A new student review of From The Ashes

sabol posted a new student review of From The Ashes . See the full review.

Snaith puts an original twist on the typical sorrows between two cursed lovers. The plot is compelling, instantly drawing in the reader. However, the descriptions were inconsistent, vivid and enthralling at some points, while other times becoming flat and misleading. The romance between Lundy and Harlan is undeniably present, but the psyche of both characters never went farther than the surface. The ending definitely opens itself for a sequel, and anyone interested in a good, short, summer read would be smart to try From the Ashes.  

A new student review of Shark Girl

Peace8747 posted a new student review of Shark Girl . See the full review.

I liked the realistic element of the story. Another thing I liked was that the story was written in verse format, so it was a short read. I liked how it included news articles and letters from people who were inspired by Jane’s story.

This book is good for children in 4^th grade all the way through 7^th or 8^th grade. There are a couple of swear words in the book, but nothing to be worried about.

I liked this book a lot and I would suggest it to anyone!

 

A new student review of Inferno

Hickey posted a new student review of Inferno . See the full review.

Overall I liked this book. I thought it was really slow to get started. Some of the random jumps between who was talking were confusing, too. But despite that, I thought it was overall a good book. 

A new student review of The Incredible Adventures of Charlotte Sycamore by Kate Maddison

kfc1997 posted a new student review of The Incredible Adventures of Charlotte Sycamore by Kate Maddison. See the full review.

The Incredible Charlotte Sycamore by Kate Maddison was entrancing and immediately pulled me in with the very first words of the first chapter. This book had a wonderful mix of romance, steampunk tweaks, mystery, and action, but it was lacking in a few areas. As a novel, which one can assume it is, it didn’t fully clear up any questions a reader might have. It also had quite a few spelling errors, of which I am sure were mainly corrected before the book was published. Overall though, it was highly amusing and entertaining, and I would love to read it again really soon. I recommend this book mainly to girls in grades nine and above. 

A new student review of The Obsidian Blade

nowhereman posted a new student review of The Obsidian Blade . See the full review.

I thought that this book was a very good action-packed read that left me wondering what was going to happen next. The characters, I found, were very enjoyable to read about because they were well developed and interesting. There are also a lot of connections of things as you get further along that made you second guess your prediction of the end. It has enough plot twists and action in that will keep you reading far into the night!  

A new student review of Emily and Jackson: Hiding Out by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

glambert posted a new student review of Emily and Jackson: Hiding Out by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. See the full review.

I’m so glad that Phyllis Reynolds Naylor wrote this book along with Emily’s Fortune because it was such an exciting adventure that kept my nerves up!  I love how she leaves the reader hanging at the end of every chapter.  If I could be any character in that book, I would choose Emily because she gets trapped many times with her uncle but always seems to end up safe with Aunt Hilda.  I was very surprised and a little worried for Emily and Jackson when the widow woman turned into someone unexpected! 

 

My favorite part of the book was when Emily and Jackson were on the boat and had to keep running around and hiding from Emily’s uncle.  What will happen next with Emily and Jackson?

A new student review of In the Shadow of the Lion by Kimberly M. Jane

scifiguy posted a new student review of In the Shadow of the Lion by Kimberly M. Jane. See the full review.

This book was an exciting page-turner. Everything seems to change from the beginning to the end of the story. It changes scenes frequently. I really enjoyed this book. 

A new student review of Glamorous Illusions: A Novel (Grand Tour Series) by Lisa T. Bergren

sharon posted a new student review of Glamorous Illusions: A Novel (Grand Tour Series) by Lisa T. Bergren. See the full review.

Glancing at the cover of this book, I saw a privileged woman standing feet away from Paris's iconic Eiffel Tower.  Noting the antiquated style of her dress, I decided that this was a book I wanted to read.  I have always been fascinated by European history, especially personal accounts of life.

The chaptersof this book alternate between perspectives of different characters, enhancing the reading experience without disrupting the flow of the plot. Though Cora is a wonderful, admirable heroine, her character is still realistic as she deals with social and emotional struggles.

Sometimes, the language and concepts seem cliché, including the physical attraction between Cora and the apprentice tour guide (William). However, the growing connection between the aforementioned outcasts, each struggling to find a name in their worlds, is unique. I also appreciate how the romance was slowly paced, instead of forced and rushed. Unfortunately, I did not find Cora’s religious epiphanies to be profoundly moving, despite the author’s intention.

Being the history lover I am, I give this book a four-out-of-five star rating for its quality writing style and historical detail. Revving up the drama, the author concludes the book when the group prepares to leave France, continuing their trip—leaving me hanging for more. Given the chance, I’ll be sure to check out the sequels of this promising trilogy.

 

 

 

A new student review of My Boyfriend is a Monster(6): Wrapped Up in You by Dan Jolley

Ravette posted a new student review of My Boyfriend is a Monster(6): Wrapped Up in You by Dan Jolley. See the full review.

The novel was beautifully illustrated and had an easy-to-understand plot. I really liked the characters and how realistic their personalites were. The story was interesting, but was a rather fast-paced read. Regardless, it did not lack in detail. Lastly, I liked how there were multiple themes present: such as magic, history, and romance.

A new student review of Scrooge and Marley

read_write_eat posted a new student review of Scrooge and Marley . See the full review.

I thought the story was a little too cheesy and predictable until I remembered all Christmas stories are as such! Just like its precursor, Scrooge and Marley successfully conveys the spirit of Christmas in a heartwarming fashion, whether you read it in December or June. The continuation was seamless and a very quick read, with no prolonged action. However, I did find the book somewhat predictable with little nuance and an ending almost too happy, similiar to a Disney movie. The writing was excellent yet too straightforward, as if going step by step (i.e- "First this happened, then that happened"). As a piece of literature, Scrooge and Marley isn't complex in nature, but in essence is a wonderful Christmas tale, and I'll probably read it again when the holiday season rolls around.