Allegedly by by Tiffany D. Jackson

Tania Sanjuan
Summary
Allegedly is a book about a girl named Mary, at the age of nine she was accused of killing a three month old baby named that her and her mom used to take of. But did Mary really do it? Mary was sent to juvi which she calls "baby jail," then moved to a group home where she is not liked, wanted, needed, or loved. Now Mary is now 15 and pregnant by a teen named Ted, and finds out that she can not keep her baby, will Mary confess to crime and what really happen? or have her baby taken away and finish her time?
Critical Evaluation
I would give this book a 10/10 because This book teaches us a lot about, love, and everyday lives. We also learn more about how the teens in group homes live, and how they feel about being a group home. When we are stuck in position when its your life what do we do? Do we take the blame and got to jail or prove your innocents? When Mary kills a 3 month old child everyone blames it on her and instead of having a supportive mother. Her mother leaves her with guilt.

Caged Warrior by Alan Lawrence Sitomer

Brandon Sanchez

Plot Summary

The book is about a kid named McCutcheon Daniels that fights in underground fights to entertain rich and high power gang leaders for money to feed his family (and because his dad is forcing him).He lives in the poorest part of Detroit and along the way he fights people who try to kill him or want a piece of him because his rep in Detroit is being undefeated. At thirteen, his mom leaves and McCutcheon must fight for money and to stay alive.

Critical Evaluation:

This book deserves 10/10 because it's really emotional and descriptive of the actions the character takes.It's very exciting to hear all the fights he gets in and there's drama and gang violence.The book is very interesting and full of action.I like this book because the character had the same goals as me. I could also relate to some of the struggles he goes through. He trains everyday like me in order to increase his strength or abilities.

The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez by Alan Lawrence Sitomer

 

Anayency Favela

Plot Summary:
Sonia Rodriguez was born in the United States but her parents are Mexican Immigrants who came to the California for a better life. Sonia has big dreams of graduation high school and going to college, but her mother makes it impossible for her to keep up with school. Her mother is pregnant with twins and leaves Sonia to take care of her other siblings. She has to cook for her whole family and clean up the whole house, which leaves her with not enough time to do her homework.

Critical Evaluation
I give this book a 10/10 because it taught me valuable lessons, like allowing yourself to have a voice in certain situations and standing up for yourself. This book is a sad story but a very good one, it gives good details in certain scenes.

Mexican Whiteboy by Matt de la Pena

Alicia Arellano


Plot Summary
This book is about a boy named Danny who visits his dad's family in National City. When he gets there he has trouble making friends and he hangs out with his cousin Sofia and her friends. When he gets there he is a really shy person and he doesn't know anybody besides his cousin Sofia and her friends.

Excerpt
" He's Mexican, because his family's Mexican, but he's not really Mexican. His skin is dark like his grandma's sweet coffee, but his insides are as pale as the cream she mixes in. Danny holds his pencil above the paper, thinking : I'm white boy among Mexicans, and a Mexican among white boys.''
   
Critical Evaluation 
This book deserves a 10 out 10 because it talks about how a boy doesn't know any Spanish and he has to go with his dad family in National City, a city where most Mexicans live. He has  to try to make new friends but he is a really shy boy who only talks to his cousin Sofia at first and then after he starts talking to other people.

Burn Baby Burn by Meg Medina

Gordon Jack

Plot Summary
It's 1977 and New York City is in chaos. A record heat wave is scorching everyone. Arsonists are burning buildings for the insurance. A serial killer named Son of Sam is killing young couples kissing in cars. And then there's a city wide blackout. Amidst all this, Nora struggles with her own crises. Her mom just got laid off from work, her father spends all his time (and money) with his new family, and her brother is becoming increasingly violent and abusive. Can she keep her family together, while the city seems to be falling apart?

Critical Evaluation
This historical novel from Meg Medina is easily a 10 out of 10. I don't know which was more engaging: being taken back in time to one of the worst summers in New York history, or taken into Nora's chaotic family. The city's and Nora's troubles keep escalating with every page, making this a suspenseful and completely satisfying read. Nora is such a strong and sympathetic character, I wanted to see her succeed despite the odds against her.

American Sniper by Chris Kyle

Bryan Guerrero

Plot summary:
This book is an autobiography about the best american sniper there has ever been. The man in the book is called Chris Kyle and he talks about everything that he had to do in order to become an american sniper. In the book Chris also shows how difficult and stressful it was for him before he became the greatest american sniper.

Critical Evaluation: 
I would give this book a 9.5 out of 10 because it has a lot of action and keeps you very engaged. There are some boring parts in the book but you need to read those boring parts because they help you understand the book better. I would say it is a very inspirational book.

Search for Safety By John Langan

Felipe Lopez

Book Summary:

When a teenage boy moves away from a happy home with his mom and aunt and goes with his stepfather he starts to notice that things aren't going to be as happy as they used to be. His stepfather starts showing signs that he is violent and abusive when he starts to beat on him and his mom. Things don't get any better in his new high school where experience being an outcast. Things do get better when he meets a girl who later becomes one of his best friends. But will things get better at home?

Critical Evaluation:   

This book is really good it's very entertaining and the characters you meet in the book are also very interesting.Also this book has action and it has its funny moments as well. Pretty this book has a little bit of everything.

The Third Twin by CJ Omololu

Carlos Diaz

Plot Summary

This book is about a girl named Lexi, and her identical twin named Ava whom persist messing with their childhood made up sister. They named the third sister Alicia, and when Lexi and Ava cause trouble, they point to Alicia. Now they're in high school, and the girls use Alicia for dating guys and do things they would never think of doing otherwise. It's all fun and games until one of the guys that Lexi and Ava go out with using the identity of Alicia winds up murdered, and the DNA evidence found by the police leads to Alicia. The made up third twin. Both girls claim that they have done nothing wrong, but the investigators believe otherwise. Lexi and Ava decide to keep using Alicia identity when the cops arrive at their door hoping that it will pass away soon, and someone is simply pulling a sick joke, or it was a mistaken identity to whom the traffic ticket to a car that neither of them own is issued to. Who could the killer be? Is there a chance that the triplet does exist?

Critical Evaluation

I would rate this book a 10/10. This book would be deserving of this rating, because this book has a perfect amount of suspense and mystery, and has a great pace for a mystery. This book will have any mystery book lover wanting to read faster in order to figure out along with the character "who done it." This book will keep any reader intregued, because of the many plot twist, and unpredictable ending. This book uses lots of efficient techniques such as foreshadowing and builds up suspence, without giving away too much. It also has a great balance of funny moments and romance on the side.

Paper Towns by John Green

Maria Ortega

Plot Summary
This book is about a series of mysterious adventures involving a boy,  Quentin Jacobsen, who is hopelessly in love with a girl named Margo Roth Spiegelman. They hang out one night for the first time since they were kids. They do a bunch of mischievous things to people who hurt Margo. The only problem is that the following morning Margo disappears leaving no trace behind. Or so they think. Soon Quentin starts finding clues that may or may not lead to Margo's whereabouts... Only one question runs through Q's mind... is she alive?

Critical Evaluation
I rate this book a 9/10.

                 

Shadowshaper by Daniel Jose Older

Gordon Jack

Plot Summary
Sierra Santiago is a teenager who spends her days hanging out with friends and painting murals in her Brooklyn neighborhood.  When people in her community start dying and coming back as reanimated corpses, Sierra realizes that sinister forces are out to kill her family and friends.  Soon, she becomes immersed in the world of shadowshaping, the ability to provide physical forms for the spirits of her ancestors. This skill will be the only thing that can save her from a man out to destroy everyone she loves.

Critical Evaluation
I would rate this book a 9 out of 10. Older does a great job of showing a community trying to maintain its cultural heritage as their neighborhood becomes gentrified by hipsters. Sierra is a great character, a tough fighter who loves her "fro" and "curves".  I had trouble at times understanding the history and rules of shadowshaping, which kept me from feeling the peril the characters experienced. Besides this though, this is a world I was happy to get to know better.