A new student review of Waiting for a Sign by Esty Schachter

coolcatcarmen13 posted a new student review of Waiting for a Sign by Esty Schachter. See the full review.

I enjoyed every page of Waiting for a Sign. Not only was I fascinated with the endless things I learned about deaf culture, but I also found Shelly to be a very entertaining character. She was wonderfully normal, and I saw a lot of myself in her with her. I related to her trivial struggles in things like cute boys at school as well as the deeper issues of grief and loss. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a sweet, honest story of family, bravery, and triumph.

A new student review of The Year of Chasing Dreams by Lurlene McDaniel

thudson36 posted a new student review of The Year of Chasing Dreams by Lurlene McDaniel. See the full review.

I thought The Year of Chasing Dreams by Lurlene McDaniel was an overall good book. Although it isn’t necessary, I would recommend reading the companion novel, The Year of Luminous Love, before reading this book. I didn’t read it beforehand, so I got confused at the beginning about the relationships between characters, but I soon caught on. The main character, Ciana, is a strong female protagonist who is very likable. It moved along at a nice pace, and I liked how it was spanned over a long period of time. I enjoyed how there were multiple subplots and stories within the overall storyline. Overall, I thought this novel was a nice love story that dealt with family and relationship issues in a realistic way and I would recommend it to others.

A new student review of Lies in the Dust by Jakob Crane

milesstriker posted a new student review of Lies in the Dust by Jakob Crane. See the full review.

This is an amazing book for anyone looking for an adventure. I especially like that the author wasn't too discreet about the topic of death when someone perished.The descriptions of death were blunt and direct. If you are soft in the heart then I think you should stay away from this book. The one problem I had with it was that I felt it was too short. I really wanted to know what happened to Ann after she left. She departed with hopes of peace between the town and the rest of her family. Another suggestion is to make the book in full color instead of black and white. Other than these two things this was one of the best books I have ever read.

A new student review of Fault Lines by Brenda Ortega

thudson36 posted a new student review of Fault Lines by Brenda Ortega. See the full review.

I thought Fault Lines by Brenda Ortega was a great novel. I liked how the chapters alternated between Dani’s past and present, so the reader learned how events in her past affected her actions in the present. Dani, the protagonist, is likeable, realistic, and easy to relate to. The problems Dani struggles with-divorce, friendship, and her emotions-are issues many children and families can relate to.

The plot moves along at a nice pace; I never found myself bored while reading this book. It is a simple story, yet it conveys powerful themes. Themes concerning the struggles of divorce, family issues and friendship are perfectly represented in this story. I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to others.

A new student review of Julius Caesar Brown and the Green Gas Mystery by Ace Hansen

laurenom posted a new student review of Julius Caesar Brown and the Green Gas Mystery by Ace Hansen. See the full review.

I really like the book because it is funny, like when the principal had the green gas.  Julius asked, "Have you been eating Space Pops?" The principal said, "No, and how do you know?"  Julius said, "No reason."  I also liked the book because it has feelings.  You can tell the mom's feelings, Julius' feelings and Mason's feelings even though there aren't any pictures.  You can picture them in you mind.

I don't have any dislikes because I liked the whole book. It had many details.

I would recommend this book to other people because it is entertaining and very funny.  People would like it because it might make them smile or laugh.  It could also set a good mood for them.

A new student review of At All Costs by Patrick Jones Brent Chartier

winner231 posted a new student review of At All Costs by Patrick Jones Brent Chartier. See the full review.

This book's concept and ideas are a great way to tell about major football injuries and how they affect players. The overall detail wasn't that great, and the book would have been better if it was longer and talked about certain moments longer. The analysis of the brain injury, how major it was, and how it devolped as it got worse was good. It would be a pretty good good quick read because it is a shorter book, but isn't the best for more advanced readers.

A new student review of The Confounding Case of the Climate Crisis by Owen Liu

moseso posted a new student review of The Confounding Case of the Climate Crisis by Owen Liu. See the full review.

This book falls under an adventure category, although the plot is tremendously lackluster. Anita and Benson, who are time-travelers, are the main characters. They are asked to journey back into time to learn about climate change. The beginning draws readers in, but leaves them disappointed once the middle is reached. More excitement and cliff-hangers should have been added into this book in order for it to be not dull and dreary. The illustrations are a wonderful addition to The Confounding Case of the Climate Crisis and add a sense of reality. Once the climax occurs, the plot begins to make sense. Unfortunately, this particular book is opinionated and tries to sway the reader to believe what the story is founded on. This book requires readers to understand complex scientific terms and is intended for 11-13 year olds. The Confounding Case of the Climate Crisis is a unexciting book that one should avoid unless climate change research is required or this topic is of interest.              

A new student review of Antale: An Allegory of a World Reborn

JesusFreak posted a new student review of Antale: An Allegory of a World Reborn . See the full review.

Antale: An Allegory of a World Reborn

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

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

This book was a fast and enjoyable read. The tone of the book- haunting and intriguing- fit the conflict of the story perfectly. The constant switch from before and after the death was interesting, but at times became a bit annoying because I often got confused about which was present and which was past. I thought the characters were developed nicely, and it was easy to connect to Cass. Overall, this book was a very interesting and fast paced and I would recommend to anybody age 10 and up.

I would rate this a 4-4.5 out 5 stars.

A new student review of Akarnae by Lynette Noni

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

Akarnae was filled with more twists and turns than the library itself, almost always leading to Alex ending up in the Med-Ward. I loved how the author personified the library and gave it such a mysterious personality. I also like the Gift Alex ended up having; it was fitting and will have much to play off in the next book. Noni also created very well rounded characters. Jordan was a personal favorite due to his wit and never-ending sarcasm and joking arrogance. And many characters were not who they seemed, including D.C. Noni’s language really made you feel like you were in Medora watching the plot unfold. The ending was great, it wrapped a lot up in a neat little bow, but it also left a fair amount unanswered. I cannot wait for the next book, Raelia.

Akarnae vaguely reminded me of The Last Dragon Cronicles by Chris D'Lacey. That book also featured an all knowing library and multiple worlds, but there was the added twist of clay dragons that came to life. In case one wants to read a similar book  that is equally epic.

 

A new student review of Regina Shen: Vigilance by Lance Erlick

JesusFreak posted a new student review of Regina Shen: Vigilance by Lance Erlick. See the full review.

This sequel to Regina Shen: Resilience is just as good as the first, if not better.  The book gripped me in the beginning and I never got bored. I was excited to see what would happen to Regina throughout the book.

The cover art, like the last book’s, is amazing. It is simple, yet gripping. The symbol they use on the front cover is also very well-made.

The author does an excellent job at telling this adventurous story, and their description of the post-apocalyptic world that Regina lives in is beautifully executed.

With a great plot that’s sure to keep you entertained, Regina Shen: Vigilance is sure to blow your mind.

A new student review of Disneylanders by Kate Abbott

Sydneylynch posted a new student review of Disneylanders by Kate Abbott. See the full review.

The book started out good. I like how it started sort of with a backstory. It could have used a bit more humor and adventure, though. At points it felt like the author went into too much detail. The author could have also described certain bits more clearly.

A new student review of not just The Small Book of Meditation by Poonam Dhandhania

bygflower posted a new student review of not just The Small Book of Meditation by Poonam Dhandhania. See the full review.

I very much enjoyed this book. I found it highly informative, and am beginning to use many of the easier techniques taught. I would never have thought meditation would be something I would use, but not Just The Small Book Of Meditation certainly changed that! Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and meditation is an incredible thing, as this book helped me realise. This book is brilliant for any aged reader.

A new student review of Contract City by Mark Falkin

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

I felt that this book was very strong in some areas yet very weak in others.  The sentence structure was very loose and flowing, giving the novel an almost otherworldly feel that kept the reader entranced and on the edge of their seat. However, I felt that the main focus jumped around too much, leaving me confused. Descriptive language was also awfully hard to come by, which can give some readers a hard time visualizing characters.  There were also quite a few themes that I felt were a little disturbing that were, theoretically, “glossed over”.  One example of this would be the dynamics of Billy and Sara’s relationship.  At some points, I felt like their relationship was both physically and emotionally abusive, yet the author somehow tried to justify it by writing behind the façade of righteous activism or honorable reason.  I feel like this book would be a great read for the right person, but I am afraid that that right person wasn’t me.

“They weren’t coming for her.  They couldn’t be. But those power washers, those jogging men, had come for her, as had that frozen figure on the stairs, and the ashen men looking up at her with stones for eyes in the vacant lot."

I would recommend this book for mature readers.   There are varying themes of graphic violence, along with pretty extreme profanity and sexual situations.  As mentioned above, there were also some parts that could be seen as abuse, acting as a “trigger” for some readers.

Caught between the choice of loving or leaving, will Sara be able to use her film for good or for change?  Contract City by Mark Falkin has all the answers!

A new student review of Ratscalibur by Josh Lieb

jotaf posted a new student review of Ratscalibur by Josh Lieb. See the full review.

Ratscalibur was a great book.  I really liked how detailed the characters were.  Also, I liked how much imagination was put into the book; for example, the author added something called Ragic, which is the rat equivalent of magic.  One of the parts I found funny in this book was when one of the rats that Joey met took Joey to a “restaurant” and ordered a stew for him.  After Joey tried the stew, he asked the other rat what was in it.  The reply was, “You do plan on being human again, don’t you?”  When Joey said yes, the rat replied, “Then you probably don’t want to know.  It might turn out to haunt you later.”  One of the only things that I didn’t like about this book was that it was too short.  If it was longer I would have liked it even better!  I would recommend Ratscalibur to anyone who enjoys funny yet adventurous books.  I am giving this book a well-deserved five stars.

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

sisto8 posted a new student review of Toks & the Phoenix Project by A.S Lawal. See the full review.

This book was great! The plot was interesting and very unique. I enjoyed reading about the characters’ findings in their projects. The author made each finding seem important to the character, while keeping their reactions from appearing overly dramatic. The characters’ interactions with each other were realistic. Some books make me wonder whether or not someone in real life would actually say what the character had said. That was not a problem with this story. I also thought the college setting was noteworthy. I have read very few young adult books based around a college setting.

However, I had a difficult time connecting with the story at first. I didn’t understand entirely what was going on; things seemed a bit jumbled together. I had to reread a few sentences in order to comprehend their full meaning. I became a bit frustrated when I read about the project, because I didn’t develop a full idea of what it was until I was several chapters into the book. By the middle of the book, most of my confusion was gone. I really enjoyed the last half. Overall, I think this book was wonderful!  I recommend it for teens aged 12 and above.

A new student review of From a Distant Star by Karen McQuestion

Gwendolyn posted a new student review of From a Distant Star by Karen McQuestion. See the full review.

Although From a Distant Star by Karen McQuestion reuses elements prevalent in classic science fiction, the author does a splendid job of placing a modern alien and human encounter into a comprehensible reality. The premise of a human aiding a harmless extraterrestrial on the run from the government can be found in many science fiction stories and does not fail to appear in this one. However, the characters captured my attention and kept me interested in where they would end up next.

 

I felt that this story did a sufficient job of transporting me to the places and situations in which the characters found themselves. I could not find any note-worthy flaws in the book. It kept me interested throughout the entire read.

 

An aspect of the book that I admired was its remarks on the nature of humanity. These thoughts were given with a questioning yet hopeful tone. This book displays both the good and bad caused by the human race, and prompts its readers to strive for something better. The juxtaposition of the two main characters from different planets allowed for many amusing scenarios as well as a thought-provoking narrative. 

 

I found Karen McQuestion's writing style in this book to be accessible and conversational in the best way possible. From a Distant Star would be a perfect summer read for enjoying next to the poolside or in a backyard hammock.

A new student review of Debunk It! by John Grant

Zack-Is-Swag posted a new student review of Debunk It! by John Grant. See the full review.

This book was great. It is a little confusing, but I understood most of it.There is a bit of profanity so that is somthing to be aware of before reading. This is my new favorite book. This book should not be read if you are under the age of 12 because it has a lot of adult content and content that is hard to understand. All around I LOVED this book!!!!! This book discusses some pretty serious issues that have happened in our world, and the author offers a great perspective. 

A new student review of Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

Lucy posted a new student review of Crash Into You by Katie McGarry. See the full review.

I really like the book, I found it really interesting and I think Isaiah and Rachel are a nice couple. I liked the book because I was also able to relate to the book. I felt like the situation between Isaiah and Rachel is almost the same thing going on in my life. I liked everything about the book and I love Kate McGarry and the books that she writes, I have already read Take Me On and I plan on continuing to read books that are written by her.  

A new student review of The Cake House by Latifah Salom

Star360 posted a new student review of The Cake House by Latifah Salom. See the full review.

You can have your cake and eat it too, but this Cake comes with a serious disclaimer. While it seems like Salom is heading for a creepy Shakespearean family tangle, Hamlet this is not. As a lover of mysteries and psychological dramas, I thought that this book would be perfect for me. Alas, this novel didn’t learn that brevity is the soul of wit. 

     

Salom’s sentence structures are well-developed, not littered with excess adjectives and adverbs. I never had to flip back pages in confusion, which is always a plus. However, I felt that the book’s plot got dry quickly. I’m all for a good remake, but the Hamlet elements seem forced. There was Claude (from King Claudius), a mother that doesn’t inspire much sympathy, Alex’s weird hints of an Oedipus complex, and the father’s ghost. Claude was a dull, dull villain. He was too bipolar (Nice dad! Bad dad!) for me to ever get a solid analysis of him. The father’s ghost was simply bizarre. It worked in Elizabethan England, but I don’t think that today’s audience will buy the Look! It’s a ghost giving me warnings because I don’t have the common sense to see them myself! storyline. I would have rather seen Rosaura do her own investigative work without having to rely on a dead person.

 

While I liked the idea of reading from a young girl’s perspective, I really disliked Rosaura by the end. She is nothing like the pensive woman on the cover; instead, she mopes around, makes rash decisions, has unfortunate friends, and seems rather out of place in the story. With a few tweaks, if Salom had inserted a twenty- or even thirty-something-year-old woman I would have found the tale more realistic. In fact, I wouldn’t recommend this book to any of my friends. Teens don’t necessarily need a breathtaking romance or epic fights to love a story, but they do need a fast-moving plot with relatable characters. Despite its great promise, The Cake House didn’t make the cut for me.

A new student review of Tomboy: A Graphic Memoir by Liz Prince

JesusFreak posted a new student review of Tomboy: A Graphic Memoir by Liz Prince. See the full review.

After finishing this book, I have one word to say: WOW.

I’ll admit it: I was iffy about reading a graphic novel. I’ve never been that into graphic novels, but the description of the book had me hooked. When I began reading it, I found myself not able to stop turning the pages as I devoured each word. Not only did I find some of the descriptions relatable, but I was also extremely happy that a book like this exists. Now parents can show their daughters this book so that they know it is okay to be a tomboy, and that there is nothing abnormal about it.

The main character, Liz, struggles throughout the book with constant bullying. This is an everyday occurance for most people that go to school. I thought the ways Liz deals with the harassment were excellent; she stands up for herself at various times throughout the book.

This book is a great representation of what it’s like to “be a girl” in the society we live in, and how to fight gender boundaries.

A new student review of Regina Shen: Resilience by Lance Erlick

JesusFreak posted a new student review of Regina Shen: Resilience by Lance Erlick. See the full review.

Most people say not to judge a book by its cover. Unfortunately, I can't help myself from doing so. If the cover doesn’t grab me from the start, I won’t bother looking at it. With Regina Shen: Resilience, this was not a problem. The cover art was very dark, but beautifully executed. Regina Shen holding the crossbow on the front cover was stunning; I was immediately intrigued by the book.

Some authors have trouble putting new worlds into words, but that was not the case for Lance Erlick. The author’s descriptions were well-written, resulting in me fully understanding the world.

The main character, Regina, was likable from the start. She loved to learn and was an amazing survivor. I felt that I could relate well to her, even though we both live in completely different worlds. My only wish was that the story was longer. At just over 200 pages, it was a quick read for me.

Overall, the author did an amazing job, and if you like post-apocalyptic novels about survival, this is definitely the book for you.

A new student review of Silent Alarm by Jennifer Banash

Star360 posted a new student review of Silent Alarm by Jennifer Banash. See the full review.

Silent Alarm is unlike any other book that I’ve ever read. First of all, Banash deserves major credit for undertaking the difficult project of telling the story from the perspective of the shooter’s sister. Alys was both a bystander and a victim, which added depth to her otherwise simple character. She was a violin prodigy, which I found to be cliched, but her talent helped underline Luke’s jealousy. As for Luke, I was satisfied with his character development. To keep the reader intrigued, Banash avoided making him a stereotypical monster, but she didn't make him a martyr, either. In doing so, the reader is able to see him not as an evil robot, but as a human whose inability to deal with his psychological issues led him to commit an atrocity. 

     

Supporting characters, while few, provide a strong backbone to the story. Though the novel is told in first person, the insight of characters like Riley, Luke’s best friend; Grace, the violin tutor; and all the journalists adds dimension. They remind us of how we act when school shootings happen, and they gently show us that maybe parents and siblings of the shooter shouldn’t be judged as harshly as they often are. As for the flow of the book, it was cohesive and sharp. Banash makes a wonderful use of parentheses and italics to illustrate Alys’s confused mind.

     

The reason this book didn’t get five stars from me is partly because of the first line, “Life changes in a second.” Maybe it’s just me, but there are way too many “life” metaphors out there. I prefer a subtle comparison rather than one plopped immediately on the page. The last three pages were also a bit of a disappointment. While it contained the required elements of hope and forgiveness,  it seemed to drag on thanks to a lack of action or dialogue. Besides those details, Silent Alarm is definitely a book to check out or keep on your home shelf. Mature teens and fans of Laurie Halse Anderson will enjoy this gritty, realistic drama.

A new student review of The Monsters' Anonymous Club: Don't Play with Dead Things by J.L. Lipp

nictaf posted a new student review of The Monsters' Anonymous Club: Don't Play with Dead Things by J.L. Lipp. See the full review.

Monsters' Anonymous Club: Don't Play with Dead Things was an awesome book. J.L. Lipp wrote an excellent book filled with excitement, fun, and many plot twists. One aspect I really liked about this book was the rich descriptions in it. For example: “Kimmy ate four hot-dogs, two helpings of potato salad, three ears of corn and a huge piece of cherry pie. And she didn’t even get a stomachache!” I felt the characters could have been developed further, but they were described adequately. I would recommend this book to anyone aged 8 and above.

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

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

My opinion on this is amazing it's amazing because it's just like the book Pandora's Jar, but in a diffrent way because a 12 year old girl is looking for Pandora's Jar and tring to set hope free, and turn the wrong that Pandora did into right. I really hope this author will right a series about this because it's one of the books I could read over and over again. Another reason is that the other Pandora's Jar series ended at 7 it's pretty cool to have a back up series of a 12 year old girl trying to set the wrong that Pandora did to right with the help of other godds like Mr.P. It really is a really interesting book to read and I highly recomend people to read this book. It's so amazing that even my mom is reading itr and she likes it already. Another reason why it's amazing is because there is sections like Monday and so on so it tells you what she did on Monday about  the Jar thing. It also has alot of Charis's feelings in it. One exempla is that a lot of the time she thought about her mission and the Gods and everything and she thought that it's all so stupid. Why am I doing this?

A new student review of Key to Kashdune by Claudia White

Jordan posted a new student review of Key to Kashdune by Claudia White. See the full review.

If you like reading fantasy and adventure like I do, you will enjoy Key to Kashdune. I liked Key to Kashdune because the people on Kashdune change into animals. There is a wide variety of interesting and exciting characters that you will meet along the way. Claudia White made the community of Kashdune come to life. She did a great a great job of describing the details for the island of Kashdune.

A new student review of Winter Falls (Twin Willows Trilogy) by Nicole Maggi

josiscra19955 posted a new student review of Winter Falls (Twin Willows Trilogy) by Nicole Maggi. See the full review.

I liked Alessia because she is strong. Alessia is also very likable. Another thing I liked was the shape shifting and romance. It has strong and likable characters. It is a pretty much good story overall.

A new student review of Fabrick by Andrew Post

emma365 posted a new student review of Fabrick by Andrew Post. See the full review.

Fabrick's author chose to create a completely new world.  However, instead of using the new atmosphere to consistently recreate interest, the author vaguely described some of the planet's culture.  I found that he could have explained things better rather than simply having Flam (who is half-hazard and flippant) explain things.

Also, the chapters often changed perspective without an explanation as to the new character and setting.  I often found myself confused.

Altogether, the story was fairly interesting and humorous, but it could be made a lot better if it were to be given more content or events as is typical for adventure based novels.