To Kill A Mocking Bird

By Harper Lee


Reviewed by Jonathan Miguel

To Kill a Mocking Bird may look like a big old and boring book, but when you start to read the book, it shows you what it was really like back in the early 20^th century. When I first saw the book, I did not like it because it was way too big and the book cover looked very boring. When I started to read it out of my own freewill, I started to fall asleep as soon as I finished the first chapter; it was all boring to me and did not make any sense to me as well. After the first 3 chapters, I started to notice that I liked the book. It got more intense, and it started to show what the 20^th century was really about.

Atticus Finch is a lawyer and a very important person in Maycomb. Then there are his children named Jim and Scout Finch, who love to explore the little town, walking around saying "hi" to their neighbors and being kids. Now his sister Scout is not girly, for she loves to be a tomboy with her brother. Jim is a protective over his sister, and he is always there to comfort her by telling her: "Try and go to sleep, it will all be over tomorrow, maybe."

There is also this kid name Dill, who is a summer neighbor as every year during the summer he flies in to Maycomb to spend time with his family and play with his friends. He is the kind of child that thinks he knows everything there is to know about the world. There is one thing that Dill, Jim, and Scout become more and more interested in, and that person is Boo Radley. No one knows who Boo is in the town of Maycomb, but these kids want to know who he is because they have heard some scary stories about his family and what he has done. So one night, they decide to break into his house and see if what all they've heard is true, but they are so scared that they run out of the house before they find out anything. Atticus Finch, Scout and Jim's father, is doing a huge law case about a person named Tom, who is being accused of raping a white female. Now to find out what happens you have to read the book. It's a timeless tale, and you will like it too!!!!!!!!!!!

Sandpiper

By Ellen Wittlinger

Reviewed by Adriana

"Summer became a golden promise, a lovely liar or a chance for a new life."

Sandpiper seems like your ordinary girl who lives in the town of Hammond a small town surrounded by the harbor. Sandpiper is a sophomore and throughout her eighth grade year and sophomore year she has been with quite a few guys. But sandpiper becomes tired of just being with guys. It seems that she wants a boyfriend this time around. She meets a boy called The Walker and he is a quiet guy who just walks around town. One of Sandpiper's exes Derek starts harassing her. Then Walker gets involved, and he and Sandpiper share their horrible past. 

Sandpiper is a very interesting book, which I recommend. It tells the story of a girl, and how her life is and how her reputation is because of what she has done.

A Child Called It

By: Dave Pelzer

Reviewed by Francis

            This book is nonfiction as it is about the author’s childhood. He was beaten by his alcoholic mom, and she sadistically liked to play games with him that left him nearly dead. His mom no longer considers him a son. My favorite quote from this book was, “The challenges of my past have made me immensely strong inside.” I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read nonfiction books. This is a good book but also sad. It may make you cry, but I read it anyway. I really liked this book.  

Need

By Carrie Jones

Reviewed by Becka 

“You just have to face your fears. So, to face them, I chant them. Cheimatophobia, Frigophobia, Psychophobia, Cheimatophobia.”

Zara White, a 16-year-old girl, whose mom made her move to Maine and live with her Grandma Betty because her step dad just passed away, feels nothing is the same anymore. Her Grandma Betty presents her with a car of her own to make her smile just a bit more, and maybe to forget the tragedy of her stepfather’s death. Being obsessed with phobias, Zara knows every phobia known to mankind. On the flight there, she begins feeling someone watching and following her. She continues to have this feeling while living in Maine with her Grandma. Zara didn’t think she could make so many enemies so fast at her new school. Making two best friends along the way helps her find this mysterious stalker. Many boys seem to like her, and she feels the need to make a choice. She keeps looking for this man who follows her so much, and every place he’s been, he leaves behind golden dust. Confused Zara continues to search.

This book is great: The book Need is great because with each page I turned, I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I found myself more and more mesmerized as I read on.

*This book can be found at your local library or bookstore.  The Birmingham Library offers other titles by this author. 

Street Pharm

By Allison Van Diepen

Reviewed by Jacob Williams

For those who enjoy reading about being in something so deep that you can't get out without a little inspiration, this is a good book for you. Also, for those who like to know that you live in a place of ruins and that there is no way to get out, this book gives you hope. Street Pharm gives you the experience of being in tough situations and being able to talk your way out of it. This book is not only urban, it is also smart. It lets you know no matter what you want to do in your life, you're going to need brain. I highly recommend it to those who like to look into the excitement of other people's lives; it gives plenty of pictured evidence of the main character, Tyrone Johnson's life.

Tyrone Johnson is a kid who inherits his fathers business when he is sent off to jail. He is experienced in dealing because his father showed him how to do it. His goal is to be King of the Streets, but his life changes when he meets a girl named Alice. He starts to fall for her during the book, and when a series of incidents happen, he starts thinking about things that he never thought he would think about. This book takes place in the streets of Brooklyn where back then, everybody was either selling drugs or taking them. I really enjoyed this book because it took me back to my past events; looking back into the past is something that everybody should enjoy, even if you have regrets. If you ever happen to stumble upon this book, it is a book that is recommended by many others besides me.

 

PUSH

By Sapphire

Reviewed by Reina, BCCHS student

If you like A Child Called It, then Push is another breathtaking book that will make you cry. It is about a 16-year-old-girl who's been through a lot, including being pregnant very young. But it is even more shocking when you find out who the dad is!

This book will relate to many teenagers who've been through the same problems, especially being pregnant really young. It'll relate to others who have had parents who abuse them or still do. It'll share a powerful connection in your heart--to see such a young girl face such harsh abuse. Though she shows how far she can push herself to be someone in life, you'll have to see if she has the strength to truly overpower all these issues.

I can relate to this teenager's life with part of the abuse she faces. With such strong violence and faith this will capture your soul as it captured mine.  It teaches you what real life is and what many people face everyday that we wouldn't even think of. But it shows how you can push yourself to do excellent in life. This girl proves the point that not many believe in:  No matter the the struggle, you can make it through. You just have to be willing to!

So if you want a reality check and you or someone you know has gone through hardship, this is the book for you. The writing structure may be a little hard to understand, even though it's the way she speaks. It's her story and that's what makes it a great book.

****4 stars out of 5

Image courtesy of Francesco Marino / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Someone like You

By Sarah Dessen

Reviewed by Jennifer

I recommend the fictitious book Someone like You by Sarah Desssen mostly to teenage girls. If you like to read different ways of how a girl experiences her high school life, you will get that in the book and live another girl's life. This book is one of those books where it gets so good you do not want to stop reading!

It is mostly about this girl Halley, who is not too outgoing; she is shy. When she was a little girl a new neighbor came over, and it was a girl her age. The girl's name was Scarlet. She never knew they would be best friends. Scarlet is the outgoing type and they are totally different. They grew up with each other and then came high school! Everyone knows Halley as "Scarlet's friend." It is only the beginning of their junior year and everything changes. Halley was the one to always ask for advice and Scarlet would be the one to hold her till one day… Scarlet meets this boy who she quickly likes and they are happy together. Then something unexpected happens and that is the moment the girls' roles change.

There is never-ending excitement in the book. It's as if there is adrenalin in the book that excites you and makes you want to read more! You see the change and the struggle. Not only do Scarlet and Halley seek help from each other, but also, they are there for each other. There are surprises! You see how Scarlet's life is changed forever when she tells Halley big news…You see the boys they fall for as you read and how not every boy is who you think. Halley finds herself involved with a boy who may hurt her in a way you would not even imagine! There is also a moment of truth in their friendship. Read this book and you'll find that you love it!

Girl, Interrupted

By Susanna Kaysen

Reviewed by Desteny

This true story is about Susanna Kaysen's life when she was 18 in the sixties—the time where sex and drugs became extremely popular in society. No one really cared about morals around that time. She checks herself into McLean Hospital, which is a residential psychiatric program in Massachusetts. She checked in because she wanted to commit suicide. When she first checked in, she thought that she would only stay there for a couple of weeks, but she was wrong. During her stint in the mental ward, she meets very interesting people with very terrifying problems. There is Lisa, a girl that was diagnosed as being a sociopath, who is basically the leader of the group; Polly, a girl that tried to burn herself to death; Daisy, who has an eating disorder; and a few other patients.

"Freedom [is] the price of privacy" when Susanna and the other girls are locked away from reality, for they don't have privacy. They have lost the freedom of a normal life. Nurses always have to know where they are all the time—it's their responsibility. Lisa, who is my favorite character, always tries to run away from the hospital. She makes the book a lot more interesting. I just think it is weird that she always sees the world as black and white. She never sees the good side to anything. She likes to argue and tell off the nurses and anyone that is in charge. I still like her though. She is fearless and does not care what anyone thinks of her. She makes the book more interesting.

It is an ongoing situation for Susanna and the rest of the patients—trying to find their identity in life. Some of the girls want to get better, but some would just rather stay in there. Susanna thinks there is no hope of being released as a stable person. She fears that she will be in there for the rest of her pathetic life. They think they are crazy and maybe they shouldn't even live a regular life. They want to get out of the psych-ward but at the same time they don't. You'll just have to see if this ever happens…

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.