A new student review of Coaltown Jesus

dancechicka posted a new student review of Coaltown Jesus . See the full review.

This book was certainly different.  Outside the box.  Unique.  I know when I think of Jesus, I think of angels singing and bright light and larger than life mirages.  But this book portrayed him as a smart mouthed, athletic, and fun individual—and I think that was what made the connection for me.  Sometimes it is hard to understand why God seems to take some good out of the world and replace it with bad—and I think that will always be one of life’s greatest mysteries.  We also have all been affected by death, like Walker and his mother—and affected by the stereotypical beliefs about a certain race or gender—like Jesus.   Koertge did a wonderful job getting those points across.   And for all you reluctant readers--this book was SHORT.  122 pages, to be exact.  It is also written in verse, making it a quick read without many dry or boring parts.  If you’re looking for a brief and easy read, this novel is for you!

                “He was dead.  I found him right where you are now, and he was dead.”  It came out like a wail.”

                I would recommend this book for ages eight and up for mild drug references and a single expletive.  I feel it would be good for younger age groups for its quickness and easy to read format.  The vocabulary is not all that advanced, either.

                Walker can’t deny it—Jesus is in his life now, and he can’t forget it.  So as he struggles to get over his brother’s death, will he finally start healing—or will Jesus disappear and leave him as broken as before?

A new student review of More Than This

VBat posted a new student review of More Than This . See the full review.

I loved More Than This. A mixture of mystery, sci-fi, drama and dystopia, the book is mind-bending  and full of suspense. 

The structure of More Than This is very interesting. I am not someone who typically cares too much about how a story is structured,  but the gradual peeling away of plot layers in this story kept me constantly on my toes as I waited to learn more about Seth's past, and what is really going on. Patrick Ness weaves hints about the truth throughout the book, and brings these hints back to mind (or destroys the prediction they cause) just as soon as you forget them. 

Due to the carefully structured nature of the plot, I feel as though it would take away from reader enjoyment if I commented too much on specific characters or events. However, all of the characters were likeable and realistic, and I felt their strong emotions right along with them. 

The ambiguous ending of the story left me with more questions than ever- but in a good way. Throughout the story, the reader is led to question what is real and what is not, and the ending fits perfectly with that focus. 

I would recommend More Than This to teenagers and young adults who enjoy sci-fi, mysteries, dramas, and suspense! Fans of The Hunger Games will appreciate Seth's survival in the empty world, and others will enjoy the drama of his past life. 

 

 

A new student review of Alice Parker's Metamorphosis by Nicola Palmer

sschu5 posted a new student review of Alice Parker's Metamorphosis by Nicola Palmer. See the full review.

This book is awesome! It has a great plot. It always keeps you hanging which is a great thing because that means you will keep reading. So, this author is great. It is a good book because it teaches kids to persevere through everything like Alice did.

A new student review of Disneylanders

Gwendolyn posted a new student review of Disneylanders . See the full review.

Disneylander’s by Kate Abbot was a sweet, addictive, and touching read. I love Disney, so, when I first saw this title, I was immediately interested! A number of the memories that I have from my early childhood are that of trips to Disneyland. As I read this novel, I discovered that Casey and I share many of the same obscure reasons why we love Disneyland, such as our favorite portrait hanging in the haunted mansion, to that feeling of deep fondness and affection that Disneyland brings us. The similarities between Casey and myself made the read quite realistic and entertaining throughout the entire novel. The author was able to write a book that includes fully formed characters with quite relatable issues and dilemmas, without letting the scenery distract us readers too much from the story, but just enough to let us feel a sense of familiarity. I’ve always been the girl who becomes extremely attached to a well written book and rather passionate towards the characters within. I am pleased to say that Disneylanders fits into the category that I would call well written, with lovely characters. By the second chapter I found that I had developed an undeniable affection for Casey and the situations that she faces throughout the book. The addictive plot line and the assortment of unique, relatable, and realistic characters kept me hooked from beginning to end. I had no desire to stop reading and I didn’t want to put it down! Bert and Casey are a good pair. I think that they compliment each other well. They are able to sympathize, understand, and give advice to one another’s issues and troubles whilst comprehending their own situation a little more at the same time. Their relationship was sweet and it put a nice spotlight on their characters. I liked their honest and true friendship as well. Entertaining, nostalgic and endearing, Disneylanders is an exquisite and unique read. I will most certainly be reading this story many more times in the future.

A new student review of Through the Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter

LISH0985 posted a new student review of Through the Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter. See the full review.

Overall the book was good. There were parts in the book that moved too fast for me, like when Cole and Alice break up and the change in her afterwards. It all happened so fast that I didn't have time to take in what was happening. The fighting scenes could also have a bit more substance to them. I also felt the weirdness between her and the other guy she is seeing visions with should be developed more. One day they can't stand each other and the next they are friends and he's coming over to her house.

A new student review of The Kingdom of Little Wounds

aschoenfeldt posted a new student review of The Kingdom of Little Wounds . See the full review.

Susann Cokal's historical fiction novel, The Kingdom of Little Wounds, begins with an intriguing plot line but failed to interest me as I read further. The original mystery of the princess's death captured my attention, but the other plot points, such as Ava's background and her dealings with the spy ring, left me confused and disoriented. I did, however, appreciate the narrative format, and how the chapters alternated between Ava and Midi's perspectives. I also enjoyed the placement of the stories that were not directly related to the main plot. I would recommend this book only to lovers of both fantasy and historical fiction who do not mind a complicated plot.

A new student review of Sister Mischief

calicool123 posted a new student review of Sister Mischief . See the full review.

I personally loved the book. It showed how different types of people can come together and form great friendships. It was a book everyone can relate to, especially people who feel like they don't fit in. This is a book you can read cover to cover without putting down. I would recommend this book to everyone who needs a little hope. 

A new student review of Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz

Anjel posted a new student review of Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz. See the full review.

This is a truly unusual book, as I have never read a book like this. I was so excited when I finished the book that I ran out of my room screaming to my brother that he had to read it. I continued to talk about the book forever, and I still am, expanding the audience to my mother and father. I felt as if I were one of the puppets in Grisini’s puppet show and continued to feel the excitement of the adventures happening all around me. If you have never read a book with many stories in one, you should read this one.

A new student review of Kid Docs

detectiveginger posted a new student review of Kid Docs . See the full review.

The story ‘Kid Docs’ has an interesting concept about a program that teaches young children medicine so that they can become doctors from a young age (about early teens) and become super-doctors. I liked this idea, and especially the use of medical discourse, even if I didn’t understand many of the terms; it's like another language! I think that the medical words used add dimension to the story ‘Kid Docs’, to give a realistic insight into life working as a doctor and working in a hospital.

‘Kid Docs’ is well written with very few errors, for example on page 42, 'but he breathed when Connor asked him too’; it should be ‘to’ rather than ‘too’. And on page 78, it says ‘Cassie looked at Connor grinned.’ Which doesn’t make sense. Also on page 37, ‘Connor watched Timothy leave the ER, in a wheel chair in his mother's arms’ sounds a bit awkward; did Timothy leave in a wheelchair or in his mother’s arms, or does it mean he left in a wheelchair pushed by his mother?

‘Kid Docs’ is a good story for those who want to read about what it is like being a doctor, or those who like watching medical dramas.

A new student review of North of Nowhere

underwood_bcl posted a new student review of North of Nowhere . See the full review.

This book was both science fiction and a mystery that needed to be solved. I liked that I could not figure out the mystery until the author told what happened. It kept me guessing and interested all through the book. I usually figure out the ending after the second clue in most mysteries. This is probably one of the best books I have read in a long time. I wish this book was a series, I would like to read more just like this one. I have read some of the author's other books about Emily Winsnap and I really liked those too.