The Perks of Being a Wallflower

 Through letters to someone he's never met but has heard is a kind and understanding person, Charlie tells of the ups and downs of freshman year. As he deals with the loss of his best friend who killed himself and his aunt Helen who died in a car accident, he is also trying to "participate" as his English teacher suggested. 

  I read this book knowing the twist because I didn't know until after the movie that it was a book. But I still loved it. There was one scene that wasn't in the movie and was not mentioned on Common Sense Media, and it definitely should have been. I liked the witty remarks that were scattered through Charlie's letters and how everything that seemed kind of unrealistic or odd was explained at the end. That's one thing that most books fail to do. I think this would be a really interesting book to read with a book club. because there's so much in it to discuss. 

My Name is Memory

 Lucy has had a crush on Daniel for years, although he seems not to want to even be friends with her. When, at their senior prom, Lucy finally gets an opportunity to talk to him, she is ecstatic. Little does she know that Daniel has The Memory, which allows him to remember all his past lives. He and Lucy have fallen in love before, only to be tragically torn apart. 

  After the first few pages I was prepared not to like this book. It didn't seem to me that the rest of it could be interesting or good; Lucy was obsessed with Daniel. Daniel wanted Lucy but didn't think she would understand or remember. How could this go on for three-hundred more pages?
   I ended up liking it, though. I thought it was cool that Daniel told the story of his past lives, and as he told them he came to realize some important things. Honestly, I think it could have done without the romance. The book would have been great just as a sci-fi novel. The romance scenes just seemed pointless to me (and there were just one too many of them.) I also thought there were some really funny lines. 

   
   

Just One Day

  Allyson is an obedient, sheltered American. Towards the end of her senior year she goes on a trip to Europe with some of her classmates, enjoying the fun before she heads off to college.
  When she and her friend Melanie sneak off to see a performance of Twelfth Night, she meets Willem and there is a definite spark. So when Willem invites Allyson (he knows her as Lulu) to spend a day with him in Paris, she accepts after a few mocking comments from Melanie. Allyson has a fantastic day in Paris and has what she thinks is a connection with Willem.
  Which is why she is shocked to wake up the next morning and find that he is gone.

   I actually really liked this book. I was glad to find that it wasn't all about Lulu and Willem's romantic day in Paris, that it also had some good messages in it. It was really saying how one mistake (like running to Paris with a guy you just met) can effect you for the rest of your life, however if you try you can learn from these mistakes.
   I'm looking forward to the sequel yet dreading it. Just One Day, I think, made a good point by itself. Just One Year is from Willem's point of view, and it could either make the messages in Just One Day stronger or it could ruin them. It could be that Willem realizes his mistakes and tries to improve, or that he is actually the perfect guy and Allyson was wrong to ever doubt him. (I'm hoping it's the first one).

The Red Pony

  Raised on a ranch in northern California, Jody is well-schooled in the hard work and demands of a rancher's life. He is used to the way of horses, too; but nothing has prepared him for the special connection he will forge with Gabilan, a hot-tempered pony his father gives him. With Billy Buck, the hired hand, Jody tends and trains his horse, restlessly anticipating the moment he will sit high upon Gabilan's saddle. But when Gabilan falls ill, Jody discovers there are still lessons he must learn about the ways of nature and, particularly, the ways of man.

  I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was interesting and really neat. It's also a small book and a quick-read, so perfect for long car trips!