Triple-R: Recreational Reader's Review

All Rivers Flow to the Sea

2009-05-26T13:45:00.004-05:00

All Rivers Flow to the Sea is a very interesting book to read. Once you start the book you get very interested and don't want to stop reading. I enjoyed reading this book, and I recommend that everyone should read this book. All Rivers Flow to the Sea is mainly about two sisters, Rosie, and Ivy. Rosie and Ivy got into a car accident going around a corner in dusk when a blue truck was sliding toward them. The blue truck hit them, now Ivy is in the hospital with major injuries. Nothing will ever be the same for these two sisters and best friends. Read how each of the characters deals with this tragic accident. Friends like William T make this time for Rosie bearable, especially when Rosie's Mom escapes in a world of paper cranes.

Messed Up By Janet Nichols Lynch

2009-05-21T10:42:00.009-05:00

Messed Up is a very thrilling and attention grabbing book. R.D. is the 15 year old main character in this book. He lives with his grandmother and her boyfriend, Earl. After his grandmother leaves him and Earl, to go be with Harry, R.D. continues to mess up in school. He leaves school early one day to go sit by himself at a park across town, and decides to go home late. Once he arrives at home he finds Earl dead in the bathroom. After Earl's death, R.D. pretends to everybody in town that his grandmother is still around and Earl's just at home sick. Not many people catch on at first to his scheme to live by himself, but R.D. realizes that he misses and loves Earl very much. He realizes that if he wants to be able to live on his own, he has to straighten his life out. R.D. does everything he can possibly do to make everyone think that Earl is still alive, he even forges Earl's pension checks. After a while, people catch on and tell Earl's sister about what was going on. So if you want to know the ending to this excellent book, you will have to read it.

Angels and Demons By Dan Brown

2009-03-13T12:27:00.004-05:00

Dan Brown writes another thriller! This book is as good as the Da Vinci Code if not better. I think it is amazing how Dan uses real history and intwines it into his story line. It isn't boring history either, it is facts that you have never heard about before that are extremely interesting and exciting! This book is long, but it reads fast. Angels and Demons is a book that once you pick up you won't want to set it down. This book is an adventure that keeps the reader constantly thinking, guessing, and amazed at the outcome. It is action packed and full of obstacles! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves action, drama, and a little bit of history!

Shadow Prey by John Sandford

2009-01-15T14:01:00.004-06:00

John Sandford's third novel "Shadow Prey" takes place in the Twin Cities Area. It tells the story from more then one view point. The main view point is from a investigator named John Davenport. John has a different way of collecting information then the police. He give criminals bargains and merchandise that may be slightly illegal. The story takes place in today's world. There are three Indian men who kill political people to help the reservation. John is faced with one of the most challenging cases of his life. The author John Sandford writes in a great style. It is quick, intense, and strait to the point. The book is set in an environment that is very believable. I think this is probably the best book i have read yet. John Sandford is a very interesting character who questions many morals that people are suppose to follow. This book isn't for fairy tail readers. I recommend this book to anyone who likes see both sides of a story and who likes adventure and mystery.

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

2009-01-14T14:00:00.003-06:00

This book takes place in a small town near Seattle, Washington. Bella, who is the main character in the book, moves from Phoenix Arizona to live with her dad. At her first day of school she is accepted by everyone one in the school except Edward Cullin and the rest of his family. One day on her way to school, she is almost run over by a van that had lost control on the ice and Edward saves her by stopping the van with his bare hands. That is how she comes to her assumption that he is a vampire and from then on she can't stay away from him even though she knows he is dangerous. Throughout the book Bella is faced with continuous danger for being with Edward and the Cullins. This book is full of excitement and unending adventure that keeps you guessing through the whole book. If you read the first book, be ready to read the whole series, because once you pick Twilight up you can't put it down. Twilight starts out slow, but it quickly picks up to where super fast vampires that are as hard as rock will do anything to keep Bella alive.

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

2008-12-12T08:49:00.006-06:00

This book takes place in a small, ordinary town in New Hampshire, called Sterling. One average day at Sterling High, turned into a thrilling shocker, that effected the lives of thousands of people. Josie Cormier, one of the victims of the shooting, just so happens to be the teenage daughter, of the judge sitting on the case that comes about, due to the strong act of violence that took place at the school that day. She could be one of the State's best witnesses but, she tells everyone that she cannot remember what happened. This story tells about the lives of different people before and after the incident, and what kind of impact it left on them. Everything boils down to the friendships and trust developed between a few of the characters. I recommend this story to all ages and anyone looking for a roller coaster of a book. ~K~

Stick Figure By: Lori Gottlieb

2008-10-30T14:08:00.005-05:00

Lori is a unique, 11 year old girl who enjoys playing chess, getting straight A's in school and always being right. Throughout the beginning of the story, she is desperately trying to fit in and be popular. She is surrounded by images of very thin women. Women who diet, count calories, and obsess about their weight. Lori starts becoming very self-conscious of her weight and begins dieting. What started out as just eating a little less, led in to a whole lot more towards the end. She was hospitalized and kept in a controlled environment. This story is a very serious yet extremely humorous one. This is a true story and is based on true events. If you enjoy crazy stories on different people's lives, I suggest reading this stomach-turner! ~K~

Brave New World By: Aldous Huxley

2008-10-30T14:05:00.002-05:00

Brave New World is a science fiction novel written in 1932. Aldous Huxley's book takes place hundreds of years in the future.The book takes many twists and turns in a wildy imagnary future. The book begins at a factory but instead of making a product it makes people. People are cloned and they all worship "Our Ford" the creator of the essembly line. The people are only taught enough to do there jobs. Its frowned upon to have actual relationships and to have opinions. The people are taught what to think and what to do. The main charecter of the book is a boy that lived on "the reservation". He tries to more back to the hometown of his mother but he can't conform. Aldous talks about many things in the book that had not been invented such as birth control and cloning. I would recomend this book to everyone. Its a challaging read but entertaining at the end. It would be good to talk about the book in a group to reflect on the many idea and emotions covered in the book.

Betrayed by Rosey Dow and Andrew Snaden

2008-10-30T09:26:00.005-05:00

Laura has just been sent to a new state, new town and given a new name. She has to create herself a new life, while living down horrible secrets from her past. Her father is a computer scientist who was thrown in jail for selling the United States' missile guidance system to other world powers. When the system crashes their is a race for nuclear power. Everyone thinks Laura knows how to get rid of the virus, so countries all around the world are trying to get their hands on her, but even Laura doesn't know how to break the complicated code. Her only hope for surviving is to let the man who put her father in jail to help her, CIA agent Jonathan Corrigan. This book is one that has a lot of twists and will keep you guessing right to the end.

A Yellow Raft in Blue Water by Michael Dorris

2008-05-20T10:14:00.002-05:00

This is a story divided into three parts. The first is about Rayona a teenage girl, the second is about her mother Christine, and the third is about Christine's mother, Aunt Ida. Rayona lives with her mom, Christine in Seattle. Christine suffers from depression because her husband, Rayonas father, left her, and also because she feels responsible for her brothers death in the Vietnam war. After Christine tries killing herself, Rayona goes to Bearpaw Lake State Park where she works and stays with an older couple who are very good to her. After a while she goes to where her grandmother lives on a reservation in Montana. She finds her mother there, living with an old childhood friend. Christine has figured out her life a little and her and Rayona have a good reunion. In the third part of the book it tells about Aunt Ida's life. There are many secrets hidden in it, that give a lot of answers to the first two parts of the book. The book starts out pretty slow, but after a while it gets really interesting.

Hold Tight By: Harlan Coben

2008-05-20T09:18:00.002-05:00

"U ok?" "I still think we should say something." "It's long over. Just stay quite and all safe." This is a message that Tia and Mike Baye find on their sons, Adam, computer while spying on him. Tia and Mike started spying on their son because he was becoming more withdrawn from family and friends after the suicide of his friend Spencer. Tia and Mike didn't want the same thing to happen to Adam, thus the reason they installed the spywear. But all a sudden, Adam goes missing. He runs away from home, he throws his phone in a dumpster, and abandons all. While he is gone, Betsy Hill, Spencer's Mother, confronts Tia about the death of her son. Saying that Adam had something to do with Spencer's death. So while dealing with her missing son, she is now dealing with the accusations of Betsy. Will Tia and Mike find Adam before he kills himself? Did Adam really have something to do with the suicide of his best friend?

I thought that this was a very good book, it gets you interested right from the start, and keeps you interested. There is always some big scheme that is going on, whether it be Adam running, or Tia and Mike chasing. I would defiantly recommend this if you like suspenseful books!

The Shadow Riders By - Louis L'amour

2008-05-18T13:47:00.002-05:00

Mac Traven is on his way back home from the Civil War. When he stops in a town, he hears that one of the Travens brothers is going to be murdered. Mac goes to find out which brother is under attack. He finds out they are after his brother Dal and Mac ends up saving his life. As they continue their journey back home, they come across ranches where the women and the cattle have been taken from and the men shot. When they finally make it back home, they find out their sister and brother have been taken and their father shot badly. They also find out Dal's girlfriend Kate has been taken. They go by themselves to try to save these women and stop the rampage. They come to find out that the group is led by the Confederate Colonel Ashford. They follow the group to Mexico where Ashford plans to trade the women for guns. On their way there, Dal and Mac recruit help from their Uncle Jack and Brother Jesse, who escapes Ashford. With their help, they end up attacking the enemy. At that point, Ashford had already taken Kate and some of his men to Kate's Uncle Martin's so Ashford could see if he would help. The attack ends up being successful. The happiness doesn't stay too long though. It leaves when Dal realizes they still don't have Kate. So, Jack and Jesse take the women to a town and Dal and Mac stay to free Kate. Kate knows knows that the brothers will keep going to find her. She just keeps thinking that "the Travens will never stop until they are free or they are dead." To find out if they make it, you'll just have to read the book. I thought it was pretty good.

The Other Boleyn Girl....Cortney Pemberton

2008-05-14T14:43:00.003-05:00

In Philippa Gregory’s gripping masterpiece, Mary first comes to court at the age of 14 when she is thrust into anarranged marriage with William Carey, and then is forced instead to court the king. He soon loses interest in her when her undeniably beautiful sister arrives and after she has two of the king's children. A Girl named Catherine and a boy named Henry. So,setting Mary aside he takes Anne as his mistress, but her goals are set way above what he has planned. Anne keeps the king entertained throughout the divorce of his first wife Queen Katherine, who could not produce a son for King Henry. King Henry eventually overtakes the church of england and causes mayhem all over England. During all this time, Mary falls in love after her husband William Carey has died. She met William Stafford, a low social class of a person but loves him anyways and runs away to marry him. They both return to court and hope no one finds out. However, no one marries a king for joy, a lesson Anne learns a bit too late. With her jealous, violenttantrums, aging physique, and inability to produce the heirs she promised, the king begins to forget Anne and another new woman comes into his life. Will Anne survive the whispered rumors when she gives birth to her third, deformed stillborn? Will Mary’s innocent children survive Anne’s green-eyed wrath at their mother’s fertility? Will they die because of it? Will Mary’s secret act of deceit go unnoticed, or will she be forced to pay for her betrayal? This book was amazing. I suggest everyone read it. It is quite long but you get so into it that it doesn't even matter.

The River Between Us

2008-05-09T13:38:00.000-05:00

This book was really good i thought. There were so many events and unexpected situations it kept the book interesting. The book started off by this boy telling about his experience to his grandparents house. Then the story goes on being told by his grandmother, Tilly. this was during the time of the civil war. Tilly lived with her mother, sister Cass, and brother Noah. Their father left for war and never came back. Tallies family was from the north. One evening this boat came in from New Orleans full of passengers and supplies. Two of the passengers got off and they were mysterious. The one lady Dalphina was a very elegant made up lady, and behind her was a darker plain women. They were from a rich.proper class from the South. Tallies mom said that they would take these strange travelers in their home, they needed the extra money. Everyone one in the town thought the woman with Dalphina was her slave. They were all afraid and suspicious of them. The towns people believes they were spies from the South. Dalohina and Noah were interested in each other. A month after they arrived Noah and some other town boys were sent off to war. After a month of him being gone Tallies mom became worried for her son and she wanted him back home. she sent Tilly off to bring him food, quilts, and medicine to heal him and bring him back home. The morning Tilly was leaving Dalophina was determined she would go along. When the women arrived at the town the soldiers were at they found a place to stay. The next day they set out to find Noah. He was in the sick tent. There were ten other sick soldiers along with Noah. The women helped Noah and the other soldiers back to health. They cleaned their betting, cooked for healthy meals for them, washed them, and gave them medicine and more quilts. When Noah was strong and healthy enough he was sent out to fight. A few days later Noah came back, but had lost one of his arms. After he was strong enough to go home Tilly, Dalophina, and Noah left. The end of the story goes back to the boy and his dad driving home. The book was really good, and had many twists and unexpected events. It was one of the best books I read.

The Inferno

2008-05-09T09:49:00.003-05:00

The Inferno by Dante is an absolute classic. The first book of the Divine Comedy, Inferno is a journey through Hell. Dante is considered to be a master of Literature and I have to agree. It's really long and can get confusing so make sure you have time enough to read it. It's an epic poem so there is rhyme and meter and the awkward breaks. But it's an amazing how Dante had divided Hell into ten separate circles, each for their own level of sin. It's an intelligent book to pick up and read. I think that if you like reading, or poetry, or are just bored, this is a must read for you.

The Outsiders

2008-05-08T19:55:00.005-05:00

The Outsiders is a story about two very different groups of teenagers who always fight with each other, because of their social standings. Some of the main characters are Ponyboy Curtis, his best friend Johnny, Dally and Ponyboys two brothers: Darry and Sodapop. Ponyboy and his gang, are labeled greasers because of there hair, poor income, and basic lifestyle. The other group of teenagers, are called the Socs. They are very rich people, with high standards. One night, a group of Socs end up jumping Ponyboy and Johnny. Johnny kills one of the Socs, and immediately, the two boys flee to a different town. They hide out there for a while, with barely any food, and after about a week, one of the gang members, Dally, comes to get them. A church starts on fire and a bunch of little kids are trapped inside. They boys attempt to save them, but get badly hurt in the process. One character ends up dying, but I wont ruin that for you. After this whole ordeal occurs, the Socs and Greasers get into what they call, a Rumble. That is pretty much, this huge brawl, that is based on pride. Whoever wins, is "the best". This story, isn't just about the two classes of people, but is mostly about friendship, and trust in ones family. This is a very great book, and I highly suggest it to anyone who likes surprises! ~K~

Tweak by: Nic Sheff

2008-05-08T11:14:00.001-05:00

Tweak is about a young man who is a recovering addict. once being addicted to meth cocain and haroin he is in the 12 step program with a very supportive sponser! But Nic feels like its time to go back to L.A. and do just one more shot. Of course that one shot turned into many and he quickly started back down the path of drugs and dealing and selling his body to other men. Through out the book Nic falls in and out of this cycle a couple of time, of course each time is a little diffent. It all depends on where he is at who he is with and if his sponser and parents can find him. If his parents find him Nic will surely be back into another rehab center.
Nic does however realize what he is doing and how it is recking his relationship with the his sponser and his sponsers family his own family including his younger brother and sister. But everybody wants him to leave the girl he says he loves.
Will Nic be able to kick his habit once and for all or does his life stay on this miserable questioning path?

Weed Flower by Cynthia Kadohata

2008-05-08T10:59:00.007-05:00

Weedflower is an interesting book. The setting is in America around the time of Pearl Harbor. The main charecter is a young Japanese girl named Sumiko. She lives on a farm and her familiy grows and sells flowers. The book is basicly about what happens to her familiy after the attack on Pearl Harbor. She is sent to camp full of other Japanese-Americans. The Camp is in Arizona. Sumiko also meets a couple of local indian boys who live on the resevation the camp is located on. Later on in the story Sumiko enter a gardening contest between the other camps. She finds a way to bring happiness in her life even when they had to sell their farm and all of their prized belongings. Sumiko reminds us that you can always turn a bad situation into a good one. This book is about life, love, and hope. I recomend this book to everyone becuase the chapters are only 3 to 5 pages long. This book is hard to put down.

I Am America (And So Can You)

2008-05-06T14:10:00.004-05:00

I love this book. This book was written by Stephen Colbert but I must warn you first it isn't really written by Stephen himself, It is writen by the charecter Stephen plays on his show, "The Colbert report". This book is really funny and only about 250 pages. Stephen talks about many of the issues in politics and our daily lifes. He also talks about his upbringing and his rise to fame. I would recommend this book to everyone. Stephen is great at proving points even though somtimes they don't really make any sense at all. I personally loved this book becuase of the humor. The book is also filled with extras like pages devoted to stickers, science projects, and tables. I think this is a good read if you are looking for a good laugh.

Sold

2008-05-06T08:51:00.004-05:00

Lakshmi is a 12 year old girl who lives in a small village near the Himalayan mountains. Her family is poor, her step-father is a gambler and can't work because of an accident, so her mother does all of the household and farm chores. Lakshmi wants to go into the city to work as a maid so she can buy a tin roof for her famiy. Her mother tells her no, but soon afterwards her step-father takes her to a woman, who then takes her into a city and gives her to a man who will take her to another city. When she gets to her destination she is very disappointed. There are no movie stars and the people are living on the streets. The roofs are not made of gold at all, but the same old tin as everybody else's. She gets to a house called 'Happy House'. That is where she will be staying until she can pay back her family's debt. She soon comes to discover that she isn't a maid, but she has been sold into something horrible. Everyday she is told to put on makeup, and look pretty to the men that pass by. She lives like this for what she thinks is two years. But one day an American comes to Lakshmi and gives her a card with a phone number and information. She doesn't know whether or not to trust him because she has been told that the Americans are bad and will try to convince her to go away with them. She is confused, however, she saves the card in a sercret place and waits for something to happen. Will she ever be able to go back home to her family?

Three Day Road

2008-05-05T10:28:00.003-05:00

In this book there are two men, Elijah Wiskeyjack and Xavier Bird. They volenteer in the army and are sent to fight in World War I. They come from Canada and are part of the Cree tribe in Ontario. These two guys grew up together and do everything side by side. Both of them become snipers in the war and work side by side killing Germans. Elijah is very outgoing. He likes to brag about all the men that he has killed. Every time he kills someone he takes something from that person. Most of the time he scalps them, he keeps them in a bag he carries with him. Xavier on the other hand hates the war and wants to go home. He is very quiet because he can't speak english very well. Xavier is the better shooter of the two men, but never wants to admit that. Whenever he shoots someone he pretends he is hunting. Trench life is very hard for them. The lice crawl over them constantly and there is a thick layer of mud at the bottom of the trench. Niska is Xavier's aunt and the one who raised the two boys. She still lives in the wilderness in Ontario. When she goes to the train station to pick up Xavier after the war she realizes he has lost a leg. He is addicted to morphine, just like every othe man returning from the war. On there journy home Xavier remembers what his life was like in Europe. Niska tells him stories of his childhood, and what life was like for her growing up. Niska is unsure if Xavier is going to make it home, he only has a few needles left.

Tortilla Flat By John Steinbeck

2008-04-01T08:38:00.002-05:00

Tortilla Flat is about a man named Danny who recently returned from the military. When he joined the military he was poor and had nothing to leave behind, but when he returned he had recently inherited two houses. The book goes on to tell about how he rented his second house to a friend who sublet it to many others to help him pay the rent. None of the people, including Danny, could handle the responsibility of owning, or even living in their own home. This all lead to a tragic ending and the burning of both the houses. The general story was pretty good, but in all I wouldn't recommend it to most people.

A Whole New Light by Sandra Brown

2008-03-25T20:47:00.002-05:00

Cyn McCall in her early years of life has become a widow; her husband and the father to her son, Brandon, was killed. Cyn's husband was killed in a tragic car accident. Two years after his death she is still wearing his wedding ring, and is not willing to try and date again. Her husbands best friend Worth Lansing, who also became her best friend is her only way to forget what happened, her only escape to have fun. Cyn never thought of Worth in any kind of sexual way until he invited her to go on a trip to Acapulco, where she ends up having to share a bedroom with him. At first they just went as friends trying to escape the hectic work schedule, but towards the end of the trip a much deeper relationship develops. I thought that this was a very good book, it kept you interested because Cyn was scared to let go of her husband and because of that she would push Worth away. When all I wanted was for Worth and Cyn to be together. I would defiantly recommend this book!

Lovely Bones By: Alice Sebold (Krysta Coleman)

2008-03-25T12:54:00.003-05:00

Lovely Bones is a sad but realistic story. It begins with a young fourteen girl named Susie Salmon who was rapped and murdered. There has been a lot of cases of missing young girls in different states but no one ever thought it would happen in there town. Susie is now in heaven telling the story about how her family and how everything has changed since shes been gone! Her father tries to catch Susie's killer but ends up getting hurt and crippled. As there family falls apart Susie's brother and sister are emotional driven away from there mothers relationship!

The Darkest Evening by William Durbin

2008-03-24T15:02:00.002-05:00

Jake Maki gets along well with everyone in his family, but tensions develop in the Maki family, when his father decides to move the family from their home in Minnesota. Arvid decides to move his family to a workers' paradise in the Soviet Union. The family moves to their new home in Lonnrot, Karelia in 1935. They are forced to live in barracks-style quarters, without adequate furniture, inadequate food and no running water or electricity. Arvid then moves the family to the Karelian regional capital. The conditions and hardships continue to get worse and Jake is more convinced that the family made a mistake. Peter, the older brother, is suddenly arrested and taken away by the NKVD and a short time later Arvid is taken away. With Jake now the leader, the three remaining Makis embark on a long cross-country ski trip. Traveling mainly at night, for more than a week, they face many dangers. Jake, his mother, ad his sister end up escaping to safety and freedom more than one hundred miles away in Finland.

Eclipse

2008-03-20T10:16:00.003-05:00

Bella Swan is getting anxious. The end of the school year is near and she is applying at different colleges....actually Edward is making her apply at different colleges. He told her that after graduation he can turn her into a vampire. He doesn't think it is such a good idea, but it's what Bella really wants. Meanwhile, Bella's good friend Jake has turned into a wherewolf. The the vampires and the wherewolfs don't get along, but when they find out someone is out to get Bella they soon come together to fight. Does Edward actually go through with it and change her like she wants or will she stay human?

Considering The Horse

2008-03-17T16:06:00.008-05:00

I must start off by saying, this book is a whole lot different than any other book I have read. It is more an instructional book, than any other. Mark (author of this book) uses entertaining stories that will introduce you to great solutions for resolving training problems, from the horse's point of view. Different topics include; head tossing, balking, mounting problems, trailer loading, headshyness, picking up feet, ground manners and a few others. If you own a horse, and you find yourself getting really frustrated with it, because of any of the topics above, this is a really fantastic book that I suggest you look into. He doesn't force his own ideas of solving these problems onto you, he simply supports them with logical explanations, from real life experiences. Instead of just reading your average instructional, you will find yourself intrigued in this real life problem-solving methodized book! The methods and solutions, are wrote up into stories, to make you life more happy! I highly suggest this book!

Life of Pi by: Yann Martel

2008-03-17T10:11:00.005-05:00

Life of Pi is the life story of a young man, Pi. The book comes in two parts, the first being his life before becoming lost at sea, the second part being his life at sea. Piscine Molitor Patel a.k.a. Pi, was a young Indian boy whose family owned a zoo in India. Pi was a very different child. He not only followed the Hindu religion, but Christian and muslim as well. His belief in God, no matter what way he worshiped, gave him strength all throughout his journey at sea. So the story starts with his family deciding to sell their zoo and move to Canada. As they are sailing to Canada, something goes wrong with the ship and it sinks. The only ones to make it on a lifeboat are Pi, a wounded zebra, a hyena, an orangutan, and Richard Parker...a bengal tiger! Read of Pi's amazing feat of survival on the sea for an extraordinary period of time... all the while living with a full grown, male, bengal tiger!

Lynchings in Duluth By: Michael W. Fedo

2008-02-25T08:51:00.002-06:00

The Lynchings in Duluth is a Non-Fiction book that is about white men having a problem with black men touching they're white women. Sandra Teale and Bobby Walsh go to the circus the evening of June 14th for a date, but after the circus Bobby and Sandra decide that they want to take a closer look at the animals. Now what happens next is not a known fact, but according to Bobby and Sandra four black men attacked them and raped Sandra while holding a gun to Bobby's head. When the town of Duluth hears about the rape, they are outraged. The county police arrest six black men just to make sure that they have the right men, and keep them in holding in jail. When word gets around town that the blacks are in town, the citizens of Duluth start a mob, by attacking the police station where the blacks are in custody. After eight hours of trying to get the black men, they succeed and end up hanging three black men from a light pole. Does Duluth do anything to punish the people that lynched the three black men? Do they still hold a trial for the rape of Sandra Teale? What happens to the town, and to the residents after the lynchings? Does Duluth still deal with racial problems?

This book is a good book. It took me a while to get into it because the beginning is very slow, but once started it was a quick read with lots of information. I don't know if I would recommend this book, it was a good book but it wasn't that good. If your interested in history or just want to read about lynchings that happened in the state of Minnesota this book is for you!! But I didn't exactly enjoy the book.

The Glass Castle By: Jeannette Walls

2008-02-24T18:02:00.002-06:00

This book is really about the life of the author/writer which made me want to read it. In the book herl ife started out at age 3 living in Arizona in a trailer. She burns herself while making hotdogs on a summer day and is hospitalized. Her father, Rex takes her and the rest of her family and moves. Throughout the story her family moves to multiple cities which made it very hard for her. Jeannette was 1 of four other children. From youngest to oldest there was Lori, Jeannette, Brian and Maureen. Jeanette's father never held a job for more then a few weeks. He always told his family many tall tales from his past which claimed that one day they would live in a Glass Castle. As they move from place to place Rex gets into drugs and alcohol and can't keep a job risking the family. The Wall family never lived in any place fancy. It was always roach infested or also had terrible neighbors. These conditions made it hard for every member of the family to understand. Jeanette and the rest of the children went to school and had an education. They all learned new and exciting things about themselves. I suggest for anyone to read this book. I had a wounderful time reading it and hope you do to. The ending turns out real good! BUT I can't ruin it for you now!

The Blonde Theory by: Kristin Harmel

2008-02-24T15:17:00.002-06:00

This story is about a woman named Harper. She recently got divorced from her husband of two years. She thought that everything was perfect. Harper had an amazing job as an up town attorney. She recently got promoted to partner of her firm. She was the youngest person to ever make partner. After going out into the dating scene for the first time in a long time, Harper realized that she intimidated guys. The guys that she dated would run straight for the door once they found out how accomplished she was. Her friends decided that they were going to do an experiment to see if this is why guys were turned off by her. The experiment was called the blonde theory. Harper would act like a dumb blonde, act the total opposite of what she really was. After the theory was over, Harper realized that she was a major part of the problem.

Something Borrowed By: Emily Giffin

2008-02-22T14:13:00.000-06:00

This book focuses on Rachel, a 30-year-old single lawyer living in New York City. Rachel has a best friend from way back, Darcy, who is getting married to a law school friend of Rachel's named Dex, with Rachel as her maid of honor. At the beginning of the book, Rachel and Dex spend the night together, and thus begins the tale of the unrequited love of Rachel and Dex. The two of them agree to keep their one night a secret from Darcy, who has a few secrets of her own. Rachel even tries to date Dex's friend, with no real success. Rachel takes turns feeling guilty and justifying her actions by remembering all the past wrongs that Darcy had done her. There has been a long history of Darcy stealing boys from Rachel, copying her clothes and not being a very good friend to her. Deep down, though, Rachel knows that this does not excuse her actions. She longs for Dex to tell Darcy the truth so that he can begin a legitimate relationship with Rachel. After months of secret meetings and postponing any serious talks, Rachel delivers Dex an ultimatum: call off the wedding, or their love affair is over.

Best Friends By: Martha Moody

2008-02-22T14:04:00.000-06:00

Claire is a doctor. Sally is a lawyer. Claire grew up in a middle class, two-income family in Ohio. Sally was raised in California, the privileged benefactress of her father's magazine empire. The girls meet for the first time in the fall of 1973, when they become roommates and best friends at the start of their freshman year at Oberlin College. Their friendship lasts for the rest of their lives.
The two women maintain close ties throughout college, then medical school, interning and, finally, private practice for Claire; law school then trial work for Sally. Claire visits Sally as often as possible and becomes an honorary member of her family.
As they grow up, each of them begins to understand that she's been sheltered and naïve, albeit in different ways. Separately, they work through their individual myopia and face the loss of personal "innocence," with support, understanding, and love from each other.
The girls idolize their fathers, and when they are forced to cope with the knowledge of each man's transgressions. Claire's is an embezzler; Sally's is a pornographer --- they help one another adjust to the fact that "daddy" is not perfect. They go on to share the realizations of the different but undeniable realities of their dysfunctional families; together, they traverse the rough terrain created by the pain of their messy marriages and sad divorces, and share the joys and pain of motherhood.
Throughout the process of stretching toward individuation and the movement toward becoming mature, whole and independent women, these two remain completely loyal to each other. They are professionals and they are wives and they are mothers, every phase evolving in its own time, each woman maturing at her own pace.

The Next Accident by: Lisa Gardner

2008-02-22T12:56:00.003-06:00

Mandy, the daughter of Supervisory Special Agent Pierce Quincy of the FBI, has been killed in an automobile accident. But was it really an accident? Yes she was drunk, but why was she drunk when she had been sober for so long now? There are too many inaccuracies in this case. So if it wasn't an accident, who did this to Mandy and why? Quincy hires his personal friend and private investigator, Lorraine (Rainie) Connors to investigate all of his questions for him. But as they get closer and closer to the truth they find that, though Mandy was the first "accident", her accident might not be the last. So how far will this go? Will it go until all of Quincy's loved ones (including himself) are dead? Or will they figure out what is going on before the next accident?

The Gift of Fear by Gavin De Becker

2008-02-22T08:08:00.002-06:00

This non-fiction book teaches you ways to use your intuition and fear to stay away from violence. Gavin De Becker had a tough childhood with parents that fought all of the time. He actually witnessed his mother shoot his step father. He has used his experiences to inform other people how to stay away from violence and notice signs that something could go wrong very soon. This book is full of short stories about people that have told him what has happened to them. Some were raped, some were almost murdered, and so on. The Gift of Fear is a valuable book to read because it teaches you to not be constantly in fear, but to use your intuition if you are in a bad situation.

Message In A Bottle By Nicholas Sparks

2008-02-20T22:06:00.004-06:00

On a walk while at Cape Cod, Theresa Osborne finds a bottle containing a message. The message was written by a man that had lost his wife after 6 years of marriage. Theresa was drawn to the man just by reading his words. She decides to find the man that wrote the message. Her search takes her to Garrett Blake. Both Theresa and Garrett had suffered losses in the area of love. Theresa was divorced and Garrett's wife had died. Neither one of them thought they would ever have another chance at a relationship. What happens between them, surprises both of them. They develop a long distance relationship with a surprise ending. This book proves that there second chances in life.

Twilight

2008-02-20T09:51:00.007-06:00

Bella Swan moved from Pheonix to Forks and is not liking it at all. The sun doesn't shine and it's ALWAYS raining! She gets new friends so things are looking up for her, but then at lunch she notices a group of very pale, very beautiful teens sitting all alone. She's very interested by them, but the other students don't say much about them because they're different and they don't talk to anyone but their siblings. Well, it turns out that they are vampires and she falls madly in love with one of them, Edward. Her scent is so strong that Edward can't stay away, but will he want to kill her?

Treasure Mountain, by Louis Lamour

2008-02-20T09:43:00.003-06:00

Orrin and Tell Sackett are searching the west for knowledge of what became of their Pa. They know that he went to the San Juan mountain range 20 years ago searching for gold. His company consisted of gold hungry people who did not like him. So Orrin and Tell get their own group together to go back to the San Juans. They follow Pa's trail almost exactly and what they find is not what they expect.

Sanctuary

2008-02-20T09:40:00.002-06:00

Melissa James notices she's being followed, and it's by the same guy who stalked her before. She leaves as quickly as possible and leaves only a note for her husband to read. She tries to get out of town without being noticed, but it doesn't work. Ivanov is on her tail. What is she to do? Ryan goes frantic trying to search for her. She can't contact him because it would be too great a risk. The police think Ryan is responsible for her disappearance. Will she make it home alright or will he get her?

Demon Rumm by: Sandra Brown

2008-02-20T09:34:00.002-06:00

When Kirsten Rumm loses her husband due to a tragic airplane accident, the last thing she wants is a movie made about his life. This brings up many sad memories that haunt her for months. When the actor playing the role of her husband shows up at her door step and asks to stay with her for a couple of weeks to better understand her late husband, her life is made even more miserable. She decides to let him stay, but she soon notices that he is after more than just information about her husband. She pushes him away at his first attempts to get close to her, but she soon realizes that she is starting to feel the same for him. Will she ever get to know this man further than a business sense? You will just have to read this book to find out. I found this book somewhat interesting. It was the kind of book that made me want to keep reading until it ended.

No Place Like Home

2008-02-19T18:17:00.000-06:00

Have you ever wanted to run away from your past? Many people do time to time. Growing up is not easy and Liza Barton knew just that. Between her mother finding a new boyfriend and trying to become a new family, Liza had troubles. When her mother was killed Liza was considered a suspect. Being so young and hardly known by the community Liza was an easy target.
Starting a new life was just what Liza wanted. She changed her name to Celia, had a child and was now engaged to a very respectable man. But when they move to a new community, Celia finds herself in the house she grew up in and her past is reopened. Followed by many pranks, murders, and crimes, Celia’s past is coming back to her. But will she be able to set the record straight for her mother and the community?

Breathing Underwater, by: Alex Flinn

2008-02-19T08:53:00.003-06:00

Nick is 17, popular, and lives with his rich father. He's got the looks, the money, the friends. The only bad thing about his life is that his dad couldn't care less about Nick. If his dad came from a night out, drunk and upset, Nick would get beaten and hit. Then Nick finds the perfect girl. Her name is Caitlin. She is the kind of girl who goes unnoticed, but after losing a significant amount of weight, Nick asked her out. Caitlin and Nick are nearly perfect for each other. After a month or two, however, Nick becomes jealous and controlling. Because of the way Nick is treated at home, he takes his anger out on others. He gets pissed at his best friend Tom, and begins beating on Caitlin. Nick doesn't realize what he is doing. Once Caitlin puts a restraining order on Nick, he is forced to attend anger management classes. As part of the assignment, he has to write a journal, where he realizes that he hurt someone he loved.
This is a good book if you want to see how your actions affect everyone around you more than they affect yourself. Breathing Underwater is one of those books that you can't put down - a page turner of sorts. I would recommend it to anyone who cares about people other than themselves.

The Broker by: John Grisham

2008-02-18T20:05:00.005-06:00

Joel Backman is the most powerful lobbyist in Washington. Making over $10 million per year, Backman decides he can't get enough. The greed eventually catches up to him when three young Pakistani men arrive at his office. It turns out that these men had found the world's most powerful and sophisticated satellite surveillance system just floating in space. By the time Backman got too involved in the secret, two of the three men were killed by foreign agents. Scared for his life, Joel Backman plead guilty to an act of treason and was sent to a federal correctional facility for 20 years. After serving only six years, President Arthur Morgan agrees to pardon him, with the CIA breathing down his neck.
Backman is then quietly smuggled out of the country in a military cargo plane, given a new name, a new identity, and a new home in Italy. Eventually, the CIA leaks his wherabouts to China, Israel, and Saudi Arabia and sits back to watch. Their goal is to have Joel Backman killed. But who will do the job?
I though this was a pretty good book. If you like reading about spies, secret agents, and Italy, this is a book for you.

Wicked

2008-01-17T09:23:00.000-06:00

This isnt my book report book but i didnt like that one too much. Wicked, written by Gregory Maguire, is a spin off the old movie The Wizard of Oz. Wicked is also a musical in case you've heard of that. The book is about not Dorothy the heroine of Oz, but about the Wicked Witch of the West. It's all about her life and how she became so... wicked. It's really interesting the way Maguire ties the characters of the movie together in the book. The wicked witch and the good witch were roommates in school...and so on. It's a challenging read with lots of big, strange words. So if you liked the movie and like a challenge I really suggest you give Wicked a shot.

The Moves Make The Man

2008-01-16T09:26:00.000-06:00

This book is based on the story of Jerome Foxworthy and Bix Rivers. Jerome is a basketball star and not to mention the only black kid in an all white school, he is telling the story of his friendship with Bix Rivers the basball star of the town. Jerome notices quickly that Bix is quick and agile just as he is in basketball. Then the school year starts and Bix and Jerome end up having class together and a friendship begins right away. Jerome notices quickly that Bix is a bothered young man but he does not know why. Then he has a talk with Bix and asks, Bix tells him that his mother is in an institution and he does not get along with his step dad. Bix and Jerome are good friends throughout the year but they have their fights to. They end up playing basketball together and then the unfortunate happens.

"One For The Money" By: Janet Evanovich

2008-01-16T09:12:00.000-06:00

Stephanie Plum is a new bounty hunter. Low on cash, Plum decides to go after a case worth $10,000. The only problem is that she has no prior experience or knowledge of how to be a bounty hunter. Her first assignment is to catch Joe Morelli, a cop and an old flame of Stephanie's, who has skipped out on bail. Plum's creepy cousin insists that she is taking on too much for a first case but she decides to ignore him and try anyway. Her first day on the job is hectic and Plum barely has the time to breathe. Snooping around for clues as to where Morelli might be hiding, Stephanie runs into a boxer who becomes angered after her refusal to sleep with him. Not being able to get away from him alone, Morelli appears and saves her from a would be attack. At this point Morelli has practically been dropped into Stephanie's hands, but she is unable to outsmart this ex-cop. Through-out the second half of the book Plum discovers that the real murderer is out roaming the streets. She teams up with Morelli to find the real killer. Together Plum and Morelli rekindle their passion for each other while trying to stay alive.

Speak By: Laurie Halse Anderson

2008-01-16T09:08:00.000-06:00

In Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak, readers are introduced to Melinda Sordino, a young girl who stood up for herself in the face of terror and continues to pay for her actions even months later. Now, she no longer does speak up for herself. In fact, she does not speak at all. Only two people know the real reason behind Melinda’s call to the police on the night of the big bash. Only two people can guess why she has suddenly become mute. None of her former friends or would be friends can help her. They have all turned away from her because of one call that broke up a party.
Melinda cannot speak to anyone about what really happened that night. Whenever she opens her mouth, all that comes out is a stutter. Her friends have deserted her and her parents have forgotten how to communicate with their own daughter. Now Melinda is alone, cast out by the rest of the kids and forced to bear the burden of a terrible secret on her own. The only form of expression she has left is her art, through which her pain is starkly revealed. That, and her writing, where the pain she cannot speak of, fills the pages with a grief and rage too long concealed

Just Listen

2008-01-09T21:31:00.000-06:00

This story tells about a girl named Annabel, who has a "perfect family". Her and her two sisters are models. The whole story, Annabel has a secret, which she reveals at the end of the book. Throughout this book, Annabel's middle sister Whitney develops an eating disorder, and it tells about all the problems she faces. Annabel meets this guy named Owen, who is obsessed with music and who eventually develops feelings for Annabel. I would have to say this is an awesome book, that really keeps you guessing. The end of the story is probably the best, when she finally talks about her feelings, and reveals her secret. This is a must-read.

The Glass Castle

2007-12-08T13:43:00.000-06:00

This is a truly remarkable book to read for many reasons. It really makes you realize how lucky you are and also very thankful for all the simple pleasures of life.
Telling the story of a girl named Jeanette Walls, and her life growing up. She came from a very poor family and they moved around constantly while she was growing up. Her dad was a very smart man in both math and science, but his addiction with drinking caused all of that to leave at times.
Always running away from problems in previous towns Jeanette and her brother and sisters wanted more.
Saving what money they could they saved enough to move to New York, but still many problems lay ahead of them.
This book was wonderful to read this time of year, and made me very grateful for both my family and friends. It was a great treasure to read!

Jackie, Her Life in Pictures By: James Spada

2007-12-05T21:32:00.001-06:00

Jackie Kennedy Onassis had a very extraordinary life to tell. I enjoyed reading every part of it. Jackie was like any other normal lady. She loved being around horses, taking pitures, and reading books. Jackie and President John F. Kennedy were quite the couple. They loved doing verything together as much as they could. When it came to the day when John was assasined it was hard to read. The words were in much detail and the pictures after his death showed how torn Jackie was. Jackie and John had two young children together, Caroline and John. I could only imagine how they grew up without their dad around. Jackie lived out her life doing what she loved best, books. She worked up until a few days before she died working with books. I enjoyed this book tremedously. I encourage you to read an autobiography or biography, they are fun to read!

On The Street Where You Live by Mary Higgins Clark

2007-12-05T14:03:00.000-06:00

This book is a murder mystery set in Spring Lake in 2005. Since 2001, two women have disappeared in Spring Lake, soon to be three. Emily Graham, a defense attorney, spontaniously decides to buy her ancestor's victorian house in Spring Lake. The ancestor who lived there, Madeline Shapley, dissappeared in 1891 when she was just a young woman. She moves there from NYC to escape an ex husband and a former stalker. Once Emily moves in, contractors digging a pool in her back yard uncover bones. They calll the police and discover that one set of the bones belongs to Martha Lawrence, a young woman who went missing 4 years ago. In Martha's hand was a finger with a ring on it. The ring was a perfect match with the one Madeline owned. Emily began researching and discovers that Martha Lawrence and Madeline Shapley disappeared on the exact same day, 110 years apart. There were three girls who dissapared in the lae 1800's/ early 1900's. Emily and the police believe that the current murders are copycat murders of the 19th century ones. The book tells of the rush to discover who the murderer is before he can commit his next and final murder. This book was pretty deec and I would definatly recommend it.

Post-Mortem by Patricia Cornwell

2007-12-04T19:58:00.000-06:00

Post-Mortem is about a medical examiner named Dr. Kay Scarpetta. She is trying to solve a horrible case. There is a man in her city of Richmond, Virginia, that has raped and brutally murdered five different women. Kay has to figure out who the murderer is and how the women are connected. Plus, all the while, he is focusing on killing her. To make it even more difficult, a few of her suspects are co-workers and very good friends. This book was very interesting, and I would definately recommend it if you like a mystery.

Airborn by Kenneth Oppel

2007-12-04T15:10:00.000-06:00

This book tells an interesting story about a boy named Matt Cruse who works on a giant luxury air balloon that carries wealthy passengers across continents. Matt is one of the cabin boys aboard the ship. As a good worker, Matt has high hopes of being promoted soon. On a particular trip from Lionsgate to Sydney, Matt meets a girl named Kate. She is a very adventurous lady, often getting Matt into trouble for following her around. One evening, pirates attack their ship from the air. They take all of the passengers jewelry. While escaping from the ship, their propellers cut holes in the airship and it has to make a crash landing on an uncharted island. While stranded on the island, Kate and Matt discover a new species of flying animal never seen before. They keep it a secret. The crew finds a hidden source of hydrium to refill their blimp. Little do they know that they are not the only ones that know about this island. The pirates actually keep their secret base on this island. If the pirates knew that others know about this island, they would surely kill them. Will they get off the island safely before the pirates know of their existence? Read the book and find out. I believe that if you like reading about suspense and adventure, you will love this book.

Saving Private Ryan By Max Allan Collins

2007-12-04T12:56:00.000-06:00

Saving Private Ryan starts with an elederly veteran and his family visiting the Normandy American Cemetary and Memorial in Normandy, France. He collapses to one knee in front of the gravestone. Captain John H. Miller and his unit arrive at Omaha Beach in France in June of 1944. Hundrds of men are killed as the Germans to prevent the invasion. General George C. Marshall discovers that three of the four brothers of the Ryan family have died and that their mother will receive all three notices on the same day. The youngest son, Privaye First Class James Francis Ryan, is missing in action somewhere in France. The General orders that he be found and sent home. Captain Miller's men question their orders to find Private Ryan. No one seems to know where Ryan is. When they have found Private Ryan, it turns out they found the wrong one. Miller's unit suffers two casulties on their journey to Ramelle where they have discovered Ryan should be. When they get to Ramelle, they destroy a German unit with the help of some American Soldiers, one of them Private Ryan. Captain Miller informs him of his brothers deaths and their orders to bring him home. Private Ryan refuses to leave his makeshift unit. He demands to remain and help defend the bridge against an impending German couter-attack. To find out if they make it out safely you will have to read the book.

Stubborn One by Maria Simon

2007-12-04T09:43:00.000-06:00

Maria belongs to a poor mexican family with 9 siblings. She wants to be an architect like her father, but everyone tells her there are no woman architects. She is stubborn, and throughout her life she does anything for money so she can go to school. She is really smart and gets a scholarship to study in the U.S.A. for a year. She goes to Gary MN and falls in love with her host family and the small town. She goes back to Mexico, but decides she would rather live in Gary, so she moves back here and gets married and starts her very own alterations shop in Fargo. A seamstress is the last thing she wanted to be, and now she can create amazing things. She realizes that everything in her life had a purpose and is connected.

Friday Night Lights; By H.G. Bissinger

2007-12-04T09:05:00.000-06:00

Friday Night Lights tells the story of the 1988 Permian High School football team and their journey through the season to the state playoffs. In the book, the players have no other responsibilities. Their job is to play football and win a state championship. The people of Odessa, Texas believe the season is a dissapointment if the team doesn't win state. Although the book is about the football team, the author also describes to the reader the way of life in a small West Texas town. He tells about the hardships of life for this small oil town. Politics, racism, segregation, and economics are major topics of discussion for Bissinger in this book. As the team goes through the season, they grow closer to each other and believe in themselves even though they are undersized and no one expects them to win. This book tells a great story of an overachieving football team whom the town of Odessa relies on to give them an escape from the struggles of everyday life.
I thought this was a great book. I don't think you have to like football to enjoy reading this book. It's one of the best I've ever read. I would recommend it to anyone.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter

2007-12-03T20:02:00.000-06:00

In the novel The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards, you will hear about a split second choice that will tear a family apart. David Henry a well off surgeon, meets Norah who will later become his wife. After six months of marriage Norah becomes pregnant with a baby boy. When she goes into labor there is a terrible winter storm, and Norah's doctor is unable to make it to the hospital so David delivers the baby along with the help of the nurse Caroline Gill. After David delivers his son, he finds that his wife was pregnant with twins because another baby is on its way. When the baby is out of the birth canal he can clearly see that the baby has Downs Syndrome, the same disease that his sister had and died of at the age of twelve. In a split second David chooses to send his daughter to an institution and tell his wife that she had twins, but the second baby died at birth. Keeping this secret distances David from Norah and his son Paul. As Paul grows older the family struggles to stay together, Norah is having affairs, David is caught up with work, and his hobby of taking pictures, and Paul is left alone to his music, and drugs. When Paul is ready to go to college, David chose to move out of the house because he could no longer deal with the secret and lies that each Norah and David have. Then one day while on a jog, David has a heart attack and dies. Does Norah ever find out that her baby girl Phoebe is still alive? Does Paul ever find his long lost twin sister?
This book is a very good book! I got very frustrated because the characters weren't doing what they should have been doing. David should have told Norah what happened, they would've been so much happier. The Memory Keeper's Daughter is one of those books that you get upset over but you just have to keep reading to find out what happens. I would defiantly recommend this book!! It's spectacular!

Open House

2007-12-03T11:25:00.000-06:00

Sam is a woman who has everything that she ever needed. She has a husband named Daid, a son named Travis and a beautiful house. One day her husband says that he is leaving and she wants a devorce. She has no idea what lead this on, she thought their life together was perfect. Sam starts getting depressed and eating to control her anger. She realizes that she can not afford to make her house payments on her own. She decides to take in roomates. She get this wonderful older lady that really helps her out in many ways. On move in day there was a man named King working for the moving company. Sam and King become friends, she offten depends on him for support and a sholder to cry on. She then realizes that her hunger issues are because she is pregnant. A few days later she has a miss carage. The father was David. She wants him back so badly.

Good book, suprises on every page!

Olive's Ocean

2007-12-03T11:23:00.000-06:00

Martha Boyle is a twelve year old girl who receives a note from a classmates mother. The letter came from Olive Barstow, who just happened to die a couple weeks earlier. After reading the letter Martha got an eerie feeling and didn't know what to do. She couldn't do anything about it either since her family was going to the ocean to visit Godbee ( her grandmother ). While at the beach Martha discovers new facts about herself and others. She realizes what she has to do for Olive and how she's going to do it.

This Lullaby

2007-12-03T09:34:00.000-06:00

First off, Im going to start by saying, this is my favorite book. It tells about the life of an 18 year-old girl named Remy, who really doesn't believe in love, due to her mother's previous four unsucessful marriages. This book basically tells, how her first dad was this famous singer and before she was born, he left and wrote a song for her, called "This Lullaby". Everytime Remy dates a boy, she never lets it get serious and makes sure her relationships last under six weeks, on average. She ends up meeting this musician named Dexter, and ends up dating him for the summer. She really starts to like him, but fights to keep to her dating rule. She plans to break up with him at the end of the summer, but fights back and forth with herself, debating whether or not to actually fall for him. This is an awesome book, and I am sure it will keep you guessing the whole time!

Out of the Dust

2007-11-21T14:52:00.000-06:00

This is by Karen Hesse. Karen was still a child when a horrible accedent happened to herself, her mother and unborn brother, Karen was the lucky one. She was raised by her mother for so long that it was hard for her and her father to even look at each other after her mother died. Some how Karen managed to take care of her father and herself as well as to learn how to play the piano again.

This book reminded me of some one I know. It inspired me to finish everything I try, that is only one of the reason's why i loved this book.

My Heart is on the Ground

2007-11-21T14:46:00.000-06:00

This is a diary of a little sioux girl named Nannie Little Rose. It's about Nannie having to get taken away from her tribe and sent away to a boarding school for Indains. There she had witnessed horrible things happen to her people, and people of other tribes, her brother barley being able to stay alive. She got threw everything. She graduated and became succesful in life.

I liked this book because it is a true story about an Indain who made it threw the hard time's.

Was God On Vacation?

2007-11-20T14:38:00.000-06:00

This book was an autobiography about a Dutch Jew named Jack Van Der Geest. It tells about the Germans invasion of the Netherlands, his life in a concentration camp and the manner in which he escaped. Even after all of that he managed to stay quite involved in WWII. He was part of the French Underground, Dutch Marines and D-day with the American 101st Airborne Division. This is a great book that tells about the life of an amazing man.

Message in a Bottle

2007-11-07T14:32:00.000-06:00

Telling about tragedy and romace we learn the backgrounds of two people who meet all becasue of a bottle. Both people in this book came from a very sad love story of there own. Theresa was divorced, and his wife was killed in a tragic accident. Both wanting to move on from thier own past, find each other by chance. Moving on for them was hard but moving on togther as a couple made it much easier for them. But will tragedy repeat itself again?

Speak

2007-11-05T09:38:00.000-06:00

Melinda Sordino used to be one of the most popular girls at her school, but at the end of the summer party something bad happened to her. Now nobody wants to be associated with her. She acts really diffrent now because of her deep dark secret.

The Lightkeeper's Daughter

2007-11-02T12:09:00.000-05:00

The Lightkeeper's Daughter is a book about losing a loved one and what this can do to even the closest of families. This book as 4 main characters. 3 are still alive and one has been dead for years. Hannah is the mother. She tries to keep the peace between everyone in the family. But she won't let you into her problems, she hides behind her family. Murray is the father. He is more outward with his pain as he is with everything else. Murray is the lightkeeper on Lizzie Island and with him it is always work before play. Murray loves his island and before his son died he refused to leave or let any of his family leave "yet". Squid is their daughter, she left Lizzie Island after she got pregnant at 13. Now some 3 years later, she is returning home with her daughter Tatianna in tow. She still blames her parents for her brother's death and is bound and determined to make this visit her first and last and make it fast. Alastair is Squid's big brother who died when he was just 14 years old. Alastair loved whales and wanted with all his might to get off of Lizzie Island and study them. But Murray didn't let him. Eventually Alastair grew to resent the seclusion of Lizzie Island that his father loved so much. He just wanted off, but he never got off. There in lies the plot of this story.
Lizzie Island has only 2 houses: 1 for the lightkeeper and 1 for his assistant. Only one is filled now. Murray doesn't need an assistant and even when he had them they left shortly after coming. They couldn't take the seclusion. So Murray and his family are the only people on Lizzie.
The story starts out with Squid coming home for the first time in 3 years. She has come to tell her family that she will be moving to Australia with Tatianna in a month. But as she is there she finds Alastair's journals and soon her reason for being there changes. She wants to know why Alastair had become so depressed and angered on Lizzie the last years of his life. So the whole story from here on out begins to center on the death of Alastair. Was is it an accident that caused Alastair to drown in a storm one night or was it by design? Did Alastair kill himself and if he did why? We never really find out for sure if Alastair did kill himself or not but we are pretty sure he did. We also have a good idea as to why. Through the use of the journals Squid digs deeper into her brother's life on Lizzie. Hannah, Murray, and Squid are all in and out the past throughout the book. We find out about the life they all had when Alastair was alive. How work was always the most important but there was always room for games. When they played the games it was always the girls against the men. We learn about how the children had to learn from their parents and how they differed from other children. This is a book about familly dynamics and how being alone on an island can create a good and bad life.

Pay It Forward

2007-11-02T09:44:00.000-05:00

This novel tells a story about a remarkable young boy named Trevor. Trevor is given an assignment by his social studies teacher to do something in your community that can change the world. Trevor takes this assignment to heart and goes to work on an amazing project called Pay It Forward. This plan involves finding people in need of things that you would not ussusaly do for others without expecting something in return. Trevor finds three people in need and helps them out in big ways. When they ask what they owe him, he says they owe nothing to him, but instead they should pay it forward by going out and finding three more people in need and helping them. But trevor soon finds that his plan will naturally not work as well as he expects because people are ussually not as reliable as he counts on them being. Even though his plan does not work as well as he expected it to, he soon finds that he actually did affect the world in a very big way. He becomes a national hero. But, just when it seems like nothing can go wrong, things ussually do go wrong......

19 Minutes

2007-11-02T08:29:00.000-05:00

Many things can happen in the span of 19 minutes, good, happy, or just downright horrific things. The book 19 Minutes is a very sad book, it is about a school shooting in Sterling High. Peter Houghtan had always been bullied during elementary and high school, he was a loser. Josie Cormier had been Peter's friend throughout elementary, she would stick up for Peter when he was getting bullied. But when high school rolled around Josie wanted to be popular, and she couldn't be popular if she was with Peter. Peter was never good enough for anyone, not his parents, Josie, teachers, no one. After Josie left Peter she found a jock boyfriend named Matt Royston, the star of the hockey team. Peter didn't like that, he wanted to be Josie's boyfriend. On March 6th, 2007 Peter had had enough of it, he went on a rampage through the school of Sterling High. Now he's sitting in jail being charged with 10 murders, and multiple injuries. The judge for Peter's case is going to be Alex Cormier, Josie's mom, but with all the drama that this case is causing she is torn between taking the case, or being a mom. Does Peter end up going to prison for the rest of his life? Does Josie remember what happened on the day of the shooting?
I would totally recommend 19 Minutes, it is a super good book. It relates so well to the world that is around so many of us in today's society. There is so much that happens in this book that lead up to multiple exciting incidents. Once you start reading it you just can't put it down.

House of Stairs By: William Sleator

2007-11-02T08:26:00.000-05:00

This story starts out with a young boy named Peter who is sixteen. He is living in an orphanage. One day he was about to have a dangerous operation done to him but was taken away by blindfold to a mysterious place. He later took off his blindfold once he arrived and found a young girl his age there. She was in an oprhanage before she was put in this house of stairs. The young girls name was Blossom. Then they found three more young teens there age and yet again they were from an orphanage. They couldn't figure out why they were put there is this grubby old house of stairs. The stairs were endless. They couldn't figure out if they even had a toilet. Later on in the story things were happening that really changed the story in the end. I suggest you to read this book if you like to read a different kind of book do it because it was worth it in the end.

A Northern Light

2007-11-01T09:01:00.000-05:00

"A Northern Light" tells a story of a girl, Mattie and her struggles to find herself. By not having a mother growing up she had to raise her younger sisters and help her dad on the farm. Money was always really tight, but the family always made it through with each other. Because money was low, Mattie soon lost her dreams of going to college and writting. But when the farming money was not enough, Mattie goes to find work. She becomes a waitress at a local resort. But when a guest turns up dead and her boyfriend disappears, will Mattie be able to solve to case? Will Mattie go to school or stay at home and help raise her family? What will Mattie Goeky really do?

Not Always Right, But Never Confused

2007-10-31T14:05:00.000-05:00

This is an autobiography of Don Beeler. He was just your average kid back in the 1940's, but kind of wild and spoiled. He met the love of his life, Marriane, in middle school. She wasn't too fond of him though, at first because he got into too much trouble. After a lot of hard work from him, she fell in love with him too. Marianne got pregnant with his baby while he was still in high school, and she was sent to California to stay with her sister and baby. Don tried hard to make some money so that when they were reunited he would be able to support his family. He went in the Army, and was very successful, then later came back to Minneapolis to work at Snyder Drug. He worked there the rest of his life, very quickly moving up to management. After about 20 years of working for the company he owned over 50% of it. He was a very hard worker, and it all paid off in the end. He's now retired, has a beautiful home on Lake Minnetonka, and another in Phoenix, Arizona.

Wonderland

2007-10-31T13:58:00.000-05:00

Wonderland
By: Michael Bamberger
A year in the life of an American high school. For one year, author Michael Bamberger sat in the hallways, classrooms, and lives of Pennsbury High students, writing of their hopes, dreams, accomplishments and so much more. Follow the lives of several junior and senior students from Pennsbury high including: Bobby Speer, Pennsbury's infamous quarterback who is constantly being pressured by his father Kirk to play perfectly so he can receive D1 scholarships, Lindsey Milroy, the all star field hockey player and prom co-chair who develops an incessant heart pain which effects her entire life, and Bob Costa, junior class president and PHS-TV reporter extraordinaire, who wants nothing more than to get to the legendary Pennsbury Senior Prom. After all, Pennsbury's prom is like no other, it is a five day experience that the whole town takes part in! Students on the prom committee plan for it throughout the entire year and begin making decorations months in advance.
This book is extremely easy to relate to, actually, many of the characters in the book relate to students in our school and surrounding schools. Unfortunately, i didn't particularly enjoy this book and wouldn't recommend it.

Vanished

2007-10-31T09:21:00.000-05:00

Who took her little boy? Marielle Patterson's life is turned upside down when her son is kidnapped. This is not her first loss, she suffered through her first little boy's death nearly 7 years ago. His name was Andre and her husband, Charles, blamed her for Andre's death and hit her. She was pregnant and lost her baby girl on the same day she lost her little boy. Marielle and Charles get divorced and she remarries Malcolm Patterson. They have a little boy, Teddy. Seven years after her divorce, Marielle runs into Charles at a park. He sees Teddy and is very angry and threatens to take Teddy to make her come back to him. Then the next night, Teddy is gone! Charles swears that it wasn't him, but his threat is being used against him. During the court trial, many things are uncovered and one thing is for sure...it was not Charles. But then who was it?

Lost Horizon, by James Hilton

2007-10-30T20:13:00.000-05:00

Four people - two Englishmen, an American, and a missionary - fly out of a military base in Baskul, India on their way to Europe. During their flight, they realize that their pilot isn't who its supposed to be. When they land in the mountains somewhere, after endless hours of flying, they think they're done for. After the pilot fuels up the plane, they continue on their journey. The next time they land, a group of Tibetans meet them somewhere in the Himalayas. It turns out that these native people actually belong to a monastery located on a 28,000 foot peak on the mountain. After talking to the inhabitants, one of the Englishmen, Hugh Conway, finds out that this entire incident was premeditated. They hijacked the plane so they could add to their community. This community of "monks" has figured out a way to delay aging to where they live to be close to 150. The four travelers want to leave as soon as possible, but there is something about the beauty of this pristine place that seems to keep them content. The longer they stay, the more they don't want to leave, except for the younger Englishmen, Charles Mallinson. He is intent on getting them out of this "wretched" place.
This book was okay for a classic novel. It started out exciting and was very good until halfway through the book when things got boring. If you're interested in fantasy/adventure and monasteries, this book is for you.

Artemis Fowl, by Eoin Colfer

2007-10-30T19:49:00.000-05:00

Artemis is a twelve year old genius. This young millionaire is a criminal mastermind who lives in the Ireland. Artemis and his bodyguard, Butler, plot to steal the richest treasure in the world, the treasure of the fairies. In order to achieve success, Artemis must somehow gain control of The Book, the text of which will help him find the whereabouts of the treasure. The only way to get there is to go to where the fairies, goblins, and sprites live - underground. On the way to the treasure he happens to run in Captain Holly Short and the rest of the LEPrecon Special Forces. Artemis realizes he may have met his match, but gains an edge when he kidnaps Captain Short and uses her as a way to get the prize.
I thought this book was pretty good. I recommend it if you're into the fantasy/adventure genre with people fighting fairies and the like.

Private Peaceful

2007-10-30T10:09:00.000-05:00

Thomas and Charlie Peaceful both hate school and would rather stay home with their older brother Big Joe. Big Joe is mentally retarded and an outcast by the community. Their only friend at school is Molly. Molly comes from a very good family and her parents disapprove of her seeing them. The Peaceful family is very poor due to their father's death and their mother losing her job. Both Thomas and Charlie decide to go poaching so the family won't starve. Molly always came with them to make sure they didn't get caught. When Charlie and Molly graduate and get jobs Thomas is left alone at school without his friends. When finally Thomas gets out of school he also goes to work. It is harder and harder for the three friend to get together. Then when Charlie gets fired from his job because he stole a hunting dog Molly's parents forbid them to ever see each other. Then the friends begin to send letters to each other and Thomas delivers them, he doesn't mind at all because he too is in love with Molly and wants to see her. Then one day weeks later Big Joe goes missing. His dog Bertha died and Big Joe is no where to be found. The entire town come together to search for him. When Molly comes over they put their heads together and figured places he would go. Then after two days they found Big Joe. He got really sick from being outside that long and got a high fever but was okay. Not long after Molly gets pregnant and Charlie is the father. Her parents throw her out and she moves in with the Peaceful's. Soon the two brothers head off to fight in World War l. After basic training they are sent to France and are fighting in the same outfit. On one of the charges Charlie is shot in the foot and is sent home. Thomas is all alone and lonesome without his brother at his side. When Charlie returns Thomas learned Molly gave birth to their son and named him Tommo, after his brave uncle at war. When they start fighting again Thomas is shot in the head and bleeding bad. Charlie refuses to participate in the charge and stays in the trench with Thomas to look after him. When the army find out about this Charlie is punished. This is an amazing book and I would recommend it to anyone.

2007-10-30T09:49:00.001-05:00

Ride The River

2007-10-30T09:17:00.000-05:00

Echo Sackett is from Tuckalucky Cove, Tennesee. At age 16 she recieves news that she has some inheritance in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She travels there to go pick it up. By herself. On her way back from Pennsylvania she runs into a bit of trouble. Men start following her because they know of her inheritance. She tries to get rid of them, but so far it hasn't worked. Will she be able to make it home safely?

"No Place Like Home" Mary Higgins Clark

2007-10-30T08:42:00.000-05:00

"Alex Nolan seems like the perfect husband. He recently purchased a home for his wife's birthday in Mendham, New Jersey. Wanting to surprise her he had balloons waiting and roses in every room. He also got her son Jack a pony housed in the backyard stable. Celia Nolan is shocked. She could not tell Alex that this was the home she lived in as a little girl until the age of ten. Celia's father had died and it was just her and her mother, Audrey Barton. Celia woke up one night to find her mother in a confrontation with Ted Cartwright, a former boyfriend. Celia tried to rescue her mother, and took a gun she knew of in a bedroom drawer. Ted pushed her mother into Celia and the gun went off. Her mother died, and Ted
was seriously wounded. In a state of shock, Liza Barton, as she was known back then, could hardly say a word during her trial. She was acquitted and adopted by distant relatives and relocated to California.

She came back to New York in her early twenties to enter the Fashion Institute. Celia Kellogg as she was now known, became a very successful interior designer. She met her first husband Laurence Foster, a philanthropist. They had one son named Jack. Larry died leaving her a young widow. He made her promise that she would never reHe made her promise that she would never reveal her former identity to save their son Jack from such notoriety. Soon after his death, Celia was courted by Alex Nolan, a successful attorney. He was there for her and her son, when she was involved in an accident and ended up in the hospital.They very quickly got married after she recovered.

Alex wanted them to start fresh, and not continue living in the same apartment that Celia lived in with her first husband. Georgette Grove, a realtor tried to tell Alex of the house's reputation. Around town it was known as Little Lizzie's place. It was horribly vandalized on the day they were to move in. Georgette becomes extremely worried about the legal technicalities since the house was put in Celia's name only and no disclosure was made to her. Georgette tries to make it up to Celia and show her another house. Georgette ends up murdered and Celia quickly becomes a suspect. When Charley Hatch, a local landscaper is murdered as well, the police began to focus harder on Celia. Celia is tempted multiple times to tell Alex the truth but never finds the right time. Also, she has been harassed by phone calls calling her Little Liza. Someone knows who she is. The District Attorney disagrees with his detectives beliefs, and continues to believe that Celia is innocent. His department does discover that she is indeed Liza Barton. Dru Perry, a reporter, is hot on the case as well, tracking down her relatives in Florida. An unexpected twist towards the end with one of the main characters keeps you guessing, as all the loose ends are nicely tied together. Things are very different for Celia and her son once the case is solved.

Hit the Road

2007-10-29T09:43:00.000-05:00

If you like an adventurous, nail bitting book then this is the one to read! Brittney Bowman challenges a lifetime experience at age sixteen. Brittney is forced to stay with her Nanny for two weeks while her parents go on vacation to Alaska. Little does anyone know Nanny has other plans on her mind to go see her college roomates across the state. Mrs. Bowman had taken away Nannys liscense because she has bad eyes and can not see over the dashboard. Once Mrs. and Mr. Bowman leave the driveway the adventure starts. Brittney only had her drivers liscense for eleven days and Nanny wants her to drive her to her roomates. When Nanny and Brittney leave for there road trip to pick up her roomates for there 65th Reunion a lot of action, scary and hilarious moments happen during the time! If you want to know what happens during and at the end of the book I expect you should read it, its worth your time!

Message in a Bottle

2007-10-23T14:03:00.000-05:00

~ Walking down Cape Cod on vacation. Teresa saw what looked to be an odd shapped rock. As she got closer, she noticed that it was indeed a bottle. She then decided to be helpful to the environment and pick it up. She soon noticed that it had a note inside. As she opened the bottle and read the note, she began to cry. The note was from a man namedGarrett, who was wrighting to his long lost love. She felt emotions for this stranger who was in a heavy state of grief. She showed the note her boss. Her boss published the note in their magazine. The magazine got amazing feedback for this emotional and hartfelt note. One day Teresa got a call from a woman who had another note. Teresa went on a journey to find out who Garrett was and how his love Catherine, came to her death. Little did Teresa know, that she would soon fall in love with the man who wrote the message in the bottle. ~

WALK TWO MOONS

2007-10-23T13:59:00.001-05:00

Sal is 13 years old. After the death of her mother, she is forced to move. Her father decided to move them to a new city. She has a lot to deal with in this new place, her family, and her friends. Sal has many beliefs, one of them is that if you travel to the place of someone's death on their birthday, they will come back to life. Sal decides to take the trip with her grandparents. There are many problems that they have to face on this trip. Unfortunately Sal has to learn the hard way of how to deal with her mother's death.

TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER

2007-10-23T13:58:00.001-05:00

Macy loved to run. Her father passed away when she was young on one of their runs. After his death she would not run again. There are many things that her mother had to deal with. Her mother wanted Macy to be perfect. No matter what Macy could not be perfect. One day her mother was hosting a party. She had a caterer and Macy quickly grew fond of the group. Macy began to work for THe Wish Catering Company. Her mother was not thinking that this would help her for her future preporations. No matter what Macy would not quit. She would never be the Perfect person that her mother wanted.

True Confessions Of A Heartless Girl

2007-10-16T12:34:00.000-05:00

Noreen is a very confused young lady. When she finally turns 17 years old she moves with her step sister gladys because her mother and step-father are alcoholics. She meets a boy but he drops her off along the highway. Then Wesley Cuthand picks her up and gives her a ride to gladys. When the two start talking and get along Noreen then finds her self liking this guy. When she gets to Gladys she decides she is old enough to live alone and she leaves Gladys to move in with Wesley. The two are happy and great together, then Noreen stayed home while he goes to work and she spends some of his money. When he arrives back he is angry. Then Noreen takes in truck,money and locks him out. Soon she finds herself in a small town and she doesn't know anyone. She she decides to go to a small cafe'. Lynda the owner knows that she is in some sort of trouble and has her stay there. Noreen has a gut feeling she might be pregnant and sure enough she is, but what about Wesley? Noreen builds the courage to call him and tell him he showed up gave her some money and left. Noreen then feels like no one wants her or she isn't loved. Noreen continues to stay with Lynda. When she mets Delbert and a few other new people she begins to realize things that she never did before. She starts to have bad pains and she loses her baby. Then she calls Wesley and Gladys to apoligize and tell them what happened. Finally Noreen learns life changing lessons and soon becomes a happy.better person
http://be-think.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/lnly_6.jpg

The Last Bullet by: Morgan Hill

2007-10-16T08:37:00.000-05:00

Clay Bostin is a trail boss for wagon train traveling through Indian territory. When the book starts out, he is tied to the ground with a rifle pointed directly at his head. If he moves even one inch, his life is in serious jeopardy. After he is staked to the earth for about 12 hours, another wagon train discovers him. When he is nursed back to health, he joins them on their journey to the uncharted West. The eleven wagons he accompanies are all young families wanting to start a new life in the West, but they first have to travel through Indian country to reach their destination. Along the way, many of the settlers die after the Cheyenne attack their wagon train numerous times. Clay does no know why the Cheyenne chief Black Hawk is so angry, but he later finds out that it is because two buffalo hunters in their train had violated a young Cheyenne girl. Bostin does not want to forfeit those men to suffer the torment that would be given by the Cheyenne. The settlers and their new companion travel through Indian territory for about a week and finally reach their first town, North Platte. The Indian chief has beaten them to the town and destroyed everything. The settlers and the Cheyenne play this game until the only wagon left of the train is about 25 miles away from Fort Laramie. Throughout the journey, Clay becomes attracted to a Miss Rachel Flanagan and they decide to get married when they reach their new home. Towards the end, it gets kind of mushy, too much for me anyway. To find out the rest of the important details, read it.
I thought this was a pretty good book. It portrayed the struggles that new settlers faced moving through hostile Indian territory. I you're into the western/romantic western type of books, I would recommend reading the Last Bullet.

Ellen Foster

2007-10-12T12:34:00.000-05:00

Ellen Foster is a great book, that tells about the life of a very confused 11 year-old white girl, in a racially mixed environment. In the beginning of the book, it starts off by telling how her dad is so terrible to her and her mother. He honestly didn't care if they were dead, in fact he would rather it be that way. She used to think of ways to kill her daddy and after her mother dies, she stays with her daddy until it starts to get a little bit too dangerous. She goes around living with her art teacher, her grandmother who blames her for her father's marriage, and with an aunt, who puts her through complete misery. Starletta, who is about Ellen's only friend throughout the whole book, is black. Throughout this story, Ellen tells how she feels toward her friend. She hates her, and treats her terribly because of her skin color. But towards the end of the book, she starts realizing that skin color doesn't matter, and she starts having mixed feelings about how she treated her friend, and many others.This book starts out kind of confusing at first, because of the way she tells it. It goes back and forth, between the past and the future, telling her life story. This book is really great, and definitely worth reading!

Glass by: Ellen Hopkins

2007-10-12T10:23:00.000-05:00

Kristina begines to flirt with the thought of useing meth just one more time! But when one more times turns into everyday, she gets kicked out of her home, her baby doesnt know who she is, and she has a warrent for her arrest! Kristina knows she needs to get better and FAST! But can she do it?

Mortal Engines

2007-10-12T08:29:00.000-05:00

This story is about the future when citys move on tracks and they eat each other. The story starts off when a young apprentice saves a famous man from being killed and then he is pushed off the edge of the city with the person who tried to kill the man. He then learns that the man is actually very evil. He has actually killed both of the childrens parents. The apprentice now wants revenge for the harsh crimes that this man has committed. There is only one problem: the city that the man is on is moving away from them at about 45 miles per hour. The apprentice and the alleged attacker go through a great adventure trying to get back to the city. Will the boy and the the attacker ever catch up to the evil man? Will they get their much awaited vengance? You will just have to read the book.

The Innocent Man By John Grisham

2007-10-11T20:41:00.000-05:00

The Innocent Man is a real life story about a man named Ron Williamson. Ron was born in Ada, Oklahoma on February 3, 1953. He and his parents moved to Asher so Ron could play baseball for the 1970-71 season. In 1971, Ron was nominated for the Jim Thorpe Award for outstanding high school athlete in the state of Oklahoma. Ron signed with the Oakland Athletics Minor League in 1971. Ron's off field behaviors of partying, drinking, late nights, and hangovers got him into a lot of trouble. Ron married Patty, Miss Ada, on November 3, 1973. When Ron was cut from the team in March of 1974, they moved back to Ada. The success, the money, and the partying led to his divorce in the Spring of 1976. Ron signed with the Oneonta Yankees of the New York Penn League. They eventually cut him, too. Ron was found not guilty in two rape charges in 1978. On December 7, 1982 Debbie Sue Carter was raped and murdered in her own apartment. Ron was interviewed along with Dennis Fritz. They were eventually arrested in 1987 and found guilty. Ron was to be executed on July 18, 1988. In September of 1988, the appeal process started. This story was very interesting. It shows how our criminal justice system can work for or against a person.

A Walk To Remember by Nicholas Sparks

2007-10-10T14:15:00.000-05:00

A Walk to Remember is about a girl named Jamie who is the daughter of a preacher. She is extremely nice to everyone, even when they aren't so nice to her. She is in a Christmas play for both the school and her church, and is the main character. Landon is a popular boy at her school who isn't very nice to her. He has to be in the play because drama class was the only one that fit in his schedule. These two get to know eachother really well during the play, and Landon starts falling for Jamie. Jamie told him right away that she didn't want him to fall in love with her, but he just kindof blew it off because he didn't have any intentions of getting close to her at all. Landon completely changes throughout the story and falls in love with Jamie, and Jamie falls in love with him too. Jamie's father isn't very accepting of Landon though, and he is very protective. Towards the end Jamie has a very sad surprise for Landon that changes everything. This book is really good, and I definately recommend it to anyone that likes love stories.

Where The Heart Is

2007-10-10T14:10:00.001-05:00

Where The Heart Is By: Billie Letts.
I Did a comparison between the book and the movie.
In the book Novalee Nation is headed off from Tennesse with her good for nothing boyfriend Willy Jack to California. Novalee is terrified of sevens. When the the number seven is involved with anything something bad happens. She is also 7 months pregnant. Willy Jack had just bought a car for $700 dollars, with a license plate that read 77777. There was a hole in the passenger side of the car floor. Novalee ends up losing her shoes through it, so she has to go to Wal-Mart and buy a pair of "house shoes." She pays for the shoes and realizes her change is $7.77. She runs to the parking lot to find that Willy Jack has abandoned her. She meets a new friend named Sister Husband who mistakes her for someone else, giving her a fruit basket and a buckeye tree. She also meets the local librarian Forny. She has been living in the Wal-Mart for just about six weeks, when she goes into labor in aisle seven late one night. Forny ends up saving her and her daughter Americus Nation is born. She ends up living with Sister Husband and Mr. Sprock. Novalee becomes a photgrapher. During a terrible twister Sister Husband is killed. Novalee inherits all of her assests. She decides to build her dream home. She also marrys the man she has been looking for her whole life, and he was always right there in front of her. This book was amazingly spectacular. Novalee starts out as a young hopeless teenager living a dead end life, but by the end she is stronger than ever and living they way she always thought she would.

Between Friends, By Debbie Maccomber

2007-10-10T14:00:00.000-05:00

Between Friends by Debbie Maccomber is about 2 girls, Lesley and Jilain, that have been firends since they were is grade school. They write letters back and forth to each other. Lesley got raped by her boyfriend and got pregnant. Lesley's father said that they should get marred, they did and had 3 more childern. Jilain fell in love with a boy named Nick. He was a trouble maker but she didnt care. Nick died in the war and Jilain was really upset for 4 years. She finally married a guy that her father worked with and they had a baby. Jilains husband was 20 years older then her and he died from cancer. Jilain never married again. Lesley devorced her husband and married a doctor that lost his wife. They got married mainly because they didn't want to be alone anymore. Lesley didn't get child support from her ex husband and eventually he was found dead. In the end things worked out and everyone was happy.
This book is really good.

Dakota Born By Debbie Maccomber

2007-10-10T13:54:00.000-05:00

Dakota Born by Debbie Maccomber is a story about life, love, and frienship. In this book Lindsay Snyder moves to Buffalo Valley, North Dakota from Savannah, Georgia to get away from a bad relationship and to find out who she is. Buffalo Valley is where Lindsay's father grew up and where she spent some of her summers with her grandparents. But back then Buffalo Valley was a prosperous farming community now it is dying. The old high school teacher has died and now there is no hope for the small town unless they find another teacher. Lindsay offers to take the teaching position at the one room local high school. The city council, which also acts as a school board, agrees to hire her. Though many people are glad that she came, most of them think that she won't survive through the winter (her being a southern born city girl and all). Lindsay has set out to not only prove them wrong, but bring a little life and excitment back into this dying community. Her students love her and are now excited for school. Lindsay started a school newspaper, the first one in a long time. She also puts on a christmas play and a high school formal dance. But outside of school Lindsay can't seem to fit in. The town's people say that because she isn't Dakota Born she will never understand them and what living in a farming community means. She only has one friend, Hassie Knight, the owner of Knight's pharmacy. She is an older lady that was also close to Lindsay's grandmother. With Hassie's help Lindsay begins to make some friends. Gage Sinclaire becomes one of them new friends. With help from Gage, Lindsay also uncovers her grandmother's deepest secret. Lindsay finds out that Gage's grandfather and Lindsay's grandmother were at one point in time in love and that Gage's grandfather fathered a child of Lindsay's grandmother. But Lindsay's grandmother went away to have the child and gave it up for adoption because she believed Gage's grandfather to have been killed in war. Then after Lindsay's grandmother is happily married, Gage's grandfather returns from war alive and well. Gage's grandfather is horribly heartbroken but eventually marries too. They live the rest of their lives in the same community and still in love with each other. This little tid bit of information bring Gage and Lindsay closer at first but then Lindsay wants to find the child of their grandparents' and Gage doesn't want to. They fight for a long time about this. It eventually brings their relationship to a screeching halt. Gage claims that because Lindsay isn't "Dakota born" she couldn't possibly understand about privacy and why finding this child could cause serious distress. Lindsay goes ahead and does it anyway. They go through the rest of the book angry with each other. But eventually they get back together and get married. Then at the end of the book the child Lindsay looked so hard to find comes to town and tells Buffalo Bob (the owner of the town saloon) to tell Lindsay that her aunt stoped by to see her but not to worry she'll be back.

My Sister's Keeper

2007-10-10T09:41:00.000-05:00

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult is an amazing book. Kate Fitzgerald was diagnosed with luekemia at the age of two. Anna was born as a match to her sister, so that Kate may live. For 13 years Anna has never had an argument against saving Kate's life, until now. No matter what they try Kate doesnt seem to get any better and Anna is fed up with it all. Kate needs a kidney but for Anna to give her one means that Anna would have to quit the hockey, her favorite thing in the world. But it's not just about the sports, it's about control over her own body and having a say as to what happens to it. It's a tough decision but Anna sues her parents for medical emancipation, the right to her body. The case is long and heart breaking and the ending will have you shocked. A real tear jerker, My Sister's Keeper, is a must read.

Play Dirty

2007-10-09T14:21:00.000-05:00

Play Dirty, By Sandra Brown is a romance/mystery novel. The main character Griff Burkett, is a former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. The only reason that he is no longer in the NFL is because he was arrested for illegal gambling. After being release from jail, Foster Speakman, a multi-millionaire, contacts him for a meeting. Griff goes only because he has absolutly no money and he really needs some, and the chances of him getting a job are very slim. The job he is offered is very absurd...having a baby with Foster's wife. Foster is paralyzed from the waist down, so he cannot make a baby himself, and Griff has a good genetic makeup. After conceiving a baby, Foster is murdered. Griff's finger prints were all over the weapon that was used to kill Foster. Griff is running from the cops, while trying to get close to Laura, who is Foster's wife, because he loves her. Does Griff get caught for the murder? Do Griff and Laura get things worked out so they can be together? You'll just have to read the book to find out.
I would totally recommend this book, it was amazing!! There is so much that happen, it's not just the romance novel, it's also very suspenseful.

The Queen's Fool

2007-10-09T14:08:00.000-05:00

The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory.
The Queen's Fool is set inmid fifteenthcentury England during the reign of Queen Mary Tudor and her sister Elizabeth. The story is of Queen Mary's fool, Hannah De Verde's, life. Hannah describes the struggles of court life to gain the popularity of the English people and the constant battle for the throne of England. Hannah De Verde entered the service of the queen at a very young age. She was discovered by a prestigous young man, Lord Robert, and his tutor Mr. Dee. When she saw these men on the street outside her father's book shop, she invited them in. All three of them. The two men didnt understand what she meant when she invited the three of them into the shop. Mr. Dee soon discovered that Hannah had "The Sight" and could see an angel standing with the men. He brought her into the queen's service to be her holy fool, to advise her spiritually when she got her visions and help predict the future. The story tells of Hannah's constant spying, double crossing, ever changing loyalty, and struggle to stay in favor of the court.
I happened to LOVE this book. All of Philippa Gregory's books are intriguing and romantic and thrilling. I would DEFINATLY recommend it.

The Shadow Riders

2007-10-08T13:51:00.000-05:00

The story starts with the ending of the Civil War. A man Named Mac Traven and his brother Dal Traven are on there way home from the war. The two brothers decide to travel back home to see thier Dad, Mom, and sisters but once they got home no one was there. So the Traven brothers go into town and the towns people tell them that they saw some strange folks in the area with a covered wagon. Apparently these men with this wagon were taking young women and selling them to be slaves in Mexico. The Traven brothers venture down to catch up with the girls heading to Mexico and get them back safely home. I wonder what happens next? Go ahead and start reading the book right now!

Dr. Franklin's Island

2007-10-04T14:07:00.000-05:00

Semirah, Miranda and Arnie are stranded on an island after their plane crashes. They don't know what will happen to them if they don't get off the island. So they look for ways to get out. They think they are deserted until Arnie leaves and they can't find him. When Miranda and Semi go to look for him they are captured by the people of the island. They get knocked out and wake up in a room with bars seperating them. The girls are scared of what might happen to them. Will they get out alive?

A Corner Of The Universe

2007-10-03T14:13:00.000-05:00

Hattie Owen lives in a super-small town. Her family owns a boarding house with very interesting boarders. Hattie is looking forward to her summer vacation so that she can relax and spend time with her family and boarders. Her relaxing summer turns around when her grandparents aquire a new guest for the summer. Their son Adam, who Hattie has never heard of, and who is mentally ill. Hattie has the best summer ever! She makes new friends and develops relationships she will never forget.

My Own Asylum, Jacquelyn Shaffer

2007-07-22T01:36:00.000-05:00

Lynn Levy is an ordinary teen with strick parents! Of course shes going to break a few rules! but soon smoking turns into sneaking out and sneaking out turns to drug and alchohol use, and that turns into addiction! When Lynn becomes addicted to Meth before her first year of college! things go down hill for her life! She's used by guys, fails school, and hears things! When Lynn decides its time to get better her best friend gets angry! Can Lynn get the strength to go on with out her friend, Or does she keep using?

My Own Asylum is Jacquelyn's own story about her life!!