Stephen Colbert's I Am America (And So Can You!) ****

Let me hit this one right off the bat: when you open Stephen Colbert's I Am America (And So Can You!), don't expect riveting prose and tear-jerking poetry. Also don't expect for him to agree with the ideas you grew up with. In fact, don't expect researched theorems, either. However, do expect to find some of the most hilarious irreverence to come along since the Three Stooges. He's Stephen Colbert. He doesn't need any of those things to captivate an audience. All he needs is himself and a little caffeine.

Apparently, Stephen Colbert isn't able to fit all his unique opinions into his Comedy Central news report The Colbert Report, so he's taken the liberty of placing the rest of his myriad ideas into book format. The result is a guaranteed laugh-fest, and even a substitute for a Bible, or, at least, that's how he defines his creation. For fans of the show, this is essentially more Colbert, which is an entirely good thing. This is not a book. At least, not in the traditional sense. Between the numerous footnotes and sideline doodling, humorous charts depicting all sorts of American essences, and flippant attitude towards many subsets of American culture, Stephen manages to turn the pages of a simple shredded tree into a menagerie of bizarre opinions. It's hard to tell whether this is a book, or something much more dangerous. You can even hear his voice in your head if you listen closely.

Within this book, you will listen to Stephen rant about his views on parenthood, religion, science, race, the media, and much more. Though his views aren't always the most conventional, he preaches his Colbert-ican attitude proudly throughout the book. His ideas, in fact, are more sensible than a lot of the political ideas normal people have today. I say that devoid of humor.

Though Mr. Colbert is obviously not a writer, he's a great humorist, and thankfully, his entertaining style transfers to the written word. For fans of the show, this is a must read and a great companion to the many other Colbert paraphernalia you no doubt have. And even if you've never tuned in to one of his reports, this is still a recommended read. The unique perspectives on America will have any normal human being hooked within minutes.
Mark G.

The Spellman Files ***

The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz is the story of Isabel Spellman, a woman born into a family of private investigators. Isabel has shown interest in the family business since she was eavesdropping on her elementary school peers, and she has worked for her family since the age of twelve. Although this life seems ideal for Isabel, the Spellman home is not an easy one to live in. Being employed by her mother and father is a problem in itself, but when she finds out that her telephone has been wired a true battle begins. In the midst of this are her siblings, her perfect older brother David who has left the family business to become a lawyer, and her younger sister Rae who is addicted to two things: sugar and recreational surveillance. Uncle Ray just adds to the tension. When he is not aggravating Rae, named after him after he was diagnosed with cancer, he leaves on what has become known to the Spellmans as, “Lost Weekends.” This means that he has run off to a motel somewhere to drink and play poker and needs to be picked up in a day or two. When you add all of this chaos to the fact that her parents are following her twenty- four seven and she is working on a case from fifteen years ago, you come up with the craziness of Isabel Spellman’s life. But when Rae goes missing while on a “recreational surveillance” venture all other problems are forgotten until Rae is located and returned home safely. With a family of private investigators, how hard can it be to find a fourteen year old?

Keira G.

Per. 2

Girl Overboard ***

Girl Overboard by Justina Chen Headley is the story of Syrah Cheng, billionaire Ethan Cheng’s daughter. She has everything a girl could want, from one of a kind designer clothes to a Mercedes sitting in the garage awaiting her sixteenth birthday, and she doesn’t want any of it. The one thing she wants is to fly down a mountain on her snowboard with her best friend, Age, but she can’t do that. Just a few months before Syrah tore her ACL while riding in the back country alone where she was buried by an avalanche. It was a miracle that she was found when it was said that she had about a ten percent chance of surviving. Although she has gone through extensive surgery and physical therapy, and her doctor told her that she is healthy enough to snowboard, her parents won’t allow it. On top of that, Age has gotten back together with his old girlfriend, who doesn’t allow him to talk to Syrah. Unable to snowboard and ignored by her family, including her half siblings who are old enough to be her parents, Syrah is a prisoner in a mansion. It isn’t until she finds Amanda, a three- year -old with cancer who also loves to snowboard, that she decides to help. For her entire life people have only heard her last name and tried to get close to her to get to her father; however,when Syrah is about to make a name for herself separate from her father, she is in the world of snowboarding and beyond.

Keira G.

Per.2