Wednesday, March 26, 2014

The Grimm Legacy, by Polly Shulman

http://catalog.gpl.internal/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=1392SV44617Q4.12191&profile=gcent&uri=link=3100007~!1111525~!3100001~!3100002&aspect=browse_search_page&menu=search&ri=7&source=~!horizon&term=The+Grimm+Legacy+%2F&index=PALLTI#focusElizabeth started her new job at the New-York Circulating Material Repository (its a library but instead of books they have things like vases or buttons or other mysterious things that they loan out) But when items start going missing, everyone thinks of the giant black bird that follows some of their fellow librarians home. After a few months working at the Repository, Elizabeth is given the chance to finally see what is going down on the super, tightly locked floor.(I'll tell you a secret, its somethings magical) Now Elizabeth is noticing that items that are magical are not coming back magical. It's up to her and her coworkers to find out and stop what is happening to their safe-guarded secrets. Can she protect her new found friends and these precious items? Will she ever get to date basketball star Marc Merrit? You'll have to read The Grimm Legacy, by Polly Shulman, to find out.

 This book is amazing to read! The words are magic in themselves. You go on this amazing adventure with Elizabeth and you can almost feel the magic seeping out of the book, but maybe too much. Once you read it the first time, it's great. the second time, it's still a good book, but not quite the same. After your first use of the book, after knowing all the tricks, and the plot twists, it is just not as exciting. Anyone who loves old time Disney movies will definitely love this book. It wasn't my favorite book, but try it, it might be yours!

Reviewed by Emily, grade 9
Montrose Branch Library 

Monday, March 24, 2014

Inheritance, by Christopher Paolini

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In the book Inheritance, or, The vault of souls, by Christopher Paolini, Eragon and Saphira continue their fight to free Alagaesia from Galbatorix's evil reign. They try to find a way to gain more power so they can defeat the evil king when the time comes. They get help from Arya, princess of the elves, Eragon's cousin Roran, and Nasuada, leader of the Varden. As unforeseen events occur, the dragon and her rider must push through their difficulties to try to fight for the freedom of Alagaesia. They fight for all the people who have already fallen in battle as a result of the struggle between the Empire and the Varden and they fight for those who do not have the means to stand up for themselves. In a final battle between good and evil, Eragon gives all he has left to try to save his friends. 
 
 I thought this book was amazing and it is one of my favorite books. It contains a lot of action and the relationships between the characters make the book so much more interesting. I loved this series of books and this was a great end to it. I would have liked the ending to have not been so abrupt but I still think that it is one of the best books I've ever read. I would recommend it to anyone who likes to read adventure stories because this is a great example of what an adventure story should be like. This book makes me think about how people can do things that are so morally wrong while still believing that they are doing what is best for the world. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend this book to everyone.

Reviewed by Reviewed by  Kaylee, grade 9
Montrose Library  

Monday, March 17, 2014

The Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank

http://catalog.gpl.internal/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=1391D478K0X29.644&profile=gcent&uri=link=3100007~!511632~!3100001~!3100002&aspect=browse_search_page&menu=search&ri=1&source=~!horizon&term=Diary+of+a+young+girl&index=PALLTI#focusThe Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank, is about a young Jewish girl growing up in Europe during Nazi rule. this book portraits all the struggles that her and her family had to endure in order to survive . they were reduce to live like animals just so that the Nazi army wouldn't find them and killed them.

I think this books very inspirational because it shows the will of people to survive and keep going during hardship. this book was also very sad because it was and injustice everything that happen to the Jewish people.

Reviewed by Juan M., grade 12
Glendale Central Library


Loose girl : a memoir of promiscuity, by Kerry Cohen

http://catalog.gpl.internal/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=139E6432K652Q.541&profile=gcent&uri=link=3100007~!954204~!3100001~!3100002&aspect=browse_search_page&menu=search&ri=1&source=~!horizon&term=Loose+girl+%3A+a+memoir+of+promiscuity+%2F&index=PALLTI#focusThis book is about a girl who's parents recently got divorce and she was looking for some how get attention and stand out more. At the time Kerry Cohen was 11 when she realize the power that she has over men just for her body. She loved the attention she received and she just keep wanting more and more of it but she didn't realize that the attention she was receiving from man was all negative and it made her seem bad.

Loose girl : a memoir of promiscuity, was a good book it talked about how girls use their bodies to get any attention they could get from other people they don't care if the attention is positive or negative . It also shows that girls have a lot of self esteem issues and they try to cover it by having a guy telling them how pretty they are but in reality the guy is just looking after one thing and would say anything in order to get it .

Reviewed by Juan M., grade 12
Glendale Central Library

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Anna and the French Kiss, by Stephanie Perkins

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Anna Oliphant, a senior in high school, was a completely normal teenage girl until her suddenly decided to enroll her in the American School in Paris, an elite boarding school. Anna is reluctant to leave her best friends and her almost-boyfriend Toph behind, but she is shipped to France nonetheless. There she meets Etienne St. Clair, a beautiful, British boy who she quickly becomes close friends with. The only problem: he has a serious girlfriend.

Anna and the French Kiss, by Stephanie Perkins,  is one of the cutest, most heartwarming teen books I have read. The plot captured my attention from the beginning, and the idea of boarding school in Paris really intrigued me. The book was filled with humor and kept me laughing throughout. The characters are believable, fun, and easy to fall in love with. I sincerely enjoyed this novel from start to finish. I would recommend Anna and the French Kiss to teenage girls who enjoy cute, romantic novels and I would rate it a 10 out of 10. Anna and the French Kiss is an absolute must-read!

Reviewed by Rebecca S., grade 9
Glendale Central Library

Monday, March 10, 2014

Seven Kinds of Ordinary Catastrophes, by Amber Kizer

http://catalog.gpl.internal/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=139156S4R19V4.61525&profile=gcent&uri=link=3100007~!1151462~!3100001~!3100002&aspect=browse_search_page&menu=search&ri=5&source=~!horizon&term=Seven+kinds+of+ordinary+catastrophes+%2F&index=PALLTI#focusSeven Kinds of Ordinary Catastrophes is about Gertrude, or Gert, as everyone calls her, and her experiences as a sophomore in high school. From boyfriend troubles to overbearing parents to crazy teachers, Gert is in every way your average teenage girl trying to survive her high school years. With her friends by her side, Gert takes on the world like only she could.

Seven Kinds of Ordinary Catastrophes, by Amber Kizer, was honestly one of the funniest young adult books I've ever read. I was literally laughing out loud constantly! It was well written, engaging, and overall a great read! It was also refreshing to read a book for teens in which the whole plot did not revolve around a love triangle, since that seems to be very popular right now. I would recommend this book to teenage girls looking for a good, funny book, and I would give it an 8/10.




Reviewed by Rebecca S., grade 9
Glendale Central Library



Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Break, by Hannah Moskowitz

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Jonah is 17 years old and his goal is to break every bone in his body so they can grow back stronger. Jonah's family is falling apart; he needs the strength. His 16 year old brother, Jesse, is allergic to almost everything and has horrible reactions to half the stuff in their house, and Jonah spends his days worrying about him. Naomi, Jonah's best friend, records all of Jonah's stunts as he attempts to break his bones, but she doesn't know the reason behind it. Nobody knows. When Jonah's friend Charlotte finds out about his unique form of self harm, she decides to get him some help and he ends up in a psych ward. Will Jonah give up on his disturbing goal, or will he continue hurting himself and his family?

When I first picked up this book, I thought the plot was very unique. Disturbing, but unique. I didn't expect to enjoy the book as much as I did. I loved the characters and I definitely got attached to Jonah and Jesse the most. I liked the brotherly bond they had; instead of being cliche siblings who don't get along, they were the opposite. Jonah and Jesse loved each other and were always there for each other, which isn't common. I also thought Jonah and his breaking bones issue was interesting, because it was a new type of self harm that I had never heard or read about. Overall, Break by Hannah Moskowitz was a very original book, a quick read, and I would recommend it to teenagers who like reading about conflicted characters with somewhat dysfunctional families.

Reviewed by Maggie P., grade 9
Glendale Central Library

Big Girl, by Danielle Steel

http://catalog.gpl.internal/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=13R1559E10E50.61418&profile=gcent&uri=link=3100007~!1091201~!3100001~!3100002&aspect=browse_search_page&menu=search&ri=12&source=~!horizon&term=Big+girl+%3A+a+novel+%2F&index=PALLTI#focusA chubby little girl with blond hair, blue eyes, and ordinary looks, Victoria Dawson has always felt out of place in her family, especially in body-conscious L.A. Her father, Jim, is tall and slender, and her mother, Christina, is a fine-boned, dark-haired beauty. Both are self-centered, outspoken, and disappointed by their daughter’s looks. When Victoria is six, she sees a photograph of Queen Victoria, and her father has always said she looks just like her. After the birth of Victoria’s perfect younger sister, Gracie, her father liked to refer to his firstborn as “our tester cake.” With Gracie, everyone agreed that Jim and Christina got it right.

The book Big Girl, by Danielle Steel, made me so sad for a couple of reasons. The main character has a weight problem. It's sad how this is such a HUGE problem in our society. Her parents don't like or support her because she doesn't look like them. This book is also very inspiring. Her story made me realize that you do not have to be skinny to be successful and loved in life. You will find that one, who makes you feel like you're the most beautiful person in the world.

Reviewed by Iren H., grade 10
Glendale Central Library