Guest Review: Impulse by Ellen Hopkins

NOTE: This guest review was written by Rebecah, a student at a nearby high school. It is always fun to hear what teens have to say about the books they are reading, whether they are new publications or older!

9781416903574
$12.99

 Impulse

     

     Impulse is a young adult fiction novel by Ellen Hopkins. The characters; Conner Sykes, Tony Ceccareli, and Vanessa O'Reilly. The main setting is at a mental hospital. It starts off with the three main characters talking about their experiences and how to get out of the hospital. They all struggle with their own problems. Conner can’t bear the memories of his childhood and the only thing that helps him is pills. Tony has a good life except the fact that he can’t stand to be with his parents and everyone else without there being a fight which takes a huge toll on him. Vanessa has quite a bit of secrets but one keeps bringing her back to cutting herself. The only way to get well and out of the hospital is if they all help each other out and conquer their problems, not only temporarily but forever.

I like how all the characters had an opportunity to have a second chance in life no matter what they did in their past. My favorite character is Tony. I would recommend it because I feel like many people can relate to this novel mainly because everyone needs a second chance in life no matter what they did.

Guest Review: White Oleander by Janet Fitch, Reviewed by Alexandra R.

        

9780316284950

$16.00

White Oleander was written by Janet Fitch in 1999; it is a fiction novel.  There are three main characters in the novel:  the daughter, Astrid Magnussen, her mother, Ingrid Magnussen, and her new boyfriend Barry, who they refer to as “Goatman” because Ingrid is repulsed by him, she says.   

Astrid and her mother live together in Los Angeles; Ingrid is a poet and an artist and inflicts all her beliefs onto Astrid. Astrid is 12 and doesn’t have much outside influence and because of that she doesn’t fit in much at school; she doesn’t mind though, she looks up to her mother and wants to be like her.  Ingrid, even though she has rules about men, she continues to go out with Barry and their relationship escalates.  Both Astrid and Ingrid are fond of Barry; he takes them places and makes them both feel special.  

Barry tried very hard to get close to the self-centered, eccentric, and cold-hearted Ingrid, but as he did he became unfaithful and started lying to her.  When she found out, she went into his home and violated his things out of hatred and pleasure.  She soon poisoned him with a White Oleander and killed him.  

Not long after, the police were knocking on her door and took her away to jail; they forced Astrid to pack a few things and took her to another home.  She lived the rest of her childhood in different foster homes wondering why her mom left her alone.  Astrid goes through 5 dysfunctional foster homes where terrible things happened to her, and a girl’s home throughout the last 6 years of her childhood.  She struggles, and she grows up knowing all these terrible things exist and are possible.

This book was amazing to read.  It really makes you think about all the tragedies that can happen to you and how there are people who will put you through those tragedies without even a thought. It makes you question humanity and whether or not you have someone, or you are alone.  You feel and you read what she went through and it makes you understand the way those struggles change your mindset.  By the end of the novel she talks to her mother and get the closure and answers she wanted, and then she moves on, and starts her life. 

Guest Review: After by Anna Todd

Another guest review from one of the local schools! This reviewer wishes to remain anonymous. We have this series in our collection, but I haven't read it myself yet - guess I know what's going with me on my next lunch break!

*************************************

My favorite book that I’ve ever read is called After by Anna Todd. It was started off as fanfiction on Wattpad with over 1 billion reads online. Then they decided to publish it. 

9781476792484

$16.00

The story takes place at Washington Central University with this new freshman named Tessa. Tessa is considered to be a good girl, always listens to teachers, does what she is told, never gets into trouble, and she has a perfect boyfriend, Noah. Tessa’s mom is very protective and has high standards for her daughter but that all changes when Tessa meets Hardin. 

The tousled brown hair, cocky British accent, tattoos, lip and eyebrow pierced boy, who is different from what Tessa has seen. Tessa should hate him with his rude, sometimes cruel, attitude but something about him captivates her. Maybe it’s his dark moods or when they kiss it ignites a passion she’s never experienced. With his mood swings and the reckless way he treats Tessa, she can’t seem to stop thinking about him. Her love only grows for him despite all the horrible things Hardin would say he can’t stay away from her either. Tessa has to decide if her love for Hardin is worth losing her perfect boyfriend and her relationship with her mom.

In my opinion, this book is perfect and greatly written. The story really captures your attention with the complex characters. Hardin’s character would be my favorite because he is unpredictable and you want to find out why he acts the way he does. It was crazy with the development of the story line and how everything turns out in the end. 

This book is a series with this being the first. Then there’s After We Collided, After We Fell, After Ever Happy, and Before. I would recommend this series because it could relate to a lot of people with their complicated relationships and you can relate to either Tessa or Hardin with their mindset and how they deal with situations. I think it’ll be worth the time to read it and see for yourself.

Guest Review: Holes by Louis Sachar

At a recent visit to a local school, Academy del Sol, I invited the students to write guest reviews, and a few have taken me up on it! Here is our first, a review of a perennial favorite, written by Arturo B.:

978-044-041-4803

The book Holes by Louis Sachar is a fiction book about a boy named Stanley Yelnats and his experience at Camp Green Lake which was a camp for boys who have broken the law and did not want to go to jail. Camp Green Lake was in the middle of nowhere: a dry desert with nothing but mountains in sight that were miles and miles away. A boy named Zero became friends with Stanley along with some of the other boys at camp. X-ray was basically the leader to Squid, Armpit, Zig Zag etc. Stanley’s whole time at camp was destiny. He went there for a reason and in the book you find out about his family curse and how he searches for Zero through the desert.

I really enjoyed this book. I have never read it before but I know about most of what happens from the movie, but I would highly recommend the book before the movie. The book has more parts to it so it gives you better details and lets your brain imagine every little detail. My favorite character in the story was Mr. Sir. He was threatening to the kids and he was also kind of funny in the book. His character brought a more stern theme to the book whenever he was around.

Guest Review: Sworn to Raise by Terah Edun

As is probably painfully obvious, my time to read and review over the summer is pretty much nonexistent. I have some very articulate teens this summer, though, so i decided to turn some of it over to them! Following is a review written by Anna H.:

9781620512074

Seventeen-year-old Ciardis Vane grew up in a small village on the edge of the realm. Beautiful, destitute, and desperate she is looking to get out any way she can. She has worked her whole live as a laundress with no hope of escaping her fate anytime soon.

But then Ciardis's life changes when a strange woman appears with the key to Ciardis's escape. With an offer to take her to the capital and a life she'd never dreamed of, it's hard to resist. There's only one catch.

She wants Ciardis to become a companion: she'll be required to wear expensive dresses, learn to conduct suitable magic, educate herself on court proclivities, and - in the end - chain herself to the highest bidder. A Patron for life.

Ciardis knows that this is her one opportunity to change her life.

But what she does not know is that she will soon be at the heart of intrigues and power struggles, and that her new life in luxury demands a high price, perhaps even the life of a prince.

A beautifully written book that I absolutely refused to put down. I can't wait to see the rest of the series come out. Seeing more than simple elemental magic was truly fascinating.

I am quite curious. Sebastian reminds me a bit of Ciel Phantomhive from "Black Butler". Was that on purpose?

Quack Goes to the Ranch

A guest post from the tag team of Daddy and S.'s duck Quack. Usually, S. sends one or more of her little bears (all named Sarah) to work with Daddy, and they ride around in his pocket and keep an eye on him. Yesterday, she seemed to think he needed more watching, so she sent Quack instead. He doesn't quite fit in Daddy's pocket, so he got to take a good look around at all the cool things on the ranch. Here is his and Daddy's story of their day:

 

 

This is "Quack," S's newest favorite baby. But today she had to go with Dad to keep him company. So the story will be told along with pictures.

 

Dad says you have to start the work day out with a good breakfast. Hot spicy sausage with cheese on a biscuit hit the spot!

 

At the ranch I got to play on the ice......

 

And on the bronze bear.

 

Dad said we really needed to watch out for coyotes. Here I'm keeping watch while dad does some work.

 

Taking a ride on one of the ATVs. Sure is cold out here!

 

Time to get warm in front of the fireplace.

 

And then a morning nap on the bearskin rug. Dad says it will be lunchtime when I wake up. Later today he says we will see about taking a ride on a different ATV and maybe look around for some wildlife sign. Then it's off to see about some nuisance wildlife.

 

Up just in time for lunch. Beef with wild and white rice. Even better with red chile added. Lemonade to drink. But dad forgot the cookies.

 

And a quick ride on the tractor. Then it's off to see about wildlife.

 

Taking the big ATV this time. It has a heater and stereo. Listening to some Merle Haggard.

 

Learning about game cameras and how they work to track wildlife activity.

 

And about how elk shed their antlers every year.

 

And Dad says that this answers the age old question "do bears poop in the woods?" Maybe I should have kept Dad's rifle handy.

 

And now it's off to set some critter traps.

 

Home at last with a hot cup of coffee. Can't wait for S. to get home so I can tell her about my day.

 

S. is home. Now I can tell her all about my day!

 

 



...And a Little of the Party

(L.'s first guest post)

Huh...this is interesting. What is it?

Woah, it's sticky.

What is this gunk? Shouldn't you be washing it off, Mom?

Ohhhhhhhhhh.

Oh!

Oh, yeah!

A nibble here...

...and some from this side...

Forget what I said about washing, Mom.

Cool, now I have two pieces!

That's some good stuff! Can I have more, Mom?

Mom??? Where are you taking me, Mom???

(Ten minutes and a lot of scrubbing later)

Presents! I got paper to tear,

Paper to shake,

Paper to let my brother and sister tear,

Oh, and a ball!

And a truck.

Did I mention the ball?

I could play with this thing for hours. Hours and hours and hours. Hours and hours and hours and...