"Hope Was Here" By: Joan Bauer

I am reading Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer. A girl named Tulip is abandoned by her father and left to live with her aunt by her mother. She absolutely hates the name her mother left her with, so her aunt allows her to legally change it to Hope. Hope and her aunt, Addie, move around a lot going to different schools and working at different restaurants. Hope is constantly making new friends and then moving away from them meeting new people.
Right before Hope’s junior year of high school, her aunt and her move to Wisconsin. They are working together at the Welcome Stairways, Addie cooking and adding new things to the menu, and Hope waitressing. G.T., the owner of the Welcome Stairways has been struck with cancer, so he can use all the help he can get.
One day while the current mayor is giving a speech about why he should be reelected, G.T. decides he is going to run against him. Since G.T. has been diagnosed with cancer he is realizing everything about life that he has not realized before. Now he is noticing that he needs to make a difference in the world and all of the changes that need to be made in it. Adults and teens all try to get people to vote for G.T., but Eli Millstone, the man G.T. is running against is a liar. He makes up things about G.T. and other things in the election to get people on his side. He lies so much that people stop believing what is true.
Everything starts getting better when Addie and G.T., and Hope and Braverman, another guy from the kitchen, start to date each other. G.T.’s cancer is put into remission. He is so happy that he decides to ask Addie to marry him. They do, and the next surprise is that he asks Hope if he can adopt her. She accepts.
Right when G.T.’s friends become full of hope that he is going to win, it is announced that G.T. has lost the election. This cannot be the end of this battle. Everyone has worked too hard for G.T. to lose. I figured Eli had to have something to do with this, and he did. This left G.T. winning the election. As soon as you would think nothing could be better, G.T’s cancer gets so out of hand that the doctor says he will never pull out of it this time. Hope becomes depressed and shares one last thing with G.T. the day before his death. Everyone fills the diner with flowers the day after the funeral as a memorial. G.T.’s family and friends are depressed at first, but eventually everyone moves on with life and makes the best of things.
The theme of this book is that you should never give up and it is always important to live your life to the fullest. Some conflicts we found throughout the book were G.T. battling cancer while fighting in the election to become mayor. Things that we found as symbols are the flowers filling the diner at G.T.’s memorial, and the way Addie improves different foods already in the diner. The flowers represent G.T.’s full life, and the improvement of old foods represents a second chance or new beginning.
I feel that this is a very emotional book. G.T. getting cancer and being turned away by so many people because of it is a sad concept. Try to put yourself in other people’s shoes before you judge them. Just because someone has a disease, it should not change the way you look at them. Diseases only make a person stronger.

"Dope Sick" by Walter Dean Myers

The main character in the book, “Dope Sick,” is Lil J; he is 17 and still living at home with his mom. He is always trying to do the right thing, but the right thing never tries to do him. Lil J is growing up in the “hood” and always trying to make a quick dollar or two. He is always applying for a real job, but being an African-American male living in the ghetto, it is hard to find a steady job. His friend Ricco is a drug dealer, makes about 300 dollars a day with ease, with a little peer-pressure, he has Lil J doing a side job with him. Ricco is a drug dealer, and a thief. He “taps” the bags of heroine. And then goes for this deal. He and Lil J are high, and when the deal goes south, things get out of hand. They are dealing to an undercover cop and get him on the ground, threatening to take his life if he makes a noise. So they hand cuff him to a banister, and go to run out the back. But Ricco is tripping, he goes back, and wastes the poor guy. Running with a “hot” gun, and a bullet in his arm, Lil J finds himself in an abandoned crack house, with a dude named Kelly, (God), whom gives him the chance to changes things for the better. There are many conflicts throughout the story; the main conflict is Lil J changing his life around for the better. He constantly runs into evil such as, doping up, not knowing how to say no, putting his life in danger, and not being able to find a steady job to support his mom. But Lil J is finding the good in life, thanks to Kelly. But Lil J needs to have faith in Kelly; he is constantly questioning and doubting him. He does not truly believe that Kelly has the ability to change things around. And by Lil J treating Kelly as Judas treated Jesus, it all makes sense. He betrayed God but all the wrong doings, and finding the good in his life is like going to reconciliation for the first time. I have many likes and dislikes…The likes of the book would have to be how Lil J could be a real person, and that this situation could be happening to anyone at this exact moment, the story is life for some. A dislike of mine being the reference to drugs a lot. Although Lil J betrayed God, Kelly still accepted him for him.

"The Atlantis Complex" Eoin Colfer

The Atlantis Complex is the seventh book in the Artemis Fowl series. It is about a boy named Artemis Fowl who is very intelligent and belongs to a wealthy family that has had a history of criminal activity with the highly trained Butler bodyguards. In the earlier books in the series he finds out about a secret race of magic fairy people living underground with more advanced technology than humans. At first Artemis tries to gain wealth by holding an elf captive but he changes throughout the series and befriends them.

The main conflict in this book is between Artemis and a fairy named Turnball Root. Turnball is trying to break out of prison. He is full of revenge at the LEP (fairy police), which he was once part of, for locking him up. He also wants to see his human wife, but she is aged more than him because fairies live longer. At first a hijacked fairy probe attacks Artemis and He and his friend Holly do not know where it is from. The suspense builds until as they find out more about whom it is and an attack on Atlantis.

While this is happening, Artemis has been developing a disorder known as Atlantis Complex. He starts counting things, displaying obsessive-compulsive behavior, and loses trust even in his loyal bodyguard Butler. In the second stage of this psychosis he develops a second personality. Artemis has to put all this aside to face greater challenges.

If you like adventure and action than this is a great book for you. There is some humor in this book too which makes it lively. You will probably not understand this book as well if you have not read the rest of the series. It had a good plot and was exciting. I do not think it was good as some of the other books in the series because there were not as many schemes that involved complex ideas like time travel that would have made the book more interesting. A theme throughout the book and the whole series is everyone can change.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is a wonderful teen book. The four main girls, Carmen, Lena, Tibby, and Bridget have been best friends since they were born. Their mothers all went to maternity classes together and have known each other ever since. One day, they all realize that these one pair of pants miraculously fit all of them perfectly. Mind you that all four girls' bodies are built completely different, so this was unusual. Unfortunetly, the best friends are going different ways during their summer vacation. They get this idea to send the pants back and forth to each other throughout the summer as a way of keeping in touch with one another.
The main conflict in this story is between each girl. They are all faced with many different little conflicts in their seperate things they are doing. But, all of them try to keep in contact with their friends. They do not want to lose touch because they love each other. Even though they are busy and the pants might be the last thing on their minds, they cannot forget the ones back home that truly love them.
There are four protagonists in this story, Carmen, Lena, Tibby and Bridget. Carmen is going to South Carolina for the summer to visit her father. Her parents are divorced and her dad has started a new family. Lena goes to Greece to visit her grandparents and Tibby stays home and woorks at her job at Wallmens. Lastly, Bridget goes to a soccer camp.
The theme of the story is that you should never forget the ones that are always there for you. Even if your life gets a little crazy sometimes, be sure to know that there are always those certain people who will always be right by your side through anything.
The thing that I disliked about this book is how it was always very suspenseful and kept you thinking, maybe over thinking, all of the problems a little to much. Also, how the end the author makes you want to go and read the next books in the series.

"Alis" by Naomi Rich

The main character Alis is faced with the choice of protecting friendship or defending her life. Alis begins the story as a rebelling fourteen year old and ends the story, a mature young adult who took charge of her own life. Her Christian Community is making her marry someone against her will and as you read her decision about what she will do is will planned. Her journey of escaping and surviving lasts two years (most of the book). Though out that time she meets interesting people who become friends and enemies, she also reunites with people you would never aspect. “Alis” is filled with themes. Alis has mature themes such as Christian community life, growing up, standing up for what you believe in, staying true, and having hope when all is lost. These are all clearly shown throughout “Alis” and most of the themes are intertwined within each other, but they are easy to recognize. Conflicts are threaded all in “Alis”. The biggest conflicts for Alis is whether to betray a love one or sacrifice herself, go along with to her parents or seek her own happiness, and do what is right for herself or do what is right for others. There aren’t a lot of obvious symbols but if you read some passages a couple times more symbols will pop out. The evil Elder is symbolic for all of the corruption and evil going on in the Christian communities, Mistress Elizabeth is figurative for the kindness and gentleness of the Communities, Luke stands for the possibility of young love, and Alis represents first rebellion and then symbolizes freedom choose your own life. I love this book, I have read many books and this by far is the best, it kept me entertained the entire time I read it. If you like rebellion, conflicts, excitement and surprises you should really read “Alis”.

"Something Wicked this Way Comes" By: Ray Bradbury

Jim Nightshade and Will Halloway are thirteen years old in Illinois, and late in October, they discover a carnival coming to town. They go to the carnival for fun, and as it ends for the day, Jim and Will meet Mr. Dark – a man covered in tattoos. Mr. Dark tells the kids to go home, but they watch him as he rides the “Out of order” carousel, which the music plays backwards and Mr. Dark steps off at the age of twelve. His partner Mr. Cooger rides the carousel too, and goes to Jim and Will’s teacher Miss Foley and pretends to be her lost nephew. Overdrawn with excitement, Jim goes back to the carnival hoping to grow old, but they then return home without the chance. That night, they fight and vanquish the witch that tries to kill them, after Will’s father Charles Halloway finds out that the carnival can only be stopped by happiness, and so Charles, Will and Jim start an epic quest that truly reflects the battles of good and evil.
It is obvious that the general, overall conflict of “Something Wicked this Way Comes” is good versus evil. The only way to defeat Mr. Dark and the unnatural carousel is by being unified and happy, for the carnival is evil. Mr. Halloway eventually humiliates the witch to death, and he and Will both laugh and dance, brining Jim back to life after he dies. Also throughout the novel, Charles Halloway is a bit depressed and insecure within himself, but he must face himself, and accept the person he is at age fifty-four.
As we look over these conflicts, you can pinpoint the themes as well. Manifestly, the main theme definitely is that good will always conquer evil. Good, happiness, and comfort are qualities much more valuable than depression, sadness, and hopelessness. Positivity is the key to a successful life, and negativity will only make your life worse. Also, Charles Halloway’s personal theme is that self discovery and comfort with yourself is important as well. Through the acts Mr. Halloway does in order to destroy the carnival, he becomes familiar and accepting of his own body, age and life. He no longer is put down about his lack of energy, and he is still willing to be happy and helpful when it comes to Will, his son.
Overall, I think I like “Something Wicked this Way Comes” more than I dislike it. Throughout the book, piece by piece the story was confusing. I put the chapters together when I was done, and the verdict is a thumbs up. Battles between pure good and pure evil interest me, and it helps me realize the importance of happiness, for I, and everyone struggles to be jovial. The chapters are nice and short, which gives me a more sense of accomplish when it comes to literary progression. However, some things I did not like. One example being how Charles Halloway delivers a long, deep, inspiring, meaningful monologue when someone asks a simple question. Maybe this disappoints me only because people usually do not talk like that in the twenty-first century. Besides that, this book is very interesting. Although the situation is not one hundred percent on my tip of obsession, the conflict is good, thus definitely being a recommendable novel.

"Friday Night Lights" By: H.G. Bissenger

If you like the game of football than i recommend you read the book Friday Night Lights. The theme of this book is never quit. The Permian High School football team is faced with a very difficult change ahead of them. They are faced with playing a very difficult football program that they never played before in the State Championship game. The school is built around a great football tradition. They have a winning tradition, also a tradition of being proud to wear those black and white jerseys of Friday nights! The team is told to dig deep and find in the hearts the will to play their hardest in the last game of their high school careers.
The genre of this book is sports. It is centered around a very proud football team and the students on the team. It talks about how one students questions himself about playing football or preaching the word of God. The main conflict in this story is heart. The team is asked to find the will and heart to play Permian football and to do it with pride. Friday Night Lights is the best sports book I have ever read. I highly encourage you to read this book if you like the game of football.