Tag Archives: student review

November 18, 2013 · 11:00 am

Student Review by Lauren L.: The Diviners by Libba Bray

Title: The Diviners

Author: Libba Bray

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Published: September 18, 2012

Genre: Thriller/Mystery

Series: The Diviners #1

The 2nd book in the series, Liar of Dreams is expected to be published March 11, 2014.

Summary (from inside cover): Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult.

Evie worries he’ll discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer.

As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho hides a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened.

Lauren’s Review: Normally I stay away from any kind of frightening text, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved everything about it from its suspenseful tone, to the setting in the roaring twenties in New York City. In this novel, many dark, twisted things occur. It seems as though innocent people are murdered every other chapter, and the well-written but graphic images can be too much to handle at times. For these reasons, I do not recommend this book for the faint of heart. However, thrill seekers will be captivated by the horrifying tone, and unlike me, they will sleep comfortably without any nightmares. Regardless of its length (523 pages), I could not put this book down. When I learned that the second book in the series, Liar of Dreams has not yet been released, I was frustrated because my urge to continue this story was and is insatiable. This novel made me feel uncomfortable at times, but the paranormal occurrences were just enough to keep me turning the next page.

Student Review by Ashley M.: Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card

Title: Pathfinder

Author: Orson Scott Card

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Published: 2010

Series: #1 Pathfinder Series

Interest: Science Fiction

Summary: Rigg has a special talent; he can see the paths of where everyone has been throughout history. His whole life he uses this power simply to track down small animals to trap, this was how he and his father made their living. When Rigg’s father dies leaving him alone in the world with instructions for him to find his sister, someone he was unaware existed, he journeys back towards the town where an unusual and unfortunate accident occurs resulting in one boy’s death and a vengeful mob searching for him. After collecting a bagful of jewels, his inheritance, he sets off for Arissa Sesamo with Umbo in tow. Like Rigg, Umbo has a special ability. He can speed up the rate people’s minds work. Between the two of them they can travel through time. After cashing in one of the jewels it comes to light that Rigg may be the supposedly dead prince of a fallen gynarchy. He meets his sister and they are forced to flee the wallfold before one of the various political parties gets ahold of them.

Review: I love this book. I have read other books by Orson Scott Card so I was excited to get my hands on this one. The characters are well developed and you really feel for them. The technicalities of the time travel was a bit difficult to follow and kept you on your toes at Rigg and Umbo worked to figure it out themselves. There were so many twists and turns that you couldn’t have possibly expected. I was really eager to read the sequel, Ruins, too. It was not as good the first one but was an enjoyable read nonetheless.

1 Comment

Filed under Student Review

Tagged as Orson Scott Card, student review

March 3, 2013 · 5:11 pm

Review: Student Post by Krystal K

Something New: I’ve given my students the opportunity to review a book they have read during Free Voluntary Reading. I was shocked by the enthusiasm they had to write reviews. Many have asked to do several. I’m so proud of my life-long readers. Please enjoy the first of many student reviews.

About the Student: Krystal is in my Advanced World Literature/Composition for sophomores.

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Published: June 2010

Series: Fairytale Retellings

Krystal’s Summary: Two sisters hunt down Fenris’ (like werewolves somewhat) since they’re one of the few people who can see their true form before it’s too late. The younger sister, Rosie, falls in love with longtime friend Silas and questions her loyalty to her trade. Scarlet (the older sister) takes Rosie and Silas to the city to avenge her attack along the way figuring out Silas’ feelings for Rosie and Rosie’s feelings for Silas. She has a hard decision to let her sister and only friend go and be happy, or to keep her sister with her but make her miserable.

Krystal’s Review: I would definitely recommend this book to others who like fairy tales with a modern twist. This takes the weak red riding hood and turns her into two sisters who hunt the big bad wolves. It had a sidestory of love but for the most part it was an action book and I happen to like it very much. Being the second book published by this author I have high expectations and anticipation for her next story called Sweetly ( Hansel and Gretel rewrite).

Have you read this book? What did you think about it? Will it make your TBR list? Let me know in the comments.