Shiver

Title: Shiver

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Romance

Summary: Grace’s backyard is a forest. In the forest, there are wolves. Every winter, Grace watches a special wolf from her deck, and he watches her. Then every summer, he disappears. One day, a teenage boy is killed. Everyone says that it is the wolves fault. Grace doesn’t believe them. One night, a hunting party descends into the forest to kill all the wolves. Grace races in to save her beloved wolf. She is stopped by a man, and he escorts her home. When she arrives home, a surprise awaits her.

Rating: 5 out of 5

It was a very good book. It was very easy to get engrossed in from the start. It kept you on the edge of your seat the whole time. It came with unexpected surprises. It is very descriptive and makes it seem as if the you are seeing it all happen.

Favorite part: I cannot tell my favorite part. It would give away all the good details and the ending.

Series: The series doesn’t have a name. Shiver does have two other books that follow it. The second book it called Linger. The third book is called Forever.

Authors homepage link: http://maggiestiefvater.com/shiver/

~Dancer

The Maze Runner

Title: The Maze Runner

Author: James Dashner

Genre: Fiction

Summary:

It all starts in an elevator. That’s where Thomas, the main character, wakes up. When the elevator opens, he finds himself in a place called The Glade. Every month for two years, a boy has come in the elevator, each one remembering only the essentials, nothing from their previous lives. Thomas means that The Glade is in the middle of a giant maze, one that the boys have been studying for the past two years and still have not found an exit for. Dangerous things live in the maze, evil, deadly things.

Days later, the first girl ever to enter The Glade comes up in the elevator and tells them that everthing is about to change. The change means that their lives depend on finding a way out of the maze. The question is, should they try to leave? Will it be any better on the outside? Will anyone be able to get out of the maze alive? Find out in The Maze Runner, the first book of The Maze Runner trilogy.

The story is told by Thomas.

Rating: I would give this book a 5/5 stars, because it was very suspenseful and I couldn’t put it down. It had a really good plot and I enjoyed it a lot. I think any kind of person could read this book.

Favorite Part: My favorite part is at the end, so I cannot tell what it is, you’ll have to see.

Series: The Maze Runner Trilogy

-The Ninja Newt

The River

Title: The River

Author: Gary Paulsen

Genre: Fiction

Summary: The book The River is when Brian Robsen, who has recently escaped from the wilderness, does not think he will ever go back into the woods. That changes when three men from a government survival school show up at his doorstep and ask him if he will do it all again. They would ask him to go back to a similar lake and shows them how he survived with only a hatchet. He surprises everyone when he says that he will go back and show one of them how he did it, only this time he will only survive with a pocket knife. The man that has been picked to go along is named Derek Holtzer, a psychologist who will document everything that they do. It all goes wrong when Derek is struck by lightning and goes into a coma. Brian has to make a life changing decision on whether to go down the river and try to find a trading post that might not even be there or to stay and wait until help arrives in a few days. Will he stay and wait to be rescued or will he travel down the river to a trading post that might not even be there?

The story is told by Brian.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I would rate this book a 3.5 out of 5. I gave it this rating because I thought it was a very interesting book but it was a little boring in some parts and could have had more descriptive. I would recommend this to people who like outdoor adventure and survival stories.

Favorite Part: My favorite part is the climax so I cannot tell it.

Gary Paulsen Website

Jimmy

The Hunger Games

Title: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Genre: Fiction

Summary: An area that was one, becomes divided. After a war that is fought with the capital the area is divided into thirteen sections. The thirteenth section is destroyed though. To keep all the people in line, and remind them that the Capitol is stronger they keep the Hunger Games in play. The Hunger Games itself is when two people are chosen from a district and put in an arena for the battle of death, until there is one left standing. The district of the winner gets a boost of money and a new role.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This book deserves all of the stars because it created a vivid image of everything that was going on in the book. It made me sad, happy, and even mad in some parts. This book can give you the chills almost by how well it is written because some of the things make you think “why would someone ever do that?” Overall, the entire book is amazing, and if I had to recommend it to someone I would recommend to anyone that is at a sixth grade reading level since there are some difficult things to understand.

Favorite Part: My favorite part, just being the person I am, is when two of the people within the arena become almost friends which isn’t supposed to happen. The two people have each other’s backs like they are sisters. When one ends up dying the other prepares an almost like burial service for the one which is a very touching part in the book.

Series: The Hunger Games Series

Author’s Link: http://rook.suzannecollins.com/

-Faith Vermaat

Great Football Book

Book Title: Cover-up

Author: John Feinstein

Genre: Sports, Mystery

Summary: Cover-up is a great book about a teenage news reporter on TV named Stevie. He gets fired from his job with his girlfriend, Susan Carol, just before they are supposed to go to the Super Bowl to broadcast. He decides to take the offer to go to the Super Bowl with the local newspaper with a friend of the family. While at the Super Bowl, the director of a major television corporation asks Stevie to help him cover the Super Bowl. One night at a party, Susan Carol gets approached by a very drunk doctor for the Los Angeles Dreams. While he is talking to Susan Carol and trying to impress her, he suggests that the entire offensive line for the Dreams tested positive for HGH and the owner is covering it up. They seek help from one of the Dreams’ own players to figure out what to do. Will they tell the NFL about the cover-up or let the Dreams get away with it?

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I would give this book a five-star rating because I really enjoyed the mystery. I think a lot of guys would like this book, mainly because of the football. I loved how John Feinstein makes you feel as if you are in the midst of the mystery, watching it all unfold.

I would recommend this book to guys and all football fans. This is a great mystery-filled book.

This book is the third book in a trilogy with Stevie and Susan Carol. The first two books are: Last Shot and Vanishing Act.

Author’s Website:

http://www.feinsteinonthebrink.com/

Blondie

Wait Till Helen Comes

Title: Wait Till Helen Comes

Author: Mary Downing Hahn

Genre: Fiction, Horror

Summary: Wait Till Helen Comes is a book about two kids, Molly and Michael, who are living with their mother, Jean; their stepfather, Dave; and their stepsister, Heather. The family lives in Baltimore, but move out to an old church in the country. The new house has a graveyard in the backyard, and Molly is afraid that there is a ghost living out there due to Heather’s weird behavior. Molly and Michael do not get along well with Heather, as the little seven-year-old is always trying to make their life difficult and get them in trouble with Dave. When Heather starts threatening the two kids with Helen, Michael thinks it’s a joke, while Molly begins to take it seriously. As they get used to their new house, Heather’s behavior starts to get even worse. She hardly ever spends time at home, and puts herself in positions which could possibly kill her. While Molly is certain the ghost is real, she has to try to get everyone else to believe her, and try to save Heather at the same time.

Favorite Part: I am not able to tell my favorite part of the book Wait Till Helen Comes without giving away the ending.

Rating: I would rate this book as 4 stars. It took me awhile to get into it, but once I did I couldn’t very easily put it down. At times it was hard for me to follow, but I was able to catch on again very quickly. This book is full of suspense, which is what I enjoy reading about. I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys scary and suspenseful stories.

Author's Link:

http://www.hmhbooks.com/features/mdh/

Jennifer Pope

Tangled

Title: Tangled

Author: Carolyn Mackler

Genre: Fiction

Summary:  Tangled takes place in Paradise, a summer resort.  It is told from the view points of four main characters: Jena, Dakota, Skye, and Owen.  Jena is your average teenage girl. She is quieter, likes to read, and has some issues with self-esteem.  Dakota is a hot jock and is used to getting any girl he wants.  Skye is popular, pretty, and planning to become an actress.  Owen is a computer geek and an avid blogger.  Overall, these four teenagers couldn’t be any more different from each other than they already are.  However, over four months in Paradise their lives come together in unexpected ways.  They each grow and change as individuals as they become “tangled” in each other.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.  Tangled was a very enjoyable read.  The author did a really great job of giving each character their own distinguished voice.  As I was reading, I found myself getting pulled into the story and taking sides with my favorite character.  I would recommend this book to any teenage girl!

Author’s homepage: http://www.carolynmackler.com/Carolyn-Mackler-Home-Page.asp  

~louiejenkins03