he Day I Ditched School: Review

by Shania L T.

This is a short story that was featured in a short story series "Been There, Done That."  Written by Alan Lawrence Sitomer, this story is told in his perspective from when he was in middle school.

This story is about Alan and his friend ditching school, resulting in him missing out on a great day at school. Alan makes a quick decision when his friend Geoffrey Peterson asks him to ditch school. Geoffrey tells Alan they can hangout at his house till school ends because his mom doesnt come home till 4. Alan remembers he skipped lunch and attempts to find a snack but all he can find is fat-free tortilla chips. As the day progresses Alan starts to regret leaving school to play boring video games he's played a million times with a bad taste of tortilla chips stuck in his mouth. When Alan returns to school he finds out about all of yesterday's crazy events and learns he won't be leaving school anymore.

Overall I believe this is a good story. Some parts seemed to drag a bit however, the story was very funny and relatable. I would recommend this story to a younger crowd. Adults may enjoy this story as well but the lesson would only teach students.

Grave Mercy

Grave Mercy

By Hailey Lajoie

The story Grave Mercy takes you on a trip of plots and turns, through the history of inside the dutch kingdom as the french regime is calling for war. Robin Lafever tells a story of betrayal and heart aches. The protagonist, Ismae, is born a servant of Mortain, the god of death.

Hidden in the shadows of her abusive father who sells poor Ismae to another man. This man tries to use her, but sees the scar that runs down her back- her death mark- and is horrified. He sends her away, and where she ends up is the church, the church of Mortain. Here she is introduced in and trains to become an assassin.

Soon she gets her first huge mission, to act as a mistress to Duval, a man she hates, to figure out and protect the royal empire. Here betrayal and lying is daily routine for everyone. The question lies who can Ismae really trust? Can she trust the one she loves?

Even though the plot is creative, and original. The idea of assassins is a common idea but what is done with the story is far from that. Even though this, the fight scenes were lacking in description and excitement. Another one of my complaints would be that the plot is very slow moving, and has a lot of non-essential points to it. The dialogue was realistic though. I could picture the people having these conversations for the year they were in, along with a full picture of every character. Each character was well described with a backstory, and a distinct personality.

The main character, Ismae, is overrated though. I hate her character and it is as if the other characters have more development then her. In the beginning of the book she describes herself as cold hearted with a soft side, and by the end of the book it is like someone else is writing it. This book would be much better written in third person instead of a first person.

Even though this book has a great plot, the writing structure outweighs it. I would not suggest this book to dear readers. I have not read any other of Robin Lafevers book, so I do not say he is a poor writer, but it just did not fit what I like to read.

Canibalism

By Maddie S.

When it comes to reading, it normally takes me forever to finish a book. I will either get distracted by a random thought or watching the cars go up and down my street. However, when it comes to graphic novels, I will read those in less than two hours. I think it's because I am such a visual learner, and those books are like movies on paper. When I got the book, My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf, I kind of procrastinated reading it. For about a month and a half it sat on my desk and stared at me while I did other things with my life. In recent events, my parents felt obligated to take away my phone and all other electronic devices, so I decided to open the book. It took me literally half an hour to read all 224 pages.

Lost in Hollis Woods

By Aby J. H.

        Pictures of Hollis Woods is a book written by Patricia Reilly Giff. In this realistic fiction, Hollis has given up on finding a forever family. She was abandoned as a baby and soon after put into foster care. Many families had tried to give Hollis the home she deserved, but she was a hurricane. She caused trouble everywhere she went, and that was enough to tire every past family who put Hollis into their homes. On one unusual day, another person was interested in adopting Hollis. She was a single lady who loved to paint, much like Hollis did. Because of her past, Hollis never intended to get close to anyone who tried to put her in their care. Throughout the story, it's very evident that Hollis tries her best to make this lady seem like everyone else in her past. However, that doesn't end up going to well for the both of them.

Abe's Adventure

By Stav A

The White Donkey Terminal Lance is written by Maximilian Uriarte and is about time in Iraq. The story takes place in 2007 and it tells the adventures of Abe and Garcia. The book itself is a graphic novel that dabbles in realistic fiction. Abe the main character has one sibling after his dad leaves and that's his whole family. He is an average American and decides to enlist in the army. He gets much more than he bargained for when he visits a war zone in Iraq. Abe is an atheist and is looking for something more by doing this.    

An Important but Difficult Book of The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

By Kayla W

Number two on the Modern Library 100 best novels of the English language, topped only by the same author with Ulysses, is The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce. Written partially as an autobiography, the story is as it is labeled- a man through his adolescence in Ireland that grows to maturity and discovers his calling in art. The reason for its influence, however, was its pioneering in a developing maturity in its writing style, following the maturity of the main character himself.

Rebel Mechanics

by Antonio A.

     The world of Rebel Mechanics is quite interesting. It's the year 1888, and the British empire still has rule over the colonies of the new world including the American colonies. A world where the American Revolution was stopped do to the British having magic and the leadership of the the British Magisters. Underground coalition of engineers, scientists, mechanics inventing steam engines and electric dynamos to overthrow the occupation. A 17 year old lass named Verity Newton lands a job as governess for a magister family. Though serving this magister family she begins to make ties with the rebel movement and their cause. While helping the rebel cause, she also can't help but to fall in love with the her employer who is the head of the magister family. Can she keep her secrets?

You Won't Foul Out With This Book

By Andres H.

Foul Trouble is a realistic fiction novel written by John Feinstein. Terrell Jamerson was a high school basketball superstar filled with talent and potential. He is so good, that colleges have offered him that he can bring his best friend Danny Wilcox. Danny's father known as "Coach Wilcox" was also a big part of their journey almost serving as Terrell's agent/advisor. They all go to showcases and events where there is 100's of fantastic colleges watching and taking notes. Terrell's neighborhood friends known as his "dudes" start to influence Terrell and Danny promising girls, fantastic food, Luxury parties filled with excitement and nice pools. The boys think they know what they are doing, but make awful and risky decisions that could hurt their future. They start to see reality, and leave the "dudes" and go separate ways which leads to an exciting ending of what Terrell, and Danny to do.

Daddy Problems

By Colby M.

Dane Washington, a quick-tempered high-schooler on the verge of expulsion, is a smart kid who can't stay out of trouble. Billy Drum, who you can call Billy D, is a student with Down Syndrome who first meets Dane as a bystander to one of his fights. Billy and Dane seem to be polar opposites, but both have one thing in common. Neither know where their fathers are. In Dead Ends, award-winning author, Erin Jane Lange, tells the story of Billy D's quest to find his missing dad from the perspective of Dane, his reluctant side-kick.

A Jailbird That Escaped The Cage

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By Matthew B.

Kurt Vonnegut is a strong worded man, such as his moving short story 2BR02B, Sinbad, and A Song for Selma.  His book, Jailbird, is a masterpiece of symbolism and creativity to show the comparison of socialism vs. capitalism through the life of Walter Starbuck.  He is the main protagonist of the story and his told through his perspective, giving more insight into the mind of an ex-communist during the 50's.

Unleash Your Ego

Unleash Your Ego

  By Makayla S.

            Russian-American novelist and philosopher Ayn Rand developed a philosophical system known as objectivism, which she expressed in her various fiction Novels. In her book Anthem, written in 1938, rand displays her theories in a unique way.

Slaughtering My Mind

By Joshua G. M.

Kurt Vonnegut is a much celebrated author, with a career spanning more than fifty years. To this day, his works are still appreciated by many, including his satirical, sci-fi-war story, Slaughterhouse-Five. Also known as The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death, Slaughterhouse-Five revolves around the jumbled and damaged life of World War II veteran, Billy Pilgrim. The text explores the concept of war through the window of Billy's life in not only a truthful yet ironic sense, but also in a non-linear manner. The story details Billy's life at multiple different stages, both in and out of battle, and attempts to expose the truth of war.

A Book That Will Have You Up Until Midnight

By Katie H.

The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld has it all. An interesting plot, lovable characters -- anything you could want in a book, this one has it. The Secret Hour, the first book in the Midnighters trilogy, starts with Jessica Day's first day at a new school, but the real story is in her nights. She wakes up at midnight to find time frozen around her, only disturbed by her touch. It's beautiful at first, watching the light reflecting off the unmoving rain, but it becomes a lot less fun when the monsters find her. With the help of some friends, the only other people able to move during that extra hour every night, she discovers the secrets of her new hometown of Bixby, Oklahoma.