A new student review of Azalea, Unschooled by Liza Kleinman

GlowElm posted a new student review of Azalea, Unschooled by Liza Kleinman. See the full review.

Though this was a really fun read, I really wasn't expecting it to be about a girl doing detective work. From the summary provided, you would guess it would be more about her experience as an unschooler, and her internal and external struggles with moving so much and feeling constantly uprooted. Written in first person, this book clearly represents Azalea's feelings, and it is easy to vizualize her situation and her friends and family.

I reccomend this novel for readers between 8-12 who enjoy books centered around a female character, who like detective work and a fun plot, or who simply want to find out more about unschooling.

 

A new student review of Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott

Lucy posted a new student review of Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott. See the full review.

I LOVE Heartbeat, it’s an amazing book. I found the book really touching and loving. Emma’s life was something I could relate to, along with many of the other characters. I thought this book had some familar stories that happen in everyday life--like her relationship with her parents, how she hates her father, and how her mother is no longer with her. I found nothing bad about the book, and I would recommended it to any one of my friends. It was truly an awesome book. There wasn't that much romance, but it was more based on Emma and her family problems than her love life.

A new student review of Nooks & Crannies

WeasleysWizardWheezes posted a new student review of Nooks & Crannies . See the full review.

In this book you never know what will happen. It is full of secrets and things you can never expect. It is one of the best books I have ever read. When you first start you first think that this is a cheesy "Mary sue" type book with a boring main character. After you get a few chapters in you relize that this book has more to it then you initiallly think. There is a riviting mystery laying under a otherwise pretty innocent plot line. It is a fantasically written book with a great mystery.

A new student review of Canyon of Danger (Goldtown Adventures) by Susan Marlow

moseso posted a new student review of Canyon of Danger (Goldtown Adventures) by Susan Marlow. See the full review.

Set in 1864, Goldtown, California, Jem Coulter, who is the main character, displays determination, bravery, and stubbornness in the ever suspenseful book of Canyon Danger. This novel keeps the reader wondering what will happen until the end. Action, suspense, and mystery make this book hard to put down! The climax unfortunately suffers from an abrupt end; it could have been drawn out more by the author. Canyon of Danger is a fascinating and thrilling book filled with one surprising event after another that all will enjoy. It is most appropriate for 9-12 year olds. 

A new student review of Gray Zone by Veronica R. Tabares

Lucy posted a new student review of Gray Zone by Veronica R. Tabares. See the full review.

I really enjoyed Gray Zone; it showed the effects of bullying on students and the factors that can lead to it. The book gave the reader many reasons to stand up for others who are being bullied. It showed how difficult life can be for those experiencing cyberbullying. I recommend that readers interested in the impact of bullying or anyone experiencing bullying themselves read this book. 

 

I appreciated the story’s message of strength for those experiencing bullying.

 

A new student review of Love Spell by Mia Kerick

VBat posted a new student review of Love Spell by Mia Kerick. See the full review.

Love Spell is a fast read that covers meaningful lessons on the importance of individuality, the value of quality friendships, and the necessity of putting hard work into relationships. Chance and Jazz have complicated family backstories and individual quirks that make them relatable and likable characters, and the inclusion of Chance’s struggle with gender identity allows the book to separate itself from typical high school romances. Love Spell is written just as flamboyantly as Chance is portrayed, and the stylistic choices make the book memorable.

However, I feel there is a disconnect between the content of the book and the audience the book is trying to reach. The consistent use of pop culture slang, including the term “cray-cray,” and the use of hashtags in sentences seem more suited to younger, middle-school aged readers, but the sexual references and language are definitely meant for an older demographic. Chance’s behavior and thoughts would also be much more at home in a middle school, rather than a high school, setting. 

I would recommend Love Spell to mature middle schoolers with parental approval, who enjoy quirky realistic fiction and teen romances.

 

A new student review of End of Days (Penryn & the End of Days Series)

JesusFreak posted a new student review of End of Days (Penryn & the End of Days Series) . See the full review.

The first word that comes to mind when I think about this book: WOW

This book is the perfect finale to the series. It is fast-paced throughout the entire book, and I never once got bored. Penryn becomes even more badass than before, and her monologue is entertaining to read. One of the things that I love about this book is how the author describes the apocalyptic creatures. They sound creepy and amazing, and I could picture them in my head perfectly.

My favorite characters were Raffe and Penryn. Their relationship was beautifully written and I loved reading the scenes that they were in together.

The only complaint I have is that the end of the book seemed rushed. If the book had been maybe two or three chapters longer, I think it would have flowed a bit better.

Susan Ee really outdid herself in this final book. If she ever writes any other books, I will definitely check them out.

A new student review of Give It Up

litzxy_101 posted a new student review of Give It Up . See the full review.

The book Give It Up is a supreme first-class story. It is like no other book I have ever read before because it shows a beneficial  lesson to any person reading it. It's important for everyone to treat each other with respect. I feel the author did a great job describing each character and their personality traits. My favorite character is Willow because she had a wonderful personality and never gave up. I found it interesting that when I started reading this book, I did not like it because it really didn't grab my attention but the more I kept reading, the more I found myself really liking the story. On a scale of one (lowest) to five (highest), I would rate it a five because it's a one-of-a-kind book that's hard to put down!

A new student review of Spirits of Ash and Foam by Greg Weisman

Kay Kay posted a new student review of Spirits of Ash and Foam by Greg Weisman. See the full review.

"Spirits of Ash and Foam" was interesting, adventurous, and obscure. However, I was not intrigued by the book. There were too many things happening at one time. I got lost in the many different chapters, which made the book confusing. One chapter would be about Rain and her friends, the next about Callahan and detectives. I suggest "Spirits of Ash and Foam" to readers who love adventure and mystical fantasies, but not daunted by complicated story lines.

A new student review of The Obsidian Pebble by Rhys A. Jones

Debbielynn12 posted a new student review of The Obsidian Pebble by Rhys A. Jones. See the full review.

I liked this book because it was exciting with lots of mystery. The author added great details, especially when describing a person .For example a character may have short, brown, thick, flowy, straight hair. It helped me visualize each character and setting, as the story progressed. But the story wasn't perfect. It was really slow on getting to the point. Like the part where Oz was finding the obsidian pebble in his dads study, it took a lot of chapters to get to it. In conclusion, I would suggest this book to kids, teens, or anyone who is looking for a lot of mystery.