Off The Shelf

Sarah's Key Tatiana de Rosnay 293 pages Travel back in time to Paris in July of 1942, as you read Sarah's Key , a different kind of Holocaust story. Ten-year-old Sarah and her family are arrested along with other Jewish families in the middle of the night by the French police. Thinking her younger brother will be safe from harm, Sarah locks him in a bedroom cupboard, and promises to come back. Sixty years later, Julia Jarmond, an American journalist living with her family in Paris, discovers Sarah's story along with heartbreaking family secrets. The New York Times Bestseller, Sarah's Key is written in al-turnating chapters, changing between present day, and the past. Sarah and Julia are characters so real, you feel each of their emotions. You will laugh with them, you will smile with them, and most importantly, you will cry with them. de Rosnay has made this story come alive, with rich descriptions, and vivid details, making this book one to leave you somewhere...

The Giver Lois Lowry 179 pages As a reminder, "Thin Yet Thick" reads are books thin from cover to cover (about 200 pages or less), but thick and deep in meaning. The Giver by Lois Lowry is definitely one to touch your heart. Jonas lives in a futuristic Utopian community. There are no choices and everyone is assigned a life to live. At the Ceremony of Twelve, Jonas is chosen to receive special instruction by The Giver. The Giver is the only person in the community with memories from the past. Meaning, he is the only one to know war, peace, pain, family, and most importantly, love. One quote I especially like from this book is: "There could be love." While spending time with The Giver, Jonas learns what love is. After reading that chapter, I began to think about what it would be like if our world had no love, and I guess I started to appreciate how much love I receive from people. My family and friends love me, and I love them. I could not imagine what it wou...

I am currently in the midst of reading several books at once, therefore, I have nothing new to review. In that case, I have decide to post my thoughts in an A to Z fashion. The ideas might be a bit random, as I am going to see what I can come up with in 30 minutes. A- Audiobooks. Truth be told, I have never read a book this way. I guess I like the fact of hearing my own voice in my head as I read, and not someone else's. B- Bookshelf. The bookshelves in my room are currently filled to the max. I probably should donate some of the ones I don't read anymore, but how do you part with a book? C- Candy. My favorites are Kit Kat bars, and the classic Hershey's. D- Dreams. Isn't it funny how we never seem to remember our dreams? Even if I do, its only tid bits, and I think "What does that have to do with anything?" E- Earring. There are not a whole lot of "e" words that come to my mind right away, but earring is definitely one of them. I have so m...

About Laurie Laurie Halse Anderson is a novelist for juvenile and young adult readers.  She began her writing career as a newspaper and magazine reporter before publishing books. she has won numerous awards, including the Printz Honor, Margaret A. Edwards Award, and is a New York Times Bestselling Author. Laurie's Books Speak Melinda Sordino ended an End-of-Summer Party by calling the cops. Now, her friends don't talk to her, and she feels like an outsider. She doesn't feel comfortable anywhere, even in her own thoughts. Something happened that night at the party, and thinking about it, is the worst thing she can do. Catalyst Kate Malone is smart and organized. But not even those traits could prepare her for the events ahead; her neighbors moving in, college decisions, and an event that will change everything else. This book is set in the same community as Speak, and according to Kirkus Reviews, it is "intellugently written, and mutlti-dimensial" Fever 1...

The other night, I watched the movie version of the book The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It really was very good, and I enjoyed watching the characters come to life. The cast consisted of the following: Emma Stone - Skeeter Phelan Viola Davis - Aibileen Clark Bryce Dallas Howard - Hilly Holbrook *Octavia Spencer - Minny Jackson Jessica Chastain - Celia Foote Ahna O'Reilly - Elizabeth Leefolt Although the movie is a little over two hours long, don't let that turn you away. Considering the novel is 451 pages, even two hours did not cover every scene. I do believe the main story line was well portrayed and engaging. Some negatives of the movie for me were that Celia Foote's story/plot line was not fully described, and Skeeter and Stewart's relationship was brief and undeveloped. Revising each of these parts would have made the movie easier to understand for someone who had not read the book. Overall, the movie was enjoyable and fun to watch. This movie should...

Mockingjay Suzanne Collins 390 pages Katniss and Peeta have survived the Hunger Games twice, but just barely. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol, and Katniss, her family, Haymitch and Gale have found refuge in District 13, which until recently everyone thought did not exist. Inspired by Katniss's golden pin, the rebels of District 13, have asked her to become their "Mockingjay" and symbol of the revolt against the Capitol. Katniss has accepted the job, but has gotten herself into something more than she can handle. The country of Panem is a full-blown war zone, and amongst the battles, she must make some of the most important decisions of her life. The third installment of the Hunger Games books is riveting and thought-provoking, but unfortunately, it was my least favorite of the trilogy. Throughout the book, Katniss drifts in and out of consciousness and is classified by the doctors of District 13 as "mentally disoriented". This foggy atmosphere in wh...

Catching Fire Suzanne Collins 391 pages The 74th Hunger Games victors, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark have won by defying the rules and are about to embark on a journey across Panem on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour. When they return to their home of District 12, they find it not as they left it. A new Head Peacekeeper has been issued, and he has made it is top priority to tighten the security of their district. This includes keeping the electric fence charged at all times. From painful bruises to broken bones, injuries are not scare, making Katniss's mother and her medical practice the busiest in town. Conflicts arise between Katniss and Gale - one wants to stay, the other to run - and Peeta floats somewhere in between. And just when they think the worst is behind them, the entire country of Panem gets their biggest surprise yet. Catching Fire is suspenseful, intriguing and overall, amazing. Katniss Everdeen is just as daring, and the Capitol just ...