Wither (Chemical Garden) Book 1-- reviewed by Alexandra Lopez

                                     Wither (Chemical Garden) Book 1

Author: Lauren DeStefano

Reviewed: Alexandra Lopez

  The cure for cancer is discovered and is distributed to everyone, the world is cured, life is perfect. At least that's what they believed, until their children started to die young. Scientists discovered that the 'cure', it gave the children a genetic virus that causes men to live longer than women, however both shared the same fate of a short life span. 

  Even though scientists and  doctors work endlessly to find the cure to this virus, the people have turned to a different solution. Many believe there is no cure and in hopes to keep the human race alive, they try to have many children.  Many young girls are kidnapped and sold to wealthy men, who already own several wives. 

  The story begins with a young girl named Rhine who was kidnapped and was forced to marry a man named Linden who claims to love her. Rhine does not feel the same way and wants to escape her prison to find her twin brother. However she needs to gain the trust of Linden and her father in law to appear as good wife to gain certain freedoms. Then she can escape from their clutches and return home.

  I enjoyed reading Wither, it left me wanting more. The story was well paced except when Rhine kept telling herself she would escape. She has many chances to run but never does. If she was so dead set on trying to get home to her brother, who was her only family, why put it off?

  I believe she was suffering from Stockholm Syndrome at the time. She stayed with them long enough to understand their way of life and she started to grown to care for her sister wives Rhine didn't want to leave them behind. The ending was a bit of surprise to me, though. The book was great overall, except about Rhine not having the guts to escape, but I can't really blame her.

   If you too fall for this book it is located in the O'Hara Library. Check out the book in the library, read and enjoy.

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

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 Other Countess review by Kaitlin Kimbrell

The OTHER COUNTESS

by: Eve Edwards



Love is looked for and wanted by everyone. It can be splendid and wonderful. If everything is going wrong in your life feeling loved is the most amazing thing you can hope.

Lady Eleanor Rodriguez, Countess of San Jaime (Ellie) at age sixteen was not looking for love. It was quite possibly the last thing on her mind.  All  Ellie wanted was for her father, Sir Arthur Hutton, to stop with his quest to make gold out of lead and just live with her in a happy peaceful life, but she knew her father would never go for that and that is why Ellie was stuck in the house of Lord Mountjoy's  during the time of court.

William Lacey, Earl of Dorset (Will) at age eighteen was trying to help his family survive after the death of his father left them with little money and many problems. Will needed a wealthy lady that would marry him to save his land, his family from destitution, and him from being bitter at such a young age. Will went to court looking for a lady of wealth. He wanted this marriage to have love, but he could live without it if he could just save his family.

This two lives did not plan to meet again after the last time, when Will kick Ellie and her father off his land for the alchemy four years before, but when Will arrives at court she is the first lady he meets. Will not recognizing her, and knowing she was a maid with no money, was transfixed by her beauty and her intelligence. Ellie on the other hand was angry and scared that he was there because she knew that once he found out who she was he would not be so kind to her with his words. 

Soon they both realize that they have fallen for each other, but they did not believe anything could become of this infatuation. What will Will choose Lady Jane, a rich woman he also meets at court, who would solve all his money problems by their marriage? Or will Will choose love with Ellie and decide that is better than anything money can buy? Will Ellie even have him if he did want her after the way he treated her and her father just a few years ago? Will Lady Jane even want Will? Or would she rather James, one of the earl's brothers? Will love win out or the powers of money take over?

I truly enjoyed The Other Countess and I believe that anyone to read it after would like it, also. The different scandals that are going on will make you want to read the whole book in one night. Love is such a thing to look for that when it hits us in the face we can do nothing but try and hold onto it.

Timing is everything. 



High Heat--A review by Bryce Foster

High Heat

By: Carl Deuker

**** stars

This is a book about a teenage baseball player named Shane hunter. He is the protagonist in this story. He has a mom, dad, and sister. They live in a very big house in a rich neighborhood. The dad in this story has a car dealership and is convicted of the crime money laundering. This leads up to him being arrested while at his son's game. He disappears in the story and Shane and other family members have to move to a different school, a different house, and a different lifestyle. He also has to switch the school he throws for. This leads to depression. His mother even has to work at a diner to afford the apartment they had to move into. I will leave you with what happened to his father.. I will also leave you with not knowing whether or not he overcomes this curve ball thrown in his life.

Personally, I enjoyed reading this book. I felt that the author, Carl Deuker wrote this novel with a lot of feeling. It's not only just another book about a sport. It deals with someone your own age, going through something very difficult. I rated it at 4 stars because I thought it was written for more than just baseball fans. I believe this fiction novel could be read by male or female, young adult and either one would be interested in it. This is the second book I've read from this author. The first book was a basketball book. It was called, "On the Devil's Court." I think this author is well known for writing sports book because there are many of them involving different sports. If you love baseball, this is a book for you. If you've had to change your lifestyle, this is also for you. If you had to adapt to a different school with new people, a new neighborhood this is for you.