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.

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! 

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.

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: Wrapped

http://www.amazon.com/Wrapped-ebook/dp/B003V1WXCI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1361993713&sr=1-1&keywords=wrapped+bradbury

Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury

Agnes is about to make her debut in Regency society as the beautiful, wealthy daughter of an aristocrat.  She has even caught the eye of the dashing and powerful Lord Sherwalter, the dreamboat hunk of the neighborhood.  Her life seems perfectly planned out for her, but Agnes isn't quite satisfied.  She longs for adventure and travel before she resignes herself to a life of marriage and duties at home. 

When she finds a mysterious object hidden in the wrappings of a mummy during an "unwrapping party", she suddenly finds herself in the middle of a consipracy that could change her life and the fate of England forever.

Start with some fancy dress balls, add some action and espionage and throw in a mummy's curse and you've got a thrilling ride that makes for great storytelling. Agnes is intellient, funny, and not afraid to do what's right, even if it means personal danger to herself.  While the ending is a bit predictable, the suspense and great characters make it worth the read.

A sequel is planned for the summer of 2014, but you can read this book without fear of the dreaded cliffhanger.  Bradbury wraps up her story with enough closure to leave you feeling satisfied, but looking forward for more!

Book Review: 13 Reasons Why

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher

http://www.amazon.com/Thirteen-Reasons-Why-ebook/dp/B0054R6BFM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1361993771&sr=1-1&keywords=13+reasons+why

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a random mysterious box laying on his porch with his name on it.  He later finds several cassette tapes recorded by his classmate and crush, Hannah Baker, who recently committed suicide.  As he listens to the tapes, Hannah explains 13 reasons why she decided to end her life.  Clay finds out that he was a reason.  If he listens to all 13 he'll find out why.  If he is one of the reasons, who else is going to get one of these packages?

This book is one of my all time favorites and probably always will be.  For me, reading is not my favorite thing to do.  I will not read a book unless the first page grabs my attention.  Well, this book will grab your attention and it will keep you wondering until you finish the whole book.  If I were you, this book would be my number one read.  Maybe some of you can relate to it.  Please check out this book from the DHS library.  I can guarantee you will enjoy it.

                                                                                    Reviewed by Kenzie D.
                                                                                     (a DHS student)

Book Review: And Then There Were None

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

http://www.amazon.com/And-Then-There-Were-None/dp/0062073486/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1361993826&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=and+then+there+were+none

Written by Agatha Christie, the queen of thriller novels, And Then There Were None simply gave me the chills whenever I read it.  Taking place on a mysterious island, this book is about ten people who all have fallen into the hands of a madman.  Each was to persecuted and murdered, one at a time, as they spent their days in fear and doubt on the island.  With an unexpected twist ending, this book will definately make you want to keep on reading and find out who is the mastermind behind all the murders.  

Check out the book right now at your library and be prepared for a thrill!

                                                                                               Reviewed by Karen N.
                                                                                                 (a DHS student)

Book Review: Hunger Games

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

A girl named Katniss will have to fight for survival for her district in an arena full of dangerous obstacles along the way.  This is what they call the Hunger Games.  Twenty-four tributes will have to fight to the death to win these games and there is no turning back.

The reason I like this book is becuase I love all the action and problesm teh protagonist has to face through the games.  Once you pick it up and start reading, you won't let it go down on something.

                                                                                             Reviewed by Alyssa N.
                                                                                             (a DHS student)

Book Review: Animal Farm

The animals are coming!  The animals are coming! 

Animal Farm by George Orwell

At Manor Farm, the animals are treated badly by the mean old Mr. Jones.  One day they fight back against Mr. Jones and take over Manor Farm, renaming it Animal Farm.  They intend to make everyone equal, but two evil pigs begin to take over the farm and create something worse.  This is the story of Animal Farm.

The story changes direction from there.  George Orwell uses the pigs to allude to the various aspects of communism.  The pigs are meant to be the leaders of Soviet Russia, and the events of the communist regime are reflected in the book.  Even events that really occurred in Soviet Russia happen in this story.

The story is very exciting and told like a kid's book.  It even has children's book illustrations to show the innocence of the story, but there are really much darker themes hidden within.  The book begins very innocently but like the animals the story gets much more mature.  Many teenagers would like this story but it is not for the faint of heart.  The pigs go around killing the other animals and the conclusion is very emotional if you get attached to the characters.  It wil make you really think about your own pets.  It's a good story that will really make you think.
                                                                                       Reviewed by William C.
                                                                                       (a DHS student)

                                       

                                                                                       

Book Review: Whale Talk

Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher is an action packed book that I would definately recommend to young adults.  The main character is a teenager named T.J.  He's an all-star athlete, but he only wants to use his talents for the school's swim team.  The problem with this is that the school doesn't have a swimming team, so T.J. puts together a seven man swim team before the swim season starts.  He sets goals for the other swimmers so that they can earn a letter jacket of their own.  He runs into a lot of trouble during the story, and it gets pretty exciting the more you read it.  T.J. also protects this kid named Chris because the school bully picks on him. Chris can't defend himself because he's mentally challenged, so T.J. protects him.  This book is only about 220 pages long so it won't take long to read.  At first I thought I wouldnt' liek it because I judged it by the cover, which I learned never to do, but I started reading it and it's quite exciting!

                                                                           Reviewed by Mark J. (a DHS student)

Book Review: Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader

Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader? by Neil Gaiman

Batman has died, but how is the question.  As Batman watches from teh beyond, all of Batmans' closest friends and enemies gather around tot hell their opinion on how the Dark Knight met his fate.  Was Alfred the JOker the whole time and killed him on accident, or did Catwoman bdtray him?  These are some of the few thoughts Neil Gaiman puts in the reader's mind.  The best part of what Gaiman does is that he makes the story feel like an unpredictable tale fo greatness. Everything is unpredictable:  Gaiman adds his magical touch to make the story coherent and full of surprises.  Comic book writing and characterization is at its best, and this book might even be one of the best two issue comic stories in history.

Neil Gaiman has given us many great stories throughout his career, such as Sandman, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book, to name a few.  He uses his unique eye of perception for suspense and horror to write some of the greatest modern day books.  Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader is a great addition to the Batman library, and is surely a great read for teenages, Batman fans, and newcomers to reading alike.  So don't just sit there, check it out from the library!
        
                                                                                           
                                                                     Reviewed by John B.  (a DHS student)

Book Review: To Kill a Mockingbird

It’s a Sin to Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a book about a little girl named Scout, who throughout the book starts to develop a better understanding of prejudice and racism. Jem, Scout's older brother, helps her understand these words, and why people are this way. Jem and Scout play, make new friends, and come to know of a shadowy figure by the name of Boo Radley, who lives in a neighboring house and yet is never seen. He is rumored to be an evil person, but their fair-minded father, Atticus, who is a widowed lawyer, warns them that they should try to see the world from the other people's perspectives. Atticus gets assigned a case to defend a black man named Tom Robinson, and the whole town of Maycomb cannot believe that Atticus has accepted this case.  I love To Kill a Mockingbird  because it is suspenseful, mysterious, funny, and heartwarming. It shows you the world from a nine year old's point of view. Scout asks why things are a certain way, she states her opinion without fear, and she just wants everything resolved. If you like heartwarming books with a twist, go check this one out! They have made a movie of the book and I suggest you go check out the trailer here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks88MPOyoYc).

                                                         Reviewed by a DHS student