A new student review of Greek Mythology's Twelve Labors of Hercules by Brandon Terrell

ALex1x1 posted a new student review of Greek Mythology's Twelve Labors of Hercules by Brandon Terrell. See the full review.

Greek Mythology's Twelve Labors Of Hercules was an entertaining adventure that kept me guessing on the choices I had to make. I was easily able to enjoy this book cause I am a fan of Greek mythology. Some things I enjoyed about it was that it was a 'choose your own path' story. But also how it was easily put into terms that anyone could understand.

 

The only thing that I could see someone getting upset about this book, is if someone wanted more information about the characters.

 

I would defiantly recommend this book to others because it tells the story in a way that's fun for others to read but also doesn't turn it into a novel to make it uninteresting to readers who can't stay still.

A new student review of The Mountain's Depths by Snnaky Sword

sschu5 posted a new student review of The Mountain's Depths by Snnaky Sword. See the full review.

This was an okay book. I liked it, but it was probably in the first 70 of my favorite books. This book has a lot of details and I love that. But the story kind of droned on and on. So I would recommend this to people who want a calm story.

A new student review of reGUARDing GRACE by Karen Leppert

idkpamelaa posted a new student review of reGUARDing GRACE by Karen Leppert. See the full review.

This book was very interesting. I had been looking for a book that experimented with DID in a way that wasn't a research investigation because I wanted a story and somehow I found ReGUARDing Grace .I couldn't be happier over it. The beginnning was very hard to understand due to the use of terms like amalgate and other overall concepts that are not known nor easy to understand. I loved the idea of having special powers in the alters because it made it even more complicated for the host to become one.  I am a psychology freak and this book was great because it showed what it is like to have another personality while keeping it as a fictional piece. 

A new student review of Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout

iamabooklion posted a new student review of Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout. See the full review.

I love this book so much. The way this book was written is absolutely beautiful. I love the action packed adventures that were included in this book that weren't in the previous one. Layla develops so much as a character, she isn't a clingy and jealous character like in the first book. Jennifer is so good at creating such strong characters that I couldn't pick a side. This book was so intense and fun to read at the same time. Jennifer L. Armentrout has done it again and written a masterpiece following her previous one. This is one of my favorite series ever and I'm so excited for the third installment in the series!

A new student review of Backwards by Todd Mitchell

alison_S posted a new student review of Backwards by Todd Mitchell. See the full review.

Although I approached Backwards skeptically, apprehensive of a novel that appeared more gimmick than plot, Mitchell quieted all my misgivings within the book’s first few pages. Backwards doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable topics such as suicide and teen drinking, nor does it exploit these hardships for the sake of suspense. Rather, Mitchell addresses numerous difficult topics with poignancy and tact. Mitchell depicts the main characters with a rich, endearing complexity, and Backwards proved more of a character study than a pacing novelty. Speaking of pacing, Backwards progresses fairly briskly, and Mitchell’s vivid, lyrical prose mesmerizes readers from the get-go. Though the twist ending initially struck me as incongruous to the rest of the plot, I now realize that it’s sometimes justified to sacrifice plot on the altar of profundity. In conclusion, not only did Todd Mitchell’s Backwards wow me, it also explored the sensitive topic of teen suicide in a respectful— yet wholly engaging— way.

A new student review of Lord and Lady Bunny--Almost Royalty! by Polly Horvath

harmong posted a new student review of Lord and Lady Bunny--Almost Royalty! by Polly Horvath. See the full review.

     I really liked this book!  My mom and I read it together before bed and we thought there were a lot of funny parts.  It was a little confusing at first before we figured out all of the characters in the book.  My favorite character in the story was Mr. Bunny because of his stories.  I also loved that JK Rowling was a surprise guest in the book.  I just watched Harry Potter this summer. 

     I like how Madeline’s parents end up understanding why she wants to go to college.  My parents talk about college all the time so it was funny that they didn’t see why she would want to go!  In the end, Madeline’s dreams do come true…with some help from her friends.  There was a good ending for everyone. 

     It was cool that the setting took place in England since my Mom lived there for a few years.  She showed me some pictures from there and we looked at Google for some more too.  I wondered what the real Queen looks like and she is very old but I like her hats.  I want to go to England someday! Being on a cruise sounds pretty fun too. 

     I have not read the first Mr. and Mrs. Bunny book but I am interested in checking it out since I liked this one so much.  I wonder if there will be another book in this series?  I bet there will be.  And I hope so!

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