Book Review: Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Posted on September 23, 2013 by Sarah J.

Dragons, magic, elves, dwarfs, and war are all common elements of many stories. Eragon was one of the first I have read that has a dragon that is actually a main character not a main supporting character. Excellent read for anyone who likes the things I listed above.

Eragon is the first book of a currently four-book series called The Inheritance Cycle written by Christopher Paolini.

The book is about a boy named Eragon. Eragon has always believed he was just a normal farm boy with a normal birth. He knows nothing of his mother nor nothing of this father. He was raised by an uncle of his and lived with his uncle and his uncle’s son on their farm. Eragon lived a kind of shelter life from most of the outside world since the valley that he lived him was rarely visited from the outside. One day he finds a polished blue stone. This stone would bring him out of his simple life and the valley in which he lived. This stone would bring a dragon into his life that will lead him to magic, elves, and a whole host of other creatures and humans.

Eragon is a very well-written story. The story is very well planned out and detailed– not in the way that bores people but holds their interest. Each character seems to have some sort of mystery behind them that makes the reader want to discover more. The main character, Eragon, still makes mistakes like a normal person and admits that he does them. This makes him feel more like the reader. Another thing that is interesting in this series is the diverse amount of species in the story. There are not only plenty of different sort of humans but there are also things like Urgals (Read the story to find out more about these creatures).

In the end, this book is amazing. Well, at least for me. It has plenty of adventure and excitement for both male and female readers. This book and the complete series itself, I personally would recommend it to older or more advanced readers. The reason is that some of the more emotional side of the story can be hard to understand and take in some of the time. This series also deals with a lot of fighting, war, betrayal, and other slightly more mature things. This review is only my opinion. Really it is up to you. Have Fun!

Extra Note: If you would like to learn more about the author of the Inheritance Cycle series, check out Phillip X.’s post about Christopher Paolini.

-Sarah J., 8th grade

Book Review: Beta, by Rachel Cohn

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Danielle T.

Beta is a great book. You will never see the ending coming!

Elysia is a 16 year old Beta, or experimental clone, who lives on the island of Demesne, a paradise for the wealthiest people on Earth. When Elysia learns about the other clones on the island and becomes the replacement of a girl named Astrid, her life changes forever. Elysia starts to work for the governor’s family keeping the two children, ages 16 and 10, occupied.

Clones are beings without a soul who cannot feel, they work as servants for the members of Demesne, doing their chores, working as nannies and making Demesne a true paradise. Even the air and ocean surrounding has been altered for total relaxation.

But when defective Clones, called defects, begin to spread word of a revolution everything goes for a ride. Elysia meets other teens living on Demesne whom she befriends. She learns of the world of people, until her only chance at happiness is taken away with such cruelty she might not be able to handle it. Besides, if Elysia is meant to be a soulless being, why are all of these emotions arising? Could Elysia possibly be a defect? Elysia goes on an adventure of romance, action and adventure in the novel Beta.

I loved this book right up to the ending and I believe that many people will agree that Beta is a book you simply can’t put down.

-Danielle T., 7th grade

Book Review: Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe

Posted on September 14, 2013 by Melika R.

Robinson Crusoe is an interesting book written by Daniel Defoe. This book is about a man that was stranded on a tropical island alone and desperate for help. He goes to great lengths to try and survive. He does incredible work trying to survive. However, there are some setbacks such as an earthquake. He describes it as “would have overturned the strongest building that could be supposed to have stood on the Earth.”

Crusoe begins to get used to all of these misfortunes. Many new events start to happen at the same time as well. One of these events include meeting Friday. Crusoe teaches Friday many new things. Friday and Crusoe also become very good friends.

The story goes on and you must read to find out what happens next! I would recommend this book to an older crowd such as ages 13 – 16. This of course depends on what version you read.

In the end, this book is very good and I recommend you to read it. This is a classic that you will love. This book is one of the few books that you will ever forget about!

-Melika R., 8th grade

Book Review: White Fang, by Jack London

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Will R.

This month, I am blogging about a book that I have always wanted to read, yet have never had a chance to read, until now. White Fang by Jack London is one of those classics that people are always telling me about, yet, even though I am always reading something, I have never read it. As soon as I picked it up and looked at the back cover, I knew that it would be a book that I would like a lot.

I do not want to give the whole plot away, but White Fang starts out as a tiny puppy struggling for survival, half dog and half wolf. He is found by a cruel man named Gray Beaver, whose brother owned White Fang’s mother. Gray Beaver turns White Fang into a nasty and vicious dog that cannot trust anyone, and White Fang has to quickly learn how to hurt, or be hurt, and soon becomes the most feared and hated dog in Gray Beaver’s tribe. Gray Beaver then sells White Fang to an even nastier man named Beauty Smith, who discovers White Fang’s fighting abilities, and has him fight other dogs for money. Without spoiling anything, I can gladly say that the ending is a happy one, where White Fang finally learns that some people can be kind and caring after all.

White Fang is a story of survival, and trust. It is also a story of love and companionship. White Fang is a great story, and I really like Mr. London’s style of writing. He shows what it is really like to be out in the harsh lonely world with no one to trust, and no one on which to rely. White Fang is not the best book I have ever read, but I really enjoyed it, and would recommend it to anyone above nine years old (a little of a complicated read for younger children), boy or girl, who enjoys reading, especially about animals and nature. All in all, White Fang is definitely a great book and I would most certainly read it again.

-Will R., 9th grade

Book Review: The True Confesssions of Charlotte Doyle, by Avi

Posted on September 7, 2013 by Maya S.

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, a journey of a ship-girl crashing through the waves of beautifully written literature by Avi, is a truly magnificent novel. I would rate it a 10 out of 10 for its humor, formality, and engaging style of writing.

The story starts out with a young woman, Charlotte, whose parents had moved to America, but she had stayed in England to finish school. At the end of the year, she was to have a servant pick her up and accompany her to the boat. She had another worker carry her trunk to the ship, but when they heard the name of the ship and its captain, they took off running. Two of them had left her alone! Charlotte was astonished, nevertheless, she boarded the boat. That first night on the ship, she remembered seeing a figure with only one arm scampering up one of the main masts.

The voyage started out, and Charlotte met a man named Zachariah. At first, he didn’t seem like anyone who interested her, but later he became her caring mentor. The captain seemed nice at first but later was revealed to be one of the cruelest people Charlotte had ever known. A series of odd events occurred, but Charlotte didn’t tell a soul.

When chaos and shouts of anger came from the crew the first time, Charlotte was scared. However, after the first attempt to kill the captain, Charlotte slipped away from the captain’s reach, chopped off her hair, and became one with the crew to complete their army. They tried for a second strike where Zachariah was almost killed, but a stowaway with only one arm was found. Mayhem then ensued, and Charlotte faced her greatest challenge to stand up for herself with the ultimate goal of being reunited with her parents.

Maya S., 6th grade

Book Review: The Lost Hero, by Rick Riordan

Posted on August 31, 2013 by Kyle H.

In The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan, a teenage boy named Jason ventures through the USA accompanied by Piper and Leo, his two closest friends. While trying to save the goddess Hera, these children are chased and attacked by a number of monsters and demons who were sent by the earth goddess Gaea. Jason is also on a quest to find his true identity, to find out why he was sent to America, and where he was before. Jason has no recollection of his life before being dumped on a school bus in the middle of a field trip to the Grand Canyon.

In this thrilling tale, secrets will be spilled, narrow escapes will be made, and identities will be told. I give this book a 9.5 out of ten because of its amazing descriptive detail and many “on-the-edge-of-your-seat” moments.

Rick Riordan has written two sequels to this book: The Son of Neptune and The Mark of Athena. The next book in the series, House of Hades, comes out in October. I am currently reading the Son of Neptune which is also a great book that I recommend and I plan to read The Mark of Athena once I am done with this book. Rick Riordan is a great author and I have enjoyed many of his other series, like The Kane Chronicles and The Olympians.

-Kyle H., 7th grade

Book Review: Star in the Storm, by Joan Hiatt Harlow

Posted on August 27, 2013 by Danielle T.

A book filled with hope, suspense, and the strength of a relationship between a girl and her dog; Star in the Storm, written by Joan Hiatt Harlow, is by far one of my favorite books.

“One for sadness, two for mirth, three for marriage, four for birth; five for laughing, six for crying; seven for sickness, eight for dying, nine for silver, ten for gold; eleven for a secret that will never be told.”

When all non-sheepherding dogs get outlawed from the coastal village where Maggie lives, she is unwilling to let her Newfoundland, Sirius, go. She hides Sirius away as diseases flood the village. Having nosy neighbors, keeping Sirius hidden is a challenge. But when a violent storm hits, a boat packed with a hundred passengers gets stranded. Maggie knows that Sirius could save the passengers but is bringing him out of hiding worth risking his life. Besides, if anything goes wrong the passengers and Sirius’s life could be in danger.

This is a page-turning book that I had to read several times. This book is an easy read with twists and turns. I have suggested it to many of my friends knowing that whatever their type, Star in the Storm is a book worth reading.

-Danielle T., 7th grade

Book Review: Life of Pi, by Yann Martel

Posted on August 19, 2013 by SMES Student

This book review is part of series of reviews written by students at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School for their 7th grade English classes.

The book I am reviewing is the book “Life Of Pi” by Yann Martel. You may recognize this book from the popular 2012 movie based after this novel. You also may recognize Yann Martel from other Canadian books that he has authored, such as “Self”. At any rate, Yann outdid himself with this book. Not many people could take the life of a young Indian man and make it into a compelling epic filled with conflict, hope, & promise.

This 537 page novel is divided into three main parts. The first is told from the point of view of Piscine Molitor Patel. His father owns a zoo in Pondicherry, India. He talks about his young life and the lessons he learned. Two really important things happen in this section. Firstly, after receiving the nickname “Pissing Patel,” he makes a new nickname for himself as “Pi Patel.” You get the idea that Pi is just a normal Hindu boy living in India. Secondly, Piscine “Pi” is born Hindu, but at the age of fourteen he starts practicing Christianity and Islam as well. He claims his reasoning as “I just want to love god,” (pgs 129-130). If I were Pi, I would have prayed to God more because Pi was about to have some bad luck.

The second is also told from Pi’s point of view. Surprising to me and unlike most book protagonists, Pi does not search for adventure. Instead it is forced upon him. His parents decide to move from India to Canada. After traveling with the animals on a ship so they can be sold elsewhere, Pi and the Patel family are thrown into danger. Their boat suddenly capsizes. Pi saves himself by climbing into a lifeboat but he is stuck with 3 (later 4) of the animals from his zoo. These animals are: a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan named Orange Juice, and a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker (RP). Eventually, only RP is left. Pi and RP learn to cope with each other in the boat for 227 days, most of which are spent describing the sea, stars, and his situation. Unlike most other stories, this story seems natural as if it was authored by Pi himself. Pi must remind himself continually of his family and realizes that life is only good if enjoyed, a continual reference through the rest of the book. If not for RP, Pi would have given up and died. Will Pi ever make it back? You’ll have to read the book to see what happens.

During the final part of the novel, years later, a much older Pi Patel is being interviewed by two reporters who are looking for info about the ship he was on. When they do not believe the story he tells them with the animals, he tells them another story in which Pi, his mother, the ship’s cook, and one of the sailors are on the lifeboat instead. The reporters have a mixed review to this story as well. Because neither of the stories have anything to do with the ship, they choose one of the stories. Pi’s response is simply “Thank you. And so it goes with God,” (pg. 531). You’ll have to read to find out which story they chose.

Overall, I would give this novel about 3.5/5 stars, because of two reasons. The book uses complicating word choice and if you prefer short books, this book is not for you. Also, the book does drag on in the middle while describing the few things Pi sees in the ocean in great detail. This leads to a slightly stretched out conflict and even some redundancy, but if you can make it past this part of the book, it is well worth it to see the end of Pi’s journey. Condensed into about 250-300 pages, this book would have been flawless, but now it is forced to depend on a simple plot and pure curiosity to keep the reader going. The only reason I did not stop is because I had to know how Pi’s life ended in the end.

-Tejav N., 7th grade

Book Review: Embers and Echoes, by Karsten Knight

Posted on August 16, 2013 by Phillip Xiang

Have you ever pretended you could summon fireballs on your fingertips at will? Embers and Echoes, by Karsten Knight, is the perfect adventure novel for you.

Ashline Wilde, the reincarnation of a Polynesian volcano goddess, has been tracking her six-year-old sister to Miami, Florida. A group of gods have kidnapped Ash’s sister, Rose, for her ability to create explosions so powerful that they rip through the fabric of space and time. These rifts can become gates between any parts of the world, and even to other worlds beyond. Each of the four gods controls a power relevant to one of the four seasons, hence the self-proclaimed name: The Four Seasons. The Four Seasons reveal themselves to the world as heroes, gods from legend come to save humanity from harbingers of doom. In reality, their plan is to sacrifice Ash’s newfound friends Aurora and Wes, god of the night. So, with her assortment of gods, Ash seeks to stop the Four Season’s megalomaniac scheme.

Karsten Knight’s fast paced story never lets up, transitioning rapidly from one exciting battle to the next. The storyline provides a variety of different moods, along with comedy Easter eggs scattered throughout the book. Combined with an interesting plot, all of this makes for a very entertaining read. However, I did notice that none of the characters were described in great depth. As quickly as they were introduced, they either died or simply left, so that the reader didn’t get to know the well enough to really mourn or to rejoice when they passed on. While the fast-paced plot was exciting, the reader doesn’t really get a chance to mull over what just happened before something else happens. Also, this book has some profanity and adult themes.

Overall, Embers and Echoes is a fun read for anybody who enjoys fantasy books, especially concerning ancient gods. Be sure to read the first book in the series, Wildefire. I am eagerly awaiting the next book, Afterglow.

-Phillip X., 8th grade

Book Review: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis

Posted on July 31, 2013 by Sarah J.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a compelling story that is filled with fantasy, adventure, and plenty of space for imagination.

It was written by the extolled author C.S. Lewis, published in 1950, and dedicated to Lewis’s goddaughter, Lucy Barfied. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was a part of a book series that would be come to be known as the Chronicles of Narnia. This story at the beginning is set in England during World War II. Then it takes the main characters, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, to another world called Narnia.

In the book, there are many incredible creatures, animals, and people such as the jaunty fauns, elated dryads, serene naiads, talking beavers, and amiable Father Christmas. Because they are there, an element of magic is added to the story. It shows the readers that not only humans have to be in control. C.S. Lewis also shows some of the Christian beliefs and the story of Jesus Christ because Aslan represents Jesus Christ. When Aslan dies to save Edmund, it is like how Jesus died to save the people on Earth. Also, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe tells the about having compassion and forgiving others. This is shown when the Pevensies Children forgive Edmund for betraying them to the White Witch. Incredibly, Aslan goes to die in Edmund’s place, which shows how Aslan had compassion for Edmund, even though he is perfectly innocent.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has much fantasy and adventure that allows to reader to explore their imagination while they read an amazing story.