Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley - ADVISABLE

Hurley, Tonya Ghostgirl, 326 pgs. Little, Brown and Co.

Language- PG; Sexual Content- PG; Violence- PG;

MS-ADVISABLE

This is a really fun book about a high school girl that chokes on a gummy bear, just as her life is getting good, and her life after death. It's a really cute story that had me laughing a lot. I also really loved all the cute quotes and explanations at the beginning of the chapters. It really helped out a lot so that I was never lost or confused. It has a great message that was a kind of wake up call for me. The ending also is one of those not-quite-over-but-think-about-it things and I'll be looking for the next book.

STUDENT REVIEWER- AR

Love in the Corner Pocket by Marlene Perez - ADVISABLE

Perez, Marlene Love in the Corner Pocket, 240 pgs. Point.

Language- PG-13; Sexual Content- PG; Violence- G;

HS - ADVISABLE

This is a story about a girl who really loves pool and hasn't had any real luck in the love industry until a new boy shows up in town. She begins to really like him but when her friend steals him she starts to wonder if he is really worth fighting for.

I really liked this book. It has Best Friends, Fights, Love, Pool, and is all about a typical girl finally finding herself and her true friends. It's a fun story that I couldn't put down but has quite a lot of swearing that could possibly make someone uncomfortable. But if you don't mind scattered swear words I highly recommend this cute story of a very twisted love triangle.

Student Reviewer.

The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein - ADVISABLE

Grabenstein, Chris The Crossroads, 336 Pgs. Random House.

Language- G; Sexual Content- G; Violence- PG

EL, MS - ADVISABLE

Zack Jennings is an 11yo boy who moves to Connecticut with his dad and new stepmother. It seems like a pretty boring town until Zack meets a new friend, a crazy lady keeps coming to and oak in his back yard and a face in a tree wants to kill him.

This is an intense novel. It's thrilling and had me jumping and scared after just a few pages. It is very well written and I liked it a lot. Its a fun story that had me guessing 'till the end and I am now looking for more of Grabenstein's books.

Student Reviewer: AR

Darkside by Tom Becker - ADVISABLE

Becker, Tom Darkside, 288 Pgs. Orchard Books.

Language-G; Sexual Content- G; Violence- PG

MS-ADVISABLE

This is a story about Jonathan Starling, a 14-year-old boy stuck in a broken world where is father is almost always in the hospital sick and when he's not he's stuck up in his home office. Jonathan's Biggest form of excitement is usually running from the police. But when three strangers start coming after him, his world is turned into a horrible horror story. When he crosses over to another world he makes werewolf friends, makes vampire enemies, and has to save his fathers life before it's too late.

This is a fun story that had me on the edge of my seat a lot of the time. It took me quite a few chapters before I really got into it but once I did, it was awesome. I recommend it to anyone looking for a new series with vampires, werewolves and other creatures.

Student Reviewer:AR

Origins by Kate Thompson - ESSENTIAL

Thompson, Kate Origins, 313 p. Bloomsbury

Language: G, Sexual Content: G, Violence: G

MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

Nessa is a cat that has been exiled to protect her from the war with the neighboring dogs. When she meets up with another exile, a dog named Farral, they set off to uncover the truth about the origins of dogs and cats. Meanwhile, a boy living in a secret community keeps a journal on how these secret genetic engineers may have found the missing link they were looking for.

This book was amazing. When I read the first one I was hooked on the series, and the ending to the series was breathtaking. Although I was lost when I first started the book, as the story started to fill out I couldn't put it down.

Student Reviewer: KH

House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones - ESSENTIAL

Jones, Diana Wynne House of Many Ways 404 p. Greenwillow.

Language - PG; Sexual Content - G; Violence - PG

MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

Charmain is a bookworm that has been brought up by her mother to be "Respectable" at all time and in all ways and she is sick of it. Her chance to have an adventure comes when her Aunt Sempronia volunteers Charmain to look after the home of her "Great Uncle William" who happens to be a wizard. Before long, she finds adventures in her own life instead of just her books.

As always when I pick up a sequel, I worry that it won't be as good as the first. Howl's Moving Castle is one of my favorite books and I am quite pleased that House of Many Ways lived up to it. I adore this book and I'm sure any other lover of fantasy will as well.

Student Reviewer: KH

Blown Away! by Joan Hiatt Harlow - ESSENTIAL

Harlow, Joan Hiatt Blown Away! 248 pgs. Margaret K. McElderry.

Content - G

EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

Jake, who lives in Islamorada, an island off the coast of Florida, gets to go with an eccentric fisherman on a trip to Key West, and they become fast friends. A new girl moves onto the island as well, and Jake befriends her. A hurricane is coming toward their island. It's going to be an exciting, scary summer for them all.

This book was very good. I thought it was simple in some ways, but in others, it was very deep. There was a lot of description in it that made you feel like you were really there, and you got to know and love the characters. This book was extremely well written. This book shows the dangers and horror of hurricanes very well, without being graphic or anything like that.

Student Reviewer - RG

Regarding the Bathrooms by Kate Klise - ADVISABLE

Klise, Kate Regarding The Bathrooms, 144 pgs. Harcourt.

Content - G

EL, MS - ADVISABLE

The basement bathrooms in Geyser Creek Middle School need fixing, and fast. The SPA (Society of Principals and Administrators) convention is coming up, and Principal Russ will be hosting it. He contacts Florence Waters to fix them up. Also, Dee Eel and Sally Mander have escaped from jail, making for a crazy summer!

This book was a good one, and I enjoyed the alternative style of writing the author used. The book could be considered educational, because it exposes you to different writing styles. The plot was all right, though this is definitely a book for younger audiences.

Student Reviewer: RG

Ridiculous/Hilarious/Terrible/Cool: A Year in American High School by Elisha Cooper - ADVISABLE

Cooper, Elisha Ridiculous/ Hilarious/ Terrible/ Cool- A Year in American High School, Pages:255. Dial Books (Penguin)

Language: PG 13, Sexual Content: PG, Violence: PG;

MS, HS - ADVISABLE

Elisha Cooper always was interested in High School, the fun, the laughs, the cramming, the drama… Everything. That is why he went down to Walter Payton High School in Chicago. He went and documented eight different kids on their whole year of high school. Daniel, Emily, Maya, Diana, Anais, Aisha, Anthony, and Zef told Elisha everything, and made this book what it is, made it interesting and fun to read, but also life opening at times too. Elisha Cooper wrote an amazing book. It's great for those students just starting high school or those students leaving, and even those who have long ago left and just want a peek at what it used to be like.

Student Reviewer: AN

The Lucky Place by Zu Vincent - ESSENTIAL

Vincent, Zu The Lucky Place, Pages: 230; Publisher: Front Street Books

Language: PG 13; Sexual Content: PG; Violence: PG;


MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

Cassie is three years old when her mom and dad start to fall apart. Her father drinks way too much and even forgot her at the races. Her mother, her brother Jamie, and Cassie soon end up leaving her father and finding her New Dad. They live in The Lucky Place; well that's what her mother calls it. Cassie loves her new dad but her brother Jamie does not. He always wants to run back down to her Old Dad. When tragedy hits with her New Dad and Mom Cassie and Jamie begin to finally understand and love again.

Shows the challenges that children face when their parents get divorced and remarry. It was interesting for me to see the divorce from Cassie's little three year old eyes and then again as she grows up to a teenager. The Lucky Place really shows everyone exactly how hard it can be to have an Old Dad and a New Dad and having to think you have to choose between them. Great book, and eye opener for sure. I would recommend parents to read this book to their children if they have to go through the same thing, also for Middle Schoolers, High Schoolers, and adults to read this book also. This book is for everyone at every age.
Student Reviewer: AN

The Secret Rites of Social Butterflies by Zindel

Zindel, Lizabeth The Secret Rites of Social Butterflies;

Language: PG 13, Sexual Content: PG, Violence: G;

HS - ADVISABLE

Maggie Wishnick starts her first day of Senior year at Berkeley Prep and really the only thing she wants is to make some new good friends like the ones she left back at home. She soon meets "The Revelers." They love to party and have fun, but they also find out every secret imaginable that you may have. She joins the Revelers and begins to find out everything about a lot of people. Things go good for a while, she gets a boyfriend, and has lots of fun, but someone finds the "Secret Wall" where all the secrets about everyone are written down then everything turns to chaos. She loses all of her classmates trust, now what will she do?

An okay book. To me it seemed like there was just too much drama. Also it was just too much like the movie Mean Girls a lot of the things about this book seemed to be just like it. But it was a good book.

Student Reviewer: AN

Newes From the Dead by Mary Hooper - ESSENTIAL

Hooper, Mary Newes from the Dead, Pages: 263; Publisher: Roaring Book Press (Macmillan)

Language: PG 13; Sexual Content: PG 13 (Anne's "master" used her six different times for his own pleasure- not described just mentioned and where it happened); Violence: PG 13;

HS - ESSENTIAL

Based on the true story of Anne Green, an innocent girl hanged for a crime she did not commit in 1650, thought dead she woke up on the dissecting table. The surgeons who were supposed to be dissecting her helped resurrect her and she soon lived and was finally able to tell her story and get justice for the man who told all the lies.

This book was amazing. One of the greatest books I have read in a long time. In the back of this book it has the actual article about Anne Green. Great book for everyone who loves old century stories.

Student Reviewer: AN

Lizard Love by Wendy Townsend - ESSENTIAL

Townsend, Wendy Lizard Love; Pages: 196; Publisher: Front Street Books

Language: PG; Sexual Content: PG 13 (Men around town start to notice her growing womanly body and look and say things she does not like. There is also some animal mating that is described but only once.) Violence: PG;

MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

Gracie lives in the wonderful place of Mooresville where nature surrounds her, she gets to love her pet toad, and be free with her grandparents and with nature itself. But her life soon changes when she and her mother move to New York City where there is no nature that she loves so much. She doesn't fit in at school because of the way she dresses and how crazy she is about reptiles. But one faithful day she comes across Fang & Claw, a reptile pet shop. There she meets Walter a boy her age, his dad Pops, and the iguana Spots. She begins to love it there and spends all of her free time at Fang & Claw. All at the same time she is beginning to become and woman and hates every step and sign of the way. When she heads down to Mooresville and finds it has changed so much she finally realizes she now has to accept who she is and deal with it.

An amazing book, I was hooked from the very beginning. Even for people like me who don't like snakes and lizards and such this book was still so amazing. Perfect for a teenager who is starting to become a young woman. Fantastic book.

Student Reviewer: AN

The Dead and Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer - ESSENTIAL

Pfeffer, Susan Beth The Dead and the Gone; Pages: 321; Publisher: Harcourt Inc.

Language: PG 13; Sexual Content: PG 13 (only one incident where a man grabs one of the sisters and takes her) Violence: PG 13;

MS HS - ESSENTIAL

What would you risk for food? What would you do? How would you survive? Alex's only worry is to get good grades to get into college, be senior class president, and to be a teenager. But when an asteroid hits the moon and makes it be closer to the earth it alters the climate, making everything go into chaos. He has no idea where his parents are or if they are even still alive, he and his two sisters stay in New York City fighting for food, safety, and righteousness. Things begin to get bad when the food supplies dwindle and people are dying on the very streets.

This book was completely astonishing. Full of drama, realization, mystery, and finding ways to survive. Alex would risk his life for his sisters and almost does. It makes you really think about what we as humans would do if something like this would happen because of how much it would change everything. Susan Beth Pfeffer's way of writing takes you way deep into the story and makes you feel like you are really there suffering along with Alex and his sisters. Such an amazing book.

(Can get descriptive of inhumanly things (trampling, rotting, stealing, etc.) only for the strong stomach and those who can handle it.). Student Reviewer: AN

Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott - OPTIONAL

Scott, Elizabeth Perfect You, 282 pgs. Simon Pulse.

Language- PG-13 (about 3 f's); Sexual Content-PG; Violence-G;

 MS, HS - OPTIONAL

Unfortunately Kate is forced to work with her dad at the mall selling vitamins. Kate has just lost her best friend and there's a cute boy that she can't stand but can't stand not being around him.

The book looked good, but there was really no point. Kate was so shallow through out the whole book. She needed more depth to her character. All of the things that she wanted were really shallow. If you're going to bother to read a book, pick up one with a point to it and not this one.

Student Reviewer- KD

The Fold by An Na - ESSENTIAL

Na, An The Fold, 280 pgs. G. P. Putnam's Sons.

Language-PG; Sexual Content-PG; Violence-G;

MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

Korean American, Joyce, gets the chance of a lifetime, to get the fold in her eye surgically removed. However, will the new look be worth the pain and attention?

The issue addressed in this book was very good, and it needs to be addressed. Because our society is focused on looks for the most part, it was good to see Joyce's reasoning behind her final decision. I was hoping for a little more depth in the characters but it was still a good read.

Student Reviewer-KD

Dragon Flight by Jessica Day George - ESSENTIAL

George, Jessica Day Dragon Flight, 272 pgs. Bloomsbury USA Children's Books

Language~G, Sexual Content~G; Violence~PG

EL, MS - ADVISABLE

In the sequel to her popular book Dragon Slippers, Day has brought readers back to the world of Creel, Prince Luka, and the King of the Dragons, Shardas. Creel’s seamstress business is booming and the Dragon War is over. However, Creel gets word that a neighboring country is breeding dragons for an attack. Prince Luka has been distant and Creel has begun to wonder where their friendship stands. Creel and Luka join forces again with Shardas to defeat this new threat to the peace.

Allison Madsen~Youth Services Librarian-SJO Public Librarian

11,000 Years Lost by Peni R. Griffin - OPTIONAL

Griffin, Peni R. 11,000 Years Lost, 336 pgs. Harry N. Abrams

Language~G, Sexual Content~G; Violence~PG

EL, MS - OPTIONAL

Finding an arrow-head is always exciting, but what if you found one that was 11,000 years old? Esther discovered a Clovis arrowhead that has been buried since the Ice Age. Archeologists come to dig around the site to see what else can be found. While observing the archeologist work, Esther sees some odd looking girls playing in the distance. She goes over to investigate and her world changes. A portal back to the Ice Age has opened and Esther unknowingly walked through it. Now she is 11,000 years in the past! The mysterious girls, belong to a nomadic tribe and when Esther shows up they say she has come from the stars and is a ‘special/magical’ being that bestows luck upon all she touches. She becomes friends with the two girls and is adopted into their family. Unable to find a way home, Esther struggles learn the nomadic language and the ways of the nomads. Esther begins to fear that she will never get back home.

Descriptions of the nomadic way of life and its dangers are very interesting and the hunt for the mammoths exciting. The cover is slightly dull, therefore consider reading this story aloud.

Allison Madsen~Youth Services Librarian-SJO Public Librarian

Final Lap by Malcolm Rose - ESSENTIAL

Rose, Malcolm Final Lap, 231 p. Kingfisher (Houghton), 2007.

Violence - PG.

MS - ESSENTIAL

Luke and his MALC have been called to the building site of the Youth International Games to solve a rash of sabotage and a mysterious disappearance. Solving crimes is dangerous enough, but now Jade, Luke's girlfriend is on-site as the composer of the music of the Games. How can Luke keep her safe and find the criminal?

Rose's investigative novels are an interesting look at technology and forensics witth great murder mysteries to boot. Fans of Muchamore's Cherub series need to be pointed right at these, too.

Cindy, Library-Teacher.

Hell Week by Rosemary Clement-Moore - ADVISABLE

Clement-Moore, Rosemary Hell Week, 327 p. Delacorte (Random), 2008.

MS, HS - ADVISABLE

Maggie Quinn is deep in the throes of Rush Week at the same college that her father teaches at. She's writing an anonymous, scathing column about the quirks of college sororities for the college paper, getting rave reviews. So she can't stop now. As she gets deeper into the sorority crush, Hell Week, she realizes that something extra spooky is going on. Maggie has already stopped one demonic event during high school, what's another during her first semester of college?

I haven't read the first title in the series, Prom Dates from Hell, but I had no problem following the storyline. Maggie is a whip-sharp protagonist with intelligence and the friends she needs to back her up. I was enchanted. It does use the word "hell" a lot, but it is referring to the place, not swearing. And of course, there are demons and spells.

Cindy, Library-Teacher.