A new student review of On Edge by Gin Price

DLowe21 posted a new student review of On Edge by Gin Price. See the full review.

On Edge is a romantic mystery thriller. The book is slow at the start, and it took time for me to visualize Emanuella and begin to understand her. Emanuella's friend Surge was, by far, my favorite character and seemed like the best friend I've always wanted. The mystery is perhaps the strongest aspect of the novel, and the intricate descriptions pull the reader into the story. I was shocked when the killer was revealed. One thing that I learned from reading this novel is to trust my gut instincts. I recommend this novel to readers above age 13 who enjoy romance and mystery.

A new student review of INTERRED by Marilyn Almodóvar

alison_S posted a new student review of INTERRED by Marilyn Almodóvar. See the full review.

Endure Interred's sluggish beginning (Baxter meets a lot of people and stages the world's most epic cram session on magic, Declan, and the ominous Council), and you'll reap the rewards of perseverance. Once the internment begins, Baxter and Jack whirl from one encounter to the next in a frenzy of wormholes, time travel, and blood by the gallon. But in the quest for brisk pacing, Interred can sometimes veer through an abrupt, unfounded series of plot events: an apparently secure floor collapses when convenient, and Baxter and Jack's jaunt through the 80s feels a little unnecessary. Still, Interred culminates in an epic battle— and betrayal. If you're craving some vicarious superpowers (and don't mind puzzling through a tangle of double-agents, mind control, and shifting alliances), Almodóvar's Interred will leave you— and your heartbeat— racing till the very end.

A new student review of Fair to Hope by Sam Reed

JesusFreak posted a new student review of Fair to Hope by Sam Reed. See the full review.

When I began reading this book, I was immediately intrigued by the main character. Velma is a likeable and strong female character. She struggles throughout the book with who she is and who she must become, and it was very interesting to see her grow throughout the story.

Unfortunately, the plotline of this novel was a bit confusing. The author’s description of the universe and how it all worked was disorienting. I’m unfortunately still a bit confused on what everything in the author’s world is and how it plays into the story. I also felt that there was too much time spent on dialogue, and there were points I found myself getting tired of the story. The storyline grew slow about halfway through, and it didn’t really pick up until the last few chapters.

Overall, the author has an amazing idea for a story. It just needs a bit better execution.

A new student review of The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan

jotaf posted a new student review of The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan. See the full review.

I think Rick Riordan has struck gold with this new addition to the Percy Jackson universe. It was really descriptive and had a lot of references from everyday life. (Gods e-mailing each other? Who knew?) I loved every second of it, and it held up to my high expectations from the previous books.  The characters were also described really well. Near the beginning of the book Apollo was a snob who didn’t really care about anyone else except himself. Towards the end he started realizing that he wasn’t the only one in the world that mattered. I love how Rick Riordan always finds a way to expand the Percy Jackson universe, even in the third series! I would recommend this book to anyone who has read any of the Percy Jackson books or to anyone who loves mythology.

A new student review of I Woke Up Dead At The Mall by Judy Sheehan

leah0304 posted a new student review of I Woke Up Dead At The Mall by Judy Sheehan. See the full review.

This book was well written and easy to follow and keeps you eager to know what's going to happen next. I couldn’t even tear my eyes off of the page. I Woke Up Dead at the Mall was a very enjoyable book and might even be one of my favorite books. I gave it 5 stars because personally I couldn’t point out one flaw. The characters were very well developed, and I definitely recommend this good read.

A new student review of The Shadowed Valley by Yvonne I Lee

sschu5 posted a new student review of The Shadowed Valley by Yvonne I Lee. See the full review.

I like this book a lot because it is very adventurous and exciting. It always keeps you thinking and guessing what is going to happen next. Also, it is always changing and leading to things you never thought could or would happen. The plot just flows into chapters, making everything make sense in due time. You may be confused about something for a little bit, but when you find what you are looking for, it makes so much sense why the author kept it from you. It felt like the author was passionate about the story, and that came through in the writing. I loved this book so much I would read the a second book in a heart beat.

A new student review of Fair to Hope by Sam Reed

Melissa32301 posted a new student review of Fair to Hope by Sam Reed. See the full review.

By the first page of the book I was addicted to it. I had a lot of emotions during this book, and by the end of it I was crying along with the characters. One of the best things about this book is that Velma didn’t get a fairy tale ending, which made the book seem more realistic. There should be a prequel to this book about the training and Velma’s life as a Taram. I would definitely read it. 

 

A new student review of Snap To Grid: Book One of The Stones of Bothynus Trilogy by D.K. Reed

Sweetfable posted a new student review of Snap To Grid: Book One of The Stones of Bothynus Trilogy by D.K. Reed. See the full review.

This book had me captivated from the start. I immediately identified with the main character, Red, due to her not acting like the typical teenager. Although she does have ADHD, which is something I cannot relate to, we have a lot in common. Her character came across very lifelike. I found it interesting how her nickname came from the character Red Sonja. After looking up this comic book character, I was a little surprised by the choice to have this woman be Red’s role model. It was good she looked up to a strong female character, even if this character dressed provocatively.

I enjoyed a lot of the other characters in the story as well. Erik is really nice and is great because of his personality and not just from how good looking he is. I also really appreciated the bond Red had with her sister. I love seeing siblings having good relationships with one another, especially when they are teenagers.

Overall, this is a really great book that is filled with many amazing moments and will leave the reader wanting more. This book is right up my alley; I can imagine it being a great read for anyone who has an interest in supernatural themes.

A new student review of THE UGLY TEAPOT by Fred Holmes

thudson36 posted a new student review of THE UGLY TEAPOT by Fred Holmes. See the full review.

I really enjoyed reading The Ugly Teapot by Fred Holmes. From the very beginning, this novel captured and held my attention. The protagonist, Hannah, was a strong female character who exhibited bravery and strength throughout the story. She was very likeable, and I found her character easy to relate to.

I liked how this story was filled with action but still dealt with heavy subjects, including death and grief. I think the author did a nice job in finding the balance between happy and sad; some scenes were fun and adventurous while others provoked deep thinking. The plot was well-developed and executed, and the story kept me guessing until the very end.

Overall, I would definitely recommend The Ugly Teapot to any reader looking for an action-packed story with sentimental themes.

A new student review of A Bandit's Tale: The Muddled Misadventures of a Pickpocket by Deborah Hopkinson

treygranger posted a new student review of A Bandit's Tale: The Muddled Misadventures of a Pickpocket by Deborah Hopkinson. See the full review.

A Bandit’s Tale was a very adventurous story for me and had me on the edge of my seat at times guessing at what would happen next. The whole story was a truly eye-opening with the twisted truth of what was happening in the streets of New York City during its history of the influx of a great many immigrants.The characters throughout the story all had some part to play to Zaccaro’s journey. All the characters made me believe that I was walking alongside Zaccaro. The plot shows how many activists shaped the city. The story also had a twist of romance, which is always a good part of a great story. I would recommend this book to other teens who would be interested in historical fiction along with those who love historic thrillers.