Brain Jack

Brainjack by Brian Falkner

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Brain Jack was an action movie in a book, including the high speed car chase. Sam, the main character, is an especially adept computer hacker who enjoys hacking into the most secure sites. Instead of landing him in jail, his amazing skills attract the attention of the Homeland Security Cyber Defense Division. They recruit him to defend Cyber attacks on sensitive govt. sites. He soon finds himself in the middle of a worldwide cyber takeover. Middle school boys and many girls will find this is a book they cannot put down.



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The Roar

The Roar by Emma Clayton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I listened to the audio of this book and absolutely loved it. I'm not sure if an extra star was for the reader or the book, but it was one of the most entertaining books I have encountered in quite a while. The story is a futuristic story about a society that believes that an animal plague has made a large portion of the earth uninhabitable. Because of this, the population is crowded into bleak towering apts. with the rich living in the golden towers on top, and the poor living in the dark dwellings below. The story revolves around twins Ellie and Mika. Ellie has been kidnapped by the evil Mal Gorman, and the story begins with her trying to make her escape with her pet monkey Puck. Unfortunately, she is again captured. Her twin brother, Mika,is convinced, in spite of being told otherwise, that she is still alive. He understands that in order to see her again he will have to win the contests being sponsored by Mal Gorman. The story is beautifully orchestrated with the right amount of suspense and fantasy. Definitely recommended for the middle school crowd.



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The Gardener

The Gardener by S.A. Bodeen

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I guess I am a fan of S. A Bodeen. This story like The Compound was a unique story about about a future society. Mason, the main character in the story is a big guy with a giant heart. He likes to look out for people. When he ends up at his mother's work one day, he meets the most beautiful girl, Laila, and ends up helping her escape from TroDyn. He doesn't realize at the time that she needs to be there to survive. She is really a test subject for a futuristic project. Like The Compound, the story keeps you rapidly turning pages to the end. The book should be a good choice for reluctant readers.



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Favorite Books 2010

During our first meeting of 2011, the Friends of the Library discussed our favorite books for 2010. Here is the list we came up with. Add to the list if you want with your comments.
A Lunch
Kaitlyn B. :Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Josiah E. : Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

Chase L. : Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins, Of Mice and Magic by David Farell,
Harry Potter and Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

Kyla W. : Baseball Box Prophecy by Bruce Newbold, Spirit Window by Joyce Sweeney,
Graceling by Kristin Cashore, Dream House Kings series by Robert Liparulo, Seer series by Linda Joy Singleton.

April T.: Warriors Series by Erin Hunter, Shadow Children series by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Mason B: Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan


Jesse S. Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyers

Makaya B.: Darkside series by Tom Becker

Brooke D.: Maximum Ride series by James Patterson, Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

Amanda M. : Once Upon a Marigold series by Jean Ferris, Haunted Places of the World by Raine Hogan, Fruits Basket graphic novels, Bleach graphic novels, and Vampire Night graphic novels.


Alysssa D.: A Child Called It by David Pelzer

Gabe C.: Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney

B lunch
Jarin C.: Maximum Ride series by James Patterson, Percy Jackson and the Olympian
series by Rick Riordan

Jacob O.: Owls of Ga'Hoole series by Kathryn Lansky, Lord of the Rings by Tolkien

Heather T.: Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer, Gamer Girl by Mari Mancusi, Heir
Apparent by Vivan Van Velde, Nancy Drew Series by Carolyn Keene, and the Hardy Boys series by Franklin W. Dixon.

Kassie G. : Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynn Jones, Look For Me by Moonlight by Mary
Downing Hahn,

Vladlen G.: Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney, Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, Popular Science Magazine, Calvin and Hobbes by
Bill Watterson

Joey E.: Maximum Ride series by James Patteson, Warriors series by
Erin Hunter, Bleach series Manga.

Devil's Paintbox

The Devil's Paintbox by Victoria McKernan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The year is 1865 and Aiden and Maddy are starving on what is left of their drought-stricken farm in Kansas. They are the only survivors of their family, and are now out of food. When Jefferson Jackson shows up on their farm, they are suspicious, but see him as a way out of their situation. Aiden, 16, convinces Jackson to take he and Maddy along with his wagon train in exchange for Aiden's promise of payment of future wages from the logging camp destination to Jackson. The travel in the wagon train is a bleak adventure for both Aiden and Maddy, as it was for most travelers in the westward expansion. McKernan has researched thoroughly for the book and gives an accurate portrayal of life during this time period--perhaps a little too accurate in some instances. The part of the story dealing with the prostitutes, although not graphic, may be too much for the middle school reader.

Heist Society

Heist Society by Ally Carter

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book would make a great movie. Reminds me a little of a teenage Ocean's Eleven. The main character, Katarina Bishop's, childhood is spent helping her father. This would be a good thing except that her father is one of the most notorious thieves of the day. She tries to escape the "family business" by getting herself enrolled in a girl's boarding school. But, when her father is accused of stealing paintings from a dangerous Italian criminal, and she knows he did not do it, she is forced to return to the business. This time she has to help her father by returning the stolen paintings within the two week deadline imposed upon her by Arturo Tacone, the Italian criminal. Kat gets a team together to help her with the heist. Although, the story is about thieves, Kat is a strong character with a basic moral sense. Quite a fun read.



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NERDS

NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society by Michael Buckley

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


The premise for this story of nerds being secretly a spy ring (National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society)is a fun one. This group of school misfits operates their their spy ring from the home base of their school, using a school bus rocket to get to their destinations. Sometimes the story is a little confusing, and to me the author was trying a little too hard to be funny. Many students have enjoyed this book, however, so maybe it is just a matter of taste.



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