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