STUDENT REVIEW- Briar Rose by Jane Yolen

Briar Rose

By Jane Yolen

Published by Doherty, Tom Associates, LLC, 2002

224 pages (paperback)

Ever since she was a child, Rebecca has been enchanted by her grandmother Gemma's stories about Briar Rose. But a promise Rebecca makes to her dying grandmother will lead her on a remarkable journey to uncover the truth of Gemma's astonishing claim: I am Briar Rose. A journey that will lead her to unspeakable brutality and horror. But also to redemption and hope.

A powerful and moving novel that deftly blends the legend of Sleeping Beauty with the historical tragedy of the Holocaust. After her grandmother's death, a young American woman struggles to uncover the truth behind the old woman's past. The trail eventually leads to Europe and the darkest days of WWII. (from barnesandnoble.com)

It’s very interesting to read, [I would not improve anything] because it’s a good book.

--Marium W.

TOP TEN TUESDAY: The Top Ten Books I Read in 2012

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted at The Broke and the Bookish. Today’s topic is the Top Ten Books I Read in 2012.

 

 

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

 

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg

Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Ninth Ward by Jewel Parker Rhodes

Resistance by Carla Jablonski & Leland Purvis

STUDENT REVIEW- A Living Nightmare by Darren Shan

A Living Nightmare (Cirque Du Freak Book 1)

By Darren Shan

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2002

272 pages (paperback)

Darren Shan and his best friend, Steve, get tickets to the Cirque Du Freak, a wonderfully gothic freak show featuring weird, frightening half human/half animals who interact terrifyingly with the audience. In the midst of the excitement, true terror raises its head when Steve recognizes that one of the performers— Mr. Crepsley— is a vampire!

Stever remains after the show finishes to confront the vampire— but his motives are surprising! In the shadows of a crumbling theater, a horrified Darren eavesdrops on his friend and the vampire, and is witness to a monstrous, disturbing plea. As if by destiny, Darren is pulled to Mr. Crepsley and what follows is his forrifying descent into the dark and bloody world of vampires.

This is Darren's story.

Two boys who are best friends visit an illegal freak show, where an encounter with a vampire and a deadly spider forces them to make life-changing choices. (from barnesandnoble.com)

This book was a great read because it’s not too scary or not scary at all. Also, at the end of the book, it left me on a cliff-hanger. It irritated me when he took forever describing some things… so that could be improved. Yes, [I would recommend this to a middle schooler] because it is about a teenager who goes on this adventure as a vampire.

--Nathan N.

STUDENT REVIEW- The Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney

The Third Wheel (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #7)

By Jeff Kinney

Published by Abrams, Harry N., Inc., 2012

224 pages (hardcover)

Love is in the air—but what does that mean for Greg Heffley?

A Valentine’s Day dance at Greg’s middle school has turned his world upside down. As Greg scrambles to find a date, he’s worried he’ll be left out in the cold on the big night. His best friend, Rowley, doesn’t have any prospects either, but that’s a small consolation.

An unexpected twist gives Greg a partner for the dance and leaves Rowley the odd man out. But a lot can happen in one night, and in the end, you never know who’s going to be lucky in love. (from barnesandnoble.com)

[I liked that] it had a lot of funny parts in the book. The plot line was hard to follow sometimes and it was hard to keep up. Yes, I would [recommend] the book [because it] was funny and any middle schooler could connect to it.

--David G.

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

Ship Breaker

By Paolo Bacigalupi

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2011

352 pages (paperback)

In America's Gulf Coast region, where grounded oil tankers are being broken down for parts, Nailer, a teenage boy, works the light crew, scavenging for copper wiring just to make quota--and hopefully live to see another day. But when, by luck or chance, he discovers an exquisite clipper ship beached during a recent hurricane, Nailer faces the most important decision of his life: Strip the ship for all it's worth or rescue its lone survivor, a beautiful and wealthy girl who could lead him to a better life.…

In this powerful novel, award-winning author Paolo Bacigalupi delivers a thrilling, fast-paced adventure set in a vivid and raw, uncertain future. (from barnesandnoble.com)

Wow. It was like the author took post-Katrina New Orleans, the BP Oil Spill, dystopian themes, and the crazy dog-things from The Hunger Games and mixed them all together into a unique & compelling story. Bacigalupi created a detailed world that was believable (as much as a dystopian novel can be). This book was action-packed, yet filled with a fantasy/whimsy that kept the reader engaged and hopeful. Amazing.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Creatures

By Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2009

592 pages (paperback)

There were no surprises in Gatlin County.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything. (from barnesandnoble.com)

Beautiful Creatures is the first book in a series of four so I’ve had the first couple books around for a while but never picked them up. I just assumed it would be “white noise” in a sea of fantasy-realistic fiction books. But then I heard that a movie based on Beautiful Creatures is coming out in February 2013 and is staring some awesome people. Well I just HAD to read it so I could see the movie.

Admittedly, it took me a while to get into the book. I think I just didn’t have time to devote to reading several chapters at a time. But I found it compelling and the connection between Lena & Ethan was interesting. Of course, an added bonus for me was that there are family tree diagrams in the book for the Wate, Ravenwood, and Duchannes families. I LOVE family trees.

Several chapters in the book picked up pace (though it still had a relaxing, winding Southern flow to it) and I couldn’t put it down. Literally. I stayed up until 3am reading the last 2/3 of the book. The characters were unique and have so much depth.

The first book left a LOT of questions unanswered so thankfully there are 3 more. I have started book #2 and I figure I will finish it before next week. Now I am anxiously awaiting the movie!

STUDENT REVIEW- L8R, G8R by Lauren Myracle

L8R, G8R

By Lauren Myracle

Published by Abrams, Harry N., Inc., 2008

296 pages (paperback)

The third book in the Internet Girls series.

Through their instant messages, the “winsome threesome”—Angela, Zoe, and Maddie—have battled the ups and downs of high school. Now they’re seniors, ready to rule the school. Unfortunately, they also have to deal with queen bee Jana, who has it out for good girl Zoe. Not that Zoe, who’s deep in love with Doug, seems to notice. So it’s up to Angela and Maddie to defend their friend, engaging in a series of pranks that escalates at a senior prom that no one will forget, even if they want to! (from barnesandnoble.com)

What’s good about it is that it grabbed my attention and told me that parties are fun but don’t get into the bad ones. What could have been improved is the lifestyle and talked more about when the characters go off and live their lives. I would recommend this book because it talks about when you grow up and get into high school. It shows you how to get into a good college and keep up your grades.

--Nikki G.

UMS Young Author's Workshop

Don't Forget!

If you want to come to this year's UMS Young Author's Workshop on December 14th you need to turn in a rough draft of your original work by December 7th to Mrs. Welch in Room 2701 or Mrs. Ruud in the Library!!!

Paranormalcy series by Kiersten White

Paranormalcy Series (Paranormalcy, Supernaturally, and Endlessly)

By Kiersten White

Published by Harper Collins, 2010

335 pages

Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only one who can see through glamours.

But now Evie’s dreams are filled with haunting voices and cryptic messages—and she’s realizing that she may be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal. (from barnesandnoble.com)

There are a lot of paranormal teen books out there. Shoot! Barnes & Noble even has a specifically labeled section of all these young adult books that have vampires, werewolves, faeries, etc! I think, after reading so many books like this, it takes a lot to impress me. I mean, I have started and stopped reading more books in this genre than any others just because the stories seem the same or dull.

But Kiersten White surprised me. Although the subject matter could have blended in with the rest of the paranormal books or have gotten really dark and depressing, White kept it light-hearted, lively, quirky, and sarcastic. The characters in this series are fresh and original while the concept has some unexpected twists. Even at the most tense moments, Evie was able to add in some silliness or snark  to change the tone.

And speaking of Evie, I really liked her. In a world of brooding teens who think their lives are over when the littlest things don’t go their way (I’m looking at you Edward & Bella!), she didn’t get into the woe-is-me funk. Sure, she got down about things, but when she got down, she got moving and tried to make things better. With some spunk and amazing shoes.

A bonus is that all the books in the series are out so you don’t have to wait months to read books #2 and #3!

STUDENT REVIEW- Gemini Game by Michael Scott

Gemini Game

By Michael Scott

Published by Troll Communications L.L.C., 1997

156 pages (paperback)

When players of their virtual reality computer game fall into a coma, Liz and BJ O'Connor, teenage owners of a computer games company, flee from the police in an attempt to locate a copy of their game and correct the programming. (from barnesandnoble.com)

It was so cool how a brother and sister worked so good together. I think all brothers and sisters should get along. [The book] could give a little more detail about what happens because they just give a little and need more specific info. Yes [I would recommend this book to a middle schooler because] they could learn new things.

--Kyra N.

TOP TEN TUESDAY: The Top Ten Authors I'm Most Thankful For

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted at The Broke and the Bookish. Today’s topic is the Top Ten Authors I'm Most Thankful For.

Ann M. Martin
The first chapter book I ever read was Karen’s Kitty-Cat Club by Ann M. Martin. And then I read a LOT more of her books. I think I partially owe my love of reading/ability to read quickly to this author. Thanks.

Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games has made my job as librarian a lot easier... You want a science fiction book? Go get The Hunger Games. You want an awesome female character? Go get The Hunger Games. You want adventure? Go get The Hunger Games. You want excitement & romance? Go get The Hunger Games. You want some tough guys and fighting? Go get The Hunger Games. You are a reluctant reader who rarely finds books you like? Go get The Hunger Games. You want to read the most popular thing so you know what your friends are talking about? Go get The Hunger Games. Seriously, go get The Hunger Games. You can thank me later.

Brian Jacques
My husband grew up reading Brian Jacques and I am thankful that the Redwall crew helped make him an awesome reader. And the books really are good.

J.R.R. Tolkien
I am thankful that New Zealand seems to look like the world Tolkien describes in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The books are wonderful and I love to see them acted out on the big screen with NZ as the backdrop.

Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura taught me about prairie life, travel, family, and working hard to get what you need. I am thankful I don’t live in the 1800s during winter, but I am also thankful I got to read her books (and watch the TV show!).

Jane AustenI am thankful for all her wonderful books that have just the right amount of romance & conflict. And, of course, I am extremely thankful for Elizabeth Bennett & Fitzwilliam Darcy.

Madeline L’EngleMadeline L’Engle’s books are amazing. They are so thoughtful, intriguing, and exciting. I am so thankful for her books that make me think while I read.

John GreenWhen I need a laugh or some sarcasm, I am thankful I can pick up a book by John Green. 

Laurie Halse AndersonI am so thankful she has written what she has written. Some books are on tough topics that teens face and her Seeds of America series captivated adults and students at our school. Her books make you “feel” and really care about the characters while providing an amazing story.

R.L. StineAlthough it is rare to see me reading scary stories nowadays, when I was younger I pretty much devoured books by R.L. Stine (that was definitely the cool thing to do). I am thankful that he is still writing and making books that young people want to read.

STUDENT REVIEW- Hatchet by Gary Paulson

Hatchet

By Gary Paulson

Published by Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, 2007

192 pages (paperback)

On his way to visit his recently divorced father in the Canadian mountains, thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is the only survivor when the single-engine plane crashes. His body battered, his clothes in shreds, Brian must now stay alive in the boundless Canadian wilderness.
More than a survival story, Hathcet is a tale of tough decisions. When all is stripped down to the barest essentials, Brian discovers some stark and simple truths: Self-pity doesn't work. Despair doesn't work. And if Brian is to survive physically as well as mentally, he must discover courage. (from barnesandnoble.com)

The best thing was when I found out how many days Brian survived. [I wish there had been] more pages! Yes, [I would recommend this book to a middle schooler] because they can learn how to survive in the wilderness.

--Neel P.

It made me want to keep reading it more and more. This book was one of the best books I have ever read. It was a detailed and an adventurous book. There is nothing that could be improved in this book. Yes [I would recommend this book to a middle schooler] because you will get hooked on it so quickly that you won't want to stop.
--Tashun R.

Shadows by Ilsa J. Bick

Shadows (Ashes Trilogy #2)

By Ilsa J. Bick

Published by EgmontUSA, 2012

528 pages (hardcover)

Even before the EMPs brought down the world, Alex was on the run from the demons of her past and the monster living in her head. After the world was gone, she believed Rule could be a sanctuary for her and those she’d come to love.
But she was wrong.

Now Alex is in the fight of her life against the adults, who would use her, the survivors, who don’t trust her, and the Changed, who would eat her alive.

Welcome to Shadows, the second book in the haunting apocalyptic Ashes Trilogy: where no one is safe and humans may be the worst of the monsters. (from barnesandnoble.com)

Um, wow. The first book, Ashes, was an intriguing page-turner that I just couldn’t put down. So I obviously was excited to read Shadows. And this book sure was worth the wait. It started merging the two seemingly-random storylines, tying up loose ends, and raising a TON more questions (which will hopefully answered to my satisfaction in book #3).

And it had a whole lot of The Changed eating, attacking, and scaring others. Seriously, I wonder how many times the word “blood” was in the book. Blah! I mean, I thought Ashes was kind of gory but it doesn’t hold a candle to the second book.

Beyond just being a good read, Shadows does bring up a lot of moral questions. What would you really do to survive? How far can love and loyalty go? Can you ever really trust anyone? I think these underlying questions help make the book more than just the regular sci-fi/dystopian fare. They give it a purpose and allows the reader to empathize with certain characters depending on their believes and ideas.

Unless you are really grossed out by blood I would recommend this book. But if you read Ashes a while ago, you might want a refresher because Shadows picks up where the first left off and remembering all the characters/situations can be difficult.

Happy Reading!

TOP TEN TUESDAY: Top Ten Books I'd Want On A Deserted Island

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted at The Broke and the Bookish. Today’s topic is the Top Ten Books I'd Want on a Deserted Island.

Hatchet by Gary Paulson
Survival Info!

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
This girl kicked some butt on the high seas.

The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

6 stories in one book? Stories that will make me look at the stars and think about all the drama going on up there? Ok!

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
Summer fun!

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
A lovely adventure story.

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
Why wouldn’t I want this?

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

A great story AND survival tips.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
One of my newest favorite books.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
A nice, long, sweet book.

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny HanA great beach-read.

The 1st Annual UMS Young Author's Workshop

Do you plan to submit an original piece of writing for the 2013 Young Author's Contest but want it edited first? Are you writing something but can't figure out what should happen next?

Come to this year's UMS Young Author's Workshop on December 14th where there will be time to have your work peer edited, get feedback, and share ideas. A rough draft of your original work should be submitted to Mrs. Welch in Room 2701 or Mrs. Ruud in the Library by December 7th to reserve your spot.

TOP TEN TUESDAY: Top Ten Books on Elections & the Government

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted at The Broke and the Bookish. Today’s topic is the Top Ten Books on Elections/the Government

Happy Election Day!

No matter how you feel about the government, we are fortunate to be able to vote (and the votes actually count) for our leaders. This is something many other nations do not have and, as a history-nerd at heart, it is something I really appreciate. 

So, in honor of election day, here are my Top Ten Books about Government & Elections!

 

      

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin
I love Abe Lincoln.
And this was an amazing book not only about Abe but also about his Cabinet and how they used all their different opinions and beliefs to solve problems and keep the country together. The end of the book impacted the most… it tells what happened to all these men after the war. Sadly, after serving their president, many of them spent the rest of their years in despair, poverty, agony, etc. But, still, this is an excellent book.

The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris
I love Teddy Roosevelt too.
And this is the book that really made me fall in love with Teddy. I mean, this guy really was awesome: he wrote dozens of books, was a real cowboy out west, cleaned up some of the government corruption in New York, served in the military, and had fun doing it all!

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
This is a tale of government gone all wrong. And the government even burns books… Ugh!

Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsAnother really messed up government. I guess it is good that we learn what a government should NOT do.

Divergent by Veronica RothAnother ‘government gone wrong’ book. This has a different twist than Hunger Games but it is equally intriguing and enjoyable.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
This is one of my new favorite books! It involves the British and German governments during World War II and some of the things they were authorizing, but oh, it is a good book!

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’EngleGovernment secrets and experiments put lives in danger. Thankfully there are fantastical creatures and cool kids to try to fix things.

Independence Hall by Roland Smith
Book #2 is called White House so you know there will be some action in and around the government.

Spy Dust: Two Masters of Disguise Reveal the Tools and Operations That Helped Win the Cold War by Antonio and Jonna Mendez Have you heard about the movie Argo? Well the movie is based on Tony Mendez’s life. And Ben Afleck plays Tony Mendez. And I actually got to meet Tony & Jonna Mendez last year. They are so amazing, smart, and adorable. And, literally, masters of disguise (really… they showed us). I think many people are fascinated with spies and secrets so this book about declassified CIA info is a must read.

So You Want to Be President? by Judith St. George & David SmallI LOVE this book. Lots of facts about the presidents with funny pictures and random information. I have read this book aloud to social studies classes many times and it great to see their reactions when they learn that Taft got stuck in a bathtub because he was so fat and John Quincy Adams used to go skinny dipping in the Potomac River.

STUDENT REVIEW- Copper Sun by Sharon Draper

Copper Sun

By Sharon Draper

Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2008

336 pages (hardcover)

When pale strangers enter fifteen-year-old Amari's village, her entire tribe welcomes them; for in her remote part of Africa, visitors are always a cause for celebration. But these strangers are not here to celebrate. They are here to capture the strongest, healthiest villagers and to murder the rest. They are slave traders. And in the time it takes a gun to fire, Amari's life as she's known it is destroyed, along with her family and village.

Beaten, branded, and dragged onto a slave ship, Amari is forced to witness horrors worse than any nightmare and endure humiliations she had never thought possible — including being sold to a plantation owner in the Carolinas who gives her to his sixteen-year-old son, Clay, as his birthday present.

Now, survival and escape are all Amari dreams about. As she struggles to hold on to her memories in the face of backbreaking plantation work and daily degradation at the hands of Clay, she finds friendship in unexpected places. Polly, an outspoken indentured white girl, proves not to be as hateful as she'd first seemed upon Amari's arrival, and the plantation owner's wife, despite her trappings of luxury and demons of her own, is kind to Amari. But these small comforts can't relieve Amari's feelings of hopelessness and despair, and when an opportunity to escape presents itself, Amari and Polly decide to work together to find the thing they both want most...freedom. (from barnesandnoble.com)

[I liked that] it was about someone’s life. [The book would have been better if the author] would not leave out stuff because I wanted to see how Amari and her baby live on. Yes, [I would recommend this book to a middle schooler] because it’s about choices and how they influence you.

--Lauren C.

Book Fair During Fall Conferences!

Come to the Scholastic Book Fair!

The UMS Student Council will be holding a Scholastic Book Fair during Parent/Teacher Conferences on Thursday, November 1^st from 4-8pm and Friday, November 2^nd from 8-11am outside the Cafetorium.

The Scholastic Book Fair benefits the UMS Library which means that, depending on how much is purchased, the Library gets a certain amount in free books that students & staff can check out.

Stop by and get some popular books, teen favorites, and other fun items. The prices on these books are often lower than the prices at bookstores so now is the time to get some good things to read!

And THANK YOU to all the student council members who help at the book fair. You are awesome!!!

STUDENT REVIEW- Independence Hall by Roland Smith

Independence Hall (I, Q Book #1)

By Roland Smith

Published by Sleeping Bear Press, 2008

302 pages (paperback)

Fame has arrived for rockers Blaze and Roger! Just married, leaving Los Angeles, and touring the United States with teenagers Q (Quest) and Angela in tow, the excitement heightens in Philadelphia when Angela realizes she's being followed. Q soon learns the secret about Angela's real mother - a former Secret Service agent.

Readers are thrust into current issues affecting the world in this edge-of- your-seat, modern-day mystery adventure. I, Q readers will be immersed in the work of U.S. Secret Service, the Mossad, and the MI5. But who are the good guys and who are the bad guys? What happens to this newly formed family if Angela's mom is not dead? (from barnesandnoble.com)

It has a lot of action in it. I didn’t want to stop reading! [I didn’t like that] sometimes he rambles but, overall, the book is really good. Yes, [I would recommend this book to middle schoolers because] the whole book made me want to keep reading.

--David G.

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Anna Dressed in Blood

By Kendare Blake

Published by Doherty, Tom Associates, LLC, 2012

320 pages (hardcover)

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. They follow legends and local lore, destroy the murderous dead, and keep pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

Searching for a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas expects the usual: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

Yet she spares Cas's life. (from barnesandnoble.com)

What a weird and messed up story.

But I mean that in a good way.

Kendare Blake did an amazing job of building a world where we need ghost killers like Cas to keep us all save from those evil ghosts who do more than say “Boo!” The characters were well developed (mostly) and I think the reader can really understand the motives and actions of each character.

Also, the book was creepy and eerie and a good ghost story. I don’t want to spoil any of the book for you, but there are ghosts that tear people apart but then those people stay around as spirits themselves. CREEEEEEEEEEEEEEPY.

HOWEVER, for all the descriptions of Anna, I didn’t feel that I understood her or why she did/didn’t do things. She is a main character (shoot, she is the title) but I was more confused by her than anything. And the ending kind of confused me, but I am hopeful that many of my questions will be answered in the sequel.

Yes, there is a sequel and I will be reading it soon. I really do need to know what happens to all the characters!