"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

"The Hunger Games," a novel by Suzanne Collins, follows the life of sixteen year-old Katniss Everdeen. She lives in a time where there are twelve districts ruled by avicious Capitol that takes its amusement out by hosting an annual televised Hunger Games. To prevent a rebellion, these games pit two people from every district, a boy and a girl, against each other in a fight to the death to show just how powerful the government is. All kids twelve to eighteen must enter their names to be picked at random to participate.

Katniss lives in District Twelve in a place known as “the Seam” with her depression-stricken mother and young sister, Prim. She and her best friend, Gale, hunt in the forbidden woods on the outskirts of town to supply their starving families with food after they each lost a parent in a mining accident. When the seventy-fourth Hunger Games arrives, Prim, only twelve, is chosen to compete. Katniss knows her little sister will not survive these trials, so she decides to volunteer to go for her. Through an unlikely chain of events, Katniss is forced to befriend her partner from her district, Peeta Mellark, and put “true love” to the test. But surviving the Capitol’s cruel tricks is not the only problem Katniss will have to face if she wants the odds of winning to be ever in her favor.

A thrilling, fast paced adventure, The Hunger Games is a must-read. Katniss and Peeta will keep you entertained with their wit and compassion, and the will to survive through anything.

Reviewed by Sydney Bernier

See also- review of the second Hunger Games book, Catching Fire

"Lost inTime" by Melissa de la Cruz

The Blue Bloods are New York’s finest, the richest, the prettiest, and the oldest. The people of New York have no clue they’re living among vampires, vampires who descended from the very gates of heaven. In book six, “Lost in Time” our favorite blue bloods are descending down to the depths of hell for love, others are leaving love behind for the last battle, and some are on the great search for the Gate of Promise, which is the only way leading back to paradise. The stakes are higher than ever in this second to last book in the series by Melissa de la Cruz, and with stakes that high, what vampires will survive?

Reviewed by Cheyenne Newberry

"Bloodlines" by Richelle Mead

Fans of Richelle Mead’s, "Vampire Academy" will love her new spin off series," Bloodlines". The story begins in the shoes of alchemist, Sydney. Sydney is sent into hiding in order to help protect the Moroi princess Jill Dragomir. After being shipped off to a private school in Palm Springs, California, Sydney and some of the Vampire Academy gang join together to help solve a chain of murders and other drama they didn’t expect.

Reviewed by Cheyenne Newberry

"Stargazer" by Claudia Gray

In this second book of the Evernight series,Bianca misses Lucas terribly. Butt hey cannot be with each other because Bianca is a vampire, and Lucas is Black Cross, a vampire hunter. Only allowed to see each other through secret meetings, how long can they stay a secret? Ghosts and wraiths have been showing up at Evernight,an otherwordly school, but mainly around Bianca. Confused and scared she runs to her parents, to find that the reason they’re after her is because she is the other half of a wraith. Now running to Lucas doesn’t sound like a bad idea. What should Bianca do, knowing that a lot of people she loves are in danger because of her?

Review by R. Biron

"Evernight" by Claudia Gray

Bianca always thought her life was normal, until her parents enroll her in Evernight, a creepy, expensive boarding school that just screams evil. Being the new girl isn’t easy, until Bianca meets Lucas. Everything changes the moment they meet. Thrust into this creepy school, with a guy that she likes that won’t even talk to her, Bianca feels pretty lonely. That is, until she gets asked to the Autumn Ball. At the ball, when she goes outside, she meets up with Lucas and everything is perfect, until Bianca’s vampire heritage makes itself known. Finally realizing that Evernight isn’t just a school, but a sanctuary for vampires, Bianca tries her hardest to keep it a secret from Lucas. That plan goes down the drain when Lucas sees her bite someone, and when he becomes her chosen. But as close as Lucas and Bianca get, Lucas has a very big secret. Once that secret is exposed, Bianca doesn’t know what to feel, only that she loves Lucas with all her heart, but is it enough to keep them together?

Reviewed by R. Biron

"Throne of Fire" by Rick Riordan

In the second book of the Kane Series, you would think that after banishing a crazed evil God that Sadie and Carter would catch a break right? Wrong. Sadie and Carter have been recruiting. Now the Brooklyn House of Life is full of teenagers and young novice magicians. They are now teachers, teaching their students to defend themselves against the God of Chaos; Apophis. But in order to defeat the Chaos lord, they need to find and revive the most ancient and powerful God, Ra. In order to find the ancient scrolls of Ra, Sadie and Carter must travel in the Du’at, the land of the Gods. Will they find and awaken Ra in time to defeat Apophis?

Reviewed by R. Biron

"The Red Pyramid" by Rick Riordan

Carter and Sadie Kane have lead relatively normal lives, apart from only seeing each other twice a year and living a life that the other wants. Everything goes downhill when their father Julius Kane, brings them to a museum and unleashes ancient Egyptian Gods. Suddenly, Carter and Sadie have not-so-normal lives. They find out that they have an uncle Amos and that they are the last in the blood line of the pharaohs of ancient Egypt. Thrust into a world of hieroglyphs and magic, life can get a bit hectic. Now as hosts for Gods, Carter and Sadie must find a way to defeat the horrible demon God Set, before their uncle and father lose their souls forever. As young hosts, they learn the magic and powers of the Gods, but will their experiences be enough to save their only family and the world?

Reviewed by R. Biron

"Everlasting" by Alyson Noel

Ever Bloom can see auras around people, read minds, and manifest anything she thinks of, but she doesn’t know why. That is until Damen, her long time love from multiple lifetimes comes along and teaches her everything about whom and what she is, an immortal. In the final installment of the immortal series, “Everlasting” Ever embarks on a solo journey to find out more about her destiny and what her meaning is, only to possibly find out she may have never been meant to be immortal.

Reviewed by C. Newberry

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Author Ransom Riggs' first novel, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is a quirky combination of fantasy and vintage found photography. Jacob, the main character in this story, is a sixteen year old living in present day Florida. Throughout his childhood Jacob has a very close relationship with his grandfather, a Polish Jew and a survivor of World War II. An excellent storyteller, Grandpa Portman shares many of the events of his life with Jacob in this way, telling Jacob about his time spent living in an orphanage, fighting in wars, and surviving in the wilderness.

After his parents put him on a train out of Poland when he was twelve, Grandpa Portman grew up in an orphanage off the coast of Wales. He describes this place as a paradise, a place meant to keep children safe from terrible monsters, "on an island where the sun shined everyday and nobody ever got sick or died." When Jacob wants to know more about the monsters, Grandpa Portman tells him that they are "awful hunched-over ones with rotting skin and black eyes." Definitely enough to give a little kid nightmares, but it isn't until Jacob gets older that he begins to doubt the truth of his grandfather's tales.

Now, at sixteen, Jacob hasn't believed in Grandpa Portman's monsters for a long time and dismisses them as a fantasy version of the real monsters of his grandfather's childhood. "Monsters with human faces, in crisp uniforms, marching in lockstep," the reason Grandpa Portman was the only one in his family to survive the war. What Jacob cannot believe in at all are the stories about the children Grandpa Portman claims to have shared the orphanage with. Children who were more than just peculiar. Jacob believes his grandfather's photographs of a levitating girl, a boy lifting an incredibly large boulder with one arm, along with many others to be fake, meant to make a little boy believe in fairy tales. However, when his grandfather meets a horrific and sudden death, Jacob sets out to the remote welsh island of Grandpa Portman's childhood in search of the truth.

Reviewed by Kayla Britt

Faith

Faith, a novel by Jennifer Haigh, is the story of Arthur, a catholic priest in Boston, Massachussetts who is accused of abusing a young boy after a slew of similar accusations have been made against other priests. Narrated by Arthur's sister, Shiela, Faith also tells the many other stories that are intertwined with Arthur's, such his family's struggle in deciding whether to believe in Arthur's innoccence or in the accusations made against him. Shedding light on a topic that may be considered "taboo" by some, "Faith" is a complex, emotionally charged read that I found to be as much about faith in other people as it is about faith in God.

Reviewed by Kayla Britt

"Running with Scissors" by Augusten Burroughs

"Running with Scissors" is a quirky memoir about a boy, Augusten, making the transition from a non-caring, spotless home to a hectic, loving home. Augusten's first impression of his mother's psychiatrist, Dr. Finch, is a perfect one. Later on, he realizes that his vision of their house isn't what he expected it to be. Augusten, struggling with the fact that he's secretly gay, quickly learns that not every family is perfect and that it's okay to be different.

While staying with his new "family," Augusten meets one of Dr. Finch's patients, Joranne. She has a mental disorder that doesn't allow her to live on her own. When Hope, Dr. Finch's daughter, introduces Augusten to Joranne, he realizes that there is still hope for people who are mentally disabled. She was the complete opposite of what he expected her to be: her room was spotless, she was cleaner than the rest of the people in the house, she ws quiet, and seemed to be closed off. He knew that even though his mother was going through a rough time and had to see a doctor for her disorder, there was still enough hope left for her to get well again. The brief meeting he had with Joranne is what kept him holding on to reality.

I found this book both funny and relatable. It reminds me of those awkward moments of going to an adult's house as a child and having to get along with their kids who were the complete opposite of me. I reccomend this book to anyone who loves taking a walk down memory lane and people who struggled with something as a child, whatever the incident was.

Reviewed by Jordyn

"A Bend in the Road" by Nicholas Sparks

"A Bend in the Road," a book by Nicholas Sparks is based around a cop in his early 30's who has recently lost his wife. His son Jonah is in first grade, and is very affected by his loss. When Miles finds new love and everything is finally going well for him, he encounters a problem from the past that he seems to nevery get away from.

Then Brian comes along, a character in the book who you would never think could make a difference, and ends up becoming a major part of everyone's lives. Being Miles' girlfriend's brother, they see each other at family gatherings and parties but he was never expected to be a turning factor in this book.

I found this book tremendous, insightful, and interesting. It was really hard to put down, and my jaw was dropped for half of it. I highly reccomend this if you consider yourself to be into "chick flicks" or "sappy" stories.

Reviewed by Courtney McHugh

"The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

"The Help," a novel by Kathryn Stockett, reveals the realistic, however fictional, tale of the colored help in the small town of Jackson, Mississippi. Starting in August 1962 and continuing through the next year, the story focuses on Aibileen and Minny, two maids going through their daily lives of working for the white socialites of the town, and the hardships that come with the occupation. Stockett also puts a focus on Miss Skeeter, who is somewhat of a social anomaly, an aspiring writer who calls into question the societal norms of the town and the time. Together these three unsuspecting partners set out to change a town that cannot see the flaws in its ways.

Mae Mobley is a young girl and a small character who is a major driving force in Aibileen's decisions throughout the novel. Mae Mobly is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leefolt, the family Aibileen is working for. Aibileen finds that she wants to change the ways of her small southern town in an attempt to make life in the future better for her "Baby Girl." As Aibileen teaches Mae Mobly serious lessons in the form of harmless stories, and as Mae Mobly takes these lessons in, Aibileen finds hope for the future of the town.

"The Help" is a must read, and should not be taken lightly. When you pick up this book be prepared to take an emotional roller coaster ride along side these inspiring characters. I commend Stockett on her outstanding job of shedding light upon the truth of life for colored help during the 1960's.

Reviewed by Heather Raimer

"Thirteen Reasons Why" by Clay Jensen

"Thirteen Reasons Why" is the story of Hannah Baker's suicide. After choosing, and before executing suicide, Hannah recorded herself on tapes explaining the reasons for her decision to kill herself. There is a list of people on the tapes who Hannah blames for her decision to commit suicide. If you receive the tapes, you are one of the reasons she decided to kill herself. So, listen closely, and see why you are one reason that Hannah Baker took her own life.

I thought this book was intriguing because the problems in Hannah's life seemed minor, not something anyone would kill themselves over. Like Hannah says, "everything affects everything" and things certainly started adding up when Zach Dempsey was stealing the last tokens of her self-esteem. I learned in this book that if you think you are just messing with someone, you could be affecting them more than you think because you don't know how many others are doing the same thing and how it can overwhelm them beyond belief.

Reviewed by Stephanie Burrill

"Incarceron" by Catherine Fisher

"Incarceron," a fictional story by Catherine Fisher, is a story centering around two worlds: the "paradise gone wrong" prison, Incarceron, and the oppressed monarchy of the outside world. The former is home to Finn and his oath brother, Kiero, as well as thousands of other prisoners who are either living in small towns or are in violent and territorial gangs, one of which both Finn and Kiero belong to. In the latter setting, the story centers on a girl, Claudia, the daughter of the warden of Incarceron. The outside world is under the rule of a queen who has established a "protocol" which keeps the world in an everlasting version of 15th century England in order to avoid causing another great war, the last of which was referred to as the "Years of Rage."

Claudia is constantly trying to impress and finds that she always has to watch her back, for the outside world is full of deception through politics and murder. The biggest conflict in the outside world is Claudia's arranged marriage. She was supposed to be married to Prince Giles, the Queen's stepson, but after he falls off a horse and dies she is instead set to marry the Queen's son, a mischievous and cruel boy who is always under mummy's finger and catering to her every whim. Claudia is in a constant struggle to get out of the marriage. In the prison, Finn and Kiero are thrown into a world of extreme danger and adventure when they embark on a quest to find a way out. Along the way, they fight gangs, each other, and the prison itself. They are joined by a girl named Attia and are contacted by a stranger from the outside. Near the end of the story, you learn something very surprising about one of the main characters, an you find out that something very minor, a pocket watch mentioned on the side throughout the story, is actually something very important, for on the chain of the watch is a small blue cube, and this cube, tiny, seemingly insignificant is, in fact, the prison itself!

I found this book to be a great read, full of excitement, deception, and danger. The story gets into it right off the bat, great if you hate books that take too long to get into the story. It's full of interesting and inventive twists that will keep you well entertained. I will say, however, that the author leaves you hanging a lot. I find this makes it better because it keeps you thinking, wondering, and when you've just gotten into the next chapter and almost forgotten about what she left you hanging with in the last chapter, she throws the explanation at you, as well as another cliffhanger. All in all, I thought this book was better than most in the genre (it was certainly hard to put down) and I recommend it to readers of any age who want an epic adventure that keeps you on the edge of your seat right up to the end.

Reviewed by Jason Phillips

"A Wedding Quilt for Ella" by Jerry S. Eicher

In "A Wedding Quilt for Ella," a novel by Jerry S. Eicher, Ella, a young adult, is inspired by a picture her younger sister Clara drew; she longs to make it the centerpiece on her wedding quilt. When her beloved finance dies, she starts to lose hope and cares less about the world around her. However, she doesn't want to give up on the dream she has for a beautiful wedding quilt. She soon discovers, with help from family and friends, that even when someone you love dies, hope can still go on.

I found this story very inspirational and touching. It taught me that you can't stay mad forever when something bad happens in your life. No matter what situations we go through, life still goes on. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has lost a loved one or is just having a hard time in life.

Reviewed by Tricia Hanks

The Heart and The Fist

The Heart and The Fist, a memoir by Eric Greitens, centers on Eric's own journeys as a student, athlete, humanitarian, and Navy SEAL. Greitens' first travels abroad to China during college after receiving a grant that allows him to do an independent study abroad for the summer. From there, Eric volunteers in many other countries, working in refugee camps and helping the poor of Bosnia, Rwanda, and Bolivia.

The people he meets during his travels teach Eric many valuable lessons through the telling of their harrowing stories of survival and hardship and by showing him how tirelessly one can work for a cause.

Eric is also taught lessons in strength, perseverance and discipline when he takes up boxing. The many hours he spends training help prepare him for a much more difficult task, becoming a Navy SEAL.

Eric decides to join the Navy when he realizes that although he is helping others through his work as a humanitarian, he steps in to "ease the suffering," his work doesn't prevent terrible things, like genocide, from happening. This is how Eric develops his idea that "you have to be strong to do good, but you also have to do good to be strong."

This powerful true story taught me that one person really can make a difference, but it is up to you to "choose your own adventure." This is a book everyone should read.

Reviewed by Kayla Britt

The Borrower

The Borrower, a novel by Rebecca Makkai, centers on Lucy Hull, a twenty-six year old children’s librarian in Hannibal, Missouri. Her favorite patron, 10 year old Ian Drake, a voracious reader, sneaks books past his overprotective Evangelical mother with Lucy’s help.When Lucy discovers Ian hiding out in the library after hours with plans of escape and a backpack full of food and other provisions, she decides to drive him home. However, Lucy also urgently wants to save Ian from the Drakes, and the weekly anti-gay classes they have enrolled him in.

Rather than bring Ian home to his parents like she planned, Lucy finds herself on her way out of Hannibal, and Missouri, after allowing herself to be hijacked by the rebellious ten year old.

A fun and exciting read, Makkai keeps you hooked throughout this unlikely pair’s travels from Missouri to Vermont. With help from her Russian immigrant father through his shady connections, Lucy and Ian dodge the many obstacles in their path, having several interesting adventures along the way.

Reviewed by Kayla Britt

My Stroke of Insight

My Stroke of Insight is an intriguing and informative book which tells Jill Bolte Taylor's harrowing true story. Ironically a brain scientist, Taylor suffers a rare form of stroke at the age of 37. Although it takes her eight years, she makes a miraculously full recovery. In the first few chapters Taylor's book has an interestingly nonfiction approach, giving you a detailed tour of the human brain itself and what was going on in Taylor's brain during the stroke. However, Taylor also utilizes personal and humorous storytelling, showing you that it is possible to persevere and remain optimistic even against what appear to be insurmountable odds.

Reviewed by Kayla Britt

Stop Pretending

Stop Pretending, a collection of poems written by Sonya Sones and inspired by her own life, tells the moving story of a young girl named Cookie, her family, and the aftermath of her eldest sister's nervous breakdown. Bearing as much weight as a large novel, this quick, emotional read can capture any reader's compassion, leaving you with a very different perspective on mental illness and those affected by it.

I found the format of Sones' book refreshing and the personal poems thought provoking. I recommend this book especially to anyone short on time and looking for a great read.

Reviewed by Kayla Britt

Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight

Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight, a memoir by Alexandra Fuller, centers around Fuller’s childhood, which was spent almost entirely in Africa. Facing racial tensions, war, and loss, this unconventional and extraordinary childhood was not always a happy one. However, Fuller writes with an endearing sense of humor about her experiences. This captivating story about the joys and struggles of family and growing up, and also the tough realities of farm life keeps you hooked from start to finish. I highly recommend this book to any reader with a sense of adventure.

Reviewed by Kayla Britt

The Best Revenge (SS) by Rebecca Rule

Revenge doesn't always mean getting back. "The Best Revenge" is a compilation of short stories about the sweetest revenge in rural New Hampshire. Rebecca Rule covers all types of revenge in her nineteen stories.

This compilation has many good stories. Also, if you decide that you don't like one of them, you can skip ahead to the next one. Each story has a life lesson in it and each is about everyday happenings. Nothing is out of the ordinary or hard to bond with. Everyone will most definitely find a story that they can truly connect to.
Reviewed by Bri C.

House Rules by Jodi Picoult

1. Clean up your own messes.
2. Tell the truth.
3. Brush your teeth twice a day.
4. Don’t be late for school.
5. Take care of your brother; he’s the only one you’ve got.

These are the "House Rules".

Emma Hunt is a single mom of two teenage boys, Jacob and Theo. Theo seems to be an average sixteen year old kid, he loves skateboarding, listening to music, and is embarrassed by the thought of his family. Jacob… isn’t so average. Jacob is eighteen years old, loves crime scene investigation, and has Aspergers. The Hunt household will never be the same, now that Jacob is the top suspect in the murder of Jess Ogilvy, his personal tutor. Emma is willing to do anything to keep her family intact. Before she can do this, she needs some very important questions to be answered; “What is Theo hiding?” and “Did Jacob kill that girl?”
Find out exactly what happened, in Jodi Picoult’s "House Rules".

This book was a little slow at first, but very interesting. Once I got about halfway through, I could not put the book down. House Rules is the perfect mystery novel, it lets you play detective while the case is progressing. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is willing to spend a little extra time reading.

Reviewed by Bri C.

My Name is Memory by Anne Brashares

The classic tale of star crossed lovers, "My Name is Memory" is worth the read. Follow Daniel through the times (and locations) and watch his love and devotion to Sophia grow. Wherever they may be; the Italian sea ports, North Africa, or the English countryside, their love flourishes and is soon cut short by one's tragic demise. Daniel and Sophia are on the run to make sure that this reincarnation lasts a true lifetime.

This book is a little on the slow and steady side, but is well worth the wait. Brashares mixes ancient history with the present to make a truly intriguing, fantasy novel.

Reviewed by Bri C.

Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen

Previously earning praise for The Luxe, a series about the scandals of young girls in turn-of-the-century NYC, Anna Godbersen is at it again. This time, she's fast forwarded to the roaring twenties, the decade of gangsters, flappers, and bootlegging. This story trails a short summer of Letty Larkspur, formerly known as Letitia Haudstadt, Astrid Donal, a flirtatious heiress, and Cordelia Gray, the disgraceful orphan. Follow the girls on their quest for love, fame, and family, in Godbersen's "Bright Young Things".

This book was amazing, each page left you wanting more. Godbersen displays great skill and talent in this quick, unique, and captivating novel. I highly recommend it.

Reviewed by Bri C.