Book Suggestions from past years

Author	Book	Genre	Info	Why do you recommend this book?	Person recommending	In Valencia High Library?
A Doll’s House	Henrik Ibsen	A Realist Play	A Doll’s House opens on Christmas Day. A seemingly delighted Nora Helmer is depicted busying herself with preparations for the day. Torvald meets Nora and is playful and affectionate. He chides his wife for squandering their money on such trivial things as their children’s toys. However, Nora later reveals to an old school friend Mrs. Linde that she illegally borrowed money from Krogstad, an employee of Torvald, for a trip to Italy when Torvald was ill and has been in debt ever since. Nora hides the fact that she borrowed Krogstad’s money from her children and husband. Krogstad goes so far as to blackmail Nora. At the same time, Torvald plans to fire Krogstad. The day after Christmas, a dying Mr. Rank confesses his love for Nora. After a costume ball, Torvald reads a letter of Nora’s “crime” that was sent by Krogstad is outraged. However, Krogstad retracts the accusation due to circumstances including himself and Mrs. Linde. The play closes when Nora is forced to make a decision that will affect her family forever.	I recommend this play for readers who enjoy examining hidden emotions under fallacious exteriors of seemingly content characters. In “The Doll House”, Nora is the paragon of this type of character. She disguises her emotions and secrets with her role as a woman under strict obedience of her husband. There are the obvious relationships that can be examined in this play, such as the relationship between Torvald and Nora, and there are others that must be kept a secret, such as the relationship between Mr. Rank and Nora. This idea about hidden lives of ordinary people romanticizes these seemingly quotidian lives and gives hope to readers in desperate need of a little adventure in their own lives. Readers are able to examine Nora’s growth as a person and retain information for further use in their own lives.	Nicolle Lee	yes
Adams, Douglas	The Hitchhiker’s Guide To the Galaxy	Science Fiction Comedy	This book is about the adventures of Arthur Dent, a Englishman who, with his friend Ford Prefect, an alien from a small planet and researcher for the Hitchhiker’s Guide, escape the demolition of planet Earth by an alien race called the Vogons. Luckily Zaphod Beeblebrox, Ford’s cousin and Galactic president, saves the two from certain death.	I would recommend this book because it is funny, the characters are all very interesting and realistic, and it is also not like other books.	Michael Krystek	yes
Albom, Mitch	The Five People You Meet In Heaven	Fiction	This book is about an old maintenance man named Eddie that dies in the first chapter of the book and goes to heaven. The book tells his journey in the first part of heaven where he meets five people from his life. Some of them he doesn’t know and others he does. All of the changed his life in some way whether he knew it or not. His journey in heaven teaches his a lot about who he is and the reason he lived.	I would definitely recommend this book. It pulled me in from the first chapter all the way to the last word. This book makes you laugh and cry all in one. It really made me think about the type of person I should be and that I should live every moment like my last. It made me think about how the smallest thing that I do can change another person’s life forever. The book was very enjoyable because by following this man’s journey, it was like I grew with him. Mitch Albom is a fantastic author that knows how to pull you in until the very last word.	Brooke Radding	yes
Ambrose, Stephen	Band of Brothers	Historical War Story; Nonfiction	The book is about a regiment of paratroopers that jumped into battle in Normandy France (June,6 1944) and fought through WWII in all of the major European battles like D-Day, Market Garden, and Battle of the Bulge. All the way to the Eagles Nest (Hitler’s retreat)	I recommend this book because it is a great war story that is actually true. As you read further you feel more and more attached to these men who helped clean the world of Nazi’s.	Lukas Florczak	no
Anderson, Jodi Lynn	Peaches	Realistic Fiction	Three girls are brought together one summer at Darlington orchard. There they learn the true meaning of friendship, the secret to finding the right boy, and how to pick the perfect peach.	This is another coming of age story. It is similar to the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, but a more mature version.	Madi Caruso	Yes
Anderson, Laurie Halse	Speak	Teen Fiction	Speak is about a teenager named Melinda. In Melinda's life, everything seems to go wrong. Her parents don't notice her, she just recently lost her best friend, and she lets out her emotions through her art class at school. But Melinda has a secret that she's keeping from everybody, and she must find a way to break out of her shell and tell someone that she know she can trust...	Speak is a fantastic novel. Any teenager that reads it can relate to the pain, and emotions that she is feeling. Once you read it, you'll know that you're not alone and that there are others that probably feel just like you about life and school in general.	Kaylee Bodtke-Stout	Yes
Anonymous	Go Ask Alice	Fiction	Go Ask Alice is the diary of a teenager who gets tangled up in the unforgiving world of drugs. She gets involved with the wrong people and pours her soul out into her diary as her life gets flipped upside down.	This book makes you feel like you are speaking directly to the writer because she is talking so honestly into her diary. It shows you how addicting drugs can be and how your life can change instantly for the worse when you get involved with them.	Sarah Adams	yes
Anonymous	Go Ask Alice	nonfiction	This is a word-for-word diary of a girl, who is unnamed through the entire book, in the 1960s. At a party she unknowingly takes drugs for the first time. She gets addicted and she describes all of the awful things that happens to her because of her addiction to drugs. She continues to take drugs just to be accepted, even though she repeatedly promises herself to stop.	I recommend this book because it reveals the horrible reality of the results of teenage drug addictions. Although this diary was written in the 60’s, it still applies to teenagers in the present with drug problems.	Christine Vivit	yes
Anonymous	Go Ask Alice	Non-Fiction	This book is based on diary written by a teenage girl in the 1960's. She is introduced to drugs at a young age, and becomes addicted. She delves into the dangerous world of drugs, and for the next few years this girl, who stays unnamed throughout the book, drifts in and out of sobriety.	. I was shocked by this book, because it is brutal in its honesty in what happens to so many teenagers who use drugs. This may be a somewhat extreme case, but it is a warning of could happen when one becomes addicted to drugs. I can relate to the author, because she is girl my age who is scared and just wants to be accepted. I definitely recommend this book	Tarryn Joubert	Yes
Applegate, Katherine	Beach Blondes	realistic fiction	Summer is traveling to the Florida Keys for summer break to visit her cousin. She is sick of the rain and cold weather in Minnesota and is really for a summer full of sun, sand, and adventure. She is in for a major shock when she gets more adventure and excitement than she bargained for.	I recommend this book because it is shown through the eyes of a typical teenager. Most people our age want to go somewhere exciting and this gives them means to relate to Summer. This book is full of suspense and it takes paths that you were not expecting.	Denise Shutts	No
Applegate, Katherine	Sharing Sam	Fiction	When Alison Chapman finds out that Sam Cody likes her, she is elated, until she also finds out that her best friend, who is dying, has a crush on him too. Alison wants her best friend, Isabella, to be as happy as possible before she dies, so she and Sam keep their relationship a secret. Alison convinces Sam to ask Isabella out, even though she risks losing him forever.	I enjoyed reading Sharing Sam because the story centered around several different emotions of love. There was the love of a best friend, first true love, infatuated love, and the love you have for somebody you know you never are going to see again.	Micaela Velasquez	No
Asher, Jay	Thirteen Reasons Why	Teen Fiction	In Thirteen Reasons Why, a girl commits suicide. The main character, Clay was a good friend of hers and also secretly had a crush on her. Before she died, the girl made 13 tapes to 13 people, all saying why each person was a reason for her commiting suicide. After her death, the tapes much be passed on from person to person until all 13 people find out the true story of her life.	. I LOVED this book because it really helps you to relate to people that want to commit suicide. It helps you get into their world and discover what they're thinking and why they want to do the things they do	Kaylee Bodtke-Stout	Yes
Asher, Jay	Thirteen Reasons Why	Tragedy	Hannah Baker is a teenager who commits suicide. Before her death, she made 7 tapes about 13 people who were each a reason she killed herself. Clay Jensen, a good friend of Hannah’s, receives the tapes and is shocked with the secrets of people he knows and is constantly questioning himself on why she considered him a reason. He follows Hannah’s instructions and passes on the tapes.	I recommend this book because it made me think about all the small actions I do, and how it can affect the people around me in a big way, both in a good or bad way. Before reading this book I didn’t really think of each action I do as a big deal to anyone, and this book made me realize that it does.	Christine Vivit	yes
Asher, Jay	Thirteen Reasons Why	Tragedy	Clay Jensen receives seven tapes that has a voice recording of a girl who went to his school, Hannah Baker. Hannah has recently killed herself and made these tapes stating thirteen reasons why she committed suicide. Clay listens to all the tapes to figure out why he is on Hannah's list of thirteen reasons.	I recommend this book because it taught me a valuable lesson in life and made me realize the importance of who and what my surroundings are and how something so little can cause a huge effect or tragedy.	Shaunna Pedroza	yes
Asher, Jay	Thirteen Reasons Why	Tragedy	Thirteen Reasons Why follows a young man named Clay Jensen who mysteriously receives a box of seven tapes. He finds that the tapes were sent to him by a classmate by the name of Hannah Baker, who recently killed herself. Clay follows Hannah's recorded instructions and listens to thirteen reasons why she killed herself.	I recommend this book because it really made me look at myself and my life. It made me realize that the smallest things someone does can hurt someone else or make their day	Tarryn Joubert	Yes
Babbitt, Natalie	Tuck Everlasting	Fiction	The Tuck family is cursed with eternal life after drinking water from a magic spring. The family tried to live their lives as normal as possible without letting people know their secret. One day, a ten year old girl named Winnie Foster found out about their secret and the family was forced to explain. Trouble occurs when a stranger follows Winnie and wants to sell water from the spring for "eternal youth."	I would recommend this book because it is extremely well written. The story proves how living forever may not be as great as people make it out to be. (Disney also created a movie based on this story that is very good!)	Lauren Petta	Yes
Babbitt, Natalie	Tuck Everlasting	Fiction	The Tuck family are cursed one day when they drink water from a spring that makes them live for eternity. Nobody knows about this secret except for, Winnie Foster, who forced the family to tell her about it. The family feels safe that they told Winnie, but then a man finds out and uses the water to make money	I recommend this book because it keeps the readers attention and is very exciting. It shows the different effects eternal life can have on a human which I thought was interesting.	Shaunna Pedroza	Yes
Beah, Ishmael	A Long Way Gone	Biography	It is the story of a boy soldier in Sierra Leone and how he survived. The story does get very intense, but it is very interesting. It is amazing that kids can go through so much of this war and still survive.	I recommended this book because it is one of my favorites. It really leaves an impression on the reader and helps the reader understand the fighting going on in these nations.	Michael Knapp	no
Beckett, Samuel	Waiting for Godot	Fiction	Vladimir and Estragon are two companions waiting at an appointed place at an appointed time in what seems to be the middle of nowhere, because they are waiting for Godot. Except nobody knows who or what Godot is and what time he is going to arrive to meet them. Further, they have no idea what they are meeting Godot for at all. They are just certain that they must meet him. The only company that these two men receive are that of the cruel Pozzo and his slave Lucky, who provide them observations on life and the meaning of it. The entire play takes place in that one spot in the middle nowhere and the reader never knows if Godot came or not.	Reading this play was interesting, confusing, but above all else, thought provoking. There is no intended meaning or symbolism for Godot from Beckett, so it is up to the reader to interpret their own meaning of the term "Waiting for Godot". I love having the freedom to make my own choices about who or what Godot is for myself. And even further, if I were ever to direct this play, it would be interesting to have the ability to make certain choices in order to suggest what I think Godot means.	Frank, Hilary	I Can’t Tell You
Bradbury, Ray	Fahrenheit 451	Fiction	Guy Montag is a fireman who lives in a society in which books are illegal. His job is to burn books instead of putting out fires. There is also many more differences between the time that Guy Montag lives in and present time. Montag gets into trouble when he takes an interest in reading the books that he's supposed to burn. The fire chief realizes that Montag has traded sides and he forces Montag to burn his own home. To save himself, Guy kills the fire chief and escapes the city. Montag finds a group of educated men who remember great novels and joins them. As they are walking away from the city, a bomb destroys the it. Knowing they will be needed, the men turn back to the city to help rebuild a society that has destroyed itself.	I recommended this book because of its great theme and morals, but also just because of personal enjoyment.	Josh Feinberg	Yes
Bradbury, Ray	Fahrenheit 451	Fiction	This is a great book about the future American society. The book is about how reading and thought are outlawed. Guy Montag is a fireman, but instead of putting out fires, he burns books. Montag finally gets curious and starts reading one of the books that he is supposed to burn. Guy gets caught and is forced to burn down his own home as his punishment. Towards the end of the book, Guy meets a group of people that are educated and take interest in reading. A bomb then destroys the city so Guy Montag and his new friends walk down the street to rebuild the city the way it should have been built in the first place.	This book is an excellent book with lots of thrill. There's a great plot and a clear theme of the story, but it's very entertaining. I thought I was going to hate this book because I had to read it for a book report, but it turns out that it's one of my favorites!	Jamie Bloom	Yes
Bradbury, Ray	The Martian Chronicles	Science-fiction	This story takes place in 1999, fifty-nine years after the time it was written, and tells the story of humankind's first explorations to, and colonizations of, Mars. However, what the humans do not realize is that they have upset the Martian culture already established upon this mysterious planet.	This book sheds a very intriguing light upon the future of mankind, as seen through the eyes of Ray Bradbury.	Dylan Zimmerman	yes
Brashares, Ann	Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood	Fiction	. In the last book in the Sisterhood series, Lena, Carmen, Bridget, and Tibby spend the summer apart. The book tells the story of their lives apart and the new people they meet along their journey of self-discovery.	This is a great story about friendship and you can really learn from it. You will see yourself laughing and crying on the same page.	Candice Drain	yes
Brashares, Ann	Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood	Fiction	This is the last book in a series of four books by this author. In this book the four main characters spend the summer apart from each other. The book tells the story of each of the girls’ new lives and the new people meet and experiences they have along the way.	I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. It is a touching story about friendship that teaches that even though people can be separated, there is always a way to stay connected and be close friends. The pants represented how they stayed together and connected during the book.	Brooke Radding	yes
Brashares, Ann	Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood	Fiction	In the third summer of the sisterhood, Tibby finally realizes how much she loves Brian, Carmen learns a lot about Lena's Greek grandmother when she volunteers to watch her, Lena is confused about her decision to go to art school, and Bridget spends her summer at soccer camp as a coach with a previous fling.	This book is perfect for girls. Stepping into the lives of the Sisterhood makes you wish you were one of them, too. This story is filled with love, passion, laughter, friendship and a few tears.	Candice Drain	Yes
Bray, Libba	The Sweet Far Thing	Fantasy	This is the third novel of the Gemma Doyle trilogy, taking place in the late 1800's. It follows Gemma Doyle towards the end of her time at Spence Academy and her London debut, and through the final battle between worlds and groups.	Even if fantasy is not your thing, this book will entertain you. Aside from the multiple worlds plot, it is a simple tale of a young girl dealing with school, romance, family issues, and society.	Madi Caruso	yes
Brown, Dan	Angels & Demons	Historical fiction	Robert Langdon, a professor of symbols, tries to uncover the secret of the deadly brotherhood, the Illunimati. He and a beautiful scientist, Vittoria Vetra, have to race against time to try and save Vatican City from the Illuminati's devastating plan.	I recommend this book because it is very suspenseful and makes the reader think in-depth about the problems of this world. It shows that nothing is ever how it seems.	Tiffany Chiu	No
Brown, Dan	Angels and Demons	Fiction	The prequel to The DaVinci Code, Robert Langdon is called to a Swiss research facility in order to decipher a symbol burned onto a murdered physicist. What Langdon discovers and the events that occur afterward lead him to secrets behind a century-old vendetta.	This book has an intriguing story line and, like The DaVinci Code, has an ending that will most likely catch the reader off-guard.	Dylan Zimmerman	no
Burgess, Melvin	Smack	Fiction	Gemma and Tar are two teenagers who run away from home and who get tangled up in the world of heroine and crime. They go through life trying to solve their problems through drugs and such, until they reach a point of no return.	I recommend this book because it is a powerful tool to warn teens against drugs. It is realistic and captures the mind of the reader by discussing common problems.	Tiffany Chiu	Yes
Burnett, Frances Hodgson	The Secret Garden	fiction	Mary Lennox becomes a spoiled orphan when cholera breaks out in her area. She is sent to live with a wealthy guardian and there, discovers a secret garden that will open her heart to the world and unravel beautiful mysteries.	I recommend this book because it tells a beautiful story and shows that the beauty of nature can work wonders.	Tiffany Chiu	no
Burroughs, Edgar Rice	Tarzan of the Apes	Fiction	This book is about a boy growing up to be a man but because of a series of events he lives in the jungle with apes as friends. He is not like an ordinary person because apes raise him.	I recommended this book because it is a great book that should be read. [Warning: It is a great book but a cliff-hanger. Part two is Return of Tarzan]	Lukas Florczak	no
Cabot, Meg	Ready or Not	Fiction	*Ready or Not* is the sequel to *All-American Girl*, which followed a unique high school girl, Sam, who saved the President of the United States. This novel follows her relationship with her boyfriend, who happens to be the son of the President. She is trying to balance her social life, school, her job as teen delegate to the UN, and her after-school job at the local video store. Only her hilarious attitude will get her through another year of high school.	I recommend this book to everyone. It is a witty book that follows a teenage girl that is just like everyone else. Some of the plot line is absurd and far-fetched, but that is what makes this novel so exciting. Cabot writes from Sam's point of view and keeps the reader engaged with her witty dialogue and description of Sam's hilarious lists.	Emily Morgan	no
Caletti, Deb	Honey, Baby, Sweetheart	Fiction (Romance)	Ruby McQueen "The Quiet Girl" lived a boring life. No one would ever expect her to date Travis Becker; the rich thrill-seeker. Ruby fell in love with Travis, but while with him she turned away from herself. Her family and friends saw this and made an effort to keep her away from him. Ruby turns out to learn a lot from one "summer love."	I would recommend this book because it is very different from the typical love story. It may not turn out the way we all want it to end, but it sends out a very good message about life and love.	Lauren Petta	no
Card, Orson Scott	Ender's Game	Sci-Fi	This book is about a young, brilliant child who is sent to a battle school in space for preparation of the next bugger war. He is humanities last hope.	I recommend this book because it is fun and reminds the reader that no matter how great the person is, s/he is still human.	James Tak	yes
Carlson ,Melody	Diary of a Teenage Girl, Becoming Me	Fiction	This book is about a girl named Caitlin O'Conner as a sophomore at her high school. It shows all the heart aches, peer pressures, and identity crisis's she goes through. It's a very heart touching book. It is more of a book for girls though.	The reason I recommended the book was because it is helping me understand a lot more and helping me through highs school to make the right choices	Nicole Koshak	no
Chbosky, Stephen	The Perks of Being a Wallflower	Fiction	This story is about a freshman in high school who is trying to find himself. He becomes friends with these two interesting people who show him a little about high school and himself.	. I recommend this book because it’s exciting and it will make you want to keep reading more!	Alana Pitman	yes
Cherie Bennett	Life in the Fat Lane	Fiction	Life in the Fat Lane is about a perfect beauty queen named Laura who has everything she could ever want in life. She is dating the hottest guy in school, has a perfect body, and was crowned homecoming queen at her school dance. Then one morning she wakes up and realizes she has gained weight. Alot of weight. She tries everything to lose the weight but she simply keeps gaining. Her reputation becomes trashed and she loses many of her previous "friends". Soon her attitude about life changes and realizes her outer appearance is not as important as she thought.	This book teaches the reader how being perfect and skinny are not all you need to be happy.	Sarah Adams	yes
Chobsky, Stephen	The Perks of Being a Wallflower	Realistic fiction	The Perks of Being a Wallflower follows the life of a boy who goes by the alias of Charlie through a series of letters written by Charlie to an anonymous character. The story begins as Charlie first enters high school, anxious, shy, and unpopular. He eventually meets siblings Patrick and Sam, who include him into their group of outcast friends. With them, Charlie grows up, learning about himself, his family, falling in love, the power of music and books, and the world of social awkwardness that he is a part of.	I highly recommend this book as each page carries the thoughts of Charlie that makes readers question themselves and humanity in general. The story of Charlie’s journey through adolescence is filled with the awkwardness that all can relate to, and it is all portrayed through the eyes of the brilliant, atypical Charlie. His discoveries about his life and life in general are original and entertaining, and this book can make you laugh and cry in the same page. The Perks of Being a Wallflower encompasses and articulates all the emotions involved with growing up that are sometimes too difficult or abstract for the youth to voice.	Victoria Gaor	No
Christie, Agatha	And Then There Were None	Fiction	Ten guests are invited to a private island by an unknown owner. There, one by one, they are killed mysteriously according to a nursery rhyme about ten little Indian boys.	I recommend this book because it offers suspense and makes your spine tingle up and down with cold chills.	Tiffany Chiu	yes
Clare, Cassandra	City of Bones	Sci-fi	The book starts when a teen girl witnesses a fight that leads to one of the fighter's death. The fighters are supernatural creatures who has just sleighed a demon. The human eye is not supposed to be able to see any of them.	The main character, Clary is someone I could really relate to. The way she thinks and the things she does are so typical I feel like I’m in the book. Though I prefer her life other than mime since her life has a much more interesting plot.	Sam Gardner	yes
Coelho, Paulo	Veronica Decides to Die	Fiction	It tells the story of 24 year old Veronika, who appears to have everything in life going for her, but who decides to kill herself.	I recommend this book because it gives you a great sense of peace, when you realize that you are not the only one blackmailed in the name of love, you are not the only one who feels.	Darene Gutierrez	no
Colfer, Eoin	Artemis Fowl (Book 1)	fantasy	Twelve year old Artemis Fowl is a millionaire, a genius, and above all a criminal mastermind. But, Artemis even impresses himself when he discovers a fairy world under the Earth's surface. However, these aren't the nice little fairies his parents read to him about in his infant years. These faeries are a full grown civilization with advanced technology and almost every fantastical creature imaginable. From dwarfs to trolls and goblins, the list goes on. Artemis doesn't know what he's taken on when he decides to kidnap a fairy police agent, Holly Short. Will Artemis finally meet his match with the faeries? Find out in the first installment of this action packed series.	. I recommend this book because it is an action packed thriller. It is a constant twist of plotting, and fighting against the forces of evil. Think like a James Bond combined with Harry Potter. Eoin Colfer keeps the reader constantly entertained with the problems that Artemis and his unlikely comrades face.	Rahul Bansal	Yes
Collins, Suzanne	The Hunger Games	Fantasy and Fiction	Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in a post-apocalyptic world where a powerful government called the Capitol has risen up after several devastating disasters. The Hunger Games are an annual televised event where the ruthless Capitol randomly selects one boy and one girl from each of the twelve districts, who are then pitted against each other in a game of survival and forced to kill until only one remains.	I recommend this book because of the main character's love affair and the consequences that they had to face to keep their love for each other.	Darene Gutierrez	no
Covey, Sean	The 7 habits of Highly Effective Teens	. non-fiction	It’s not so much a book; it’s more of just a book that helps teenagers make the right choices. The author also has many different stories that anyone could relate to. It covers everything from setting goals to setting priorities.	The reason I recommend The 7 habits of Highly Effective Teens was because it really helps you make the right choices. It also teaches you how to not procrastinate. It helps a lot if you want good grades.	Nicole Koshak	no
Coy, John	Crackback	Fiction, sports	Miles Manning has a lot of pressure on him by his coaches and by his dad. He is a junior starting corner back for his varsity football team. His team is favored to win the conference championship and contender for the state championship. He wants to be bigger, faster, stronger and better to win and so does his teammates. Some of his friends to get the edge and to get better take adrenalin pills and even steroids. Also he has relationship and school issues of what and who is right and wrong	I recommend this book to any athlete and others who like a great story. For sports players it is about being your best no matter what but deciding what it going too far. Also for connections with you on and off the field or court.	Ryan Woodward	Yes.
Dean, Zoey	Girls on Film” (The A-List Series #2)	Fiction	In the second book, Anna Percy is still continuing her new life in Los Angeles after moving from New York. After having some problems with her new boyfriend Ben, she decides to take a break and continue with her new life. Some girls at her school are trying to make her life miserable and Anna begins to have problems at home. Later on she meets a new guy named Adam who has the possibility of becoming her new boyfriend.	Reason for recommending the book: I would recommend this book for teenage girls because it is interesting and is filled with a lot of drama and interesting facts about L.A. It also mentions a lot of materialistic items that girls would love to read about.	Valerie Tran	yes
Dean, Zoey	The A-List	Fiction	“The A-List” is about a rich teenager named Anna Percy who moves into Los Angeles to start a new life. On the airplane ride there, she meets a boy named Ben who ends up being good friends with her. In L.A., she makes new friends but at the same time she has drama with some of Ben’s friends while trying to start a new life.	I would recommend this book for girls because it is extremely interesting and it would keep girls hooked onto the story because of the intense drama involved.	Valerie Tran	yes
Dicamillo, Kate	Because of Winn Dixie	Realistic Fiction	This book is about a ten year old girl named Opal. She moves to Naomi, Florida with her father. On an errand to the grocery store, she finds a homeless dog. Throughout the story, Opal and the dog encounter interesting characters and adventures.	I recommend this book because it is an easy read and will give you a good laugh.	Nathania Barrios	Yes
DiCamillo, Kate	The Tale of Despereaux	Fantasy	It is a story about an abnormal little mouse with huge ears, named Despereaux Tilling. The mouse lives in a huge castle with the rest of his family. Despereaux has always been different from his siblings and when his actions result in life-threatening punishment, his father does not defend him. Despereaux soon falls in love with the princess that lives in the castle, named Pea and determines to save her, as she is held captive.	The reason I recommend this books is because first of all, it is a major motion picture. Also, DiCamillo exemplifies the several themes in the book very secretly. In addition, the narrator adds wit, humor and intelligence to the story.	Yuna Shin	no
Dickens, Charles	Tale of Two Cities	Historical Fiction	Tail of Two Cities is about a man named Charles Darnay and his wife Lucie Manette. Sydney Carton (a friend) admires Lucie and would do anything for her. In the hard times of the French revolution Charles Darnay is the son of a Duke, he is imprisoned but Sydney Carton who looks very much like Darnay, does a daring and noble thing to save Charles from the Guillotine.	I recommend this book because it is a book that is simply a classic. If you read the original, it’s even better. Dickens is Dickens.	Lukas Florczak	Yes
DiTerlizzi, Tony and Black, Holly	The Spiderwick Chronicles: The Seeing Stone	Fantasy	The book is about a boy named Jared and his twin brother, Simon and his older sister, Mallory. They moved into a new house with their mom. Jared goes exploring the house and finds a hidden room and finds a book. The book is a guide to mythical creatures and it is said to be dangerous. When he stars reading it, unusual stuff starts to happen.	I would recommend this book to students because it will remind them of a fun book to read instead of reading books that are so serious.	Jon Domantay	no
DuPrau, Jeanne	The City of Ember	Science Fiction, Fantasy	The City of Ember is a lit city under the ground. But after two hundred years, the lights in Ember have started to flicker and will soon go out. If Ember's light's go out, the entire city is doomed. It is up to the main characters, Lina and Doon, to solve the mystery and save Ember from its terrible fate.	The City of Ember is one of my favorite books of all time. I love how the author incorporates science into the story to make it seem more realistic.	Kaylee Bodtke-Stout	Yes
Elliot, L.M.	Give Me Liberty	Historical Fiction	A few sentence about the book: Thirteen-year-old Nathaniel Dunn, a servant, meets a kind schoolmaster, Basil, who teaches Nathaniel about music, books, and philosophy that opens Nathaniel's mind about equality in humans. When they see the people's rage over England’s taxes, it tells them that war is going to come. Basil and Nathaniel does not know if they should join the fight or stay loyal to England.	: I recommend this book because it has a good plot and includes some real historical information.	Jacob Rubio	no
Farmer, Nancy	The House of the Scorpion	Science Fiction	This sci-fi novel involves a world where a large amount of land between the United States and Mexico is owned by a very powerful drug lord named El Patrón, the original Matteo Alacrán, called Opium. He tries to fight death by harvesting clones for body parts that he can use to keep himself young and healthy. His last clone, Matt, is the seventh special clone. Meaning that his purpose is to give his heart to El Patrón, but he truly is special because he’s smarter than all the other clones as he has the same intelligence and brutality as the original Matteo but he was raised by one of the caretakers of the opium fields, Celia, to be a good kind hearted man as well. So, Matt tries to fight for his life, fix the turmoil inside of him, and escape the land of Opium to be free from the Alacráns’ and on the way finds a loved one and a few friends on his side despite him having many enemies just because he’s a freak of nature.	I recommend this book because it was the first book that I ever read out of school and it drew my attention from its book cover till the end. From the moment I started reading I was intrigued and always thought about what if my life were to be like this; that is living as a clone or to have pseudo-love just because I’m related to a powerful person and if I were not, I would be hated by all. My most favorite characteristics of this novel are that it’s a sci-fi, a slight romance, drama, and a lot of action goes on. The moment I reached the end I felt sad that it was over but happy that there was a great ending. I’m not a person that loves to read, but ever since I picked up this book my love for reading grew.	Eugene E. Luzong	yes
Ferris, Jean	Bad	Fiction	This book is about a girl Dallas and she robs a little store with her friends and got caught with the gun. So she has to go to rehab and she learns a lot being there. She realizes that there's a lot in the world and you have to watch out.	The reason I recommend Bad is because it's a great book and you never want to put it down because it’s so interesting. It also has a lot of twists to it and it has a good moral.	Nicole Koshak	yes
Fox, Michael J.	Always Looking Up	Autobiography	In this book, Michael J. Fox writes about his perspective that helped him see challenges and opportunities. He describes his outlook on life as he suffers with Parkinson's disease.	I recommend this book because it is inspiring and interesting to see life from someone with Parkinson's diseases' point of view.	Nathania Barrios	No
Freymann-Weyr, Garret	Stay With Me	Fiction, Romance	Leila Abranel is determined to find out why her older, step-sister Rebecca took her own life. Clare and Rebecca are Leila's stepsisters from her father's first marriage and are both are twenty years her senior. Their mother was unusually close to Leila, who always seemed to find these Abranels a mystery. After Rebecca's death, Leila's parents move to Poland to focus more on their work and to distract themselves, leaving Leila with Clare and Raphael, a distant cousin who has always been in love with Clare. Since Clare and Rebeccca lived with each other, Leila begins to rummage through Rebecca's personal things, desperate to find reason behind her senseless, selfish action. In the meantime, Leila takes up a job at a nearby coffee shop, where a frequent, but much older, customer catches her eye. Eamon, a 31-year old aspiring director is reluctant to begin dating a girl half his age, but eventually, they fall in love. This relationship does not affect her search for the truth. She finds the man with whom she last saw her step sister with but only comes to a blunt realization after the confrontation: that some people are just "unknowable" and all she can do was move on.	It a touching book that deals with many serious issues. You will finish the book remembering many simple quotes that relate to everyday life.	Inna Monterroyo	yes
Friend, Natasha	Perfect	Fiction	A girl named Isabella tells about her life with bulimia while living in a home with a troubled mother and annoying sister. She attends a "group" to help her eating disorder where she becomes friends with the most beautiful and popular girl in school who she discovered also has bulimia.	This book is very gripping and hard to put down because it is about an everyday teenager who suffers from one of the most common diseases in young girls today, an eating disorder. It also makes you realize that everyone has flaws because the reader discovers that the seemingly perfect friend of Isabella's actually has serious family and emotional problems. It keeps you interested in what will happen next.	Sarah Adams	No
Funke, Cornelia	Dragon Rider	Fantasy	Dragon Rider is about a dragon named Firedrake that goes on a journey in search of the Rim of Heaven, a place where dragons were safe from everyone. Firedrake sets out on his journey when his home is about to be invaded by people, and meets new friends on the way. On the way, an evil dragon, Nettlebrand, follows Firedrake and his friends to find the Rim of Heaven. Nettlebrand wants to get to the Rim of Heaven, because there are dragons there, and he eats dragons. When they are near the Rim of Heaven, Firedrake and his friends must kill Nettlebrand, before he finds the Rim of Heaven and eats the remaining dragons left.	. I would recommend this book because the story was enjoyable and yet it the story didn’t seem to fake. Usually fantasy books seem too fake to believe, but Dragon Rider, wasn’t too fake. The author made the book descriptive and made the scenes and settings seem real. The author also used easy words to read that aren’t too difficult to read.	Valerie Tran	yes
Funke, Cornelia	Inkheart	Fantasy	Inkheart is about a young girl named Maggie learns that her father can read characters out of their books. Her father, Mo, read her mother into the book, but at the same time, brought out some evil characters. The evil characters, lead by Capricorn, are after Mo and his book, “Inkheart,” and is soon kidnapped because of his special powers. Maggie must save her father from Capricorn by finding the author of “Inkheart,” and destroy Capricorn for good.	I would recommend this book because it was really interesting with an amazing plot. The author used vivid words that allowed the reader to imagine each scene and remember it for a long time. Also, the book had an interesting plot because it of the story line. It allowed the reader to imagine and fantasize about the scenes and the characters.	Valerie Tran	yes
Funke, Cornelia	Inkheart	Sci-Fi	A young girl, Meggie, and her father, Mo, a book binder live alone together. When a stranger comes to their house in the middle of the night, calling Mo "Slivertounge," Meggie is curious. She eavesdrops on them and discovers that they know each other. Meggie doesn't understand everything completely though. The stranger, Dustfinger, tells Mo that he should leave. Mo has a special ability of reading a book and making the characters coming out of the book. Meggie is stunned as she tries to be just like her father. Capricorn wants Mo to read out certain things out of various books so he can expand his need for power. Dustfinger is betrayed by Capricorn, and joins forces with Mo, Meggie, and Elinor in their attempt to stop Capricorn. The only way they figure to stop him is to Signor Fenoglio, the author of Inkheart and the creator of Capricorn.	I recommend this book because it is a captivating story that has a theme of companionship and adventure. This book will leave lots of cliffhangers and also has a sequel, “Inkspell”.	Yuna Shin	no
Funke, Cornelia	The Thief Lord	Sci-Fi	This novel is about two young boys with their band of street children in the underworld of Venice, Italy. After escaping from their cruel aunt and uncle, orphans Prosper and Bo meet a mysterious young boy who calls himself the “Thief Lord”. Clever and charming, the Thief Lord leads a group of street orphans who enjoy making mischief. Gradually, Prosper and Bo find themselves on a fantastical journey with the street children living their lives the same way that every street children would do.	I recommend this book because it is a twisted novel. It’s a mystery where the “Thief Lord” came from, what his real name was, why he chose to lead the group of street orphans, why he ran away from his family. It also shows the corruption that the society has upon children. No matter where we live, children are always homeless without family or relatives.	Yuna Shin	yes
Gaiman, Neil	Coraline	Fantasy/Horror	Coraline believes her world is so mundane. But then one day she finds a door that leads to her "other" mother and "other" father. In the other world everything is perfect, and exactly as Coraline always dreamed. But Coraline's "other" parents want her to stay forever. Coraline goes on a great adventure to defeat her other mother and choose the life that she knows she should have.	Coraline is definitely a dark and disturbing book. Neil Gaiman is an extremely creative writer and thinks up unimaginable characters, and plot that you will never forget.	Kaylee Bodtke-Stout	No
George, Margaret	Helen of Troy	Fiction	Helen, "the face that launched a thousand ships," tells the Trojan War from her point of view. Of how she falls in love with a Trojan, Paris, and how her husband, Menelaus, starts the most famous wars and intends to win her back.	With a cast of irresistible, legendary characters, Helen of Troy is a captivating and fascinating novel. It's interesting to see how George tied in different characters and plots into one classical story. The book is a page-turner that keeps you wondering what will actually happen in the end.	Micaela Velasquez	No
Gilbert, Elizabeth	Eat, Pray, Love	Non-Fiction	Eat, Pray, Love is about a women's search for everything across Italy, India, and Indonesia. This book describes the struggles and obstacles she encounters throughout her journey.	I recommend this book because it is eye-opening and teaches a good lesson.	Nathania Barrios	No
Gipson, Fred	Old Yeller	Fiction	The story of a boy and his dog. They are the best of friends and they go hunting and scavenging a lot.	This book is very good but very sad in the end. This is one of the books that really affected me and I don’t usually take books or stories too seriously.	Michael Knapp	yes
Golding, William	Lord of the Flies	Literature/Fiction	. In this story, some boys are marooned on a coral island. At first it is fun for the boys, but it later turns into a furious nightmare over life and death. 6. This book seems very good because it shows how two young children deal with their surroundings when being marooned on an island.	People that like books that show when people are put in situations where anything can happen would like this book.	Chris Velez	yes
Goldman, William	The Princess Bride	Adventure, Fairy Tale, Romance	Westley the farm boy and Buttercup, the most beautiful woman in the world, fall in love. When Westley dies, Buttercup vows to never love again, but is soon forced to marry Prince Humperdinck. Buttercup is then kidnapped, but saved by a mysterious man in black. A race against her fiancé Humperdinck begins, while characters such as Miracle Max, the miracle-worker, and Count Rugen, the evil man who lives off torture, are encountered.	The Princess Bride is a timeless tale that includes love and hate, heroes and villains, war, evil schemes, and fantastical characters and settings. The unforgettable characters such as Inigo Montoya, the wizard of fencing, and Fezzik, the gentle, rhyme-loving giant, provide nonstop entertainment from suspense to laughter and allow the book to become an instant classic. It is not the average fairy tale, with traces of satire and clever humor injected by Goldman. The Princess Bride has you rooting for the good guys, laughing out loud, sweating in anticipation, and quoting the various treasured characters.	Victoria Gaor	No
Hamill, Pete	Snow In August	Fiction	Michael Devlin, an Irish boy, becomes friends with Rabbi Hirsch, who is a war refugee escaping from the Nazis. Together, they raise Golem from the mud to fight justice for them in the age of persecution.	I recommend this book because it is thrilling and heartwarming. It shows that friendship can be forged in the most uncommon of places, during the worst of times. It justifies the idea that goodness outshines all evil.	Tiffany Chiu	No
Harrison, Lisi	The Clique	Young Adult fiction	Massie Block was one of the rich and popular girls at her junior high. When Claire Lyons moves into Massie’s guest house, Massie treats her with disrespect because she is not rich and doesn’t wear designer clothes. Massie is in a clique which she calls the “Pretty Committee” but won’t let Claire join. Because Massie is despises Claire, so do her friends. One day, Claire gets Massie’s clique to betray her by making rumors, however, when Massie finds out, she regains her status as queen of the clique.	Reason for recommending the book: I would recommend this book to young teenagers because this is more of a book for younger girls. However, the book was an okay book to read.	Valerie Tran	yes
Herriot, James	All Creatures Great and Small	fiction	This story is about and veterinarian in the town of Danes. This book relays his very humorous encounters with his boss and of the locals. You would expect to find nice welcoming farmers and neighbors in this beautiful town of Danes, but you soon find that chaos and confusion runs amok. Amazingly, through all the chaos, he eventually finds love in this odd remote town.	This book is worthy of recommendation because it will keep you laughing and completely engrossed. You can never suspect what a character might do next. It is a rather challenging read, but that just makes reading it a better experience.	Lauren Matthews	yes
Hijuelos, Oscar	Dark Dude	realistic fiction	Rico is a pale skinned Cuban who does not feel that he can fit in. One of his best friends wins the lottery and decides to move to Wisconsin. Rico wants to go with him, but his parents will not let him. He decides to go anyways and encounters many problems on the way there and even after he gets there.	I recommend this book because it shows how some people will follow their heart no matter what anyone does. This book has a lot of adventure and never becomes boring. Throughout the entire novel, you are left wondering what will happen to Rico next.	Denise Shutts	no
Hillman, Laura	I Will Plant You a Lilac Tree	non-fiction, war story	This story takes place in Poland, during the time that Hitler ruled Germany. The story tells of the hardships of being a Jew. Also it tells the story of a young girl who suffered in eight different concentration camps.	I loved this book because it is well written and just hearing what happened to this young girl and knowing it is all true, makes you feel like you wish you could be there to help her. Also it shows how love can help you through the hardest of times. I strongly suggest that you read this book.	Lindsey Bridges	yes
Hobbs, Will	The Maze	Adventure book	This book is about a boy named Rick Walker that gets stranded in a desert and tries to find his way home. Stowing away in the back of peoples trucks to try to get home.	I recommended this book because it is a really great adventure book, I enjoyed it a lot. Another reason is that this book draws your attention and keeps you coming back for more	Corey Sikich	Yes
Horowitz, Anthony	. Raven's Gate	Fantasy	As punishment for a crime he knows he did not commit, Matt chooses to live with an old woman in Lesser Malling, instead of going jail. However, when he arrives, he discovers the mysterious plot of this woman, and discovers his destiny.	This book is the first of, what will be, five. These are written by the bestselling author of the Alex Rider series, and will be enjoyed by any fans of this series.	Dylan Zimmerman	yes
Horowitz, Anthony	Storm Breaker	Fiction	In this story, Alex Rider is a normal kid until his uncle is killed in a car crash. But when Alex finds out that he was killed on a secret mission he is asked to be a spy by the same agency. Now he must go under cover and finish his uncle’s job.	The reason that I chose to recommend this book is because it is action packed. Stormbreaker has fight scenes, guns and spies. I’m sure that any other teenager would love it.	(Connor) Vince Chase	yes
Hosseini, Khaled	The Kite Runner	Historical Fiction	The Kite Runner is about a boy named Amir who lived in Afghanistan. Amir is in constant want of his father's attention. He is haunted by the guilt of betraying his bestfriend, Hassan. Along with facing the economic problems of his country, Amir faces the challenges of testing friendships, finding love, and cheating death. He also learns to gain understanding of life and accepting faults.	I recommend this book, because it is a very interesting story. It also has a great meaning to it, and teaches important lessons which can be useful in one's everyday lives. The challenges and hardships Amir goes through makes you think twice about what you have and the lifestyle you live.	Nathania Barrios	no
Hosseini, Khaled	The Kite Runner	Fiction	The story is about Amir, who lives in Afghanistan. He has a very good friend, Hassan, who is his servant. Amir lives with his father. The climax of the story is at a kite running tournament, when something happens to Hassan but Amir does nothing to help him. Due to political problems in Afghanistan, Amir and his father are forced to flee to the United States. Amir believes that this move will help him forget his past and move forward, but he soon realizes that he is still haunted by his past; causing him to return to Afghanistan to face his past.	The reason you recommend that book: I recommend this book because of the things it teaches you and it keeps you hooked until the end of the book. It teaches about relationships and it teaches you that you cannot run away from your past.	Vivean Muna	yes
Houston, Jeanne	Farewell to Manzanar	Nonfiction	This book is a true story about a girl who gets sent to the Japanese internment camps in 1941. While there, the main character, Jeanne grows up and realizes life isn’t always fair or easy.	I recommend this book because it teaches you a lot about life and how life can be a lot harder than you think.	Kendall Miller	Yes
Hurston, Zora Neale	Their Eyes Were Watching God	Fiction	This novel is revolves around the life of the main character Janie Crawford. The whole story is told in flashback and tells about her search for love. The story tells of her search for love from her grandmother and her three husbands. In the end, she is able to find the love she has been looking for but there is a catch.	The reason you recommend that book: I recommended this book because it tells the story of a women’s search for true love and all the trials and tribulations that she goes through to find it.	Vivean Muna	yes
Ibbotson, Eva	A Company of Swans	Historical Fiction	Set in the stiff British society of Cambridge, England in 1912; the book revolves around nineteen-year old Harriet Morton. The daughter of a stuffy professor, Harriet, is allowed few freedoms and spends much of her time hidden away in a dark house. However, she harbors a secret passion for ballet. So, when Harriet is invited to join a ballet company for a South American tour how could she possibly resist? However, by defying her father’s wishes and running away from home Harriet causes quite an upset leading to a dramatic chase through the enchanting city of Manus. Through this great adventure Harriet begins to realize the importance of sticking up for one’s self and the value of adventure.	A Company of Swans is and interesting and intriguing story that is sure to keep you up at night wondering what will happen next. Ibbotson does an excellent job of making the main character a real person who we can all relate to. She doesn’t always make the right decision, but in the end everything works out all right with the knowledge of a new experience. Also the descriptions of the Amazon jungle, manus, and the river are so vivid that they leave you with a longing for your own adventure.	Kali Jelen	No
Ibbotson, Eva	A Countess Below Stairs	Historical Fiction, Romance	Set in England after the Russian revolution A Countess Below Stairs follows enchanting Anna Grazinsky, a young countess, fleeing from the terrors in her native country. Arriving in England impoverished Anna is forced to set aside her title and go to work as a maid in the great English manor, Mersham. When the young English lord returns from the war he and Anna know they are destined for one and other. Just one problem, Lord Rupert is engaged to the conniving Muriel Hardwicke, who merely sees Rupert as a way to become titled. As the wedding draws nearer it becomes more and more difficult for Anna to hide her past and for Rupert to go through with the wedding. A Countess Below Stairs is an interesting spin on what is essentially a timeless plot.	Ibbotson has once again created a masterpiece out of a much-used plot. A Countess Below Stairs in a relatively easy read and is extremely entertaining. It’s the kind of book that leaves the reader wishing for his or her own happy ending. As is her trademark the author created another realistic protagonist, which is easy for the reader to identify with. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a good old-fashioned romance that will leave you grinning.	Kali Jelen	No
Ibi Kaslik	Skinny	Fiction	This book is about two sisters going through a very tough life. One named Holly is a track star with a difficult life dealing with her sister's anorexia. Her sister, Giselle, has anorexia and is trapped so deep inside it, it is difficult to go on with her life. The girls alternate narrating chapters and tell us their side of life living with the other.	This book is gripping and gets you inside the mind of a true anorexic as well as inside the mind of someone close to the sufferer and the things they go through.	Sarah Adams	no
Johnson, Maureen	13 Little Blue Envelopes	Realistic Fiction	After Ginny's crazy aunt passes away, she is given a letter from her. This letter starts her crazy adventure through Europe, where she is not knowing what to do until she opens the next envelope.	I love realistic fiction. This story is filled with adventure, travel, and romance! You are also taken on a journey as a teenage girl discovers herself throughout the story.	Madi Caruso	no
King, Stephan	Misery	Suspense	A famous author breaks his legs in a car accident. He soon wakes up in some strangers home. Unfortunately for him, the stranger is an obsessed woman who is keeping him to write for her and her only. She is a strong woman who is insane; she uses an axe and pills as her weapon against the helpless book author.	The book puts me in a spot where I would be horrified and it would be a very bad nightmare. It is so good that it is scary.	Sam Gardner	yes
King, Stephen	Carrie	horror	The book is about a teenage outcast telekinetic girl named Carrie who lives with a very religious single mother who thinks everything is a sin. Carrie does want to be like everyone else in high school but due to her life with her mom, all of her classmates are mean to her. Because of that she was being harassed because she had her first period in the shower and Carrie thought she was dying and everyone except the gym teacher threw feminine products at her. During the incident she slowly learns about her telekinetic ability and starts learning how to control it.	Its good book since it’s a sad story about a girl who always been picked on and it’s in her point of view as well as her classmates. It does make people see how cruel people are to those with a different life style. In a way it's a horror version of Cinderella.	Ashley Khosrowabadi	yes
King, Stephen	Misery	Psychological Horror	Misery is about an author named Paul Sheldon who wrote a best-selling series called “Misery” which is romance novel about a woman named Misery Chastain, and had start writing a new serious book since he finished the Misery series. He had been driving to L.A. instead of his house in New York and then got into a car crash. He had then been saved by a Nurse named Anne Wilkes who tells him she’s his “Number One Fan”. In the story, Paul was being forced to write a new Misery novel since Annie had found Misery had died in the recent book. Annie had been torturing Paul while he had been writing it.	I recommend this book since it does show Psychological horror and how far Obsession can lead people. This is also one of Stephen King popular novels.	Ashley Khosrowabadi	yes
Kinsella, Sophie	Can You Keep a Secret?	Realistic fiction	Emma Corrigan is struggling to be successful in her job in order to impress her family. When panicked on a plane ride during turbulence, she spills her deepest secrets to a complete stranger. As she returns to work, however, she finds the stranger from the plane is her company’s mysterious and highly popular CEO, Jack Harper. Emma soon develops an interesting relationship with Jack, who has not forgotten a single one of her secrets	I recommend this book because it kept me entertained the entire time. Sophie Kinsella writes in a modernly witty and hilarious fashion. She clearly depicts the mind of Emma Corrigan, making her easy to relate to. Can You Keep A Secret? keeps readers smiling through the antics of Emma and anxious throughout the developing relationship between Emma and Jack. The book provides many laughs and an overall feel-good mood.	Victoria Gaor	no
Kinsella, Sophie	The Undomestic Goddess	Realistic fiction	Samantha Sweeting is a workaholic on the cusp of a major breakthrough in her career as an attorney when she makes a huge mistake that not only ruins her career for but causes her to flee London. When she stops by a house somewhere in the country to ask for directions, she is mistaken for a housekeeper, a job that Samantha has absolutely no experience in. With the help of the gardener Nathaniel, however, Samantha slowly learns the basics while letting go of her uptight life and falling in love. Then she discovers a secret that could earn her back her entire career, and she is faced with the decision to be successful or to be happy.	The Undomestic Goddess is a great read for those looking for some laughs. The hilarity of Samantha’s situation leads to even more hilarious events, and all is seen through the cleverly portrayed eyes of Samantha. Sophie Kinsella does a good job of bringing Samantha to life and making her a loveable, relatable character. Readers will keep turning pages in order to follow the developing romance between Samantha and Nathaniel, as well as Samantha’s last chance to become a successful lawyer again. The book also raises some questions for the reader regarding what qualities of life are truly important.	Victoria Gaor
Konigsburg, E. L.	From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler	Realistic Fiction	This is a book about Claudia Kincaid, who feels under-appreciated by her parents. She decides to run away from home to show her family what they would be missing without her. Doing so, Claudia decides to stay at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. She persuades her younger brother, Jamie to accompany her: he's quiet, and he has a secret stash of money. The go and walk around the museum only to find the peculiar statue that Michelangelo crafted. They soon realize it was bought from Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. As they go spend their last money to find Frankweiler, they find the ultimate secret and the treasure for themselves.	This book helped me realize that having an adventure or some sort of thrill makes you who you are, it defines you and it can lead you towards what you want to become. The book's theme flowed well with the story.	Yuna Shin	no
Koontz, Dean	Dragon Tears