Realistic

Book Review: Hatchet

Author
Paulsen, Gary
Rating
4 stars = Really Good
Review

This book was very fun to read, it left you on the edge of your seat. It is a fairly short book. The story line has a fast pace. I would recommend this book to a more advanced reader. It is a riveting survival story centered in the Canadian wilderness.This book is now one of my favorites.
Reviewer Grade: 7

Reviewer's Name
Thomas C.

Book Review: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #1)

Author
Kinney, Jeff
Rating
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review

This is a kid friendly and amazing book. I personally loved the series. I read this series a lot it is about a kid trying to survive middle school named Greg there are ten books in the series so far and I have read all of them. This book is great and I would recommend this book for younger readers.
Reviewer Grade: 7

Reviewer's Name
Thomas C.

Book Review: The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #5)

Author
Kinney, Jeff
Rating
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review

I really like this book. This is one of my favorites because I can relate to Gregg Heffley. Since I just started 7th grade, much of this book matches what I’m going through now. The reader will enjoy the illustrations throughout the book. You will need to read the book to find out if Gregg and Rowley are able to get their friendship back on track.
Reviewer Grade: 7

Reviewer's Name
Thomas C.

Book Review: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

Author
Lockhart, E.
Rating
3 stars = Pretty Good
Review

This book didn't go the way I expected it to. I expected a light teen fiction read, but the storyline was meatier than your normal teen novel. The pranking doesn't get started until about 2/3 of the way through. The reason why she was doing it really wasn't laid out very clearly. I think I was a little disappointed overall.

Reviewer's Name
vfranklyn

Book Review: The Trap

Author
Smelcer, John
Rating
3 stars = Pretty Good
Review

The Trap relates the story of an elderly native man named Albert Least-Weasel and his grandson, Johnny Least-Weasel. Albert is out in the Alaskan wilderness checking his traplines. When he doesn’t return on time and the temperature drops, Johnny and Albert’s wife begin to worry about the old man. Johnny believes he should go out and look for his grandfather, but others in the community advise him against this action, suggesting that his Grandfather is fine because he knows what he is doing. Johnny has mixed feelings between the advice of his elders in the community and his own instinct. The choice he makes will have a direct impact on the survival of his Grandfather.

However, The Trap is more than just a story about survival, it is also about the internal stories we tell ourselves as we face difficult situations and navigate challenges. The main characters reflect on their own story, memory and myth as they struggle through their individual conflicts. The author’s skillful use of learning tales and folklore deepens the experience of Albert and Johnny Least-Weasel while teaching the reader about being a part of the land and a culture that is defined by the world they live in. Alternating views between Johnny and his Grandfather allows the reader to experience the hardship of the Grandfather and feel the anxiety of Johnny. The Trap is a good read; I would recommend it to readers who enjoy survival and folklore.

Reviewer's Name
Monique B.
Awards

Book Review: The Last True Love Story

Author
Kiely, Brendan
Rating
3 stars = Pretty Good
Review

A Teen Book. Seventeen-year-old Hendrix is left to care for his Gpa, who is losing his memory due to Alzheimer's, in a senior facility. All his grandfather wants is to go home to Ithaca, New York, to remember his deceased wife, before he forgets her completely. Corrina, also seventeen, was adopted from Guatemala. She's a musician, feeling crowded and suffocated by circumstances in LA. One night, they decide combine forces, steal a car and Gpa and head for New York. The adventure is one of friendship, but mainly one of learning to love. Language and mature situations.

Reviewer's Name
Vickie Sherwood

Book Review: The Book That Matters Most

Author
Hood, Ann
Rating
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review

Adult Fiction. After twenty-five years Ava and her husband divorce. Ava joins a book group, not only because she loves to read, but also to meet new people. The first order of business is to select the twelve titles for the coming year, "the book that matters most to you." Ava didn't read the email, so the first book she thinks of is "From Clare to Here," by Rosalind Arden. This book meant so much to Ava during her childhood, when her younger sister died and her mother jumped off a bridge to her death. Meanwhile, Ava's daughter Maggie is supposed to be studying art in Florence, Italy. She follows a boy to Paris and sinks into an alcohol and drug culture. The chapters alternate between Ava's finding her way in Providence, Rhode Island and Maggie's slow climb back to sobriety. Ava promised her book group that she would invite the author of her book to their last meeting of the year. A fantastic ending!

Reviewer's Name
Vickie S.

Book Review: Tell Me Something Real

Author
Devlin, Calla
Rating
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review

Teen Fiction. It's 1976. The three Babcock sisters - Adrienne, Vanessa and Marie - make regular trips from San Diego to a clinic in Mexico, where their mother receives treatments for leukemia that are banned in the United States. Chapter one ends with their mother announcing that in spite of these treatments, she has been diagnosed as terminal. The remainder of the book describes how each of the sisters reacts to this diagnosis. Then their mother agrees to invite Barb and her son Caleb, who is also undergoing treatment, to stay with them in San Diego. Things start to go wrong when Barb questions the combination of medications that Mrs. Babcock is taking. She and Caleb move to a hotel after Mrs. B becomes hysterical when a new doctor at the clinic wants to perform his own blood tests. When the ultimate betrayal is revealed, you won't believe it!!

Reviewer's Name
Vickie S.

Book Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Author
Chbosky, Stephen
Rating
4 stars = Really Good
Review

This book was surprising good! It was very well written and told from a fascinating narrative viewpoint. The book is written as a series of letters which serves the story line well. It wasn't overly adolescent so it appeals to both teens and adults. Charlie is optimistic and sees beauty in the world. I also liked that he listens to great music and reads great literature, which allows the reader to check out the titles he mentions. Great book!

Reviewer's Name
vfranklyn

Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars

Author
Green, John
Rating
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is a perfect 5/5. 16 year old Hazel Grace wants to be normal when she meets Augustus Waters, someone who is anything but normal. The book drew me in with its beautiful love story. Not only that but it also with its realistic views on the world. The author is surprisingly good at getting into a teenage girl’s young mind. Everyone should read this book, you will never get bored when reading it.
Reviewer Grade: 7

Reviewer's Name
Emily T.