Monday, August 22, 2011

The Big Sleep, by Raymond Chandler

In The Big Sleep, by Raymond Chandler, when a dying millionaire hires Philip Marlowe to handle the blackmailer of one of his two troublesome daughters, Marlowe finds himself involved with more than extortion. Kidnapping, seduction, crime, and murder are just a few of the complications he gets caught up in and the date in the story is 1933 and its a fiction story.
I really love this book and I think it's one of my favorite ones I'm still not finished reading it so I can't tell the ending. I recommend this book to my sister and I think she will love to read this book, which made me think and I also understood it. I recommend this book to my friends, too.
-Reviewed by Norvik, grade 9.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart

The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart, is a book that will capture your mind and keep you in suspense. It has a lot of surprising turns and it will keep you captivated. There are found children who are on a mission to save millions of people. It all starts out with an unusual ad in the newspaper calling out to kids for special opportunities. There are four stages of testing, and only four unique kids make it to the last stage. The last stage takes place at the house of Mr. Benedict, who planned out the tests, and also put the ad in the newspaper. In this stage, there are two levels that they must complete. The first is to go across the room without stepping on any blue or black squares. Reynold, a resourceful boy who prefers Reynie, notices that the floor only has rectangles and just walks straight across. Kate, who is skilled, throws a rope and somehow manages to tie it to the doorknob and she walks across on the rope. She has a red basket that she takes everywhere that contains literally everything from marbles to a spyglass disguised as a kaleidoscope. When she is asked to do it again, she removes everything from her bucket; and she leaps onto it to roll it with her feel until she reaches the other side. Once again, when she is asked to do it again, she stands supported only by her hands and slowly crosses the room. Sticky just crawls across the room. The second level is to find the way to the back door by going through a maze of identical rooms. Reynie easily finds it and makes it to the back door by finding squiggly arrows that point to the right door each time. The second time, he is asked to do it, he finishes quicker. Sticky just tries every door and somehow manages to finish the maze. On the second time, he surprisingly memorized the right doors and makes it through faster. Kate finds a heating vent and goes through it until she reaches the back door. Interestingly, she is not asked to do it another time. In the end, all three children pass all the tests. This whole time, they haven't met the last child who also passed all the tests, but they finally do when they're all together in Mr. Benedict's room. Her name is Constance and she is extremely short and has a bad attitude. Actually, she passed none of the tests, but Mr. Benedict still chose her. Mr. Benedict said she might be the key to success on this mission they were going to be told about, so Reynie, Sticky, and Kate keep quiet. What is their mission and will they survive?
In my opinion, this book always keeps you in suspense like I mentioned earlier, and the characters are all so well thought out. You will come to love the characters, and the conflict is really unique. This book may be a little long, but once you start reading this book, you won't be able to put it down until you've finished it. There are two more books after this one, and I am sure you'll like those as well too. Well, I hope that you can read this wonderful book if you have the chance to.
-Reviewed by A.P. grade 8.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Spirit Bound, by Richelle Mead

Spirit Bound, by Richelle Mead, is the fifth book in the Vampire Academy series. After a long heartbreaking journey to Siberia, Rose has finally returned to St. Vladimir's to take her trials and become a full fledged guardian. She is excited to graduate and go out into the world as Lissa's guardian, but she never forgets that the love of her life is out to destroy her. She sets off on a dangerous assignment to save Dimitri and gets caught up in the political drama of the Moroi Royal Court.
In my opinion, it was an extremely intriguing book. The character's relationships are pushed farther into testy waters - which causes for a more dramatic effect. The book also explores Lissa's character more and the reader's get to see a completely different side of her that they've never seen before. However, I wish that the relationship between Adrian, Rose and Dimitri had been explored further. Also, if the relationship of Rose and Tatiana Ivashkov was explored a little further, it would have made for a more understandable ending. Overall, I believe it was an excellent book. It is well written and once you pick it up, you won't be able to put it down!
-Reviewed by Desi, grade 11.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Sundays at Tiffany's, by James Patterson

Sundays at Tiffany's, by James Patterson, is about an eight year old, Jane Margaux, who has an imaginary friend named Michael. Because she rarely spends time with her mother other than their weekly trips to Tiffany's, Jane spends her time cherishing every moment she can with Michael, but little does she know, Michael plans on leaving her on her ninth birthday. A few years later, Jane is a proper young lady, who works under her mother at the same company. Coincidentally, she meets someone, and it turns out his name is Michael. Could it be fate that brought him back to her? James Patterson's book, Sundays at Tiffany's was a sweet romance that kept me reading. I enjoyed the simplicity of the book and how he incorporated the fantasy of an imaginary friend into the story's plot. I recommend teens to read this book if they are seeking a novel filled with laughter and romance.


-Reviewed by C.L., grade 9.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Beauty Pop Vol.1, by Kiyoko Arai

The first volume of Beauty Pop, by Kiyoko Arai, is set in Japan where there is a high school girl named Kiri Koshiba. She has a talent, she is a very gifted hairstylist. Her father was a legendary hairstylist long ago. Also, there is another student named Narumi that dreams to be the top beautician in Japan. He has a group named Scissors Project with two friends, Kei Minami, who is in charge of the hall arts in the group, and Kazuniko Ochiai, who has every information and calculations about everything. School is always normal as Narumi shows off, Kei eats snacks, and Ochiai doint researches. No one in the school knows yet that Kiri can give a little magic to someones hair. One day, Narumi meets Kiri and gets all fussy about her and makes a scissors project the next day. A project where they choose a girl and make her up, but at that same day, Kiri gave a little magic to her friend Kanako. Her hair was really beautiful after the haircut. When the S.P. (scissors project) saw that, they were shocked. Narumi thought there was a challenger in the school and so they set up a verse, not knowing who the other person is. Her initial becomes "X." Ochiai finds out before, but not the others so he made the plan of the project. Kiri disagreed at first, but she actually came to the project and was versing Narumi. Only one minute left when the finishes are done, and no one knows who won yet.
This book shows very a very interesting life about Japan hairstyling. This book gave me real interests in hairstyling. I think this book would be a great book to read. I really enjoyed reading this book. This is my opinion.
-Reviewed by Anonymous, grade 9.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Dewey, by Vicki Myron

Dewey, by Vicki Myron, is about a cat, Dewey, with a bad start in the world. On a cold night he was found in a library slot and he decided that the pain of frostbite would not keep him from thanking the librarian that saved him from his past. The Librarian did not save Dewey, Dewey saved the Librarian and the rest of the town as learned throughout the story. Dewey, the Library Cat, changed a run-down town to a place of love and affection. His presence warmed the hearts of the town and the visitors. I truly recommend this read because it warms the hearts of many and teaches readers that animals have an impact on a person's life. a library, and even a town. Once you open this book, your heart will grow for this lovable cat and you will wish you had a Dewey walking out of each character. This book would be good for someone who just wants a heart-felt story that teaches you how an animal can bring out the best in us and teaches us the true values of life.
-Reviewed by Katie, grade 9.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Things Not Seen, by Andrew Clements

Things Not Seen, by Andrew Clements, is about a boy named Bobby Phillips who is an average 15 year old boy. All of a sudden, out of the blue, Bobby waked up one morning and can't see himself in the mirror. There doesn't seem to be any reason for Bobby's condition and his physicist dad can't even figure it out. Bobby now can't go to school, have friends, and pretty much can't have a life. Then Bobby meets a girl named Alicia after sneaking out of his house. Alicia is blind and Bobby really enjoys talking to her and trusts her with his life. The school and people are trying to find out why Bobby suddenly disappeared, and if he's even still alive. This could lead his family into some serious trouble. Bobby must find out how to be seen again before it's too late.
Things Not Seen, by Andrew Clements, was ultimately a fun read. I thought it was creative and fun. It kept me interested and flipping the pages. You really get to know these characters and their personalities. This book was well put together. I would recommend this to all ages and genders who like a fun read and can tolerate 250 pages. I looked forward to reading this book everyday and I hope you will, too.
-Reviewed by Logan, grade 9.