Why read? In my view, this book wasn't worth reading. This is mainly because I didn't really have sympathy for Lee. The problems that Lee goes through in the book are what typical teenagers go through, but in my opinion the way Lee handled them makes her naive and immature. However, if you like books that are about the rise and falls of being a teenager, this may be the book for you.

Reviewer’s note: This may have not been a great book to me, but you should try it because everyone has their own taste.

Why read? King Dork is worth reading even if you do not like the Catcher in the Rye because it is more modern and really lets you see high school from a not so normal student. You see the hardships he endures and surprisingly can easily relate to them. Some sections of the book will make you laugh because of how dead on the novel depicts high school. The interesting events and happenings in Hillmont High School will definitely keep you hooked.

Reviewer’s note: Must be mature to read.
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Why read? This novel is a must read for all high school students. Charlie’s eccentric personality lures the readers and his very different perspective on many things leaves readers wanting to read more.

Why read? Personally, I like this novel because you don't want to put it down! Jodi Picoult creates a situation where there's so much suspense and there are so many different possibilities of what really could have happened. Throughout the novel, I like that there are flashbacks of both the past and present, and of how Chris and Emily became closer to one another as they grew older. Also, I like how Jodi Picoult displays all the character’s points of views in certain situations, even though the character might not have had a big part in the novel. All in all, I really liked The Pact because of the unique situation and numerous possibilities of the truth the novel displays through characters such as Chris Harte and Emily Gold.

Reviewer’s note: Loved it!

Why read? If you like love stories with intensity and passion this is the book for you.

Reviewer’s note: This is the best book in the world!! after your done with this one their is New Moon and Eclipse.

Why read? Violet learns how to accept her heritage, and what a treasure it is. Submit a review

Hitch By: Jeanette Ingold

Recommended by: Miss Lempka

Plot: 1936...Moss is in his late teens, down on his luck, and has nowhere to go. He does know what is important in his life—his family, and he does whatever he can to take care of them. Moss learns about himself, stretches himself to new heights, and finds a leader within...someone his family can be proud of.

Why read? This book can teach you a lot about life during rough times in the 1930s and The Great Depression, as well as what some kids actually went through. Submit a review

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
By: Mark Haddon
Recommended by: Mrs. Cerrito
Plot: A young boy with autism is the narrator of this mystery book. A senseless crime has been committed in his neighborhood, and the main character is determined to find out who-did-it.

Why read? I was fascinated being 'in the brain' of someone with autism. The story is easy to read, humorous in places, and has a really good ending. (good endings are important to me...) read more reviews | Submit a review

Whale Talk By: Chris Crutcher
Recommended by: Ms. Maffa

Plot: T.J., a student at Washington State High School, is intelligent and athletic but refuses to participate on any of the sports teams at school because of the condescending attitude the athletes have towards other students. Eventually he decides to start his own swim team made up of the school “outcasts” and makes it his mission to help every member on his team earn a varsity letter by the end of the year.

Why read? Although its focus is sports, it’s more a story of friendship and kids finding their place in a world where they don’t seem to be accepted. Funny, sad and memorable. Submit a review

Tangerine By: Edward Bloor
Recommended by: Ms. Maffa
Plot: Paul Fisher has always lived in the shadow of his older brother Erik, a star football player who pays no attention to his younger brother. In fact Paul's whole family has just moved to Tangerine, Florida, so Erik can pursue his football dreams. While Paul works towards his own goal of becoming a soccer player despite being classified as legally blind, he begins to remember the cause of his blindness and discovers some shocking secrets about his past.

Why read? You don’t necessarily have to enjoy sports to enjoy this book. It has a quickly paced plot, and the events all lead to an unexpected ending. Submit a review

Monster By: Walter Dean Myers
Recommended by: Ms. Maffa
Plot: Steve Harmon is a 14 year old boy on trail for conspiracy to murder. He decides to tell his story through journal entries from jail and a screenplay he's making about his life. The more we learn about his case, the more the question begs to be answered: Is Steve innocent or guilty?

Why read? The screenplay format in itself makes this book an interesting read, but the plot, characters and questions the book raises are so compelling they soon overshadow the format. Surprising, thought-provoking, and powerful. Submit a review

The Afterlife By: Gary Soto
Recommended by: Miss Lempka
Plot: A random act of violence occurs on page three. Follow the main character’s spirit deal with “the afterlife” as well as the reaction of his friends and family to his murder.

Why read? Gary Soto makes you question wanting revenge when someone does you wrong. Submit a review

First Part Last By: Angela Johnson
Recommended by: Miss Lempka
Plot: Consequences of teen pregnancy from the father’s point of view.

Why read? Flashbacks explain how Bobby came to raise his newborn daughter. Definitely will make you question your choices. Submit a review

Al Capone Does My Shirts By: Gennifer Choldenko
Recommended by: Miss Lempka
Plot: Picture it—Alcatraz Island, 1935. All Moose wants is to play baseball with his friends and keep his sister Natalie safe. His father gets a job at Alcatraz to help support his sister's school bills (she needs to go to a school for special children.) Moose has heard of the infamous mobster Al Capone, and with his buddies tries to get a glimpse Al.

Why read? If you enjoy historical fiction—great read for you. Also good insight to families with children of special needs. Submit a review

Crackback By: John Coy
Recommended by: Miss Lempka
Plot: Football, girls, school, peer pressure - and not necessarily in that order.

Why read? What would you do to make the team? impress a girl? make your father proud? Is it worth it in the long run? Submit a review

True Confessions of a Heartless Girl By: Martha Brooks
Recommended by: Miss Lempka

Plot: Alone and in trouble—or at least that what Noreen thinks. She leaves her sister and boyfriend, runs away and ends up a stranger in a new town, mad at the world—only this world helps her find her way home.

Why read? Makes you think your problems aren’t that bad after all. Submit a review

Alt Ed By: Catherine Atkins
Recommended by: Miss Lempka

Plot: Everyone at one point of high school feels self-conscious of themselves—Susan feels this way all the time. She ends up getting in trouble and because of her father’s position as head football coach, she is put in “Alt Ed” after school instead of being suspended. In this program she meets many kids, many who she fears and is intimidated by, and who she needs to share with to do her time. She ends up becoming friends with another “misfit”, and learning why her father treats/ignores her the way he does.

Why read? Addresses many stereotypes found in every school.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants By: Ann Brashares
Recommended by: Ms. Lomicky

Plot: This book follows the lives of four fifteen-year-old best friends during their first summer apart. Mexico, Greece and South Carolina are all far from their home town in Maryland, but the girls stay in touch by writing letters and sharing the “magical” jeans purchased at a thrift store. All four of the girls grow up a bit during this summer. Bridget, Lena, Carmen and Tibby experience love, loss and weird family situations.

Why read? Any female reader will be able to identify with one of the four girls, or with one of their situations. There is an athlete, a beauty, a hot-tempered Latina, and a rebel who stays home to work. The authors writing style allows for an easy read that you will not want to put down. Just as you read about Bridget sneaking off to find the male camp counselor Brashares pauses and brings you to Lena in Greece struggling to open up her true feelings.

Fame, Glory, And Other Things On My To Do List By: Jannet Rallison
Recommended by: Alyssa B
Plot: This book is very exciting. It is about a girl who is about 17 years old. She meets this guy who is really cute by getting into his car by accident. She has the same exact car as him so read this book to find out what happens to both characters.

Why read? It is very exciting because you really want to know what will happen next.

All American Girl By: Meg Cabot
Recommended by: Betsy W.

Plot: Samantha Madison has spent her life in the shadow of her siblings; her older sister is the most popular girl in school and her younger sister is a genius. Samantha Madison’s life is turned upside down when she saves the President from being shot. It gets more complicated when she finds out that the boy in her art class that she secretly has a crush on is the President’s son.

Why read? Meg Cabot is a funny writer who can weave a lively plot that is in tune with teenage life. Her top ten lists will inspire you to write some of your own.

Crank By: Ellen Hopkins

Recommended by: Ryan B.

Plot: This book is about this girl that lives with her mom and siblings, but for the summer she goes down to see her dad. While she's there, she meets her other side of her personality called Bree. From that day on, she is a completely different person and likes it that way.

Why read? This book is written in an interesting way because it is written as poems. There are so many unexpected turns and is a definite page-turner.
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The Clique: Best Friends For Never By: Lisi Harrison
Recommended by: Mara M.
Plot: Ultra high-maintenance Massie Block is not just your average teenager. Massie and her group of snobby friends don’t include anyone in there circle of friends, unless your “one of us”. Massie is also the richest and most popular kid in her school, OCD. But things slowly fall apart when Massie’s fathers old friend needs a play to stay after a pay cut. This means definite trouble for Massie because his daughter, Claire , and the rest of her family is staying in the guest house too. Claire is little by little trying become one of Massie and her other three best friends. Will Massie except Claire, or just put her back in her place?

Why read? If you like reading about teenagers who are snobby and girly, then you’ll definitely love this book! Reading this realistic fiction novel will surely teach you that being mean is not so nice. This book is also a series, so if you can handle the drama, then of course you can handle the next few books. This book is a pretty easy read and deserves a 10/10! read more reviews

Saving Jessica By: Lurlene McDaniel
Recommended by: Laura G.

Plot: Jessica McMillan and Jeremy Travino are a perfect couple. When they met in high school, Jessica helped Jeremy to see that there is a reason he was spared in the car accident that killed his brother. But now Jessica has been diagnosed as having kidney failure and is so depressed that she’s not sure she wants to live. Her one hope is a kidney transplant and her parents aren’t suitable donors. So, Jeremy wants to donate his kidney but his parents won’t let him. Will Jeremy find the strength to go against his parents’ wishes and do what he must to save Jessica?

Why read? It is a great book that you will not want to put down.

The Usual Rules By: Joyce Maynard
Recommended by: Anna R.
Plot: The morning before her mother is killed, Wendy gets in a fight with her about visiting her father in California. Her mother doesn’t want her to go, but Wendy does. Her mother is killed on 9/11. While she and her stepfather and younger brother are trying to cope with her death, Wendy’s father comes to take her to live with him. It is a story of loss and healing.

Why read? 9/11 affected all of us, although some more than others. The Usual Rules is a story about struggling to move on when we lose someone we love suddenly.

I Was A Non Blonde Cheerleader By: Kieran Scott
Recommended by: Olivia G.

Plot: As a new student to Sand Dune High in Florida, Annisia Gobrowski not only has to deal with being the new girl in town, but she is one of only 2 brunettes in a school full of not only blonde students but teachers as well. Follow as Annisia struggles to get through High School while everyone around her sees her as an outsider.

Why read? It’s a great book for any teen so that they can relate to the problems facing many young adults in High School.

The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie By: Jaclyn Moriarty
Recommended by: Gabrielle D

Plot: A girl named Bindy doesn’t have many friends and is too involved in her schoolwork and struggles in a new class FAD (Friendship and development). And there is a surprising twist at the end!

Why read? The author writes in a unique way and the story is both about how Bindy changes and a surprising end that is mysterious.

The Night I Disappeared By: Julie Reece Deaver

Recommended by: J.T.

Plot: Jamie doesn’t seem to fit in. So she ditches class to go see her best friend Webb. They basically do everything together, until Webb has to go backpacking in Europe and Jamie has to go to Chicago to see her mom. While Jamie is in Chicago she meets a girl named Morgan in the E.R. after a bicycle accident. They become best friends, but Morgan starts to see a strange change in Jamie.

Why read? This book is worth reading for the suspense, mystery, and great solution of all the mysteries.

Reviewer’s note: This was a nice way to start reading for the summer.

Impulse By: Ellen Hoplins
Recommended by: Jessica M.

Plot: A very interesting, and sometimes suspenseful book about three kids who wind up in a psychiatric hospital/treatment place. They form some bonds with each other and the other kids in the place they are in. They learn things about themselves and about dealing with the challenges that brought them to the hospital in the first place. It is a very intense story, but definitely worth reading.

Why read? You really learn a lot about things that you might not have known about before. Following these kids through the journey of finding themselves and what they encounter, is really amazing.

Reviewer’s note: Read this book. Definitely. I wasn’t sure about reading it when I first saw it, and I am so glad I read it. It’s not like other books. It is set up with each page being a blurb by one of the kids.

Practical Magic By: Alice Hoffman
Recommended by: ALP
Plot: The journey of two sisters, who are as different in their personalities as in their features, through their childhood to their mid thirties. Through thick and thin, through magic and might, these sisters realize that they can find themselves, and love, by sticking together.

Why read? This book reflects on a person and makes them realize how if they love they are loved. Also, that everything they need is there in front of them and that everybody they need will always be there for them.

Leaving Paradise By: Simone Elkeles
Recommended by: Amy B.
Plot: Caleb Becker and Maggie Armstrong are neighbors. Caleb just spent his past year in a juvenile detention center and Maggie in and out of surgeries and physical therapy because of Caleb's mistake. She gets a job to pay for her trip to Spain and she sees that Caleb has come to do his community service at the same place. She is against him being there, but once a fight on the way to the bus breaks out she realizes he has changed. Caleb wants everyone to think that he hasn't changed. Can they ever forgive each other and regain their friendship?

Why read? Throughout high school, I’ve never been a big reader. I feel though, if I have a book where its in the 21st century, and you can see other kids relating to it, then it's definitely worth reading.

Day of Tears  By: Julius Lester
Recommended by: Dominique c.
Plot: This book is about the biggest slave trade in history!

Why read? This book is interesting because it is written in dialogue and you will NOT want to put it down!!!

Reviewer’s note: SUCH AN AMAZING BOOK !!!

An Abundance of Katherines By: John Green
Recommended by: Angelo K
Plot: A washed up child prodigy and an unmotivated fat boy decide to take a road trip to escape their problems. Colin Singleton, a once child prodigy has just been recently dumped (for the 19th time) and he finds himself in utter turmoil. In an effort to “save” his best friend, Hassan (the unmotivated fat boy) takes Colin on a road trip. The duo make their way to Gutshot Tennessee and find them selves in unusual and hilarious situations. Will the duo ever make it back home or will they be forced to stay in good old Gutshot?
Why read? This novel is a great read for anyone no matter who you are. It is a quick read that will keep you flipping the pages. It is filled with humor, witty remarks, awkward situations, and self realization. The main character is Colin Singleton, who has been dumped by 19th Katherines is trying to find out why he was dumped. In order to figure this out he spends the majority of his time trying to make a formula that will calculate relationships and love. He decides to take a road trip with his best friend Hassan and as he travels he learns more and more about himself. The funny situations that ensue Colin and Hassan are more then enough to keep you wanting to read more and more. This book is worthy of being turned into a movie. I give this books two thumbs up.