Bloom, I Can’t Tell You, and Pieces of Georgia August 4, 2008

Kyla says:

I read Bloom by Elizabeth Scott. This book is about Lauren, a girl in high school is dating the most popular boy in school. She feels like that is what is expected of her especially since she is not really that popular. Lauren lives with her dad since her mom left them both when she was younger. Lauren and her dad don’t ever really talk about feelings or anything of any real importance. Then Lauren runs into Evan. Evan’s mom and Lauren’s dad once dated and ended things on a sour note. Lauren starts to fall for Evan even though he is not popular. Lauren has to decide what is more important to her, her popularity or actually finding someone that she loves. The book was ok. It was a little too predictable for me but I would still recommend it to others.

I read I Can’t Tell You by Hillary Frank. This book is about Jake, who is starting his freshman year in college. Jake gets into an arguement with his best friend and ends up telling him some things that he shouldnt’ have. His friend stops talking to Jake even though they share a dorm room. Jake decides then that he is not going to talk anymore because it just ends up getting him in trouble. He decides that writing messages to everyone is the way to go. He uses whatever is handy to write on, including napkins, scraps of paper, and paperbags. Jake starts to fall in love with a girl in his dorm. He uses the notes to try and get his feelings across. I thought that this book was extremely interesting. The beginning was a little tough since the entire book is written in notes and the speakers are not really identified. I did enjoy how it was written though once I was able to figure out who was speaking. I thought it was an interesting way to tell a story.

I read Pieces of Georgia by Jen Bryant. This book is about a young girl named Georgia. She lives near a farm with her father. Her mother passed away when Georgia was younger. Georgia is an artist but she feels like she can’t really share her art with her father since her mother was an artist also and it seems to make her father sad. Georgia has been classified as “At Risk” by her school since she gets nervous easily and doesn’t have a lot of friends. She is given a journal by her counselor to try and get some of her feelings out. Georgia really starts to enjoy her journal. She starts to figure out her dad and her best friend. She starts to actually be able to share her feelings with them. This is a good story about family and friendship.

Persepolis July 28, 2008

Jennifer says:

Yes, it’s a “graphic novel”. But don’t miss this intimate, searing autobiography just because it comes fully illustrated, panel cartoon style, with portrayals of the author and her family, friends, and relatives. Caricature is a skill Ms. Satrapi perfected in post-Islamic revolution Iran, while she sat in class in her hijab, silently lampooning her teachers in the margins of her notebooks. This book, like Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi, offers a human perspective on Iran that is missing from most news stories. In Persepolis the perspective is that of a girl child. Satrapi grows up before our eyes as her life changes inexorably through the upheaval in her homeland. If you have never read a graphic novel, Persepolis should be your first, especially if you enjoy reading autobiographies.

The Crazy School July 18, 2008

Kyla says:

I read The Crazy School by Cornelia Read. This book was about a group of kids that lived in a boarding home for behaviorally challenged teens and the teachers that taught them.  I really enjoyed reading about how the teachers interacted with the kids living at the boarding home. The book started off a little slow but got more exciting as I read. In the book there is a major incident that affects everyone at the home. I wasn’t able to put the book down until I had discovered who was involved in the incident. I liked that the book kept me guessing.

Soon I Will Be Invincible June 4, 2008

Suzanne says:

Austin Grossman turns the world of supervillains and superheros on it’s head by building the supervillain up as the supreme underdog. Filled with humor and surprising hits of compassion, this book  makes for a fast summer read.

Soon I will be Invincible

Shift May 30, 2008

Suzanne says:

I just finished “Shift” by Jennifer Bradbury. And yes, I read it in one night. If you’re looking for a coming-of -age mystery adventure, this is the read for you. Two high school friends decide to bicycle across the country to the West Coast to celebrate their high school graduation/liberation. Being an avid cyclist myself, I appreciate the sense of freedom the characters experience while biking and the physical and relational challenges they face. One makes it to the coast, the other does not. As the cover states, “Some friends fade away…others disappear”. Who disappears? Why? Read it to find out!