Midnighters: The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld

Jessica Day has just moved to Bixby, Oklahoma from Chicago. She enjoys popularity and also gets the attention of sunglass wearing outcasts. She finds out that she is a "midnighter" a person who can move during the magical 25th hour at midnight. Each of the other "midnighters" have a specific power. Rex is a seer, Melissa is a mindcaster, Dess is a polymath, and Jonathan is an acrobat. At the begining Jessica doesn't know what her power is or how she fits in with this group, but when she gets attacked by darklings, entities that exsist in blue time she learns about the midnighters and they must meet at the snake pit to keep the darklings at bay. Will Jessica find out what her power is so she can help the other midnighters out, and will her parents find out what she is doing at the midnight hour? Or will she be able to keep what she is doing a secret?

Tom Burnham

where i want to be by Adele Griffin

The story of Jane the older sister who is not quite normal and must take pills daily even though she is very intelligent and Lily the little sister who has surpassed her older sister is told in chapters that alternate between the two girls. For Jane it is a story of loss, her beloved grandparents died and her cherished little sister no longer has time for her the way she used to, before boyfriends. It is too much loss to endure. Lily too must struggle with loss, the part she may have contributed to the loss and finally she must move on with her life. Good for a cry. Lurlene McDaniel's fans this one is for you.
jdw
8/2/05

Close To Shore By Michael Capuzzo

This is a true story about shark attacks on the New Jersey coastline in 1916. It was a terrifying experience for the towns people along the Jersey shore, and New York Bay, and Intawaan Creek. It was so shocking, and frightening that beaches were closed for many months. This was bad for Hotels that depended on tourists for spending summers at the beach for holidays.

The white shark attacked five victims, who basically bled to death. The victims injury was so severe,and by the time medical attention was administered it waas tto late for the individual.

Next, we see the government putting nets trying to catch the monster as people called it. It really was a white shark, that was hungry for flesh.

I myself, grew up near the Atlantic, and Pacific Ocean. For some protection, we always had a shark net where we went swimming. We didnot take chances.

The book is good for teenagers, or even adults because it warns you not to go swimming in the Ocean in the deep. Stay close so you can touch your feet on the sand, and get to shore quickly.

LRD 8/05

I am the Wallpaper by Mark Peter Hughes

I am the Wallpaper is the story about 13 year old Floey Packer. She is the younger sister of Lillian who is very popular. Floey feels like she is unnoticed and blends in with the background like wallpaper. After her sister gets married and goes on her honeymoon, Floey decides to reinvent herself. She is to become a more confident person and she will be noticed. The only monkey wrench in this plan is that her 11 year old cousins are staying with Floey and her mother for a few weeks. Then one day Floey finds out that her diary has been posted on a website. Her best friends read it and are at odds with her about what she wrote. Can Floey find out who posted her diary on the web? Can she repair her friendship with her friends? Can she get along with her cousins at the same time as all of this is going on?

Tom Burnham

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by: J.K. Rowling

From the start of Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts, we are greeted by a swarm of unexpected suprises and interesting twists. After enduring the Dursleys for only a short period of time, (which is a little out of the ordinary if you remember prior years), Harry is personally escorted to the Burrow by the great Dumbledore himself. As the story unfolds, we see a phenomenal change in attitude towards Harry by the wizarding community. Harry is no longer viewed by most as a deranged teenager crying out for attention. Now that the Ministry of Magic finally believes that Voldemort is back, Harry is now held in esteem by the public, and is even rumored to be The Chosen One. At school, Harry is constantly surrounded by adoring fans (mostly hopeful girls) and forms some interesting relationships. Dumbledore takes a stronger role as Harry's mentor and together they unravel Voldemort's most hidden secrets. All in all, this book only proves that J.K. Rowling's flair and charm continues to grow as Harry's story progesses. Ultimately, by the end of Half Blood Prince, you'll be begging for more.

L.B. 7/19/05

The Mango Season By: Amulya Malladi

This is a novel about an Indian girl Priya Rao, who left India when she was twenty to study in the United States, and fell in love with an American man Nick Collins. In fact, Prya becomes engaged to Nick. This becomes a problem when she visits India.

She returns to India to see her parents who are very traditional. They try to arrange Priya 's arrangement to an Indian man who she doesnot even know. Priya wants to tell about her engagement to Nick in the United States , but has not the nerve to tell her family the truth. Traditionally arranged marriages in India are not for happiness, and love, it is basically duty.

The novel is an insight into traditional ways that still take place in modern India. This book is worth reading.

Lois Denton 7/5/05

Sweet St. Louis By: Omar Tyree

This is a very appropriate love story, which takes place in an urban setting in St. Louis, Missouri. It is a played out love story between Anthony Poole, known as Ant, and Sharron Francis an ordinarry woman, who is clueles about men. Anthony is an auto mechanic , while Sharron works at a boutique at the Airport. Sharron has no car, so she relies on public transportation (Bus). On the other hand, Anthony has a car, and gets around wherever he needs to. In the book he is called the player, because he Anthony, has a way with women.

Anthony falls head over heals for Sharron , because she is so different from other females he has met before.

The novel is a very good read, and keeps you wanting to finish the book. The ending is not what I expected.


Lois Denton 7/5/05

The Big Empty by J.B. Stephens

The Earth has been decimated by a virus known as Strain 7. The United States government has become a military dictatorship and the area of the U.S. west of Pittsburgh, PA and east of Reno, NV is an area called The Big Empty. The Big Empty is patrolled by soldiers who shoot first and ask questions later. In this area there an area where a utopia is forming known as Novo Mundum. Seven teenagers, all from different regions and backgrounds meet up with each other and head toward this utopia. They arrive at Novo Mundum, but what is next for this group of travelers? To find out read Paradise City the continuation of The Big Empty.

Tom Burnham