Freak The Mighty

Freak The Mighty by  W. R. Philbrick (W. Rodman)  [YA Fiction]

by Meghan, 6th grader

Max’s father is in jail, and his mother is dead, but the worst part is that his mother is dead because his father MURDERED her, when Max was only a child. Now Max lives with his grandparents, Grim and Gram. One day, a boy named Kevin moves in next door- he’s way too small for his age, he can’t walk right, and he’s a brainiac. Max calls Kevin “Freak” and they call themselves “Freak the Mighty” and become inseparable. Eventually, Max’s dad gets out of jail and is out to get Max, so when Max gets kidnapped in the middle of the night by his own father, it’s up to Freak to save him!! Can he do it? Read the book Freak The Mighty to find out!

The mysterious Benedict Society

The mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stuart [J Fiction]

By Jeana, 9th grader

At first, this book was very exciting, new, different, and really surprisingly thought-provoking. It actually stayed that way for the first half of the book, but the story began to drag in the second half. It became tedious and unfortunately, predictable. Though it was an enjoyable read, if you really want a book you have to sink your brain into (as the summary of the book suggests), then skip this one.

Extras

Extras, by Scott Westerfeld [YA Fiction]

By Shreya, 8th grader

If you thought the Uglies/Pretties/Specials trilogy was over, you were wrong. Mr. Westerfeld has done it again. Extras is as thrilling as the other three. But this time, Tally Youngblood is not the main character. Aya now lives in a world entirely dependent on fame. The story is a little slow, but once you get to Part II, it is all worth it. Extras is like a new season soap opera, with the drama, boys, and a special appearance at the end of the show. And just like the best soapies, it gets you hooked.

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment, by James Patterson [YA Fiction]

by Christine, age 17

Although I’ve heard people denounce Maximum Ride as a “younger kid” book, do not be deceived. This series is appropriate for anyone, whether you like comedy, action, or a little romance. Max’s sense of humor is amazing. She is constantly making fun of her enemies using her spectacular sarcasm and quick wit. It makes the book extremely entertaining. The story could not possibly be filled with more action. It’s about 6 kids who were genetically combined with birds as an experiment. The result was human kids with wings. They are constantly being tested, until they escape. The book is about how she keeps her “flock” safe and away from the scientists.

I’d Tell You I Love You, but Then I’d have to Kill You

I’d Tell you I Love You, but Then I’d Have to Kill You, by Ally Carter [YA Fiction]

by Trisha, 7th grader

This book is about a girl named Cammie who is a spy. She goes to what seems to be a normal, regular, private school. But when Cammie falls in love with a normal boy who isn’t a spy, things start to go crazy. Cammie makes up a different life for him, where she is just a boring, regular girl. Will Cammie be able to pull this lie off? Will he find out? I definitely recommend this book. It is funny, witty, and interesting.

Princess Bride

Princess Bride, by William Goldman [YA Fiction]

by Christine, age 17

The Princess Bride is sort of a story-within-a-story. It is written as if it’s an abridgement of a classic “Florinese” novel. Florin is a country in the book, but the entire time that the story is being told, the author writes as if it is real. The book is so well-written that I had to go look it up online to see if it was true.

The story is about a girl named Buttercup who falls in love with a boy named Westley. Although the story is about their relationship, romance is not the focus of the book. It is much more a comedy or fantasy. I would recommend this book to anyone not intimidated by length. It’s a wonderful read.

The Mediator Series

The Mediator Series, by Meg Cabot [YA Fiction]

by Trisha, 7th grader

This thrilling series is about a girl named Suze who can see ghosts. She always comes across problems when the ghosts refuse to leave the real world and go into another dimension, where they belong. Some seek revenge. Others want to stay and haunt those who hurt them in their past life. It’s up to Suze to make sure that the ghosts don’t harm anyone. It’s really funny when Suze gets a high temper and ends up wrestling the ghosts.

Inu-Yasha Series

the Inu-Yasha manga series

by Rumiko Takahashi [YA manga series]

by Junior, 10th grader

A series about a modern-day Japanese high school girl who discovers a well in her backyard that allows her to travel back in time to meet an ancient-like dog demon named inu-yasha. She learns that she is the reincarnation of an ancient priest named kikyo. With the help of inu-yasha and friends she learns that she must kill a demon. If you like ancient Japanese mythology, these are the books for you.

Wildwood Dancing

Wildwood Dancing, by Juliet Marillier [YA Fiction]

by Hanna C, Grade 12

Wildwood Dancing is a wonderful novel. It’s basically a fairytale. The main character Jena and her sisters are very easy to relate to, and are developed very well. It was hard not to feel for them in all the situations they were placed in. Marillier’s style flowed so nicely and kept me reading for several hours on end. The world she creates is beautiful and magical and I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy books.

by Marina, 9th grader

Five sisters and one magical frog travel to another world every full moon. There, with many interesting creatures of the Other Kingdom, they dance to celebrate the Full Moon. It’s a magical tale full of romance, adventure, and betrayal. They have to deal with a father on his death bed, the eldest wasting away for love, a power-hungry cousin, the dangerous Night People, and their beautiful realm in trouble. Can they conquer all? Or will their cousin crush them to take everything: killing their sister and watching them suffer? Read and find out, it’s an incredible book. You’ll never put it down.

The Sea of Monsters

The Sea of Monsters, by Rick Riordan [YA Fiction]

by Monica, graduating senior (!)

If The Lightning Thief was good, then The Sea of Monsters was amazing. I feel like somewhere between writing The Lightning Thief and The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan screened his writing. What I mean is, he brings into his second book all the good things from his first, but he replaces all the bad things in The Lightning Thief with even better things in The Sea of Monsters. (That’s still not very clear, so let me give some examples.) Like The Lightning Thief, The Sea of Monsters tells Percy Jackson’s story using Greek mythology in the 21st century and a perfectly paced plot. But the second book definitely rises to a higher level, and the little “flaws” in The Lightning Thief seem to drop away. Now Riordan is expanding his story line, drawing upon more and more characters and developing a much more complex scenario. Even if some characters/monsters are recognizable (C.C., for instance), the plot in general has become much less predictable and therefore much more interesting. We’re not just reading because it’s fun — we’re reading because it’s fun and we want to know what happens. Riordan has also honed his sense of humor. Tyson, in particular, I found hilarious, and Riordan is able to throw in lots of well-timed punch lines and funny comparisons.

In short, The Sea of Monsters was a great book worthy of rereading. And it promises more to come.