Baltimore County Public Library Summer Reading BCPL SRC discussion

Hi everyone!
Today is the first day of Summer Reading. Here is the discussion thread you can use to post reviews or thoughts about the books you are reading. Every book review on this discussion thread will be entered in a drawing to win a Kindle. You can also post your book to the 2014 summer reading bookshelf.

Keep reading!

Read Primal Heat by Susan Sizemore. Vampires and romance, what's not to like!!!

The King by JR Ward, the 12th book in the series. It was a little slow getting started, but it ended strong.

The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi

It's always fun to go back and read the original stories to movies that we know so well. And while it did (of course!) differ some from the Disney adaptation, it still had all of the same charm: Pinocchio is a gullible young marionette who, in retrospect, always knows when he's been bad but just can't help himself with all of the temptations around him. He strives to be good, for if he is, the fairy with the azure hair will turn him into a real boy! At every turn these were good moral stories to teach children (don't be tempted by money; don't steal; etc, etc.) and Pinocchio's innocent personality makes him both lovable and relate-able.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner. I love YA lit (teacher) and have heard great things about this book.

For those looking for a great summer beach read, just this past Saturday I finished reading "A Hundred Summers." Such a great story, especially if you enjoy historical fiction set in the 30s.

The Austere Academy (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #5) by Lemony Snicket

I think this was my favorite one so far. I really liked that the Baudelaires made friends in this tome, and that Isadora and Duncan are so likable themselves! The five children worked together so well, trying to thwart (of course, without success) Count Olaf (this time disguised as Coach Genghis). I do hope Isadora and Duncan remain main characters in the coming volumes!

I just finished reading If I Stay by Gayle Forman. I saw a preview for the movie and had to read the book. This book is about a girl who is in a horrible car accident and is in a coma. She must decide if she wants to live or not. I really liked it. And I am looking forward to reading the sequel that takes place 3 years later.

The Messenger by Lois Lowry

An amazing book about a boy who saves his village from an impending doom. in the end, sadly he dies, but everyone--who were beginning to become evil--are saved. An awesome book. Everyone should read this.

I just finished The Maze Runner. My oldest son (just finished 6th grade) read it and said it was ok. He was interested in seeing the movie when it came out and my other sons asked if they could see it too so I read it to make sure it was appropriate for them.

It kind of has a Divergent and Hunger Game mixed up in one feel to it. It held my attention well and I immediately started the second book. Because of the way it ends I needed to read the second book to see what happens. Overall I would give it a 4 out of 5.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tart
Pre-review side note: I’m merely a high school student that likes to read, you’ll have to excuse the overtness of my too symbolic interpretation(I’m at an odd point in my life where the preference of seeing a deeper significance is meted by a want to simply gleam the top(and less interesting but more scintillating) meaning)

The Goldfinch captures something about art and the role that a thing(albeit a thing that is the result of a person's entire skill) can, should, and does play in a person’s life. In some sense, the amount of fixation the people in this book spend on objects is troublesome but it deserves more then a cursory glance because of the brevity and extreme waxing quality of that fixation. What came across to me the most was that this fascination only hurt the people involved because of someone else who polarized the beauty into something truly horrible. The titular example of this would be, of course, the visit by Theo and his mom to the MET and the resultant explosion, taking her life. It’s hard to see where the blameless souls of Theo/his mom are to blame. Where did they go wrong, what could they do to have solved this travesty of death. Was it the Mom’s glowing glee of seeing the paintings that meant so much to her. How can it be her fault that she wanted to impart in her son an appreciation for the world that she fought so hard to get. And, even if it was not altruistic but for the mother herself, it is hard to imagine blaming the mother for using the one escape she has, for going to see the paintings she loved newly minted from beyond the cheap veneer that it hid behind in a small art textbook. And, yet, it is hard not to sympathize (or at least understand) Theo’s point colored opaque by survivor’s guilt that he was to blame. The reasoning is circular(and I will not bore you with further analysis of who's to blame, regardless, it is hard not see art hiding behind the precipice that Theo and his mother fell from). But, then the eloquent enigma that is the events after the museum, the ring that sets so much in motion. Where is there room in a world that is too much of a popularity contest for a ring that opens doors to a person’s heart? And, when he comes to meet his father, where is the fairness in the role money plays in anyone death. How can it be that his father, forsaken of his debt, has seemingly no choice but to die. How much can be attributed to the materials that awash these poor souls in a constant melting pot of sorrow and how much is carried through the prettily glittering tide of materials. Lost and gained, they spin. Too close for comfort and too far to be enjoyed.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving: 5/5

It is hard to review this without spoilers, thus you have been warned. It had all of the elements of which we are all familiar: Ichabod Crane, the local schoolmaster; his love Katrina; and the terror of the Headless Horseman. However, all of the adaptations I'm familiar with indicated that the Headless Horseman was real, while the story hints that it is a rival for Katrina's love who dresses up to scare Ichabod (and succeeds!). I truly enjoy this version of events better, methinks: it makes it much more real a tale, yet preserves the Halloween time frame and dark, gloomy, spooky setting very nicely. I would also like to comment on how amazingly fitting the narrator of this Librivox audiobook version was: he had the perfect deep, gravelly voice!

I just finished reading Attachments by Rainbow Rowell. Usually I adore books written by Rainbow Rowell (Eleanor and Park, Fanigirl) but this one is not so much a favorite. It was a love story but none of the characters developed in my opinion. I give it a 4 out of 5.

I just finished reading "The Four Doors" by Richard Paul Evans. This book is not a novel - it is inspiring, enlightening and a very interesting and quick read.

I just finished "The Goldfinch" The characters are to love, hate, to sympathize with, to disparage, to want to reach out for. They are pitiful, disgusting, harmful, harmless and worthy of your most tender feelings. She runs the gamut. You become fully engaged...it's impossible not to. They are so alive.



This is a story about relationships of all kinds: parenting, friendship, love. There's fear and selfishness and other emotions from basic relationships. It's a story of redemption and finding ones place in the world. It's an exploration of the world from many sides of life.



I will admit there is so much to take in in this novel that I couldn't just sit down and read it fast like some books. I had to take it in parcels. I wanted to savor the words and the journey of its characters, particularly the primary one, Theo.

I would welcome you on this journey of a special read. It's unusual. It's one that will charm you and touch your heart. It will cause you to stop and smile, laugh, cry out in surprise, feel hurt and even offended for the characters.

I know it's over, by C.K. Kelly Martin, is about a boy named Nick and a girl named Sasha, who knew each other by name, as many do in their small town, but not well. Nick and Sasha begin dating, taking a roller coaster of a relationship, by having fun at parties, talking with friends, and being with each other. Despite Sasha's many rules (ie: clothes on at all times), the two love each other. However, after a mishap, Sasha decides that they are getting too serious, and break up. The novel begins one month after their breakup, when Sasha announces with the fact that she is pregnant. Nick has to deal with the decision she has to make, and know that even though he knows it's over, her decision will affect both of them forever.

In all, this was a very captivating book, and I would suggest it for someone who likes romance novels. It's a good book when someone's looking for a read that will make you ponder about teenage relationships, and whether they are truly worth it. This definitely isn't a book to read quickly, but it's well worth the trouble.

The Adventures of Paddy the Beaver
by Thornton W. Burgess, LibriVox edition narrated by John Lieder
5 of 5 stars

I love when I am pleasantly surprised by something I've never heard of and just stumbled upon! This was a delightful tale of Paddy Beaver and all of his woodland friends. I was expecting something like Beatrix Potter, but Burgess kept his characters real to life: we learn how Paddy builds the dam and his house and stores food for the winter while interacting with the wildlife around him; Ol' Mr. Coyote spends the entire tale hunting Paddy while Sammy Jay squawks loudly whenever he spots Coyote around; Jerry Muskrat is Paddy Beaver's cousin yet is confused by Paddy's house building techniques. All of the characters are charming (and the narrator did a wonderful job doing different voices for each one!)

Read the Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis
The book is a collection of letters of Screwtape who is a demon in hell to his nephew demon who is currently on earth tempting a human. Satire which may be difficult for readers with little knowledge on Christianity.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

I'm sure anyone who has read John Green has probably heard about his big hit "The Fault In Our Stars". This book also involves teen romance, I like it because it reveals a more realistic side to it. I originally was not planning on reading this book, but many other people like myself who did not like TFIOS enjoyed this one, So I thought, why not?

This book takes place at a boarding school called Culver Creek High. Where the main character, Miles is in search of new experiences or the great perhaps, I think he referred to it. The whole idea of going to a private school for that matter seemed very vague. Going to the wilderness or a deserted island made more sense. But you have to keep in mind that Green's characters are known to be smarter than they appear with a hint of a teenager in them. And of course they all are well educated because of their private school enviornment.

Anyway Miles meets a girl named Alaska Young. She is rebellious, "hot" and quite intelligent. She instantly takes a liking to him, but the only problem is she has a boyfriend. Such a poor setback for Miles! The book mostly revolves around their relationship. At times it gets quite boring, but if your into character development you won't mind this book.

Just finnished The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones By Cassandra Clare. This book is about a teenage girl, living in New York, who's world turns upside down when she finds out she's a shadow hunter.

Cassandra Claire has become my favorite author after having read the prequel to this series, The Infernal Devices. I was never much into the fantasy books. The only one I ever read was Harry Potter. But this book was excellent. It wasn't boring at all or had me skipping I was interested majorly. Cassandra Clare is probably the queen of plot twists. I overall give this book a 5 out of 5.

The Infernal Devices Series By Cassandra Clare. This book is about a teenage girl who comes to New York to visit her brother, but when there, discovers some secrets about herself and her family. She is thrown into the Shadow World and tries to identify herself. She meets shadowhunters, die wielded and demons on her path.

This series is probably one of my favorite series. Cassandra Clare will have you angered, fangirling, laughing, and crying throughout the books. It is a very emotional trilogy and a great prequel for The Mortal Instruments. And Clare is the queen of plot twists. I would give this a solid 5 out of 5

The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp. This book is about a teenage boy named Sutter who wants to live in the moment and not have to think about his future.

I think overall this was a good, fun, easy read but, it's slow at some parts and it doesn't have a very strong ending. I would give it a 2 1/2 out of 5

If I Stay by Gale Forman. This book was about a teenage girl named Mia, who got into an accident and is in a coma and the book is about whether she chooses to live or die.

I love how the book is set up with flashbacks and such and it was a pretty good easy read. The ending is a cliffhanger that will have you running to read the sequel which takes place years later in Where She Went.

Looking For Alaska by John Green. This book is about a boy named miles who goes to a boarding school and meets new and ins treating friends while attending. They have fun times there and then something changed.

I love how this book is set up. There is before: before the incident an After: after the insident. Overall this book was brilliant (no surprise from John Green (; ) and will have you gasping for air from laughing...and maybe a tad bit crying. I would give this a 5 out of 5

The Winnie series by Lauren Myracle. This series of books has become my favorite series of all time with its perspective from a girl around my age, and her goofy but relatable sense of humor. The books in the series are called ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, and thirteen plus one. As you may have guessed, the books are titled by her age. So each book, Winnie is a year older. If you read this friendly series you get get to look into the fun, but dramatic life of Winnie and her friends.

The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise. This book is about a girl in her senior year who is looking for a way to pay for her families dream of going to college at Notre Dame. When she finds a contest to build an app to win a scholarship, she is set on winning. With the help of her skills in being a computer whiz, she designs The Boyfriend App.

I think this novel was cute an quirky and deserves more attention. Overall it was funny and easy to read and I would give it a 4 out of 5

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. This book is about a teenage girl who is determined not to affect those around her when she does from her battle with cancer. That becomes a little hard when she meets a new boy in her cancer support group who she falls in love with.

Okay my horrible summary of this book does not do it justice so I insist you go read it right now. This was probably my favorite book of all time. The main character is relatable, sarcastic, funny. And the love interest will have you falling in love. Warning: this novel will cause extreme feels and lots of tears from laughing and crying. John Green is a genius and this book deserves the attention it gets. I'd give it a 6 out of 5.

The Matched Trilogy by Ally Clondie. This book is about a girl who lives in a perfect society who gets 'matched' with two people. Will this flaw in her society cause her to change? Find out by reading it yourself.

Overall I loved these books I thought they were cute, and a different take on the dystopia genre. It starts kinda slow but overall it's a really good read. I would give it a 3 1/2 out of 5

Looking for Alaska by John Green. This book is immensely amazing. It will make you laugh and cry and fall in love with each and every character to a full extent. John Green is an expert with making characters relatable and lovable. The main character, Miles Pudge, decides he wants to go to a boarding school to find a new and meaningful life. There he meets the colonel, Alaska, Takumi,and other mischievous but incredible people. Luckily, while he's there, he accomplishes his hopes he had, but when a huge obstacle comes in the way concerning Alaska, the rebellious girl everyone falls for, life will never EVER be the same.

The Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth. This book is about a girl in a dystopian society who has to make a choice to help define herself.

If you haven't read this series I suggest you log off and read it immeadiatly. This trilogy is very exciting, romantic, action packed, emotional, and unpredictable. The last book had me screaming and in tears and the first two were just as amazing. I would give this series a 5 out of 5.

The Walter Boys by Ali Novak. This book is about a girl who is forced to live with 12 boys after the death of her parents.

This novel that originally started on wattpad.com (where I read the unedited version first) was edited and now is sold in stores. This talented young new author writes amazingly and develops a cute love story, I've been dying to read the sequel which is so far only available on wattpad, which is My Life As A Walter Boy, which is told from one of the boys point of views. I would give this book a 4 1/2 out of 5

I just finished reading Where'd You Go Bernadette? by Maria Semple. This book is told from the perspective of Bernadette's daughter Bee. Bernadette disappears one day and nobody can figure out where she went. Bee uses emails, notes, and letters to epics together what happened to her mother. Bernadette battles with the gnats (other moms) from her daughter's private school. This book was funny. I really like the author's style of writing.

I just finished reading My Own Revolution by Carolyn Marsden. It was a really good book about a boy with a family in Czechoslovakia who are anti-Communist and don't agree with the occupying Russians. He finds numerous things to do to rebel against the party while trying to win a girl. I love the insight it has on the view of people in a trapped society and how they view other countries such as America.

Hello! I saw several people posted already, but I just finished the maze runner. It was a good, quick read. I liked the characters and the challenges were interesting. I thought it was reminiscent of Lord of the Flies but these boys were all about creating a micro-version of society.

Hello! I just finished Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. Since I was a "Gone Girl" fan, I hoped this book would have similar writing. And it did not disappoint. Flynn writes with an edgy and witty flair. I really enjoyed reading a novel about small town murders through the eyes of her character. The character is returning to the town she grew up in and the town she was happy to leave behind. It was fun to see it all through her eyes.

How to be Popular, by Meg Cabot is about a girl named Steph, or as her best friend Jason calls her, "Crazytop."
Being a social outcast after an unfortunate incident with a Big Gulp, finding a book called "How to be Popular" in Jason's grandma's attic became Steph's focus for the coming school year. After completely changing her wardrobe and associating with the more popular crowd,to impress a special Mark, a party that is planned but has no place to be held at could be the end, as the popular crowd wants to hold it at her grandfather's observatory. There she must make the choice of letting them in and let her popularity continue, or standing up and saying "No." The choice she makes helps her realize that her "One" has been there all the time, and let's her realize something about the cost of popularity.

This book is fantastic, one of the better ones by Meg Cabot. Having loved all her books, that is truly saying something considering they are all fantastic! I would recommend this if you are looking for a light read, nothing too deep, especially if you are into romance novels.

As of now, I am reading the Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare, as recommended by Katelyn (The first one being Clockwork Angel, for those interested, which is the one I just read and am reviewing). Having read the Mortal Instrument Series and loved it, this book sheds light onto things Magnus, the head warlock of Brooklyn, says, as well as offers an explanation to several things that happen in the Mortal Instruments. This is not an ordinary prequel. Most prequels I've read are boring, but I have to say, Cassandra Clare truly outdid her self with this. It's set in a world where demons run wild and Shadowhunters kill demons to protect humanity. At the same time, the "Magister" has something planned with Tessa, who can change form at will. Something bad, and the Shadowhunters protect Tessa while trying to figure what she is and what the "Magister" has planned.

It's a really great book, and I'm sure you'll be captivated from the first page. It just continues to get more exciting the more the pages turn.

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult
I just finished reading it and I liked it. The plot line was cute and the characters were cute (lack of a better word). The typical fairy tale but its not about fairy tales. When reading, one can relate to the frustrations of the characters. I give it a 5 out of 5.

I just finished The Treatment by Suzanne Young. It's a sequel to The Program. Both books were excellent and very thought provoking. The premise of the books is that teenage suicide has become an epidemic and teenagers who show signs of 'infection' (aka depression) are placed in The Program where they have their memories erased in order to be happy.

I read "The Human Stain". I really liked the progression of it. It started by introducing this seventy two year old college professor, who was having an affair with a cleaning lady half his age who was illiterate. It explored the misogyny through this relationship. Each chapter had switched narrators so I was able to learn the perspectives of other characters. One character was a Black male who was a scholarship student at Howard University but felt so out of place because of his social class and his status as a scholarship student. You could really feel the racism he experienced from his descriptions. I really loved this book, and it was very well written and easy to follow.

I read "Orange is the New Black". What really prompted me to read this book was my knowledge with the television show. I wanted to read the book before watching my first episode. It follows a woman named Piper, who is involved with illicit drug business. Her life suddenly changes when she is imprisoned in an all woman's jail. There, she met women who would forever influence her. She befriended many, and her time at jail was an enlightening experience for her. She was able to feel remorse for her previous crimes. Being in jail was really enriching for Piper rather than detrimental. The novel also has a lot of funny characters and events, so if you like to laugh then this will be entertaining. This is a great read, and now I understand why the television show is so popular.

"Gone Girl" is probably one of the best thrillers out there. Just by reading the bookjacket, I wanted to read the book to find out who really murdered the wife. Each chapter alternates between having the narrator as the husband or as the wife. The husband is accused of murdering his wife because of his affair with a younger college student. However, the reader discovers that this man is innocent. He finds clues that purposely incriminate him. As the wife narrates, the reader finds out just how truly psychopathic she is. She was completely aware of her husband's aware and wanted revenge. As a result, she faked her death and carefully calculated and created evidence that would frame her husband. She is incredibly manipulative and the way she crafts her personality to please and entertain people is absolutely crazy. When she narrated toward the end, I felt really disgusted with her. I really liked the book though, but I didn't really like the ending, because it didn't seem realistic for me. Fantastic book; you can't put it down until you finish.

This book is great from almost every perspective -- the story, the illustrations, the history, and a new take on the old cross-country rail saga.

I enjoyed this very much. The author did a wonderful job of moving between the past and present, with lots of historical fact woven seamlessly in the novel. If you like historical fiction (specifically Civil War era in Texas), you will enjoy this book.

Someone Like You, by Sarah Dessen was a great book on love, and how nothing can be expected. It's about Halley and her best friend Scarlett, who finds out she is pregnant. While juggling with helping her friend and a boy who seems to really like her, Halley realizes somethings about life. It's a wonderful book on growing up and teenage relationships. For those that have read a book by Sarah Dessen, this book is not an exception to the fact that she is a phenomenal romance novel author. (Unless you read Dreamland. In which case, read this book to redeem her)

Things Fall Apart
I had to read Things Fall Apart as a required reading for school. Though the book isn't necessarily life-changing (maybe I'll understand it better as I get older), I thought this book was definitely very interesting and thought-provoking. The main character Okonkwo is a man who lives in a Nigerian village. He is aggressive, courageous, and hardworking, the exact opposite of his father, whom Okonkwo hated. Things Fall Apart follows Okonkwo's life as he realizes that even what seems like the strongest things can fall apart. I loved the way Achebe portrayed Okonkwo's culture, which emphasized strength and hard work. Throughout the book, I was constantly comparing and contrasting Okonkwo's traditional society with our own modern one. For example, women are treated as property and morality is set aside for tradition in Umuofia. I also enjoyed the various flashbacks and background stories, especially the one about Ezinma's birth as a "wicked" child. However, these short stories sometimes distract the reader from what is actually happening in the present. Overall, this was great book and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone curious about it.

I finished reading Wuthering Heights. There were certain parts of the story line that I did like. However, all in all, it was not a book I particularly enjoyed. None of the characters won me over other than Ms. Dean, the housekeeper. The famous Heathcliff seemed to be unbearable to be around with his less than sunny disposition but that could be a result of his circumstances. Catherine Earnshaw/Linton was very spoiled and used to getting her way. While I understand Wuthering Heights is a literary classic, it is not a book I would reread in the future.

"American Psycho" is probably one of the most disturbing books that I've ever read. It starts by introducing the lives of the upper echelon. The main character is a man named Patrick who works on wall street. He's always out with his friends having sex or snorting coke. He has incredible fashion taste and he mentions fashion brands often, well known or esoteric. Later into the book, he kills many people and animals--including the homeless and prostitutes. His lack of empathy and remorse is absolutely horrifying, but his sense of humor is really remarkable, and I think those two aspects balance the book quite nicely.

Any Social Studies teachers who need a great book for tying into Common Core curriculum for 7th-10th graders should pick up Sharon Draper's _Copper Sun_. It's a harrowing account of a two teens in pre-Colonial America. One teen, Amari, has been taken from her native village in Africa and sold into slavery; she meets Polly, an indentured servant on the plantation, and the two girls forge an unlikely friendship. Heartwrenching and powerful, it's a must-read!

I just finished reading Social: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Connect by Matthew D. Lieberman. It was an interesting read, exploring the innate need we have to connect with others human beings. This is something that I knew we were born with, but reading this book helped me explore more of the neuroscience and psychology that goes along with that need. Interesting to learn that (spoiler maybe?) our physical pain "receptors" are the same one that active when we are rejected or ostracized socially. Our brains and bodies are amazing and fascinating! Interesting non-fiction read.

600 Hours of Edward

Hi, Readers! My name is Sharon. I just finished "600 Hours of Edward" by Craig Lancaster. I give it 5 stars, I highly recommend it! It is about a 39 year old man who has Asperger's Syndrome and OCD. It is sad, funny, moving, tender. And I think there is a little of Edward in all of us. I'm anxious to read Lancaster's sequel, "Edward Adrift."

Next, I'm getting ready to read "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy. Since I am a TWD fan, I've been exploring the apocalypse genre!