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Review by Gracie B.

Who would like this book? People who like romance and when the book goes from past to present It’s for older readers, 12 and above.

The goods on this book: In If I Stay, a teenage girl named Mia and her family get in a car crash and her parents die on the scene. She and her brother Teddy go to the hospital. She is in a weak condition, and he is in stable condition but then becomes unstable. You follow her journey in the hospital as if it is her ghost or her soul. Her boyfriend, Adam, visits and is not allowed in because she is in the ICU, and only immediate family can visit. So, he had a plan to get in. I will not spoil the plan though! The book goes back and forth between past and present. In the past, she talks about getting into Julliard, a college she wants to get into. It is a musician’s dream college. She also talks about her and Adam meeting and how he is a grade above her and a punk, leader of a band, but Mia is into classical music and plays the cello. I really liked the book because I am into these kind of books that are romantic and that go back and forth. It is just super cool to me. So if you like a romantic book READ THIS!!!!!!!!

The details: 2009; 259 pages    Review by Gracie B.

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Review by Gracie B.

Who would like this book? Someone 12 and older who likes sad but well-written books and is ready to cry would like this book. Also, if you like romantic or realistic books.

The goods on this book: This book is about a 16-year-old girl named Hazel who is battling cancer in her lungs. Her mom and her doctor make her go to a support group where she meets Augustus Waters and falls madly in love with him. The book follows their journey together. I really liked the book and will most likely read it again. I also think that John Green is a very good writer, and I hope to read another book of his. Although this book is very sad, you should read it. I thought I would be crying for hours. It is not that sad, but you still might cry a little. You should definitely read this if you like romantic, realistic books. So, next time you are looking for a book, read this one!!!

The details: 318 pages; 2012      Review by Gracie B.

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Review by Selah D.

Who would like this book?

The goods on this book: The Name of The Star is a great book. It is a well-spun plot with mystery, action and humor all in one. It follows Rory, an American student from Lousianna attending Wexford, a Britsh school in London. One more thing about Rory: She can see ghosts. When a Jack the Ripper fake strikes, she gets thrown into a crazy adventure of buried secrets under the Tube with a secret department of ghost-seeing police officers. The Name of The Star is book one in the Shades of London Book series. After reading it you’ll be craving more, so luckily there’s book 2 in the book series, named The Madness Underneath. So get ready for a wild ride through modern London in a hunt for Jack the Ripper.

The details: 372 pages; 2011     Review by Selah D.

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Review by Grace N.

Who would like this book? I think that anybody could read this book, but girls would probably enjoy it more. It is a great fantasy book with some romance, and has a lot of action and a bit of mystery, too. I feel that it’s a book that 7-9th graders would read more than 6th graders.

The goods on this book: Katsa is Graceling, graced with killing. She’s been able to kill ever since she was eight, when she murdered a man with her bare hands. She works as an expert thug for King Randa- though she doesn’t choose to torture harmless lords and common criminals.
But soon, she learns something more about her Grace – and maybe another’s – that is far more dangerous than her own, and could destroy the seven kingdoms with nothing but words. And with her combat partner Prince Po, with the mesmerizing gold and silver eyes, Katsa must fight for secrets about seemingly kind King Leck, and dare to defy the man she never thought she could.

The details: 471 pages; 2008    Review by Grace N.

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Who would like this book? Fans (grades 7 and up) of dark fantasies with a strong female protagonist will want to take a look at this book.

The goods on this book: Alina, an orphan with no apparent talent or beauty, grows up as best friends with the handsome and talented Mal. Their country, Ravka, is threatened by a horrific darkness that is filled with flesh-eating monsters. When crossing this Shadowfold with Mal and their regiment, Alina manifests a great, special power that has not been seen in ages. This display of power catches the attention of the all-powerful Darkling, and Alina is whisked away to his court to be trained as a Grisha. Here, without her best friend Mal, she must not only learn to use and harness her power, but she must decide who and who not to trust. She is also plagued with the problem of how to get back to Mal. Full of intrigue, action, and just a bit of romance, Shadow and Bone is a book with a satisfying plot and a captivating protagonist. It’s a must-read for fans of dark fantasy.

The details: 358 pages; 2012      Review by Samrarain

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Review by Grace N.

Who would like this book? I think that anybody would enjoy this book, and I would definitely suggest it to any of my friends. It has action, magic, and romance.

The goods on this book: Blue is a psychic’s daughter, but she isn’t a psychic. So she shouldn’t see a spirit on that night, when the dead-to-be walk past the old church. Especially a raven boy. Unless she killed him or… he’s her true love. Blue Sargent gets tied into Gansey and his three friends’ search for a long lost Welsh king, all the while wondering whether Gansey is her true love who she might kill with a single kiss.

The details: 409 pages; 2012

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Who would like this book? People grades 5 and up who like books with characters and situations that grab you and move you and make you laugh and cry.

The goods on this book: Willow Chase, at 12 years old, has had way more than her share of tragedy and challenges. She’s a genius and on the spectrum, continually needing to devise ways to keep herself grounded, such as planting an amazing garden and counting by 7s. An orphan at a young age, she is adopted by an understanding and fun couple who allow Willow to follow her ingenious ideas. When they are killed in a car accident, Willow desperately needs help. This book is the story of where and how that help finds her. The characters that fill her life do so in unexpected and amazing ways that had me laughing one moment and then crying at the end. The narration rotates among these characters, and the reader benefits greatly from the multiple points of view. I highly recommend this book and think that it has appeal for both girls and guys.

The details: 380 pages; 2013          Review by Samrarian

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Review by Jaden L.

Who would like this book? Anyone who is interested in history, particularly people who like to study the era of World War Two. This book is inspirational and will pull at the heart strings of any readers.

The goods on this book: The time is World War Two. Death, the narrator, has never been busier and will become busier still. He become captivated by a girl known as The Book Thief. Her name is Liesel Meminger. Her world as she knew it has been changed. She finds a book at her brother’s gravesite, before she has to go live with a new family. She soon becomes captivated by books and learns to read with the help of her foster father. She steals books from book burnings and the Mayor’s library. I strongly suggest you read this book.

The details: 552 pages; 2005      Review by Jaden

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Review by Samrarian

Who would like this book? Thoughtful readers, grades 5 and up, looking for a well-crafted story about friendship, family, and belonging.

The goods on this book: Georges, a 7th grader in Brooklyn, New York, has a lot to handle. His architect father has lost his job and their family has had to move from their house (and his amazing bedroom) to an apartment. His father is pursuing a new career idea while his mom works double shifts at the hospital. At school, Georges dodges bullies and is ignored by his long-time friend. In his new apartment building, he replies to an ad for a spy club and meets Safer, a home-schooled kid obsessed with spying on a man who lives upstairs from Georges. As Georges navigates this new friendship and his family’s new situation, the reader gets to know him well. Rebecca Stead is so good at developing characters that are complex and building plots that twist in very unexpected ways. Both of these traits are in fine form in Liar and Spy, making this quiet book very worthwhile to read and possibly read again.

The details: 180 pages; 2012      Review by Samrarian

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Who would like this book? Readers 12 and up who like the idea of a competition between girls for the heart of the prince in a kingdom set in a dystopian future would love this book.

The goods on this book: America Singer has grown up to be an independent thinker even though she has been raised in a caste-driven kingdom which is the future remains of a destroyed United States. In this kingdom, people are trapped in the caste of their birth and their lives are determined by the definition of each caste. America and her family, as “fives,” have struggles but are not as destitute as sixes through the eights. Her star-crossed love for Aspen, a “six,” is doomed because of his lower caste, and he encourages her to enter the contest for “the Selection” in which girls become contestants for the heart of Prince Maxon. Of course, America enters against her will and wins a place among the first group vying to become the future queen. America finds that her honesty and stubborn, independent spirit set her apart from the other girls. If the reader is able to set aside many unanswered questions about the kingdom and the wider world to be able to focus on the drama of the girls competing for the attentions of the prince, then this book is very fun. Though the book fails to build a future world, it succeeds in creating the tension of a love triangle and the drama of romantic competition. For those who like this book, you might be happy to find an even more satisfying one with a similar theme in Shannon Hale’s The Princess Academy.

The details: 327 pages; 2012    Review by Samrarian

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