The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson - Book Review by Callie

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

The book I read was called, "The Adoration of Jenna Fox" by Mary E. Pearson; a science fiction novel with futuristic qualities. I really enjoyed this book, it was exciting from beginning to end. It's about a seventeen year old girl who wakes up from a coma, but can't remember any of her life before. As she slowly regains her memory, she finds out more and mroe things about herself and uncovers secrets about the accicdent that put her into the coma. Anyways, it's a good read, one that everyone would enjoy.

Book Review by Callie

The Adoration of Jenna Fox - Book Review by Christa

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

This fascinating little story starts out with Jenna and her mother just after she awoke from a year long coma. She is scared and struggles with everything around her. It doesn't take long, though, to notice something isn't right. her parents aren't telling her something, and she's determined to find out what. As she begins to make freinds, she can't help but wonder where her friends from before the accident are now - and why they have not come to see her. Will Jenna ever find out the awful truth behind the accident? Well read it for yourself and enjoy a book that surprises you with each turn of a page! The author, Mary E. Pearson, really knows how to write a great book. You'll never guess what happens next, so you'll have to read it yourself.

Book Review by Christa

2009 Teens' Top Ten Nominations - Graceling by Kristin Cashore

This years list for the 2009 Teens' Top Ten has been released. I will be posting a little bit about one of the books on the list each week. Teen are encouraged to read the books over the next few months and then vote for their favorites this October during Teen Read Week. More information on voting will be posted in October!


This week's book is Graceling by Kristin Cashore.


This review is taken from Amazon.com:

If you had the power to kill with your bare hands, what would you do with it?

Graceling takes readers inside the world of Katsa, a warrior-girl in her late teens with one blue eye and one green eye. This gives her haunting beauty, but also marks her as a Graceling. Gracelings are beings with special talents—swimming, storytelling, dancing. Katsa's Grace is considered more useful: her ability to fight (and kill, if she wanted to) is unequaled in the seven kingdoms. Forced to act as a henchman for a manipulative king, Katsa channels her guilt by forming a secret council of like-minded citizens who carry out secret missions to promote justice over cruelty and abuses of power.

Combining elements of fantasy and romance, Cashore skillfully portrays the confusion, discovery, and angst that smart, strong-willed girls experience as they creep toward adulthood. Katsa wrestles with questions of freedom, truth, and knowing when to rely on a friend for help. This is no small task for an angry girl who had eschewed friendships (with the exception of one cousin that she trusts) for her more ready skills of self-reliance, hunting, and fighting. Katsa also comes to know the real power of her Grace and the nature of Graces in general: they are not always what they appear to be.

Graceling is the first book in a series, and Kristin Cashore’s first work of fiction. It sets up a vivid world with engaging characters that readers will certainly look forward to following beyond the last chapter of this book. (Ages 14 and up) --Heidi Broadhead

Magnetic Poetry Board

Recently seen on the magnetic poetry board:

"Poetry is the language that whispers beneath every happy thought." - Anonymous

Classic Books Online

Has your teacher just assigned a classic novel for you to read, but your local library's copy is missing? Perhaps, everyone else got to the library before you and checked every copy out. Or maybe you just enjoy reading the classics...

In any case, check out this website - Classic Books Online


There are tons of classic books available for free, right on the website! Here are just some of the authors available: Jane Austen, Frank L. Baum, Emily Bronte, Lewis Carroll, Kate Chopin, Daniel Defoe, Shakespeare, Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde, and many more!

Just go to the site, choose an author, choose a book, and then click on "open book". It will bring up a java window with the entire book. You can also change the background and text color to make it easier to read. And, after closing the book, you can have it email you a bookmark link so you can start back up right where you left off!

This site is definitely worth checking out!

The Surrender Tree - Book Review by Rhea

The Surrender Tree by Margarita Engle

The setting of this story is during several wars in Cuba. Rosa, a healer, and her companions try to heal all who are injured physically in hopes to unite everyone, all races in the country. They have hope that everyone will put aside differences and unite as Cubans. They battle slavery, concentration camps, foreign armies and their control over them, and various diseases that come from war. This story is unique in that it is written in prose and separated as though it were diary entries.

This story brings alive a part of history that is normally overlooked. You get to see the wars from the natives' point of view. Very good story. Never a dull moment.


Review by Rhea

Something Remains - Book Review by Rhea

Something Remains by Inge Barth-Grozinger

Something Remains follows the life of a Jewish family living in Ellwangen, Germany during the 1930's. It follows their lives, mostly of the son, Erich, during the early part of Hitler's regime. The family goes from being upstanding citizens to scum of the earth due to the Nazis. This book is based on a true story. You experience every triumph and heartbreak of the family. It makes history seem like it is playing before your eyes. Erich experiences his first love, loss of friends, bullying, and hardship in every way possible.

Like I said, this book brings history alive and mroe down-to-earth for our generation. This book grips your emotions. A great way to learn more about the Holocaust even though it isn't verbatum of your life.


Review by Rhea