Book Review: Shelter by Harlan Coben

Posted on December 8, 2014 by rwong2002

Have you ever felt like you have been betrayed, and overwhelmed with nothing but lies? In the realistic fictional book Shelter: A Mickey Bolitar Novel, by Harlan Coben, a teenage boy named Mickey Bolitar has to persevere through hardships to save his loved ones. Throughout his journey, Mickey must survive surprising challenges and overcome his fears in order to succeed.

Starting a new life at a different neighborhood and new school, Mickey moves in with his only other relative, his uncle, because his father died in a car accident and his mom moved to rehabilitation. Mickey meets a girl named Ashley who soon becomes his girlfriend. She suspiciously disappears and her permanent record is erased without a trace. Near his house, Mickey meets a person called “Bat Lady,” who turns his life upside down again when she tells him that his father is still alive and well. Confused and anxious, he wants to figure out how and why his loved ones vanished. Thrown into a life-threating mission to solve the crime, Mickey learns that he can’t trust those closest to him, let alone himself.

Harlan Coben, the author of Shelter: A Mickey Bolitar Novel, tells the story in first person, where Mickey is the narrator. I like how he expresses Mickey’s feelings and thoughts, which gives the reader a closer view and helps them relate to Mickey as a teenager. However, even though Mickey is the protagonist, he does seem like the villain sometimes, because he forces his friends to help him, even though their lives are put on the line. I would rate this book a 7 out of 10 because I liked the setting of the mystery, but there wasn’t enough action involved into the story. Suspenseful and fun to read, this book is for young adults who prefer a good mystery to get their minds thinking and plenty of detective work that leads to an unexpected ending.

-Riley W., 7th grade

Book Review: The Third Twin by C.J. Omololu

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Sabrina C.

Lexi and Ava are identical twins, but sometimes… they are triplets.

When they were little, they made up a third twin, Alicia. Alicia was blamed for everything like when things were broken or stolen. Now that they are seniors in high school, their little game has gotten more serious. They pretend to be Alicia when they go out with boys who are hot but not the dating type. The kind of guys they would never consider being with in real life. However, Lexi wants to put an end to Alicia for good when one guy Alicia dated turns up dead. Ava thinks that as long as they follow the rules for Alicia (always wear the diamond pendant; never sleep with any of the guys; and after five dates, they are gone), everything will go back to normal. Before that can happen, another boy is killed, and DNA tests and camera proof reveal that there is only one possible suspect: Alicia. The girl who doesn’t exist. Lexi is on the run, and she has to find the truth before another boy dies. Because either Ava is the real killer…or Alicia is real.

When I first heard about this book, I knew I just had to read it. I even thought the title was interesting. I mean who’s ever heard of a third twin? The story is very compelling and holds so many surprises. The biggest surprise, by far, is who the killer turns out to be. Right away, the story picks up. I just couldn’t stop reading it. This book is meant for ages 12 and up. There is some mature content and language present, but other than that, I suggest you go out and get this book when it comes out on February 24, 2015.

-Sabrina C., 9th grade

Book Review: And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Anmol K.

If you were to receive a vague letter that enticed you to an island for a pretext, would you still go? Such is the situation in the thrilling page-turner, And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, ten people from different walks of life each receive a letter for a different purpose to go to Indian Island. But all of them have one thing in common: they all are indirectly involved with a person’s death.

In their rooms, at the mansion, each person has a framed copy of the poem: “Ten Little Soldiers.” After having dinner the first night, they all are in the living room when a gramophone announces each person’s name and whom they indirectly murdered. On the same night, Anthony Marston takes a sip from his drink and starts choking, an eventually dies. One by one each guest is murdered, and the guests who are still alive realize that the murderer is amongst them.

I thought this book was awesome. It was a real page-turner and I did not want to put it down. If you are looking for a great mystery-murder novel, then this book is recommended for you. As you read the book, you try to figure out who is the murderer. After you suspect one person, they turn out to be the next victim. This aspect of the book was fascinating to me. I won’t give much of the ending away, but the way the person executed their actions was improbable. Advised for anybody who loves suspense, read And Then There Were None.

-Anmol K., 8th grade

Book Review: The Fire Seekers by Richard Farr

Posted on November 18, 2014 by Evan G.

You’ve heard the stories repeated, every religion and culture has a different way of telling them, it’s the story of the end of the human race… Set in modern times, ancient Gods are rising, mass disappearances of people are occurring and a terrorist organization named the Seraphim is at large. 17 year-old Daniel Calder, who has a famous archeologist for a father and America’s top business woman/mountain climber for a mother, has a journey to take in order to save the human race. He has to connect the dots and discover what humanity has been denying since the very first civilizations. In this witty, fast-paced tale, Daniel must rediscover secrets long lost and find out the mystery behind the Fire Seekers.

I noticed that I kept mixing this book up with other series because the voice used by the author is similar to those of Rick Riordan, James Patterson and John Flanagan. These happen to be some of my favorite authors. This is a suspenseful mystery novel that relates life in other countries to that of life on American soil. This story really helps the reader appreciate the circumstances they live in and realize all the bad things in the world that they don’t have to partake in. The reader will get a deeper look at human society in which there are problems that can and can not be fixed. Though this novel is fictional, it rings with truth. I enjoyed the themes that occur throughout the book including world religion, mythology and childhood independence.

-Evan G., 6th grade

Book Review: We Were Liars, by E. Lockhart

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Danielle K.

“Welcome to the beautiful Sinclair family. No one is a criminal. No one is an addict. No one is a failure…We are the Sinclairs. No one is needy. No one is wrong. We live, at least in the summertime, on a private island off the coast of Massachusetts. Perhaps that is all you need to know.” (3)

With its thought-provoking title and captivatingly blurry cover-photo, I expected We Were Liars to be an interesting read. That being said, the book largely exceeded my expectations.

We Were Liars is told in the first person point of view and bounces back and forth from summers past to present. These snippets of information provide the reader with a detailed history of the Sinclair family; along with a deeper understanding of the protagonist’s character and motives.

This contemporary, realistic YA novel contains stories of criminal activity; childhood adventure; constant action; uniquely limited friendships; forbidden romance; excruciating loss; unconditional love; utmost regret; what it means to belong; and the truth regarding mental inadequacy.

One specific facet of this story that I liked was the humor; strategically placed between solemn moments of the novel, We Were Liars had me laughing out loud in the middle of English class. The comedy utilized is clean, spontaneous, John Greenesque, and (in other words) inexplicably hilarious.

“‘Don’t look at my troll feet,’ says Gat suddenly.

‘What?’

‘They’re hideous. A troll snuck into my room at night, took my normal feet for himself, and left me with his thuggish troll feet.’ Gat tucks his feet under a towel so I can’t see them. ‘Now you know the truth.’

…‘Wear shoes.”

‘I’m not wearing shoes on the beach…I have to act like everything’s okay until I can find that troll. Then I’ll kill him to death and get my normal feet back. Have you got weapons?’

‘No.’

‘Come on.’

‘Um. There’s a fire poker in Windemere.’

‘All right. As soon as we see that troll, we’ll kill him to death with your fire poker.’

‘If you insist.’” (72)

Another aspect of We Were Liars that I came to enjoy was E. Lockhart’s particular style of writing, which is notably similar to Tahereh Mafi, author of the Shatter Me trilogy. Occasionally their prose transforms into free verse and then back again like a flicker of poetry, in a fashion that successfully mimics the subconscious rant-like thought process.

“I plunge down,
to rocky rocky bottom, and
I can see the base of Beechwood Island and
my arms and legs feel numb but my fingers are cold. Slices
of seaweed go past as I fall.
And then I am up again, and breathing.
I’m okay,
my head is okay,
no one needs to cry for me or worry about me.
I am fine,
I am alive.
I swim to shore.” (142)

Liars is truly a roller coaster full of unexpected twists, sharp turns, and gut-wrenching drops; I guarantee that you will be kept on your toes as Cadance strives to recover her past, no matter what that might mean or whom it may affect.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read, particularly fans of John Green, Lauren Myracle, Maureen Johnson, Scott Westerfeld, Ally Carter, and Libba Bray.

-Danielle K., 9th grade

Book Review: The Mysterious Benedict Society, By Trenton Lee Stewart

Posted on September 4, 2014 by Sarah J.

Four kids,an old professor, his two, slightly quirky assistants, a school for the “gifted” that is run by the professor’s brother, and a diabolical machine that could take over the world– this is just an outline of what happens in The Mysterious Benedict Society written by Trenton Lee Stewart

The story starts out with Reynie Muldoon, an eleven-year-old boy who is gifted with more knowledge than most adults. An advertisement is placed in the newspaper. Reynie, being highly unusual for a child his age, reads the newspaper and happens to read the advertisement:

ARE YOU A GIFTED CHILD LOOKING FOR SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES?

Intrigued by the fact that is was addressed to children and not the parents, Reynie decides to answer the ad. In return, he is sent to take a series of test where he meets three other children all very smart and with their own quirks and habits. The four are then sent to a school for the “gifted” and have to find a diabolical machine that could take over the world before it is too late.

The Mysterious Benedict Society is a book good for all ages with a cast of characters from young to old. This is a mystery story with child protagonist and a dash of adventure. Each character has their quirks that makes them seem more on the nerdy side but makes them more real to the reader. In this story, there is also the theme that everyone one has a talent or an ability that is needed somewhere. It says that no one is not important.

This is the first of a series of amazing mysteries by Trenton Lee Stewart. If you enjoy mysteries, this is a book for you, though very different from your normal Sherlock Holmes.

-Sarah J., 9th grade

Book Review: Sammy Keyes and the Showdown in Sin City, by Wendelin Van Draanen

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Marilyn J.

In Sammy Keyes’ latest adventure, she finds out that her mom is getting married in Vegas. She is getting married to Sammy’s boyfriend’s dad. This causes Sammy to freak out and try to find a way to crash the wedding. So when she hears that her friend Marissa is also going to Vegas, she makes the decision to go to Vegas with them– without telling anyone where she was going or what she was doing.

When she reaches Vegas she realizes that she cannot find out where her mom is or where she will stay the night. Using Marissa’s help she finds herself staying with them for a few nights until she finds her mom. However, Sammy’s archenemy, Heather Accosta ( Sammy’s boyfriends sister), and her mom Candi, are staying right across the hallway from the room Sammy is in. And if you have read the previous books about Sammy, you know just how bad that is. Will Sammy team up with the Accosta’s to end this Marriage? Can Sammy possibly be able to put up with them? And will she be able to stop this nonsense before it gets out of hand?

I highly recommend that you read the first fifteen Sammy Keyes adventures before you read this one. The first book is Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief. If you have already read those books, then this book is the next in line. It is an enjoyable read and possibly one of my most favorite one in the series. With Sammy’s social and family issues this book definitely got me on my toes waiting to see what would happen next. (I had to read it all in one night since I couldn’t go to bed without finishing it.) I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did!

-Marilyn J., 8th grade

Book Review: Made For You, by Melissa Marr

Posted on August 20, 2014 by Sabrina C.

When Eva Tilling wakes up in the hospital, she has no idea how she got there. She remembers everything that happened right before the accident but can’t put the pieces together, until her best friend, Grace, tells her that she was hit by a car. They soon figure out that it wasn’t just an accident.

Faced with the mystery of finding out who did it, Eva discovers a creepy new ability: she can see a person’s death when they touch her. She doesn’t know how or why she can do this, but she is determined to use it as a tool to find who the murderer is.

Meanwhile, her old friend, Nate, comes in and helps her and Grace. Nate hasn’t talked to Eva in years and is surprised when he suddenly shows an interest in her. However, she must put aside their troubled past in order for them to work together to find the maniac who tried to kill her.

Made For You was very interesting. I couldn’t put it down and ended up finishing it sooner than I thought. There are many surprises throughout the book, but the biggest surprise is definitely who the killer turns out to be! This book is meant for teens ages 13 and up. I would really stick to that suggestion, given the mature content in the book. This review is based on an advance reader copy– the book comes out next month. If you love suspense and mystery, I recommended you look for it.

-Sabrina C., 9th Grade

Book Review: The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown

Posted on August 6, 2014 by Sophia U.

A book that became highly popular years ago, this is a title that many have heard of, but one that few teens from this generation have actually read.

The overall verdict: this is a book that either you will either fall in love with, or that you will hate. It’s rare to find an opinion in reviews that begs to differ.

In my opinion, it was a fast-paced page turner that kept me engaged and relatively entertained during the span of time that I was reading it, but there were still many holes that left me unsatisfied with the book as a whole with its completion.

The basic plot traces the story, both in a modern fictional account and in a “historical” context, of the search of the true holy grail-not only a treasure of time and religious history, but also one of deeper metaphorical symbolism. To provide a more in depth synopsis: a murder within the Louvre in tangent with clues hidden within the works of the great master Leonardo DaVinci (along with many other renowned thinkers and artists) leads to the discovery of a religious enigma hidden by a secret society for thousands of years, a secret that could cause catastrophic change in the base of worldwide religion.

Sounds a bit overdramatic with a dose of being formulaic, doesn’t it?

Brown weaves a fast-paced and entertaining read that leaves you with cliffhangers at every chapter’s conclusion, leaving you flipping the pages till the end. Read as a shallow summertime read is a good investment, however reading too deeply into the “historical facts” may prove dangerous. Taken as pure fiction many of the “historical facts” serve as fascinating concepts for future introspection on secrets societies, treasure, and religion as a whole-taken as fact; however, many prove to be a stretch. Brown treads a thin line in his historical accuracy, writing a story of fiction, but stating many of the facts as the complete truth when transferred over to our world. The main warning: read with a grain of salt.

The plot also leaves you with too many twists to count- one of the most entertaining aspects for me. One moment an ally seems like a foe, the next it is revealed who in fact the true enemy is, and the moment directly after it turns out that one of the main antagonists was actually good all along! (You get the point.) It serves to be highly entertaining, but by the third plot deception it leaves you wondering how much of a formula Brown had at his disposal, and if he really did intend to be so repetitive.

Another thing that particularly struck me was the fact that many of the plot occurrences seemed just too perfect to conspire in real life. Many aspects of the novel proved to be highly unrealistic, a romance where one would never take place in real life, the fact that one of the main emulated ideas in the story is that of a scared and empowered feminine-yet the main (and only) female protagonist is, although being portrayed as smart and beautiful, is forced to act powerless for large stretched in the plot, and that somehow the protagonists always end up where they were supposed to with the answer they needed in the end.

Overall, the writing isn’t terrible-it is just a story that one must read with the intent of entertainment, not fact.

-Sophia U., 12th grade

Book Review: When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead

Posted on July 11, 2014 by Evan G.

When You Reach Me is a book about friendship, child independence, and even a touch of time travel.

The book takes place in New York City in the year 1979. In the story, Miranda’s best friend, Sal, is randomly punched hard by an unknown boy for what seems like no reason while they are innocently walking home from school. Sal then shuts Miranda completely out of his life. Miranda’s house key is then stolen and she finds a strange note that says, “I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own. I must ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter.” She finds more and more notes that lead her closer to the writer and they give her clues how to prevent a tragic death. This writer speaks to her of events before they even happen.

When You Reach Me has received many awards and deservingly so. I recommend this story to kids in 4th grade and up. This is a detailed read with an intricate ending. Before reading this book, you may want to pick up a copy of A Wrinkle In Time, because there are many references to that book in the story. This book was on my school’s summer required reading list. I found it to be interesting and engaging and I enjoy mystery novels. It gave me insight into how kids lived their lives before the age of technology and cell phones in that they walked the city streets free to explore without constant supervision even in the light of danger. I wish that kids today could have the same type of independence to explore their worlds during their childhood.