lisett
e tries to kill Nore several times. First, she has Gabe take her out in a boat and push her out. For most, this is no big deal, but Nore cannot swim. She makes it safely out. Later, once Nore realizes that Lisette, Gabe, and Josie do not age at all, Lis tries to kill her again. This time, she locks Nore and Dave, Nore’s boyfriend, into a shed containing all the evidence of their timeless secret. Then, she sets it on fire and leaves. Before too long, Josie comes back and sets Dave and Nore free. Then Nore explains that Lis and Gabe got in a car accident on their way out of town. Josie lived with Nore and her family for generations to come. This book is geared for young adult mystery buffs.
Locked in Time is a great book. Lois Duncan captured and held my attention right at the beginning. This book is unique because of the way Ms. Duncan played out the irony. Nore has an internal watch, and time is non-existant to the Berge’s. The story could have had a better ending if Nore had gone on to say that she and Dave were married and they took care of Josie until she died. This book is good but compared to some of Mary Higgins Clark’s books this one pales. Node is a believable character and she makes a good detective. On a scale of one to ten, I rate this book a 7.
Reviewed by: Jessica

The Killer's Cousin

The Killer’s Cousin. Nancy Werlin. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc., 1998. 229pp.
David Bernard Yaffe, the main character, was a normal teenager and then something terrible happened. He couldn’t live in the same town as he used to, so his parents sent him off to live in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with his aunt and uncle and his cousin Lily. David’s aunt and uncle told him that he could live upstairs in the attic. Something had happened in Massachusetts with Lily’s older sister and the family is not supposed to talk about it. He was ok with living there, until his cousin Lily starts acting strange around him when she found out that he was living up in the attic. He starts to see moving shadows in the dark and weird things start to happen. David was curious so he decided to check things out. What he discovered was something he never thought would be possible. I would recommend this book to people of fourteen years and up.
The Killer’s Cousin is a great book if you like suspense and a little bit of thrill. This book really caught my attention on the very first page I read. This book is unique because it has little important details that readers should and will be able to recognize. I thought Nancy Werlin should have let the readers learn a little bit more about David Yaffe’s life before the “accident.” This book compares to other suspense books because it makes readers think about what they just read and put the clues together. It’s like a thriller because the dark and mysterious shadows frighten David. I think the characters David and Lily were most convincing because the author stuck with ideas that the characters would most likely think of. I would rank The Killer’s Cousin an 8 out of 10.
Reviewed by Melissa

The Keeper

The Keeper. Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. New York; Bantam Books. 182 pages
Nick Karpinsky is living an average teenager’s life. He has friends and a loving family. His mother teaches piano lessons and his father used to work at an insurance company. All of a sudden, one day out of the blue, Jacob, Nick’s father, doesn’t report to work. He stays home all the rime and never leaves. Nick and his mother know something is wrong, but they don’t do anything right away. One day one of Jacob’s coworkers brings Jacob’s belongings back to him. When Nick finds this out he goes to his father to see what is going on. His father tells him that the communists are out to get him. Nick offers help, and Jacob declines the help because he doesn’t want Nick to get involved. Nick and his mother now know that Jacob is mentally ill. Once they admit this fact thing get worse by the minute.
THE KEEPER is a confusing book to begin with, but once you get into it, it is very interesting. This book contains many instances where Jacob’s family fears for his life. I would highly recommend this book to someone who enjoys fiction. This book focuses on the audience of teens who need to understand the circumstances under which a friend might live. Nick really lets his father’s problems get to him at school and while he is with friends. On a scale of one to ten, I would rate this book a seven.
Reviewed by Chance.

The Keeper

The Keeper. Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
This is a story about a middle school boy, Nick, coming to terms with his mentally ill father. The story is written from Nick’s point of view. Like Nick any adolescent will relate to his life-long desire to be a member of a team, his deep need and struggles to blend in with his peers- to fit in, and hid awful longing for a dad to share things with, and much more. This team that Nick is trying to get on is the baseball team and the reason that he longs to make the baseball team is to prove to his father that he can do anything that he wants to do if he works hard enough for it, the main reason that he wants to prove this to his father was because his father never worked for anything therefore he had nothing. Nick did not want to live the kind of lifestyle that his dad did and so Nick was always willing to work for whatever he got. I think that this book is for young adults. I did not personally like this book mainly because I like to read nonfiction books. I did not like the story that was behind this book as well. I think that this book would be interesting for young adults who like fiction books. The plot was very hard to understand because the person’s point of view kept on changing throughout the story, mainly in the plot. It would be a good book for a young reader to read on the side but I would not recommend this book to anyone to use for a report. This book was sad because Nick’s father could not support Nick because he did not have enough work ethic about himself to try to get a job.
On a scale 1-10, I give this book a 4.
Reviewed by Clayton.

Ironman

Ironman. Chris Crutcher, New York: Greenwillow Books, c1995.181pp. Bo Brewster, is the main character, is having trouble with his family as well as his football coach. Bo can come off to some people as a "hot head" or a "quitter,” but he is just like any other teenager who faces many of the same problems that many student athletes, or just regular teenagers, face today. Bo takes the smarter way about dealing with his emotions and enrolls in an anger management class before school to avoid being expelled. While in anger management, he meets a girl named Shelly who completely changes his life. He is training to be in Yukon Jacks, a triathlon race, and tries to beat his competition. Bo writes to Larry King, the TV host, telling him what is going on in his life or the problems that he is facing. His show’s about the different life styles people live in.
Such as Bo's, his parents are divorced; he has problems with his dad, and he also has trouble getting along with friends at school. Shelly, who is now Bo's girlfriend cares for him. Bo has never really had anyone this close to him before. It touches him because just one person completely changed the way he looks at things. I think because of Shelly, Bo continued and worked really hard to prove himself and to compete in Yukon Jacks.
This book is good, it relates to some of my friends, and some of the problems they have been through but not exactly in the same way the story is based on. On a Scale of one-to-ten, I would rate this book at probably a six or seven.
Reviewed by: David C

I'll Be Seeing You

I’ll be Seeing You. Mary Higgins Clark. New York: Simon & Schuster, 317pp.
Meghan Collins, a television news reporter for the channel 3 news, is covering a story in the emergency room at the local hospital. When a woman who was a victim of a stabbing was brought in, she begins to investigate the murder and is shocked when she looks into the face of someone who could be her twin. This leads her to discover a double life her father had been living. By this time her father was presumed dead for ten months after a traffic accident that happened on a bridge crossing the Hudson River. Meghan’s mother is unable to obtain joint assets she needs to keep the family inn. In Edwin Collins absence, he becomes the suspect in a murder. Meghan decides that she is going to identify the dead girl, find her murderer, and clear her own father’s name. This search is entwined with a story she is covering on the Manning Clinic, an in-vitro fertilization center. The night she looked into the face of the girl that could be her twin she was sent on a journey of deceit and death involving her missing father, the stabbing victim, and the Manning Clinic. That would not end till she reached the truth that could cost her her life.
This was one of the best books I have read by one of my favorite authors. Mary Higgins Clark. In this book I was left wondering what was going to happen next, and where these clues are leading. In the end, when readers think they have it all figured out with Meghan, something totally opposite occures. Is she going to live through what it about to happen next? This book is geared towards readers who live suspense in the books they read and like to try to solve the mystery before the truth is revealed.
Rank: 10 out of 10
Reviewed by Anne.

Holes

Holes. Louis Sachar. New York: Frances Foster Books, 1998. 233pp.
This novel by Louis Sachar is a suspenseful, intriguing book. The main characters are Stanley Yelnats, a falsely accused middle-school-aged boy, “X-ray,” “Armpit,” “Squid,” and “Zero.” They all meet at a boot camp called Camp Green Lake. Camp Green Lake isn’t really a lake at all; it’s only a past remembrance of what used to be there. The only view for the campers is yellow dust and desert for miles around. Everyday their job is to dig a five-feet deep and wide hole. Along with this assignment, they are obligated to give anything interesting they find to the Warden. This plays a big role in the outcome of the book. Stanley becomes friends with “Zero,” and uneducated boy whom no one really gives acknowledgment to. Towards the end everything in the story starts to come together and a mystery that has been going on for generations is solved. This novel is geared more towards junior high level children, but at the same time I enjoyed it.
Holes is written in a mysterious, jigsaw-puzzle way. It captured my attention right off the bat, and once I’d finished, I wanted to read it all over again. At first the story was a bit confusing, but then I began to see how it all fits together and became even more engrossed with it. I for one, have never read a book written quite like this one and I would highly recommend it for anyone who likes an adventure.
Book rating from 1-10: 8
By: Alix P

The Horse Whisperer

The Horse Whisperer. Nicholas Evans. New York: Delacorte Press, 1995. 404 pp.
This thrill capturing story is about a fifteen year old girl, Grace Maclean, who loses her leg while involved in a freak accident with a semi involving her horse Pilgrim and best friend, Judith, who dies with her horse, Gulliver. Grace goes through emotional stress after loosing her right leg and decides to never ride again and sell Pilgrim back to his old owners in Kentucky. Grace’s parents, Annie and Robert Maclean, are worried Grace will convince herself that she will never be able to live a normal life again. Annie decides to quit her job as a magazine editor and finds out about a “Horse Whisperer” in Montana by the name of Tom Booker. Annie decides to take a chance and take Grace and Pilgrim to Montana to see if Tom can heal the horse and hopefully give Grace the confidence of riding again. While there, Annie falls in love with Tom. After two months of being in Montana, Annie invites Robert to see Grace and her and meet the Bookers, As Tom decides its time for Grace to ride Pilgrim. As time draws to a close at the Double Divide, Annie wants to have one last ride with Tom. What will happen?
In The Horse Whisperer, Mr. Evans does a wonderful job describing the worries equestrians go through when something so tragic happens at times like these. On a scale of one to ten, as ten being the best, I give The Horse Whisperer a nine. With its extravagant description of Montana, it puts you in the mood to go. This book is more focused towards adults and older teens.
Reviewed by Cecilia D

Hoops

Hoops. Walter Dean Myers. New York: Delacorte Press, 1981. 183 pages.
Lonnie Jackson can move, dribble, shoot, slam, or do anything that a pro basketball player can do. Although Lonnie can play the game of basketball extremely well, he soon learns from his new friend and coach, Cal, that there is more to basketball than just playing well.
Lonnie is surrounded by situations that he doesn’t know how to handle. After entering the Tournament of Champions, a New York street-ball tournament, Lonnie and his team encounter more temptations and problems. Cal is all too familiar with these complications because he had once been in the same situation as Lonnie, a hotshot basketball star with nothing but opportunity, who gave in to the bad aspects of the game. Cal sees Lonnie and his team as a way to redeem himself from the treacheries he went through, and he also wants to see Lonnie succeed.
All through the tournament, Lonnie has to deal with the problems of living in Harlem as well. While Lonnie is away from the court, Cal opens his eyes to the other side of the game where there is a cutthroat world after power and money.
Hoops is an ideal book for any basketball-loving teen. Although some of the basketball slang is from two decades ago, it depicts plays and games perfectly and also has a good plot away from the courts. Due to the old terms of basketball, I give this book a 9 out 10.
Reviewed by Andrew H.

High and Outside

High and Outside. Linnea A. Due. New York: Harper & Row Publishers, 1980. 195 pp.
Niki Etchen is the oh-so-typical high school junior. She is the star pitcher of her softball team, an honors student, and a probable editor of the school newspaper. Well, Niki does have one flaw: she has a serious drinking problem. Niki’s problem leads her into terrible situations almost every day and every night. At first she loses her boyfriend, then she loses her closest friend Martha, another star softball player who does not have a drinking problem like Niki. All of Niki’s drinking problems are brought on by her parents, Carl and Joyce Etchen. Niki’s parents have been allowing her to drink wine during dinner and join them during their cocktail hour ever since she was ten years old. Niki ends up abusing this “privilege” and also sneaks a few beers before she goes to sleep at night. Sometimes when she wakes up to go to school she does not remember who she is or what she did the previous nights. Niki’s drinking causes serious problems at school, at home, and with her social life. Niki is headed straight towards a dead-end road and the only way out is to admit she has problems and face up to them.
High and Outside is an extremely good book for young adults to read, especially girls. This book is a truly sentimental book for anyone to read as it touches on the subject of teen alcoholism. Linnea A. Due emphasizes the fact that not everyone is perfect and some people have their own flaws no matter how perfect they may seem. She also gets straight to the point that teen alcoholism does exist and that it needs to be recognized. I would highly recommend this book to everyone.
Rank: 9 out of 10
Reviewed by: Chelsea

Haunted

Haunted. James Herbert. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1988. 220pp.
David Ash, a skeptical investigator of the abnormal, was on his way to a town named Ravenmoor to investigate some strange happenings at a house called Edbrook. He met old Aunt Tessa and her two nephews Robert and Simon and her niece Christina Mariell. While at the house, David came across some unexplainable situations like nonexistent flames that somehow suffocated him and a girl that he followed all over the house and grounds who seemed to disappear. Then, he discovered the family mausoleum at the back of the property in the woods where he finally found the truth.
Haunted captured my attention at the beginning, but towards the middle, I pretty much knew what was going to happed at the end. This story was unique, though, because Herbert went into much more depth than most authors would. Herbert brought in David’s sister’s death and worked it into the story line, but he did leave out what happened to David after leaving Edbrook, which would have made the story more interesting. I have definitely read better horror/suspense novels because this one was not scary at all and predictable. The least convincing part was when the beautiful house and car just one day became old, filthy, rusty, and moldy. Basically, I thought that this book was predictable and unbelievable, and I do not recommend it. Rank 3 out of 10.
Reviewed by Hillary

The Haunted One

The Haunted One. Jay Bennet. New York: Franklin Watts, 1987. 175 pages

Paul Barret gets a job as life guard. He meets Jody, they become friends. One day Paul goes to her hotel and they agree to meet later, but she never shows up, but there is a letter saying that she went to the city for ballet lessons. At summers end Paul was smoking weed and he thought he could see Jody in the water, but he wasn’t sure because of the drugs effect. Then he heard her call his name. He started swimming toward her and brought her back to shore. She was dead. Paul’s boss told him she started swimming from another beach to surprise him. When he gets home his mother said Jody called. Paul goes to the mall with his friend ,Joan, and he sees Jody sitting at a table. At home Paul tells Joan about the summer. Paul goes to the beach and his boss sits next to him and says he talked to Joan about how upset he is. Carson says he is to harsh on him for what he did,

and he made a report and sent it to Jody’s twin sister. Paul didn’t know he had a sister. Then Paul left. Paul waits for Jody’s sister at the beach. She gets there and says that Jody told her all about Paul, and that she started to like him. She takes a gun from her purse and says she’s going to kill him. Paul throws the gun into the water. After that she leaves. This book is for people who like mysteries and scary things. I didn’t like the story until the end when I found out about the sister because it was boring until then. 7 Rate

Reviewed by Andrea S.

Hatter Fox

Hatter Fox. Marilyn Harris. New York, NY. Random House, Inc., 1973. 241 pp.
This book, about seventeen-year-old Navajo girl named Hatter Fox, was supposedly written by a Dr. Teague summer concerning Hatter Fox’s involvement with drugs, prostitution, and crime. She hates the white community of Santa Fe New Mexico, where she lives, and they all hate her. Dr. Teague Summer is the only person who wants to help her.
This story will most likely reach out to the romance novel readers but, I it really isn’t a romance, but I tend to think that this book was written to show other audiences that no matter what the circumstances people help others for the wrong motives. People do things mainly for the reward that could be involved, but what about doing things for the reward of feeling good? I believe that Dr. Teague Summer was the most convincing character because he shows that he sincerely wants to help Hatter fox not for himself, or for any one. He just wants to help.
This book teaches us that love comes in many forms, we are all human, and we all make mistakes. I would not recommend this book because it is not very suspenseful and tends to drag on forever. I would give this book a five out of ten. Hatter fox will make some bad choices that will make you mad at some points in the story, but somehow she always makes the reader feel sorry for her at the end. The plot was written well but some parts could have been revised to improve the plot, like her dying at the end.
Reviewed by Aaron M.

Give a Boy a Gun

Give a Boy a Gun. Todd Strasser. New York: Simon Pulse, 2002. 208 pp.
Gary Searle and Brendan Lawlor are both high school sophomores and they have had enough. Day after day for more than two years, they have been beaten up, harassed and cursed out by most of the jocks at Middleton High, especially by Sam Flach, a football player. One night they are armed with guns that they have stolen from a neighbor’s collection. Gary and Brendan storm a school dance, booby trap all of the doors with homemade bombs that they had made, and prepare to turn their high school upside down with a violent show of force. When it is all over, one of the boys is still alive but in a coma due to almost being beaten to death by the other students who tried to disarm him so he couldn’t harm any one else. The other boy kills himself, and the football player Sam Flach is alive but, with any hope, has no hope for a future football career.
GIVE A BOY A GUN consists of short, related statements from students, parents, school administrators, and the two boys who did all of this. The story attempts to give a voice to the countless sides of school violence and can be disturbing at times. It is also an articulated, well-rounded cross section of many viewpoints on gun control, bullying and the high school social disorder. This is a good book with many different viewpoints of different people who knew or experienced this tragic time. I recommend this book for a young adult audience. I would rank this book a ten on a scale one to ten.
Reviewed by: Christina M.

Frenchtown Summer

Frenchtown Summer. Robert Cormier. New York: Delacoarte Press, 1999. 113pg.
This novel is told in Frenchtown, Massachusetts in the 1930’s. This novel is based on a young boy named Eugene whose twelfth summer is filled with new experiences. He falls in love with a nun named Sister Angelica, gets a job searching for the cannons of Frenchtown, later finds the secrets of the cannons, sees his first orange airplane, and gets his first pair of glasses. Eugene also experiences a loss of his favorite uncle who suddenly dies, and encounters difficulties with his quiet father whom Eugene says is a silhouettes of door shadows. Though Eugene is a typical reader in school, he isn’t the most popular in the schoolyard, unlike his brother Raymond who’s very athletic in school. Eugene usually has to go to his boring games. This summer he watches Mrs. Cartin take a leap on the third floor, stands by, as one of his good time friends becomes one of the St. Vitus’ dancers. This story is told in lyrical free verse which means is told in poem form.
My opinion about this short book is that it needs a lot more action and needs to explain more about Eugene’s summer in Frenchtown. What made this book unique were the different poems throughout the book and the way they were formed. This book is more on the level of young adults usually the grade difference of 7^th – 12^th. If I were to rank this book, I would have to say a six because I misunderstood positioning of the words.
Reviewed by: Chasity

Follow the River

Follow the River. Paul L. Bennett. New York: Orchard Books, c1987, 190p.
Follow the River by Paul Bennett was an average book to read. It is about a son, “lighthorse,” or Harry Lee of seven children of a railroad worker and Nancy Sutton who is the only child of the town banker. The two of them met in the ninth grade, but the situation they are in makes a relationship difficult to establish. Over a seven-year period, turbulent forces from the family, affect the feeling for each other. Nancy moms’ alcoholism leads to tragedy, which may threaten both families. Lighthorse and Nancy find it hard to maintain the personal dignity and the love they have had.
Follow the River takes place during the 1930’s in Ohio. It is about family problems that break up love. The book gave good imagery. I would not recommend the book but I will let you figure it out for your self. The book might put you to sleep though. I give the book a rating of five out of ten.
Reviewed by Kaleb.

Far North

Far North. Will Hobbs. New York: by Avon Books Inc, 1996. 216pp.

Fifteen-year-old Gabe Rogers wants to move from Texas to the Northwest Territories to live with his father. When he moves there he goes to a boarding school. His roommate is a local native named Raymond Providence. They both go on a bush plane flight. When the pilot wants to show them a beautiful waterfall, the engine of the plane quits. Now they’re stuck in the plane floating towards the fall. After the plane accident Gabe and Raymond have to find a way to survive in the harsh winter of the north. As they struggle with different problems throughout the story, the two boys form a close bond. This book is suited for audience between junior high school and high school students.

I thought the book was very well written with great detail. The book is very believable because the author puts you in the same places and problems that they are in. The only thing I thought was bad about the book was that it felt to me like it was strung out too long. It took too long for them to get rescued. However I liked how the author focused on the heritage of the Indian people in the book. I rate this book a nine out of ten.

Reviewed By Todd R.

Fair Weather

Fair Weather. Richard Peck. New York: Dial Books, 2001. 139 pp.
Rosie Beckett’s family receives a letter from their Aunt Euterpe who lives in Chicago. Their aunt wants them to come and visit her in Chicago and come to the World’s Columbian Exposition. Enclosed in the letter are train tickets, for that is the only method of transportation other than horse and buggy. After a tough decision, Rosie’s mother decides to go to Chicago. Rosie’s mother decides not to go herself because they would be put back so far in their work at home. Rosie, Lottie, and Buster board the train and head off to Chicago. When they are on the train, they find out that their granddad had sneaked onto the train and is coming with them. When they get to Chicago, they go right to the fair. They are amazed at how large it is and can not believe how big the Ferris Wheel is. During the fair they meet some famous people like Buffalo Bill and Lillian Russel. The fair in some way changed each of their lives in some way or another, and most of them, are changed for the better. This book is best suited for young people in the age range of 13-17.
Fair Weather is an historical fiction book. It has captured my attention because the family in the book lives near Decatur and I can relate to the places. The author has done a good job of giving good description of the places and things they encounter in this story, but not too much so that the book keeps dragging on. The whole story and all characters are believable. They seem like they are real rather than made-up characters.
Rank: 8 out of 10
Reviewed by Jeremy C.

Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451. Ray Bradbury. New York: Ballantine Books, 1950. 179 pg.

This book has a couple, Montag and Mildred. Montag is a fireman and Mildred works around the house. In this book firemen are suppose to burn books because the government thinks that if people read they wouldn’t do anything else. However a book falls into Montag’s hands.

Montag, a man who works for the fire department that causes fires by burning books instead of putting out fires. One day they got a call and they go to an old lady’s house. They find one thousand books in her attic. They throw them down stairs and spray kerosene on them. Then Montag tells the lady to leave but she wouldn’t move. So they burn down the house with her in it. So he takes a book and stuffs it in his coat. He takes it home and reads it. Then he finds out his wife has twenty books hidden in the vent. Montag doesn’t understand books so he goes to a professor named Fabor. Professor Fabor teaches him how to understand books. He starts to read books, and believes that books contain facts about people. His captain, Captain Beatty, finds out about it and warns Montag about having a book. Montag soon likes to read books and wonders off to a town where people like to read and the people remember the books.

I thought that this is a very unique book because it talks about burning books. I think that they should have added why they started burning books. I would recommend this book for people around the age of fifteen. I would rate this book an eight out of ten cause it had my attention through the whole story.

Review By Kris A.

Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451. Ray Bradbury. Toronto: Random House of Canada, 1953. 179 pp.
451 degrees is the temperature at which books burn, and firemen live by this rule in the future. These men are fireman as we know them today, but firemen who burn books. These firemen are sent to your houses to burn them down if books are present. Guy Montag is one of these firemen and he loves his job. That is until Montag meets a girl by the name of Clarisse. She tells him about how people were allowed to read books in the past without any consequences. At first he didn’t believe her but then he realizes that her story may actually be true and books may actually serve a purpose, so he begins to read them. Shortly after he begins to read he realizes that people in his world are almost like zombies from watching large TV screens, or listening to their tiny radios that hold no educational value at all. He also realizes that his own wife Mildred is one of these people practically surviving off of her large, four-walled TV screen. A man named Faber helps Montag decipher the meanings of the books. He also tells him about a secret society that memorized all the books in the world and how they are hidden somewhere. Eventually Montag gets turned in for having books and he gets in trouble with his fire captain and the police.
I thought Fahrenheit 451 was a good book that anyone who is into fiction should read. This book makes readers realize how corrupted governments and societies can become. Although I think Bradbury did a great job with the plot, at times I didn’t think it was very believable. I didn’t think it was believable because the government, in my opinion, is never going to eliminate books.
Rank: 7 out of 10
Reviewed by: Brian F.

Fade

Fade. Robert Cormier. New York: Delacorte Press, 1988. 310 pp.
Paul Moreaux is a thirteen-year-old boy living in Frenchtown, Massachusetts. Meeting him on the street, one would assume he is just an ordinary child. As it turns out, he is anything but ordinary. Paul has inherited the ability to disappear, or as he calls it, fade, from his Uncle Adelard. When Paul fades he realizes it is not exactly what he had hoped for. He goes into people’s homes and observes things that are better left unseen. As Paul grows older he knows that the next fader is out there somewhere, and that he must find whoever it is. Will Paul be able to help his nephew in time? This book is an exciting fantasy that will intrigue the minds of its readers.
Once I began reading Fade, I could not stop. It grabbed my attention and each chapter kept me wanting more. Robert Cormier does an excellent job describing what it would be like to disappear, and he made me think about the consequences this ability would bring. I felt as though Cormier left no stones unturned, and this fantasy stacks up with the best of them. Although the act of fading seems a bit unfeasible, it stimulates the imagination and provides for an outstanding novel. Rank: 10 out of 10.
Reviewed by Chad

The Doors of the Universe

The Doors Of The Universe. Sylvia Louise Engdahl. New York: Atheneum, 1981. 262 pp.
This end to a series may be trademark 1980s sci-fi, but holds an interesting future. In this world, humanity is gone except for a colony on a metal-starved world, where water and food cause mutation if not treated, and without metal, the treatment machines can’t be repaired. As such, some people know when Doomsday is. These Scholars, a caste of scientists walled up in the only city, are dedicated to finding a way to synthesize metal… and into this world we place a most interesting plot. The Scholar Noren has lost his wife in childbirth. Searching for answers, he asks the city computer what might have caused it, and one result sticks out. “Teratogenic Damage.” At first, genetics is merely a hobby, and then he slowly becomes more interested until he has the key for human salvation. And then things get tricky. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys “hard” science fiction or socio-religious themes.
The Doors Of The Universe is good, but it has flaws. Noren goes from brilliant to naïve to demagogical in less than a page. Other characters are two-dimensional, such as Noren’s mentor, Stefred, who remains the wise, calm, patriarchal figure throughout. The only exception is the character Lianne, who is the center of several plot twists. However, it is also a well-thought-out story, with plot twists that seem blatantly obvious about a chapter after they’re done. Above all, the book possesses the one thing critical to a good science fiction novel, believability. Noren’s world seems quite real, with an understandable people. They are classic humanity; oblivious to danger, clinging to tradition, but always malleable if you know the trick. If the story has a moral, it’s that tools aren’t enough; you have to know how to use them. I heartily endorse this book. (8 out of 10)
Reviewed by Jim.

Death of a Macho Man

DEATH OF A MACHO MAN, R.C. Beaton. New York: Mysterious Press, 1996 215 pages.
Death of a Macho Man is a great mystery book. I recommend it for anyone who likes stories that leave you guessing who did the crime until the very end of the story. I, at times, felt like I was actually there at some points in the story. R.C. Beaton has really out done herself on this story.
The story takes place in the fictitious village of Lokdubh which is located in the highlands to the north of Ireland. The main character in the story, Hamish Macbeth, is the police constable of Lokdubh. There have been many murders in this town. Most of the time the person who is the most likely to have killed the person is a person that didn’t do it. In this mystery a guy named Randy Duggan, who has made an enemy out of almost everyone in town, is unsurprisingly killed. Hamish must go through a large list of people who all had good reasons for killing him. Finally at the end he finds out who really did it. This has been one of the greatest books I have ever read.
Rated: 9.99 out of 10
Reviewed by: Dale

The Crystal Cave

The Crystal Cave. Mary Stewart. New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc., 1970. 521 pp.
Merlin was known as the wise, the magician, and the prophet. He performed many deeds in his older years but does anyone know the story behind the legendary Merlin’s younger years? Grow with Merlin through the early years of the story never told. His father was the prince of darkness, his mother the daughter of a king. Merlinus Emrys, as his true name is, wonders off one day along the river path and comes across a cave inhabited by a magical hermit who becomes his mentor and his friend. In this cave is hidden the magical crystal cave from which Merlin receives the power enough to see the future. On one night of tragedy he is left with no other option than to put himself in the god’s path and let it take him to greatness. He becomes the personal prophet to the exiled son of the old king of England and helps him in his conquest to recapture his rightful throne. This is a must read to all who love the fantasy of magic with the action of wars.
THE CRYSTAL CAVE is a suspenseful thriller that captures your attention by putting you in the midst of the plot with its descriptive details. This book is unique in that it tells the story never told of Merlin’s past. This is an excellently written book that is perfect in all aspects. It raises the bar for all other action fantasy books that enchant readers with wizards and magic. The most appealing aspect of this book perhaps, is the sense it gives that readers are reading an historical account of medieval England and because of that I rate this book a ten.
Reviewed by: Brett

Counterfeit Son

Counterfeit Son. Elaine Marie Alphin. San Diego: Harcourt, 2000. 180 pp.
As Neil walked into the police station and told the police who he was, he got a blank stare as if they had seen a ghost. He had just escaped from Hank Miller’s house where he had been for six years being beaten regularly, and his bones had been broken and set to heal on their own. Hank Miller was a man who preyed on innocent boys and then killed them and Neil is forced to help, never recalling what has happened. Neil sends another man to jail because Hank forces him to so that Hank will not be sent home.
Counterfeit Son is an exciting story that involves a little bit of everything and goes along with a good police mystery novel. This story is the type of novel that keeps you interested in the story and wanting to keep turning the page to find more twists. It involves a normal family with a son who goes missing for a long time and they almost give up hope. This story is well constructed to keep a reader in the story so they can find out what happens. As you near the end, you definitely do not expect the surprising twist that makes this book worth reading. I give this book a nine out of ten.
Reviewed by Brye S.

Chromosome 6. Robin Cook. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1997. 457 pp.
Dr. Jack Stapleton is an ordinary Medical Examiner for the city of New York. However, one day a strange cadaver with no head or arms crosses his desk. As Jack performs the autopsy, he finds many strange things about this particular body. Little does Jack know, but this case is about to turn his life upside down. Jack and his loyal partner Laurie Montgomery try anything and everything to identify this body, but when all methods fail they come to the point of giving up. It is not until Laurie comes across a videotape of the person’s death that they finally are able to make an identification on the body. Even with this new evidence, one thing about the body baffles them: where could the body have had a liver transplant? As the dynamic duo set off throughout the city of New York to find the answer to this question, they are continually led on a wild goose chase. After both Jack and Laurie are threatened by one of the mob families in New York, they take a “vacation” to Africa while hoping to renew the trail of the mysterious liver transplant. In Africa, their lives are threatened many more times, but through a new friendship they are able to find an answer to this perplexing mystery.
CHROMOSOME 6 is a nail-biting thriller that keeps readers on their toes. This story really makes one think about personal morals when it delves into the topic “playing God” with human genetics. As the constant action of mob violence and steady stream of new discoveries keep mounting, readers are pushed to keep turning the pages. Robin Cook has successfully created another masterpiece of constant action and thrills that only accents his career. This awesome suspense novel is one that should definitely be put on your bookshelf. Rank: 10 out of 10
Reviewed by Lee

Children Of The Dust

Children Of The Dust. Louise Lawrence. New York, NY: Harper & Row, 1985. 183 pp.
With her father away, Catherine and her family were alone in a sealed room of their house when the blast occurred. Sarah and her stepmother Veronica now had the obligation of caring for William and Catherine, doing whatever necessary to survive the nuclear holocaust. Sarah knew that it was up to her to save Catherine, so she risked her own life to save her. Before she died, Sarah left Catherine with a man who had the necessary survival shelter and supplies. Little did they know, Bill Harnden, their father, survived and was alive in a nearby underground bunker. Reproduction wasn’t an option. Ophelia, Bill’s daughter, grows up in a sheltered world, unaware of the outside life. When her father and his student decide to warn the outsiders of the military cavalry coming to steal their cattle, Ophelia jumps at the opportunity to leave the protection of the bunker. After seeing the mutant inhabitants, she begins to regret ever leaving the bunker. Approximately fifty years after the initial blast, Simon, also from the bunker, ventures out into the outside world. He is faced with the people directly affected by the nuclear aftermath. He, along with the other survivors of the bunker, learns to accept the mutants for who they are and not for their appearance.
CHILDREN OF THE DUST started out slowly but soon captured my interest. Louise Lawrence wrote the book uniquely, using three different perspectives but connecting each person in some way. This book is good just the way it is and doesn’t need any revisions. It is very compelling and the viewpoints and circumstances presented by nuclear warfare were expressed in a very creative and unique way. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a suspenseful novel. I give this book a 7 on a scale of 1-10.
Reviewed by Jordan B.

Breathing Underwater. Alix Flinn. New York NY: 2001. 272 pages
A slap? Is it really all that harmful? Well if you were Nick you would soon find out that little things lead up to something worse. Caitlin and Nick always seemed happy. No one really had seen what went on when they were alone. Nick verbally abused Caitlin, and then one day he hit her. That hit turned into a punch. Caitlin’s parents brought Nick to court and got a restraining order against him. Nick had to go to Violence Class and sit around with six other guys who have hit their girlfriends. This book would mostly be for women. It is a love story and suspense novel all in one. The audience would be targeted to a high school age group. It is a type of book not all women can relate to yet, all women know about.
This teen novel that deals with violence in dating is an extremely interesting book. It has a little love story theme to it but yet it is a nightmare no woman would want to encounter. I gave it a nine and a half. This book made me feel like I could understand the characters. It made me feel like I was right there with them. I felt like I could feel Caitlin's pain and I totally understood how she felt. Then again the book kept me in suspense. I never knew what was going to happen next. The thing I thought would happen turned out to be something different. The book did not end the way I wanted it to; that’s what maybe made it so good. It left me wondering what happened when the book ends.
Reviewed by Felicia

The Body of Christopher Creed. Carol Plim-Ucci. San Diego: Harcourt, 2000. 248pp.
Sixteen-year-old Tory Adams was a junior in high school, got good grades, was popular, and had a pretty girlfriend. He is the main character in this novel, Torey thought his life was pretty good, until one day he and his friends found a letter saying that a fellow student, Christopher Creed had run away and might kill himself. In the note Torey and some of his friends are mentioned. Torey then realizes his life is no longer perfect. Torey then tries to find out what happened to Christopher. As he tries to solve the mystery, people start to get suspicious that he had something to do with the disappearance of Christopher Creed. I would recommend this book to high school students and adults.
The novel The Body of Christopher Creed, was very interesting and made me keep turning the pages until I found out the ending. The book was different from most because it was very exciting and many details. To improve the book I would explain the ending a little clearer. This mystery compared to others is very intriguing considering it didn’t give many clues about what was going to happen. I think that the book explained how society is today. Many kids either commit suicide or run away because they have been made fun of or feel like they don’t fit in. I enjoyed this book and I hope you do also. Rank: 8 out of 10
Reviewed by Ashley B.

A Bend in the Road

A Bend in the Road. Nicholas Sparks. New York: Warner Books Edition, 2001. 368pp.
Miles Ryan and his son Jonah have had to struggle through every day of their lives since Miles’ wife Missy was killed in a hit-and–run accident. Miles is a sheriff at a police force in the small town of New Bern. After Missy’s death, Miles locks himself into the file of Missy’s “accidental death.” No matter what anyone tells Miles, he will not believe that his wife’s death was an accident. Two years go by, and Jonah, now in the second grade, starts having trouble in school with his new teacher, Miss Sarah Andrews. So, Miles goes in to talk to her. Sarah and Miles come to the resolution that Sarah will tutor Jonah after school. Sarah and Miles have an attraction to one another. They then start an intense relationship. Everything is going great until they discover a horrible secret about their past that they may not be able to get past.
A Bend in the Road is an enticing romance that will leave you on the edge. First of all, if you don’t like romance novels don’t read this book; it is an intense romance from the start, as a wife and a beloved mother is ripped away from her family that desperately needs her. But then, Miles grows to love and need Sarah Andrews, and even Jonah grows to love her. The readers of this book will be enthused at the love vibes flowing from this book, but will also be taken on a mysterious ride as they ponder who was driving the car the night that Missy died, and compelled at the secret that ties everything together. On a scale from one to ten, I rate this book a nine.
Reviewed by Rachel

Armageddon Summer

Armageddon Summer. Jane Yolen and Bruce Coville. San Diego, Calif.: Harcourt Brace. 275 pages.
The end of the world is scheduled for July 27, 2000. At least that’s what Reverend Beelson tells his followers as he leads them to a mountain to wait out the Armageddon. Among the people are two teenagers, Marina, daughter of a woman estranged from her husband and about to turn fourteen on July 2, and Jed, son of a man who turned to religion after his wife left. Marina believes in God, but thinks he is good and benevolent, which conflicts with Beelson’s prophecy, while Jed is simply a non-believer who only came to watch over his father. Marina and Jed develop a close relationship, sharing a mutual crush, though Marina’s mother is against it. They must wait out the time until Armageddon on top of the mountain to wait and see what really will happen on July 27. This book seems to be directed toward young adults, the relationship between Marina and Jed making this obvious. However, it also pokes fun at fundamentalist groups such as that of Reverend Beelson.
I thoroughly enjoyed Armageddon Summer, from the relationships that develop down to the slightly hidden satire of the extremist religious groups. Jane Yolen and Bruce Coville, both excellent writers, combine their talents in this work. Yolen writes the chapters where Marina is the focus, and Coville writes the chapters where Jed dominates. The descriptions are also very well done, painting vivid pictures of the compound where Beelson’s flock waits out the end of the world. I especially enjoyed the surprise ending, which you’ll have to read the book to see.
Rank: 10 out of 10

Reviewed By: Rick