The Flight of Amos Beery

The Flight of Amos Beery
by Rob Skaggs

After getting dumped publicly, beat up, and milk coming out his ears, Amos doesn't think his day can get any worse-until it does. When his mom contracts a fatal disease, he'll do just about anything to save her... but what if she can't be saved?

How far would you go, to save someone you love?



I loved this book! It's funny, suspenseful, and heart warming. I think that is is great for middle schoolers because the main character is in 7th grade. I also think that readers of all ages will enjoy it because it makes you realize that when it comes down to it, people really are capable of doing anything!

The Uglies

The Uglies, by Scott Westerfield, is the first in a series. It is also the only one out of the series that I have read, or care to read. The book is about a dystopian society, that in order to create equality, gives all citizens an operation to become a "pretty" at age 16. The book centers on Tally, who is about to turn 16, and is excited to become pretty. At least that is what she thought, when her new friend Shay disappears, Tally is forced to make some quick, and vital decisions, that could not only affect her, but the ones she loves as well.

This girl doesn't look ugly enough to be on the cover of a book called "Uglies," but I guess that's kind of the point.

 The book was decent, it took me a while to get through because I got bored at a few parts. A part of me wants to read the series to see what else happens, but as of now, it's not priority on my reading list. A couple of my high school students really loved this series though, so don't let my opinion stop you.

An Abundance of Katherines

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green, is a funny, unconventional love story.

Colin, a child genius, only dates girls named Katherine. Katherine #19 has just broken up with him, and he is lethargic. His friend, Hussain, has no life either, and together the two 19 year olds embark on a directionless journey.

They don't get very far before meeting Lindsay, and ending up with a summer "job," meanwhile Colin works on his formula for love trying to prove that he's still a smart guy.

John Green is a very funny person as well, look him up on youtube, you will be pleasantly surprised.

The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay

The entire series, by Suzanne Collins, is amazing. The first book, The Hunger Games, is about a dystopian future, where the government, in order to stay in control, has twenty-four contestants ages 12-18 fight to the death in a battle called, The Hunger Games. The entire country watches the games live, on television, as if it were the Olympics. The winner of the Hunger Games is the only contestant to survive. If the summary wasn't enough of a warning for you, this book has violent, gorey imagery. I suggest kids be at least 13 before they read the book.

Catching Fire is the second book in the series

Catching Fire is about a special Hunger Games edition, where past tributes compete against each other...and it's amazing. This book doesn't end, because the third book continues the story. Good thing all three books are out!

The third, and final, book in the series is Mockingjay. This book is just as action-packed as its predecessors; it has a bizarre love triangle, power-hunger leaders, and a few surprises along the way.






Here are the German book covers. Aren't they intriguingly beautiful?

And here is some fan art

*Sorry this post is so poorly formatted, it is really being difficult.

Impossible

Impossible

Nancy Werlin
Dial, 2008
384 pages

Lucy Scarborough, a smart, fit, and practical seventeen-year-old girl, until she finds her family has suffered a curse for generations. Unless she can accomplish three impossible tasks the curse to be raped, pregnant at 18, and insane after the child's birth will continue. Is Lucy any different than the women before her? Find out in this mysterious, heartwarming tale.

Check out this book trailer!



and the song "Scarborough Fair" by Simon and Garfunkel



Warning: This book has many mature themes. It talks about drinking, rape, sex, and pregnancy. It talks about this in an appropriate way, just be aware of it.

Sideways Stories From Wayside School

Sideways Stories From Wayside School
By: Louis Sachar
Harper Trophy, 1978

The first installment of Wayside School series is hilarious. Wayside School was accidentally built sideways and it is thirty stories high. However, there is no nineteenth story, there is no Miss Zarves. The children are afraid when Mrs. Jewls comes to teach them because they have never had a nice teacher before. Mrs. Jewls is afraid because she has never taught cute children before. In fact, the children are so cute that Mrs. Jewls thinks they are monkeys! Do monkeys know they are monkeys? Read about all the kids in Mrs. Jewls class. There is Joe who can't count right, Ronnie who is missing her two front teeth, Leslie who almost sells her toes, Nancy who doesn't like his name, and Louis the yard teaches who kicks Terrence over the fence. You may think these stories are silly but when Louis told the kids stories about us they thought we were silly too.

Personal Review: This is one of my favorite books. I choose to read it because I hadn't read it since I was maybe in the fourth grade. These stories are so funny! I read them to my roommates and they were cracking up. Sachar does a great job with puns. He takes real situations with real kids and twist them around so that Wayside School seems to be in another planet! I think this book is great for all ages.
Warning: This book is really silly and you might even think it's weird. Don't be surprised if you just laugh your pants off.
Ages 9-12
124 pages

They made Wayside School into a TV show! Here is the theme song:

Locked Inside

Locked Inside
By: Nancy Werlin
Laurel-Leaf Books, 2000

Marnie Skyedottir is the daughter of a celebrity, well more than a celebrity, her mother practically started her own religion. Marnie is alone. She has no friends, she has given up on school, her mother is dead, and her only hope is the money she will inherit when she is twenty-one. Marnie's only social skills are used in cyberspace. When Marnie becomes obsessed with an on-line game her computer is confiscated and worried about her absence Marnie e-mails another gamer who calls himself the Elf. Meanwhile she studies with her chemistry teacher Ms. Slaight over spring break trying not to flunk out of school. But, when Marnie is kidnapped her on-line gaming leads her guardian, Max, on a false path to find her. Marnie realizes how little her "Sorceress" alias has prepared her for this very real nightmare. However, could her mysterious gaming life save her?

Personal Review: I liked this book but I also thought it was weird. The main character, Marnie, is strange because she is obsessed with on-line gaming. The way relationships are created are also strange yet Werlin makes it sound normal. This book was a good mystery. It had a lot of twists which made it entertaining.
Warning: This book is centered on cyberspace and gaming so if you are not into that you might have a hard time relating to it. There is also a considerable amount of violence in this book.
259 pages