47. How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

I like the sardonic and humorous voice of the character even during some very tense times. Daisy finds love on the brink of war. She finds a home with her distant cousins.

The book really makes you think about what would happen if a war broke out now. How casually things change. Horror and humor. The love story is disturbing and beautiful at the same time.

Daisy is a great character. Page turner which I love didn't have a moment when I wanted to stop reading.

46. Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Walter Dean Myers' Monster tells of a young men caught in a web of criminal activity. He is accused of being the look out in a robbery gone wrong. We are giving evidence that suggest that he might be guilty or not guilty but the author leaves the truth up I'm the air. Personally,I think he probably was guilty but there was just not enough evidence to convict him. A poignant moment happens when during the trial. Steve Harmon's lawyer says the most important thing they can do is try to make him appear different from the likes of the others on trial with him. Steve Harmon thinks about all the times he wanted to be just like them. Also after he is acquitted he tries to hug his attorney but she stiffens and he wonders if she sees him as a monster even though he was found not guilty.

45. Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger

1. In the first line of the novel John claims that he is “immune to emotion.” How has he changed by the end of the novel? What causes this transformation?
Meeting Marisol opens John up to feelings he tries to avoid. Loving Marisol forces him to deal with the pain his parents divorce caused him. At the end he is able to feel emotions and express himself to his parents.

2. Describe John’s relationship with his mother. What is odd about how she interacts with him? Can you imagine this trait in your own maternal relationship?
John's relationship with his mom is distant. She doesn't touch probably subconscious rejection of him because he looks so much like his father.

I learned about zines from this book. I never heard of them before they sound cool to make. A home mad e magazine that express your feelings in written form.

44. This is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz

Diaz's stories are always engaging even if they are frustrating because of the Spanish slang. But this makes the novel more authentic. The story tells of love and how we lose it. So of course it is heavy on the cheating and it's affects. It is interesting but his stories never affect me deeply like authors do. I love his succinct writing and dialogue.

"I’m not a bad guy.... I’m like everybody else: weak, full of mistakes, but basically good." Do you agree with his self-assessment...or is he letting himself off the hook too easily? Isn't his description applicable to anyone? I think his assessment is correct we are all weak and make mistakes all the time. But we are stronger than our weaknesses. Our weaknesses should never define us and we should never use them as an excuse for our behavior.

A pattern of infidelity runs throughout the stories. Why is Yunior compulsively unfaithful to women? Consider the influences of his father and brother—are genetics destiny? Explore the idea of a deeper, metaphorical meaning of betrayal in these stories—a betrayal against the self? And why does Yunior leave a written record of his infidelities. Guys can't keep it in their pants. I don't think cheating is genetic. You always have a choice even if genes produce a proclivity to act a certain way.

43. Looking for Alaska by John Green

"I go to seek a great perhaps."

A young man who is obsessed with the last words of famous people. Goes off to boarding school seeking a more profound existence. There he meets the Cornel and Alaska two people who will impact his life for years to come. Looking for Alaska is a sad sweet story that will stay with you for a long time and make you think about how you live your life. How you deal with suffering and loss and still love the day to its fullest. I loved this book and its message will live with me for years to come

42. The Racketeer by John Grisham

What if you planned to escape prison and everything went according to plan and you ended up walking away with millions of dollars.  This good luck escapee is the subject of John Grisham's latest book.  It is a testament to Grisham's good storytelling that you still want to finish this book after it loses all plausibility.  You have a guy who committed a perfect crime and then so easily gets set up.  Too many things had to go right to pull this escape off and if you are able to block that from your mind then it is a good book.

41. Drop Dead Healthy by A.J. Jacobs

This book is very much like A.J.'s other books he starts a project and we get to see the progression and its affect on his family.  In this book he aims to be the healthiest person alive.  Each chapter focuses on a different part of his body and he's efforts to improve.  It was an easy read with insight into what we need to be mindful of in our bodies.  I think it starts with awareness and being conscious on the affect of our decisions today will have on our health in the future.