News & Articles

Attucks!: Oscar Robertson and the Basketball Team That Awakened a City by Phillip M. Hoose tells the story of the basketball team at Crispus Attucks High School in Indiana. While the school was originally intended to segregate African American students from their Western counterparts, ten promising athletes on the basketball team went on, despite all odds, to compete in the state tournament of Indiana. They shattered previous records and rose to fame instantly; their fame was so great that coaches from other schools began taking in African American basketball players.

Catching Fire was a sequel to the original Hunger Games, and it continued the series in a very interesting way. In the last book, Katniss and Peeta had just become the first co-winners of the Hunger games. However, Snow and other leaders in the capital saw this as an act of rebellion and needed a way to stop the uprisings caused by the results of the games. So, the Capitol decides the next Hunger Games will be a special one, composed of previous winners. Since the games required male and female winners from each district, Katniss was automatically in the next Hunger Games.

Catherine de Medici: The Power Behind the French Throne by Barbara A. Somervill tells the life story of Catherine de Medici, an Italian orphan originally used as a political pawn. Her marriage to King Henry of France was arranged so that France would gain a greater foothold in the Italian peninsula. Her power only grew from there: she bore many sickly children, which meant that she was given the real power of making decisions when these children became king. She would outlive most of her family and despite her struggle to maintain her family’s power in France, she never succeeded.

I think that this sci-fi movie is an amazing speculation of how humans today are constantly developing and challenging the means of nature and what we can accomplish. This movie is heavy on the abilities of the human mind to work through sticky situations. I had become very invested in this movie and seeing how Mark thrived through his situation. Even though it is not based on true events it is an outstanding theory to how humans may further develop on Mars and in space.

The book begins after the Hunger Games which takes place in the second book in the series (Catching Fire). Katniss Everdeen, the book’s main character, is in district thirteen (led by President Coin) which is now the base that is underground for the rebellion against the Capital and President Snow. Katniss and the others including her sister Prim, her mom, and Gale, Katniss’ hunting partner, and friend take classes and try to better themselves for the rebellion. However, Peeta Mellark, who was the co-Hunger Games winner with Katniss was captured after the games by the capital.

Left Out by Tim Green is a realistic fiction novel about a new kid moving into a new school with cochlear implants. The kid’s name is Landon Dorch, he is in the seventh grade, and he is one of the tallest and biggest kids in his grade, so he joins the football team. However, the kids on the team make him feel unwanted because of his hearing problems. He also has little to no football knowledge and doesn’t play in the games. Then, he makes a surprising friend named Brett.

The book The Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian is an adventurous dystopian novel about a 16 year old girl that has more experience with danger than most other girls her age would. Theodosia was once an Astrean princess. That however, was before the kalovaxians captured the astreans and started used them as slaves. At the start of the siege, Theodosia’s mother, the queen was murdered when Theo was only 6. The war continued harshly after that. Thousands of astreans had died every day fighting against the Kaiser/King’s army but they didn’t give up.

I would never be able to believe that Nikki got her own  TV show!!!!!!!! Why does MacKenzie have to ruin it and rumors that Nikki and Brandon had broken up? Brandon is trying to get a scholarship and Nikki is always doing TV shows, so I guess it makes sense?

The book Carnegie’s Maid by Heather Terrell [who goes by Marie Benedict] is an immigration story about a brave 19 year old girl named Clara who travels to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from her family home back in Ireland. When Clara lands in USA she makes the decision to act as a co-passenger with the same name. The author draws into the reasons of this decision to show the desperation that Clara had to make money for her family.

Girls Like Us by Gail Giles tells the story of two special education students who initially dislike each other. When their guidance counselor mandates that they stay together for the predictable future, they are not overjoyed. After all, they barely got along during their first encounter and it seems like they won’t get along in the future either. Soon, however, they see past their differences and into the persons they have really become. They realize that their situation is mutually advantageous: Biddy needs help as a Russian immigrant and Quincy has her own secret to hide.

This novel is a great read. Its a great book that will keep you wondering what will happen to young Stanley Yelnats. Full of friendships, mystery, treasure, and more. I highly recommend this novel for young teen readers. After reading you can also watch the movie that corresponds with the novel. I think that the characters in this book are great role models in all different ways. They each represent a different struggle they have been through and how that has shaped their personality. 

The Distance From Me to You by Marina Gessner (pen name of Nina de Gramont) tells the story of McKenna, the protagonist of the novel, who decides to hike the entire length of the Appalachian Trail after hearing that her dad did the same. She had originally planned to hike with a friend, but when that friend mysteriously pulls out of the arrangement, McKenna is left by herself to survive in the wilderness. Then she meets Sam, who has taken to the Appalachian Trail to escape his troubled family.

The Hunger Game story is broken up into three books. The first book is The Hunger Games and takes place in a different universe where the United States of America is broken up into thirteen districts which all have different jobs to provide for the capital. Some of these include mining and farming. Each year for the entertainment of the rich in the capital, the Hunger Games takes place. From each of the thirteen districts, one female and one male is chosen to represent their district and have to fight to be the last one alive in a rural environment.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

A book full of adventure, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is a novel that explores imagination, love, and adventure. As Edward Tulane goes on a Journey to find his way back home he runs into many new people and problems along the way. This book is a short easy read yet I recommend for all ages. You’ll find yourself reading this book from start to finish as the stuffed rabbit faces many turning points.

To see if your library has a copy of this book, click here.

Unslut: A Diary and a Memoir by Emily Lindin tells the life story of Emily Lindin, a Boston Native who was branded a “slut” in sixth grade. For the next few school years, she had to learn to navigate her new reputation and cope with her shame. At that point in her life, she was not very interested in her own sexual orientation or the lives of others; rather, she was more interested in “impressing” those around her, even if such impressing required activities considered raunchy.