A new student review of The Wee Musketeers by Mr. Robert B. Bresloff

jackcasey posted a new student review of The Wee Musketeers by Mr. Robert B. Bresloff. See the full review.

The Wee Musketeers really got my attention and is probably one of the best books I have ever read. It had a lot of action and adventurous scenes like when the boys were caught by cardinal soldiers followed by a big fight. I suggest this book for people who love to read about history and fantasy and kids in grades 6-8.  I would love for others to read The Wee Musketeers and see what your opinion is.

A new student review of Killer of Enemies by Joseph Bruchac

belliebuttons posted a new student review of Killer of Enemies by Joseph Bruchac. See the full review.

I am a 7th grade girl who likes adventure stories and I really enjoyed "Killer Enemies". There is always a potential moment for an action scene. "Killer Enemies" is about a girl named Lozen who doesn't want to be just a normal girl, Lozen wants to be a hero. She will be a good one too. I think that this book has an exciting plot and a lot of interesting characters. It taught me that when their is a crisis and you know what to do, you need to be the hero in that situation. It is a very good book because it has a lot of key points that you will remember no matter what else happens in the book. There were a lot of elaborate details and good drama. Each sentence is so detailed that it pulls you farther and farther into the story. Over all I would recommend "Killer Enemies".

A new student review of Get Psyched by Janet McLaughlin

abrinton19 posted a new student review of Get Psyched by Janet McLaughlin. See the full review.

" Get Psyched" is a book where you're on the edge of your seat the whole time! I really relate to this book because the main character is a cheerleader just like me! This made the book even more exciting. I really enjoyed this book and others should to.

A new student review of The Rock of Ivanore (The Celestine Chronicles) by Laurisa White Reyes

CassieWyatt8 posted a new student review of The Rock of Ivanore (The Celestine Chronicles) by Laurisa White Reyes. See the full review.

This book was never tedious and the adventures never stopped. On every page there was a new surprise. This book has a little bit of everything adventure, fantasy, love, mystery, magic, war and more. It leaves you  in suspense and you never know what will happen next. Some books you know from the beginning what is going to happen but with this book that is not the case. I would highly recommend this book to kids who like fantasy and adventure books.

A new student review of Pirates Alley by Robert Bresloff

darthtyler posted a new student review of Pirates Alley by Robert Bresloff. See the full review.

I absolutely adored this action book! I think that it was an exciting/adventurous piece of writing that I would reccomend to anyone who loves pirates and mystery! It was almost like this book was split up into 2 parts!People who are fast-paced readers will love this book like me.One of the things I loved about the book was that there was never an ending to a situation, it just kept going., also it never cut the situation short, so that would make the reader enjoy the book a lot more. I also loved it because it had a lot to do with adventure, it woud always go straight to the point and it never got slow and boring. Mostly why I enjoyed the book, was because it caught your attention very quickly in all of the chapters.

A new student review of Bird Without Wings by Cally Pepper

Madisonrdempsey posted a new student review of Bird Without Wings by Cally Pepper. See the full review.

I really enjoyed this book.  Once I started reading it, the author had me hooked!  Bird Without Wings was a mysterious, and exciting book.  The author made you feel like you were there with the way she described the Fae world. She made it seem so real.  This book had many twist that threw you off guard but all made perfect sence.  I would recomend this to mostly teenage girls.  This book told the life of a teenage girl and how she finds a new world.  This book also had a little bit of action in it.  Bird Without Wings was a wonderful book and I hope that other people will enjoy it as much as I did.

A new student review of Too Good to Be True-Mostly Miserable Life of April Sinclair

tweety16 posted a new student review of Too Good to Be True-Mostly Miserable Life of April Sinclair . See the full review.

This book has a really good lesson in it. It is basically tied to Middle and High school lives. It says in the book that if you make a mistake you should always fix it, or keep going on and forget about it. You also have to actually look at your life before you make a choice.

I think this is a book good for kids in eighth grade and up. It has different ways it can help teens. Many teens have to go through some of the problems in this book, but there are always ways to fix it or try to make them better.

April made some mistakes between friendship and relationships. There is confusion and teamwork. Rumors get spread and some people hurt. Families gett together for a great cause, which we should use as an idea for our life. So I encourage you stop for an hour or so and read this book to learn from it.

A new student review of The Living

Tenaya posted a new student review of The Living . See the full review.

I really enjoyed The Living. Honestly- I couldn't put it down, and I finished it within a day of getting it. I thought  that the author made great use of the horror and fright of the characters to help me connect with them. I felt what they felt, saw what they saw.

I'd recomend the book to kids of ages 12 and up, and only people who aren't freaked out about a little blood or death.

A new student review of A Breath of Frost by Alyxandra Harvey

SMHuxtable posted a new student review of A Breath of Frost by Alyxandra Harvey. See the full review.

I think this book is great story for people who like mystery, magic, and fanasty. This book takes place in the1800's, in a neighborhood in London. In the story you might read of the Order, Keepers, Greymalkins and more. All of them have magical powers. Some use them for good, some don't. I liked this book because it has magic, adventure, and lots of excitement.

A new student review of Earth Girl by Janet Edwards

i_Am_StUdEnT7 posted a new student review of Earth Girl by Janet Edwards. See the full review.

This was one of the most wonderful science fiction books I have ever read! It was easy to relate to the character's thoughts and feelings even though the story is far into the future, and while there was some romance there was plenty of action and adventure too. I would recomend this to readers looking for an exciting book with the perfect balance of adventure, suspence, and love.

A new student review of Scared Stiff: Everything You Need to Know About 50 Famous Phobias by Latta Sara

MIZZIQ posted a new student review of Scared Stiff: Everything You Need to Know About 50 Famous Phobias by Latta Sara. See the full review.

This book surprised me multiple times for both good and bad reasons. The first thing that surprised me was that it definitely was not what I expected. It was a combination of reference material with self-help sections, plus bad jokes and quotes. I would have taken whatever it was, whether it be a "for fun" book, or simply for reference and information. But it seemed as though the author couldn't decide. I later found out that it was actually a joint authorship by a creative writer and a psychologist, so this makes much more sense. The indecisiveness definitely bothered me after a while, however. I just didn't know what to think. I was being entertained by quotes making fun of a phobia at the same time as the author was trying to comfort someone suffering from that same fear. It just seemed like a bad mix on that front. The actual material that the book contained though, all seemed very legitimate and was laid out in a very easy to read format. I enjoyed the easy, quick read and the common sense way the author wrote her book. The section "Scared Stiff" contained many movie references and funny quotes which I thoroughly enjoyed and inspired me to go watch some scary movies and read some books that were rumored to be inspired by certain phobias. In the end I feel like I learned a lot and had a lot of fun with this book. Though, I would not count on this book curing your fears, it is worth the time to read. I would suggest that you read this book as some light weekend entertainment if you're at all curious about phobias. Most of the advice (for overcoming your fears) was repeated word for word, chapter by chapter so I would skim over that after a while and just enjoy the author's sense of humor and vast knowledge of the beginnings of some of our deepest fears. 

A new student review of Back to Blackbrick

jotaf posted a new student review of Back to Blackbrick . See the full review.

Back to Blackbrick is a great book with lots of twists and turns. There are two things I didn’t like about it. The first is how it keeps jumping from what is happening now when Granddad’s brain is messed up to what used to happen in the past when his brain isn’t messed up. And the second is that the sentences where people talking are often in third person, so there are less quotation marks than I would expect.

A couple of the things I really liked about this book were that at the end of the book it makes it sound like real life, and second, the author developed the characters very well.

This book has what every great book needs: action, adventure, surprises, and a touch of magic. I would give this book 4/5 stars and would recommend this book to ages 10-14. Have a great time reading this book.

A new student review of The Story of Owen

LaRayne posted a new student review of The Story of Owen . See the full review.

This is an amazing story which you will read in one day. When you read the discription you think it is going to be from Owen's perspective or even Lottie's. Never would you think it to be Siobhan, which makes it even more exciting because she is just as new to dragon slaying as you are, so you will share similar reactions. It has wonderful twists and will keep you up at night thinking about how it will all work out. Emily Kate Johnston is an amazing writer. This book is really appropriate and I would recommend it to age ten and up.
 

A new student review of Parrots Over Puerto Rico

scbazsali posted a new student review of Parrots Over Puerto Rico . See the full review.

Parrots Over Puerto Rico is a very sad book in some places but very happy at others. The author of this book wrote this book very well, and I very much enjoyed reading this book. I normally don’t enjoy reading non-fiction books, but when I saw the cover, I thought I would enjoy it very much because I love birds. And I loved it.

 

A new student review of Paper Hearts by S. R. Savell

lylea1028 posted a new student review of Paper Hearts by S. R. Savell. See the full review.

When reading this book, I felt I could understand the characters. They were very easy to relate to.

 

 

A new student review of Fabrick

Raj the Russian Elephant posted a new student review of Fabrick . See the full review.

I think the book is very good. If you want a book that has a lot of suspense, then this is the book for you.

A new student review of Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out

VBat posted a new student review of Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out . See the full review.

The transgender community is a topic very relevant in today's schools and political scene. Students are faced with the question of how they should treat transgender peers, and the national conversation on the legal and moral status of transgendered citizens is ongoing. 

Beyond Magenta gives voice to transgendered teens, and allows readers to see their side of the story. By sharing their personal stories and struggles, the teens have made their thoughts and feelings accessible to the average person. 

I am glad that I was able to read the stories contained in this book. I started reading with no intense opinion about the LGBTQ community, and left still not having an opinion. I did leave the book, however, with a deeper understanding of the community, and feel much more prepared to have intelligent discussions about the LGBTQ community in the future. 

I would recommend Beyond Magenta for mature teens interested in broadening their perspectives on the transgender community. 

A new student review of The How-To Handbook by Alexandra Johnson Martin Oliver

crabby posted a new student review of The How-To Handbook by Alexandra Johnson Martin Oliver. See the full review.

This little reference guide is super handy and practical! Its directions are easy to follow, using few technical terms. The skills taught will be useful to people of any and all ages. Since reading it, I’ve learned new techniques for numerous little challenges that pop up in life. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning simple and effective methods of going about everyday tasks.

 

A new student review of Birth By Fire's Embrace by Ashleigh Galvin

Ocasbff1 posted a new student review of Birth By Fire's Embrace by Ashleigh Galvin. See the full review.

 A great book jam packed with action and adventure and was exactly what I was craving.

A new student review of Labeled by Mark Salvatore

Jack posted a new student review of Labeled by Mark Salvatore. See the full review.

I can appreciate the main character's love of literature and enjoyed the references to Steinbeck, Thoreau and Emerson; however, I found it very difficult to connect with the VERY heavy drug usage.  Honestly, I would be wrapped up in the eloquent description of a cave on a beach along the Coast Highway only to have the author drop some acid toting free loaders into the picture.  I got to like Vinnie and became frustrated that the author did not spend time developing the honest and raw truths of Vinnie’s character flaws.  

A new student review of The Children of the King

moseso posted a new student review of The Children of the King . See the full review.

‘Children of the King’ is a satisfactory book. The title doesn't fit the story very much. It also takes a while to get into it. However, once the plot takes shape, the book does get pretty fascinating. Sonya Hartnett did not make me feel like part of the tale until Uncle Peregrine’s storytelling begins, and that doesn’t start until later in the story. Cecily and May kind of seem like real people, but because there’s magic in there that couldn’t possibly take place in real life, I have trouble believing them to real. Sonya Hartnett did a fine job finishing the book; it didn’t leave me wondering what happened after the end of the story, which is always excellent. I think the book is for age’s nine to twelve. ‘Children of the King’ is not an educational book. The time period is non-fiction, but the adventure the girls go on is fictional. If you like story- telling within the book and little bit of magic, then you’ll enjoy this book. 

A new student review of Waterfell

alison_S posted a new student review of Waterfell . See the full review.

Throughout Waterfell, Howard excels in sculpting complex, dynamic characters who evoke both the readers' sympathy as well as their annoyance. Unlike the bulk of teen beach-reads, Waterfell doesn't rely on vague stereotypes of "good" and "evil" to distinguish its characters. Rather, Nerissa, her adoptive brother Speio, bestie Jenna, and crush Lo all flaunt the nuances and imperfections of real-world human beings. Unlike real-world human beings, however, Nerissa and Lo seem incapable of disagreeing. And as adorable as their impossibly flawless romance might be, in the absence of conflict, Nerissa and Lo never get the chance to prove their sincerity. Waterfell unfurls at a somewhat lurching pace, the plot alternating between cutthroat under-the-sea espionage and lackadaisical high school melodrama. Although simply worded, Howard's prose flows effortlessly as water, rendering Waterfell a quick, compulsively readable thriller.

A new student review of Boy on the Edge

Gwendolyn posted a new student review of Boy on the Edge . See the full review.

To be completely honest, the initial reason why I picked Boy On The Edge by Fridrik Erlings to review was because of the cover art. I had no idea whether it would be a good story or not, but when I first saw the cover of this book, my interest was immediately captured. I find it intriguing, beautiful, and simply, yet wonderfully, uncomplicated. The colors contrast each other well, hence the eye-catching cover. The writing style of this novel is quite simple too, yet reads in a poetically powerful and breathtaking way. I think that the cover art of this book represents the writing of this story quite accurately. The minute that I started this book, I knew that it would be a magnificent read.

Henry has trouble forming his thoughts into sentences. He never knows quite what to say to people, but he often wants to. This is an issue that holds him back throughout the book and I can relate this. Much like Henry, I constantly have conversations in my mind, and I always have several different streams of thought going through my head at once. I have trouble phrasing how I feel or what I am thinking when I am speaking aloud; my brain can’t seem to find the right words to represent what is on my mind.

Although I have never been in the exact same situations that Henry goes through in this novel, I felt a deep connection to this particular character’s struggles and emotions. Henry may be quiet and reserved on the outside, but he has an extremely rich and extensive inner life. He is only searching for someone who he can truly call his friend, but this proves to be a difficult task for him.

 

Boy On The Edge is the first book that I have read from this Icelandic author, but I assure you that it will not be the last. When I sat down to write the review for this novel (to ponder the pros and cons), I couldn’t find a single problem that I had with it. The plot was intense and engrossing, the writing style flowed wonderfully as I read it, and the characters felt real and packed with emotion and relatable qualities. I will go as far as to say that I think this is the best book that I have had the pleasure to review for LitPick thus far. I plan to reread this book many times in the future. In conclusion, I highly enjoyed this young adult novel! Boy On The Edge by Fridrik Erlings has rather quickly found a permanent home on my bookshelf and an even more permanent home within my heart.

A new student review of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island

blackbeauty posted a new student review of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island . See the full review.

I enjoyed the book a lot. I love the adventure in it and the danger all around. I think books are more exciting when you get to choose your own way to go. It makes it a lot more fun for the people who do not like to read. I know that because I am a person who does not like to read. It was so interesting that I read the book in almost two days instead of a week. I think it is great for kids eight to twelve and that they will enjoy it.

A new student review of Steelheart

fradyr647 posted a new student review of Steelheart . See the full review.

After having recently finished the book, I think that it is one of the best books I have read. Its storyline is creative, its protagonist amusing, and other characters very well thought out, from the personality to the accents. Its beginning very well sets the mood for the rest of the story, which gradually develops into an action-packed story of loss and redemption. All in all, Steelheart is an amazing book, and if I had to rate it, 9.75/10. If you are thinking about getting this book, do. It will be well worth your time.

A new student review of Hammer of Witches

aeehrhardt posted a new student review of Hammer of Witches . See the full review.

Personally, I think that Hammer Of Witches was very good. I enjoyed all of the cliffhangers, love, hope, adventure, and secrets. Although I do not think that Hammer Of Witches should be in the 8-12 year range. I think that it should more like in the 12+ year range. Because there is some dying, blood, and some talk about torture,very little, but some. So if you are not comfortable with that then I do not recommend Hammer Of Witches to you.

 

A new student review of The Wizard Test by Hillary Belli

Donatello posted a new student review of The Wizard Test by Hillary Belli. See the full review.

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A new student review of Daughter of Light by V.C. Andrews

Gwendolyn posted a new student review of Daughter of Light by V.C. Andrews. See the full review.

A new student review of Crash by Lisa McMann

RavenWing posted a new student review of Crash by Lisa McMann. See the full review.

I really enjoyed this book (I couldn’t out it down and finished it in a day). There were some parts that could have been better, but overall it was really good. This book is kind of a mystery. What I mean by this is that throughout the book Jules works to figure out the “mystery” of the crash. Because of this aspect, there are some scenes in the book where she’s missing something and you sit there thinking it’s completely obvious.

The Romance: From the beginning of the book, Jules is star struck. She keeps pining over the guy that won’t give her a sideways glance. At times, I thought this was annoying for I didn’t want to hear all about her fantasies about this guy. But at the end of the book, the relationship between these two is very well played out.

Other than the visions, this book is more like a mystery. Not that it’s not good, but it has different aspects. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mystery or fantasy books. This book is written by the author of the Wake trilogy, a popular series which also very good. If you just want a nice short book for a quick read, this is an excellent choice.

A new student review of Outcasts United by Warren St. John

VBat posted a new student review of Outcasts United by Warren St. John. See the full review.

I enjoyed reading Outcasts United, despite my limited knowledge of soccer. While the game does play a prominent role in the book, the true story lies in each boy's journey. Each member of the Fugees has a unique, often heartbreaking tale of how they came to this country, and these stories are woven throughout the soccer game descriptions. Luma's active participation in the Clarkston community is inspirational, and the formation of her amazing charity is yet another angle explored in the book.  I especially liked the touching part of the book in which the Fugees went trick-or-treating. It was interesting to see the cultural events that American-born children understand, through the eyes of refugee children experiencing them for the first time.I would recommend this book to soccer fans, pre-teens and teens interested in non-fiction human interest stories, and anyone looking for inspiration.

A new student review of Element 238 - The Search for Truth - Episode One by J.H. Soeder

Raphael posted a new student review of Element 238 - The Search for Truth - Episode One by J.H. Soeder. See the full review.

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A new student review of IntoThin Air by Jon Krakauer

leonardo posted a new student review of IntoThin Air by Jon Krakauer. See the full review.

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A new student review of Olivia, Mourning by Yael Politis

Mcwerts13 posted a new student review of Olivia, Mourning by Yael Politis. See the full review.

It's a great book that captures the attitude of the time period. I love the struggle and political strife of this time period and this book captured it perfectly. It uses history in support of a fictional yet realistic tale and does so effectively. I recommend this book to all because it is a great read.

A new student review of The Children of the King

underwood_bcl posted a new student review of The Children of the King . See the full review.

I enjoyed this book and thought it was exciting. My favorite part is when
Jeremy runs away because it is a little bit scary. I thought that Jeremy
was brave and Cecily spoiled rotten. May was my favorite character because
she was always kind and helpful. Cecily was always grouchy and wanted her
way.  I don’t think she would have been pleasant to be  around. But at
the end I noticed some change in her attitude and she became kinder.

A new student review of Year of Mistaken Discoveries by Eileen Cook

XxtidaxX posted a new student review of Year of Mistaken Discoveries by Eileen Cook. See the full review.

Honestly, at first I thought that the novel wouldn't grab my attention and that I would have to force myself to finish it, but I was proven wrong. When I first started to read the novel, I realized I wouldn't be able to put it down. I stayed up late reading and would keep repeating to myself, "Just one more chapter." Personally, I would suggest this book to any high school student.

A new student review of Windscape by Sam Wilding

JosephDickerson posted a new student review of Windscape by Sam Wilding. See the full review.

I thought this book was well written. I also enjoyed the characters and what they did. I took some time thinking about character motives and they were interesting. I also learned new words and their meanings because this book is from across the pond. The book was well thought out and I enjoyed the characters and surprises. I enjoyed Pavel and his mother -  that was an interesting twist -  and I could relate to Jenny when she felt betrayed. The book was a nice eco-thriller and I enjoyed it.

 

 

P.S. Now my mother wants to read it.

A new student review of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck, Book 8

RockinR4 posted a new student review of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck, Book 8 . See the full review.

Though I liked this book, I think the previous books in the series were much better reads. It seems as if the author  may be running a little low on new and fresh ideas......  With that said, I'll still pounce on the next book in the series...... whenever a new one arrives on the bookstore shelves.

A new student review of The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender

ClarissaAdeleMorgenstern posted a new student review of The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender . See the full review.

I absolutely loved this book.   The fantastical writing style is amazing.  There were many interesting twists in the story,  like "When American soil could be seen from the ship, the passengers breathed a collective sigh of relief so strong, it caused a change of direction in the winds..."  The magic was incorporated perfectly.  For example, one of Emilienne's sisters transforms herself into a bird to attract the attention of an ornithologist.  The plot was well done and, because of the omniscient third person narrator, the book feels a little like a myth.  I really liked how Ava's, Emilienne's and Viviane's stories were all going on at the same time and how the stories were resolved,

This book wasn't just a book about Ava; it was about her entire strange family.  All of the characters had interesting histories.  I really liked most of the characters, and the marvelous writing takes you along on their emotional roller coasters.  I enjoyed the intricate backstory for almost every character, as well as the house in Seattle.   I would recommend this book for teen readers who enjoy magic realism and complex books.

A new student review of Counting to D by Kate Scott

ViviB posted a new student review of Counting to D by Kate Scott. See the full review.

 

I loved this book--I finished it in less than a day. Sam was a lovable and strong main character, and all of the supporting characters were likeable as well. They were three-dimensional characters: I felt like they were real people.

 

 Something that I really liked was that the author avoided stereotypes. Katelyn may have been pretty and popular, but she wasn't dumb or mean. Eli may have been a jock, but he was thoughtful and kind.

 

Another aspect of the book that I enjoyed was the romance between Sam and Nate, although I think that it could have started off more slowly. 

 

Sam's feelings seemed realistic; she had infrequent emotion highs that seems like an accurate portrayal of someone who's struggling to learn to read in a semi-hostile high school environment where she is the anomaly, unable to read or write when everyone learned years ago. She also deals with family issues, so she has to work through all of this--but at least she doesn't have to do it alone. Nate, Eli, and Katelyn are there for her. I loved all of the friendships that she developed throughout the book.

 

Counting to D was realistic, well-paced, and unique. It was a light read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

A new student review of Strange Sweet Song by Adi Rule

tkh2002 posted a new student review of Strange Sweet Song by Adi Rule. See the full review.

I absolutely loved this book. Strange Sweet Song is unlike any other book that I've ever read, and the characters have great depth. While reading this book, I was so entranced by the characters and their experiences I felt myslef getting emotional. I had trouble putting this book down. Adi Rule has written an intruiging book that drew a vivid picture in my mind. I could really relate to the main character, Sing, and felt pity for her when she was upset or scared. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

A new student review of Strange Sweet Song by Gary Cassel

tkh2002 posted a new student review of Strange Sweet Song by Gary Cassel. See the full review.

I absolutely loved this book. Strange Sweet Song is unlike any other book that I've ever read, and the characters have great depth. While reading this book, I was so entranced by the characters and their experiences I felt myslef getting emotional. I had trouble putting this book down. Adi Rule has written an intruiging book that drew a vivid picture in my mind. I could really relate to the main character, Sing, and felt pity for her when she was upset or scared. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

A new student review of The Grimalkin's Secret by Gary Cassel

McTower posted a new student review of The Grimalkin's Secret by Gary Cassel. See the full review.

     This is a very magical and gripping book.  If you like magic, dragons and a good Adventure or Mystery, this is the book for you.  Including lots of magic, with an unexpected twist, readers of all ages will love this.  This story is not only about Kya and her friends battling the Symbari, but also about true friendship, and paintings linked to missing people. This book is sure to leave readers not wanting to put it down.

A new student review of Personal Effects

jepson50 posted a new student review of Personal Effects . See the full review.

I would not recommend this book to any reader that prefers story lines and plots that are completely balanced. The story focuses more on an emotional, thoughtful point of view rather than a sound, smooth plot. I do not think that including sexual related content into the book makes it a good read.

 

A new student review of Get Psyched by Janet McLaughlin

Brynn posted a new student review of Get Psyched by Janet McLaughlin. See the full review.

"Get Psyched" was a very good book. It's full of mystery and suspense. The book never gets boring or calms down, there is always some important event happening, which is what I like about it. Readers that are in to mystery books would really enjoy this. When I read this book I didn't have any similarities with the main character but I guess I'm kind of thankful for that. I think it would be awful to just black out whenever you touch something. This was an easy read because I never wanted to put the book down! The author did a very good job of keeping the reader interested by using great detail and grabbing the reader's attention from the begining. I would deffinately recommend this to anyone who asked.

A new student review of How to Date an Alien: My Alien Romance by Magan Vernon

ReesaOnFire posted a new student review of How to Date an Alien: My Alien Romance by Magan Vernon. See the full review.

I have to hand it to Ms. Vernon, How to Date an Alien, was a pretty entertaining book. I enjoyed it very much. It was a light book that could relieve stress of the day. As much as I enjoyed How to Date an Alien, with its cuteness and lighthearted feel, I must give my honest opinion. At some points in the book I found myself cringing.

Here’s why: The book frustrated me at times. Several characters seemed to act out of their own person. Once those characters acted up, the story seemed awkward and the plot a little cloudy.  Fortunately this only happened a few times. Quickly though, the reader will forgive these tiny little ‘interruptions’ for the greater good—everything else.  Like Vernon’s beautiful scenes between Alex and Ace, and their adorable actions. I absolutely loved whenever Vernon described Circe and how it worked. Every time she mentioned a new alien and described them, I was fascinated. The Caltian aliens were especially interesting; their beings, relationships, and actions were the best described. It was a sweet and pleasant read after a long day. This book was not all sun shine and butterflies though, it had a few twists. The Caltian Queen’s “Night Walking” was a wonderful twist I thoroughly enjoyed. The other characters (like the interns) in the book were quite loveable too, each giving different elements to the book.

I think that my frustration with the ‘interruptions’ in the book just prove (to me) how much I really enjoyed it. So even though some characters made me frustrated, I would love to read the sequel to How to Date…, to find out just how Alex will handle the promise she made, -- I won’t spoil what it is, you’ll have to read and find out. 

A new student review of Timmy Failure: Now Look What You've Done

JennaSalz posted a new student review of Timmy Failure: Now Look What You've Done . See the full review.

        I thought the book was funny. The characters were very iterative in the book the characters were not just thrown in. They were mentioned many times in the book. They were well thought in the fact that all the charters  had there own personalty. The book was short and funny.The book was a good "for fun "book that will not take you very much time to read. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK   

A new student review of The Grimalkin's Secret by Kara Komarnitsky

scbazsali posted a new student review of The Grimalkin's Secret by Kara Komarnitsky. See the full review.

I loved this book although there were some parts I didn’t understand. I had to read the parts I didn’t understand over again.You should read this book if you like magic and fantasy. I seriously could not put this book down! It has a lot of adventure in it. I love adventure.

I give this book a five-star rating because the author wrote well and the story was so well laid out.

A new student review of The Great Trouble

neschick posted a new student review of The Great Trouble . See the full review.

This is a very awesome book. One of my favorites! Though it does have some things that may make readers want to stop. Those include lots and lots of death, a kidnapping, threatening and a teeny bit of torture. But still I would highly recommend this book. This book also has a lot of suspense and build-up. Overall this is a very good book.

A new student review of Breakfast Served Anytime

dancechicka posted a new student review of Breakfast Served Anytime . See the full review.

How do I put this……This book was very good……..in some parts.  Most of the book was very well written--it flowed smoothly, the vocabulary was suited perfectly, it just seemed to…click.  In other parts, though, it was a little rough.  I felt there were sometimes too many plot lines that were left a little unfinished or were tied up in a rush……like the “last three pages” rush.  It’s like Combs had a set number of pages she was going to write and she just quit after she hit that number.    I also felt that some of the story was kind of irrelevant, like it was just a filler—there was a stint that talked about coal mining that wasn’t relevant in the end and the whole butterfly thing was kind of pointless.  I just felt like Combs could have used that space to better develop the ending.  Beforeyou give up on this book, though—there was plenty of good things, too.  The secondary characters—Calvin, Chloe, Mason—were wonderful. They had so much personality and uniqueness that it was impossible not to fall in love with them.  The book was also very informed—Combs definitely is well-versed in many things, including literature, mythology, and vocabulary.  I feel as if  I came off more knowledgeable than I started.  The verdict?  Three out of five stars for me! 

                “Yeah, well.  Truth is stranger than fiction, people…..The magic, though?  The magic is what stayed.”

                I would recommend this book for ages ten and up for some expletives that are scattered throughout.  Other than that, nothing to worry about.

Gloria though she knew it all…until she didn’t.  Will her months stay at the Mason College turn her entire future on its head—or will she come out more hurt than before?

A new student review of Returning to Shore

Eowyn7 posted a new student review of Returning to Shore . See the full review.

Returning to Shore is an amazing book about finding lost loved ones. Corinne Demas develops the relationships between her characters very well. Clare has a very different relationship with each character. However, Clare is not a strong-willed character. I personally enjoy a strong leading character and felt this book was lacking without one. That being said, the entire book had a moral standard that is missing in most modern fiction.I feel that this book does not fit well in any age group. The writing style feels like junior fiction, while some of the content is very teen. I would recommend this to realistic fiction lovers.

A new student review of Alien Invasion and Other Inconveniences

vbobrocks posted a new student review of Alien Invasion and Other Inconveniences . See the full review.

Yansky’s Alien Invasion was an enjoyable read that I found hard to put down once I got into it.  The plot was well thought out and kept my attention throughout the novel.  My only real issue was that there was a lack of emotion from the characters; it was hard to relate to them.  If I were Jesse, enslaved to aliens with terrifying telepathic powers, I would be fighting off constant panic attacks mixed with bouts of rage.  Plus, he lost everyone and everything he cared about, a situation that would call for a good helping of grief; grief that wasn’t really present in the novel.  Also, the beginning was slightly choppy; I found myself wondering how the story got from point A to point B a few times, but it quickly improved.  I enjoyed Alien Invasion and Other Inconveniences and I am looking forward to reading the sequel; the novel was definitely one for middle school sci-fi fans to put on their reading lists.

A new student review of Charis: Journey to Pandora's Jar by Nicole Y. Walters

emtrier posted a new student review of Charis: Journey to Pandora's Jar by Nicole Y. Walters. See the full review.

 I liked the book, but I think that the protaginist was a bit stereotypical; kind of weak, like when she breaks down crying and seeks comfort from Athena. But overall, this was a pretty good book, lots of action and adventure!

A new student review of The Circle Book One of the Sidhe by Cindy Cipriano

Anjel posted a new student review of The Circle Book One of the Sidhe by Cindy Cipriano. See the full review.

I had a hard time getting into this book, but after the first few pages I couldn’t put the book down. I can’t think of another story quite like this one, and I can’t wait for book 2 to come out.  I think anyone who enjoys fantasy stories would very much like this book.

My favorite part was when Laurel saw her brother for the first time in seven years. Thank you Miss Cindy Cipriano for writing a book different than stories I've read and with characters that seem real.

A new student review of The Eye of Minds (The Mortality Doctrine)

alphatauri posted a new student review of The Eye of Minds (The Mortality Doctrine) . See the full review.

James Dashner's books are usually filled with action, humor, and a relatable leading male character, and this one is no different. While Michael is a world-class hacker, Dashner manages to make this character feel completely normal--an everyday human teenager. His background does seem to be a bit thin, but all that is explained at the end of the novel. Michael's friends are both unique as well. The trio constantly jabbers among themselves, providing some refreshing humor in what is an action-packed story. From the very first page, the action and drama starts up and never lets up. This book is filled with hacker battles, war games, riddles, and surprising encounters. The suspense rises up to an extraordinary level as Michael and his friends decide who to trust, and the answers aren't always so clear--one of the things Dashner's readers have come to expect from him. At the end, the full reveal of the antagonist makes this a wholly worthwhile journey.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read techy and action-filled adventures. The only downside is that the dialogue spoken among the characters is cliche at times, but Dashner's fans will not be disappointed by this latest novel. 

A new student review of The Queen's Choice

Ravette posted a new student review of The Queen's Choice . See the full review.

A wonderful, fast-paced, and engaging novel. The character development helped to create connections with the problems each character faced; Shea's father unable to accept her wanting to leave, and Anya, who lost her wings and with it, the ability to fly or to even return to Chroir. The idea of faeries, in my opinion, was rather intriguing. They basically lived in a society right beside the human territory, hating each other for their differences. I enjoyed the story to the fullest and eagerly look forward to the next novel in the trilogy.

A new student review of The Grimalkin's Secret by Kara Komarnitsky

gcgarthwaite posted a new student review of The Grimalkin's Secret by Kara Komarnitsky. See the full review.

I really liked the adventurous detail in this book. The detail really helps the magic, mystery, and characters come alive in this story. I disliked the abrupt start, and having to decipher their magical language, Reesk, for every chapter name. I also disliked the confusing sadness and violence.

 

 

 

 

A new student review of Paper Hearts by S. R. Savell

m-and-m-b-baller posted a new student review of Paper Hearts by S. R. Savell. See the full review.

I didn't read the whole book, but I'd say, a seventeen year old girl with family issues, and who meets a guy. Will it make her life better or worse?

A new student review of Archon

sschu5 posted a new student review of Archon . See the full review.

This is a great book about two companions who go on a treacherous journey to a no man’s land. It is a great story for young readers who like adventure, friendship, and mystery. The story was very suspenseful it kept you wanting to read the whole thing in one day.  I thought it was so good that I read it in 2 days. But what I didn’t like was that in most places of the book I couldn’t picture the scene. Apart from that the book was great.

A new student review of Breakfast Served Anytime

thudson36 posted a new student review of Breakfast Served Anytime . See the full review.

Breakfast Served Anytime was an overall great book. Although not suspenseful, this book had me intrigued and kept me wanting more throughout the whole story. The vocabulary may be advanced for some audiences, but it characterizes Gloria. I couldn’t help but fall in love with Gloria and other characters, like Mason, Calvin and Chloe, because Sarah Combs gives personality and quirks to each one. This book contains multiple themes and learning experiences and is very relatable. I was satisfied with the ending resolution and thought this was a great must-read book.

A new student review of The Grimalkin's Secret

afkuhn123 posted a new student review of The Grimalkin's Secret . See the full review.

I really loved this book because of the action and the bond that Kya, Sebastian, and Eliza have together. I also loved it because of how much the three of them are a team throughout all of their journeys. This is a great book.

A new student review of The Grimalkin's Secret

mftrapp posted a new student review of The Grimalkin's Secret . See the full review.

I loved  The Grimalkin’s Secret. I liked how adventurous the book is. I also liked that the end of the chapters left you in suspense. In addition I liked that the chapter names were in a made up language called Reesk. I did not like that both parts of the story were almost two different stories(although they were both very good stories.) I recommend this book to kids 8-15 years old.

A new student review of Echo

tlang posted a new student review of Echo . See the full review.

I enjoyed this book very much. I love each and everyone of the characters, they each have their own wonderful personalities that is just great. I hate Calli, the whole time she is mentioned.  I just wanted to jump in the story and slap her for being a terrible mother. How can a mom make her daughter feel useless and unloved? Makes her feel like her mother only wants to see her screw something up. When Echo does something great, her mother makes fun of her with something else. I believe the cause of Echo wanting to loose so much weight is because of her mother always saying she got so fat during Christmas that she believes Echo will never loose it. Now look at Calli; your daughter is starving herself because of you.  I truly believe that this is a good lesson for all girls and boys who think that they are not perfect cause of their weight. There are so many people who do this; stop eating and then pukes themselves to get rid of any food; it's sickening. Can't you see that you're beautiful just the way you are? We all change in life, we just need to accept that and enjoy our lives. 

A new student review of Revealed

XxtidaxX posted a new student review of Revealed . See the full review.

I think that this was a wonderful extension to the series. I always love reading these novels and have the hardest time putting them down. They keep drawing me in for more.

A new student review of Girls Like Us

cmason178 posted a new student review of Girls Like Us . See the full review.

Gail Giles presents to us an emotionally hard to chew novel.  Though heart-touching and full of personal troubles, I would not recommend this book to any weak-hearted or weak-minded individual.  Girls Like Us is a good book if you are looking for something to get your brain thinking.  Realistic hardships and true facts about the cruel world makes this book a good read if you are up to the challenge.

 

A new student review of Zebra Forest by Adina Rishe Gewirtz

cmason178 posted a new student review of Zebra Forest by Adina Rishe Gewirtz. See the full review.

Short, but to the point, Zebra Forest quickly captivates your full focus with the plight of the Snow children. Emotionally touching and gripping; you will never forget this excellent tale of how long-kept family secrets can damage children. Impossible to put down! Any reader will love.

A new student review of Once Upon A Road Trip by Angela N. Blount

Meeka4687 posted a new student review of Once Upon A Road Trip by Angela N. Blount. See the full review.

I really enjoyed this story, and found many people, (Angie espicially) very easy to relate to.  Angie has a nice sense of humor, and I really think she portrays other high schoolers very nicely. All in all, I enjoyed the book, and think many others would as well.

A new student review of The Dark Between by Sonia Gensler

verybookly posted a new student review of The Dark Between by Sonia Gensler. See the full review.

The Dark Between started off slow but around page 70, things began to pick up. After the plot began to unfold, the book was difficult to put down. Nothing in the book seemed predictable, at least not too much, and each time I thought the book would take one turn, it took a different one and I was never able to pinpoint how the story would wrap up. The mysteriousness of the novel made it enjoyable and a fun read. 

A new student review of The Extra

bookgirl1289 posted a new student review of The Extra . See the full review.

I really enjoyed reading The Extra and found it very interesting because very little has been written about how the Gypsies were sent to concentration camps in World War II. The characters were likeable, and you were able to connect with their feelings (if not the situations) and sympathize with them. I first chose this book because it was written by Kathryn Lasky who has written lots of good books, including the best-selling The Guardians of Ga’Hoole series. I also found this new book of hers to be very well written and interesting. There were, however, some rather intense and sad parts; but these are to be expected when talking about the Holocaust. All in all, I thought this was a wonderful book full of bravery and loyalty.

A new student review of The Grimalkin's Secret

SMHuxtable posted a new student review of The Grimalkin's Secret . See the full review.

I think this book was excellent. It had a mixture of magical, kind of realistic, and adventure. I like that at the begining of the book it showed two different alphabets, Resse and Symbari.

A new student review of Charis: Journey to Pandora's Jar

nkfranzone posted a new student review of Charis: Journey to Pandora's Jar . See the full review.

How would you feel if all the miseries of the world were yours to fix? When I read Charis, I was sympathetic for her. I mean if you had to battle horrific monsters from the underworld,who wouldn’t freak out? I really liked how Nicole Walters uses a lot of details. It made the book a lot more interesting. Another thing I liked was it was very clear who was talking. It was really easy to follow, but interesting and fast paced. There is one con. The ending was kind of disappointing.  All in all, though, I really liked it.  

A new student review of The True Tale of the Monster Billy Dean

MIZZIQ posted a new student review of The True Tale of the Monster Billy Dean . See the full review.

This book grabbed me with its description of a boy telling his own story. It seemed to be a mix between a horror and an autobiography, which it most definitely was. One of the first barriers to reading this book was a textual hurdle. Everything was typed out in nonsensical spelling. I wasn't ever sure whether that was for an effect for the experience of the book, or if it was just a sloppy choice of creative thought. While I appreciate expanding the ways to print, and use the paper with which you print a book, this did not work. Nearly every word was spelled wrong, phonetically.This made it incrediblly difficult to get through the book, which, in the end, I never did. The next suprising thing to me was the edginess of it all. I was fully aware that it came with a mature rating, however the things in this book really just weren't okay to be dwelling on. I'm not sure if that was clarified later in the book, but it honestly doesn't matter all that much. There was adultery, abuse, language, a boy who was locked up in his room from childhood.

The intriguing and confusing parts of the book usually came when the boy was describing his own psycological troubles. While I really do appreciate troubles in someone's life used to demonstrate something specific or to help you learn new things, in this context, it was not appreciated. The first words had me reading the book aloud to be able to read it, and it continued on with obsenities that I didn't feel necessary to fully understand the troubles the boy was experiencing.

This book was a dissapointment compared to what I expected, and had I known what it was or what it was supposed to be, I would have never attempted to read this book. I was frustrated by something as simple as the choice of misspelling the words because if that had been fixed I would have enjoyed the good parts found in the book to a fuller extent. The author dampened his possibly incredible affect on someone by choosing to make his book like this.

A new student review of More Than This

dancechicka posted a new student review of More Than This . See the full review.

Wow.  That’s the only word I can think to type right now, huddled up in front of my computer, my eyes glazed over and my movements still quite sluggish from staying in the same position for hours barreling through this book, only stopping to eat or possibly stretch.  Just….wow.  It was new, it was provocative, it was different.  It is getting increasingly difficult to find a book that introduces a completely different idea that has not been influenced by other factors (other novels, media, recent events), but Patrick Ness certainly has—and with great and reckless abandon.  His writing style and character development are close to flawless, and, along with vivid language and a sense of literary awareness, shape this book and make it a wonderful read.  The only compliant I have is that, at the beginning, many unknown factors that are foreshadowed in a quick amount of time, making it a little hard to keep up with the novel until it eventually catches back up with itself again.  Ending with a storyline that opens the door for a possible (and hopeful) sequel, More Than This by Patrick Ness is a glorious read for someone who is looking to add a little something more to their booklist.

                “Hey.” He says, whispering it now.  No one answers.  Not a bird or a squirrel or the fox and her kits.  No one answers from any quarter.  He’s alone.”

                I would recommend this book for ten and up, or for advanced comprehensive readers, as the storyline and plot can be hard to follow for younger booklovers.  It has a few basic expletives, brief sexual references, and also mentions homosexuality, so if it bothers you or your child, you have been forewarned.

                The boy is alone.  Completely.  He knows not where to go, or who to turn to.  Will he be able to survive his strange new world—or will it be the one to finally conquer him?  Patrick Ness’s More Than This is the only way to find out!

A new student review of There Will Be Bears

sisto8 posted a new student review of There Will Be Bears . See the full review.

I like this book because it shows the trust behind promises.  The boy was promised something by his grandfather and his grandfather showed him that nothing would stop him from keeping it.    It had certain twists and turns in it that keep a reader on their toes.  When something seemed wrong, it turned into something right on the next page.  The characters were realistic.  They had problems and difficulties like normal people.  I recommend this for anyone 12+.

A new student review of The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina

Cowboythedog11 posted a new student review of The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina. See the full review.

If you like Divergent then this is the book for you.  Like Divergent it takes place in the future. The details in the book were amazing!  This author has a talent for making you feel what the character is going through.  My only complaint is that sometimes the flash backs confused me as to what was happening in the present.