Every Day by David Levithan

Imagine waking up EVERY DAY in the body of a new person! EVERY day! Every DAY! You may wake up a boy, you may wake up a girl, rich, poor, troubled, homeless, gay, straight, a bully or being bullied. That is A's life. He doesn't even have a name; he simply chose A as his name because it was the first letter.

In David Levithan's bestselling novel, Every Day, A has grown used to his ever changing life. If he finds himself in a bad situation, he takes comfort knowing he'll be in another life the next day. Of course, he knows no parents or best friends. He's never felt love. Then one day he awakes as Justin and falls in love with Justin's girlfriend, Rhiannon. They cleverly develop a friendship then relationship working around A's changing life, every day finding a way to get together.

If you're looking for a quirky read that is very romantic, this will suit you. You'll be drawn into the insights about love and human nature as seen through A's eyes - a beautiful reminder of the power of love.

Reviewed by Mrs. Boehm

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

Having earned starred reviews and national booklist honors, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart caught my attention. As I read book reviews and articles about YA authors, this one was mentioned often - months after I had purchased it for our BHS library. I added it to my stack of books to read and off we went on Spring Break.

Her freshman year Frankie, as most freshmen, is finding her way at her exclusive boarding school high school, Alabaster Prep Academy. By her sophomore year she's being noticed by upperclassmen and she grows from geeky to beautiful, awkward to confident, then wants to be included in their friends circle.

Frankie has an interest in the quirky use of words. Shouldn't the opposite of disgruntled be gruntled? The opposite of inept be ept? What would those words mean? She uses these 'new' words baffling her friends. I delighted in the author's inclusion of this into Frankie's personality. If you enjoy word usage games, you'll also enjoy this quirky side of Frankie.

She also takes on the all boys, long-standing, secret society at Alabaster. Using a fake email address, she secretly directs the boys of the Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds (to which her father also belonged) to take on campus-wide pranks. Throw in a love interest, a distant sister, best friends, curfew violations, sneaking through the campus underground tunnels, and you'll find yourself captivated by Frankie's genius pranks and high school life.

Reviewed by Mrs. Boehm

Hard Truth by Nevada Barr

Summertime is always the time for a good mystery. How about one that keeps you on the edge of your seat, afraid to fall asleep, and your muscles tense? Try Hard Truth by Nevada Barr for just that type of suspenseful thriller.

National Park Ranger Anna Pigeon has arrived at her new post in Colorado in the Rocky Mountain National Park. She is one tough woman and she'll need all of her stamina for this job, stamina and strength she wasn't expecting to need. Three young girls have been missing and in spite of thorough searches of the park, have not been found until the day two of them stumble out of the woods into Wiley, a most welcoming dog. The girls have a dazed look, disheveled, unfed, non-communicative, and very frightened. Wiley's owner, Heath Jarrod, is wheelchair bound following a tragic climbing accident. She's angry and depressed by the new life confined to a chair. One of the girls is immediately drawn to Heath and Heath finds herself concerned and caring for the girls, especially Beth.

The girls' parents are contacted, they are elated, but will not permit the girls to speak with authorities at all. In fact, the girls are from a religious cult that keeps them cloistered in the compound. Anna and Heath learn the girls were on a camping trip with a trusted member of their religious cult when they were lured away by a serial killer working as a park ranger.

As these two situations unfold and become intertwined, the suspense builds. Anna is not aware, as the new supervising ranger, that one of her junior rangers can not be trusted. Against the backdrop of all that nature offers in a national park setting, you will connect with these characters as they face unimaginable peril.

Reviewed by Mrs. Boehm

Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard

I remember it well - the day President Kennedy was shot and killed, November 22, 1963. No matter how many times I reread details expecting another outcome, his death is always an American tragedy.

What sets author Bill O'Reilly's recount in Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot apart from the immense, and growing, body of work on Kennedy's assassination? For me it is the author's tone and ability to bring the events focused in reality. The sad truth of JFK's short life. The human story in a Camelot world. A reminder of his charisma felt by many around the world. Such a tragedy.

I'm also made aware that across all the years since this tragedy, politics has not changed. No decision is made simply on it's own merit. Personal and global events always play a role - for good or evil. Politicians are always strategizing their next move, next decision, next choice, against the background of their past and future hopes. It's part of politics that so frustrates us who simply wish for a clean answer, the right decision.

I'm also impressed by another aspect of Bill O'Reilly's work - his bibliography. Mind you, this is no research paper, teacher expected, perfectly formatted MLA or APA bib! It, too, is a narrative and that makes it very readable and so much a continuation of the book. I immediately placed holds at my public library on other titles the authors found most helpful in their research. I found online videos of important speeches and coverage described as insightful. By the way, I also did that while reading the book... when Mr. O'Reilly mentioned an important figure in the Kennedy circle, I searched online for a photo or an updated biography of the person. One in particular was Marina Oswald, the widow of Kennedy's assassin Lee Harvey Oswald, who lives a private life and works as a pharmacist.

Keep your online device at hand while you enjoy Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot.

Reviewed by Mrs. Boehm

Catching Fire: Movie Trailer

A sneak peek at the Catching Fire movie. November 22, 2013 seems like a long time to wait!

Reviewed by Mrs. Boehm

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

Another masterpiece! Once again, author and illustrator Brian Selznick has delivered on a story that is both picture book and novel. Wonderstruck is his second book in this format having won the Caldecott Medal for his first, The Invention of Hugo Cabret.

Wonderstruck follows two parallel stories - one told in words, the other in pictures. Ben is a deaf boy whose cherished mother has died in an accident leaving him to live with his aunt, uncle, and cousins. His story takes place in Minnesota in 1977. Rose is a lonely, deaf girl whose mother is a stage and silent movie star with no time for Rose. Her story, told in the illustrations, takes place in New Jersey in 1927.

How will their lives intertwine? Are Ben and Rose related? Will their stories come together in the end? As you follow this story you'll be drawn into their lives in unusual ways. A museum, wolves, New York City buildings, small cottages, new friendships, and sign language are a few. It's easy to finish this 637 page book in one day - there are so many dynamic illustrations!

Reviewed by Mrs. Boehm

Reflexology: Health at Your Fingertips by Barbara & Kevin Kunz

Reflexology is a type of massage that puts pressure on specific points of the body - feet, hands, and head. Each pressure point is understood to connect to every part of your body. By stimulating these points, it is thought to relieve stress and provide healing. Hence, the title Reflexology: Health at Your Fingertips by Barbara and Kevin Kunz is so precise.

The authors are internationally known for their expertise on reflexology. They have practiced it for over 25 years and continue to research its benefits. Now they offer readers an opportunity to understand and try reflexology through this book - a very visual guide to the practice. Using photography and labeled diagrams, you'll be able to guide yourself and learn. There are steps for massaging various parts of the hands, feet, and head. There are suggestions for working with specific health concerns. Having a tired day? Pick up this book and share with a friend. You may both appreciate the benefits of reflexology.

Reviewed by Mrs. Boehm