The Afterlife by Gary Soto

Author: Gary Soto

Reading level: Young Adult

Publisher: Graphia

Rated 7/10

                                                                                    

A senior at East Fresno High School lives on as a ghost after his brutal murder in the restroom of a club where he had gone to dance.

MY REVIEW
This is an OK book I guess,it just didn't have anything that stuck out to me to make it a wonderful book and I didn't really like the ending too much. I just feel like Mr. Soto gave up before he finished or something(also it's not a very long book for those that like books like that). The story is told through 17 year old Chuy's eyes. He's in the bathroom of a club one night getting ready to meet a girl he likes when he is stabbed to death for complimenting a guy's yellow shoes. He is now a ghost going to family and friends after and finding out how much he was really loved. He meets the ghost of a girl(Crystal) who commited suicide and they go back to her parents and boyfriends(she had more than one). Some people may like this book(it wasn't terrible) but it really didn't do anything for me except pass some time.

Second Child by John Saul

Author: John Saul

Reading level: Adult

Publisher: Bantam

Rated 8/10

 One hundred years ago, in the beautiful village of Secret Cove, Maine, on the night of the annual August Moon Ball, a shy and lovely servant girl committed an act so unspeakably violent that its legacy still lives. Now, the blood-drenched past of this small town is about to come to life once more--just in time for this year's August Moon Ball.

MY REVIEW
I liked this book. It starts out with 15 year old Terri losing her mom and step dad in a mysterious fire in their home. She then goes to live with her real dad,step mom, and lil half sister Melissa. Melissa is 13 and is abused by her mother and to hide from it she let's her imaginary(or so it seems imaginary) friend D'Arcy take control of her body. Terri soon fits in with all the other rich kids leaving Melissa feeling lonlier than ever with the other kids picking on her. Day by day things turn out for the worse and Terri has Melissa convinced she is doing bad things blaming it on D'Arcy. Don't want to give too much away but as you can tell Terri is the evil sibbling! This is the first book I've ever read by John Saul and I liked it. I've read a lot of reviews for his books some good while others not so good. So just like me you'll prolly have to find out for yourself if you like his books.

Twins by Caroline B. Cooney

Author: Caroline B. Cooney

Reading level: Young Adult

Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks

Rated 3/10

  Mary Lee and Madrigal are identical twins, exactly alike in every way. Until they are separated -- then Mary Lee wishes she could live her sister's life. And then she gets her wish . . . along with a horrifying discovery

MY REVIEW
I didn't really care too much for this book. It was too fast paced and some things were just too unbelievable. Also it was weird the the evil boyfriend of Madrigal liked to eat people's tears. Look I'm so evil cuz I eat tears HA LOL! Seventeen year old Mary Lee has always had her identical twin sister Madrigal in her life to make her complete and feel whole. Her parents decide one day that separate space would be a good thing for the girls so they send Mary Lee a couple thousand miles away to a boarding school where she never fits in. Then her sister comes for a visit and they switch clothes right before they go meet everyone by the slopes for skiing. They switch clothes cuz Madrigal tells Mary Lee it would be funny to trick everyone. But then there is a terrible accident and Madrigal dies. Because Mary Lee is in her clothes ever thinks it was her Mary Lee that died. Now everyone thinks she is Madrigal and that she was the one to actually die. When she returns home she meets Madrigals crazy evil boyfriends Jon Pear and learns a different side of her twin she never knew or thought possible. Now the whole school hates and is afraid of her. Like I said there are a lot of things in this book that are really hard to believe and the tear thing kinda cracked me up lol! Read it for yourself and get a good laugh if you're bored(that's the only time I would recomend this book)