Point Blank by Anthony Horowitz (274 pages)
This book is one of the best books I’ve ever read. It is great for people who like adventure, danger, and spies. This book is about a boy who was recruited to be a spy. His name is Alex Rider and he’s back in this thrilling book. Alex Rider is on his own when he gets recruited by the special operation division, MI6. He is therefore sent to the academy of Point Blanc to investigate but it soon turns into a fight for his life. Dr. Greif is determined to take over. Will Alex stop him in time?
Aurica R.’s Rating: ***1/2
Ten years after the attack by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, reporter David Cullen gives the public all the details about what really happened that April morning at Columbine High School. Cullen outlines not only the events of that day, but the years leading up to the attack and the aftermath of the tragedy. Cullen’s no-holds-barred look at the deadly school shooting dispels many myths created by the media and eyewitnesses, including Cassie Bernall’s martyrdom, the angle that the boys were bullied and out to kill the jocks, and the description of the boys as being members of the Trench Coat Mafia. Cullen researched this novel using police reports, the boys’ own journals and videos, eyewitness accounts, interviews with friends and family of the victims, and legal documents. Though some of Cullen’s novel is difficult to get through (i.e. reading the boys’ own writing about how and when they were going to kill everyone), it is definitely worth reading. It gives new insight into the tragedy and puts faces on the victims and their families who have been living with this pain for ten years.
Teens Omar and Becky have been best friends since early in their childhoods. They’re outcasts in their school and have been tortured by school bully, Kyle, for years. When a new student, Akhil, arrives and is different from any other student they’ve ever encountered, Becky and Omar befriend him. Akhil has strange scars up and down his arms, he refuses to sit in the chairs in the classroom, talks back to his teachers, and is the first boy to give Becky a flirtatious flutter. But, Kyle sees Akhil as fresh meat and his impending plan puts not only Akhil in danger, but everyone at the school that he has on his hit list. With an interesting approach to school violence by comparing it with a wolf pack, this novel will make the reader wonder about how far bullies will go and what students can do to stop them before it’s too late.
The Maze of Bones (Book One) by Rick Riordan (220 pages) Miss Simer’s Rating: ***
One False Note (Book Two) by Gordon Korman (174 pages) Miss Simer’s Rating: ***
The Black Circle (Book Five) by Patrick Carman; 168 pages; Miss Simer’s Rating: ***1/2
Locke Vinetti is a moden-day Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. He has what he calls “the venom” inside of him that can come out at any moment. The venom is his dark side, full of rage and violence. Anyone who threatens him needs to be prepared for a sound beating because once he gets worked up, Locke finds it impossible to cool down. Most people have a filter that controls their anger before it gets out of hand, but not Locke. He’s lived with this his whole life and the only person who has had an ability to remotely help him is his best friend Randall - that is until he meets Renee. She’s a beautiful Goth girl who steals his heart from the moment he meets her and soon he is completely enraptured with her and her circle of friends. Is she truly the key to eliminating “the venom” once and for all, or will the venom reveal itself in an unforgivably destructive manner? (for mature audiences)
Daniel X, the alien hunter, is back to pick off another one of the top ten aliens who threaten Earth. In the previous novel, he destroyed Number 6, and this time, he is facing Number 5, a 300-pound catfish alien. Number 5 is intent to use humans as his puppets in an intergalactic reality show. He is obsessed with the entertainment business and wants to be the leader in all space programming. To control the humans of Earth, he uses electronic messaging and attempts to rewire the brains of the people. Daniel will stop at nothing to ruin Number 5’s plans before the human race is wrecked beyond repair.
Tunnels of Blood (Book Three - 229 pages) - Miss Simer’s Rating: **1/2
The Vampire Prince (Book Six - 197 pages) - Miss Simer’s Rating: ***
Allies of the Night (Book Eight - 209 pages) - Miss Simer’s Rating: ***
Killers of the Dawn (Book Nine - 206 pages) - Miss Simer’s Rating: ***
The Lake of Souls (Book Ten - 261 pages) - Miss Simer’s Rating: ***
The Lord of the Shadows (Book Eleven - 220 pages) - Miss Simer’s Rating: ***
Sons of Destiny (Book Twelve - 240 pages) - Miss Simer’s Rating: **1/2
The Finch family’s church is sponsoring a refugee family from Africa, but their housing plan fell through. The Finches agree to take in the Amabo family until another apartment can be found. Jared Finch is less than thrilled that he’s going to be sharing his room with Mattu, but his younger sister Mopsy is over-the-moon about having Mattu’s sister, Alake, share her room. From the moment the refugees arrive, Jared senses something isn’t right with the family. They hardly speak to or look at one another. Mattu has a perfect English accent, while his sister Alake refuses to talk. Andre, the father, has no hands, leaving the church to wonder what kind of job they will be able to acquire for Andre. A fifth refugee has followed the Amabos to America and is on a mission to track them down. He’s obviously a violent man who maims and murders those who get in his way. What is he after? This thrilling and illuminating novel delves into the harsh realities of the civil wars in Africa and the ultimate price the citizens pay for the blood diamonds mined there.
The Lightning Thief (Book One) - 375 pages - Miss Simer’s Rating: *** 
The Sea of Monsters (Book Two) - 279 pages - Miss Simer’s Rating: ***1/2
The Titan’s Curse (Book Three) - 312 pages - Hank H.’s Rating: ****
The Battle of the Labyrinth (Book Four) 
