We All Looked Up ~ Reviewed by Elizabeth Barnes

           

"Those who have much to hope and nothing to lose will always be dangerous."

         Before the asteroid we let ourselves be defined by labels: The athlete, the outcast, the slacker, the overachiever. But then we all looked up and everything changed. They said it would be here in two months. That gave us two months to leave our labels behind. Two months to become something bigger than what we'd been, something that would last even after the end. Two months to really live.

                       We All Looked Up is a book about the world coming to terms with the world. 

I went into this book with high expectations. I've seen a lot of great reviews about how this book and how it breaks down barriers in high school. But, really I just thought it put some barriers up.

The book was pretty good I must say, with varied characters, well-fleshed-out issues, and an interesting setup. The ending didn't set properly with me I must say, but maybe it is just me. It definitely seems like a personal preference. Please don't take my rating to heart. 

The book introduces us to four high school students: Peter; the most popular guy in school who is an athlete and dating the most popular girl. Anita; the perfect A - grade student with strict parents who are forcing her into an Ivy League education. Eliza; the girl with a bad reputation. Andy; the slacker. Wallach does a great job of hopping from one POV to the next. It never feels stilted. It's also interesting how intertwined yet different all their lives are.

 As the book progresses we begin to see other sides of these characters and learn that their lives aren't so simple after all. They aren't high school cliches and actually have a lot more depth to them. Eliza is a talented photographer and has a bad reputation as a coping mechanism thanks to her mother abandoning her and her father on the brink of death. Anita is a talented singer who has been forbidden to sing by her parents and she is desperate to escape from their controlling clutches. Peter is bored with life and wants something more; something different. He is a Christian and loves to help out with charity. Andy is dealing with parents who aren't around much and a crappy best friend and is also a really talented musician/songwriter.

The best part of this book, by far, is the layers to these characters. I really connected with each and everyone of them. They aren't perfect, they all have flaws, but that only makes them more real and more relate able. 

The ending was too open for me, I did not like how it left the door open for you to continue thinking about what you would do in a similar situation. I wanted to experience a more of a closure feeling for the characters.

We All Looked Up, is extremely thought provoking that makes you really consider what is important and what matters. 

I give this book a rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars.  

  

Out of sight, out of time--reviewed by Nallely S.

by Ally Carter

reviewed by Nallely Saavedra

* * * *

For Cammie Morgan, knowing more than the average girl is well...normal. But then everything in her world has changed. One day Cammie finds herself in an alpine convent only to realize that months has passed. As she tries to recall her memories....she only realizes that there is a black hole where they should be. The only clues to help her are the ones she left behind....the scars on her body and the dirt under her nails.

The last thing Cammie remembers before she abandoned Gallagher Academy was that she had to protect her friends and family from the Circle of Cavan. As she returns to Gallagher Academy, together with her friends and Zach, she must undercover her secrets and the clues she left behind....before the Circle finds her. Because she knows something they would risk everything to make her forget.

Find out more in the 5th installment of the Gallagher Girls.

I rated Out of sight, out of time * * * * stars because, I personally didn't really feel myself get into this book at all. Maybe because I was short on time because of the musical...not the point! I still love Cammie and her personality. I admire her friendship with Bex, Liz, and Macey. Her mother still makes me wish I had a mother like that! Actually I just love the setting and plot of this series. It doesn't just focus on romance, it focuses on friendship and family, and working together to accomplish something bigger. You know? In this book, I felt those the most because they all had to work together and try even harder because of Cammie having lost, or having had her memory stolen. I am planning on re-reading this since I felt that I rushed it. Overall it was pretty good and moved fast. ^ ^

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!

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<

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.

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. 



Where the Heart Is-- A reviewby Sarah Gnefkow

Where the Heart Is

By Billie Letts

**** 1/2

Novalee Nation is a hardworking, yet unlucky, girl. She finds herself in a bind every time she is associated with the number seven. Ever since her seventh birthday, when her mom ran away, she knew that seven was her unlucky number. Novalee seventeen and seven months pregnant was traveling with her boyfriend to California when she needed to stop in a Wal-Mart. As she was leaving she went to the the cashregister and her change was $7.77, immediately she knew that meant something bad. As she ran outside she noticed her boyfriend had left her and she was stranded in a place where she knew no one. Novalee thinks that her life is over at this point and she has no idea what is going to happen with her or her baby. What she doesn't expect is that she will meet people who will care about her and love her to the greatest extent.

I loved this book so much. Just like the movie it was unforgettable and moving. I gave it four and a half stars because number one it was amazing but also it got slow at some parts. The thing I like about it is it keeps you on your toes for the most part. If you like stories with characters who seem to have a serious of unfortunate events, with happy endings, you will love this book! I recommend this to anyone who likes drama and a lot of stuff going on.

Perfect Chemistry- Review by Sarah Gnefkow

Perfect Chemistry

by Simone Elkeles

***** Stars

Brittany Ellis is the most popular girl in the school. But underneath her life isn't so great, she has to keep up the image that her school life, home life, and family life is all perfect. In chemistry class she is partnered with the schools bad boy, Alex Fuentes. He is in a gang and has the image of doing drugs, getting arrested, and selling but just like Brittany he really isn't what he seems. Alex decides to make a bet with his friends that he can get with Brittany, he does this with no hesitation. But what Alex didn't realize was that Brittany was much more than money and being perfect, he discovered that her life was anything but that. Soon the bet he had made with his friends has turned into much more than he'd expected. They will have to face the reality of getting past the stereotypes and judgments of their families and fellow peers to be together. But will love be enough?

I loved this book, and a lot of my other friends did too! I did not want to put this book down at all and when I wasn't reading it I was always wondering what was going to happen next with Brittany and Alex. The book was written with alternate speakers, it would switch paragraphs back and forth between Brittany and Alex's point of views. I never wanted this book to end. The only thing that I was disappointed with about this book was the way it ended because I wanted to know more about what happened with them! All in all I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes excitement and romance.

The Red Pyramid -- A review by Ian Zig.

The Red Pyramid

by Rick Riordan

****

The Red Pyramid is a fantastic story about two young siblings, Carter and Sadie, who are thrown into a world of Egyptian magic by a mistake of their father. Their mother died six years before in a horrible accident that was never fully explained or understood. But now their father has been drug down to the underworld in a sarcophagus by the evil demon Set, and they must save their father before Set destroys the world! Will they save their father in time? Will they survive the extremely dangerous task set before them? You'll have to read to find out!

I really enjoyed The Red Pyramid, it was definitely my type of book. I gave it four stars only because I wish that the main characters were a little older. Other than that it was a fantastic non-stop thrill ride! I couldn't put it down! I suggest this book to anyone who loves to read suspense and fantasy, the whole scheme did a terrific job at pulling me into the story!

Hatchet- Review by Cody Cooper

Hatchet

Written by Gary Paulsen

***** stars

The main character of the book is a 13 year old boy from New York named Brian. His mother and father had just recently gotten a divorce and it was taking a book toll on him. The book starts off with him getting on a plain to go stay with his day for the summer. His dad lives in Canada. On the way there the pilot suffers a heart attack which kills him. So Brian is left alone thousands of feet up in the air with a plain that he has no clue how to fly, a dead pilot, and flying above the Canadian wilderness.

I believe this was an awesome book. The book was full of adventure and keeps you wanting to read to the next page to find out what was going to happen next. I really don't like to read but I believe this book is my favorite. This book at the end also has a good meaning to life and really makes you think about how good your life is and also shows you that in life there is going to be hard times but to never give up. So now go to any library and pick up this book!!!!!