A new student review of The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina

Cowboythedog11 posted a new student review of The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina. See the full review.

If you like Divergent then this is the book for you.  Like Divergent it takes place in the future. The details in the book were amazing!  This author has a talent for making you feel what the character is going through.  My only complaint is that sometimes the flash backs confused me as to what was happening in the present.

A new student review of Beyond the Cell

Jigub posted a new student review of Beyond the Cell . See the full review.

In every book I read, there seems to be phrases, or even paragraphs that just catch my attention.  I chose this book because the idea of a 16 year old girl being held captive at a prison that is hidden among mountains intrigued me.  Segregation has been around for a very long time and in fact, it has even been the cause of wars.  Tribble does a fascinating job at showing the way segregation works in her book.

You see, this book has caused me to think.  We’ve all been segregated before and this book has opened my eyes showing that not only humans face segregation, but, if they exist or not, mythical creatures do too.  The main character is one that can be related to.  She may be young and a little foolish at times but she craves freedom and stability.  I know exactly how that feels and I know for a fact that the readers of this book will relate as well.

I encourage readers to read this book.  While this book doesn’t have as much  detail as I would like, and it may seem as if it was quickly paced, the book is still well written with a good plot and setting.

A new student review of The Unwanteds (Island of Fire)

Rainbow Shard posted a new student review of The Unwanteds (Island of Fire) . See the full review.

I loved it.  Lisa McMann continues to weave her magic in a way that is both strange and touching.  The intricate plot held my attention the entire way through.  However, this tale isn’t just a riveting adventure.  It’s also a story of heartfelt emotions.  I really felt close to these characters, and believed I was living through these acventures with them.  At times, I wanted to cry; other parts made me laugh, sigh, mentally cheer on the characters (does anyone else do that?), and just collapse from desperation.  A beautiful tale of the true meaning of loyalty and friendship, this tale will not soon be forgotten.  I eagerly await the next chronicle in the Unwanteds sequence, and expect the best is yet to come!

A new student review of There Will Be Bears

NathanPechacek10 posted a new student review of There Will Be Bears . See the full review.

In my opinion, I enjoyed reading about the relationship between a grandfather and his grandson. It was an unusual bond and they did some awkward things together. I would recommend the age range most interested in this story would be 11-14 years old. The story did mention drug use and some parts were intense. Overall, the writing style was decent and the storyline was easy to follow. I did feel it was a strong ending that did not leave a reader hanging.

A new student review of Au Pair Girl by Judy Klass

LaRayne posted a new student review of Au Pair Girl by Judy Klass. See the full review.

This is an awesome, amazing and captivating book that any teen would definitely read in one day. It will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the whole book. There is also a bit of romance, but it is not too overwhelming or underwhelming. I would recommend this book to any teen who likes any kind of book. It is amazing how the author can make this book fit into so many genres. I am definitely telling all my friends to read this book.

A new student review of The Grave Winner

ViviB posted a new student review of The Grave Winner . See the full review.

Leigh was a very real character. Her emotions, for the most part, were understandable, yet complex. Since this is a horror story, capturing the emotions is key for a good book. The characters were lovable; I liked Jo, the best friend, and I liked Leigh's sarcastic, witty way of narrating. The love triangle between Leigh, Cal, and Tram was well developed as well.

This book was only about a hundred and sixty pages, and so the supernatural bits seemed to come into play too quickly for my liking. A little bit more background and character development would have been helpful before diving into the magic. For example, the book talked about Lazarus Syndrome when people began coming back from the dead, and it seemed widely accepted by the citizens. I was a bit unclear on whether the world of Krapper, the name of the town, was used to phenomona like that, or whether the magic was new to the people yet didn't explore the reactions.

Leigh missed some obvious hints that I caught onto immediately, and I found that a bit unrealistic and irritating, but there were twists throughout the book that I enjoyed; it wasn't predictable.

All in all, this was an interesting read, and I would keep an eye out for a sequel.

 

 

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.