Book Review: Pachinko

Title of Book
Author
Lee, Min Jin
Rating
4 stars = Really Good
Review

Read a story of family, loyalty, racial prejudice and the meaning of difference. Enjoy the individual triumphs and failures of several generations of one family and changes they experience as they live and learn. Find out about the old time gambling sport, pachinko and its effects on an extraordinary family. This is the kind of book that makes you miss your "friends" when you finish it.

Reviewer's Name
Parris

Book Review: A Column of Fire

Title of Book
Author
Follett, Ken
Rating
4 stars = Really Good
Review

Travel back in time and walk the lanes and byways, sail the seas, or straddle a horse and visit with a gamut of folks from queens and kings of European powers to courtiers, to merchants and villagers, to pirates and tradesmen. Get to know the characters in the fight for religious tolerance and witness the blood that was shed for this privilege. The struggle between Catholic and Protestant worshippers becomes real with the unspeakable cruelty among humans who believe their beliefs trump the beliefs of others. Call it the devil. An arduous but enjoyable read.

Reviewer's Name
Parris

Book Review: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue

Author
Lee, Mackenzi
Rating
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review

In the 18th century, it was rather common for young wealthy English folks to embark on a Grand Tour of continental Europe between their school years and their careers or higher education. Henry “Monty” Montague’s Grand Tour, however, is anything but common. Monty’s formal education at Eton ended rather abruptly, due to being caught in a rather compromising situation with another one of the boys. Now his future as his father’s heir is in jeopardy, and his tour is his last chance to redeem himself.

So it is that Monty departs for the continent, knowing that if he doesn’t manage to behave himself (at least in his father’s eyes), he’ll be left penniless. He’s accompanied by his younger sister, Felicity, herself off to a school in France, and his best friend Percy, who will be leaving England for law school at the end of their tour.

Monty naturally feels a bit overwhelmed by the mounting pressure on him to completely turn his own life around. However, understanding the plights of others isn’t something he’s ever been good at, and Felicity and Percy each have their own deep concerns about what awaits each of them at the end of their trip. None of them expect Monty’s knack for attracting trouble to draw them into a web of intrigue that leads them from France to Spain to Italy, pursued by highwaymen, pirates, and vengeful nobles. And none of them, least of all Monty, expected him to fall desperately in love with Percy along the way…

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee was everything I wanted it to be and more. Adventure, mystery, and romance all fall neatly into place in this YA treasure. It’s available now, so do yourself a favor and pick it up.

Reviewer's Name
Philip

Book Review: Hunted

Title of Book
Author
Spooner, Meagan
Rating
4 stars = Really Good
Review

This is a fantasy book and twist on Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”.
This is a unpredictable book with all kinds of twists and turns. It does have some romance and mystery in the book too. The book is told in two perspectives and keeps you on your toes. It definitely isn't your average fairytale. It is one of the best books I have read all year.

Reviewer grade: 8th

Reviewer's Name
Elizabeth C.

Book Review: By Your Side

Title of Book
Author
West, Kasie
Rating
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review

If you didn't already guess from the title yes, this is a romance book. It is realistic fiction and isn't part of a series. It is a pretty short read. With heartbreaks, lies, high school drama and some hospital visits this book will be hard to put down. The book is a little predictable but it isn't your typical love story. This is another great book I have read this year.

Reviewer grade: 8th

Reviewer's Name
Elizabeth C.

Book Review: On the Fence

Title of Book
Author
West, Kasie
Rating
4 stars = Really Good
Review

This is a realistic fiction-romance novel. The book is a little predictable and doesn't have a cliffhanger. The book isn't part of a series and is a pretty short read. I recommend this book to any girl who enjoys realistic highschool love stories. I really liked this book and I think it is a great book to read.

Reviewer grade: 8th

Reviewer's Name
Elizabeth C.

Book Review: Glass Sword

Title of Book
Author
Aveyard, Victoria
Rating
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review

This is the second book in the Red Queen series. Please read the series in order to avoid serious confusion. The genre of the book is dystopian and the book itself is full of action. Also there is lovey-dovey elements that seem to happen in every book where the main character is a teen girl. Like Red Queen the book is unpredictable and of course has a cliffhanger at the end.
Another one of my favorite books that will hold your attention from start to finish.

Reviewer grade: 8th

Reviewer's Name
Elizabeth C.

Book Review: Red Queen

Title of Book
Author
Aveyard, Victoria
Rating
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review

An amazingly written book Red Queen will keep you on your toes. It is a dystopian book (a relatively new genre of books) and is filled with action and betrayal. It is the first book in a four book series (and the books are huge). Even though it has a lot of action in the book, it does have some lovey-dovey elements since the main character is a teenage girl. Completely unpredictable and does have a cliffhanger at the end. This is one of my favorite books of all time.

Reviewer grade: 8th

Reviewer's Name
Elizabeth C.

Book Review: Gifted

Title of Book
Author
Evangelista, Beth
Rating
4 stars = Really Good
Review

An eighth grade school camping trip is may sound fun but is dreaded by George Clark. What is he going to learn? He already knows more than the rest of his grade. Little does George know this camping tip will teach a lot more than he expects. He faces friend trouble, a terrible teacher, bullying and more on this trip. I really liked that the author made the book written by the character. Anita's kind and caring attitude toward George made me fall in love with the book. What I really like was the ending and how it worked out. This book is a must read because the author shows a unique perspective.
Not only that but the author shows wonderful character development.

Reviewer's Name
McKenzie W.

Book Review: White Tiger

Title of Book
Author
Chan, Kylie
Rating
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review

Kylie Chan mixes modern life with traditional Chinese mythology in her enthralling tale. The story follows Emma, a nanny for a young girl of a wealthy business man living in Hong Kong. As Emma becomes more and more connected with her charge, she become more entangled with a mystery that surrounds the household. She soon discovers that her employer is an ancient Chinese God, and is pursued by demonic forces. Kylie Chan writes with a faced-pace adventurous quality that keeps readers on their feet.
(Reviewer Grade: 12)

Reviewer's Name
Lynzie M.
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