Miles To Go

This book is an autobiography by Miley Cyrus. Some people say that she is far to young to be writing down her life's story, but, as she explains in the book, it's "just another milestone". She just wants to tell the world how she is not that different form any other teenager. She has bad skin, "cankles"(calf ankles), a love for cupcakes, bad break-ups and a snorting laugh. All that's different about her is that she has a great voice and is very famous. When I picked this book up, I was like "God, these famous people. Writing an autobiography at...what...16?" I bought it, and took it home expecting a good laugh at the "disasters" in the life of a super pretty and super famous person, babbling on about the trials of being pretty and rich. Instead, I practically got slapped in the face with frank, brutal honesty. I could not believe what was written in that book. I even went so far as to look up certain facts online, trying to catch her out, like "Ha! You weren't bullied!" or "Your mom isn't alive!" Finally, after feverishly reading and rereading the book over and over again, I was grudgingly forced to realize that everything in this book was true. For the first time in my relatively short life, I understood that famous people are actually...(brace yourself for this shocking realization)... PEOPLE! I know, amazing right? But listen to logic. Just because Brad Pitt is a superstar does not mean that he is an alien incapable of having ordinary problems, like forgetting to buy milk at the grocery store or tripping over nothing while walking. Just because Taylor Swift and Nicole Kidman are so pretty it hurts to look at them, does not mean that they don't get tongue twisted or laugh when nothing is really funny. Superstars, famous people, models and royalty all have red blood and white bones. This book discusses Miley's rise to stardom, the trials along the way and how, underneath it all she is "just an ordinary girl".

My Sister's Keeper

This wonderful book by Jodi Picoult is a treasure in literature. A touching, heart breaking and moving story  based on a true story is the perfect thing to read when you're in the mood for a good cry. The tale of a girl, made to be her sisters donor (who has cancer) suing her parents for the right to her own body is one that will go down in history. A girl who wants to help her sister because SHE wants to, not being forced to help her by her parents. As you read this book, at first you will hate the parents, than ache for them, then finally, mourn along side them. A story to be read by all ages, young and old, and a book to be cherished along side the most priceless jewels in the world.

Legacies: A Shadow Grail Novel

Legacies is a novel of the supernatural. If you choose to read this book by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill be warned. This is a powerful book and should you choose to read this, by the first sentence you will be praying that this never happens to you. A story about a girl, her parents and sister killed in a car accident by a...Something, a car accident that she alone survived. Taken in by a beautiful school, expensive and stupendous that is hiding something behind the marble and gold plated walls. Friends made, no enemies, but who needs them in a school where the only person you can trust not to kill you is you? Every student has a power, they are the Legacies, expected to be earth shakers out in the worlds. Only Spirit (the main character) has no power. Or not one that anyone has ever heard of that is...something more powerful than anything that any magician in this world has seen before. Meet Spirit White, orphan, supposed magician, Holder of the Destiny, and the most powerful human to be seen since the world began...which leads some to believe that she may not be human at all.

VOYAGE OF THE SLAVES: A Tale from the Castaways of the Flying Dutchman

This 356 page novel is artful blend of adventure, youth and courage in the face of lost loves and danger at every step. Brian Jacques is the award-winning author who has published many other books, including the famous Redwall series, as well as his Castaways of the Flying Dutchman series. The series follows a boy named Ben and his faithful dog Ned who have been cursed to roam the world forever by an avenging angel. Once bound to an eternal voyage on the Flying Dutchman with its cruel and bloodthirsty crew, Ben and Ned were saved by the grace of the Lords angel. This came with a price however. Destined never to grow old and die and to have tragedy strike those whom they care for, they try to stay solitary and alone while exploring the world. But when Ben is captured by notorious slave lord and pirate Al Misurata the rules are broken, new ones are made and the game begins anew. From the Libyan coast to the Italian border, Ben fights furiously against Al while Ned is "adopted" into a circus family consisting of two twin clowns, a strong man, a snake charmer, the ringleader and his beautiful daughter Serefina, the dancer. When the family is also captured, Ned and Ben are reunited but Ben falls hard for Serefina and fears the consquences. Now with his true love and her family and danger, not to mention those blasted rival pirartes that seem to be haunting every move Al makes, Ben is hard pressed to find a way out...and avoid the terrors that await his love and him if they survive.

Holes

This funny book by Louis Sachar is both entertaining and serious. It speaks of a boy, wrongly accused, sent to endure a nightmarish "camp" where the boys are forced, day after day, to dig six foot wide and six foot deep holes...but for what? The "camp" director (or Boss), who has a habit of painting her nails with rattlesnake venom, seems to be on the hunt for something and is using her inmates as manual labor. But when Stanley Yelnats, the hero of this book, and his friend Zero find something in the holes thats a little out of the ordinary, they can't help but wonder what the Boss is searching for. And when life at camp gets to be life threatening, they stop wondering about the hunt just in time to worry about their lives...

The Legend of Holly Claus

The Legend of Holly Claus is a wonderfully descriptive and ornate book with many hidden twists and plots. Written by Ryan Long in 2004, this is a touching story of Santa Claus's daughter, the only child ever born in the Land of Immortals where Father Christmas rules. Sadly. an evil sorcerer named Herrikan needs his newborn daughters heart to be given to him of her own free will, so he imprisons it in a curse. Now made of snow to keep it pure of pride, greed or self absorbent, Holly must live in a forever frozen world so her heart doesn't melt and she doesn't die. All the while, Holly feels terrible growing up because she is the only person in the Land of Immortals who hasn't done some wonderful good for the world to be there. Finally, despite the curse binding her and all others inside the Land, she finds a way to escape to the mortal world with her friend, Tundra, a white talking wolf. Her adventures include meeting the love of her life, making "dream dolls" for children so that they are encouraged to follow their dreams and facing Herrikan once and for all. This is a fantastic tale of a pure hearted girl trying to help those less fortunate and her trials along the way. Read this if you like happy endings and good books.

Among the Hidden

Among the Hidden is a novel around 150 pages long, written by Margaret Peterson Haddix. In it is a story following the life of 12 year old Luke. It takes place in future America, where there is a law against 3 children due to food shortages. Luke is the 3rd child of his family. He has never been to school, nor made a single friend. He isn't allowed to go outside anymore since where they once lived in a dense forest, they were forced to sell their land by the Government. Now, a neighborhood for Barons, the rich political figures in the land, is forcing Luke inside, never to see the sun again. Luke, who once understood the reasons for having to stay hidden, is furious. He can get a false ID that says he is a different person, but that would mean never seeing his family again, so he just stays hidden, fuming at his misfortunes. Then he meets Jen, another 3rd child, who has moved into the neighborhood and who has some strong ideas about how life for 3rd children is. She is organizing a ralley, a protest for the unfairness of life for 3rd children. She wants Luke to join her, to take a stand for freedom. But Luke doesn't think that all who join will stay alive...not if the Government is as evil as they say.

The Last Dragon

This book is very good. The story surrounds an elf named Yorsh from when he was a small child escaping a prison camp for elves that was flooded to a teenager trying to rescue his dear friends orphaned daughter from the ruler of an unjust land. Yorsh is part of a prophecy made at the beginning of time that tells of an elf saving the land and marrying a girl with the light of morning in her name who can read the future. His friends that he met when he was a child, helped him even though it was against the law to help an elf and were later killed for this. They left behind a daughter named Rosalba, which refers to the pink light reborn each day. Everyone calls her Robi though, so Yorsh doesn't suspect that she is part of the prophecy, especially when it turns out that the ruler of of the lands daughter is named Dawn. The Judge Administrator, as he is called, is a stupid, crazy man who thinks that Dawn should be the perfect princess and do nothing but read poetry, sing and sit on a swing all day. He has killed many "traitors" by hanging because they either refused or couldn't pay their incredibly high taxes or were accused of helping an elf. Dawn has "told the future" several times, once when she predicted that a councilors gold necklace would be hers. The man was found to be a traitor, he and his wife killed, their goods confiscated and the gold necklace was hers. Yorsh is horrified because he saw Dawn once and while she was very beautiful, she was cruel and mean and made a little girl, her companion, cry for hours. While this is going on, Yorsh also learns that he is the last elf and he soon teams up with the last dragon to save the kingdom from tyranny. It's a gripping read and action packed. This author is a wonderful describer and I recommend it highly.