Howl's Moving Castle

Jones, Diana Wynne. Howl’s Moving Castle. New York: Harper Collins, 1986.
ISBN: 9780061478789 pbk.$6.99


Reader’s Annotation:
Sophie is under a horrible spell that has made her into an old woman, yet it is as an old woman that Sophie has her grandest adventure.
Booktalk:
Sophie is the eldest of three sisters, a very unlucky position in life; what is it about a wicked witch, a moving castle, a lecherous wizard, and a talking fire demon that will change that? Read Howl’s Moving Castle and find out.

-Fantasy for girls
-Coming of Age
-Elements of romance, fantasy, and horror
-Combines different times and places
-Familiar motifs wicked witch, scarecrow, mistaken identity
-Academy Award-nominated movie tie-ins with Anime
-Lighthearted fantasy with a happy ending
-Destiny versus determining your own fate

Awards:
Boston Globe-Horn Honor Book
ALA Notable Book
ALA Best of the Best in YA
Booklist Starred Review

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Ready or Not: An All-American Girl Novel

Cabot, Meg. Ready or Not. New York: Harper Collins, 2005.
ISBN: 9780060724528
310 pp.
$6.99

Reader's Annotation:

Ready or Not follows a teen’s choice of whether or not to have sex. The decision is made harder by the fact that the teen’s life is currently in the spotlight due to her daring rescue of the President and her relationship with his son.

Book Whispers:

For Sam Madison deciding to save the President was easy, deciding whether or not to take things to the next level with his son is harder. A decision will be made in Ready or Not.

Place to have sex, check. Protection with which to have sex, check. Loving boyfriend to have sex with, check. Is Sam Madison actually ready to have sex, question mark. Has Sam made a decision, find out in Ready or Not.

Awards/ Reviews:
VOYA Starred Review
School Library Journal reviewed October 1, 2005
Booklist reviewed September 15, 2005

Image provided by: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/meg-cabot/ready-or-not.htm

Twilight

Meyer, Stephanie. Twilight. New York: Hatchette Book Group, 2005.
ISBN: 0316015849 pbk.
498 pp.
$10.00

Reader’s Annotation:
Twilight is the story of a young girl that finds herself in love with a mysterious boy that is definitely more than human.

Booktalk:
Bella Swan is a seventeen year old from Arizona who has moved to Forks, Washington. She likes the sun and the heat. She loves her mom and step-dad. So why does she like Forks? Forks is the rainiest darkest place Bella has ever seen, far away from her mom and all she’s ever known. Well like all teenage girls it might have something to do with a boy.

Edward Cullen is a seventeen year old boy from Forks, Washington. He likes the rain and the clouds. He’s comfortable living in Forks. So why has Forks suddenly become the place he simultaneously needs to be, but can’t stand to be? Well like all teenage boys it might have something to do with a girl.

This is a love story. This is the best kind of love story, the forbidden kind. Bella and Edward aren’t supposed to be, but what happens when they discover that they are meant to be? What happens when you discover that you are “unconditionally and irrevocably in love” with someone whose optimal lighting condition is Twilight?

Awards:
New York Times Editor’s Choice
Teen People “Hot List” pick
Publisher’s Weekly Best Book of the Year
ALA "Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults"
ALA "Top Ten Books for Reluctant Readers"

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