One For The Money

by Janet Evanovich

This first novel in the series introduces Stephanie Plum and her fabulously chaotic, bounty hunter lifestyle. I loved the story because Janet Evanovich has such a light, fun, and enjoyable style of writing. Never a dull moment!

--Kaitlin E, Student

Glass

by Ellen Hopkins

Glass continues the downward spiral story of Kristina Snow, a meth addicted 17 -year-old. It's one year later and Kristina after having her baby, still battles "the monster." Although Glass is more depressing than Crank, the story is still fast paced and full of suspense.

--Katherine Q, Student

The Sea of Monsters

by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson, the half-blood son of Poseidon, battles mythical monsters and a Cyclops named Polyphemus in a modern day setting to help save his Satyr friend Grover and Camp Half-Blood from destruction. I liked the story because the author blends Greek mythology with modern civilization.

--Michael S, Student

Those Who Walk In Darkness

by John Ridley

The plot centers around Officer Soledad "Bullet" O'Roark who works for a special branch of the LAPD. Her job is to hunt and kill mutants. During a mission she uses an experimental gun and accidentally kills a woman who may be an angel. The writing is fantastic, and is full of action and surprises.

--Parker J, Student

Breaking Dawn

by Stephenie Meyer

Fans of the Twilight series will not be disappointed by this final installment, where much of what readers have been waiting for comes to pass: the wedding, the honeymoon, the "change." What readers won't expect, however, is the surprising twists surrounding Jacob's true love, Bella's power, and those pesky Volturi.

-- Kristin McKeown, Faculty

To The White Sea

by James Dickey

To The White Sea is a meditation (you might say) on manhood. Men take responsibility, are prepared, and act (often brutally) as the situation requires. The hero of this book is an Alaskan hunter, and through the eyes of a hunter we see him trying to survive as an American airman shot down over Japan during WWII. His instincts tell him to go north, to the cold. His journey is about survival, but it is also a journey of a man's life and the evolution of his soul.

--Ed Klein, Faculty

Fallen Founder: The Life of Aaron Burr

by Nancy Isenberg

Aaron Burr may not have been the "American Judas" that history books have made him out to be, according to Nancy Isenberg, who tells the other side of the story. Surely Alexander Hamilton, the father of the American government, was fatally wounded in a duel at the hands of Burr, the Vice President of the U.S., but were the events that brought these two antagonists to Weehawken on the western shore of the Hudson River really all Burr's fault? What if history had it wrong?

--Erich Gott, Faculty

The Coldest Winter

by David Halberstam

The Coldest Winter is a masterful narrative which traces the political decision making and miscalculations of both sides involved in the Korean War. Halberstam provides vivid portraits of all of the major figures: MacArthur, Eisenhower, Truman, Kim and Mao, in addition to exploring the stories of individual soldiers who were on the front lines. This is a great read for history buffs.

--Matt Williams, Faculty

The Thirteenth Tale

by Diane Setterfield

Reclusive English author Vida Winter has spent six decades falsifying her life story and identity; however, with her health failing and imminent death, she has finally decided to reveal the truth about her life story. She calls upon Margaret Lea, an amateur biographer, to write her life story. At first, Margaret finds it difficult to trust Miss Winter, but she (like the reader) quickly becomes mesmerized by Miss Winter's gothic tale, complete with an old English estate, a devastating fire, a governess and a ghost. A tribute to Brontë and du Maurier, The Thirteenth Tale is an original work told in the vein of all the best gothic novels.

--Michelyne Gray, Faculty

The Art of Power

by Thich Nhat Hanh



World-renowned Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh reframes the conventional ideas of what true power, happiness, ambition and success are. Hanh includes exercises which help promote focus, meaningful meditation, simplicity and mindfulness in daily life.

--Joe Geisendorfer, Faculty

Blankets

by Craig Thompson

This is one LONG graphic novel, but well worth it. Even though it weighs in at over 580 pages, this autobiographical story is so well-crafted and engaging, and the illustrations are so poignantly expressive, that I couldn't believe it was over as soon as it was.

The story follows Thompson from a very strict upbringing, through a personal, spiritual crisis, and to his first love and beyond. Geared toward more mature readers, this award-winning graphic memoir is truly a work of art.

-- Kristin McKeown, Faculty

Muhammad: A Prophet For Our Time

by Karen Armstrong

This is Armstrong's second biography of Islam's prophet, Muhammad. This work is well researched, never condescending, and enables the reader to understand the spirituality and origins of a faith that, in the West, is often portrayed as inherently violent and cruel.

-- Joe Geisendorfer, Faculty

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You

by Ally Carter

If you are looking for a book that is intense and that keeps you wondering what is going to happen next, then this is the book for you. This story is about Cammie Morgan, who attends a top-secret boarding school for girls who are spies-in-training. Cammie's troubles begin when she falls for a normal boy named Josh, who has no idea of the double life that she leads. This is a fantastic book.

--Cassandra G, Senior

Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment

by Deepak Chopra

This is a novelized version of the life story of Buddha as he progresssed through the three main stages of his life as Prince Siddhartha, the monk, and finally as Buddha. Chopra deftly portrays ancient Indian culture, and how it helped shape the internal struggle and developement of a person seeking spiritual wisdom, transformation and enlightenment.

--Joe Geisendorfer, Faculty

Perfect: A Novel

by Natasha Friend

Everthing is fine, when in fact nothing really is for 8th grader Isabelle Lee. As a result of the death of her father, Isabelle develops an eating disorder. I like this book because alot of teenagers my age have eating disorders and this has had a big effect on my life.

--Amanda M, Freshman

A Northern Light

by Jennifer Donnelly

This work of historical fiction is set in the Adirondacks of 1906, where the famous Gilette murder case took place. The focus is not on the subject of murder itself, however. This story centers on the character of 16-year-old Mattie Gokey, a gifted student who works at the hotel where the victim and perpetrator were guests. We learn that Mattie collects words from her treasured dictionary, and while she feels pressured to stay at home, take care of her siblings, and eventually get married to a local farm boy, Mattie yearns to realize her dream of going to college and becoming a writer.

--Kristin McKeown, Faculty

Terrier

by Tamora Pierce

Her best book in years. The main heroine gets herself into situations that are dangerous and heroic at the same time. The narrative journal style of the writing completely captured me, and the voice of Cooper, the main character, is exactly the type of person I want telling me a story- with a mix of humor, seriousness, and street-wise innocence. This was one of the few books in recent years that I was not able to put down or stop thinking about.

--Zack Varvel, Faculty

American Born Chinese

by Gene Luen Yang

Many teenagers struggle with finding their identity, but as the author so clearly coveys, finding your identity as a minority can be an even greater challenge. All-American high school student Danny is haunted by regular visits from his embarassing cousin, Chin-Kee, Jin Wang feels like an outcast among his mostly white classmates, and even the legendary Monkey King feels estranged from his fellow gods when he tries to join their dinner party. In this entertaining and insightful graphic novel, Yang cleverly inter-weaves the stories of these three characters toward a satisfying conclusion.

-- Kristin McKeown, Faculty

Les Miserables

by Victor Hugo

This book, while admittedly very long, is an incredible novel which follows the struggles and harsh existence of the several characters. The story helps reveal some of the dark underbelly of France during the Revolution while leading you through the darkness into the goodness of humanity.

--Benjamin B, Senior

The Gravedigger's Daughter

by Joyce Carol Oates

It's an engrossing book about a Jewish girl whose family flees from Nazi Germany at the beginning of World War II. She grows up American while her family struggles to fit into the new life there, denying their roots. Her dad, who was a math teacher at a prestigious school in Germany, now can only get the menial job of digging graves to support his family. It's a story of identity and how our pasts shape our lives.
--Bridgett Bird, Faculty