Student

Book Reviews

Help your fellow students find a great book to read - or avoid a not-so-good one!

If you have read a book recently and would like to share your thoughts about it, please fill out the form. You can read other students' reviews below.

Almost American Girl by Robin Ha

Reviewed by Olivia

This graphic novel was about a Korean girl who moved to the USA and didn't want to. When she visited 7 years after she saw how cruel Korea can be.

I rate it 4/5

Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland

Reviewed by Anson

The book was about five young dragons following a prophecy to save the war. Someone who likes adventure books would like this book.

I rate it 4/5

Grenade by Alan Gratz

Reviewed by Jeffrey

This book was about a Japanese boy who has two grenades and needs to survive. People who love history would enjoy this book.

I rate it 5/5

The Last Cuentista by Donna Barbra Higuera

Reviewed by Lea.

Earth is going to be hit by a comet and Petra Peña is forced to escape on a spacecraft to Sagan, a planet 400 years away. I would recommend this book for anyone who loves sci-fi and futuristic fiction! This book is outstanding and beautifully written.

I rate it 5/5

The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer

Reviewed by Rachael.

Twins (Alex and Conner) find a book that opens to another dimension: the fairy tale world. They travel into it and have an adventure. People who like fantasy and/or magic would enjoy this book.

I rate it 5/5

Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz

Reviewed by Mohammed.

The book is a detailed description of the horrors of the Holocaust. A person who would enjoy this book is a person who wants to understand historical times and landmarks from the past in a detailed story.

I rate it 5/5

Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston

Reviewed by Luyima.

Amari and the Night Brothers is an excellent middle-grade fantasy book that can be read and enjoyed by adults. It follows the adventures of a young girl named Amari who discovers that there is a supernatural world that exists right alongside and within the normal world she's so used to. I think kids from grade six and up will enjoy this book.

I rate it 4/5

Smile by Raina Telgemeier

Reviewed by Elara.

This book is about a girl struggling through middle and high school with teeth and friend problems. Everyone I’ve met who read this book has really liked it so I’d say anyone who likes graphic novels would enjoy this.

I rate it 5/5

The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud

Reviewed by Georgia Rose.

This book is about Lucy Carlyle, a young psychic operative working for the Ghost-Buster-like company Lockwood and Co. This is a funny, scary, fast-paced and colourful book everyone can love.

I rate it 5/5

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway by Jeff Kinney

Reviewed by Sally.

This book is about a boy named Greg going for a first vacation with his family. I think people who like comic books will enjoy this book because it has great pictures and dialogues to entertain the readers.

I rate it 4/5

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

In-depth book review by Fionn, a high-school volunteer.

Children of Blood and Bone is a fantasy epic about the oppression of the people of Orïsha at the hands of the evil and hateful king. The main characters must embark on a journey to bring magic back to the land, their only hope of defeating the oppressive regime. I highly recommend this book: it’s a very good story with lots of important messages.

Click here to read Fionn's full review.

Linked by Gordon Korman

In-depth book review by Fionn, a high-school volunteer.

Linked is about the way a small town comes together to fight hate after the middle school is repeatedly vandalised with swastikas. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. The subject matter is heavy, but it is told in the context of a good story.

Click here to read Fionn's full review.

The King of Jam Sandwiches by Eric Walters

In-depth book review by Fionn, a high-school volunteer.

The King of Jam Sandwiches follows the story of a thirteen-year-old boy named Robbie who has to be his own parent because his father is constantly negligent, and sometimes disappears for days on end. I would recommend this book to anyone: it’s not a happy story but it does have a happy ending and it is very well written.

Click here to read Fionn's full review.

Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee

In-depth book review by Fionn, a high-school volunteer.

Luck of the Titanic is a historical fiction novel about a teenage acrobat named Valora Luck who sneaks aboard the Titanic to convince her twin brother to join the circus with her in America. This was an excellent book, and I would recommend it to basically anyone.

Click here to read Fionn's full review.

If the Witness Lied by Caroline B. Cooney

In-depth book review by Fionn, a high-school volunteer.

If the Witness Lied is a mystery/thriller novel about three siblings who team up to save their fractured family from the media, hungry to exploit them, and their cruel aunt. I really enjoyed this book. It’s full of wild twists and turns, a real page-turner that keeps you hanging on until the very end.

Click here to read Fionn's full review.

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

In-depth book review by Fionn, a high-school volunteer.

Scythe is a thought-provoking story about what happens when humanity conquers death. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys some good utopian/dystopian sci-fi, and would appreciate the complex moral dilemmas.

Click here to read Fionn's full review.

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam

In-depth book review by Fionn, a high-school volunteer.

Punching the Air is a passionate and artistic novel about a young Black boy who is put in prison for a crime he did not commit, and how he endures through art. What I loved about this book was the beautiful imagery and metaphors, accompanied by the illustrations in black and white.

Click here to read Fionn's full review.

The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds

In-depth book review by Fionn, a high-school volunteer.

This is a powerful and profound story about love, loss, and grief. The story was captivating, the characters were great, and I would highly recommend this book.

Click here to read Fionn's full review.