I thought The Illuminated Forest was a great book about coping with death and growing up. I liked that the author, Edwin Fontánez made the characters fairly easy to connect with. Another part I both liked and disliked was that part of the book was written from the perspective of the stray cat; it put part of the book in a new and interesting perspective, but it was also sometimes difficult to understand because of the awkward use of language (in its head) by the cat. A part in the book that I thought was really funny was when the owner of the small theatre in Palo Verde played The Graduate, but the owner did not read the description of the movie. Being ignorant of the inappropriateness of the movie, she advertised it as, "An inspiration for kids to graduate!" Her advertisement got lots of families with kids to come see the movie. The next day all of the parents of the families that saw the movie were pounding on her door for what she accidentally did.
One thing I did not like about the book, though, was that at the beginning it jumped quite a bit, starting with Mateo being fifteen, then Mateo being twelve, and then it jumped to a six year old girl, and after that, to an Indian tribe that used to live in Palo Verde. Finally, though, it settled on twelve year old Mateo. The other thing I disliked about this book was that it got a little dull at parts of the book and it took a little while for the book to get going again. I think this book would be most enjoyed by anyone ages twelve through sixteen.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
A new student review of The Illuminated Forest by Edwin Fontánez
A new student review of The Bullies of Wall Street
I think this book was very nice. It shows how somebody’s greed can and does affect a nation. The stories from different kids’ points of view were enjoyable. I liked them because it’s easier to relate to something that someone your age has gone through. The information that I read in this book has helped me understand many different topics that I haven’t even thought about before. I like the bright color on the cover. It seemed to be made to attract attention. It certainly attracted mine! I think this book is great for teens that have heard about the 2008 economy crash and want to learn more as well as those who haven’t. I recommend this book for people 12+.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
A new student review of The Silver Cord by Kelly Kevin
From the second I got this book I was thrilled! Normally I do not go for the graphic novels, but I thought I would give it a try, and it is safe to say I will be picking more up. This book’s pictures were absolutely gorgeous, and the story brought me on a thrill ride, where i could not stop reading, even when I knew I had to go to bed. This book is the book that MUST be read in one sitting, otherwise you might go crazy not knowing what happens next. The time it took to create this book was astounding, 10 years, that is dedication. But as evident the end result was worth it. I highly recommend this book for people looking for a something new to brighten and liven up the day!
Sunday, March 08, 2015
A new student review of Scripted by Maya Rock
Rock never lets background info bog down the plot, yet Scripted still managed to immerse me in the Blissful Days subculture. Through Island-specific words ("camperf", "fralling") and vivid figurative language ("What if Callen were with me, watching the jellyfish, their transparent, filmy skins undulating through the water like silk scarves fluttering in the air?"), Rock crafts a rich, superbly-developed dystopia while maintaining an engaging, if not exactly breakneck, progression of internal and external conflicts. Although Rock endows nearly every major character with internal, as well as external, plotlines, I would've appreciated more emphasis on Lia's subplot. Lia seems to undergo personal growth, yet her subplot never amounts to the hopeful, satisfying turnaround she and— readers— deserve. Nevertheless, Scripted remains a fresh, gratifying read sure to charm fans of The Truman Show, Lois Lowry's The Giver, or Veronica Roth's Divergent.
Saturday, March 07, 2015
A new student review of Leo's Lion
This is a very good book because of the many adventures Leo and his uncle take, including their buggy ride to Leonardo's house and a meeting with a stone carver. I like how Leo completely changes his mindset in the story; he goes from annoyed at being there to excited at what is to come next. The plot's set up is amazing, the events flow right into each other. You never know what’s going to happen next or what trouble they are going to get into. Uncle Leonardo is a bit unpredictable at times and you never know what’s going to come out of his decisions. I would recommend this book to almost everyone.
A new student review of Orion Poe and the Lost Explorer by William Summerhouse
A reader should be warned that this book has a few derogatory words in it, but not awful enough to downplay the excitement of the plot. They are easy to overlook, but the author could have left out many of them without changing the story. Orion, who is the main character, is forced to be brave and fearless in this whirlwind of adventure. Once the crew is compelled to try and survive on a rough and harsh terrain, it takes every ounce of bravery to stay alive. Mysterious things begin to occur and sadly, a few men meet death. Boys ages 11-13 would enjoy this book most. As a girl, the blood and gore was a distraction to the plot. Setting aside the critical and slightly offensive words, this book will definitely capture your attention with cliff-hangers, action, excitement, and more!
Thursday, March 05, 2015
A new student review of Earth Star by Janet Edwards
You know when you can't put down a book? When you are so immersed into the words that you aren't even conscious of reading? You feel you are there. I think that this book is one that defines that description. The author was very detailed, and I could picture everything and feel as though I was the characters.
A new student review of The First Principle by Marissa Shrock
The YA market is flooded with dystopias and sci-fi worlds, but The First Principle has tackled an issue not found in others: teenage pregnancy. It’s more realistic than child gladiators (The Hunger Games) or giant labyrinths (The Maze Runner). Its female heroine has no bow and arrow, but Vivica – what a delightful name! – fights a frighteningly realistic battle against her controlling government and against herself. As for her futuristic world, I felt it lacked the exquisite descriptiveness of Harry Potter or Divergent. I was left wondering: What do people dress like? How's the food? What do the buildings look like? Yet it did have the essential information I needed to comprehend Vivica’s plight.
Also, I was thankful that there was no instant love between the characters. Ben and Vivica are introduced after they break up, and readers later learn that they were good friends before taking things further. The fact that they don’t get back together after she finds out she’s pregnant raises an interesting question: Should Vivica have to settle with Ben because of the result of one night? There is a possible love interest between Drake and Vivica that would be interesting to read about, but I’m glad that this book focused on her dealing with her pregnancy. As for the Christian message, it is obvious. Ben gives her a Bible, people pray, and Biblical lines are cited in the text. However, I didn’t feel it was overly "preachy." After all, issues like abortion and familial betrayal are universal. The First Principle would be popular among teen girls who love relatable characters and heart-pounding adventures.
A new student review of Rebellion by Karen Sandler
This is the third book in a series, and I enjoyed it. However, I did have some problems with the writing style. I found it difficult to connect to the characters and the world. It took me about two weeks to finish the book. However, I did enjoy the action that took place. I also thought Sandler did a wonderful job attacking various issues like social class. It was very thought provoking and forces people to look at our own society. I also found the main characters to be enjoyable despite their faults. This book was a good conclusion for the series.
A new student review of Truth and Kisses by Laurie B. Friedman
Truth and Kisses was an easy, cute read. It was both quick and entertaining, as well as a good summer book. I recommend this to anyone who wants a fun read!