Realistic Fiction-Book Reviews
Speak
I thought “Speak” was an excellent book because it holds you from the first word to the last. The story involves a fourteen-year old girl who is a freshman in high school. Over the previous summer she went to a party to have some fun, nothing outrageous, just a few drinks maybe, then go home. It didn’t work out that way. Instead something terrible happened, something that keeps coming back to taunt her, something that has caused her to lose sleep, friends, and everything else but her sanity. It was just supposed to be a party, but instead IT happened. In a state of shock, fear, confusion, and hate she called the cops. She intentionally busted a party. In high school, that is a no-no. Her best friends now despise her; people who hear about, “That Stupid Girl Who Busted The Party” want nothing to do with her. She’s trapped in her own head, unable to speak to anyone about what happened. Her parents, her teachers, and her friends have no clue what really happened. She is, an Outcast. Her grades are dropping; her sanity is crumbling fast. She must speak to save herself from cascading into the depths of insanity, she must tell somebody what he did.In the Lake of the Woods
This book excellently illustrates many aspects of high school like the cliques, the teachers, the parents, and the constant struggle for acceptance. While the plot is rather dark, the amount of humor and irony outlining it is exceptional.
Speak won a Printz Prize for the excellent style, and extraordinary method in which the story was written.
Reading had been one of my favorite hobbies since third grade. I read daily throughout my life, and have read many books, some good, a few great, and some that I found absolutely extraordinary. Speak is among the latter.
John Wade was an ordinary young man. He had big plans for the future. He saw a future with a nice expensive house, happy kids who would someday grow to be successful, and he saw himself as a person who would be respected, looked up to, listened to.Cold Sassy Tree
Part of John Wade’s plans involved enlisting in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Twenty years later John Wade is still haunted by visions of the past. He still hears the thunder of gunfire. He cannot forget the machine gun wind, wind that is filled with bullets and bombs. He cannot shut out the faces of his old lost battle-brothers. He loves his wife Kathleen immensely, but he cannot tell her about the war. He cannot tell her about the machine gun wind, because he wants to forget it altogether. As secrets often do, the secret about Vietnam invades his life.
When he runs for office, he is beaten badly in the election. For every one vote he received, his competitor received four. A reporter blows open the Vietnam secret. The morning newspaper reveals pictures of dead Vietnamese soldiers in red trenches; John’s name is at the top. He begins spiraling into a pit of depression, near-insanity, and rage. One morning He awakes to find Kathleen gone. Just poof and she is no longer in his life. Where did she go? Will he find out? Is he responsible?
This is an excellently written story told by Tim O’Brien, a man who really did go to Vietnam, and really does have a hard time with his bloody past. The concepts and details throughout the story are amazing and, because it was written by a Vietnam veteran, it is even more credible. It is an exceptional book.
Cold Sassy Tree is a coming-of-age comedy of a teenage boy, Will Tweedy, who finds himself in the middle of a family conflict after his grandfather’s scandalous marriage to a much younger woman, Miss Love, rocks the community of a small town in the Deep South during the early 1900s. As the book develops, Will undergoes the transformation from childhood to manhood as he learns to cope with the constant squabbles between his family and the rumors that begin to fly through the small town. Will’s family, along with the rest of the town, reluctantly learn to accept Miss Love, as they realize that she is here to stay.Touching Spirit Bear
I would recommend this book to anyone who is in need of a good book to read. From the gossipy women to Will’s rebellious grandfather, Burns did a great job developing characters typical to that time period and made a common plot unforgettable.
Cole has been in trouble so many times, but this one was bad. He had almost killed Peter in that fight. Now Cole is given the chance to try something called “Circle Justice.” Based on Native American ideas Circle Justice is supposed to allow healing for the victim, the criminal and the community. Cole thinks it’s a lot of garbage, but it keeps him out of that stupid jail cell, so why not? He pretends to go along with the idea of living alone in the wilderness for a year. How hard could it be? He’s tough and sure of himself. Of course, the bear attack was unexpected. Would Cole survive? Would his life be any different because of his banishment? What about Peter? He’s so bitter and depressed now, surely nothing is going to help him.Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
I recommend you read the book The Hatchet because it's all about survival, if you like read to books that keep you on your toes and you don't know what's going to happen next then highly suggest that you read it. I liked this book because, for one thing I like to go camping and this book has alot stuff that has to do with the outdoors. Another thing is that the character in this book is about my age and I can understand him and what he is going through. This book makes you think on how you should always be prepared for what happens in any situations. The main character in this book is teenage boy who is travling on an airplane, when all of a sudden disaster strikes and he is now abandoned in the middle of nowhere and has no source of communication. To find out more on what happens you will have to read this book. Rivers West by Louis L'AmorReview by Joshua T. Rivers west is about a Man who is leaving his home in Canada to find a job in the United States. Along the way, he comes across a man who has been badly wounded. He learns information from the man that drags him into a plot to seize the western part of the United States. Unwillingly he had an obligation to pass on the information. He becomes involved and things kind of fall into place after that. So, if you are looking for a good book to read this is one worth reading.Stargirl by Jerry SpinelliReview by Cheryl C. How different can a high school person be and still be “OK?” What if you are that person’s friend? Is fitting in more or less important than friendship? We all know what we are supposed to say in answer to those questions, but when it comes right down to it and the going gets really tough, what would YOU do? Read about Leo Borlock and the kids of Mica High as they experience the amazing ways of new student, Stargirl Caraway. You will get a glimpse of the swings of acceptability as the school year progresses. Finally you will ponder—who won, who lost out, what will it all mean for each of these people in years to come?If you like to “hear” your stories, the library also has this book on tape.
Please send your book reviews via email, to Mr. Krasnoff or Ms. Christians, the HHS librarians.
Back to Main Page of Rebelslibrary.