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Lawrence High School Library
Lawrence, Kansas

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Book Reviews by LHS Students
Check out the new LHS Library Book Review Blog.
When writing a review, remember to include the title of the book and the author. Write a review that will encourage others to read. Check your review for grammar and spelling mistakes. Corrections will not be made by the staff.


Book titles beginning with:
A-C, D-H, I-M, N-Z

  Read, Dream, Think, Discover, and Enjoy
    1st To Die by James Patterson
1st To Die is an exciting investigative story that debuts a new crime fighting team of four females, The Women's Murder Club. The story line never slows down even with the use of flashbacks and interchanging first and third cases. I highly recommend this book and I believe that every reader will enjoy the heart pumping plot
that James Patterson has to offer in the first of three books in this series.- Drew

1984 by George Orwell

This novel was great before its time.  It was written in 1948, but has stayed current and relevant today.  George Orwell makes you think about the life we lead and the political system that we live under.  1984 is a must-read. The belief that we have complete freedom and privacy in this country is
questioned as one sees links between the government of Oceania and the governments of today. Oceania is a totalitarian society led by Big Brother, which censors everyone’s behavior, even their thoughts, called "thoughtcrime".Some say that George Orwells frighting vision of the
future is what is to become of the world government stage, almost a
prophecy.  If you are politically aware or curious, then I would definitly recommend this book.  This is definitly a book that everyone should read
before they die.  And remember, "Big Brother is Watching You".
- Heather

1984 by George Orwell

Set in the future, or what the government says is the future, a totalitarian government rules all with an iron fist. There is one political party, The Party, and it is the government. The story is set in London and shows the demise of one man by the governments unjust rule. The book is good but too unrealistic.-Jono-

2nd CHANCE by James Patterson

James Patterson and The Womens Murder Club have done it again. In 2nd CHANCE, the second novel in a series, Lindsay starts another high profile homicide investigation, and things suddenly begin to become even more dangerous as the perpetrator marks some of The Womens Murder Club members as his victims. This novel
 
 
is full of suspense and action that both men and women will enjoy, and I highly recommend checking it out! ~Drew, Grade 12

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


Adventures of Huckelberry Finn by Mark Twain

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a tale of a boy (huck) and a slave (jim), that run away and float down the mississippi. Along their way they encounter many diffrent types of people but always seem to run in to trouble and run back to the river to find peace again. ~Kenneth, Grade 11


All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque

! really liked the book. It had to do with WWI. I like war books but it also had to do with love and botherhood. Erich Remarque put really good descriptions in it and told his war life as if you were really there. I would recommend this book to whom ever likes war books/movies.~ Laura, Grade 12

Along Came A Spider by James Patterson

Along Came A Spider is the first book in James Patterson's Alex Cross series. The villian in the novel is intelligent, cunning, and very dangerous; he is a psychopath who kidnaps and kills people. Gary Soneji/Murphy has many severe personality
disorders due to his terrible childhood, and teaches at a day school for rich kids with the intent of kidnapping and killing the Dunne/Goldberg children. He finally succeeds in "becoming somebody" by drugging one student, and killing the other. The kidnapping has the whole D.C. area up in arms, and Alex Cross works day and night to capture Soneji/Murphy. The killings continue and he eventually escapes Alex Cross' intelligence, leading into the next book in the series. I highly recommed everyone to check out this book. It was full of action and excitement, and by far one of James Patterson's best works. ~Drew, Grade 12.

Am I Blue? Coming out from the Silence. Edited by Marion Bauer

This book is a compilation of sixteen original short stories about LGBT issues. The authors cover everything from coming out, identity crisis, being gay in school, bullies, acceptance between gay and straight peers, closted gays, and tension between family members.
t or .
After each tale is an intimate response from the author about what inspired the work, their own personal lives, and other stories they've written.
What I enjoyed most about this book was that everything wasn't written from a LGBT perspective and each story had a unique situation that presented a new outlook on LGBT issues. Anyone can relate.~
enjKayla, Grade 11 ese stories straigh

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

It is a thrilling adventure novel. That sweeps you off your feet. I couldn't put it down. It is the prequel to The Da Vinci Code.~ Eric, Grade 12
~

    Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison
If you think being a teenager is rough, you haven’t read this. Georgia Nicolson seems to have everything going wrong in her life, her parents don’t understand her, her sister is weird not to mention she not housebroken yet, and she has no eyebrows. Just when things couldn’t get worse she meets the Sex God, and the fun really ensues. This book is funny, really funny; it’ll make you laugh and cry (laughing) it’s so funny. As a plus this book has a glossary for those who don’t know how to speak British made by Georgia herself. Anybody with a
sense of humor will love this book, and will not be able to put it down. Trust me, I read it in a day. -Rachael

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


  Anne of Green Gables (and all the sequels, too) by L. M. Montgomery

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










Armageddon Summer by Jane Yolen and Bruce Coville
 
"The world will end on Thursday, July 27, 2000."
             Marina and Jed are two teens of broken families. When Reverend Beelson tells his congregation that the world is going

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.


    Ball Four by Jim Bouton

Ball Four is the classic American sports novel. I would argue that it is the best ever written. The book is the diary that Seattle Pilots pitcher Jim Bouton kept for the 1969 season, the inaugural season for the Pilots. Bouton, a former World Series champ with the Yankees,has gone downhill ever since he lost the ability to throw heat, so he adopts the knuckleball in order to survive as a big league pitcher. His diary chronicles his time spent with the Pilots, Vancouver Mounties, and Houston Astros. After the book was published Bouton became public enemy number 1 to
the players and owners of Major League Baseball, and the commisioner even asked him to sign a statement saying that Ball Four was not true, which of course Bouton declined. The book drew tremendous criticism and tremendous praise, which as Bouton comically notes, only helped sales. The book is hilairious in its chronicles of the antics and shenanigans that transpired in a major league locker room. Anyone that understands baseball will enjoy this book, but more importantly, anyone with even a sense of humor will enjoy this book. -John

The Beach House by James Patterson and Peter De Jonge

The Beach House is one of James Patterson's most unique and astounding novels. Jack Mullen, a Columbia University law student, is stunned by the death of his younger brother, Peter. The police conclude that Peter died after smoking pot and drowning on the Amagansett estate, owned by the wealthy Neubauer family. However, Jack looks at his sibling's corpse and sees the obvious marks of a brutal beating. Somebody killed Peter Mullen, and Jack makes it his mission to find out who did it and give them justice. The Beach House is full of action and suspense, and has one of the most unbelievable and exhilarating endings ever. The combined talents of James Patterson and Peter De Jonge resulted in one of the powerful stories ever told, and I recommend that all readers devote some time to read this book.~Drew, Grade 12

 
 

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


Bone: Out from Boneville by Jeff Smith

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

 
 

    The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe

The Bonfire of theVanities
has to resort to trials, murders and such other time lapsing events. However, The book is very vague and the narrator tells pretty much of the story right down to the epilogue. The epilogue ends with a current newspaper article regarding the trial and the thero investigation of the story. -John

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,

 
 
colors, and smells. Any one who decides to pick up this book will be swept into a world that is filled with issues not so different from theirs. I enjoyed this book immensely. I promise that if you read it to you'll love it just the same. ~ Brianna- Grade 12

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



Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding

Back again, that funny love-seeker, who always finds herself in odd, misguided situations. The sequel to Bridget Jone's Diary, is a masterpiece with lots of intrigues, irony, and just hilariously funny spots that Bridget finds herself in. From the thai prison to the house of Mark Darcy, you will never stop
laughing as this book is filled to the spine with love laughter and heart felt moments. I would recommen d this book to anyone who enjoys reading as this is a great book for any person no matter their tastes since there is something for everyone in this novel. ~ Katie, Grade 11
Californian Holiday by Kate Cann

I absolutley loved this book! It's the perfect beach book for the upcoming summer, as it's a fast read and quite interesting. Though probably more catered to girls rather than guys, anyone who loves adventurous coming of age books will adore this one.~ Katie, Grade 11

Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

This is a good book. It is on the ALA's banned Books List. Of all the books that I have read, I would have to say that this is my favorite book. I recommend that you check this book out for your next report. Laura, Grade 12.

   

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

the Middle Ages and what the life of a young girl was like. This book is not really action filled, but tells a lot about the hardships that women had to go through in the Middle Ages. -Karen

The Chamber by John Grisham

A young lawyer takes on a 20 year old case to defend his grandfather. His grandfather has been in jail so long for the bombing of the Kramer Building which killed members of a Jewish family-- two 5 year old boys and injured their father. Adam (the lawyer) knows his grandfather did not act alone and there is more to him
 
 
than a grumpy, racist, stubborn man. I guess you all will have to read the book to find out if Adam gets through all the hatefulness and saves his grandfather. -Jennifer

    A Child Called "IT": One Child's Courage To Survive by Dave Pelzer

This is a great book. It is book one in a trilogy about child abuse and how one person has to overcome it. This book is very heart-felt and a must read. I recommend you read it
and the other two books in the series: The Lost Boy and A Man Named Dave. -Casey

A Child Called "It" by David Pelzer
This is a true story about Dave Pelzer who grew up not knowing what true love was.  His mother was so physically and mentally abusive that he himself started believing that he deserved his “punishments”.  Throughout the book he finds ways to avoid being killed.  You see his father slowly giving into his mothers’ vicious ways though at first wanting to help.  But where is the outside world? The teachers and school nurse know something was wrong but they think at first he is just a trouble maker. The ways that Dave tried to stay ahead of his mother's games to avoid punishment makes your heart hurt. His mother was kind at one time in the beginning of his life and remains kind to his brothers, then she began to drink and I believe she decided she wanted a slave; because that is how she treated him if not worse. This books’ purpose is not to make you laugh or entertain you it teaches you something, it makes you more aware.  No matter how many cases of child abuse you hear about, you will always wonder how a parent could treat their child that bad. ~ Corinna, Grade 11

A Child Called "It" by Dave Pelzer

This book is very good. It tells the reality of what child abuse is like. It does not hide anything or exaggerate. Dave Pelzer was a young boy when his mother became an alcoholic and began to both mentally and physically abuse him. She does not harm his brothers, just him. She always called him names and gave him time limits to do his chores or else would not eat. At one point he didn't eat for 10 days! I am hard to please at reading books. When I got A Child Called It from the school library I could not put it down! I read it all in one day! I think anyone that enjoys reading interesting, inspirational and good books should go and grab a copy of the book. It will really make you think. It is amazing how anybody could have so much cruelty and hate to their own child.~Alysia, Grade 9

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


    The Client by John Grisham

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

lawyer in her early 50's. Together they survive this horrific experience. This novel is hard to put down. I finished the 400 page book in 3 days. I just couldn't put the book away, and it was worth it. I would recommend it to anyone who likes fictional law books or drama-based books. -Sameer

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

This novel tells the story of two sisters, one who is raped by her father, robbed of her children, and married off to a man she hates. The other escapes and becomes friends by the person who adopted her children. The sisters were seperated for at least 30 years before reunited. This novel tells about loyalty, trust, and betrayal. It will make you cry and make you laugh. I enjoyed it and I know others will. -Jennifer
 
 
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Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Crank by Ellen Hopkins is a crazy book about a teenage girl going through a lot of things that most teenage girls go though. She deals with drugs drinking and sex. All of the things teens go though today. Most of the time it starts with doing what the "cool" kids are doing. It's helps you make a lot of your desisions bacause it makes you think about what she did and make you be like ummm... i don't want to end up like that. Crank is an awesome book for boys and girls and i would encouage any one to read it and get a good view on a teenagers life, and understand it's not always about have fun with your friends and getting what ever you what from your parents.~ Faith, Grade 8

Dead Girls Don't Write Letters by Gail Giles

I loved this book. It's about a girl named Sunny whose sister dies in a fire in her apartment. Sunny is amazed to see someone posing as her sister. One who comes to her home and knows everyone. She also knows where personal things are located. This book made me want to keep reading and not put
it down. Sunny seemed to remind me of myself, when I was thirteen and fourteen. She did not like to talk to her family and she liked to be by herself most of the time. - Kay - Grade 10

Deliver Us from Evie by M.E. Kerr

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


Dreaming in Color Living in Black and White by
Laurel Holliday

It's dumb. -Roger


Edgar Allan by John Neufeld

Edgar Allan is a story about how a family feels about change. They are treated like outsiders when they adopt a black child. When the people in the community find out about the adoption, things begin to happen to the family especially to the children. In school the son is called a"n" lover and a cross is burned on their

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


Eldest by Christopher Paolini

This is the sequel to the book of called Eragon. Eragon and Saphira travel to Ellesmiera to further their training under the elves. Glaedir who is an ancient rider teaches him new techniques to use against his opponents. Eragon finds and sees many new and interesting things he has never seen before among the elves. He also further ignites his passion for an elven princess, Arya, who at all turns refuses his love. Later Eragon meets an old friend in battle. Can he turn him against his loyalties? This book I think is even better than the
firstbook. If you like Harry Potter you will like this.~ Patrick, Grade 11

Encyclopedia of Plague and Pestilence by
George C. Kohn (Editor
)

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


    Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Ender's Game, had to been one of the best books I have read all year. The book is about a young child named Ender. He is on a search for his true self. But, if you like non-stop action books. I would highly recommend this book to you. I don't want to tell you the rest because that will just spoil all the fun of reading it. So go check it out! -Major

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

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


Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Every chapter summarized. - Jonathan

    Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card

This book has become one of my favorite books. It's a parallel novel to Ender's Game.  This story is about Bean.  For anyone who knows what it's like to live on the street, this book holds many truths. I would recommend this book to anyone. Anybody can find something in Ender's Shadow to enjoy.
- Amanda

Endless Nights by Neil Gaiman

This compilation of graphic stories made by the world's most talented cartoonists is a masterful read that will be interesting to anyone- even those just being introduced to the Endless children.Exciting plots and detailed art bring these stories to life. Each short tail features one of the Endless children with an individual team working to create a unique collage of computer graphics, sketch, and poetry. ~ Kayla~ Grade 11
 
 

Eragon by Christopher Paolini
 
Eragon is about a boy who is hunting in the spine for a deer, but finds something more presous than a deer. This blue stone is a dragon egg and when it hatches sends Eragon into a spiral of confusion and pain. After his guardian Garrow is killed he swears revenge for him. Brom his friend and teacher is killed and at the same time he is saved by Murtagh. This is a must read if You like Harry Potter and dragons!~Patrick, Grade 11

ESPN the Magazine

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


The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

The Eye of the World is an epic story which has been compared to The Lord of the Ring trilogy. It is said to continue to revel the world Tolkien began. - Eric
 
 

Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan

This book was amazing! It starts out with a very interesting twist with Henry (one of the main characters) and his family. You meet very creative and a few cooky characters, like Fogarty who is a paranoid old man who believes that aliens are abducting people. You also meet fairies who are not fairies? This book is must read. It is filled with adventure. ~ Brianna, Grade 12
and excitement. Read this book and you won't be able to put it down.

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


Fish In Kansas by Frank B. Cross

It was a good book. It tells you alot of things about fish in Kansas. People that like to fish should read this book. -Bret

Flux by Orson Scott Card

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

 
 
Scott Card Fan! :) -John

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 by Margaret Mitchell

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

 
 

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

The book,"Great Expectations," is a book that was written in the 19th century. It is about the life of a boy who grows up to become a man. His adventures and experiences on the way. This book gives you a little incite on the way of life of someone in England during the 19th century. If you enjoy Charles Dickens you should be sure to check this book out of the LHS library today. - Zachary
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    Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich

This book is number eight in Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum seris. Again, Stephanie gets into trouble that makes you laugh throughout the book. From her grandmother getting a stun gun to a big rabbit following her around. Stephanie may not be the best bounty hunter but she always gets her man. Sometimes she gets more than one as her love life
revolves around another bounty hunter, Ranger, and cop, Joe. This book is filled with mystery and laughter, it will keep you guessing until the end. - Colleen

Harris and Me: A Summer Remembered by Gary Paulsen

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


    Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling

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


The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
 

Carson McCullers is truly a master at writing prose. This tale of moral seclusion remains etched in one’s mind, the characters staying with you long after the novel has ended. It tells the story of five major characters, each seemingly having a harder time than the last. Mick is a tom boy who is forced to grow up while dealing with her family problems and at the same time dreams of someday being a concert pianist. John Singer is a deaf-mute, suddenly unsure of his true identity and suffering from lonelinemss. Dr. Copeland, an educated black doctor who has dedicated his life to the education of his people, struggles with his animosity towards the injustices shown to his people. Much like Singer, Biff Brannon strives to find his identity. Jake Blount, being the most violent of the characters, is an unpredictable wanderer who blew into town and finds a true friend in Singer while planning a socialist revolt. Carson McCullers’ The Heart is a Lonely Hunter is sad but is presented with such a gripping intensity that the reader cannot help but love it. A desire to know what happens to each character makes it virtually impossible to put down this book. - Rebecca

    Hero by S. L. Rottman

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

 
 
is dessimated by the blast from the world's first atomic bomb. Hersey lets no emotion invade his text. He describes, in graphic detail, the characters journeys through the devastated city, but never attempts to manipulate the readers thoughts and feelings on what they are reading. Because of Hersey's complete objectivity, "Hiroshima" reads much like a gruesome newspaper article. The characters in the book are real people whom Hersey interviewed in the months after the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Their bravery and the honor inherent in Japanese culture inject hope into the grim tale. Published in 1946, less than a year after the bomb was dropped, Hersey book presents a courageously anti-American view of the event that ended World War II. -Adam  

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


    The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Hobbit is a good book and plus if you liked the movie, Lord of the Ring then you will like The Hobbit because it is mostly based on the movie. Some of the book is boring, but it's an OK book. I would read it again. ~ Alex, Grade 12

The Holy Book by Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John

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


    HOP ON POP by Dr. Suess

Yo that book was off da heezy ya-mean. Even doh it took me a grip. I still be readen. I'm out. - Eric

Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

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


    I Am the Cheese by Robert Cormier

This book is different and a challenge. -Susan


I Never Promised You a Rose Garden by Joanne Greenburg
In Joanne Greenburg’s I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, the main character, Deborah Blau has created a vast kingdom in her mind where she constantly hides from the real world around her. Deborah’s childhood was a very traumatic one, she had a tumor in her ovaries removed at the age of five and she

received excessive teasing and ridiculing from her neighbors and peers because she was Jewish. These are the reasons she created the Kingdom of Yr and the gods that inhabited it. The gods soon took over all of Deborah’s actions and Deborah lost control of when she entered the kingdom which got her into trouble at school because when she entered the kingdom she could not interact with the outside world. Deborah’s parents, Esther and Jacob, take her to a mental hospital and are torn between their daughter’s illness and their wanting to keep it from friends and the community. Deborah’s little sister, Suzy, blames her for having to rearrange her life when she goes away to the hospital and Suzy does not know what to tell her friends about Deborah’s absence. Doctor Clara Fried chooses to work on Deborah’s case and helps Deborah choose the real world, even though it has its faults, over the tyrant gods of Yr. During her stay at the hospital Deborah develops strong relationships with other patients even though many of them have trust issues and other problems.
Readers get to see Deborah’s mental instability through many viewpoints, from the doctor, the patient, and the family. Readers experience the beginning of Deborah’s illness through her own flashbacks and her parent, which are not difficult to sort out from the present because the flashbacks occur during the regular visits to Dr. Friend and her parent’s flashbacks occur when they are combing through her childhood trying to figure out where they went wrong. The characters come alive through Greenburg’s descriptions and ever character the reader meets has their own special story.
This book is a good read for a person who would take interest in seeing the battle with mental illness through multiple views and a person would want to dive into a world that is totally inside the main character’s mind.~ Sara

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


Ishban by Randy Acorn

This book is about demons trying to make these 2 girls and 2 boys evil and unholy. These Christian students were put through these trials by the main demons to try and discourage them from god. Good vs. Evil is the main obvious theme. I would recommend that someone would read it unless they would take it offensively. Other than that this fiction novel is a interesting attention grabbing book.~Corinna, Grade 11

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

In My Sister's Keeper, Anna is born so that she can save Kate, her sister, from the cancer she is battling. Anna has to undergo many surgeries and hospital stays for Kate, but as she grows older she decides she does not want to do it anymore. So Anna takes her parents to court so that she can stop the transplants and other medical treatments she has to undergo to save Kate. This book is full of twists and is a great read!~Sara, Grade 11

In Suspect Terrain by John McPhee

It is a nattative of the earth, told in four sections of equal length, each in different way reflecting the three others-a-biography; a set piece about a fragment of Appalachian landscape in illuminating counterpoint to the human history there; a modern collision of ideas about the origins of the mountain range; and, in contrast, a century-old-collision of ideas about the existence of the Ice Age. About a thousand million years ago, a continent of unknown dimensions was rifted apart, creating an ancestral ocean more or less where the Atlantic is now. ~Jordon, Grade 12

The Inferno by Dante

Is a book about a man walking though the woods when he looses his way. He is very scared when he relizes he is alll alone with a "hell beast" that is going to kill him. He prays to God to take mercy on him, so god sends a man "virgil" down to the woods to lead him back to the path he has strayed from. It will cost him, he must go to hell and back before going home. This book used to be written in a latin poem form in the 1200s now it is enjoyed around the world in many diffrent languages. - Valerie
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Jade Green by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

This book is a basic ghost story set back in the 1800s. A girl, Judith Sparrow, goes to live with her uncle, and during her time there, she experiences some "strange" occurences. It is kinda predictable, but in one way, the ending was a complete twist. I really liked this story because there was never a dull spot in it. -Sara

Japanese Pop Culture by Mark Schilling
Author: Mark Schilling

I am interested in Japanese pop culture(J-POP). I wanted know more information. If you like J-POP, you must read this book. This book describes japanese movies, singers and animation. The interesting part for me was Japanese famous producer, Komuro Tetsya. He made many famous singers. One of the singers he produced Amuro Namie. She was very popular. She made sexy culture in Japan. When she was popular, every women copied her style. Many companies used her. Because many people buy when she appeared, many companies wanted her to model. Japanese government decided "we must write her name on Japanese economic dictionary".

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

The Joy Luck Club is a magnificent book about a girl growing up with her mother. The book discusses how strong a mother/daughter relationship grows in China. Amy Tan describes the situations with care and moving ideas. - Rebecca

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

America is the “Land of Opportunities.” A chance to escape problems and
despair, people from all around the globe try to start over in America. The
Jungle, which takes place close to the time of the Depression, features a
newly wed couple, Jurgis and Ona, who married in Chicago and now are in a huge debt from the wedding costs. Jurgis and Ona brought along a few of
their family members to America to become happier than they were in
Lithuania. Each gets a job, but as time goes on, they get scammed out of
money, their bills on the house go up, and they can not afford to pay rent.
Jurgis and Ona face many tough problems together, from Ona being raped by her boss, to Jurgis going to jail for nearly killing Ona’s rapist. The
story reflects mainly on Jurgis’ struggles and how he loses his wife and
family, and turns to drinking and personal sorrow. Upton Sinclair does a
great job of allowing the read to understand what a lot of immigrants had to endure on their quest, and journey for a better life in America. Even though the story has a few graphic moments, it is a well overall story and really allows the reader to feel satisfied with the little things they possess in life.~Steven, Grade 11

    Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan

The book in the begining was very bright and sensitive comparing to any mystery book I have read so far. The parts of the book describe very vague details and very unique detailing about a