Use the format below to review the summer reading book you most enjoyed.
Title:
Author:
Best Line: (This could be a sentence or a passage.)
Summary: (This should intrigue the reader of the review and be no more than 5 sentences)
Most interesting or thought-provoking aspect of the book: (this could be a question the book makes you think about, a character you respond to strongly, a scene that made you laugh...)
Rating & opinion: (Give this 1-5 stars where 5= must read, 4= good, 3= worth the time 2= not so great, but someone might like it 1= don't bother. Then give a sentence or two expalining your rating. What makes the book a success or failure?)
Reviewer and favorites: (your name, and two other books you like)
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35 comments:
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows
J.K Rowling
All was well.
Harry Potter and his friends have to destroy the rest of Lord Voldemorts Horcruxes. They just recently decided that they no longer are going to attend Hogwarts. In the end a battle of Hogwarts emerges and Harry dies, then comes back to life and kills Voldemort.
Did Mad Eye Moody die?
***** The final book in the series was filled with action and drama. It could not have been better then it is.
Sam Caggiano, Harry Potter 3, and Harry Potter 5
Life of Pi
Yann Martel
"But God's hat was always unravelling. God's pants were falling apart. God's cat was a constant danger. God's ark was a jail. God's wide acres were slowly killing me. God's ear didn't seem to be listening." pg. 209
Life of Pi was the telling of Piscine's eventful journey to Canada. Throughout the book, we flashed forward to Pi's current life through a reporters eyes, and then back to Pi's story. Pi set off on a cargo ship from India, a shipment of zoo animals in tow, however before reaching Canada the boat sank. Pi finds himself stranded on a lifeboat accompanied by a bengal tiger and a handful of other wild, and dangerous zoo animals. Pi and the Bengal tiger find a way to live in harmony until landing in Mexico weeks later.
The ending of the book is one of the better I've read. After telling two Japanese reporters story of living with the zoo animals on the lifeboat, Pi is told that this story is unrealistic. As a result Pi tells a new story, this time with humans taking the place of the various animals. The question Pi leaves us with, is which story is the real one? the miraculous story of the Zoo animals in the lifeboat? or the story replaced by humans given to the reporters?
Simone Chad-Friedman The Color of Water, Stones from the River
Angry Black White Boy
Adam Mansbach
"I'm shocked everyday of my life, and I want everybody else to be as well. I want to whip people up into a frenzy, until there's nowhere for them to run an they have to confront themselves." page 191
Angry Black White Boy is a story about how a white man, Macon, tries to prove to the country how little respect black people get. In an attempt to prove to white people about his views, he robs white people in his taxi cab but makes sure that no one sees his skin color. People were then reporting to the police that they have just been robbed by a black man. All Macon wanted to do is show everybody the racial barrier.
This book is one of my favorites because it really opens up a new perspective of the world that you've never really thought of before. And the facts are extremely shocking because of how true they are. This book is also appealing because the main character grew up in Newton and went to Newton South.
Isaac Rogers. The Blind Side, Crime and Punishment
Caught Between the Pages
Marlene Carvell
News travels fast.
PJ Barnes, a softmore in high school, has a life not many others would want. Although homework is a breeze for him because he doesn't ever do it, soccer practice is something he can not skip but wants to quit. A jerk of a captain and a shouting coach only makes the situation much worse. On top of that, his mom is involved in a mysterious car crash and PJ himself is being used by drug dealers to claim some owed money. However, PJ finds his English teacher's journal one day and uses it to help him through all these situations. In the end, the drug dealers are caught stealing by the police, the captain of the soccer team is proven to use steroids, and his mother turns out alright.
What else does PJ learn from the journal.
***** This book is a must read because I think a lot of high schoolers can relate to what happens to PJ in the book. What makes the book a success is that although it is a fiction book, it is based on real life.
Phil, The Da Vinci Code, Pop Goes the Weasel
Life of Pie
Yann Martel
So tell me, since it makes no factual difference to you and you can't prove the question either way, which story do you prefer? Which is the better story, the story with the animals or the story without the animals?
Life of Pie is a story about Piscine and his tragic trip from India to Canada. He is stranded on a ship with many animals, soon to be narrowed to a Bengal tiger. The story is both suspenseful and spiritual. It is not until the very end that the reader is made to question the factuality of the story.
At the end when Pie tells the animal and human stories the tiger is only in one. This makes me wonder if the tiger is meant to represent god never leaving him.
4 stars- It is very well written and is compelling as well.
Avi Chad-Friedman Digital Fortress, In Cold Blood
Wuthering Heights
Emily Brontë
“I lingered round them, under that benign sky; watched the moths flutter among the heath and hare-bells; listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass; and wonder how anyone could ever imagine unquiet slumbers for the sleepers in that quiet earth.”
This book tells the story of two people, Heathcliff and Catherine. Heathcliff falls in love with Catherine and the book chronicles what happens from childhood to death and after. The story takes place after everything has happened and is being told to a guest from the point of view of the housekeeper, Ellen Dean. Wuthering Heights is a love story with the themes of romance, loss and torment. There is an alcoholic brother, illiterate cousin, a caring and lively house keeper and most of all the Earnshaw and Linton families.
For me, the most interesting and thought provoking part of the book was, how the love Heathcliff and Edgar had for Catherine and the love she had for them both could end up with them all miserable and later on dead. How can the love for someone bring about violence and misery? Can a resolution occur even in death?
I would rate this book a 5. The plot is engrossing at first and it kept my attention. The writing is beautifully descriptive and poetic but also telling a clear story. As well as this book makes you think about life.
Maya Paris-Saper, How to race in the rain, The bell Jar
Title: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Author: Douglas Adams
Best Line: "The Answer to the ultimate question of life, the Universe, and everything is 42."
Summary: When Arthur Dent, a normal Earthling teams up with Ford prefect, an alien who stayed on our planet for his research, they find out the world is going to be destroyed. Finding a way off the planet and onto the spaceship of Zaphod Beeblebrox, the former Galactic President. After meeting up with the only survivor of Earth besides Arthur, they set out on a quest to find the answer to the Ultimate Question.
Most interesting or thought-provoking aspect of the book: What IS the Ultimate Question to the Ultimate Answer of life, the Universe, and everything?
Rating & opinion: 5 Stars. It is a very humorous book, and looks at huge questions with a light attitude. It is a great story with 5 parts, and the characters keep you interested. Especially Marvin, the suicidal robot, who can't kill himself.
Reviewer and favorites: Jonah Ryan-Davis, Stotan!, and Rumo.
Life of Pi
Yann Martel
"The camel at the zoo was unfazed, but that straw broke Father's back" (99).
An Indian boy fascinated by religion, Piscine "Pi" Molitor Patel takes on Christianity and Islam in addition to his Hindu heritage. He later holds onto his unique ideas of God when he is forced to survive in unlikely conditions: an eight by twenty-four foot lifeboat with a 450-pound Bengal tiger.Faith, perseverance and both mental and physical strength keep Pi alive throughout his intriguing journey. He winds up months later in Mexico, where investigators question him to find out what may have caused the "Tsimtsum" may have sunk, but end up asking more about his survival story.
The most thought-provoking aspect of the book is definitely the ending, where the debate arises over which of Pi's two stories actually happened. When he is told by the investigators that his animal-filled story is unrealistic, Pi asks if they'd prefer a story without animals, then pauses to create one. He then agrees to tell a more harsh, cannibalistic tale without animals. His hesitation leads us to believe that the first story was true, but with the second seeming so much more likely, readers find themselves questioning whether or not the first was a metaphor.
While I could appreciate the creativity of the book, it wasn't one of my favorites. I tend to like books that are slightly more fast-paced, which is why I would only rate the book a 2.5. The ending was definitely interesting, but in my opinion there are only so many pages about a boy at sea where I can pay full attention.
Jackie Lebovits, House of the Scorpion, And Then There Were None
Life of Pi
Yann Martel
“So tell me since it makes no factual difference to you and you can’t prove the question either way, which story do you prefer? Which is the better story, the story with animals or the story without animals?” pg. 398
Piscene Patel is uprooted from his home when his family decides to move from India to Canada. When the ship sinks without a trace he finds himself stranded on a boat with a Bengal tiger. He was without civilization for over 200 days. Over the course of those many days he and the tiger go on a compelling journey through the Pacific.
When two reports come to interview Piscene they find his story to be unbelievable so he tells them one with people instead. Which story is true?
4 stars: The book is very interesting and exciting.
Taylor Ollivierre, The Memory Keepers Daughter and Kite Runner
IT
Stephen King
"Do they float?"
"We all float down here, and you will too"
In Maine, the small town of Derry is being terrorized by a supernatural creature, one who can shift his shape into the most unimaginable horrors. 7 children, losers in the eyes of their peers, find and kill the horrible creature, and vow to never allow this to happen. IT left their minds for 27 years, but now IT has come back, and IT is up to his old tricks. The kids return to their town, their memories clouded, not remembering what had happened all those years ago. Soon they find out that IT is bigger than them.
IT says that IT created the town as a farm for when IT needed to feed. So it makes me think, Is there any true free will?
Gil Avramovich ( Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Animal Farm )
Enduring Love
Ian McEwan
" Why do you keep pretending that you don't know what I'm talking about? And then the signals, Joe. Why'd you keep on?" pg. 97
Joe Rose, a writer, is out on a picnic with his wife Clarissa, who just returned from a sabbatical, and they witness an awful accident where a man dies. There, Joe meets Jed Parry, and Jed becomes obsessed with him. Jed calls him everyday and writes him long letters about how much he loves him. Because Jed doesn't threaten him, the police won't help him, and Joe feels alone. Jed hurts Joe and Clarissa's relationship, and does anything he has to to get Joe to realize they are in love.
The most interesting part of this book was how Joe's wife Clarissa believed that Joe was making the whole thing up and it almost ruined their relationship. This made me think about how sometimes even the people who trust and love you the most wont believe you, and sometimes you need to learn to do things on your own.
I would give this book five stars because the plot was different from any other book I have read, and there were many obvious endings that the author could have chosen, but instead he chose an ending that was unexpected, and made the whole book even better.
Livia Graf, World Without End, Pop Goes the Weasel
Breaking Dawn
Stephenie Meyer
"Forever and forever and forever"
This is the fourth and last book of the Twilight series, Bella and Edward have just gotten married and are on their honeymoon. when they arrive back there are many problems to be dealt with and end up in a life or death situation with the most powerful vampires. This book has the most action out of the other books.
Breaking Dawn gets 5 stars. From the first page you are drawn in and after three other books you want everything to work out for Bella.
Janelle Tartaro, The Twilight series.
Wicked
Sara Shepard
"Go now. Alone. Or I make good on my promise." (301).
This book, Wicked, is part of a series that is very entertaining and mysterious. It's about four friends that try to solve the mystery of their friends death. Along the way of solving how their friend died, the four girls would receive threats that were used to blackmail any clue they figured out. Someone who signed their name A told them that if they revealed information they figured out, they would be the next ones dead. Throughout this book, the events that occur result in positive and negative effects, because when they found a clue their lives became endangered.
Most interesting or thought-provoking aspect of the book: Why is this person who goes by A hurting these four girls. Even though they have made some mistakes, it isn't right to punish them for wanting to figure out what happened to their friend.
3 stars because this book was worth reading, but it may not interest everyone who picks it up and decides to read it. Personally, I liked this book because it leaves the reader with suspense and makes you want to read another book in this series.
Ashley Bovarnick. My Sister's Keeper, Speak
Girl, 15, Charming but Insane
Sue Limb
“Flora finished off her sentence with a flourish, tossed back her hair with a great flash of supernatural light, turned to Jess, and grinned. It’s a good job the beautiful, overachieving bitch is my best friend, thought Jess, or I might just have to kill her.” Pg. 5
A picture perfect view of teen angst is captured in Sue Limb’s, Girl, 15, Charming but Insane. Jess Jordan lives her life like many other girls her age, studying, partying and hanging with friends. She wants to be gorgeous and popular; ironically she wants to be her best friend Flora, a striking blonde with brains and seems perfect in all ways. As Jess and Flora venture through their school year they run into many teen life crises, such as dating. Jess is crushing on the obvious “hot guy” in school, Ben Jones, however emotions conflict when she sees a different side of her best guy friend, Fred.
Jess and Flora’s friendship is a very interesting aspect of the book. Jess is jealous of Flora and sometimes resents having her as a friend, however at the same time Jess couldn’t live without her, sharing all her secrets and helping Flora out whenever it is needed. The on and off relationship they share is funny and very realistic in a teen life, making it very fascinating.
I would give the book a 4. Depending on if you like the realistic fiction of teenage life or not, it is great. It is a comedic and suspenseful book. Personally I love being able to relate to the characters in the books I read and this was great for that; however I wouldn’t give it a 5 because there were a few dull moments.
Jackie Poster. Upstream by Melissa Lion, and Queen of Babble: In the Big City by Meg Cabot
Best Friends Forever
Jennifer Weiner
"There was something dark staining the sleeve of her belted trench coat...My friend, I thought as I looked at Val. My friend has come back to me (p6)."
Best Friends Forever, is a novel focusing on the bond between two young girls, both girls having in common, no best friend. Through out the novel the readers hear about the ups and the downs these two girls go through also showing how their friendship is unbreakable. During their high school years they drift apart and don't speak to each other for years after. When Val is in desperate need of help, her old best friend, Addie is the only one she can turn to. Towards the end of the novel Addie and Val regain their friendship, knowing nothing can come between them again.
The ending of the book, has more of a twist to it then most readers who have guessed. Each major character changed for the better because of this one situation. Which makes me wonder, if one life changing situation can really change someone permanatly for the better? Or is it just in the spur of the moment and eventually wears off?
This novel is a good novel, I think that more action and drama could have come out of it, but overall it was a good read.
Mikayla Bogart, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, Killer by Sarah Shepard
The Dangerous Days of Daniel X
James Patterson
"Without your friends, well, what are you?" page 73
Daniel X's parents were killed when he was just a young boy, yet somehow he managed to evade their killer and escape with his life. The only thing his parents left him was a list. Now in his teens Daniel has been slowly working his way down the list, hunting down the most dangerous aliens. When Daniel reaches alien number seven he is outsmarted and brought to his home planet. On his home planet, Daniel must fight the toughest battle of his life and save his home from destruction.
It was strange how even as a three year old Daniel managed to escape the most dangerous alien even though his parents weren't able to.
** This book was very dull in the beginning and took a while to get interesting, making it difficult to continue reading. The end was exciting though.
Gabriel Leiter, Divine Madness and Watchtower.
Sag Harbor
Colson Whitehead
" We called him NP, for N_____ Please, because no matter what came out of his mouth, that was usually the most appropriate response. He was out best liar, a raconteur of baroque teenage shenanigans." p. 30
Sag harbor is about the experiences of a black boy from NYC in Sag harbor, Long Island. By telling the present and humerous digressions the story is slowly told.
Nothing happens. There is very little story but it is interesting due to the irreverent writing style.
5, Good writing makes me like this book despite the lackluster story.
Cary Potochnik, Harry Potter last, Rule of the Bone
Life of Pi
Yann Martel
“Just beyond the ticket booth Father had had painted on a wall in bright red letters the question: DO YOU KNOW WHICH IS THE MOST DANGEROUS ANIMAL IN THE ZOO? An arrow pointed to a small curtain. There were so many eager, curious hands that pulled at the curtain that we had to replace it regularly. Behind it was a mirror” (31).
This is the story of Pi Patel whose family owns a zoo in India. They move to North America but, on the way, the boat sinks. Pi gets onto a lifeboat with a hyena, zebra, and orangutan. He floats off and soon realizes he has a huge Bengal tiger on the boat with him. He now has to survive on a boat in the middle of the ocean with a tiger to keep him company.
One of the most interesting things is that Pi had to do anything to survive. He even drank blood and ate Richard Parker’s (the tiger) feces.
The main part of book doesn’t start until you are almost 100 pages. This is why I would give the book, Life of Pi, 3 stars. It starts out slow and uneventful but once into the journey, it becomes very intriguing.
Lily Maltz
The Secret Life of Bees, A Child Called “It.”
THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS
Arundhati Roy
"Only that once again they broke the Love Laws. That lay down who should be loved. And how. And how much" (pg.311).
THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS is about a set of twins who are more in tune with one another than anyone else ever. When their cousin, Sophie Mol, comes to visit their entire world is shattered. Within this story one reads of those who love the wrong way, the right way, and those who don't love at all.
A character in this story that provoked me was Ammu, the mother. In the beginning the reader sees Ammu as a little bit neurotic but also as a fair and loving mother. At the end of the book Ammu has a melt down and tells the twins that she hated them and wished that she had just dumped them in an orphanage. Although that was a crude statement one assumes that Ammu will reset her relationship with her children and everything will be fine. The end of Ammu's life shows that never happened and that she died unhappy, unstable, and alone.
I didn't care too much for this book. I give this a 2.6. Although it has an interesting concept I don't think it was executed properly. The constant flashbacks and flash-fowards were messy and distracting. Also one could argue that this book was about nothing in particular.
Hannah Leikin, NOTES FROM THE MIDNIGHT DRIVER, and HARRY POTTER 3.
also: Life of Pi and The God of All Small Things
Life of Pi
Yann Martel
"Jesus, Mary, Muhammad and Vishnu, how good to see you Richard Parker!”
This book is about a boy named Piscine and his journey after a ship he was on sank. He was a boy very much fascinated with religions and followed four. When his father sold many of the animals in his zoo in order to close it down and move, they had to sail to America to deliver them. While they were sailing there, the ship sank and killed most of what was on it. The rest of the book takes you through his journey on his own in the sea.
I loved the fact that it always has you questioning what will happen to Piscine on the boat and your prediction changes every page you read.
3 because it takes a little while to get into but after you do, you cant put it down.
Emma Knudsen, Tuesdays With Morrie, My Sister's Keeper
The Kite Runner
Khaled Hosseini
"I ran. A grown man running with a swarm of children. But I didn't care. I ran with the wind blowing in my face, and a smile as wide as the valley of Panjsher on my lips. I ran." page 371
The Kite Runner is a compelling story of a boy’s life growing up in the harsh realities of Afghanistan. The boy, Amir suffers through many disturbing events as he grows up into a man. His best childhood friend and servant, Hassan is another key character in the book, who helps Amir when he's in any sort of trouble, the only problem is as they were growing up Amir never did the same for Hassan. Amir then escapes to America for a better life with his father where He meets a girl, gets married, which is an upside to his life, but then tragic news comes again, when Amir's father, and his long lost friend, Hassan, die. Amir is left with one request, to go rescue Hassan's son from Afghanistan.
Most interesting or thought-provoking aspect of the book: Why does Hassan stick with helping Amir, when Amir never even returns the favor until after Hassan’s dead?
In my opinion the book should be rated five out of five stars. It is a page turning story which gives off a powerful vibe. The book makes you think of what is happening outside the life your living and really realize how grim life can get.
Dan Fitzpatrick, All Souls, The Da Vinci Code
My Sister’s Keeper
Jodi Picoult
“It made me wonder, though, what would have happened if Kate had been healthy. Chances are, I’d still be floating up in Heaven or wherever, waiting to be attached to a body to spend some time on earth. Certainly I would not be part of this family. See, unlike the rest of the free world, I didn’t get here by accident”(p.8).
My Sister’s Keeper is the story of a thirteen-year-old girl named Anna who is definitely not like a normal teenager. In order to help save her older sibling, Kate, from acute promyelocytic leukemia, Anna was a genetically designed child that scientists made to be a perfect sibling match for her sister. Whenever Kate goes into the hospital, Anna is always there too, giving stem cells or bone marrow to help fight the rare cancer that is in Kate’s blood. Anna makes a shocking decision that could risk Kate’s life: suing her parents in order to have rights to her own body.
The situation Anna faces makes me wonder if she really should be helping Kate. The serious operations Anna undergoes are dangerous, so is it right for Anna to help her sister if it puts herself at risk? Even though Anna was made to help Kate, she is still a human being and should not put herself at danger. I do believe that people should help one another, but only if it does not put them in danger.
I would give My Sister’s Keeper 4.5 stars. Although the book is about a very serious topic, I can still relate to the dilemma Anna is in. Each chapter is narrated by a different character, giving the reader different perspectives. Depending on the genre one prefers, this book may not be suitable for everyone, but I definitely think it is a must read.
Emily Hollender, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, Nickle and Dimed
North of Beautiful
Justina Chen Headley
"She blinked. I wasn't sure if she understood. Or if she believed that she was beautiful. So I pointed to her and then to me. And I repeated with utter conviction,
'Hao Kan'"
Terra believes that her life is like the port wine stain on her face, flawed. A dysfunctional family and unhappy life lead her to do anything to control anything she can. But when she meets Jacob her world is turned upside down. Can Terra learn to let go? Or will she never find a place where she can feel beautiful.
**** This book is an easy read and somewhat predictable, but it has lovable characters and the story is a mixture of both fun and seriousness.
Michaela O'Flaherty The Host, The Outside World
Life of Pi
Yann Martel
We named him Richard Parker.
Piscine Molitor Patel was an average Indian boy with a zoo in his backyard, but then his life would never be the same again. His family came to the consensus to embark on a life-changing journey, moving to Canada. Disaster struck, and the boat sank leaving only Pi, a zebra, a hyena, a orangutan, and a ferocious man-eating tiger. Pi barely survives on a boat with his only companion a tiger (after it killed the rest of the animals that were alive) for over 200 days. When he arrives on land he must fight for people to believe his story.
4 **** Stars I really enjoyed reading this book, but it was hard to really get into it until about the 100th page. Even though it ended great, the beginning really was monotonous.
Aaron Weinstein, The Percy Jackson Series, The DaVinci Code
The God of Small Things
Arundhati Roy
“And the Air was full of Thoughts and Things to Say. But at times like these, only the Small Things are ever said. The Big Things lurk unsaid inside” (pg 136).
The God of Small Things tells the story of Rahel and Estha, living in the small town of Ayemenem in Kerala, India. Upon the arrival of their cousin, Sophie Mol, the two-egged twins find out that their friend Velutha, an untouchable, is part of the Marxist party on the edge of Revolution. As events—both intentional and inadvertent—unfold, the children are forced to condemn an innocent man whom they love, to death. Guilt-ridden at the tender age of seven, they are separated and wander aimlessly throughout their lives in horrific grief. Shifting from past to present, the story of an entire family who broke the laws of love is revealed in the background of political unrest.
I had strong feelings about Baby Kochamma, the twins’ aunt. I was shocked that an aunt could be so cruel to her family and inflict such permanent damage just to avoid being looked down upon by society. She destroyed her entire family’s lives in one-way or another, but they didn’t know that it was her fault.
I would rate this a 4 out of 5 because at times it can be a bit confusing and the beginning moves slowly, but once I got into it, I really enjoyed it. It completely captivated me with its vivid descriptions, it’s tragic tale, its small jokes, and if you take the time, you can truly enjoy it.
Neha Narula: The Book Thief and Harry Potter 3
Life of Pi
Yaan Martel
“I know what you want. You want a story that won’t surprise you. That will confirm what you already know. That won’t make you see higher or further or differently.”
pg.302
Life of Pi is a book about the transmarine journey of Piscine (Pi) Patel from India to Canada. Ocassionally switching back and forth from Pi's point of view to the story teller's, the reader is able to have a glimpse of Pi in the present and during his story. Pi starts off in India as a zookeeper's son, and sets off on a boat to Canada along with a good portion of the zoo's wild animals. The boat unfortunately sinks, and Pi finds himself on a lifeboat with a zebra, a hyena, and a tiger in the middle of the ocean. Pi uses his valuable skills aquired at the zoo to survive until his landing in Mexico, and later makes it to Canada where his sanity and his story's accuracy are questioned.
I though that it was incredibly interesting how Pi was a practicing Christian, Hindu and Muslim, believed in all of these religions and God so thoroughly and devoutly and still, after all of this faith, he finds himself on a lifeboat for months with (supposedly) several wild animals. I also wondered why Yaan Martel had Pi be a practicing member of all three religions. To promote religious tolerance? To show that no matter what religion you are, you will have the same life experiences?
I would give the book a 3, simply because while I enjoyed the end, I found it slow and hard to get through at times. I definitely think that it's worth the read, however.
Helena Emmanuel; The Lovely Bones, The Kite Runner
Eclipse
Stephenie Meyer
He once again slid the ring into place on the third finger of my left hand. Where it would stay - conceivably for the rest of eternity.
In the third book of the Twilight Saga the two main characters bella and edward get married. They have a huge wedding because the only way edward would change her into a vampire is if they are married.
Did Bella only marry Edward because she wanted to become a vampire.
I would give this book a 5 because i felt it was so good that i couldn't put it down
Tiffany Jacobs, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn
Life of pi
Yann Martel
" We commonly say in the trade that the most dangerous animal in the zoo is man. In a general way we mean how our species' excessive predatoriness has made the entire planet our prey." page 29
Life of pi is a tragic yet fascinating story of a young man named Pi. He tells of his survival in the cramped quarters of a lifeboat along with the company of a Bengal Tiger. His belief in religion becomes a large attribute to his mental strength, during his rigorous journey in the Pacific Ocean. Seven months later as he arrives distraught and broken from his travel, he soon reveals the true story, of what really happened out at sea.
I would rate this novel a four because although in the beginning it was slow and dull, slowly, as I progressed into the book, the story line became very interesting and intrigued me.
Lauren Bamel, The Pact, The Children of Williston Lane
My Sisters Keeper
Jodi Picoult
“Anna is the only proof that I was born into this family, instead of dropped off at the doorstep by some Bonnie and Clyde couple that ran off in the night. On the surface, we’re polar opposites. Under the skin, though, we’re the same” (pg.93)
My Sisters Keeper by Jodi Picoult is about 13-year-old Anna Fitzgerald who was born solely for the purpose of providing any form of genetic material that her sister, Kate, would need. Anna has donated countless things for her sister, and now her parents want her to donate one of her kidneys. Anna files a lawsuit against her family to the rights of her own body. Her parents have different feelings about the lawsuit. While her mother is appauled that Anna would even consider not helping out her sister, her father realizes how painful and stressful it is for Anna, and how she could feel extremely violated and used.
I thought the father, Brians thoughts were the most interesting to read. Since he understood both sides of the argument, he brought up very true points throughout the book, that kept you from choosing a side.
I would give this book four stars, because as amazing as the plot is, it tends to be slow at certain parts.
Lena Sternburg, Da Vinci Code, The Pact
Brisingr
Cristopher Paolini
I was intrigued by the clue that the fallen Ra'zac gave to Eragon that the king's strength lies in the hearts of dragons.
It continues the story of Eragon the dragon rider and his dragon Saphira. The pressure mounts as there is another dragon and rider serving Galbatorix and Eragon and his dragon may be the last hope for the rebellion against the empire. In this book the duo discover Galbatorix's one weakness and it may help destroy him.
The scene where Saphira jokes about Eragon and Arya and of how Eragon reacts to it.
I would rate this as 5 stars because it has high descriptions, story, wisdom, and a lot of plot.
Jay Nanthakumar
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and Zafara.
Life of Pi
Yann Martel
"I must say a word about fear. It is life's only true opponent. Only fear can defeat life" (161).
Life of Pi is the story of an extremely religious 16-year old boy named Pi Patel who becomes stranded on a boat in the process of immigrating from India to Canada. He is stranded on the boat with only a tiger named Richard Parker. Life of Pi is the story of his survival not only from being stranded, but by being trapped with Richard Parker, the Bengal tiger. Luckily, with the knowledge he learned from growing up in his father's zoo and maintaining himself to stay alive, he survives a very long time.
Most interesting or thought-provoking aspect of the book: (this could be a question the book makes you think about, a character you respond to strongly, a scene that made you laugh...)
This book is a unique and intriguing story because it's unrealistic yet extremely descriptive. It puts you in a position to think and wonder. The topic of being stranded is very interesting.
2 stars. Although this book is well written because it is descriptive and has a captivating plot, it seems quite repetitive. The repetition takes away from the interest of the plot and makes it boring at times.
Allie Haber. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton and Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom.
Title: Sloppy Firsts
Author: Megan Mccafferty
Best Line: “They discussed their so-called flaws with enthusiasm. Bridget has a covergirl face, but her “huge ass” is holding back her career…Manda “hates” her infamous DD-cup rack. (Yet she continues to show it off in tiny tees and tight sweaters, much to the delight of Pineville’s male population.) And lets not forget about Sara, whose self-deprecation stems from her belief that she looks like “a butchy softball player instead of a ballerina”(Pg. 11)
Summery: This book is about a 16 year old girl named Jessica Darling, whos best friend in the entire world Hope has just moved away. Jessica is then stuck in Pineville High School with an obnoxious group of girls she is forced to be friends with. She has a lot of boy trouble and pressure from her dad to do the track team, when she really doesn’t want to. She spends most of her days writing letters to Hope who she misses dearly.
Rating: I would give this book a 5 because I feel that a lot of girls can relate to this book and the troubles Jessica goes through. It is just a fun easy read and its very interesting to go through this girls life with her as she tries to make it day by day through school and her life. I do not like reading that much and I loved this book.
Reviewer and favorites: Elizabeth Goodstein, and I like the books L.A Candy and Bergdorf Blondes.
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