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: 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.

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: 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: 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: 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)