The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas was one of the most moving Holocaust novels I have ever read. It is the first of I hope many that are from a different viewpoint. Although very impacting, many of Holocaust books are focused from inside the concentration camps or follow the lives of the victims. This novel, however, follows the life of a young German boy, Bruno. He is completely naive to the world around him and fails to realize that his own father is a Nazi General. Bruno soon goes exploring around a "mysterious fence" and meets a boy in striped pajamas, who can't cross over and play with Bruno. Bruno never comes to realize why and wishes that they could play together. He does notice that Shmuel (the boy in the striped pajamas) is growing very thin and weak looking; he thinks this is unfair that his friend can't eat chocolate cake but never makes the connection that his father is helping in this boy’s injustice. Finally, Bruno decides to be brave and crawl under the fence to help Shmuel look for his father who has been missing for a few weeks. It begins to rain and the two boys are shuffled into a large dark room...................read the book and find out what happens!!! This book is great for anyone looking for short but extremely emotional book. Also, if writing a paper on the Holocaust this is a very insightful book the "other side" that we don't often get to read about. - Rachel, class of 2009

Fire by Night

Fire by Night by Lynn Austin is a romantic action novel that follows the stories of two women during the Civil War. Julia is a very privileged young woman in the upper class of Philadelphia. Finding out that the man she has a great crush on sees her as spoiled she becomes driven to do more with her life. She enrolled at a hospital as a nurse where she lies about her marital status. Phoebe is a big girl with a body like a man. She is determined to join the army when her brothers abandon her to enlist. When she does she meets a boy who is less fearless than she. He becomes her best friend. After many crazy adventures between the two Phoebe is revealed at a battle field hospital where Julia is working. The rest of the story answers the questions of Julia and Phoebe's relationships with their men. Between the battle scenes and hospital scenes this novel is exciting. The love relationships make it romantic as well. I loved it. I would rate it a 9 or 10 out of 10. It's the best of both worlds. - Lauren, class of 2009

In the Woods

Tana French's novel In the Woods is about a detective named Adam Ryan, who changes his name to Rob Ryan in an attempt to cover up his past. When he was younger, he was found in the woods clinging to a tree with his shoes covered in blood after playing with his friends. His friends were never found. After becoming a detective, he gets a case on a murder in those same woods and tries to find some kind of link between his childhood memory and his current case, even though it is illegal to do that as a detective. Any high school student should read this. It's a great mystery book and really keeps you on your toes. The only dull moments in the book, I thought, was when he looked back at his past trying to remember what happened. Katie, the girl who was murdered, had everything going for her with a perfect future planned out. Jealousy can be a very powerful emotion to some people... - Steve, class of 2009

Slaughterhouse-Five

Those looking for a confusing read should begin with Slaughterhouse-Five. Set mainly in during the dying months of World War II, but also taking place in a variety of other times and places, Slaughterhouse-Five is an anti-war novel unlike any other war novels that have been written. Billy Pilgrim, the protagonist, travels through time almost constantly throughout a majority of the book for little or no explanation other than he has "come unstuck in time." Because he is abducted by aliens later in his life, Billy is able to understand a more wide understanding of time, so he is able to know what he will become in the future even as he has not yet experienced it. This effects every time period that Billy has lived in, strangely. Overall, this is an untrained soldier's story of the cruelty of war with large doses of dark humor (the aliens that kidnapped him taught him to say "So it goes" at every mention of death because the aliens themselves did not see death as the end of a being's life because the being is still alive in the past) reaching towards the climax of the novel when Billy survives the bombing of Dresden, a city in Germany of no military value, at the end of the war. Many would enjoy this book purely because it grabs the reader's attention because of how often the time frame of the novel changes as Billy randomly time travels. I'll give this strange, yet somehow quite poignant novel a 21 out of 23. - Grayson, class of 2009

Aeneid

The Aeneid by Virgil is a Roman epic tale in the style of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. It is about a Trojan soldier who escapes the destruction of Ilium (Troy) and sets off to found a new city, Rome. Along the way he meets a Carthaginian Queen and fights off the Italians, who are angry at him for attempting to settle in their homeland. I would only recommend this to people who greatly enjoyed the Odyssey or other Greek and Roman works, because it's not an easy read. However if you do enjoy epic poems and Greek Gods then it's definitely worth your time. - Sarah, class of 2009

The Secret

The Secret goes over a philosophy on how to live your life, which is based on positive thinking. According to The Secret, any person can achieve whatever they want if they follow the steps in the book. The points they bring up make a lot of sense and are easy to understand, but the process takes a lot of focus. This book is extremely interesting and will open up your mind. I would recommend this book to anyone, but especially to people who are unhappy with their life or those who think they have bad luck. The Secret will show you that you have full control over what happens in your life. - Joe, class of 2009

Gossip Girl: Don't You Forget About Me

Don't You Forget About Me is the final book in the Gossip Girl series, and it won't leave you dissapointed. The series follows the lives of the glamorous and rich teens: Blair Waldorf, Serena Van Der Woodsen, Nate Archibald and the Humphrey family. There isn't a huge plot, the story basically follows these high school seniors through their ups, downs, relationships and fights. In this final book, Nate, Blair and Serena are all bound for Yale, but through the course of the story they find out that it's not what everyone wants. This is also the time when Nate makes his final choice between Blair and Serena and Gossip Girl writes her last gossip column. The story ends really smoothly with everyone going their separate ways for college. Overall, if you enjoyed the book series, you'll really want to read this ending. As a huge Gossip Girl fan, I loved this ending, and going through similar things as the characters helped as well. It's a great read and perfect for summer!- Kelsey, class of 2009

Possible Side Effects

If you are ready for a good laugh tied in to a few important life lessons then Possible Side Effects is the perfect book for you. Don’t worry though, if you have read Running With Scissors and weren’t fond of the graphic nature, there is little if any at all. This novel is a collection of hilarious life stories that allow people to easily relate with the author. Each story has some small little life lesson to teach the reader. From a dog named cow to a redhead with freckles to college t-shirts. Burroughs covers all of the major curveballs life throws at us. - Cara, class of 2009

The Appeal

John Grisham’s The Appeal is a quick and thrilling read. If you are a Grisham fan, this is undoubtedly one of his best works. The novel centers around five groups of characters brilliantly intertwined into one central plot and conflict. Krane Chemical was found guilty of dumping toxins into a ravine behind their factory, and it is time for restitution. Cary County, Mississippi has become known as Cancer County because of its enormously elevated levels of carcinogens due to Krane. Carl, the CEO of Krane, swears that the people of Cancer County will never see a dime from their onslaught of personal liability cases, and he will go to any measure to ensure this. What ensues is a complex web of lies, manipulation and deception, carefully coordinated by Carl and his advisors. The result is one duped candidate for Mississippi Supreme Court Justice; one completely owned by Carl. - Ben, class of 2009

Stiff

You might think a book about what happens to your body after you're dead might be morbid and gross, but Mary Roach takes a slightly humorous approach to our body's post-mortem experience. This odd book is enchanting, the subject may seem dreary but Roach's dark (but always respectful) humor keeps you interested. From decomposition tests, to non-lethal bullets, to what happens when the guillotine was used, Mary Roach explores a world of possibilities for our bodies to give new life after our own death. Recommended for students who are interested in science or anatomy, have a strong stomach, and want a fascinating read. My favorite part was reading about how anatomists got their start: let's just say when you stayed at a hotel you might not always wake up the next morning. - Ann, class of 2009

Clapton: the Autobiography

Guitarist Eric Clapton begins his story from when he was a young boy in Ripley, England, and continues to his life up to 2006. He recounts many amazing events, and his struggles with intense drug and alcohol abuse. It is extremely interesting to read what has happened throughout his life, and how he overcame his obstacles. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in music in general. - Josh, class of 2009

Thought Vibration

Thought Vibration is a non-fiction book that states that one's thoughts create his or her own reality. William Atkinson explains to the reader the importance of having a positive attitude and why having negative thoughts could potentially be injurious to the individual. He clearly explains how one is to get rid of a negative and steer his or her path in the right direction. Atkinson also explains the Law of Attraction and how an individual can fulfill his or her desires. This is a very eye-opening book because it discloses the faults of a particular individual and informs the reader about how he or she can eliminate them. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to live a meaningful, successful life. Also, this book explains why there is no such thing as luck and how everything operates by concrete laws. Thought Vibration kept me interested because I felt that I could relate to the information given and I found this information to be sensible. Are you subconsciously running yourself into the ground? In twenty years will you be lost or will you be where you were aiming to be twenty years before? This book can be found in e-book format online. - Garret, class of 2009

In the Forests of the Night

In the Forests of the Night is a really captivating book. Amelia Atwater-Rhodes was only 13 when she wrote it. You can tell that the author is young, the style is simplistic but the story line made it so that I could not put the book down until I was done with it. It focuses on the story of the transformation of the Rachel into the vampire Risika, and her 300 year-old conflict with Aubrey, which started after the death of Rachel’s brother, Alexander. People who enjoy a simple short work of fiction would like this book as much as I did. It is the first in a line of fascinating books written by a teenager. - Caitlin, class of 2009

Jurassic Park

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like the movie Jurassic Park gives the reader exactly what they want, action and plenty of dinosaurs. The book follows a variety of different people through what is to be the first day of testing for what could be the next world wonder, a park where one can interact with real breathing dinosaurs, every kids dream. Of course things do not go according to plan and the people on teh island are fighting for their lives against creatures who only know one thing, how to kill. So Jurassic Park delivers everything that any action book reader would love, and would be loved by any reader of Crichton, or anyone who wants to start reading him. So pick it up and get ready for a thrill ride, but I have to warn you it is unlike any thrill ride you have ever been one, or will again. - Byran, class of 2009

Two Way Street

The book Two Way Street is about a girl named Courtney and her ex-boyfriend Jordan whom she is traveling cross-country with to go to college. The trip was planned before they broke up and now Courtney is forced to drive thousands of miles from Florida to Boston with her ex who dumped her for some "Myspace girl." Or so she is told. We later learn the real reason why Jordan dumped Courtney and how they are destined to be together after all. The book jumps back and forth between the past, highlighting the development of their relationship, and the present- this three day road trip. The twists in this book will leave you pleasantly surprised and even rooting for both of them at the end of the book. "There are two sides to every breakup!" - Courtney, class o f2009

An Abundance of Katherines

An Abundance of Katherines is written by the acclaimed author John Green, also the author of Looking for Alaska. The storyline is based on the fact that the protagonist, Colin Singleton, has a dating streak of 19 Katherine's, of whom have all dumped him. He finds himself heartbroken after Katherine XIX's recent breakup with him and heads for the open road, accompanied by an overweight, Judge Judy-loving Hassan, as an attempt at clearing his head. Throughout the course of the novel, Colin's sole goal is to prove a mathematical theorem that will correctly predict the future of any relationship. He's joined by some friends he meets along the way, and happens to find happiness and a Eureka moment in the little town of Gutshot, Tennessee. This book is a quick read and a real page turner. It's a quite enjoyable novel and I think anyone looking for a chuckle can really connect to the story. If even solely from a curiosity standpoint, it is worth reading. Colin has been dumped by 19 Katherine's, will he continue his streak, or take a chance with a different nine letters? Read to find out! :) - Jackie, class of 2009

Dog Years

This author has written Heaven's Coast, School of the Arts, Source, Firebirf, Sweet Machine and Atlantis.This book is a memoir so it is written in a different style; the story of Mark Doty's life is told through flashbacks and little details about his memories with his dogs. He has two dogs, Beau and Arden, and they are the main focus throughout the book. I liked the book because it was a way to help cope with the loss of my dog and there were little passages or quotes that I would find that described my dog to a tee. Anyone who has experienced the loss of a dog or loves dogs would like this book. Most others would not enjoy it because their needs to be a personal attachment to the book in order to be able to finish the book. The book is confusing if you don't have that connection. "But the plain truth is no one should have to defend what he loves" "Love, I think, is a gateway to the world, not an escape from it"(Doty 8). - Shannon, class of 2009

The Namesake

Gogol Ganguli...such an odd name. For Gogol, his main struggle is figuring out who he is, what is behind his name, and why does he try to run away from it. I found the book to be amazing, with certain events that reflect or even copy what I have witnessed growing up as an Indian American. While it does deal with a huge culture clash, no matter what culture you are, you should enjoy this book. The book itself got me thinking about my life, culturally. I am growing up in America, but after years of my Dads preaching of India, I wonder where I am heading. My future is going to change, no longer will I eat Indian food everyday. I might be like Gogol and order out every now and then. My house will cease to fill the rooms with Tamil music and movies. The book made me think what will my future be like without all these things I have grown to respect. Never has a book made me think like this...ever! - Vijay, class of 2009

Ransom my Heart

Meg Cabot has written many novels for both teens and adults, as well as many well known series. Some of her novels include the Princess Diaries series, the Allie Finkle series, the Mediator series, the Missing series, the All-American Girl series, the Avalon High series, the Heather Wells series, and the Queen of Babble series, to name but a few.

In this novel, Finnula sets on a quest to obtain money for her sister's dowry by kidnapping a rich man she comes across in another town. However, she soon learns that Hugo is in fact the heir to the title of the land in which she lives, and that he is returning home from the Crusades. Sparks begin to fly between the two, and there is no telling what may happen...This novel was very interesting and had a fast-paced plot that included many unseen twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. Although it may follow some of the stereotypical romance novel ideals, it does not come across as corny or over the top.

I believe that anyone who read this could find something to like, whether it is the violence or the romance. However, it is more probable the females would find this book more interesting than males, but age will not prove detrimental to someone's opinion. What would you do if you were kidnapped and held for ransom...but you were attracted to your kidnapper? - Kayla, class of 2009

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen is known mainly for Pride and Prejudice, but Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Persuasion, and Northanger Abbey are also very successful. Being that she lived in the times in which her novels are placed, it isn't difficult to see the parallels between her own life and that of her characters. This story surrounds the Bennett family, who have five daughters and no sons. The laws of that time were that, upon a father's passing, the oldest son would inherit everything. Naturally, this poses a problem for Mrs. Bennett; the matchmaker extraordinaire. As Mrs. Bennett parades her daughters in front of any eligible (and hopefully wealthy) man, a spark is struck between her eldest daughter, Jane. But the man she's become interested in (Mr. Bingley) has one flaw; his friend, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. Darcy and Elizabeth (the second eldest Bennett) clash immediately, which spawns the story that I know and love. Despite sounding marginally sexist, I still would recommend this to a female audience who has enough knowledge of the English language to get along in this semi-complex text. What cheeky remark could be said by someone in the Victorian era? - Katie, class of 2011

Storm Thief

Chris Wooding, known for Poison and The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray, has captured the minds of all ages (12 and up) with the Storm Thief. This is a story of two teenagers trying to survive in a ghetto. And that's not the only problem. Probability storms alter their lives and change everything to the slightest dust speck. This is how Rail got his respirator. The suspense and intenseness of the two thieves and their adventures will drive you to read on...and on and on. This book will be acceptable for this of the sci-fi type. So...will Rail and Moa get their rewards for thier hard work or will they be swallowed up by the storms? Read on to find out!!

Wild Man Island

The book Wild Man Island is one of the best books i have read in a long time it definitely made my top 5 all time favorite books. Not only was it a great book but Will Hobbs is my favorite author i have read several of his books. This book is packed with adventure and thrills that will make your your head spin its about a 15 year old boy who goes on a kayak trip and gets stranded on a island and has to survive in terrible weather with nothing but the clothes on his back. If you are a boy or girl who likes adventure books this is the book you want to read. - Colin, class of 2011

The Kite Runner

This book left me thinking on what i would do in some situations. this book is disturbing but it was an awesome book. Amir had a lot of worries about what would happen if something happened. i would recommend this book to everyone because it teaches you about how life is for Afghanistans and their culture. What would you do in tough situations?- Ian, class of 2011

That Was Then, This is Now

The book That Was Then This Is Now is an awesome thriller about a kid's life in the slums. He goes through many adventures and loses someone he loves deeply. This book is a sequel of The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, she also has a book rumble fish which is an alright book as well. People I believe would like this book are ages 13-20 year olds. This book is a great one, read it! - Ariel, class of 2011

Dark Celebration

Dark Celebration by Christine Feehan had a bunch of spontaneous characters and tons of conflicts. Without giving too much away, these people are trying to protect a dying race and an evil power is trying to wipe them out. This book has a ton of battles, both emotional and physical. If you're into sex, vampires, and werewolves then this is a great book for you. This book is for mature audiences because some of the scenes are described in GREAT detail. How would you try to save a dying race? - Vanessa, class of 2011

To Hell and Back

To Hell and Back is a suspenseful, action packed, world war two journey between a squad of men and America's most decorated soldier ever. it starts out with him landing on the beaches during the Sicilian campaign and moves on through the whole war. Plagued by disease like trench foot and other know diseases. Audie finds himself caught in the middle of a war with himself and the Germans. he sees his friends dying left and right, but he makes it through. This book is my favorite of all time. if you get a chance read it!- Joey, class of 2011

Some Like It Hot

Zoey Dean is known for her series the A-list and the book, "The A-list" is just another master piece to add to her collection of art. Anna is the new girl at BHHS, otherwise known as Beverly Hills High School. Anna has managed to go straight to the top of the A-list in Beverly Hills. With her A-lister friends Sam Sharpe (whose dad is the hottest movie producer and actor in town)and Dee ( whose dad is the greatest singer around) it's simple. They want in, they get in. They want it, they get it. Nothing can stop Anna and her friends. But that does not stop people from trying. Cammie is the hottest girl in Beverly Hills by far. She will do whatever it takes to get to the top and she will destroy anyone who gets in her way. But when Anna takes her man, its war.

This book is a fast paced drama filled cat-fight. This book is well written and it will be hard for you to put it down. The A-list will grad the attention of all girls and even some guys that love cat-fights. This book and the others that follow in the series "The A-list" is the biggest and hottest cat-fight of all times. Filled with hot guys and spoiled girls that get what they want when the want it. Do you think you could handle it? - Haley, class of 2011

Smashed

Smashed is about a teenage girl who becomes an alcoholic. She was first introduced to alcohol with her best friend Natalie at her lake house, their freshman year. And throughout high school and college, she parties pretty much every day. It's really interesting, and always keeps you wondering what is gonna happen next. This book is good for anyone to read, and I would recommend it to anyone. -Karissa, class of 2011

Bleed

The book Bleed, by Laurie Faria Stolarz, is a book about a girl named Nicole who has a secret crush on her best friend's boyfriend. She tries to impress the boy, Sean while her best friend, Kelly, is away for the summer. At first he doesn't seem interested, but later on he does. Kelly doesn't know about the relationship Nicole and Kelly have. Nicole has all he friends cut her. She wants all of her friends to make her BLEED. I honestly didn't finish the book yet, but so far it is a really good book. I would suggest this to high school girls. It is a very mature book and there are some things that shouldn't be read by a younger age. All in all, it is so far a very good read. - Jordan, class of 2011

The Final Warning

James Patterson's fourth installment in the Maximum Ride series, it does just what the last three books managed to do so well: once you pick it up, you can't put it down. It tells of the next leg in the journey of genetically engineered children, with 2% avian DNA. So basically they have wings. Their tale is one of a survivor, having grown up on the run, not being able to trust anyone, and not knowing if they would be dead in the next 24 hours. This time they're on their way to Antarctica, to help stop global warming, although it is the cold that might do them in... It's a book that anyone would love, but its geared toward teens. So how about it? Will you join them in their endless struggle to survive? - Grant, class of 2011

The Cardinal of the Kremlin

Tom Clancy, the author of tech thrillers like Clear and Present Danger and the Sum of All Fears, does it again with another installment into the Jack Ryan universe. Set a couple of years (With Clancy the years are never certain) before Clear and Present Danger, the book is filled with the Clancy-esque espionage and attention to detail and how it works in the real world. Following the idea of Reagan's "Star Wars", the book follows the cold war race for satellite and laser supremacy, this race creates something far more sinister. The long-standing agent inside the U.S.S.R politburo is uncovered, and it becomes a race to save an agent and a life. Will Jack Ryan succeed or will the Cardinal of the Kremlin be sacrificed for the U.S.A.? - Taylor, class of 2011

No Excuses

I am not aware of any previous books Kyle Maynard has written but this book is a very good book. I'm not the one for books, but when i picked this one up i couldn't put it down. This book is about a young boy fighting his way through life, and is giving him no excuses why he can't do what he sets out to do. What kept me reading this was all the determination this boy had throughout his whole life. And how he wants to live life to the fullest. The people that i would recommend is anyone. Some things in it are questionable, but nothing serious. What i really want to know is how Kyle is doing today. - Taylor, class of 2011

After

Although I know nothing about the author After by Francine Prose is a awesome and a true thriller. After is about when a high school has a shooting and central high school gets the after math when they send in this doctor to "help them" through this tough time, when all of a sudden when kids get sent to his office they disappear.Tom must figure out a way to survive or leave the school. I would recommend this to anyone who likes mystery or horror books. although the book stars to pick up at page 10 you will not be able to put it down after. so do you think you will survive high school? - Kris, class of 2012

A Separate Peace

A Separate Peace by John Knowles tells the story of Gene, as he goes from an innocent boy to a young adult at an all-boys boarding school in the heart of World War II. While he is quiet and dedicated to his studies, his best friend Phineas is confident, athletic and a real optimist. While he spends time making up "games" and making the most out of his innocence, a war is going on that slowly disrupts their peace. This book had a great start, with many interesting lessons and events, but lost my interest a bit when the plot got weaker as the story went on. I would recommend this book for anyone junior high or older. This book has a lot of great lessons and themes and is definitely an interesting read! When all innocence is lost, can you create a separate peace? - Katie, class of 2009

Tom Sawyer

This is the type of book I would pick up on a rainy day and finish no matter the weather. I had read Huckleberry Finn prior, which is the sequel to Tom Sawyer, so I already had a good idea of what to expect, and that being a quick read that is directed towards a younger audience. However, the book still has the ability to keep anyone's attention due to the ease of read and how entertaining it is. Tom is the typical ten year old, just out to have fun, but he is very mischievous and will stop at nothing to get his way. The story follows Tom's life, his imaginary adventures, his running away from school and home, and even his love life. All of those elements together make for a riveting story and a finish that will not disappoint. - Roger, class of 2009

Dry

Augusten Burroughs is the author of the bestselling book, Running with Scissors. In Dry, Augusten talks about his struggles with alcohol and how his employers send him to rehab. While expecting a Hollywood spa rehab experience, he is blindsided by florescent lighting, paper hospital slippers, and feeling sharing inmates. Eventually he begins to enjoy his stay and when the time comes to leave, he is afraid. I recommend this book to anyone who has ever gone through any struggle or enjoys humorous writing. This book will leave you wondering, how would a golden pig affect me? - Camille, class of 2009

Who Voted for Hitler

Ben, a PR senior, wouldn't recommend Richard F. Hamilton's book to anyone, calling it a "major letdown." Here are his thoughts:

Who voted for Hitler? Is about what its title implies: Who voted for Hitler? This sociological book takes readers through the historic period between World War I and the election of Adolf Hitler as Chancellor of Germany. It works to disprove the common misconception that the urban poor and working classes were the driving force behind Hitler’s rapid rise to power, and instead points the finger toward the rural upper and upper-middle classes as the main backers and supporters. Using newly released information, he studies the voting patterns and trends of major and minor cities throughout Germany as well as country towns. Finally in the end, he examines some of the political tactics used by the Nazi Party, how the Party was organized and some of the reason why people voted for Hitler and the Nazis.

I first want to say that I love learning about World War II and anything relating to it, but I have to say that this book was a major letdown. Yes, it is a sociological book so it obviously isn’t a edge-of-your-seat page-turner, but I was still expecting to get some enjoyment out of it. The first 400 or so pages are pretty boring and were a struggle to get through, but the final 100 pages when Mr. Hamilton began to expand on what the Nazi Party was, and the tactics they used to gain and maintain control were fascinating. That part was the only reason I didn’t hate this book completely. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, unless they need a source in some research paper, or are fascinated by books like this.

Fast Food Nation

Katrina, PR senior, thought Fast Food Nation was "just okay." Here are her thoughts:

Eric Schlosser is most famous for his bestselling book, Fast Food Nation, which later was developed into a movie. He has also written Chew On This (2006, with Charles Wilson)and the 2003 book Reefer Madness. This book is an inside look at the fast food industry. It goes through every part that goes into providing the public with a fast meal; from the founders of the companies, where and how food is produced, the people that produce it, how it is cooked, who cooks it, and the effects of eating that food.

Anyone looking to be informed about what you are eating needs to read this book. It is a gender neutral book and a relatively quick read. I think that everyone should read this because it is an eye opener. Although this book is kind of dry, it is a worth while read. You'll never look at fast food the same again.

Quicksilver

Stephanie Spinner's Quicksilver was about Hermes and his adventures and misfortunes. He travels to Hades to get Persephone back for Zeus and Demeter. Then he travels to Ares war room, helps kill Medusa, and helps tame Pegasus. Later he helps decide who gets the golden apple and helps escort the dead in Hades during the Trojan war. Later on he finds love. The book kept us reading because it went by fast and it was very interesting. We would recommend this book to kids from fifth grade on through high school if you enjoy mythology. What would you do with an invisible helmet? - Shawn, Kendall, Kevin, class of 2009

New Moon

New Moon is the second book in the Twilight series of four novels. It starts off with the two main characters of the previous book, Twilight, picking up where they left off. Everything suddenly comes crashing down during Bella's birthday party with one slice of her finger. Jacob brings life back to Bella. He becomes something of a best friend to her and she tries to spend as much time as possible with him to ease the pain of the whole in her heart.

Girls especially should read this! Guys, they can if they want, but many guys think that, "oh it just makes us look bad." Guys think that it's a fairy tale and that it makes girls get too high expectations. But people who say this are really just naive to the whole concept of the book. It's a romance intertwined with some mythology. It gives a spin on vampires that makes them even more enticing than the ones that kill people. Sure, it goes against all of vampires, "normal" traits. But, to judge it, without even reading it, is a closed minded and not very intelligent way of looking at it. Before guys jump to conclusions they should look at why girls like it so much. We don't like killing mystery novels and we don't harass guys because they do. Before you criticize,read and don't make girls out to be stupid for reading it! This is an excellent novel for a relaxing day and provides entertainment at it's finest. - Chelsea, class of 2009

Mirror, Mirror

Elaine Hatfield is a Professor of Psychology that has written many books on human relations including A New Look at Love and Mirror, Mirror...The Importance of Looks in Everyday Life. This book is about the blessings and curses of being attractive or unattractive. It goes on in detail about the different lifestyles certain people lead because of their looks. There is a lot of research and experiments done to prove the point of how looks matter in many social situations. It was interesting to read the outcomes of the experiments because this is a silent topic that is not talked about often as to not hurt peoples' feelings. I think a mature reader would appreciate this book the most because it does tend to get boring and informational. If you are really into sociology and how humans tick then this would be interesting too. Do you think self-esteem is higher in attractive or unattractive people? You may be surprised by results. - Sarah, class of 2010

The Birth Order Book

Dr. Kevin Leman's book brings family dynamics to life in a whole new perspective. The order in which you were born not only holds the power to affect your personality traits, but also to determine what career would best suit you, and who the best match for a love interest would be. If you've ever wondered why your parents put so much pressure on you, or how come you never got enough attention as a child, you may find your answer among these pages. Not only does the book tie in psychological terms, it also adds laugh out loud humor and with that will surely be able to entertain any reader, young or old. - Lauren, class of 2009

Teenage Wasteland: Suburbia's Dead End Kids

Teenage Wasteland is a sociological thriller. The author, Donna Gaines, sets out to find an understanding of a suicide pact between 4 young high school students in Bergenfield, New Jersey, a middle class suburb. She submerges herself in the lifestyle and culture of today's social outcasts, and their burnout scene. Throughout her journey, she learns why society has forgotten these kids, and what kids like Cheryl, Lisa, Tommy O, and Tommy R, the suicide pact victims, have to say about it. Suburbia has no room for mess ups or drop outs, that's how it has always been. So why only now are kids dropping left and right due to social out cast? She takes her readers into a world only known by a true metal head, as she herself gives in to Metallica's ways and blends into the trashy scene. Suburbia won't seem so perfect after reading Donna Gaines' Teenage Wasteland. - Ariana, class of 2010

Do or Die

Do or Die by Leon Bing is about the life of gang members mostly young kids, who are interviewed by Bing. She gets into the mind of gang bangers, and helps the reader understand the life they lead. Leon Bing talks to many different kids and families who are affected by gang life. This book makes everything more clear to those of us who didn't know the life of a gang member. I think anyone who is curious about gang life or who wants to specialize in gang control as a career.

The Notebooks

Mark Salzman attended Yale University and is also the author of Lying Awake and Iron & Silk. In 1990 he wrote and starred in the movie, Iron & Silk, based off his book. The Notebooks is a personal experience about Mark's firsthand experience, teaching a writing class in a prison. Mark is apprehensive about teaching the writing class at the prison, but eventually decides to do it. His class begins with three boys, and as word spreads, it starts growing one by one. Throughout the book the boys read what they wrote in the class, which is all recorded in the book. This was a great book and a quick read. It was very intriguing and had lots of interesting stories, written by the boys in the prison. I recommend this as a read, and think everyone would take something away from reading this book. - Kali, class of 2009

Farenheit 451

Ben, PR senior, LOVED Ray Bradbury's classic:
It’s been 40 years since the last university was shut down and it’s professors thrown out and forced into hiding. This is now a world of violence, wanton murder and oppression. Guy Montag, a Fireman in the midst of all this chaos, is paid to protect society, not by putting out fires, but by starting them. He, along with all the other Firemen, is paid to burn books. From Shakespeare to Orwell and Whitman to Camus, Guy and the Firemen burned it all. That is, until he met Clarisse McClellan, a girl who enjoyed walking in the rain and could tell you what a dandelion rubbed under a one’s chin meant. From that point on, Guy was changed so much that he fought to overthrow a power, bring down an organization and evade those wishing to kill him. Ray Bradbury has done a superb job with Fahrenheit 451. The nonstop action, combined with powerful, underlying themes is enough to keep you reading late into the night. Along with Fahrenheit 451, Mr. Bradbury has published over 500 short stories and has written for The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. This is a book I would recommend for all readers, especially those interested in “Orwellian” society and 1984. It’s a fast and enjoyable read that will keep you on the edge of your seat right until the final page.