The Final Hour Andrew Klavin Book 4 of the Homelanders series brings everything to an exciting end on New Year s Eve in Time s Square. Overall the series was entertaining and well worth spending some time with. It made me think about my family, country, religion, and what would happen if any of them were taken away. 352 pages. Finished 5/1/2012 The Truth of the Matter Andrew Klavin Book 3 of the Homelanders series explains what has been happening in the beginning to get to this point. The memory loss from The Last Thing I Remember is explained and the series finale is set up. 336 pages. Finished 4/19/2012
The Long Way Home Andrew Klavin Book #2 of the Homelanders series starts to explain about home grown terrorists, threats to national security, and why everyone seems to be in on the plot. I can t give away too much, but this book keeps the pace of the first one and leaves you wanting to finish the series. 345 pages. Finished 3/21/2012
The Hunger Games Suzanne Collins Prior to watching the movie, I read the book for a second time. I like the book a lot more than the movie, but I thought the movie was okay. At least it didn t ruin the book. 374 pages. Finished 3/15/12 The Limit Kristen Landon The Limit takes a really interesting topic and puts a really strange spin on it. Essentially, your family has a limit on their available funds, and if they overspend, a child is taken to a government work center until the family gets back under the limit. Really creative and thought provoking. 291 pages. Finished 2/22/12
Tempest At Dawn James D. Best The behind the scenes events surrounding the creation of the Constitution. Historical fiction to make it flow, but certainly all plausible and logical steps to making the foundation for our national government during the summer of 1789 in Philadelphia. 432 pages. Finished 2/15/12 The Last Thing I Remember Andrew Klavan An interesting start to what is called the Homelanders series. I teenage boy wakes up tied up in a cell and doesn t remember anything about how he got there. I really liked this book and hope that the sequels are just as good. 336 pages. Finished 1/21/12
Cracker Cynthia Kadohata Cracker is about a dog named Cracker that serves as a war dog in Vietnam. The story is not true, but the events are. I am not much of a dog person, but the story touched me. The intelligence of dogs, and many other animals for that matter, is really impressive. 308 pages. Finished 11/14/2011 If I Should Die Jennie Hansen This is a book that touches a particularly sore spot here in Utah. The story parallels the Susan Cox Powell story of a missing wife and the intrigue surrounding it. In the end, it is a good story, but very close to home for many people. 235 pages. Finished 11/5/2011
Pop Gordan Korman Korman is one of my favorite authors. Everything I have ever read by him has been great. Pop deals with the very contemporary issue of head injuries in sports. It is a great book. 272 pages. Finished 10/30/11. Bloodborne Gregg Luke I have read a handful of books by Gregg Luke. He is a pharmacist by trade, so his books are deep, complex, and well-written using a vast vocabulary. This book deals with a research scientist and a vaccine that she has invented. People will do anything to get their hands on it, and the story goes from there. 336 pages. Finished 10/20/11.
Winterdance Gary Paulsen I have loved everything I have ever read by Gary Paulsen. This is a great book. The first piece of non-fiction I have read in ages. The first half is probably the funniest thing I have ever read, and the second half is seriously sad and scary. Running the Iditarod is an amazing story, but the language used is harsh. 272 pages. Finished 10/5/2011 Hunted Claire Poulson I generally like the mystery books written by this retired sheriff, but this one was just okay. Too much eco-terrorist ideology for me. Still an okay read, but not as good as most things we has written. 242-pages. Finished 9/30/11
Dark Life Kat Falls This is the first book written by Kat Falls. The story takes place under the sea, but Ariel is not involved. Pioneers are being attacked by outlaws and the water makes for interesting scenes. I really enjoyed this book, and can t wait to read the sequel. 304 pages. Finished 9/18/2011. Conspiracy 365 Gabrielle Lord This series of books follows Callum Ormond through the craziest year ever. Each book is a different month, and the adventures surround a mysterious item called the Ormond Singularity. Very exciting, fast-paced, well written adventure series. About 200 per book. Finished 8/19-9/6/2011.
Framed Gordon Korman I have really enjoyed everything I have ever read by Gordan Korman. Framed is the third book in the series (Swindle and Zoobreak) about kids being overlooked and underappreciated by adults. As the title suggests, this one is about a kids being framed for the theft of a Super Bowl ring. A good, simple read. 240-pages. Finished 10/10/10
Mockingjay Suzanne Collins The third, and final, installment to the Hunger Games series, Mockingjay finishes the story of Katniss Everdeen and her adventures in the Capitol. If you have not read Hunger Games and Catching Fire, you certainly need to get caught up before reading this. I have heard a number of reviews for this book, and people seem to love or hate it. I am on the love it side. 400-pages. Finished 9/10/10 Backlash Traci Hunter Abramsom Backlash is the fourth book in a series about Navy Seals. A drug lord, revenge, and marital issues are the major themes associated with this book. A good read, but certainly must know the story leading up to this one (Freefall, Lockdown, Crossfire). 230-pages. Finished 10/4/10
Summer Reading 2010 By Royal Command Charlie Higson By Royal Command is book number 5 in Charlie Higson s Young James Bond Series. I did not enjoy it as much as Hurricane Gold, but still a good book and well worth your time. 354-pages. Blink of an Eye Gregg Luke Blink of an Eye is a legal thriller with some personal connections. An automobile accident erases years away from Joseph Ramirez memory, but brings back horrible nightmares from his youth. 293-pages.
The Enemy Charlie Higson A different type of book from the author of the Young James Bond series. The Enemy takes place in a run-down and evil version of the Britain. Kids are fighting for survival against mutant adults. Creative, disturbing, and a good change of pace from the normal type of book I read. 384-pages. Fang James Patterson Fang continues the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson. Max and the rest of the bird-kids are back in an adventure that looks like it could split the flock. This is another one that is good, but you need to read the first few in the series to appreciate it. 336-pages.
Go Big or Go Home Will Hobbs I really like Will Hobbs books, so it is no surprise that I enjoyed Go Big or Go Home. A meteorite crashing through your roof and into your bed is the premise of this South Dakota based adventure. One scene in this book is among the funniest things I have ever read. 192-pages. Steel Trapp: The Academy Ridley Pearson Steel Trapp II is another great book by Ridley Pearson. Steel has a photographic memory and has a number of crazy experiences at the very mysterious and exclusive Wynncliff Academy. Read ST: The Challenge first. 416- pages.
Neil Armstrong is my Uncle Nan Marino Neil Armstrong is my Uncle is a quick read that teaches a good life lesson about kids and their desire to fit in at almost any cost, especially telling stories that may not be true. 160-pages. Crash Jerry Spinelli Jerry Spinelli write fun and easy to read books usually about teenagers. Crash is a good read that follows that same model. A teenage football player is the focus of this story. 176-pages.
Witch & Wizard James Patterson Witch & Wizard is a 314-page book that is the beginning of a new series. The author known for creating bird kids in the Maximum Ride series introduces an interesting new groups of characters with special powers. A good read if you can handle magic. Finished 1/25/2010 Dangerous Games Keith Morris Dangerous Games brings back memories of the 2002 Winter Olympics. A terrorist attack makes the 2006 games in Turin, Italy impossible, so the IOC moves them to SLC. Murder and mayhem ensue as the city is also a possible terrorist target. 256-pages. Finished 12/27/2009
Crocodile Tears Anthony Horowitz Crocodile Tears is book eight in the Alex Rider series. Alex is a 14-year old orphan that works for MI6, Britain s top-secret spy agency. This story involves genetically modified food and crosses three continents. 388 pages. As good as the others, and I hope to have more Alex Rider books soon. Finished 12/7/2009 Methods of Madness Stephanie Black Stephanie Black spins a complicated but entertaining tale involving murder, deception, betrayal, and a little bit of romance. 248 pages. Finished 11/24/2009
Milkweed Jerry Spinelli Milkweed is a serious book by the author best known for Maniac Magee. The holocaust, one of the worst events in human history, is told through the eyes of a young orphan. A sad, but very good, 208-page story. Finished 11/10/2009 Al Capone Shines My Shoes Gennifer Choldenko Al Capone Shines My Shoes is the 288-page sequel to Al Capone Does My Shirts. The story tells of the adventures of Moose, a teenage boy, living with his family on Alcatraz while the most famous gangster of all-time is incarcerated there. I did not like it as well as the first book, but still a worthwhile read. Finished 11/4/2009
The Car Gary Paulsen The Car is a 180-page book about the life of a 14-year old boy who finds himself abandoned by both parents. He travels the country learning with the help of a couple of Vietnam war veterans. A great quick read. Finished 10/28/2009 Missing Catherine MacPhail Missing is a 190-page quick read about an English family struggling after the disappearance of their teenage son. I liked it because it hits home about bullying, school issues, and family challenges. Finished 10/27/2009
Shudder Jennie Hansen Shudder is a 256-page novel about domestic violence, friendship, love, and family. Not a book for the faint of heart, difficult topics told through the eyes of college age characters. A really good read if you can handle the topics. Finished 10/25/2009 All-Time Favorites I have had a few students ask about other books that I have read in the past. Without the full description, here are a few that I have loved: Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz, Young James Bond series by Charlie Higson, Montmorency series by Eleanor Updale, almost anything by Gary Paulsen, Assassin by Anna Myers, Traces series by Malcolm Rose.