Ender's Game Book Review by Andrew

Ender’s game, by Orson Scott Card, is the futuristic tale of a young boy who is conscribed into Battle School, a space age military school for boys. The story chronicles the protagonist, Andrew, ‘Ender’ Wiggins’ with many conflicts, both internal and external, as he progresses through trials of his destiny to save Earth.

Andrew Wiggins was born a Third, which is prohibited by Earth’s new two-child policy. In a deal to keep their son Ender’s parents agreed that he would be monitored by the Government in a program that searches for potential brilliant military officers for the war against an alien race known as the Formics. Eventually Ender is taken to command school, a military institution for young boys that orbits the Earth. Ender gradually works his way up the rungs of the power ladder when he shows his strategic prowess over his peers in battle simulations, but it is only after numerous grueling tribulations instigated by Commander Graff, who constantly monitors Ender and manipulates situations surrounding Ender to mold him into a strategic genius. When Ender is through with command school he is sent into exile on asteroid 433 Eros to be trained by Mazer Rackham, the man who will teach him everything he needs to know to save Earth from defeat in the war against the Formics. What happens after the war is over is the true surprise.

I think that Orson Scott Card wrote a very interesting and powerful book. I would go so far as to say that this book is a science fiction masterpiece. Card places you in the mind of the protagonist like only a masterful writer could, and the character development is very deep; as Ender goes through changes you can tell, they changes don’t smack you over the head, but they are obvious highlights of the book. Card constructed a story that is difficult to put down, a great plot filled with poignant physical and moral conflict. While the entire book is very compelling, it is in the ending of the book where Card demonstrates his writing prowess. The book resolves itself in a way that is unique and unexpected and it does so with the lilting cadence of a poem. The book’s resolution is Card’s stroke of creative genius. This book is rated a five out of five.

Living Dead Girl Book Review by Tricia S

I read the Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott. I really liked the book it was intense and a page turner.

At ten years old, Alice, was kidnapped by a man named Ray. Throughout the 5 years, she has been sexually abused and tortured. Now, Ray wants a new girl to “play” with and wants Alice to find her for him. Alice will do anything to be free from him, even put a little girl in her shoes. The end is bittersweet, and Alice finally gets the freedom she’s been wanting all along.

The book was great and right away gets your attention. The first sentence, “Once upon a time, I was a little girl who disappeared.” Instantly makes you want to find out what happened to this little girl. I like the way Alice told her story and it really surprised me throughout the whole book on how she wouldn't just leave and tell the cops what was happening. Alice knew where Ray was and she could have led the cops to him and they could have put him away without the harm of her family. When I read books like this I love the feeling and thought of what would I do in this situation? Feeling helpless and alone made me connect with other situations I have been through in my life and my friends and her story really touched me. 

I would recommend this book to anyone. The Living Dead Girl really pulls you in with every word and Alice’s story is very interesting and I love the suspense of the story. I rate this book a 5 out of 5.

Fullmetal Alchemist Manga Review By Sterling C

                Fullmetal Alchemist, as another manga series I decided to start reading, it’s probably one of the best right behind Death Note. Written by, Hiromu Arakawa, Fullmetal Alchemist is a story about two young boys whose goal is to bring their dead mother back from the dead. The only problem with that is that it’s never been done before.         

                In the failed attempt to do so, the two brothers lose a piece of them, the oldest, his arm and leg, the youngest everything but his soul. After years that have passed the eldest brother Ed went into the military as a state Alchemist. With the two brothers working for the government they try harder and harder to get to answer of their question, how to successfully bring someone back from the dead. They go to many different places and try to figure out how they will find there answer.  

                With the boys searching they get close, but yet have the hardest time trying to find the actually answer itself. Going from the library which had burned down, to the “secret place” which they got caught and almost died at, and then going back to their teacher whom won’t teach them anything else and is too weak to do much. After all the traveling the two boys have found many clues as to what may help them in there soon to become long journey to find the secret ingredient, the philosophers stone.

                As a very good book and a very good series, Fullmetal Alchemist is a book for people who like books that keep you interested and like action. This book/ series is probably one of my favorite books so far, I rate this book series a four and half out of five. Now my question to you is, will you find out whether they find the stone or not and retrieve there long lost mother?

I Heart You, You Haunt Me Book Review by Megan E

                The book I read was “I heart you, you haunt me” by Lisa Schroeder.  This book is quick, sad and heart-warming all at the same time.  I wasn't crazy about the verse set up, but the story itself was really good, and it really connected you to the characters.

                A teenage girl, Ava, just lost “the love of her life”, in a tragic accident.  Now, her dead ex-lover, Jackson is literally haunting her, reminding her constantly of their love together.  Her parents start to become worried about her because she never leaves the house.  Then one day at the beach, she meets a boy named Lyric, and once he asks for her number, she quickly withdrawals, thinking of Jackson, and went home.  Then one night, her friends want her to go to a party with them and her parents insist that she goes.  She tags a long and it ends up being at the place where Jackson died.  One of her friends wants to introduce her to a boy they like, and it ended up being Lyric.  After a while of being at the party, Ava starts losing it and Lyric ended up driving her home.  Towards the end, Ava begins to discover that even though she will always have a place in her heart for Jackson, she can’t separate her life from actual living people and makes a decision that will change her life for the better.

                The only thing I did not like about the book was how it was written in verse.  Otherwise, I thought it was phenomenal.  The author cut right to the chase, and did not make it unclear that someone had died.  It lets me as a reader feel more emotionally connected to the character and story.  “ I've never been to a funeral until today” is the opening sentence, even though it’s really short, it holds so much meaning and sets the tone.   This book showed the stages of grief when you lose someone, and that is something that almost everyone can relate to.

                This book hold a lot of purpose, it showed someone struggling to let go of her best friend, her other half and they had to learn how to cope and live life without them.  They started finding themselves and moving on, but never forgetting.  I loved this book; I would recommend it to anyone.  I give it four out of five stars.

Alice in Zombieland Book Review by Ray

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter is about a girl named Alice and how her whole world changed after the accident. At first I thought this book was boring so I didn’t really want to read it or get into it but soon after the first chapter I started to get interested. The more I read this book the more I got into it and the more I enjoyed it.

In the book Alice and her family gets into an accident and all but Alice died. Alice life starts to change from where she lives, goes to school, and the people she hangs out with. She goes from this shy fragile girl to a courageous strong girl. She makes many enemies as long as many friends in the end. In the beginning Alice would have never guessed her life would end this way and now she won’t give up what her life has become.

Over all, this book was great; I love the secrets that go on between Alice and Cole. It keeps me on my toes and wanting me to keep reading to know what is going to happen. I didn’t like the very beginning it just really bored me when it was just Emma and Alice talking in the yard. This book doesn’t have too many hard words to read. I also like how the author put the italic words showing that Alice was talking to herself in her head, this made me feel like I knew what she was thinking all the time and that I knew everything about her.

          Alice in Zombieland overall was a great book about Alice and how her whole life gets turned around after the accident. I encourage everyone to read this book if you enjoy zombies and mysteries. This book just keeps you on your toes and gets you hooked the more you read it. I would have to give this book 5 stars.

Flawless Book Review by Yessica

This book is name Flawless and the author is Lara Chapman, this is a fiction book written in 2011.  It’s a book I really enjoyed reading and would encourage others to take the time to read it as well.

A girl named Sarah Burke’s has a body image issue that really makes her self-esteem go down.  She tells everyone that she accepts herself just the way she is, but in this book we see how that small detail of her body really makes up her low self-esteem character.  A new cute boy arrives at her high school and Sarah finds they are perfect for each other, sharing the same like and dislikes.  The only thing that holds her back is that her best friend in the entire world likes that same exact guy.  Being the loyal friend that Sarah is, she has to let go of the idea of having this guy be hers and actually help her friend get into a relationship with a guys she thinks is perfect for her.  The question is... Will she let this small body defect affect her? Will she lose that loyalty towards her friend, in order to get with the guys of her dreams? I suppose you will have to read to find out.

I personally enjoyed this book and would be something I would recommend to anyone.  I believe there are many valuable lessons any reader can learn from this book.  It teaches the reader how important loyalty is, how to embrace our body, how to always speak with the truth and truly try to be happy.  I really liked how the author conveys that perfection isn’t the most important aspect of a person, especially when it comes to body image.  I would have liked if she had added a little more detail at the end , but besides that It was a book I enjoyed reading. 

For anyone who enjoys reading love story’s with conflicts, or anything having to deal with friendship or insecurities, I would highly recommend this book.  I would rate it a 4 star book because I liked it and I’m sure other people would to.  I’m not implying that everyone is going to love this book; many of you can take a meaning out of this book if you gave it a chance.

Speak Book Review by Ashleigh

Speak

            The Book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is about a teenage girl who has problems with feeling liked and accepted, and even having a problem with even liking herself. In my opinion of Speak; I think it is a great book.

High School days are filled with cliques, and groups that live off of judgment and lies. Trying to be accepted and liked as much as the next person.  Melinda’s freshman year is already ruined and makes high school way much scarier than it already has to be. Melinda is a shy girl and doesn’t like to be exposed and not in control of her life. She finds ways to deal with herself hatred for who she is as a person as her emotions take complete control of her way of thinking.  Melinda’s only close friend left her, instead of helping become the beautiful kind girl that she is, she left Melinda to be destroyed and ashamed of what she has become. Through freshman year she tries to find herself and who she really is and how to speak out to someone that is willing to help.

I think Speak was a stunning book, because it’s Realistic Fiction; they are giving examples of how girls think in high school all the way from freshman to Senior. I think it’s a great book because it’s a book where a girl is insecure about herself image and I can relate to that. For example Melinda is a very timid shy girl that only has a few friends that she really trusts. Melinda is depressed and doesn’t except that she is thin and beautiful. Also Melinda feels like if she does the things she does because she is the one who get to decide whether or not to stop.  In my own opinion there is nothing that is dislikable about the book Speak.  

            The book speak is a great book and could be enjoyed by teens through adults.  I rated this a four out of five, this book is a book about how a girl tries to find herself and tries to come to terms with the past. When she figures out how to deal with the past she understands that her body and her face are not the problem she will open up and just maybe even make a new friend.