Student Book Review: I Am the Messenger

This realistic fiction novel, I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak, puts a new, more down to Earth twist on guardian angels. The story is of a simple Australian bettering himself through helping others, but he doesn’t get to choose who he helps. His name is Ed; he is chosen to become a messenger. Ed is sent aces in the mail, telling him where he is needed. It is his job to find out who has to receive the news or how he is to help them. Through each ace, he gets better and learns more about himself. He learns that just because his life doesn’t seem to be going anywhere doesn’t mean it has to stay that way. He is worthy of great things.

            What I loved about this book is the well-understood struggles everyone faces in life, that there are some that can’t be fought alone. It is one of those books that take a little bit to set the scene, but afterwards, you are hooked. It had a great relaxed tone that I think anyone around the teen age years would enjoy. There is a copy in the DHS library. Go and get your message.

                                                                                                        Reviewed by Virginia G.

Student Book Review: I Am Number Four

“Protectors from another World”

Review by Joshua C.

          I AM NUMBER FOUR, by Pittacus Lore, deals with nine children from an alien race, which is known as the Loric. These nine children are sent from their home planet, Lorien, to earth in hopes to escape the evil Mogadorians. The Mogadorians are the destroyers of the Loric’s home planet. These evil creatures terrorize the universe in search of the resources to maintain their home planets life, and as they leave Lorien on the hunt for the Loric they have set their sights on a new planet, earth. The only ones that have the powers to stop the Mogadorians are the nine Loric children. These children, who are equipped with many powers, are Earth's only hope. The story is centered on one of the children in particular, Number Four, who might have the ultimate role in defeating the Mogadorians once and for all. There will be car chases, superpowers, and heated fights in I AM NUMBER FOUR, which are some of the many reasons why, as a Denton High School student, I recommend you read I AM NUMBER FOUR.

         

Book Review: Treasure Island

If you ask me which book was more suspenseful The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins or Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, I would say Treasure Island. But I didn’t expect that to be my answer before I started reading it.

Treasure Island is a classic coming-of-age story about an 11 year old boy named Jim Hawkins. The story starts with Jim at the inn that he and his mother run. A scary, drunken, pirate comes to stay at the inn. We find out this pirate is being hunted down by his ship’s crew because he took off with a treasure map that belonged to all of them. The pirate has a stroke, and Jim and his mom run off with the map seconds before the other pirates descend on their inn and start to tear it apart to find what’s rightfully theirs.

Jim turns the map in to some trustworthy town members. A few of them decide they will follow the map knowing it will lead them to a real treasure.  

This story is full of adventure, shock, deceit, betrayal and the narrowest of escapes. I never would have thought I would have become so intrigued by a story about an 11 year old boy and some pirates, but this book had me turning pages faster than The Hunger Games did. I had to know what happened next! I thought I was only reading it to keep up my literary reputation. Little did I know, it would become one of my all-time favorites.

Check this book out next time you stop by the DHS library. You won’t regret it.

                                                                                                  Reviewed by Ms. Myles

Student Book Review: The Pendragon Series

The Pendragon series by D.J MacHale is a series filled with mystery, fantasy, and an insane guy bent on destroying the universe. Bobby Pendragon is a normal thirteen-year-old, He’s good at basketball, enjoys his school, and believes kissing Courtney Chetwynde is his primary goal in life. Until his Uncle Press visits that is. His normally fun and awesome uncle informs Bobby that not only is his family gone, he also has to spend the rest of his life swinging through dimensions on wormholes called “flumes”. All in all, not a typical visit from family. Now on a desperate chase to protect the many dimensions, Bobby’s only way to record all that is happening to him is to write it down and send it to his best friend Mark and Courtney through inter-dimensional rings. For those who have finished the Harry Potter series and are looking for another fantastic character to follow, the Pendragon series is right for you.

Go pick it up now at the DHS library.

                                                                                                        Reviewed by Troy B.

Student Book Review: New Moon

New Moon is one of the continuing of The Twilight Series. Bella Swan's unusual life in Forks, Washington becomes ever more unusual. When her vampire boyfriend, Edward, suddenly leaves, Bella is heartbroken in a way only a teenager can be, leaving time on her hands to develop a friendship with Jacob Black, another boy with a strange family background. But it also gives Jacob the chance to really get close to her and finally get his chance to try and convince Bella that Edward is bad for her.

But little does Jacob know, Bella is hearing Edward’s voice when she is in danger, so she goes out of her way to take risks so she’ll hear him berating her for being stupid. It’s the sort of desperate, idiotic move someone would make if they were 17 and thought it was the only way to reconnect with their loved one. This is where Jacob Black comes in. Bella initially uses him to get into riskier behavior but his genuine friendship starts to bring her relief from her bereavement and starts a little love interest which confuses her on who she loves or even wants to be with.

For information about this book please go to Denton High School library or watch the movie trailer below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYBF3HKzrmE&feature=share&list=PL41BD206FEF9DB226 New Moon Movie Trailer - Official (HD) - YouTube

                                                                                                Reviewed by She'Keya P.

Student Book Review: Gym Candy



Images from http://www.amazon.com/Gym-Candy-Carl-Deuker/dp/B008KUDC16/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1368108859&sr=8-2&keywords=gym+candy



GYM CANDY by CARL DEUKER

When sixteen year old Mick Johnson gets stopped on the one yard line at the end of the most important game of the season, he realizes that the normal offseason workouts weren’t enough to make him stronger. Mick joins a gym that’s sponsored by his dad’s radio station where his trainer offers him a deal that could make or break Mick. If you’re looking for a suspenseful thrill ride about a teenage football player then Gym Candy is a book for you! I enjoyed it very much and found situations in this book that were easy to relate to.  I definitely recommend it to any teenager! Check it out at the DHS library.

                                                             Reviewed by a DHS student

Student Book Review: Lock and Key

                                   Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

It all begins with a young 17 year old girl named Ruby who gets abandoned by her mother before her birthday. Ruby lives in the filthy bug infested house in the hopes that her mother will return for her. She continues to live there while trying to not cause attention to the fact that she’s living in a house without parents since she’s underage. Soon enough a social worker finds out about how Ruby’s living and sends Ruby to live with her sister Cora, whom she hasn’t communicated with for 10 years. Cora now has a good life; she’s a lawyer married to an entrepreneur. Although Ruby is not allowed to go back to her old home she continues to wear her key around her neck just to remember her life before joining her sister’s. After getting used to being in the new environment she begins to lower her walls and starts making friends. Later she meets a boy named Nate, who is her neighbor. Ruby begins to like him despite how perfect Nate’s life seems. She later begins to unravel things that help her discover Nate’s life and hers aren’t as different as she thought.

            This book is such a good book and I enjoyed it very much. It’s heart-warming at times and you’re able to get into it and think about how you’d feel in Ruby’s situation and even in Nate’s situation. Overall it’s a book that I could stick to and finish reading in one day. I highly recommend you go to your nearest library DHS students because you’ll fall in love with the characters and hold sympathy for them just as I did.

Click here to view a book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTsBv6qKclA

                                                                                         Reviewed by Brenda P.

Check out the Denton Public Library

The DHS library will be closed over the summer, but that doesn't mean that you have to stop reading!

The Denton Public Library will be open all summer, and library cards are free!  The public library has a great selection of teen books, manga, audio books, e-books, music cds, and dvds. 

There are three locations across Denton. Find out which one is closest to you and start reading!

Check out their website for more information:

www.dentonlibrary.com

It's the End of the Year!

Don't forget to turn in all your books by May 23rd! You may continue to check out books until that date.


Make sure you pay off all fines before the end of the school year so you can recieve your transcripts!

Book Review: A Bride's Story

A Bride's Story by Kaoru Mori

*A YALSA Great Graphic Novel for Teens 2012*

I was first drawn to this book by the absolutely stunning artwork.  Mori is such a talented artist.  I was amazed by the detials she was able to put into the clothing and landscapes.

A Bride's Story is a historical fiction manga, set in the early 1800s on the central Asian silk road.  Amira is a 20 year old girl who has recently been given in marriage to a boy 8 years her junior.  While this may sound awkward to our modern ears, his maturity and leadership  make it believable.  Amira is a super cool chick who is an expert horsewoman, can shoot a hawk out of the sky with her bow and arrow, and is generally just the nicest person around.  When her old family decides they need her back so she can be married off to a more politically affluent family, her new family and town rally for a big throwdown.  Dotted with little day to day experiences of life during this time period, I found myself entranced by the characters and the lifestyle.  The character of Mr. Smith, an Englishman living in the area in order to conduct research, helps give clarity on certain cultural habits and beliefs. 

Romance, cool horsebackriding, great fights, and some awesome shots with a bow make this a great read.  It's worth it just for the illustrations! 

New Graphic Novels!

We have recently received a bunch of new graphic novel titles, including:


Blue Exorcist # 8
Vampire Knight # 2,3,4,5,6
Black Cat # 7, 9, 10
Full Metal Alchemist # 21, 22, 23, 24, 25




 




Bride's Story



















The Plague Ships


Batman: Earth One




Dear Creature


The Girl Who Owned a City


Rust: Visitor in the Field



Justice League: Origin (Volume 1)


The Red Ruby


Clockwork Angel (Infernal Devices #1)


The Kite Runner


Come check them out!

New Books for April!

A new shipment of books is here! 

Come check them out!

It's here!  Clockwork Princess is the third installment of the wildly popular Infernal Devices series. 

Mortmain needs only one last piece to use the infernal devices to take over London, and that is Tessa Gray. Tessa realizes that the only person who can saver her from his evil grip is herself, but is she strong enough?  Find this book in the SHOWCASE area.

In this collection of short stories, you will find everything from the mythical to modern science fiction.  Along the way you may meet some trolls, an undead dog, and a very alien cat.

Fia and Annie are sisters with extraordinary powers, trapped by an organization that wants to use them for corporate espionage. Dark intrigue, sharp witty dialogue, and a kick-tail main character make this book worth every page.

It’s 1950 in the New Orleans French Quarter.  The daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie longs for a way out.  She dreams of entrance into an elite college, one that will allow her to make her own way in the world.  But when a mysterious murder takes place, she is torn between leaving behind all she has known and staying to seek out the truth.

When JD returns from a stint “upstate”, he find that his mom has a adopted an abused Rottweiler named Rotten.  Both damaged and hurting, JD and Rotten slowly begin to trust one another. When Rotten is threatened, JD will risk everything to save him

Celia starts high school with a  thirst for revenge against Sandy Firestone, the girl who did the unspeakable last year.  Then she meets Drake, who trusts her with his deepest secret.  Now she must choose which is sweeter, revenge or friendship.

This collection of sketches and personal reflections show the inner workings of award-winning author and illustrator Shaun Tan.  Both strange and familiar, Tan’s work is captivating and otherworldly. 

Francisco, straight-A student and star basketball player from the barrio, earns a full scholarship to an elite boarding school.  At the dorms, everyone assumes that he was in a gang, dealt drugs, and worse.  He doesn’t fit in at home anymore either, now that he’s become a big shot private school boy.  Stuck between two worlds, not belonging to either, Francisco must learn to figure out who he really is.

Your brain has been taken hostage by the very food you eat.  This book takes a look at how the fat, sugar, and salt in our food is taking control of the decisions you make.

 

It’s 1996 and Emma has just gotten her first computer.  But when Josh loads AOL for her, a website called Facebook comes up. Emma and Josh can suddenly see their lives, 15 years in the future, and its not what they expected. 

And check out our newest additions to our Stephen King collection!

Book Review: The Raven Boys

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stievfater

Blue has always been told one thing, that if she kisses her true love, he'll die.  Raised in a family of psychics, Blue herself doesn't seem to have any powers herself. That is, until she sees the spirit of a boy named Gansey on the corpse road.  There are only two reasons why Blue would see a spirit on the corpse road, either he's her true love, or he's going to die within the year. 

On the other side of town live four boys who attend the local rich boy school of Aglionby, but really spend their time pursuing a lost and buried king, as ancient as Arthur. 

I wasn't sure if this book was going to be realistic fiction, fantasy, romance or supernatural.  It ended up being a little bit of everything.  One word to describe this book?  Eerie.  And super cool.  Okay, that's four words, but it was. Full of spinetingling secrets and slowly unfolding mysteries, Raven Boys was hard to put down.    Maggie Stievfater is an expert at casting a mood, sinking you deep into the emotion of the characters and the giving the reader a sense of place.  Like Mark Zusak's The Book Thief, Steivfater offers tiny pieces of the story at a time, waiting until the very end to tie it all together in a black lace ribbon.

This is the first book in a trilogy, but unlike some other books in a series, Raven Boys doesn't leave you hanging at the end.  Well, there's definitely some unresolved questions, but no worries. There is enough sense of closure to give you patience for the next book.

Book Review: What's Left of Me

What's Left of Me
by Katy Zhang

Like everyone else begins life, Addie and Eva are two souls, born into the same body.  They take turns controlling their movements, learning how to speak, dance, live.  But soon the whispers start.  Why are they settling?  Most people lose one of their souls at a young age, the dominant soul taking complete control as the recessive soul quietly slips away.  So why is Eva still around?  And how can they keep it a secret?  Because if anyone finds out that Eva is still a part of Addie, they'll be taken away.  From her family, her friends, to a place of uncertain location and even more uncertain consequences.

This book was amazing!  It reads like other popular dystopian fiction (Delirium, Legend, etc), but the world is clearly present day and looks almost exactly like our own.  Life exists for the characters much as it does for the reader.  The story is told in first person, from Eva's viewpoint.  But while she is the center of her own story, she is not the person making the decisions for her life. What impressed me most about this book is the pacing.  Kat Zhang manages to mix just the right amount of action, heartbreak, and suspense with just a splash or romance.  The book raises some great questions.  What makes a person a person?  What does it mean to sacrifice for the common good?  What is the "common good"? How do you fall in love with a boy if there are two completely different people living inside one body?

What's even more incredible about this book is that it was written by a high schooler!  That's right.  A high schooler who was finishing this book while she was supposed to be studying for her IB exams.  This girl must never have slept, but it paid off.  This book is refreshing, fast paced, exciting, and just stinkin' cool.  I can't wait for the next one.

Check out the author's page for the book trailer and more here.

And the winner is....

Hanna H.!  Congrats Hanna for winning the Famous First Lines contest!

The answer to Thursday's question was Twilight by Stephanie Meyer.

Thanks to everyone who played!  Don't forget to come back to the blog to read about the latest books, fun events, and more!

Famous First Lines: Thursday

Yesterday's title was The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis. Today's first line is...

"I'd never given much thought to how I would die - though I'd had reason enough in the last few months - but even if I had, I would not have imagined it like this."

Hint: This line comes from the preface of the book, and also happens to be a very popular movie.

Famous First Lines: Wednesday

Tuesday's answer was Scorpio Races by Maggie Stievfater!  Today's first line is....

"There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it."

Know what book this comes from?  Post a comment below (with your student ID) or drop off your answer at the library!

Remember, you can use any resource to find the answer! Ask your friends, ask a teacher, find it on Google!

Famous First Lines: Tuesday

Monday's answer was Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen!  Today's new first line is....

"It is the first day of November, and so, today, someone will die."

Write the title of the book and your student ID number in a comment below OR submit your answer at the library!

Don't forget-you can use any tools you want to find the answer! Ask a friend, ask a teacher, or Google it!

Famous First Lines: Monday

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."

You can submit your answer two ways:

Reply to this post with a comment containing the book title and your student ID # ( no names please).

OR

Come by the library and put your answer in the purple box at the front desk.

Don't forget-you can use any tools you want to find the answer! Ask a friend, ask a teacher, or Google it!

WIN A BARNES AND NOBLE GIFT CARD!

Think you know your books?

Join in on this fun contest and you could win a $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble!!!!  Here's how to play:

1.  Come to the blog every day during the week from  March 4th to March 7th.

2.  Read the "famous first line" for that day and see if you can guess what book it's from.  First lines will be chosen from books that are very well known or are very popular.

3.  If you think you know the answer, write the title of the book and your student ID number (NOT your name) in a comment on the blog or stop by the library to submit your answer.

You MUST submit your answer the same day that the first line is posted.  (For example, answers given on Tuesday for Monday's first line won't count).  Only one answer per student per day will be counted. 

We will randomly pull one winner's name out of the week's correct answers.  The more first lines you guess correctly, the better your chances of winning!

We will announce the winner over the announcements and on the blog Friday morning. 



Book Review: Death Cloud

Death Cloud by Andrew Lane

(Sherlock Holmes, the Legend Begins)

http://www.amazon.com/Death-Cloud-Sherlock-Holmes-ebook/dp/B004EPYWKG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1361993144&sr=8-2&keywords=death+cloud

Sherlock Holmes, the famous consulting detective, is one of the most famous literary characters out there.  There have been countless movies, tv shows (including my personal fav, Sherlock), and book series spin-offs.  What makes this book different is that it is the first Sherlock book actually endorsed by the family of Sir Aurthur Conan Doyle (the man who wrote the original Sherlock Holmes books). 

Young Sherlock Holmes, only 17 and shipped off to live with an estranged aunt and uncle for the summer, expects to spend the next few months bored and lonely. Instead, he finds himself smack in the middle of a murder most mysterious. Two men are found covered with sores and a strange yellow powder.  As they lay dying, a black cloud leaves their bodies, a cloud that seems to have a mind of its own.  With the help of his new friend Matty, an orphan who lives on the canals, and Virginia, the attractive and spunky daughter of his tutor, Sherlock learns to put the pieces together and use his blossoming powers of deduction to solve the riddle.

There is plenty of action and suspense in this book.  In the midst of fistfights, gunshots, and narrow escapes, we meet a Sherlock who we easily see becoming the hero we know today.  Mix in a very creepy villian and you have a story that's definitely a page turner. 

If you like it, check out the sequel, Rebel Fire!

Book Review: The Inferno

The Inferno by Dante Alighieri



http://www.amazon.com/Dantes-Inferno-Classic-Collections-ebook/dp/B002MPPU38/ref=sr_1_6?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1361993390&sr=1-6&keywords=dantes+inferno

The book The Inferno was written by Dante Alighieri.  This book is about a man going to hell just so he can be with the one he loves, Beatrice.  In this book it describes the intense challenges he must face and all the punishments of this horrible world.  He must go through all of the nine circles of hell to get to Beatrice.  The first circle is limbo where everyone goes to be told what circle they are going to go to.  The second circle is for the lustful, the third for gluttons, fourth for hoarders, and the fifth is for the wrathful, which is one of the worst.  Level six is for all the heretics who believe in another god.  Level seven is for the violent, those who will cause harm to anything for any purpose.  Level eight is for those who committed fraud.  Nine is for the traitors who are considered the worst of all since they turned their backs on those who believed in them.  This is where Satan himself watches over the people as they drown in their own crimes.  Dante must convince the devil to free Beatrice.

This book was full of detail, a great book and one of my favorites!

                                                                                            Reviewed by Kobe Z.

                                                                                             (a DHS student)

Book Review: Chinese Cinderella

Chinese Cinderella  by Adeline Yen May

http://www.amazon.com/Chinese-Cinderella-Unwanted-Daughter-ebook/dp/B0028MBKRK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1361993559&sr=1-1&keywords=chinese+cinderella

In this true story, The Chinese Cinderella follows the story of Adeline, a girl who becomes bad luck after her mother dies during her childbirth.  She works hard at being good at school even though she is unwanted by her own family.  When her stepmother takes over, the times just get worse for her, but she still tries her best at school.

The book really talks to kids about what it's like to be an unwanted child, but still do their best at at school.  It teaches lessons about the kids with bad luck and also tells you that you can still make good choices and be a success even if bad things are happening to you.  I think you should read this book.  This book got me thinkig about being thankful for the parent that really loves their child.

                                                                                           Reviewed by Sion L.

                                                                                            (a DHS student)