I am the current teacher-librarian at Olympia High School. I have worked as a teacher-librarian since 2013; prior to that I taught high school English for 11 years.
This book is about two friends and their life after high school. However, at a young age, they both experience a school shooting, which greatly impacts their lives.
I tried to read this book, but struggled with the pacing. It moved really slowly and after 5 chapters, nothing really happened. The characters were flat and didn’t really have rounded personalities. They just seemed to have one trait. One guy was sad, and the other was sad and had diabetes. That was really it. I cannot fully recommend this book.
The Silent Invasion is a graphic novel. An investigative reporter named Matt Sinkage has an obsession with UFOs. He finds himself investigating the possible invasion of Earth, communist spies, and government programs in 1950’s America
This is an intriguing, scientific story with fantastic art and an excellent window into the media available to the American public in the 1950s.
The Angel Thieves, by Kathi Appelt, tries to intertwine several sub-stories using the Bayou as a character that remembers all the people who have traveled along it. It reads a bit convoluted.
I think the story would have been better if the author chose one of the stories: either the Slave on the run with her young daughters in 1845, or the young man looking to do something good rather than helping his dad steal marble Angels from cemeteries. Throwing the trapped Ocelot in conveniently for the character, Cade, to save feels too easy.
I did like the relationship between Cade, his dad, Paul and Mrs. Walker. The forged family worked for me.
This book is based on a disease that has split the world into two: the wicked and the true. Now it’s up to a young, teenage girl to find out the truth before she, too, is buried beneath the lies of the past. The wicked are immune to the disease and have the key to a cure. The true live in isolated communities trying to keep themselves safe. This science fiction novel moves quickly with an interesting plot
The writer has a great storyline, but I wish he did better with the ending; it felt unresolved. I was also hoping for romance, because of the cover image; there was none. I guess this is an example of why we shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover!
Recommendation submitted by Library Secretary, Mikel DeBuse-Losh
This book parallels the current socio-political situation int he United States. It also includes an online contest using Virtual Reality constructs, which may have great appeal to some readers. In this society the online world is much more invasive than in today’s, but seems like one day we may get to this level.
The character development was a bit shallow. The story did not pull me in, thus not one that I can highly recommend. Students with an interest in virtual reality, gaming and other online social media platforms may have more interest in this title.
Adam and Zayneb meet in the London Airport going to Doha. Adam realizes they have the same journal and wants to know her. Then they meet again at a party and “the rest is history.”
This book is an easy read that is really sweet and also talks about real stuff. If you like Romance this is for you!
These Witches Don’t Burn, follows main character Hannah – a teenage witch who has to keep her powers secret, and her navigation through school, friendships, romance, and hardships. Throughout the book she teams up with unexpected allies to save her coven from a mysterious dark force.
This book is entertaining and has diverse characters. There are a lot of plot twists and it is exciting, although I had a hard time getting into it. The characters are a little two-dimensional and shallow.
Sometimes, the past clashes with the future in ways we least expect. In Carmen Rodrigues’ latest novel main character, Marco, is forced to deal with his past while also trying to navigate his present. The book opens in the spring of Marco’s senior year of high school; he has a close “tribe” of friends, a girlfriend, a full scholarship to college, and a job he enjoys. Marco is forced into the role of “man of the house” due to a traumatic brain injury that has greatly affected his father, leaving Marco with many responsibilities that should not fall upon the shoulders of a teenage boy.
Upon entering high school, over 3 years ago, Marco’s best friend and love interest, Sally, moved away with very little communication afterward. The “tribe” has hostile feelings about Sally’s disappearance, so when she returns to school for the last couple of months of senior year, they are hesitant to trust her. However, Marco cannot easily ignore the “spark” that constantly hums while in Sally’s presence.
Rodrigues creates characters that are relatable and likable. In addition to a quick-paced plot, this book is smart; Marco is very intelligent and interested in space and physics, thus presenting to readers scientific principles in a way that is easy to understand. I strongly recommend this book for middle and high school readers.
Girls with Sharp Sticks by Suzanne Young, follows girls living at Innovations Academy. On the outside, this institution seems perfect. Girls studying here are poised, controlled, polite, mild mannered, etc. As the novel moves along, we realize that things really are not as they seem; instead, Innovations Academy is full of dark, sinister secrets.
The book presents ideas surrounding feminism and humanity, posing questions for the reader to ponder while watching characters navigate the issues as well. This is a fast-paced read; Young keeps readers engaged and wanting more by slowly unveiling secrets.
The the third installment of the Alex and Eliza trilogy, Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler are the married “it” couple of New York City. When Eliza’s brother comes to live with them, she tries to play match-maker with him. However, Eliza also faces other problems, including her desire for children and Alex’s own desires.
This is a great summer read, although it can be enjoyed at any time of the year. If you’re looking for an historical fiction novel that is also light and romantic, this is the book for you.
