Alex is a strong and personable main character and makes a good backbone for the story. She quickly makes loyal friends who are extremely likable and help her assimilate into her new life. The reader is kept in the dark about many things that are slowly revealed throughout the book, and some things are still cryptic at the end, leaving the reader wondering what happens next. The characters are all very realistic and three-dimensional, with only a few exceptions. While the plot follows the generic “Chosen One” structure, it has its own unique aspects that help it stand out, like how everything magical is actually extremely advanced technology, and how the Library could be seen as a living entity and is crucial to the story. The end brings resolution, but also new things to be discovered in later books, which keeps the book’s audience hooked and wanting more. Despite its typical baseline, this novel is a refreshingly new take on fantasy and was an enjoyable read for me. I recommend it for those reluctant to read fantasy or anyone who wants a fun, easy read. Akarnae is the first book in the Medoran Chronicles.
Monday, November 16, 2015
A new student review of Akarnae by Lynette Noni
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
A new student review of Arrows Over Agincourt by D. Lawrence- Young
Arrows over Agincourt is a historical fiction told in first person. You see the story through the eyes of Davy, an archer in King Henry’s Army. I enjoyed the closeness of the events in the story and the details of what the soldiers went through. I love how much history is told during the story, in each battle and fight with the French, and also all the great information on the people and times in which they take place.
Davy and his friend Tom are both faced with the reality of war. Davy is not sure if he is strong or brave enough until he actually has to be during the heat of the battle. They both come through the war and in my eyes they are heroes.
The battle of Agincourt is portrayed wonderfully. It is definitely the climax of the book.
If you enjoy history, you will enjoy this book.
A new student review of A Song For Ella Grey by David Almond
I liked this book. I've always wanted to read a book where the narrator wasn't the subject of all the strange happenings, but a friend of said subject. I think this author did a great job with that narration. We got a narrator who we could relate to whose opinion and reactions to Ella and Orpheus' love we agree with and sympathize with, because if we were put in the same situation, we would probably react in similar ways. It was a little too explicit for my taste but besides that I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Monday, November 09, 2015
A new student review of Akarnae by Lynette Noni
I really liked Akarnae because it wasn't predictable or unrealistic, and the characters never fought with each other. It wasn't predictable because it had lots of unexpected twists. One example is when Aven defeated Sir Camden. I really wasn’t expecting that! I liked this because the story didn't get boring. The story wasn't unrealistic, even though everyone had a gift. Their gifts weren’t crazy, like having magical abilities or being able to shape-shift. I appreciated that the characters never fought with each other because I don’t like it when people argue, and that made the story go smoother. I really liked this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy and adventure.
Saturday, November 07, 2015
A new student review of Switch by Ingrid Law
Ingrid Law wrote a magical book filled with fantasy and wild fun! The book was very well described, like: “At the the front of the store, a small bag held what was left of holiday clearance: mesh bags of crushed chocolate Hanukkah coins; flattened marshmallow Santas; a torn package of silver confetti; a few scraggly, wilted poinsettias.” The characters were well developed; I could tell what they were feeling and thinking. I was very impressed with the theme of the book, “Family comes first.” Even though this is the third book in the Savvy series, Switch can be a stand-alone. It would help to read book one and two first, but it isn’t needed. I would recommend this book for ages 8 and up.
Friday, November 06, 2015
A new student review of Lies in the Dust by Jakob Crane Timothy Decker
Lies in the Dust is an incredibly interesting book. Once a person becomes very mature I believe that they should read this book because it is good to be well-rounded and hear about everything in the world, even if it is horrifying and cruel. This book was also very interesting because it was a graphic novel. I enjoy reading graphic novels, but this one stands out because it is not cheerful and bubbly. Lies in the Dust is dark and wicked. To conclude, Lies in the Dust is a very unique book and I recommend it to any mature audience.
Sunday, November 01, 2015
A new student review of The Blue Woods by Nicole Maggi
I couldn't put this book down! It was very well written. While usually I detest the use of more than one character narrating a story, I loved the parallel view on the same issues going on. Overall this was a great read and is entertaining for all age groups above twelve or thirteen years of age. If you enjoy this reading selection make sure to check out other books in the fantasy genre such as Nightshade by Andrea Cremer, Shape Shifter's Secret by Heather Ostler, and Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houch.
Friday, October 30, 2015
A new student review of The Fog of Forgetting by Genevieve Morgan
I really enjoyed The Fog of Forgetting by G. A. Morgan. Her ability to give depth to her characters is impressive. As a reader I could connect with every character she invented and each character had qualities I liked and didn’t like, making them more realistic. Her idea is also spot on. Morgan’s combining of mind and magic is intriguing; the way each characters' daylights represent their most basic anatomy and desire. I am very excited to follow the journey of the five kids throughout the remainder of the trilogy. I find that Morgan’s writing excites me and makes me want to read more. I often found myself not getting to bed until 12:30 because I couldn’t bring myself to close the book. I would most definitely recommend this to anyone interested in fantasy or adventure; it is completely worth the read.
A new student review of The Seventh Most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsall
It was good, not a favorite, but it still was worth the read. Pearsall does a good job setting up the plot throughout the book. Sadly she does the worst thing an author could do- kill a major character with just one sentence. That is probably my biggest pet peeve when reading a book. I like how the story was based slightly on a real person and the epilogue at the end was a nice touch. I would recommend it for a book project.