A new student review of The Aftermath by Jen Alexander

dancechicka posted a new student review of The Aftermath by Jen Alexander. See the full review.

This book was far-flung, wild, and irrational--and it was absolutely marvelous. While most books of this genre (dystopian fiction), can sometimes start a little slowly, Alexander jumped right into the plot with abandon.  She had you on the edge of your seat from the get-go.  Though I was a little (okay, a lot) confused at first, with the whole dual-personality thing with Claudia/her gamer, little by little, I began to piece together the intricate puzzle known as The Aftermath—and that, in itself, was part of the fun.  With the intrigue, action, (and yes, a little bit of romance) The Aftermath turned into a perfectly addicting read that I couldn’t put down.  Claudia, though sometimes prone to angst, proved to be a strong main character supported by an equally sturdy minor character assemblage. Though action packed and fast-paced, this book also had a deeper connotation than your average dystopia. I felt Alexander did a wonderful job presenting the moral theme of violence.  Do you treat violence with violence, or treat violence with kindness and peace?  The Aftermath explores both themes, with the interactions between both players and gamers.  In the end, a great read for anyone interested in a good book to start your school year.

                “Shoulders slumped in defeat; I walk to the door and grab the knob.  A sharp jolt of electricity streaks up my arm and through the rest of my body.   I fall to my knees, screaming.”

                I would recommend this book for ages eleven and up, due mostly to the themes of violence and its effects (blood, wounds, etc.)  that are mentioned quite frequently.

                Will the help of the enigmatic Declan, will Claudia be able to find her way out of the game and start anew, with no more blood on her hands?  Or will she soon succumb to her relentless gamer, becoming nothing more than a niggling voice inside her head?  Read The Aftermath by Jen Alexander to find out!

A new student review of Ghost House by Alexandra Adornetto

JesusFreak posted a new student review of Ghost House by Alexandra Adornetto. See the full review.

When I started reading this book, I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the story began.  It grabbed me right from the start and kept my interest nearly the entire time.  Chloe was a very likeable and relatable character (besides the whole being-able-to-see-ghosts thing).  Alexander was charming and the type of guy most girls would fall for.

The author did an excellent job on describing the places and events without boring me.  My only complaint is that there were various spelling errors throughout the book.

Overall, it is an exciting, gripping story.  I recommend it to anyone who loves ghost stories and suspense.

A new student review of Disconnected by Lisa Cronkhite

alison_S posted a new student review of Disconnected by Lisa Cronkhite. See the full review.

First of all, I'd like to preface my review by expressing my sincere admiration for those who, like Ms. Cronkhite, have overcome a mental disorder. The opinions expressed in this review reflect my impression of Milly, not my opinion of those who suffer depression, schizophrenia, or Dissociative Identity Disorder.

 

Though peppered by the occasional snippet of breathtaking imagery, Disconnected relies too heavily on clichés when describing setting. Furthermore, although Disconnected centers primarily, around Milly's battle with DID, I struggled to connect with the novel's protagonist. Although I could relate to some of Milly's vulnerabilities, I feel as though Cronkhite devoted too much of the book to Milly's challenges, while largely ignoring Milly's strengths. Additionally, even though Milly manages to, in the course of her book, suppress some of her DID symptoms, Cronkhite seems to gloss over this portion of our protagonist's emotional journey. Because Disconnected focused almost exclusively on Milly's weaknesses, I regarded her love interest's near-instantaneous devotion with a touch of skepticism. That being said, what their relationship lacks in believability it makes up for in heartwarming adorableness. Although, for the most part, Disconnected does benefit from fairly brisk pacing, Cronkhite tries to cram the bulk of her book's climax into a few pages of heartfelt reveals. Had Milly discovered her family secrets gradually, rather than in a final, emotionally-saturated rush of waterworks, I would've better appreciated Disconnected's impressively complex web of clues. Lastly, I wish Milly had played a more active role in the novel's plot; rather than unravel the Norris family mystery herself, Milly simply….asks her aunt.

 

Disconnected held my interest but failed to wow me; Cronkhite's novel offers readers an engaging— albeit poorly executed—  mystery, a too-good-to-be-true romance, and a heartfelt portrait of mental disorders. So if you're hankering for teenage poignancy laced with suspense, Disconnected's probably worth a read. Otherwise, I advise you to look elsewhere for your beach reading.

A new student review of Hearts of Stone by Kathleen Ernst

posted a new student review of Hearts of Stone by Kathleen Ernst. See the full review.

Hearts of Stone is set in the mid 1800's right in the middle of the Civil War. The main character Hannah struggles with difficult decisions throughout the book. She finds herself homeless with 3 other siblings, hungry, and heartbroken. Her father went off to join the union and died, and her mother soon after that dies from stress, and heartache. Hannah faced with no other option decides that the only way she can keep her family together is to travel thousands of miles to Nashville. There they hope to find their only living relative.

I really enjoyed this book. I know a lot about the Civil War, but I didn't know how bad it was for the children. I know the book was fictional but I'm sure children really did pick cigar buds off the street just so they could have a little bit of food to keep them going one more day. I also felt really bad for Hannah, because the Civil War did put friends against friends and family members against family members. And being young, your confused and it was understandable why she cut off all ties with her best friend just because he was a confederate.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7

Reviewer Age: 17

Reviewer City, State and Country: Dundee, Oregon USA

A new student review of Hearts of Stone by Kathleen Ernst

posted a new student review of Hearts of Stone by Kathleen Ernst. See the full review.

Hearts of Stone is set in the mid 1800's right in the middle of the Civil War. The main character Hannah struggles with difficult decisions throughout the book. She finds herself homeless with 3 other siblings, hungry, and heartbroken. Her father went off to join the union and died, and her mother soon after that dies from stress, and heartache. Hannah faced with no other option decides that the only way she can keep her family together is to travel thousands of miles to Nashville. There they hope to find their only living relative.

I really enjoyed this book. I know a lot about the Civil War, but I didn't know how bad it was for the children. I know the book was fictional but I'm sure children really did pick cigar buds off the street just so they could have a little bit of food to keep them going one more day. I also felt really bad for Hannah, because the Civil War did put friends against friends and family members against family members. And being young, your confused and it was understandable why she cut off all ties with her best friend just because he was a confederate.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7

Reviewer Age: 17

Reviewer City, State and Country: Dundee, Oregon USA

A new student review of Hearts of Stone by Kathleen Ernst

posted a new student review of Hearts of Stone by Kathleen Ernst. See the full review.

Hearts of Stone is set in the mid 1800's right in the middle of the Civil War. The main character Hannah struggles with difficult decisions throughout the book. She finds herself homeless with 3 other siblings, hungry, and heartbroken. Her father went off to join the union and died, and her mother soon after that dies from stress, and heartache. Hannah faced with no other option decides that the only way she can keep her family together is to travel thousands of miles to Nashville. There they hope to find their only living relative.

I really enjoyed this book. I know a lot about the Civil War, but I didn't know how bad it was for the children. I know the book was fictional but I'm sure children really did pick cigar buds off the street just so they could have a little bit of food to keep them going one more day. I also felt really bad for Hannah, because the Civil War did put friends against friends and family members against family members. And being young, your confused and it was understandable why she cut off all ties with her best friend just because he was a confederate.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7

Reviewer Age: 17

Reviewer City, State and Country: Dundee, Oregon USA

A new student review of Hearts of Stone by Kathleen Ernst

posted a new student review of Hearts of Stone by Kathleen Ernst. See the full review.

Hearts of Stone is set in the mid 1800's right in the middle of the Civil War. The main character Hannah struggles with difficult decisions throughout the book. She finds herself homeless with 3 other siblings, hungry, and heartbroken. Her father went off to join the union and died, and her mother soon after that dies from stress, and heartache. Hannah faced with no other option decides that the only way she can keep her family together is to travel thousands of miles to Nashville. There they hope to find their only living relative.

I really enjoyed this book. I know a lot about the Civil War, but I didn't know how bad it was for the children. I know the book was fictional but I'm sure children really did pick cigar buds off the street just so they could have a little bit of food to keep them going one more day. I also felt really bad for Hannah, because the Civil War did put friends against friends and family members against family members. And being young, your confused and it was understandable why she cut off all ties with her best friend just because he was a confederate.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7

Reviewer Age: 17

Reviewer City, State and Country: Dundee, Oregon USA

A new student review of The Summer I Saved the World . . . in 65 Days by Michele Weber Hurwitz

Peace8747 posted a new student review of The Summer I Saved the World . . . in 65 Days by Michele Weber Hurwitz. See the full review.

I loved this book a lot. It inspired me to get up and do something good. I also liked how realistic the book was. My favorite character was Nina because she was so great at being anonymous. I would recommend it to anyone.

It was a great book! There is no swearing or explicit content, so pretty much anyone can read it.  I would recommend this book to people ages 10-99!

          

A new student review of Boys of Blur by N. D. Wilson

Pikachu posted a new student review of Boys of Blur by N. D. Wilson. See the full review.

I suggest this book to everyone who likes action and adventure. I thought this was a really cool book. It’s exiting. I think it hooks you into the book. My favorite part was when Charlie ran through the football stadium.  

A new student review of Life, Love, and Surviving High School by Ann Herrick

ninanx posted a new student review of Life, Love, and Surviving High School by Ann Herrick. See the full review.

The book "Life, Love, and Surviving highschool" by Ann Herrick was a humorous, relatable, and compulsive read. 

I enjoyed how Becca was a character that the reader can easily relate to, although she sometimes makes disagreeable mistakes. She is funny, smart, shy, and sometimes insecure. She often gets stuck in dilemas which are very common in high school.

Furthermore, I admired how realistic the conflicts and situations in the story were. Such as having a best friend (Claire), trying to fit in with the rest of the people in school, and boy drama. Becca decides to focus on her school and do her work. But when Colt and Brent come along, things come crashing down. Becca gets distracted and caught up in boy drama and love and forgets about school. This part makes the story come to life and be interesting, since there were many twists and turns. I was reading this constantly and nonstop, so much that I couldn't even put down my tablet/phone!

Overall, I would recommend this book to any current middle schooler or high schooler because there are so many things that are relatable, and I honestly enjoyed this book more than I expected!