Friday, September 30, 2016

A new student review of Wraith Queen's Veil by Lou Hoffmann

nictaf posted a new student review of Wraith Queen's Veil by Lou Hoffmann. See the full review.

Lou Hoffman made yet another awesome book filled with fantasy, adventure, action, and thrills around every corner! This book was a great addition to The Sun Child Chronicles, adding more detail to the wonderful world of Ethra! It was chock-full of magic and danger; this is the best book of the series yet!

The author perfectly blended old and new characters in this fantasy series. I think the best parts of the book were when Lucky was being heroic. I can't wait to read book three! This book was not a stand-alone; I would advise reading book one before this one. I would recommend this book for ages 12 and up. If you like fantasy and fiction, you would love this book!

A new student review of Halito Gianna: The Journey Continues (Series) by Becky Villareal

Anjel posted a new student review of Halito Gianna: The Journey Continues (Series) by Becky Villareal. See the full review.

This book was an interesting combination of mystery and history. I am proud to say I learned some Choctow while reading this book. It has a very good plot and a feel-good ending. My favorite part(s) were all the strange coincidences; it was truly surprising. Although this was a good book, I did have trouble imagining the setting. I would recommend this book to 2nd-6th graders and to avid young readers.

A new student review of The Alien Mind by Virginia Jennings

1231713 posted a new student review of The Alien Mind by Virginia Jennings. See the full review.

I really liked this book.  It is a message of hope, of hope for the future, and shows that it will be the younger generations that will lead the way.  The story is riveting, imaginative, and hopeful. I like how the author builds up the scenes as she is going along, rather than trying to give you the whole "concept" in the first few pages.  It sets up the entire story, but lets the story tell itself over the chapters, which is nice because you are not trying to remember every detail from the beginning of the book.  Over all, the friendship of Riv and Dan is what sets up this story to be exceptional.  It's the life long concept of sharing burdens, as in the song "Lean on me" by Bill Withers.  Afterall, life's travels do seem to be better when we share both the burdens and the joys with friends.

Thursday, September 29, 2016

A new student review of Adam Undercover, The Consortium Directive (SERIES) by Aaron Foster

sschu5 posted a new student review of Adam Undercover, The Consortium Directive (SERIES) by Aaron Foster. See the full review.

This is a really good book because of the reality. Just like Harry Potter, the author spins a web of present day aspects of family and relationships, then adds a twist of unusual to make you believe that something like getting recruited by a secret organization might actually be real. That combined with the real world characters, personality complexity, and hormones adds up to an exciting story filled with adventures and friendships (or maybe a little more than friends).

 

A new student review of Pegasus -- A Dragon's Tale by Gina LoBiondo

Jowill posted a new student review of Pegasus -- A Dragon's Tale by Gina LoBiondo. See the full review.

I thought this was a very sweet tale. It read like every traditional fairy tale I have heard but was still unique in its plot.

Any child would enjoy hearing this story read aloud. When I was younger, I always enjoyed retelling stories that my parents read to me at bedtime. This tale is the perfect story for a child to retell over and over again.

 

A new student review of The Secret of the Sphinx by Samuel Bavli

jotaf posted a new student review of The Secret of the Sphinx by Samuel Bavli. See the full review.

The Secret of the Sphinx

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

A new student review of The Sugar Mountain Snow Ball by Elizabeth Atkinson

Booklover1111 posted a new student review of The Sugar Mountain Snow Ball by Elizabeth Atkinson. See the full review.

I really enjoyed this book. I think it was a great story because the characters were so likeable. Even though Ruby and Eleanor were completely different, they would both be great friends to have. Ruby was a confident character who didn’t let anyone or anything stop her. Eleanor on the other hand was really shy, but was smart and very creative. I would love to live in the small town were Ruby and Eleanor live, because the author describes it as very cozy. I definitely will check out other books like this one. I gave this book five stars because it was very well written.

 

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

A new student review of Mind Over Bullies - A MOB Forms by D.K. Smith

MistySpirit posted a new student review of Mind Over Bullies - A MOB Forms by D.K. Smith. See the full review.

I’m happy to say that Mind Over Bullies held my full attention throughout the time I read it. Every time I picked it up, I never wanted to put it down. It was well written and easy to understand. Only every now and then was a little confusing as the different stories and points of view of different characters tied together. The life and actions of the characters is believable, and also developed through the book. For example, Margo started out the typical pretty, popular girl that didn’t care about anything but herself. By the end of the book, the change in her was great to see and one that I wish would happen in the real world. On a certain level, I could relate to the book in many ways. Whether it was the event of a friend stabbing you in the back, or the feeling that suicide was the only answer. I would definitely recommend this book to people who love an action packed story that takes many unexpected turns.

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

A new student review of Gray Zone by Veronica Tabares

leah0304 posted a new student review of Gray Zone by Veronica Tabares. See the full review.

This book dealt with a serious conflict of cyberbullying and just bullying in general. However, the main character, Autumn, was kind of annoying at times, with her ‘in the mind’ pep talks and lack of confidence. There were some parts in the book that didn’t really fit in with the story. For example, the part about the stalker was random, and it did not have a whole lot of purpose with the actual storyline. Another example was the part about the math teacher’s car being stolen and then placed in the middle of the classroom. Besides these examples, the book was pretty good. This is because it was well written and you always wanted to know what was going to happen next. I recommend this great read!

 

Monday, September 19, 2016

A new student review of The Drowning Shark by Stormy Sweitzer Will Swanepoel

author10 posted a new student review of The Drowning Shark by Stormy Sweitzer Will Swanepoel. See the full review.

The Drowning Shark is a great adventure story that was fun and enjoyable to read. Most of the book centers around Sierra, with only a few supporting characters, but Sierra is quite easy to connect to. On one hand, she seems like a normal, likeable person. On the other hand, she is well-traveled, intelligent, brave, and spirited.

Definitely a quick read, this book is hard to put down. Its fast pace and intricate plotline pulls the reader into Sierra’s story. If you like exotic locations and a spy novel vibe, this book is for you.

I recommend The Drowning Shark for readers between the ages of 9 and 14 who enjoy adventure, international settings, an inspiring heroine, and an environmental message.

A new student review of There's a Zombie in the Basement by Stan Yan

Jowill posted a new student review of There's a Zombie in the Basement by Stan Yan. See the full review.

I loved this story and thought it was so creative!  The story reads like a Dr. Seuss book, with all the sentences rhyming.  It is fun, creative, and has wonderful illustrations! A young child could easily retell this story just by looking at the pictures. It's a perfect bedtime story!

Friday, September 16, 2016

A new student review of The Candy Store by Michele Poague

1231713 posted a new student review of The Candy Store by Michele Poague. See the full review.

This story unfolds like a beautifully orchestrated movie.  The author describes the characters, the scenes, and the theme in vivid detail.  At first it seems a slow read, but it gives the reader a chance to develop the mental movie, and for it to blossom fully.  The time loop was very interesting. At times you want to tell Jett that ...wait... you don't want me to give it away, do you?

A new student review of Adam Undercover, The Consortium Directive (SERIES) by Aaron Foster

jotaf posted a new student review of Adam Undercover, The Consortium Directive (SERIES) by Aaron Foster. See the full review.

I loved this book! The amazing blend of action, adventure, and suspense kept me wanting more from start to finish. I loved how the author, Aaron Foster, was able to make this book so completely realistic. I felt like I was right there with Adam as things were happening. When something happened that wasn’t really fair, it made me think of how I would respond if I were one of the characters. It was also great that the author built on the characters so much more from book one, which meant that we got to see more of their fantastic personalities. 

The storyline flowed really well; there weren’t any spots where the book got slow or boring.  Fast cars, cool gadgets, powerful enemies, and the element of danger will keep you on the edge of your seat from the first page to the last. I would recommend this book to anyone who has read the first book or to anyone ages 12 and up.

Thursday, September 15, 2016

A new student review of Silesia: The Outworlder by S.K. Valenzuela

Tabethar posted a new student review of Silesia: The Outworlder by S.K. Valenzuela. See the full review.

I enjoyed reading such a refreshing story, so different from the usual fantasy adventure. I admired Sahara’s fiery spirit, bravery, and determination, which provided a nice dramatic foil with the more level-headed Jared’s contrasting characteristics. The story held enough suspense to keep the reader interested, without needing constant action to make it enthralling. There were some improbabilities in the plot, but overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. I await the second book with curiosity. 

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

A new student review of Forbidden Forest: The Dragon Holder by Wilson Feliz

Kevinhamster posted a new student review of Forbidden Forest: The Dragon Holder by Wilson Feliz. See the full review.

Since I’ve never read a book in this style of fantasy, I eagerly await the next book.  The reason I chose this book is because I liked the sound of the title; I like stories of dragons.  I would probably give this book 5/5 stars although it is has some gruesome parts where lots of people die. Because of this, I recommend it to more advanced readers.  The plot of the book is pretty well done, though I felt some parts of the story were not necessary.  I felt like there was too much focus on the side characters which seemed added for length, and only gave a little to the story plot.  The main character, Liam, was written well and I could picture him going on adventures with his dragon, Shade.  The Dragon Holder is also a lot like the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini, so if you enjoy that series, try it!

 

A new student review of Goggles Gone Strong: Mighty Monday by S.M.W. Claw

Joshchipmunk posted a new student review of Goggles Gone Strong: Mighty Monday by S.M.W. Claw. See the full review.

When I first read Goggles Gone Strong, Mighty Monday, I loved it immediately!  I liked how the Blue family interacted with the island and its people while trying to figure out not only why they were on the island, but also what their big safety goggles were for. I liked how S.M.W. Claw wrote the book so it feels like you are with Calypso, the main character, and you are learning with her.  I definitely recommend this book for all, but I think kids between the age of 8-15 would like it the most.  There were  many things I liked about this book, such as the way S.M.W. Claw put the time and place Calypso was at before every chapter, how the book started with the Blue family trying to keep everything in running order at their shack in the middle of a jungle, and above all, how the book is different than many other books in that both reader and characters learn together.  

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

A new student review of Two for Joy by Gigi Amateau

OrcaGirl posted a new student review of Two for Joy by Gigi Amateau. See the full review.

I think the phrase, “One for sorrow, two for joy”, fits every part of this story perfectly! While Jenna and her mom are driving to see Tannie, they count crows by saying the phrase:  “one for sorrow, two for joy, three for girl, four for a boy, five for silver, six for gold, seven for a secret never to be told”. Jenna’s mom sees only one crow, which represents sorrow.  Jenna however spots one, two, three, four, five, six, and then seven crows. When Jenna’s aunt moves in with them it seems everything is a big mess of sorrow and frustration, but at the family meeting it turns out there is a secret never to be told!  In this case, that is to ask for help when you need it. I think this book is wonderful for youngsters who might have younger siblings and feel like there isn’t enough love to go around. Just remember there is always more love, the more people there are to give it to!

A new student review of The Liberation by Marissa Shrock

Gracie posted a new student review of The Liberation by Marissa Shrock. See the full review.

I really enjoyed the book when I could actually imagine the different parts. This story always had excitement. You wouldn’t be able to wait for the next page, or chapter. Marissa Shrock weaves the story so well that every page was a surprise. As the story kept going, it got more intense. All the facts fit together closer to the end. Even though it is the second book in the series it was easy for me to understand it. But I am guessing that without reading the first book it may be harder to understand the storyline. Though the first part of the story was okay, the last part was amazing. There were so many happy endings and surprises. There were some surprises I didn’t like entirely and I wished were changed, but they fit with the story very well. It had everything a good story needs. It also reminded me of the Divergent series. I loved it and I think you will to. 

Monday, September 12, 2016

A new student review of The Secret of Goldenrod by Jane O'Reilly

hawkreader10 posted a new student review of The Secret of Goldenrod by Jane O'Reilly. See the full review.

"The Secret of Goldenrod" was a great book! I was so absorbed in Trina's story that I didn't want to put this book down. With the exception of the magical ball and talking doll, the plot felt very realistic. The detailed descriptions of the mansion painted a picture in my head and made me feel as if I was there. I really liked how the author used flashbacks to combine Trina's story with the story of the family who lived in Goldenrod a century before. I found "The Secret of Goldenrod" to be a very fast and entertaining read and would strongly recommend it to anyone from 5th grade through middle school.  

Friday, September 09, 2016

A new student review of The Diabolic by S. J. Kincaid

JesusFreak posted a new student review of The Diabolic by S. J. Kincaid. See the full review.

Upon opening this book, I found myself intrigued from the get-go. The first chapter gripped me and I found myself curious to find out more about the universe. The story was very fast-paced and didn’t bore at any moment.

The main character, Nemesis, was a different protagonist than most books have. She wasn’t quite human, so it was very interesting to have the story from her perspective. She was a strong character throughout the book, both physically and mentally. It was an intriguing experience to see her grow from the start of the story to the end.
The author did an amazing job describing the universe the characters lived in. The descriptions weren’t too lengthy, but were just the right amount of words to explain the world and what was happening.
This book is an excellent read for those who love the young adult genre. Filled with suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat, The Diabolic is sure to impress.

A new student review of Vampire Boy (Book 1 of Carpathia Chronicles) by Aric Cushing

jotaf posted a new student review of Vampire Boy (Book 1 of Carpathia Chronicles) by Aric Cushing. See the full review.

I thought Vampire Boy was a great book. It was full of adventure, magic, and mystery. The characters were well developed; Alex is a vampire that tries to be friendly to everyone and is brave, too! By using a lot of conversation between the characters, the author, Aric Cushing, kept the book interesting. 

I was disappointed that this book ended very abruptly. This story will be part of a series, but I would have liked to see the school year completed.

I would recommend it to readers ages 10 and up. This book strongly resembled Harry Potter (it even had a reference to it), so if you like Harry Potter, this book might be for you.

Wednesday, September 07, 2016

A new student review of The Flame Never Dies by Rachel Vincent

PhilipDeGroot posted a new student review of The Flame Never Dies by Rachel Vincent. See the full review.

From the get-go, it is obvious that this is the second book in a series, and should not be read as a stand-alone novel. Unfortunately, I was not able to read the first book, and was a little lost at the beginning as a result. It was, however, relatively easy to pick up on the plot and understand everything that was going on. One thing that was harder to do was get to know the characters, as the author probably assumed readers of the second book would already know the characters. Because of this, there were few things in this book that made the characters memorable, and I found them rather easy to confuse with each other.

While the individual details of the plot are unique (a government run by demons attempting to destroy other demons without destroying themselves), the overall idea can be found in many other books. I think this story is something that will appeal to those who read lots of dystopian fantasy, especially because of several unique twists that make it different from other books of this genre. Generally, the protagonist in dystopian books is fighting against one main antagonist througout the series, but (from what I gathered through this book), the first book, The Stars Never Rise, time is spent escaping and surviving attacks from the corrupted church. The Flame Never Dies, however, turns a different direction, and although it still contains things about the church, most of the focus is on the demon city that is set on destroying Nina and her group. I gave this book three stars because, although there were some different twists, I did not find it terribly unique or memorable, and it did not contain anything that really excited me. So if you love this genre and want something a little different, then The Flame Never Dies will probably be great for you. Otherwise, I would look elsewhere.

Saturday, September 03, 2016

A new student review of A Pigeon's Tale by S.A. Mahan

Jowill posted a new student review of A Pigeon's Tale by S.A. Mahan. See the full review.

This is the most original story I have read in a while!

The title, ​A Pigeon's Tale, is perfect since it's a tale told by a pigeon named Walter.  

Some of the vocabulary and science terms were above me. Even though I didn't fully understand them, it did not interfere with my overall understanding and enjoyment of the story.

Readers of all ages will like this story. This tale evokes almost every emotion imaginable! As Walter tells the story of his long life (hundreds of years long) the reader will cry, laugh, gasp, and celebrate.

A new student review of My Life Hereafter by Lynette Ferreira

MistySpirit posted a new student review of My Life Hereafter by Lynette Ferreira. See the full review.

My Life Hereafter kept my interest greatly. The concept of what happens after you die is one that many people debate today, and have many different ideas of. I liked the concept of that idea in this book. Also, I enjoyed the plot twist, it was extremely unexpected but kept my interest in the book until the very end. The characters were fun and believable, and there were many good life lessons. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to wonder about life after death, or anyone who enjoys a good adventure.

Thursday, September 01, 2016

A new student review of Button Nose the Sad Little Bear by Gina LoBiondo

moseso posted a new student review of Button Nose the Sad Little Bear by Gina LoBiondo. See the full review.

This adorable tale about friendship would make a wonderful addition to any bookshelf! Button Nose, the main character, is a cute little bear with a sad face. Little Girl is his playful companion who loves him unconditionally and takes him everywhere she goes.

 

Beautiful illustrations fill every page of this book, making it visually appealing. Real pictures about the author’s youth also fill the pages in the back of the book, letting readers know that this story is based upon her childhood. This charming story would be an excellent read-aloud for young children and a perfect first reader for those beginning the journey of reading on their own!

 

A new student review of Pegasus -- A Dragon's Tale by Gina LoBiondo

moseso posted a new student review of Pegasus -- A Dragon's Tale by Gina LoBiondo. See the full review.

A tale about a dragon will allure young readers, and this book does not disappoint! Along with magical hatching of a baby dragon named Pegasus, we are acquainted with Prince Dayshawn and Princess Kameela, who look after the young dragon until he must be set free.

 

Lovely illustrations are on every page of this captivating story, allowing the reader to visualize the story with ease. A running theme of friendship is woven into the book as Pegasus does not forget his caretakers, and Kameela and Dayshawn readily welcome him into their home.

 

As a wonderful read aloud or a first reader, Pegasus -- A Dragon’s Tale is a perfect addition to any story collection!