Four Seasons

Author: Jane Breskin Zalben

Allegra Katz is a blooming pianist studying at the famous school of music: Julliard. Unfortunately, not everything is what it's cracked up to be. Ally has no time to do anything but schoolwork and piano. She has been playing since she was four, but now all she wants to do is break free but she's never known any other way. With the pressure building, she has to decide what music really means to her, but can she do it? This book is written in four "movements". It sort of takes you through a year in the life of a stressed high schooler. I myself am a pianist so I understand that between piano, school, and, in my case, sports, you really don't have as much time as you might like.

For Parents: 11+

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Cinder

Author: Marissa Meyer

Once upon a time, there was a cyborg named Cinder. She had an evil step mother and one evil stepsister. She also had a nice stepsister that was her only human friend. Cinder is the best cyborg mechanic in New Beijing. Because of this, Prince Kai comes to her with something that is more important than he is letting on, and he needs it fixed before the annual ball. Then her sister becomes sick with the fatal plague that has been sweeping Earth for a decade and Cinder is blamed. Her stepmother volunteers her for plague research. It's  supposed to be an "honor" but no one has survived it. There is something odd about her though. She has something that others would kill for. I really liked this book. I found it a refreshing change from the normal. I like that she is a girl that doesn't need a guy to come and save her. I would suggest this to people who do like fairy tales but are bored of the overused stories.

For Parents: 12+

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