Beauty

Beauty, by Robin McKinley [YA Fiction]

by Wendy, 11th grader

If anyone loves the “tale as old as time” as much as I do, they will adore Robin McKinley’s Beauty, a retelling of this classic fairytale. Written from a first-person perspective of Beauty, this novel does a wonderful job of humanizing all the characters, from Beauty (of course), to the invisible servants of the enchanted castle, to Beauty’s sisters. One can’t help but fall in love with the eager-to-please Beast, and although a happily-ever-after is, of course, anticipated, you are constantly kept in suspense of what happens next.

On a final note, to fans of the Disney movie: Belle’s love of books and personality is obviously influenced by this Beauty (McKinley published this in 1978 and the movie came out about 15 years later).

Rurouni Kenshin

Rurouni Kenshin, by Nobuhiro Watsuki [manga]

by Marina, 8th grader

Rurouni Kenshin is about a wandering samurai with a hidden past. He’s kind, unselfish, and is trying to undo his past as the Hitokiri Battosai, the well
-known and feared assassin. He meets friends whom he protects and vows to never kill again, to repent for his past. I can’t much more, or I’ll spoil it, but it’s a must read.

Wringer

Wringer, by Jerry Spinelli [YA Fiction]

by Trisha, 6th grader

This book is about a young boy named Palmer LaRue. Many times, everyone loves to get older (kids, at least). But Palmer doesn’t. Every boy, at the age of 10, becomes a wringer. A wringer helps to kill pigeons in the pigeon shooting competition. For some reason, Palmer doesn’t want to become a wringer. Palmer has another secret, too: he owns a pigeon. Will he let his beloved pigeon get shot?

East Coast Rising

East Coast Rising, by Becky Cloonan [YA Graphic Novel]

by Marina, 8th grader

East Coast Rising is an amazing manga. It’s somewhat future-set. Everything is under water. It’s an awesome modern pirate book. There’s sword fights, treausre hunting, and awesome heroes and bad guys. It’s a must read.

Halo: First Strike

Halo: First Strike, by Eric Nylund [YA Fiction]

by Jeff, 7th grader

The best book in the series. You need to read The Flood first. The Covenant had found earth. The Spartans that are left find their mother ship. They will go in, but will they come out? You have to read it to find out.

Stargirl

Stargirl, by Jerry Spinelli [YA Fiction]

by Trisha, 6th grader

This book is about a boy named Leo. He lives a normal life, and just tries to fit in. But, when a unique girl named Stargirl comes, Leo has to choose between Stargirl, his friend, or popularity. Stargirl is hated by everybody. Even when her team is losing, Stargirl cheers for both teams. She sings with her ukelele every day after lunch. Different is not appreciated in this school. Read this book and I promise you will wish the book never ended!

Teach like Your Hair’s On Fire

Teach Like Your Hair’s on Fire, by Rafe Equith [adult nonfiction]

by Marina, 8th grader

This is a wonderful book. Anyone who wants to become a teacher HAS to read this book. This is a new nonfiction book written by an incredible teacher. Rafe Esquith teaches a class of fifth graderse in a small underfunded school in California. The children that he teaches all speak American as their second language. They are believed to never amount to anything, but they are blessed with this teacher. His methods and ideals are incredible. His ways of teaching are so interesting and they work! These kids are smarter than most middle schoolers and high schoolers. They perform Shakespeare as the Hobart Shakespearians, they’re known across the country. The best part is though, they understand it. You really have to read it to get the full impact. It’s an amazing book. You have to read it even if you’re not planning on being a teacher. I highly recommend it!

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, by Lisa See [adult fiction]

by Wendy, 11th grader

In pre-Mao China, during the 1860’s, two girls from neighboring villages are brought together in a lifelong friendship by a local matchmaker. The story spans the entire lives of the two, one named Lily and the other Snow Flower, from their footbinding days to their old age, and is narrated by Lily. I can assure anyone who likes Chinese history that they will not be disappointed by this novel. But far from being a dry history textbook, Snow Flower is full of philosophical phrases and feeling — I felt myself emphathizing with all the characters and their situations. It resonated with me long after I was finished reading.

Lolita

Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov [adult fiction]

by Wendy, 11th grader

First a disclaimer: Lolita is perhaps best suited for older high school students.

If there is one book I could read forever and ever, over and over, Nabokov’s Lolita would be that book. The subject is as controversial as the prose is beautiful, but one can’t help but be pulled into the head of the tragic (disgusting? insane?) main character, Humbert Humbert and his condemned, tabooed love for the twelve-year-old Dolores Haze, who is not as innocent as her youth may lead one to think. It is read, finished, and put down in shock as you realized you have just condoned what should have been condemned. Disbelief? Read this book about the most powerful and maddening human emotion of all.

Trickster’s Choice

Trickster’s Choice, by Tamora Pierce [YA Fiction]

by Elizabeth, 7th grader

Aly is the daughter of the legendary Lioness of Pirate’s swoop, and George Cooper, ex-thief king of Tortall. While she is sailing to visit a friend, she is captured by pirates! They sell her to a family in the Copper Isles. When the family she belongs to is exiled by the psychotic king, there cannot take all their slaves. Will Aly be sold to a cruel family? Will she be able to make it home?