The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's classic tale of true love and high adventure : the "good parts" version, abridged by William Goldman

in Cat's Books, Movies made from Books
bookcover
Author: William Goldman

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!

The Book of Bunny Suicides by Andy Riley

in David's books
bookcover
Author: Andy Riley

A guest review by Teen Room Staff David!

This book is somewhat screwed up, but gives you that tingling sensation of joy while looking at what these fluffy pets are up to. Either facing Darth Vader or burning a hole in their skull with a magnifying glass there will be a lots of dead bunnies.... A lot of them. I will warn the readers not to look at this book if they are bunny lovers, but if you do believe that your bunny is having second thoughts about life, DO NOT LET THEM SEE THIS BOOK!!!

--David

P.S. Don't miss the sequel, Return of the Bunny Suicides!

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

in Claire E.'s Books, Five Star Rating
bookcover
Author: Tim O'Brien

A guest review by Teen Room Staff Claire E.!

The Things They Carried is a book that tells the story of the American war in Vietnam. In gruesome detail, Tim O’Brian puts the reader in the shoes of the soldiers, both in battle and at home, showing and exploring their plight to deal with the things they have seen. The book is one that is thought-provoking and not easily forgotten, and good for high school or adult readers. O’Brian’s style of writing can at times seem repetitive, but is essential to the emotion in the book. --Claire E.

P.S. from Melissa--This is one of my favorite books. The chapter called Stockings is a fantastic example of very talented, succinct writing. It's a complete story--beginning, middle, and end--all in just a page and a half. O'Brien is at his best and earns my five star rating!

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

in Marisa's Books
bookcover
Author: Melina Marchetta

A guest review from Teen Room Staff Marisa!

Taylor was abandoned by her mother at a 7/11 when she was eleven years old. She was taken in by Hannah, who lives on Jellicoe Road, and attends a boarding school on Jellicoe Road, where the Cadets, Townies, and the kids who board at the school fight a "war" over territory. The leader of the Cadets is Jonah Griggs, a boy who Taylor ran away with when she was fourteen, looking for her mother. The leader of the Townies seems to know something about Taylor, and Hannah disappears, something she has never done. The man who brought Taylor and Jonah back several years ago, Hannah's story of five kids who used to live on Jellicoe Road, a man who whispered something into Taylor's ear before killing himself, a girl in Taylor's House at the school, and a boy in Taylor's dreams are all connected as Taylor discovers who her parents were and how everything was connected by Jellicoe Road. This is the best story about a car crash I have ever read, which turns a terrible event far in the past into something beautiful.

The excerpts from Hannah's story and the very large cast of mysterious characters makes this book very confusing, but it is worth it when everything is revealed in the end. Australian slang is also confusing. If you like vivid and memorable characters, then read this book.

--Marisa

2010 Project 4 Awesome Video

in Cool Stuff, Project4Awesome

Flash Burnout: A Novel By L.K. Madigan

in Cat's Books
bookcover
Author: L.K. Madigan
A guest review from Teen Room Staff Cat! Blake is a photographer, and a comedian. He even keeps score of how many laughs he gets a day. His life if going pretty well; he has a hot girlfriend named Shannon and a very good friend named Marissa. Then, for a class assignment he takes a picture of a lady, passed out, on a street. This lady turns out to be Marissa’s mother. Horrified, Marissa leaves to search for her mom. Marissa ends up finding her mom, but the troubles don’t stop there. Blake tries to be a good friend but he has trouble juggling Shannon’s love and Marissa’s dependency. Eventually the stress gets to him and he makes choices leaving his world turned upside down. This is a good book. The characters are unique; Blake’s dad is a coroner and his brother can’t wait to become one himself. Shannon plays piano and does a great Mr. Burns impression. However, the author’s use of odd slang was detrimental to the book. If you are a teen that likes realistic fiction, I would recommend Flash Burnout. --Cat