Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

Three Little Words is a memoir written by Ashley Rhodes- Courter. She shares the story of her life in from the day she was taken away by her seventeen year old mother, to the day she was beaten in her 6th foster care home. Ashley, along with her kid brother Luke, spent over nine years of their lives in fourteen different foster homes, together and apart. This novel is an eye-opener to what some modern day foster care homes are actually like while following the real life of a young girl. Ashley could have led a life full of sorrow and despair; however she uses her negative circumstances and hopes to change the future for children in foster care. In this novel Ashley shares what were the most influential words of her life. - Victoria V., class of 2012

The Five People You Meet in Heaven

What happens to you once you die? In Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet in Heaven, one apparently goes to Heaven and meets five different people there, people which the individual had affected in life but had been originally unaware of their involvement in the lives of those five people.

Albom's book opens by introducing an elderly maintenance man named Eddie, who stumbles around fixing carnival rides in need of repair. While Eddie's job appears exceedingly simple, his job causes him to put his life in danger. Eventually, Eddie's life faces the ultimate danger when a ride malfunctions and is about to crush a young girl, and Eddie sacrifices himself to try to save her. After this, the reader learns of the five people Eddie meets in Heaven who each seek to teach Eddie a valuable lesson.

Personally, I could not put this book down because there are numerous twists in the story, especially when the people Eddie meets in Heaven describe the impact he made on their lives, whether he affected them distinctly or indirectly. Also, the writing style demonstrates great fluidity and reads very easily. Does Eddie save the young girl's life by sacrificing his own? Pick up "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" and find out! - Courtney G., class of 2012

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The fictional book The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, is a fantasy story about a 16 year-old girl named Katniss who must fend for herself in a 24-person “fight to the death” competition. In her country, this annual competition pits a boy and a girl from each of the 12 “districts” within the nation. This country, located in present day North America (but far in the future), televises this competition nationwide for all citizens to watch. Katniss is one of the unlucky few to get randomly selected for these Hunger Games, along with a boy named Peeta from her district. The two of them embark on a journey to the “Capitol” of their country where they train with the other competitors for the Games. Finally, they must enter the Arena where the Games are being held and figure out a way to survive on their own. With various weapons and a demanding environment, all competitors must find a way to kill one-another, yet be the last one alive in order to win the Hunger Games.

The book was told in Katniss' point-of-view, and her character was very well developed. Her opinions and past experiences gave her much credibility throughout the book, which is key for a first-person perspective. This made me want to keep reading well past just the first chapter. After the first half of the book, however, the plot became extremely predictable and it turned into a love story. I was hoping for more of a riveting, anguishing climax to occur, but the ending is what was seemingly “supposed” to happen all along.

I would recommend this book for girls more than guys because it is told from a girl's perspective. I was not able to connect to Katniss extremely well, but a female reader might find her narration more enjoyable. As far as the overall story, I would recommend this novel to any reader who enjoys fiction, but is not looking for a thriller necessarily. It was a very easy read, and it was enjoyable at times, but in the end it did not completely fulfill the exemplary reviews that I heard about it before I cracked it open. - Kosta L., class of 2012

No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy

No Country For Old Men follows the story of Llewelyn Moss, a welder turned outlaw when he finds a briefcase lined with 2.3 million dollars. With this great fortune, however, comes a great trial for Moss, who needs to constantly run from those searching for the briefcase and for him. The novel takes on the perspective of these men too, the sheriff of the country from which Moss is running, and a homicidal stone-faced madman on the hunt not only for money but also for Moss's life. Moss barely manages to stay ahead of his pursuers, as Sheriff Bell and the homicidal Anton Chigurh slowly close the gap between themselves and the cunning and daring Llewelyn. This leads to intense shootouts, clever traps, and dramatic conclusions in this thrilling and touching series of events.

 The most interesting part of this novel was the character development, and how although the characters in the novel rarely met or never met, they seemed to play off each other perfectly through the small pieces of evidence left behind by one another and by the brief, and often tense, meetings between them. The character development also interested me in how each character had such a complex reason for their actions, and a complex back story of love and loss and insanity, but once face to face with each other, acted with little words or with little time for character interaction. Another interesting thing about the novel appeared in McCarthy's fast-paced writing style, often using a series of run-on sentences and rapid conversation (never using quotation marks). The plot had an enormous amount of action and suspense, along with a chance to feel for each character, developing into a very heart-pounding, yet tear-jerking experience. I would recommend this novel to anyone interested in action or thriller books. - Henry H., Class of 2012

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

With Christopher Paolini’s conclusion to the Inheritance saga with Inheritance this book should really only be read if you have already read the previous books in this series Eragon, Eldest, and Brisinger. Inheritance starts out where Brisinger ended and follows the main character Eragon on the last leg of his journey through the land of Alagaësia to overthrow the Evil King Galbatorix. In this book all the questions posed throughout this book and the other books will be answered. I cannot go into specifics as that would spoil the other three books in the series. This book is in the fantasy genre and that in itself got me reading this series but this book in particular had a deep and engaging plot and keep me hooked until the end so that I could learn what would happen. This book is great for everyone but is quite long so if you are looking for a quick read this is not it, though you should still read it because of how good it was. Do you want to know how everything ends? Read this to find out. - Aaron M., class of 2012

Wuthering Heights

Emily Brontë, both began and finished her writing career with the classic English novel Wuthering Heights. Set in the year 1770, this novel takes readers into the minds of both Lockwood, a small town boy and his housekeeper, Nelly. Having both Lockwood and Nelly act as outsiders looking in, gives this story an unique perspective that has not been achieve in many other novels. High praise goes out to Brontë for her enchanting voice as not one but two characters. Stunningly written, this gothic story follows the lives of three middle class characters caught in a twisted love triangle. The original Catherine acts as the strong and cruel female lead who steels the love of two unfortunate souls, Edgar and Heathcliff. As counterparts of one another both men use different antics to find love. However, in the end one truth remains; neither one has a chance at escaping her siren calls and natural beauty and so these two men fight through a bloody war of deception and heart break in order to win over the love of both their lives. A story for the hopeless romantic, this tale begs the question; is all really fair in love and war? - Kendra S., class of 2012

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a great read for those who enjoy bizarre novels.  The story is about a reporter, Raoule Duke, and his big Samoan attorney, Doctor Gonzo, who are appointed to travel to Las Vegas.  Their goal is to "find the American Dream" and write an article on it.  The kicker, though, is when the reader discovers that all expenses will be covered by Duke’s business.  Now, the novel takes place in the 60s-70s era, and drugs are a common and prominent theme in the story.  Knowing that all of their expenses will be covered, Duke and his partner in crime spend hundreds of dollars gathering an arsenal of various drugs.  Ultimately, their plan is to binge on their stash for a week straight, no stopping.  After reading the first page of the novel, the reader can infer how the rest of the story may go.

Personally, the plot of the story and all the trouble they get into is a bit overwhelming.  The things that happen to these two men would astound even the most understanding of people.  However, the overall exaggerated events make the story fun to read and exciting to anticipate.  Event after event after event has the reader at the edge of the seat waiting for the next crazy thing to happen.  All in all, I found Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas entertaining the whole way through, start to finish.  I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a classic novel. - Dane B., class of 2012

Shutter Island by Dennis LeHane

Shutter Island is a fantastic movie, but a far more intriguing book. The tale begins with mysterious U.S. Marshall Teddy Daniels being assigned a new missing person case on the island holding Ashecliffe Hospital for the criminally insane. But how hard should it really be to find a missing person on an island, right? Teddy not only carries around his own dark past now, but must deal with an every darker plot presently. Ashecliffe is a mystery in itself, holding so much room for so little patients, offering no answers on the case, and offering the strangest doctors. Just when you believe you have puzzle pieces collected for one mystery, Lehane cleverly twists the story and makes it that much more complex and engrossing. The end offers an incredible twist which is sure to make you think. I found it haunting me throughout the day which is clearly a sign of a phenomenal read in which I could seldomly put down. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone who seeks a very intelligently written, suspenseful, original and thrilling story! Who really is Teddy Daniels? - Katie N., class of 2012

One Day by David Nicholls

The book, One Day, by David Nicholls is a great book with an unusual format. In One Day you take a look at one day, July 15, through eyes of the two main characters, Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley. You get to follow their lives all the way from 1988 to 2008. It all starts at graduation when Emma and Mayhew meet formally for the first time. They are complete opposites though. Emma is quirky and a little bit nerdy, whereas Dexter is outgoing and adventurous. The book starts out with a vague description of the night that they had together after graduation. From there the readers are kept guessing about what really happened on that day, and the book takes them on a ride through the lives of Emma and Dexter. You are taken through their hardships, happy times, and everything in between. Overall, One Day is a great book, but I would definitely recommend it to older teenagers due to the language and content. - Evan H., class of 2012

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

The book Water for Elephants is an adventurous, eye- opening story about a boy, Jacob, who looses everything and flees to the circus. There he meets wonderful new friends, some intense and dangerous people, and the most beautiful woman he has ever set eyes on. Jacob encounters numerous trials that he must overcome to save his life and the lives of those he loves. One of his very best friends is an elephant who causes trouble but is a talented and sweet creature. The obstacles that Jacob experiences keep the reader on the edge of their seat for the entire novel. I honestly could not put the book down. I found myself thinking about the characters and plot throughout the day, which truly means that it is a fantastic book. There are numerous unexpected twists and turns and the ending is thrilling and unbelievable. I could never have predicted the ending, which makes the whole book even more spectacular. I recommend this book to anyone of any age with any interests; it is such an intriguing story, filled with love, danger, adventure and suspense. It is a quick but worthwhile read that everyone should enjoy! - Elaine C., class of 2012

Room by Emma Donoghue

The book Room was a great thriller! The author keeps you guessing the whole book, which just makes you never want to put the book down. The book has many twists and turns that you wouldn’t imagine. This book shows a mother’s love for her son and that she will do anything to make him lead a normal life. I highly recommend this book to anyone, it is an easy read because it is from the kid’s point of view, but it is still really well written. - Christina T., class of 2012

Ishmael by Daniel Quinn

Daniel Quinn’s novel, Ishmael, was assigned to my Environmental Science class by Mr. Senese. Many people in my class said that it was very boring and many people couldn’t stand this style of book. By “this style of book” I mean a majority of the book consisting of a conversation about our lives on earth between a man and a very intelligent gorilla, named Ishmael. Contrary to my classmates, I happened to think the novel was very eye-opening and intriguing. The ideas explored in the book really kept me reading, and the flowing nature of the informal conversation makes it a relatively quick read. I would suggest this book to older readers, who don’t require a menagerie of action sequences to get through a book, and anyone who has a great curiosity about a great number of things such as myself. - Cody P., class of 2012


Sometimes people wonder where their mannerisms came from, or how their ancestors created such an elaborate universe. Ishmael is a gorilla that speaks telepathically to a special young man, who becomes his pupil after reading an ad in the paper that captures his attention. Ultimately, Ishmael's pupil learns about how the Earth's people behave and why they behave in that manner, with detailed explanations and breathtaking stories told by Ishmael along the way. Personally, I could not put this specific novel dow n because of the large amounts of informmation that back up Ishmael's beliefs; they really "suck in" readers! Also, toward the end of the novel, readers can find out if the special young man applied Ishmael's recommendations to his life. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is interested in anthropology and how our world came to be. What you know about the world will drastically change after you embark on this incredible, unforgettable journey! - Brittany G., class of 2012

The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian

This book starts off with the scene of a rape. A young lady, Laurel, was raped when she was in college. About seven years later, Laurel who works at a homeless shelter, comes upon a collection of a dead homeless guy's photos. Sifting through these photos, she finds pictures of a lady on a bike, a lady that looks like her the day she was raped. She becomes convinced that this lady is her and that these pictures were taken a few minutes before she was raped. She spends the next few months investig ating the homeless guy's life to figure out what connection he could have had to her rape. This book takes the reader along for the ride, adding unexpected twists and turns. Chris Bohjalian targets this book at audiences that love suspense and love guessing what the next twist will be. Can you figure out the truth before the book ends? - Michelle K., class of 2012

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

George R.R. Martin is best known for the series a Song of Ice and Fire. He started the series off with a Game of Thrones, and I really enjoyed the book. A Game of Thrones is written in the perspectives of different characters each chapter, while developing the overall plot respective to each character's knowledge at the time. This fantasy/epic was incredibly good, the somewhat large amount of main characters makes for a very interesting read as you get to see what is going on from different perspectiv es and is one of my favorite things about the book.

A Game of Thrones takes place in a fantasy world where there are two main continents. The first being where the action mostly takes place. This continent is known as the Seven Kingdoms. The other is not named officially, but houses the Free Cities and the great plains where the Dothraki people live as nomads/raiders. The book is about these seven kingdoms, and the proud houses that rule their respective territories underneath the King ultimately. Of these houses, the Starks of the North and the Lannisters of the West fight for what seems to be power for the Lannisters and honor/family for the Starks.

The power struggles that take place because within the Seven Kingdoms tests each house and many lives are lost. However, Winter is Coming, and while they fight about their petty desires, they oversee more dangerous threats. A daughter of the last king who was overthrown, who intends to bring a giant Dothraki horde to the Seven Kingdoms and reclaim her family’s lost throne, and th e other threat looms in the north, beyond a giant ice wall that protects the realm from mysterious ice cold evils.

I think that many guys would love this book, especially if you like The Lord of the Rings, or The Hobbit. But girls as well, my mom for one, loved the book. You cant help but enjoy reading about the witty and humorous Tyrion Lannister, the cold hearted Cersei, the “adorable” bran, and the noble Eddard Stark. In the Game of Thrones, you win or you die. Would you hinder yourself by staying true to family values and honor, or would you play the game like many others and exercise any means to win the throne? - Jack H., class of 2012