|
Separate Piece, A
The novel A Separate Peace by John Knowles explores the guilt and betrayal of a young boy by the name of Gene. Gene attends a New England Boarding School in the early years of World War II and meets his future friend and also competitor Finny. Gene is independent but also lonely while Finny is athletic, popular and a star pupil. Throughout the novel, Gene's rage and jealousy spires out of control and does something that will affect Finny's life forever. The boys have a club and one of the initiations is to jump out of a tree and unknowingly, a harmless game goes terribly wrong. Gene pushes Finny off of the tree and causes him to break his leg and worse, end his athletic dreams forever. In this novel, deception and jealously play a large role in the conflicts. This story taught me to never be envious towards someone and their hard work. A person who receives recognition for their success deserves it. No one likes a sore loser, if you work hard, good things will happen to you. Ending one's career or even happiness will not lead you to success or popularity. I recommend it to any reader who is coming of age. Boys aged 13 or so would definitely be able to relate to the struggles of these characters. F KNOWLES
(review by KS [Class of 2013])
Last Updated on Tuesday, 14 May 2013 13:34
|
Black City
In the novel Black City by Elizabeth Richards, a girl named Natalie, the daughter of a government official, falls in love with a half blood boy named Ash, which is illegal in their government. The novel is all about a war, forbidden love, and secrets. Natalie finds out a dark secret within her government and now she has to choose between her family and Ash, the boy she loves. I started reading this book and I couldn’t stop because in the beginning, the author grabs my attention and interest very quickly. If someone is into romance and likes mythical creatures or immortality, this is a great book for them. I don’t find this book boring because it doesn’t drag with a lot of details or hard vocabulary. It’s a very easygoing book. Also, Richards’ novel has a mixture of love, mystery, and fiction. I would recommend this book for teens and young adults age 16 and up. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars because I wanted to keep reading after every chapter and it’s not boring; some kind of action or attention grabber is always happening and it’s not confusing, so it’s easy to follow along and comprehend. F RICHARDS (review by js [Class of 2013])
Split
What do you do when you are 16 and you are thrown out of your house and your family. Jace Witherspoon decides to show up at the doorstep of his brother, Christian, who he hasn’t seen in years. All Jace has with him is a beat up face from his father’s fist, $3.84, and a secret. He tries to move on, going for new friends, a new school, and a new job, but all his changes can't make him forget what he left behind--his mother, who is still trapped with his dad, and his ex-girlfriend, who is keeping his secret. At least so far. He knows his brother will throw him out if he finds out what Jace is hiding. Both brothers realize that after fighting, running, and making the split, you have to go back to where it all started in order to have your life go forward. This is an intense story that will keep you turning the pages. F AVASTHI
Last Updated on Thursday, 09 May 2013 10:16
|
Safekeeping
17-year-old Radley has been volunteering in a Haitian orphanage after a recent earthquake. While she is in Haiti, the President of the United States is assassinated and the country is now run by the American People’s Party. Anxious to get home to her parents, Radley insists on leaving Haiti. Arriving home, she finds herself in a changed country under military rule with severe security and travel regulations. When she cannot find her parents, Radley begins a long and hazardous journey to find safety and hopefully her parents. Her journey is one of survival where she must scavenge food and fears of arrest. Radley’s life will never be the same again. F HESSE
Calico Joe
As he looks back on his childhood, the 1973 baseball season has special meaning for Paul Tracey. It was the summer that Joe Castle, a kid from Calico Rock, Arkansas, took the Chicago Cubs by storm. As soon as he took the field for the Cubs, he began breaking and setting records. Paul Tracey, an avid 11-year-old baseball follows Joe Castle as do many baseball fans around the country. Paul has a special connection to baseball. His father is a pitcher for the New York Mets. Warren Tracey is not a star pitcher and has been shuffled from team to team. Abusive to his family, Warren is far from loving. That summer, Paul and his sister were watching their parents’ marriage come apart. As the season progress, Paul realizes the record setting Joe Castle and his father will meet on the ballfield and he fears there will be tragic consequences. F GRISHAM
Last Updated on Friday, 17 May 2013 12:54
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page 1 of 5 |
