Among The Betrayed by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Pages: 176

Publisher: Aladdin

Age Group: Middle Grade

Challenge: N/A

Release Date: June 28, 2002

Nina Idi is a shadow child, the illegal third born in her family. She lives in a society where families are only allowed two children. Nina has been betrayed by the boy she loved. She is falsely accused, arrested and thrown into prison by the Population Police. Nina knows she is innocent of the charges. She is enraged and confused.

Nina is now faced with a most difficult decision. She will have to coerce three of her fellow prisoners into admitting they are third children, and she will save herself; or be killed. Ultimately, what choice will Nina make? Who should Nina friendship, trust and love?

Stars: 4/5

Cover: B+

Plot:

As always, Haddix writes a thought-provoking, exciting novel that hooks you in on the very first page, and keeps your attention until the very last. I loved that she switched protagonists --- Haddix always keeps readers on their toes.

I read this book in one sitting and completely devoured it. There wasn't as much action in this book as there was in the first two, and it was more about Nina's internal conflict to either turn the three children in, and betray them.

I love how there's always lots of twists to the story line in Haddix's books, and this one was no exception. There are tons of moments where you're thinking to yourself, "I did NOT expect that to happen."

Characters:

As I said before, I love the fact that Haddix switched up the protagonists. It gives us an insight to the brain of a different "Shadow Child", which also helps us as readers really empathize with the third children.

Nina was a smart, resourseful teenager that was fun to read about. I was talking about this book with someone, and they brought up a point where it was a little weird that a big part of the story was Nina being betrayed by Jason, her boyfriend, when this book is geared towards a younger audience. It's not that big of a deal, but it did bring up a good point.

Writing:

I've always been a big fan of the way Margaret Peterson Haddix writes --- ever since fifth grade, when my teacher read Running Out Of Time to our class. I love the fact that all of her books have such unique premises, and that there hasn't been a book of hers that I've read and didn't enjoy.

She really knows how to create a fantastic fictional world that is realistic, scary, and probable.

Ending:

I've read the Shadow Children series a couple of times now, and then ending of Among The Betrayed still shocks me. I love the way the book ends, and I think it's set up perfectly for readers to dive right into the fourth book in the series.

Cover:

I do like the cover (I like all of the covers in this series). It's creepy and makes you want to know what the book is about. I like the fact that it shows the four main characters on the cover, and also how they are placed is how they are in the book --- the three young children together, and Nina not really a part of their group.

The Final Verdict:

As always, this series definitely doesn't disappoint.  You can read the Shadow Children series out of order (that's what I did back in fifth grade) and it will still make sense. So, if you didn't like the first two books, don't give up on this series yet. Try reading it from Nina's point of view.

FTC: Bought.

Best Friends For Never by Lisi Harrison

Pages: 197

Publisher: Little, Brown

Age Group: Middle Grade/Young Adult

Challenge: N/A

Release Date: October 6, 2004

The Clique is back . . . 

Massie Block: Still gorgeous. Still trendsetting. Still ruling the social scene at school… she hopes. To keep her spot at the top, Massie decides to throw the school’s first boy/girl Halloween party. But her parents are making her invite the entire grade AND share the party with Claire. She’s not sure which is scarier…

Dylan Marvil: Lost the weight. Kept the attitude. Plans to use her new look to snag a cute guy. 

Kristen Gregory: Clothes are for sharing. Guys aren’t. Likes the same guy Dylan does. Will do whatever it takes to get him. 

Alicia Rivera: With the Clique unravelling faster than last season’s Burberry sweater, is it time for Alicia to stage her takeover?

Claire Lyons: Still out. Wants in. Seriously needs to lose those Keds.

Stars: 3.5/5

Cover: B+

Plot:

Massie Block and her friends are back with more petty drama, comebacks, and fashion in the second novel in The Clique series. As always, the girls are fierce and relentless, and seem to always get themselves in some type of predicament.

When I first read this book in the fifth grade, I thought it was the best thing ever. Now, I still love the series (and the author), but this particular book in the series didn't pack as much of a punch as the other books did. I do remember from reading this series twice before that the books get better and better as they go on, so I'm excited to continue with the series.

Each book in this series kind of reminds me of a  TV episode. In each book, the characters get themselves into new situations, and it's not like (for example) the Harry Potter series, where each book is building up to the final book, where the climax of the entire series it. I really like that aspect of this series, because you don't necessarily need to read the books in order, or even all of them, to understand the storyline.

Characters:

I really, really like Claire. If I was in her position, and I had to go through what she did from Massie and her vicious friends, I would probably cry. I think she is an awesome role model for girls that are getting picked on or bullied, because she is such a strong girl that knows when to fight back, and fight back hard.

Lisi Harrison does an awesome job of showing that Massie is only mean because she insecure, which is true for most bullies. She just wants to be on top, and anytime she feels that her power is slipping, she needs to put someone down to make herself feel more mighty.

Writing:

At first glance, these books are shallow and are all about petty girls who like to pick on other girls. But, if you delve deeper, you'll see that the books are showing what length people will go to to be powerful, and on a slightly less serious note, why most "mean girls" are mean.

Lisi Harrison did a wonderful job of portraying all of this, and how to deal with girls like that.

Ending:

The ending leaves us with hope (as do many of the first books in the The Clique series) that maybe, just maybe, Massie and Claire can be friends. I love that, because it's a little teaser that makes you want to read the next book.

Cover:

I think all of the covers are really cute, with their corresponding colors and patterns. I like how each book shows three different girls not necessarily portraying the clique, but a clique.

Lovely Line:

"I see you watching me," Massie said, without even turning her head.

"Uh, I was just ---"

"Claire, do you work at a grocery store?" Massie asked as she was wrapping her tape measure around her mannequin's waist.

"Huh? No," Claire said.

"Then why are you checking me out?"

(Page 54)

The Final Verdict:

I love this series, and I think anyone with a sense of humor and a craving for clever comebacks and a fast, fun read will, too.

Read my review of The Clique.

FTC: Bought.

Among The Impostors by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Pages: 192

Publisher: Aladdin

Age Group: Middle Grade

Challenges: N/A

Release Date: October 1, 2002

OUT OF HIDING. INTO DANGER.

Luke Garner is an illegal third child. All his life has been spent in hiding. Now, for the first time, Luke is living among others. He has assumed a deceased boy's identity and is attending Hendricks School for Boys, a windowless building with cruel classmates and oblivious teachers. Luke knows he has to blend in, but he lives in constant fear that his behavior will betray him.

Then one day Luke discovers a door to the outside. He knows that beyond the walls of Hendricks lie the secrets he is desperate to uncover. What he doesn't know is whom he can trust -- and where the answers to his questions may lead him . . . 

Stars: 3.5/5

Cover: B

Plot:

Among The Imposters was a really fast read, though not in the sense where there was so much action that the book just flew by. The book was under two hundred pages, and I felt like the beginning half was pretty slow. 

Characters:

Luke is an awesome MC, because he tells the story so well and is very realistic. 

I like how relentless and creepy the Population Police are, and the fear that they instill in the third children.

Writing:

Haddix is a master as the mysterious, creepy storyline. She's really good at making her readers try to figure out what will happen next, and then be completely blindsided by the unexpected thing that does happen. 

Ending:

I loved the ending to Among the Imposters. It was the best part of the book, and I was completely surprised by what ended up happening. Haddix tied all the loose ends in ways that I would have never guessed, which is what I love about all of Margaret Peterson Haddix's books.

Lovely Line:

Luke looked back at the school, hopelessly. Anyone could easily look out a window and see him, and report him. Maybe they'd just give him more of those meaningless demerits. Or maybe this would make them realize that he wasn't really Lee Grant, that his papers were forged, that by the laws of the land, he deserved to die.

(Page 39)

The Final Verdict:

Though Among The Imposters wasn't the most exciting of eventful book, it was still an awesome sequel to Among The Hidden. 

Wish by Joseph Monninger

Pages: 190
Publisher: Delacorte
Age Group: Middle Grade/Young Adult
Challenges: N/A
Release Date: November 9, 2010

Bee’s brother, Tommy, knows everything there is to know about sharks. He also knows that his life will be cut short by cystic fibrosis. And so does Bee.
 
That’s why she wants to make his wish-foundation-sponsored trip to swim with a great white shark an unforgettable memory.
 
But wishes don’t always come true. At least, not as expected. Only when Bee takes Tommy to meet a famous shark attack survivor and hard-core surfer does Tommy have the chance to live one day to the fullest.
 
And in the sun-kissed ocean off a California beach, Bee discovers that she has a few secret wishes of her own. . . .

Stars: 4/5

Cover: B+

Plot:

Wish was an endearing, touching, and wonderful account of a girl with a younger brother that has cystic fibrosis. Before reading the book, I had no clue what the disease was, and I didn't know people even had it, and Wish really opened my eyes up to it. 

I thought this book was really cute. At first, it started out as Bee taking care of her brother. But then, she meets a boy who goes by the name of Little Brew, and the book gets an element of romance in it, too.

Wish held me attention until the last page.

Characters:

The characters were the best part of the book. They were funny, sweet, and extremely likable.

I absolutely loved how much Bee cared about Tommy. She was such a great older sister, and it was obvious that she tried really hard to fill their mom's shoes. 

Writing:

Joseph Monninger wrote a book that leaves you thinking about it for days with a pang in your heart. It's a very thought-provoking book, and it was sad to think that a lot of kids with Cystic Fibrosis (and even other diseases) don't have as awesome of an older sister as Bee.

Ending:

The ending was fantastic! I liked that all of the loose ends were tied up, yet the book still left you wondering what would happen next.

Cover:

I think the cover's cute. It's pretty, and the font looks really nice. :)

Lovely Line:

I looked at Tommy, who was laughing as hard as I had seen him laugh in a long time. And maybe wishes weren't something you hoped for, but instead something that found you. Tommy, Mom, and I were three specks in a big world, I thought, with sharks in the seas around us.

(Page 33)

The Final Verdict:

I think Wish is a book that people of all ages will enjoy. It has a great message, and is a fast, entertaining read.

FTC: Publisher.

The Clique by Lisi Harrison

Pages: 220

Publisher: Little, Brown

Age Group: Middle Grade / Young Adult

Challenges: N/A

Release Date: June 4, 2004

Meet The Clique… 

Massie Block: With her glossy brunette bob and laser-whitened smile, Massie is the uncontested ruler of The Clique and the rest of the social scene at Octavian Country Day School, an exclusive private girls’ school in Westchester County, New York. Massie knows you’d give anything to be just like her. 

Dylan Marvil: Massie's second in command who divides her time between sucking up to Massie and sucking down Atkins Diet shakes. 

Alicia Rivera: As sneaky as she is beautiful, Alicia floats easily under adult radar because she seems so "sweet." Would love to take Massie's throne one day. Just might do it. 

Kristen Gregory: She's smart, hardworking, and will insult you to tears faster than you can say "my haircut isn't ugly!" 

Enter Claire Lyons, the new girl from Florida in Keds and two-year-old Gap overalls, who is clearly not Clique material. Unfortunately, for her, Claire's family is staying in the guesthouse on Massie's family's huge estate while they look for a new home. Claire's future looks worse than a bad Prada knockoff. But with a little luck and a lot of scheming, Claire might just come up smelling like Chanel No. 19.... 

The Clique... the only thing harder than getting in is staying in.

Stars: 4/5

Cover: A-

Plot:

Claire Lyons moves to Westchester from Florida, and moves into her dad's old best friend's guest house. Her dad's friend has a daughter named Massie, who goes to (and basically dominates) Claire's new school.

Claire just wants to be a part of Massie and her friend's group, but they completely exclude her. 

I didn't the book any justice with the summary there.

I LOVE Lisi Harrison and her books. I first started this series in fifth grade, and I've read it multiple times since then. Also, even though the main characters are seventh graders, I don't feel like I've outgrown this series at all. 

The plot was interesting and exciting. Lisi Harrison told a fun, catty book about girls and cliques.

Characters:

Even though the girls in Massie's clique were complete and total (insert swear word here), Lisi Harrison still managed to make them realistic by showing their vulnerable and insecure side.

I really like that she did that, because it shows that the main reason people are mean to other people is because they're insecure or have low confidence themselves.

Claire was the perfect naive new girl, yet she knew how to stand up for herself and fight back. 

Todd, Claire's younger brother, was a great comic relief. He was an expert at pestering, getting in trouble, and making Claire's life as difficult as possible.

Writing:

Lisi Harrison is simply a genius. She comes up with words and cute puns that I would have never expected to see. She thinks up the best come-backs, and I love the way she makes everything fun.

Ending:

Everything comes together by the end of each book in The Clique series, but Lisi Harrison leaves just a wee bit of a cliffhanger to make you want to pick up the next book and read the next book right away.

Cover:

I love all of the covers to this entire series; how they all co-incide with each other but are different enough to tell them apart.

Lovely Line:

"Claire stared at the microwave. The clock showed double numbers, which meant she had one minute to make as many wishes as she could before it came 11:12 A.M. She asked for friends at OCD, good grades, Massie's approval, which would lead to Kristin, Alicia, and Dylan's approval, the lead in the school play (whatever it was), a different carpool, braworthy boobs by Christmas, neater handwriting, and faster-growing hair."

(Page 126)

The Final Verdict:

I really recommend this book to middle schoolers and high schoolers. It's a fast, fun, and cute read that leaves you laughing and wanting to dive back into the characters' world.

FTC: Bought.