A new student review of Fairalon by T.J. Roberts

cowboys1 posted a new student review of Fairalon by T.J. Roberts. See the full review.

I have to start by mentioning the illustrations in this book are quite unique! They appear animated and are super colorful. I only read a digital copy of this book, so they are probably even more stunning on the printed page! The story caught my attention right away. I read almost 100 pages in the first sitting! I enjoyed seeing Iris change from a depressed girl with very low self-esteem to a confident hero! T.J. Roberts did an excellent job building her character and painting a descriptive scene of Fairalon, which is sure to make every reader wish they could visit this magical place!

A new student review of Brother XII's Treasure by Amanda Spottiswoode

hawkreader10 posted a new student review of Brother XII's Treasure by Amanda Spottiswoode. See the full review.

If you like stories that mix adventure and historical fiction, you will find Brother XII's Treasure to be a very quick and enjoyable read. The book had a little bit of a slow start because all seven characters were introduced in great detail. But after the story really got started, I was pulled into the action and couldn't put it down. Author Amanda Spottiswoode created very realistic, interesting characters. As a result, I was caught up in their adventures and rooting for them when things got tough. She also described the ship, scenery, and people they met in such detail that I left like I was watching a movie of the book as I read it. Overall, the plot of the book was good, with enough suspense to keep me reading, and a satisfying ending. However, I believe the book would have been better with fewer characters. There were a lot of them to keep track of, and the first few chapters were mainly devoted to introducing all of them. I think that this book is great for late elementary students to early middle school students. Overall this book was a great read!    

A new student review of The Terrible Two Get Worse by Jory John Mac Barnett

SoccerGirl15 posted a new student review of The Terrible Two Get Worse by Jory John Mac Barnett. See the full review.

Overall this is an amazing book and I strongly recommend it. If you like humor and comics, this book is for you.

The story combines pranking with a little bit of friendship. My favorite prankster of the two boys is Niles, the smart kid who pretends to be stuck up but pranks well. Miles comes up with lots of ideas that are sometimes good but sometimes bad. I chose Niles because he has some great pranks and he seems like an undercover spy. I see Niles as someone who really thinks about the plans that Miles comes up with and finds a way for them to work. Niles' smartness is very helpful when it comes to planing ahead of time and when strategy comes in. 

A new student review of Dolls of Hope by Shirley Parenteau

lovereading posted a new student review of Dolls of Hope by Shirley Parenteau. See the full review.

This book is one of the most concise novels I have ever read. The combination of adventure in a new place and the exciting mysteries of what is to come, makes a book that grabs your attention and holds it there. Chiyo is this high-sprited, brave girl who comes to a strange school to learn new things and tries to make the best of any situation, even in the worst of times! This is a book I would read over and over again because I feel a connection with the real world, with history, with fantasy, and with the heart, soul, and mind the author put into this book that makes it worthwhile to read. I guarentee you, the second you pick this book up and start reading it, you won't be able to put it down. Happy Reading!

A new student review of Somewhere in the Middle by Linda Palmer

thudson36 posted a new student review of Somewhere in the Middle by Linda Palmer. See the full review.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Somewhere in the Middle by Linda Palmer. This novel captured my attention from the very beginning and held my interest until the very end. The plot moved along at a nice pace, making me want to keep reading at each chapter break.

I found the storyline interesting and really enjoyed the science fiction elements. I also loved the complex and intriguing characters. The author did a great job of developing the character of Everly and steered clear of typical teenage girl stereotypes. Even though she was in a relationship, Everly was portrayed as independent and strong, something I feel is rare for female characters in love stories.

I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone looking for the perfect mix between a love story and science fiction.

A new student review of Gray Zone by Veronica Tabares

Melissa32301 posted a new student review of Gray Zone by Veronica Tabares. See the full review.

Gray Zone sheds light on the issue of cyber bullying that occurs across the world. It showed the effects of bullying and the power behind words. Tabares did a great job with her characters, she made them very relatable and allowed us to truly understand what it's like to be bullied. It's hard to change who you are, and instead of pretending that Autumn just stopped being shy and became outgoing like some authors might, Tabares showed the struggle Autumn had. By the end of the book Autumn started to help other people who were being bullied; she tried to stop cyber bullying. 

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.