Claiming Georgia Tate by Gigi Amateau

If you like sad books about teenagers, you should read this book.  Claiming Georgia Tate is about a teenager with a dad who abuses her, a junkie stepmom, and a supposedly dead mom.  Her life is in constant chaos; first she finds out that her mom is really alive, and from then on her life goes downhill, from disasters with her dad, to deaths.  Meanwhile, Georgia Tate keeps trying to cope with her sorrowful life.  Emily, 7th Grade - JLS

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

One of the pleasures of novels that run for a dozen hundred pages, it would seem, is the luxuriant feeling of having all the time in the world to get to know every square inch of the world to which they expose us.  In A le rec herche du temps perdu, a tea party at the Guermantes' lasts a good five hundred pages.  War and Peace always makes sure that we get to know its characters in more than one ballroom before they are finally married off.  In Ulysses, every hour of reading time is equivalent to about one hour of narrative progress, so that as we are reading it we literally live out one day with Leopold Bloom.  Picking up a book of such imposing volume, a reader usually expects its author to take his time and move from one chapter to another with at least some show of dignified languor, allowing us to succumb leisurely into an increasingly familiar landscape. Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers, sprawling over 850 pages defies any such expectations with a rollercoaster as a narrative, it seems to have a cliff hanger around every corner and a new sensation of excitement and surprise on every page.  This book presents a marvelous journey and should be appreciated foremost for its engaging story.  The techniques Dumas employed to such success in 1840, particularly his mastery of the form of the Romance, still works today.  Dumas's formula serves his story well.  His incorporation of Romanticism into the historical novel lifted an entire genre of literature into public adulation and gave the French people a story that reassured them about their country even as it brought them away from their country's troubles.  Popular literature must be considered on two fronts: aesthetically and socially, as literature and as a popular artifact.  The best popular literature, like the work of Alexanfre Dumas, supercedes the latter category to come into our minds as a work of literature in its own right.  It is not necessary to know about Dumas's life, or about French history, or about the genre of Romance, to enjoy The Three Musketeers.  The superlative entertainment of the novel speaks for itself which is why it remains so important and so interesting to study it.  Adventure stories is unquestionably a favorite topic of mine, and therefore The Three Musketeers is definitely a favorite of mine.  In adventure, brave characters venture and put at risk some valuable possession.  Perhaps this is the reason why I favor adventure above romance or science fiction.  Albert, 7th Grade - JLS

Crispin: the Cross of Lead by Avi

Crispin the Cross of Lead is about a young boy living in the small town of Stromford in the middle of the Europe. He lived with his mother, Asta, a poor widow. Asta and her son lived in a small cottage surviving off of little food and water. Soon, though tragedy struck for Asta's son and he was forced to leave after being accused by Lord Furnival (sheriff/lord of English kingdom) for a crime he didn't commit. Soon after leaving with only a cross of lead (his mother's) and the new knowledge of his name, (Crispin) he came to a deserted town where he meets a juggler (called Bear). The juggler decides to enslave Crispin, and take him with him around Europe. Together they must survive and hide from the English Crown and make it to the great cities of Europe. Running from town to town and all of the other adventures brings up Crispin's confidence and beliefs in himself and in Bear. He soon becomes strong and trustworthy. With all of the new things he has learned he saves bear from Lord Furnival and makes it to freedom. This is a great book about middle-aged England with many surprising events that seem to keep you hooked until the book is done.  Ryan, 6th Grade - Keys School

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Lord of the Flies is a book about several boys stranded on an island. The main characters are Ralph, Jack, Piggy, and Simon. The book begins with Ralph being elected chief by all of the other boys. Even Jack, who at first objects to Ralph being chief appears to eventually respect him. However, Jack really wants to hunt animals while Ralph has decided that the main focus of the tribe should be getting off the island with a signal fire. This eventually leads to Jack starting his own tribe, while Ralph, Piggy, and a few faithful others try to maintain peace. I would give this book about a 9/10. It was really good and beautifully written. However, there were a few parts where I thought that the book lagged and focused too much on how the island looked. It was more of a boy book (because all of the characters were boys), but a girl could read it. All in all, a great book that everyone should read.  Corbin, 6th Grade - Keys School

Hoot by Carl Hiassen

Hoot was about a boy named Roy who has just moved to Florida from Montana. One day on the school bus he sees a boy who was running really fast. It looked like he was trying to catch the school bus. But he didn't.  He kept on going, right past the school bus itself. Roy got so curious that he decided that the next time that the boy came by the bus stop, that he would follow him. He never came by until Friday. As soon a Roy saw him, Dana Matherson the school bully, came up from behind and started choking him. Roy had to get off of that bus, and follow the boy. So, Roy reached up and punched him in the nose. That instant, Roy was a blur. He followed the boy all the way to the golf course, where he was hit in the head by a golf ball. He fell to the round and blacked out. After he had had a medical exam he went back to the golf course on a cloudy day, and found the boy. He took Roy out to a vacant lot (that a pancake house was going to be built on) and showed him something. It was an owl. They were about as tall as a beer can. And they were going to be buried when the pancake people built the restaurant. Find out what happens to Roy and the Running boy.  Thad, 6th Grade - Keys School

When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Park

World War II has changed Kim Sun-Hee's life. For her whole life, Korea has belonged to Japan. Now,Korean culture is forbidden. Sun-Hee speaks and writes Japanese at school. Then suddenly, things get worse than ever. The Japanese recruit more and more Koreans to the army, and then, the most awful thing yet happens. The Japanese decide to change all the Korean people's names to Japanese names. In the course of a few hours, Sun-Hee becomes Keoko. After that, the days are bad.  Sun-Hee's uncle is suspected of being part of an anti-Japan movement, Sun-Hee's brother, Tae-Yul, moves away from home to help his uncle, and Sun-Hee is left at home, fearing for both brother and uncle, and keeping many secrets that are important to Korea. The war stories of two brave children, woven together with fact creates the wonderful, timeless novel that all generations can enjoy: When my Name was Keoko. When my Name was Keoko means a lot to me. It makes me think about when Japan invaded a lot of other countries in Asia. That is part of the history of my family, and it is something not many people think about. People often think about Hitler when they think about World War II, but Hitler wasn't the only person doing bad things to people. This book make me think about what life was like then and Linda Sue Park conveys the awful emotions very well. There was so much anxiety going on at the time and it is felt in the book. There are sweet messages and stories that can make you cry all packed into it. When My Name Was Keoko is one of my favorite books ever written. The work of a genius and utterly breath-taking. Suspense, danger, history. So real, it's hard to believe that it didn't happen, but to some people, it did. Everyone will enjoy the heart warming story of a young Korean told by a master author, Linda Sue Park.  Maya, 6th Grade - Keys School

The Invention of Hugo Cabret By Brian Selznick

The Inventions of Hugo Cabret is about named Hugo who lives in a train station, in France. There he lives in the walls keeping the clocks in order. but that's not all he does all day. He secretly builds, and fixes an automaton. He thinks it will give him a note from his deceasd father, but he soon gets noticed by a grumpy old toy maker, and a bookish girl. This is a great book for kids who like suspense, and pictures. Brian Selznick has done an excellent job. This is one book you won't put down. Brian Selznick (the author, and illustartor) lives in Brooklyn, New York, and San Diego, California. Brian graduated from Rhode Island School of Design,but his intention was to become a set designer. He sold books for three years, and decided to create kid books. Brian Selznick also wrote The Boy of a Thousand Faces. He has also illustrated some of Andrew Clement's books.  Briana, 6th Grade - Keys School

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter

In Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy, a thrilling second novel in the I'd Tell You That I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You series by Ally Carter, Cameron Morgan (aka Cam) finds herself in a complex situation, again. After her misfortune with her ex-boyfriend Josh, she wants to live a boy-free life. But then the Gallagher Academy takes in 15 boys! Uhhh OHHH!! Now school is getting harder the tests are more secretive, and half of the school is boy obsessed. With only 15 boys the likelihood of one liking Cam is small, but yet, it happens. Even though Cam doesn't want to have a boyfriend, Zach is cute, kind, smart, and a spy. So she tries her best not to like him, but he really likes her. What will happen? Does he really like me or not? Cam wonders these questions throughout the book, but only one of these questions is answered. Ally Carter is currently writing a third novle in the series.  Lizzie, 6th Grade - Keys School

Pond Scum by Alan Silberberg 

Alan Silberberg's Pond Scum is about a boy named Oliver who finds a mysterious gemstone that enables him to change into any animal he touches. When he wants to change back into a human he just closes his eyes and wishes to be a boy again. When Oliver goes into the animal world he can speak in the animal language weather he's an animal or human he makes friends with a salamander named mooch and a crow named Antoine who teach Oliver how to survive in the wild. But when the crows evil plan takes wing Oliver is in serious trouble. This is a great book that all fantasy animal loving people would enjoy.  Steven, 6th Grade - Keys School

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Uglies, By Scott Westerfeld, is set in a futuristic world with advanced technology. A lot of teen agers are excited about turning sixteen-not for their drivers license but to get an operation that changes your features that make you supermodel gorgeous. Who wouldn't want that? But a girl named Tally Youngblood sees a whole new side of the operation and as the book unfolds, she finds out what they really do to you. This action packed book is full of adventure and many Sci-Fi lovers would love to read this book.  Melissa, 6th Grade - Keys School

Fairest by Gail Carson Levine

Almost everyone has heard of the Newbery Award winner Ella Enchanted.  Fairest is written in the same world, and even mentions some key characters from the book, such as Sir Peter of Frell, Lucinda the fairy, and even Areida, Ella's best friend.  The book is about a young girl who would do anything to be pretty.  She embarks on a life changing journey that shows her that looks may not be everything, and beauty is only skin deep.  This book contains romance, adventure, and a twist at every turn. 

Amanda, 8th Grade - Terman 

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud

The Amulet of Samarkand is about a boy named Nathaniel whose parents died and was put in an orphanage. He was later adopted by a magician named Arthur Underwood. He is taken to the outskirts of London to become an apprentice to Mr. Underwood. He dislikes him, but likes his wife a lot, so he summons a djinni named Bartimaeus to pull a trick on his master. He makes bartemous to steal a priceless amulet from Simon Lovelace and hides it in his master's study, so that eventually, Simon will find out and get mad at him. But he soon finds out that that was a bad decision. This is a good book because it has two opinions. It switches from third person on Nathaniel to first person on Bartimaeues. At the end of each chapter, suspense builds up and then it switches to the other. I highly recommend this book because of the writer's tricks that he uses. He uses foreshadowing and suspense a bunch and it adds to the plot.  Erik, 6th Grade - Keys School

Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz

Stormbreaker is a great sci-fi book about a teenager named Alex Rider. His father died in a plane crash when he was young, so he lived with his uncle, Ian Rider. His uncle then died in a car crash which Alex soon found out that Ian was shot with a machine gun. Alex was then convinced to join M16, a Spy organization were Ian and Alex's father worked. (Point Blank, Skeleton Key, Eagle Strike, Scorpia, Ark Angel, and Snakehead are other books in this series.)  Evan, 6th grade - Keys School

Silverfin by Charlie Higson

This book is based on when James Bond was a kid. He gets sent to this boarding school called Eton in England. Both of his parents mysteriously died. But there are no gadgets in this book. He lives the life of a normal kid, he meets two friends named Pritpal and some bullies. Like every kid, he hates school and the one he goes to is the worst. The biggest bully is a kid named George who`s dad is funding his school by creating a sports event, a triathlon, but the events are everything George is good at.  Patrick, 6th Grade - Keys School

I'd Tell You I Love You but Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

This is the best book I've read in a very long time. It is a realistic fiction book and is set in the small town of Roseville, Virginia in an elite boarding school called the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women. This school is no ordinary school because it is actually a school for spies. But when Cameron Ann Morgan, the main character whose eyes we see through, is out on a Covert Operations assignment in Roseville, she meets this ordinary guy named Josh who thinks she's just an ordinary girl. Cammie can crack CIA codes and follow the most paranoid person without being seen, but this assignment would be one of the hardest she will ever have to face: to act like a normal girl. I enjoyed reading this book for several reasons. One of the reasons was that it was well written. Ally Carter included much detail and humor in this first-person novel that only a super-spy genius would think or say. This is why I say it shouldn't  become a movie because most of the pleasure comes from seeing Cammie's world through her perspective and views. Another reason is that of its genre. I like realistic fiction because it can open up your imagination and think that this could really be happening somewhere. If you are a person that enjoys comedy, suspense, action, romance, drama, and want a good novel to read, you should definitely check this book out!  Danya, 6th Grade - Keys School

The Titan's Curse By Rick Riordan

The Titans Curse is the third book in the series Percy Jackson and the Olympians.  This book is about a boy, Percy, who is a demigod, which is a half mortal-half god. His friend Annabeth gets kidnapped by Kronos, the Titan. Afterwards, Artemis, the god of the Hunt, goes to hunt down a mysterious monster, but is captured by the same forces that have kidnapped Annabeth. Now, Percy goes on a quest to save Annabeth with his best friend Grover, who is a satyr (half human-half goat), and a few Hunters who are mortals that joined Artemis to become immortal. Then they depart on the quest, where they meet many monsters that try to stop them from reaching Annabeth and Artemis. the immortal skeleton warriors, the Neaman lion, which is a lion the size of a hummer, and many, many more. This book is very fast paced, and is a great book for action and adventure lovers. I think this is an incredible book, and would give it a 9 out of 10.  Winston, 6th Grade - Keys School

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis

Elijah Freeman lives in the land of the free. He is the first free child born in Buxton, Canada. When he was a baby, he made an unforgettable impression on the famous Frederick Douglass, which the community takes great pleasure in. Unfortunately, life isn't all that pretty. One of Elijah's friends has been saving money to buy his family out of slavery. But when a trusted former slave takes it and runs to the South, the only thing to do is follow. So Elijah begins on a treacherous expedition to America to retrieve the money and catch the criminal. As he travels deeper into the heart of another world, he understands the devastating life of slavery, the life so many fled with the hopes of freedom, and the life people still have to endure. This is a fabulous book to read because Christopher Paul Curtis does an incredible job of fleshing-out and describing his characters. He does it in such a way that readers of any age would be able to relate to how the characters feel. The humor that is applied throughout the book balances all of the horrible circumstances the author portrays. The language the author uses is also funny because it is colloquial, so the dialect he uses is how real people of that time would talk. Also, all of the books I have read of his have some association with Flint, Michigan, which makes them all connected in some way or another. This book is filled with humor and makes learning about the history of that time period enjoyable and interesting.  Hannah, 6th grade - Keys School

Lightning Thief by Rick Riordin

Perseus (Percy) Jackson is a fatherless child with a mom who lives in Manhattan. Kicked out of 6 schools in 6 years, he is hyperactive, dyslexic and has a high grade of D-. While going to Yancy Academy, a boarding school, he meets a good dorm mate named Grover. As Percy soon learns, Greek gods are toying with his life, he is a demigod, and Grover is a satyr. Now he must solve a prophecy* and find a stolen item that takes him to Los Angeles, all before the summer solstice. *(Prophecy: You shall go west, and face the god who has turned, You shall find what was stolen, and see it safely returned, You shall be betrayed by one who calls you friend, And you shall fail to save what matters most, in the end.) I like this book because it is incorporating Greek gods while still set in the U.S. The book is exiting and fast-paced making me read it again and again. I also recommend the others in the series The Sea of Monsters and The Titans Curse.  Will, 6th Grade - Keys School

This book is a really good book, if I could rate it out of 10 stars I would give it 9. I would have given it 10 stars, except that I didn't like the ending. In my opinion I was expecting more in the ending than the way the author ended it. But it was still a very appealing book. In this book there are 2 main characters, Kristen Mckenna and Walker Jones. Kristen has a little sister named Kippy and her best friend Rory.  Kristen's life seems very difficult because her parents are always arguing with each other and Kristen is loosing her best friend Rory, because Rory wants to hang out with the popular group only, and not with her anymore. She also has eating problems, where she just can't stop eating. Then there's Walker Jones, but people call him Walk. Walk is black and goes to a white private school, Mountain School, he really doesn't want to, and doesn't like it but his mom makes him. Then at the school he meets Matteo, and they become best friends. Walk also lost his dad and doesn't know how, and is always asking his mom questions about his dad. Anyway, in Mountain School, Kristen and Walk meet and become friends and help each other, even though they sometimes argue. But then Walk has a doubt the his father is alive, just that his mom doesn't (won't?) to tell him about it. So he and Kristen go out finding information about his dad and find something very very interesting. This book was fabulous and once you pick it up, you can't put it down. Wendy, 6th Grade - Keys School