24 Girls in 7 Days by Alex Bradley

24 Girls in 7 Days by Alex Bradley


My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book was humorous yet insightful. It is a perfect example of a person thinking they really want something until they actually get it. Jack Grammar is a senior without a prom date or much popularity at all. When his friends decide to put an ad in the school newspaper, Jack is suddenly covered in potential dates. He gains years of dating experience in a week. Jack grows as a person. He learns more about what is really important in life and not to overlook what is right in front of your face. This is a good book for high school students. The material is harmless enough younger readers could enjoy it as well.




View all my reviews

Crash by Jerry Spinelli

Crash by Jerry Spinelli


My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is a good coming of age story for middle school students. John Coogan, "Crash," is a seventh grade athlete who begins the story as a very self-centered person. As the book progresses, he is forced - due to a family medical emergency - to grow up a little. He begins to see how his actions could effect other people. I would recommend this story to anyone who is middle school or older. It probably has more appeal to male readers, but females could enjoy it as well.




View all my reviews

Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix


My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Just Ella is Margaret Peterson Haddix's version of the Cinderella story after the ball and without the magic. I really liked Haddix's character development. Ella is a strong female character with a need to control her life. While I do not believe I would have made the same decisions Ella makes in the story, I think she is a good example of a teen taking her life into her own hands and changing her future. This is a great book for teens. There is very little material that would be considered questionable for younger readers.




View all my reviews

Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke

Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke


My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I have always loved Cornelia Funke's work. Igraine the Brave is unlike any of the other books I have read by Funke. It is written for younger readers than her typical target audience. The characters are fun and so is the plot. I liked this story. Igraine is a strong female character with a mind of her own. The whole story is cute a fun with some mild violence. It is written for middle school age children or even younger children with higher reading levels. I thought it was a cute fast read that would be good for girls who like to be a little different.




View all my reviews

Tales of the Madman Underground by John Barnes

Tales of the Madman Underground: An Historical Romance 1973 by John Barnes


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really love this story. The madmen are a fascinating group of people. I enjoyed reading about the different lives of the students in this book. This story gave you a different perspective for all of the kids in your high school who were labeled as difficult. Often, we make the mistake of assuming people just want to be a pain instead of looking at what they might be experiencing outside of school. I liked this book because of the characters. This author is wonderful at developing characters. I would not recommend this story for younger readers. There is a lot of material that would be inappropriate for children under about fourteen, but it is wonderful for high school students or adults.




View all my reviews

Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins

Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins


My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I hate to admit that it took me almost half of this book to figure out who all of the characters were and be able to actually follow the plot. I did enjoy getting to know the characters, but I was uncertain about the plot. I don't feel like much actually happened in the story. The author has a talent for getting into a character's mind. This is a good book for middle or high schoolers




View all my reviews

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks


My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Dear John is a pretty typical Nicholas Sparks book. It has the standard love story and illness combination. I have to say it wasn't my favorite book by Nicholas Sparks. I thought some of the aspects of the plot were not terribly realistic. I can't imagine how the couple could have fallen so deeply in love so quickly. I also had some trouble with the progression of the character's illness. Of course, Sparks is an excellent writer. His characters are strong and believable, and the plot is typical of many love stories that military men and women have to undergo.




View all my reviews