Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead
reviewed by Chimey
If you've been following the Vampire Academy series this far, you'll be delighted to dive into Richelle Mead's final wrap-up book of the series, the Last Sacrifice. Rose Hathaway, the series' protagonist, is heroically stubborn, independent, and smart-mouthed as ever, even as she is accused as the Queen's murderer and tried in court. But no matter who backs Rose up, be it her notorious father Abe, her famous Guardian mother Janine, her secret lover Dimitri, or her orphaned best friend the royal Lissa Dragomir, Rose's days till execution are being counted down. Her marked death day on the calender isn't the only thing inspiring her to break out of the prison—when Queen Tatianna was murdered and Rose was framed as the killer, a note was left for Rose. The note stated that Lissa was not the only Dragomir left in her family—another half-royal, illegitimate child lives in secrecy. If this child is found, then Lissa is eligible for running for the next ruler of the Royal Court. And if Lissa is the Court's next ruler, she can lead the Moroi (vampire) society to better times.
Luckily,working under pressure is one thing Rose does best, and with the help of her friends, she busts out of prison with a few goals in mind: finding the real murderer to clear her name, locating Lissa's half-sibling, and getting Dimitri off her back.
Ever since Dimitri was turned from a Strigoi, an evil vampire, back into a dhampir, a good half-vampire, he's been reluctant to resume his relationship with Rose. He states quite blandly that he's left with no emotions but guilt and sadness. But this doesn't seem to be the case when he's stubbornly working with her after she escapes lockdown. But Rose has already moved on from Dimitri to the funny, sarcastic Adrian Ivashkov. With the addition of this the awkward love triangle, Rose's problems are taken a notch higher.
If you like reading books with a strong, mouthy female protagonist and other characters who aren't overshadowed by her shockingly likeable personality, the Vampire Academy series is for you, following through to the final book. As the series' final spin-off, Last Sacrifice wraps up the tale of Rose Hathaway in print, but the story lingers unforgettably in the hearts of the many addicted readers.
Stop in the Name of Pants! by Louise Rennison
reviewed by Meriel
She's back. Now there's more of Georgia Nicolson's mad life where things are never quite normal. With an ace gang to back her up and three potential boyfriends, Georgia is on the "rack of luuuuurve" This book is hysterical. It had me on the floor laughing like a "loon on loon tablets" and speaking in Georgia's funny British slang. Welcome to the world of snogging scales and the Viking Disco Hornpipe Extravaganza.
Candor by Pam Bachorz
reviewed by Melanie
This is one of the most trippy books out there! Candor is about a guy, Oscar, who lives in a community his father created where every kid is fed secret messages hidden in music that brainwashs him into behaving like a model citizen. Oscar meets a unique girl, Nia, and is bound and determined not let the music messages get to her—no matter what. This story was completely insane (in the best way possible) and made me seriously wonder if my Ipod was brainwashing me.
The characters, each with their own bold personalities, kept me fascinated. The setting was very interesting because it was entirely set in their freaky community. The best thing about this book was its incredible unique quality. Just when you think nothing crazier can happen—you're surprised at what happens next! Another great thing about this book was the very freaky ending that's very original (but I won't spoil anything yet!) Even though this was a bit of a love story (which I usually can't stand), I still enjoyed all the lovey-dovey Oscar/Nia parts. I would suggest this story to fans of twisted plots. If Candor doesn't send a shiver down your spine, I don't know what will.
Impulse by Ellen Hopkins
reviewed by Deborah
Impulse, written in free verse, is a story is told by three teens: Connor, Vanessa and Tony. I really enjoyed the book because there was never a dull moment while reading it. The characters seem real. Their life experiences, families and friends seem true. The story did flow well, it's interesting and understandable.
This book is written for teens, boys and girls. Although the ending could leave readers confused, Impulse is a very good book. It's one of those books you can read over again and never get tired of it.
Messed Up by Janet Nichols Lynch
reviewed by Deborah
Messed Up is a book about a young Mexican American boy named R.D, a 15 year old middle schooler, still in middle school because he always seems to get himself in trouble. He gets suspended for things like school fights, stealing and vandalism. I enjoyed this book because it was very realistic. It keeps you interested because there is always a problem going on throughout the story.
One thing I did not like is that it is a fast-paced story and things seem to happen very quickly. This book should attract teens, both boys and girls. Messed Up is a very good book. I think many people would be able to relate to the problems that R.D. has to face.
Book cover from Janet Nichols Lynch's web site
Crank by Ellen Hopkins
reviewed by Deborah
Crank is about a teenager, Kristina Georgia Snow, who gets involved in many issues. It captures the life of a girl and makes it seem real.
Some parts of the book are confusing and in places it's diffucult to comprehend what's happening -- maybe because it's a novel in verse, but the story did flow well, and there weren't any dull moments.
I think that girls would like this story more than boys would because it is narrated by a girl. Overall, I think this is a great book. I would definitely recommend it to other teenagers.