Invisibility by Andrea Cremer and David Levithan***

Invisibility is an okay book. It picked up in the end, but it could have been better in the beginning. It felt too romance-y in the beginning, and then the book completely changed. It might have been better if it was more gradual or started that way. It is also very girly. I think that middle school students will like this book.

The Lord of Opium by Nancy Farmer****

The Lord of Opium is about Matt, the youngest drug lord. He owns Opium, the most healthy country. He has wildlife and good soil. This allows him to grow the Opium in mass amounts, but in the fields he has people who have microchips implanted in their heads working. They follow any order, and cannot do anything by themselves. People call them zombies. Matt's goal is to stop the opium production, and save the people with microchips.

I think that this book is really good. It kept me entertained, and it is in a series. I have read the first book, House of Scorpion. I really hope that there might be a third book. I think that if you are in high school, you would like this.

The Ward by Jordana Frankel****

The Ward is pretty interesting. It has a good plot. I loved how the story used water to create the disaster. The water is to filthy to drink, so it is rationed, not helping the disease that causes cancer.  But during this Ren, the main character, tries to help find a cure to save her friend. I really liked the whole book, and I think that high school students would like this book.

Never Ending by Martyn Bedford**

Never Ending is really depressing. I really don't like the fact that the story is told in third person. This is Shiv's (the main character) story about her brother. I think that this book is too depressing, and feels more fake than real. If the author changed the way the place Shiv is staying in reaction and rules, it would definitely be more believable. They gave the children a schedule and made them see pictures of the people who died. I thought that this was really cruel. I really don't recommend this book.

Matched by Ally Condie***

Matched was a highly recommended book for me, but I thought it was okay. It is mostly about a girl exploring feelings. To me, that is pretty dull. I think if you're more into romance novels, you would like this book better. I also think that this book is more for girls. If it had more action, I might have liked it more. Matched probably won't appeal to boys. I think that if you like more girly books, you would like this book.

The Worlds We Make by Megan Crewe***

The Worlds We Make is about Kaelyn and her friends who are trying to get a vaccine to the CDC to mass produce it. Along the way, some close friends die, and Kaelyn is captured by a group of people who want the vaccine to get power. She manages to hide the vaccine in a stream before she gets captured. With her brother's inside help, the group manages to escape the compound. Kaelyn's group finds CDC and brings the vaccine with them, but Michael (the head of the group that wants power) is already there, ready to steal it. She works out an agreement between the two sides, and respects the dead who helped her on her journey.

I think that this book would've been better if it included more action scenes. It felt dull throughout most of the book. The few spots that they actually were escaping, fighting, or running from enemies became dull very quickly. Most of the time the group is hiding or trying to get to CDC. I think that if this had changed, I would've liked this book better. I think that high school students will like this book.

Shadows by Ilsa J. Bick****

Shadows is a pretty good book. It could've used more of a direct plot with the main characters. The story flips from character to character, not focusing on one specific character. I think that with the characters, the plot should be more focused on them than on characters that will, or have, died. I do like this series, and I think that high school students would like it too.

The Dead by Charlie Higson*****

The Dead is about Ed, a survivor of the disease that only effects people sixteen or older. He knows everything is done for when the news announces that they're pretty much dead. He and a few other kids manage to escape their private school. They get a few kids out of church. Most of the children are followers of the Lamb, a made up religion created by one of the kids. They manage it to a museum that has been taken over by a "general." The "general" is named Jordan, and helps them many times during the journey. Ed loses many friends, most of them like family, and learns that being the hero is the hardest thing of all.

I really loved this book. It's actually pretty thick, over four-hundred fifty pages long. i might have liked it better if another kid was meant to carry on. Jake, with his background, seemed more like the perfect candidate for a main character, but I never really thought it was Ed. I know how the book shifted between people, but I really think that Jake should've survived. I think that high school students will love this thrilling tale.

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick****

Ashes is pretty good. It has a pretty reasonable plot, and is believable. I think that if the author had this book in a first person story (told by one person), it would be even better. I liked the way the author didn't make the hero and his/her friends the only people that were still normal, there were other normal people, and also some of the people that got seriously effected by the EMP (electromagnetic pulse). I think that zombie-horror-sci-fi people will love this book.

Wise Young Fool by Sean Beaudoin****

Wise Young Fool is about Ritchie Sudden. He's a teenager in a band that isn't even real, until his friend decides to enter them into a competition. His friend gets a bongo drummer and a singer to join them for the contest. They are amazing, but don't win. The contest guaranteed a chance on TV, and some money. Ritchie is sent to juvie after the contest because he drives through a house. The reason: his sister.

I loved Ritchie. He is a character that many teenagers can relate to. He has his struggles, but also his high times. I really liked some of the other characters in the story as well. The author could have changed the way Ritchie disrupted the system in juvie, or the way he brought on life problems. I really think high school readers will love this.

Unstoppable by Tim Green****

Unstoppable is about a boy who is stuck in foster homes. He loves football, but has never played. When he gets a chance, his teammates call him unstoppable. Then a teammate out for revenge hits him in the knee. The doctor finds something wrong, something very wrong, when he gets the knee checked out.

This book is very good. It has a good plot, and tells some troubles of the teenage life. The boy is bullied, and also loves to fight. He is told to hold the anger back until he gets on the field. A lot of teens can probably relate to having anger towards teachers, parents, or even friends. I think that a lot of teens would like this book.

The Lives We Lost by Megan Crewe**

The Lives We Lost isn't very good. It is very dull, predictable, and not very grabbing. I couldn't get into this book. I think that I would have liked this book better if the plot was more adjusted. It felt to mechanical. It is like someone is a robot traveling through the land. I think that middle school kids might like this book.

Stained by Cheryl Rainfield*****

Stained is about sixteen-year old Sarah Meadows, a teen with a port wine stain. She is kidnapped by a close friend of their family, who says that she is just a person playing the part of the victim. He has killed other girls like her with port wine stains, or more noticeable birthmarks. He tries to degrade her confidence, but Sarah never gives up, she keeps fighting, trying to find a way out. Her best friend, Nick, wants her to escape, and spends his time grieving and drawing comic strips about her. He uses some superheros that Sarah created to make the story. He also may be in love with her. Can Sarah escape the clutches of her kidnapper? Can Nick confess his true feelings?

I think that the author did a really good job with this book. Since I've read so many books, I know whether or not I'll be able to really, really enjoy a book. This is definitely one of them. It is always fast paced and continues to keep your attention for hours. It makes you emotional, and makes you think of ways Sarah could escape her kidnapper. I think if the author had put a little more detail into the kidnapper, the reason why he did it would be more clear at the beginning of the book. It would also help explain his motives, and help explain his emotions. This book has a lot of inappropriate spots, so it is definitely for high school students.

Angel Fever by L. A. Weatherly****

Angel Fever is the last book in the Angel Trilogy by L. A. Weatherly. It has many plot twisters, and things that push the characters to their breaking point. Some characters are forced to do things that they would never do. This book is really good.

I think that if this book was a bit shorter, I would have enjoyed it more. I also loved how some characters seemed to disappear in the first book, only to reappear now. It keeps the book more realistic. If new characters were introduced, I'm not sure I would've liked this book as much. I think that high school readers would love this series.

Angel Fire by L. A. Weatherly****

Angel Fire is about Willow finding another half angel. She once thought that she was the only one, but when she met Seb, it all changed. The newly formed Angel Killers decide to kill the head angels. Their plan goes terribly wrong, and friendships are broken, trusts betrayed, and the world as they knew it destroyed.

I love how the idea of a new half angle is implemented. It happens to Willow in a dream, but Seb had been looking for her almost his whole life. I think that if the author had maybe not drawn out the book (over 600 pages) so much, I would have liked it better, but it is good. I think people who like more religious-fantasy-type books would enjoy this book.

The Eye of Minds by James Dashner****

The Eye of Minds is about Michael, a gamer in the world of VirtNet. He always has a good time with people who he has never met. Then a  problem occurs; it's one of the biggest terrorist threats to the VirtNet ever imagined. People can be trapped inside, and when they die in the VirtNet, they die for real. Can Michael and his friends save the VirtNet?

I think that the author did a really good job of having a catchy intro. He opened up with a situation that you have to keep reading about. At first it makes it seem like real life, but then you learn it's a video game. Then the character tells you that she can't escape. It clutches you, and won't let you go. You have to keep reading. I also liked how the author didn't make Michael be super-human in the VirtNet. In fact, Michael seemed to be the weakest out of his group of friends. I think that sci-fi lovers would really enjoy this book.

Outcasts United by Warren St. John*****

Outcasts United is a non-fiction book about a group of refugees who all love to play soccer. They all can't really play until a coach takes the refugees and creates the Fugees, the refugee's soccer team. I think that this book is very touching, and sets a very good image for kids to follow. Many times the coach or her team had an obstacle in their way, but they always surpassed it. I think that this book is a very good inspiration, and everyone should be allowed to read it.

Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott***

Fire & Flood is about Tella. Her brother is dying, and only she can save him. She gets an invitation to the Brimstone Bleeds, a game where the winner can get the Cure, something to cure all illness. She plays through the first two rounds, with help from some allies.

I think if the author had a different intro, I might have liked this book better. It made me almost not read it, but I'm glad I did. This book is a lot like the Hunger Games, but with little animals to help the characters along. I think that people who enjoyed the Hunger Games will love this book.

The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe****

The Way We Fall is a book about a community who gets sick. The government cuts them off from all outside communication, but still delivers food. Can this island community survive? I think that this book had a good beginning that made you want to keep reading. It opened with a diary/notes to a friend that wasn't even there. This made me want to keep reading, and the fact that you want to know what happens to the community. I think that this book is very good, and that middle school readers would love it.

Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals*****

Warriors Don't Cry is about the segregation in the town of Little Rock, Arkansas. Melba Beals is one of the students chosen to integrate Little Rock Central High School. Students, parents, even teachers disapproved, but Melba never gave up. With the help of the few decent people at the time, she made it through the whole school year, and became a hero in the end.

This memoir is amazing. It is one of, if not the, most moving books I have ever read. I think that everyone should read this book just to get a feel of what it was like in the nineteen-fifty-seven. I hope everybody realizes how big of a problem this was. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

The Strictest School in the World by Howard Whitehouse***

The Strictest School in the World is very creative, but it is a bit unbelievable. The Kitty Hawk, the first real aircraft wasn't invented yet, but somehow, in the 1800 to 1900 range. Also, the birds. I think that this added suspense, but took away from the book as well. I won't spoil the birds, but there is a boy who you meet early one who is practically rubber. He can get hurt, but is indestructible. I also think that a fourteen year-old girl shouldn't be able to build a whole glider/aircraft. The tech in this book shouldn't even be around. It tells how to make an aircraft. I think that this could have been a bit more believable if she hadn't read multiple books. I think that someone with a very, very creative mind will love this book.

Now is the Time for Running by Michael Williams*****

Now is the Time for Running is about a 15-year-old African refugee (Deo) whose family is killed, all but his 25-year-old brother and perhaps his father, who he has never met. His brother, Innocent, is slightly mentally challenged (the result of the doctor's negligence when he was born), and he cannot go anywhere without his Bix-box, a tin box that holds his most cherished possessions. When Innocent is forced to run (without Deo, who is helping someone), he forgets his Bix-box and must return to a very dangerous place to get it. Deo is heartbroken when he returns to get Innocent. Deo is forced to go on without his older brother. Can Deo get across the border and find his father?

This book is amazing. It is adventurous, emotional, humorous, and educational. It is also well-written, and I liked how well-developed the characters are. I got really attached to Deo and Innocent and all of the characters. I haven't felt this sad about a book in a long time. I encourage all middle schoolers to read this book. It is definitely memorable. 

Unbreakable by Kami Garcia****

Unbreakable is about Kennedy, a girl whose mother has a heart failure and dies. But then two boys come who say that her mother was killed by a spirit that a demon sent. She doesn't believe them at first, but eventually her whole house turns against her. She is now on an epic adventure against a spirit who might do anything to stop her.

I was surprised by the ending, but I generally liked the book. It used enough detail to make it feel believable, but not too much to make it feel fake. I think that it might have been better if the spirits were all more hostile, it might have added more action to the book. I think that middle school readers would love this book.

Frozen by Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston*

Frozen is sort of dull. It didn't feel believable. Most fantasy books that I read I can really feel myself inside the book, as if the event is really happening. But in this book, I felt that this is more like seeing a movie that you know is fake. I really didn't like the type of way the author(s) discriminated the "freaks." The freaks didn't have gray eyes. That wasn't very believable to me either. I really didn't like this book, but maybe you will.

The Final Four by Paul Volponi*****

The Final Four is about four players. Two players on each team. Each with a goal: to win the game. They have all had rough times throughout their time in college ball. Who will win? This book is very good. The detail when describing the players and their emotions is really good. I think that anybody who is watching the NCAA tournament would like this book (P.S, I think that Kentucky will win).

No Safety in Numbers by Dayna Lorentz*****

No Safety in Numbers is about a group of kids who are stuck in a quarantined mall. They are trapped, and being hidden from the public while a rampant virus runs through the the mall, killing many. This book is very good. The whole plot of how a one of the kids finds a bomb that shuts down the mall is really good. I think that the book has a bit of a cliff-hanger at the end, and makes me wonder if there will be a second book.

The Sight by David Clement-Davies*

The Sight isn't that good. It is longer than it needs to be (over four hundred fifty pages long), and didn't feel all that interesting. It used too much space on extra details, and though those make a book better, too many is overwhelming. I think that if you're into books that are more mature than other fantasy, you'll like this book better than I did.

Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly*****

Angel Burn is about Willow and Alex. Alex is an Angel Killer, a group of people who have been traveling around the U.S to kill secret angels. Willow is a normal teenage girl who can see the future. She reads someones future and sees an angel in their past and future. She tries to stop the angel from hurting her classmate. That's when Alex gets a call to kill her. She is apparently an angel, but not like any he's ever seen. She's half human, half angel. Something both worlds have never seen.

This book is really good, it provides detail and didn't come up with a happy ending. Willow survived the blast, but still let thousands of angels into her own world. I think that the sequel to this book will be great, and I am really looking forward to it. I think high school students would love this book.

Beyonders: Chasing the Prophecy by Brandon Mull*****

Beyonders: Chasing the Prophecy is about Jason and Rachel. Their goal is to destroy Maldor, the evil emperor who rules over the land. They fight their way to his keep, and lose many friends along the way. But it's all worth it. They help save an empire.

This book is very good. It always has the right details, the right twists, and the right ways of putting things into context. I think that this book never even got boring, and always had an interesting plot that brought back ideas from the older books. This book is very long, but I think any middle school reader would like it.

No Surrender Soldier by Christine Kohler*

No Surrender Soldier isn't very good. It is very, very robotic like. It felt more like a documentary than a book. The soldier, malnourished and a Japanese soldier, seems very unrealistic. He wants to stay hidden, but almost kills a dog, and steals a baseball. I think that the boy, Kiko, choosing a butcher's knife over a machete is sort of unrealistic. I don't recommend this book for anyone.