#74
- I'm not sure what point the author was trying to get across. It seemed a little too manufactured at times and the end was almost too extreme. The characters were interesting though. 3Q 3P. KH, 18.
- I really enjoyed this book. I guess a good way to describe it would be "gritty", because a lot of the content is disturbing, although eye opening. It contrasts well with a lot of the "girlier" nominations. 5Q 4P. C, 14.
Fredericks, Mariah. The True Meaning of Cleavage . #49
- Realistically, the title has nothing to do with the content of the book (guys, nothing to get excited about) and therefore, the title should be changed. Okay, the book deals with hotness, but it also deals with change and adaptability. Typically, the day in the life of, and it's hard to remember exactly what it was about. 2Q 3P. CS, 14.
- First
off, I would like to ask a question- how much was Meg Cabot paid for the
glowing comments on the back of this book? It wasn't funny. It wasn't
realistic (at least not in my experience of high school)- the only thing that
Cabot got right is the fact that this book is twisted- real people do NOT
behave like these characters. Out of all of the main characters, only Jess
behaved like a human being (albeit a gutless one). The rest had no dignity, no
self-control, and no respect for anyone or anything. Sari was an idiot with
neither pride nor restraint. David was a spineless philanderer. The ‘Prada
Mafia’ were shallow and petty. These characters do not care about how their
actions affect other people. They are in GRADE NINE, and yet they behave in a
manner that would be inappropriate for people twice their age.
Perhaps Ms. Fredericks intended her book to be some kind of inspirational tract about the value of friendship and of being oneself. If so, she did not succeed. Her characters behave like out-of-control toddlers with raging hormones- the plot of the book is Sari’s obsession with David and subsequent downward spiral (and Jess’ deer-in-the-headlights reaction to it).
Perhaps I’m being too vicious, but if I read a book, I like it to contain a decent plot and characters that I wouldn’t be ashamed to be seen in public with. 2Q 3P. JW, 15 - another book for girls. the title didn't have anything to do with the story and i was happy for that [lol]. unless the author meant cleavageas in splitting[the friendship?] but then why is there a picture of "cleavage" on the cover? yeah so that mystery had me thinking for quite a while. meg cabot commented on the book and i didnt really agree with her. nothing in the book made me laugh for one thing. the book was realistic though. the characters were well thought out and everything. 3Q 4P. DW, 14.
- This book was awful compared with most of the other high quality nominations. The main character lies around feeling sorry for herself after her brain dead best friend falls for a guy she can't have. And the title has nothing to do with the book - forget any insight into womanhood and feminism or even a good coming of age story. It wasn't THAT bad to read, and the plot was okay, but one word to describe this book would be average. 2Q 3P. C, 14.
- I
really wanted to like The True Meaning of Cleavage, but unfortunately, I did
not.
I honeslty don't have much to say about it. It was boring and poorly written, with characters impossible to like and a plot that was aimless. I did not feel as if I had gained or learned anything from it when I was finished. I did not enjoy this book at all. 1Q 4P. HK, 14. - The
beggining was slow and boring. maybe because I really don't care about
popularity and I think books about best friends fighting over a boy are
stupid, but also because there was no substance. the characters are dull
stereotypes. No, scratch that, badly written stereotypes. I was unsure if the
auther wanted them to appear to be a)indifferent to popularity, b) popular
type girls who weren't actually popular (Which is really what they came off
as) or c) embittered unpopular types.
As weird as this is, I did like the end of the book. Not because it was over, Ha ha, but because the end was actually pretty good. It picked up somehow and I was no longer skipping sentences...paragraphs because it was so dull. Maybe it was becase her friend was such a putz and I was kind of getting a sick kick out of it. Either way, I found the main character too needy and pathetic for words. 2Q 3P. KH, 18. - The book was okay, but I get annoyed when there's a title there just to get your attention without a real purpose. 3Q 3P. M, 16
- This book was actually pretty awesome. It was another book about a close female relationship getting rocky, but the author pulled it of perfectly. The title threw me off a bit, since the only mentioned cleavage once. This book had it's funny moments, and was sincerly a coming of age novel. It was cute quirky, and enjoyable all teenie boppers need to read this book. 5Q 4P. Gr 7-11. CD, 17.
Freyer, John D. All My Life for Sale #125
· Wow, this is seriously one of the best and most interesting books that I have ever read. I actually got to know his friends and family, and sorta got to guessing about who would bid on what. I am extremely disappointed that I didn't know about this before because I would have loved to bid on any of his objects. This book was an incredibly great idea and if I could I'd read it over and over. 5Q 4P. Gr 7-12+. VM, 13.
Freymann-Weyr, Garrett. The Kings Are Already Here. #99
- The
format of this book is a little strange. It's written in a present tense and
in first person, but the point of view switches between the 2 main characters
Phebe and Nikolai. And the actual text seems strangely formal at first (it
kind of grew on me as I read on) to the point of seeming snobbish, but it
successfully imparted the obsessive nature of the characters. This illustrated
just how high strung these kids really are.
Both Phebe and Nikolai are so single minded in their goals at the begining of the book that it is amazing that they looked up from their respective ballet barres and chess boards and actually noticed each other. I suppose if they hadn't, it would have made for a very boring story.
I really appreciated the fact that Phebe and Nikolai's relationship didn't turn into a romance - it was so much more meaningful because it didn't. The strange family dynamics were interesting, but they felt a little too self aware at times. 4Q 4P. Gr 7-11. JI, 17. - It was a good book, but simply not comparable to "My Heartbeat." Well, I compared them and so with extraordinary bias, I say that it functions well for the characters but they're not even properly humanised. This may be what she was trying to demonstrate, but it lacks too much feeling. Perhaps effort should have been made to make them either more comic or tragic in order to bring more feeling to it. 4Q 2P. Gr 8-12. KC, 16.
- Beautifully written and sweet. A look at two worlds that I'd never really taken an interest in before, but am intrigued about now. A book about self discovery and how to choose between deciding factors in life. Garret Freymann-Werr has a delicate storytelling rhythm - I've never read anyone quite like her. Admittedly, I preferred her previous book "My Heartbeat", but "The Kings Are Already Here" should definitely make the list. 4Q 4P. Gr 10-12+. JL, 17.
- At first I found this book kind of boring but after a while the characters started to grow on me. The writing was wonderful, and the characters had interesting qualities but I just wasn't very interested in the plot. I found Phebe's situation where she was questioning her ballet career the most interesting part, and I also enjoyed learning about the inner world of chess competitions... but overall the book wasn't very exciting or memorable. 4Q 3P. Gr 7-12+. BM, 15.
- The Kings Are Already Here was an interesting book. The quality was good, but not great. And I'm pretty sure that a lotof people would not like this book. I really could not relate with the two main characters at all; though it was still fun to read about them. I think someone who is more similar to the characters in this book (i.e. is very dedicated to a certain career path at a young age) would like The Kings Are Already Here a lot better than I did. 4Q 3P. Gr 7-11. VM, 13.
Gregory, Julie. Sickened : The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood
- Reading this book was a mind blowing, terrifyingly shocking experience. It read like fiction because it's hard to believe that nayone could actually go through what Julie did. Intense and surreal, this story of Munchausen by proxy is sure to pop your bubble. 4Q 4P. Gr 10-12+. K, 18.
Graham, Rosemary My Not-So-Terrible Time at the Hippie Hotel #198
- I thought this book was very funny. The characters were very realistic. My favorite thing was how the plot had unexpected turns. 4Q 3P. AM, 14.
Grunwell, Jeanne Marie. Mind Games. #206
- BLAAAAHH!! i couldnt read this book without being confused! how many people can tell one story?? geez, i didnt finish this whole book, because i was very confused and the characters point of view kept changing... ack ack! 3Q 3P. Gr 7-9. DW, 14.
Halliday, John. Shooting Monarchs. #1
- Far too predictable. It was like a Hallmark movie in so many ways. It wasn't preachy, but very close. The nature/nurture thing was forced. 4Q 3P KH, 17
Hanley, Victoria . The Healer's Keep . #141.
- I think it is wounderful and that it should be made into a movie. It has great discription.5Q 5P. AL, 12.
- This is a hard book to write a review on. The story its self was really good. It was so suspenseful. I only stopped reading it when I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. But beyond the good suspense factor this book didn't have much more to offer. The story was very complex. There where tons of characters and places so I never know who was talking or where they where from. This book was annoying because every single time the characters would be one step away from there goal something bad would happen. It got on my nerves because that's not the way things really happen. This book had to many things to remember. I didn't feel like I got to know the characters at all. I am really sad that the author took such an amazing story and added so many downfalls to the telling of it. 2Q 3P. EH, 16
Hartnett, Sonya. What the Birds See. #160
- Although this book is well written and "haunting", it is also incredibly bizarre and mysterious (but not in a good way). It has an eerie feel to it, which was quite intriguing and made me want to keep reading and find out what was going on. The book seemed to strongly hint that 2 events of 1977 (the finding of the sea monster and the disappearance of the 3 children) would be connected to the storyline, but they turned out to have nothing to do with anything, which was a disappointment. I eagerly read to the end of the book, because it would finally all make sense. Big disappointment. It still makes no sense. The climax is just odd. This may be interestingly written, but there is no way this book will appeal to teens. 3Q 1P. Gr 7-9. C, 14.
Harrar, George. Not as Crazy as I Seem. #161
- I didn't really know anything about Obsessive-compulsive disorder before reading this book so it was pretty informative. You get to know the character and all his little habits before really knowing that he has this disorder which makes it so easy to understand. The way he describes it, all his "tendencies" seem almost normal. This book was very enjoyable to read, I sat down and read it all at once. Good but not amazing. 4Q 4P. BM, 15.
- I think that this book was a real find it was sort of emotional and moving but not that much. It lets you see the world therogh the eyes of a 16 year old boy who is prfect in every way that it is accually a problem. Then his life turns around when he moves to a new city. I thought that this book was really really good. The ,only bad thing about this book is that there are many long words in it. That is all i have to say about this book. 5Q 4P. Gr 7-9. DB, 12.
- I really enjoyed this book, it had a lot about what the main character (Devon) was thinking and feeling. I thought that really added to the book. Devon has OCD, Obsessive Compulsive Dissorder. Although the book doesn't tell you this until the very end, I was quite certain that this was what Devon was suffering from. I liked how the book was written from the perspective of Devon, who thinks the odd little things that he does are alright, instead of from the perspective of his parents or one of his friends (he only has two sortof friends, but anyways,), because they want Devon to start acting normal. At first I'm was just like 'Jeez, why don't they just leave they poor kid alone, he's not really doing anything wrong!'. But later on I realized that his 'tendencies', as his mother calls him, are really taking over his life. He doesn't have friends, and doesn't WANT any, which I found weird, and couldn't relate to. I felt kindof like I really knew Devon, I felt like I wanted to stick up fard, and I felt really sorry for him and he was blamed for the graffiti on the school. Overall, I thought this was a really good book, and I definetly enjoyed it. 4Q 4P. Gr 7-11. AA, 13.
- 5Q 5P. JS, 15.
- This book is really good for teenagers. I really liked it. I think everyone should read this book. I liked the part where Ben confessed by putting the confession on the over-head. I also liked the part where he didn't change the way he acted and his appearance. 4Q 5P. Gr 7-9. JC/DR, 14.
- I think that this book was really great and I would recommend it to many people. It was awesome.I thought it was great throughout the whole book. There were no boring parts through the whole novel it was great.I think it should win the best award for young adults.I thought that Devon played a huge role in the novel and he was a great character. 5Q 5P. Below Gr 7-Gr 11. KG, 15.
- I loved the book. I could only wish that it could have gone on for longer to see how Devon was and how he is doing now after all this drama. I think there needs to be another book that shows how he is now. This is really the only book out of the ones I have read that I can relate to and enjoy reading. I really think this novel should be in the final list. 4Q 5P. Gr 7-9. AS, 15.
- I thougt it was a good book because it kept me reading. I realy liked all the characters who were in it. A lot of people liked reading this book because it was fun to read. 4Q 4P. JM, 15.
- We both agree that this was a good book and we would recommened it to anyone. It was a unpreditable somewhat realistic story. He should come out with more books that relate to teeneage lives. 4Q 4P. NB/NC, 15.
- the book was awesome because it was really easy to read [ed censor]. the book could happen to a teenager everyday. it was a good book to read i hope everybody could read it. 5Q 5P.TK/RM, 15.
- We both agree that this was a good book and we would recommened it to anyone. It was a unpreditable somewhat realistic story. He should come out with more books that relate to teeneage lives. 4Q 4P. NB/NC, 15.
- This book is really good for teenagers. I really liked it. I think everyone should read this book. I liked the part where Ben [ed censor]. I also liked the part where he didn't change the way he acted and his appearance. 4Q 5P. JC/DR, 14.
- I think it was a great book it was an easy read and everyone will be able to read it but only if they can actually read. it should be a best seller if it isnt yet and he should get an award for the book, its exciting to read because its intense and funny at the same time I mean when we thought one thing was going to happen the complete opposite happens, like when Alonzo approaches Devon at school i thought Alonzo was going to beat him up but he asked if Tanya had talked about him or was talking about anybody else. The complete opposite happened from what I thought would happen. 4Q 5P. WT, 15.
- I think that this book really puts out the word on how disabled kids think and act. It shows us that they have feelings too and we should not make fun of them because we are not all perfect. This book should really make the final list and all kids should read it grades through 6-12. It opened the eyes of all kids in our class and it made them feel as if they should not worry that they have a disorder that they can't control. Everyone in my class really liked the book. I wish that all kids could read this book because the main character Devon acts as if he was real and one of us like a normal teen. Everyone has their problems with their parents and Mr. Harrar made me and a lot of other students see the light even though it is a book and might not have been real. Everyday people go through this everyday.I wish I could make people relate to my life in a book or someone elses life.3Q 5P. MA, 14.
Hartinger, Brent. Geography Club. #7
- This book to an issue that is still very contraversial and stared it right in the face. It was not afraid to confront the stereotypes or the difficulties of being a gay teen in a high school. I loved the fact that these people all found each other out by chance and that even when they found out how big of a group they had they still didn't want to come out of the closet to the rest of the school because they knew what the horrible effects of that would be. I thought it was sad that some of the people couldnt get over their fear enough to join the club once it acutally had the word gay in its title. It was more realistic that way because well a lot of people dont want to risk their position by admitting they are different. I think that everyone should read this if they are in grade 9 or older but not before because of some of the content. 5Q 5P. NT, 16.
- I loved this book. I belive the only people who would not like this book are those people who are uncomfortable with the honesty that this book demonstraits. I loved this book from the first to last page, and was shocked at how real it was. The story is amazing simply because of the truth in it. Things are not easy, things are not fun, there is nothing that this book sugar coats. I would recomend it to everyone, but I am realistic and realise that there are people who will be against this book because of the subject matter. If you have an open mind and want to read a book that is more like a auto biography than a novel, I definately recomend this! 5Q 4P. KH, 15
- The main character of this book was very likeable. This book was very easy to get in to, it just jumps into the story right away. I loved how he found his circle of friends and felt so comfortable with them. The book was very realistic in showing that although people are slowly becoming more open-minded it is still very hard being different. I wondered how Ike (lefty radical) and Terese (girl jock)became friends when the cliques in that school were so separated... But that doesn't really matter, it was a good story, and perfect ending. 4Q 4P. BM, 15.
- This is like a condensed version of high school, whether you've been through it or have heard the stories. The detail and thought put into it was amazingly thorough for what may at first appear to be a very simple read about coming of age. It's almost shocking how merciless and raw the author is on some of the characters, especially Russel, being the first-person narrator and all. But it somehow transcends the "controversial" subject matter of sexuality and exposes the more vicious sides of high school, ones that administrators would rather hide in the fabric of the "best three years of your life." Honestly, it's a fresh take on the message: make a choice with what you have. Excuse me while I go hunt a copy of this book down. 5Q 4P. KP, 17.
- This book deals with teen sexuality in an amazing way. It does, in a way, have that "Disney" thing going on, where everything seems to work out, but it's still really good! This book is truly inspiring, for heterosexual teenagers, gay teenagers, and everyone else. This should be a designated reading in high schools, because it deals with the understanding and acceptance issues that face gay teens in our society. 4Q 3P. CD, 17.
- While I am the first to admit that there is definitely a lack of books for gay teens out there, I really don't think that second rate fiction is the solution to this problem. The Geography Club is terribly predictable and the author wrote the book using the simplest launguage possible (so as not to confuse us?). There is no detail, no emotion, and far to many stereotypes for this to be BBYA calibre. 2Q 3P. JI, 17.
- As much as this is an important message that teens need to hear about tolerance, I don't think Geography Club has the highest literary quality. The characters seemed stereotypical and one dimensional (ex. Kimberley was just "bad", most people he told were overjoyed and it didn't seem to realistically portray the range of complicated emotions other books on this topic have. Russel was either happy or sad). That said, it was still a gripping read. 3Q 3P. C, 13.
- The idea was a nice one. The main character was definitely believable and the small town ideology is present. I liked the descriptions of high school segregation. it was very apt. But then there was the annying little blurbs said by each character at one point or another that came off as very 'After School Special'. It was a great book and could have been one I would nominate if not for this preachy side to it. 4Q 4P. Gr 7-11. KH, 18.
Hesse, Karen. Aleutian Sparrow. #173
- This is a quick read, but a very thought provoking and emotional one. Karen Hesse uses beautifully crafted poetry that is candy to the mind to tell the story of Alaska's native people in World War II, and how they were mistreated by the government. This is a story more people need to hear, and get angry about, told in a very engaging and pretty format. 5Q 4P. Gr 7-9. C, 14.
Hobbs, Will. Jackie's Wild Seattle. #42
- I love the book but I think the author should have done a different or better title page because the art work just dosnt grab your attention alot but it grabs your attention. 5Q 5P. AL, 12.
- This book was okay. It was almost like one of those books that is like everyday life and someone is trying to make a story out of it. However it turned out to be pretty good. I especially liked it that Tyler ended up getting a better life. Personally, though if I had been looking for a book, I don't think I would have picked this over say something more fantasy. But then that's just what i'm like. 3Q 3P. SC, 13.
- This book is hilarious! I couldn't put it down, I had to finish it. I actually read it on the bus and walking the 5 blocks to my school because it was so enthralling, and this is right after that big snow, when it was all icy and stuff. I only slipped once or twice. I don't know what else to say. 5Q 5P. Gr 7-9. CS, 14
Hoffman, Alice. Green Angel. #44
- This book was quite a lot like the other two Alice Hoffman books, Indigo and Aquamarine. The main characters were similar, and dealing with the same general problems. Also as in the other two books, this book containted fantasy, but still remained tied to the realistic world. Overall it was pretty enjoyable, and easy to follow. It was a very fast read, and I think it would be a great book for 12-14 years old, but also good as a short story for older faster readers. 4Q 4P. KH, 16.
Hoffman, Nina Kiriki . A Fistful Of Sky. #56
- Wow! This was an amazing book. I stayed up late reading because I couldn't put it down. It had everything a good book should have. A likeable character, suspense and a good ending. This book did have magic in it but it also had a character that was very human and faced every day problems, like trying to fit in. This made the book fantasy but not so much of a fantasy that you got completely lost and wondered "why should I even care about this? It makes no sense. I cant relate to it at all." The reason I didn't give this book a 5 for quality is because some of the parts got a little repetitive and there was one scene that didn't make 100% of sense but that could have been because I was almost falling asleep. Theses two things are only minor glitches in the book. I think over all this is an amazing book. I was hooked from the beginning. 4Q 5P. EH, 16.
Holland, Barbara. Hail To The Chiefs: Presidential Mischief, Morals & Malarkey from George W. to George W. #77
- This is just my kind of book - sharp, dry humour laced with saracasm that pokes fun at the leaders that shaped the USA. The stories in the book are short and to the point, telling you just enough of the little known info about past current presidents. A humourous (but true) look at American presidential life (and more than a little bit of information on their wives). I rated the quality of this book as 3Q because I had some concerns with typos, grammar, and footnotes, not because of content. 3Q 4P. JI, 17.
- Hail To
The Chiefs was my "cup of tea" so to speak. I really enjoyed reading about all
of the quirks and faults of America's past leaders. Barbara Holland's dry
humour should be enjoyed by everyone. I personally believe it is a stroke of
genius if one can make America's Presidents look like fools, and still do it
in good taste.
Though this book doesn't serve much informative pupose as to the political careers of these leaders, it's still a hilarious book that i couldn't put down. 4Q 4P. EH, 13.
Ihimaera, Witi. The Whale Rider . #177.
- Now I'd like to see the movie, because the book I wasn't extremely impressed with. A girl that I'm kinda friends with said that she didn't like the movie, but she doesn't like the genre, whereas her dad really liked the movie, said it made you think. But this review isn't about the movie, it's about the book. I feel like I read it without feeling, because it's that type of book. Either you feel very strongly with and for the Maori people, or else it is very hard to get through to you. There were some parts that sent shivers up and down my spine, and when the narrator was talking about "him and the boys", that was cool and funny, along with the affection that he and everyone else but Koro show for Kahu. I think the reason that I didn't feel anything when I read the book (in about an hour) was that there was no detail to feel. Oh, I know that one of "the boys" sleeps with his motorcycle with him in bed, and another sleeps with his thumb in his mouth, but that was about the extent of the book wasn't that there was to be detail, but rather that Kahu was the whale rider, and that she was essential for the whale's and the Maori's survival. Now, I'm all confused, all I know is that I'd like to see the movie, and maybe for once in my life I'll like a movie better than I did a book, but I doubt it, as I have a kinds of hard time following movie plots, and people don't like it when I keep needing to rewind the tape. 3Q 2P. CS, 14.
Jones, Diana Wynne. Merlin Conspiracy . #23 Fantasy
- Although the writing lacked immediacy, I found the concept behind the book- magical worlds- very interesting, and well-developed. The characters were interesting (their names were overly interesting), and the action well thought out. This wasn’t the most exciting book that I’ve ever read, and I was by no means glued to the pages, but nevertheless, it was interesting and well-written. 4Q 4P. JW, 16.
- I liked some of the ideas, they were really great. 4Q 4P. AR, 15.
- A good read but nothing spectacular. Very interesting subject though and good use of multi-world/dimension plot devices. The characters are well developed and easy to relate to. The book takes a different view on the Merlin taking him out of the setting of King Arthurs court and into a land full of magic. The book employs many classic devices such as a mistaken identity and the classic journey to test the merrit of the protagonists. I would say the book is more of a younger read though still enjoyable to a wide audience. It does not present any real food for thought but is rather just a good mindless read. 3Q 4P. NT, 17
Koertge, Ron. Shakespeare Bats Cleanup. #53
- I liked how the kid got into poetry, but what does that have to do with Shakespeare? I know he wrote sonnets, but Haiku's? 3Q 3P. AR, 15.
- Shake-speare Bats Cleanup was an OK book. It was a quick read; so if you really don't like it than it won't last too long. I really liked how Kevin wrote poems in a lot of different formats. The plot was fairly unique; but not very eventful. It's a good story idea; but it could've been a lot better if the author had put a bit more effort into it. 4Q 3P. Gr 7-9. VM, 13.
Kowalski, William .The Adventures of Flash Jackson #45
- I really really like this book! It took me a while to get into it, but I am glad I kept going. I love books like this that combine real life with a bit of magic, but that magic seems like something that could actually happen. I loved Haley, she was strong and independant and she knew what she was capable of, which is a nice change from Princess Mia and Georgia Nicholson-ish characters, who are fun but so ditsy. The author does a really good job of making Haley change slowly so you don't notice, until the end when she has completely changed herself. All the other characters were really good as well, I loved Frankie and Miz Powell. Great book! 5Q 4P. BM, 15.
Krull, Kathleen. Harvesting Hope:. The Story of Cesar Chavez. #187
· I think this book was written for yuppy parents to read to their kids in an effort to make them more "tolerant" or "well rounded" and to encourage their kids to revolutionize soemthing themselves. I guess it's best to start them young. Not wanting be left out of the multicultural loop, this book would allow for the yuppies and their yuppy kids to expand the way they think of the world, which might be a good thing. I see nothing wrong with wanting to educate the general public on the plight of labourers earlier this century. However, that doesn't make this a good book for the BBYA list. While the story itself is mature enough, I can't see any self respecting young adult being caught dead reading this book in public as it is laid out and aimed at young children. 3Q 2P Below gr 7. JI, 17.
le, thi diem thuy. The Gangster We Are All Looking For. #92
- This is a really different perspective in young adult fiction. I loved the way the book shows how she grew up from when she was little and first came to America, until she was an adult, while it looked back on her parent's lives and her life before leaving Vietnam. There weren't really defined characters, besides the girl, her mother, and her father and even then you don't even know their real names. Much of this book was quite vague, but the writing was still enjoyable. I loved all the descriptions of the warm California weather and the fruit and palm trees. My favourite part was where she tells about when her and her father first came to San Fransisco and would ride the bus and look in the stores all night. 4Q 4P. Gr 7-12+. BM, 15.
Lee, Jeffrey. True Blue : A Novel. #181
- Nothing is given away until the time when it's right to give it away, so it makes the book more complex than it actually is which is good. But everything here has a solution. Life's not like that, you gotta work to make the pieces fall into place. 3Q 4P. Gr 6-7. CS, 14.
Lekich, John.
The
Loser's Club. #79
- I thought that The Losers Club was delightful to read. It was funny, I liked the way it was written and it has the classic Good guy/Bad guy attitude. The characters are great to read about, and their problems were all unique. "Fat Power!" 4Q 4P. TG, 14.
- Reading this book was like living out everyone's secret childhood dream. The difference was being on your own is harder than you'd hink. The ending was vaguely corny but the rest of it was so excellent it was easily overlooked. The characters were all lovable and so real that I didn't want the book to end. 5Q 5P. KH, 18.
- This book is perfect for anyone who has ever considered themself to be a loser. However, anyone else will not be able to relate or sympathize. I really liked it though. The characters were realistic, and I liked how all of them had reasons for what they did, even the bullies of the school. 5Q 3P. SC, 16.
- A very good book, very well written, it is extremely innovative and funny. 5Q 4P. AR, 15.
Lisle, Janet Taylor. The Crying Rocks. #150
- Considering I can remember things about the plot 3 months later (and specific things at at that) I'd say it's a pretty good book. Gr 6-9. 3Q 4P. CS, 14.
Little, Jason. Shutterbug Follies . #19
- Not the highest quality story, but not bad either (especially for a graphic novel). I really enjoyed the artwork, though it might be too graphic for younger teens. The story has been done many times before, but this was still an enjoyable read. Bee is an interesting character but I thought it was kind of strange that they introduced Huey as a love interest for her, but then didn't really follow up. Please note that there is violence and nudity in this book. 3Q 4P. JI, 17
Lubar, David. Flip. #76
- I was actually pretty disappointed with Flip, because I've read and absolutely loved Dunk, another one of David Lubar's books. I started reading this one, then put it down, read some other books, then had to reread the pages in this one in order to continue reading it, if that says anything about the book. The main idea is pretty good and science fiction (sorta) for kids who hate science fiction (me.) 3Q 3P. Gr 6-7. CS, 14.
Lubar, David. Wizards of the Game. #13
- Wizards of the Game was an o-k book. The description was good, and the author obviosly knows how 'Wizards of the Warrior World' talk. Other than that, though, there wasn't really anything special. The storyline was unique I guess, and I suppose a few characters were very well developed... But really, if you have some other books to read; you might as well just skip this one. 4Q 3P. Below Gr 7. VM, 13.
- I find that this book is very good because it is full of fantisy and fiction. I tthink that this book has a moral and that moral is that you shouldent take sides because in a way every one is right or you should hear both sides of the conflict before chosing a side. I like this book also because it has many different surprises around every corner. 5Q 4P. Gr 7-9. DB, 12
Mahy, Margaret. Alchemy . #70
- the book started off odd because it was a dream, or ... rather a memory, but it says its a dream. but apparantly its a memory. confusing. but it gets better seeing as a normal teenage kid [rolan] gets involved with a not-so-normal teenager[jess] who is an alchemist. i cant really say much about it because the story is confusing and complicated and all linked together.... let's just say the ending is odd. 3Q 4P. D, 14
- I found the style of writing in this book very irritating. The author used italics far too much, and I found the way she constantly showed us the main character's thoughts to be annoying. That said, it was a fairly interesting concept, although sometimes I think it missed the mark a little bit when trying to describe the otherworldly magic stuff. 3Q 3P. C, 13.
- I have to say the book was somewhat comfusing to me. I didn't really like the plot or characters. 3Q 3P. Gr 8-12.AM, 13.
Mass, Wendy. Mango-Shaped Space . #51
- The subject of this book was incredibly interesting. The whole idea was amazingly presented considering the author had little experience with Synesthesia. I felt that the books point was slightly misguided with the two different plot lines, one dealing with the Grandfather the best friend and Mango, and the one with the synesthesia club. The two different aspects didn't mesh well together. Other than that the characters were amazing, some of the secondary characters could have had a bit more detail. Overall it was a great book, and an easy read but it needs some work. 4Q 5P. KH, 16.
- 'A Mango-Shaped Space' is very unique and a quick read. I thought it was a little confusing, because there's two plot lines going on that don't really have anything to do with each other. This book is very sad, but at the same time hopeful. I think it shows very realistically how people would react if they found out someone they know has synthesia. The characters emotions and actions were very believable. 4Q 4P. VM, 13
- This was a really interesting idea for a book, but I think it could have been better. The stuff about synesthesia was really interesting. I liked her crazy family and partly renovated house. I think the book should have focused more on Mia's synesthesia and less on the stuff with her grandfather and her cat. 4Q 4P. Gr 7-11. BM, 15
- I absolutely LOVED this book, and I can't think of any way the author could have improved it. Even though it had two major plot lines, I thought they worked together pretty well and I wasn't confused about what was going on. This was one of those books where I was immediately drawn in on to the story and couldn't stop reading until I was done. (finished in 1 day!) It was such an interesting topic, and even though the author didn't have synesthesia I would have found it easy to believe she did. She seemed to have a lot of knowledge on what it would be like to have syesthesia. The characters were also done so well, their actions, thoughts and emotions seemed so real. I even cried at the end! I would definetly recommend this book! 5Q 4P. Gr 7-9. AA, 13.
Matthews, Andrew. The Flip Side #73
- Rob is a pretty brave character, doing what few boys would dare, but I suspect many are secretly craving - he explores his feminine side. It starts off as an innocent Shakespeare class where the boys dress as girls and the girls dress as boys and suddenly, it progresses to much much more. Confusion, lies, a "fancy dress" party, and a curious girlfriend are all included in this brief look at cross dressing and gender bending. 4Q 4P. JI, 17.
- Although the tone of this book was excellent- the narrator's 'voice' was very well done- the plot needed a bit of work, and even the most momentous of events sometimes seemed superficial. The whole concept of the book was a little offbeat, and to be honest, I really didn't think that it was particularly well-written. 3Q 3P. JW, 16.
- Flip Side is a very, very interesting book. This book is not about a straight guy, yet not about a homosexual. It is simply about a young boy trying to figure out who he is inside. The story starts out innocently enough, with Robert forced to play a female role in a Shakspearean play. However, when Robert learns that he enjoys dressing in female clothing, and better yet... a green velvet dress has earned him a date; Flip Side takes a unique twist. I think this is an excellent, though a little confusing book. It's a quick read, but will leave you thinking... or puzzled, for a long time after you have finished it. 4Q 3P. VM, 13.
- The
beginning is kindof confusing and I really didn't think I was going to enjoy
it. It seemed like it was going to be quite in-depth, but infact I found it
pretty shallow and superficial. It covered quite an interesting topic(s). This
guy Rob has to wear a dress and play the role of a girl in a play. He decides
that he likes wearing girls clothes and make-up. He finds out his friend is
gay, he gets a girlfriend who he thinks is great, she dumps him, he talks to
her parents, they back together, end of story. His girlfriend Milena said that
she's sometimes afraid that she likes girls (romantically) instead of boys.
She likes having him dress-up in girls clothes and putting make-up on him.
Whenever they kiss I got the picture that she was kissing him and pretending
that he was a girl, sortof. So the main characters were pretty confused I
think. The dialogue was pretty good though, but there would be a long
conversation without saying who was saying what, so I got confused a lot and
had ...
Overall, I'd say that it definetly wasn't terrible, but it was pretty good. 3Q 4P. Gr 7-11. AA, 13 - it was a really easy read and i got thru it in a couple hours... the book is about this guy who tries makeup and womens clothing... and likes it... its a weird book but an okay read. 4Q 3P. Gr 7-11. DW, 14.
McCafferty, Megan. Second Helpings : A Novel. # 88.
- This was a good book for a sequel. The way it was put together was creative. The characters annoyed me, however it was true to life. Some of the characters such as Jessica and Marcus were well written. The language was quite crude sometimes and therefore I would recommend this for 14+. 4Q 3P. KH, 16.
- Overall, Second Helpings isn't deep or thought provoking, but it is quality fluff. Jessica Darling is incredibly superficial, but then again, that's the whole point. I found that, because Second Helpings is a sequel, I occasionally felt a little bit out of the loop when it came to her life, but not in a confused way. More in a curious way. This book is worth reading if only for "Jessica Darling's Collegiate Elimination Process". 4Q 4P. JI, 17.
- this was very well done!! the main character is really smart and the way the author talks, you can tell. she's not a geek though, but it's funny how she wants to be "deflowered" so bad and has crazy "bubblegum bimbo" friends. it's a really good book! i dont know what else to say... 5Q 5P. Gr 7-12+. DW, 14
- This book is absolutely hilarious, and gripping. The main character, Jessica Darling, has a captivating and deliciously witty personality and you will not want to miss a word she has to say. The story is gripping and narrated in a great way (diary entries and correspondence). Even though this is a sequel and I had not read the first book, I was still completely drawn in and understood everything perfectly. I couldn't put it down and would highly recommend this book. Even though it doesn't deal with any tear-jerking issues, it's still great reading. 5Q 4P. Gr 7-12+. C, 14.
McNeal, Laura and Tom. Zipped. #68.
- I thought that this book was very well written. I liked how the character found out everything as it seemed realistic, and what they decided to do with the truth. It was a good read, and I found the characters were somewhat realistic, and dealt with realistic problems.5Q 5P. Gr 7-11. LW, 14.
Meyer, L.A. Bloody Jack.
- I thought this book was really good but i think it is a little to fictional to have Jacky/Mary float away in a kite and land on an island and then be found by the same people who lost her. i think that's a bit to far-fetched for me. Also i don't think she should have ended up in a girl's school in Boston, i think she [ed censor...]. i don't really like the ending. 4Q 4P. SC, 12.
- Bloody Jack was rich in historical detail and naval terminology, but managed to go beyond these to develop an excellent story. Mary (a.k.a. Jacky) was a unique and appealing character, and her matter-of-fact recounting of her experiences and feelings was spellbinding. Although the lower-class diction used at the beginning of the book was distracting, it conveyed a sense of Mary’s origins, and her motivations for singing onto a naval ship as one of the ship’s “boys”. The story was fast-paced and interesting, and the ending satisfying. This book must have taken an appalling amount of time to research- everything is detailed and fits within the historical context of the piece, from language to port culture, to the precise method used to pierce sailors’ ears. 4Q 5P. JW, 15.
- It was swashbuckling fun! But the end was too sudden. It left you hungry for more. The whole story was so exciting and the sprinkling of humour was just right. He had better write a second one! 5Q 5P. KH, 18.
- Overall this book was good, but the street talk as being her whole voice in the story was a little off, sure it got the message across that she wasn't exactly noble, but all the same it was annoying. There were also things that heppened that were kind of unbelievable... like I've heard of coincidence, but this takes it a bit too far. I couldn't put it down, but I wouldn't... really... recomend it for the prize. 3Q 3P. MC, 14.
- This book was so much fun to read! Mary/Jacky is a great main character that everyone will love. I loved all the young characters; Jacky's friends from her gang and all the ship's boys. Bloody Jack has a lot of adventure and excitement, humor, suspense, and romance. The salty sailors were very entertaining. 5Q 4P. BM, 15
- I liked the historical detail, the secrecy and the main character in general. It was a little depressing but it was a refreshing look into the past through the eyes of a British child. The language at first was a tad difficult to follow but you get used to it. Overall it was quite nice. 4Q 4P. LS, 17
- This book was incredible. The way the author wrote this book to suit the character's grammer and english was unlike anything I've seen in books. example : "Sir" I yells with all me might "I can read". The things the character goes through to make her a stronger and more defined person is captivating. It is clear in the book that the author is well informed when it comes to knowledge about the ship and the way it is sailed.It feels as if your actually on the HMS Dolphin. This is more of a book for females and the author makes you feel very close to Jacky. I also admire that the author, although being male, has chosen to write about a female and her adventures in the world of men. It is very inspiring and often brings a tear to your eye when you read of all the things she goes through. This book definitely deserves a sequel. 5Q 4P. Below Gr 7-Gr 11. SJ, 14.
- This book is the type that almost everyone could read. Anyone of almost any age group and gender, which I really liked. The whole atmosphere the book described was the kind that anyone would find interesting. The characters were hilarious, and well thought out. 5Q 5P. Gr 7-11. KH, 15.
Moore, Christopher. Fluke, Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings. #82
- I thought that it was a worthwhile read that was fun and fancifull. Fluke had such a wide range of characters each with their own unique sense of humor making a book which would appeal to the masses and give anyone a good chuckle at least once. Christopher Moore manages to address everything from the existance of a 'God' figure to evolution to the sexual and mating habits of whales and humans. The book was very well versed in true whale information and lore as well as a wide variety of made of fantastical inventions and facts. I would not recomend that this book be read by children under a highschool age as it goes into some pretty graphic detail in some of the love scenes and a lot of the humor just isnt appropriate for a younger audience. 5Q 5P. NT, 17
Murray, Jaye. Bottled Up.
- Bottled Up is an excellent novel, portraying the son of an alcoholic and his little brother. I think this book is fantastic because it not only shows the effect of a father on his son, but the effect of a boy on his younger brother. Pip's way of dealing with his fathers drinking and beating is simple; skip school, drink, and smoke marijuana. Pip's younger brother Mikey, on the other hand, has an entirely different approach. Instead of causing trouble, he tries hard in school, ask countless questions about M&M's, and pretends that he has a perfectly normal family. This story shows what a person can change, if they really set their mind to it. 4Q 3P. VM, 13.
- This book was awesome. It dealt with alcoholism and teenage narcotics problems so honestly, without the super sappy ending. 4Q 4P. Gr 8 - Adult. CD, 17.
Myers, Walter Dean. The Beast. #149.
- This book really doesn't give you any hint as o what it might be about. I started reading it and was enjoying it quite a bi at first. There was emotion there, but it was very subdued. Normal, i guess, for the first few chapters of any coming-to-age book. Lack of any extreme emotion continued through the entire book. I didn't feel anything for the characters. they didn't feel like real people in real places. I was untouched by the words. It ended up being a dissapointment. 3Q 2P. Gr 10-11. KH, 18.
- This is a very quiet, but powerful book. The main character has been attending boarding school in New England, and he returns home to Harlem, New York for Christmas break and finds everything has changed. The people, and his view, having been surrounded by well off white kids. I could really feel the hood, and the school from the descriptions, and their nuances and characters. The book deals with drug abuse, and race and class and never seems preachy. 5Q 4P. Gr 7=12+. CM, 14.
Myers, Walter Dean. Blues Journey . #201
- Blues Journey is a beautiful book with simple, yet poignant writing, but I am unsure if the book is the right format for the intended audience. The story - a kind of history and primer for the blues style of music - isn't the sort of story that a young child would be interested in, but because the book is in a picture book format, I'm concerned that the older people who would enjoy the story will never have access to it. Beautiful illustrations accompany the simple poetic text and deliver their point consisely, but I doubt that the book would appeal to any young adults. 4Q 2P. JI, 17.
Myers, Walter Dean. A Time to Love: Stories from the Old Testament. #67
- I love bible stories, quite personally, which was why I enjoyed this book so much. it was informitive as well, if you aren't interested in reading the bible, you can learn a lot of the classic stories in this less than conventional collection. 4Q 4P. Below Gr 7. KH, 18.
- I liked the way the stories in this book where written from a unique point of view. Normally bible stories are told from a the main characters point of view but these stories are told from a minor characters point of view. This alteration in point of view made me think about the Bible in a different way. I LOVED the art work in this book. It was beautiful. 4Q 4P. EH, 16.
Napoli, Donna Jo. The Great God Pan . #116.
-
Mythology is often over-done and by the time you reach my age, you know all
the stories and don't really care to hear them again. However, I didn't know
all the stories, as proved by reading Pan. This is an amazing book that
changed my view on mythology. I do believe Pan is my favorite of all greek
Gods (Not hard, since most of them were jelous coniveing cretins)not just
because he wasn't into sleeping with every woman he possibly could and
tricking people out of their lives simply because he held the power to, but
because he is so rarely talked about. I honestly cannot think of any time
beyond 'Midsummer Nights Dream' when I actually read about Pan and learned
about him.
A fabulous book that truly, everyone should read, but definitely more appealing to those aged 12-15. 4Q 4P. Gr 7-11. KH, 18. - I hated how this book keep jumping through time. After each part ended it was hard to tell how much time had passed. I think to understand it better you had to have some knowledge of the Greeks & Gods. I liked the cast of characters thing at the beginning because it gave you some info on the Gods. The part I hated most though was the very 1st part of Part 3, if confused me so much! 2Q 2P. EW, 14.
- This was a good book, but there was something missing... 4Q 3P. A, 15
Nelson, Blake. New Rules of High School . #31
- [note: ed for length] As far as books for teenagers go, this is tripe. As far as a published piece of literature, this is shocking. Let's begin with the sentence structure. A majority of the sentences were choppy, as if they were notes, not a final draft. It made it irritating to follow and irritating to read; especially as the author is apparently established and somehow seen as 'good'. Way too many of the sentences began with "And." ... Here's a big question, "Plot? Where are you?" The plot is too vague. Between the breakup, the colleges, the sex, the club, Eleanor, and the school paper, it was really unclear what the point of the whole story was. ... The only part I enjoyed in this entire piece of tripe was the line "But when all the oceans melt..." Way to go, Einstein, very impressive. This book should not just be burned, it should be nuked, and the author should be forced to eat the radioactive remains. Reading it was a huge waste of my time but if I had not completed the whole thing I wouldn't have felt right writing this review. KH, 18.
- The ending of this book kind of sucked. I had expected much better from the type of writing throughout the book. There wasn't much of an overall plot, just things happening one after another. 2Q 3P. MS, 13
- I disliked the ending. The protagonist didn't really solve his problems, it stayed the same. I liked how the author split the book in seasons: Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. I thought that was unique and original. 4Q 4P. SL, 14.
- This book was, well, fluff. That's pretty much the only word that I can think of to describe it. Not that bad, not that good. Exactly the same as every other book about a good boy turning bad. It's a quick read, and not that much of a thouight provoker. I liked reading about the school paper, but other than that it was boring. 4Q 3P. Gr 7-11. VM, 13.
- To be perfectly honest, I chose this book simply for the aesthetic value of the cover and the reviews plastered on the back proclaiming how "hip" and "gutsy" it was. What a disappointment. The writing style seemed rushed, attempting to slap together as many events as possible together in some attempt to reflect the quickly changing dynamics of Max Caldwell's life. It may have worked a bit too well, simply confusing the reader with meaningless details. Supporting characters popped up on occassion simply to create some sort of distraction, Eleanor and her stereotypical punk/goth group; Jill St. John, whose activism extends to the issue of tree spiking and finding another boyfriend; and Cindy every now and then to be give something for Max to pine for. The writing itself was choppy, as if the entire novel was cut from the middle of another larger and more interesting novel, and all the substance removed, ending abruptly and apathetically. The final product is too many seemingly ran by a character you can't truly care about as he falls from grace and into adulthood. 3Q 3P. KP, 17.
Niles, Steve. 30 Days of Night #40 Graphic Novel / Vampires
- Utterly creepy in the best way. I loved the drawing style and the plot! It was like reading a good horror movie. You could tell the authors were thinking of this when they did it. (for gr 11-12) 5Q 5P. KH, 17
- I htink that this book would be good for halloween but if it was in a library in the summer I inly think that little kids would take it out to scare them-selfs. The pictures arent all that clear which isent a good thing because if you want to look at the pictures for refrence they arent all that clear but it also gives it a sort of scary feel. 5Q 3P. Gr 7-12+. D, 12.
- I liked
the idea behind this book - vampires flocking to the northermost settlement in
Alaska to enjoy the 30 days that the sun doesn't rise and generally wreak
havoc - but I have some complaints against the illustrations. Often I had
trouble being able to see what was actually going on because the illustrations
are predominantly dark and blurry. I know that they were trying to convey the
fact that it really is dark all of the time in Alaska in the winter, but I
think they took it a step too far. Still, as graphic novels go, this one is
pretty high up on my list for this year so far.
A quick warning to all of the squeamish people out there: this one is pretty gory and dark, so if you're not into that sort of thing, maybe you should pick another book.
Oh, and one great tip: reading this book on public transit will guarantee you an empty booth to yourself - it's nicely gory and people on trains seem to be afraid of that sort of thing. 3Q 4P. Gr 10-12+. JI, 17
Nix, Garth .Abhorsen #156
- Tons of detail and very well developed characters and plot. Every event in the book seems to be leading somewhere, but you never know where it is until you get there. A really good read. 5Q 4P. AB, 16.
- a great book, I did my book report on it! 4Q 4P. AR, 15.
- This was a spectacluar fantasy novel, though not for the faint of heart. This was the third book in the Sabriel collection and if i read correctly, probaly the last. The whole book was an adventure to read.The characters were always doing something exciting and each new magic was a surprise from the last. This was a refreshing take on fantasy. It wasn't drippy with romance, magic castles and fairies. This was a action "Lord of the Rings" kind of book. It was gory so it's probaly not for younger children but the gore didn't mask the true plot of the story. The ending was very satisfactory. It sort of left you on a thread but it didn't leave you mad thinking that the ending was unfinished. I don't know if it should make the final cut because it's a sequel but i'll put it through anyways. 5Q 5P. JL, 14.
- ‘Abhorsen’ was great! Then again, I could be biased after bide my time for over a year, but it was definately worth the wait. As the final book in Garth Nix's ‘Sabriel’ trilogy, it did a fantastic job at drawing the reader back into the fantastical world developed in 'Sabriel' and 'Lirael.' The consistent quality of the writing and astounding detail of the work hardly ever allows the plot lag, or the characters to become dull. I would suggest, however, for people new to this trilogy to read the previous two books first, as they help in fully understanding the third installment. Though the idea of saving the world is far from original, Nix manages nonetheless to make this a solid read. 5Q 4P. KP, 16.
- I thought that the book was awesome! It is a great follow up to his first two books in the series Sabriel and Lirael and continued the story with the ease of an accomplished writer. The book ended very abruptly which leads me to hope that there may be more books to come in the series but it doesnt make it any easier to put the book down once it is finished as it seems like there should be more comming. Garth Nix is very good at developing his characters and we see in them flaws as well as good qualities making them more human and easier to relate to. He is also startlingly good at making a story seem plausible even when we know that it cant be true because he combines fantasy with a reasonable world which could be anywhere making it seem like the story is lived as you read it. The book reads like a movie with each of the words drawing up a clear picture which can be watched as the book is read. I would recomend this book to everyone because it is a great read and goes very quickly while leaving the reader with that satisfying feeling of having spent some good time relaxing once it is finished. Definately one of the best modern fantasy novels I have read in a while. 5Q 5P. NT, 17.
Oates, Joyce Carol. Freaky Green Eyes #119
- This book was really REALLY obvious! What's more it was terrible in te editing! To tell you how obviouse it is, as soon as I read the part about the fortune cookies(pg 41 to pg 43 of 341), I knew that the father was going to kill the dog, the Mom, and one of the Mom's friends. The only really good part was at the end when they are remeniscing about their Mom and how stupid they were to beleive their Dad. This book was really really really BAD!!! I had to force myself to read it! 1Q 3P. Gr 7-9. AR, 15.
- I think that the author had parents that got divorced, or talked to someone that did because when you read the book, you could tell exactly what the characters were feeling. This book left me thinking and trying to figure out who was the murderer and why. 4Q 4P. Gr 10-11. AS, 12.
Orenstein, Denise Gosliner. Unseen Companion. #120
- Unseen Companion is a truly unique and amazingly written novel. It was especially interesting because it takes place in Alaska and I don't know much about the people who live there. I enjoyed learning about shamans, boarding schools, recieving homes and lots of other things. The description was great, and the characters very well developed. It was also very good because it is from four very different young peoples point of views, and that gives the book a lot of contrast. 5Q 5P. Gr 7-11. VM, 13.
- I think this story really captured the reality of life in Alaska during a very racist time. The treatment of Dove Alexie shoes how extreme the views of someone can become. Unlike a lot of books, the Unseen Companion forced you to feel utterly compassionate for Dove and the three main characters, for in their very different ways of life you can connect to how they feel or what they do. Though there was very little action, the plot and perspective of the characters kept me enthralled, except for a few boring parts. The story felt truly real, the slowness and description adding to the suspense and reality. 4Q 4P. CG, 13.
Paint Me Like I Am: Teen Poems from WritersCorps. #57
- An anthology of poems sent in by teenagers from certain cities in the United States. Different writing styles for each, as well as different flavors - depending on topic and emotional/intellectual impact. No apparent theme tying them all into a coherent collection - a bit scattered. Nonetheless, it was enjoyable. Quick read. Some spelling/grammatical errors. 3Q 3P. JL, 16.
- Like the title, and some of the poems. 3/4 of the poems don't fit into the category they're placed it. It sounds like an uplifting book on today's times, yet some of these "poems" I doubt you could classify as poems. Some are half-baked thoughts. And yes I do like poetry. 1Q 1P. CS, 13.
- This collection of poems was great! I liked how the book was put together, with the differnt subjects and different assigments and then the work that was a result of the assignments. I would recomend this to anyone who likes poetry, or wants to/considers themselves a writer. 4Q 4P. KH, 16.
- Some of the poems were really neat, but most of them were....AWFUL! I'm so sorry, I like poems and creative writing and this book was an insult. "No Gumbo for me" was the worst. It was more of a 5 year old's little story. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy a few of the poems....but that's not enough for this book to recive a nomination. 2Q 2P. MH, 15.
- Great poems with lots of insight. Great for most teens. 4Q 4P. LC, 12.
- What more can I say? I LOVE this book! And everything about it! 5Q 5P. AM, 14
Paolini, Christopher. Eragon: Inheritance, Book I #127
- This book is a classic story of drangons, elves, and dwarves all entwined together and it is an admirable first novel for Christopher Paolini. Perhaps there are better novels on the same topic (like Lord of the Rings) out there, but Eragon is still good old classic fantasy and is a highly appealing story. The plot does drag on from time to time, but the book is still worth reading. 4Q 4P. Gr 7-11. JI, 17.
- I enjoyed this book. It's written fairly well, and has all the components of an action/adventure story. But it's also like every other action/adventure story out there. The story isn't a new one, or anything really special, but still enjoyable. 3Q 3P. Gr 7-11. HO, 15.
Gary Paulsen. The Glass Cafe: Or the Stripper and the State; How My Mother Started a War with the System That Made Us Kind of Rich and a Little Bit Famous. #194
- It was a funny light read. It was hilarious. You never knew what was going to happen, but you did know something was going to happen and that was what made it great. It held your attention but not so much, so that between stories you could put it down and go grab a pop or go out and come back and it'd be waiting there with another story full of wacky attempts and adventures. Even though this book is geared more towards guys with its all guy cast and wild sport stunts, girls will definitely find this book just as enjoyable. 5Q 5P Gr 7-12+. . SJ, 14.
- I thought that the glass cafe was a kind of strange read. it did gve a good impression of being writen by a twele year oul though. i thought that it wasn't one of gary paulsens better books, i didn't like it very much. 3Q 4P. TG, 14.
- The Glass Cafe is a short, simple story, though a little unique, that is not very worthwhile. Yes, I understand, this is from the point of view of a twelve-year-old, so the writing style makes sense. However, that doesn't make the writing style interesting. You can tell that the writer is following a plan for a story that you're taught in Elementary School... and it is in that way quite predictable. I also found the ending very short and cheap. The reader reads all the way through to find out what happens to little Tony... but the story is wrapped up in a few short paragraphs; and you never really find out what happened. More suitable for younger readers. 3Q 5P. VM, 13.
Pedersen, Laura. Beginner's Luck. #100
- Best book I ever read. Great portrayal of pressure on teens in areas of school and sex. Very funny. Everyone's dream to get away from parents for a while. Didn't want it to end. Makes a good case for getting an education without being a sermon. 5Q 5P. Gr 7-11. SV, 15.
- The thing is, that with this book, there is almost no way all of that could happen. I mean, basically, what it boils down to is that Hallie, after losing all of her money, sees a help wanted sign at the grocery store, gets the job, then ends up living with the employers. The chances of that happening are (to quote) "slim to nil and slim just walked out the door." However, there is a lot of skill in here and that's what blows me away. He said previously , some things just don't work like that in life. The skill however is in introducing those things so subtley that they ARE believable. The worse thing is that when the book ends you really really want it to go on.Gr 8-12+. 5Q 4P. CS, 14.
Pennac, Daniel. Eye of the Wolf. #61
- I disliked this book. First of all this book is written fairly good, but it has no point. Through the whole book it was introducing and expanding the characters. The whole book was based on getting to know the characters better. You got to hear the life stories of both of the main characters but then it just ended. No action no nothing. 2Q 3P. JK, 13.
- This was just a weird book. It's written like a little kids picture book, but no young child would ever be able to sit through the pure dullness of this. And all I could think of while reading this book was "what is the point"? This book has no point. It's not touching or sad or funny. Usually, when you write a story, your characters have some sort of problem to solve or goal to reach, but the characters in "Eye of the Wolf" don't have any of that. They just recall their lives to each other and their lives aren't even that interesting! IF the BBYA gives out an award for "dullest book" this one should win. 2Q 1P. JI, 17.
Prose, Francine. After . #59
- I really liked the "what if..." factor of this book, specifically the basketball game and the suspense of it. I liked how it was from a boy's point of view. Wanted more character development from Becca & Mr. Trent. 5Q 4P. JN, 16.
- So, the beginning was good. It was neat to have a book about the aftereffects of a school shooting. But once the conspiracy theories started, so did my scepticism. The book doesn't start out like it's