Runner

By Carl Deuker

Reviewed by Hugo

Living in a difficult situation, Chance Taylor currently works at a restaurant and lives with his alcoholic father on an old sailboat. With his father getting fired from his job, they don't have enough money to pay the mortgage. He is desperate and does not know what to do next. One day he stumbles on a fat guy that works at the marina office and offers Chance an easy job that pays well. He has no choice but to accept the job. The job is to go for a run to a tree and retrieve a package that is hidden underneath the roots. Then come back running with it and put it in his locker. The job pays $200 a week. "Chase knows how much he will earn—what he doesn't know is how much he will pay."

Runner by Carl Deuker is a fast-paced suspense story that is fun to read. It is full of mysteries and obstacles that Chance must go through. The novel is well written with lots of details and is full of characters with different personalities. It is easy to read and will make you want to keep on reading. The ending was a surprise, for I didn't expect any of those things to happen. What was most interesting about the story was what was in the package, which contains the answer to the entire mystery. I haven't met anybody that doesn't like this book, and I would recommend this book to anybody that loves mystery and suspense. I give this book five out of five stars.

Tricks

By Ellen Hopkins

Reviewed by Lupe

Five teenagers living in different parts of the country all have different stories dealing with the same things. Love, sex, and drugs are just three of the things these kids deal with. Looking for safety, compassion, love, communication, and themselves, yet finding them in all the wrong places for all the wrong reasons. Trusting others is a lesson these teens will have to learn as they go on with their crazy journeys in order to find what they long for. Meanwhile figuring out who they are, who they have become, if they like their new selves, and mainly if they will be able to forgive themselves for the things they have done.

This is an exhilarating book that keeps you shocked as you keep reading. It grips you by the heart and keeps you reading till you find out what truly happens to these poor teens that lead them to the situations they're in—wondering how they will overcome it all and even if they will overcome it.

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

Heartless (Pretty Little Liars series)

By Sara Shepard

Reviewed by Mary

Ever had that so-called best friend you wanted to disappear because she knew a little too much? Then this book is for you. The disappearance of all around, popular Alison Dilaurentis shocked everyone in the town of Rosewood, Pennsylvania. Everyone is left confused and scarred by the terrible incident. Alison's best friends are left scared and bewildered because the night Ali went missing was the night they were having yet another sleepover. Years pass and still no clues to what could have happened to the beautiful and popular Alison. Just as the four young best friends are trying to get over the disappearance of their BFF, they start to receive text messages, which make them rethink Ali's death. Follow the teenage girls on their journey to figure out who killed Ali. The girls face media and publicity issues, yet they still strive to figure out, "Who killed Ali?"

I'd recommend this book to my peers, because this book grasps your attention and makes you rethink all that you have read. The author Sara Shepard keeps changing the scenarios and plotline, which catches the reader's attention even more. She also uses slang and very familiar teenage language, which makes the book easy to read. Quotes in the story such as "Ali killed Ali" caused my body to get Goosebumps because evidence may lead to a suspect or Ali herself? The mysterious texter changes his/her persona, which causes confusion. So are you ready? Grab the series and begin your dramatic adventure. If you dare…

*This book is available at your local library and bookstore.

A Million Little Pieces

By James Frey

Reviewed by Martina

Summary:

James Frey, a drug addict, hits rock bottom in his life. His only choice to even begin to get his life back is to spend time in a rehabilitation clinic. It is in this recovery period that he reaches down into his soul to find out if he is strong enough to beat his addictions. During this time he befriends and clashes with fellow drug addicts and staff workers. He also falls for a young woman that helps James find the will to live again.

Favorite quote:

“Hold on”. Those two words are so vital to his fight to save his life. James’ life has become a tight rope. From one minute to the next he is not sure if he can hold on or lose everything. To keep killing from self loathing James hold on, breathe, and simply take one day at a time.

Recommendation:

This book is very poetic. It is a memoir that is written in prose. It is the most raw and gut-wrenching book I have ever read. In short, simple, and uncomplicated sentences James reels you into a dark and complicated world. You feel his pain, his struggle, his sadness, and his frustration. A roller coaster as he takes you on a journey into his journey of recovery and self discovery.

Image courtesy of Carlos Porto / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

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.

Monster

By Walter Dean Myers

Reviewed by Sam

Steve Harmon is sixteen years old, and he’s accused of being involved in an armed robbery. Monster, by Walter Dean Myers, is a story about a teenage boy, Steve Harmon, who could be sentenced for 25 to life. Feeling like he has stepped into a movie, Steve decides to write everything down in his journal as if it were a movie script. Not only this, but Steve writes about how jail has affected and changed him forever in his journal. Steve tries to hold himself together even though it seems the odds are stacked against him in this courtroom drama.

This story is a great look into the harsh life of a teenager. This is a great book. It takes you deep into the thoughts of Steve and puts the reader in his shoes. You can feel all of the pain he is experiencing during this hard time. The book is very well written and has a great plot. It will have you thinking about it after you have finished it and put it down.

I would refer this book to anybody. The story is powerful and leaves a lasting impression on the reader. The way that you see Steve slowly lose his innocence and faith is a very slow and painful process. The fact that Steve and I are the same age makes this book even more interesting, but even if you weren’t you would still enjoy this book. I recommend this book to anybody who likes a quick, yet very deep and interesting read.

Image courtesy of Andrew Bardwell ("abardwell") / CC BY-SA 2.0.

Endgame

By Nancy Garden

Reviewed by Timothy

I liked this book; it was very interesting to see how you can only do so much to a person. Like i mean the kid is a ninth grader who's been picked on throughout middle school, and only had one friend. The kid's parents aren't his biggest fans either. His dad favors his older brother, who is just the biggest suck-up in the world and pretends that he's all goody two-shoes, and gets into no trouble. So when he does get in trouble he stands out even more. Like his dad tells him he should be more like his brother. His mom doesn't wanna make the dad angry or to get into any arguments, so when he says anything about the son she just goes along with it, and doesn't stand up for him. He also releases some of his stress out on playing his drums, and shooting his bow and arrows. Then he gets kicked out of his school, because the bullies at his school beat him up so much that he brings a knife to the school for protection and gets caught with it by the principal. So now his dad wants to move for a job.

Everyone is planing on a new beginning; the kid has started high school in a new town with new kids. He hopes that things will change so he keeps repeating "it will get better it will get better." Then he meets a girl and a boy in his new town and makes friends. The girl is older then him like his older brother , and the boy is his age. He joins the band at his high school, and when everything starts to go good his life just goes right down hill. "Nothing has changed," he says, because there are bullies at this school to.

I love the way this book had great climax moments where you didn't know if the next page was gonna be the page where you find out what is gonna happen, but you don't and it makes you wanna keep turning pages. Like the part where he says "I could see gray light around my window shade, and I felt I don't know, different, stronger. The black cloud thinner I knew it was thinner, this was a special day I'd been waiting for, even when I hadn't known I was."

I would recommend this book for someone who wants to know about consequences and how hard they can be because of your little mistake. also for someone who likes suspense and thriller books.

Image courtesy of Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life

By Lance Armstrong

Reviewed by Emily

For many people, cycling may be one of the most boring, monotonous sports to participate in. I sure thought so before I started riding. In reality, cycling is a strenuous experience that requires a lot of self-motivation. It’s a brutal beat-down on the entire body, and takes an athletic composure in the mental, emotional, and (especially) physical components. As seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong puts it, “It's not about the bike. It's a metaphor for life, not only the longest race in the world but also the most exalting and heartbreaking and potentially tragic.” His autobiographical book, It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life, takes his readers down a winding road of defeat, hardship, success, and triumph.

Image courtesy of Tom Curtis / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

The Last Song

By Nicholas Sparks

Reviewed by Brenda

Three years after her parents’ divorce, seventeen-year-old Veronica “Ronnie” Miller discovers that things are never what they seem…

After the divorce, Ronnie feels a deep anger against her father that blinds her to the reality of certain things. Until the summer that she is forced to spend in the company of her father.

While trying to avoid her father, she meets some interesting people that change her life forever. Among them is Will Blake Lee, a good-looking, sensitive guy who although rich and popular will teach her a lesson.

At the end of the summer, she makes a discovery that will affect her life in an important way.

The Last Song is a story that will touch your heart, and make you see that things are not always what we want them to be. It is a story that will make you change your point of view about life and see it in a totally different perspective.

Image courtesy of Dino De Luca / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.