BookCasts
Ruthless (Pretty Little Liars #10) by Sara Shepard
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Feb.13, 2012, under BookCasts, Girl Drama, Mystery, Romance, Student Reviews
Pretty Little Liars – an iMovie with original music by Sara C.
Who would like this book? People who like mystery, action, and romance.
Why? Spencer, Hanna, Aria, and Emily think they finally know who the new A is, but is this person really A? After all the terrible texts, IM’s, emails, and notes the girls have gotten from A, they’re ready for this person to be found and stopped. And of course, A knows the girls’ biggest secret of all, one that they swore to each other that they wouldn’t tell anyone. This is a book you won’t want to put down!
The details: 352 pp. 2011 Review by Sara C.
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Oct.11, 2009, under BookCasts, Science Fiction, Student Reviews, Thriller
Review by Michael R.
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Who would like this book? People who have read the first book in the series (The Hunger Games) and liked it.
Why? Catching Fire is just as good as The Hunger Games, if not better. There are more twists and turns than a road through mountains. We learn new things about Katniss and Peeta and almost feel like we are in the book. To really enjoy this book you must first read The Hunger Games. In Catching Fire, Katniss and Peeta repeatedly make the government mad at them so Katniss and Peeta agree to marry each other so they will not be killed. When the pictures of Katniss in her wedding dress appear, President Snow tells people that at the next Quarter Quell only the previous winners of the reaping will be put into the lottery. Of course Katniss, being the only female winner of the games from District 12, gets picked. Read this great book to find out more.
The details:391 p. 2009 Submitted by Michael R.
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on May.12, 2009, under Adventure, Battle of the Books 2007, BookCasts, Mythology, Student Reviews, YRCA
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Review by Margo
What if the gods of Ancient Greece were still alive in the 21st Century? What if they still fell in love with humans and had children who might become great heroes — like Theseus, Jason and Hercules? What if you found out you were one of those children?
That is the discovery that launches twelve-year-old Percy Jackson on the most dangerous adventure of his life. With the help of a satyr named Grover and Annabeth a daughter of Athena, Percy journey’s across the United States to catch a thief who has stolen the most famous weapon of mass destruction — Zeus’ master lightning bolt. Along the way, he must face a host of mythological creatures determined to stop him. But mjost of all, he must come to terms with a father he has never known, and an Oracle that has warned him of a betrayal of a friend.
The details:377 p. 2005 Submitted by Margo
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Apr.29, 2009, under BookCasts, Fantasy, Mystery, Newbery, Student Reviews
Review by Garrett
Who would like this book? People who like mystery and fantasy while staying in a real life will probably like this book.
Why? This book is about a boy who gets raised by ghosts and the likes after his family is murderd by a mysterious organization. The ghost of his mother asks the Owens, a married ghost couple, to raise her boy, Bod. Nobody Owens, Bod for short, has a guardian named Silas who has a close connection to the dead. I liked this book because it showed the adventures throughout his life.
The details: 312 p. 2008 Submitted by Garrett
The Book Thief by Marcus Zuzak
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Mar.04, 2009, under BookCasts, Historical Fiction, Student Reviews, War, YRCA
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Review by Sofie
Who would like this book? People who are interested in Germany and action.
Why? Liesel is nine when her brother dies and her mother becomes too sick to take care of her. At first she is frightened when she goes to live with a foster family, but she soon learns to love them.
This story takes place in Germany, during Hitler’s reign. It is a dangerous thing not to be a member of the Nazi Party, but Liesel’s foster father isn’t. Something happens that puts Liesel, her foster mother and father all in danger.
I won’t tell you because it will ruin the surprise, but read this book and I guarantee you’ll love it!
The deatils: 552 p. 2005 Submitted by Sofie
Maximum Ride, the Angel Experiment by James Patterson
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Feb.24, 2009, under Battle of the Books 2009-2010, BookCasts, Student Reviews
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Review by Kenzie
Who would like this book? Anyone who likes reading books with fantasy and continuous action. This book keeps your attention and is far from boring.
Why? Maximum Ride, the Angel Experiment is a 422-page thriller. It is about Max and her ‘family’: Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy, and Angel- also known as the flock. They’re all experiments, made up of 98% human DNA, the other 2% bird. Obviously, this fact sets the flock apart from the average kid, and after escaping the School (the horrific place they were created and tortured) they live in hiding. But when a member of Max’s flock is stolen from alliances of the School, there’s nothing stopping her- or the rest of her loyal ‘family’- from heading straight back to the place they fear most to save her. This, along with the many adventures that follow, make Maximum Ride, the Angel Experiment, the ultimate book for any person seeking an exciting book that is far from ordinary.
The details: 422 p. 2005 Submitted by Kenzie
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Jan.29, 2009, under BookCasts, Humorous, Mystery, Student Reviews
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While many books catch my eye, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey, is unique, with its innocent text and its comical surprises. The sequel to the popular Mysterious Benedict Society is certainly a treasure to behold.
At the end of book one, our four kid geniuses, (Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance) were left to live their normal lives again. But, when they all receive letters from Sir Nicholas Benedict explaining a celebration to mark their last mission’s anniversary, they are excited to meet together yet again, some feeling quite bored with the typical world. Soon, however, that excitement is depleted, when the recurring villain, Ledroptha Curtain, has kidnapped the fours’ favorite mastermind, the inventive Benedict.
Consequently, the four are sent off, on an exceedingly perilous journey, complete with secret agents, bombs, and pencil darts; this is by far the most dangerous mission yet!
Will the children succeed, or will it be “Curtains” for dear Mr. Benedict? Read the daring, and quite imaginative, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey, and I guarantee you won’t regret it!
The details: 2008, 440 p. Submitted by Chance
The Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Jan.29, 2009, under Adventure, BookCasts, Fantasy, Mythology, Student Reviews
Listen to a Bookcast by Halle!
Who would like this book? People who love fantasy, mythology, and adventure.
Why? The Titan’s Curse is book three in the series of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. When Percy gets messaged “It’s an emergency” by his friend Grover (who’s a satyr), Percy, Thalia (daughter of Zeus), and Annabeth (daughter of Athena) rush to Westover Grunt, where Grover sent the message from. Grover was waiting for them outside and told them that there were two more half bloods, an older sister (Bianca Diangelo) and her younger brother (Nico Diangelo). The only problem was there was a monster, Mr. Thorn, who got to the two siblings first. Percy took action but also got kidnapped by the monster. When they got to a cliff, Mr. Thorn told them their ride would be there soon. Percy really wanted to help but he was no match for Mr. Thorn. Soon, backup came. Thalia, Grover and Annabeth were still not enough. All of a sudden, the huntresses came out of the forest and shot Mr. Thorn. As he was about to fall off the cliff, he grabbed Annabeth and took her with him. Percy was crushed. He loved Annabeth dearly. When Artemis, leader of the huntresses, left to find an even worse monster than Mr. Thorn, a monster that hasn’t been fought in many millenia, the huntresses were left with Percy, Thalia, and Grover to get back to camp safely with the Diangelos. Then, when Artemes got kidnapped, Percy tagged along on a quest he wasn’t invited into. They needed to find Artemes before winter solstice so she could tell the gods about the monster she was hunting. But Percy didn’t go because he wanted to find Artemes; he went because he wanted to find Annabeth. Maybe Percy’s love for Annabeth might help on the quest. Will they find Artemes in time? Will Percy find Annabeth? You have to read the book to find out!
The details: 2007, 312 p. Submitted by Halle
Desert Crossing by Elise Broach
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Jan.23, 2009, under BookCasts, Mystery, Real life, Romance, Student Reviews
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Who would like this book? This book is for kids about 13 years old and adults.It’s a mystery.
Why? This book is a great mystery. Lucy, a freshman, her brother Jamie, and his brother’s friend Kit, who are both seniors, go on a trip to Phoenix, Arizona to go visit Lucy’s and Jamie’s dad for their spring break. While they were going through New Mexico, they went through the desert. It was raining so hard that they couldn’t see where they were going on the road. They hit some thing-an animal, they think. They went back to check out what they hit. They found a dead girl on the side of the road. From that point on, their lives are not the same.
The deatils: 275 p. 2006 Submitted by Elsie
Code Orange by Caroline B. Cooney
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Dec.23, 2008, under Battle of the Books 2007, BookCasts, Mystery, Real life, Student Reviews, Thriller, YRCA
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Who would like this book? This book has a little bit of mystery and suspense. I think it’s good for all ages.
Why? This book is mysterious in some parts, and it’s also suspenseful in other parts. A teenager called Mitty Blake has to do a biology paper on a disease. He chose to do his paper on small pox. Mitty has a friend named Derek who wants to try to figure out a murder that happened a long time ago. Mitty likes this one girl named Olivia. She is really smart. Mitty isn’t as smart as her. Mitty is in advanced biology just because he wanted a class with Olivia. Mitty was trying to act all smart so Olivia could notice him. During the weekends, Mitty’s family goes to their other house out of New York, out in the country. Mitty started his paper on small pox. He found an old book on all kinds of diseases. He looked up small pox. He found an envelope inside the book. The envelope wasn’t sealed. He opened it up. The stuff inside the envelope was small pox scabs. Mitty sneezed and the scabs got all over him. He touched his nose with his hands that had small pox scabs. He cleaned the scabs up and put them back in the envelope. The next day Mitty was at school and did more research on small pox. Mitty was afraid of getting small pox because he touched the small pox scabs and got it all over him. Does Mitty Blake get infected with this small pox disease? Well, I am not going to tell you. Read this book to find out if he does get small pox or if he doesn’t.
The details: 195 p. 2005 Submitted by Elsie
Click here for another review of Code Orange
