ROSE TINAJERO
Ollie and Moritz are best friends, but they can never meet. Ollie has a life-threatening allergy to electricity and Moritz's weak heart requires a pacemaker. If they ever did meet, they could both die. However, the boys develop a fierce bond through letters that they start sending one another to help each other get through dark times. For example, Ollie loses his only friend, Liz, to the normalcy of high school and Moritz deals with a bully set on destroying him. Nevertheless, when Moritz reveals the key to their shared, sinister past that began years ago in a mysterious German laboratory, their friendship faces a test neither one of them expected. I really liked this book, and I found it similar to Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon. The way the two boys connect and dig into their past makes the book interesting. This book is available in the High School Library. ROSE TINAJERO
Madeline Whittier has not left her house for nearly eighteen years. She has a rare disease called SCIDs, and it makes her immune system too weak for her to go outside. The only people she comes into contact with are her mom and her nurse. This was enough for Madeline until a boy named Olly moves next door. She is immediately attracted to Olly and knows that falling in love with him will be a disaster. Will Madeline continue living life in a bubble or will she risk everything for love? I read this book in two days, and I loved it. There were constant surprises keeping the reader on their toes. Also, the setup of the book is filled with Madeline’s thoughts that she writes down in her journal, so it makes the book unique. ROSE TINAJERO
New Beijing is the home to mostly humans and androids. There’s a deadly plague going around killing most of the population. Then from space, there are lunar people watching and waiting to make their move against Earth. The fate of the world lies on sixteen-year-old Cinder who is a cyborg and gifted mechanic. She has a mysterious past and lives with her stepmother who tries to make her life miserable. However, Cinder’s luck changes when she meets the handsome Prince Kai. She finds herself stuck at the center of an intergalactic struggle and a forbidden attraction. Her past holds secrets that she must uncover to protect the world’s future, but there is something about Cinder that others would kill for. I found this book to be very interesting and a good different version of the classic story, Cinderella. This book is available in the High School Library. ROSE TINAJERO
A hundred years into the future, New York has built a thousand floor tower and the higher floor you live in, the more wealthy you are. Avery Fuller lives on the thousandth floor and is genetically designed to be perfect, but is tormented by the one thing she can’t have. Leda Cole has a secret addiction to a drug and a boy she shouldn’t like. Eris Dodd-Radson is beautiful, but her life changes when a horrible betrayal surfaces and ruin her family. Rylin Meyers lives on the lower floor, but when she gets a job on the upper level and she finds a new romance that could change everything. Finally, Watt Bakradi is a tech genius who finds himself caught up in a web of lies when he is hired to spy on an upper-floor girl. All five of these teenagers are connected in some way, but they don’t know it yet. I am in love with this book. Katharine McGee has each chapter set in one of the five main character’s point of view making it a little confusing, but very interesting. This book is available in the High School Library. ROSE TINAJERO
Ryan Smithson joined the Army Reserve when he was seventeen. Two years later, he was deployed to Iraq as an Army engineer. Throughout the book, it tells the story of Smithson’s tour of duty to show you what it means to be an American. I thought this book was okay, but not the best. However, it does make you think about things differently. The danger Smithson went through makes you take into consideration how brave people are to fight for our country. This book is available in the High School Library. By: Rose Tinajero
Nora Grey was never interested in boys until her teacher rearranged the seating chart in Biology class and partnered her up with Patch. Patch seems, dark, dangerous, and secretive when he refuses to let Nora know things about him. However, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgement. Nora knows Patch has a big secret he’s holding back and Nora will do anything to find out what it is. I loved this book so much. It is one of the best series I’ve read in awhile. Becca Fitzpatrick took the good girl falls in love with a bad boy story line and made it even better. This book is available in the high school library. ROSE TINAJERO
During his third tour of duty in Iraq, U.S. Marine Logan Thibault finds and keeps a photograph of a young woman after no one claims it. Almost immediately afterward, Thibault experiences a streak of luck. His best friend has only one explanation which is that the photograph is his lucky charm. Once he is back home in Colorado, Thibault can’t get the woman out of his head. He believes that she is part of his destiny, so he sets out on a journey across the country to find her. This was one of my favorite Nicholas Sparks books. He wrote a beautiful love story and added lots of drama. This made me read the book very quickly. This book is available in the High School Library. ROSE TINAJERO
Wilson Lewis has been married to Jane Lewis, daughter of Allie and Noah Calhoun, for thirty years, but the romance has died out. This causes problems and Jane becomes very distant from her husband. Leaving Wilson fighting to try to make his wife fall in love with him all over again. Unfortunately, this is a difficult task for a guy as private as Wilson and with their daughter’s wedding coming up, it makes him question if Jane even loves him anymore. However, Wilson continues trying to win his wife back by using his in-law’s, Allie and Noah’s love affair as his guide. I enjoyed this book. The way Sparks incorporated Allie and Noah’s relationship from his previous novel, The Notebook, to aide in the relationship in this novel made it a good sequel. Also, there were some unexpected surprises that made the book more compelling to read. This book is available in the High School Library. ROSE TINAJERO
Clay Jensen goes to Cresmont High School where a girl named Hannah Baker recently committed suicide. Clay had a crush on Hannah and is devastated. Two weeks later, Clay finds a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside the box are cassette tapes that Hannah Baker recorded before her death. On each side of the tapes, Hannah explains each of the thirteen reasons why she decided to take her life. Unfortunately, Clay is one of the reasons and he has to listen to find out why he is on the list. I love this book. I couldn’t stop reading it, so I finished it very quickly. Jay Asher set the book up in the most interesting way by making each chapter a new reason why Hannah took her life. Also, he wrote a intriguing story while bringing up real world problems. This book is available in the high school library. ERIKA HERNANDEZ
Mr. Green wrote this book explaining the fictional love of Quentin Jacobsen and Margo Roth Spiegelman. After one night of hanging out and seeking revenge for her ex-boyfriend, Margo disappears out of nowhere leaving Quentin with clues. Quentin along with some of his high school friends try to solve Margo’s difficult and reflective clues which seem to take them nowhere. Quentin slowly wants to give up and just believes Margo is a “paper girl” who was part of a magical love. When all the clues start coming up, will Quentin miss graduation to get Margo? Or will he leave the clues and move on? A few of my classmates and I have read this book. We enjoyed this book, and if you like reading mysterious, romantic books, this is your book. The author put so many clues out for the characters that make you just want to finish the book and find out what happens to the characters. The book isn’t just mysterious, but you’d be surprised on the different outcomes. KATELYN PATTERSON
Legend by Marie Lu is a dystopian novel. Set in a war-divided country, this story tells about June, a young prodigy who is destined to help the Republic win the war, and Day, a criminal who despises the Republic and what it has done to his family. The two have no reason to cross paths until June's brother is murdered, and Day is the prime suspect. June and Day continue to play a game of cat-and-mouse, June trying to avenge her brother, and Day trying to protect his family. In a turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together. I adored this book. I read it very quickly, and I have re-read it multiple times. Marie Lu created the characters with an endgame in mind, and I enjoyed reading about the characters and their progressions. The setting is set up beautifully, and the entire story is written, so it is easy to read and believe. Legend is the first book in the series. Prodigy follows as a sequel, and Champion ends the trilogy. This series is available in the high school library. ERIKA HERNANDEZ
Mr. Sharenow wrote this book explaining the five-year life of Karl Stern, the main character of the book. Karl is a teen who is training under a real life German world champion because it is what he enjoys doing. During this time period, Hitler is attacking all Jews, and although Karl’s family isn’t practicing the Jewish ways, he does have Jewish ancestors. Nobody knows Karl and his family are Jews, but what will happen when they find out? Will there be an end to all of his dreams? I, along with many other classmates, have enjoyed this book. The author put a lot of thoughts and feelings into the book. This book describes past events in history, such as discrimination. Between every chapter, you figure something new out, which makes you want to read more and more. This book is available in the High School Library. KATELYN PATTERSON
This book is narrated by 57 year old Landon Carter, who is reflecting on events from 40 years ago. During these events, Landon is a senior in high school with no plans for the future. He has no idea who he is or who he wants to be. When Landon meets Jamie Sullivan and is forced into doing the town play with her, he soon falls in love. Jamie teaches Landon about pain and suffering, and she shows him how to see the beauty and love in the middle of it all. * * * I loved this book from page 1. The simpleness of Landon´s hometown compared to the complexity of the message that Jamie is trying to show Landon draws in the reader and makes them want to read more. After rereading the book, the reader notices subtle hints towards a plot twist that shocks them at first. I enjoyed reading in Sparks´ style of writing. This book is available in the high school library. KATELYN PATTERSON
Because You’ll Never Meet Me by Leah Thomas Meet Oliver, or Ollie for short. Ollie was born with epilepsy, and the seizures that he has are brought on by electricity. Meet Moritz. Moritz was born with cardiomyopathy, and the only way to keep his heart beating is with an electric pacemaker. The two boys write letters to each other in an effort to try and work through problems that they both have. Even though they can never meet each other, the boys will develop a friendship that will outlast both of them. * * * I loved this book. The way that the author becomes a different voice for both of the boys is captivating. The information and facts on both illnesses are up-to-date, and the emotions felt by both main characters feel real to the reader. There were many emotions felt throughout the book. I felt sad, I felt happy, I felt humored, I felt enraged, and I felt pity. I enjoyed this book so much that I checked it out 2nd hour, and I finished it by 8:00 that night. I would recommend this book to anyone. If you like romance, medical mysteries, sad stories, happy stories, or realistic fiction, then this is the book for you. This book is available in the high school library. KATELYN PATTERSON
Red Queen, by Victoria Aveyard, is a dystopian novel. The book takes place in a country divided by Reds and Silvers. The Reds bleed red, and they are the peasants and low-income families. The Silvers bleed silver, and they are the royal nobilities that run the country of Norta. Silvers are also born with abilities that make them seem almost invulnerable to Reds. Mare Barrow is Red. She lives with her mother, crippled father, and talented sister. She has no job, and she steals in order to keep her family from starving to death. When Mare is given the opportunity to work in the Silver´s palace, she takes it immediately. During a special Silver celebration, Mare discovers that she has an ability that Silvers are born with, but she bleeds red. The king and queen try to cover up Mare´s powers from the people of Norta. Mare and Prince Maven join the Red rebellion group, The Red Dawn. Mare struggles to adjust to Silver lifestyle, and she earns friendships and enemies along the way. But she has to remember: Anyone can betray anyone. * * * I really enjoyed this book. The premise was interesting to read about and watch as the author developed it into something more. Aveyard uses character development that is sensational. It was enlightening to read about how Mare started out as a lowly thief to provide for her family, but she then develops into a strong woman who fights for what she believes in. This book made me happy, sad, shocked, angry, and confused throughout the course of my reading of it. The plot twist towards the end shocked me, because I had no idea that it was coming. I would recommend this book/series to anyone who likes to be surprised. I would also recommend this book to people that like to read about rebellions, betrayals, romance, and dystopian novels. Victoria Aveyard has continued this series with two other books, Glass Sword and King´s Cage. The first two books, Red Queen and Glass Sword, are available in the high school library. King’s Cage will be available for purchase on February 7, 2017. |
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