Book Reviews

Khoi Dang Nguyen reviews:

Title: Let's Roll !

Author: Lisa Beamer

Genre: History

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

"Let's roll!" tells a story about one of the heroes of the 9/11 event, Todd Beamer, whose life had been lost in order to save many innocent lives. Since this has been a historical tragedy in each of the America's life, which had left a lot of losses and pains for every family in the country, it's less necessarily important to follow the fame work of the book rather than spending more time to look at the dignity, the humanity, and the incredible sacrifice that one could have for others. Todd Beamer was an account manager who works for the Oracle Company in New Jersey. Todd had lived a life with spirituality as a Christian of a catholic church, and had set a brilliant example for everybody else around him, including his wife Lisa Beamer, who wrote this book in Todd’s memory, and his two sons David and Andrew. Everybody who knew Todd could see the real connection between him and Jesus Christ, the One and the Only whom he admired the most, and also who had been an
unchangeable meaning in his life. Unfortunately, the life of such an
extraordinary man like Todd’s was ended by the day that most of the Americans could hardly expect to come. Todd and some other passengers aboard the United Airlines Flight 93 had sacrificed their lives in an attempt of changing the route of the airplane which had been hijacked by the terrorists. As the result, the plane crashed onto a deserted field instead of the Capitol Building, which was the destination that the terrorists had scheduled. That particular day had traced down a painful mark onto the life of Todd’s family
as well as other friends who Todd had a very close relationships with. They did the most meaningful memorial service they could for him and for the other heroes whose lives were gratefully honored. Following Todd’s death, the life of his wife, Lisa Beamer, was considerably changed. This book has revealed the variety of the internal feelings that Lisa faced off, how God had come to her life, and what she actually had to go through after she realized that her
best friend, the one that she planned to spend the rest of her life with, the one who showed her the true meaning of God, the father, the husband who now was gone and would never come back.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

3 June 2008

Junita Manurung reviews:

Title: Lifeguard

Author: James Patterson and Andrew Gross

Genre: Mystery

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

Lifeguard is a fiction thriller book written by James Patterson in 2005 which known as The New York Times Best Sellers. It is about a guy named Ned Kelly that meets a woman he is constantly in love with at a Florida resort where he works as a lifeguard. It feels perfect to be around her - except that she is used to caviar and stay in luxurious hotel, whereas Ned is used to burgers and lives above a garage. After awhile Ned realized that she could not live the way he is used to live. He would take a risk of his own life to make this woman happy. So when Ned's cousin offers him on a rich deal, Ned can't say no. The plan is simple, just a fast break the house and turn off the alarm. The risk is high, but there is no way to turn back because the reward is greater than $5 million. On the night of the joy, something goes wrong. People that he's been working with somehow to be found dead. Because of the shock that Ned saw on news, he walks away from his job, his town, and the woman he's fallen in love with. Runs away with the car that he got from one of the house that he broke in that leads him nowhere. He just run and run. But who are the people that after him? The FBI? And how did the people he's been working with died? Who is going to save the life of the lifeguard? It is like a puzzle there is only one way to figure these out. You have to read the book.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

3 June 2008

Khoi Dang Nguyen reviews:

Title: The Bomb in My Garden: the Secret of Saddam’s Nuclear Mastermind

Author: Mahdi Obeidi and Kurt Pitzer

Genre: History

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

"The bomb in my garden" is a book generally about Saddam Hussein's secrets of nuclear programs at the time when he was a President of Iraq, who later was deposed by the U.S and its allies during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The main character is Dr.Mahdi Obeidi who is Saddam's chief nuclear scientist. Dr.Mahdi was a heading man in IAEC (Iraqi Atomic Energy Commission) who was assigned a stressful task of setting up the huge centrifuge program in order to enrich uranium to build nuclear weapons. That was a challenging work given by Hussein Kamel, a son-in-law of Saddam Hussein's, which Obeidi and his group of workers had to get through a lot of dangerous and heart-break moments to finally get to the success. The program not only took efforts of many scientists in the country, but it aslo got other nations in the
related area (such as German, France,Russia...) and even the U.S involved. During the process of centrifuge program, Obeidi had traveled to those countries to get important documents to help him fullfill the ambitious dream of Saddam Hussein's. Furthermore, he and his teamates had to work under harsh conditions, risking their own lives to completely obey direct orders from Hussein Kamel and Saddam Hussein himself. If they did not, the lives of their family would have been in danger. However, as the UN inspectors swept
through Iraq in search of uranium enrichment and attempts for access of nuclear weapons, Dr.Mahdi finally turned himself to the U.S intellligence, along with the essential nuclear documents that he had secretly buried under the oak tree in his garden, only a few yards off his daughter's bed. That was the bravest thing that the man could do in order to save his family, for he had been suffering enough under Saddam's shadow. The thing that Dr.Mahdi returned the documents to the U.S has earned me a great respect and an
admiration. This cannot be considered a betrayal or a "chicken". In the other hands, I'd like state this as an enormous sacrifice that he made for his family, which he personally put before his country. For some of that reasons, I highly recommend this book!!!

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

28 April 2008

Garrett Sample reviews:

Title: The Pigman

Author: Paul Zindel

Genre: Other (Fiction)

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

The Pigman is about two teenagers who are pranksters and meet and old man. The two teenagers become really good friends with the old guy named Mr. Pignati. Then one day while Mr. Pignati was on vacation the two teenagers threw a party in his house and invited everyone from there high school. The teenagers were all drinking and destroyed everything in his house. The teenagers gave him a nickname called the pigman because of his collections of pigs he had. At the party all the drunk teenagers destroyed the pigmans collections of pigs. Once the pigman arrived back home he had a heart attack and went to the hospital… My opinion of the book was that it was very good. The way he thought up of the story couldn’t of been better. The way he made the characters act were just like how real teenagers act today. The ending was a
great ending to a magnificent book

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

24 April 2008

Diana Nguyen reviews:

Title: The Lovely Bones

Author: Alice Sebold

Genre: Other (Fiction)

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

The Lovely Bones is the story about a 14 year old girl who goes by the name of Susie Salmon. Salmon tells her story as she is watching over her family from heaven after she had been raped and killed by the hands of her neighbor, Mr. Harvey. Salmon was walking home on the way from school until Mr. Harvey casually approached Susie. He had offered her a soda and convinced her to check out something he had made for his yard. After he had done his dirty deeds, Susie was reported missing. Salmon’s family went through a never ending search for their missing daughter and as years gone by; there were hardly any evidence to be found. But Susie’s father Jack had remained hopeful and optimistic throughout the dreadful situation. On top of everything that has been occurring, the family began falling apart. The mother Abigail
became engaged in an affair with Detective Len Fenerman and leaves her hometown Pennsylvania to California. Jack is physically disabled after he had mistakenly struck an innocent man back at the cornfield where Susie was last seen; the youngest sibling Buckley is too young to understand what was happening and Lindsey gets engaged with her boyfriend and Ray; a classmate
that Susie has been crushing on is emotionally fragile since her disappearance.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

20 April 2008

Huy Anh Lam reviews:

Title: Cinderella Man

Author: Marc Ceraini

Genre: Biography

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

In Cinderella Man written by Marc Cerasini is talking about a famous boxer Jim Braddock. Jim is a successful boxer in New York. Life is good for him and his young family. But in October 1929 the American economy fails, and at the same time Jim starts to lose in the boxing game. His wife Mae always supporting him and gave him courage to start a new life. During a depression Jim need to race his family by working at the dock. He never expected that his
family would end up living in this kind of place. June 14, 1934 Jim’s name wasn’t even on the sign, but he didn’t care. The only things in his mind that will have a chance to step on that ring one more time. He never loses hope. He kept trying to be famous one more time. Will Jim get a second chance to return to the ring? Jim one more time again and again finish a game with success . Jim family was the only things that motivated him to become success. Joe Gould (Jim manager) finally organize fights among a top
heavyweight boxers for Jim. Finally, one man would be chosen to fight the champion, Max Baer, for the heavyweight title. The streets around Madison Square Garden were quite, but as soon as Jim stepped outside, a crowd of around fifty men closed in around him. Jim has a little worry about his next game. Max Baer his opponent has killed two men in the ring, and Max was a
scariest man Jim ever met. Will Jim finish this last game successful or losing? Does the true story of Jim Braddock- the Cinderella Man- have a happy ending? I recommend this book to you. I really like this book and so do you. This book is amazing and showing how courage one person have if they had family beside them to support and gave them loved.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

20 April 2008

Jorge Munoz reviews:

Title: The Achemist

Author:Paulo Coelho

Genre: Other (Fiction)

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is a book that talks about your personal story. Santiago, the main character is a boy that loves to travel, so he became a pastor. He lives in Anda Lucia Spain. Everything in his life is perfect, until he has a repeated dream. He goes with a gypsy, to try to understand his dream. The gypsy told him that he has to leave everything, and start a trip to the Giza
Pyramids in Egypt. She also told him that he is going to find a huge treasure. At the beginning he taught that she is crazy, but then he meets a king that changes his main. The king talks him about the universal language, and the personal story, he says that every person in this world has their own personal story. He also says that he has to star this trip, because this trip is very
important in his life. Santiago decides to sell all his sheep and goes to Anda Lucia’s port to get a ship to Africa. The first day of his journey he lost all his money. But he finds a job with a merchant. He works for a whole year, and during this year he saves all the money he cans. Santiago wants to go back to Spain and buy more sheep to star again, but then he remembered the old king,
and the words he told him. He uses all the money he earned in this year and buys a camel to follow a caravan to Egypt. During this trip he learns the language of the desert; this is the first step he does to understand God. They arrived in a oasis, in this oasis he meets a girl. He gets in love with her. He is almost leaves all his plans, he wants to stay with her and get married. But then one of the most important characters appears in scene (The Alchemist). The
Alchemist told him that he has to continue his journey, because if he does not follow his dreams he never is going to be happy. They star this short trip to Egypt. In this trip Santiago talks with his heart, the desert, air, sun, and he star one of the strongest sandstorm that the Egyptians have ever seen. By this moment Santiago knows the universal language. They arrive to a convent and the alchemist made gold from a piece of lead. He divides this piece in four parts. He gives one to the monk that lives in there, one piece to Santiago, he keeps one peace, and the fourth part he give to the monk incase Santiago need it. Then he leaves the convent, and Santiago continues his journey. Santiago finds the pyramids and star to make a hole looking for his treasure, but then
three guys robe him and beat him. One of this guys tells him that he was a stupid for take serious a simply dream. He also tells him that he had a repeated dream too, but he was not stupid to take seriously this dream. Then Santiago recognizes the place that this guy was talking about. He went back to the monastery for the piece of gold that the alchemist leaves in there. He went back to Spain and he found this place. He started to dig, then he found an old treasure that some conquer forgot in there. He became rich and goes for his girlfriend. When I got this book, I did not know what I was going to find in it. I started to read it, and as I was reading it. I was getting involved in it. This book makes me to feel like I was the main character. This book also makes me believe in my dreams, dreams I thought I could not make possible. The book has that power because in the whole story it tells you to do not give up, and if you fall down you have to stand up and try again. This is the kind of book that makes you to reflect about your life. It makes you to thing if you are doing what you want, or just what you have to. This book also boosts to follow your dreams. I really like this book and I recommend it to the people that someday had a dream or have a dream to follow.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

18 April 2008

Tu Vu reviews:

Title: Inside My Heart

Author: Robin McGraw

Genre: True Life

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

this book is wrtten by Robin McGraw, she had know as a wife of Dr.Phil,a America;s therapist, and doing his own show on television. she shared stories of her own life, the growing up times in her hometown. she have been through so many things, family problems, parents problems, and many other things, with those things cause into her life had made her became a strong person,
ever since she was just a lilte girl.So many thing had happened later on in her own life, when she had her own family, and times to rise her boys let her know the meaning in a role og a mother which her mother have been. she also encouraging people to make deliberate choices, and must choose to go after the life you want.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

17 April 2008

Alexis Maya reviews:

Title: Twilight

Author: Stephenie Meyer

Genre: Romance

Is this a book in a series? Yes
If yes, what is the series name? Twilight

Comments:

Twilight is romance novel revolving around a very ordinary girl (or so it seems). This book starts out slow like most books do but it immediately leaves you wanting to keep turning page after page as you enjoy this wonderful love story. Bella is the new girl in town, her parents divorced a few years back and her mother remarried some time after. This was the reason she decided to move in with Charlie, her father. Charlie is a police officer in a beautiful town in Washington. Forks is a quiet town in which the sun seems almost non-existent, it has the record of being the rainiest town in the United States. It’s in this beautiful but gloomy town that Bella meets the love of her life, a seemingly ordinary boy with extraordinary good looks. Bella seems almost drawn to Edward’s beauty, as she calls it. She believes Edward Cullen to be the most perfect man in the world until she discovers a dark secret that
he and his family have been hiding for decades and maybe even centuries; He is a vampire. This book will have you at your wit’s end as Bella risks her life to be with the person she loves and as Edward tries to control his thirst for a taste of her blood. This excerpt from the book just about sums up the excitement of the book: “About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him – and I didn’t know
how dominant that part might be – that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.” I recommend Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight her vivid description and noticeable love for her characters makes this a wonderfully realistic novel that embraces both the reality and severity of everyday problems that high school presents and at the same time reinvents Bram Stoker’s perception of blood thirsty vampires, and gives them
a surreal romanticism that seems like it should belong in a Shakespearean play.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

16 April 2008

Trinh Nguyen reviews:

Title: Hide and Seek

Author: James Patterson

Genre: Mystery

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

In Hide and Seek, author James Patterson relate a story about Maggie Bradford, the women whose songs captivated the world’s heart. Since the terrible shooting at West Point Maggie both physical and mentally it’s wasn’t complete. The shooting made her grow angry at a neighbor’s kindness, be suspicious of friends and afraid of strangers. There were times she hated herself. Phillip (Maggie husband) had been die for years, but she still carried a
scarlet M. Maggie might have been sent to prison if Jennie (Maggie daughter) hadn’t been so badly beaten. The fact that her three-year-old was injured too made a claim of self-defense more convincing. Everyone loves Maggie song also she is so attractive. Most man wanted to have her. Once again Maggie in love with a man name Patrick. They love each other and never have a problem between their love life. Maggie and Patrick suddenly have their own
son. But unfortunately Patrick dies before a baby come out. Maggie trying hard to raise her son Allie and her daughter Jennie Every time Maggie remembered the shooting at West Point that make her shivered. Bill Shepard her third husband was the most glamorous athlete. Bill act like he really loved Maggie and her children. Maggie was wrong about him. Bill very easy captivated by a beautiful girl. One night Bill went home late and he directly
went straight to Jennie room. Maggie fallow him and carrying a rifle. Bill had been dead after that night. This time nobody knows that if Maggie was innocent or guilty. I recommend this book to you because I did find the excitement of this book and enjoyable. If you really want to find out who had been killed Maggie three husbands you should read this book.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

13 April 2008

Kim Bui reviews:

Title: Half Crazy

Author: J.M. McDonell

Genre: Romance

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

Half Crazy is the book about a nineteen year old girlname Miranda that shining brightly, she is the model for the jaded in new york modeling word on fire. her neighbor name David.he know everything about her life style. They know each other not for long but he like to know everything she does .one day they decide to go out for dinner with each other.For the first time David have a feeling for the girl that he first meet.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

10 April 2008

Khoi Anh Nguyen reviews:

Title: A Murder Is Announced

Author: Agatha Christie

Genre: Mystery

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

The A Murder Is Announced by a famous crime writer Agatha Christie was a good book, if you really understand the story. My own opinion this book was put out quite a challenge for me to read. It not really has much of the “high class” or big word, but it the story was really hard to follow even though I read for several
time for the first chapter. Just that first chapter already took me for 2 weak to read; still I can’t capture the entire picture. In this story there were a few characters like Miss Blacklock, Frankly, Miss Maple, Patrick, and many other person that involve in. In this book not really review who the main character is; I think they all equally act in this book The story in general was a game murder starts at Friday October 29th , at Little Paddocks. At first sign they just a game, but later they all found out this was not a game. The dead body they found was real and later on some of the character really dead or missing, the character in book. The thing that was bad, in my opinion, was they have a lot of scene just chat and chat. The character not really tries so solve crime or find the murder like Sherlock Home tale. They just talk like normal boring family live like about girls, food, and showing up, meeting…

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

10 April 2008

Jessica Garcia reviews:

Title:The Truth About Forever

Author:Sarah Dessen

Genre: Other (Fiction)

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

The book I read was The Truth About Forever. It was a very inspirational book and allowed me to set myself in a whole other world. It started with a girl named Macy whose father just recently died. She feels as if it’s her fault he died because she thinks she could have done something to prevent it. Since her father died her and her mother have been going issues and they have dealing with the fact that he’s dead. They threw away his things; they never
did anything that they use to do with him. Since the death of her father Jason was a good way for Macy to try and forget what happened. Jason was her boyfriend for about two years. He ends up going to Brain Camp over the summer. Macy takes Jason’s job at the library until he comes back. While he’s away she has trouble with two girls that also work there. They don’t let her do her job, she has to just sit there and wait for the time to go by. She
gets another job working at a catering business. She makes good friends and feels like she actually belongs somewhere. During this time she tells her boyfriend she loves him. Jason was surprised she said this; he thought she was moving to fast for him even though they had been going out for two years. He tells her they need to take a break. She never replied to his letter. She using catering to try and forget about him. There is one in particular she takes
interest in. His name is Wes. He is a very mysterious and she’s just dieing to know what he’s all about. They end up talking and hanging out together. She had a breakdown because she goes to the hospital to see one of her co-workers. She was having a baby. This was the first time she has been in the hospital since the death, she freaks out and just cries and lets her self go with Wes. She feels safe and very comfortable with him at her side. To find
out more check out the book! I thought this book was very interesting. It keeps on going something always comes up as a big WHOA! It was a well-written book and went into a lot of derails. I didn’t think I would be interested in a book like this because reading is something that doesn’t interest me. But, I was wrong. It really got me thinking about how I act. Be what you want to be not what others want to see. Basically do things the way you want
don’t change them because of what others want. Also, it is ok to quit something if it not your passion, but to do something you love. I don’t think there was anything I disliked about the book. It was a fiction book, but it seemed so real. It was a real book that had to do with something that happens in some families. I recommend this book mostly to girls who are looking for something to read.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

10 April 2008

Christian Dunlap reviews:

Title: Go Long!!!

Author: Jerry Rice

Genre:Biography

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

Jerry Rice was born and raised in a small town in Mississippi. He never played football until his high principal made him. The principal caught him ditching and Jerry took off running. So the principal put him on the football team as a punishment. Jerry really never paid any attention to football. For Jerry learned how to catch by working with his dad and his brother in Bricklaying. His brother would throw bricks to him and he had to catch them or they would
break. Catching those bricks carried over to catching the football. Jerry got a scholarship to MVS. He played very well. He was not satisfied with his freshman year. Each year he wanted to do better. That’s what he did. People used to tell him things like “you wouldn’t be able to survive in the NFL”, but other people were saying that he could. He didn’t want to hear what people had to say. He just worked hard and did his best every time he stepped on the football field. Jerry was one of those people that believe, you play the way you practice. Jerry also met his wife at MVS. She was two years younger. When Jerry was drafted to the NFL to play with the 49ers, Jackie (his wife) moved with him. When Jerry got there and had his first practice, everybody thought he was showing off because he was practicing full speed. Jerry didn’t care, he just kept working hard. Years later Jerry and Jackie got married and
had their first kid. Jerry went on playing football and working hard. Jerry never took time off. He was always working out and running. A few years later Jerry and Jackie had another kid. His name was Jerry Jr. Jerry played for the 49ers for 18 years. Then he was replaced with Terrell Owens. That’s when Jerry went to Oakland Raiders. He did not like how the Raiders presented themselves. He was the opposite. He played a few years with the Raiders. Then Jerry decided to retire. Jerry went through a lot of stuff during
his life. He had a lot of road blocks but he still went on and got passed them. The main on was when Jackie was giving birth to their third child and she almost died. She had a lot of surgeries and she finally over came them. The doctors were going to pull the plug but Jerry and Jackie’s mom told them not to and gave it a chance. She did survive and was able to see her children grow
up. Jerry accomplished a lot in his life. With help of his family and friends Jerry Rice is the best receiver of all time!!!!!

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

10 April 2008

Samuel Hetherington reviews:

Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber Of Secrets

Author: J.K. Rowling

Genre: Fantasy

Is this a book in a series? Yes
If yes, what is the series name? Harry Potter

Comments:

It all starts after Harry comes home from Hogawarts(school of wizards). Harry lives with his evil aunt and uncle. They treat him miserabley. All Harry wants to do is leave and go back to Hogwarts. Then one night in hiss room an elf came and told him to never return to hogwarts. Then the same night his best friend Ron Weasley, and his brothers took there dads flying car and saved Harry from his evil family. Harry stayed with the Weasley family until school started. Then when they went to get on the train Harry and Ron missed there train. So once again they stole Rons dads flying car and thats when all the trouble starts. Strange things start to happen. People are becoming terrified, and noone knows what is doing it. Harry keeps hearing a voice. A voice which seems to be coming from the walls. They are told the story of the Chamber of Secrets. It is said that only Slytherin's true leader will
be able to open it. Harry, it turns out, is a Parsel-tongue. This means that he is able to speak/understand snakes. Everyone thinks that it's him that has opened the Chamber of Secrets because that is what Slytherin was famous for.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

10 April 2008

Elizabeth Truong reviews:

Title: Forever

Author: Judy Blume

Genre: Romance

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

Forever by Judy Blume is a fantastic young love thriller. A high school girl named Katherine meets this hunk who goes to another school at a friends’ party. She finds herself falling for Michael. They soon share each others mental and physical love for on another. Inseparable, after they have graduated Katherine’s parents send her to work at her younger sister’s camp and Michael is sent to work in the country. Katherine meets new friends and an older guy name Theo would no stop looking at her. They write to each other every single day, suddenly one day Katherine doesn’t respond and
Michael visits as a surprise. Will their love last through the few months of summer?

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

10 April 2008

Paul Rodriguez reviews:

Title: Nirvana: The Chosen Rejects

Author: Kurt St. Thomas

Genre: Biography

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

Nirvana: The Chosen Rejects by Kurt St. Thomas is a biographical book about the formation of the early 1990’s punk rock band Nirvana. This book explains the way the band came to be and all of the hardships that they had to overcome to become a mainstream
band. The main characters in this book are the Nirvana trio of Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and Dave Grohl. Other characters may include Tracy Marander (Cobain‘s first girlfriend), Courtney Love(Kurt’s Wife), Kurt St. Thomas(Radio DJ), Jack Endino, Chad Channing, Dale Crover and other bands such as TAD, Mudhoney, The Melvins, and Soundgarden. Kurt Cobain created a rock band called Fecal Matter in 1985. He and Fecal Matter split up and Cobain joined Krist Novoselic and Aaron Burkhard to form Skid Row. In 1988, after a few gigs, the band changed their official name to Nirvana. They had become Sub Pop’s first contracted band. The band had released their first album, Bleach, in 1988 with Aaron Burkhard on the drums. Cobain and Novoselic had removed Burkhard from of the band because of his “approach to rehearsal” (St. Thomas 27). They had finally picked up Dave Grohl as their
permanent drummer in October of 1990. Dave Grohl had become the 4th Nirvana drummer. In 1990, Nirvana and Sub Pop Records were having problems shelving CD’s and Nirvana decided to leave Sub Pop and go to DGC Records. Under DGC’s label they released their second album, Nevermind, in 1991. The decline of the band had begun after Nirvana’s instant success with Nevermind. Cobain and his wife, Courtney Love, had started to do heroin. They had started to do drugs on account of their success and the media frenzy of Nirvana. On March 4, 1994 Cobain had attempted suicide in Rome by overdosing. He had fallen into coma. Once he had awakened, the Cobains went back to Seattle for a break in the tour. Back in Seattle Courtney Love and Krist Novoselic had put together an intervention to get Kurt to go to rehab and get help for his drug problems that had led to the eventual death suicide of both Kurt Cobain and the band Nirvana. I had found this book very interesting. This book would be great for teen readers that seek
information on celebrities and musical icons. The novel had given me enough information that although I was not born at the time of Nirvana’s prime I do know a substantial amount of information on the bands rise to stardom and fall to the hands of a suicide. If you have ever wondered how the rock anthem “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and other Nirvana songs had come to be the most well known songs in alternative rock, then reading this book would supply you
with information that would catch your attention. I had been interested in Nirvana since I was introduced to it in the sixth grade and now I actually know and understand the meaning behind many of the songs composed by the band. I greatly recommend this book to anyone who has ever listened to and enjoyed Nirvana music.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

10 April 2008

Isaac Neyra Jr. reviews:

Title: Go Ask Alice

Author: Anonymous

Genre: Other (Fiction)

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

This book was about a fifteen year old girl writing in her diary that she just got and in the diary she tells what is going on in her life. She was always worried about her crush Roger about how she is. But one day she moves and it was difficult for her. Where she moved she found a new guy she was interested in. They start talking and move along and Alice starts making more friends. The
friends she made weren't the best, they were going to parties and doing all kinds of drugs. Alice was dragged into with them and did what they did. She loses her virginity on drugs and everything goes wrong with her life on drugs. This book was really interesting and intense. It starts off a little boring but once you read on more and more it gets more interesting and would want to continue. The book has drugs, violence, sex, and depression. Its a really good
book and i liked it. i do recommend to those students who are into these types of books.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

9 April 2008

Yenica Medina reviews:

Title:How Not to Spend Your Senior Year

Author: Cameron Dokey

Genre: Other (Fiction)

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

This book is about Josephine Claire Calloway O’connor
who is also known as Jo-Jo O’connor.she lost her mother Ellen Elizabeth O’connor when she was eight.she and her father Chase William have spent their entire lives moving to places. Jo-Jo never questioned her dad about the moving issue and the constantly phone calls he received at night. Jo-Jo who is now a senior is tired of this and wants to feel normal like other students and
live an ordinary life. There was a time where they had to move to Seattle the East side of Washington where they end up living on Ms. Calloway’s house, an old lady who died. Jo-Jo thought her last name was familiar to her, but her dad never told her about it. Her first day of school at Beacon High School started with her meeting Alex Crawford and later was introduced to Elaine Golden who’s Alex friend. The three of therm became good friends although Jo-Jo had a crush on Alex and thought he felt the same. One time Alex went
to Jo-Jo house and asked her to please go with him to prom because she was special to him. Jo-Jo happily agreed and they both end up kissing and they promised to see other the next day. The girls on school got jealous after they found out Jo-Jo was going out to prom with Alex. Alex was a popular guy he had been selected class president four four years and was also a football
player. One day Jo-Jo’s dad was sitting on the couch when she got home from school. he was sad and explained that they would be moving again. Jo-Jo refused she didn’t want to loose her friends Elaine and Alex who she were special to her and didn’t want to miss prom also.Her dad explained about Detective Patterson calling him about leaving would be safe for both of them. Jo-Jo was confused and her dad explained to her the reasons .he told her that he had been witness and that the killer had seen his face and for that reason they had been moving to be safe. He also thought that the killer might be after them. he told her for their protection they would have to change their names and leave their past behind. He told her they were going to fake an accident to pretend that they died and than maybe the killer would read the newspaper
and stop going after them. Jo-Jo thought about Alex and Elaine what sadness they would feel about her being dead. They moved and the next day she was another person now she was Claire Calloway with different style and attitude . Her first day she met Mark London who was in charge of the school newspaper article. When Mark met Claire he saw something common between her and the dead girl in the article. He was willing to follow Claire and find out who she really is. Claire decided to look for Elaine and Alex to
explain everything so she headed to Beacon High school and when Elaine saw her was shock but happy. later Claire waited for Alex on the theater at school and when he showed up he fainted and Claire immediately run away. The next day rumors of Jo-Jo’s ghost appearing to Alex where spread around the school and world.Would Mark find out who Claire really is? Would Claire appear to Alex again? I really enjoy reading this book and taking my time on
it.The characters and the outgoing of the book was really exiting and interesting. this would absolutely make readers keep reading the book. I like this book because since the beginning things start to happen and its not bored.The main character Jo-Jo is a teenager who struggles finding out who she really is or what she wants to be. She is an understanding person who wants to be happy but doesn’t know how.This book is about love,tragedy and action. My favorite part was when Jo-Jo and Alex kissed . I would absolutely
recommend this book to senior girls and girls, because is more of a girl kind and is a story girl. Is something that can be happening to someone right now and also because the main character is a senior.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

9 April 2008

Johnny Damacio reviews:

Title: The Da Vinci Code

Author: Dan Brown

Genre: Other (Fiction)

Is this a book in a series?No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

Have you ever wondered what religion is all about? If your religion is the true one. In the book called The Da Vinci Code it talks about all the secret of Jesus Christ. Sophie Neveu a character in the book. Sophie was one of the last descended of Jesus. All her life she thought her parents had died in a car crash. She was an agent in London trying to solve murders. But she needs a professor’s help find out why people were killing each other. The professor was named Robert Langdon he studied everything of the history. It talks about Lucifer (the devil) he was one of god’s angels. But the devil turned ambitious and a rebel. Lucifer wanted to be like god, he wanted everybody to worship him instead of god and also have the same powers as him. As they both discover secret of Mona Lisa. Sophie and Mr. Langdon both discover that her grandpa wasn’t really her grandpa that he had lied to her about being
family. They tell Sophie she was the also the last descended of Mary Magdalene too. ` The Da Vinci Code a very interesting book. One of the best selling books all over the country. Millions of people around the world have discovered that The Da Vanci code is a very good book. This book grabs your attention right away you open it. It talks a little bit of everything it talks about Jesus Christ and Mona Lisa. So if your one of those people if wonders about
religions you should read this book. This little suffers all her life thinking that her family had died in a car crash when she wasn’t even related to them. They talk about the museum they have in England and the Cathedrals’. It also talks about Mary Magdalene too. So it’s a very good book that you won’t regret reading if you read it. The Da Vinci Code was sold all over the world. You won’t waist your time reading this book.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

9 April 2008

Nicole Ngo reviews:

Title: The Lovely Bones

Author: Alice Sebold

Genre: Other (Fiction )

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

On December 6, 1973 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, Susie Salmon, who is fourteen, is walking to school in the chilly winter. She is running late, so she takes a short cut through a nearby cornfield. In the midst of the cornfield Susie is approached by George Harvey, her neighbor in his mid-30s who lives alone and constructs dollhouses for a living. Mr. Harvey had just got done finishing an underground den near the cornfield, and asked if Susie wanted to
see it. She foolishly abides. Once Susie enters Mr. Harvey’s underground den, he viciously rapes and stabs her, cutting her body into pieces. An elbow, the only part of Susie ever to be found, falls out of his bag. Mr. Harvey returns home after disposing of the remaining parts of Susie’s dismembered body by putting them in a safe and dropping it in a sinkhole. Meanwhile, Susie's spirit flees toward her personal heaven, where watches her grieving family and
friends. The Salmon family was disinclined to accept their oldest daughter had just been murdered. Both Jack and Abigail Salmon, Susie’s mother and father avoided the fact that their daughter was never coming home. Jack just thought Susie was staying out late, but hours past and they did not hear a phone call from her. Abigail became restless and by the next morning, the Salmons filed a missing child report. All hope was lost when detective Len Fenerman found Susie’s hat and elbow in the cornfield. The detectives who talked to Mr. Harvey found him peculiar, but saw no reason to suspect him. Despite the detective’s estimations, Jack becomes suspicious and later pesters the policemen about Mr. Harvey. Lindsey, Susie’s sister who was a year younger, and also the smartest child in the family also shared suspicions with her father about Mr. Harvey. Jack, consumed with guilt over not having been able to protect his daughter, remains on extended leave from work and increasingly isolates himself at home. Abigail deals with Susie’s death by drinking herself into a state of numbness. By this time everyone but Buckley, the youngest child in the family, had accepted Susie’s death, but has not moved on. Buckley is too young to grasp the concept of death, so he repetitively asks
“Where’s Susie?” The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold is a fantastic read, but you have to be patient! Some of the events in this book were dragged out, and some parts were unexciting. The overall concept of this book was so capturing. The Lovely Bones isn’t a very hard book to understand, but it is approximately two hundred pages long, so if you’re looking for a fast read, then this book is not for you. During the murder investigation in the book, I
caught myself wandering off the pages. It was tremendously boring and unnecessary to have more than two chapters about the murder investigation when we all knew who the murderer was! I felt that Sebold should have just cut to the chase, to keep the reader’s attention. What I did enjoy about the book was that the love connection between Ray Singh and Susie. I loved how heartbroken and tragic Ray felt when Susie died, and I also thought it was
cute that Ray was the one and only boy Susie ever kissed. In a way, The Lovely Bones was not only a thrilling drama, but it was also a story about young love and lost.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

9 April 2008

Duc Nguyen reviews:

Title: Deep Dream of the Rain Forest

Author: Malcolm Bosse

Genre: Other (Fiction)

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

Bayang, a tribe young man, has a great dream about that he will find a "Big Fist", he will get into the Big Fish eyes, and from there he will see the whole world. He decides to set out to do as the dream says to become a great man, a great warrior. He and a Tambong, a girl gas nickname Duck Foot, because the dream says Bayang gas to see the duck flies before he see the Big Fish. As
they set out, they meet an English guy, Harry who is on an expedition. Bayang captures the English guy and take his locket, because Bayang believes that the woman portrait in the locket is the picture of the Goddess of Sleep. He hopes that the Goddess of Sleep will give him a dream that tells him where the Big Fish is. Harry tries to get his locket back from the Ibans, the name of
the tribe of Bayang and Tambong. He wants the Iban to help him return to the Englishmen camp. There of them travel in the forest for several weeks, and then Bayang decides to help Harry. On their way to Kuching, Harry has time to understand the Ibans, and he becomes their friend. He decides to help Bayang to find the Big Fish, and let Bayang keep the locket of his mother. One day, in Kuching, Harry tells Bayang and Tambong to fly with him on an
airplane. While they are flying, Bayang realizes that he is in the Big Fish and he can see the world from the sky. After that, the Ibans go back to their village and tell every people their story of great dream.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

9 April 2008

Ransom Cook reviews:

Title: Christine

Author:Stephen King

Genre: Horror

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

The horror novel Christine by Stephen King is a story of a few young teens and their experiences with what they believe to be a possessed 1958 Plymouth Fury. The story is set in Libertyville, a suburb of Pennsylvania. The story centers around a high school senior, Arnie Cunningham, and his Plymouth. Arnie and his friend buy the car, from an old man who is unable to drive, as a old beat up junker. Arnie then begins to devote his life to his car, completely neglegting his school and personal life. When Arnie finally gets his car up to showroom status, a bully of Arnie and his friends trash his car. The bully completely undoes all of his hard work. After spending even more time repairing all of the dammage, strange murders start occuring in Libertyville. Because all of the kids being murdered are enemys of Arnie, he is labeled as a
prime suspect. Christine is a great novel. King tells a tale that is just a relatable today as it was when it was written in 1983. The book is a very good read. I like this book because it is so easy to realte to. King’s novel is very thrilling. I like this book a lot, and would recommend it to anyone who likes King’s novels as this one showcases his ability to develop his characters and create a
uniqe plot. I would also recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys reading horror novels, as this is a thrilling and gripping novel.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

9 April 2008

Tony Nguyen reviews:

Title: Eclipse

Author: Stephenie Meyer

Genre: Other (Fiction)

Is this a book in a series? Yes
If yes, what is the series name? Megan Tingley books

Comments:

Falling in love with a vampire may seem out of the ordinary, but after you have read this book of fantasy adventure, your point of view of falling in love may differ. As for Bella Swan, from the squeal series of New Your times bestseller “Twilight” and “New Moon”, she falls madly in love with a vampire and struggles to keep her love intact with her, not for the rest of her life, but
until the end of time. Bella's love, Edward Cullen, and his family of vampires, the Cullens, are not just ordinary vampire. They have special unique abilities, such as a sixth sense, and they are "vegetarians", which is defined as they do not hunt for human blood, but hunt for animals that are over populated to keep the balance. The Cullens have taken Bella into their home and love her
as family. Meanwhile, Bella's best friend, Jacob Black, has fallen in love with Bella, to which she does not know yet. Jacob, a werewolf in the story, tries to open Bella’s eyes and show her that she is making a mistake falling in love with Edward.. Caught between two loved ones, Bella finds more trouble than just the loves in her life. Something is out in the real world hunting her, tracking her down, thirsting her blood, waiting to strike and take her life. As she unravels more clues and mysteries in the story of this ongoing story, she is determined to become one with Edward for the rest of time. Although determined, she wants more than just to be with Edward. She wants Jacob to be happy also. Not just because he was her best friend, but it was because it was he who made her darkest time bearable and helped her when she was feeling "lifeless". This book is an awesome book to read, and I loved all the series of it. I read the next one after I finished the last. If this is your first time of hearing of “Eclipse”, then I would say you are missing out on a great book, even if your are person who dislikes to read books. I was a person who didn't like to read very much at all, but after I started reading “Twilight”, to which a friend referred me to read, I started to take more books into consideration and
read more often. If you are considering reading this book, don't just jump straight to “Eclipse”. Start from “Twilight” so you know what you’re reading about, and how the story flows through. I started reading “Twilight” and I didn't want to put the book down. I loved how the author portrayed everything about her book. The way she described the details of the all the characters and they way she portrayed how the setting and theme fitted into place perfectly. What got me really hooked on this series was the story, not only was the writing was excellent, but also the storyline. I read this book, as if it was all-true, and that was what got me hooked, loving this book so much. The story in this book was spectacular and I couldn't describe it any other way. If you ever walk into the library and see the book “Twilight”, be sure to
pick it up because you won't want to return it until your finish reading.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

9 April 2008

Victoria Nguyen reviews:

Title: Spirit Seeker

Author: Joan Lowery Nixon

Genre: Mystery

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

The book called Spirit Seeker written by Joan Lowery Nixon is filled with adventures. It is about a girl named Holly Campbell who has a bestfriend named Cody whom parents' were murdered. She goes on adventures to try to help solve this case because everyone believes that Cody is the murderer. They all feel that way because of all the evidence. What makes it even harder for Holly to do so because her dad is a detective of this case. So as you read
the book, you will find out who murdered Cody's parents and see if he is really innocent or not. I feel that the book could have been more better. The reason is because it focuses too much on Holly trying to do the same thing over. I feel that I would already know what would happen next. Although it is an adventerous type of book, I would like to have myself being surprised with what's happening next. A reason why I liked the book is because Holly's
personality was shown that she's very brave and that's what I like to see in girls. What I did not like about the book is that it focuses on one idea too much. I personally would not recommend this book to readers. While reading a book, it is better to have questions running through your head. But with this book, you could already predict what would happen. Although it is labeled as “mystery” it really isn’t after reading deeper into the book.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

9 April 2009

	Jeff Quiggle reviews:

Title:Into the Wild

Author: Jon Krakauer

Genre: Adventure

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

The story of Into the Wild is a book written by Jon Krakauer, and it is a non-fiction story that tells a story of a boy that leaves him family to live in the bush. It begins when Chris McCandless first thinks of this he is a young boy and he hitch hicks all the way around Fairbanks, which is a small town. Soon a man comes and picks him up and drops him off at the Stampede Trail as he is on his way he comes across a bus in which he lives in for a while. A couple of years he is living here in the bus, living off berries and what ever he can kill with his gun. One day he gets hurt at the stampede trail and has to stay at till someone finds him there and rescues him. This is a very good book for many people and when you read it, it really opens your mind to a lot when you begin reading this book because he lives by himself. He teaches you so much just by explaining the pain he went through while he was living there and had no one to help him. During the reading of this book I have learned a lot during the reading like how not to take stuff for granted and take advantage of great things. This has been my favorite book of all time because how much it teaches you when you read this book. I really recommend Into the Wild by
Jon Krakauer because it teaches you so much and can really help you in reallife, it really helped me in my life.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

9 April 2008

Daniel Garcia reviews:

Title: Search for Safety

Author: John Langan

Genre:Mystery

Is this a book in a series? Yes
If yes, what is the series name? Bluford Series

Comments:

The book search for safety is an excellent book because kids can relate to the characters in the story. The detail and descriptions in the book is so realistic. Once you read a few pages you can’t put the book down because the book gets so interesting. My favorite part in the book was when Ben McKee stands up too his dad Larry, after all the physical and emotional abuse he stood up to Larry. Courage is a big obstacle many cant overcome but Ben succeeded in it. My least favorite part would have too be all the beatings and abuse that Ben and his family received. To me violence is never the answer to a problem. Violence first makes things worse. Overall this book is worth reading, reading Search for Safety made me feel as if I was witnessing the story. I felt as if I was seeing every part of the obstacles Ben was going through. Reading was
never my favorite thing to do, but after getting done with Search for Safety I was driven into reading more books. The bluford series can get you interested from the beginning to the end. I would truly recommend this book to anyone that likes mystery books or any reader that wants to get lost in a fascinating dilemma.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

9 April 2008

Yuki Hayes reviews:

Title: The Two Towers

Author: J. R. R. Tolkien

Genre: Fantasy

Is this a book in a series? Yes
If yes, what is the series name? The Lord of the Rings

Comments:

In this novel, Lord of the Rings and The Twin Towers, Frodo and his
companions Sam and Gollum try to find their way to the tower in which to destroy their ring. First it starts off as Frodo being with his “Fellowship of the Ring”, united fully except for Gandalf, who fell into the pits of the Balrog. Then as time goes by, they get separated. Frodo and Sam are guided by Gollum to find the location of Mt. Doom to destroy The Ring. On their way, they face obstacles among themselves due to Frodo’s distrust in Sam and
Gollum’s attempt at breaking Sam and Frodo’s friendship apart. As Gollum sees that Frodo is mentally weak, he attacks him psychologically and it ends up with Sam being told off by Frodo. As Frodo walks up the tower to find their way, Gollum tricks Frodo and traps him in a big arachnid nest. As Frodo realizes he has been tricked, he begs for Sam.. As Frodo tries to get through, he is captured by the spider and is bitten, which causes paralysis throughout Frodo’s body. I think this book is a very good book. This book has a prologue and 3 steps to the story. This book has many action moments and the thrillers that give you the anxiety to keep on reading. This book will keep the reader with his nose in the book for hours and hours. The storyline is well thought out and the characters are undoubtedly very unique and each of them has
their own unique characteristics. Despite their differences, they’re able to get along as a whole party to fight the evil, playing jokes and games along the way, which makes us think more about how reality should be.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

9 April 2008

Kenny Beardsley reviews:

Title: The Catcher In The Rye

Author: J.D. Salinger

Genre: Other (Fiction)

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

“The Catcher In The Rye”, by J.D. Salinger, is narrated by a young man, Holden Caulfield. Holden speaks of his last moments at Pencey Prep School before he heads back to his hometown of Manhatten. Holden visits a few important faces before he leaves back home but ends up leaving three days early. Back in Manhatten, when no one knows he is there, Holden stays at a
hotel and interesting mishaps occur. It seems Holden has a horrible touch on the females he comes in contact with. All the problems he goes through are centered around females. Holden is in search for his younger sister Pheobe. He searches at the park, at her school, and even at the library, even when he knew she wouldn’t be there. Throughout Holden’s narration he has asked two
cab drivers “where do the ducks in Central Park go when the lagoon freezes?” They both were irritated from the question. When Holden finds Pheobe he tells her of his mishaps and it angers her. Holden speaks to Pheobe, of his dream of being “Catcher in the Rye”. Holden is the only main character and he is a 16 year old boy, whom had been expelled from many schools and chooses to go home. His problems are all revolved around his own childish
behavior and not having a clue about what he wants. “The Catcher In The Rye” by J.D. Salinger, is one of the best books I’ve ever read. The main character, Holden, is so uncaring of his situation and I think it’s absolutely hilarious how he describes the people he comes in contact with. Holden narrating his own story if really nice but he is random. Starts out talking about one thing and pops into another subject, very similar to the show “Family Guy”. I would recommend this book because its fun to read but its filled with
many little parts that you’d really have to pay attention. The most interesting part of this book was all of Holden’s thoughts. He looks at females in many different perspectives and it seems like everything he had tries, backfires. In my opinion, there was nothing too negative about this book. The ending, I believe, is great. I wouldn’t want to give away the ending but that is why you
should read the book. I would give it 8 out of 10 points.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

9 April 2008

Uyen Nguyen reviews:

Title: Love in the Driest Season

Author: Neely Tucker

Genre: Biography

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

In Neely Tucker’s family memoir, Love in the Driest Season, he and his wife Vita arrives at Zimbabwe on one of Tucker’s regular jobs as a foreign correspondence for his newspaper. They soon come to realize that AIDS were devastating to the nation’s population, especially among newborns and children. The couple began to volunteer at an orphanage called Chinyaradzo and soon an abandoned newborn was brought to the orphanage in a dire state.
The baby girl was found still bloody with her umbilical cord attached and swollen by crawling ants. They suspected she was HIV positive because of her conditions and symptoms. Despite that, Chinyaradzo workers named her Chipo, meaning “gift”, soon after Neely and Vita fell in love with this little girl.
Neely was a white, American male and Vita was an African American woman. This became an important issue when they wanted to file for adoption. Adoption was not an option, so they were told. They filed to become foster parents and took care of the baby, in hopes of one day calling the child their own. They struggle to get hold of the file holders and at times wait for hours or even days outside their office building to find them. Signed week-by-week they fought to maintain custody of Chipo. In their care, the once near-death child became a healthy baby girl. The fragile life of this child lies in the balance of their hands.. Hope, love, and family can drive anyone into achieving their wishes. This memoir creates the perfect mix of politics, racism, and war, with an inspirational family story. The touching storyline gives the
reader a sense of sympathy and that they can relate with the writer’s emotion. Readers are highly recommended to read this book if they are in search of a true story with heartfelt morals. This memoir is written in the first person narrative so the reader can follow along in the writer’s adventures and battles
along the road towards their destination. Love in the Driest Season, by Neely Tucker is full of emotion, chaos, and unexpected events. Happiness and satisfaction are quickly short-lived as moments of desperation and disappointment soon follow. In spite of their failures, it only fuels their ambition to fight and obtain their goal; to become a family. It is a triumph of heart and will.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

9 April 2008

Amanda Wells reviews:

Title: The Lovely Bones

Author: Alice Sebold

Genre: Other (Fiction)

Is this a book in a series?No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

Fourteen-year-old Susie Salmon who is the main character in the story was sexual assaulted and murdered. After she passes she watches from heaven and books upon the involvements of her life on her earth without her being there. Also while Susie’s family Jack Salmon her dad, Abigail Salmon her mother, Lindsey Salmon her sister, and Buckley Salmon her brother all are grieving in so many ways after a year most of the family members try to figure how to
become a family again there is a big destroys in-between. While on the other hand Len Freemen who is the decetive to Susie’s case tries to figure it all out with so many other people doing the same. I really liked the beginning of the book because it brings you in, and your very curious on how the story will carry out. So it made a way for me to really want the book to end so I could read the ending of the book. Also I liked how author kept the lives and
feelings on Susie’s family and people that she knew or knew her, on how they where dealing throughout the story with it all. During the book that I really disliked was throughout the story it gets very “blah” to where it was it’s in slow motion because the author talks about things that really don’t belong in the story.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

9 April 2008

Tran Ha reviews:

Title: The Night Watch

Author: Sarah Waters

Genre: Historical Fiction

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

Written by Sarah Waters, The Night Watch is a novel that had risen to be national bestsellers. Sarah Waters were named one of Granda’s best British writers under forty in 2003 and is currently residing in London. One of the best known strategies in selling novels is to catch the attention of the readers at first hand, so when my eyes set on the cover of this novel I get a feeling of
a big mystery that I need to know. From the cover to the title of the book, The Night Watch, I feel this is the right book for me to enjoy. As I began reading the first couple pages, I felt this book have a very weak opening, but I stick to it with an excited intensity. I feel a big mystery or secret will be reveal but to my surprise and disappointment that the moment never came. With the story having no mystery or drama the author tries to write the novel with the timeline going backward. Starting from 1947 in London when WWII had ended, to 1944 when the war was coming to an end, and finally in 1941. This causes me to be confused with the story, and lose interest in the story. At the end I figured out this story evolves around four Londoners and their lives during the war and after the war, with nothing interesting happening in their
lives, and with the timeline going backward. I don’t really understand why the author, Sarah Waters, would write a book like this; except I feel many there is a political ideology behind this story. In conclusion I would not recommend this book to anyone especially young adults.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

8 April 2008

Huy D. Tran reviews:

Title: How I Learned to Fly

Author: R.L.Stine

Genre: Mystery

Is this a book in a series? Yes
If yes, what is the series name? Goosebumps

Comments:

There this guy who name is Jack Johnson. Wilson is a friend of Jack, but he think he better than Jack. Jack and Wilson also like the same girl named Mia. Mia's like heart because she was born on Valentine's Day. They both compete to win Mia heart. When Mia's invite Jack and Wilson to her Birth-Day party, they would both very excited. When they play Twisted JAck got his pant riped and he was wearing a superman boxer. Everyone laugh and Jack run out
the door. When he was walking down the street he saw a abandon house, and it was all torn up. So Jack went inside and he find a book called "Flaying Lesson" and then he run home. Jack then read the book and perform it for Mia's to see. Jack then hide the book in his garge. On the next day his dad clean up the garge and has throw all the stuff away. When Jack ask Wilson to race for Mia's, Wilson accept. Jack face then turn to shock because Wilson is
flying too. Wilson said that he has pick it up in the trash can in front of your house. Now Wilson got Mia's for the win.I like this book because it is funny and esy to read. This book is very good and I should reccomd your guy reading it. I just hate the part that Wilson alway win against Jack.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

8 April 2008

Huy Lam reviews:

Title: Holes

Author: Luois Sachar

Genre: Other (Fiction)

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

Stanley, he is in a poor family. His family was living in the apartment. They had a business in cleaning shoes. Their house had a bad smell. They really don’t have money for renting the house.The owner of the house wanted to kick them out of the apartment. One day, Stanley was innocently walking in
the street. Somebody was stealing the expensive pair of shoes worth $5,000 dollars. He walked in the street, the pair of the shoes falling in his head.He thought that god had given to him. But he didn’t know the police want to catch him. He ran away, and the police caught him. Everyone got caught from them; the officer of the police put them in the desert to dig the hole for him.
The officer of the police his name is Mr. Pendanski. He wants to find out the treasure, but some of the police don’t know what he is doing. Stanley met Zero. Zero he is the stupid person, he doesn’t know anything. That’s why they called him Zero. Stanley and Zero dig holes, but Mr. Pendanski gives to everyone the water, but he doesn’t give to Stanley and Zero. Zero hit him, and ran away with Stanley. Stanley and Zero had a planned, after everybody was sleeping, and they will dig the holes to finding the pleasure. But their plan was not successful. They found the treasure, but they got caught by Mr. Pendanski. The yellow lizard got out, the yellow lizard can killing the people. Mr. Pendanski shot the yellow lizard, but it is a lot, then he ran away. Stanley and Zero are standing. They can’t move, if they moved the yellow lizard would bite them. Morning came and the police caught Mr. Pendanski, because the police know he is put everybody got caught in desert to find out the treasure for him.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

8 April 2008

Nathalie Nguyen reviews:

Title: Behind The Attic Wall

Author: Sylvia Cassedy

Genre: Other (Fiction)

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

It's really touching if you read this book. I think everyone should read this book because it talks about this girl who is alone in the world, one day she found these dolls and hung out with them when nobody else wants to play with her.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

8 April 2008

Isaias Zagal reviews:

Title: Wish you Well

Author: David Baldacci

Genre: Other (Fiction)

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

The book I read is called “Wish you Well” by David Baldacci. This book is about true love and hope, the destiny of a united family will decide their fate of a whole different new life. In this book there are three main characters; they are Lou Cardinal, Oz Cardinal and Diamond. Lou is twelve years old and his brother Oz is eight, they both live in New York city in the 40’s with their parents, their mother is Amanda and their father is Jack Cardinal. One day tragedy strikes the Cardinal family when without knowing what was going to happen they go to California since Jack wants to be famous writing books, but suddenly all his dreams crumbled when the 1936 four door Lincoln zephyr sedan clashes with another car while going to California, Lou’s dad dies in the accident and Amanda is paralyzed. Now they have to confront their new life
and they will meet their destiny when the two brothers and their crippled mother venture to explore unknown lands in the Virginia Mountains. They go to Virginia to be and live with their only and truly grandmother, there they will have to go to school and they will find it harder than their original school in New York city but they will also find their only true friend; Diamond. With Diamond as their new leader and him well being experienced of the land of
Virginia,he will teach Lou and Oz the adventures and secrets of his
well-known mountains of Virginia. But not everything is blue in the town where they live, there is a bad guy named George Davis who really hates the newcomers and their grandma Louisa. But the grandma doesn’t let anybody to insult her and she will protect her grandchildren at any costs. Their best and true friend Diamond will show Lou and Oz the magic of the wonderful mountains of Virginia and its beautiful nature. It’s a touching story of love and
hope. This book has become part of me because it remembers me of my country and its wonderful nature. This book was delightful, is a masterpiece. Out of all the books I’ve read since I started to read I would put this book in my number one list. This book has changed my life from the perspective of love towards nature and I also have discover the true meaning of a friend even in the toughest situations. The plot and the theme of this story is fantastic, it couldn’t be better. The theme is perfect for the ones who love nature and its adventures. What I liked about this book was that it describes every single detail of being a true friend and how the love of a united family can overcome even the toughest situations. I liked how the life challenges the characters to a
whole different new life and how these children overcome the obstacles of a tough life. If you read this book you will find it entertaining and thrilling as you leaf through it, if you love nature and like stories about friendship, love and accomplishment than this is a great book for you to read, believe me, you will love this book, guaranteed if you like nature.

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

8 April 2008

Xieu Tran reviews:

Title: The New Boy

Author: R.L. Stine

Genre: Other (Fiction)

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

Ross Gabriel, the new boy of Shadyside High, is both gorgeous and
mysterious; all the girls want to date him, even the ones who already have boyfriends. Janie, Eve and Faith go so far as to make a bet that which one of them will he go out with first? But the murders begin, when Eve gets the first date, Janie thinks she is lucky, until Janie finds Eve's dead body it starts to look as if dating Ross means flirting with a gruesome and untimely death. Did
Ross kill Eve? Janie decides to see Ross's friend who is new girl, also comes to Shadyside High at the same time with Ross, she tells that Ross moves here to keep away from his girlfriend's dead and everyone thinks he did, but the police could not find out evidence to indict him. And now why is he begging Janie to go out with him? Will Janie's dream date turn out to be the night of
her life or her death? Does she believe him or not? I think this is an interesting story that I have ever read. I love this book, the more I read, the story seems to capture me to follow the particulars events of some matter. At the beginning of the story, Ross is described as a wonderful man, but after Janie's friends' death, I do think that he did it because those events always tally with the facts, but the police and also Janie don't have evidence to accuse him. If you want to know what his secret is, you are welcome to read this book to find out what is really happened. Is it a real coincident, that the same thing could happen twice in a consecutive year?

Reader's Recommendation:

Date of Review:

7 April 2008

Trang Dang reviews:

Title: Story of a Girl: A Novel

Author: Sara Zarr

Genre: Other (Fiction)

Is this a book in a series? No
If yes, what is the series name?

Comments:

In the book Story of A Girl, by Sara Zarr it is about a teenage girl named Deanna Lambert,who has to deal with a lot of problems. When Deanna was 13-years old, she was caught with a 17-year old guy named Tommy Webber having sexual intercourse by her father. Her father never looked at her since then. Tommy spread out rumors at school what happened between them and everyone considered her as a slut. She went through a lot of hard situations.
And there’s Darren Lambert, who’s her brother. His girlfriend got pregnant, when they were only young teens. Deanna wanted to move out with them and start a new life. So, she started working at a pizza restaurant called Picasso’s, where Tommy also worked, to pay for the rent. However, her brother and his girlfriend wanted to move out on their own without her. In addition, Deanna had problems with her two best friends, Lee and Jason. She liked Jason, who was with Lee and she couldn’t do anything about it, but hide her feelings. What I like about the book was that it had a lot of conflicts to discuss about. Having the opportunity to learn things makes me think and it also makes me want to improve myself in life. I enjoy thinking about the issues after i read. It was a great book that I would li