A Wrinkle in Time

A Wrinkle in Time

By: Madeleine L'Engle

Published By: Squarefish

Reading Level: ages 12-16

224 Pages

Summary: Meg Murray is all sorts of confused. Her father has been gone for years now and hasn't written in a year. Her little brother Charles wallace seems to be able to read her mind, and she doesn't fit in at school, as hard as she tries. And on top of it all she does not feel pretty. The book begins at a scene at school, where Meg acts out once again and gets sent to the principles office. After a fight with the principle about her father not coming home, she goes home only to get picked on by some kids who make fun of her retarded younger brother. What they do not know is Charles Wallace is a genius he just chooses not to waste his breath talking to them. Soon Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which come into the scene and wisk Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin of to Camazot where they must fight the dark thing and save there father. Can they do it without being sucked into it (the darkness).

Personal Review: This is such a cute easy book to read. I remember reading this as a child and really enjoying it. And as an adult i enjoyed it as well but caught on to a few more things. I never noticed how religious it is, talking about the "dark thing" and agency and the saviors and such. But it was still a very good book that i would recommend.

War is...

War is...

Edited by: Marc Aronson and Patty Campbell

Published by: Candlewick Press 2008

Reading Level: 14 and up

266 Pages

Summary: What is war? War is is a book of fiction and nonfiction essays that try to depict what war is. It goes through the recruiting of war and why people sign on to the armed forces. They promise them a lot of bonus's but often do not follow through. It then tells about killing and the affects killing someone, or watching someone get killed has on soldiers. It even has a section on women in the war and the things they have to go through such as sexual harassment. In the end you come to realize that war is not just fun and games, it is serious and has a tremendous effect on those around it.

Personal Review: What an amazing, well put together book. The stories kept me very entertained but at the same time was very informative. Every young man should read this book before they join the armed forces so that they know what they are really getting into. This story hit hard with me because i have a brother in law that is about to venture off onto his third over seas tour. It was hard to hear what he has to go through. I highly recommend this book.

Warnings: Crude language, Graphic war scenes, Sexual references

Sins of the Fathers

Sins of the Fathers

By: Chris Lynch

Published by: Harper Collins Publishers 2006

Reading Level:

232 Pages

Summary: Andrew, Skitz, and Hector are best friends. A tribe of friendship is what they call themselves. All three are very diverse characters. Skitz matches his name, very antsy, trouble maker, "his mouth works faster then his brain". The other odd thing about Skitz is he does not feel pain. Hector is often described as Jesus. He is the good boy, who follows all the rules, very catholic, shows up to every mass. But he also has an anger problem that he tends to take out on Skitz. Andrew is the mediator. He comes from a good home, good parents, he is described as the peacemaker between the two. The three of them make up an unbreakable tribe, in which the Fathers of the Catholic all boys school they attend try to break apart. They first start by threatening to send Skitz away for all his misbehaving, then they pull Hector away from the group. But the three of them made a promise many years before they would never leave anyone behind, so as they pull Hector away and he starts falling behind the boys do everything possible to bring the tribe back together.

Personal Review: I have very mixed feelings about this book. I ended it thinking wait what? I don't get it. But even though i didn't understand it i could not put the book down. It kept me very intrigued even if i did not understand it. I want to go back and reread it and see if it makes more sense. So if you want a book with a little bit of a twist that you can't put down, i would highly recommend it.

Warnings: Boys being boys, Crude language, sexual references.

La Li'nea

La Li'nea

By: Ann Jaramillo

Published by Squarefish 2006

Reading level: Young Adult

125 Pages

Summary: It is Miguels Time to head north to the United States and meet up with his parents. The plan is set out and if he follows it exactly everything will work out. Except he isn't able to follow it exactly due to his sister running away with him. His plan falls to pieces and he is now forced to decide to go back home, or find a way north with no money, and no help. Well that is until they run into Javier who ends up being a lot of help for them. Javier is leaving his family behind to go to New York and work with his brother. He knows the ins and outs of things and is able to really help the children in their journey north.

Personal Review: What a touching story. A lot of times you only hear about all the trouble the Mexicans cause immigrating to the US. But you never hear about all the trouble the immigrants have to go through to get to the US. This story is very touching, and really hits hard on the importance of family. After reading this I made sure to thank my parents for all they have done for me. I would recommend this book to everyone. Its not a happy, go lucky book, but it is an amazing story.

Warnings: Mild sexual references, and some graphic scenes.

We Just Want to Live Here.

We Just want to Live Here

By: Amal Rifa'i and Odelia Ainbinder and Skyle Tempel

Published by St. Martin Griffin

Reading level: Young Adult

154 Pages

Summary: We Just Want To Live Here is a powerful story of two teenage girls who even though they live close by eachother due to war they live very different lives. Odelia is a Jewish israelite who lives the comfort of being able to travel and do the things that she wants. Amal is not so lucky, she is a muslim who lives in Palistine. She does not have the same rights and priviledges as Odelia. She is not aloud to travel about, especially without her ID. School is not equal either. Odelia recieves alot better schooling for a lot less money, while Amal has to work hard to pay for school and does not recieve as good of education. These girls meet on a trip to switzerland. While most of the Jews made fun of and caused problems for being Arabs. Odelia befriended them and tried to get to know them. Because of this she was able to befriend Amal and that is when they begin to write letters back and forth.

Personal Review: This book was very interesting. There is a lot of information provided in they letters between Amal and Odelia. I never really understood the struggle between Palestine and Jeruselum but this explained it very cleary. The war, the religious differences. All the things i never understood. I found at times that there writing became a little boring, but all in all a good book.

Nicola and the Viscount

Nicola and the Viscount

By: Meg Cabot

Published by: Avon

Reading Level: Young adult

261 Pages

Summary: Nicola is a beautiful stubborn orphan who is in love with a "God". Or atleast she thinks she is when she agrees to live with him and his family for the summer. Nicola's best friend Eleanore is all for her living there but her older brother who obviously is in love with Nicola is not as excited. It doesn't take long for Nicola to sweep the "God" off his feet and he asks her to marry him. But does he really love her? When Nicola's parents died they left her with only a little house and land to her name. But when her Cousin asks her to sell it for a lot more then it is worth she refuses. Not liking her answer the men who want the land take things into there own hands. Will prince charming come save her? Who is the real prince charming in this story?

Personal Review: I actually really liked this book. It had its cheesy points, but it also had its funny parts. I can see where a teenage girl would love this book, and how it could cause her to dream about her own prince charming.

After The First Death

After The First Death

By: Robert Cormier

Published by: Dell Laurel-Leaf

Reading Level: Young Adult

233 Pages

Summary: Ben is the son of Brigadier General Marcus L Marchand. The general of Fort Delta Massachusetts. Ben and his father have a strange relationship, they have never really talked or been close, yet his father knows Ben very well due to tapped phone lines. Artkin and Miro are freedom fighters who take over a school bus full of children. They want the United States to release some prisoners, give them ten million dollars, and uncover the Inner Delta. Inner Delta is a secret agency in which Ben's father is in charge of. Kate Forrester was driving the bus for her sick uncle, who usually drives it. She is then put in charge of taking care of the whining children. This twisted tale takes place on an old rail road bridge where for a day the terrorists hold the bus hostage killing a couple children. The story builds up when Ben is called by his father to help on the scene. Will he do it for his father? Will his father actually put his own son in harms way?

Personal Review: This book takes you for a twisted ride. Your up, your down, and then your all sorts of confused. Magnificently written. Not the type of book i like, but it is very intriguing.

Warning: Crude language, sexual references, Graphic scenes