The Killing Game

by Iris Johansen
Review by Amber Morehouse, grade 11

This book is about a forensic sculptor, Eve Duncan, and her best friend Joe, a detective.  The story is about a serial killer who is trying to taunt Eve with the death of her child, Bonnie.  A little girl called Jane is the target of the serial killer.  They go across country trying to find the killer and keep him from killing Jane.  Eve's ex protects them from the police when Eve kidnaps Jane to keep her safe.  Joe and {Spoiler alert!} Eve get together by the end of the story.

I would recommend this if you like action-packed books.

Stranger in Her Arms

by Lorna Michaels
Review by Amber Morehouse, grade 11

This is a story about an FBI profiler losing his memory and ending up at nurse Christy's front door.  By the time that Jonathan regains his memory, they have been shot at, harassed by a dead snake, and nearly run off the road.  A serial killer is doing all this and tried to kill Jonathan because he was getting too close and the killer is trying to kill Christy because she was his type of victim and to tick off Jonathan.  By the end of the book, Jonathan and Christy end up together and the serial killer is in jail.

I would recommend this book if you like action-packed romance stories.

Final Target

by Iris Johansen
Review by Amber Morehouse, grade 11

This is the story of Melissa Riley and Michael Travis.  Melissa's sister is involved in a very dangerous endeavor.  She is trying to pull the president's daughter out of a coma.  Another person is trying to keep her in a coma because she saw something that she shouldn't have.  Travis saved the president's daughter and is trying to keep her, Melissa, and Melissa's sister safe.  Hopefully he succeeds.

The four of them go cross-country to try to keep from the killer and to get the president's daughter to wake up.  This is a very good book for action lovers.

If you like action-packed romance stories then I'd suggest this to a friend.

Blog Contest Update!

HEADS UP!!!!  Friday May 27th is the LAST day to get those blog contest entries in!!!!  So get writing!!!
Did you notice he's reading a library book?    :)  A good one too, I love Time's Arrow.
(I pinched this pic from http://www.martinamisweb.com/)

What My Father Gave Me

by various Canadian authors
Review by Brynn Haley, grade 10

What My Father Gave Me is a compilation of true stories about girls and their relationships with their fathers.  Each story is unique, just like each relationship, the characters, and the situations surrounding them.

I found the stories in this book all equally interesting.  The relationship between fathers and daughters is an important one that will help to shape a girl's life, and these stories show the profound impact a father has on his daughter.

I recommend this book to any girl.

And of course, this particular book review wouldn't be complete without a shoutout to my own dad: "I'm so proud to call you my dad, you're awesome and I love you!"

Medieval Faire a success!!!!!

Thank you to everyone who made our Medieval Faire a smashing success.  We surpassed our fundraising goal.  Highlights include Mrs. Hill walloping Andrew Perry with a pool noodle, beautiful music by Emma and Emily, Mr. Stoddart's humiliating though spirited defeat to Ms. Carson, and Mr. Boyd's excellent attempt to challenge her reign.  There were also a great many blows to our king's crown!  If anyone got any hilarious pictures, please post!! or email to me.  In fact, I had so much fun, I laughed myself hoarse (horse/hoarse...jousting...get it?? ahhh....lame, I know).  :)

 

Thanks for all the hard work Guild Members, you all deserve a place at the Round Table!!!

Three cheers!

 

~Ms. Carson

HHS Librarian

Medieval Faire ~ May 17th ~

Look good in tights and tunics?  Who doesn't?!

Join the Guild for a frolicking festival of fun on the lawn outside the Library Tuesday, May 17th.

Or, should the weather be crummy (oh, that never happens in NB) inside the Library at noon hour on Tuesday.  There will be minstrels, delicious baked goods, duels, and a chance to decrown the king!

All proceeds go to the Library Guild Feast and Award Ceremony to celebrate nerdiness and the love of reading!

Notice: All members must come for a VERY ESSENTIAL meeting Monday, May 16th at noon hour to pick out costumes and make the King's stocks.  Be there! or be square(d).

nice.

Einstein: A Life

by Denis Brian
Review by Matthew Blachard, grade 10

He was born March 14.  His face is a symbol of science.  His name is a synonym for genius.  Denis Brian's biography of Einstein will take you from beginning to end: from when he was just a little boy roaming the streets on his own, to when he whispered his last words on his death bed.  And everything in between.  This book goes deep into Einstein's life and beyond the science.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves history.

Alexis: My True Story of Being Seduced by an Online Predator

by Alexis Singer
Review by Brynn Haley, grade 10

Alexis is the true story of a teenage girl who met a seemingly harmless man online who ended up changing Alexis' life.

Alexis was part of an online community she refers to as "The Forum."  It's like any other forum, with average members, and the few well-known members.  Alexis is surprised when one of the most popular forum members sends her a casual message one day.  She has no idea what chain of events will unfold when she opens his message.

Over the course of the year, Alexis centers her life around the attention she gets from this man, and even though they've never met, she feels that he is quickly becoming the most important person in her life.  Alexis' personal life is put at stake, and everything changes, as her online relationship advances beyond what she imagined it could.

I could understand Alexis' deep-set need to please another person, and to get the attention she craved, no matter from who or in what form.  These are feelings that we all can have, so I recommend this book to teens and those who care about them.

Now THAT'S a Treehouse!!!

Just felt I needed to share this picture from Creating an Family Garden: Magical Outdoor Spaces for All Ages by Bunny Guinness.

Don't know what the sky is like in your neck of the woods...but here in Southern NB it's been rainy, cloudy, windy and um...rainy for weeks, with the occasional teaser of sunshine.  Going out to work in the garden has been, well, wet and drab (and oh my, it's also blackfly season!).  But I'm trying to remind the neighbours (and myself) that blackflies pollinate blueberries.  Summer will be here soon enough...for now, let's imagine we can open the door of this magical tree and slip down the rabbit hole of a really good book!

"Grey day, grey day, I watch but nothing moves today"

~from Dr. Seuss' My Many Colored Days

~Ms. Carson

HHS Librarian

The God Box

by Alex Sanchez
Review by Brynn Haley, grade 10

The God Box is about a boy named Paul, who holds his religion very close to his heart, and feels that his sexuality and religious beliefs cannot possibly mix.

Paul's church teaches that homosexuality is sinful and wrong, and Paul himself has believed that all his life.  But when an openly gay, Catholic boy named Manuel becomes a student at Paul's school, Paul is forced to confront his own feelings and re-examine his moral beliefs.  As Paul struggles to come to terms with his feelings, he asks Jesus for guidance and answers, but neither come easily.

This book examines an important question in both the LGBT and Christian communities: Can homosexuality and Christianity mix, or is it an impossible combination?

I recommend this book to any teen who is interested in this topic; this book is very insightful, yet allows the reader to come up with their own answers.

Looking for Alaska

by John Green
Review by Brynn Haley, grade 10

Looking for Alaska is a book that ponders the subject of life and death, and how they are influential on each other, through the perspective of a boy named Pudge and through the life and death of a quirky girl named Alaska Young.

Miles Halter, AKA Pudge, is obsessed with famous last words.  The last words of Simon Bolivar are the ones that haunt Pudge the most: "How will I ever get out of this labyrinth?"  After a terrible accident, Pudge must contemplate this question and more, and he is driven to find answers to love, life, and death.

Looking for Alaska is a great read that anyone can surely get something out of.  If you enjoyed this title, I also recommend Paper Towns by John Green.

Debbie Harry Sings in French

by Meagan Brothers
Review by Brynn Haley, grade 10

Johnny is in love with Debbie Harry, the lead singer from the band Blondie.  But he doesn't just want her, he wants to be her.

Johnny is at a time when his life is full of emotional turmoil.  He's faced with immense responsibilities after the death of his dad, and is now faced with having to move away from home.  It is in his new home where he meets a wonderful girl and discovers the music of Blondie.

Johnny turns to music for comfort, and is forever changed by Debbie Harry.  He feels like he's truly himself when listening to her sing, and he envies that beautiful toughness she has about her.  What confuses him is that he's straight: he loves his girlfriend, and he also loves being a guy.  So why does he want to be just like Debbie?

I enjoyed reading this book, it really distorts the line between genders.  I recommend it to any teen.

Guild Meeting May 3rd

Mandatory meeting at 12:50 in the HHS Library on Tuesday.  Prepare to be there...or face the STOCKS!  (or else, come see Guild Master Carson and beg forgiveness)

Bait

by Karen Robards
Review by Amber Morehouse, grade 11

This story is about Maggie Fitzgerald and Sam Macabe.  Macabe is an FBI agent tracking a serial killer.  Maggie was an intended victim.  Sam thinks the killer wants to finish the job by killing Maggie and goes to live in her house to protect her.  The killer is after Maggie for the secrets she holds.  The mob is also out to get her secrets.  Zelda is an evil dog that Maggie gets stuck with, unless she wants to lose her job.
In the end, Macabe and Maggie get together and fall in love.  The Killer is arrested and everything is back to normal.

I would recommend this book if you like action books.