ACS READS

Alex recommends...

2010-04-29T08:04:00.000-07:00

The Things they Carried, by Tim O'Brien, is an interesting collection of war stories. What I like about the book is that you feel like you're there, since it has very good descriptions. Also being in short stories, that are separated, you aren't urged to read it in one go. You can read a little every day. If I tell you anything about the plot of any story I would ruin it for you. Find it, read it, like it, and remember who told you about it.

Svetla recommends...

2010-04-29T07:56:00.000-07:00

I recommend this series that begins with Fallen. The author is Lauren Kate.

The book is about the forbidden love between a human girl and a fallen angel. Lucinda is a teenager sent to a school where all of the students have some kind of dark future. And there she meets Daniel... Some of you may decide that the story is a lot similar to Twilight, but they don't have anything in common. For me, Fallen had a deeper meaning and the romance was not presented in such an obvious way, making it sound like a soap opera.

The book catches the reader's interest and is interesting to read. A hint of gothic scent could be felt...

Alexander recommends...

2010-04-29T07:53:00.000-07:00

A book I recommend to people who have liked The Hitchhiker's Guide by Douglas Adams is The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul. It is a strange piece of writing that combines mystery and fantasy and comedy. It has a peculiar sense of humor. The plot involves a private detective, an American woman living in London, and the Norse Gods.

Elena recommends...

2010-04-29T07:19:00.000-07:00

Vianne is a divorced woman with a little child. She moves to a small french village during the time when the Catholic church is very powerful. She is not accepted and has a lot of difficulties starting a business with her chocolate shop.

Will the skeptical people change, when they taste the amazing chocolate Vianne makes? Will their hearts get warmer, as the chocolate they are drinking? Will Vianne find a new love or will she stay a single, friendly woman? Read Chocolat and taste the flavor of this story, both sweet and sour.

Karina recommends Uglies

2010-04-29T05:14:00.000-07:00

If you like fantasy stories that capture your attention so much that you don't want to stop reading, then this is the book for you. It is about a young girl named Tally who is about to get what she has always wanted. However, she realizes that there are more important things than being perfect - friendship, loyalty, happiness. What choice will she make? Will she follow her heart and what will it tell her? This book is the first one in a trilogy, so you might also enjoy Pretties and Specials by Scott Westerfield.

Siyana recommends Where Rainbows End

2010-04-29T05:11:00.000-07:00

If you like romantic stories which give important life lessons but at the same time are fun to read, then Where Rainbows End is just for you. The style of the book is interesting because it tells what happens via e-mails, texts and letters. Where Rainbows End is from the author of P.S., I Love You and tells the story of Alex and Rosie, who are best friends since childhood but eventually fall in love with each other. Will they be together after all the obstacles they meet?

If you like this book, you would probably also like P.S., I Love You.

Lewbina recommends Black Beauty

2010-04-29T05:09:00.000-07:00

Black Beauty is a book for the animal lovers. It's a story about a horse, but with human problems. It is interesting how people don't know and probably will never understand if the animals think like them and undergo almost the same situations. The book is a fictional story, but it still makes you think if one horse can have similar feelings like the humans.

Dimitar recommends The Tao of Pooh

2010-04-29T05:08:00.001-07:00

The Tao of Pooh is a representation of Eastern wisdom, hidden in the character of Pooh and interpreted by the author. The book tells a story about how we should act in a natural way, what is our true human nature and how to reach it. The book is very short and easy to read.

Viara recommends The Five People you Meet in Heaven

2010-04-29T05:05:00.000-07:00

This book has become one of my favorite books. I love it because it is intriguing and has an unexpected end. It gives many life lessons and has a lot of interesting thoughts and original aphorisms. Once you start, you just can't stop, until you know what will happen to Eddie, who is the main character.

Teodor recommends Pet Sematary

2010-04-29T05:02:00.000-07:00

This is one of the best horror books I have ever read. It tells the story of a doctor who has a great family and a great life. There is a scary secret about his house, which puts an end to his happy days. I liked this book a lot because it was very interesting, very scary and contained some very intelligent thoughts.

Goran recommends The World According to Garp

2010-04-29T05:01:00.000-07:00

Although not entirely depressing, the novel offers a grim reality through the eyes of Garp who has to constantly deal with things like death - a main theme in the book. It is incredibly easy and fun to read with very attractive characters. The pace of the novel is just right and it is full of emotions around each page.

Mila recommends Ishmael

2010-04-29T04:58:00.000-07:00

This is an amazing, life-changing book that should be read by everybody. Considering the problems of our time (such as exreme growth of population, decrease in resources, extinction of a species, etc.), people are in serious trouble. Ishmael does not contain the solution to the crisis, but rather gives inspiration and hope that things can change and harmony with nature can be created once again.

Read this book. Ask questions. Find the answers.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

2010-04-29T04:56:00.000-07:00

The Picture of Dorian Gray is a book about a really handsome guy called Dorian Gray who meets a good painter. He makes him a great portrait and Dorian realizes how handsome he is, and wishes that the portrait would grow and change instead of him, and his beauty and youth will remain forever. However, the wish happens and the face on the portrait becomes older and older, and uglier. Dorian becomes arrogant, selfish and bad; he starts to do bad things until one day...

Simona recommends One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

2010-04-29T04:52:00.000-07:00

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey is a book I loved, because it reminds me how short life is, and that I should not be afraid to do what I want to do and to experience as much as possible, enjoying just the beauty of being alive. It is the story about people's life in the asylum. They are treated like they are a great danger for society and should be watched carefully all the time in order not to mess up. All the rules that are imposed on them smother them and their life consists pretty much only of breathing, eating and sleeping. People are not meant to live in such suppression.

Boris recommends For Whom the Bell Tolls

2010-04-17T07:43:00.000-07:00

This book is written by Hemingway and it's really nice and intense. If you like action and adventure mixed with a love story, this is the book for you. We see a young saboteur that has to blow up a bridge, and track this man's actions in sunny Spain in a Guerilla camp.

Ivo D. recommends Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

2010-04-17T07:40:00.000-07:00

This is the best Harry Potter of the entire series. Harry faces tons of challenges including fighting with Death Eaters and leading a secret brotherhood. He even gets involved with a girl. There are many sudden turns and unexpected deaths. If you like fantasy, action and adventure - this book is for you!

SIlvia recommends Naked, by David Sedaris

2010-04-17T07:19:00.000-07:00

This is a book that is written in the form of several autobiographical stories. There is a lot of sarcasm in them and it is often very funny. Naked is a more modern book but it is not for everybody. Sedaris talks openly about his sexuality and life in general.

Julia recommends A Clockwork Orange

2010-04-17T07:15:00.001-07:00

It is all about a gang of guys who hang out together and joke with people. Once they had fun joking one of their many victims, three of the boys decide to betray the fourth one so that when the police come, he could be sent to jail. So that is what happens. There, they put him under control and try to change his nature radically, like when he thinks about sex, he would feel sick and throw up. Would they succeed?

I loved this book. It is hilarious and at the same time horrible, because one can be surprised at what the human mind can think of. Still, it is really nice and addictive. Even though it was written in 1960, it does not sound dated at all. It is rather realistic and modern.

Vicky recommends The Right Attitude to Rain

2010-04-17T03:29:00.000-07:00

The Right Attitude to Rain is one really interesting book that leads the reader into Edinburgh and makes him/her feel like he/she is in Scotland. The feeling that the book brings is the most interesting thing about the book, but not the only thing. The story itself is about a woman who is almost 45, and she is confused about her feelings towards a man who is 14 years younger than her. She wants to be with him but her strong morals stop her. Her thoughts about this and other philosophical themes are what keeps the reader intrigued during the whole book.

If you liked the book Chocolat, you would probably like this book too because the styles are similar in their descriptions.

Nina recommends Pippi Longstocking

2010-04-17T03:27:00.000-07:00

I'm sure everybody knows the story of Pippi Longstocking. When I was re-reading it recently I suddenly felt like the person I was at 5. I was a happy kid who had a lot of dreams and played a lot of games. I recommend this book because it helps the reader remember who she was and where he came from. It is like a time machine to the land of smiles.

Alex recommends The Secret Garden

2010-04-17T03:23:00.000-07:00

The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodges Burnett, is an excellent, must-read book. It's a great read, especially in the springtime, since half the book talks about the blooming of spring and the "magic" mature that can even manage to heal the ill-tempered Collin. The Secret Garden is a book you can read in a night. The words, the pages, the story flows with a wonderful beat. Mary, a spoiled child living in India, loses her parents to yellow fever which makes her have to move to her uncle's mansion in England. After discovering the healing powers of gardening, she not only heals her bad temper, but she also manages to turn her widower of an Uncle's child into a normal, happy, healthy boy.

Anna recommends P.S. I Love You

2010-04-17T03:19:00.000-07:00

It only takes a blink of an eye to lose the one you love. Holly Kennedy, the main character of P.S. I Love You, is totally devastated when her husband is diagnosed with cancer. Holly and Gerry were high school sweethearts and no one could imagine them without each other. Until the death of Gerry leaves Holly all alone. P.S. I love You is an entertaining book teaching one how to stop mourning and start a new life.

Andrea recommends...

2010-01-25T06:34:00.000-08:00

After reading Slam by the same author, I was thrilled by his style of writing, so I took About a Boy. It is a book about the curious friendship between a man in his 30s and a 12-year-old boy. Filled with humor, but also serious issues, the book kept my attention till its very end. If you are a fan of Nirvana too, you will definitely like this novel.

Related: Slam, High Fidelity

Nina and Vesco recommend...

2010-01-25T06:31:00.000-08:00

The world many years from now. A scholar who claims he knows a way to predict the future. Will he be able to put his theory into practice? What will he discover about the world around him? Is human destiny only a series of equations? Nobody knows...

Related: The Foundation

-Nina

This book starts the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov. If you have read some of his books, you'll like it. I have read some fo the other Foundation books, but I couldn't understand some things about the entire story. This book made it more clear to me. So if you have read some Isaac Asimov, then you should definitely read this one. And if you want to read about the Foundation and the Empire, this is the place to start!

-Vesco

Karina recommends...

2010-01-25T02:14:00.000-08:00

A wonderful book about a small town in France and a woman who is not accustomed to its lifestyle and beliefs - a book about good and evil, about finding yourself, and mostly about chocolate. A charming story that would make you question what is good and what is not and would make you love chocolate even more.

Violeta recommends...

2010-01-25T02:11:00.000-08:00

This is not a book that you read for half an hour and then leave. It's a book that one may read for weeks and still enjoy grasping every word. What is the life of the prostitute that never thought of being one? How does she find love through her profession? What are those 11 minutes - nothing or maybe everything? A story of a woman that chose the easy way, but it turned out to be the hardest.

Related: all Paolo Coelho's books, but especially recommended... Veronica Decides to Die.

Ivo G. recommends...

2010-01-25T02:09:00.000-08:00

The autobiography of The Red Hot Chili Peppers lead singer tells the thrilling story of a drug addict who could rap becoming a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominee. It shows everday situations through the mind of a rock star. The exciting story of a lifetime has turned into a bestseller for a reason.

Jenny recommends...

2010-01-25T02:06:00.000-08:00

I highly recommend this book for anyone who is open-minded, wants to read something very different, and is more interested in ideas rather than plot. Its main charcter is a drug addict (on heroin, in particular) whose life or rather thoughts are very weirdly described. The catching thing in the book is that you can hardly distinguish between a real event and a hallucination... or maybe it is a mix of them? his ideas, however, are extremely original, and it is the reader's decision to accept or totally deny them. But he can't just stay neutral.

Siyana recommends...

2010-01-25T02:04:00.000-08:00

The Undomestic Goddess is about a woman who has a great job - the dream that she has been working for since childhood. And still... there is a thing missing - family and love. A huge mistake makes her run away and find something new. She has to choose between love and work... but what will she choose?

This book is suitable for readers who like romantic stories with happy endings.

Julia recommends...

2010-01-22T01:02:00.000-08:00

This is a book written by a very young Italian physicist describing the life of a girl and a boy who become a man and a woman. They start their friendship in kindergarten and they keep it until the book ends. It is a novel about happiness, truth and true friendship. I'd also recommend you read The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

Boris recommends...

2010-01-22T01:00:00.001-08:00

An interesting book that I've read this quarter is The Night of the Dragon. It's fiction, a very nice book filled with adventures. It's the second part of the series, the first is called The Day of the Dragon. So it's full of swords, might and magic and dragons, of course. It's a nice book, and I think you'll like it.

Mariya, Mina and Lora recommend...

2010-01-22T00:55:00.000-08:00

If you like weird stories with mad characters and poems without any logic, then you would love Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carrol. Everybody knows what these books are about, and even has read them already. I'd recommend that you read them again - from the point of view of a relatively grown-up person, not of a child... and you'll be surprised how many imporatnt things are said there. I hope you'll see them and like the book even more.

-Mariya

Lewis Carrol shows us the world of a girl the way she sees it using her unlimited imagination. Everything seems nonsense to the reader but that's the point- he shouldn't try to understand it. He should enjoy the book and Alice's adventures and remember the wonderlands and creatures from his childhood.

-Mina

As childish as it may sound, the book I liked the most from all the outside reading books this year was Alice in Wonderland. I've always thought that this was just a kid's book, but it was a lot more. I loved the style of the author and definitely the original ideas. The movie that was recently released was totally awful and it was very different from the book. There is an animated movie from the 1950s, which is very accurate, and if you're wondering whether or not to read the book, you should see it.

-Lora

Vicky and Ivo G. recommend...

2010-01-22T00:50:00.000-08:00

High Fidelity is a book by Nick Hornby that shows the life of a thirty five year old man whose girlfriend left him for the guy who used to live on the upper floor. He remembers all of his bad break-ups and tries to find connections between them to understand what's wrong with him. He meets all of his "five worst break-ups" girls and this changes his perception of relationships. On top of that his ex-girlfriend's dad dies and this makes him even more confused.

It's a book about music, relationships, love and dreams about the future that will make every girl a little more competent on boy's view on life.

Related: Slam, also by Nick Hornby

-Vicky

Nick Hornby tells a story of a life in his bestseller High Fidelity, explaining one man's point of view in a unique way by listing his top 5 choices of movies and records on one side, but on the other side, taking a look at his personal life. Will he get back together with his girlfriend? What was the initial story of his record shop? And much more about the everyday life of an inspired music shop owner will keep your attention to see the world through someone else's point of view.

-Ivo

Simona recommends...

2010-01-20T23:01:00.000-08:00

The graphic novel Persepolis is about an Iranian girl growing up during the Islamic wars in the 20th century. Many people whom she know and loves die during the war for standing up for what they believe. However, this does not stop her from being a rebel and always saying her opinion out loud even if that's gonna bring her trouble.

If you like graphic novels, you might also like: Maus

Teodor recommends...

2010-01-20T22:58:00.000-08:00

The newest book by Dan Brown is an absolute masterpiece. Several years had passed from the adventures of Professor Langdon in Paris, when a new mystery awaits him. This time, the life of his best friend depends on his ability to solve mysteries. Personally, I like this book more than the most famous book of this author - The Da Vinci Code. If you liked The Da Vinci Code, I strongly recommend this book to you - it will keep you interested until the end and you won't get bored.

Related: Deception Point, Angels and Demons, The Da Vinci Code

Goran recommends...

2010-01-20T22:53:00.000-08:00

For those interested in political regimes or the whole history of how politics came to be, this would be a great read. It is not short but it is very easy to grasp. The book begins from ancient Greece and continues till all the different branches of capitalism. Each political system is explained systematically. Along the way one would also learn a lot of history. It's amazing - never thought you could tell the history of politics in an easy-to-understand and elegant way.

Alexander and Pavel recommend...

2010-01-20T22:50:00.000-08:00

Ender's Shadow is a mixture of several genres. It is partly sci-fi, partly dealing with the psychological experiences of characters, and partly a children's book. The reason for the last is that unlike in most sci-fis, the main character is a small kid - much more mentally developed than others but still a kid - and events such as a war against aliens are looked at from his perspective.

Related: Ender's Game

-Alexander

Ender's Shadow is a science fiction book that can really make you stay awake all night because you can't stop reading. It has the story of Ender's Game, a book I have previously recommended, but it is told through the eyes of a totally different character, Bean. Without him we understand that Ender himself would have never managed to succeed in his mission. I recommend it not only to fiction lovers but to all people who want a dynamic and interesting book.

-Pavel

Svetla and Jenny Recommend

2010-01-20T22:46:00.000-08:00

The curious incident of the dog in the night-time is a really unusual and intriguing book. It's about a boy who find his neighbor's dog killed in front of her yard. He starts an investigation in order to find out who killed it. The weird thing is the entire story is from the boy's perspective. He is the most unique character I have ever read about. He looks from the perspective of a person who is scared of the world; he doesn't trust anyone. At the same time he is a pure genius and he does not know the meaning of being evil. Those interested in psychology would like this book the most.

-Svetla

This book is probably one of the smartest books I've ever read. It is about a boy with autism, a mental illness, making contacts with people - a hard and horrible thing for the ill one. All the facts about physics and mathematics in it make the reader learn a lot, but do not consider the book a "nerds-only" entertainment. I read it in a flash because of the main character's interesting thoughts and the simplicity of the writing combined with the intelligence that makes it impossible to put down this book.

-Jenny

Lora recommends...

2010-01-20T22:44:00.001-08:00

The Man Who Laughs is a very emotional and rather scary book I read a while ago. It tells the story of a boy, who got kidnapped when he was a child and then was tortured. This torture was inspired by the fact that at the time the book was written, people found it funny to see "freaks" in the circus. So Hugo tells beforehand of all the other kids, who were, for example, put in a box so their bones got deformed. The laughing man got his mouth extended so that it looked like he was laughing all the time, but on the inside he was very sad.

Mila recommends...

2010-01-20T22:42:00.000-08:00

This is an amazing book that tells two stories at the same time. The first one is about a young man who wakes up in a hospital and finds out his girlfriend has died in a bus crash. While he wanders through his memoires, a soldier from World War I tells his own story of lost love.

Lewbina recommends...

2010-01-20T22:40:00.000-08:00

This month I read the first book of the Twilight series. I have watched the movie, but believe me the book is much better. This is a fictional story about vampires. There is this human girl who falls in love with the extremely handsome Edward. He hides many secrets about his family and himself and when Bella finds out the truth the adventures begin.

Related: New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn

Dimitar D. recommends...

2010-01-20T22:36:00.000-08:00

The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne, is a book sending a message to everyone about the incredible power of the mind that each one possesses. Although Rhonda Byrne is the author of the book, in it many people have written their stories and have given advice.

Related Book: Quantum Physics; Mind Power into the 21st Century

Ani recommends...

2010-01-20T22:34:00.000-08:00

A really good book with a movie made on its story, but the book is better and has parts that are not in the movie. This is a story about a retarded man who has to deal all alone with the world. Being the fastest runner in college, he plays football, later falls in love with a girl, and passes through many things till the end of the book.

Related: Of Mice and Men

Dimitar Recommends...

2010-01-20T22:31:00.000-08:00

This is a book from the author Andrzej Sapkowski. It discusses the sotry of an assassin with special talents and his specialty is in killing creatures that threaten humans. If you like fiction, you'll definitely like The Witcher.

Related Books: Lord Loss, The Witcher: Sword of Destiny, Lord of the Rings

Viara recommends...

2010-01-20T22:27:00.000-08:00

I'd recommend the book By The River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept by Paulo Coelho. If you enjoy love stories and stories that talk about life in general, you should definitely read it. I totally loved it.

Also recommended: All of Paolo Coelho's books

Ani recommends...

2009-12-09T00:50:00.000-08:00

A book with a really exciting and interesting theme in th unique style of Agatha Christie. It tells the story of 7 people who want to make a joke with their friend who loves to sleep a lot. They buy seven clocks and make the alarm of each clock ring in a row at 6:30. On the next morning they find him dead and till the end of the book the mystery becomes more and more complicated, until finally it's revealed.

Alex and Vesco recommend...

2009-12-09T00:47:00.000-08:00

If you like graphic novels, I recommend Maus. It is a story about the holocaust. A father tells his son what happened with a lot of details. The thing that makes this holocaust story special is that all the Jews are represented as mice and all the Nazis - cats. The Polish peopls are represented as pigs and the Americans as dogs. I really like the drawings, they are well made and perfectly show emotion. If you studied Night in 9th grade and want it like a graphic novel, then I recommend that you read it. Read it in one go, it will take you less than two hours. -Alex

Are you interested in the Holocaust? Are you bored of heavy books that talk about WWII? Then Maus is the book for you. It's not just a book - it's a graphic novel that tells the story of hte Jews during WWII in an unusual way. Watch the Nazis and Jews play like a cat and a mouse. Who's going to win? -Vesco

Teodor recommends...

2009-12-09T00:42:00.000-08:00

The Hobbit is a very popular book written by J.R.R. Tolkien. It is a very interesting and easy-to-read story, of a hobbit called Bilbo. Bilbo is an ordinary hobbit - he just stays at home, doing his work and drinking tea. Everything is perfectly normal, until one day he is included in an adventure and his life is changed forever.

Everbody who likes adventure books will love this one. It is very well written and it makes you part of the story. If you are a fan of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, you would like it as well, because The Hobbit is some kind of a prologue to the trilogy.

If you like this book you would probably like: Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King, The Children of Hurin

Peter recommends...

2009-12-09T00:40:00.000-08:00

Lord of the Rings is an epic book in the genre of adventure fiction. It is one of a kind and it is the beginning of an era in which people compare books from the same genre to Lord of the Rings. Movies, action figures, toys, play cards... all these things keep the flames going in the readers' hearts.

Just give it a go and by the end of the first chapter, you will be enchanted by Tolkien's writing style.

Related: The Hobbit

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit, living in the shire under The Hill, leading a peaceful life as a farmer... until one day, the mightiest dwarves from Middle-Earth come to his house and make him passionate about going on adventures - hunting dragons, finding rare armor and weapons and acquiring special rings. Read the whole book to see what eactly is going on and if Bilbo manages to complete the adventures.

Veselin recommends...

2009-12-09T00:36:00.000-08:00

This book is about scientists, military, war and terrorists. A scientist called Benes has some vital information which can win the war. But as Benes is escorted from one military base to another, the convoy is attacked. Benes survives, but he's unconscious. The information, however, has to be recovered. Join Grant and his team of scientists while they are traveling inside Benes' brain. Will they be able to recover the information? Will they manage to save the world?

If you like scifi, you will absolutely love Isaac Asimov's books - the Foundation series are some of the greatest books ever!

Dimitar recommends...

2009-12-09T00:33:00.000-08:00

I'm halfway through the book. This book is deeply philosophical and makes people think about their life. It tells a story of a man who wants to find what truly lies deep beneath the surface in every human being - in their souls. He seeks Good and Evil in humans and tries to make general conclusions about all human beings through a story about a village, a stranger and the people in this village.

Goran recommends...

2009-12-09T00:30:00.000-08:00

D-Day is a non-fiction historical book on one of the most important days in the history of the modern world. It talks about all the preparations and people behind the actualization of this operation, code named "Overload." The opening of a second front is a key turning point in WWII. If you have read any of Ambrose's other books, such as Citizen Soldiers, this book is the one you're looking for. It is very long and complex but is ideal for people extremely interested in 20th century history and World War II.

Alexander recommends...

2009-12-09T00:27:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading The Da Vinci Code. It is quite a serious-style book but that doesn't mean it will be boring to read. If you are interested in codes/hidden messages, this is a book you may want to read - it contains many of these, and they are vital to the plot's development. Actually, the book consists of two main characters' attempts to understand a message left by a murdered man just before he died, and to unravel the historical uncertainties he was connected to, while other unscrupulous groups or individuals try to get to the secret themselves.

Viara recommends...

2009-12-08T02:12:00.000-08:00

The Master and the Margarita is my favorite book. It is a book that includes all kinds of topics. It is a book about life in general. You can learn about love, hatred, desire, will power, good and bad, about everything. What makes it so interesting is that the Devil is included in the story. In a series of adventures, you get to know the main character Margarita. But will she sacrifice her life in the name of love? The Master and the Margarita is a book worth reading.

You might like Paulo Coelho's books if you like this one, or this one if you like Coelho's.

Lewbina recommends...

2009-12-08T02:08:00.000-08:00

This book is about an extraordinary love triangle. We have a witch, a spirit God, and a boy. However, the story's weirdness doesn't end here. There are many other creatures that will make you laugh throughout the book. If you want to dive into the fiction world, this is the right book for you.

Lora recommends...

2009-12-08T02:05:00.000-08:00

The book I liked most from those I read this year is Death and a Compass, by Jorge Luis Borges. It's not a novel, or a few short stories. It's different essays on different topics. What I liked most about it was the style and that I learned the point of view of numerous themes by the genius author. I've never read anything like that and it was brought to the reader in an extraordinary way.

Svetla recommends...

2009-12-08T02:02:00.000-08:00

I recommend to all of you who like stories about vampires, to read the House of Night series. I'm finishing the first book called Hunted. The story is about a girl who is chosen to become a vampire and then she goes to a school for vampires. There she understands that she is more powerful than the others and that she is chosen from the goddess that the vampires are worshipping.

It is a really interesting book, easy to read. For those of you who like Harry Potter, her school may remind you of Hogwarts. There are many funny moments and it is perfectly suitable for teens.

Iva and Joan recommend...

2009-12-08T01:57:00.000-08:00

I am only halfway through but this book has already become the best book I've read in this year's outside reading. This is a book written by a sixteen-year-old boy and is already an international bestseller. Eragon is a story of a boy who discovers a dragon egg and becomes a dragon rider. This fantasy book tells the reader a lot about dragons and magic creatures. Also, the adventure is non-stop and breath-taking. If you liked The Hobbit you will probably like this book too. It is a book for true adventurers.

-Iva

My favorite book this quarter was Eragon by Christopher Paolini. This book is a story about one lazy boy whose life suddenly changes when he finds a dragon egg in a fossil. Eragon becomes a dragon rider and is the chosen one who must defeat the evil lord Galbatorix. I liked this book very much because it's a mixture of adventures, fantasy and a lot of battles. It is a very dynamic book and every single moment is very exciting and interesting. The book is suitable for people of every age. I recommend it to everyone.

-Joan

Dimitar recommends...

2009-12-08T01:55:00.000-08:00

This book is about a teenager called Grubbs. He meets and duels demons, trying to protect himself and his family. The book is full of gruesome scenes, so if you don't like blood you shouldn't even touch it! On the other hand, if you are a fan of thriller and horror novels Lord Loss is the correct choice. Not every long and extremely readable, this book will become a pleasant Saturday read.

Simona recommends...

2009-12-08T01:50:00.000-08:00

Cat's Cadle is a book by Kurt Vonnegut I read a few months ago. It is so great, because it tells a story about the end of the world in a humanistic way and still makes you think about many things that are going all wrong in our lives. There are a lot of poems in it too and the author's style is magnificent. All Vonnegut's fans should read this book, it is even better than Breakfast of Champions.

Mila recommends...

2009-12-08T01:43:00.000-08:00

Veronika Decides to Die is truly the best book I have read. There are so many truths about life and so many lessons that can change one's view on the world, that I do not think it is necessary to say what it is about. Read it and you will see. What I want to say is that Paolo Coehlo's style, simple and pure, can grab the attention of the reader from the first sentence and keep it until the end. I hope it will bring you the same relief and inner peace it brought me.

Ms. Potash's note: I liked By The River Piedra I sat down and Wept, The Devil and Miss Prym and The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho - books with similar themes about living life.

Julia recommends...

2009-12-07T23:09:00.000-08:00

The book Animal Farm by George Orwell is similar to 1984 by the same author. The topics about communism and a utopic world are pretty common in his works.

In Animal Farm, the heads are presented as pigs and all other animals are under their reign. They create their own laws, like the Ten Commandments. Their enemy #1 is man. As time passes, there are some big changes occuring within the yard...

I'd like to recommend the book to people who like 1984 and who'd like to see what our life might be like if we were animals...

Joan recommends...

2009-12-07T23:03:00.000-08:00

Author Ben Mikaelsen and his real pet bear

Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen tells a story about one 15-year-old boy called Cole Matthews. He has had a really bad childhood, because of his family, his attitutde toward his friends and classmates, and his social behavior. Many times he has stolen or fought. One day he violently attacks his classmate Peter Driscal. He is forced to choose between prison and Native American Circle Justice. He chooses the Circle Justice and he is brought to a lonely island where he should change his personality. When he tries to escape from this island through swimming he meets a mysterious white bear...

Cole's journey is to self-realization through hardship and confrontation to destroy the evil in him. If you want to understand what is Cole's destiny, you should read the book.

Anna recommends...

2009-12-07T22:58:00.001-08:00

A great book for girls who face problems with their moms, Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood is all about a daughter discovering her mother's identity and real life. The book is full of funny, interesting and enjoyable stories of a sisterhood. The sisterhood faces love, pain, joy and happiness. Read Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood and face these with them. People who like The Joy Luck Club and/or The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan will certainly like Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood as well.

Maria and Victoria and Iva recommend...

2009-12-07T22:51:00.000-08:00

Tony Hawk, the skateboarder featured in Slam

If you like teenager books, then you should read Slam by Nick Hornby. It's a novel about a 16-year-old boy who likes two things - skating (skateboard) and arts. He's not one of those teenagers who smokes and drinks - he's calm and his life goes really well. Until he meets Alicia. Not only that he falls in love, but also an unexpected surprise changes their lives forever. This book presents very well how a small teenager attraction can mess up your life.

-Mariya

When a boy meets a girl, his world changes. He used to skate all day long and had conversations with his Tony Hawk poster, but now it's different. Everything changed with one mistake. The teenage couple has to figure out their differences to deal with their "problem" that will turn them into adults sooner than they expect. Slam is a fresh and funny book that every teenager who has a serious or not-that-serious relationship has to read.

In my opinion the book deserves 10 out of 10 because it makes you read it without stopping until you finish it. It's not a masterpiece but it's a book that deserves attention.

-Vicky

The book Slam by Nick Hornby is talking about the biggest SLAM in the life of one skater named Sam. His mother gave birth to him when she was 16 and she is afraid whether he is going to do the same thing. And he really does it! He sleeps with one girl a couple of times and she gets pregnant. Now, the real troubles appear. Will he betray his skating for the sake of the baby or will he run away from his problems?

Slam is a really funny book which talks about ordinary people with common problems. It is just a real book.

-Iva

Siyana and Laska and Velizar recommend...

2009-12-07T02:30:00.000-08:00

The Memoirs of a Geisha tells the fascinating story of a girl that doesn't want to be ordinary anymore. You want to know more about Japanese life? Or how a girl born in a small village can become one of the best geisha in history? Then probably you would like to read The Memoirs of a Geisha and answer those questions.

-Siyana

This quarter the book I enjoyed most was Memoirs of a Geisha. I guarantee that if you have liked the movie, you'll be delighted with the book also. It was a bit long, but so much is happening throughout it that you never get bored. What's great about the book is that it follows the path of a young girl growing, changing, succeeding and failing. It is definitely not a book for boys, though, girls would enjoy it much more.

-Laska

The dramatic novel, Memoirs of a Geisha, by Arthur Golden, has everything - obstacles, a love story, and more... It is one of the saddest books I've ever read for it is filled with emotions and pressure. The story is about a little Japanese girl who lost everything: her family, her home... but she has an ambition, to become a geisha, moving art. After so many obstacles, and after so many years, little Chiyo finally finds her danna.

-Velizar

Violeta recommends...

2009-12-07T02:26:00.000-08:00

Who is she? What does she want from life? Is she a prostitute or does she just experiment with life and love? Can she fall in love with a poor writer? Can she abandon money and fame for true love? What's her past? Is she Lula Mae or Holly? The unforgettable story of a woman's soul that nobody could figure out... until he moved next door.

If you like this book you may also like Chocolat by Joanne Harris.

Nina and Pavel recommend...

2009-12-07T02:24:00.000-08:00

It is a time when humanity has been attacked by "the buggers." Luckily the Earth survived the attacks but now there is one more battle to be fought. Ender is a young kid who is chosen to be trained and to be the commander of the last fight. He is talented but there are many obstacles for that potential to be revealed and save the world. Will Ender be able to reach his limits and be who people need him to be? How will he overcome the difficulties and will be able to do it? Will a 10-year-old manage to save humanity?

-Nina

Ender's Game turned out to be the best book I've read in a long time. It is a fiction story which in my opinion at first seems a little banal. Aliens have attacked and the only chance at survival is one single person. But as you keep reading the book you find out that Ender, the main character, is not who you expected him to be, and that this book is not about fighting evil aliens, but about will, confidence and all sorts of feelings. Everyone who reads this book will end up having a pleasant surprise.

-Pavel

Elena recommends...

2009-12-07T02:20:00.000-08:00

A huge secret, leading to a great journey to the North, where Lyra, the main character, discovers things she never even imagined. Will Lyra and her new friend help the kids escape from the evil plans? Will Lyra and her friend survive this battle? Will they be able to reveal the secret that has been kept for so long?

Lyra is a normal girl, who lives in a university. Like everyone else she has a daemon, who is her best friend, but she also has a human friend. One night, because of her curiosity, Lyra drags herself into business that isn't possible for a little girl like her to handle...

Ivaylo recommends...

2009-12-07T00:42:00.000-08:00

A spiriting and original tale of mysteries and the unknown. Ever wanted to touch the deepest and darkest secrets of the Masonic brotherhood and other cults? Ever wanted to find the true mysteries of history? This book is for you. Finally a new way to look upon the old world. Finally history is revived and we can see its true purpose. Unimaginable secrets shall be revealed, kept for thousands of years, and far surpassing your wildest dreams. A wisdom that stood in front of our eyes for hundreds of years will finally be discovered. But wait - will this power go into the right hands?

The Lost Symbol - a dazzling story about the fight between good and evil in the fight for the world's greatest relic. Families will be broken, fates will be twisted, mysteries will be revealed. Can't wait, can ya?

Alex and Sylvia recommend...

2009-12-07T00:34:00.000-08:00

(Photo from the film version)

One of L.M. Montgomery's most popular books from the series with her chacter Anne, Anne of Green Gables is the first in the series of seven books. Raised an orphan in a troubled household, Anne is gleaming with imagination. So much in fact that when she finds out an old brother and sister want to adopt her, she finds it difficult to sustain her anxiety. When the Cuthberts find out the "boy" they end up wanting to adopt was mixed up with Anne, they have a hard time deciding what to do. With a plot of growing up, getting in trouble, and true family love. Anne of Green Gables is a perfect family novel and an excellent read for people who enjoy easy-flowing books.

-Alex

An amazing story about an orphan girl who is adopted by a couple in Avonlea. Her behavior, way of expressing and thinking are a shock to the people in the town. Her imagination is beyond limits, but after a while, Anne turns into this amazing person who with lots of efforts made all of her dreams come true. This book is really cute and if you like entertaining stories about teenagers, you might like this one.

-Sylvia

Ms. Potash's note: the other books in this series (all good) are Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne of Windy Poplars, Anne's House of Dreams, Rainbow Valley, and Rilla of Ingleside

Silvia and Velizar recommend...

2009-12-07T00:31:00.000-08:00

I would really recommend Dan Brown's books if you like reading action and mystery at the same time. After I read The Da Vinci Code I immediately took Digital Fortress, which is also an amazing book. It tells the story of an unbreakable code which is about to cause the biggest disaster in history if released. You can never be sure who to trust and what to do in a situation that can risk the security of a whole nation. If you are a person who likes Dan Brown or John Grisham's books you might like Digital Fortress too.

-Silvia

If you like mysteries, chasing, ancient symbols and codes, you'll love The Da Vinci Code. It is an extremely interesting book, telling the story of a professor of symbology and one woman, who want to reveal the most ancient secret, a secrept kept for more than 2000 years. After a breath-taking chase, murders and a series of puzzles our protagonists discover even more than they could hope for.

Digital Fortress, another of Dan Brown's amazing books, is a story about a secret organization and more specifically about two of its employees. The NSA, National Security Agency, breaks unbreakable codes with the help of a one billion dollar machine. But now a Japansese hacker made a program, which is a challenge even for this machine...

-Velizar

Karina recommends...

2009-12-07T00:28:00.000-08:00

How can a pair of pants symbolize friendship? Easily; with the help of trust, love, and four girls, whose story would make you realize how much your friends mean to you. However it's not as 'sweet' as it sounds - there's drama, tears, disappointement; just like in real life. If you like entertaining books with happy endings and friendship that survives through everything, you will definitely enjoy The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

Andrea and Elena recommend...

2009-12-07T00:25:00.000-08:00

This is the story of an English teenager, whose parents are divorced, and his girlfriend. Their actions lead to a surprise, not very pleasant for both sides. Written from Sam's (the teenage boy) perspective, the book gives the reader the opportunity to dive into the story. Everything serious is presented in a witty way, but that doesn't make things unserious, just easier to understand. The perfect teenage book! If you have read other novels by Hornsby and you liked them, it is absolutely sure you'll love this one, too.

-Andrea

A story about a 16 year old boy, called Sam, and his life. Sam is a skater and is really into skating. For a long time, the only true friend he had was a poster of the best skater, until Sam met Alicia. From this moment his life turns 180 degrees. Are Sam and Alicia going to overcome their problems and will they stay together through it all? Read this incredible story of an ordinary teenager and you will find out.

Mina recommends...

2009-12-07T00:22:00.000-08:00

Just being it's easy but its lightness is unbearable. In his novel, Milan Kundera shows us the life of four different people who at some points have relationships between each other. He writes from their perspectives about life and its unbearable lightness. Love is the main subject of the book even though it is hidden.

If you like books with deep meaning and symbols you will adore this one.

Evgenia and Andrea recommend...

2009-12-07T00:17:00.000-08:00

The Perks of being a Wallflower is about growing up or refusing to do so through the eyes of a letter-reader. Charlie is in high school, and, meeting some seniors, starts participating in life and it is not always beautiful. However, if the search for happiness succeeds, Charlie can feel infinite. Very similiar to The Catcher in the Rye because of the perspective of a teenager who experiences sex, drugs and popularity, this story awakens the interest of almost every teenager. It is close. Simple. Complete. And honest. Doe a kid know what is going on? Everybody who likes the books of Salinger and A Separate Peace has a great chance of finding the story of Charlie intriguing. Just because it is their own story too.

-Jenny

This was the book I liked the most this quarter and the fact that I read it in less than a week confirms that it is great. It is written by Stephen Chbosky and it is about a teenager who has to learn what life looks like all in one year - when he is a freshman. The interesting thing about the book's style is that the teenager Charlie writes letters to an anonymous friend, describing his life. The language is simple and easy to understand, making the book close to teenage readers.

If you liked Catcher in the Rye and Slam, you will definitely love The Perks of Being a Wallflower as well.

-Andrea

Laska Recommends...

2009-12-07T00:12:00.000-08:00

Memoirs of a Deranged Young Man, by Frederic Beigbeder

Frederic Beigbeder's novel is one that is strictly written to a certain typed of people and will be strongly rejected from those that don't fit this type. The novel is written for open-minded people. The story takes place all around Europe and is successful in preserving the continent's spirit. The novel somehow joins the spiritual and the everyday life. In 24 hours the main character may experience the love of his life and the strangest most disgusting hangover. The topics that are concerned are connected to alcohol and drugs. If you liked it you may also like 9.99 and Love Lasts 3 Years.

Desislava recommends...

2009-01-18T23:56:00.000-08:00

The little girl, Sara Crewe, goes to a boarding school in England where she is treated like a princess and is liked by everybody. However, an accident occurs and her rich Indian father dies. Now, Sara is alone, with few friends, books and dreams left, and the belief that every girl is a princess and that even in the bad people one can find something good.

I really loved the book, because it shows how a little girl can fight with the hard life, follow her dreams and believe in goodness. I would recommend it to anyone who liks the movie or the book The Secret Garen, which would probably be mostly girls.

-Desy

Lyubomir recommends...

2009-01-18T23:53:00.000-08:00

In this book, the main character fights in space against aliens in brutal and unfair conditions. This is a book which can spin your imagination, as well as your head. I would recommend it to people who think life is unfair, so they can see that there is always an exit.

-Lu Balchev

Victor, Pavel, and Alex recommend...

2009-01-13T02:31:00.001-08:00

If you really want to have fun reading a book, this is the one you will enjoy. Dynamic and hilarious, wacky and hysterical - this book will shake the foundations of your soul. Don't expect just an ordinary, boring book.

-Victor

The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a very unusual book. It can be very funny, but also very serious at some moments. Start reading this book and you'll find yourself in a new world way beyond your imagination. This is a book that will surprise you till its very end and its totally worth reading.

Similar: Ender's Game

-Pavel

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is awesome. It is the first book of its series. The reason why I think it is awesome is the author's style. There were a lot of good ideas and comparisons. For example, the earth is a computer, which was supposed to find the answer to life, the universe and everything. Read it to find out about it. Also, the book makes you read it in one go, since it is always interesting and you don't want to stop.

Related: The Restaurant at the End of the Universe

-Alex

Sara recommends...

2009-01-13T02:29:00.001-08:00

This is a book about four Chinese women and their daughters living in America. You can learn a lot from it about love, friendship, mother-daughter relationships, Chinese culture and ways of thinking. I enjoyed it very much because the story is powerful, meaningful, and useful. I recommend it to anyone who is interested but especially to girls and older women.

Andrey and Mina recommend...

2009-01-13T02:24:00.000-08:00

The Little Prince is considered a childish book for grown-ups. Antoine de Saint-Exupery wrote his masterpiece to show people their lost imagination as they are becoming older and older. I recommend it to each person who has forgotten his or her beautiful world of naivete somewhere in the space of business and facts and figures.

-Andrey

I can't imagine a person who hasn't heard of that book. It is a lovely story about a little prince and his life. You know his little planet, his unique rose, and his tamed fox. A small book with deep meaning. I don't know a person who doesn't like the book.

-Mina

Reny recommends...

2009-01-13T02:19:00.000-08:00

If you read Catcher in the Rye and you liked it, you will like this book as well. It is written in Salinger's engaging, unique and intriguing style. There is no way to get bored while reading this book because every sentence makes you want to know what will happen next. Interesting plot, amazing characters, unexpected ending and a lot of meaning - that is what every story contains. The book describes a lot of the problems that people face in a strange, unusual way. I recommend this book to everyone who wants to find out which is the perfect day for a bananashake.

-Reny

Kala recommends...

2009-01-13T02:16:00.001-08:00

This is a classic book telling the story of four girls growing up without their father. The reader can enjoy seeing them changing, turning into adults. It is one of the most valuable books in American literature, because it is made for ordinary people, showing ordinary things, speaking abou the faith of four children who had been both rich and poor. This book turned out to be one of my favorites, because it is so close to the things happening to me and to other people I know, every day - meetin gfriends, doing unpleasant work, spending money. I highly recommend it to teenage girls, because they, like the four main characters, are changing.

-Kala

Recommended by Ms. Potash: The Hobbit

2009-01-13T00:08:00.000-08:00

Like dragons, dwarves, elves, and gold? Enjoy Scifi? Though The Hobbit didn't hit the silver screen when the world went wild for The Lord of the Rings trilogy, it was the book that started it all. Follow along on the adventure of Bilbo Baggins as he enters an incredible world he never thought he'd see.

Recommended by Ms. Potash: On Writing Well

2009-01-12T23:44:00.000-08:00

There are a lot of books I would recommend about writing, including Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott, The Elements of Style, by Strunk and White, Travel Writing, by Don George, and On Writing, by Stephen King. But the best and most readable book ever written on writing, in my opinion, is On Writing Well, by William Zinsser. He gives advice on improving your style and focus without ever coming across as a textbook. It is fun to read, and easy to incorporate the advice into your writing.

Recommended by Ms. Potash: Anne of Green Gables

2009-01-07T11:11:00.000-08:00

The story of a young orphan adopted by an older couple in rural Canada, this is one of my very favorite books of all time. One of the best things about it is that it's only the first in a long series: Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of Windy Poplars, Anne of the Island, Anne's House of Dreams, Rainbow Valley, and Rilla of Ingleside. Phew! So you have a lot of fun ahead of you if you like Anne. I would especially recommend this book to teenage girls, who will probably identify with Anne the most.