A new student review of When the Sea Turned To Silver by Grace Lin

Star360 posted a new student review of When the Sea Turned To Silver by Grace Lin. See the full review.

When I was younger, I loved Grace Lin’s books. One of my favorites was Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, which is a companion to When the Sea Turned to Silver. So, I was delighted to discover that Lin hasn’t lost her creative touch at all!

The idea of a girl going on an adventure to save an elderly relative is an old one — not that it isn’t full of potential. What really makes this book stand out is the fantastic incorporation of Chinese folktales. In many of the chapters, either Pinmei or her grandmother tells an engrossing folktale in an easy, flowing manner that makes readers feel like they are comfortably listening around a campfire. The stories are not just pretty words to expand the page count; rather, the characters and objects featured in the stories eventually become critical to Pinmei and Yishan’s journey. It’s refreshing to read about Chinese myths when most of the ancient cultures that schools and books focus on are from Greece, Rome, Egypt, or most recently, Norway (Percy Jackson author Rick Riordan’s new Magnus Chase series).

The main cast of characters is wonderful. Pinmei is a great main character—emotional, driven, clever, and sufficiently flawed to be realistic. Her extreme shyness is a significant challenge to overcome. Kids who wish they could speak up more will find comfort in her achievements by the end of the novel. Her friend, Yishan, is a loyal and brave companion whose secret provides a surprising twist to the plot. Amah is the kind of lovable grandmother that everyone would want to have.

Additionally, readers who have not yet enjoyed the two companion novels Where the Mountain Meets the Moon or Starry River of the Sky need not worry. I haven’t picked up a Lin book in years, and I still understood the plot and setting.

Lin’s When the Sea Turned to Silver sets readers on a sweeping mystical journey that is not to be missed.

A new student review of The Kura by Mary Patterson Thornburg

JesusFreak posted a new student review of The Kura by Mary Patterson Thornburg. See the full review.

The Kura by Mary Thornburg

A new student review of Campion's Choice by GL Wilson

nictaf posted a new student review of Campion's Choice by GL Wilson. See the full review.

G. L. Wilson wrote an amazing book with an epic plot-twist. I loved this book; it was filled with fantasy and adventure. It had a strong magical plot with hints of fantasy thrown into the mix.

This book had a great story line, amazing characters, and sneaky plot-twists! I thought one of the best parts of the story was when the characters gained their powers.

If you like action/fantasy thrillers, then this book is for you! I would recommend it to ages 12 and up. I am eagerly awaiting the release of book two.

 

A new student review of Spring of Elves by Joanne Vruno

jotaf posted a new student review of Spring of Elves by Joanne Vruno. See the full review.

I thought Spring of Elves was an amazing book!  The way Joanne Vruno developed Aly and her sister's characters made them more and more likeable as the story went along. Like all of the other Seasons of Elves books, the descriptions were captivating. From the gigantic and ugly ogres, to the tiny and caring light elves, I found myself feeling as if I was right there in the story. 

Because this book picks up immediately where the last left off, I don’t feel this is a stand-alone book. I would recommend it to anyone who has read and loved the first three books. I would encourage anyone to read them. As a whole, I loved the Seasons of Elves series from the very start to the final page.

A new student review of The Eye of Midnight by Andrew Brumbach

cowboys1 posted a new student review of The Eye of Midnight by Andrew Brumbach. See the full review.

I enjoyed this story quite a bit.  It caught my attention from the very beginning.  The characters were well developed and interesting.  Though the children were caught up in a very dangerous situation that required them to be creative and brave, the situations never seemed completely unrealistic, which made it a perfect adventure!

 

I did have a small problem with a lot of the vocabulary in the story.  There were arabic terms and terms from the early 20th Century that were unfamiliar.  There is a glossery in the back of the book, but unfortunately I did not realize this until I was through about a third of the story.

A new student review of Moon of the Goddess by Cathy Hird

lovereading posted a new student review of Moon of the Goddess by Cathy Hird. See the full review.

Moon of the Goddess is definitely one of my favorite book to read and review so far. The author is a complete genius to bring the words, characters, and actions together in such a compelling way. I’ve already loved Greek Mythology. The book just brought that feeling to life. The princess has a determination to reach her goal, and keeps a clear head even in the most confusing of times. The prince and the others on the odyssey have their limits put to the test, which always gives a sense of mystery and endurance that come with the best books. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. Happy Reading!

 

 

A new student review of The Boy Who Knew Too Much by Jeffrey Westhoff

sschu5 posted a new student review of The Boy Who Knew Too Much by Jeffrey Westhoff. See the full review.

This is an amazing book. I love it because of all the adventure. It moves so fast, which creates a feeling of suspense. I found myself wondering, “What’s going to happen next?” The backstory of the main character, Brian, is genius for this story. It helps to make the book easier to understand and overall fun to read. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a fast-paced book full of adventure.

A new student review of Tut Reborn by Cyci Cade

Star360 posted a new student review of Tut Reborn by Cyci Cade. See the full review.

Tut Reborn

A new student review of Akarnae by Lynette Noni

Ampster posted a new student review of Akarnae by Lynette Noni. See the full review.

From the very first page, I fell in love with the energetic and spirited Alex Jennings. The book has so many plot twists. While I read it, I felt involved in the adventure myself. I was walking right beside Alex, and learning what she discovered with her. The Library in the book was portrayed with such mysterious elegance that I want to figure out the millions of secrets within its walls. The author, Noni, creates the most interesting characters. My personal favorite character  was Jordan because of his sarcasm and witty charm. Darrius was such a strong fatherly figure who turned out to be different than I thought he would be. D.C. is also a favorite of mine for her spirit and personality. The suprising characters and overwhelming surprises moved this book to the top of my reading list. Noni creates an advanced society that is based on trust. I loved her word choice and voice throughout this book. Akarnae is amazing, and I can't wait to read the next book, Raelia, which will bring me back into this magical world and continue this daring adventure.

A new student review of Spring of Elves

moseso posted a new student review of Spring of Elves . See the full review.

Spring of Elves is the final book in the Seasons of Elves series by Joanne Vruno. It is a thrilling and exciting conclusion to the series. Although I felt a few chapters were lacking in detail compared to the other books, this story is certainly one you’ll want to read!

 

Although the book had many of the same elements and plots as the previous books, there is still a sense of excitement as well as finality throughout the storyline. When the rock elves sent by King Helmar begin to become more than aggressive, the light elf leaders devise a plan to rid their villages of this threat! Ogres and other mythical creatures add to the surprising twists and turns of the story.

 

In conclusion, Spring of Elves is a wonderful end to the series, and I would recommend all Seasons of Elves fans read this book!