Every Falling Star by Sungju Lee

 

Joseph Gomez

Plot Summary
This book is the first to show North Korea to a young audience. It's about a boy named Sungju who at age 12 is forced to live on the streets and fend for himself after his parents are killed.  He and his friends kill chipmunks and eat them in order to survive. They come up with several strategies to steal food from shops.

Critical Evaluation 
I would give this book a 10 out of 10 it is suspenseful and explores the issue of survival and politics. After Kim Jong Il died, the North Koreans became poor and paranoid that the U.S. was going to invade them. The main character is very courageous for doing everything he can do to survive out in the street by stealing food and clothes. In this book, I would love to explore why the author doesn't try to relocate somewhere else in North Korea and live with another family member.

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.

The Raft S.A. Bodeen

Oscar Chavez

Plot Summary

This book is about a girl named Robie, and her miserable visit to her aunt's house. Robie wanted a break from her parents, so her parents sent her to Oahu with her aunt. Everything was going to plan until her aunt received a call from work the day before before Robie got to her house. This was an important call for Robie's aunt, telling her that she had a meeting in Los Angeles the next day. Robie begged her aunt to let her stay at her place, because she didn't want to go home with her parents yet. She convinced her aunt but that same night her aunt left made Robie realize that she doesn't want to stay in her house alone ever again. Robie decides to go home, and a terrifying thing happens while in the plane.

Critical Evaluation
I would rate this book a 9/10. This book deserves 9/10 ,because it has all a reader is looking for. This book gives you a sense of how a teenager lives and what they think. This book also gives you a sense of how to survive out in the ocean for a couple of days. This book also teaches you a great lesson. The reason why I gave  it a 9 Is because we I think it had a dull ending.

The child called it by David Pelzer Review by Jesus Membrillo

      The book and autobiography “The Child Called It”by David Pelzer, focuses on the story about a boy who has lived his whole childhood with an abusive mother. His mother who not only made his life a living hell but even tortured  the poor kid  (David Pelzer) both physically and mentally. In many cases his life has been at risk but his mother simply ignores the fact that he is a living being.

      In my opinion I believe that this book deserves an 11 out of 10. Yes you heard it,an 11 out of 10. This book is so good and inspiring that simply  reading it you'll become the character himself. You will not only live his life but suffer with him on the way. This book shows and gives one that idea that some of us live an easier life than others. This book gives us the example that others have been throughout more us and that we should feel lucky to live the way we do. Just ask yourself if you ever put yourself in someone's shoes before judging them.

A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard

Laiza Munoz

Plot Summary: 
Jaycee Dugard is kidnapped at the age of 11 and is held captive for 18 years by Phillip and Nancy Garrido. Jaycee has no freedom whatsoever she couldn't even say her own name. 18 years later Jaycee is able to escape and is now an author of a book, she wrote about what happened to her all those 18 years being held captive.

Critical Evaluation:
For, this book I give it a 8 out of 10 because it has a lot of suspense but towards the end the supsense decreases a bit but it turns more happy.

S. E. Hinton- The Outsiders Review by: Anthony Hansen

Anthony Hansen

Book Summary:

The books about racism and about gangs and back then when old cars used to be the thing. Have you ever watched the movie "Mi Famlia" it relates to it in a way but if you haven't your missing out as well, Ponyboy is a lower classman who is trying to live his life but the white rich kids aren't making it easy for him. So Ponyboy falls into the gang life for protection but a lot of violent acts happen.

Critical Evaluation:

I really enjoyed reading it i really don't read because I can't find good books hat engaged me but this book got me till the end. I would rate it a 100/10 to be honest i wish there was another book from it.

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.

Ender's Game Book Trailer by Erick Arias

Ask the Dark

Daniel Bautista

Plot summary:
In this book A boy named Billy is looked down on by most of the people of the town because he steals a lot. Not many kids like him either. His father is going to lose the house unless he can make the many to pay the bank. However, on a silent night walk he stumbles upon a dead body. He knew the kid, and turns out that there was a serial killer that only targeted boys. Billy starts digging into the case and Somethings happen and He finds out who it is and surprisingly it has a good ending.

Critical evaluation:
While this book was okay, i wouldn't read it again based on the fact that the plot and the whole story is pretty cliche. I would rate this book a 7/10 just because of the humor. That's what kept me reading. It was the foul language this book has and how it's used.

Marine Sniper by Charles Henderson

Alexis Torres Aguilar

Plot Summary

The book Marine Sniper by Charles Henderson is about a man named Carlos N. Hathcock who wanted to join the Marine Corps at a young age. Once he gets the opportunity to join, he finds he's the youngest male in his platoon. He becomes a scout/sniper and goes to the Vietnam War. The book describes the dangerous missions he does in war.  

Critical Evaluation

I rate this book a 9 out of 10 because it really is descriptive and tells you what it's like being a sniper in the Vietnam War.  The story really got my attention and I wanted to learn more about his job.

Al Capone And The Roaring Twenties By David C. King

Vito Virrueta

Plot Summary

The roaring twenties! Where history was being made whether it be in politics, music, economy, or crime. The twenties were filled with gangsters. One such was Al Capone. This man could and did get away with any crime committed. He was always careful with everything and anything he did until he got caught up with the fame and attention resulting in him getting distracted ending his career with the conviction of tax evasion. Al Capone has been getting away with murder (and prostitution) so he should have a trick up his sleeve to get out of this seemingly easy conviction.

Critical Evaluation

I rate this book a 9 out of ten because it talks about all the happened during the twenties while also giving us insight on Capone's life. Also, because it gives us a picture to make us feel as if we are there living life with him in the roaring twenties. It almost seems as if you are right there living the life in Capone's generation and bumping in with Capone once in a while.

Scowler by Daniel Kraus

Carlos Diaz          

Plot Summary

Nineteen year old named Ry uses characters from his childhood years in order to help him with his troublesome life on a dying farm. The characters include Scowler, Mr. Furrington, and The Wise Jesus. He uses these characters to symbolize his anger (Scowler), happiness (Mr. Furrington), and knowledge (Jesus) to help him advance with critical thinking, and aggressiveness if necessary. The trouble starts once his family finds a mysterious prison escapee alongside the road with a questionable backstory. Throughout the book Ry faces the dilemmas of having an aggressive and abusive father while at the same time a blood thirsty monster out to get him once a meteoroid hits. It's hard to tell if he will survive the wrath of both brutal monsters out to get him.
                                                                  
Critical Evaluation 

I would rate this book a 8 out of 10. This book would receive this because of the amount of gore (if you’re into that) , and because of the many mysterious moments that will leave readers in a suspenseful moment of awe.

Quarantine-The Saints by Lex Thomas

Jonathan Rutiaga

Plot Summary

Quarantine: The Saints is the second book of the Quarantine trilogy.  In this book, Will and the loners are struggling to survive without David there to guide them.  The rest of the loners have joined new gangs, including Will who joins the new gang in school: The Saints.  The Saints are the new kids in the school who come to save them but come up short when the parents block the exit with a school bus.  With all the kids trapped in again, they get more ferocious and start to kill each other.

Critical Evaluation
I rate this book a 9 out of 10 because it keeps you turning pages all throughout the book. I definitely recommend this book if you like The Hunger Games or just want to read!