A guest review by Teen Room Staff Cat!

Nothing exciting could possibly happen in small town Wisconsin right? Especially something involving Nazis. That’s what Christian, a resident of Winter, Wisconsin, thinks. But Christian has always been, well, strange; his dad was strange, his mother disappeared in a strange way, and he is just as peculiar. So when he graffiti’s a barn with a swastika no one is too surprised; except Christian can’t remember doing it. Suddenly, his painting is taking control of him. The key to all of Winter’s secrets lies in his brain.

I liked this book. It was unique in that it’s a conglomeration of realistic fiction, sci-fi, and historical fiction. I think readers who enjoy and of those genres would love Draw the Dark.

--Cat

P.S. Love the cover image. MC

A guest review by Teen Room Staff Cat!

This book has everything you need in an adventure book sports (fencing, boxing, wrestling, climbing), riddles, hunting, rhyming, romance, and true love. It starts out with Buttercup, one of the most beautiful women in the world, falling in love with her farm boy, Westley. Westley then leaves to find money in America. Tragedy falls and Buttercup is left beside herself with grief. Then the Prince Humperdinck finds Buttercup and threatens to kill her if she doesn’t marry him. She agrees to marry him only if he knows she will never love him. Of course, before they marry she is taken captive by a hunchback, a giant, and a Spaniard. Confident no one can follow, they plan to take Buttercup to the Glider frontier and leave her dead body there; they were hired to start a war. Inconceivably, they are followed by a man in black. What follows several chapters of climbing, sword fighting, wrestling, and trickery, and answers to many question. Who is the man in black? Who is alive when they were thought to be dead? Who is dead when they were thought to be alive? How will this book end?

P.S. The movie is awesome too--compare the two and tell us which is your favorite!

A guest review from Teen Room Staff Cat!

On the cover of this book there is a Ferris wheel; this book is like a Ferris wheel. Every story is interconnected, every person has a role, and only the readers see the complete picture.
The story revolves around Annabelle a piano playing senior who is headed off to college. She has the traditional worries about life, college, and love. The rest of the short stories are told from the viewpoints of Annabelle’s friends. Each has a reason for wanting more in their life, or wanting Annabelle. The story ends with how it began, on a Ferris wheel.
This is a good book. Its interweaving layers were a nice comparison to life’s complexities. It is comprised of many short stories, each from a different view. This may make it easier to read or make it harder, depending on the reader. I would definitely recommend this to anyone.

--Cat

A guest review from Teen Room Staff Cat!

Robert Jordan has one task, to blow the bridge. He is an American dynamiter who is working with Spanish guerrillas to help win the war. A simple task made harder by the fact he must blow the bridge during the day.

If that isn’t bad enough he must deal with the leader’s discontent, and blood lust. All these threaten not only the mission but, also, his new found love in Maria, the girl at the camp.

Told in lyrical English that mimics the Spanish cadence, this book is full of flashbacks. Many of which are lengthy. These elements can make the book hard to understand. I found the Spanish element somewhat distracting, as I have not taken Spanish. I think someone who actually spoke Spanish would enjoy the writing style more.

Over all, I think the book makes you think about love, life, and death, a good quality in a book. Some parts are purely poetic, and those are the parts I really enjoyed.

--Cat

P.S. On the CAPP Summer Reading List for Phair.

P.P.S For all you Nerdfighters, the main character, Robert Jordan, was a teacher in Missoula, Montana. The current residence of one Hank Green.

P.P.P.S 8 days until John Green!!!!