Girl at Sea

Girl at Sea is a 323 page novel written by Maureen Johnson. Johnson is also the author of 13 Little Blue Envelops, Bermudez Triangle and Devilish. Girl at Sea takes place in modern time. This book is the ultimate summer read. The main character is Clio, who lives with her mother, who is an artist. In summer of Clio’s junior year, her mother gets an opportunity to paint and draw the prairie landscape of Kansas. The thought of spending a summer on a farm in Kansas is not a pretty picture for Clio. Clio’s father, who is a millionaire from a game he created, invites Clio to come spend the summer on his sailboat with his new wife stepdaughter, and boat keeper, Aiden. Leaving behind her art classes, friends and a spring fling; Clio leaves for Italy to meet her dad. To find out what adventures lie ahead for Clio, and to see if she finds peace with her new family you must read. I assure you, you will be as surprised as Clio when you read what happens.

            I loved this book! I liked it so much I now have to read it every summer. I would rate this book an A+.

Commencement

            Nervous about leaving for college or who your new friends will be once you graduate? If so, Commencement is for you. This novel follows four girls from very different backgrounds through college. There is Celia, a nice normal girl from the suburbs with a secret drinking problem. Bree, a small town sweetheart who leaves her fiancé behind. Millionaire Sally who has just lost her mother, and April, abused and radical. These four girls meet on their very first night of college and never separate. The book follows their friendship and each girls individual life past college.

            Commencement is a 416 page novel written by J. Courtney Sullivan. Commencement is a feel good story, with a few surprising twists. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an easy read. I would rate this book an B+.

Atonement

            Atonement is a national bestseller by Ian McEwan. This novel is 351 pages long. The novel first starts out in the summer of 1935 in Europe. Briony Tallis, the youngest daughter of the very wealthy Tallis family, witnesses her older sister, Cecilia, and the yard boy, Robbie in the act of love. Briony, not understanding what is happening makes a decision that will change the course of all three of their lives. The book follows the three characters thru their lives until death.

            Atonement is by far one of the best love stories I have ever read. It is not cheesy, but not harsh. The style of writing the Ian McEwan uses is the best I have ever read. It is illuminating and beautiful, yet realistic. Once you start Atonement you will not be able to put it down. If you do put it down, its all you will be able to think about. After reading the book make sure you check out the movie. I rate this book an A++.

Eat Pray Love

           Eat Pray Love is novel written by Elizabeth Gilbert. It is 331 pages long. This book takes place throughout Italy, India, and Indonesia. Liz the thirty something all American girl form New York City decides to divorce her husband and go on a search for her self. The book follows Liz through her travels to these three countries in search of what she really wants and what she discovers.

            I loved this book. One of my all time favorites. After reading this book I was sold on the idea to travel to Italy and indulge myself in there food. It also inspired me to pick up a second langue. Ha, something I hope to do, but quite haven’t got the ambition yet. Overall, I strongly encourage you to read this book. It is a fairly easy read, although has small print. I would rate this book an A+.

The Perfect Score

           Worried about your ACT or SAT score? Then, The Perfect Score is the book for you. The Perfect Score is about six high school seniors taking the SAT. With all of them doing poorly on the exam, one of them, Kyle comes up with the idea to steal the answers to the upcoming SAT exam. Telling his best friend, Matty, the two plan out an adventure that will alter their lives forever. Kyle and Matty join hands with four other classmates and precisely plan to break into the highly secured building where the answers are kept.

            To find out whom Kyle and Matty get to join their plan, and to see if they get the scores you must read the book, or watch the movie based off of the book. Beware; the ending of the book will pleasantly surprise you.

            The Perfect Score was written by David Levithan and is 184 pages long. It is a super easy read, and not wrote with the most talent. I thought this book had a good plot but it did a poor job of explaining things. I would recommend this book anyone in the high school age. I thought it gave a perspective that there is a life out their even if you do terrible on the SAT or ACT. I would rate this book a B.

Change of Heart

Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult is 447 pages long. It is a good past time read. The book is about a mother who has lost her oldest daughter, Elisabeth and her husband to a man, shay, which murdered them.  The man who murders them is put on the death penalty in the state of New Jersey. Eleven years later the book follows one of the guys on shays Jury, Shays unexpected lawyer, and June Nealon, the lady who lost her husband and daughter.

            Right before shay is schedule to receive the death penalty he decides that he wants to be a heart donor. June Nealon youngest daughter, Claire, has a heart problem and desperately needs a new heart. Read the book to find out whether or not June allows to let her daughter take the heart that killed her other daughter.

            I thought this book was ok, not outstanding but not terrible either. It had an interesting plot line that coasts you through. I rate this book an A-.

A Million Little Pieces

A Million Little Pieces is a semi-fictional novel, written by James Fray. The book takes place in a rehab center in Minnesota. James is the main character who is addicted to almost everything.  He is twenty-three when his parents pick him up from the airport and drop him off at the rehab center. The book follows James through his recovery and the people he meets in the center.
            This book was ok, but defiantly not one of my favorites. It uses a lot of harsh langue, which almost gets annoying after a while. It is a book that truly lets you look into the life of a drug addict and how dirty it truly is. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this book to anyone; it is a struggle to read because it’s so depressing. I rate this book a B.