Real life
Drama by Reina Telegmeir
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Jun.08, 2015, under Graphic Novels, Real life, Student Reviews
Review by Maylie N.
Who would like this book? I believe that 5th-8th graders that want an easy read would like this book. They will love the endless drama, some of which they can relate with.
The goods on this book: Cassie is a stagehand with boyfriend trouble, but she’s too busy worrying about the upcoming play. Cassie will meet two new friends, whom have qualities she may not understand. This is a atory of love, understanding, amd acceptance. It’s the perfect DFZ theme!
The details: 233 pages; 2012
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on May.08, 2015, under Real life, Romance, Student Reviews, Teen Top 10, YRCA
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.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Mar.31, 2015, under Grief, Real life, Romance, Student Reviews, Teen Top 10, YRCA
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.
Girl Online by Zoe Sugg
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Mar.10, 2015, under Real life, Romance, Student Reviews
Review by Kennedy H.
Who would like this book? I think mostly girls between the ages of 12-14 would like this book and people who like modern day fairy tales with a little twist.
The goods on this book: From the YouTube star Zoe Sugg, Girl Online is a modern fairy tale of a girl named Penny who suffers from panic attacks and has a pretty rough social life. Instead of sharing her feelings to her friends or family she starts an anonymous blog called Girl Online. Girl Online is where Penny puts her embarrassing stories about her life and her new found love ‘Brooklyn Boy’. Brooklyn Boy is a boy she met when her family went on a trip to New York and instantly fell in love with. Girl Online is the story of Penny and the fun, quirky, and romantic times she has with Brooklyn Boy named Noah. I personally loved reading this book and couldn’t put it down at all! The storyline is great and Zoe’s writing style is really easy to understand and is relatable.
The details: 352 pages; 2014 Review by Kennedy H.
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
Crossover by Kwame Alexander
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Mar.06, 2015, under Free Verse, Real life, Sam's Reviews, Sports
Who would like this book? People who like basketball and/or love words would like this book. It’s a book for 5th grade and up.
The goods on this book: The words in this novel-in-verse move and flow with whatever action is happening at the time. It might be when Josh, 13, is making seriously great plays on the basketball court. He’s so good, especially with his crossover, that he earns the name “Filthy McNasty.” He’s tight with his twin brother, Jordan, who is also great at basketball. Not surprisingly, their dad had been a professional player when he was younger, until an injury and a refusal to have surgery ended his career. Some significant changes in Josh’s family complicate his life, and following these events and the change in Josh makes for very worthwhile reading. Add in the vibrant poetry and word play, and you’re in for a rich experience!
The details: 237 pages; 2014 Review by Samrarian
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Feb.23, 2015, under Real life, Romance, Student Reviews
Review by Anne H.
Who would like this book? The hopeless romantics would like this book 😉
The goods on this book: This book is about Naomi Porter, a teenage amnesiac. If she had just remembered the camera or had accepted her best friend’s choice for the coin toss then things would have ended differently. But she didn’t, and it didn’t. As Naomi fell, she forgot the last four years: she forgot her sister, her parents’ divorce, her parents’ remarriages, her boyfriend, her best friends, her friends, her subjects, her teachers, and even herself. Naomi wants nothing more than to get her memory back. but according to everyone, she wasn’t the nicest person. Does Naomi get her memory back? You tell me. Do your self a service and read this book. I promise you won’t regret it.
The details: 271 pages; 2007 Review by Anne H.
Autumn Falls by Bella Thorne
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Feb.11, 2015, under Girl Drama, Real life, Student Reviews
Review by Kennedy H.
Who would like this book? If you saw the movie Mean Girls and loved it , you would most likely love this book. The ages would range from about 12 to 13 years through 18 or higher.
The goods on this book: Autumn Falls is the new girl in town who moved to Adventura, Florida with her family after her father recently passed away. She is faced with going to a new high school and having to make friends and just find her way through the year. Autumn starts off rocky when she encounters some of the mean girls of the school who don’t like the idea of her. She also comes in contact with the star quarterback who is possibly interested in her. To top it all off, her grandmother Eddy gave her a journal that her father wanted her to keep, and you’ll never believe what it holds in store for Autumn. I thought this was a very funny book, and I like it even better because I used to watch the author Bella Thorne on TV, so it’s pretty cool to see her write a book.
The details: 224 pages; 2014 Review by Kennedy H.
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
When Audrey Met Alice by Rebecca Behrens
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Jan.29, 2015, under Historical Fiction, Real life, Student Reviews
Review by Sophie U.
Who would like this book? People who would like this book are girls who like funny events that are from the past and also right now.
The goods on this book: In this book, Audrey Rhodes, the first daughter from our time, is feeling deprived of her freedom because of all the security….more to come. Then she meets Alice Roosevelt…more to come. Alice gives Audrey ideas on how to have fun in the White House, or “1600” as Audrey calls it. Will Audrey’s stunts get her parents’ attention, or will she remain unnoticed and feel like she is in a prison?
The details: 294 pages; 2014 Review by Sophie U.
