Fallen Angels - Book Review by Janae

Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers

Fallen Angels is a Vietman-War story full of action, comedy, and drama.  It is told from the point of view of a soldier named Richie Perry, a black man just out of high school.  He had dreams of playing basketball until he injured his knee during a game.  In order to keep his family out of the poor house, Perry joined the military, hoping not to get into too much combat due to his injury.  That did not work out in his favor... By being sent to Vietnam, Perry gained some great friends and got a few more injuries on his plate, and learned many life lessons in the process.  But the question is if he can survive until the end of the war?  Surprisingly enough, Fallen Angels was a great book (in my opinion).

Book Review by Janae

The Future of Us - Book Review by Lindsay

The Future of Us   By Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

It's the year 1996, and Emma just got her first computer as a gift from her father. Josh comes from next-door, over to her house with a CD-ROM that his family got in the mail, but when they install it, a weird little blue icon pops up. When Emma clicks on it, it takes her to this extremely weird website... Facebook: a website where people post details about their personal lives on the internet where everyone can see. What they had for dinner, how work is stressing them out, new relationships, why do they put these things on the internet? ...But wait, it's 1996, Facebook hasn't even been invented yet... What Emma and Josh are looking at are their Facebook profiles 15 years in the future, where it shows their future friends, spouse, kids, job, location, everything. The thing is, every thing they do now effects what their future will be, so every time they log on, something's different. Will they save themselves from making massive mistakes in the future, or just make things go completely haywire?

I loved this book! I read it because Jay Asher, the author of 13 Reasons Why, (Which i also liked), co-wrote it. The characters are lively, realistic, relatable, and full of personality. The pop-culture references are funny, the romance is suspenseful, and you'll stay up late reading cause you just have to know what happens next! It has that fantasy feel, since they can pretty much see the future, yet it seems real. It has a little of everything so I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

Book Review by Lindsay

Strings Attached - Book Review by Lindsay

Strings Attached    By Judy Blundell

Kit Coorigan is a 17 year-old girl, who dreams of being a big-time dancer in Broadway. It's 1950's New york, Kit ran away from her home in Rhode Island, to become famous, and to try and forget about her bad breakup with Billy, who is in the army and is heading to Korea. Kit got a job as a showgirl, but the money just isn't enough, Billy's father, Nate, who is a former gangster, and currently a lawyer defending criminals, gives Kit a great apartment and designer clothes, so what's in it for him? All he asks is Kit try to get Billy to come home, and do an occasional favor for him...

The book has lots of romance and a little mystery. However, the romance is kind of unexplained, Kit loves Billy, will do anything for him, and vice-versa, but why? The book mentions that Kit cried constantly because of Billy, and Billy seems to get easily irritated by Kit. I found myself NOT wanting them to be together. The characters seemed a little dull too, easily forgettable, with little personality. The ending was... Not great, I have unanswered questions about a few things. It's kind of a sad ending too, but i never really got emotionally attached, and failed to sympathize with the characters. It's not a completely terrible book, but i don't really recommend it, if you really want YA historical fiction, I'd try The Luxe series instead.

Book Review by Lindsay

Hunger Games - Book Review by Lindsay

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger games takes place in a future United States, where war and natural disasters have destroyed a huge portion of it. The city, Panem, is split into 12 districts, and the Capitol, which rules over the districts. The Capitol hosts a televised, annual event called the Hunger Games, which one boy and one girl from every district are randomly chosen to compete in. The goal of the games is to survive, only one person can win. Basically they put the competitors in an abandoned, jungle-type area, where they have to find food and shelter for themselves, while trying to kill, or completely avoid other players, last man standing wins. 16-year-old Katniss's skill, wit, and determination are put to the ultimate test when she voluntarily takes her 12-year-old little sister's place in the Hunger Games. I love the book, it's a real page turner, with nonstop action, and even a little romance plot, it keeps you thinking "I wonder what happens next?!" The book is part of a trilogy, and leaves off on kind of a cliffhanger, so be prepared to really want to read the next book the minute you finish book 1.

Book review by Lindsay

You Belong to Me - Book Review by Janae

You Belong To Me by Mary Higgins Clark

Susan Chandler, a radio talk show host, takes it upon herself to try and solve the recent missing woman cases.  The killer always leaves his signature trademark, a cheap, turquoise ring with the phrase "You Belong To Me" engraved inside.  Along the way, she meets many new faces that help her get closer and closer to who the killer may be.  She realizes a little too late that the killer is a person near and dear to her.  Will she survive?

Book Review by Janae

The Testament - Book Review by Janae

The Testament by John Grisham

Troy Phelan, an unhappy billionaire, has been waiting to die for years.  His family hates him, he hates his family, and life is boring once you have done everything possible.  Troy makes everyone believe that he is ill and crippled by using a wheelchair and wearing a robe and turban for years.  Truth is, he isn't sick at all.  No one knew that until the day of his death when he was analyzed and pronounced to be of sound body and mind.  Seconds after that was declared, he signed a secret will in front of many people, then jumped off a balcony to his death.  Troy Phelan signed away his entire fortune to his illegitimate daughter Rachel Lane, a child no one knew about until then.  Rachel is a missionary located in the Brazilian jungles.  Nate O'Riley is hired to find her, fresh out of rehab.  The Testament is a story about the struggle to find Rachel Lane and its effects on each family.

Book Review by Janae

Wisdom's Kiss - Book Review by Maddie

Wisdom's Kiss by Catherine Gilbert Murdock


Wisdom's Kiss is a remarkable story written by the same author, Catherine Gilbert Murdock, who wrote Dairy Queen and Princess Ben.  The adventure follows multiple storylines from Dizzy (or Princess Wisdom), who is really terrible at being a princess and longs for rebellion; Tips, who longs to keep his true identity secret from his childhood friend Fortitude; and Fortitude, who longs only for Tips.  The whole story is told in different points of view, the diary of a narcissistic swordsman, the letters of two lovers, the script of an up-and-coming play, and other creative perspectives, which gives the reader an exciting new view that's rarely experienced.  I would definitely suggest this to anyone who loves a classic bit of magic, and an exciting fairytale adventure.

Book Review by Maddie