Daniel Webster's Reading Blog

This is a book about becoming a freshman in high school. I remember receiving it myself before my freshman year centuries ago! It teaches the reader that, although the move to high school is tough, it is also a time for tremendous growth. This is a survival manual for 8th graders moving on to high school, written by someone experiencing it. Scott, the main character, is getting a new sibling during his freshman year. He feels that creating this manual would help his brother when he goes to high school. I highly recommend this book! It is a pretty quick read.  -BF

  Claire has recently broken up with her boyfriend, Ben. Instead of going to Prom, she heads to a lakehouse with two friends, Kat and Jesse. The weekend doesn't go well-not that Claire can remember. She ends up waking up bloodied in the middle of the woods with no memory of how or why she ended up there. Eventually Claire learns both Kat and Jesse are missing and no one really knows what happens and Claire is no help because she can't remember! Were Jess and Kat kidnapped? Murdered? Was Claire a victim or is she a blame? As the length in the investigation continues, Claire's desire for answers increases and she sets out to get herself some answers. As she starts digging Claire slowly begins to realize her friends may not have been completely honest with her. Were they ever really friends at all? This mystery will make your head hurt in a good way. I promise you.  -TK

  The main character in An Emotion of Great Delight is a hard feeling girl. As a Muslim living in a post 9/11 world, she deals with the normal issues of a every teen ever and then some. A father who is dying, a brother already dead, a former best friend who seemingly now hates her, a mother who self harms, and now her friend's older brother might be in love with her? I am really curious to see how my students feel about this book. The title is kind of misleading-there's not that much happiness in this book at all! OR.... is there? It will be interesting to see the kids' take on whether or not simply making it through life's everyday struggles is enough to make oneself happy. Then again, is there a simpler happiness that comes with being comfortable in one's true identity? Perhaps that's the message here. -TK

  Four friends gather at a luxurious hotel to celebrate a birthday. It's supposed to be a great night, but it quickly turns into a nightmare as they begin to receive note delivered to them mysteriously hinting that their friend's death a year ago on that same night was all their fault. Is one of them hiding something or are they all collectively to blame? Friendships will be tested, hearts will break, and the heartbreaking truth will all come out before the night is over.  This is a fast paced read that many will devour in a day or two. The twist at the end will certainly surprise you- I know I was not expecting it. As I read Room Service, I pictured it as a movie. There are definitely scenes throughout this story that would look really beautiful (and scary) if done right on the big screen! -TK

  Easy Target is a book that I think my students will love. Set in nearby Rolling Meadows, Illinois, we meet Hudson, a previously homeschooled middle schooler who enters the world of public school for the first time. His dad warned him about bullying he might face, but Hudson thinks he's overreacting. Then, he encounters the lunchroom where it is clear that Carl Sandburg Junior High definitely has bullies. Hudson stands up to the bullies to try to protect two classmates, Pancake and Maggie (yes, there is a character nicknamed Pancake). This action puts a target on Hudson and the bullies certainly want payback. Hudson decides the school is in need of a culture change. He decides to exert pressure on the bullies in the hope that they stop being so malicious, but no matter how well intentioned Hudson is in his actions, things continue to escalate. Can Hudson and his friends make a positive social change or is the bullying in school simply beyond repair? This book raises a lot of quest

  This book is awesomely twisted! The Ivies tells the story of a group of five classmates-can they really call themselves friends?- who will lie, cheat, steal, backstab, and do just about anything else the need to in order to better their standing among their competitors when it comes to applying to the most prestigious colleges. Each has been designated an Ivy League College to apply to and each has bent and broken more than her fair share of rules in order to get accepted. When one ends up dead after getting accepted, seemingly everyone on campus is a suspect, but none more-so than the Ivies themselves! Olivia, Avery, Emma, Sierra, and Margot seem to have it all. They are the queen bees of Claflin Academy. They know what they want and they will step on anyone to get it. Can they withstand a murder investigation of one of their own?  The twists and turns and the shocking truth will keep the reader not only guessing, but second and triple guessing until the very end. This book is a sur

  An autobiography of a boy who, at the age of three, fled civil war in Ethiopia by walking with his mother, brother and father to a Sudanese refugee camp where they stayed for 3 years, and later they moved to Wheaton, IL (about an hour from Waukegan). This true story gives insight into the lives of so many immigrants and their struggle to start over, fit in, and the difficulties of school life. He endured many tragedies throughout his life. However, this young man does not give up and he graduates college and gives the commencement speech at Harvard University to 30,000 people! This is a story of overcoming poverty, language barriers, cultural differences and personal tragedy. I dare you to read this book and not shed a tear and also smile when he shares some of his family stories and you indulge in his triumphs! -LB

  This book is a best seller and once you read it, you’ll know why. The story is based on real events from the author’s life. He was very smart, but just never felt comfortable in the school setting. He was sometimes left out of outings with his classmates because he was Black. He was very impulsive--meaning he did things before thinking of the consequences. He did meet several teachers who he did connect with, but reading and writing were his way to escape his insecurities. How could he tell people he loved reading & writing when those two things are “not cool” and he lived in the hood? Being chased home by gangs became commonplace. This book gives insight to what many young people endure daily during their school years. He learned he’s not a failure, in fact, he grew up to become a famous bestselling author. Walter Dean Myers has written over 40 books for young people! Mrs. Banks

This is a short story written by Jack London about a man & his dog. The man decides to make a trip during extremely cold weather while living in the Yukon (near the Arctic Circle). He refuses to heed the warnings and advice of the local townspeople. Even the dog can sense the grave danger they encounter. This story has several themes, one: people are not more powerful than nature and two: people should listen to others who have more experience than they do. Can you think of any other themes after you read this engaging and exciting short story? By the way, the ending to this story may surprise you. Mrs. Banks

  Back in April, Mr. Johnson, Webster's music and choir teacher, read the book   7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens " by Sean Covey.  This book had a positive impact on Mr. Johnson and he was inspired to share this with his students because it addresses almost every problem that our middle school students face, so Mr. Johnson has been reading this book with his 6th - 8th grade choir students every week.  This book provides the reader helpful advice about building confidence and self esteem, learning to manage difficult situations with family, friends, and bullies.   The book has been described as, " In an entertaining style, Covey provides a step-by-step guide to help teens improve self-image, build friendships, resist peer pressure, achieve their goals, get along with their parents, and much more. In addition, this book is stuffed with cartoons, clever ideas, great quotes, and incredible stories about real teens from all over the world."  Learn to be proactive by co

 This debut YA thriller is CRAZY-in the best way possible. Logan finds herself back "home" with her two dads, Alejo and Brandon, in tiny Snakebite, Oregon. This town hasn't changed much over the years and is definitely on the traditional side. When teens start to disappear, it is all-too-easy to blame the gay paranormal investigators.  Though Logan has no real connections in Snakebite, she eventually gets close to Ashley, a popular daughter of a family that seems run the town. Together, Logan and Ashley set out to see if they can uncover the truth behind the disappearances. Are these kids the victims of small town crime or is there something sinister and other-worldly at play? The mix of real life themes and paranormal activity will keep you guessing. I really enjoyed the writing style and the realism in which the story was written, perhaps especially because it makes the potential threat of true evil all the more real.  Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Wednesday B

 Before I start about Crank Palace, I have to say if you haven't read the previous installments of James Dashner's The Maze Runner series, then you have to get on that right now! This is essential to getting the full glory of Crank Palace. Crank Palace tells the previously unknown story of Newt, a member of the group known as the "Gladers" who has decided to leave his friends because he knows his time on Earth is coming to and end. He doesn't want his friends, with whom he's been through so much, to see his final days. He has decided he wants to die alone while attempting to leave something worth remembering behind for someone to eventually/hopefully find. One small problem: he meets Keisha and her son Dante and immediately decides he's not ready to die just yet.  This novella is everything fans of The Maze Runner can ask for. We see what life is like for one of our favorite Gladers as he succumbs to the hell brought upon him. The fact that you pretty much

Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town is one of the more interesting books I have read recently as far as storytelling is concerned. The author has interwoven a bunch of short stories to create an overlapping and interconnected narrative. Through these stories, themes like friendship, revenge, love, secrets, and family are dug into in such a way that even, seemingly, the most innocent and simple lives of people who live in small towns turn out to be complicated and, in some cases, dark Written for grades seventh and up, some of the themes are rather mature, but Hitchcock writes in such a way that most readers of this age group will be able to handle the content. Moreover, the reader sees that eventually, all mistakes and sins have their own consequences. This book gives you something to think about after the last story is over, that's for sure. Thank you to Random House Children's Publishing for granting me an advanced copy. Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town is set for public

 Dane Riley's struggling. He's struggling with the fact that his died has died of cancer. He's struggling with his complicated feelings for the beautiful girl who lives next door. He's struggling with his mom's new, all-too-soon relationship with his dad's former law partner. He's struggling to find a meaning to life.  Dane's mom takes him to see a therapist in the hopes of helping Dane talk through all that's going on in his head, but talking about things only brings more to the surface. He's normal for feeling so much, isn't he? Or does he feel so much that he just might not be able to handle it? This is a story that every high schooler should read. Heck, this is a story that anyone who has ever felt like the world was too much, or too little, should read. Dane experience loss, love, pain, healing, and a whole lot of unknowns in this poignant book. The title, The Tragedy of Dane Riley, begs the questions: Is Dane Riley's life a tragedy?

  This book will have you on the edge of your seat from the first page! Jess is cast as one of five stars of the newest YouTube reality show where she will be followed by cameras from the moment she wakes up till she goes to bed. The goal- be the star with the most followers and most views. How is she going to do it? Well, Jess is determined to use the show as a platform to help her bring her mother's killer to justice. Yep, Jess's mom was murdered by the Magpie Man, a serial killer who has claimed a total of thirteen victims so far. From the first scene at wake-up, Jess begins speaking directly to the Magpie Man. She hopes he's watching in the beginning. Then, as days go by, it becomes terrifyingly obvious that she has gotten his attention because her life suddenly becomes more and more in danger. Will she find out who's behind her mother's murder or will she end up yet another victim? The twists and turns in this story will keep you guessing. I know I was wrong a

Fix tells the story of Eve, a girl who is recovering from spinal surgery she had to help straighten her spine to help her cope with scoliosis. Despite her always feeling different from others due to her physical condition, she never felt alone because she always had her best friend, Lydia, by her side. Lydia never treated Eve differently, because Eve also was a bit different due to only having one hand.  After the surgery, however, Eve becomes increasingly reliant on painkillers she very affectionately calls "Roxy." At first, no one notices. Her mother, Lydia, and her "School Within a School" buddy Thomas all just see a girl in pain who is trying to recover from a major surgery. Things start to get a bit out of hand, all too quickly. One pill is not enough, she starts taking more in shorter intervals, and people begin to notice changes in Eve. Eve begins to notice herself changing too, but she very easily rationalizes her behaviors. When no one steps in, things cont

This beautifully illustrated graphic novel is a super quick read. At only 100 pages, it tells the author's struggle with body issues due to being an overweight child, teen and adult. These issues are all too real and ones that countless people have to deal with at, often times, very early ages. The negative consequences that can come out of low self-esteem and body shaming can be incredibly damaging, but the author provides some "light at the end of the tunnel" and some lessons that she learned through her experiences. The issue is complex, but the book offers something to think about for everyone-no matter the size. -TK  

Imagine being kidnapped and thrown in a well. You are alone, hungry, terrified and not sure what the next moment will bring. Who took you? Where are you? Are you going to die? Then imagine you escape, only to have no one believe you, with some people even thinking you may, in fact, be crazy. After all, you have a history of disappearing for days at a time and you've been known to lie in the past. This is the life that Terra has. As a means of coping, she begins logging in to a survivor's anonymous chat site where fellow members just might be the only people who believe her story. Can she move on from such tragedy-if it really did happen? Maybe..... Then strange things start happening, or Terra at least thinks strange things start happening that remind her of her abduction. Is her kidnapper still out there? Still watching? Planning to get her again? Or is she really crazy? This book will leave you guessing the whole way through. I will say I definitely did not see the ending com

  The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman Famed macabre author Neil Gaiman tells the story of Nobody “Bod” Owens. The story starts in a very creepy way, as a baby, Bod is orphaned after his family is murdered. He has no remaining family left, so he is “adopted” by the ghostly residents of the graveyard across the street. Bod is raised by ghosts and The Graveyard Book tracks the strange and creepy happenings of day to day graveyard life. This book is a modern, spooky retelling of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. You have probably all seen the movie. If you like the supernatural and adventure, then this is the book for you! -LG

  The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevado After hearing Amanda Gorman recite her poem at the Presidential Inauguration, I really wanted to return to this book, The Poet X , by Elizabeth Acevado.  I first read it two years ago, but i think rereading it now, I enjoyed it even more.  The Poet X is the story of Xiomara Batista, and it is told entirely with poems. As a verse novel, this book reads very fast as it offers tons of emotion with a quick moving plot. How the author has pulled several story lines together is really creative. 15 year-old Xiomara’s parents have expectations for her, and that’s cool. Except, Xiomara doesn’t share those expectations, doesn’t understand her parents beliefs: “My parents probably wanted a girl who would sit in the pews wearing pretty florals and a soft smile. They got combat boots and a mouth silent until it’s sharp as an island machete.” Her name means “one who is ready for war,” and Xiomara wages her own public and private wars throughout The Poet X .

 Set for a publication date of February 23, 2021, The Initial Insult is a riveting story of two girls, Tress and Felicity, who used to be best friends until one fateful night in when Tress's parents disappear and Felicity is found alone, being the last to see them alive. Since then, Felicity has moved on to stay in the cool crowd with her family having money and power. Tress was left living with her grandfather, whom she calls Cecil because they were never that close. Tress was left living in a trailer, taking care of wild animals for Cecil's Animal Attraction, sleeping on a mattress on the floor, and pretty much becoming a social outcast who garners nothing but pity. Tress has always wondered what happened to her parents. Are the alive or dead? What really happened that night? And what has Felicity not told her. Tress decides to find out by threatening her former best friend's life by sealing her inside a coal chute one night at a party. As Tress interrogates Felicity, bit

  This is one of the best books I have recently read! Thank you to NetGalley for granting me a version to blog about! New America Awakenings is set in an America that is deeply divided, literally. After a civil war, America has been divided into different Projects based on race and religion. What was billed as a resettlement meant to be a new beginning was clearly a power grab meant to keep the people down and fighting amongst themselves. The President is crooked and the Project Colt Jenkins lives in is run by a power-hungry demon of a woman named Katherine.  Colt and his family, his parents and his beloved little sister Eliza, are used to being hungry and don't get startled when gun shots or explosions are heard or felt. They know the way they are being forced to live isn't right, but who has the power to do anything about it. If you speak up, you are labeled an "Enemy of the Peace" and summarily executed in a guillotine. One day after a bombing, Colt goes to secure

  Nowhere Boy tells the story of two very different boys who find themselves in new and difficult situations. Max is an American boy who finds himself living in Belgium after his family relocates there for his parents' work. Ahmed is a Syrian refugee who makes his way to Belgium after losing his mother and sisters in the Syrian bombings and then his father as they try to cross the Aegean Sea. With seemingly nowhere to go, Ahmed ends up hiding in Max's basement. When Max realizes Ahmed is living in his basement, Max decides to let him stay, as long as he can keep Ahmed's presence a secret from his parents. After slowly getting to know Ahmed, Max wants to help him. Can he help Ahmed enroll in school? Can Max help Ahmed find a more stable living situation? Can Max convince others, perhaps even his family, that all Muslims aren't terrorists and that some are deserving of some grace and compassion? He believes he can. However, this becomes incredibly complicated when Muslim