Tales From the Odyssey, Part 1 by Mary Pope Osborne****

I've read Tales From the Odyssey before, but I was short on time and really enjoy Greek mythology, so this was a really good choice.  This book all starts when Odysseus is called to the Trojan War. He is the one with the idea for the Trojan horse. Then when Odysseus is to come home, his ship is blown off track. He encounters the worst monsters, the most powerful sorceresses, and the wrath of the gods.

Since this book was part 1, I will try to read the second part. I absolutely love any kind of mythology. I think that this book is very vibrant on detail, even though it is very short. I was hooked on this mythology story, and, if you didn't know, the author wrote The Magic Tree House books. I think that this iss a really good book, and anyone should try reading Greek mythology.

Hiroshima by John Hersey***

I don't blog about nonfiction often because I dislike how there's no room for any imagination. I think Hiroshima was very void on detail about the blast of the A-bomb, or even most of the after-effects. The author describes events in a way that I have already heard/ or learned about in classroom discussions of the atomic bomb. The book revolves around certain people, making it not as informative, but it gives a more personalized view on the after-effects. Now I don't read a lot of nonfiction, so I'm being a little rough in my review. I'm used to fantasy and more imaginative type stories. I think this book was decent, but again I dislike nonfiction. Compared to some other nonfiction books, however, this book was great. It was a short book for a nonfiction book, but it will keep you reading for a while.

Animal Farm by George Orwell***

In Animal Farm, the animals have had enough of the humans when their owner, Mr. Jones, forgets to feed them. They break into the feedlot and start eating all the food. Mr. Jones comes out of the house and starts trying to whip the animals, but the animals attack him. They drive Mr. Jones off the land and burn all human items. They establish rules for the new farm, dubbed "Animal Farm." They prosper the first year, but Mr. Jones wants the farm back, so he comes with a group of men to get the farm. The animals retaliate and formulate a way to get the humans out. After they get the humans off the land, the animals start to devise a plan to make a windmill. Then the "new" leader, even though all animals are equal, kicks out the animal working on the windmill, calling him a traitor. Napoleon, the leader, kicks out Snowball, the windmill designer, making himself supreme. Napoleon keeps going with the plans of Animal Farm though, trying to seem like a good leader. Then he says that Snowball is coming in the night and ruining everything the farm has done. This enchanting tale of animals thinking our way, being like us, becoming us, is extremely interesting.

This book is super thought-provoking. It has a lot of new surprises along the way. I think that the detail was also really good. This book is an excellent examination of how humans act and how power influences us. The author had a good ending that really surprised me. I think that this book was a more advanced book and is appropriate to be read by high-school age kids.

Replica by Jenna Black*****

In Replica, Nadia has to be married to Nate, the Chairman heir. At their party, Nate wants to go downstairs to visit his boyfriend. Nadia doesn't want to risk exposing his secret, but Nate insists. There they meet Nate's boyfriend, Kurt, who has been waiting for a while. Nadia refuses to keep guard for them, saying that what they're doing is wrong. Later that night, Nate is murdered in the closet where he and Kurt were. Nadia thinks that this is her fault for not guarding the room where they were. She hopes that a replica will be made of Nate. A replica is an exact copy of the person from whenever they had their last scan. The power dims whenever a replica's being made, so when the light/power starts to dim, Nadia has hopes. She meets up with the replicated Nate and learns that he is devastated that Kurt is on the run from the law. Kurt had stolen Nate's money to get away from the city. Nate is determined to find Kurt, and along the way, he and Nadia find out the horrible secrets that the whole city has been hiding for a long time.

This book was very interesting. It dealt with immortality, which is a common subject, but this book made it believable. It was a machine copying the person's  last scan of their body and creating the same person to bring them back from the dead. I think that this book was very good overall, and it might be an award winner sometime soon. This really reminded me of Eve and Adam, and if you love sci-fi types of novels, I'm sure you'll love this one too.

The Midnight Palace by Carlos Ruiz Zafon****

Ben and his friends always meet up at The Midnight Palace, a secret meeting place near the orphanage where they all live. That's where they talk about stuff they are going to do, or stuff that has happened to them. And a story will be told after Ben sees an old lady and a girl walking up the orphanage steps. It appears that the old lady tells the girl to stand at the door. Ben, seeing an opportunity, starts to talk to Sheere (the girl). He convinces her to go to the special meeting place with him. The way to get in to the Midnight Palace is to tell a story. Ben and Sheere have more than just connected paths in life--they will face the same fear together: Jawahal, an evil being who has a special interest in Ben and Sheere. This epic tale of tricks and foolery will keep you captivated till Jawahal's final breath.

This book is full of action and adventure. It takes place in India around the 1930's. I think that this book is very interesting. It has spirits and ghost trains, which add to the mystery going on with Ben and Sheere. I really recommend this book for people just looking for a thriller or something to keep them thinking.

The Juvie Three by Gordon Korman*****

I've read most of Gordon Korman's books, but The Juvie Three is definitely different. I liked it better than his other books because it is more thought-provoking and has a more powerful theme. Readers learn a lesson about following the rules in this story about three boys who are sent to juvie. Gecko was the getaway driver for his older brother. Arjay "killed" someone. Terence ran with a gang in Chicago. They are given a second chance by Douglas Healy. He tells them that they are to be model citizens and have to follow his rules as well. Then a fight breaks out; Mr. Healy is sent flying off the fire escape, three stories above ground. The boys hotwire a car and take him to the hospital. Mr. Healy has lost his memory, and it's up to The Juvie Three to get him back.

This book also teaches readers about respect. All three boys almost get sent back to prison because one gets out of hand. I loved the way the three boys' different skills overlap and make this story great. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. There is a little violence and cussing, but it is appropriate for upper grade school and middle school students.

Awkward Family Holiday Photos by Mike Bender and Doug Chernack*****

Awkward Family Holiday Photos is one of the funniest books I've ever read, and my dad is allowing me to blog about it as part of my Christmas presents. It is more of a picture book, but I was planning to read a Calvin and Hobbes comic for Christmas anyway, so it works for me! (If you haven't read Calvin and Hobbes, you need to.) I got this book in my stocking, and I am typing this up on my new laptop. I loved the stories about the pictures, even when there were only a few words about them. We all know our families have some awkward photos! I hope you had a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Second Impact by David Klass and Perri Klass****

Second Impact is about Jerry. He is the star quarterback until he almost kills a girl while he is driving drunk. He is kicked off the football team. When next season rolls around, it's up to him to redeem himself. He blazes through the season with his main receiver Danny. Then he is hit. Hard. He is taken off the field and looked at for a concussion. He can't really understand anything and sits out for a couple of games. Then Danny gets hit. Harder. He is out for about three minutes before he comes back. He understands everything and can function, but something is off. Meanwhile, Jerry and his sort of friend Carla are hard at work on the school's blog. Carla is talking about head injuries; Jerry is talking about football. On the day of the championship game, Jerry is sick, but he still goes to school so he can play. Danny is still benched because of the hit, but he gets to play a bit. Then all hope is lost. Jerry notices something about Danny that doesn't seem right. He ends up losing the game but saving his friend's life.

I think this book presses into an important matter. Football. So many people get injured, and everyone's like, "Enh." We just don't care because we love the action of the game (and we're sort of barbaric). I loved the style that this was written in--blog format. I think that almost anyone can learn a lesson from this story and benefit from it too.

The Well by Mildred Taylor****

The Well is about the Logan family and their struggles with racism in the early 1900's. Ten-year-old David (who is an adult in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry) tells the story about the drought in rural Mississippi in 1910.  His family's well is the only one with water left. David's family lets everyone use the water from the well, even the Simmses (the really mean white people). Then Charlie Simms sees the Logans walking along the road and calls them over. He asks them (David and Hammer) to lift up the wagon so he can put a new wheel on it. Charlie messes around till David drops the wagon, then beats David for not holding up the wagon. This sends Hammer into a rage, and he beats Charlie Simms up. David and Hammer are forced to work on Charlie Simms' father's farm. Charlie and his brother make fun of the Logans and threaten to ruin their well.

This is a really short story. It is about ninety pages, but is part of the The Land series. It is as good, or better, than The Land. I really thought that this built onto the Logans' story and gives you more insight about them. I really like the amount of detail that Taylor puts into her books. It makes it seem very real, as if the story actually happened (and it probably did because she writes stories about her family). I felt like I was part of the story, and I found myself getting just as upset as the characters. This book gave me a better understanding of racism and its effects. I think that anyone should read this book. especially if you are a fan of Mildred Taylor (or if you have been required to read any of her other books in school).

Insignia by S.J. Kincaid*****

In Insignia World War III has started. The military is looking for kids who can play video games, especially if they always win. Tom is chosen for this program when his system is hacked. He is loaded into a barren landscape with a tank bearing down on him. He jumps into the trench, trying not to be killed. He notices that the weapon on the floor can't take out a tank. But it can create a nice distraction for the tank, creating just enough time for him to run to the bunker that contains antitank weapons. Then he realizes that's the most obvious thing to do. So he fires the rifle at the tank, shrouding it in a cloud of dust. Then he jumps onto the tank, blasting off the hatch's lock and exposing the pilot to the Martian air. Instead of watching him die, Tom bludgeons the pilot to death. This gets him into the military program. They have to insert a tiny computer into his head to help him with the skills he needs to end World War III. Tom embarks on the time of his life, meeting new friends, falling in love, and just doing normal things.

This book reminded me of Ender's Game. If you haven't read, or even heard of this book, I highly recommend it. I loved Insignia a little bit less than Petey, but it is a close second. I think that anyone who reads this will be swept away by how good the author's writing is. It felt like you were the character and that this was real. Anyone and everyone should read this book.

Free Fall by Ariela Anhalt****

In Free Fall there is the cliff, the cliff where it happened. The murder. Luke had been living a fairly normal life at Briar Academy when a new kid, Russel, begins to go to Luke's and his best friend Hayden's school. Luke and Hayden fence (a type of swordplay). It turns out that Russel fences as well, and he steals Hayden's girlfriend. Hayden hates Russel, but allows him to join the fencing team. The initiation (way to join) is jumping off a cliff. On one side there are very sharp rocks, on the other, there is just water. Hayden and Luke take Russel to the cliff. Then Russel chickens out. Russel says he'll jump, but Hayden gives him a little shove. Russel falls into the sharp rocks and dies. This instigates a court case full of feeling, regret, and most of all, the test of friendship.

This book is heart-breaking at the end. Now, I won't spoil the ending, but this book is amazing. It is full of teen stories about life. There was a lot of swearing in this book, so I would recommend this to older kids. I loved this book a lot, and I hope you love it as well.

20 Years Later by E.J. Newman****

In 20 Years Later it is a near future. There are few humans to be found. Most survivors are with gangs or help gangs. Zane and his mom help the Bloomsbury Boys with injuries and medicine. Then Zane is called to meet up with the Red Lady. She asks him to join her gang, but he has to train with one of her warriors. Zane readily accepts this deal, spellbound by her beauty. Zane soon meets Titus, someone with connections that he just can't place. Then they meet Erin, the Red Lady's best warrior's daughter. They soon realize that they all have special skills. Zane can heal by touch, Titus can move things with his mind, and Erin is a really good archer/warrior. They are in their dreamworld when somebody new appears. Her name is Eve. She has lived with the "gang" Unders for a while now. The Unders test out vaccines on children to see if they can reverse the effects of the disease, a very, very, bad disease. Titus, Zane, Erin, and Eve must help each other out in finding the secrets of the world they live in.

This book is, well, different. Most people talk about the disease that wipes out anyone, but the inventor of this disease (SPOILER ALERT) is racist, creating it only to take out "colored" people, but as we can guess, it killed almost everyone. Smart thinking. I think this book is very action-packed--there isn't a spot where anything isn't happening. There are constant fights, constant detective work, even constant healing from Zane. I loved this book and maybe you will too.

The Only Ones by Aaron Starmer*****

In The Only Ones, there is Martin. He lives with his father on an island where people come to vacation. Martin and his dad are building a machine with an unknown purpose. Then his father has to go to the mainland. Martin's dad says he'll be back by Martin's eleventh birthday. And his promise holds true. On the day of Martin's birthday, the boat his father took comes into view. Martin swims to it in excitement, but nobody is in it. Martin stays on the island for a year more, then decides he should go to the mainland. There he finds Xibalba, the place for everyone who is left on Earth. It's up to Martin to find a way to bring the people he loves back to Earth.

This book is really interesting. I think that the author could have described Nigel (if you read this book you'll understand) better. He is a bigger character in the story, but you never really know him. I loved this book because it just held my attention for the longest time (well, unit I finished it). This is a definite read for anyone, especially if you love science fiction.

The Final Descent by Rick Yancey***

The Final Descent is about Will Henry. He is at a montstrumologist convention with his Doctor when he shows Lilly the grand prize that the Doctor bought. When they get to its exhibit, the door has been unlocked, and the cage is open. The Doctor has lost his prize. Will must embark on the journey of his life, facing the Doctor and himself to discover the truth within.

This book is really creepy. The monster would like to crawl up inside of you and eat you from the inside out. You can see why these books are really creepy. It is really confusing too because it is difficult to keep track of the time and place settings in this book. It would be helpful if the author used different texts to show the different times and places. I think overall the Monstrumologist series is really good, and you will enjoy it if you like to be scared.

Half Lives by Sara Grant****

Half Lives is about Icie, a teen who's stuck in the middle of a terrorist attack. Her parents, even before the attack, tell her to get into a bunker by Las Vegas. Along the way she meets Marissa, the easy-going, punk cheerleader; Tate, the half-dead twelve-year old; and Chaske, a mysterious teen from the mountain where they are headed. They survive the bio-disease, nuclear radiation, and the almost end of the world. Sometime in the far future, children follow the God I AM, or Icie (Isis) Ann Murray, and all her ways of life.

Shorter summary! Longer review! That's the newer format for my posts. If you don't like it, then tell me in the comments. This book is freaky. Most of the infected people have horrible things happening to them--melting flesh, decaying, turning green, throwing up, and so much more. I think that this is really creepy, just with the fact that people go insane, die of radiation poisoning, and commit suicide. I did think that the kids following the Great I AM, or Icie, was pretty funny though. They worship her by saying "Whatever." They also read their "Facebooks." There is a lot of adult content in this book. I think that this book should not be read by the faint of heart, or the younger kids.

MILA 2.0 by Debra Driza*****

Is there an android out there? And how realistic is it? MILA 2.0 sees herself as a human, never having been told that she is an android. Her father died a few days before she moved to Clearwater, Minnesota. She lives as normally as she can without being the weird new girl. Then a new boy moves to town, and one of her so-called friends starts to treat her like dirt. They have a rivalry over him. MILA's friend makes her sit in the back of her truck, and starts to speed up in order to impress the new boy (Hunter). MILA's friend crashes the car, sending MILA flying. She has a huge gash in her arm, but no blood comes out. All she can see is circuits. When she gets home, her "mother" breaks the news to her. This invokes many actions that involve her going through tests of her awesome andriod skills. She fights her way to keep her "mother" safe, and to survive herself.

This book is a big book--over 450 pages. I would think that this would have no unanswered questions, but as always, there's questions to be answered. I would've liked to know what happens to MILA, so maybe there will be a sequel. I loved this book and its humor. Even though it had a lot of sad parts, it was just plain awesome. I think anyone should read this book if they're looking for a good read.

Simon Bloom: The Octopus Effect by Michael Reisman****

In Simon Bloom: The Octopus Effect, there is a moment of peace. Then Simon is called back to duty by the Book. He is sent on a mission to stop Sirabetta, the same person he stopped a few months before. He set her age back to 13 instead of 33. This reset her memory. Sirabetta is teased at school because of strange tattoos on her arms, and she hates everyone for that. Then one of the traitors from the Union tells her who she really is, so she can gain some control over her "strange" markings. Sirabetta's goal is to cause a "better," or in Simon's case, worse, universe. It's up to Simon and his friends to help stop the rise of Sirabetta with their awesome new powers.

I missed the first book! I didn't even realize it until the very end of the book. I'm sorry for this and I'll try to get that book read as well. I think this author did a very good job at details. I also loved the fantasy element. Chosen people can harness powers of science and bend them to their will. That makes Simon and his friends sort of like super-heroes protecting the universe. I think this book had a good start. I felt like I already knew Simon when I started to read. I think anyone should read this series. It is an interesting ride.

Fallout by Todd Strasser****

It's during the Cold War. In Fallout, Scott's family is one of the only families left. There's a threat that the Russians will actually launch the bombs. Then they do. Scott's family manages to get into the only bunker on the street. Theirs. Many people try to pry open the door to get in the bunker, but only six make it in with Scott's family of four. Everyone else dies. Scott is mad at his friend Ronnie, who made it in the bunker, because of some pretty jacked up stuff. Scott faces arguments about killing people, nudity, and food. Scott and his family experience the nuclear war that could have happened and the events that follow.

This book is very interesting. It shows what could have happened during the Cold War. I think that this book was a bit over-detailed. The way the author described the bunker is really good though This book was decent overall, and I think that it's a book for anyone middle school or older. It definitely made me think about what I would do if I were trapped in a small space with limited resources.

Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork*****

In Marcelo in the Real World, Marcelo is at Paterson School for special needs children until he is taken home. Marcelo is autistic, and his parents want to know if it's okay for him to go to a public school. Everyone says it's Marcelo's decision. Meanwhile, Marcelo's father wants him to work at his law firm. Marcelo says he will work at the law firm. There he meets Jasmine and Wendell, two people who will be helping him in the real world. Marcelo learns that Wendell has a crush on Jasmine, but Jasmine finds Wendell creepy. Wendell devises a bunch of disgusting plans to get Jasmine with Marcelo, but Marcelo isn't interested. He is more interested in a case where a girl lost half her face to a car accident. He wants to help her and find out why the law firm wasn't doing anything to help. This enchanting story of Marcelo and his many adventures in the real world will sweep you off your feet.

This book is very heart-touching. It was one of the rare occasions where I actually get teary-eyed at a book. I loved this book, except there was a lot of very strong language used throughout the book. I think the author uses amazing detail and uses it at the right time. The descriptions are amazing. There are no random sentences in the middle of a part where it didn't fit in well. I loved this book, and I will think about what it would be like to be Marcelo for a long time.

Viral by James Lilliefors*

Viral is a very random book. I disliked this book strongly. It would have a character come in at the beginning, and then almost never show up till one sentence at the very end. It felt like the author was just cramming random ideas in at random times. I know that this book only gets one star from me, but you may like it. Unfortunately, I don't have another book like this to compare to.

Eve and Adam by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate****

You have probably heard the story of Adam and Eve. But you've never heard the story of Eve and Adam. Eve is in a car crash. Her leg is half torn off, and her arm has been smashed to bits. Her mother takes her from the hospital immediately, even though her daughter could die at any time. Eve is told not to take off her bandages. She soon gets very bored after a few days at her new "home." Eve's mom tells her that she can work with a newer project. Eve is able to create the perfect boy, her soul mate. Eve creates "Adam," as her friend likes to call him. Then Solo, one of the people who helps her out at the hospital, shows her horrible pictures of mutants and freaks who have been created through the program that Eve used to design Adam. Eve runs away to destroy her mother, but at the same time, her mother is sending Adam after her. This takes Eve and Solo on a journey through the science world of playing God.

This book tests the limits of science. It would be really scary if people could just make a perfect person. I think this book is very good overall. It is very humorous and pretty action-packed. I know anybody who reads this won't put it down until they are done. I think that there is a bit more mature content in this book, but it was not too inappropriate. This book is very creative and very detailed. It is told through multiple points of view, which makes the story even more interesting. I really enjoyed this one, and I am sure it will be an award nominee soon.

Son of the Mob by Gordan Korman*****

In Son of the Mob Vince is living his normal life. As normal as he can get. His father runs a loan shark/drug-dealing business. He is looking for his girl, so when he takes a girl on a date, something goes wrong. There's a body wrapped in the blanket he needs. He tells the girl that they don't need the blanket. The girl freaks out when she sees the body. For Vince, this is expected. His father is a mobster. Vince's friend, Alex, tells him that they should try out for the football team.Vince reluctantly joins, but when he's a star player on the field, he knows something's up. Then he hears the other team whispering, "That's Luca." He realizes that they aren't tackling him because they're afraid of his dad. Vince quits, and in the lockeroom a reporter interviews him. She asked him why he quit. He tells hers a complete lie about the coach, just joking around. He goes to a frat party with Alex later, and he sees the reporter girl, Kendra, and saves her from a collage slob. Kendra and Vince start to date. But then Vince learns about her father, who's the FBI agent who wants to bring Vince's father down. Vince automatically knows it wouldn't be a good idea for them to meet each others parents. This tale of true love brings you on a magical journey through law and mobsters.

This book had me hooked. There are some details that left out on purpose. I think this books main point was humor. There was humor around every corner, and this combined with this author's writing just made an amazing book. There was some very mature content, I'm not even sure I should have read it.

Guy Langman, Crime Scene Procrastinator by Josh Berk***

In Guy Langman, Crime Scene Procrastinator, there is a boring club. A club Guy signs up for. Forensics. Guy and his friend, Anoop, sign up for Forensics to do fingerprinting work or detective stuff. As they progress through the after school class, Guy decides to quit. Anoop forges a note to Guy from the girl he likes. Guy keeps going to Forensics, and he soons learns that Anoop forged the note. He stays in Forensics though. Then somebody breaks into his house and steals his deceased father's treasure. Guy manages to lift the fingerprints of the thief. Then on their Forensics "crime scene" event, Anoop and Guy find a body. Guy thinks it's too realistic. Then the face comes to him; it's the boy from the other team, the one that looks like him. Guy freaks out when Anoop helps him lift the prints. They're the same prints from his house. This takes the Forensics crew on a journey of true love, dead guys, and coins.

This book is pretty humorous to read. I think this is the book's saving aspect. It didn't have too much detail, but when it did, it was really good. I think that this is a very good book for older kids, or if you're just more mature than other kids. I think overall that this book is a very good read, and very humorous.

Book o' the Month for November 2013

The Book o' the Month for this month is... Unremembered. It was the book with the most detail, and it also had a good storyline. Better than the others. That's why I chose Unremembered as the book o' the month for November. Give me any feedback or suggestions for books to read. Thanks.

Silent to the Bone by E.L. Konigsburg****

In Silent to the Bone an accident has happened. Branwell has dropped his baby sister, Nikki, in the bathroom, causing his babysitter to freak out. She tells him to call 911, but whenever he does that, he can't talk. Vivian, his babysitter, has to tell the operator what has happened to the baby. The baby has slipped into a coma, and nobody knows when she'll wake up. Branwell goes silent, out of fear, or out of shame. It's up to Branwell's friend, Connor, to find out what really happened to the baby. Connor and his step-sister, Margaret, find out that Vivian was smoking near the nursery, and never really looked out for the baby. Can Connor figure out the mystery clouding Nikki's story, and can he figure out why Branwell went silent?

This book is a good mystery book. I loved the "code" Connor used with Branwell to get him to give him details about the sister. I think Connor could have been described better though. He is like a blank slate, a body with no face, just white space. This book has a lot of mature content. This is definitely not for elementary kids. I think the book could have used more detail, but I overall liked this book.

The 100 By Kass Morgan***

In The 100 Clarke has been chosen to go to Earth. It's been almost three centuries since any human has returned to the war-torn Earth. The one hundred fugitives are sent to Earth. When they get there, they immediately break out in fighting over supplies. Wells, the Chancellor's son, tries to take control and settle everyone down, but a few people rebel and get mad. On the "mother ship," Glass is the only person to have escaped the shuttle before it took off for Earth. She visits the boy she loves almost everyday on the "mother ship." In this riveting tale of death, life, and love--the kids must learn how to survive on Earth and in the "mother ship."

This book has a good sci-fi feel to it. It is an okay book, but it ended in a cliffhanger, which I love. I hated the spaceship part of the book. It feels like too many people are using space in their stories lately. This book is definitely appropriate for older kids, but read it only if you want to experience another space story.

Petey by Ben Mikaelsen******

Before I start this review, I would like to say that Petey might be the best book that I have ever read.

In Petey a baby is born. He has cerebral palsy though. His family takes care of him until he's two, then his seizures drive them away from him. Petey is stuck in the insane asylum, but he's in the Infant's Ward. He meets Esteban. He's the only person who thinks Petey isn't an idiot. Petey is happy, then Esteban leaves. Petey never sees Esteban ever again. Then he's moved to the adult section. He meets another idiot, and they become great friends. Then Joe comes, and introduces Christmas to them. Petey and Calvin have such a good time with Joe. After Joe quits, Calvin recedes into himself. Petey almost never leaves his bed. Then comes his third helper, Cassie. Petey is now around twenty to thirty years old. Petey feels feelings that he's never felt before about Cassie or other people. Then Cassie's husband comes back from being drafted, and she has to go to New York. This leaves Petey devastated. (This the last one, trust me.) Owen comes in,  and he's old, but he wants to make difference, so he takes care of Petey. Then Petey gets transferred to an old folk's home. One day Trevor is walking down the street, and he sees a bunch of bullies throwing snowballs at an old man. Trevor protects the old man, taking a step into the world of Petey, and changing his aspect of the world forever.

I loved this book. It's very thought provoking. I always wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. Petey was funny, but also super sad. It changed my veiw of the world forever, just like Trevor. I think everyone must read this. If there's a sixth star, this book has earned it. Best. Read. Ever.

Spacer and Rat by Margaret Bechard*****

Jack has always lived in an asteroid. Then a rat comes onto the base. In Spacer and Rat Jack must help a woman who comes into the pub. She tells him that she's looking for a self-aware robot. Jack laughs at her, then stops when she produces some money. He tries to find the bot, and ends up overhearing a conversation about the bot. He sends off the woman in chase of the robot. Then his friends corner a rat, but this is the rat that he knows. He doesn't wasn't to hurt her, so he runs with her to the chapel. There he finds out that Kit, the rat, has been hoarding the bot. It was built by her father, and he told her to get to another port to deliver the bot. The two kids run away with the bot, which appears to be sentient. Jack and Kit honor Kit's father last wish, to keep the bot safe from any harm.

This book is a really short read. I think it is very appropriate for younger kids. If you're bored and are looking for a good read, then this book will suit your needs. The author put a lot of detail into this book, and this made it one of my favorites.

Pirate Cinema by Cory Doctrow****

In Pirate Cinema Trent is a movie-maker. He copies videos without proper terms. He gets his three strikes, and his family's Internet is taken away. Feeling miserable, he runs away from home. He ends up in London, taken in by Jem, another runaway, of a sort. Jem knows how to live it up. He realized that people will donate to people with white signs, and he knows where free food is. He gains a free home by squatting, or moving into abandoned houses. He goes to an illegal movie outing and meets his soon-to-be girlfriend. They have a journey through movies, courts, and copyright laws. But the one question is, what movie will Trent make next?

I love this author. I have read Little Brother, which is one of his books. I like the style of writing Cory Doctrow uses. It combines real world problems with a fictional story. I think this book is a bit more mature, so no one in middle-school should be reading this book.

Necessary Roughness by Marie G. Lee****

In Necessary Roughness Chan's family owns a store. But then Chan learns that his father has given his brother a bunch of money. His dad's brother asks them to watch his store, and Chan's father abides. His family sells the store and moves to Minnesota. Chan makes suggestions what to leave behind, but all he does is get yelled at. When Chan runs into some idiots at school, he just shakes it off. But then ALL-PRO boy comes up and asks Chan if he wants to join the football team. Chan doesn't know why until ALL-PRO boy tells him their kicker is out for the season. Chan decides to play, leading him to become the rebel of his family, making his father hate him more.

The family in this story is Korean. Chan is expected to be perfectly obedient to everyone. I won't spoil the ending, which is really good. I think this book is amazing. The story line is really good, and it seemed that it could have a sequel. I hope you love this book as much as me.

Running With the Kenyans by Adharanand Finn***

How good are you at running? In Running With the Kenyans Adharanand Finn moves to Kenya to train to compete in a race. He trains almost every day, learning that running barefoot is actually better for you. As he travels through Kenya, running cross-country and other fun events, he learns more and more about technique and style. When it's time to compete in the marathon (he's running the half marathon), Finn is completely relaxed, and he makes his way across the finish line first for his group. He is also studying how Kenyans run so well and so fast.

This book was hard to read, probably because it is non-fiction. I liked when he was describing why some countries just don't have any motivation to run, even though that's what we were made to do. Literally. We have the Achilles Tendon, and that makes us super runners. We also think that we should land on our heels right? Wrong. We should land on our forefeet. I loved how much information this book included. Kenyans can run so fast because of mindset. Kenyans think they can always win, and they usually do. I hope you can learn something from this book.

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi*****

In Ship Breaker there are destroyed ships strewn around the beaches. People work to take the metals and other valuables off the ships. Nailer is one of the people who can actually fit inside the pipes that contain copper wire and other goodies that fill his quota for the bosses. When a city-killer (a storm) comes and wreaks havoc on their town, he and his friend find a new ship on the beach. Inside the ship there are many treasures to be found. Then Nailer finds a dead rich girl, or a swanky. He starts to cut off her fingers to get the gold rings, but as soon as he starts, she opens her eyes. She is barely alive, but says that she was better off dead. Nailer decides to save Nita from death, but he brings upon himself the danger of her family business. It is a race against time to see who will triumph and who will fail.

This book has phenomenal details. You feel like you're actually inside Nailer's life, instead of just reading about it. This is a five-star book. It has action and sci-fi elements. I loved this book. I read this in an hour and a half, but it is a longer read. I hope anyone who reads this will be captivated.

Unremebered by Jessica Brody****

In Unremebered there's a plane crash. All passengers are dead. Except one. Sera only remembers being dragged out of the sea, and then nothing beyond that. She is in a hospital with everyone making sure she's okay. A mysterious boy appears in her room, and he tells her that it's time for her to go. Then he just disappears. Sera later asks a nurse if she saw the boy, but apparently nobody had. Sera, or Violet (her nickname because it is the color of her eyes), is sent to foster care. She is instructed to lay low by the hospital because of the paparazzi--she is the only survivor of a major plane crash, and she is quite beautiful. She keeps trying to get her memory back, but she is kidnapped by a red-headed man. The man tells her it will be okay, but Sera knows something is up. He tells her that she is a cyborg, and that he was the one that made her. Then the boy from the hospital appears. Zen, as she learns, takes her on a magical adventure through her own memory.

This book had some very humorous elements. Zen and the foster brother are both quite funny. I loved the how the author introduces the foster brother. He got all huffy and said that Sera was "hot." I think the amount of detail was just right, not too gruesome, but not too kiddish. I really liked the parts with Zen on it because he never failed to make me laugh. This is an amazing book, but I wouldn't recommend this to elementary school kids.

Don't Look Now by Michelle Gagnon****

In Don't Look Now children are being taken off the streets and forced to undergo surgical procedures. Noa is one of the children who managed to escape the operating tables, and with Zeke (you learn about him in the first book) she fights the operations by stealing the children back. Of course she can't do this with just two people; she has a tiny army instead. The army is made up of people who have been rescued or almost been taken by the Project Persephone staff. Noa manages to save three kids on their next lab raid, but she is suspicious of the children. They go to a house where the whole army is welcome. There, two of the three children that they rescued set bombs and alert the people who will take them away. Noa manages to escape with Teo and Daisy. Can the three remaining members survive against the ruthlessness of the Project Persephone staff?

This book had a lot of potential for a series book. The author should have added a bit more to Zeke's background (I have read the first book, no surprise there. It didn't describe Zeke enough though.). The book had a lot of details and could be happening right now in the real world. I loved the first book, but this book gives it a run for its money.

The Assault by Brian Falkner****

In The Assault Chisnall, the commander of the Angel Squad, is deployed with his crew, ready to fight the alien invaders. His team has been specially designed for the mission; they sport the alien's looks and most of the alien's traits. As his team infiltrates the base, they have a traitor on their hands. Chisnall tries to find the traitor, hoping that the mission isn't completely failed because of him/her. When Chisnall's crew gets into the base a few aliens are suspicious that they aren't really aliens. The squad fights their way out when the aliens discover who they really are. This instigates the final war between the aliens and the humans.

This book had a lot of funny moments, but it was more action than anything. I think that the author could have used more detail in describing the aliens. You never would have realized that the squad had been transformed into an exact replica of the aliens. I think overall, this was a great book. I just generally think that many kids would love this series.

Fleshmarket by Nicola Morgan**

In Fleshmarket, the main character Robbie lives in 1822. His mother dies five days after surgery, leaving Robbie to live with only his father and sister. Robbie fends for himself, holding a grudge against the surgeon who "killed" his mother. Robbie follows around the surgeon and gets caught. The surgeon, Dr. Knox, helps him out. Robbie opens the door to one of Dr. Knox's friend's houses and looks upon a murder. Robbie runs for his life, knowing this is where the surgeon gets his dead "prisoners." Robbie is on the long road filled with murder and death, just trying to get revenge at the surgeon.

I think this book's details create a good historical fiction novel. The amount of detail the author crammed into the book was impressive. I loved how Robbie could connect with a lot of kids. This author did an amazing job on this book, but at times it had trouble holding my attention. This is for upper elementary kids because it is pretty short and not terribly violent or gruesome, although some of the details are gross and very appropriate for the time period.

Thunder Over Kandahar by Sharon McKay***

Thunder Over Kandahar is about Yasmine. Her mother decides to move back to Afghanistan, and, of course, Yasmine has no desire to go. She must move, however, from England to a small Afghan village. One of the village girls immediately befriends Yasmine. A school is being built in their village, and it's for girls and boys. The problem is taht girls are not allowed to be educated according to the Taliban, so this could lead to major consequences. Yasmine learns that her friend Tamanna will soon be married because of her uncle's bets.  She runs away with the help of Yasmine into the mountains. They endure suicide bombers, the harsh desert, and the constant threat of the Taliban.

I think this author really explores thh problems of Afghanistan. The book described dangerous events with clarity. I loved the friendship between the girls. It gave the author so many windows to the story. I think this is a book for middle school kids, considering that it is a short read.

Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers***

In Fallen Angels, Richard Perry has signed up to fight in the Vietnam War. Perry is deployed in the jungles of Vietnam, and strikes a friendship with Peewee, a teen with an attitude. In their squad they have a bunch of misfits. Some are overly religious, some are control freaks, but they all will fight together. They fight the "Congs" which are the nicknames for the Vietnam soldiers. They bond as friends and they bond as soldiers, and each and everyone of them will not be forgotten. Ever.

This book was historical fiction. If you didn't know, I hate historical fiction. But when I read a historical fiction book, it's likely to be good. I think the amount of detail was a bit over done. This is a war scene, it gets pretty gruesome with details. Overall the book was fine. Lots of strong language and lots of death. I wouldn't recommend this to younger kids.

The Body Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci****

In The Body of Christopher Creed, Torey and his friends live the "perfect" life. Then a kid at their school, Christopher, goes missing. Christopher has a few problems though. He's a motormouth, he can't learn to stay away from trouble, and he can't even get privacy in his own house! So when Christopher goes missing, everyone points at the kids that live in the ghetto, who have always bullied and hurt him. The principal of the school seems to have a suicide e-mail from Christopher, so Torey gets help to hack into the message. It was definitely written by Christopher. Torey decides to go on an adventure with the help of Ali and her boyfriend Bo, to help find/save Christopher from whatever he's gotten himself into.

This book had many elements to it. I loved the way Christopher described a girl on the beach in his diary. He said she was beautiful and shy. It turns out that all Christopher's stories were his own imagination. This book was full of teenager drama that is very realistic. This book presses into a much deeper subject than just bullying though, his parents gave him no individuality and were very over-protective. All of Christopher's siblings rooms were almost identical, and his parents would root through his own stuff whenever they felt like it. I think this book presses into the matter of over-protective parents and bullying, but this is not for younger kids. Only high-schoolers should read these kinds of books.

The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick****

Have you ever wondered what the future might be like? The Last Book in the Universe gives us a dsytopian look at what might be. In the time of probes (needles that directly project images into the user's minds), Spaz is one of the only people who can't use them. He's allergic to the needles. When his latchboss tells him to go rob Ryter, a old man (or gummy), Spaz gets creeped out. Ryter owns and is writing the last book in the universe. Ryter wants to know Spaz's story, but Spaz says he doesn't have one. Then Spaz's friend/sister Bean (he was adopted) becomes sick. Spaz, along with the help of a proov (an advanced human), a five year-old, and Ryter, goes to the family that he has been banished from to save the person he loves the most. Can he save Bean? Can he protect the last book in the universe? But can he make a change in the world they live in now?

This book really surprised me because it was sort of dull in the beginning. I read this in about an hour. I saw Catching Fire today, which caused me to read a really short book. Despite the fact that it was a quick read, I loved the amount of detail and action the author put into this book after the first few chapters. At every twist and turn, there was more and more action just waiting to be read. I think this is a bit more of an advanced book, so it's for kids in junior high or high school.

The Land by Mildred Taylor*****

I recently read Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry for my ELA class (English/ language arts), so The Land was an obvious choice for me to read next. It all starts when Paul-Edward is growing up. It tells the story of his life, and gives details about his brothers and sister. It shows the betrayal between Paul-Edward and his family. This is the sequence of events that gives the Logans their land. Paul-Edward works hard and and manages to get the land because he looks white. He was born a slave and his father was his owner. He manages to set his family up for future stories in the Logan family.

This book was amazing. I usually hate historical fiction, but Mildred Taylor's books are an exception. I love the use of detail; it felt like an actual story of real people instead of just fictional characters, and I didn't feel like I was being forced to learn about a big historical event. Now, I have a better understanding of the racism in this country after the Civil War. I hope you love this book as much as I have.

I, Robot by Issac Asimov*

Have you ever wanted to own a robot? Well in I, Robot, you can. It is after the second world war when the human race starts to make robots to help them out. Skip some years. Some of the robot testers are on Mercury trying to get some energy substance to power the ship back to Earth. But the robot doesn't get the materials because of the rules. Rule 1: Never hurt a human. Rule 2: Always follow orders by humans, except if it will hurt anther human. Rule 3: You must protect your own existence unless interfering with the first or second rules. They manage to get back, but we all know what happens next: the robot apocalypse.

I did not like this book at all. It was really confusing, it just jumped from place to place without explaining anything. It was a really hard to write the summary just because of this factor, so sorry if it's really confusing. I just absolutely hated that stupid jumping from time to time thing. I really don't recommend this to anyone.

The Morgue and Me by John C. Ford****

What if your job was to clean up after the guys who perform autopsies? This is what Christopher does in The Morgue and Me. He learns that a man in his town, Mitch, has died. The head of the staff says the death was suicidal. Then Christopher gets a closer look; there are five gunshots wounds in the torso (or chest) area. He knows that a man couldn't have been able to do this on his own, so when he finds about fifteen grand in the head of the staff's suitcase, he just knows someone killed this man. Christopher goes to investigate the Mitch's murder, so first he stops at the reporter's office who did the story on Mitch's death. The reporter's assistant decides to take the case with him. Christopher is for real and so is Tina, the reporter's assistant. They uncover the clues leading up to the murder, and all the schemes behind it.

In this book I loved how the author integrates a bunch of old friends, along with the new into this book. Tina is introduced in the reporter's office. Then we have Mike, a long time friend, who is actually caught up in this whole murder. We also have Julia, a long time crush who dumped him for the homecoming dance. I have been going on a little mystery book rampage here. I don't know why, but mysteries make me never want to put the book down lately. I hope you love this mystery as much as I have.

Seconds Away by Harlan Coben*****

Seconds Away all starts when Mickey is in the Bat Lady's house. She has shown him a photograph of the man who told him his father had died. But this photograph is roughly 70 years old, and the doctor was roughly 30. Mickey soon learns that one of his "crew" was shot in the head and her mother was murdered. Of course, Mickey is taken in for questioning. Mickey and the two other members of his "crew" try to solve the mystery, but Spoon, the youngest member of his squad, gets shot trying to help them solve the case. Ema is the other member. When Mickey follows her home, he finds out her gigantic secret. Then Mickey visits Spoon in the hospital, and Spoon tells him that they didn't catch the guy who killed the girl's mother and shot her in the head. Mickey, Spoon, and Ema must solve the mystery shrouding the town to unlock the secrets that run deep into their lives. Especially about the picture; the picture of the Butcher of Lodz.

This book was amazing. It could've used more detail on Spoon or Rachel, just to reinforce the characters more. I think that everyone looking for a great mystery book would love this book. It gave away the ending too fast though. You could guess who killed the mother and shot Rachel in the middle of the book. Overall though, it was very good.

Projection by Risa Green****

Projection is about Gretchen and her friend, Jessica. When Gretchen's mother is killed, most likely from being the head of the Oculus Society, everything in Gretchen's life turns upside-down. Gretchen blames the most hated girl in school for this: Ariel. Then Jessica is accepted into the Oculus Society, and soon learns about an ability to switch bodies. Jessica insists that Gretchen should come and do the ritual with her. The ritual involves them "kissing." Ariel catches them and makes it a scandal, but while this is happening, Jessica and Gretchen have switched bodies. Ariel soon learns that the two girls go to a different school. A school in England. Ariel becomes the most popular girl in the school because of this. When Jessica and Gretchen come back they manage to wrap Ariel up in their world of switching bodies. The three girls now must uncover who killed Gretchen's mother, and why they did it.

I thought this book had a very good grip of action. It never failed to be sad on the sad parts, or mad in the mad parts (there are a lot of these). I think the author could have described the charcters better, but overall I though this was a great book. Anyone looking for a good read should look here. BONUS: If you find out who committed the murder, post it in the comments section!

Crescent by Homer Hickam****

Crescent is about Crater. He is starting to fight the crowhoppers, but when the crowhoppers are almost all killed, one crowhopper is left and Crater doesn't have the heart to kill it. The crowhopper tells Crater that their base is over in the hatch. Crater checks the hatch, and a very tiny crowhopper jumps out to kill him. Crater manages to take the crowhopper hostage. Crater soon learns that the crowhopper is a girl, but everyone else thinks she's an animal. Her name is Crescent (like the book). Crater saves Crescent from death and travels across the moon, helping himself and his friends at the same time to save the moon.

This book was a very good sequel to Crater. The author did an amazing job with details and an amazing job with the plot. I don't think that there will be another book in this series though. I loved how the crowhoppers aren't supposed to feel emotion, but Crescent is able to feel emotion. Anyone looking for a good read look no further. I hope you will love this book as much as I have.

Crater by Homer Hickam****

Have you ever dreamed of living on the moon? In Crater, a boy named Crater mines for precious dust on the moon. Crater is one of the weaker boys, so when he shows his bravery by saving another miner, he is selected to travel with a convoy to deliver the dust. Crater is attacked and separated from the convoy by crowhoppers. They are lethal assassins, and they are the most feared thing on the moon. Crater faces a warship, lots of crowhoppers, and a ton of trouble with the whole convoy.

This book shows the problems with too much advancement for the human race. It proves a point about energy consumption. That's why Crater is on the moon--to mine the dust for energy. This should prove a point to all who wish to keep using oil, and to anyone supporting them. I think that anyone should be able to read this book, but it has a lot of violence.

Solstice by P.J. Hoover***

Solstice is about Piper, a girl living during the worst global warming ever. The temperatures are almost always over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. When a new boy, Shayne, arrives, everyone, especially Piper, is head over heels. Shayne seems to only have eyes for Piper, which surprises her a lot. Then she learns that her friend is going to die. On the day her friend is going to die, Shayne comes with an angel. Piper pleads with Shayne not to kill her friend, so Shayne takes her to the Underworld. Piper now embarks on a journey filled with mythology and betrayal to love and death.

This book was okay. I wasn't impressed by it at all. It had some good parts, I was very surprised by the use of mythology though. I think anyone who's a fan of Rick Riordan would really like the mythology parts, but maybe not the rest.

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill****

All Our Yesterdays is about Em. She has been imprisoned by the doctor. She and her friend Finn are always trying to find a way to escape the lab. When a soldier finds his way through the lab, he helps them escape through the device that ruined their lives: the time machine. Em travels back to the time when the doctor is young, just to kill him. This will eliminate Em and the doctor, giving her past-self a new chance at life. Can Em save her past-self and the boy she once loved from becoming the doctor?

Would you time travel if you could? This book sort of shows that some ideas aren't very good. A lot of people would let that kind of power go to their heads. Anyone looking for an addicting book should read this.

In Darkness by Nick Lake****

In Darkness is about Shorty, a boy in Haiti during the gang wars and the earthquake. He is in the hospital when the earthquake hits. He is buried under the rubble in a super tiny room. Shorty tells the story of his life, the gang wars, the government leaders, even dead sisters. He tells his story with bits of intertwined memory reaching out to him. The memories are from a slave rebel, the rebel who started the campaign to make Haiti free. Can Shorty escape from the darkness and into the light?

This book has so many good points. It always shows never to give up and to never look back. Shorty looks back to his past a lot and ends up paying the price for it. He thinks he finds his sister, but it's a different girl. He tries helping the gangs, read where that got him: the hospital. He pays the price in this, surprisingly, fiction book. I loved this book and I hope you do too. Warning--very brutal violence.