A new student review of Suspicion

123evae123 posted a new student review of Suspicion . See the full review.

I was a little dissapointed with this book. The story and the plot were rushed, and we barely ever get to see Imogene's character devenlopment as far as her powers go. Plus she crushes on her dead cousins boyfriend, and expects him to like her back (which *spoiler alert* of course he does because who doesn't love the female protagonist). The book was too fast paced, should have been longer and had more plot and character development, and my biggest pet peeve of this book was everyone was okay with Imogene going to England by herself at 17 years old. Her foster parents were against it at first but after promising to skype everyday (which they didn't do) the were super okay with Imogene going back to the place where her entire family had died violently. All in all, two stars was all this book deserved (it got an extra star for having a very very beautiful cover)

 

A new student review of Halfway Home: Drawing My Way Through Japan by Christine Mari Inzer

milesstriker posted a new student review of Halfway Home: Drawing My Way Through Japan by Christine Mari Inzer. See the full review.

This is a wonderful book and I recommend it to all frequent readers.

A new student review of Hetty and the Yeti by Jules Burnett

Sweetfable posted a new student review of Hetty and the Yeti by Jules Burnett. See the full review.

The best part of the book for me was how everything was presented. I liked how certain words were bolded or in italics to emphasize them. To add to the experience of reading, there are many illustrations that show how the characters look, which is really helpful. At the beginning of each chapter is an old Tibetan saying, which was also a nice touch. The overall style of the book was very interesting, and I definitely enjoy reading books like this.

As for the story itself, it was funny at certain points, but never really got too deep into the story, and even when things got tense it never became too scary. The length of the book is really nice for younger readers, who may still want some illustrations to help give context to descriptions given. One critique of mine is that some parts of the story were pretty predictable. But overall the book was a very nice read.

A new student review of Seraphina

jotaf posted a new student review of Seraphina . See the full review.

I think Seraphina is a great book that is worthy of its many awards and praise.  I especially liked that the author, Rachel Hartman, made the characters, and even the world they live in, seem believable.  Something else I loved about the book was, because there was a gap between the prologue and the rest of the story, Rachel added an excerpt at the end that kind of filled in the gap.  Pretty much the only thing wrong for me was that it got off to a slightly confusing start, but after not even ten pages it picked up considerably.  I am eagerly awaiting the day I read book two of this series.  I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mystery, action, and suspense, yet can still take some bad words and a little bit of death.  If you like The Inheritance Series, I really think that this book is also for you.

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!