Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls By Steven Hockensmith

A guest review by Teen Room Staff Cat!

The dreadfuls are coming. It’s Victorian England and the Bennet sisters are surprised when Mr. Ford sits up at his funeral (It’s so improper to attend one’s own funeral.) They are even more surprised when their father insists they learn how to fight (Warriors don’t get husbands). But, the training becomes necessary when zombies invade the town.

I liked the book. It has all the love and scandal of Austen novel along with the adventure, gore, and violence of an action movie. I would recommend this book to a fan of either genre.

--Cat

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Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbook : Core Rulebook I v. 3.5 by Monte Cook

A guest review from Teen Room Staff Jeremy!

This is the first book you must become familiar with if you wish to play Dungeons and Dragons. It's full of everything you need, ranging from races to spells. Eventually, you'll be able to move onto more advanced texts, like the Monster Manuel or the Dungeon Master's Guide, but starting off you should focus on the basics, and the basics are contained in this great text.

Not surprisingly, I love this book, and I'd recommend it to anyone who is interested in playing this great game.

--Jeremy

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The Realm of Possibilities By David Levithan

A guest review from Teen Room Staff Cat!

This book is in verse
It follows the lives
that color the school
Connecting them
Through love
Hate
Joy
And sorrow

--Cat

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Garage Band by Gipi

A guest review by Teen Room Staff Jeremy!

Garage Band by Gipi is a graphic novel about four teenage boys who have dreams of one day making it big on the music scene. They start out as any band their age, in a garage making too much noise for the neighbors to handle. Eventually Giuliano, one of the band members, is given a garage by his father under the condition that he remains out of trouble. Surprisingly enough this doesn't last too long as a result of a very dumb deed done by the band.

This novel was very well written and had artwork not typically found in graphic novels. I was very surprised I even picked it up, let alone enjoyed it, because I'm not typically into graphic novels. I'd recommend this novel to just about anyone.

--Jeremy

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Looking for Alaska by John Green

A guest review from Teen Room Staff Cat!

It’s Miles Halter’s first year at an Alabama boarding school. Culver Creek has all the fun, excitement, and trouble he thought it would, but it had one thing he didn’t expect. Alaska. Alaska is the perfect girl, and as the year progresses he finds himself falling deeper and deeper into love with her. But Alaska is a mystery, and as he searches for the answer he realizes he might never find the answer.

Looking for Alaska is a great book. It brings to light a lot of questions about life and death, but has enough adventure and romance to keep anyone who reads it happy. Be careful, this is definitely a high school book.

--Cat

P.S. It’s on the Summer Reading List for Seniors

John Green!

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Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

A guest review by Teen Room Staff Cat!

Annabel Greene lives in glass house. Her father is an architect. He built a glass house for his family to live in, except, he built the house so passersby could only see some of the family, and the rest was hidden giving the illusion of a see-through house. Annabel’s life is the same as her house. Everyone thinks her life is perfect. She and her sisters are models; she has the perfect family, what could be wrong? Annabel’s life is unraveling around her. She doesn’t want to model anymore, her sister has an eating disorder, and she doesn’t want to see her friends anymore. What can she do? Soon she becomes friends with the loner of the school. He uses music to show her a new outlook on life, and she listens.

This was a good book. I really enjoyed the prominent role music had in the story. If you liked Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson you will definitely like Just Listen.

-- Cat

P.S. It’s on the Summer Reading List for freshmen.

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Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

A guest review by Teen Room Staff Cat!

Abraham Lincoln was one of the most famous presidents. But he has a deep dark secret, he is a vampire hunter. After his mother and Grandfather are killed by vampires, Abe swore revenge on these other worldly beasts. Along with some help from friends he hunts the vampires who haunt his country. A lawyer by day and hunter by night Abe starts his journey to the White House.

This is a great book, it starts out as an Abraham Lincoln biography, and quickly turns into a horror show filled with gore and lots of fighting.

--Cat

P.S. it’s on the Summer Reading List for Seniors (English 12 and Mr. Phair’s CAPP Courses)

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