Open- An Autobiography by Andre Agassi (reviewed by Julian Chu-Tan)

This book is aimed more at those out there who are fans or play tennis, but anyone who knows who Andre Agassi is will definitely enjoy this book. This book is not only about his many achievements in his life in tennis but it also describes his journey in discovering himself. This is the first time that he announced to the world that he actually hated tennis since he was a young child. He wanted to quit many times but he didn't know how to do anything else in life. He dropped out of school in the 9th grade (year 10). He returned home from his boarding school with a pink mohawk, and a stud in his ear. He hated his life, because tennis was his life. His father knew he was a born natural and that he was destined to play tennis. His father made his mobile out of tennis balls, when he was in around five years of age his father gave him a tennis racket and let him hit anything in the house as long as he used the racket.

In his whole career he has won eight Grand Slam singles championships tying him for seventh on the all time list, and he's the only man to win a "Golden Slam" - all four Grand Slam singles plus the Olympic Gold Medal. As founder of the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education, he has raised more than $85 million for the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, and acclaimed school for underprivileged children in his hometown, Las Vegas. He lives in Las Vegas with his wife, Stefanie Graf, and their 2 children.

I had a great time reading this book and assure an enjoyable read to those who are fans of Andre Agassi or tennis. This book was truly inspiring and I think it will inspire many people in years to come.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (Reviewed by Brian)

If you lose your purpose ... it's like you're broken.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret which entertained me with its unique use of illustration, often in the form of stop-motion, follows the story of Hugo Cabret, a boy who lived in Paris in the the 1930s. To fix his inheritance from his father, he steals toys from a toyshop of Georges Méliès, who has a mysterious past. Hugo's inheritance, a man-shaped automaton, is the reason he exists and he believes it will lead him to something good.

The author, Brian Selznick, is a well-known illustrator and this third book, the Invention of Hugo Cabret, made him a recognised writer. Despite receiving many awards for illustrating books by other authors, this was the only novel to received awards and win the deserved 'best book of the year' section of a number of magazines.

I loved the book and believe it is a rare book that 'everyone' will enjoy reading. Its rich description of Paris in 1930s and the fact that it is about Georges Méliès' real troubled life makes it very interesting. Georges Méliès was a magician and the first producer to use fantasy or un-real themes in a movie. "A Trip to the Moon" is his best known work. When World War One struck, his company went bankrupt and he became a toy maker who also sold toys, but never recovered from bankruptcy. Later in the book, Hugo fixes his father's automaton, which draws a scene from "A Trip to the Moon" where the rocket hits the eye of the Moon. Through this, Hugo finds out about Georges Méliès' past as a visionary movie maker and why he hates his family watching movies.

There are more things to love about the book, like the unique use of stop motion illustrations. which make you feel like you are watching a movie as you flip through the pages. A good example would be the opening scene of the book. The camera or view zooms from the moon, down to a train station in Paris in the 1930s. The shot moves through the crowd and ends up on Hugo. For most readers, this is a novel way of presenting visual information. The dark frame of the book adds more theatre-like atmosphere and the beautiful pencil-drawn illustrations got me so involved in the story that I could not put it down until I had finished.

The invention of Hugo Cabret is a truely unique book. The stunning drawings just suck you into the book, and the topic, the life of Georges Méliès, are fascinating. Brian Selznick's amazing storytelling and stop-motions are less surprising when we find that his ancestor, David O. Selznick, was the producer of "Gone with the Wind". Hugo Cabret is definitely worth 9/10 and is a must read for all ages.

Please, Daddy, No by Stuart Howarth (Courtney Russell)

Please, Daddy, No written by Stuart Howarth

This is a touching book that shows how much pain a little boy can take until he will crack and do something that he will regret.

This book is a true story or based on a true story about Stuart Howarth who has his mum and no father but just a father figure which sets a bad role in his life by not setting a good example on how to act as a man.

The way that this father figure acts has some really bad affects later on in the book. If you enjoy reading a book about a true story and bad affects on people you will love to read this book.

The characters in this book include Stuart Howarth, his mother and his sisters Sherily and Christene. and the father that he never had well it is his step father that ends up not being there for him and that drives him to do what he has done.

Some of the themes in this story are abuse this is show when the father figure sexually abuses them and makes the do things the are unexplainable, family violence in when the father beats his mother and does not even care the mum is to scared to end the relationship in case something worse could happen and spirt this is when the little boy in the book had his spirt broken and then repaired by a different person which had a affect on his life and father hood.

But other than all the bad abuse this was a great read of a book that i enoyed.

Silverfin (Isaac Lester)

n the 1930s in the Scottish Highlands, fourteen year old Alphie Kelly sneaks under a fence that contain dead animals and other keep out trespassing notices to go fishing at Loch Silverfin. However, strange behaving eel attack the lad.

At the same time that Alphie vanishes, James Bond enters Eton after spending the last couple of years living with his Aunt Charmian following the deaths of his parents in a mountain climbing incident. He runs into trouble from the start with an older student, American George Hellebore and the teen's father weapons tycoon Randolph.

James heads to Keithly, Scotland to spend the Easter holidays with his beloved aunt and his ailing Uncle Max. On the train, he befriends Red Kelly who is heading to the same area to search for his missing cousin. In Keithly, James and Red breech the perimeter fence, trespassing on Randolph's property where he is conducting experiments on a super soldier that will eliminate the frailty of those he observed during the last Great War.

Silverfin is a fine young James Bond tale in which the lad shows glimpses of the cool spy, but just as often displays young teen bravado to hide a lack of confidence. Thus the middle school audience that this novel targets can believe that this is indeed James during his school years. The investigation is intriguing and Randolph is a solid Bond villain. The Eton chapters set the tone for James and his allies vs. the father and son Hellebores. Fans will enjoy their altercation that makes up Part Two of the fine novel.

Tribulation Force (Isaac Lester)

Rayford Steele and his daughter Chloe are settling into post-Rapture life in Chicago. Rayford misses his wife and son, but knows they will meet again in Heaven. In the meantime, they want to watch world events and live their truth - their salvation in Jesus Christ. Cameron "Buck" Williams has been reassigned to his weekly magazine's Chicago office, but he hasn't lost his big story writing job. He is happy with the reassignment even if it is supposed to be punishment. Now he can be near Chloe and their mentor Bruce Barnes. He knows he, Rayford, and Chloe still have a lot to learn about their faith. Bruce is the person to help train them.

Nicholae Carpathia is the new director of the United Nations. He also is taking over the world, becoming the predicted anti-Christ. Buck had personal experience of Carpathia's evilness. He had witnessed Carpathia murder two men, but no one else in the room remembers the events the way they happened.

Events are moving quickly. They can see the beginning of the predicted Tribulation. They see Carpathia taking over the world. There are two prophets in Jeruselum who cannot be silenced or hurt. The world is moving to one currency. Communications companies are consolidating. Yes, the Tribulation is coming.

What Rayford and Buck don't expect is Carpathia's interest in them. He wants both of them to work for him in their special capacities. Nor do they expect the actions of the President of the United States. Bruce is trying to mentor them as well as beginning to minister to the world. He wants to share the truth he wouldn't accept until too late to stay with his family.

In this sequel to Left Behind, LaHaye and Jenkins use fiction to explore the prophecies of the End Times described in the Christian New Testatment. They have done an excellent job in these first two novels. While Tribulation Force doesn't have the in-the-face impact of Left Behind, it is a worthy follow up. I found myself forgetting these were fictional characters and chiding them or cheering for them

My Lost and Found Life by Melodie Bowsher (stephanie)

My Lost and Found Life by Melodie Bowsher is an intense, captivating novel unlike anything I have ever read. It has many twists and turns leaving you wanting more.

This story is about Ashley an eighteen year old who thinks her life is ruined when her mum steals and runs away with one million dollars. Ashley is so used to getting everything she wants off of her mum that when she is gone she doesn't know what to do. Left with a gigantic house, no money, no job and huge bills, she has to learn how to survive and quick.

Forced out of her home Ashley ends up living in a caravan behind a gas station that her mums ex-boyfriend owns. Although staying in a grotty caravan with no toilet, shower or kitchen is not legal or sanitary it's the best she can afford to do.

Mad Malcolm's Cyber Cafe is the only place she is able to get a job even though they don't pay much it's better than nothing. The longer Ashley works there the more she starts to realise her new friends are completely mad. Hiding secrets about where she lives and about her mum from her friends is tricky and frustrating. She starts to wonder if it was her fault her mum ran away? Was it her fault she stole the money? Was she ever going to come back? With nobody to answer her growing list of questions she stops waiting and starts moving on with her life. Ashley soon realises that her life never was ruined just altered in a good and bad way.

What will happen to Ashley? Will her mum return? Will she loose her job? Will she get caught living in the caravan?

If you are a fan of surprises then this book is a must read. It's suspenseful pages send you on a journey along with the main characters. I recommend this book for older teenagers because younger people may not understand some of the contents. Overall this was a great read well worth a round of applause.

The Princess Diaries (Christine)

This book