The Scorch Trials

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner  [YA Fiction]

by Kaitlin, 11th grader

In the second book of the Maze Runner Trilogy, Thomas and the rest of the Gladers have beaten the Maze, but they’re far from safe. They are now on their second test; the Scorch Trials. Their mission: find the safe haven by navigating across a desert wasteland and through a city full of people with the Flare in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure the odds are against them.

Like the Maze Runner, this book is full of twists and turns with non-stop action. The pacing is quick and it keeps you on your toes. Do the Gladers make it to the safe haven in time? Is WICKED good? And just what is the Flare? Read and find out!

First Test

First Test by Tamora Pierce  [J Fiction]

by Kaitlin, 11th grader

The first book in the Protector of the Small quartet, First Test is about a girl named Keladry who is the first to take advantage of a law stating that women may become knights. However, most of the boys at the knight school don’t believe she’ll make it, and some of them are willing to go out of their way to make sure she doesn’t. But her troubles don’t end there; the training master decides that because she is female, she will be put on probation for one year. If she doesn’t meet his expectations, she cannot become a knight.

Instead of being like Tamora Pierce’s previous characters who all have special abilities, such as speaking to animals, Kel is a normal average girl who is strong, smart, and determined to forge a place for herself in a man’s world. Does she become a knight? Does she even get past her probation? Read and find out!  (Note: you may want to read “The Song of the Lioness” and the Immortals quartet before staring Protectors of the Small so you can fully understand just who certain characters are, and so you can avoid spoiling parts of the previous plots.)

Under the Jolly Roger

Under the Jolly Roger by L.A. Meyer   [YA Fiction]

by Kaitlin, 11th grader

This is the third book in the Bloody Jack series. After leaving the Lawson Peabody School for Young Ladies after a certain incident, Jacky boards a whaling ship that’s set for London. Upon arriving in London, she seeks out her fiance only to be told by his mother that he no longer loves her. When she finally sees him, hoping he’ll be able to correct his mother, he is flirting with another girl. So upset by the realization that her fiance has apparently left her for another, she runs headlong into a press gang. Taken on board a ship she is made a midshipman, and has to gain the respect of the crew while avoiding the lecherous captain. But that’s not the end of her adventures!

This book is every bit as good as the first two books in the series. It is full of the adventure and excitement that characterizes the Bloody Jack books. Page-turning and captivating, this book is well worth the read.

Thirteen Reasons Why

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher  [YA Fiction]

by Jill, 8th grader

Hannah Baker is dead, but why?  Well, she only left behind 13 tapes to explain the 13 reasons why. Clay gets the tapes but doesn’t know why. What did he ever do to Hannah?  Is loving her a reason why?  This book takes you through Clay’s self discovery and Hannah’s real reasons why.

Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies by William Golding  [YA Fiction]

by Ali, 9th grader

This book was HORRIBLE, no… TERRIBLE, no… The WORST book I have ever read.  Really everything in the book is described in ultimate detail, I mean, who cares how tall a tree is if it has no meaning in the book? The boys in this book are so unrealistic too, what little boy  would enjoy watching the life drain out of a pig and not care that the pig’s blood is all over them.  Really, Any book can do better than this. I mean ANY!

Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare  [Adult Nonfiction]

by Meghan, 9th grader

This classic Shakespeare play has lived on in fame for more than 200 years, and for good reason.  It is a masterpiece of love, tragedy, drama, and, of course, bad timing.  This haunting book is a great read and I encourage everyone to read it (if you haven’t already studied it in school).

Curse of the Blue Tattoo

Curse of the Blue Tattoo by L.A. Meyer  [YA Fiction]

by Kaitlin, 10th grader

In the sequel to Bloody Jack, Jacky is on her next adventure- becoming a fine lady.  After leaving the Dolphin (the pirate fighting ship she joined in the last book), she enrolled in an academy for young ladies.  But she has no idea what is considered proper for a lady and after a certain incident she is demoted to servant girl.  As she befriends the other servants, she learns of the suicide of the serving girl before her.  Supposedly the girl killed herself when she discovered she was pregnant, but Jacky suspects otherwise.  Jacky thinks it was murder and she thinks she knows who the murderer is: a crazed man who has taken an intense disliking to Jacky. A fantastic book, highly worth the read!

Around the World in 80 Days

Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne  [J Fiction]

by Kathleen

Before there were airplanes and high speed travel, Phileas Fogg, an English gentleman, bets £20,000 that he can travel around the world in 80 days.  En route he meets a beautiful Indian princess, gets mistaken for a notorious criminal, and is pursued by a detective with a warrant for his fantastic adventures through four continents in his daring race against time.  It’s a fast-paced, action-packed, high-spirited journey filled with romance, danger, and adventure.

To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee  [YA Fiction]

by Ali, 9th grader

This book is not good. I’m sorry for anyone who disagrees with me, but it was really hard for me to finish this book.  There were so many pointless parts to this book that did not to be included for the book to be interesting.

Lock and Key

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen [YA Fiction]

by Jill, 8th grader

This book by Sara Dessen takes you through the time when Ruby was torn from her normal life to a new one with her long lost sister Cora.  Ruby is suddenly given everything but still feels lost and unhappy.  And then there is Nate. Ruby is still trying to decide where he fits in this new life.  Overall, this book is okay.  It’s like the 3rd time I’ve tried to read it, it just really long.