Replica By: Lauren Oliver

People scream from the shores towards the Haven Institute. They scream of monsters created there against God's will. They scream of aliens. The want it gone, they say. They have no idea what is really going on there. Few truly do.

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Number 24, or Lyra as she is known by her friends, is a Replica. A man made clone. She has never left the confines of Haven. But when disaster strikes, Lyra sees an opening to escape and see the outside world.

Gemma doesn't fit in anywhere. At school people laugh at her body that is marred by scars. At home her mother is always happy to take a few pills and forget her troubles and her father seems to hate her. She has never had a chance to be free. But when she hears whispers of Haven and a dark secret that her parents are trying to keep, she is determined to find the truth. Regardless of the risks.

The main thing I liked about this book was the fact that it is actually two books. Gemma and Lyra's stories are separate. You can either alternate chapters or read one at a time. However you choose, it is all one amazing story.

The main thing I did not like about this book was how much it challenged the "what makes you human" arguement. This was a little frustrating to read. Also, I am not the biggest fan of this author's writing style.

Overall I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Les Misérables By: Victor Hugo

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France, 1789-1799. This is the period of the revolution.
During this time Jean ValJean was condemned to 5 years of hard time.  For multiple attempts at escape he ends up serving 15-20 years. He escapes around year 18 and 19. Once escaping he flees into the countryside. Only to be rejected by all he asks for help. He searches for days tired a weary he come to the house of the bishop. The Bishop shows poor Jean ValJean hospitality and kindness. The experiences Jean has change his outlook on life.

After he leaves the Bishop's house he swears to be a good man for the rest of his days. And acting upon his vow he becomes the  mayor of Montreuil-sur-mer. He is a good man who helps all people and when he sees that a women has been through great hardships in his name he is devastated. He wants to help poor Fantine and that he does he saves her from the ruthless Javert who is always tracking and pursuing Jean ValJean.  He lets her live in his home and tends to her every need. He even saves her poor child Cosette from the ruthless Therniaders. But alas at the sight of seeing Javert again kills Fantine (who never saw her child again). Jean ValJean and Cosette are sent into a world of down spinning doom. A life of hiding and a life of hope. They lead their live the best they can while running from Javert. But there can be no happiness for them. For how can they be happy when after all they are The Miserables.

Les Misérables is a wonderfully written book. It's language and imagery is astounding. The way it pulls at every heart string is truly incredible. The reader feels the pain and misery, but also the love the characters feel. Victor Hugo is a true literary genius. A quote I particularly like in this book is in the dedication it states the following; "... in other words, and with a still wider significance, so long as ignorance and poverty exist on earth, books of the nature of Les Misérables cannot fail to be of use." -Hauteville House 1862

Rebel Bully Geek Pariah by: Erin Jade Lange

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This book is in the adventure genre along with romance.

REBEL: Andi, popular girl gone rogue, is now a tattooed wild thief.

BULLY: York i the most popular guy at school, but he is also the rudest person you could ever encounter especially to his brother.

GEEK: Boston, with a 4.6 GPA, is tired with his brother's torments and strives to get into Ivy League.

PARIAH: Sam is like a ghost, never to be seen, never to be noticed, until that dreadful night.

These four teenagers would die before they would be seen together, but when they all find themselves in the woods near a raging party, they will have to make an exception. To get away from the cops, they all hop into a car, that is not theirs, to make a get away. Little did they know, an "undercover" cop owns the car that they basically stole. The night of their lives begins now.

What I liked about this book was that it was humorous and very subtle with it.

There wasn't much detail when describing the surroundings, so I had to use my imagination and had to change the entire view if it didn't correlate with the book.

I rate this book a 4 out of 5.

Carve the Mark

Carve the Mark

Carve the Mark is the newest tome by Veronica Roth.  I was terribly excited to read this book- especially when I found it accidentally displayed a week early!  

This story follows the stories of Akos and Cyra- two teens in a galaxy defined by the "current" and the unique currentgifts (powers) of each person.  In the first few chapters of the novel we get a glimpse into the childhoods of each character, learning about the moments they receive their currentgifts.  Cyra's gift is defined by pain.  This pain affects not only her, but also those she interacts with- making her a tool for her tyrant brother.  Akos's gift is complementary to Cyra's, but that is a surprise I will leave for readers.  

As we jump into the present day, the story shifts to how these powers will bring Cyra and Akos together even though they are from rival nations.  It is up to them to decide if their differences are too great to overcome.  

I enjoyed this book, but not as much as I had hoped.  I don't know if I was let down by my own Divergent-loving heart and high expectations or if it was really just not amazing.  Nonetheless, I would still recommend it to others.  I give it an optimistic 4 out of 5 stars.  

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets By: Alanna Phoenix

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a great book to read and I would recommend it to everyone who enjoys fantasy, adventure, and Magic books.

This book is about a young teenage boy who has discovered he is a wizard and has embarked upon his second year at the magic English wizarding school known as Hogwarts. He goes on adventures with his friends, learns an extremely rare language, and helps solve the mystery of who opened the chamber of secrets, and released the evil monster who's attacking kids.

Can he solve the mystery? Who is the culprit? Could it be one of his closest friends, Worst enemy, or Harry Potter himself?

The 100 by: Kass Morgan

In a world ravaged by nuclear war very few have survived, only those smart enough to escape before the end would live. Only a band of 100 delinquents can go to earth to determine if the planet is still livable. What they find could mean the end for them all.

I enjoyed this series because it was amazing at building suspense!

I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

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I mean, it's a classic. If you read a single Harry Potter, make it this one.

Harry Potter is sent to his uncle and aunt by wizards after his parent's tragic deaths at the hand of a powerful dark wizard. But when his letters of acceptance to the leading school of magic in the UK, Hogwarts, begin to arrive, his aunt and his uncle try to run and hide to shield Harry from the wizarding world. But the arrival of a giant sends Harry into a world of wands, magic, Quidditch, and a dark secret that has gripped both Hogwarts and the wizarding artefact hidden there...

Face it, you can't say much bad about this book. It's really good. After the book, you should watch the movie to compare and give a good visualization of the characters and setting.


WATCH IT!

Heartless By: Marissa Meyer

You'll never see Wonderland and the Queen of Hearts the same again.

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All Lady Catherine Pinkerton of Rock Turtle Cove wants to do is open her bakery. She doesn't want to be anymore than that. She most certainly does not want to be Queen. But the King of Hearts is persistent, and how could she possibly say no. How could she explain to her mother that she wishes only to be a simple baker. How could she tell her that her heart belongs to someone else...

As a monster terrorizes the people of Hearts, Cath is trapped in a game of chess where her heart is nothing more than a pawn that she must try to protect.

The main thing I liked about this book was the mystery aspect. Trust me, it was very mysterious for a love story.

The main thing I disliked the book was the fact that it starts pretty slowly. It takes a while to get into but it's worth it.

Overall I would give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe by Benjamin Alire saenz

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 This is a book about two teenage boys that learn to love each other. This book has drama romance and some humor. This is my favorite book I have read this year. I would recommend this book to anyone it is fantastic. I had this recommend to me and I am very glad I read it.

I would give this book 5/5 stars