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Book Reviews:
Eldest
By: Christopher Paolini
Recommended
by: Marissa S.
Plot: An action-packed story of magic,
dragons, and sword fighting, this novel is about the main character, Eragon.
As a dragon rider, Eragon has to become experienced in all magic while
improving his battle skills before the war takes place. Eragon’s cousin,
Roran, is fighting his own battles in their home town of Carvahall when the
Ra’zac attack with no mercy. All races have to come together to fight the
enemy's leader, Galbatorix, before he takes control of all people in
Alagaesia. Switching the roles between Eragon, Roran, and the Varden’s
leader, Nasuada, the chapters are filled with their adventures and battles
before they intertwine at the end for a battle you will never forget.
Why
read? If you are into any
fantasy book about sword fighting, mystical creatures, and dragon riders,
this book is for you. This is the sequel to the first book in the series,
Eragon, so reading that first would provide a better understanding to
Eldest. This book keeps you glued to the book until the very last page being
a part of the action. Even though it looks like a long book, you will breeze
right through it because of the fast-paced action around every corner.
The
Shining
By: Stephen King
Recommended
by: Nicholas B.
Plot: The Shining is a book about a
family seeking a new beginning by watching over the Overlook Hotel during
its off-season. Jack, a former alcoholic and fired teacher accepts the job
to get his life back in order and finish his play, but his son, Danny, is
less confident about staying in the hotel for the winter. Danny is gifted
with the ability to read thoughts and is occasionally given premonitions. He
is having ominous visions about the Overlook, making him nervous about
staying there. To make matters worse, once winter begins and the hotel gets
its first snow, the family will be stranded there until spring when the job
ends. What follows is a suspenseful story of the family’s fight to stay sane
and alive in the face of a hotel that seems to have a different plan for
them.
Why
read? While slow moving at
times, The Shining is an effective exercise in suspense and horror. The book
is full of clever foreshadowing and the characters frequently shift from
likable to unlikable, but always in a natural and believable way.
Furthermore, King has a very good voice in the novel, keeping descriptions
interesting and concise, while still deftly conveying his image of the
scenes he wants to portray. In short, if you have the patience to enjoy
King’s build-up of suspense, you will be rewarded with a creepy and
satisfying novel.
The
Pact
By: Jodi Picoult
Recommended
by: Rita M.
Plot: The Pact by Jodi Picoult is an
amazing book that talks about a suicidal pact. Chris Harte, an athletic
swimmer and Emily Gold, an artist, completed each others lives when they
were born. They grew up together and fell in love in their teen years. They
were inseparable and so were their parents. Gus Harte and Melanie Gold were
best friends before their children were born. They both expected Chris and
Emily to be together until they were married. Unfortunately, at 3 am in
November, Gus and James Harte and Melanie and Michael Harte, receive a phone
call from the hospital. Both parents rushing to the emergency room was the
beginning to a drastic book. Emily Gold dies from a gun shot and Chris Harte
is severely hurt. When Detective Marrone asks Chris what happens, he tells
her that it was a suicidal pact.. Looking at some of the clues, Detective
Marrone thinks that Emily did not kill herself. Could it have been a
suicide? Or was Chris Harte lying and he had killed Emily?
Why
read? Jodi Picoult continues to amaze people with her books.
The Pact was a page turner. The author makes you feel the persons
depression, heartbrokenness, loneliness, and more. She makes the readers
feel as if they were the actual character. After reading the book I felt as
if something was missing from my daily work. The book made me look at people
in other views.
The
Sweet Far Thing
By:
Libba Bray
Recommended
by:
Mr. Wolk
Plot: Now that she controls the magic of
the realms, Gemma faces the difficult task of unifying a divided world. At
the age of eighteen, she is about to make her debut in society, but that
will have to take a back seat for the moment to deciphering a mysterious set
of clues and saving the planet from imminent destruction.
Why
read? The conclusion to
Bray's trilogy takes its title from a poem by Yeats, begins with a scene
that recalls Dickens' Our Mutual Friend and closes with a battle worthy of
inclusion in a Tolkien epic. The Victorian Era is brought to life once again
with illusionists and river scavengers, H.G. Wells and Oscar Wilde, and even
an appearance by Her Majesty the Queen.
Moby Dick
By: Herman Melville
Recommended
by:
Justin S.
Plot:
The book follows Captain Ahab and his crew as they search for the
infamous white whale, Moby Dick. It is told from the point of view of
Ishmael, a member of Ahab’s crew.
Why
read? Moby Dick is an American Classic. It is extremely well
written, has a riveting plot, and a powerful theme. It’s great reading
material.
The Dead
Fathers Club
By: Matt Haig
Recommended by:
Mr. Wolk
Plot:
Eleven year old Philip is visited by the
ghost of his father, who has perished in a car crash. The ghost claims that
the accident is the work of Philip’s uncle, who is
making a move on Philip’s mom and taking over the
family pub. In order to save his father from “the
terrors” of his ghostly existence, Philip must
seek revenge against the ambiguous (kindly or
murderous?) uncle.
Why read? Author Matt Haig is clearly having fun while putting a modern “spin” on Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Readers will be intrigued by Haig’s ghostly fraternity (the Dead Fathers Club noted in the title), Philip’s adventure driving a minibus, and an Ophelia-inspired twelve year old girlfriend. We’re left wondering what Shakespeare would think of Haig’s odd “twist” that concludes the novel.
A
Great and Terrible Beauty By:
Libba Bray
Recommended by:
Mr. Wolk
Plot: Sixteen-year-old Gemma Doyle uses her emerging supernatural abilities to struggle against the restrictive rules and morals of Victorian England. After her mother’s mysterious death, Gemma is sent to the Spence Academy in London. There she receives a chilly reception from the other girls, discovers her mother's connection to a shadowy group called the Order and develops a clandestine relationship with the exotic Kartik.
Why read? Gemma is one of fiction’s most fiercely independent heroines, battling Victorian demons of class and gender as she comes to terms with her supernatural gifts. You'll want to pick up the second volume (Rebel Angels) of Gemma’s adventures almost immediately after finishing the last page.
Rebel Angels
By: Libba Bray
Recommended by:
Mr. Wolk
Plot:
The sequel to Great & Terrible Beauty finds Gemma Doyle battling her
nemesis (Circe) for control of the Realms,
visiting the asylum at Bedlam and flirting with dashing Simon Middleton.
Kartik also returns to “help”
Gemma but only if he decides to ignore the order from his superiors to
eliminate her.
Why read? Even better and faster-paced than Great & Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels will leave you eagerly awaiting the third installment of Bray’s brainy but easy to read trilogy. With proper steering, casting and special effects, Hollywood may one day turn this series into a hot property at the box office.
Hemingway’s
Chair By: Michael Palin
Recommended by:
Mr. Wolk
Plot: Martin Sproale is a mild-mannered English postal worker living in a quiet seaside town. When his way of life and his relationship are threatened by outsiders bent on privatization and modernisation, Martin decides to fight back by adopting the more aggressive he-man “code” of his hero, Ernest Hemingway.
Why read? Monty Python’s Palin brings a subtle wit and poignant social observations to the world of fiction. You’ll want to seek out Palin’s Hemingway Adventure, a PBS series (and book) wherein he visits sacred sites (Spain, France, Italy, Cuba, Africa) of the Hemingway legend.
Shadow Divers
By: Robert Kurson
Recommended by: Ms. Nelson
Plot: Two recreational scuba divers, John Chatterton and Richie Kohler, discover an unmarked submarine in 1991. Over the next six years, they battle related hazards involving nitrogen gas, appropriate bends and even have teammates die, in order to solve the sub’s mystery. Eventually, the secret is uncovered, and history is rewritten: The sub is proven to be a WWII German U-boat with a 56 member crew entombed 230 feet down, 60 miles off the coast of NJ.
Why read? It is a true life, historical mystery involving New Jersey divers who defy the dangers and enjoy the thrills. These two men, former enemies who develop a friendship during the process, triumph when they identify the U-boat in a place it should not have been (according to all written records). Not only do they test their skills and judgment in the minefields of underwater diving, but they also experience personal drama in this emotionally complex work.
Looking For
Alaska By: John Green
Recommended by: Jessica D.
Plot: Miles Halter, a deep thinking yet inexperienced teenager has just started life at his new boarding school. While living there, Miles meets Alaska, the beautiful and sophisticated girl of his dreams...or so he thinks. Soon Miles finds himself wound up in the beautiful disaster of Alaska and a new world of decisions.
Why read? This coming of age tale asks the question, “Just how far should you go for your friends.” Miles’ story will capture you heart and your mind as he searches for the greater meaning of love, friendship and responsibility. read more reviews
The Historian
By: Elizabeth Kostova
Recommended by:
Mr. Wolk
Plot:
When a teenage girl discovers an enigmatic book and a stack of old
letters, she finds herself on the trail of one of the world's most legendary
figures, Vlad the Impaler or Dracula. The narrator crosses the continent
from Oxford and Amsterdam to Istanbul and Transylvania to learn
(as her mother and father did before her) whether Dracula has
survived to feast on a new generation of victims.
Why read? Kostova mixes history and myth to bring the Dracula story to life for modern day readers. It’s a hefty 642 pages, but if you like Anne Rice novels, old Bela Lugosi movies or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you’ll enjoy sinking your teeth into The Historian.
The Hunt
for Red October By:
Tom Clancy
Recommended by: Steve
P.
Plot: Marko Ramius, the Soviet Navy’s top submarine commander, has just taken control of the Red October. His mission is to test the sub's new silent “caterpiller” drive. However, Ramius and his select group of officers are not planning to do that. They hope to drive the submarine to the coast of the United States and defect. When the Soviet Fleet begins to head full speed into the Atlantic, the Americans become worried. Soon, Jack Ryan, a CIA analyst, discovers what Ramius is up to, and it is up to him to coordinate the operation.
Why read? This book is worth reading because the book has an incredibly intricate web of plot, suspense, and accurate real life information, also it is just good.
The Highest
Tide By: Jim Lynch
Recommended by:
Mr. Wolk
Plot: Late one night, thirteen-year-old insomniac Miles O’Malley discovers a giant squid in the waters of Puget Sound near Olympia, Washington. Before long, he finds himself becoming a prophet/visionary, sought out by scientists, TV crews and USA Today. Over the course of one phenomenal summer, precocious Miles cares for an elderly psychic friend, courts his punk-rock, one time babysitter and tries to make sense of his feuding parents.
Why read? Jim Lynch channels the spirit of Rachel Carson to show us that we can learn all that we need to know in life from the sea and our environment. As Miles says, “Maybe the Earth is trying to tell us something.” Lynch’s exhilarating prose enables us to see and feel the beauty, magic and wonder of our universe.
A Walk In
The Woods By: Bill Bryson
Recommended by: Mr. Blair
Plot: If you like adventure and a story with a great deal of humor this book’s for you. Bryson takes you through a walk on the Appalachian trail from Georgia to Maine. You will meet all kinds of people and learn the beauty and fascinating history of this trail.
Why read? It takes you back to a time when people were in tune with nature and and their surroundings. Once you pick up this book you won’t put it down until it’s finished.
Reviewer’s note: A must read for the casual reader who just wants to enjoy a story about man and nature.
The
Patience of Rivers By: Joseph
Freda
Recommended by:
Mr. Wolk
Plot: The year is 1969, and eighteen-year-old Nick Lauria is working at his family's campgrounds and leading canoe trips along the Delaware River. During one incredible summer, Nick will discover the secrets of his family’s past, experience first love, travel to Woodstock and learn about the horrors of Vietnam through the letters of a friend.
Why read? Freda sets his coming of age novel during one of the most eventful/tumultuous years in American history and manages to get everything right. Writer Richard Russo calls Freda a “remarkably gifted storyteller” whose novel “reads like a vivid testimony-to a particular time, to a special place.”
Eaters of
the Dead By:
Michael Crichton
Recommended by:
Andrew E.
Plot: In 921 A.D. the Caliph of Bagdad, Ibn Fadlan set sail on one of the most gruesome journeys of all time. After many months of dangerous trek, Fadlan made it to a kingdom of heroic Norsemen. The leader of these giants was named Buliwyf. Follow the accounts of one of the most accurate depictions of the vikings, as Ibn Fadlan and his Scandinavian friends battle the nameless, cannibalistic monsters that have been wreaking havoc throughout the lands.
Why read? I’m going to be honest, I never liked to read. I picked this one up at the library and I couldn’t get enough of it. If you are bored of all the G to PG children friendly books that the EB school system has forced us to read, you are really going to be very pleased with this. There is blood, gore, guts, and all the good stuff only the cinema can offer. Honestly, this is probably one of the best action/adventure books out there. If you liked Gladiator or anything similar pick this one up. I promise it’s really really action packed!
Reviewer’s note: This book is really good! I just wanna say thanks to the people at the EB Library for helping me find this awesome diamond in the rough!
Small Steps
By: Louis Sachar
Recommended by: Paul
K
Plot: In this sequel to Holes Armpit and X ray are back. They try to get rich by ticket scalping, but in the process Armpit meets Kaira de Leon ( A famous singer) and is on ride for the best adventure of his life.
Why read? This Book is worth reading because it has a good plot with a lot of adventure and suspense.
A Princess of Mars
By: Edgar Rice Burroughs
Recommended by: Elan
F.
Plot: John Carter is looking for gold with his friend, and the next thing he knows he finds himself on the planet Mars. From fighting the deadly and bizzare creatures to learning how to walk on Mars lesser gravity, John Carter must over come the challenges that Mars has to offer.
Why read? The first science fiction book about other planets this book sets the standards and cliches we think of today
Reviewer’s note: This is the first book in a trilogy
Of Mice and Men
By: John Steinbeck
Recommended by:
Michael S.
Plot: In the book Of Mice And Men there is two friends named Lennie and George. Lennie is mentally challenged and George takes care of him. The story takes place in the Salinas Valley of California. The men are on the run from there old town of Salinas because Lennie has fondled a young women. So the two men end up in a ranch working.
Why read? This book is worth reading because it sums up what it takes to be friends, and the sacrifices you have to make to keep friends.
Reviewer’s note: This book was an outstanding pleasure to read.
Lord of the Flies
By: William Goldman
Recommended by: Adam
H
Plot:
A group of British children, all male, are stranded on a n island off
the cast of England.
Why read? It’s a thrilling adventure which shows man's untameable desire to survive.
Indiana
Jones and the Last Crusade
By: Ryder Windham
Recommended by:
Karim N.
Plot: Indiana Jones
is back and this time he is on a rescue mission: his father has gone missing
on a quest for the Holy Grail, and Indy must put the clues together to
locate him. His exploits put him on his father's trail, but treachery isn't
far behind. Soon, Indy finds himself walking right into a trap, and he'll
have to team up with his father to make it out alive.
Why read?
This book is full of crazy adventure and excitement that will keep
you on the edge of your seat and you will not want to put the book down.
Full
Tilt By: Neal Shusterman
Recommended by:
Joshuar
Plot:
A sixteen year old kid named Blake and his younger brother Quinn are
exact opposites. Quinn is always getting into trouble. One day Blakes
brother decides to go into an amusement park and of course Blake has to go
rescue him. Of course its not that easy. He has to survive seven rides
before dawn or else he will pay.
Why read?
The book always keeps you on the edge of your seat. Its a very
interesting story and not boring like some books. The adventures throughout
the book are really interesting, and well explained.
All
American Girl By: Meg Cabot
Recommended By: Courtney D.
Plot: This is a great
book that makes you all girls out there stomach churn with joy. It is must
read for girls of all ages. It is a true life of a teenage girl with a
complicated life
Why read? It is a
wonderful book that puts butterflies in all girl's stomachs. It is great and
you have to read the sequel.
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