Forget Tomorrow~ Reviewed by Hailey Hinrichs

 

 

 

 

          In a world where your future has already been decided for you, Callie anxiously awaits her 17th birthday to see what her destiny holds for her. But when she sees that her future only holds trouble, she's dumbstruck watching her future self kill her little sister. Shortly after, she's placed in Limbo which is a prison for future criminals.

          When she escapes from Limbo, she tries to change events to alter her future so she doesn't end up taking her sister's life. In trying to run from the government and hoping she can change the future, she sets up events that she hopes will create a new future. If she can't, she will have to find a way to save her sister from the biggest threat of her life; herself. 

            I really enjoyed this book so I gave it 4 stars. I really enjoyed how Callie progressed throughout the book and her actions. I really like Dunn's choice of writing and how she didn't rush the events to get through the book. I liked that each event was very well thought out to help the progression of the book. What I loved most about the book was the dystopian society and being able to see your future right before you. That is extremely interesting to think about because I know a lot of people want to see how their future will play out and what direction they should go in. All in all I really enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it to any of my friends.



The X-Factor--Reviewed by: Sarah Roberts

 

 

 

 

  Maja is your normal, everyday 17-year old. She dreams of becoming a an actress, and her role model is Marilyn Monroe. So when things take an interesting turn at a celebration party for her boyfriend, Maja doesn't quite know how to handle it. One minute she is an average teen, and then the next minute she is at a test modeling photo shoot because some guy thinks she could have 'The X-Factor'. 

                                   
                     But things don't go the way they should have.
 
            Maja becomes exhausted from the countless photo shoots, diets, and a always being in the public eye. So what does Maja do? Well she turns to some "friends" that get her into a lot of trouble. When it all explodes in her face, Maja is left with a drug addiction, no self-esteem,and no true friends. She now is left with one question: How far will she got to reach her dream and land among the stars?


         I really thought this book was well written and enjoyed it immensely. I enjoyed how this book touched on subject matter that others would have been afraid to write. That is why I gave this book a 4 and 1/2 star rating. The characters were well developed and I felt almost everything that Maja felt. The lack of self-esteem that Maja had felt like it would have been experienced by teens today. He book really gives you an inside view of what the modeling industry really is, the it isn't all the glamour and beauty it's made up to be. So all in all, this book was a great experience and I would definitely recommend it to my friends and family.

The X Factor~~ Reviewed by Hailey Hinrichs

 

 

                      Maja is just a regular 17-year-old high school who dreams of becoming a big time actress, just like her idol, the beloved Marilyn Monroe. But when she meets a modeling agent at a party, he believes she has the "X Factor", that one special thing that makes her perfect to be a model.

                      Things don't go as she planned though.

                     After countless photo shoots and tiring fashion shows, she's exhausted. For a while, her talent seems to captivate the public, but once things start slowing down and she becomes tired of the strict diet and parties every night, she turns to the wrong people for help. Soon her "friends" and trusted allies begin exploiting her and her world crumbles.

                     Struggling with drug problems and absolutely no self-esteem left, she's left with one question: What price will she pay in trying to live out her dreams?

 

                    I really enjoyed this book so I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. What I absolutely loved about this book was that it hit the exact points of what the modeling life really is like, not just what we see from the public side of things. From the surgeries to the crazy nights of partying, we tend to idolize these people, thinking they have life so easy and how amazing their lives must be. This book really shows the true side to things and that modeling is not at all what it seems. In the world that we live in, I see a lot of trends going around of people trying to inspire others to be original and be themselves. I think this book really brings forth that idea that our dreams of trying to become bigger and better versions of ourselves don't always work out because we're fine the way we are. Maja had lived so long hoping that she could become famous and be a model but then she realized all the changes she had to make to herself to really become something "perfect". I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any of my friends. 

 



               

When She Woke - BOOK CLUB

Get ready for a great book group meeting! We are now reading:

RED: the color of blood, the color of murder, the color of sin...

Have you read The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne? This novel is a modern day retelling of sorts.

Hannah Payne wakes up in a cell after being injected with a virus that has turned her skin completely red -- her crime: she aborted her illegitimate pregnancy in a new American society where that is illegal. She will not name the father of her unborn child, a famous married minister, nor the abortionist, and is charged and convicted of murder. What happens to Hannah when she is released from the temporary post-chroming seclusion and is thrust back into a society where she is stigmatized and humiliated by everyone who sees her as a Red? Prevented from returning to her home by parents who will not allow her to live with them, Hannah must navigate a scary road to regain her dignity and make a new life for herself in a world where there is no longer separation between church and state -- and no protection for the Chromes.

 I  suggest that you obtain and read this book if you like dystopian, futuristic novels about family, religious controversies, crime and punishment, relationships, and self-discovery. The author weaves a very interesting tale -- yes it does have themes similar to those found in some of the classic literature, but it brings all of those together in a new and very thought-provoking way. This would be a fantastic book for a book group discussion.

I will be recommending this!



Discussion Questions - please post your answers in comment section

1.  Is this futuristic imagining of the direction of reality television believable?

2. What elements within this futuristic society have lead to the acceptability of the cruel treatment of those who've committed crimes?

3. Was Hannah's decision not to reveal the identity of either her baby's father or the abortionist justified?  What does this say about her character?

4. How do you feel about the baby's father and his decisions regarding not coming forward?

5. Discuss how the concept of religion is portrayed through the major characters: Hannah, her mother, her father, her sister Becca, the Henleys, Aidan and Cole.

6. Does Hannah change within the course of the novel? How?

7. What are your thoughts on Hannah's friend Kayla? In what ways is she different from Hannah?

8. How would you describe the halfway house run by the Henleys? Did it serve its intended purpose?

9. What aspects of Hannah and Kayla's flight struck you most? What experiences stood out for you?

10. Was the ending believable?
(Questions issued by publisher.)

Ms C.
Review originally published Sunday, August 19, 2012

This Montstrous Thing~ Reviewed by Hailey Hinrichs

“You made a human being. And humans are, by nature, monstrous.”

                Set in Geneva in 1818, Alasdair Finch is part of the Shadow Boys who are illegal mechanics that make men from clockwork parts. It seems Alasdair has lost everything he has cared about; his brother Oliver, his love, and his passion to do anything anymore. But when Alasdair successfully brings Oliver back to life, things start to go horribly wrong for him, and he is left to decide something that could make him lose everything he’s cared about again.

              

                I really liked this book so I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. I loved that it was set in the Victorian era. Most of all, I loved the character development in this book. Lee also has amazing writing and it makes you want to just keep reading and reading. It was a little hard not to get emotional at some parts because the author really makes the capability of feeling the character’s pain and happiness and anger possible. That’s definitely not an easy thing to do.  All in all, I really liked this book and would recommend it to anyone.  

Red Queen--reviewed by: Sarah Roberts

"In school, we learned about the world before us, about the angels and gods that lived in the sky, ruling the earth with kind and loving hands. Some say those are just stories, but I don't believe that. The gods rule us still. They have come down from the stars. And they are no longer kind."

Picture high school. It's ruled by two kinds of groups. There's the popular, almighty people, and then you have the unpopular, lowly people. Well that is the type of society that Mare Barrow lives in.

There are two kinds of people in Mare Barrow's society, except the thing that defines your place is the color of your blood. First you have the Silvers,which are the elite people "whose supernatural abilities make them gods". Then you have the Reds, which are the lowly servants of the Silvers.

Mare Barrow is a Red, who just so happens to be the best pit-pocketer in all the village. Mare lives with her mother, her war-disabled father, and her sister Gisa. Mare also has brothers but they are in the military, which Mare will soon join them...or so she thought. One encounter with a stranger leads Mare landing a job in the royal palace, filled with people she loathes the most. Mare works through rooms filled with Silvers, just simply serving and refilling drinks. Girls appear trying to win the affection of the two young princes, but only one of them is familiar. It's the stranger who got Mare the job.

As the night goes on Mare does her serving duties, and can't wait for the night to end. Suddenly, she is attacked by a girl in the pageant and thrown of the balcony landing on this lightening force field. The only problem is, Mare does burn but controls the lightening. This sets off a chain of events that will change everything.

I loved this book! It really made my imagination come to life. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family. Not only does this book have suspense, it also has betrayal and a hint of love. I love Mare's independent spirit, but also how loyal she is to her friends and loved ones. The storyline is absolutely spectacular! It will give you goose bumps. You feel everything the characters feel, and even feel afraid for some of them at one point. Join Mare in this fantastic tale, and "rise red as the dawn."

These Shallow Graves~ Reviewed by Hailey Hinrichs

"If you're going to bury the past, bury it deep girl. Shallow graves always give up their dead."

           Jo Montfort has always lived a simple life. Growing up in a rich, sophisticated family, Jo's life has mostly been laid out for her. She'll get married, have a family, and live the rest of her life in the shadows of her husband. But she doesn't want that kind of life. Reading the articles from world renowned Nellie Bly has made her strive to become a reporter. But when her father suddenly dies, the cops say it is due to him accidentally shooting himself in the head with a revolver while he was cleaning it, but Jo knows her father was too smart to make that mistake. When she meets Eddie- a handsome, young reporter- she pairs with him to solve the real cause of her fathers murder. As she uncovers more and more truths about his death, she learns no ones past ever stays buried.

    

            I LOVED this book so I gave it 5 out of 5 stars. I've never really tried to read many murder-mystery books, but this one grabbed my attention so quickly. I never wanted to put it down. The characters were amazingly developed, the plot was so interesting, and every time they uncovered some type of clue, it left you wondering what was going to happen next. I love Jennifer Donnelly's writing style and I'll definitely be looking into more of her books. I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves thrillers or mystery books. You will not be disappointed reading this book.

These Broken Stars--Reviewed by: Sarah Roberts

“For a moment the image before us is frozen: our world, our lives, reduced to a handful broken stars half lost in uncharted space. Then it's gone, the view swallowed by the hyperspace winds streaming past, blue-green auroras wiping the after-images away.

Until all that's left is us” 

In the blink of an eye life can change. You can go from being surrounded by your comfortable, bright life style to being in a place that's new, uncertain. Well that's exactly what happened to Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen.

Lilac LaRoux is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Carver comes from nothing, but is a young war hero who knows that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they are worth. So what happens when the two are thrown together after their beloved spaceship, the Icarus, crashes on to an unknown planet? Well, they are forced to work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Along the way there will be arguments, sarcastic comedy, heart melting moments, and even love.

I loved this book! I couldn't put it down for more than a second before I had to pick it up again. That is why I gave this book a 5 star rating. I enjoyed the suspense, sic-fi setting, and romance!. The sarcastic comments from Tarver made this story more comical, which I adored. The growing relationship between Lilac and Tarver will truly make you melt. I thought that these two characters truly complemented each other, and made this book worth reading. Some scenes in this book will leave you breathless! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and will definitely recommend this to my friends and family.

A Thousand Nights--Reviewed by: Sarah Roberts



"We do not know why we came from the sea to this hard and dusty earth, but we know that                                                     we are better than it."                                                        

Imagine a world where someone can take you from your home and instantly say that you are their wife until they decide you aren't useful anymore, and then kill you off.  Well, that is the exact life Al-ammiyyah lives.

In Al-ammiyyah's world an evil lord, by the name of Lo-Melkhiin, goes to every district and chooses a wife. He then takes her to his palace, where the wife may only last a few day before he grows tired and kills her off. One day, Lo-Melkhiin comes to Al-ammiyyah's homeland. Knowing that her sister is far too beautiful for Lo-Melkhiin to pass on, Al-ammiyyah draws on her inner power to make herself more beautiful than her beloved sister. In the end, Lo-Melkhiin chooses Al-ammiyyah and rides off with her to his palace. 

Night after night Al-ammiyyah fears it will be her last, but for some reason Lo-Melkhiin comes to her and forces her to tell stories of her homeland.Lo-Melkhiin visits Al-ammiyyah every evening and every time he grabs her hands a copper fire moves between the two. Al-ammiyyah every now and then gets glimpses of a gentler man inside of Lo-Melkhiin, and begins to wonder if there could be something causing the coldness inside of him. It isn't until after Lo-Melkhiin gets attacked by a mysterious creature that Al-ammiyyah fears her suspicions could be true.

I gave this book a 5 star rating. This book enraptures your mind and will make you never want to put it down! I love how this story was told from Al-ammiyyah's point of view, but had little snippets from the darkness inside of Lo-Melkhiin. The words grasp your attention. You really begin to imagine what happens during every chapter. I would definitely recommend this book to all my friends and family.  

Illuminae~ Reviewed by Hailey Hinrichs

                                                

               The year is 2575. The morning before Kady’s planet was invaded, she thought breaking up with her boyfriend Ezra would be the hardest thing about the day to come. Soon after two rival corporations declare war on each other, she realizes she was very wrong. Now that her planet is invaded, she is forced to evacuate with Ezra on a warship. As she thinks things can’t get any worse, a plague breaks out. As Kady tries to find answers, she can’t seem to learn anything because the people in charge don’t want to talk about what’s really going on. She soon resolves to hacking into the database to find the truth. What she comes to find is that Ezra seems to be the only one who can really help her. Can they overcome their awkward past to help save their planet?

                I liked this book so I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. I usually am not into outer space books or a lot of books that have to do much with science. But I really enjoyed this one. I LOVED the layout of it. (Mostly because of reminded me of The Dead House). I like the different fonts and styles of the pages, which always helps with such long books. I loved all the plot twists which I did not see coming. I also love books that are realistic and I really thought events and ways the characters reacted to things really was realistic, unlike other books where things are instantly perfect again and all is well. Because come on, we all know it doesn’t happen like that. This was a good read and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys books about outer space and fantasy.

Book Club -- BRUTAL YOUTH

* See the comments for continued discussion between author and book club members. Meeting was a great success!

We will be discussing this novel on Wednesday, October 28, 2015 at 8 am in the Library. Please bring your copy of the book and your iPad to participate in the discussion. We will be posting comments here on the blog as well.

Some questions to ponder prior to the meeting:

Discussion Questions

1. The book was set in 1991. How do you think growing up in high school then

is different from how it is now?

2. Do you think growing up in that private school is anything like O'Hara?

3. How do you feel about the people Peter surrounds himself with at school?

4. Although stealing is wrong, could you understand what drove Father

Mercedes to steal the money?

5. Hector is the only African American at the school. Is the treatment that he

received what you would have expected?

6. Brutal Youth brings forth the idea that people who are mistreated often

mistreat others. How is this not true for Stein?

7. How did you feel about the relationship between Hannah and Mr. Zimmer?

8. Although Sister Maria can be frustrating, did you respect her more or less

after she covered up for Stein's absence?

9. Do you feel like the author accurately shows what a Catholic school is like?

10. Stein believes that, "following the rules and doing the right thing aren't the

same thing" (Breznican). Do you agree?



Questions 1, 4-6, 8, & 10 from readinggroupguides.com

Reading Group Guides. St. Martin's Griffin, 2 June 2015. Web. 18 Oct. 2015.

Questions submitted by Hailey H.


Ms Crawford

Burning Blue--Reviewed by: Sarah Roberts

                           Think of the most beautiful girl in your grade. Now think about what would happen to the school if the said girl's face was ruined by someone. Well, that's exactly what happened to golden girl; Nicole Castro. 

           It started off as a normal day, but then everything changes with just one squirt from a water bottle filled with acid. Now everyone is left with the simple question of "Why?" The only person willing to figure out this mystery is Jay Nazzaro,a social outcast scarred from public humiliation. I guess having a seizure during a pep rally and later finding it on YouTube makes people think twice about becoming friends with you. So with the help of his trusty computer hacking skills, Jay is on the hunt to find the culprit who led to Nicole's downfall from queen bee, to burned girl. Follow Jay and help find out who is really burning blue.

            

           I thought this book was amazing! I would definitely recommend this to my friends and family. I enjoyed how it was told from Jay's point of view, but had some journal entries that belonged to Nicole. I gave this book a rating of 4 and half stars because although it was well written, I would have liked to perhaps hear the point of view of the person who burned Nicole. Otherwise, this book was a great read and I believe others would enjoy this book immensely. 

Need--Reviewed by Sarah Roberts

" A want is a desire to possess or do something. A wish. A need is something required because it is essential. Something very important that you cannot live without."

"What do you need?"

                   Social media is the most important thing to teens these days. So when a social media cite called NEED starts offering to send teens in the small town of Nottawa whatever they need in exchange for small tasks to be carried out, what could be sweeter. At first the tasks are as simple as inviting people to join NEED, and then everything changes. A fellow classmate is the first to die after cookies were "mysteriously" delivered to her containing the one thing that could kill her...peanuts. The culprit is a fellow classmate, and NEED member, who was just following through on the task given to them. As more teens begin to die off, there's only on teen who wants to end NEED for good. Follow Kayla, as she tries to find out who is behind NEED, and hopefully put a stop to them before more classmates meet their untimely deaths.
 

            I became obsessed with this book after the first chapter! This is why I rated the book a five out of five stars. This book will have you begging for more. I thoroughly enjoyed how each chapter was from a different point of view of each character. Just like every person has their own opinions and point of views, so do the characters. You really get to experience what goes on in every character's head through the progression of each chapter. The ending of this book will leave you breathless. It was also make you think that this story could possibly happen in real life today.



Dreamland~ Reviewed by Hailey Hinrichs

“All that we see or seem Is but a dream within a dream”

–Edgar Allan Poe

            Odea Donahue is not like most kids her age. Traveling from town to town with her mother her whole life and not knowing her father aren’t the only strange things about her.

            She has the ability to walk through people’s dreams.

            After being able to walk in people’s dreams since she was six years old, she knows that there are rules that she MUST follow. Never be seen, never interfere in the person’s dream, and never walk through someone’s dream more than once. Her mother was able to enforce these rules until she meets Conner, a new kid who has secrets of his own. Conner’s past makes her even more interested in him and she begins to break the rules in hopes that she’ll uncover the truth behind Conner’s past. But the rules were made so that the monsters would never find her. Once the rules were broken, they found her and took her mother hoping that it would lure her to their world. In her journey to find her mother, she uncovers more about Conner’s past, and her own.

            I really enjoyed this book so I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. I loved the whole plot of the book. I think the author did an amazing job creating a good view of the world she created in the book. The plot twists were ones I did not see coming at all. One thing that wasn’t so great about the book was that it took a little bit to really get into. Although I liked that some parts did leave you questioning something and made you what to read even more. Also, I liked the originality of the book. There aren’t any many books that I’ve seen about people dream-walking and other worlds being created from the monsters that are in nightmares. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys thrillers.

What We Saw--Reviewed by Sarah Roberts

 

               
              Have you ever been in a situation where something bad happens, and you are the only one that wants to speak out against it? Well that's exactly where Kate Weston finds herself. After a picture of Stacey Stallard passed out over Deacon Mill's shoulder appears on social media, Kate begins to question what really happened that night. Suddenly, controversy erupt in town after Stacey accuses four of Kate's classmates of rape. Kate begins to question What really happened at that party after she left? who was still there? and more importantly what did they see?
     I gave this book a five star rating. This book was absolutely amazing! The mystery and suspense had my heart pounding and my mind dying to find out more as each chapter passed. I enjoyed how there was some romance but also a scandal that I feel any teen could experience at any party. This book may have you believe you have it all figured out by reading one single page, but in reality nothing is as exactly as it appears. The closer you look, the more you see.

 



The Appearance of Annie van Sinderen-- Reviewed by Hailey Hinrichs

                19 year-old Wes Auckerman has just moved to New York City to attend a filmmaker summer program at NYU. While helping a friend film a séance in the Bowery, Wes and his friend, Tyler, see a beautiful girl with a satin bow in the way of the camera frame. As the night progresses, Wes can’t seem to find her again. Due to his curiosity to find out more about her and Tyler’s need to find this mysterious girl to sign a release paper, Wes goes to find her. Once he finds her and they start spending more time together, Wes tries to uncover parts of Annie’s past. Also, how is she connected to Maddie, the other mysterious girl Wes met at the séance? As Wes and Annie travel around NYC trying to find her missing ring, Wes learns more about her past and why she seems otherworldly.

                I really enjoyed this book so I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. I love Katherine Howe’s writing style and I thought this book was very good. I really liked the characters and how bizarre some of them were. I also liked the dual POV’s and that some parts were from Wes’ POV and other were from Annie’s. Sometimes it doesn’t work very well and it gets confusing when authors do that but I think it went along smoothly in this book. If you have ever read Katherine Howe’s other book Conversion I think you would like this book as well. It has that thriller/mystery twist to it that really keeps you wanting to read more. I really enjoyed this book all together.

The Dead House-- Reviewed by Hailey Hinrichs

“Either the Darkness alters- or something in the sight adjusts itself to Midnight- and Life steps almost straight.”

                It has been 20 years since a fire destroyed part of Elmridge High that killed 3 people. After the fire, Carly Johnson disappeared. The fire was believed to have been started by Kaitlyn Johnson after her diary was discovered years later, giving hints as to what really happened in the days leading up to the accident where she is caught in the middle of it. But the thing is Kaitlyn doesn’t technically exist because she is the alter ego of Carly. She gets the night while Carly gets the day. Many people believe that Kaitlyn appeared after her parents had died, but she had been around long before. Carly was always the good child while Kaitlyn was the reckless one. But one day Kaitlyn wakes up during the day and cannot feel Carly anymore and Kaitlyn, with the help of Carly’s best friend Naida, has to find a way to search through the Dead House if she ever wants to find Carly. But the Dead House holds the power to completely ruin the lives of anyone who dares to enter it.

                I absolutely loved this book so I gave it four and a half stars. I loved the plot to this book and I loved that it NEVER got boring. There was always something going on and things were never slow. I also loved the character developments throughout the book. I would definitely recommend this to all teens who enjoy more paranormal type books. Those kind of books usually aren’t what I read but this book was amazing and it makes me want to look into more books like this. This book was pretty good as a stand alone, although I wouldn’t mind finding out more about their childhood and their parents and when exactly Carly began having an alter ego. All in all, I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone.

Everything Everything--Reviewed by Sarah Roberts

                    Imagine being stuck in your house and not able to leave because if you do, you will literally explode. Well that's the life of "Madeline Whitter". You see, she has this disease that makes her allergic to absolutely everything. She lives in a quiet home with her mother and "Carla", her nurse. Life is always constant...that is until Olly moves to town. Nothing will ever be the same. Follow Madeline through the duration of her illness and later find that she may not be the sick one in her home.

               I gave this book four and a half out of five stars. It grabbed your attention and definitely made you want to read more. I haven't really read anything like this book before. Madeline seemed be pretty well developed and seem to have the desire for freedom of any normal teen. One thing I thought could use a little work would have been the plot line. It seemed to need a little more development, but otherwise it was well written. I would recommend this to my friends because it makes you feel what Madeline feels. It makes you want desperately the freedom that Madeline wants. So all in all this is a great book.

October Poll

Autumn is here and it’s back to the classroom!  Type your answer to the question in the comments.

What memorable YA protagonist would best describe your school personality?: 

• Charlie from THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER by Stephen Chbosky: You’re the quiet sort of intellectual that people don’t always notice, but that doesn’t faze you. When you finally come out of your shell, it’ll be worth it for an experience you’ll never forget. 

• Georgia Nicolson from ANGUS, THONGS AND FULL-FRONTAL SNOGGING by Louise Rennison: Everything about your high school experience screams awkward, but it’s okay --- your friends will have a million funny stories to laugh about later. 

• Andrew Wiggin from ENDER’S GAME by Orson Scott Card: You’re a tech whiz and proud of it, spending your afternoons playing video games and still somehow managing to do well in all your classes. 

• Felton Reinstein from STUPID FAST by Geoff Herbach: Your life revolves around sports --- living for the game keeps you sane. 

• Hermione Granger from HARRY POTTER: You are the smartest kid in school and you’re not afraid to show it. Getting great grades and eventually getting into a great college --- that’s what high school’s all about.

• Sam in BEFORE I FALL by Lauren Oliver: You are the popular queen bee at your school, but (at least after that dramatic accident) you’ve learned that bullying and cruelty are not the ways to use your power.

• OTHER -- please give character name, book title, and author as well as briefly describe that character's "school personality."