Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (5/5 stars)
I loved this book! Of course, it could have been the 80's references, it could have been Wil Wheaton reading the audiobook, or it just could have been a great book. I'll admit, some of it was hard to understand, but for the most part, brilliant! Imagine, having a virtual world that all of America has the option to plug into. In fact, it's even a way to go to school. And then, there be a contest to boot? How could this book go wrong? I guess it could have been too odd, but it wasn't. It was good, and kudos to Wil Wheaton as well.
Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy (3.5/5 stars)
When I heard Julie Murphy describe this book I thought it was a brilliant idea- unplanned remission of cancer after a girl feeling like she needs retribution for all those who have wronged her. Yeah, she was not a nice person. I've said it before, I'm a sucker for books where jerks make a 180 and realize that they have more to life than their own selfishness. However, I was pretty bored with Harvey. Ugh, that's where the teenage angst comes in, hence it being a true Young Adult book. Overall, though, I still give it 3.5 stars for the idea of the book. Thanks, Julie!
The Girl I Used to Be by April Henry (3/5 stars)
I can see lots of middle grade students who are interested in a good murder mystery enjoy this story. A young girl who assumed her father murdered her mother and then ran away, finds out that both her parents were murdered. So she is determined to find out who done it. Simplistic, but good. Excellent middle grade mystery.
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Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans by Dan Brown (4/5 stars)
Wow, was it over 10 years ago? Seems like just a couple of years ago. Amazing graphic novel, and it should be read by all.
Imitation Game by Jim Ottaviani (3/5 stars)
It was rough to get through. I'll be honest. I'm not shy about math, but I have to say that I got lost in those logical math pages. I started to wander in my thoughts about what I would have for supper. Not a good sign. The basic plot of his life was interesting, although I had a hard time figuring out who the narrators were, who was the interviewer, etc. I may have to reread it. But, I hear there's a movie so maybe I'll go that route. At least the book spurred me on to find out what really happened.
I Will Always Write Back by Caitlin Alifrienka and Martin Ganda (4/5 stars)
So, after I read the fiction book Diamond Boy, my concept of Zimbabwe was all the population there were working in the mines. This book was good in that it did round out my perception a little more. Don't get me wrong, Zimbabwe is extremely economically challenged, but not everyone is going to get their diamonds. Caitlin is your typical girl who is obsessed with what most girls are. I'm not sure why she put in some of the things she did in the book, as they seemed inconsequential to the story. But I did enjoy reading about Martin's life, struggles, and family. And I loved how education is the main thing to help people (and of course, money, ugh).
State of Wonder by Ann Pratchett (3/5 stars)
What if women could have babies at any age? That is the main idea in State of Wonder, in which scientists go to the Amazon to discover how the women of a tribe can perform this feat, even at age 70. But while that is the impetus to going to the jungle, we see that there is much more to it- the people (love Easter!), the way of life, and even who to run away from or to. With great writing technique, we read about another world, and how or if they should intersect with our own. But, admittedly, the book was really long and really slow. That's why it got three stars.
Half Bad by Sally Green (3.5/5 stars)
He is labeled half white witch and half black witch. None of the white witches trust him other than his family (and not even all of them). In fact, they want to use him to catch Marcus, his father, who is the biggest, baddest black witch around. Maybe it's not just about witches, as I see many parallels in today's society. But on the surface level, it is an entertaining read and I can easily foresee many students enjoying the trilogy.
Diamond Boy by Michael Williams (4.5/5 stars)
Rarely have I ever been so caught off guard about something happening in the world today that I hear about, but never realize the true meaning. Blood diamonds, conflict diamonds. That's what they are called. I remember hearing about it, and I was appalled. And then it kind of went away. But it didn't. Patson, a 16 year old boy, is determined to help his father and sister by finding the girazi, a diamond large enough to earn a way back to school and for his father to continue his teaching. But then the soldiers come, and it is no longer to help his family, but it is to save it. Definitely a book to read. The diamond problem is haunting Zimbabwe, and it is scary.
Girls Like Us by Gail Giles (4/5 stars)
Simplistic, yet not. Biddy and Quincy are two girls who just graduated from high school. They are called Speddies because they are in special ed. Biddy and Quincy are put in a house together to take care of Elizabeth, a 60 year old who needs help. For the first time ever, the three of them finally feel as though they are no longer "heart orphans" as they learn from each other what a family is. There are some horrific acts in the book, and it's not just a feel-good book. Rather, you read and feel who Quincy and Biddy truly are, and you feel much of their pain.
How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon (4/5 stars)
This book definitely needs to be read in tandem with All American Boys. Both have themes of racial brutality. This book, however, is more gritty. When Tariq is shot and killed, the entire Underwood Community is changed. Was he in a gang? Did he have a gun? What happened to Jack who killed Tariq? How do people use the shooting to their own political gain? At the end, I felt as though there was very little closure- maybe that's the point.
Front Page Affair by Radha Vatsal (4/5 stars)
The strength of Front Page Affair is showing the dichotomy of the Pre-World War 2 century woman and today's woman. Clearly much research was put into this novel to ensure the reader is living in the early 1940's with Kitty as she ensues a dream of belonging in the world by becoming a journalist. However, as a daughter of a prosperous businessman, her talents are not taken seriously. The murder mystery was interesting, her distrust of her father's business ventures mildly amusing, and the friends' disappointment that she doesn't become a nurse was all somewhat cliché; but overall it was a fun and educational read.
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