Watch Us Rise by Renee Watson & Ellen Hagan

Reviewed by Annabelle L.
Grade 12

Watch Us Rise by Renee Watson and Ellen Hagan is a book that follows four teenage activists in high school and the struggles they face based on their gender, race, and appearance. The chapters are divided by month and perspective. The story switches between two of the main characters: Jasmine and Chelsea.

Jasmine is a fat, black young woman who enjoys theater. Chelsea is an insecure, white young woman who loves to write. They are both very outspoken and attend a school well-known for its progressiveness with their other two friends: Nadine and Isaac. Despite how progressive the school advertises itself to be, it is not without the everyday prejudices against those who do not fit societal expectations. These four, in trying to promote activism and speaking out through their school club, end up in hot water with the administration. Of course, they fight back.

The book is beautifully written, showcasing fantastic poetry from the characters that develop them and the story more. It touches on subjects that most coming of age and activist YA novels skim over. Examples of this include the effect of the beauty industry on women and men, the controversial topic of Henrietta Lacks, and the pigeonhole of POC-related roles and stereotypes in media. 

They do fall into the common pitfall of feminism: male equality. A few examples of this include one of the main characters using the word "womanist" instead of feminist (which toes the line of misandry) and Isaac being called weak for not doing something he is uncomfortable with (most likely as a joke, however that is not an excuse). 

The characters are very diverse in race, ethnicity, and body type (but not so much in gender or sexuality). They have flaws, are well developed, and multi-faceted. For example, Chelsea despises the industries that would take advantage of her but still feels the pressure of the societal standards women are held to. There is a theme of lack of consequences and resolution throughout the book, which might be intentional on the authors' part considering most of the people who get away with their shenanigans are white. A teacher pushes a racist stereotype on a black student, is called out on it, and, though it is mentioned a few times throughout the story, there is no resolution. Students dress as racist caricatures on school property and get away with it. One male student sexually harasses multiple female students and gets away with it.

There's also no follow up with one of the main character's love interests after he ceases to be relevant to the story. It's almost as if he completely disappears. It even shows up in the finale. Watch Us Rise finished with an open-ending. The reader won't get to see the pay-off, but they do get the experience of trying to enact change. It's not as satisfying as I would like but it is a very good ending all around.

I would recommend reading this book. It's a good portrayal of the frustrations of high school as someone who doesn't fit societal standards. There are a lot of little things about this book that I have critiques about but as a whole, it's a very engaging story. It has an accurate portrayal of sexual harassment and how it is typically dealt with (i.e. not at all), it highlights women of color in all fields, and it has a good message about body positivity. 

Not many writers get an accurate sense of what high school is like or how teenagers talk to each other, but the dialogue doesn't feel forced. I would believe these were real conversations that people were having with each other. The only real criticism I have is, though the book is about activism, it's very cishet-centered activism. LGBT themes are vaguely mentioned but never focused on. The story talks about minority representation but mainstream media is very hetero-normative. Otherwise, the writing is captivating and the poetry is phenomenal. 8.5/10, would recommend.

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

Reviewed by Susan Z.
Grade 11

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli is a young-adult novel revolving around an insecure girl learning to find her confidence, self-worth, and love. It takes place in the same universe as Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, and is the author’s second book.

Meet Molly Peskin-Suso, a hopeless romantic who’s had a total of 26 crushes-but still no boyfriend. She has a twin sister named Cassie, who she considers the complete opposite of herself. Cassie’s pretty, skinny, outgoing, and has a much more successful love life. One fateful party brings a cute new girl into their lives, someone who’s basically Cassie’s dream girl. There goes confident, in-control Cassie; now she’s the lovesick one. Luckily for Molly, the new girl (Mina) also comes with a cute hipster boy named Will who just happens to be perfect crush material for Molly. And more good news just got dropped on the girls: their moms are getting married and plan on having them as their maids of honor! Everything seems to be going perfectly for Molly; she got her first job, her moms are having a wedding, her twin seems to be really in love, and soon she’ll have her first boyfriend. Except, despite everything seeming to go perfectly, it’s falling apart for Molly behind the scenes. Ever since Cassie started being in a relationship with Mina, the twin sisters have drifted apart. Even though Will is perfect in so many ways, Molly’s coworker, Reid makes her doubt herself. And preparing for a wedding is a lot more stressful than she had anticipated. With so many changes coming into her life all at the same time, Molly has a hard time figuring out what she truly wants. As the book progresses, Molly has to come to terms with the fact change is bound to occur and sometimes, all you can do is accept it.

This was such a good book, for so many reasons. I thought when I first saw this book it was going to be one of those generic romance novels. Girl has many crushes, and in the end, the girl ends up with a boyfriend. Happily ever after! But no, this book has so much more; it’s focused on the main character, who happens to be an insecure girl who’s had many crushes but has never been in a relationship, finding her self-worth, her confidence, learning to love who she is, and to stop being afraid of change.  I think this book is really relatable in that sense--lots of teenagers struggle to find who they really are, but it’s okay to not know and to need time to figure it out. The author also does a really good job of incorporating LGBTQ+ characters without making it their whole identity, and she also has characters that aren’t supportive just like in reality.

I would recommend this to everyone, especially if you liked Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. Though this definitely wouldn’t be considered a sequel to that book, it’s in the same universe, and I think if you enjoyed that book, you’ll also really enjoy this one. If you’re a teenager, I would definitely give this book a go; it is a little romanticized but the underlying issues still reflect what many teens also struggle with. 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Reviewed by Arthi J.
Grade 10

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is a young adult novel about a young teenage girl named Hazel Grace Lancaster, who has been diagnosed with lung cancer for as long as she can remember. By now, she has lost all hope and has come to terms with what her life will be like with her diagnosis. At first, she is reluctant to attend a local cancer support group recommended to her by her parents, but she soon realizes after meeting a boy named Augustus Waters (diagnosed with osteosarcoma), that maybe it isn’t the worst thing.

Augustus is charming and witty, however Hazel can’t help but to push him away like everyone else in her life. Augustus is not like everyone else, however, and he keeps coming back. He is drawn to her in a way that Hazel doesn’t understand. As Hazel and Augustus embark on an emotional roller coaster of romance, sadness, and humor, including a trip to Amsterdam in search of Peter Van Houten, the author of An Imperial Affliction (Hazel’s favorite book), Hazel starts to realize that her life is more than just terminal . . . it is about to be completely rewritten.

This is one of the best books I have ever read and not at all just, as Hazel would put it, a “cancer book.” Behind Augustus and Hazel’s stories, lies many themes and morals that are up for the reader's interpretation. I really appreciate how John Green builds this heart-warming story out of the darkness and despair that comes with the topic of cancer. I can also honestly and proudly say that I cried during the ending of this novel (which is saying much because it takes a lot for me to cry).

I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who is looking for a sweet, humorous, and, sadly, tragic love story to read. I thought that this was a beautifully, well-written novel and that the characters and plot were both unique beyond measure. So, get out your tissues and embark on this crazy, emotional roller coaster, and I hope you enjoy this novel as much as I did.

Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

Reviewed by Susan Z.
Grade 10

“Don't be the girl who goes to college with a boyfriend.”

Lara Jean has already had such a wonderful senior year and she still has lots to look forward to: a class trip, prom, graduation, Beach Week and more. She’s in a great relationship with her boyfriend, Peter, her dad’s getting married, and she has college plans all sorted out. Imagine life being that perfect, that’s what Lara Jean thought too...until something unexpected happened that changed her life forever. Despite that, she still tries to enjoy the rest of her final year in high school.

Lara Jean had life after high school all sorted out. Her plan was to get into the University of Virginia (UVA)--which Peter had already gotten into for playing lacrosse--to continue her relationship with Peter, and to be close enough to home so she could be there for her little sister, Kitty. Those plans were shattered when she wasn’t accepted into UVA. As she goes through the rest of her senior year, enjoying hanging out with her friends, helping plan her dad’s wedding, and spending as much time with Peter as possible, she’s left thinking what to do next. She gets accepted into other colleges, but all she can think about is how the distance will put a strain on her relationship with Peter. And it turns out, despite coming off very confident, Peter is also under stress due to Lara Jean not attending UVA. With other challenges being thrown at them throughout the novel, Lara Jean is stuck wondering whether her relationship with Peter can really last. And when she gets off the wait list of another one of her dream colleges that's 4 hours away, Lara Jean has to decide whether she’s going to listen to her head or her heart.

I read the first book in this series, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, and then watched the 2nd book's film adaptation,To All the Boys: P.S I Still Love You, because I was so hooked and the book was checked out from everywhere. And so was this book, but there is no adaptation yet; so I actually kind of forgot about this book until it came in the mail a few days ago. I love this book...I love the entire series. Lara Jean is just so lovable, and witnessing her grow from what she was like in the first book...her character growth is just amazing. I think this book is the one where she was the most relatable. I love how the author didn’t give her a happily ever after-even though I do believe Lara Jean deserves a break with everything she went through in the previous books. But I’m glad the author made Lara Jean struggle and work for, not the future she had planned, but still one that she is excited about. It just shows that life can be challenging and messy at times, but in the end, even if it’s not the route you had planned to take, you’ll get to your destination.

I would recommend Always and Forever, Lara Jean to really everybody; it’s such a good book and conclusion to the series. If you haven’t read the two previous books, I recommend doing that first. I don’t believe it is absolutely necessary for you to read the other books before reading this one, but there will be a few references that you might not get, one of which made me cry. I do really recommend this book to high schoolers, I find it relatable with Lara Jean trying to balance everything going on in her life. And I recommend this for anybody who enjoys a good romance novel.

Rules For Being A Girl by Candace Bushnell & Katie Cotugno

Reviewed by Misha S.
Grade 10

"Remember, girls. Put a little color on your face. Don't wear short skirts. Be funny but don't hog the spotlight. Don't give him the wrong idea. Don't blame him for trying."

Rules for Being a Girl by Candace Bushnell and Katie Cotugno is a short, sharp, feminist novel depicting a girl who pushes her way through expectations and "rules" for being a girl. In modern society, women are expected to be and act certain ways. This book highlights sexism found in the everyday world and highlights upon feminism.

This story is led by Marin, a typical sophomore high school girl who has a boyfriend, her best friend, and a favorite teacher. She leads life normally at school until an incident which flips her perspective around and makes her realize the sexist mindset of teachers and students alike in her high school. Let's talk about her favorite teacher for a moment. Mr. Beckett, or "Bex" as he's referred to by all the students is a charismatic and youthful teacher who is loved adored by all the kids. He's extremely friendly with students, and often gives them rides in his car, hangs out with them etc. Marin considered him as her teacher best friend and casually hung out with him until one day, he takes her to his house. Before I reveal the incident, let's not forget that is teacher is 40-ish years old whereas Marin is 16. He kisses her. Marin didn't want anything of the sort, and let's just say she was traumatized. But she was even more shocked that her teacher was completely casual about it, not to mention, she had to see him everyday in school. This happens near the beginning, so this isn't a spoiler. Throughout the rest of the book, Marin deals with telling people about what happened to her (only to find out no on believes her), noticing subtle sexism from her peers (including her boyfriend), having everyone turn their backs on her and opening a feminist book club. The rest of the story is quite interesting to say the least.

I find the setting and the characters very relatable. Marin is like every other teenage girl, and I can almost put myself in her position. Before the incident she doesn't think much of what people say, but after it she starts to notice many different issues found in her high school itself. For example, her English teacher "Bex" gave a list of books the students have to choose to write a report on, but all the of the authors were only male and white. She finds this weird and speaks up in class about why there weren't any female authors in the list, and everyone just looks at her weird and even her teacher blows it off with a joke. Another example (which I think everyone can relate to) is the dress code. There is a dress code for both boys and girls, yet only the girls are enforced to follow it. Boys violate the dress code, and no one seems to care. The moment a girl wears a skirt that's half an inch too short, she has to go to the principal's office because apparently she is "distracting" the boys with her legs. Marin notices these things and starts to speak about it, but of course, no one listens.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone because I feel like this book highlights important issues on sexism and feminism in today's world. The character development was absolutely brilliant because before the incident, you can see the sexism that prevails but you notice that Marin just brushes it off. Post incident, she starts noticing every little thing wrong in the the system and the mentality towards girls and women. This book provides and lessons that everyone needs to be educated about. Hope you liked my review! Furthermore, for books similar to these, I highly recommend The Nowhere Girls by Amy Reed :)

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Reviewed by Donna M.
Grade: 9

Are you curious about all things? Then this is for you! This prestigious novel unleashes the valid truth behind humanity and showcases the solicitous nature or the vicious character behind innumerable subjects. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee reveals the hidden identity of society. Though it's long, each word holds an extensive and profound meaning.

This significant novel is placed in Alabama and revolves around the truth or to prove the innocence of a black man who has been allegedly accused of raping a white woman. Atticus Finch is the sincere and rightful lawyer who has the case in his hand. This series of events has led to an impact on his kids and their never-ending questions on how society includes injustice and poverty. This book exemplifies the topics of color discrimination, race and much more! Dive into the book to find out what the untold truth is.

To Kill a Mockingbird definitely contains stereotypes of the society and how initiatives can enact a new or a fresh look of it. All the characters depicted in the novel have a viewpoint covered and comprehended with the corrupted society. The setting selected can be defined as the best as at one point of time, many conflicts regarding color and races were occurring around that region. I believe there's a distinct connection to the dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451, which discloses a future society and how people behave or how the government is portrayed. Characters in this novel, such as Scout, promote the story to keep going with her innocent questions.

I would absolutely recommend this book for all the middle and high school students and to all audiences out there waiting for an American literature-related book with crucial elements present in today's community. It also includes messages such as to not harm things that don't attack or prey on us, rather to treat all fairly and equally. This book displays how the American society was and the readers get a chance to comprehend how it is now. Besides, It’s also got a mystery to solve on what happened to the lady.

There There by Tommy Orange

Reviewed by Maansi C.
Grade 10

There There is told from many characters' points of view and connects at the end in the big powwow in Oakland. The characters in the book tell their Native American stories throughout. Each character has two or three chapters written in different points of view. They grapple with their Native American identity and stories that make them who they are. They also deal with addiction because many of the Native Americans that live on the reservation drink and are addicts. They also deal with mental health such as OCD. There are symbols throughout the book that relate to each character. Some are part of the gangs and others research Native American life. They all meet at the end of the book at the big powwow in Oakland.

Tommy Orange, the author of There There, wrote this book to show how Native Americans deal with life in Oakland. The way that he decided to write the book in many points of view allows you to better understand their lives. Each character is a different age and has a different story that is related to them. This gives a better understanding of the life they live.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. It was interesting to learn about Native American life from people of different ages and backgrounds. It gave you a better understanding of the life they live. Tommy Orange does an amazing job elaborating on their lives throughout this book.

Hearts, Strings, and Other Unbreakable Things by Jacqueline Firkins

Reviewed by Nicole V.
Grade 10

Engaging debut Hearts, Strings and Other Breakable Things introduces the reader to the heroine, Edie Price. It had been seven years since she stepped into Mansfield, Massachusetts. Back then, her mother had a massive disagreement with her sister which left the family disunited. Edie pledged never to return again, until she broke that pledge and everything dramatically changed her life.

The novel opens with Edith “Edie” Price, a 17-years-old foster teen, struggling with the loss of her single mother three years ago. Edie is set to spend the last few months of her senior year with her wealthy aunt and uncle offering her a room, sending her to a private school with her cousins, and throwing a charity case party to introduce her to Mansfield society. Edie tries to fit in like her cousins, Maria and Julia, who obsessively care about fashion, parties and kissing boys while Edie cares about her education, writing music, reading classic literature and avoiding being in love. However, Edie is diverted by two love potential interests--the boy next door and the playboy. Sebastian, the boy next door and Edie’s childhood friend, quickly turns into a crush and both share literary references and same feelings for each other. Except...he has a girlfriend. Claire is gorgeous, popular and not fond of Edie. Edie senses that they aren’t a good match for each other when Claire's brother, Henry, a debonair and notorious player, gets really interested in Edie and starts flirting with her after Edie instantly rejects his action on her. When Edie’s with Sebastian, she feels like herself and knows that someone understands her situation, but as she continues to spend more time with Henry. She feels more honest and has a perfect and open connection with him, even joking around each other.


Jacqueline Firkins did an amazing job re-telling the story of Mansfield Park by transforming it from a countryside/Victorian time to a modernistic time. Although the book starts off complicated, it turns out to be heartwarming. Each individual character throughout the novel is entertaining, dramatically funny and self-controlled. For example: Edie’s conflicting relationship with her cousins can be difficult and annoying when they pressure her to do this and to do that with them, but in general they treat her like a “real” cousin rather than a mean friend. The writing overall is deftly written and contains lots of diction. Even though the plot deals with ups and downs, it was thrilling and interesting overall.

I would recommend this book because Edie's personality is unique, mature, and different from others with her superior intelligence, and she is not afraid to let her dream drop. Edie’s moral message to a young teenage girl is whatever you're striving or dreaming for, don’t let anything topple you down or let any boys distract your potential future. However, I would not recommend it to anyone younger than 13 because of its over-sexualization and deals with a lot of issues throughout the novel. I also suggest reading the original version, Mansfield Park by Jane Austen and see how both authors utilizes their characters in different time periods.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Reviewed by Kaylee O.
Grade 9

Many books try to capture the impact that racism and discrimination have on our society, but none of them compare to how well The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas does. Thomas is able to capture the essence of a young teenage girl who has just witnessed the murder of her childhood best friend. The story is incredibly moving and will make you see things from a different point of view. Thomas’s debut novel captures your attention from the very beginning and doesn’t let it go. This novel will have you on the edge of your seat, wondering what will happen next.

Sixteen-year-old Star lives in two worlds, the poor neighborhood in which she lives and the fancy prep school she attends. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is an emotion-filled book following the aftermath of the shooting of Khalil. There was only one witness to Khalil’s murder, Star. But no one knows she was there when it happened. In the novel, Thomas is able to capture Star’s empowering journey of dealing with Khalil’s death while trying to keep her identity as the witness hidden, and the shock that follows the news of the murder in her neighborhood.

Angie Thomas wrote this book to show the negative impact that racism and incorrect assumptions have on our society. Thomas’s writing style makes you feel like you’re in the exact situation and setting that Star is. It’s almost as if you’re in the character’s shoes throughout the entire novel. In my opinion, only the best-written books make you feel as if you’ve transformed into a completely different world. There are many different things that everyone can relate to in this book, for example, Star struggles to find a balance between school, home life, sports, and friends as many other teenagers do.

Even though this book addresses a difficult topic, I would still recommend it. This is one of my favorite books. I think it’s very important for others to understand the social injustice and racism that minorities go through on a daily basis. Angie Thomas did an amazing job writing this incredibly emotional book.

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

Reviewed by Maansi C.
Grade 10

In the book, Dear Martin by Nic Stone, Justyce McAllister, an African American teenager learns to grapple with society and deals with racism. Justyce McAllister is an African American teenager that goes to a school called Braselton Prep. He is at the top of his class, captain of the debate team, and is set to attend an Ivy League school next year. One night, he decides to go to a party with his friends and sees his ex-girlfriend, a white girl, who is drunk. He decides to drive her home and on the way was stopped by a police officer who thinks Justyce is taking advantage of her. Next thing he knows there are flashing lights and handcuffs around his wrists. After he is released, he studies the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and writes a journal of letters to Dr. King about the racism and social injustice that he has faced throughout his life. Justyce is driving with his best friend Manny, blasting music with the windows rolled down. A white police officer, who is off duty, pulls up next to them at a stoplight. Words fly and shots are fired, Justyce and Manny are caught in a crossfire.

Nic Stone, the author of Dear Martin, wrote this book to show the ways Justyce McAllister grapples with society. Her writing style allows you to understand the racism that Justyce grapples with. Some pages are written in dialogue that illustrate the offensive things that have been said to Justyce. Some chapters are also written as the letters to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr which show his struggle with how to deal with racism.

Even though this book is a hard topic, I would still recommend this amazing book. It is important to understand the social injustice and racism that happens in society today. It also allows people to understand what minorities go through every day. Nic Stone does an amazing job writing this beautiful, emotional book.

Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott

Reviewed by Alyssa G.
Grade 12

Five Feet Apart is a beautiful and emotional book following seventeen-year-old Stella as she faces the everyday challenges of Cystic Fibrosis. Stella’s life is centered around her routine treatments and her desire for self control. Stella is immediately intrigued when she meets Will, another Cystic Fibrosis patient with a sharp wit. There’s just one problem— CF patients cannot go within six feet of each other without risking cross infection, a life-threatening danger. Because of this, both Stella and the hospital have strict rules for the two to maintain a safe distance of six feet apart. Despite the physical distance, Stella and Will grow impossibly closer as they do their in-hospital treatments together. However, Stella’s self-imposed boundaries begin to crumble as her and Will begin to fall in love.

This book is beautifully written. Reading from the perspective of both Stella and Will allows the reader to follow the story in an interesting way, understanding how the characters feel about each other before they realize it themselves. Despite the wildly different lives they have, it is easy to connect to Stella and Will.

This book is a roller coaster of emotions. Will's charming humor and witty remarks will make you laugh, and the characters' impossible struggles will make you cry. The plot of Five Feet Apart is absolutely amazing. The ending is fitting, yet unexpected, and it had me in tears.

Rachael Lippincott makes you feel like you are experiencing life with the characters. You share their hopes, dreams, frustrations, and struggles. I would highly recommend this book to anyone struggling with chronic illness, looking for a whirlwind romance, or searching for an engaging book.

Also available in audiobook, ebook and eAudiobook.

How Lunchbox Jones Saved Me From Robots, Traitors and Missy the Cruel by Jennifer Brown

Reviewed by Amal P.
Grade 6

Luke's school is the most losing-est school in history. Luke really does not care about this. He would rather be playing video games with Randy, and ignoring his big brother Rob. Then Luke is forced to join the robotics team.

The people in the robotics team were Mikayla, Jacob and Jacob, Stuart, and Missy the Cruel. Mikayla does everything with her toes. Jacob and Jacob are not twins, but they do everything together. Stuart is the person who loves sunflower seeds. Missy the Cruel is Luke's bully since when they were both 6 years old. There is also Lunchbox Jones. He stays hidden every day during robotics class, but when everyone heard the news that Missy the Cruel was going to another school, all the people in robotics said they quit the team except for Luke and Lunchbox Jones. All of a sudden Luke makes a speech in front everyone saying that we shouldn't quit the robotics team, and we should continue the robotics team. Then the next robotics class, he saw Lunchbox working on the computer and testing the program on the robot. Luke then asked him why he was there. Lunchbox Jones replied that he decided he would take a shot at robotics, because of Luke's speech. Mr.Terry the coach of the robotics team came in, and saw Lunchbox Jones working with Luke on the robot. After more weeks it finally comes to the last day before the competition. The other people joined the robotics team after they saw that the robot could do a lot of stuff. Then everyone started changing the program, and ruined the perfectly built program. Luke got so mad, because Lunchbox wasn't here, and their teammates ruined the whole program. Soon it is time for the final part. Could Luke correct the program and win the competition, or lose the competition by making errors?

My opinion on the setting, conflict, and characters would be that the setting most of the time repeats, so I don't like that part about the book. Most of the time setting will be Forest Shade Middle School My opinion on the characters on this book would be that the characters have interesting talents. For example, Mikayla does everything with her toes. These talents are really weird which makes the book seem funny. There wasn't much conflict in this book, but they argued over what to name the robot.

I would recommend this book to others, because this story has great humor and creative parts in the story. Also this book has a theme, and it is to be scared of no one. If Luke hadn't made his big speech Forest Shade would have lost a lot of money for the robotics team. Overall this is a great book, and I recommend this book to others.

Mosquitoland by David Arnold

Reviewed by Sedona K.
Grade 9

Mary Iris Malone is a spunky 16 year-old girl who wants to get away. With her father taking her from a comfortable home in Ohio to a new life in "Mosquitoland" Mississippi, she goes with her first instinct and does just that... she runs.

Hopping on a Greyhound bus, teenage Mim begins her odyssey back to Ohio in an effort to reach her former home in time for Labor Day. This beautiful story spans over 6 days and 1,000 miles. Taking only her JanSport backpack, a coffee can filled with money, and her cell phone, she embarks on the journey of a lifetime to regain what it means to be okay and to piece together what it means to be a family. While on her journey she meets new people, and takes the time to write about them, following her Aunt Isabel's wise words to document her life. Through hard times and easy ones, Mim keeps her head held high and her eyes on the prize: to reach her mom back in Cleveland.

From the first ten words of this book, "I am Mary Iris Malone and I am not okay," I was thoroughly hooked on Arnold's writing. This novel was complete with wit and unexpected plot twists which kept me enthralled and made it hard for me to put this book down! Not only did the book fuel my wanderlust, but as I followed Mim on her adventure, I learned what it meant to be a daughter. Reading her letters to a character named Iz, I was able to understand her opinions on subjects in the book. For this being David Arnold's first book, I was sincerely impressed and cannot wait to read his other works!

I loved this book and would definitely recommend it to many people (in fact I already have). It is such a heartfelt tale that takes you through an emotional journey alongside of a unique and true-to-life character. I learned about my own life as well as related my life to Mosquitoland. The book was very realistic because it did not end as you suspected it to, and had language many teens today would use. The language is the only thing I would caution one about, because some of the words used are harsh. Arnold's novel taught me to always persevere and to find my niche in the world because no matter how old or how odd we think we might be, we are all okay.

Zach's Lie by Roland Smith

Reviewed by Jake L.
Grade 8

Do you ever think about what would happen if you had to live a lie? If you had to stop your current life, pick up everything and go live someplace else? This has happened to Zach Granger, and his life depends on it. Zach always thought of his father as a good man--not greedy, not mean, or harsh, but his Dad actually helped smuggle drugs as an airplane pilot. While on a trip to South America, a man approached him about making some easy money smuggling drugs across the border in airplanes. Money was tight, and the temptation overcame him. He was a drug smuggler and everything was going well… until it went completely wrong, and turns Zach's life completely upside down.

The author does a great job of developing the plot and the story. He gives you a very clear understanding of what is happening, but doesn't tell you everything which leaves you hanging on the edge of your seat throughout the book. It is very well written.

I would recommend Zach's Lie to anyone who asked for a book. It has it all: a great plot, humor, irony, and a touch of romance. All these elements combine for a very compelling read.

No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman

Reviewed by Gillan M
Grade 6

"Rewrite!" When school football star Wallace Wallace is drafted from football to the school drama clubs's production of "Old Shep, My Pal," due to a rather negative review of the book, nothing goes as planned. Mr. Fogelman intends to convince Wallace that "Old Shep, My Pal" is one of the best books ever written, but instead of rewriting his review, Wallace ends up rewriting most of the play into a modernistic version of the "timeless classic." In attempting to change Wallace's view of the book, Mr. Fogleman ends up mixing up Wallace's whole year. From mopeds to RC cars this will be a play the school won't soon forget!


This book is great because of many things: its amusing plot twists, its interesting characters, and its surprise ending. One thing is for sure, you will be hooked by page two. The plot twists and turns in surprising ways by showing the evolution of the play through the eyes of half of a dozen different people.


I recommend this book to lovers of realistic fiction, humor, and wacky middle school adventures. Further reason to recommend this book lies in the amusing style of the author. He throws in plot twists and unexpected surprises every other chapter. The characters change throughout the story, in some ways evolving with the play as well as the story. NO MORE DEAD DOGS!!!

One For the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Reviewed by Trudy L.
Grade 8

Family. Many meanings come to mind when hearing this word, of unconditional love, trust and at times, annoyance. For twelve-year-old Carley Connors however, her "family", consisting of her new stepfather, Dennis, and her pleasure-seeking, yet loving mother, whenever she thinks of this word, she thinks of a time, an event in which her life changed dramatically.

How had Carley's life turned upside down? She was always used to shopping in Salvation Army boxes with her fun-loving mother who would treat her to ice cream afterwards, congratulating her on how in the world would she live without Carley. Carley's life had turned upside down after a heart-breaking betrayal in which Carley vaguely remembers a scuffle that involved her mother holding down her leg as Dennis was about to kick her, before she soon lost consciousness. Afterwards,she is placed with the Murphys, a family with Mrs. and Mr. Murphy and three boys, in Connecticut, a place different from where her mother and she lived (Las Vegas), and she bonds with them over time, through misunderstandings and faults, and finally, she finds peace within them, a family where she could become be one of the Murphys and belong in their family. Carley goes into 8th grade and also finds a best friend in Toni Byars, and they find out that their personalities are like each other. Unexpectedly, shocking news from her mother changes everything and Carley has to fight between who she loves more, the Murphys or her own mother, who claims that she loves her,and maybe, just maybe, life can go back to how it was before the betrayal.

Carley's strong and funny personality shines throughout the story as she bonds with the Murphys. She sees the world in different ways, such as when she figures out that "love" spelled backwards is,"evol." I loved that! Also, she learns to accept the way things are at the end of the story..not going to spoil the ending. Moreover, the author reveals a surprising revelation near the end of the story that unravels what really happened after Carley lost consciousness. The author's plot is strong and her characters well-developed, except for a few characters such as, Adam, Carley's middle foster brother, whom the author didn't go into much extent.One more thing, Michael Eric, the youngest Murphy, was adorably cute in the way he talked and through his actions.

I would recommend One For the Murphys based upon the author's funny writing style and because I connect with one of the themes of the story, "Keep moving forward." Though pain keeps us on our knees, that's the only way to grow stronger, and for your eyes to be opened to things that you've never noticed before.

Okay For Now by Gary D. Schmidt

Reviewed by Rylee M.
Grade 7

1968. The Vietnam War is raging. Joe Pepitone is playing for the New York Yankees, and the Apollo space missions are under way. At this time there were lots of families with soldiers overseas. Being in New York, which is not the safest city, there are a lot of broken up families. Would you like to live like this? How would it make you feel if your oldest brother was off in the war and your other brother was accused of robbery? Doug, the main character in Okay For Now, goes through this when he moves to upstate New York.

Doug Swieteck lives in a small apartment that he personally calls "dump." His father is a drunk, but his mother is one of the most caring and thoughtful mothers there is. Doug's older brother is off in the Vietnam War, and his other older brother was accused of a robbery. Doug does not have the ideal family life. One of the more positive things Doug focuses on is baseball. Doug is a huge new York Yankees fan. Joe Pepitone, the Yankees' star player at the time, had even signed a hat and a jacket for Doug. Although valuable things don't last long in his house, so he lost his hat on the side of the road, and his brother took his jacket. With practically nothing left he decided to pay a visit to the library, where he meets sassy Lil Spicer, the daughter of the deli owner. The two of them form a surprising alliance as Doug's older brother comes home.

Even though I'm usually not interested or entertained by books that are historical fiction or realistic fiction, I like Okay For Now. I absolutely could not put it down! It was very good overall and very well written. I really liked how the author put the story together and the word choice in this book. I would highly recommend this book to readers of all kinds!

Swim the Fly by Don Calame

Reviewed by Zoey H.
Grade 9

Ever had a summer goal? Maybe it was to find your summer fling or read the whole Harry Potter series. Well for Matt, Sean and Cooper their annual goal is to see a real, live naked girl in person. Not an easy task for guys who have never asked a girl out and are the laughing stock of the Rockwell swim team.

It’s the beginning of the summer, and three best friends Matt, Sean and Cooper are deciding on their annual summer goal. This year’s goal is to see a real live naked girl in person. Matt, Sean and Cooper head off to swim practice and meet the newest member of the team, Kelly West. She quickly leaves a lasting impression on Matt. To get her to notice him, Matt decides to volunteer to swim the 100-yard butterfly stroke--the hardest stroke known to man. After disastrous attempts to see a naked girl involving laxatives, makeup and non-alcoholic beer, things aren’t looking so bright for the guys. Will this be the first year the boys don’t accomplish their summer goal?

The characters in Swim the Fly are hilarious and easy to relate to. The character I found the most interesting was Cooper. He’s the type of person that won’t stop at anything to get something done and always has a plan. Cooper is clever when it comes to getting around rules. This quality came into light when he faked throwing up in the pool to get Matt out of the swim meet.

Swim the Fly is a great read for summer! I would recommend it for anyone who wants an easy read and a good laugh. Under all the laughs and joking there is a good message in this book. With a little determination and will power you can accomplish anything.

Final Four by Paul Volponi

Reviewed by Danilo C.
Grade 8

The seconds are counting down in the Final Four matchup, a college basketball playoff tournament, between the heavily favored Michigan State Spartans and the underdog Trojans from Troy University. As the game’s most exhilarating moments wind down on the game clock, the reader is taken between two different settings--the game, and the lives of four key players on the court leading up to the big game.

Malcolm McBride, Michigan State’s star point guard, is a self-centered kid from the projects of Detroit ready to make millions in the NBA as soon as he can. Roko Bacic, Troy’s fearless point guard, is playing for the pride of his family in his corrupt home country of Croatia. Crispin Rice, Troy’s passionate center, is dealing with the stress of being engaged and the whole world knowing about it. Lastly, Michael Jordan, Michigan State’s shooting guard, usually warms the bench but because of injuries to the rest of the team was thrust into the big game and has never really been able to live up to his name.

The way the author writes the book is interesting because I’ve never seen this style of writing before. He writes about the game as it is happening as well as incorporating flashbacks for each player that tells the reader how each of the characters grew up. I also enjoyed how realistic the book was. You could tell the author was very knowledgeable about sports by the way he wrote the book.

If you call yourself a basketball fan, The Final Four is definitely a book for you. This book had hardly any boring parts throughout the entire novel. The different fast-paced moments as well as interesting anecdotes about each character made me want to keep reading the book. This book was a page turner for me, and I guarantee that it will be for any other sports fan.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Reviewed by Alex G.
Grade 7

The Greasers are the poor, uneducated, violent, kids from the south side of town. Or so the stereotype goes. But the Greasers aren’t the only violent ones. In the north side of town, the rich, biased Socs are equally horrible. In fact, there is only one thing that splits them apart...money.

The Outsiders takes place in 1960s Kansas. There, an on-going war rages between the two social classes, the Socs and the Greasers. Ponyboy Curtis and his brothers Darry and Sodapop are living by themselves, because their parents are both dead. They're Greasers and hang out with other Greasers, but never Socs. Their "gang" consists of them, Johnny--an abused, jumpy kid, Dally--a juvenile delinquent, Two-Bit--a joker, and Steve--Sodapop's best friend. But one night, their already sideways life gets turned completely upside down when a gang of Socs try to kill Pony, and in self-defense, Johnny kills one of them with his switchblade. The two run away with a gun, $50, and the location of an old abandoned church, all courtesy of Dally. What happens next takes a heavy toll on Pony, and he decides to write his semester theme on the never-ending conflict between the Socs and the Greasers.

I very much enjoyed the timing of this story and the setting. When I first picked it up for a school project, quite frankly, I thought it would not be interesting at all. However, the intricate story pulled me in. Personally, I would've liked to live in the 60's, so this story was really very interesting for me.

I would recommend this to anyone interested in reading a multi-faceted story. There are some touching moments, some suspenseful cliff-hangers, and some down-right exciting action. This is, in fact, a book based on the real life of the author, S.E. Hinton. So this is a great book for those interested in reading something with some history behind it.

Also available in CD audio book format!