Tag Archives: book review

Book Review: All-American Girl, by Meg Cabot

Posted on by
1
Top 10 reasons why people would love to read All-American Girl:
10. Samantha Madison, the main character, always does a “Top 10 reasons” explanation every couple chapters, which explain Sam’s problems in a clear and easy to read way.
9.Smart people and fans of National Geographic would like Rebecca, Sam’s twelve year-old genius sister, who has watched every episode of National Geographic.
8. Fashion lovers would want more of Lucy, Sam’s popular seventeen year-old sister.
7. Art lovers would adore Sam’s art school, friends who enjoy art, and the art competition Sam has to judge.
6. Girls looking for a romantic comedy would laugh and enjoy the romance story between Sam and a very comical yet attractive boy named David.
5. Teenagers with sibling problems would understand the crazy problems that Sam has to deal with because of Lucy and Rebecca.
4. Fans of the band No Doubt and Gwen Stefani would be thrilled that Sam is a fellow fan, too.
3. Citizens of America who are fans of the White House would be dazzled by the little-seen places of the President’s home.
2. Readers would love the comedy that Sam uses. For example, she gets invited to the White House for dinner and flushed her whole dinner down the toilet because she was a picky eater. Later, she ended up thinking that the next day’s headline would say something like this: MOST FAMOUS GIRL OF THE CENTURY CAUSES WHITE
HOUSE PLUMBING TO BLOW BY STUFFING ENTIRE DINNER DOWN TOILET.
1. Meg Cabot, the author, teaches a very important lesson that’s true for everyone.
What else would readers like about the realistic fiction book All-American Girl? Well, they would like Sam because:
  • She saves the President’s life, fascinating Americans with her loyalty and bravery
  • She teaches an important lesson that we should learn. Earlier, Sam always thought that it would great to be someone else, such as her favorite singer, Gwen Stefani, but she’s says in the end that “the number one reason I’m glad I’m not Gwen Stefani: 1. Because then I won’t be me” (Cabot 398).
Boys should be warned that since the main character is a fifteen-year-old girl born between two more girls, Sam isn’t aware that boys might read her story and openly talks about girl stuff, such as a girl’s private areas. Also readers should not do everything Sam does because she’s in love with her sister’s boyfriend and doesn’t pay attention in German class.
However, she proves that anybody can be a hero can be a hero, even a girl who mourns for the generation by wearing black and draws celebrity pictures in German class.
-Megan V., 8th grade

Book Review: Smoke

Posted on by
Reply

smoke_coverEllen Hopkins is one of my favorite authors so when I got a chance to read an advance copy of Smoke I knew I was in for a treat. Smoke is the squeal to Burned, which was published in 2006. Smoke continues the storyline of Burned in much the same format as the first, the one main difference being that  Smoke alternates viewpoints between Pattyn Scarlet Von Stratten, the protagonist of the first book, and her younger sister, Jackie.

For me the alternating viewpoints was the strongest point of the book. While Pattyn’s storyline does continue nicely from the first book I don’t think that the squeal would have worked as well as it did if it had been told strictly from her point of view. While the two sisters’ stories are separate in the sense that they are taking place in different parts of the country, they are still very much connected. I felt that Smoke really gave Jackie a chance to shine and be her own person as opposed to just a supporting character for Pattyn. It’s interesting to see how each sister responds to both being away from each other and dealing with the new lives they are forced to live because of the events that occurred in Burned.

The new characters introduced in Pattyn’s story line and well developed and it’s enjoying to follow Adriana, as well as the other new characters, as they spend time with Pattyn. Pattyn’s story line feels like a trip back in time in a way because of the migrant worker lifestyle she is living. This was one of my favorite aspects of the book because it’s not something that I typically associate with 2013 so it was interesting to see how it is still present today.

One thing that I think could have been better was that the story picked up very quickly, which while good in some aspects, left me a little lost for a while. The two books have a several year publishing gap between them which meant that as much as I loved Burned, some of its details had been forgotten by the time I got to read Smoke. Still this is a very minor thing that can easily be remedied by re-reading Burned before picking up Smoke.

Overall Smoke is an extremely strong squeal and I would highly recommend it to any fans of Ellen Hopkins. As with all Ellen Hopkins’s book this Smoke is best suited for older teens.

-Angela J., 12th grade

Book Review: The Wednesday Wars, by Gary D. Schmidt

Posted on by
Reply

wednesday_wars_coverNewberry Honor books are usually pretty good, but this one definetly wins top 10 on any of my reading lists. The writing was superb, the voice child-like but engaging, the character development definite, and the plot was riveting.

13 year old Holling Hoodhood knows seventh grade will be a nightmare when Mrs. Baker, his English teacher, hates him with a passion for no reason (most of us know that feeling, right?). But the world outside him is much worse than anything the two pet rats could cook up. The year is 1967 and the Vietnam War is raging. Every night on the news is a few more pictures of men crouching in bunkers, trying to survive.

But Holling has plenty of torture in store. Because he doesn’t go to the Jewish temple or the Catholic Church on Wednesday afternoon, he is stuck with Mrs. Baker who makes him read Shakespeare. But Holling soon notices an uncanny parallel between what is going on in his life and the plays he is reading. Eventually he doesn’t mind the Shakespeare. Even if it does end up with him in yellow tights on stage.

The character development of all the characters, even the minor ones in this book is huge and very rewarding. They all seem so alive and complex, which I think is one of the signs of a great author. The writing and the voice, which may be my favorite part, is very much like a 7th grade boy with a humorous outlook on life that reminds me of The Worst Best School Year Ever, by Barbara Robinson.

This book definitely made me think more about life but not in a boring way. I was always excited about what the next story would be and loved looking at life through Holling’s eyes. Everyone should read this book!

-Becka O., 9th grade

Book Review: Broadway Lights, by Jen Calonita

Posted on by
Reply

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

EXTRA! EXTRA! Are LAVA and SKAT at it again? I have never been in the hustle and bustle of New York’s show business but author Jen Calonita, winner of the young reader award in 2009, made me feel as if I was starring in a Broadway show in 2004. Broadway Lights about how a famous movie star’s career on the big screen ends corruptly and is cast in the new biggest broadways show as the lead. She is faced with challenges even some regarding her boyfriend three thousand miles away. This is a story about love, self-confidence, friendships, and deceit.

From the secret romance between Dylan and Kaitlin to the public spat about LAVA and SKAT, you will not be able to put this book down. Every time I picked up this book, I lost track of time and felt in a different world. Kaitlin is one of the reasons that I truly love this book. Herself-confidence shined on stage and off. Jealous snobs, just looking for some trouble, pick on Kaitlin, but she fights them off by being strong and kind. Broadway Lights is set in both Malibu and New York. Paparazzi at her new movie premiere interview on the red carpet, “right now I am standing on the red carpet at Westwood’s Mann Village Theatre in Los Angeles, where my movie, Pretty Young Assassins, is premiering on this warm May night”, swarm Kaitlin. (4)

When Kaitlin’s TV drama “Family Affairs” gets canceled, Kaitlin is forced to be the lead in a Broadway show, featuring a teen horror story…. high school.  As Kaitlin enters the world of Broadway many people help her along the way, including her rival Sky.  Soon, Kaitlin gets suspicious of her boyfriend, Austin’s sneaky behavior and is scared he is cheating on her. As Kaitlin’s Broadway debut ends she realizes how much she loves acting and gets to follow her dream even further. But during the story Kaitlin overcomes many challenges and is a true inspiration to me.

This book really showed how change could be good! Sometimes people can be scared for change but this book shows it can end up very positive and you may like it more than what you may have been doing before. As Kaitlin is leaving her movie premiere she realized she was leaving, “The words hit me like a bad review. I’m leaving Los Angeles. My home. Next week. And Austin is not coming with me.” (15) I was super excited to read this book because I am a giant Broadway geek and this book seemed perfect for me. I would give this book an A+ because of the unique writing style it entails. Many parts of the book look like magazine clippings you would read in People or USA Today. This book was by far my favorite book I have ever read. If you haven’t read this book it is a must-read.

Overall, Broadway Lights is a very fun and well-written book, which will be loved even if you do not enjoy reading. This is a real page-turner, which will keep you at the edge of your seat.

-Anneka M., 7th grade

Book Review: Ungifted, by Gordon Korman

Posted on by
Reply

ungifted_coverDo you ever feel ungifted? Like everybody else has a special gift or talent except you? Then read this book! Ungifted by Gordon Korman opened my eyes to see that everybody has some sort of talent, whether you can see it or not.

When Donavan Curtis accidentally knocks the globe of an Atlas statue off, he wrecks knows he’s going to get into big trouble. After all, this isn’t the first time he accidentally messed something up. However, a mishap with the superintendent gets him sent to a gifted program instead of getting a huge punishment.

When Donavan receives the news he’s getting sent to a gifted program, he knows it’s a mistake. Still Donavan decides to stick around with the super geniuses to save his parents from paying the bill for the gym. That’s when he starts to realize that those geeks and nerds are very cool in their own way – they just need a little push in the right direction from someone who doesn’t spend all his time stressing about grades or some new science discovery. But his time here won’t last forever, and Donovan knows it’s only a matter of time before the superintendent finds him and takes him back to get an even bigger punishment.

Inside, you’ll find an ongoing experiment with a live human (sister), an unforgettably dramatic middle-school dance, and the most astonishing robot victory ever. Ongoing through all of this craziness, Donovan shows that his gifts might be exactly what the genius students never knew they needed!

I personally love this book because it’s hilarious and takes other people’s point of view. It’s just a great book overall and I highly recommend it!

-Danielle L., 6th grade

Introduction to the Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer Series, by John Grisham

Posted on by
1

activist_coverAction, adventure, and excitement.The Activist, the fourth book in the Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer series by John Grisham has all this and more.

Grisham is known for his adult novels, such as The Firm and Pelican Brief. The Theodore Boone series is his first series for younger readers. These books are extremely well written, and keep your attention until the end. In this series, a boy named Theodore Boone, thirteen years old, has two parents who are lawyers. Theodore is an only child, and he also wants to be a lawyer when he gets older, so he helps his friends and family with small cases, while, in the meantime, a bigger problem is manifesting itself. For example, in the second book of the series, Theodore’s friend is kidnapped by her own father.

In The Activist, the most current book, Theodore is trying to stop a highway bypass from being built in his town that will cost two million dollars, and will pollute the air while cutting through a school, and a soccer field. The city council is also spending money on the bypass while eliminating important school programs. Theodore uses his skills to determine the illegal actions in which the city is engaging. In the meantime, Theodore is trying to help his friend because the bypass will be built on his friend’s family’s land.

This book series can be read by both boys and girls, but I would recommend that the minimum reading age be thirteen years old. I also recommend that you should read the whole series in order, as it will make reading more enjoyable. Overall, the Theodore Boone series is a great summer read, especially the fourth and most recent one.  This is definitely a series everyone should check out.

-Will R., 9th grade

Book Review: Beta, by Rachel Cohn

Posted on by
1

beta_coverBeta 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: Close to Famous, by Joan Bauer

Posted on by
Reply

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

Who would’ve thought that a 12 year old girl would leave her home and belongings to run away from her mother’s crazy ex-boyfriend? Joan Bauer perfectly explains “the story with no destination” in the book Close to Famous. Using events from her past, Ms. Bauer perfectly depicts difficult life situations with both humor and hope. This story is full of suspense, drama, conflict, and of course, a little bit of baking.

Foster McFee and her mother continue to drive as far away from Memphis as possible. The girls end up in the little city of Culpepper, West Virginia, where mama describes it by stating “a little town like this is very sweet” (15). Foster and her mama are greeted by the warm-hearted people of the town, who give them a home and a job. Spunky little Foster uses her baking talents to brighten the wilting town.

The underlying truth with Foster and her mom is that Foster’s father was killed as a loyal soldier in Iraq. Every day, the McFee’s struggle to maintain an income, while coping with their loss. The only way Foster is able to hold on to the last memories of her father are through his items, which she keeps in his favorite pillowcase. But when Foster finds that she has misplaced this infamous pillow case… I guess you will have to read the book to find that out.

I thoroughly enjoyed Foster’s confident personality, which Miss Bauer depicted when she wrote “I got an Easy-Bake oven when I was four and the rest is history” (8). Foster knows she has many issues going on in her life but she prefers to stay positive. I believe that this is a very noble character trait for a 12 year old to embody.

Foster aspires to one day become a well-known baker, including her own TV show. However, her dyslexia does not help her to read those pesky cook-books. Foster is the best example of a character who deals with sorrow and everyday obstacles, much like Sara Crewe in A Little Princess. You will relate to her when you are experiencing days when you just want to stop trying. Foster inspires me to keep on going because the situation WILL get better in the long run.

Miss Bauer explains themes of sorrow, loss, and disabilities in an exquisitely relatable way. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a suspenseful story that twists and turns at the least expected times. If you want to find out more about what happens to Foster, mama, the pillowcase, the crazy boyfriend, and a guy named Crazy Dave; I would highly recommend this book.

 -Natalie M., 7th grade

Book Review: Flash Point, by Nancy Kress

Posted on by
Reply

flash_point_coverFlash Point is a dystopian fiction set in a future United States after an economic collapse has left many people jobless and rioting. Amy Kent, a teenager supporting her sister and dying grandmother, signs up for a job on the reality TV show Who Knows People, Baby – You?, where viewers try to predict the reactions of six players to surprise crisis scenarios. Desperate for ratings, the television producers put the contestants in increasingly real danger.

Though the premise of this book is similar to The Hunger Games, it focuses more on the turbulent, poverty-stricken society it is set in, rather than survival. I enjoyed that the teenage players are chosen to fit stereotypes – the spoiled rich socialite, the nerdy strategist, the relatable everygirl – but by the end of the book, when they have decided to team up against the television executives, each one is revealed to be more than they seem. Though the characters’ goal is to expose the motives of one program rather than changing the world, they learn that no one can really predict the actions of others.

I would recommend this book to anyone 14+ years old (mostly for language), who enjoys dystopian fiction and interesting plot twists.

-Miranda C., 12th grade

Book Review: Deep Zone, by Tim Green

Posted on by
Reply

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

“It was spooky to see the defenders in the deep zone converging on his brother like heat seeking missiles all hitting the same target” (18). I have always enjoyed playing and watching football, and when I read this part of the book you feel like you are on the sidelines, watching a live game. Tim Green, the author, was actually a former football player who now writes books. I see this as a huge advantage because he knows how to properly make someone feel alive in a football situation. This is one of the many reasons why Deep Zone is so intriguing.

The beginning of this story starts in New York, a place I have little knowledge in. Ty and his Brother Thane (an NFL superstar) live alone in a large slate roofed mansion. Due to a gambling scheme their naughty Uncle Gus made, their house becomes the target of sneaky mobsters like Zipper.

Early on, Thane is rocked in the last play of an NFL game, which results in a reconstruction surgery for his knee. Ty must stay alone in the targeted house with FBI agent, Agent Slutherland. Agent Slutherland is an undercover cop, so when Ty first saw him, he thought he was a mobster. Ty’s reaction resulted in a wound in his hand. While with Slutherland, Ty had his own football team tryouts. Despite a wounded hand, Ty shows perseverance and makes a team that takes him to a football tournament in Atlanta.

In Atlanta, Thane and Ty stay in a large, luxurious hotel on the coastline. They think all trouble with the mobsters has ended, but really, it has just begun. Ty plays his football tournament while meeting someone who looks like Ty and has football abilities like him. The two go on football and other adventures together in the beautiful Atlanta weather.

When reading Deep Zone or one of Tim Green’s other books, you feel a sense of urgency to read on about the great football games or action that happens off the field. Tim’s ability to create such an intriguing mystery keeps the book interesting, and makes sure you are always at the edge of your seat while reading. “Ty’s heart jumped into his throat. He froze in panic, unable to move as he heard whoever it was sneak past his bedroom door” (95).

The one thing about this book that I didn’t like was the beginning. At first, even the word football is barely mentioned and I didn’t know if I was reading a football book. This slow and forgettable beginning soon sped up to be the fast paced action and mystery that Tim Green is so good at.

Except for the slow start, this book kept me reading all day long. Once you get into the action you are always thinking about, what’s going to happen to Ty? A flashlight under the sheets book that will almost scare you at some points.

I would recommend this book for kids in middle school who have an interest in football or mysteries. I loved this book and you will too once you choose to find out what happens to Thane, Ty and their friends.

-Gordon L., 7th grade