A new student review of The Social Code

VBat posted a new student review of The Social Code . See the full review.

This geeky drama is fun and original. The plot is ripe with backstabbing fun, and leaves the reader constantly second-guessing every character. No one's loyalties are clear, and the constant surprises keep the story engaging.  

Amelia is a lovable character, and her passion for coding brings her personality to life. Her sweetness is contrasted by the extreme greed and betrayal that surrounds her, but this only serves to highlight her strong moral compass. 

Adam, while not quite as lovable as Amelia, is relatable and realistic. His aspirations are not inherently greedy, and his romantic relationship with Lisa adds a bit of romance to the thrills of Silicon Valley. It is obvious that he and his sister care about one another, and this dynamic adds depth to the story. 

The Social Code is a modern, techy take on the typical teen novel. Whereas most novels focused on college kids are all drama, this one is drama with a high pressure career environment and thrilling Silicon Valley twists. Hayes leaves just enough loose ends for her readers to anxiously await the second book in "The Start-Up" series. 

*note*  Before reading this novel, I would recommend brushing up on Silicon Valley culture. I was fortunate enough to have read a book involving incubators and investors in San Francisco recently, and my understanding of The Social Code was greatly enhanced by the background knowledge I acquired. 

A new student review of No Other Story by Dr. Cuthbert Soup

avolzer posted a new student review of No Other Story by Dr. Cuthbert Soup. See the full review.

The book is narrated by a character who does not appear in the story until partway through. He addresses the reader throughout the book and makes jokes, but it seems forced. I also had trouble getting into the story. I didn’t really care about the characters for a while, which is probably partly due to me not reading the first book. It is not essential to understanding this book, but it feels like parts of the story are missing. The book does resolve itself, though. There are no loose ends or cliffhangers. Overall, it is an okay book if you want a fun little read, but it is not the kind of book I would remember or reread.

A new student review of Here Dead We Live by Andrew MacQuarrie

dancechicka posted a new student review of Here Dead We Live by Andrew MacQuarrie. See the full review.

Ok, where to begin…..this novel was solid.  Not a classic, not stupendous, not a Mark-Twain-and Jane-Austen-have-nothing-on-me kind of book.  But it was solid, nonetheless.  The good and the bad seemed to kind of balance each other out.  In some parts, in was exciting, invigorating, and refreshing.  At other parts, it was just plain dull.  Sometimes the sentences were awkward and distorted, but sometimes they flowed as a much more experienced writer had written them.  Some parts, especially the end, were powerful and raw.  Some were tired and emotionless. I liked how MacQuarrie tried a wide range of characters that could be easily connected with and understood—it seemed to make the novel move along at a better pace.  It was also very realistic and in-your-face current.  Considering that this is MacQuarrie’s debut novel, I believe it is a good solid read for anyone who is interested in military fiction or just looking for a bit of action in their novels.

“So maybe this war was a waste.  Maybe it was nothing more than a contest between a bunch of rich old men.  Maybe Stephen’s life didn’t mean anything to them.  Maybe none of their lives meant anything to them.”

I would recommend this book was ages twelve and up, for some mild swearing, some sexual references, alcohol consumption, and a plot thread about drugs that runs throughout this book.  There is also a situation where the subject of sexual orientation is debated, so if that bothers you or your child, I warn you now.  To be clear, this book does talk about faith in God and Jesus Christ, so if you are sensitive to that issue, too, you may want to refrain from reading this novel.

So, will Stephen and Ryan each find what their looking for—spiritually, emotionally, and mentally?  Or will they even get out of the war alive?  Read Here Dead We Live by A.M.H. MacQuarrie to find out!

A new student review of Pie in the Sky by Jane Smiley

moseso posted a new student review of Pie in the Sky by Jane Smiley. See the full review.

Pie in the Sky is a slower book so, if you like slower books or love horses, this is the book for you!  If not however, I would advise you to avoid reading this book.  My overall opinion about ‘Pie in the Sky’ is that frankly, it was boring.  I found myself thinking about other books I’ve previously read and I daydreamed some as well.   Jane Smiley made the characters seem almost real, but not real enough that I could imagine them walking through my front door, when some other books do. It takes a long time for the plot to develop. By the time you’re into the exciting stuff the reader is already three fourths through the book!  Jane Smiley’s voice is hard to explain, it doesn’t really fit into a category.  The author might have reached her goal if I knew what it was; the purpose of Pie in the Sky was never made clear.  My overall rating is 2 and a half, but I had to do a 3 star rating.  I really did not learn anything from the book.  I would recommend a 12 and higher reading age since the main character deals with going into high school. 

A new student review of Ruby by Amanda Burke

LaRayne posted a new student review of Ruby by Amanda Burke. See the full review.

Ruby is a great book that i read in one sitting. I loved the setting it just seemed so real. I would recommend this book to all my friends. If you love magic you will love this book. It is a great book for 10-12 year olds.

A new student review of The Vampire Gene (The Iron Trilogy) [Kindle Edition]

Don'tBlink posted a new student review of The Vampire Gene (The Iron Trilogy) [Kindle Edition] . See the full review.

I found this book amazing.  At first it starts off slow, but it captures your attention. I found myself unwilling to put the book down from how much the storyline and action along with the plot expanded and played out. This book left me guessing the whole time, I never knew what was going to happen next. This is a must read!

A new student review of The Sound of Your Voice...Only Really Far Away

Gwendolyn posted a new student review of The Sound of Your Voice...Only Really Far Away . See the full review.

Having enjoyed quite a few of Francis O’Roark Dowell’s works in the past, it was an honor to have the choice to pick her newest book to review. A few years back I read the first two books in “The Secret Language Of Girls” trilogy, highly enjoying them! Since then I have moved on to other books by this author that fit my interest. Therefore, I started this read with high expectations and was somewhat disappointed. I find the first half of the book dull and unable to capture my attention. I wouldn’t go as far as to say it was a slow read, on the contrary it went by considerably fast, but I was rather bored by it. Not thoroughly entertaining. On the other hand, I don’t believe these points should stop anyone from giving it a try. The lack of interest was my fault on some level. This is one of those books that you have to be in the mood for and ready to delve into, and I was not ready in the slightest. I don’t find this to be a bad thing, but just a fair warning. On a positive note, I became aware of myself warming up to the story and the characters later on in the book, after realizing that I can easily relate to both main characters and their insecurities, frustrations, and general teen angst. This realization changed my opinion of the story line. If I had been entertained at the beginning, I may have regarded this book differently. On the whole, I liked “The Sound Of Your Voice, Only Really Far Away” a little. It was a satisfactory, but not exceptionally spectacular read. 

 

A new student review of Beholding Bee by Kimberly Newton Fusco

Anjel posted a new student review of Beholding Bee by Kimberly Newton Fusco. See the full review.

I think this is a great book! It really tells Bee’s story well, and I could feel what she felt in the story. It made me sad in some parts but encouraged me in others. I would give this book four and a half stars. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy loving and caring books.

A new student review of Pawn by Aimee Carter by Aimée Carter

JesusFreak posted a new student review of Pawn by Aimee Carter by Aimée Carter. See the full review.

This is now one of my favorite books. When I first met the main character, Kitty, I thought her to be the weak III she was portrayed as. But when she turned into a VII, everything changed. She was brave and willing to risk her life for her loved ones. I was also never bored while reading this book; it was fast-paced and I finished it within two days. I applaud Ms. Carter’s way of portraying Kitty’s character pretending to be Lila. Kitty was being called Lila so many times that I even began calling her Lila instead of Kitty! I can’t wait to read more of Ms. Carter’s writing and will be eagerly awaiting the sequel to PAWN.

A new student review of The Thing About Luck

sisto8 posted a new student review of The Thing About Luck . See the full review.

I like this book because of the set up. The plot was fascinating. It had a lot of twists and turns, but during the story, the excitement in the book stayed in a believable form. The author made the book seem like the reader is experiencing the things the main character was going through. The main character, Summer, was very lovable. She was trying to please her elders, but she remained sweet and kind the whole time. I recommend this book for anyone 9+.