The Rescue, by Nicholas Sparks

The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks

Taylor McAden the protagonist of this novel is a man who feels compelled to take risks . He is a volunteer fireman who is well known in his own town for saving other people's  lives and is willing to sacifice his own. However, one risk he won't take is falling in love. Taylor has fallen in love with many who have had a crisis but once that crisis is resolved he leaves, afraid of commitment. One stormy day, Dennis Holton, a young single mother is driving with a 4 year old son Kyle and they get into a car accident. Taylor finds Denise unconscious and bleeding, but when Denise wakes she is frantically looking for someone. Her son, Kyle. Taylor attempts to calm her down and tries to look for  Kyle as well. Denise is sent to the hospital still worried while the other firemen are still looking for her son. They learn that Kyle is a mentally disabled child and Denise continues to fret. After hours of looking Taylor finds Kyle and surprisingly, Kyle goes with him. The mother and her child are reunited and happy once again. Denise is grateful to Taylor and their relationship starts to bloom. At first Denise is hesitant because of her responsibilities to her son, but soon falls in love. However, Taylor and Denise's relationship still have to overcome. Will they be able to withstand everything that come their way?
The Rescue was a well written novel because of the amount of imagery that Sparks used. However, it wasn't personally one of my favorite stories. The plot was fair but, not overly exciting . I'd give this book a 3 out of 5 because I personally believe it wasn't one of Sparks's best books. It's a good book that raises awareness of the struggles of a single parent of a disabled child, but I recommend to only read it if one has free time.
- Micah, grade 9

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, by Ann Brashares

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, by Ann Brashares,

 is about the adventures of four best friends—Lena Kaligaris, Tibby Rollins, Bridget Vreeland, and Carmen Lowell—during their first summer apart. These girls are now in high school and have been best friends since they were born. Before splitting apart that summer, Carmen finds an old pair of jeans that somehow seems to fit each of the girls perfectly despite their actual different sizes. When this happens, the girls come to think that the pants are magical and decide to share the pants that summer while separated.

This is a remarkably touching story about true friendship. One can definitely find themselves connecting to the girls’ experiences throughout their first summer apart while still trying to share the pair of pants with one another. I would recommend this book to teenage girls in particular because they can probably relate most to the story and the girls’ adventures

- Reviewed Emily K. , Grade 12

You Against Me, by Jenny Downham

In Jenny Downham's British novel " You Against Me," the ultimate mystery unravels. Told in both Mikey's and Ellie's point of views, the teens struggle to make sense of what actually happened the night Mikey's sister claims Ellie's brother raped her. Because of Mikey's family's "less fortunate'' way of living in a small apartment and their single mother's lack of authority, it would be easy for Ellie's parents to assume the young girl lied about what happened and is targeting their family out of jealously of their lavish lives. Here's the ultimate plot twist- Ellie was there the night it happened but has blocked out the memory of what she saw so much that she's drowning in doubt of her brother's innocence. It's not easy being the key witness to rape case against your brother, especially when you're falling in love with the victim's brother. 
The tension between Mikey and Ellie and even Ellie and her own family was almost unbearable in this story and I highly recommend everyone to read it, as it's not just a mystery, or even a romantic teen novel, but a true test of loyalty as well.

 - Rita , grade 12