Book Reviews
The following book reviews were written by WHRHS students and faculty. If you would like to post a book review, click on the book review form below.
Title: The Book of Fred
Author: Abby Bardi
Book Category/Genre: Fiction, Relationships
Summary: When Mary Fred is taken from her family to live in a foster home, her life begins. Mary Fred is from a different religion where they don't believe in watching t.v. or wearing any color clothing other than brown. When she meets her new foster family, her whole view of the world changes. Just when her life starts to settle in, she gets into an accident that brings her closer to her past.
Rating: Good book, I enjoyed reading it
Name: R. O., student
Title: Ender's Game
Author: Orson Scott Card
Book Category/Genre: Science Fiction
Summary: It's about a boy named Ender Wiggin who is a third in his family. He is taken to outer space to train to defeat the Buggers (Alien Race). Ender makes rivals, friends, and enemies but will he ever make it to become the best commander?
Rating: Super book, one of the best books I've read
Name: S. V. S., student
Title: Whale Talk
Author: Chris Crutcher
Book Category/Genre: Problem Novel, Sports, Relationships
Summary: TJ Jones (yes, that is redundant) was adopted. He is a phenomenal swimmer and wants to start a team at his high school. So he gets a coach and gathers random people for his team. However, TJ is the only one who can actually swim. But it's the bus rides that they love not the meets. On the long bus ride they learn things about each other and themselves that they never would have guessed.
Rating: Super book, one of the best books I've read
Name: Traci, student
Title: The Au Pairs Skinny Dipping
Author: Melissa De La Cruz
Book Category/Genre: Fiction, Relationships
Summary: The novel "Skinny Dipping" my Melissa De La Cruz is a good book for any girl who is interested in anything trendy. The story is based on three girls who spend their summer in the Hamptons obsessing over boys, expensive designer clothes, and the hottest places to be. The book is a sequel to the novel "The Au Pairs." Although I didnt find the book all that interesting, I would reccomend it to any girl looking for any easy read.
Rating: OK book, but not great
Name: B. C., student
Title: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
Author: Mark Haddon
Book Category/Genre: Problem Novel, Mystery/Thriller
Summary: A boy with Asperger's Syndrome (autism but extremely logical mind) tries to solve a mystery but exposes many things that he's been lied to about throughout his life. This books was interesting because I learned about what people with autism think like.
Rating: Good book, I enjoyed reading it
Name: E.S., student
Title: Green Angel
Author: Alice Hoffman
Book Category/Genre: Adventure, Problem Novel
Summary: Green is a young girl who lives with younger sister, Aurora, and her two parents. While out in the city, Green looses her whole family due to a fire. Because of her loss, Green tries to be someone who she's not. Her whole world begins to go into despair, and she can't find her way back.
Rating: Good book, I enjoyed reading it
Name: M. S., student
Title: Mates Dates, and Sole Survivors
Author: Cathy Hopkins
Book Category/Genre: Fiction, Adventure, Humor, Problem Novel, Relationships, Romance
Summary: Lucy is the only one without a boyfriend then she meets a guy at a spa weekend, Daniel.
Rating: Good book, I enjoyed reading it
Name: S.N., student
Title: Girls in Trouble
Author: Caroline Leavitt
Book Category/Genre: Problem Novel
Summary: This is a good book, but it will make you want to cry. Girls in Trouble is about a 16 year old girl that has everything going for her. She is on track to go to college, is a very intelligent girl, and has great frinds and parents. That all changes when she meets the school misfit. He shows her the fun side of life. Her joy comes to a complete halt when she finds out she is pregnant. She decides to give her baby up for adoption and becomes part of the adoptive family. She has the baby and again she is happy, but her happiness does not last long when the family she loves suddenly leaves without a trace. Everthing seems to go wrong for Sara. Read this book and find out if anything can bring happiness back into Sara's life.
Rating: Good book, I enjoyed reading it
Name: Amy, student
Title: Second Helpings
Author: Megan McCafferty
Book Category/Genre: Fiction, Humor, Problem Novel, Relationships, Romance
Summary: Sequel to Sloppy Firsts. Jessica Darling continues her adventure with Marcus Flutie, her best friend Hope, the annoying Clueless Crew, and her sister Bethany.
Rating: Good book, I enjoyed reading it
Name: S.N., student
Title: Confidental Confessions
Author: Reiko Momochi
Book Category/Genre: Graphic Novel
Summary: THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING!!! Hoping to really get more of Graphic novels! Thank you for the experience.
Rating: Super book, one of the best books I've read
Name: D. C., student
Title: 1st To Die
Author: James Patterson
Book Category/Genre: Fiction, Mystery/Thriller
Summary: The book is about a homicide detective named Lindsay and her three friends. One is a reporter named Cindy, the other is assistant district attorney named Jill, and the other is medical examiner named Claire. But, the scary thing is there is a crazy murder going around Los Angeles and murdering brides & grooms on their honeymoon. The conclusion of the book is that with friends one can solve any problem in their life. It's one book that will keep you on the edge, and you can't wait to find what will happen next!!
Rating: Super book, one of the best books I've read
Name: N. B., student
Title: The Body of Christopher Creed
Author: Carol Plum-Ucci
Book Category/Genre: Problem Novel
Summary: Torey Adams is a well-liked boy in his high school located in a very rich town. When Chris Creed, a boy always made fun of, goes missing, Torey gets involved. Bo Richardson is accused of being responsible for Chris being missing. Torey is convinced to save Bo from going to jail for the rest of his life for a crime Bo did not commit. Torey's life starts to change for the worse.
Rating: Super book, one of the best books I've read
Name: R. O., student
Title: Lucy the Giant
Author: Sharon L. Smith
Book Category/Genre: Adventure, Relationships
Summary: Lucy, a tenth grader in Alaska, stands six feet tall. Between getting teased at school and her dad being a drunk, Lucy's life is not what you call fun. When she runs away from home, she is seen as an adult and offered a job as a deep sea crabber. Lucy makes so many friends and enjoys being known as "Barbra the adult," but Lucy runs across a problem when a friend from an old town recognizes her.
Rating: Super book, one of the best books I've read
Name: R. O., student
Title: What My Mother Dosen't Know
Author: Sonya Sones
Book Category/Genre: Fiction, Relationships, Romance
Summary: This book is a story about a girl who tries to find Mr.Right but keeps finding Mr. Wrong. On her third search, she finally finds her true love. This book is also written in a poetic way.
Rating: Good book, I enjoyed reading it
Name: A. S., student
Title: The Guardian
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Book Category/Genre: Problem Novel, Relationships, Romance, Mystery/Thriller
Summary: Julie is stalked by Richard, a man that she dated, but then she fell in love with Mike, a good friend. Richard is over obsessed.
Rating: Good book, I enjoyed reading it
Name: Stephanie, student
Title: Make Lemonade
Author: Viriginia Euwer Wolfe
Book Category/Genre: Fiction
Summary: LaVaughn is constantly hearing how important it is to go to college from her over-protective mother, but when LaVaughn calls Jolly, a seventeen year old mother of two, LaVaughn signs up for more than just a babysitting job. Jolly is almost illiterate. LaVaughn helps Jolly with her homework and watches her kids while Jolly works. LaVaughn is a straight A students but doesn't know if she can handle the work Jolly challenges her to complete.
Rating: Good book, I enjoyed reading it
Name: R. O., student
Title: True Believer (sequel to Make Lemonade)
Author: Virginia Euwer Wolfe
Book Category/Genre: Fiction
Summary: LaVaughn is now almost sixteen. When Jody, an old friend that LaVaughn used to play with, moves back into her apartment building, he looks like a model off a magazine. LaVaughn has a huge crush on him, but things with LaVaughn's friends start to go downhill. The join an new club and always exclude LaVaughn. Just as things look like they couldn't get worse, LaVaughn find out about Jody's special secret that changes her feelings for him.
Rating: Super book, one of the best books I've read
Name: R. O., student
Title: Watchmen
Author: Alan Moore, Art by Dave Gibbons
Book Category/Genre: Fiction, Graphic Novel, Adventure, Relationships, Science Fiction, Mystery/Thriller
Summary: This book is absolutely fantastic and will change your opinion of graphic novels. When an unknown person starts murdering members of a recently disbanded group of "superheroes," the remaining heroes search to find out who. This book raises the question of the famous quote, "Who watches the Watchmen?" which means, if these "heroes" are supposed to protect us, and they exhibit flaws just as we do, then who watches over them? This book's theme is the most important part, and it is excellent, as is the deep character development. Read this book. I could not recommend it more.
Rating: Super book, one of the best books I've read
Name: M. H., student