I felt as though the book was really good. It was the kind of book that when I opened it I was transported to Vegas. It was as though I was right along side Payton when Oliver broke her heart. I could feel her disappointment, and her anger towards him. The one thing that really stood out to me was that there was never a dull moment in the book. I never said to myself, “Oh, this part is really boring”. No, I could not stop reading. Also, this book was jam packed with drama. You felt as though you were betrayed by your father, and you could sympathize with Savannah when she had to leave her best friend and move far away and you might not ever see her again. I loved the format of this book. Madow wrote from different personalities. She wrote from Savannah, Courtney, Payton, Madison, and then she did a little blog every so often. I could really hear the different voices, and how they were all their own person. Her descriptions were amazing, there is no other way to say it--the descriptions were really good. This book is the helpless romantic's dream.
Monday, February 24, 2014
A new student review of The Secret Diamond Sisters by Michelle Madow
Sunday, February 23, 2014
A new student review of Disneylanders by Kate Abbott
What initially drew me to Disneylanders was its setting—like Casey, I grew up going to Disneyland once every year, and have a fierce love for it. In portraying Disneyland itself, this book excelled. It’s chock-full of references to the rides and areas in Disneyland, and felt like I was there. In fact, every chapter’s title included a reference to some sort of Disney slogan, song, attraction, show, etc. If you love Disneyland, then you’ll definitely get some amusement and enjoyment from this book.
The main problem I had with this book was the main character, Casey. Although I was sympathetic to her in the beginning, I found her naïve and whiny by the middle of the book. I understand that parents can be embarrassing and over-bearing at times, but I found myself cringing at some of the decisions Casey made. She also had this huge issue against this group of girls she kept seeing around Disneyland, just because their bra-straps were showing—an issue I found immature and judgmental. I really only liked Casey because of her love for Disneyland. On the other hand, Bert, Casey’s love-interest, was awesome—his love for his family and his interactions with Casey (although a bit unrealistic at times) were adorable. I found myself getting bored during the parts with just Casey and her family, and wanting to get back to Bert.
Overall, I think Disneylanders is a cute, well-written, coming-of-age summer read. The ending, albeit not giving a definitive solution to every subplot, was sweet and ended on a hopeful note. I would recommend it to any Disney fan willing to look past the main character’s flaws for a good account of Disneyland.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
A new student review of The Girl Who Was on Fire (Movie Edition) by Gary Cassel
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A new student review of The Solar Sea by David Lee Summers
I liked this book. I wouldn't say that it's the best book ever but it kept my attention. To be honest it was rather cliche as far as science fiction goes. The whole thing with the whales made me think of Star Trek IV The Voyage Home because that dealt an awful lot with aliens talking to whales. It actually was rather reminiscent of Stanly Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. In that they built the Jupiter VIII ship because Discovery told them to go on a trip to Jupiter. In this book they built a ship to go specifically to go to Saturn. Then there's the whole idea that making the ship spin will create gravity on the ship. That was probably the most cliche thing of all in the book. Other than that I thought that the book was very good. It had an easy to follow plot that even those who've never read science fiction could follow. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good read.
A new student review of Midnight City by J. Barton Mitchell
Midnight City is an amazing book. In the beginning, you don't really know how Earth was captured, but you know enough to be able to read and enjoy the book and learn more as the book goes on. The author reveals the right amount of information throughout the book, otherwise there would be a whole history section that wasn't needed. The book is fast-paced and never boring. Once I started reading the book, I couldn't put it down. The characters were original and intriguing because each had their own mysteries and backgrounds that you had to read to find out about. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes action/sci-fi books with a little romance thrown in. Reviewer Age:17 Reviewer City, State and Country: Brownsburg, Indiana United States of America
A new student review of Sleep Before Evening by Magdalena Ball
This was a harrowing and believable book, which I actually really enjoyed! Magdalena Ball writes with such conviction and describes even the grittiest scenes with their own kind of beauty that makes this novel hard to put down. Having never read anything quite like this book before, I was dubious at the beginning. However, upon finishing the novel, I realized that I had been living as Marianne, experiencing her loss, grief and struggles. I lived the painful emotion behind the words of the narrator while sharing the experiences and feelings of Marianne; this sets the book apart. I would definitely recommend Sleep Before Evening to others but possibly to those older than myself. Throughout the novel Marianne is faced with the daunting trials of drug addiction, sex and the fight for survival in the big city. While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I think it might be better suited to people from 16 up. The words of Magdalena Ball in Sleep Before Evening will without a doubt stay with me for years to come.
A new student review of A Red Sun Also Rises by Mark Hodder
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A new student review of Storm - The Elemental Series by Brigid Kemmerer
I would say that this book is the best book I have read in months. I would recommend that any kid that is mature, or the age 11 and up should read this book. It was hilarious and often made me crack up. There was romance; there were scary spots; there were things that I did not expect. Humor, romance, suspense, and a ton more came with this book. I give it 5 stars!
A new student review of The Buried Covenant by Shawn Keenan
This is truly one of the funniest books Ive ever read. Some of the situations Jayke gets into are ordinary, but the way he deals with them is anything but! His humor and insight made me laugh more times that I care to admit, and he seemed very relatable. Its been awhile since I've read a story with such life-like characters that I actually cared about, and Shawn P. Keenan did a marvelous job making them seem realistic. Overall, Shawn P. Keenan did a marvelous job with this book. The only complaint I have is that the beginning was a bit slow for my taste. Other than that, this is a must-read for any teenager who wishes to just sit down with a book and have a good laugh.
A new student review of Sleep Before Evening by Magdalena Ball
This was a harrowing and believable book, which I actually really enjoyed! Magdalena Ball writes with such conviction and describes even the grittiest scenes with their own kind of beauty that makes this novel hard to put down. Having never read anything quite like this book before, I was dubious at the beginning. However, upon finishing the novel, I realized that I had been living as Marianne, experiencing her loss, grief and struggles. I lived the painful emotion behind the words of the narrator while sharing the experiences and feelings of Marianne; this sets the book apart. I would definitely recommend Sleep Before Evening to others but possibly to those older than myself. Throughout the novel Marianne is faced with the daunting trials of drug addiction, sex and the fight for survival in the big city. While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I think it might be better suited to people from 16 up. The words of Magdalena Ball in Sleep Before Evening will without a doubt stay with me for years to come.