Realistic Fiction Archive

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Reviews by You!

	I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga I really liked the book. It was full of action and kept me on the edge of my seat. Review submitted by Steven.
	The Elements by Theodore Gray The Elements is a book with 2-4 pages about every element known to the human race. It teaches you a lot of different fact about elements. Each 2-4 pages has 3-10 paragraphs, 7 on average. It goes from Hydrogen to Ununoctium. Review submitted by Michael.
	Big Nate Flips Out by Lincoln Peirce The book named above was really funny and is creative, just like all of the other Big Nates. I enjoyed it a lot. This particular book was about Francis and Nate getting into a colossal fight over how Nate was so messy. So, Nate gets hypnotised to be neater, but it doesn’t work out too well. Review submitted by Anthony.
	The List by Siobhan Vivian This was such a good book! It’s the start of the new school year when the list is put out–one pretty girl and one ugly girl in each grade–drama unfolds and friendships shatter. This book does show the reality of high school beauty pressures. Review submitted by Kendall.
	The Magnificent 12: The Call by Michael Grant 4/5 stars. The book has a great plot line. It starts with a person gathering twelve kids to defeat an evil queen. The twists and turns will leave you hanging. Review submitted by Tyler.
	The Enchantress by Michael Scott 5 stars. A great ending to a great series. Everything is nothing that you would expect for the ending. Review submitted by Allison.
	Just Listen by Sarah Dessen This book has an amazing story. I could not put this book down. Sarah Dessen truly takes you to another world with her amazing books. Review submitted by Emily.
	Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling This book was the sequel to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. In this book, someone has been opening up the chamber of secrets again. I thought it was good. Review submitted by Nicole.
	Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes Lenesha’s mother died right after she gave birth to her. Mama Ya-Ya took care of her forever! Hurricane Katrina hit and Lanesha experienced many hardships, including one of her friend’s deaths. Review submitted by Paula.
	One for the Murphy’s by Linda Hunt It’s a book about when Carley Conners goes into a foster home with the Murphy’s after her mom lands in a coma. She grows close to the Murphy’s until her surprise of going back to her mom. Review submitted by Aleks.

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By Colleen, Teen Services Librarian on June 17, 2013 Categories: Action/Adventure, Fantasy, Fiction, Funny, Nonfiction, Realistic Fiction, Reviews By You

Reviews by You

	Insurgent by Veronica Roth Insurgent was the sequel of Divergent. I thought that it was very good! I couldn’t put it down! I would recommend the series to anyone who enjoyed The Hunger Games. Review submitted by Nicole.
	The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins It was an extraordinary novel for teens. I believe that this is one of my favorite books since it has everything I desire in a book such as action, romance, and suspense. Review submitted by Oleg.
	Gone by Michael Grant 5 out of 5 stars! It was fun to think about what I would do if everyone over 15 disappeared! I would want a special power. Review submitted by Morgan.
	Divergent by Veronica Roth Beatrice Prior is a sixteen year old girl nervous about her aptitude test. She will be put into one of five groups: Dauntless, Amity, Candor, Erudite, and Abnegation. Which one will she fall in? Review submitted by Patrick.
	The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan Sadie and Carter go through many obstacles in the second book of the Kane Chronicles series, as well as in the first one. Read all books of Rick Riordan! Review submitted by Paula.
	Unwind by Neal Shusterman Three kids are sent to be unwound. Connor, a trouble maker, is sent by his parents. Rissa, an orphan, is sent because of money, and Lev is sent because of his religion. They escape their fate, but they can’t hide, only run. Review submitted by Stephanie.
	The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick It is about an orphan named Hugo. He wants to finish building a robot that his father found. When it is finished, it tells him things that change his life. Review submitted by Michaela.
	Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney The book is about a boy who is in the middle school. He tells you how to live in the middle school when you get there and what to do. Review submitted by Lucian.
	Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick I like this book because it was great for the third book in the series with amazing plot twists and relatable characters. I would rate it a 10/10. Review submitted by Samantha.
	Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech A girl named Sal moves to Euclid from Bybanks because Sal’s mother went away to Idaho. Sal met a girl named Phoebe and became best friends. Sal’s grandparents and her go and find Sal’s mother died. Then they go back home. Review submitted by Megan.

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By Colleen, Teen Services Librarian on June 12, 2013 Categories: Dystopian, Fantasy, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Reviews By You, Supernatural/Paranormal

Book Trailer of the Week– When We Wuz Famous by Greg Takoudes

This week’s book trailer of the week is for When We Wuz Famous by Greg Takoudes. This novel follows Francisco and the opportunity he has been given with a scholarship to attend a prestigious boarding school for his senior year. This opportunity can change his life, but Francisco is not sure if he wants to have his life changed. His relationship with Reignbow suffers and his best friend ends up getting into more trouble without Francisco there to help him out. What is more important to Francisco: his friends or getting out of Harlem? Click here to find When We Wuz Famous in the Library, and read it to find out!

By Colleen, Teen Services Librarian on April 19, 2013 Categories: Book Trailer, Fiction, Realistic Fiction

The Blessed by Tonya Hurley

OK, I admit it: I picked this book up purely because of its cover. The girl is so creepy and there is something not quite right about her–I think it is the eyes… Anyways, I am glad that I judged a book by its cover, because The Blessed turned out to be a really good read!

This novel starts out as we are introduced to three different teenage girls. Each of these girls finds themselves in the same emergency room on the same night. Agnes is the kind of girl who tries to do everything right, but ends up feeling miserable. She tries to kill herself after her most recent breakup with a boy who she was head over heels in love with. Cecilia is a very talented musician, but she is heading down the wrong path. After a gig, she parties a little too hard and is rushed to the ER when she almost drowns in a puddle. Then there’s Lucy. She is a famous socialite who has everything anyone could want. Unfortunately, that comes with a price, as she is surrounded by people who are a bad influence. She is brought into the ER because of an accidental overdose. After each of these girls are treated and released from the ER, they are visited by an enigmatic stranger. The young man says his name is Sebastian and he gives each girl a bracelet. What follows is a strange story that connects the three girls’ fates together as they mirror the saints they are named for. Sebastian holds the key, however, to the truth about why these girls’ lives mirror the saints’ lives.

The Blessed is good pick for anyone who likes realistic fiction, with a mysterious air about it. While reading this novel I was never really sure if there was something supernatural going on or not. Plus, all three of the main characters (Agnes, Cecilia, and Lucy) were very interesting and you really wanted to get to the bottom of what was happening to them. The Blessed is also pretty suspenseful. I would definitely call it a page turner and it will leave you guessing all the way to the last page. Click here to find The Blessed in the Library!

By Colleen, Teen Services Librarian on April 11, 2013 Categories: Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Staff Pics, Supernatural/Paranormal

March Madness is upon us

March is the ultimate month to be a basketball fan! If you can break yourself away from NCAA tournament, then check out some of these basketball themed books (click on the cover to find it in the Library!):

	The Final Four by Paul Volponi YA VOLPONI, P. Alternating chapters center on four different players on the two teams that meet in a semi-final game of the NCAA Final Four Tournament.
	Last Shot by John Feinstein YA MY FEINSTEIN, J. Two eighth grade students win the opportunity to cover the NCAA Final Four first hand as journalists, but while reporting live at the tournament they uncover a scandal that involves blackmail.
	Game by Walter Dean Myers YA MYERS, W. Drew is a senior living in Harlem and has dreams of making it in the NBA, but he has to learn to control his anger issues first.
	Boy21 by Matthew Quick YA QUICK, M. Two basketball teammates, one black and one white, form a connection through tutoring and find that they have a lot more in common than they had first thought.
	The Pick-Up Game: a Full Day of Full Court YA SS PICK-UP This collection of short stories focuses on different perspectives of one pick up game played on a hot day in July in New York City.
	Girl Got Game by Shizuru Seino YA GRAPH SEINO, S. V.1 This manga series centers on Kyo, whose father is determined to live out his NBA dreams through his daughter. Her father signs her up for the boy’s basketball team and Kyo masquerades as a boy on the team to make her father happy.
	Basketball Slave by Mark Johnson YA 796.323 JOHNSON, A. Andy Johnson’s son, Mark Johnson, tells his father’s story of how Andy became one of the original Harlem Globetrotters.
	In the Paint: Tattoos of the NBA and the Stories Behind Them by Andrew Gottlieb YA 796.323 GOTTLIEB, A. This is a collection of high res photos of some of the more unique NBA tattoos and the first hand stories by the players about why they got them.
	When March Went Mad by Seth Davis 796.3236 DAVIS, S. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson are famous for one of the most well known basketball games in history: the 1979 NCAA Championship game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Indiana State Sycamores. Davis retells the events that led up to the famous game.
	Longshot by Lance Allred 796.323 ALLRED, L. Lance Allred is the NBA’s first deaf player. In this memoir he tells his story of growing up in a fundamentalist Mormon household, realizing his dream of being in the NBA, and how hard it was to get there.
	The Ultimate Book of March Madness by Tom Hager 796.3236 HAGER, T. This book includes a history of every NCAA tournament from 1930 to present and provides an analysis of the top 100 games played in the tournament.

By Colleen, Teen Services Librarian on March 7, 2013 Categories: Action/Adventure, Fiction, Graphic Novel, Guys Reads, Mystery, Nonfiction, Realistic Fiction, Staff Pics

Book Trailer of the Week– Survive by Alex Morel

This week’s book trailer of the week is for Survive by Alex Morel. Jane is depressed, even more so since her father committed suicide, and has already tried to take her own life. On her flight home from rehab she has decided that she will once again try to end it while on the plane. However, her flight is downed in the frozen wilderness before she can follow through on her suicide attempt. Now Jane is stranded with her seatmate Paul, and they are the only survivors. Suddenly, Jane has a life that she wants to fight for–due in part to having to fight alongside Paul. If you are looking for a good adventure/survival story, then Survive is a book you’ll want to read. Click here to find Survive in the Library!

By Colleen, Teen Services Librarian on February 21, 2013 Categories: Action/Adventure, Book Trailer, Fiction, Realistic Fiction

Book Trailer of the Week– The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth Laban

This week’s book trailer of the week is for The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth Laban. If you liked the book 13 Reasons Why, then you’ll also like The Tragedy Paper. It is set in an elite boarding school where current senior Duncan moves into former senior Tim’s old room. As is tradition, Duncan inherits “a treasure” from the previous senior who occupied the room. What has Tim left for Duncan? A set of CD’s recordings that Tim has created telling his story. Told in alternating chapters, you learn both senior’s stories of the drama of senior year. Click here to find The Tragedy Paper in the Library!

By Colleen, Teen Services Librarian on January 12, 2013 Categories: Book Trailer, Fiction, Realistic Fiction

Book Trailer of the Week– Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

This week’s book trailer of the week is for Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry. Echo cannot remember the night that has left her scarred, but she wants to. Now in counseling, Echo is asked to to tutor one of her classmates, a guy with a bad reputation of using girls and being a stoner. Desperate to find answers about what happened to her that forgotten night, Echo teams up with Noah to try and get access to their closed files in the school counselor’s office. Echo knows she needs to be careful around Noah, but as they get closer and closer, she cannot deny the strong feelings she has for him. Click here to find Pushing the Limits in the Library today!

By Colleen, Teen Services Librarian on December 28, 2012 Categories: Book Trailer, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Romance

Book Trailer of the Week– Tilt by Ellen Hopkins

This week’s book trailer of the week is for Tilt by Ellen Hopkins. Tilt is the young adult companion novel to Hopkins’ adult novel, Triangles, that centers on a group of teens whose lives change dramatically because of sex. If you are a fan of Ellen Hopkins dramatic novels in verse, then you should definitely pick up this latest one. Click here to find Tilt in the Library!

By Colleen, Teen Services Librarian on November 1, 2012 Categories: Book Trailer, Fiction, Issues, Realistic Fiction

The Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison

The Butterfly Clues

by Kate Ellison

Since Lo’s brother disappeared, she cannot stop the counting. Multiples of 3 are the safe numbers that mean everything is going to be OK. Lo has also taken to wandering the streets of Neverland, the gritty area of Cleveland that is just a bus ride away from her family’s home in the posh suburb of Lakewood. While wandering she also takes things. Things that will make everything OK. While stealing an angel statue from the front step of a worn down house, Lo hears a gunshot. When Lo later learns that the gunshot was one that killed a young stripper named Sapphire, Lo must find out why the girl was murdered. Lo delves deep into Neverland to unravel the mystery, with only her counting to protect her. It is there that she meets Flint, a runaway, who sees something in Lo that no one else does. Together they try to discover who murdered Sapphire. However, in Neverland you cannot trust anyone.

The Butterfly Clues is an intricately woven mystery that will keep you guessing all the way up to the last chapter. Lo is a hard character to read. She lives in fear everyday and her compulsive behaviors prevent her from being a normal girl. However, as you get to know Lo better you see how strong she really is. The relationship that develops between Lo and Flint is pretty interesting too, since you never really know what Flint’s role was in Saphhire’s life. There’s more than one mystery to this story, so definitely pick this up if you like to read an excellent mystery novel.

By Colleen, Teen Services Librarian on October 23, 2012 Categories: Fiction, Mystery, Realistic Fiction, Staff Pics