Language Inside – book review

The Language Inside by Holly Thompson Novel in verse Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Emma Karas’ family moves back to Massachusetts from Japan, where she has lived her whole life, when her mother is diagnosed with breast cancer.  It is right after the Tsunami disaster strikes and Emma feels terrible that she can’t be with her friends and their loved ones, helping them in the aftermath.  Although she’s fluent in English, Emma … Read more

Stitching Snow – book review

Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis Fairytale Retelling Science Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Princess Snow (aka “Essie”) escaped to Thanda 8 years ago when her stepmother, Olivia, made an attempt on her life.  Since then, she’s become adept at “stitching” together codes to modify the programming of the mining droids at settlement 42, and values the mental and physical challenges of her work (she makes extra money participating in the fighting circuit).  When … Read more

Insurgent – Read It and Rate It

Insurgent Divergent #2 by Veronica Roth Adventure Dystopian Science Fiction Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) I absolutely love this book because it continued right on from Divergent, the first book. When Tris and Tobias set out to fight their way back to Erudite headquarters there’s so much action and the book never leaves you bored. It does always keep you hanging, though. I definitely recommend reading this book, but after you … Read more

Face on the Milk Carton – Read It and Rate It

The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney Mystery Suspense Thriller Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Janie Johnson has everything she ever wanted – a loving family, friends, and great school grades.  When Janie discovers a picture of a little girl on the side of a milk carton, she knows that it must be her.  Janie must figure out how she was kidnapped and why.  

Magic Thief – Read It and Rate It

Magic Thief Magic Thief series #1 by Sarah Prineas Fantasy * Star (A waste of time!) Magic Thief was a boy who lived on the streets and stole things in order to survive. He then became an apprentice of a well-known wizard and saved the decaying magic in the city. I didn’t like it because there was absolutely NO climax in the story. There was also NO build-up to a climax at all.  

Clariel – book review

Clariel Abhorsen series prequel by Garth Nix Fantasy * * * Stars (Pretty good) Clariel longs for her former home when her family moves to the city to further her mother’s ambitions in the Goldsmithing Guild.  Clariel’s dream is to become a Boarderer and live in the Great Forest, but everyone else seems to have other plans for her – like setting her up as a puppet Queen.  When she encounters a Free Magic creature, … Read more

Champion – book review

Champion Legend series #3 by Marie Lu Dystopian Science Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) June and Day have been apart for a year when Day gets a message that June wants to see him.  The Republic is in trouble.  If it can’t produce a cure for the plague that is sweeping through the Colonies, they will attack.  The Republic has no such cure, but its leader believes they can develop one if they … Read more

Eye of Zoltar – book review

The Eye of Zoltar Last Dragonslayer #3 by Jasper Fforde Fantasy * * * * Stars (Great!) In order to safeguard her dragon friends from the Mighty Shandar, Jennifer Strange must undertake an information-seeking expedition (not a quest!) into the perilous Cambrian Empire to uncover the last resting place of the Eye of Zoltar – a powerful pink jewel that may or may not exist.  She and her companions encounter most of the dangers the … Read more

Brief History of Montmaray – book review

A Brief History of Montmaray The Montmaray Journals, book #1 by Michelle Cooper Historical Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Sophie is one of the last of the FitzOsbornes – a little known family of royals living in a dilapidated castle on the tiny island of Montmaray somewhere off the coast of Spain.  She begins chronicling her life on the island after receiving a journal for her 16th birthday.  It’s 1936, Hitler and his … Read more