This story is about a boy who lives with his father and mother on a Dutch Caribbean island during World War II. He and his mother leave the war stricken island on a ship. The ship sinks and he is stuck with an African American on a raft. He soon knows that being different colors doesn't matter.
3- Love it!
Sammy, age 13

The Chosen is a story of the unlikely friendship between Reuven Malter, an Orthodox Jew and son of an active Zionist, and Danny Saunders, a Hasidic Jew and reluctant heir to his father's position as tzaddik (dynastic ruler of a Hasidic community). As the story unfolds we realize that it is not only about two very different sects of Judaism, but about any opposing groups within multicultural America. A really amazing novel!
3- Love it!
Carly, age 13

Elsie always strives to obey her father, but when her father asks her to do something against God's law she refuses. Because of his own stubbornness, he punishes her harshly. Only when Elsie is inches from death does he come to realize that he is wrong and accepts his daughter's faith. This book will make you cry.
3- Love it!
Allison, age 13

The book had much less dialogue and was more thematic than the other books. This is the last book of the series The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. In this book the four girls start off their lives at four different colleges. At the end of the book, Lena's little sister loses the pants and the four girls go to Greece to find them. They realize that losing the pants was necessary for them to start their real lives independently.
2- Like it!
Stephanie, age 14

This book is about a 15 year old girl who tries drugs for the first time and does not want to stop because of the feeling she gets. It is her own personal diary and she thinks no one will ever find it. I believe that this story is a great life lesson without the experience.
2- Like it!
Stephanie, age 14

Blair and Serena get into a fight in the middle of a very important exam. Then Jenny searches for a new boarding school because she wants to follow in Serena's footsteps.
3- Love it!
Sasha, age 14

Killing Mr. Griffin is about a group of high school kids that end up pulling a prank, kidnapping Mr. Griffin. It all goes wrong and he dies of an angina attack.
2- Like it!
Natasha, age 13

Letters from Rifka is a great and inspiring book, although it made me cry. It is also a very emotional book. It is a book about a young girl's journey to America.
3- Love it!
Stephanie, age 13

This was a great story about a friendship that grew between old and young. I thought that the book was sad, with a happy, exciting twist.
3- Love it!
Michelle, age 14

Will Simmons was star quarterback, captain of the football team and popular with a cheerleader girlfriend. Life for him was good. It was until Will suddenly got injured during a game and found out he couldn't play football ever again. Last year's QB, Ken Matthews, takes Will's place after quitting the team at the beginning of the year. Will isn't only mad, he wants revenge. It seems like Will is going to have to play dirty to get his way....
3- Love it!
Rachel, age 13

This is a very good book. Girls will like it and it has a lot of suspense! Very well described. A must read! This is because of how closely you can relate to the four main girls!
3- Love it!
Daniela, age 13

Laura Sibbie starts a secret club called Pig City. Then she starts to invite boys. When Gabriel gets jealous he starts his own club. Then they have war!
2 -Like it!
Dan, age 14

This is about a boy who is a secret agent and he works for M16 in England. He goes to Cuba and gets captured. Then he saves the world from a nuclear explosion.
3- Love it!
Sean, age 14

Heidi lives with her neighbor and her mentally handicapped mom in an apartment. Her mom only knows 23 words and one of them, "soof", has no meaning. Heidi knows that it means something to her mother and wants to find out more about her past. She travels by bus to New York and goes to a home for mental people. There she finds out the secrets of her mental father, her grandfather, and "soof", which turns out to mean "love". But while her neighbor is taking care of her mother back in Nevada, her mother dies. She is sad, but begins a new life and now knows who she is.
3- Love it!
Megan, age 13

Even though this was the last in the series, it was still amazing. I wish this series never ended. This book really told the story of high school.
3- Love it!
Michelle, age 14

This book was about a Methodist girl whose father drops her off at a Catholic school on their way to Texas. She goes through many changes and figures out why her father actually left her there and what she can learn.
3- Love it!
Bonnie, age 13

Jade Wu was just starting to think that her life was going great when her father, who left Jade and her mother without paying any child support, wants to be a part of Jade's life again. In fact, he wants custody of Jade and is going to sue for it. Jade is very upset and is determined to stay with her mom. Can Jade do this by herself before it’s too late?
3- Love it!
Rachel, age 13

Danny wants to join the army. He went through all the training, but it was decided that he couldn't be in the army because his grandfather Fergus Watts was a traitor. They think Danny will be the same. Danny must find his grandfather and turn him in if he wants to be become a soldier.
2- Like it!
Michael, age 14

Jerry Spinelli has written many good books and this one is definitely my favorite next to Maniac Magee. I feel bad for the main character and would want to see what happens when he grows up.
2- Like it!
Austin, age 13

An amazing novel once "ye" get past the Old English dialogue. A suspenseful combination of mystery, ghost story and romance about the lifelong love between Catherine and Heathcliff, and all the subsequent misadventures and tragedies.
3- Love it!
Carly, age 13