A new student review of Tommy Black and the Staff of Light by Jake Kerr

mknott posted a new student review of Tommy Black and the Staff of Light by Jake Kerr. See the full review.

I really liked the book! The magic in the book was my favorite part. I loved the magical powers that Tommy learned - they were really cool! My favorite character was Naomi because she is very determined and works really hard. The book started a little slow but after a few chapters it was more fast-paced and exciting. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy and suspense.

A new student review of Angels Club by Courtney Vail

sisto8 posted a new student review of Angels Club by Courtney Vail. See the full review.

I thought this book was cute. I didn't know it was supposed to be for kids younger than 12 when I picked it, but the story turned out pretty good. It had most of the contents of a typical kid book: a perfect kid with a dream and a chance to go with that dream, as well as the sweetest, most desirable ending.  Don't get me wrong, I think these kinds of books are awesome for younger kids who are still trying to find their dream. The main character, Jacinda, was a great example for younger readers to try to follow. She was patient, kind, and did volunteer work in her spare time. The setting of a therapy horse farm was pretty unique. I generally enjoyed the book and recommend it for all horse lovers 8+.

A new student review of The Beast of Cretacea by Todd Strasser

Lainebarnes posted a new student review of The Beast of Cretacea by Todd Strasser. See the full review.

My opinion on The Beast of Cretacea is that the book was awesome. The author, Todd Strasser, was able to get Moby Dick and Avatar into a book that had so much unique quality, that it left me on the edge of my seat and racing to the end of the story. Each chapter provided a new outlook on the world of Cretacea leaving the reader to use his imagination on what would come next. I think it was an amazing book and I would read it over and over again. I also would recommend this book to any young person between the ages of 12-16 who enjoys science fiction. I would not recommend this book to those younger than 12 as there was some pretty harsh language and goriness also. But all in all, I enjoyed the book.

A new student review of The Candy Store by Michele Poague

Lucy posted a new student review of The Candy Store by Michele Poague. See the full review.

The Candy Store

A new student review of Bridge Through Time by Scott Spotson

sisto8 posted a new student review of Bridge Through Time by Scott Spotson. See the full review.

I think the author must have had a ton of fun writing this novel! I certainly enjoyed reading it. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. This book had lots of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat.

I liked how the inventions mentioned in the book sounded so realistic and were carefully described. They didn’t sound like they were made up, even though they were. I enjoyed how each of the characters were introduced, as well as the secrets they each carried. 

The writing technique was fascinating! Everything fit together so perfectly. It felt as if the reader was present in each scene. I recommend this book for anyone aged 12 and up.

A new student review of Billy Sure, Kid Entrepreneur

BookwormCat posted a new student review of Billy Sure, Kid Entrepreneur . See the full review.

It is a great book, with funny parts, suspenseful parts, weird parts, and more cool things. One of my favorite parts is when Billy is showing off the All Ball on TV, he turns the ball into a bowling ball while it is in midair. It was a very funny part.  I would recommend the book to 8-10 year old readers. I really liked the book Billy Sure, Kid Entrepreneur!

 

A new student review of The Candy Store by Michele Poague

Star360 posted a new student review of The Candy Store by Michele Poague. See the full review.

Reading The Candy Store was like savoring a bittersweet chocolate bar that has a surprise twist in flavor at the last bite. The novel was a delicious combination of sci-fi time travel, historical fiction, and romance. I don’t usually like time-travel, since I believe it can come off as cheesy or weird. However, in this case it was a clever way to get a realistic peek into the 1920s, a time glamorized by Jay Gatsby, the main character in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.

 

It was clear that Poague did a lot of research for The Candy Store. Joan Jett, banana clips, and Sony Walkmans gave life to the '80s. The Jazz Age part of the novel, which readers may be less familiar with, was also filled with references that made the story pop! Classic novels like The Age of Innocence, expressions like “the real McCoy,” and descriptions of plain and elegant fashions help readers understand life in the '20s.

 

Jett was a strong character who was a good bridge between the '80s and the '20s. She exuded a rebel, tough-girl image at the beginning, but love from the Watsons helped soften her into a kinder, wiser person. I liked how she retained her can-do attitude and showed real willingness to work and get back to the '80s when she fell into the Dollar Decade. The young Jay and Henry were good reflections of who they would grow up to be. Henry was quite charming, and I can understand why Jett was attracted to him.  He wasn’t eighty when she had a crush on him! Jay was really sweet, and she best exemplified the era. The supporting characters, like Jay’s mom or socialite Abigail, also showed readers important aspects of the times, like the country’s general attitude towards women working or acting.

 

As for the ending – no spoilers, I promise! – it was really unexpected for me. I still enjoyed it, though. When I looked back at the first few chapters, there are some subtle clues that are only clear if you know the end already! I was left with a few questions about the finer points of time travel – did she use a Tardis? a Time-Traveler? a magic peppermint stick? – but nothing that left me too bummed.

 

I highly recommend The Candy Store. It is the perfect novel for teens looking for a story packed with love, friendship, adventure, history, and romance.

A new student review of Supernova (The Star-Crossed Saga Book 2) by Braxton A. Cosby

jotaf posted a new student review of Supernova (The Star-Crossed Saga Book 2) by Braxton A. Cosby. See the full review.

I thought Supernova was a good book full of action, suspense, and adventure. I liked that the author, Braxton A. Cosby, was able to build on the characters that he created in book one. I was able to picture them even more clearly in this book. 

Cosby used vivid descriptions for both the characters and the action. Also, there was even more action in book two than there was in book one, which made it even more exciting.

A part in the book that I liked was when a huge battle happened near the end. I can't tell you any details, though, or I would spoil the ending. Something I didn't like about this book was that the story seemed to drag on in some parts. I would recommend this book to anyone who liked book one of The Star-Crossed Saga, or who enjoys science fiction and romance.

A new student review of Molly McDougal Montgomery McGrath and Other Stories by George Cooper

Boomer123 posted a new student review of Molly McDougal Montgomery McGrath and Other Stories by George Cooper. See the full review.

If you like to laugh at silly stories, this is the book for you. To read the whole entire book, it takes about 45 minutes.  I think George Cooper is a good author because he writes his stories so that kids can understand them. This book would be good for anyone who likes to read short stories. I think readers who are about 8 or 9 would like this book. Other young readers and those young at heart would enjoy it as well.

A new student review of The Green Teen Cookbook by Pam McElroy

Star360 posted a new student review of The Green Teen Cookbook by Pam McElroy. See the full review.

I have always been interested in how to be a good advocate for Mother Nature, and The Green Teen Cookbook is a fine addition to my green library. I was very happy to see that the book is not just a string of recipes, but that it also makes a point to educate teens on sustainable eating. The chapters at the beginning were both interesting and educational, a feat that is often difficult to achieve. The authors do not push readers to stop eating meat; instead, they make suggestions about how to limit meat consumption and have fun eating seasonal foods. Many of the recipes feature fresh or unique ingredients that can broaden a young cook’s horizons. Even if you can’t find a single stalk of celery, you can still make the Oreo Cupcakes!

The authors were also considerate in including tips on how to shop on a budget. As much as I love Whole Foods, the prices are considerably higher than at the supermarket. Teens on a budget (and that’s about 80% of us) can feel comfortable swapping out ingredients and trying fresh new recipes. The recipes include the teen creator’s name and picture, which adds warmth and relatability to the cookbook. 

As for the quality of the recipes, I was left with a mixed bag. The Guacamole was the best I’ve ever tried, and I have had a lot of the avocado goodness. The Tuna Salad also made a light, delicious dinner that is perfect for lazy summer evenings. I do not recommend the Apple Chips, since mine burned way before the cooking time was up, nor do I suggest the Miniature Chocolate Cookies, whose mixture was so crumbly it was impossible to roll. Of course, it could have been my oven acting up or a mix-up in ingredients. I don’t expect every recipe to work for me, so I was satisfied with a 2-2 record.

The Green Teen Cookbook may be aimed at teens, but home cooks young and old will benefit from its practical sustainable eating advice and yummy recipes.