Cat’s Cradle

By Kurt Vonnegut

Reviewd by Ellaine Ronquillo, BCCHS student

“A Free-Wheeling Vehicle, An Unforgettable Ride!” -- New York Times

This book by Kurt Vonnegut is such an odd yet very interesting book that wants you to keep on turning those pages. Vonnegut has put you in a futuristic place but has captured our modern world of today. I mean it gets you all mixed up at first, but in the end if you read it more than once you’ll understand it more and more. It’s crazy and just completely twisted in some chapters. The narrator and main character Jonah/John was quite an honest child and man of wisdom you might say. Cat’s Cradle is a satirical commentary on a “modern man and his madness.”

From the back of the book:
“An apocalyptic tale of this planet’s ultimate fate, it features a midget as the protagonist; a complete, original theology created by a calypso singer; and a vision of the future that is at once blackly fatalistic and hilariously funny. A book that left an indelible mark on an entire generation of readers. Cat’s Cradle is one of this century’s most important works… and Vonnegut at his very best.”

It caught my attention when I saw it on the shelf and when I asked our librarian she said, “Oh, that’s a good one. It’s just so twisted and crazy, but an awesome book.” As she said this to me I was hooked, twisted and crazy were my favorite types of books aside from romance and mystery books. In my opinion Cat’s Cradle is just amazing in many ways unexplainable. I love it, it was one of the books I will always remember reading in high school.

I definitely recommend this to you if you’re bored or just completely into reading something so crazy and confusing that it challenges you to read it again and again. Quoting the end of the book, “If I were a younger man, I would write the history of human stupidity; and I would climb to the top of Mt. McCabe and lie down on my back with my history for a pillow; and I would take from the ground some of the blue-white poison that makes statues of myself, lying on my back, grinning horribly, and thumbing my nose at You Know Who.” As the narrator quoted from The Book of Bokonon. Just reading that last paragraph or so was what got me saying, “We need more books like this in the future and make it a new trend one day in high school. I could say many things about the Cat’s Cradle and go on and on, but for now check it out at our library and see what you think.

The Call of the Wild

By Jack London

Reviewed by Taylor "Frost-Whitman-Emerson" Earwood, BCCHS student

Setting down The Call of the Wild by Jack London was one of the hardest things I have done this year. The action, the suspense, the love, and the pain all were intertwined magically in this well-crafted novel about the early gold rush into Alaska.

Buck, previously the pampered pet of a judge in Southern California, gets stolen from his easy lifestyle and is brought to the harsh lands of the north. Buck doesn’t go without a fight, but soon learns that the law of the land circles around the rules of club and fang, the strongest wins and rules, and man is the strongest, so Buck has no choice but to adjust. Through many trials and tribulations, Buck moves from owner to owner, job to job, all while becoming stronger and smarter. In the flash of a second though, everything changes for Buck when he is sold one last time to a party that has no clue what they are doing and leads the dogs and themselves to a watery grave.  That is, except for Buck, who was rescued by a mountain man living off the land. He finds a new kind of friendship with this man that he has never felt before, but despite his new, peaceful, and almost perfect life, he still feels like some part of his ancestral past is clawing and trying to become real again. He has heard the call of the wild, the call that fills those who hear it with the desire to run though the woods at night, to swim in the fast-flowing streams of the wilderness. He soon starts wandering off from his new companion, often for days at a time. He meets other creatures like him, wolves, and feels a kind of kinship to them that he had never felt to anything or anyone else. So when a tragic incident occurs and Buck loses his only connection to the world of man, he leaves that world, and plunges into the forest to join his wild counterparts. He doesn’t just hear the call of the wild anymore, but when he howls, he makes the call of the wild.

The intense language of the piece and the story being told by Buck made this a very fun and exciting read for me. I don’t want to go all “English essay” on you, but London’s diction really emphasized the strong determination in Buck that you could almost feel through the pages. The story, being relatively short too, was able to hold my interest throughout the whole read. Very few books can do this for me as I have been known to just stop reading after a smattering of paragraphs, but this story started out with an interesting plot, maintained it very well with constant action and excitement that peaked with a gut-wrenching, heart-throbbing and deeply inspiring climax. This book gets my (very coveted) seal of approval, and I would suggest that everyone who reads this review go read The Call of the Wild.

Image courtesy of stock.XCHNG.

'Salem’s Lot

By Stephen King

Reviewed by Alan Nguyen, BCCHS student

"…in the awful heavy silence of the house, as he sat impotently on his bed with his face in his hands, he heard the high, sweet, evil laugh of a child—and then the horrible sucking sounds."

This book, written by Stephen King, is about a novelist named Ben Mears, who goes to his hometown in southern Maine, after being away for 25 years. Ben had the idea of writing one of his books on the Marsten house, a house that sits on top of the hill staring down at 'Salem's lot. The experience he had at that house has kept him from coming back to the town. Everything seems normal at first, but the town's fate is more dreadful than death. The population decreases over time, a man's best friend is found dead, and monsters of the night take over…
It was a great book, it was the first Stephen king book that I have read, and for any student who is looking for a book that is sure to give you chills it would be 'Salem's lot. 


Image courtesy of Joseph Valks / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Stargirl

By Jerry Spinelli

Reviewed by Levon, BCCHS student

Stargirl is a very good book and I would recommend it to anyone. This book in my opinion captures the high school attitude and spirit of teens my generation. Teens like Stargirl, who are unique and outlandish, do get bullied in reality just like in the book, and I think the connection the author makes with fiction and reality makes the book more interesting too. Stargirl is written in such a way that all of us can relate to it, we understand and feel what Stargirl is going through because so many of us have either been picked on or know someone who has. Also, anyone who has just started a new school or is going somewhere new for the first time will also like this book. I like the fact that the character Stargirl symbolizes leadership, and teaches us not to be a follower but to always be ourselves. Because of her great attitude she makes a big impact on the high school, and she leaves a stamp on it for life.

The characters in the book are very realistic to students in high school in today’s age. There is the typical popular rich girl, the jock, the smart guy, a very unique girl, and of course the jerk, because of this most of us can make a much easier connection. I also found the setting to be a little bit weird for a story like this: it takes place in a small high school in a small town in Arizona. In general it’s a very fun book, and once you pick it up you wont stop because of the story's great theme.

Image courtesy of Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Night Hoops

By Carl Deuker

Reviewed by Andy M.

Night Hoops is a fiction book about a boy’s basketball life. He is starting his first year of high school at Bothell High and is extremely excited about trying out for the varsity basketball team. He had already been the point-guard for his middle school, so he is confident, and he spent his entire summer playing at the school's basketball courts, but that was before his dad constructed a full court in their backyard. After it was built, he practiced everyday and only got better. Eventually, he became the starting point-guard for his high school. His first game was great. He scored and had several assists, but the next couple of games were atrocious. This caused him to become a bench warmer, which was unacceptable for him and his father. He then has to work extremely hard in order to earn his minutes again and to help his team win.

This book is recommended to anyone who likes basketball. It is very inspiring and motivational. One can relate to it not only through basketball, but through life as well. Seeing how Nick Abbot and Trent Dawson, the two main characters, worked hard and never gave up made me personally want to be a better basketball player. This is a book that will not put one to sleep and will end up making the reader feel as if it is a true story.

Image courtesy of Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Boot Camp

By Todd Strasser

Reviewed by Anthony Garcia

Summary:

Garrett is a really smart 15-year old that has good grades. He is passing all his classes and gets proficient scores on his tests. But he also has a bad side. Garrett is always disobeying his parents and decides to rebel against them. He decides to smoke pot and date his teacher who is 8-years older. His parents tell him to stop but he doesn’t listen. Garrett’s parents get fed up and send him to Lake Harmony. Lake Harmony is a boot camp. Garrett doesn’t think he deserves to be there once he arrives. But while he’s there, he meets two people that have an escape plan. He considers both the benefits and consequences. The benefits are freedom and the consequences will possibly be life threatening.

Quote:

“You don’t get out by giving them what you think they want. You don’t get out until you are what they want.” –Pauly

Recommendation:

This book is great. Nice story line and everything connects together. It gives the reader a lot to visualize.

Image courtesy of Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Thirteen Reasons Why

By Jay Asher

Reviewed by Diana

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher is a fiction book about a girl who commits suicide. Before she does this, she releases a box of cassette tapes. In those tapes are the 13 reasons why she came to her decision. To many the truth will haunt them forever. This story is written perfectly in my eyes. It involves many topics teens interfere with today like rape, drugs, depression, alcohol, and suicide. I would assume some parents might not like their kids reading this due to the material. I would recommend this book to teenagers 15 and older. There really is no limit in age to read this book. It will pull in any reader. This book is for people who are into the mystery books. It involves a little secrecy as you connect all the facts and events in the story. You will not be able to put this book down. Once you begin to read it you will not be able to stop. You will always need more, from the first page all the way to the last word. The plot sounds catching. The storyline may seem a little dark, bleak, and cruel but the message it transmits is a very valuable one that many of us learn from through experience. It will show you how the way you treat others does affect them and you really don’t know when the last day for anything is.

Many teenagers think the whole suicide theme is a little played out in books now a days. This book is not only about suicide. It involves many other things that you may also relate to. It also is helpful to many high school students. It helps you to be alert around you with the people you interact with. This book will help you identify some teens that may be in trouble and the ones that doubt their existence here on Earth. It can teach you that no matter how great and wonderful someone may display their life on the outside, they may be crushed and falling apart on the inside.

Favorite Quote: “One…last…try.”

Thirteen Reasons Why

By Jay Asher

Reviewed by Diego

Thirteen Reasons Why is a non-stop suspenseful book leaving you with chills and a mystery for every tape left behind. Nobody knows why or what the reason was for Hannah Baker's suicide, until one day Clay Jensen, a crush and classmate of Hannah Bakers, arrives home finding a mysteryious box full of tapes in his front porch, discovering he is one of the thirteen reasons why she killed herself. To know why he is one of those reasons he must listen to every tape and pass them around as instructed and follow a map given to him. Even better more mystery and confusion are too come. I give this book a two thumbs up, I highly recommend this book for those who are interested in suspense and have you thinking every minute wondering! It is an excellent outstanding book that will leave you shocked at the end after hearing all thirteen tapes.

Cirque du Freak

By Darren Shan

Reviewed by Matthew E.

Cirque du Freak is a page-turning thriller that is sure to leave readers bloodthirsty for more. There are many plot twists that are sure to chill the spine of even the most brave-hearted. 

Cirque du Freak is the story of your average teenager Darren Shan, who is more than unenthusiastic about how things are going in his life. He simply hates the conformity and wants adventure. So one night when his mischievous friend Steven asks him if he wants to see a freak show, Darren jumps for the chance for excitement. Little does he know that choosing to go to this show will change his life forever.

Throughout this book, Darren is dragged into a centuries long war that no one outside of the vampire society knows about. Will Darren turn the tide of this war against Vampires and Vampaneze? Will Darren ever get a chance to have his first kiss? Or will he turn to an inhumane society and become a full vampire whose only purpose is to be a bloodsucking demon? You can only find out when you read Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's assistant. 

Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member

By Sanyika Shakur, a.k.a Kody Scott

Reviewed by Shanera J.

The book Monster is an autobiography of an L.A gang member, which details his story about his role as a gang member. The speaker expresses what it takes to become dedicated to the gang and also roles in becoming a member of a set (gang). Kody Scott a.k.a Monster entered the gang life at the age of 11. With the support from his brother lil Monster, china and the set, he manages to run the streets representing Eighties Trays. He later struggles keeping his hood (community) stable, distracted by problems that never left him. How will he manage to survive and get out of the situation that he is in; will he succeed?

The quote “can’t stop, won’t stop” is quite interesting. I admire this quote because it can have two meanings, both positive and negative. Positively because you maybe can’t stop ; for example an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Negatively because if you are able to stop and you choose not to, that too can lead to serious issues.

This is a good book in my opinion. I recommend this book to those who are interested in gang life, stories, point of views, and expression.