Monday, October 17, 2016

Girl Online, by Zoe Sugg

Girl Online, by Zoe Sugg, is a novel based on romance, drama and fame. This book was written by British Youtube blogger named Zoe aka Zoella. The book starts of with a girl named Penny Parker and she lives in England with her best friend Elliot who is also her neighbor. Penny is the type of person who is fun, quirky, clumsy; she is basically that type of girl who makes a fool of herself because she is never herself. The only thing she can keep truthful and real is her passion for photography. With her amazing skills she is assigned to take photos of the actors and actress' in her school play. During her time there drama is created between an old friend Megan and a boy she has been crushing on since forever aka Ollie. Through out the story so much drama and embarrassment is created so her parents decide to take her to New York, along with Elliot (since Penny's mom is a wedding planner and she has a wedding to plan there). Towards the end she fall for a boy named Noah aka Brooklyn Boy. Did I forget to mention Penny has an anonymous blog where she calls her self "Girl Online"! Well things begin to go down hill thanks to secrets and drama. 

I loved Girl Online. I thought it would be a memoir as many youtubers do but Zoella ended up writing a novel as she included her actual life. I noticed how she talked about her anxiety and certain things such as her writing a secret blog. I feel like I can see Zoella doing that at some point. I recommend this book who love a romance and drama but as well to people who adore Zoella. I also recommend her second book "GirlOnline:Tour ". I will soon be starting that book because I absolutely loved her first novel. At the end of the day I feel like Zoella wrote the book to her style so that was great.


Reviewed by Andrea V., Grade 12
Glendale Central Library




Monday, September 5, 2016

Someone Like You, by Sarah Dessen

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Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen describes the normal life of a teenager that has suddenly become not so normal anymore. Halley Cooke is your average fifteen year old with a controlling therapist mother, quiet father who avoids confrontations, and one and only best friend, whom she can always count on, Scarlett. Everything is normal until Scarlett’s boyfriend, Michael Sherwood, dies, Scarlett learns she’s pregnant with his baby, and Halley gets involved with bad boy Macon Faulkner, and this is when the new definition of normal has to be made.


First and foremost, Dessen has written a book that captures the real and raw emotions of teenagers. She does not overdo it, making her characters have a tantrum on every other page, nor does she leave them bland, showing no significant emotions. She is able to bring out that rawness and energy that is experienced with the emotions. The author is very good in her pacing of the story, and keeps reminding the reader of the time going by with the mention of holidays and months. Her exposition is not slow and she jumps right into it, and it does not slow down during the book. She also weaves a very sweet and enviable friendship between Halley and Scarlett, but I would have appreciated a little bit more history of their friendship rather than only the start of it. Macon’s and Halley’s relationship throughout the story is also admirable in its actuality. The author didn’t create a relationship that sprung out of nowhere and leave the reader to question if the characters were together or not. The reader is also pulled in by the conflict between Halley and her mother, which is experienced by many teenagers everywhere, and so is very relatable. Her characters, especially Halley, are realistic and totally relatable with their thoughts and actions and win the sympathy of the readers (at least for me). Dessen creates a small town setting with comfy little characters that have to make big, uncomfortable, and life-changing decisions that make the book all too real.

Lilit, Grade 12
Central Library


Wednesday, August 31, 2016

The Fallout, by S.A. Bodeen


After being held in a compound by his mentally insane father for six years, Eli is finally reunited with his twin brother, Eddy and his grandmother. As they reemerge and try to lead normal lives, Eli feels as if they are being watched everywhere they go. This anxiety worsens as new information arises from his father's company and Eddy's new suspicious friend. Unsure of who to trust, nothing seems normal to Eli anymore, which makes trying to fit in even more complicated than it already was.
 
Fallout by S.A. Bodeen was a good end to The Compound and it was written and executed nicely. I liked how the problems that Eli and hi family had had were figured out and they had a shot at leading normal lives after being deprived of six years of it. They all change for the better and learn more things about themselves and each other that they hadn't known before. I really liked the book and would recommend both books to anyone into young-adult, almost dystopian types of books.
 
Lusine M., Grade 9
Central Library
 

Monday, August 29, 2016

For One More Day, by Mitch Albom

For One More Day, by Mitch Albom, that forces you to realize that the concept of family is never simply black and white and you only know what you had until you lose it. Charley “Chick” Benetto’s life has gone down the drain: he has lost all his money, developed a drinking problem, and has been shut out of his only daughter’s life by not being invited to her wedding. One night he decides to drive out to his hometown and take his life, but instead is given the privilege to visit his dead mother who had raised him and his sister as a single mother in the 1960s. He is given the chance to spend one more day with his beloved mother and learn her sacrifices and realize the strength of parental love.


Albom creates a unique voice for the protagonist: he’s bitterly funny and heartbreakingly broken. He deftly alternates between his past childhood memories and his present situation with his mother. Each memory tugs at the heartstrings for the young boy who grew up way too fast. It also keeps readers intrigued with the secrets that unravel one after the other, continuously shocking and gasp-worthy. The way that Charley is presented and described is also painfully heartbreaking and can be related to in so many ways. The author does a very good job with tone and playing with readers’ emotions. I found myself crying from start to finish, and just when I thought I ran out of tears, fresh ones would pop up. This is not a read for the emotionally weak person because it will make your heart ache and eyes flood with every turn of the page.


Reviewed by Lilit, Grade 12
Glendale Central Library

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Code Geass: Knight, by Various


Code Geass: Knight, by Various, is a collection of light-hearted stories based Code Geass. Fifteen authors all share their take on Lelouch's rebellion, often using gags to question elements in the original.

There is no indecation on the outside of the book showing that this is a spin-off, so the reader has no way of knowing to read the Code Geass first. Originally thinking that Knight was a story on its own, I was very frustrated when reading this. And as one may expect, I first thought that the book was just terribly written. But, I have since changed my opinion.

After some digging, I found out the real nature of Knight and I read Code Geass. Once I was clued-in on the backstory for Knight's mini-stories, I found that the book wasn't too bad. The jokes are funny enough, and it is very interesting seeing 15 different takes on Code Geass' art style. But, besides that, there isn't much for me to say about this book. 


If you are a big fan of the Code Geass series, you may want to read this for a few laughs about a notoriously dark series. But I wouldn't recommend this for the general public. It's only funny if you know the original, and the lack of a cover summary leads to frustrating confusion. 

Reviewed by Matty, Grade 12
Montrose Library

Monday, August 22, 2016

Hexed, by Michelle Krys

 Hexed, by Michelle Krys, is about a girl named Indigo blackwood who is just as any regular teenager even though her quirky mom owns an occult shop and a nerd wont stop trying to be her friend but she's still high in the social status for example: popular cheerleader, football- star boyfriend and a social circle to make everyone's lives at her school a living hell, then mysteriously a guy dies right in front of her and a dusty old family bible her mom is freakishly possessive of is stolen. but that's when a sexy stranger named Bishop enters Indie's world, it's when that moment she learns that her destiny involves a lot more than pom-pom's and parties. if she doesn't get that bible back, every witch on the planet will die (yup you heard me "witch's"), and that's major bad news for indie because according to bishop, she's a witch too. so forced into centuries old war between witches and sorcerers, Indie is about to uncover the dark truths about her life and a future unlike any other she's ever imagined on top of the cheer pyramid

If you're into magic witches and sorcerers then this is the book for you, I would defiantly recommend this to teen's of all ages, the plot isn't just some supernatural story where the girl is learning how to fight with supernatural powers and falls for her trainer, no it is completely the opposite there is action comedy and very little bit of romance. if this isn't the book for you then your crazy not to give it a chance, if you ever finish the book don't worry the author will be writing the sequel soon and you can get on e-books, to me if this book was on a scale from 1-10 I would rate it a defiant 10.

Reviewed by Nina G., Grade 9
Glendale Central Library

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Invisible, by James Patterson


   
Emmy Dockery thinks that there is a link between hundreds of unsolved cases, she takes a leave of her job as an FBI researcher to take these cases on by herself. Everyone thinks shes crazy and not even her ex-boyfriend believes her. Although no one believes her, Emmy is determined to prove them all wrong and find out who was in charge of her sister's death. But not even Emmy is totally prepared for what is yet to come on her journey to get justice for her sister and and all the other hundreds of unsolved cases.


Invisible, by James Patterson, was very exciting and pretty fast paced. The author created twists and turns that you wouldn't expect and that made it harder to put down. It was mysterious and interesting, making it an enjoyable read. I would recommend this to anyone who likes mystery, thriller, and action based books, and I would definitely read this book a few more times. The book was very well-written and there is just enough of suspense and action to keep you satisfied.




Reviewed by Lusine M., Grade 8
Glendale Central Library

Monday, August 15, 2016

The Distance Between Us, by Kasie West

Caymen Meyers and her mother have learned the tactics of the rich and that they are not people who should be trusted. She is struck head over heels when she meets Xander Spence, a rich boy who meets all the opposite characteristics she has set on the rich. Through their journey Caymen realizes that he may be different and decides to give him a chance. They are met with many difficulties and new discoveries that not only affect their relationship, but also families.

I thought The Distance Between Us, by Kasie West, was fantastic and a great easy, summer reading. I loved the plot and the surprising events that occur throughout the book. I mainly enjoyed getting to know the main character Caymen as she has many different layers to her personality. I would recommend this book for readers who are looking for a romance book without a heavy plot.



 
Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 9
                                                     Glendale Central Library

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Leftovers, by Laura Weiss

Two young, teenage girls who lose every shred of innocence and go to extremes to avenge a loved one. They arm themselves with the very weapons that were used to hurt them and rise to defend the only person who had any genuine hope and faith in them.

Leftovers, by Laura Weiss, is a deep, intense story that breaks your heart at every turn. The author uses an interesting second-person point of view to describe the story which contributes to the memorability of the book. The author uses this point-of-view to give the reader the feeling that they themselves are inside of the story and going through everything. Needless to say, it creates a strong connection between the reader and the two narrators. The story is told as it is- bitter and sour with no sweet, sugar-coating layer to shield the reader, shocking the reader at the raw and powerful dose of manipulation, categorization, and different forms of abuse. The author could have given a little more attention to the physical features of the characters as it was challenging to play out the scenes without having a face to match the personalities. The author is able to create real, vivid, and relatable characters that capture your heart, but refuse your pity.


Reviewed by Lilit, Grade 12
Grandview Library

Monday, August 8, 2016

The Au Pairs, by Melissa de la Cruz

Mara Waters, a small town girl, Eliza Thompson, a rich girl gone secretly broke, and Jacqui Velasco, a Brazilian beauty, all apply for -- and get -- a summer job in the Hamptons as au pairs. Throughout this summer, they establish new friendships, forge new romances, and learn a little about themselves.

The Au Pairs, by Melissa de la Cruz, to say in the least, was just another book to pass time by. It was small town girl makes it big and gets the popular/rich/super-hot player; former IT girl realizes she was a snob and finds a guy who likes her for her; and a beautiful, cold shouldered girl realizes that she should wait for love and not rush. It was too corny and too cheesy. The storyline, the characters, the setting, the usage of the Hollywood stars’ names…it was all too much. It was ridiculous how the girls were not caught at going out basically every night when they were supposed to be babysitting. The protagonists, especially Mara and Eliza, were all too predictable and, in turn, uninteresting. Cruz used phrases and plot twists that were all too overused and familiar which, again, made it uninteresting. The author was also giving off an air of trying too hard and running out of ideas. The story ended all too predictably and did not move me in any way at all. Meaning that I was not giddy for the happy new couples because they were, again, too predictable nor was I left with a melancholy ache because they had to go back to where they came from. Instead, it was more like “Good riddance!” I will give Cruz credit, however, for the interesting pairing of Jacqui and Kit, which I did not see coming. Other than that, I wasn’t intrigued or absorbed by the book.

Reviewed by Lilit, Grade 12
Grandview Library

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Cleopatra's Daughter, by Michelle Moran


Cleopatra's Daughter, by Michelle Moran, depicts what life was like in Ancient Rome – the lifestyle, the politics, the scandals, and the drama. Through our tour of Ancient Rome, we follow Selene Helios, daughter of Marc Antony and Kleopatra, who is captured by the Roman dictator Octavian after his forces defeat her beloved homeland of Egypt. Throughout the novel, we watch her grow and blossom into a young woman who stands by her values and does not lose herself in the midst of utter turmoil.


The reader does not merely read the book – they live in it. It is absolutely amazing the way Moran transports her readers thousands of years back into Ancient Rome. She goes over-the-top with imagery (in a good way). Moran appeals to all five senses, using heavy doses of details and a variety of figurative language. She illustrates a vibrant shade of purple; brings alive the clanging of bells, jingling of coins, and loud chatter at the marketplace; describes the wonderful taste of ofella that melts in a person’s mouth; describes the fragrance of the clear, salty ocean breeze or stench of urine and manure in the slums; and depicts the soft, light texture of the fabric of a tunic. The details regarding architecture are quite overwhelming and illustrated to the last carving or arch – the author does not leave anything out. Although for some readers it may seem too much, Moran describes the architecture down to the last detail to bridge a connection between the readers and Selene. Selene loves to sketch all kinds of buildings, such as temples, palaces, pyramids, mausoleums, and having the book written with a special eye for the architecture of things brings the readers closer to the protagonist. Moran also does an excellent job in moving the story along and having mini plot “trap doors” and “dead ends” such as Alexander’s homosexuality, to keep the readers on their toes. A problem I did have with the book, especially in the beginning, was how the author just tosses the readers into the maelstrom of Egypt’s capture. Although that tactic works to grab the audience’s attention, it can also confuse and overwhelm the audience. There were too many names and relations mentioned, and it was very confusing to keep up. On a personal note, this novel has given me an opportunity to experience what a genuine cannot-put-it-down, thinking-about-it-in-my-sleep, abandon-all-work book is like. When I was not reading Selene’s struggles to understand the Roman customs or her headstrong, determined attitude to be Vitruvius’s apprentice, I was replaying the scene over and over in my mind, predicting what will come next. This book is for an audience of people who like to be told “everything”(as in details), who like a little scandal, who enjoy some drama, and who admire strong, determined protagonists.

Reviewed by Lilit, Grade 12
Glendale Central Library

Monday, August 1, 2016

Once Upon A Quincenera, by Julia Alvarez

An informative, yet entertaining book that portrays what it is like to grow up in the USA as a Latina. The author investigates the traditional ceremony of a Quincenera. A quinceanera, also called a quince, is a ceremony where a girl of fifteen officially transitions into womanhood. Practiced in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and various parts of Southern America it is a very important ritual for teenage girls. The author decides to tell the story of one girl’s quinceanera, Monica, and how everything is planned out and put together.

Everything is covered from the dress, to the dinner plates, to the shoes, to the flowers. By covering all matters related to the quince, Alvarez tries to show how the ceremony is a time and money consuming project that causes a great deal of trouble and stress to everyone involved. She also describes its evolution from its home countries to its introduction into the US. She weaves the story, Once Upon A Quincenera, by Julia Alvarezof the Monica’s quinceanera with her own reminiscing about the quinceanera she always dreamed of but never had, indicating that this is something that every girl dreams of. She breaks down everything very well: she describes the meaning of the “last doll”, the style and preferences of the dress, the sentimental meaning of the father and daughter dance, and the role of the court of fourteen couples. Although some of her explanations became dull when over-explained, Alvarez was not shy in giving readers the full history behind everything. She adds a lot of sentimental and tearful moments to remind the reader that this is the end of young childhood and the beginning of young adulthood. This book is especially well for young Latina's growing up here in the USA; it can be seen as a small portal to the roots of their rich culture with its many important and heartfelt ceremonies like the quinceanera.

Reviewed by Lilit, Grade 12
Grandview Library

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

What if I'm an Atheist?, by David Seidman

The book "What if I'm an Atheist?" is a Non-fiction book containing general information about Atheism and Atheist. It includes the different types of Atheist and what they mean (i.e Humanitarians), what being an Atheist means, what being an anti-Atheist doesn't mean, peoples experiences, points of view from theists and Atheistwell as ways to live out your life as an Atheist with other people's experiences to look on. It even includes information about famous Atheist and how they bring their input into our world, people like Carl Sagan, Richard Dawkins etc.. It is a book filled with statistics, quotes, graphs and other sources. It does give some advice but just as I mentioned before, it is mostly just general information for anyone who is curious about the topic of Atheism.

"What if I'm an Atheist?" is over all, a pretty interesting read. It delves into a lot of information and gives a lot of studied facts to back up what David Seidman is saying. Most of the information you can trust because of that. This book is great because of how it handles the information; Before moving on to a new topic or giving his own opinion, he takes everyone's point of view into account first. He will usually give a few quotes or passages from people who see differently from each other. When talking about something like Atheism, it is good to take in every point of view and the author does it very well. This book shows how both Atheist and theists should behave toward each other, while also giving a few tips Atheists could use when faced common questions or arguments. This book does have one fault that does bother me, and that is it's organization. There just seems to be not too much thought into how the book should've been laid out as far as formatting. The author also doesn't seem to give enough of his own input, it is mostly quotes and statistics. While this isn't too much of a bad thing, it wasn't what I was expecting and does drag the book down when I see a quote from somebody every sentence or two. Although, despite this it still is a great read and relatively quick too. It can be enjoyed by just about anything, already atheists or even those of religion. It is, in a way, an entry level book to atheism. I'd recommend just about any young atheist to take a read.

Reviewed by Logan W., Grade 9
Glendale Central Library

Monday, July 25, 2016

Death Note volume 9, by Tsugumi Ohba

In the book Death Note volume 9, by Tsugumi Ohba, the world is eloped in a great ruckus after the news of the president’s death. No one is safe, not even the innocent ones who have never committed any kind of crime. Even Kira doesn’t feel safe with L’s two successor chasing after him in full speed. Light puts on a new mask playing dumb with Near and remaining “faithful” to all members of the taskforce. A violent mafia involvement takes place and some extreme things occur which leaves the mighty Kira in a great deal of pain and sorrow. Now Light’s blood boils more with anger as not one but two of L’s successors leap two steps ahead of him.

The formidably dramatic violence that goes on with the mafia is an apparition for a manga like Death Note, but I did like the touch of action. The striking art is just the perfect element to signify the powerful mood of these scenes. I guess things are becoming a little more interesting with Mello and Near substitution L’s part. But it’s only a globule of excitement compared to the thrill brought when L’s presence was in the atmosphere of the story. But I’m not favoring Light’s act right now as plays dumb with near. Unfortunately it seems that Light’s intellectual thinking and moves have washed away along with L’s life from the face of the Earth.

Reviewed by Ayesha, Grade 10
Glendale Central Library