Red Glove by Holly Black
Summary: Cassle the main charactor has a problem, he's in love with someone whos forced to love him, by a curse his mom put apon her. Other problems too, he finds out he's murdered people by working them, you work them with a single touch of bare hands. He's a transfermation worker, he can transform someone into anything. He has to choose between his brother, the Feds or a friends family buiessness. It's a race between time and choices and fake love.
Genre: Other
Rank: 5/5
Would you recommend this book to a friend? yes
Review: I love this book and I think Holly Black is very smart to think of this idea. I think Cassle made a great dissesion and the ending makes you want to read it even more and more.
Reviewed by Torre Gonzalez. Grade: 7th
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Summary: Beatrice Priors life is split up into 5 factions each dedicated to a virtue- Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). One a certain day each year you pick what faction you will belong to the rest of your life. During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris. They all under-go many physical and mental challenges. Tris tries to figure out who her friends are and figure out a romance with a moody boy. A secret inside of her may save the ones she loves or destroys her.
Genre: Sci Fi
Rank: 5/5
Would you recommend this book to a friend? yes
Review: I really love divergent! It was such a great book. One of my favorites next to "The Hunger Games." It had such great twists and turns. I was amazed at how Veronica Roth doesn't do anything in her creative writing COLLEGE class but write her book. Now look, it is being made into a movie. I recommended this book for ages 6 and up. I did read some parts to my 4th grade neighbor but i don't think she could have read it on her own. It is a fast read because you can't put it down. Roth is coming out with a sequel so you better read this one fast! 
SUCH A GREAT BOOK>>>READ IT!
Reviewed by Emma Plunkett. Grade: 8th
Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya
Summary: Honda Tohru is an average Japanese girl whose mom dies, leaving her an orphan. Living in a tent (long story) she discovers a house and meets Sohma Shigure, who just happens to be the cousin of Sohma Yuki, the resident "Prince" of her school. After they discover her circumstances, they take her in. Then their other cousin, Sohma Kyo breaks into the house (literally) to fight Yuki. Trying to stop it, Tohru discovers the Sohma family's secret: When they are weak or embraced by someone of the opposite gender, they turn into the animals of the Chinese zodiac. It's hard to explain in 600 characters!
Genre: Graphic Novel/Managa
Rank: 5/5
Would you recommend this book to a friend? yes
Review: This is a really nice manga! On a scale of 1-5, it's a 7! It has something for everyone, with humor, romance, fantasy, and sadness... There are 23 volumes, and the story is so unique! It's so difficult to explain, so just read it! Just warning you, it's read the "Japanese way," right to left. It's very easy once you get used to it, though! Furuba is one of the most popular teen mangas in America as well as in Japan, so it's a nice first manga.
Reviewed by Brooke Boetticher. Grade: 10
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Summary: The day started out like any normal snow day- which takes a turn for the worst when seventeen-year-old cellist Mia's family gets into a car accident. Now Mia must choose whether to stay with her boyfriend or go on. Mia takes you on a journey through the past, and a view of the friends she may leave behind.
Genre: Fantasy
Rank: 4/5
Would you recommend this book to a friend? yes
Review: Like Melissa, I read this book, but it was on my school reading list... This was an interesting book, though not the thing I normally read. Mia talks about music a lot, which I felt appealing because I love music. She plays the cello and her boyfriend is in a band, and she uses many musical metaphors. The idea is a good one, too. This is also a teen/young adult book, as it has several swears and some suggestive scenes and such, but it was a pretty good one anyways!
Reviewed by Brooke Boetticher. Grade: 10
The Sirens of Surrentum by Caroline Lawrence
Summary: Flavia and her friends Jonathan, Nubia, and Lupus are at Surrentum to visit their friend Pulchra. Pulchra says that her mother is getting poisoned! The book is all about how they save Pulchra's mom. They investigate the poisoner Locusta's house (they get poisoned). Lupus visits the baths of Nero. In the end, they find that Pulchra's mom was poisoning herself! She did it because her husband liked other women.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rank: 5/5
Would you recommend this book to a friend? yes
Review: I loved it! Well, except for the wierd parts. I even wrote a play on this book.
Reviewed by Wenwen Vanderwende. Grade: 5th grade
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Summary: Have you ever felt like you were a little different than everyone else? That’s the case for Stargirl Caraway, except she doesn’t realize it. Stargirl gets everyone in the room staring at her and her crazy antics, and she’ll get you turning the pages too! Everything about Stargirl is strange; her clothes, her ukulele, her point of view, even her pet is strange! Most people like dogs and cats. Not Stargirl. She has a pet rat! Stargirl doesn’t care if she’s a little different, but what happens when Leo Borlock starts falling for the strangest girl in school?
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rank: 4/5
Would you recommend this book to a friend? yes
Review: I thought this book was very unique. Jerry Spinelli is a great author. He makes his books different from all others. That’s why I love his books, especially Stargirl. If you’re looking for a different book with different characters, than this is the book for you! I loved this book, and luckily for me and other Stargirl fans, Jerry Spinelli wrote a sequel, Love, Stargirl. If you liked the first book, than you may like the sequel!
Reviewed by Brigid Cavanagh. Grade: 6
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Summary: In what used to be North America is now Panem. The capitol rules the 12 districts around it. The capitol keep the districts in line by sending a boy and a girl in between the ages of 12 and 18 from each district to fight to death on live T.V. in what is known as the Hunger Games. Katniss Everdeen from District 12 knows she is going to die when she steps in for her little sister Prim to fight in the Hunger Games. Survival comes naturally to Katniss and she becomes a contender without knowing it. If she wants to survive she will have to make decisions that are for survival and love.
Genre: Sci Fi
Rank: 5/5
Would you recommend this book to a friend? yes
Review: THIS IS THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ! One of my friends recommended it to me and i couldn't put it down until I was done with all 3 books! This book is great for 6th graders and up! I told my mom and sister about the book, they read the first chapter and were instantaneously hooked! As you can see all age groups will love this book. The story of survival and future is a perfect mix. If you like Sci-Fi books you’ll love this one. I love the little bit of romance in it too. Anyone will like this book. As soon as I heard they were making a movie about it I was PUMPED! PLEASE READ IT!!
Reviewed by Emma Plunkett. Grade: 8th
Gallows Hill by Lois Duncan
Summary: When Sarah moves to Pine Crest with her mom's new boyfriend, life is bad. Just when she thought it couldn't get any worse she was asked by Eric, someone from school, to run a fortune telling booth at the Halloween H.S. carnival. She agrees but wonders if she was once in the Salem witch hunt. Information given to her by Kyra, the schools encyclopedia, Sarah starts to get threats from people who think she is a witch. Kyra asks Sarah to come to a party she says no. Then Eric comes along and tells her to apologize to Kyra but instead they bring her to the party to be burned of being a witch.
Genre: Mystery
Rank: 4/5
Would you recommend this book to a friend? yes
Review: I thought this was a great book! It was full of suspense and was an easy read. In school we had the battle of the books and one of the books was "Don't Look Behind You"- Lois Duncan. I didn't get to read it for the battle but I read it afterward and got hooked on all her books wanting to read more and more! This book is great for, I say 6th grade and up. It may be a little bit violent for anyone younger. It’s a fast read so it's perfect for AR in the Middle school. All of her books are fantastic! If you love mystery and suspense, this is the book for you!
Reviewed by Emma Plunkett. Grade: 8th
Bite of the Mango by Mariatu Kamara
Summary: Mariatu Kamara's book is about her life in Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. When she was 11, a civil war blazed through the countries and people lived in fear of the rebels, who would kidnap, torture, and even kill. Mariatu's village is plundered, and after being kidnapped, she is spared and allowed to go free, but without two of her most important possessions: her hands. With many other changes, she must begin a long trek to find health care. She goes through many other trials that are shocking, but her courage will help her through.
Genre: Non-Fiction
Rank: 5/5
Would you recommend this book to a friend? yes
Review: This was an intense, interesting book. The things Mariatu goes through are unbelievable. I can't think of what I'd do if I lost my hands! And the other things she goes through after she gets to the hospital are just too much for a preteen to even know about! This is definitely a book for teens and above- nothing for my little sister to read! However, I do recommend this to those of you interested in this. Just make sure you don't get frightened easily- the events can shock and horrify you if you're not prepared. Mariatu's story is inspiring, and it is one worth knowing.
Reviewed by Brooke Boetticher. Grade: 10
Where She Went by Gayle Forman
Summary: This book is the sequel to If I Stay. It shows the main characters, Mia and Adam after the car accident that killed Mia's family. Mia is a famous classical music cello player. Adam is a rockstar. They had not seen or talked to each other in years (since they graduated high school). But in New York, they find each other again and take up where they left off.
Genre: Other Fiction
Rank: 4/5
Would you recommend this book to a friend? yes
Review: I loved this book. A great sequal to If I Stay. I love the characters and how after so many years, Adam and Mia still love each other and when they need each other the most.
Reviewed by Melissa Pretko. Grade: 10