Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Author: Meyer, Stephenie
Year Published: 2005
Publisher: Little Brown
ISBN: 9780316160179
Pages: 498
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Adventure, Action
Interest Level: 9-12
Reading Level: 5
Rating: 5
Subjects: Vampires, High schools, School stories, Washington (State), Fiction

Reader's Annotation: Will you befriend vampires knowing that your blood is a sweet-smelling aroma? Will you risk your life to love someone who might not be human?

Summary: Twilight has a Romeo and Juliet love-story plot. Isabella Swan moves to Forks, Washington and meets a handsome and smart guy, Edward Cullen. Bella finds out about Edward's real identity but still pursue their relationship. They struggle to keep their relationship as they face the challenges of being accepted by both sides - vampires and human and even the werewolves.


Reviews and Awards: Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal,Booklist, The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books


Author Information: Stephenie Meyer was born in Connecticut in 1973. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor's degree in English. Ms. Meyer cannot write without music. She writes young adult novels. She lives with her husband and three sons in Phoenix Arizona.

Website: stepheniemeyer.com

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

Year Published: 2006
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
ISBN: 0316024961
Pages: 563
Classification: Fiction
Media Type: Book
Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Romance, Action, Adventure
Interest Level: 9-12
Reading Level: 4
Personal Rating: 4 Stars

Subjects: Vampires, Werewolves, Interpersonal relationship, High school life

Reader's Annotation: October, November, December ... just three months but seems like eternity. These were short pages that filed three empty pages but painted the longing and sadness that Bella felt when Edward left Forks for good. Will she able to move on? Will Bella stop loving Edward?

Summary: Bella celebrates her birthday at the Cullen’s house with Edward and his family. Bella gets accidentally cut in the arm and Jasper gets tempted to drink her blood. Edward finds it dangerous for Bella to have their family around Forks. The family decides to leave for the safety of Bella.

Bella got depressed after Edward and his family left but she befriends Jacob from La Push. Jacob influences Bella to do daring activities such as riding motorcycle and jumping off the cliff. Bella discovers the real identity of Jacob.

Edward gets mistaken that Bella died after her cliff diving so he decided to end his life as well by heading to Italy to see the Volturi clan. Bella saves Edward with the help of Alice and they return to Forks, Washington.

Personal Evaluation: The main character's depression and suicidal acts maybe something that readers may idolize and maybe admire.

Awards: ALA Booklist, ALA/YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, Horn Book, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

Author Information: www.stepheniemeyer.com

Forever in Blue by Anne Brashares

Forever in Blue by Ann Brashares
Year Published: 2007
Publisher: Delacorte Press
ISBN: 9780385729369
Pages: 380
Price: $13.66
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Romance, Adventure
Interest Level: 9-12
Reading Level: 4
Personal Rating: 3
Subjects: Best friends, Friendship, Jeans (clothing), Conduct of life

Reader's Annotation: Four friends have their final summer adventure apart and the magical traveling pants bring their friendship even closer. But what if the pants get lost? Will their friendship fall apart?

Summary: Lena, Tibby, Carmen and Bridget, four friends are farther apart on the final summer adventure with magical traveling pants. The pants bring their friendship even closer. This is an interesting conclusion of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. This book entertains teens and teaches about friendship, relationships, family and life.

Evaluation: In this fourth book, the characters face more adult issues such as pregnancy, attraction to a married man, loss of virginity, posing and painting in nude. All the characters go through adult transition as they try to handle the challenges in the adult world. Parental guidance or adult supervision is highly encouraged. Teens should be able to discuss unclear issues mentioned in the book.

Reviews and Awards: Kirkus Reviews (11/15/06), School Library Journal (2/07), Booklist (12/15/06), The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (5/07)

Author Information: Ann Brashares grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland. She and her siblings attended Quaker school in the Washington, D.C. area. Ann studied Philosophy at Barnard College in New York City. Ms. Brashares worked as an editor for many years before making the transition to writer. She is best-known for Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants. The author lives in New York City with her artist husband, Jacob Collins, and three children.

Website: www.annbrashares.nt

The Witches by Roald Dahl

Illustrator: Blake, Quentin
Year Published:1983
ISBN:05990032496
Pages: 208
Genre: Suspense, Humorous
Interest Level: 3-6 Grade
Reading Level: 4
Personal Rating: 4 Stars
Subjects: Witches, Grandmother

Reader's Annotation: How do you spot a real witch? Look hard if they are wearing a wig, wide shoes and gloves. If you see a bald lady, flat-footed and has long distorted fingers, run! Run as fast and far away as you can for they may be after you!

Summary: A young English boy moves in with her grandmother and learns about witches. His grandmother teaches him how to tell real witches and talked about their leader, The Grand High Witch. When they go on vacation in a fancy hotel, they discover that the witches they device a plan on how to defeat The Grand High Witch and her followers.

Reviews and Awards: Notable/Best Books (ALA), Booklist
"An orphan boy...discovers the true nature of witches and then has the misfortune to be transformed into a mouse by The Grand High Witch of All the World...A curious but honest tale which deals with matters of crucial importance to children: smallness, the existence of evil in the world, mourning, separation, death." --The New York Times Book

Author Information:
Author Website: www.roalddahl.com

Personal Evaluation: This book is an easy read. It is entertaining however, readers might not like reading about witches. Although the characters and events are fictional, children may actually believe the information about the witches to be true.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Year Published: 2002
Publisher:
ISBN: 0061139378
Pages: 162
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Mystery, Fantasy
Interest Level:5-9
Reading Level: 5
Personal Rating: 4 Stars
Subjects: Family, ghost

Reader's Annotation: You see yourself in a reflection of a perfect life in your house. Will you be interested of entering it? What if there's no way out?

Summary: Coraline moves with her family to rainy Portland. She kept herself busy by having an adventure in her new house. She discovers a "mirror" life as she walks through a secret door. She finds similar mom and dad and enjoyed the change for a little bit. When she tried to leave, her "new" mom gets really possessive and threatens Coraline and the people that she loves. Coraline saves her family by playing a dangerous game with her "new mom" and eventually sets everyone free, including herself and her family.

Reviews and Awards: ALA Best Book For Young Adults, ALA Booklist, ALA Notable Book For Children, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, IRA Children's Choice Award, School Library Journal Starred Review, Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review for Publishers Weekly, Voice of Youth Advocates, Wilson's Children's Catalog, Wilson's Junior High Catalog

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Year Published: 2007
Publisher: Scholastic Book Service
ISBN: 0545010225
Pages: 759
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Interest Level: 5-9
Reading Level: 6
Personal Rating: 5 Stars
Subjects: School stories, Magic, Wizards,
Reader's Annotation: Where are the Horcruxes? Will Voldemort be defeated? What life awaits Harry Potter as he leaves Hogwarts?

Summary: This is the final book for the Harry Potter series. Harry finds out the truth about Dumbledore’s death and searches for the three objects from the legend of the Deathly Hallows. Voldemort gains more strength as more faithful followers join him to defeat the good wizards including Harry. Meanwhile Harry finds out more about his family and other characters mentioned on the other Harry Potter books. The final battle happens in Hogwarts where all the truth is revealed. Harry’s friends and professors join him to fight the evil Voldermort and his allies.

Evaluation: An interesting conclusion of the popular Harry Potter series. The battle of good and evil finally comes to an end. Reference to spells, wizardry and magic. Some may interpret that the characters and events in the story are promoting Wica and other cult practices.

Reviews and Awards:School Library Journal, Starred Review for Publishers Weekly, Starred Review ALA Booklist, Voice of Youth Advocates, Wilson's Children's Catalog, Wilson's Junior High Catalog

Author Information: J. K. Rowling was born on July 31, 1965 in Chipping Sodbury, England. She was educated at Exeter University and has worked as a teacher. The author's full name is Joanne Kathleen Rowling. She is married to Dr. Neil Murray and has two children, a girl named Jessica and a boy named David. Rowling is best known for writing the Harry Potter series. She received an American Book Award in 1999. The first five books in the Harry Potter series have all been ALA Notable Children's Books.

Author website: www.jkrowling.com

Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

Year Published: 1989
Viking Penguin
ISBN:0-14-303809-5
Pages: 288
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Drama
Interest Level: 9-12
Reading Level: 6
Personal Rating: 4 Stars
Subjects: Mother-daughter relationship, mothers, death, female friendship, Chinese American Women

Reader's Annotation: Reminiscing your life both the sweet and bitter parts of it. Will you share your story?

Summary: Four Chinese American immigrant families start a club known as “the Joy Luck Club.” They get together and have a feast, tell stories and play a Chinese game called Mahjong. Each of the character shares about their struggles in their lives in separate chapters with lessons to teach. Some of the stories include mother and daughter stories.

Evaluation: Great book about the life journey of Chinese American women. The book cleverly draws interesting characters that tells about the struggles of the Chinese women. Some topics such as rape, abortion, multiple partners and some other Chinese traditions may not be suitable to young readers.
Reviews and Awards: ALA Best Book For Young Adults, New York Times Book Review, Voice of Youth Advocates, Wilson's Fiction Catalog, Wilson's High School Catalog

Author Website: www.amytan.net

Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Year Published: 2002
Publisher: Little, Brown & Co.
ISBN: 0316168815
Pages: 328
Price: $18.66 (Library Bound)
Classification: Fiction
Media Format : Book
Genre: Mystery, Romance, Adventure
Interest Level: 9-12
Reading Level: 6
Personal Rating: 5 Stars
Subjects: Murder victims families, Teenage girls, Crimes against, Rape

Reader's Annotation: Will you just watch and wait from heaven if you see your killer get away and your family fall apart because of your death?

Summary: Susie Salmon takes a shortcut home from school. She takes the cornfield route and meets George Harvey. He tricked her to go to the underground den, traps her, rapes her, kills her, dismembers her body and drops them in a sinkhole. Only Susie’s hat and elbow is found. Investigators did not find suspects for the death of Susie so they drop the case. Susie’s family falls apart. Her father goes through depression, her mother having an affair with one of the detectives and her sister feeling abandoned and confused with her sister’s disappearance. As years go by loved ones and friends find clues, sometimes with the help of Susie, from her personal heaven. It took years for them to figure out who killed Susie and by then Harvey is free to harm other girls. His final attempt to rape another lady in a bus depot lead to a freak accident. Harvey got knocked out by a fallen icicle and tumbled down on a ravine to his death.

Evaluation: A chilling book about a teenager's unsolved murder. The author gave some grotesque description of Susie's body being dismembered. A little rape scene was also described in the book.

Reviews and Awards: Library Journal, New York Times Book Review, Publishers Weekly, Wilson's High School Catalog