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

FADE TO BLACK by Alex Flinn

Author Alex Flinn is known for writing edgy books for teens. This story about hate crimes against an HIV positive high school boy is no exception. Who actually did what is buried in half-truths and out right lies. Why actions were taken against Alejandro are clear. But, this story more than anything is about friendship. Its about fake friends who disappear when things get bad Its about temporary friends who appear because you are a victim or a hero then fade away along with the public attention. Its about true friendship and honest friends.
JDW

Stained By Jennifer Jacobson

Stained is about two friends Jocelyn and Gabe who grew up together in New Hampshire. Every other chapter looks at an event in Jocelyn and Gabe's life as they were growing up, and shows how their friendship grew over the years. One day Gabe disappears and the whole town looks for him. He is hiding in an old house where he and his friends and Jocelyn used to hang out when they were young. It is revealed that Father Warren is sleeping with Gabe, and Gabe is gay. Gabe doesn't want to go home because he fears what his father will do to him. He then leaves the town and doesn't come back. This book is intriguing and it holds your attention. It is fast paced and it ties in with what is going on within the Catholic Church today with the allegations against the priests.

Tom Burnham

10 Things To Do Before I Die by Ehrenhaft

It all started at the Circle Eat Diner in Manhattan. An angry former employee threatened the diners with a gun and poisoned the french fries. Ted has just 24-hours to live a life time. His best friend Mark has made a list of items Ted must accomplish. And so they are off on a wild adventure accompanied with scarey symptoms of vertigo, gut pain, and tinnitus that could only be caused by the poison. When Ted collapses at the JFK Airports International Terminal surrounded with cops, hair soaked with beer, best friend Mark comes to the rescue. Ted wakes up in a hospital with a lot to sort through and new plans for a life time. This is funny in places and sad as well.
JDW 6/16/05