The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

Review by Fallon, Northwest Branch

     Living in Nazi Germany hasn't been easy for Liesel Meminger. With both her parents gone and brother dead, she is adopted by the Hubberman's at the age of ten. She finds a friend in blond Rudy Steiner, along with a few enemies. Her adoptive father, Hans, begins teaching her to read using a book she stole from the snow beside her brother's grave. Told from the perspective of a not-so malicios death, The Book Thief chronicles the next four years of Liesel's life, from simple childhood joys to the danger of the war.

     This book is one of my favorites. It gave an insight to Germans who were not pleased with Hitler's plans but were still suppressed with violence and other threats. The book also described some of the propaganda used by the Nazis, but what I liked most about this book was the balance. While it talked about the dark times Germany and the rest f the world faced, a portion of the book was about Liesel growing up and her adventures with Rudy. I would recommend this book to anyone, regardless of what genre you read.
 

 Welcome, Caller, This Is Chloe by Shelley Coriell

Review by Anna, Sonoma Valley Branch

Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe by Shelly Coriell is about a popular and bubbly girl that gets kicked to the curb from her supposedly best friends. Chloe, who’s had a golden ticket to high school the whole time she’s been there, now is forced to find some new friends– and fast. When her great idea for her Junior Independent Study Project gets shot down, she’s forced to help the school radio station. Chloe finds strength in herself and learns that not everything is picture perfect, but that you can still laugh in any situation.

            I thought I wouldn’t like this book, but it surprised me in a good way. On first glance it may seem like it’s just about some popular girl’s petty problems, but it turned out to be deeper and more significant. Chloe really grew and matured during the course of the book, and I liked her much better at the end than I did in the beginning. I would recommend this to girls who like books about the usual high school drama. If you’re looking for a high-suspense novel, this isn’t it.

The Kill Order by James Dashner

Review by Fallon, Northwest Branch

 In this sequel to The Maze Runner series, the sun flares hit the earth and the world falls into chaos. Teenage neighbors Mark and Trina are right in the the middle of. The Kill Order relates their struggle for survival from the time the sun flares hit to the present, a year later when an air ship comes down and kills the people in their village.
Why I picked it up: I was a huge fan of The Maze Runner series and my friend and I were super excited about the prequel coming out.
Why I finished it: I had to see if Mark and Trina(who are great characters) would survive the harsh conditions.
I'd recommend it to: Anyone who liked The Maze Runner series or any dystopian fiction.

 Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone

Review by Anna, Sonoma Valley Branch

Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone is an intriguing novel of love, fate, and impossibilities. Bennet has a secret. A secret he hasn’t told anyone. But he tells Anna. Why? Because they’re in love, of course. Worlds apart, they were never supposed to meet. But now that they have, there’s no going back, no matter the consequences. Bennet would give his life for Anna, and he might have to do just that.

            I enjoyed this book. It’s pretty predictable, but it’s still better than most teen novels out there. It’s a creative twist on a typical love story, and is very original. It’s one of those books that make you question your every move, as if stepping on a crack can affect who you marry. I would recommend this book to girls that like love stories, or anyone else that wants a pretty easy read.

 Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Review by Anna, Sonoma Valley Branch

            Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson is a spin on the classic story of Peter Pan. In this book, Wendy wasn’t Peter’s only love: Tiger Lily was the first. Peter isn’t the only thing new in Tiger Lily’s life. A white man has washed ashore the beaches of Neverland, and he has some very strange views on how the tribe should live their lives, especially wanting to change Lily’s adopted father, the chief. Tiger Lily is also promised to a revolting man on the island, and he has no intention of letting her go. Told from the view of Tinker Bell, the reader watches from afar as Tiger Lily and Peter fall in love and grow up.

            I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was a creative retelling of Peter Pan, and loved the new things that were imagined in this version. It was told really well with cliffhangers and speculation in every page. I would recommend this book to people that like love stories, coming of age stories, or just like good books. I can guarantee that by the last page you will be wishing you could go to Neverland yourself.

Icefall by Matthew Kirby

Review by:  Anna, Sonoma Valley Branch

Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby is a dramatic, keeps-you-guessing novel. During the time of the Vikings (I believe), Solveig, her brave younger brother, and her gorgeous older sister get sent with a small caravan to an ice fortress to wait while their father, a king, rages a battle in their homeland. At some point, people start to believe that there is a traitor among them, and that they’re waiting for an ambush in their so-called sanctuary. The fact that her brother will inherit the crown and beauty of her sister has always shadowed Solveig. It is during this time of suspicion and deciding where her allies lie that Solveig finds her voice and steps out of the shadows.

I really liked this book, even though it’s hard to find a book that I don’t like. There aren’t that many books about Vikings so I thought that it was an interesting storyline. It’s a common loser-turned-hero story, only better. I would recommend this to pretty much anyone. Girls would probably like it more because it’s from Solveig’s point of view but I think that boys would like any book with Vikings in it.