Pink Slip Party
By Cara Lockwood
317 pages
...6.5/10

Okay so I said it was 7.5/10 in that post I did before, but I changed my mind. Hmm.. Okay, anyways, on with the review.
I can see how some people might love this book, but I didn't find it that good. To be honest, in some ways, it seemed like she was trying to be like Sophie Kinsella. Or maybe it was just her own style of writing. I don't know. Cuz before every chapter, there was an e-mail or a letter that seemed very Shopaholic-y, but somehow it didn't. OK, I AM NOT MAKING ANY SENSE HERE. Whew. If you have read Shopaholic books, then you might understand. The way that the letters seem to be like another part of the story, and they never talk directly about the letters themselves.

So this is what the book is about.
Jane McGregor. She got fired and dumped on the same day. Her job was designing 'pink slips'. For.. stuff. I have no idea. And it says that the slips aren't even pink. And they're not slips. So I was reading it and I was like
'umm.. yeah. OH IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FUNNY!! AHAHA...ha...h... egh.'
Anyways. Ahem. So she's looking for a job, and probably a guy. She sends out a bjillion resumes, and 99% of them don't say the truth. So before every chapter, there is a letter or an email from a company, or someone, that rejected her. In a supposedly funny way. So, she doesn't have a job, so she kinda can't pay her rent. Her dad always wants her to move into a smaller apartment, since he thinks Jane diesn't need such a big one for herself and would save her some money. Her brother is the guy who really wants to help her get a job. The one who keeps bugging her about sending out more resumes, thinking more about what she wants to do next, that sort of stuff.

Okay that's all I remember. I wonder if, by the way I talked about it, if the book sounded appealing. Well, it's not that bad. The actual plot itself was okay, but there were SO many things that seriously could've been much better. The title, for example. Pink Slip Party. Hmm. Well, to be honest, I forgot all about that little mention of her previous job (the pink slip thingy) by the end of the book. The title did not make sense. And there wasn't exactly a party. Okay maybe there was, one, but it did not go with the 'Pink Slip' thing. So.. there wasn't a Pink Slip Party. Not even metaphorically, I don't think.
Oh, and theres the ending. I mean, more like the last sentence. Okay fine, the last paragraph. Which only consisted of two sentences, so not much difference. But thats not my point (haha it would be so weird if I didn't like this book because of the # of sentences the last paragraph had!!). The very end referred to a pair of sunglasses from.. somewhere.. or someone... or... umm.. no okay seriously. By the end, the very end, I was so confused. the pair of sunglasses was mention once, if not like.. half times, in the beginning of the book. Not exactly the most convenient thing to remember, eh?
AND, there were like.. constant references to drugs and sex and stuff. So apparently one of his friends is a drug dealer, somehow, somewhere, oh I don't know. And people sometimes turn up at Janes appartment, when the whatshisname friend is there, and buy drugs. In like.. paper bags or something. But that stuff happens, right? So it wasn't as bad as the sex stuff.
I know authors expect that their readers would be really mature or whatnot, but this person needs to know that sometimes, it gets to the point where it's disgusting. Seriously. Enough's enough. Sheesh. Some things, or thoughts, should be.. uh.. just kept in our minds. Not 'our' as in mine and yours, but just.. or maybe I should have said the author's mind. Yeah. Hers. Cara Lockwood. Yeah, her. HHeerrrr. Okay I'll stop now. Really.

So.. this book wasn't amazing (as if you couldn't tell) but it wasn't horribly horrible bad bad bad. It was like.. okay-ish-bad. (Nice word there, eh?) It's a book that I think certain people would still really love. Maybe this just wasn't the style I like. Hmm. But seriously, I mean, the title, ending, and umm. [that stuff] could have been different. I think the title and end are like.. propbably the more important parts of a book. If the title doesn't describe what the book's about, ... well then it's uh.. screwed up. Heh. And actually, the ending - the idea was good. The very last paragraph was unnessecary (spelt wrong, I think). I would have liked the ending if the last paragraph was taken out - or in my case, if I just didn't read it. Once I read it, I mean read the last sentence, I was very confuzzled, I didn't get it. It was just like, "HUH?!"

Anyways..
would have been .. 57 hours. cuz I'm only counting reviews, not all the books I read. Darn. And remember, I'm only counting for fun.

--Jessica--

Oh and I don't think this review, that is full of like.. disses, would be really good for a newsletter.


** NEXT REVIEW: SECRETS OF MY HOLLYWOOD LIFE, BY JEN CALONITA**

Revenge of the Wannabes
By: Lisi Harrison
Pages: 296

(3rd book in the “Clique” series) Here is just a quick recap of the main characters in the story or else you wouldn’t know what I’m talking about later on…
Massie Block: the leader of Octavian Country Day School’s most exclusive/ fashionable clique. She and 3 of her very close friends form this group.
Alicia Rivera: the second-in-command from Massie in the clique. While Massie is the alpha, she is the beta.
Kristen Gregory: another friend of Massie’s who belongs in the clique.
Dylan Marvil: also another of Massie’s who belongs in the clique.
Claire Lyons: the new girl from Florida who moved into Massie’s guest house. She wants to be in the Clique ever since she arrived, but the group just kept rejecting her.

(The story continues from the second book.) Alicia finally had enough with Massie and decided to recruit a few new members who look like cheap Dylan and Kristen knockoffs and start her own clique. Massie becomes furious with this and ends their friendship; Alicia is officially out, and Claire is finally in. However, when some particular secrets of the girls’ leaked out, Dylan and Kristen becomes convinced that Massie is up to no good, and might possibly join Alicia. On the other hand, Claire is finally happy because she got accepted into the clique. In addition, she found out that Cam (a cute Briarwood Academy boy who she had a crush on) like her. However, this doesn’t sit well with Massie since she likes him too…

Yet another great book in the series – story content is just as luring to teen girls as before. But it’s quite surprising that these girls are only in 7th grade!?!...and already they’re that mean. I think it’s kinda far-fetched how in the story they get an interview with “Teen People” have a modeling shoot, and spend all their parent’s money just on clothes (literally, the author only mentions them buying brand name clothes in every single book I read so far)…I’m not saying that’s impossible, but that’s a bit unrealistic for their age at 12 – 13 years old, but then again, nothing is really realistic in fiction. Anyways, through it all, I still love the series + the plot. =)
Rating: 8.5/10

s.t.e.p.h.i.e.
volunteer hours: 3 (total 28 ½)

Title: Montmorency: Thief? Liar? Gentleman?
Author: Eleanor Updale
# of pages: 233

Plot Summary:

Montmorency has always lived a life of crime, particularly theft, in London, 1875. His riches are gained through stealing others' possessions and selling them for a profit. However, one day, he falls through a glass roof while attempting to escape from the police - and he is imprisoned.

While in prison, his wounds are healed by Doctor Farcett, and he is later used as a model for Farcett's medical seminars. Their acquaintance soon leads him to discover a fact that will be essential for the tasks he will undertake once he is out of prison: London has a new, underground sewage system. Montmorency fully uses the sewers to his advantage, committing thefts and quickly escaping to the place of murky waters where no one dares to go.

In the meantime, he decides to spend his wealth on a new lifestyle as a gentleman. But leading his double life and lying to everyone he meets, when will his secret be revealed?

Opinion:

I believe that Montmorency: Thief? Liar? Gentleman? was simply a fantastic work of fiction. Eleanor Updale's story is original - I found the plot creative, and there were almost no similarities to any other book I have ever read. It has elements that will captivate readers of many different tastes, whether you enjoy the thrilling action of a criminal at work, or imagining a luxurious lifestyle from more than a century ago.

She also bases her story on accurate historical facts from the time period and setting, and manages to incorporate those facts in a manner that makes the situation seem so real, as though Montmorency truly existed.

Overall, this remains one of my favourite novels, because of Updale's brilliant storytelling.

Main themes and subjects:

• Crime (specifically theft)
• 19th-century London
• Social classes
  
• Leading a double life only means lying to everyone you meet

Target audience: Teenagers

Genre: Historical fiction

Rating: 5/5

Book review by Fiona T.
* 21 hours so far
* Can be published in the Teen Newsletter

I have an inquiry and several reviews for you--

First, I remember Catherine (the teen librarian, not the reviewer) mentioning something about a site that allows people to trade favours, can anyone remind me what site that was or post me the link (i thought i'd use it in a project). It would be much appreciated.

I'll post the reviews tomorrow (I've got quite a few :S) but thank you so much.

Miss Anne.

Title: To Kill a Mockingbird
Author: Harper Lee
# of pages: 281

Plot Summary:

Scout and her older brother, Jem, are children of a fairly wealthy family living in Maycomb, Alabama in the 1930's. Dill visits his aunt in Maycomb every summer, and he becomes close friend with Scout and Jem. They are frightened by Boo Radley, a reclusive and feared neighbour who has not exited his house for more than 30 years. They soon become friends with Boo, as he provides them with gifts, and they often curiously peek at the Radley house when they walk to and from school.

Their father, Atticus, is a lawyer, who is eventually assigned to defend a black man accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white woman. In the racist Southern society, the black man, Tom Robinson, is widely believed to be a criminal, without a doubt. Despite all of Atticus' efforts to win the case, the all-white jury convicted Tom Robinson and he was eventually killed while imprisoned.

Even after the case, the father of Mayella Ewell is constantly looking for ways to attack Scout and Jem as revenge for Atticus shaming him. As they return from the Halloween pageant without adult supervision, Bob Ewell takes the opportunity...

Opinion:

It is easy to understand why To Kill a Mockingbird has been hailed as a modern classic, a masterpiece of contemporary literature. Harper Lee intertwines several morals within the novel, that there is tremendous symbolism behind every single event in the story. The language may be coarse at times, particularly in some dialogue by racist members of the Maycomb community, but it helps contribute to the overall truthfulness of the story.

I admire Harper Lee's ability to add in some mild humour while maintaining a serious attitude toward the situation that each of the characters face. Looking back on Southern society in the 1930's, compared to our multicultural society in modern Toronto, I can easily tell the remarkable differences from her accurate descriptions of what life was like back then - horrifying they may be.


Main themes:

• To understand one, we must stand in his or her shoes
• It is a sin to kill a mockingbird
• We should treat everyone equally as human beings
  

Subjects:

• Racial discrimination
• Crime
• Social classes

Target audience: People of all ages

Genre: Historical fiction (also somewhat autobiographical)

Rating: 4/5

Book review by Fiona T.
* 18 hours so far
* Can be published in the Teen Newsletter

White Pine Nominees

Some of you may be familiar with the Silver Birch awards. This is the next age category called White Pine. Ontario Library Association puts together a short list of possible titles and they are voted on by readers.

"After" was one I just read. Very good book.


The NOMINATED BOOKS are:

After by Francis Chalifour Tundra Books.
The Bonemender by Holly Bennett Orca Book Publishers.
Four Steps to Death by John Wilson Kids Can Press.
How to be a Hero on Earth 5 by Rob Payne Penguin Canada.
Me and the Blondes by Teresa Toten Penguin Canada.
The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood Knopf Canada.
Shattered by Eric Walters Viking/Penguin.
The Sundog Season by John Geddes Turnstone Press.
Three Songs for Courage by Maxine Trottier Tundra Books.
Wild Orchid by Beverley Brenna Red Deer Press.

If you would like any of these books, you can put them on hold.

http://www.markham.ca/mpl/

We have them all.

Catherine

Alma and After

I read these two books, in the last few days.

After was a tough book to read over the holidays. The story was about a boy whose dad died by commiting suicide. "After" comes into play when the boy has to deal with his feelings, after. This is a white pine nominee. More about that later. I loved this book and would give the story 4/5. A few spots of trouble with the plot flow but I liked the story.

Alma by William Bell

Cute story about a young girl who befriends an older lady. This is one of those stories where if I tell too much about the plot, I will give the story away.
4/5

I like Bell's writing style.

Catherine

The Gospel According to Larry
By: Janet Tashjian
Pages: 227

Josh Swensen is a seventeen-year-old guy who’s life-time goal is to make a difference in the world and contribute to the human race. He is considered a genius for his age and a loner/ philosopher. Loner because he hangs out with his only friend – Beth, the gal he’s been crushing on for years. And philosopher because in an attempt to fulfill his life-time goal, he created a website called “The Gospel According to Larry”, where he posts sermons on anticonsumerism/ antimaterialism. It soon became a big hit with everyone from around the world and suddenly all of them want to know Larry’s true identity. If Josh is exposed to the media, he will become the very thing he was fighting against (the influence of the media on teens/ adults and whatever that leads to). Will this prodigy find a way out of this mess?...find out for yourself.

Normally, I wouldn’t read books like this (with issues about consumerism and self-belief). But since the topic for book club that month was “identity” and this one was on the list, I decided to try it out. At first, it seemed to me the story plot was fairly predictable (something along the lines of: the guy reveals himself, the world is shocked because it was him but they got over it, the guy becomes all famous, everybody loves him, and he lives happily ever after, yea!). But no, the ending was ssssoooo different, I don’t think anybody would’ve guessed it right. I loved the twists and turns in the final chapters; they were very dramatic for a story with such a calm/ quiet feeling going on. Although it was boring in the beginning, the ending made up for the loss.
Rating: 8/10

s.t.e.p.h.i.e.
volunteer hours: 3 (total – 25 ½ )

Title: Blue Bloods
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
# of pages: 320

Plot Summary:

Schuyler van Alen is just another teenaged girl living in modern New York City, yet she is mysteriously so different from other "normal" girls; she craves for raw food, and has sudden flashbacks of what seems to span centuries ago.

She soon discovers her true identity, after a meeting that completely changes her life: she is a Blue Blood, a vampire. Her heritage stretches back to the pilgrims that founded the Plymouth Colony, who were actually escaping persecution as Blue Bloods. This is the reason why many of the social elites in New York are, in fact, Blue Bloods.

Unfortunately, she also soon unearths the fact that although her kind is meant to suck the blood of Red Bloods (normal human beings), and do not die as humans do, a Blue Blood has been strangely been murdered, with all of her blood sucked out of her. Schuyler continues to search for answers to these mysteries, and discovers how Blue Bloods came to be, through her efforts.

Opinion:

The extraordinary creativity contained in the novel surprised me, as I had never thought Melissa de la Cruz, whom regularly wrote chick lit novels, would write such a wonderful, unique horror story. She incorporated some modern elements with the frequently-told story of vampires, and the way many of the characters were Red Bloods made the situation seem almost real-life. I would have almost thought there were Blue Bloods living in New York at this moment!

I also enjoyed how the plot was filled with suspense and adventure. The death of a Blue Blood proves that there is a danger lurking in the city, and may attack any Blue Blood at any time, anywhere.

The way Schuyler and another friend, Jack, were determined to discover the history of Blue Bloods, somewhat reminded me of Robert Langdon's thrilling quests in Angels and Demons, and The Da Vinci Code.

Blue Bloods is recommended for fans of science-fiction and fantasy. There is also an element of romance in the novel, including Schuyler's close relationship with Jack in the middle of the story.
I look forward to reading any sequels to Blue Bloods, especially as Schuyler is anticipating more adventures to seek answers to the mystery of the danger she and other Blue Bloods face.

Main themes and subjects:

• Vampires
• Romance (though very little)
• History; the ancestors of modern Blue Bloods were the pilgrims that landed at Plymouth Colony
• The true image of vampires is never portrayed to the Red Blooded public
• Hidden identity

Target audience: Teenage girls

Genre: Horror

Book review by Fiona T.
* 15 hours so far
* Can be published in the Teen Newsletter

Title: Gossamer
Author: Lois Lowry
# of pages: 140

Plot Summary:

Littlest One is a dream-giver, a creature that is not human, but an imaginary being that lives within all things. Their purpose is to collect memories from objects in the specific house they are assigned to, and, using those memories, formulate and bestow dreams to humans.

She is, as her name suggests, the youngest in her colony of dream-givers. She begins her first mission with the guidance of Fastidious, whom is annoyed by her constant chatter. After Littlest becomes the responsibility of an older member of the colony, Thin Elderly, his fondness with younger dream-givers allows a close relationship to form between the two. However, the fear of Sinisteeds, those who bestow nightmares, soon lingers over the troubled household they are assigned to, and they simply must work harder to allow recovery for the elderly woman and young boy (bestowing pleasant dreams). In the end, she learns that she has been gradually maturing into an independent dream-giver and will be named "Gossamer" in the future, for her talent for a gossamer touch.

Opinion:

This was a novel that was based on describing a situation and expanding on it, rather than weaving an exciting story with the situation as its foundation. There were plenty of possibilities for a breathtaking plot and a dramatic ending, but all that really occurred to me was how Littlest One was maturing while she aged as a dream-giver and how she would eventually teach younger pupils to bestow dreams.

Of course, I felt happy for Littlest, having achieved so much over the course of the novel, but the lack of action and adventure simply disappointed me.

Nevertheless, the Lois Lowry uses beautiful, descriptive language that was perhaps the only source of motivation for me to continue reading, coupled with her imagination. I would recommend this book for those who would like to read a book that is unique in its own right, but otherwise, I only found Gossamer to be satisfactory.

Main themes and subjects:

• Dreams (both the pleasant and unpleasant)
• Imaginary beings (dream-givers and Sinisteeds)
• A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step
  

Target audience: Pre-teens, Teenagers

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 2/5

Book review by Fiona T.
* 12 hours so far

Hi everybody! It's Christmas! Yay!

I haven't been posting for a long time. I've noticed (surprisingly). Not that I haven't been reading, though. I actually have.. seven books that I haven't posted on. Don't ask why. Cuz I don't know. =( Some days, I just don't feel like posting. Haha! But I'll try to post on all of them during the holidays, don't worry. I'll just give you the title and my rating for now, without the review though, I'll do the reviews later. All of them. Here I go,,

Twilight (Stephenie Meyer)-- 9.99/10. Soooooo good!!
The Undomestic Goddess (Sophie Kinsella) -- 7.9/10. Wasn't as good as the Shopaholic books..
The Second summer of the Sisterhood (Ann Brashares) -- 9/10. Awesome.
Pink Slip Party (Cara Lockwood)-- 7.5/10. Kinda dissapointing..
Scared to Death (Norah McClintock) -- 8.5/10. Yes, the one that David read.
What Child is This? (Caroline B. Cooney) -- 9/10. Catherine read this one. Kinda cute.
The Clique (Lisi Harrison) -- 8/10. EEEEEEEEE! Stephie read it too!

Hehe so this prooves I read all your reviews! I like reading books that other ppl have read because I know that they're going to be good (well, cuz I wouldn't pick up the ones that you didn't like..). And sometimes, it's interesting. Maybe someone will love a book, and I might hate it. Also the other way around sometimes.

Happy holidays everyone!

--Jessica

okay, so let me introduce myself:
i'm catherine. i'm fifteen, and yes, i'm a girl. =)

now on to the review:

Title: The Au Pairs: Sun-kissed
Author: Melissa De la Cruz
Pages: 320
Audience: Teenage girls
Genre: Chick lit

Plot Summary: So, just like the previous 2 The Au Pairs books (The Au Pairs and The Au Pairs: Skinny-Dipping), this story revolves around three girls- Jacqui, Mara and Eliza. This time around, Mara is interning at a magazine, living with Ryan on his family's boat and freaking out over getting accepted in to Dartmouth. Eliza was (key word, was) interning with a fashion desiner and is still with Jeremy, but we all know there has to be some sort of drama happening here, right? Lastly, Jacqui is still working for the Perry family, trying to keep the Perry couple together and dating three boys at the same time (drama, drama, drama I tell you). Basically, you read about the ups and downs of three rather priveledged ladies.

Opinion: This book is decent enough. If you're fans of the other two previous books or the Gossip Girls series, then yes, you should definetly read it (although, Gossip Girls is a bit more extreme than this book). I thought that it wasn't as good as the first one and cliched. I hated how the story was told from three points of view, with little interaction with all three characters. It's three little stories of each individual rather than one story with three characters.
On the up side, it's a great light read if you're super bored. It's easy to go through quickly and the characters are each lovable in their own way.
*SPOILER ALERT: Although I got to say, I was really happy to here that Mara and Ryan were going to be living together in this book, not too happy to find out that their relationship is going rocky..again.

Main Themes/Subjects: Love, Persistance, Morals, Life-Lessons

Rated: 7/10

Total Hours: 3

A great read, I just had the pleasure of borrowing this book yesterday from the library...

Title: Would I lie to you - a Gossip Girl novel
Author: Cecily von Ziegesar
# of pages: 192

Summary:

It is the summer after their graduation from secondary school, and every teenager in New York's Upper East Side is celebrating their accomplishments and their future entry into college. They live lives of luxury, from bikinis by Eres, Missoni, and Gucci... to their BMWs and Mercedes' as graduation presents.

Blair and Serena, two very best friends (and the main characters), stay at Bailey Winter's house in the Hamptons to act as muses for the anorexic models for Bailey Winter's newest collection. Realizing the sadistic intentions for Blair and Serena, of the models, the muses eventually leave Bailey's house to go on several road trips with Nate (another friend). As Nate declares his love for Blair, she and Serena begin to continue the bitterness and jealousy that looms over which one of them has his affection.

Meanwhile... Vanessa continues her nannying job with Ms Morgan, but becomes so irritated over her nearly inhumane work conditions that she abandons the position.

Dan is confused over his sexual orientation, after the unexpected results of a literary salon, and remains so by the end of the novel.

Opinion:

As with the other Gossip Girl novels, I found this one interesting to read, but I would not feel any urge to re-read it as I would for certain other novels. The story has little originality, mostly retelling the true stories of wealthy teenagers. There are few changes made over the course of the storyline; for example, the way Blair and Serena are, once again, secretly fighting over Nate. I would prefer reading the novel to gain awareness of other lifestyles in modern society as opposed to reading for the sake of the actual tale being told.

Cecily von Ziegesar frequently includes coarse language, mainly in the dialogue. The remainder of the vocabulary used, however, is basic and easily understood by any elementary school student. Combined with the sexual content involved in the story, I would advise only mature teenagers to consider reading this, or any other Gossip Girl novel. Being the tenth novel in the series, reading the previous novels in the Gossip Girl series is essential to fully understand the entire situation.

With a lack of originality on the part of the author, and no evidence of thoughtful language being used, I merely found Would I lie to you as a fair attempt by Cecily von Ziegesar to tell a story of social elites.

Main themes and subjects:

• Romance: Blair and Nate are together again; Serena reunites with Henry; Dan meets Greg (a fellow employee at the Strand and one he isn't sure whether he loves)
• Luxury life: almost all of the characters are wealthy social elites
• Everyone has a natural tendency to enjoy gossip, particularly that based on people from higher social classes

Target audience: Teenage girls

Genre: Chick lit

Rating: 3/5

Book review by Fiona T.
* 9 hours so far
* Can be published in the Teen Newsletter

so, is there a poetry contest happening???
can i plz have more detail?

thanks

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows

The final title was announced and it is on Rowling's website.
jkrowling.com

There is even a little game you can play to get the title.

You know the library will have plenty of copies, but still we never have enough.

Catherine

Enjoy your holidays!

We hope you take time for yourself and read (just joking). Relax and have a safe as well as happy holiday whatever you do.

Catherine and Andrea

Enjoy your holidays!

We hope you take time for yourself and read (just joking). Relax and have a safe as well as happy holiday whatever you do.

Catherine and Andrea

Time's person of the year

Congratulations, you are the winner!

Thanks to your involvement with blogging, IM, and social networking (Fancy way of saying chatting), time magazine has chosen you as the newsmaker of the year.

Youtube.com and similar websites are also contributing factors.

I always thought you were amazing but this seals the deal.

Catherine

2nd Annual poetry Contest

I will soon have something on the website about the 2nd Poetry Contest. the deadline for one page submissions is Saturday, March 31st. Entries must be emailed to the teen mailbox.
more information coming.

P.S. Yes, you are all eligible. I white out the names when the entries are judged.

Winners are posted on the website and in the library.

Catherine

TRAP Newsletter

Stephie and I are going to start working on the first edition of the newsletter. It is just going to be small at first, a couple of pages, published hopefully by the end of January.

I will try and publish it here, first for you to see, in case you have any concerns. Rachel is one of the first contributors, I have included. I will try and get something from all of you who allowed submissions, in the next few months. Be patient, this is a first try.

Will keep you updated. thanks for all your good work.

Catherine

LORD OF THE FLIES
William Golding
(sorry, i already gave the book back, so i dont have a # of pages)

In this classic novel, a bunch of kids are on a plane when it crashes, and they end up by themselves on a deserted island. Everything starts out quite innocently..they elect Ralph, one of the older boys, as leader, and they all work together to be rescued. But when a bad egg's strong sense of savage comes out, there is pandamonium on the island, and this leadership community quickly comes to an end. When all of the boys switch over to the other group, Ralph is left by himself to deal with the elements, and these crazy savages who are dying to get their hands on him. At this rate, will they ever be rescued?

I had to read this book for school, which you probably gathered, because nobody in their right mind would read this book if it wasn't by force. It was really hard to get past all the heavy wording and descriptions, and there was alot of boring parts. It was okay, but i would NOT recommend reading this as a leisurely activity...such as over the Christmas holidays. You would be much better off reading one of the other books reviewed in this blog, which may actually bring you a hint of happiness. But there is one positive note about this novel - it is much better than the film version! So read this book if you must, but otherwise, cast it into the wind!!
* * J e n n :-)

Community Service Hours: 27

Thursday's Child - Sonya Hartnett - pages: 261

Plot: hehe, this is an easier story to describe. okay, so the story starts with this girl named "Harper Flute", written in first person, so you really get get the feel of being in the story. anyways, the little girl watches, and soon you can clearly see things change, when her little brother (named "Tin") decides to move underground, even though he was only 5 at the time. at first, he was only digging under the yard, and went up at the call of Harper, but then, after awhile, he just stayed down, and his parents had to put out his food infront of the small entrance of the hole. harper really liked her brother Tin, but unlike Tin, Harper was not either of her parent's pets, and so she was never really "loved" by her parents. she had a sister and a brother, with another that dies at the end. as she watches her family struggle in a very bare land, she also watches her little brother go farther and deeper into his holes and caves, being able to see everything well in the dark. Tin was becoming wild. and so, when thier shack (this is what they called thier home) falls down from the emptiness of one of the tunnels that Tin built when he first went under the house. it's actually sorta queer that the child would decided to go UNDER THE HOUSE, don't you think? anyways, the parents kept thinking that Tin went under the ground because he was jelous, but Harper new that the only reason Tin went down there was because he really liked digging. at first, his parents help out by putting stuff out for him to use in his digging, but after that, the child stays underground. lots and lots of other things happens, and, when Tin tries to save his little brother who jumped into a hole when playing hide and seek. the little brother is giving back dead, with Tin still holding the dead child. the parents think that Tin killed the baby, but harper was pretty sure that the baby died before Tin reached him/her (i don't remember) and so, they turn Tin completly loose, and soon, Tin is found stealing from a nieghbour's bee hives for honey. when a huge disaster strikes and thier house tumbles, the nieghbour gives them thier barn and lumber that they had extra, and at the end, the whole nieghbour hood helps to build it. but although they had a roof over thier heads, they needed money to buy food, and thier father was becoming addicted to alcohol, and soon, the eldest daugther was sent to become a maid for their neighbour. of course, this neighbour just wanted a girl in the his house once again, but as soon as the girl did something even the littlest wrong, he would beat her. so one day, the girl ran away from the nieghbour's and went back to her house, telling the family about it. the father gets really angry, and decides to go (with a rifle/gun) and "talk" to the nieghbour, meaning kill. little did they know, little Tin (who really isn't THAT little anymore) heard every single word, and reached the nieghbour's house through his tunnels. and there, he made a trap in the neighbours house, and killed or murdered him. by placing him in a trap in his tunnel, and, because normal people can't see very well in pitch blackness, he killed the neighbour. when harper, who followed her dad because she wanted to stop him. when they reached his house, the guy was already dead. and so they slowly figured out what happened. that's mainly the plot.
okay, my grammer and stuff is really really bad when i type on the comp. so sorry if this really bothers you.

Thoughts: wow, i't such a good book. man would i like to be able to go through those tunnels, and stay safe. but then again, i wouldn't go kill the neighbour, cause i'd probably die or scaredness, either that or the blood. but this is a really good book.
rating: 8/10, it's really good. go read it xD
genre: historical fiction (but actually, i can't really find that much history in it, so i'd probably just call it FICTION)

recommended for people who like to read about little kids doing random things that seem to have no meaning watsoever. actually, just read it. it's good for everyone, as long as you don't get bored with reading after 15 mins.

total: 6



hehe =) thanxs for the comments on the forst post. xD
your reply to your comments: lol, let's see, i'm called woofy cause we were making up other names to call each other, and then the name just slipped out. therefore i usually go by that name on the internet now. xD and if you would really like to know... i actually AM sorta nerdy. but then not that much. just that i like to keep busy with work or read. or music. xD

What Child is this? A Christmas Story.

I sometimes get trapped in some of the sappy Christmas stories and movies. This year, I did not want to get into that but yes, I succumbed and have read one book, by Caroline Cooney.

it is not very long, about 150 pages. There are a number of smaller stories linked into the main story. As Christmas stories go, it was pretty good. Seeing that it was writtne by Cooney makes it better.

Pick it up for that warm Christmas feeling.

catherine

What is the one thing you want to do most on your holidays?

Whether you celebrate the holidays or not, you still have two whole weeks off that you have more than earned.

What is the first thing you are going to do and what is the one thing you cannot wait to do?

Personally, I know that this sounds corny but I cannot wait to have a fire, in the fireplace. We can have one, any day of the year but this is one time when I just sit and let everything go.
I read like mad over the holidays. I am not a big shopper so I tend to stay put and read.
I find the holidays stressful so anything I can do to take it easy is fine with me.

What are you dying to do?

catherine

Reading, reading - 4 titles.

The first one had a problem. Shooter by Walter Dean Myers. This is about a boy and his friend and the events of a school shooting. Problem, i am reading along and get to page 214, the last page of the book. Problem: the book is over 221 pages long. This is a great book so my boss says i should try and pick it up. We will try and fix the book.

Hero of lesser ---___

I have been reading non-stop lately so forgive me for not remembering. This is the story of a brother and a sister who grow closer as the brother battles an illness. It falls into the historical fiction category. A great read.

The sledding hill.

This is the story of Eddy who tries to cope after the death of his father and his bestfriend. Although this sounds creepy, his best friend comes along after his death and continues to be Eddy's friend. The other neat twist to this book is the Chris Crutcher, the author brings himself into the book. I liked that but was so into the relationship between Eddy and his best friend it took away from that part of the story. Good read.

The blue helmet

I am reading this book and reading this book waiting for the blue helmet. The story is amazing.
I expected the blue helmet to be about the main character but instead it was about a secondary character. The helmet does not come into play until almost the end. This story is also a bit graphic but i loved this book. There is an old saying when one door closes, another one opens. This totally fits the story.

catheirne

P.s. I cannot spell my name. I could not remember the password to log in. I need to go outside and get some fresh air.

Sad, eh!

Acceleration by Graham McNamee 210 pages

This book is the best mystery book I have ever read (I think)
It talks about Duncan working in Toronto's subway lost and found in the summer. The horrible job is nightmare, but the good side is that if you see an item that you want,after the term found date, you can take the item. When Duncan finds a journal of stuff, there is mice drowning times/experiment, building burning and now women stalking. Duncan must find the "Roach" before it's too late...
I thought this book was pretty suspensful, but I thought the ending was a bit rushed. Great book. Read it!!

rating: ***/5

Title: Secrets of my Hollywood Life
Author: Jen Calonita
# of pages: 242

Summary:

Kaitlin Burke is a star of a popular nighttime soap opera, called Family Affair. She has worked in Hollywood since she was four, but as she copes with her overbooked calendar, she begins to realize how much she would like to become an "ordinary" teenager. A life without all of the rush, a chance to meet new friends who care about her for who she is.

After a discussion with her best friend, Liz, about their current lives, Kaitlin decides to go to high school with her at Clark Hall. She enrolls under an alias name, and forms a perfect disguise that fools the others into believing that she really is just like them. But if the press finds out that she has been trying to escape from Hollywood life, her career would be damaged...

Opinion:

I admire the fact that Jen Calonita's unique writing style is direct, but manages to match and blend in with the storyline. It seems as though each of the characters' personalities is plainly displayed for the reader to see, and the subtle foreshadowing leaves readers urging themselves to continue reading.

The ending of the story was superb and brought a suitable conclusion of Kaitlin's adventures of leading a double life. She learns an important lesson in life: that there are always rivals in life who try to make life more difficult for you, and that a happy, successful actor must have a life on both sides of the camera.

While reading a novel regarding Hollywood life would often seem drastically insignificant compared to the awareness of today's world issues, I thought it brought an interesting perspective on the lives of celebrities. As shown by the 18 "Hollywood Secrets" mentioned in the novel, there are many things that happen without us noticing, that are actually the foundation for many activities and functions in Hollywood. The first-person narrative adds to the effect, as if we were seeing the world with the eyes of an exhausted Hollywood star.

One similar series that immediately came to mind as I browsed through the pages, were the Gossip Girl novels by Cecily von Ziegesar. The world of Gossip Girl includes the socialites of New York City, celebrities in their own right. Though they probably wouldn't be as well known as any Hollywood star, they have always grown accustomed to luxurious lifestyles of glamour and fortune. However, significant differences in the setting, and the way Secrets of my Hollywood Life provides a solid ending of the storyline, set this novel, and the Gossip Girl series, apart.

Main themes:

• What happens on screen is often completely different from the reality
• There are people who mean ill will to you wherever you go
• One thing that happened in a minute can change an entire lifetime of effort

Subjects:

• Hollywood life
• Romance (between a few couples, notably Kaitlin and a student at Clark Hall)
• High schools (Clark Hall)

Target audience: teenage girls

Genre: Chick lit

Rating: 5/5 (thanks for pointing out the omission, Jessica!)

Book review by Fiona T.
* 6 hours so far
* Can be published in the Teen Newsletter

The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants
By Ann Brashares
290 pages
4/5

I actually read this book a few weeks ago, but never felt like posting on it yet. I don't know why, but I loved the book. It was written like one story, turned into four, and then into one again. It's like, you read a few paragraphs on one person, and then something exciting happens, and the next paragraph is about somebody else. Which makes you want to keep reading until you find out what happened next to one of them. But all four of them had interesting summers. Problem is, I didn't really know where the climax was. It wasn't evident. But it was still good.

The main characters, who are best friends forever, are Lena, Tibby, Carmen, and Bridget. Their mothers met at some pregnancy yoga class, and continued to hang out after, so all their birthdays are really close.
Carmen innocently buys a pair of jeans from a thrift store, and she wasn't serious about it.. she didn't even try them on. Completely accidentally, they find out that the pair of pants, magically, fits all of them perfectly and looks really good on each of them. Mind you, all four of them are different shapes and sizes. This happens the day before their first summer apart as best friends. They had spent every summer together the years before, but this year, everyone was at a different place.

Tibby is the one that stays at home, with a part time job at Wallmans. She thought this would be the most boring summer of her life, but it turns out to be an emotional roalercoaster ride for her. While she's putting up a deodorant display, she hears a thonk on the ground. Her name was Bailey. She looked at Bailey's wallet to see if she had an address written in it, but she didn't find one. After she was brought to the hospital, Tibby realized she still had the wallet. She went to return it, and Bailey wasn't pleased. She thought Tibby had stolen her money or something. They get to know eachother, though, and Bailey apparently has a horrible disease - leukemia. At the age of 12. I wonder if the Pants did any good to her?

Lena is in Greece with her younger sister. Where her grandmother lives. Her grandma is totally trying to set Lena up with this handsome boy, Kostos. But she didn't come to Greece for relationships. Even though Kostos showed obvious interest in her, she just did what she wanted to do - paint. Lena sat outside for hours every day, painting the scene in front of her. But Kostos was being extremely nice and inviting. Well, until their grandfathers get into a fight because of something Lena said about Kostos. Not a pretty scene. Can this summer turn around for Lena?

Bridget is at a sports camp. Or soccer camp. I forget which one. And one of the instructors is soo hot. He's older, but who cares? Even though he's totally off- imits cuz he's an instructor. He likes Bridget too. But things just never work out the way Bridget wants them to. It's not anyone's fault, though. Bridget tries hard to impress him, but she has to face the truth - they can't get anywhere.

Carmen is super-hyped about visiting her father. Her parents are divorced, so she doesn't see her dad much. This time is super special because it is the first time that she ever visited him. It was normally the other way around. When she gets there, she is surprised. He is living ina new house. Well, no big deal. He's acting kinda different. Um.. no big deal? BUT ... he has a new fiance. Yes. That's a big deal. They are about to get married, just in a few weeks. Carmen doesn't see herself as a part of the family. They are all so different from her. Carmen doesn't fit in, mentally or physically. She can't keep up. She hates her father's new family

My teacher lent me this whole series (surprise??) but I haven't gotten to the second one yet. I'm reading millions of books in between. I loved this book. The Pants part was obviously unreal but it made the story interesting.

--Jessica--
--54--
can be published in a teen newsletter =)

Perfect
By Natasha Friend
172 pages
4/5

This book was really short, but it gave me a lot to think about. It shows you that a person who is, lets say, really good looking and was really nice; you might think their life is perfect. You wish more than anything to be like them. But as you get to know the person, it turns out that no matter how perfect they seem to be, they can be dealing with a really hard life, at home where you do not see them. But since their perfect-ness seems to overpower what is bad about their life, you think they have the best life ever.

Isabelle Lee, the main character, has an eating disorder. She binges (eats a lot of food) and then makes herself throw it all up afterwards. It started two summers ago, when her father died. She has been keeping it a secret for the whole time. But then her bratty little sister, April (aka Ape Face), tells their mother.

Isabelle's mom makes her go to a support group for girls with eating disorders, which is called Group. She hates the idea. She doesn't think it will help at all. At Group, there aren't many people, but everybody is completely different. Short, tall, fat, skinny, whatever. And in walks... Ashley Barnum. She is the prettiest, most popular girl in her eighth grade. And she's in Group. But... Isabelle doesn't believeit. Ashley is perfect. She's got the looks, the body, the guys, the everything. Well it seems that way. Isabelle gets to know Ashley (she had never talked to her before), and still doubts she really needs group support.

Later on in the book, as they become better friends, they start talking about more private things. Things about how their families are both screwed up. Both of them. Isabelle realizes that she is not the only one who has a weird family, and that Ashley is not the perfect girl everyone thinks she is.

Some parts were really scary. not like horror movie kind of scary, but scary. Like when the author described how she stuck her finger down her throat (*barf barf barf!!*so nasty!!)to make herself throw up all the food she ate. Described. As in how she felt her stomach contract and everything.

By the way it was written, how real it was, it made me wonder if the author had had an eating disorder before. Or maybe she just did a lot of research. (It's like how I thought the book Candy - By Kevin Brooks was so real that I thought the author had done drugs before. Great book. Read it.) In the back, there was a list called Ten Steps to a Psitive Body Image and information about eating disorders, and how to get help if you have an eating disorder.

Great book. Highly recommend it. But not for guys, though (just look at it. the cover is all pink.). This is a great book about what true beauty really is, and that nobody is perfect -- no matter how much it seems like they are. This book is a super quick read, readable in just over an hour, and isn't the kind of book that you just finish and put away without thinking about it at all.
i think this book is so short because it's not the story they want you to concentrate on. They want you to recognize the situation, and what eating disorders do to you. It's a "finish it quickly and spend double the time thinking about it" kinda thing.

--Jessica--
Can be published in a teen newsletter
Would have been 51 community service hours

Question about death of the Dvd

Last week, in the states, Walmart said that they are not going to buy as many dvds for sale because they for see the end of the dvd.

When the Superman sequel was released, last week, in the States, you could pay $2.00 for a downloadable version for you handhelds.

In your opinion, do you see the end of the DVD?

My son has PSP. I am not interested in watching a movie on the psp.

What about you?

Catherine

New cds in the Library - Comment wanted no volunteer hours

during the summer, Andrea ordered a bunch of new cds. they are all coming in right now like All American Rejects, No limits, etc.

my question: During the summer, I had Promiscuous Woman going all the time. I am so bored of that one. Lately it has been Snow Patrol and the Fray with the soundtrack from Greys Anatomy.

What song is your favorite right now?

Catherine

Talking about blog in a meeting

Today, we had a meeting. I was talking about blog. I enjoy this part of my job so much. I often do work from home, like now.

I think you are all great and have so much to share.

Please keep those reviews coming. I also want to hear your opinions about the stuff you read.

Catherine

Abundance of Katherines

Colin is a child prodigy. Throughout his life, he has dated 19 Katherines. My husband would say one Katherine is enough. This poor fellow was doomed for punishment.
Poor Colin has his heart broke by all but one Katherine (number three).

he meets another girl who sets him off on adventures and a simpler life.

The book is another open ended one. It is up to the reader to decide how you think Colin does.

7/10

Looking for Alaska by this writer was an award winner. I would not rush to recommend this title.

Catherine

Title: Peaches
Author: Jodi Lynn Anderson
# of Pages: 312

Summary:

This was the summer that Murphy, Leeda, and Birdie realized that life is filled with unexpected twists and turns. These three teenaged girls, with their outstanding differences that made it seem impossible for them to befriend each other, eventually went against the odds and did so under unusual circumstances.

Murphy McGowen is well-known to be a mischievous teenager in Bridgewater, Georgia, particularly after she is sentenced to work at the Darlington Peach Orchard for the entire spring break, and, later, her summer for committing crimes and setting off pranks. Leeda Cawley-Smith only wishes to avoid the rest of her well-to-do family, causing her to also spend her holidays working at the orchard. Finally, as the owner’s daughter, Birdie Darlington faces hardships after her mother has left her important position there, and the orchard faces financial turmoil that could result in a nearby developer buying the land. Each of these girls is brought together by the orchard, and develops a strong bond that will surely last their lifetimes.

Thoughts:

Jodi Lynn Anderson’s story is truly amazing and extraordinary. She uses real-life situations in writing her novel, without the surreal style of other chick lit authors. She showed the true power of friendships, that humans simply need a loving friend to help cope with their problems. Each of the characters must deal with serious conflicts relating to their family, finance, relationships, or a combination of these. Through the time spent together, they eventually, for the most part, resolve them in some way.

Reading Peaches was a touching experience, from the emotional breakdowns to the moving plot that caused readers to sympathize with the characters. I felt fortunate to not have faced the stressed situations they did, but the author’s realistic writing technique immediately brought me to somehow connect with them. She leads you to simply love the characters and understand exactly how they feel.

For these reasons, I would highly recommend Peaches to all teenage girls, as they will surely enjoy the story and possibly relate to the characters. Peaches is a typical chick lit novel, other than its striking realism, with some romance, and the whole concept of the necessity of friendships.

For such a seemingly perfect novel, its only downside is that the storyline is all too similar to the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants novels by Ann Brashares, other than the fact that the three girls in this novel only became friends after some hardships and initial disagreements. Both include themes regarding the inseparability of groups of friends, and the fact that each of the girls get along so well despite their notable differences.

Overall, Peaches will be sure to satisfy the reader, bringing them to yearn for its sequel, The Secrets of Peaches.

Main themes and subjects:

• Romance; many aspects of this novel deal with relationships between the three girls and the boys they meet
• First impressions are rarely sufficient to judge a person; the three girls didn't get along very well at first, but soon became inseparable once they began to know each other
• Friends will help each other in times of need

Target audience: Teenage girls

Genre: Chick lit

Book review by Fiona T.
*3 hours so far

Over The Edge
Norah McClintock
216 pages

Another Chloe and Levesque Mystery.
Peter disappeared one evening. He was found lying at the bottom of MacAdam’s Lookout. At first, it appeared to be suicide. But then they found out that it wasn’t.
Then, Chloe started going out with Thomas, and learned a few things about his friends.
Daria, who suddenly became good at poetry after her sister died.
Lise, who deeply disapproved of her dad’s relationship with Eileen Braden, a teacher.
Matt, who hated his new stepfather Artie, because the man seemed to marry Matt’s mother only for money.
Did Peter pay the price for knowing their secrets?

Big surprise at the end, although you might be able to figure out what it is if you're smart enough. People can be totally different from who they appear to be on the outside.

Rating 8.5/10
David
18 hours total

Scared To Death
Norah McClintock
202 pages

Part of the Chloe and Levesque Series. (Chloe, a teenage girl, is the main character, and Levesque is her stepfather, also the police chief of the town they live in.)

One day, Tessa showed up at Chloe’s front door in the afternoon looking for the chief of police. She looked scared. Unfortunately, Levesque wasn’t home.
Two days later, Tessa was floating in a pond, not breathing.
Now, Chloe’s closest friend Ross is under suspicion for murder. Chloe needs to find out who really killed Tessa, and why.

Mystery genre– same as all the other books in this series. The culprit isn’t mentioned much until near the end, but everything that goes on before that has something to do with why the crime was committed.

Rating 8/10
David
*15*

Hi Everyone,
Someone asked me about this the other day so I thought I'd post it to the group. Would you want to having a TRAP "meeting" - could just be an opportunity to get together so we can all meet each other in person. Please let me know ASAP if this appeals to you (or if it doesn't) so I can put something together. If any of you would like to meet and have suggestions for something you might like to do together, please let me know that too.
Thanks, Andrea.

hello there =))
well, this is my first post, so tell me what i should improve on for writing reviews next time =) this is ruth by the way, but most people just call me "woofy" online, as well as at school alot.

well.. here goes:

Armageddon’s Children Terry Brooks pages: 371

Plot: This book has 2 plots actually, one from each of the two series that the author has decided to put together in this book, the two series being 1) the Shannara series, and 2) the Word and the Void series. So I guess I’ll divide the plot sector into 2.

1) Word and the Void

The plot here is that two knights of the Word (instead of the usual 1 in all his OTHER night of the Word books,) are, in opposite areas in the US, fighting REALLY hard to save the children and parents in the compounds. While they are trying to do this, there are demons everywhere, trying to take all the children and all the strong people hostage, so that they could be changed into demons, and be used to kill others. The demons are part of the Void. Anyways, the two knight of the Words try to save others, but the male knight of the Word (Logan Tom) has to find a boy born with magic, one who is related to the main characters in the other Word of the Void series, and the female knight of the Word (Angel Perez) has to try to save as many people as possible, and to find the elves of another world, but both (Angel AND Logan) had to stay safe from the demons. For the whole of this part of the story, that is what they do, and, after a time, both Angel and Logan Tom meet, and work together to save all of human kind that are still left.


2) Shannara

In this part of the story, the “Chosen” elves (yes this series is COMEPLETLY different from the other series) are to serve the Ellcrys, which is a tree that served to keep the demons out. Angel Perez (from the plot above) is to help the elves (2 in particular,) find the legendary elf stone that has not been seen for a long time, and put the Ellcrys into it, and therefore keeping the whole tree safe without having to uproot the tree at all. Angel, along with the elves, have to find the elf stones before the demons can kill the elf country, and the elves get wiped out of existence.

not gonna spoil the ending.. but then again, there isn't really an ending at all

Thoughts: this book and this author is really good…

Rating: I’d give it a 9/10, which is really high, because I don’t actually give 10’s cause nothing’s perfect =)

Genre: fiction/fantasy

Recommended for people who like the author, and also people who adventure and fantasy books mixed with bad guys and good guys =))

total: 3 hours

...did i miss anything?
-woofy

shopaholic and sister
by sophie kinsella
355 pages
5/5

ok, this the the last book (so far..) and i loved it! a bit unrealistic, though. read it and you'll see. but this one, though it was weird, it had a good message. it was the most "touching", i should say.

so, becky bloomwood is back.not that she ever left, but you know. i mean, becky brandon. in shopaholic ties the knot, she married luke brandon (a bit of a fiasco, their wedding). they are on their round the world honeymoon, which they planned to be for a year. ten months have past. becky is picking up a little something here and there. well, a big something. no. big somethings. like the hand carved dining table with ten chairs (ten?) and um.. oya the other table also with ten chairs. and the twenty silk dressing gowns from hong kong (SUCH a bargain) and the... the huge wooden girraffes from malawi that her husband forbade her to buy. not to mention a real angel handbag. 2000 euros.

they decide to go home a little early, (two months) cuz becky wants to surprise everyone. but she's the one surprised when she gets home. first of all, her parents are acting all weird. well then, at least she has suze (her best friend) oh, but then suze has this new best friend who is better that becky at just about everything. and well, two truvkloads of the souvenirs becky bought on their honeymoon is piled into the apartment.

but then her parents give her a huge surprise! becky has a long lost sister! (long story) she dreams up what shes gonna look like, when they can give eachother makovers, maybe they could shop together and giggle while sharing their secrets. turns out, jessica (the sister) is nothing like that. she hates shopping. she hates spending. she's all save save save. "oh, did you know you could save eighty pence just by doing this? and that?" and not only that, but her marriage is in tatters (thinks becky).

i think the message that this book gave out was that, no friend can replace an old friend; it's just not the same. and also, it shows that you dont have to be blood related to be sisters. or... brothers maybe. and, understanding eachother lets you learn more, even if youre totally not interested.

would have been 48 hours
can be published in newsletter

--Jessica--

Song of Sampo Lake
William Durbin
210 pages

Historical fiction - 1900
(First 35 or so pages)
Matti Ojala and his family are Finnish immigrants to Minnesota in America. At first, they settle near a mine, where Matti, his older brother Timo, Father, and his uncle Wilho work dangerous 10-hour shifts underground to save up some money to homestead (verb) . Tragically, Wilho is killed in a mining accident, so Matti’s father decides to file their homestead claim right away.
Homestead - any dwelling with its land and buildings where a family makes its home.
===
This is where the story really begins. The family's new homestead is in the wilderness, located beside Sampo Lake. They need to work very hard to build a new house, clear the land, and earn money to buy supplies. Even Matti's little sisters helped out.
Along the way, Matti proves himself to his father, who had generally favoured Timo more in the past. Not in a desperate kind of way though, of course.
===
Like most historical fiction novels, the setting is realistic, while the characters' personal struggles are made-up. Anybody grade 5+ will find this story relatively easy to read. "Coming-of-age" theme (about Matti) and a bit of insight on the life of a Finnish settler.

Rating 4/5

David
3; total 12 hours
Publishable in newsletter

Sheep By: Valerie Hobbs 115 pages
This book was really fascinating, especially if you're a person with a doggie loving sickness, like me. Anyways, this book talks about a border collie with tons of differernt names in his life, but his favourite name was Jack. Jack was born on a ranch with sheep....SHEEP!!!! His life is soon ruined by a horrible fire, in which he is sold to a pet store and then a little girl comes in and points at him! " I want HIM!!" she says, and then that is how his life as almost anything begins.....Sheep is named Sheep because ever since he was removed from his ranch, he dreams of herding sheep again. I thought this book was cute and probably the most adorable biography I've ever read. (You should also try "The Biography of a Dog")
READ IT!!!

A reader,
Shummer

P.S.: Sorry I've haven't written for so long. Too busy.

just something i found out a few minutes ago... i dont know if you guys know it. its just that i found out that there is going to be a fifth shopaholic book coming out in february! its called shopaholic and baby!! im so gonna read it..

and lol i was looking at the TRAP ad at the library a few days ago, and it was like "14-18" and i was like.. oopss... cuz i've just turned 13!! lol!! good thing nobodys agist! (age-ist,, like sexist, racist, agist? ok nvm.)

--Jessica--

shopaholic ties the knot
by sophie kinsella
328 pages
5/5

omg i loved this one! more than shopaholic takes manhattan! it just had something to it.. i dont know what.

her best friend, suze, is getting married. to tarquin, who is her cousin. before becky can start dreaming her own wedding, luke proposes! but the propblem is, her mom has been dreaming about this for years. becky is their only child, and she wants to host the best backyard wedding ever. but lukes mom, on the other hand, plans a huge pricey ceremony at a plaza, and everyone is talking about it. becky cant decide which one to go with. no one can help her, since she is the only one that knows. both luke's and becky's mothers have been organizing everything, and becky doesnt want to spoil anyone's hard work. but as the wedding gets closer and closer, becky still has no idea what to do. i mena, she cant have two weddings, can she?

if you havent read this, make sure you read the fisrt two first because they all link together. it will still be understandable is you only read this one, but just not as funny.

would have been 45 hours
can be published in newsletter

--Jessica--

hey everyone!!! i wrote a few poems for an assignment we had to do, and i thought i would use the poems i used last year, (friendship poems, lol) but then i started writing these and found out that i can write stuff other than happy and optimistic. enjoy!!

umm... no title. can you help me think of one?

my heart pounding;
pounding from fear.
my thoughts wincing;
knowing you're near.
i cannot see;
i cannot hear;
i cannot taste;
but can feel you here.
who you are,
i do not know.
my true emotions,
i will not show.
instead, i'll stand here,
staring at you.
your bloodshot eyes,
shall not see me through.

umm... no title again. ya.

who are you?
i've wondered for years.
thinking of you,
brings me to tears.
i can feel something,
hidden from me.
behind your thoughts,
which i cannot see.
i know you're afraid,
to show who you are.
beleive me, trust me,
its not all that hard.
because in the end,
you'll be proud of yourself.
i know you will be.
i've said so myself.

no hours!! but... um... would have been umm.. how many did i count before? oya 42.
thanks for reading!! plz give me any suggestions you have!! =)

--Jessica--

Best Friends For Never (a clique novel)
By: Lisi Harrison
Pages: 197

(Picking up from the first book…)The clique is back, and this time around, Massie plans to throw her school’s first boy/girl Halloween party. However, her parents would only allow this if she throws the party with Claire (a non-clique). Massie sees this as a chance to show the rest of the school she still got her cool and is still trendsetting. Claire sees this as a possibility to hanging out Massie and getting accepted. Dylan and Kristen (Massie’s clique friends) sees this as the perfect place to snag a new guy…but it seems like both girls like the same boy…uh-oh.
But things soon go out of hand when Massie and her clique friends decided to wear their inappropriate Halloween costumes to school…little did they know that because of what they did, Octavian Country Day School would go uniforms! After a Halloween night full of fun, the girls realized what they had done. With Massie’s brilliant idea, the principal changed the situation to a “design the uniform” contest. Massie decided to enter this contest with her clique friends. But Alicia, (Massie’s friend), has other plans, she has decided to work with Olivia (a non-clique) and above all, compete against Massie. With Alicia gone, Claire is in the picture (although she’s not considered “in” yet), and together, they designed their contest entry uniform. Who’s uniform is going to win? And will Claire finally be part of the Clique? Read on to find out!
Still a great book, and the girls are still as mean as ever. But Massie’s verbal comebacks are starting to get very monotonous…can’t help but think: that was so lame. But still can’t wait to read the third one! Oh yeah, and the idea of guys and boyfriends were mentioned more by the characters, but hey, it’s a teen girl book, so what do you expect, these type of books are never complete without a crush or two.
Rating: 8/10…I liked the first one more

s.t.e.p.h.i.e.
volunteer hours: 3 (total – 22 ½ )

Both Sides of Time
By: Caroline B.Cooney
210 pages

Fifiteen year old Annie Lockwood lives in the twentieth century. She is a romantic dreaming of the love and affection that her current boyfriend Sean just cant give her. When Annie steps into an ancient mansion that is soon to be torn down, she gets thrusted backwards into the year 1895. She arrives in the prescence of a handsome young man name Strat, who happened to be the hier to the owner of the marvelouse mansion.The young couple fall deeply in love, but back in the 1800's, love is not that easy. In the time of 1895, Annie gets involved in a murder case. In her own time, her parents are going through divorce. But what Annie is most concerned about is...how exactly can she love someone thats in a whole other centrury? How can she live in two completely different times? On both sides of time, Annie has interupted the lives of many people. She has to make a decision, stay with Strat whom shes totally in love with? or go back home where she belongs.

This book was terrific. I guess im just really interested in time travel AND romace so this was the perfect read. The author makes the romance between Annie and Strat seem so perfect and pure. Its really sad in the end how they cant be together. Its kinda interesting to read about a modern girl in the past, and how her manners, clothing, and values are so different from those of the 1800's. This novel was so romantic in a classic way, and full of twists and turns. There really isnt an ending to this book. You have to read the next in the series "Out of Time" to actually see what happened to Annie and Strat. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good romantic novel. i'd give it 4/5...just because their not together in the end =)

Hours-3
Total-9

shopaholic takes manhattan
by sophie kinsella
325 pages
5/5

ok, so this is the second book. ( one of the ones i borrowed from my teacher!! yay! i was flipping the pages oh so slowly in fear i would wreck the book -- lol) i too, liked this one more than the first one. my teacher says this one's the best of all of them.
so for those of you who dont know, the book is about rebecca bloomwood - a shopaholic. she promises ot to spend much money, but she just cant resist buying things. she always makes up an excuse for everything she buys, like 'this is an investment, though' or stuff like that. which leads to debts every time.
she and her boyfriend, luke, are going on a little holiday to new york. but the trip turns to be a weekend full of lukes meetings; nothing romantic. lukes keeping something from becky, too. she can tell. beckys getting all these job interviews in new york, and theyre all promising she will be a big hit. and just when becky is so close to becoming a celebrity, something horrible screws up her life. her job, her relationship, everything.
i loved this book. but dont read this book unless youve read the first one. its not like a series of arthur chapter books, which require almost no background knowledge. lol

would have been 42 hours.
can be published in newsletter

4 days till my birthday! yay! wait... im only gonna be.. 1,2,3,4,5,... 13.. owell!
lol 13 years old was probably 4 years ago for some of you!!

--Jessica--

Two Moons in August
Martha Brooks
157 pages

Story is in present tense, blending in important flashbacks of significant events in the past.

On her fifteenth birthday, Sidonie Fallows lost her mother forever. Almost a year later, Sidonie, her sister Bobbi (real name Roberta), and her dad are still attempting to adjust to a new life, but things begin to change. Sidonie meets Kieran, a new boy who is coming to town to live with his mother. They become friends and help each other cope with their family troubles – Sidonie with her dead mother, Kieran with his alcoholic father. Meanwhile, Bobbi’s relationship with her new boyfriend Phil (a few years older than her) grows deeper, as the two try to work out their feelings for each other. Most of the action is focused on Sidonie, though.

This book’s main theme is family relationships. I like the characters because they all had their own unique personalities. Everything is realistic, even though the characters’ lives aren’t exactly what you would call ‘normal’.

Rating 4.5 / 5 (interesting)

David
3 for this one; 9 total
Publishable in newsletter

Here's another project you can help me with - we're trying to think up little slogans to promote our online databases to high school students (in case you aren't aware of the databases they are a service that the library subscribes to that allows us to provide access to to jounral articles, reference books, multimedia, etc - they are really cool and have tonnes of info on every subject you can think of. We're really interested in promoting them because we have a limited selection of books and we don't always have info on topics that teens are researching, so the databases are good alternatives.)
Anyway, we're trying to think of little catch-phases to advertise the service. Some of the features we're trying to emphasise would include:
- 24/7 access
- info on current events/issues that we may not have in the library
- reliable information, controlled content - more reliable than the internet
- fully searching capabilities so they're just as easy to use a google
If anyone has some suggestions, I'd love to hear them. And by the way - if you'd like to know more about the databases or receive some help using them, let me know and we can set up a training appointment.
Thanks.

Hi, you guys! No volunteer time for comments.

Interesting survey information. The other day on the news, there was a study about teens and computer usage.

It said teens under 13 spent less than 2 hours a day on the computer.
I think 14 year olds spent average of 3.2 hours a day on the computer.

The next stat just flipped me out. 15 year olds spend over 8 hours a day on the computer.
When are you guys sleeping?
Even if you started as soon as you came home, you would do nothing else, no clubs, extracurriculars, eating, etc.

I think this study is exaggerated. What do you think?

Catherine

Hi, this is my first Book Review. I really hope people enjoy this, or i would have read these books for nothing (not really).
I apologize if these books have already been reviewed, I am new after all.

Book: The Wars by Timothy Findley
218 pages

Genre: War.

This is the story of Robert Ross, a solemn 19 year old Canadian officer who went to World War One. He left everything after loosing everything....his sister and his dysfunctional family was deteriorating. Thus, he set off to Europe and found another hell.....one much worse than the one he left.

I found this book to be very dark....instead of glorifying war....it made it look very sadistic, the true intent and look of war. Simply a novel which makes war look extremely chaotic. Nothing less.

Main themes within this book would be displaying the horror of war, as well as Robert's loss of innocence. An effective novel at displaying the truth of war.

I really don't recommend this book for a leisure read, unless you like to engulf yourself in the sad, sick sadistic concepts of this book....I really don't recommend it.

PERFECT CPT NOVEL!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR ENGLISH.

Volunteer Hours(Total) : 3hrs

Rating : 2/5

Aaron S.

This review can be published in the Teen Newsletter.

Hi everyone - I thought I'd put this question to the TRAP to see what your thoughts were. I'm working on developing some ideas for fun things we could do here in the library to celebrate Youth Week (it's usually the beginning of May). The theme we're exploring is "what's your passion?", and we'd really like to have some interactive displays and maybe some kind of performance here in the library. Does anyone have any suggestions about what might be cool?
For teen programming in particular, we love getting feedback from the "horse's mouth", so any suggestions you have would be great!
Thanks, Andrea.

Okay guys, I've got a fresh book for you here....I had to read it for an English CPT at school, and I must say, I actually enjoyed this one, which is exceptionally amazing considering it was, as I said, a book that had to be read for school....

Esther
Sharon E. McKay
314 pages

Esther is a Jewish girl who lives in France in the 1700's (sounds boring, I know, but just wait...it gets better). When she screws up with her family for the last time, she finds herself on her way, from one adventure to the next. These journeys eventually lead to her becoming the first Jew to step foot in New France (I'll spare you the details in fear of ruining the whole story).

Because rules were very different back then, the only way that Esther would be able to find work would be if she disguised herself as a boy. And she does so, and while the disguise works, there is one.....feminine issue....that always gets in the way.

Okay, that is all I will give away about this juicy book. At first, I wasn't too sure if i would want to read this book, seeing as it is set way back when, something that I usually am not interested in. But this one was different, and seeing as the era wasn't the main focus in the book, my interest was kept. She is constantly moving from place to place, and the whole story line was very relatable to today.

Rating: 5/5
(TOTAL COMMUNITY SERVICE: 24 HOURS)
*******CAN BE PUBLISHED IN NEWSLETTER**************

happy reading!!!*jenn_***:-)

Hello Groin! by Beth Goobie pages 278

The title tells you that this is no ordinary book.
I never like to put an age on a book but this book does deal with mature themes and situations as television advisories say.
The book revolves around one character who slowly realizes she is a lesbian.
It does deal with teenage sexuality and relationships.
I loved the book for the honesty but I felt it was unrealistic about the character coming out. Goobie might have done that on purpose but it was a little bit too much happily ever after.

Catherine

Recent Readings

Stop the Train

Historical novel based on people who move to a town to homestead and are devastated when the train refuses to stop in their town

Once by Morris Gleitzman

The story of a Jewish boy hidden by nuns who escapes to try and save his family. sad, sad book

Low by Brian Doyle

A book about a son and father who go on a vacation up in Northern Ontario, in simpler times.

The first two were great but the last one was okay. Surprisingly enough, the last one won many awards. It was not my cup of tea.

Catherine

The important discussion with no volunteer hours

I think you are the most important people in Markham. You are the future.

Mayor Scarpitti was elected last night as Markham's new mayor.

I want to know what you think is the most important issue for Markham's new government?

The other thing I want to know is what do you think is the most important issue to teens who live in Markham?

We are asking for the same information, in the branch.
In one month's time, all the results will be tabulated and forwarded to your new Mayor.

Get your friend's opinions and ideas.

Catherine

can you keep a secret?
by sophie kinsella
357 pages
9.5/10

i really enjoyed this book. there were lots of funny parts that i just had to show my friends (or whoever was sitting beside me at the time -- yes, i read in class...). i love how sophie kinsella writes. its not intense or anything, and it can be relatable. i told my language teacher i read confessions of a shopaholic, and she said she could lend me the second book, if i wanted to read it. OF COURSE I DO. ahem. anyways...

this book is about a girl named emma corrigan. her character seems much like becky from confessions of a shopaholic. ok. so she has all these secrets from everyone, like how its always her jamming the photocopier at work, how she weighs 128 pounds instead of 118 which is what her boyfriend thinks, and other stuff -- the type of secrets that dont ruin your life if their told, but totally humiliate you. all is safe until she meets a guy on the plane when shes coming back from a meeting. the plane had hit turbulance, and emma honestly thought the man sitting beside her was the last person she was ever going to see. so... she told him all her secrets. all her random little secrets that she just couldnt help spilling out. but the thing is, with a stranger, you probably tell them something but you never see them again. so thats what emma thought when getting off the plane. turns out, the guy on the plane was one of the guys who had founded the company emma works for. he comes to their office for a surprise visit, but boy is he surprised. the weird girl on the plane who had told him everything about her actually worked for him. so for the whole week, emma has to stand a huy who knows everything about her-- from how she really feels about her boyfriend, to her weight, and how she finds g - strings uncomfortable, but wears them anyway (yes, g - strings).

and if you think that it couldnt be any worse, it gets worse. i was reading all through math today, and the guy beside me was like "stop reading!" and i was like "no!" and later on, he leaned in, and he was like, "is it really that good?" but obviously i turn the book away from him -- i mean, its a sophie kinsella book. anything could be in it.

there was quite a lot of swearing in it -- but think about it. its sophie kinsella. gosh, the more i say kinsella, the more weird it sounds...
kinsella kinsella kinsella kinsella kinsella kinsella ...

would have been 39 hours
can be published in a teen newsletter
gosh! i cant get rid on the itallics!!!! ah!!

The Clique
By: Lisi Harrison
Pages: 222

This is the first book in the Clique series. Massie Block is the leader of the 7th grade most popular and exclusive clique at the Octavian County (all girl) School. Stylish brands and being rich are essential to surviving in the social scene. Claire Lyons is the new girl from Florida, because of money problems, her family had moved in to Massie’s guesthouse for the moment (since their fathers are friends). She is clearly not Clique material, but she strives to be accepted by Massie and her friends. As the story unravels, Claire was humiliated on several occasions by the Clique in her pursuit to be one of them. Finally, Claire couldn’t put up with the cruel treatment she’s been receiving, so she hatched up a scheme to win over the Clique…

(taken from the book): The Clique…the only thing harder than getting in is staying in.

Like the shopaholic series, tons of brand names were mentioned!!! But overall, I thought it was a great book, it shows how mean girls (yup, this book would only appeal to girls…sorry guys) can really get and what others would do to be popular. In our society today, I wonder if this scenario really does exist…at least maybe not to the point of designer wears is a “must”.
Rating: 8/10

s.t.e.p.h.i.e.

Volunteer hours: 3 (total – 19 ½)