BANISHED

Author (last name first):
Littlefield, Sophie

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Delacorte Press/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

8th-12th

Classification:  Fiction 

Sixteen-year-old Hailey Tarbell bides her time living with her negligent as well as abusive grandmother and four year-old foster brother, Chub, in a decrepit corner of Gypsum, MO. She secretly hopes to run away with Chub and start a new life. When a classmate almost dies in a gym accident, Hailey discovers that she possesses a healing power. She is unaware how devastating her powers can be when she tries to save her dog Rascal after it is hit by a car. When he becomes unresponsive to feelings, Hailey fears he will never be normal and is confused when she healed her class mate she got better. Suddenly her long-lost aunt Prairie arrives in town, along with two mysterious men who trail Hailey every were she goes. When her grandmother is killed in a violent shoot out, Prairie escapes with Hailey and Chub and takes them to Chicago, where they join forces with another healer and her son. Prairie reveals that the Tarbell's are part of an ancient Irish clan of "Banished" people. She learns that healers that healers are forbidden from resurrecting some who has already died. That explains why Rascal became a walking zombie. When her aunt's ex-boyfriend, a nefarious medical researcher who wants to use Hailey's skill to raise a mercenary army of zombies tries to capture he, the climax builds at the research laboratory. The background of the Banished id vague, but it may be better explained in a sequel. The back of the book gives information about the author and lists a web site to get more information about other books she has written. There is a AR Test available for this book.

Reviewed By: Lila Davis(Night Circulation Manager in the Moffett Library at Midwestern State University)     

THREE QUARTERS DEAD

Author (last name first):
Peck, Richard

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Dial Books/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

6th -10th

Classification:  Fiction 

Fifteen year-old Kerry Williamson has always felt alone and lonely, but when she is finally noticed by the most popular senior girls Tonya Spangler, Makenzie Kamp, and Natalie Davenport in school she is ecstatic. Tanya is the leader of a group and often commands attention were ever she goes. She has the ability to get what she wants when she wants it. Natalie and Makenzie often follow in her footsteps and do what ever she asks them to do. When Kerry is welcomed into the group, Tonya has other motives. Kerry quickly becomes her pawn and often gets left in the cold when the girls leave her when she needs them the most. She relishes that the girls allow her to be in their group and think very highly of them. One day while driving Tonya, Natalie and Makenzie get into a terrible car accident and Kerry receives a text from Tonya after Natalie, Makenzie and Tonya  are pronounced dead. Kerry refuses to believe they are dead and goes to Tanya's aunt's house to meet them. She knows there is something off about the way they act, but still yearns to be a part of their small group. Through twists and turns Kerry helps the girls and becomes drained of her life while doing so. 
The author has done a wonderful job keeping your interest and suspense going as you read. I got confused a couple of times whether Kerry was dreaming, or really living the experience. It was a very entertaining book and is great for young adults. An AR Test is available for this book.

Reviewed By: Lila Davis( Night Circulation Manager in the Moffett Library at M.S.U.)   

 

IT'S CHRISTMAS DAVID!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author (last name first):
Shannon, David

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

The Blue Sky Press/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

Pre-K- Kindergarten

Classification: 
Fiction 

This is a very colorful and wonderfully illustrated book. David is always in trouble and with Christmas just around the corner, he is trying to stay out of trouble. Each page shows how David is doing different things that solicit the response NO! It is a very easy to read book for pre-k or kindergarten children. Each page has a few words letting the pictures tell the story. Very nice book!

Reviewed By: Patty Bruce(Electra I.S.D. Social Worker) 

THE GHOST OF CRUTCHFIELD HALL

Author (last name first):
Hahn, Mary Downing

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Clarion Books/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

6th and Up

Classification: 
Fiction 

After seven years at an orphanage 12 year-old Florence was excited to go and live with her uncle at Crutchfield Hall . Six months before, James' sister, Sophia, died in an accident, and Florance quickly discovers that Sophia's  ghost is haunting Crutchfield to punish James for his part in her death. Sophia is spiteful and uses Florence to gain access to her brother believing that if her brother James perishes she will be brought back to life. Sophia was jealous of her brother and felt that he was the reason for their parents death. Sophia felt that James got all the attention even though their Aunt Eugene doted on her. Florance couldn't escape Sophia even when she was sleeping. As the days go on Sophia grew stronger and Florance weaker. She felt bad for Sophia because she had no one to care for her and angry because she haunted every moment of her life. One the one year anniversary of Sophia's death she came back with a vengeance.
Mary Downing Hahn did a great job of telling a chilling story and left it open to write a squeal. The cover is eerie and looks like an old time photograph with blood on Sophia's face. The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall is a wonderful story to read when you want to read a terrifying story. I would like to read the next addition to the story. There is a AR Test available for this book.

Reviewed By: Lila Davis( Night Circulation Manager at Midwestern State University's Moffett Library) 

SPHINX'S QUEEN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author (last name first):
Friesner,Esther

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Random House Children's Books/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

6th and Up

Classification: Fiction 

SPHINX'S QUEEN is a continuum of SPHINX'S PRINCESS; Nefertiti was betrothed to Prince Thutmose who accuses her of treason when he finds out that she has befriended his brother Prince Amenophis and is starting to have feelings for him. Nefertiti, Amenophis and her slave Nava escape to Dendera to plead their case to the Pharaoh himself. When they finally reach Dendera Nefertiti finds that Prince Thutmose is already there and ready to make it difficult to tell his father that she was wrongly accused. In the end she finds that even the person she despises the most can become a great friend. Her best friend can become the love of her life.
The author does a great job of telling the story of Nefertiti and what her life might have been like when she was young. There is a table of contents in the front of the book and a map to visualize the area she is writing about. At the back of the book there is an author's note explaining what is true and what is fictional about her main character Nefertiti. This would be a good book for a history class because of the historical significance that the book holds.  There also is a AR Test available for this book.


Reviewed By: Lila Davis ( Night Circulation Manager at the Moffett Library at M.S.U)

 

JUSTIN CASE SCHOOL, DROOL, AND OTHER DAILY DISASTERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author (last name first):
Vail, Rachel  

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Feiwel and Friends/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

4th-8th

Classification:
Fiction

Justin is a typical middle schooler with typical middle school issues. In the spirit of the journal/ log Vail has made the adventure of being a pre-teen entertainingly real and fun!

Reviewed By: Stacy Burton (Teacher- City View)

NUM8ERS

Author (last name first):
Ward, Rachel  

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Chicken House Scholastic/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

9th-12th

Classification:
Fiction 

A teenage girl struggles with precognitive powers. She is able to see a person's death date by gazing into their eyes. This foresight isolates her and life events conspire to make her a ward of the faster care system. While in the system she is rebellious and acts out through sneaking out, skipping school, drinking, and stealing. She meets what ultimately is her true love and becomes pregnate. She is unable to stop anyone's death date from accruing and lives with the knowledge of her beloveds day of death. 
* Be aware that this book has foul language, drugs abuse, drinking, and sexual overtones.  

Reviewed By: Sherrie Denham ( CVHS Nursing Instruction)
 

BOYS, BEARS, AND A SERIOUS PAIR OF HIKING BOOTS

Author (last name first):
McDonald, Abby 

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Candlewick Press/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

8th-10th

Classification:

Fiction 

It was a pretty good story about finding your place when you are at awkward stage and feeling alone. It was predictable. Jenna is part of a school group who's purpose is to raise Eco-awareness. When summer approaches she learns that her father will be working in Sweden. Her mother says she and herself will be going to spend the summer with her grandmother. This dismays Jenna for several reasons, but when her best friend, and fellow eco-teen, Olivia suggest that she stay with her God mother in the Canadian wilderness, Jenna jumps on the chance. When summer comes and Jenna and Olivia spend their summers apart, they both immerse themselves in finding out who they are and what's most important to themselves. It is a story of becoming self aware, facing change, making friends, and moving on past old friendships when your goals are no longer common. There are some very good moments in this story to give young people some identifiable scenarios with very positive action to move though them successfully.

Reviewed By: Stacy Burton ( Teacher, City View Jr./Sr. High School)   

DARK LIFE

Author (last name first):
Falls, Kat  

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Scholastic Press/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

7th-12th

Classification:
Fiction 

Dark Life is set in a world were global warming has caused the Earth's oceans to rise, making land more valuable as well as cramped. The only other option is to take up residence  on the sea floor. Enter Ty- a team who has been raised form birth from the sub sea Benthic Territory. Add in the feisty "Topsider" Gemma and the treat of a roving gang of thugs, Dark Life is a fast paced read that i feel tweens and teens will race through. It leaves you wanting to know what happens next. Kat Falls has developed a world in which the reader can escape to as well as characters with whom teens can identify. 

Reviewed By: Crystal Krueger( City View Jr/Sr. High School)
 

A CRACK IN THE SKY

Author (last name first):
Hughes, Mark Peter

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Delacorte Press/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

9th- 12th

Classification:
Fiction  


This is an AWESOME book about a potential future of the earth. Humans live in domes because the "outside" is uninhabitable without suits. However there are some outside survivors. An underground movement has been established because the continual destruction of the earth has begun to cause damage to the domes and life as known will not continue. The book is very well written; I could hardly put it down. It is a definite "food for thought" book.

Reviewed By: Laura Gibson (High School Mathematics Teacher)

 

FIRE WILL FALL

Author (last name first):
Plum-Ucci, Carol 
Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Harcourt/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

9th-12th

Classification:
Fiction 

Fire Will Fall is a sequel to Plum- Ucci's  Streams of Babel, In Streams, bio-terrorist had poisoned the water supply of the small New Jersey town of Trinity Falls the following spring after 9/11. In the sequel, survivors of the attack known as the Trinity Four are transported to the historic Kellerton mansion to recover in seclusion while scientists rush to find a cure as well to apprehend the terrorist responsible for the attack. The story is told from six different points of view, the Trinity Four as well as two hackers who where also infected in the previous book. The Trinity Four is comprised of three seniors in high school: Rain, Owen, and Owen's older paramedic brother Scott. In Streams, both Cora's and Scott's mothers drank enough of the tainted water to succumb to the virus. So on top of dealing with recovery, there is also the grief associated with these deaths. Each character has a distinct personality that the author capitalizes on, however I feel I would have benefited from reading the first book as there are several references to it, almost to the point where it seems dependent on it. Tension slowly builds that keeps the reader turning the page. I think high-school students would enjoy the plot. There's suspense, fragile  relationships, and supernatural experiences that will keep the reader drawn to this book.

Reviewed By: Crystal Krueger (Teacher/ City View Jr. Sr. High School)

 

HARMONIC (((FEEDBACK)))

Author (last name first):
Kelly, Tara

Publisher, Date of Publication:

Henry Holt and Company/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level:

7th-12th

Classification:
Fiction

This is a really good book. I loved reading about Drea.I felt like I was a part of her life. This book is about a high school student who has A.D.H.A. It is part of the Autism Spectrum. She has Aspergers and a few other problems. The book tells how she finally has 2 new friends in Bellingham where she and her mother move to live with her grandmother. Naomi and Drea become close in order to deal with her problems. Drea produces music, plays guitar, and makes music mixes. She meets Justin another new student at the high school where she goes. Together they become close friends and the 3 form a band. Naomi is mixed up on drugs and Drea and Justin try to help her. This book opened my mind to a lot of problems those with disabilities have and how each person must learn to cope. I think everyone should read this book. I thought it was great.


Reviewed By: Shirley Robinson (City View I.S.D.)

COUNT DOWN

Author (last name first):
Wiles, Deborah 

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Scholastic Press/May 2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

7th-12th

Classification:
Fiction 

The story is set in 1962 in Maryland in a small town near Andrews air force base. It is about an 11yearold girl named Franny, her brother Drew, her sister Jo-Ellen, her uncle Otis, and her parents. Franny and her brother Drew go to camp Head Elementary. They have disaster drills uncle Otis has war flash backs and does all kinds of crazy things which embarrass Franny.  She has a good friend Margie who she gets in trouble with. The book covers the 13 days the world is worried about nuclear missile attack and the trials Franny goes through during this time. It has lots of pictures from the 60's and a lot about history spread though it. I would consider it a good book for the students.

Reviewed By: Shirley Robinson (City View I.S.D.) 

SHADOW

Author (last name first):
Moss,Jenny  

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Scholastic Press/2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

7th-12th

Classification:
Fiction 

This is a captivating story of a girl who is the shadow to the queen. There is a prophecy of the queen's death before her 16th birthday. Hopefully it would be shadow who took the death and not the queen. So, for many years she was the queen's shadow, and that is all she had ever known or remembered. One day, the prophecy came true, the queen died. Sir Kenway one of the knights, escaped with shadow, because someone thought shadow killed the queen. As it turned out they went on an adventure seeking the truth. When they at last found it, shadow could not believe it. She, Shadow, was the true Queen, and Sir Kenway loved her. It had been a plot to keep the true Queen safe. 

Reviewed By: Kim Lemons (Librarian) 

THE SPACE BETWEEN TREES

Author (last name first):
Williams, Katie 

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Chronicle Books L.L.C. /2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

9th-12th

Classification: Fiction 

Invisible Loner,Evie, makes up stories to be noticed by everyone from her peers to her mother. Sometimes she almost believes them herself, until she is present when a body is recovered form a nearby forest. While trying to handle her the knowledge that the body was of a girl her own age who she was once friends, she is swept up in a wild storm. Evie and her friend get a little lost in fantasy vs. reality until another tragedy strikes, though this time perpetuated by themselves "can both girls move onto "normal" lives?" is a question left for the reader to contemplate. 

Reviewed By: Stacy Burton (Teacher) 

  

SCARLETT FEVER

Author (last name first):
Johnson, Maureen

Publisher, Date of Publication: 

Point/February 2010

Grade Level/ or Age Level: 

8th -11th

Classification: Fiction 

This novel follows Scarlett  Martin and her siblings as they struggle with their lives in New York City. This book is fantastic. All the characters are well developed. None of them seem out of place though because they all tie back together to Scarlett's life and there is minimal cursing. My biggest complaint about this book(and it's BIG) is that the ending left us hanging  BIG TIME! I hope that means there will be another novel about this wacky family.

Reviewed By: Rachel McWilliams (Lit Teacher/ City View Jr. High)