Book Reviews by ALue
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Reel Culture by Mimi O'Connor outlines fifty influential movies from the 20th Century. These films have shaped our culture with memorable quotes, scenes, and characters. From Audrey Helpburn's little black dress in "Breakfast atTiffany's to Al Pacino's famous shootout in "Scarface,"O'Connor describes what has made these films endure in American culture. Furthermore, she references more films outside of the main fifty that are related via director, actor, or film style.

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101 Ways to Become a Superhero is the definitive guide for anyone who wants to don a cape, fight super-villains, or leap tall buildings. The book has 101 "ways," or tasks, to become the ultimate superhero. However, you can also use these ways to become an evil genius. Each "way" outlines items you will need as well as objective to complete to master that "way" to becoming a superhero. It is a book that is meant to be written in, and there are spaces for you to place photos and stickers to track your progress.

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One Hundred Young Americans is a compilation reflecting today's youth in America. With ages ranging from 13 to 20, a diverse group of individuals is presented to readers. Every state and nearly every clique is represented by this group as readers will see each individual's story through pictures and writing from author Michael Franzini. The stories from these young people show the width that the American cultural spectrum has stretched. Readers will meet avid skateboarders, high profile athletes, farmers, and even a vampire.

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Wizards is a unique compilation of short stories from many critically acclaimed science fiction/fantasy authors. Stories from authors such as Eoin Colfer from the Artemis Fowl series and Orson Scott Card who wrote Ender's Game are in this book and have never been published. From ancient times to magic in the modern world, Wizards has a tale that can appeal to almost any audience. This book is one in a series of short story compositions edited by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois, and the topics of these books are very wide in variety.

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FBI Special Agent Jake Cole has the remarkable ability to recreate crime scenes in his mind. Every detail and every clue is stored in his brain to help him solve the most difficult cases. However, this skill comes with a price-a delicate and compartmentalized psyche developed in an attempt to forget his broken past. Jake is forced to revisit this haunted past when he returns home to care for his father, one of the most influential American painters of his era, after an accident caused by his affliction with Alzheimer's puts him in the hospital.

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Superpowers by Fredric Neuman is the story of Chipper, a frail, asthmatic, pitied high school student who is given the choice of a lifetime. After the passing of his loving mother, Chipper meets Hal, an eccentric, otherworldly being with a very unique wardrobe. Hal grants Chipper the choice of any one and only one, superpower. Chipper must weigh this difficult choice while also coming to terms with his mom's death and the life she left behind. This is even more difficult with a distant father, few career prospects, and frequent asthma attacks.