Sumi Mondal September 11, 2013

Book Project Blue Class

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