Taken by Norah Mcclintock

Taken

By Norah Mcclintock

Two girls go missing in a little town where Stephanie lives!  

She doesn’t think much about till one day after school she had to walk home alone. 

She thought going missing would never happen to her but just like those two girls, it did! 

Want to know who grabs her?

 

Where does she wake up?

Who takes her?

Does she ever make it out?

 

Want to know more?  

Then you should definitely read this book. 

This book is very good and personally one of my favorites.  If you like books with lots of interesting parts and an amazing story this is the book for you! 

I rate this book four and a half stars because it is honestly a great book.  I think anyone from grade 6 and up could really get into this book.  Its really hard for me to enjoy a book and I really enjoyed this one so I think anyone could.     

Review by: Kesha

Smile by Raina Telgemeier

Smile

Author: Raina Telgemeier

Illustrator: Stephanie Yue

Recommend Age group: Grade 6 and up

Genres: Humor, Drama

Rating: 4 stars out of 5!

Raina is only a seventh grade girl who just wants to fit in, but when she falls one night after girl scouts she realizes she the only reasons she’ll fit in is because she has as many problems of two seventh grade boys combined. First off her so called ‘friends’ are starting to change, they all used to wear their hair in pigtails and braids but now apparently pigtails are for losers. Also there’s this new boy from band his name is Sammy, Raina really likes Sammy but he’s in sixth grade and Raina’s in seventh and she’s worried all her friends will call her a baby for liking him. Don’t even get me started on Raina’s parents, suddenly they are becoming more stricked and mean. They won’t even let her hang out alone with her friends. Like what even?! And remember Raina’s big fall? Yeah that fall caused her teeth to get pushed into her gums and she had to get mouth surgery, braces and she has to wear a retainer with fake teeth in it. 

Worst of all…………….. She Afraid She’s Lost Her Smile!!!!!!!!! 

Will her teeth ever get fixed back to normal?!

Will her parents ever let her do anything fun??!

WILL SHE EVER GET HER SMILE BACK??!!?!

If you enjoyed this book you may also like the sequel Sisters or another great book by Raina Telgemeier called Drama.

By Brianna

Hockey Night In Transcona By: John Danakas

Hockey Night In Transcona

By: John Danakas

Money is an issue for many families in Canada.  Especially if you have children that want to be involved in sports.  For one boy, his dream is to play organized hockey.  Cody Powell from Winnipeg, Manitoba grew up beside an outdoor hockey rink.  He would skate on the bumpy ice surface every day after school for countless hours.  Money was an issue in his family with his mother going through a tough divorce.  Which meant she has to pay the bills.  It destroys his mother everyday because he wants to fulfill his dream to one-day play in the NHL.  His friends really want Cody to play but a coach does to.  Coach Bracket was looking for some kids to try out for his team.  He approached Cody and asked him if he would like a try out.

 

Would Cody’s mom approve? 

Will Cody’s dream come true? 

Find out in this must read book!  

This story is about how friends and family come together to help a young boy.  Its really inspiring to see how his friends lend him equipment to try out for the local hockey team.  This book is my favourite because Cody is from the same place as me.  I recommend this book to anyone if you love sports and reading about how a kid battles diversity, this is the right book for you!  

Overall I give this book a 5 out of 5.

Some other action packed sports books that you might also enjoy by John Danakas:

Lizzie’s Soccer Showdown

Hockey Heroes

Brothers On Ice

Soccer Showdown

By Brendan

MR. PEPPERPOT’S PET by GWEN PASCOE

Mr. Pepperpot’s Pet

Author:   Gwen Pascoe

Illustrator:   Dianne Vandervee

The main chaRATERS IN THIS BOOK ARE,

mR. pEPPERPOT, mRS lOODLEDOODLE, mR. cOLLYWOBBLE, mRS. mUDDLEBERRY, mR. tIDDLEWINK, mRS. fOOGLEFUM,

mR. pIFFLESNIFF AND mR. dRAGALONG.

tHE VERY BEST PART OF THE STORY IS WHEN mRS. fOOGLEFUM'S FROG, JUMPED OUT OF THE JAR, HOPPED IN THE AIR AND INTO THE FISH TANK.

iT WAS VERY FUNNY AND MADE ME LAUGH.

i THINK PEOPLE WHO LIKE VERY FUNNY STORIES ABOUT THINGS  ANIMALS DO WILL ENJOY READING THIS BOOK.

jORDYN bEAN

Pretties Written by: Scott Westerfield

Pretties

Written by: Scott Westerfield

In a world of ugly people, you can have the chance to become pretty….

When you become pretty you leave everything else behind. You start a new life, in a new part of town, where you can have fun all the time. 

Sounds great right? 

But it comes at a cost. Being a total bubble head changes your whole perspective, the person you were for sixteen years no longer matters.

In Uglyvill everyone is born ugly. At 16 all people get to move from the settlement of ugly young people into a life as a pretty person. Tally has finally turned 16 and becomes pretty. But as it turns out being pretty isn’t all it seems. As a pretty life is full of carefree fun.  After a party Tally follows some masked party crashers and ends up getting news that changes her entire view of the pretties. The operations that make you pretty do more than just nip and tuck skin. They change your brain too. The operation makes you care about nothing but having fun, you are a bubblehead.  As it turns out her new boyfriend Zane also knows about the brain lesions of the surgeries and is ready to fight against being a bubblehead.  Zane and Tally join a rebellion to take control of their minds.

They are going to figure out just what is going on in this city. 

At first I thought being in a life where transforming into a pretty would be great but then I read further into the series and realized being pretty is awesome and all but being perfect isn’t what its all about.

I rate this book and series 9/10 because I really like the chance to view a different way a society can be.  

I recommend this book for everyone who is interested in adventure and mystery because in this series Tally and her friends go on many exciting adrenaline pumping journeys.

By: Emily 8B

The Hunger Games: Mocking Jay by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games: Mocking Jay

Author: Suzanne Collins

If you are a rebel, it doesn’t mean you are a bad person. 

Katniss Everdeen is the face for all of the Panem rebels.  Peeta, her so called “lover” from The Hunger Games is in the Capitol being tortured by president Snow along by Johanna Mason and Annie.  Annie is Finnick’s true love.  Annie was a hunger games winner that went mad and everyone is surprised that Finnick, Katniss’ best friend is being prepared for the war against the capitol and district thirteen.  Yes, I just said district thirteen.  District thirteen is an underground district that none of the other districts know about.  Bonnie and Twill were right!  However, they have never been seen or heard of by anyone in thirteen.

One day, Katniss goes to see Plutarch Heavensbee and finds out that some soldiers are going to the Training Centre in the capitol to steal Peeta, Annie and Johanna from torture.  Gale is one of those soldiers.  Katniss is worried because this is a very dangerous mission, but they succeeded.  When Peeta comes back from the capitol, Katniss wants to be the first person to see him.  She goes to give Peeta a hug and all of a sudden, Peeta straggles Katniss!!!

WHAT!!?

I recommend this book to mature readers.  I don’t believe there is an age for this book, but you need to be prepared for violence. 

Will Peeta and Katniss ever be lovers again, or will Katniss choose Gale? 

Will Katniss ever succeed her life goal to kill Snow?

 

Find out in The Hunger Games: Mocking Jay

By: Lexie Desjarlais  

Sunny Side Up Author: Jennifer L. Holm

Sunny Side Up

Author: Jennifer L. Holm 

Sunny thinks she’s going to have the time of her life but then…? 

The book takes place in Florida, California in the 1970s a 10-year-old girl named sunny goes to spend most of her summer with her grandpa sunny was thinking she was going to Disney Land and have the time of her life then she had an uncomfortable bed and her grandpa wanted to do boring stuff then she meets this boy named Buzz. 

Buzz likes comics and collecting golf balls and finding old lady’s cats for money.  Buzz got sunny into liking comic books and that’s what they spent their cat and golf ball money then they became best friends and sunny went back home to Palm Springs.

I think anyone could read this book because it’s easy to read and it’s funny.

By Nate

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

The Lightning Thief

By Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson isn’t your typical 12-year-old; he has dyslexia which makes it a challenge for him to read. He lives with his mom and her annoying boyfriend in New York City. At the end of summer, he drove up to his cabin with his mother. There was a storm going on and they were inside drinking hot cocoa and his mother was talking about how she met his father. Growing up Percy didn’t get to know his father. 

A couple minutes later someone comes banging on the door and his mother tells him not to open it but, he opens it anyway. 

Who is it? 

Read the book to find out what happens and I can guarantee reading it will answer any questions you have about the book.

This book is probably my favourite book because I’ve read it many times and it still is always so interesting. In case you were wondering there is an entire series of books, a couple movies and graphic novels. My opinion on the book is that it’s very descriptive and really gives you a good glimpse of what type of person Percy is and how he doesn’t think of himself but of his friends and family.

If I were to rate this book on a scale of 1-10 I would rate it a 9 just because its suitable for any audience, it is adventurous and includes a little humor he and there. 

I recommend this book to anyone who is having trouble looking for a good book that’s interesting because there are many things that anybody can connect to. 

The author is very good at letting the readers know about all the little details about the characters and I think that’s a very god way to attract readers.

By: Lado L

The Saga of Darren Shan By Darren Shan

The Saga of Darren Shan

By: Darren Shan

Darren Shan is just like any other teenager; he goes to school, has parents and has a home. Until one life changing decision that totally, turn his whole world upside down. Darren and his best friend Steve “Leopard” Leonard sneak out and attend an illegal freak show in town where they encounter a vampire that goes by the name Larten Crepsley. Darren agrees to become Larten’s assistant in return of saving Steve’s life. Darren fakes his death and Larten digs him up hours after the funeral. Larten brings Darren back to the freak show where he met interesting and weird people.

Darren and Larten set off to Vampire Mountain and learn more about the vampire’s rites. Darren must bypass the trials of death. Darren meets this little person Harkat Mulds, who is about 2 and half feet tall. He finds out his best friend Harkat was actually dead and was put into another body after his death. Darren finds out about a traitor among the vampire clan. He stops his plans to destroy the clan and he becomes the vampire prince.

Darren fights against the Vampaneze using the help of cirque du freak. The Vampaneze are also vampires but they kill innocent people for blood. Darren’s soul enters the lake of souls and he got trapped for a millennium. He wakes up in a world that is ruled by dragons. 

What can happen next? 

Is Darren trapped there forever? 

I really enjoyed reading the books, they make me wonder if they have any truth in it. I always think of what is believable in the book. 

To find out the rest read the Saga of Darren Shan. I suggest this series to readers from the ages 10-16 who are into adventure and horror-fiction. 

Darren Shan also wrote the book Zom-B. If you really liked the maze runner by James Dashner I’m sure you will fall in love with this odd, interesting story.

Review By: Yuan Garcia

The Lightning Thief Author Rick Riordan

The Lightning Thief

Author Rick; Riordan

A kid who thinks that his life is pointless, but after one event that happened to him it changed his life and actually gave it a meaning.   

Percy Jackson being a decent student but has struggles on focus in his classes and having troubles with controlling his emotions.  Because Percy wasn’t focusing enough in his school Percy had to go to Boarding school but Boarding school didn’t help him one bit.  Percy seriously thought his algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him.  But for a human he thought that was crazy.  He knew if he tried to tell anyone else besides his mom everybody would think Percy is crazy.

This is why Percy’s mother had to tell Percy the truth, after telling his mom what happened.  Percy’s mom had to tell him where he came from and also she had to send her son where he came from.  She sends Percy to the Half blood camp, a summer camp with other demi gods like Percy, so he can be safe. 

Percy later finds out who his dad really is.  Percy’s dad was a Poseidon God of the Sea.  Throughout the story he meets theses demi god friends one being a satyr and other being a daughter of Athena.  After meeting his new friends, a quest unfolds.  Percy and his new demi got friends set out on a quest t throughout America to reach the underworld gates, to prevent a disastrous war between the gods. 

If you are a teenager that likes reading books that have a lot of action and adventure then I recommend reading this book, in some parts in the book it relates to some school age issues.  Also after reading this book read the other books in the series for an example Sea of the Monsters.  I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Review: By Jayden V.  

The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die by April Henry

The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die

April Henry

“Keep one step ahead of the killers and- above all- Stay Alive!”

What would you do if you woke up in a wrecked cabin in the woods in the middle of no where with two guys arguing about if they should kill you or not??

Meet Cady she was an average teenage girl with an average life... But one day she wakes up in the woods in a completely trashed cabin, she realizes that her finger nails had been pulled out and that she has been badly beaten. Cady knows nothing not even her own name or family!

She ends up meeting Ty and James who help her regain her family and memory of her life, shes had to hide, run and even change her appearance to get away from The Man in the Oxblood Shoes.

Her brother has developed a bad disease and needs a vaccine that Cady has to go get from her mother’s work but she runs into The Man in the Oxblood Shoes.

What will Cady do? 

Will she finally be free? 

Read The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die, too find out!

April Henry is an amazing writer who has wrote many books, some of them are; The Body In The Woods, Stolen Girl, The Night She Disappeared and The Girl I Used To Be. I recommend this book to people who like books about murder and mystery. This book would be good for grades 7-10, I rate the book 10/10.

If you like reading books about mystery and murder you should get The Girl Who Was Suppose to Die.

~Sam 8c

Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

Sisters

By: Raina Telgemeier

Do you remember your child hood?  

Well this book is about a girl (Raina) that can’t wait to be a big sister but once she (Amara) is born things don’t go too well. Amara is cute but she is also a cranky, grouchy baby and mostly likes to play with herself. A few years go by and things don’t get much better and with their parents not getting along how will the two sisters get along in a car crammed together for a 24-hour trip to Colorado….

The author of this book is Raina Telgemeier who tells the stories of her life through her writing, which unfolds her experiences with siblings. Raina is also the amazing author of Smile and Drama so if you like Sisters, then you should really go check out those books too.

I recommend this book to people who have siblings because I think that they can make some personal connections throughout the book. There is no age limit for this book because you can always refresh a few childhood memories. I rate this book 5 stars because I feel like this book reflects me and my brother’s lives. We fight and make up then we fight and still make up.

So if you like this book review then run down to the next library and get this book. I promise this will remind you of your child hood or if you don’t have siblings this will ensure you that you don’t want siblings.

REVIEW BY: Veera