Peeps by Scott Westerfeld

Sarah was infected by Cal who was infected by Morgan.  Now its Cal’s job to find Sarah and stop infecting people till peeps rule the world.  A peep is a vampire, sort of.  Cal is a vampire without the symptoms like a carrier.  He is now involved in the secret government of NY all because of this disease.  It is his job to gather all the insane peeps and get them to rehab before they become real vampire.  Cal is keeping a huge secret, but secrets are also being kept from him.  Can he help save the world and find out these secrets before it is to late.

I think other people would enjoy this book because it is always on the edge.  It always keeps your nose in it literally.  Once you start you can’t stop.

Review by Micah R.  – 6th grade

Incantation by Alice Hoffman

Everything is so good for Estrella deMadrigal.  She is a normal sixteen year old who calls Spain her home.  She lives a pleasant life in her town, with her grandparents, mother, and best friend, Catalina.  The two are always together, and very kind to each other.

Then, the Spanish Inquisition changes everything.  In the town square, Estrella, finds a paper.  There have been marranos found in her town.  A marrano, which rudely means pig, is the name for a Jew who is pretending to be Christian and who practices Judaism.  The paper is saying to be on the lookout for marranos.  Then there is a list of things that marranos do.

Estrella is shocked afetr reading the list.  She realizes that she is a marrano, and that her family only goes to church to not be revealed.  She also learns that her real name is Esther, after the great Jewish queen.  But of course, she can’t tell Catalina.  She becomes attached to her family roots, and Catalina’s cousin and bethrothed as well.  But, that doesn’t play out well for Estrella.

When Catalina sees Estrella and him talking in her backyard, she gets filled with anger.  Catalina wants to get back.  And then, one day, the deMadrigals hear a knock on the door.  And Grandfather knows who is knocking.  Things go very badly starting then, and you can only imagine what type of events take place.  What will become of Esther’s fate?

Incantation is a wonderful book.  Ms. Alice Hoffman is a world-renowned author who is very talented.  It is a very touching, shocking, and adventurous book.  Even the pickiest of readers will find pleasure in “Incantation.”

Review by Rama G. – 6th grade

Bird by Angela Johnson

Bird is 14-year-old girl who is hiding out in a farmhouse shed.  Bird lost most of her family.  She ran away after the breakup between her mom and her stepfather, Cecil.  Bird loved Cecil more then anyone.  That is why she is set out to find him.  Bird takes food from the farmhouse family when they go to church.  That all stopped after she met the farmhouse boy, Ethan.  However, Bird realizes she can’t live like this anymore.  So, she takes off for another place.  All of the sudden, bird runs into an old lady named Mrs. Pritchard.  Mrs. Pritchard is letting Bird stay with her.  Bird has never been happier in her life.  However, she knows that she has to move on…

I think others should read this book because you really get into it.  This is a book where you wonder what crazy thing will happen next.  This book also has chapters where whatever the chapter’s name is, that’s who is talking.  It’s pretty neat!  Anyway, this is a great book, and you should read it!

Review by Brooke V. – 6th grade

New Moon by Stephanie Meyer (Twilight Saga, Book 2)

New Moon by Stephanie Meyer is the sequel to the book Twilight.  Bella is back and is about to turn 18.  She doesn’t want her birthday to be a big deal, but Edward and Alice convince the rest of the Cullens to turn it into one.  While at her big not wanted party, Bella gives herself a paper cut and the Cullens go crazy trying to get her blood.  They realize what they did and apologize but fear that they aren’t safe in Forks anymore and leave leaving Bella hurt and depressed.  While Edward is gone, Bella becomes close with family friend Jacob Black.  Will Edward return before Bella possibly falls for Jacob?  Is Bella in danger of other vampires without Edward to protect her?

If you read Twilight, I really think you should read New Moon.  It’s full of twists and turns and is hard to put down.

Review by Tierney M. – 8th grade

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Living on the East side of town isn’t very easy for the greasers. Having to grow up on the poor side of town, where their are gangs and rumbles always going on with their rivals the Socials, or Socs. After their parents die, Darry, age 20, is left in charge of his two younger brothers Sodapop, age 16 and Ponyboy, age 14. Life is not so easy for greasers like Ponyboy and his friends. The Socs are a vicious gang of rich kids who think it fun to beat up greasers. They always seem to have the upper hand which doesn’t make the Greasers very happy. At least everyone knows where they stand, but all that changes when one small happen-stance leads to a long, hard, chain of events, which will change all of their lives forever. Although the greasers endure many hardships they always stick together and persevere.

I think many people would like to read this book because it talks about real life problems. The needs to belong, that adults don’t understand teenagers, and more.

Review by Megan K. – 8th grade

The Secret Language of Girls by Frances O’Roark Dowell

This story is about two sixth grade girls, Marylin McIntosh and Kate Farber. These two eleven-year-old girls, who have been best friends for the longest time, have just started middle school. Of course, there’s the immediate question “how will I fit in?”. Once Marylin tries out for the cheerleading squad and makes it, it seems as though Marylin is rising on the popularity chart, and Kate is left in the dust. Marylin is being invited to boy-girl parties, has a reserved seat at the “popular” table, and has a new best friend, Mazie Calloway. Mazie is not what one would call a “good apple.” She’s a suck-up towards the parents and teachers, but when she’s around her piers, she’s mean, mean, mean. Kate made a new friend, too. Her name is Paisley. Kate and Paisley become great friends, until Paisley gets transfered to another school specializing for kids with high intelligence. When Kate suddenly gets a new boyfriend, everything changes, however. Kate’s starting to rise on the charts, and Mazie doesn’t like it. Mazie tries to influence Marylin to bring Kate down, back to the “nobody” list. Secretly, though, Kate and Marylin both with things could just be back to the way it was before middle school, when they were best friends…..

I think other people would like to read this book because it deals with a lot of problems that are commonly faced in today’s middle school world. Popularity, relationships, friendships, grades, etc. It had so many details and was very well written. At times, I felt like I was my own character in the book. I would recommend this book for teenage girls between the ages of 10 years old to 14 years old. It’s an easy book to comprehend, and very interesting for a teenage girl. It teaches you a lot about life lessons, and how to stay true to yourself. I think other middle school students, like myself, would enjoy reading this book.

Review by Holly S. – 8th grade

Ready or Not by Meg Cabot

Ready or Not

Ready Or Not by Meg Cabot is the sequel to the book All American Girl. Sam Madison is back and has changed a whole lot. She dyed her hair from red to black. She is also now dating the President’s son David. While things are going hectic with the public and school life for Sam, things are even more hectic at home. Her dumb-blonde cheerleader sister Lucy just broke up with her boyfriend Jack and is falling for her geeky SAT tutor. Things get way more crazy when David wants Sam to spend Thanksgiving with him and his parents and Sam doesn’t know if she should go or not. Also, she is trying to get ready for an MTV interview coming to her school. Can things get any crazier for Sam?

If you’ve read All American Girl, I’d definitely read this book if I were you. It is different from the first one, but it’s still very good and hard to put down.

Review by Tierney M. – 8th grade

All-American Girl by Meg Cabot

All-American Girl

All American Girl by Meg Cabot is about 15-year-old Samantha Madison or Sam. Sam comes from a wealthy and preppy family who lives in Washington, D.C. Sam isn’t preppy at all and likes to be different from everyone else. Her parents make her take art classes that she doesn’t want to take because they think that she needs to express herself more. One day after art classes, she saves the President of the United Stated from getting shot. Now, everyone wants to be Sam’s friend and the public is all over her. Will Sam’s life ever go back to normal again?

I personally enjoyed this book. This book would probably be a great read for teen girls who like adventure about the girl next door. This is also a great book for those out there who like the author Meg Cabot.

Review by Tierney M. – 8th grade

A Song for Summer by Eva Ibbotson

A Song for Summer

A Song for Summer is a book about a girl named Ellen Carr. She was born in London around 1910-1920. Her mother and aunts want her to be a professor or scientist, but she loves housekeeping. She ends up with a job at an eccentric school specializing in music, drama, and dance. She enjoys it there, despite its wildness. She falls in love with the gardener Marek, and he loves her too, but they don’t get a chance to tell each other because Marek had a mission to complete: a dangerous one in the face of Hitler’s Reich. He comes back after a while though, and they experience their love. They become seperated again because Marek wished not to see Ellen after he sees his childhood home go up in flames. Ellen becomes engaged to another man, and you wonder whether they will ever get together for good.

I think others would like to read it because is full of mystery and questions that get answered along the way. It is an adventure, but there is love in it, too. Ellen is a heroine who you can relate to because she has dreams and love just like everyone does.

Review by Colleen H. – 8th grade

Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer (Book 4 of the Twilight Saga)

Breaking Dawn

Breaking Dawn is my favorite book out of the Twilight saga. It is a continuation of Bella’s journey with Edward, a vampire. The book starts out with Bella and Edward getting married.  Bella becomes pregnant with a strange creature and Bella and edward fly home immediately. Bella couldn’t stand the pain of childbirth, so Edward had no other choice but to turn her into a vampire. This story explains near-fatal battles and a love story.  This book is the best!