The Second Virginity of Suzy Green
Sara Hantz
****Suzy used to be a quick-witted, wiseguy, almost-Goth, party girl. Then her perfect sister died. When the family moves to a new town to start over, Suzy decides that she too, will do a makeover. She studies hard and gets straight A's. She hangs with the cool kids at school. She never gets in trouble. None of her new friends drink or do drugs. And, they all belong to a virginity club! Suzy's best friend from home Maddie, gets a kick out of this knowing that Suzy is not qualified to join the club. But, counters Suzy, noone in her new town knows this. Especially not Guy, her new crush! So, what will happen when Suzy's ex appears on the scene? Will he spill the beans to all her new friends or keep her secret?
Definite chick-lit. Suzy is a very likable character doing as well as she can after the devastating loss of her older sister. A nice read for a rainy Saturday or a plane ride across the country at 258 pages.
Peeled
Joan Bauer
****Banesville, NY is home to the Apple Blossom Queen and all things apple. Join journalist Hildy Biddle and her friends from The Core school newspaper, as they investigate the biggest story to hit their small town in at least five years. The apparent appearance of a ghost in the abandoned Ludlow house, which some think is haunted, and subsequent dead body on the property, leads Hildy and her friends on a quest for the truth.
As Hildy investigates, she finds something much more sinister than a harmless ghost going on. Big money is trying to take over the apple orchards and oust people from their homes and livelihoods. It is not another mall being planned, but an amusement park, using the Ludlow house as it's main horror attraction.
Will Hildy find out who is behind the ghostly antics before her neighbors lose their farms? Will her underground paper even be read? Will the truth ever be learned?
A fun story of just over 200 pages with likeable characters and a touch of romance.
How to Ruin a Summer Vacation
Simone Elkeles
*****This book is one of the best books I have ever read. It's about a girl named Amy whose parents were never married, and she was basically a mistake, because her parents were at a college party and she happened. Now, instead of going to tennis camp and hanging out with her best friend, Jessica and her boyfriend Mitch, her father (whom she calls Sperm Donor) wants to take her to Israel for the summer because the grandma that Amy didn't know she had, is dying.
Amy ends up having the best three months of her life there and she gets much, much closer with her father. My favorite part of the story is when Amy has a competition with her cousin, Osnat. They see who can shave a sheep faster, without it running away.
Reviewed by Carissa Messina, Grade 8
*****Plum Island is a best-selling novel written by Long Island's own, Nelson DeMille. The novel takes place on the North Fork of Long Island during the early 1990's, and is filled with insightful descriptions of both the area and its inhabitants.
The novel begins when a convalescing NYC detective, John Corey, decides to take up the case of two murdered government scientists and is then plunged into a world of secrecy, suspicion, and betrayal. The novel is filled with mystery, suspense, and surprising twists and turns. It's main attribute however, is it's comic relief. John Corey's egotism, sarcasm, bluntness, and wit saturate the novel and offsets the more morbid and gloomy aspects.
The novel is well-written and the plot is both original and intelligent. Besides this, most Long Islanders will be able to connect with the setting and may actually be surprised at how accurate DeMille's portrayal of the North Fork is.
Personally, between the well-developed plot, Corey's humor, and the novel's ability to engage the reader, I found this to be one of the best novels I've ever read.
However, this novel is not for children. It contains frequent uses of vulgarities, violence, and multiple sexual encounters.
Reviewed by Christopher Chevallier, grade 12
The Book of Joby
Mark J Ferrari
****This book came out in 2007, but I just finally got around to reading it. This is the ultimate good vs. evil story. God against Lucifer, once and for all. Lucifer has made a deal with God. All creation hangs on the outcome of 9-year old Joby's life. By the time Joby is 40-years old, the decision will be made.
Both God and Lucifer enter Joby's brain while he sleeps, planting their seeds of faith and love or rage and hopelessness. Angels cannot intervene on God's behalf and even God is not allowed to help during this 30-year war over Joby's soul.
Joby is harrassed by unknown demons throughout his life, rendering him hopeless and helpless. Why is his life so wrong? How come everything and everyone he touches gets hurt or dies? Joby drops out of college and leaves his family and friends. He finally makes a new friend, only to have him die in Joby's arms. Joby runs away again to a quiet, seaside village that he remembers from his youth. But, things are different here. Everyone is kind and peaceful. Students call teachers by their first names. Joby swears he saw a boy swimming like a dolphin, staying underwater for minutes at a time. No one gets sick. No one is ever injured. It's like there's an invisible protection around the entire village. Or is there? And how does Merlin and Arthur and the knights of the Roundtable all fit in? They were just dreams Joby had as a child, weren't they?
This book is the length one of the early Harry Potter books (600 pages), though it doesn't read quite as quickly. If you're not a reader, you might want to skip this one. But, if you are a reader, and you like a little science/fantasy in your fiction, give it a try. This could become a classic!
Thomas Fahy
***Five years ago, 11-year old Allison and five friends burned Jacob Crawley's cult compound to the ground in order to escape his tyranny and abuse. Now, Allison returns to Meridian, North Carolina for the funeral of one of the six who died in a supposed drowning accident.
Problem is, Harold's body was found 30 miles away from any body of water. And now, one by one, Allison's friends are being gruesomely murdered and mutilated and it is up to Allison to find out who is behind the killings. Or, is Jacob's prophecy coming true from five years ago; that each teen would die of their worst fear in five years?
This is a fabulous read if you like thrillers and gore. Similar to Friday the 13th movies, this book involves a camp (compound), friends disappearing one by one, and a psychopath on the loose killing in the most demonic fashion.
Lisa McMann
***Ever wish you could get inside somebody else's head? Wonder what they're thinking about? Wonder what they're dreaming about? Well, Janie actually can. Janie doesn't have dreams of her own. She falls into others people's dreams whenever she is near enough to someone that is sleeping. She is like a voyeur, watching the dreams, unable to escape them.
When she has a sleepover at home, she finds out that Melinda has a crush on Carrie, and that Carrie was somehow involved in a young boy's drowning. During study hall and in the library at school, when other students are napping, she sees their sexual fantasies, their stress over public speaking (everyone is in their underwear dream), and their nightmares.
Unfortunately, this ability is more a curse than fun and games, because every time Janie comes out of someone's dream, she is left sick and exhausted. Then one day, she's in someone else's dream by herself. It's not her dream, but no one else is there! This is a new experience for Janie. How can she have fallen into someone else's dream alone? She's alone with a hideous monster that has knives for fingers! Then another Janie steps out of the Janie in the dream. But before the monster can attack Janie, it turns into a boy from school. And later, Cabel is able to talk to Janie in his dreams.
Wake is another easy read with few chapters but many short sections. The story is told in the third person. All the characters are easily likeable. Janie and her two closest friends, Carrie and Cabel, are pretty much parent-less, but are still pretty decent people.
If you enjoy Wake, stay tuned for the next installment of Janie's life, where she learns how to help people in their dreams, in FADE.
Ann Dee Ellis
***A great book for those who don't like reading. Short sentences and even shorter chapters.
What did Logan see and what did he do? Or, what didn't he do? What would you do if you witnessed your best friend suffering a horrible act? Logan does nothing. Whether he's in shock, or simply can't think of anything to do, he does nothing to help his friend, Zyler.
After the incident, Zyler is taken away and Logan's family moves cross-town so he can start over. However, the story has found it's way to his new school and he is instantly ostracized, never getting a fair chance.Logan hasn't discussed the awful night with anybody and except for Laurel, who's a little strange herself, he feels alone whether at school or at home. Logan's mom brings him to see Dr. Benson, but still Logan is quiet. It takes a long time for Logan to open up and tell his story. And guess what? All the adults were right. Talking about it does help.
It takes a while for the reader to figure out what happened., as the narrator (Logan) is so quiet. But, it's an easy read, great if you're a reluctant reader, and it's interesting to know what Logan does at the end of the story.
Ann M. Martin
*****This book is one of my favorites. It is about dolls that come to life when no one is looking. Of course, there is the meanest doll in the world. That’s Molly. Then you have Anabel and Tiffany. So Anabel and Tiffany are best friends and Nora owns all of the dollas (she’s human). Then they meet Molly and she’s so mean, but in the end they defeat her and they all become friends.
My favorite part of the story is when Anabel and Tiffany meet the New People and then the meanest doll in the world shows up and they convince her not to be mean anymore.
My least favorite part is when Molly is being mean to the people.
--Julie Gentilin, 7th gradecret? Would athing good come of telling their story to the police or should they all remain silen
Sam is an almost-16-year old skater with his life “ticking along quite nicely” until his mom brings him to a coworker’s party where he meets 15-year old Alicia. They begin seeing each other, spending every possible minute together when they’re not in school (they go to different schools). Then Alicia gets pregnant and says she’s keeping the baby.
In the nine months that follow, Sam looks to pro skateboarder Tony Hawk for advice. Sam has a Tony Hawk poster on the wall in his room, which is where he talks to Tony; and where Tony talks back. Tony also whizzes Sam into the future so he can see how his life changes. Does he like the changes? Does the pregnancy ruin his future or just change it? And why would he have ever named his child Roof?
Sam is an ordinary teenager, speaking ordinary teenage language (albeit, with a few British words). He’s telling his story two years later, when he’s 18 years old, tired, but doing what needs to be done.
Leftovers by Laura Weiss
***Blair and Ardith are 14-year-old best friends. Neither has a happy home life, but they have each other to confide in. Blair’s parents are pretty much absent in her life. She is left alone except when her mother is practically pimping Blair out to all her perfect-society upper-echelon friend’s sons in the hopes of climbing the corporate ladder and becoming a judge. Ardith is never alone, as her home is the party house of the block. Both her parents and older brother are alcoholics. Every night is a party with Ardith’s brother’s friends staying the night, having sex in the pool, and pawing her every chance they get. She must hide in her room behind a locked door when she’s home. Her parents don’t care, noting that “boys will be boys”.
How far do these girls have to be pushed before finally striking back? And when they strike back, are the repercussions worth their manipulative ways? Do the ends justify the means? Do they really win in the end?
This story is told alternately by Ardith and Blair. However, it is not until late in the story that you find out to whom they’re telling their story. Should this person spill the beans or keep their secret? Would anything good come of telling their story to the police or should they all remain silent?
and Ardith are 14-year-old best friends. Neither has a happy home life, but they have each other to confide in. Blair’s parents are pretty much absent in her life. ery night is a party with Ardith’s brother’s friends staying the night, having sex in the pool, and pawing her every chance they get. She must hide in her rre 14-year-old best friends. Neither has a happy home life, but they have each other to confeanst?
The Missing Girl by Norma Fox Mazer
Tasha Saecker
The five Herbert sisters live in a world where they are poor but safe in their small town. Unknown to them, a man has started watching them, waiting to catch glimpses as they hurry off to school, trying to remain unnoticed. The tension in the book builds as each girl takes risks that would be considered safe in any other book. Until one girl takes one risk too many and goes missing.
Each of the girls has their own unique personality and problems, from wanting to escape to failing spelling. Their strength (and the novel's strength) comes from the fact that the girls are fascinating both as individuals and as a group. The family dynamics are complicated not only among the sisters but also between their parents. The pacing in the novel is deliberate and tense, slowly escalating to the point of no return.
In the end, the book is immensely satisfying. Girl power is definitely rocking in this book, even though none of the sisters would see themselves as powerful. Mazer has created a novel where children are victims but not powerless, a novel that needs to be read and that teens will love to read.
1 star
I was bored out of my mind with this book! The jacket quotes this book as being a "psychological thriller". I did not find this to be true. I had to force myself to read every page. It is a simple story about five sisters. We get to know them individually and as a group. For me, five was about two too many. I couldn't keep them straight. They go about their daily life, going to school, doing homework, etc.
Finally, in Part II, one of the girls gets kidnapped. But, even that isn't very exciting. She sits in a locked room all day while her kidnapper is at work. After a few days, she breaks a window and escapes on her own, which was good. Still, no very exciting to me.
Spanking Shakespeare
by Jake Wizner 5 stars
Come on, if your parents had named you Shakespeare, what kind of chance would you have of being a successful teenager?
Shakespeare Shapiro is a high school senior and he’s got problems. Other than his name, that is. He can’t get a girl (his younger brother has more experience with girls than he does); he has to write his senior memoir and essays for college; his parents are absolute freaks; and his best friend charts bowel movements for fun.
This hysterically funny novel from first-time writer Jake Wizner, is told from Shakespeare’s point of view. It is the story of his woe- is- me life stemming from the day his parents named him. Each chapter of his memoir tells a funny anecdote from his life, with titles like: The Time My Parents Sent Me to a Camp Straight out of Lord of the Flies; The Time I Watched a Pornographic Movie with My Mentally Unstable Grandmother; The Time I Got Hit in the Face by a Baseball at a Yankees-Red Sox Game; and The Time I Visited a Sex Doctor.
Shakespeare is an easily likable character with a great self-deprecating sense of humor. And crazy as his parents are, they are fun.
A nice, light, and easy read.
The Very Ordered Existence of Merilee Marvelous.
Suzanne Crowly.
Thirteen-year-old Merilee Monroe lives an ordered and precise life. Everything is scheduled. There are no surprises. She has peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch every day. She spends half an hour every day picking up litter. She has no time for friends and only likes spending time with her mother or her Uncle Dal. If her schedule gets interrupted, Merilee feels like she’s “on fire.”
Then Biswick moves into town, following her around all day spouting out stupid factoids while his poet father stays home drunk. And Veraleen moves into town and takes over the kitchen while Merilee’s mother is in the hospital. Bisweek and Veraleen are completely ruining Merilee’s VOE (very ordered existence) but slowly, she becomes friends with both of them, even putting her garbage detail off by a few minutes.
This is a story of unlikely friendships and what can be learned from others, no matter whether they are in our lives for a few days, a few years, or a lifetime.
Cathy's Book: if found call (650)266-8233
Sean Stewart & Jordan Weisman
**** Cathy's Book is a great book. It is a new branch of science fiction. With hands on evidence the reader really gets into it. This story is about a budding young artist who is curious as to why her boyfriend dumped her. As she investigates closer she realizes a century-year-old secret. This book is filled with secrets, tradition, love, and confusion. I highly reccommend it.
The Opposite of Invisible
Liz Gallagher
****The Opposite of Invisible stars Alice, who lives in the background of her school with her best friend Jewel (Julian), who she’s known since they were toddlers. They spend all their time together, sharing their sense of humor and jokes against the school’s in-crowd. Both are content being invisible to their classmates until Simon, of the football in-crowd begins noticing Alice.
Alice and Jewel plan on attending the Bloodbath (Hallowe’en dance) as a joke, but when Simon asks Alice to be his date, it’s no longer a joke. Simon is so hot. And really nice; not like his jock friends. But, what’s with Jewel? Since when is he so proprietary?
Besides dating Simon, Alice is also making new friends. One of them is even a cheerleader! Who’d have thought cheerleaders were real people too? Alice is no longer invisible. She is trying new clothes, letting her hair down (literally), and making new friends. Where does this leave Jewel, who now seems to be dating Vanessa?
Alice has to choose between her best friend and her boyfriend; her former life and her new life. Will Jewel be by her side for whatever she decides?