Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side (Beth Fantaskey)

Jessica Packwood is starting her senior year and is really excited to be starting it. This year is the year she will win the math competition and win the horse jumping competition. But then her old life comes back from Romania to screw up her senior year.

All Jessica knows about her life before she was adopted by the Packwood's is her name; Antanasia Dragomir. But apparently her dead biological parent's world is going to interfere with her senior year.

Because they were royal in the vampire world....
But vampires are not real, so she has nothing to worry about.

Now Lucuis Vladescu, a vampire prince, has moved into her garage and  throw’s the weight of the vampire word on top of Jessica's shoulders. He says if they don't get married, there is going to be a war between the two royal families- the Vladescu and the Dragomir's.

But Jessica does not want to get married because she likes another guy- a normal, human guy. And anyway, vampires are not real so she has nothing to worry about.

Right?
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It seemed like this whole plot was taken out of other books. The family dispute was like Romeo and Juliet (Shakespear) , Faith (Jessica's horse racing rival) and Lucius' relationship was like Wuthering Heights (Bronte)  and the whole vampire part (The royalty and what her vampire myth) was just like vampire academy (Richelle Mead).

The only real thing the author created was the characters and she did a good job. Jessica is the girl next door with some attitude and Lucius is the over- protective big brother. She developed the characters really well, but they were just too...regular, I guess; everyone has someone like both of those characters in their lives. But even so, it felt like you could relate to each of the characters at almost every given time.

I think the part in the novel I loved was the corny romantic parts. But even though those parts were sweet, it still felt like an older brother would say the same kind of things Lucuis said.

However, even though the author did not use literacy terms well, the book was still pretty good. She used all 3 of the books well

3.5 out of 5 stars

The Babysitter Murders (Janet Ruth Young)

Dani Solomon life is pretty much perfect- she is popular, she plays tennis and she is an alto in her choir. She even has a little boy she babysits 3 times a week.

But then her life gets weird because she pictures doing things she does not want to do; like groping her choir teacher and telling everyone that her best friend, Shelly is a lesbian.  But they are so detailed she can’t always tell if they’re real or not…

Then her visualizations become terrifying when she keeps on seeing herself taking the knives out of the kitchen and stabbing the little boy, Alex, she babysits.

She loves Alex more than anyone else in the world and would hate anything to ever happen to him. She is terrified that her imagination will get a hold of her.

Immediately, she tells his mom about her frightening imagination, but telling her may change everything…..                                                                      

Some people are born crazy, others become crazy, a few know they'er crazy, but fewer people have the whole world knowing they're crazy.

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At first, I thought this book would be a little dumb. But it was not and I'm happy I was wrong.

This book is very slow at the beginning, but then all the suspense came and I could not put it down.

When I was reading this book, I had some very creepy dreams....They had me terrified!

The author (Janet Ruth Young) used imagry to grab the reader’s attention, and she did it well.

The only thing I did not like about the book were the chapter lengths; they were so short! It made the book feel broken up and choppy. I also did not like that it was in third person, but that’s just because I don't like reading in third person. Even though these things were annoying, they did not destroy the book's plot or anything major like that.

4.5 out of 5 stars

True Colours (Lucy Lemay Cellucci)

Tenth grade is not going so well for Zoe Sanders. First off, she has been put into Mr. Norton's homeroom class, who is the strictest teacher in the school. To make matters even worst, her best friend has been put into another class and they have no classes together.

                                                 

Shanisa Davies, her best friend, has changed from an animal- loving person to a girl who loves shopping, make- up and boys. Zoe has not changed at all throughout the summer; she is still an animal- lover who thinks shopping and make- up are dumb.

Zoe is getting tired of hearing about Shanisa's cheerleading tryouts and make- up, but she still eats lunch with her.

When Zoe learns about a socials project, she decides to do it on animal cruelty. But she ends up getting paired up with Alex, an annoying boy from her homeroom that never does his homework.

Zoe is dreaming about doing this project with Josh (her crush) so he can see how passionate she is about animals. He would be a fool not to like her if he saw past her horrible luck. But even if she got too, she would have to compete with Abbey, the most popular girl in school.

Zoe must learn how to break away from the crowed and let her true colours shine to fight against animal cruelty.

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This book had me laughing at times. Zoe is an awkward tenth grader who has horrible luck. I think everyone can relate to her.

This is a light and fluffy fast read. But even though there are thousands of books with the same type of plot, the ending of this one is different, making it twice as good.

This book seemed to have lots of literary devises, which made the book seem balanced.

Personally, I love books that have lots of suspense. This book had some. Surprisingly, it was not boring at all because of all the things going on in the plot. Lucy Lemay Cellucci managed to avoid using suspense, but it was not too obvious and it did not take away from the book.

4. 15 out of 5 stars

What is Real (Karen Rivers)

Before Dex's life was perfect, until the day his parents got a divorce.

After his father attempts to commit suicide and becomes wheelchair bound, Dex moves back to the small farm town that his father still lives in.

Before the divorce, Dex's dad was a lawyer who enjoyed growing tomato's. Now, his basement is a pot forest. He cannot get down the stairs, so the marijuana basement is Dex's responciblility.

But more has changed then just that. Now Dex's dad live's in some rotting rental house in a cornfield. There is no nice...anything; its all gone.

Unable to cope, Dex turns to the marijuana basement for comfort. But the drugs only give him so much hope. He is still depressed and suicidal and has given up on everything; school, movie- making, books and his dream to go to New York.

But the side effects to marijuana don't include hallusinations. He cannot figure out anymore what is real and what is not. But he is pretty sure the girl he created in his mind does not go his school....But he is not sure.

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This book has no plot what so ever- theres no climax or anything. It was weird.

All this book really had was characterization. And somehow it was able to be an amazing book with only one lit. devise.

This book was rather depressing and sad because of the main character, Dex. His life will probably make everyone's seem wonderful.

Even though Dex's life is horrible, it felt like I could relate; his life is full of normal high school drama, but it’s a little more intense then grade 9 dramas…

This book felt like a take on "Go Ask Alice" (Anonymous) and "Project 17" (Laurie Faria Stolarz) with a touch of a biography.

4 out of 5 stars

End of Days (Eric Walters)

All over the world, the smartest people have all died within a year.


All over the world, there are protests.


People's lives are becoming about Judgement day.


Everyone seems to be religious.


Because everyone has been given the same fate.

The months are being counted down. Every passing secound must be valued.
Because it’s the end- the end of the world.


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This definitely makes the "top ten worst books I have ever read" list.


The first 100 pages don't really make any sense until about half way through the book, but once they make sense and when Billy comes into the story, the book is readable.


The characters are boring and do nothing; all of them are static characters and they are pointless. They don't really have personalities until the last 20 pages.


This brings me to the horrible ending to the book.


There is no climax to this book at all. There is all this build up for the end of the world and when it ends, their no conclusion.  There’s no explanation to all the characters that are under the earth’s surface all the people in space.


0.5 out of 5 stars

The Death Cure (James Dashner)

In the final book of the maze runner trilogy, Thomas and the other Gladers find themselves in more trouble with WICKED, but this time there more determined than ever to escape.

The Flare has hit everywhere in the world. The place we call home is now infested with Cranks and it is impossible to stop people from catching it. The world is infested with Cranks and they have no issue killing people whenever they want to.

WICKED also wants to give the Gladers their memories back, but theirs always a catch with WICKED...or is WICKED good?

Thomas finds himself with Minho, Newt, Jeorge and Brenda. Can all of them survive being in a city with only people who don't have the Flare?

But why is WICKED so determined to have the Gladers and only treat them like lab rats and leave the other humans alone?

Is WICKED good or worst then Thomas' worst nightmares?

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It's so sad that this trilogy is over.

This book did not answer many of the questions I had, but somehow James Dashner ended the book in a way that did not leave reader's hanging too much.

I liked the ending, but I hatted how many people died in this book! It made me so sad that they killed off almost all of my favorite characters.

I loved all of the suspense in this book, but they should have made the ending faster pace.

4.25 out of 5 stars.

The Scorch Trials (James Dashner)

In the second epic book in the maze runner trilogy, Thomas and the other Glader's find themselves facing more testing and this one is more horrible then the maze.


For the Scorch Trials, they all have the Flare (a disease that makes you go crazy.) and that’s not the worst part; there are expected to travel through a scorching hot dessert. But it’s not only the heat that makes it deadly; the thunderstorms hit at the most inconvenient times and take lives as fast as they come.


Theresa, on the other hand, has disappeared from the WICKED room they had her in and none of the Gladers know what they did with her.


Thomas unexpectedly finds a friend in Brenda, a Cranck who he meets. But can he be friends with a girl while still worrying about Theresa and still sad about Chucks death?


There is also another study group with the opposite of the Gladers; all girls and one boy. But what would be the purpose for having them and the Gladers?


After they complete the Scorch trials, they are promised "safe haven" which is a place where they all get cured from the Flare…Well, they will supposedly get cured.


Could WICKED get anymore...well, wicked?

The answer is always the same...yes, it can get worst.


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I liked this book more than the first, which is strange because the first is usually the best.


The plot was more interesting and the characters have more personality.



However, I did not like Brenda at all. She destroyed a big chunk of the book for me. I am definitely on team Theresa. Brenda had a personality, but it seemed like she was just there to get the cure for the Flare and nothing else. Well, maybe to ruin Thomas's life.



4.5 out of 5 stars

The Maze Runner (James Dashner)

When Thomas wakes up from a strange journey in a black box, he learns he has forgotten everything that happened. Now he lives in the Glade, a place where there are only boys and a maze.


During the day, a few of the boys run in the maze. But being a maze runner has plenty of falls; if you are there past nightfall (when the doors to the maze close), the Grievers will kill you.


The Grievers sometimes come out during the day  and will kill you then too. They can also put people though the change, which could be worst then death.


Thomas is drawn to the maze and wants to be a maze runner more than anything, but to become a maze runner is not easy by any standard.


But Thomas is having more issues then becoming a maze runner, because nobody trust's him.


Every month for 2 years one boy is sent to the Glade, excepted the month Thomas comes.


One day after Thomas comes, a girl shows up with a note: she is the one last ever.


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This book is one of those books that grabs your attention and won't let go. Its a little irritating because the book is fairly large.


"The Maze runner" is fast paced and every chapter another surprise hits you. The suspense straps you to your seat, but will realease you when your done in most cases.


My biggest issue with this book is that it is in third person and I hate reading in third person. However, it did not take away from the novel.


4.25 out of 5

Dead is not an option (Marlene Perez)

In the final book of the "dead is" series, Daisy fines herself and her sisters in the middle of a war between Vampire's and Were's. This causes lots of arguments between the three of them because Poppy's new boyfriend is a vampire and he happens to be Dracula’s grandson

Ryan got accepted into a faraway school. Daisy, on the other hand has not gotten accepted or rejected into any schools. Can their relationship handle distant?

Daisy also wants to help get Lily and Bam out of the forms they have been in since Circe. But can she do it without Circe magic?

Samantha's family is out of its financial issues, but her dad has been on book tours and strange woman have been knocking on the door while he has been gone...Is he really on book tour?

On top of it all, the Scourge has been unusually quiet. But why would they give up trying to get rid of all the supernatural people in Nightshade?

Daisy is determined to find all of the answers

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The first half of this book was totally pointless and had nothing to do with anything. The second half, however, I read in one sitting because I could not walk away from the book.

The leader of the Scourage I guessed right away. But the character did not fit the profile at all. I guessed the person by fluke and I was not positive.

all in all, an very good ending to the "dead is" series

3.5 out of 5 stars

Dead is just a rumor (Marlene Perez)

As the 200th anniversary of Nightshade approaches, some of the town’s people are reserving creepy blackmail letters. As usual, Daisy is tracking down the blackmailer, but will she be too late?

To make matters worse, Daisy's Dad is back and is very overprotective over Daisy and does not like her boyfriend, Ryan. He is making Daisy's life very hard and is making solving this crime hard.


There is also a new concealer at Nightshade high and she got her eyes on Ryan and is trying to convince him to go off to a faraway school. Can Daisy and Ryan's relationship survive?


Daisy also won cooking lessons with celebrity chef, Circe Silverson but it’s not going over well. Daisy is being treated like her slave and she is learning that maybe the chef has more secrets then just her ingredients....


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In the fourth book of the "Dead is" series, the plot gets more intense and the surprizes will blow your mind. This book had me with the first page and I could not stop reading. The characters in this book grabbed me, and even when I was not reading, I just could not stop thinking about who the blackmailer could be.

However, I would have picked a different blackmailer. The person who was the blackmailer was a little predictable. They were the first person I thought could be the blackmailer, but I just kept thinking that was an obvious person and that the author would have picked a different person.

This was a pretty good book, even though the ending was predictable.

2.75 out of 5 stars

Dead is so last year (Marlene Perez)

In the 3rd book of Marlene Perez series "Dead is", Daisy once again finds herself in the middle of supernatural things. The town of Nightshade is seeing double people, at first Daisy thinks its just a coincidence, untill she starts seeing her dad, who dissapered 6 years ago.


Meanwile, Daisy's boyfriend, Ryan and all of the other football players have suddenly bulked up during the summer, could they be taking drugs , or is it supernatural?


In the small town of Nightshade, anything could be supernatural.

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I found this book to be the most intresting book out of the series thus far. I started this book on Friday night and finished Saturday morning; It was one of those books you just could not put down. This book had way more suspence than the other books and it had a shocking ending- an ending that sent me to the library to find the next one. This book was better then the first two books; and the first two books were hard to beat, but Marlene Perez found a way to out do herself.

I am giving this book a 3.5 out of 5