Book Bites Reviews

These books were read and reviewed by the members of Book Bites, an informal book discussion group for grades 4-8. Call today to join us on Thursdays @ 4:30.

Rump by Liesl Shurtliff
Review by Hannah
There is a 12 year old boy who was only given half of his name, in a kingdom where your name is your destiny. When he finds out he can spin gold, he trades it for food. However, whenever he trades, he can't tell what he will be given. The only thing he can ask before he makes a trade is, "What will you give me?" He has to accept whatever is offered. Then he mus travel through the kingdom and find his surviving relatives and find the rest of his name to unravel his curse.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Review by Tori
A beautiful romance between Kate and Heathcliff. I don't have a favorite character. I liked this book because it was entertaining.

The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey
Review by Paige
Cassie is in the Fifth Wave. Aliens are taking over the world disguised as humans. Cassie's mom has died from a virus the aliens put out. Now she only has her little brother Same and her dad to survive the Fifth Wave. My favorite character is Cassie because in other books the girls are very weak but in this book she is strong. I liked this book because it was unique because the aliens were different.

Divergent by Veronica Roth
Review by B-liz
Beatrice has to choose a new faction to live in. My favorite character is Eric because he is cruel and mean and harsh. I loved this book because it is action packed.

Other Titles Discussed:
Virals by Kathy Reichs
Pure by Julianne Baggott

Instead of a book review, today I offer the best books of the year for teens, as chosen by the American Library Association. Each year a committee of librarians is chosen to read most of the books published for teens and they choose a select few. Click on each one to check it's availability in our system.

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults:

Winner:

Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgewick
Seven linked vignettes unfold on a Scandinavian island inhabited--throughout various time periods--by Vikings, vampires, ghosts and a curiously powerful plant.

Honor Books:

Kindgom of Little Wounds by Susann Cokal
On the eve of Princess Sophia's wedding, the Scandinavian city of Skyggehavn prepares to fete the occasion with a sumptuous display of riches. Yet beneath the veneer of celebration, a shiver of darkness creeps through the palace halls.

Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner
What if the football hadn't gone over the wall? On the other side of the wall there is a dark secret. And the devil. And the Moon Man. And the Motherland doesn't want anyone to know. But Standish Treadwell--who has different-colored eyes, who can't read, can't write, STandish Treadwell isn't bright--sees things differently than the rest of the "train-track thinkers".

Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool
The Odyssey-like adventure of two boys' incredible quest on the Appalachian Trail where they deal with pirates, buried secrets and extraordinary encounters.








YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults
Winner:

The Nazi Hunters: How a Team of Spies and Survivors Captured the World's Most Notorious Nazi by Neal Bascomb
A spy mission, a Holocaust tale and a first class work of nonfiction.








Finalists:
Go: A Kidd's Guide to Graphic Design by Chip Kidd

Imprisoned: The Betrayal of Japanese Americans During World War II by Martin W. Sandler

Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles, America's First Black Paratroopers by Tanya Lee Stone

The President Has Been Shot! The Assassination of John F. Kennedy by James L. Swanson

Book Bites Reviews

These books were read and reviewed by the members of Book Bites, a book discussion club for grades 4-8. We meet on Thursdays @ 4:30. Call today to register and join us.

Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
Review by Tori
Outliers is a book about a different perspective on success. I loved this book because it is interesting and eye opening.

Divergent by Veronica Roth
Review by Paige
A girl, Beatrice, is with the Abnegation faction. When she turns 16 she and her brother go to the ceremony where you pick the faction you will live your life with. My favorite character is Beatrice because she is the main character and the book is in her point of view. I liked this book because it was very unique and supernatural.

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
Review by Katie
*Spoilers Included*
A slightly overweight fiery red haired girl named Eleanor moves back in with her mother and devil-like stepfather, starting a new school. Being the new girl is already hard, but having the queen bee of the school, Tina, makes it harder. Having no empty seat to sit in on the bus, she sits down next to a part Korean kid named Park. After many weeks of Eleanor sneaking peeks at Park's comic books, Park leaves her some to borrow every morning. The is the start of their friendship and ultimately their relationship. They know their romance won't last forever, but they're willing to risk it. I loved this book because they tried so hard to maintain their relationship as a couple and when it didn't last, they still cared about each other.

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Review by Destiny
Annemarie and her family are trying to keep their friend safe from the Nazis. One day the act like she's their daughter and take her to their uncles house. My favorite character is Annemarie. I liked this book.

Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Review by B-Liz
This book is about vampires in Dallas, a vampire themed restaurant and cute people. My favorite character is Keiren because he is strong and a werewolf. I loved this book because it is funny and interesting.

Other Titles Discussed
The Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck
Eat Brains Love by Jeff Hart

Youth Services Librarian, Chrissy Braun recommends:

Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Informative of both the Manhattan project itself and the KGB efforts to steal it's secrets, this book is well done. I enjoyed the more personal descriptions of the scientists and spies involved instead of sticking to the facts.Oppenheimer and Hill especially seemed very interesting indeed. I learned so much and the interesting little factoids kept me moving right along. (Oppenheimer forgetting his date, the bomb plans in the tissue box, and Feynman played bongos.)

Click here to find a copy of this book in our library catalog.

Book Bites Reviews

Divergent by Veronica Roth
Review by Katelyn
Beatrice grew up in Abnegation (selfless) faction, but she doesn't feel selfless. At the choosing ceremony, she chooses Dauntless (brave). After this, she is known as Tris, and pretty much becomes a different person. She comes out first of he initiation class and then there is a war between the Abnegation and Erudite factions. My favorite character is Will because he is really funny and smart and I like how he is dating Christina but they always fought before.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Review by Melody
A house of four people soon becomes on, a baby. This book is about a baby who survives with a bunch of ghosts, and can't see his dead family. I loved this book because I hate creepy stuff and actually like this wonderful book.

Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda
Review by B-Liz
The Templar's save the world from the tenth plague. There is a love triangle. There is also a psychic. My favorite character is Michael because he was undercover. I loved this book because it was action packed and a new twist on every page.

Other Titles Discussed:
Fire and Ash by Jonathan Maberry

Book Bites Reviews

The Forgotten Door by Alexander Key
Review by Destiny
A boy named Little Jon falls through a door to another world and a family finds him. My favorite character is Jon because he is so smart. I loved this book.

Middle School: Get Me Out of Here by James Patterson
Review by B-liz
Rafe has to get used to his new school after he moves. He met his first friend and broke up with him. My favorite character is Leo the Silent because he is imaginary. I loved this book because it is funny.

Other Titles Discussed:
Through The Zombie Glass by Gena Show
alter

Book Bites Reviews

The Isle of Blood by Rick Yancey
Review by Hannah
Dr. Warthrop and Will Henry go to an island to find the greatest monster of all time. Dr. Warthrop leaves Will Henry behind before they go together so there is a large conflict in Will Henry's mind. There is a rivalry between the British, Russians, and Americans to find the monster first.

Zoobreak by Gordon Korman
Review by Destiny
A monkey is missing. Savanna Drysdale goes to a floating zoo with her class and
sees a monkey that she swears is hers. So Griffin Bing, the "Man With The Plan: comes up with a plan: Zoobreak Operation. My favorite character is Savannah Drysdale because she is like me and owns rabbits, dogs, cats, lizards, a loon and a whole bunch of other animals. And she doesn't have brothers. I loved this book because it has a lot of fun action and a zoobreak, and Griffin comes up with good plans. Some involve breaking in the zoo and keeping Ben from going to a sleep academy. The characters always play a special part in the book and Griffin's dad always has cool inventions that take place in the weirdest places in the book. I also love this book because Daran Vader (a bad kid) makes up the stupidest excuses and has a dream he goes to court for not stealing animals and sending people on a wild goose chase. And I like when the gang has meeting in the Broken Bell Room which is a place where the gym teacher keeps all the balls that are ripped that he thinks he could fix one day which is silly.

Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Review by Katelyn
Harry Potter lived with his muggle aunt and uncle and for 11 years he didn't know he was a wizard. He meets Hagrid, Ron and Hermione and he is friends with his roommates. He becomes the seeker for the Quidditch team and was sorted into Gryffindor. He has an enemy named Malfoy and his professor, Severus Snape hates him, (a lot). They also have a really good headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. My favorite character is Ron Weasley because he is super duper funny and is really interesting.

A Man Named Dave by Dave Pelzer
Review by Liz
This book is about a child who has to overcome obstacles. My favorite character is Dave because he is the only person in the book. I liked this book because it is a story of triumph.


Other Titles Discussed:
Impulse by Ellen Hopkins
Paper Towns by John Green