Middle Township
High School
Summer 2012
Reading List
The following novels
are included for your
summer reading
assignment. Please
take the time to find a
book that meets your
interests by reading the
brief descriptions and
student and teacher
recommendations.
Middle Township
High School
Reading List
Grades 9 -10
In a world where some people are
born with extreme and oftenfeared skills called Graces, Katsa
struggles for redemption from
her own horrifying grace of
killing and teams up with another
young fighter to save their land
from a corrupt king.
Katsa is an independent girl struggling
to find her true purpose in life. She’s
the type of girl who finds her way, with
the help of her friend, through a world
of surprises. Cashore user her
imagination to create a vivid world.
~Darlene Errickson
Graceling blends fantasy with strong
characters and a seemingly impossible
conflict. I couldn't put the book down!
~Mrs. Hogg
Katniss thought life would get better after she
and Peeta beat the odds to win the 74th Hunger
Games. She thought that she could return to
her home with a feeling of safety. She thought
she could put the games and the controlling
elements in the Capitol behind her. She
thought wrong. Katniss, the Girl on Fire, must
be destroyed.
Catching Fire combines all the elements of great
story telling. It’s got danger, love, pain and death
all woven together into an edge-of-your-seat
storyline that will keep readers awake all night.
Collins rarely gets off topic, and the result is one
of the most entertaining reads in years. For those
who mss the hallways at Hogwarts, welcome to
your new obsession.
~Mr. Towns
As a teen, Claudette Colvin sparked
the protest that led to the
Montgomery Bus Boycott and
desegregation of public facilities by
refusing to relinquish her seat to a
white woman.
This is actually a non-fiction novel that
offers a different insight into the fight
for civil rights. Claudette is an unsung
hero who preceded Rosa Parks.
~ Ms. Tice
Auden gets a chance to recapture the carefree teen life she missed while her
parents were going through a divorce when she goes to spend the summer
with her dad and his new family in a charming beach town and meets Eli, an
intriguing loner fighting demons of his own.
It’s easy to put yourself in Auden’s place and to sympathize
with her situation: staying with her dad, stepmom and new
screaming baby doesn’t sound like an awesome summer, but it
ends up that way.
~Mrs. Lasher
The dynamic characters, complex characterization and vivid
plots really brought this book to my attention. The books I
enjoy most are the ones I can mostly relate to, and this one did
the job.
~Amanda Bertha
This is a very inspirational novel with a romantic storyline. It
teaches about opportunities and opening up. Once you start
reading, you truly won’t be able to put it down. It has made me
look at things differently and it became one of my favorite
novels.
~Kelsey Blum
I loved this book and always wanted to keep reading. Dessen’s
books are impressive because she makes her characters and
events real. This novel does not disappoint e at all.
~Danielle McCann
While on summer vacation with his
family in Brackinton, fifteen-year-old
Hal begins to hear thoughts his sister
is having, even though she is in a
comatose state in a hospital back
home, and discovers the truth behind
the accident that put her there.
This is a story of summer love with surfers and
surfer girls. There is suspense, mystery, pain and
resolution. It’s a book that you can totally relate to
and will enjoy reading.
~Mr. Mendo
Waves is a book to put your mind and
imagination to work. Told from the viewpoints of
brother and sister, a remarkable story unfolds
about the bond between the two. Hal’s feelings
for his sister and the ones he loves touches the
heart of the reader.
~Darlene Errickson
During WWII, Ida Mae Jones must go
against her family and heritage to join
the Army’s WASP program and fulfill
her dream of being a pilot.
This is a great story of courage set within the
confines of WWII when women and African
Americans had to defy society in order to be
true to their dreams. Ida Mae allows the
reader to follow that dream along with her.
~Ms.Tice
I really loved Ida Mae as a character. She was
brave, hardworking, fiercely protective of her
family, determined and not afraid to take any
measures to follow her own dream and to save her
brother. You will find you will grip this book, it
will emotionally grab you by the heart and you
won’t let go until the final page. Flygirl, more
than anything, is about the characters and their
own personal challenges, and I highly recommend
to anyone and everyone.
~Victoria Raffale
Can two young boys overcome the worst the devil himself can
deal out? In a small anywhere town in anystate America, two
young boys hear about a strange traveling carnival and decide
to see what it is all about, even though most carnivals have
ended their summer tours. When the ominous Mr. Dark, the
Illustrated Man, rides into town on a dark midnight, setting up
his massive carnival in a matter of seconds, the boys are both
thrilled and terrified. It seems to be just another carnival at first,
but it is not long before the forces of darkness are manifesting
from the haunting melodies of the carousel and the glaring
Mirror Maze. With his collection of freaks and oddities, Dark
intends to take control of the town and seize more innocent
souls to damn. It will take all the wit and hope of the two boys to
save their families and friends, from “something wicked [that]
this way comes.”
Bradbury has a way of creating characters that instantly
come to life. Even the spooky, seemingly-crazy people in
Something Wicked This Way Comes fascinate me; I always
end up wishing I knew more about them. Although I've
read this novel several times, I find it mysterious and
enjoyable each time.
~Ms. Hamilton
As Kofi, Arielle, Dana, November, and Jericho face personal challenges during their last
year of high school, a misunderstood student brings a gun to class and demands to be
taken seriously.
This is the third book in a series, but you don’t have to read the
others to get this one. It was interesting, basically about typical high
school students with a wide range of issues from pregnancy to
homelessness. The author is not at the level of storytelling ability as,
say, the author of The Hunger Games series. Many of the students
speak with poor grammar, which may be appealing to some students,
but may not be appealing to your English teacher. All in all it was
interesting and a fast read, with a bang ending of a school incident
involving an AK47.
~Mr. Decker
Senior year seemed to be going great until the fire alarm
went off during English class; did Crazy Jack pull the
alarm again? No – this time it was pulled for an extremely
different reason. There’s only a matter of seconds to stop
disaster, and all eyes are searching for someone, anyone, to
step up and be a hero.
~Justin McAnulty
This is one of those books that talks about the good and bad
experiences of high school. As I read, I became part of each
character’s experiences. I cried. I laughed. I smiled. I got
disappointed in the characters as if I knew them personally.
This book is not only a great read, but it teaches many
lessons. You won’t want to put it down.
~Sarah Morano
Devon Davenport is a straight-A
student and prominent player on
her school's soccer team, but
when she is linked to an
abandoned baby found in the
trash she is accused of attempted
murder.
I did not want to read this book. I knew I
wouldn’t like the topic or the character. I was
wrong. I got drawn into the story and ended
up with a new perspective. Definitely worth
the read.
~Ms. Tice
Devon seemed to be almost in denial that
anything happened, probably because she
blocked it out. While some parts of the story
were hard to read, others will shock you.
When you read a book like this you develop a
personal connection with the character, and
though what she did was wrong…I was really
proud of her for her final decisions.
~Lauren Marshall
The novel proves to be utterly suspenseful as well as inspiring. Ayn Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism encourages human productivity and the idea of man as a heroic being. The Fo
The Fountainhead was Rand's "breakthrough" novel: her
first book to top the best-seller charts. Many fans of Rand's
novels consider it her best. Here is the story of a young
architect, Howard Roark, of his violent battle against a
mindless status quo, and of his explosive love affair with a
beautiful woman who worships him yet struggles to defeat
him. In order to build his kind of buildings according to his
own standards, Roark must fight against every variant of
human corruption.
The novel proves to be utterly suspenseful ,as well as
inspiring. Ayn Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism encourages
human productivity and the idea of man as a heroic being.
The Fountainhead furthers this concept specifically through
the battle of individualism vs. collectivism. The devastating
climax just goes to show that common minds are no match
for the “fountainhead” of human progress.
~Alex Colin
When a repo demon comes for her
Cadillac, Bug Smoot finds that her
deceased grandfather pledged both her
soul and her car as collateral on a deal.
This book has a good plot, and you'll like the
main character, Bug. It's a really funny
book, so it will appeal to you who like
humor.
~ Mr. Mendo
If you like mystery, page turners, books about
people selling their souls to the devil for material
items or just entertaining books, this is the book
for you. Reading Soul Enchilada is
recommended; it’s a really good book.
~Marcella Romero
This book was very interesting and left me
wanting to read more of it. Some people might
take this book in the wrong way because Bug is
very rude, but I would recommend this book to
teenagers who like adventure books with a twist.
~Madalyn Anagnou
In 1866, fifteen-year-old Aidan and his
thirteen-year-old sister Maddy, penniless
orphans, leave drought-stricken Kansas on
a wagon train hoping for a better life in
Seattle, but find there are still many
hardships to be faced.
This novel is exiting and adventurous. It is
about a boy’s fight for survival and answers –
and finally hope.
~Mr. Mendo
The Devil’s Paint Box is a wonderful read. It takes you
back to the time where traveling west was an adventure
full of danger, Indians, promise, and a small pox
epidemic. This book takes an integral look at racism in
the form of the white man’s view of Indians of the West
that can still be applied to today’s society. For a thrilling,
slightly philosophical read, I would definitely recommend
The Devil’s Paint Box.
~Brian Strohmetz
While recuperating in a Baghdad hospital from
a traumatic brain injury sustained during the
Iraq War, eighteen-year-old soldier Matt Duffy
struggles to recall what happened to him and
how it relates to his ten-year-old friend, Ali.
Purple Heart was a very good novel about an 18 year
old soldier in Iraq who is recovering from wounds
sustained during his patrol. He has difficulty
remembering what happened when he wakes up in the
clinic and the book is about him recalling eventually
what happened. It is nicely written and keeps things
"real", as we would imagine conditions over there. I
enjoyed reading this very much. Two thumbs up.
~Mr. Decker
If you are the type of person who enjoys action and
is into military based stories, this is the book for
you. It gives you the mindset of a military situation
and makes you feel like you are the soldier. It also
teaches many military-based morals that are useful
in people’s everyday lives. Purple Heart offers an
adrenaline rush like no other that can make you feel
as if you are truly experiencing war.
~Blodin Ukella
Steampunk novel that is a strange mixture
of Victorian times with mechanical
inventions. Bio-society countries are at war
with mechanical countries in this extremely
fresh novel.
Leviathan is an extremely well written book for
young adults that helps make World War I
informative and full of adventure. The information is
well researched and students are able to relate to the
two main characters. Leviathan is an excellent
springboard for anyone interested in the Historical
Fiction Genre.
~Mr. Schleckser
Sixteen-year-old Thomas wakes up with
no memory in the middle of a maze and
realizes he must work with the
community in which he finds himself if he
is to escape.
The Maze Runner, by James Dashner, is a book
about friendship, trials, and how the human spirit
can conquer all obstacles when given the chance.
It is a book you cannot put down, even if you
wanted to. It provides a fast-paced, seat-gripping
read that will appeal to both guys and girls.
~Hannah Whipple
This novel is often tragic and quite violent,
but if you are up for that, it is also thrilling –
a true mental puzzle until the very end.
~Mr. Mendo
This is for those who wants to always be on the
edge of their seats. It has non-stop mystery and
you are always trying to put the different clues
together. The tension builds and builds and it just
keeps you reading.
~Zach Buchanan
In 2097, men are a small and
controlled minority in a utopian
world ruled by women, and
fourteen-year-old Kellen must
fight to save his father from an
outbreak of the virus that killed
ninety-seven percent of the male
population thirty years earlier.
It is so interesting to see a society where
women are totally in charge, and what the
possible advantages – and drawbacks – of that
situation are. The parts of this book that made
me think the most were the epitaphs at the
beginning of each chapter, which gave a
glimpse into the lives of the men lost during
the virus outbreak.
~Mrs. Lasher
The story is about a young boy who runs an inn
with his mother. One day an old pirate named Billy
Bones comes to the inn and makes Jim's life hard
and scary. When Billy dies, his old shipmates come
looking for the treasure map to Captain Flints'
treasure. This is the beginning of Jim's adventures
in trying to get the treasure. The book is filled with
double crosses and surprises as Jim grows from a
boy into a man.
The first book I ever read was
Treasure Island; I love the book and
have watched many different movies
about it, but no movie has ever beaten
the novel. I have read the book about
four times in my life, the last time
being in 2009, in about three days.
The adventures of Jim Hawkins on
that island always gets me to thinking
of finding treasure in the sand dunes
and marshes of Avalon. I love this
book and still often use the line, "I
remember it as if it was yesterday.”
~Mr. Richardson
In a polygamous cult in the desert, Kyra, not yet fourteen, sees being chosen to be the
7th wife of her uncle as just punishment for having read books and kissing a boy in
violation of Prophet Childs' teachings, but she is torn between facing her fate and
running away.
Sometimes, reading a book takes you into someone
else’s life, and you know you’re lucky not to be that
person. After reading about Kyra and the choices
she faced, my problems seemed small.
~Mrs. Lasher
This book makes you feel for Kyra and the situation
she is put in. If she tries to run, she will betray her
family, but if she marries her uncle she will be
unhappy for the rest of her life. The final scenes are
suspenseful and very unpredictable and you won’t
know what choice she will end up making.
~Erin Dagney
Kyra has taken walks beyond the compound and
discovered a Mobile Library Van, and she begins
taking books out and hiding them in her favorite
tree. She also has a male friend, and they secretly
meet and read the "forbidden" books. I thoroughly
enjoyed reading this book – it gets 3 thumbs up. I
especially liked Kyra’s thirst for reading, of course.
~Mr. Decker
The lives of Leticia, Dominique, and
Trina are irrevocably intertwined
through the course of one day in an
urban high school after Leticia
overhears Dominique's plans to beat
up Trina and must decide whether or
not to get involved.
This is a good short book for girls who don’t
like to read. The conflict will keep you at the
edge of your seat; you will want to keep
reading to find out if Leticia warns Trina about
getting jumped. I liked that it was short and
straight to the point.
~Danielle Cauz
Middle Township
High School
Reading List
Grades 11 -12
After a knee injury destroys sixteenyear-old Cody's college hopes, he
drops out of high school and gets a job
in his small Montana town; but when
his ex-girlfriend disappears from her
Vermont boarding school, Cody travels
cross-country to join the search.
This novel is the type of book where
you try to solve the ending on your
own. It makes you feel like you’re a
detective solving a missing person’s
case like off of NCIS or Law & Order.
The book, itself, gives you a lot of
evidence and stories about the people
within the book. I would strongly
recommend this book for someone who
loves suspense and mystery.
~Jared Smith
Reality Check is an entertaining, quick read with a
few plot twists that leaves readers guessing.
Although Clea is a major part of the novel’s
mystery, the plot really focuses on Cody’s journey
and self-discovery.
~ Miss Snyder
This book was absolutely mesmerizing! I was completely engrossed and I really enjoyed it. This book gets five stars and not four from m
~Lisa Vegan
Eighteen-year-old Lia comes
to terms with her best friend's
death from anorexia as she
struggles with the same
disorder.
The pressure to be thin can feel
suffocating. This book teaches about the
struggles of self acceptance, which can
sometimes take a lifetime to learn.
~Mrs. Rothenbiller
This book is absolutely mesmerizing! I was
completely engrossed and really enjoyed it. This
book gets five starts from me despite a number of
flaws because Lia seemed so real , the writing style
was wonderful and the language was lovely.
~ Lisa Vegan
Cameron knew there was
something wrong when he
started seeing pillars of fire and
angels, but he never imagined he
had mad cow disease.
Who wants to read a 480-page novel about a 16-yearold who has four to six months to live and suffers from
progressive muscle weakness, dementia and delusions?
Libba Bray manages to turn a hopeless situation into
a hilarious and hallucinatory quest to find the
mysterious Dr. X; if he succeeds, he may just save his
own life. (Or, it’s all just a hallucination.)
Despite the novel’s length, Bray doesn’t waste a
sentence. With just one chapter heading (regarding
“High School Hallway Etiquette and the Fact That Staci
Johnson Is Evil; Also, Unfairly Hot”) she can neatly
suggest an entire subplot. Libba Bray not only breaks
the mold of the ubiquitous dying-teenager genre — she
smashes it and grinds the tiny pieces into the sidewalk.
For the record, I’d go anywhere she wanted to take me.
~Lisa Von Drasek
Follow nine-year-old Oskar Schell as he encounters a number of interesting
characters in his search for information about his father who died in the World Trade
Tower and tries to find the lock that fits the mysterious key his father had.
This novel has been established as a humorous
and charismatic contemporary work, but it is
also an equally profound and educational novel
like The Great Gatsby, The Jungle or 1984.
~Jarrett Porter
I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a
fun read or anyone who is interested in one of our
country’s most remembered days, September 11th. It
was extremely well written and incredibly fast-paced.
~Chris Karimalis
On the surface Oskar searches only for a lock,
but he is really searching for much more. This
novel is not chronological, so it may confuse you
at first, but following Oskar’s search is worth it.
You may discover that he isn’t the only one
looking for something.
~Ms. Tice
While in a coma after her family is killed in a car accident, Mia
struggles to decide whether to live or die.
This novel is about a girl in-between the realms of Heaven and
Earth. It makes readers consider how they view the gift of life
and the blessings of family, love, and music. It teaches the reader
to love deeper and to not take a single moment for granted.
~Mrs. Walter
If I Stay was an interesting book. Sometimes it was just a little bit
confusing, but there’s a lot of mystery and a lot of reason why it
kept me turning the pages and continuing my reading.
~Marcella Romero
I read If I Stay quickly, feeling sad for the main character, Mia,
while also cheering her on. By explaining her out-of-body
experiences and flashbacks, she narrates the 24 hours after a
tragic car accident killing her family. Reading the book makes
you realize how difficult it would be to be in her place, choosing
between fighting to live or giving up and letting go.
~Ms. Hamilton
This was a wonderful book that dealt with tragedy, insight and
teen issues. A young woman (girl) is faced with the most
unimaginable tragedy and has to make choices as she reviews her
life from a state between life and death, while observing people she
cares about attending to her broken body in an ICU. Well written
and moving, I give this a high rating.
~Mr. Decker
Seeing no way out of his difficult life in Harlem, seventeen-year-old
Jeremy "Lil J" Dance flees into a house after a drug deal goes awry and
meets a strange man who reveals different turning points in Lil J's life
when he could have made better choices.
Myers perfectly portrays the life of a kid on the streets
of NYC – tough scenes, language and all. Lil J faces his
reality, which is not always an easy thing to do, in order
to think about his future. This book is Myers’ message
about second chances and redemption.
~Ms. Tice
This story is a great mix of realistic events and
unrealistic ideas. I never wanted to put the book down
and you never knew what would happen next. I felt bad
for Lil J because he was put into a situation that no one
should have to be in.
~Cody Stanford
This novel is the first attempt I know of to inject
existentialism and fantasy into the Urban/AfricanAmerican novel. As Lil J attempts to re-examine his
circumstances, the reader is plunged into a world of bad
decisions, fake friends, and the unforgiving urban
landscape. This book may strike readers as slightly
abnormal, but is an enriching reading experience.
~Mr. Towns
After one of four rough cut
high school guys
disappears, his friends
become suspicious of their
teacher Mr. Haberman, who
refers to them as gentlemen
while teaching Crime and
Punishment.
This novel is reminiscent of the style of The
Catcher in the Rye. Mike and his friends go
through the typical activities of teenage boys in
a small town but get in over their heads and into
trouble. Mike tells his side of the story to his
reader and keeps you wanting to know how
what happened to Tommy and how things will
turn out for all of them.
~Ms. Tice
ovel of F. Scott Fitzgerald. In the novel, the protagonist, Amory Blaine, leaves his midwest roots behind to attend boarding school and, eventually, Prin
F. Scott Fitzgerald's This Side of Paradise is the
opening statement of his literary career. Published
originally in 1920, when he was just 23, the novel
captures the rhythm and feel of the gaudy decade
that was to follow in America. This Side of Paradise
made Fitzgerald famous for the stylish exuberance
of his writing. The novel describes life at Princeton
among the glittering, bored, and disillusioned—the
post–World War I “lost generation.”
This novel is recommended for those students who
enjoyed reading The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald or
for those who would like to read the novel in
preparation for their study of The Great Gatsby in
their junior year. I really enjoy this novel because of
its ability to show the Lost Generation culture. So
often when we study this era of American History,
we don't see the emotional and psychological effects
that the "American Dream" had on people during
this time period. The characters that Fitzgerald
creates in the story are so dynamic and interesting
that you don't know whether you like them or are
completely annoyed by them. I enjoy that complexity
in the characters.
~Ms. Snyder
Read online: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/805
For five years, Wyatt travels the country
with his drifter Uncle Spade, first as a
companion, then as a money-making barefisted fighter, until realizing Spade doesn't
exactly have Wyatt's best interests at
heart.
I liked this story. Even though the beginning was
slow and kind of drawn out, it was a great book. It
had some smart relative scenarios, too. Why I Fight
caught my attention, and I really enjoyed it.
~Marc DeSalis
While the fighting is a fairly obvious metaphor for
Wyatt’s hardscrabble journey from victim to victor,
it will engage male readers. The story succeeds
because of Wyatt’s voice, capturing all his
vulnerable, messy humanity. This novel is a toughguy’s coming-of-age story, and its brief length will
likely appeal to reluctant readers.
~Amy Fiske
The people of Sterling, New Hampshire, are
forever changed after a shooting at the high
school leaves ten people dead, and the judge
presiding over the trial tries to remain unbiased,
even though her daughter witnessed the events
and was friends with the assailant.
This is an extremely emotional novel that shows what it means
to be different in society. It is about verbal and physical
bullying in high school and how one boy is tormented so far that
he is the reason for a high school shooting. This story is
something everyone in high school can relate to about wanting
to fit in or not being afraid to stand out and be yourself.
Bullying is a huge problem in our society, and this book really
helps you to understand how if affects others. I have read
several of Jodi Picoult’s books and all of them are so amazing
that you will not want to put the book down.
~Jennifer Hicks
This is an interesting and easy read. However, it is very intense
and depressing. It covers a very controversial and emotionally
draining topic. It’s not for people who are bothered by bullying
or are sensitive, but it does teach the value of friendship.
~Emily Wannen
This is a great book that helps one understand the
true darkness of bullying.
~Mrs. Rothenbiller
Through twists and turns of fate, orphaned Mary seeks knowledge of life, love, and
especially what lies beyond her walled village and the surrounding forest, where dwell the
Unconsecrated, aggressive flesh-eating people who were once dead.
This novel is a post-apocalyptic romance/adventure,
which sounds corny, but I couldn’t put this book down
from the second I started reading it. It’s an exciting read
with suspense and so much detail that it kept me
intrigued the entire book. There’s a sequel and a 3rd
book, that I ended up reading within the week.
~Carrie Ryan
I recommend this novel to people who like zombie,
suspenseful, love stories. If you are really into this type
of book, it will bring a lot of emotions to you and will
make you keep reading to find out what will happen
next. The ending is disappointing because it doesn’t tell
you what happens, so you have to come up with your
own ending, but if you are someone who likes to wonder
at the end of it all, you will like this book.
~Lee-Ann Thomas
The Forest of Hands and Teeth takes the common theme
of teenage rebellion and puts it in a suspenseful and
dangerous world. What would you do if you were one of
the few people left in the world. Would you focus on
preserving humankind or your own desires?
~Mrs. Hogg
Set in a near-future U.S.A. whose economy is
collapsing as a result of the mysterious
disappearance of leading innovators and
industrialists, this novel presents an astounding
panorama of human life-from the productive genius
who becomes a worthless playboy...to the great steel
industrialist who does not know that he is working for
his own destruction...to the philosopher who becomes
a pirate...to the woman who runs a transcontinental
railroad...to the lowest track worker in her train
tunnels. Peopled by larger-than-life heroes and
villains, charged with towering questions of good and
evil, Atlas Shrugged is a philosophical revolution told
in the form of an action thriller.
Ryan Smithson recounts the
experiences he had serving his
first tour of duty as an Army
engineer in Iraq when he was
only nineteen.
This book isn’t so action packed, but that’s not
what its supposed to be. It’s called Ghosts of
War because it is showing you that not just
people on the front lines are doing everything in
Iraq. He does things like drive trucks, build
bridges and work on machinery. You wouldn’t
hear about him on the news, but his platoon
does play a big role in the effort in Iraq.
~Kevin Haywood
Ryan Smithson’s first-hand account as a 20-something
veteran of the War in Iraq is interesting and valuable
for young Americans to read. He joins the army after
9/11 and takes the reader through basic training,
deployment, and his eventual return to the
U.S. Smithson tells his story in a humorous, relatable
way that makes him seem more like a sibling or a
friend than a war hero.
~Ms. Hamilton
Fringe dwellers Jonas (Ghost Boy)
and Beatrice (Robot Girl) use their
adopted alter egos to help navigate
the difficulties of fractured families
and impending adulthood during their
senior year.
Bea is a confused teenager who moves from place to
place due to her father's career. She struggles to
show her emotions and often questions whether her
heart is robotic, unfeeling, and cold. Bea connects
with Jonah, another character who appears to be
lost. How to Say Goodbye in Robot is an unexpected
love story that will touch many students, especially
those who sometimes feel disconnected.
~Mrs. Rothenbiller
Enzo, the dog of professional race
car driver Denny Swift, recalls the
memories of his life and shares his
insight into the human condition that
he learned from observing his owner.
The Art of Racing Through the Rain is
one of my favorite books from last
summer. It changed my perspective on
life, and I highly recommend it for
anyone, but especially young people. If
you are an animal lover, this book will
change the way you say good morning
and good night to your pets for the rest
of your life!
~Mrs. Rothenbiller
This is an excellent book. It is easy reading and
keeps your attention. I loved it!
~Mrs. Brault
Blanche is in real need of a protector at this stage in
her life when circumstances lead her into paying a
visit to her younger sister Stella in New Orleans. She
doesn't understand how Stella, who is expecting her
first child, could have picked a husband so lacking in
refinement. Stanley Kowalski's buddies come over to
the house to play cards and one of them, Mitch, finds
Blanche attractive until Stanley tells him about what
kind of a woman Blanche really is. What will happen
when Stella goes to the hospital to have her baby and
just Blanche and her brother-in-law are in the house?
A Streetcar Named Desire is a deeply dark story about the
twists-and -turns of love and life. It is a beautifully
written play that explores the hazy “truth” of perception
and reality. Blanche Dubois struggles to maintain a sense
of self, after her heart and trust is broken, in a world that
is far too harsh. As she spirals further away from reality,
Blanche shows the audience that our “truth” is merely
“...fifty percent illusion.” Blanche, Stella, and Stanley
call into question the very definition of happiness and to
what extent people can bend before they just break.
~ Mrs. Rothenbiller
Arrested on a minor offense, a New
York City teenager attends high
school in the jail facility on Rikers
Island while waiting for his case to go
to court.
This story is told by Martin as he tries to
make it through his days at Rikers. Volponi
has truly captured the character of a
teenaged boy from a broken home in the city.
You can totally understand him and his
situation, and you will want to keep reading
to find out what happens to him.
~ Ms. Tice
Overall this was a mildly entertaining book.
The main character, Martin, wasn’t very
interesting, but the story he told about jail is
what made it interesting. It seems real and not a
bunch of fairy tales. The only thing I didn’t like
was the amount of profanity. I would
recommend this book and it would make a great
movie.
~Tyler Gretz
The epic tale of a beautiful, vital woman's life
during one of the most tumultuous periods in
America's history. From her young, innocent
days on a feudalistic plantation to the war-torn
streets of Atlanta; from her first love whom she
has always desired to being a widow; from the
utmost luxury to absolute starvation and
poverty; from her innocence to her
understanding and comprehension of life.
This is one of my favorite novels! It vividly depicts
the "Old South" and its destruction, caused by the
Civil War. The love story of Scarlet O'Hara and Rhett
Butler is an American classic.
~Mrs. Walter
Remy, a talented, seventeen-year-old auto
mechanic, questions his decision to join his
girlfriend when she starts college in
Pennsylvania, after a visiting artist helps him
realize what his family home in a dying West
Virginia mountain town means to him.
This is a good novel, especially for those high
school students who are considering going away to
college. The main character finds it hard to leave
the landscape and small town he grew up with, and
he ultimately needs to make the decision between
Home and Love.
~Mrs. Walter
After a disturbing freshman year at New York
University, Mimi is happy to get away to her
father's remote Canadian cottage only to
discover a stranger living there who has never
heard of her or her father and who is convinced
that Mimi is responsible for leaving sinister
tokens around the property.
"If you like vampire stories combined with a modern
and realistic take on teenage life, this book may be
for you!“
~ Mrs. Rothenbiller
I read this book not expecting the thrilling and
suspenseful story that I did get. It is not at all like
the movie of the same title, but rather a story
about family and discovering yourself. I could not
put this book down and it was by no means
predictable.
~Emma Campbell
Happy Reading!