When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

When Miranda’s best friend Sal is punched and shuts her out of his life for what seems like forever, all she wants to know is why. To bad she is busy helping her mom win the game $20,000 Pyramid. With all this on her plate, everything seems like it couldn’t get any worse, but it does. Strange notes and random disappearances lead her to believe that not everything is as it seems. How do these random notes lead to Sal? Who is stealing things from Miranda and her family? Get ready to have your mind blown by When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.

This book was astonishing in many aspects. The suspense and secrets lead you to want to keep reading until the shock at the end that changes everything. Although I had read it two years before this moment, it was so enjoyable that a lot of the information stayed with me. Rebecca Stead is a fabulous author that will hopefully continue to write so people like me can enjoy life more.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

No one remembers.  No one knows what’s out there.  They only know one thing: run.  Solve the maze.  Thomas is lifted to the Glade in a metal Box.  When he reaches the surface, he wishes he didn’t.  A group of teenage boys wait for him.  He doesn’t remember his parents, his friends.  He only remembers one thing: his name.  He is surrounded by huge stone walls, which he is told is a part of the maze.  As he learns the Gladers’ way of life, he becomes even more curious.  No one has ever survived a night in the maze, because of deadly creatures called Grievers.  So when two of his friends are struggling to make it back into the Glade after a day of running, he loses his head and runs into the maze and seemingly dooms himself to a fate worse than death.  But will his wits and strength keep him alive?  Will he survive a feat that no other Gladers have ever lived?  And even if he does live, how will the Maze be solved after years of searching?  Read the Maze Runner, by James Dashner, to find out.

The Maze Runner is an exhilarating book that is full with suspense.  It is a dystopian fiction novel that is perfect for anyone who is looking for a shot of adrenaline.  I recommend it to tweens and teens who are looking for a good book to movie transformation and an all-around good book.

-Rebecca Thomas

Every Soul A Star by Wendy Mass

This summer was going to be the worst for three abnormal teenagers. Ally, a girl who lived on a campground her whole life, is finally moving into civilization. Bree, the normal popular girl who relies on her social life is forced to spend the rest of her life at Camp Moon Shadow. Jack, an overweight and unsocial kid, loves art, but science, not so much. This summer he was offered to join a science trip instead of going to summer school. When these three teenagers lives clash they realize that friendship doesn’t have to categorized. This eclipse will make 3 complete strangers into the best of friends.Every Soul a Star by Wendy Mass a realistic fiction book, is a great book for tweens that feel out of place and just need a “happy ending” novel.

This book is a funny story on friendship. I would recommend this book to anyone of all ages and genders. This book is great fun read and is quick for kids who don’t like reading. It’s a nice sweet story that tells a story. Wendy Mass is an amazing author and all her books are great.

Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Running out of Time is about a young girl named Jessie who lives with her family in Clifton, Indiana in the 1800’s.  When a strange illness wipes the town Jessie’s mom tells her a REMARKABLE secret! It turns out Clifton is a tourist site made up in a huge dome the catch is no one knows this secret. the tourists can only see in the citizens can’t see out. Jessie’s task is to sneak out into the outside world to get medicine that can cure the lives of the citizens in Clinton. Jessie has a set amount of time before people of Clinton Die.Beyond the dome there it looks like a strange threatening, and strange planet to Jessie. So will Jessie get the life saving cure, or will she run out of time?

I liked this book because it might seem like a regular book but, what truly is inside the book is what really pops. Running Out of Time is suspenseful, and anticipation. I recommend this book to everyone because it has action and adventure and if you have never read this type of book how about you try something new!

BY: ADDISON KING

Zen and the Art of Faking It by Jordan Sonnenblick

Got Zen? Use your Buddha radar to reach and read this amazing book, Zen and the Art of Faking It  by Jordan Sonnenblick! San Lee is an average teenager, or at least he wants to be. After his father is put behind bars, San and his mother are dirt poor and forced to move to a no-man’s-town in Pennsylvania. San faces that the odds are not with him that he will become ordinary. But what about extraordinary? San decides to fake his past and pretend he is a zen master. Being a zen master has perks, but leads to disaster. San has barely any knowledge about zen and Buddhism! From a girl San is trying to impress with his act to a basketball game that goes terribly wrong, San discovers the true meaning of being yourself and the consequences of lying.

My review of Zen and the Art of Faking It is five stars! Jordan Sonnenblick has the humor, lesson and just plain ol’ awesomeness you want to read! My favorite part is probably towards the end, but I can’t tell you how it ends (unless you got candy in your pocket you can bribe me with…)! So go to the library to check out Zen and the Art of Faking It by Jordan Sonnenblick!

By: Bookworm05

Hidden Talents by David Lubar

Martin Anderson is bad. He can’t help talking back to teachers and getting them angry with him. Martin’s parents send him to Edgeview Alternative School, the last stop on the road for delinquents. Martin meets some friends at the school, all the school’s outcasts. Martin realizes something, though - all of his friends have special talents. Follow the team throughout this amazing experience they share, one that was supposed to be that end, but turned into the beginning.

I really loved this book A LOT! I would give it 4 stars and seven eighths of a star. Just kidding, it deserves five. Make sure to pick up this book at your local (or school!) library or book store! Thanks for reading this review! I hope you enjoy Hidden Talents by David Lubar.                    

Elephant Run by Roland Smith

Living in London during World War II seeing your apartment on fire is quite a devastating sight. Nick Freestone is living with his mom until it is too dangerous. When he arrives in Burma, Nick realizes that it could be more dangerous than living in London. When the Japanese invade, the Burman Maya, and Nick try to get to India and then sailing to Australia. When they are on there way to India, something goes terribly wrong that changes their plans. Nick’s dad is taken as a prisoner, and the rest of them Maya and Nick have to work as slaves. Nick and Maya think of ways to sneak out of being a slave then to free Mr. Freestone with the help of Hilltop a mahout (elephant trainer). To find out what happens to them read Elephant Run by Roland Smith.

I would recommend this book because it was really enjoyable, it had suspense, and had lots of surprising twists. Although the genre is historical fiction, it really feels like you are a character in the book. Reading this book, you will learn about the culture of the Burmans, including the language, the way they live, and a little about the land of Burma. Read a chapter of this book, and you’ll be hooked!   

   

• Claire