The Summoning-reviewed by Nallely S.

* * * * * STARS

reviewed by Nallely Saavedra

Chloe Saunders knows she isn't crazy. So why is she put in a center for disturbed teens? Well....for one thing she isn't really "normal". Chloe sees dead people. At Lyle House, Chloe notices there is something off about Lyle House. Chloe only wanted to "recover" and get out of there a.s.a.p. But when her room mate disappears, after confessing her secret, Chloe can't just leave. Chloe, along with her fellow room mates, must uncover the truth, even if it means unveiling her secret.

I gave this book 5 stars because I remember checking it out last summer and I was captivated. Yeah, it might be like any other paranormal series/book yet it's so different. Armstrong's characters captivated me like no other. I felt that unlike other paranormal books, Armstrong didn't make her characters perfect, they had flaws from the very beginning. To me that shows that no one is or will ever be perfect. That's reality. I liked that. Haha. I loved the plot and overall enjoyed reading this book!

-Nallely Saavedra

Sweethearts reviewed by Molly Varney

By: Sara Zarr     * * * * *

Jennifer has never been popular. In fact, she is the most picked on, lonely little girl in her school.  She is quiet and not as skinny as any of the other girls. Her only other friend is Cameron who was also picked on and excluded from everything. They did't mind though and were perfectly happy with each other. There were things Jennifer didn't know about Cameron though. Like when he came to school once with his arm in a cast and wouldn't talk for days then acted like everything was fine. They were best friends forever all the same. Then Cameron didn't show up for school. Jennifer heard from one of the girls at school that Cameron had died. Her mother had comforted her when she got back from school and tried to help her move on.
Now in her junior year of high school, Jennifer, now Jenna, has a totally new life. She has friends, a boyfriend, a new school, and has lost weight. She is happy, or as happy as she can be. Just when things were going fine in her life, everything got turned upside down when Cameron enrolled in her school. Now Jenna has to figure out everything that had happened, keep her life in line, and deal with her mother who didn't know what happened when she and Cameron were little.

I gave Sweethearts five stars because it was a very well written and interesting book. It was full of twists and surprises that made it enjoyable to read and kept you guessing. I thought it was a cool plot and loved reading it. I didn't really like the ending but it made sense. It showed that not everything goes how we want it too.

The Great Gatsby by Kaitlin Kimbrell

The Great Gatsby

by: F. Scott Fitzgerald

Jay Gatsby thought that by changing his whole life and throwing big parties he would end up with the love of his life. Jay started his life in the Midwest with a different name. Jay Gatsby's real name is James Gats, but after he met Daisy he wanted to change his life. He went out and created a life that he knew would win Daisy over. However, life doesn't always turn out as we plan and we cannot recreate the past.

Nick Carraway went to start a new chapter in his life. He moved closer to his cousin Daisy and met Jay Gatsby by happenstance. The two became neighbors and with Nick's help Jay re-meet Daisy. Their lives will forever be changed.

I didn't really enjoy this book because there was too much deception, cheating, and fake people. When we meet Gatsby to me he seems creepy he stares at Daisy's house from a distance and she doesn't know he is there. Then they make Nick help them sneak around Tom (Daisy's husband) so they can see each other. All the while Tom is cheating on Daisy. None of this is okay with me and I really just dislike this book. 



Summer Reading Program at Midcontinent Public Library!

Wanting to keep up with reading this summer? Join the Teen Summer Reading Program at your local Midcontinent Public Library.

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Visit your nearby branch today to find out more!

Just like that--reviewed by Nallely S.

by Marsha Qualey

* * * * Stars

Hanna just broke up with her boyfriend, and no one understands why. Stressed and tired, she takes a midnight walk to a lake near by. Depressed, and mad, she sees two teens drive by on a snow mobile. Later she realizes she just witnessed a tragedy. She's convinced she could have prevented it from happening. Soon she finds out she's not the only one involved. Will, a boy she soon develops a relationship with is connected to the tragedy. Hanna finds herself in a turmoil, having been captivated by Will and trapped by the image she can't forget of that night. Follow Hanna and Will in this beautiful tragedy.

I gave this book a 4 because although I did enjoy it, I didn't really feel the plot. I felt that Qualey could've elaborated more. It was a fun read and I loved Will's sisters and Hanna's mom. Hanna rushed things when she shouldn't have! Hanna felt guilty for something she really didn't have power over and that kind of bothered me because although she could have said something to the guy and girl, they wouldn't have really listened to her. Since they were there on there own accord. Overall I liked this book. ^ ^  I really wish there was a sequel but the ending pretty much made me happy! ^ ^

-Nallely <3

Runaway Reviewed by Molly Varney

By: Wendelin Van Draanen * * * *

Holly's life has never been easy. Since she can remember her and her mother had lived in apartments until they got kicked out, in a van, or just on the streets. Since her mothers death she had been living in foster homes and hated all of them. She had run away before but this time she stayed away. The most recent house she lived in was horrible. The Benders posed as loving parents but were heartless people. Holly's plan was to run away and this time it worked. As she writes in the journal her teacher gave her, she writes about her mother that she would never talk about. She writes about her love for dogs, and her dream of becoming a veternarian. Soon though she starts to need a plan. Holly is only a twelve year old girl but is more grown up than most people. Holly needs a plan for her future now that she's away from her horrible past, but how is she going to survive the next six years?

I thought Runaway was a pretty cool book. I had my doubts about it but it turned out to be ok. I liked how she wrote in it because it gave you a really good insight to how she felt all the time. It wasn't my favorite book but it was a very well written book. I loved how she talked about dogs and how she never really gave up. I loved the ending to the book and how she changed her own life by being stubborn and never giving up.