If A Tree Falls At Lunch Period by Gennifer Choldenko

Hello classmates, today I am going to be encouraging you to read the book, If A Tree Falls At Lunch Period. This fabulous book is by: Gennifer Choldenko. I think everyone should read this book because it is an awesome book. It is about how these two kids Kristin and Walk. They meet up on the first day of school, and right away they are best friends. They get in trouble together, learn together, and laugh together! But there’s a secret Kristin is leaving out. Could it ruin Walk and Kristin’s friendship? Read to find out what might happen.

A quote from this book was, “If you don’t like the way the world is you have an obligation to change it, you just have to do it one step at a time.” This quote was written by: Marian Wright Edelman.

The recommended reading age is 12 and up. This book has not won any awards. If you liked the book, Al Capone Does My Shirts. Then you’ll sure love this book!

Recommended by Lisa Schroeder

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Good morning classmates! Today I will be talking to you about the book Beauty Queens by Libba Bray. I believe any girl in her right mind should love this book. This 400 page book is laugh out loud hilarious! You won’t believe some of the things the girls come up with. It all starts out with a plane full of Miss Teen Dream Contestants crashes into a unknown island. When the girls wake up they realize there is very few girls alive. After a few days of not being rescued the Miss Texas decides that the girls need to stop wallowing around in their own misery. Eventually and after very many mishaps the girls make the island into their own paradise. Everything going just swell. Until.... one day Miss Texas runs out of the jungle and shouts out, “Danger,” then drops to the ground. What will happen to Miss Texas? What secrets is the island holding? What secrets are the girls holding?

This book is appropriate for ages 12 and up and was published in May of 2011. The Washington Post says- The snappy dialogue, plot surprises, and strut-their-stuff characters lend a playful but no less profound tone to Bray’s theme of self empowerment. Libba Bray has also wrote the Gemma Doyle trilogy and Going Bovine which has received the Prinz award.

Here is one of my favorite parts of the book. “Ohmigosh. No food at all.” Tiara sank down on the sand as if the full weight of the predicament had hit her. She blinked back tears. And then the megawatt smile that belonged on cereal boxes across the nation reappeared. “I am going to be so superskinny by pagent time!”

I highly recommend this book. It is a must read for any girl who just wants a fun book. What will happen to Miss Texas? What secrets is the island holding? What secrets are the girls holding?

Recommended by Megan Stecklein

The Iliad by Homer

I read the book The Iliad , by Homer. He also has written the Odyssey. The recommended age is adult. This book is a master piece in literature. Homer’s unique writing style and his masterful craft for telling stories is remarkable. “ The Iliad is a classic tale of intrigue. The poet tells the great story of troy and it’s downfall.” said by unknown reader at borders website. The Argrives have traveled along way away to rescue Helen. An all out war is about to break lose between them and the Trojans. All because of one single woman. The war will lose countless lives and families will be ruined. So read to find out if this war will brake lose.

Recommended by Johnny Molony

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

I’m reading Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. Everything is different for Katniss Everdeen and Petta Malark since they won the hunger games. Her best friend is now a stranger. District 12’s new head peacekeeper has changed everything for worse. Whippings are now regular and the peacekeepers are in forcing the rules to a harsh standard. Even the president wants her head and new talks of uprisings in the districts has only made it worse. Katniss has only the winners tour to convince the world that she is madly in love with Petta or else she could her kiss her life and her family good bye. After all else fails. The president has something else planned for her. A task thought she would never have to do again. “In honor of the quarter quill victors from each district will play. Showing that even the strongest districts is nothing compared to the capitols power. They have to back to the arena”. That makes the old one seem like child’s play. With fiercer competitors and a stage that has the most horrifying traps planned for them. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good book with a twist in every chapter. New York times magazine says, “Collins has done that rare thing. She has written a sequel that improves upon the first book”.

Recommended by Johnny Molony

The Hate List by Jennifer Brown

I read Hate List by Jennifer Brown. It is about a girl named Valerie Leftman, a girl whose boyfriend was the shooter in a school shooting. He killed people from his and Valerie’s hate list, and then killed himself. Valerie didn’t know he was planning this, even though all the signs were there. She tried to stop him, and ended up getting shot in the leg trying to save someone who had teased her for years, and was on her hate list. Everyone reacted differently. Some people believed she was a hero, and other people believe that the shooting was all her idea. Either way, going back to school to finish her senior year is one of the hardest things she’s ever had to do. She will have to deal with her relationships with her family, former friends, and Jessica, the girl whose life she saved. Because of Valerie’s family problems, she has to deal with many of these issues only with the help of Dr. Hieler, her therapist. Dr. Hieler is one of my favorite characters in the book because he truly cares about Valerie. This book is about Valerie’s journey through this tragedy. Will Valerie ever move on with her life? Will she mend her relationships? Read to find out.
School Library Journal recommends this book for grade 8 and up, and that it is, "Startling, powerful, and poignant." Publishers Weekly says, "[A] riveting debut." I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in this topic.

Recommended by Anne Marie Greenwood

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

I read the book The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. This book is about 14 year old Susie Salmon, who has been killed. Susie narrates the book from heaven. It tells the story of how her death affected friends, family, and neighbors. Susie knows who killed her, but will her family ever find out?
Aimee Bender, author of An Invisible Sign of My Own, says, “The Lovely Bones is the kind of novel that, once you’re done, you may go visit while wandering through a bookstore and touch on the binding, just to remember the emotions you felt while reading it. Intensely wise and gorgeously written, The Lovely Bones is a heartbreaking page-turner. I envy the reader who is about to jump into the world of Susie Salmon and her incredible family.”
I would recommend this book to you if you like creepy and sorrowful books. With many twists, this book will keep you reading.

Recommended by Anne Marie Greenwood

I read the book The Lovely Bones by: Alice Sebold. It is about a girl named Susie Salmon who was murdered by a man named Mr. Harvey. She is telling her gruesome tale from her own place in heaven. An unknown reviewer on Amazon.com said, “The Lovely Bones is one of those books you can pick up and not want to put down again until you finish. At roughly 325 pages, this novel demands to be read on a plane, or on the beach, or when you have good chunks of time available to sit with it. Don't frustrate yourself by allowing a half hour here and there.This is one book that deserves its spot on the bestseller list.” My favorite line of the book is, “My name is Salmon, Susie Salmon. Like the fish.” and “Ways to kill a person is an old joke in heaven. I always chose the icicle because your weapon melts away.” The recommended reading age is: Teens-Young Adults.

Recommended by Lisa Greenwood

The Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

The Uglies By Scott Westerfeld was a pretty good book, except for the beginning was boring. If you are a type of person that like the suspense to build up, then you should definately read this book. I will read the back.

“Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license -- for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there.

But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world -- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all.”

Will Tally ever turn pretty? Shay runs away, and makes Tally have to decide to turn on her friend, or never become pretty at all. This book is for a young adult, like us! I would suggest this book because it keeps you interesting after a rough spot in the first chapter or so, and because the ending of this book is very very good.

Recommended by Cole Otting