Deep and Dark and Dangerous Review

Title: Deep and Dark and Dangerous
Author: Mary Downing Hahn
Pages: 192
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 5/5 stars

The story is set in modern time, and takes place at Ali’s family vacation house that’s on a lake in Maine. Ali tries to ignore this mean girl named Sissy which happens at the lake house when . Ali’s Aunt Dulcie takes Ali and Emma, Ali’s little cousin, to the lake house for the summer.

At the very beginning of the book, Ali’s mom, Claire, does not want her to go out to the house with her aunt and cousin. But, after a while of begging and nagging, her mom finally gives in. One day while Emma and Ali are playing on the shore of the lake, they meet this girl named Sissy. Emma loves Sissy and does whatever she tells her to do, but on the other hand Ali hates her. Sissy is really secretive, and never talks about her backstory. Sissy talks about this girl named Teresa who drowned in the lake when Ali’s mom was a kid. In the climax of the book, Ali and Emma find out that Sissy is actually Teresa, but as a ghost. Sissy also takes Ali and Emma out on the lake on a canoe, and Emma almost drowns. Later, Dulcie tells the truth to Ali about how Teresa drowned. Dulcie, Clare, and Teresa all went out on a canoe. Dulcie through this doll off the canoe, and Teresa really wanted it, so she jumped off and went after it. When Teresa jumped off, that causes the canoe to tip. Dulcie grabbed Claire and hung on to the canoe with her, meanwhile Teresa swam for that doll and just drowned. Her bones were never found. In the very end, Sissy tells Emma and Ali where her bones were, so they told people to go down and get them and sure enough, her bones were there. They had a funeral for Sissy.

I think the theme of this book is get to know both sides of the story before you make your opinion. This is a possible theme because throughout the whole book, Sissy hated Claire and Dulcie because she thought they just left her in the lake the die. This was not true at all, Sissy only thought this because she never heard the other side of the story. Also, Dulcie got mad at Ali because Emma said Ali called her names, which wasn’t true. If Dulcie heard what Ali had to say, then she wouldn’t have got all mad.

I love this book so much because it is so suspenseful. It kept me on the edge of my seat every time I turned the page. The only thing I don't like is the way that Sissy influences Emma to do bad things. It made me really upset when Emma turned into a brat. Anyone who loves mysteries and ghost stories should definitely read this book. This book has a really good, unpredictable plot twist.

Contributed by Zach Hearst

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

Title: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
Author: Jenny Han
Pages: 368
Genre: YA Fiction, Teen Romance
Rating: 4/5 stars
Awards: SLJ Best Books 2014, Young Adult and
IRA Young Adults’ Choices 2015 Reading List

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is an amazingly well written book by Jenny Han. It is a mix of young adult fiction and teen romance. This book fits these genres because there are a lot of relationships and drama with boys all over the place. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before takes place in present day Virginia. It affects the plot by using technology to solve little problems and to communicate. The main conflict in the book To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is that Lara Jean is in love with 2 boys: Josh and Peter. E) Josh was Lara Jean’s first kiss in 8th grade, and she hasn’t quite seemed to get over him since then. After Lara Jean’s love letters to Peter, Josh, and a few others mysteriously get sent out, Lara Jean’s life gets turned around.

In the very beginning, Lara Jean’s sister who she tells everything to, Margot, leaves for college, leaving her broken hearted boyfriend, Josh, behind. Once she leaves, Lara Jean realizes she has had a love for Josh for a very long time, even before her sister. But when Josh tries to confront her about it, she tells a lie to Josh that she is dating Peter Kavinsky. Peter goes along with the plan to make his ex-girlfriend jealous. As the weeks go on, Peter and Lara Jean start to become very close with what they do. He takes her and her little sister to school everyday, and even go as far to kissing to get people to believe they were dating. But what they didn’t know would happen is they would start to fall for each other. So one day, Lara Jean decides that she wants to go on a class field trip with Peter to a skiing slope. When they go, they go skiing together and end up in the end, kissing in a hot tub. Everyone claims that they did it, but Lara Jean is very upset because it was not true. When her sister comes home from college for Christmas, she overhears a conversation between Josh, Peter, and Lara Jean about that night. Since Lara Jean tells her sister everything, Margot was very upset to hear that all these things happened and was never told. This was a very big deal when it happened and the whole house party that was  going on at the time. When Lara Jean explains everything to her sister, it takes her a while to forgive and forget. But in the end, Lara Jean ends up with the guys she feels she should be with.

The theme in this story is just because someone is quiet doesn’t mean that they don’t have a loud voice. For example, everyone thinks that Lara Jean is this super quiet girl who doesn’t want to date, and here she is dating the coolest guy in the school. This could also mean she can stand up for herself. For example, one day Peter doesn’t pick her up from school like normal and then Lara Jean ignored him for a week. she stood up for herself.

I really liked this book because realistic high school events happened like huge parties where everyone was drinking and there was a ton of drama. But what I didn’t like so much was the facts that her mom is dead. She doesn’t have anyone to tell all of her boy problems to or to cry to when she is just not having a good day. Plus, she has to practically take care of her whole family now that her sister is gone to college. For all you girls out there that like a nice chick-flick, this book is for you.

Contributed by Hannah Harder

Rapunzel Untangled Review

Title: Rapunzel Untangled

Author:  Cindy C. Bennett

Pages: 304

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 4/5 stars

Awards: Whitney Award nominee, 2013, Featured on USA Today's Happy Ever After review page, 2013 

• “A suspenseful mix of romance, adventure, and dark arts,”...“compels readers to want to find out Rapunzel’s backstory as much as she does” (Booklist Review).

This book is a combination between adventure and romance because Rapunzel falls in love with a boy where they will both later explore the deeper meaning behind the Gothel Mansion. The book takes place in the Gothel Manor where all her adventures start. The main character, Rapunzel, has a disease called SCIDs and has been stuck in the same tower for as long as she can remember. The main conflict she faces is that she finds out Gothel isn’t her real mother. She goes through many steps trying to figure out why Gothel would even want her. The antagonist is Gothel, also known as Rapunzel’s “mother.”

Rapunzel was doing homework in her tower when she stumbled upon Facebook where she meets a guy named Fab Fane Flannigan. They start talking back and forth where they learned a lot about each other. Gothel has been going on a lot of business trips recently causing Fab to come by and bring different food and games to show Rapunzel. Rapunzel and Fab have been exploring the Mansion and going outside. After a couple of days of sneaking out together, they both go to a Halloween Party where Rapunzel gets sick. During her recovery, she overhears her mother keeping a secret away from her. Ever since that day, Fab and her have been trying to figure out the secret. Gothel finds out about Rapunzel sneaking out with Fab, and she gets really angry and decides to tell Rapunzel the secret. Rapunzel figures out that Gothel kidnapped her and was going to use her soul to bring back her dead daughter with the help of a wizard named Vedmak. For that to happen, Rapunzel would need to be healthy and they would need her long blonde hair. Turns out, Vedmak was using Gothel to get Rapunzel healthy, so he could bring back a witch from a long time ago. Vedmak creates an earthquake to try to kill Rapunzel and Fab. They both escape the mansion as it crumbles to pieces. Rapunzel ends up in the hospital where she figures out she’s not who she really is. Her name is actually Sara Rowley and her parents are divorced. Her birthday wasn’t June sixth, it was really December third. She didn’t have a place to go because her parents were practically strangers to her. Rapunzel ends up moving in with Fab and his family and they start dating.

The theme of my book is if you don’t adventure you’ll never know what nature has for you. I know this because if Rapunzel hadn’t sneaked out she would've never known that her mom was using her. She would of never been able to date Fab or known that she didn’t actually have SCIDs. I like how this story was a modern version of the original fairytale but I didn’t like how the beginning and middle were easily predictable. I also liked how the author developed a slight plot twist at the end of the story and also how she developed the characters. I recommend this story to mostly females, or anyone that loves to read romance and adventure.

Contributed by: Cecilia Ha

Shelter

Title: Shelter

Author: Harlan Coben

Genre: Mystery, Action and Adventure

Pages: 320

Awards: None at the time of this review

Rating: 5/5 stars

There is always something going on, with a lot of clues popping out in each chapter. The main character, Mickey,tries to put all the clues together so he can find out what happened to his girlfriend Ashley, and if his dad is still alive. Mickey has to make many choices throughout his journey, which leads to finding out more answers. Ashley has disappeared, at the same time an odd old lady that people call “Bat Lady,”tells Mickey that his dad is alive. However it couldn't be possible, because a few months before Ashley disappeared,Mickey and his dad got into a car crash, and sadly Mickey's dad didn't survive. All of this is happening during the school year, in a town located in Newark. This is also where Bat Lady's creepy,old house sits. Everyone in town avoids that house, which looks somewhat like a dungeon. Except one day, Mickey decides to take a stroll past Bat Lady's house and that's when weird things start happening.

Ema and Spoon are two of Mickey's best friends. They help him through everything, and they all have each others backs. Mickey isn't a very popular kid at his school and neither are his best friends, but they still have a very good bond with each other. When they find out Ashley went missing and everything turns upside down, they all stick together. Mickey does everything to try to find her. Everyday clues add up, and with the help of his best friends, Mickey tries putting them all together. Eventually everything does come together, and at the end Mickey solves the case and  finds out the truth. However, all the confusion does not get resolved until you read all 3 books. This specific novel keeps you on the edge of your seat. You will always want to read more and know what's going to happen next. If you don't like that feeling, then it's not the right book for you. You would need to read everything or you would be confused later on and the book wouldn't be as good.This book is for people who like mystery and action. More for teens  than adults,but overall both boys and girls would like it. What I really liked, was how a lot of things were happening at the same time,I was never bored when I was reading this book. Shelter really brought me in, and there really isn't anything I did not like. Later in the book after Mickey talks to Bat Lady, he starts realizing that you should never give up on looking for something/someone you love. While Mickey was looking for Ashley he would not waste one second. He risked getting killed just by looking for her. Overall I definitely think this was a great book!

Contributed by: Elizabeth Fridman

Deep Zone

Title: Deep Zone

Author: Tim Green

Pages: 304

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Awards: None for this book, yet the author has won multiple awards

Rating: 4/5 stars

This story takes place in modern day, in Miami and in New York. Miami is where Troy and Ty face off for the 7 on 7 tournament. One main character in the Deep zone is Troy. Troy is a star quarterback who can predict plays before they even happen. The main conflict in this book is the dangers outside of football. Another main character in this book is Ty. Ty Is a star wide receiver and he has amazing speed. Ty and Troy never in a million years would be thought that they have so much in common. The exposition of this book is Ty and Troy are dominating other teams. The riding action would include Ty and Troy finding out that they are facing each other. The climax of the Deep Zone would be Ty and Troy finding out that they have things other than football in common. The falling action would be Ty and Troy became really good friends. The resolution of the Deep Zone is when Troy moves to new York with Ty and the wants  to play again next year. The Deep Zone had many conflicts and many lessons but the main lesson Learned was that everyone has a story. Examples like reputations and backgrounds everyone has one. I liked this book because of the football story and it shows how the game can bring you closer to people, but can also separate you from some. But I didn't like all of the things that were going on outside of football also didn't like how the characters come from different books that was kinda confusing. If you like football then this book is for you because you can relate to some things in this book.

Here is a book trailer on this book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKTqUJB7WV4

Contributed by: J. Edwards

Fahrenheit 451 Review

Title: Fahrenheit 451
Author: Ray Bradbury
Pages: 159
Genre: futuristic fiction
Awards: Prometheus Hall of Fame Award and Retro Hugo Award for Best Novel
Rating:

The main character/protagonist of the book is Guy Montag. He’s a pretty average guy. Nothing weird about him happens until one day…one very important character is Faber, you meet Faber after Guy steals books and gets into trouble with the captain of the fire station. The reason he becomes a very important character is, because he’s an old english professor who helps Guy with his certain mission.  The action in the book takes place when the mechanical dog chases after Guy. I otherwise do not find any other part exciting. The book starts out very simple. New Guy named Guy Montag, a fireman. Oh and one other thing firemen in this futuristic time are people that burn all books. Books are now illegal.

During the rising action the fire station has killed an old woman. He decides to go against the rules and he steals a book.  The night after, he does not go to work. Then he finally realizes he doesn’t like the people he works with or his job at all. Captain Beatty came and gave him a speech about how some firemen take books, and after 48 hours, if he does not give the book back they burn the book for him.  The climax happens when he disregards Captain Beatty and goes ahead and keeps the book. Then he meets up with an old english professor, and they talk about books. Then Faber said he wouldn’t help him. Then he started to rip apart the bible.  Faber finally agreed to help him due to him not wanting to see the bible not being torn into pieces. Then, he goes back to his house. He all of a sudden snaps and starts reading sections of a book. Woman started crying. After that, the firemen all started chasing after him. The theme of this book was just because society says it's right doesn’t mean it has to be right. I believe that because Guy Montag went against all of his beliefs to do the right thing all in all.  I did not like the book simply because it was bland and boring. It had a very slow build-up and very slow starting. It also did make much sense to me. I might’ve been reading it wrong. I just do not think a lot of people my age should read it because, it’s hard to understand. The people who would like the book I read are people who enjoy classics. I believe that because of the books age. People who enjoy slow build-up and final outcomes would also enjoy the book.

Contributed by: Eli Dribben   

The Unwanteds Island of Fire

Title: The Unwanteds Island of Fire

Author: Lisa McMann

Pages: 480

Genre: Fantasy

Awards: None at the time of this review

Rating: : 4/5 stars

Although the author tries not to show that the events are in favor of the protagonist she still makes certain events go in favor of the protagonist. The setting is Artimè, outside the walls of quill it is the magical home of the Unwanteds. This affects the story by continuing the book series from where it left off. The beloved mage Mr.Today is dead leaving Artimèans without magic, food, nor water because without Mr.Today nothing of Artimè exists. The action of the book takes place on both Warbler and in Artimè. The main character is Alex Stowe. Alex has three main conflicts. He must bring back Artimè, rescue his friends, and remove the metal thornament from meghan’s neck. Meanwhile, the new High Priest Aaron, Alex’s twin brother, is building his army in the dreary desolate land of quill, preparing for the battle against his brother and the rest of the Unwanteds. The Theme of The Unwanteds Island of Fire is “People change when circumstances change."

Examples:

Meghan raised an eyebrow at his heartfelt admission. It wasn't like him to speak so openly. He seemed so different now. But people change when circumstances change, she knew that well enough from the aftereffects of the purge.

But there came a time when enough was enough, and after what must have been many days, even weeks, she was so tired of holding Samheed’s hand that she sometimes squeezed it very hard to try and get some of her frustrations out.

The crazy thing was that Sam, who was such a hothead when she first met him, didn't seem to mind. He let it happen, knowing there was no other way to express emotions in their mute world. He’d squeeze back, but not like one might expect Samheed to squeeze when angry, so it never hurt Lani. Something had changed in him since his early days in Artimé. He’d grown mellower.”

Alex felt the hopelessness of it all pulling him down, and at the same time a wave of reckless anger rushed up from his collarbone and he threw his hands up in the air. “Well maybe you should be in charge, then. I never wanted this job, you know.” His mouth twisted against his will. “What do you want me to do, anyway? What exactly does everybody expect me to do?”

Cole’s eyes widened in alarm. “Alex…,” he began. “It’s not my fault this happened,” Alex said. “It’s Mr.Today’s fault. How”-his voice quavered with pent up anger-”how could he have done this to us? To all of us? How could he have left Artimé so … so unstable that it would disappear if he died?”

“Calm down, Alex-”

But Alex wouldn’t stop, even though he couldn’t believe his horrible thoughts, his sharp words against their beloved mage. “Don’t tell me to calm down. This is not a calm situation! Answer me-I’m serious. What kind of leader would do that? Did he think he was invincible?” Alex was horrified at himself for asking the questions that has been plaguing him, but he felt helpless to stop them.

Lani and Samheed are prisoners on Warbler island, Artimè is gone leaving the Unwanteds with no food, water, or magic. On the other side of the wall that divides Artimè from Quill, Aaron continues to plan his attack on the Unwanteds. Later, Alex and the rest of the Unwanteds begin to plan the rescue of Lani and Samheed now that they have magic again thanks to Alex. Soon after, the rescue takes place and the people of Warbler fight back but the rescue mission was successful with few casualties and the Unwanteds headed home. Queen Eagala of Warbler does not want to let them escape so she attacks Artime with a fleet of ships and sends children into the fight in order to take back Meghan, Sam, Lani, Crow, and Sky. The battle ended after a while and Artimè won and the ships fled. Now the Unwanteds prepare for the rescue of Sky and Crow’s mother from Pirate Island.

I liked how the author showed a change in the character's personality after an important event such as Samheed being calmer and nice even though he used to be a hothead until he was imprisoned.

I don’t like how the author made Lani less important to Alex because she used to be very important to him, and he even had feelings for her. Now after two months he can’t stop thinking about Sky while Lani is still a prisoner on Warbler Island. While Lani and Sam are imprisoned together they begin having feelings for each other. How could Lani and Alex simply move on so quickly?

I think anyone who read the last two books of this series should read this book or anyone who enjoys reading fantasy books. Although I recommend reading the first two books first, because if you try to start the series at this book, you probably won't understand the plot.

Contributed by: Jacob Griggs

The Hunger Games

This book is part of a trilogy.

Author: Suzanne Collins
Pages: 384
Genre:Action, Adventure, Dystopia
Rating: 5/5 Stars

Hunger Games is all about action and adventure. There’s a huge battle where people are fighting and killing each other to survive the Hunger Games. In Panem,  which is the future ruins of North America, there is a dangerous arena. The arena is made with traps and poisoned foods to help kill tributes. There are two tributes picked out of all 12 districts of Panem to compete in the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games is a competition of life or death in the arena where tributes fight to kill each other. Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year-old volunteered, tribute out of district 12, took her sister’s spot in the games. The other tribute out of her district was Peeta Mellark. He’s the baker’s son and has revealed his love for Katniss. When the games begin, 11 tributes are already killed on the first day, but Katniss and Peeta survive. During the games, a rule is changed saying two tributes from the same district can win the games as a pair. This actually creates a twist to the story. When Katniss finds Peeta, they team up and Katniss nurses Peeta since he’s injured. However, the rules change again. They have to kill each other in order to win. They both threaten suicide which made the announcer stop them by making them both winners of the Hunger Games. Sacrifice is the theme of The Hunger Games. One major sacrifice was made when Katniss volunteers Prim’s spot in the games. Katniss and Peeta also sacrifice themselves at the end of the games when they threaten suicide. This taught them that sometimes you’ll have to risk your life for someone you really loved or cared about. I liked how this book had mysterious twists to it to make it more interesting. Sometimes it seemed like Katniss was going to die, but she  actually end up killing. When Katniss climbed to the top of a tree a Career tribute was at the bottom with a bow and arrows trying to shoot them at her. Katniss saw a tracker jacker and cut it off of the tree to kill the tribute. Other times were when she had severe  burns or stings, sponsors would send her medicine for them. She had major times of weakness, but was able to stay strong throughout the book. The Hunger Games is suitable for male or female in 7th grade and up. You’ll probably understand and enjoy it if you’re interested in action and adventurous novels since this book is all about action.

Contributed by Khamil Douglas

Boys of Fire and Ash

Author: Meaghan McIsaac
Pages: 352
Lexile: 740
Genre: Adventure, Dystopia, and Fiction
Rating: 3/5 Stars

The setting of the book is in the Ikkuma Pit which is in the forest. This affects the plot because we don't have these places on earth and we don't have children running around in the forest. The protagonists are Urgle, Fiver, Av, Cubby, and Blaze.

The problem in the story is when Cubby, Urgle's little brother, gets abducted by Krepin’s slaves and they have to go get him back. Av is Urgle's closest friend because their big brothers were close friends. Cubby is abducted and they have to leave their territory and have to go find him in the wild and they don't know their way around. 

The book's theme is to never give up and to keep going forward even when things seem impossible. Urgle faced the challenges of almost drowning, almost had his leg amputated, and was close to starving to death. I did not like much of the book only just the theme. What I did not like about the book was that it was too far-fetched, and the ending was really bad. The characters names were too unusual for me to connect to. I would recommend this book to those who like the Hobbit series or to someone that likes adventure with unusually-named characters.

Contributed by Gavyn Dockery