April 24, 2008
THE PIGMAN by Paul Zindel
Have you ever seen two high school students hanging out with an elderly man? In the book The Pigman by Paul Zindel, John Conlan, a sophomore who is not happy with his life, and Lorraine Jensen, a sophomore who receives criticism from her mother on her looks, befriend Mr. Angelo Pignati (the Pigman), a lonely elderly man.
The Pigman always has a smile on his face, but inside he is full of sadness and secrets. The Pigman loves John and Lorraine’s company, so the trio goes shopping together and go to the zoo to see Mr. Pignati’s best friend, Bobo the baboon. Mr. Pignati becomes ill and goes to the hospital, and John and Lorraine are given the responsibility to take care of the Pigman’s home. Mr. Pignati is in for a surprise when he returns from the hospital. What he finds may ruin the friendship that John, Lorraine, and the Pigman share.
I recommend this book to middle school and high school students.
Japbani Nanda
Grade 8
W.T. Clarke Middle School
Posted by fjacksonem at 12:02 PM | Comments (0)
April 9, 2008
MY MOST EXCELLENT YEAR by Steve Kluger
When high school juniors TC, Augie, and Alejandra have to write an essay entitled “My Most Excellent Year”, they all write about their freshmen year of high school. That was the year that Alejandra, the daughter of a former Mexican ambassador transferred to public school and met flamboyant, musical theater loving Augie and big hearted Red Sox fan TC. Alternating points of view, the characters communicate with each other through emails and instant messages and write letters to their dead heroes in which they reveal their often hilarious intimate feelings and dreams.
Full of unforgettable and extremely likeable characters, this book is a very entertaining read especially for fans of Broadway or baseball.
I recommend this book to teens in grades 9-12.
Paula Cea
Young Adult Librarian
Posted by fjacksonem at 1:22 PM | Comments (0)
March 24, 2008
THE FINAL WARNING: A MAXIMUM RIDE NOVEL by James Patterson
ATTENTION ALL MAXIMUM RIDE FANS (AS WELL AS OTHERS ) !! Even if you have not read any of the previous books, as long as you like adventure, action, humor and romance all in one book you should catch up and read this book !! Not only is this book everything you would want and more out a maximum ride book but it discusses an extremely important issue. It talks about Global Warming and raising awareness and trying to save the world from this becomes the flocks new goal. You can see how James Patterson intelligently incorporated facts about Global Warming and how to prevent it from worsening and this book is good to read because it raises awareness to this important issue, and encourages us to do something about it. Although the whole book isn't about global warming it has the whole flock back Fang , Iggy, Max, Nudge, Gasman, Angel and of course the witty and loveable Total. You will see that the flock all get new abilities or according to Jeb "are mutating on their own". Maybe a new member is added to the flock! I guess you will just have to read to find out.
I RECOMMEND MAXIMUM RIDE: THE FINAL WARNING FOR EVERYONE.
Monisha Gera
Grade 10
East Meadow High School
(NOTE: This is the fourth book in the series, MAXIMUM RIDE. To see a review of the first three books, check out Bobby Mazziotti's review on April 18, 2007.)
Posted by fjacksonem at 11:43 AM | Comments (0)
March 17, 2008
HOW NOT TO BE POPULAR by Jennifer Ziegler
Growing up with hippie parents has not been easy for Maggie Dempsey. Every year she is forced to leave behind her friends when her parents decide to move the family to a new city.
When her parents uproot her in her senior year, Maggie decides she can’t handle any more sad goodbyes. She vows not to make a single friend at her new school so that when her parents decide they are ready to move again, she won’t have to go through the painful process of saying goodbye to people she cares about.
In her attempt to turn herself into a social outcast, she borrows the most ridiculous clothing she can find from the thrift store her father runs and she shuns all attempts at friendship. Her rule book on How Not to be Popular includes things like “You must worship all that is totally and tragically unhip” so she begins carrying a star wars lunchbox to school. While at first she is laughed at, it isn’t long before her classmates start to admire Maggie’s unique style and she becomes much more popular than she bargained for.
I recommend this very funny book for girls in grades 8-12.
Paula Cea
Young Adult Librarian
Posted by fjacksonem at 9:59 AM | Comments (0)