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Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston (book review)

Farewell to Manzanar is the true story of the trials one Japanese-American family faced when they were forced out of their home into the Japanese internment camp Manzanar in 1942. Jeanne Wakatsuki was only seven years old when she and her family left everything behind and began a whole new life in the desert behind barbed wire. At first, life is harsh and unfamiliar in this whole new environment, and even at the best of times it isn't great. But eventually, the inhabitants of Manzanar turn it into a thriving community with churches, schools, bands, and extracurriculars. For some people, Manzanar begins to feel similar to a home. But what will everyone do when the war ends, the camp closes down, and they are forced to start their lives over yet again?

This was an extremely moving book, a true story about love, loss, and a family slowly unraveling at the seams. If you want to learn about the WWII Japanese internment camps, this is a great book to start. It tells the real story of what went on and what life was like at the camps, behind barbed wire.

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (book review)

"I knew then I had to have a house. A real house. One I could point to. But this isn't it. The house on Mango Street isn't it."

And so twelve-year-old Esperanza begins her first year on Mango Street, the first time she and her family have ever had a real house. But it isn't a house that Esperanza feels proud of. She is ashamed of its creaky steps, the cracks in the walls, and the ordinary hallway stairs. She wants nothing more to escape from the barrio, the Latino neighborhood she and her family are now living, where men have all the power and the women around her are trapped in desperate situations from which they can't escape. Take Rafaela, whose boyfriend never allows her to leave the house for fear that she might run away with someone else. Or Sally, who married an abusive husband in order to escape her abusive father. Or Minerva, only a year or two older than Esperanza but already with a husband and two children. Esperanza doesn't want same fate to befall her as has these women. She wants to become someone independent, someone whose power is her own. Someone with a house that she can point to and feel pride. And over the course of a year on Mango Street, Esperanza learns a great deal more about herself and her dreams than she could ever have imagined.

This was a very good book. It was told in a series of short vignettes, none much more than three or four pages, all about Esperanza, her family, or other members of their community. Over the course of the book, which isn't very long, we learn a great deal about the protagonist and the culture she lives in. Esperanza is a complex and meaningful character whom one can really become connected to over the course of the book. The reader will also become attached to the various other characters Cisneros introduces throughout the course of the book, as well as their sad stories.

As far as plot goes, there isn't really a linear plot in this book. Basically, it follows Esperanza as she lives out one year in the barrio, suffering some great losses and finding out a lot about herself in the process. She makes friends and loses them, and struggles to deal with her growing interest in boys. During the course of the story, Esperanza's wish for independence conflicts with her wish for a boyfriend or husband. It soon becomes clear to her that, at least in the barrio, women cannot have one of these things without having to give up the other completely. At least not easily.

The Catcher in the Rye (book review)

The Catcher in the Rye, by JD Salinger, is a story about struggles, loss, and the difficult transition from childhood to adulthood. The protagonist, 16-year-old Holden Caulfield, has just been kicked out of yet another school, and he's wondering where to go next. He doesn't officially get sent home until Christmas vacation a few days later, so he decides to take off on his own. Holden heads to New York City and stays at a series of cheap hotels, calling up and meeting various acquaintances from his past, all the while scorning the "phoniness" of the adult world in which he is immersed. Finally Holden realizes he has to go home eventually, and that he will inevitably have to face the consequences when he does. So he heads back to his house to visit his little sister, Phoebe, but stalls when it comes to meeting his parents. Hastily, Holden decides that he will run away, out to a place where no one knows him and he can start a new life, but an unexpected show of love and innocence will convince him to stay.

This book was very good; the central characters were for the most part complex and well-developed. Holden himself was a very interesting character; he felt real. He wasn't perfect at all, but his flaws made it more possible for the reader to feel connected to him, and it made him much more interesting to read about. The other characters who appeared throughout the book had varying personalities; none of them, except for perhaps Phoebe, were very complex in regards to their character, but then none of them except for Phoebe played a very central role in the book. The plot itself was intriguing and different, and it was interesting to meet all the various characters Holden experienced and to see how he interacted with them. The ending was perhaps what I liked least about the whole book--it wrapped up the book abruptly and didn't provide many actual answers. Also, I would have liked to see the conversation between him and his parents, which wasn't shown. But don't let this deter you from reading the book; it's heartwarming, sad, and exciting all at once, and it will definitely keep you reading.

Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer (book review)

Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer, is a true story about the meat we eat and where it comes from. From tuna to turkey, Foer covers it all in this shocking book about the stuff we put on our plate. When one thinks about where meat comes from, many visualize a family of farmers out in the country, with rolling fields of wheat and a red barn in the background. The truth is that these family farmers are essentially an "endangered species" now, being pushed out of business by enormous, greedy multinational corporations with one thought: money. Money is what runs the meat industry now, not concern for the workers, the animals, the environment, or the health of consumers. But this system obviously can't last; eventually it is going to fall. And it's up to us to determine how many others--animals, workers, and consumers--will fall with it.

This was an amazing book, one of the best I have ever read. It wasn't an easy book to read; there were many sad and difficult scenes, and it is obvious how horribly the animals are treated. This book gives a convincing argument for vegetarianism, both from a moral standpoint but also for health reasons--is this really what we want our children eating? But even if you don't plan on becoming a vegetarian, this is a great book that should be added to everyone's library.

Omen of the Stars: The Fourth Apprentice by Erin Hunter (book review)

*SPOILER ALERT for earlier books in this series*

After the sharp-eyed jay and the roaring lion, peace will come on dove's gentle wing...

This is the prophecy that Dovepaw, a young apprentice in ThunderClan, has received from her ancestors. A member of one out of the four clans of warrior cats living by the lake, Dovepaw has always thought that she was just a normal cat...but she's about to find out that she's very wrong.

After the shocking death of his sister, Hollyleaf, young warrior Lionblaze is struggling to overcome the personal demons that haunt him. His whole life, he has found out, is nothing but lies. His family is not who he thought they were; his father, a warrior in rival WindClan, wants nothing to do with him. And yet he still has one thing: the mysterious prophecy that claims he and his brother, Jayfeather, hold the power of the stars in their paws.

Jayfeather is fighting to live up to the role of ThunderClan's only medicine cat after his mother, Leafpool, left her position when the web of lies she had spun was unveiled. There have been many times in his life that he wished he were simply a normal cat, but now this feeling is even fiercer. His powers are dark, allowing him to peer into the secrets of any cat he wishes. And now the ancient warrior spirits warn him of a storm brewing in the distance, something that will determine the fate of every Clan cat alive...and those yet to be born.

As a horrible drought pushes every cat to the limit of their survival, Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Dovepaw will struggle to uncover the secrets of their immense powers, powers stronger even than those of their warrior ancestors in the stars.

This was a great start to the next arc in the Warriors series, building up suspense while tying together the shocking events of the last arc. This book is guaranteed to please any fan of the Warriors series and leave them hungry for more!

Dawn of Fear (book review)

Dawn of Fear, by Susan Cooper, is the story of three young boys, Derek, Peter, and Geoffrey, living in a small town outside of London during World War II. For them, air raids are a fact of life, and they happen almost daily. Derek views them as exciting but distant. They are dangerous, but not to him. He, Peter, and Geoffrey are working on a hidden camp in the woods by their neighborhood, and it's taking up all their time and attention...until a fierce attack by a rival neighborhood gang leaves them shocked and angry. And after they carry out a dangerous plan to get revenge on the gang, Derek leaves feeling unsettled, and with new feelings on the war and on fighting in general. And then, one night, after a particularly vicious air raid, his life will be changed forever...

This was a great book! It was very fast, but also very meaningful. There was plenty of action, and the ending was very moving. It was a great war book, but different from many others, focusing on the life of a boy on the home front and how the war affected his life. I would recommend it to readers of all ages!

Saddleback's Illustrated Classics: The Call of the Wild (book review)

Saddleback's Illustrated Classics: The Call of the Wild, transforms this classic survival story into a graphic novel format, allowing the story to take on a whole new level through vivid full-color illustrations. The Call of the Wild is the story of Buck, a gentle, protective dog who watches over the house of a wealthy judge in Santa Clara Valley. But his life changes forever when he is kidnapped and sent to the frozen north to work as a sled dog for men who want to strike it rich in the Klondike gold rush. Although life is harsh and only the toughest survive, Buck manages to find friendship and love in one man, John Thornton, who becomes his new master. But Buck soon finds that he can't ignore the twitch in his blood, the primeval yearning to be free, the call of the wild...

This was a good book, very fast. The pictures were vivid and full-color, and although the characters, especially humans, weren't as well-drawn as they could have been, they were still good, and for me they weren't enough to detract from the book's character.

Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery (book review)

Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery by Russell Freedman, is the story of the wife of one of the most beloved presidents of all time, Franklin D. Roosevelt. But Eleanor Roosevelt herself was a powerful force in the world of politics. She was a champion of civil rights, women's rights, and much more. She traveled the world to learn about ordinary citizens and the problems they were suffering from, then did something about those problems. By the time of her death in 1962, she was just as loved, if not more loved, than her famous husband. This was a very good biography of Eleanor Roosevelt; it was in-depth but easy to understand and very quick to read. The book was descriptive but it wasn't filled with excruciating details, and I would recommend it to readers of all ages who are interested in learning about Eleanor Roosevelt's life.

28 Stories of AIDS in Africa (book review)

28 Stories of AIDS in Africa, is a moving collection of true stories about the raging AIDS epidemic across Africa and its personal effects on the people who live there. From orphans to grandmothers caring for more than a dozen children, from sex workers to truckers to nurses and doctors, men, women and children all across the continent are affected by AIDS. Some of the stories end happily, others not so much.  This book is extraordinary in that it personalizes the AIDS epidemic and makes its readers sympathetic toward the people mentioned in the book. It will inspire you, fill you with hope when you read of those who survived and make you cry when you hear of those who didn't. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the subject...and to anyone in general.

The Grapes of Wrath (book review)

The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, is the story of the Joad family, who have been forced off the farm they have lived on for generations, in the midst of the Great Depression. They head to California, dreaming of a lush green land of endless opportunity. The jouney is long and hard, and not everyone will survive. But when they get there, the Joads finds that California is not at all like they dreamed it would be. The camps they are forced to live in are crowded, dirty, and unsanitary. Work is scarce and jobs never last long. But the family still clings onto the hope that somehow, someday, they will find another home.

I'm happy to say that this was a very good book. Parts of it read slower than others, but I generally found it very interesting. It was very long, more than 600 pages, but a worthwile read. The ending seemed very abrupt, though, almost as if it was just the end of a chapter as opposed to the end of the book. Overall, however, I would definitely recommend this book. I've only read one other book, by this author, The Red Pony, which I didn't enjoy. This was much better.

Andy Warhol: Prince of Pop (book review)

Andy Warhol: Prince of Pop, by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan, tells the story of the man who was perhaps the most well-known artist in the Pop Art movement. It was impossible not to notice him, with his crazy wigs, wild friends, and huge parties, not to mention his art, which was different from anything the public had seen before. Warhol compared making his art to working in a factory, even naming his studio the Factory. He took images of popular products and people and silk-screened them, mass-producing paintings of soup cans, coke bottles, boxes, and more. Warhol was different, but he wasn't afraid to be so, and he changed the art world forever.

This was a very good overview of Andy Warhol's life, quick but packed with information. Anyone interested in this artist, young or old, would find this to be an interesting and informative book. It covered his life in short chapters, from his childhood to his death, with several pages of pictures in between, of Warhol, his friends, and some of his famous paintings.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Part One (book review)

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Part One, by Akira Himekawa, is the story of a young knight, Link, and his journey to save Princess Zelda, ruler of the kingdom of Hyrule. Link, although young, is highly skilled with a sword, and his confidence in himself has caused him to become arrogant and insubordinate. The only person he will listen to is wise and beautiful Princess Zelda. And when she is kidnapped by an evil, twisted  copy of himself known as "Shadow Link", Link journeys to the ancient temple of the legendary Four Sword, which has the ability to split the hero who draws it into four. But when he draws the Four Sword, he unleashes a powerful demon who will do anything to destroy him! With the help of the Four Sword's mystical powers, can Link defeat the demon and rescue Zelda before Hyrule is turned to darkness?

This book was very good, but a bit confusing (not surprising considering it's the sixth book in a series, and I have no clue which is the first). However, once you get the gist of things it's pretty easy to understand, although I'd actually recommend reading them in order. Link, the hero, is funny and likeable, and Zelda is brave and clever. Of course, being a graphic novel, the book also reads extremely fast. Fans of the game will probably enjoy it, and so will others!

This book is for the Graphic Novels Challenge.

Pride and Prejudice (book review)

This book is going to be hard to write a review for, and it probably won't be very good, but here it is:

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, is the story of Elizabeth Bennet, a young woman living in England during the early 1800's. Elizabeth is pretty, clever, and smart, regarded by some as second only to her sister Jane in beauty. When a handsome young man, Mr. Bingley, arrives in town, Elizabeth's rather shallow mother can't stop thinking about him and how wonderful it would be if she could marry one of her five daughters off to him. But Mr. Bingley doesn't come alone. A friend has accompanied him, Mr. Darcy, equally handsome, but proud and vain (or so everyone thinks). He even goes so far as to snub Elizabeth publicly when asked by Mr. Bingley if he would dance with her. This is the beginning of an intense dislike on her part, which only strengthens when she meets a handsome young officer named Mr. Wickham, who tells her how cruelly he was treated by Mr. Darcy. But what Elizabeth doesn't know is that Mr. Wickham has a few dark secrets of his own, and that not everyone is to be trusted...could it be that the man she dislikes most will in fact become her future lover? Read the book to find out!

I thought this was a wonderful book. It was much easier to understand than I expected it to be, and although there wasn't a lot of actual action, there was always something going on and there was no pointless dawdling. The characters had very different personalities, and they were complex and many-sided, not flat or cardboard at all. So, if you can't bear to read a book without tons of action, fighting, and blood and guts, I'd suggest you should look elsewhere. But if you enjoy classics, romance, or even historical fiction about this time period, I'm guessing you'll love this book.

Out of the Dust (book review)

Out of the Dust, by Karen Hesse, is the moving story of a teenage girl, Billie Jo, living in Oklahoma in the time of the Dust Bowl. Dust storms blow across the land without relief, creeping through the walls and seeping through the windows, suffocating the cattle and smothering the wheat. Dust is everywhere; there's no escaping it. Billie Jo is freed from the pressure of everyday life through music. When she plays the piano, it seems as if she is transported to a dream world, far away from the dust and the hardships everyone in her town has been suffering. But a terrible accident is about to change her life forever, scarring her hands badly and rendering her unable to play the piano. And in the aftermath, Billie Jo must look to unexpected places in order to find the solace that she needs during this period of hardship and suffering.

This was a very touching book. The protagonist, Billie Jo, is determined and likeable. She is strong-willed and tough, and she doesn't let hard times get her attitude down, despite all her suffering. Her story is moving, and seeing the events unfold through her eyes gives a unique perspective to the whole book. I also thought the fact that this book is told in free verse was very interesting, and at times contributed greatly to the character of the novel. However, at times the short chapter-poems seemed to flow choppily, and I couldn't help thinking on rare occasions that it would have been easier had this book been in typical novel format. On the other hand, however, the poems are tied in so deeply with the book that the story might have been completely if this were changed. So, overall, this was a great book that is worth reading, especially if you enjoy free verse books or stories about the Great Depression, and it's not at all time-consuming.

Joining Two Challenges

I'm going to join two challenges--the Graphic Novel Challenge hosted by Chris and Nymeth (thanks guys!), and the Sci-fi Experience hosted by Carl (thanks to you, too, Carl!). I'm joining the Graphic Novel Challenge at the 10-book level, but I don't have a definite list yet.

Books I Read in 2009

Here is a list of the books I read in 2009:

• 146. Your Eyes in Stars by M. E. Kerr (11/25/09) 3 out of 5 stars
• 145. A Different Day, A Different Destiny by Annette Laing (12/22/09) 4.5 out of 5 stars
• 144. Affluenza by John De Graff, David Wann, and Thomas H. Naylor (12/17/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 143. The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (12/14/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 142. Ragged Dick by Horatio Alger, Jr. (12/13/09) 3 out of 5 stars
• 141. Child of the Wolves by Elizabeth Hall (12/4/09) 2.5 out of 5 stars
• 140. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (11/28/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 139. The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga (11/27/09) 4.5 out of 5 stars
• 138. Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll (11/26/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 137. Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman (11/22/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 136. Cry Bloody Murder by Elaine DePrince (11/18/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 135. Looking for Alaska by John Green (11/15/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 134. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart (11/11/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 133. Where the Wild Things Were by William Stolzenberg (11/10/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 132. Time of the Witches by Anna Myers (11/9/09) 4.5 out of 5 stars
• 131. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque (11/8/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 130. Abstract Expressionists by Rachel Barnes (11/5/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 129. Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 by David Peterson (10/24/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 128. The Good Dog by Avi (10/24/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 127. Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli (10/24/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 126. The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer (10/24/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 125. Marie Antoinette: Princess of Versailles by Kathryn Lasky (10/24/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 124. Riot by Walter Dean Myers (10/23/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 123. An African Tale by Enna Neru (10/18/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 122. The Midnight Twins by Jacquelyn Mitchard (10/14/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 121. The Twelve Kingdoms by Fuyumi Ono (10/11/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 120. Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix (10/6/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 119. Warriors: Warrior's Return by Erin Hunter (9/27/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 118. Warriors: Warrior's Refuge by Erin Hunter (9/27/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 117. Warriors: The Lost Warrior by Erin Hunter (9/27/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 116. Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde (9/26/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 115. Willem de Kooning by Louise Hawes (9/25/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 114. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (9/24/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 113. The Luckiest Girl in the World by Steven Levenkron (9/21/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 112. Pedro and Me by Judd Winick (9/16/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 111. Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce (9/14/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 110. Vacations from Hell by Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Claudia Gray, Maureen Johnson, and Sarah Mlynowski (9/8/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 109. My Sister the Vampire: Switched by Sienna Mercer (9/5/09) 3 out of 5 stars
• 108. How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy by Orson Scott Card (9/4/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 107. The Garden of Eve by K.L. Going (8/31/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 106. Monkey Town: The Summer of the Scopes Trial by Ronald Kidd (August) 5 out of 5 stars
• 105. Double Identity by Margaret Peterson Haddix (August) 4 out of 5 stars
• 104. That Summer by Sarah Dessen (August) 4.5 out of 5 stars
• 103. Extras by Scott Westerfeld (August) 4 out of 5 stars
• 102. Dramacon Ultimate Edition by Svetlana Chmakova (August) 5 out of 5 stars
• 101. Warriors Super Edition: Bluestar's Prophecy by Erin Hunter (August) 5 out of 5 stars
• 100. My Little Red Book by Rachel Kauder Nalebuff (August) 4 out of 5 stars
• 99. Kiki Strike: The Empress's Tomb by Kirsten Miller (August) 3 out of 5 stars
• 98. Ophelia Speaks by Sara Shandler (8/16/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 97. Dramacon Volume 1 by Svetlana Chmakova (8/13/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 96. Firegirl by Tony Abbott (8/13/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 95. Pita-Ten Volume 1 by Koge-Donbo (8/13/09) 2.5 out of 5 stars
• 94. The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan (8/13/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 93. Spooky New York retold by S.E. Schlosser (8/11/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 92. Fruits Basket Volume 3 by Natsuki Takaya (8/11/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 91. Faeries' Landing Volume 1 by You Hyun (8/10/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 90. Freaky Green Eyes by Joyce Carol Oates (8/10/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 89. Little (Grrl) Lost by Charles De Lint (8/8/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 88. Ten Things I Hate About Me by Randa Abdel-Fattah (8/6/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 87. Warriors: Code of the Clans by Erin Hunter (8/5/09) 4.5 out of 5 stars
• 86. The Poison Apples by Lily Archer (8/4/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 85. Seekers: Smoke Mountain by Erin Hunter (8/3/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 84. Seekers: Great Bear Lake by Erin Hunter (8/3/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 83. Seekers: The Quest Begins by Erin Hunter (8/1/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 82. A Different Day, a Different Destiny by Annette Laing (7/28/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 81. Even Angels Fall by Sherry Mauro (7/26/09) 4.5 out of 5 stars
• 80. Wolf Tower by Tanith Lee (7/24/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 79. A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass (7/21/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 78. (Re-read!) Warriors: The Darkest Hour by Erin Hunter (7/20/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 77. (Re-read!) Warriors: A Dangerous Path by Erin Hunter (7/19/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 76. (Re-read!) Warriors: Rising Storm by Erin Hunter (7/18/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 75. (Re-read!) Warriors: Forest of Secrets by Erin Hunter (7/16/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 74. (Re-read!) Warriors: Fire and Ice (7/13/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 73. (Re-read!) Warriors: Into The Wild (7/10/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 72. Gamer Girl by Mari Mancusi (7/8/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 71. Maximum Ride: The Final Warning by James Patterson (7/6/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 70. Vampire Kisses by Ellen Schreiber (7/3/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 69. Water Tales by Alice Hoffman (7/2/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 68. Warriors: The Rise of Scourge by Erin Hunter (7/2/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 67. Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier (7/1/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 66. Ghostly Encounters by Frances Kermeen (6/29/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 65. Saving Zoe by Alyson Noel (6/23/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 64. May Bird: Warrior Princess by Jodi Lynn Anderson (6/22/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 63. Chew on This by Eric Schlosser and Charles Smith (June) 5 out of 5 stars
• 62. No More Strangers Now (June) 5 out of 5 stars
• 61. Animals in Art (June) 4 out of 5 stars
• 60. Focus On Afghanistan (June) 4 out of 5 stars
• 59. Javatrekker by Dean Cycon (6/19/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 58. Coraline (graphic novel) by Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell (6/13/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 57. The Other Side of the Island by Allegra Goodman (6/12/09) 4.5 out of 5 stars
• 56. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (6/6/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 55. Julie's Wolf Pack by Jean Craighead George (6/6/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 54. Tokyo Mew Mew Volume Seven by Reiko Yoshida and Mia Ikumi (5/28/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 53. Tokyo Mew Mew Volume Six by Reiko Yoshida and Mia Ikumi (5/28/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 52. Tokyo Mew Mew Volume Five by Reiko Yoshida and Mia Ikumi (5/28/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 51. Tokyo Mew Mew Volume Four by Reiko Yoshida and Mia Ikumi (5/28/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 50. Lord of the Flies by William Golding (5/23/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 49. All Shook Up by Glenn Altschuler (5/11/09) 4.5 out of 5 stars
• 48. Tokyo Mew Mew Volume 3 by Reiko Yoshida and Mia Ikumi (5/26/08) 4 out of 5 stars
• 47. (Re-read!) Tokyo Mew Mew Volume 2 by Reiko Yoshida and Mia Ikumi (5/25/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 46. (Re-read!) Tokyo Mew Mew Volume 1 by Reiko Yoshida and Mia Ikumi (5/23/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 45. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson (5/23/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 44. Warriors: Sunrise by Erin Hunter (5/10/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 43. Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon Mull (5/3/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 42. Summer for the Gods by Edward J. Larson (4/20/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 41. Albert Einstein by Ann Heinrichs (4/20/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 40. Rainy by Sis Deans (4/19/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 39. Skim by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki (4/18/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 38. The Ruby Key by Holly Lisle (4/18/09) 4.5 out of 5 stars
• 37. Zodiac P.I. Book #1 by Natsumi Ando (4/11/09) 4.5 out of 5 stars
• 36. When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Park (4/8/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 35. Evolution, Me, and Other Freaks of Nature (4/ 3/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 34. Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr (4/2/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 33. Lives of the Artists by Kathleen Krull (3/20/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 32. The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg (3/8/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 31. Beneath My Mother's Feet by Amjed Qamar (3/7/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 30. The Homestead Steel Strike of 1892 by Nancy Whitelaw (3/5/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 29. Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley (3/2/09) 3 out of 5 stars
• 28. Warriors: Power of Three: Long Shadows (3/1/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 27. Evernight by Claudia Gray (2/24/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 26. Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe by James R. Arnold and Roberta Wiener (2/20/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 25. Gothic Lolita by Dakota Lane (2/18/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 24. Warriors: Cats of the Clans by Erin Hunter (2/16/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 23. Bliss by Lauren Myracle (2/16/09) 2 out of 5 stars
• 22. Don't Know Where, Don't Know When by Annette Laing (2/14/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 21. Werewolves edited by Jane Yolen and Martin H. Greenberg (2/12/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 20. Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson (2/8/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 19. A Bottle in the Gaza Sea by Valerie Zenatti (2/5/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 18. The Dog with Golden Eyes by Frances Wilbur (2/3/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 17. Sweethearts by Sara Zarr (1/30/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 16. Shays' Rebellion and the Constitution in American History by Mary E. Hull (1/28/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 15. Tanzania by Joan Vos MacDonald (1/27/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 14. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (1/28/09) 5 out of 5 stars
• 13. The Crucible by Arthur Miller (1/21/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 12. Science and Society by Robert Snedden (1/21/09) 2.5 out of 5 stars
• 11. Tokyo Mew Mew #2 by Mia Ikumi and Reiko Yoshida (1/20/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 10. Tokyo Mew Mew #1 by Mia Ikumi and Reiko Yoshida (1/20/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 9. Dream Saga #3 by Megumi Tachikawa (1/20/09) 2.5 out of 5 stars
• 8. Fruits Basket #2 by Natsuki Takaya (1/19/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 7. Gods and Generals by Jeff Shaara (1/19/09) 4.5 out of 5 stars
• 6. The United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaption by Jonathan Hennessey and Aaron McConnell (1/15/09) 4 out of 5 stars
• 5. Avalon High Coronation: The Merlin Prophecy by Meg Cabot (1/9/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 4. Drugs Explained by Pierre Mezinski with Melissa Daly and Francoise Taud (1/9/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 3. Vampire Kisses: Blood Relatives by Ellen Schreiber and Rem (1/6/09) 3.5 out of 5 stars
• 2. Patriots, Pirates, Heroes, and Spies edited by Sandra Mackenzie Lloyd (1/3/09) 3 out of 5 stars
• 1. Nod's Limbs by Charles Ogden (1/1/09) 3 out of 5 stars

Some of my favorites of 2009:

Dramacon Ultimate Edition by Svetlana Chmakova
Tokyo Mew Mew series by Mia Ikumi and Reiko Yoshida
Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer
Warriors: Sunrise by Erin Hunter
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
The Chronicles of Vladimir Todd: Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer
Seekers: Smoke Mountain by Erin Hunter
Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon Mull

My goal for number of books to read this year: 250 :3