Jack's Book Reviews

The Lonesome Gods, Louis L'Amour ****(4 Stars)  Reviewed by Jack Western.  The Lonesome Gods is an amazing book about a boy named Johannes, who's fathers last wish before he dies is to get him across the desert to his only surviving family, his grandfather. The problem is, his grandfather really has it out for his father because he married his daughter, which to him is a "dishonor" as his father Zachery Verne was just a common sailor, while his grandfather was a rich ranch owner. Zachery Verne just hopes that his grandfather will not take his vengeance out on Johannes, who's mother recently died.   Before they can worry about their vengeful grandfather, they have to cross the Californian Desert, and quickly, too, as Johannes' father only has weeks to live before he dies of an incurable disease. Shortly after they make it safely across the desert, Zachery Verne is killed by some of his grandfather's hit men, and Johannes is left out in the desert to die....

Lord of the Flies, William Golding ****(4 Stars) Fantasy. The Lord of the Flies is a dark book about a bunch of British boys who crash a plane onto an uninhabited island in the Pacific, where they have to survive until help arrives- if it ever does. At first, everything seems to be going well. The boys have elected a leader, the quiet Ralph, who gets most of his ideas from his ever loyal friend Piggy (that's the nickname that the boys give him, because of his larger stature, and because of his clumsiness), and they get a huge fire going, as to alert passing ships of their presence.   In a few days things start heating up when the headstrong Jack (not me, I swear) starts to get jealous of Ralph's position and leaves the main group with his followers to go to the forest and live there, where they become something like wild beasts, losing self control and going savage. On top of all of that they have convinced the other boys to join them, leaving...

The Running Dream , Wendelin Van Draanen ***** (5 stars) from KATIE Sports Fiction I really don't think giving The Running Dream five stars is very fair. It is such a good book it deserves ten stars at least. I love this book so much!!!! It's about a sixteen year old girl named Jessica who's track team gets into a car accident, leaving her alive, which is good, but minus one leg. She was the star of the track team and her dream was to get a track scholarship for college. After the accident she wasn't even sure she wanted to live anymore. What's life without running? But her parents and track coach aren't giving up on her. The put her into physical therapy, determined to get her on her feet again, and even more importantly, get her running. This book is so inspiring (it reminds me of the movie Soul Surfer) and you find yourself cheering for Jessica out loud. It makes you want to get up and work harder toward whatever goal you ...

Common Sense , Thomas Paine ***** (5 stars) from KATIE This is an amazing book! I was studying the American Revolution earlier in the year and this book was such an help. Thomas Paine anonymously published Common Sense  on January 10   of 1776. He wrote it to the general public, encouraging them to rebel against the monarchy. His arguments are unbelievably sound, using the Bible and "common sense" as his references. Unlike most of the Enlightenment writers of the time, Paine wrote Common Sense in a very simple, very ordinary way so more people besides scholars could read it. Within months, it sold over 500,000 copies. I absolutely loved it because 1. I'm a history nut 2. It actually made sense and 3. His arguments and points were an "ah-ha!" moments to me. I recommend this book for girls and boys 14+ and I also suggest that you take notes as you read it.

Palace of Mirrors , Margaret Peterson Haddix ***** (5 stars) from KATIE Fantasy Love this book! Another princess book (princesses are awesome) with a unique storyline which is always fun. The book tells the story of a girl, Cecelia, who, although living as a peasant in a village is actually the crown princess of her kingdom. A commoner named Desmia is on the throne as a decoy. But as Cecilia gets older she finds it harder to concentrate on her studies. She feels that she's ready to rule. Secretly, she and her best friend, Harper, run away to the capitol with the intentions of getting Cecilia back on the throne. What happens though, when they get the capitol and find out Desmia wasn't told the same story? Ooooh, suspense! You'll have to read the book. :) As for warnings, I can't think of any. There is a little romance (one kiss) but everything is very clean. No language to mention. I loved the book...

Ella Enchanted , Gail Carson Levine ***** (5 stars) from KATIE I have a lot of favorite books but this one is definitely in my top ten. At least. Maybe top five? Unlike Princess Academy this IS a Cinderella story, but with an awesome, really creative spin on it. The main character is Ella of Frell, who lives in an fantasy world (with gnomes, ogres, giants and best of all fairy godmothers). On the day Ella was born, a fairy, Lucinda, visited her and her mother with the intention of giving her a gift (Sleeping Beauty, too?). Lucinda's gifts are notorious for being absolutely horrifying and this one was no different. She gave Ella the gift of "obedience" which, as you can imagine, was quite the opposite. To quote the book, "If you commanded me to cut off my own head, I'd have to do it. I was in danger at every moment." But Ella wasn't about to leave her life up to fate. Ella goes on a dangerous quest, determined to break the cur...