Manga Review: Elemental Gelade, vol. 4, by Mayumi Azuma

Posted on August 3, 2013 by Cameron S.

Check here, here, and here for reviews of previous volumes in this series.

I have a love/hate relationship with this issue.

It’s not bad. In fact, it’s great. It has some strong character development and it shows a lot of new characters. The reason why I don’t like it is because they go through the trials and fails of Cou to get him to be stronger. Frankly, that in itself is fine. It plays well… it’s very enjoyable; but for some reason, I have a very horrible feeling about the first 100 or so pages as Cou trains. That’s not the main focus.

You learn a lot about Edel Raids in this issue, and it’s a lot of interesting mythos. It’s interesting to learn about the universe and how these people/weapons work because it does show that they are people through this knowledge. The thing about it is that this is no longer about practice, and Cou goes back to the arena and fights for money. Of course, being that this is the hero’s story, he wipes the floor with them; in some cases it’s total domination– until he fights the champ, Rasati. At this point, I would add an epic soundtrack and just watch how epic this fight is.

This is a really good book in this series, no matter how I feel about it. I really liked the second half over the first half, due just to the fact that I prefer the combat. This is the first issue that Rowen and Keuea wear normal clothing. Personally I like the change; it adds more of a humanizing effect. And somehow Keuea is wearing more clothes now then in the first two issues; I never noticed this until now.

I give this volume a 9/10. I loved this one a lot, and it has a cliffhanger, setting up for what could be an epic battle for this. I’m really excited for it and if you liked this one, you should be too!

-Cameron S., 12th grade

Book Review: The Vicious Deep, by Zoraida Cordova

Posted on July 31, 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.

Have you ever imagined what it feels like to drown? The cold water rushing into your lungs. Being dragged under. Having waves crash over you, tossing you in what we water-people call “the washing machine.”

Scary thought, right? That’s why we have lifeguards. Tristan Hart knows this more than anyone else in his lifeguard troop. The Vicious Deep is a hair-raising, spine-chilling, heart-warming novel about a young man named Tristan Hart and the incredible transformation he undertakes to become one with the ocean… and its residents. Zoraida Cordova has outdone herself in this epic composition of friendship, danger, suspense and fantasy. “This is, by far, one of my best works,” says Cordova. “When I imagined the storyline for this novel, I wanted something…different. I wanted to take something normal, and twist it until it becomes something people would be interested in.” And that is exactly what she did.

The Vicious Deep is a novel that has to do mostly with friendship, fantasy, and above all, the OCEAN. In my opinion, the author was extremely good about keeping the fantasy part fairly realistic. Instead of making it a princess-style fairytale, she turned the story into something a person my age, or older, would want to read. Also, the author did an amazing job with the descriptions of Coney Island and the ocean. They made me actually feel like I was walking down the Island Boardwalk on a summer day, or swimming in the blue-green water. Also, in my opinion, the author did an excellent job of bringing themes into the story. She didn’t talk about the theme for too long, only mentioned it once or twice to get the readers thinking about it. Overall, I believe that Cordova did an excellent job with this book.

The characters in this book are, by far, some of the best characters in any novel I have ever read. The way Cordova describes them: “She has long, curly, shocking red hair that reached down to her waist, and the same eyes I do: Electric green. Her pursed pink lips and furrowed brows mean only one thing: I’m in trouble” (238). But the best part of the book, in my opinion, is when she describes Coney Island and the Boardwalk: “The blue-emerald water, the soft yellow sand, the old wooden boardwalk with its rickety old rides… this is Coney Island. This is home” (13). Overall, the author uses descriptive language that stands out in a time when authors just skip the descriptions and move on to dull plot and storyline.

In conclusion, The Vicious Deep is an amazing book that I would recommend to anyone over the age of 11. It has excellent themes and morals, and comically describes the incredible transformation that happens to the unsuspecting lifeguard Tristan Hart.

-Katie T., 7th 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.

-Sarah J., 8th grade

Manga Review: Elemental Gelade, vol. 3, by Mayumi Azuma

Posted on July 20, 2013 by Cameron S.

Check here and here for reviews of previous volumes in this series.

This is a character-developing book. It takes one character and for the majority of the time there is only focus on one character: Cisque. This takes place around the time of the end of the second book, which this series makes a habit of doing.

In this volume, Cisque has to save Kuea and the others. While she battles the hunter Wolx, Cou has to save them using Ren, which doesn’t really work, as normal. He works to keep off the guard while the buyer is watching the fight. Of course Cisque just barely wins by pulling out a pistol. Wolx’s Elemental Raid jumps in front of him and takes the bullet for him. Of course, being that this is the happy story, Cisque makes a deal where he finds elemental raids and sells them to her agency so instead of being sold on the black market they will be protected. Once they arrive at the town, they go and meet up with the agency. This is also the first time we will see Rowen and Cisque in regular clothes as they go on vacation.

Onto the book itself; yes, it is very good. I liked it a lot, like the second one. And seeing Cisque in the regular clothes is a nice change of pace for her. Rowen doesn’t really change; he just wears a suit instead of the work outfit. Cou and Rin don’t change by the end of the book, but they do play a major part in the next book.

I give this volume a 8/10; it’s a great book and fans should keep reading on and if you’re still sketchy, it’s still doing really well, so read on– it only gets better.

-Cameron S., 12th grade

Book Review: Pawn of Prophecy, by David Eddings

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Megan V.

Even though some books haven’t been turned into movies, they may actually be very good books. David Eddings wrote books that never would be movies, yet those books have attracted readers ever since the 1970s with their comedy, romance, adventure, and magic.

Pawn of Prophecy is the first book that attracted those readers. In the book, the Orb of Aldur, a jewel created by a god that can do almost anything, is a key item. Torak, the evil god of the Agnaraks, would do anything do get that jewel, yet it would burn anyone except one pure of heart. However, Torak is dead, killed by the Rivan ruler, who was led by Belgarath the sorcerer and Polgara the sorceress. Yet prophecies still say that if the Orb was taken from Riva, then disaster may follow, which wasn’t much of a problem because even though the Rivan line has been dead for centuries, a substitute has been preserving the throne.

Garion has heard these legends ever since he was a boy. However, even though all the legends contained magic, he had never seen it, since Sendaria was the only place that had no central god, a kingdom with mixed cultures. Even so, he couldn’t expect much from it.

But when an old and fantastic storyteller comes back to Faldor’s Farm, Garion’s home, after five years of absence with news of something being stolen, Garion, his aunt Pol, and a couple of others have to embark on a journey across the western world, encountering monsters, kings, romance, adventure, magic and much more!

Yet even though Garion is fourteen, he doesn’t know what’s going on, and nobody, not even the voice inside his head with a mind of his own, would tell him what’s going on. For Garion’s destiny has brought himself into a conflict so deep that even if he returns to Faldor’s Farm, he would never be normal ever again. I would give this book the highest rating ever known. Eddings is famous for:

his spectacular comedy
the fantastic/comical “why me?” statement, which is said by the main character a lot, the main woman character who’s very motherly
the realistic details
and the fact that he made the adventure scenes very intriguing.

In the end, I couldn’t relax and put the book down until I read the last the last page of the last book. Eddings really put his mind into his books, and wanted to make sure that kids have fun reading. However, readers should note that the prologues are big spoilers, some people die, and there is quite a bit of romance.

I would recommend this book to fans of Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, since it’s set in a medieval sort of world with the different kingdoms, with the fantasy elements of gods and sorcerers. The age appropriate group would be any teenager, and maybe a few preteens.

In conclusion, it’s safe to say that books that haven’t been turned into movies aren’t always bad, just different.

Megan V., 8th grade

Book Review: Airman, by Eoin Colfer

Posted on July 12, 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.

Have you ever wanted to fly like a bird? If you read Airman your wishes will be granted. Eoin Colfer so vividly describes the feeling of flight through the air, you will feel like you are right there next to Conor as he soars through the night air; in his dreams and his future. This amazing author first became known through the best-selling Artemis Fowl series, which fame cast his other books into the shadows. It was left for the chosen few to find that hidden jewel, Airman.

I really enjoyed reading the book because it revolves around one boy split in two, so it is like reading about two different characters. First we follow brilliant young Conor Broekhart as he trains with his French mentor to gain mastery in academics including extracurricular such as swordsmanship, but mainly aviation. “Conor was born to fly, or more accurately, was born flying” (7). His obsession took root at the very moment he was born, more than a hundred feet off the ground in a quickly plummeting hot air balloon. Conor starts off life like this, but after being falsely accused for a crime he did not commit, he becomes someone else.

Conor Broekhart becomes Conor Finn. A pirate criminal who has no family, friends, or anyone to love. He has nothing to hope for but being top dog in the insanity ward. His many trials as Conor Finn include staying alive from Otto Malarkey’s daily beatings, stashing the diamonds he is mining away from the guards, and escaping from the Little Saltee, a heartless rock-hewned jail. “Right was Great Saltee, wrong was Little Saltee(44).”

Conor Finn’s new closest, and only, friend and mentor on Little Saltee is a blind musician, Linus Wynter, who is also my favorite character. I love how Linus is portrayed by Eoin because he is a man of such complexity described in the most simplistic way. Linus is the only reason Conor lasted longer than 24 hours in prison. He served as the guide to Conor’s success and escape. Mr. Wynter got his eyes removed via hot poker after being caught spying on an Indian camp, but continued spying anyway. He is actually a spy for the good King Nick himself, whom Conor greatly trusted and admired.

The world that Eoin Colfer so truthfully describes in Airman fills your head with the dangers of our modern world. This intricately spun plot incorporates every human emotion you can dream of from horror to elation. In a renaissance like-time period of innovation in the world, Great Saltee is at the top of the curve, thanks to Conor Finn, aviator extraordinaire.

Airman is a constant race with good against evil, Conor Broekhart against Conor Finn, And the Airman vs. Bonvilian. To find out the final secret in this heinous plot, you’ll just have to get your head out of the clouds, and read the book!

-Parker R., 7th grade

Book Review: First Test, By Tamora Pierce

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Sarah J.

Girls trying to be knights are not a new idea but, in the book, First Test, Tamora Pierce brings a whole new twist to it. The book is about the first year of Keladry of Mindelan’s page years as she works to become accepted for deciding to become the 2nd female knight in the medieval and fantastic realm,Tortall.

First Test is the first book of the Protector of the Small Quartet by Tamora Pierce. This series is only one of the many series that she has written.

The First Test is about Keladry of Mindelan, who is known as Kel, first year as a page. Kel tries to prove to pages’ training master, Lord Wyldon that she can do just as well as the other boys in training. Many people are against girls becoming knights and so she receives much pressure. On top of that she has to deal with the fact that she was raised in another part of the realm and has to adjust to the completely different Tortall culture. Her friend Nealan “Neal” of Queenscove helps her along the way.

First Test is a well written book. There is plenty of adventure and action in the story. The characters are well-developed and are believable. Kel, the main character, is not someone who seems unbelievably lucky or powerful. She in her own way does have fault and fears. This makes her connect more with the reader. This is the same with most of the characters. The author also incorporates things from other real life cultures and traditions. Most authors who write in a medieval times setting usually take their ideas from Europe. Pierce actually incorporated some of the parts of the African culture and the Japanese culture into her story. This makes the story more interesting since there are more perspectives to see the story.

Overall this book is great for anyone who wants to have a strong girl protagonist as the main character. This has action and adventure as well. It might seem like a school story at first due to the very school like atmosphere of the page training but there is a whole lot more to it. The complete series itself, I would only recommend to older readers because it does deal with the maturing of girls, the changes they go through, and love. This is because of the growing age of the main character. This book is a good read for anyone, but there series is better for older readers. This is only my opinion. So read it for yourself and decide.

– Sarah J., 8th Grade

Book Review: Witch & Wizard, by James Patterson

Posted on July 6, 2013 by Danielle T.

Witch and Wizard by James Patterson is a page-turning book that keeps one hooked throughout the entire book and even after the thrill has ended.

Wisty and Whit Allgood are two teens who get kidnapped from their house in the middle of the night. They are taken away from all that they know with only a drumstick and an empty book. They soon get charged with being a witch and wizard and all that they love is taken away as they hear the news of their execution on their 18th birthday. When Whit accidently get his head stuck in the wall, their lives are changed forever.

The two kids learn of their powers and how to control them while bouncing from prison to prison. Wisty floats in her sleep, conjures up killer flies, and glows in the dark. Whit freezes animals and looks through portals into the Shadowland. They convert people, animals and judges into victims of their supernatural powers. Together they meet ghosts of a sort, portal jumping dogs, and others who had escaped the changes of their world, their home.

As a team, they grow their strength… but are they strong enough to start a revolution?

-Danielle T., 6th grade

Book Review: The Runaway King, by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Posted on July 4, 2013 by Linna C.

Very similarly to the first book in the Ascendance trilogy, The False Prince, The Runaway King is a great book that is suitable for most ages. However, there tends to be a touch of violence, so it might be a tad more appropriate for ages 12 and up. Even though it contains a lot of action, it does have a few parts that will make you laugh. It is a good book that combines adventure, mystery, and a good bit of humor.

If you have read the first book (see my review), you will know that the characters- mainly our hero, Sage- always managed to get into quite a bit of trouble. In this amazing sequel, their lives are in so much more danger than in the first book. Allies may be enemies and vice-versa! Secrets will be unveiled! The story unfolds quickly, not letting you escape, and things, whether good or bad, may be hiding around every bend!

I highly praise the author of the Ascendance trilogy, Jennifer A. Nielsen, for the wonders she has created for us in the way of a book. It would be a real shame to miss out on this thrilling sequel. If you liked the first book, then you’ll love the second one. It keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you hungry for more!

-Linna C., 6th grade

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

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Kate B.

I read The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe with my class this year and I liked it.

The story is about four kids, Lucy, Edmund, Peter, and Susan, who go into a wardrobe at the Professor’s House. Lucy goes into the wardrobe before the others, during a game of Hide-n-Seek on a rainy day. She meets a faun (a creature in Narnia), Mr. Tummus, in a forest where the wardrobe entered. He takes her to his cave where he lives, and serves tea.

Two hours pass and Lucy runs back through the wardrobe to her siblings and says,
“I’m here! I’m here! I’m not lost!” But it turns out it’s only been two minutes since the game started– according to the rest of them. Lucy talks about Narnia and none of them believe her. Days later, they all go in the wardrobe and go to Narnia and discover that she was telling the truth. And that starts the Adventure in Narnia.

There is also a movie but it is somewhat different. I recommend this book for age 9 and up because it is challenging in some parts and it is a good fantasy book.

-Kate B., 6th grade

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