A new student review of Lies in the Dust by Jakob Crane

milesstriker posted a new student review of Lies in the Dust by Jakob Crane. See the full review.

This is an amazing book for anyone looking for an adventure. I especially like that the author wasn't too discreet about the topic of death when someone perished.The descriptions of death were blunt and direct. If you are soft in the heart then I think you should stay away from this book. The one problem I had with it was that I felt it was too short. I really wanted to know what happened to Ann after she left. She departed with hopes of peace between the town and the rest of her family. Another suggestion is to make the book in full color instead of black and white. Other than these two things this was one of the best books I have ever read.

A new student review of Fault Lines by Brenda Ortega

thudson36 posted a new student review of Fault Lines by Brenda Ortega. See the full review.

I thought Fault Lines by Brenda Ortega was a great novel. I liked how the chapters alternated between Dani’s past and present, so the reader learned how events in her past affected her actions in the present. Dani, the protagonist, is likeable, realistic, and easy to relate to. The problems Dani struggles with-divorce, friendship, and her emotions-are issues many children and families can relate to.

The plot moves along at a nice pace; I never found myself bored while reading this book. It is a simple story, yet it conveys powerful themes. Themes concerning the struggles of divorce, family issues and friendship are perfectly represented in this story. I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to others.

A new student review of Julius Caesar Brown and the Green Gas Mystery by Ace Hansen

laurenom posted a new student review of Julius Caesar Brown and the Green Gas Mystery by Ace Hansen. See the full review.

I really like the book because it is funny, like when the principal had the green gas.  Julius asked, "Have you been eating Space Pops?" The principal said, "No, and how do you know?"  Julius said, "No reason."  I also liked the book because it has feelings.  You can tell the mom's feelings, Julius' feelings and Mason's feelings even though there aren't any pictures.  You can picture them in you mind.

I don't have any dislikes because I liked the whole book. It had many details.

I would recommend this book to other people because it is entertaining and very funny.  People would like it because it might make them smile or laugh.  It could also set a good mood for them.

A new student review of At All Costs by Patrick Jones Brent Chartier

winner231 posted a new student review of At All Costs by Patrick Jones Brent Chartier. See the full review.

This book's concept and ideas are a great way to tell about major football injuries and how they affect players. The overall detail wasn't that great, and the book would have been better if it was longer and talked about certain moments longer. The analysis of the brain injury, how major it was, and how it devolped as it got worse was good. It would be a pretty good good quick read because it is a shorter book, but isn't the best for more advanced readers.

A new student review of The Confounding Case of the Climate Crisis by Owen Liu

moseso posted a new student review of The Confounding Case of the Climate Crisis by Owen Liu. See the full review.

This book falls under an adventure category, although the plot is tremendously lackluster. Anita and Benson, who are time-travelers, are the main characters. They are asked to journey back into time to learn about climate change. The beginning draws readers in, but leaves them disappointed once the middle is reached. More excitement and cliff-hangers should have been added into this book in order for it to be not dull and dreary. The illustrations are a wonderful addition to The Confounding Case of the Climate Crisis and add a sense of reality. Once the climax occurs, the plot begins to make sense. Unfortunately, this particular book is opinionated and tries to sway the reader to believe what the story is founded on. This book requires readers to understand complex scientific terms and is intended for 11-13 year olds. The Confounding Case of the Climate Crisis is a unexciting book that one should avoid unless climate change research is required or this topic is of interest.              

A new student review of Antale: An Allegory of a World Reborn

JesusFreak posted a new student review of Antale: An Allegory of a World Reborn . See the full review.

Antale: An Allegory of a World Reborn

A new student review of Devin Rhodes Is Dead by Jennifer Wolf Kam

swalia posted a new student review of Devin Rhodes Is Dead by Jennifer Wolf Kam. See the full review.

This book was a fast and enjoyable read. The tone of the book- haunting and intriguing- fit the conflict of the story perfectly. The constant switch from before and after the death was interesting, but at times became a bit annoying because I often got confused about which was present and which was past. I thought the characters were developed nicely, and it was easy to connect to Cass. Overall, this book was a very interesting and fast paced and I would recommend to anybody age 10 and up.

I would rate this a 4-4.5 out 5 stars.

A new student review of Akarnae by Lynette Noni

Katiedid.Break posted a new student review of Akarnae by Lynette Noni. See the full review.

Akarnae was filled with more twists and turns than the library itself, almost always leading to Alex ending up in the Med-Ward. I loved how the author personified the library and gave it such a mysterious personality. I also like the Gift Alex ended up having; it was fitting and will have much to play off in the next book. Noni also created very well rounded characters. Jordan was a personal favorite due to his wit and never-ending sarcasm and joking arrogance. And many characters were not who they seemed, including D.C. Noni’s language really made you feel like you were in Medora watching the plot unfold. The ending was great, it wrapped a lot up in a neat little bow, but it also left a fair amount unanswered. I cannot wait for the next book, Raelia.

Akarnae vaguely reminded me of The Last Dragon Cronicles by Chris D'Lacey. That book also featured an all knowing library and multiple worlds, but there was the added twist of clay dragons that came to life. In case one wants to read a similar book  that is equally epic.

 

A new student review of Regina Shen: Vigilance by Lance Erlick

JesusFreak posted a new student review of Regina Shen: Vigilance by Lance Erlick. See the full review.

This sequel to Regina Shen: Resilience is just as good as the first, if not better.  The book gripped me in the beginning and I never got bored. I was excited to see what would happen to Regina throughout the book.

The cover art, like the last book’s, is amazing. It is simple, yet gripping. The symbol they use on the front cover is also very well-made.

The author does an excellent job at telling this adventurous story, and their description of the post-apocalyptic world that Regina lives in is beautifully executed.

With a great plot that’s sure to keep you entertained, Regina Shen: Vigilance is sure to blow your mind.

A new student review of Disneylanders by Kate Abbott

Sydneylynch posted a new student review of Disneylanders by Kate Abbott. See the full review.

The book started out good. I like how it started sort of with a backstory. It could have used a bit more humor and adventure, though. At points it felt like the author went into too much detail. The author could have also described certain bits more clearly.