The book I’m reviewing is called The Boys of Winter by Wayne R. Coffey. This book highlights the unbelievable journey of the United States 1980 men’s hockey team, made up of college players from around the U.S.A to the Olympics in Lake Placid. The author keeps you engaged through the intense play by play of the games while also giving the reader insight into the players and coaches background, as well as their thoughts on and off the ice. As the U.S.A team gears up to go to the Olympics along with their coach Herb Brooks, they have a scrimmage versus the world’s best, the Soviet Union. They are known for their focused nature and precision on the ice. Just one year earlier, the Soviet team beat the NHL All Stars 7-2. These were the best players the United States had to offer. As the Scrimmage was under way, one of the U.S players commented that they were almost “watching”, mesmerized by how easy the Soviets made it look rather than playing. They ended up getting beaten, with a final score of 10-3. From here, the author takes the reader through the author takes the reader through the miraculous journey through the U.S teams run, eventually wrapping up with the Americans and the Soviet Union facing off for the gold medal.  One quote that I thought really described the book and really brought this story to life was this: “This cannot be a team of common men because common men go nowhere. You have to be uncommon.” I like this quote because it highlights how just being average doesn’t always get you to where you want to be. To take that next step in being great, the bar has to be raised, not only for yourself but also for everyone else. This quote sums up the journey for the U.S team because the Soviet Union had never been challenged like this before. The United States had to raise the bar for themselves through training and mindset which then translated in raising the bar for the whole sport of hockey. After reading this book, I think that the foremost reason for me recommending is because of the depth and analysis. The author goes above and beyond, not just giving a play by play of all of the games, but going behind the scenes, talking from many people’s perspective whether that was from the players on each team, the coaches, or the general managers. In doing this, he provides a whole new side of the story, digging deeper rather than just scratching the surface. Overall, this book could be a little bit boring at times, but for anyone who loves an underdog story about overcoming the odds, should read this inspiring story of a team and a dream.

By Ethan

The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks draws you in with high school romance between Dawson and Amanda that will keep you wanting to read more to see if their relationship will last through distance, family problems, and the passing of close family and friends.

After 20 years of no contact between Dawson and Amanda, the death of Tuck brought them back to the small town of Oriental. Tuck knew that both Dawson and Amanda loved each other so he wrote letter to nudge them into finding themselves again. But an accident of Amanda’s son has brought Amanda home and back to reality leaving Dawson back in Oriental with his dangerous cousins waiting to kill him.

In a small town called Oriental, Dawson Cole grew up in the town crazy criminal family. His cousins Abee and Ted have had a family feud against Dawson ever since they were young because Dawson never wanted to be a part of the criminal history that runs through his family. In high school Dawson lived with a man named Tuck, they didn’t speak often, but Tuck provided a place to live and a job that involved fixing cars. Amanda was one of the popular girls in high school, she always saw the bright side of people and never got into trouble. Dawson and Amanda instantly had a spark, but Amanda’s family did not approve of Dawson because of his family reputation in the town. Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months, and soon Amanda would be going off to college leaving Dawson in Oriental. Soon after, Dawson was charged for murder of the town doctor and was sentenced to prison. Twenty years later Dawson was released and ended up on an oil rig in Louisiana. All while this was going on Amanda was off at college, she met a man named Frank and they began to be a little more than friends. But she could never feel the same as she did towards Dawson. After college Amanda and Frank and three children. The youngest died from leukemia. The death of their child brought great pain and uncontrollable drinking problems. After Amanda and Dawson met for the first time in years, they realized that their spark was still there. But once reality settled in Amanda knew she couldn’t just leave her family. Her son was rushed to the hospital because of a car accident that resulted in him to have heart transplant surgery. “I gave you the best of me, [Dawson] told her once, and with every beat of her son’s heart, she knew he’d exactly done that.”

I really enjoyed this book! I’m already a fan of Nicholas Sparks so I wasn’t surprised that I liked it. The author’s writing makes you feel as if you are the character in the book.

The Best of Me is probably one of my favorite books. Most of Nicholas Sparks books have been made into movies for example, Safe Haven and Dear John. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting to get lost in a book.

And Then There Were None is about ten strangers that are invited to an Island to spend a weekend. When they all get there they are quick to realize that they don’t know who invited them. They also figure out that the reason they were all invited to the Island is because they all were involved in somebody’s death. When the first person drops dead unexpectedly, they realize that foul play must had been involved. There is a poem in everyone’s room about ten little Indians who were all  killed. When people start to die in the order of the poem, there is also a porcelain Indian from the dining room table that is broken with each death. They all realize that someone the island is trying to kill them.

The book starts off a little slow because they are introducing all the ten characters and telling how they were invited to an island. The author does an impressive job of setting up the scene and making it have a scary feel. The middle of the book starts to pick up pace with multiple deaths. The end of the book is so thrilling and exciting because it has you sitting on the edge of your seat waiting to see who is the killer. One thing negative about this book is that there are a lot of characters that you must keep track of, especially because they are referred to by different names. You also must try to remember how each of them died. However, I did like how the end was exciting because there were two quick plot twists. The first one is exciting and happens quickly, the second you think that the story is done but then the reader sees that there is one last thing that the murderer must do according to the poem.

The writing is easy to understand and is good for all high school students. It isn’t very long and is over 200 pages. The book is so gripping that once you start reading it you will not put it down. This is one of Agatha Christie’s hardest books to write and it is written so well and with so much detail it feels like you are right there in the moment with these characters experiencing it with them. If you enjoy murder mystery and don’t mind putting in little effort to staying alongside, the plot than this is the book for you.

Graceling is a world enveloped in romance, action, and adventure that will take your mind on a journey into a different world. I recommend The book Graceling by Kristin Cashore to teenagers because Cashore’s perspective on the magic in the story gives you a wonderful sense of romance and skill. The teenagers that I believe would like the book the most would be people who like fictional stories full of love, war, and adventure. -Kaeli Z. 9th Grader

The Fault in our Stars is packed full of both romantic and sad surprises that will sometimes leave you in tears or cheering while you are reading. I would recommend the book The Fault In Our Stars by John Green to teenagers because the way that Green wrote the story can take you to a world that is not your own, a world in which there is romance and drama floating through the air. The teenagers that I think would like this book the most would be girls that like to read about romance and are not afraid to cry at the sad moments. Could be for boys to read, too (if any of them like reading about love). -Kaeli Z. 9th Grader

This book is about a world where everyone is either considered pretty, or ugly.  No one questions it, until Tally begins to uncover the truth of it all.  -Kayla M. 9th Grader

This book is about a girl who has to go into hiding as a boy to stay with her twin brother. She trains and trains to eventually become the most skilled fighter in the Royal guard. It is about love, danger, and fighting for those you love. It is about loss, hate, and fighting to overcome the evils in the world. I would recommend this book because it was amazing in every way and made me cry and laugh many times because author just can’t seem to let characters live. Read if you like romance, action, and  adventure. -Mallorie S. 9th Grader

This book is about a girl who is born with a gift she doesn’t want and her journey to find out how she can help her people. I recommend this book because it has a realistic hero and shows that no matter who you are or where you come from you can make a difference. You should read this book if you like adventure, romance, some magic, all around adorable characters. -Mallorie S. 9th Grader

Cinder is the first book in the Lunar Chronicles, a series based on fairy tales and “twisted” to fit in a dystopian universe with spaceships, lunar people, and cyborgs. -Blair G. 9th Grader