Good+Reads

The following books are really great reads! If you would like to submit a review of a book that you have read please email the [|library media specialist.] 

THIRTEEN REASONS WHY **Jay Asher** Fiction ISBN: 9781595141712 304 pages

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker–his classmate and crush–who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.


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 * Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen: Book Cover ||

//Lock and Key// Sarah Dessen

Publishers Weekly
Dessen (//Just Listen//) inverts a familiar fairy tale: what if Cinderella got the prince, the castle and all its accoutrements, but wasn’t remotely interested? After her mother abandons her, Ruby Cooper is flying below the radar of officialdom and trying to make it to her 18th birthday, when she’s busted by the landlord and turned over to social services. Ruby gets taken in by her estranged sister, Cora, who left for college a decade earlier and never looked back, and Cora’s husband, Jamie, the wealthy founder of a ubiquitous social networking site. Resentful, suspicious and vulnerable, she resists mightily, refusing the risky business of depending on anybody but herself, and wearing the key to her old house around her neck. All the Dessen trademarks are here—the swoon-worthy boy next door who is not what he appears to be; and the supporting characters who force Ruby to rethink her cynical worldview, among them the frazzled owner of a jewelry kiosk at the mall. The author again defines characters primarily through dialogue, and although Ruby and her love interest, Nate, sound wiser than their years, they talk the way teens might want to—from the heart. A must for Dessen fans, it will win her new readers, too. Ages 12-up. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


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 * The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie: Book Cover ||

//The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian// Sherman Alexie Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, //The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian//, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he thought he was destined to live.
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//Brisingr// Christopher Paolini

Publishers Weekly
The much-anticipated third book in Paolini's Inheritance Cycle continues to rely heavily on classic fantasy tropes. The novel launches with magician and Dragon Rider Eragon, his cousin Roran and the dragon Saphira on a quest to rescue Roran's betrothed. The cousins soon split up, and Roran undergoes his own series of heroic tests, culminating in a well-choreographed and intense fight against an Urgal (a ram-human hybrid). Eragon, at the same time, encounters treacherous dwarves, undergoes even more training with the elf Oromis and gains a magical sword suitable for a Dragon Rider. The silly revelations about Eragon's background in the previous book, Eldest, are given a new spin near the end, but the change is neither unexpected nor interesting. Predictably, the book concludes with even more character deaths and another battle, but those expecting a resolution will have to wait until the next novel. The cliched journey may appeal to younger readers of genre fiction. Older teens, even those who might have first cut their teeth on Paolini's writing years ago, are less likely to be impressed. Ages 12-up. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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//Kendra// Coe Boothe

VOYA
Kendra has spent her whole life waiting for her mother RenTe to come home and actually be her mother. Only fourteen when she gave birth, RenTe was able to finish school because her mother offered to care for Kendra, with the understanding that once she was done, mother and daughter would find a place of their own. Three degrees and fourteen years later, Kendra is still waiting for RenTe, getting in over her head with a boy at school, and needing a mother more than ever. As with Tyrell (PUSH/Scholastic, 2006/VOYA February 2007), Booth's strengths in this work are the reality of the story and the character's voice. Kendra's fear and disappointment about her mother's ambivalence permeates the novel, and she reacts with authentic teenage self-righteousness when accused of doing forbidden things she has done in secret. RenTe does not miraculously become the dream mother for whom Kendra has longed, but by the end of the novel, Kendra has gained the maturity to realize she is okay with the imperfect family she has. Unfortunately the novel includes some unsettling stereotypes about sex. Kendra says she feels dirty and used after her first encounters with Nashawn, a boy at school, and yet later is unable to resist him. She describes their hook-ups as something that "just happened," even though she says she knew it was wrong and a mistake. This rationalization is in character for a teen craving affection and raised by a strict grandmother, but it also denies Kendra any sexual empowerment. Teens will still be eager to get their hands on this powerful follow-up to Tyrell's story. Reviewer: Vikki Terrile
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//Lady J// L.Divine

From the Publisher
For South Bay High's bold, beautiful Jayd Jackson, drama has reached record-breaking heights as she finds herself on the defensive at home, work, and school. Maybe it's time to take her destiny-and her power-into her own hands. Her relationship with now-ex boyfriend Jeremy behind her, Jayd realizes drama is just a never-ending part of daily life. Even so, she's reached her limit, battling with her new boss, jealousies at school, and tensions at home. To deal with it all, Jayd is ready to give some attention to her legacy as one in a long line of conjure women. But that legacy comes with a line of rivals too-and a couple of them are much too close to home. First, there's Misty, Jayd's enemy #1 and current girlfriend of Jayd's other ex, KJ. Then there's Jayd's neighbor, Esmeralda, a conjurer from Louisiana whose crystal-clear blue eyes are said to be deadly. When Jayd spots Misty's mom visiting Esmeralda, she knows something's up and it's time for Mama to fill her in. Turns out there's a history between these families, and if Jayd wants to keep the drama under control, she'll have to learn to use her power like never before-and become the woman she was born to be.
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Legend of the Seeker Terry Goodkind

Synopsis
Basis for the television series //Legend of the Seeker//, launching in Fall 2008! Millions of readers the world over have been held spellbound by this valiant tale vividly told.

Now, enter Terry Goodkind's world, the world of the Sword of Truth.

In the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher's forest sanctuary seeking help ... and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence.

In their darkest hour, hunted relentlessly, tormented by treachery and loss, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword-- to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of battle have just changed ... or that their time has run out.

This is the beginning. One book. One Rule. Witness the birth of a legend.
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//Looking for Lisa// Lurlene McDaniel

Synopsis
Nathan Malone has been homeschooled his whole life. He’s never spent much time with kids his own age and he’s never dated. His mother is now busy with his new twin sisters, so Nathan must enroll at the local high school for his senior year. On the first day, a girl on a motorcycle catches his eye and Nathan is excited to discover the girl is also in his English class.

Not only does Lisa ride a motorcycle to school, but she’s a loner who seems to come and go as she pleases. She doesn’t care what anybody thinks of her. Nathan is intrigued—he’s never met anyone like her or had such strong feelings. When he and Lisa finally start spending time together, he’s the happiest he’s ever been.

But Lisa has a tragic secret and, when she decides she’ll handle it herself, Nathan has to make a choice. Can he ever let go of Lisa?