A new student review of Rockin' the Boat: 50 Iconic Revolutionaries by Jeff Fleischer

Star360 posted a new student review of Rockin' the Boat: 50 Iconic Revolutionaries by Jeff Fleischer. See the full review.

As a history buff, I loved Rockin’ the Boat! The book is divided into fifty three to five page chapters, one for every revolutionary. I was unsure of how much information I would really get out of such few pages, but I was impressed by how wide the scope was. Fleischer was able to get from cradle to grave (or present, in Castro’s case) and convince the reader that the person was truly revolutionary. Little side notes provide fun facts, and pictures or paintings show the reader what the famous figures looked like. It would have been nice for the pictures to be in color and not black and white, but that’s just a personal preference. 

 

The people highlighted in this easy-to-read book come from all over the world – the United States and Great Britain to Russia and Turkey. It gives readers a good, rounded perspective about revolutions. I was also pleased to see that women also made the cut! Harriet Tubman, Boudica, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (one of may favorite icons) all make an appearance. 

The author makes sure to banish any stereotypes or misconceptions about the people, and does his best to set the record straight. For example, William Wallace of Braveheart fame definitely didn’t wear a kilt, but he was actually beheaded and quartered.

 

After reading Rockin’ the Boat, scholars young and old will want to check out a few more books about the intriguing characters. I know that I want to find out more about New Zealand feminist Kate Sheppard and Catholic zealot Guy Fawkes. I’d recommend this book to people who enjoy learning about amazingly insane, kind, or brave men and women who did not fear change.

A new student review of X: A Novel

vbobrocks posted a new student review of X: A Novel . See the full review.

X: A Novel by Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of Malcolm X, with Kekla Magoon was fascinating, inspiring, and, at the same time, heartwrenching.  The story chronicles Malcolm’s early life and teen years simultaneously and gives the reader insight to the many events that made him who he was.  The transformation from small-town boy to city slicker is one that is sure to keep readers cringing at Malcolm’s questionable decisions, but by the end of the novel, it’s clear that without his experiences, Malcolm wouldn’t have become who he did.  As for the writing, X was a smooth and gripping read, one that will be a hit with readers in junior high, or older for that matter, who are interested in Malcolm X, biographies, the ‘30s and ‘40s, or just want a quality read.

 

A new student review of Summer of Elves by Joanne Vruno

S.Ehlers posted a new student review of Summer of Elves by Joanne Vruno. See the full review.

The Summer of Elves was an amazing book! I was fascinated and intrigued by all of the characters because they were each unique in their own way and not a single character was like the other. I also enjoyed that it was a quick read because it allowed me to focus on how much I was enjoying the book more than focusing on how many pages I had left. In conclusion, Joanne Vruno did an outstanding job writing The Summer of Elves and definitely has a new fan.

 

A new student review of One or Two Things I Learned About Love by Dyan Sheldon

Peace8747 posted a new student review of One or Two Things I Learned About Love by Dyan Sheldon. See the full review.

I thought the book was OK. It was written in diary form so it was kind of hard to understand at times. I also got the feeling that the author ran out of ideas because the relationship dragged on and on. I felt that Hildy should have dumped Connor way back at the beginning. Maybe if there was more of a twist in the plot or something like that, it would make the book way more interesting. I feel that if Hildy worked up her self confidence than she could have dumped Connor. A boyfriend should not make you lose your friends and grow apart from your family.

A new student review of Waiting for a Sign by Esty Schachter

coolcatcarmen13 posted a new student review of Waiting for a Sign by Esty Schachter. See the full review.

I enjoyed every page of Waiting for a Sign. Not only was I fascinated with the endless things I learned about deaf culture, but I also found Shelly to be a very entertaining character. She was wonderfully normal, and I saw a lot of myself in her with her. I related to her trivial struggles in things like cute boys at school as well as the deeper issues of grief and loss. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a sweet, honest story of family, bravery, and triumph.

A new student review of The Year of Chasing Dreams by Lurlene McDaniel

thudson36 posted a new student review of The Year of Chasing Dreams by Lurlene McDaniel. See the full review.

I thought The Year of Chasing Dreams by Lurlene McDaniel was an overall good book. Although it isn’t necessary, I would recommend reading the companion novel, The Year of Luminous Love, before reading this book. I didn’t read it beforehand, so I got confused at the beginning about the relationships between characters, but I soon caught on. The main character, Ciana, is a strong female protagonist who is very likable. It moved along at a nice pace, and I liked how it was spanned over a long period of time. I enjoyed how there were multiple subplots and stories within the overall storyline. Overall, I thought this novel was a nice love story that dealt with family and relationship issues in a realistic way and I would recommend it to others.

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.