"Rapture Practice" by Aaron Hartzler (390 pages)

Growing up, Aaron has always been excited for the rapture: the moment when Jesus would take him to heaven. This is a true story about Aaron’s struggle growing up and finding out who he wants to be. He struggles between who his parents want him to be and what they tell him to believe in, while he has his own beliefs that contradict his parent’s beliefs. He’s still trying to be a kid and is too scared to like things that are considered to be a sin in his family. He begins to hang out with kids his parents don’t know about, he lies, and makes mistakes that are all sins in his family. He begins to be a rebel, and go against everything his parents taught him not to do. He realizes he doesn't want to be saved as much as he thought. Not until he has his first kiss, can fall in love for the first time, whether it be a boy or a girl, see a movie, and go see a movie with his friends.

The focus of this memoir isn't how religious it is, it’s all about the message being portrayed. It’s okay to believe in things others don’t, have friends not everyone approves of, and most of all, no one can tell you what your dreams are. I truly enjoyed this book because the message behind it was easily relatable to; growing up as a teenager while you’re still trying to find out who you are without hurting anyone in the process and keeping faith. 

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"Foul Trouble" by John Feinstein (400 pages)

You would think the #1 basketball player in the country was the living the dream, right? Guess again. Terrell Jamerson goes to  high school in Lexington, Massachusetts. His basketball team is predicted to win States, he has scholarship offers from any college of his choice, and everyone says he’d have no problem playing in the NBA in no time. But one wrong move- and all of that can be gone.

 Danny Wilcox is Terrell’s best friend and teammate. He is a top player himself, but is constantly living in Terrell’s shadow. Danny’s dad, the high school team’s coach, is constantly watching out for his son and Terrell. But not everyone has Terrell’s best interests at heart, and soon Danny starts to realize that. When Terrell gets into trouble at summer basketball camp, he starts to think about who his real friends truly are. As it gets closer to  the time for Terrell and Danny to choose which college they will attend after they graduate, it becomes clear who has Terrell’s best interests in mind and who is going to just to take advantage of him.

 Everyone  says they are will do anything to help Terrell, but that’s the problem - that kind of help could lead Terrell down a dark path. Find out the path Terrell picks as he learns the dirty business of college recruiting. It’s a long, but easy read, and you won’t want to stop turning the pages.

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"The First Phone Call from Heaven" Mitch Albom (323 pages)

"They teach you, as children, that you might go to heaven. They never teach you that heaven might come to you." Heaven came to Coldwater, Michigan when citizens started receiving phone calls from those who passed away. The once invisible city became a spotlight on most news channels. People from all over the country started invading the small town with the hope of receiving calls from their deceased loved ones. "Is it the greatest miracle ever? Or some cruel hoax?" Sully Harding is determined to find out what's really behind these mysterious phone calls. Not only does this extraordinary event cause families and the community to come together, it also tears relationships apart. "What do you do when the dead return? It is the thing people most fear- yet in some cases, most desire." 

Find out how Coldwater, Michigan reacts to the phone calls and whether or not the calls are real in this page-turning book. I felt like I couldn't read fast enough! My mind was racing with questions as I discovered more details. This book is a must read!

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"Coaltown Jesus" Ron Koertge (122 pages)

How would you react if you prayed to Jesus and he showed up in your bedroom? All Walker wanted was for Jesus to help his mom get over the death of Noah, Walker’s older brother. According to Jesus, Walker was the one who needed the help. Once Walker warmed up to Jesus, he was able to answer sensitive questions. Little by little, Jesus answers Walker’s prayers, but not in the way Walker had expected. The author, Koertge, gives Jesus comical and relatable characteristics which help Walker understand what’s really going on in his life. He takes a very different approach than most authors do, by writing the story in poems. I personally think the book is quite odd, but it is good for a quick read!

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"The Brimstone Journals" by Ron Koertge (128 pages)

Welcome to Branston High, also known as Brimstone to its students. This nickname comes from “fire and brimstone.” As in hell. Throughout this book, we learn fast why that is.

Author Ron Koertge takes us into the lives of some of Branston’s students, using a series of short, journal-like poems. You might think that these students have nothing in common, but you’ll soon find out that they are more similar than they seem. They each have their own struggles that they are battling. There’s the Smart One, the Fat Kid, Social Conscience, Bad Girl, Good Girl, Jock, Anorexic, Lesbian, Rich Boy, Stud and so on. What brings them all together? Boyd. Boyd is an angry teenager who soon decides that he will get back at everyone who has ever made him feel less of a person – no matter how ridiculous the reason. Boyd has a massive chip on his shoulder and this book takes you through his thoughts and plans to get revenge.

 Tension is rising, and soon Boyd compiles a list of students called his “hit list.” Leading up to the planned school attack, people start realizing what is actually going on. Will Boyd follow through with his plan?

Narrated  by fifteen characters from Branston High, this poetic novel brings us in to the world of terror and violence in schools. It is a very quick and easy read.

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"Spoiled" by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan (355 pages)

When small-town-girl Molly has a crisis as her mother dies from cancer, her only choice is to move from Indiana all the way to Los Angeles with her father, who just happens to be a famous actor named Brick Berlin. The only problem is that Molly and her father have never met. Even Molly’s IMDB searches on him don’t share enough information about what her upcoming life will be like. She not only has to leave all her friends and her life behind, but she soon realizes how strange it will be to have to live with a parent she’s never met and a half-sister who is more preppy than the new private school she will soon have to attend. 

This book is a bit tedious, as it can be sort of repetitive, but it is one that has a crazy twist at the end. If you are someone who likes to read romance novels, with hints of revenge, then this is the perfect book for you.

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"Lily and Taylor" by Elise Moser (184 pages)

It is estimated that, in the United States, 25 percent of relationships are abusive. Elise Moser’s Lily and Taylor are among these abused. Lily and Taylor are best friends, bonded by their troubled pasts.

Lily’s mother was in a horrible car accident which permanently damaged her mom’s brain. Only a teenager, Lily is responsible for all her needs, but also ensuring that her mother doesn't put cereal in the coffee maker. Because of her mother’s mental state, she accepts the abuse of her boyfriend while Lily watches, helpless, as her mother refuses to let Lily put a stop to it. Taylor’s boyfriend, Devon, abuses her because his dad abused him. Taylor hates Devon for this, but when he is happy, she forgets what he has done to her.

As the plot progresses, Devon is enraged with Taylor for not seeing him and decides to “teach her a lesson.” He and his friend take Taylor and Lily against their will and break into a cabin, far from town, where he has all the power…and a gun. The story goes on to describe how the girls have to rely on each other to overcome their captivity and break free from their abusive relationships.

This is a relatively fast-paced book that appeals to a wide audience. Statistics say that many are affected by abuse, directly and indirectly. Lily and Taylor is a very informative and entertaining story.

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"The Impossible Knife of Memory" by Laurie Halse Anderson (391 pages)

For the most recent 5 years of Hayley’s life, her and her father Andy had moved around a lot, struggling to stay in one town for even a little amount of time without leaving while her fathers on the road a lot trying to keep a truck driving job. After her father left the war in Iraq, the past 5 years he’s struggled fighting the demons that taunt him so consistently, being the reason they can never settle in one town. Andy decided moving back to his hometown where he grew up so Hayley could try and have a normal life and attend school daily.

Hayley goes to school and meets an attractive guy named Finn who likes her but she’s scared to let him in because of her father and home life. Andy turns to drugs and alcohol to cope with the pain of dealing with his demons and horrible memories. How does Hayley enjoy her life and be taken care of when she’s too busy taking care of her irresponsible father? Will Andy turn to someone for help with his PTSD or will he let the drugs take him over?

This book left me breathless, and sad that it came to an end. READ THIS BOOK. IT’S SO GOOD.

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"Loud Awake and Lost " by Adele Griffin (289 pages)

Seventeen year old ember was in a tragic car accident that threatened her life. She suffered severe back injuries and brain trauma. She doesn’t know anything that happened the night of the accident along with the six weeks prior to her accident. Ember doesn’t have any sense of recognition of who the boy she was with was, where she was driving to, and why her friends and family won’t talk about it. After being in the hospital for 8 consecutive months, Ember returns home and is left with nothing to cling on to other than patiently waiting for her memory to come back to her. While dealing with the physical and mental scars after the accident, Ember struggles to accept that her devoted life to dance has come to an end.

While struggling to put back together pieces of her life, places, faces, and events, she goes to a club she supposedly visited a lot where she meets a boy named Kai. His compassion and understanding of Ember results in an instant connection for the two of them. While being obsessed with gaining her memory back, Ember develops a true love for Kai. Follow Ember through her confusing, yet exhilarating journey trying to get her life back in order, you won’t forget it.

I have a love hate relationship with this book for the same reason which is Ember’s journey to getting her memory back while trying to figure out the person she wants to be. It’s a tragic, but heartwarming and thrilling journey that I truly enjoyed along with being frustrated with how she handled some situations, but that’s just another teenager for you. I’d definitely recommend this book.

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"Asylum" by Madeleine Roux (310 pages)

Many students who go to the New Hampshire College Prep summer program are there simply for that reason, to prep for college. Sixteen-year-old Dan Crawford thought the same, until he realized the dorm he would be staying in for the summer used to be an insane asylum. However, this wasn’t just any asylum; it was a last resort for the criminally insane.

Dan makes new friends, Abby and Jordan, and together they explore the mysterious and hidden secrets of their creepy summer home. Soon, they discover that it’s no coincidence the three of them ended up there. The asylum holds the truth of the terrifying past of the happenings that went on there, and there are some secrets that refuse to stay in the past.

Dan will stop at nothing to find out what’s hidden in the asylum – even if it kills him. Follow him and his friends through this page-turning journey. It’s suspenseful, and definitely not for the faint of heart.  Find out where the lines of genius and insanity meet.

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"Fat Angie" by E.E. Charlton-Trujillo (264 pages)

 “There was a girl. Her name was Angie. She was fat.” Barely fitting into her sister’s basketball shirt, Angie acquires the name Fat Angie. She uses Swiss Rolls, Big Macs, and other fattening foods to make her feel better about what’s going on in her life. Her mother is never around, Stacey Ann constantly torments her, and she’s the only one who believes that her captured sister is still alive. Walking through the halls at William Anders High School is already tough for Angie, but it gets worse when she attempts to kill herself in front of everyone. Everything changes when KC Romance arrives in Dryfalls, Ohio. She’s a girl “who is 199% wow” as Angie would say. KC has a secret though, and only Jake sees it at first. Jake, Angie’s neighbor, helps Angie work towards one specific goal; making the varsity basketball team. When things finally start to fall in place for Angie, they get news that changes everything. Does Angie return to being “Fat Angie”, or does she turn into someone who is well respected? Find out by reading this “outrageous and touching, darkly comic, anti-romantic romance.”

The number one thing all readers should get out of this book is that IT’S OKAY TO BE WHO YOU ARE.

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"Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" by Lisa See (257 pages)

Nineteenth-century China. A young girl, Lily, prepares herself for womanhood, meaning a life of yielding to men, sitting quietly in the women’s chamber of her house, assuming a woman’s place a homemaker—a life void of true love. That is the way of things, after all, as  has been the tradition with all the women in Lily’s family dating back for generations. That is, until the local town diviner pays a visit to her household and informs her parents that Lily is a special child. Lily has the potential to have the most perfect pair of bound feet in all of China—a much coveted asset. Additionally, she is eligible for one of the most sacred bonds that can be created between two people—a laotong. This relationship would last for a lifetime, and Lily would be closer to her laotong than she would be to anyone in her family or even her future husband. The arrangement is made, and Lily is paired with a girl from Tongkou, Snow Flower. The two girls communicate by writing on a fan in the secret written language of Chinese women. When the time comes to meet each other in person, Lily is thrilled yet nervous Snow Flower comes from a much higher social standing and is much more educated. Despite this, Lily and Snow Flower have an immediate connection and become fast friends. As the two grow up, they face the trials of life together, learning lessons from each other—the most important of which is true love. However,  a miscommunication eventually occurs which endangers their close relationship. Could a bond so sacred and deep possibly be broken?

To me, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a story about the importance of valuing the people you love the most. I laughed, cried, and fell in love with the two girls and their friendship. Ingeniously entwined with aspects of Chinese culture, this book is the best kind of history lesson. Hauntingly beautiful, this is a story that will never leave me, and fans of heartbreaking tragedies would likely say the same. This will be put on my “favorites” shelf, and I aspire to one day experience the sort of love shared in Lily and Snow Flower’s laotong.

  Reviewed by Aubrie L.

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"The Eye of Minds" by James Dashner (310 pages)

You’ve heard the saying that video games will rot your brain. The phrase takes on a new meaning in James Dashner’s The Eye of Minds, set in a futuristic society where citizens can immerse themselves into hyper-realistic virtual worlds for fun. Any situation you can think of, you can simulate for yourself in the VirtNet—the vast network of different gaming programs. And the best part—nothing that happens in the games will affect you in reality. For Michael, the VirtNet is the most important thing. He makes it his life goal to receive enough experience points to reach the expert levels of his favorite game. However, the world is yanked from under his feet when he witnesses a girls’ suicide in the VirtNet—a real one. Michael is suddenly plunged into a mission to find information on the mysterious gamer Kaine, whom the girl blamed for her suicide, and the top-secret Mortality Doctrine that could mean the downfall of humanity. As he travels into the deepest recesses of the VirtNet with his two best friends, Sarah and Bryson, Michael experiences challenges unlike any he has before.

               
 I absolutely loved this book; Dashner is a master of crafting unique societies in his stories. This is a quick read driven along by edge-of-your-seat suspense and the quick wit of the characters. Fans of science-fiction and fantasy should definitely pick up the book. I could scarcely put the book down and I await the sequel with bated breath. Much like the VirtNet itself, The Eye of Minds immerses you entirely in a world of its own—one that you will not want to leave. 

 Reviewed by Aubrie L.

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"He's So/She's So" Trilogy by Kieran Scott

         Ally Ryan’s father lost everything in a bad investment scheme (including some of his neighbors’wealth) forcing the family to move away suddenly from their crest-top home in a small-town in New Jersey. Eighteen months later, her father disappeared, and Ally and her mother return to Orchard Hill, this time to live in a small condo as the teen starts her junior year. As much as she wants her old life back, it doesn’t look promising. Ally’s old friends blame her for her father’s mistakes and want nothing to do with her – until Ally meets Jake. Jake Graydon is the newest “crestie” who lives in Ally’s old house, the one she had before her father lost all of their money. Ally and Jake’s relationship starts getting more serious, which makes it almost impossible for her to stay away from her old friends. Will Ally ever see her dad again? Will Ally and Jake’s relationship continue, or will someone get in the middle?

Within this trilogy, you’ll want to laugh, cry, and you won’t be able to put it down. Follow Ally’s journey through her junior and senior years of high school, battling gossip, drama and love triangles – all while trying to keep her mother and father’s marriage intact.

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"The Boy on the Wooden Box" by Leon Leyson, et al. (240 pages)

This memoir written by Leon Leyson gives the reader an opportunity to go on a surreal journey back in time. You delve into the life of Leon and his Jewish family during the Third Reich’s control over his home country of Poland. This story portrays horrific events and scenarios suffered by ten-year-old Leon, and his unwavering will to survive through them. Witnessing massacres, whippings, and forced labor, then enduring concentration camps, starvation, and separation of family, Leon and his family become one of the thousands who are put into life-threatening situations due to the Holocaust. However, his life changes when Oskar Schindler, a “hero disguised as a monster” appears. This German gentile secretly goes against Hitler and his followers to save thousands of Jews. By risking his life, Schindler is able to help Leon and his family through a horrendous journey. 

This book drew me in from the beginning. Through reading about the horrific events I gained a new appreciation on this part of history. It was fast paced and full of detail, making it impossible to put down. I would recommend for anyone even remotely interested in history, this is a journey you will not regret taking.

Reviewed by H.G.

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"The Lightning Dreamer" by Margarita Engle (182 pages)

Written in verse, this story portrays the life of Tula through the author, Margarita Engle’s own words. Set in Cuba, this story is about a girl who loves words, but it cannot be known because girls are not allowed an education, and a girl who loves to read is known as an "ugly girl." Tula is forced into a life of oppression, in which her mother picks out her husband when she turns fourteen and she is not allowed to attend school. The verses tell the story of one woman who was not afraid to go against society’s views no matter how dangerous it became. She lived for words and was not afraid of the repercussions. After refusing her marriage proposal she is sent to live on her grandfather’s plantation where she sympathizes with the slaves and becomes even more rebellious. Through reading theses verses you enter the haunting and dangerous life of Tula and those around her.

Though I am not a fan of poetry, I found myself deeply immersed in the story of Tula. It was easy to sympathize with the character through this fast paced story.


Reviewed by H.G.

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"The False Prince" by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Book one in the "Ascendance" trilogy, The False Prince does not disappoint. In a country where monarchy still reigns, a civil war is close to occurring and nobleman Connor will do anything he can to prevent that. After finding out that the King’s family has died, he takes on the responsibility of coming up with an idea to prevent the war and find a suitable person to take the throne. Connor’s idea is dangerous and filled with treason. He needs four boys to pretend to be the “long lost” Prince Jaron. He searches orphanages until he finds four teenage boys suitable for the challenge. The rules of his challenge are simple: one boy will become the next crowned prince; the other three will be killed. This book is filled with excitement and danger as Connor trains these boys and molds them into the Prince they need to be. Through rigorous horseback riding, sword fighting, dining, and history lessons Connor creates boys who should be ready to take the throne.

This book was incredibly fast paced and full of action to keep you on your seat. It was filled with plot twists that kept the pages turning. I am a big fan of fantasy and would recommend this book to anyone interested in that genre. 

Reviewed H.G.

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"Being Generous" By Theodore Roosevelt Malloch (149 pages)

Malloch has one goal for his readers, "Discover what being generous means, and begin living it." The entire book stresses the aspect of giving and generosity. According to Malloch, giving should be your virtue. This nonfiction book talks about the views of giving in different religions; Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity. He focuses most of the book on the views of Christianity. This book isn't meant to tell you how to live, but to tell you the benefits of living in a generous way, "...being generous and giving freely allows one to be measurably happier." If you're need  that extra push to become a better person or you are looking for the meaning behind your generosity, check out this book and you'll definitely find what you're looking for. Not only did this book make me want to be a better person, it also made me realize how I benefit others as well as myself.

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"Linked" by Imogen Howson (368 pages)

Fast forward to the distant future where cars fly, space travel to other planets is common, and you can only have two children. You’ll find yourself living at the time sixteen-year-old Elissa lives. Elissa has a mysterious disease which gives her crippling headaches, blinding pain, hallucinations, and bruises that come out of nowhere, all of which make her go from one of the most popular girls at school to one of the most outcast. Even her brother and his friend Cadan (the one Elissa looked up to most of her life) believe she is faking. Through the hallucinations, it becomes apparent to Elissa that she is not suffering from a normal disease. She discovers that she has a telepathic link to a girl named Lis, who was taken by the government, and who looks exactly as she does. She finds this out just as she finds the girl on the verge of death, after escaping the government facility. This meeting comes at the wrong time because just hours before, Elissa was promised a cure to her illness; they would burn the link right out of her. Risking her life to save a girl she just met, Elissa turns down the opportunity to be normal again. She and Lis become fugitives and flee their home planet by tricking Cadan into helping them. The government makes several attempts to track them down, including threatening their deaths and hijacking their spaceship. While on the run they learn that they are more alike than Elissa would have ever imagined. With Cadan's help they are finally able to arrive at the “safe” planet where they are unable to be touched by government officials.

This book was slow getting into and a little hard to follow at times. There was a lot of information being given, but overall a decent story. It is a dystopian, sci-fi story which even contains some romance. I would recommend to anyone who likes the “outer-worldly” type of reading.

Reviewed by H.G.

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“Jump the Cracks” by Stacy DeKeyser (207 pages)

When fifteen-year-old Victoria arrives at the New York train station expecting her father to pick her up, she is more than upset when he isn’t there. This isn’t the first time he’s been late to meet her somewhere and it is really taking its toll on Victoria. But the ride to the station was what changed her life forever. Victoria accidentally kidnaps a child who has touchable soft hair, deep blue eyes and bruises all over his arms. After trying to save him by taking him away from his abusive, drug-using parents, the teenage girl gets way more than she bargained for and digs herself into a deeper hole when she and “Wills,” the toddler’s new name, start heading further south on the train. With limited money, the police after her, and a new responsibility, Victoria and Wills' adventure is beyond exciting and leaves you wanting to read on after every chapter. 

This enjoyable book is definitely a quick read and easy to follow. If you like reading fast-paced books with lots of suspense, this book is the perfect one for you.

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"The War Within These Walls" by Aline Sax

"The War Withing These Walls" half novel, half graphic novel, is about a Jewish boy named Misha who lived in Warsaw, Poland during the Nazi regime. Jews were forced by the Nazis to live in the "Ghetto", a small closed off area of the city. The Nazis are taking everything. They are taking their families, their food, even their hope for survival. Jews from Warsaw have do what they can to find food for survival. They have to wait and wait, for days on end. Until one day, Misha gets an idea, a brilliant but awfully dangerous idea… to steal food. Misha wants to fight back.Seeing the diseased and starving makes him rage. He needs to find a way to save his mother and sister, but how can he do that when the Nazis are willing to kill anyone who steps out of line? Is he brave enough to make a stand? What does he have to lose if he tries? What would it cost him if he didn't try? Can the Nazis be stopped?

This is a short but powerful novel about a brave boy who needs to fight for his family. The Holocaust is something that has always interested me and this story tugged at my heart.

I would recommend this book to those who are interested in reading about the Holocaust and want to learn more about what the Nazis did and how the Jews suffered.

Reviewed by K.B.

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"(Me, Him, Them, And It)" By Caela Carter (310 pages)

Evelyn, a good Christian girl, is sick of the tension in her house. Her dad hooked up with the dentist, moved out many times, and ended up living in the same house as Evelyn and her mother at the worse possible time. Sick of the bickering and silence, Evelyn makes a plan to make her parents notice her more- become the Bad Evelyn. She stops going to church, cuts her skirt shorter, stops painting, quits the cross country team, and becomes the school slut. After hooking up with Todd, one test completely changes her life; she's pregnant. Mary, Evelyn's counselor, tries to guide Evelyn through the decision making process of what to do with the baby. Abortion? Adoption? Keep it? Evelyn has no idea at first, but she eventually rules out abortion. Telling her mom and Todd was probably the hardest thing Evelyn has ever had to do, until she lies to her best friend and gets sent to live with her Aunt Linda.

Once you read the beginning of this book, there's no way you can put it down. Each new page shows how Evelyn is changing, physically and emotionally. Watch as old relationships crumble and new relationships sprout. Does Evelyn end up keeping the baby? Find out all of the luring details as you're sucked into this book even more!

This book is perfect for those who don't have a grasp on how good life is with what they have. Behind the fictional story, lessons on pregnancy choices and family importance shine through. I wasn't sure if I wanted to read a book about this, but once I started, I couldn't stop. The ending kept me thinking for a while by letting me decide what might have happened. 

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