Critiques



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//__The Trap__  // By: Alex Schlough Albert Least-Weasel is a stubborn old man who lives up in the Artic. He is 80 years old and loves to go up into the hills and check his trap line for days and even longer depending on his success. Everyone his age has quit trapping because it is too dangerous, but nothing stops Albert.  Johnny Least-Weasel is Albert’s grandson who is 17 years old, helps out his grandma around the house with irewood and other projects. Johnny is a very well behaved 17 years old, who respects his grandparents a lot. As Albert checks his traps and re-baits them a tragic accident happened.  He stepped back into his own grizzly bear trap that was set.  All his gear, like an ax, food, blankets were on the trail way out of his reach and the bolt that the trap was connected to was buried and frozen in the base of the tree a good six inches.  Yanking, pulling, and trying to open the trap was useless.  In town Johnny and his Grandma were getting worried after the 3rd day with the temperature 30 below.  All Albert could do was burn sticks around him to keep warm but soon there would be no more sticks.  Albert is stuck there until Johnny or somebody finds Albert, but for now Albert has to fight to survive with the temperature dropping down to 50 below. The trap is an amazing story filled with excitement, sadness and scenes that make your heart skip a beat.  Every page gets better and better.  The Trap is filled with brilliant parts about a guy who never gives up.  This is an unforgettable story of a relationship between a grandpa and his grandson that will never break.  This action packed book is surely a book that people will not be able to put down.  You never know what the next day might bring.  Who can survive for almost a week stuck in a trap? <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 8pt; mso-spacerun: yes; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msospacerun: yes;"> This book will surely take your breath away. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 8pt; mso-spacerun: yes; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msospacerun: yes;"> ======

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 8pt; mso-spacerun: yes; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msospacerun: yes;"> __[[image:shack.jpg]] The Shack__ - By: William Young
====<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 8pt; mso-spacerun: yes; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msospacerun: yes;">Mackenzie Phillips is put to the test when his 6 year old daughter, Missy, is kidnapped and murdered. He turns away from God. It's just another day for Mackenzie until he receives a letter in the mail from GOD asking Mack to meet him at the Shack, where Missy was murdered. Is this a joke? Could it really be from God? What will happen to him if he goes and God is actually there? This book starts out great. A real page turner! however, toward the middle of it, I began to lose a little interest. It became rather predictable for me, and a little too outrageous at times. I would still suggest giving this book a try. It's quite "different." 4 out of 5 stars. ====



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//__Wicked__ By: Gregory Maguire Reviewed by: Micki Scherwinski// The book Wicked is all about the "Wicked Witch of the West". It tells of her whole life from birth to death. Right from the beginning she is looked at as being very strange (obviously green babies are'nt very common) and a lot of the tome she was treated as an infectious disease. All through her childhood she was given strange looks and became an outcast. Eventually she goes on to college to meet her soon to be best friend Glinda (the good witch). A few years before graduation she runs off; abandoning her armless sister and all her friends. Many years later she comes back to her sister, who is now ruler of Munchkinland. Soon after they get reaquainted the whole episode with Dorothy and her house happens. The witch is furious at Dorothy haven taken the shoes and tries to go after her, but fails. After she learns about Dorothy going to the Wizard and being told to come and kill her she tries to kill Dorothy and you know the rest... Overall I would give this book 1.5 stars. I found it extremely boring and took me an extreme amount of time to read. I would'nt recommend it to anyone.=====

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// __Princess Diaries__// Reviewed by Brienna Spitza In the book the princess Diaries, there are several important characters. The one main character is Mia. Mia is a teenage girl whose dad is prince of Genovia and grandma is the queen. During the book Mia has several obstacles. Another main character would have to be Mia’s grandmother in other words the queen of Genovia. Next there is Mia’s mother Mia’s best friend Lilly and then Lilly’s brother Michael. All those people play an important part in the book and have some kind of relationship with Mia. Now, with all the characters comes a set of problems or conflicts among one another. During the whole book every character had their ups, and their downs. As for Mia, she has the choice of a lifetime. That choice consists of becoming a princess of Genovia, which means a whole new lifetime, ahead of the decision whether she should accept it or let it pass on by. As for Mia’s grandmother, she has to go the whole book convincing her granddaughter Mia to take the experience of royalty. Mia’s mom has a big role because she is Mia’s mother of course and is the one helping Mia through the decision making and hard change. Lilly has to deal with teenage life and drama but on top of it all her best friend has a choice of moving out of the country and becoming a princess. Now as crazy as this may sound Lilly’s brother is one of the other main characters for reasons that may shock some people. He really gets involved and has a decent part in the book. Now these main characters are what make up the book with their life problems put together. Basically all in all the Princess Diaries is about a teenage girl named Mia and her grandmother approaches her with a choice on taking on the family tradition and becoming princess of Genovia. Out of the whole book I believe it is an amusing and interesting book. It is really like an everyday situation all though most of it is normal teenage life; it is crazy yet fun twist to it. Most people don’t have family members that are royal, and that got to be one main reason this book attracts people. I enjoyed the drama because not everyday do you have drama involving a queen. Teenage lives are always fun to read about but this book really mixes things up and is interesting for different people. It is a great book to read and I recommend more and more people read it. =====

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__Cut__ by Patricia McCormack Reviewer: Hayley Wilfer I really enjoyed this book. "Cut" really gives one insite to peoples minds and feelings. You never really know how someone feels and people need to be careful what we say. Words can cut just as much as razorblades and our body language can say a lot too! The main character, Callie, is a lot like me and I think that's why I could comfortably put myself in her shoes. She feels like everything is always her fault and I can definitely relate to that. Callie stays at Sea Pines institute, it sound like she's there by force, but she meets friends. She is silent and quite a loner in the beginning but the other girls are always there for her. Her roomate, Sydney, calls her S.T. for Silent Treatment, but is supporting Callie through her silence. The girls she stays with have many different reasons for being there, but she couldn't really relate to any of their problems. Then a girl named Amanda came to the institute and bragged about what she did to herself...the same thing Callie did. Callie is able to make it through her friend's graduation from Sea Pines, with some help from her family, a waitress, and friends. I highly recommend this book, to anybody. It helps others to understand why some people do what they do and why it's so hard to stop. People don't realize what happens in a person's body and this book explains it in a way that anyone can understand. "Cut" definetly makes one more receptive to others feelings and reasons for doing things. The way it is written gives the reader a quite a good look into the main character's life and other people like her. It's an easy read, and changes everything. There is no way to read this book and not finish it a more compassionate person. It is such an eye opener, and suddenly.....I understand.=====

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__For Mike__ by Shelley Sykes ** Reviewer: Garrett Semrau ** ** "For Mike" was a novel I could relate to. The way that the characters thought and the motivations for their actions were very believable, the kind of thing I would say or do myself. I think the author did a very good job or thinking like a teenager would and expressing it clearly. My favorite part of the novel was the changing plot. By changing the goals of the character it kept the reader interested, just when you think it is over something completely changes and you are pulled in yet again. I think that almost anyone could be interested in this book. The characters are enjoyable and the plot is hypnotizing. **=====

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**__The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian__ by Sherman Alexie** <span style="color: #0f100f; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> Humorous, authentic, with characters so true to life that you catch yourself thinking, "That's just like...!" Arnold (Junior) lives two lives - on the reservation, he's an Indian. But, the Indians on the reservation are not happy with him...because Arnold has done the unheard of, the most awful thing a reservation Indian can do...he has chosen to go to the rural, white school in nearby Reardan. To the Indians on the reservation, he's a traitor. Even his best friend, Rowdy, hates him for leaving. Arnold has to deal with poverty, trying to have hope and fight for something better than an inept education on the reservation, drunken Indians, getting beaten up regularly, and figuring out how to get a white girl to fall in love with him. His challenges have only just begun... **__Very, very cool book.__** I loved this book! (Mrs Jahnke) Be prepared, though, for Arnold to talk about things that people generally shy away from discussing... =====

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<span style="color: #0f100f; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> __The Hollow Kingdom__: By: Clare B. Dunkle This book is fantasy at it's best. Short in length, and easy to read, it is the first in the trilogy about Holllow Hill. Kate and her sister Emily encounter Goblins while staying with their great aunts. Although many believe elves and goblins are only myth, These sisters know better. The goblin king is obsessed with Kate's beauty and wants her to be his bride. But...that would mean she'd have to go underground, never to see daylight again. He will trick and taunt his way to Kate to get what he wants. How will she escape, and keep her sister safe? Read this well written novel to find out. I would rate this book a 5! =====

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<span style="color: #0f100f; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> __Black Rabbit Summer__ by: Kevin Brooks Reviewer: Nicole Lehto I would consider this book to be all mystery so if you're the kind of person who likes these kinds of books then i would highly recommend it. Out of 5 stars i would definetley give this book a 3 1/2 to 4 because it really draws you into the confusion and mystery. So read it for yourself. =====

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<span style="color: #0f100f; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> __The Host__ by: Stephenie Meyer Although written for adults, this piece of science fiction sits well with the young adult audience. The Host takes place in the future, where aliens have taken over the entire planet. First they invade the body, then they take over your mind. Only small groups of humans still exist, and remain hidden underground for survival. If you’re expecting an intense love affair in this story, like in Stephenie’s Twilight series, you won’t find it here. What you will find is a well written story, with an unbelievable story-line that borders the ridiculous, with a somewhat predictable ending. There is some violence. If you like Stephenie Meyer’s writing style, give the Host a try. But be prepared for something much different than her vampire series. =====

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__Loving Frank__: A Novel - By: Nancy Horan This book is about the famous Wisconsin architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It is told from the point of view of the mistress of Frank, Mamah Borthwick. Mamah and Frank meet when he visits Mamah and her husband to build them a new home. It is love at first sight, and although they don't act on their feelings right away, they eventually end up having an intense love affair. Even though Frank has six children and remains married to his wife, it is no secret to society that Frank and Mamah are a couple. They end up building a home together in Spring Green Wisconsin and live there together for several years until one fateful day. Murder and fire take the lives of several inhabitants of their home. This story is based on true events and has a shocking ending. I would rate it a 5!=====

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The Catcher in the Rye - By: J.D. Salinger See David Schaefer about this book! He is the expert.=====

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 * [[image:king.jpg]] __A Thousand Tomorrows__ - By: Karen Kingsbury** This book was a fairly good book. I would give it a 4 for a rating. This book starts out sad and has a lot of strong emotions. A star football player is injured and gets kicked off the team. He has two kids, one of which has down syndrome. The dad decides he can't take care of a kid like that so he leaves the family. The oldest boy becomes furious with his dad leaving. A lot of emotions are built up in him and he takes it out on his mom. Eventully he becomes interested in bull riding and leaves his family too. Cody doesn't really know how to love. Since his dad left the only emotion he has is hate. On the PBRA tour he meets Ali and falls in love with her, but she has Cystic Fibrosis, a deadly lung disease. The relationship between them is stressful at times, but their love for each other grows stronger each and every day. Eventully the two of them decide to get married. Ali wants him to make ammends with his family, but he wants nothing to do with them. A few months after they get married he decides he should forgive his family since Ali's only wish is to meet them before she dies. This book is not only sad but it also has both happy and angry moments. Anyone who is into love and adventure books should definitely read this book. This is a book that you will not be able to put down.=====

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**__Necklace of Kisses__ - By: Francesca Lia Block** Necklace of Kisses definitely has to be read by someone who has an imagination and is willing to believe in miracles and think outside of the box. This book opened my eyes and helped me realize what I have in life and how not to take it for granted. I learned that you should go for what you want in life and to never stop dreaming, because that's someone that no one can take away from you. Weetzie, the main character of this book realized at the wrong time in her life that she had made a mistake with the way her life was going, and she wanted to start over and change things for herself. In order for her to make a difference in her own life, she needed to go back the the hotel where she had her high school prom and make things better from that point in her life. At this hotel magical things start happening and it makes her experience there life changing. This is an amazing book with laughs and tears. If you like to be on the edge, this is the book for you. I would rate this a 4.=====

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 * [[image:girl.jpg]] __Unseen Companion__ - Denise Gosliner Orenstein** Historical Fiction. This book was pretty good; I would give it a rating of 3 ½ stars. It was mainly about four different people, who never knew each other, coming together to solve the mystery of what happened to Dove Alexie. He was the mixed Native American who hit a white teacher during the 1960’s. Lorraine Hobbs was a 17-year-old girl who is really selfish and only thought about herself- that was until she was briefly acquainted to Dove Alexie. She thought she had to help him. Then there was Annette, she was a very hard working girl; at home and at the county jail. One day she sees a young guy (Dove Alexie) come into the jail under arrest. She also sees Arnie abuse him- but she says nothing and feels terrible. The other two main characters really don’t have much to do with Dove Alexie. I don’t know if I would recommend this book. It was good, but not that good. Some parts of the story were dull like it was missing parts.=====

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This book, **__I Never Asked You to Understand Me__**, was absolutly amazing. It really helped me think about teen problems and made me realize that my life isn't so bad. Its about a girl whose mother dies of cancer. She starts failng in school and is put into an alternative school, but with the help of new and different people she learns to conquer her problems and is able to go back. I give this book a 4 because even thought its short it is a lovely story that I think everyone can relate to. ©, Lundgren, 2001=====

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**Title: __Love Sara__ – Author: Mary Beth Lundgren** **-** **Contemporary Realism.** This book, Love Sara, left me in tears! It was full of sadness, depression, and just emotion. Sara is a troubled girl trying to go through life on her own. She lives with her foster family, and her best friend ignores her now that she has a boyfriend. Sara is alone. This book was a 4 for me. I would read it over to get all the details. I would recommend this book to others because it shows how life can be tough. But Sara overcomes her fears. When you read the book, you'll find out what mournful event occurs.=====

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 * [[image:http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n24/n123417.jpg width="64" height="104"]] Title: __The Silver Kiss__ -- Author: Annette Curtis Klause -- Reviewer: Brad Klinger** Fantasy/Horror Disease, death, and murder a wierd plot to such a heart felt book. A young girl feel abandoned, her mother has cancer, her father is never home because he's always at the hospital where she isn't even allowed to visit her sick mother. Also while all of this hardship is going on, a series of murders take place all around town. All the poor victims appear to have their blood drained from thier bodies. To top it all off, our protagonist, already dealing with all of her other personal issues, finds that her best friend since childhood is moving away. A bleak onset of a book, but this book like all good fantasy comes to a happy be it somewhat bitter ending. I almost cried so it must be good, four stars.=====

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**Title: __The Raging Quiet__- Author: Sherryl Jordan** Medievil drama and romance A young girl named Marnie is married to a man she does not love and is twice her age. Forced away from her home she faces the tribulations of befriending a insane man named Raver, being accused of vial crimes, the unfriendliness of the village people, and the people's doubts and slander about her (a farm girl) marrying a lord. She finds what people should really stand up for and what her only crime is- being different. ©, Rice, 1996=====

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**Title: __Interview with a Vampire__ -- Author: Anne Rice - Reviewer: Brad Klinger** Fantasy/Horror A tortured soul finally feels he is ready to tell his tale of woe. In a run-down hotel room. Louis confides to a reporter about his life on plantation in the early 1800's. He's a 150-year-old Vampire. Louis speaks of his maker Lestat, and of his beloved Claudia vampires both and global travelers. A fantastic read from beginning to end with no stops in between. Mixing goth stylings with deep devestation leaves you with a book you can't put down. 5 stars!!!=====

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**__Twilight__ – Stephenie Meyer -** 17 year-old Bella moves to Forks, Washington and finds herself completely infatuated with Edward Cullen, a strikingly handsome, mysterious senior. Eventually Bella discovers that Edward is a vampire, but this doesn’t stop her from pursuing him. An intense bond develops between the two teens while Edward struggles to make their relationship work without killing Bella in the process. This novel is very exciting as it mixes the intensity of a first love experience with the dangers of death from a monster. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys horror fiction or romance novels. On a scale of 1-5, this novel deserves nothing less than a five star rating=====

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! **__Angels and Demons__- Author: Dan Brown** **Action/ Adventure**. The book __Angels and Demons__ is going to be another classic. It is way better than the __DaVince Code__. It still has Robert Landon as the main character, but also has Vittora Vetra, a young and smart professor that falls for Langdon, and Kohler the director of CERN who discovers a secret that knows no bounds. The conflict of the Story is when a deadly experiment is stolen and it put into the Vatican. It only worsens when four cardinals are stolen and are going to be killed. One every hour. So Langdon and Vetra go out to save the Catholic Church, but soon find out the true meaning of this horror. So withal this adventure and mystery I easily give this book a perfect five stars!=====

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©, Rice, 1985 **Title: __The Vampire Lestat__ -- Author: Anne Rice -- Reviewer: Brad Klinger** Fantasy/ Horror After leaving Louis in Paris Lestat wonders the Earth until the 1920's. He then literally goes under ground. With out the resolve to continue he buries himself in a cemetry until the pounding rock songs of the '80's wake him from his slumber. He precedes to form his own rock group and to write his own biography upon reading of his flegling Louis'. Lestat is back and tells of his early years in France, how he became a vampire, and how he meet all of his fledglings. A perfect sequel to Interview with a Vampire. A gripping read to learn the Evil of Lestat de Lioncourt. 5 stars again!!!=====

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©, Scott Card, 1985 **__Enders Game__ -** Science Fiction __**Ender’s Game**__ is a science fiction novel that tells the story of a young boy named Ender. The story takes place on Earth in the future. Earth has been attacked twice by an alien species called Buggers. Humans begin training boy geniuses such as Ender to become soldiers to fight in Earth’s defense if the Buggers should try to invade Earth again. Ender is super smart and quick-witted boy genius, and at a mere age of six years old leaves to Battle School to be trained. He quickly rises to the top in Battle School and begins training in order to command Earth’s fleets…but he can’t stop asking himself the question “is what we are doing here right?” **Prey- Michael Crichton Science Fiction.** Jack is an unemployed father of three kids. HE is skeptical when his ex-boss asks for his help on a project in their technology plant in the desert in Nevada, but accepts. While there, he discovers a self-evolving swarm has been released into the environment and quickly evolves beyond human control. He and his coworkers begin a struggle to defeat the swarm that turns into a struggle to survive. I would definitely recommend this book because its genius and it keeps you on the edge of your seat! Five stars.=====

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©, Rice, 1989 **Title: __The Queen of the Damned__ -- Author: Anne Rice -- Reviewer: Brad Klinger** Fantasy/Horror Rice apparently has a flare for writing as she continues to do so in the Queen of the Damned. Lestat left his readers hanging at the end of his auto-biography right before his big concert debut. The novel is a compilation of perspectives of other characters on their stories flashing back from ancient Egypt to Lestat's concert and all time stops in between. Anne Rice continues her story with ease and conviction. New characters come in and old ones return. It's another masterful piece. five stars!=====

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Paulsen, 1987 **__Hatchet__ - Author: Gary Paulsen, Reviewer: Brad Klinger** If you haven't read this book yet, you should. I've read it three times already! A young boy named Brian, who comes from a troubled family, finds himself stranded in the Northern Canadian woods after his bush plane crashes. Left with nothing but a hatchet, he has to learn to survive on his own. From vicious storms, to a raging bear, to a pet skunk, you'll live and suffer with Brian through every single heart pumping adventure. 4 stars!=====

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©, Rice, 1992 **Title: __The Tale of the Body Thief__ -- Author: Anne Rice -- Reviewer: Brad Klinger** Fantasy/Horror One again Lestat has to be the center of attention where tells of his latest adventure. Rice sticks Lestat into a precarious position. He metaphorically makes a deal with the devil or rather he makes a deal with the body thief. This man has the ability to switch souls with another giving them each others body. He therefore gives Lestat a deal he couldn't refuse, for one week they switch places where he becomes a vampire and Lestat becomes human for the first time in nearly three hundred years. Of course Lestat junps at the chance and damn the consequences. As you probably can guess when the week ends Lestat is double crossed and must know go on a quest to take back his body, but how can a mere mortal steal back a vampire body? Anne Rice does it agree with another gripping read. The series just keeps on roling. Four stars seems adequate to me.=====

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 * **__Godless__ – Pete Hautman.** **Reviewed by Marilyn Rasmussen.** Jason has had it with his parents’ religion, and the religion classes they insist he attend. Messing around with friends one day under the town’s water tower – it happened – he decides “WATER IS LIFE.” Therefore, the water tower is God. It takes some tough talk to convince his friends, “you can’t prove that God doesn’t exist, and you can’t prove the water tower isn’t God.” The “Ten-legged One” becomes their meeting place. They are the Chutengodians (Church of the Ten-legged God). The struggle to find appropriate ways to ‘worship’ becomes dangerous as they attempt to climb the tower and ultimately, touch the ‘sacred’ water. Instead of unifiying the group, these activities cause fractures and pain that will never heal. The story’s taunt, the questions raised are many of the same ones that are common to teens. Definitely 4 stars. ||=====

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 * [[image:http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0345409671.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg width="62" height="108" link="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0345409671.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg"]] Title: __Memnoch the Devil__ -- Author: Anne Rice -- Reviewer: Brad Klinger** Fantasy/Horror One of Rice's more inspiring reads that challenges a person's beleifs more than the De Vinci Code. Lestat seems to be getting offers from everyone. This time however it comes from someone more combersome than any other, the devil himself. Memnoch as he calls himself, wishes to take Lestat on as his assitant. Quite an offer. Memnoch takes Lestat on a journey to Heaven, to Hell and all points inbetween. What can I say, another great read out of the Rice stables. Readers are sad too hear that this is the last Lestat based adventure, he never goes away, but never comes back. Keep reading and you'll see what I mean. Five stars again!=====

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**__The Party Room__-Morgan Burke** Mystery The book I read was called the party room. It is about a girl named Sam who is murdered mysteriously and her best friend, Kirsten goes out to look for the murderer. She meets a guy name Kyle and falls madly in love with him, but she finds out, he is the murder of her best friend. I give it a 5+. I would recommend it to other students because it is one of those books you can’t put down because there are things happening one right after another. It is a great book and I would recommend it to anyone.=====

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©, Rice, 1999 **Title: __The Vampire Armand__ -- Author: Anne Rice -- Reviewer: Brad Klinger** Fantasy/Horror Finally their is some to Rice's Vampire Chronicles. Rice renews the style she started with when she wrote the storeis of Louis and Lestat except this time she turns her attention to Armand. The tale of Armand starts with his humble begingings in Kiev, his capture and enslavement, and of his redemption by his maker and master, Marius. Under Marius's watchful eye, Armand grows and matures as does the love and admiration Marius bestows on him. His strong emotions drive him to make Armand into a Vampire. Love, Sorrow, pain, and joy seep through all the pages. five stars again Rice. **Title: Fight Club -- Author: Chuck Palahniuk** Action/Adventure In a confusing world poised on the brink of mayhem, Tyler Durden, a projectionist, waiter, and anarchic genius, comes up with an idea to create clubs in which young men can escape their everyday lives and prove themselves in barehanded fights. Tyler hasn't slept in the past week, and causes him to go insane. He attends medical support clubs that helps him sleep at night, until one day he came home and his apartment, his life was burnt to the ground. He mets a man that he sees, but in reality, he's just in his head. He Introduces him to Fight Club. Fight club becomes so popular, that Tyler has to start branches in many cities and uses the fight club to recruit members for an escalated anarchy organization, Project Mayhem. Members of Project Mayhem perform minor acts such as peeing in the soup at a benefit dinner for the rich and famous to castrating police chiefs that threaten to shut down fight club. The book begins and ends with the narrator and Tyler on the roof of "the tallest building in the world" in which Project Mayhem has placed explosive charges intending to bring the building town. Tyler considers his actions social terrorism meant to liberate the common man from the television promises of equality and prosperity. The Narrorater of the story remains nameless, but sees what Tyler has done to him. He relizes that he's a fake and he's just in his head. He tries commiting suicide by shooting himself in the mouth. He fails to kill himself because he killed Tyler, not himself. Fight club was a HUGE twist and i recommend this book to everyone. 5 stars for sure!=====

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**__Cut__ - Patricia McCormick -** **Reviewed by Mrs. Jahnke** There are very few books written that can make a strong impact on a reader. Patricia McCormick masterfully tells a story, in first-person, of a teenage girl who cuts. Callie is in a residential treatment facility with other teen girls, each with their own issues and struggles ranging from eating disorders to severe depression. Callie doesn't speak to anyone - in fact, she stopped speaking when something traumatic had happened in her life. That is also when she started self-destructive behaviors like cutting. The book is a touching journey, as Callie painfully confronts her past. The most riveting characteristic of this story is how McCormick is able to make you feel that you personally know Callie - that she's right there, talking to you, and you can understand everything she is feeling and saying. In some ways, Callie's thoughts, feelings, and actions are a mirror - she has a little bit of everyone in her, and she speaks the difficult story of every teen girl struggling to understand the world and how to deal with it. A Must Read!=====

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**Title: __Pandora__ -- Author: Anne Rice -- Reviewer: Brad Klinger** Fantasy/Horror A new and rare account of a female vampire, Pandora, Marius's beloved, is asked to write her long story. Born to a roman family about fifty years after Marius, she is flung into the conflict that always plagues Rome, politics and murder. Her family is slaughtered and she must flee to Greece. There like a magnet to trouble, she is the target of a vampire. This altercation ends with her re-aquanence with Marius who she had previously met earlier in her youth and with her becoming a vampire. Her story continues with her relationship with Marius, their love and their constant arguing which leads to their separation. Of course the reunion **__several hundred years later__** eventually brings them back to later. A complete story of love and despair. A fantastic read to start the new "vampire" chronicles.=====

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**Title: __Blood and Gold__ -- Author: Anne Rice -- Reviewer: Brad Klinger** Fantasy/Horror Well, his fledglings' stories are told, why shouldn't his. Marius de Romanus, roman senator, child of the millenium, has lived for over twenty-five hundred years and has a story of his own to tell. The man lived in the times of ancient rome and the birth of christianity. His live is forever changed when he is captured by a group of raging Gauls and taken to be sacrificed to a pagan god. Strangely enough that supposed god is an ancient vampire. He is badly burned and does not know why. He transformed Marius into a vampire and sends him to Egypt to discover the cause of the burning. Marius's tale continues as he travels through Egypt, Greece, and Italy. In his travels he creates his beloved fledglings, Amedeo (Armand), Pandora, and Bianca. Read on McDuff, read on. Five Stars=====

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**Title: __Vittorio the Vampire__ -- Author: Anne Rice -- Reviewer: Brad Klinger** Fantasy/Horror These two new Vampire chronicles, Pandora and Vittiorio, have their interesting plot twists. Pandora being the first female vamp to tell her story, and then there is Vittorio. Unlike the rest of Anne Rice's Vampires, Vittorio has nothing to do with th Coven of the Articulate, which to all of Anne's characters belong. His story is a new look at vamparism. Born in the time of the Madici family, and living as the son of a noble man, he grew up wild in one of many castles in the dark woods of Florence. His family impact the entire kingdom, is killed by a pack of vampires that live in the hills. He survives and after buring his parents and syblings in the family crypt and gathering up sufficent funds from the castles many hidding places; he sets out on his own. Sadly he is captured before long and taken to the vampiric lair in the mountains where he is put to the ultimate test. Rice comes through again with a unique perspective for her readers. 4 stars=====

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**Reviewer: Brad Klinger** To those who are or will read the Vampire Chronicles, I happy to have provided the reviews to Anne Rices's books, however there are three of books of the saga that will not be reviewed by me. __Merrick (2000), Blackwood Farm (2002), Blood Canticle(2003)__ are three books where she combines her Vampire chronicles with her Mayfair Witch saga. I refuse to read them out of principle, but I most likely will when I get bored. However, until I do, I encourage others who enjoy the series and read it in it's entirety. I must also must report that Anne Rice will never write another Vampire book. Since the death of her husband Stan, who was the model for the charater Lestat, Anne Rice has stopped being an atheist, and has found Jesus. She just recently finished her first book of a new series, __Christ the Lord out of Eqypt.__ and I wish her luck. I will continue to enjoy her Vampire chronicles and I hope you will as well.=====

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**__The House of the Scorpion__** **-- Author: Nancy Farmer -- Brad Klinger** **Science Fiction** Drugs, Clones, and microchips being planted in people's brains; what else could you ask for in a book? House of Scorpion is set in a vast land of poppyfields spanning parts of the US and Mexico forming it's own country called Opium. The Protagonist Matteo Alacarn is a clone of a powerful Drug Lord known as El Patron. It's an amazing science fiction novel if you can't stand space travel. You see a young man and an old man grow to dust. 5 stars!=====

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**Title: __The Mummy or Ramses the Damned__ -- Author: Anne Rice -- Reviewer: Brad Klinger** Horror/Action Anne Rice, the author of the Vampire Chronicals as well as the Mayfair Witch series has written a few single novels in her time. Ramses the Damned was one of her very first novels she ever wrote. As you can probably tell from the title of the Novel, it is about a mummy, Ramses the 1st. The tomb of Ramses the first was uncovered by an esteemed English Archeology named Lawrence Stratford. Their discover leads to murder, theft, romance, and immortality. An amazing book from a well known author when she was just getting her start. four stars!!!=====

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//**Title: __The Andromeda__** __**Strain**__// **-- Author: Michael Crichton -- Brad Klinger** Science Fiction A novel of microscopic proportions, and I don't mean it's a short book. It plays on one of the biggest fears at the time when the book was written; germ warfare. Way deep under ground in a secret test lab run by the government, a great evil is unleashed on a small town in Arizona. Only two people survived the accidental exposer, a elderly man and a young infant. Now it is a race to find out why before more damage is unleased. One of Michael Crichton's more engaging books. four stars=====

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©, Shan, 2002   **Title: __Cirque du Freak bk1__ -- The Vampire Assistant bk2 -- Tunnels of Blood bk3 Trilogy: Vampire Blood -- Author: Darren Shan -- Reviewer: Brad Klinger** Horror/Fantasy The first three books of the twelve book series comprise the first trilogy, Vampire Blood. These first books introduce us to the main charater, Darren Shan and the life of a young teen. After sneaking out one night with his friends to catch a freak show called Cirque Du freak his life is turned upside down. Darren tries to steal one of the acts called Madame Octe who is a large spider. The spider's owner, Mr. Crespley, is determined to get his spider back. I don't want to give away the entire plot, so I'll leave you with that Vampire's are involved and Darren is in for a great adventure. Darren Shan (writer) is a fantastic author who will make you want to read every page. Five Stars!!=====

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**Title: Vampire Mountain bk4 -- The Trials of Death bk5 -- The Vampire Prince bk6 Trilogy: Vampire Rites -- Author: Darren Shan -- Reviewer: Brad Klinger** Horror/Fantasy Darren Shan's adventures as a half-vampire under the guidence of Mr Crepsley. After their adventure in Crepsley's home town, they decide to make a trek to Vampire Mountain, where Crepsley has to explain why he made a kid his apprentice. This leads Darren into a world like known he could ever have thought of. A world of Vampire lore and tradition, the fighting with swords and the lance are abound. Deception, Trails of death, and royalty and the dreaded Vamperese await the young apprentice. Darren Shan (author) comes through with his second triology with ease. A fabulous collection of Charaters, plot twists, and suspence. Five Stars.=====

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**Title: Hunters of the Dusk bk7 -- Allies of the night bk8 -- Killers of the Dawn bk9 The Lake of Souls bk10 -- Lord of the Shadows bk11 -- Sons of Destiny bk 12 Triology: Vampire War & Vampire Destiny -- Author: Darren Shan** Horror/Fantasy Read it, Review it!!=====

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**Title: __Speak__ -- Author: Laurie Halse Anderson -- Reviewer: Brad Klinger** Contemporary realism/ tradegy A fasinating read for any high school girls though guys might get a kick out of it too. If a girl is going through a hard time or is troubled by something and can't seem to be able to talk about it might want to give this book a glance. It's a story of a normal highschool girl who goes to parties and likes to have fun with friends. Normal. Yet as the school year progesses, her grades begin to drop and she seems to isolated. With each passing chapter a little more of the truth is brought to the surface. Anderson is an amazing suspence author who really brings life to her characters. A great read that isn't all that long and speaks from the heart. four stars from one.=====

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**Title: __Blue Bloods__ -- Author: Melissa De La Cruz -- Reviewer: Brad Klinger** Horror/love New York is infested by vampire. These vamps have formed a commune of sorts called the Blue Bloods. This coven has existed since the time of the Plymouth and Roanoke colonies. They prowl the night in the clubs of New York. Killing is forbidden, but they still have to feed. So, they form realtions with "familiars" to get the blood they need. They feed on them in a cycle to keep from drinking to much. Anyway the story is about a young girl and her friends. She finds out that she is a vampire and must now work through the transformation. A thrilling book though the author gets wrapped up in her description. 2 stars=====

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**Title: __Masquerade__ -- Author: Melissa De La Cruz -- Reviewer: Brad Klinger** Horror/Love Vampires still infest New York. One particular Blue Blood, Shuyler Van Allen is such a vampire. Death of other young vampires have her on quest to find out why. They leaves the New York that is their "prowl"ground to locate Shuyler's "granfather" who possible might be in Italy. The future is uncertain, but they have to try. Ms. De La Cruz has formed a sequal that has equalled her first. Very few author's can say that of their follow up novel. Girls truely will find this book appealing. No goth, no blood lust, and no grotesk violence screams with the vision of the new age, romancized vampire. 2 star again.=====

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**Title: __The Red Badge of Courage__ -- Author: Stephen Crane -- Reviewer: Brad Klinger** Action/History The book may have been writen in ten days, but Its impact was much greater. The Red Badge of Courage is set in the time of the Civil War, in which the reader is flung into the psychological dilema of a young soldier. Henry, or as he is more commonly known in the book as the "youth" goes through each of his many trials; from enlisting, to leaving his mother for the first time, his first battle, his head wound, and all the events inbetween. The story is a unique look at war through the eyes of a young boy dreaming of glory and conquest, and its not bad for an author who used his college football experience as the starting point for his personal conflicts. A good book for a young author at the begining of his career, who went on to write other great pieces, but we never forget his first. Read it, it's a classic and it's short. four stars!!=====

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**Title: __Dracula__ -- Author: Bram Stoker -- Reviewer: Brad Klinger** Horror/Classic The classic vampire has come at last. Bram Stoker puts pen to paper to create a gothic story centered around a blood sucking creature of the night. Dracula is a fangtastic read with plot twisits and side bars littered thoughout. It's a simple enough read being written in episcolary or letter format. This means that each chapter is either a letter or diary entry from one of the main characters. It does tend to drag a little bit in the middle, but their is a reason for that so keep reading until the end. All in all a fantastic book if vampire happen to be your thing or if you just want to read a good book. You can't beat a classic. 4 stars if you please.=====

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**Title: __Much Ado About Nothing__ -- Author: William Shakespeare -- Reviewer: Brad Klinger** Classic Many people are scared of even the thought of Shakespeare, "it's hard, I can't understand what he's talking about". Well if that's the case, always get a copy that translates it for you. Much Ado is a difficult read. Comedies by Shakespeare are probably the hardest to understand even with the translation because the humor is alittle out of date. The story itself tells of two couples as different as can be. The primary focus is on the couples struggles to be with eachother and at other times to be without eachother. Throw in bits of comedy in between the tradegy and witty banter and you get an interesting end to say the least. I at first didn't like the book, in fact I stopped reading it and didn't pick it up for two months, but I encourage any one who wants a mild challenge to pick this book up. It's also fun to see in a theater. three stars!=====

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**Title: __Thirsty__ -- Author: M.T. Anderson -- Reviewer: Brad Klinger** Teen/Horror A young boy is cursed. With every day since he was cursed, he was destined to become a vampire. He was just a normal kid who goes to school, gets into trouble every once and a while, but that is all about to change. Now the transforming is occuring. Chris will do anything to avoid his terrible fate. However, he's not alone. A very ... particular character comes to his aid. The book will keep the reader entertained from begining to end. If your looking for a good mystery or, a vampire book without all the blood sucking, chech this book out. Four stars sounds right to me.=====

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Title: __Just Listen__--Author: Sarah Dessen Annabel is dreading going back to school. Things have been rough for her lately. First she’s lost her two best friends and almost everyone in the school believes a nasty rumor about her. Secondly her sister was discovered to have a serious eating disorder which is taking a toll on her entire family. Third of all it seems to Annabel that her mother’s sole source of happiness comes from managing her and her sisters’ modeling careers that they started at a young age. The problem with this is Annabel’s sisters are no longer modeling and she doesn’t want to be. Lastly Annabel has a secret that’s been eating away at her but she can’t share it with anyone. But things change when she meets Owen, an outcast who helps her tell the truth and stand up for what she wants. Annabel learns to not only tell but also to listen. This book was great and heart-touching, I would rate it at a 4.=====

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Title: __Mary Poppins__ Author: P.L. Travers I read this book to compare the movie to the novel. The book was an easy and interesting read. One of the major differences I noticed was that Mary Poppins was much more personable in the movie than in the book. In both versions she took the children on adventures, although there were more exciting adventures in the novel. Some interesting adventures included in the book were Mary Poppins placing stars in the sky and taking the children to visit a candy factory that did not exist. This is definitely a good example of how movies and books with the same title can be quite different. I recommend it to those interested in the origin of the Mary Poppins movie.=====