Review: Catching Brooklyn by: Lisa Schroeder

Catching Brooklyn by: Lisa Schroeder


Lucca died. Brooklyn's lost. Nico runs. Brooklyn doesn't know what to do now that Lucca has left. Her life is a confusing path. Before, Lucca would help her, whisper into her ear and lead the way. But which way do you go when you lose someone that important? Nothing makes sense to her anymore. See see's the world differently. Lucca lit up her world, made joy and life come to them. Brooklyn's light is no longer there. She sees the world as a dim, boring place. She thinks that there is nothing for her any more, and it's as if when he left, he took everything of hers with him. He stole everything she had.

Nico runs from it. He didn't just lose his brother... he lost his best friend too. The rapid beating in his heart, the blood pounding in his system, his feet slapping the pavement helps him get away from reality. From the hurt. But he always has to come back and face his broken mom and dad. He always has to pass Lucca's room when he goes to his own. The absence of Lucca gnaws at him. Eats him up and spits him out, and does it all over again.

But then something changes. Brooklyn's nightmares get worse and worse. Nico's recieving strange messages from

 Lucca telling him to help Brooklyn. They're both haunted. They both need the other but they don't know if they should let eachother in. So what do you do if anger and fear and lost love takes over? What do you do when trust is on the bottom of their lists? Brooklyn and Nico don't know that in order for the hauntings to disappear, they need to lean on eachother. Only they don't really want the hauntings to disappear, because without them Lucca isn't there with them. The hauntings are the only thing that bring Lucca back. 

This book expresses love in a way that I didn't think possible. How different kinds of love have many consequences, but also how love can be the cure. Lisa Schroeder delivers a story of pure passion.  

~ Symone

(my apologies for posting this late! Entirely my fault, not Symone's -Kat)

Review: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Fantasy fiction books always seem to draw me to them. The myseries and secrects and romance captivate me. And so did this one. The authors made it different from all the others I've read, though. It was put into a boys perspective- Ethan Wate. Ethan Wate is a normal human being (aren't they all) with a normal life and normal friends until he meets Lena Duchannes. But something about her just isn't right; the writing on her hands, the way her green eyes turn different shades (and not because of the florescence) and how her hair curls when she seems upset but above all, she's the niece of crazy Old Man Ravenwood, who no one has ever seen, but everyone has heard of. His entire existance is a mystery altogether and anyone who thinks otherwise is crazy as well. So why is Ethan so head over heels for her?

Personally, I found this story confusing at parts and it seemeed to strech on at times but it was an overall good read. Also, with me being a history seeking fanatic, I loved how it was filled with flashbacks to the past, even if the facts weren't actually factual.

I definitely would recommend to those who love stories of witchcraft and magic!

~Symone

Review: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

This book is a classic tale of love and hate. Jane Austen delivers a romantic story between two; one who posses pride and the other prejudice. When Elizabeth Bennet, the second eldest of the Bennet girls, meets a dashing Mr.Darcy, she swoons over his attractive looks. But that feeling soon fades. After she realizes his horrible manners, Eliza realizes that Darcy is a proud, young man who cares not who he hurts. But the question is, can she look deeper into his mysterious soul and find the little goodness in him, if any, as well as overcome her own prejudice?

I couldn't tear my eyes from the pages of this book. I loved the moral of the story. Jane Austen made me fall in love with each character... even the most unpleasant ones. All I wish to do is share this beautiful tale with others. Can never get enough of Jane Austen!

~ Symone

Teen Review - The Book of Trees by Leanne Lieberman

The Book of Trees by Leanne Lieberman

In all honesty, it was a chore to get through the first few chapters of this book, but later on it was actually quite interesting. The author wrote about the adventures of a Jewish teen, Mia, born in Canada that spends her summer in Jerusalem. She finds herself caught between the acts that people demonstrate on behalf of their religion and all the rules and regulations of the country. She soon figures out that in order to be a Jew she has to act like one. She has to think like all the others do. And she knows its wrong. She came to Jerusalem to connect with it, but instead she needs an escape.
I learned that not everything is as picture perfect as people try and make it seem to be. The world isn't always "flowers and butterflies". There's more to the world than that. There's war, and racism, and cruelty. That's the reality. And for some people living in war torn countries, they figure that out much quicker than we do. There were many morals to this story about trust and faith and how they can be two completely different things. I realized that we rely on biased opinions to get our information and sometimes people become really narrow minded about it. The Book of Trees taught me that we need to open our minds and that it's all right to have your own opinion, just as long as you respect others. Respect is key. It's what makes peace. I think that if all the countries in the world and all the people in it tried to respect one another, no matter what the religion, or language, or backround, or government they come from for at least one day, they would see the change. Wars would end. Bullying would stop, so would our greed and selfishness ways. Humanity will be saved. Saved from destruction and evil. This book truly opened my eyes and all I want is to share it with others.

~ Symone

Kat's note: this book is on order in paperback. I'll let you know when it's in the catalog for you to place on hold.

Teen Review: Hana's Suitcase by Karen Levine

Hana's Suitcase by Karen Levine

I can not express the sadness I felt while reading the horrible truths that I found hidden beneath the surface. One can't image the hardships that you'd have to face if you were a Jewish child during World War II. During the beginning to the war, Germany had most power. On March 15, 1939, Adolf Hitler had his Nazi troops march into Czechoslovakia where the Brady family lived. Jews were evil, dangerous and a bad influence in their eyes and they wanted to "eliminate" Jews from the planet. This is where Hana Brady (and her family) come in. The Brady's were a family of Jews that lived peacefully above their friend's store. Hana and her brother George played a lot with their school friends just like any other kid. They went to the movies, they attended school, and were basically good kids. But that all changed. Soon, their mother was taken away and arrested and their father was left to care for them. One day, when they went to go see a movie there was a sign that read "No Jews allowed". This discrimination confused and angered Hana. She asked why this was happening but unfortunately she didn't get answers, just more restrictions. The park, the skating pond, everything was taken away from her... and soon so was her Father. They were helpless. Their Uncle decided to take in Hana and George facing many consequences. Then, what Hana feared most happened. She and her brother were ordered to go to a concentration camp. With little food, warmth and light, Hana and George were put in different sections of the camp, and because she wasn't old enough, she wasn't allowed to see her brother. Hana was all alone. All she had was her tiny suitcase that held objects from a home far away.
Skip ahead 60 years to Tokyo, Japan 2000. There, in a little glass container sits Hana's suitcase or that's what they thought in the beginning. On it was written: Hana Brady. May 16 1931 and one word; Waisenkind, meaning 'orphan' in German. Who was Hana Brady? How did she become an orphan? The list of questions went on and on, until finally the director of the museum decided to try to learn anything and everything there was to learn about Hana Brady. Her name was Fumiko Ishioka. The Tokyo Holocaust Centre was dedicated to educating Japanese children all about the Holocaust. Fumiko researched, and traveled trying to find out more and more about the one little girl named Hana. She called up museums all around the world for any objects that they could send her to share with the children of the centre, and soon enough answers started popping up, but so did more questions. Did Hana have any brothers or sisters? the children asked. Was Hana still alive? Fumiko was determined to find out. She flew all the way to Terezin in Czech to find any clues leading to solve these questions. With the help of the museum secretary there, Fumiko discovered that Hana did in fact have a brother. She hoped that he survived so that she could possibly find Hana or even talk to George about his journey. They found a document that kept track of all the survivors during the war, and she was delighted to know that George was one of them! She also found out that George lived in Toronto, Canada and immediately got in touch. She was eager to share all of her information regarding his sister and asked if he had anything to share with the kids at the centre. She also wanted to know if his sister was still alive. When Gorge responded, he told her that sad truth. Unfortunately, Hana was killed in a gas chamber that the Nazi's had taken her to. A horrible way to die, but because of her, people today know more than ever about the Holocaust.
Now, George and Fumiko are good friends. Together they found that, tragically, Hana's original suitcase was destroyed and the Auschwitz museum created a replica based on a photograph. The Tokyo Holocaust Centre has expanded, more people wanted to know about Hana's suitcase and the Holocaust. Fumiko and George travel together sharing Hana's story and her suitcase. They want to spread the word of peace and the little girl (upon thousands more) that had suffered because there wasn't any. This story has inspired thousands, including me, and now there is even a motion picture of it. There is a lesson in this story and its up to us to learn it. Can you guess what it is?

- Symone