LHS Library Notes and Book Reviews

EARTHQUAKES, VOLCANOES, AND TSUNAMIS

2006-12-18T07:26:00.000-07:00

by Elizabeth Austin

The book is about earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis. Plates can move against each other. Another plate slides over or under the plate. And plates can move very slowly. Some plates can be small and harmless.
The three most interesting things that I learned was it is good to be prepared for an earthquake. Also, always stay inside when there is an earthquake and never ever be in a tsunami.
The book was okay, but it does talk about important things like how to be prepared for volcanoes and how to tell when there are tsunamis coming. It also talks about how you should always prepare for earthquakes. A type of person who would like this book is someone who is very interested in volcanoes. Another person who would like this book would be someone who is interested in tsunamis and someone that likes earthquakes.

Durango Street by Frank Bonham

2006-12-08T13:49:00.000-07:00

I think Durango Street is a fun book to read. The main character is Rufus Henry. Henry just got out of a youth work camp because he got caught stealing cars and was charged with Grand Theft Auto. On his first day out, he already starts getting in trouble and his friends are the wrong crowd. He gets into a fight with a gang called the Gassers because his sister tells on them to the police. With Alex's help, Rufus starts to learn that he can make his life the way he really wants it, out of his old ways. If you are into these kind of books then you will love Durango Street.~Kyle

The Little Book That Beats The Market by Joel Greenblatt

2006-12-08T09:36:00.000-07:00

This little book explains practically everything you'd need to know to get started on stocks. All through an allegorical tale of the author’s son who wishes to sell gum and school, and his friends desire to make quick money. He breaks down how consumer spending and institutional ownerships help build a company and who to easily find the best interest for your cash. The book is astoundingly simple and lays such a solid foundation that even beginners and professionals stock owners will both find appealing. If you have any interest at all in investing, this two hour read is highly suggested.

~Joey

Rainbow Road By Alex Sanchez

2006-12-08T07:21:00.000-07:00

Rainbow Road by Alex Sanchez

The Book Rainbow Road is the third book in the Rainbow Boys series. It is an interesting look into the coming out process of gay men in America. In the Book by Alex Sanchez you follow three very different types of boys in the before the beginning of college. The three boys take a road trip so Jason can give a presentation at a Gay Rights meeting unfortunately for him his boyfriends friend Nelson tags along for a ride. This book truly challenges teen readers to take a look at what Gay Youth go through. Rainbow Road is the last of three books in this series, the first book Rainbow Boys and the second book Rainbow High. I encourage anyone to read this book as it challenges the social norm for books.

Killing For Company: By Brian Masters

2006-12-07T12:31:00.000-07:00

Killing For Company: By Brian Masters

This is an awesome book for those readers out there that like real true stories and murder novels. This story takes place in England where a man named Denis Nilsen begins starting a career of murder and decive the town of London where he begins a murder spree over the next 15 years of his life.
~Ernie

Dragonquest by Anne McCaffrey

2006-12-04T10:31:00.000-07:00

This is the second in a wonderful series about a planet that is protected by dragons. I love this series because it is well thought out and the characters are wonderfully written, There is excitement and adventure throughout all of these books that I find to be inspiring, the perfect series to read on a rainy or snowy day, or just even when you feel like reading. The world is without danger for a few hundred years and everyone believes that dragons are a drain on the economy and are about to mutiny against the old way of life when the threat returns and everyone is in a panic about it, well someone comes to the rescue and life resumes like it used to in the good ole days.

~Keith~

"Im just a figment of your imagination"

Watership Down by Richard Adams

2006-12-01T15:26:00.000-07:00

Watership Down is a book about a clan of rabbits trying to survive after humans ran them out of their home. The dangers they face really draw you into the story. It is best if you are not the faint of heart.

Artemis Fowl the Lost Colony by Eoin Colfer

2006-11-20T14:43:00.000-07:00

This is a great sequel to a great series. Again Artemis and Holly Short must pair up to stop the human world from colliding with the fairy world. This time the problem is not Artemis's doing but an Artemis like girl named Melissa. If you thought Artemis was bad try this one out. Full of twists and excitement. Another good read by Eoin Colfer.

SpyBoy in the Deadly Gourmet Affair by Peter David

2006-10-16T08:23:00.000-06:00

Gourmet was busy making turkey when his assistant named Chinn sensed that they had a guest arriving. It was the Professor Pfizer. Finally, they located the boy that Gourmet was searching for but the Professor Pfizer had hidden him somewhere. “I have no idea where the boy is,” said the professor. That is when Gourmet got angry. They tied up the professor and Gourmet was going to let his assistant pour hot oil and grease on the professor. Alex was being bullied around by three gang members. They put his head into the toilet. Alex was angry and tired of being bullied. He didn’t know what to do. At home, Alex was telling about what happen to him at school, but Alex’s father only made it worse.

It was most interesting book I ever read. I want other people to read Spyboy

Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez

2006-10-16T07:10:00.000-06:00

The Book Rainbow Boys is an interesting look into the coming out process of gay men in America. In the Book by Alex Sanchez you follow three very different types of boys in the beginning of their high school year. This book truly challenges teen readers to take a look at what Gay Youth go through. Rainbow Boys is the first of three books in this series, the second book Rainbow High and the final book Rainbow Road. I encourage anyone to read this book as it challenges the social norm for books.

Shane by Jack Schaefer

2006-10-12T09:14:00.000-06:00

SHANE by Jack Schaefer

I enjoyed this book. It is a wonderful western novel. The story is based around Shane who rode into a small valley in Wyoming in the summer of '89. He is a slim man dressed in black who seems dangerous. Shane turns out to be a really nice guy and helps a family on their homestead. He also helps others to save their homesteads from the local cattle farmers. It is a good book especially if you like old west movies and books. ~ Kyle

Nothing's Sacred by Lewis Black

2006-10-12T08:35:00.000-06:00

Nothing's Sacred is an autobiography by Lewis Black. Lewis is a comedian, born and raised in D.C. This book tells how he grew up, went to collage, his political views, and how he got where he is today. Lewis Black's book also tells about his experiences and the people that impacted his life the most. It is written by himself so the book is filled with his humor.

Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

2006-10-10T16:06:00.000-06:00

The Screwtape Letters's text is in essence an allegoric tale that is told within 31 letters written by Screwtape, a senior devil, to his nephew Wormwood, a young tempter. The plot is about a young man who fights the whims of temptation and is a remarkable piece of psychological accuracy that anyone can enjoy. Written in commemoration to J.R.R Tolkein in 1942, it has become his most popular piece of literature ever since. With two hundred pages, it can be a fast read, but the text is so rich and thought provoking that it deserves a thorough read as many classic allegoric tales require.

~Joseph

Maximum Ride The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

2006-09-27T12:48:00.001-06:00

This is definitely my favorite book! It is about six genetically enhanced kids ranging from age 4 to 14. They have wings. They start out living about two to three years on their own, in a house, in a forest. They are oblivious to the world around them. This is all interrupted when they are out on a hike. Angel is kidnapped by the scientists who created them. This book contains short chapters(only 6 pages) and is full of incredibly fast action packed chapters. Once you start this book you might not be able to put it down.~Patrick

Rats by Paul Zindel

2006-09-26T13:40:00.000-06:00

Rats: By Paul Zindel

This book takes place in New York City. In the beginning a man is killing rats with a bb gun, when they turn on him and begin to devour his flesh while he is still alive. Throughout the book, the rats begin to develop more and more and begin to take over the city. It is up to Sarah and brother Michael to put a stop to all the chaos in the city.

Fake ID by Walter Sorrells

2006-09-26T11:41:00.000-06:00

This is a really good book and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a very good mystery and suspense book. This is one of the best books that I have ever read. It is about a girl named Chas, her mother, and her friends. Her mother disappears in this book and Chas realizes she doesn't know who she really is. She only has 7 days to figure it out. In this book she has several people who help her on her way but, she also has several people who hinder her on her path to find out. She needs to find out who she really is? Who her mom really is? What is the importance of her mom's tape? There are a lot of other interesting twists-n-turns.~ Tracy

Wisdom of Our Fathers by Tim Russert

2006-05-30T13:15:00.000-06:00

I had wonderful memories of growing up on a farm in Emporia, Kansas. I loved helping my Dad with the chores. We would have long talks while fixing the fence.

Smarty, an American Saddle Horse, was my pride and joy. My Dad taught me how to ride and show my horses. We went to horse shows. What fun! When my Dad was asked why he spent so much money on my horses, he said “I know where my daughter is!” He was right; I was out at the barn with my horse.

He told me that I could do anything, but I needed a good education. My Mom and Dad never said if you go to college, it was WHEN you go college. My father also told me it was important to know that I could support myself. He said “you never know what life has planned for you.”

Reading Wisdom of Our Fathers brought back my happy childhood. Thank you Mom and Dad for all you have done for me...

Go Ask Alice

2006-05-25T09:44:00.000-06:00

Go Ask Alice is a good book. It is based on a teenager that is on drugs. The book is like a diary based on her life as a teenager, and tells everything she went through. A great read!~Kayla

The Rose that Grew from Concrete by Tupac Shakur

2006-05-25T09:39:00.000-06:00

This book is poems written by the rapper 2Pac. The poems are based on his life, and the outlook he had on life. Some of the poems he wrote make you look at your life. I would recommend this book to my friends.~Kayla

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

2006-05-16T11:07:00.000-06:00

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown is perhaps the best adventure/mystery book I have ever read. Brown creates a very realistic character, Robert Langdon and leads him through the adventure of a lifetime. At the beginning of the story Langdon is called in to help solve the mystery of a murder. This minor mystery turns into a much greater one. Was the Catholic Church involved in a huge cover-up attempt to hide Mary Magdalene? How were the artists of the renaissance involved? How does this link to the murder of the Louvre’s curator? Why does all of this seem to point to Langdon and his new female companion? To find out you should read the book. It is an amazingly well written novel that will leave you thinking hard about the Catholic Church during the renaissance. ~ Carmen

1984 by George Orwell

2006-05-16T11:06:00.000-06:00

1984 By George Orwell
The story is written in 1949 and is a perspective of what the future could hold. A negative utopia is what the story revolves around as everyone is made to believe certain policies and ideas and they will be punished if they break and rules. Specific “laws” include no more sexual encounters unless told to and you are assigned to a person, there is a new language being used and you are not allowed to use the old language, and everyone is assigned a home and a job. It’s like communism but taken to the next level. The story is reflected from one character, of his memories and encounters throughout. The story is pretty decent if you enjoy science fiction and like to think while reading.~ Stephen

It by Stephen King

2006-05-15T10:09:00.000-06:00

I read this book and it was a really good story. The book is about a demonic person that dresses up in a clown suit and the clown terrorizes seven kids. When they got much older they didn’t have to worry about it anymore, but it came back and they all gathered together again to defeat it. They made a promise to kill the clown if it ever came back. I recommend this book to everyone because it keeps you on your toes and keeps you thinking about what will happen next.~ Kristena

Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire

2006-05-11T12:43:00.000-06:00

~
Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire. By: J.K. Rowling

Now it is a new year for Harry and friends. Over the summer Harry and friends had quite an adventure. Harry, Ron and his family attended the Qudditich World Cup and after the match everyone is attacked by death eaters. When arriving at school, many weird things begin to happen. Harry had his name put into the goblet of fire. It was not allowed because he was too young. In the events he has to go up against a dragon, rescue a friend from underwater, and finally goes through a maze to win the cup but little does he know his world is about to change when he reaches it.
~ Ernie

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

2006-05-11T12:30:00.000-06:00

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Harry's first year of school at Hogwarts. He has a giant awakening as he learns the truth of his birth. He makes new friends and together they all learn basics of witchcraft and wizardry. ~Patrick

Geography Club

2006-05-09T12:32:00.000-06:00

This is novel is about Russel Middlebrook a high schooler who belives that at his high school he is the only gay student. His best friend Min comes out to him and tells him she is bisexual and has been dating Terese another girl in the school. Russel notices that he is not alone at the school that there are others exactly like him. Getting together with his new friends, they form the geography club where they can talk about problems dealing with sexuality, family, and other problems they might face. Geography Club is about high school tormenters and the torment that students put themselves thru. This is a good book and I think you should read it.~ LeeAnna

Poetry Readings in the Library, April 26 and 27, 2006

2006-04-24T07:08:00.000-06:00

Imagine if you were drafted today and sent to train to fight in a war tomorrow. Yesterday, students heard poet John Musgrave read about his experiences as a teenager fighting in Vietnam. Musgrave served in Vietnam for eleven months. He was permanently disabled and retired from the Marines.

His wife will read her poetry in the library.

Vitale: Living the Dream by Dick Vitale

2006-04-20T08:22:00.000-06:00

"It's awesome, baby!" Many basketball fans would recognize that quote, no matter who is trying to perform the horrible impression of the the basketball guru, Dick Vitale. Dickie V as he is sometimes referred to as, is known for his outlandish humor when he commentates a college basketball games for ESPN. But yelling for a camera is not what he is known for. He use to yell at players, because he was a coach for the University of Detroit in the 70's. And later became the head coach of the Detroit Pistons in the NBA. He explains his childhood and how he admired his parents for their hard work and good advice they always were willing to lend. Dick Vitale played basketball in high school, and even though he loved playing the game, his real passion was leading a team, so the interest of coaching kept growing. He eventually became an assistant coach at the local high school and he worked really hard until he was making big money in the NBA. His coaching journey gets into intense detail and even mentions a few scuffles he had with former players. This book is a great source for information on a basketball icon and legend, and even though it has a couple of slow moments, the story remains humorous throughout and has the capability of keeping any basketball fanactic glued. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking to have a good time. This book is "awesome baby!" ~ Steven

O Pioneers by Willa Cather

2006-04-19T13:16:00.000-06:00

This is a story about Alexandra who lives on the divide in Nebraska near the town of Hanover. Alexandra, who after her father dies, takes control of the homestead and leads her family into prosperity. Emil, her youngest brother, has an opportunity to do what he wants in life. Carl, her childhood friend, comes back from St. Louis on his way to Alaska to look for gold. Her two brothers, Oscar and Lou, oppose Carl because he is poor and they think that Carl wants to marry into wealth. Carl leaves and Emil goes to Mexico. After the long cold winter Emil comes back and he has changed into a man. This story is filled with interesting twists and is very enjoyable.~ Patrick

When Dad Killed Mom by Julius Lester

2006-04-19T12:16:00.000-06:00

This is a story about two teenagers who have to deal with the death of their Mother. As Their father sits in jail because he killed her, Jeremy and Jenna are torn between what happen. They both have secrets that could save the family. Since Jeremy was closer to his mom and Jenna to the dad, silence between them got bigger.~ LeAnna

Killing for Company by Brian Masters

2006-04-19T11:15:00.000-06:00

The book I read was called Killing for Company. It was about a man named Dennis Nilsen. He killed a total of 15 men and had tried to kill others but didn't. The killing's started in 1978 and ended in 1983. Throughout this book, Dennis describes to his therapist what he had done to the bodies and why he had killed them. ~ Ernie

The Will of the Empress by Tamora Pierce

2006-04-18T12:09:00.000-06:00

Tamora Pierce’s tale of the circle of magic is continued in this novel. Sandry, Daja, Tris, and Briar are once again re-united after their long time apart. They now have the ability to reconnect the circle spun by Sandry in the first book except for one problem. They don’t want each other in their minds. Briar doesn’t want his sisters to see the horror of the war, Daja doesn’t want the others to know she loved the man who betrayed her and Sandry and Tris have their own reasons. Without the circle they cannot use each others powers and consequently cannot do their best work. However, the empress of Namorn is plotting Sandry’s kidnap and forced marriage. The four will have to work together to defeat the powerful empress. The question is: How much do they have to work together? Will they have to turn their minds into one? If they do, will they reforge the circle, or say goodbye to the sister they love? This book is an excellent conclusion to one of many amazing series by fantasy writer Tamora Pierce. –Carmen 10

Riding With the Blue Moth by Bill Hancock

2006-04-17T08:07:00.000-06:00

Bill Hancock is the director of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. When his son, Will, was killed in an airplane crash that took the lives of members of the Oklahoma State Basketball team, he could not handle his grief. He decided to ride his bicycle across the United States. This is a journal of his encounters with heat, dogs, motorists and a pesky blue moth.~Martha

The Odyssey by Homer

2006-04-14T12:36:00.000-06:00

Odyssey by Homer is an exciting adventurous tale about Odysseus and a long hard voyage home. Odysseus goes through many fun and suspenseful events which make him a stronger and wiser person. From an evil witch to a Giant Cyclopes, I am certain that anyone up for an exciting and challenging read would enjoy this book. I highly recommend reading The Odysses by Homer.~Kristine

The Dark Half by Stephen King

2006-04-12T10:59:00.000-06:00

I read a book called the Dark Half and it was a really interesting book. I recommend it to everyone because the story is amazing. The book is about a boy named Thad Beaumont that has seizers and no one knows what was causing them. One day his mom took him to the hospital and they did surgery. In his brain they saw an eye, a tooth and the doctors said it was a twin unborn. His name was George Stark. George was a character that Thad had made up for his books. One day George started to kill people and it all pointed to Thad because their finger prints were the same. George wants Thad dead and eventually George goes after people that Thad knows and he kills them. The only way George can live is through Thad and George does not want to be dead. When George gets a hold of Thads family, Thad kills George. The evil is gone and George is no longer his dark half. This story is great, so read Stephen King’s The Dark Half.-Kristena

Tom Loves Anna Love Tom by Bruce Clements

2006-04-12T06:49:00.000-06:00

This is a sweet story about young love and strong friendship. Tom lives in a small town with nothing but lots of work to do. However, one day a young girl comes into town to visit for the summer. Tom falls in love at first site and decides that Anna is the one for him. Tom meets Anna who at first is very quiet, but as time goes on Tom learns a lot about Anna and some family secrets. This story is exciting, fun and a very enjoyable read. I highly recommend Bruce Clements' novel, Tom Loves Anna Loves Tom.~ Kristine

Candide by Voltaire

2006-04-10T09:11:00.000-06:00

Candide, or optimism in French, is the name of a young man in this novel. Even though it was written in 1759, it still is an interesting read for today. At an early age Candide is taught that he lives in the " the best of all possible worlds," and he clings to this belief through a series of funny adventures that dramatically disprove that this precept is wrong over and over. ~ Anna

The Giver by Lois Lowry

2006-04-10T08:58:00.000-06:00

The Giver by Lois Lowry

In this fictional utopian society, everything in Jonah’s world is perfect. There is no hunger, poverty, or war. Everything needed is provided for the people and all the tough decisions are made by the elders. The selecting of spouses and assigning of children to parents are all carefully decided to ensure compatibility and the happiness of the people. The only thing that Jonah has to worry about is his new role as the next Giver. The memories and training he receives by the previous Giver leads Jonah to a new way of viewing his world. Only Jonah can decide what to do with the truth.

This novel is truly unique and inspiring that I recommend to everyone. Each person who reads it will find a different aspect that changes the way they think and view their own world. ~Anna