I know I have talked about Junior Library Guild before, and how much fun it is to get new books each month. This month was no exception. When I get new books in the library, I love taking the time to read through the descriptions so I am somewhat familiar with the new titles. Then those I want to read get added to my "Shelfari". This month, I can't wait to have some time to start in on some of these amazing reads. I am so excited about them, I decided to do a blog book talk for you so you can judge for yourself. Take a look! Full Ride by Margaret Haddix Becca thought her life was over when her father was sent to prison for embezzlement. It didn’t help that he used her as his excuse: “How else is a guy like me supposed to send his daughter to college?” After the trial, she and her mother fled town, started over in a new place, and vowed to never let anyone know who they really are. Now, four years later, Becca is starting her senior year of high school, and thinks she might be ready to shed some of the secrecy. It seems like she might have to do that to apply for college and college scholarships and financial aid. But what if she and her mother were escaping more than just shame when they ran away? And what if Becca has already revealed enough of the truth to put them both in danger? The Unbound by Victoria Schwab The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson Game Changers Play Makers by Mike Lupica Still living large off their incredible football championship win just weeks before, Ben McBain and his crew must now prepare for basketball season. Ben is known as the best point guard throughout the league. And now that Shawn O'Brien has joined their team, they are a shoo-in to win it all. But there is a new kid in town, Chase Braggs, a point guard like Ben who seems to be better, stronger, and faster. Refusing to let his team down, Ben hits the courts hard to practice. Ben's rivalry with Chase seems to take the fun out of playing ball with his best friends. Will Ben be able to pull it together for his team and for himself? The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond by Brenda Woods Violet gets tired of not being viewed as part of her family simply due to the fact that they look different. I liked how this book dismissed looks as defining a family unit immediately. Violet's father died before she was born and she had yet to meet that side of the family. When she has the opportunity to meet people she has never met before, Violet approaches it as a challenge. The more Violet becomes involved in both sides of her family, the more she feels completed. The True Adventures of Nicolo Zen by Nicholas Christopher Nicolo Zen is all alone in 1700s Venice, save for his clarinet, which a mysterious magician had enchanted, allowing its first player to perform expertly. Soon Nicolo is a famous virtuoso, wealthy beyond his dreams, but he can't stop wondering if he earned the success himself -- or what might happen if the spell were removed. And throughout it all, he continues to think about the girl he met in Venice, what she might be doing and if she's safe from harm. With a guest appearance by composer Vivaldi, and brimming with fascinating period details, this is a compelling coming-of-age story full of universal themes and a love story that will conjure memories of Romeo and Juliet, perfect for teens who love stories set in other times, but without a paranormal storyline. (from http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/16464-the-true-adventures-of-nicolo-zen) Caminar by Skila Brown Carlos knows that when the soldiers arrive with warnings about the Communist rebels, it is time to be a man and defend the village, keep everyone safe. But Mama tells him not yet — he’s still her quiet moonfaced boy. The soldiers laugh at the villagers, and before they move on, a neighbor is found dangling from a tree, a sign on his neck:Communist. Mama tells Carlos to run and hide, then try to find her. . . . Numb and alone, he must join a band of guerillas as they trek to the top of the mountain where Carlos’s abuela lives. Will he be in time, and brave enough, to warn them about the soldiers? What will he do then? A novel in verse inspired by actual events during Guatemala’s civil war, Caminar is the moving story of a boy who loses nearly everything before discovering who he really is. (From https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18166935-caminar) Muckers by Sandra Neil Wallace Fake ID by Lamar Giles
Nick Pearson is hiding in plain sight… My name isn’t really Nick Pearson. I shouldn’t tell you where I’m from or why my family moved to Stepton, Virginia. I shouldn’t tell you who I really am, or my hair, eye, and skin color. And I definitely shouldn’t tell you about my friend Eli Cruz and the major conspiracy he was about to uncover when he died—right after I moved to town. About how I had to choose between solving his murder with his hot sister, Reya, and “staying low-key” like the Program has taught me. About how moving to Stepon changed my life forever. But I’m going to. Hidden Girl by Shyma Hall An inspiring and compelling memoir from a young woman who lost her childhood to slavery—and built a new life grounded in determination and justice. Shyima Hall was born in Egypt on September 29, 1989, the seventh child of desperately poor parents. When she was eight, her parents sold her into slavery. Shyima then moved two hours away to Egypt’s capitol city of Cairo to live with a wealthy family and serve them eighteen hours a day, seven days a week. When she was ten, her captors moved to Orange County, California, and smuggled Shyima with them. Two years later, an anonymous call from a neighbor brought about the end of Shyima’s servitude—but her journey to true freedom was far from over. A volunteer at her local police department since she was a teenager, Shyima is passionate about helping to rescue others who are in bondage. Now a US citizen, she regularly speaks out about human trafficking and intends to one day become an immigration officer. In Hidden Girl, Shyima candidly reveals how she overcame her harrowing circumstances and brings vital awareness to a timely and relevant topic. (Amazon Review)
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AuthorMrs. Braun has been in education for 20 years working as a school counselor. This year the role of high school librarian is new. Archives
November 2014
CategoriesMrs. Troester's Book Review Guidelines
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