A new student review of Empress of the Sun

ClarissaAdeleMorgenstern posted a new student review of Empress of the Sun . See the full review.

I enjoyed this book. I think that the premise of the story is very interesting, as well as the explanation for the Jiju and separate realities. However, I was confused by several things in this book, especially when I first started reading it. When I received this book, I didn't know that it was the third in a series. This may have explained some of the things I didn't like about the book; for example, I felt like some of the characters weren't very well developed, but they were most likely introduced in earlier books.  I also didn't like some aspects of the science fiction. For example, people still used iPads and common real life technology, even though they had Heisenburg Gates, which let them travel between alternate worlds, and other very advanced technology. I think I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if I had read the other books in the series. Overall though, this was a good story.

 

A new student review of Historical Heartthrobs: 50 Timeless Crushes

dancechicka posted a new student review of Historical Heartthrobs: 50 Timeless Crushes . See the full review.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this book, to be honest.  Nonfiction isn’t really my forte—I read so much of it at school that I have no desire to read it at home.  A week ago, as I was browsing through the booklist, I happened upon it and was so intrigued by its witty description and unique air that I decided to give the whole nonfiction genre a shot.  What a load on this book’s shoulders, correct?  Fortunately, I am happy to report that this manuscript flourished under the pressure and my critical eye.  I found it humorous, entertaining, and educational, which is what every nonfiction book should be if it wants to attract younger readers.  It moved at a brisk pace through fifty different historical figures known for their beauty (or simply their big bank account) that seemingly had it all--appeal, influence, aim, and in some cases, a defining attitude.  Organized into small, three page sections dedicated to each person, I felt that the book moved along at a quick enough pace to avoid being boring yet giving me enough information that I felt that I learned something.  All in all, it is great nonfiction read that I believe would be wonderful for anyone who is looking to mix up their winter reading.

I would recommend this book for ages 12 and up, since there are frequent mentions of sex, affairs, and violence, along with a minimal amount of swearing.  There are also some mentions of homosexuality and bisexuality, so if it bothers you or your child, it may not be the book for you.

So, are you looking for a unique twist on history and the people who shaped it?  What about looking for your next celebrity crush?  If so, be sure to check out Historical Heartthrobs: 50 Timeless Crushes by Kelly Murphy!

A new student review of Once We Were Brothers

VBat posted a new student review of Once We Were Brothers . See the full review.

Once We Were Brothers was a fast, intriguing read that combines a legal thriller with a Holocaust story. Ben Solomon's heart-wrenching recount of his family's experiences in Poland during World War II was emotional, and provided depth to the many relatable characters. The betrayal of the Solomon family by their adopted son provided a new angle on Holocaust time-period stories. 

My biggest problem with this story was the ending. The conclusion lacked emotion, and there was no forgiveness or significant changes in the characters. The story built up to a huge twist ending, but failed to deliver anything that really surprised me.

This book is great for fans of John Grisham and legal thrillers, and for those who enjoy historical fiction revolving around the Holocaust. 

A new student review of Loud Awake and Lost by Adele Griffin

JesusFreak posted a new student review of Loud Awake and Lost by Adele Griffin. See the full review.

What first intrigued me to pick this book up was the cover artwork, which is absolutely beautiful.  When I started to read the book, it was actually quite good.  I was waiting to see what would happen to the main character and how she would figure out what she should do, but I soon found that after ten chapters it did not pick up.  It continued on and on in description and there was hardly any action.  I frequently had to remind myself to pick up the book and force myself to read it.

Another problem is that Ember was not a very likeable character for me; I could not relate to her or like her in any way possible, which was a big problem for me.  I would like to be able to relate to the main character and to connect with her/him in some way.  Ember was too hard on her parents most of the time, and I found that very rude of her.

The one thing I did like about this book was that it put a phrase of the chapter into the chapter title.  It was a bit fun to read those and try to guess what sentence they would go in with the chapter.

A new student review of Calixte: A Novel by Rosella Eleanor LaFevre

detectiveginger posted a new student review of Calixte: A Novel by Rosella Eleanor LaFevre. See the full review.

The setting was vividly decribed and allowed the reader to totally immerse themselves into the world of Calixte. The voice of the book gave a very authentic feel to the narration of the story and felt typical to modern teenagers. However, the characters in the book are at times unrealistic and dislikeable. While this may have been deliberate characterisation, it seems as if the characters needed more depth and more relateability. However, this book is a good start for author's first novel.

A new student review of Midnight Frost by Jennifer Estep

kfc1997 posted a new student review of Midnight Frost by Jennifer Estep. See the full review.

Jennifer Estep shows her brilliance once again in Midnight Frost: A Mythos Academy Novel. Estep further develops the character of Gypsy girl, Gwen Frost, in a novel that is both mystifying and alluring. The storyline was very well written; however, Gwen’s character begins to lack the spunk and courage she had in the first four books of the series. There was the focus on the search for the antidote, but it seemed as though the story plot mainly focused on the absence of Logan, Gwen’s boyfriend. It did pick up in the middle, and the focus once again returned to defeating the Reapers. It is still an amazing book, and though it is not as good as the first four, it has it’s own unique voice. I cannot wait to see where Estep takes Gwen in the next book in the series. This is recommended to girls and to mythology lovers ages 13 and up.

A new student review of Historical Heartthrobs: 50 Timeless Crushes

dancechicka posted a new student review of Historical Heartthrobs: 50 Timeless Crushes . See the full review.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this book, to be honest.  Nonfiction isn’t really my forte—I read so much of it at school that I have no desire to read it at home.  A week ago, as I was browsing through the booklist, I happened upon it and was so intrigued by its witty description and unique air that I decided to give the whole nonfiction genre a shot.  What a load on this book’s shoulders, correct?  Fortunately, I am happy to report that this manuscript flourished under the pressure and my critical eye.  I found it humorous, entertaining, and educational, which is what every nonfiction book should be if it wants to attract younger readers.  It moved at a brisk pace through fifty different historical figures known for their beauty (or simply their big bank account) that seemingly had it all--appeal, influence, aim, and in some cases, a defining attitude.  Organized into small, three page sections dedicated to each person, I felt that the book moved along at a quick enough pace to avoid being boring yet giving me enough information that I felt that I learned something.  All in all, it is great nonfiction read that I believe would be wonderful for anyone who is looking to mix up their winter reading.

I would recommend this book for ages 12 and up, since there are frequent mentions of sex, affairs, and violence, along with a minimal amount of swearing.  There are also some mentions of homosexuality and bisexuality, so if it bothers you or your child, it may not be the book for you.

So, are you looking for a unique twist on history and the people who shaped it?  What about looking for your next celebrity crush?  If so, be sure to check out Historical Heartthrobs: 50 Timeless Crushes by Kelly Murphy!

A new student review of Coaltown Jesus

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

I personally liked this book because I believe in God. It shows good values to have in  life, and shows us that we have to let go of the past. What's done is done, and there's nothing you can do now to change it. Oh, and the best part I got from this book was, "Be the miracle."

A new student review of Modern Cartooning by Christopher Hart

Gwendolyn posted a new student review of Modern Cartooning by Christopher Hart. See the full review.

Throughout this book the author gives examples of various methods on how to customize your cartoon character. I find it fascinating that by merely changing the direction or position of the mouth or eyebrows one can completely change the character’s reaction and expression. I like how the author provides examples of the posture and stance of the character, which enables the reader to determine how the cartoon is feeling. I found his tutorials helpful because I sometimes have issues with transferring how I want my character to act from my mind to the paper. I learned several tactics from this book, despite the fact that I have been drawing for most of my life and I’m not exactley a beginner. I think that the methods taught can be applied to all artists at any level. Once I had made direct copies of the characters within the book, I was able to use his advice to successfully create sketches of my characters in my own artistic style! Although I enjoy sketching quite often, prior to reading this book, most of my drawings stood motionless and inactive. Modern Cartooning definitely helped me to make my art stand out and essentially pop to the viewer! The step-by-step instructions provided me with the knowledge to make my cartoons appear to interact and come alive on the paper. This book is well written, informative, and entertaining to read. I am certain that I will use this book as a reference whenever I am having difficulties with my artwork in the future. It is a quirky, hilarious, easy to follow and straight forward read that contains valuable instructions. Overall I highly enjoyed Christopher Hart’s  Modern Cartooning: Essential Techniques for Drawing Today’s Popular Cartoons. 

 

A new student review of Too Cool For This School

Tenaya posted a new student review of Too Cool For This School . See the full review.

Too Cool For This School is a book that kids all over the world will enjoy. The story line is one that many will relate to. Its moral is sweet, and it's a great read. The book hooked me  immediately, and I feel like I've know the characters forever. I'd recommend it to kids of ages of about 10 to 12.