A new student review of The Beast of Seabourne by Rhys A. Jones

dancechicka posted a new student review of The Beast of Seabourne by Rhys A. Jones. See the full review.

To be frank, the beginning of this novel was a twisted mess, too many characters were introduced in a short amount of time, and the story seemed to have no direction at all.  Then, around Chapter 15, everything seemed to change.  The plot straightened out instead of going in circles, the characters didn’t seem so undeveloped, and some real progress toward the end result occurred.  I finally felt like the book had a goal.  I was a little confused as to what was going on in the beginning—not reading the first book really stunted my understanding of the story’s focus.  I also found the dialect and slang that the characters used perplexing.  It was like an English/American/Alien vernacular that I found a little tiring and hard to follow until I got used to the characters and their respective personalities.  In conclusion, I felt like the idea and the subject matter of the story was good.  The author just spent too much time on the exposition, laying out needlessly intricate groundwork before the rising action, making reading tedious.  If that problem is fixed, I would have no qualms about giving the upcoming books in this series a try.

“People called Oz many things—adventurous…rebellious…stubborn…buzzard—but the more people told him to stay away from something, the more determined Oz was to do the exact opposite.”

I would recommend this book for ages eleven and up.  There are some violent themes (a given if the title is The Beast of Seabourne), and one or two mild curses are used.  I guess chasing a slippery beast can sometimes be frustrating.

Will Oz and his friends be able to find the remaining artefacts and uncover the identity of The Beast of Seabourne before anyone else is hurt?  Or will one of them be its next victim?  Reading Rhys A. Jones’s new novel, The Beast of Seabourne, is the only way to find out!

Note:  If you are interested in delving into the Artefacts Series and want to learn more about the origin of Soph and the start of Oz’s perilous adventure, be sure to check out the first book in the quintet, The Obsidian Pebble, by Rhys A. Jones!

A new student review of Be Positive! Think Positive! Feel Positive! Surviving Junior High Vol. 2 by Dr. Orly Katz

bygflower posted a new student review of Be Positive! Think Positive! Feel Positive! Surviving Junior High Vol. 2 by Dr. Orly Katz. See the full review.

I really enjoyed this book. I felt it gave tweens/teens a great opportunity to boost their self confidence. The stories about the author's childhood are written in a jolly tone, but also give children something to relate to, as the stories are very realistic. I also enjoyed the quizzes because they led to advice on how to boost your positivity. The overall message is "don't worry, be happy," and Surviving Junior High Vol. 2 was a great energy-boosting read! I would recommend this book to any child aged 10+ who is looking for a self-esteem boost.

A new student review of 77 Things You Absolutely Have to Do Before You Finish College by Halley Bondy

Zack-Is-Swag posted a new student review of 77 Things You Absolutely Have to Do Before You Finish College by Halley Bondy. See the full review.

This is a REALLY good book. I am recommending it to everyone. This book has some content that is not explained effectively at first but as you read on it is made clear. I look forward to doing most of these things when I’m older. Unfortunately, there are a few things I could do now but not many due the fact that I'm not in college yet. A few things I could do are cleaning out my closet and starting a photo album but not many other things. I can’t wait to get a good sound system in my dorm and throw parties. You might have to save up for that and a few other things but most things in the book are free or cheap to do. 

A new student review of Mind Over Bullies - A MOB Forms by D.K. Smith

nictaf posted a new student review of Mind Over Bullies - A MOB Forms by D.K. Smith. See the full review.

Mind Over Bullies was a great book and was very exciting! The descriptions of the characters were rich and vivid; for example, one excerpt read, "Margo Rios was pretty, smart, fit, popular, and a firecracker who could be a bit of a jerk sometimes." 

The story had twists and turns that kept me guessing what would happen next. If a second book in the series is written, I would love to read it. I would recommend this book for ages 12 and up, because of some explicit language and the use of more mature themes.

A new student review of Goblins on the Prowl

O.B. WAN posted a new student review of Goblins on the Prowl . See the full review.

Goblins on the Prowl was an excellent book with lots of twists. I think the book was exciting and had lots of action. I liked the variety of creatures that appeared in this book, such as mini-dragons. My favorite part was the secret-revealing with Flegmire the goblin. Flegmire was my favorite character because she was a complete wacko! She invented an instrument that made music by pulling on goblins’ tails. I would recommend this book to readers of the Beyonders series by Brandon Mull or anyone who likes action and twists.  

A new student review of Gorgon Book 2 WhipEye Chronicles by Geoffrey Saign

nictaf posted a new student review of Gorgon Book 2 WhipEye Chronicles by Geoffrey Saign. See the full review.

I think Gorgon is the best book in the series so far! This wonderful story was expertly written with an eye for detail like, “We‘re standing under bright sunshine and blue skies on a plain of tall, sweet-scented, green grass waving in a light breeze. A large, pure blue lake sparkles to the north.” The author, Geoffrey Saign, brought all the characters to life. Sam is my favorite character because of her passion for wildlife, and her kindness and compassion for others--animals and humans alike. Gorgon is an amazing book and I cannot wait for book three! I don't think this book is a stand-alone, so I do recommend reading book one of the Whipeye chronicles (Whipeye) first. I would recommend Gorgon to ages 8 and up, and for those who like fantasy and adventure.

A new student review of Peer Pressure Vs. True Friends! Surviving Junior High Vol. 1 by Dr. Orly Katz

bygflower posted a new student review of Peer Pressure Vs. True Friends! Surviving Junior High Vol. 1 by Dr. Orly Katz. See the full review.

I thorourghly enjoyed this book. Personally, I love this genre, and this did not disappoint. The author managed to keep a light tone throughout, and although the vocabulary was simple, it was quite an intelligent read. My only complaint was that I didn't feel that it was brought to a suitable close. I would definitely reccommend this book to anyone 10+ because I feel that we all have something to learn about not giving in to peer pressure. I salute Dr. Orly Cast for keeping an aspect of humor through the book, and I really enjoyed this read.

A new student review of Gorgon Book 2 WhipEye Chronicles by Geoffrey Saign

nictaf posted a new student review of Gorgon Book 2 WhipEye Chronicles by Geoffrey Saign. See the full review.

I think Gorgon is the best book in the series so far! This wonderful story was expertly written with an eye for detail like, “We‘re standing under bright sunshine and blue skies on a plain of tall, sweet-scented, green grass waving in a light breeze. A large, pure blue lake sparkles to the north.” The author, Geoffrey Saign, brought all the characters to life. Sam is my favorite character because of her passion for wildlife, and her kindness and compassion for others--animals and humans alike. Gorgon is an amazing book and I cannot wait for book three! I don't think this book is a stand-alone, so I do recommend reading book one of the Whipeye chronicles (Whipeye) first. I would recommend Gorgon to ages 8 and up, and for those who like fantasy and adventure.

A new student review of The Tooth Fairy Trap by Rachelle Burk

Endless Summer posted a new student review of The Tooth Fairy Trap by Rachelle Burk. See the full review.

The Tooth Fairy Trap is an excellently written and charming children's book. I would have enjoyed it very much as a child! It's also one of those Junie B. Jones style books, which older children and adults can also enjoy. I found the characters to be interesting and well-dimensioned. For instance, Bradley's pet hamster is grumpy and full of personality. The written messages that Bluna exchanges with the (nicer) children are also extremely genuine and heartfelt. At one point, Bluna wishes that she could play with one of the little girls!

There was not really anything I disliked about the book. I would love to see The Tooth Fairy Trap made into a series if it is not one already. Perhaps Bradley the trap-setter can be reformed.

Note: the illustrations and the author's children's tooth fairy notes at the end were a nice touch.

A new student review of Sophie Kinsella

Star360 posted a new student review of Sophie Kinsella . See the full review.

The one-sentence summary of Finding Audrey is: Teen girl uses video camera to heal from depression and anxiety disorder. But while that description is certainly accurate, there is no way to put all the wit, humor, and love in this book into just a few words. In her first foray into young adult literature, Sophie Kinsella has crafted an entertaining story that is quick to read but difficult to forget.

 

Audrey may have suffered from depression and an anxiety disorder, but she is blessedly free from Main Character Malady, an unfortunate syndrome in which the storyline consists of a protagonist essentially chanting me-me-me-them-me-me. Not once did I feel that Audrey was bratty, whiny, or self-centered. Her health issues were dealt with appropriate gravity, but they did not weigh down the novel. Kinsella dedicates plenty of time to other characters, making sure that Mum and Dad were not just people who served dinner and drove cars. 

 

The subplot of her older brother, Frank’s, video game obsession was amusing and added comic relief. His love of Land of Conquerors is slightly blown out of proportion, but it’s all in good fun. And if the author can add a little message about balancing your time wisely, why not? Of course, the video game competition also introduced the romantic interest, Linus. The “older-brother’s-best-friend” twist is a common trope, but it made sense given that Audrey didn't go to school or hang out outside. Plus, given that there was no angsty love triangle, I can easily overlook the cliche.

 

One of the book’s brightest charms is its sense of familiarity. Audrey often speaks directly at the reader in a casual tone, so it seems like you’re having a conversation with a friend. British words like “Mum” and “trainers” remind readers of the UK setting. Pop culture staples, like Harry Potter, The Big Bang Theory, and Scott Pilgrim, also fill the story. Those references make it easy to imagine the characters as real people: Mum watching Downton on Sundays; the family munching Doritos and guac; four-year-old Felix adorably singing the songs from Frozen. Either it’s shameless advertising, or Kinsella really knows how to make her readers feel at home.

 

Finding Audrey is a gem that is perfect for teen girls looking for a realistic yet romantic read that’s packed with laughs, love, and the power of you.