Shooter by Walter Dean Myers

Title: Shooter
Author: Walter Dean Myers
ISBN: 9780064472906
Publisher: Harper Collins

Summary:
"Cameron: "Deep inside, you know that whoever gets up in your face gets there because he knows you're nothing, and he knows that you know it too."

Carla: "What I'm trying to do is to get by—not even get over, just get by."

Leonard: "I have bought a gaw-juss weapon. It lies beneath my bed like a secret lover, quiet, powerful, waiting to work my magic."

Statement of Fact: 17-year-old white male found dead in the aftermath of a shooting incident at Madison High School in Harrison County.

Conclusion: Death by self-inflicted wound."
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Review:

I've heard about this author for years - mostly because he's asked for all the time. So I decided to give his book a shot and was not disappointed. The story is about three high school seniors who find themselves involved in something much more than any of them expected.

One of the most obvious things about this book is the way it's written - all done in interview format. You never get the normal look into the speakers thoughts or feelings except for what they say in the interviews. This makes the book a very fast read, but you do feel as though you know the characters.

Now, thinking back on the story, I realize that the actual action in the book is only like one days worth. Beyond that it's looking back to see where things went wrong, who these people are, etc. But it's a pretty cool story and makes you think a bit about consequences and actions.

I'll absolutely continue to recommend this book to any teen - I've been recommending Myers for years because of his popularity. But now I get to talk about him with more knowledge. I'm definitely a fan.
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Other Blog Reviews:
Reading Now
399 Hard Line
Metapsychology
Mentalhelp.net

Boot Camp by Todd Strasser

Title: Boot Camp
Author: Todd Strasser
ISBN: 9781416908487
Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Summary:
"In the middle of the night Garrett is taken from his home to Harmony Lake, a boot camp for troubled teens.

Maybe some kids deserve to be sent there, but Garrett knows he doesn't. Subjected to brutal physical and psychological abuse, he tries to fight back, but the battle is futile. He won't be allowed to leave until he's admitted his "mistakes" an conformed to Harmony Lake's standards of behavior. And there's no way to fake it. Beaten, humiliated, and stripped of his pride, Garrett's spirit is slowly ebbing away. Then he hears whispers of an escape plot. It's incredibly risky - if he's caught, the consequences will be unthinkable - but it may be his only way out."
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Review:

This book was an insane and crazy story about a boy who is thrown into boot camp. It's raw, intense, and sometimes a bit scary. But it's a great read and keeps you interested throughout the whole story. It was a little obvious where it was going to go (or where I hoped it would go), but it was a crazy ride getting there.

The story is a great book for the "reluctant reader" - it's an easy story to get into and a hard one to put down. It's also a look into a place that's not often seen. I mean, at least a realistic look into what life in a boot camp might actually be like. I know it's probably a little exaggerated for the story, but it's still really interesting.

I'd absolutely recommend this book to teens of any age. It's a crazy topic, but it's done well and anyone can relate to it. I've heard good things about this author before... and I'll be looking for others of his books in the future.

Other blog reviews:
OMS Book Blog
Teen Troves
Karin Librarian
Simply Books
The Happy Nappy Bookseller

The Carbon Diaries 2015

Title: The Carbon Diaries 2015
Author: Saci Lloyd
ISBN: 9780823421909
Publisher: Holiday House

Summary:
"The enviro's gone completely mad.

After the Great Storm hit London, everyone was like, It's 2015 already. Stop global warming now. So the gov volunteered Britain to be the stupid guinea pig freak and ration carbon while the rest of Europe flew to Ibiza on holiday.

At first it was weird - blackouts, looting, fuel shortages. But I still had my lifeline - my band, the dirty angels. And the hope is that Ravi would notice me. Eventually.

But then everything got bare twisted. All winter the country was a frozen tundra. Then after months of no rain, Europe literally caught fire, and the mayor had riot police shoot protesters with live bullets! I'll give him a carbon footprint - right in the arse.

Now, as I write this, the highest-category storm in history is headed straight for us. People have died all around me this year, and I'm dead scared. I just wish things would go back to normal, but I don't know what that means anymore."
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Review:

This book is a very interesting mix of science fiction story and global warming commentary. Throughout the whole book, you get the feeling that any of these things are possible. It's actually a little scary when you think about it - the idea of having to ration carbon. But also very interesting at the same time.

I loved that hte book was written in a diary format - especially how it seemed to have pictures and printouts taped in it. It just made the flow of the book very smooth and logical. And it gave you a sense of time frame for all of these disasters and things going on. It makes you wonder how much could happen in a year.

I'd absolutely recommend this book to literally anyone. It does have a few British-isms that you have to decode, but there's a glossary in the back if you're still confused. But this book is good for both guys and girls... and of almost any age. I was just impressed at how much more I liked it than I thought I would.

Other blog reviews:
Librarian by Day
Ecolibris
Reading Rants!
Rhiannon Hart
Vulpes Libris

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Title: Slaughterhouse Five

Author: Kurt Vonnegut

ISBN: 9780440180296

Publisher: Dell Books

Summary:

"Slaughterhouse-Five is one of the world's greatest anti-war books. Centering on the infamous firebombing of Dresden, Billy Pilgrim's odyssey through time reflects the mythic journey of our own fractured lives as we search for meaning in what we are afraid to know."

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Review:

I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this story. In the first couple of chapters, I was a little confused about where it was going and how it was going to get there. But once I got the rhythm of the book, it flew for me.

I did get a little confused every once in a while with all of the time traveling - about who was who and where they were and where he was... it just got a little much for me at times. But it was a very interesting commentary and kept me involved at the same time. You honestly had no idea where you were going to leap to next.

I do know that there have been lots of questions about this book in the past - and even some challenges on it. But I really think it has something interesting to say and a very unique way of saying it. I haven't done any research on the challenges or the reasons for them (something about sexual content, I believe), but I'd still put this book in people's hands.

I'd definitely recommend this book to students looking for a classic to read. It's pretty interesting, but because it does have some of the sexual "content," I'd say it might be best for the older reader. The ones who can handle that sort of thing :).

Other blog reviews:

The Silver Key

Jandy's Reading Room

Just a (Reading) Fool

Words and Flavours

Kay's Bookshelf

Beauty Shop for Rent... fully equipped, inquire within by Laura Bowers

Title: Beauty Shop for Rent... fully equipped, inquire within
Author: Laura Bowers
ISBN: 9780152057640
Publisher: Harcourt, Inc

Summary:
"Hypothetical question of the week: If you were forced to have an extra body part implanted on your back, which would you choose? A finger, ear, breast, or noise?

Abbey Garner is used to killing time by reading questions from the snarky tabloids in Granny Po's struggling beauty shop. It's not like there are a lot of customers to help, anyway. Mostly just the feisty Gray Widows, who are there to primp, polish, perm... and, of course, gossip.

Abbey is there to work - to get a head start on the million dollars she intends to earn by the time she's thirty-five. She doesn't have much time for boyfriends, parties, or hanging out with friends. But with the arrival of a trendy young woman who rents the beauty parlor and turns it into a modern-day spa, at least Abbey has a chance to make some real money.

Then all this fades into the background when Abbey's mother, who abandoned her on Granny Po's doorstep four years ago, suddenly shows up with a wild scheme of her own."
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Review:

This is a great story that is very cute, but fairly serious issues mentioned a the same time. I do have to say that it's not so based in reality just because it's very rosy and everyone does and says the things they're supposed to. Not so much how it works in the real world.

But the story is a lot of fun and I feel like I know these characters in real life - especially the older ladies. I read this book so fast and was very into it the entire time. I was a little worried about how it was going to turn out - but I was pretty satisfied when I finished.

I'd definitely recommend this to plenty of our teens - especially girls. I think they can definitely identify with the story and if not, the characters.

Other blog reviews:
Becky's Book Review
Shelf Elf
The Book Muncher
Cynsations
And the author's own website