Thunder From The Sea by Joan Hiatt Harlow

(ATTENTION: I’d just like to say that this is NOT a sad story!)

Genre: Realistic Fiction, Adventure
Rating: 3
Pages: 238

Summary

(Note: I copied the summary form the back of the book.)

It’s 1929 and thirteen-year-old Tom Campbell has always wanted a real family with a real house and a dog of his very own. Since he was three years old, the only home he has ever known has been the Mission orphanage.
When he is sent to live and work with fisherman Enoch and his wife, Tom finally sees his dream within reach. And when he rescues a Newfoundland dog in the middle of a terrifying squall, Tom feels as if both he and the dog, which he names Thunder, have found a place to call home at last.
But when Enoch’s wife becomes pregnant and it looks like Thunder’s owner might be found, Tom’s wonderful new world is turned upside down. Will the Murrays still want Tom? And will Tom be forced to give up his beloved Thunder?


Why Read It?

If you love dog stories, coming of age, stories and happy endings, you’ll fall in love with the characters of this children’s novel. It’s really meant for all ages!

My Thoughts

First, I have to say that this story made me want to run to my dog, Oscar, and squeeze him to death. I’m sure if you have a dog, you’ll want to do the same thing and if you don’t have a dog then you’re gonna want one.
What I loved about Thunder from the Sea was its not suspenseful, but it kept me guessing. Its easy level of reading made it so I could read it in a day, which I always love being able to read something all at once. Another thing I lvoed about it was, it had a happy ending!
I didn’t feel there was anything wrong with this novel, so just because I rated a three, which means I wouldn’t read it again, doesn’t mean it’s not worth reading at all. It really was a great heart-warming story! I recommend this for boys and girls of all ages.

Millicent’s Gift by Ann Rinaldi

Genre: Paranormal, Supernatural, Magic, Problem Novel, Tragedy
Rating: 2/5
Pages: 218

"It's special, this Gift, and all women and some men in my family have it, and because I will turn fourteen in September, I'm coming to the end of my apprenticeship and will soon be able to use it." -Millicent

Summary

Millicent’s fourteenth birthday won’t be an ordinary day. In her family, turning fourteen means receiving a magical Gift: the ability to make one wish on life that will come true.
But Millicent isn’t sure she’s ready for that kind of of power. As her birthday draws closer, she realizes more and more how dangerous her magic is, and how difficult the choices ahead will be. Struggling with secrets, love, and betrayal, in the end Millicent has to make the hardest decision of all.

Why Read It?

Magic is one of the most popular and desired thing in the world. Millicent’s Gift will give you a good idea of what it’s like to hold so much power at such a young age.

My Thoughts

I think that this book COULD be amazing, but I think it needs more work put into it to truly beocme a hit. I might reccomend it to someone who prefers short, simple stories about magic, but otherwise not so much. However, it did hold something important: I believe it's theme was to make your own decisions wisely except I've enver been good with themes so don't take my word for it.
Everyone wants magic, right? Or at least there has been one point in everyone’s life where they wished they could have magic, maybe a wish or even a super power. Millicent has one wish, and she doesn’t know what to do with it. That’s more than anyone can handle with high school and then on top of that everyone knows about it.
Something I would just like to slip into here is that love is the closest thing we have to magic. It doesn’t have much to do with the book, but I just want to say that. I think that’s why everyone craves a romance so much.
Throughout the story, Millicent is learning who she is and facing decisions that are placed at the highest level of difficulty. She’s just like another teenager but her life is completely twisted up in magic and she just wishes that she had a normal life.
All in all, it was a good book, I enjoyed it and I think a lot of people would feel the same way, then again maybe not.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Genre: Tragedy
Rating:3
Pages: 328

"My name was Salmon like the fish, first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973.” -Susie

Summary

In heaven Susie Salmon is adjusting to her new home in heaven while she watches life on Earth carry on without her. She can only observe while her friends trade rumours about her disappearance, scrutinize over her killer covering his tracks and painfully watch her broken-hearted grieving family’s strong relationships loosen and gradually unravel.

Why Read It?

The Lovely Bones is worth reading because of the thought put into it. The way it describes a tragic loss of a young girl, how it interprets a family struggling to cope and the thoughts of the murderer who attempts to cover his involvement is just so breath-taking you’ll be in sync with Susie yourself.



My Thoughts

Although what I said about The Lovely Bones in the “Why Read It?” section there are a few things you might like to know before picking up this book. Number one, it’s not a thriller; it has more to do with the relationships of the family. Number two, some of it is very graphic and may make you feel uncomfortable. And number three, let’s face it, it isn’t the happiest story in the world; it’s a very tragic story.
This book is a very mature read and that’s why I had a hard time reading it mostly because it was slow-paced. Besides those three things that I just informed you of, which you may not mind, which is great this book might be a good one for you to read, the book is actually astonishing and Alice Sebold did an excellent job of capturing the characters actions and emotions.
My point that I am trying to get across here is that I had a lot of trouble reading this book for two reasons... it was extremely sad and very slow paced, therefore it may not be the best teen read: But still an excellent well-written novel... That I don’t believe I will be reading again until I am in my forties.

Go Ask Alice by Anonymous

Genre: Tragedy, True Story, Diary
Rating: 4
Pages: 214

"I'm partly somebody else trying to fit in and say the right things and do the right thing and be in the right place and wear what everybody else is wearing. Sometimes I think we're all trying to be shadows of each other." -Alice

Summary

Her life turned to ruins with just one little thing... She was served a soft drink laced with LSD in a dangerous party game. This drug imprisoned her, stole her out of her comfortable home and made her runaway form her loving family, all in return was the disastrous streets of a merciless city. It was a journey that would rob her of her innocence, her youth and in the end... her life.

Why Read It?

Go Ask Alice is the perfect example of what drugs can do to your life. It’ll take you down a road that you won’t be able to imagine. This girl’s life was marred with tragedy, and it will leave you rethinking your entire life.

My Thoughts

First off, what is the girl’s name? I don’t know. I’m guessing it’s Alice? Maybe not. However, I’m just going to call her Alice.
I was stunned at Alice’s life journey. How could a naive young girl gone through all of that...drugs...rape...being homeless. I have absolutely no clue. Alice made me look over things; she made me revaluate my life. So after I read this book, I made sure I was thankful for everything! ...Even the stuff I wasn’t so crazy about.
Something fishy I found about this book was the way this girl talked. Perhaps it was where she lived and the time she lived in, but I just found it really bizarre and unrealistic, I did get used to it though.
I rated this book a four, even though I would have rather rated it a three or three and a half. This is because I, myself, would not read it again but it’s something that I would recommend to a friend. I wouldn’t read it again because in some parts it was dull and mostly just depressing and sometimes that can be hard to handle. However, I would recommend it to someone because I want them to feel as thankful about their life as I did about mine. I think that’s a good thing for people to realize in their lives, how lucky they truly are. Because in truth, anyone’s drink could be laced with anything addictive and destroy them for the rest of their life, and even end it.
All in all, it’s a great book or diary I guess you could say. My teachers, friends, my mom and millions of other people have read it and for some reason they all liked it and enjoyed reading it. It’s definitely something that would work well for a book club, I can honestly say because it’s such a debatable story.
And wherever Alice is now... I hope she is safe and full of bliss.

Because I Am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas

Genre: Novel in Poem, Tragedy
Rating: 3/5
Pages: 352

"I am always there.
But they don’t care if I am,
because I am furniture.

I don’t get hit
I don’t get fondled
I don’t get loved
because I am furniture.

Suits me fine."
-Anke
Summary

Anke comes from an abusive environment, well at least her mother, brother and sister do. Ignored and invisible Anke is forced to witness some awful and nasty things in her home. However, she doesn’t feel as much as a witness as she feels like she’s either the living room couch or maybe just a coat hanger.
Unfortunately, she simply believes that she isn’t even worthy of the most unpleasant attention of all. Why does Anke believe this? What makes her home so dark and lethal? Her father does. He succeeds in harming her family, his family but he leaves her to just stand and watch. Maybe that’s how he abuses her, by neglectance, by pretending she doesn’t exist?
Fortunately, she makes the volleyball team and being a part of the team has helped her not only build her confidence but discover her voice. Anke learns that if she can make herself heard and noticed at school maybe she can be a little bit more than a piece of furniture at home... just maybe.

Why Read It?

This secretive novel in poems will capture your interest by stealing you away from your reality and put you in Anke’s. Because I Am Furniture will leave you starving to help Anke on her journey through this rough spot in her life, but all you can do is continue reading and support her with all your heart. And that’s all she ever wanted, all she ever needed: A little bit of valuable attention.

My Thoughts

Because I am furniture drew me towards itself even before I had a look at the cover. I mean, I was on the public library website browsing for novels and I came across this one. So I took a closer look and the plot had imprisoned my attention, thus I wrote the title down on my To-Read list.
I came across it in the school library bored and began reading it. When I opened it up to find almost a blank page I was devastated. Where were all the words? Not here. Not on this page. Then I realized it was a novel in poems like Crank by Ellen Hopkins and the other series.
Anyway, I continued reading and I just had to know how Anke solved her problems and how she dealt with things that I couldn’t imagine myself even coping with. Throughout this horrible period in her life I wanted to help her, to be by her side but, truth is, she really needed to learn to speak up on her own... and she managed...
I rated this book a three. Yes, I know it’s a low rating for a book that I think was amazing, but if you go to the legend you’ll see what I mean by a three. Yes, it’s a good book; it’s a fantastic book...except I wouldn’t read it again. I’m not saying that the book isn’t worth reading over and over, but personally I feel bad that Anke had to participate those experiences in her life and I’m not really willing to go through that again. Why though? I’m a sensitive person and I let myself get wrapped up in that book... Now combine that answer with the knowledge you have after you’ve finished reading the book...maybe you’ll see what I mean.