Bruiser

Bruiser by Neal Shusterman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Shusterman is usually a good read, and this book was no exception. The story is that of Bruiser, real name: Brewster Rawlins. Bruiser, who is voted the boy "most likely to receive the death penalty" in eighth grade is going out with Bronte, Tennyson's twin sister, much to Tennyson's dismay. When Tennyson confronts Bruiser about the situation, he finds himself agreeing with his sister that the Bruiser is misunderstood. The twins soon discover an amazing ability Bruiser has of absorbing the pain of others. The ability is only manifest when the Bruiser likes someone. When Bruiser finds himself liking Bronte and Tennyson, his painful life becomes happier, but more painful at the same time. The story is told from the viewpoint of Tennyson, Bronte, Bruiser and his little brother Cody, with each having a distinctive voice. The story should easily interest girls and boys 8th grade and above, and maybe some 7th graders.



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3:15

Our Friends of the Library group have been discussing the new book, 3:15 by Patrick Carman designed specifically for iPhones, iPod touches and Androids. Students download an episode from iTunes every couple of weeks. They read online then watch the video. Our group is supposed to receive some free T-shirts that say 3:15. At least the representative for Patrick Carman told us to send sizes for the shirts, which we did a couple of weeks ago. Hopefully, they will come soon. Our library group has become fans of Patrick Carman after having him visit our school by Skype in the fall. For those interested in finding out more about 3:15, go here.

Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


So many of my young middle school friends have read this book, that I had to see why they found it so interesting. As you might guess from the cover, the story is really a prequel to Peter Pan. Peter is actually an orphan who ends up with other orphan boys on the ship Never Land. The boys are being sent to be servants of the King of Rundoon. On board the ship is a trunk that contains some kind of magic. The reader doesn't really know what magic it contains at first, but those who are around the trunk feel the effects of this magic. Also,on board the ship is a young girl named Molly who knows the contents of the trunk. She reveals to Peter the importance of the trunk and enlists Peter's help in trying to protect it. The ship is, of course, pursued by Pirates, the evil Black Stache and his crew, who are determined to get the trunk. Peter saves the day, and because of his exposure to the "starstuff" in the magic trunk, he is changed, so he never grows old and is able to fly. His fondness for Molly reminds us of Peter's affection for Wendy in the Peter Pan tales. We realize that Molly must be an ancestor of Wendy's. I did enjoy reading this story. I heartily recommend it to any middle schooler who hasn't read it.



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Airhead by Meg Cabot

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Emerson Watts secretly despises the "walking dead" at her private school. That is the name she and her boyfriend Christopher have given to the girls who rule at her high school. She and Christopher like to spend their time playing video games. Everything changes, however, when Em takes her younger sister to a grand opening at the new Stark megastore and through a freak accident is hit on the head with the giant jumbotron falling from the ceiling. Science has apparently advanced at this point in time to be able to do brain transplants, because that is what happens to the brain of Em Watts after the accident. Her brain is put into the body of supermodel Nikki Howard, who by some twist of fate is injured and declared brain dead during the same accident. I have to say that once I got past the improbability of the whole brain transplant idea, I quite enjoyed the story. Meg Cabot is great at capturing teenage dialogue and making her characters quite believable.



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Reckless by Cornelia Funke

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Reckless, by Cornelia Funke, follows her tradition of great story telling. Although not quite as entertaining as the Inkheart trilogy, it is still a good story. Jacob, the main character has been going to Mirrorworld through the mirror in his father's study after his father's disappearance. This Mirrorworld is a world of magic, secrets and strange adventures. When his younger brother Will follows him through the mirror with his girlfriend Clara, Will gets an adventure that he hasn't bargained for. He is through fairy magic turned into a goyl. Goyls are men that are made of stone--not only on the outside, but inside they are hardened as well. Jacob, his friend Fox, and Clara go to heroic measures to save him. The adventures are exciting, but the characters are not as believable as they are in other Funke novels. Still a fun middle school read.



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Cardturner by Louis Sacher

The Cardturner: A Novel about a King, a Queen, and a Joker by Louis Sachar

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The narrator sums the problem with this book up in this way: "So, here's the deal. Whenever you see the picture of the whale, it means I am going to go into some detail about bridge. If that makes you zone out, then just skip ahead to the summary box and I'll give you the short version." You truly need to do this. I didn't, and I thought exactly that: there is way too much detail about bridge. Truthfully, if you skipped all of the detail about bridge, the story would be very short. The essence of the story without all of the bridge detail is rather engaging. The narrator is the nephew of a rich, eccentric, and blind bridge player. He is recruited to be the card turner for his uncle's bridge games. There ends up being a little romance and a little mystery woven into the story that keeps you reading. At least it kept me reading, but I think my students would get bogged down in all of the bridge talk and put the book down. Novel idea, but not a really good novel.



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Candor by Pam Bachorz

Candor by Pam Bachorz

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Having lived through a period of time when everyone was listening to subliminal messages to help control their thinking, this story did not seem too far-fetched. It is about a town named Candor where everyone,including formerly wayward teenagers,behaves perfectly. Everyone eats what they should, studies, avoids physical contact, and respects their parents. The reason everyone is so well behaved is that they all listen to music loaded with subliminal messages. Oscar, son of the town's creator, is the model boy--on the outside. In reality, since he knows the secret, he creates his own messages to overcome some of the messages created by his father. Being the model citizen of the model town is just an act with him. When a new girl, Nia, moves into town, he starts to lose his cool. She seems to be able to function without absorbing the messages. Oscar, who falls desperately for Nia, is determined to keep her real and not another robot creation of his fathers.
Although an interesting read, I think I would give the book a PG rating, maybe even PG-13. Definitely more for 9th graders than 7th graders.



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Lockdown by Alex Smith

Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is one that truly gave me nightmares after reading it before bed. I dreamed I was locked in a prison and woke up when the guards were trying to kill me, which is why I recommend you not read this as a bedtime story. It is easy to get caught up in the story of Alex, a 15 year old delinquent, who is locked in a prison called the "furnace" for a murder he didn't commit. After one summer labeled the Summer of Slaughter because of the murders and mayhem committed by teenage gangs, the government has cracked down on teenage offenders, basically locking them up and forgetting they ever existed. It seems besides being tough on offenders on the inside of the "furnace," the "furnace" personnel (black suits)actually frame juvenile delinquents with additional crimes, like murder. No one will look for an early release of a murderer.



In spite of brutal treatment, and extreme control of the offenders, Alex thinks there may be a way out of the furnace. Seems impossible, but you can't help but start to believe that there is hope. That hope really keeps you turning those pages, in spite of nightmares.



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