Unwind

Book by Neal Shusterman
Review by Stacy V., BCCHS student

The book Unwind is based sometime in the future where a war has been fought between the pro-life and pro-choice armies. Their conclusion or result is the Bill of Life, which ends abortion but allows parents to choose to have their children "unwound" between the ages of 13 and 18. "Unwinding" is the transplanting of every part of the teens' bodies to some other adults that need it, but since every bit of their bodies is still technically "alive," they haven't been killed, right?

One of the main characters of the book is Connor, who discovers that his parents have signed an order for his unwinding, and as soon as he finds out he escapes. He eventually meets a girl named Risa, another escaping unwind who is very well educated and intelligent, also a boy named Lev, whose life has been tithed to the church and whose family has lied to him throughout his life. Connor becomes the leader of their little group and tries to keep them all one step ahead of the police that are after them. But Lev may have other ideas and could ruin their escape; that could lead them all to Unwinding.

This book is full of suspense and disbelief upon what is right and who is right. You will find the story exciting and thought-provoking. It raises issues that range from abortion, organ transplant, and euthanasia, to the rights of parents, children, and society. Neal Shusterman takes an idea and runs with it far beyond where most authors are willing to go.

Carrie

Book by Stephen King

Review by Alan N., BCCHS student

“It was time to teach them a lesson. Time to show them a thing or two. She giggled hysterically.”

A high school student who is harassed constantly, so that every moment the anger becomes worse and worse—Carrie White is not your ordinary 16-year-old girl. She is seen as a freak, somebody who does not belong in Chamberlain, Maine. Her mother sees her own daughter as a sinner, a witch, and Carrie soon realizes the gift she has, the power to move anything with her mind. As things get worse, she knows what she must do, punish those who did her wrong, the ones who underestimated her; she will make them suffer, let them know that Carrie White is one person not to bother, and she waits for her prom night, a night she will always cherish. In the book, she is described as a girl who has self-doubt, who is someone who will never find true love, or ever have a relationship.

The book, in my opinion, was able to demonstrate high school life and what certain people go through. What I really enjoy about the author is that Stephen King is able to blend a little of reality and fiction together, and come up with a story that is very interesting. Carrie is one of my favorite Stephen King books. It is well written, the suspense is unrelenting, and it is a fast-paced novel. Another good thing about it is that when a significant event occurs, the novel changes to another setting in which the characters describe the situation of the prom night, the night that no one will ever forget. The novel is a great book, and I hope the students that read it can enjoy it as much as I did. What I also liked from the book was that it is full of detail, and describes every little thing that is needed to understand the story.

I know this long review can be boring or stupid, the reason is because I’m doing an extra credit assignment for my English class, and I NEED THE POINTS! I hope the person that is reading this review can take their time to read the book, and I hope they will like it—Who wouldn’t like it, IT’S CARRIE EVERYONE, the story about the girl who has hate for everyone, including her own mother; but I don’t blame her, because her mom is crazy. Carrie is a short novel, 245 pages long, but once you read the very beginning, you won’t want to put the book down. I thank you for taking your time to read this very long review, and I hope you will read the book.

Rage: A Love Story

Written by Julies Anne Peters
Reviewed by Diana V. H., BCCHS student

**This book is coming to the BCCHS Library on January 11, 2011.

Rage is a story about a young lesbian, Johanna Finch, who is very attracted to a girl named Reeve Hartt. Reeve Hartt is a mysterious girl, and that’s one of the things that drives Johanna crazy. Eventually the two become a couple and Johanna is head over heels in love with Reeve. Reeve does not understand why Johanna loves her so much; she has never understood love because her past has been full of child abuse. Throughout the story, Reeve physically abuses Johanna. These two characters undergo many problems, but somehow they make it work.

I loved this book because the connection between the two characters was so strong, and it made the story seem as if everything was going to be okay, but then there would be a change in events. It always had something that made me want to keep reading. The book was like an adventure of a girl who is blinded by love and is willing to travel any distance to stay with her love.

This book is suitable for a teenage audience. It’s also great for anyone looking for a great love story to read. I would give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars because I don’t like love stories, and this book had me glued to its pages. Rage was recommended to me by a friend, and now I recommend it to everyone who wants to be entertained.

Changes (Dresden Files, Book 12)

Written by Jim Butcher
Reviewed by Eric M., BCCHS student

*** This book is available at your local public library or bookstore.

Changes is the 12th novel in the Dresden Files Universe, and it’s the exactly what the title states, changes. Meet Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only practicing professional Wizard. He’s been in more “end of the world” scrapes and adventures than he has fingers, has 10 times more enemies than friends, owns a spiritual entity that lives in a skull called Bob, consults for the Chicago Police Department on supernatural cases, is a Warden of the White Council and a teacher to his apprentice, Molly.


For the last 11 books or so, Harry has primarily been hired/bullied/tricked into taking cases/assignments that have led him to having to either:

     A. Save lives (sometimes his own)

     B. Save Chicago.

     Or C. Save the World.

Whether its squaring off against killer F.B.I. werewolves, starting wars between courts singlehandedly, going toe-to-toe with sex-driven Vampires, or having to go up against a couple of heavyweight divine-gods—twice—you name it, Harry has done it all. Harry has been fighting for his life, his city, and his world for years.

But just when his previous engagement had left him asking what the world would ask of him next, his ex-girlfriend (who was turned into a half-vampire after an enemy of Harry’s kidnapped her and gave her a new taste for blood) called him up and opened with a casual, “They’ve taken our daughter.” Talk about a wake-up call.

Harry now faces a daunting task: not only does he have to go up against an entire vampire race (which he’s been at war with for half a decade), but Harry’s conscience will be tested more than ever. In the past, Harry has been offered immense power from evil yet powerful individuals. And even though he always seemed to be staring death in the face, he always declined. But now, Harry isn’t the one in danger, and he will have to decide just how long he can walk the straight and narrow before his little girl runs out of time.

Thank You Library Workers!!!!

 

The Adoration of Jenna Fox

Written by Mary E. Pearson

Reviewed by Toktam Etlaet, BCCHS student

Jenna Fox has just woken up after a yearlong coma to a home she doesn’t know and parents she doesn’t remember. As she struggles to figure out who she is, Jenna discovers a horrible secret that could change her forever. The Adoration of Jenna Fox is a thrilling book about a young girl’s journey of self-discovery as she struggles against her own morals and beliefs. Sprinkled with a fun mix of science fiction, The Adoration of Jenna Fox explores the very nature of humanity and what it really means to have a soul.

A great book that makes the reader think about the very nature of humanity.

Accomplice

Written by Eireann Corrigan

Reviewed by Ms. Freeman, BCCHS Teacher Librarian

Have you ever secretly fantasized about doing something really awful and manipulative in order to get what you want?  Like devising a elaborate plan to steal your best friend’s boyfriend or cheat on the SAT?  You’d probably (hopefully!) never go through with such a wicked scheme…but this book is about two friends who took that secret fantasy and acted on it.

Chloe and Finn were terribly stressed out about getting into a top college and felt they needed an extra something to make them stand out on their applications. The friends started joking about how much attention kidnapped girls receive, and then their jokes turned into a twisted plan: They decided to fake Chloe’s kidnapping and have Finn miraculously find/save her. What a college essay that story would make!

It was supposed to be a “victimless crime,” but the pain they inflict on their families and on the prime suspect turn their cute plan into a nightmare. They never meant to hurt anyone, but can they back out of their plan before they ruin their own lives and the lives of those around them?

I liked this book because it was surprisingly realistic for such a far-fetched plot. It seemed to show what would really happen if you tried to fake your best friend’s kidnapping! However, I had hoped it would be a really tense, suspenseful book, and instead I found it more interesting than suspenseful. (The end was suspenseful, though!)

I’m very curious to know if BCCHS students will like it…Please let me know what you think!

(Note: I know that my use of the word “hopefully” above is grammatically incorrect. Please forgive me, English teachers.)

Gerald's Game

Written by Stephen King

Reviewed by Alan Nguyen, BCCHS student

A married couple, the Burlingames, go to their summer house for some quality time together, and the games they play become a living nightmare. Her husband dead, no way of reaching the keys that can free her, a stray dog that devours the corpse of her husband—This book chronicles a twisted time of her life that she will never forget.   

Suspenseful, gut-wrenching, and hypnotic. The tension in this book is unrelenting. I thought it was a well-written book, and the day I checked out the book, I could not put it down.