The Big Break by Mark Tatulli Graphic Novel Realistic Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) Best friends and middle schoolers, Andrew and Russ are in the process of filming a documentary about a local cryptid – the Jersey Devil – which they plan on entering in a contest. They’re trying to figure out how it should end and add some special effects when Russ gets distracted by a new friendship. With a girl – … Read more
Far from Home Zita the Spacegirl #1 by Ben Hatke Adventure Graphic Novel Science Fiction * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Zita and her friend Joseph find a meteor crash site and within the meteor is a device with a big red button that Zita can’t resist pressing. It opens up a gate to another world and Joseph promptly gets sucked in. Zita follows him shortly thereafter, but discovers that Joseph has already been … Read more
The Dark Lord Clementine by Sarah Jean Horowitz Fantasy Juvenile Fiction YA Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) 12-year-old Clementine is going to be the next Dark Lord Morcerous, after her father Elithor. And while she’s received endless instruction in her future responsibilities, her heart, her nature aren’t exactly suited to being really evil. To make matters worse, her father has been cursed by a power-hungry witch who intends to force him to cede … Read more
Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls Adventure Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) This book was amazing! The main character is Jay Berry. He has a little sister named Daisy who is his twin. Jay was born healthy, but Daisy was born with a crippled leg. Jay thinks his summer is boring until he sees monkeys by the bottoms. Seekin gthe advice of his grandfather, Jay sets out to … Read more
The Simple Art of Flying by Cory Leonardo Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) The humans see him as a trouble maker. Aggie, his sister, sees him as the most wonderful brother. Meet Alastair, the African Grey parrot. He has a tendency to bite. He enjoys eating words. As soon as he rips a page out, the words spring into his mouth. Some taste as dry as sawdust. Some taste … Read more
The Royal Ranger: A New Beginning Ranger’s Apprentice #12 by John Flanagan Adventure Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) This book is amazing! It is my introduction to Ranger’s Apprentice series, and I have loved every single page. Princess Madelyn of Araluen is headstrong, willful, and stubborn. And she exasperates her mother and father to the utmost. Meanwhile, a ranger named Will Treaty is struggling with a difficult loss. His … Read more
The Spy Catchers of Maple Hill by Megan Frazer Blakemore Adventure Historical Fiction Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) This book is absolutely amazing! Hazel Kaplansky loves detective work. But in a small town in Vermont, there isn’t usually a lot. Until Mr. Jones moves in. Set in the 1950s, this book revolves around the Cold War. When there is an investigation being conducted at a nearby factory, Hazel’s mind … Read more
The Archer’s Cup Green Ember Archer #3 by S.D. Smith Adventure Fantasy Short Stories Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) S.D Smith brings back the fictional world of Natalia with a bang! This adventurous book fills in more of the blanks between the overall story. If you were wondering what Emma, Heyna, Cole, and Jo were doing before Book 4 of the Green Ember series, this is the book to read. The … Read more
Unlocked Keeper of the Lost Cities #8.5 by Shannon Messenger Adventure Fantasy Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) “Unlocked” by Shannon Messenger contains files on the characters in KOTLC, along with exclusive illustrations, records, and much more. There is a short, 400- page novel at the end of the book. As some of the last books in the series have had a sort of downward trend, I wasn’t sure what to think … Read more
The Vanderbeekers: Lost and Found Vanderbeekers #4 by Karina Yan Glaser Adventure Realistic Fiction Review #1 * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Why wouldn’t you love this book? The Vanderbeekers crash through the pages of this book, pulling their readers in with them as they have yet another adventure. The book starts off with the Vanderbeekers getting ready for a marathon that Mr. Beiderman is going to run in. One of the reasons why … Read more