Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Roth, Veronica (2012).  Insurgent.  New York: Katherine Tegen Books.

Tris is back trying to stop the coming war.  But is it worth the loss of those she loves?


This is book two to the Divergent trilogy and I liked it!  I think Divergent was better, but this one is still worth reading, because there is more character development and you figure out more of the story and how Tris deals with the choices and actions she made in the first book.  It shows how the dystopian world is falling apart and hints at something bigger (book #3...).  It kind of reminded me of The Giver (Lois Lowry) or Running out of Time (Margaret Petersen Haddix).  I really enjoy these dystopian novels because it shows a different world and makes me wonder how they ever got to where they are.  It makes me grateful to live in the free country that I live in!

The Brotherband Chronicles Book 2: The Invaders - John Flanagan

Flanagan, John (2012).  The Brotherband Chronicles Book 2: The Invaders.  New York: Philomel Books.

After the Brotherband competition Hal and the Herons sail off to redeem themselves and catch the thief Zavac before the Andomal is lost forever.


I love these books!  They are such a great read and so interesting in how all of the sailing stuff works!  It is really interesting to see how a ship captains mind would work when going into battle.  Also the loyalty they show each other.  Another great piece of work from John Flanagan.  I am a fan of all of his books!

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Roth, Veronica (2011).  Divergent.  New York: Katherine Tegen Books (HarperCollins Publishers).

Divergent is what you don't want to be - it may lead to your death, or so they are taught.  But what if being Divergent is the only way to save those you love?


I really liked this book.  I have heard it being compared to The Hunger Games a lot, and I can see the similarities (a dystopian society with a female lead who is different than the norm), but it is very unique in how it is set up.  I thought it was well-written and although it looks long, it is a really fast read that is easy to get through.  It is full of action and decisions that must be made.

I love the catch-phrase on the cover: "One Choice Can Transform You."  It is crazy to think of a society where your behavior is dictated for you.  It kind of reminded me of The Giver (which is one of my favorite books!), because the faction you are in dictates how you act - selfless, brave, caring, knowledgable, or honest.  But you can only be one, or you become something society does not want - Divergent.  If you don't succeed in joining a faction at 16, you essentially become an untouchable ("factionless").  This book is the breaking point of the society that was trying to limit everything that would harm someone in the society, but it begs the question - when is there too much control on people?  And what happens when someone becomes so greedy for power that they don't care how they step on climbing the ladder to the top. A second installment comes out next month, and I am excited to read it to see how things turn out!

Nobody's Princess by Esther Friesner

Friesner, Esther (2007). Nobody’s Princess. New York: Random House.

Helen of Troy was the heir to the throne of Sparta before her adventures that everyone has read about. Nobody’s Princess are her adventures during her young adolescent years.

“‘But what good does it do to know your destiny?’ I argued. ‘You can’t escape it. The three Fates spin, measure, and cut the life thread of every human being. Their decisions are final. Even Zeus can’t change them’” (Friesner, pg. 209). Helen’s world is turned upside down when she learns that she, the daughter of King Tyndareus of Sparta, will become Queen of Sparta one day. But she has other dreams. She wants to learn how to run and fight with a sword and spear. Will her older twin brothers teach her how to fight? Or will she be stuck doing the “women’s work” inside the palace with her mother and twin sister?

She knows she is destined for more, but she is starting to realize she gets what she wants because she is “pretty.” She decides to take her life into her own hands. She wants to make her own decisions every day and not be controlled by a fate or destiny.

I enjoyed this book, because it told a part of the story that is never told. Esther Friesner decided to tell what happened before in the life of the famous Helen of Troy. Though many think Helen of Troy was pure myth, there are some who believe the woman actually lived long ago. It was interesting to get inside the head of a Spartan princess and learn about the various gods and goddesses that she and her family worshipped. Though much of what is discussed is mythology, some of it is based on historical places and people.

The Smile by Donna Jo Napoli

Napoli, Donna Jo (2008). The Smile. New York: Dutton Children’s Books.

Elisabetta is a young girl of the country nobility living in Florence at the time of the fall of the Medici family. Find out how Florence goes from flourishing art center to a dangerous city with no protection.

Elisabetta is a young girl of the country nobility living in 15th Century Florence. This was a time when the arts flourished and men like da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, and many other great artists. Elisabetta’s father was friends with the great Leonardo da Vinci, and because of this Elisabetta was able to meet “the good” Medici brother - Guiliano. Elisabetta’s life changed forever when she met Guiliano who was able to make her smile when he called her Monna Lisa.

With the death of Guiliano’s father and the rise of his brother, Piero, to power, Florence will forever be changed. Florence must choose between allying with Naples or France. Will the wrong choice lead to the end of Florence as Elisabetta knows it? Read this book to find more about a girl who just wants to live and love in the Florence she grew up with and who becomes the girl behind The Smile.

This book has so much information about Florentine history during the late 15th Century. Although it is unclear of the true identity of the model for Leonardo da Vinci’s famous Mona Lisa (or La Gioconda in Italy). The author consulted many sources about the Mona Lisa in writing the background of her book (see the Postscript) and took her own path to tell the story of the girl behind The Smile. This was an interesting look into what Florence would have been like as an artistic haven and the downfall of the art world.


Learn more about the famous, yet mysterious painting that was the inspiration for The Smile.

Video taken from YouTube

The Musician's Daughter by Susanne Dunlap

Dunlap, Susanne (2009). The Musician’s Daughter. New York: Bloomsbury.

All Theresa ever wanted to do was make music with her father. However, after he is murdered, she sets out to figure out who killed her father and why.

Gold Award Winner on Teen Reads
Bank Street Children’s Books of the Year
Beehive Book Award Nominee
Gateway Readers Award Nominee

Texas Tayshas Reading List

Theresa Maria only dreamed of the time when her father would bring home a violin for her to play. She loved her viola, but longed to play the instrument her father cared so deeply about. However, her dreams came crashing down the night Heinrich, Jakob, and Zoltán bring the body of her murdered father to her home. What would she do? How could they live without her father’s income from Kapellmeister Haydn? Would she have to give up her study of music in order to find a way to provide for her family? Will she turn her back on her father’s world and embrace her mother’s family? Or will she stay true to her roots as The Musician’s Daughter?

I really enjoyed this book. It is amazing how the author was able to create the story of a girl in 18th Century Vienna, Austria and intertwine it with the musical world of the time. Theresa Maria was not well off, but was able to participate in the world of the upper society because of the love of music at the time. This book does a good job of hinting at what the lower classes had to deal with at this time at the hands of the upper class and blood did not mean as much as money and title. It is an intriguing adventure that explains some of the obstacles a middle class girl in Austria must face as well as the upper class and that unique group that no one could figure out - the Gypsies.

Teen Talk

Maddie, age 15 loves Jane Austen books. However, when asked if she ever read historical fiction, she said “We read one for school and I didn’t really like it. It was kind of boring. I really like Jane Austen’s books though!” Perhaps the book she read was just not in her range of the type of book she likes. Perhaps if she was pointed in the direction of historical fiction books that had the regency feel of Jane Austen, she would be pleasantly surprised with historical fiction. There are many historical fiction books set in the regency era, one of which could be The Musician’s Daughter by Susanne Dunlap.

Revolution is Not a Dinner Party by Ying Change Compestine

Compestine, Ying Chang (2007). Revolution is Not a Dinner Party. New York: Henry Holt and Company.

The Cultural Revolution of China was a devastating time for many bourgeois families. Ling is the daughter of two doctors whose world is turned upside down in the early 1970s.

77th Annual California Book Award for Young Adult Literature
2008 ALA Best Books For Young Adults
2008 ALA Notable Children's Books
2007 Publishers Weekly Best Children's Fiction Book List
2007 San Francisco Chronicle Best Children's Fiction Book List
2008 Chinese American Librarian Association Best Book
2007 New York Public Library 100 Best Titles for Reading and Sharing
2007 Fall Book Sense Children's Picks
2007 Parent's Choice Silver Honor
2007 Cybils Award Nomination for Young Adult Fiction
2008 Tayshas Reading List (Texas)
2007 Chicago Public Library Best of the Best
2007 Cleveland Public Library Celebrate With Books
2007 Cuyahoga County Public Library Great Books for Kids
2008 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People — CBC and the National Council for Social Studies
2008 IRA Notable Books for a Global Society
2008 NCTE Award
2008 Capitol Choices — Best Books of the Year, Washington, D.C.
2008 New York Public Library's Teen Age List
2008 Cooperative Children's Book Center — Best of the Year
2008 Bank Street College of Education — Best Children's Book
2008Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts
2008 Book of the Year Award — Northern California Independent Booksellers Association
2008 Women's National Book Association's Judy Lopez Memorial Awards Honor
2008-09 Maine Student Book Award
2008 Notable Children's Books in the English Language Arts
2009 ATPE Book of the Month
2009 Sakura Medal Book
2008-2009 Nominated for the Maine Student Book Award
2008 Among 15 books Ranked Best by Publisher's Weekly
2009 Nominated for the Nene Award of Hawaii

“Father held my hand tighter and walked faster without answering. Once in our apartment, he ran to the fireplace, lit a fire, and threw in his letters and books. Wisps of burned paper bumped around inside the fireplace like frightened black butterflies. He even threw in his red tie and the English book we had made together” (Compestine, pg. 81-82).

Such was the fate of any western or non-Chinese things in Communist China under Chairman Mao. Ling was only 10 years old and did not understand why her father would burn the things he cared for most. But that is what had to be done. Read this touching story based loosely on events the author experienced and people she knew in a country where freedom was not freely given.

I loved this book! It was sad at times, but it was an eye-opener of what some of the Chinese had to endure not too long ago. It amazes me how awful people can be to their fellow man, sending them to labor camps because they refuse to cut their hair. It made me think “what would I do in that situation? I would never betray family or friends!” But reading this book made me realize that no one truly knows how they would react in the situations some of these people were forced into.

Teen Talk

Jackson, age 15, only likes to read “books about sports. Especially ones that are about basketball coaches because that is what I want to do.” Jackson likes books that are completely true, about a coaches life and what he did to become a success.

The thing about historical fiction books is that they can cover a wide range of topics. There are options in the historical fiction genre that would appeal to Jackson, especially those that may discuss a famous athlete or coach.

The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges

Bridges, Robin (2012). The Gathering Storm. New York: Delacorte Press (Random House, Inc.)

Katiya is the daughter of a wealth Russian Duke in 1888 who learns that the history she was taught is school is not necessarily what really happened. Follow Katiya as she learns of her curse / gift and the true history of her beloved Russia.

Russia in 1888 was full of wonder and elegance. To be the daughter of a Duke was to be blessed and meant you were able to attend school to learn the important subjects (such as dance, history, language, math, and dance). Balls and dancing were important to Russian high society as well as going to the Opera or Ballet. Katiya is one such lucky girl. But she has other dreams. She has dreams of becoming a doctor and discovering the cures to life-threatening diseases. A dream she cannot pursue in Russia because women are not allowed to apply for medical school.

Katiya’s dreams are crushed when she learns of her curse and is enchanted by the handsome Crown Prince of Montenegro, Danilo. Now she must decide if she can give up her dreams and marry Danilo, or if there is a darker power at work in her life. Follow Katiya as she discovers her “curse” and must decide if she can marry Danilo, even after she figures out who his ancestors were.

I liked this book because it gave a good taste of Tsarist Russia and the elegant way of life the aristocracy lived. However, it has a unique spin that I was not expecting, but if you know a little bit about the history of Russia and the surrounding countries (especially the myths of Romania) you will understand the twist that Robin Bridges puts on the history of Russia in this book. It is the first book of The Katerina Trilogy, and I look forward to finding out what path Katiya will choose for her future.



Taken from YouTube

Teen Talk

Rachael, age 15, claimed that she doesn’t “like to read at all. But lately, I have been reading Nicholas Sparks books and I really like those! If I had more books like Nicholas Sparks, I would probably read more.” Nicholas Sparks writes romantic fiction, and there could be plenty of overlap in historical fiction and romantic fiction. There are many historical fiction books for young adults that would have a romance element in it that would appeal to Rachael.

Young Samurai: Way of the Warrior by Chris Bradford

Bradford, Chris (2008). Young Samurai: Way of the Warrior. New York: Disney Hyperion Books.

Jack Fletcher is a 12 year old boy sailing around the world with his father on the Alexandria in 1611. When wakou attack the ship, Jack struggles to fight and survive and ends up stranded in a strange land - the Japans.

“Bushido is not just about courage and honor. Nor is its purpose fighting and warfare. Though they may be necessary stops on your journey, they are not your destination. The true essence of Bushido is rectitude, benevolence, and loyalty” (Bradford, pg. 326).

Jack Fletcher just wants to go home to his sister and England. But now he is stuck in “the Japans” and has been adopted by a mighty Samurai - Masamoto. Now he has to decide if he will return to England or embrace Bushido and become a Young Samurai.

I really liked this book and there are many other books in the Young Samurai series to read on after. It was a good action / adventure, with a little bit of romance for those who only want to read books that have a good love story in it. It is an interesting book about a culture that is so different from what we in America have grown up learning about. Many have compared Samurai to the Knights of Europe, but the differences become evident in this book. If you like a book about warriors, you will like this book!

Teen Talk

Ryan, age 14, said "I really like historical fiction because I like to learn about history in a not boring way." Ryan understood that historical fiction is not just "boring" history, but can be an entertaining story based in an historical time or place.

One of Ryan's favorite historical fiction books is A Boy at War about Pearl Harbor and WWII. It was refreshing to have a teen who did like historical fiction when so many misunderstood the genre.

Also, when asked if he has ever used a blog to find a book to read, Ryan said, "I wouldn't know where to look for a blog, so I usually ask my sister for what book to read for the different book reports I have to do for class." This is unfortunate, because blogs are a great way to get an idea of what to read, because you can start to identify with the author of blog and figure out if you would have a similar taste in books.

1609: Winter of the Dead by Elizabeth Massie

Massie, Elizabeth (2000). 1609: Winter of the Dead. New York: A Tom Doherty Associates Book.

Many gentlemen thought going to Jamestown would bring them wealth with all of the gold they found there. They weren’t expecting trouble from the natives, little food, and absolutely no gold to be found.

This was an interesting book. I loved Pocahontas growing up and the story of John Smith. This puts a different light on John Smith’s story. Smith is not the main character, but he is discussed at length from the eyes of the main character: a teenage boy, Nat, who has traveled to the new world in hopes of becoming a wealthy man. This story is not about the great relationship established by the English and the Indians, but about what the Englishmen had to endure and what they were willing to do in order to stay safe from the wrath of the Indians whose kindness could change in an instant because of misunderstood cultures. This is a good simple read that tells the harsh story of what life was like for the colonists who traveled to and settled in Jamestown.

Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve

Reeve, Philip (2007). Here Lies Arthur. New York: Scholastic, Inc.

Gwyna's home is burned by Arthur and his war-band. Now she must disguise herself and join the very war-band she hates in order to save her life.

Carnegie Medal 2008
Nestlé Children’s Book Prize Bronze Award 2007
Shortlisted for the Booktrust Teenage Prize 2007
Longlisted for the Manchester Book Award 2008

“HIC IACET ARTHURUS,
REX QUONDAM REXQUE FUTURUS
Here lies Arthur –
King that was, King that will be again.”

King Arthur. Legendary hero. Man of myth. But what if he was not everything he seemed to be. What if the great legend of King Arthur was a series of stories told by one of Arthur’s men to make him look good and attract followers. Gwyna saw the real Arthur. He burned her home and ordered her master and his household to be driven out for not paying tribute. Gwyna was just a lowly servant, and did not think anyone would notice if she ran off. She sneaks away, but is encountered by one of Arthur’s knights - Medrawt. Her only escape is the dark, cold river. How is she going to survive on her own? Will Myrddin help her? or use her and then leave her alone again?

I really liked this book although it was not what I expected. The King Arthur of legend and myth is a great warrior, but also a great leader. In this book that is not the Arthur that we see. This is told through the eyes of a girl who lost everything because of Arthur, and gives a somewhat darker portrayal of the man that many people revere.

Teen Talk

When asked about what he likes to read, Jeffrey said he did not care to read unless it was a good book. Many teens would answer the same way, which adults may not understand. When asked what a good book, this 16 year old said he liked action / adventure books as well as books about Greek Mythology.

When asked if he liked to read Historical Fiction, he said he did not history books because they were boring. What he did not realize was that those books about Greek Mythology can be considered Historical Fiction and many historical fiction books are also action adventure.

A book in the genre of Historical Fiction that I would recommend to Jeffrey to try out would be Here Lies Arthur, because it has a little bit of Greek mythology, a lot of British mythology, and is an action adventure.

The King's Rose by Alisa M. Libby

Libby, Alisa M. (2009). The King’s Rose. New York: Dutton Books (Penguin Group Inc.)

Catherine Howard is 15 years old, and is to marry King Henry VIII of England. Can she burn her past and her love and live the life her family expects her to live?

“I smile and nod at the girl, and she steps aside. This is the smile I imagine Katherine of Aragon pasted upon her face when met with the king’s lingering gaze over Mistress Anne Boleyn; or Anne of Cleves’s smile when her new husband first took a fancy to me. I take a sip of my wine, my throat suddenly dry” (Libby, pg. 129).

All I wanted growing up was to fall in love, but my family had other plans for me. Now I don’t know if I will ever see my true love again, and how can I, a young girl, become Queen of England? I cannot disappoint my family as Anne did, or who knows what my fate will be. I must learn to live with the life that has been designed for me and learn to be The King’s Rose.

This was an interesting book about Henry VIII's fifth wife. She is seldom heard of because she did not have any children, yet she was very important to the Howard family who had attempted to put a young girl on the throne before and failed (with Anne Boleyn). Now Henry VIII is an old man with poor health. This book tells of Catherine's struggles to do what her family asks of her and give up the life she wanted to live.

Historical Fiction

What is historical fiction? Generally it is a book that takes place in a historical setting and may involve some historical figures, but also can have fictional characters that were invented by the author to help fill in gaps missing in history. Sometimes the fictional character is someone who explains what they see during an important event in history.

Click on the link below for a pdf document that gives an overview of Historical Fiction.

Historical Fiction

This website

Historical Novels

lists many different historical fiction books that can be broken down by time period and location of the book. There is also a section for YA's as well that is similarly broken down. I have not had a whole lot of time to explore it, but look forward to picking a few books off the lists to add to my ever lengthening To Read list.

For my class (the purpose of this blog is a class assignment), we had to pick a specific genre that we wanted to focus on. I chose Historical Fiction, because I love history, and I know it is a genre that not many Young Adults are highly interested in reading. I am hoping that with the booktalks on this blog, YAs may see that Historical Fiction books can be action, adventure, mystery, horror, etc. and are not just names as dates (what most people associate with History).

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

Doctorow, Cory (2008). Little Brother. New York: A Tom Doherty Associates Book

Marcus is an expert hacker at only 17. But can all of his knowledge prevail against what he views as a corrupt government that has taken away his freedom?

New York Times Bestseller List May 2008

White Pine Award 2009

Prometheus Award 2009

John W. Campbell Memorial Award 2009

Big Brother is always watching. They even have “gait recognition” at our school. Can you believe that? Supposedly this camera can tell who is walking down the hall just by the way you walk. What they don’t know is that putting a small handful of gravel in your shoes (though slightly uncomfortable) can change your gait enough to fool the recognition software. They think they are so clever with all of this technology, but I can still get us out. We have a clue to follow for Harajuku Fun Madness, and there is no way I am missing out on getting the upper hand by sitting through study hall.

Little did I know that skipping school that day would change my life (and the world as I knew it) forever. Someone blew up the Bay Bridge and my team and I were taking in for questioning. They really thought I was a terrorist? Why would I blow up the bridge? Why won’t they let me go? It is time to fight back. It is time for Little Brother to spy on them.

This book was an intriguing look into the world of security

Below is a video of Bruce Schneier discussing Cyber War and Cyber Security, which is a critical component of Little Brother. Marcus is a cyber hacker and essentially launches a cyber attack on the DHS which has occupied San Francisco, Marcus' home town. Bruce Schneier is a security technologist and maintains a blog about technology and security which can be accessed at www.schneier.com

Taken from YouTube

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Haddon, Mark (2004). The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. New York: Vintage Contemporaries (Random House, Inc.).

Christopher is a 15-year-old who loves Sherlock Holmes and is determined to solve the murder mystery of Wellington. He is determined that his Autism will not prevent him from solving his mystery.

Whitbread Book of the Year (2003)

Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best First Book (2004)

Joint winner of the Boeke Prize (2004)

“These are some of my Behavioral Problems

1. Not talking to people for a long time
2. Not eating or drinking anything for a long time
3. Not liking being touched
4. Screaming when I am angry or confused
5. Not liking being in really small places with other people
6. Smashing things when I am angry or confused
7. Groaning
8. Not liking yellow things or brown things and refusing to touch yellow things and brown things
9. Refusing to use my toothbrush if anyone else has touched it
10. Not eating food if different sorts of food are touching each other
11. Not noticing that people are angry with me
12. Not smiling
13. Saying things that other people think are rude
14. Doing stupid things
15. Hitting other people
16. Hating France
17. Driving Mother’s car
18. Getting cross when someone has moved the furniture” (Haddon, pg. 46-47)

But I am still determined to solve the mystery of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

This was such an interesting book. Even though it went of on tangents every once in a while, those tangents did fit in with the flow of the book. It is told from the perspective of Christopher, a 15-year old boy with high-functioning Autism. It was a neat glimpse into his life and how he deals with all of the people that surround him. It was thought provoking and revealed a lot about how an Autistic child / teenager views the world and his interactions with those who wonder why he sits in a corner with his ears covered or freaks out when someone touches him.

Rapunzel's Revenge by Dean and Shannon Hale and Nathan Hale (artist)

Hale, Shannon, Hale, Dean, and Hale, Nathan (2008). Rapunzel’s Revenge. New York: Bloomsbury.

This version of Rapunzel's story is like nothing you have ever heard before!

ALA 2009 Notable Children's Book

YALSA 2009 Great Graphic Novel for Teens

Al's Book Club for Kids selection

Eisner Award nominee

Kid's Indie Next for Fall 2008

2011 Young Readers Choice Award

Junior Library Guild Premiere Selection

Nominee for the Texas Lone Star reading list

Best Book of the year from kidsread.com and teenreads.com

Cybil Award winner

Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Master List (Vermont)

Nominated for 2010 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults

2009-2010 Maine Student Book Award Reading List

TriState YA Review Group Books of Note for 2009 (PA, DE, and NJ)

Winner of the Utah Book Award for Children's Literature

Winner of 2009 Leah Adezio Award for Best Kid-Friendly work from the Friends of Lulu

ALA 2009 Popular Paperback

Part of the 2010 ALA Amelia Bloomer Project Bibliography

Texas Maverick Graphic Novel

Oregon Battle of the Books selection

Young Hoosiers Book Award Nominee

A damsel in distress. A charming prince. A brave and courageous rescue. A happily ever after.

Those are all great, but my story is different. My name is Rapunzel. I was locked in a tree tower by a woman who I thought to be my mother. Now, I have read all of the stories about damsels in distress (I practically have the book Girls Who Get Saved and the Princes Who Save Them memorized!) Some would say that I was a damsel in distress, being trapped in my tower, that a charming prince rescued me and swept me off my feet, but my story, my real story is very, very different...

First of all, I don’t need anyone to save me. I got myself out of that tree because I wanted to save my mother. My real mother. As for my prince charming, well I got stuck with Jack. He’s not that charming, and definitely not a prince! As for bravery and courage, I think I’ve got that covered, but you can make up your own mind when you read about my adventures (with Jack tagging along) in Rapunzel’s Revenge.

I have to admit, part of the reason I chose this book is because I love the Disney movie Tangled. I thought it was going to be a classic retelling of Rapunzel's story in Graphic Novel format, but I was wrong! It had a unique twist to Rapunzel's story that was intriguing and I loved it! Being in Graphic Novel format, it was a quick read that you could breeze through, but the writing and artistry of this Graphic Novel was amazing! I think it is a good introduction into the world of Graphic Novels for those who are not familiar with Graphic Novels!

When Lightning Strikes by Meg Cabot

Cabot, Meg (2010). When Lightning Strikes. New York: Simon Pulse.

Jess is a normal teenage girl, that is until she is hit by lightning. Follow her adventures as she discovers she has a sense about where missing children are located.

When Lightning Strikes, something strange always seems to happen. This time it happened to me. Before that thunderstorm, I was just a normal girl (apart from always getting detention for hitting the football stars). I thought my “problem” was Ruth’s fault, but can I really blame her for everything that has happened to me since that day at the bleachers? Now I have to deal with putting my family and new friends in danger because of what that lightning did to me. How was I to know how much my life was going to change When Lightning Strikes?

I really enjoyed this book. It was different than what I thought it would be. Although it is a Chick Lit book, it did have a little bit of everything. It is part of a 5 book series that revolves around Jess and her new special power.

Rooftop by Paul Volponi

Volponi, Paul (2006). Rooftop. New York: Speak (Penguin Group).

Clay is a teenage boy trying to work through his problems with drugs. Just when he is coming along, his world is turned upside down on a Rooftop.

ALA Best Book Young Adult

ALA Quick Pick

New York City Library Book for the Teen Age

Tayshas List (Texas Library Association)

“I looked out the window in my room, thinking that rooftop would be dark. But there must have been a hundred candles burning. And that roof looked like it was on fire” (Volponi, pg. 96).

What would it take to stop using drugs? What would it take to convince your cousin not to be a dealer? What would it take to cope with the death of a loved one? What would it take to make you change? Clay finds out what it would take on a Rooftop.

This book is different than anything I would pick up to read on my home, but it really hit home with how easy it can be for some people to fall into the trap of drugs. Clay's cousin thought he would have a better life by dealing drugs, but he did not see what happened to his brother because of drugs. Reading what Clay went through and how his life changed throughout the book was inspiring. Drugs are a difficult thing to overcome, but always remember that you have family and friends who are willing to help you and want what is best for you. I am grateful that I did not have to grow up in a community overrun with drugs, but would encourage those who are surrounded by that environment to do everything you can to stay away from that life-destroying environment!

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Paolini, Christopher (2002). Eragon. New York: Laurel-Leaf (Random House Inc.)

Eragon's life is turned upside down when he finds a mysterious stone in the Spine. Now he is on a journey to save his family and protect his new friend Saphira.

Third Best-Selling Hardback Book of 2003

Second Best-Selling Paperback of 2005

New York Times Children's Books Best Seller List

Nene Award (2006)

Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award

Young Reader's Choice Award

“Their connection grew stronger until there was no distinction between their identities. They clasped their wings together and dived straight down, like a spear thrown from on high. No terror of falling touched Eragon, engulfed as he was in Saphira’s exhilaration. The air rushed past their face. Their tail whipped in the air, and their joined minds reveled in the experience” (Paolini, pg. 237).

Join Eragon on the first of his many adventures with his new friend Saphira... the dragon!

I really liked this book. It has been recommended to me for years, but I never took the time to read it, and I am glad I have now! It does look a little daunting (it is a rather large book...) but it is a quick and interesting read. It is the first book in a series that currently has four books published (the fourth just recently being published). It has also been made into a movie. The reviews I have heard about the movie were that it was AWFUL! But, I always want to form my own opinion, so I watched the movie. I liked it! I understand why faithful readers did not like it, because it is pretty different from the book (which is why I always like the book better) because the movie would have been 10 hours long if they tried to fit in everything that the book describes. I really liked this book and would recommend it to people of all ages!

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

Armstrong, Kelley (2008). The Summoning. New York: HarperCollinsPublishers.

Lyle House. The House for Crazy Kids. But I'm not crazy... am I?

“Am I crazy?” Chloe asks herself after waking up from her nightmare. She just keeps reminding her that there is no such thing as ghosts. It was just a dream, well, a nightmare! School that day just doesn’t feel right, so Chloe ducks into the restroom to dye her hair. She hears mysterious noises and then is followed by a janitor with a deformed face who will not stop asking her questions. When some teachers track her down, she tries to fight them off to get away form the janitor, but no one else seems to be able to see the janitor with the melted face. She is hauled out of school on a stretcher and eventually taken to Lyle House, which she finds out is a place for “crazy” kids. Now she is starting to really wonder: “Am I crazy?”

I really liked this book. It was different from what I expected. When I think of Horror, I think of something that is devilish and creepy (which I'm not a fan of...), but this was a horror that I really liked! It is the first book of a trilogy, and I am already ready to finish the trilogy! I want to find out what happens to Chloe and the other friends she met at Lyle House.

Stormbreak by Anthony Horowitz

Anthony Horowitz (2000). Stormbreaker. New York: Penguin Group Inc, “speak”

Alex Rider’s life is thrown after his uncle Ian Rider dies in a mysterious “car accident.” When Alex goes to investigate, his life is changed forever.

New York Times #100 Children’s Bestseller

California Young Reader Medal, 2005

Alex Rider is a normal 14-year-old boy living in London with his uncle Ian Rider until his uncle dies in a “car accident” while not wearing his seatbelt. Alex Rider knows his uncle would never travel anywhere without his seatbelt, so he goes to find his uncle’s car to investigate, and gets drawn into working with MI6 on the case that killed his uncle.

This is the first book in a long series about Alex Rider and his adventures with MI6. I am excited to read the rest of this series, as it was well written and engaging. My brothers have long been fans of this series, and we recently found out the first book was made into a movie, so I decided to read it before we watched the movie together, and was happy with the book. It is an easy read, but is a nice entertaining break from school work!

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

Cormier, Robert (1974). The Chocolate War. New York: Random House, Inc.

Jerry Renault faces the decision of going along with his “assignment” or defying The Vigils. He asks himself the question posted in his locker: “Do I dare disturb the universe?”

“Do I dare disturb the universe?

Yes, I do, I do. I think.

Jerry suddenly understood the poster-the solitary man on the beach standing upright and alone and unafraid, poised at the moment of making himself heard and known in the world, the universe” (pg. 196).

Jerry Renault is a freshman who just wants to fit in and make the freshman football team. This all changes when he is chosen by The Vigils for an “assignment.” At first he is reluctant and embarrassed by his assignment, then the line from the poster in his locker won’t leave his mind and he wonders what he should do. “Do I dare disturb the universe?”

This was an interesting book about a bunch of young boys who are just trying to fit in at their school, but one boy, Jerry Renault, takes things a bit farther when he defies the boys who “run” the school. It was really interesting to see how far Jerry would go to defy The Vigils. It was a realistic fiction book and it is sad to think that there are some kids who have to endure that ‘torture’ at the hands of their peers. Archie was particularly interesting, because he was the ‘leader’ and almost fell from power but worked his way back on top, and it was kind of shocking what he does and does not learn from his experiences.

Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden

Garden, Nancy (1982). Annie on My Mind. United States: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Liza and Annie have just met, yet they know there is already something special about their relationship.

ALA “Best of the Best Books for Young Adults”

School Library Journal - 100 most influential books of the 20th century

1982 Booklist Reviewer’s Choice

1982 ALA Best Books

Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement

Annie on My Mind. That is what Liza thinks of during her trustees’ hearing, but she is still confused by what she feels. Liza is a normal 17 year old girl living in Brooklyn Heights going to Foster Academy. She is Student Council president and excels in school, always receiving high marks. However, during her Senior year, things start to go downhill. First with a rule violation, then the problem (as seen by Mrs. Poindexter, headmistress) that she has “Annie on My Mind.”

A Child Called "It" by David Pelzer

Pelzer, David (1995). A Child Called “It.” Florida: Health Communications, Inc.

Young David lived the dream life until his mother slowly started to change and began abusing David. This is David’s story and how he finally escaped the abuse of his mother.

This book is a stirring narrative about the author’s childhood years and the abuse he endured at the hands of his mother. David Pelzer does go into a lot of detail about the tortures he was made to endure as a child, but the most heart-wrenching part of this book is when he describes how his father and brothers stood by and let his mother treat him like a slave. It is interesting how this family descends from a happy and loving family to an abusive family. It was a slow descent, but never plateaued and continued to get worse and worse for young David.

At the end of the book, there are some testimonies from those involved in David’s case. Their purpose is to help people become aware of the very real problem of child abuse. It is sad to think there were so many people came into contact with who did not recognize his situation, possibly because they ignored the signs (tattered clothing, sickly thin, and bruises on his body and head). Young David was able to overcome his situation and hopefully this book can show others who find themselves in physically, emotionally, or sexually abusive situations that they can overcome their past and move on to a brighter future. No one should have to endure what David Pelzer went through, but those who have or are can read this book to get perspective and hopefully realize their situation is not their fault and there are people they can turn to for help (listed at the end of the book).

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

O'Brien, Tim (1990). The Things They Carried. Boston: Mariner Books.

Vietnam was a time that men had to carry many things - physical and emotional. This slightly scattered account tells stories of a group of men weighed down with physical and emotional burdens during the Vietnam War.

The Things They Carried was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award, and won the French Prix du Meilleur Livre Étranger.

The Things They Carried is a work of fiction by Tim O’Brien about “his” experiences as a soldier in Vietnam. This book can become somewhat confusing at times as the author jumps around chronologically while telling a story about one of the soldiers he served with (or his own stories) while also intermixing his own ideas from the “present” (1990 - when the book was written). However, this fact is what makes The Things They Carried so intriguing. The scattered organization of the book seems like a metaphor for war and how the men would have been telling stories waiting to go on an ambush or after coming under fire.

O’Brien goes through his experiences of the war retelling the time when he was drafted and almost fled to Canada; stories of Mary Anne - a woman who came to visit her boyfriend and never left Vietnam; a fellow soldier dying in the village latrine they camped in for one night; his own experiences of being shot twice; and many other little stories throughout. O’Brien takes a lot of time explaining how to tell a proper war story, because the true stories are so outrageous no one believes them. Therefore, white lies are included to make the story seem more realistic or to help the listener (or reader) understand what the soldier had been experiencing. This is not a book of facts on the Vietnam War, but is instead a book about one group of men and the awful situations they had to live through. Whether the stories are true or not may never be known, but that is not the point of this book. The point is to try and help the reader to feel what those soldiers may have felt camping in the countryside of Vietnam.

Go Ask Alice by Anonymous

Anonymous (1971). Go Ask Alice. New York: Simon Pulse.

Go Ask Alice is based on the journal of a fifteen year old girl who gets pulled into the world of drugs and can't seem to ever pull herself out as hard as she tries.

Go ask Alice is based on the journal of a 15-year-old girl who is uprooted from her hometown when her father gets a new job at a university. The book starts out with Alice trying to adapt to her new surroundings and missing her old life. When she returns to stay with grandparents in her old hometown for the summer, she gets invited to a party by the popular group. Unbeknownst to Alice, she is given a drink with drugs in it, and her downward spiral into a new world of drugs begins. Alice returns home to her parents at the end of the summer only to get caught up with a group there who use and deal drugs. After running away from home with her friend Chris, Alice becomes miserable and eventually returns home. She makes the statement “I will never, ever, ever, under any circumstances use drugs again. They are the root and cause of this whole rotten, stinking mess I am in...” (Nov 5, pg. 69).

Alice makes similar statements throughout the book until she is put admitted to the State Mental Hospital and appears to make a complete recovery. However, the epilogue states that “The subject of this books died three weeks after” her last journal entry. It is unknown how or why she died. This book is interesting not only because of Alice’s struggles, but because of the attempts she makes to change her life and her desire to help others. This book can be used as a resource to help show young adults the misery of getting mixed up with the wrong crowd, and could be used as a teaching tool as a way for young adults to figure things out on their own time and in their own way.

The Sone of Neptune by Rick Riordan

Rick Riordan (2011). The Son of Neptune. New York: Disney, Hyperion Inc.

Percy Jackson is on the run of his life, trying to make it to Camp Jupiter while trying to avoid all sorts of monsters. Percy teams up with Romans in order to help them save their camp.

The Goodreads choice award 2011

The second book in The Heroes of Olympus series finds Percy Jackson making the trek south to Camp Jupiter in San Francisco. Here he meets some new friends (and an old friend). Percy teams up with Frank and Hazel to journey to the Land beyond the Gods (Alaska) to free “Death.” The only problem is, he doesn’t remember who he is. He only has one vague memory: Annabeth. Travel with Percy and his new friends as he travels north for a quest with Frank and Hazel while trying to recover his muddled memories.

Once again, we have a fabulous story by Rick Riordan that combines mythology and adventure. Following the quest north, we learn about the differences and similarities between the Greeks and the Romans and wonder, will they ever be able to fight together, instead of against each other? Secrets are revealed and memories stir and then begin to fade as the trio travel to Alaska to battle another son of Gaea, Alcyoneus.

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

Rick Riordan (2010). The Lost Hero. New York: Disney, Hyperion Books.

Camp Half-Blood returns in a new series, The Heroes of Olympus where Rome and Greece will have to come together to save the world.

Barnes & Noble Best Book of 2010

Some of your favorites from Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson & the Olympians return in this new series which will ultimately unite the Greeks and the Romans in an attempt to stop Gaea, mother earth, from taking over and destroying the world as we know it. In this first book of The Heroes of Olympus series introduces three new characters: Jason, Piper, and Leo. We follow these three friends on their quest to save Hera and help Jason get his memory back.

This book, although appears large, is a fast read and enjoyable for any young adult. It is a mix of fantasy and adventure and introduces the reader to Greek and Roman mythology. Join the world of Olympus as it exists today - in America. This is a fantastic book and will make you want to learn more about mythology, or at least pick up the next book to see if you can find another lost hero.