Flutter by Erin E. Moulton

Dawn is the oldest, Maple's in the middle, and Beetle's the youngest, she can only slightly talk. Soon these four sisters are going to have a younger sister. But when their younger sister is born to early, and with a failing heat, Maple is determined to find a miracle from the Wise Woman of the mountains, a woman made of stone whose water grants miracles. Dawn finds Maple as she is setting out and insists to come with her. On this incredible journey the sisters get to know each other better and learn what miracles truly are.

My favorite character was Maple because I liked how she had some sense that they were in the middle of nowhere and not even on a trail. I also think that she is a really smart and skilled character. There are no content warnings.

TBR:

1. Lost - Haley
2. The Boy In The Striped Pajamas
3. I Am The Messenger 

SOL #6

I put on my apron, I fix my hair, I walk out: I am a server. I walk into the tables taking peoples orders and bringing food. The lights slowly come off, darker, darker. I cannot see. With my friends, we walk on the stage to preform.

I take off my apron, I fix my hair, I walk out: I am a singer. I walk onto the stage with a big clunk. All the lights are off. They slowly come on, brighter, brighter. I am practically blinded. With my friends, in sync, we open our mouths and sing.

I put my apron on once again, ready to serve. I walk into the tables taking peoples orders and bringing food. The lights slowly come off, darker, darker. I cannot see. With my friends, we walk on the stage to preform.

I take off my apron on once again, ready to preform. I walk onto the stage with a big clunk. All the lights are off. They slowly come on, brighter, brighter. I am practically blinded. With my friends, in sync, we open our mouths and sing.

I am in Cabaret

The Wish by Gail Carson Levine

Wilma Sturtz is a really unpopular eight grader. One day, she offers her seat to an old lady on the subway and the lady offers to grant Wilma a wish. Wilma does't believe the old lady, but wishes to be popular at school. After a while everyone wants to go to the dance with her and sit next to her or be her best friend. But soon, Wilma realizes that her wish might not last through high school.

I like Wilma as my favorite character because she tells the story in a great way and doesn't change her personality or opinions once she is popular. This book has no content warnings and is a really short read: 200 pages. 

SOL #5

Why?
Why?
Why?
Why?

It is so unfair.
Thats not fair.

Why are we always so far from the trash can?

Why are there so many big problems in the world?

Why?
Why?
Why?
Why?

It is so unfair.
Thats not fair.

Why are people judged by skin color?

Why are women getting paid less then men... still?

Why?
Why?
Why?
Why?

It is so unfair.
Thats not fair.

Why did I have to only get and 89% on that test?

Why do some of my friends not like me?

Why?
Why?
Why?
Why?

It is so unfair.
Thats not fair.

Why isn't it fair?

Why isn't life fair?

WHY?

The Martian By Andy Weir

Astronaut Mark Watney was part of a group of people that were the first to walk on Mars. It should be, and was, the best moments of his life until a freak accident. A life-threatening sandstorm created the need for his crew to abort Mars. He got struck by a satellite wire and was blown far away from the crew. They evacuated Mars and Mark was abandoned. Mark has an incredible struggle to survive, relying on his stills in botany, engineering, and his funny personallity.

My favorite character was Mark. He was my favorite because he was the main character of the book and he had a great sense of humor. The character was really well developed and you got attached to him as the book when on. You really got excited and sad about thing in the book. CONTENT WARNING: there is a lot of cussing in the book.



TBR:

If I Stay
Elenor and Park - Grace
A Long Sleep

SOL #4 Thanksgiving

I wait in the kitchen

I wait in the kitchen and hop up and down

I wait in the kitchen and hop up and down until I think I hear the doorbell

I wait in the kitchen and hop up and down until I think I hear the doorbell

I don't

I run from the kitchen

I run from the kitchen and into the living room

I run from the kitchen and into the living room and hop up and down

I run from the kitchen and into the living room and hop up and down until I think I hear the doorbell

I don't

I slide into the entryway

I slide into the entryway from the living room

I slide into the entryway from the living room and hop up and down

I slide into the entryway from the living room and hop up and down until I think I hear the doorbell

I don't

I quietly walk back to the kitchen

I quietly walk back to the kitchen from the entryway 

I quietly walk back to the kitchen from the entryway and I sit on the counter

 I quietly walk back to the kitchen from the entryway and I sit on the counter and then....

The Doorbell Rings

"Hi!"

Lord Of The Flies By William Golding

This was a book about a group of British boys who were abandoned on an island. They were being sipped away from England, and their plane was bombed. The boys are ages 5-12 and have to learn to survive. Ralph, the elected chief blew a conch shell to bring the boys together.  They make a society, but they don't have everything go the way they want. These boys are stuck with not only the challenge of survival, but also making their own society.

My favorite character was a boy named Simon. He wasn't quite a main character, but he was a big impact on their little society. I felt like he was the only one of the boys that actually knew what he was doing. He was a bit more adventurous than the other boys and wanted to survive. He was a part of the society, but was also on his own.

The book has a few "bad" words in it, but otherwise it is ok.

TBR:

1. A Long Sleep
2. Silent Boy - Grace
3. The Secret Life Of Bees - Talia

SOL # 3 (I know.... there was a three, but really it was 2, again...)

 I walked in the huge double doors and was swallowed by people. All ages, colors, sizes. Different, hair, heights, clothes. I stuck close to the one familiar jacket I knew. People behind tables were holding out objects of all sizes, shapes, and color. One person shoved a small, oval green object that I quickly stuck into my pocket. The red carpet was getting slowly squished under the many pairs of shoes walking over it. I see the familiar jacket head in to a dark door labeled: door 1. I follow the jacket in and a, walking down a steep matching carpet of red, at least a hundred seat greeting me. I am ushered in between the seats quickly following the beam of light leading to a seat next to the familiar jacket. "Are You Ready Denver?" called a voice belonging to a man on a tall stage in front of everyone. "Are You Ready For Warren Miller's Never Turning Back?" The lights clicked of and the lot of us cheered. The ski and board season was about to start. 

Rules by Cynthia Lord

Catherine is 12 and she would do anything to have a normal life. Her little brother, David, has autism and Catherine is stuck teaching him the ways of the world. She teaches him rules that range from don't pull your pants down in public to no toys in the fish tank. She feels like he controls her life and she can't do her own thing. When a new girl arrives next door, Catherine lets her hopes up, but the girl next door is really weirded out by David. Then when Catherine meets Jason a mute boy in a wheelchair that goes to David's same Occupational therapy they become close friends.  Catherine struggles to figure out what to do about David, but doesn't realize she needs to realize that David won't change and he loves him anyway.

I like this book because it was really interesting to learn about Autism and how people are effected by it. Catherine has a really interesting story. She struggles to figure out how she should deal with David and live her life. She realizes that though it might be impossible to stop being embarrassed about David, but that doesn't mean he should be a huge effect to her life. There is no bad content.

My favorite character was Catherine because she told the story in a very interesting way and I share some of her interests. It was cool to hear her frustration from her, not from anyone else. I also liked how she made rules and each chapter has a different rule for a title.

TBR:

1. A Long Sleep
2. The Summer Of Letting Go
3. Eleanor and Park - Grace

SOL #3 Drowning

I hobble down back to the school and I soon see a golden light slip over my shoes. I turn my face up to the light and see the sun slide over the berm. The golden light slides up over my ankles and to my knees. The light snakes around me and I see my shadow grow. Shifting my feet I feel a clump of snow deep in the soul of my shoe. The light is waist deep now, I am starting to drown. I start to slip and slide down the rocks. More snow sinks into my shoe. The light is to my neck and I am full-on drowning. My shadow flicks around my bundled up body. I am drowning deep in the light. The fresh snow is only slightly disturbed by our footprints. I am warmed by the bright sun on my face. I continue to walk, slipping and yelping down the rocks. My foot sinks deep into a snow patch and my foot is soaked. Just like the rest of my body, my foot is drowned. But instead of sunlight, my foot is drowned in snow. A few clouds quickly fly to cover the sun. My body is drowned in a new substance: The cold. I smile where the sun was and head inside.

SOL #2

Staring out the window I see the thick snow falling. The snowflakes are so big that I can almost see their patterns. This reminds me of when I was little, in the backseat, in my little jacket with the fur hood, looking out the window, pretending I was an eskimo. I thought about how this weather must be  just like Alaska. I would want to open up the window and stick out my tongue. Fo-fur would just top my eyelashes. My jacket was brown and I stuck my hands into the furry pockets wishing I was in a dog sled. Thinking that maybe I would wake up and be in a dog-pulled sled.

Everyday, every winter I was an eskimo. I rarely had the same name. Once I got to school I never told my friends that I was an eskimo. It was my winter secret. 

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Summary:

The Sinclairs are a family where no one is needy, and no one is wrong, or so they think. They also think that every summer that they spent on their private island will be perfect. One group of friends- the lairs: Candace (the main character), Mirren, Johnny, and Gat - get together each summer and have the best time. Then the accident happens to in summer 15. The next summer Candace does not return to the island, instead she goes to Europe with her Dad and a devastating head injury. Summer 17: nothing will ever be the same. Are the Sinclairs who they think they are?

Review:

I loved this book. I think the descriptions are fantastic and the story really comes alive. It is told by Candace, through summer 15, Europe, and her struggles to remember the accident. This book has a very surprise ending that fits together once Candace remembers. I had tears in my eyes finishing this book. Content Warning: a heavy amount of bad words, romance, drug addition. 

Favorite character:

My favorite character was Candace. I felt like I could relate to her, though I had never gone through anything like this before. The story really has this element that it wouldn't have had if Candace didn't tell the story. You get to hear her struggles with the head injury and pain medicine addition. She goes through life changing experiences, that you get to hear about through her thoughts as well as the dialog. 

TBR:

1. The Lord Of The Flies 
2. Unremembered
3. A Long Sleep

SOL #1: Boats and People

As we pull in to our garage, I hear a NPR news broadcast coming on. The woman starts to talk about how there are boats who wear flags of countries that they have never been to. They were not made there, and haven't been there, so why do they have the flag? It turns out that countries pay tips to boats to have them wear the flag. I jump out of the car and walk into our house. I start thinking about these boats who have some of their identity stolen. People assume that the boat is from the country which it's flag states. Then I began to think, do people walk around, like the boats, wearing different flags to fit in? I wondered how many people hide their self just so they can live with the people around them. This is weird, so brace yourself, people are a lot like boats. We go into waves, run into obstacles, and ride on the tide. As I sit down to eat my Noodles And Company dinner, I wonder am I one of these people?

The Romeo and Juliet Code by Phoebe Stone

Felicity is a 11 year old girl living in Britain during WWII. When her parents bring her to America to stay with her Uncle Gideon, they act as is nothing is weird between the families. Felicity is stuck in this house full of swirling secrets and very queer people. Soon she learns about this Captain Derek who is living behind locked doors. Then, the letters arrive. Felicity learns that the letters are from her parents, but they are also in code. The Romeo and Juliet code. I liked this book, though it really is a love it or hate it kind of book. The story is told from Felicity's perspective, and she has a very interesting way of telling the story. I don't love mystery books, but this one was amazing. It has references to what was happening right on the verge on America joining WWII. Content warning: if you are scared about hearing about WWII then don't read this. Also, this book goes into some detail about Polio. Other than that this book is ok. Enjoy! :)TBR:

1. Unremembered  

1. Breathing Underwater - Haley 

1. The Circle - Gavin

1. 1984 - Kam's book group 

The Running Dream by Wendelin Van Draanen

For 16 year old runner, Jessica, running is her life. It's her breathing, sleeping, eating, really it's just who she is. But when a tragedy happens and Jessica's leg gets crushed, her dreams go with it. Jessica doesn't want to go on with life, but when she gets up and out of bed she meets a life full of new opportunity. Soon, Jessica begins to know Rosa, a girl with cerebral palsy who is always overlooked. Rosa becomes Jessica's savior in math and brings many new opportunities to her life. Not all to soon Jessica gets hit with the reality: I might be able to run again.

This book was very good. Even though I couldn't relate to what she was going through, the book made me feel like I could. Jessica has many ups and downs during the book and it was a very "fun" story. I recommend this to anyone in our class, but if you get easily grossed out, the book goes into a bit of detail about what is going on with her leg. There are also a few bad words. You should read this book!!! 

Enjoy!! :)

TBR:

1. The Martian - Gavin
2. Shooting The Moon - Abby
3. Eleanor And Park - Haley
4. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Nate

Everlost By Neal Shusterman

Nick and Allie are in a car crash. They don't survive, but they don't die either. Instead they end up as afterlights in a place called Everlost. Everlost is a shadow of the world they once lived in. Now they are invisible without any human contact. Allie and Nick begin to learn the basics of being in Everlost, and all to soon they come upon Mary Hightower, a girl who has been stuck in Everlost for years, and is now "protecting" children. Nick loves Miss Mary and does everything to please her, but Allie isn't so sure. Allie only wants to get where she is going and stop being an afterlight. Could there be a way to go where she wants, along with most of the other kids, that Mary has been hiding?

Ok, this book is my new favorite book! It is so creative to imagine an almost afterlife.  This book lets you really get to know the characters. You also really understand this place Everlost. This book is 313  pages, but has such an incredible story, it really is the perfect length. READ THIS BOOK, and enjoy finding Everlost and it's story (especially about what I couldn't put in the summary...)

:)

TBR:

1. Egg and Spoon

2. To Kill A Mocking Bird

3. A Wrinkle in Time

Hungry by H. A Swain

Thalia Apple lives in the future, and in the future food is gone. People take medicine to give nutrition and relive hunger. Thalia doesn't mind this, but she is unlike the others. She isn't a huge fan of all the big technology entertainment centers, instead she likes learning about the past. When she meets Basil, a boy part of a movement to bring food back, she starts feeling the hunger, and so does the boy.

I liked this book because it has a very interesting story and you learn more facts as the book progresses. I do think you should read it, but the writing isn't all that great. There is one slightly inappropriate part, but otherwise this book is ok.

Enjoy!

TBR:

1. Egg and Spoon
2. School of Good And Evil
3. Fever

Firecraker by David Iserson

Astrid Krieger is the seventeen year old who just got expelled from Bristol Academy, the boarding school. Now, she lives in a rocket ship prototype in her parent's estate's backyard. Now she is accused of cheating (though she did cheat, but at Bristol Academy who doesn't?), living with her family which she really dislikes (other the her grandfather), she was expelled from her vary favorite place, and now as further punishment, she has to go to public school for the very first time.

I really liked this book. It was a rather quick read, only 331 pages, but with relatively big font (maybe 14 or 15?). It also reminds me of the book Looking For Alaska, for it has similar pranks and the main Alaska is a lot like Astrid. It had very interesting twists and turns. I also liked how the reader finds out more and more information about her family as the book goes on. This book does have some bad language, but is ok other than that.

Enjoy! :)

TBR List:

1. Between shades of Grey -- recommended by Haley R.

2. Farenheit 451 -- recommended by Lydia

3. House Of Ivy and Sorrow -- recommend by Hailey HH

4. Egg and Spoon 
5. Ready Player One -- recommended by Fyodor and Gavin

Dorothy Must Die By Danielle Paige

Amy Gumm is a 17 year old who lives in Kansas. Her Mom is pain killer addicted and Amy is bullied at school. When a tornado sweeps up her trailer her is taken to Oz, but it is nothing like what she thought it would be. It turns out that Dorothy came back and just started to want more and more magic. Amy becomes a ROW of Revolutionary Order Of The Wicked. She helps them defeat Dorothy because after all, she is the other girl from Kansas.

I really liked this book. Amy Gumm is a very interesting character. I loved the twist on the story. It was full of imagination and I loved the idea that Dorothy turns evil.

This book is has a lot of curse words in it. If you don't like gore, I don't recommend this book.

:)

TBR list:

Elenor and Park (recommended by Grace)

Outliers (recommended by Sarah) 

The secret life of bees

My Mother The Cheerleader By Robert Sharenow

  This is a book about a girl named Louise. She was sure that nothing new would happen in her life. she would still help her mother with their boarding house, she would still go to school, and she would still help Charlotte. Then desegregation starts at her school. She is pulled out of William Frantz and her mom becomes a cheerleader. The cheerleaders are a group of woman who gather outside of Louise's school to bully Ruby Bridges, a six year old african-american attending William Frantz school. But if that wasn't enough change in her life, one day a Chevy Bel Air pulls up in front of the boarding house and a man named Morgan steps out. He has a very mysterious past and Louse realizes that finally somebody cares about her feelings. Soon, they know the reason Morgan is there and everything about Louise's world changes.

I really liked this book. I think it is a really interesting story and is well written. It is a little bit boring at first, but I feel like there was a really good story in the end. I also think Louise is a very interesting character and it was fun to get to know her.

There is some mature themes and language in this book, most of which racist.

TBR list:

1. I Am The Messenger
2. The Adoration Of Jenna Fox (recommended by Lydia)
3. All The Truth About Me
4. Elenor and Park (recommend by Grace)

Six Months Later

By Natalie D. Richards

Genre: Young Adult

This is a book about a girl named Chole. In May, she fell asleep in study hall. She woke up and it was snowing. Her life has been changed for the better, but she doesn't remember the last six months of her life. But she starts to realize that she needs her memory back, and her life. She decides that she doesn't want the life she has now, she wants her best friend, Maggie, back, and she just doesn't like her boyfriend. Soon her life is nothing like what her parents want it to be like and Chole isn't even sure what she wants to do.

I really liked this book. At first it was  a little boring, but then it was a very interesting mystery story. I liked how Chloe decides what to do. I also like that it was told from Chole's perspective, so the reader has no idea what has happened in the past six months. This was such an incredible book at the end. I think her friendship with Maggie was a great story in itself. So this was a pretty good book at the end.

This book does have some bad language in it.

My next three TBRs:

1. My Mother The Cheerleader
2. I Am The Messenger
3. Elenor and Park

I added both My Mother The Cheerleader and I Am The Messenger to my TBR list because of Linda's recommendation. 

TBR (to be read) List

1. Neverwhere by Neil Gamin
2. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
3. Grandmaster by David Hlass
4. The Secret Life Of Bees
5. Elenor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

13 Little Blue Envelopes

This book by Maureen Johnson is called 13 Little Blue Envelopes. It is a Literary Fiction book.

Ginny started out as a girl who was very shy and she tried to go unnoticed. This summer she gets 13 little blue envelopes from her runaway Aunt. They give her specific instructions:

The first envelope has instructions to buy a plane ticket and $1,000.
The second tells her to go to curtain London flat.

Soon, Ginny is heading off to Scotland on a journey with the thief/playwright/actor named Keith. They end with disastrous, and a bit romanic results.

I really liked this book. I think there is some suspense, but it's really not a scary book. I like Ginny as a character. This book being told from her perspective, I really think I was able to get to know her. It was a very interesting story and I liked having some questions answered one by one.

This book does have a mature theme of her Aunt's peculiar choices. There is no bad language.

If you read this book, be sure to get the sequel: The Last Little Blue Envelope!

Enjoy!