Andrea recommends...

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

Lewbina recommends...

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

Ani recommends...

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

Peter recommends...

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.

Iva and Joan recommend...

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

Anna recommends...

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.

Siyana and Laska and Velizar recommend...

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...

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.

Elena recommends...

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...

Alex and Sylvia recommend...

(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

Karina recommends...

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.

Desislava recommends...

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

Sara recommends...

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.

Kala recommends...

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