Wednesday, December 31, 2014

A new student review of The Trap by Andrew Fukuda

MezokaCapturer65 posted a new student review of The Trap by Andrew Fukuda. See the full review.

 

This book, like its forerunners, was intense.  For readers who like action and plots that are not fully realized until the end of the story, this series is a good one to pick up.  The majority of this book is action scenes that require the characters to do some quick thinking.  The continuity is kept up nicely and is patched up in some places where I had questions left over from the previous books.  The ending was the kind that I enjoy the most, one which makes the reader reconsider the whole series and rethink everything that was stated about the world.  The ending reveals that the roles of the two primary species of the series, the duskers and the humans, are, in fact, completely reversed from what the characters and the audience believed.  It also reveals the time period in which the story takes place.  I recommend this book to those who enjoyed the previous installments in the series, as well as anyone who enjoys action-packed and suspenseful series.  The only thing which I think could have been explained better was the taking of dusker technology by the future human inhabitants of the world.  The end of the book makes it sound as if Gene and Sissy can recreate what they saw in the metropolis and palace, but we are never given any evidence that they have this capability.  We are also not given an explanation for why it took so long for the human race to develop these technologies, long after Gene and Sissy would be dead.  I would also have liked a more definite end to the story arc of Gene’s father.  It is hinted at the end that he committed suicide after learning about the secret of what he had discovered about his species, but we are never given anything factual.  However, these issues with the story’s credibility did not impede my enjoyment of the book.  The intensity of everything happening and the ability of the writer to make me care about these characters made it very enjoyable.

A new student review of The Mourning Emporium by michelle Lovric

jotaf posted a new student review of The Mourning Emporium by michelle Lovric. See the full review.

I thought The Mourning Emporium was a good book filled with adventure and magic.  The characters were well-developed and almost seemed like they could be real.  One thing I liked about this book was that it started with a quick half-page summary of book one. For those who hadn't read it, it also explained other parts from book one when needed during book two.  A part I liked in the book was when, after the ice flood, Lorenzo knew that he wouldn’t be able to get flowers for his mother’s funeral.  Instead, he carved and painted wooden violets to use.  The author, Michelle Lovric, kept the action going throughout the book, and I didn‘t want to put it down.  I would recommend The Mourning Emporium to ages eleven through sixteen.

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

A new student review of Trailing Tennessee by Cory Wheeler Mimms

muffin posted a new student review of Trailing Tennessee by Cory Wheeler Mimms. See the full review.

While reading this book I learned a great deal about the Appalachian mountains.  The hiking is difficult and dangerous.  Mother nature tries to stop Eli with lightning, rain, landslides and more.  The book moves at a fast pace with many action scenes that leave you anxious to find out if he makes it out alive.  Mimms does a good job creating a connection between Eli's character and the reader.  Eli’s determination to live up to the Sutton legacy is admirable.  You can’t help but root for him to complete his quest.         

 

Monday, December 22, 2014

A new student review of River of Peril by Susan K. Marlow

moseso posted a new student review of River of Peril by Susan K. Marlow. See the full review.

River of Peril is attention grabbing and it’s hard to put the book down! The author does an excellent job of describing events. She makes if feel as if you were in the book, living the adventure for yourself. Jem and Ellie are the main characters. Jem is Ellie’s older brother. It is easy to imagine them as real characters because of the vivid pictures the author creates. This book would be most enjoyed by nine to twelve year olds. Even though it is a historical book, it does not yield much information about the time period it is set in. However, the plot is simple to understand and makes it a page turner. River of Peril is one book you should read! 

Friday, December 19, 2014

A new student review of The Lucky Ones: A Bright Young Things Novel by Anna Godbersen

123evae123 posted a new student review of The Lucky Ones: A Bright Young Things Novel by Anna Godbersen. See the full review.

This book was so good. With a great undercurrent of danger and suspense and romance this book was a perfect historical fiction novel in my opinion. Using two small town girls from Ohio as some of the main characters was such a glorious way to write this fairytale of a story. These girls traveled to New York, and gained fame and fortune, but not without hardships and downfalls. The author uses the glitz and glamour of New York in the 1920's to create a story full of intrigue and mystery. These girls are a romantisized version of a fantasy that has been written time and time again, with something that sets them apart from the rest of the books about the 20's. The way that you were drawn into their lives and their stories made me never want to put this book down, I wanted it to never end, and that's why I think it deserves a five star rating, because even though I was disappointed it ended, I could not have been happier with the way it ended, or the way it began, or everything in between.

A new student review of Break Out

AnimeLover posted a new student review of Break Out . See the full review.

 This book is for people who are new to romance novels. If you want a book with more romance than action this book is for you.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

A new student review of The Beast of Seabourne by Rhys A. Jones

nictaf posted a new student review of The Beast of Seabourne by Rhys A. Jones. See the full review.

The Beast of Seabourne was an amazing read, just as exciting as the first book.  One of the reasons this was such an amazing read was because the author’s descriptions were so clear.  For example, the author, Rhys A. Jones, wrote “Oz felt his scalp contract at remembering when he’d last been in this room...”  The characters felt both well written and believable, and the characters were realistic.  I would recommend reading book one first, but unlike some stories, if you haven’t read book one, you would have a smaller chance of being lost.  This book is for all ages, so enjoy the story.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

A new student review of The Obsidian Pebble by Rhys A. Jones

nictaf posted a new student review of The Obsidian Pebble by Rhys A. Jones. See the full review.

Rhys A. Jones did a wonderful job on The Obsidian Pebble.  The book was well written and very believable.  The characters were realistic.  For example, Oz hates math, but would rather do double math for a year than move from his house. The author is British, so a small word list was included for translations, for words like 'hoovering', and 'chemist shop'.  This story uses an 11 year old perspective, which made me feel like I was a part of the story.   This book was so good that I am highly anticipating book two.  It was an unforgettable experience.  I would recommend this book for kids who love mysteries and humor.  
 

Monday, December 15, 2014

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

Alyssakb99 posted a new student review of Life, Love, and Surviving High School by Ann Herrick. See the full review.

I think this book is good. It has grammatical errors, and I was confused on some parts through the story. I feel that the author needed to plan it out a little better so the reader is not so confused. But overall, it's a good book that can be relatable to high school girls.

A new student review of Cheesie Mack Is Sort Of Freaked Out by Steve Cotler

LegoLover posted a new student review of Cheesie Mack Is Sort Of Freaked Out by Steve Cotler. See the full review.

In Cheesie Mack is Sort of Freaked Out, Cheesie is getting ready for Halloween, and a massive Halloween prank called Plan It, you can find out what it’s going to be about.  With a friend of Cheesie’s brags about the candy he thinks he’ll collect.  His bragging soon leads to an all-out Candy Collecting Contest, with several tricks and tons of treats.  One of them is that a giant reptile, possibly the missing Galapagos Turtle of the science teacher, is roaming the streets.  This book is easily one of Cheesie’s best and is filled with his silly twists on reality!