A new student review of Robi's Flying Saucer Drive-In (Series, 1st book) by Kelly Anne Winsa

thudson36 posted a new student review of Robi's Flying Saucer Drive-In (Series, 1st book) by Kelly Anne Winsa. See the full review.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this novel. Kelly Anne Winsa did a great job describing the characters, food, and the setting, such as the carnival and drive-in. The descriptions really pulled the audience in and made it feel real. I also liked how the author incorporated flashbacks in between stories from the present. These flashbacks to Saffron’s past summer developed her character even more and gave the reader additional background information to her life. The mystery of finding out who Clair really was held my interest while reading.

Although I did enjoy reading this novel, there were a couple aspects that caused a stumbling block for me. The sentences were short and choppy, which sometimes interrupted the flow. The story also jumped from topic to topic frequently, which caused a little confusion and made it hard to focus on what was happening. In conclusion, I would recommend this novel to anyone looking for a coming of age story with a science fiction twist.

A new student review of Red: The True Story of Red Riding Hood by Liesl Shurtliff

Jowill posted a new student review of Red: The True Story of Red Riding Hood by Liesl Shurtliff. See the full review.

I absolutely loved this story!  I had not read Rump or Jack but I definitely will now! 

I loved how little bits of the traditional fairy tales were added into the story.  For example, the scene where Red has the conversation with the "wolf" and says "Granny, what big teeth you have!" but it is just a game she plays with her Granny.  That is so creative!

I had a hard time putting this book down.  I just couldn't wait to find out what or who Red would encounter next!

A new student review of Going, Going, Gone by Nicholas O. Time

masongill posted a new student review of Going, Going, Gone by Nicholas O. Time. See the full review.

In my opinion, Going, Going, Gone was a good book. One thing I liked about it was that it had a lot of unexpected twists and turns. It also has a good plot and a great introduction of characters. My favorite character was Luis because he was a bit of a rebel, but he was also spontaneous and fun. The author also did a good job having the events of the past line up with the future after the group changed them. The only thing I didn't like about this book was the ending was dragged out a bit. But overall, I would recommend this book to others.

A new student review of A Dragon's Guide to Making Your Human Smarter by Joanne Ryder Laurence Yep

cowboys1 posted a new student review of A Dragon's Guide to Making Your Human Smarter by Joanne Ryder Laurence Yep. See the full review.

I had not read the first story in this series.  I enjoyed it though, so I will borrow the first to read! 

I liked how the story was told by the alternating point of view of Winnie and Miss Drake.  It allowed me to connect with both of the main characters.  This may confuse younger or inexperienced reader, however.

The intricate illustrations at the beginning of each chapter are wonderful!  I love that they are in the pen and ink style.  This adds to the old magic feel of the story.

 

A new student review of Remarkable Minds: 16 More Pioneering Women in Science and Medicine by Pendred Noyce

Cyrus252 posted a new student review of Remarkable Minds: 16 More Pioneering Women in Science and Medicine by Pendred Noyce. See the full review.

I liked that Pendred Noyce took on the responsibility to record the ideas of these women and to show that not only men can be scientists. I like to think that in a few hundred years people will look at this book and know that there were women who made remarkable scientific discoveries. 

 

One thing I would have liked to see more of was the emphasis that men stole these women’s ideas and got full credit for them (some even won Nobel Prizes they didn’t deserve). It is really important when talking about this kind of thing to make sure that is clear. In the book I feel like that could have been a little more emphasized, because that is the main reason that we don’t know who these women are. 

 

The book may be a little technical for some readers but Pendred Noyce's writing is beautifully coherent and to the point. Anyone who likes science or even enjoys a little heavier reading would deeply appreciate this book, I love science and it was an excellent complement to my previous knowledge about scientists.

 

A new student review of Remarkable Minds: 16 More Pioneering Women in Science and Medicine by Pendred Noyce

Cyrus252 posted a new student review of Remarkable Minds: 16 More Pioneering Women in Science and Medicine by Pendred Noyce. See the full review.

I liked that Pendred Noyce took on the responsibility to record the ideas of these women and to show that not only men can be scientists. I like to think that in a few hundred years people will look at this book and know that there were women who made remarkable scientific discoveries. 

 

One thing I would have liked to see more of was the emphasis that men stole these women’s ideas and got full credit for them (some even won Nobel Prizes they didn’t deserve). It is really important when talking about this kind of thing to make sure that is clear. In the book I feel like that could have been a little more emphasized, because that is the main reason that we don’t know who these women are. 

 

The book may be a little technical for some readers but Pendred Noyce's writing is beautifully coherent and to the point. Anyone who likes science or even enjoys a little heavier reading would deeply appreciate this book, I love science and it was an excellent complement to my previous knowledge about scientists.

 

A new student review of Liberty Frye and the Sails of Fate (series, Book Two) by J.L. McCreedy

jotaf posted a new student review of Liberty Frye and the Sails of Fate (series, Book Two) by J.L. McCreedy. See the full review.

I really liked Liberty Frye and the Sails of Fate. It did not disappoint and was just as exciting as the first book. The author, J. L. McCreedy, masterfully crafted a book full of action, adventure, and suspense that commanded my attention from beginning to end.

The descriptions were also outstanding; they made me feel as though I was experiencing the journey for myself. Just one example of the detailed descriptions was, “Uncle Frank saw something just as incredible outside, because now, that electric blue cloud pulsed and throbbed with renewed energy until suddenly, the cloud burst apart like a million shooting blue stars, each star falling directly from the sky...”

The themes of family and friendship were woven throughout this book. I could relate to the characters; they were believable and felt very realistic. I would recommend this book to ages 12 and up or to anyone who has read and enjoyed book one, Liberty Frye and the Witches of Hessen.

 

A new student review of Surf Shop Sisters by Laura Kennedy

MezokaCapturer65 posted a new student review of Surf Shop Sisters by Laura Kennedy. See the full review.

This story kept my interest, and I found it engaging. While I did enjoy reading this book, there were several elements the author could have improved upon. I liked the intertwining of the three plots, and I felt that the author did a great job keeping them balanced so that one plot didn’t feel more important than another. However, I did not think that each of these plots was needed or as flushed out as they could have been. Yes, they were well balanced, but the fact that they were happening simultaneously caused the story to switch between them many times throughout the book, which became somewhat distracting. I do, however, appreciate the messages behind each of the plots. 

At the end, Brooke explained what we should have learned throughout the book. I wish it had been done more subtly instead. Subtlety with morals tends to remain with people longer than obvious morals. 

This book was heavy with the pop culture references. While I know a lot of people like having these references in books because it makes them relatable, this relatability doesn’t last forever. Making a book specific to the current time usually makes it dated very soon, which can cause it to be less appealing in a few years. This doesn’t make the story bad; it just makes it date more easily as culture evolves and changes. 

Overall, this book was enjoyable, but it presented some issues in its structure and content. I would recommend that parents consider the content of this book before allowing pre-teen or young teen girls to read it.  It contains many sex references, some of which are essential to the plot. This is a fun book, but I can easily see younger readers being confused or distressed by all of the sex references.  

A new student review of Deacon's Folly by James Thibeault

jotaf posted a new student review of Deacon's Folly by James Thibeault. See the full review.

I think the author, James Thibeault, had a good idea in Deacon’s Folly, but it didn’t quite live up to its full potential. The characters were fairly developed, but I felt like they all shared one personality instead of each having their own. If each character could have been unique, it would have been better. A lot of violent things began to happen a little past the middle of the book, which I didn't like. I did, however, enjoy the theme of perseverance that was woven throughout. All in all, I think this book had tons of possibilities, but it fell a little flat. I would suggest this book to ages 14 and up or to people who like books that take weird twists but end in a positive way.

A new student review of Pigsticks and Harold and the Incredible Journey by Alex Milway

WillB posted a new student review of Pigsticks and Harold and the Incredible Journey by Alex Milway. See the full review.

Pigsticks and Harold and the Incredible Journey could be a little bit more exciting. There wasn't enough action for me.  I think that all or at least one of the characters should tell their feelings. I do not like that the author brought up characters but did not tell much about them in the beginning of the story when Pigsticks was interviewing assistants.  The book has many pages without much writing because of the many illustrations.  I do not suggest this book for 7 year-old and older readers.

A new student review of See You at Harry's by Jo Knowles

Melissa32301 posted a new student review of See You at Harry's by Jo Knowles. See the full review.

I liked this book a lot; it shows what it’s like to have a family that is always too busy for you. Knowles combined a lot of themes in this book: family, sexuality, tragedy, and bullying. She didn’t put all of these things into one person; she put them in a dysfunctional family. I think that Knowles could’ve improved this book by adding a point of view from each member of Fern's family. Have a chapter for Sara, then one for Holden, one for her mom, one for her dad, and one for Charlie. It would’ve allowed more people to relate to the characters. We’d get to know more about the rest of her family, and we’d be able to relate to the rest of them. 

A new student review of Truth in Patience: Book 3 in The Patience Trilogy by Beth Fehlbaum

Sweetfable posted a new student review of Truth in Patience: Book 3 in The Patience Trilogy by Beth Fehlbaum. See the full review.

I liked this book because it felt real in a variety of different ways. Although I have never been through any of the experiences that Ashley had, I still felt a connection to her. While I didn’t agree with her actions at times, she had gone through so much that it was usually easy to understand why she did what she did. Even though I couldn’t relate directly with Ashely’s experiences, I could relate because I am a teenager, so I know many of the things that teenage girls have to go through.

I am not a fan of swearing, and this book had a lot in it. But I know that swearing is part of real life, so that gave it a more realistic feel.

I believe that people who have been in similar circumstances as Ashley will definitely have a connection to this book and will perhaps enjoy it even more than I did. Overall, this was a good read, and I recommend it for those looking to find some light at the end of the dark tunnel of their current life situation.

A new student review of Truth in Patience: Book 3 in The Patience Trilogy by Beth Fehlbaum

Sweetfable posted a new student review of Truth in Patience: Book 3 in The Patience Trilogy by Beth Fehlbaum. See the full review.

I liked this book because it felt real in a variety of different ways. Although I have never been through any of the experiences that Ashley had, I still felt a connection to her. While I didn’t agree with her actions at times, she had gone through so much that it was usually easy to understand why she did what she did. Even though I couldn’t relate directly with Ashely’s experiences, I could relate because I am a teenager, so I know many of the things that teenage girls have to go through.

I am not a fan of swearing, and this book had a lot in it. But I know that swearing is part of real life, so that gave it a more realistic feel.

I believe that people who have been in similar circumstances as Ashley will definitely have a connection to this book and will perhaps enjoy it even more than I did. Overall, this was a good read, and I recommend it for those looking to find some light at the end of the dark tunnel of their current life situation.

A new student review of The Museum of Heartbreak by Meg Leder

CalMarie posted a new student review of The Museum of Heartbreak by Meg Leder. See the full review.

Meg Leader does a brilliant job compelling readers with the structure of this story. She introduces characters with style and weaves an intricate tale full of the up and downs that we call life. The main character Pen has a lovely personality full of fragile innocence worn through her first experiences of love and the hardships that life brings.

A new student review of Will Wilder: The Relic of Perilous Falls by Raymond Arroyo

Jonah Ross posted a new student review of Will Wilder: The Relic of Perilous Falls by Raymond Arroyo. See the full review.

This was an exceedingly good book. This is definitely a great new addition to the genres of fantasy fiction and adventure. It has suspense, adventure, fantastic characters, and witty dialogue.  The author wrote the book based on the Catholic faith, as well as adding some interesting twists as well. He combined sharing the beliefs of many people with a good story that calls for attention and will be a great success. This book will serve as a model for good literature in the future.

A new student review of Burning Midnight by Will McIntosh

jotaf posted a new student review of Burning Midnight by Will McIntosh. See the full review.

I thought this book was amazing!  I loved every bit of it -- the idea behind the book, the characters, and everything else.  The characters were very well developed; I felt as if they could be real people that I might meet in my everyday life.  The conversations were very natural.  Also, I loved the idea of the spheres; the idea of colored orbs that could physically improve you in some way or another was very fascinating.  I know with some books when you read the summary, and then read the book, it lets you down.  But this was definitely not the case with this one.  It did take a bit of a strange turn at the end, but I felt like it somewhat worked together with the story.  This book kept my attention from the first page to the last with mass amounts of action.  I would recommend this book to ages 12 and up, as there is some mature wording and themes.

A new student review of Boudica, Queen of the Iceni by Marlene Sosebee

BG posted a new student review of Boudica, Queen of the Iceni by Marlene Sosebee. See the full review.

Boudica Queen of the Iceni was not exactly what I expected. In historical fictions I like to have a lot of history woven into a brightly illustrated story. For me, it’s first about the history, then the fiction story that weaves it together. Boudica Queen of the Iceni isn’t a book I’d readily recommend along the historical lines, although there is the story line of the invasion and affliction of the Celts. On the other hand if you have an interest in astrology or the zodiac you would enjoy this book as it describes these in detail using each character in the book. As each character is introduced you get a good description of their zodiac signs and the character traits they portray.      

A new student review of Fairalon by T.J. Roberts

cowboys1 posted a new student review of Fairalon by T.J. Roberts. See the full review.

I have to start by mentioning the illustrations in this book are quite unique! They appear animated and are super colorful. I only read a digital copy of this book, so they are probably even more stunning on the printed page! The story caught my attention right away. I read almost 100 pages in the first sitting! I enjoyed seeing Iris change from a depressed girl with very low self-esteem to a confident hero! T.J. Roberts did an excellent job building her character and painting a descriptive scene of Fairalon, which is sure to make every reader wish they could visit this magical place!

A new student review of Brother XII's Treasure by Amanda Spottiswoode

hawkreader10 posted a new student review of Brother XII's Treasure by Amanda Spottiswoode. See the full review.

If you like stories that mix adventure and historical fiction, you will find Brother XII's Treasure to be a very quick and enjoyable read. The book had a little bit of a slow start because all seven characters were introduced in great detail. But after the story really got started, I was pulled into the action and couldn't put it down. Author Amanda Spottiswoode created very realistic, interesting characters. As a result, I was caught up in their adventures and rooting for them when things got tough. She also described the ship, scenery, and people they met in such detail that I left like I was watching a movie of the book as I read it. Overall, the plot of the book was good, with enough suspense to keep me reading, and a satisfying ending. However, I believe the book would have been better with fewer characters. There were a lot of them to keep track of, and the first few chapters were mainly devoted to introducing all of them. I think that this book is great for late elementary students to early middle school students. Overall this book was a great read!    

A new student review of The Terrible Two Get Worse by Jory John Mac Barnett

SoccerGirl15 posted a new student review of The Terrible Two Get Worse by Jory John Mac Barnett. See the full review.

Overall this is an amazing book and I strongly recommend it. If you like humor and comics, this book is for you.

The story combines pranking with a little bit of friendship. My favorite prankster of the two boys is Niles, the smart kid who pretends to be stuck up but pranks well. Miles comes up with lots of ideas that are sometimes good but sometimes bad. I chose Niles because he has some great pranks and he seems like an undercover spy. I see Niles as someone who really thinks about the plans that Miles comes up with and finds a way for them to work. Niles' smartness is very helpful when it comes to planing ahead of time and when strategy comes in. 

A new student review of Dolls of Hope by Shirley Parenteau

lovereading posted a new student review of Dolls of Hope by Shirley Parenteau. See the full review.

This book is one of the most concise novels I have ever read. The combination of adventure in a new place and the exciting mysteries of what is to come, makes a book that grabs your attention and holds it there. Chiyo is this high-sprited, brave girl who comes to a strange school to learn new things and tries to make the best of any situation, even in the worst of times! This is a book I would read over and over again because I feel a connection with the real world, with history, with fantasy, and with the heart, soul, and mind the author put into this book that makes it worthwhile to read. I guarentee you, the second you pick this book up and start reading it, you won't be able to put it down. Happy Reading!

A new student review of Somewhere in the Middle by Linda Palmer

thudson36 posted a new student review of Somewhere in the Middle by Linda Palmer. See the full review.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Somewhere in the Middle by Linda Palmer. This novel captured my attention from the very beginning and held my interest until the very end. The plot moved along at a nice pace, making me want to keep reading at each chapter break.

I found the storyline interesting and really enjoyed the science fiction elements. I also loved the complex and intriguing characters. The author did a great job of developing the character of Everly and steered clear of typical teenage girl stereotypes. Even though she was in a relationship, Everly was portrayed as independent and strong, something I feel is rare for female characters in love stories.

I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone looking for the perfect mix between a love story and science fiction.

A new student review of Gray Zone by Veronica Tabares

Melissa32301 posted a new student review of Gray Zone by Veronica Tabares. See the full review.

Gray Zone sheds light on the issue of cyber bullying that occurs across the world. It showed the effects of bullying and the power behind words. Tabares did a great job with her characters, she made them very relatable and allowed us to truly understand what it's like to be bullied. It's hard to change who you are, and instead of pretending that Autumn just stopped being shy and became outgoing like some authors might, Tabares showed the struggle Autumn had. By the end of the book Autumn started to help other people who were being bullied; she tried to stop cyber bullying. 

A new student review of The Kill Order by James Dashner

Melissa32301 posted a new student review of The Kill Order by James Dashner. See the full review.

Dashner's prequel to The Maze Runner series was disappointing in a few different ways. First, the characters were rather bland. I love the series, but to be honest, this book was unneeded. The characters were never fully developed and they didn’t get much time to sit and talk to each other so we could get to learn about both of them. The second thing I didn’t like was that he made the new characters, Mark and Tina. I would have preferred a backstory on Thomas and the other Gladers. It would’ve been more enjoyable to read about them before the Glade.

Although there were shortfalls, some of this book was helpful; it gave a little more insight about the disease and what happened, but there didn’t need to be an entire book about it. Dashner could’ve put it as a prologue in one of the books or all of them. I liked the action in the book. There was a lot of it., and it fit perfectly with the rest of the series. Overall, Dashner wrote a pretty good prequel. There were some major disappointments, but his writing form was as good as ever. 

A new student review of The Brilliant World of Tom Gates by Liz Pichon

Wyatt01 posted a new student review of The Brilliant World of Tom Gates by Liz Pichon. See the full review.

I really liked this book. I laughed out loud so many times. Tom's drawings are hilarious, and I liked that the story was told with so many doodles. I think it made it much easier to read. I also liked that Tom was always trying to find a funny excuse for not doing his work, but his teachers still really liked him. He wasn't disrespectful or rude, just funny. There were so many great parts in the book like the fire drill, the choir practice, and the class assembly. I never knew what was coming next, but I knew it would make me laugh. Also, one thing that was great was that I could relate to all of the things Tom goes through. All kids try to get out of homework! Anyone who likes Wimpy Kid books or Timothy Failure will enjoy The Brilliant World of Tom Gates.