Broken China

Broken China by Lori Aurelia Williams

China Cup Cameron might miss school or fall asleep in class sometimes, but she's trying hard to be a good mother to Amina, her two-year-old daughter. When tragedy befalls the small family, China must quit school and work full-time to make ends meet. But the only place in town that's willing to hire a fourteen-year-old high-school dropout is Obsidian Queens, a strip club, and China is forced to make some difficult and potentially self-destructive decisions.



                        Sheila Fennell: The plot of the story is what really attracted me to it. To be honest I read the first three pages and couldn't put the book down. It starts off so good that you just want to keep reading! The book its self was so good, there were a lot of things I wasn't expecting to happen It made me open my eyes and be grateful for everything I have, unlike the protagonist who has been through so much at the age of 14. I could feel her emotions when she was at  her lowest point. So YES this book is great. If you are looking for a story about real-life things that you can relate to, then "Broken China" is the book for you!

Rating: 10 out of 10

If I Stay

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

On a day that started like any other, Mia had everything: a loving family, a gorgeous, admiring boyfriend, and a bright future full of music and full of choices. In an instant, almost all of that is taken from her. Caught between life and death, between a happy past and an unknowable future, Mia spends one critical day contemplating the only decision she has left. It is the most important decision she'll ever make.
                                Miranda Petrosky- Beautiful! Inspiring! I can picture so much that happens in this novel. I have had a personal experience with a significant other that made this story so emotional for me yet so REAL. I bought the second book so I could know what happens next. I would HIGHLY recommend this novel, it's so amazing!

Rating 10 out of 10

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

Greg Gaines is the last master of high school espionage, able to disappear at will into any social environment. He has only one friend, Earl, and together they spend their time making movies, their own incomprehensible versions of Coppola and Herzog cult classics.

Until Greg’s mother forces him to rekindle his childhood friendship with Rachel.

Rachel has been diagnosed with leukemia—-cue extreme adolescent awkwardness—-but a parental mandate has been issued and must be obeyed. When Rachel stops treatment, Greg and Earl decide the thing to do is to make a film for her, which turns into the Worst Film Ever Made and becomes a turning point in each of their lives.

And all at once Greg must abandon invisibility and stand in the spotlight.

           The real deal! a coming of age novel that truly depicts a slice of high school. Andrews cleverly blends the worlds of two socially awkward boys with a dying girl. As it turns out they end up liking each other and becoming friends. It's witty, it's clever, it's real.

Rating: 8 out of 10

The Last Lecture

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

A lot of professors give talks titled "The Last Lecture." Professors are asked to consider their demise and to ruminate on what matters most to them. And while they speak, audiences can't help but mull the same question: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? If we had to vanish tomorrow, what would we want as our legacy?
When Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, was asked to give such a lecture, he didn't have to imagine it as his last, since he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But the lecture he gave--"Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams"--wasn't about dying. It was about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment (because "time is all you have...and you may find one day that you have less than you think"). It was a summation of everything Randy had come to believe. It was about living.



                                Nikki Tomci- The book was an amazing story and unlike the typical cancer story, it wasn't all sad. Randy explained how he gained his optimistic point of view throughout his life, which provided me with motivation to be kind and make a change in my life. It's a lot like "Tuesday's With Morris" which was also a very good book. I'd recommend this to any reader.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Zac and Mia

Zac and Mia by A. J. Betts

"When I was little I believed in Jesus and Santa, spontaneous combustion, and the Loch Ness monster. Now I believe in science, statistics, and antibiotics."

So says seventeen-year-old Zac Meier during a long, grueling leukemia treatment in Perth, Australia. A loud blast of Lady Gaga alerts him to the presence of Mia, the angry, not-at-all-stoic cancer patient in the room next door. Once released, the two near-strangers can’t forget each other, even as they desperately try to resume normal lives. The story of their mysterious connection drives this unflinchingly tough, tender novel told in two voices.                         Austin Shaw- Mia is 100% to the point and doesn't hold back and I love it! The story was cool, but it wasn't "The Fault in our Stars", but I expected that. The ending was okay... Really the best thing was Mia and her being so raw and uncut. I'd say it's worth a read if there is nothing else on your current list.

Rating: 6 out of 10

The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

                                      Austin Shaw: The Fault in Our Stars is the greatest story of all time. The way Augustus Waters speaks is inevitably the most amazing way to speak to another. John Green will make you laugh and cry. It's an easy read and an amazing story. 

Rating: 10 out of 10


                                Desarae- This was absolutely amazing! I was attached to it for like 2 days straight. It shows the struggle of loving someone and also having a health condition. There are parts of the book that are very emotional, and there are also parts that are absolutely adorable. I would definitely recommend this to anyone that likes reading about love stories! 


Rating: 10 out of 10

Thirteen Reasons Why

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

                        This book was great. While reading this I was constantly wondering why exactly she committed suicide; I didn't understand. As I neared the end of the book I was finally starting to understand that for some people, the little things add up to be really big things. This book opened my eyes to bullying and really changed my perspective on life. Everything you do matters and sometimes the smallest things can make a huge impact on peoples lives. This book allowed me to see that. 

Rating: 9 out of 10

                          Miranda Petrosky- This was one of the BEST books I've ever read! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this novel. The plot is amazing. The story makes you keep guessing what's going to happen next, or who's on the next tape. This is a MUST read!

Rating:10 out of 10