Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Reading Level: Young Adult
(4 out of 5)

This book is 108 pages and I read it in one night. Once I started I couldn't put it down. What I really liked about this book is that it's all written in journal entries. Tish Bonner is a sophomore in high school and her English teacher Mrs. Dunphrey wants the class to keep a journal but if it's something they don't want her to read they can label the entry, "Do not read." Tish starts her journal entry's out with "do not read" to see if Mrs. Dunphrey can be trusted. When Mrs. Dunphrey proves trustworthy Tish starts writing about school, her job at Burger Boy, and her home life that is starting to spiral out of control. Her father has been gone for two years and her mother has been in an emotional coma since. She works but doesn't do much else. Tish takes care of herself and her younger brother Matt. When her dad comes back it looks like life might be better but she has a hard time trusting him and soon he disappoints. Then her mother leaves to find him leaving Tish and Matt alone. Tish feels like she can't trust anyone but likes writing in her journal and eventually trusts Mrs. Dunphrey with her secrets. This is an older book and I think the story was set in the 1980's but the issues talked about haven't changed through the decades. I think any teen picking up this book could relate to Tish and her problems. I think everyone has felt the way she felt about school a time or two. It was a very good read.

Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult

Reading Level: Adult

(3 out of 5)

Jodi Picoult does not shy away from controversial or hot topics. In this book a baby is found dead in the Fisher's barn. The Fisher's are Amish and the most likely suspect is their eighteen year old daughter Katie Fisher. She denies ever having a baby even when blood is running down her legs and the hospital confirms she gave birth. Katie's family didn't know she was pregnant and since she is unmarried it is a sin. Her father Aaron just wants her to take responsibility and not have representation but Katie's Aunt Leda, who has been shunned from the Amish community since she married and Englisher, has a niece by marriage that is a lawyer and just happens to be visiting. Ellie Hathaway came to her Aunt and Uncles to rest and take a break from law cases but she feels compelled to help Katie. To keep Katie out of jail and from having a bond she agrees to be responsible for her and has to live with Katie and her family on their farm. Ellie gets a first hand look at how the Amish operate and what their beliefs are. It takes awhile to untangle the mystery of what happened to baby Fisher. This book was very good but it was really long and a lot of the information given is repeated twice. Once before the courtroom drama and then again in the courtroom. The ending to me was shocking. I wasn't expecting it at all. That's what I like about mysteries. I don't want to figure out the mystery by the first few pages I want to be kept in suspense. To find out more about Jodi Picoult and the books she has written you can visit her website: http://www.jodipicoult.com/

Multiple Bles8ings by Jon and Kate Gosselin

Reading Level: Adult
(4 out of 5)








Eight children in three years? Impossible! For Jon and Kate Gosselin nothing is impossible. When Jon and Kate met it was love at first sight. Not to long after they got married. Both really wanted children but Kate found out she had Polycysitc Ovarian Syndrome, which means that she did not ovulate. So in order to get pregnant they were going to need a little help. In 2000 they got pregnant with twins. It wasn't an easy pregnancy. Nice months later Kate gave birth to Cara and Mady. Kate soon felt the itch to just have one more. Jon was against it at first. He remembered what it was like the first time around. Painful injections and then a turbulent pregnancy. Soon he came around and they started another round of treatments. In 2003 Kate successfully got pregnant. Before Thanksgiving a visit to the infertility specialist gave them the shock of a lifetime. From the ultrasound the doctor found seven fuzzy little blips that represented life. Jon and Kate were against reduction. At a following ultarsound it was determined that there were six babies. Jon and Kate were having sextuplets. On May 10, 2004 Kate gave birth to Alexis, Hannah, Leah, Aaden, Collin, and Joel. This book tracks their amazing journey from Kate's fight to keep the babies in her belly long enough for them to grow to finally being able to enjoy having a family of eight. It was amazing to read about all the support that they had and how their faith provided for them.

Jon and Kate also have a website: http://www.sixgosselins.com/ and they have a show called Jon and Kate Plus Eight on TLC.

Twilight the Movie

I do realize this is a book blog but the movie is based off a book so that's okay right? Stephenie Meyer's books has come to life and I have to say I liked it. It's not as good as the book but they usually never are. If you think of this movie as a separate entity you may really enjoy it. This movie generated a lot of buzz before it even came out and it's creating a lot of buzz now that most of the world has seen it. Some have seen it several times. There are mixed reviews. Some love it, some were disappointed. I myself thought they stayed pretty close to the book. It's a 500 page books so they couldn't keep everything and I thought that the stuff they added to the movie was appropriate. The fight scene at the end I thought was really cool. Better than the book. I did think the movie started out a bit slow. Because it was slow you would think they had ample time to build the romance properly but I felt the romance was rushed. The book had it better played out. I was very disappointed by the lack of sparkle. It seemed to be on the subtle side and I really wanted to see him sparkle in the open meadow not within the trees. Other than that Jasper was a little creepy but I did think all the actors did a really good job portraying these much loved characters. I had my doubts but they won me over. I'm very excited that they will be doing New Moon. It was announced by Summit films that they were given the green light but I'm not sure when they will start filming. If were lucky it will come out some time next year but who knows.

Avatar Series by Tui T. Sutherland

Reading Level: Young Adult
(4 out of 5)




They say you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover and I try not to but the cover is the first thing you see when you read a book. I actually saw the third book first. The cover was very intriguing. Once I found out that it was the third in the series I ordered the other two to read. Now if I would have run across this first book first I may not have read it. I know, I know I sound like a book snob. But in my defense there is a huge bird with a man riding on it. It just looks weird. Even though the cover may not pull me in I do read the book jacket to see what the books is about but I like when the cover is really cool. Anyway on to the story.

The first book in the series is "So This Is How It Ends." What would you do if one second the world was fine and the next everyone one was gone but you? I'm not sure either but for Gus, Venus, Kali, and Tigre they are about to find out. The year is 2012 and everything seems like it should be. Kali is in New York on the subway when it happens. She closed her eyes for only a second and when she wakes up everyone is gone. Stepping off the subway she notices graffiti with phrases like "The End has Come" and strange fish drawings. Then suddenly water comes out from nowhere. Gus (tech guy) and Venus (pop star) are in Los Angeles on a sound stage when an earthquake hits. The get safely outside to discover that area has changed and there is a statue of Venus claiming she died. Tigre is in Chile and wakes up to find animals that are grotesque and a huge beautiful bird that can communicate with him. The world is nothing like it should be. All humans seem to be gone and there are these huge crystal creatures that are terrifying. As the four teenagers try to find out what happened they are hearing voices telling them to go in a certain direction. In this book you get to know the characters quite a bit and you are as confused as they are because you have know idea what is going on and you don't really find out until the end of the book and all you want to do is start reading the next book right away.




Book two is called "Shadow Falling." You learn from the first book that the Gods, as in the Roman/Greek, Egyptian, Norse, Incan, and other Gods are behind why the people disappeared and the voices in the teenagers heads. Six pantheons each choose one of there Gods to be reborn as a human child. Now each human/God must fight each other to the death so they can claim the other's powers and see who will be the ultimate ruler of all the Gods. Kali is the Indian Goddess of destruction and her husband Shiva is her trainer for this game the Gods are playing. Kali is not happy with Shiva because he entered her into this contest against her will. Venus, who's real name is Diana, has two Goddess's in her. She is from the Roman/Greek pantheon and was born Diana Goddess of the hunt but then at age 13 had Venus Goddess of love shoved into her as well. Her pantheon made a deal with the Egyptians that if they played nice Amon could win and have Venus as his prize. Gus was actually a normal teenager but had Oro the Polynesian God of war thrust into him when the earthquake happened. Tigre is the Incan Storm God and his real name is Catequil. Then there is Thor, as in the God Thor of the Norse pantheon. Anna and Ereka that show up at different times looking exactly a like with the same memories but no memories of each other and they don't know what Pantheon they are from. In this book the games begin but for Tigre, Kali, Diana/Venus, Gus, and Thor they don't want to play by the rules.


Book Three is called "Kingdom of Twilight." Diana has been stabbed by Anna who is the Sumerian Goddess of love. Diana is alive but barely and she finds herself in the underworld. Meanwhile her body along with Kali, Tigre, and Gus are on a viking ship to Africa. Africa is neutral in this game. The African Gods wanted to be left alone in Africa. Once they get to Africa Gus heads to the underworld to help bring Diana back and Kali and Tigre try and find the African trickster God Eshu. He knows something about the game and about getting them back to 2o12. I don't want to ruin the ending but keep in mind they have been playing a game and they are being played. I loved all the mythology running around in the this book but Ms. Sutherland did a great job with keeping them all straight and it wasn't confusing. With all the Gods that were present I could see how these books could get confusing. I loved these books and I'm glad that I didn't let the cover stop me from reading the first book or I would have missed out on something great and fun to read.

Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys by Kate Brian

Reading Level: Young Adult
(4 out of 5)


If you had the choice to a. live in Korea with your parents for two years or b. live with seven boys, five around your age and totally cute, what would your choice be? Megan Meade is an Army brat. She has moved from place to place all her life and she doesn't want to anymore. When her parents announce that they are moving to Korea Megan puts her foot down and tells them no. The only other alternative is to go live with the McGowan family which consists of seven boys. You read that correctly, seven boys. There is Sean, Evan, Finn, Doug, Miller, Ian, and Caleb. The mom of the bunch, Regina, is thrilled to have a girl around but Megan is more like one of the boys. She loves soccer, is not into makeup, and wears comfortable clothes. Megan is a normal sixteen year old and she is thrust into an all male world and trying to navigate a new school, soccer team, and her first crush, that happens to be on the boy next door. As in the bedroom next door. Throughout the book are entries in Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys. It's very interesting stuff.

Vibes by Amy Kathleen Ryan

Reading Level: Young Adult
(4 out of 5)

Kristi Carmichael can read minds. It's not always easy either. Sometimes peoples thoughts can be very hurtful. Kristi has been through a lot in the past two years. Her best friend ditched her when high school started, her father left for Africa, and her mother and her don't get along. Her best friend is Minnie Mouse, her cat, that she has to keep locked up in her bedroom because her mother is allergic and doesn't even know she has a cat.

Kristi goes to a hippie type high school called Journeys. She takes classes such as Explorations of Nature (biology in disguise), The Language of the Universe (math), Story as Cultural Artifact (English), and they have a contemplation room. At school her only friend seems to be Jacob but the new kid Mallory seems interesting, but Kristi can't help having a crush on her ex-best friends brother Gusty (who is totally hot). When Gusty and Kristi have to work together on a project she is both excited and fearful. Gusty is always thinking she's sick.

This was a fun read with some laugh out loud moments. I shook my head a little when reading about the school. It just doesn't seem possible that a school like that would be real but it might be fun. This is Ms. Ryan's second book and to learn more about her you can go to her website: http://www.amykathleenryan.com/

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Reading Level: Young Adult
(4 out of 5)


Kristin Cashore has created a world with seven kingdoms. Each kingdom is ran by a King. Katsa lives under the command of her Uncle Randa, King of the Middluns. In this world some people are born with a Grace. A Grace is an extraordinary skill such as cooking, archery, reading the weather, or killing. Each Graced person has two different colored eyes. Katsa was Graced with killing and her Uncle uses her to punish and torture anyone who displeases him. Then Katsa meets Prince Po of Lienid. Prince Po is Graced with combat skills but there is more to him then meets the eye. Katsa and Po soon learn about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away, a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone, and they set out on a journey to save humankind.


This is Ms. Cashores first young adult novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. A prequel to Graceling called Fire will be out next year and she is currently working on the 3rd book that will be a sequel to both books. To learn more about the author: http://www.kristincashore.blogspot.com/

The Lightning Thief

5 out of 5
Book Lovers

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan is not only a 2008-2009 Young Hoosier nominee, it is also this year's pick for the Northwest Indiana Books to Bridge the Region event. Normally, I'm not a big fan of the books that are chosen for events such as this, but the Lightning Thief really caught my attention from the beginning.

Percy Jackson has been to numerous schools; never attending one for more than a year at a time. Strange things and weird teachers always seem to interfere in his attempt to be a good student.

During summer break, Percy learns he is the son of Poseidon, Greek god of the sea. He is also a new member at Camp Half Blood, a training camp for demi-gods (sons and daughters of Greek gods). While at camp Percy learns about a quest he must accept: seek out the thief who stole Zeus's lightning bolt.

Percy accepts the quest and begins the journey with two friends, Grover and Annabeth. Along the way, monsters, gods and other obstacles naturally get in the way.

Author Rick Riordan creates a mythical world in this series. There are four other titles in Riordan's Olympian Series and a fifth and final book forthcoming. All four books, The Lightning Thief, Sea of Monsters, Titan's Curse and Battle of the Labyrinth are sure to keeps adults and teens entertained. The last book is due out in May 2009.

Mom For Mayor

Young Hoosier Book Award nominee for the school year 2008 -2009, Mom for Mayor by Nancy Edwards introduces the intermediate grade child to politics and elections.

When Eric sees the “For Sale” signs at the neighborhood park and baseball field, he decides that he must do something to save his favorite park. To make matters worse it is know it all Caitlyn’s uncle, the mayor, who is responsible.

So, fifth grade student Eric, and his best friend Jonathan set out to get Eric’s mom elected mayor. Eric and Jonathan are so busy getting petitions signed and printing up posters that they forget to inform the candidate. Eventually Eric’s mother decides to follow through with Eric’s plan and run for city council. Even though Eric’s primary goal is to save the park, he begins to realize that politics, politicians, and local issues are more complicated then they first appear.

In an authors note, Nancy Edwards explains that the election process in Mom for Mayor reflects the City Council elections in her hometown in Michigan. The public votes for seven city council members, the top vote-getter is then chosen by the council to be mayor. This entertaining Young Hoosier nominee for children grades 4 – 6 will bring attention to local elections and encourage those that have political ambitions.

M. Churley

Lake Station-New Chicago Branch

Island of Lost Girls by Jennifer McMahon

Looking for a new author and a good mystery that is a fast read? Try Island of Lost Girls by Jennifer McMahon.

While filling up her car on her way to a job interview Rhonda Farr sees a person dressed up in a rabbit suit, kidnap a little girl out of a parked car in front of the service station. Rhonda is so shocked to see rabbit that she does nothing to stop the crime at the time.

Rhonda feels guilty over doing nothing to stop the kidnapping. She tries to help the police with the investigation. When Pat, the owner of the service station, sets up a search center hotline for little Ernie Rhonda volunteers to answer phones from people claiming to have seem the missing child.

Rhonda discovers things she does not want to believe about her close childhood friend Peter, who the police suspect is involved in the kidnapping. In the end Rhonda has to deal with her feelings from the past, present, and possibly future feelings for all family members and friends.

L. Phillips

Lake Station-New Chicago Branch

Promise of the Wolves by Dorothy Hearst

Reading Level: Adult
(4 out of 5) WHAT IS THE PROMISE OF THE WOLF?

Never consort with humans. Never kill a human unprovoked. Never allow a mixed-blood wolf to live. At least that’s what the wolves of the Wide Valley believe. Until a young wolf dares to break the rules—and forever alters the relationship between wolves and the humans who share their world. Born of a forbidden mixed-blood litter and an outcast after her mother is banished, Kaala is determined to earn a place in the Swift River pack. But her world is turned upside down when she saves a human girl from drowning. Risking expulsion from their pack and banishment from the Wide Valley, Kaala and her young packmates begin to hunt with the humans and thus discover the long-hidden bond between the two clans. But when war between wolves and humans threatens, Kaala learns the lies behind the wolf’s promise. Lies that force her to choose between safety for herself and her friends and the survival of her pack—and perhaps of all wolf- and humankind (taken from http://www.dorthyhearst.com/).

I actually put this book on hold thinking it was about werewolves. When I received the book and read the synopsis I realized I had been mistaken. At first I didn't know if I wanted to read a book about wolves, but I started reading the first page and then the next and so on until the book was finished. I really enjoyed this book. The emotions and everyday turmoil that wolves go through, people go through. Kaala is not accepted by her pack but she is determined to earn respect. She fights from a early age for her survival. She wants to follow the rules but by breaking them she learns more and more. What she learns is that not everything is what it seems.

Undercover by Beth Kephart

Reading Level: Young Adult

(3 out of 5)

Elisa has a way with words. When the boys at her school need help wooing a girl they come to Elisa for her poetry. Elisa is like a modern day Cyrano de Bergerac. She sits on the sidelines discretely watching the world go by. Then one day Theo asks for Elisa's help. He likes Lila and not to long after Elisa likes Theo. Along with that her parents are having some problems of there own. So Elisa finds solace at a pond near her house. When the pond freezes over she teaches herself how to skate and she starts to come alive. Elisa doesn't want to be invisible anymore and you watch Elisa come out of her shell.

I liked this book but I didn't really enjoy the ending. Ms. Kephart left it to unfinished for me. I want to know if x, y, z happens with a, b, c. I'm not sure that make sense but I don't want to give the story away.

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

"My name is Chloe Saunders and my life will never be the same again. All I wanted was to make friends, meet boys, and keep on being ordinary. I don't even know what that means anymore. It started on the day I saw my first ghost-and the ghost saw me." (Book Jacket)

When Chloe encounters her first ghost she freaks out. It's hard to blame her for freaking when the ghost is chasing her and his flesh is falling off. The freak out though lands her at Lyle House. A home for disturbed teens. There she meets Tori, Rae, Liz, Derek, and Simon. They all have clinically diagnosed problems but there may be something else going on. Chloe soon finds out that the Lyle house is not what it seems.

This book was a fast read and it keeps your attention. It is the first in a trilogy called The Darkest Powers. You can check out Chloe Saunders website: http://www.chloesaunders.com/. The authors website is: http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/.

Reading Level: Young Adult

(4 out of 5)

Ghost Soldier by Elaine Marie Alphin

Reading Level: 4-6 grades

(4 out of 5)

Young Hoosier Award winner Ghost Soldier is a ghost story with historical twist. Dealing with the fact that his mother walked out on him and his father three years ago, Alexander, age 13, still hopes for her return. So when his father plans a vacation to North Carolina to visit a widow and her children, Alex is upset. While the group is touring a Civil War battlefield, Alex’s gift of seeing ghosts of events long past reappears.

Richard Francis Chamblee cannot rest in peace until he finds out what became of his family after the war. Reluctantly Alex agrees to help Rich discover the fate of his family whose homestead was in the path of Sherman’s march. Through Rich, Alexander learns some history of the Civil War, from the south’s point of view and finds answers to questions over one hundred years old.
Rich also helps Alex accept his mother’s exit from his life and his father’s need to move on.

Ghost Soldier is a book of mystery, paranormal and history. It was the Young Hoosier Award winner for the school year 2003 – 2004 selected by students in the intermediate grades. The author, Elaine Marie Alphin is an Indiana author.

M. Churley

City of Bones and City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

Reading Level: Young Adult
(4 out of 5)

Sometimes you can't go by what a book review says about a book. The review I read about this series almost made me not read it. I think it said something about the story getting bogged down by lengthy explanations but I didn't get that impression when I read the books. I really enjoyed them and I am anxiously awaiting the third book called City of Glass. It comes out in March of 2009. Just keep in mind that just because so in so doesn't like it doesn't mean you won't. You can miss out on a lot of good reading that way.

The main character is Clary. She is fifteen and her best friend is Simon. When they go to a club one night Clary sees three teenagers sporting tattoo's and weapons and they are about to kill another teenager. Clary goes to stop them and the three teens are in shock that Clary can see them. They are Shadow Hunters and they hunt demons. The teen about to be killed is a demon disguising himself as a boy.

Clary doesn't understand what is going on but she soon finds out that her mother has been hiding a terrible secret and she is kidnapped. Clary must trust the Shadow Hunters (Jace, Alec, and Isabelle) because they know things that could help get her mother back. Ms. Clare has created an intriguing world full of vampires, werewolves, Fae, and people that were born to fight the evil in the world. Clary is one of those people. Once you read the first book you have to get your hands on the second one.

Just when Clary and Jace may have feelings for each other they find out they may be brother and sister. Clary's father whom she thought was dead is alive and evil. Everything normal in her world is falling apart. If you are into fantasy then you should read these books.

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Reading Level: Young Adult
(4 out of 5)









Well this was it. The last book in the Twilight series that has taken the world by storm. I think it sold over a million books on it's first day out. Amazing! I'm a little jealous of Stephenie Meyer right now. She has created some wonderful fiction that I will enjoy reading over and over again. I can't say that about many other books that I have read. I was excited to read this book but at the same time a little sad. I knew that Bella and Edward's adventure was coming to a close. I just hope that Mrs. Meyer decides to continue writing stories that incorporate some of the other characters from the Twilight series. I would enjoy that.


Breaking Dawn blew me away. It was nothing like what I expected it to be. Every page I read continued to keep me on my toes and some of it thoroughly shocked me. I thought this last book would be about whether or not Bella went through with the wedding and the vampire change. I figured it would take the whole book. Boy was I wrong. If I was the betting type I would have lost big time. I think why I liked the book so much was because it was so different from what I imagined. If only I could been a fly on the wall when Mrs. Meyer wrote this so maybe I could understand why she took the book in the direction she did. If I ever get to meet her I'm going to thank her for not making the book predictable. I had no idea how it was going to end and I like that in a book. I'm not really going to give much detail about this last book because I don't want to spoil it for anyone. I stayed away from reviews and the Internet while reading this book because I didn't want any spoilers.


Let me know what you thought of this book. I would love to get your opinions.

Wake by Lisa McMann

Reading Level: Young Adult

(4 out of 5)

Wow I have been having a very busy summer and haven't posted in awhile. Rest assured that I have been reading like crazy but nothing has really urged me to make a post about it until now. Lisa McMann's first novel Wake was really good. I read it in about two hours. I really liked the way she wrote it. It is almost like reading a journal but in real time. Her character Janie has an unusual gift. She gets sucked into other people's dreams or nightmares. They range from the naked dreams, the falling dreams, and the really frightening where your blood pressure spikes kind of dreams. Janie is getting tired of it. If she is close to someone sleeping she gets sucked into the dream. If it is a particularly strong dream she has seizure like symptoms. Janie just wants to be normal.


With the help of Cabel and Miss Stubin Janie starts to control her gift and everything starts to look up. You will have to read it to find out the rest. The sequel to this book is called Fade and will be out next year.

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

Werewolves, Vampires, and Fae, OH MY!!! Moon Called by Patricia Briggs is the first book in her Mercy Thompson series. Mercedes Thompson, Mercy for short, is a walker. She can shape shift into a coyote. She also owns a car repair shop, her former boss is Fae, she has a vampire friend named Stefan, and her sexy next door neighbor Adam is a werewolf. What is a girl to do? Mercy doesn't want any trouble but trouble seems to find her. She gets caught in the middle of strange happenings among the werewolves and ends up having to haul her injured neighbor to Montana were she grew up because she doesn't know who she can trust within Adam's pack. Mercy grew up with werewolves and knows she can trust them. Back in Montana she hashes out some of her own family business and reconnects with another sexy werewolf Samuel. Samuel, Adam, and Mercy have to find Adams daughter Jesse, who's been kidnapped. This is a fun, intriguing read full of fantasy, danger, and a hint of romance.

You can find out about the series by going to the authors website: http://www.patriciabriggs.com/.

(4 out of 5)

Reading Level: Adult

Sharing Sam by Katherine Applegate

(4 out of 5)

Reading Level: Young Adult

I read this book several years ago. I thing I was in junior high at the time. My friend and I both read it and loved it. When I was checking some books in the other day I saw this one. I checked it out and re-read some of my favorite parts. This is a sweet story of two girls and a guy they both love. Sam is the new guy in town and both Allison and Isabella have eyes for him. Sam is into Allison. They start to date but then Isabella is diagnosed with a brain tumor. Isabella really likes Sam so Allison encourages Sam to take her out. Allison knows that Isabella doesn't have much time left and wants her to experience love. This really is one of the sweetest love triangle stories you will ever read and as a teenager it was one of my favorites.

Escape by Carolyn Jessop

(4 out of 5)

Reading Level: Adult

If I had to describe this book in one word I would say UNBELIEVABLE. Carolyn Jessop was born into a polygamist cult. Her family were members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), the radical sect of the Mormon Church that had settled in small communities along the Arizona-Utah border. Carolyn believed in her religion and she believed in polygamy. Her grandmother would tell her stories about how wonderful it was to have a husband with many wives. That she would be doing the will of God and of the church. The more wives a man had the more powerful he was and was in favor with God. Women only got to heaven with the permission of her husband. If she wansn't in harmony with him when she died she would experience a second death and live in a type of Hell. At eighteen Carolyn became the fourth wife to Merill Jessop a fifty-year-old man. Within the family Carolyn was as old as some of Merill's daughters and she was targeted by his favorite wife Barbara. The wives would jockey for attention, snitch on each other, and had the right to discipline each others children. If you complained to Merrill he would say you deserved it and that you were not in harmony with him. Withing fifteen years Carolyn had eight children and the new leader coming to power Warren Jeffs was preaching the apocalypse. His rules and laws became more and more dangerous and ridiculous. Carolyn knew she had to escape. Finally in April 2003 she had the opportunity to round up her children and escape with their lives.

I had the same feeling reading this book as I did when I read Dave Pelzer's books. Their stories are very different but they are both like train wrecks. You know you shouldn't look as it happens because it's painful to watch but you are riveted and can't look away. Her story is in many ways so sad it was hard to read at times but I just knew there had to be a light at the end of the tunnel. And there was a light. She escaped and had freedom for the first time in her thirty five years of living. It was definitely worth reading.

On the back cover of the books is a quote by the author John Krakauer, "Escape provides an astonishing look behind the tightly drawn curtains of the FLDS Church, one of the most secretive religious groups in the United States. The story of Carolyn Jessop tells is so weird and shocking that one hesitates to believe a sect like this, with 10,000 polygamous followers, could really exist in twenty-first-century America. But Jessop's courageous, heart-wrenching account is absolutely factual. This riveting book reminds us that truth can indeed be much, much stranger than fiction." Mr. Krakauer I couldn't agree with you more.

Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer

(5 out of 5)

Reading Level: Young Adult

I absolutely loved, loved, loved these books. I have read these over again I liked them so much. I just by chance picked this one up off the new rack in the children's area along with some others. I didn't know anything about it. From page one I was hooked. I was Bella, the main character, and I was pining after Edward, her love interest. He is irresistible and a vampire.

In the first book Bella goes to live with her Sheriff father in Forks, Washington. A perpetually rainy place. It is here that she meets the beautiful Cullen family (Carlise, Esme, Rosalie, Emmet, Jasper, Alice, and Edward). Edward seems to take an instant dislike to Bella and she's not sure why. You soon find out the reason. Edward (plus his whole family) is a vampire and he likes the smell of Bella's blood. Despite that they can't seem to stay away from each other. Billy Black's (friend of Charlie) son Jacob helps Bella come to the conclusion that Edward is a vampire by telling her the story of the cold ones. Edward and his family are not like typical vampires. They have chosen not to drink blood from humans but to get it from animals. They do not have fangs and they won't turn to dust in the sun. Bella and Edward are star crossed lovers. And they have to fight the outside world in order to stay together. There is a dangerous vampire that wants Bella for himself.

The second book New Moon has Bella and Edward apart for most of it. Edward and his family move away from Forks in order to keep Bella safe. Being in love with a vampire that wants your blood can be very dangerous. Edward is Bella's world so when he leaves her she is devastated. With the help of her friend Jacob Black Bella is able to function in the world and she discovers that if she pushes the limits by recklessly riding a motorcycle she hears Edwards voice. Bella keeps looking for the ultimate high so she can be close to Edward. Bella is being stalked by one of the vampires from the first book. Edward believes Bella dies so he travels to Italy to end his own life. Bella and Edward's sister Alice frantically race to Italy to stop him. Meyer also introduces a clan of werewolves in this book as well. The werewolves and vampires don't get along.

The third book Eclipse is very action packed and full of longing. Bella loves Edward and her best friend is Jacob. Edward is a vampire and Jacob is a werewolf. Edward doesn't want Bella seeing Jacob because werewolves are known to be temperamental. Bella is having a hard time not seeing Jacob so Edward agrees to let her. The vampire from the second books is still after Bella and she has brought along some newly made vampires and their blood lust is high. The vampires and the werewolves have to ban together to take these vampires out. In this book there is a love triangle between Edward, Bella, and Jacob.

The fourth book Breaking Dawn is due out August 2, 2008. I for one am counting down the days. I can't wait.

Twilight is also being made into a movie. To check it out go to http://www.imdb.com/.

To check out more about the author go to http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

(4 out of 5)

Reading Level: Adult

This book came out in 2002 and it went flying off the shelves at the library. If I remember correctly the waiting list was quite long. I was probably one of the only people on the planet not to read this book. It sounded very intriguing but I must have had other books to consume at the time. At the library we do once a month book discussions. I picked this book for our discussion in May. I thought to myself this is the perfect opportunity for me to read it. I'm really glad I did. Alice Sebold has spun an emotional roller coaster of a story. The Lovely Bones is about fourteen year old Susie and her family. From the start of the book Susie is already in heaven. She dies by the hands of a neighbor in a very brutal way. In the weeks following her death, Susie watches over her family desperately trying to reach out to them. And she also explores the place called heaven. As the months turn into years each family member (mom, dad, sister Lindsey, and brother Buckley) cope in their own way. The police have no leads as to who the killer is but Susie's father is convinced that he knows who did it. But he has no proof.

"The Lovely Bones is luminous and astonishing, a novel that builds out of grief the most hopeful of stories. In the hands of a brilliant new writer, this story of the worst thing a family can face is transformed into a suspenseful and even funny novel about love, memory, joy, heaven, and healing (book jacket)."

The Lovely Bones is being made into a movie directed by Peter Jackson. To find out more about the movie go to http://www.imdb.com/.

Forensic Mystery Series

In this fast paced series for teens, Alane Ferguson created stories of mystery, murder and suspense. Cameryn Mahoney, age 17, convinces her father, the county coroner, to hire her as his assistant in The Christopher Killer: A Forensic Mystery. When a body, found in the forest, matches the pattern of a serial killer, a television psychic and his entourage arrives in town to help with the investigation. The victim: Cameryn's friend Rachel Geller. This makes the autopsy and the resulting investigation more personal for Cameryn who has to put aside her emotional responses and evaluate the information clinically.

The Angel of Death and The Circle of Blood are books two and three in this series. The forensic details are straight forward, with frank descriptions of many of the gorier aspects of the autopsy and police procedures. Ferguson ends the third book with an opening to another installment in the Forensic Mystery books.

These books describe the work of the coroner, forensic pathologist and police investigator following in the path of popular police procedural television series. Teens that read mystery and suspense will find this series irresistible.

Melissa