I really liked this book. It was darker than other young adult genre books I've read but, it had a raw look at reality. At first, I wasn't so sure about it, but then as I kept reading, I wasn't able to stop! I can relate to a certain degree with some of the things Vinnie was experiencing, so I felt that I could understand the character and his perspective. Also, it has a more positive ending which many books with storylines like this don't. It is a very real coming of age story that I really enjoyed and would reccomend to a lot of people. It's really a book about the choices we make and where they lead and the people we become because of them. I also really liked the viid images I got in my head because of how descriptive the author was in describing the places and emotions. It helped captivate me into the story and make it all more real.
Monday, April 14, 2014
A new student review of Labeled by Mark Salvatore
A new student review of Kissing Italian
The book Kissing Italian by Lauren Henderson was a very good book. There was a little bit of drama between the four friends. Violet got pretty jealous of Luca hanging out with another girl, but that really made the book interesting. There was some romance, but not a lot.
A new student review of Salvation by Alyssa Cooper
As I first started reading this book, I was overwhelmed with the sadness of what had happened to Alec. I do not know the feeling of losing a parent, but I do understand the emotion of loss and the author has vivid imagery expressing that emotion well. That was one of my favorite things about this author; her writing has imagery that just paints deep feeling. The author tends to have some grammatical issues here and there but overall I still loved the plot of the story. It made me crave more and the fact that this book was divided into three parts added to my enjoyment. With every new book, there would be a different point of view and that allowed me to make more connections since I could have a better feel towards the character. This book has its flaws but it’s still a good story.
Friday, April 11, 2014
A new student review of Magefable by Heimdall Thunderhammer
Magefable was a very exciting, adventurous book. I really liked it. It had lots and lots of twists that made it surprising. I liked that the author made it funny while at the same time not something unbelievably unrealistic. I also felt that the characters were relatable and very well developed. My favorite character was Durbin. I liked him because he was a brave young mouse who dreamed of going on an adventure and living up to the name of his father, Marcus the Brigand. I also liked Clove, who knew that the one who made this quest before her was unsuccessful, and yet still is determined to try. Something on the editor's part that I felt left something to be desired was that some of the grammar, spelling, and punctuation still should be corrected. I would recommend this fantasy book to ages 10 through 14 because there are some big words, lots of fighting, and some killing. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
A new student review of Don't Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski
Don’t Even Think About It was as witty as its five word title.
Don’t Even Think About It was one of those books with a quicksand plot. Once I started reading, I could not stop. When the group begins to read each others' minds, problems begin to arise. And of course the question is, is being able to hear what anyone and everyone is thinking more on the pro or con side of things? So as I said, the story was like a spiders web and captured me. I opened the book and then did not stop reading for six hours (that includes lunch).
In Don’t Even Think About It, the narrator was not ‘I’, or ‘He/She’, it was ‘We’. Oh my gosh, you do not fully understand how unfairly difficult it is to write a novel from the point of view ‘We’. I do not know if this is really how Sarah Mlynowski (that is a crazy last name) felt, but it must have been a constant struggle not to write ‘I’. The transition between characters was fascinatingly smooth. I found myself completely unbiased. I equally loved and hated them all. Which all adds up to the fact that this book is incredibly original. There is no book like Don’t Even Think About It, and I truly doubt there ever will be. If there is, someone should please notify me.
The characters were the Gateway Arch of arched. They each faced difficult situations, and had to deal with them accordingly. No spoilers. Imagine the difficulty of high school romance paired with telepathy. I can not. But Sarah M. could. And their friendship was inspiring. It was real, with actual arguments and silent treatments. It was also the same with their love. Not only for boyfriends and girlfriends, but for family.
So, to finish up without scaring you, I obviously adored Don’t Even Think About It. I will probably read it fifty more times and then a couple more times just to make sure I know it by heart. If you have not read this book and you enjoyed any novel with a name I recommend you read Don’t Even Think About It. If I see you walking down the street and you still have not read it, I will feel dubiously obligated to shove it in your face and rattle on about the incredibility of writing a story from the point of view ‘We’. Read it. And how do you pronounce Mlynowski?
A new student review of Seven Stories Up
I really liked the book, Seven Stories Up by Laurel Snyder. It had everything it needed from the characters to the setting; this book just really came together. This book also taught me about the 1930's, like how there was not much medicine. This book made me realize how lucky we are to have what we have. You can vividly see the characters and their emotions by reading the text. That is why I give this passage four stars.
Wednesday, April 09, 2014
A new student review of The Blood Guard
This novel is full of action and adventure and makes the reader ask "Will his skills from the past help him now?" Read the book and you will find out. I would recommend this book to anyone who is willing to read such an intense novel. I really liked this novel, and I hope everyone who reads it feels the same.
A new student review of Feral Curse
Feral Curse is a very good book, but I was a little disappointed. I believe the book did not have enough action and it left me very confused. With this book, it's either you love it or hate it. This is my opinion but, others have their own.
Tuesday, April 08, 2014
A new student review of Subway Love
I think Subway Love is fresh and new. While I do not always love teenage romance, this book is a clever and fascinating take on two popular topics: teen romance and time-travel.
I love the rich and well-developed characters. Without interesting back stories or cute, awkward dialogue, I may not have liked the story as much as I did.
My only qualm about Subway Love is the format in the beginning. Before Jonas and Laura's storylines intersect, I think the cuts bewteen points of view are hasty and truncated. I would have liked to read a little more about one character before switching to another.
Besides the formatting bit, I have no other problems with Subway Love. I would recommend it to young adults who enjoy magical realism and romance, and are looking for a quick read.
A new student review of Truth and Lies
In Truth and Lies, I feel that the author has successfully included all the components of a mystery: murders, betrayals, setups, and twists. I can definitely compare this book and the Hardy Boys series. I was reading this book any chance I got in school or at home. This book was definitely a real cliffhanger. Truth and Lies has reminded me of how much I love and enjoy a mystery book.