Over all this entire book is very compelling. Condie really captures what it would be like to try and break free from everything you know and love. She fills the book with symbols of freedom which really makes you think about what it is like to be caught between your best friend and the one you love, when you love them both but in a different way. The theme changes throughout as it starts off with order, showing how well everything can strive under the strict rules of The Society. Then goes to follow your heart, we follow a good girl slowly becoming rebellious for her true love. Another theme switch is limitations; she is limited on what she can do for no one knows what could happen to her, Ky or her Family. Condie’s writing exposes this dystopian life that has become welcoming to everyone by lying about what the world was like before the Society. Ally adds metaphors to little things; such as the three pills relating to Cassia’s strengths. The green pill which is used as a anxiety depressant refers to how Cassia is strong by herself she is tempted by offers The Society makes much  like how she is tempted to take the pill when she panics but she preservers and stays strong. This masterpiece ties together love triangles that are suffocating under Official’s control while trying to assure a safe future.

 

            Roz is just your average teenager except for one thing. She has an eye disease which causes her to be legally blind in her central vision. When her classmate, Tricia Farnis, body floats to the surface of a local pond, Roz is put to questioning because she was the last known person to see Trish that night. But there is only one problem, she can’t remember what happened to her the night Tricia went missing. “I had nothing. No, not nothing. There were glimpses, fragments of memories.” (Ellen page 123). Roz tries to piece together what little she remembers and what others know about that night but its just not coming back. Roz is determined to find out who killed Tricia but she doesn't know who to t Even her own boyfriend could be lying to her!Follow Roz in her determined journey to find out who really killed Tricia Farnis.

            I truly couldn't stop reading Blind Spot by Laura Ellen. Every well written word leads flawlessly to the next and keeps the reader hanging on. By adding the eye disease to the main character, Ellen adds another sense of mystery and another problem that the characters will have to work their way around. Ellen also adds a romantic element to the book that ties in to the problem of Roz not remembering. Having the reader only know as much as Roz and her friends do keeps the reader on edge and forces you to keep reading. When Ellen had Roz start to think that she was the one who killed Trish, she forces the reader to constantly change their guess on who killed Tricia. If you are looking for an amazing mystery with a slight romantic twist, I would highly suggest reading Blind Spot by Laura Ellen 

 

This book was a masterfully made adventure, with it's memorable characters like Dough Sweiteck with his 410 ways to get a teacher to despise you. Or, Meryl Lee Kowalski, the love-with-hate interest of Holling. On top of that, Schmidt used many allusions to Shakespeare, which encouraged me to peek at The Tempest and more works just to piece together the beautifully woven insults based upon the curses used in the stories. With this in mind, the setting was very accurately placed, describing soldiers in Vietnam during WWII and the rise of flower girls. To get back to the point, Schmidt also used the allusions towards Shakespeare develop characters and describe events, which further encouraged me to explore The Tempest. While it is fun to read plus an effective way to keep a reader interested, I found this book generally splits into a lot of mini plots at most possible moments in the story, which could lead to reading lots of pages over again just to keep track of what was going on in the story. In the end, this book was fun to start my year off with, putting me in hopes of having my own adventure in my ninth grade year of 2016. res

Dessen's best seller is a witty emotional read that combines romance, comedy, and a depiction of realistic tragedy. This amazing story of Annabel's journey to courage and confidence is a great read that not only entertains you, but teaches you a life lesson. This novel illustrates the arrant importance to have confidence and stick up for yourself. You should defend yourself no matter how scared you are, which doesn’t only apply to situations like being raped. I think another message of the book is that, blocking out your problems will not rid them from your life. “I remember Owen telling me how music had saved him in Phoenix, that it drowned everything out and it was the same for me now. As long as I had something to listen to, I could blur the things I didn't want to think about, if not block them out completely” (Dessen 310). Annabel uses music as a buffer from the problems of her life as she tunes out the rest of the world. Instead of facing her problems, she's trying to pretend they never happened, which never really works as shown in the story. The conflict of what happened in the past comes right back on her and very soon she will realize the only way to truly exterminate your problems is to face them. Sarah Dessen will keep you at the edge of your seat as you explore the tragic life of Annabel Greene, in Just Listen.

 

       The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is a modern-day Bible for teenagers. It’s practically the definition of high school. Chbosky talks about what it’s like to feel empty, abused, and alive all at the same time during your teenage years. This is simply a story that gives you the chance to relate and connect. Although you have to have a certain level of maturity to understand the story and some parts could be thought to be too adult, it truly is a fantastic book. Charlie, the main character and protagonist, struggles with PTSD, depression, and anxiety. These disorders are absolutely represented in today’s teenage society. Charlie is someone to relate to. Many teenagers believe that no one is going through the same thing, but reading this book can show anyone that that is a false statement. With thematic elements such as character development, theme, and mood, you will be at your knees for a sequel. This story isn’t just 213 pages of ink, its 213 pages talking about what others are afraid to talk about. Afraid to explore the mind of a teenager, talk about mental illness, and most of all, afraid to embrace the basic fact that life isn’t easy.

 

          Chbosky makes us feel emotions that are relatable or foreign. He writes a story that is eye opening or understandable. He gives the reader what they want, stories filled with happy times and low points. He gives the reader something that is true to life, not all books can be about when the guy gets the girl or when everything turns out right. The Perks of Being a Wallflower shows the downsides of what it’s like to be an introvert and the perks of being one. Although there is really no resolution at the end, it still gave the reader a feeling of complete. It explains what some people don’t understand and it creates awareness for teens in real life. It’s not just a story of a quiet kid. It takes you through the journey of high school from the view point of a socially awkward boy who struggles with common disorders. Chbosky just lays everything out. He makes a story and someone reads it. They interpret it how they want and spread it around the world. Who knows, it may just show someone that they aren’t as alone as they thought they were.

The book "Black Hole Sun" by David Macinnis Gill is a science-fiction novel about a chief and his Davos (group of mercenaries) defending the miners and their home from a cannibalistic tribe called the Draeu whose queen is after some chigoes, deadly creatures capable of horrendous things. 

The novel was very action-packed and left me on the edge of my seat all the time. It was fast-paced and a thrilling story for the readers to enjoy.  I thought the book was well-made and I think people who are into intense action and suspense should definitely read this book. I found it interesting how the author would change the perspective from Jacob to the Draeu queen every now and then because it helped put together the idea of what the queen was trying to accomplish, and showing her role and personality at the same time. The author does a good job of letting the reader know what the protagonists and antagonists are like, which added greatly to the book and everyone's role in it. The book did have a few typos, but besides that small detail, I think this was an amazing novel that a lot of people would love to read. 

 

 

 

In Veronica Roth's novel Divergent she creates an enveloping story about Beatrice Prior, commonly known by the nickname Tris. Tris lives in a dystopian future where the city is divided into five factions, Erudite, Candor, Amite, Dauntless, and Abnegation. Beatrice originally  belongs to the faction of Abnegation. She chooses to become a member of the Dauntless at the choosing ceremony when someone is in their sixteenth year of life they choose their faction that they are to stay in until they die. Before the ceremony those who will be choosing will be tested to help make their choice. During the test Tris is told she is Divergent and that she cant tell anyone. This secret will become a main part to the story later on. 

Marissa Meyer’s novel Winter, the fourth and final addition to The Lunar Chronicles, is a futuristic adaptation of the classic fairytale Snow White. Seventeen-year-old Princess Winter is undeniably the most beautiful young woman on the moon, as well as the step-daughter of the evil Queen Levana. She is trying to undermine the queen by helping the rightful heir to the Lunar throne, Princess Selene, start a revolution.

            This novel is set far in the future, after Earth has accomplished world peace, and established a colony on the moon. The Lunar colony broke away from Earth, and over the years, its inhabitants have gained the peculiar ability to manipulate bioelectricity. This means they can take control of another person’s body, and change their own appearance at will. If the Lunars do not use their ability, they slowly go mad. Winter has not used her gift in several years, and is suffering the detrimental side effects of doing so.

            This series is about the lost princess, Princess Selene, trying to take back the Lunar monarchy from Levana. The fourth book starts when she finally makes it to the moon, and starts to gather support from the oppressed working class. Winter is stuck at the castle for most of the book, but is doing everything she can to assist the revolution. She even takes in one of Selene’s companions, after the girl is accidentally left behind in the capital. 

            I love Meyer’s writing style, and how she stays very true to the original version of Snow White. In one part, Queen Levana disguises herself as an old woman, and gives Winter a poisoned candy apple. Winter then goes into a coma, and has to be put in a suspension chamber so she has a chance of survival, while Selene goes to the capital to get the antidote. This is very similar to the part of Snow White when the queen disguises herself and gives Snow White a poisoned apple, which puts her into a deep sleep.

            Everything about this book, even the font, has a futuristic feel to it. Meyer describes the technology with such detail, is could almost be real. The new world she describes is drastically different than ours, and she explains why, in a way that could be possible. After World War IV, the earth is in ruins, and is rebuilt with new alliances and relationships between political leaders. 

            Overall, I would recommend this book to teenage readers, because of the complicated topics the series covers: from politics to war tactics, and even a little adultery. However, this is a very good read, and a very good example of how even the smallest of details matter to creating a very real-feeling world for the reader.

            As a young girl, Patsy had been exposed to the troubled life of a patriot. As Thomas Jefferson’s daughter, she has learned first-hand about fear, loss, pride, and love. Her love for her father was ever-lasting and after her mother’s devastating death, she became her father’s rock. 

Patsy Jefferson is put through many trials throughout her life. While helping her father’s grief over his lost wife, she was stripped of her childhood. From a young age, Patsy Jefferson had learned the evils of the world. After losing her mother, Patsy is torn from her sister and taken to France where the revolution was blooming. All while helping her father, she is engaged in a secret love affair with her father’s apprentice. Patsy must make a decision between family and love that will determine her life.

From dazzling court rooms in France, to the muggy wooden Monticello, Patsy must make choices far more difficult than anything she has ever done. Patsy’s choice will define her existence, as a loving wife or her father’s foundation.

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            From the similes to the specific imagery, Alexandra Bracken’s writing is simply intoxicating. “If it were possible, the car looked worse than before- like a toy that someone had wedged down the sink and run down the garbage disposal” (Bracken 124). Although the novel takes place in a dystopian America, Bracken makes the setting of the East Coast feel tangible. The silence that fills the highways, the dull abandoned towns and the homeless milled around motels are just fragments of the picture Bracken paints. Her writing encourages you to follow Ruby and join this dysfunctional group to fight for a place in this world. The emotions Ruby expresses and the thought shots Bracken conveys have you laughing, crying and cringing with every word. Likewise, her characters grasp your attention, ensnaring you with their dialogue and backstories. Even when the storyline feels like it’s about to drag, a plot twist will have you tossing The Darkest Minds down the stairs, immediately regretting it and then plunging though the book for several hours. Without hesitation, I would recommend The Darkest Minds to everyone interested in dystopian, sci-fi or fantasy young adult novels, especially readers new to the genre. 

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Ransom Riggs wrote this book and series to amaze and entertain readers. His vivid word choice and overall format of the book leads the reader on an unforgettable suspense-filled journey. Riggs also added real photos to each to chapter to make the story exquisitely unique. The characters he created add to the insanity of the novel: peculiar children with individualized powers such as making flames with their hands, bringing clay figures to life, and floating mid-air; a talking, human-like dog, a gigantic, hooded boatman, and white-eyed villainous men called wights. “The boatman was upon us, looming overhead and laughing, his cavernous guffaws booming around us. It might have been a trick of the darkness, but I could’ve sworn I saw a rat tumble from the hood of his cloak, and another slip from his sleeve as he slowly raised an arm towards us” (Riggs 51). The boatman turns out to be named Sharon and he is actually a very nice fellow, but from his bold introduction, many would think otherwise. Riggs uses word choice, dialogue, characters and suspense to fool his readers and develop intense plot-twists. I recommend this book/series to anyone who enjoys peering into their imaginations, and don’t mind trekking knee-deep into great writing. This was a really amazing story and I think everyone should have the pleasure of reading it. 

            For the most part, the beginning of the book is very action-packed and is easy to follow. Part II, on the other hand, is very slow and difficult to follow. 

            In the first half, the main conflict is survival, but in the second half, the conflict turns into a love triangle. Alex meets Chris, and he falls in love with her, but she still loves Tom. The book itself is more of a combination of The 5th Wave (apocalyptic dystopia) and Mockingjay (inside corruption) than it is an original idea. I do not recommend this book because it just seems like a book you’ve read 1,000 times before in every other young adult no

Samantha Whipple is the last remaining relative of the Brontë s, who haunt her. Her father, famous author Tristan Whipple (who has various aliases) was an alcoholic that obsessed over his ancestors' books, their legacy. After a fire suddenly killed him, Sam discovers that her father's will, like many of aspects of him, is cryptic. While attempting to understand her father's last message to her and handling her grief, she enters the college life. Sam's new professor, James Orville the III, is as impressive as his name: one of the youngest professor as well as strikingly handsome- if only he wasn't hellbent on playing the devil's advocate. Through her professor, the main characters tries to understand the past of her ancestors. Inconsistencies appear in their masterpieces and Sam suspects foul play. Were these inconsistencies due to the inexperience of the authors or was there some theft involved? To solve this mystery, a series of adventures occur; these include midnight trysts and breaking into rooms. Sam attempts follow the literary map that her enigmatic father left her in order to do this. While trying to find the last remaining piece of him, a staggering truth is revealed and a ghost comes back from the past. Faced with a scandal, Sam admits that she doesn't know her father at all. During this, Sam realizes that she may have uncovered a very disturbing past as well as a dysfunctional family (to say the least). Was Mad-Woman Bertha, real? Was there someone that her family tried desperately to hide away?  
All in all, the only disappointing thing about this book was the ending, or rather the existence of one. Throughout the novel, the main character learns to interpret literature and its elements. She questions whether the story is 'true' since narrators are rather unreliable; this little fact left me with a sense of unease as the book drew to an end as she says that authors will often invent happy endings they want. Throughout the book, I was provided with a sense of dramatic irony and ‘breaking the fourth wall'. Humorous and painfully awkward in a real-as-life way, this book reaches out to any lover-of-literature. Although conspiracy theories aren't something one would consider to exist in the society of literature, Ms. Lowell artfully (as well as subtly) creates one of the mysterious Brontë family.  -MA

 

The Beckoners Book Review 

Carrie Mac's "The Beckoners" accounts the adventures of Zoe, a new girl in a frigid town. This may sound familiar, because "The Beckoners" is an excessively cliché book. I felt Mac spent too much time molding Zoe into a grungy and edgy character to develop the plot. By the end of the book, I knew and understood Zoe, but the book felt almost pointless, as if nothing important happened. Mac focused on character development, rather than literary elements. This resulted in a sloppy story, filled with overwhelming problems, and unrealistic storylines. Another reason I abhorred the book was because Mac loaded the story with issues such as alcoholism, family issues, rape, bullying, poverty, and abuse. I think the story would have been better if she chose a few of these complications, instead of wedging them all into one story. In conclusion, while reading, I felt like either nothing was happening, or too much was going on...I believe the perfect book is right in between. I would not recommend this book to someone who loves adventure, and mystery. "The Beckoners" is very bland, dry and bewildering.  

One theme of  "The Beckoners" is that being in the in-crowd does not make your life perfect, or make you cool. This book would help someone who is struggling with that concept...but I feel at my age and maturity, most of us (my peers) understand that concept very well. I am not sure who I would recommend this book to, due to the fact that the theme is very juvenile, while the topics are very mature. Overall, the book was highly strange and I would not recommend it. 

Yancey utilizes many different methods of lasting effect within the reader in The Fifth Wave. Notably: intentional line breaks and symbolism. Line breaks are used to create powerful moments, and really help create such an invigorating read. The author also utilizes thematic development to create a truly interesting plot that easily keeps the reader’s attention. These elements were successfully implemented and were not out of place. The author's purpose of creating a dynamic, intricately woven storyline with complex characters and events that inspire inferences was clear throughout the novel and brilliantly executed as well. It is a fantastic read that almost any sci-fi fan will be sure to enjoy. If you see this book in your local book store, as well as its two sequels, give it a try and see how you like it.

Lia had an unfortunate disease, Anorexia. She was constantly worried about how much she was eating and how much she weighed that it was hard for her to live her life. She felt as if she needed to release herself, so this is when she started cutting. To her no one in her family understand. Cassie, her best friend and next door neighbor, was the only one who knew what she was feeling. Unlike Lia, Cassie did eat. She ate a lot! But she couldn’t except that, so she made herself vomit. It was so serious to the point that she ruptured her esophagus and suffered through a horrible death. This just made things even more stressful for Lia. She couldn’t take it any longer...

I absolutely love this book. I have read some of Laurie Anderson's books before but this has to be my favorite. It’s the believable depressing scenarios like this that just pull me in. I love the fact that Anderson writes in first person, which lets me as a reader know how Lia is feeling and I can relate easier. This disease is a real problem that some people are facing everyday so it lets the reader know what they are going through.

            Private Robin Perry AKA “birdy” is deployed overseas to Fallujah, Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom to free the Iraqis and take down Haddam Hussein.  Birdy is in the Civil Affairs unit, “the Civil Affair team, will be on board to see what the Iraqi noncombatants need so that [the army] can begin the rebuilding process as soon as possible” (Myers, 6).  Through the book, Birdy goes on various little missions to help out citizens in Iraq, so that the United States can make good with the citizens of Iraq, and his squad job is to convince Iraqis to cooperate with the army. Robin mentions why he joins the army, he says, “Uncle Richie, I felt like crap after 9/11 and wanted to do something, to stand up for my country. I think if Dad had been my age, he would have done the same thing” (Myers, 2).  Birdy has an inner conflict with himself as he asks himself, why are we here, what are we really doing to help?  I personally enjoyed the book, I liked how Myers told a story of how a soldier’s day to day life was like overseas in Iraq and how he talked about their daily problems like dealing with a bunch of people in their unit and being scared of the possibility of being blown up at any moment in time.  Myers would add letters Birdy would write home to his mom and Uncle in between chapters telling how Birdy was feeling.  Walters gives an excellent example of what being a soldier really is like.

 

Between shades of gray by Ruta Sepetys is a diary of a fifteen year old girl named Lina who got arrested by Soviet Secret Police and thrown into a prison camp.  Lina, her mom, and her younger brother were all separated from their father who got sent to a different camp in a completely different state.  

            It all started in the summer of June 1941.  It was late at night and Lina's father still hadn't returned from work.  Settling into bed, she heard a pounding at the front door.  It was the NKVD.  They only had twenty minutes to get their belongings together and get into the truck waiting outside.  After traveling for hours cramped with other families, they got dumped into a train yard at an unknown location.  If anyone tried to run, they got shot.  If anyone disobeyed the secret police, they were beaten to death.  While the Secret Police were separating people into different train cars, Jonas, Lina’s younger brother, got pulled away from his sister and mother.  Trying to save his life, their mom gave the officer a pocket watch in exchange for Jonas.  “Have you ever wondered what a human life is worth? That morning, my brother's was worth a pocket watch” (Sepetys 27).  Lina and her family got thrown into a train car that was so cramped, they all had to stand.  They were in that train car with no food for six weeks.  At the camp, everyone had to do grueling work from dawn to dusk.  Their food rations depended on their progress.  The Secret Police treated the prisoners horribly.  They thought it was hilarious to see them suffer while they got to sit back and enjoy the show.  

He told us to lay down.  He shot into the hole.  Dirt crumbled down from above our heads.  Mrs. Rimas screamed.  Komorov told us to shut up.  He circled around and around, muttering that we were disgusting pigs. Suddenly, he began kicking dirt from the large pile into the hole.  He laughed and kicked faster and faster.  The soil landed on my feet, then on my dress, then on my chest.  He kicked furiously, covering us up in dirt, still pointing the gun at our faces.  If I sat up, I'd be shot.  If I didn't sit up, I'd be buried alive.  BANG!  Then it was quiet. We lay there, buried in our own efforts (Sepetys 150).

All Lina could think about was how she needed to survive to get to her father.  She had left little clues at each train stop in hope that her father would see and find them.  “I thought about papa.  Did he know how much I missed him?  I clutched his handkerchief in my pocket, thinking of his smiling face” (Sepetys 73).  Once the winter months came, their mother died of scurvy and Jonas almost died of it as well but help came at the last minute.  Lina's love for her dad was the only thing left keeping her alive.  Everyone in this time period only thought that Hitler was treating the Jews bad but not a lot of people knew about how the Soviets also had prisoners.  They kept it a secret.

            I loved how this novel illustrates how Lina grows from an unsure, nervous girl to a confident, brave young woman.  This book made me appreciate the things I have and now I understand the kinds of things people went through in Soviet prison camps.  I also loved how it also had some romance in it between Lina and a boy she meets named Andrius.  I liked how this novel was written as a diary because I could see everything through Lina's eyes and it was phenomenal.  The novel was so beautifully written it was as if I was experiencing the same things Lina was.  It was a very emotional page turner.  It demands to be read in one sitting.  I would absolutely recommend this book to others.  

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By: A.L.

 The story of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling begins with Harry running away from the home he shared with the Dursleys and finding himself back a Hogwarts. He learns that a prisoner named Sirius Black, who is accused of killing many innocent people and being a faithful servant to Lord Voldemort, has escaped Azkaban and is out to get Harry. With the help of his friends Ron and Hermione, Harry must learn to defeat the dementors-joy sucking entities who now guard the school- save who needs to be saved, and find out the truth.

Everyone should read this book because it is a very quick and exciting read. The author is able to take the reader right through it with suspense and a flowing organization of writing. The characters are all very complex and interesting so the reader becomes very close to them. The complexity of characters allows the reader to become so much more immersed in the story because they feel like they are living through Harry. Rowling’s use of third person omniscient is very effective because it makes it so the reader can understand Harry Potter’s emotions, but also the emotions of certain other characters. The author also uses foreshadowing very well within the plot and demonstrates the theme that people should not always believe what they are told about someone, and that they should always fight for what is right. t��=�ix

            In The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan, the author maintains many separate plot lines while still keeping focus on a single series of events. The book takes place in a world that is never specifically named, but consists of many large kingdoms and peoples. It takes place during “one Age, called the Third Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past” (Jordan 15). The book starts where the last book in the series left off. The main, character, Rand al’Thor, had just taken over a palace called the Stone of Tear, which is located in the seaside city of Tear. He soon declared himself the Dragon Reborn, which means that he is the man chosen by prophecy to bring the people of the world together to fight against a strong force of the dark, led by a very powerful being named Ba’alzamon, also known as the Dark One. Rand is able to use a type of magic called the One Power, which is usually only wieldable by a select group of women called the Aes Sedai. Rand resides in the palace with his companions, who are also major characters in the plot. Perrin Aybara, who is one of Rand’s friends from the village he grew up in, The Two Rivers, is able to speak to wolves and command them. Mat Cauthon, also from the Two Rivers, traveled with Rand as well. Egwene al’Vere, Nyneave al’Meara, and Elayne Trakand, are Aes Sedai in-training and also traveled with Rand and his group. Rand leads an army of desert-dwelling warriors called the Aiel, who follow him through a majority of the book.

            Robert Jordan manages to maintain these three plot lines perfectly, while clearly connecting them at different points in the story. An example of this is that all of the characters are fighting against one common enemy. Even though all of the plots take place in different parts of the world, they all relate to retaliating against the Dark One. The author also makes excellent use of imagery throughout the book. Every scene is perfectly described to allow the reader to visualize what is happening. When Rand arrived at Alcair Dal, Jordan describes it as “Almost perfectly round, its gray wall sloped all the way around except for at the far end, where it curled inward like a breaking wave” (Jordan 891). The author expresses expert usage of descriptive language and a simile to show the reader exactly how the canyon looked. Moreover, Jordan builds upon his characters very well, too. Even his minor characters are described in such a way that they seem real. These two things, imagery and characters, very effectively support the author’s intent, which is to entertain the reader with a vast world full of interesting places and people. The recurring theme of the book is that where there is power, there will always be people who seek to destroy it. Overall, in The Shadow Rising, Robert Jordan succeeds at using literary elements and descriptive language to make the book a great pleasure to read.

 

Book review of Dark Life by Kat Falls 

            In the book Dark Life by Kat Falls, the main character Ty goes down into Coldsleep Canyon with nothing but a diveskin and a manta board. While hiding from sea creatures in a derelict sub, he finds a girl from the topside named Gemma, who has never seen a dark life.

            “People don’t eat fish that glow in the dark.” She said.

            “Down here we do.” He said.

            “Really? That’s so — “ Bounding forward, she jabbed me in the ribs with her flashlight. I gasped in pain while she gasped even louder. “Hot tar! You are real.” (Kat Falls 7). This made me laugh because it shows that she had never seen a person with a shine.

We meet Ty’s sister Zoe, when she comes home from “fishing”.

 “Even other settlers, who were used to kids with shimmering skin, got tricked into thinking that Zoe was angelic because of her wide eyes and blond curls. Then they got to know her.” (Kat Falls 61). 

Kat Falls writing style in this book shows she has humor and at the same time has romance, the theme of Dark Life is that love is made not given. You should read this book! 

Isaac Kolosik 

For my independent book project I read the book “Super.” This book was written by Matthew Cody. 

This book is one of the best books I have ever read. As a teenager this book gives me characters I can relate too and the real life situations they go through. This book brings suspense along with action seemingly all the time. Although it has children characters this book would please readers of all ages. 

This book takes place in a small town in Pennsylvania called Noble Green. This town is an ordinary town except it has something you would never expect.  Children with super natural powers or “The Supers.” All is seemingly well after their battle with the shroud. An evil power stealing man. As life is seemingly going well a new boy moves into town. His name is Theo Plunkett the grandnephew to Herman Plunkett or otherwise “The shroud.” Daniel the leader of the Supers (who ironically doesn’t have powers) is threatened and concerned by this wondering if the evil runs in the family. One night Daniel and Eric (the most powerful super) Tangle tree bridge when expensive sports car started to swerve of the bridge. As Eric went to save the driver and the car something very strange seemed to happen. He didn’t have his flight or strength. Then all of a sudden Daniel gets a sudden feeling and he saves the mystery man using Eric’s flight and strength. Who borrowed his powers somehow? The person that was saved though was Theo causing Theo to start his own investigation on this little town. The very next day things went back to normal for Eric and Daniel. “Had yesterday been a fluke? By some weird quark of Nobles Green super physics.” (Cody, 69). The supers then decided they wanted to do more investigations on this wealthy Plunkett boy and they all meet up at Theo’s house for pizza. This wasn’t some hangout session though for the supers they were looking for anything left behind by Herman Plunkett that may have caused these strange power stealing’s from Daniel. As Daniel and Louisa Search for anything left from The Shroud they find a letter from Herman to Daniel. It says how this means Daniel must have won but Herman also says “Have You tried on the ring.” (Cody 110). The ring was a powerful ring because it had the ability to steal the powers from the Supers. As Daniel left the study who heard a noise back from the study and came to see it was Louisa on the ground being watched by a shadow like figure. The supers didn’t know what to do. They didn’t know if it was another shroud or just an evil creature protecting Herman’s layer. The Supers decided they needed to stay together after what happened in the study. As the Supers were enjoying a normal Halloween night when a hoard of the shadow creatures attacked all the supers. Unknowingly Daniel stole the powers of Eric and Rose (sister of Louisa who can become invisible). He fought off all the shades but the attacks became scarier and Daniel was more scared of his new powers. Daniel realized finally through all the snooping of Theo that he wasn’t the villain and they needed to go back to the quarry and find out the leader of the shades.  When they reached the lair they found Herman locked up trapped by the shades. They also discovered the shades were the powers of the people Herman stole from whose spirited just wanted to be free. The Supers then take out Herman who tells them about why he was locked up but at the same time the shades go and take over the town. Daniel realizes that the only way to free them is to take the pendant which stole powers from the supers. Once Daniel does this he realizes he saves the town and all the supers who ever lost their powers regain them and get their powers back. 

The Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling. This book is a continuation of the Harry Potter series and is told from the perspective of Harry’s son Albus Severus Potter and written in the style of a play.

In the book, J.K. Rowling switches points of view from Albus’ to Harry’s and then to Scorpius’, the son of Draco Malfoy. The book is mainly set in Albus’ point of view and skips around from when he first goes to Hogwarts till he decides to run off.  J.K. Rowling skips certain years of school and unimportant events leading up to the main action, but she still has the play written in time order.

Throughout the book we are shown the struggles and thoughts that Albus has and how he tries to find himself after he has lost himself. The story starts off with Albus as a young child during his first year and Rowling shows his progression throughout by his thoughts and by his actions. Rowling uses stage directions to set the scene and to convey the feelings of the characters.

Albus and Scorpius both face issues at school and at learn to be brave even when there is little hope. J.K Rowling creates a relatable conflict but adds in the effect of magic through the tales of Albus, and she provides more sides to the story by switching points of view.  Rowling provides an inspiring story to those who may feel as Albus had, and she creates a sympathetic feeling towards all characters.

The book The Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling is action-packed and is an inspiring story of hope and determination when things seem wrong. The book shows the importance and treasure of having good friends by your side. Even when all hope is lost, a friend can change the way you look at the situation and having a good friend is a gift to keep. I would highly recommend, but knowing the Harry Potter series is a must. This book will surely enchant you.