Student Book Reviews/Suggestions
The Canyon’s Edge
By: Dusti Bowling
Book Review By: Ava
This book is about a girl named Nora. Nora’s mom is dead, so it is just her and her dad. Because of how Nora’s mom died, her dad is terrified of everyone. He won’t even let Nora go to school. One day Nora and her dad go to a canyon. It is safe there because there are no other people. Nora and her dad get separated and it is up to Nora to get them both out of the canyon alive.
This book is great because of how Nora goes through being stuck in the canyon and what she does to get out. I also love how a part of the book is written in poetry. Love this book and definitely recommend it.
Spirit Hunters: The Island of Monsters
By Ellen Oh
Book review by Noah
Following the events of the first book, Harper Raine is now a shaman in training, banishing harmful spirits back to the afterlife. After a horrifying encounter with a soul-eater, a demon that costumes ghosts to sustain itself, Harper loses her friend Rose. This loss wasn't at the best time either, Harper is going on a vacation to an island that has been classified as devoid of ghosts. When she arrives on the island, she hears rumors about the island's bloody past, and experiences memories of the island. When she pieces them together, she discovers a primordial evil that is about to escape. Gratefully, Harper, with her best friend and siblings, defeats the evil and cleanses the island.
This book is a thriller from start to finish. Filled with vivid imagery and wonderful characters, "The Island of Monsters" is for anyone who enjoys reading a whole book in one sitting.
Greystone Secrets 2, The Deceivers
By Margaret Peterson Haddix
Book Review by: Noah
After they escape from the alternate world, Chess, Emma, Fin and Natalie all stay with Natalie's Dad, who is unaware of the other world and doesn't seem to have much experience parenting. While trying to maintain a constant facade towards her Dad, Natalie and the Greystones must find a way back into the other world to rescue their mothers from Judge Morales. When they infiltrate the Judge's home, Natalie, as the Judge's "daughter" must live a life that's too good to be true, her parents aren't divorced and love each-other and her grandma is alive and well. However, below the surface, her "Father" is a figurehead and her "Mother" runs the entire show from behind the scenes. Natalie and the Greystones then learn about how Natalie's "Mom", despite being the judge of the other world, is helping the good people in their world escape to Natalie's reality. Once they get Natalie's mom and "grandma" through with them to the other world. After they recover from their injuries, they make plans to go back to the other world and bring about an era of truth.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves the idea of doppelgangers, deception, and heart-wrenching feelings.
The Disaster Days
By: Rebecca Behrens
Book review by: Ishani
The book Disaster Days is about a 13-year-old girl with asthma named Hanna Steele. She goes to babysit the Matlocks children, Oscar and Zoe. In the middle of texting her best friend, an earthquake hits. The power and internet go out, and they are stranded in the damaged house. The story tells how Hanna manages the kids with her asthma and injuries, like an infected cut, and a broken leg. Eventually, after 3 whole days, she finds her mom and can get medical help.
I recommend the book because it is very suspenseful.suspenseful. If you are a person who likes survival, this book is definitely for you.
Where The Red Fern Grows
by Wilson Rawls
Book Review by Khloe
This book is about a boy named Billy, and he wants red bloodhounds. He asks his parents to get him some, but they say no. Later he sees a newspaper clipping that says red bloodhounds for $25 each.He wanted 2, so he saves up his own money by selling worms and vegetables from their field to the fishermen, and they always take them. He put the money he earned in a big can and hid it behind a big hay stack. When the big day finally came, once he had earned 50$, he took the money to his grandpa's store so he could order them. Billy finally tells his parents that he got his bloodhounds. They were surprised that he had kept it secret and so the next week he walks to town to pick them up. Once his pups are home, Little Ann and Old Dan, they go one many adventures hunting. After a few years, though, his grandpa tells him about a championship coon hunt, and Billy and his Dad and grandpa go. Not surprisingly, they won! Little Ann won a beauty contest and both of them won the coon hunt. Soon after that, Little Ann and Old Dan get in a fight with a mountain lion and are badly hurt. Old Dan passes away, and Little Ann can't live without her pal Old Dan, so she passes with him. Billy's parents tell him good news. They have finally earned enough money to live in the town! On the day that they leave, Billy says goodbye to his dog's graves and notices a sacred red fern growing! He believes that the legend that the red fern grows is where angels are. I liked this book because it is about reality, but the author puts the book together to make it a very enjoyable turn-the-page-suspense read.
Twins
by Varian Johnson
Book Review by Khloe
This book is about 2 twin girls, Francine and Maureen, going to middle school. Maureen is freaking out, and Francine is happy. She even changes her name to Fran. They have seperate classes, which is fine with Fran, but not Maurine. After a few months in, they see a sign for the student council. Fran decides to run for president, and expects Murine to fbe vice president of treasure or secretary. But no, Maurine runs for president too! She plans on telling Fran, but never finds the right time. It turns out that they are the only ones running for president!! They start fighting and not getting along, and when the vote is counted, Fran won! But they wanted the other twin to win. Fran wanted Maureen and Maureen wanted Fran! I liked this book because it shows two sisters in middle school and they were both running for student council. It shows a drama with twin sisters, which I like alot.
Scarlet
by Marissa Meyer
Book review by Gemma
Hi my name is Gemma, and the book i am going to be reviewing is Scarlet by Marissa Meyer. This book is the 2nd book in the Lunar Chronicles series and continues the story of Cinder after she escapes from the prison when Kai decides to get married to Princess Levana. Cinder goes looking for answers with Thorne which is another person that escaped with her. As the story gets told, it goes from many point of views. Cinder, Scarlet, Wolf, and Kai. As Cinder goes looking for clues, she finds a person (Michelle Beniot.. Scarlet’s grandmother) that might have some idea of who she is or why she is here and who helped her. She is Scarlet's grandma that has been missing for days. Scarlet goes looking for her with the help of a ¨friend¨ Wolf. Wolf is a ¨street fighter¨ that meets Scarlet one night in a tavern where she was making deliveries. Wolf offers to help her find her grandmother. The only thing is, Wolf had secrets. Wolf is a hybrid that Lunars were creating. He is the one that took her grandmother and then took Scarlet. My favorite part of the book is when Wolf helps her escape. Yes, Wolf did kidnap her grandmother, but he cares for Scarlet and helped her escape and risked his life doing so. My least favorite part has to be the Kai and Levena chapters. Kai (if you need a reminder) is the emperor that fell in love with Cinder. At the end of this book, Cinder and Scarlet meet. Cinder took control of one of the hybrids to protect them. Scarlet’s grandma died but the secrets did not die with her. Although Scarlet might not know anything specific, it does not mean there are not any clues. Cinder must find a way to figure out how to stop the queen and the wedding with Kai. And, she needs to become someone she has never been and yet always meant to be.
I rate this book a 9/10. The love, betrayal, heartbreak, passion, anger and every emotion in her story along with the story plot makes this an amazing book to the Lunar Chronicles series. I definitely recommend it.
Cress
by Marissa Meyer
Book review by Gemma
Hi my name is Gemma, and the book I am going to be reviewing is Cress by Marissa Meyer. This is the 3rd book of the Lunar Chronicles series. This book continues the story of Cinder, Kai, Scarlet, Wolf, and Thorne. In the first book, Cinder talks to the person behind the D-COMM chip. The person's name is Cressent, but she is called Cress. Cress is a shell. She is chosen by Sybil, who is a lunatic, to work for her. She finds information in her own little pod or cell. She comes in contact with Cinder, Scarlet, Throne, and Wolf. She asks them to save her and they agree. But before she is able to go, Sybil comes and finds her and realizes what is happening and sets a trap. Everything goes wrong. With the help of one of Sybil's soldiers (not loyal) she manages to escape thinking that Thorne is dead and Scarlet is taken. When Cress and Thorne manage to survive, there is one problem. They land in the middle of the desert and Thorne is now blind She and Thorne walk in the desert until they find salvation. Cinder, still thinking they are dead, goes to Africa where the doctor is that helped her get out of prison. He agrees to help save Wolf who was hurt in the battle with Sybil. As Thorne and Cress get into salvation by the way of traders, she gets taken and sold for being a shell. Turns out that the person who bought her is the doctor. He is buying shells and saving them from death. Thorne finds out what is happening and goes to save her only to find that she is safe. Kai thinks that Cinder found Princess Selene but it turns out that he was wrong in his assumption. Kai finds out more info about Cinder. Scarlet gets taken and tortured, untill someone buys her. Wolf is angry that she is gone. As the days lead to Kai's wedding with Queen Levana, Cinder and the crew come up with a plan. Will something happen? Or will this plan work and Cinder starts a revolution? Read to find out. My favorite part of the book is when Cinder finally realizes Thorne is alive. My least favorite part is the chapter where Scarlet gets tortured. I recommend this book at 8 ½ out of 10.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
By Suzanne Collins
Book Review By: Ryleigh
After surviving the 74th hunger games, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark think life will return back to normal in district 12. Soon after do they realize the games have only just begun. Katniss does everything in her power to protect her family from President Snow. She knows if she even steps out of line a little bit, her family and friends will be in grave danger.
I recommend this book because there is never a dull moment. Suzanne makes the writing feel smooth, instead of it being a drag. She is really good at making the reader feel anxious, or tense.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay
By Suzanne Collins
Book Review By: Ryleigh
After surviving yet another hunger games, Katniss Everdeen is appointed as the "Mockingjay". She brings hope to the rebels and promises to herself to not stop till she sees President Snow die. She will try her best, but she knows the odds are never in her favor.
I recommend this book because of the way Suzanne writes her characters. Feels very human and feels like the characters are real people with real emotions. I finished the last twenty pages crying, and will have to reread the trilogy sometime in the future. This is one of my favorite books now, and I won't be able to forget about it anytime soon.
Alone in the Woods
by: Rebecca Behrens
Book Review by: Ishani
The book Alone in the Woods is about two girls and their troubled friendship. They go on their annual trip to Buttercup Lake just to find how fragile their relationship is.They go on a water rafting and their floaty gets unhooked from their family.They get stranded in the woods with only what they brought for the short ride.They go through times when they realize that there friendship is still strong and confess feelings.Their teamwork gets them to a river where they are found.
I recommend this book because it has a good point of view and has adventure.It definitely keeps me at the edge of my seat.
Twilight
By Stephenie Meyer
Book review by: Nidhi
Bella is visiting her father in Forks, Washington because her mother got married again and she is going to Florida. On her visit, she encounters a boy named Edward, who she likes and realizes that he acts weird and stiff around her. When she meets a different boy named Jacob, she convinces him to tell her some stories, and she finds out what Edward really is, a vampire! Later on, she gets to meet his family and discover some other interesting things about vampires and paranormals.
My reason for recommending Twilight is because I have really enjoyed the series.
The Fall of the Beasts: The Wildcats Claw
By Varian Johnson
Book Review by Corey
This book is about 6 characters, Anke, Meilin, Abeke, Worthy, Rollan, and Conor, they are trying to find a legendary lost sword call the Wildcats Claw, the strongest blade in existence, belonging to a former hero.
I like this book because it has a lot of secrets like it is a puzzle you are piecing together with the characters, I rate this book a 9 out of 10.
Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer
by Rick Riordan
Book Review by: Corey
This book is about the Norse gods, it explains how a teenager has to retrieve a lost sword, the strongest in all of the land, there are enemies who also want to get this sword, he has to stop them and the evil beast, Fenris Wolf from escaping.
I think you should read this book because it really makes you feel as if you are adventuring with them, as if you were in this story, It is a really good book.
I rate this book a 10 out of 10.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians,
The Battle of the Labyrinth
by Rick Riordan
Book Review by Scarlett
My name is Scarlett, and the book I am reviewing is Percy Jackson and The Olympians, The Battle of the Labyrinth. I really liked this book and recommend it if you haven't read it. (Read the first 3 books in the series of course.) It is about Percy Jackson's 4th year knowing he was a half-blood and going on a quest with his friends into The Labyrinth, which is a giant maze that is mentioned a lot in Greek Mythology, in search of Daedalus, the creator of the Labyrinth. My favorite part of the book is when Percy goes to the orientation of Goode Highschool, and he fights two empousas, which are shape-shifting female creatures in Greek mythology, disguised as school cheerleaders. I like this part because I think it is cool that two monsters can be out in plain sight like they were. My least favorite part is when Camp Half-Blood fights against Kronos's army. I don't like this part because a lot of people get killed and that is really sad. Overall, this book was a 10/10!
Blake Shelton: country singer and TV personality
By Marcia Amidon Lusted
Book Review by Tiffany
This book tells about Blake Shelton’s life. One of these key components is when his brother died or when he sang with lambert and shelton and lambert felt a connection.
This book is awesome because it tells you about Shelton's life. I don't know if that's just me because I like country music or not.
Essential Fishing for Teens
by Ron Fitzgerald
Book Review by Tiffany
The book essential fishing for teens basically tells you the safety of fishing. I like the part where it talks about the fishing equipment because I don't know much about fishing. Another reason why I like this certain category is I have no idea what hooks to use.
I am recommending this book because fishing is a very cool sport.
To All The Boys I've Loved Before
By Jenny Han
Book Review by Kaylee
Lara Jean is having to figure out how to get through life without her sister Margot giving tips and tricks along the way.
She is in Junior year.
She wrote 5 love letters to the boys she has liked.
Peter, someone who used to be in her friend group before he became popular.
Josh, her neighbor and her best friend.
John, someone who used to be in her friend group but moved away.
Lucas, a guy at her school who turned out to be gay.
And lastly, a guy from her summer camp.
Somehow, they got out. Little does she know her little sister, Kitty, sent them out since she was mad at Lara Jean.
Trying to save face in front of the guy she actually likes, (Josh) her sister's now ex. She runs up to Peter in the hallway and kisses him. Shocker, right?
So, he goes along with it as he tries to save face in front of his ex, so they have this master plan to "fake" date as a way to do so.
A lot of drama comes as they introduce each other to family and they end up actually falling for each other.
Josh is trying to convince Lara Jean that Peter isn't the one because he's jealous and wishes he got the chance with her.
Anyways, life keeps going and Margot visits from college.
Margot finds out that Lara Jean liked Josh for a hot minute and gets furious that he did the same.
Margot judges Peter for being well, Peter.
The sisters eventually forgive each other.
Then, chaos happens between Peter and Lara Jean.
Peter "cheats" not really cuz they never technically dated.
Lara Jean gets mad and does the same with John, at a school UN program.
They end up forgiving each other and all goes well.
But.... more happens in the next book.
This book just proves that you never know what could happen in a lifetime and dreams do come true.
To All The Boys I've Loved Before : Forever and Always
By Jenny Han
Book Review by Kaylee
Lara Jean is going on her senior trip to NYC!
Her and Peter are in love, of course.
She looks at NYU, and falls in love with that as well.
Her and Peter plan on going to the same college so that way they can still have a connection.
However, life throws some VERY unexpected things at you whenever you think you have life all figured out.
Lara Jean and Gen started hanging out again a while ago.
When they both realized that life is far more complicated when you fight.
You never truly know how much you have left so live your life to the fullest and never turn back.
They go to the beach for a friend group trip and some drama happens.
I feel like Lara Jean felt distant from Peter.
But they love each other and that's what matters.
Peter doesn't want to hold Lara Jean back so they both go to the college of their dreams, and Peter drives down every other weekend to see her and they FaceTime. Every. Single. Night.
He goes to play lacrosse and she goes to be with her dream city.
Partying it out with her best friends and living life how God made her to be.
This book just proves that life can be destined and your people will wait until you have figured out exactly what your plan and purpose is.
Such a beautiful message from this book.