Book Review: Paper Towns, by John Green

paper_townsIn continuing my mission to read every John Green novel known to man, I invested my time in Paper Towns.  This book follows the life of high school senior Quentin Jacobsen and his mission to find his first love, Margo, after she mysteriously disappears.  Margo is adventurous and exciting, and acts as a nice foil to Quentin’s shy and reserved personality.

As cheesy as this plotline sounds, Paper Towns was actually an interesting story filled with mystery, comedy, and a break-in to Sea World.  While the ending is somewhat disappointing and frustrating, everything leading up to it is exciting and enlightening.  This story is humorous, yet has dark undertones as it reveals faults in humanity and society.

What I learned through reading this book is that Green is an expert at creating relatable teenaged characters.  In Paper Towns, the main characters are worried about their future, but also concerned with living in the moment.  As we all know, these two tasks can be very difficult to balance.  In Paper Towns, Quentin teaches the readers how to balance the two, and how this combination of enjoying adventure and preparing for the future helps us to discover ourselves and what we want out of life.

-Amanda D., 11th grade

Book Review: Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle

let_it_snow_coverAs the holidays come to an end, I search for every way I can possibly find to prolong the season. I decided to read this book due to its dependable authors and captivating book jacket. Let It Snow is a three-story compendium of interconnected Christmas narratives written by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle.

The first story is “The Jubilee Express” which is my personal favorite, and follows a girl named Jubilee as she is spontaneously ordered onto a train on Christmas Eve, which unfortunately crashes into a snow drift. Her decision to get off the train and take refuge in the Waffle House nearby kicks off the elaborate series of unexpected events that prevail throughout the rest of the book. Jubilee is relatably awkward and unadulteratedly hilarious. She narrates the story in a unique, strange, and universally enjoyable style.

The second narrative is called “A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle” and is written by the modern king of young adult fiction, John Green. It tells story of Tobin and his friends as they journey through a blizzard to the proverbial Waffle House in pursuit of cheerleaders and hash browns.

The third story, “The Patron Saint of Pigs,” is the tale of an aforementioned girl named Addie, who aims to become less self-absorbed and sets off on a quest to a local pet store to pick up a previously paid for, teacup piglet for her friend, just as she promised she would. In this last part of Let It Snow, Lauren Myracle presents readers with a flawless, wrap-up conclusion to the novel in which all characters are united in one satisfying and intriguing resolution.

There are not very many authors that could possibly amalgamate a Waffle House, a Starbucks, a Tinfoil Guy, a notorious cheerleading cult containing an abundance of Madisons and Ambers, James Bond, a female Duke, tangential Swedishness, Twister, ceramic Santa villages, a girl infamous for her hash brown addiction, a celebratory Smorgasbord, and a dedicated Target employee to form one seemingly sane, unified whole, but that is exactly what these three authors came together and succeeded in doing.

Let It Snow consists of humor, relatable teenage drama, reflection of life, captivating stories of love and of friendship, and the substantial difficulties and benefits of human relationships. One reoccurring issue that is addressed throughout this book is the contemporary corruption of the social paradigm. The entire wholesome social hierarchy is solely based off the disregard of common equality (e.g. the drama geeks are cooler than the band nerds but buried under the social appreciation for jocks and cheerleaders). I found this both true and amazingly appropriate for the designated audience.

If you liked The Fault in Our Stars, Paper Towns, or any of Maureen Johnson’s books or Lauren Myracle’s novels, you’ll love Let It Snow.

“…a taste so profound and complex that it can’t even be compared to other tastes, only to emotions. Cheesy waffles, I was thinking, tastes like love without the fear of love’s dissolution…”
― John Green, Let It Snow

“Christmas is never over, unless you want it to be… Christmas is a state of mind.”
― Lauren Myracle, Let It Snow

“We study there a lot because… what other choice does society give us, right? It’s Starbucks or death, sometimes.”
― Maureen Johnson, Let It Snow

-Danielle K., 8th grade

Book Review & Playlist: If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late, by Pseudonymous Bosch

bosch_cover2The truth is. . . if you are reading this, it is too late!  Now members of an unknown society in an unknown neighborhood in an unknown town, Cass and Max-Ernest’s adventure is all about the gift of sound and Cass’s oddly shaped ears.  The first book in this series, The Name of This Book is Secret, is about smells, hence The Symphony of Smells.  If this wonderful series of books by Pseudonymous Bosch was made into a film, this story’s beginning should start with the song ‘Secret Garden’ by Bruce Springsteen.  After the first chorus of “Secret Garden,” it should fade away to the opening scene of Cass’s dream.

The story starts out with Cassandra experiencing a bad dream.  She has a field trip to the tide pools, and Cass and Max-Ernest are supposed to meet Pietro, but some kids get in the way.  They finally see a ship with a familiar man staring back at them.  At this point in this story’s movie, “Message In a Bottle” by The Police reflects the panic the characters feel at that moment.  Oh no!  It is the Midnight Sun (a group of evil alchemists who are the antagonists).  The crew assures them it is not really the Midnight Sun and everything is fine until they begin hearing familiar voices… Cass and Max-Ernest are once again in the Midnight Sun’s grasp.

This story engaged me from the beginning.  There were many times I was expecting  something to occur when just the opposite did.  As was the case with the first book, I would recommend this hard-to-put-down novel for all ages.  In the movie version, “Fooling Yourself” by Styx should close the film. This song shows how many times Max-Ernest and Cass made mistakes and put themselves in harm’s way but always using cleverness to overcome obstacles.

-Maya S., 6th grade

Book Review: An Abundance of Katherines, by John Green

abundance_of_katherinesAn Abundance of Katherines is a young adult fiction novel written by one of my favorite authors of all time… John Green.  It follows the life of Colin Singleton, a child prodigy who has been dumped 19 times… all by girls named Katherine.  After graduating from high school, Colin and his best friend Hassan decide to take a spontaneous road trip to help Colin get over his recent breakup.

Now, if you have read Green’s more popular works like Looking For Alaska or The Fault in our Stars, you may be worried that this book will also be slightly depressing.  That’s what I thought anyway.  Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that this book was simply a funny coming of age novel and not a depressing romance.

Don’t get me wrong, I love The Fault in our Stars and Looking for Alaska, but An Abundance of Katherines was a nice break from Green’s more dramatic novels.  Colin’s sarcasm and lack of social skills add to the book’s lighthearted nature, while at the same time help to deliver a clear and fascinating message.  (I won’t spoil that message for you because it’s pretty much the whole point of the book.)

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I recommend it to anyone interested in coming of age novels, or anyone who wants a book that is able to cheer them up in one page.

-Amanda D., 11th grade

Book Review: My Brother is a Big Fat Liar, by James Patterson

my_brother_coverGeorgia Khatchadorian’s big brother Rafe had a knack for getting into trouble, and when she attends the same school that he did, everyone thinks that she is just like him! Georgia has her mind on proving them wrong, but it is not going to be easy. With the constant threats of Mini Miller and the Princesses, it is going to be pretty hard to get things done. There are also other things thrown into the mix to make things even harder, like dances and teachers that get angry just hearing the word “Khatchadorian.”

This hilarious book by James Patterson is a companion to the Middle School series. Showing previous characters from the series in a different light, and introducing new ones, in my opinion, the cast of characters is just perfect. There is Rafe, who from Georgia’s point of view is absolutely evil, Mini-Miller, who is trying to get revenge on behalf of his big brother, Miller (read Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life) and Missy Trillin and the Princess Patrol, who try to make Georgia’s life as terrible as possible.

There are also people who try to help Georgia, though. Some of these characters include Sam, who is kind if like Georgia’s first crush, Rhonda, who is dangerous in a good way, and Jeanne, who isn’t as bad as Georgia first thought she was.

Feeling down, looking for a good laugh, or simply have extra time on your hands? Read this book. You’ll probably bust your guts out laughing.

-Linna C., 7th grade

Perfect Holiday Break Reading: The Shopaholic Series, by Sophie Kinsella

shopaholicOk, can I first say what fun reads all of these books are?! I came across the film version of Confessions of a Shopaholic during an airplane flight to Europe this summer. It was one of the free movies listed and though it was extremely cheesy, I thoroughly enjoyed it! That’s when I decided to try reading the book. After I finished it and loved it, I found out there was a whole series‼ My book taste is kind of all over the place because I love The Hunger Games, for example, but then I also love what I call “fluffy” reads like this series (that means that the book is about some girly subject like shopping! and dramatizes little conflicts like addictions to shopping!) Sophie truly has a gift for portraying spoiled, rich New York girls as protagonists.

I don’t know what it is about Kinsella’s writing style that makes her books so enjoyable! Whether it’s the comical events that a grown-up woman bring upon herself like hiding her shopping bills from her boyfriend or stuffing her face with carrots to prove her little girl eats them! I laugh every page at the obscurity of Rebecca (better known as Becky) Bloomwood Brandon’s shopping addiction and her way of “dealing” with the issues she causes.

While Becky is irresponsible and constantly in denial with her obsession for shopping, her boyfriend/fiancé/husband is cool, calm, and collected. He is responsible, hardworking, and obviously very forgiving if he’s willing to live with a girl who breaks his credit card every day! I think Luke Brandon is adorable, but a little stupid. I mean, who wants to have to deal with Becky? She wastes money, hides bills from you, and ignores your wishes (such as buying giant wooden giraffes while on their honeymoon.) However, she’s just one of those people that you have to still love and read more about despite her serious lack of self control.

I love picturing the fun and crazy hubbub of the New York life, and learning about how irresponsible Becky is makes me feel like a seriously good girl‼ And honestly, how cute are Luke and Becky?! They’re perfect for each other, so I forgive them! Every girl needs a Luke in their life…someday that is!

To sum up, Kinsella transports you to both England and New York, and gives you such a fun read…especially during the holiday break! I definitely give a thumbs-up to all of her books, and I can’t wait to read more books from her! Sophie is such a young and fresh author who understands what girly girls need in their book lists‼ I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys novels about shopping, fashion, and fun! Post a comment telling me what you think about this series! Happy Holidays to all!

-Kelsey H., 10th grade

Book Review: The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet, by Erin Dionne

total_tragedy_coverThe Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet was awesome! From Erin Dionne, author of Models Don’t Eat Chocolate Cookies and Tales of an Accidental Band Geek, comes a story about Hamlet Kennedy, a funny eighth grade girl with a few big problems:

1) Her name is Hamlet- what about that is not tragic?
2) Her seven year old sister Dezzie will be attending eighth grade with her- as the math tutor (eek!)
3) Her parents are a walking, talking Renaissance fair who are still stuck in the 16th century and use words like Huzzah!

With issues like this you would expect Hamlet to just curl up under a rock and be homeschooled like any normal person. But Hamlet does not give up. Even if Carter still isn’t interested in her and she’s tanking pre-algebra, she doesn’t (excuse me, does not) let it show. Between her friends, her sister, and the school performance of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in which she plays Puck, she is able to actually enjoy her eighth grade year and even (shh!) has a secret admirer.

The characters are vibrant and funny, the plot is unpredictable, and the writing entertaining. This book is real, funny, and down to earth. Ask for it for Christmas!

-Becka O., 9th grade

Book Review: The Name of This Book is Secret, by Pseudonymous Bosch

name_book_secret‘WARNING: DO NOT READ BEYOND THIS PAGE!’ is how the fantastic, yet mystifying book, The Name of This Book is Secret begins.  Secrets, secrets everywhere!  So scary and dangerous, Mr. Bosch leads the reader through a world unknown to the average population, but just into the peculiar world where long-since magicians and alchemists reside.  When the main characters find a strange box labeled ‘The Symphony of Smells’, they are led into a trap with immortality and cruelty.

Max-Ernest, a boy wanting to be a stand-up comedian, and Cassandra (Cass for short), a very serious and vigilant survivalist, come together on a rollercoaster of an adventure throughout this well-written book.  There are a lot of unanswered questions that the peculiar narrator, Pseudonymous Bosch, poses such as what Max-Ernest’s ‘condition’ is, or who Cass’s father is.  At this point in the story, if it were a motion picture, I envision the song “Come Together” by the Beatles, because I believe it shows perfectly how Cass and Max-Ernest meet and come together to begin their adventure. Situational irony is inserted in odd parts of the story, The Name of this Book is Secret, which makes it one of my top five favorite book series and earns this an 11 out of 10 rating!

I would definitely recommend this book for ages 10-100, because the writing style  makes the mystery impossible to put down.

-Maya S., 6th grade

Book Review: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever, by Jeff Kinney

cabin_fever_coverLet me start off by saying I absolutely love how Jeff Kinney writes his stories! He is funny and always makes me want to read his book again and again. Cabin Fever, another of Jeff’s novels, is riveting and hilarious.

Greg Heffley is a boy who goes to Westmore Middle School. Greg is always looking for shortcuts in his life. Whether it’s money or school, he is always looking for the easy way out. Greg is always looking for ways to earn money and one day while it snows he strikes an idea. But the problem is, can he strike the customers?

He opens up a snow shoveling business. Greg goes around his neighborhood looking for jobs. He finally gets one when a guy agrees with is job. He starts to shovel the driveway doing his best job but it just seems that more and more snow is coming down. After a “short” break he finds an idea that will make him a millionaire- the only thing left is to test it out. A snow mower! He goes to his grandma’s and quickly uses her mower to find out it works great… until it freezes out! Will he ever get rid of the snow and get paid?

I would recommend this book to anyone who is 9 and up. It is really, really, really funny!

-Satej B., 7th grade

Book Review: All-American Girl, by Meg Cabot

Top 10 reasons why people would love to read All-American Girl:
10. Samantha Madison, the main character, always does a “Top 10 reasons” explanation every couple chapters, which explain Sam’s problems in a clear and easy to read way.
9.Smart people and fans of National Geographic would like Rebecca, Sam’s twelve year-old genius sister, who has watched every episode of National Geographic.
8. Fashion lovers would want more of Lucy, Sam’s popular seventeen year-old sister.
7. Art lovers would adore Sam’s art school, friends who enjoy art, and the art competition Sam has to judge.
6. Girls looking for a romantic comedy would laugh and enjoy the romance story between Sam and a very comical yet attractive boy named David.
5. Teenagers with sibling problems would understand the crazy problems that Sam has to deal with because of Lucy and Rebecca.
4. Fans of the band No Doubt and Gwen Stefani would be thrilled that Sam is a fellow fan, too.
3. Citizens of America who are fans of the White House would be dazzled by the little-seen places of the President’s home.
2. Readers would love the comedy that Sam uses. For example, she gets invited to the White House for dinner and flushed her whole dinner down the toilet because she was a picky eater. Later, she ended up thinking that the next day’s headline would say something like this: MOST FAMOUS GIRL OF THE CENTURY CAUSES WHITE
HOUSE PLUMBING TO BLOW BY STUFFING ENTIRE DINNER DOWN TOILET.
1. Meg Cabot, the author, teaches a very important lesson that’s true for everyone.
What else would readers like about the realistic fiction book All-American Girl? Well, they would like Sam because:
  • She saves the President’s life, fascinating Americans with her loyalty and bravery
  • She teaches an important lesson that we should learn. Earlier, Sam always thought that it would great to be someone else, such as her favorite singer, Gwen Stefani, but she’s says in the end that “the number one reason I’m glad I’m not Gwen Stefani: 1. Because then I won’t be me” (Cabot 398).
Boys should be warned that since the main character is a fifteen-year-old girl born between two more girls, Sam isn’t aware that boys might read her story and openly talks about girl stuff, such as a girl’s private areas. Also readers should not do everything Sam does because she’s in love with her sister’s boyfriend and doesn’t pay attention in German class.
However, she proves that anybody can be a hero can be a hero, even a girl who mourns for the generation by wearing black and draws celebrity pictures in German class.
-Megan V., 8th grade