A new student review of The Kill Order by James Dashner

Melissa32301 posted a new student review of The Kill Order by James Dashner. See the full review.

Dashner's prequel to The Maze Runner series was disappointing in a few different ways. First, the characters were rather bland. I love the series, but to be honest, this book was unneeded. The characters were never fully developed and they didn’t get much time to sit and talk to each other so we could get to learn about both of them. The second thing I didn’t like was that he made the new characters, Mark and Tina. I would have preferred a backstory on Thomas and the other Gladers. It would’ve been more enjoyable to read about them before the Glade.

Although there were shortfalls, some of this book was helpful; it gave a little more insight about the disease and what happened, but there didn’t need to be an entire book about it. Dashner could’ve put it as a prologue in one of the books or all of them. I liked the action in the book. There was a lot of it., and it fit perfectly with the rest of the series. Overall, Dashner wrote a pretty good prequel. There were some major disappointments, but his writing form was as good as ever. 

A new student review of The Brilliant World of Tom Gates by Liz Pichon

Wyatt01 posted a new student review of The Brilliant World of Tom Gates by Liz Pichon. See the full review.

I really liked this book. I laughed out loud so many times. Tom's drawings are hilarious, and I liked that the story was told with so many doodles. I think it made it much easier to read. I also liked that Tom was always trying to find a funny excuse for not doing his work, but his teachers still really liked him. He wasn't disrespectful or rude, just funny. There were so many great parts in the book like the fire drill, the choir practice, and the class assembly. I never knew what was coming next, but I knew it would make me laugh. Also, one thing that was great was that I could relate to all of the things Tom goes through. All kids try to get out of homework! Anyone who likes Wimpy Kid books or Timothy Failure will enjoy The Brilliant World of Tom Gates.

A new student review of Wonder Woman at Super Hero High by Lisa Yee

Madiinfl posted a new student review of Wonder Woman at Super Hero High by Lisa Yee. See the full review.

I am a fan of DC comics, and I enjoyed the references to many DC characters.  There were many that made an appearance in this book!  This made the story very exciting for me. 

I loved that Wonder Woman seemed to have a lot of the same issues in school that I do.  At school she has to deal with mean girls, peer pressure, odd teachers, parental pressure, and social media.

A new student review of The Silver Strand - Book 1 in the Mastermind Academy series by LJ Clarkson

Anjel posted a new student review of The Silver Strand - Book 1 in the Mastermind Academy series by LJ Clarkson. See the full review.

This was an interesting book. It focused on Isabelle's self-discovery in a unique setting--a fantasy realm hidden within the existing world.

My favorite part was when Belle received a letter at the end, detailing her future at the academy. The strand in Belle’s hair was funny when it sprouted, and it was amusing when she wished it gone. The author blended adventure and comedy perfectly.

I would recommend this book to students ages 10-12, fantasy lovers, and young readers looking for an adventurous and comedic book. I would also recommend this book to fans of Brandon Mull, author of the Candy Shop Wars.

A new student review of The History Major by Michael Phillip Cash

JesusFreak posted a new student review of The History Major by Michael Phillip Cash. See the full review.

When this book arrived in the mail, I was surprised by how small it was. At only 140 pages, it was quite a swift read. Usually, short books aren’t my cup of tea, but The History Major ​was an exception. The first thing to note was the gorgeous book cover. Although very simple, bursts of colors compliment grayer tones nicely.

The writing style that the author implemented in this story was different from a lot of young adult books I’ve read. The author’s words didn't make the reader feel stupid or juvenile, like some young teen books do.

At times, I found it hard to relate to the main character and found the side characters could be insulting. However, this may have been the author’s objective, in which case he executed it well.

Another thing I liked about this book was the plotline. Although slightly hard to follow at times, it was a very interesting plot that I was greatly invested in.

With an intriguing plot and unique writing style, The History Major by Michael Phillip Cash is sure to impress.

A new student review of The Hunt for the Missing Spy by Penny Warner

ethanlax posted a new student review of The Hunt for the Missing Spy by Penny Warner. See the full review.

The Hunt For The Missing Spy (The Code Busters Club Series)  is a great action novel with many crossroads and codes to decipher. One thing I liked about this book was that it sort of taught you many different codes from different times and countries. Another thing I liked about the book was that it was very creative, with great writing and ideas. There is one thing I didn’t really like about the book, which was that at some points it did not quite make sense. I give this book a four star rating and recommend it for ages 8-12. I also recommend this to all readers who want an interesting and mysterious book. Have a great time reading this novel!

A new student review of Zero by Tom Leveen

Melissa32301 posted a new student review of Zero by Tom Leveen. See the full review.

Throughout the book Tom Leveen makes his readers think that Zero is an overweight teenager, until she meets Mike and we discover she was just wearing really big clothes and thought she was fat. By making us think she was overweight, we could relate to her even more. Not only did she hate most of her artwork, she also hated herself. People who struggle with the way they look would read this book and realize they are not what they see. Mike was a very good guy for Zero. He showed her she was beautiful and made her more confident with herself and her art. 

A new student review of Shades of Blue by Joyce Scarbrough

CalMarie posted a new student review of Shades of Blue by Joyce Scarbrough. See the full review.

In a fast-paced series of events, Joyce Scarbrough writes a beautiful story about the troubles of adolescent kids getting a taste of the real world. The plot is well-structured in a detailed exposition and rising action. The climax and resolution were rushed and vague on details explaining the events playing out. Small scenes that foreshadowed important events should have more detail that gives the reader better comprehension of the plot without relaying too much information. The story was very interesting and addressed topics engaging to a wide range of readers.

 

A new student review of Hamster Princess: Of Mice and Magic by Ursula Vernon

Jowill posted a new student review of Hamster Princess: Of Mice and Magic by Ursula Vernon. See the full review.

I am a big fan of the Dragonbreath series, so I was really excited to read this book! It looked like it was geared more for girls and many would think the Dragonbreath series is for boys.  I like them both!

I thought this book was extremely amusing!  I enjoyed the character of Harriet.  She is funny, brave and has a great attitude! 

This book has wonderful illustrations that help keep the reader interested.  I would recommend it for anyone who likes books like Dragonbreath or Babymouse.

A new student review of Under a Purple Moon by Beverly S. McClure

Melissa32301 posted a new student review of Under a Purple Moon by Beverly S. McClure. See the full review.

This book shows the mental psyche of teenagers with deep emotions. McClure shows that "family" doesn't have to mean blood, it means love. Eden, Murphy, Toby, and Josh help each other get through their home lives by being there for each other and they get each other through each day. Sadly, a lot of kids go through constant fighting between their parents and this novel will allow people who don't go through this to see a perspective on what it's like.  The story also shows how people who do go through difficult home situations can have hope. It shows them that they'll be okay. The four teens that meet at this abandoned house aren't just there for each other but they're there for the readers too.