The Hobbit

In a quaint little village in the North-Western most corner of Middle-Earth, a hobbit, dwarves, and a wizard embark upon an epic journey to the Lonely Mountain to quell the ancient beast that lurks inside. The Hobbit, written by acclaimed author J.R.R. Tolkien, writes about this hobbit’s adventure and quest to find how he fits in with the world. Facing trolls, giants, goblins, and spiders, Bilbo Baggins finds the adventure inside of him and searches for the same thrill that he experienced with his friends. After reading this book, our group agreed we generally adored the novel. The descriptive landscapes and epic fights that Tolkien describes engage the reader as if they were experiencing the book in real life. We feel as if The Hobbit should be read throughout the school and especially as a book that teachers have their classes read. Although some scenes are graphic, the book is generally written for a younger audience than the senior class here at PR. As an overall rating, we gave this book an 8.54987/10. - Jimmy S., class of 2012

Here Lies Arthur by Phillip Reeve

Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve is an interesting tale told about King Arthur. What sets this novel apart from others is the point of view it is told from. Gwyna is a poor servant girl who's master's house was destroyed by King Arthur himself. The novel follows Gwyna around as she tricks Arthur, turns into a boy servant for him, and is a party to Arthur's true brutal nature. All the while observing her master, Myrrdin, trying to craft this brutal King Arthur into a legend. After Arthur dies, she tells tales of her own about the legendary king Arthur. Gwyna comes to realize, while she despised the real Arthur, the legendary Arthur's tale that Myrrdin spun was exactly what people needed to hear.

Here Lies Arthur is slow to start and not very interesting but very motivational. It provides a new way of thinking that we never would have considered without reading this book. Here Lies Arthur does a great job of combining the traditional mythology of King Arthur and putting a new spin on it. This is definitely a very relevant book to read while learning about the Legendary King Arthur. Some stories need to be more legend than fact, for the people. - Larry G. and CJ E., class of 2012

The Acts of King Arthur and his Noble Knights by John Steinbeck

The Acts of King Arthur and his Noble Knights, the modern retelling of Sir Thomas Malory’s compelling tales of King Arthur, immerses the reader in the ultra-classic through John Steinbeck’s views. The novel chiefly chronicles the beginnings of Arthur through King Uther and Igraine and subsequently his involvement with the Knights of the Round Table as well as their own personal exploits. Steinbeck leads the reader through the tragic lives of the brother knights Balin and Balan, fated to kill one another; the three journeys of the knights Ewain, Gawain, and Marhalt; the epic tales of Sir Lancelot of the Lake, as well as many others. This rendition of a classic tale through Steinbeck’s words from the stories he once enjoyed allows the reader to experience the same nostalgia that Malory once gave to him. The Acts of King Arthur and his Noble Knights is a must-read for any fan of Steinbeck, King Arthur, and medieval tales alike. - Mike K., Cody K., and Mike R., class of 2012

The King Must Die by Mary Renault

Most people have a basic understanding of the Theseus legend, however most stories fail to fill in the cracks left barren by the original myth. That is exactly what Mary Renault’s book, The King Must Die, succeeds in doing. Some of the missing components of Theseus’ story are the experiences of his early childhood. Called by some unknown force, Theseus yearns to learn more of his past and his relation to Poseidon. Fueled by his mother’s tale of his birth, Theseus embarks upon a journey to find out more about who he is and what really happened on the day of his conception. If you find any interest in a man’s journey to discover himself and overcome unexpected confrontations, then this may be the book for you. However, Renault’s archaic use of dialogue hinders the flow of the story, and at times the reader feels slightly perplexed on some important details necessary to the understanding of the story. Despite this slight impediment, the story still fills in the gaps with occasional odd humor, but still stays true to the original legend. - Ryan J., class of 2012

The Tower of Beowulf by Parke Godwin

The Tower of Beowulf by Parke Godwin, was over all a good book; however because of the style of writing it made it a little bit hard of a read. Throughout the book, Beowulf goes through a series of different battles and adventures that include monsters, dragons, and moral dilemmas. Beowulf becomes a role model to many young boys, by showing them that they can accomplish great things as long as they have the will power to stay strong physically and mentally. There are many messages throughout the story such as honor over greed and loyalty to your fellow man. Beowulf goes into battles with the mentality of fighting for honor and not just for the profit and the glory; he would die honorably rather than letting his people down, which makes every battle a seat clincher. The tower of Beowulf is a great book choice for people who enjoy reading about barbarians, Vikings, and dragon slayings. - Alex K. and Brooke H., class of 2012

Troy High by Shana Norris

When our group first picked Troy High, we thought that it would be somewhat of an interesting read. The story is basically a mirror of homer’s epic poem the Iliad, except in High School form. The writer puts an interesting twist on the story were Helen who is called Elena, the head cheerleader and rival schools play football instead of fighting to the death for her. While reading, our group had several discrepancies with the book. The book is more geared towards middle school children and a lot of the language is very bland and uninteresting. Also, the author was not very in depth with the characters and it was hard to make connections with any except Cassie also known as, “Cassandra the seer,” who narrated and was the only character with any common sense. Overall, this book gets maybe a 4/10 for having an interesting twist to an old story. Otherwise, this book doesn’t have much going for it…- Josh H., class of 2012

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Cassie Prince is your typical high school loner. She doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere, unless she’s playing video games with Greg, her best friend from the rival high school. With summer starting, Cassie is forced to put her friendship with Greg on hold and once again become the loner that she is… or so she thought. Cassie finds herself in an unusual friendship with Elena, a transferring student from Lacede, adding fuel to the fire between rival schools, Troy and Lacede. Pranks between the two rivals start out from silly pranks to an all out “explosive” ending, testing Cassie’s loyalties between her older, football star brothers, her new “fake best friend” and her only true best friend. The plot is relatable to real high school rivalries, although the writing is aimed for lower-level readers. With a simple and relatable plot, Troy High by Shana Norris, is a quick and easy read, putting a modern twist on Greek mythology and the Trojan War. Katie S. & Sarah S., class of 2012

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

Rick Riordan incorporates humor and Roman gods to create one of his best stories yet. In The Son of Neptune, the second installment of the Heroes of Olympus, Riordan manages to appeal to the Percy Jackson fans as well as draw in new readers with the new and old quirky characters. The main characters in this installment are Percy, Hazel, and Frank. Percy, the son of Jupiter, is from the original Percy Jackson and the Olympians series and he brings in his dry humor as long as a quest to retrieve his missing memories. Hazel, the mysterious daughter of Pluto, brings along her abundant knowledge and intriguing powers. And lastly, there is the third member of the trio, Frank; the quirky, gangly, Chinese-Canadian who is searching for his true powers as well as finding who his godly parent is. Together, they discover that two camps, the Romans and the Greeks, can co-exist in order to overthrow the Titans and Gaia, who is slowly waking up and raising her monster children from Tartarus. Riordan manages to twist Roman gods into a heroic journey of three teenagers who are trying to prevent a second war between the Titans and the gods. Their compelling journey to Alaska keeps readers on edge through the bloody battles and the quest to fulfill the Prophecy of Seven. - Lian C., class of 2012

Sphinx’s Princess by Esther Freisner

With her little sister Bit-Bit and her beloved parents, Nefertiti knows little of the political war that rages between the followers of the Pharaoh Amenhotep. Despite her ignorance, Nefertiti has a thirst for learning and befriends one of Pharaoh’s scribes who teaches her to read and write. Nefertiti with her slave girl Berett is soon called to Thebes by her Queen Aunt Tiye who betroths her to her oldest son Thutmose.

Esther Freisner paints a captivating picture in Sphinx’s Princess as she describes Nefertiti’s triumphs and troubles. From the hastily-scratched hieroglyphics to the lay of the land, her style is descriptive and easily visualized due to her attention to detail and vast knowledge of the Egyptian culture. This dedication follows in the creation of her characters. From the gangling Amenophis to the sassy Sitamun, each character is distinct with his or her own quirks and personality. She pays special attention to the reactions of the characters making sure each conversation follows a logical progression. However, Freisner’s addition of modern chacteriscs in gender-roles clashes with the viewers of ancient Egypt. While this creates a captivating heroine, it does create an offset. Despite this, Freisner holds the attention of the reader in an exciting and fast-paced read. Readers will eagerly follow to the sequel Sphinx’s Queen. - Anna F. and Annalisa F., class of 2012

The Magician by Michael Scott

Everything you learned in you history books is wrong, just read The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series by Michael Scott. Michael Scott crafts a wonderful story combining all cultures myths and legends in his book The Magician. The Magician starts off where The Alchemyst ends. The twins, Sophie and Josh, have escaped to Paris with their companions Nicholas and Scathach. Once in Paris they are on the run again from Dr. Dee who desperately needs the last pages of the codex to help bring the Elders back into power. Paris is the place where there is only one person to help Sophie continue to learn about her new awaken power with fire and that person is the Comte de Saint- Germain. Dee, with the help of Machiavelli, throws the Valkyries with their pet Nidhogg, Morrigan the Crow Goddess, the Elder Mars God of War, at them to try to capture and take the prophesied twins and the last pages of the codex. Scott intertwines characters from different cultures with a believable mix. From the famous streets of Paris to the Catacombs below, this book takes you on an adventure you do not want to miss. - Quincy S., class of 2012

Cupid by Julius Lester

Julius Lester’s charming narrator shows us through the complicated tale of the God of love and a beautiful princess, in his book Cupid. In this non-fiction tale, Lester presents love as a poison that hits you when you least expect it, using Cupid as the victim. All stories have a villain; in this case, it is the goddess of love herself, Venus. She becomes threatened by the lover of her beloved son and it all falls together when she realizes her son is finally happy. Cupid tells a story of a complicated secret through the eyes of a modern day man and an outspoken God. Throughout the book, the narrator gives small details of his own feelings and brings a different side of the story into the book. It has twists and turns of Cupid and Psyche’s pain and happiness shown through Lester’s knowledge and admirable characters. Overall the book is thrilling as it begins as a tale of a beautiful princess becomes a vicious tale of jealously and finally realization of true love. Kirsten S. and Jay P., class of 2012

Hunger Games

Overall The Hunger Games was a well flowing adventure that keeps you hanging on till the pages end. It starts out with a post apocalyptic world that’s main form of entertainment is human slaughter through a competition for food and honor. Suzanne Collins placed sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen at District 12 with a choice in front of her; let her twelve year old sister die by the hands of the other competitors, or put herself in harm’s way and fight in place of her sister. The flow of the novel is very well done and has an interesting chain of events. As with any strong adventure novel there is a hero that has to make tough decisions, fight for their honor, and learn skills and lessons from a wise mentor who was the victor of the 50th Hunger Games. There is also a unique and well schemed romance that will help keep our hero alive, well, and in a good place with the audience and sponsors of the competition. This book is highly recommended to people who enjoy a quicker read with lots of high action and fierce battle. Regardless, I would even give this book another read! - Jason S., class of 2012

Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs

Ever think you were having a bad senior year? Imagine you are the star of your schools cross country team and have a guarenteed full ride to USC, when your mom suddenly comes home from a vacation and announces you have to move to Greece. This is Phoebe Castro’s life, except to make it even worse, she is the only one at her new super private school run by her new step dad who is not a child of a greek god or goddess. Despite her differences she overcomes many odds against her and discovers in the end she wasn’t so much different from the rest of them, and finds her place not only the cross country team, but her crazy new school as well. Tera Lynn Childs takes a typical crush to a whole new level in this fastpaced novel. The story of Phoebe’s life is unique and exciting with a twist of humor tied in it as well, however, the book is a very quick and easy read, aimed more towards middle schoolers than high school students. Despite it being an easy, read, it is very interesting and teaches the reader about mythology in a new exciting way. - Brittany P., class of 2012

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Moving to a new school your senior year is bad enough, but it is taken to a whole new level when Phoebe Castro has to move to a remote island, go to a extremely private school that is run by her new step-dad, and to top it all off she is the only one on the island that is not related to a Greek god or goddess. Even though she is the Kako of the island, she manages to find some friends, make the track team, and have a crush story that is any girls dream. OH. My. Gods. is a very fast, easy read, aimed more towards middle school than high school students. It has a unique way of showing mythology and even throws in a love story with twists of humor. Tera Lynn Childs does a good job of adding twists and keeping the reader interested in a unique way. - Brittany H., class of 2012

Pyramid Scheme by Dave Freer

Dave Freer inaccurately displays many Greek and Egyptian mythological characters in attempt to liven up a plot-less story. The book, Pyramid Scheme, throws its reader in without thoroughly introducing the setting and characters, which are vital to the story. Instead, he discusses unimportant matters such as whether or not Jerry is going to “add water to his cereal” (Freer 17). The first few chapters of the book quickly fire character names at you, and the next thing you know, they are in the Greek Mythological world with almost no reasoning behind it. Throughout the book, they experience numerous mini adventures that are interesting at first, but drag on far too long and don’t add up to create one big plot. In fact, they are simply pointless. It’s also ironic how the main characters can communicate in Greek and Egyptian effortlessly. Time in this book is irrelevant and it was illogical how mere mortals could overpower the Gods as easily as this group of misfits did. As it turns out, “Krim,” an alien life force, was the cause of all this madness, but the author fails to resolve the book by not explaining who or where or why this Krim exists. All in all, we don’t recommend this book for anyone. It was a waste of time. Teal H., Natalie T., class of 2012

Eragon

Eragon, a small town farm boy, lives a relatively normal life until drastic changes ensue when a dragon’s egg comes to his possession. He is called to adventure after the death of his beloved family and embarks upon a quest to destroy their murderers. With his wise guide, Brom, Eragon discovers rare abilities he did not know he possessed. This book will intrigue and enthrall you with nonstop action and adventure with every turn of a page. The constant battle, at times, may seem a tad overwhelming for a non-fantasy book lover, however it is tastefully written to explain the complex, enchanting world of Aagaesia. The book, at some points, is difficult to follow because of the language spoken by the dragon riders, but overall, Eragon was a very enjoyable read. Despite the slow start, by the end of the book, you will be begging for more and reaching for the sequel. Emma V., class of 2012

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

American Gods, essentially, revolves around the concept that what we believe to be real exists simply because we believe it to be real. The protagonist, Shadow, meets a man named Wednesday,who is actually the Norse god Odin, after he learns that his wife is dead. Odin, along with the other gods residing in America, were brought over by immigrants from the old world. But the gods are having trouble surviving, which is all they hope to do, because the band of "new" gods are starting to take over.

Caught in between the old god and the new gods, Shadow embarks on a journey with Wednesday, encountering many gods and legendary beings alike, until death becomes an all too real possibility in Shadow and Wednesday's lives, and Shadow has to figure out the difference between an enemy and an ally.

The book, like many of Neil Gaiman's work, requires a bit more than taking what's on the surface. If you don't have a background knowledge of the gods that he refers to throughout the story, it may not make much sense. It's also not for those looking for an entirely family-friendly story. Gaiman doesn't hesitate to make the gods both divine and inescapably human. - Alex G., class of 2012

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On a roadtrip through America, Shadow discovers the American gods that have been awaiting his arrival. On the verge of a war between the gods of old and new they enlist Shadow’s help when, after the death of his wife and best friend, he is left with nothing. It is a novel that will take its reader on Shadow’s journey to peace. American Gods allows exposure to gods of all origins. Gaiman writes with fluidity and adventure that you are transported to a new world filled with gods of all origins. Famous quotes intertwine the chapters until the gaps between have evaporated and all that’s left is its core theme. - Brandie T., Arianna H.

I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

The Author of the Book Thief comes back to write, I am the Messenger. The main character, Ed Kennedy, is an underage cab driver whose life became drastically changed when he inadvertently stops a bank robbery. Now he gets messages on playing cards and has to figure out what they mean in order to help the people around him that live in his run down town. Ed has to move through all the suits in order to find out who is behind these mysterious messages, but along the way he meets some amazing people that you can’t help but love. I am the Messenger is a good teen read and is a quick read because you won’t want to put it down because you don’t know who the next card will pertain to. - Kayleen G., class of 2012

Girl, Interrupted

I read this book for Mr. Wadlington's Book Journey project and this book had many examples of Sociology in it. It is a memoir about Susanna Kaysen's experience in a mental hospital when she is diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Since it is about mental patients, there is a lot of examples of culture and how people view other people. Overall, I would read this book for that project, but beware: it does not have one single idea in it. It has many small ideas. - Courtney G., class of 2012