Plot: It tells the first person story of the lowest outcast of Merryweather High, Melinda Sordino, and her trials throughout her freshman year. Melinda instantly becomes unworthy of association when she goes to the hottest party of the summer and calls the police. When she enters school, everyone knows her as “The outcast” and immediately steers clear. Throughout the book, Melinda skips class, fails to do homework, and speaks less than thirty words a day. Finally, all her anger rushes out like the breaking of a dam, it becomes too much. Then, Melinda tells the story of the party to her friends and she finally confronts the horror of her own memory that has haunted her throughout the year.

Commentary: I think that Speak is an amazing and empowering book. Anderson creates amazing characters and captures their every emotion, thought and need through her extensive knowledge of the sarcasm and language of modern teenagers. It shows in this quote, “Just in case that we forget that ‘weareheretogetagoodfoundationsowecangotocollegeliveuptoourpotentialgetagoodjoblivehappilyeverafterandgotoDisneyWorld,’ we have job day.” (Anderson. 52) I love that quote because I feel as though Anderson understands teenage points of view so well. It doesn’t even feel like an adult is writing! Melinda seems so real that I sometimes feel she is one of my friends telling their story directly to me, instead of someone who hasn’t been in high school in years.

Speak attracted my attention through its realism, but it is also very entertaining. I thought the book was morbidly funny because though Melinda is dangerously depressed, her sarcasm and sense of humor make her a funny character. She makes dark jokes in her own mind that make me think I shouldn’t be laughing, but I can’t help it! However, it also conveys a very serious message about high school harassment. “The words fall like nails on the floor, hard, pointed. I try to walk around him. He blocks my way. ‘Oh no. You’re not going anywhere, you really screwed things up for me.’ He reaches behind and locks the door. Click.” (Anderson. 193) This quote shows what can happen among high schoolers and the seriousness of what it can lead to. This message from the book speaks true to many people, including myself. The book in general reall reflects teenage life in a sharp and honest way. It sets examples of determination and strength in its characters. Speak shows that when something serious happens, it’s time, time to speak. Reviewed by James in 2007

Summary: Murphy, Leeda, and Birdie are three teenage girls who just want a normal, relaxing summer. The usual sipping lemonade by the pool and watching vH1 in the A/C is what they all thought they were looking forward to. They all come from different backgrounds and their views of life are diverse. However, fate took these girls and brought them together on a peach farm. Drama plants itself in all of their lives in forms of family, guys, and most of all, friendship. Who knew that while looking for the perfect peach, they would find each other.

Commentary: I would have to say that this is definitely one of the best books I’ve ever read. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Jodi Anderson’s style of writing is captivating and her details are so vivid. Just the description of Murphy biting into what she thought was the perfect peach, made my mouth water. “The juice and flesh of the peach tore and filled her mouth, and she flattened it down with the roof of her mouth, really trying to taste it, like she had never done with anything, like she was getting to know it” (Anderson 155). Her characters are also very believable because I could relate to them. I also love how the author goes back and forth between the characters so you can get their side of the story; it’s all about point of view. I still can’t get over the fact that at the beginning they seem to be completely different people and you wouldn’t really expect them to become friends in the end. Overall, you can probably tell by now, that I give this book a one hundred percent and would recommend it to anyone who wants a good read. Now, whenever I bite into the perfect, juicy peach, I’ll think about this book and how much it has showed me that true friendship can come in many forms. Reviewed by Ellen in 2007

Plot Summary: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is about four girls who have been best friends since they were born: Lena, Tibby, Carmen, and Bridget. For the first time, the girls will be spending their summer apart. Lena is going to Greece to see family, Tibby is staying home and working on her documentary, Carmen goes to South Carolina to visit her father that she hasn’t seen in years, and Bridget is going to a soccer camp in Mexico. The girls buy a pair of jeans at a thrift store that somehow fit each of their different body types. They make a set of 10 rules that they must follow, and decide to mail the pants to each other and taker turns wearing them through out the summer. Each girl faces their own problems and adventures, and must deal with them on their own for the first time.

Commentary: I loved the way Ann Brashares wrote this book. With four very different characters, there were four very different story lines. This made The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants a fast, and fun, read. The characters were very realistic, and had very real, every day, teenage problems. This book never got boring. I like how each of the characters had a different way of handling what was thrown at them. It was hard to put this book down, the events that happened to each girl kept getting more dramatic. The traveling pants really connected everything well, so it didn’t get to confusing. Reviewed by Kendal in 2007

Summary: Martyn Pig is a young man trapped in a harsh world, unsure of what to do with himself. His mother has left, and his father is an abusive alcoholic, leaving for days at a time. When Alex Freeman moves in next door, it is love at first site for Martyn. The two start spending time together and unexpected things happen. A series of shocking events occur after a tragic accident takes place in Martyn’s home. He struggles in keeping these a secret from suspicious characters such as his Aunty Jean. People begin figuring out something is going on, and search intensely to find it.

Commentary: I thought this was a suspenseful and witty novel, with twists I would have never imagined. Brooks portrays Martyn’s character very well and as a reader, I was able to feel for him immensely. What I believe the book was heavily lacking was more characters and excitement. It began to get boring part-way through due to the repetitiveness of Martyn’s lifestyle. Each day with or without Alex seemed to be the same. There are no other important characters which also took away from the story. As the book progressed slowly, so did my interest level in it. I tried to continue reading with a positive attitude, although the redundancy of Brooks’ style of writing became almost impossible to read. All in all, this book had an interesting storyline and great descriptive scenes, but was in need of more characters and a less repetitive style. Reviewed by Elizabeth in 2006

Rating: 3 stars-Excellent, I rate this book 3 stars because I could relate to it very easily. I felt that it could happen to anyone and that it could be a true story.

Plot: “Walk Two Moons” by Sharon Creech is about a thirteen year old girl named Sal, short for Salmanca. She and her grandparents go on a journey from Ohio to Idaho to find her missing mother. Among that Sal also learns that she needs to get over things she cant control. Over all on their journey they find that having each other is one of the most important things to have in life.

Commentary: I felt that this book was amazing, because I could really relate to it, not only that I felt that the authors writing was very easy but in depth at the same time. I also liked it how she expressed her feelings through Sal. I also liked the way she used similes. Reviewed by Katy in 2007

Rating. 3 stars--because it’s a sport that I love to do but there could have been a little more action to make it a 4.

Plot summary: There is this kid Dennis who is a great skateboarder and one day he wants to become a snowboarder and join all his friends. Dennis gets a snowboard for Christmas and learns how to ride from his 2 friends Robbie and Tasha. Dennis picked up the sport quite fast but he had his ups and downs. Dennis faces a bully and challenges him to race down a difficult ski slope. Dennis was scared but faced his fear and raced!

Commentary: The author did a great job in suspending the book into each chapter which I really liked. The characters seemed real in most of the book but they had there times when things sounded quite stretched. I knew I was interested when I looked at this book just because there is a big picture and a snowboarder doing an Indy on the front of the book and the title was also a hook by saying Snowboard Maverick. This was a book for me that after every chapter I wanted to keep reading because I wanted to see Dennis get his snowboard and progress and get better and challenge the bully. This book was very good and I would recommend it to anyone who likes snowboarding and wants a book that they can just keep reading.

Reviewed by Justin in 2007

Plot: Anna Percy is not the typical Beverly Hills teen. She moved west from New York to change her life and become a different person, whereas everyone else with a 90210 zip code just wants to fit in. Anna claims that she is done with her former boyfriend, Ben, but can’t stop thinking about him. Ben is doing everything he can to win her back, but so far it’s not working. Meanwhile, Anna and her friend, Sam, daughter of famous actor Jackson Sharpe, are making a movie for school and trying to figure out their differences. Life seems to be going alright until someone shows up who will change everything. Whether Anna gets a Hollywood “happily ever after” is up to her.

Commentary: Girls on Film is the sequel to a book I previously read, The A-List. (I recommend reading The A-List prior to Girls on Film). I enjoyed reading this book because of the tone it is written in. Each chapter begins with the thoughts of a different character, so you get everyone’s point of view. Zoey Dean has a wonderful way about her writing that I can’t quite describe, but enjoy. I guess you will just have to read the book to find out exactly what I am talking about. Reviewed by Emily in 2005

Plot: Dan, a senior in high school is faced with the choice of traveling to Geneva with his parents for a year and experiencing a traitorous year at boarding school. Or move into a house with his twenty-two-year-old, hip, guitar-playing aunt, Jacq, and her friend Naomi. Dan chose Jacq's house, not knowing the consequences of this decision. Now trying to get through his last year of school without spinning out of control, has become much harder than expected. Dan feels as if growing up, started all at once, he now finds himself picking up a few skills for surviving in the adult world.

Commentary: 48 Shades of Brown, is laugh out loud hilarious, Nick Earls lets you travel into the wonders and thoughts of a confused senior. Earls isn't afraid to express exactly what a teenage may be thinking. For example, 19 year old Dan recites, "Beer, sex, attitude, and calculus. All beyond my comfort zone, and the only one likely to change is calculus." This loose style of writing makes you dig deeper for the true meanings beyond the story, which brought a challenging read to a light book. Though I felt as if the plot was bouncing around, I was never positive of the exact situation. I wish Earls brought more life into the other existing characters such as Naomi, and Jacq. They were always there, though I was never able to connect with them, which would have made the book stronger. 48 Shades of Brown interested me through its striking, colorful cover; though never judge a book by that. And few books I have read have been through the perspective of a guy. Besides those facts this novel did not

hold my interests to the point where I, "couldn't put it down." 48 Shades of Brown was a fresh, amusing read, and I will always look to Nick Earls for a pleasurable diverse story. Reviewed by Caroline in 2005

Plot: Looking for Alaska is about an unmotivated, lonely, bored sixteen-year-old named Miles Halter. Miles decides to leave his life with no challenge, no fun, and no friends in Florida and move to Culver Creek boarding school in Birmingham, Alabama for a change. Miles quickly discovers a completely different world at Culver Creek starting with his extremely intelligent but troubled roommate, Chip, also known as the Colonel, that introduces him to assorted rule-breaking and teaches him how to execute elaborate pranks. The Colonel’s best friend Alaska Young, a wild, irritable, slightly unstable girl immediately catches Miles eye and drags him into their battle against the Weekday Warriors, the wealthy students at Culver that return home each weekend. Miles, who soon becomes known as Pudge, starts out a new life filled with adventure and new, out of the ordinary friends. Midway through the book a terrible tragedy occurs and leaves the remaining characters to solve the mystery while trying to pull off the greatest prank ever as a tribute.

Commentary: This exceptional coming-of-age book was quite the read, constantly leaving you wanting to read more and left you thinking about it days afterward. One reason why I originally chose to read this book was the format. Looking for Alaska is set up with the chapters of the first part of the book titled with certain number of days “before” and “after” the climactic event in the middle of the book. I found that the style of writing that John Green used in this book was enjoyable and made it easier to convey teenage angst and the other issues the book dealt with. Some activities that the characters partook in during this book were quite harsh, but overall were needed to express the un-stereotypical attitude of characters that the author must have been going for. The characters all seemed quite bored with their lives and somewhat troubled, leading to innovative pranks. There were points in the book where it lagged and my attention was lessened, but for the most part it was interesting and attention grabbing. This book came to a whole new, deep, intellectual level when the discussions between Pudge and Alaska began. There were parts, including there conversations, that made me think on a deeper level, which made me enjoy the book even more. Altogether, I would recommend this book to someone who is looking for some suspense as well as entertainment. Reviewed by Emma in 2007

Plot: Miles Halter has never really had too many friends at his Florida high school, and being sixteen, that sometimes troubled him. So when he and his family decide that he should go off and attend the Alabama boarding school Culver Creek, he is excited about beginning a new chapter in his life. When the Halter’s SUV rolls onto the dorm circle lawn outside Room 43, Miles unloads his bags and enters his new home for the first time. Soon thereafter, he meets his roommate. The Colonel, as they called him, was a short, stocky young man, who looked intelligent and mean at the same time. But The Colonel soon takes Miles or “Pudge” as The Colonel now refers to him, under his wing, and introduces him to some of his old friends and classmates. Miles takes particular interest in The Colonels prime go-to-girl for his frequent cigarette fix, Alaska, and is immediately intrigued by her looks and personality, and eventually falls in love with her. The friends are sort of “outcasts” at Culver Creek, and definitely do not get along with the non-boarding students at the school. In their own way of rebelling against the authorities of school, lead by the Culver Creek principal, also known as “The Eagle,” the group of friends puts on numerous pranks, usually devised by The Colonel and Alaska that are surely entertaining, devious, and sometimes hilarious. And somehow, the team always finds some way of getting away with it. After one of their most extravagant pranks, the group is on a high, and decides to celebrate, which leads to a little too much drinking. A few days after, out of nowhere, something drastically huge happens that changes the lives of all the characters, forever and keeps readers on the edge of their seat. In the midst of this incident, the team decides to initiate one final prank, that is sure to put a smile on the face of every single student at Culver Creek, and will certainly keep readers giggling as well.

Commentary: This book was for sure one of the best stories I have read in a long time. John Green does a truly amazing job of using tremendous detail and suspense in his writing, and really knows how to keep readers on the edge of their seats. The author of this novel decided to divide the story into two sections, before and after. And, instead of chapters, the subsections are labeled with titles like “one hundred twenty-eight days before,” “twenty-nine days after,” or “the last day,” which makes perfect sense with the story, because it keeps you in check with the timeframe of the story, and how close you are getting to, or how far away you are becoming from “the incident.” This choice of format is what first got me interested in reading the book, because I just wanted to know what happened on “the last day,” and the way the book is formatted created so much suspense, and I kept trying to predict what I thought was going to happen. Also, John Green did a fascinating job of giving each character a specific niche or specific quality special to only them, which really made me feel like I actually knew each and every one of the characters, and created a special bond with everyone at Culver Creek, almost as if I were a student there myself. Also, an extreme amount of emotion was displayed in each of the characters, and wonderfully depicted in the text. Whenever any of the infamous pranks were about to occur, or in the process of occurring, the style of writing really built up the suspense of the event and kept me extremely glued to the story and wanting to know what was going to happen next. When the surprise event actually happens, you still don’t know everything that happened, so the second half of the book is just as exciting and interesting. In the end, after the final prank is carried out, I was so amused with the surprise of what The Colonel and Pudge did that it immediately became one of the best books I have ever read. Reviewed by Hillary in 2007

Plot: Sixteen-year-old Jason Bock, who questions the religion forced upon by his father, has a creative mind. After the unfortunate circumstance of being punched in the face by his soon to be friend, he comes up with an idea that the local town water tower is God. At first his theory was a joke that he amused himself by because it got his religion teacher frustrated. However, when his friends agreed with his idea and started to recruit a water tower worshipping group, some things got a little out of control. For starters, one of Jason’s friends became entirely dedicated to creating a bible of their belief in water towers and took offense when anyone made jokes about the religion. Another worshipper decided to put an exciting but illegal twist in the religion. When things kept getting worse, even deadly, Jason’s reluctant efforts to interfere were not enough to stop the mayhem caused by his new religion.

Commentary: The author used a humorous tone in her writing with a first person point of view, which I find is the most engaging in funny books. The characters were unique, with little unexpected twists in them; it was also noticeable how much they changed throughout the story. One example of how the characters change was Henry Stag, who in the beginning punched Jason off his feet. He later became one of Jason’s friends and a water tower worshipper. At the same time, Stag made fun of and even bullied Jason’s best friend Shin, which hurt Shin’s sensitive feelings and made him feel excluded. Shin was also hurt by Jason’s friendship with Henry. The story demonstrated how susceptible people are to joining a group and doing things that they normally would not do by themselves. Jason’s water tower God became the focal point of the group with some members developing a deep belief while other members treated it more like a game. It also conveyed the power of people with confidence, like Henry, who was half the weight of Jason, but was powerful enough emotionally and physically to knock him down with a single punch. Shin’s lack of confidence and power was a weak spot for him and he was not fully included in the group, which may have contributed to his obsession with the Water Tower God. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and found it an easy read. I would recommend it to everyone especially those who enjoy comedy. Reviewed by Rebecca in 2007

Plot: There are these two kids and they are like brothers they have been that way for a long time. Mark and Bryon are these two kids and they end up doing the wrong things together. They go to pool halls and do drugs and get in trouble with there girls. These kids are only sixteen.

Commentary: This author did a pretty good job to not jump because it easily floated and it also made since as in he got to the point. He also went into depth like when they were getting in trouble he went therely through what happened so you know what happened and why they got in trouble Reviewed by Jaron in 2007

Summary: This book tells the tale of a man named Amir, who reveals us to the childhood that will forever haunt him. He grew up in Kabul, Afghanistan, the son of a wealthy philanthropist. Amir’s mother died in the process of giving birth to him, and the father who is so kind and generous to the people of Kabul is a little less kind-hearted toward his son. There is an immense amount of discrimination and hatred toward the Hazara and Shi’a people in Afghanistan, and at this time many people believe in ethnic cleansing to erase those people from the population. As Amir grows older, he becomes aware of the changes in his environment, and at the age of 18 he travels with his father to America. His life drastically changes, and he becomes the writer that he has always dreamed of being. When he makes a trip back to his home country, he is confronted with the past he wishes he could forget, and the change that has occurred.

Analysis: In this story, Hosseini uses his incredible writing ability to form a masterpiece. The plot is astoundingly intricate and is amazingly well thought out. The book is very pertinent to present day Afghanistan, explaining the discrimination and hatred between the Sunni and the Shi’a people. The book deals with genocide, which is going on so much in the world today. It educated me about the situation in the Middle East, and taught me how much we take our lives in America for granted. He makes the main character someone that we can all see ourselves in, someone who has regrets and can’t escape them. The cruelty of people in our world today is portrayed, as well as the complete disregard of respect and sympathy those people have. I also enjoyed that the book was written in first person, which was definitely the correct way to tell the story. It made you feel closer to the character, like you knew him, and the remorse you felt for Amir would not have existed to the same extent had it been written in any other form. I am grateful that the book was offered to us, and very glad that it was the book I chose. Reviewed by Chris in 2007

Plot: This is the story of a seventeen year old girl named Ginny, who is looking for a direction to take in her life. Her aunt, whom she was very close to runs off without a goodbye and the next Ginny hears of here she has died. A few months later Ginny receives a packet of mysterious envelopes from her aunt. Along with specific directions she is to open one envelope at a time and do what it says. The letters take this New Jersey girl for the adventure of her life across Europe. She meets many new and different people on her journey and is faced with many valuable cultural experiences. Along the way Ginny learns about herself and to try new things while finding her new self.

Commentary: This book is certainly a page-turner and a fun one at that. It does not have the eloquence of writing that many great books have, but it does lay out the story in a way that allows anyone to understand and follow the story line. One of the most interesting and fun parts of the book is the letters that are written out. Not only do you fell the excitement as each new letter approaches, but through these letters the character Aunt Peg is developed. The main character, Ginny, is portrayed very well and develops into a clearly more confident young person by the end of the book. The character development in this aspect is very well done. There are also many other vivid characters throughout the book and the way that they are tied into Ginny’s life is well laid out and makes for some great twists and turns throughout. There are some characters that I felt could have had more description, but the characters that Johnson chooses to focus on are described well. I found this book to be interesting and although it does not contain much depth, a very entertaining and easy to get through book. It seems a little lengthy but the larger print and simple reading makes it very manageable. Towards the middle of the book I did find the story to become a bit long and repititous, but it quickly picked back up. Because the main character moves from country to country throughout Europe each country is almost like a short story in itself, but in the end they all tie back together. The character’s adventures may not be the most realistic to most people, but the issues and time in her life that she is going through is very familiar and makes it easy for most adolescents (predominantly females) to relate to the characters. This enjoyable novel is a great read for anyone looking for a quick, fun story that will keep you reading. Reviewed by Sidney in 2007

Plot: Margaux is a pretty, popular, intelligent, witty girl that has everything she ever wanted. Or at least, that’s the way her friends see her. Inside she has secrets and feelings that not even her best friend, Sara, knows about. She is confused and angry at the world. Then she meets Danny, a boy that seems “weird” yet somewhat intriguing to Margaux. In time Margaux and Danny find out that they actually have very much in common, however different they may seem.

Commentary: I enjoyed this book mostly because it was a very easy read, although it did not make the reader stop thinking. Margaux is a girl that enjoys using big words, and as a result, this book is an excellent book for vocabulary building. That is why I particularly like Margaux’s character. Even though she is pretty and popular, she is still an intelligent and strong girl. She stands up for what she believes in, and is not afraid to be witty. I also liked the way the book was written. The sentences were very short and to the point, and they didn’t go into too much detail about things that were unimportant. As I sometimes tend to get bored with books like that, this was a nice change. I would recommend this book to any reader that is looking for a different style of writing, which is sometimes more like poetry than an actual novel. Reviewed by Kelly in 2006

Rating: 4 stars--because it is one of the best books that I have read in a long time. It was a story that was easy to follow because you could relate it to your everyday life as well as it was a quick read and defiantly a page turner. One thing that I did not like about this book was that it was a very quick ending and that made me want to rate it lower until I found that there is a second book to the series called “Crank” which could be why the ending was so abrupt.

Summary: For 16 year old Ben Bancroft life is tough as a child with Cerebral Palsy (CP), and no parents, growing up with his grandma. Ben has a hard time making friends because of the unusual disorder, but he gets through. Ben is a movie addict and his favorite place to hang out is at the Rialto Movie Theater. For Ben on of the most thrilling things is sitting alone in the back of the theater watching a movie. While watching “Bride of Frankenstein” he runs in this girl Colleen Minou a hard core stoner, with an arrangement of tattoos all over her, the first girl who will ever talk to him. Ben thinks that this is the best thing in the world. This is a big change for Ben because Colleen takes him clubbing and light his first joint for him, and she even challenges him to make his own movie, but when in turn he then challenges her to stay straight she admits that she needs the drugs to “smooth out the edges”(Koertge 167). Ben questions himself about a mistake and his whole life is about to adjust.

Commentary: This book to me was easy to connect to because it was about high school kids and how at first there is that part of stereotypes, but if you can reach out, and then you can make some really good friends. Another reason thing that I liked this book was because of how Ron Koertge made this a quick read but there was always something eventful happening and didn’t use all the description to bore you, but enough to inform you. For me a quick read, full of action if the most interesting book to read. One thing that I didn’t like about the book was that when he was talking about Colleen’s drug addiction and when she was using drugs he was very descriptive on what she was using and the way that is was used which was a little to much for me and a little intimidating. One thing that he did well after explaining what she was doing was telling about Colleen’s dumb actions she took as she was on drugs. This book was defiantly a good informative book and a really easy one to relate to because it is what you hear about a lot in school about different people and often there are stereotypes, but as long as others are worried about their social status and trying to be the top of the school being friends with these people should get you even more friends because they can see that you are reaching out to help people less fortunate then you are. Ron Koertge really struck this point making it evident that this is the conclusion that’ society needs to come to. Reviewed by Nicole in 2007

Plot: Miranda Lockheart has just left her small town life and is starting a summer class at Lone Star College. She is changing her whole style of life; by making some big choices like learning how to play the drums and joining a band. Miranda is faced with some harder choices too, like drinking with her new friends. While trying to find out what she really wants to do for the rest of her life, she is reminded of things from her past when her old boyfriend shows up. As Miranda is facing her new life and her old friends and family, she discovers some things about herself and has a lot of fun along the way. The loose style of writing makes it a really fun read.

Commentary: This book is really fun. Although Miranda gets out of some sticky situations remarkably easily, the events and problems in her life are really believable. The characters were really well thought-out and very entertaining. I remember thinking what a jerk one person was and celebrating when Miranda and her roommates played a few tricks on him. This book is no means very deep and thoughtful; I think that there could have been a little more serious drama to give a little more depth to the book. But this book was also fun to read because it was set in a large city in Texas which is an environment completely foreign to me. I enjoyed comparing my experiences to hers although she is much older than me. This book had a really good rate, moving along quickly. Although this book didn’t really “draw me in” it was still very enjoyable and I will look for a sequel! Reviewed by Katie in 2006

Plot: Thirteen-year-old Wendy resides with her mother, stepfather, and younger brother Louie in Brooklyn. Wendy’s life is suddenly turned upside down on a particular day in September 2001- her mother leaves for work on the 87th floor of the world trade center and doesn’t return home. As days slowly pass by, Wendy copes with the realization that her mother is dead and will not be returning home. Louie is crushed, Josh her stepfather is stressed, and grief stricken, and Wendy who is continuously experiencing memories of times with her mother decides to go live with her father in California as she feels there is nothing left for her in New York except sadness. Once in California, Wendy matures and learns life lessons including that the usual rules no longer apply. Through the relationships Wendy creates with her father, her father’s cactus-loving girlfriend, a young single mother, a sad bookstore owner with an autistic son, and a boy who is traveling across the country to locate his brother, Wendy learns the true meaning of family, that through tough time’s families must stick together. Soon after she realizes that she should be home in New York with her family, she moves back east and knows that she can survive without her mother with the support of people around her.

Commentary: I thought that this book was really good. The author used memories and flashbacks from Wendy’s life with her mother to tell and further detail the story. Overall the writing in general was very detailed and in depth. She was constantly using different types of imagery to create a particular setting for the story using metaphors and similes to further detail the book and enhance the writing. Because the book was divided into three different parts (New York, California, and Home) it was easier to organize and understand. I thought that this was a good story plot for the book. The lesson that is taught in this book is that families should stick together through good times and bad. At some parts at the very beginning and when Wendy reflects about how she wished her relationship with her mother had been stronger are sad but overall I would encourage people to read this book because it shows the relationship that families should have and how they should not give up on each other through the rough times. Reviewed by Maggie in 2007

Plot: The book “The Usual Rules” is a story through the eyes of Wendy who has recently lost her mother in the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center. The book takes place the day of the attack and for a few months afterward. After her mother is gone she is left with her stepfather and stepbrother. Although she is beginning to grow close to them she is confronted with a large problem, her real father who she hasn’t seen in over ten years and has only kept in contact with through occasional phone calls, letters and birthday cards shows up and wants to take her to California, where he lives. She decides to go out and live with him for a “trial” situation. While living there she meets many knew people who teach her many life lessons and also make her stay there much more enjoyable and adventurous. But as her stay progresses she wonders if she should stay with her real father who has just recently begun to be a father figure or the stepfather and stepbrother who have been there all along.

Commentary: Joyce Maynard’s writing style was very reflective and descriptive. She picked up on the smallest details, which really helped build the memories of Wendy’s mother. The characters, although some were a little extreme, seemed very real and did not seem in any way to be stereotypes. She built up her characters, like Wendy’s father, in a way that was realistic. Joyce’s style of writing was, as stated before, very descriptive, but she did not dwell on unnecessary details and because she did this it made the book a much more fluent read, which I enjoyed. I became very interested in the book because I had never really read any stories about September 11th. After finishing the book I realized just how good it was because of how much respect she put towards the attacks and how well she described the events through the eyes of someone who was experiencing them. I gave this book three and a half stars because it was well written with a thoughtful plot. I can appreciate that Joyce obviously put a lot of time and effort into thinking about how an event like this could change a teenage girl’s life forever. Reviewed by Mireille in 2007

Plot: Shooter is a book written on a school shooting and the events leading up to it. The story is written through a series of sources including interviews, newspaper articles, a police report, and a diary. The story is revealed by the aggressor’s two closest friends, Cameron Porter and Carla Evans. The story is based on a shooting incident that occurred at Madison High school, and how and why it happened. The two friends that are interviewed reveal what the aggressor’s (Len’s) life was like before the shooting and what his reasons were for committing such a horrible incident.

Commentary: In the book shooter the author writes in a very original way. Instead of telling the story through third or first person it is told through different sources. The main characters in the book are Cameron Porter and Carla Evans, two students who attend Madison High school and who were heavily acquainted with Len. Cameron is an 18 year old African American. He is a sensitive smart character who knows what he’s talking about. Carla is an emotional rebel like character. She is very out there and original. When I first saw this book I really liked just how it looked, it has a “DO NOT CROSS” police banner going around the book and a bullet hole in the middle. When I looked inside, the way the book was written really interested me. I like how instead of it being a story page after page it was a series of different sources from the incident that told the story. Overall I really enjoyed the book, it’s a fast read because it’s not your usual story. There are a lot of different sources and different points of view so you just can’t wait for what’s next. Reviewed by Dylan in 2007

Plot: Jessica Darling's best friend Hope has just moved away to Tennessee, and Jessica is left in small town Pineville, New Jersey. She now must deal with the male and gossip obsessed girls and the sex addicted boys on her own. Not to mention her dad who can only think of her as a track runner and her mom who is too involved in her sister's wedding to pay much attention at all. As Jessica deals with her new life without the one person she can relate to she suffers insomnia and the female triad along with social problems. However, she suddenly becomes interested in a very mysterious boy, in which she cannot tell anyone, for they will disapprove greatly. The sixteen-year-old feels out of place and lonely, with only her diary to confide in.

Commentary: I thought this book was excellent. The humorous, dramatic voice of Jessica is very real life and allows relation to everyday events in teenager's life. Throughout the book, I grew to like and dislike the characters from the explicit descriptions from Jessica's point of view. The author incorporated many different characters in the complex story, each with very different personality traits. The plot of the book was very intriguing for I enjoy books I can relate to and have a good sense of what I am reading. Sloppy Firsts is written in the first person and in diary format, which adds excitement and comedy to the story. The book also includes lists and diagrams throughout, providing personalization characteristics and humor. This insightful novel is definitely one of the best books I have read in a while. Reviewed by Anna in 2005

Plot: Anna is a 13 year old girl who was created as a perfect DNA match, through stem cell research to save her sister, Kate’s life. Kate was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer at the age of 2. From birth, Anna’s been helping her sister extend her life. From the stuff that was in Anna’s umbilical cord, to bone marrow, Anna’s had a lot of trips to the hospital. Now, Kate needs a kidney and her parents want Anna to give Kate one. Anna’s really reluctant to give up one of her kidneys and seeks a lawyer to file medical emancipation, which is the right to make decisions over ones own body. With the help of Campbell, Anna files a law suit which is tearing the family apart.

Commentary: My Sister’s Keeper is one of the best books I’ve read. It’s a very well written book that makes you feel that you’re in each of these peoples’ shoes. I like how every chapter is in another persons’ point of view. It goes from Anna’s, to her parent’s, to her brother, to Campbell and to Julia’s point of view. You really understand how Anna and Kate’s parents are affected by the lawsuit. Their mom is really in favor of having Anna give Kate one of her kidneys, but her dad is on the fence about the entire situation. To him, both sides have their pros and cons. But to their mom, she wants to do anything and everything to save her daughter, Kate’s life. Even Anna, herself doesn’t seem quite sure what she wants to do anymore. It definitely makes me appreciate my life and I’m thankful that I don’t have to make decisions like this. Reviewed by Eliza in 2007

Plot: Recently I read the book Holes by Louis Sachar, this was a very interesting book that started with the main character, Stanley Yelnats living in a very small apartment, in which his whole large family is staying. One day Stanley is walking home from his inner city school and pair of red shoes fall in front of him, as he’s walking home he is arrested for theft of the famous baseball player Clyde Livingston’s shoes. In court Stanley is given the choice of either going to prison, or camp Greenlake, Stanley chooses camp Greenlake but soon realizes that camp Greenlake has no lake and is not a nice camp at all. When Stanley first arrives at camp Greenlake, he is very different than any of the other juvenile delinquents. Camp Greenlake is a camp in which the philosophy is that to pay for their crimes, each prisoner must dig a hole five by five feet every day. As time goes on Stanley becomes good friends with the camp’s prisoners and is having a more positive outlook on camp Greenlake. Eventually Stanley’s best friend named Zero at the camp is teased by the camp councilor and Zero attacks the councilor. Afterwards Zero has to run and a few days later Stanley also runs away in search of Zero and finds him under a boat, the two climb up a mountain to the north of camp Greenlake and after a few days the boys head back down to find out that Stanley has some very good news. After this the two boys go back to there homes and the story ends.

Commentary: Louis Sachar’s book Holes is very well written for several reasons, the largest being that he writes the book using words so that the story will appeal to younger people, but will also still be interesting for older people. Another thing that he does that makes the story more interesting is that he quotes and references many other well known stories and uses a lot of literary devices, but mostly a lot of allusions. An example of this would be when Stanley says”I feel bad for that old lady who lived in the shoe because it must have smelled bad” this is an allusion to the story about the old lady who lived in the shoe. I would recommend this book to someone who is below the standard reading level, but some parts are directed more at a middle or elementary level of reading and at some parts the story gets repetitive. In conclusion I thought this was a very well written book that is interesting, but also can be at a lower level of reading at many parts. Reviewed by Giles in 2007

Plot: Holes is about a boy named Stanley Yelnats. He one day got sent to a camp where he has to dig holes to learn his lesson. They thought he stole a pair of really famous and expensive pair of sneakers that was for sale and was going to be sold for thousands of dollars, and the money would have been given to charity. Stanley didn’t really steal the sneakers, they fell from above.

When Stanley was at the camp he met a boy called Zero. Zero had no home, no family and Zero was really stupid and couldn’t read. One day Zero ran away from the camp because he was sick of it there, and none of the wardens there were worried about Zero. They just deleted his file like he was never there. Stanley decided to go look for him and to bring him back to the camp.

Commentary: I am not much of a book reader but Holes was a really good book. Everything that happened in this book ended up with a meaning. The meaning is that Stanley built character during this experience. I haven’t read a book this good for a long time. I also thought this book was a story that when you read it you won’t want to stop reading. It’s a fun story to read and an easy read.

At first I was kind of worried what would happen to Stanley. He was very brave to have gone through all of that. I felt bad for Zero, because he had no family, he was uneducated, and no one cared about him. This book never gets boring so it’s fun to read, and most people that read this book like it. I enjoyed the authors writing because it was really interesting and realistic. It’s an exciting and funny book. Reviewed by Marcel in 2007

Genre: Holes is a book that could be labeled as many different genres. Although things that occurred in this book were somewhat unreal I still think it is realistic fiction.

Rating: 2.5 stars--I enjoyed reading it, but some parts were quite slow. It gets more interesting at the end.

Plot: Holes a book where anything is possible at Camp Green Lake. It all started way back when Stanley’s great great grandfather promised Madam Zeroni that if she let him use one of her pigs to marry someone after bringing it up to the river and singing to it while it drinks later on he must carry her up the mountain and sing to her while she drinks. Stanley Yelnats a boy who has a few problems. He gets made fun for being overweight, but his worst problem is a curse. A curse that was set upon his family many years ago. There once lied at Camp Green Lake an actual lake but as the lake aged it slowly shriveled up by the hot Texas climate. Now lies nothing but dry dirt for miles. As Stanley is innocently walking home from school one day he is struck with a pair of shoes out of the sky. This pair of shoes only continued the curse on the Yelnats family. Once Stanley gets to Camp Green Lake he later on is looking to end the curse for the Yelnats family. He realizes that they are not just digging hole for the fun of it, but that the warden is in search of something. It will be clear how the warden, Hector and Stanley all connect.

Commentary: I believe the Louis Sachar wrote this story well. He was able to make it flow very well by going from one time period to the other. There were three stories being told at a time and so this I found seemed difficult to do. Also he did a good job on finding the ways to connect all three characters at the end. The characters in this story were well described. At the beginning it explained the main character Stanley very good while giving background information on how the curse came to be and how it is affecting them today. Most of all the characters all had their very own personality. This showed how versatile he can be because there were a lot of characters. In some ways the characters were connected but all had a different story. This book interested me a lot because of how just by simply reading the back hooked me. I had heard about this book from fellow students as well, but the book itself and what I had heard about it was engaging enough. It had a good plot to it and I liked the way it had the three stories going on at once. The author wrote it well enough not to confuse anyone. My overall evaluation for this book would be that it is a great book to read when you are looking for something with a lot of twists. You want to read this book if year are interested in comparing the history to the present and/or future. Reviewed by Will in 2007

Rating: 4 stars and would love to read and reread it many times again.

Plot: It is about an entire interconnecting love circle. It starts out with this one guy named Brandon Coyle who is in love with a girl named Arielle Montjoie who is betrothed, about to be married, to a guy named Valdmir Desparde who is friends with Brandon, and Brandons sister Apirita is in love with Valdmir. All of these people are connected are connected with some one else who is also in a love circle, all of the people in the book are in love with some one else who does not like them back, with an exception for Valdimir and Arielle but that soon changes. I gave this book four stars because I thought that it was just a really good novel and I love the way how Mrs. Southworth portrays these people's lives and how they deal with trying to be with the person they love, and the rejection they often get.

Commentary: This book is filled with betrayal, revenge, deceit, sudden twists, love, struggles, deaths. I would reccomend A Skeleton in the Closet to anyone. Not many people may read it though because it is so old but if you like a good book that takes you through a journey through the lives of many people and how they get by day to day with the hurt they feel and the revenge they seek, this is the book for you. One of the greatest things is that it is in a series but since these books are old they will be hard to find. The Skeleton in the Closet is one of Mrs. Southworth's greatest novels and it is great for anyone. Reviewed by Cassandra in 2007

Plot: Backstage Pass is about a sixteen year old girl named Desert Mc Graw, whose father is lead singer of a rock band, called Crossfire. She and her family are moving constantly and because of this she has never really had true friends or a place that is home to her. The story starts of when Crossfire finishes a tour and the Mc Graw family moves to Miami. She meets a girl named Becca who is a huge fan of Crossfire and she says that their music is the only thing that “keeps her going.” This and other comments she makes and depending on other things to be happy make Desert start to worry. Soon after in the story she finds out that Becca is depressed and has to take medication to keep herself from feeling down. The whole story is about Desert figuring out that she has a pretty good life compared to others and learning to be thankful for all that she has. I really enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend it to other people.

Commentary: I think this book interested me because it had a unique plot that few books are based on. From the cover it looked like a compelling, uplifting book that I would enjoy. The author Gaby Triana had a distinct type of writing in which she used lots of sensory detail to describe events that happen in the book. She not only did this but she described things in many different aspects so that any type of reader could thoroughly understand what she was talking about and had a clear, concise picture in their mind. Another reason I really enjoyed this novel was because of the types of characters the author invented. The style of writing that was used, let you really get to know each character in the book. For me, each role in the book had a very clear picture of how the looked and what they were like. I think this is one of the things that made the story so good, because you felt like you were a part of the action. Reviewed by Molly in 2007

Plot: In Cynthia Voigt’s realistic fiction novel Dicey the thirteen year old daughter of the Tillerman’s has taken the role of keeping her family whole. Dicey is feeling bored with her family, what she does and just uninterested in how she’s living her life but it is all soon to change. Dicey’s parents decide to deliver all four of their children to go live with there grandmother. Meanwhile Dicey has to learn to let go and let the three other children live their own lives. Now everything changes for the children especially for Dicey and her grandmother. Dicey thought her road was ending, always having to take care of the others in her family but with this new change, but she’s soon to find her road is just beginning.

Commentary: I admire Cynthia Voigt’s style of writing: she really makes it all so real, I become intertwined with all of Dicey’s problems and I became an invisible passenger on the ride of Dicey’s life. I realize how much Dicey gives and never receives, how much she cares, how much she will do to make sure her siblings carry out all of there dreams and achieve success. As you read you realize Dicey changes many lives and makes you realize what is real and what is make believe. If you want a book you can’t put down this is the book for you. This book is very intense and very emotional and all in a poetic sense. It’s unforgettable. Reviewed by Ashlee in 2005

Plot: This book is part of a series, so it continues from the book before, which you should read first. All I want is everything, is a book about a bunch of rich families showing off their money and average teens trying to be with the rich. A main character Blair is very snobby and is a best friend with Serena, both of them having parents with way too much money. Blair’s mother has just gotten married to an ugly guy with an even more disgusting son, Aaron. Blair is one of the most beautiful girls in New York City’s Upper East Side and now she has a stepbrother with dreadlocks. Aaron starts not to like the fact that he is Blair’s stepbrother either, because living with Blair and not being able to have her is torture. Nate who is also rich and Blair’s ex, is falling for an average ninth grader, Jennifer. Jennifer can’t believe that a hot senior like Nate would want to date her. Jenny has a brother, Dan, who is in love with Serena, soon realizes that she most likely doesn’t love him. He then goes out with a girl named Vanessa who is deeply in love with him. Dan is a great poet and loves to express his feelings in poetry, which can sometimes get him in trouble. All of the characters except for Jenny are preparing for college. Will they get in? Will they not get in? Where will they go? There are just so many open ends that are trying to be met while handling men, women, money, life, and high school.

Commentary: This was one of my favorite books, I definitely recommend reading it. I have only read three books from the series and each one gets better. All I want is everything is a book for teenagers, probably girls. It is about how some people imagine perfect life. Blair, Serena, and all the main characters in the book have total freedom. They have no restriction can go and do what ever they please. Most of the characters also have a ton of money and their own credit cards, with their parents’ money. All attend private schools of just boys or just girls, which I would personally hate. This plays a role in the book as the only contact with other sexes is after school and on weekends. College is right around the corner and there is a ton of pressure, one of the only bad subjects of their lives. It shows how they deal with men, women, money, life, and school. Reviewed by Rachel in 2005

Plot: These books tell a hilarious and fun account of growing up in the wealthiest part of the upper-east side of New York, New York. Blair Woldorf, the main character, is a controlling and ambitious girl from a very wealthy family. We get to watch her deal with her perfect "best friend," boys, the college admissions process, and her very odd and complex family life. While she is the main character you also get an inside peek of the world from a couple of other points of views. You see it from the eyes of Nate, the drugged up heart throb, Serena, the goddess of them all, Dan, the confused poet, Vanessa, the bare headed film maker, and Jenny the young one with the abnormally large chest. You will not be able to put these books down and each one will leave you begging for more.

Commentary: These books are addicting. You cannot pick it up without reading the rest of them. They begin kind of slow but once the action starts, it just doesn’t stop. I don’t want to put them into any category gender wise, but I don’t believe that many male readers would enjoy these books. I think the people that would enjoy these books the most are girls in Grades 9 or up. These books have a mature theme where sex and drugs make up a big part of it. These are awesome books. I read 1-6 in one month and two more are coming out soon. Have fun with these juicy books of gossip. Reviewed by Ellen in 2005

Plot: In this gossip girl book, the main characters are experiencing their last summer before college. Despite that steamy kiss on graduation night, Blair, Serena and Nate have gone their separate waysthough not for long. Blair is off to London with her English Lord-boyfriend, Serenas about to become a movie staras if she wasnt a star already!and Nates rolling up his well-worn khakis and heading to the Hamptons. Back in New York, Dan and Vanessa are rekindling their love. This book is full of realistic things that could happen to any of us.

Commentary: I thought this book was a good read for teens and adults that like books that are realistic. Reviewed by Jessica in 2007