Callahan, Stephen.  Adrift: Seventy-six Days Lost At Sea.  

Camus, Albert.  The Stranger.  

ÙÙÙÙÙ Thomas R., 12th grade 

If you are looking for a quick easy read, The Stranger by Albert Camus is the perfect book. This book is extremely fast passed with short quick sentences that make this book a quick read. This book starts off with the main character at his mothers funeral and ventures further on to the next few weeks of the main characters life until he ends up committing a crime and going to court. In court everything that happened earlier in the book comes into play in a way that the reader never would have expected when first reading the book. Although this book does get a little boring at times, all in all it is still a pretty good book and it is one that I would recommend.

ÙÙÙÙÙ Paul F., 12th grade

 Monsieur Mersault a young man that goes through many troubles in life and solves them in different ways than many normal people would. He is a very straight forward man with no emotion and speaks freely about what he believes in. The main problem he faces in this book is committing murder and trying to fight his way out of the death sentences in court. He does not care for much out side of prison so he doesn’t have that much motivation to get out. 

ÙÙÙÙÙ Marie, 9th grade.

His maman died and Sir Mersault felt no emotion at all.  The day after the funeral he was gallivanting around town; going to the beach, meeting girls, and going to the movies.  Sir Mersault would have never guessed that showing no emotion at all could get him in so much trouble.  Weeks later his friend Raymond asks him and his girlfriend Marie if they would like to go to the beach.  He agrees to this idea.  At the beach, they notice a group of Arabs following them.  Raymond’s ex-girlfriend’s brother had figured out that Raymond had mistreated her.  The got into a scramble. They walked away before anything got to serious, but later Mersault went down and saw one of the Arabs again.  Before another fight could have been started, Mersault pulled out a gun and shot the Arab five times.  Mersault was sent to prison and put on trial.  Will Mersault have to be executed or will he be set free?

Capote, Truman.  In Cold Blood.   Vintage International

ÙÙÙÙÙ Darcy, 11th grade

 Perry Smith and Dick Hickock are two jailbirds who have just been paroled from the Kansas State Penitentiary. Even before the buddies are set free, Perry and Dick have a new scheme that could get them more than $10,000. What they don’t know is that they will be getting much more than they ask for. The characters in this book are very distinct and the reader will know them like they’ve been friends for years. This is a great book because the hunt for Perry and Dick is long and suspenseful. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes murder or mystery novels.

Card, Orson Scott.  Ender's Game.  New York: Tor Books.

ÙÙÙÙÙ Darcy, ninth grade

Ender Wiggin is the boy who is going to save the world, he just doesn’t know it. He’s picked for training to be an elite military genius. Through his rigorous training in war games and strategy, Ender becomes the youngest commander in the history of the Battle School, and with his troops, he is unstoppable. Soon after being the youngest graduate ever, Ender is shipped off to flight school. Oblivious to the importance of the mission, Ender and his troops battle to save the world. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading about futuristic war or science fiction.  

ÙÙÙÙÙ Tymon, eighth grade

Andrew Wiggin, or Ender, has been selected by the IF government to go to battle school in space and defeat the buggers.  The buggers were aliens that had come to Earth two times and attacked.  Ender was the last person that had a chance in beating the buggers.  When I first started reading this book it was confusing because it was in the future.  I didn’t know what the two awards were that the book received.  Now I know they are the highest Sci-Fi awards to receive.  This book was a long read and it had some high reading level words in it.    

ÙÙÙÙÙ  Mr. Greenlee

The government takes a genius kid to a military school.  The kids there not only have regular studies, but also play war games.  He always wins, and he develops some serious enemies.  Now, he must defeat them both in the arena and out of it. 

Card, Orson Scott.  Ender's Shadow.

 ÙÙÙÙÙ Tymon, ninth grade

Ender’s Shadow is Ender’s Game from a different person’s perspective.  It was really good because it answered all of the questions that I had from Ender’s Game.  It was what some people might call a page turner because once you start reading it you can’t put it down.  The main character, Bean, is a very small compared to everyone else, but he is also very smart compared to all of the other kids.  He grew on the streets of  Rotterdam and he had struggled to stay alive.  One day everything changed for Bean, he had the chance to go  Battle School .  This book is definitely suitable for all high school students.

Card, Orson.  Lost Boys.  New York: HarperCollins.   

ÙÙÙÙÙ Miranda, senior

The Lost Boys is a mystery about the disappearances and probable killings of seven young boys, which all came from families with Mormon backgrounds. The story circulates around one family and how they are affected by this and other strange circumstances.  It is a very slow moving novel, with many distractions and unneeded characters, but this makes the ending even more of a surprise.  The novel has constant references to the Mormon beliefs and terms which is slightly frustrating, but gives the characters a more three dimensional appeal. 

Carr, Caleb.  The Alienist.  New York: Random House.  

ÙÙÙÙÙ Mr. Greenlee.  

A reporter helps a psychologist and his team track down a serial killer leaving a grisly trail through 1890s New York.  This is simply the best mystery I've ever read, and it's clear the writer has deeply researched early psychology, early police methods, and 1890s Manhattan.  However, this serial killer selects the most helpless of victims, street-urchins and boy-prostitutes.  Although in no way explicit (or condoned), some some readers might find some episodes disturbing, such as when the detective enters the building where this business takes place.  Even with this, The Alienist is simply one of the best books I've ever read.  

Carr, Caleb.  The Italian Secretary.  

ÙÙÙÙÙ Eric C., senior

Caleb Carr, the successful author of detective novels such as “The Alienist” and “The Angel of Darkness” tries to bring to life one of literatures most recognizable names, Sherlock Holmes.  Carr delivers a dead on performance in his portrayal of Holmes and his faithful partner, Dr. Watson.  In this latest installment of the classic series, Holmes and Watson are summoned via secret message by Sherlock’s brother Mycroft to the mysterious Hollyrood Mansion in northern Scotland.  Carr uses his mastery of the detective novel to weave a gripping portrayal of these classic literary heroes.  Albeit a good book, it has the tendency to be a bit droning with its flourished language.  I would definitely recommend this book to a person of a higher reading level.  However, through all the intricacies and Sherlock’s confusing dialogue, Carr still comes out swinging,    Conan Doyle would be proud.   

Carter, Forrest.  The Education of Little Tree.  

in our library, 813.53

Casey, John.   Spartina.  

Cather, Willa.   My Antonia. 

Cather, Willa.   O Pioneers!   

ÙÙÙÙÙ Mr. Greenlee

When John Bergson is dying, he leaves control not to his sons or his wife, but to his daughter, Alexandra Bergson, who he sees has the most sense.  She has many new ideas about improving their place, but she'll have to go against the grain of her brothers and neighbors.   

Choi, Sook Nyul.   Year of Impossible Goodbyes.   

Christopher, John.  Tripods 1: White Mountains.  

ÙÙÙÙÙ Jane, eighth grade

 When three boys take action against their government, it’s hard to pursue their goals, especially when robots are out to kill them!  In this futuristic book, Tripods (robots) rule the earth and you are not supposed to go against them, in fact, it’s almost impossible.  At the age of thirteen, you get capped; the cap makes you do everything that the robots tell you to do.  The boys run away before they can be capped, and escape to the white mountains, because if you get there, it’s the only place the tripods can’t reach you.  They go on many adventures while going to the white mountains, and even pass through old cities that we live in today.  So buckle down for an adventure that will take you all the way to the White mountains! 

ÙÙÙÙÙ Jeff, eighth grade 

The White Mountains is a book that would keep any fan of suspense flipping pages.  Will is a twelve year old boy of the future.  The World has been enslaved by tripods, tall three legged machines that have total control.  Along with Henry and Beanpole, Will goes on a journey to the white mountains, a land of freedom.  This was a well-written book, and I highly recommend it.

ÙÙÙÙÙ Mr. Greenlee

This is a good, fast-paced adventure that is worth the time to read, but don't expect too much thought - it lacks any attempt at a theme or original ideas.  

Cisneros, Sandra.  House on Mango Street.   In school library

ÙÙÙÙÙ Mr. Greenlee

Growing up in "The Hood" seems quite different when viewed from the inside.  This is a very easy book with incredibly short chapters - a page and a half in many cases.   Many of the chapters are about different people the main character observes around her.  however, many common expectations in a novel - such as a conflict - lay obscured, leaving the book with the flavor of a volume of poetry.  The House on Mango Street lies somewhere between The Nick Adams Stories and Spoon River Anthology.  

Clancy, Tom.  Hunt for Red October. 

Clancy, Tom.  Op-Center.    

ÙÙÙÙÙ Darcy, ninth grade

Op-Center is not one of Tom Clancy’s best. It’s actually not even written by him. The plot is good but the way the story plays out is quite boring. A terrorist group bombs South Korea’s anniversary of it’s first president and Op-Center is searching for who is responsible. With only two or three good action scenes, there is not as much as I thought there would be. The only reason this book gets three stars is because the plot keeps the story interesting. I would recommend this book to someone who likes the thriller genre.

Clancy, Tom.  Patriot Games.  

Clancy, Tom.  Red Rabbit.  

ÙÙÙÙÙ Ben M., senior 

        Red Rabbit is a book about doing what is right to one man, but making him a traitor against his country. The book is very good and is hard to put down at times. The pace is slow in the beginning but continually picks up pace. 

It is at a harder reading level because of the introduction of characters through the story and the changing characters in the middle of another character’ thoughts. All together it is a very good story and I would recommend this to anyone with an eleventh grade reading level or higher.

Clark, Walter van Tillberg. The Ox-Bow Incident. 

Cole, Brock.  The Goats.  

ÙÙÙÙÙ Michael, ninth grade

The Goats is an adventurous book about two teenagers that runaway because they are embarrassed by a sick joke some kids played on them at camp. It is a good easy read for about a 8th or 9th grade student.  You never know what is going to happen next. It was a good book that kept me guessing the whole story. I liked the book and definitely would recommend it to someone who enjoys adventure and teenage relationships. 

Collier, James Lincoln, and Christopher Collier. The Bloody Country. 

ÙÙÙÙÙ Tyler M., ninth grade

The Bloody Country was an excellent book. It is about the Bucks who have a slave that’s Indian but claims he is black. The Bucks live in Pennsylvania and made a mill for their business. One day the government chops down the trees next to the bank and Ben the father tells them not to. Then the terrible flood happens and it wipes away the Bucks whole house and their mill. Then Joe Mountain the slave runs away and never comes back. Now everything is going wrong for them the government drove off their father into the woods and they have to make a decision to go back to their uncles or stay there and fight the government.

Collier, James, Christopher Collier My Brother Sam is Dead. 

ÙÙÙÙÙ Tyler, 10th grade

The Coiller brothers have written some good books and My Brother Sam Is Dead is one of the good ones.  A boy named Sam ends up joining the war against the British.  His dad does not accept his will to fight so Sam runs off with his dad’s gun and joins the army.  Sam has been in the army for two years and has decided to come home because his general doesn’t know that area well and since Sam lives there he goes and shows him around.  One day (when they are there) Sam goes to the tavern that his family owns and is there talking to his little brother, when they hear something.  So Sam runs outside to see that the cattle have been stolen, so Sam runs after them.  When his little brother gets to the road he sees that two other people have taken Sam hostage and are taking him in for a cattle thief.  Sam is innocent and his family tries to convince that to the general but does he listen or does Sam get the punishment for something he hasn’t done?

ÙÙÙÙÙ Fuller, 10th grade

 This was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time, the way this book was written it practically puts you in the action.  I gave it 4 out of 5 stars because this seemed almost like a chapter of a biography rather than just a story.  This is a story about a boy and how his brother goes and fights for “freedom” and then ends up being guilty for steeling cattle and then getting a death sentence.  However, he wasn’t the one steeling the cattle, it was two other soldiers that stole them and then made a story, which made him, guilty.  This story was a very good read, there are several times in the book that you have to just keep on reading, and its almost impossible to put the book down.  I recommend this book to just about anybody who wants a good exciting read.

ÙÙÙÙÙ  Tyler, 10th grade

he Coiller brothers have written some good books and My Brother Sam Is Dead is one of the good ones.  A boy named Sam ends up joining the war against the British.  His dad does not accept his will to fight so Sam runs off with his dad’s gun and joins the army.  Sam has been in the army for two years and has decided to come home because his general doesn’t know that area well and since Sam lives there he goes and shows him around.  One day (when they are there) Sam goes to the tavern that his family owns and is there talking to his little brother, when they hear something.  So Sam runs outside to see that the cattle have been stolen, so Sam runs after them.  When his little brother gets to the road he sees that two other people have taken Sam hostage and are taking him in for a cattle thief.  Sam is innocent and his family tries to convince that to the general but does he listen or does Sam get the punishment for something he hasn’t done?

ÙÙÙÙÙ Darcy, ninth grade

Tim Meeker is a young boy working in his father’s tavern during the Revolutionary War. His brother Sam, while away at Yale, enlists in the rebel army and then returns home to steal his father’s gun. One problem: his father is a Loyalist to the King of England and lives in Redding, a well-known Tory town. This book goes on to tell the troubles the family goes through and the lives lost as a result of the war. It explains how Tim is troubled on what side is fighting for the right reasons. I would recommend this book to someone who likes war books or anything that deals with America’s history. 

ÙÙÙÙÙ Sam, junior 

This book is a great book.  It has to do with not only the revolutionary war, but family issues too.  The father in the book doesn't want his son, Sam, to join the army so they always fight about it.  Tim, the narrator and the second son to the father, is stuck in the middle and has to decide to agree with his father or his brother Sam.  If you like this book, Sam recommends the Fallen Angels.  This book would be good for 6th through 10th graders.

Collier, James, and Christopher Collier.  The Winter Hero.  

ÙÙÙÙÙ Darcy, 10th grade

  Justin Conkey looks up to his older brother Peter. He’s a war hero, everyone respects him, and when he stands up for what is right, people listen. On the verge of Shay’s Rebellion, Justin is eager to be a hero. He wants to go fight the government troops with his brother. Once winter comes, he finds that being a hero and fighting government troops isn’t all its hyped up to be. I gave this book four stars because it had plenty of action but also focused on the political side of the rebellion. I would recommend this to anyone who liked My Brother Sam Is Dead. 

ÙÙÙÙÙ Tyler M., ninth grade

This book was very good. It was about a kid named Justin who lives with his sister and her husband out in a farm. One day, the mayor of the town comes to their farm and takes the oxen away from them because they have not paid him back for supplies (it was in the starting of the book). Well they can’t make the farm with out any oxen, so Justin has to work for him for 2 shillings a day, until they have paid him back. Since Justin and his uncle are on one side of the Army and the mayor is on the other, Justin snoops around in his cabinets to find evidence of the war and what is going on

Coman, Carolyn.  What Jamie Saw. 

Conrad.  Heart Of Darkness

outside link

The book that inspired Apocalypse Now. The book, however, is the British in Africa; when they made the movie, they changed to Americans in Vietnam.  You'll find it remarkably similar nonetheless.  

Conrad.  Lord Jim.  

Conroy, Pat.  The Lords of Discipline.  New York: Bantam.

Cooney, Caroline B. The Girl Who Invented Romance. 

ÙÙÙÙÙ Danielle, ninth grade

      Kelly Williams does the same as every other girl, she tries to put a little bit of romance in her life. 

     When Kelly gets the bright idea to invent a game of romance, she thinks that it is one of the greatest things. She ends up playing her own game, and throughout each time she plays, she redoes the whole game to make it so that everyone can play it. 

      Kelly and her friends use this game in their every-day lives to see how well it really works. Kelly starts to play the game with a boy named Will who is in her sociology class. When she does this, Kelly realizes some things that she never had realized before about romance. 

     This was a book that puts out a very truthful description the way things work with teenage girls and what they think about romance. It’s a great book, and I really liked it. I recommend it to anyone who likes books with the good ending where the girl gets that guy that she really wants.

ÙÙÙÙÙ Arial, ninth grade

This is one of my favorite books of all time.  I liked it because the characters seemed real and I could relate.  She described how it feels to be a teenager very well. 

            Kelly is a teenage girl looking for romance.  All around her romance seems to be happening.  She decides to invent a board game of romance.  Later Kelly realizes that not all romance ends in happy ever after.  The book comes with the game attached to the back. 

Cooper.  Last of the Mohicans. 

Cooper, Susan.  Over Sea, Under Stone.  

Cooper, Susan.  The Dark Is Rising. 

www.thelostland.com 

ÙÙÙÙÙ  Mr. Greenlee

     Unexplainable things are happening to a young man named Will Stanton.  The forest near his farm house in southern England seems filled with supernatural dangers; the ravens aren't acting right; his neighbors behave strangely; even the radio is acting up.  But when he meets a group of ageless beings that call themselves "The Old Ones", they tell him that he is one of them, and that he has a quest to fulfill.   

     If it were possible to give six stars, this book would have it.  Cooper creates a mood and atmosphere in this novel that make it unforgettable.  Read it in November or December.  

Cooper, Susan.  Greenwitch. 

Cooper, Susan.  The Grey King.  

ÙÙÙÙÙ  Mr. Greenlee

     Don't expect another Dark is Rising; The Grey King is its own book.  The early part of this novel just doesn't seem to have that near-horror mystique that The Dark is Rising instills in the sensitive reader.  In The Dark, we have the weird rooks, the Walker, the Dark Rider, and the night-attack through the skylight - in The Grey King all we get is a flat tire.  This book takes longer to seep into the reader, for it is not dark; it is grey.  This book  Between the Dark and the Light, there are the ordinary people, and they are always shades of both.   

Cooper, Susan.  Silver on the Tree.       

The final book in the Dark is Rising sequence.  

Cormier, Robert.  After the First Death.  New York: Dell.

ÙÙÙÙÙ Onaca, 9th grade

After the First Death was a very interesting read. Throughout the entire book there were about three different storylines going on, though all interconnected, and they all had an astoundingly different pace and mood. On the bus with the terrorists it was tense and stuffy, the boy getting swept up into the operation with his father was quick moving and terrifying, and then there was the present time storyline. In that, it was a horribly slow, pained pace that was simply the boy’s thoughts most of the time. All the plotlines pulled together in the end though, each with a startling realization of their own, and made the book really leave an impact.

ÙÙÙÙÙ Thomas R Sophomore  

     After the first death is a thrilling action book about four men who have trained their whole life to be soldiers in a war.  These men were sent to the United States to be terrorist and to do little objectives like blow up buildings and kill random people.  One day these four men were sent out to do a bigger task.  This task was to raid a school bus that was filled with harmless little children and take the bus out onto a bridge and hold them hostage until the demands they wanted were met. The main character Miro a young man who was one of the terrorists was supposed to kill the bus driver as his right of passage. But complications come up when he finds out that the bus driver is a woman.

     Every other chapter in this book switches between a young boy who’s father is a general and is trying to stop the terrorists, and the terrorists.

     This book is a pretty easy read and is definitely one of the best books I’ve ever read if not the best book I’ve Ever read I highly suggest anyone who is capable of reading this book to read it.   

ÙÙÙÙÙ Shelbie, 9th grade

 A boy whose parents don’t really pay that much attention to him goes to a rich and preppy boarding school. He is typing the story on his computer and sometimes that really throws the reader off. The story is about two main characters, Kate, a young bus driver, and Miro, a young but very smart terrorist. Miro and three other terrorists take over a bus full of young kids. They have sent notice to a general saying what their demands were, and what they wanted for all the kids and the woman to come out alive. Miro has never killed someone in his career, and the bus driver is supposed to be his first, but with some unexpected problems, what will happen to all the kids, Kate and the four terrorists?

ÙÙÙÙÙ MICHI

The words that I would use for this book are: sadness, excitement, love, murders, distrust, and no sympathy. 

This book is about a high school girl who filled in for her uncle as a bus driver for 16 pre-school kids headed to day camp when four hijackers took over the bus.  Miro was the youngest out of the four; he was 16 year old.

 To keep the children quiet and calm the hijackers gave them drug candy. What I really like about this it is well detailed and well written; it’s like a movie every chapter it changes between the two major characters. It’s make the reader want to read more and more every chapter.

 What I dislike it’s really slow when first reading the first chapters, the writer takes too long to tell what going, the conflict. He is giving out too much information that’s not really necessary. It’s a good book and really like it and I would recommend it to one of my following friends.  

ÙÙÙÙÙ Danielle

     This book has its good parts and bad parts. The good ones are when it goes through the scenes at the bus. These parts are more exciting. They seem to have more going on in them. But the other parts are when they go through the dad or Ben talking about writing the book.

     The book has points where it will just start talking about different things and it can start to get the reader extremely confused. They just start talking about random things that fit into the story somehow but at the same time seem like they don’t. 

     Once I got most of the way through the book, I started to play out how I thought that they book would end. But when I reached the end and finished the book, the ending was so much different from what I imagined it would be like. I still liked it though. The whole book was very good.

ÙÙÙÙÙ Kate, ninth grade

Four Hijackers, Artkin, Miro, Antibbe, and Stroll, have taken over a bus with young children and a seventeen-year-old girl on it. They make demands from the government. The hijackers threaten that if one of them is killed, a child should die too.

Cormier really gets into the minds of Kate, the teenager trapped on the bus, and Miro, the youngest hijacker. While I was reading, I felt as if I knew the characters personally. In this novel, there is a lot more suspense in dramatic, personal or emotional situations than suspense in action situations. 

In reading this, I learned most American teens are pretty much oblivious to serious events going on. They are just concerned with minor things. Miro definitely saw this in Kate.

ÙÙÙÙÙ  Mr. Greenlee

An amazing account of  hijackers taking a bus filled with children. 

Cormier, Robert.  The Chocolate War.  New York: Dell.

ÙÙ Mr. Greenlee

Somewhere in chapter six I was finally fed up with this book.  I had heard this book's reputation, but all I found were mean little people in a mean little world - a very pessimistic outlook on life.  I encourage other people to try it, but I just didn't connect.  

Cormier, Robert.  Beyond the Chocolate War.  New York: Dell.

Cormier, Robert.  I Am the Cheese.  New York: Pantheon.

ÙÙÙÙÙ Mr. Greenlee

I seldom say anything about the ending, but I enjoyed this book quite a bit until I read the huge let-down at the end - a really crappy ending.  

Crane, Stephen.  The Red Badge of Courage.  

Crawford, John.  The Last True Story I’ll Ever Tell.  

ÙÙÙÙÙ Caleb S., tenth grade

       This book is an accidental soldier’s account of the war in Iraq.  It was on his honeymoon cruise that John Crawford received a phone call saying that he was going to go to Iraq. 

     I recommend this book I you like war books, but he mainly tells other stories that don’t have to do with the war.  Like one time him and his friend were supposed to be on guard duty, protecting a gas station.  Then his friend saw a old, rusted up, piece of scrap for a motor cycle.  The motor cycle had a side car and they could fit both guys in it, if they could get it started.  They tried and tried to get it started and right when they were going to give up it started.  They hoped on and went for a ride threw the town.  It did not turn very well so they could not turn around so they kept going.  Then they were in the worst part of town and it broke down.  They ran all the way back and almost got into trouble but when they told there C.O. what happened he just laughed at them. 

ÙÙÙÙÙ Fuller C., ninth grade

John Crawford is a newlywed from  Florida who signed up for the National Guard and was called to duty in  Iraq with one semester left in college. He was expecting a short one-three month tour in  Iraq but instead he ended up staying for many more. Read along as John Crawford takes you back through his war memories in  Iraq . Listen to the excitement of battle and tremendous difficulties soldiers must face to survive. I gave this book a five stars because I enjoyed reading it and it wasn’t just one-sided on the war it showed both sides for and against the war. If you don’t mind rough language and a little blood and guts, then I don’t suggest this book to you, but if you do this is a book for you.

ÙÙÙÙÙ Darcy, ninth grade

John Crawford, newly married and with a semester left in college, was called to active duty in Iraq along with the rest of his Florida National Guard unit. He was expecting a three month tour, but he soon finds out he will be there a lot longer than his unit expected. This is an autobiography as seen through the eyes of John Crawford, an infantryman that is passed around divisions along with his buddies in the unit. He documents the true stories of war, not glorified or heroic, but only the truth. He tells how bad this war turned out; equipment failure, Vietnam body armor, humvees with no doors or armor, and the ever changing excuses for going to war. I recommend this book to someone who likes action or war stories. If you can’t handle gore and lots of swearing, find another book to read. 

Creech, Sharon.  The Wanderer. 

Creech, Sharon.  Walk Two Moons.  New York: HarperCollins Children's Books.  

ÙÙÙÙÙ Ashley, eighth Grade 

Walk Two Moons is about 13 years old named Sal. She goes on a trip with her grandparents to Lewiston, Idaho to see her mom. On their way, they had to go to the hospital two times for her Grams, one for a snake bite and the other for a stroke. Sal was very worried that they weren’t going to make it there in time. 

ÙÙÙÙÙ Emily, senior

Sal, a thirteen year old girl from Bybanks, Kentucky, is on a long journey to find her mother.  Accompanying her on this adventure is her grandparents.  While they are driving to Lewiston, Idaho, Sal enlightens her Grandma with a long story about her best friend Phoebe.  Sal’s reason for going on this long quest is to find her mother.  She is worried though, she doesn’t know if she will make it there in time…

ÙÙÙÙÙ Michi, ninth grade 

Walk Two Moons is an interesting book and I really enjoy it.  Sal who was thirteen year old, missed her mom, and wanted to reunite with her, but her mom left her when she was little.  What I really like about this book, the writer writes to keep the reader thinking.  For example, why did Sal’s mom leave her?  Is it because of the relationship with Sal’s father?  Why would a mom leave her child?  After a few months, her father moves, from Bybanks to Ohio to get space.  Sal met a girl named Phoebe who became her best friend.  Phoebe went home and suddenly her mom also disappears.  Sal and phoebe investigate to find where Phoebe’s mom was.  By doing that, Sal remembers memories, the fun things her mom and her have and how hurt she was when she left her.

ÙÙÙÙÙ Kate, ninth grade

     Walk Two Moons is about a 13 year old girl names Sal (short for Salamanca) who takes a trip with her grandparents shortly after her mother tragically left her and her father. During the car ride, Sal tells her grandparents a long story about how she met a peculiar girl named Phoebe and how Phoebe’s mother left unexpectedly too. The book is two different stories, but they tie together in the end. It’s a novel that will give people different emotions. I really liked it and I definitely recommend this book.

ÙÙÙÙÙ  Mr. Greenlee

     This is simply one of the bet books I've ever read.  A girl whose mother has left helps another girl deal with the same problem, even though the other girl gets a bit psycho.  It's one of those books that has tragedy but is funny too.  

      I wondered if some readers might find it confusing the way the author switches between three different settings - memories of her mother when they lived on the farm; the story of Phoebe when they lived in the city; and the drive with her grandparents to Idaho.  

Crichton, Michael.  Eaters of the Dead. 

Cummings, Pricilla.  What Mr. Mattero Did.      

ÙÙÙÙÙ Christina, senior 

     This book was about three teenage girls who are all friends. They go to the principal office claiming their band teacher they think has done something terribly wrong. It turns out to be very bad and the consequences are way worst then the girls have ever imagined. Are they telling the truth or did they make it all up. Read to it find out.

Curtis, Christopher Paul.  Bud, Not Buddy.   

Curtis, Christopher Paul.  The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963. 

Cushman, Karen.  Catherine, Called Birdy.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin

Cushman, Karen.  Midwife's Apprentice.