A new student review of WhipEye by Geoffrey Saign

sschu5 posted a new student review of WhipEye by Geoffrey Saign. See the full review.

The plot really shows how amazing this book is. I love how there were so many details in the story; it really makes you feel as if you are in the story. The story itself is pure genius, because put together a villain, two heros, a savior, magical creatures, and slaved magical creatures and you have an awesome story. It’s the uniqueness of it that makes it worth reading. Both of the main characters are going through hard times, so it puts the story together. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

A new student review of There Will Come A Time by Carrie Arcos

crabby posted a new student review of There Will Come A Time by Carrie Arcos. See the full review.

Mark’s narrative, while a tad clichéd at times, is surprisingly potent. The way he copes with his trauma is grippingly authentic and relatable; he is quite young, and he is still developing his own sense of self even as he tries to understand the sister he lost. Mark’s struggles with grief and guilt mingle realistically with the odd bits of happiness that crop up unexpectedly in his life, like his growing relationship with Grace’s best friend, Hanna, or his family telling stories around the Christmas tree. Mark’s healing process is never portrayed as black and white. It is infinitely messy and complicated, and this complexity makes the story and its characters incredibly genuine. The author manages to tackle a very heavy subject without becoming excessively dark or depressing. This novel has a lot to offer, and without a doubt, other readers will soon become as fond of Mark as I am.

 

A new student review of Mouseheart by Lisa Fiedler

nictaf posted a new student review of Mouseheart by Lisa Fiedler. See the full review.

Mouseheart is an excellent book and I couldn’t put it down.  I cannot wait for the second book.  Lisa Fiedler created a world that is believable with an amount of fantasy which I loved.  Hopper is a mouse that is brave and unselfish in every way, and Pinky, his sister,  is foolhardy and reckless.  I would recommend this book for ages 9 and up because there are some bloody descriptions.  For the most part it is a thrilling book.  I think that everyone who reads this book will like it.  It will keep your attention and not let go!

A new student review of Come August, Come Freedom by Gigi Amateau

AKFeldman posted a new student review of Come August, Come Freedom by Gigi Amateau. See the full review.

I loved reading Come August, Come Freedom. The historical facts are seamlessly intertwined with rich prose that envelopes you into Gabriel's true inspiring tale. Usually, it takes me a while to get engrossed in historical fiction, but Gigi Amateau made it a pleasant reading experience: smooth yet impactful.  I highly suggest this book for hesitant history fans; it is a great pathway to the genre of historical fiction.

A new student review of 2:32 a.m. by Emily Ford

ALex1x1 posted a new student review of 2:32 a.m. by Emily Ford. See the full review.

2:32am was a very interesting book to read. But there are two things that I did not like about it. The first is that I felt that the build up to everything took too long. And the second is that there are some missing quotation marks in the text.

 

A few things I did like about it were how the characters were so well written that one could became attached or even empathize with them. Another part was how creative and new this story was.

 

Even though I did not care much for the book, I would recommend this to others for its creative story line and for creating deep attachments to the characters.

A new student review of Drift by M. K. Hutchins

ReesaOnFire posted a new student review of Drift by M. K. Hutchins. See the full review.

A dangerous and thrilling world, Hutchins creates in Drift a novel that’s sure to transport you by the first chapter! Absolutely worthy of the award bestowed upon it—I give Drift 5 out of 5 stars!

Cleverly put together, Hutchins gives birth to not only a thrilling story but a magical world, intriguing characters, and nice big ‘ol pot of “thinking noodle soup”!  

Artfully crafted, Hutchins’s characters hit the nail on the head. Each one had sufficient motivation, growth, and closure. Each character accelerated the plot and gave their own opinions on it as it progressed, through not only words but actions committed and omitted. Every element of the book was placed there for a reason to be revealed at the end. With the plot itself, Hutchins could not have done a better job.

Simply scrumptious for an avid fantasy lover, Hutchins handsomely whipped together seeming incompatible elements and made them into a breathtaking world.  Tenjat’s world feels real and draws you in. Everything wielded together from characters to plot to description. Particularly the amount of the thought that went into this book was astounding.

Strong themes run rampart, and parallels to the world we live in today can be found.  This novel doesn’t contain the usual requirements to gain entry in “Mature Rating Club.” No sign of vulgarity or mature material here, only "thinking noodle soup" for the reader. Know that if you read this novel, be prepared to look deeper and to expect food for thought. Each one of us could learn a little something from the story Tenjat’s little Turtle Island and the people on it.

I am unbelievably impressed with Drift and will re-read it in the future. I hope to see more work from Hutchins, as I thoroughly enjoyed her debut novel, Drift. 

A new student review of Quarantine: The Saints (Book Two) by Lex Thomas

iamabooklion posted a new student review of Quarantine: The Saints (Book Two) by Lex Thomas. See the full review.

This book was really good and was a great sequel to The Loners. I really like how Lex Thomas made me feel like I was watching a movie when I read this book. It was fast paced and fun, and I loved the main characters, Lucy and Will. Lex Thomas did a really good job on the new characters that were added to this book. There were a lot of character developments, and the plot line was just mesmerizing! A few things I didn't like was the way the author made Lucy kind of weak compared to the other characters, but I loved her nonetheless. Overall, it was a great, thrilling read, and I would recommend it if you love horror or thrillers.

A new student review of Fury's Fire by Lisa Papademetriou

Lucy posted a new student review of Fury's Fire by Lisa Papademetriou. See the full review.

Fury' Fire, is an interesting book to read although not the best that I have ever read. To me, the beginning was too slow to recommend to anyone. Although if you continue reading, it might become interesting. 

A new student review of 77 Things You Absolutely Have to Do Before You Finish College by Halley Bondy

Dsun_ posted a new student review of 77 Things You Absolutely Have to Do Before You Finish College by Halley Bondy. See the full review.

Although this book is listed as nonfiction, I feel that it has comedy in it. The witty remarks make me feel like the author is actually talking to me instead of telling me what to do. Some of the things to do were very silly and some of them were something that someone could actually consider doing. Overall the book was just a fun read for me.

A new student review of Girl in Reverse by Barbara Stuber

dancechicka posted a new student review of Girl in Reverse by Barbara Stuber. See the full review.

Despite my reservations when I began reading, I really did enjoy this book.  Lily, even with her unique story and inner struggle, is a very relatable main character.  Her inner monologue shows us a girl that is strong and vulnerable, shy and outspoken.  She has a fiery streak that I really enjoyed seeing develop throughout the book.  Stuber did a very good job portraying the discrimination and intolerance that Asian-Americans faced at that time—being blamed for things that were happening thousands of miles away.   I also felt that Lily’s relationship with her parents and those around her was also very well-written.  It showed how the strain of the Korean War adversely affected almost everyone, even in their own homes and family circles.  The supporting characters were also of importance in this book—with Ralph, an ex-nun, and the janitor/Chinese cook Mr. Howard, the personality in this book abounded, even when things got serious.  The only thing that I could find fault with was Lily’s frequent pity-party sessions, which could get a little tiresome—but that may just be called being a teenager.  All in all, a wonderful read for anyone looking to brush up on their historical fiction and have a little fun along the way!

                “I hold my breath and flip the first picture over. It’s blurry, but I can see it’s a hand.  A pale, drooping hand, chopped above the wrist, with long, stiff fingers and a handcuff exactly the way Ralph described.”

                I would recommend this book for ages eight and up.  The vocabulary and plot is pretty simple to understand for younger readers, and the content is, for the most part, squeaky clean.

                Will Lily be able to uncover the secrets of her past AND take on the consequences?  Or will Lily find that she may have gotten in over her head?  Read Girl in Reverse by Barbara Stuber to find out!