8th Grade Book Worms

The self-described book worms in the Research and Reading class have several recommendations:

 TaLia likes all of Sharon G. Flake's books, and she is currently reading Bang! 

Eugenia enjoys the Drama High series, by L. Divine.  Eugenia writes: "Courtin' Jayd is the sixth book and takes place in south central Los Angeles.  It is about a teenage girl with the same problems most girls have: boys, money, cars and family.  There's one other thing--because of her family's beliefs, Jayd has spiritual powers.  I think this is a great book if you like drama.  Most teenage girls can relate to this book/series, including myself."

Charlotte read Stargirl, by Jerry Spinelli.  "Everyone in Mica, Arizona is the same.  They dress the same.  It was weird to be different.  Everyone thought that, until Stargirl came.  She was completely different from anyone they had ever seen before.  She wore long skirts.  She played the ukulele.  She sang to people on their birthdays.  Everyone loved her and she amazed them.  Everything seemed perfect.  But things changed...people stopped liking her.  It started when she cheered for both teams at basketball games.  This story is a good mix of drama and comedy and has many plot twists."

Sara reviews Love Stargirl.  "In this sequel, Spinelli writes of Stargirl's sadness.  Although the sequel seems more realistic, it lacks the happy feel of the first book.  The story is written as a series of journal entries to her once love, Leo.  Stargirl has moved to Pennsylvania and her 'happy wagon' is nearly empty, one pebble out of twenty.  But she begins to meet new people, like a little girl named Dootsie and the Doughnut Lady, a forty year old woman who won't leave the house.  Though her first impressions of these people may not have been the best, she doesn't judge them.  She only wants to learn about them and be their friends.  This is what I loved about the book--Stargirl's admirable care for others.  Though she is much less happy in Love, Stargirl, I encourage anyone who liked Stargirl even a little to read this book.

Jasmyne read The First Part Last, by Angela Johnson.  "The story takes place in a really rough part of New York city.  In Bobby's neighborhood, there is a community center on the corner and on the other end of the street is Mineo's pizza shop, where it always smells good.  I believe Angela Johnson portrays the characters realistically because Bobby's life could happen to any teenager around the world.  Bobby gets his girlfriend pregnant and he already has another child named Feather.  The main idea of the story is how Bobby adjusts to the fact that he is a father and how he is going to raise a child.  Luckily, he gets support from his family, specifically his mother.  I recommend this book to anyone who likes realistic fiction--I believe it is one of the best books I have read so far."

Merah recommends Best Foot Forward, by Joan Bauer:  "Everything is going along just fine at the Gladstone Shoe Store in Jenna's small town until Tanner Cobb comes along.  Tanner is a former shoe criminal, but he can't help himself when he sees a really nice pair of tennis shoes at Gladstone Shoes.  Mrs. Gladstone decides to punish him by making him work in the back room of her store.  Tanner becomes friendlier as he gets to be more familiar with the other employees.  And for awhile, everything seems to be going fine, until suspicions are aroused about how the Gladstone Company has their shoes made."