Lord of the Flies blogged by Mya W.

Lord of the Flies by William Golding
3 hours

    Lord of the Flies starts off with a group of British schoolboys who get marooned on an island after their plane crashes during World War2. Piggy and Ralph quickly find each other and decide to have fun and swim in a lagoon on the island. They have no cares in the world, and do not worry about being rescued. After a while, Piggy finds a conch. Piggy has asthma, so he tells Ralph to blow to conch and signal other survivors. After other survivors arrive, they have a meeting and vote on the leader of the group. Ralph is elected as leader and he appoints Jack and the choir as the hunters.
    At first, the boys enjoy their life without grown-ups and spend much of their time splashing in the water and playing games. Ralph, however, complains that they should be maintaining the signal fire and building huts for shelter.
   

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time blogged by Mya W.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon
1hour

    The book starts off with Christopher, who is going for a midnight stroll and suddenly sees his neighbor's poodle lying on the grass dead. He runs to help the dog and sees a fork stuck into the dog's side. Mrs. Shears, the owner of the poodle, calls the police. Once the police arrive, they ask Christopher a series of questions that he does not understand. Out of fear and confusion, he hits the police officer and gets arrested for assaulting a police officer.
    Christopher is a very smart boy. He can name every prime number up to 7057 and can name every country in the world and its capital. He also likes astronomy. Christopher is not very good with interacting with people. He is not very social, and he can never tell what people are thinking with their facial expressions.

Turnabout blogged by Haley R.

Title: Turnabout by Margaret Peterson Haddix
5 hrs.

In this book an agency goes to ask two old women if they want to be young again. But there were consequences. The elderly women just heard "be young again" and agreed. So instead of growing older each year, the grew younger each year. And when they started to get in their teen years the were worried because they were too young to do certain things as in jobs. And they were starting to wonder what happens when they reach zero. Now the agency won't give them any answers.

I would recommend this book because there is never a dead spot in the book so far.

An Abundance of Katherines blogged by Will K.

I have 8 hours to report.

I read An Abundance of Katherines by John Green. The main character, Colin, only dates girls named Katherine, and he has dated 19, and they've all dumped him. After he is dumped by the last Katherine, dubbed Katherine XIX, he is so depressed that he decides to take his best friend, Hassan, and go on a road trip. He doesn't care where or when, he just wants to leave. So he drives and drives and he sees on a roadside sign "Headstone of Archduke of Austria-Hungary." They pulled over because Colin was obsessed with mattering. He wanted to be remembered for doing something, and he thought that he had to make some great discovery or make lots of money, but the idea that it might just come to him, like it came to the Austro-Hungarian Archduke, a fellow who did nothing his whole life, waiting to become monarch of his country, and would be remembered for a long time because he died and caused the first world war. He mattered by chance. This idea appealed to Colin, so they went to see it. When they got there, to a town called Gutshot, Tennessee, they took a tour and met a girl named Lindsey. Then the move into Lindsey's house with her mother and get a "job" recording people's stories of the old times in Gutshot. They meet Lindsey's friends and boyfriend, and they have all sorts of adventures, including pig hunting, and multiple trips to the local Taco Bell.

A Monster Calls blogged by Andrew W.

Yesterday, I reviewed The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan. Today, I shall report on A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (inspired by Siobhan Dowd). This is a picture book, but it's fairly dark and deals with some mature themes. A troubled boy named Conor, with an ailing mother, a divorced father, and a slightly unpleasant grandmother, is paid visits in the night by a huge monster, made of a yew tree. The monster tells Conor three tales in exchange for a fourth tale told by Conor. The boy thinks he knows what the fourth tale is, but dreads its coming even as the monster tells him a tale of royal backstabbing and intrigue, a tale of an apothecary and a holy man, and even a tale of Conor and his schoolyard bully. Finally, it comes time for the fourth tale: his recurring nightmare about losing his mother to a fiery monster, aka. cancer. The monster forces Conor to relive the nightmare, and helps him cope with the loss of his mother and make amends with his grandmother.

Missouri Driver Guide 2 blogged by Mikayla W.

I read, again, The MO Drivers Guide for half an hour. This time I read bout stopping distance and braking distance. I also read about how to drive at night and what to do in emergency situations at night. Also emergencies due to bad weather, such as rain, snow, and ice. The most important thing was about DWIs and what the normal alcohol level is for certain ages and how to stay in shape to drive safely. The point system is also very important to learning how to drive. The book also described titling of vehicles, registration and insurance.

The Eye of the World blogged by Andrew W.

I would estimate the time I spent reading to number around 15 hours.

I read a variety of things, including the moody A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (inspired by Siobhan Dowd), as well as newspapers in several towns I went through (including Moab, Utah and Jackson Hole, Wyoming), but the most striking book has been The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan. This is, I'm told, Book One of Jordan's The Wheel of Time series, and it is a very promising first book. Jordan is a heavy fantasy writer along the lines of J.R.R. Tolkien, and has created quite an intriguing fantasy world. The prologue introduces us to magically-induced madness and the "Breaking of the World" caused by a struggle between two supernatural entities, the Dragon and the Dark One. Flash-forward several ages, and the story follows a young man named Rand al'Thor and his buddies goofing around in their isolated farm village, which is preparing for its yearly Bel Tine festival. There are strange guests arriving in town, including a "gleeman" named Thom Merrilin, as well as a peculiar pair: a lady of noble status calling herself Moirane, and her evident bodyguard Lan. The night before the festival, the town is attacked by a band of Trollocs, led by a Myrdraal (or "Fade"), creatures the villagers had thought were only in stories. Moirane is revealed to be an Aes Sedai, a female magic-user, which causes some outrage and suspicion in the town. Rand's father is injured in the attack, but Moirane heals him, and reveals to Rand that she suspects the Trollocs were after men of his age: him and his friends, Mat and Perrin. Thus, it is for the town's safety that they all travel to Tar Valon, the city of the Aes Sedai. Rand is conflicted, but goes along with Moirane because of his gratitude. They are joined by the gleeman, Thom, as well as Rand's adventurous lady friend, Egwene. While fleeing the village, the group is pursued by an ominous "Draghkar". The group reaches the city of Baerlon, where all three young men are struck with a nightmarish lucid dream in which the Dark One himself speaks with them. The village's spiritual leader, Nynaeve, also catches up with the group and demands the youths return home. However, in Baerlon are the "Children of the Light", religious crusaders who despise the Aes Sedai and the Dark One equally; upon learning that Moirane is an Aes Sedai, they attempt to arrest the whole lot, and the group must escape again. This is as far as I've read, and I am not even halfway through.

Missouri Driver Guide blogged by Mikayla W.

I read The Missouri Drivers Guide for half and hour. I chose to read this because I am studying for my permit test. I read about the basics of driving and the different types of licenses there are and the conditions of each. It also told how to get each one. I learned about how to park on a hill and the meanings of different road signs. It also told about how to share the road with others; like trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, and other cars. Another very important concept the book taught about was driving on the highway and how to stay safe doing so.

The Testing blogged by Callista M.

Hours Read: 11hrs 45min
The book I would like to report on: The Testing
Author: Joelle Charbonneau
Genre: YA Dystopian
Rating: Four and a Half Stars

Summary:
Malencia “Cia” Vale has always yearned for the chance to prove herself and leave her mark on the world. To do this, she must be selected as one of the best and brightest among all of the United Commonwealth's colonies and sent to Tosu City where those chosen undergo the mysterious Testing method. The only way for a student to continue their education after secondary school is by attending the University which only accepts those who pass the Testing process.

On her graduation day, Cia wishes for nothing more than to be accepted into the Testing program just like her father had been many years before. Luckily, her wish is granted, so Cia, as well as three others from her colony are transported to Tosu City. Before her departure, Cia receives strange words of warning from her father about trusting others in the Testing program.
As the tests get harder and increasingly more dangerous, Cia must carefully decide who to trust because if she chooses wrong, her life will pay the price. The Testing transforms into a game of survival that pushes some candidates beyond their limits. Cia holds her allies close as she attempts to play fair, but others are willing to kill to get to the top.

Review:
Normally, I am not a huge fan of dystopian novels, but The Testing was a breath of fresh air. The post-war, fractured colony setting seemed almost perfect with everyone working together to restore the barren land. Slowly the book reveals the flaws in  the society rather than all at once. Readers who enjoyed Divergent and  The Hunger Games will love the similarities between  the popular novels and The Testing.  There are not enough similarities to consider The Testing a blatant rip-off, but rather an amazing combination of the two worlds. Well-written, and full of original ideas, The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau is a groundbreaking book that has the potential to become the next big thing.

What Kills Me blogged by Callista M.

Hours Read: 31hrs 30min
The book I would like to report on: What Kills Me
Author: Wynne Channing
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Rating: Four Stars

Summary:
“Fortune favors the bold” and being bold is just what 17-year-old Axelia has set out to do while studying abroad in Italy. In Wynne Channing’s What Kills Me an innocent teenager is accidentally brought into the secret realm of vampires that have remained undiscovered on Earth since the beginning of time.
Axelia has lived a painstakingly normal life until she gets the chance to say goodbye to Canada and study in Italy. Taking this as a chance to reinvent herself and live on the edge, Axelia agrees to meet a man named Paolo again after he walked her home when she got lost in town. Sick with worry, for she came home late, Axelia’s host family sets curfew much earlier in the night since the streets are “too dangerous” at that hour. Not wanting to abandon her newly found courage, Axelia disobeys her host family’s wishes and meet Paolo. They decide to spend the night out on the town, where Paolo and she sneak into a church. Once inside, Paolo reveals his true nature that has Axelia fighting for her life. By mistake, she falls into a vat of blood and emerges in the purest form of herself: a vampire. Overall, the writing style is nothing but consistent and chock full of witty banter. The book would have gotten five stars, but the ending is a little too nerve-racking and action-packed without the proper amount of resolution.
Within moments of her awakening she learns that she is the subject of an ancient prophecy that depicts a girl that becomes a vampire by unethical means will be the cause of the extinction of the entire vampire race. From then on, Axelia is hunted down by the vampire monarchy, until she receives a reluctant ally, Lucas, whose family was set against the monarchy before their untimely death. Together they seek to prove that Axelia does not intend to wipe out the vampire race, and instead wants to live quietly and unnoticed, but knowing whom to trust and evading captors could prove more difficult then expected.
Review:
I particularly enjoyed this book due to the abnormality of it. Many details that could possibly seem cliche in the book are quickly proved to be anything but. Overall, the writing style is nothing but consistent and chock full of witty banter. The book would have gotten five stars, but the ending is a little too nerve-racking and action-packed without the proper amount of resolution. Considering that, Wynne Channing’s What Kills Me earns 4 stars!

Alice in Zombieland blogged by Callista M.

Hours Read: 38hrs
The book I would like to report on: Alice in Zombieland
Author: Gena Showalter
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Rating: Five Stars

Summary:

“You see anything in the shadows, anything at all, you pick up your sister and run” Alice’s dad warns. These words make up the last bits of conversation Alice shares with her family before the accident. In Gena Showalter’s Alice in Zombieland, the protagonist, Alice Bell, fights for her life as she learns that her dad’s paranoia that she has dismissed as long as she can remember came with good reason.
Alice leads a sheltered life where she is not allowed to go to any parties, hang out with friend, or do anything outside her house after sunset. These strict rules, imposed by her father, are all she has ever known. While she holds resentment towards her father, these rules have kept her family alive.
After convincing her family to go out after dark, to watch her sister’s recital, Alice’s entire family dies at the hands of monsters hungry for human flesh.
Now, Alice is set on avenging her family, but to do so she must plunge into a world she never knew existed, and trust an intimidating group of social outcasts who seem to know more about the “monsters” and who Alice really is than they let on.
From there, Alice discovers a world inhabited by evil, soulless creatures that she, as well as a few others, was born to fight.

Review:
Gena Showalter spins a unique story that combines elements of the famous Alice in Wonderland, and also the ever-popular tales of zombies. Showalter not only provides a plot that compels the reader to continue to the conclusion, but also she writes characters who have a lasting effect. Alice and her friends have a strong sense of humor and know individually who they are instead of being wishy-washy.
Anyway, I had never heard of Gena Showalter’s work before, so this read was a pleasant surprise! Overall, the book earns 5 stars for all of the “really, I have to wait for the next book?” moments that lie beyond the cover.