Book Review #8: Evermore by Alyson Noel

Pages: 320
Her family is dead, she is psychic, she can see peoples auras AND read people's minds, and to top it all off there's a hot new guy at her school. This girl's name is Ever Bloom. Ever has two best friends, Miles, and Haven. They are the out casts of the school, so when the hot new guy comes to sit at their out cast table they can't control themselves. But Ever doesn't look at Damen's hot face, or flawless self, she notices that he doesn't have an  aura. After running into him  many times after she starts to fall in love with him. But Damen has a secret. A secret he's kept for six hundred years.

This book was very much like Twilight. Yet it was written much much much better. I loved it! It was strangely addictive though. If your not in the mood to think about a book for a long long time or obsessively look for the next book in the series. The romance wasn't as cheesy as most cheesy books about such things. I'm so happy I read it though. The books got better as the series went on.

I loved this so much. I loved waiting for the moment when something so epic happened in the book. I couldn't put it down. I know I say this a lot in my book reviews but I can't help it. I loved this book.
I rated this book a five out of five. Because I felt so very happy when I read it. I couldn't believe how good it was, I had heard that it was much like Twilight and it kind of made me cautious but it was SOOO much better. I would recommend this to girls and ONLY girls. Boys wouldn't like this book at all. I really think that it is a chick flick book. It was a really good book!

Book Review #7: Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen

I wrote this book review for my school news paper. Here you go!

Pages: 224

Have you ever been a new student? Bryce Loski has: he moved into a new town and immediately met Julianna Baker. She couldn’t control herself; she had a crush on him. Poor Bryce went to a new school and to make matters worse, Juli was in his class. Bryce went through a whole new torture; a girl had a crush on him. The kids in his second grade would sing, “Bryce and Juli sittin’ in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G!” But our friend Juli had a whole different story. She needed a friend, someone besides her brothers, someone her age. When Bryce moved in, she lost herself in his eyes.

Wendelin Van Draanen caught her readers in a way they can all connect. At some point or another everyone has had a crush on someone. Everyone could connect with Juli and everyone can connect with Bryce. Ms. Draanen knows how to touch her audience in a way that it would take other author years to perfect.

The way that Ms. Draanen described what Bryce and Juli saw in there day to day lives was just incredible. She could perfectly move between the personalities of Bryce and Juli in such a way that you’d think that the book was written by two authors, one male and one female. She made her audience feel for her characters.

Many of SJHS’s students have read this book. Samantha Carter, an eighth grader at SJHS, said, “I like the romance in it; it also reminds me of my friends.” Samantha read this book because it was recommended to her by Erika Frischknecht, an eighth grader at SJHS. According to Erika, she loves Flipped because it’s a cute love story, and she sees a lot of our school’s personalities in it.

This book is definitely a page turner. You want to know what crazy thing Juli is going to do next. You want to know how Bryce is going to handle it, and once you’ve read it all the way through you can’t stop thinking about it. It makes you realize that some people aren’t what they seem; it makes you stop and think about the way that you treat people, not just your friends but the people you don’t necessarily get along with.

Most girls fantasize about boys they like Ms. Draanen put it to words what how most girls feel about the boys they like, how they think about them and how they will do crazy things to get the boy’s attention. She also had the ability to show the girls how boys feel when a girl crushes them.

Recently in August, Flipped was made into a movie. When I watched it I was amazed at how accurate it was. Juli looked exactly how I had imagined her. Bryce, though he didn’t have blue eyes, still looked exactly how I had imagined him. There were things in the movie that were slightly different, because instead of modern day times it was set back in the fifties, so of course it wouldn’t be exactly like the book. Over all, all the characters, and key details were perfect. So if you have already read the book and not seen the movie, then I would definitely recommend this to you.

I rated this book a 5 out of 5 for the following reason: it makes you realize that some people aren’t always what they seem on the outside; it’s what on the inside that matters. People shouldn’t be judged by the way they dress or the way they act. It’s what is inside that matter the most. Flipped can be found in any public library, school library, classroom library, or any bookstore.

Book Review #6: The Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins

Pages: 384
In the future the USA is no longer call the USA, it's called Panem. There are no longer states, there are districts, 12 of them, the thirteenth destroyed. After a huge rebellion the officials decided to make an annual event to remind the rebels of what would happen if they were to rebel again. This event is called the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games is a "game" where each district will give two tributes from their district, one boy and one girl, to the Capitol to be put into an arena to fight to the death. Whoever is the last one standing wins and they get everlasting glory. But those other 23 tributes are dead and you have to live with that. Katniss Everdeen lives in District 12, she also lives in the worst part of District 12 called the Seam. On Reaping Day, (the day where the districts choose their tributes through a drawing) Katniss's sister Prim is called to go to be a tribute. Prim is the only person Katniss is sure she truly loves, so when Prim's name is called Katniss volunteers for her sister and she is thrown into the arena.

I couldn't put this book down. It was so good. I loved it! I borrowed this book from my English teacher and was drawn in. After the first chapter I felt completely out of my own world and in the world of Katniss Everdeen. I could see what Katniss saw and I felt what she felt.

I didn't want to put this book down. I didn't want to go to bed or pay attention in school while I read. I vanished into my book. And after finishing it I jumped right in the sequel, Catching Fire. I could connect with Katniss because of our sisters. I'm a dark haired, hard, mysterious person, and my sister is a blonde, soft, and sweet person. Just like Katniss and Prim.

In the arena it gets kind of gory and gross, so if you can't handle blood and such then I wouldn't recommend it to someone who gets queasy. However one of my friends who faints at just the sound of the word blood loved this book.

I rated this book a five out of five. Because it was written so very beautifully, Suzanne Collins is such a beautiful writer. The book was simply mesmerizing and a wonderful read. I sometimes will read my favorite parts in my spare times, just to feel the happiness I felt the first time I read it. I loved this book and I would recommend it to anyone who needs a book to read. It's such a wonderful book.

Book Review #5: Twilight By Stephanie Meyer

Pages: 498
A new state, a new school, a new life is what awaits the dull mope Bella Swan. Bella is a very grumpy child and a very big mope. She moves to the rainiest state in the whole US and meets Edward Cullen. Edward is mysterious and strange, his family keep to themselves, he's pale white, ice cold, and worst of all he sparkles. In other words Edward is a vampire, not a vampire who sucks blood out of whole towns but a vampire who is 93 years old who decides he loves a 17 year old. Lovely. Well Bella falls for him and they begin their stupid, useless, boring, adventure of crap.

I did NOT like this book. I think all of us go through a Twilight phase, me included, but when I came to my senses I realized that this was probably one of the worst books I've ever read in my life. Stephanie Meyer can NOT write to save her life. The reading level for her books is, for first graders. I HATED this book.

It was so cheesy and dumb. I was appalled at how stupid it was. I go back and read it sometimes and I am just blown away at how revoltingly stupid it is. I can't even believe it. I don't understand why it is socially acceptable for a 93 year old freak who looks like he's 17 be in love with an ACTUAL 17 year old. CREEPY!

The movie was just terrible. It's so cheesy Edward and Bella's love. I couldn't stand it. Sometimes I'll look away from my TV when I'm watching it just to get away from it. Kristen Stewart who plays Bella cannot act to save her life. In the movie all I could hear of her was HEAVY breathing. I drove me nuts. She has no personality, and I don't understand why Edward and Jacob think that she's the only game in town. It's ridiculous! In New Moon (the next book in the series) the movie she wouldn't stop blinking! If it isn't breathing it's uncontrollable blinking.

The whole "Team Edward" and "Team Jacob" thing drives me nuts. I hate hearing in the halls, "I'm Team Jacob because he's hot!" or, "You hate Edward, well I'm just going to have to hit you with a shovel". That drives me insane!

Now I will admit I have been to the New Moon premiere which was very fun but honestly I think I would only go see "Breaking Dawn" to see how they make it. I didn't like this book or series at all.

Stephanie Meyer you cannot write to save your life! I'm sorry but you don't know how to write I don't think that you will catch on.

I rated this book a negative one out of five. It was stupid and cheesy and totally not worth my time. If you are addicted to Twilight I urge you to get professional help immediately. This series is stupid and it just lowers you IQ. I recommend Harry Potter if you can't afford professional help.

Book Review #4: Keep Me in Your Heart By: Lurlene McDaniel

This book was split into three novels. Saving Jessica, Telling Christina Goodbye, and Letting Go of Lisa.

Saving Jessica: Pages: 208

18 year old Jessica finds out that her kidneys have failed. Which means a life hooked up to dialysis, only hope is a new kidney. Now you'd think that this would be a piece of cake to get one, but no, neither of her parents are eligible, her only hope is her boyfriend, Jeremy. The only problem is Jeremy's parents are very unwilling to sign the papers for Jeremy to go through the operation. 

I wasn't so sure of this book actually. This one was kind of cheesy. I thought, "What boyfriend would give a part of his body to a girlfriend who not only is a year and a half older, but one who might break up with him? No such boyfriend exists. A husband but no boyfriend." I really thought it was really lame and I also thought that the romance in it was kind of cheesy too. I thought it was way too over the top cheesy for me to enjoy it too much. I thought it was going to be sad but it really wasn't. But it was written really well, if Lurlene McDaniel kind of screwed up with this one in my opinion. But the other books in this book proved to me that she's a really good author.
Over all I rated this book a 3 out of 5. For the mere reason that the romance was way too cheesy for my taste. And really what boyfriend would do that?

Telling Christina Goodbye: Pages: 224

Trisha and Christina are the greatest friends in the world. They double date and they hold each other when one of them is sad because of something. They go shopping, see plays, go to basketball games, and they do everything an average teenage girl would do. Until one night Christina's boyfriend, Tucker, hits some black ice and his car rolls and flips. Trisha's whole world goes upside down, her best friend is dead. Her boyfriend is in a coma and the only person who must know some of the pain that she's going through, Christina's boyfriend Tucker, who is not only responsible for her friend's death but who she doesn't get along with at all because of the way he treated Christina before the accident.

I loved this book so much. It was exactly what I needed when I bought it. I don't normally buy books I haven't read because of the risk that I'll waste my money and not like the book, so when I bought this one I was in deep need of a sob fest, and boy did I find one. I couldn't put this one down, I read it day in and day out. I was going through some hard times when I bought it and it was just what I needed, a heart warming book.

It was written so beautifully that I was amazed. I was so thrilled that I had bought the right book. I couldn't believe how good it was. I was blown away. I realized that even though that things are gonna be REALLY hard for a while it WILL get better no matter what.

I whole heartily  rated this book a 5 out of 5. It made me feel for the characters, I couldn't put it down.

Letting Go of Lisa: Pages: 181

Nathan comes to a high school after years and years of homeschooling, and finds that high school is much more different then home. The biggest difference is Lisa, a wild girl who Nathan falls in love with. He's completely smitten. But he can't love Lisa, because she has a secret. A serious secret.

I liked this one a lot. I really felt for Nathan, and Lisa, Nathan's over protective mother made me think a lot about how sometimes parents have just got to let go and let their kids live and go after what they think is right. I thought that is pretty good, it was still written beautifully, and wonderfully.
I know this may sound a little weird but Nathan's and Lisa's first "date", is in a bookstore where they get coffee and talk, since I'm a book geek I completely drooled over that. I not a coffee drinker but sitting in a bookstore sipping a hot beverage with someone sounds so wonderful and nice. I couldn't believe how that small little thing seems so sweet and nice. I loved it, the author made it so real, and so sweet that I re-read it all that scene all the time.
I rated this one 5 out of 5. I loved this as well. It was beautifully written and so sweet and nice that I couldn't put it down.

I loved the way that Lurlene McDaniel wrote these books so I gave the books all together 5 out of 5. Saving Jessica was kind of cheesy but the other two were really awesome.

Book Review #3: Runaway Twin By Peg Kehret

Pages: 157
In and out of foster homes, Sunny has only one last hope of a family, her twin Sister Starr. Sunny and Starr were separated when their mother and grandmother got in a car accident and didn't make it. So Sunny runs away to find her dear sister. Narrowly avoiding serious damage by a tornado Sunny and her trusty dog Snickers travel across the USA to Washington to find her beloved sister. When she finds her though, it's not what she had expected. 

I say this in every book review but I loved this book. So easy to read, it was amazing. I couldn't believe that Sunny ran away. I couldn't put this book down, I ignored my surroundings when I was reading it. I was at a Flash Basketball game when I was reading it and the Flash fox (the mascot) got so angry that I wasn't watching the game that he sprayed me with Silly String! I kept reading though.

I've always liked Peg Kehret but now she's one of my favorite authors. It was the greatest. I love the way she writes, and the type of writing she does, because it shows children in life threatening situations which I think is daring and cool.

I rated this a five out of five. Definitely. It was really good. I became attached to the characters. I loved this book! 

Book Review #2: Miss Spitfire, Reaching Helen Keller By: Sarah Miller

Pages: 210
A dark childhood she's trying to forget, Annie Sullivan stands at a train station with the prospect of teaching a wild deaf and blind child a language. When she reaches the Keller residence she sees that this little beast has her whole family wrapped around her fingers. How will Annie teach this wild irrational child a language?

Sarah Miller had me in the first chapter. I have always been a Helen Keller junkie and I always thought that Annie Sullivan was a incredible women for reaching Helen. But I never comprehended how difficult it must have been to her. She had to reach a deaf and blind child. A child who couldn't see her or hear her. How could Ms. Sullivan reach know if she understood or if she was just mimicking. She couldn't talk to her, she couldn't sign to her, there was only one way to reach her but signing into her hands. But like it says above Helen had her whole family wrapped around her little fingers. If Annie tries any type of discipline on Helen she will have twelve different people packing her bags for her to send her back to Perkins School for the Blind. Annie must take Helen away from the house because Helen gets nothing but pampering. 

I LOVED this book. I wanted to reach into my book and shake Helen for giving her teacher such a hard time. I had always thought that it had to be kinda easy to reach Helen because every other book I read concerning her only went on about reaching her for about one or two chapters. But this is a 210 page book all about it. I couldn't believe how difficult it must have been. I personally would've given up and let Helen be a complete animal for the rest of her live. I couldn't believe that Ms. Sullivan kept going and going. I was so proud of her.

Sarah Miller can write! She wrote it so beautifully. I sailed through the book because it was way too good to put down for even five minutes. I loved it so much. Definitely in my top 20.

In closing I rated this book 5 out of 5. A good historical novel to read if you have nothing else to read. This book can be found at any library anywhere.