Paper Towns blogged by Sidney B.

Paper Towns by John Green

6 hours

Quentin has loved his neighbor Margo Roth Spiegelman since they were kids. Now in their teens, Quentin and Margo are on very separate paths in life until one night when Margo mysteriously knocks on Quentin’s window. Driven by revenge, Margo drags Quentin with her for one wild, unforgettable night of pranks. The next morning Quentin looks for Margo only to find she has run away from home. However, Margo has left a trail of clues to lead Quentin on one final adventure to find her.

A major element of this book was mystery, the hunt to find Margo and also the enigma that is Margo. The unknown creates suspense and keeps the reader on their toes, never knowing what will happen next. Not only do the mysterious elements of the novel keep the reader interested, it makes the work more relatible. Most people know a person that to them is a secret. While most do not seek to solve those enigmas, that is exactly what the main character, Quentin, does. In his quest to find and discover who Margo is he not only finds her, but discovers some things about himself. In Paper Towns, John Green delicately tempers a suspenseful mystery with humor and coming of age elements.   

Tallgrass blogged by Callista M.

Hours Read: 6 1/2

Book Read: Tallgrass

Author: Sandra Dallas

Rating: 3/5

The book is about a 13 year old girl living in a small town called Ellis in California. During this time Japanese internment camps were being constructed around the United States. One of these camps, called Tallgrass, was built just outside Ellis. Throughout the story the Japanese families that live at Tallgrass are forced to put up with the prejudice coming from those living in Ellis against them moving to live there even though it wasn't their choice in the first place. Suddenly a young girl is brutally murdered in Ellis, and most of the people living in the town blame one of the Japanese for their loss. Only the main character, Rennie, and her family believe that it could have been anyone, and not just a Japanese person. In fact, her family are the only people in town who hire some people from Tallgrass to help on their farm. With the help of the town sherif and her family, Rennie attempts to unearth the truth about who really killed little Susan Reddick. 

Overall, I really like this book because it wasn't too historical, and it didn't focus too much on the interment camps. The only thing I would have changed is how the reader isn't able to figure out the mystery. There are no clues a person could pick up on because the book never changes perspective to another character who does posses the necessary information. The only clues presented are ones regarding an additional two mysteries within Ellis. Tallgrass was very well written book as well as one with very vivid setting that described the little details that assisted it so it seemed even more realistic.

Murder on the Orient Express

Read by Nathan G.

I read Agatha Christie Murder on the Orient Express. It is about a man named M.Poirot who is traveling to England on the Orient Express. Then one night someone is murdered! M.Poirot's friend M.Bouc puts him in charge of the case and M.Poirot does everything he can to solve the crime.