Worcester Public Library Blog

Maximum Ride is a fourteen year old lab experiment.  She looks completely human, except for the fact that she has wings.  She and her flock (other lab experiments) had escaped from the lab in which they were made and now live with a former lab worker named Jeb.  Except now Jeb has gone missing.  Then the youngest flock member, Angel, gets kidnapped by dog-men called Erasers, which work for the lab.  And that much is what's written in the introduction. . .

It's a very well written story.  One of my favorite things about it is that you usually can guess what's going to happen next, so you end up saying to the characters, "Oh no, don't do that. . ."  It's a very good book and I can't wait to read the next one !!!

- Josh

The son of an adventurer, Max Gordon is attending an adventure training school when an assassin makes an attempt on his life.  Max is then led on a wild adventure to save the life of his dad and millions of innocent people.  This book starts out as a modern thriller, then turns into a desert survival story.  A great read and impossible to put down!

-Tyler

WALK TWO MOONS by Sharon Creech is one of those books that you just can't put down -- one that makes your reading glands hungry for more!  In fact, at several points in the book when I had come back from a quick break, I asked myself, "What was that really great TV program I was just watching?  Oh yeah (oops), it was that book!"  All around, it's just a well-written tale -- the characters are very believable (especially the main one - Sal) and there is just the right amount of suspense intertwined with mystery and a little bit of humor.  I have to say in the beginning I didn't like it as much -- I thought it was a little strange, but as I got into it, I was greatly enjoying myself!  One of the biggest bonuses is the life lessons you learn.  In fact, part of the book's plot includes finding mysterious messages that are words to live by!  However, in my opinion, you learn the most from just being there, exeriencing Sal's journey, learning about the complications of happiness, love, sorrow, loss, anger, and truth.  I recommend this book highly (it's a must-read) but be prepared for some teardrops in the process.

Jeanelle

Book number 4 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians (The Battle of the Labyrinth) by Rick Riordan is a real page turner.  If you enjoy action, Grreek mythology, and non-stop adventure, these books are definitely worth reading.  All the characters are very believable along with vivid descriptions.  Soon you will find yourself sucked into the mythological world of Percy Jackson and, thruthfully, you won't want to come back out.  So join Percy, Annabeth, Grover and friends.  (Just watch out for monsters and surprise endings!)  Have fun!

- Jeanelle

These are the first three novels in Stephanie Meyer's Twilight Saga.  These novels are about Bella Swans' life at a brand-new high school.  They are brilliantly written for teenagers.

-Maura

THE BATTLE OF JERICHO (2003), by Sharon Draper, is a powerful novel about Jericho's choices in life.

-Maura

HOPE WAS HERE, by Joan Bauer, is a novel about Hope and her Aunt Addie as they settle into Mulhoney, a small town.  Both work at the local diner, the Welcome Stairways, for G.T. Stoop.  As the story continues, you learn more about Hope and her past.

-Maura

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE is a classic novel by Jane Austen.  It's a fantastic novel about Elizabeth Bennet's life, her errors, her love, and her family.  It was originally written by Austen in 1796-1797 as FIRST IMPRESSIONS then rewritten in the early 1800's by Austen as PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.

-Maura

From a Vietnam War veteran-turned writer comes this book of short stories, some fictional, but most based on experiences the author had while a soldier in the Vietnam War.  Sparing no details, Tim O'Brien gives us a series of touching stories from deep in Vietnam, all blending together to give an accurate picture of what life was like as a soldier in a war like that, fighting off the mines, booby traps, heat, humidity, and bugs.  This is a far cry from the macho "war stories" from the world wars, this book gives you an inside look at the feelings of soldiers in a war zone.  I recommend this book highly, as long as you don't mind swearing and gory details.

- Tyler

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17 year old Denn Doyle has a problem.  He's been illegally gambling for several months now, with very good results, but then he got trickd by his dealer girlfriend and lost almost all his money.  He's totally broke, trying to deal with his girlfriend's betrayal, and needs to get his money back somehow.  He learns about a million dollar winner-take-all trournament, his only hope, but how will he come up with the $10,000 entry fee?  A great book, full of Texas Holdem action and fast turning luck so unique to gambling.

- Tyler

If you're like many teens, your room, life, and homework are a mess.  You are constantly being yelled at to clean your room, be on time, and/or get your homework done.  Unfortunately, you don't know how to change these habits.  If you find yourself nodding your head while reading this, the book would probably help you!  This book by a professional orgaizer and her daughter is full of ways to organize everything from your room to your locker to your time.  Best of all, the book is a fun read too!  A great book for those who want some order in their life again.

- Tyler

This book is about a boy named Steven Thomas. He wins a writing contest and flies to New Orleans to watch the final football game.

What will he do when he finds out that the star player of Minnesota State is being blackmailed?

-Julia

San is an Asian kid, living in Pennsylvania with his American mom who adopted him. He tells the story of his 8th grade year, in which he pretends to be a Zen Buddhist and even fools his girlfriend. 

San lies (and feels badly about it) but the reader can understand why, so he’s a sympathetic character.

This snappy book reads very fast. It’s funny and light, but meaningful too.

-Liza

An amazing novel, INKSPELL is the second book in the Inkworld series and it is just as good or even better than the first book (INKHEART). INKSPELL goes into wonderful detail about the things the characters feel and experience as the story unfolds. 

The author, Cornelia Funke, did a great job describing life in the medieval days, and she also is a master at describing so many different personalities from the characters’ point of view.

Just reading it makes you want to be in the story yourself!

-Josh