The Whistling Season
An engaging coming of age story follows 3 motherless brothers as the family employs a new housekeeper. As the family reshapes itself around their new addition, the oldest boy learns about who exactly their housekeeper is and in doing so finds a little more of himself.
What did you find interesting about the book? I just liked the accessibility of the characters. They were easy to understand.
Trinity 09’
Water for Elephants by .S. Gruen
A inside view of the circus and one man’s strugglefor life, and love, and hope in a time of depression and familial loss.
Why would you recommend this book? Very entertaining, a gripping page-turner, and a must read for fiction lovers.
Corrine 09’
Bloody Jack by L. A. Meyer This is a story about an orphaned girl in early 1800’s who is against all accepted customs of the time, dressed as a boy and became a ship’s boy in the British Royal Navy. This book shows you how she survives and makes it all the way to America. This book was suspenseful. Thrilling, and a little bit of romance mixed in.
Why did you like this book? I loved this book because it was a fantastic display of nautical skills and Jack’s adventures across the high seas.
Eileen 10’
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is an incredible story about two girls Lily and Snow Flower and their journey through footbinding, marriage, and life on their own. They create a secret code to communicate with each other through fans. The friendship they establish is one that is undeniable and moving.
Why did you like this book? I enjoyed this book because it is easy to relate with as a young girl growing up in a society full of blinded tradition, family and search of true friends. Giann
Juliann 10’
The Perks of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
A shy boy befriends two seniors at his high school after his best friend commits suicide. In a series of letters to a “friend” the reader learns about what his freshman year is like.
Why did you like this book? The main character is really honest. He’s maturing throughout and he learns who is he is.
Jessica “11”
Veil of Roses
An Iranian girl requires a visa for a temporary stay in America, but has to marry an American Persian for permanent citizenship. She discovers in America delightful freedom in simple everyday choices, and is faced with important choices herself.
Why did you like this book? Loved it!! It makes you realize how lucky we are to be American and raises world awareness.
Trinity 09’
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
The story of Melinda who starts high school as a self proclaimed outcast. After a horrible summer all of her friends abandon her and Melinda has to learn how to speak about that summer.
Why did you like this book? I enjoyed this book because Melinda is so reliable even though you have not had the same experiences. It also eals with high school social issues.
Sophie 10’
My sisters keeper by Jodi Picoult
Anna, a thirteen year old girl has decided to sop providing for her sister’s medical needs. Her sister suffers from leukemia and Anna’s parents conceived her in order to be a donor for her sister. Anna hires a lawyer and pursues to see her parents for medical emancipation. Shall she receive emancipation her sister will surely die.
Why did you like this book? The book kept me interested the entire time and the ending is totally unexpected.
Madison 09
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Tally Youngblood has been waiing for her 16th birthday her entire life because she will get an operation to make her beautiful. Every child is known as an “ugly” until this miraculous operation, but Tally can’t get the operation unless she betrays her friend and herself.
Why did you like this book?
Suspenseful, heart-rending realistic!
Kylie 08’
A thousand pieces of gold by Ruthanne Lum Mc Cunn
This is the story of Lalu Nathoy’s journey from China to San Francisco as a slave during the gold rush. After being sold multiple times, he lands in a small town in Idaho where she escapes to her freedom.
Why did you like this book?
This is an amazing story of one woman’s strength and struggle in the American West.
Stephanie 09’
False Impression by Jeffery Archer
The story takes place a few days before 9-11. This story is about a brave woman who is an art representative for a bank
Why did you like this book?
It was fast paced and had a great plot!
Jayne 09’
New Moon by Stephanie Meyers
This is the sequel to Twilight. Bella continues her journey after befriending a family of “vampires.” To protect Bella, Edward her “vampire” boyfriend leaves town. In depression, Bella befriends a werewolf who falls in love with her. Vampires and werewolves are mortal enemies, who will she choose?
Why did you like this book?
I like this book because it draws you in, a book you cannot put down. A mystical story that isn’t too mushy, more for girls but works for boys too.
Janelle 10’
Deception Point by Dan Brown
This is a suspense, science-fiction thriller taking place during a hot presidential debate during which NASA makes an astonishing discovery: a meteororite in the middle of the arctic circle containing fossils of extraterrestrial life. This story, through many twists and turns, slowly unravels the shocking truth about this discovery.
Why did you like this book?
The book was great! The first third of the book was somewhat slow but then it was one action mystery after another and I remained intrigued to the very end.
Lily 10’
Gentleman and Players by Joanne Harris
The story centers around a developing murder mystery at St. Oswald’s School for boys as
the main protagonist, an elderly Latin master who must save the school and expose the murderer.
Why would you recommend this book?
This book, like all of Joanne Harris’ novels, is an absolute gem. The writing and story will have you enthralled.
T.J.
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
An inside view of the circus and one man’s struggle for life and love and hope in a time of depression and familial loss.
Why did you like this book?
It is very entertaining, a gripping page-turner, and a must read for fiction-lovers.
Corinne 09
Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray
This is the 3rd and last book of the “Gemma Doyle Trilogy” series. It’s Gemma’s last year at Spence, and at the same time the long race to destroy her and steal her powers continues. Loving characters are killed, relationships are born anew, and destinies are revealed in this climactic last episode.
Why did you like this book?
This book is a pleasurable and entertaining read, both for its teen and adult readers. This is a book which allows you to lose yourself in fantasy and history.
Janelle 10’
SomethingFrom the Nightsideby Simon R. Green is the engrossing, engaging book about London's best kept secret and the adventures of an enigmatic private eye who wouldn't know a clue if it bit him in the foot. The Nightside, a nether region located in London, is a city within a city, a place that exists between heaven and hell. It is a place where gods and monsters, men and spirits, go about their private business, chasing down dreams and nightmares you won't find anywhere else.
Kylie 12’
The Whistling Season
I read this book over the summer and I was extremely glad I did. Ivan Doig's combination of beautiful writing and incredible story telling make this book a great read. The story centers on a young boy, his father, and his 2 brothers living in the country in Montana. It follows him as he goes to school in the traditional one-room schoolhouse, and copes with death the death of his mother. A truly fantastic read.
T.J. 11’
Memoirs of a Geisha
Unravel into the world of kimonos, beauty, and undiscovered pain. In the book Memoirs of a Geisha, a young girl named Sayuri experiences the stages in becoming an artist, or more importantly, a geisha. Mameha, one of the most renowned geishas of Osaka, shows interest in Sayuri, who has an unusual blue-gray color in her eyes. Under Mameha’s influence, Sayuri’s peasant clothes are replaced with breath-taking silk kimonos, and her clumsy movements change to graceful dances. Although she gains many privileges, Sayuri faces the pain of suppressing her feelings from becoming revealed. Kimono after kimono, teahouse after teahouse, Sayuri becomes one of the most popular geishas, yet she decides to risk everything for the most dangerous game of all: love. I recommend this book for anyone who dares to explore the life of a geisha, and all the obstacles she overcomes..
June Kim 10’
Sphere by Michael Crichton
This book is amazing. It is by Michael Crichton (of Jurassic Park fame). The thriller explores what happens when a group of scientists delve into the deep sea to look at mysterious wreckage that looks like nothing they have ever seen before. They live in an underwater bio-dome and discover a mysterious sphere that defies everything they had known and believe. The book is exciting and impossible to put down. I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys thrillers and even those who don't. The book is more sophisticated than a simple thriller. All of Michael Crichton's books are super-good.
Robby '10
A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer is a novel about
growing up with an abusive parent. It is told from
the point of view of the abused. This is based on
the true astoryof the author growing up in the Bay Area.
It details the mother's mental breakdown and they
way she begins to physically and emotionally abuse her son.
This story is a chilling view into the mind of a tortured child.
Emily 10’
Freaks by Annette Curtis Klaus and Cliff Nielsen
Freaks takes place in the 1950s back when the circuses were filled with ‘freaks’. The protagonist, Able Dandy is the only one in the circus without any physical abnormalities. His entire life he feels like an outcast and he finally decides to leave the circus and join a circus without ‘freaks’. Follow along with Abel as he goes out searching for where he belongs and meets interesting people along the way—freaks and ‘normal’ people.
Sofi 10’
The Closers
by Michael Connelly
This book is a definite read. The death of a bi-racial teen is put aside and considered "cold" until years later it’s picked up by a duo who calls themselves, theclosers. Their job is in law enforcement underunsolved cases. When the case is reopened, holes are discovered in the original detective work, race is considered, which leads the duo to a policeman covering the murder.
Jayne '09
TICKTOCK
by Dean Koontz
Fabulous!! This book was fast and easy and very entertaining. adding enough humor to a frightening topic, ticktock is wonderful. A man opens his door to find a rag doll with a note in Vietnamese. He brings the doll inside and it soon transforms into the killer doll from hell. As it chases Tommy the main character,you are introduced to Deliverance Payne his future loveinterest. battling a demon and his over bearing mother, Tommy tries to survive the night fighting off sleep and anything else that seems to be interested in him.
Jayne'09
The House of Thunder
by Dean Koontz
this book is all about deception and mystery. its a wonderful book about a woman who gets into a carcrash, and wakes up from a coma two weeks later only to fall in love with her doctor and find out that she isnt in a really hospital, while shefalls into adream state where she relives her worst nightmare, witnessing the death of her boyfriend. fabulous plot and the story line keeps you guessing
Jayne '09
Better Off, flipping the switch on technology
by Eric Brende
what would life be like without technology? this book is about a man who tries to answer this question. He moves to an amish societyand lives there with no technology with his new wife for a few years. the end result? technology makes people fat lazy, and nonsocial. it's an amazing book thatconvinces the reader thattechnology isnt always a good thing,that in factit might make our lives harder.
Jayne'09
Arielle 09’
Recommends this book!!
“A Classic Love Story of Medieval