Paralyzed by Jeff Rud

Tonga Keti

Plot Summary
In the book, Paralyzed Jeff Rud tells a story about a kid named Reggie who plays middle linebacker. Reggie is the number one middle linebacker in the state. While playing his rival team, Reggie injures one of the opposing team players. Reggie has a tough time knowing he's permanently injured another player and realizes that this injury might affect his football future.


Critical Response
This book is a 10 out of 10. I like this book because the main character Reggie is sympathetic towards his opponent who was injured during the game. The author leaves a good message by having good  sportsmanship towards other. I love when Reggie is still goes to the hospital to vist the injured player but his mother told him not to go back. Reggie refuse and still goes to the hospital.

A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall

Angelica Saldivar

Plot Summary

Gabe and Lea are two college students in the same creative writing class. What they don't know is that every year their teacher chooses a girl and a boy she thinks should be together. She doesn't tell them because the point is to make them both like each other without telling them. Gabe really likes Lea but will Lea like him back?

Critical Evaluation

This book is told by fourteen viewpoints: Gabe, Lea, Maribel, Inga, the bench, Sam, a squirrel, Victor, Bob, Casey, Maxine, Danny, Pam, Charlotte, Hillary, Frank. (There are sixteen different people, but Pam and Frank don't really come more than twice, because Frank is the Chinese-food delivery guy and Pam is Inga's wife.) Since it's told in different viewpoints it's really interesting to see what other people think. The thing is that all different viewpoints have something in common. They all want Gabe and Lea to be together. I rate this book a 10 out of 10 because I really like how they tell the story in different viewpoints.

This One Summer by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki

Gordon Jack

Summary
Every year Rose and Windy vacation with their families together at Awago Beach.  Rose is a year- and-a-half older than Windy and beginning life as a teenager.  The two girls play together as usual but things are starting to change.  Rose's mother is not her usual self and can't seem to enjoy the vacation as she used to.  Rose is also becoming more interested in boys, which Windy doesn't understand, especially because the boy she's interested in has a volatile relationship with a local girl.

Critical Evaluation
This book is easily a 10 out of 10.  The illustrations are incredible.  Here's one example of the amazing detail you see on each page.

The story is quiet, but filled with relatable moments from childhood.  Jillian and Mariko Tamaki have done a great job of capturing that in-between time when you're no longer a child, but not yet a teenager.  An amazing book and easily one of the best graphic novels I've read this year.

Guilty by Norah McClintock

Natalie Moreno

Plot summary:

Finn Newsome witnesses the brutal murder of his stepmother right in front of his luxurious house. Soon after, he finds out that his biological mother and his stepmother were both murdered by the same individual. This thrilling book contains a lot of suspense and lots of twists and turns. He begins to actually wonder deeper into the case in hopes of finding out if there is a coincidence in both murders. At the police station he meets the daughter of the murder, Lila, and they begin to have a unique friendship. Both teenagers are anxious to find out the truth for themselves but soon find themselves in a compromising situation.

Critical Evaluation:

I would rate this book 10/10 because it gets you thinking about a lot of the conflicts that occur throughout the book. The author does a great job in conveying a suspenseful theme through the book. It not only keeps you entertained but it also keeps you on the edge of your seat towards the end. Overall, it was an amazing book and I would totally recommend it to any teenager. :)

Accomplice Eireann Corrigan

Isabel Figueroa

Plot Summary

Two girls, Finn and Chloe, are moving from their last year of high school to college. Chloe and Finn do everything to make it seem as if Chloe has been kidnapped, just so they have something to put into a college application. People end up getting arrested, which destroys families and a friendship. Both Chloe and Finn soon realize they have betrayed each other.

Critical Evaluation

Accomplice is a story about two teens who want to get into college but do not have the materials they need to get in. Throughout the story, Finn soon realizes why Chloe planned this kidnapping and why she put her friends and family through this situation. I rate this book a 9 out of 10 because it doesn't give much details into the characters' backgrounds like books usually do. The way the book was written makes it suspenseful.

The Walk On by John Feinstein

Tonga Keti

Plot Summary
Alex Myers is a top notch QB with a great arm. In the book, The Walk On, John Feinstein tells a story about a freshmen moving from Boston to Philly who wants to start on the varsity football team. Alex has trials because the head coach Gordon would rather have his son starting at QB. Alex still drives to reach his goal to be a starting QB as a freshmen for varsity.

Critical Thinking
This book is a 10 out 10. The genre of this book is sports. This book takes place in Philadelphia. Alex's school has been to the state championship five times. Feinstien does a great job of inserting a message in the book. In the end, Alex realizes his friends really are his friends because they tell the truth so Alex can play.