2nd Chance

2nd Chance by James Patterson

2nd Chance reconvenes the Women's Murder Club, four friends (a detective, a reporter, an assistant district attorney, and a medical examiner) who used their networking skills, feminine intuition, and professional wiles to solve a baffling series of murders in 1st to Die. This time, the murders of two African Americans, a little girl and an old woman, bear all the signs of a serial killer for Lindsay Boxer, newly promoted to lieutenant of San Francisco's homicide squad. But there's an odd detail she finds even more disturbing: both victims were related to city cops. A symbol glimpsed at both murder scenes leads to a racist hate group, but the taunting killer strikes again and again, leaving deliberate clues and eluding the police ever more cleverly. In the meantime, each of the women has a personal stake at risk--and the killer knows who they are.

                                 Sheila Fennell- enjoyed reading this book. It was fast paced, the plot had a lot of good twists and turns. The reader was led in different directions to find the murderer. But at the end a small clue, which I have overlooked pointed out the killer. My favorite character was Lindsay Boxer, but I didn't really like her friend they were bad at finding the murderer. Lindsay takes a lot of chances that almost cost her life. But the end is definitely a surprise!

Rating: 8 out of 10

Paper Towns

Paper Towns by John Green

Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs into his life—dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge—he follows. After their all-nighter ends, and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues—and they're for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees the girl he thought he knew...  


                              Erick Faulk: When I first started "Paper Towns", I was unsure if I'd like it, so I wasn't expecting much. Boy was I wrong! The book starts off with a crazy ride between neighbors Margo and Quentin, driving around and getting revenge on all their enemies. It was so funny that it seemed to be the funniest book I've ever read. Then, it completely turned into a mystery when Margo runs away and is missing the next day. I typically don't like mysteries, but this book was amazing! I won't ruin the ending, but I will say it ends as perfectly as a comedy/mystery/romance can.

Rating: 9 out of 10

We Were Liars

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

                                   "Me, Johnny, Mirren, and Gat. Gat, Mirren Johnny, and me." They were liars, but they were so beautiful. Lockhart wrote one of the deepest and most beautiful novels ever.  Each chapter is like a short story. Also, every paragraph seemed as if it was the last. Lockhart is gifted. She is deep and her writing is like no other. 

Rating: 10 out of 10

City Of Bones

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder― much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...

                                   Griff- This book emotionally tore me limb from limb with twists and turns all along the way. Just when you think you know everything, there's something else the author adds to give it a spin. this book was fantastic and I recommend it to all audiences. The author's style will leave you curious, and that will force you to go out and get the next book. 

Rating: 10 out of 10

The Lovely Bones

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

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

So begins the story of Susie Salmon, who is adjusting to her new home in heaven, a place that is not at all what she expected, even as she is watching life on earth continue without her -- her friends trading rumors about her disappearance, her killer trying to cover his tracks, her grief-stricken family unraveling. 

                  Ivy Musser: I thought it was an excellent novel. I think the fact that the author some of her personal experiences for the inspiration really helped the book become successful. The climax of the novel was most powerful and brought me to tears. The author is very descriptive with a neat writing style which is what drew me into the book. After reading this book, I wanted to read more by this particular author. 

Rating: 10 out of 10

To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it, To Kill A Mockingbird became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into an Academy Award-winning film, also a classic.

                                 This book was slow at times, but overall I enjoyed it. It followed the lives for two children who had their own unique personalities. I liked the first half of the book much more than the second, when it got into the court case mare and less about the children and Boo Radley. I loved the end of the book though and how Boo was brought back into it. 

Rating: 7 out of 10


                              Smee Bucket- This book, know as an American classic, is worth that label. It is very detailed, both for characters and setting, and readers can clearly picture everything.  Some of the words are hard and the first couple pages are very slow, but other than that, the story is interesting, In the story, 6-year-old tom boy Scout Finch llives in the South during the 1930's and must learn about racism, respect, maturity, and other important themes. 


Rating: 8 out of 10

Compound

Compound by S.A. Bodeen

Eli and his family have lived in the underground Compound for six years. The world they knew is gone, and they've become accustomed to their new life. Accustomed, but not happy.

For Eli, no amount of luxury can stifle the dull routine of living in the same place, with only his two sisters, his father and mother, doing the same thing day after day after day. 

As problems with their carefully planned existence threaten to destroy their sanctuary—and their sanity—Eli can't help but wonder if he'd rather take his chances outside. 

Eli's father built the Compound to keep them safe. But are they safe—or sorry?

                            I loved this book so much. I twas full of twists and non-stop action. It was so unpredictable and a very creative idea. This book really got me thinking constantly wondering what was going to happen next and figure out the mystery of whether or not it was the end of the world outside the little sanctuary the father forced them into for their 'safety'. 

Rating: 8 out of 10

Everyday

Everyday by David Levithan

There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day

                         Great book and very well written. I loved the creativity of the idea and how every chapter he was a new character. It never got boring and I loved the diversity of the people's bodies he was in. It got me thinking about how different people really are. I loved the drama and romance thrown in with the adventure. This is a great book for all. 

Rating: 8 out of 10

Bruiser

Bruiser by Neal Shusterman

There’s a reason why Brewster can’t have friends – why he can’t care about too many people. Because when he cares about you, things start to happen. Impossible things that can’t be explained. I know, because they're happening to me."

When Brontë starts dating Brewster “Bruiser” Rawlins – the guy voted “Most Likely to Get the Death Penalty” her twin brother, Tennyson, isn’t surprised. But then strange things begin to occur. Tennyson and Brontë’s scrapes heal unnaturally fast, and cuts disappear before their eyes. What at first seems like their good fortune turns out to be more than they bargained for…much more.

                           I really liked this book, but it was a bit slow at parts. I loved the mystery of it at the beginning and I wanted to keep reading to get all of the details. The characters I quickly fell in love with especially Bruiser. I loved how he was tough, but still had some sensitivity. Bruiser is a must read for anyone who loves mystery and romance. 

Rating: 7 out of 10