The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin (259 pages)

Matthew’s life was never all that simple. In fact, every day of his life was a constant struggle to keep him and his sisters safe from his abusive and irresponsible mother, Nikki. One day, he and his sister Callie went to a local Cumberland Farms and saw a man defending a little boy who had been falsely accused of stealing. Instantly, he thinks that this is the guy who can save him and his sisters from his wretched mother. Before he gets a chance to contact the guy (Murdoch) and ask for help, his mom approaches Murdoch and they start dating. Everything begins to get better for a little while. Matthew and his sisters were hardly getting beatings, they were spending time with Murdoch, and it almost starts to become a family. But after a bad break-up, all hell breaks loose. I would highly recommend this book to pretty much everybody. It’s a good story of family, safety, and old-school love.

Reviewed by Jazmin Straffin

Damned by Chuck Palahniuk (247 pages)

Welcome to Hell, it’s really not as bad as it sounds, and you’ll never guess who’s here. If you guessed Hitler or anyone who’s ever thought about practicing law, you are correct. If you guessed Charles Darwin, Judy Garland, or Jackie Kennedy Onassis, you are also correct. After overdosing on a generous amount of marijuana, 13-year-old Madison Spencer finds herself damned for eternity. With her new friends in tow, a blue-haired punk, a Dungeons & Dragons nerd, a cocky football star, and a counterfeit fashionista, the dead breakfast club makes their way around the rotting geography of Hell. Among the flames and sickening stench, little Maddie manages to seduce a giant demon, campaign for the underworld, and attempt to quit that awful habit of hoping. With Chuck Palahniuk’s graphic details and unpredictable plotline, Hell has never sounded so fascinating. Although it’s unlike anything I’ve ever read, I am positive anyone who’s enjoyed other books by this author will love it too.

Reviewed by Madeline Mayor

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott- 170 Pages

                

               A chilling thriller not for the faint of heart, “Living Dead Girl” throws us into the life of Alice, a girl who was kidnapped by a man, Ray, who abuses her more than most would think imaginable.

                After five years of torture, Alice finally can see a way out of Ray’s clutches, but will she be able to have the courage? Scott holds a grip on you much like the hold Ray has on Alice, and does not let go until the climactic ending.

               Reviewed by Alli Sweeney

Phoenix: A Brother's Life by J.D. Dolan (192 pages)

J.D. Dolan gives us a glimpse into the life of the Dolan family in this incredible memoir of his older brother, John. John Dolan is the second of five children. With a quiet intelligence and a strong presence, he became a role model throughout J.D’s life. He never failed to fuel his younger brother’s childlike curiosity, teaching him how to shoot a BB gun or ride through the desert dunes on his loyal Honda 55 motorcycle.  J.D strived to follow in John’s heroic footsteps even more so than his own father’s. Unfortunately, there was a history of stubborn silence that runs in the family. Now both well past their 20s, the two brothers’ refusal to speak to each other has been ongoing for several years, over an issue J.D. can’t even remember. After a terrible accident leaves John in the hospital with severe burns all over his body, his silence frustrates J.D. more than ever. This is a heartfelt biography that will pull you in from the first page. John’s story will teach readers that the ties between family members are stronger than anger.

 

Reviewed by Madeline Mayor

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (183 Pages)

             

   

Brought together by a strange twist of faith, Nick and Norah must pose as boyfriend and girlfriend in order to trick Nick’s ex-girlfriend and Norah’s friend Tris. Their night quickly turns into a great adventure through the streets of New York, filled with a raunchy version of the “Sound of Music”, punk rock shows, and running in the rain. “Nick and Norah’s” is a love story that will make you laugh and leave you with a feeling of satisfaction once you end.

Reviewed by Alli Sweeney

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson (372 Pages)

In a heart-stopping thriller, “The Name of Star” follows Rory Deveaux, a Louisiana teenager making the move to a boarding school in London, England. The day Rory arrives to her new home, a horrific murder occurs, executed nearly the exact way Jack the Ripper’s first murder was. Soon, more murders happen, mimicking the Ripper to the exact day and hour. London is in a panic, and Rory is the only person who has seen the man who is believed to be the Killer.

                Thrown into something she doesn't quite understand, Rory must race against the clock to help stop the killer before she becomes the next victim.

Reviewed by Alli Sweeney