Peer+Book+Reviews

 **__Acceptance__ by Susan Coll** **(Humor)** In the book Acceptance by author, Susan Coll. Coll talks about how the college application process can be overwhelming, and can change a person to not want to go to college. In the book she portrays a feeling of hate, but also anticipation. Coll also makes a point of, going to college and is stressful. Although to many, it is very overwhelming. Others may also find it easy to adapt to. In the book, the author seems to intentionally make it harder for them to get accepted to that it would seem more realistic. One of the most important qualities in the book that is listed is the feeling of competition. Many students want to attend a certain college, and they feel that they would be good enough to make it. But only a few will actually make it. One of the best ways to portray it is by a child name AP Harry, he states “I wouldn’t know.” Said AP Harry. “We only stopped here because we are on our way to Harvard. My mom wanted to break up the trip, and it seemed like a good place to stop.” This is something many people look to try to accomplish, and some may make it to college and some may not. But this book is a good read, and definitely is able to show people how the process of applying to college can be so overwhelming, but so much fun at the same time. //~Kyle Bower// In the novel Before I Die author Jenny Downham stresses that life is way too short to be taken lightly. She relates this with examples from everyday life that everyone goes through. She uses friends, family and realistic situations to support her topic. Sixteen year old Tessa has had cancer since she was twelve. However, this does not prevent her from living life the way she wants to. Some of her decisions result in happiness, and others result in sickness, but she never once regrets doing anything. She has the ambition that people around her wish that they had, only she does not have much time left to enjoy it. Before I die will make readers realize that life is too short, and they should always do what they want to do. People should appreciate loved ones while they are still around, and remember that in the end they will always be there. //~Brianna Whitmire//   **__Blood Brothers__ by S.A. Harazin (Realistic Fiction) ** In the novel, Blood Brothers, the author S. A. Harazin explores the emotions of the characters in the novel. With every page turned, a new piece to the puzzle is discovered. In a way, it is Clay’s (main character) fault that his best Friend, Joey is in the hospital. Were he to be with Joey, the situation would not have ended the way it did. Now Joey is in the hospital with internal bleeding to the head because Clay pushed him. Although it was in self-defensive because the manner in which Joey was acting, Clay could not calm him down so he felt that he had no other choice. When Clay pushed Joey, he fell and hit his head, as a result, he had to go through surgery and stay in the trauma room at the hospital where Clay works. Clay must endure seeing his best friend in the hospital every day knowing that it is partially his fault and he cannot do anything about it. //~D'Aileene Hack// **__Choices__ by Deborah Lynn Jacobs (Science Fiction) ** Making a simple decision is seemingly normal. It’s something done every day and apart of everybody’s lives but in the novel, Choices, Deborah Lynn Jacobs makes decision making seem more important. In the novel, a normal teenage girl, Kathleen, is faced with making a small choice which results in the death of her brother. After, she is forced to make choices which result in either something good or something terrible. Jacobs takes use of science fiction and lets the reader see both outcomes in Kathleen’s decisions. Along with its different aspects, this book involves a romance that results in an unusual twist. //~Shauna Torres// **  __How Ya Like Me Now__ by Brandon Halpin (Realistic Fiction) **In the novel, How Ya Like Me Now, author Brandon Halpin tries to reach all students who complain about their school or their lives. Halpin illustrates the point that a simple change in education can change one’s life dramatically. In How Ya Like Me Now, Eddie, the main character faced with a life changing decision. His dad died of cancer and his mom is addicted to Oxy Contin. Eddie is living life like a normal teenager in a small town named Oldham, and is forced to fend for himself for a year while is mom is busy getting high. Eddie’s Aunt Lily invites him to move in with her, her husband and their son, “I`m just sorry it took… it took something like this…” (Aunt Lilly 1). Due to this invitation Eddie has to move from Oldham High School to a school in Boston where he does not know anybody. On Eddie’s first day of school at FA-CUE, he is hit in the eye and all of a sudden everyone in his homeroom knows him. Eddie is not used to all of the attention because at his old school nobody talked to him and he gets upset almost every time someone says something to him “Aw, he knows we`re playing. Doesn`t he?” (Kelvin 35). //~Scott Karchner// **In the novel Knights of Hill Country, the author Tim Tharp points out that loyalty is everything between friends. But the main character’s best friend Blaine has no loyalty towards him at all. In this novel Blaine bosses around Hampton like he owns him. He is constantly telling him what to do and who he can and cannot like. Blaine is not letting Hampton make his own decisions and is just controlling him. My point is that if you have any loyalty towards a friend or just anyone you should not make their decisions and boss them around and tell them who they can hang out with. I think that if loyalty is everything then why is Blaine the way he is towards Hampton. //~Mike Dalberto// <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #333333; line-height: 140%; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">In the novel my lost and found life Author Melodie Bowsher it discusses a teenager having to live on her own at an early age of eighteen. Having to move out at an early age will help to make children better people and help them to form a relationship with their parents. This might make them have stronger morals and be able to think for themselves and not have other people control one’s life. In the novel Ashley finds out how to live in the real world by herself. She experiences hard times along the way. She has no idea what she is really doing, but she keeps going with her gut and it hasn’t let her down yet. Will she be able to do live on her own? Will she have any friends left to comfort her, will she make a name for herself. //~Amber Swank// <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #333333; line-height: 140%; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">In the novel Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult, the audience is introduced to two very important subjects. The novel focuses on bullying and what happens when someone is pushed to their breaking point and cannot take anymore. The author’s purpose of writing this novel is to illustrate this controversial subject so it can be openly discussed. The author presents this topic through the life of a teenage boy named Peter who was never able to get away from the abuse. He was forced to change his identity and do a very unthinkable act. Peter was subjected to bullying from the day he stepped on the bus to go to kindergarten. His life only got worse through elementary, middle and high school until Peter just snapped. The biggest message I got from the novel is that torment and abuse can cause someone to do unthinkable acts, even change their identity just to get away from the abuse. One of the saddest aspects of the novel was that my argument proved to be true. Peter was forced to change his identity just so he could get away from the bullying. This should never have to happen because all people are entitled to have their own identity. //~Kailee Lappan// <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #333333; line-height: 140%; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The book The Perks of being a Wallflower is a story about a boy named Charlie, who is ninth grade and goes to high school in the local town. Charlie tells all about growing up and attending high school. He talks about his struggles and how tough high school life can be. Charlies’ life is full of drama. Charlie talks about things from prom and graduation. He meets new friends and writes letters to people he does not know. //~Hollie Young// <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">** __PS I Love You__ by Cecelia Ahern (Realistic Fiction) ** <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #333333; line-height: 140%; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #333333; line-height: 140%; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">The book P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern is a story about losing one’s true love, death, grievance and friendship. In this book the author argues that taking chemotherapy as a terminally ill patient is not worth the pain. In this book one will learn about the help and support a family and friends can give. This support is the most important thing to help one get through a tragedy. This book also shows one how to live life to the fullest. It teaches one to cherish life because one will never know when their life is going to end. In the book Holly will learn to live as an independent woman. She learns to rely on her friends and family for strength and how to look inside herself to find the strength to move on. She has broken out of her comfort zone and forced to move on with her life. //~Mollie Beach// **<span style="font-size: 120%; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">__Quad__ by C.G. Weston (Realistic Fiction) ** <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #333333; line-height: 140%; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">In the novel Quad, C.G.Weston shows readers how bullying can lead to more serious problems. She portrays point of views from different social groups in an average high school of bully’s and their targets. While doing this, Weston shows how various individuals and groups can respond to bullying. Students attend Muir High School. The environment is typical of any highachool, The jocks practice, the drama queens act, and the talkers gossip. All of the variety of cliques have tension building up throughout the year. After many events take place and people are left hurt someone snaps. On Monday, April 6th, students take refuge in the school store when they hear what they think are gun shots. Time slowly goes by and more popping is heard. The six teens sit in confusion trying to figure out what is happening outside of the door. If the pops are gunshots, who is shooting and why are they doing this? //~Evan Crisman// <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #333333; line-height: 140%; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Nick Hornby added to his list of terrific novels when he wrote Slam; the novel is a wonderful tale about a young man who makes a decision that changes his whole future. Hornby again successfully connects with his young teenage readers. His new novel successfully incorporates a message in this story; the message essentially is that each person has control over his or her own destiny. If one makes the right decisions in life then in most cases life will work out in the end. The story is about a young man named Sam who makes a decision not to always use protection while engaging in sexual intercourse. The central message reinforces that must live with the consequences of your actions. Life is a fragile object, and that object must be handled with care. When making a decision in life one must be prepared to stand by that decision otherwise it could someday have a negative effect. //~Matt Knecht// <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #333333; line-height: 140%; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The novel Speak is a book that many high school students can relate to. It shows how upcoming freshman behave in order to become part of the school. The novel starts out at the beginning of a new school year and readers are introduced to many upcoming freshmen. As the new students enter their new environment, they get involved in extra-curricular activities; change their personalities and even sometimes their morals just so they can fit it. As they get older they abandon their past and start fresh with older, more mature friends. In the hope of gaining these friends and fitting in, the freshmen result to name calling, sucking up and even name changing. I feel this is a great book for all ages to read. It really shows the consequences of leaving friends behind just to make a better name for yourself. It teaches good lessons while at the same time keeps the reader interested. I enjoyed this book because it’s something I’ve been through growing up and entering a new school. //~Tricia Gunderson// <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #333333; line-height: 140%; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">In the book Summer Intern by Carrie Karasyou and Jill Kargman, a character named Gabe is a homosexual and never tells his parents. Gabe works for the magazine Skirt, in this book there is a lot of fashion, he is only working there for training for Parsons a fashion designer college. He told his parents that he got a job at a sports magazine. He lies to cover up his orientation which is not right. He lives his life in fear of his parents. This book has a lot of characters that hold secrets and a lot who lie, so if someone likes a book with a lot of tension and scandals, and who happens to somewhat be into fashion and determination, this would be perfect. //~Kirsty Cady//
 * <span style="font-size: 300%; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Peer Book Reviews **
 * __[[image:http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/jacket.aspx?UserID=ebsco-test&Password=ebsco-test&Return=T&Type=S&Value=9780385751551 link="javascript:__doLinkPostBack(,'targetfullText||args3',);"]]<span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Before I Die __<span style="font-size: 120%; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"> by Jenny Downham (Realistic Fiction)  **<span style="font-size: 120%; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">
 * <span style="font-size: 120%; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">__[[image:http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/jacket.aspx?UserID=ebsco-test&Password=ebsco-test&Return=T&Type=S&Value=9780375836534 link="javascript:__doLinkPostBack(,'targetfullText||args1',);"]]Knights of the Hill Country__ by Tim Tharp (Sports)
 * <span style="font-size: 120%; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">__[[image:http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/jacket.aspx?UserID=ebsco-test&Password=ebsco-test&Return=T&Type=S&Value=9781582347363 link="javascript:__doLinkPostBack(,'targetfullText||args3',);"]]My Lost and Found Life__ by Melodie Bowsher (Realistic Fiction) **
 * <span style="font-size: 120%; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">__[[image:http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/jacket.aspx?UserID=ebsco-test&Password=ebsco-test&Return=T&Type=S&Value=9780743496728 link="javascript:__doLinkPostBack(,'targetfullText||args1',);"]]Nineteen Minutes__ by Jodi Picoult (Realistic Fiction) **
 * <span style="font-size: 120%; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">__[[image:http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/jacket.aspx?UserID=ebsco-test&Password=ebsco-test&Return=T&Type=S&Value=9780671027346 link="javascript:__doLinkPostBack(,'targetfullText||args1',);"]]The Perks of Being a Wallflower__ by Stephen Chbosky (Realistic Fiction) **
 * <span style="font-size: 120%; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">__[[image:http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/jacket.aspx?UserID=ebsco-test&Password=ebsco-test&Return=T&Type=S&Value=9780399250484 link="javascript:__doLinkPostBack(,'targetfullText||args1',);"]]Slam__ by Nick Hornby (Sports) **
 * <span style="font-size: 120%; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">__[[image:http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/jacket.aspx?UserID=ebsco-test&Password=ebsco-test&Return=T&Type=S&Value=9780374371524 link="javascript:__doLinkPostBack(,'targetfullText||args1',);"]]Speak__ by Laurie Halse Anderson (Realistic Fiction) **
 * <span style="font-size: 120%; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">__[[image:http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/jacket.aspx?UserID=ebsco-test&Password=ebsco-test&Return=T&Type=S&Value=9780061153754 link="javascript:__doLinkPostBack(,'targetfullText||args1',);"]]Summer Intern__ by Carrie Karasyou and Jill Kargman (Realistic Fiction) **