The Lightning Thief

The Lightning Thief
Rick Riordan
Hyperion

Perseus Jackson is more related to his namesake then he ever thought possible. While on a field trip to a museum of ancient Greek mythology strange things start to happen. Percy's algebra teacher turns monstrous and Percy has to fight for his life. But that's just the beginning. A vacation with his mom to the coast turns deadly and Percy is forced to go to a summer camp like none he'd ever even heard of. He trains with swords and Greek armor and consults mummies for prophecies. Soon, however, Percy discover's his origin and the adventure of his lifetime ensues.

WARNING: Killing and violence with monsters (who aren't really alive in the first place and can't really die).

Personal opinion:
I loved this book! I couldn't put it down. It's such a fun, great story. The mood is light and engaging and the writing is exciting and easy to follow. It really is just a fun book. Rick Riordan is a great story teller. I would recommend this book to absolutely everyone.

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Inexcusable

Inexcusable

Chris Lynch

Simon Pulse

Kier is the average high school kid. He wants the same things everyone else does. Then he cripples an opponent on the football field and suddenly becomes famous, or rather infamous. Everything is turning out right for him. He has friends, a great family, and he's really close to getting the girl of his dreams. Then things get a little skewed. When his two sisters can't come to his graduation, he seeks the help of his dream girl. Everything turns sour overnight and Kier is forced to face the consequences of his actions, no matter how horrible they might be.

WARNING: Swearing, rape, drinking.

Personal opinion:

I thought the story line was absolutely brilliant and I think this is a perfect book to teach the concept of a unreliable narrator. But I really didn't like the writing. I was bored with a lot of it. Maybe it was just the mood I was in and the fact that it's the end of the semester and my brain is tired, but it took me a really long time to get through just because I didn't like the writing. Maybe I'll have to read it again when my brain is fresh.

Other books by Chris Lynch: Freewill, The Big Game of Everything, Sins of the Fathers, The Gravedigger's Cottage

Godless

Godless

Pete Hautman

Simon & Schuster

After growing up in a home with a devout Catholic father, Jason Bock decides he wants a different god. But his god is a little unusual. Jason gets his best friend as well as three other schoolmates to join his church of the Ten-Legged One, or water tower. They make their own commandments and their own scripture. But there can be dissenters even in the smallest religious sect. Jason finds himself battling his parents, the community, and his best friend over a belief that he's not even sure he takes serious. What starts out as an innocent summer adventure turns into something that will change Jason's life forever.

WARNING: A few swear words and, obviously, questioning the power and existence of God.

Personal opinion:
When I first started reading, my thoughts ran along the line of "wow this is kinda sacrilege" but after awhile I realized that it really isn't. It was actually interesting to delve into the mind of someone who really questions a religion he's grown up with. Sure, Jason worships a water tower and that is a little weird, but it goes a lot deeper then that. I don't think that Jason was worshipping a water tower, he just didn't want to worship the god that everyone else was. It was interesting and, after mulling it around in my brain for awhile, I actually liked it.

Other books by Pete Hautman: Doppelganger, Drawing Dead, Hole in the Sky, Invisible