A new student review of Second Thoughts by Cara Bertrand

Lucy posted a new student review of Second Thoughts by Cara Bertrand. See the full review.

Second Thoughts is an okay book. It had a good plot and a good storyline, but it just wasn't something that I was completely interested in. I was able to guess and predict what happened next in the story. It was too simple and easy and wasn't very mysterious enough to me for me to love the book. I would recomend it to someone if they are into the paranormal romance, but to me it wasn't really the best book ever.

A new student review of The Garden of Darkness by Gillian Murray Kendall

jotaf posted a new student review of The Garden of Darkness by Gillian Murray Kendall. See the full review.

I think The Garden of Darkness was a good book full of suspense and mystery.  The author, Gillian Murray Kendall, wrote a reasonably believable story about a post-apocalyptic world. One of the things I liked about it was that the characters felt like they could easily be real.  An instance that I liked from the book was when Clare found Jem, Mirri, and Sarai.  Together they scavenged a bunch of cool items from the city and discovered some useful information along the way.  One thing I didn't like, though, was that it was pretty confusing at the beginning and ending, which at times made it really tough to understand.  It is also slightly creepy with mention of cults and a serial killer.  I would recommend this book to ages thirteen through seventeen because of the content's maturity level.

A new student review of Fig

afarrell posted a new student review of Fig . See the full review.

I thought that this book was very interesting. Especially reading from Fig's perspective throughout out her life until she's nineteen. You see how her life is effected and how it changes her reality and imagination, and her interactions with society.  I loved how you get a inside look on how mental illness effects a family and persons life.

A new student review of Stella by Starlight

Star360 posted a new student review of Stella by Starlight . See the full review.

Stella by Starlight is a fantastic introduction for young readers to segregation in the American South. The main character, Stella Mills, is a brave, inquisitive girl who observes the harsh events going on with an age-appropriate sense of justice. Her occasional flaws in school and uncertainties make her accessible to readers. Stella’s close-knit African-American community is portrayed with vivid detail, from the descriptions of the kids running barefoot to the many classic foods (fried chicken, anyone?). Real events, like the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt, are smoothly twined into the plot to keep younger readers engaged. Charming chapters that are just Stella’s “reporting” and homework assignments use different fonts that feels realistic. As for the novel as a whole, it tackles the issues of racism with suitable tact, but it delves into violence in order for readers to understand how awful life could get for groups being discriminated against. To get entertained with a smart, fast-moving plot and learn some history to boot, read Stella by Starlight.

A new student review of Fish in the Sky by Fridrik Erlings

AKFeldman posted a new student review of Fish in the Sky by Fridrik Erlings. See the full review.

Fish in the Sky is composed of beautiful sentences. Descriptions of expansive countryside, dialogue, and introspection create variety in the prose. Although Fish in the Sky is elegantly written, I felt it sometimes rambled for a bit too long and focused heavily on Josh’s maturity, which seemed forced for a thirteen-year old. I enjoyed Fish in the Sky, and would recommend it to anyone interested in an unusual appreciation of a teenage boy’s mind. 

A new student review of CAMP UTOPIA & THE FORGIVENESS DIET by Jenny Ruden

ljos1006 posted a new student review of CAMP UTOPIA & THE FORGIVENESS DIET by Jenny Ruden. See the full review.

This book is kind of offensive, it has fat jokes in it. However, it also shows how Beth overcomes her obstacles. Sometime she loses trust in herself, but regains it again. I gave this book a 3 star rating because it might be offensive to some people and it isn't the best thing i've read in my life.

A new student review of Palace of Lies

Star360 posted a new student review of Palace of Lies . See the full review.

Put simply, I was not disappointed by Palace of Lies! Haddix’s latest novel builds the story of Princess Desmia, a supporting character in Palace of Mirrors. I enjoyed watching how she grew from being constantly skeptical to learning to accept friendship. There is a lively cast of characters that expands gradually to encompass nearly all social classes of the royal kingdoms. Major characters from the series, like Ella, Jed, and Cecilia, make appearances. Of course, so do the villains – evil Lord Throckmorton and crafty Madame Bissel can’t seem to stop grabbing for power. However, a brief recap at the beginning of the book ensures that readers don’t have to start the series in sequential order to understand the plot. The story flows well from those books, but each read is an exciting new adventure with a different princess in the spotlight. The imagery used for the multiple settings and the varied clothing described really helps the reader sink into this royal tale. Many pages of verbal battling plus a dash of phyical fighting adds drama. Palace of Lies is a wonderful read for girls ten and up who love princesses, palace intrigue, and adventure!

A new student review of Eden West

JesusFreak posted a new student review of Eden West . See the full review.

                 When I requested this book for review, I was both intrigued and a bit wary.  Good cult-based books are hard to find, especially when they’re from the cult’s perspective.  I thought that Pete Hautman did an excellent job at portraying a cult.  Throughout the entire book, I was intrigued to learn about the cult and what they thought was the truth.  The main character, Jacob, was an interesting main character.  He wasn’t the average hero like most main characters are in books.  It was a nice breath of fresh air.

                Another thing I loved about this book was the simple yet captivating cover art.  The red on the bottom is a great contrast to the white on the top.

                The only complaint I have about this book is that in places it was a bit slow.  Shortening of description might have helped speed up things a bit more.

                All in all, Eden West is a beautifully written book that tells the way of life when living in a cult.

A new student review of The Counterfeit Father by PV Lundqvist

RockinR4 posted a new student review of The Counterfeit Father by PV Lundqvist. See the full review.

This book was a blast to read! From the first sentence, I was hooked. It was one of the funniest action-packed mysteries I've ever read! I hope this book becomes a series, because I'd love to know all the other adventures Tony experiences. Thanks PV Lundqvist for an awesome read and to LitPick for allowing me the opportunity to review the story!!

This story was so very close to a 5 star rating, but I felt compelled to give it only 4 stars because, in my opinion, it needed more information about the trust.  Knowing exactly what the trust was and why or how it could affect him so drastically would have made this story easier to follow, comprehend, and much more intense.  With that info included, this would have easily been one of the top 5 books on my "Best Ever Read" list !!  Still a great book nonetheless.  

A new student review of The Incredible Space Raiders From Space

O.B. WAN posted a new student review of The Incredible Space Raiders From Space . See the full review.

This book was EPIC! This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. It has adventure, comedy, and not much romance. My favorite part is when Jonah and another Space Raider encounter the Shrieker for the first time. I would recommend this book to boys age 6-10.