Michael

 The Ox-Bow Incident by Walter van Tilberg Clark The book that I read for this trimester was The Oxbow Incident written by Walter van Tilberg Clark. This book in my opinion is a western adventure and the book is about a group of people who set out on a mission to catch a group of cattle thieves who have killed a person who was well known by the community. I liked the story that the author presented because it had amazing detail. During parts of the story there would be vivid description of an action or an object and later in the book they would tell a story and it would make sense because of the detail that was given earlier. The plot kept the reader captivated with a believable storyline. My mind never deviated from the story. The story was believable because it seems to be based of things that have happened in the period of time the story takes place. The setting in this book really helps the story’s theme and how certain things behave in the book. The story takes place in the wild west during the early 1900s. This is really important to the story because it influences how the characters talk and how they act. It enhances the story because it takes place where there is no real law so they can get away with more. In the book they form a lynch mob which is something that is not legal now. The setting also allows for more detail for things like how their horses get stuck in the mud. A lot of the characters change their opinions on things and were either for or against the lynching. Some of them learn that what seems like a good idea in the beginning is not the responsible thing to do in the end. There were some surprises in the book that kept the reader interested. Like a reveal that put a lot of people at ease. Each chapter was really long and really didn’t leave you with a cliffhanger or build anxiety. I would rate this book 3 1/2 stars. I liked the book but it did have its flaws but I would recommend it to other people. [|__http://www.amazon.com/ox-bow-incident-modern-library-classics/dp/0892172589__]

Book Reviews

From Michael Hughes The book that I read is called The Red Kayak, written by Priscilla Cummings. To me the book was a combination of mystery and suspense because in parts of the book it made the reader ask themselves Who? Why? and How? In the book the reader got a shock when Brady would be doing something unrelated to the plot and suddenly discover a clue. The book told a good story through its use of creative elements. The plot was believable because the plot in the book could happen in real life. The story was easy to follow and kept the reader’s attention thought the story. The story mainly takes place in Maryland but there is a time when Brady goes to Rhode Island and the author introduces to some of his extended family. The setting for the story is very important to the plot and to some aspects of the characters. The setting is a big part of the story and helps deliver macabre touches to the book. The book teaches important life lessons to the reader such as telling the truth even if you are ashamed of it and fear the consequences because it’s the right thing to do. The main conflict in the story is between Brady and his own conscience. I believe the author accomplished what she set out to do, create a story with important life lessons, create a plot that will capture the readers attention, and to create a believable story. I liked the book because it was a piece of well-written literature but this kind of genre isn’t what I particularly like to read. I noticed how the characters changed throughout the book for the better. The way the characters spoke didn’t change at all during the story so that seemed like the characters were using their natural dialect. I think this book is directed more towards the teenage population. Priscilla Cummings depicts a good story in this book. I would give this book 3 stars and would recommend this book to people who like mystery books.
 * The Red Kayak**
 * by Priscella Cummings**

By Royal Command by Charlie Higson

The next book that I read was called By Royal Command by Charlie Higson and is the fifth book in the young bond series. My favorite quote from the book is; “The flag I fly does not have the hammer and sickle of the Soviets on it, my dear.” Said Dr. Friend. “It has a swastika. ” To me this book is a combination of an adventure and a mystery novel because in the book James is trying to stop a plot to kill the king and at the same time trying to find clues to an even bigger mystery. The author created a fantastic book out of the storyline that kept the reader’s focus throughout the book. The story was believable because the author used parts of history and integrated them into the story to enhance the fictional aspects. For me it was easy to concentrate on the book and I didn’t want to put it down. The story begins in the late thirties in London but then progresses to a train filled with Hitler Youth children, the Swiss Alps, France and finally to an ancient castle. The scenery in the book changes frequently and the next place is more exciting than the last. The setting is very important to the story because each place has its own elements that allow the characters to have unique experiences. The main conflict is that the Nazis are trying to sabotage the British government and are posing as Communists. The book didn’t really have a lesson to learn and was mainly written to enthrall people into its adventures. I think the author really succeeded in what he was trying to do, provide a good story that is fun and keeps people on the edge of their seats. The characters in this book constantly changed throughout the story and this was important to the plot. Each character has their own dialog and they speak in a believable manner for the time period. Throughout the whole book there were many surprises that gave you a new view of the plot line. Often the chapters would end with drop-offs and made you want to read more. I think that this book is really geared towards young adults. If you didn’t read the rest of the books in the series you might be a little confused with the storyline. It was a great book and I give it 5 stars. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure novels.

 Book Review by Michael Hughes

 For the second trimester the book that I read was American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang. This book is definitely fiction. I thought the book was good and plot of the story could be real except for some parts so the plot is mostly believable. I really liked the story and was easy to concentrate on the story because the author used multiple stories interlocking together to create a captivating book. The story takes place in ancient China and also in modern America. I think that the setting is appropriate for the stories because it influences the character’s decisions and how they deal with their problems. The alternating settings make the book interesting because you are thinking about one setting and then you have to re-adapt to the current setting. The main conflict of the book is that each character wants to be different but must learn to accept who he is. Eventually each of the characters realizes that they don’t really want change but they wanted it when they felt misguided or embarrassed. I think that the author wanted to create book about decisions and was successful in tying that into the main plot line. The way the book was chaptered was unique, it would cycle through three different stories until they all came together in the end. Each chapter was level in that it didn’t have any major suspense moments but towards the end there were some big surprises. I thought that each character’s dialog was believable and was close to what I would have said. I found it easy to connect with some of the characters in the book because I too have shared some of their problems and decisions. All of the characters changed for the better throughout the story. I think this book is for teenagers because it has some inappropriate things but is a good book. I really liked the book because of the way its written and also whats written. I think that this book is most like the Alex Cross series because of the chapter development. I would give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

[|__http://www.amazon.com/American-Born-Chinese-Gene-Luen/dp/0312384483/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1297295540&sr=1-1__]