In Darkness by Nick Lake

Name: Natalie   Grade: 11

Title & Author:  In Darkness by Nick Lake Impression: Awful

Recommend: No

Favorite part: The cover was nice...

Favorite character:   None...

Summary: It was as dry as a dessert.

In Darkness by Nick Lake

Name: Joey B.,  Grade:  11

Title & Author :  In Darkness by Nick Lake
Impression: Okay

Recommend: No
Favorite part? The part when he met the guy from the past for the first time
Favorite character? Why? Shorty because he was very outspoken
Summary:  The book is about a haitian boy trapped under the rubble of a hurricane and he dreams of a man from a long time ago
Feedback:  I didn't like the wording and it jumped around too much

In Darkness by Nick Lake

Name: Jake F. Grade: 9

Title & Author: In Darkness by Nick Lake

Impression : Okay/Awful

Recommend: Yes

Favorite part? I did not really have a favorite part because the book was quite dull, but I would have to say that I did enjoy the part when Shorty and Marguerite were traveling with the baby they found because it was somewhat of an adventure. And I really enjoy reading adventures.

Favorite character? Why?  My favorite character was Marguerite. Marguerite, according to Shorty, was a kind person and would be a kind hearted and good girl. It seemed as if she had no evil in her at all; she even took a baby out of the garbage and carried in her arms, with the help of shorty, until someone would help her. Overall Marguerite was an interesting person to read about and I wish she could have been in more of the book......

Summary:

The book takes place in three different times; the past, Shorty's past, and the present. The main character is Shorty, he is a Haitian boy who is trapped in a hospital by the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. He tells the tale of Haiti's past in the 18th century how Toussaint l'Ouverturefreed the slaves from the French. And how he ended up in the hospital. Shorty's tale involves gangs, adventure, true life history mixed with voodoo myths, or truths, and mystery. The gangster life had taken away Shorty's father and sister Marguerite and he doesn't stop searching for his sister and gets involved with the gangs and himself, becomes a gangster and befriends the man who killed his dad. Will Shorty ever get out of the hospital alive? Read to find out.

Additional comments:

When I first started reading this book I was interested to read it. All the summaries and reviews that I read prior were all pointing this book in a positive direction. It even won the 2013 Printz award. Despite all the positive backing this book had, I was very disappointed to find that it was a dull and slow moving story that was confusing to understand. A note that I must make before I go and trash it is that a friend explained some parts of the book, and my interest seemed to perk up again. She said she listened to it and thought it was fantastic, I don't know for sure if I was reading it wrong or the author just wrote in a dull way, but I was not interested while reading. However, if I ever get the chance, I think this book deserves on more try. :)

In Darkness by Nick Lake

Name: Hannah C. Grade: 9

Title & Author: In Darkness by Nick Lake

What was your impression of the book?: Awful

Recommend ? No

Favorite part? I don't have a favorite part because I gave up reading it after the first 40 pages. In my opinion, the book was dry and its style just didn't pique my interest or grab my attention.

Favorite character? Why? Like I said, I didn't finish the book but I did like Shorty's twin, Marguerite. A person who can find hope in the midst of poverty and violence is an automatic favorite of mine.

Summary:

Shorty is trapped under the ruins of a hospital destroyed by the 2010 earthquake. As he struggles to survive, his story begins to intertwine with that of a slave from the past named Toussaint. Toussaint's spirit sort of appears to Shorty and helps keep him alive long enough until help can get through the rubble.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Name:  Naorin H. Grade: Level 11

Title & Author: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

What was your impression of the book? Good
Would you recommend this book to a friend? Yes

Favorite part? My favorite part was at the end of the book when Corr came back to Sean rather than go to the sea.

Favorite character?  My favorite character was Sean because he was such a mysterious character but he learned to open up to someone he never thought he would care for.

Summary The Scorpio Races are a race for water horse riders and is primarily for males. However, this year, Puck Connolly finds herself entering the race, the first female ever to do so. She meets the four-time champion Sean Kendrick and together they prepare for the big race, each for his and her own purpose.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Name: Christine A.                Grade Level:    9
Title & Author:  The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

What was your impression of the book?  Excellent
Would you recommend this book to a friend?  Yes

Favorite part?  My favorite part of the book was when Puck, (Kate) decides to enter the scorpio races. Her entrance into the race brings about new changes and controversy among the racers, all boys, and the competition itself.                    

Favorite character?  Kate Connolly, better known as Puck is my favorite character because throughout the book she is very headstrong and determined  She sticks out from the rest of the characters because she fights for what she wants and represents a bravery for the women on Thisby island since many Thisby women are "lazy" as Puck says . Puck shows adult maturity at a very young age and is fearless.

Summary:  "It's the first day of November and so, today, someone will die." Sean Kendrick and Kate Connonly have entered the Scorpio races. Sean is the returning champion and hopes to hold on to his winning title while Kate Connolly, better known as Puck, is the first female to enter the races. With faith to win, Sean and Puck are brought together to train for the Scorpio races. As they progress, rich kid Mutt, is determined to get in their way. Will Sean or Puck win the Scorpio races? Or will someone suffer the losing consequences?

 Comments: I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially those who are into mythology or adventure. It has a little of everything from drama to adventure and even a hint of romance. With the book coming from Puck and Sean's point of view , you will never want to put it down. Exciting and thrilling, Maggie Stiefvater will blow you away with "The Scorpio Races".

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Name: Naorin H. Grade: 11

Title & Author:  Looking for Alaska by John Green

What was your impression of the book?      Excellent

Would you recommend this book to a friend?   Yes

Favorite part:   My favorite part is at the end of the book when Pudge and the Colonel drive through the part of the highway Alaska died on. They are almost expecting to die themselves, but once they get past it, they realize they are still alive, even if one of their best friends is dead, they were given the chance to keep living.

Favorite character: My favorite character was Alaska Young because she is such a mysterious and complex character. In the end, the mystery of her death is left partially solved, showing that no one could truly understand her or what goes through her mind.

Summary
Miles wants to find "the Great Perhaps"; so he leaves his home in Florida to attend a Preparatory School in Alabama. There he becomes acquainted with his roommate "the Colonel" and Alaska Young. He falls in love with Alaska Young although she is quite unstable. Together, they prank the Weekday Warriors (the rich kids). However, one day, Alaska freaks out and leaves school drunk without mentioning why. Miles and the Colonel find out she died in a car accident and they devote their time to finding out why she was in such a frenzy to leave and how she died.

Personal comment: This was definitely a memorable book that I really enjoyed reading.