Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Publisher: Speak
Copyright: 2009

Auden expects a long, hot, boring two months, when she chooses to spend her summer with the stepmother she isn't too fond of, and her dad's selfish attributes. Not to mention a constantly crying half - sister that's just been born.
But this particular summer, Auden gets way more than she expects to. She gets a job bookkeeping at her stepmother Heidi's store, meets new friends, and is helped to catch up on the childhood she never had.

Ever since Auden's parents divorced when she was little, she never slept at night from having to listen to their fighting. When Auden lived with her no-fun, nagging mother nearly all her life, she was expected to be the little adult, never doing anything fun, never having many friends, and never doing anything as basic in her childhood such as learning to ride a bike.

But all that changes when she meets Eli in the small town her father, stepmother and half-sister calls home. Eli is a former BMX star that quit doing what he loved when he and his best friend Abe were in a car accident and he was the only one of the two that survived. When Auden and Eli become friends, they change and teach each other what they both need to learn. Eli to come out of his grief and trauma; Auden to come out of her shell and experience some simple things included in a childhood, much less learning to live a proper social and academic life. Overall, they both learn the value of taking risks and living life.


I loved Along for the Ride, Sarah Dessen's latest novel published in 2009. From the beginning, I found the characters and storyline attractive, despite the sluggishness in the plot during the first few chapters. Sarah Dessen put everything into this novel that I expect from a good book: humor, vividity, attractiveness, and most importantly, an interesting and gripping, dramatic plot.

I have only read a few of Sarah Dessen's books, but this one inspired me to embark on my 'quest' to read all of her novels, if people who have already read this book know what I mean. I think a lot of other teenagers who read this book will be able to relate to many of the themes and parts in the story of this masterpiece. Anybody who is looking for a good book to read, I strongly recommend it; it will be one of my favorites for years.

Another reason to read Along For the Ride was that it was also clean. I have read a few books before that had mature content, etc. in them that made me question whether or not I should continue on to the next chapter. Readers will find Along for the Ride a satisfying, appropriate, recommendable adventure.

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Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic Press
Copyright: 2009

In the second book of The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen is all the rage back home, in District 12, after miraculously winning the 74th Hunger Games with her partner, Peeta Mellark. Being a victor guarantees you out of the reaping for life, and that's all Katniss needs. But as the 3rd Quarter Quell approaches, several districts have started rebelling against the Capitol, using Katniss' act of defiance in the arena as a prime example. Plus, the mockingbird pin that Katniss sported in the Games has become a symbol used by rebels all over Panem, even in the fabled underground city of District 13.

But on reaping day, Katniss is shocked by the selection of tributes. One female and one male victor must participate in the Games. This means that Katniss is going back in. This time she believes that she'll never see District 12 again, so she focuses on keeping Peeta alive in the arena at all costs. Haymitch, Katniss and Peeta's mentor, have given them an unsuspected ally, Finnick Odair of District 4. Finnick, being physically muscular and good looking, becomes useful in the Quarter Quell.
After arriving in the arena, Katniss soon finds out that it is divided into 12 sections. Each one loaded with a different deadly surprise every hour. But after a few days, the remaining tributes are transported out after a deadly bombing. And Katniss survives with Peeta by her side. When Gale visits her in the hospital, he brings her news. "There is no District 12" (391)

I found this book very thrilling, addicting, and intriguingly violent. Catching Fire was cleverly written to keep you at the edge of your seat. Suzanne Collins creatively illustrates a story that is so realistic, it seems believable. I would recommend this novel to anyone with a taste for action, romance, and suspense. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone with a faint heart for it is quite violent; "I load an arrow as I twist and get a glimpse of a dripping-wet Gloss letting Wiress slide to the ground, her throat slit in a bright red smile. The point of my arrow disappears into (Gloss') right temple, and in the instant it takes to reload, Johanna has buried an ax blade in Cashmere's chest. Finnick knocks away a spear Brutus throws at Peeta and takes Enobaria's knife in his thigh." (333)

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The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic

Copyright: 2008

Sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen's life seems to be falling apart at its seams. 

Not that it was easy in the first place. Her family is one of the many in her District

that are extremely poor. Katniss lives with her twelve year old sister, Primrose

and her mother, who has been sunk into a deep depression ever since Katniss'

father passed away in a mining explosion five years ago. Katniss lives in District

12, the mining district and also one of the twelve districts in the country of

Panem. Panem is ruled by the Capitol, a city that knows how to keep all of the

districts in line. Every year the Capitol makes every district put forth one boy and

one girl between the ages of 12 through 18 to compete in the Hunger Games. The

Hunger Games are a nationally televised event which all competitors (tributes)

must compete in an arena in a fight to the death in harsh environments.

The annual reaping is near and Katniss can't help but feel scared. Why shouldn't

she? This year her name can be drawn twenty times and her closest friend,

Gale, has his name in forty two times. But the one unavoidable thing is that

Primrose’s name has to be entered this year. When the reaping arrives everyone's

afraid. Everyone gathers in the square, waiting to find out whose name will be

drawn. Effie Trinket, the escort for the District 12 walks up to the ballot where

all the females put their names into. Katniss is extremely lucky, her name hadn't

been drawn. But the name that had been drawn is "Primrose Everdeen."

Katniss couldn't allow her sister to compete in the Hunger Games, so she takes

her sister's spot in the Games. The male tribute from District 12 is, Peeta Mellark.

Katniss has only encountered Peeta once before. But it had left her in his debt.

Soon Katniss is in the middle of the most eventful Hunger Games in history.

There will be alliances and definitely betrayals. When the Games pit life against

love things get a lot more complicated. The only question is if she will live to see

the end of it.

I loved this book. I could feel as though this could actually happen sometime in

the future. It shows the trials and tribulations of a teenager with an adventure –

esqe point of view.

Suzanne Collins uses descriptions in such a way that it seems as though the

characters are real. One of the things that I love about this book is that it’s filled

with twists and turns. You can never predict what’s going to happen next. You

may find yourself searching the definitions of a few words but I would definitely

recommend it.

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Night Of The Howling Dogs by Graham Salisbury

Publisher: Random House
Copyright: 2009

Dylan's scout troop has decided to go on a camping trip, and Dylan is pretty excited to go. until he remembers that Louie, an older boy is the newest member of the troop. Dylan has had a past run in with Louie and tries not to remember it when he finds out that Louie will be going on the trip.


Then a few days after the troop has set up a large earthquake (7.2 they found out later) scatters the troop in the early morning, and Dylan and Louie are forced to team up and help the rest of their troop to safety.


The most amazing part of this story is that it really happened to scout troop 77 in Hawaii. Although in the book nobody from their troop or the near-by camping horseback riders was killed, in the real event a passing fisherman (on his boat) was never found and one of the adult leaders was killed in a rock slide made by an aftershock.

Since this book was based on a real event, the author wrote the story just like the it but nobody died in his version. This book was written mostly from Dylan's point of view and he included a lot of dialogue from the other characters so you got to hear their experience too, not just Dylan's.

I liked this book even though Graham based it on a real event so, he I guess he didn't have to think up a lot of the story. The book was very vivid especially when the earthquake came it was like watching a movie inside of my head!

To Read Not to Read