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TAG Book Reviews
Try a book recommended by TAG reviewers. 
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao - Junot Diaz 
Call Number: Fiction
ISBN/ISSN: 9781594489587
From Max
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz follows a nerdy, obese Dominican's life whose family seems to be cursed. I do have to say from the start that this book is rated R. Cuss words are spoken in abundance and sexual material arises every once in a while. The narrator speaks with prose and often- times holds a sarcastic attitude even during dark times in Oscar's life. Although, the majority of the story is told through Yunior's eyes, Lola (Oscar's sister) has a bit to say about Oscar's life too. One can say that the narrator follows Oscar's life specifically to detail the lives of all of Oscar's family members. Definitely an absorbing read for me, it particularly fascinated me that the author used the dictatorship of Trujillo to cast a major shadow over the lives of the whole of the Dominican family, including the mother, grandmother, Oscar, and his sister. Although I am not a Spanish speaker I made it through the whole of the novel, but I have a feeling if I did speak Spanish I could gain even more from the book because there are plenty of Spanish phrases I did not pick up on. The final verdict is to read this after a quick lesson in Spanish and with knowledge of how many curse words and naughty subjects the novel contains. 4.5 stars
The Picture of Dorian Gray- Oscar Wilde
Call Number: Fiction
ISBN/ISSN: 0141439572
From Max
Oscar Wilde's short book, The Picture of Dorian Gray, is a philosophical adventure to speak the least of it. The reader learns of Dorian, the naive creature who is subjected to Lord Henry's cynical and poisonous beliefs. The two characters meet at a painter's estate after the painter speaks of Dorian so highly that Lord Henry feels he must meet him. After Dorian listens to Lord Henry rant about the importance of youth and beauty as Dorian is modeling for a new portrait, Dorian becomes wild and obsessive over his own youth and beauty. He exclaims with envy that the portrait will always be young as he withers away, so to relieve his pain he impulsively wishes that he will forever be young and the portrait will in turn decay instead of him. The reader will learn of many philosophical questions such as the importance of youth and beauty, goodwill and fatalism. One problem I had with this story was that none of the characters was remotely likable to me. It is certainly a tragic story and the twists climax the inner struggles Dorian feels between the beliefs of Lord Henry and the painter. A big positive aspect for the reader is the unexpected path the novel takes to end it, which makes it very exciting and suspenseful. If the reader enjoys classic fiction, philosophy, and imagery this is a book for him or her. 4 stars
Audrey, Wait! - Robin Benway
Call Number: Fiction
ISBN/ISSN: 9781595141910
From Meg
Everyone wants to be a rock star. At least, when they’re young they do. But, what happens when you get to guitar-bashing status, and you aren’t even in a band? For Audrey Cutler, this is exactly what’s happened. When her boyfriend writes a chart-topping ballad of his heartbreak (as caused by her), Audrey is left with only one question: what’s a girl to do? Filled with rich, realistic characters, Audrey, Wait! is one of the best books I’ve read from a teen publisher in quite some time. It has some ups, some downs, and a whole lot of teen angst. The plot dances on the border of unrealistic, but, much like the magic in J.K. Rowling’s writing, you believe it - and isn’t that the point of reading? For a first-time author, Robin Benway has marked her way for a successful career with teens. (And it has a playlist on iTunes, too!) A perfect summer [or any season you want] read, though I would not demote it to “beach read” status. Happy reading! 4 stars
Fade to Blue - Sean Beaudoin
Call Number: Fiction
ISBN/ISSN: 0316014176
From Meg
For a book with a scary looking goth girl on the cover, Fade to Blue by Sean Beaudoin was really good. It was short and sweet, and at times confusing, but I couldn’t put it down. There are multiple clever plot twists and plenty of symbolic occurances, from which many lovable characters learn lessons. The end is fast paced and feels somewhat like standing in the middle of a zoo with all sorts of animals throwing things at you, but, well, it’s cool. It’s funny and yet my intelligence wasn’t insulted. It was the unusual combination of an absolutely unrealistic story in a perfectly plausible setting that only some can pull off flawlessly. Definitely worth the time over spring break. 5 stars
Ghostgirl - Tonya Hurley
Call Number: Fiction
ISBN/ISSN: 9780316113571
From Meg
At some point in life, everyone who has gone to school has wanted to be popular. That recognition from your peers, and the idea that you can’t get any higher on the food chain. But, most of us hope that that specific inclination will fade at some point. In Ghostgirl, Tonya Hurley gives a new perspective on the matter: what if you died in that teen awkwardness? Even after death, do we still crave that popularity? For a young adult novel, there are some deep points that are touched upon. If all a person has is a desire, will it become us if we don’t get it? How far will a girl go to sit at that table with those people? In the long run, does who we are in high school really matter? With a comic spin on the afterlife and enough hormones to knock you sideways, if you aren’t in high school, you will remember it vividly. It’s a chick-lit book worth reading, and a must-read for any girl who has questioned whether all that makeup and butt-kissing is worth it after all. 3 stars
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Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer
Call Number: Fiction
ISBN/ISSN: 9780316067928
From Faith, Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School
The book is about ways to prevent some bad vampires from killing Renesmee, Bella's daughter. There's a fight, but you'll have to read to know who wins and what else happens. 5 stars
Olympic Dream - Matt Christopher
Call Number: J Fiction
ISBN/ISSN: 0316140481
From Devante, Aspen Hill Library
Doug Cannon is a video whiz and a decent hockey goalie. People make fun of him because he is also overweight. All that changes when he meets Red Roberts, who encourages him to work out on a bike path and to learn about the sport of cycling. 4 stars
The Last Olympian - Rick Riordan
Call Number: J Fiction
ISBN/ISSN: 9781423101475
From Malek, Twinbrook Library
This is the fifth book in the series Percy Jackson & the Olympians. Percy and the other children of the Greek gods and mortals are fighting the Titan lord Kronos. Kronos wants to destroy the Greek gods, which, if he succeeds, will destroy civilization. 3 stars
The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman
Call Number: J Fiction
ISBN/ISSN: 9780060530921
From Peter, Silver Spring Library
After a young boy’s family is killed by the mysterious “Jack,” the toddler wanders off to the graveyard to be raised amongst ghosts and non-humans as the talented “Nobody Owens.” As he drifts between the living and the dead, Bod Owns tries to learn about the world while discovering more about his family’s assassins. 5 stars
Midnight - Erin Hunter
Call Number: Fiction
ISBN/ISSN: 9780060744519
From Katie, Davis Library
Six cats go on a rigorous journey to discover what midnight tells them before it's too late. Many of them have the same dream about the fulfillment of a prophecy. 5 stars
Martin the Warrior - Brian Jacques
Call Number: J Fiction
ISBN/ISSN: 0441001866
From Anna, Germantown Library
Captured by Badrang the Tyrant, Martin is left to be tortured by weather and eaten by birds. Rose and Grum hear Martin and help free him, Brome and Feldoh. As the group go to get help to free the rest of the slaves, they get separated and face many trials. Will any of them make it? And can they free the slaves without fighting? 5 stars
Which Witch? - Eva Ibbotson
Call Number: J Fiction
ISBN/ISSN: 0525461647
From Judy, Germantown Library
Arriman the Awful, Wizard of the North, needs a wife. Out of seven witches, six use black magic and one uses white magic. Since Arriman is holding a competition on who is the blackest witch, Belladonna, the white witch, doesn’t stand a chance. But with some help from an orphan and a worm named Rover, she just might succeed. That’s if Madame Olympia doesn’t get to Arriman first. 4 stars
The Last Olympian - Rick Riordan
Call Number: J Fiction
ISBN/ISSN: 9781423101475
From Malek, Twinbrook Library
This is the fifth book in the series Percy Jackson & the Olympians. Percy and the other children of the Greek gods and mortals are fighting the Titan lord Kronos. Kronos wants to destroy the Greek gods, which, if he succeeds, will destroy civilization. 3 stars
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood - Marjane Satrapi
Call Number: 741.5944 SAT
ISBN/ISSN: 0375422307
From Andrea, John F. Kennedy High School
The story is a remarkable tale of the author, Marjane Satrapi's childhood. She grew up in Iran in 1980, during the Islamic Revolution. While dealing with the changes around her, she has trouble finding her true self in life. 5 stars
If You're Reading This, It's Too Late - Pseudonymous Bosck
Call Number: J Fiction
ISBN/ISSN: 9780316113670
From Annie, Little Falls Library
Cass and Max-Ernest are waiting to become members of a secret society. When they get a note that has some sort of code in it, they try to figure it out, following the note’s instructions to a boat, which they think is the secret society’s. But they are captured by the Midnight Sun. 5 stars
The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe - C. S. Lewis
Call Number: J Fiction
ISBN/ISSN: 0060290110
From Maria, Davis Library
Four kids accidentally enter an alternate world called Narnia. Unexpectedly they must battle an evil witch who cast a spell over Narnia to make it unending winter. 4 stars
The End - Lemony Snicket
Call Number: J Fiction
ISBN/ISSN: 0060296445
From Mayam, Twinbrook Library
The Baudelaire orphans are stuck on a boat with the horrific villain who murdered their parents along with other people, all in hopes of getting the Baudelaire fortune. The suspense mounts while the Baudelaires try to solve the mysteries of their lives: What is the secret organization, VFD? Where is the last safe place? Will the Baudelaires ever be able to live normal, happy lives? 5 stars
Juliet Dove, Queen of Love - Bruce Coville
Call Number: J Fiction
ISBN/ISSN: 0152045619
From Kenia, Twinbrook Library
This story is about a girl who is teased a lot but defends herself by saying mean things back. She receives a necklace that she can’t take off. This necklace has a power that makes any boy who sees her fall in love with her. Will she be able to take if off? 3 stars
The Westing Game - Ellen Raskin
Call Number: J Fiction
ISBN/ISSN: 014034991X
From Tim, Kensington Park Library
Sam Westing has died. Sixteen people go to his funeral, but when his will is read, it seems he was murdered. To find his killer, he invented a game; whoever wins gets $200 million. There are bombings, but only one team will win. 4 stars
The Mysterious Benedict Society - Trenton Lee Stewart
Call Number: J Fiction
ISBN/ISSN: 9780316057776
From Julie, Potomac Library
Four talented kids, Reynie, Kate, Sticky and Constance, are chosen to go on a dangerous yet exciting quest to stop the evil Mr. Curtain from erasing everyone’s memory. With Mr. Curtain’s assistants chasing down the four orphans, their town dissolves into disheveled frenzy, like a human version of cats chasing four mice. 5 stars
16 Isn't Always Sweet - Cassandra Carter
Call Number: Fiction
ISBN/ISSN: 9780373830978
From Debora, Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School
Jordan just turned 16 and things are not like she planned them to be. She never imagined getting back-stabbed by her best friend, well only friend, Adrienne. Jordan starts dating Adrienne's ex-boyfriend, Warren, who helps her see that revenge is not always a great way to deal with situations. Five stars
Wolf Rider - Avi
Call Number: Fiction
ISBN/ISSN: 0027077608
From Natasha, Roberto Clemente Middle School
Andy Zadinski gets a phone call and when he picks up a voice says " I just killed someone."
Only Andy is convinced that the caller is serious; no one else believes him--not the police, not his friends, not even his dad. They all say he's crying wolf so Andy decides to investigate and he discovers more than he thought he would. Five stars
The Devouring - Simon Holt
Call Number: Fiction
ISBN/ISSN: 0316035734
From Eva, Lakelands Park Middle School
After Reggie Halloway discovers the diary at the old bookstore, her life changes. Wicked, bodiless creatures are mounting an epic battle against the human world by inhabiting people at the moment they experience their greatest fear. Only teenager Reggie Halloway possesses the power to enter victims' "fearscapes" and help them vanquish the evil within. Five stars
Revelations - Melissa de la Cruz
Call Number: Fiction
ISBN/ISSN: 9781423102281
From Vicki, Richard Montgomery High School
In the third novel, "Revelations," of the Blue Bloods series, half-vampire Schuyler finds herself caught between an old friend and a new, captivating lover. Will she choose between the two once and for all? Find out as the battle between the Silver Bloods and Blue Bloods rages on, changing Schuyler's world forever. Five stars
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