A new student review of The Secret of Grey Stone Island by Andrea Louise Koehler

moseso posted a new student review of The Secret of Grey Stone Island by Andrea Louise Koehler. See the full review.

The Secret of Grey Stone Island is a mystery book that is a short story and a quick, enjoyable read.  I could picture some parts in the book when I closed my eyes, but on the other hand during some other parts in the book I could imagine what was happening without closing my eyes! My bedroom became Grey Stone Island, and my bed became a kayak. I’d rate this book four out of five stars. Andrea wrote the book in such a fashion that I could believe Maya and Jago to be real. I like the ending of the story; however, I think that if there is not a sequel to this book, a sequel should be written. I would recommend this book to someone who is looking for a good, yet, short book.         

A new student review of The Iron Traitor

RavenWing posted a new student review of The Iron Traitor . See the full review.

Megan’s family. Sigh. I think they’re all messed up. It’s like a bad case of selflessness. Ash would die for Megan, Megan would die for Ash. And then comes along Keirran…

Sigh.

Not that I didn’t like it. I loved it. There’s nothing Julie Kagawa could write that wouldn’t leave me interested to the end. I admit, the romance between Ethan and Kenzie is kind of repetitive after Megan and Ash, but it’s a whole new world.

Ethan has an all new thought process, all new morals, all new opinions. It’s like falling in love all over again. I could end my review there, but I won’t. I’ll ramble on about my first love for a little longer.

For everyone new to this series, STOP! You should read the original books first, or, at the very least, the first book in this sub series thing. If you just pick up this book “oh, this sounds good” and start reading it, you are going to be oh so confused. The readers who have followed along Megan’s journey, we know exactly how the plot twisted and turned throughout the years. We know there is no figuring out what’s about to happen, there is no bland spot.

So, back to the review. It’s a romance. It’s a comedy. It’s an action packed book.

The first hint of a grey fluff ball will leave you in hysterics.

Would I recommend this? You’re kidding me, right? This is my first love, my motivation. I’ve been following along this adventure for years, and I’d have a meltdown if Megan and Ash completely left us, but I know they never will. I have dreams of a certain cat, and quote a certain pain-in-the ass.

Let me just say, READ IT! Then come reread this review; it’ll make a lot more sense then.

A new student review of Fallout

alphatauri posted a new student review of Fallout . See the full review.

I always love the premise of a good "what if?" historical story, from the brutally realistic The Plot Against America by Philip Roth or the far-fetchedness of Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan. The absurdness of Fallout falls somewhere in between (no pun intended) those two works. It is a terrifying scenario, and Todd Strasser tells the story in a unique, alternating the chapters between the present and the past. We see the characters in their broken state, then flash back to when everything was normal, and realise that they have so much to lose. In this way, Strasser makes you care for all the characters--even when their wishes grow darker. The plot passes by in a whirlwind, packed with both humor and suspense. Strasser's language is sparse and simple, yet the sentences are powerful. The best aspect of the book, is that even after it ends, you are still left thinking about that underground shelter, and what you would have done. And you are still left thinking of the big questions--why does war happen? Why can't we learn from our past mistakes? What if our future is like the past described in this novel?

I highly recommend this novel to anyone who doesn't mind the use of simple language to tell a powerful, emotional, and memorable story. I have never read a book quite like this one. 

A new student review of Midnight Frost by Jennifer Estep

DJ_RESH_RESH posted a new student review of Midnight Frost by Jennifer Estep. See the full review.

I loved this book. Jennifer Estep is now one of my favorite authors. She balances the perfect amount of love, action and comedy on every single page. On some pages I found that I could barely see the words through the tears in my eyes and on others I was laughing until I was out of breath. I love the description in the book. I feel like I am actually inside of it. My favorite character has got to be the talking sword. I feel like that made the book unique. I also loved the character development that happened throughout the book. You could see Gwen blossoming into a brave warrior and that made the book incredible. I would definitely recommend this book.

A new student review of Lunch Lady and the Video Game Villian

LegoLover posted a new student review of Lunch Lady and the Video Game Villian . See the full review.

I both liked and disliked the book.  I have enjoyed all of Krosozka’s other Lunch Lady books, and this one is no different when it comes to his amazing story, drawings, and characters.  I liked the competition of the school election, although I was a little surprised by the results.  I didn’t completely like the way Krosozka chose to end this story.  I wonder if he is concluding the series with this book.  I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun graphic novel type book but not interested in getting too deep into a series.

A new student review of A Wounded Name: A Tragedy

kanati posted a new student review of A Wounded Name: A Tragedy . See the full review.

I found Dot Hutchinson's A Wounded Name to be absolutely intoxicating with every word. It is a supernatural tragedy that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the last word. Each character has oddly enduring qualities that make them impossible to forget and about as hard not to love. Hutchinson's use of sensory is amazing in this book; it is almost as if you are standing in the cemetery listening to the song of the Bean sidhe. This book is perfect for any teenager who loves suspense and the supernatural rolled into a bone chilling story of revenge. I know I personally will be keeping an eye on Dot Hutchinson in the future.

A new student review of Kizzy Ann Stamps

moseso posted a new student review of Kizzy Ann Stamps . See the full review.

I think this book is good for dog lovers, but you don’t have to be a dog lover to love this book. It does take a couple chapters to get into the book. Once you get into it though, it’s a definite page turner. If I closed my eyes during parts of the book I could picture exactly what was happening. Jeri Watts (the author) has a voice that contains friendship and a hint of adventure. I’d say the book is for 9-12 year olds. The vocabulary is for that age group. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that is like Kizzy Ann Stamps. It is a loving adventure and my favorite part of the book is that it’s being written in the form of letters. Jeri Watts did an excellent job on finishing the story; it is not a cliff hanger like some other books. I highly recommend this book!             

A new student review of Open Mic: Riffs on Life Between Cultures in Ten Voices

VBat posted a new student review of Open Mic: Riffs on Life Between Cultures in Ten Voices . See the full review.

This anthology is a bundle of funny, sad and interesting stories that give the reader a taste of "life between cultures." It contains a good mix of humorous stories and serious ones, and the variety keeps the reader on their toes. 

My favorite short story in the collection is "Brotherly Love." In this story, a young Mexican boy has a heartfelt conversation with his older sister. The story explores cultural ideas of what "real" men act like, and gives the reader a chance to connect emotionally with the main character. 

The ten authors who are represented in the book did an excellent job explaining the thoughts and emotions experienced by multi-cultural teens. Some stories made me laugh, others made me sad. The stories shared definitely make the reader question stereotypes- and want to get to know their multi-cultural neighbors better!

This book is  a short, easy read that discusses some hard topics. Written in prose, poetry and even a comic-book format, the anthology has something for everyone. I would recommend this book to pre-teens and teens who enjoy realistic fiction, true stories, poetry, and learning about different cultures. 

A new student review of Worse Things Happen At Sea! by Alan Snow

sisto8 posted a new student review of Worse Things Happen At Sea! by Alan Snow. See the full review.

This book had a very delightful story in it. The story was very original.  I liked it because of the suspense.  I felt like it kept me in suspense through the book.  It is good for children and for older kids alike.  I think anyone who reads it will find a fun tale about the hardships at sea.  I recommend it for 8+.

A new student review of Bending Willow

Archer130 posted a new student review of Bending Willow . See the full review.

Even though it is not a book with a lot of adventure, the bond between the two sisters is one that no one can break. I thought that this book was a very good book that has a lot of emotion and sisterly love. One of my favorite parts in the story is when River, from The Burning Man, gives Riley and Mia their Burning Man names. I thought that this scene was written very well, so I read it many times. Every time I read it, it got even better.