Good-bye Days by Jeff Zenter

   

Anayency Favela

Plot Summary
Carver Briggs has everything: a perfect family, a good school and three best friends, Mars, Blake, and Eli. Until one day when Carver texts Mars to ask them where they are and he never texts back. Later Carver finds out that they had been killed in a car accident and the police found Mars phone texting Carver back. Now Carver blames himself and Mars's dad, judge Edwards, is opening up a crime investigation.

Critical Evaluation 
Goodbye Days reminds us that you never know when something bad can happen to the ones you love.  Jeff Zentner tells us to acknowledge the ones you love by dedicating your time to them. In the book, Carver dedicates his time to his best friends by having a "goodbye days" where they do things the dead person would love. For example, Blake loved to fish, so they spend the time fishing.

I give this book a 10/10 because it's filled with sadness, heartbreaking moments and it taught me to spend more time with my loved ones.

Grendel's Guide to Love and War by A.E. Kaplan

Haotian Jiang

Plot Summary
Tom Grendel was supposed to have a peaceful summer vacation by earning money through lawn mowing, and hanging out with his best friend, Ed Park. Everything changes when Tom's old neighbor moves away, and the new neighbor, the Rothgar family moves in. Tom has a crush on Willow Rothgar, but he hates her brother Rex Rothgar because of all the things he has done to ruin Tom's perfect summer. Everything goes wrong for Tom after the Rothgars move in, and now it is up to Tom to fix everything that has been broken after his mom's death.

Critical  Evaluation
 If I would write an essay on this book, I would talk about "What does the book tell you about communication and family?" Tom's family was shattered after his mom's death, but nobody in the family really talks about the real issue, and this only makes his family more broken than it already is. I strongly recommend you read this book because it shows how important it is to communicate to your family in order to built a strong bond among the family.

 I would give this book a 10 out of 10. I have never read any book like this before. The complicated relationships between the characters made the book really fun to read. And there are funny moments and serious moments which balance out the story's purpose.

Cure for the Common Universe By Christian Mckay Heidicker

Haotian Jiang

Plot Summary

A boy named Jaxon is sent to video game rehab because his dad is tired of his laziness and disrespectful attitude. Later on, Jaxon tries to escape the video game rehab by cheating in the games so that he can go on his first date with a mysterious girl who’s “anti-technology”.

Critical Evaluation

I give this book a 10 out of 10 because, although the book itself is funny, it still shows the readers that how harmful it can get when you become addicted to video games. The lesson I learned from the book is that what you learn in the real world is much more useful than what you learn in a fiction world. Once I started reading the book, I couldn't put it down.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Maria Donlucas 

Plot Summary

Human and Cyborgs live together in New Beijing.Cinder is the best mechanic in New Beijing.  A deadly plague has affected the Human race. Cinder’s sister has been affected by it. Cinder’s stepmother is furious and summits Cinder to be a guinea pig for the deadly plague. Will Cinder survive? Who is Cinder? Will she safe the human race?

Critical Evaluation 

Cinder is not the fairy tale where she finds her prince charming at the ball and they get married. Cinder is independent and wants to help the human race. She is the smartest cyborg. I see myself in this book because I am a strong independent women. Cinder doesn't wait for her prince she goes out and finds her true self.

Any Day Now : The London Years 1947-174 by Kevin Cann

          

   

Joseph Gomez 

Plot Summary:
This book depicts the days from when David was born and the start of musical career and to his infamous days of his most famous character Ziggy Stardust. This book also tells the reason why one of his eyes is permanently dilated.  The book covers various album setlists, his secret affairs, and tells the story of how he broke up the band Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars.  David even states ¨  the truth is of course that there is no journey. We are arriving and departing all at the same time."

Critical evaluation :
I would rate it this book a 10/10  because it was very well organized to help you understand Bowie's various musical eras. I leaned a lot about David that I didn't know. For example, he was poor after the release of his most famous hit "Space Oddity". He was also pale due to eating disorders. Anyone who is interested in unique characters should really read this book.

Boomerang Effect by Gordon Jack

Haotian Jiang

Plot Summary
Lawrence Barry is a 16-years-old teenager boy who goes to Meridian high school in Silicon-Valley, California. He uses drugs to get high and get drunk in parties. His dad thinks his friends are "idiots" and is often disappointed in Lawrence because he always gets in trouble at school. When Lawrence is assigned as a mentor for a freshman after a conference with the teachers, he realizes that he needs to change his old lifestyles.


Excerpt

“I had been involved in enough ‘incidents’ in my two years at Meridian that we could go on like this all day” (Page 6) The quote reflects Lawrence's lifestyles during high school, he always causes troubles, and the school Principal hates him.

Critical Evaluation 
I give this book a 10 out of 10 because the main character Lawrence Barry is a really interesting character. Lawrence was miserable and had a messy life when he was around his old crew, but when the Principal threatens to sent him to Quiet Haven, he knows that he needs to start to put his life together. This book is good for readers who likes to read books that has humor and it is about teenagers. I really like this book because some of the things that happened in the book actually related to me, and instead of feeling embarrassed, I actually found it to be fun and encouraging.

Goth Girl Rising by Barry Lyga

Antonio Sanchez Ortiz 

Plot Summary:
This book is set 6 months after The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Gothgirl, but instead of it being The Fanboy”s perspective, it is Kyra's perspective (Goth Girl). Kyra throughout the story is plotting her revenge against Fanboy since she believes that he never wrote her or tried to communicate with her while she was away in Maryland Mental Health Unit. Throughout the story we also see her changing to find who she really is.

Quote:
“As angry as I was at Fanboy, as much as I hated him, I still cared about Schemata . So I called him that night and I told him what was wrong with it, and I thought that was going to be it, but...God! Eff him! Eff him!”(51)
This quote shows how Kyra hates Fanboy deeply but still cares about the comic book that he made, so her feelings seem to be a mess at this scene of the story.

Critical Evaluation:
This book would be 10/10. It keeps you on your toes wanting to know more about what is happening and the character development of Kyra is one of the best I’ve seen. It also has plenty of things we can relate to as teenagers. Also had many humorous moments and twists to keep the story enticing.

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.

Love Letters To The Dead by, Ava Dellaira

Galilea Garcia

Plot Summary 
All Laurel ever wanted was to be like her big sister May who she thought was just perfect. Until she passed away and Laurel's world started falling apart. In the struggle of trying to find herself she embarks a new journey that takes her into a real world all by herself where the truth is brought up and her whole perspective changes.

Critical Evaluation: 
I rate this book a 10/10 because it is an amazing story on the courage it takes on a person to keep living after their world falls apart.

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

Wendy Nieves

Book Summary:
A girl named Remy just graduated from high school. 2 weeks into her summer vacation, she had to help her mom plan her fifth marriage. Remy her self wasn't good with relationships either, she was never really good with serious relationships, because she has a checklist in what she wants her perfect boyfriend to be like. But Soon enough she met Dexter  who doesn't follow her list but She cant stop thinking about him. Is Dexter the one ? Is she falling in love with him?


Critical Evaluation:
I would rate this book a 10/10 because it really grabs you attention from the beginning, and keeps you hooked throughout the whole book. It has a lot of drama that a lot of teenagers can relate to. There is a lot of romance and famliy conflicts, you will not be able to put the book down. There is also a little of suspense, and a lot of plot twist.

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.

We Should Hang Out Sometime By: Josh Sunddquist

Maria Ortega

Plot Summary

In We Should Hang Out Sometime, by Josh Sundquist, the main character Josh is now 25 and realizes that he has never had a girlfriend. So he decides to get in contact with all his old crushes to figure out what went wrong. In seeking answers he hopes that they will say that his disability was the main reason why it didn't work out. But he soon realizes that he is the one who isn't OK with him being an amputee. After finally accepting the fact that he was the only one who couldn't handle this painful truth, he goes to a club with friends and then he sees her...The girl that may be the one who will own his heart forever.

Critical Evaluation
I rate this book a 10 out of 10. It was not only hilarious but also relatable. Since it is a true story, its even more fascinating how many true experiences he was open up to tell and share with us. There are times where all you want to do is just keep reading to find out what happened on his dates. Not to mention, all of us at one point in the book look back on our past experiences with our very own failed love interests and get to say "YES, I'm not the only one".  So I highly recommend this book to everyone.

She Is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick

Daniel Bautista

Plot Summary:
Laureth is a 16 year old girl from the U.K who is blind. She is looking for her dad in the city of New York with her brother. She essentially kidnaps him from her mom. Now she has to solve the clues in her father's book in order to find him.

Critical Evaluation: 
I liked this book but it wasn't too intriguing since the end is kind of predictable. It was still a good book that kept me entertained and gave me insight on how a blind person thinks about the world. This book also sheds light on how blind people feel when they are ignored or treated like little kids and the struggle they go through. I kept reading because this book changed my view on blind people.  I would rate this book a 7/10.

Pretty Girl 13 by Liz Coley

Daniel Bautista

Plot Summary:
This is a book about a girl that disappears during a girl scout trip and is missing for 3 years. She returns to her parents but doesn't remember anything about what happened to her. She then starts taking therapy to see if any of her memories can return in order to find out who kidnapped her. She discovers that she has different personalities in order to help her cope with her mind shock. However what she discovers later on is mind boggling.

Critical Evaluation:
This book was really good because it kept me wanting to discover what happened during her kidnapping and what the end result was. There were some boring parts where characters just talked but that doesn't happen too often. That is why I recommend this book with a bamboozling 8/10 on my scale.

I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson

Little brother

   

Daniel Bautista

Plot summary:
 Marcus and his friends play a game called Harajuku Fun Madness where they go out to look for clues in order to solve a puzzle. However, one day Marcus and his friends ditch school in order to look for some clues and then it happens: Loud noises are heard and the city is in chaos. Some bombs go off and kill thousands and Marcus and his friends are in the wrong place at the wrong time. They are arrested and blamed for the terrorist attack. Now Marcus wants revenge against the Department of Homeland Security.

Critical Evaluation:  
This book was pretty funny and intense and that's what kept me entertained.  However, I would have to rate this book a 7/10 because the plot wasn't all that original or creative. You mess with a guy and he now wants vengeance. Pretty common plot. But the book does have a pretty cool spin to this plot with America going from a free country to a heavily oppressed and patrolled country with cameras and trackers everywhere.

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.

                 

All The Bright Places By Jennifer Niven

Maria Ortega

Plot Summary:
Two troubled teenagers meet unexpectedly in a situation that will connect them together. In a struggle that will embark them in a romantic adventure. Soon Finch and Violet realize that they need and count on each other for love and support that they are neglected at home.

Critical Evaluation: 
I rate this book a 10 out of 10. Since it was real page turner and had built a lot of suspense in the end of the book. Also its teen romance book with a slight twist but the good kind.

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Maria Ortega

Plot Summary
The Fault in Our Stars is about two cancer survivors, 16 year old Hazel Grace Lancaster and 17 year old Augustus Waters. Hazel has thyroid cancer and Augustus has been cancer free for a couple of years now. Hazel has let the cancer kill her quality of life while she is still living. Augustus is so full of life and living life to the fullest while Hazel is just so mature that she doesn't know how to have fun. Augustus goes on adventures that Hazel wouldn't have ever dreamed of ever since she got sick. Hazel soon worries about whether of not their relationship is going to last forever because of her sickness.

Critical Overview
I rate this book 10 out of 10 because its a real page turner and gives you hope that people like Augustus actually exist in the world. Despite everything Hazel is going through, he sticks by her side and truly loves and cares for her not matter what.