Adventure
Artemis Fowl 3: The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Apr.14, 2015, under Adventure, Fantasy, Student Reviews
Review by Zach L.
Who would like this book? Males or females, ages 10 to 16 year-olds, who love fantasy and action books would like this book.
The goods on this book: In this book Artemis Fowl made a grave mistake. After saving his father, Artemis does one last mission. He recruited the help of the fairies to get back the C-Cube, an amazing piece of fairy tech that Artemis fixed up. Will Artemis finish his last mission or will everything go down in flames?
The details: 309 pages; 2003 Review by Zach L.
Michael Vey Book 2: The Rise of the Elgin by Richard Paul Evans
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Apr.02, 2015, under Adventure, Science Fiction, Student Reviews
Review by Trevor N.
Who would like this book? Anyone who liked the first book and likes action and adventure would really like this book.
The goods on this book: Michael and the rest of the electric clan are now heading to Peru to help save Michael’s mom from the hands of Hatch. They experience a lot of challenges on their journey through the jungle of Peru. I really enjoyed the book. I thought it was really well written and would suggest the series to just about anyone.
The details: 335 pages; 2012 Review by Trevor N.
The Thirteenth Child by Patricia C. Wrede
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Apr.02, 2015, under Adventure, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Student Reviews, Supernatural
Review by Zach L.
Who would like this book? Male or female readers, grade 6 or 7, who like magic, history, and frontier life would like this book.
The goods on this book: This story follows Eff, a thirteenth child. In this world, numbers mean everything. If you’re a seventh child, you’re lucky and have more magic than normal, but if you’re a double seven like Eff and twin Lan, then you’re amazingly lucky and “are filled to the rafter with magic” as Eff would say. Sadly, Eff is a thirteenth child born to bring doom and destruction, at least that’s what her Uncle Earn tells her. Will her twin-overflowing magic and her so called “evil side” make a dangerous force or an unstoppable good?
The details: 344 pages; 2009 Review by Zach L.
The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Mar.12, 2015, under Adventure, Historical Fiction, Sam's Reviews
Who would like this book? Readers, grades 5 and up, who like adventures with great characters and a historical feel.
The goods on this book: Kennth Oppel’s newest book, The Boundless, invites readers on a fantastical adventure set in 1880’s Canada. What could be better than a story that weaves together a train robbery, a murder, and a circus with the coming-of-age experiences of a boy who is thoughtful, resourceful, and prone to danger?
As the story opens, Will Everett’s father has been away for three years working on the Canadian Pacific Railway. As Will prepares to meet him at the golden-spike ceremony, fortuitous events begin to unfold. First, Will meets Maren, a circus performer who steals Will’s heart and spirits away Will’s prized Sasquatch tooth. Next, Will catches the eye of Cornelius Van Horne, the manager of the railroad, and discovers the perks and risks of having friends in high places.
Three years later, Will’s father is an executive with the railroad. The magnificent train with 947 cars, The Boundless, is ready for its first trek across Canada, “from sea to sea.” One of the cars is carrying the remains of Mr. Van Horne, and the rumor is that the golden spike and other riches are with him, making this funeral car a kind of Pharaoh’s tomb. When Will wanders away from the train during its first stop, he stumbles upon the distinctive key to this car and witnesses a murder. Will and the murderer have a moment of mutual recognition, and then the race is on!
Will encounters a multitude of well-drawn characters and high adventure as he tries to keep one step ahead of the man who wants him dead. Maren gives him a good cover as a circus performer, and as Will deceives others, he tries to figure out whom he can trust. Deftly woven into the action is Will’s growing sense of self and the world around him. His journey from the back of the train to the front, traversing all the social classes, forges his sense of justice.
In The Boundless, Kenneth Oppel fulfills the vision of this magnificent train: characters come alive, history melds with fantasy, and the plot brims with suspense, surprise, and delight. As with all of Kenneth Oppel’s books, don’t miss it!
The details: 332 pages; 2014 Review by Samrarians
Fire by Kristin Cashore
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Mar.10, 2015, under Adventure, Fantasy, Student Reviews
Review by Grace N.
Who would like this book? Girls who like Graceling would also like this book, but you don’t need to have read Graceling to like this one. It’s very different from Graceling in many ways, setting, characters, etc. It’s none the more fun to read, though! I’m not sure which one I like better, they’re both so good.
The goods on this book: Fire is the last human monster of her kind: Beautiful, entrancing, with the ability to read and control minds, topped off with impossible red, scarlet, gold and pink hair. But Fire will not be the monster her father was. She refuses to control minds except for self defense, and covers her hair with a plain shawl until she meets Prince Brigan, whose mind is a blank slate she can’t even feel. He takes her away to King City and uses her abilities for good, and she tries to save the kingdom though she never thought she could.
The details: 461 pages; 2009 Review by Grace N.
One White Dolphin by Gill Lewis
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Mar.09, 2015, under Adventure, Environment, Grief, Real life, Student Reviews
Review by Sophie U.
Who would like this book? People who would like this book are people who like the ocean and dolphins.
The goods on this book: Kara is a girl who loves the ocean. When she realizes that fishers are going to tear up the her reef, she thinks there is nothing she can do to save it. Then a dolphin washes up on shore, tangled in fish nets. She begins to realize that she can do something. With the help of Felix, a strange new boy, Kara might just be able to save the reef. If Kara can save the reef, she will still feel connected to her mother, who disappeared. This book is very fun and exciting.
The details: 338 pages; 2012
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Mar.02, 2015, under Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Student Reviews, Teen Top 10
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.
The Story of Owen: Dragon Slayer of Trondheim by E. K. Johnston
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Feb.02, 2015, under Adventure, Fantasy, Real life, Sam's Reviews
Who would like this book? People grades 7 and up who like alternative history and mash-ups of realistic settings disturbed by fantasy, in this case destructive dragons.
The goods on this book:
What if dragons were real – and loved fossil fuels? Driving a car or being close to carbon-burning industries would be very dangerous. If you put this scenario into a contemporary high school, you would have the setting for The Story of Owen: Dragon Slayer of Trondheim. With the threat of dragons ever-present, it’s important to have a dragon slayer, but the days when every town had their own dragon slayer are long over. They get snatched up by the military and major corporations. Siobhan’s small industrial town gets lucky, though, when a legendary dragon slayer, Lottie Thorsgard, retires there after being injured, and brings her 16-year-old nephew, Owen, with her. For being a dragon-slayer in training, Owen has plenty of struggles, especially with algebra. He enlists the help of Siobhan, a musician and math geek who also narrates the story and becomes the “bard” for Owen, the one who will write and sing of his victories. The book is a significant and frequently funny story of friendship and high school life as well as a suspenseful fantasy adventure with an alternative history. How can all this work in one book? Read it and find out!
“Listen! For I sing of Owen Thorskard: valiant of heart, hopeless at algebra, last in a long line of legendary dragon slayers. Though he had few years and was not built for football, he stood between the town of Trondheim and creatures that threatened its survival.”
The details: 305 pages; 2014; Axis 360 eBook Review by Samrarian
The Blood of Olympus (Heroes of Olympus Book 5) by Rick Riordan
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Jan.26, 2015, under Adventure, Fantasy, Mythology, Student Reviews
Review by Anne H.
Who would like this book? Percy Jackson fans, Victor Hugo, and fans of Percabeth.
The goods on this book: Jason, Piper, Leo, Annabeth, Percy, Hazel, and Frank are going in for their final showdown. Jason’s sad, Piper’s worried, and Leo is scared to say good-bye. Reyan’s tired of being alone, and Nico’s slipping away. Their final job is soon to be finished. Are the heroes up to it? Back to the Prophecy:
Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire, the world must fall,
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.
Will Jason or Leo be the one to take down Gea?
Will Leo keep his promise to Calypso?
And did Bob and Damasen die?
All will be revealed in the bittersweet end to Rick Riordan’s masterpiece, his Heroes Of Olympus.
The details: 516 pages; 2014 Review by Anne H.
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Jan.13, 2015, under Adventure, Animal, Fantasy, Romance, Student Reviews
Review by Grace N.
Who would like this book? Whoever likes action, romance, horses, and myths should definitely consider this book. It’s great, and deserves to be read. I LOVED reading The Scorpio Races.
The goods on this book: Sean Kendrick is the six time winner of the Scorpio races, a deadly race with water horses that can rip your arm off in a flash. But Sean knows he can trust Corr. To him, Corr is everything. Even worth risking his life again for.
Puck’s world is falling down. Gable is leaving. They have precious little money. And her house might get sold. But the Scorpio races might change that. She goes against the fastest horses there are, half sea mad with a puny island horse, and Puck will most likely die. It might stop her brother from leaving.
The details: 409 pages; 2011 Review by Grace N.
