American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History

  American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History is an extraordinary autobiography that follows Chris Kyle and his decade long career in the military serving as a Navy SEAL sniper. This incredible book tells you about Kyle's transformation from a rodeo cowboy to a dangerous killing machine on the streets of Iraq. This amazing piece of literature doesn't only tell you about Kyle's successful career but it gives you a unique prospective of modern combat and the tole it takes on soldiers. Throughout his career, Chris Kyle had to make numerous life or death decisions and had to take a large number of human lives. Somehow through all his hardships he remained calm, cool, and collected and always had an answer to the issues he face. That's only a few of the reasons that make him an incredibly interesting person to read about.
  There are several reasons I enjoy this book and think this autobiography is so amazing. First off I'm incredibly interested in the military and I want to serve as a Navy SEAL in my future. The second reason I really enjoy this book is because Chris Kyle is an incredibly relatable person to read about. American Sniper may be about a highly trained operative and his career for the most part but even a Navy SEAL has the issues that most people face in their everyday lives. Through all his struggles he remained sane and down to earth which are characteristics that I admire. He always made time for family and friends when he had time off. The last reason I think this book is so interesting is because of the setting. A lot of the book takes place in Iraq during Kyle's deployments. There's danger at every corner in Iraq. Chris has to always be on his heels and has to scan for threats constantly in order to survive. Iraq is such an intriguing place! I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick summer read full of action and interesting topics and world issues.

-By Bubba Meagher
Ms. Spicer's class Period 1/2

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower is  about a young boy named Charlie. Charlie writes letters to the reader telling them about the ups and downs in his life as he enters high school and is exposed to new things. He meets Sam and Patrick who guide him on his adventure through parties, sports events, art shows, and romance. He becomes a wallflower; he absorbs everything around him and does as everyone else does. Throughout Charlie's letters, you see him slowly come out of his shell and grow into a new person, and the letters even make you see the world in a different way.

I liked this book because it seemed as though you were growing right along with Charlie. His letters make you see things in more detail, and appreciate the smaller things. Also, the book actually had me laughing. There's a lot of funny quotes in the book that even in the most serious moments will have you mustering a smile. Another reason I liked this book so much was because at some points it was relatable. We've all experienced the feeling of being completely new and younger than everyone else, and we've all felt alone at one point or another. Charlie is just a charming character, and you feel a close attachment to him through his letters.

Helena Robbins

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Being Graced is a blessing, or a curse.  Being Graced is having a special ability, whether it be being able to speak any language (a good Grace) or from being able to write words backwards (a lame Grace).  All Gracelings are given to the King of their region, and are used to the King's advantage.  Luckily, the protagonist of this story has an amazing Grace.  Katsa is Graced with the skill of killing.  Her uncle is the King of the Middluns, and he uses Katsa as the Kingdom's hit man.  Katsa becomes tired of doing the King's dirty work, and decides to rebel.  Soon, she meets another Graced person, Prince Po.  He is Graced with the skill of fighting, and takes Katsa on in a hand on combat.  His intention is not to hurt her, and Katsa is confused by this.  She runs away, but the two eventually meet up again, and become friends.  They help each other with their Graces, but soon Katsa realizes that Po's Grace is not fighting, it is mind reading.  Po explains that his Grace is not mind reading, but it is perception.  He sense things before it actually happens.  When something suspicious pops up in one of the other kingdoms, Lady Katsa and Prince Po must work together and fix this arising problem.
There are a lot of reasons I chose this book, and many reasons to why I like it.  This book is a fantasy book, and has a lot of cool additions to it.  Just imagine being able to have a special power!  I thought that this was a great idea for a book, and it was written very well.  It had some adventure features, and a bit of romance, but it was really good.  The author made the story really interesting.  This is why I like this story.

Amber Murray
Ms. Spicer period 1/2

A Wicked History Hitler: by Sean Stewart

    


     The book I chose to do my blog on was A Wicked History Hitler: by Sean Stewart. The Genre of this book is non-fiction and the person talked about the most is Adolf Hitler. The setting of the book takes place in Germany during WWI and WWII. The book starts off during the 1st world war and also gives info on other problems going on in the world which leads to Hitlers horrible thoughts on racism and haterid. The rest of the book talks about Hitler and how he planed to take over the world. Hitler was the most evil of the 20th century and by far the most interesting so to learn more read A Wicked History Hitler.
     I liked this book because it is interesting, it is easy to  and, gives lots of information. I think that it is interesting because it is written not just about Hitler but its also about other things going on in the time period. Since it gives back ground on the time period it makes it easer to comprehend. Another thing that makes it easer to comprehend is the pictures that they have every once and a while because it shows you how it was in the 20th century. This book gives lots of information on Hitler, but it can get a little confusing so the best thing to do is reread the information to get the idea of the page.            

The Compound by S.A. Bodeen

     The Compound was a great book that I read this year. The genre of the compound is definitely realistic fiction because the events that take place in this book could occur in real life. The major characters in this book are a teenager (Eli) who's brother died and who is very courageous and he likes to explore a lot of things, the other main character is Eli's father who has lots of money, has lots of friends but he is also sneaky and smart. This book takes place in a compound probably ninety - five percent of the time except when they are outside. So overall this is book is about a kid named Eli, his dad and Eli's mom and two sisters. They are in the compound because of their dad who built and "thinks there is nuke attacks happening on the ground." They end up loosing track of were Eli's brother on the way into the compound and that is how he ends up dying. When they first get down in there everybody is nervous and doesn't know what to expect. But, once they are down there for a few years they start to get used to it everyone gets more comfortable. But after a few years they know they aren't allowed to go into their dads office but one day Eli goes in and finds that their dad is hiding something from them. Thats were things start to really heat up and draw suspicions about their father.

     Although you probably know by now that I really like this book, "The Compound" but in case you don't here is some proof. This book is one of my favorite books because it has action, suspense and it is has some parts where it can make you think really hard. An example of it having action is in the very beginning of the book it talks about how the camping truck had an explosion next to the truck so the entire family had to sprint to the compound which was nearby. A example of it having suspense is when Eli is trying to get out of the compound but he can't because his hand is stuck and someone has grabbed his leg. My last example is when the book makes you think really hard is when Eli's dad said they can't get internet connection but when Eli sneaks into his dads office he finds out that his dad has a great internet connection in his office. I would definitely recommend this book to anybody who likes action, suspense and makes you think a little bit.                                                                    Colin Foley 

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

       I am doing a blog on a book called Unwind, a book that I really enjoyed. It is a science fiction book and there are three point of views from the rebellious Conner, smart and calculated Risa, and Lev. The story takes place after a big war that was soon ended but left a lot of feral teens out of a home. So the government decided to make them use full and made something called Unwinding in which unwanted teenagers between eighteen and thirteen, can be sent away to be taken apart for other people who need the parts whether it be an arm, a pair of eyes, and even a beating heart. One of our main characters Conner has always been a trouble maker and got into a lot of fights at school, but when he finds out early of the unwind order his parents signed, he decides to run away like Risa and Lev. Risa was a ward and when she failed at preforming well at a concert on the piano the caretakers send her away because she is not use full. Lev however is the perfect boy, prays everyday and gets good grades, but is sadly in a religion that believes unwinding is the next ascension of life and decides to be a tithe which will willingly sacrifice his parts. What will happen to them when running from their so called "fate"and who will they run into on the way?

               I like this book allot for many reasons, With the changing perspective it is always interesting to see what they think and fell during some events. Another reason I enjoy this book is because it is always keeping you at the edge of your seat. There is not one dull moment but you want to keep reading more and more. The topic is very interesting too on the story. In this story people say that running away from unwinding is hopeless, but Conner, Risa and Lev continue to fight on for freedom. The last reason why I love this book is that it is always at a high tension throughout the story, not giving you a break from the forever lasting suspense. I hope you will read unwind too and enjoy it as much as I have

The House of Hades by Rick Riordan

This book is the third book in its series. It is about a few demigods that go on a quest to save the world. This book is fantasy. The main characters are Percy, Annabeth, Leo,  Piper, Jason, Hazel, and Frank. The demigods are a combination of Greek and Roman. The setting of this book starts out in America at the roman camp. Afterwards it goes across the country and sails/flies out and across the Atlantic ocean into the ancient lands of Greece and Rome. It takes place in this time period. Once they reach the ancient lands they scavenge their way through the treacherous terrain in an attempt to make it to the throne of Hades at the portal between Tartaurus and the human world. They do this to meet Percy and Annabeth who have fallen into Tartarus while recovering the Athena Parthenon. Percy and Annabeth also have made their way through the underworld to get to the portal. They finally reach it and come face to face with a huge army of monsters. On both sides

I absolutely adored this book the whole plot, the way the characters told the story, and the end how it left you hanging. I liked the plot because it was so thorough, I never got confused.  I also liked they way in third person it would go from character to character each chapter about telling about their current place in the story and their thoughts and feelings. I loved the ending and how it left you trailing into the next book into the series but concluding that current book. If you selected it you would fall in love with and the series.

Patrick Conroy PD 8/9

The Son of Neptune by: Rick Riordan

      The book I read was The Son of Neptune by: Rick Riordan. The genre of my book is fantasy. My book is fantasy because it has to do with gods and goddesses. There are 3 demigods on a quest. demigods are kids that are born from gods and mortals. They are half mortal and half god. Ok the three demigods names are Percy Jackson, Hazel Levesque, And Frank Zhang. Percy is the leader of the group. Even though he lost his memory he still acts like how he used to. Hazel and Frank are his new friends or would die for each other. All three of these demigods are on a quest to stop the giant Alcyoneus. They have to take a journey up country to Alaska and try and defeat the giant in his own territory. Will they defeat the giant, Will they even make it to the destination. Find out by reading The Son of Neptune.

    I really liked my book. I liked my book because of its amazing because of its twist of Action, Adventure, and the was Rick used the myths in his book. I like how Rick wrote his book similar to the first one in the series  The Lost Hero but no so similar that it become predictable. I also like how Rick Riordan wrote the book in a young teens life so that we could relate. I personally like this book because of it Greek and Roman myths. I also like the book for its theme Evil is punished and Good is rewarded. I really like its genre. The genre is fantasy. I read fantasy a lot. The Son of Neptune is in a series along with 1 The Lost Hero, 3 The Mark of Athena, 4 The House of  Hades, And now on the way 5 The Blood of  Olympus. The only thing I didn't like in my book was when you get so used to a character and then it changes characters in the next chapter.  That was the only thing I didn't like about the book.

Saquan Jolly
Miss.Spicer 

The House of Hades by: Rick Riordan

   The book I am reading is The House of Hades by Rick Riordan. This book is a fantasy. It is about seven demigods who go on a quest to stop the evil god Gaea. Gaea is an evil goddess who rules the Earth. Hazel Levesque, Annabeth Chase, Percy Jackson, Jason Grace, Frank Zhang, Piper Mclean, Leo Valdez all have to work together to stop the mighty goddess. They encounter many gods like a farmer and a god that's just drunk. They fight many monsters and lose some members along the way. Even though Annabeth and Percy are in Tartaurus they still can rock and roll with their protective titan,Bob. And when they get to the doors of death,they will be very surprised.

    I very much enjoyed House of Hades. House of Hades was very interesting and good with a combined work of writing and action. It has a great plot of gods and monsters all in one world, and thats something you could never even dream of. Also, I think that you can really put yourself in the character's place in the book. Although it might not have to do with your everyday live you can still really relate since the characters have to go through certain tasks that you would dream of. One more last reason is that this book is for boys and girls so whether you like action or drama this book can really fascinate any type of reader and any gender. In conclusion, House of Hades is an extremely good read and I think you guys should really check it out!

Bryan Gleason
Miss Spicer,8/9

Boot Camp by Todd Strasser

In the middle of the night Garrett is taken from his home to Harmony Lake, a boot camp for troubled teens.  Garret was making love with his teacher and was worned to stop many times by his parents and they just got feed up!  Garett didnt understand what he was doing wrong. Maybe some kids deserve to be sent there, but Garrett knows he doesn't. Subjected to physical and and phsycalical abuse, he tries to fight back, but the battle is going to be a challenge. He won't be allowed to go home until he's admitted his "mistakes" and transformed to a Harmony Lake's standards of behavior. And there's no way to fake it since their watched 24-7 and taks years for some one to get out.  Beaten, humiliated, and stripped of his pride. Then he hears whispers of an escape plan. It's incredibly risky if he's caught, the consequences will be unthinkable but it may be his only way out.  This plan is proplly the worst plan in history of plans but you have todo what you got to do.  You will absultly love this realistic fiction book, it will keep you on the edege of your seat.

I liked everything about this book its perfect, everyone says no one is perfect but this book is.  This book is realistic fiction witch means you can realate to it.  Even through you propaley never been to a boot camp but the words and thoughts is just like a normal 7th grader like us.  While enjoying the book, Todd Strasser through's in some vocabuly so it bust up your mind.  Also the setting is like real life situation witch even makes the book more exciting to read.   The aurthors style of writting is also great because he flips back and forth to characters point of veiw.  Go get the book now its fantastic.

Ryan p
Spicer Pd 8-9

The Golden Compass BY: Philip Pullman

     The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman is book one of three books in 'His Dark Materials' series. The order of the three are; The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass. This book is set in a universe like ours, but different in ways.
     This fantasy book is about a young girl, Lyra Belaqua, who wants to rescue her father from a prison in the north, guarded by armored bears called panserbjorne. There is more creatures like those armored bears like Gobblers; They are also known as the Oblation Board, which some people think they eat stolen children, but they actually keep them captive in the north. Lyra has a daemon named Pantalaimon who is usually in the form of a moth. Daemons can shapeshift into different animals like Panthers, seagulls, and many more. Lyra has a compass-like instrument called an alethiometer. Alethiometers are hard to read because they have many pictures and each have multiple meanings. Lyra has shown her ability to two other main characters; John Faa and Farder Coram. They think she can lead them to Lyra's father, Lord Asriel, and stolen children.

     I'm still reading it currently, but The Golden Compass is a great book to read for fun. Philip Pullman is a great author who combined the world we know and put a slight twist on it. My favorite part in the book is when Lyra finds out that her uncle is actually her father. Philip Pullman used many details and vivacious vocabulary. What I don't like in the book is when Lyra finds out that her birth mom is part of the Oblation Board. The book has about 400 pages with 3 parts; Part One: Oxford, Part Two: Bolvangar, and Part Three: Svalbard. It also has an Appendix filled with pages from the library of Jordan Collage, the place where Lyra lived in the beginning of the book. 

                                                           - Chris Morlock :)
Ms. Spicer     C/5   7th Phoenix    L.A.     PERIODS 8/9

Perfect by Natasha Friend

The book I would really recommend is called Perfect by Natasha Friend. This fabulous realistic fiction book is a about a girl named Isabelle Lee who suffers from bulimia. Which is a disease when force yourself to throw up after eating meals because you have a low self-confidence level. Isabelle is able to keep it a secret until her younger sister sees her sees her and tells their mother. As a punishment, her Mother sends her to a support group. Isabelle is furious and doesn't want to go. She eventually does anyway because she has to. It is only when the most popular girl in school walks in that Isabelle begins to change her mind about the way she looks at others because sometimes even the most happiest person can have the darkest of secrets. Maybe even questioning how some people are perfect.
 I personally loved every single detail about this book. Probably one of the main reasons to why I like this book is because it is realistic, people actually struggle with these problems every day. You can never tell if a person is feeling bad because they usually hide it well. Another reason why I liked this book is because the author had a great way of organizing the character's feelings. Lastly, I liked this book because I could feeling like I was  there with the character's. If you're ready for a heart wrenching, stomach churnng book that you can't put down, then I'd choose Perfect by Natasha Friend.

Maddie S.
Spicer Pd 8/9

Navy Seal Dogs by Mike Ritland

     This book is about a former Navy SEAL that trains dogs to be used in the Navy. His name is Mike Ritland, and he tells his fascinating story of how he trains the dogs, how the dogs learn, and how the dogs are used in the battlefield. One specific dog was trained to detect explosives and boobytraps, but on the mission, he detected a bomb. Then, when they found three men in a villa in Afghanistan, they told them to stand with their hands up, but the Navy team didn't know if the three men were a threat to the squad or not. Suddenly the dog pulls on his leash sniffing these thorned bushes that were in reach of the three men. The dog started to bark at the men and the bushes, when the squad got the dog to settle they checked the bushes, and inside of the bushes were three fully armed AK-47s. The dog wasn't trained to detect guns, but he did. The dog actually saved the squad from being attacked and possibly killed. How the dog detected the guns, nobody in the squad knows, but they are very grateful for it. This amazing autobiography takes place in modern day at a military base and in the places of the Navy missions.
     I like this book because I have a huge interest in dogs, especially military dogs. The way this book is written makes the reader want to read more. The stories, the dogs, the training, all are made very interesting to the reader. When I read this book, I was so interested in it, that I wish that it was part of a series so I could keep reading more. Another reason I liked this book so much was because it is an auto biography, so any kind of crazy event that happened, you know that it's true which makes the game so much more interesting and enjoyable.

Keegan D.         Spicer       8/9

Beastly by Alex Flinn

          Here's something to think about: What would it be like to be a Beast? Not a rude, brazen person, but an actual beast? Kyle Kingsbury had everything any guy could ever want: popularity, money, and all the girls. Until one fateful day.

          In this fantasy book, Kyle is a stuck up, rotten teenage boy. He's always so full of himself, and he always tries to make others jealous. When a new transfer student named Kendra comes to his school, he's doing his best to make her feel unwanted, and it's easy for him because he thinks she's way too ugly, and he's making a huge mistake. Little did he know, she's a witch that has a disliking for people like Kyle. That's when Kendra decides to surprise Kyle, and it's not anything like egging his house or starting a propaganda to embarrass him. At the schools dance, he ditches Kendra. In return, she turns him into a beast; that's when the real trouble starts. This isn't like Beauty and The Beast: Poor Kyle isn't living alone in a castle. He lives in New York City, which is a major problem. After a few months(and many, many doctors), his father resorts to sending Kyle to Brooklyn. There, Kyle collects himself and finds a way to reverse the curse. Though it may not work, Kyle's willing to do anything to get his life back.

          I read this book back in April, but I still remember it clearly. I absolutely loved this book for various reasons, and I still love it for the same reasons. One reason is because it's like Beauty and the Beast, but with an amazing twist that wants you to keep going: Instead of taking place in France and having the Beast locked away in a castle, this beast gets transformed right in the middle of New York City, and there's nowhere to hide. Another reason I love this book is because ever since I was a little girl, my favorite Disney movie was Beauty and the Beast. I wanted to grow up to be exactly like Belle, but I think Lindy makes a way better Belle than I could ever be. Well, their personalities are almost exactly alike. Looks, not so much. One last reason I adored this marvelous fantasy novel was because I loved how in between each chapter, the author had Kyle and a handful of different normal kids who suddenly had their lives changed when they became fantastical characters in a chatroom that only fantasy characters would talk about how their life is going.

          Trinity C.

          Spicer 8/9

Life as we Knew it by Susan B Pfeffer

The end of the world is something everyone fears. In this fantasy book called Life as we Knew it by Susan B Pfeffer, Miranda and her family including Jon, Matt, and her mother fight for their lives when an asteroid hits the moon, pushing it closer. This makes the climate change dramatically, turning summer into almost winter. Volcanoes erupt, earthquakes shake the earth causing tsunamis everywhere. Almost half the population of Earth is wiped out. In western Pennsylvania, nothing works in Miranda's home. She has no electricity or cell phone service. With no way to contact their dad, Miranda, Jon, and Matt are devistated as well as their mother who divorced him. When winter comes, almost three months after the horrific event, Miranda and her family barely have enough food to survive. When Miranda's father finally shows up at her house, she realized they don't have enough food for them, her dad, and his new and pregnant wife. At this point, no one knows if they will survive through the winter.
In my opinion, this was a great book to read. The first person point of view works very well since it is formatted like a diary. The story is filled with detail whether it is about the setting or what the the characters are thinking about. It also makes you feel like you are in the story yourself. For example, when Jon, Matt, and Miranda's mom got the flu and Miranda had to try to keep them alive, you could feel how scared Miranda was for their lives and how much she didn't want to lose any of them. Overall, this was a very exciting book that kept me on the edge of my seat!
Stephanie E Spicer pds 8-9

Divergent by Veronica Roth

      The book Divergent is a fantasy book written by Veronica Roth. This adventurous book is about a girl named Tris who has to chose between five factions to be in when she turns 16, just like every other 16-year old. Their choices are based on their results of the aptitude test, which tests what your instincts are. The choices are Abnegation, which means you're selfness, Dauntless, which means you're brave, Erudite, which is for the people with knowledge, Amity, which is the peaceful faction, and finally Candor, which means honest. Tris's test tells her she is Divergent which means she is different than other people. Everyone thinks Divergents are dangerous, so Tris has to keep it a secret. At the choosing ceremony, she chooses Dauntless. She goes through training and needs to place based upon her fighting skills or else she will become faction-less. Through the training, she meets Four who is also Divergent and they fight together when Candor makes a serum that controls everyone, but Divergents.

      I absolutely loved this book, I could never put it down. It was super suspenseful and would leave me hanging each chapter, making me want to know what was going to happen. This books theme was to work together and never give up. When Four was manipulated and couldn't reconize Tris, Tris kept trying to get him back and get him to remember her again. After not giving up, she finally got him to get back to his old self. The setting of this book was like a real world setting. One scene was on the boardwalk where the Dauntless faction was playing capture the flag. If you enjoy suspenseful, adventurous books, Divergent will be perfect for you!!

Jess C.

Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen

        Woods Runner is a historical fiction book about main character Samuel who's parents were suddenly captured and held prisoner in New York. Throughout the book, follow Sam's quest to save his parents as he uses his highly skilled knowledge to maneuver his way through the forrest of Pennsylvania. Watch as Sam meets allies on the way as they wish to help his journey to save his parents to start a new life. Listen along with Sam's thoughts and feelings about his hatred for the people who captured his family or his determination to find them and keep them safe. Sam becomes family with a little girl Annie whos family was killed by war soldiers and she travels with him to New York. Sam also met another man named Abner Daniel who is great help. He agrees to take Sam and Annie on his carriage and cross a river to New York. There's many obstacles for Samuel and his allies to dodge from, but in the end, the reward seemed to be all worth it.

         Overall, I really enjoyed Woods Runner. It was really suspenseful, it was easy to visualize, and there was a lot of good word choice. It was suspenseful because whenever Sam ran into trouble with enemy soldiers, I was always eager to figure out how he was able to get himself out of trouble. It was easy to visualize because the way the author explained the setting and detailed certain characteristics I could use my imagination to easily to see what the setting would look like. I also found a lot of good vocabulary that I could use in real life and I feel like I got smarter by knowing these words! Woods Runner is an ecstatic book and I encourage you to read it!

        By: Bryce R Pds 4-6

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

          What would you do if you were chosen to fight to the death in a crucial game? These games are broadcasted throughout the twelve districts there are. Katniss and Peta were selected to join The Hunger Games in the first book and both of them came out of the games with a surprising ending. The objective of The Hunger Games is to be the one person to come out of the arena alive. The rest of the tributes should be dead from anything that could have happened in the area. Now in time, the Quarter Quell ( Hunger Games every 25 years ) is when all of the victors from the previous 25 years are to fight against each other. Before these games Heymitch ( their mentor ) must teach them valuable lessons on how to fight against these experienced tributes. Every minute with him is appreciative because there is not much time before Katniss and Peta enter the arena for a second time. Victors of the games are hard to get, but Katniss and Peta know they have a shot as a younger tribute.
          This book was really an enjoyable book to read. One of my reasons for this is because, this is the first time I've ever heard this topic in a book. Not many novels are based on killing another human and not being penalized but being rewarded. Another thing is that Katniss and Peta teamed up and have good communication throughout the games. In every persons life you need to use communication with another person whether it's an event, school or anywhere else.

The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander

This book's genre is realistic fiction. Some of the characters in this book Mac and Vince who are the owners of a buissness in the fourth stall in their school in the boys bathroom. Mac and Vince help others with their daily problems in the fourth stall. You might be thinking that the toilet in in there but it was not working so it got taken out and the school did not have enough money to get a new one. So as  was saying Mac and Vince set up a helping company in the fourth stall of the boy bathroom to help people for money. They handle many problems. They are very nice people and always try to understand the person's problem and most people respect them both.  Then they find out that they have to to deal with staples because a kid named Fred asked for help at Mac and Vince's company in the fourth stall which had to deal with a big bully named Staples.  He had a gang of kids that were bad and kicked or dropped out of school. After Vince noticed that Fred was working for Staples he calls Staples into his office. Then Mac speaks to Staples in a very calm way to change his behavior and just get along with everybody and stop trying to change other people. Does Staples change or does he stay the same? Read the book to find out.

Some likes or dislikes I had about this books were interesting. I had more likes than dislikes because throughout the whole book I was always entertained and always had different moods as I read. It felt like I was actually there just watching everything happen with some descriptive language. I also could feel what the other person feeling as people had different emotions. For example, when Fred made a puppy face when Mac and Vice were angry at him the descriptive language it made me feel like I was actually there. I did not have any dislikes about the book because every single part I read it had action, suspense, and entertainment. There was no boring part so that is another reason that I did not feel like it had any dislikes. I assure you who ever read this book has loved and I am sure that if you read you will like this book.

Aneesh M. pd.4-6

Theodore Boone Kid Lawyer by John Grisham

Detectives, they solve difficult murders, even ones that are unsolved.  However, could a boy solve an unsolved murder?  Well, a boy named Theodore Boone thinks he can.  In the book Theodore Boone Kid Lawyer by John Grisham Theodore Boone is obsessed with all of the crime and murder genres in his small city called Strattenburg.  His parents are lawyers and they deal with all of the crime and murder genre things for a living.  One day, Theo decides to scrutinize his parents folder full of murder mysteries.  He finds many solved, however there was one unsolved that they shut down the case.  He decides to slip his hand out of the folder with the papers about the unsolved murder.  He takes a look inside the case file and finds a poor middle aged woman stabbed to death inside her home.  The murder was layed out so well that there wern't any clues found when the case was open.  Theo decides to show his friend April and she was very curious as well.  The two of them decide to go on a curious, dangerous, and fun filled adventure to solve the unsolved murder that no ordinary kid could ever solve.

Theodore Boone Kid Lawyer is a fascinating and mysterious book that I liked.  I liked the suspensefulness throughout the story, the vivacious vocabulary when describing the murder, and the fact there are relatable characters.  The suspense throughout the book was magnificent.  When you read this book, the author's clues are all hidden, so the antagonist isn't identified in the middle of the book.  He doesn't give any motives that are so obvious to The vivacious vocabulary was splended when describing the murder.  The author used such vivid words to show what the victim thought and felt and what the antagonist thought and felt at the time of the murder.  This book creates the twists and surprises that will help you become a detective like Theodore Boone.

Kyle L. Spicer 4/6              

Ungifted by Gordon Korman

The non-fiction book that I've read was Ungifted, by Gordon Korman. This wonderful book is about a boy named, Donovan Curtis who pulls a major prank at school, that has gone way too far. Instead of getting in trouble, Donovan is sent to a ungifted school by an administrative mix-up. Instead, of reporting the mix-up he is set to hide at the ungifted school, until his "wanted level" is down. Donovan may not be safe, after the administrators are discovering he's not good at math nor his tests, they might just be on him.

The thoughts I've had on this stupendous book were, the vocabulary, characters, and the heavy plot. The vocabulary will change your way of thinking of the setting while the characters use those words. The characters such as Donovan has a fun way through the book as he, will give you laughs, drama, and inspirations that you can see in a future. Another reason is for the plot, it has taste and excitement on every page in the book, that will leave you on the edge of your seat. The plot is great when you have an author like Gordon Korman, who's wrote fascinating books like swindle, Mystery and the swindle sequel. Just be ready for a book, that will give you something to laugh at for once.

Joel W.
Spicer 4/6

A World Without Heros by Brandon Mull

A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull is an action packed book. Jason is a normal teenager working at a zoo, but getting swallowed by a hippo puts him on a life journey. Jason is expelled to a new world named Lyrian. In this world, there is a evil emperor who has almost conquered Lyrian. The only way to defeat him is a magical word that tears him apart. From there, he meets the Blind King and Rachel, who is also a beyonder. They go on a quest to save this new world and on the way, they meet new friends to help them on their quest.

Great characters, lots of action, and the shifting between different perspectives are just some of the reasons why I like the book A World Without Heroes. One of my favorite characters is Jason. What I especially like about Jason is that he is a courageous, daring, and brave young man who cares about his friends. In every few pages, there is always lots of suspense or action. This makes the book not bleak and it always put me on the edge of my seat. Another thing that I like about this book is that the perspectives change every couple of chapters. This helps me visualize what's happening with the character and how they react to their own situations. This also helps me understand more about what's happening within the story.

Jason L Spicer, Periods 4 & 6

Prisoner B-3087 by Jack Gruener

The book that I am writing about the fantastic book Prisoner B-3087.  The author of Prisoner B-3087 is Jack Gruener.  The genre of this book is Biography because this is a story told about the life of Yanek.  With his experience in the ten different concentration camps.  Yanek was worked to the bone and hardly got any food.  Yanek was forced to carry rocks to a certain spot then back to where they were to start with just for the fun of the Nazi's .  This book put me through a emotional roller coaster.  I say this because one minute I was at tears because I thought that Yanek was going to die.  But then I had been so relieved that someone would help him and that he didn't die.  This is one of my all time favorite books.  

I have absolutely loved this book.  I loved this book because I could really relate with Yanek I felt as though I was really going through this experience with Yanek.  Which if you think about going through the experience with him that is really scary.  Another reason why I adore this book is because it kept me on my seat the whole time.  At every moment I had no idea what was going to happen next because Jack Gruener had repeatedly tricked and fooled me.  Which made me just want to read more.  Also the suspense made the book really detailed and showed a vivid picture in my mind.  Another reason, that I like this book is because of the theme or lesson learned.  I like this because it shows me to never get down because there is always a better future.

Marykate Reick                                                                                                           Periods 4 and 6

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars is a wonderful book by John Green. This book is about Hazel Lancaster who was diagnosed with cancer at age thirteen. Now at age sixteen Hazel's life is pulling around oxygen tanks and going to support group. That is not the kind of life that she planned for. Hazel especially hated support group but one day Augustus Waters came and life took and turn. Augustus was a survivor of cancer but lost a leg in the process. Gus went to the support group with Isaac to support him while he went through a rough time. After support group Gus invited Hazel to his house to watch a movie. Will this be the start of a budding romance? Or will everything fall apart in the end?

I really enjoyed this book because of the authors style, the vocabulary, and the characters. The first thing that I liked is the author's set up for the book. You felt like you were in the book watching everything happen before your eyes. everything was described in a really good way. Another thing that I liked about the book was the vocabulary. John Green used a good amount of good vocabulary. The last thing that I enjoyed about this book was the characters. When I read this book I thought the characters were real. The characters were so detailed that you could imagine what everyone looked like.  I really enjoyed this book and I hope you do also?

Katie R. 
Pd. 4/6

The Enemy by:Charlie Higson

The book I chose is The Enemy by Charlie Higson. This genre is science fiction and it takes place in London in present time. The book is about a zombie apocalypse breaks out but not any apocalypse, only adults get infected and the kids have to survive until there is a cure. There is three group of kids who have to join up to survive. Each group of kids has the confidence to survive but will they is the question. Read the book to find out for yourself.


In my opinion, The Enemy is a really great book. Trust me if you aren't into zombies you might like it. The book has a lot of intense parts and suspenseful ones too! I couldn't take my eyes off of it that it was that good. I've never read a page turner like this. There is even a sequel to this book that is even better than this story. You have to read the first one though so don't skip or you will be confused and not knowing who is who. Hopefully there is another book like these ones because if there is I will probably read the whole series the entire school year and no doubt after you read the first book you will too. So what are you waiting for, grab the book and get to reading!



Brian Lee Ms. Spicer 4-6

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

     Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card is a space-age action-packed book that I suggest everyone to read. The genre of this stupendous book is science fiction because it features abominable aliens and technology beyond your imagination. This book is about a prodigious boy named Ender who is sent to a military camp. This camp trains young children to become soldiers to fight against a menacing alien race. Ender faces many challenges throughout his time at the camp but quickly surpasses all his peers. One major challenge Ender has is fitting in. Since he is so talented a lot of kids pick on him. The people who run the camp realize t and decide to make him general of the human army. Ender is faced with his biggest test yet to destroy the aliens. Will Ender prevail, or die trying?

     I really enjoyed Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card because of the Science Fiction genre, the superb characters, and finally the phenomenal setting. I liked the science fiction genre because almost anything can happen. For example when Ender is sent to have a practice battle in an anti-gravity chamber with freeze rays. Ender is one of the most well-created characters i've ever found in a book. Card allows you to get to know Ender in such a way that you feel you're right there with him. For example when Ender is fighting the aliens you find yourself sweating nervously even though you are not actually there. The military training base at which most of the book takes place is a unprecedentedly wonderful setting. Imagine a space station at which they train some of the highest level soldiers from when they are 13 years old to 26. This is an amazing book that will capture your imagination and keep you on the edge of your seat.



                                                                                                                           B.F. 4 and 6

     

The Mark Of Athena By Rick Riordan

The title of my book is The Mark of Athena. The author of my book is Rick Riordan. The genre of my book is fantasy. I know this because there are mythical and talking creatures. The characters in my book are Percy, Frank, Hazel, Annabeth, Leo, Annabeth, Jason, and Piper. The character traits of Percy are that he is very heroic and strong. The character traits of Frank are that he is not very sure of him self and very paranoid of his health. Annabeth is very smart and heroic. Leo is very clumsy and smart. Jason is very strong and powerful. And Piper is very smart and easy going. The setting of this book is mostly at Camp Jupiter. Camp Jupiter is the Roman version of Camp Half-Blood and has many campers and a massive legion. The time period is around now because of all the modern technology that most of the campers have such as computers and phones.  To describe the other books in my series is that in the first book Percy finds out that he is a demi-god and his mother dies trying to get him to Camp Half-Blood. Percy kills the minotaur and takes his horn to show the others. He runs inside the camp to be safe. While hes there he finds out that his dad is actually Poseidon and that he can breathe underwater and also control it.  He finds out that Zeus is missing his master bolt and if he doesn't get it back hes going to declare war with the other gods and fight each other. If they do that then it will cause the end of the Greek culture. Percy goes to the underworld with his new friends Annabeth and Grover. He finds the bolt and returns it to Zeus before he can declare war. The other books all include Percy going on quests to do various missions most of them are very exciting and you should read them. For the second series of this book it starts with Jason waking up in a bus full of kids. Hes sitting next to Piper and Leo. They go to the grand canyon and get attacked by wind spirits. Jason and Piper fall of the railing and Jason catches Piper. This is when Jason finds out his father is Zeus and he can fly. The second book is about Percy, Hazel, and Frank finding the legions standard and fighting the giants army.
The summary of my book is that Annabeth is looking for the camp that Percy is at. They get on the Argo II and are able to fly to where they think Percy is. They eventually find the camp and hover over the venue. They fly their white flag to show peace and hopefully not get shot down. They have to put all of their weapons down or the god of borders will terminate them. Terminus is very worried and does not trust any of the Greek campers. They climb down the ladder and talk to Reyna. Reyna is the legions leader and runs the camp. She speaks with Annabeth and she agrees to have peace with them. All of a sudden an eidolon possesses Leo and he takes control over the billistae and shoots exploding,flaming arrows at the venue. Everyone thinks that Leo did it on purpose but it wasn't him. They find Percy and flee from the camp with two Roman campers. Frank and Hazel. They get away but now they have to find Hazels brother Nico. Will he survive the giants? Read the book to find out.

I really liked this book. This book is probably one of my favorite books in the series and is very suspenseful. I really like the genre of this book. Fantasy interest me and I love reading it. I have learned from this book that even though the times are rough you should never give up. In the book Annabeth thought shed never find Percy. Even though she wasn't herself anymore she never gave up and eventually found him. Some rateable characters I can relate to is Percy because I also enjoy boats and the water.

Kris R PDS4-6

The homework machine By:Dan Gutman

   The title of my book is the homework machine. The author of my book is Dan Gutman. The genre of my book is Realistic fiction. I know the story is realistic fiction because it takes place in a classroom and a police station and the plot seems like it is real because it is about homework and a bunch of students.The characters in the story The homework machine were Brenton, Sam, Judy, and Kelsey. Brentan is the smart one of the group. My story is about a group of kids from Nevada that get tired of doing homework and wish their was another way. But their is according to Brentan, Brentan creates a machine that does their homework for them, but the machine starts to get out of hand and they don't know what to do about it. Does the group dispose of the horrid machine or does it become a catastrophe and take over the world, read the book to find out.
 
   I liked this book because of three reasons 1, I don't like homework and the book is about kids not wanting to do their homework and that sounds exactly like me. 2, I like that is a real world setting such as it takes place in a classroom, Nevada and the grand canyon which are all three real places and the plot isn't exactly real but it could be that is probably why the book is considered realistic fiction. 3, The genre is another one for me because the I like to seem like I could do that if I was in that situation and I could do what they did in the story. Those are the three reasons why I liked the story The Homework Machine by: Dan gutman. The book is very good and I highly recommend that you read the story.

   Dakota S.
   4 and 6

Zombies vs Unicorns

Zombies vs Unicorns by Justine Larbalestier and Holly Black
Martina Diao pd 1-2 Spicer

Zombies Vs. Unicorns is a collection of mostly fantasy short stories about zombies and/or unicorns edited by Justine Larbalestier and Holly Black. This book is written because of a debate between the two authors: Which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? Justine thinks that zombies are the awesome walking dead while unicorns are gross, fussy creatures that fart rainbows. Holly, on the other hand, believes that unicorns are magical creatures that have the ability to heal and thinks of zombies as disgusting creatures that shamble and carry diseases. Some well-known authors joined Justine's Team Zombie while others joined Holly's Team Unicorn. The authors, not including Justine and Holly, each wrote their own unique short story including zombies or unicorns. Also, at the beginning of each story, Justine and Holly argue about which creature is better.   

There are a variety of reasons why I like this book. It is extremely fun to read different authors' views of zombies and unicorns. For example, Carrie Ryan sees zombies as the creepy, neutral dead that never stops walking. Cassandra Clare, who is also on Team Zombie, thinks very differently. In her story, zombies are the same as the living humans (the only difference is that they are dead and have). Also, since I personally likes zombie books, I love reading different stories including them. I love mostly all the settings in this book, especially the zombie ones. I like to picture myself in a place where a zombie apocalypse is and imagine what I would do in such situations. This is a very enjoyable book for me and I'm sure many others will like it too.



  

So B. It by Sarah Weeks

So B. It is a realistic fiction book about a girl named Heidi It and her journey to find out who she is. Heidi has grown up in the care of her neighbor Bernadette, since her mother is mentally disabled. Her mother can hardly remember her own name, so it is no surprise that she can't remember where she came from. Heidi is curious about her and her mother's pasts. She wants to know about her father and other family members she might have had. After finding photographs showing her mother years earlier Heidi decides to go looking for answers about her past. She travels by bus and finds answers about her past and who she is.

I enjoyed this book very much. One reason I liked So B. It was because of the main character Heidi It. Heidi was very relatable and a character I generally liked. Her thoughts were always insightful and interesting to hear about. Another reason I liked the book was because of the vocabulary. Many exciting words were used, like sauntered and pitiful. The last reason I enjoyed the book was because of the authors writing style. Sarah Weeks was always descriptive in this book, I was never left wondering about a small detail that she hadn't described. I enjoyed this book very much and hope you do to!
By Rosy M.

Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

  Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is about a super-detective, Sherlock who solves the most complex of crimes in London. He and his friend Dr.Watson get cases from all around in their small apartment. Sherlock is a strange man with even stranger habits, for example keeping tobacco in his slippers, but he is the greatest detective in perhaps all of the world which brings him clientele from all classes and backgrounds. Together Sherlock and Watson go on all kinds of adventures resulting from seemingly trivial cases. Through it all Sherlock Holmes uses his steadfast mental prowess to find the smallest of clues and catch the criminals. 
  This book has many great points including the fact that the characters are very deep and relatable, because you can either sympathize with them or laugh with them based on context. The setting also enhances the story because you can almost smell the smoggy London air when you read about. You can also almost feel the crowds of people, of which any could be a cold-blooded killer. Another part of a reason why I like Sherlock Holmes so much might be my personal interest in murder mysteries. I enjoy this suspense and thriller kind of theme. Anyone who enjoys this kind of book and wants to be fully thrilled should definitely give one of the Sherlock novels a try this summer.
By Shivank Joshi
Ms.Spicer Pd.1-2

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

Looking fro a great book to read! Try The Truth About Forever. This book is about a girl named Macy. Her mom had a party and hired a catering company. When things started to go wrong at the beginning of the night Macy jumped into help. The food was burning and drinks were being spilled all over the floor. That is when she found her new job and her best friends. She didn't have many friends growing up. Her dad died when she was young and she began to shut the world out. She gave up on running and she would only leave her house for school. In fact the only things she did were for school. Her life only began when she met the catering company. In the catering company there is Wes, Delia, Kristy, Monica. This book takes place in a small town. Macy's new friends take her on many journeys to parties, sports events, and the beach. They are able to get Macy to come out of her shell and open up to the world and live.

I liked this book because of the way the author wrote the book. Her other books are very girly and this one is less girly. Also, each of the characters are well described so that they almost seem real. Also, the setting was very realistic. Macy's house and town was very well described. This was also, the only Sarah Dessen book that does not take place in a beach town. I hope you pick up this book this summer.

Aneeka Patel

Ironman by Chris Crutcher

               The best book I have read this year is called Ironman by Chris Crutcher. This book is about seventeen-year-old Beauregard (Bo) Brewster. Abused by his father at a young age, they had fought for years until Bo's parents had divorced. This built-up anger led to him becoming an amazing triathlete, but also led to angry outbursts towards his teachers. This was especially towards Mr. Redmond, who treats Bo just like his father. To stay in school, Bo had to take an anger management class run by Chinese cowboy Mr. Nak. Although he had a couple of setbacks, like his dad giving the bike he was saving up for to one of his rivals, the support from his anger management group and his determination to show his dad and Mr. Redmond that he was not a quitter fueled Bo into training for the big triathlon that was coming up in a few months.
                I absolutely loved this book for a couple of reasons. The book went really deep into the characters' thoughts, on how they perceived everything that happens. This gets you thinking real hard about the characters' feelings as you read the book. Bo is also relatable to me as when I was a bit younger I used to have anger issues. I was able to relate myself to Bo and compared our problems. I also loved the lesson I had learned as I read the book. Throughout the book the story teaches you that you can overcome almost any problem if you put some effort into it, but if you quit then nothing will change or possibly make it worse. Although this book has some touchy subjects, this deep read will leave you wanting more.

Ron T.   Spicer 1/2

Russian Roulette by Anthony Horowitz

       The final adventure in the epic Alex Rider spy series has finally arrived! However, Alex isn't the main star in THIS new adventure. In the science fiction book Russian Roulette, the main protagonist is Yassen Gregorovich, an assassin introduced during the series who we don't really know much about. Until now, that is! Once you're done reading the main Alex Rider series, pick this book up to learn about Yassen's origins in Russia, a few years after the end of the Soviet Union. Yassen lives in a small, poor village with his parents who work in a factory. After his parents accidentally release a deadly contagion, they give Yassen instructions to go to Moscow and find a friend of theirs before the entire village is wiped out to contain the deadly contagion. This terrible attack leaves Yassen as the sole survivor of his village. From here on out, Yassen goes on a thrilling journey that winds up with him training to become a deadly assassin for Scorpia, a deadly organization which plays a major part in the Alex Rider series as a whole. A powerful reminder of how we still must make our own choices in life, Russian Roulette serves as an exciting prequel to the Alex Rider series;however, since this book winds in with major plot points throughout the series, you should read the rest of the Alex Rider series first, beginning with Stormbreaker and ending with Scorpia Rising.
      Being a big fan of the Alex Rider series, I thought this served as a fantastic origin story for Yassen Gregorovich, who is probably one of my favorite characters from the series. He was a very well developed character throughout the story, and I certainly started to connect with him on things such as traveling to new places, dealing with loss, and deciding what he wants to do in life. I also liked how this book winded in many major plot points from the rest of the Alex Rider series, such as Alex's father, Scorpia, and, of course, MI6. Like the other books in the series, I also like how this book uses real worlds settings;from Russia to Venice to London to Paris and even the Amazon Rainforest! This book has everything that made the Alex Rider series successful, from the wacky gadgets to the incredible characters to the detailed plot! If you've read the Alex Rider series, or if you're a huge fan of Yassen Gregorovich, this book will definitely close out the Alex Rider series for you with a bang!
Lucas H, Spicer 1/2                    

When the Wind Blows by James Patterson-Shannon

    It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a.... child with wings? It's When the Wind Blows by James Patterson! Frannie O'Neill is an ordinary widow living in the wilderness of Colorado, working as a vet. However, something, or should I say someone, turns her ordinary life into an extraordinary one. Max, a child born and raised under surveillance and testing of countless scientists because her herself is a scientific breakthrough. This otherwise average looking child is twice as strong as the average grown man, has the respiratory system of a bird, and of most importance has wings. However, the way that Max and her other avian/human friends are treated horridly in this lab that they call "school", so Max and her brother Matthew decide to make a run for it. Meanwhile in the exposition, FBI agent, Thomas Brennan poses as a hunter in Colorado named Kit Harrison, renting Frannie O'Neill's cabin. His mission is to figure out how a series of deaths of doctors in Colorado is connected, including Frannie's deceased husband. In the rising action, Kit and Frannie find Max in the woods, and eventually grow closer to her. The climax occurs when Max takes Kit and Frannie back to the now empty "School" where all sorts of horrid secrets about the labs being conducted there are uncovered. Four of these secrets are Icarus, Wendy, Peter, and Oz; the four other winged children in cages without food or water, abandoned and left to die. from that point on, Frannie and Kit are furious and fighting for the justice of the horrors these children have been through.
    This book is great because every chapter seems to uncover a new hidden secret or a new shocking event. All throughout it the author makes you feel all sorts of emotions, from heartwarming, to saddening, to mad, to pure adventurous. The suspense never ends and keeps you turning page after page, chapter after chapter. So, pick up When the Wind Blows today! Before you know it you'll be flying through it!
                                                                                                                      Shannnon G.
                                                                                                                      Spicer   1/2