First Shot -- a review by Ian Ziglinski

First Shot
by
Walter Sorrells

**** stars

Its Senior year for David Crandall at the Arsenal Academy, and what better plan is there than to investigate his own mother's murder! David isn't anything special; he's a below average student, he isn't very popular, in fact he's a rather blend into the background kind of guy, the only thing that David has going for him is the fact that he's a crack shot. The biggest dilemma facing David, is his suspicion that his own father murdered his mother! Other than that, all he has to worry about is getting to do the first shot, a ceremonial tradition that happens every graduation. But will his dire wish to get first shot be foiled by a new rather attractive student named Misty? Did his dad really shoot his mother straight through the heart? You'll have to read it to find out!

First Shot by Walter Sorrells was a great read with a mystery that keeps you reading! I thought it was a pretty quick read when I really sat down and started in on it. I gave it four stars because I personally don't like mysteries too much, but I still found it quite a compelling read. The entire plot was interesting, I can't say it really pulls you into it, but it feels like it could almost be a reality. I recommend this book to anyone who likes mystery mixed with a little action and adventure.

Ian Zig.

Very LeFreak -- a review by Hope Austin

Very Lefreak

by Rachel Cohn

****

Meet Very Lefreak (real name Veronica). She's Columbia University's premier party girl and shows no signs of slowing down. She's young, beautiful, and could probably have any guy she wants. Who wouldn't want to be her? Of course, she's also failing all of her classes, just got fired from her job, facing academic probation, and is dealing with the fallout of a one night stand gone wrong. Very's straight-laced friend Lavinia (real name Jennifer) is fed up with her shenanigans and wishes Very would get her act together (Very wants this too, but isn't sure of how to go about it). But Lavinia has an answer: rehab. Very scoffs at the very idea of rehab. What could she possibly be addicted to? Her laptop, on which she makes playlist upon playlist while simultaneously maxing out her credit card with all of her online purchases? As if. What about her iPhone, from which she'll text anyone about anything just because? Yeah right. And don't even talk about her sound system. Very needs music to live. But to appease her friend, she goes to ESCAPE, a rehab center for people who are addicted to electronics.

There, she lives pretty much like an Amish person, working from sun-up to sundown on various tasks without the help of an electronic device. Very contemplates her life, and starts to come to the conclusion that maybe, just maybe, she needs to shape up.

Although the book does deal some serious topics (addiction, for one) it manages to keep a humorous tone throughout the novel. There’s romance in it, but it manages be un-cliché in a very surprising way. What I liked best about this novel was that it didn’t focus on any one part of Very’s life. The reader gets to witness Very go through some amazing character development, and that’s always a treat.

The Clockwork Angel -- a review by Amy Lyon

The Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1)

By Cassandra Clare

****stars

For those of you that know the Mortal Instruments series, this is the beginning of the prologue series about Jace's ancestors. Clockwork Angel tells the compelling story of Tessa Gray, from her kidnapping in England to her true identity being revealed….sort of. Tessa is kidnapped by the Dark Sisters as a gift for the Magister. Luckily for Tessa, the Shadowhunters save her from the torture of the change. For you see, Tessa is a very unique Downworlder, the likes of which have rarely been seen. Tessa is a shape-changer with the ability to get into the mind of the person she is mimicking. Tessa is offered sanctuary, and help finding the brother she traveled so far to find, by the Conclave in London. As she adjusts to her new lifestyle, Tessa can't help but wonder if the brother who traveled to England to find work will be the man she meets. Soon Tessa will have to decide between the brother she thought she knew and her new friends at the Conclave….

As usual, Clare has portrayed her fantastical world with thrilling twists and amazing characters. This book constantly guessing what would happen next and the unexpected cliffhanger ending had me almost salivating for more. I cannot wait for the next in this series. For anyone who has read the Mortal Instruments series, this is a must read.

PS: There are 3 more books in the Mortal Instruments series coming soon. For sneak peeks, check out Clare's website.

PPS: If the name isn't a giveaway, the attitude will tell you exactly who is Jace's ancestor.

The Hourglass Door -- a review by Amy Lyon

The Hourglass Door

by Lisa Mangum

****stars

With her birthday just around the corner, Abby is beginning to realize that her life isn’t as perfect as she thought. Life has become dull and predictable, leaving Abby and her friends to wonder what happened to her old, adventurous self and, more importantly, will she ever be that girl again?

Weeks before the school play performance, an exchange student from Italy joins the crew. Abby can’t stop thinking about him, and he seems to return her feelings. But there is more to Dante than meets the eye. He seems so secretive and appears dangerous, but Abby believes he might have been sent for her to rediscover herself. The more time Abby and Dante spend together, the more chaotic life gets. Valentine’s Day turns into a night of break ups, Abby’s best friend ditches her for a drummer, and Abby is having major headaches. But when Abby learns to the truth, will she have the faith to trust Dante with her future and past?

The Hourglass Door was a really good book with so many twists and turns, I was on the edge of my seat until the last page. This book is categorized as fantasy, but it has elements of history. It’s a bit like The Da Vince Code, in its takes on iconic figures and historical events. For fans of the Mortal Instruments series and the Artemis Fowl series, I’m sure you would enjoy this book.

PS: The second in the series, The Golden Spiral, is available at Mid-Continent….

Good Enough -- a review by George Morejon

Good Enough

by Paula Yoo

**** stars

Good Enough is a book that tells the story of a first generation Korean girl and her last year of high school as she struggles to choose between following the path of school and life her parents want for her or choosing to do what she wants. To work hard and get accepted into all the Ivy League collages (Harvardyaleprinceton) or to follow her love for music and go to Juillard, the best music school in America.

Good Enough starts off with Patti Yoon's audition for the all-state high school orchestra. When she's suppose to be warming up, she sees someone she's never met but thinks is cute, who she calls Cute Trumpet Guy. She screws up playing in front of the judges, and only gets second chair, a major embarrassment for the 3 year first chair holder. Needless to say, her parents were disappointed greatly in her.

When she starts school, she sits behind the new transfer student from Michigan, who happens to be Cute Trumpet Guy. He introduces himself as Ben Wheeler, and they become great friends fast. Patti's surprised by this, because Ben's a popular jock who was captain of his track team, while she's just a nerdy girl who studies for all her AP classes and takes practice SATs all the time.

Ben teaches Patti over the course their school year to be more outgoing though, encouraging her to listen to rock music artists she's never heard of instead of only classical music, and going to his house to play music with him and jam instead of staying home and studying.

She eventually tells her youth group, who are all competitive Korean students around her age. Amazingly, they help her do the craziest thing yet: escaping from the youth group's lock-in event (all the students each bring a friend and are put in a rec room together, to show everyone that church is cool!) to go out and see a rock concert with Ben, where she tells him how she really feels about him.

And while struggling with these problems, she's trying to think about what to do about playing the violin too! Her parents first had her play it to stand out from other students when applying to Harvardyaleprinceton, but she realises she really likes it and doesn't want to give it up once she goes to collage. Her violin instructor and Ben both see this, and they encourage her to apply to the Juillard music school. But she's worried about what her parents will do if they find her applying to a place not Havardyaleprinceton...