Teen Comments on Books Eligible for 2007 & 2008 Awards
Parker, Jade. To Catch a Pirate. Scholastic Press.
A story of bitter betrayals and heart-wrenching romance, this short novel is a book perfect for days when you are down and in need of a good romance book. However, it has such a similarity to pirates of the carribean that I almost wanted to stop reading it. It could use some more creativity, although the details are of its own storyline Nomintae? no. 3Q. 3P. Ellen, 12
________ ______
'To Catch a Pirate' told the story of a sixteen-year-old girl named Anna. Anna remembers the day when she was a young girl on her father's ship, and it was attacked by pirates. Hiding below deck, she prayed for her safety, until a man walked into the room. A pirate. She bargains with him to let her keep her necklace, the last remains of her mother's memory, in exchange for a kiss. He accepts, and leaves her, alive. Now that she has grown, she feels that she must find this mysterious pirate, and take back the treasure he stole from her father. Full of adventure, intrigue, and romance, Anna relizes that she's not just looking for treasure, but looking for a pirate's heart as well. This story was alright. It wasn't stellar or anything, but it had a good plot. The characters seemed sort of shallow and boring, but it was awesome that a woman was a caption of her own ship. Nominate? No. 3Q. 4P. Elle. 13
Bondoux, Anne-Laure. Life as it Comes
Mado and Patty are sisters recovering from their parent’s death in a car accident. The only problem is they are as different as night and day. Mado a 9th grader is incredibly intelligent with a knack of responsibility. Patty, on the other hand, is a carefree party girl who has an accustomed habit of having many boyfriends. By the time summer vacation rolls along both of them are happy to get out of their apartment. But while trying to relax in their country home their lives only deepen in more drama when Mado learns Patty’s pregnant, Patty has been lying to her and when they both fall in love with two Danish boys. A wonderfully told story that’s a great page-turner that will suck you in to its humor and drama filled pages. Hazel 15
Carroll, Michael. The Awakening. Philomel Books.
I have always been a super hero fan. Superman, Wonder Women, Batman I am always rereading all the comic books starring these and other characters. I guess I love them so much because I have always wanted to have some super power or another. That’s why I am such a sucker for story lines that include kids finding out they have powers etc. The Awakening was just such a story and yet more. Yes, Colin and Danny do find out that they are superhuman, but there is also a whole legacy behind them. The thing that really clichés it is the history. That fact that all the super heroes seemed to have disappeared on Mystery day, ten years ago. Now, this new generation of superheroes has to stuff the Evil Guy from killing innocent lives. To add to the drama we also have a prophecy hovering over the heads of our young heroes. To say the least, nothing will ever be the same. This is one reason I can’t wait for the next one in the series!Would you nominate this book for an award: yes Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book Popularity: 5P Everyone wants to read it email address: bookquest9@aol.comToday's date: May 30, 2007I would also like to say: These characters have something no other superhero series has, normal personalities. Yes, personalities under stress, but normal all the same. This really makes it seem all the more real. Nominate? Yes. These characters have something no other superhero series has, normal personalities. Yes, personalities under stress, but normal all the same. This really makes it seem all the more real. 5Q. 5P. Logan. 14
____________ _______________
Imagine the world of "The Invincibles", only one where all the super-heros (and super-villians) have disappeared ten years ago. No one knows what happened after one last collasal battle. Then one day, Colin's friend rescues a girl from being run over by running faster than Colin can blink. And the next day, Colin realizes that he can hear things from distances away that he shouldn't be able to hear. So, somehow, the super-heros are back, and now someone's after them, due to a prophecy made back before the super-heros disappeared. This leads us into a wild journey, full of kidnappings and escapes, evil men and machines, and what really makes a hero. Anyone who ever looked up to Superman, Spiderman, Wonder-Woman, or any other super will love this book. I can't wait for the second one to come out! Nominate? Yes. 5Q. 5P. Kirsten. 17
------------- ---------
Superheroes fascinate me, so i did enjoy the supernatural power element of this book. It occurs in a time ten years from when all the superhumans suddenly disappear and two boys, Colin and Danny are discovering their powers and the powers of their parents. Along the way Colin and Danny unravel the past, sort out a present twisted plot, and begin to deal with a terrifying vision of the future. I liked this book, but it definitely was not the best superhero story, and think that you have to have an interest in superhuman powers to read it. Nominate? No. 3Q 4P. Claire, 13
Catanese, P. W. The Riddle of the Gnome
The tale of Rumpelstiltskin has been way over done. Sometimes you can get a good version, but most of the time they just don't make the grade. "The Riddle of the Gnome" however is something else entirely. Tom is cursed to bring bad luck to any one near him. So when a mysterious gnome tells him he can cure the curse, Tom is ready to do anything. The gnome, who just happens to be the grumpiest person in the world, wants him to go on an adventure and that's when things get difficult. The thing I really like about this story is how creative or how random, depending on the way you look at it, it is. This is a fairy tale like no other. Nominate? Yes. I am really glad that Tom's father wasn't a king. Too many orphans seem to have royal blood, as if normal people can't lose a child for whatever reason. 5Q. 4P. Logan. 14
_____________ _______
I honestly didn't think that this book was much good. It is about a boy who goes on a quest for a suspicious, bad tempered gnome. The boy agrees to this quest because the gnome promises that if he succeeds, the gnome will take away the bad luck the boy has been cursed with. I didn't like this book because the plot line wasn't very original. The book was could have been written for a younger audience, except it may have been too complicated for them. There was a lot of plot lines which made the book a bit tiresome to tie up at the end. Although there were a few well written portions of the book, a lot of it I found cheesy. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book. Nominate? no. 3Q. 3P. Kara D., 13
Cooney, Caroline B. Enter Three Witches. Scholastic Press.
This was truely an amazing book. The story is based off the play 'Macbeth', though you do not need to be familiar with the play to understand the book. Don't be discouraged if you find the beginning slow, because there are plenty of surprises and action. It is a dark story, with quite a bit of death and blood, but it keeps you turning the pages. The characters are strong and realistic. Nominate? Yes. 5Q. 3P. Kara D. 13
________ _______
Lady Mary is the daughter of the lord Cawdor and the ward of Lord and Lady Macbeth who's life turns to tragedy and danger when her father is hung for being a traitor. Since then she begins experiencing all of the elements of Shakespeare's play Macbeth as more lords runaway from their newly crowned king ,Macbeth, or are murdered for being trouble in the way of his conquest for power. Macbeth reigns only with murder and lies and the faith he has in the three witches who promise him the throne of power he wants. Twists provide for a very interesting end. Hazel, 15
------ ---------
Do you like Shakespeare? If so, you'll love 'Enter Three Witches'. This is a retelling of Shakespeare's Macbeth. There are several main characters, the most prominent probably being Lady Mary, whose father's just been charged for treason. The story never got slow or boring, but had action all the time. I only have one critisism, and that is the title. When I first saw it, I was like, "Witches? Not my type of book." But, when I read the inside cover, it totally interested me. The witches were only in the very beginning, and tiny little entrances throughout the book. Besides that though, it was a beautifully written medivial story, with all of Shakespeare's original charm. (But, sniffle, the language wasn't in old english.) This is definantly on my top ten book club books for the year! Nominate? yes. 4Q 5P. Elle, 13
Corrigan, Eireann. Ordinary Ghosts. Scholastic.
Ordinary Ghosts is unique in the fact that it penatrates deeply into the high school scene. its not like: "like, oh my gosh, do you know who miranda is going out with?" Its real. Eireann isn't afraid to get her hands dirty.Would you nominate this book for an award: yes : 4Q. 4P camden. 14
_____ _____
Not very well written, this book did not really capture my interest, so i didn't read much of it. the character's attitude was so negitive and the author used the F word so much it destracted from the purpose and main idea of the story. i would not recommend it, but if the beginning had been better i might have read more, and mabey it does get better. Nominate? no. 1Q. 1P. Ellen, 12
De La Cruz, Melissa. Angels on Sunset Boulevard. Simon & Schuster
First of all, this is defineately more of an adult book. There's a couple disturbing scenes, as well some MMMM parts. Even with these though, it was still an exciting read, with plenty of suspence and wonderful characters. It's easy to get sucked into, and after that, impossible to put down. Some of the plots turns that make it good aren't really believable, but they work. I would recommend it as an change from your normal forthy, summer reading, as it is much darker then some books I've read recently.Like I said, it's an more mature book, so beware. Nominate? No. Like I said, it's an more mature book, so beware. 3Q. 4P. Alice. 13
_______ _____
This was not my type of book, and i think that de la Cruz only wrote what she thought teens wanted to read. The reason for all of the things happening was never explained, which was exasperating, and the explination for who johnny Silver was was really dissapointing. Nominate? No. 1Q. 2P. Ellen, 12
Dogar, Sharon. Waves. Chicken House.
This book was truly intriguing. You are always wanting to read more. It is about a boy, Hal, who's older sister ended up in a coma by an accident that no one knows about. Before that summer,(that she ended up in a coma in), he and his sister were extremely close, never apart. Because of this he hears her telling him to remember certain memories he has forgotten to help him find out why she ended up in a coma. Throughout his search, he meets a girl named Jackie, and they become more than friends but Charley, Hal's sister, seperates them and he has to find his way around it. I definently recommend this book and I think that the most compelling aspect in this book was the way that Hal can hear his sister and how she knows what he is doing at all times. Nominate? Yes. 4Q. 3P. Bailey. 12
_______ _________
i really loved this book. Thouching and realistic,i found myself about to cry at a few parts, i enjoyed how Dogar mixed romance, horror, suspense, and mystery into one sad story. I was also confused at times, though, when Hal and Charlie's conmection formed words that didn't make much sence. It was also hard to keep reading the words 'help me" and other phrases over and over agin when Hal and Charlie's minds connected. Nominate? yes. 4Q. 4P. Ellen, 12
I think ID is a great book. It has a lot of action and a crazy ending. I would recommend this book to older teens. Nominate? Yes. 4Q. 5P. Nick W. 17
Haydon, Elizabeth. The Thief Queen’s Daughter. Starscape.
This is one of the best books I've read! It grabbed my attention and I always got great images in my head! It filled me in and this book can stand alone and at the same time you want to read the first one. I love the plot and it doesn't have boring spots in it. This is a top teens reader's book! Nominate? yes, 4Q 5P Kissondra, 14
_______ _____
She's done it again! In the second installment of the Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme, Elizabeth Haydon has managed to restore and translate a wonderful tale of Ven's adventures in the mysterious Gated City. Along with his friends, Ven sets off into the Thieves' Market inside the City to find out the origin or a mysterious glowing stone. While there they somehow lose one of their own and must get her back. Unfortunately, this means seeking help from the malicious Thief Queen. Armed with his jack-rule and the mysterious Time Scissors, though, there's nothing Ven can't do.right?The characters are the same as before, although thee are a few new characters smattered into the mix for variety. Mr. Coates owns an arms shop, aptly names Arms of Coates, and helps the adventurers with his two guard dogs. Madame Sharra makes an appearance, along with the Dragon-Scale Cards that have been hinted at before. The Thief Queen is a mutation of the normal villain, with an extra dash of meanness and feminine style. And, of course, the Downlanders are a secret, so I won't tell you about them! The story seems simple at first, but things quickly escalate into a rush against time and a fight for life. There are twists and turns, some more predictable than others, and the pacing is pretty good, too. As a contrast to the first book in the series, the whole story takes place in roughly the same locale, but it doesn't seem stagnant, because the very nature of the Gated City is such that it is always changing. The Thief Queen's Daughter is just as good as the first Ven Polypheme book for those who have read it, and it makes a good excuse to read it for those who haven't. Elizabeth Haydon should soon see another New York Times Bestseller. Nominate? Yes. 5Q. 4P. Robbie. 18
_______ _____
"The Thief Queen's Daughter" is wonderful. Told in the same fashion as "The Floating Island", we are swept off into the next restored journal of Ven Polypheme. In it, Ven is publicly fired from the job of Royal Reporter he was only assigned to two days before hand, and right after he's given a strange stone and a mission to find out what it means from the king. Still under the king's protection, he gathers his friends and goes into the Gated City, a city within Kingston, a city of thieves. While there, many mysteries arise, and some are even solved. We even get a clue as to why dragons are on the front cover of the books. It was delightful and fun to read. For anyone who enjoyed the first book. Nominate? yes. 4Q. 4P. Kirsten, 17
Holmes, Sara. Letters from Rapunzel. HarperCollins.
"Letters from Rapunzel" is a book about a girl who retreats into a fairy-tale world, where she calls herself Rapunzel since she is feeling increasingly trapped by what is happening in her life. Her father has severe deppression (or an Evil Spell), and she and her mother are just trying to cope when Rapunzel finds a letter from her father to his "dearest friend". She decides to write this friend to try to find a way to break the Evil Spell, which means that the book is narrated in a series of letters to what becomes a surprising "dearest friend". This was a book for middle-school age kids. It was an enjoyable read, but only as long as I was actually reading it. I think that kids in their early teens would enjoy it more and get more out of "Letters from Rapunzel". Nominate? No. 3Q. 3P. Kirsten. 17
-------- ---------- -----
This is the story of a girl who wishes her real life was like fairy tales. Where everything is fixable with the help of a fairy godmother, and a handsome prince. That's why she signs the end of every letter as Rapunzel. I liked how you didn't find out her real name until you are about half way through. Her dad has depression, which she calls the Evil Spell, and she finds an address for a P.O. Box one day that her dad was sending letters to. She starts writing to the P.O. box as well, having no idea to who she's writing, but hoping they can help her. Nominate? Yes. 5Q. 4P. Andrea F., 14
Lafevers, R.L. Theodosia and the Serpents of Chaos. Houghton Mifflin.
I think I have just found another one of my new favorite books. Theodosia is a simply irresitably fantastic character. I especially loved her list of items of how to undemonize your cat. It'd be quite funny if somebody tried that out on their own cat. I think that the ending of the series is kind of obvious though. Nominate? Yes. 4Q. 4P. Andrea F. 14
Laskas, Gretchen Moran. The Miner's Daughter. Simon & Schuster.
The Miner's Daughter was a Great Depression era book about a coal miner's daughter named Willa. Throughout the book Willa struggles with her family being separated and moving away from their town. I really enjoyed this book and think that it is a wonderful book about the Great Depression and life in general. Nominate? Yes. 4Q. 4P. Claire. 13
--- -------------
It's your typical book about a miner's kid, who is tired of living near the mines, and sick of watching people she knows die of mining accidents or the black lung. It had good character development, and a happy ending. Nominate? no.3Q. 3P. Andrea F., 14
Le Guin, Ursula K. Powers. Harcourt.
Powers follows the life of a young slave boy named Gavir. Gavir has strange powers that nobody but his sister knows about. When tragedy strikes in Gavir's life he flees slavery to try to find the place of his birth. I loved this book and also reccomend the books Gifts and Voices by the same author. I think this book appeals to many teens and is a wonderful book to read. Nominate? Yes. 4Q. 4P. Claire. 13
McCaughrean, Geraldine. The White Darkness. Harper Tempest.
This book was very original and I enjoyed it completely. It was about a girl named Sym who is obsessed with Antarctica and Captain Oates, a captain on a failed attempt to reach the South Pole in 1911. Her Uncle Victor takes her on a trip to Antarctica. The tourist vacation turns into a trek to reach a hole near the South Pole that supposedly is a portal to the center of the Earth. I loved the main character, Sym, because she has such interesting thoughts. It was amazing to see her conquer the extremeness of Antarctica. Nominate? Yes. 5Q. 5P. Kara D. 13
_______ ________
The White Darkness explores the amazing journey of 14-year-old Simone. She is fascinated by all things arctic, expecially a young captain from a on the failed excursion from a hundred years ago, Captain Oates or Titus. The beauty of the writing makes the characters as deceptive as the harsh, deadly beauty of frozen Antarctica. The landscapes and survival necessities sent shivers through me. The setting certainly held the reader in its clutches as much as it did the characters. A real adventure story for both girls and boys. Some of the scarier grazes with death were more intense than most slasher horror stories. Suspense that keeps the reader guessing, and the main character fearing for her life. Nominate? yes. 4Q. 5P. Kara L. 18
---- -------
McCaughrean, Geraldine The White Darkness Harper Tempest 2007 I was rather disappointed by this book, cause I'm expecting this really interesting sci-fi book, where they go to the center of the earth, but it turns out her uncle is just crazy. Still really liked the writing style though. Nominate? no. 3Q. 3P. Andrea F., 14
Meyer, Carolyn. Duchessina. Harcourt.
'Duchessina' was a historical fiction novel about Caterina de' Medici, the famous Italian princess who would grow up to be the queen of France. This book goes through all the periods of her life leading up to her experiances as queen of France. Caterina goes through many hardships, including being parted from her love, having to stay in a convent where no one cares for her, and having many good friends die. This book was pretty good. It had some beautiful parts of the story, like when she and Ippolito, her cousin, are together, but other parts I was forcing myself to continue. 'Duchessina' is the fourth in the Young Royals series. It was one of the best in the series by far, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves books concerning royalty, friendship, love, and a strong female main character. Nominate? No. 4Q. 3P. Elle. 13
This is the 5th book in the Bloody Jack series, and it was not quite the best (that being "Under the Jolly Roger"), but it was very good. Jacky Faber is running west to escape from the British soldiers, as there is a 250 pound price on her, and she ends up going down the Mississippi River down to New Orleans. Along the way, she meets many characters among which are the decietful Clementine "Fletcher" Jukes, Rakish Captian Allen, and the Villainous Pop Bean. Jacky gets in, and out, of many scrapes and is always looking for the one and only Jaimy Fletcher who is in fact following her. With all this going for it, this book will easily get any awards that it is nominated for. Nominate? Yes. 5Q. 5P. Lewis. 13
___________ __________
Mississippi Jack is a gem among the books of the very popular Bloody Jack series. This is one of L.A. Meyer’s best books yet, and it more than adequately compensates for any shortfall of his previous novel. In this particular leg of the great Jacky Faber’s adventure she finds herself running from the British, once again, and makes her way to the wilds of the Mississippi river and settler territory. There she is up to her usual wily tricks and manages to get herself a flat boat to float down the Mississippi river with her trusty crew. Jacky is immersed in one of her most exciting trips that include working a showboat, gambling, and yet another dashing young man, to become a new great journey for the much beloved Captain Jack. What makes this books one of the best of the Bloody Jack series is not only the usual excitement of the characters and many exploits of Jacky, but also the historical references as well as a reflection of Southern attitudes during that time. It explored that the political climate of the time was very different, and in some ways similar to today, while not being blatant, and overall making for a better book. On top of that the story also held more depth among the characters, and for all their faults, they still had an endearing quality that kept readers glued to the book. I applaud Mr. Meyer on another book well done, and sincerely hope that his next will be as good. I suspect that this novel will gain much acclaim and be a large success with the many readers for this series. --Katherine, 18
Riordan, Rick. The Titan's Curse. Miramax Books 2007
As the third installment of the Percy Jackson adventures, "The Titan's Curse" is just as good as the first two. It continues the humor and intrigue that has been found in the first two books, pushing us further along in the saga of a teenage half-god. At the end of the second book, Thalia, Zeus' child, was taken out of the tree she had been part of to save her life. Now there are two people the prophecy about the world's end could apply to: Percy and Thalia. So with that hanging over thier heads, and a kidnapped friend, and the usual threat of death and destruction, Percy travels onward, to try to save the world. Again. Any of the fans of the first two books will love "The Titan's Curse", and any fan of anchient Greek mythology should read them. Nominate? Yes. 4Q. 4P. Kirsten, 17
___ ___
The third installment of PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS takes a tone change from the other two novels, showing how the plot is deepening and how the characters are getting more mired in the evil surrounding them. In this newest installment, Percy joins up with Artemis' elite group of Hunters and the mysterious DiAngelo twins to travel to San Fransisco to save Annabeth. Along the way he encounters such mythological figures as the Nemean Lion. The tone shifts dramatically in this book. In the previous two, the tone was joke after joke after joke. This book has a bunch of drama and character development mixed in between the jokes, and it works marvelously. Reading this book is less tedious than the last two, because different sections are actually different. It's not the same old schtick from Riordan, and it works. If you haven't read the first two books in the series, this is a reason to!. Nominate? Yes. 4Q. 5P. Robbie J. 18
________ ___________
As the third book in a series, this book was not very long, but it seemed to have more meaning that any other Percy Jackson book. This was because it let you see what the gods acted like and it put the characters into stark perspective. In this book, Percy Jackson is trying to save his friend Anabeth while also trying to save the god Artemis. In this adventure, he does some cool stuff including fighting skeletons, holding up the sky, fending off a huge maniac robot, and flying on pegusi [plural form of pegasus (a pegasus, not "the" pegasus)]. Nominate? Yes. 5Q. 4P. Lewis. 13
Ruditis, Paul. The Four Dorothys. Simon & Schuster.
Though this book is not very deep and fairly predictable, I enjoyed it. In this book, Orian Academy is putting on 'The Wizard of Oz'. The play is multi-casted, with four Dorothys each getting 1/4 of the play to act. But the week before preformance night, the people playing Dorothy keep getting hurt, found in a scandel, ect. This was a humerous book and I really liked the main character, Bryan, who is following the plot against the Dorothys. It was interesting how this book kept crossing between what would happen in life to what wouldn't happen. For example, when the characters are at school, there is so much drama that it seems a bit unreal. When the students are out and about, their life seems normal. Nominate? No. 4Q. 4P. Kara D., 13
____ _______
I found Drama! The Four Dorothys to be a funny and smart book. I liked the way all of the characters were portrayed and liked all the events that happened in this book. It did have some slightly weird parts, but I found it to just be a part of the story. I would highly reccommend this book, especially to people who like drama and acting, or even people who just like The Wizard of Oz. Nominate? Yes. 4Q. 4P. Claire, 13
Sandell, Lisa Ann. Song of the Sparrow. Scholastic Press.
'Song of the Sparrow' was a classic rendition of The Lady of Shalott. Elaine, also known as the lady of Shalott, has lived in a camp of all men since she was a small girl. Growing up with friends such as Sir Kai, Sir Gawain, and the epic hero, King Arthur, she is certainly no stranger to battle. She's been in love with Lancelot for years, and she yearns for him to notice that she has grown from a girl to a woman. But when another woman comes to camp, the soon-to-be wife of Arthur, Gwenivere, the men turn their attention to her, including Lancelot. Elaine feels unable to deal with Gwenivere's insults and Lancelot's suddent rejection. When a sudden battle emerges, and Elaine's family is in danger, she must find a way to save them.but how? This was on of THE BEST books I've read this year. It's written in verse, which allows description to flow from every word. I clung to every word of this book, never wishing to let go of the world of King Arthur. One reason why I really liked this book was because it totally fit in with the other King Arthur stories I've read. It was so cool for everything to just tie together like that. This book had every perfect element, including adventure, romance, suspense, twists, and simple beauty. Excellent book! . Nominate? Yes. I would really, really like this book!. 5Q. 4P. Elle. 13
________ __
i really liked this novel. it incorporated not only a large amound of history but characters that were deep and intreguiging. this was the first novel i have read by sandell but her style and interesting perspective have drawn me in and i will continue to follow her novels and see what new concepts she comes up with! i highly recommend this book to all students! Nominate? yes. 5Q. 5P. Lauren, 17
_________ ________
This is a great book. Another story about Camelot. It is written in verse(or like a poem) but it reads just like a novel, only quicker prehaps. It is about Elain of Ascolat, a girl who lives with her father and brothers in the camp of king Arthur. He mother died and now she has a huge family with all the knights. She looks up to, and prehaps even loves Lancelot. Her friends include Tristan of the Tristan and Isodoe myth and Gwynivere are in it, it is like a classic Camolot story, only it is told by the girl, Elain's point of veiw and it is in verse. A verry good book recomended for any fan of the Camolot story. This is a very well written book, a fast read despite it's 393 pages comes highly recomended =) Nominate? yes. 4Q. 4P. Brittany, 18
Snadowsky, Daria. Anatomy of a Boyfriend. Delacorte Press.
"Anatomy of a Boyfriend" is an extremely honest protrayal of a high school relationship, both at the end of their senior year and the beginning of their first year of college. Usually, in teen romance books, the story ends after "I love you," ignoring the real life truths of jobs, and college, and possibly different loves. This book takes us from first meeting to break-up, showing what I, at least, have found very true in the progression of any relationship, from dewey-eyed optimism to realizing, "Oh, hey, he's human!" I would not suggest this for any reader younger than 15 or 16, because "Anatomy" also describes the couple's sexual experiences and is rather clinical and graphic. Apart from the age limit, everyone should at least think about reading "Anatomy" for the true story it gives. Nominate? Yes. 4Q. 4P. Kirsten. 17
Storrie, Paul D. and Ron Randall. Amaterasu Return of the Sun.
"Amaterasu Return of the Sun" is not your ordinary graphic novel. For one, it is based on a Japanese myth. Two, the pictures are beautifully drawn and look modern, but with some of their Japanese ancestry showing through. Three, nobody gets bitten with a radioactive spider. The story centers on Amaterasu, goddess of the sun and Ms. Goddess to you! When her brother forces her to hide in a cave, the sun disappears and the other gods have to find a way to bring her out. There is of course more then that happening, but you just have to read the book to find out what. Nominate? Yes. Amaterasu kinda reminded me of Wonder Woman. 5Q. 3P. Logan. 14
Storrie, Paul D. and Sandy Carruthers. Yu the Great Conquering the Flood. Graphic Universe 2007
i love this book i want all of them here my favorit part is when yu fills the springs in the flood lands i need more of these books Nominate? Yes. 5Q Hard to imagine a better book. 3P Some Teen appeal. --nate r., 14
______ _________
I love legends and folk tales. I love graphic novels. Put it together and you get "Yu the Great Conquering the Flood". I have to admit I still like funny graphic novels better, but this really is a quick, nice read. The story line follows the adventure of Yu, who is truing to save China from the floods that have been slowly killing crops and people. There is magic, and dragons and all of it is done in a modern style of drawing. Like the way Spiderman and Superman comics are drawn. All in all, great for the being reader and a tiny yet filling snack for older readers. Nominate? Yes. I could see more Greek mythology being a hit if done in this style. 4Q. 3P. Logan. 14
-------- ----
Jordan, Blade, and Kyle read "Yu The Great". They all enjoyed the book. Blade, who struggles with reading, looked at the pictures. Blade Only liked the ending when the wife blows up. The other two, Jordan and Kyle, were interested in the chinese adventure of the book. Alot of the time was spent looking at the pictures with great details. On a scale of 1-10, the boys gave the book an 11 and would recommend this book to others and hope they would enjoy it as much as they did. Nominate? yes. 5Q 5P Jordan, Blade, and Kyle, all age 12
Tan, Shaun The Arrival Scholastic 2007 When I first picked up this book, I thought "Eh, there's nothing else to read. A book about immigration might be interesting." I'm happy to say I was completely wrong. There are no words in this book, just a story of beautifully drawn pictures. It takes you awile to understand that the author is trying to convey the utter strangness of a new country with technology you don't understand and you don't know the language. I enjoyed this book immensely. I would like the book club's copy of this book. yes 5 4 Andrea F. 14
________ _____
I talk a lot and I also read a lot. So I was kind of skeptic when I learned this book had no words in it. How can a reader understand what’s happening if there are no words? I guess I underestimated body language and Shaun Tan drawing abilities. Or maybe I should say creating abilities because each slide, I guess that what you call them, is a masterpiece. A reader and instantly tell what is happening to the man who is the main character, what part of his journey he is in, and what more importantly is he feeling. "The Arrival" looks real, but yet is also abstract in an entirely new and different way. Nominate? Yes. I really think the little monster/ wanna-be dog that was always following the man around was the best touch. 5Q. 4P. Logan. 14
Trent, Tiffany. Hallowmere: In the Serpent's Coils. Mirrorstone/ Wizards of the Coast
Hallowmere was one of the better books I have read in a while. I enjoyed the diversity it brought in contrast to most science fiction books. I also enjoyed it because it leaves the reader wanting to know more about the history. Nominate? yes. 4Q. 4P. Alex, 16
______ __
"Hallowmere" is one of the dozens of fantasy books that will be published this year, with little to make it stand out. That doesn't mean that it's a bad book, only not unique. "Hallowmere" takes us into a world of dark fairie, where those from fairie are literarily out for your blood. Corrine's parents are both dead and she is sent to Falston Manor, a bording home for "bad" girls in Virginia at the end of the Civil War. She finds pieces of a mystery, one that seems to involve her family, but the mystery is cleared up far to late in the book, missing the small hints about the truth that every mystery needs. "Hallowmere" is a fairly good book, although mostly for fantasy readers, but won't make much of an impression on the reader. Nominate? No. 3Q. 3P. Kirsten. 17
_________ ____
This book was different. I did not like how the story was told. I think most people would like this book, but I did not. 4Q. 3P. Tanner H., 15
Weinheimer, Beckie. Converting Kate. Penguin Group.
Reader Kara L.
Age 18
Title Converting Kate
Author Beckie Weinheimer
Publisher Viking
Publication date 2007
Galley No
My review: Weinhiemer tells a powerful story that teens everywhere will relate too: doubting seemingly unshakable truths for the first time. The fiction Church of the Holy Divine provides a look into some of the practices of conservative, parochial churches. Kate believes her mother whole heartedly; accepting that non-members are destined for hell. After her father, a non-believer, dies, it all become a bit harder to swallow. This novel provides a depth and honesty that are rarely seen in teen books. The prejudices that are sometimes glossed over are discussed in a startlingly open way. Weinheimer smudges the lines that clearly box in what is right. The writing ranges from sorrow to humor to thoughtful, not what one would expect from a first novel. Cross-country competition runs throughout the story, and provided a neat overlap between Kate's life before and after. Many will enjoy and continue to think on this long after finishing. Will be eagerly watching to see what Weinheimer will srite next.
Would you nominate this book for an award yes
Quality 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity 5P Everyone wants to read it
Today's date June 17, 2007
I would also like to say: Readers will close the cover with a different perspective. Amazing and deep.
__________ ______________
Kate is a girl whose faith has not just been shaken, but torn down to its roots. Up until her father's death, she belonged to a very strict Christian religion, one where she couldn't wear makeup, kisses were reserved for the altar, and fasting before a track meet was a good idea. But when her father died, Kate began thinking about the religion that failed to save him, and whether or not it could save anyone. She and her mother move to her father's hometown in Maine, and Kate begins reading her father's books (not approved by the church) and making friends and having experiences normally frowned upon. The story goes beyond just her experiences and enters her faith, what's left of it, that is. As I know very few people who are rock sure about their faith or what they believe, I thought that "Converting Kate" was a wonderful book, one that made it ok to doubt, to think for yourself. A book about growing up in very important ways. Anyone who has doubts about what they believe, or anyone who is absolutely certain about their beliefs, or just anyone at all should read this book. Nominate? Yes. 5Q. 4P. Kirsten. 17
This book is a good biography of Tupac. The part that I really liked about this book is that it didn't make him look like a bad person. I also like how it hit on the facts that I didn't know. I also like how it told from the beginning of his life to the end and exact words he used. I liked how it made Tupac look like the caring person that he was, even if his music was a little negative. I would like this book. Nominate? yes. 5Q. 5P. Joshua R., 17
_________ __________
It is interesting and informative. Any rap lovers would love this book. Nominate? yes. 4Q. 4P. Tanner H., 15
______ _______
It was a good book and had a lot of information about Tupac. I think everyone should read this book because Tupac is a legend in Rap History. Nominate? yes. 5Q. 5P. Kyle H., 17
Hall, John Is He, or Isn't He? HarperCollins 2006
This book has an amazing plot and captured my attention with in the title itself. I picked up this book and was not able to put it down because there was subtle hints about what was going to happen without giving away the ending. Nominate? yes. 4Q. 5P I would like to read any other book that is similar to this one. JoHanna, --16
I liked this book because it helped with drawing. It gave you helpful tips on how to draw cartoon people, make realistic clothes and graffiti scenes. Nominate? yes. 4Q. 3P. -- Tanner H, 15
Oscow, Micol Gettin’ Lucky Simon Pulse 2007 - April
I liked this book because it is easy to read and I can visualize everything. I can compare things from this book to things that have happened in my life. This book makes you want to keep reading it because it is so interesting. Good for teen girls. Nominate? yes. 4Q 4P. Natasha E., 14
Harazin, S.A. Blood Brothers Delacorte 2007
Clay Gardener, although his life is hard, loves his job at the hospital. His Dad is a garbage truck driver and Clay transports himself on his bike since he can't afford a car. His best friend, Joey, is more fortunate but they are extremely close especially just after graduating from high school and looking forward to college. Joey plans to attend a great college and Clay on the other hand has to work till he can afford to go to college and become a doctor, his dream. One night after returning from a late night at work Clay visits Joey and finds him in a mess in the shack after having an overdose. Suddenly Joey's dream are harmed when he has to be rushed to the emergency room after hurting his head while fighting subconsciously with Clay. Slowly all that led up to Joeys accident is revealed in this epic, page-turning, heart wrenching story of two guys who become blood brothers. --Hazel, 15
_____ _____
This was an extremely great book! I enjoyed it so much because it hooks the reader quickly. Also throughout the whole book it will keep you guessing. If you like books where you never know what is going to happen next I would highly recommend “Blood Brothers.” Nominate? yes. 4Q 4P. Jeff D., 15
_______ _____
Blood Brothers was about a teenage boy who had to move from Endurance, Texas to Georgia when the factory his father worked in was burnt down. His mother died when he was born, so his sister was to take care of him while his father worked. After they moved to Georgia, his father worked more and never had time to spend with him or his sister. Since he was seven, he depended on the family of his only true friend. One day his friend is in the hospital where he works in critical condition and he could have been a reason why he’s in there. I really enjoyed this book. Nominate? yes. 5Q. 5P. Cpej Csbjh, 16
-------- ---------
I would recommend this book to those interested in nursing because, it teaches you all the names and a lot of other stuff. Nominate? yes 3Q. 3P. Tpoz Bpskb 17
Kessler, Liz Emily Windsnap and the Castle in the Mist Candlewick 2007
Emily is a mer-person, part human/part mermaid, and has been loving the two sides of her life ever since she discovered it. Her life is almost perfect except her parents, her Mom is human her Dad is merman, have been continuously arguing about her education. This doesn't really phase her until she finds a beautiful diamond ring and slips it on her finger. But somethings wrong...she can't pull it off! And soon enough due to it and King Neptune's mysterious past she and her friend Shona become stranded in her parents ship in the middle of nowhere...only accompanied by a mysterious castle. Emily is a fun and caring character who takes you on and incredible mermaid journey through emotions, storms and castles. Hazel, 15
______ _________
this is a fun read for Elementary aged girls or a quick one for early middle school-aged girls. It was an okay story, however it was a little cheesy and could use a more secure storyline. Nominate? no. 1Q. 2P. Ellen, 12