The Vox Book Club Suggestions

Here are the following books that my fellow bloggers and I came up with. Cast your vote for two, on Wednesday the 10th we’ll count the votes and decide which one we want to read. Erin managed to get ahold of two $25 gift certificates to a book store (I believe Barnes & Noble), which will be randomly awarded to two of the people participating.

Story Time- Edward Bloor
When eighth grader Kate and her Uncle George (who is two years younger than her) receive letters inviting them to attend the Whittaker Magnet School, home of nasty protein shakes and the freakish “Test-Based Curriculum,” their reactions are mixed. George, somewhat of a genius, is pleased, while Kate is horrified. Still, as a search on-line reveals, their house is suddenly in the Whittaker school district, so off they go. It’s not long, before they discover something very strange is afoot at their new school.

To Kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee
Great book- I’m not sure if too many people would have read it, though. About a girl, Scout, in a small Southern town. It discusses topics pertaining to racial factors in the US in the 1930s.

A Separate Peace- John Knowles
About a teenage boy at a private school in New England during World War 2. A very coming of age type book. I would say this would be a top choice of mine.

The Sea of Trolls-
Set in 8th century Northern Europe, this book
varies between a historical fiction and a fantasy(many events and even some characters are based on actual events, but trolls, dragons, shapeshifters, etc. are nothing out of the ordinary). The plot follows Jack, a young Saxon boy abducted in a Viking raid and kept from being sold as a slave or killed because he is an
apprentice bard. He and his sister, who was kidnapped with him, are then caught up in the turmoils and power struggles of the Norse
tribes, to put things simply. Bit of a longer read, but an excellent book nonetheless.

Looking for Alaska-
This novel follows the life of Pudge, a socially-inept teenage boy obsessed with last words. Knowing he isn’t going to go anywhere at his current high school, he opts to attend his dad’s alma matter, a boarding school in Alabama. There he meets Alaska Young and quickly declares her the love of his life, even though he barely knows her and she already has a boyfriend. Sadly I can’t say too much without giving everything away, but suffice to say the book is excellent. John Green (the author) winds these fantastic, deep themes (death, religion, and the necessity of the afterlife primarily) into a setting and with characters that your average teenager will eat up. However, there are one or two mildly explicit scenes, so I don’t know if that cancels the book out altogether.

The Book Thief-
My all time favorite book. It’s about a girl named Liesel who lives in Nazi Germany with her foster parents, who agree to hide a Jew in their basement. The most interesting part of this book is that it is narrated by Death, whom the reader learns to empahize and connect with. This is a must-read, but it’s longer.

Dewey-
This is a pretty short book, which resembles Marley and Me. Dewey, however, is a cat who lives in a library. My Mom read it and said it’s cute, funny, and light; and anyone who has been around cats knows how entertaining they can be.

Water for Elephants-
This was one of the books my AP English class had to pick from over the summer, and those who read it said it was amazing. It’s about a boy who is about to become a vet, but ends up joining the circus instead. It is set during the Depression, and the circus is anything but grand. Despite this Jacob (the main character) manages to find love.