A new student review of The Author or The Characters' Short Living Story by Facundo Raganato

Gwendolyn posted a new student review of The Author or The Characters' Short Living Story by Facundo Raganato. See the full review.

The Author or The Characters' Short Living Story by Facundo Raganato is unlike any book I have ever read. In the case of this story, the characters can think, feel, and fight back with the author, who is their creator. Although it is a difficult work of spiritual and psychological fiction to summarize, Raganato creates a visually frazzled world that translates into written word in an oddly coherent way. It opens with a plot line that is not clearly defined to the reader, but keeps the read compelling with its wonderfully dynamic and three-dimensional characters. It is a book that reaches out to its reader. 

    

This story shows an author's relationship with his characters in a very literal sense. Although this novel remains quite vague and mysterious, I felt that I was inside the story with the characters as I was reading. The Author or The Characters' Short Living Story has a way of sharing just enough information to keep the reader interested, while leaving the right amount of mystery to make the reader never want to look up from the page. 

   

Although the pace of this story felt a bit slow at its start, it picked up quickly as I adjusted to its concept and structure. A few sections throughout the book had brief lulls. This was particularly felt in scenes in which I really wanted to find out what happened to the characters. However, the majority of the book kept me thoroughly engrossed. 

    

Seeing as I read from an uncorrected proof, there were a few grammatical errors and missing words and letters I came across while reading. I expect these will be edited before the book is published. However, there was a small selection of sentences in this novel that seemed oddly phrased but not grammatically incorrect, and their structure didn't flow with the rest of the writing. Some passages of writing felt estranged from the main writing style; others fit the tone of the book perfectly. 

 

In conclusion, I thoroughly enjoyed Facundo Raganato's The Author or The Characters' Short Living Story, and would recommend it to any imaginative and contemplative soul in search for something new to read. It is a completely fresh written work, incomparable to anything I have ever read. 

 

A new student review of Contract City by Mark Falkin

jotaf posted a new student review of Contract City by Mark Falkin. See the full review.

Personally, I didn't really like Contract City. Some of the things that I didn't like about it were that the storyline was really hard to follow and it got really slow during most of the book. Also, I really thought that it ended terribly; there was a huge jump in time right when there was a lot of action going on. Maybe if there had been one more chapter between the second to last chapter and the last chapter it would have been better. Also, something happened in the end that I didn't really think should have happened. Most of the people in this book were drinkers and smokers, which was another thing I didn't like about this book. Lastly, I didn't like that I couldn't really understand most of the personalities of the characters, including Sara, which was disappointing because she was the main character.  The book started to get better about two thirds of the way through the book because it started to speed up and added more action; unfortunately, it bombed with me before and after that.  I would give this book a two and a half star rating if possible, but since it is not, I will give it three stars.

A new student review of Fat & Bones by Larissa Theule

crabby posted a new student review of Fat & Bones by Larissa Theule. See the full review.

If I was expecting anything resembling a normal set of stories when I began this journey, let me tell you: I was very, very wrong. I was expecting, as one might, a conventionally cute collection of stories about animals on a farm, and I wasn’t especially excited about it.

 

As soon as the meat cleaver came out, however, I was in love.

 

This may sound a bit harsh for a kids’ book, and true, it may have been vaguely terrifying at times, but that’s what made this story so incredibly splendid: it’s tremendously imaginative but never sugarcoated, managing to be playful and clever as well as grim. The characters are diverse, intriguing, and often unexpected, like a clumsy spider or the brutish old fairy who takes him prisoner. Terrific plot twists run rampant throughout. The writing is lovely, not to mention the illustrations, which are quite marvelous and do well to reflect the peculiar spirit of the book.

 

If I haven’t already made this apparent, I adore this strangely enchanting book. I know it will delight those who enjoy stories that possess a bit of grit alongside a wealth of creativity, deviating from the Disney-esque norm of modern fables. The world of Fat & Bones is sure to entrap many a fascinated (and slightly petrified) reader to come.

A new student review of Akarnae by Lynette Noni

I_Am_Luna posted a new student review of Akarnae by Lynette Noni. See the full review.

I really liked Arkanea by Lynette Noni. I liked the creativeness she put into creating the setting, characters, and food. It was very descriptive, but not to the point where it bored me with details. The characters were developed nicely. I enjoyed finding out more about Medora and its history. I did not like how she didn't explain Medora. It may have made more sense if more details were included.

The setting was so well described, I could imagine myself there. There were times that I thought I could see exactly what was happening extremely clearly. The characters felt like they could be real people, that is if they didn't have their special gifts. I could imagine this book becoming very famous. It is a great piece of literature and I hope it is widely read.

A new student review of The First Principle by Marissa Shrock

thudson36 posted a new student review of The First Principle by Marissa Shrock. See the full review.

I thought The First Principle by Marissa Shrock was an overall good book. I liked how the main character, Vivica, was a strong female protagonist, but I found her hard to relate to. I enjoyed reading about the futuristic world she lives in, because it was very well developed and makes you think about issues we face today in society. The writing wasn’t very descriptive but I found this moved the story along at a nice pace, and I never found myself getting bored. I felt some parts of the novel were unrealistic, and things moved at an impractical speed. I wouldn’t recommend this book to anybody who has strong opinions about Christianity, due to the highly religious themes expressed in this novel. I also wouldn’t recommend it to anybody against pro-choice because it contains strong pro-life opinions. Overall, I enjoyed the world and action in this novel, although it did contain strong themes and opinions.

A new student review of Bumbling Bea by Deborah Baldwin

Anjel posted a new student review of Bumbling Bea by Deborah Baldwin. See the full review.

I liked the plot of this story. I believe it made a good point: nobody is perfect. I could relate to the characters and what they were going through. I was confused by some parts of the book, and it had a few clerical errors. Overall, I enjoyed this book. My favorite part was when Beatrice and Michiko had their conversations in the bathroom. My least favorite part was when Peter got poison ivy. I personally don’t like poison ivy, and the description made me feel itchy. Even though I didn't like that part, I felt the author did a great job describing it realistically. I would recommend this to 8-12 year olds, anyone dealing with problems with their friends, and to readers who loved Beholding Bee by Kimberly Newton Fusco.

A new student review of Tommy Black and the Staff of Light by Jake Kerr

LegoLover posted a new student review of Tommy Black and the Staff of Light by Jake Kerr. See the full review.

Tommy Black and the Staff of Light started off a bit slower than I expected. However, it quickly became exciting within the first few pages as I continued to read. The action almost never stopped, which made this book very hard to put down.  A simple trip to a restaurant turned into a battle for survival when Tommy gained a great power, and his grandfather lost it. Through the course of the story, some secrets were discovered, while others were hidden. Overall, this book could not be better. Jake Kerr is an author I will follow.  I look forward to reading the sequel, Tommy Black and the Coat of Invincibility.

A new student review of My Wizard Buddy (Book One) by Scott Spotson

sschu5 posted a new student review of My Wizard Buddy (Book One) by Scott Spotson. See the full review.

There were many elements to this book that made it enjoyable. The plot set up made the story flow nicely. Also, the details allowed me to imagine what was happening very easily. At a few points I felt confused by the book's events. I thought perhaps a few details could have been added to the story to clear up my confusion. This was a very good read and I would recommend it to anyone aged eight and above.

A new student review of Teresa of the New World by Sharman Apt Russell

Lucy posted a new student review of Teresa of the New World by Sharman Apt Russell. See the full review.

Teresa of the New World

A new student review of Devin Rhodes Is Dead by Jennifer Wolf Kam

snehayamsani posted a new student review of Devin Rhodes Is Dead by Jennifer Wolf Kam. See the full review.

“The connection between us shattered, like tiny invisible shards of glass falling softly onto the asphalt.”

 

I really liked this book, to be honest. The book explores the ups and downs of friendships—something I am sure we have all experienced—and artfully crafts the relationship into a mystery, resulting in the death of Devin Rhodes. This is further illustrated as Kam writes the novel in short before-and-after chapters describing the events that led up to and from Devin’s death, building the suspense in each chapter till the very end. Kam’s writing in this novel was well thought out as she explored friendships, pulling the reader in immediately.

 

And Cass. Cass was probably the best thing in the book because I could feel her guilt and confusion toward her relationship with Devin. For me, it struck a chord because my best friend moved a few years ago. After the move, she changed and we grew apart. I felt particularly close to Cass as she wishes for the old Devin to come back repeatedly through the novel. It is something we all feel, no doubt.

 

This book deserves a 5 out of 5.

 

A new student review of The Geneva Project - Truth by Christina M. Benjamin

joythean posted a new student review of The Geneva Project - Truth by Christina M. Benjamin. See the full review.

Honestly, I didn't enjoy reading this book that much.  Although the idea for this novel was very interesting, the approch that Christina M. Benjamin just didn't speak to me.  The relationships seemed a bit forced, and the magic aspect of the novel didn't work well with the plot.  It was as if this element was shoved into the story at the last minute.  It just didn't flow smoothly with the rest of the novel.  The characters were pleasant, but they didn't catch my eye as much as I hoped they would.  In my opinion, many events that happen in the novel were very abrupt and didn't flow together with the other events that occurred before and after it.  It was just  a bit choppy.  On the other hand, the writing style was very nice and easy to read.  It made this entire experience much nicer than I expected it to be.  I had really high hopes for this novel, but it fell a little flat.

A new student review of Black Ice

sumrsilentmusic posted a new student review of Black Ice . See the full review.

I have to admit, I didn’t really go into this book with an open mind. I didn't have high expectations for the book, especially since I knew Becca Fitzpatrick had written the Hush, Hush saga. Yet this book surprised me. It was better than I expected it to be.

 

First, and probably most surprisingly, there wasn’t an instant love connection between the characters. There was instant attraction between Britt and Mason, but Fitzpatrick managed not to write their romance into something unbelievably contrived, which is a compliment considering the premise seemed unnatural to me. Their interactions were enjoyable and Mason was definitely swoon-worthy, if the reader could get past the fact that he was a criminal and he thought he could save the world by himself.

 

Just because their romance wasn’t contrived doesn’t mean that other aspects of the book were the same. Specifically, the way Britt and Korbie found themselves in the clutches of Mason and Shaun seemed far-fetched. Mason basically freezed Britt and Korbie out and told them that they aren’t invited into the cabin, and they still invited themselves in. I felt the girls were incredibly unaware and selfish to enter the cabin at this point. I understand that they were in dire circumstances; yet If someone blatantly tells you not to come into a house, I would think there must be a valid reason for them to do so.

 

The most disappointing aspect of this novel is the writing of the characters. Fitzpatrick has set her book up with characters that have the potential to be dynamic and intriguing, but I did not feel she fully delivered on that potential. Instead, I felt led as a reader to believe things about her characters. For example, it seemed she was trying to say that Britt was dependent on men when she didn’t need to be. Britt asked her dad for gas money before she left for her trip. Then, later in the novel, she said something along the lines of “I depended on the men in my life to rescue me.” I wish Fitzpatrick would give her readers more credit. As a reader, I don’t need to be told these things if the characters are described well enough through their actions. I don't like when an author explicitly explains characterizations. Additionally, Britt’s characterization doesn’t make sense to me. Why does she depend so much upon the men in her life? In order to be realistic, all character traits have to stem from something. It seems to me that Britt is given this character trait solely to illustrate her development as a character. Her character development doesn’t read organically to me.

 

The character interactions also felt lacking. The relationship between Calvin and his dad had so much potential to be interesting, but at the end it just felt contrived. Something so completely interesting as a dad pushing his son to a breaking point was reduced to a plot twist. The relationship between Britt and Mason, although it has the clichéd Stockholm syndrome label, could be given a more interesting layer. Instead, it just turned out that Britt simply perceived Mason’s motivations wrongly, and she forgave him for all his misdeeds once she found out the true reasoning for his actions. The only character relationship I found interesting was Britt and Korbie’s friendship cycle, but I still felt it was used as a plot development.

 

Additionally, I think this book needs more editing. Korbie and Britt listen to mixtapes, but they also aspired to having Katy Perry makeovers when they were ten. Some of her sentences are extremely awkward. For example, she once described Mason to “wag his head at the snow” (228). Not to mention, Fitzpatrick is repetitive at times. She explained how well Britt read the travel guidebooks in preparation for her backpacking trip three different times.

All in all, Fitzpatrick’s novel didn’t read as poorly as I was expecting it to, given the subject matter. However, it didn’t bring anything new to the genre either. She could have given much more depth to the characters and to their relationships, but instead I felt many aspects of the book served as plot developments. I guess that could be entertaining if you don’t think too hard about it.

A new student review of Standing (The Waterblaze Trilogy) (Volume 1) by China Dennington

hannmarr23705 posted a new student review of Standing (The Waterblaze Trilogy) (Volume 1) by China Dennington. See the full review.

Standing might be a good book for someone aged 9-11 who likes dystopian themes. Personally, I didn’t enjoy this book and wouldn’t read the next two books. Something I didn’t enjoy is that the main character’s thoughts are written so bluntly and obviously. Another thing I didn’t enjoy is that the places and characters/animals aren’t described very well and I didn't feel like I could picture the setting as well because of it. I did enjoy how creative the general idea for the story, but the execution wasn’t as desirable. Also, some of the parts confused me and I had to read parts again to fully understand the idea.

    I give this story 2/5 stars. Some themes I noticed were action and adventure.

A new student review of The Walk On by John Feinstein

winner231 posted a new student review of The Walk On by John Feinstein. See the full review.

The Walk On is a very well written and very intriguing book. The games in the book are very well described. It lets you know the characters and get hooked on conflicts between players and coaches. There is great vocabulary describing each play and you can tell Feinstein worked hard to emphasize each moment in the book. You won't want to put this book down. I give it 41/2 stars out of 5.

A new student review of The Kingdom Lights by Steven VS

bygflower posted a new student review of The Kingdom Lights by Steven VS. See the full review.

To explain this book in one word... chaos.  Steven VS creates a fantastic place full of magic not unlike Harry Potter's world, but the book as a whole didn't keep me entertained and made my head spin because of excessively changed viewpoints and an incredibly complicated storyline. The beginning and middle were very confusing, and the end chaotic. It seemed to me that it was trying to be similar to Harry Potter, with a school for magic, and a bully, but the way it was written did not satisfy me. It's a shame, because it has the potential to be a great fantasy novel. The Kingdom Lights has a storyline with incredible promise, but the changing viewpoints and excessive description took away from what could have been a brilliant book.

A new student review of Haw by Sean Jackson

JesusFreak posted a new student review of Haw by Sean Jackson. See the full review.

When I began reading this book, I was immediately pulled into Lucas’s world. Though very gory, the author described the state of the world in this book perfectly. The descriptions he used were enough to give me an idea of what it would be like to live in a devastated world, yet they weren't so long that they bored me.

The characters weren’t your average heroes; they were damaged people living in an imperfect world. Though damaged, they were likable and relatable. The author set up the characters and kept me on the edge of my seat through the use of dual points of view.

I was a bit confused about what the author called "citoyens." A bit more elaboration on who they were may have made it less confusing for me.

All in all, this book is a swift read for those who like dark, apocalyptic worlds.

A new student review of Cock-A-Doodle-Oops! by Lori Degman

Boomer123 posted a new student review of Cock-A-Doodle-Oops! by Lori Degman. See the full review.

I did enjoy the book mostly because it had animals in it.  The pictures were illustrated very well.  

 

The book is short and I read it in about 10 minutes.  I thought it was a chapter book but it’s more of a picture book for 1st or 2nd graders.

If you like funny books about farm animals then you should read this book.   

A new student review of True Son

Katiedid.Break posted a new student review of True Son . See the full review.

      I loved the book; it was an epic conclusion to the Psi Chronicles. The author didn’t rush the ending and let the events unfold naturally. Krumwiede made it seems that Psi was really possible. There is more than one antagonist, who give Taemon a run for his Psi.  The concept was amazing and executed nearly flawlessly. There were many twists and turns that keep the reader engaged. And the ending happened the only way it could have.

 

A new student review of Forever Ruby by Claire Merchant

123evae123 posted a new student review of Forever Ruby by Claire Merchant. See the full review.

While reading this book I had mixed emotions about it. Somtimes the plot was a tad slow, and sometimes it was too fast-paced.  Characters were well developed however, and it was easy to forge connections with them and sympathize with their actions.  Fans of the supernatural genre will love this book and its twists and turns as Ruby tries to figure out who is helping and hindering her on this journey of self discovery . She learns about her flaws and has downfalls like everyone else, and she is not described as "perfect" as so many novel heroines are. This novel was a great, relaxing beach read, and with such great character development, it was easy to overlook the slow or fast plot.

A new student review of Boundaries: How the Mason-Dixon Line Settled a Family Feud and Divided a Nation by Sally M. Walker

blaklab66 posted a new student review of Boundaries: How the Mason-Dixon Line Settled a Family Feud and Divided a Nation by Sally M. Walker. See the full review.

 

I enjoyed this book because as I explained in my summary, the author touched on many events. This book was interesting because it was engaging and very accurate. The story was easily comprehendible and deep. There were not many characters to keep track of and the main idea was very clear. I also liked the format this book was presented in. It helped present the facts clearly.

A new student review of The Cryptic Case of the Coded Fair by Barbara Tinker

moseso posted a new student review of The Cryptic Case of the Coded Fair by Barbara Tinker. See the full review.

This book is extraordinarily exciting and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end! When the main characters, Ella and Shomari, are asked to help uncover the baffling code that the evil Dr. G has sent out to several people who are judges for the science fair, they visit various geniuses and learn the secrets of coding. Beautiful illustrations help one imagine every detail of what happens in the book. It is extremely descriptive. The reader will find it hard to put the book down until the end. This book would be most enjoyed by 11-13 year olds. When one of many coding processes was explained, it was confusing and required re-reading a few times in order to gain understanding.  Don’t let this stop you, however, from reading The Cryptic Case of the Coded Fair.  It will definitely end up on your shelf of favorites!

A new student review of Toks & the Phoenix Project by A.S Lawal

JesusFreak posted a new student review of Toks & the Phoenix Project by A.S Lawal. See the full review.

When I began reading this book, I found myself bored with it. I felt the main character, Toks, was whiny and unlikable.  She made bad decisions throughout the book. However, as I came to the ending I began to like her character. Additionally, I did not care for the author’s writing style. I thought that most of the dialogue in the book made it seem as though the author was telling the story to a child. It was not a writing style that appealed to me.

I felt the book started out slowly in the beginning, though about halfway through it started to pick up. The last two chapters were especially exciting.

The book was promising, and it had great ideas. It just didn't turn out the way I was hoping it would.

A new student review of All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

JesusFreak posted a new student review of All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven. See the full review.

When I opened this book and began to read, I realized that I was immediately intrigued by Finch. Though troubled, I found him to be a very likable character.  The author did a good job describing her characters without overwhelming her readers with an overabundance of information. I felt as if I was in the book with Finch and Violet every step of the way.

I enjoyed the fact that Finch and Violet's relationship was believable.  It is hard for me to find a good romance that convinces me of the character's love, but the relationship in "All the Bright Places" was done very well.

Another thing to comment on is the pace of the book.  The beginning sentence grabbed me and wouldn't let me go.  As the book went on, I was never bored.  The last few chapters were especially beautifully written; they left me awestricken.

Overall, this book was an amazing read that I’m sure I’ll read many times again.

A new student review of Draw-A-Saurus

sisto8 posted a new student review of Draw-A-Saurus . See the full review.

I picked this book because my little sisters love to draw.  We drew most of the dinosaurs in the book and they still wanted to draw more.  At first I thought Draw-A-Saurus would be an average drawing book, but after we started, I found it to be one of the best drawing books I've ever used!  It explains about dinosaur bones, how to draw dinosaurs, and what kinds of animals look like dinosaurs.  The bright colors are attractive to little kids.  My sisters were inspired by all the different examples of how they could color their pictures.  I will definitely keep an eye out for more books from this author!  I recommend this book for dinosaur lovers 5+.

A new student review of Coral & Bone by Tiffany Daune

sisto8 posted a new student review of Coral & Bone by Tiffany Daune. See the full review.

This book was definitely a page turner. Once I began reading, I didn’t want to stop. The plot was very exciting; it was full of adventure and unpredictable events. The story itself had lots of twists and turns. The author kept the story thrilling and fast-paced, but in an uncomplicated, structured manner.  The characters were consistent, believable, and sweet, each in their own ways. I truly did care about each of them. The author of this book did a wonderful job with the character development! I recommend this book for everyone ages 12 and above.

A new student review of Amy's Choice by Marcia Strykowski

Anjel posted a new student review of Amy's Choice by Marcia Strykowski. See the full review.

I really liked this book. I usually read fantasy so this was a new experience for me, but I learned that fantasy isn’t the only genre I like. One of my favorite parts is when Pup comes back to say hi because It sounds like my dog when she runs away but then (minutes or hours later) we find her standing on the front porch ready to come in. I also liked that Finn was an artist because I am one as well. However, I disliked that some of the kids smoked but I also feel as if it was necessary to keep the story going. All in all I would recommend this to middle school students, summer book lists, people who like historical fiction and people who like Beholding Bee by Kimberly Newton Fusco and Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundel.

A new student review of Intangible by C A Gray

amanklep10599 posted a new student review of Intangible by C A Gray. See the full review.

"Intangible" was an extremely exciting story that kept me reading on the edge of my seat.  It had it all: humor, science, fantasy, fiction and fairytale.  The characters were all believable and likeable.  However, the main character, Peter, was too scientific, hard to relate to and understand, and wasn't very kind or friendly.  Overall, I loved "Intangible," because it was fascinating, scientific, and it talked about fairytales!

A new student review of Devin Rhodes Is Dead by Jennifer Wolf Kam

dancechicka posted a new student review of Devin Rhodes Is Dead by Jennifer Wolf Kam. See the full review.

I thought that this book was a good read, albeit a short one.  I found the plot pretty airtight, and the tone was just the right amount of creepiness and intrigue. The regular chapter switches from the times before and after Devin’s death kept me interested and in-focus.  Kam was skilled with her language, keeping the vocabulary easy enough to read yet eloquent enough to fit the overall eerie tone of the book.  One thing I did have a hard time doing was connecting with Cass.  I found her to be a little too woe-is-me and petulant for my tastes, but hey, I really can’t judge someone whose best friend just died.   All in all, a good, quick read for someone looking for a little pop to add to their winter reading list.

                “I can’t think; I can only run.  I can only run from Devin.”

I would recommend this book for ages ten and up.  There are, of course, themes of violence and death, and although a very small amount of profanity is used, I feel it would be best for younger children to wait to read this book for its central themes.

Plagued by broken memories and driven by guilt, Cass struggles to find the answer to the biggest question of them all—who killed Devin?  Read Jennifer Wolf Kam’s new novel Devin Rhodes is Dead to find out!

A new student review of The Illuminated Forest by Edwin Fontánez

jotaf posted a new student review of The Illuminated Forest by Edwin Fontánez. See the full review.

I thought The Illuminated Forest was a great book about coping with death and growing up.  I liked that the author, Edwin Fontánez made the characters fairly easy to connect with.  Another part I both liked and disliked was that part of the book was written from the perspective of the stray cat; it  put part of the book in a new and interesting perspective, but it was also sometimes difficult to understand because of the awkward use of language (in its head) by the cat.  A part in the book that I thought was really funny was when the owner of the small theatre in Palo Verde played The Graduate, but the owner did not read the description of the movie.  Being ignorant of the inappropriateness of the movie, she advertised it as, "An inspiration for kids to graduate!"  Her advertisement got lots of families with kids to come see the movie.  The next day all of the parents of the families that saw the movie were pounding on her door for what she accidentally did.  

One thing I did not like about the book, though, was that at the beginning it jumped quite a bit, starting with Mateo being fifteen, then Mateo being twelve, and then it jumped to a six year old girl, and after that, to an Indian tribe that used to live in Palo Verde.  Finally, though, it settled on twelve year old Mateo.  The other thing I disliked about this book was that it got a little dull at parts of the book and it took a little while for the book to get going again.  I think this book would be most enjoyed by anyone ages twelve through sixteen.  

A new student review of The Bullies of Wall Street

sisto8 posted a new student review of The Bullies of Wall Street . See the full review.

I think this book was very nice.  It shows how somebody’s greed can and does affect a nation. The stories from different kids’ points of view were enjoyable.  I liked them because it’s easier to relate to something that someone your age has gone through.  The information that I read in this book has helped me understand many different topics that I haven’t even thought about before.  I like the bright color on the cover.  It seemed to be made to attract attention.  It certainly attracted mine!  I think this book is great for teens that have heard about the 2008 economy crash and want to learn more as well as those who haven’t.  I recommend this book for people 12+.

A new student review of The Silver Cord by Kelly Kevin

pavannah posted a new student review of The Silver Cord by Kelly Kevin. See the full review.

From the second I got this book I was thrilled!  Normally I do not go for the graphic novels, but I thought I would give it a try, and it is safe to say I will be picking more up.  This book’s pictures were absolutely gorgeous, and the story brought me on a thrill ride, where i could not stop reading, even when I knew I had to go to bed.  This book is the book that MUST be read in one sitting, otherwise you might go crazy not knowing what happens next.  The time it took to create this book was astounding, 10 years, that is dedication.  But as evident the end result was worth it.  I highly recommend this book for people looking for a something new to brighten and liven up the day!

 

A new student review of Scripted by Maya Rock

alison_S posted a new student review of Scripted by Maya Rock. See the full review.

Rock never lets background info bog down the plot, yet Scripted still managed to immerse me in the Blissful Days subculture. Through Island-specific words ("camperf", "fralling") and vivid figurative language ("What if Callen were with me, watching the jellyfish, their transparent, filmy skins undulating through the water like silk scarves fluttering in the air?"), Rock crafts a rich, superbly-developed dystopia while maintaining an engaging, if not exactly breakneck, progression of internal and external conflicts. Although Rock endows nearly every major character with internal, as well as external, plotlines, I would've appreciated more emphasis on Lia's subplot. Lia seems to undergo personal growth, yet her subplot never amounts to the hopeful, satisfying turnaround she and— readers— deserve. Nevertheless, Scripted remains a fresh, gratifying read sure to charm fans of The Truman Show, Lois Lowry's The Giver, or Veronica Roth's Divergent.

A new student review of Leo's Lion

sschu5 posted a new student review of Leo's Lion . See the full review.

This is a very good book because of the many adventures Leo and his uncle take, including their buggy ride to Leonardo's house and a meeting with a stone carver. I like how Leo completely changes his mindset in the story; he goes from annoyed at being there to excited at what is to come next. The plot's set up is amazing, the events flow right into each other. You never know what’s going to happen next or what trouble they are going to get into. Uncle Leonardo is a bit unpredictable at times and you never know what’s going to come out of his decisions. I would recommend this book to almost everyone.

A new student review of Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer by William Summerhouse

moseso posted a new student review of Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer by William Summerhouse. See the full review.

A reader should be warned that this book has a few derogatory words in it, but not awful enough to downplay the excitement of the plot. They are easy to overlook, but the author could have left out many of them without changing the story. Orion, who is the main character, is forced to be brave and fearless in this whirlwind of adventure. Once the crew is compelled to try and survive on a rough and harsh terrain, it takes every ounce of bravery to stay alive. Mysterious things begin to occur and sadly, a few men meet death. Boys ages 11-13 would enjoy this book most. As a girl, the blood and gore was a distraction to the plot. Setting aside the critical and slightly offensive words, this book will definitely capture your attention with cliff-hangers, action, excitement, and more!

A new student review of Earth Star by Janet Edwards

tankedman posted a new student review of Earth Star by Janet Edwards. See the full review.

You know when you can't put down a book? When you are so immersed into the words that you aren't even conscious of reading? You feel you are there. I think that this book is one that defines that description. The author was very detailed, and I could picture everything and feel as though I was the characters.

A new student review of The First Principle by Marissa Shrock

Star360 posted a new student review of The First Principle by Marissa Shrock. See the full review.

The YA market is flooded with dystopias and sci-fi worlds, but The First Principle has tackled an issue not found in others: teenage pregnancy. It’s more realistic than child gladiators (The Hunger Games) or giant labyrinths (The Maze Runner). Its female heroine has no bow and arrow, but Vivica – what a delightful name! – fights a frighteningly realistic battle against her controlling government and against herself.  As for her futuristic world, I felt it lacked the exquisite descriptiveness of Harry Potter or Divergent. I was left wondering: What do people dress like? How's the food? What do the buildings look like? Yet it did have the essential information I needed to comprehend Vivica’s plight.

 

Also, I was thankful that there was no instant love between the characters. Ben and Vivica are introduced after they break up, and readers later learn that they were good friends before taking things further. The fact that they don’t get back together after she finds out she’s pregnant raises an interesting question: Should Vivica have to settle with Ben because of the result of one night? There is a possible love interest between Drake and Vivica that would be interesting to read about, but I’m glad that this book focused on her dealing with her pregnancy. As for the Christian message, it is obvious. Ben gives her a Bible, people pray, and Biblical lines are cited in the text. However, I didn’t feel it was overly "preachy." After all, issues like abortion and familial betrayal are universal. The First Principle would be popular among teen girls who love relatable characters and heart-pounding adventures.

A new student review of Rebellion by Karen Sandler

Ronnie posted a new student review of Rebellion by Karen Sandler. See the full review.

This is the third book in a series, and I enjoyed it. However, I did have some problems with the writing style. I found it difficult to connect to the characters and the world. It took me about two weeks to finish the book. However, I did enjoy the action that took place. I also thought Sandler did a wonderful job attacking various issues like social class. It was very thought provoking and forces people to look at our own society. I also found the main characters to be enjoyable despite their faults. This book was a good conclusion for the series. 

A new student review of Truth and Kisses by Laurie B. Friedman

kraghfamily posted a new student review of Truth and Kisses by Laurie B. Friedman. See the full review.

Truth and Kisses was an easy, cute read. It was both quick and entertaining, as well as a good summer book. I recommend this to anyone who wants a fun read!

A new student review of The Chosen of Gaia by M Mariz

Giddieon7 posted a new student review of The Chosen of Gaia by M Mariz. See the full review.

I liked this book because it was very suspenseful and you didn't know what would happen next. You also couldn't tell who were friends or enemies, so it always kept me guessing. I think it could have been a longer book with more storyline.

A new student review of Devin Rhodes Is Dead by Jennifer Kam

Star360 posted a new student review of Devin Rhodes Is Dead by Jennifer Kam. See the full review.

Devin Rhodes is Dead provided a tantalizing puzzle that gripped me from the first page – and no, that wasn’t a hyperbole! As soon as I read about how Devin’s body was being lowered into the ground and how conflicted Cass felt, I ran through the novel. This YA novel is told in alternating “before” and “after” Devin’s death chapters. It is easy to follow, but not predictable. It also has sharp insights into teen girl friendships and abusive relationships. Devin shared a “best friend" necklace with Cass, yet their relationship was toxic. It was filled with manipulation and betrayal. However, Wolf cleverly avoided the trap of making Devin a two-dimensional mean girl by including her weaknesses. Devin desperately needed love and understanding, so she sought affection in the arms of boys who always just wanted a good time. The novel contains a warning to such teens. After all, Devin would have had Cass’s friendship forever if she had been kinder. Cass herself was a fresh new voice. Her insecurities about weight and boys are not exaggerated; instead, they help readers understand the conclusion of the mystery. Girls will be better able to understand the intricacies of female relationships portrayed in Devin Rhodes is Dead, but teen boys might also enjoy the gripping whodunit.

A new student review of Abayomi, The Brazilian Puma: The True Story of an Orphaned Cub by Darcy Pattison

Sweetfable posted a new student review of Abayomi, The Brazilian Puma: The True Story of an Orphaned Cub by Darcy Pattison. See the full review.

This story was beautifully illustrated and had a hopeful ending. There was an environmental message that is good for children to learn at a very young age. Although short, the story had some powerful themes that should interest any young learner and even their parents. I also liked how at the very end of the book there were some facts on pumas, helping people understand just how interesting and vital these animals are.

A new student review of History in the Faking by Andreas Oertel

nictaf posted a new student review of History in the Faking by Andreas Oertel. See the full review.

Andreas Oertel made a very funny, believable, and exciting book!  I can’t wait for book two!  It caught me from page one and wouldn't let go until I finished the book.  The hoax in the book was extremely clever.  The characters were very believable and humorous. I could tell that Erick and Cody were best friends.  One part I really liked was when Rachel says, “The carvings probably said, Goo, goo, goo, Bla, bla, bla.”  I would recommend this book for ages 7 and up.