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.

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 Outsiders

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

http://www.amazon.com/The-Outsiders-ebook/dp/B007ZUV4TO/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1361993645&sr=1-1&keywords=outsiders

Tensions between two gangs become a life or death situation.  Two Greasers (Johnny and Ponyboy) become friends with two wealthy "socialite" Soc girls at a drive-in.  The rest of the Soc gang finds out and beats up Johnny and attempts to drown Ponyboy in a foutnain.  Johnny kills one of the Socs in the process of trying to save Ponyboy.  They know they're going to get into trouble, so they go their older Greaser friend Dallas, who find them a place to hide out for a while.  Meanwhile, the two gangs back home plan to fight. 

I would recommend this book to anybody who likes a good fight or drama.  If you like happy endings, The Outsiders would probably work for you. 
             
                                                                                               Reviewed by Courtney P.
                                                                                                 (a DHS student)

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: 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: 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

Book Review: Perks of Being Wallflower

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a book told from Charlie Peter's first person point of view. The interesting thing about this book is that it is told through entries that Charlie records in his journal, making it extremely fun to read considering the short entries and the easy dialogue that the high schooler uses. The book is mostly about Charlie’s experiences as a freshman. He starts out with no friends because the only one he had committed suicide in 8^th grade, giving Charlie a rough start at his new high school. Eventually Charlie meets new friends who are seniors and they give Charlie a year to remember, to say the least.

I would definately recommend this book to anyone who likes books with unexpected twists and also to anyone in high school due to the fun and real circumstances of the book.

You can find this book in the DHS library. Find it. Check it out. Read it. J

                           Reviewed by Mike K.
                                                                                                             (a DHS student)


This book tells you to be a risk taker instead of standing on the fringes of life.  It gives you a different perspective on life.  This book shows you the course of a special territory known as hgih school.  It also talks all about the drama of high school, such as the pressures with sex, drugs, and all the other chaotic tasks that we undergo at school.  The narrarator has written the novel through letters to an unkown friend.  It's like a diary that is meant to be read by the public. 

I really do recommend reading it.  It has an amazing plot!

                                                                                                       Reviewed by Daniela C.
                                                                                                         (a DHS student)

Book Review: Where She Went

Where She Went

by Gayle Forman

This story picks up three years after the end of Forman's novel If I Stay.  Adam is now a world famous rock star living in LA, while Mia has made a name for herself as a cellist, playing in venues around the world.  Mia decided to stay, just not with Adam.  Now the couple hasn't spoken in almost three years, but fate brings them back together for one last night. 

 Seen through the eyes of Adam, the struggles and realities of life after Mia's accident are are written with stark clarity.  The thoughts and emotions of the characters ring heartbreakingly true.  Where the first book left off with Mia's decision to live, this book deals with the very difficult consequences of that choice.  I liked If I Stay, I absolutely loved Where She Went. Thoroughly satisfying and enjoyable, readers will want to keep reading long after the book is over.

View the trailers for If I Stay and Where She Went here.

Images taken from Amazon.com.