March Book Club

We will meet on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 during SSR in the library to discuss the book (movie ??) The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Bring a snack and/or drink if you like.

Ms C.

Cracked up to be review by Kaitlin Kimbrell

cracked up to be

by Courtney Summers

When you're perfect with everything you do people tend to want to be like you. Everybody body has a desire to be perfect, but what is the breaking point?

For Parker Fadley being perfect was all she knew. She was the perfect cheerleader, had the perfect popular boyfriend, the perfect best friend, and the perfect grades. Parker was the most popular girl at St. Peter's High, until that one night. That is when perfect Parker became the perfect mess. Nobody really knew why Parker started to come to school drunk, quit as captain of the cheerleading team, broke up with her boyfriend, and started to hate everyone. What happen to perfect Parker? Did she find her breaking point? Can you just not ever stay perfect like you think?

This book is not in my usual choices, but I really liked it. The struggles that Parker goes through actually shows what many people my age might be going through too. This put me in Parker shoes and made me think 'what would I have done if I would have been her?' I don't know what I would have done and I don't know who I would have wanted on my side, if anyone at all. This book did make me realize though that nobody is as perfect as we think.



The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight Reviewed by Molly Varney

By: Jennifer E. Smith *****

Hadley never liked close spaces so airports weren't her favorite places to be. This was just another reason she didn't want to go to London. The main reason she didn't want to was because of her father's second marriage. She didn't want to meet his new wife or any of his new friends, and she did not want to walk down the aisle sfter spending hours on a plane. But for some reason her mother had insisted on her going. Things only got worse for Hadley when she got to the airport. So many things could have gone differently that morning, but whatever happened caused her to be four minutes late. Those four minutes would change Hadley's life, she just didn't know it. What she did know was that she had missed her flight and was stuck in an extremely crowded airport for hours by herself. What she didn't expect to find was a British guy named Oliver who was on her flight, just a seat away from her. As the two talk to pass the time, Hadley feels someting in her changing. She forgets about her father's wedding and the fight she had with her mother and thinks only about Oliver. After a long night stuck in a plane, growing closer to a guy she's just met, Hadley wonders if this is what it's like to fall in love. At the end of their flight, she's left with knowing what part of London Oliver is going to and just like that, he's gone. Hadley goes to face her father's wedding and expects the worst, but all her thoughts are on a certain British boy she met on a plane.

I really really liked this book. I thought it was pretty interesting and funny at some parts. Oliver was by far my favorite character because of his joking personality. For me, the book was hard to put down most of the time. It never seemed to get dry or boring and had me laughing at some points. I think my favorite part was near the end and the very end of the book. The ending was a little predictable but I was fine with that because I loved the story.

City of Ember--reviewed by Nallely S.

By Jeanne DuPrau

* * * * * Stars

"It is always night in the city of Ember. But there is no moon, no stars."

In this story, follow Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow as the struggle with dealing with their new lives and trying to save their city from darkness. Lina Mayfleet was just a twelve-year old when she was assigned the task of becoming a messenger. Doon Harrow was just a twelve-year old when he was assigned to being a Pipeworker. Their home, The City of Ember was a last minute project created to protect the human race. Its creators left a message....a message on how to save the city if anything were to happen to its "life" source. The message ended up in Lina's hands. Lina confused and stressed because of her daily life and worried for her grandmothers health, goes to Doon. Together with Doon, Lina must uncover the message, because if they don't The City of Ember will be engulfed in complete darkness.

I gave this book * * * * * Stars because it was simple yet complicated. Actually there is nothing complicated about this book. It's straight to the point and fast. You can't just skip pages because every page has something important that will lead to the future of these people. ^ ^ I thought it was a good read. Although my review is short, this book really is straight to the point, and it shows you that although loss is in the picture, you have to keep moving on. Because your not just living for yourself, we see this through Lina's story. I liked Lina because she was realistic and wasn't falling for the Mayor's lies. Doon also saw through his lies. This lets us know that they aren't followers, they like to be different, and that's totally fine. ^ ^ I disliked that these twelve-year olds were doing something as impossible as this, like seriously what twelve-year olds think like Doon and Lina. The baby was doing too much, Lina is barely a child herself!

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Hunger Games Havoc: Coming to a Library Near You

February 24, 2012
The full trailer has been released. The complete soundtrack list was made available today. The Internet is bursting with craft ideas. And I'm still waiting to receive my copy of the cookbook inspired by the YA phenomenon. That's right. Hunger Games Havoc has hit! We're so excited for the release of the film adaptation of The Hunger Games that we decided to throw a party. Form alliances, test your mettle, come dressed as your favorite character, decorate cupcakes, and more! And did I mention that you can win prizes? No participating branch's agenda will be quite the same, so why not sample a bit of what each has to offer?
The following branches are throwing Hunger Games parties:
Blue Springs North
Lee's Summit
North Independence
Parkville
Red Bridge
Smithville
South Independence
We'll be discussing The Hunger Games in Book Club at the North Independence Branch on Tuesday, March 20th at 6:00 p.m. Stick around for Panemonium @ the Library at 7:00 p.m. We'll have three ways for you to win prizes. Dress up, participate in a trivia contest, and reveal your hidden talent! How would you win the Hunger Games? You decide the victors, so come prepared to vote for your favorite contenders!
Hope to see you there! And...
...May the odds be ever in your favor.
Amanda W.
North Independence Branch

http://www.mymcpl.org/blog/hunger-games-havoc-coming-library-near-you

The Future of Us Reviewed by Molly Varney

By: Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler ****


In 1996, most kids had barely used the internet. Emma just got a new computer from her dad,a guilt gift she thought.Ever since her parents had divorced, Emma had hardly seen her dad and his new wife and daughter. Her best friend and neighbor, Josh, had just brought over a new CD-ROM for her new computer since his mom didn't want it. Things had been awkward between the two ever since Emma had rejected Josh. When Emma logs onto her computer for the first time, she is immediatley logged onto a website for facebook.She logs onto it, only to find that it takes ger 15 years onto the future. At first Josh doesn't believe it. Then he finds out that he's going to marry Sydney Mills, one of the most popular girls at school. As soon as he hears this, he wants it to be true. Emma however, is not too pleased with her future. As the two of them try to shape their perfect futures they find that even the tiniest things can completely change their future. They can view their jobs, relationships, friends, and lives in the future, but is it good or bad? Emma starts to become obsessed with her future while Josh is happy with his own. The two are given a chance to see their futures, but what will they do when they know what's going to happen?



I thought this was a pretty good book. It was a really interesting theme, and I thought it was cool. It was really funny to read this and watch their reactions to Facebook, because we get on it all the time, and they have no idea what it is. I think my favorite character in this was Josh because he didn't get too worked up about seeing his future. Emma was always trying to change hers when she didn't like it while, most of the time, Josh just let things happen and didn't try to mess with it.I loved the ending and thought it was really sweet. This was definitely an interesting story, but I liked it a lot.

Better Than Yesterday reviewed by Kaitlin Kimbrell

better than yesterday

by Robyn Schneider

"Sometimes, when we are not looking for a solution, but rather a different way of viewing the problem, it is permissible, even appropriate, to break the rules." Skylar, Marissa, Blake, and Charley became best friends’ freshman year and had together created a group called the Hell Risers, but much has happened since then. Skylar became known as the dirty girl, Marissa was more of just a nerdy girl, Charley had to please his parents with everything he did, and Blake left Hilliard. Now, however, Blake is back and wants to put the old gang of Hell Risers back together again. Since Blake has been gone though he has changed too much and they are scared that something might happen to him, plus they need to keep a secret from him so he won't hate Skylar. Will they stay best friends? Will they fight for what they believe? Will they just forget about each other and never look back? What will happen? To find out read the book.

This book was good! I enjoyed it and it was a quick read because of how interesting it was. There was such a mix of feelings and everything that happened will make you love each character. I honestly loved this book and am thinking about looking into this author for more books. Love and scandal all in one, what could be better? This book really kept me intrigued the whole time and I am glad I chose it to read.

Cinder--reviewed by Nallely S.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

**** Stars

reviewed by Nallely S.

"A girl. A machine. A freak."- Cinder

After a terrible accident....sixteen-year old Cinder's life changes drastically. Being 36.28% non-human, Cinder is the stepdaughter of Adri Linh, living a cruel life...Cinder has lived through it all, after the death of her stepfather. Cinder is 36.28% cyborg. Knowing people don't accept her for what she is, Cinder tries to live a peaceful life by following everything Adri Linh says. One day while going to the junkyard, Cinder's stepsister Peony insists on going with Cinder and Iko. Earth isn't what it use to be. Filled with a plague that has killed off half the worlds population, Cinder experiences the horror of seeing what the plague does to people. During their trip to the junkyard, unexpected horrors happen....Peony catches the plague.....and Cinder is sold by her stepmother to a crazy scientist.

Cinder gets caught up in two worlds. The world of a cyborg and the world she always dreamed of living in...a girls dream. Meeting Prince Kai only makes matters worse. If only those were her only worries....a terrible secret is discovered....and it seems that Cinder is at the center of everything.......in this new series, Lunar Chronicles, we will see the life of a girl and a cyborg. A life where a girl only struggles to be accepted and to find love, and answers. Cinder let's us see the horror that human society has come to. Set in a futuristic world, we follow the story of a teenage girl and her struggles.

I rated Cinder * * * * stars because although I like Meyer, I felt that in this story she tried to delay a lot of things. I enjoyed reading it and I like Cinder. She's brave and doesn't let anything stop her. She has big dreams and she'll try to get there. This book caught my attention because it's set in Beijing, China, which you don't usually see. I thought that was interesting and the tale of Cinderella turned into Cyborg Cinderella was a interesting idea ^ ^. Hopefully the next installment is a little better and moves a little faster. ^ ^ I didn't like the ending~!! X< Cliff hangers are the worst!! X<

The Scorpio Races--reviewed by Nallely S.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

* * * * * STARS

Reviewed by Nallely Saavedra

"Some race to win. Others race to survive."- Scorpio Races

Kate Connolly, Puck, has never lived a normal life. Living on an island with her surviving family, Gabe and Finn, Puck will do anything to keep her family together. After losing her father and mother, Puck thought that would bring her family closer....yet Gabe has made a decision without her or Finn. Devastated and desperate to keep Gabe in the picture...Puck does the only thing she can do....she enters the Scorpio Races, the first girl to ever enter. The Scorpio Races are annual races where deadly sea horses are used. Literally they are SEA horses. In this world, on this island, these horses come from the ocean...deadly man eating horses. Sean Kendrick, the young man whose feared and known around the island, the only one who is half on soil, half in water. Sean lost his father to the Scorpio Races yet he can't help but love them and Corr, his fire horse.

Kate and Sean's lives collide in a beautiful, passionate story. Both fighting for their dreams. Kate and Sean will have to go through struggles, pain, and passion. Will Kate keep her family together? Will Sean finally let others in? In the Scorpio Races you will experience the true feeling of real friendship, love, and relationships.

I gave Scorpio Races * * * * * stars because...I was completely mesmerized by the characters and with Stiefvater's style. I have never...ever..in my life read a book like this. I felt the love and friendship between Sean and Corr. His need to be with Corr and Corr needing Sean...it was the perfect example of true friendship and understanding, as crazy as that might sound. Kate's personality really caught my attention, although sometimes I wanted to slap her. She didn't give up when every one told her to drop out and that her mere "pony" would get her killed, she believed in her and they understood each other without needing to use words. Simply through body language. I really liked this. The characters were well developed and I absolutely loved it!

I really can't wait for this series to develop even more.....If this is a series, haha.

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 The Scorpio Races

-Nallely Saavedra ^ ^

Dairy Queen reviewed by Kaitlin Kimbrell

DAIRY QUEEN

By: Catherine Gilbert Murdock



For D.J. life is quiet and simple. Get up and work on the farm, do what her father says, go to school, and nothing much else. While this was all until Brian Nelson got into trouble and had to come help on the farm or get kicked off the football team and D.J. decided she wanted to play football like her brothers did. She figured why not, she was just as strong and fast (if not stronger and faster) then most of the guys on the team. D.J. believed that she could do it and lead the team all the way and maybe fall in love along the way. First though, she is going to have to break out of her shell, start talking about what is wrong, and get advice she doesn't want from people she doesn't really like. Will doing just that ruin any chances of her  getting on the team and living her dream? Read and find out!

I really enjoyed this book because it was inspirational and actually taught me a lot about the person I can be. The fact that D.J. was able to achieve all she wanted and even get more then she bargained for lifted my spirits and made me want to try just as hard as she did for what I want. I think that reading this book might inspire you to do something that you never thought you would be able to. Maybe, just maybe you will find your voice just where you have been needing to use it.