Jodi Lynn Anderson wrote a great book filled with fantasy and adventure! My Diary from the Edge of the World had twists and turns so you can't tell what will happen until it does. One part I especially liked was a description of a witch’s house. Anderson wrote, "It was an astonishing sight-resting on enormous boulders at the peak of the mountain, made of dark logs and planks of wood, and lit up brightly inside with firelight. It looked half wild and half civilized, sort of crooked to one side, old and breathtaking, with attachments and additions veering off this way and that and poking over the sides of boulders and low cliffs." Gracie was well described and I think she would be a normal, everyday person if she was real. The book had a very unique plot, and I would have liked to be part of the characters' quest. If you are a fan of adventure and fantasy, then you need to read this amazing book! I would love to read a second book if there is one. I would recommend this book to ages 8 and up!
Sunday, September 20, 2015
A new student review of My Diary from the Edge of the World by Jodi Lynn Anderson
A new student review of The Great Good Summer by Liz Garton Scanlon
I had a difficult time deciding if I liked this book. I enjoyed the plot, the characters, and the setting. The one part that bothered me was one small element. The book has a very religious tone. God is referred to, spoken about and discussed multiple times. In the end I decided that I did like the book, it was just that the religious piece was unexpected and I had to adjust. The book has a good message, that nobody really gets their ideal happy ever after. The book discusses the consequences of running away and takes a very realistic look at mother-daughter relationships. I also enjoyed watching Ivy and Paul's friendship grow because Paul doesn't really believe in God and Ivy had been raised in a very religious family and town.
Saturday, September 19, 2015
A new student review of The Fog of Forgetting by Genevieve Morgan
Overall The Fog of Forgetting was a very pleasant read. Perhaps not the best book ever, but good enough to make me want to read the sequel. There are many moments where you make sense of clues dropped by the author. It makes you feel warm and fuzzy when you pick up on those subtle hints. You understand why specific events occured. I also really like the twist put into this story. The only thing I really didn't like was how many questions were left unanswered. Of course that's to make sure you read the sequel, so it isn't actually a bad thing.
Thursday, September 17, 2015
A new student review of The Fire Chronicle (Books of Beginning) by John Stephens
This book was really good and I can't wait for the next one to come out! I would go so far as to say it was better than the first book in this series. I liked how it bounced back and forth between Kate and Michael. It keeps the energy of the book up and the reader interested. The book is filled with action, humor, and excellent writing! You can definitely see Michael's character growth in this book, from being petty and immature to being grown up and responsible. I have no bad comments for this book and give it an easy 5 stars. Adventure readers won’t be disappointed and, although it is a chunky book, it will be over before you know it.
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
A new student review of Chasing Secrets by Gennifer Choldenko
Chasing Secrets is a well written book that captures the reader’s attention from beginning to end. Lizzie Kennedy, who is the main character, is a determined young girl who never gives up. Although not entirely historically accurate, this book is full of suspense and surprises around every corner. The author does a beautiful job of wrapping everything up in the end, and exercises the imagination by leaving the reader dreaming about what might happen next. Chasing Secrets is a book every bookshelf should hold! 10-13 year old girls would best enjoy this adventure.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
A new student review of Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
I am a fan of graphic novels and this one was absolutely fantastic. In particular I liked having the chance to read 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 because like those books are graphic novels 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. I really liked this book and would recommend it to realistic fiction readers and graphic novel readers.
A new student review of Weird Space: The Baba Yaga by Una McCormack Eric Brown
One of my recipes for a good book is a mix of action, mystery, and adventure. The Baba Yaga had all of those parts. I liked that the authors, Eric Brown and Una McCormack, described the characters and the setting of the story thoroughly. I was able to picture the size and appearance of everything. A part in the book that I particularly liked was when Failt, a Vetch child, snuck on Delia’s ship. It was generous of Delia to keep Failt safe when the pilot wanted to get rid of him.
One thing I didn’t like about this book, though, was how it ended. I’m not a fan of sad endings, and I wish it would have ended differently. I would recommend this book to ages 13 and up, or to anyone who likes sci-fi and doesn’t mind some bad language.
Sunday, September 13, 2015
A new student review of Stand-off by Andrew Smith
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Saturday, September 12, 2015
A new student review of Delano in Hollyhook by Cameron Glenn
This is a very energetic book told from the perspective of the main character, Delano, and how he sees his friends and the different journies they venture on. I personally really loved this book and think it was very well written, but every now and then there were a few punctuation and spelling errors. The author did a nice job of explaining the different parts of the story. He never rambled on, but gave you just enough details. One of my favorite characters other than Delano was Lenore, because even though she wasn't very positive, she still figured out a lot of the problems in the book.