Reviews



        The Sign of the Chrysanthemum

        By Katherine Paterson

        The Sign of the Chrysanthemum, written by Katherine Paterson, a Newbery Medal-winning author for the book Bridge to Terabithia and Jacob Have I Loved wrote the story of Muna, who becomes an orphan early in his life. Before his mother dies, she tells him that he will know his father by a chrysanthemum tatooed on his shoulder. After her death, he searches for his father in the capital of twelfth-century Japan. Muna, a name which means "no name", searches for his father because he needs a name, once he has a name of his own, then he will truly be a man. This story is very interesting, it lacks the quality of Bridge to Terabithia but overall, it's pretty good. It is realistic fiction and shows "harsh realities as well as beauty and excitement."
        ~ Reviewed By Caroline

        The Theif

        By Megan Whalen Turner

        After I first read The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner, a Newbery Honor Book, I had tears in my eyes because I didn't want it to end. I don't want to spoil the plot for anyone, so I will only give you a little info on what is between the cover. Obviously, the book is about a thief, he is named Gen and comes an ancestory of thieves. While in prison, he is released only if he agrees to steal Hamiathes's Gift for the king... something he had always wanted to do anyhow. And that is all I will say as far as the story line goes. To spoil such a marvelous book for anyone who wished to read it would be a crime. After I ended the book, I went around telling everyone I knew to read it and that they wouldn't be disappointed, and so far, I was right! I recently got back from a book convention where I was able to meet Turner, a very lovely person herself and had her autograph my book. If that wasn't enough to excite me, she even gave me her email address when she found out I had her autograph one of her books for my friend, Mohammed, who lives in Egypt. She wanted to know how someone in Cairo would enjoy her book! Now I'm so anxious for Christmas to come just so I can send him The Thief. I highly recommend this thief's story for anyone who enjoys suspense and action mixed in with a few dashes of mythology and magic combined in a realistic setting. Something you'll read more than once!
        ~ Reviewed By Caroline

        The Rapture of Canaan

        Sheri Reynolds

        The Rapture of Canaan was about a cult like religion called The Almight Baptizing Water of Fire and Wind or something like that. Well anyway, the main character, a girl named Ninah, really likes this boy. He ends up liking her too, and they end up having sex (they are only 14). When Ninah finds out she's pregnant, the boy, James, drowns himself, because he is scared what the cult will do to him. When the cult does find out, Ninah is dunked in a the pond where James killed himslef over and over again. They also lock her up until she has the baby. When she does the babies hands are together like it is praying, so they think it is the new Mesiah. The preacher gives the baby to a differant couple to raise, where Ninah can't "harm" it. Ninah in the end cuts his hands apart. And makes you assume she is going to run away. Wonderful book! You can't read it now, probably, because I just told you nearly the whole story. But it was well written. Graphic, but one of the best books I've ever read.
        ~ Reviewed By Darcie H.

        The Last Battle

        By C.S. Lewis

        The Last Battle is the last of the books in the famous Narnia series. It was a imaginative book that takes place in a land called Narnia. It pretty much brings all the characters from the previous books toghether one last time to fight a donkey who is pretending to be there god, Aslan, who always comes in the form of a lion. It is an exciting book not to mention creative. It has a little bit of violence but not so much as you would find it offensive.
        ~ Reviewed By Darcie H.

        The Catcher in the Rye

        By J. D. Salinger

        This was an extremely interesting book. It's about a guy named Holden and he's labeled a failure. Basically he's afraid of the world and growing up though. There's a whole lot of info in this book that isn't explainable, you just have to read it to know what's going on. There's a ton of curse words though, so if you're offended by that kinda stuff, STAY AWAY! However, if you consider it to just add character to the book, go ahead and read it, it's worth while. You might wanna ask your parents too... :) When I wanted to read it for school, I had to bring a note from home to make sure I could read it. It's also on the Banned Booklist (for real). I liked it though. Some people think it had something to do with the death of John Lennon... could be something to look into if you're interested in it. :)
        ~ Reviewed By Caroline

        Othello

        By William Shakespeare

        This is one of Shakespeare's many tradegies. It is about a general who is also a Moor (meaning he is black). The play takes place around Italy and there everybody else is white, there is a big racial issue. Iago, the bad guy is jealous because Othello oppointed someone else to be 1st in command and the whole play is how he gets back at Othello. I don't want to spoil it, but it is one of my favorite pieces of literature. It is mainly about trust, and how trusting the wrong person can hurt you and the ones you love more than you'll ever imagine. I loved it. The movie is great too, but it's not rated "R" for nothing. If you're able to understand it, there are many Shakespearian insults along with the worst curse words printable. Yes, there are worse cuss words than the F-word. Anyhow, overall it's an awesome book, and if you're able to understand the language, I say read it! You're old enough. If you can't understand the laugnage, then you're too young and you won't figure out the cussing anyhow. :)
        ~ Reviewed By Caroline

        Once Upon A Time

        By Kate William (created by Francine Pascal)

        Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield are going to France! Jessica LOVES the castles in France (the looks of them anyway), so she is really excited when she finds out that she will be baby-sitting for a royal family... but it isn't all like she thought it would be. The kids her sister and she has to baby-sit are little brats!!! One named Peirre, is playing a game with Elizabeth and gets lost in a maze. Or acctually he knew where he was going, but Elizabeth doesn't! She gets lost and ends up seeing the Prince! At the end of the story, Elizabeth and the Prince start to kind of like each other. But in order to find out what happened after that, I had to get a different book. So I will send that book review in later!
        ~ Reviewed By Amber C.

        Never Send Flowers

        By John Gardner

        This was a James Bond book, and if you like Bond, you should like this alright. It is not good for anyone who doesn't like cussing and dirty parts. There are some included in this. I probably wouldn't really highly recomend it. James Bond doesn't have much action in this, he kind of depends on his girlfriend.
        ~ Reviewed By Candace

        Seafire

        By John Gardner

        This one was a little bit better of a Bond book than the other one, Never Send Flowers. If you like mysterys and don't mind bad words and dirty parts, you should like both of these. Reccomended for 13 and up.
        ~ Reviewed By Candace

        What I wish I knew in High School

        By John Bytheway

        This book has lots of helpful tips for getting through high school and morally clean. If you have high standards, or need some extra help, this book is for you!
        ~ Reviewed By Candace

        Carry on Jeeves

        P.G. Wodehouse

        It was the funniest book. A real classic by Wodehouse, but you have to understand his British sense of humor. There were a few bad words, and it can be hard to understand, but if you get it it's funny.
        ~ Reviewed By Candace

        Lost Magic

        By Berthe Amoss

        This is a wonderfully written book full of magic and suspence. It's about a girl called Ceridwen who is found floating in a basket in a moat. This old woman raises her and teaches her the healing arts. With the knowledge of healing, the castle takes her in so she is no longer a pesant but not the person who cures the people of the castle with her herbs, etc. But then she is wrongly accused or bringing a plague to the castle and is banished. She takes the king's daughter away with her so as to protect her, and towards the end of the story, it is told how the king realizes what happens and searches for her to help his wife, the queen. The story is wonderful and it's the kind you'll read more than once, it has no swear words but it does have some descriptions about a disease which plagues the castle, etc.
        ~ Reviewed by Caroline

        Summer Of My German Soldier

        By Bette Greene

        *Summary from the back of the book*
        The summer that Patty Bergen turns twelve is a summer that will haunt her forever. When her small hometown in Arkansas becomes the site of a camp housing German prisoners during World War II, Patty learns what it means to open her heart. Even though she's Jewish, she begins to see a prison escapee, Anton, not as a Nazi, but as a lonely, frightened young man with feelings not unlike her own. In Anton, Patty finds someone who softens the pain of her own father's rejection and who appreciates her in a way her mother never will. While patriotic feeling run high, Patty risks losing family, friends - even her freedom - for this dangerous friendship. It is a risk she has to take and one she will have to pay a price to keep.
        *My Review*
        A very good book. There is swearing (but no f-words). Suitable for ages 12-up.
        ~ Reviewed by Aimee C.

        Walk Two Moons

        By Sharon Creech

        Walk Two Moons is about a girl who is on a cross-country car trip with her grandparents. While they are driving, Gram and Gramps get Sal to tell a story. She tells the story of Phoebe, her best friend, and she realizes Phoebe's story is not different from her own. There is a bit of mild swearing (no f-words) and sex is mentioned nothing happens, it's just mentioned. There is death but no killing Sal's grandmother dies. Overall, it's a really good book and I think everyone should read it. It won the 1996 Newberry Medal.
        ~ Reviewed by Aimee C.

        Death Be Not Proud

        By John Gunther

        This is a biography written by John Gunther about his son, John Gunther, Jr. This is a very inspiring story about a boy 15 years old who could very well be considered a genius. However, he has the horrible misfortune of a brain tumor which shortens his life. The book describes what John Gunther, Jr. went through the last 18 months of his life, and how he never complained no matter how bad he was feeling. He would always say he was doing wonderful. He thought more about other people, rather than himself even at the end of his life, and he died in his sleep. The story has no swear words, but it is very sad yet enlighting.
        ~ Reviewed By Caroline

        After The Dancing Days

        By Margaret I. Rostowski

        This is a wonderful historical fiction book about Annie and her family after World War I. For her family, the war is over. Her father was a doctor and has returned. But for the men who were wounded, the war will always leave in their memory. " It's time to forget the fighting," Annie's mother tells her " It brought us so much misery. I won't have it touching you," but as hard as her mother tries, it has already touched Annie. Her favorite uncle was killed in France and her father is helping wounded soldiers at the local hospital. despite Annie's mother's disaproval, Annie is drawn like a magnet to the hospital where she meets Andrew, a withdrawn young veteran. Annie helps Andrew to come out of his shell and he teaches her to stand up to her mother's anger and the ironies of heroism and war. There are some swear words in this book. It also talks in detail of someones injuries.
        ~Reviewed by Tiffani S.


        A Time to Kill

        By John Grisham

        This book was one of the better John Grishams, even though I like them all. With a great ending, and a great story plot I would reccommend it highly. Sadly, this is an adult book and has swearing, and other bad parts. I usually skim over that to get the idea.
        ~Reviewed by Candace


        Anastasia Syndrome and other stories

        By Mary Higgins Clark

        When I think of mystery books, I'm usually turned off. But this was an exciting book that I read cover-to-cover in one day. There is minimum swearing and some hard to follow parts. But it is quite exciting.
        ~Reviewed by Candace


        Missing May

        By Cynthia Rylant

        It was about this girl Summer, who had to deal with her aunt May's death, her uncle Ob who had a hard time living without his wife, a lunitic boy who turned out not to be as bad as she thought, and her herself who missed her aunt May and the happiness she and her aunt and uncle had when she was alive. I actually cried a little at the end of this book. This book does have cussing in it. It won the John Newberry Medal.
        ~Reviewed By Beth A









        Last Updated On January 8, 2004