A new student review of Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood by Abby McDonald

HannahScorsone posted a new student review of Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood by Abby McDonald. See the full review.

The book was okay. I usually have to find the perfect book to get into it. To me the book was kind of boring in the beginnning. Usually books bring me in on the first chapter, but this one didn't. The book got better towards the end. Hallie was my favorite character in the book. She is upbeat and loves to go for her dreams.

A new student review of Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood by Abby McDonald

HannahScorsone posted a new student review of Jane Austen Goes to Hollywood by Abby McDonald. See the full review.

The book was okay. I usually have to find the perfect book to get into it. To me the book was kind of boring in the beginnning. Usually books bring me in on the first chapter, but this one didn't. The book got better towards the end. Hallie was my favorite character in the book. She is upbeat and loves to go for her dreams.

A new student review of All Our Pretty Songs

swimmer1430 posted a new student review of All Our Pretty Songs . See the full review.

I did not know what to expect when I started reading All Our Pretty Songs and I definitely did not expect it to be a retelling of the myth of Orpheus. That fact explains a lot of the plot, and I think fans of Greek mythology will really enjoy this story. The writing is beautiful, almost like poetry. However, there is a lot of narration and not much in the way of plot and dialogue. I would have liked to see more action instead of reading the author's flowery prose. I thought it was interesting that the narrator does not have a name, and I'm still surprised that it's possible to write a novel without revealing that fact. I loved reading about the bond between Aurora and the narrator and it was nice to see such supportive and caring friends. On the other hand, the relationship between the narrator and Jack wasn't as interesting to read about: I felt as though it could have been developed more. I'm not really into mythology, so that part of the plot didn't appeal to me. That's the reason for the 3-star rating. Even though I'm not the biggest fan of All Our Pretty Songs, I think people who like Greek mythology will get a lot out of this story.

A new student review of Sacred by Elana K. Arnold

admin posted a new student review of Sacred by Elana K. Arnold. See the full review.

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A new student review of 100 Cupboards by 99 Unknown Email

admin posted a new student review of 100 Cupboards by 99 Unknown Email. See the full review.

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A new student review of Ruby Redfort Look Into My Eyes

TaurielOfMirkwood posted a new student review of Ruby Redfort Look Into My Eyes . See the full review.

I loved this book! It is like a Nancy Drew, but more modern and at kid level, because Ruby is a kid of 13. It was a thrill to read, with cliffhangers and always the question: "What will happen next?" There was multiple views from multiple characters, which made it interesting. It was also funny at some parts! Overall, this was an AWESOME book!!

A new student review of Quicksilver

calicool123 posted a new student review of Quicksilver . See the full review.

Nothing could compare to Ultra violet but this came pretty close. I have owned it for about a week and have read it so many times already. The way R.J Anderson sets up the chapters is confusing at times. It adds to the dramatic affect of the story though. I would recommend this book to anyone.

A new student review of The Eternity Cure

alphatauri posted a new student review of The Eternity Cure . See the full review.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the series, The Immortal Rules, and was hungry for more, so I was delighted when this book popped up on LitPick! The Eternity Cure features mostly the same characters from book one, and is written in the same style, but builds upon the world and concepts in book one. I highly recommend reading book one before this. The strengths of book one are all mostly here. Allison was already likeable before, but she grows stronger and more independent here. Jackal is a great supporting character with personality. Zeke is still meh, but he's getting there. Sarren is a convincing villain that you love to hate. The descriptions of fights in this book are also worth a mention. Kagawa describes so eloquently that you never get tired of reading them, and believe me, there are a lot of them. However, there's a lot of filler as well. This occurred in book one too. The Eternity Cure is 400+ pages and has a relatively short climax. Much of the beginning is difficult to get into due to the lack of action, and when the action comes, it is all clustered together. If not for this, The Eternity Cure would've been a five-star read. As it stands though, The Eternity Cure was well worth my time and I will be reading the next book in the series as soon as I am able. 

A new student review of Ink by Amanda Sun

leonardo posted a new student review of Ink by Amanda Sun. See the full review.

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A new student review of First Light (Project Five Fifteen) by Samantha Summers

LISH0985 posted a new student review of First Light (Project Five Fifteen) by Samantha Summers. See the full review.

This book was full of grammatical errors, lacking descriptive language at times, and also very dry at times. The first 200 pages were very hard to get through. There were so many things wrong that it's hard to think about how to review this critically. I would not recommend this book. The author needs to go back and revise: many sentences were either worded wrong, confusing, or could have been written better. The language was very babyish. I was disappointed.

A new student review of My Ex From Hell (The Blooming Goddess Trilogy Book One)

RavenWing posted a new student review of My Ex From Hell (The Blooming Goddess Trilogy Book One) . See the full review.

My first piece of advice would be - read a few pages first. This author has a particular writing style which may be difficult for some readers. There’s a ton of detail and lots of analogies. If you aren’t an experienced reader, or don’t read a lot, this might not be the easiest read for you.

When I read the summary for this book I thought “Yeah, some Greek mythology laced with romance!” That is not what this book is. Basically, it is a comedy with a dash of Greek background. The stories mentioned are not the main part, but it does deal with Zeus and Hades. Also, most of the time is spent with Sophie doing stupid stuff to get herself almost killed.

Despite what I’ve said, I did enjoy this book. It was a laugh-out-loud comedy that had an easy story line. The author cracks jokes often in a way that’s reasonable. As a comedy, I would recommend this book. Whatever you do, though, DO NOT pick up this book for the romance. It sounds good, but it is not. After a few passionate kisses that are more about Kai’s missing Persephone, Sophie’s god form, he won’t even give her the time of day. Not to mention he’s an ass that does not get better with time.

Lastly, just to warn you, the ending is horrible. I, personally, will not be reading the sequel because everything I was hoping would happen was brutally mutilated. The ending did not leave me laughing, crying, or open-mouthed. It was an “ok?” ending where you ask yourself “did the last chapter just get cut off? Because this doesn’t sound like the end.”

A new student review of The Worst-Case Scenario: Deadly Seas by Alexander Lurie David Borgenicht

nowhereman posted a new student review of The Worst-Case Scenario: Deadly Seas by Alexander Lurie David Borgenicht. See the full review.

I thought this book was really good. It has a lot of action and adventure that keeps you on your toes as to what choices you make. I thought that it was also cool how it actually tells you how to survive certain situations, like for instance shark attacks, what to eat and what not to eat when adrift at sea, and how to make a flotation device. If you like this book then you might like the other books in the series. One example of the questions in the book is “If you abandon ship, turn to page 157”or”if you stay on the boat, Turn to page 104”(54). I recommend this book for all ages.

 

A new student review of Life: An Exploded Diagram

ReesaOnFire posted a new student review of Life: An Exploded Diagram . See the full review.

This book had started out fantastic. Clem’s ancestry, and indirectly Frankie’s, was captivating. Their, Clem’s Grandparents and parents, story alone could have made an excellent book. I found that their story was better than Clem's and Frankie’s.  Then again, Clem and Frankie’s story had more passion.

 Overall, the writing was great. Pleet’s vocabulary and descriptions are in great detail and place you into the scene or the characters minds. You feel the anxiety, the fear, the happiness and the lust.

 I’m afraid that once I got towards middle-end of the book, when Frankie appeared, I was disappointed. The book had been so great, so interesting—mostly historical but great.  Once Frankie appeared however, I felt as though the whole story had changed. It was now about Frankie and Clem’s relationship; which seemed purely emotional and hormonal. When I said that Pleet described everything in great detail I meant it—and towards the center end of the book I disliked it. I had to skip over huge chunk of the book as it became less historical and interesting but hormonal and over all inappropriate. The character seemed more focused on lust rather than love. But this does give a different look on the world, a view that, to some, is a little risky.

Thinking back, to have that level of realism in the book was a good thing.

I loved the familial story—the parents and the grandparents were great – they gave a sense of the time frame they lived in. But as Clem and Frankie gave a look into the rebellious side—a different view, which was good but they were just too crass for me to stand. 

A new student review of The Moon Coin (The Moon Realm Series, Book 1) by Richard Due

worms123 posted a new student review of The Moon Coin (The Moon Realm Series, Book 1) by Richard Due. See the full review.

One thing that I liked about this book are the descriptions. For example page 86 paints a picture of Niminn and Lilly. “Nimlinn stared long at Lilly and narrowed her ernormous eyes.” The top thing I liked about this book was chapter 13 because this part just made me shiver. The part was “ Bathed in moonlight, Travin stood alone under the shrinking hole burned into the clouds by the dragon’s breath.” The thing I didn’t like was in chapter one, I didn’t understand what a flocskool was. Chapter 19 was creepy because it was a scary chapter. I didn’t know if anyone was killed or not. I also found some of the words were too complicated. If you like fairytales and have an open mind this would be a good book for you.

A new student review of The Subway by Christopher Taylor

jackyboy889 posted a new student review of The Subway by Christopher Taylor. See the full review.

I think that the subway is definitely not for anyone under 14, unless you are an advanced reader, as it can get extremely confusing at times. My favorite part of the book is when Stacy is in the paradox, and tries to figure out what is happening to her, as you don’t know what is going on either. Overall I would definitely recommend this book, but only to advanced readers.

A new student review of Super-Scary: Mochimochi by Anna Hrachovec

Gwendolyn posted a new student review of Super-Scary: Mochimochi by Anna Hrachovec. See the full review.

 

As one who doesn’t always like to follow patterns and gets highly frustrated when I don’t understand something, I found the author’s notes to be helpful. By breaking down the patterns into sections, she made knitting less difficult and stress free. The patterns go by somewhat quickly, which I liked, and I think is quite good for all the impatient knitters out there. In my opinion, a few of the creature designs are not entirely cute, so this is one of the reasons why I enjoyed the “mix and match monsters” section, where I was able to practice certain techniques and design the toy specifically how I wanted. Anna Hrachovec makes knitting simple and easy to comprehend.

 

A new student review of The Geneva Project - Truth

LaRayne posted a new student review of The Geneva Project - Truth . See the full review.

This is an amazing story of how Jane #65 discovers she has powers that may be too much as they put her friendships to the test. This is a fast paced adventure about friendship, family, and not pushing things too far. I love this book because it has adventure in it but the real point is for her to find out who she really is. I would recommend this book to young teens that like adventure and don’t mind a bit of drama in it as well.

 

 

A new student review of The Serpent In The Glass by D.M. Andrews

link posted a new student review of The Serpent In The Glass by D.M. Andrews. See the full review.

The author did a good job of describing the characters. I could picture them in my head easily. I think the idea of the marble with a serpent in it was cool. The story itself was very original. I've never read anything like it before.

However, the pace of the book was very slow and could have benefitted from more action, especially in the middle. The mystery was easy to figure out and not a surprise at the end. There were a few dream sequences that were strange and sometimes hard to follow because some were italicized and others were not. 

A new student review of The Girl With The Iron Touch

kfc1997 posted a new student review of The Girl With The Iron Touch . See the full review.

Kady Cross has written another amazing book in The Steampunk Chronicles, and I sincerely hope that she has another one coming. The characters felt realistic; I could connect to their emotions, which were well written. The storyline was amazing, and it connected well to the two previous books in the series. I recommend this book to girls aged 15 and up.  

A new student review of Neferet's Curse: A House of Night Novella (House of Night)

Bookreader587 posted a new student review of Neferet's Curse: A House of Night Novella (House of Night) . See the full review.

This book has an extremely mature theme. The entire book hints to the end, and the events leading up to it. This book does explain the antagonist's reasons for being the way she is in the House of Night novels. The authors did a great job of setting a tone to the novella such as some instances when they would use the words "burning gaze" to describe the way her father looked at her. You can tell that the character is almost constantly threatened or scared, very rarely happy. The book was written very well, other books written in the same time setting as this one I found rather boring. This book had a very mature theme and I would not recommend it for people under 15 due to the graphic violence.  

A new student review of Weather Witch

R. Mae posted a new student review of Weather Witch . See the full review.

 

 

When I started Weather Witch I had trouble following the plot. The character view changed so often, I couldn't figure out who to vote for and it was very confusing. After reading it for a while, I kind of 'fell into' the plot. It all clicked together and I realized that the multiple points of view taught me a great moral. Jordan hates Bran for trying to make her, and I would have too if I didn't know the truth about him since I had been in his mind. Rowan was snotty, and seemed that way to everyone including me, but in his own head he was perfectly fine. All these different viewpoints gave Weather Witch a unique edge. Once the plot came into focus I really enjoyed the book. One thing I didn't like was that everyone except me knew what the witches were and could do. When everyone else seemed to know what was happening, I didn't and that was annoying.  Even though there were some problems, I really liked the book. Weather Witch is creative and fresh.

A new student review of Feral Nights

lagoonablue444 posted a new student review of Feral Nights . See the full review.

            I give this book 3.5 stars.  I would have liked it better, if they didn’t have so much talk about sex and drinking.

            I didn’t really have a favorite character in this book.  I liked the mystery and that they were all were-animals.

A new student review of Belonging (A Temptation Novel)

Peace8747 posted a new student review of Belonging (A Temptation Novel) . See the full review.

I thought Beolnging was a very good book. I loved a bunch of the elements in the book. I have read a lot of book and Belonging was one of the best. The thing that I loved the most was the real life element of the story. The thing that I hated the most was all the talking about sex. Overall it was an amazing book.

A new student review of Fitz

nowhereman posted a new student review of Fitz . See the full review.

 

This book sounded interesting when I read the overview but after reading it I had mixed feelings about it. I mean how could a boy justify holding his father at gunpoint? I thought that the author needed to add more stuff to justify Fitz’s actions because the boy didn’t think about his actions at all. Overall though it just needed something to make it stand out more. I recommend this book to ages 12 and up.

 

A new student review of The Sin Eater's Confession (Carolrhoda Ya)

sabol posted a new student review of The Sin Eater's Confession (Carolrhoda Ya) . See the full review.

I found this book to be one of the most gripping and suspenseful thriller novels I have ever read. Ilsa J. Bick took great care in weaving each thread into the complexity of the plot that keeps you holding your breath. I found myself becoming so attached to the tragic hero; at one moment feeling sympathy, and other times screaming at him in frustration. At times I had to force myself to stop reading at night. And when the story was over, there were even more unanswered questions than before.  The Sin-Eater’s Confessions is not only an engrossing novel, it is also a social statement that questions sexuality, the role of parents, and the struggle that teens undergo when trying to define who they are among society,      

A new student review of Life: An Exploded Diagram

VBat posted a new student review of Life: An Exploded Diagram . See the full review.

In Life: An Exploded Diagram, Mal Peet masterfully knits storylines from different times and places into one seamless plot. The character development reminded me of Khalid Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns, in that the story followed the characters for their entire lives, not just focusing in on the 
"important" part of their existence. This allows for the reader to relate to each of the characters, especially Clem and Frankie, and for the reader to pick up on the clever ways in which the past, present and future intertwine over the course of the story. 

The mix of storytelling and narration of political events worked in a unique, interesting way. The important political happenings that affected the story were narrated by an older Clem. His interpretations of key political figures are though provoking, and spark an interest in the Cold War era.  

I would recommend Life: An Exploded Diagram to teens and young adults who enjoy romance, history, and realistic fiction. Fans of Peet's Tamar or works by Khalid Hosseini will enjoy this book immensely. 

A new student review of A Monster Calls

JesusFreak posted a new student review of A Monster Calls . See the full review.

When I first got this book, my first thought was, this book is really small. And it was really short.  I finished it within three days. But, excluding the shortness, it was a very good book! I loved how it really got deep into your thought process and made you think. The only other things I didn’t like about it was that they never fully explained the whole concept of the Monster. Was the Monster just a figment of the main character’s imagination, or was it real? The other thing that I didn’t like about it was that the ending didn’t really feel like an ending. It just sort of stopped suddenly without further explanation. Other than that, a pretty good book.

A new student review of Butterfly

nlsings posted a new student review of Butterfly . See the full review.

I liked this book.  The writing was pleasant and poetic.  The story was decent.  It was a pretty typical tale of an awkward kid growing up, and learning to appreciate who she really is.  It has a good message, but it is one that often surfaces in teen literature.  Some of the parts about her friends and boys were cliche and overdone, but it was a sweet and nostolgic read overall.  If you have a soft spot for adorable and well written books about teenage girls growing up, then this is for you.  Especially if you have read and enjoyed the book Scarlet by Cathy Cassidy, then I would highly recommend this to you.  

A new student review of Earth Girl by Janet Edwards

dancerASJ posted a new student review of Earth Girl by Janet Edwards. See the full review.

This book is a good read. Not too long.Not too short.Great storyline with developing characters , secrets , and friendship. All in all this is any enjoyable book.

A new student review of Who Is AC? by Hope Larson

mattstudent_101 posted a new student review of Who Is AC? by Hope Larson. See the full review.

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A new student review of Touch of the Demon

kanati posted a new student review of Touch of the Demon . See the full review.

l personally enjoyed this book for the action and constant plot twists keeping me on my toes. Diana Rowland shows her mastery of the element of suspense and the urban fantasy genre by use of her captivating characters and engaging plot line. This is truly a great page turner that contains a little something for everyone. I recommend this to any teen looking for a great series that will never grow old. I know I will be keeping my eyes out for the next book in the series.

A new student review of The Moon Coin (The Moon Realm Series, Book 1) by Richard Due

PrincessLeiaAayla posted a new student review of The Moon Coin (The Moon Realm Series, Book 1) by Richard Due. See the full review.

The Moon Coin by Richard Due was an average book.  I liked the fact that it included:

• Some pictures, so you have a better image of what the characters look like
• Some descriptions, but they are very confusing

Here is what I didn't like:

• The story and the way it unfolded was VERY confusing
• Lily is always lying throughout the story and never learns from her lying, which is frustrating.
• The spelling is weird, as if it's from another country. It makes the book difficult to read.

A new student review of Garden Princess by Kristin Kladstrup

TaurielOfMirkwood posted a new student review of Garden Princess by Kristin Kladstrup. See the full review.

It was a pretty good book. Not the best, but not the worst. It wasn't really that exciting, and it was actually kind of boring at times. The ending was good, though. That was the part in the book that really made me want to know what happens. So, overall, it was a good book. Not a great book, not a terrible book, but a good book.

A new student review of Plague in the Mirror

swimmer1430 posted a new student review of Plague in the Mirror . See the full review.

The subject of doppelgangers is very interesting and hasn't been written about as much as it should. I thought the premise of Plague in the Mirror sounded very original: evil twins, time travel, romance, and travel all rolled into one. However, I think the author had too many storylines and themes in her novel. Neither modern day Italy or Medieval Florence were as fleshed out as they could have been. I would have preferred if the author picked one setting and stayed with it - rather than have May constantly travel between the two. There were things that I enjoyed in this novel. I loved the setting of Florence. I want to travel to Italy so I was jealous of May's opportunity to live there for the summer. I also enjoyed May's relationship and romance with Liam although I do wish they spent more time together in the book. Overall I think the author of Plague in the Mirror had too many ideas for one book, but it was still an enjoyable read.

A new student review of The Goddess Inheritance by Aimée Carter

sthom506 posted a new student review of The Goddess Inheritance by Aimée Carter. See the full review.

Kate Winters has such a human feel for a supposed Goddess, which allowed for a wonderful connection to the character. Her tale is believable while still being fantastical and adventurous. There is a balance of romance and action, not to mention familial love and tight-knit friendships. The character relationships developed the most in this latest book, and it is easy to be drawn in from the first sentence. As the characters go through pain, joy, and amusement, so will each and every individual reader, feeling as though they are apart of this brilliantly painted mastery of a story. Well written and much enjoyed by this reader, The Goddess Inheritance is a perfect addition to any fantasy or mythology loving reader's collection. 

A new student review of The Crossing (Blood of the Lamb: Book One)

dancechicka posted a new student review of The Crossing (Blood of the Lamb: Book One) . See the full review.

This book was a breath of fresh air for me.  Hagar has defiantly come up with an original and innovative idea.  I was a little confused with the plot and who’s who at the beginning, but as the book went on I figured it out.  I love how Hagar portrayed Maryam as a strong and willful individual, yet gave her a certain vulnerability that made you want to cheer her on to victory.  This book was exciting but not too faced paced, edgy without being intrusive, and had plenty of new twists that kept me guessing.  This book captures the feeling of deception and conspiracy, with the underlying rage and anger just below the surface.  I also felt the supporting characters played a big role in this book’s plot, giving it depth and personality.  All in all, I felt this novel was a success and encourage you to read it!

“The singing and the crush of people amplified around her….she cast about, desperate for some whom might ease her plight.  But now she was falling….”

I would recommend this book for mature readers and young adults, as this novel had some sexual situations and references, yet no profanity to speak of.

Faced with the consequences of turning her back on everything she believes, will Maryam be able to escape the dreaded and merciless Apostles and find out the truth…..alive?  You’ll have to read Mandy Hagar’s new novel, The Crossing, to answer that question?

Note:  This book is the first installment of the Blood of the Lamb Trilogy.  If you are interested in reading the other installments, the second novel is called Into the Wilderness and the third, Resurrection.

A new student review of Dare You To by Katie McGarry

kaiyle posted a new student review of Dare You To by Katie McGarry. See the full review.

Dare You To is one of the best books that I have read in a really long time.  I love how Katie McGarry switches back and forth between Beth and Ryan's perspectives so the reader can see how different events affect each of them differently.  Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down.  I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a teen romance book.

A new student review of Shaken by D.M. Anderson

EmilyFredricks posted a new student review of Shaken by D.M. Anderson. See the full review.

I liked this book very much, I liked how it showed three different teenagers' stories. It didn't just show one. You got to see how each of the different teenagers deals with the earthquake. I enjoyed it quite a bit, it was one of the better books that I have read in a long time.

A new student review of Peanut

MIZZIQ posted a new student review of Peanut . See the full review.

It's a pretty neat story. I wouldn't say it's very original. However the pictures and the likable characters that you can relate to bring it to life in a whole new way. Friendships are the main focal point for this book and it does a fine job of entertaining, making you think, laugh, and read it all in one sitting. Cute and very memorable. One thing I especially loved was how the pictures furthered an already good story, and the cool transitions between color and black and white kept me interested. I thought there were some really great comedic parts as well. Overall a very neat book that arrived just in time for a snow storm.  

A new student review of My Ex From Hell (The Blooming Goddess Trilogy Book One)

LISH0985 posted a new student review of My Ex From Hell (The Blooming Goddess Trilogy Book One) . See the full review.

What I liked:
Sophie Bloom is a sarcastic, spunky narrator who keeps the action rolling in the book. She is a refreshing version of a goddess. Usually goddesses are aloof, mean, cunning, manipulative, and sometimes nice. But Sophie represents all the things that I would look for if I decided to worship a Greek God. I love Sophie’s friends, too, who are just as sarcastic as she is. Kai sounds evilly delicious and I just want to take a bite out of his character. The plot, while not original, plays out well and keeps me interested; it is refreshing in it’s own little way. Also the action doesn’t drag on, which can happen when the author gets to excited and into the novel.

What I didn’t like:
A good book describes the characters. This book hinted at a description. The author just scratched at the surface of the animosity between Sophie and Bethany and I was deeply interested to know why they hate each other so much, since Bethany is a part-time main character. Also, I would've like to have known the history between Felicia and Sophie. I understood that Felicia was a drunk and wasn’t always the most attentive mother, but until the end, when Sophie was traveling down the labyrinth, I didn’t know that Felicia was cruel to Sophie, as well. The tension between Sophie and Kai could have been played up some more as well. In the story, it feels like they are two people who just met each other, with no hints at the past they really have.  Kai must know things about what Sophie was like when she was Persephone, but it never seems that way. I would have expected there to be more hints from them about what they knew about each other.   Another thing that I didn’t like is that the action moves too fast. Kai kisses her and "boom" - she knows who she is and how to use some of her powers. I would have liked if she gradually worked in the use of her powers. Sophie could have begun to experience dreams of her former life and have her powers start to act up in front of people at first. The battle scenes could have been drawn out more. We could have gotten to know Theo: his past, his sacrifice, and ultimately about his time imprisoned by Zeus and how he got free. And I feel like maybe Ms. Darling could have explained why Theo hates Kai so much.

Overall:
I give this book anywhere from a 4.3 to a 4.5. It kept me entertained and I didn’t want to put it down.

A new student review of A Long, Long Sleep

JesusFreak posted a new student review of A Long, Long Sleep . See the full review.

I’ve never been one for love stories; I’ve always loved fast-paced futuristic stories.  However, this book was an exception.  I was afraid that it was going to be a slow, boring book as soon as I started it.  I quickly found out that I was wrong.  I found myself thinking like Rose, the main character, so it was nice how I felt connected with her.  I also loved how the story was based on Sleeping Beauty but wasn’t all gushy.  The main reason I loved this book was the emotion that it brought with its story.  I found myself tearing up at quite a few parts (which I usually never do when it comes to books).  I suggest this book to everyone out there, no matter if you do or don’t like romantic stories.  You won’t be disappointed!

A new student review of Super Zombie Juice Mega Bomb by MJ Ware

hometlf@yahoo.com posted a new student review of Super Zombie Juice Mega Bomb by MJ Ware. See the full review.

If you like Zombies, this book is for you! If you like creepy stories or stories with adventure, this book is for you. I recommend it for kids ages 10 and up. I loved it and couldn’t put it down. I even read it more than once.

I liked Nate, Misty and Kali. I felt like I was right there with them as they battled the Zombies and was rooting for them all the way. I didn’t want to see them get blown up with the town and I wish the story could have had a different ending for Kali. He was a really cool and smart kid.

SUPER ZOMBIE JUICE MEGA BOMB by M.J.A. Ware is a great story and as an extra bonus - besides giving us the answer to wiping zombies out of extinction – he gives the reader a 3 for 1: Super Zombie Juice Mega Bomb and two short stories.  They are just as great a read as Super Zombie Juice Mega Bomb.

So what are you waiting for, so get the book and your Zombie survival guide now! Enjoy!

A new student review of A Long, Long Sleep

swimmer0016 posted a new student review of A Long, Long Sleep . See the full review.

I thought this book was very interesting. It was completely different from anything I have ever read before. There was so much technology portrayed; some that we haven't even imagined yet. It was hard to understand what all of the information meant at first but once you got into it it was so cool. There is a romance it is sad and sweet and in the end it is beautiful. I loved this book

A new student review of Heron's Path by Alethea Eason

Rainbow Shard posted a new student review of Heron's Path by Alethea Eason. See the full review.

I really enjoyed this book.  The blending of the worlds of the native people and the white girls was accomplished in such a manner as to make the worlds seem one, while still expressing the separation of the two.  I also was drawn in by Celeste’s struggle with the wei-ni-la, the evil ones, and the Old Ones in the native myths.  I did find it a little strange that she kept running off naked, but it only added to the intrigue of the story.  Then blue feathers began to grow on her arm, which fascinated me, though I suppose some people might call it creepy.  Overall, it was an excellent book, one I would recommend to anyone who likes history or is just interested in the legends of Native Americans.

A new student review of Glamorous Illusions: A Novel (Grand Tour Series) by Lisa T. Bergren

jarofclay posted a new student review of Glamorous Illusions: A Novel (Grand Tour Series) by Lisa T. Bergren. See the full review.

This is one of my favorite books and I cannot wait for the rest of the trilogy. The time period is absolutely stunning and Lisa Bergren has a talent for developing well thought-out characters and transporting the reader into the past. One of the best aspects of the book is that the romance, while still there and intriguing, develops slower than most books nowadays and makes you keep guessing. Also, the main pull of the book is Cora discovering herself, learning how to deal with her newfound fortune and family, and knowing that soon she'll have to choose which life she continues to live. By making Cora's story a trilogy, Bergren gives herself time to fully explore the characters and settings while allowing the reader to become fully enthralled with her story. I definately recommend this trilogy to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and books with something more than just a romance story. 

A new student review of White Fur Flying

underwood_bcl posted a new student review of White Fur Flying . See the full review.

   I liked the story because of the relationships between the children and their neighbor and how they managed to get the new rescued dogs and the little boy to begin to trust them.  When the silent boy, Phillip,  follows  Jack, a rescued dog, the dog ends up keeping Phillip safe.  I think I like Alice best because of her imagination.  She always tells the truth but she often adds a bit more than the real truth.

A new student review of Penny's War by Anne Dearle

blu6 posted a new student review of Penny's War by Anne Dearle. See the full review.

 I think this was an okay book. It explained things well so you don't have to sit there and wonder what it means. It could have been more detailed in some parts, because some things were very to the point and short. I like how it talked about real things that happened in the war too, rather than being totally untrue.  Otherwise it was a really good book.

A new student review of Fat Angie

Peace8747 posted a new student review of Fat Angie . See the full review.

I thought Fat Angie was a pretty good book. It was not the best book that I have read, but overall it was a good book.

A new student review of Anatomy of a Single Girl

ryleestrohmeyer posted a new student review of Anatomy of a Single Girl . See the full review.

I think this was a good book, but not approprite for my age.

A new student review of My Ex From Hell (The Blooming Goddess Trilogy Book One)

EmilyFredricks posted a new student review of My Ex From Hell (The Blooming Goddess Trilogy Book One) . See the full review.

 

I thought that "My Ex from Hell" was very well written and was very interesting. I enjoyed how the story was more than just a love story. Its main backbone wasn't the romance, it was more about the mythology and the Greek gods. I also enjoyed how there was some romance sprinkled in the story along the way but it wasn't the main thing. I thought it was well written and ended in a good spot. It didn't drag on and on, but it wasn’t like there could have been more to make it better. Overall I enjoyed the book.

A new student review of My Ex From Hell (The Blooming Goddess Trilogy Book One)

detectiveginger posted a new student review of My Ex From Hell (The Blooming Goddess Trilogy Book One) . See the full review.

“My Ex From Hell’ is a superb book written by Tellulah Darling. It had a very good plot with Greek mythology themes and good action. I especially liked the fact that it was based on Greek mythology, as it is an interesting topic really worth delving into.

There was also very good interaction between the characters, however there was one thing that was a bit lacking, and that is the relationship between Prometheus and Persephone. I would like to know more about the history of Prometheus and Persephone’s friendship, to find out why he would give up so much for her – perhaps it will be explored in the next books.

Also the book needs a few minor editing but besides that, it was all good. Tellulah Darling’s writing really pulls the reader in with her storytelling, and it was hard to put down the book, all the way to the end (which ended with a nice cliffhanger); I was perplexed to find that I had finished reading the book, and I will be interested in reading the next books in the Blooming Goddess Trilogy to find out what kind of situations the protagonists will get into.

A new student review of Shadowflesh

R. Mae posted a new student review of Shadowflesh . See the full review.

 

Shadowflesh was riveting, it was eerie and yet humorous at the same time. The plot was charismatic, but a little depressing for my taste. I enjoyed the characters and their quirky attitudes, although the atmosphere was a little dreary, but that comes with living in a haunted mansion. I felt like the romance  was a little overdone or exaggerated.  Aileen, the main character, was strong willed and a brave girl. I loved the book because of her, and her oddly nerdy friends.  Addison was boring. I liked how nice he was, but his attitude was tiring (being trapped in a prison like death sentence and having to kill random people probably does that to you though). The creative story-line really moved the book along, it mixed everyday life, and the supernatural together exceptionally. Although the book has its flaws, it was still written very well.

A new student review of Above World

lagoonablue444 posted a new student review of Above World . See the full review.

I would recommend this book to girls and boys in middle-school ages and older, and also anyone fascinated by water.  I really liked that each chapter is from a different character's point of view.  It felt like I was in that world; and the vocabulary was easy to understand.  I learned that even people who are different and come from different worlds can get along.

The ending was so suspenseful, I can't wait to read the next book.  I can't think of anything I didn't like about it.

I really liked this book; it is the best book I've ever read!

A new student review of Diary of a Part-Time Ghost by Vered Ehsani

EmilyFredricks posted a new student review of Diary of a Part-Time Ghost by Vered Ehsani. See the full review.

Diary of a Part Time Ghost by Vered Ehsani, Published 2011. The setting of this book was in the house of the main character, and also Boston during the American Revolution. The main Characters are Ashish Kali, and Sara. Ashish is a young teenage boy who lives in Modern time. Sara is one of Ashish's Ancestors who lived during the American Revolution. Kali is the 'bad guy' of this book. He is the person who is trying to take the book from Ashish throughout the book. The main conflict is between Ashish and Kali. The problem is that Ashish has a very important book that Kali needs to get a hold of in order to get out of the American Revolution time period. I liked the story line. I found it to be very interesting and creative. I also liked how the story was an easy read. I didn't like how short the book was. I found that some of the ideas could have been developed more to make the book longer but over all I did like the book.

A new student review of A Red Sun Also Rises by Mark Hodder

Raphael posted a new student review of A Red Sun Also Rises by Mark Hodder. See the full review.

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A new student review of Plague in the Mirror

nlsings posted a new student review of Plague in the Mirror . See the full review.

In books, the improbable is allowed to occur.  The reader can suspend disbelief for the story, he or she can believe that time travelling ghosts can pop up out of nowhere, or that best friends can become boyfriends.  Perhaps the reader can even believe that teenage girls can follow their ghost-twins back in time to escape the stress of their parent’s crumbling marriage.  Or that those same teenage girls can meet steamy painters, and fall into a deep, meaningful relationship all during the time of the Black Plague.  But really, are we meant to believe all of this at once?  Even the most imaginative and creative books need some sort of grounding, or at least good writing to carry it though.  Some of the most far-fetched books attain that status by being so realistic, with only one slightly different aspect.  The author can then take this subtle change and run with it.  Simplicity is best.  This book is an overload of ideas, that all collide to create a massive pile up.  I would not recommend it, unless you enjoy being bombarded with a jumble of partially formed concepts.  

A new student review of Maggot Moon

rmaehill posted a new student review of Maggot Moon . See the full review.

 

Though in some ways simply written, I found Maggot Moon to be a very powerful book.  Although its syntax and diction was basic enough for middle schoolers, its language and imagery was coarse and crude, reflecting the lives the characters lived.  This originally turned me off the story, yet as I continued reading, I found that the excellent character development and themes of courage and rebellion in the story overpowered any negative effect the grammar had originally had on me.  The themes and ideas presented in the story, though dark and sometimes depressing, were truly adult, and I can say that the story made me cry in the end.  I would recommend it to any high school reader who would like a quick yet thematically and emotionally powerful read.

A new student review of The Watch That Ends the Night: Voices from the Titanic

dancechicka posted a new student review of The Watch That Ends the Night: Voices from the Titanic . See the full review.

I am really at a loss at how to describe this book.  It was stunning.  Amazing.  Heartbreaking.  Powerful.  It was all the same yet completely different.  This book was an emotional rollercoaster for me.   I’m usually an impassive reader, not really letting the words affect my emotions, but, somehow, this book broke that shell I built around myself.  I laughed with the first-class promenade and cried with the little child in the lifeboat that heard the endless moaning of the dying as they sank below the surface of the merciless ocean.  This novel was organized into stanzas, with a new character’s viewpoint at every page, which made it even more influential.  I was just so moved by this great piece of literature.  It changed me.  I felt like I was right there, felt like I could feel the terror of the passengers as the ship sank below the surface to its final resting place, felt the anguish of the few who made it to safety but lost their loved ones to the sea.  It made me realize how so many lives can be altered in just one moment, how many lives are already on the twisted path of fate.  There are a lot of characters in the novel, which can be confusing, but you get the hang of it by the middle of the story.  This book was wonderful and I would highly recommend to anybody searching for a good read.

                “We could still make out the Titanic’s brightly lit outline......And then it was gone altogether.  Then the moans.  There was no one voice that stood out.  From that distance it was just a horrific roar.”

                I would recommend this book for ages eight and up because it is quite a long book and a higher reading level is required.  This book has no profanity or any compromising situations.

                Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be one of the doomed on the RMS Titanic?  The Watch That Ends the Night by Allan Wolf will give you just that!

A new student review of Eternal

kaiyle posted a new student review of Eternal . See the full review.

I thought this book was well written.  There were several mysteries throughout the book that kept you reading until the very end.  The characters were relatable and well developed.  I would recommend this book to anyone who likes romance novels with a little adventure thrown in.

A new student review of Maybe I Will

VBat posted a new student review of Maybe I Will . See the full review.

Maybe I Will was an interesting, fresh look into a topic that is relevant to many teen readers.  

While it threw me off a little in the beginning, not knowing Sandy's gender gives the reader the freedom to relate to the main character in the way they feel most comfortable. The first-person point of view made this gender-unspecific character possible, and provided for intimate looks into Sandy's thoughts and feelings. 

Sandy was a well developed character. I enjoyed reading about the Peter Pan auditions, and getting a glimpse into Sandy's life before the abuse. Details about Sandy's interactions with friends and family throughout the story gave the story depth and added heart to the story. The way that Sandy was betrayed by his/her friends stirred real anger and a whole range of additonal emotions. 

I would have liked for Cassie and Troy to make a few more appearances in the middle of the story, and perhaps add a bit of external conflict to keep the story moving at a faster pace. 

All in all, Maybe I Will is a fantastic story that stirs reader emotions and shares a meaningful story. I would reccommend it to teenagers who enjoy realistic fiction and books like Speak.

A new student review of Charm & Strange

MIZZIQ posted a new student review of Charm & Strange . See the full review.

I was enthralled with this book and sometimes just simple phrases that were just in the right spot. The author uses suspense to their incredible advantage. To me Charm & Strange spoke about healing. But the coolest thing for me was what it showed through the characters: that it's okay to be broken when you're hurt. And you don't have to be totally healed to move on with your life. The character was in a sense going crazy, but the author didn't critisize that or make it seem wrong...even before you knew the cause. It makes me think that she felt very deeply about the subject and her characters. That is very cool. I loved how the characters were developed and how I could change my opinion about someone so suddenly. The book was a little journey.

 

There were things about it that bothered me of course :). Namely some language used. Because of this and a few ways some things were described it did rub me the wrong way. It didn't make me dislike the book, but it didn't make me love certain aspects of it. I think it's just a case of taking the good out of it and the story and the wonderful characters and trying to leave the rest. Characters after all can't be perfect. :)

A new student review of Ashes of Twilight by Kassy Taylor by Kassy Tayler

Ravette posted a new student review of Ashes of Twilight by Kassy Taylor by Kassy Tayler. See the full review.

This was a beautifully, and intelligently, written novel. It was definitely an enthralling read. I loved the character development and how the characters changed throughout the story. I also liked the plot and how the suspense never ceased. I also enjoyed reading about a realistic, and very creative, type of world where people are physically restricted. Lastly, I liked the character Wren because she was one of many who thought about the escape from the dome, yet the first to act on it; which made her admirable.

A new student review of Road Trip

Bunnyrabbit posted a new student review of Road Trip . See the full review.

  Gary and Jim Paulson bring the statement, "road trip," to a whole new level. On a route to save a border collie, Ben and his father travel through the west. Bringing along a troubled friend, a mechanic, and a unique waitress. But a strange car following them and a car on fire in the middle of nowhere bring this gang of misfits into a dangerous situation. Adding a new dimension to a father and son road trip offers many life lessons everyone can use. For example, how a family can be brought back together and new friendships made on just one trip. This action packed book will have you hooked and wanting more. 

 

A new student review of All We Know of Love

calicool123 posted a new student review of All We Know of Love . See the full review.

All We Know Of Love was strange, but in the best way possible. I was constantly intrigued and felt exited to turn the page to reveal more perfectly constructed text. The writing was very well put together and flowed very easily. Anyone who is in search of a great, easy read would enjoy this book. Natalie is a character that almost anyone could relate to, and I think we all have a little peice of Natalie's personality in us. Throughout the book I felt like I was taking the journey myself. 

A new student review of Whispers at Moonrise

Bookreader587 posted a new student review of Whispers at Moonrise . See the full review.

In my personal opinion of this book, the plot line was great, a little slow to start, but got moving pretty quickly. I do think that this book could have been written better for a teen novel. The vocabulary wasn't what you would expect, and it seemed like every character talked in the same way. For example, every character said the word "frigging' no matter their age, and it seems like an adult would not talk like that. Regardless, I got a great picture of every character and their personalities. I would also like to point out the relationships between characters. It seems that, as a reader, the entire book revolves around Kylie and how she solves all the problems for every character. There are other character issues, but if the issue is not solved by Kylie, or had advice from Kylie on the situation, the problem would not be resolved. It also seems like Kylie is too timid in some parts, and too aggresive in others, with little or no transistions between the two. Althought this book was overall pretty good, I found the writing immature for a young adult novel, but am excited to read the next book in the series.

A new student review of The Spare Room by Jenny Land

sschu5 posted a new student review of The Spare Room by Jenny Land. See the full review.

 

This was a great book! It was a book about a family that has problems during the civil war. I also liked how it is in the form of a diary; I think that was a cool idea. Background knowledge in this story really fit it together for a great story. I like how the story folded together throughout the book. I would recommend this book to others because of the excitement, the great plot, and the way it is also like a regular family today.

A new student review of A Girl's Guide To Fitting in Fitness

avolzer posted a new student review of A Girl's Guide To Fitting in Fitness . See the full review.

 

Overall it was pretty good but wasn’t what I expected. It said it would make exercise fun, but there was hardly anything that looked fun. I did like the part about dancing. The yoga poses and weight lifting were cool too. It said it wasn’t hard to get up early if you choose an exercise you enjoy. The ones they suggested were things like push ups and lunges. Those aren’t going to motivate me to get up. It had useful information about setting and keeping goals. The writing was easy to read and conversational. The purpose was to explain the benefits and reasons to exercise and share practical ways to begin being more healthy. The authors achieved their purpose. The part about setting and reaching goals was great. It was a motivational and practical book. It is good for beginners just getting started or for people who are already pretty fit looking for a challenge. It’s best for high school girls.

 

A new student review of Darkwater by Catherine Fisher

Feeder24 posted a new student review of Darkwater by Catherine Fisher. See the full review.

I thought that this book was interesting, but that it was rather confusing. There were mentions of magic, but the author did not elaborate on them and left the reader in the dark. I also didn't like the ending to the book. Throughout the whole story, the author made Azrael out to be an evil warlock who would do whatever he had to to get what he wanted, but then at the end, she portrayed him as a good person who did only what he promised and nothing else. I just thought that it was a little random and disorganized. However, it was well-written and kept me interested in the story. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy and mystery type books, but it will take some brain power to understand what is happening.

A new student review of Death, Doom, and Detention

R. Mae posted a new student review of Death, Doom, and Detention . See the full review.

 

Darynda Jones, who is an expert YA writer, happens to have a thing for cliff hangers. I was absolutely thrilled by Darynda's sequel to Death and the Girl Next Door. Of all the possible ways to antagonize me, she ended with a cliff hanger! Of course, I do really love a cliff hanger...

Lorelei proved to be an excellent MC once again, her epic humor and choice in friends was perfect. Brooke is still my favorite character, although I feel Glitch is just as oblivious as ever. The characters in Death, Doom and Detention really add to the story, fighting invincible monsters could get boring without some fun. I was impressed by the plot in Death and the Girl Next Door, but the plot in this one practically threw me off my feet. I love action.  I don't think you can ever have enough action in a book, but silliness really makes up for it where it is lacked. I think Lorelei could get into a couple more scrapes in the next book *crosses fingers*, but I will survive if she doesn't.

To sum it up, I continue to love Darynda Jones' beautiful writing, and I think I always will!

A new student review of The Geneva Project - Truth

ykhalfi posted a new student review of The Geneva Project - Truth . See the full review.

 

 

I found this book really good to read. It seems unfinished and that there should be a sequel..

It's so good it is destined to become a best-seller.

A new student review of Through the Skylight

sisto8 posted a new student review of Through the Skylight . See the full review.

I liked the book Through the Skylight because of the characters.  Each character got to narrate his/her own parts of the story.  Since there were six kids, one could get confused with all the different perspectives. The conflict was very interesting.  The story didn't turn out just the way I expected. The clues twisted and turned until the very end of the book. The language stayed on the age level;  there were very few bad words.  I recommend this book for people 10+. 

A new student review of Beneath the Heavens by Christine O'Neill

sabol posted a new student review of Beneath the Heavens by Christine O'Neill. See the full review.

Beneath the Heavens, written by Christine O’Neil, is a suspense-filled adventure story that kept me hooked down to the final line. When I first began to read I thought I would get lost in the multitude of characters but each was skillfully crafted so that I was able to follow the plot even between changes in perspective. In fact as the novel progressed I found myself getting deeply attached to each character and their idiosyncrasies. The clichéd yet heartwarming relationships that ensue among the characters and comical wordplay used, is just the frosting on the cake. O’Neil’s engrossing novel captures the very essence of a good story and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a juicy mystery to sink their teeth into.

A new student review of Diverse Energies by Malinda Lo Ursula K. Le Guin Paolo Bacigalupi

alphatauri posted a new student review of Diverse Energies by Malinda Lo Ursula K. Le Guin Paolo Bacigalupi. See the full review.

There were a few stories I really enjoyed, while others I'd hesitate to recommend to anyone anytime soon. "The Last Day," by Ellen Oh, opens the collection and was a standout as well. It's filled with action, and has got a fascinating world, a likeable protagonist, and an ending that you won't forget anytime soon. Meanwhile, the story that follows it, "Freshee's Frogurt," by Daniel H. Wilson, didn't really do it for me. Generally, I dislike it when novels are excerpted as short stories, and this one was no exception. The other few stories I really liked were "Uncertainty Principle", by K. Tempest Bradford, "Good Girl", by Malinda Lo, and "A Pocket Full of Dharma" by one of the best known writers in the collection, Paolo Bacigalupi. Overall, Diverse Energies is indeed, a diverse collection of stories with quite a lot of lesser known authors that readers will enjoy discovering! 

A new student review of Tempest: A Novel (Tempest Trilogy) by Julie Cross

Hickey posted a new student review of Tempest: A Novel (Tempest Trilogy) by Julie Cross. See the full review.

I thought this was a wonderfully written book. The second I picked it up and started reading it I was hooked. I thought the author did an amazing job with the plot development, but could have done a better job with having more vivid descriptions of some of the scenes. Everything included, I highly recommend this book to the average teenager who likes fantasy. 

A new student review of William and the Lost Spirit

ReesaOnFire posted a new student review of William and the Lost Spirit . See the full review.

 

Set in Medieval times in a feudal society, “William and the Lost Spirit” by Bonneval and Bonhomme takes the reader into a land of magic, science and folklore. This magical tale takes you to far off lands that reach the depths of young William’s imagination.  Although the art for this graphic novel was really great for the subject, and I give gratitude and respect to the artist for having the patience to draw every single board, the plot was disappointing. I was expecting a ‘coming of age’ story or a thrilling mystery from what I read in the summary. Unfortunately I didn’t get that. There were some ‘coming of age’ aspects in the story but it wasn't the main story.  The book was also a bit too strange for my taste. In my opinion, William’s ‘adventures’ or dreams were quite odd—even for a young boy of his background. Also another problem I had with this book is the main character. William doesn't seem to care about anything.  In the beginning, he doesn’t seem to care about his father’s death—he had a ‘let sleeping dogs lie’ persona almost—and at the end he doesn’t seem to want to hold his father’s killer accountable.

Needless to say, I had many problems with this book because in my opinion, a book—whatever type it may be—must have a good, some-what logical plot with developed or developing characters, and this particular book did not seem to have it.  Perhaps I am too harsh on this book and my ability to get into this book was just too weak—the fantasy didn’t take hold; but that still is a problem. Why couldn’t this book catch me and keep me in?

You may decide for yourselves, but for myself, I did not enjoy this book as much as I thought I would.

A new student review of Here Where the Sunbeams Are Green

TaurielOfMirkwood posted a new student review of Here Where the Sunbeams Are Green . See the full review.

This book was awesome! I loved it! It had mystery, adventure, and a little romance. It also had some Spanish, and I thought that was pretty cool. The author did a great job describing the scenes, and I could see them in my mind. Overall, this is a great book!

A new student review of Birdie by Tony Rosa

MIZZIQ posted a new student review of Birdie by Tony Rosa. See the full review.

For the most part this was a very boring story. I'd suggest taking your time with it even though it's small. There are meanings that you can take from it--whether the author intended them or not. I think that most people can identify with some parts of all the characters. The old man and Mark have a true friendship which is heartwarming. The story doesn't really leave you anywhere. It's more of a story of a kid learning to move on even though he makes mistakes. There's a few flashbacks which were interesting. I wouldn't particurly reccomend this book. It's a lot like the books I usually read so trying to beat some of my favorites are hard---all that to say I wouldn't NOT read it...I just think it was more of a debut book. (Not sure if it was or not.) So the story had meaning and some parts I throughly enjoyed. The ending was almost worth it....however I was glad it was so short.

A new student review of Lunch Lady and the Picture Day Peril by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

LegoLover posted a new student review of Lunch Lady and the Picture Day Peril by Jarrett J. Krosoczka. See the full review.

Krosorzka brings us another heroic tale from the school cafeteria, of the Lunch Lady and her sidekick Betty.  As always, “Lunch Lady and the Picture Day Peril” is full of nutritious lingo that will make you laugh and your tummy growl.  Once you start this adventure, you'll find yourself unable to put it down.  I liked how creatively the Breakfast Bunch came up with a plan.  What I really loved about this book is how Krosorzka not only writes lots of details but draws them into the background of nearly every scene.

A new student review of The Crimson Shard by Ravette

Ravette posted a new student review of The Crimson Shard by . See the full review.

It was a wonderful and very enthralling read. I enjoyed the details the author used to describe eighteenth-century London; it made it much clearer and easier to visualize. I also liked how  Sunni and Blaise enjoy drawing and art, because I felt that I could relate. I also really liked the characterization, because every character had a very distinct and different personality from one another.

A new student review of And Then I Found You: A Novel by pandagirl312

pandagirl312 posted a new student review of And Then I Found You: A Novel by . See the full review.

Arguably my favorite thing about this book is its organization. Instead of telling the story straight through, Callahan Henry jumps from place to place, year to year. She gives you a snippet of young Katie, present-day Kate, and present-day Luna. This really gives balance and structure to the story. The book kind of ended all at once; all the conflicts were resolved within the last pages. However, the story is one readers will enjoy.

Secrets of Tamarind by Nadia Aguiar

The fact that it has taken me months to "get around" to reading this book just might tell you how I thought it was.  I kept picking it up and putting it down, picking it up and putting it down, you get the picture. The tone of the book, I felt was over all appropriate for the story, a light adventure tone, and the characters were believable for their ages (Maya,16, Simon,14, Penny,5), the plot, good, but the voice for the story was boring.  In my opinion the author did not live up to what is a great plot and what could have been an excellent book.  In school, english teachers tell you to always put details in your stories because it provides for a more interesting book and helps the reader visualize the story.  I generally agree with this, except for the details in this book.  The author OVER-detailed everything. Even things that were unnecessary to detail, making it very hard to get through certain areas. That doesn't go to say that there were never areas I didn't enjoy.  I thought there were great characters and I enjoyed the interesting names of the locations they went to, other peoples names etc.  Maybe if I had read the first book in the series I would of been more immersed into the book, but I really doubt it.  I would not recommend The Secrets Of Tamarind to others because the writing style is dull and not very interesting or enthralling.  I am fourteen so maybe a younger reader would enjoy this. 
Maya, Simon and Penny return to Tamarind, the mysterious island they first encountered in The Lost Island of Tamarind(Book one in the series), after alarming messages from their friend Helix and strange deceased animals washing onto the shores of Bermuda.  The three children and Helix board the Pamela Jane (the family boat) and sail to Tamarind only to find the Island to be invaded by the Red Coral a mysterious, private and dangerous organization.  The children discover the island in chaos as the Red Coral is invading and destroying homes looking for the valuable and magical element, Ophalla.  The children go on a quest to save and restore Tamarind to its former glory, before it's to late.Reviewer Age:14Reviewer City, State and Country: Annandale, VA United States

I AM MORE THAN JUST A GIRL by Leah Oviedo

I Am More Than Just a Girl is an empowering book all about girls, for girls. This book is dedicated to allowing girls to be themselves, be safe, and live happy healthy lives. It includes lots of cute graphic images and plenty of space for journaling. Topics covered in this book include beauty, self defense, anger management, confidence building techniques, and so much more. Every girl should know how to deal with everyday things like these and this e-book is the perfect resource for them.

 I really didn' t get a whole lot out of this book. There was a lot of information that was good, but I kept feeling like I was being forced to read a pamphlet at one of my old girl scout meetings. I felt like they were pushing the journaling a little too much too. I thought, originally, this was just a nonfiction, possibly historical, book about empowering women, not a journal to write down my feelings in. Overall, the information was good, I didn' t necessarily learn anything new, but I could see how it could be a use to others.  Younger girls may want to consult with an adult before talking about more serious topics in this book such as eating disorders and sexual abuse. Reviewer Age:16Reviewer City, State and Country: Hopkins, MI United States

We Are Savages (eBook) by Jessie Atkin

Tris has never felt like anyone. Her parents want her to be more ladylike, and she has no friends except her dog, Mars. But that all changes on a mysterious night when Tris falls down the sewer into an amazing world full of children that call themselves savages. Fireflies that fly above the children s' heads light everything and kids sleep at any time they want to. But that' s not even the weirdest part. There are no adults. Join Tris on an adventure where she' ll meet some pretty weird kids and monsters that snack on children.

To tell you the truth, this book did not intrigue me very much. It was hard to continue on with the book, and I felt like I was being forced to read it. When I was reading, I didn't have any of those " ooh" or "ah" moments that make a book really good. I didn't feel the emotion from the characters like I have in many other books I have read. Even though you were supposed to feel bad for Tris for a chunk of the book, I could not really empathize with her. Overall, this book did not intrigue me, and I did not enjoy it very much.

Reviewer Age:10
Reviewer City, State and Country: Charlotte, North Carolina United States

The Shining City by Fiona Patton

The Shinning City takes place in a world where Gods rule over the people who dwell inside the God-wall.  A newly rising God, Hisar, must stake his claim in the world, but he is not without struggles. From the hovering threat of hungry spirits to the mortal battle moving closer and closer to Anavatan, it is even more important that he comes  to his full powers.  But he is not to fight the battle alone.  Three children of prophecy: the seers Spar and Graize and the warrior Brax have sworn to help him if only they can get past the animosity and distrust among themselves in order to help the young God to survive.  The third book in Fiona Patton' s Warriors of Estavia is a thrilling and mystical adventure cast in a fantastical world that expounds the bond between gods and men. 

This book by Fiona Patton is well written and an enticing novel that caught my eye just by the title.  Patton will blow you away with her dexterous descriptions and delectable dialogue.  It is a dense book that requires the reader to pay attention.  Therefore, I would recommend starting with the first book of the trilogy to prevent getting lost in the complex prophecies and characters.  Patton has created a new world that is both mysterious and enthralling.  This fast-paced novel will not leave you disappointed. 

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Middlebury, CT USA

Guy Langman, Crime Scene Procrastinator by Josh Berk

Guy Langman is a quiet, self-centered, 15-year-old with one friend, Anoop. Nothing much has ever interested Guy, except for girls and sleep. His friend Anoop convinces Guy to sign up for the Forensics Club at school, but he insists only to meet girls. After a few weeks of detective training, Guy begins to enjoy, and become good at, detective work, especially lifting fingerprints. And when someone breaks into his recently deceased dad' s pirate treasure, The Forensics Club is called on to solve a real crime. As they search for evidence and answers to the mystery, they uncover another crime scene. After another week or so, The Forensics Club must compete in a competition against their rival school to solve a fake crime, until Guy and Anoop find a real dead body along with some suspicious fingerprints. As Guy uncovers more secrets about his father's past and begins to piece together the boy 's death and the coin robbery, Guy makes new friends and uncovers new things about himself.

Guy Langman: Crime Scene Procrastinator is a funny, page-turning story that keeps the reader engrossed throughout the entire book. The plot starts out a little slow but picks up after the first couple chapters. The author expertly combines mystery and crime-solving with the life of a grief-stricken teenager. By creating a sad and lonely main character, the author is able to develop both Guy' s and his friend s' character traits and personalities. I extremely enjoyed this book and found myself not being able to put it down. I enjoyed the rich but humorous plot and narration, but I was also able to pick out clues while reading the book. I believe that Josh Berk did a fantastic job, and I would love to read another one of his stories.

I would give this book a 2 for content because there are some more mature things going on such as crime and emotional difficulties and high school conversations. If someone younger than about 12 wanted to read this, I would recommend parent guidance.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Parker, Colorado USA

Ruby (eBook) by Amanda Burke

Ruby is a book about a girl named Ruby who has a gift. This gift is not one that she knew of for most of her life, only recently has her gift arisen in her. Ruby is special, her gift provides her with abilities beyond human capabilities. She was known as a witch. Ruby is a witch from one of the most powerful witching families in the world, the Sullivan clan. As a child, she and her grandmother would practice magic, but when her father found out, he took her and forced the grandmother to plant a spell that stops Ruby from using her powers. The grandmother had a different idea though, she put the spell on Ruby, but made it so that when she turned 18, the spell would lift and Ruby would be able to use her powers again.  Her father was a man who hated wizardry and witchdom, even though he himself was one, so he kept his identity as well as Ruby s own identity secret during the time she couldn t use her magic. Then one night, a few days after Ruby turned 18, Ruby s father was found with his insides cut out and his blood covering the wall. So now she must find her grandmother, and accept the truth of who she is. She must learn to control her magic and use it stop the evil that is threatening to destroy the world as we know it. It is up to Ruby and her cancer-ridden grandmother to perfect her abilities and accept her fate.I loved this book! I loved it so much, I finished the whole thing in one day. It kept me intrigued with high action, but also wasn t too much. The book was amazing, but the prologue could be a little more interesting, I almost wanted to put the book down until I got to chapter one. The author could change the wording from old English to today s form of English because a lot of teens and young adults don t really know that form of English anymore.  Other than that, I felt the book itself was spectacular and I hope the author writes a sequel. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wishes to read it. It will keep anyone intrigued, from 8-100 years old. Reviewer Age:13Reviewer City, State and Country: Charlotte, North Carolina USA

Time Fighters: The Shifter Prince (eBook) by Mark Budman

The Shifter Prince is a book about two gifted teens whose stories collide a few chapters into the book. One character is a high school exchange student named Amber, and she is visiting the country of Poslopia, her father' s native country. Poslopia is a dictatorship, heavily enforced by the government, with a rebel group on the loose trying to overthrow them. While in Poslopia, she meets a boy named Yaroslav, a native Poslopian boy with the ability to shape shift, a common Poslopian trait, and one that Amber envies. There is something special about Yaroslav though, and that is that he is a Talent. Talents are special because, while normal shape shifters have a glow surrounding them, they are able to completely change themselves into another being without any trace. When Amber and Yaroslav meet, they instantly have a connection, and that is when Amber tells Yaroslav about her gift, the gift of time travel. At that time, they get the news that Libya, the leader of the rebels, has been captured. Amber and Yaroslav must travel back in time to find important information so they can free Libya and free Poslopia.

This book was very intriguing and well written. I felt that Mark Budman left you at just the right moment at the end of chapters and at the end of the book. I really hope he writes a sequel because if not, the end will leave a lot of people hanging, but if he does, it will definitely sell well. I would absolutely recommend this book to any of my friends because I felt it had just the right amount of mystery, action, and even some romance. Mr. Budman kept the story flowing while adding just the right amount of detail. He explained the characters well and always kept us wanting to read more. I predict that The Shifter Prince will be a huge success.

Reviewer Age:13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Charlotte, NC USA

Faith, Hope & Reindeer (eBook) by Joe Moore as told to by Santa Claus

This book is about families who lost faith in Christmas.  They are chosen to go to the North Pole to see Santa Claus and all the toys that the elves make.  They learn a lot during the week they stay.  They buy souvenirs from the stores.  Each item had a price tag with unique prices.  One said, "Take orphans to the movies," Another one said, "Donate all your unwanted clothes to the homeless shelter."  The elves and Santa changed the lives of each and every family that went on the week trip to the North Pole.

I like this book because of the characters.  They started out as a family that avoided each other and had a transformation throughout the book.  The setting was very different than most books.  It has more truth to it than other books I've read. It was fun to see how each character changed. I recommend it to anyone who likes to read about changing lives.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Leesburg, Virginia USA

The Forsaken by Lisa M. Stasse

The United States of American has fallen. It' s now The United Northern Alliance: an alliance between America, Canada, and Mexico. The government has decided that at the age of sixteen you must take a personality profile test to determine if you are a threat to society. If you fail, you will be sent to The Wheel, the harshest prison set up by the government. You have been be forsaken.

Orphan Alenna Shawcross goes in to take her personality profile test expecting to pass. The next thing she knows, she's waking up on The Wheel frantically trying to figure out what' s going on. She meets a girl named Gadya, who takes Alenna to her tribe, where she meets Liam, a boy trying to find a way to escape the Wheel. Soon, Alenna finds out that this all may have started with her parents, and she is determined to find out what secrets the Wheel is hiding about them. As Alenna and her fellow tribe members try to plan an escape, she begins to learn that not all of the teens are forsaken and that there' s something sinister running below the surface.

I was a little disappointed with The Forsaken. I had this book on my to-read-list for at least three months before it came out, so I was anticipating great things. The main thing that disappointed me was the detachment I felt from most of the characters. I didn't feel that connection with any of the characters in the beginning. It did change toward the end. Another disappointment was how slow the book starts. If fact, I did not feel hooked until page 170. That's when you learn more critical things, and it started to live up to my expectations. Then I got to page 251, and I COULD NOT STOP READING. I was sucked in to the story, and at page 298 I was sold. By then, I started to connect with the characters. Lisa Stasse really put the emotion into the ending, and I hope that and the development of the characters will continue in the second book.

I loved the setting of this book. To me, it felt like Lost's jungle with a Hunger Games fight-for-survival feeling.  I also felt that Lisa Stasse did a superb job of giving just enough detail to make it seem like you were there. Overall, I liked it, and I loved the ending. I, for one, will be looking for Lisa Stasse 's next book, The Uprising, which is due to come out summer 2013.

Warnings:
Throughout the whole book there 's a lot of violence, so I would definitely recommend it only for older teens.. It' s quite graphic and bloody at times.
There are no sex scenes, although there are some comments about it (they 're not graphic) and a few mild kissing scenes, but overall I was very happy with how little there was in that area.
There was also some language in this book, but not as much as I would expect from a teen novel.

Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Sharpsville, Indiana USA

The Flappers Diva by Jillian Larkin

Diva, the third installment of the Flappers trilogy, focuses on the lives of three girls living in New York during the 1920s. Clara, the budding journalist, struggles to get over the one man she truly loved and his sudden engagement to a suspicious social climber. Her cousin, Lorraine, is free from prison but is forced to investigate a shady businessman. Gloria, having been left by her two former friends, finds herself ostracized at her new school. The three girls struggle to find who they really are amidst the dazzling life of high society. Along the way, they learn more about themselves and each other and put their loves to the test.

Diva, by Jillian Larkin, is a fast-paced, exciting read. The setting is especially intriguing to any lover of New York in the Roaring Twenties, and the characters are true to the time period, but are also relatable to the modern reader. Without reading the first two books in the series, the plot can be somewhat baffling, but the original confusion is soon forgotten as the novel progresses. The series closely resembles Anna Godbersen's Bright Young Things novels, but without the charm and sophisticated writing style. Any lover of this series would also enjoy the Flappers trilogy.

Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Bayside, WI USA

The Summoning Sphere (eBook) by Jennifer Kloss

Blake and his brother Riley are bored over the summer, so they go to see if their neighbors need help.  Their neighbors, Grace and Rachel, offer to have them clean out a shed in the back yard. The boys get to work and find a  wheelbarrow containing a  mysterious sphere, stone, book, and a talisman.  The brothers hold the sphere along with the other contents, and it transports  them to the land of Tor Forlough.  This begins a grand adventure. While exploring, they learn that the inhabitants of Tor Forlough need help to expose the evil Lord Dario. Lord Dario has poisoned the king and queen to gain power. The Priestess uses the stone of disappearance to investigate the crimes but is captured by the Lord. The brothers then know they must help to save the people of Tor Forlough. But how are they going to get home?

This book was very exciting.  The main characters were smart and used detective skills to solve the crime.It was action packed with magic and suspense.  I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries. 

Reviewer Age:11
Reviewer City, State and Country: Glen Burnie, MD USA

Eyeballs Growing All Over Me . . . Again (eBook) by Tony Rauch

For my inaugural Flamingnet book request and subsequent review, I eagerly selected Eyeballs Growing All Over Me&Again by Tony Rauch, from the great literary intellect of which sprouted such imaginative concepts as 40-foot chickens, not to mention heads the size of elephants and elephants the size of heads. Symbolism abounds throughout, and is eluded by neither the teenage generation s disordered bearings on body-size nor the cyclic nature of agoraphobia. But then again, to mangle Freud, sometimes a bee the size of a tricycle is just a bee the size of a tricycle. Yah, don t ask.

Opinions are hard to formulate, and literary works even harder to judge, particularly when, as is the case with Eyeballs Growing All Over Me&Again, I fear instances of brilliance soared over my head not unlike the characters whom, in one intriguing read, wound up shriveling and floating away. My dear Mr. Rauch, what is perhaps my most emphatic and only complaint is this: When symbols are as bountiful and profound as yours, I ask you- no, I beg of you-do not constrain them to the smallest housing suitable. Many a story ended with my pounding my head on the desk in frustration, and I wouldn t be surprised if it soon must be replaced by that of a goat. That being said, however, I must congratulate you on generating such frustration, as few students weep at the end of their math book. Despite my slight criticisms, I recommend this book to any and all, and anxiously await the completion of your upcoming works. Job well done.

Brief references to alcohol, drugs,and/or mature behaviors, the stories' content may be interpreted by younger readers as mildly disturbing.

Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Yardley, Pennsylvania United States

Superpowers by Frederic Neuman

Superpowers by Fredric Neuman is the story of Chipper, a frail, asthmatic, pitied high school student who is given the choice of a lifetime.  After the passing of his loving mother, Chipper meets Hal, an eccentric, otherworldly being with a very unique wardrobe.  Hal grants Chipper the choice of any one and only one, superpower.  Chipper must weigh this difficult choice while also coming to terms with his mom's death and the life she left behind.  This is even more difficult with a distant father, few career prospects, and frequent asthma attacks.  However, Chipper takes it all in stride with his group of friends, showing that the weakest of bodies may hold the strongest of hearts.

Despite the good intentions of the book to shed a humorous light on important societal issues, the incredibly loose structured narrative is very distracting to the reader. Inner monologue and scene description are mashed together with no consistency. This makes the attempts at humor fall flat.  This flow also causes the development and description of characters to leave much to be desired.  Where Chipper begins to describe the quirks of his friends soon turns into incessant rambling.  This poorly written story ultimately diminishes any lasting impact from themes or morals.  There are certainly important issues that young adults will debate, but it' s hard to be inspired by these topics when they are delivered at a significantly lower reading level.

There is some language in this book.
Reviewer Age:22
Reviewer City, State and Country: Eden Prairie, Minnesota United States

Brother from a Box by Evan Kuhlman

Matt finds a crate that has been shipped to his house. Inside it is a kid? The boy turns out to be a French-speaking robot named Norman. At first, Matt is excited to have a robot brother, but there are complications. Matt 's mother does not want the robot because it reminds her of her first son, who died as a baby. Also, Matt' s new brother is a lot to care for. He flirts with girls, shows off, shuts himself in lockers, and always wants to go back to his crate. In spite of all this, Matt loves Norman. When he starts malfunctioning, Matt is concerned. These are not mere programming problems; someone is trying to hurt Norman! Can Matt protect his brother? Will Norman' s mad robot skills save them all?

Brother From a Box held my interest to the end with unique twists in the plot. It is appropriately told in first person, giving us a glimpse of how Matt sees life. He has many characteristics that resemble a real person. The girl who tries to kiss him drives him crazy, but sometimes he has to play with her because his parents tell him to be polite. He is jealous of Norman, yet somehow loves him. He gives Norman advice, but also exaggerates to him because he is so vulnerable. Their relationship resembles a real relationship between brothers. Even Norman, the robot, had a distinct personality. The mood of the book is funny and lighthearted, but it had some sad parts and some exciting parts. All in all, Brother from a Box is a fun read for kids of all ages.

Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Calhoun, GA USA