Looking for Alaska by John Green (reviewed by Alanna Cover)

Looking for Alaska by John Green was an amazing addition to my inspiration library. I cracked its spine and found a world of wonder within.

The book is about a boy whose name is really Miles Halter, but for now we'll call him Pudge, as nicknamed in the book-who is looking for something. Have you ever had that sensation, that you're looking for something of great importance? Something that is so important that no one can comprehend why you're looking for it because-guess what?-even YOU don't even know what it is?

Well... That's Pudge's case. Pudge enjoys memorizing people's last words. An odd hobby, you have to admit, but I was enthralled by how amazing the hobby could be, what positive outcomes it could give. Furthermore on Pudge's situation, he doesn't know how to find that Great Perhaps (definitely the appropriate name, kudos to John Green and his obsession with last words as well!!) with a maximum of two friends, and practically no life.

Easy and most reliable solution: Go to the private school your father went to when he was in high school.

And Pudge does just this, and finds himself at Culver Creek in Alabama, far from his Floridan hometown. Who does he meet? A short and gruff roommate, named appropriately, for his sharp tongue and habits, as the Colonel; a beat-boxin' Japanese crunchy-fries-lover who can talk with his mouth full (Wonderful, isn't it?) named Takumi; a pretty, noble-born Romanian girl named Lara; and a beautiful, charismatic, tobacco and alcohol addicted girl named Alaska, whom Pudge falls helplessly head-over-heels for.

Things are getting better in his view as his life becomes normal for a simple teenage boy living in a private school, until a prank occurs. They dye the rich-kids' hair blue, and send out forged progress reports.

At first, it seems even better, as he begins to date the Romanian beauty, Lara. But soon, he finds himself mouth-to-mouth with the girl of his dreams: Alaska. Alaska has dared him to "hook-up with her," and he does just that. And around midnight, they stop making out and she gives him an unkept promise, "To be continued..." And comes in a few hours later, crying and screaming, saying that she forgot something, and she needs Pudge and the Colonel's help to get her off campus. The next day, The Eagle-the principal of the school-calls the entire school into the gym for an important announcement. Alaska is dead.

At this point in the book, I was very depressed at the thought of Alaska having died, it really ruined my entire day, to be honest. But as I continued to read, I found out why this was the only best solution for the story, otherwise, it would be just a boring book about some kid's life.

This is because the Colonel and Pudge go out of their way to find out why and how Alaska died, besides the basics. Yes, she was in a head-on collision with a police officer, but how did she die? What really happened that night?

As they get down to the nitty-gritty of their friend's end, Pudge learns a valuable lesson. Only by the last page does John Green have Pudge learn his entire lesson. And Pudge writes a paper to his teacher with his lesson. After being confused over whether or not he should be mad at her, or himself, he found that he forgave her. And he forgave himself. Why? Because she forgave him. She doesn't care anymore. It's been months since her death, and he forgives her.

This book was amazing, it really had me on the edge of my seat for a month, and I apologize to the library for keeping it overdue! There was certainly more to it than the cover gave away. I definitely recommend it to all teens and up. Preferably above 13, please. It does contain material unnecessary for certain audiences, with heavy sexual and alcohol themes. Now, I'm on to reading An Abundance of Katherines!

--
Thank you, Alanna, yet another superb first time reviewer. I have to admit: I LOVE THIS REVIEW...almost as much as I love John Green's amazing, one-of-a-kind, EPIC book!! What's especially cool is that Alanna decided to read this book after recommendations made during our last Teen Book Club author chat, as both the author (Gail Giles) and her fellow book club members recommended the book. Onward to Nerdfighteria! \o/

Click here to check our catalog to see if Looking for Alaska is on the shelves.

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting (reviewed by Xian Eutsler)

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting is about sixteen year old Violet Ambrose, her best friend Jay Heaton, a serial killer, and a secret that threatens not only Violet, but everyone around her as well.

When sixteen year old Violet Ambrose finds a body at eight years old, her life changes forever. Now sixteen years old, Violet discovers new feelings for her best friend Jay Heaton. At the same time her secret ability threatens the work of a serial killer. While figuring out her feelings for Jay, and finding out who the serial killer is, Violet has enough to worry about. What makes matters worse is that for every body and clue she finds the closer the serial killer gets to finding out who is finding the bodies and stirring up secrets he doesn’t want found.

Now this isn’t supernatural fiction, but it’s a great read. Having the ability to find dead bodies (murdered ones) is not my idea of a wonderful ability. But then again, anything is possible. Though this book doesn’t have extreme romance, it makes up for it with a haunting story. This book had me reading nonstop. We all know how love is, complex, frustrating. Add to that an ability to find the bodies of murdered girls.

The great thing about this book is that it kept me reading. First telling the story through Violet’s point of view, then switching to the serial killer’s point of view every few chapters. Then when Violet starts experiencing new feelings with Jay, she knows that he will support her through whatever happens, whether the serial killer is found or not.

There is nothing I didn’t like about The Body Finder. This book has its own special touch. The kind of ability is possible, though not exactly like this. But there are instances like this, this book just tells the story from a sixteen year old’s point of view at a time when teenagers experience new things, natural and supernatural.

--
Hoorah for new readers, thanks for submitting a fantastic review, Xian! You, too, can review for this blog. Send us your reviews today and next thing you know, they'll be up here on the blog, huzzah! ^__^ You might even get lucky and get the chance to review an ARC like Xian did.

Xian reviewed an ADVANCE READER'S COPY (ARC) of this book, meaning she got a chance to read it before it was published and she had a chance to let the library know if it she thought we should purchase it for our shelves or not.

Do YOU want a chance to read and review books before they're published? Do YOU think you could give your opinion on if the library/other people should buy these books? If so, you can ask at youth services or send us an e-mail for more information on how you can get a chance to be an advance reviewer.

Blackbringer by Laini Taylor (reviewed by Bear Schacht)

Magpie Windwitch, granddaughter of the West Wind, is a fairy, but unlike the other faeries she travels around with a bunch of crows catching snags (devils). These snags were all caught and trapped by the legendary hero Bellatrix (As a Harry Potter reader, that name threw me. Bellatrix the hero?) but after the mannies (humans) came along with their curiosity and stupidity and started opening the bottles the snags were trapped in, well, things took a turn for the worse. Then the greatest snag of all, worse then a snag, the Blackbringer is let lose. Now Magpie has to figure out how to stop it. Unfortunately, the faeries have forgotten much of their past, so the only one who knows the awnsers is the Djinn who dreamed up the world in the first place....

I enjoyed this book very much. It was a fun read, with an interesting take on the different species and a new magic system (I love those). Jacksmoke, do you really need any more reasons to read the book?!

--
Thanks, Bear. This (Faeries of Dreamdark) is one of my favorite new fantasy series too! Who doesn't love them some hardcore faeries?!

Click here to check our catalog to see if Blackbringer is on the shelves.

The Promethus Deception by Robert Ludlum (reviewed by Adam Sayre)

This book is better than most! Nick Bryson works for the Directorate, a freelance combination of the CIA and the FBI. But when an undercover mission goes south, the Directorate gives him a new identity, effectively firing him. Three years later, when his cover is blown, he's on his own. He learns that the Directorate is not what it seems, and is heading into an endgame with disastrous implications. The director of the CIA hires Bryson to infilitrate the Directorate and stop them from doing whatever it is they're doing. Bryson's field skills are rusty, his contacts unreliable, and, just to lighten the pressure, millions of lives hang in the balance.

--
Thanks as always, Adam. ^__~ This review is a reminder that this blog welcomes reviews of ALL library material, not just teen stuff. You can review adult books, magazines, books on CD, DVDs, music CDs, video games ... anything you can get at the library, you can review on this site!!

Click here to check our catalog to see if The Promethus Deception is on the shelves.