Book Review: We Were Liars, by E. Lockhart

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Danielle K.

“Welcome to the beautiful Sinclair family. No one is a criminal. No one is an addict. No one is a failure…We are the Sinclairs. No one is needy. No one is wrong. We live, at least in the summertime, on a private island off the coast of Massachusetts. Perhaps that is all you need to know.” (3)

With its thought-provoking title and captivatingly blurry cover-photo, I expected We Were Liars to be an interesting read. That being said, the book largely exceeded my expectations.

We Were Liars is told in the first person point of view and bounces back and forth from summers past to present. These snippets of information provide the reader with a detailed history of the Sinclair family; along with a deeper understanding of the protagonist’s character and motives.

This contemporary, realistic YA novel contains stories of criminal activity; childhood adventure; constant action; uniquely limited friendships; forbidden romance; excruciating loss; unconditional love; utmost regret; what it means to belong; and the truth regarding mental inadequacy.

One specific facet of this story that I liked was the humor; strategically placed between solemn moments of the novel, We Were Liars had me laughing out loud in the middle of English class. The comedy utilized is clean, spontaneous, John Greenesque, and (in other words) inexplicably hilarious.

“‘Don’t look at my troll feet,’ says Gat suddenly.

‘What?’

‘They’re hideous. A troll snuck into my room at night, took my normal feet for himself, and left me with his thuggish troll feet.’ Gat tucks his feet under a towel so I can’t see them. ‘Now you know the truth.’

…‘Wear shoes.”

‘I’m not wearing shoes on the beach…I have to act like everything’s okay until I can find that troll. Then I’ll kill him to death and get my normal feet back. Have you got weapons?’

‘No.’

‘Come on.’

‘Um. There’s a fire poker in Windemere.’

‘All right. As soon as we see that troll, we’ll kill him to death with your fire poker.’

‘If you insist.’” (72)

Another aspect of We Were Liars that I came to enjoy was E. Lockhart’s particular style of writing, which is notably similar to Tahereh Mafi, author of the Shatter Me trilogy. Occasionally their prose transforms into free verse and then back again like a flicker of poetry, in a fashion that successfully mimics the subconscious rant-like thought process.

“I plunge down,
to rocky rocky bottom, and
I can see the base of Beechwood Island and
my arms and legs feel numb but my fingers are cold. Slices
of seaweed go past as I fall.
And then I am up again, and breathing.
I’m okay,
my head is okay,
no one needs to cry for me or worry about me.
I am fine,
I am alive.
I swim to shore.” (142)

Liars is truly a roller coaster full of unexpected twists, sharp turns, and gut-wrenching drops; I guarantee that you will be kept on your toes as Cadance strives to recover her past, no matter what that might mean or whom it may affect.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read, particularly fans of John Green, Lauren Myracle, Maureen Johnson, Scott Westerfeld, Ally Carter, and Libba Bray.

-Danielle K., 9th grade

Book Review: The Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass

Posted on October 24, 2014 by Sara S.

“Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.”

When my AP Lang class was assigned to read The Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass, I thought it was going to be difficult to get through, but after only reading the first chapter, I was captivated by Douglass’ writing style.

As it was an autobiographical narrative, there wasn’t any plot, but in order to engage the reader as well as to demonstrate his impressive self-taught writing skills, Douglass uses deep rhetorical language to really get to the reader. He takes the horrific atrocities of slavery which he experienced and lays them all down in order for the reader to better understand this dark time in human history. The book is a fast read, and can easily be finished in a couple of days, at most.

“In a composite nation like ours, as before the law, there should be no rich, no poor, no high, no low, no white, no black, but common country, common citizenship, equal rights and a common destiny”

-Sara S., 11th grade

Series Introduction: The Heir Chronicles, by Cinda Williams Chima

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Kyle H.

Have you ever wanted to be able to see the future? To be able to do magic? Fight with magic swords? Talk people into giving you things, heal the toughest of wounds and illnesses, or take power and energy out of other people?

The ones who can are called the Weir. They have five guilds, all with separate powers and abilities. The sorcerers can heal any wound and can work with amulets and other material magic. Enchanters can talk people into giving them anything, or even doing something for them. Warriors are the brawn of the guilds and the weapon wielding Weir. The seers can see into the future, and can sometimes control it, too. Wizards, the most powerful of all, shape magic with words and have enslaved the other guilds into obeying them and giving them authority.

This four book series, which includes The Warrior Heir, The Wizard Heir, The Dragon Heir, and The Enchanter Heir, are stories of how these guilds battle against one another and fight for equal power amongst all the guilds. The main characters include Jack and Ellen, who are warriors, Will and Fitch, who are AnaWeir or non magical, Linda and Jonah, who are enchanters, Leander, Seph, Jason and many others who are wizards, and Madison, who is an elictor. Elictors draw magic out of other people to use it themselves or to stop their opponents.

I am currently reading the fourth book of the series, The Enchanter Heir, which is about a young enchanter named Jonah. I haven’t gone too far into the book now, but right after I finish writing this I am going to go and read it. If anyone has read these books please post a comment below about which guild you would be a part of or if you liked these books!

-Kyle H., 8th grade

Book Review: Jack Templar, Monster Hunter, by Jeff Gunhus

Posted on October 16, 2014 by Evan G.

Jack Templar is just an ordinary 13 year-old boy. His biggest concerns in life are girls, growing pains, and trying to keep decent grades at school. The day before his 14th birthday, Jack wakes up astounded to find that he has gained superhuman strength, not unlike Peter Parker in the Hollywood Spiderman film. That morning in his garage, he lifts a 48lb dumbbell with one hand. Then, on the way to school he makes an easy slam dunk. He also impresses his crush by beating up a bully in front of the school. He is definitely loving life!

Then, disaster hits! His school Principal turns into a bat creature and threatens him. He then bumps into a 3,000 year old vampire and goes on to save a strange girl from being killed by a troll. As the day goes on, he finds himself fighting for his life against spirits, demons and monsters galore.

This exciting book reveals the author’s point of view about survival of the fittest and how friendship conquers all. Gunhus also shows how some sacrifices are worth making and some aren’t. This epic novel causes the reader to think about other possibilities, about how many things go unnoticed in the world. There is a whole civilization of monsters in his story that has gone unnoticed by the human population. It makes fun of how many little details or big happenings occur without anybody ever knowing.

I would recommend this book because of the main character’s realistic reactions and the overall authentic tone of the story even though it is make believe. It is appropriate for all ages since it is pretty clean considering it is a book about hunting monsters. I absolutely loved it!

Evan G., 6th grade

Book Review: Shadow and Bone, by Leigh Bardugo

Posted on October 16, 2014 by Phillip Xiang

Shadow and Bone is Leigh Bardugo’s first book, and a stunning success.

The story is about an orphaned girl named Alina Starkov. Her only friend, Mal, keeps her company as they grow up, playing in and around the property. When the magicians called Grisha come to test children for powers, the two are found to be perfectly ordinary, and must serve in the King’s First Army of commoners.

Years later, a troupe of soldiers and Grisha prepare to travel through the Shadow Fold, a deadly and strip of land created by the magic of the ancient Black Heretic. The swath of land is a cut of stifling darkness, slashing through the land. Within the regions, there are swarms of terrifying winged demons called Volcra, making travel deadly. When Alina and Mal’s troupe is attacked, Mal is brutally injured, and Alina unknowingly calls upon a storied and legendary power hidden within her.

With lancing beams of blinding sunlight, she drives away the monsters, then promptly passes out. As the first Sun Summoner in generations, Alina is doomed and destined to become far greater than the scrawny and average peasant she used to be.

From the scenes Leigh Bardugo paints, we readers picture a vast, fairytale version of Russia. From the intricate descriptions of palaces to forests, every page seems dreamy and enchanting. This story is a unique use of the “Finding inner greatness” theme. It’s amazing how smoothly and quickly the storyline develops, how a typical child is whisked off to a world of broader horizons. Alina slowly becomes accustomed, and grasps the full scope of things that a commoner could never understand. The Grisha magic is both revered and powerful, including mastery over fire, wind, darkness, even the ability to destroy human flesh. These make for a thrilling and action-packed scenes necessary for great fantasy books. In addition, Shadow and Bone includes a haunting romantic side, in which Alina is torn between her childhood love, Mal, and the land’s most powerful magician, the Darkling.

With that, I implore you to read this mysterious fairytale. A movie is supposed to follow soon, so you’ll have that to look forward to also. Cheers!

-Phillip X., 9th grade

Book Review: Dorothy Must Die, by Danielle Paige

Posted on October 15, 2014 by Erika T.

Dorothy Must Die is yet another crazy twist on a classic story. We all know the beloved story of The Wizard of Oz. We all know Dorothy and the Wicked Witch of the West. But now Danielle Paige tells us what happened to Oz after Dorothy left and why Dorothy must die.

The story’s new heroine is named Amy Gumm and she would like to be any place but Kansas. Amy’s life is in a shambles. Her once loving mother now wants nothing to do with her and she is constantly bullied at school by a crazy pregnant girl. So when news of a tornado coming to her home town, Amy simple shrugged off the news. Well, you what happens next. Amy gets whisked away to Oz. But when she gets there it is nothing like she ever imagined. Oz was no longer filled with happiness and magic. Taken in by the Wicked, Amy’s new job is to kill Dorothy and to possibly restore Oz. But before she can kill Dorothy, she must get rid of the Scarecrow, the Tinman, and the Lion. She quickly realizes the words Good and Wicked no longer matter because the Good are Wicked and the Wicked are Good.

This story is not one of my favorites but it is a fun read. I personally really like the books that take classic tales and change it to be a newer version. This was not my favorite but I really like how the author made the beautiful land of Oz become so ugly and sad. She was really able to change the classic story into something completely different but still keeping the (almost the same) characters we love. I love the story and movie of the Wizard of Oz so when I saw this book I had to read it. It definitely changes the way you have seen and imagined Oz. There is a lot of gruesome alterations to the classic characters. You probably should watch the Wizard of Oz movie if you aren’t familiar with this story before you read Dorothy Must Die. If you like stories that are the twist of classic tales then you should check out this story. This is a series so check out the sequels if you do end up liking Dorothy Must Die.

-Erika T., 9th grade

Book Review: Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls

Posted on October 10, 2014 by Olivia S.

I love dogs. I love everything about them. From their furry bodies to their gross slobbery tongues, I love it all.

However, besides loving dogs themselves, I also love a good dog book. The book Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls is the perfect dog book, and let me just say this book is life changing. Even if you aren’t a dog lover, or you only really love cats, this book is still life changing, regardless of your animal preference.

The novel follows the life of a young boy and his best friends, his two-coonhound hunting dogs. Together the boy, Billy Coleman, and his two dogs embark on countless fun-filled adventures. However, the story goes beyond the adventure and becomes a coming-of-age novel.

The book will make you laugh, cry, scream, giggle, sigh, and surprise you all at the same time, but in the best possible way. I highly recommend this book to everyone and anyone. Fortunately, it really isn’t subject to just one age group, like many other classic novels, because it is relatable to so many people on so many different levels. All in all, it is a great book, and probably one of my all-time favorite books.

-Olivia S.

Book Review: A Spell for Chameleon, by Piers Anthony

Posted on October 8, 2014 by Megan V.

Hello, avid reviewers of books. Yes, I know who you are, but I should probably introduce myself. My name is Cleo, and I am the muse of history, so I know everything of everyone, including you. Although, you won’t meet me for a while.

More importantly though, I am here to tell you a story; one that would shape my world, Xanth, for generations to come. I even have a printed copy of that story, which is also available in the Mundane world.

Bink, almost 25, is a man who was born into a world of magic. Except for him, everyone can perform a type of magic. However, if he can’t prove that he has magic by his 25th birthday, he will be exiled to the Mundane world forever, where it is dull, without magic, and doesn’t have the girl that he loves.

This is why he embarks on a journey to the Good Magician, he can answer any question, and possibly even know what type of magic Bink has that hasn’t manifested yet. But in order to do that, he has to face the wonders (and horrors) of Xanth, with new magics yet to be discovered and extraordinary people to be met, including the evil magician Trent who wants to destroy the magic barrier protecting Xanth.

This story, and the stories of Xanth, as a warning, has a lot of puns, which may make you go crazy. But I believe that it portrays a good message and an excellent plot, with unexpected twists.

However, those who are not a part of the Adult Conspiracy (in Mundane terms, those who don’t know how to summon the stork or haven’t experienced their teen years) wouldn’t be able to read this book or the continuing books, since the Adult Conspiracy would make some of the words inside the book appear fuzzy.

The characters’ stories are fascinating, though, with stories perhaps like yours, and you could perhaps feel yourself rooting for them, too.

Enjoy, and welcome mundanes, to the magical Xanth.

-Cleo, muse of History (as told to Megan V., 10th grade)

Book Review: Taken, by David Massey

Posted on October 6, 2014 by Sarah J.

Six teenagers on a trip across the ocean. Four are military veterans disabled in combat. The other two are “able” sea hands to help along the way. Things are cut short when they become prisoners of war of a man called Moses Mwemba.

Rio Cruz, is one of the two “able bodied” crew that was hired to help four teenage veterans, Ash, Marcus, Charis, and Izzy, who have been disabled in combat sail around the world for charity. Even before the six start the voyage, tension starts building between Rio and the other “able bodied” crew member, Jen. The tension only grows when Rio’s fondness for Ash emerges and when she finds a hidden letter. But all the tension and strife that was building gets cut short when they are captured to become political pawns.

This was a rather strange story. Unfortunately, I found it a bit too rushed. There were also some things that I would have like have a bit more explained. It is written in a first person point of view which does limit what explained in the story. Even so the plot was interesting. It is one of the types of plot that I have not read very much of. The characters were okay. I do believed they could have been a little more developed or described but the fact that they were disabled veterans, who were determined to show that they were not helpless, made up for some of it. I some times mixed up the characters due to the lack of explanation at the beginning of the book.

One of the themes of this book does make you think a lot about what people are. This is a book I would only recommend to at least high-school or older. There is quite a bit of violence in the story and there is many themes in this book that are hard to explain and hard to understand. To give this book a rating: 5/10

This is only what I think so read it for yourself and decide.

– Sarah J., 10th grade

Book Review: Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

Posted on October 3, 2014 by Will R.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand is a fascinating biography/novel that tells the story of young boy named Louie Zamperini who begins life as somewhat of a troublemaker; stealing and fighting. But, despite these difficulties, he becomes a running sensation. Louie works his way to four minute miles, and then is given the opportunity to run in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where even Hitler himself takes notice.

But Louie’s athletic endeavors take a detour as he is sent off to fight in WWII as part of a fighter plane’s crew. Louie’s plane crashes, and Louie survives on the open ocean for several weeks living off practically nothing until he is captured by the Japanese and put into a POW camp.

Unbroken tells the horror stories of life for Louie and other American soldiers inside Japanese camps as they are tortured and starved to death. The POW camp passages portray humans who have no regard for other human life. Louie watches his friends and countrymen become sick and die. In turn, he becomes sick and waits for death himself. When Louie is transferred to another prison camp, his experience becomes even worse. He meets Matsuhiro Watanabe, a prison guard who takes extreme delight in beating prisoners, and singles Louie out constantly. When the Allies finally win the war, Louie is a changed man. He has become affected by post-traumatic stress disorder, and cannot be around anything that reminds him of the war or the POW camps. He soon develops drinking and marital problems.

Louie believes he can end his problems by killing Matsuhiro, who has fled after the war. However, events take a suprise turn.

This novel was sad and horrifying. Louie’s story is an amazing one of hope, sorrow, survival and redemption, and Ms. Hillenbrand is able to thoroughly express these thoughts and feelings on paper.

-Will R., 10th grade

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