Book Review: Trapped

Trapped by Michael Northrop

Genre:  Realistic Fiction, Adventure

The novel Trapped by Michael Northrop is a quick, easy read that would have a lot of appeal for teens.  The entire action of the story takes place inside Tattawa Regional High School, a rural school in New England, during a snowstorm.  The central characters include, Scotty Weems, a sophomore who is also the narrator of the story, his long-time buddies Jason Gillispie and Pete Dubois, Krista O’Rea and Julie Enders, freshmen girls, and Les Goddard and Elijah James, both misfits at Tattawa but for different reasons, and the football coach Mr. Gossell.  This band of eight ends up stuck in their high school during what turns out to be the worst Nor’easter in the history of the U.S.  They endure cold, hunger, freezing pipes, and a collapsing roof.  Perhaps worst of all, they have no communication with the outside world and realize that no one knows where they are.  Even when help arrives, no one will know where to look for them.  From the beginning of the story, which is told as a flashback, the reader knows that not all of the party will survive the storm.  The novel is very suspenseful and teens can easily imagine themselves in similar situations as these characters, as they are forced to make decisions that could be deadly. 

Lauren Sprouse, Librarian

Book Review: Lay That Trumpet in Our Hands

Lay That Trumpet in Our Hands by Susan Carol McCarthy

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Set in 1951 in the orange groves of Central Florida, this novel, which is based on the author’s own family story, is reminiscent of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird.  It is narrated by fourteen-year-old Reesa McMahon, the white daughter of Northern transplant parents.  Reesa is growing up in a house that shows respect and kindness to local African American families, much like Scout’s family in To Kill a Mockingbird.  And her father, in particular, will remind readers of Atticus Finch in his heroic, often to the detriment of his family’s safety, commitment to seeking justice for his African American friends.  The novel’s central focus revolves around the death of nineteen-year-old Marvin Cully at the hands of the Klan.  Reesa’s family not only stands up to the Klan on behalf of their family friend, but also draws the wrath of the Klan down on their own family as they give help to Civil Rights leaders Thurgood Marshall and Harry T. Moore and seek help from the FBI.  The characters are memorable and entertaining.  The writing is poetic and powerful.  This is an excellent historical fiction piece that recalls horrors of racial tension in the South and highlights the story of good people who stood up for the right thing, even when it was perilous to their families.

Lauren Sprouse, Librarian

Hidden Valley High School Book Review Blog

Welcome to the Hidden Valley High School Book Review Blog! I am promoting reading by inviting students, faculty, and staff to submit book reviews to this blog by emailing your review to hvhslibrary@gmail.com. If I accept your book review, your reward for participating will be an invitation to a Wii "Just Dance" tournament in the library. The tournament will take place during your English block in May.

Please see this post for an example book review. I will add the book cover image to your review but otherwise, you should follow the same format:

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Title of the book by the author

Genre: Book's genre

Your original book review.

Your name, your grade & your English teacher's name

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Please note that other than adding an image to your book review, I will not be editing your review for grammar, spelling, or content. Be sure your review is ready for public view before you submit. Also remember that a book review is not a summary. I will have final word to approve reviews on the website. Please be patient as your review will not appear immediately when you submit it.

-Mrs. Sprouse