The Garbage King by Elizabeth Laird

This novel is based on the main personalities, Mamo & Tiggist, brother and sister with all their esperiences in Ethiopia. They encounter many hardships, hunger, and nowhere to live, but on the rocky streets facing all kinds of weather. Most of this book takes place in Addis Ababa the capital of Ethiopia.

These street kids in order to receive birr(the money in Ethiopia) to buy food. They have to beg outside Churches, or famous restaurants, or offer to watch a car while the owner went about their business. The kids live in a group, and share whatever they had amongst themselves. Most of the children were barefoot, and their clothes so dirty they looked like rags.

When money was scare, some of the children hung out in the back of a restaurant waiting for any morsels being tossed out, so the group of children could eat something.

This novel can apply to any country in the world. Some of the children were runaways, and thought life would be better than their situation at home. The novel was interesting because it portrayed the reality of life on the go on the streets. The moral of this story is think twice before you run away from home. Your home life could be better, than trying to figure out where your next meal is coming from.

Cruise Control by Terry Trueman

A companion book to Stuck in Neutral, Cruise Control is told by Paul, Shawns brother. Paul is athletic, smart, and normal. Shawn is mentally handicapped and has seizures frequently. Paul, his mom, and his sister Cindy all take care of Shawn, and it is now starting to take its toll on him. He is going to college soon and he feels that he is abandoning the family. Their father ran out on them and it seems he doesn't care but he does. Through out the book you get a sense of the hardship this family goes through, and the emotion each character goes through is felt by the words the author uses. Cruise Control shows the other side of what it is like to have a mentally handicapped sibling. It is a quick read and will be enjoyed by all who read it.

Tom Burnham

Margaux with an X by Koertge

Two teens- hurt teens-Margaux who plays hard to get with guys and Danny who can't bear to see anything hurt are surprised to find that like each other and like holding hands with each other and like long quiet nights reading. This is a quiet beautiful story - and very short. Other books to try might be KEESHA'S HOUSE, STONER AND SPAZ, LONG NIGHT OF LEO AND BREE and Koja's STRAY DOG

Vote For Larry by Janet Tashjian

This novel is so up-beat for teens, and reaches the topics interesting to teens way of thinking. It stretches the imagination of the reader that it is hard to put the book down. It covers many subjects that dwell inside the soul of the teenager.

The main character of the book Larry Swensen is so real, but loveable too. It is intriguing to follow the the ins, and outs of the particular personality of the novel. He has his good days, and his bad days like we all do during our lifetime. Larry's creativity, and determination to accomplish his goal pays off in the end. We the reader, see this throughout the novel. This is what makes the book worth reading. It captures your attention. The book is super interesting, and very worthwhile reading. The main character Larry is portrayed as a bright adolescent with insight, and the humor reaches near perfection.

I recomend this book for any teenager with a good imagination, and a sense of humor.


L.D.

The Steps - Rachel Cohn

Annabel is spending Christmas Break in Australia with her father and his new family. At first she doesn't like them, and only wants to spend time with her father. As the story unfolds Lucy and Annabel become more like sisters than they ever thought. Annabel realizes how much her step family cares for her when she and Lucy run away to see Lucy's grandmother. With plans of her mother getting married and having a child Annabel realizes that both her parents love her even though they are separated. A nice read about the craziness of having step siblings in another country and also here in the United States.
Also recommended Gingerbread by Rachel Cohn.

Tom Burnham

Acceleration by Graham McNamee

Just suppose you worked in the Chicago Subway System Lost and Found. Its a boring place to be sure, almost no one goes there to retrieve their lost belongings. Maybe you would get bored and start looking through the stuff. A black leather diary might seem interesting. If you read it, you would discover that it contained detailed descriptions of brutal animal mutilations, huge fires, and maybe plans for a murder. A little research at the library might confirm that the fires and animal mutilations were real... Could you stop the murder? Would you put yourself in danger to do it?
JDW 10/26/04

How I Found the Strong by Margaret McMullan

This book is a novel that is true during the Civil War in the United States. It takes place in Mississippi where the war took harsh measures. In this book, we find a family of two boys, and a father, mother, & grandfather. The older brother gets killed in the War, & the Dad is wounded badly, but makes it home. The grandfather leaves the house one day without a trace, & never returns. This leave the son, and the black slave to do the chores on the farm.

This book reminded me of the hardships of families left behind to survive, while the father's, & brothers fought a difficult war . Their was no T.V. coverage, or computer's to send E-mails to the family members. So familes at home had to be strong in their faith, & believe their men at war would return. The Mother of the house made due with what was able to eat. The mother got potato skins, and made soup with it that was hardly edible. They made their shoes out of burlap so as not to go barefoot. The mattresses of their beds were corn husks, and that was comfortable to the family.

The living conditions during that era were very difficult to many families. But people during the Civil War made due with what they had, and went on with their lives. Life of course was not for fame, and fortune but survival was the people's focus.


L.D.

The History of NationsMexico Ed.Adriane Ruggiero

The country of Mexico is a rich culture,& unusual history, & civilizations. Many native Indian groups were developing before Mexico gained it's independance from Spain. Mexico was under Spanish rule till 1821. The interesting fact is that Hernan Cortez the Spanish conquerer of Mexico arrived on Mexican soil in 1519, & returned to Mexico in 1521 better prepared.

I would like to present to the reader the Maya Civilization that were people who never were unified in their politics. The Mayans were advanced in sports. They had ball courts way back then. Mayans were cruel too, they took their enemies for sacrifices to their gods. The Mayans believed the supernatural guided their lifes.

The Mexican people are a mixed race, & Mexico has a population of 8 million. Many people are illiterate because poverty runs rampart. The country was under a dictorship party for 40 years. The Mexican people voted recently for President Vincent Fox, & let us hope he will run the affairs democratically.

This book is fantastic, & I do not have have time to go deeper into this History of Mexico. I have lived in Mexico.

L.D.