A new student review of ElsBeth and the Call of the Castle Ghosties by J Bean Palmer

moseso posted a new student review of ElsBeth and the Call of the Castle Ghosties by J Bean Palmer. See the full review.

ElsBeth and the Call of the Castle Ghosties

A new student review of Oranit || Crossed Lines by Michael Benjamin

JesusFreak posted a new student review of Oranit || Crossed Lines by Michael Benjamin. See the full review.

Oranit | | Crossed Lines 

A new student review of We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach

123evae123 posted a new student review of We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach. See the full review.

The fact that this is his first novel still stuns me. The plot was driven, the dialogue flowed wonderfully, and all of the characters were beautifully portrayed. Their struggles and fears were palpable things that readers could relate to. Despite it being an apocalypse novel, the characters connected in a way that was completely believable. All of the characters struggled with something, be it parents who don't care or parents who care too much. The end of this novel was complex in an unexpected turn of events that leaves readers questioning moral standards and outlooks on life. This book is perfect for any reader, whether it be a more advanced reader who is looking to explore a new genre of literature, or a reluctant reader who is looking for a book where it is easy to maintain interest in the plot. 

A new student review of Vanished in Berlin by Gry Finsnes

JesusFreak posted a new student review of Vanished in Berlin by Gry Finsnes. See the full review.

When I began reading this book, I realized within the first chapter I already liked the main character, Ellen. The choices she made, though hard, weren’t much different from the choices I would have made if I had been in the same position as her. I also appreciated that her and Friedrich’s love for each other was evident, and their romance was believable.

In the beginning I was a bit confused about the timeline. However, as I continued reading, I caught on and understood where the author was going.

I was only disappointed when the book had to end because I was not ready to put it down. I wished the story had gone on for a bit longer and had a few more questions answered, but those answers were left to the imagination of the reader.

Overall, this book is great for those who like historical fiction and romance.

A new student review of Make The Grade by Lesley Schwartz Martin

Queen_Ri posted a new student review of Make The Grade by Lesley Schwartz Martin. See the full review.

"Make the Grade" was a very useful book. I believe I got the book a week before school started. It is more helpful to get the book at least 1 month in advance to help prepare yourself. I used a lot of techniques throughout the book to achieve success throughout the school year. My favorite part of the book were pages 54-57. I really enjoyed that part the most because it told me what to expect from teachers and how to handle them without being disrespectful. I would recommend this book to a student who seems to almost never be prepared and is struggling more than others. It may not be the most exciting book but it will help you out a lot.

 

A new student review of Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton

pavannah posted a new student review of Seeker by Arwen Elys Dayton. See the full review.

To begin, I definitely enjoyed reading this book, however there were some parts that made me cringe, because I mean what cliches do not make people want to look off into the distance with disappointment in their eyes? It was only a cliche because it was a strong woman fighting for her beliefs, with a little love and betrayal thrown in.  But even though there was this cliche in there it was present in a good way, and I am more than thrilled I made this lovely books acquaintance.  The fact that the main character is strong and intelligent made her more relatable and a role model for the readers, because who doesn’t want to be an awesome female warrior?  What I loved most about her as a character was her ability to adapt to the situations presented, and try to find a solution that she truly believed in, and I think this is an admirable trait in anyone.  Throughout the entire novel I was thrilled by the author's skill and devotion to developing the characters into more understanding and respectable people. The plot not only took me on a ride, it brought me on a rollercoaster filled with flips (that at times want to make you get off, but it's too good to stop, and, well, you’re stuck), which I thoroughly enjoyed.  Overall I have to say I was pleased, and will be looking forward to more in the future.

 

A new student review of The Time Hunters (Book 1) by Carl Ashmore

Anjel posted a new student review of The Time Hunters (Book 1) by Carl Ashmore. See the full review.

This book is now my all-time favorite! Blending fantasy, sci-fi and folklore, Carl Ashmore created the perfect setting for all ages. One of my favorite parts was when Becky unknowingly became the Fleece's new guardian. However, my absolute favorite part was when the minotaur turned out to be the friendliest guy. I think the only part I didn’t care for was when I thought Milly was dead and Sabian was an orphan. I would recommend this book to middle schoolers, fantasy and sci-fi lovers and readers who enjoyed Fablehaven by Brandon Mull.

A new student review of My Near-Death Adventures (99% True!)

nictaf posted a new student review of My Near-Death Adventures (99% True!) . See the full review.

My Near-Death Adventures (99% True!) wasn't that good in my opinion. Now on a good note the characters were believable (except Stan) which made this book decent. It finally started to get good maybe 20 pages away from the end. I just didn't like this book because it was too exaggerated (for example, a character said, "I broke my head" when it was really a small cut.) I would recommend this book to ages 7 and up. If you are a fan of Geronimo Stilton, then you will love this book.

A new student review of Spinner by Michael Bowler

Lucy posted a new student review of Spinner by Michael Bowler. See the full review.

I really liked this book; I found it interesting and engaging. I didn't want to put it down, as I was completely absorbed in what would happen next. For this reason, I finished this book quickly. I liked the mystery surrounding Alex's powers. I found his powers very exciting. I felt bad that he didn’t have any friends and was bullied all the time. In addition, the fact that his wheelchair had limited many things in his life didn't seem fair. I would highly recommend this book to my friends. I found it to be an amazing read. The only thing that I had disliked was the inclusion of some offensive language. Overall, I loved this book.

A new student review of CHRISSIE'S RUN by S.A. Mahan

Star360 posted a new student review of CHRISSIE'S RUN by S.A. Mahan. See the full review.

Anyone who watches the news can tell you that public opinion is sharply split on the topic of abortion. Chrissie’s Run joins the conversation by asking, What if abortions were mandatory? Young Chrissie was one-hundred-percent positive that she wanted to keep her baby boy. I admired how she was so willing to leave behind her easy life as a politician’s daughter for a cause that she believed in. Her boyfriend, on the other hand, was a little infuriating. Jason had virtually a cameo, and his few scenes made him less than likable. He didn’t care about the baby and had zero chemistry with Chrissie, so their relationship was not believable to me. A twist at the end may redeem him in some eyes.

 

Chrissie’s journey as a rebel “runner” was filled with allusions to the Bible and Greek mythology, which were fun to catch. It was also packed with vivid action. At one point, Chrissie says mournfully, “So much death,” and I heartily agree. I was surprised at the rate Chrissie’s guides were killed off. For a Christian book, it was rather gruesome. Of course, the violence had an end result, but verbal sparring can also be exciting to read.

 

In regards to Chrissie’s pregnancy and motherhood, I felt that it was underrepresented even though it was a central theme of the novel. When she has the baby, she doesn’t undergo any great change. Little Daniel appears, but as a secondary character. Chrissie is a sweet, strong girl, but I felt she doesn’t act like a mom. In my opinion, the writing made the relationship feel detached, like he was her brother, not her first child! The sudden time jumps made it difficult for the reader to capture emotional growth, yet they kept the story fast-paced.

 

Genre-hopping keeps readers on their toes! I was expecting a Christian book with a dystopian background and it ended up being that as well as sci-fi, survival fiction, and romance. Sci-fi can be a hard genre to blend in, so I applaud the creativity. Chrissie finds love in a hopeless, unexpected place, which adds a touch of sweetness to the novel.

 

Chrissie’s Run is a teen novel that offers more than the boy-meets-girl mix. Fans of thought-provoking novels and strong female characters would like spending a few hours running for a better world with Chrissie.