The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

 

Yes, No, Maybe So: Yes

Stars: 4.75

Age Group: Grades 8 & up

This book is really beautiful. and that's really all I can say. Except for to keep a box of tissues handy, because you WILL need them.

The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare

Yes, No, Maybe So: Definitely!

Stars: 5

Age Group: Grades 5 and up

To be honest I fell in love with these books. I laughed, I cried, and I reread over and over again. I begged my friends to read them, they did, they begged their friends too. I guarantee once you pick up the first book, City of Bones, you won't be able to put it down until you finish City of Lost Souls. Then you'll cry until May 6 when the last book comes out, but who cares?!  I don't write on this blog a lot anymore, but I'm begging you all to read these books and spread the word to your friends!



Flash Fire by Caroline B. Cooney

Yes, No, Maybe So: Maybe so

    Stars: 3.5

         Age group: grades 8 & up (could be upsetting to younger)

The Mortal Instruments City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Yes, No, Maybe So: YES YES YES

   Stars: 5

        Age group: Grades 7 & up

MUST REAAAAADD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Schooled by Gordan Korman

Yes, No, Maybe So: Yes
   Stars: 4
       Age Group: Grades 6 & up

Emergency Room by Caroline B. Cooney

Yes, No, Maybe So: Maybe so
  Stars: 3.5
    Age Group: grades 7 & up
Sorry for not posting! I wasn't sure what to make of Emergency Room. It was a good story, but not written that well. I guess that I expected more from a well-known author such as Caroline B. Cooney.  It definitely wan't written for younger children because there was gore, death, drugs, gangs, etc. i would recommend it, but not as strongly as for other books.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

 

Yes, No, Maybe So: Yes

  Stars: 5

   Age Group: Grades 8 & up (pretty frightening)

            I apologize for all the completely positive reviews lately. but I've been rereading.

            So I really liked this book, I would recommend it to the not-easily-frightened because it was pretty graphic in descriptions of violence, and it was really very scary. It describes that Abraham Lincoln wasn't really fighting secession, just the vampires of the South who fed on the  blood of innocent slaves. The end is the best part with an awesome twist.

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

Yes, No, Maybe So: Yes

 Stars: 5

  Age group: grades 5 & up

          I think this book is really good and enjoyable. I have to say, I read it twice, and it's still not boring. It was the John Newbery medal winner of 2012.This names it the "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children" of the year 2012. It rightfully earned this title.

          It is an partially-fictional autobiography of the author, Jack Gantos. The main character, Jack Gantos (duh autobiography) gets in trouble with his parents for an deed I will not specify, and now has to help his elderly neighbor, Miss Volker write obituaries for the town's original residents, who are dropping suspiciously like flies. Meanwhile, Jack's father is building a plane in their backyard. Mix in dancing Hell's Angels, towed houses, and creepy obsessive old-person love and things in Norvelt have never been weirder. 

Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick

Yes, No, Maybe So: Yes
 Stars: 5
  Grade Level: grades 6 and up (the vocabulary isn't hard, but it's pretty sad)
           I wouldn't have looked at this book without a recommendation, but I'm glad I did.
I love this book. I love it so much. Yet it hit me in a soft spot; Childhood cancer.
           Steven thinks his 5-year-old brother, Jeffery,  is the most annoying person ever. But one day as Steven is watching him, he takes a small, innocent fall from a stool. Instantly he has an uncontrollable bloody nose. What's more, he has been having extreme pain and chills. At the ER he is diagnosed with leukemia, a deadly form of cancer.
          Steven is now mostly unacknowledged by his parents who have Jeffery's illness and financial issues to deal with. But not by Jeffery. Ever since he was born, Jeffery has idolized Steven. Steven is now Jeffery's superhero and rock, supporting him, playing with him, and comforting him. All this cancer business is taking a toll on Steven's grades and mental health. Meanwhile, he is busy preparing to be the star drummer of the all-city jazz band, and trying to deal with girl issues.
          Definitely an awesome book for anybody.

Smile by Raina Telgemeier

 

Yes, No, Maybe So:

 Stars: 4.9

  Age Level: Grades and up (I recommend grades 6-8 especially)

 Smile is a graphic novel. Before you start groaning and whining about how terribly corny anime is (that's what I do), let it be heard that this is not a typical graphic novel, and certainly not anime! This is what the inside looks like, and there actually is a decent amount of writing.

So it's a step up from anime.

Now onto the plot. This actually is a fantastic, heartwarming book. It is about  a girl who loses her front teeth to an accident, and has to undergo years of painful dental work to get back her ideal smile. On the way she grows up and realizes what makes a friendship real, and how you can tell whether someone is ACTUALLY a good friend. She also learns what it means to hurt someone that cares about you.

Not to mention that this book is extremely empowering. The nerdy protagonist finally musters up the courage to ditch the people who she considers "friends" though they treat her terribly. READ IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) (:



Burned by Sara Shepard

 

Yes, No, Maybe So: Maybe So

 Stars: 3

  Age Group: Grades 5 and up (a less dirty PLL novel)

 

This is Pretty little liars as normal. The only difference is in setting, as the girls are on a cruise/field trip.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

 

Yes, No, Maybe So: YES, YES, YES, YES, YES! READ NOW!

  Stars: 6 (out of 5)

   Age Group: I thought a lot about this and there is nothing scary or suggestive, but there is mass-murder, death and injury, so if you can handle that, go for it

READ IT! It was written in the 80s, as a cheap science fiction paperback that are a dime a dozen at your local used book shop, but it is so much more! It is the story of a boy genius, ripped from his home at 6 years old, forced to become a militaristic killing machine. The problem is, he's good at it. He is the best soldier at his special school, the best ever. He is hand selected as Earth's final hope to defeat the enemies that threaten the human race. It's an internal battle, as Ender Wiggins, a sweet child is transformed into a cruel killer that he never wanted to be, yet is forced to.  He could get himself kicked out of the school, but he's the only hope of saving the human race. Besides, does he really have a choice? Himself or everyone?

 

At times, this book could drag on, but that's totally excusable, due to its level of epicness.