A fine read for mature high school students - but essentially fluff. Won't change the world; a fun beach book.
After what seemed to be a lot of manufactured hype around this story and it's "bad word", I expected to really dislike it. Found it to be endearing and sweet without being nauseatingly so. Main characters are likable and familiar, but quirky.
Heart-wrenching and brilliant - Alexie is at his finest in this book. Funny, readable, and honest. Loved it, start to finish.
Interesting storyline; well written. Told in words and pictures - a fast read for reluctant readers.
The third in this vampire series is a little more of the same - Bella wants her vampire boyfried, Edward, but also wants her friendship with Jacob - a werewolf, and therefore the sworn enemy of all things vampire. There are interesting fight scenes and some nice friendship moments in the book, but the triangle thing gets a bit tiring in the end. That being said, I still love the overprotective, overbearing, smug and overly self-sacrificing Edward.
J.K. Rowling finishes her Harry Potter series with another exciting book. 759 pages with Harry, Ron, and Hermione to see if good conquers evil. Another fun read!
A fine imagining of Helen of Troy's life as a young girl. Not content to sit and weave beautiful tapestries as is expected of her, Helen breaks all the rules: she learns to fight like her warrior brothers, learns to hunt and ride and is often outsmarting her guards and attendants to get away from their overbearing protection. Helen is outspoken, but kind and wise for her years.
Helen may not have really had this romanticized, "girls rock" childhood, but one can't help but wish she could have.
Helen may not have really had this romanticized, "girls rock" childhood, but one can't help but wish she could have.
In Here There Be Dragons, Owen has created a wonderful fantasy world that is new and familiar at the same time. The story pulls the reader along through a world of trolls, elves, dragons, seafaring, and adventure, weaving bits from the Arthurian legend, Jules Verne, J.R.R. Tolkein, and others. With a satisfying ending that ties everything together and makes the whole book seem even more clever and enjoyable. And I don't really even like fantasy stories.
Three surfer friends witness a drowning of the Cornish coast. When Kiran, the most grounded and serious of the group, starts seeing the drowned girl around town, they all start to question what they saw. Could it have been some kind of legendary, mythical being, a merrow (mermaid)? Their search for the truth tests the bonds of friendship and sanity.
Coming of age, finding yourself, understanding your past and present - all themes in this well-written, engaging novel by Linda Hogan.
Four juniors at a NY private school form a study group for SAT prep. Meeting every week, they become almost friends, despite their many differences. When someone at their school is found to have cheated on the SATs, the bonds of their relationships are strained. The story is told in alternating voices of the four main characters, seamlessly moving the story forward despite (and perhaps enhancing) very different perspectives on the tale.
A well-written book spanning 3 generations. Tamar is a 15-year old looking for clues about her grandad upon his death, realizing she didn't really know him. Tamar is also the codename her grandfather uses in 1944-45 as he works to bring the many factions of the Dutch resistance to cooperate under one command against the Nazis. The tale weaves in and out of both stories, unraveling the mystery of who Tamar really is.
Tyler is a borderline loser in his high school, but one act of rebellion last year has upped his stock somewhat as well as saddled him with a Parole Officer. Now, starting his senior year, Tyler must contend with his angry father, AP classes, a hopeless crush, and the crush's knuckle-dragging thug of a brother. A well-told story of a basically good guy trying to skatie through his senior year on very thin ice.
Quirky middle school girl tries to solve the problems of her classmates.
Story of a boy out of chances with the juvenile justice system, banished to an uninhabited island in Alaska for one year. Cole's life-threatening, and ultimately life-changing experience on the island is a story of redemption for a boy everyone thought was beyond saving.
A startling event causes David Case to worry that fate is out to get him - he changes his name to Justin, changes his look, and literally runs from fate. A bit slow, but quirky.
Gracie has lost her mother and is so self-absorbed that she ignores a premonition that something bad will happen to her best friend-by-default. When said friend goes missing, Gracie must find her, and uses her psychic gift to lead the way. Pretty well written, story pulled me along for most of the way. Fast read.
I thought this was the best of the series. Captivating story, despite the SciFi-ness of it. I rooted for Tally to fight the good fight all the way through. Liked the cliffhangery ending.
