The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 

The story is narrated by a sixteen-year-old thyroid cancer patient named Hazel Grace Lancaster, who is forced by her parents to attend a support group where she meets and falls in love with the seventeen-year-old Augustus Waters, an ex- basketball player and amputee. Augustus is at the meeting to support his friend, Isaac, who is losing his remaining eye to cancer. The two bond immediately after the meeting and Augustus invites Hazel to his house where the two strengthen their bond over a movie and their experiences with cancer. Before departing, the two agree to read each other's favorite novels. Augustus gives Hazel The Price of Dawn, and Hazel recommends An Imperial Affliction, a novel written by Peter Van Houten about a cancer-stricken girl named Anna that parallels Hazel's own experience. After Augustus finishes reading her book, he is frustrated upon learning that the novel ends without a conclusion. 

A week later, Augustus reveals to Hazel that he has tracked down Van Houten's assistant, Lidewij, and, through her, has managed to start an e-mail correspondence with Van Houten. Hazel writes to Van Houten with questions regarding the novel's ambiguous ending and the fate of the mother of Anna. Van Houten eventually replies, explaining that he can only answer Hazel's questions in person. Hazel proposes the trip to her mother but is rejected due to financial and medical constraints. Later, at a Dutch-themed picnic, Augustus surprises Hazel with tickets to Amsterdam, attained through a charitable foundation and then realizes she loves him. Will Hazel confess her feelings to Augustus or will it be to late for the both of them. 

This book is probably the most famous teen adult romance books ever published and is one of the best. I love this book because I can relate to some characters. Someone in my family has just been diagnosed with cancer but its good that its so terminal or in any form aggressive. I loved the romance Hazel and Augustus go trough its somewhat magical but tragic at the same time. I would give this book a good 4 and a half. The reason why I wouldn't give it 5 stars is because I feel like its like a boy meets girl kind of romance that you would usually see in books or movies. I recommend this book to people 13 and up. 

 Movie Trailer

True Believer by Nicholas Sparks

True Believer By Nicholas Sparks 

The book begins with Jeremy Marsh as an audience member on a TV talk show.

It turns out that Jeremy is an investigative journalist, writing for Scientific America magazine. He's about to expose this nationally known clairvoyant on TV.

Next however, Jeremy is heading off to North Carolina. He received a letter from Doris, a resident of Boone Creek. The letter tells about a phenomenon at the local cemetery where mysterious lights are appearing from the tombstones. The townspeople are convinced these lights are ghosts.

Jeremy meets with Doris, owner of the small town's busy restaurant. She's a older woman and comes from a long line of psychics. Her mother could read minds and Doris is a diviner, someone who can find water before digging a well. Her main talent though is predicting the sex of babies for pregnant mothers,just by holding the mother's hand.

Doris explains to Jeremy about a legend of the graveyard,

how a curse was placed on it and the ghosts of former slaves buried there are haunting it.

Jeremy wants to learn more and Doris suggests going to the library to learn the history of the place. She tells him to ask for Lex.

Lex turns out to be Doris' granddaughter.

Lexie's parents died in a horrible automobile accident when she was very young - Doris raised her. As Jeremy does his investigating, with Lexie's help, we learn a little about each others past - the most important being that Jeremy was very happily married years earlier. His wife was perfect. They had both very much wanted to have many kids but it turns out that Jeremy was infertile. His wife divorced him because of this. Lexie is starting to worry that she and Jeremy are getting too close so she packs up and leaves for a few days. By the time she gets back she hopes that Jeremy will be gone. Jeremy must be with her and figures out that she's at an old beach house, where her parents were married. He meets her there and she realizes that she is falling in love with him. They make love and spaghetti. Jeremy is convinced he knows what is causing the lights. He is also sure that Lexie and Doris know as well. Will their relationship work out or disappear like a ghost? And will he find out the real reason where the lights are coming from? 

I really liked this book, it was strange in a good way with a little romance. I loved how the author incorporated science into the plot. I have been always curious about physics and if what they do is the real thing or not. I also felt like I related to Lexie. She is a passionate and honest person but she also runs away from the things that mean the world to her. This book does talk about mature themes like sex but this book can be read by people the ages 14 and up. I give this novel 3 stars and a half. 

 

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Giver by Lois Lowry

What if the world you're in revolves around the government and rules? 

Twelve-year-old Jonas lives in a perfect community.  At an annual ceremony, 12-year-old are assigned their careers. When the officiating Elder fails to call Jonas' name at his ceremony, he fears he's done something wrong. The Elders have saved his assignment for last because of its significance. He will be trained for a rare, honored and secretive position called the Receiver of Memory. 

Jonas meets with his new mentor, a man he calls The Giver. Jonas will take all of the older man's memories — some of which were given to him by a predecessor — and preserve these truths and experiences about which the rest of the community is oblivious. The Giver transfers his memories to Jonas by touching the boy's bare back. Jonas is thrilled to discover feelings and objects he's never known. He convinces himself that, given too many choices, people would make the wrong ones and disaster would follow.

The more Jonas understands about objects and ideas others can't see, the more isolated he feels from his community. When Jonas asks why they must retain these painful memories, The Giver explains that memories are the key to wisdom. 

Jonas' father, a Nurturer who works with newborns, brings home a failure-to-thrive baby named Gabriel. He hopes the extra attention will help the infant. If Gabriel doesn't improve, he will be released. Gabriel continues to sleep poorly, so Jonas offers to keep him in his room. When the baby fusses at night, Jonas secretly shares comforting memories that The Giver has passed on to him. These memories help Gabriel sleep soundly and begin to improve.

The Giver continues to share memories, both of intense pain — like war — and amazing warmth, which The Giver calls "love." Jonas tries to convince himself a world with love would be dangerous, but he begins to believe it might be worth the risk. 

Jonas asks what happens when someone is released. The Giver allows him to watch a tape of
the release Jonas's father performed earlier that day. Jonas is stunned as he watches his father euthanize an infant and throw away the body. Jonas tells The Giver he wants to leave the community and try to save his community. Will he survive with Gabriel or will they catch them before its too late?

The book was great, the movie not so much. They changed lots of things in the movie that were very important in the book. Anyway, I loved the book, it was fascinating and entertaining. It also includes lots of action which I really like in novels. I have always loved book that there setting was years into the future or years into the past. I like learning new things with the novels even if its fictional. I give this novel 4 stars. I recommend this book to people ages 12 and up. 

  

                                             The movie trailer 

Looking For Alaska by John Green

Looking For Alaska By John Green

"Compelling...Brilliant [and] insightful." -Chicago Tribune 

Looking for Alaska is the first young adult novel John Green has published. This novel cannot be merely written off as a typical boy-meets-girl love story, because it isn't. It's more of a story of how love isn't as it seems.

The book starts with Miles Halter mostly known as "Pudge" leaving Florida to attend a school in Alabama. He's introduced by his roommate Chip "The Colonel" Martin to beautiful, mysterious and emotionally confused Alaska Young, and the story progresses, mostly centered on Miles' life at Culver Creek and his growing attachment to Alaska. After hearing Pudge's obsessions with famous last words, Alaska informs him of Simon Balivars final words: "Damn it. How will I ever get out of this labyrinth?" Miles asks her what the labyrinth is and the two make a deal: if Pudge figures out what the labyrinth is, Alaska will arrange sex for him. On his first night at Culver Creek, trouble arises between the Weekend Warriors their enemies.

 Alaska and Pudge grow closer and he begins to fall in love with her, although she insists on keeping their relationship platonic. The Colonel and Alaska decide to pull a series a pranks in a row to intimidate the Warriors. The gang celebrates their victory by drinking and partying at the old barn by the school. During the celebration, Alaska tells her friends about her mother's death from an aneurysm when she was eight years old and Pudge thinks that's why she is emotional an closed off most times. With all this drama in their lives will Pudge be with the girl he likes or does he have to keep on looking for Alaska?

My friend gave me this book as a gift knowing that I love reading. This novel  by John Green is brilliant and suspenseful. Its the perfect read for someone who likes a bit of action, drama and love all in one. The ending shocked me the most, It was so unexpected that I got chills just reading it.  Its a heart breaking story which I don't think I will read again without tearing up. I give this book 5 stars. I absolutely loved it and anyone would love it too. I recommend this book for young adults, ages 14 and up for its language, drug use and sexual references. 

  

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

'Isaac Marion has created the most unexpected romantic lead I have ever encountered'
- Stephanie Meyer 1# New York Times Best Selling Author of the Twilight Saga

Warm Bodies By Isaac Marion

In a-post apocalyptic future a zombie named R lives in an abandoned airport near a city. He refers to himself as R because he has no relocation of his old life only his zombie one. 

In the beginning he explains his life as a zombie as he says " I am dead, but its not so bad". He also explains how they are separated into two groups the Fleshies, the Dead who still have flesh on them, and the Boneys, the Dead who have been reduced to nothing more than skeletons with bits of muscle keeping them together. The Boneys are basically the leaders of the Dead, and are seemingly stronger and more intelligent than the Fleshies. R is a Fleshie. What R does not like to do is go hunted for the living, but he needs too, its his only life source.

Julie, a young human girl goes into the city with her boyfriend, Perry and a couple of friends to scavenge some medical supplies and food. While packing supplies into bags they hear sounds and soon after a group of zombies come in and attack. R is one of those zombies. R, while hunting gets distracted by Julie and soon gets shot by Perry. R enraged by being attacked soon kills Perry and starts eating his brain but not all of it, he stores his food because when eating someones brain you get memories, the only sort of dreams for the living dead. Everyone is killed exempt for Julie and her best friend Nora, Nora is in hiding but Julie was not so lucky.   

After killing Perry, R sees Julie all distressed and panicked thinking she is going to die, but R gives pity on the human and saves her. He approaches her and masked her scent with blood of the dead so the other zombies don't know she is a human. He takes her into hiding and keeps her safe. They soon get to know each other and it seems like a strange romance is blooming. But in this society where each other is killed for being who they are will their relationship survive or will they be separated by their two worlds.       

This book is probably one the most interesting books I have ever read. It really demonstrates that no matter who you are love is possible. Its also strange for me because I have never read about a zombie falling in love with a human before or vise versa. I actually loved this book because it has comedy, action and romance all in one. Its the perfect package in book. I have had a bit of doubt about this book but I was glad I actually took the time to read it and love it. This book is a bit gory with all the eating humans and stuff but its great for kids 12 and up. I give this book 4 and a half stars.   

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

 To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Harper Lee's coming-of-age tale, To Kill a Mockingbird, is set in the Deep South, and is told through the eyes of a little girl named Jean Louis Finch, commonly known as Scout. To Kill a Mockingbird is both a brilliant rendering of a specific time and place as well as a universal tale of how understanding can triumph over old and evil mindsets.

Scout Finch lives with her father, a lawyer and a widow and her brother Jem. The first part of the novel explains Jem and Scout having fun, meeting new people and learning about a shadowing figure by the name of Boo Radley who lives in the neighboring house and is never seen. A number of bad rumors surround this man (he is rumored to be a runaway murderer, who steals children), but their fair-minded father warns them that they should try to see the world from the other people's perspectives and not judge people from rumors. 

Another plot line involves a young black man by the name of Tom Robinson who is accused of raping a white girl. Atticus, Scouts father takes on the case despite the largely white racist townsfolk. Given the cold shoulder by the white community, the Finch's are welcomed into the black community and Scout is amazed by the happy community despite being poor. When the time of the trial comes round, Atticus proves that the girl that Tom Robinson is accused of raping actually seduced him, and that the injuries to her face were caused by her father. 

Anyway, even with all the compelling evidence against the girl, Tom Robinson was convicted and put in jail because of the large white jury who only believe what the white say. Later on in the novel Tom believes there is no hope and the only way to get to his family is to escape but he caught and killed. 

What will happen to the Finch's family now? What about the Robinson family? Will there any be hope for the black community? Find out in To Kill a Mockingbird.  

Okay, to be honest it was not one of my favorite books I have read. But it was good. I loved to story behind it, it was depressing but captivating at the same time. In the novel I thought that the white jury will have a change of mind and say that Tom Robinson was not guilty but things seem to have taken a turn for the worst in this novel. Anyways, this book demonstrates how far people will go to make someone feel guilty in every way. I think this novel should be for teens 14 and up because there is language and violence in the book. I give this book 3 and a half stars.

 

    

The Lord of Flies by William Golding

The Lord of Flies by William Golding

What if your plane crashes on an island and the only thing keeping you alive is your humanity? Will you be saved in time or will you be taken away to the dark side.

The book represents the struggles these boys have to go through to survive the beast inside themselves.   

Lord of the Flies is a novel by William Golding, it tells the story of a plane that was shot down during a war and inside that plane was a group of English boys from ages 5-13. When landed on the island they see that it's a beautiful island filled with trees and freshwater and most of the boys are happy that they landed on the Island but other boys like Ralph's main priority is to survive and get saved. Another boy’s main priority whose name is jack is to hunt and have fun on the island. But soon the bloodlust of the hunt and the kill becomes a trigger for jack and the group of boys.

Throughout the novel you will see how the boys start to change for the worst. They are slowly turning into savages and at one point they turn into full out crazy. Most of the boys, such as Ralph, Piggy and Simon are among the few boys that remain the same. But others have lost themselves to the beast and the island. The beast is a form of savagery but the boys believe it is something on the island coming after them. Ralph who is the leader for some time tries to save them from turning into savages but it’s too late. They soon turn their back on the boys who still have a bit of humanity left. But things soon to turn for the worst when some of them soon realize who the beast truly is; themselves.  

This book is one of the most fascinating yet disturbing novels I've read. I never really wanted to read this book at first but when I started reading the chapters I was getting more into the cliffhangers and surprises throughout the book. The book has many story lines that I enjoyed, such as the rivalry between Jack and Ralph, the growing savagery and more. I give the book 5 stars. I recommend this book for ages 13 and up for the violence and language throughout the novel. I truly loved this book and I hope many others read it and enjoy it too.