The Lightning Thief (Series: Percy Jackson & the Olympians)

By Rick Riordan

Reviewed by Ms. S. Goyak, BCCHS history teacher

What would you do if you discovered that everything you knew about yourself was wrong? That all of the flaws you thought you had were actually strengths? That's what happens to Percy Jackson one day when he goes on a field trip for school.  His entire world is turned upside down when he discovers that he is the son of a Greek god.  From there, he is plunged into a brand new world - one of gods and monsters, heroes and quests.

The first in a series of novels about Percy's s adventures as a Demi-god at Camp Half Blood, The Lightning Thief is an exciting read that puts a new twist on the old myths of Medusa, Poseidon, and Zeus, while introducing a new batch of gods for a new generation.  From the most causal reader to the most avid book enthusiast, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief is an excellent choice for any student.

Wicked Lovely

By Melissa Marr
Reviewed by Sarah G., BCCHS student

“Studying the art and realizing that beauty wasn’t in the order, but in the unplanned harmony.”

To me this quote not only signifies art but it could represent a person too. Things aren’t always going to be beautiful at first, but to see someone for who they truly are-- That’s what makes them beautiful. That’s what makes someone truly special. 

Wicked Lovely is a story about a summer king looking for his summer queen. Ash is destined to become the summer queen but throughout the story you read of her struggle to remain human and remain in the semi-normal life she has been living. Also, the struggle to remain with the man she loves and not fall prey to the fairies of the summer court.

I enjoyed this book very much. My favorite character in the book is Seth because even though he doesn’t exactly believe that fairies exist, he still tries to find ways to help Ash to defend against the fairies. And another weird thing is that the summer king’s parents were the former summer king and the winter queen. The reason it’s so strange is because the summer king and the summer queen cannot stand to be around each other because one brings warmth and the other brings frost.

I most certainly recommend this book. Especially for those who love fantasy love story drama. On a scale to 1 to 10, 10 being the greatest, I rate this book a 9. This book is good for anyone from middle school to high school and maybe for older people who enjoy these types of books.

IT

By Stephen King

Reviewed by Alan Nguyen

Derry is a small town in which many strange and bizarre events take place, where an evil orb of light becomes every child’s worst nightmare. Seven kids of the town each have an encounter with the evil with no name. Twenty-seven years later, none of them can withstand the force that brings them back to Derry, and they each remember the monster that takes the form of a clown.

“George’s eyes rolled in the picture…[His] artificial say-cheese smile turned into a horrid leer… Bill threw the book across the room…The book struck the wall and fell to the floor, open. The pages turned…to that awful picture again…Blood began to flow from the picture.”

IT is one of Stephen King’s best. The book is excellent, addicting, a book to read if you enjoy horror.

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.

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.

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. 

The Summoning

By Kelley Armstrong

Reviewed by Jesus Padilla

If you like the supernatural, you will like this book. Also, if you are interested in secret projects like Area 51, you may want to read this book. It’s about a girl who lives a normal life and suddenly she starts seeing ghosts. She is sent to a house for troubled teenagers where things are not as they seem and people are not what you call normal. The house is run by nurses and doctors as if it is a normal house, but there are some powerful people who control it for their own purpose. And that is where the mystery begins…

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Blue Moon

By Alison Noel

Fiction

Reviewed by Crystal Hernandez

"Science is just now catching up to what metaphysicians and the great spiritual teachers have known for centuries. Everything is energy. Everyone is one."

Ever is now immortal, but she still needs help to improve her new powers. As Ever's powers increase, something happens to Damen's powers. Damen is never sick, but now he claims he has headaches; his attitude towards Ever is strange now. Ever is now really afraid of what's happening to Damen—she senses that something is terribly wrong. She travels to Summerland to save Damen, while getting away from Roman. Although she senses that he has to do with Damen's odd behavior, he's the only one who is nice to her. Her teachers don't listen to her, or her aunt, and her friends think she's exaggerating about Damen, claiming that he has moved on now and Ever needs to do the same. Ever somehow knows that everyone's behavior is odd, and she needs help from Ava. She now says she needs to travel to Summerland to find the answer to save her true love. She also needs to find out what Roman really is, because for all she knows, he might be an 'immortal' too.

Recommendation-Excellent

I think this book held a lot of imagination. Its quality of text was more in the present time, but the whole story altogether is extremely addicting. It really takes you into their world. The love story is very intense, and makes you want to be Ever. You will not be able to keep your hands off of this book! I highly recommend it! You are going to love it!

*This book is available at your local library and bookstore. The Birmingham Library has other titles by this author.

Marked (House of Night Series, Book 1)

By P.C Cast & Kristen Cast

Reviewed by Wendy

To tell you precisely what this book is about, all I have to say is one word, vampires. Yes this story is about vampires, but unlike Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight saga, this vampire story is different. It has thrills, twists, and love, all you need for a great read.

This story begins in a world where vampires are no secret, in a world where you are “marked” with a sapphire crescent moon on your forehead to show that you belong to the family of Nyx, the goddess of the night. When you are marked, it is mandatory that you go live at the House of Night, seems like a regular boarding school for rich kids but in fact it’s a place to go and survive the Change.

Zoey Redbird is a unique character, unlike Bella from Twilight who thinks about Edward 24/7 and her whole life revolves around him, Zoey is spunky and modern. When I say “modern,” I’m talking about a real girl who thinks of other things instead of guy, not to mention she isn’t a total klutz. Zoey is a rejected teenager at home and the luckiest girl at school because her boyfriend is the football team’s quarterback. However, as soon as she is marked her life is turned upside down, into a fast-paced adventure to find out who she is and what she is destined for. Seeking answers along with love, she meets her best friends who will help her fight evil.

You know how sometimes you have to reread a line about two or three times before you completely understand it, well that is a sign of boredom. However while reading this book you’ll find that you’ll only need to read it once, and before you know it you’ll be done with it.

Image courtesy of Dr Joseph Valks / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.