Book Review: Don’t Call Me Baby, by Gwendolyn Heasley

Posted on May 13, 2014 by Sabrina C.

Her whole life, Imogene has been known as the girl on that blog. Her mother started the blog about her daughter before she was even born. She has been blogging about Imogene’s personal life for years. Since Imogene is fifteen now, she decides enough is enough! She doesn’t want to be part of her mother’s popular and embarrassing blog. She just wants a normal life where random strangers don’t know when she lost her first tooth, got in a fight with her best friend, or even had her first crush! She wants to be totally away from the blogging world.

However, it isn’t as easy as she thinks. When Imogene gets assigned to start her own blog for her English class, she refuses it right away. She soon realizes that this may be the perfect opportunity to end her mother’s blog forever.

In my opinion, I could’ve gone either way with this book, meaning that it’s fine if I read and it’s fine if I didn’t. This isn’t a must read book. It had some good parts and some bad parts. The only thing that I really didn’t like was the nicknames for Imogene and her mother. On the blog, they are known as Mommylicious and Babylicious. I just think that’s too silly, but other than that it was okay. I wouldn’t recommend this book to people who are 13 and up, but that’s who the author recommended. Overall, I thought this book was cute for a younger audience, but again that’s just my opinion. Some other eighth graders may enjoy this book– it just came out last month, so you’ll find it in bookstores everywhere.

By Sabrina C., 8th Grade

Book Review: Moonglass, by Jessi Kirby

Posted on May 8, 2014 by The Kungfu cook

Moonglass is a really good book. Even though it looks thin, it is actually a long read.

In this book, Anna Ryan and her dad are moving to the beach where her parents supposedly met. Still faced with the reality of her mother’s death, both she and her father still mourn their loss. Still mad at her dad and herself, Anna finds out that they moved into the house next door to her mother’s old cottage. As Anna meets new friends and becomes acquainted with a very special lifeguard, she unravels the mysteries of her parents’ past.

Finding out secrets about her dad’s past and the reason behind her mother’s suicide, Anna’s life starts to make sense for once in a very long time. She fights to forget memories of her mother’s death but also yearning to be closer to her mother, she finds that balance of tranquility out in the waves. Trips on the beach searching for sea glass allow her the time to think and figure out the things of her parents’ past. But as she finds out more and more about her parents’ past, she finds it harder to cope with the pressure that she is under– except when she is in the water where the tide washes away her emotions leaving her at peace.

To find out the secrets of her parent’s past you are just going to have to read the book. Enjoy everyone!

-Christina B., 7th grade

Editor’s note: This book actually takes place in Crystal Cove, which is very local to us here in Mission Viejo! Visit and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped right into the pages of this novel.

photo by Allison Tran

Book Review: The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Nighttime, by Mark Haddon

Posted on May 6, 2014 by Miranda C.

The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Nighttime is a realistic fiction book by Mark Haddon, telling the story of autistic teenager Christopher, who, after finding his neighbor’s dog stabbed with a garden fork, decides to emulate his fictional hero Sherlock Holmes by searching for the murderer. Christopher’s father disapproves of him investigating the case, and what was a simple mystery about a dead dog leads to discoveries about his family, neighbors, and his own place in the world.

The major strength of this book is the unique voice of the main character. Christopher is a mathematical prodigy, but is distressed by loud noises and struggles to understand the emotions of others. His narration is often frustrating to the reader, such as when he breaks off from the plot to explain a math concept or his system of counting different colored cars, but he is also very sympathetic as a character often frightened and confused by his irrational surroundings. Christopher dislikes metaphors and jokes because of their inconsistent multiple meanings, but his literal-mindedness leads to some witty observations about the irrationality of social norms. Though the book takes place in modern London, from Christopher’s perspective it becomes a different world full of distractions and absurd rules.

I would recommend this book to anyone 14+ (for language and thematic elements) who enjoys mysteries and unusual narration.

-Miranda C., 12th grade

Book Review: Looking for Alaska, by John Green

Posted on April 14, 2014 by Sabrina C.

“How do we get out of this labyrinth of suffering?”

Miles Halter, “Pudge,” is just another ordinary kid. He doesn’t have a lot of friends, and he doesn’t like is boring life in Florida. He is smart though, smart enough to remember famous people’s last words. He wants to leave everything behind and go to a boarding school called Culver Creek in Alabama. He seeks “The Great Perhaps” to change his life.

Once he arrives, he does change. He has friends, one of them is Alaska Young. She is funny, beautiful, clever, and screwed-up. She changes his life completely. She pulls Miles into her labyrinth, shows him “The Great Perhaps,” and steals his heart. Miles likes his new life and understands that Culver Creek isn’t just a school, but “The Great Perhaps.”

He realizes that this could be his chance to start over with a clean slate. Alaska shows him that there is more to life than he ever imagined. She led him to see the world as a twisted labyrinth.

Looking for Alaska is a great story about romance and teen problems. John Green will leave you as an emotional wreck by the time you are done with this book. Books don’t usually make me cry, but this one came close. Don’t get me wrong, this book isn’t all sad. It’s also a comedy in more ways than one. It’s a quick read, which is good because you can read it all over again, afterwards. It’s a compelling and heart-wrenching story that you wouldn’t want to miss. However, I would strongly recommend this book for teens, 13 and up. After all, it is about teenagers and their life issues and interests. This is the first John Green book I have read, and I will definitely read more.

-Sabrina C., 8th grade

Book Review: It’s Kind of a Funny Story, by Ned Vizzini

Posted on April 8, 2014 by Sara S.

Ned Vizzini’s It’s Kind of a Funny Story is a novel about a teenage boy, Craig, who suffers from depression, and about his experiences in the mental hospital. Unlike most books about psychological issues, this story has a light, humorous vibe all throughout and gives the reader a positive view of life and their own experiences in general. Not once did I want to put this book down, and I even ended up finishing all up it in one sitting.

The book was based on the author’s own experiences in the mental hospital and his own hospitalization a couple years before the book was published. What I personally loved most about the book was how each character had their own interesting backstory and how much it was evident that the author put a lot of time into making each character truly special and unique.

For those of you who are interested, there is also a movie made after the book starring actors like Emma Roberts and Zach Galifinakis (although I highly recommend reading the book first). I recommend this book for anyone who is a fan of books like Girl Interrupted, Go Ask Alice, or Eat, Pray, Love.

-Sara S., 10th grade

Book Review: A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Rachel L.

A Thousand Splendid Suns truly is, as suggested by its title, a splendid book.

It is a story, of hope and friendship despite hardship, that spins the intriguing and moving tale of two remarkable women in the midst of the tumultuous years of a war-ridden Afghanistan. It is mainly about the tribulations two very different women- Mariam and Laila- must endure and the deep friendship they forge out of their cruel mutual husband. At the same time they must deal with the death and destruction of the war and Taliban. This is a common theme of the novel- the oppression that they face both at home and in their country. That is all I can share about the story, for I don’t want to spoil anything; if you want to find out what happens to them and their fascinating stories, you’ll have to read the book.

The synopsis might not sound very interesting or appealing to some, especially teenagers (I, at first, was a bit wary of it), who may want a fun action packed or romantic story instead, but this book is definitely worth a read. It leaves a deep impact on you, changes the way you view things, your whole perspective. It is heart breaking, but moving; tragic, but real and hopeful; sad, but it is a bittersweet sort of emotion that will make you truly appreciate the book and its characters.

I can say that this is the only book that has ever made me cry. It is beautifully written, the words leaving great impact, as I grew attached to the characters and felt their emotion. The characters were all complex and interesting; the plot gripping at your attention. There was never a boring part of the book, I felt I could never put it down until I read every single word of it until the end. A Thousand Splendid Suns is a one of a kind type of novel that will make you smile and cry, maybe even at the same time, and thoroughly captivate.

-Rachel L., 10th grade

Book Review: Goodbye, Rebel Blue by Shelley Coriell

Posted on April 2, 2014 by Nicole G.

Rebecca Blue, more commonly referred to as Rebel, is a loner. She is always in search of sea glass, dyes her hair blue, prefers not to wear shoes, and has a necklace made of shark teeth. She’s the kind of girl who gets detention. Once there, Rebel writes a bucket list alongside Kennedy Green, a perky girl going out of her way to be kind to everyone.

Rebel doesn’t believe they have anything in common, despite what their colorful last names might suggest. She might have forgotten their conversation completely… if Kennedy hadn’t died shortly thereafter. After several failed attempts to get rid of a dead girl’s bucket list, Rebel takes it upon herself to complete the final goals and aspirations of a do-gooder. Things she would never consider doing before.

What Rebel doesn’t expect was that the bucket list would change her. She discovers that she isn’t as alone as she once thought. Her aunt and uncle, her track star cousin, her pie baking friend, and maybe even that boy from the volunteer group– her whole perspective on life is turned upside down when she has to ask for help from these people, seeing the world a little more fully. Eventually, she finds the courage to follow her own dreams as well as Kennedy’s.

Rebel is a cool character and very true to herself. Even though she will never be “normal,” Rebel is more than the screw-up everyone thinks she is. She isn’t afraid to tell anyone how she feels, which gets her into some pretty laugh-out-loud situations. The story gets deeper further into the story, but it’s mostly about how helping others helps Rebel find herself. If you want a light, comical read, go ahead and give this book a try.

-Nicole G., 10th grade

Book Review: The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Kate B.

“Maybe the two different worlds we lived in weren’t so different. We saw the same sunset.”
–The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton.

This book is about a fourteen-year-old Ponyboy Curtis and his life since he “stepped out of the movie theater with two things on his minds, Paul Newman and a ride home.” He lives on the east side of the town Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the Greasers live, with his two brothers Darry (Darrel) and Sodapop Curtis. On the west side of town was where the Socs (pronounced so-shiz) lived.

Greasers are like street punks. They wear t-shirts, jeans, leather jackets, and boots or Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars. They listen to Rock n’ Roll singers like Elvis Presley. They love hot rod cars and put grease in their hair to look cool. Each Greaser is in a gang. Ponyboy is in a gang with his brothers, Dally (Dallas) Winston, Two-Bit (Keith) Matthews, Johnny Cade, and Steve Randle.

Socs, short for Socials, are the rich kids in town. They wear Madras shirts and have Mustangs for cars. They like to yell “GREASER!” when they drive by a Greaser and also jump (attack) Greasers. The main Socs in this book are Cherry (Sherri) Valence, Marcia, Bob (Robert) Sheldon, Randy Adderson, and David.

I feel like this book is more for 8th grade in my opinion because of the violence. This book is also a movie and a old TV show!

-Kate B., 7th grade

Really Good Books About Real Life

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Kaelyn L.

Stephen Chbosky. Ned Vizzini. Sarah Dessen. John Green. What do all of these have in common, you ask? Aside from being some of the best Young Adult book authors of all time, these four authors all write novels that deal with real teen lives. I personally love books that deal with real life. At the top of my teen novel list are The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, which is now a movie, It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini, also a movie, all Sarah Dessen books, three of which were adapted into a movie called How to Deal, and The Fault in Our Stars by John Green- the movie version comes out this June.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is officially my favorite book and movie. I may be a bit biased because of this, but, I am telling you, anyone who reads this book will fall in love. Extremely well written, containing characters you feel connected to, and ending with a surprising plot twist, I recommend this book a thousand times over to anyone who will listen.

It’s Kind of a Funny Story is an excellent showcase of problems teens face everyday that really should be pointed out. I watched the movie before realized there was a book (I know, shame on me) and, surprisingly, the movie does the book justice. I know this is rarely the case with all of the “artistic” changes that take place when a movie is made that is based off of a book, but, with this cast, I don’t think anyone can complain. Anyways, this book perfectly showcases the ups and downs of a teens life. The downs include depression, suicide, and mental wards while love and friendship fill the ups.

Every single Sarah Dessen book I have read has left me wanting to read another. Unlike some authors, Dessen does not write series, but single books that stand by themselves. And, for a little fun fact, there is always at least one small detail that connects one of the books with another. For example, she often has a main character run into a minor character from a different book or includes a location that is the main setting of another book, but is just a shop that is passed by and commented on by the character in your book. It may just be me, but whenever I realize she is connecting her books, it makes me feel like an ultra-fan for noticing. Some of my favorite books by her are Keeping the Moon, This Lullaby, The Truth About Forever, Just Listen, Lock and Key, Along for the Ride, and What Happened to Goodbye.

And finally, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. This is the only John Green book I have read so far, though I want to read more. Once again, stupid library-goers are hogging books. Anyways, this book is definitely a tear-jerker. I was sobbing alone in my room when I finished this book. Now that I have warned you, I can get to describing the amazingness of the novel. First of all, it is the most well-written book I have ever read. Green seems to seamlessly weave together teenage “language” (if it can even be considered a language) and eloquent phrases. Second, you begin to love the characters the moment you meet them. Lastly, who doesn’t love a good romance? Overall, this is one of my favorite teen romance novels to date.

I don’t mean Hollywood “real life.” I mean REAL life problems that are not glorified or made unrealistic because they become too nitty-gritty. That could be the reasoning behind why I enjoy these books so much. I feel like too many authors make a happy ending just so they don’t have to go too deep. But that is what makes these so great. You can connect with these characters because they are going through the same things you may be experiencing. Besides, life isn’t always a happy ending, so why should books always have to have one?

– Kaelyn L., 10th grade

Book Review: Go Ask Alice

Posted on March 10, 2014 by Sara S.

Go Ask Alice, an anonymously written “journal” has recently been receiving a lot of attention from teenagers looking for a fun, easy read.

The book is about a girl growing up in the late 1960s, struggling through her first year of high school in a brand new city. On a short trip back to her old town, she tries LSD for the first time at a party. After she’s introduced to her new world of drugs and parties, this new life follows her when she returns home. Months pass and as her life is spiraling out of control, the reader takes an adventure through the life of a typical sixties teen.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a story with an interesting plot, and a creative writing style. This book is impossible to put down and I couldn’t help myself from finishing it in one sitting. The reader never learns the character’s name, which adds a lot of mystery to the plot and makes it even more interesting. Of all the books in the “Anonymous” series (including Jay’s Journal, Lucy in the Sky, and Letting Ana Go), I believe that Go Ask Alice is the most well written and most interesting of the four.