Craving Carvings

Cryer's Cross

Kendall Fletcher is an ordinary OCD girl living in an ordinary farm-town called Cryer's Cross. Nobody ever suspects that a student would go missing, much less two. Every school-day, Kendall gets to class early and straightens the wastebasket, checks the window locks, organizes the markers, and straightens the chairs so that everything is perfect, the only problem this year is that one seat is empty. Tiffany Quinn's seat. Luckily, the seat is filled by the new girl in town Marlena, and an extra seat added for her brother Jacian Obregon. Things go normally, and everything seems to be going normal until Kendall's boyfriend, Nico Cruz, disappears. A search is organized and they conclude the same thing that happened to Tiffany happed to Nico. Days go by, and Kendall notices on Nico's old desk something out of place. She has all the graffiti memorized, how did she not know this? Please. Save Me. She sits at the desk, touching the old looking carvings, and as she reads them Nico's voice echoes in her head. The words change day after day, always Nico saying them, always capturing her attention. When the carvings send her to the abandoned Reform School for Delinquent Boys, she digs up secrets and a history long forgotten, finds out why Nico and Tiffany disappeared, and may bring the same fate upon herself. "Thirty-five, one hundred. Thirty-five, one hundred. We cry to be touched, fear gripping Our scratchy voices."

Jonnah Smith

Teammates Matter: The True Meaning of Team

Teammates Matter was written by Alan Williams and Published in 2010. Alan Williams was a low division 1 recruited basketball player coming out of Memphis, Tennessee. Williams decided to take a walk-on position at Wake Forest University. Throughout his four years of basketball at Wake Forest, Williams overcame many obstacles that included a coaching change and his father being diagnosed with cancer that made him question "Is this really worth my time?". Williams continued to work hard and dedicate himself every year to his team and the game of basketball. Although Alan Williams only ended up playing 59 minutes in 120 games, Williams learned a valuable lesson on how to be a teammate and how special it truly is to be a part of a team. Alan Williams truly loved the game of basketball and even through tried times, found fulfillment in unexpected places. I loved this book. Throughout my years of basketball, I have truly understood what it means to be a part of a team. This book hit home with me because I too love the game just like Alan Williams does. I would reccommend this book to anyone who knows what it feels like to be a part of a team and loves the game of basketball.

By: Alex Biggerstaff

The book review of the Son of a Wanted Man

Son of a Wanted Man, written by Louis L’Amour, was published in May, 1984 by Bantam Books. The book begins with Mike Bastian as the main character. Mike was an orphan who was taken in and cared for by a man that went by the name of Ben Curry. Ben was a rancher who went to the life of an outlaw. In the book Ben taught Mike how to fight, hunt, fish, and to be very stealthy in the woods. Ben hoped Mike would take over the gang so he can leave and live a quite life somewhere else and have a family of his own. I really enjoyed this book because it had parts that had fighting and other parts were you got to know the characters better. I would recommend this book to whoever likes western thrillers or just suspenseful books.

By Zach fox

Kill or Be Killed!

The Hunger Games

The novel The Hunger Games was written by Suzanne Collins, which was published September 14, 2008. This novel is about the Capitol of Panem, where the countries of North America once existed. Every year they host an event called the Hunger Games where two tributes are chosen. One boy and one girl are chosen from each twelve districts, there is only one rule: kill or be killed.  When Primrose Everdee is chosen, her sixteen year old sister Katniss Everdee volunteers for the 74^th annual Hunger Games. Peeta Mellark was chosen from District 12 too. They will both be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives. Only one person can live!

This book was truly amazing, I absolutely loved it. I would recommend it to everyone, especially young teens. I know it’s kind of full of violence; it’s very descriptive on how the tributes die. But I think it’s something everyone would love to read. It’s a trilogy, so be sure to read the second and third book too.

By: Sierra Huges

Man's Bestfriend

Old Yeller

Fred Gipsons’ novel Old Yeller, which was released in 1956, is a joyful yet sad book about a boy named Travis and a big yellow dog. Travis and his family live in the middle of the wilderness in Texas. Following the departure of his father, Travis must hunt and farm, but most importantly protect his little brother and mother. This will prove to be very hard on young Travis, but with the help of his furry friend he will overcome enormous challenges. I am a boy so I really enjoyed this book. It had outdoor adventures and great excitement all throughout. There is nothing I disliked about the book; overall I would say it’s a great book. I would recommend this book to any audience looking for excitement, but at the same time a little heartbreak. Young teenage boys would really enjoy this book.

By: Spencer Bishop

                      The  Girlfriend

The Girlfriend by R.L Stine was released in 1991.

              

The girlfriend is a story about a guy named Scotty; he is a guy that has the perfect girlfriend, Lora. Lora has to go to Paris with her family and leaves Scotty. Scotty then meets a girl named Shannon. Shannon, a redhead, is always threatening Scotty that if he leaves her, she will kill him. Scotty is now living a nightmare.

I liked how the author ended the chapter; he ended almost every chapter with suspense. It made the reader want to keep reading more. I liked how Scotty, the main character, told the story. I liked everything about this book.

I would definitely recommend this book to people who like scary books and people who like suspense.

By: Bety Sanchez

The New Moon Rises Through the Twilight

New Moon by Stephanie Meyer, the second novel in the Twilight Series, was published on August 21st, 2006.  New Moon is one of the four romantic novels in the series.  The novel tells the story about the dramatic lives of the three main teenagers, Bella Swan (human), Edward Cullen (vampire), and Jacob Black (werewolf).

Edward and Bella continue to form their undeniable bond between each other until a near death experience almost takes Bella away from Edward forever.  In desperation, Edward makes some harsh decisions that affect Bella in a way that was unimaginable to her friends and family.  Bella, after the threat of being shipped to live with her mother, finds an old friend.  Bella and her old friend, Jacob Black, find a spark in their friendship; however, Bella discovers a part of Jacob’s life that she never expected.

Soon a misunderstanding brings one of the Cullen family members to Bella’s home.  Bella, in a desperate race against time, fights to save her true love, Edward, and protect her friendship with Jacob.  What is the news that will turn two families upside down? What happens to Bella and Edward?  Will Bella and Jacob remain friends? It is only a matter of time before the “new moon” rises! 

            This novel’s stunning imagery and teen drama make this novel a favorite with female teenagers all around the world. New Moon will capture the hearts and minds of millions through Bella’s frantic struggle with heartbreak. Females can related to the devastating heartbreak that Bella feels.  In addition, readers will be undeniably hooked to the realistic qualities of this vampire love story.  

 

By: Whitney Bowers 

A Different Kind of Love!

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks was published in 1996. The Notebook starts out with an elderly man, Noah Calhoun, talking about the life he has lived. Now he lives in a rest home and is very good friends with an elderly woman who he reads to daily. The elderly lady has Alzheimer's and Noah is determined that by reading to her he will help her over come this terrible disease. The story that Noah reads is about a southern solider that has came back to his home town and is restoring an old plantation. This young man begins thinking about a young lady that he was once in love with and how he would love to meet her again.

Allie Nelson, a now engaged young woman takes a brief vacation back to her hometown to get away from the rush and fuss of the city and workplace. Then one day she bumps into Noah, her old high school boyfriend and lifetime love. By seeing Noah for the first time in years she begins to realize that she doesn’t love her fiancé as much as she thought she did. But soon she would find out that on this brief vacation she begins a journey that she would find her future.

This book is a wonderful love story; Nicholas Sparks is a wonderful romantic novelist and really knows how to bring out the loving yet conflicted side of each character. In the Notebook the characters are well rounded and you feel like you have known them your whole life. The plot is in the coastal part of North Carolina in the 1940’s, so you can relate to it and how the characters act to the different situations.

The Notebook is a great book that is for almost all ages, from teenagers to older men and women. It has a great story line and wonderful characters that just come alive. This story is very heart touching and funny, and I would recommend it to anybody that loves romantic novels but also does not mind to cry every once in a while. This book is one of the best I books I have ever read.

By: Olivia Barnett

What Secerts Will Be Exposed This Time?

The Betrayal

       The Betrayal published in 2003 by Beverly Lewis is the second book in the “Abram’s Daughters” set.  When Leah Ebersol gets engaged to her childhood beau Jonas Mast, her father is less than thrilled. He has always wanted Leah to marry there neighbor and friend Gideon Peachery or for short Smithy Gid.  When a deep dark secret about their aunt Lizzie comes out will it tear Leah and Jonas apart or will they have a stronger relationship because of it? When Jonas gets an offer of a carpentry appertenship in Ohio will the hundreds of miles between them tear them apart or is someone trying to tear them apart. Find out for yourself. Read the book.

            I love this book. It is the best one in this set so far. I would recommend this to anyone who likes mysteries or romance.

Evil Among Us

Miranda Twiss’s Novel The Most Evil Men and Women in History, which was published in 2002, describes the personal and political lives of those people considered by society as the most evil people in history some of the people discussed in the book include Adolf Hitler and Attila The Hun.

The book is well written and very vividly describes the actions and lives of the world’s most evil people. The author does an excellent job of describing the childhood and adolescent years of these people, which I believe permits the reader to analyze the book in a way that allows them to determine whether or not these people were all mentally ill or fueled to commit these evil acts by greed, corruption and power.

I believe this to be a very good book and would recommend it to anyone interested in understanding the mental inner workings of the most evil people in history.