The Candy Store by Michele Poague

Gertie's Leap to Greatness by Kate Beasley - reviewed by LitPick student...

Books for Kids at LitPick '16

When the Sea Turned to Silver by Grace Lin LitPick book ratings 5 stars...

Leaving Kent State by Sabrina Fedel

Flamecaster by Cinda Williams Chima

A new student review of The Kinfolk (Book 3 in the Five Stones Trilogy) by Genevieve Morgan

jotaf posted a new student review of The Kinfolk (Book 3 in the Five Stones Trilogy) by Genevieve Morgan. See the full review.

I thought The Kinfolk was a really good book; it met my expectations and then some.  Throughout the series, I have come to love each and every one of the characters, and I loved them in this book just as much as the previous ones.  They were described so well I felt like I was right there with them during the entire journey.  Knox was daring, kind, and really wanted to protect his family.  Chase was brave and very loyal.  I also liked how well the story flowed.  The themes of family, friendship, and teamwork were prevalent throughout.  I didn’t find myself bored at any point in the book.  I would recommend this book to anyone who has read the previous books.

A new student review of Leaving Kent State by Sabrina Fedel

thudson36 posted a new student review of Leaving Kent State by Sabrina Fedel. See the full review.

I really enjoyed reading Leaving Kent State by Sabrina Fedel. The novel is the perfect balance between a love story and historical fiction. I can tell the author did a large amount of research on the Vietnam War, and not just the events but also how people reacted to it and the true feelings of the time period. It feels as if you are transported to the Vietnam War era while reading. The author did a great job of making the novel historically accurate, but it wasn’t overbearing. The historical elements were intertwined with a love story, one so classic and swoon-worthy that you can’t help but become invested.

The novel’s descriptive language provided great imagery and ideally set the scene. The novel’s main character, Rachel, is very likeable and shows great character development throughout the novel. Her thoughts and feelings are easy to relate to. Overall, Leaving Kent State is a great novel and I would recommend it to anyone looking for historical fiction with elements of romance.

A new student review of Flamecaster by Cinda Williams Chima

nictaf posted a new student review of Flamecaster by Cinda Williams Chima. See the full review.

Cinda Williams Chima never disappoints, and this book is no exception. This fantasy/action book was written with amazing characters, fantastically described places, dragons, magic, and amulets! Ash is the main character with a fiery attitude, a kind heart, and a deep sense of family.

The descriptions were awesome! One part where I especially loved the description was, “...a place where the northern winds needled the nose and cleared the head for thinking.”

Although this book is an impressive start to a new series, “Shattered Realms,” it isn't a really good stand-alone story. To understand the full storyline, you should read the first series, “The Seven Realms”, before you read this second series. This book has some killing and violent descriptions, so I would recommend this book for ages 13 and up.

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

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

The History Major is a rather short book, but despite the short nature of the story, it is full of strange twists and many complex elements. Despite the story's complexity, Amanda is the only character that is developed throughout the story, and one of the only four or five characters that provides real importance to the plot. Most of the story is confusing for the reader, but Cash does an excellent job tying everything together into a satisfying ending.

Because of how the story was written, it is nearly impossible to predict the ending before actually getting there, which makes most of the reading rather slow. There are, however, vivid descriptions that allow the reader to picture the setting very well in their head. There are also strong thought provoking themes that leave the reader thinking about the story even after they are done with it, but these themes are also not made clear until the end.

Overall, due to the slow read and confusing nature of most of the story, some people might find it difficult to make it through, but I believe the ending makes it worth it. Because of the good themes and satisfying conclusion, I would recommend The History Major to anyone looking for a shorter story with themes that leave them thinking.