Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Forbidden Boy, by Hailey Abbott

Julianne is an average girl that is looking forward to her senior year in high school. Her family lives near the beach and she enjoys spending her time swimming and tanning. The only thing that bugs her are her new next door neighbors that are trying to make Julianne's family move, because they want to build something. Julianne meets a boy that she is very much attracted to, but soon after she finds out that he is the son of her unpleasant neighbors. So what should she do? Should she keep talking to him or will that bring her and her family more trouble?

Forbidden Boy, by Hailey Abbott is a great book about life changes. Not only that, but it also teaches you how to make good decisions and how to decide what is best for you and what is not. Also, how to not be selfish and think about your family as well as yourself. Julianne has a big decision to make. What should she do? In my opinion she should stay with they guy and just talk to her family about it. It is not their fault that their parents cannot get along. They really have nothing to do with it and they can't do anything about it.

Yuliya, grade 12
Glendale Central Library

Pandemonium, by Lauren Oliver

Pandemonium is the second book in the Delirium series by Lauren Oliver. In Pandemonium, Lena Haloway enters a world totally foreign to her. After escaping to the Wilds and losing her love, Alex, Lena is dazed, confused, and disoriented. After getting lost in the wilderness without food or water for several days, Lena is rescued by Raven, who resides in the Wilds. Nursed back to health, Lena decides to join the resistance to fight against the corrupted system back home: where love is considered a deadly disease. Back in the States, disguised, Lena is kidnapped together with Julian, the head of DFA, Deliria Free America, the very cause Lena is fighting against. Read Pandemonium to find out what happens next!

I thought Pandemonium was incredible, and I would give it a 10 out of 10! It was packed with suspense, mystery, and romance, some of the things I like best in books. The book went back and forth between "then" and "now"- past and present. Although it got annoying at times, switching between two different stories, it made the book that much better. The twists and turns and intense cliffhangers literally left me on the edge of my seat, especially the breathtaking ending! I would recommend to teenage girls who read the first book in this series, Delirium, and are looking for an incredible read filled with action and romance.


Reviewed by Rebecca S., Grade 8
Central Library

Ruthless, by Sara Shepard

Ruthless is the tenth addition to the amazing Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard. This time, A's back, and he/she knows the girls latest dirty secret: what happened last spring break. Spencer's stress is really getting to her now, she might start taking pills, and who knows, maybe tell the truth for once. Emily's trying out new things to help make her enjoy life more "interesting". Hanna's father may not approve of her flirting with the enemy. Aria just doesn't know what to do with her love life anymore. New loves, old loves, and one girl who always interferes. And don't forget A, will the girls get what's coming to them?

With each new book in this series, I fall more in love with the Liars. Sara Shepard captures exactly how teenagers nowadays act. She doesn't exaggerate anything which is what makes the story so relatable. I don't get stalked and threatened every day, but I can relate to the situations the girls are put in. I think that Sara Shepard is a great writer and this book is just spectacular. The series is a bit long but I like it because the fun never ends. We discover new scandals and secrets with each book. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes the recent books or has watched the television series. The books are even better than the show!

Reviewed by Kristine, Grade 9 Casa Verdugo Branch

Looking for Alaska, by John Green

In the book Looking for Alaska by John Green, the main character, nicknamed Pudge, is starting school at a boarding school as a junior in high school. He meets a beautiful girl named Alaska, but she can be really emotionally unstable sometimes. Despite that, Pudge is in love with her, even though she has a boyfriend. One day Alaska hurriedly leaves and they are worried about her. Pudge and his roommate spend the last half of the book figuring out why that happened, and more importantly, why it had happened in the first place and so suddenly.

I though that this was a book that teens could really relate to, because it is told from a teenager's point of view. I really liked this book because it was not very formal, I felt like one of my friends was casually telling me a story. The ending was shocking and breath taking. I had never read a book from this author before, but after reading Looking for Alaska, I think I might! This is my all time favorite book that I have ever read in my life. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a laugh and a cry while reading books.

Reviewed by Melody, Grade 9.
Central Library


The Odyssey, by Homer

In the epic poem, The Odyssey, by Homer the story focuses on one main character's long journey back to his home. Odysseus, the man who is known as "formidable for guile in peace and war" is the main character. He goes through many adventures that test his courage, strength, mentality, and cleverness while trying to make his way back home to his wife and son. For example, one day Odysseus and his men land on an island known as Cyclops island. He ventures off into the island, his curiosity getting the best of him, and ends up getting trapped in a cave. Odysseus soon finds out that the cave is not just some ordinary cave, it is the home to the Cyclops Polyphemus. His men then go through brutal treatment and many of them die. After a little while Odysseus ticks Polyphemus by giving him a "gift" of wine which makes the Cyclops drunk. Odysseus then violently stabs Polyphemus's eye with a charred, red hot spike. This giv es him the opportunity to get away along with the remainder his men. There are many more of these action packed adventures just waiting to be read by another eager reader in the epic poem, The Odyssey.

This book was full of many of the famous Greek myths we hear about today. The author Rick Riordan with his Percy Jackson series first got me interested in Greek mythology. The example in the paragraph above was one of the stories he wrote about in one of his books, and since I read the source of the Greek myth of the Cyclops, I am now much more knowledgeable about the story. This book is perfect for all those Greek mythology fanatics and those who are just interested in reading about old legends and tales. I really enjoyed the story of Odysseus. In the past I have heard a lot about Greek Mythology and all these adventures that some person named Odysseus went through. I am really happy that I finally have the knowledge that I was missing back then to know just who Odysseus was and what he did. The only thing I would say I did not like about The Odyssey was that it moved a little slow. Also the fact that some parts were kind of difficult to unde rstand because Homer wrote this epic poem for people of his time and there are references to things modern day people would not understand. Over all the book was a great reading experience for me and most likely will be for many others who read The Odyssey.

Sky, grade 9
Glendale Central Library