Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I want to learn more about the French Revolution now! I downloaded the audio of this book and it was a great story to listen to. High School senior, Andy, is super depressed after the death of her younger brother and her family is falling apart. She is on the brink of flunking out of her prestigious high school and even contemplating suicide. She is forced to go to Paris with her father when her mother is put into a mental hospital. While in Paris she is on strict orders to finish her thesis. In the process she comes across a young woman's diary from the time of the French Revolution. The story alternates between Andy's contemporary life and the story of Alex, who cared for Louis Charles, the young lost King, in the time of the Revolution. The story is a historical mystery that kept me wanting to know what happened next. Definitely a must read!



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When I Was Joe by Keren David

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was a very fast pace book that kept me on the edge of my seat. 14 yr. old Ty has a secret. As a witness to a murder everyone wants to know his secret. After agreeing to testify Ty and his mother are threatened and put into the witness protection program. Now Ty has to change the way he looks, the way he acts, and even the way he thinks to avoid being discovered. But can he put the past behind him. Can he continue to keep his secret as he continues to put other people in danger. This was a great book and I can't wait for the sequel to see how it all turns out.



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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I thought this was a good story and definitely a book that teenage boys may be attracted too. It is the story of Junior, a Spokane Indian who leaves the reservation to attend the local white school. He becomes an outcast among his tribe members and struggles to fit in with his new classmates. The book does have some pretty strong language and alcohol abuse but I think thats what adds to its authenticity. Also, people have complained about the Native Americans in this book being portrayed negatively. However, the author draws from many of his own experiences as a Spokane Indian and that is important to know before judging this book. It was a good book to listen and had all the elements. It made me laugh but it also tackled some tough topics such as death, but it the end it made me feel hopeful and curious to know how Junior's life turns out.



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SLAM by Nick Hornby

Slam by Nick Hornby

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was a great book to listen to once I got past the British accent and slang. I think that it presents the topic of teenage pregnancy in a realistic and honest way. Sam was a regular teenage boy who made one mistake that changed the rest of his life. I really felt like I got to know Sam and it was interesting to hear a boy's point of view in this situation.





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The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

High school outcast Elizabeth gets a new job working at the New York Circulating Material Repository where she discovers a special collection of magical items from fairy tales. Adventure, mystery, and danger ensues as she and her co-workers seek the thief who has been stealing from the collection. I think my expectations for this book were too high to begin with. It was entertaining but a little out there for me with flying shoes, shrink rays, and human dolls. There of course was some teenage love mixed in amongst all the magical happenings and I think that there is definitely appeal to this storyline.

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Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A young girl is kidnapped and held captive for more than 5 years by the man who claims to "love" her and want to take care of her. I listened to this book and was riveted the whole entire time. Listening to the girl tell her story I felt like I had gotten to know her and I just really wanted there to be a happy ending. It is a good quick read/listen.

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LOOKING FOR ALASKA by John Green

Miles Halter is off to find his "Great Perhaps."  He is leaving his lonely Florida existence to start his junior year at a prep school in Alabama.  Little does he know that he indeed will find his "great perhaps" in the form of a roommate named The Colonel and a girl named Alaska.  Miles, or Pudge as he is known to his new friends, experiences life as he never has before, smoking, drinking, and other expellable offenses.  Life is happening to Pudge and life isn't always easy as he will find out one early morning in January.  He wonders how he can every survive the suffering of life.   I love this book and recommend to almost everyone who asks for a good book to read.  It is funny, meaningful, and sad.  Everything you could ask for.  Besides, I have a crush on this author.  Look for Looking for Alaska today at the Cortland Free Library.