Stargazer by Claudia Gray

With this sequel readers return to Evernight Academy with Bianca. Of course, this year there is no Lucas. The administration believes Bianca was ignorant of his involvement with Black Cross, the vampire hunting organization. They believe she has broken up with Lucas due to this treachery. Instead, Bianca and Lucas spend the year planning clandestine meetings in order to steal a few precious moments together. They enlist the help of Balthazar, one of Bianca's closest vampire friends. In return, they agree to help Balthazar find his sister, a vampire also being hunted by Black Cross. In addition, wraiths have started invading Evernight. And they seem to be particularly interested in Bianca.

Bianca's rationalizations regarding her continuing relationship with Lucas reflect a teen's disinclination to think about consequences and their difficulty seeing long-term effects of their decisions. Though I was disappointed with the character, I can see the truth in the portrayal. Ultimately, this sequel reminded me of how I felt after reading New Moon by Stephenie Meyer - I was so angry at the main character that I didn't want to read the next book in the series. I was finally persuaded to do so, and ended up thoroughly enjoying Eclipse. Hopefully the next book in the Evernight series will resolve some of the issues I'm having with Bianca as Eclipse helped me come to terms with Bella.

Eli Manning and the Making of a Quarterback: The Incredible Rise of the New York Giants by Ralph Vacchiano

Eli Manning and the Making of a Quarterback is a great book about Eli Manning's journey from the NFL Draft tto his Superbowl experience. I would recommned this book to guys who love football and want to see what goes on behind the scenes.
~Bennett V., 7th Grade, HMS

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rulz by Jeff Kinney

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rulz by Jeff Kinney was a really good book. You got to learn more about Greg's brother Rodrick. This book is about Rodrick tortuing his little brother, Greg. It tells about all the times Rodrick has done mean things to Greg in the past. Rodrick has his own garage band called the Dirty Diapers, but they spell it different to make it look cool. All of his friends come and basically just strum and drum on things. One part in the book taht I can relate to is when Greg and Rodrick's mom gives out "mom bucks." Mom bucks are when you do something nice for their mom and then their mom gives them a monopoly dollar. Monopoly money, if you get enough of it, turns into real money if you cash them in. I would suggest this book to anyone who likes comedy.
~Parker S., 7th Grade, HMS

The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau

Doon, Lina, and Poppy find their way out of the underground city, Ember, which was a city that was supposed to be a pro-catastrophe place. When they follow "The Instructions," Doon and Lina find their way to a town called Sparks. Sparks has a population of 100 or so. But when 300 Emberites find their way to Sparks, tension starts. people of Sparks is an amazing book. You will have to read it to see what happens next.
~Nikaya A., 7th Grade, HMS

Need by Carrie Jones

Zara has felt hollow inside since the day her stepfather died. Worried about Zara's lack of emotion and passion for life, Zara's mother sends her from her home in Charleston to her grandmother's home in rural Maine. The day before she arrives, a boy disappears. A week or so after, another boy goes missing. And Zara starts hearing someone calling her name "Zara. Come to me." Always when she's alone, usually near the woods. As Zara makes new friends and finds a new romance, her hollow feelings subside and real emotion returns. But with the return of emotion comes fear, as the voice continues to call and strange things begin to invade her life.

Zara is a character for the 21st century. She's passionate about human rights and is involved with charities and helping others. She believes in peace and human kindness and crusades for her beliefs. But now that it's Zara in trouble, who will crusade for her?

Anime Club Haiku!

The Samurai Animanga Club met at HHS on April 1st and, in honor of National Poetry Month, did some modified Haiku:

Afro Guy by KeDarian Robinson
Cold hardened steel
1 on my head
bodies lay

Absolute BF by Lin Kabachia
Robot airman
love though forbidden
remains alive

D.N. Angel by Khadijah Hamidullah
Man with wings
stuck between 2 of the same person
running from the cops

Untitled by Stevie Ontiveros
Standing on a hill
holding a blade of destruction
looking for demons

True Black by Michael Wiggins
One body 2 souls
both claim to be the real
only one is the true black

Untitled by Maureen Kamau
Two bound by love
each separate the two
doomed from the start

Emma by Shelsea Walker
A forbidden love
two lovers must fight
but will fate tear them apart

Best of the Best by Lin Kabachia
Sitting by the window sill
reading the best manga in the world
Hana Yori Dango

Naruto by Stevie Ontiveros
A child born today
a demon sleeps within
both asleep for now

Gods of Death by Michael Wiggins
Gods of Death
with the stroke of a pen
all life is taken

Tsubasa by Khadijah Hamidullah
Tsubasa roaming
searching for lost feathers
helping a friend

Squishy by Jonathan Heard
"I shall call you squishy
you shall be mine
and you shall be my squishy"

Harmony by Lin Kabachia
Cranberry and Sprite
mixed together in harmony
tastes amazing

Animanga Club Tribute by Stevie Ontiveros
A boring school day
a horrible week quickly turns
when Animanga comes around

Untitled by Shelsea Walker
Betrayal and true love
friends fight each other
read the manga Alive

2 by Michael Wiggins
2 of us
yet one is mad
which?