Ungifted

Ungifted By: Gordon Korman

Donavon has always had a knack for finding trouble.  This time he has gone to far, he has knocked a globe off of a statue that crashes into the basketball game, causes a lot of damage, and ruins the game.  In a strange accident, he is sent to the school for the gifted. Everyone knows he does not belong there, but he is starting to bring things out in the gifted kids that is not entirely a bad thing. Before he got there, the robotics team wasn't really a team, now they are working more and interacting.  But things are not going to end up well for Donovan when the superintendent finally finds him.

I liked this book. It definitely showed that while some kids are not gifted in academic knowledge they have other gifts that kids need to have.  If you put all the kids together that are completely the same, they don't learn how to function in a regular society. Also I was just rooting for Donovan, because as a teacher, if I have a student who is constantly getting in trouble or being goofy, I love the challenge of finding that one thing to hook them into school and learning.

I borrowed this from the public library.
ISBN: 978-0-06-174266-8

The White Giraffe

The White Giraffe By: Lauren St. John

Martine's parents have been killed in a fire.  She is devastated, but finds out that she has a grandmother that lives in Africa.  This grandmother is now her guardian,  and Martine has to leave the only place she has ever known.  When she gets to Africa, she finds her grandmother a cold woman who doesn't seem interested in her, and school is different. There is a legend that Martine will be the one to ride a mysterious white giraffe and take care of animals.  Martine has to find out what is true and how to take care  of herself and the animals she finds.

This book was different, but I liked the theme of the book.  It really talked about how people should care for animals and not harm them.The book also covered some really good ideas about being kind.  There is a boy that everyone ignores because he does not talk, and the culture of the school is to do this, but Martine feels badly about it.  I think that this has some great ideas to talk with kids about.
I felt horrible for Martine in this book, she lost everything she knew. But in the end she was able to find her place with her grandmother. 

I borrowed this book from a friend.
ISBN: 978-0-545-10581-1

Eve & Adam

Eve & Adam By: Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate

Evening has been hit by a trolley, and believes that she will be dying soon. But to her surprise she is alive and her mother is fighting to get her out of the hospital.  Evening, E.V. to her friends, does not have the best relationship with her mother, who is focused on her work at Spikers Biopharmaceuticals.  Solo has lived at Spikers for six years since his parents were killed. He is planing a way to destroy the company in revenge for his family.  Evening has no idea what she really is and is interested in the computer program her mother has showed her where she is creating the perfect male.  She thinks it is all just a program, until she finds out the truth. But even Solo doesn't know everything in this crazy science fiction tale.

I really thought this was going to be another science fiction love story. And while part of that is true it had a lot more elements to the story then I originally gave it credit for.  The things that were hidden at this crazy hospital were definitely keeping me guessing.  Great teen read. 

I borrowed this from the public library
ISBN: 978-0-312-58351-4

The Graveyard Book

The Graveyard Book By: Neil Gaiman

It all starts with a murder and the boy who gets away. The baby wanders off leaving Jack to wonder where he went.  The boy finds his way to the graveyard, where the ghost of the place vow to keep him safe.  Nobody Owens lives among the dead in the graveyard. He has only the supernatural for friends.  He must learn to live with them and figure out how to be a part of the real world too.  Nobody rarely gets out of the graveyard, but on a few occasions he does, and Jack is still hunting for him.

This was a creepy book aimed at young readers. I really enjoyed it.  I thought that Gaiman did a great job portraying what it would be like to live with ghosts in a graveyard.  It was interesting to finally figure out why his family was murdered at the end of the book.  Great creepy read.

I borrowed this from the public library
ISBN: 978-0-06-053092-1

The Assassin's Blade

The Assassin's Blade: The Throne Of Glass Novellas By: Sarah J. Maas

These are the stories that tell us what has made Celaena who she is.  We meet her as the assassin that she was training to be, we get to know her personally, and know what is taken from her.  There are five stories in this book, each with an important even tin Celaena's life.  We get to meet Same, who Celaena begins to love with her whole heart. We are with her when she is sent to the Red Desert for disobeying her orders, and we know the struggles that she faces.

I really enjoyed these stories. It gave a whole new look at Celaena's life  I love this character even more then when I read the other two books. These are one of my favorite series. I cannot wait for the next book to come out.

I borrowed this book from a friend
ISBN: 978-1-61963-361-2

Frozen

Frozen By: Melissa De La Cruz and Michael Johnston


Natasha knows one thing, she wants to get to the Blue.  She is living in New Vegas, which is covered in a sea of ice.  She believes that she is a monster, and can control things like other people's minds, and she is in danger if anyone finds out.  Ryan Wesson "Wes", just needs to make money so that he can eat. He takes the money for getting Natasha where she needs to go, but they both know that the trip to the Blue is not going to be a safe one.  They run into some scary situations, and are caught by some other pirates, now they just need to find a way to get out alive.

When I started this book I really wasn't interested. But after a few chapters I was hooked.  The story of Natasha always hiding who she is because people want to catch her to use her powers was one that I really enjoyed. Then she meets Wes, who also has a secret reason to help her, and they connect.  Another good science fiction/fairy tale story that I think teens will enjoy.

I borrowed this from the public library
ISBN: 978-0-399-25754-4

The Burning Sky

The Burning Sky By: Sherry Thomas

Iolanthe is a mage, and she is frustrated with the control her guardian has over her.  But in frustration when she decides to summon lightning, things change for her.  Her guardian is taken, and she is sent on an adventure with the prince.  Titus swears to protect her, and she must go to school with him and pretend to be a boy. During this they must figure out a way to fight the forces that are after her.  One thing is certain, one of them may not survive, as told in the prophecies. 

This book was pretty good.  At first I had a hard time getting interested, but about the third chapter I was hooked. Iolanthe is a strong person, and learns many things in this book, along with Titus.  They each know they need each other, but find it hard to trust someone.  When they finally let their guard down they find that they can face things together.

I borrowed this from the public library
ISBN: 978-0-06-220729-6