Random Reads
Teen Book Reviews by Anne Keller
The best books I've ever read
Every once in a while I read a book that goes on my list of "the best books I've ever read." These are books that I can't stop thinking and talking about. I will remember character names and lines from the novel for years and years. I want everybody to read these books so they can experience the the same feelings I did while reading them. These books are written by talented authors who have an exceptional gift of storytelling. These novels are truly unforgettable.
*Disclaimer: These books may be teen or adult
Think you have the world’s worst dog? Think again. Meet Marley, a yellow Labrador Retriever who gives his owners a run for their money. John Grogan, a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, uses his talent as a writer to describe the hilarious tale of his family’s life with Marley. Grogan and his new wife Jenny decide to adopt a dog in order to prepare them for parenthood. They select a cute yellow lab and have their first fight on the way home about what to name the pup. They eventually agree on Marley. Marley proves to be quite a handful. He eats everything in site, has a pathological fear of thunderstorms, gets kicked out of obedience school, and ends up costing the Grogan’s thousands of dollars in the wake of Marely’s destructive path. Grogan tells the story about the time Marley ate his wife’s very expensive gold necklace. Grogan is determined to recover the swallowed item and follows Marley outside in which it takes four long days for the recovery operation. He is quite surprised to find out that after they clean the necklace off, it is much shinier than before they even bought it. Then there was the time that Marley is caught red-handed during his senior citizen days eating a sandwich off the kitchen table. Grogan is able to sneak up behind Marley and tap him on the back and explains that Marley reacted as if he put dynamite underneath him. Grogan depicts Marley’s life from puppyhood all the way into his senior years. Many will wonder why such a family would keep such a problem dog. It is easy to see that despite Marley’s quirks, he easily integrates himself into the family and becomes a member who is cherished and loved unconditionally. I was brought to tears several times from laughing so hard. All dog lovers should read this book because you will find yourself totally immersed in Marley’s life and learn to love him as the Grogan family did. So if you think you have the world’s worst dog, think again! Be sure and visit the author’s website at www.marleyandme.com to see additional photos and read more Marley tales. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Besides the book Marley and Me (which is my favorite book ever), this is easily the second best book I have ever read. Okay, I didn't actually read the book but listened to it which was so amazing! There are three seperate voices for each of the three main characters. I actually looked forward to my morning commute as I got to listen to an exceptional cast portray Stockett's characters. The setting is 1962 Jackson, Mississippi during the civil rights movement. Two characters, Minny and Aibileen, are black maids (the help) to white families. Skeeter is a recent college graduate who wants to write about their experiences and other black maids and how they are treated. This exceptionally written novel brings that time period to light and the struggles of African Americans as they fought for equal rights.
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
Everybody has probably heard all the hype surrounding the last lecture and deservedly so! This is one of the most amazing books with so many life lessons that people need to hear. Randy Pausch was a 47 year old man and diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. He was a professor at Carnegie Mellon University and taught computer animation dealing with virtual reality. His last lecture at the University became famous and thankfully, was made into a book. The focus of the lecture is achieving your childhood dreams and Pausch weaves in back history from his life, family, and current teaching position. An amazing and uplifting read! Sadly, he passed away in August 2008. His legacy will live on.
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
The opening lines will hook the reader with, "My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973." This is one of my favorite books of all time. This expertly written novel is about a girl named Susie who narrates the story from heaven as she looks down upon her family and friends as they cope with her death. Her family deteriorates in the aftermath of her death. In some eerie scenes, Susie can actually watch her murderer as he goes on with his everyday life. Susie's first hand descriptions of heaven are beautifully written and expertly described. This title was on the bestseller list for weeks and weeks and deservedly so. Alice Sebold actually published a previous book called Lucky: a Memoir that describes her brutal attack and rape while a freshman at Syracuse University. She later sees her attacker walking down the street and the rest of the story deals with her prosecution of the attacker. I will remember this book for the rest of my life and encourage everyone to read this beautifully written novel. You won't be disappointed. The Five People You Meet in Heavenby Mitch Albom
Mitch Albom, author of the New York Times bestseller Tuesdays With Morrie, writes a beautiful novel that deals with the secrets of heaven. The novel opens with Eddie, an 83 year old caretaker at a small amusement park on the shoreline. He dies in a tragic accident trying to save the life of a young girl. When he arrives in heaven, he meets five people that have impacted his life in one way or another. Some of the people he recognizes, some he barely knows. Upon meeting each person, Eddie is told how they affected his life while passing on various lessons that shed light on to his existence on earth. Some of the lessons are: Lost love is still love, life has to end, love doesn't. Sacrifice is part of life, it's supposed to be, it's not something to regret but rather something to aspire to. Sometimes when you sacrifice something precious, you're really not losing it but rather passing it on to someone else. If you want to learn the ultimate secret of heaven, read this book. It is truly unforgettable. Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Imaculee Ilibagiza with Steve Erwin
In this deeply moving story, Imaculee tells a harrowing tale of her struggle to survive during the Rwanda holocaust in which almost a million Tutsi's were savagely killed in a short span of three months. Her entire family was killed except for one brother who was living abroad. She was able to survive by hiding in a very small bathroom with seven other women for 91 days in which they endured starvation, cramped conditions, and multiple close calls with being discovered. Imaculee credits her survival to her deep faith in God and his continued watch over her during the ordeal. The book delicately addresses the issue of how other countries turned a blind eye to the situation in Rwanda. Readers will come away with a new appreciation for life and freedom as well as a deeper understanding of the horrific events that unfolded in Rwanda in 1994. This is a very compelling and spiritual read and readers won't easily forget this tale.
As Simple As Snowby Gregory Galloway
After you read this book, you will want to either read it again, throw it against the wall, or give it to all of your friends to read just so you have someone to discuss it with. This brilliantly written debut novel is told from the point of view of an unnamed narrator. The teenage boy, the narrator, has a relationship with new goth girl Anastasia. The meat of the story is the relationship between the narrator and Anastasia. Eventually, Anastasia goes missing. The author's masterpiece weaves a tale of mystery and suspense as he gives clues as to the current whereabouts of Anastasia. She's a unique girl who is obsessed with codes, writing obituaries, and the paranormal. She is infatuated with Harry Houdini, puzzles, and ghost stories. The novel leaves many unanswered questions for the reader and many will be driven to reread the story to pick up on any missed clues. The author has a website, www.assimpleassnow.com, that will provide further clues in helping the frustrated reader figure out what really happened to Anastasia. The brilliance of the novel is in the way the the storyline and characters develop, which slowly reveal the plot's twists and turns. After Anastasia disappears, the narrator begins receiving cryptic messages that are mysterious in nature and puzzling as to who sent them. The narrator attempts to uncover Anastasia's whereabouts. I wouldn't be surprised if this book eventually ends up on a bestseller list someday.
The Jester by James Patterson & Andrew Gross
Don't pick this novel up if you're expecting another Alex Cross readalike. This novel is a total deviation of James Patterson's usual police detective stories. Hugh de Luc is the main character in this period setting novel which takes place during the Crusades in 1096. While I totally am not into historical novels, I simply could not put this book down. The novel opens with Hugh's town being ransacked and son being murdered after he returns from battle. In order to seek revenge, he enters the castle as a court jester because he thinks his wife is being held prisoner there. In the castle, he discovers her awful fate. When he returns to his battered town, he convinces the townfolk to revolt against Lord Baldwin and the noblemen. This novel is not for the faint of heart. There is some explict and bloody fight scenes that only add to the overall brilliance of the novel. I am a huge James Patterson fan and this novel will not disappoint! Because of Winn Dixieby Kate DiCamillo
India Opal Buloni lives with her preacher dad in Naomi, Florida. One day, she goes on an errand at the Winn- Dixie grocery store and ends up adopting a mongrel that she names Winn-Dixie. She must convince her father that keeping Winn Dixie would be in their best interest. Interesting and quirky characters include Gloria Dump, Miss Franny, Sweetie Pie Thomas, and Otis. The majority of the book consists of Opal's adventures with Winn-Dixie. In one particularly funny scene, Winn-Dixie freaks out during a thunderstorm and Opal's dad tries to explain to her what a pathological fear is. Opal's mother left when she was three and she eventually learns more about her mother when her Dad tells her ten things about her. This novel won the Newberry Honor award and deservedly so. It was even made into a movie starring Jeff Daniels, Annasophia Robb, and Cicely Tyson. One of the greatest aspects of this book is that it doesn't have an Old Yeller ending.