A new student review of Alfred C. Bogeyman by M. Allman

Champion721 posted a new student review of Alfred C. Bogeyman by M. Allman. See the full review.

It is always good to see a character that is willing to take risks to protect others, so I enjoyed reading this short story for how it portrays its characters. Their plan to catch the person who is scaring Sam is a bit silly, and at times not realistic. But I do enjoy seeing the effort they put into reaching their goal. There was some suspense, which was also a good thing. The ending was interesting, so I was satisfied when I finished the short story.

A new student review of The Bunker Diary

crabby posted a new student review of The Bunker Diary . See the full review.

Linus’ narrative makes for a gripping page-turner from the very start. The effectively crafted atmosphere of suspense is maintained throughout the novel, fearful tension saturating every page as Linus struggles to hold onto his sanity, even when his hopes are repeatedly crushed. The Lord of the Flies-esque scenario that develops within the bunker is a clever examination of the human condition, seen through the eyes of an endearing but troubled teenage boy with an authentic voice. Although, while the bunker is merely an intriguing backdrop for a primarily character-driven story, I still found myself disappointed with the lack of resolution in the plot, which was, until the end, building toward a promising climax— a climax that never really happened. The outcome of the story is implied, but the puzzle built throughout the novel is never actually solved. What was a tantalizing mystery was left disappointingly murky, the identity and motives of Linus’ kidnapper remaining unknown. Perhaps this ambiguity was a part of the message that happy endings are unrealistic, but all the loose ends could have been wrapped up much more soundly while still retaining the same impact. Buckle up for a harrowing, fascinating journey— but don’t hold your breath for an exciting conclusion.

 

 

A new student review of Like Water on Stone

Star360 posted a new student review of Like Water on Stone . See the full review.

With the publishing market full of heroic World War I novels that center on England or America, I was very glad to read such a wonderful novel that told the story of the Armenians’ plight. Equally horrible to genocides like the Holocaust, it is a time period in history that deserves more exposure. Dana Walrath’s Like Water on Stone uses four perspectives to give readers a rounded view. That may seem complicated to keep up with, but each distinct voice builds upon the other to create an intricate tapestry. Shahen, Sosi, Mariam, and the eagle, Ardziv, combine vivid threads of youth, maturity, and innocence. The author’s lyrical verse is at once raw and enchanting. It expresses action, dialogue, and thoughts. While free-form, it follows a distinct pattern that binds the story together. Readers not accustomed to reading novels in verse should not give up, as it gets easier to read after a few pages. Symbolism and figurative language are used with a practiced hand, so it is not flowery or overdramatic. There is a mild fantasy element as the eagle follows the children and protects them. I found it intriguing to have a “bird’s eye view” perspective of the complex situation. Like Water on Stone provides a deeply memorable tale of family and freedom best for readers ages thirteen and up.

A new student review of The Shadow Lantern by Teresa Flavin

Ravette posted a new student review of The Shadow Lantern by Teresa Flavin. See the full review.

The amount of detail in this novel was truly astounding. I struggle to find the appropriate words to describe how the Shadowlands from the painted slides and Arcadia from The Marineer's Return to Arcadia actually combined into one "thing." More or less, it was like trying to make sense out of Wonderland. Despite that, I loved the way the story played out. Even more so, I enjoyed Marin and Angus's reappearances; which were unexpected, but pleasing all the same. An even more shocking detail was the reappearance of Lady Ishbel, who had died in the second novel after leaving the labyrinth. She had "reappeared" as a spirit that haunted Sunni for a short time before returning inside the painting. As an added bonus, there was even a little romance between Sunni and Blaise; which I thought was, for lack of a better word, adorable. All in all, I enjoyed this novel to the fullest and I highly recommend the series to anyone interested in art, magic, and adventure.

A new student review of Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer by William Summerhouse

cbill6 posted a new student review of Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer by William Summerhouse. See the full review.

 When I started this book I found it very slow and lacking action in the beginning then towards the middle I started getting sucked in and found it fast and interesting, with the outcome a total surprise. This action-packed novel is amazing when it comes to the wild exploration of epic proportions and bear/wolf things (yes they’re called bearwolves). Oh and for the answer to the question on the back cover in the publishers summary: Flimps are Flimps. Yes I believe this book is interesting, and amazing but the cover ( Don’t judge it BY  the cover) portrays Orion as a 15 year old boy who is strikingly similar looking to yes, Justin Bieber. I suggest this book to anyone who is adjusted to reading violent books, with an age limit of 12 and up.

A new student review of Autumn Falls

Peace8747 posted a new student review of Autumn Falls . See the full review.

I thought it was a very good book! I loved how it kept me reading. The reason why I kept reading was that I wanted to find out what would happen with Reenzie and Autumn. I also could relate to some of the things that happened in the book. That is always a good atribute of a book! 

A new student review of Now That You're Here

alison_S posted a new student review of Now That You're Here . See the full review.

Let's get something straight: I don't like science. Science fiction? Yes. But science class? That's a different story. Yet throughout Now That You're Here, Nichols expertly blends science fiction with, well, actual science, and I (shockingly) found myself enjoying both. Though these gems of quintessential geekiness— think quantum theory, vintage sci-fi, and classic Star Trek— imbue the novel with a (charming) nerdiness, Now That You're Here centers on relationships, more than on research or academia. The romance between Danny and Eevee, for example, motivates most of the characters' decisions, and this unexpected-yet-unforgettable courtship enhances the novel's otherwise predictable premise with a much-needed emotional subplot. But while the Danny-Eevee romance is sure to enchant any teenage girl, Danny's almost-immediate fascination with Eevee does, at times, seem calculated for swoony-ness rather than realism. Then again, I suppose the whole from-a-different-universe thing would excite my interest too.

But Now That You're Here transcends your run-of-the-mill romance novel; while I couldn't help but enjoy Danny and Eevee's storybook romance, Eevee's ever-changing relationship with herself lent the novel an element of psychological complexity not found in more superficial YA romances. Though Danny's parallel world struck me as a tad generic, I still enjoyed Now That You're Here's heartwarming character relationships and charming geekiness.

A new student review of The Prey by Andrew Fukuda

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

One of the most important things that a book needs to do is to bring the reader into the story mentally and make them really care about what happens in it.  This is especially important in a series as the book also has the job of getting the reader excited for the next book.  This book most definitely does that, for me at least.  The right word to describe this book is "intense!" I felt like I needed to rest after reading it and I became so invested in it.  I felt legitimate fear for the characters as they continually faced certain death and became exhausted from their efforts.  In this book we learn more about the bloodthirsty creatures, and also get a name for them: "duskers."  The story of these creatures and their development over the years really intrigues me.  Fukada leaves the reader wondering whether or not the story told about their origin is the truth in a plausible way, which I see as a good thing because it gets me hyped for the next book. The scene near the end, where Sissy is bitten by Ashley June, really got to me.  For me it is probably the most intense moment in the book.  Yet it also raises more questions, which I love.  How did Ashley June get out of the chamber? How did she get bitten? How was she able to get away when surrounded by duskers to have enough time to transform?  It also makes me love her character more, because she's so loyal and strong, but also has a soft side which she is able to transform into another strong point. 

Another great thing about this book was that the danger in it seemed really threatening because it shows the victims of the danger.   One of these victims was a character that the other characters had a strong relationship with.  Too often I find books in which the danger the characters are in doesn’t seem real, because every character gets out just fine.  When reading the ending to this book I became so excited my heart sped up.  I also love that the book was not overly vulgar in any way when there were plenty of opportunities to be vulgar.  It adds more emphasis on the importance of the story.  A pet peeve of mine is that some teen books think they need to be overly vulgar or sexual in order to appeal to teens, which isn’t the case.  It may be for some teens but not the kind you probably want your target audience to be.  This book is not for the faint of heart.  I would recommend it to fans of books such as The Hunger Games, or books which take place on a different version of earth.  These types of books explore threats not experienced in our current world and are able to explore these threats in a convincing way so that we can understand what the situation feels like.

A new student review of Take Me On by Katie McGarry

Lucy posted a new student review of Take Me On by Katie McGarry. See the full review.

Take Me On is a really amazing book that I would recommend for anyone who is interested in high school romances. It has some foul language, but other than that, I believe it is an amazing book. In fact, I absolutely adored the book. I plan on reading all of Katie McGarry's other books that I can find. She’s an amazing writer!

 

A new student review of Running Out of Night

natblue17 posted a new student review of Running Out of Night . See the full review.

I liked the groing friendship that developes between Lark and Zenobia on their journey.  I also loved the added suspense and problems evovling in each chapter.  I really liked the proverbs at the beginning of each chapter foreshadowing the chapter.  

I didn't like how little information of Zenobia we are told.  The author tells that she is separated from her family but she is an important character and I would like to know more about her. The author writes this book in Lark's point of view and she hasn't had proper education so it is often confusing and distracting with all the improper grammar.