My basic thoughts on this was it was a great book that would serve as a great companion to the original. However, I was not aware that it had been a companion book, until receiving the actual book, therefore I hadn’t read the first book before completing this book.Even with that, I was able to thoroughly enjoy reading this book, because being a fantasy fanatic, and well, a lover of books, I found a piece of myself within this book; which made me enjoy it all the more. There was great character development with Oliver, but was lacking in others, which is a little disappointing, but not the end of the world. I think the message that love requires sacrifice is a noble one, that shines throughout the book, it is lacking strong backing in this book. Yes it was clear that it was the message being sent, however it showed that it was more of other characters making sacrifices for Oliver and Delilah, as opposed to they themselves making the sacrifices. So overall, for a sappy romantic fantasy novel is was good, however I will not be reading it again.
Tuesday, September 08, 2015
A new student review of Off the Page by Samantha van Leer Jodi Picoult
Tuesday, September 01, 2015
A new student review of Field Trip by Jim Paulsen Gary Paulsen
Gary and Jim Paulsen have yet again delivered another great father and son book. I love this book so much and I think it's a great follow-up to Road Trip! I also like how it is written from Ben’s perspective. Conor and Atticus were always cracking me up because Atticus is so down to Earth and Conor, well, isn't. I also liked how the twins, Charlotte and Jacob are super smart and peppy and are always making me laugh with their smartness. I like this book because I think it shows a great father and son relationship.
Monday, August 31, 2015
A new student review of Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
I liked reading about roller derby. I didn't know what roller derby was and now I am thinking I might even want to try it myself. I could understand Astrid when she and Nicole had problems. She is upset that Nicole chose Rachel over her. If you liked "Smile and Sisters" you will like this book as well. It is a graphic novel about a character going through hard times. Readers should know that there is a bit of bullying. Nicole teases Astrid about her name. There are a lot of middle school friendship problems.
Sunday, August 30, 2015
A new student review of Beautiful Americans by Lucy Silag
As a fan of books like Gossip Girl and the like, this plot of this book interested me right away. The plot of Beautiful Americans isnt a new one, but the way the story was written was attention grabbing and the Parisian background added a whole new level to the novel. The drama behind the 4 teens is interesting to read and the further I got into the story, the more I wanted to know about them. Beautiful Americans is a great summer read. The great news about this Beautiful Americans is that this is book number 1 in a series and there are 2 other books out. So for a taste of teen drama and adventure, give the Beautiful American series a try!
Friday, August 28, 2015
A new student review of The Anatomy of Curiosity by Brenna Yovanoff Tessa Gratton Maggie Stiefvater
Many readers have wondered how their favorite YA authors go about writing a novel. With The Anatomy of Curiosity, their questions can be answered in a clever, unforgettable way.
The beauty of this book was how fun it was to read it! I’ve read articles about how to write a book and seen videos of authors talking about their journey to publication. Those are good resources, but this book took it a step up and showed readers how it’s done. Fantasy authors Steifvater, Gratton, and Yovanoff each wrote a novella and explained to readers how they decided on the climax, the setting, a certain phrase, and all the other fidgety little details that make up a fine story.
Reading those notes is like watching a movie with the director’s comments on – you’re enjoying the plot, but you also get valuable insight into the making of the work. People can choose to ignore the notes completely and simply enjoy the story, which is a good idea for those who don’t want even the slightest hint of a spoiler. But I highly recommend that readers at least skim the notes, because there’s a lot to learn from the three talented women.
The novellas themselves were each unique and memorable. Steifvater’s was about a shy girl who reads poems for an elegant yet strange old lady; Gratton’s was about a boy at war whose love hides a great secret; Yovanoff’s was about the haunting qualities of drowning. My personal favorite was Steifvater’s ‘Ladylike,’ but all three will have an appeal for a diverse audience.
The Anatomy of Curiosity should be on the to-read list of anyone who wants a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a novel.
A new student review of Iron Rails, Iron Men, and the Race to Link the Nation: The Story of the Transcontinental Railroad by Martin W. Sandler
This book is full of lots of important and valuable information on the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. It is slightly confusing in the beginning, but eventually, all is explained and the reader can read without any more confusion. For anyone who is looking to write a report or just to learn about this awesome railroad, this is a great resource book. Some of the information could have been arranged in a different way so that it would be more easily understood. Kids 12 and up would best understand this book. Overall, this book is a great read for anyone interested in the Transcontinental Railroad!
Thursday, August 27, 2015
A new student review of Flying Mutant Zombie Rats by Kat de Falla
I thought Flying Mutant Zombie Rats was an enjoyable and humorous book, one with a funny plot line.
It was hilarious that the portal to another dimension opened while Pea was doing a back-flip on his BMX bike. Another part in the book I enjoyed was when a cat named Maximillian started talking; it was funny when Pea was surprised by it.
This book was a new kind of book for me. I have never read a book quite like this one; adventure, friendship, and tongue-in-cheek humor made it interesting. I felt that the storyline slowed in some parts, although it wasn't that often. At times weird, at times gripping, this book would appeal to many boys. I would have given this book five stars, but I didn't appreciate some of the gross humor. I would recommend this book to students ages nine through fourteen, or to anyone that enjoys books where kids overcome impossible odds.
A new student review of Flying Mutant Zombie Rats by Kat de Falla
Flying Mutant Zombie Rats was an exciting book full of adventure and fun. Kat de Falla created a wonderful story! The characters were very funny and well described. For example, she wrote "Paco stood by the gate with his sparkling, almost all chrome, GT bike. He had a habit of constantly shoveling food in his mouth, but in spite of that he was wiry--and someone good to have on your side in a fight."
Pea was a funny, nice kid. He was very likable. I felt this book was too short; I wanted it to keep going because it was so enjoyable. I’d love to read the second book! This book is great for ages 9 and up.
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
A new student review of Symphony for the City of the Dead by M.T. Anderson
The first aspect of Symphony for the City of the Dead that captured my attention was the cover art. With its eye-catching uses of color, the cover of this non-fiction novel reminds me of propaganda posters seen during World War ll and the Cold War. It perfectly fits the atmosphere of this book. Although I tend to discourage judging a book by its cover, if I had seen M.T. Anderson's new work in a book store, I am certain that the cover art would have immediately drawn me in and motivated me to pick it up.
I was naturally drawn to this book both as a musician and as an appreciator of music, but also because I have a passion for modernist music, particularly by Igor Stravinsky and Dmitri Shostakovich. It was an interesting experience for me to learn about Dmitri Shostakovich's life in such detail, because, despite the fact that I love Shostakovich's work, I had hardly any knowledge of his life or the impact that he had, prior to reading this non-fiction novel. Reading his story gave me an even deeper appreciation for Shostakovich's compositions.
After reading the official summary for Symphony for the City of the Dead, I was unaware that it covers more historical events than the Siege of Leningrad. It begins with chronicling Dmitri Shostakovich's childhood during the Russian Revolution, and then indicates issues with communist Russia and Joesph Stalin's leadership, and Shostakovich's impact on and experiences with these times. I love that this non-fiction novel utilizes a not so well-known perspective on well-known historical events. While reading this book, I was given the opportunity to better understand a point of view disparate from the American perspective that I am more familiar with.
One thing is for certain, this book is packed full of information. It is clear that M.T. Anderson did his research. This is one of those books that I might not re-read in its entirety any time soon, but I am certain that I will continue to refer to for the useful information that can be found in its pages. It would be perfect to use for reference in a history class that covers these topics, because it shares such an in-depth perspective on some of the biggest moments in Russian history.
The only drawback that I could think of with this book was that the way the author chose to narrate in certain areas. These areas feel a little unfocused. This isn't a necessarily bad thing, and once I adjusted to the atmosphere I was able to enjoy it. In order to tell Shotakovich's story, you have to understand what was happening in the world around him, therefore the information the author includes makes sense and proves useful in fully experiencing the book as a whole.
In conclusion, M.T. Anderson's Symphony for the City of the Dead is a slow-paced yet informative tome that I feel would be better enjoyed gradually and leisurely, but a well-written and well-researched historical compilation nonetheless. I highly recommend this non-fiction novel to those interested in Russian history and creative arts during the 20th century.
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
A new student review of Symphony for the City of the Dead by M.T. Anderson
The first aspect of Symphony for the City of the Dead that captured my attention was the cover art. With its eye-catching uses of color, the cover of this non-fiction novel reminds me of propaganda posters seen during World War ll and the Cold War. It perfectly fits the atmosphere of this book. Although I tend to discourage judging a book by its cover, if I had seen M.T. Anderson's new work in a book store, I am certain that the cover art would have immediately drawn me in and motivated me to pick it up.
I was naturally drawn to this book both as a musician and as an appreciator of music, but also because I have a passion for modernist music, particularly by Igor Stravinsky and Dmitri Shostakovich. It was an interesting experience for me to learn about Dmitri Shostakovich's life in such detail, because, despite the fact that I love Shostakovich's work, I had hardly any knowledge of his life or the impact that he had, prior to reading this non-fiction novel. Reading his story gave me an even deeper appreciation for Shostakovich's compositions.
After reading the official summary for Symphony for the City of the Dead, I was unaware that it covers more historical events than the Siege of Leningrad. It begins with chronicling Dmitri Shostakovich's childhood during the Russian Revolution, and then indicates issues with communist Russia and Joesph Stalin's leadership, and Shostakovich's impact on and experiences with these times. I love that this non-fiction novel utilizes a not so well-known perspective on well-known historical events. While reading this book, I was given the opportunity to better understand a point of view disparate from the American perspective that I am more familiar with.
One thing is for certain, this book is packed full of information. It is clear that M.T. Anderson did his research. This is one of those books that I might not re-read in its entirety any time soon, but I am certain that I will continue to refer to for the useful information that can be found in its pages. It would be perfect to use for reference in a history class that covers these topics, because it shares such an in-depth perspective on some of the biggest moments in Russian history.
The only drawback that I could think of with this book was that the way the author chose to narrate in certain areas. These areas feel a little unfocused. This isn't a necessarily bad thing, and once I adjusted to the atmosphere I was able to enjoy it. In order to tell Shotakovich's story, you have to understand what was happening in the world around him, therefore the information the author includes makes sense and proves useful in fully experiencing the book as a whole.
In conclusion, M.T. Anderson's Symphony for the City of the Dead is a slow-paced yet informative tome that I feel would be better enjoyed gradually and leisurely, but a well-written and well-researched historical compilation nonetheless. I highly recommend this non-fiction novel to those interested in Russian history and creative arts during the 20th century.