A new student review of Either the Beginning or the End of the World by Terry Farish

Star360 posted a new student review of Either the Beginning or the End of the World by Terry Farish. See the full review.

A well-written dysfunctional family is one of my favorite literary tropes, and Sofie’s messy New Hampshire clan didn’t fail to disappoint. 

As a sixteen-year-old myself, I found Sofie to be perfectly believable. She is smart, but not an insane genius; angry at her mother, but not hateful; loyal to her friends, but always staying true to herself. Her romance with Luke is wonderfully complex. Like any teenager with their first significant other, Sofie is nervous and bright-eyed at the beginning, but matures as the relationships develops. After all, Luke is an adult and she is a teenager, though their roles are sometimes reversed when Luke’s PTSD strikes. Readers will fall in love with the couple, while serious warnings from the author will remind them of harsh realities preventing the characters from maintaining a long-lasting relationship.

Another fascinating dynamic is that of Sofie and her mother. Sofie’s anger at her mother is merited, to be sure. Being abandoned had to be a traumatic experience. Finding out her mother’s backstory was the really interesting part, though. Cambodia isn’t a country that appears very often in YA fiction.

One of the best things about this book is how short it is. Drawn-out trilogies can get tiring, so I was delighted to find such a worthwhile book with less than 200 pages.

Either the Beginning or the End of the World is a unique exploration of a teenaged girl's quest to save her family and find herself.

A new student review of Until I Find Julian by Patricia Reilly Giff

hawkreader10 posted a new student review of Until I Find Julian by Patricia Reilly Giff. See the full review.

In my opinion, Until I Find Julian was a good book. The characters all possessed very realistic traits and I really found myself rooting for Mateo and the others. This book was the perfect length and kept my attention with just the right amount of characters and details. One of the things that I liked most about the book was the small amounts of Spanish that the author included. I think this book is appropriate for all kids age 8 and older. It will also be especially enjoyed by readers that are fans of Esperanza Rising, a similar novel.

A new student review of Lion Island by Margarita Engle

nictaf posted a new student review of Lion Island by Margarita Engle. See the full review.

This book was written more as a series of poems than as a continuous story. Each 'chapter' is a page or less, telling a little bit more about life in Cuba, and gives bits and pieces of a whole. Eventually, we learn more about characters, situations, and circumstances. The characters didn’t have much detail and could have used more explanation in some parts.

The parts of the book that I disliked the most were the sentences that had capitalized words, ie: “POWER allows Spain to rule Cuba”. I didn't like the capital letters because they didn't really tell what I wanted to know. I also felt the book was confusing to read because it changed characters so often.

On the plus side, Lion Island really tells a story about slaves becoming free and what happened in olden-days Cuba. The author, Margarita Engle, chose some very descriptive words and phrases. Some people might really like this book, but personally, I don't like non-fiction stories that much. And due to the format of the book, I found it disorienting and hard to focus on the goal of the story. I would recommend this book to ages 12 and up.

A new student review of The Kura by Mary Patterson Thornburg

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

The Kura by Mary Patterson Thornburg

A new student review of Boundaries: How the Mason-Dixon Line Settled a Family Feud and Divided a Nation by Sally M. Walker

moseso posted a new student review of Boundaries: How the Mason-Dixon Line Settled a Family Feud and Divided a Nation by Sally M. Walker. See the full review.

Boundaries: How the Mason-Dixon Line Settled a Family Feud and Divided a Nation is a wonderfully illustrated and beautifully accurate account of how the Mason-Dixon Line came to be. Numerous characters fill the pages, almost too many to keep track of, as the author carries us through the legacy of Mason and Dixon and their boundary.

 

As we enter the story, several characters are introduced and then dropped a few chapters later. This same pattern continues throughout, making it a challenge to keep track of all the people. About halfway into the book, Mason and Dixon are finally deep into their creation of the line. The author adeptly executes filling the book with accurate historical details as well as real pictures.

 

The conclusion of Boundaries is slow and is welcomed when it finally arrives. A reader learns about the importance of the Mason-Dixon Line and then briefly about its legacy. This book functions more as a research tool, not as a book for pleasure-reading. If you are investigating the Mason-Dixon Line this is an excellent resource! 

A new student review of Grateful Bob: Tommy Defeats the Dragon by Bob Briggs

Jowill posted a new student review of Grateful Bob: Tommy Defeats the Dragon by Bob Briggs. See the full review.

This is a good book for talking to young children about being worried, afraid, or anxious. It lets them know that these are all normal feelings that everyone has at one time or another.  

I didn't like the questions posed to the reader throughout the story. However, I feel that component makes it a good book to read to children and give them an opportunity to discuss their feelings.

Overall, the story has an excellent message and would be a great tool for any parent, teacher, or counselor.

I would recommend this book for young children, aged 7 and younger. 

A new student review of Grateful Bob: Tommy Defeats the Dragon by Bob Briggs

sschu5 posted a new student review of Grateful Bob: Tommy Defeats the Dragon by Bob Briggs. See the full review.

This is a really good book for young readers. It is easy to understand and teaches a valuable lesson. The author helps young children become more aware of what things their friends or family members might be facing. Overall, this is a really good book.

A new student review of Vampire Book of the Month Club by Rusty Fischer

lovereading posted a new student review of Vampire Book of the Month Club by Rusty Fischer. See the full review.

Vampire Book of the Month Club is a story within a story. It is pure genius to make an author a part of the story and put mystery and horror as a side effect to accentuate the book. The idea that a heroine is willing to do anything to help the people she loves is not new, but it is this kind of classic writing with a modern twist that makes this book so compelling to read. Fans of ages 8+ would almost certainly love this book. I hope you enjoy the unknown in this book, because you never know... Who else is lurking among us? Happy Reading!

A new student review of Valley of Fires by J. Barton Mitchell

Jatay posted a new student review of Valley of Fires by J. Barton Mitchell. See the full review.

This was a really fast-paced book with lots of action. In order to understand what's happening, I definitely advise reading the other books in the series. This was the only book I read in the series, and some parts were confusing. I really liked this book because there was never a dull moment, and there were lots of cliff-hangers. The only drawback was that the plot was sometimes unrealistic, for example when Mira and Holt had a perfectly planed escape and when they miraculously evaded certain death over and over. My favorite character was a daring girl named Ravan. She is not one of the main characters, but I like her because she is an awesome pirate.This is a great book for Sy-Fi and dystopian readers.  

A new student review of Supergirl At Super Hero High by Lisa Yee

OrcaGirl posted a new student review of Supergirl At Super Hero High by Lisa Yee. See the full review.

I think the author had a great idea for the prologue; it keeps you wanting to read more, yet tells you the beginning of the story. I like how the author puts a spin on the regular Supergirl but keeps the tale true to its roots. The author makes this book feel like a typical high school story as well as a super hero story. The addition of the character Granny Goodness puts it over the top! 

I recommend this book to anyone who likes the following: super heroes, mystery, adventure, and above all, suspense.  I recommend it to girls age 10-12, or the tween years. It may prepare you for what’s ahead!

The book can help you to feel more secure about yourself, just like Super girl. Throughout most of the story, she was unsure of herself, but at the end she believes in herself.