Book Reviews by LHS Students
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3rd DEGREE by James Patterson

The most recent thriller in The Women's Murder Club series, 3rd DEGREE, is the most exciting yet. Lindsay Boxer, one of James Patterson's most loved heroines, is about to die... While on a jog in San Francisco, a fiery explosion rips through a near by neighborhood, leaving a town house owned by an Internet millionaire up in flames. Lindsay plunges inside to search for survivors and finds three

people dead, along with a mysterious message at the scene leaving her and the San Francisco Police Department completely puzzled. Even more terrifying, the killer has targeted one of the four friends who call themselves the Women's Murder Club in his game. The investigation rages furiously, and at the same time, Lindsay finds out that one member of the Club is hiding a secret so dangerous and unbelievable that it could destroy them all.

I highly recommend this book to all readers and believe that it is one of James Patterson's most well thought-out and structured novels. It is filled with action and twists from beginning to end and I guarantee that you will enjoy it! -Drew, Grade 12

Anne Frank's Tale from The Secret Annex by Anne Frank

This book is when Hitler took over Amsterdam because of discrimination. Hitler believed that the Jews are responsible for everything bad happening and he wants to eliminate them. Took over towns and built concentration camps that are made to kill Jews. The Jews tried to hide and some were successful and others hid for a long time but Anne Frank's family was unfortunate. Anne Frank tells us about her everyday moments, fears, feelings and how her and her family hid. Anne Frank was only 13years old when she was killed. ~ Shanna, Grade 12

They'll make you laugh and cry. These stories follow the life of a wonderful character, Anne, as she "soars on the wings of anticipation then falls and lands with a thud." Delightful. They are a nice quick read when you don't have time to dig into a huge book because of homework, jobs, and school activities. -Amy

to end and that they will be saved by going up a mountain and creating a retreat, Marina and Jed’s lives are upturned. Marina’s mom drags Marina and her siblings up the mountain in hopes to be saved. Both Marina and Jed have more attitude and fear toward this end of the world prediction. Why are people patrolling electric fences around the retreat with automatic rifles at that?! Why will the world end now? Marina thinks this is God testing her faith and Jed believes God betrayed his family by letting is mother and sister die in a fire and has Jed and his father spared. Is this summer an adventure, a lunatic’s crazy influence, or the end of the world as Marina and Jed know it? ~ Andrea, Grade 12

Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer

This is the final book in the Artemis Fowl books, and I think one of the best. After his best friends gets shot he vows never again to take up an act of crime ,but you know Artemis once a thief always a thief. Artemis makes a cube out out of fairy tech. and decides to blackmail one of the con/business men in the world. This is a must read for anyone and everyone who loves fairytales.

Black Elk Speaks by John G. Neihardt

The book Black Elk Speaks was the best book I have ever read. The book was based on true events, and this book taught me a lot on some native cultures back in the day. I would recommend this book to everybody. If you would want to learn a little about the native culture, this is the book to read. ah ho. -Matthew

The Blooding by Patricia Windsor

When Maris can’t take anymore of her mother criticizing her she takes on the job of an au pair in England. Maris takes this job as a chance to prove to her mother that she can be responsible and make her own decisions.
After arriving in England Maris meets her new employer, Barb Forrest. Her summer job in England is to help Barb with her two children, because Barb is ill. Mrs. Forrest has a very strange exhaustion disorder and is very grateful for the extra help Maris can give her. Things are strange in the Forrest household. Mr. Forrest, Derek, is unpredictable and Maris sees a weird look in his eyes that unnerves her, but everything is peaceful in the household. Aside from the Forrest’s late nights and the unsightly mess Maris cleans every morning after in the bathroom leaves Maris with some underlying questions.Things go awry, though, when Maris finds Barb killed in the bedroom…and what’s worse is the way she was killed. Maris can only make conclusions that this woman had killed herself and did it for horrible reasons. Soon though Maris’s fears of the things she is unraveling are quenched when Derek unveils the truths behind those late nights and his plans for Maris. She can’t be afraid, because deep down she wants this. It is something her mother can never take away from her, not after The Blooding. ~ Andrea

This book was awesome. It combines good art in a comic way. I love the great red dragon. He is the best, but my favorite character is Bone. I hope my art skills becomes good one day. I think if you haven't read it, you should! This book will make you laugh inside and out. ~Patrick

Born Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier

When I was told to read the book Born Confused I was a little hesitant. The cover looked different from most books and the main character had one of the strangest names I'd ever heard, Dimple Lala. But soon after I got started in to her life I couldn't put the book down. I could relate very well with the problems in her life, even though it was filled with Indian foods, words,

Boy Meets Boy by Levithan David

Boy Meets Boy is a romantic comedy starring teenaged Paul and his love interest Noah. His friends Infinite Darlene, the quarterback, Tony, the boy with ultra-conservative parents, and Joni, his best girlfriend who tried to kiss him before she discovered he was gay, add humor to almost every situation. As the drama of various relationships unfolds the reader is sucked into the story and taken on a crash course through the daily life of Paul and his friends. This comical yet inspiring story is a great read for any occasion. - Carmen, Grade 10

Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman

The novel Catherine, Called Birdy was a very good book. It is a novel about a girl named Catherine who writes a diary about 1 year of her life. The book, I thought, could have had more details and more distinguished thoughts about what the Middle Ages were like. Catherine has a variety of names that she is called in this novel, including Birdy. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in

A Child Called "It" by David Pelzer

One of the most inspirational stories ever written, David Pelzer tells the struggle he had to endure growing up with alcoholic parents and a mother who constantly abused him. A true story which portrays life struggling situations very well, A Child Called It was a remarkable book. As an infant up until his toddler days, Dave Pelzer was very happy. His parents spoiled him and his brothers. Family vacations, wonderful dinners, and memorable Christmases, Dave Pelzer appeared to be one of the happiest kids on the block. But as Dave got into elementary school things started changing around his home. His mother constantly called him a “bad boy” and said he never did anything right. His brothers were treated normally and cared for like any young child deserves. As each day went by, the treatment Dave had to endure grew worse and worse. The name calling grew to yelling which lead to nonstop hitting. He was forced to all the housework within a desired amount of time; otherwise he was not “rewarded” with dinner. Dave’s father never helped during the abuse. He shyly asked his wife to stop many times, but Dave knew his mother ran the show and what she said was what went on. Dave battled not only his mother, but the will to survive. He desperately seeked a way out of the pain, looking to death numerous times, but Dave knew he could not give up. The events that take place in this story are so heartbreaking and
unbearable, you sometimes wonder if this is the kid’s nightmares and not his reality. Dave had to suffer countless harsh acts from his mother, but with unlimited courage and a warm heart, Dave manages to beat all odds and become a hero. This is only the first book of the trilogy, and already I wonder what happens to David Pelzer, the man, in the last book. I could not put this book down, it had my total attention and I can only hope Dave lives a much happier life now.~Steven, Grade 11

A classic Grisham novel. The Client is written to produce many emotions during the tennor of the novel. It starts with a street smart 11 year old witnessing the suicide of Jerome Clifford, an attorney incharge of defending Barry "Blade" Muldanno. Now everyone from the F.B.I. to the mafia is trying hurt Mark. He immediately requests the service of Reggie Love, a compassionate and shrewd

It's a story on how a teenage boys' life changes forever. Pat Berman finds out that his sister is Gay. He gets made fun of in town and at school. When people made fun of his sister for acting more like a boy then a girl he sticks up for her. Then, he confronts her. Evie does not deny that she is a lesbian. She also tells her brother that she is dating the baker's daughter. The Banker sends his daughter to a private school in order to keep Evie away from her. It does not help because they still end up together.- LeeAnna, Grade11

It's dumb. -Roger

front lawn. To make matters worse the daughter threatens to run away if Edgar Allan stays. It affected me because Edgar Allan did not ask to be born black it just happened and being placed in foster care as a child has an effect on you. LeeAnna, Grade 12

This book is an excellent reference guide for learning about diseases that shaped the World History. The dates and numbers are fairly accurate and hold a much better standing than some text books. There is also recommendations for books for further reading after the type of plague you are reading on. A timeline and table are in the back of the book, showing when the major plagues have hit and in which region. It is a fine example of a wonderful reference tool in the Library. -Erin

I read it, trust me, its good. Real good. No Joke, its really good. Seriously :) -Roland

If you're in the mood to read about up to date sports, then this is a great magazine for you. It has great inside reports and stories about the athletes that make it happen. This is surely one of the best sports magazines that I have read. -Martin

Eyes of a Storm by Jeff Smith

It is about a little kid and Grandma going out into the woods. When they go out into the woods they all of the sudden see animals coming up from out of the ground. It storms alot out in the woods. When it storms they leave the woods. I like this book because it was a good book.~Jordon, Grade 12

Far From Xanadu by Julie Ann Peters

Far from Xanadu is a gripping story. It deals with dating, sports, homosexuality, suicide, drugs, alcohol, future, friendships, and college. Mike "Mary-Beth" Szabo is a softball player. Two years after her fathers suicide Mike is given the chance to get out of Coalton, the small Kansas town she lives in. Mike falls in love with Xanadu. Xanadu is a new girl in Coalton and she makes friends with Mike right away. Jamie. Mike's best friend keeps telling her that Xanadu will use her, but she does not believe him. Darryl, Mike's brother, organizes a campaign to get her to a softball scholarship to college.

I recommend this book to anyone who has ever fallen in love with someone they knew would never love them back. This book deals with sexuality, friendship and sacrifices that are made for ourselves and our future. LeeAnna, Grade 12, Gra

This book is very vague and appealing to the critique in the story. The narrator in the short stories pretty much details that have to do with a lot of meaning and details that provide the rest of the story. The characters are different in each story and the plot is different regarding to the book. I would recommend it to anybody who is a Orson

Foundation by Isaac Asimov

Foundation is a great read. It is an epic story about the foundation of an instute to keep alive the knowledge of the galaxy after the fall of the great galaxic empirer.~ Eric, Grade 12

Gone With the Wind is a classic tale of a very selfish and stubborn woman. It reads like a soap opera would, if any of those actors every decided to publish their scripts. Its got love and violence but disappointingly lacks rock n’ roll. I suggest it as a way to get your daily does of cheesy romance and outrageous fashions without frying a single brain cell watching TV. -Liz

Harris and Me is about a boy that gets moved around from relative to relative. One particular relative is a family that lives way out in the country. His cousin Harris is an obnoxious boy that gets into a lot of trouble--sometimes on purpose and sometimes not. This family gets up, does chores, eats humongous meals four or five times a day and are very mellow. Yet, this book is a laugh out loud book that everyone should read! - Lacey

J.K. Rowling has a remarkable talent in writing fantasy novels. This book can easily go head-to-head against The Lion,The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Rowling's writing style simply mezmerized me after reading the first few chapters. He right away got my attention and kept me in suspense throughout the novel. This book is a must read. -Duc

This book is about a troubled teenage boy who has to go work on a farm for his community service hours. The boy's relationships and experiences are trully intense. I really liked this book because it was so real and heartfelt. I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys reading about things that will touch their hearts. -Sara

Hiroshima by John Hersey

"Hiroshima" offers readers an unflinching view of the horrifying power of the atomic bomb. The story begins on the morning of August 6, 1945, and introduces 5 characters, all adults, who live in constant fear of the inevitable bombing of their city by the Americans. After Hersey has finished describing the characters environment, he describes it's destruction as the city

The Hithchiker's guide to the galaxy by Douglas Adams

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is an intertaning story about Arthur Dent travel through the galaxy. It is an intertianing spoof of every thing science fiction. It is a most read for any science fiction lover.~ Eric, Grade 12

It is one of the best collections of short fiction stories that I have ever read! The characters are real enough that you can kind of relate, but so out there that you know it isn't real. The plot doesn't hold together much, but that's okay. I would not read it, though, if you don't appove of sex, drugs, prostitution, violence, magic, witches, or anything else that makes a book be banned. -Ben

Hoops by Walter Dean Myers

“Hoops” is an exciting story of a young boy that lives in Harlem who wants to become a basketball player.  He is befriended by an ex-pro who was forced to quite playing because of a shaving scandal.  He tries to help all young kids to try not to make the same mistakes as he did.  A seventeen year old named Lonnie

Jackson plays for his coach Cal.  He coaches for a basketball team that is in a city wide basketball Tournament of Champions.  Cal knows that Lonnie can make it to the NBA because of his talent that he has on the court. Even though they make it threw the tournament and get to the championship game Cal sits Lonnie on the bench.  Cal knows for a fact that once Lonnie gets in the game he will bring the championship home.  But because of his high betting problems he refuses to put him in the game.  Lonnie wants to make it because of his family and he wants to help them because of the struggle they go threw.  Despite that Cal wouldn’t let Lonnie in the game he still wanted him to make it.  Cal made some very stupid decisions he once had a chance to make it but sold out.&n;! bsp; He is trying to help Lonnie not to give in to pressure and focus on his talent.  Lonnie and his mother go threw a hard life in Harlem and Cal knows all about it.  He sees it and wants Lonnie to get threw the hard life and help his mother get out of the struggle.  Before the big tournament he woke up and was very nervous because he wanted to know how he would do.  He doesn’t want to mess up and do well.  He really wants to get him and his mother out of Harlem so she can live a great life.  Cal is showing him the way along with other young boys so they all don’t make the same mistakes he did.  During the tournament they were down at the last seconds’ time ticking away from them.  Then Lonnie threw it up and scored the bucket to win the game for Harlem in the big tournament.  After winning the game Lonnie noticed that Cal was walking towards the locker room.  Then he noticed that he had been stabbed to death with blood everywhere.  Cal asked Lonnie how it felt to win the game how it felt to be out there on the court.  Then Lonnie told him it felt great…it felt great Cal.  Five days later Cal was buried and Lonnie was crushed because his couch his best friend died.  This book was very heart touching to see that a young boy made it and to see how much you work for something.  In the long run something is always taking away from you even if it is a special friend.~Justin, Grade 12

Hoops by Walter Dean Myers

Hoops is a story about a young black man that is having a hard time getting things to go his way. "His mom is giving him the normal mom routine "I want it done" and his reply is "I do it in a little bit", just like a normal boy-- in one ear out the other. As he becomes a man, he makes some wrong decisions. One day he was at the hotel where he worked and across the street he could see a beer truck making a stop at the liquor store. In the store, he can see that there is hold-up taking place. He steals some liquor thinking he can make some fast money. But other kids in the neighborhood had the same idea.
He runs into a young "Michael Jordon" and he is reminded of the games on the basketball court.~ Ryan, Grade 10 rt so many years ago. ~ Ryan, Grade 10

Huckleberry Finn is a wonderfully animated book about a boy (Huck) and slave (Jim) escaping from society. Mark Twain uses his knowledge of the Mississippi River to create exciting adventures throughout the book, and their encounters with various people are humorous. I enjoyed it, and I hope you do, too. -Jeannie

This book is different and a challenge. -Susan

I Robot by Isaac Asimov

For those of you who are expecting the latest I Robot movie starting Will Smith, you may be disappointed. The movie is a continuation based off of Asimov's stories.
I Robot is an anthology of the evolution of intelligent design in robots Asimov deals with a time where people were still superstitious about the role of technology in society. He attempts to predict in his book, I Robot, the future of the robotic population and society. Beginning with basic explorations of robots in space, he follows an evolutionary time-line to full robot integration in society! .
The stories deal with issues such as the safety of robots, replacing people with robots, religion, robots that evolve to have superior abilities than humans, time travel, politics, global economics, and even what being human means. Though his writing is intriguing and radical; the transition chapters between each story are not as solid as the rest of the writing. Asimov's inventive tales and classic science fiction writing will be satisfying to any science fiction connoisseur. ~ Kayla, Grade 12