Solider's Heart by Gary Paulsen

Soldier's Heart is a story based upon the life of a 16 year old boy named Charley. Charley is living with his family in Minnesota during the Civil War. Even though Charley is under the age of what you're supposed to bo to enter the army, he lies anyway and they let him pass. He goes through months of training before he is sent on a train down south to fight. During the Battle of Gettysburg, and Bull Run, he learns the horrors of war and he sees sights that he never thought he would see.
The reason why I like this book was because of the fact that it is about the Civil War. I think that anyone who likes history and war would like, Soldier's Heart.
-Written by I. Buckwalter

Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan

Four students annoyed by Mr. Griffin, their English teacher, decide they want to kill him. Susan McConnell is one of Mr. Griffin's best students. So when her crush, Dave Ruggles, asks her to partake in the murder she hesitates before acceding. They plan for Susan to say she would like a conference and when Mr. Griffin walks out into the parking lot, the plan is to attack him there. So, after her meeting Susan tries to play it cool and hide her knowledge about Dave being in the backseat of his car. When Mr. Griffin attempts to get in his car, David jumps him throwing a bag over his head. They put Mr. Griffin in Jeff's car and start to drive away, only slightly covering the topic that Mr. Griffin may not be able to breath with the bag over his head. The beginning of the plan whizzes by flawlessly and Mark, Jeff, and Dave drove away with Mr. Griffin, taking him to an abandoned house and leaving him there. Unbeknown to them, Mr. Griffin passes away and when they do return, they must figure out what to do with their dead English teacher.
I think this book is very well written and has great details on the events of the matter such as kidnapping Mr. Griffin and the fight he put up, how mean he is to his students, the abandoned house and how they dealt with a deceased English literature teacher.
-Written by M. Ocampo

Deadline by Chris Crutcher

Deadline is about a teenage boy, Ben, who finds out that he is sick, really sick. Ben is a seior in high school and he has to make this year count. He aims for the girl of his dreams, to be the best 123 pound football player Trout, Idaho has ever seen and to prove to his teachers that they aren't telling the truth.
I love this book because it tells of a guy making a very hard decision and he only has one year to make his mark in a small town.
-Written by M. Bowers

Ida B. by Katherine Hannigan

Ida B. is a girl who has been homeschooled who finds out her mom has cancer. She talks to trees and the ancient tree tells her something bad is about to happen. Ida B. has no social skills and is forced into public school, while her mom's sickness gets worse. Ida hater her new school and when she gets back her dad has to sell the farm to pay for chemo. Will Ida's life get any better?
The book was sad but dealt with real life problems. She needed to get out of her own world and see how life really is.
-Written by K. Knier

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

Daisy is a New Yorker sent to England by her dad to live with cousins she never knew she had. As she lives there a war breaks out. Daisy and Piper are seperated from Osbert, Issac, and Edmond. Dasiy and Piper live with a general in the war and they work. They they are attacked and Daisy and Piper travel for days looking for people.
I liked this book, because even though it is a work of fiction it is a war story about survival of the fittest and a love story about getting back together with the one you love.
-Written by K. Ulrich

The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick

The Last Book in the Universe is about a boy called Spaz, because he has seizures a lot, whose family has sent him away. He works at the Urb (place/town in the future) and does evil work for Billy Bismo.
One day Billy sends Spaz to go rip off an old man named Ryter, who lives in Latch (section of the Urb.) It turns out he doesn't rip him off. A messenger tells Spaz that his family member/sister, Bean is very sick and wants him to visit. Spaz asks Billy who says, "No." Spaz goes on a dangerous mission to try and save Bean.
-Written by E. Keener

You Can Run But You Can't Hide by Duane "Dog" Chapman

My opinion of the book is that it teaches you that you can go from being a criminal to being good and reforming you lifestyle.
Duane was doing drugs, joining gangs, robbing and going to jail. But the last time he started to think, "What am I doing?" He started to read the Bible and praying to God to help his bond go down, finally it did. Now he is a bail bonds man in Hawaii and has a T.V. show called, DOG The Bounty Hunter.
-Written by D. Heim

Whispers from the Dead by Joan Lowry Nixon

Whispers from the Dead is about a girl named Sarah Darnell who nearly drowned and now claims that she feels the presence of ghosts. She moves to Houston, Texas where she meets Dee Dee, her neighbor. She keeps hearing screaming and finds out the girls she hears was brutually murdered in her house by a teenager who lived there before. She also meets Tony, but is she who he claims to be?
I loved this book, it is one of my favorites of all time. I love the fact that there's a surprise at every turn.
-Written my A. Slider

Abarat by Clive Barker

Abarat is about four friends that travel to Checkentown U.S.A. and Island of pyon, Commexian to find Candy Qualeenbush's answer to her future. When they get to the Island of Pyon they, they find the right guy, ask him Candy's question and he disappears into a cloud of shiny purple smoke. Candy says, "Better not to know".
This is a great book in my opinion. It has funny, weird, cool pictures and was a really great read.
-Written by A. Zink

Uninvited by Amanda Marrone

Amanda Marrone's Uninvited was a very good book. The story is about a girl, Jordan, who is stalked by her ex-boyfriend, Michael, after he comes back to life as a vampire. Michael shows up at Jordan's window every night, begging her to let him in. When Jordan's friend, Lisa, returns from rehab, Michael threatens to change her into a vampire if Jordan doesn't let him in. After he kidnaps her, Jordan must find a way to destroy Michael and save Lisa.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes vampire fiction novels or books with more twists and turns than a roller coaster.
-Written by T. Bennett

That Summer by Sarah Dessen

That Summer is a heartbreaking, yet inspiring story of a young girl dealing with many changes in her life. Her aprents get divorced, her sister is getting married, her father remarries, and her best friend comes back from summer camp changed for the worst. To add to all that, Haven reconnects with one of her sisters aold boyfriends and they become very good friends. Throughtout the summer Haven begins to see the sides of people she didn't know existed, including herself. Now when she needs her friends and family most she not sure if they will be there for her.
I really enjoyed this book because it is a great example of how sometimes the people who appear to be strong are weak inside, and have their own problems.
-Written by T. Erb

Black Tuesday by Susan Colebank

Black Tuesday is a riveting drama that keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat the whole time! If you're someone who likes suspense and drama, this is a good book for you.
Black Tuesday is about Jayne Thompson. Blonde hair, brown eyed, smart, Harvard bound Jayne. But, that all changes one Tuesday. What will happen to her life, friends and family?
-Written by M. Singleton

The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

The Boy Who Dared is the story of Helmuth, a young boy that grows up in Germany during World War II. As Hitler gains power in Germany Helmuth is attracted to the uniforms and the soldiers and soon joins the Hitler Youth. Slowly he sees friends and acquaintances arrested or beaten for their Jewish heritage and speaking out against the Nazi Government. He begins listening to banned radio broadcasts and writing messages protesting the Nazi’s and Hitler. After being arrested he awaits his trial. Will the letters from his Hilter Youth leader and teachers set him free or will his actions cost him his life?
I recommend this book because the story is based on the true story of Helmuth Hubener and his actions in Germany. Helmuth's actions, standing up for what he believes against overwhelming odds, serve as a reminder that we all should be willing to make good choices in difficult times. If you like historical fiction or history you will enjoy, The Boy Who Dared.
-Written by Mr. Good

Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick

Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie is about a middle school boy, Steven, who claims to have the world's worst little brother. He also loves playing the drums and is dealing with his first crush. Steven's life gets turned upside down when he finds out his brother is sick. Now he has to figure out how to be a teenager and how to deal with his family problems on his own.
This may be the best book I ever read. It will make you laugh out loud and it may make you cry. Both boys and girls will enjoy, Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie.
-Written by Mrs. Barrick