Diary of a Witness by Catherine Ryan Hyde

****Diary of a Witness by Catherine Ryan Hyde****

Originality- 17/20
Characters- 17/20
Remembrance- 8/10
Quote-ability- 8/10
Entertainment- 18/20
Ending- 9/10
Recommend to read- 8/10
TOTAL- 85/100
Grade- B

One day, something’s going to snap. . . .

Ernie doesn't have a lot of friends at school. Just Will. They have stuff in common—like fishing. But more important, they have common enemies: the school jocks, who seem to find bullying just another sport.

For the most part, Ernie and Will take life at high school in stride. Until Will has one very bad day. Now nothing is remotely funny. Ernie finds himself a witness—to loss, to humiliation, and to Will’s anger—an anger that’s building each and every moment.

Ernie doesn’t want to believe his best friend is changing, but he can’t deny the truth. Soon he has a choice: join or die. Or can he find another way?

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Diary of a Witness was amazing. Catherine Ryan Hyde did a wonderful job of capturing the essence of a teen boy who isn't "cool" without making him sound pathetic. This books was a truly gripping read. Your heart ached for Will and sometimes even more for Ernie. You just wanted to give them some hugs. Both characters seemed so brave at times when the jocks were doing horrible things to them. Hyde had a way of telling a story that made you wonder at each point which way things were going to go. You could never try to predict the outcome.

There were several points of the story that made your heart beat fast and hope for the best. Your emotions will be on a wild ride while you read this hypnotizing read.

-Amanda

The Sky Inside by Clare B. Dunkle

****The Sky Inside by Clare B. Dunkle****

Originality- 18/20

Characters- 18/20

Remembrance- 8/10

Quote-ability- 8/10

Entertainment- 18/20

Ending- 8/10

Recommend to read- 8/10

TOTAL- 86/100

Grade- B

Every year a new generation of genetically-engineered children is shipped out to meet their parents. Every spring the residents of his town take down the snow they've stuck to their windows and put up flowers. Every morning his family gathers around their television and votes, like everyone else, for whatever matter of national importance the president has on the table. Today, it is the color of his drapes. It's business as usual under the protective dome of suburb HM1.

And it's all about to come crashing down.

Because a stranger has come to take away all the little children, including Martin's sister, Cassie, and no one wants to talk about where she has gone. The way Martin sees it, he has a choice. He can remain in the dubious safety of HM1, with danger that no one wants to talk about lurking just beneath the surface, or he can actually break out of the suburb, into the mysterious land outside, rumored to be nothing but blowing sand for miles upon miles.

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I just LOVE books like this. Books that have such an original and out of the box idea that I'm awed. This happens rarely. But I sure am glad when it does.

The whole idea of this book was just crazy. It's pretty much a world based on lies. Everyone is hiding their emotions from each other so they don't get punished. Martin is the only one who breaks free. Martin was an amazing main character, he was heroic. When everyone else ignored problems, he tackled them head on.

I could never see any of the plot twists coming because this was a whole new world. It wasn't just a few things that were changed, this book had a Hunger Games appeal.

It was funny seeing Martin adjust to the real world and blowing simple problems way out of proporation and running to seek health care when he doesn't need it. I couldn't help but feel frustrated, but I could also feel his fear and confusion.

Overall I would say Dunkle put a whole new spin on the world as we now it, and put a whole bunch of new ideas into my head.

-Amanda

Waiting On Wednesday

Title: Pretty Dead

Author: Francesca Lia Block

Release Date: September 22, 2009

Charlotte Emerson seems to have the perfect existence. She is enviably beautiful and lives alone in a mansion full of reasures and beautiful clothes, perched atop the cliffs of the Pacific Palisades. But Charlotte has been lonely and dead for almost a century. Now she might get a second chance at life.

-Amanda

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

****City of Bones by Cassandra Clare****

Originality- 19/20

Characters- 19/20

Remembrance- 8/10

Quote-ability- 10/10

Entertainment- 18/20

Ending- 8/10

Recommend to read- 9/10

TOTAL- 91/100

Grade- A

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .

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This series is starting out to be just as amazing as everyone else says it is. I was worried that it wouldn't live up to my expectations, but thankfully it surpassed them. I've been wanting to read this series for a while and I'm glad that I started.

Just like people tell me, Jace and Simon are hilarious. Whenever there was a low moment between all of the action we got some comedy from Jace or Simon. They always seemed to come up with things that I've always wanted to say. They're just so darn clever! Not only were they amazing, so was Clary. Clary was a strong independent character with a witty sense of humor. Also, she never did any of those annoying putting herself in danger things that I HATE when female characters do.

The whole premise of the book was original and intriguing. I'll be sure to check out the rest of the books very soon. If you've been waiting to read these books now would be a great time to start!

-Amanda