Lit Tricks

The Shadow Club is really built upon elements of suspense and foreshadowing(which is why it's totally not as good the second time you read it). There are tons of other author's tricks to look for while reading--direct address to the reader, similes and metaphors. . .you get the idea. So while you're reading, pay close attention to detail--it's those tiny things that come up in the beginning that play huge roles at the end!

The Shadow Club

Our third featured book is The Shadow Club by Neal Shusterman.


For Jared and Cheryl, nothing is worse than coming in second. Their idea to form a club of second-best kids seems harmless at first. But when the Shadow Club members start playing anonymous practical jokes on each other's rivals, things quickly spiral out of control, and innocent people get hurt. (From Barnes and Noble)

The Shadow Club is very thrilling, and a fairly easy read. It's very thrilling, full of secrets, and gets really suspenseful at the end!

Happy Reading!

Oops Update

I just realized that I counted the days until our next featured book would be up--I accidentally counted to 31 instead 0f 24, so our next bookwill be up on Monday!

Did Chris do the right thing?? (SPOILERS)

******SPOILER ALERT******

So did Chris do the right thing by doing what Emily asked him to do? Or was he totally out of line by helping her kill herself? Do you think that the jury was right in saying that he wasn't guilty? Talk about what you think the right thing was here!

Order in the Court

No, not Judge Judy's courtroom, but Jodi Picoult's courtroom. Most of her books have to do with the law system, and in The Pact we see this through Chris's murder trial. The last hundred and fifty pages(at least) were all part of the trial(minus the flashbacks). This may be one of the reasons Picoult's books are so popular--the law system entices readers and takes them on a wild ride through court. (We even see this in shows like CSI, Law and Order, and those two new TV shows that are on Monday nights--Canterbury's Law and New Amsterdam--both of which rock, by the way.)

So what is it that makes us so drawn to the drama of law? Is it the was Picoult's describes it all, or is it just the concept of the courtroom itself?? Share your opinion on our forum!

Keep Reading!!! :)

Who's side are you on?

So how's the reading going??

So Chris is going to go on trial for Emily's murder. . .do you think he did it? Do you sympathize more with Melanie or Gus--both have lost their children in different ways, but who's loss is worse? Share your thoughts on this topic, predictions of the ending, and other stuff about the book here, even if you haven't finished yet! :)

Next Featured Book

Our second featured book is going to be Jodi Picoult's The Pact.








Until the phone calls came at three o'clock on a November morning, the Golds and their neighbors, the Hartes, had been inseparable. It was no surprise to anyone when their teenage children, Chris and Emily, began showing signs that their relationship was moving beyond that of lifelong friends. But now seventeen-year-old Emily is dead—shot with a gun her beloved and devoted Chris pilfered from his father's cabinet as part of an apparent suicide pact—leaving two devastated families stranded in the dark and dense predawn, desperate for answers about an unthinkable act and the children they never really knew.(From Barnes & Noble)

The Pact is very suspenseful, one of Picoult's best novels. Enjoy your reading and head over to the forum to discuss The Pact and Picoult's other novels as well!

Just an Update

As you may know, tomorrow is the last day for The Book Thief to be our featured novel. Of course, don't stop reading it if you've already started--it's a great book!

So check back sometime late tomorrow or early Tuesday to find out what our next book is! :)

The Color of the Sky

If you've been reading(ahem), you may have noticed the theme of colors in The Book Thief. After finishing the novel a day or two ago, one question has stayed on my mind: Is Death the only one that can see the sky turning red/all the other colors he describes? I used to think the answer to that was yes, but then I recalled one paragraph from the ending. . .

She [Liesel] did not know where she was running, for Himmel Street no longer exsisted. Everything was now apocalyptic. Why was the sky red? And why did the snowfalkes burn her arms?(Zusak, 533)

So, can Liesel see the sky turning red? Share what you think here!

Vote for Books

So, how goes The Book Thief? I have about twenty pages left. I would be done, but I'm sitting here, updating you on what's going on with TBW.

Anyway, there's a new poll, incase you haven't noticed. Yay!

Also, on the forum, there are options for the next book. They are . . .(drum roll please. . .)

The Pact, Jodi Picoult
The Shadow Club, Neal Shusterman
The Thirteenth Tale, Diane Setterfield
Marley and Me, John Grogan

So, go vote! Remember, every vote counts! (Please respect the rules of voting though, posted on the same page!)

Now, off to finish The Book Thief!!!