Honors English 9 Book Recommendations
Jaclyn Strohmeyer recommends:
1. Title: The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening
Author: L. J. Smith
Attention-getting summary: The Awakening is the first of four books in the series. The new student, Stefan, from Italy is looking amazing in his designer Italian clothes and driving his Porsche while having the mystery man look. Elena, the most popular girl is the little town of Fell’s Church, falls for him right away. Even with him ignoring her, she is determined to have him. With her best girlfriends Elena plots and plans to get him while a bunch of mysterious murder attacks are happening.
2. Title: My Fair Godmother
Author: Janette Rallison
Attention-getting summary: First let me tell you this book has fairies, princesses, princes, knights, cyclops, and takes place in the middle ages. That may seem like a little kid book and turn offish, but it really isn’t. It starts when Savannah’s boyfriend dumps her for her sister, Jane. Savannah now can’t go to prom and just wants the perfect price like guy to take her. Then Chrissy, her FAIR godmother, shows up and gives her a trip to the Middle Ages as Cinderella, Snow White, and as herself to save Tristian, a boy from school who is caught in Chrissy’s magic. Through all the magic, pain, adventure, and
3. Title: Shiver
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Attention-getting summary: Shiver is the first of three books in its series. For many years Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf, her wolf, she can’t seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two different live: one in the winter, with his pack, and one in the summer, the precious months of being human. Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy and she can’t stop thinking about him. Sam has to fight to stay human this winter or risk losing himself and Grace forever.
Sarah Droder recommends:
1. Title: Elsewhere
Author: Gabrielle Zevin
Genre: Fiction
Summary:
Imagine waking up knowing not where you are, nor who anyone else is. Another girl appears from where you are lying and tells you that you are on your way to heaven. 16-year-old Liz Hall ages backward and she discovers who she really is on this journey. Follow Liz on her journey as she finds who helps her get to the place she needs to be and how her family and friends are coping without her. Will she struggle to find her way? Or will she thrive under the circumstances given to her?
2. Title: That Summer
Author: Sarah Dessen
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Summary:
Your world has just been turned upside-down. Your parents divorced only a matter of years ago because the father you thought you knew cheated on your mom for a co-worker. What’s next? Well, he’s getting remarried to Lorna (Also known as ‘the weather pet’ from the news station your dad works at.) Be a part of Haven’s hectic-paced life as she makes an attempt to flourish amongst her frenzied world.
3. Title: 13 Little Blue Envelopes
Author: Maureen Johnson
Genre: Fiction
Summary:
Ginny never knew just what had really happened to her aunt. But one day, it seems as if she is destined to find out. She receives a “package like a dumpling” that contains rules and envelopes to the ultimate scavenger hunt. Along the way, she meets many interesting people, including a foreign romance that may just bloom into something more…
Michela Palma recommends:
Title: Twilight
Author: Stephanie Meyers
Genre: Romance
Attention-getting summary: Quiet and reserved, Bella Swan moves from the blistering heat of Phoenix to live with her father officer Swan in rainy Forks, Washington. Bella goes to attend Forks High school, where she meets the mysterious Edward Cullen. Bella doesn’t know much about him only that he’s very handsome. Eventually, through a series of events, Bella learns that Edward is a vampire, who deep down might have a thirst for her blood, but also learns that she’s in love with him. High paced with action and romance, you’ll love the struggling relationship of Edward and Bella to be together.
Title: The Book Thief
Author: Marcus Zusak
Genre: Historical fiction
Attention- getting summary: Set in place of WWII in Himmel Street of Germany, Leisel Meminger is going to live with foster parents. On the way, her brother dies, and while at his funeral, Leisel finds The Grave Digger’s Handbook. While at her foster parent’s home, she begins to develop a love for reading. With this love, she begins to steal books at the Hitler’s book burnings, and in the mayor’s library. Through her journey she meets and accordionist, a Jewish fist fighter, and is opened up to a whole new world of writing, reading, and a family trying to live through the worst war in history.
Title: Witch & Wizard
Author: James Patterson
Genre: Science fiction
Attention- getting summary: Wisty and Whit is brother and sister living normal lives, until one night, the government known as The New Order, arrests them under charges of witch craft. Confused and frightened, they are taken to a prison full, of other adolescence just like them, and learn that they are part of a prophecy, that’s suppose to over throw The New Order. Wisty and Whit are put to the test to see if they can save the ones they love, and even bigger the world.
Gillian Nelson recommends:
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Fiction
Meet four typical sisters; Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. These girls go through the journey of life together and learn so much in this timeless tale. They learn the gift of giving on a cold Christmas morning. They learn what it feels like to be poor. They learn about boys. But most importantly, they learn about family. They learn to love each other, no matter how badly another messes up, and they learn that anyone can be your family. Join these sisters as they learn so much during this forever classic.
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain
Fiction
One punch and Hank Morgan is knocked out. But he doesn’t wake up in America, his home. He wakes up in sixteenth century England, during the reign of King Arthur and during the time of the round table. Hank is completely confused and the people of sixteenth century England think that he is crazy. They throw him in jail. /hank almost meets his death when he amazes the people of England with a prediction of the future. He is then known as greater than Merlin. Hank tries to make England like America. Join Hank as he becomes powerful and changes history.
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Fiction
When Stargirl Caraway comes to Mica High school, no one knows what to make of her. Some people think that she’s a spy. Most people think that she’s weird. And there are some people that don’t know what to think. Stargirl soon becomes popular, then drops to the bottom of the school’s social pyramid. And Leo Borlock, who likes Stargirl, wants her to be the perfect, normal girlfriend for him. Who will Stargirl be? Read Stargirl to find out.
Annie Wilson recommends:
Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Attention Getting Summary: Katniss Everdeen, a teenage girl in the 12th District, whose father had died in an accident and she had to step up to take care of her mother and younger sister Prim. Katniss is one of many excellent hunters and can handle a lot of weapons. As well as her friend, Gale Hawthorne, they create a very effective hunting team. As the next Hunger Games approaches, people are very afraid. When Katniss’ younger sister Prim is chosen to participate in the Hunger Games, she doesn’t hesitate to volunteer to take her place. Along with Peeta, they were representing the 12th District in the 74th Hunger Games. After surviving endless preparations with Peeta and their coach Haymitch, Katniss finally enters the arena with just one thought in mind, to survive. Through a clever unfortunate love strategy made by their coach, both her and Peeta manage not only to change the rules, but ultimately become the very first double winners of The Hunger Games.
Title: Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Attention Getting Summary:The President of the Capitol, Corionalus Snow, expresses his disappointment personally and threatens Katniss with deaths of her loved ones if she can’t prove she didn’t want to inspire any rebellion. Regardless of Katniss’ actions, anti-Capitol talk, gestures and actions seem to spread around the districts fast. Both winners are forced to take a tour around the Districts and people usually see Katniss not as the winner of the Games, but as a symbol showing that the Capitol is not as everlasting as it would want others to believe. The annual 75th Hunger Games place former winners in the arena to demonstrate what will not be tolerated. Katniss and Peeta make new friends from other Districts in the arena and they also eventually manage to collapse the arena and escape to the almost mythological 13th District which was supposedly wiped out completely in the last war. However, Peeta and a few others become prisoners of the Capitol and Katniss’ and Gale’s home, the 12th District, is reduced to rubble.
Title: Mocking Jay
Author: Suzanne Collins
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Attention Getting Summary: The revolution has begun. Most of Districts rise against the Capitol and once the 13th District assumes command, things begin to look better. Katniss becomes vitally important and she is mainly used as a symbol of hope for the rebels. Once the Districts are liberated, the rebels must engage the Capitol itself. Katniss and her team suffer heavy losses on their mission to assassinate President Snow and before they can even succeed, the war is over with Katniss’ “little” sister Prim as one of the last casualties. Katniss is then supposed to execute Snow, but after having a little chat with him she kills the rebel president Coin instead, because she blames her for Prim’s death and she is also afraid that Coin would just create another Capitol.
Erin Gallagher recommends:
1. Title: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Author: John Boyne
Genre: Historical Fiction
Summary:
A nine year old boy named Bruno was forced to move. His father was a commandant in Hitler’s army. They moved far away from his former house in Berlin to a place called “Out-With” which was a lot of land with a concentration camp located on it. Because Bruno now had a lot of time on his hands, now that he was away from all of his new friends, he decided to go exploring and he found more that what he had ever imagined… “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.”
2. Title: Killing Britney
Author: Sean Olin
Genre: Mystery
Summary:
Britney started off as the geekiest girl in the town of Madison Wyoming but had then transformed herself to one of the most popular girls in school. Her mom had drowned on a family white water rafting trip. Then, her boyfriend Ricky, captain of the hockey team, had been killed in a hit and run. As the deaths kept continuing everyone started to worry about Britney. All of the deaths are leading up to her.
3. Title: Thirteen Reasons Why
Author: Jay Asher
Genre: Mystery
Summary:
Clay Jensen comes home from school to find a shoe box on his front porch. Hannah Baker, his crush, had committed suicide two weeks earlier. This shoe box on his porch was filled with cassette tapes stating the “Thirteen Reasons Why” She decided to take her own life. Clay spends the night wondering around town listening to the tapes at the location they had taken place at. Why was Clay chosen to listen to these tapes?
Michael Durkin recommends:
1. Title: The Book Thief
Author: Mark Zukas
Genre: Historical Fiction
Summary: see previous summary
2. Title: Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment
Author: James Patterson
Genre: Science Fiction
Summary: Despite being subject to lab tests and genetic mutations throughout the beginning of their lives the flock, Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman, and Angel, has managed to stay strong. Their once thought of father, Jeb, helps them escape the prison of a lab where they are being held captive, but abruptly disappears after helping them reach a safe house. Although Gasman and Angel are the only members of the flock that are actually related, the whole flock becomes a close family after Jeb disappears. However, peace only lasts a few years before the members of the lab manage to locate the flock and kidnap Angel. In the frantic search for Angel the flock not only answers questions about her captors, but also about Jeb and their own past.
3. Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Genre: Action and Adventure
Summary: See previous summary
Meghan Stepanek recommends:
She’s So Dead to Us
Kieran Scott
Fiction/YA
Orchard Hill: Where almost two years ago, Ally Ryan and her parents were happily living. That is until her dad makes an awful deal with his friends, who once had millions of dollars, causing them to go nearly bankrupt, and leaving several of their friends in a bad money situation. But why is it that two years later, they are back in the same city, with their dad missing? And where did Mr.Ryan go anyways? The people that used to be Ally’s best friends now hate her. Except for Jake Graydon, who’s living in Ally’s old house. It’s obvious that they’re in love, so why haven’t they admitted it yet?
He’s So Not Worth It