The Always War Book Review The Always War is written from the perspective of fifteen-year-old Tessa Stilfin, who is an average girl stuck in the times of war, pain, and hardship in the future United States. The war has been going on as long as Tessa, her mother, and even her grandmother can remember. So when her next door neighbor, Gideon Thrall, a pilot in the army, gets awarded for his courage, she is very proud to say that she knew him. However, at the award ceremony, when Gideon came up to get his medal, he said he was a coward and ran away. Tessa followed him and found out that he was sick, but he told her that he didnt deserve the medal and some officers came to take him to the hospital. In order to speak to him, Tessa sneaked into his apartment, where Gideon confesses that he killed over 2,000 people and that the guilt was killing him. Gideon was the only ray of hope in the war torn town, so she vowed to help him. Therefore, when she saw Gideon sneaking away at night, she follows him, accidentally going on an airplane with Gideon. She gets knocked out on the airplane, and she wakes up in the war zone. Gideon had gone to apologize for his sins, but what he and Tessa find out could change the future of the whole world. This book is great for middle school students who want a quick, action packed novel. The short chapters make the reader want to read more, and the story is very intriguing. This book kept me hooked on, and once I started, I couldnt put the book down! This book shows the hardships in wars and the grimness of it all. All throughout the book, Tessa was trying to figure out who she was, and always underestimated herself, but she realized she was as important as Gideon, who she considered a leader, by the end of the book. I think this book is good for people who doubt themselves sometimes, because they could really relate to Tessa. This story is very enthralling, and has a big twist, so to some readers, it might be predictable. The book was easy to understand, but I think it would have been better if the author added more of a back story or maybe a little more about what happens next, I feel like the story ended abruptly, and the story was too fast. Nevertheless, it is a good book and I would rate it a 4 out of 5.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green Book Review-
The Fault in Our Stars is written from the perspective of 16 year old Hazel Lancaster who suffers from terminal lung cancer. She meets Augustus Waters, who is recovering from osteosarcoma, at a Cancer Kid Support Group. Although this is a book about cancer, it is not a cancer book. It is not your typical 'tragic' book and frankly, I think it is a lot more than that.
Throughout the book, I really warmed to the characters, especially Augustus who is not only charming and kind but very witty. The characters are written in such a way that they seem very real and that is both the book's strength and weakness because personally, I was incredibly attached to Hazel and Augustus. Hazel and Augustus mutually fall in love with each other and use Augustus' "cancer perk" to visit Amsterdam to meet their favourite yet reclusive author. However, the cancer kicks in.
Like a lot of John Green's books, this has the theme of the value of youth and life running throughout it. Despite the fact that in its essence it is a love story, it is more than that. It is a short-lived tale of friendship and it really does emphasis how short life is. Spoiler alert: it is extremely likely you will cry and/or be speechless at the end.
I rate this book 9.5 out 10 because it is definitely my favourite book and is great if you are a teenager that is not afraid to cry. The film of this book is also being released next year so you should definitely read this before watching it!
-Tasha
From: http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2013/jun/01/review-fault-in-our-stars-john- green
Prodigy by Marie Lu Book Review- Nine days after barely escaping Los Angeles and the controlling Republic as wanted fugitives, Day and June manage to hop a train bound for Las Vegas. The plan is to locate the rebellious Patriots and beg for help. The Patriots are their only hope in locating Days friend, Tess, his brother, Eden, and getting the medical help he desperately needs for the gunshot wound in his leg. Maybe after those impossible tasks are accomplished, they can make a break for the East Coast and the free Colonies. Rumors have it that the Colonies are a wonderful place to live. Unfortunately, many rumors eventually prove to be untrue. Just as they arrive in Las Vegas, a major life-changing announcement is plastered everywhere: the Republic Elector has died and his young son, Anden, is taking over as the new Elector. Day and June dont realize just how much this will affect them until they meet with the Patriots. Day and Junes request for help will come at a very high price --- the Patriots want Day and June to help them assassinate the new Elector. So in exchange for their help, Day receives much-needed medical care and is reunited with his friend, Tess. However, Tesss feelings have changed, and the fact that she wants more than just friendship sends Day reeling. Meanwhile, they get busy on the assassination plans. June is torn; shes spent her entire life being loyal to the Republic; however, she tossed her allegiances to the wind when she decided to save Days life. Shes not quite sure where her loyalties lie now, other than to Day. But the first part of the plan is to ease herself back into the Republics trust and get in close to Anden. When she does, shes surprised to find out that Anden isnt like his father at all, that he wants to make positive changes in their society in favor of the people. Its starting to look as if assassinating him would be a huge mistake, especially when she learns the truth about the assassination details. Marie Lu has written a winner of a sequel: heart pounding with excitement, steamy with romance and shocking with hidden truths. You cant help but admire both main characters with their heroic personalities and underdog roles, their hardships of losing family members and their fight for humanity. Marie Lu also displays a unique talent of creating a wild and action-packed quest for freedom in the midst of a tyranny-gripped world while also presenting a deeply sensitive insight into the complex hearts of our heroes. Fans will be thrilled with this sequel and ecstatic to know that the PRODIGY ending hints of another book to come! -Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman on January 30, 2013 From: http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/prodigy-a-legend-novel