Mrs. Settelmayer's Honors English 10 Summer Reading Challenge discussion

Post all of your responses to and review of book #2 here.

I just finished Red Velvet Cupcake Mystery. A campy murder mystery based around a bakery. Fluke usually delivers a good fun read. I'm ready for something more substantial.

I've read actually a few more online books in between this which I finished yesterday but, I'm reviewing Paper Towns by John Green at the moment. A lot of you probably already have read this as soon as you saw that it was another work of John Green's or just because the movie will be coming out in July. Either way, this novel is fairly interesting. Just when you thought you could have set it down, you end up continuing to read until you finish. Unless you're like me and just read all day until you finish the book.
From the point of Quentin Jacobsen's point of view, we go on an adventure to learn about Margo Roth Spiegelman, a rebellious and adventurous teen who isn't as she seems. Quentin thought he knew this girl since they were little but he could be more in the wrong now as she disappeared, leaving a trail of disjointed clues for Q (Quentin's nickname) to follow.

If you're in for a road trip and miraculous journey in the life of a spunky teen girl and a guy who loved someone he didn't even truly know and the realistic taste of society, then go read! I bought Paper Towns for my kindle a while back but never had the urge to really read it...until yesterday that is.

“When did we see each other face-to-face? Not until you saw into my cracks and I saw into yours. Before that, we were just looking at ideas of each other, like looking at your window shade but never seeing inside. But once the vessel cracks, the light can get in. The light can get out.” -John Green, Paper Towns

I just finished reading The Weight of Silence. I couldn't put this book down! This story is about two families, each family trying to find out what happened to their little girl. These two girls are best friends who live next to each other, and both have disappeared out of their beds and are nowhere to be found. The author does a great job with pacing, keeping you in suspense from beginning to end. It is told from five different characters' perspectives, each chapter changing the character perspective. This was a bit confusing at first, but I got to know all five characters very quickly, and I ended up liking the switch from chapter to chapter. Very entertaining read!

I just got done reading The Fault In Our Stars. Even though I seen the movie first, the book was so much better. I'm in love with their connection. It is unbreakable, even by death. This may be my all time favorite book. I read it in one day and i barely put it down today. I definitely would recommend this book to anyone who likes love stories. Even though this one broke my heart and I cried like a baby. Honestly this book deserves more than five out of five stars. It deserves about a million out of five stars.

Just finished Ashes Ashes. wasn't that great I thought. I got bored halfway and had trouble trying to finish it.

Just finished Full Dark, No Stars written by Stephen King. The book was composed of 4 short stories filled with death and many twist and turns. I don't want to give too much away by trying to describe each but if you are willing to read this book; you should mentally prepare yourself before hand.

I just got done reading Bruiser and it is by far the best book I've ever read. It's very unique and I loved it.

Where She Went I just finished Where She Went by Gayle Forman. It is the sequel to If I Stay, which was recently turned into a movie. I read If I Stay a long time ago, and never knew that there was a sequel. This book was short and sweet, but it said what it needed too. Mia and Adam reconnect after many years. Mia is still dealing with the losses from the accident, and Adam is a full blown rock star. This sequel was much needed after the ending of If I Stay.

Just finished A Walk to Remember by Nichloas Sparks. It was so sad, yet I loved it. It had an extremely bittersweet ending that I both hated and loved. If you can handle sad books, then it's definitely one worth reading.

My second book is UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn. This story has a very interesting idea twisted around a modern day life style. Mina, a social outcast is known for her bad luck. She is very clumsy and always gets into trouble at the worst times. But her whole life changes when she discovers that she is a descent of the Great Grimm Brothers. Mina soon finds out that the Grimm Brothers made a deal with a fae. A fae is a magical creature from another world. However making a deal with a fae has caused the whole Grimm family to be cursed, generation after generation. In order to stop this curse one descendant of the Grimm Brothers must complete multiple quest that the Brothers have created from their stories. That one descendant is Mina. Even though the plot of this story is good, there are many moments in the story that are dull and just boring. Overall I found the book enjoyable and would be glad to read it again.

For a second time I've have finished "half broke horses" by Jeannette Walls. I love this book so much. This book was like the story was happening to me. It's a memoir so everything you read is true. It's about Jeannette Walls grandmother life and who everything she did in her life brought to where Jeannette is today. I recommend this book to anyone. Wanting the feeling of as if your the star if the book.

Exceptional
I finished reading this book and overall it was good but I didn't fall in love with it. This book is set in the future and about seventy-five percent of the human population has vanished by an airborne virus. Some people however survived and had been effected causing them to have better senses than a normal human, these people were called exceptionals. I loved the idea of the book as it had a twist to it but it fell short of my expectations during some parts of the book that slowed down and were even boring. However I would recommend this book to anyone who wants something unique and different to read.

I finished reading the book No Easy Day. This book is about the first hand account of the Seal team that terminated Osama Bin Ladin. It is written by Mark Owen. The first half of the book is mainly about his life becoming a Seal and other missions he had gone through. While the second half is about the events leading up to the mission that terminated Osama Bin Laden.

Book two- What color is your parachute? by Carol Christen and Richard N. Bolles with Jean M. Blomquist. There's not much to say about this book except that it's a advice giving book used to help you define your future. If you're anything like me, still undecided about what you want to do when you get out of school, I'd say give this book a try. It's not the most exciting book, but it gives you lots of ideas to think about. Like what kind of work environment you would like to be around, tips for your hiring interview, and even how to use social networking to boost your career. There's many things in this book that could be helpful to your future. Overall, I did enjoy this book and I think it's worth giving a shot.

This was one of those dystopian novels that took my breath away and was great all the way through. The action is fast paced, and the writing is superb. I would recommend this to just about anybody. You like romance it has, you like gritty violence it also has it. Rate: 10/10

I finished my second book of the summer, Falling Away written by Penelope Douglas, a couple days ago. This book has really raised the level for this series. It was very fast paced and kept you interested in the entirety of the book. This book led into the relationship between two more of the characters from the first novel of the series. Falling Away is my favorite book of this series as on now! would recommend to anyone who loves a good love/hate romance.

The second book I read this summer was called The Wedding Dance by Lucy Kevin. This is the second book in the Four Weddings and a Fiasco series. This story is centered around a florist who works at a wedding venue. Phoebe is very self-centered and doesn't truly believe in love even though that is the business that she is in. When a guest at a wedding asks her to dance, she just can't say no. Unwillingly, Phoebe fights her feelings and quickly falls in love with the high-esteemed architect.


Overall, I would give this book a 7/10. The plot line is very slow and doesn't have a very satisfying ending. Kevin could have made the book better by amping up the suspense.

The Wedding Dance

My second book is call No Such Person, by Caroline B. Cooney. It is a thriller/mystery.
This book is about a family who goes to their cottage on a riverside during the summer, when something bad happens. One of their daughters, whom is about to go to college for a medical degree to be a surgeon, gets caught up with the wrong people (unknowingly), and is wrongly accused of something horrific.
I would rate this book 8/10. I recommend this to anyone who likes a really good mystery. I loved this book, I couldn't put it down!

Early Warning by Jane Smiley: This book was as well written as the first. There wasn't just one main climax, but many other small ones and cliffhangers. You could almost feel what the character were feeling and once again, Jane Smiley let you be able to relate to the family. I'd suggest it to anyone with a definitive comprehension of young adult to adult books.

Play With Me
The second book that I read, Play with me by Anna Katmore, is book one of the Grover Team Beach series. This book is told from Liz Matthews point of view. Liz is in love with her best friend Tony. She makes the decision to tryout for the same soccer team in order to impress him. When Ryan Hunter, the team captain offers to train with her to help her improve she agrees. But the more they spend time together the more she seems to fall for him. Now she is faced with the decision of who really has her heart.
I think the first book of this series is extremely good. In my opinion as a girl, i found many ways to relate to how Liz feels. I would definitely recommend this book.

Forged by Fire
The second book I read this summer is also the second book in the Hazelwood High trilogy. This book is about Gerald, one of the characters in the first book. After his aunt that took care of him most of his life dies, his mother comes and tries to take care of him. One of the main problems in this story is that Gerald is abused by his step father. Gerald finds a new love in basketball, and his sister in dancing. When things get out of hand with his step father Jordan, Gerald steps up to protect his little sister and him self. I love this book because of the connection with the first book and the age of the main character going through high school as well. It is very relate able and I recommend it highly.

My second book is,"The Maze Runner",by James Dashner.I thought this book was pretty good,it's about a boy who has no idea of his past but appears in a world he has never been to,a maze!If you like adventurous books this is a book you should read.

My second book was Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks. This book was the first book I've read by this author. I wasn't expecting someone to die, though it was foreshadowed from beginning This book stinks.

The second book I read was A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer. This book is about a boy who was treated like a slave by his mother. Anytime he thought she was doing something nice there was a catch to it. This book made me cry several times but I still loved it and would recommend it to anyone.

The second book I read this summer was alright. It was called caught by the sea by Gary Paulson. Its about Gary's experiences sailing and how he struggles to make it back to land alive. I give this book a 8 out 10

The second book I read over the summer was called the car. By Gary Paulsen. The book was about a kid whose parents abandon him when he is around 15. He lives by himself for about 2 weeks while he is building a kit car someone gave his dad. He finally gets it running and leaves town. He eventually finds friends who are much older than him and he travels and lives most if his life with them

The second book I read this summer was, Lost! by Dwight McCarter and Ronald Schmidt. There are many short stories about people getting lost in the Smokey Mountains. If you like non-fiction this is the book to read.

The second book I read this summer was What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen. It was a book about a girl, who after her parents brutal divorce, traveled around with her dad who is in the restaurant business. Everywhere she went she would change her name and personality until she met Dave. Throughout the book you learn new things about every character and it keeps you guessing. I loved this book and I would definitely recommend it.

The second book I read for the summer was called "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl". This book was written by Jesse Andrews. This book was about a boy named Greg in his senior year of high school with his best friend, Earl. One day Greg's mother tells Greg that his old friend named, Rachel had been diagnosed with leukemia. Greg's mother makes him talk to Rachel and hangout with her. Greg's mother accidentally blurts out to Rachel about Greg's films he made. Earl offered to show them to Rachel when she started her chemo and soon after that Greg made and film about Rachel. The film gets showed to the whole school and Greg soon gives up on his film making career out of embarrassment.

The second book I read was, Looking for Alaska by John Green. John Green happens to be my favorite author who's books are amazing. His book Looking for Alaska was about, Miles Halter and him starting his first year at a private school. When he has to make new friends, he also discovers his new interest in philosophy. He soon wants to know more answers to fundamental questions, such as human existence and the natures of love and loyalty. Before Miles leaves his mother throws him a going away "party" for his few friends to attend. As Miles is moving into his room he meets his roommate Chip and Chip's friend Alaska, who both help Miles with the ways of his new school. But when Miles runs into a group of wealthy kids, called the Weekend Warriors, Chip tells him all about the group and swears to get his revenge. While classes start days later, Miles learns he has a favorite class, World Religion. But during class he also learns that the rivalry against the Weekend Warriors and full time boarders, as in Chip, Alaska and himself, has been risen for quite some time now. Meanwhile, during all of this he forms a strong friendship with Chip and a large attraction to Alaska. He also makes two new friends with a Japanese student, Takumi, and Rumanian student, Lara. Days later a plan has risen to take revenge on the Weekend Warriors. The five friends hide in an old barn while they wait for their plan to take time to react on the wealthy kids. As they are all in the barn they share a few drinks, share important secrets, while also a relationship is sparked by Lara and Miles. Time later Miles realizes that his friendship with Chip, Alaska, Lara and Takumi is more than that, they are a family now. But his feelings for Alaska has not gone away, yet grown more. But one night when Miles and Alaska are having a celebration one thing leads to another. Before it can go further, Alaska gets a call that makes her storm out of her room and off into the night. After not returning any of Miles or Chip's calls for the night she's gone, they soon along with the whole school, are told she was killed in a car accident the night she left. Miles and Chip took it hard, both blaming themselves for her death. They both want to know an answer as to how her death was caused exactly, causing both of the boys to mount an investigation. After talking to the police that were present at the crime scene, talking to her boyfriend and looking at the scene and they can't seem to wonder whether it was a suicide or not. When both of the boys get to overwhelmed they soon realized that they wanted to tag team, along with Lara and Takumi, to commemorate Alaska's life with one last prank. But a plot sparks when Dr. Hyde, World Religion teacher, creates an exam to consider Alaska's life and death in philosophies terms he has talked to his students about. After all of this has taken place the group of friends learns to deal with Alaska's death, realizing she wasn't only special for what people knew her for. I loved this book because it was like a cliffhanger after every few pages that made you wanna keep reading.

The second book I read was "The blind side by Michael Lewis." Although I've watched and enjoyed the movie, I also enjoyed the book. This book is based of a true story. Michael Oher, a homeless teenager is taken in by a family of four, the Tuonhys'. Once he is living with this family he attends Briarcrest Christian High School and that is where he played football. Everyone notices he has potential for playing college ball. They realize he needs a higher Gpa so he takes several online classes. Throughout their adventures, Michael gets adopted into the family, gets a car, and try's to find his mom once again. When he is deciding on a college Michael gets a home visit from NCAA. I love this story of how he went from being homeless to becoming a NFL football player, and all the difficulties he had to go through to get there.

The Fault in Our Stars
This is a book I have read once more, and when I got done reading it the fist time Hazle and Gus's love story blew me away. I swore I'd never touch the book again until I had nothing else to do, or nothing else that sounded good. I picked up the copy and read through the story while analyze this story to what John Green intended on one reader to do. I enjoyed and blawed my eyes out like my little brother Bentley does. Overall I enjoyed the book more and understand things better.
9/10 *SPOLIER* Because Gus dies...

The Art of Manliness: Classic Skills and Manners for the Modern Man
If you are a gentleman wanting to know how to get by in your daily life, then this book is for you. Ever wanted to know how to be the perfect house guest, or possibly to give the best gentlemanly bachelor party ever? Then I highly suggest this book to you.

Book 2- Alex the Life of a Child by Frank Deford-
The story is about Alex Deford written by her father Frank Deford. Alex is at battle with a disease called Cystic Fibrosis which was the number one genetic killer of children at the time. The events of Alex's life are written by her father Frank who was once the chairman of the board of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
I couldn't imagine how hard it was for Alex and her family to deal with Cystic Fibrosis.Alex died at eight years old. That is so sad to hear about someone who died that young. I recommend this book if you're someone who loves reading sad stories.

The second book I read over the summer was A Work In Progress by Connor Franta. I've been watching Connor's YouTube channel for years now and was ecstatic to hear he was coming out with a book. I was even more ecstatic after I read it. And then again directly afterwards. He's always been one to easily appeal to emotions. His book shows just that. Each chapter is a story or a topic about his life. For example, his family. At the end of each chapter he gives a lesson to go along. But the overall moral; Do what makes you happy, without being apologetic for just that. I think that's why I'm so drawn to this book. That's always been something that I believe. I love how he is able to draw someone in so easily and appeal to their emotion to deliver something he feels they need to hear or think about. It's by far the best I've read this year.

The second book ive read this summer is Sanctum. As you follow Dan, Jordan, and Abby again. You will find you self being sucked into a world of mysterious notes, creepy old houses, freaky dreams, and voices in their heads; as they travel back to the place that may be forever burned into their minds Brookline. Overall good book. Sanctum: An Asylum Novel