After reading this book, I can say that it is a relatively good book. The book is about a young Cheyenne boy who can't stand killing, even for food or self defense. What the boy, Young Elk, does want to do is to catch wild horses.

The expected life for Young Elk was for him to become a warrior. For him to become a horsecatcher has less acclaim, and causes less celebration. Even so, Young Elk learns about horses. His hardest times are when war comes and the other young men go out to earn honor and respect.

This is a story about a different kind of courage. At times, Young Elk seems to have done everything he can, but the story still goes on. In the end he gets what he has been missing: acceptance by the tribe, and the attention of a certain Cheyenne girl.

Reviewed by Eleanor, Grade 10

I liked this book because it tells about a young boy, and his love for dogs and who loves to hunt. I also have a love for dogs, so I recommend this book to people who love to hunt and who have a heart for dogs.

Where the Red Fern Grows is a book that has a lot of suspense and it is heartwarming, it sort of grows on you like a houseplant.

Reviewed by Betsy, Grade 9

After reading this book I can say that it is a good story. Two young people, Calliope and Westerly, have found themselves trapped in a strange land, ruled by a mysterious woman. They are each from different lands on Earth, but both came after a horrible event.

Together, Cally and West journey towards the sea, in hopes of finding their dead parents. Along the way they are hampered by the ruler of the land, Lady Saranis, and her minions. They are helped by Lord Lugan, the opponent of Lady Saranis, and Lugan's folk.

In the end they must choose between Heaven and life on Earth. They learn about life and death, courage, survival, and love. The beginning of this book is a little confusing, you know what's happening but not the events that led up to that point, but in the end all the pieces come together.

Reviewed by Eleanor, Grade 10

I think this book was very intensely written about a serious topic. The Holocaust, I thought, was a very bad time for some people in Poland. This book isn't too grotesque, but just exciting enough to keep the reader hooked. This book was well written and the characters were very well picked. The author chose the right names and wrote just like she had been there. She didn't leave out anything, everything was thought of before the book was published. Here's a short summary of the book from my point of view.

Back in the days before the Holocaust there lived a family which consisted of a mother, father, daughter, and two sons. One day they were a normal family and the next day troops started to move into their town. Then they had everyone moved into a ghetto and held prisoner in their own homes. From there they went to camps. The first brother was killed helping his sister. The mother and father were shot on the spot because of their age. The daughter lived and was sent on a mission which would bring young children to Palestine which would save her. Also on the way she found one of her brothers alive and healthy. They eventually made it through all the suffering, pain and agony and made it to the free land in Palestine.

Reviewed by Brad, Grade 10

Every teenager goes through a period of confusion and perceived displacement. For some teens, however, this disillusionment is far more severe and threatening. Follow Alice, an ordinary girl with an extraordinary story to share, through the dark underworld of drugs, sex and suffering as she struggles to find herself in an unkind world.

This story is a remarkable account of the truth behind the glory and glamorous facade of the "risk -takers" life. Alice helps us to understand how important the choices of everyday life can be, and how we must cherish all that is handed to us — friends, family, love, and ultimately, life.

I would recommend this thought provoking story to anyone, young or old, who has felt trapped or held back by the trials of life or felt denied of the existence of choice. For no matter where one is in life, or what one has surpassed, there is always a choice to made or a lesson to be learned.

Reviewed by Jen, Grade 12

This is a story about a young girl who is determined to live her life the way she sees fit,no matter what her parent's say. The fact that Catherine lives in Medieval England makes it no harder for present day people to communicate with her. Time may have changed the exact problem but not its existence or people's attitude towards it.

Catherine's father is trying to sell her off to a husband, and her mother is trying to make her a perfect lady. Catherine just wants to play and have fun. So Catherine hides from her mother and gets rid of unwanted suiters through rude behavior. Finally there is a suiter that Catherine can't get rid of , but in the end Catherine finds that things aren't as bad as they seemed.

Reviewed by Eleanor, Grade 10

The story Something Upstairs is a very interesting book. If you like to read about murders and mysteries, this is a great book for you to think about reading. It will keep you on the edge of your seat, I know it sure did that to me. I don't usually like to read books but this book made me change my mind. I recommend this book highly. I promise you won't put it down for a second. Every time I went to put this book down something interesting happened. So I recommened this book for any age level. Now if you were wondering about this book, I will tell you a little about it.

Well Kenny moved into an old house in Providence, Rhode Island. One night he heard movement in one of the rooms, so he went to check it out.What he saw was a STAIN !!!!! But what came out of the stain is what you will have to figure out when you read this book. After this point of the story there is a very mysterious plot and ending.

Reviewed by Jennifer, Grade 9

The book Star Wars: Truce at Bakura by Kathy Tyers, is a very interesting book. I have read many books in the Star Wars series and I think that they are all well written and composed. If you like to read and enjoy high-paced, edge-of-your-seat books, and are into Star Wars, then this is the book for you.

This book is one of my favorite books in the series. It starts right after the last movie in the trilogy, Return of the Jedi, where Luke Skywalker is recovering after his father's death. A call for help comes to the Alliance from a far out, Imperial post of Bakura for help against the Ssi-ruuk, an incompassionate race that plans to enslave human minds to pilot their invincible machines to take over the galaxy. So Luke, Han Solo, and Princess Leia set out to Bakura with a fleet to help defend the Bakurans and are in hope that they will turn their loyalties to the newly set up New Republic. When they get there they soon find out how threatening their enemy really is and must join forces with the Imperials to defeat their foe. Soon evidence of a traitor is found in their midst...

Well, I can't tell it all, you'll have to read the book to see what happens. The entire book is very intresting and I love every part, but I think my favorite part is when Luke is trapped on a wrecked, mostly abandoned , Ssi-ruuk vessel in the middle of battle. No one can come to get him, and no one knows where he is.

Meanwhile, Luke has been infected with two Olabrian Trchoids, Parasites that enter the body through fruit. They migrate to the lungs where they begin to nibble their way to the victim's heart. The victim will begin to cough, first lightly, then severly, until the victim dies. The only way to rid them of the host's body is to have the host inhale pure oxygen where they would then spit the parasites out.

Luke begins to cough severely and discovers the two life forms within him. He thinks up a plan to create the smell of blood, using the Force, to try to lure the parasites out of his body, but they are almost to his heart, and he is already considerably weak. His plan requires all of his attention to live. He would have already of been dead, if he were not using the Force to hang on.

To see if Luke survives and if the Imperials and if the New Republic can defeat their foe, read this interesting book and find out more about the Star Wars Universe.

Reviewed by Stacey, Grade 9

The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks

A great fantasy story that has something for everyone. Challenges, legends, everlasting freindships, war and defeats as well as triumphs all combined for the search for the only weapon that can destroy evil. A giant army from the northland stands ready to destroy the remaining 3 lands of Shannara. The only one that can destroy the evil Warlock Lord in charges of this devastating force is the descendent of the great elf king who defeated the Dark Lord a hundred years before. That man Shea Ohmsford, last of this line, is confronted by the druid Allanon, bearer of the secrets of the four lands. It is then "that the seemingly hopeless quest of a simple man begins against the greatest power of evil the world has ever known." If you have never read a fantasy book before, then this book is the one for you to start off with. The best part is if you like it, there are six more afterwards that continue the series. The only problem that I could find with the Sword of Shannara is that once you start to read it, you can't put it back down.

Reviewed by Nathan, Grade 12

Rebecca by Daphine DuMaurier

The second Mrs. DeWinters arrived at Manderley as a plain and shy girl. She felt second- rate and inferior. She was nothing compared to Rebecca, the first Mrs. DeWinters who was beautiful, outgoing, and sociable. Rebecca was dead, but her haunting presence was still felt. An eerie, quiet shadow fell over Manderley until Rebecca's secrets came out. Rebecca was a very suspenseful and detailed novel. It took some time to get into, but in the end it exploded with energy. I liked the many emotions and feelings told by the second Mrs. Dewinters as the narrator. She was a character that people could identify with and she went through much self- growth. There is also a sequel to Rebecca, called Mrs. DeWinters by Susan Hill.

Reviewed by Eileen, Grade 9

To Kill A Mocking Bird by Harper Lee

It is a profound, compassionate book centering on the theme of prejudice. Yet it's the simple story of the insights of a little girl, Scout growing up in a biased Southern town. The events of the book are innocently told through her eyes. The book is divided into two parts. Part one focuses on the Boo Radley mystery. Boo Radley is Scout's neighbor who rarely ever comes out and associates with people. Consquently, people act prejudiced towards him and make up stories. Part two involves Scout's father, Atticus. He is a lawyer and will defend a black man. The townspeople can accept this, but they can't accept how Atticus is going to put his best effort into it. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I liked how the book was told through the eyes of Scout because she was a sweet and detailed observer. I fell in love with the many, original characters. The book also raised many thought-provoking questions about prejudice and human behavior. This book won a Pulitzer prize and was later made into an Academy Award winning film.

Reviewed by Eileen, Grade 9

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

I personally enjoyed Lord of the Flies because of the symbolic nature evident throughout the novel. The steps taken by the boys in this book seem startingly similar to the steps taken by different countries at the start of World War II. The greediness possessed by these children was and still is evident amoung many nations of the world. This book not only emphasizes the faults among countries but amoung individuals, and the lessons this book teaches should be learned by everyone.

Reviewed by James, Grade 12

Anthem by Ayn Rand

I enjoyed the book Anthem because of the startingly bleak future that some people believe awaits us if current trends in society grow stronger. This novel shows what would happen if the ideas of collectivism and the loss of personal identity becomes accepted by any of the nations of the world. The future that may await us looks dismal but in the end it shows that someone's identity can never be lost and people will fight for freedom no matter what the cost.

Reviewed by James, Grade 12

Jurassic ParkBy Michael Crichton

The book, Jurrasic Park was just as good as the movie. On second thought, it was even better than the movie. The book grabbed you from the beginning and didn't let you go. Crichton put a lot of suspense and scientific research into the book.

In the last few decades, genetic engineering has been quickly gathering speed. And now the genetic research company, Ingen, run by John Hammond has discovered a way to clone a dinosaur from its ancient DNA. Now these extinct creatures roam the earth again, but this time in caged areas of a carefully designed park. They are to be the highlights of Jurrasic Park, Hammond's dream of he world's coolest and wealthiest theme park. But then, things go whirling out of control.

In many ways, the book was very different from the movie. For example, there were more events and more people died. The ending in the book was very satisfying and also left you with the feeling for more. To find out more, read the book for yourself.

Reviewed by Eileen Grade 9