The Sledding Hill

by Chris Crutcher

Eddie and Billy are best friends. They still help each other out and they still meet on top of the sledding hill. Why should the accidental death of Billy change anything? I thought that the story helps teach about how some people deal with the loss of a loved one.

--Samuel K., Student

Speak

by Laurie Halse Anderson

Speak is about a girl named Melinda who has been shunned and scapegoated since the first day of high school. Everyone knows that she called the cops at a summer party, but she won't tell anyone why. In fact, since the party, she barely speaks at all.

--Ashley N., Student

The Catcher in the Rye

by J.D. Salinger

The book was about a kid named Holden who gets expelled from prep school and goes on some adventures in New York City. I liked the story because at some points it was funny and at others it wasn't, so it had a whole range of emotions.

--Kyle R., Student

Of Mice and Men

by John Steinbeck

The story is about two migrant workers; George and his friend Lennie who is mentally disabled. I liked the story because it tells the truth about the reality of the "American Dream."

--Nicholas H., Student

The Lord of the RIngs: The Fellowship of the Ring

by J.R.R. Tolkien

The first book of the trilogy is about a hobbit named Frodo who inherits his uncle's magical ring. Frodo's friend and mentor Gandalf, alerts him to the evil powers of the ring and tells him that it must be destroyed. Frodo gangs up with a wizard, an elf, a dwarf, a man and other companions to set out to destroy the ring. I liked the book because of the suspense and action.

--Nick J., Student

Nostradamus: The Man Who Saw Through Time.

by Lee McCann

This is the biography of Nostradamus, an astrologer and physician, and the author of books of prophecy.

--Emmanuel G., Student

Bless Me, Ultima

by Rudolfo Anaya

This story is about a young Spanish boy named Antonio and his adventures growing up with a curandera named Ultima.

--Amanda W., Student

The Titan's Curse

by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson, the half-blood son of Poseidon, teams up with his new friend Thalia and the Hunters of Artemis to search for the kidnapped goddess. This is another epic quest to help save the gods and fend off the ever stronger Titans.

--Michael S., Student

The First Part Last

by Angela Johnson

Bobby finds out on his 16th birthday that his girlfriend Nia is pregnant. The young parents were going to put the baby up for adoption. However, when Nia gets sick and ends up in a nursing home, Bobby decides to keep the baby and his whole life changes.

--Gloria E., Student

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