Money Run

Ashley Arthur and Benjamin are fifteen year olds. They are smart, creative, techy, and they both have jobs. All in all, they are pretty average, except for one minor detail. They're both world-class thieves. Ash and Benjamin have robbed banks, stolen cars, and even broke into an international art gallery courier's briefcase to steal a valuable statue. But this time, they're going for the big prize.
             It's rumored that Hammond Buckley has $200 million hidden in his corporate HQ.  Ashley and Benjamin soon come up with a cunning plan to get the cash. It all starts with a essay (written by Benjamin) that Ashley hands in to win a contest. Prize? Winner meets Hammon Buckley and wins a cool $10,000. But Ash and Benjamin want the $200 million, and they'll do anything to get it. But once they get inside HBS headquarters, they find they've gotten a little more than they asked for. Things start going crazy when Michael Peachey, world's #2 rated assasin, goes in to kill Buckley for the U.S. government. But when Buckley escapes and Peachey starts his hunt for the supposedly "dead" man, Ashley is caught in the crossfire. (She also inhales a whole lot of anthrax.) She leads Peachey (who by this point is trying to kill her) on a mad goose chase through HBS, culminating in a $100,000 car being driven into the roof of the apartment complex next door and a incident involving a paralytic, a coffe shop, and a loaded gun. Is Buckley really dead? Does Peachey kill Ashley? Where's the $200 million? These are all questions the masterful Jack Heath answers in his book, Money Run. But the most meaningful question Jack askes and answers is the reason I voted this book a Read It Twice: Is being a billionaire really all its cracked up to be? Look for Money Run at your local library or bookstore.
                                                   -BOOKWORM

My Top Ten Favorites--Series

I read a lot of books. And when I say a lot, I mean a LOT. But every now and then, about once every month or two, I find a book that's so good, I read it, not just twice, but over and over and over again. Sometimes, if I'm lucky, those great books I find have sequels, so my magical journey continues. In this post, I'll be sharing my Top Ten favorite book series of all time. Some of my choices may seem predictable, but some will probably shock you.

  

10. Private series by Kate Brian

          Reed Brennan is average girl on scholarship to one of the most prestigious schools in the U. S: Easton Academy. On her first day, she looks across the courtyard into Billings Hall and sees a ritual that will turn her whole life upside down. One stray glance gets Reed a hot boyfriend, a place in the popular clique, and a room in the best place on Earth, Billings Hall. Billings girls are famous. They go on to become celebrities, politicians, stylists, authors, musicians, designers, anything you could imagine. Being a Billings girl means a lifetime of fame, fortune, opportunity, and popularity. But for Reed, it means much more than that. It means a ticket out of her corny old hometown and away from her addict mother. But Reed should know by know that nothing good is ever free. During the duration of the series (Fourteen books to be exact) Reed faces three pyscho-murderers, one dead boyfriend, one fake best friend, one drugged lying boyfriend, one shipwreck, three sorority initiations, one suicide, ten thousand vicious suicide-blaming e-mails, one house eviction, several major parties, various shopping trips, one real best friend, and a partridge in a pear tree. ( Just kidding.) There is also a spin-off series featuring Ariana Osgood, a major charcter in the first three books, and two prequels.

 

 

9. The Gallagher Girls by Ally Carter

     A teenage girl's life is hard enough. Add in a secret school where instead of math and social studies, you learn espionage, disguise, and weaponry? It's a plan for a disaster. Cameron and her friends are trained in the fine art of secrecy and lies. But Cameron soon discovers under the proud exterior of the Gallagher Academy, there lies a crumbling web of secrets. Through five books, Cameron and her fellow students wage war on the secret society that's threatening to tear everything she knows and loves apart.

 

8. The 39 Clues by various authors

Grace Cahill leaves in her will a distinct message for all of her relatives. You can have a million dollars, or you can have one clue. And that one clue, that can lead you to something that will let you rule the world. In ten books, Dan and Amy Cahill use their smarts and their resources to solve a series of 39 clues to save the world. Along the way, the discover their astonishing family lineage, which includes people like Mozart and Benjamin Franklin. The brother and sister are in a race against  the clock to keep the formula for world domination out of the hands of those who would misuse it.

 

7. Cahills v. Vespers  by various authors

A spin-off from the 39 clues, this series features the Cahills versus an age old enemy: the Vespers. The Vespers hold seven of the Cahills captive, uniting the entire Cahill world against them. The Vespers demand various objects throughout six books, dragging Amy, Dan, and others across the globe as they comply to the Vesper demands while preparing to defeat them once and for all. This series twists and turns throughout it, leaving you breathless at every turn.

 

6.Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Greg Heffley has a hard time in his family. Rodrick teases him endlessly, his little brother Manny has his parents wrapped around his little finger, and he's dead broke. In seven books, Greg navigates his way through life and its little crises while doing as little work as possible. Greg's money-making schemes  are sure to amuse, and his overall ituation is enough to mke you laugh out loid.

 

5. The Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan

Jason, Leo, Piper, Frank, Hazel, and Percy are six demigods. Except. Except three of them are children from Greek gods, and three are children of Roman gods. They go to two separate camps for the two different cultures. And war is coming. Someone has kidnapped a goddess and trouble is brewing (Oh, Hades) in Mount Olympus. The goddess in question has kidnapped Percy, too. She removed his memory as well, trying to manipulate him into saving her. So now Percy can't remember his past, Annabeth (Yes, these are the same characters from Percy Jackson) is freaking out over her missing boyfriend, and oh, yeah. Jason is from the Rman camp and has been switched with Percy. One more thing. Greeks and Romans HATE eachother. Like, HATE. Sound fun? This series is still in motion. There are four books so far, with the fifth slated to come out in 2013. This series deals heavily with Greek and Romn mythology, and is great for history nerds like me.

 

4. Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan

Sadie and Carter Kane are the children of a well-known Egyptologist. But weird things have been happening to the all their lives. And then, something cray-cray happens: their father releases Set, an ancient Egyptian god. Who promptly traps their father in Osiris's sarcophagus and seals him in the Underworld. And just like that, Sadie and Carter are on a mad dash around the globe attempting to save the world, Egyptian history, and everything they love. But there are some complications. For instance, Sadie falling in love with a god, Carter getting attacked by a monster cow, a giant dwarf eating Vladimir Lenin's head, and so on and so forth. There are three books in this series, and each are chock-full of laughter, tragedy, love, and Egyptian history and mythology.

 

 

3. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Katniss Everdeen lives in a post-war world. Panem is all that's left. The rest of the Earth has been destroyed. But Panem is a world of mean, evil people who created a whole new edition of "reality tv" for the world to enjoy. There are twelve districts overall, and each district must send two children, a boy and a girl, to fight to the death in a stadium that's designed to torture and kill. Children ages 11-18 are commanded to enter. There's a mandatory limit for how many times you must enter, but you can enter multiple times for more food. Katniss, her sister Primrose, and her mother are the only ones left of the Everdeens. And Katniss would protect her 11 year old sister with her own life. And so when out of the millions of names entered for the drawing, Primrose's name( which is only entered once) is picked, that's exactly what Katniss does. From there, it's a fight to the death. Through the three books, Katniss struggles with herself, her love life, and her restricting government. The Hunger Games is  a smsh success, with all three books slated to become movies. So if you read it, enjoy. And may the odds be ever in your favor.

 

2. Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson is just a regular, 12 year old kid with dyslexia and ADHD. He lives with his mother and her crappy boyfriend in New York. But then on a field trip to a museum, his teacher turns into a psychotic monster who tries to eat him. Saved by his best friend Grover, who turns out to be a satyr, half-human, half-goat, Percy discovers he is the son of a god. Poseidon, to be exact. Through five books, Percy leads his friends, and ultimately Camp Half-Blood, against the god's greatest enemy: Kronos, father of Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, and his general, Luke, another half-blood who was forsaken by his father and turned vicious. An amazing, Greek Mythological series filled with life, love, and teenage drama, it's definitely one of my favorites.

 

1.Harry Potter by J. K Rowling

 

Last, but not least, my favorite books of all time!!! Harry was a miserable, young, small orphan who lived with his aunt, uncle, and cousin. He was teased, bullied, and sad all the time. But all that changed with the arrival of one owl bearing a letter inviting Harry Potter to a magical world beyond anyone's imagination. Harry, astonished by the wonderful magic around him, learns something else. He is famous, famous for having defeated the greatest and strongest eveil wizar in the world when he was just one. Harry grows older through out the seven book series, eventually leaving Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the Seventh Year with his two best friends, Ron and Hermione, to defeat the great wizard Lord Voldemort once and for all. J.K. Rowling wove a magical web of wonder that gives me chills every time I read it.

 

Well, those are my top ten favorite series of all time. I hope you read some of these books too someday, and be assured. Every one of these books is rated a READ IT TWICE!

-BOOKWORM

 

CRASH

 

Jules has a big problem. Several, in fact. For instance, she lives above her family's Italian restaurant, which means she smells like pizza always. She has to drive her family's meatball-shaped food truck to school because she has no car. And she sees a vision. It's everywhere. On billboards, television commercials, windows, rearview mirrors. And she's the only one who can see it. It's driving her crazy. And she knows crazy. Crazy is her father hoarding everything in their small apartment. Crazy is her  former crush abandoning her. Crazy is the life-long feud between her family and the enemy restaurant, also family-owned by Angottis. Angottis and Demarcos hate eachother. So isn't it just perfect that Sawyer Angotti and Julia Demarco have feelings for each other? Kind of an Italian Romeo and Juliet.  Back to the story.

Jules is desperate to stop the vision. Until she gets a closer look at the vision and realizes it's actually going to happen. The vision is simple. A yellow snowplow truck jumps the curb, crashes through a building, and explodes. Not simple. Jules thinks she can stop the vision, but she needs more. So she analyzes every aspect of the vision, nailing down fact after fact, And then she has a plan. Does Jules save lives? You'll have to see. I, however, do NOT rate this a Read It Twice. It just wasn't interesting enough for me to want to read more. I did enjoy the romance, though. Try it for yourself. Check it out at your local library or bookstore.

-BOOKWORM 

FORGOTTEN

Every morning at 4:33 a.m., London Lane's memory resets. She forgets everything that has ever happened to her. But she can see into the future. So every night before she goes to sleep, London writes herself a note, detailing everything she did that day and everything she needs to remember for tomorrow. She meticulously implants everything she will need into her cell phone and uses her memory of the future to help guide her through the day. But there are negatives to her condition. London lies to herself. And when that magic moment hits at 4:33, and London hasn't written EVERYTHING down, she forgets things. Things that could change her life. London uses her gift of seeing the future to help herself, and then later on, to help others. Then London meets a boy who's KNOWN her before. He knows her secret, and he doesn't tell her. But then London lets herself forget Luke, and he just pushes onward. As London bonds with him, she realizes that he is starting to help her piece together the past she can't remember But there's a huge mystery London can't remember and it's the key to healing her family. London is hunting for her clues, and she's haunted by a nightmare that is holding all the secrets. But there's something bigger, something that's scaring London. She's happy with Luke as her boyfriend, but when she looks into the future, she can't see Luke with herself. In fact, she can't see Luke at all. In a race against the clock, London is desperately searching herself because she knows she holds the key to it all. She pushes her brain to the limit until she discovers a shocking truth; she has a little brother who was kidnapped years ago. And she remembers it. London remembers all of it, and she starts to trace the path to her brother. By the end of the book, they've tracked the kidnappers down, but they haven't found Jonas. But London looks into the future and sees her brother, safe and happy. As for her and Luke?? You'll have to read and see. I definitely rate this a Read It Twice. Cat Patrick twists the story and creates a unique, lovable character with a believable problem. It's an incredible read. Look for it at your local library or bookstore.

-BOOKWORM 

Out of Nowhere

 

Tom Bouchard is a high school senior who has it all. Hot girlfriend, good grades, popularity, and the treasured soccer team captainship. He's on top of the world. Until. Until 9/11 takes the world by storm and Tom's town becomes home to hundreds of Somali refugees fleeing their war-torn country. Just like that, Tom's whole life is turned upside down. Watching people in his town display shocking prejudice against these foreign visitors has a permanent effect on Tom.

Somali kids are now attending Tom's school. As Tom helps these kids around, he starts to realize there's another side to each refugee. And then he meets one that's going to turn his senior year around, Saeed. Saeed is good. Real good. Already Tom's whole team is improving because of him. But it also has some negative effects. For instance, the team is penalized every day that Saeed is late. Tom discovers Saeed is sharing cleats with other members because he can't afford any of his own. Saeed and his fellow Somali people are showing the kids how wealthy they really are. And then the trouble begins,

In a game against the local Maquoit High team (the best team that can be), Saeed helps them defeat Maquoit. Instantly, an enraged father of one of the players (the son is coincidentally one of Tom's old best friends) sues the school district, claiming Saeed os too old to legally play. Tom quickly discovers Saeed does not know what his actual age is. Their team is falling apart. Then Tom, who has by now broken up with his clingy girlfriend, is seen with one of the Somali muslim girls, and all hell breaks loose. The Somali people stop talking to Saeed and his sister, who is the muslim girl Tom's seen with. Then Saeed leaves, and with him go all Tom's hopes of winning the championship. Maria Padian tells a story of racial inequality that's moving and true. But for me, it was a little boring. There wasn't much going on, and it seemed like an older story that wasn't really new. I do NOT rate this a Read It Twice. But that's my opinion. Go find out for yourself. Look for it at your local library or bookstore.

-BOOKWORM

Code Name Verity

The book opens with a depressing phrase penned by one of the two main characters: I AM A COWARD. "Verity", as she is referred to, has agreed to record anything and everything she can remember about the English Resistance in exchange for her life. She is supplied with pen and paper, and she begins to write her life story, slowly but surely, adding in occasional notes about her surroundings and her guards. But Verity plays a dangerous game. Her German supervisor notes she is using classic literature techniques to suspend her audience, and therefore create a need for her to still be alive. As she narrates her story, we see the ashamed thoughts of a coward who knows she is betraying her country. She is also slowly breaking down, getting closer and closer to revealing the climax of the story, and also the final piece of information the Nazis need. Finally, she reveals her last secret: She is a well-known English interrogator. After this last clue is given, Verity is taken away. After all, she is a designated NN prisoner and everyone knows that once the Nazis have used an NN, you never see them again.
          Part II is told by Maddie, the close friend of Verity and the pilot that landed Verity in her current situation. She narrates what happens after we stop hearing from Verity. She also gives us a startling insight into what's really going on: Verity is part of a major set-up. She was supposed to land in Germany and begin a complex assignment that would flush out major leaders and destroy Nazi records. But Verity is captured because she looks the wrong way while crossing the street. And it all goes downhill from there. Author Elizabeth Wein is a master, spinning a web of realistic, believable lies that capture you. What seems to be truth is a lie, and then that's also a lie. She captures the desperate search for Verity, and gives a glance into the world of secrecy and lies that surrounded the Holocaust. It thrilled me to the bone, and I definitely rate this a Read It Twice. But be warned: There's a shocking twist waiting for you. And you'll never see it coming. Look for Code Name Verity at your local library or at Barnes and Noble.
-BOOKWORM

I Swear

                                              

                                                                 

Leslie Gatlin was the victim of relentless bullying. Her tormentors manipulated her love life, her school life, and her social life. They cyberbullied her through Facebook until finally, they made Leslie think she had lost her only friend. Their bullying led to the ultimate consequence: Leslie Gatlin killed herself in her garage.

               Macie, Katharine, Beth, and Jillian have covered their tracks so well, they become cocky.

Macie, daughter of a politician, is enjoying the limelight and stealing the media spotlight as much as possible. But blackmailing Macie will be faced with a big choice: fess up to what she did or destroy her family's reputation.

Katharine, a beauty pageant queen, is desperate to keep her secrets safe. She tries to destroy evidence of her role in the bullying while preparing for Miss Teen U.S.A, but she can't help feeling guilty.

Beth, an aspiring Olympic gymnast, is most scared abut Leslie. She never thought it would go this far, and her past friendship with Leslie is tearing Beth in half. But Beth is keeping a secret, and it might just ruin her life AND her career.

Jillian knew Leslie the best. She had been friends with her from when they were young. Leslie was in love with her twin brother, Jake, and the three had special friendship necklaces they wore. But when Jillian chooses popularity over Leslie, she finds herself in over her head. Will her role in the drama cost her her family?

But then they're all thrown for a loop. The Gatlins are pursuing a civil suit for wrongful death, and the prosecution is digging up nasty secrets. As the girls scramble to bury their past, it looks like one is going to get away scot free. But suddenly, blackmail leads to truth, and shocking new evidence comes to light. Evidence that will destroy careers, families, and friendships. But it could also put the guilty behind bars.  What will they do?


I don't know about you, but I rate this a READ IT TWICE! Check it out at your local library.