by Hannah Reed and Darian Huntley

The book Twilight by Stephenie Meyer is about a beautiful young girl named Isabella Swan, Bella for short,  who moves from the big town Pheonix to live with her father in the rural rained out town Forks, Washington.  There she meets Edward Cullen, the amazingly gorgeous, long living vampire. At first he seems unreal and annoyed by Bella, avoiding her constantly. But when we can’t control his emotions toward her any longer they follow down the dangerous path of true love. As time goes on, going through dangerous obstacles to be together,  Bella experiences near death situations countless times. This book isn’t just a sloppy love story; it’s suspensful, dark, and mind gripping. It will keep you reading and guessing through every sentence you come across.

“Sometimes I wonder if I was seeing the same thing through my eyes that the rest of the world was seeing through theirs. Maybe there was a glitch in my brain.”

- Bella Swan.

Leonardo was a very talented young actor ar a very young age.  He has completed a lot of goals in his life that people have only dreamed about.  He was born on November 11, 1974 and started his career at the ripe age of thirteen years old appearing in a Matchbox Cars commercial.  I learned that DiCaprio was named after the famous Leonardo DaVinci.  He was in a lot of T.V. shows also before his movie career took off.  He was in “The New Lassie,” “Santa Barbara,” “The Parenthood,” and “The Outsiders.”  He then started working in movies.  Even though most of them were not big hits, some movies he starred in were “Critters III,” “This Boy’s Life,” “What’s eating Gilbert Grape,” ”The Quick and the Dead,” and “The Basketball Diaries.”  He got his first big hit when he starred as Romeo in “Romeo and Juliet.” Then he went from there to hit the big times with  “Titanic,” “The man in the Iron Mask,” “The Beach,” and “Catch Me if You Can.”  Leonardo was a very interesting person to read about. I really enjoyed learning some new things about him.  He has accomplished so much, and his career has just now begun.                                     By:  Samantha Harley

Kelly Clarkson was born in Burleson,Texas on April 24th,1982. She showed musical talent while still very young. Her parents divorced when she was six. Her father then moved to California. Later on her mother remarried. She graduated from Burleson High School in the year of 2000. Growing up she worked many different jobs such as an amusement park singer, waitress, and drug store clerk. In 2002, Kelly and one of her friends left their hometown and moved to California, where she started making contacts. Then all of the sudden her life began to fall apart. First her apartment burned down, and then her car got towed. She spent several days at a shelter before deciding to return to Texas and stay with her mom. Shortly afterwards, her best friend Jessica Huggins signed her up for a new competitive T.V. series. Kelly was one of the 11 finalists from Dallas, Texas. She worked hard to keep her voice fit for competing. Kelly soon made the top ten competitors. On September 3,2002 she was voted the the first ever “American Idol!” She signed a recording contract with RCA for $1 million. Kelly’s first hit single arrived in stores September 17th of that year. Her first album was released October first, less then a month later. So that’s the story of Kelly Clarkson’s life.

By:  Brittany 

I have somehing to tell you about a week ago I read this book called Carrie Underwood it was amazing. I found out she that she grew up in a small town called Checotah, Oklahoma, and that her her middle name was Marie she wasnt born in a hospital she was realy born at home. she was a very talented girl growing up she sang at her church she loves amimals thats one of the reasons she became a vegetarian

Reviewed by Matthew Castillo

 Reading this book I learned a lot about Charles Barkley.  For example, he was born on Feb. 20th, 1963 in Leeds, Alabama.  When he was born, Charles’ father moved away from him and never saw Charles. Charles’ mom got married again to a guy named Clee Glen, but later when Charles was 11, Mr. Glen died in a car crash so Charles didn’t really have a father growing up. Also, his high school basketball coach told him he would not make the team because he was too fat and could not jump. So Charles would go outside and jump over a 4 foot fence. At first he was not able to clear it , so when Charles went in the house he had a lot of cuts and briuses, but Charles never gave up. Three months later(basketball season) Charles was able to jump over the fence. At Charles’ basketball tryouts, he proved the coach wrong.  He was jumping higher than all the guys that were a lot taller than him, and he made the team.  After high school, Charles got a scholarship to go to the Universty of Auburn.  After college, Charles played in the NBA for the Philadelphia 76ers.  You should read this book because it tells a story about how a hard worker (like Charles) could prove anybody wrong if you are willing to work at it.  If I gave this book a number on a scale from 1-10, I would give it a 10! I liked this book because it gave me a lot of information about one of my favorite players of all time.

The Courageous Patriot is a very easy but very good biography. It is about the war and how people were taking over Katie’s homes just to build forts. This is a recommended book for people that are interested in the war. Kate is an ordinary person with an ordinary family and now she is getting her home taken away for the government to build forts to fight. So do not think that war is just bad for you. It is bad for everyone.

                       By: Davey Frazier 

Leonardo da Vinci was a famous painter; his best known painting is “The Mona Lisa”. Da Vinci had a great knowledge of the human anatomy which is portrayed in most of his paintings. He liked wavy lines and curves in his paintings. He grew up during the Renaissance and all the things that he learned during that time period are a lot of times portrayed in his paintings and drawings. Leomardo was not just a painter, he was an engineer scientist musician and a mathematician, so when asked what Leonardo was, don’t just say that he was a painter for his knowledge goes far beyond that.  I would say to read the book and be familiar with some of his paintings and drawings. I,personally, do not care for most of his artwork because you don’t see alot of variation when looking at the paintings’ faces, but he is still a very talented artist. 

                  BY: Tiffany Thomas

Everyone should know about Ashlee Simpson; she’s such an interesting person. She comes from Texas, and she also comes from a very talented family. Ashlee has an older sister, the very musically talented, Jessica Simpson. Ashlee always knew her older sister would be famous, but would she ever get her moment in the spotlight? Yes, she did! At the age of three, Ashlee started training to be a classical ballet dancer. She was the youngest person accepted to the School of American Ballet, only at the age of eleven. Soon, Ashlee became a back-up dancer for her sister, Jessica on stage. Ashlee always was picked on because she was the youngest of the dancers, plus she was Jessica’s little sister. But, she endured it all. And look at her today.

     I learned many new facts about Ashlee that I never knew before. Like she used to back-up dance for Jessica. I also never knew that she loved to act.

   I recommend this book to anyone who likes reading about singers and actresses. You will absolutely love reading about Ashlee Simpson.

 by Victoria Earley

Do you like mysteries?  Books that keep you guessing?  Try Topher by Anita Horrocks.  Christopher and his sister, Stacie, are surprised to learn that their father has inherited his childhood home, a cabin on the lake, when their grandmother passes away suddenly.  For some reason, their father has always been very secretive of his past.  When they all decide to stay at the cabin for a few weeks, strange events begin occurring.  Is the cabin haunted?

Even stranger is the way Stacie has been acting.  Why does she have memories of the cabin although it’s her first time there?

Christopher and Stacie attempt to solve the mysteries of their father’s past.  It seems like a fun adventure to them - until they find that their own lives are in danger.

Here are a few of the following quotes I received from teachers regarding their favorite South Carolina Junior Book Award nominees they read this year:

Ms. Haney:

There were several I liked, but reading The City of Ember caused me to read the sequel, and the “prequel.” The book went along well with many sci-fi movies showing the world in a destruction aftermath. I liked the difference of this series having children being the main characters and the story written through their eyes.

Mrs. Edwards:

Double Dutch was an incredible book. It told the gut-wrenching truth of teenagers struggling to survive and overcome life’s trials. It was a great reminder of what some kids face on a daily basis, and how they still manage to overcome.

Mr. Woodall’s Review:

This is a story that highlights a boy as he tries to discover what it is to be a man. Alvin’s mother will not let him prove that he has guts. Alvin sets out to in the footsteps of his hero Matthew Henson to prove her wrong. This is a great book for any young man exploring his own journey to manhood.

This story is about how Skiff fights to reclaim his father’s fishing boat. At the same time he is fighting to reclaim his father as well. This is great book about family struggles in time of strife.

Here are a few of the following quotes I received from teachers regarding their favorite South Carolina Junior Book Award nominees they read this year:

Ms. Haney:

There were several I liked, but reading The City of Ember caused me to read the sequel, and the “prequel.” The book went along well with many sci-fi movies showing the world in a destruction aftermath. I liked the difference of this series having children being the main characters and the story written through their eyes.

Mrs. Edwards:

Double Dutch was an incredible book. It told the gut-wrenching truth of teenagers struggling to survive and overcome life’s trials. It was a great reminder of what some kids face on a daily basis, and how they still manage to overcome.

Mr. Woodall’s Review:

This is a story that highlights a boy as he tries to discover what it is to be a man. Alvin’s mother will not let him prove that he has guts. Alvin sets out to in the footsteps of his hero Matthew Henson to prove her wrong. This is a great book for any young man exploring his own journey to manhood.

This story is about how Skiff fights to reclaim his father’s fishing boat. At the same time he is fighting to reclaim his father as well. This is great book about family struggles in time of strife.

Here are a few of the following quotes I received from teachers regarding their favorite South Carolina Junior Book Award nominees they read this year:

Ms. Haney:

There were several I liked, but reading The City of Ember caused me to read the sequel, and the “prequel.” The book went along well with many sci-fi movies showing the world in a destruction aftermath. I liked the difference of this series having children being the main characters and the story written through their eyes.

Mrs. Edwards:

Double Dutch was an incredible book. It told the gut-wrenching truth of teenagers struggling to survive and overcome life’s trials. It was a great reminder of what some kids face on a daily basis, and how they still manage to overcome.

Mr. Woodall’s Review:

This is a story that highlights a boy as he tries to discover what it is to be a man. Alvin’s mother will not let him prove that he has guts. Alvin sets out to in the footsteps of his hero Matthew Henson to prove her wrong. This is a great book for any young man exploring his own journey to manhood.

This story is about how Skiff fights to reclaim his father’s fishing boat. At the same time he is fighting to reclaim his father as well. This is great book about family struggles in time of strife.

Here are a few of the following quotes I received from teachers regarding their favorite South Carolina Junior Book Award nominees they read this year:

Ms. Haney:

There were several I liked, but reading The City of Ember caused me to read the sequel, and the “prequel.” The book went along well with many sci-fi movies showing the world in a destruction aftermath. I liked the difference of this series having children being the main characters and the story written through their eyes.

Mrs. Edwards:

Double Dutch was an incredible book. It told the gut-wrenching truth of teenagers struggling to survive and overcome life’s trials. It was a great reminder of what some kids face on a daily basis, and how they still manage to overcome.

Mr. Woodall’s Review:

This is a story that highlights a boy as he tries to discover what it is to be a man. Alvin’s mother will not let him prove that he has guts. Alvin sets out to in the footsteps of his hero Matthew Henson to prove her wrong. This is a great book for any young man exploring his own journey to manhood.

This story is about how Skiff fights to reclaim his father’s fishing boat. At the same time he is fighting to reclaim his father as well. This is great book about family struggles in time of strife.

Here are a few of the following quotes I received from teachers regarding their favorite South Carolina Junior Book Award nominees they read this year:

Ms. Haney:

There were several I liked, but reading The City of Ember caused me to read the sequel, and the “prequel.” The book went along well with many sci-fi movies showing the world in a destruction aftermath. I liked the difference of this series having children being the main characters and the story written through their eyes.

Mrs. Edwards:

Double Dutch was an incredible book. It told the gut-wrenching truth of teenagers struggling to survive and overcome life’s trials. It was a great reminder of what some kids face on a daily basis, and how they still manage to overcome.

Mr. Woodall’s Review:

This is a story that highlights a boy as he tries to discover what it is to be a man. Alvin’s mother will not let him prove that he has guts. Alvin sets out to in the footsteps of his hero Matthew Henson to prove her wrong. This is a great book for any young man exploring his own journey to manhood.

This story is about how Skiff fights to reclaim his father’s fishing boat. At the same time he is fighting to reclaim his father as well. This is great book about family struggles in time of strife.

Here are a few of the following quotes I received from teachers regarding their favorite South Carolina Junior Book Award nominees they read this year:

Ms. Haney:

There were several I liked, but reading The City of Ember caused me to read the sequel, and the “prequel.” The book went along well with many sci-fi movies showing the world in a destruction aftermath. I liked the difference of this series having children being the main characters and the story written through their eyes.

Mrs. Edwards:

Double Dutch was an incredible book. It told the gut-wrenching truth of teenagers struggling to survive and overcome life’s trials. It was a great reminder of what some kids face on a daily basis, and how they still manage to overcome.

Mr. Woodall’s Review:

This is a story that highlights a boy as he tries to discover what it is to be a man. Alvin’s mother will not let him prove that he has guts. Alvin sets out to in the footsteps of his hero Matthew Henson to prove her wrong. This is a great book for any young man exploring his own journey to manhood.

This story is about how Skiff fights to reclaim his father’s fishing boat. At the same time he is fighting to reclaim his father as well. This is great book about family struggles in time of strife.

Here are a few of the following quotes I received from teachers regarding their favorite South Carolina Junior Book Award nominees they read this year:

Ms. Haney:

There were several I liked, but reading The City of Ember caused me to read the sequel, and the “prequel.” The book went along well with many sci-fi movies showing the world in a destruction aftermath. I liked the difference of this series having children being the main characters and the story written through their eyes.

Mrs. Edwards:

Double Dutch was an incredible book. It told the gut-wrenching truth of teenagers struggling to survive and overcome life’s trials. It was a great reminder of what some kids face on a daily basis, and how they still manage to overcome.

Mr. Woodall’s Review:

This is a story that highlights a boy as he tries to discover what it is to be a man. Alvin’s mother will not let him prove that he has guts. Alvin sets out to in the footsteps of his hero Matthew Henson to prove her wrong. This is a great book for any young man exploring his own journey to manhood.

This story is about how Skiff fights to reclaim his father’s fishing boat. At the same time he is fighting to reclaim his father as well. This is great book about family struggles in time of strife.

Here are a few of the following quotes I received from teachers regarding their favorite South Carolina Junior Book Award nominees they read this year:

Ms. Haney:

There were several I liked, but reading The City of Ember caused me to read the sequel, and the “prequel.” The book went along well with many sci-fi movies showing the world in a destruction aftermath. I liked the difference of this series having children being the main characters and the story written through their eyes.

Mrs. Edwards:

Double Dutch was an incredible book. It told the gut-wrenching truth of teenagers struggling to survive and overcome life’s trials. It was a great reminder of what some kids face on a daily basis, and how they still manage to overcome.

Mr. Woodall’s Review:

This is a story that highlights a boy as he tries to discover what it is to be a man. Alvin’s mother will not let him prove that he has guts. Alvin sets out to in the footsteps of his hero Matthew Henson to prove her wrong. This is a great book for any young man exploring his own journey to manhood.

This story is about how Skiff fights to reclaim his father’s fishing boat. At the same time he is fighting to reclaim his father as well. This is great book about family struggles in time of strife.

Here are a few of the following quotes I received from teachers regarding their favorite South Carolina Junior Book Award nominees they read this year:

Ms. Haney:

There were several I liked, but reading The City of Ember caused me to read the sequel, and the “prequel.” The book went along well with many sci-fi movies showing the world in a destruction aftermath. I liked the difference of this series having children being the main characters and the story written through their eyes.

Mrs. Edwards:

Double Dutch was an incredible book. It told the gut-wrenching truth of teenagers struggling to survive and overcome life’s trials. It was a great reminder of what some kids face on a daily basis, and how they still manage to overcome.

Mr. Woodall’s Review:

This is a story that highlights a boy as he tries to discover what it is to be a man. Alvin’s mother will not let him prove that he has guts. Alvin sets out to in the footsteps of his hero Matthew Henson to prove her wrong. This is a great book for any young man exploring his own journey to manhood.

This story is about how Skiff fights to reclaim his father’s fishing boat. At the same time he is fighting to reclaim his father as well. This is great book about family struggles in time of strife.

Here are a few of the following quotes I received from teachers regarding their favorite South Carolina Junior Book Award nominees they read this year:

Ms. Haney:

There were several I liked, but reading The City of Ember caused me to read the sequel, and the “prequel.” The book went along well with many sci-fi movies showing the world in a destruction aftermath. I liked the difference of this series having children being the main characters and the story written through their eyes.

Mrs. Edwards:

Double Dutch was an incredible book. It told the gut-wrenching truth of teenagers struggling to survive and overcome life’s trials. It was a great reminder of what some kids face on a daily basis, and how they still manage to overcome.

Mr. Woodall’s Review:

This is a story that highlights a boy as he tries to discover what it is to be a man. Alvin’s mother will not let him prove that he has guts. Alvin sets out to in the footsteps of his hero Matthew Henson to prove her wrong. This is a great book for any young man exploring his own journey to manhood.

This story is about how Skiff fights to reclaim his father’s fishing boat. At the same time he is fighting to reclaim his father as well. This is great book about family struggles in time of strife.

Here are a few of the following quotes I received from teachers regarding their favorite South Carolina Junior Book Award nominees they read this year:

Ms. Haney:

There were several I liked, but reading The City of Ember caused me to read the sequel, and the “prequel.” The book went along well with many sci-fi movies showing the world in a destruction aftermath. I liked the difference of this series having children being the main characters and the story written through their eyes.

Mrs. Edwards:

Double Dutch was an incredible book. It told the gut-wrenching truth of teenagers struggling to survive and overcome life’s trials. It was a great reminder of what some kids face on a daily basis, and how they still manage to overcome.

Mr. Woodall’s Review:

This is a story that highlights a boy as he tries to discover what it is to be a man. Alvin’s mother will not let him prove that he has guts. Alvin sets out to in the footsteps of his hero Matthew Henson to prove her wrong. This is a great book for any young man exploring his own journey to manhood.

This story is about how Skiff fights to reclaim his father’s fishing boat. At the same time he is fighting to reclaim his father as well. This is great book about family struggles in time of strife.