The Red Pyramid

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

Since their mother's death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane. 

One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a "research experiment" at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives. 

Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them —Set— has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe - a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.

                         Smee Bucket- This is the first book of Riordan's "Kane Chronicles" series, which is about two siblings who are decedents of powerful Egyptian magicians. They learn how the Egyptian myths still play out in the modern world and must save the world from approaching chaos. This series is similar to the "Percy Jackson" series, but the gods and goddesses work in different ways. I didn't enjoy this book as much as the "Percy Jackson" series, partly from personal preference and partly because it was hard to get used to the way Egyptian magic works in the story. All in all, this is an enjoyable series that I recommend if you like mythology or adventure stories. 


Rating: 7 out of 10

Nation

Nation by Terry Pratchett 

Alone on a desert island — everything and everyone he knows and loves has been washed away in a storm — Mau is the last surviving member of his nation. He’s completely alone — or so he thinks until he finds the ghost girl. She has no toes, wears strange lacy trousers like the grandfather bird, and gives him a stick that can make fire.
Daphne, sole survivor of the wreck of the Sweet Judy, almost immediately regrets trying to shoot the native boy. Thank goodness the powder was wet and the gun only produced a spark. She’s certain her father, distant cousin of the Royal family, will come and rescue her but it seems, for now, that all she has for company is the boy and the foul-mouthed ship’s parrot, until other survivors arrive to take refuge on the island. Together, Mau and Daphne discover some remarkable things (including how to milk a pig, and why spitting in beer is a good thing), and start to forge a new nation.

                                 Smee Bucket- This book is historical fiction from an alternate universe (if that makes sense). It's partly about an island boy named Mau and partly about a wealthy European girl called Daphne. This book has humor, but also some very dark and depressing scenes. Mau explores his faith in the gods and humanity. Religious questioning is prevalent throughout the story, and the question "is there a god" is never answered (which is realistic when you think about it). I definitely recommend this book. The story is captivating and the conflicts will make you think. 

Rating: 8 out of 10

Up All Night

Up All Night by Peter Abrahams, Libba Bray, David Levithan, Patricia McCormick, Sarah Weeks, Gene Luen Yang, & Ariel Pollak

A brush with the supernatural? A rock concert? A reunion? A poolside revelation? The need to know what's up? The confessions of a friend? The dream of escape? A sick pet? An English assignment? The rear-window view of a murder next door? The search for the mother you never met? What keeps you up all night?

                                 Smee Bucket-  This is a compilation of six short stories written by said authors. The stories vary in quality and subject matter, but that all center around a teen who is up all night for whatever reason. Some stories are excellent and fun to read, while others are only so-so. A few deal with sexuality, and a few have very strong language. The last story, to me, is very off-putting. While the first five are more or less realistic fiction, the sixth story is a comic strip about a monkey and his search for something. Unlike the other stories, which were moving one way or another (even the ones I didn't like), the sixth story read like a fable. I don't know why the authors ended this anthology with the monkey comic, but hey, maybe you'll like it. 

Rating: 5 out of 10

The Lost Hero

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan 

Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up in a bus full of kids on a field trip. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper and a best friend named Leo. They’re all students at a boarding school for “bad kids.” What did Jason do to end up here? And where is here, exactly?

Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, ever since she had that terrifying nightmare. Piper doesn’t understand her dream, or why her boyfriend suddenly doesn’t recognize her. When a freak storm hits, unleashing strange creatures and whisking her, Jason, and Leo away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood, she has a feeling she’s going to find out.

Leo has a way with tools. When he sees his cabin at Camp Half-Blood, filled with power tools and machine parts, he feels right at home. But there’s weird stuff, too—like the curse everyone keeps talking about. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist that each of them—including Leo—is related to a god.

                                    Smee Bucket- This is the first book in the "Heroes of Olympus" series, which is the continuation of the Percy Jackson series. Despite this you don't need to read the "Percy Jackson" series before reading this one, (although I do recommend it) and this book isn't about him anyway. Riordan packs even more mythology and adventure into this series, making the books twice as long as those in the first series. This book introduces three new demigods, who Riordan fans will like as much as the originals. Anyone who likes adventure, mythology, and humor should read this book. You'll get hooked!

Rating: 9 out of 10

Beautiful Creatures

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margret Stohl 

In Ethan Wate's hometown there lies the darkest of secrets . . .

There is a girl. Slowly, she pulled the hood from her head . . . Green eyes, black hair. Lena Duchannes.

There is a curse. On the Sixteenth Moon, the Sixteenth Year, the Book will take what it's been promised. And no one can stop it.

In the end, there is a grave.

Lena and Ethan become bound together by a deep, powerful love. But Lena is cursed and on her sixteenth birthday, her fate will be decided.Ethan never even saw it coming.

                             Smee Bucket- this book could be compared to "Twilight" because it is a supernatural romance novel, but I never read "Twilight" so I won't do that. This book is exciting, sometimes dark, and sometimes funny. It is the first book of a series. I recommend ithis to girls who like supernatural romance, and even to girls who don't. After all, I hate kissy scenes, but I loved this book. 

Rating: 7 out of 10 

The Lightning Thief

The Lighting Thief by Rick Riordan 

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse-Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy's mom finds out, she knows it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he'll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends -- one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena -- Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

                          Smee Bucket- This is the first book of my favorite series, which concerns Percy Jackson, a modern demigod who must train to be a hero and save the world. In this series Riordan combines Greek myths with humor and pop culture, creating a fast-paced, interesting, and funny story. This book is suitable for younger readers (10+), but later books and the continuing series (The Heroes of Olympus) have more adult situations, since the characters age. 

Rating: 9 out of 10

The Final Warning

The Final Warning by James Patterson

Maximum Ride is a perfectly normal teenager who just happens to be able to fly, the result of an out-of-control government experiment. 

Max and the other members of the Flock -- six kids who share her remarkable ability -- have been asked to aid a group of environmental scientists studying the causes of global warming. The expedition seems like a perfect combination of adventure, activism -- and escaping government forces who watch the Flock like a hawk.

But even in Antarctica, trapped in the harshest weather on our planet, Maximum Ride is an irresistible target in constant danger. For whoever controls her powers could also control the world. Maximum Ride is James Patterson's greatest character, a heroine who manages to be human and fearless at once.

                                           Smee Bucket- This is the 4th book in the Maximum Ride series, and if you ask me, the series should have ended with book 3. In fact, book 3 seemed like a conclusion. This book reads a lot as if Patterson was pressured into continuing the series by fans and by parents who didn't like hos portrayal of scientists in earlier books. Basically, Max and her flock must save the world from Global Warming, and along the way they learn that not all scientists are bad guys. I thought I was reading an action-novel. Whether or not you believe/support global warming, this book's content, plot, and mood is very different from the earlier books, which is annoying. 

Rating: 2 out of 10

Gone

Gone by Michael Grant 

In the blink of an eye, everyone disappears. Gone. Except for the young.

There are teens, but not one single adult. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened.

Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day. It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else...

                             When I first read this book, I was amazed! I read the book with a day and was completely obsessed! I love the way the book is laid out. It shows the point of views of many characters. There is a lot of plot twists and surprises the way throughout the book. The characters come alive with their detailed personalities and emotions. I highly recommend this book and the others in this series. 

Rating: 10 out of 10

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

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

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

Looking for Alaska

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Before. Miles "Pudge" Halter's whole existence has been one big nonevent, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave the "Great Perhaps" (François Rabelais, poet) even more. He heads off to the sometimes crazy, possibly unstable, and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed-up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young, who is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart.                       
                             I didn't love this book as much as everyone else seemed to. I thought it was funny especially the first half. The plot was interesting, but it got boring to read after a while and I didn't really want to finish it.


Rating: 7 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

Eleanor & Park

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Two misfits.
One extraordinary love.

Eleanor... Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him until he wakes up. Making everyone else seem drabber and flatter and never good enough...Eleanor.

Park... He knows she'll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she ever gets to the punch line. There's a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises...Park.

Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.

                    This is probably my favorite book ever. The characters are so relatable and amazing. The love story is so real. Also the fact that it is set in the 1980's is super cool. I couldn't put this book down!

Rating: 10 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 Program

The Program by Suzanne Young

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

                       "The Program" was by far the best book I have ever read. The characters were so detailed and interesting that it made the book so much better. Any books that deal with topics similar to this one, are books that I would DEFINITELY read. 

Rating: 10 out of 10

Shadow and Bone

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

                                         Griff- This book is full of mystery and action. It will keep readers on their toes as they read through the adventures of the main character. The reader will cheer and cry along with the characters and feel as though they were with them. If you're in the mood for suspense and mystery this book is definitely for you!

Rating:10 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 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