The Sweet Far Thing

The Sweet Far Thing
by: Libba Bray
Delacorte Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition, 2009

As the third installment to what fans call "The Gemma Doyle Trilogy" you will find again, a world of magic, beauty, and horror. Now that Gemma holds all the magic she is forced to make important choices. Should she save the realms or the futures of her friends, Felicity and Ann? As Gemma begins to understand her visions and other horrors she sees she finds the truth and has little time to save not only the realms, but the mortal world. Find out how Bray ends her trilogy!

"Rose of all Roses, Rose of all the World!
You, too, have come where the dim tides are hurled
Upon the wharves of sorrow, and heard ring
The bell that calls us on; the sweet far thing.
Beauty grown sad with its eternity
Made you of us, and of the dim grey sea.
Our long ships loose thought-woven sails and wait,
For God has bid them share an equal fate;
And when at last, defeated in His wars,
They have gone down under the same white stars,
We shall no longer hear the little cry
Of our sad hearts, that may not live nor die."

"The Rose of Battle"
W.B. Yeats

Personal Review: This is a beautifully written book but I was disappointed in it. I felt this book was a way for Bray to express her own opinions. This book is compelling and exciting just like the two previous books in the trilogy but it did drag on so that the characters could be fully developed, even a little too developed perhaps. This book will definitely spark some discussion. Warning: Topics in this book include: feminism, homosexuality, love, religion.

848 pages
Genres: supernatural, fantasy, love

Other books by Libba Bray:
Going Bovine, Vacations from Hell, A Great and Terrible Beauty, and Rebel Angels

This video is a little creepy...

Beast

Beast

by: Donna Jo Napoli

Simon Pulse Paperbacks, 2004

Prince Orasmyn has made a terrible mistake. Now he must suffer as a beast and the only way to break the curse is if someone falls in love with him. But who could love a monster? Orasmyn must fight his new found urges and instincts and remember that he is a prince. He must find a way to break the curse and must do so before he gives up hope.

Personal Review: I love this book, it was truly enchanting. This book is told from the perspective of the Beast and gives us a good twist on the classic "Beauty and the Beast" tale. We get to travel with Orasmyn through Europe, feel his sorrow, loneliness, and joy. The life that Prince Orasmyn had before he was a beast completely contrasts his new life, giving us an interesting emotional and spiritual twist. If you like books about different cultures you will like this book. The cultural and spiritual themes of this book override the fairytale. Warning: When the Prince gets turned into a beast it talks about him mating. That might be disturbing for some readers.

272 pages
Ages: Amazon puts this book at 12 and up but I personally rate it ages 14 and up.

Genres: Iran-fiction, Fairy Tales

After the First Death

After the First Death

by: Robert Cormier

Random House Children's, 1991

When a group of terrorists hijacks a school bus holding 16 children and Kate, the teenage bus driver, hostage what will Kate do? Will she try to be brave? What do children between the ages of 4-6 do in these circumstances?

When Miro under the direction of Artkin hijacks a bus with 16 children and an American female for a bus driver will Miro still be able to carry out his first assignment? How long will Miro be able to stand the children and what will Miro and Artkin decide to do with them? When Ben's father Mark, the General asks him to deliver something to the terrorists will Ben prove faithful? Will Ben please his father? Find out what happens to Kate, Miro, and Ben as they are thrown into situations they never expected. In this page turning suspense novel find out the meaning of bravery, patriotism, and courage. Where would your loyalties lie?

Personal Review: I loved this book because it made me think. It took me a little while to get into it only because I had to figure out what was going on. The book can be confusing but once you understand it and get into it it is very suspenseful and thrilling! It would be a great book for class discussions. Warning: This book is disturbing. It is about terrorists. Many people die in this book. There is violence, brief swearing, and sensual elements in this book.

288pages

Witness

Witness

by: Karen Hesse

Scholastic Paperbacks, 2003

Witness is a book in poems about a town in Vermont dealing with racism. Leanora Sutter and her father are new to the town and also the only African American's in the book. Leanora has a hard time adjusting to the town while faced with persecution from the Ku Klux Klan. Esther Hirsh is a 6 year old Jewish girl who faces her own share of persecution and seems to be the only one to like Leanora. Viola disagrees with her husband Harvey's idea to join the Klan, saying it will bring him more money. Read about Johnny Reeves, the Pastor, Precelle Johnson the town Constable, Iris Weaver, the Rum Runner, and Sara Chickering, the one who cares for Esther through beautiful poetry that puts you back in time and in the shoes of various townspeople.

Personal Review: I really liked this book. This book is really sad and at times touching. It was very interesting to read a book written in poems. Each poem is from the perspective of a different character. You can even see how the characters change as you read the poems. This book taught me a lot about the history of that time period and the extreme racism that existed during that time. Warning: This book does contain violence and descriptions of disturbing images.

168 pages

Poetry

Ages: 9-12

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

by: Jeff Kinney

Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2007

Greg Heffley is just your average wimpy 6th grader. Get an inside look at his first year of middle school by reading his diary only it's not a diary, because girls have diaries, not boys. Read about Greg's older brother Rodrick and what a jerk he is. Or how about Greg's little brother, a toddler named Manny and how annoying he can be. As Greg and his best friend Rowley Jefferson strive to climb the social ladder Greg must decide if he will "do the right thing" and remain loyal to his friend. If not, will Greg and Rowley be able to repair their friendship? You will love reading about junior high with weird kids like Fregley and superstitions like "the cheese touch."

Personal Review: This book is hilarious! I loved it. It is a very quick read because it is written like a diary and contains Greg's drawings, which are probably the funniest part of the whole book. I like this book because it is written from the perspective of a boy in junior high. Most books likes this are about pre-teen girls so I was really happy to read it from a different point of view. I think anyone would love this book no matter how old. It is fun to read and you will be laughing the whole way through! No Warnings!

224 pages

New Realism: Friends and Society

Humor/Graphic Novel

Ages 9-12

What I Saw and How I Lied

What I Saw and How I Lied

by: Judy Blundell

Scholastic Press, 2008

When Evie's stepfather, Joe Spooner returns from World War II he decides to take Evie and her mother Bev. on a vacation of Palm Beach, Florida. They are so excited but when they get there they realize it's during the off-season. Despite the circumstances Joe and Bev. make fast friends with the Grayson's, a mysterious upscale couple. Evie begins her own romance with Peter, an army friend of Joe's. Evie is smitten by his "movie star good looks" and all the attention he gives her doesn't hurt. Is Peter giving Evie all the attention? Why is Joe afraid of Peter? Just as things go wry on a beginning business partnership with Mr. Grayson a hurricane hits Palm Beach resulting in a tragic accident that leaves Evie wondering where her loyalties lie. As Evie literally describes "what she saw and how she lied" we see how her trip to Palm Beach leaves Evie mature and able to make decisions even she didn't think possible.

Personal Review: I really liked this book, I was actually impressed with it. It is written for a mature audience even thought it is from the perspective of a 15 year old girl. I loved the time period for this book. It takes place in the 1940's, it is fun to read about the fashions. The historical events that happened during that time are also interesting. This book does include mature elements because the main character, Evie has to deal with things some teenagers would never think of.

Warning: Sexual content and vulgar language.

288 pages

New Realism: Family/Friends and Society

Historical Fiction

The First Part Last

The First Part Last


by: Angela Johnson


Simon Pulse, 2004

Imagine you're 16. Now imagine you're a 16 year old dad. How much would your life change if you had to add being a full-time parent on top of everything else. Like living in inner city New York and attending high school! This is Bobby's story. When he is 16 he finds out his girlfriend, Nia is pregnant. With switches between past and present Johnson takes readers on an emotional roller coaster by telling us the story of Bobby and his baby daughter Feather. With limited help from family and friends can these two make it on their own?

Personal Review: I loved this book. It is beautifully written and even made me cry. It is amazing that Johnson was able to write this book from a teenage boy's perspective even though she is a woman. The writing style makes you think you are right there with Bobby during his whole experience. I think this book will help youth truly think about the choices they make. This book will help kids realize that what they decide to do right now will affect their future.
Warning: Strong language and sexual content.

144 pages

New Realism: Family/Sex-Related

The Misadventures of Maude March

The Misadventures of Maude March

by: Audrey Couloumbis

Yearling, 2005

After tragic events cause them to become orphans, again. Sallie and her older sister Maude are forced into a life they didn't ever want to have. Maude and Sallie set out on an adventure to find their last living (at least they hope) relative. Because of unexpected events along the way Maude is known as "Mad Maude" a wanted villain! Disguising themselves as boys this pair make some unlikely friends throughout their trek like Cleomie and Marion Hardy. Based mostly on the survival skills Sallie learns from reading "dimers" can these two girls make it across the country on their own?

"I tell you all this to make you understand that Maude was an upright young woman who never made mock of the truth or questioned the dark ways of justice until she saw how they could be mangled to make a shape unrecognizable.

To show you how impossible it was for her to do the things everyone claimed that she did. For this is the true story of how my sister, Maude March, came to be known far and wide as a horse thief, a bank robber and a cold-blooded killer."

Personal Review: I loved this book. I honestly didn't think I would like a western but this one was great! This book is very fun, exciting, and even funny! I was actually surprised with what ended up happening with some of the characters. I love the story line of this book. I love the way Couloumbis wrote this book, even the language and bad grammar was impressive. Warning: This book does make light of some pretty serious issues like death and murder.

320 pages

Western/Historical Fiction

Ages 9-12

The Adoration of Jenna Fox

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by: Mary Pearson

Henry Holt and Co., April 2008

Jenna wonders why she remembers significant points of history but cannot remember her childhood. She had an accident, that is what she has been told. She cannot remember the accident or what happened all she knows are pieces of the puzzle. Jenna must reawaken her memories by watching videos of her life up to now, being 17, and find out what really happened to her. Jenna decides to go to school where she meets Ethan and Alice. Alice opens up Jenna's eyes to prosthetics and Jenna finds that she and Alica have more in common then she may have thought. With the help of friends like Ethan and her neighbor, Mr. Bender Jenna must solve her mystery. She must find out who she really is, but the question is does she really want to?

Personal Review: This book is amazing, I loved it. Each chapter contains free verse poems from Jenna's perspective. Often these poems are about specific words Jenna is contemplating. This book makes you think not only about what is happening today but what will become of us in the future. This book is beautifully written and may even take you by surprise.

Warning: This book is science fiction so many of the things are hypothetical but this book made me think, How do you define human? These kinds of topics may trouble some readers.

288 pages

Genre: Science Fiction/ Mystery