Willow

Willow by Julia Hoban

Sixteen-year-old Willow, who was driving the car that killed both of her parents, copes with the pain and guilt by cutting herself, until she meets a smart and sensitive boy who is determined to help her stop.

My Thoughts - This was a powerful, unforgettable story!

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Emmanuel Ringelblum

Emmanuel Ringleblum: Historian of the Warsaw Ghetto by Mark Beyer


This is a facinating biography of a man dedicated to recording a history of what happened in the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II.  Emmanuel had been a historian before the events of World War II began to unfold.  As he began to see what happened when Hitler gained power and what life was like in the Warsaw Ghetto, he recorded the events in his journal, determined to preserve a record of what happened so that future generations would know.  He and a group of people he trained illegally kept journals, recording their observations and interviews with people.  Before the Warsaw Ghetto was destroyed, they buried their journals, papers, photos and records within the ghetto, hoping they would be found and stand as a record of what happened to the Jews under Hitler's rule.

Alexander Graham Bell: Giving Voice to the World

Alexander Graham Bell: Giving Voice to the World by Mary Kay Carson

A brief biography of inventor Alexander Graham Bell that profiles his life and works which included the invention of the telephone.



My Thoughts:  This was a great biography!  I learned so much about his contribution to the world as well as his true passion in life: helping to deaf to be able to communicate.  This was a very interesting book!
 
*Summary taken from CIP data.

Gorgeous

Goregeous by Rachel Vail

Ninth-grader Allison Avery has always been the least attractive among her sisters, but when she allows the devil to possess her cell phone in exchange for appearing to be gorgeous, she must confront the power and deceptiveness of appearances.

My Thoughts:  This is the story that comes after Lucky by Rachel Vail.  It was interesting to see Allison's perspective on life in the Avery family.  I could really identify with her on her views of gorgeousness.  I'm looking forward to the next book in the trilogy about Quinn!

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Marie Curie: Mother of Modern Physics

Marie Curie: Mother of Modern Physics by Janice Borzendowski

A biography of Marie Curie, whose discovery of radium changed science and the world, and describes her childhood, education, and the hardships she faced in her professional life.



My Thoughts:  I found this to be a facinating story!  I knew that Marie Curie was a famous scientist, but I had no idea of the hardships she faced or the importance of her contributions!  This was a fabulous true story!
 
*Summary taken from CIP data.

Beastly

Beastly by Alex Flinn

A modern retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" from the point of view of the Beast, a vain Manhattan private school student who is turned into a monster and must find true love before he can return to his human form.

My Thoughts: It was really interesting to get into Kyle's head as he was turned into the Beast. It makes a person think about what is truly important when making friends and just interacting with other people. I couldn't wait to get to the end!

*Summary taken from CIP data.

The Cupcake Queen

The Cupcake Queen by Heather Hepler

While longing to return to life in New York City, thirteen-year-old Penny helps her mother and grandmother run a cupcake bakery in Hog's Hollow, tries to avoid the beastly popular girls, to be a good friend to quirky Tally, and to catch the eye of enigmatic Marcus.

My Thoughts: This is a fun girl read! This story has mean girls, cupcakes, pranks, a cute boy, art, and friendship!

*Summary from CIP data.