Derek Chase
English 11 The American Dream
11-10-10
Rating .5
The Burning Wire
The Burning Wire is all about electricity and terrorists. When a bans of terrorists gets hold of a substation in new York, they sabotage the others and cause them to fail. The city, of course, had a backup plan to run electricity through other substations. Upon doing so, they realize that there is too much power going through one substation. This causes an arc flash, killing 15 people above the substation. Now the hunt is on to find out who did this act of terror and if it will it happen again.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
Dope Sick
Mike Gavarny
Dope Sick
By Walter Dean Myers
184 pages
Rating: 6 out of 10
This book is about 2 teens that get set up trying to do a drug deal. One of them shoots the cop and gets arrested and the other one runs away. The one who gets caught is getting in less trouble because he says it is the kid who ran away (Lil J). Lil J is ‘dope sick’ because he is addicted to heroin and now he is hiding from the police. There is a tv that shows the future, lots of cops and guns.
This book is by the same author that wrote Monster. I liked this book better because it was more interesting and was written in an entirely different format. This book has a lot of action. I would recommend this book to everyone.
Dope Sick
By Walter Dean Myers
184 pages
Rating: 6 out of 10
This book is about 2 teens that get set up trying to do a drug deal. One of them shoots the cop and gets arrested and the other one runs away. The one who gets caught is getting in less trouble because he says it is the kid who ran away (Lil J). Lil J is ‘dope sick’ because he is addicted to heroin and now he is hiding from the police. There is a tv that shows the future, lots of cops and guns.
This book is by the same author that wrote Monster. I liked this book better because it was more interesting and was written in an entirely different format. This book has a lot of action. I would recommend this book to everyone.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
The Three Days
Raymond Bertholet
Three Days
By Donna Jo Napoli
151 pages
Rating 10 out of 10
This book is about a girl and her dad driving in Italy. Her dad got sick and fainted. The girl is worried and tries to get help by yelling help. There was no one to help them for hours. Suddenly, these two men stop and took the girl, but not her dad. She does not know where she is going to. This is a great book to read about because it had surprises and excitement.
Three Days
By Donna Jo Napoli
151 pages
Rating 10 out of 10
This book is about a girl and her dad driving in Italy. Her dad got sick and fainted. The girl is worried and tries to get help by yelling help. There was no one to help them for hours. Suddenly, these two men stop and took the girl, but not her dad. She does not know where she is going to. This is a great book to read about because it had surprises and excitement.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Breanna Simpson: And Then Things Fall Apart
Breanna Simpson
And Then Things Fall Apart
Arlaina Tibensky
254 pages
Rating: 8 out of 10
This story was a very great and touching novel. Keek had big plans for her summer vacation, but she did not plan for this. Keek and her boyfriend have always fought, and just recently had their worse fight yet. Not only that, but her parents are going through a long tough divorce and her mom has recently traveled to the other side of the country with her newborn cousin who is suffering from a life threatening illness. Keeks two best friends have both betrayed her, and now she is alone. Now Keek is suffering from chicken pox and stuck living with her grandmother in a remote town. All Keek is trying to do is making the best of her summer vacation, but is having lots of trouble. She begins to use the only typewriter in the house and writes stories and relate them to the novel she is reading and loves The Jar Bell.
I would recommend this book to someone who has a strong heart. Also who enjoys reading drama, because this book includes tons and tons of drama. I usually enjoy reading romance/drama novels, But this one was a little too much for me.
And Then Things Fall Apart
Arlaina Tibensky
254 pages
Rating: 8 out of 10
This story was a very great and touching novel. Keek had big plans for her summer vacation, but she did not plan for this. Keek and her boyfriend have always fought, and just recently had their worse fight yet. Not only that, but her parents are going through a long tough divorce and her mom has recently traveled to the other side of the country with her newborn cousin who is suffering from a life threatening illness. Keeks two best friends have both betrayed her, and now she is alone. Now Keek is suffering from chicken pox and stuck living with her grandmother in a remote town. All Keek is trying to do is making the best of her summer vacation, but is having lots of trouble. She begins to use the only typewriter in the house and writes stories and relate them to the novel she is reading and loves The Jar Bell.
I would recommend this book to someone who has a strong heart. Also who enjoys reading drama, because this book includes tons and tons of drama. I usually enjoy reading romance/drama novels, But this one was a little too much for me.
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
Ben Rubio
Rick Riordan
50
8/10
This book is about a Demigod (half mortal, half God) Percy Jackson. He’s just a normal student that’s been kicked out six times in six years. He gets in to trouble so often even if he didn’t mean to. Weird creatures always show up to him, Grover his friend is always with him every time. He’s like his best friend but he’s really the protector of Percy, but he don’t have a clue on what’s going on, one time in their math class their teacher somewhat turned into a flying creature and try to hurt Percy, but good thing he has a pen which turns into a sword, so he used it for protection. And he accidentally vaporized his math teacher with the sword, and weird creature keeps on showing to him, three witches stared at him and one snap a scissor as if she’s going to kill someone. Everyone tries to keep the “ish” that’s going on. Then her mom and he kind of like loot at each other’s eyes and Percy had a flashback of his childhood encountering weird moments and some other creatures. Her mother told him that his father wants him to be on a summer camp, but his mother don’t like him to go cause if he did, he might be staying there for good. Lightning and thunder is all over the sky and waves in the ocean are so high, his mother is so worried and Grover also came to the house. They rushed in the car and his mother kept on driving not letting go of the gas and Grover unexpectedly lost his pants and Percy asked what is he.. finally Grover told him the truth that he is really a Satyr and he also told him all that weird creatures is true and that’s what he is protecting Percy of….. and that’s what I read so far.
The Rivalry: By Ben Swift
The Rivalry
John Taylor
62 of 375
Rating: 9
Although I haven’t come even close to the end of this book I can say that I love it so much already. This is just my kind of stuff, John Taylor is a Journalist in Boston at the time of the early Boston Celtics and Los Angles Lakers rivalry. He writes about each game between these hated franchises and describes what is happening with the teams players, coaches, and there respected cities. Some of the players that were most focused in these games were Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain these were the 2 leaders of each team. At the beginning of the book goes right in to playoff games in the late 50s and really describes the atmosphere of the 2 cities. He talks about how each game played was an all out battle with fists thrown and all out brawls, this is how basketball used to be. He also talks about the differences of ball now and how thing really have changed in the league. Over all so far I really love this book and id like to encourage anyone who likes this stuff to read this book, but let me finish it first.
From Addict to IronMan
Todd Crandell
190 pages
Rating- 7 of 10
This book is about the life of Todd Crandell. It starts with him being a child and being a hockey prodigy. He starts off on a local team, where people realize he is one of the best goalies they have seen. He then moves to a private school, and becomes even better. Then in high school, while being scouted by college teams, he starts drinking. Him and his friends start partying every weekend, and they think everything is fine. But soon Todd starts drinking on school nights, and doing cocaine. It just gets worse and worse. He starts doing cocaine before games, and drinking every night. His friends don't see what is happening, because he's good at hiding it. He soon gets kicked out of school, and off the team for doing coke in the bathroom.
Todd moves from friends house to friends house, trying to find someone to put up with his crap. He moves to Miami, to Ohio, to Georgia. He finally stays back at his parents where they fight, but he finally makes a pact to stay clean. He tries his best to play hockey again, but he has to face the fact that he is washed up. To stay in shape he starts biking. Then he starts racing bikes, and running marathons. Soon he is doing big competitions and is a part of his community. His life goal is to finish an IronMan triathlon. This is a 6 mile swim, 26 mile run, and 112 mile bike ride. He struggles, and can't finish his first few tries. But then he finally finishes one.. and another... and another. He now runs a drug abuse community marathon organization, and has a happy family.
Megan Pratt: A Million Little Pieces by James Frey
A Million Little Pieces
James Frey
430 pages
Rating 9 out of 10
A Million Little Pieces is about James Frey and his recovery. Along the way he is faced with obstacles that he has to overcome. He had the ultimatum either go to rehab or die. This was not the first time that he was sent to rehab but it is the first time he took it seriously. When things went wrong in the beginning all he did was think about leaving and doing drugs or drinking again. But as time went on he thought about it less .He started to care for himself and even the people around him. He made friends that helped him out a great deal. Miles, Leonard, Hank, Joanne, and Lilly were the people that he came closest with while in the rehab. What really shocked me was how diverse a drug addict or alcoholic could be. Miles was a lawyer and Leonard was a criminal. It doesn’t matter who you are and where you come from anyone can be dragged down into doing drugs or drinking. James had to figure out all of his past problems and work his way through them, his past was a big issue with moving on. He fixed problems with his parents and even met a girl, Lilly, and fell for her. He owned up to his mistakes and made an effort to fix everything. This was such a great book because it had issues that we have to deal with in everyday life. You get to see the hardships that an addict is faced with. This makes me realize how lucky I am and how serious drugs are and why you shouldn’t do them. It rips your life apart and there is nothing you can do about it. James fry wrote this story about his life well and I felt like I was living everything he did as I read it. I would recommend this book, you just have to be really open minded because some of his experiences were not all that pleasant, but well worth reading.
James Frey
430 pages
Rating 9 out of 10
A Million Little Pieces is about James Frey and his recovery. Along the way he is faced with obstacles that he has to overcome. He had the ultimatum either go to rehab or die. This was not the first time that he was sent to rehab but it is the first time he took it seriously. When things went wrong in the beginning all he did was think about leaving and doing drugs or drinking again. But as time went on he thought about it less .He started to care for himself and even the people around him. He made friends that helped him out a great deal. Miles, Leonard, Hank, Joanne, and Lilly were the people that he came closest with while in the rehab. What really shocked me was how diverse a drug addict or alcoholic could be. Miles was a lawyer and Leonard was a criminal. It doesn’t matter who you are and where you come from anyone can be dragged down into doing drugs or drinking. James had to figure out all of his past problems and work his way through them, his past was a big issue with moving on. He fixed problems with his parents and even met a girl, Lilly, and fell for her. He owned up to his mistakes and made an effort to fix everything. This was such a great book because it had issues that we have to deal with in everyday life. You get to see the hardships that an addict is faced with. This makes me realize how lucky I am and how serious drugs are and why you shouldn’t do them. It rips your life apart and there is nothing you can do about it. James fry wrote this story about his life well and I felt like I was living everything he did as I read it. I would recommend this book, you just have to be really open minded because some of his experiences were not all that pleasant, but well worth reading.
The Face on the Milk Carton
Dorothy Crowell
The Face on the Milk Carton
Caroline B. Cooney
184
10/10
This book is about a girl named Janie who has a milk carton with a picture. It is a picture from many years ago and the Janie knows who is on the carton because it is her. She could call the people that the carton says to call if they find this girl but she cannot do it. The main reason she can’t call the people is she would go back to her old parents but she loves the parents she has right now. She thinks that her old parents kidnapped her and she doesn't want too live with someone who she got kidnapped by. In a lot of parts Janie feels like she has to hide because she thinks people in the world will know who she is and call her in and there are a lot of different ways she plays things safe.
I really liked this story because there are a lot of things that happen and Janie doesn’t get caught. I suggest this book to anyone that likes books with a theme that is like play it safe.
The Face on the Milk Carton
Caroline B. Cooney
184
10/10
This book is about a girl named Janie who has a milk carton with a picture. It is a picture from many years ago and the Janie knows who is on the carton because it is her. She could call the people that the carton says to call if they find this girl but she cannot do it. The main reason she can’t call the people is she would go back to her old parents but she loves the parents she has right now. She thinks that her old parents kidnapped her and she doesn't want too live with someone who she got kidnapped by. In a lot of parts Janie feels like she has to hide because she thinks people in the world will know who she is and call her in and there are a lot of different ways she plays things safe.
I really liked this story because there are a lot of things that happen and Janie doesn’t get caught. I suggest this book to anyone that likes books with a theme that is like play it safe.
Lush by Natasha Friend
Lush
Natasha Friend
178
Rating: 9/10
“Lush” is a book about a teenage girl named Sam. Sam has to live with an alcoholic dad and a yoga obsessed mom. Not your normal family right? She doesn’t think so. As a thirteen year old girl it makes it even harder. Plus she has a younger brother to protect from getting hurt. Sam can't even admit to her friends that she has an alcoholic dad. Sam still needs to confess to someone about her life, so she goes to a stranger. Sam writes about all her worries concerning her father's alcoholism on scraps of paper and places the notes in between the pages of “A History of Modern Whaling” which is not the most popular novel. To her surprise, someone does respond to her desperate needs and throughout the book they are very good pen pals. One day, while Sam puts the note in between the pages of that book she is startled by a boy named Drew. She had no idea who Drew was but suddenly, he was attracted to her. Having distractions to get your mind off of your crazy life is fine, but when it involves drinking and partying you start to regret ever leaving in the first place.
I learned that this book can really help teens that are struggling with this issue of alcoholic parents. In the back of the book there are many hotlines of numbers you can call if you are thinking about running away or just information about the subject of drugs and alcohol. It also made me realize how lucky I am to have healthy loving parents. I can't even imagine having to deal with an alcoholic dad who thinks its good parenting to just say "good morning" and then never talk to your kid for the rest of the day, which Sam's dad did in this book.
The author really did do a great job writing this book and I recommend this book to anyone, even if you don't have alcoholic parents.
Natasha Friend
178
Rating: 9/10
“Lush” is a book about a teenage girl named Sam. Sam has to live with an alcoholic dad and a yoga obsessed mom. Not your normal family right? She doesn’t think so. As a thirteen year old girl it makes it even harder. Plus she has a younger brother to protect from getting hurt. Sam can't even admit to her friends that she has an alcoholic dad. Sam still needs to confess to someone about her life, so she goes to a stranger. Sam writes about all her worries concerning her father's alcoholism on scraps of paper and places the notes in between the pages of “A History of Modern Whaling” which is not the most popular novel. To her surprise, someone does respond to her desperate needs and throughout the book they are very good pen pals. One day, while Sam puts the note in between the pages of that book she is startled by a boy named Drew. She had no idea who Drew was but suddenly, he was attracted to her. Having distractions to get your mind off of your crazy life is fine, but when it involves drinking and partying you start to regret ever leaving in the first place.
I learned that this book can really help teens that are struggling with this issue of alcoholic parents. In the back of the book there are many hotlines of numbers you can call if you are thinking about running away or just information about the subject of drugs and alcohol. It also made me realize how lucky I am to have healthy loving parents. I can't even imagine having to deal with an alcoholic dad who thinks its good parenting to just say "good morning" and then never talk to your kid for the rest of the day, which Sam's dad did in this book.
The author really did do a great job writing this book and I recommend this book to anyone, even if you don't have alcoholic parents.
Kateri Bean: A Walk To Remember
A Walk to Remember
Nicholas Sparks
256 pages
10 out of 10
“A Walk to Remember” is hardly your usual teen romance novel. I read it after seeing the movie, which made my sister, my friends, and I all cry. It’s written by Nicholas Sparks who is a genius when it comes to romances. While the movie was good, the book was much better.
You meet the boy first, Landon Carter, and he’s definitely not a perfect kid. His family has issues, he doesn’t have the best grades or the best friends, and has a habit of getting into trouble. All in all he’s really not a BAD kid, but he certainly has some stuff to work on.
Then there’s Jamie Sullivan, the preacher’s daughter. Jamie carries her Bible with her wherever she goes, wears sweaters and long skirts and always, always, always, does the right thing. Jamie has no friends, gets teased constantly at school (but never gets mad about it), and spends her time helping orphans and other people in need. Jamie seems happy and perfect on the outside, but inside she’s got a troublesome secret.
While adults raise their eyebrows at Landon, they absolutely adore Jamie. The two of them, according to the rules of high school, could never in a thousand years work together even if they wanted to, which they obviously don’t. Jamie had gotten over his last girlfriend but wasn’t looking for a girl like Jamie to replace her. A cheerleader, not a preacher’s daughter, was more what he was looking for. And Jamie wasn’t interested in Landon; her dad wouldn’t even let him in the house, and a boy like him could be nothing but trouble for a girl.
But, when a boy doesn’t have a date for the homecoming dance and all the pretty girls are taken, he can get pretty desperate. That was the situation Landon found himself in, so instead of going alone and having his friends tease him for the rest of year, he decides to ask Jamie to go.
Jamie agrees on one condition. “I’ll go with you, Landon, as long as you promise not to fall in love me.” Landon promises. After all, he’s not interested and clearly neither is she. It’s just a one time deal to help both of them escape the awkwardness of having to go alone. Homecoming was a blast, sort of: Jamie saved Landon from embarrassment and a fist-fight and helped him clean up puke from the bathroom floor, after that Landon has a new respect for Jamie.
In fact, after homecoming, for some reason, Landon can’t get Jamie off his mind. It doesn’t help that Jamie is always so friendly to him and the two of them are stuck in the same drama class.
Even though Landon had promised to never fall in love with her, he finds himself slowly starting to. At first it doesn’t make sense to him, isn’t Jamie the exact opposite of everything he always thought he wanted in a girl? But over time Landon slowly begins to realize he’s changed his mind about a lot of things.
Finally after awhile of denying it, Landon asks Jamie out. She says no. He asks her why and she tells him she’s not allowed to date, but if he wants he could ask her Father’s permission. After gathering up his courage Landon asks her father and gets permission.
After that Landon and Jamie slowly but surely fall head over heels in love. The two figure out that even though all their friends, and even the whole town, don’t approve, none of that matters. Landon slowly finds himself changing into a much better young man thanks to Jamie, and Jamie finds herself actually having fun and enjoying the world.
Just when things couldn’t be any better for Landon, Jamie spills her deepest secret and it changes their lives forever. Reading it will make you think about choices you have made or will make in the future and also make you consider what you would do for the people you love. Would you be willing to give up everything for them?
Nicholas Sparks
256 pages
10 out of 10
“A Walk to Remember” is hardly your usual teen romance novel. I read it after seeing the movie, which made my sister, my friends, and I all cry. It’s written by Nicholas Sparks who is a genius when it comes to romances. While the movie was good, the book was much better.
You meet the boy first, Landon Carter, and he’s definitely not a perfect kid. His family has issues, he doesn’t have the best grades or the best friends, and has a habit of getting into trouble. All in all he’s really not a BAD kid, but he certainly has some stuff to work on.
Then there’s Jamie Sullivan, the preacher’s daughter. Jamie carries her Bible with her wherever she goes, wears sweaters and long skirts and always, always, always, does the right thing. Jamie has no friends, gets teased constantly at school (but never gets mad about it), and spends her time helping orphans and other people in need. Jamie seems happy and perfect on the outside, but inside she’s got a troublesome secret.
While adults raise their eyebrows at Landon, they absolutely adore Jamie. The two of them, according to the rules of high school, could never in a thousand years work together even if they wanted to, which they obviously don’t. Jamie had gotten over his last girlfriend but wasn’t looking for a girl like Jamie to replace her. A cheerleader, not a preacher’s daughter, was more what he was looking for. And Jamie wasn’t interested in Landon; her dad wouldn’t even let him in the house, and a boy like him could be nothing but trouble for a girl.
But, when a boy doesn’t have a date for the homecoming dance and all the pretty girls are taken, he can get pretty desperate. That was the situation Landon found himself in, so instead of going alone and having his friends tease him for the rest of year, he decides to ask Jamie to go.
Jamie agrees on one condition. “I’ll go with you, Landon, as long as you promise not to fall in love me.” Landon promises. After all, he’s not interested and clearly neither is she. It’s just a one time deal to help both of them escape the awkwardness of having to go alone. Homecoming was a blast, sort of: Jamie saved Landon from embarrassment and a fist-fight and helped him clean up puke from the bathroom floor, after that Landon has a new respect for Jamie.
In fact, after homecoming, for some reason, Landon can’t get Jamie off his mind. It doesn’t help that Jamie is always so friendly to him and the two of them are stuck in the same drama class.
Even though Landon had promised to never fall in love with her, he finds himself slowly starting to. At first it doesn’t make sense to him, isn’t Jamie the exact opposite of everything he always thought he wanted in a girl? But over time Landon slowly begins to realize he’s changed his mind about a lot of things.
Finally after awhile of denying it, Landon asks Jamie out. She says no. He asks her why and she tells him she’s not allowed to date, but if he wants he could ask her Father’s permission. After gathering up his courage Landon asks her father and gets permission.
After that Landon and Jamie slowly but surely fall head over heels in love. The two figure out that even though all their friends, and even the whole town, don’t approve, none of that matters. Landon slowly finds himself changing into a much better young man thanks to Jamie, and Jamie finds herself actually having fun and enjoying the world.
Just when things couldn’t be any better for Landon, Jamie spills her deepest secret and it changes their lives forever. Reading it will make you think about choices you have made or will make in the future and also make you consider what you would do for the people you love. Would you be willing to give up everything for them?
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