Book Reviews Across Genres by

The Women by K. Hannah 4/5 stars

jlh4159 — 2024-10-21 18:17:53 UTC

The book tells the story of a woman who tries to be a hero during the Vietnam War but is faced with loss, discrimination, and anger. One of the book's strengths is how it teaches history but as a story, so you're learning about the atrocities of what happened to Americans and Vietnamese, but not as facts and statistics. Even though the characters are fake, the story is real. There is also some romances and family drama. I was shocked about how the country acted during this time. My only critique is I feel that even though the book is supposed to build up the strength of having best friends that support you, the storyline did not develop those friendships enough. Overall, I rated it a 4/5 stars.

Jennifer H.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K Rowling 4/5 stars

2024-10-22 01:49:31 UTC

This book continues the life of Harry Potter, attending his sixth year at Hogwarts. Although he is determined that his sworn enemy is up to no good, he's faced with a brick wall he can't seem to climb over: he doesn't have any evidence. One strength this book truly shows is the process of trusting your gut instincts. It led to Harry realizing something much more than suspicion was happening at the wizarding school...

Even though this book is a fantasy one, I found myself attracted to the mystery that truly lies within, and the plot twist that happens near the end. My only complaint was that this book was slightly slow-paced, as well as the twist being somewhat predictable (well, at least to me). Overall, I give this book a 4/5! Definitely one of my favorite books in the franchise.

Nat F.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner Rating : 4 out of 5

mzakaria0002 — 2024-10-22 01:51:16 UTC

A teenage boy, Thomas, wakes up with no memories in a mysterious place he has never seen before, then rescued by other teenage boys to be taken to a place called "The Glade", which leads to his interest in the Maze. The best part of the book that stands out would be the interactions between the characters and their dialogue towards each other. It could either be hilarious or meaningful. The flaws would be that the story line moves fast and you could barely be able to catch a breath from the current event until it moves onto the next. My overall rating would be a 4 out of 5 because the characters have unique differences of their personalities and appearances, yet they kept together and finished their mission until the end, even if their beliefs were unalike.

Mari Z

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (4/5)

2024-10-22 02:18:06 UTC

The book is about 2 kids with cancer, and their journey together. The best part is seeing how their relationship grows, although it gets very sad, too. Overall the book is good and is well paced. -Heidi W

American Born Chinese 4/5

scohen0034 — 2024-10-22 17:39:34 UTC

by. Gene Luen Yang

"My parents arrived in America at the same airport within a week of each other."

I believe that this book is amazing and that it is an interesting topic showing how racist America can be towards Asians. This book follows the life of Jin Wang and his journey to fit in to the world. I the only reason I would give this a 4 out of 5 is because I believe that the book should have gone on longer as it ended with many questions to be answered.

Sebastian C.

Classic

2024-10-22 18:09:14 UTC

A Clockwork Orange by: Anthony Burgess (5/5)

2024-10-22 19:22:15 UTC

The book A Clockwork Orange written by Anthony Burgess tells the story of a horribly selfish and flawed teen boy, Alex, who lives in an horrible and apocalyptic society. The book is written in an extremely unique style, for it is almost in another language. This book mixes British slang, made up words, bits of German and English together, all to create a completely submersible and surreal reading experience. Not to mention, it is also told from the prospective of criminal and rapist, Alex. The only thing that could be improved in A Clockwork Orange would be expanding the story. It has readers on the edges of there seats for all 180 pages, I believe that could have been more like 250. Overall, A Clockwork Orange was an awesome and entertaining read I’d love to go through all over again, 5/5 stars.

Athena Kobler

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer (4.01287/5)

2024-10-22 19:36:22 UTC

"There were many, many fine reasons not to go, but attempting to climb Everest is an intrinsically irrational act—a triumph of desire over sensibility. Any person who would seriously consider it is almost by definition beyond the sway of reasoned argument."

Why would one risk there lives for the so foolish things? The answer is shown in the book, the book Into Thin Air shows the tragic event where the author was in with groups of people climbing Mount Everest to reach the summit. The strength of this book is clearly shown due to the fact that the author was one of the climbers of Mt. Everest. The book goes through different times where it shows long paragraphs of information about climbing and how the actual climbing happened. However, was too much information that made the book loose. Still, as this is for the memory of the now gone team of the authors, the book describes the harshness of climbing where one may die anytime. Showing important life lessons about how the clients are not prepared, just believing the money they have and hiring the climbers to lead them, eventually failing horribly. And after they got up to the top, they realizing that they have to go back down. "The trick is to get back down alive" in page 135. There are many more standing out parts of the book but some weaknesses are that, as is said already, the book has too much information that is not directly related to the story. Which caused slower reading and made book more loose. Next is that\=the book tells the readers the ending at the start. Which made the entertainment to decrease. Overall, the book is great to read and learn lessons, deserving at least 4 out five stars.

-Seowon Y

Percy Jackson and The Olympians: Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan 4/5

zlei0003 — 2024-10-22 20:16:29 UTC

The book is about how a 12 year old is a demigod and has to go find the golden fleece in Greek mythology. I like how the book has many different villains, while still having one main villain. The way Percy's life is always on the line is very exciting. One problem however, is that how when I was reading the book, it seemed like they were appearing in places magically. I would give this book a 4/5.

Ziqin L.

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard-4/5

2024-10-22 22:17:12 UTC

"Red Queen" by Victoria Aveyard is a book in a world divided by blood, Mare Barrow's discovery of her own powers sparks a revolution that threatens to overthrow the ruling elite. I think that the best part of the book is the way the author writes because a lot of the book/chapters are descriptions of the characters surrounds so it really helps with envisioning the scene. One flaw of the book is that it's very chaotic through the end, you're not able to really process what's happening because everything is hitting you at the same time and you have no idea what's going on. My overall rating was a 4 because it left me on a cliff hanger and I think it could have been a bit more organized, although I really enjoyed the plot and the characters throughout the book. Every single one of them have their own very unique traits.

-Ariel C.

Percy Jackson And The Olympians: Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan 4/5 stars

2024-10-22 22:44:47 UTC

This book is about a demigod who has to go find a golden fleece in order to save his summer camp. I enjoy how the book gives a lot of good advice for real life situations. A weakness about this book is if you don't know a lot of Greek Mythology you might have some trouble understanding what is happening. I give this book a 4/5 because it was an interesting book to read to past the time.

Ziteng L.

“Dune” by Frank Herbert

2024-10-22 22:55:38 UTC

“They have tried to take the life of my son!”

(pg. 97- Duke Leto)

This book is the story of Paul Atreides, son of a duke, who must ally with the mysterious Fremen to take back his ducal fief, the desert planet Arrakis, after a rival house steals and destroys everything he holds dear.

This book was incredible, with a unique story and a bucketful of details and twists. To me, it symbolizes the competitiveness and desperation in the politics of today, and the extremes people will go to for power.

5/5

-Asher Mesle

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger - 4.5/5

2024-10-22 23:26:43 UTC

The novel "The Catcher in the Rye" is a coming of age story and Bildungsroman which follows the experience of Holden Caulfield after failing out of preparatory school. He wanders around New York and meets with various acquaintances, who all leave him, mostly because of his attitude and general negativity. The best part of the book is the relatability of the main character, Holden. At his core, Holden is a teenager who is uncertain of what his future holds. While you may not be able to relate to his situation exactly, (he failed out of school 3 times) Holden as a character has aspects any reader can relate to. Some weaknesses of the book are that it leaves some questions unanswered. An example of this comes at the end, when Holden says that he plans to go to a new school in the fall, but readers are left wondering whether or not he applies himself in school after this experience. All in all, I would give The Catcher in the Rye a 4.5/5, because it centers around a character that is relatable to many and tells an interesting story about the coming-of-age of a teenager, however there are many loose ends to the story. Overall though, it was very good, after all, it is a classic for a reason.

- Oren L.

Percy Jackson, Book 2, The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan : 4/5 stars

2024-10-23 00:03:19 UTC

Percy and his friends have to venture to find the only magic item powerful to save the camp before it is overrun by monsters. I think that the best part of the book is the style of writing Rick creates. The way he can make the reader feel the suspense or eeriness as if we were inside the book. I think the only flaw in the book is that many random events show up out of nowhere. People or places suddenly can pop up in the middle of the book which can make it suspenseful but also confusing. Overall I would give it a four out of five stars.

Jasper L.

Cake Eater by Allyson Dahlin 4/5 stars

abowman0021 — 2024-10-23 00:32:45 UTC

I would consider this book an amazing read with all it's thrillers. In this book it goes on about Marie experiencing her new arranged marriage and finding out the dark truth outside the kingdom as the days go by. My overall rating of this book was 4/5 because I feel like the ending was uncalled for, there wasn't an exact reason for the story to end in that kind of way. I feel like the author was trying to get a big reaction out of the readers and make them more intrigued.

Allissa B.

Cake Eater by: Allyson Dahlin 4/5 stars

abowman0021 — 2024-10-23 00:38:08 UTC

I would consider this book a good read if you don't like reading in general. The book goes on about Marie experiencing her new arranged marriage and finding out the harsh truth outside the kingdom. My overall rating would be a 4/5 because I feel like the ending was uncalled for, the whole scene kind of felt rushed with ideas squished together in one big brainstorm.

Allissa B.

"The Maze Runner," James Dashner, 4/5

2024-10-23 01:17:37 UTC

Get ready to run.

"The Maze Runner" thrusts readers into a dystopian adventure as Thomas awakens in a mysterious glade, surrounded by towering walls and a labyrinth that shifts every night. The nail-biting suspense and relentless pacing stand out, making it nearly impossible to put down as Thomas and his fellow Gladers work together to uncover the secrets of their existence. However, the world-building can feel somewhat abrupt at times, leaving some questions unanswered that might frustrate readers looking for a more fleshed-out setting. Nevertheless, the electrifying journey and the compelling themes of friendship and survival earn it a strong 4 out of 5 from me.

— Melody P.S

The Exorcist- By William Peter Blatty (5/5 stars)

ilopez0359 — 2024-10-23 01:38:54 UTC

“God never talks. But the devil keeps advertising, Father. The devil does a lot of commercials.” (Page 278)

Everyone in my Family had Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson 3/5 stars

2024-10-23 01:55:18 UTC

This book was about a family reunion, that was awkward and stilted until someone turns up dead. The book was descriptive, but had major plot holes. The ending did not address many things leaving me in the dark on what had really happened.

On the positive side, I really like how they show how relationships can be damaged and functional. They show how even going through trials the bond of brothers is unbreakable. It also was really good in showing how damaging addiction is, and not just addiction to drugs. Addiction to routine, smoking, and the feeling of safety all played huge parts throughout the book. I think that this book would be too confusing for people who don't like to read,(I barely understood the plot because of the plot holes) My overall review is 3/5 stars. Amber R.

The Crossover (Kwame Alexander) 4/5 STARS

2024-10-23 04:09:02 UTC

The Crossover written by Kwame Alexander opens up with two twins, Josh Bell and JB, as they navigate through their lows and highs of friendly (and not friendly) sibling rivalry, family matters, and personal growth, all told through beautifully constructed unique verses on every page you flip onto. This book stands out because of its distinctive freestyle writing, executed perfectly through Kwame's genius. In contrast, this book often has underdeveloped storylines for the side-characters such as Jordan (Josh's brother) or their mother, which might lead readers to an incomplete understanding of what their value is to the story/plot. Wrapping up, I would give this book a solid 4/5.

Eliud L.

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen (4.5/5)

2024-10-23 04:12:52 UTC

"Flipped" tells the story of two childhood friends, Juli and Bryce, as they go through their complicated feelings for each other from elementary school through middle school. The best part of this novel is its double perspective, allowing readers to see the evolution of their relationship from both characters' point of views, which adds depth and humor. While the pacing can feel uneven in parts, the engaging character development makes it a fun read. Overall, I would highly recommend "Flipped" for its heartfelt exploration of young love and friendship, earning it a solid 4.5 out of 5.

- Sofia L.

Divergent by Veronica Roth 5/5 stars

2024-10-23 04:34:03 UTC

In a futuristic land, the world is divided up into 5 factions, and each person must choose their faction on their 16th birthday, impacting their life forever. The book is truly about strength, and just shows how much fear people can withstand. I believe the best part of this book is how much resilience Tris (the main character,) has and how she never gives up. She knows how important her actions are and never stops fighting. I enjoyed every aspect of the book and didn't dislike anything. Overall, I would give Divergent 5/5 stars as it was very riveting and exciting to read.

-Scout F

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton 4.5/5 stars

2024-10-23 05:36:29 UTC

The two different gangs (Greasers and Socs) were in constant conflict with one another, until Johnny goes too far and tries to flee the consequences with Ponyboy. The best part of the book would be the character development and the way you can see how the characters act towards each other after getting to know more than their perspectives of the other characters. A few flaws were the ending and any allusions brought up without an exact reasoning behind it. My overall review is 4.5/5 stars.

Leilani A.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 4/5 stars

2024-10-23 15:18:42 UTC

I rate this book a 4/5 because the story was heart felt about a family of a father and his two kids in a world where it feels there are many against them. The only negative thing about this book is the pacing.

-Jesse Rhoden

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (4/5)

2024-10-23 16:26:26 UTC

This book narrates a 16 year old girl with cancer. She meets a 17 year old that also has cancer. They keep talking to each other, causing their relationship to grow until they eventually end up having feelings for each other. The best part of this book was when they left Peter Van Houten on the street. Peter is the author of the book that the shared together. Even though I really like Peter as a character, I found this part interesting because it was so evil of them to leave him. A weakness of this book is that the ending could've been better but overall was a great book to read.

-Jacob S.

Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman 4.5/5 Stars

2024-10-23 16:49:18 UTC

Seedfolks is a novel that takes the form of short stories, each narrated by a different person with a different background that relates to the garden and the overall story line. The novel is about a community garden in Cleveland that started off as a trashy, empty lot, and soon became an area where the community could come together and plant their crops. I believe that the best part of this book was seeing how a community could form out of almost nothing, and become a welcoming and comforting environment towards the end. One weakness that I believe it had was that the book didn't really have a singular plot that all of the characters' actions led up to, but rather a few smaller disruptions from the story that didn't have a major impact. Because of this, my overall rating would be a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

-Janie B.

The First Part Last 4/5 Stars

preyesay0001 — 2024-10-23 22:59:24 UTC

The second book in the Heaven Trilogy, The First Part Last is the 2003 young-adult novel written by American poet and author Angela Johnson. Set in contemporary New York, the story revolves around the teenage pregnancy of 16-year-old Bobby and Nia, two upper-middle-class African Americans. Divided into four parts with chapters alternating between “now” and “then,” the novel is told from the first-person perspective of Bobby, the father, as he deals with the birth of a daughter, Feather. When Nia contracts a potentially fatal condition called eclampsia after childbirth and falls into a coma, Bobby and Nia consider giving Feather up for adoption. However, Bobby decides that the best thing to do is raise Feather on his own. This story has a very detailed and well made plot and overall I think it deserves a 4/5 stars. P.S I would HIGHLY reccommend this book.

-Patricia R.

Animal Farm by George Orwell 4/5 stars

2024-10-23 23:02:05 UTC

This book is about farm animals overtaking a farm and turning it into paradise, the leaders of these animals are the pigs and they are great at first. After a few years the pigs start breaking more and more rules set so that the animals don't become like humans. This book reflects human nature and how with too much power anyone can go corrupt. I gave this a 4/5 because even though it was a really good book I think there were too many time skips and the plot was hard to follow.

Thunderhead by: Neal Shusterman (4.5/5)

2024-10-23 23:04:31 UTC

The book is the second in a series, the first book is "Scythe." This book is about a person named Citra, she is a scythe (a trained individual who is the only people that can end life.) She is disliked by the other scythes as she is different. The reason this book is called "thunderhead" is because there is a AI so smart that there is no longer death and it is not allowed to interfere with the scythes work. I really love this book because of how it is paced with it switching between the characters and what they feel to keep you entertained while you learning more and more. The reason I didn't give it a five out of five is it is quite long at 504 pages and you have to have read the previous one, but if you like to read this is a great book for you. Overall this is an awesome book and an entertaining read I would definitely suggest. Connor Albrecht

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 4/5 stars

2024-10-23 23:19:36 UTC

The fault in our stars follows the journey of two teens Hazel and Augustus, who navigate life,love,and loss together all while also fighting battles with cancer. Something that stands out was the way the characters stories went,as well as their very different personalities. The best part for me in this book was the whole middle part since I got to see how Hazel and Augustus navigated through various challenges. The only flaw I feel that there was,was that the ending felt very rushed and felt like there was more let to the story. My overall rating is a 4/5 because although I really liked the plot I strongly believe there could have been more to ending. I feel that it needed a shorter beginning to have a more detailed ending which is why I gave it one star off.Overall it was a beautiful story and really made me think about how life is for those who struggle with grief and cancer. It gave me a different perspective on a lot of situations. Every word was very poetic in a way which I really liked. A lot of things said were very quote worthy and really hit a soft spot in my heart.This book was a lot about finding who you are and what your motivation in life was and I really enjoyed that and really enjoyed seeing Hazels journey through that.

-Jaylen A

Gallowgate by K.R. Alexander (4/5)

2024-10-23 23:33:21 UTC

“Tonight, you take on the mantle of AEthercist. Tonight your life changes forever. “Now let the Guard be Named!” Pg 323

Since I am a harry potter/ horror fan this book was really entertaining and fun for me. This book contains a lot of details that have helped me visualize the illustration that the book is trying to tell the reader. This is also really similar to Harry Potter with all the key details about magic. ( magic, sorting into houses, character plot) Since I don’t really like reading that much these chapters were about 1-4 pages long which also helped because I have a feeling when I start a chapter I have to finish it even those really long ones. A boy named Sebatian Wight is cursed with seeing ghosts and later gets sent off to a magical school where kids learn how to hunt ghosts. Something that really stood out to me was the story plot and the plot twist. They were really surprising to me because it caught off guard which not a lot of books have been able to do. One weakness I would say is that this book did not include a lot of the character details like who they are. They just randomly put in characters with no introduction. My overall rating is a 4/5

Avery Linh R.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card 4/5 stars

2024-10-23 23:37:49 UTC

"The power to cause pain is the only power that matters, the power to destroy, because if you cant kill them you are always subject to those who can, and nothing and no one will ever save you." Andrew "Ender" Wiggin - Page 149

Ender's Game is set in a world where a hostile alien race threatens humanity's survival, Ender, who is just a child at the time, gets recruited into the international fleet to help destroy the alien race once and for all. The part of Ender's game that stood out to me the most was definitely the climax, it was very suspenseful and unique, and it really stood out as one of the best parts of the book to me. Ender's game is still a good book, but there were a couple flaws. Parts of the book were too complex or referenced a small detail from many pages before and needed some rereading. Another flaw in Ender's game is that the book sexualized 7-13 year old children unnecessarily and in a way that want really important to the story.

I would give Ender's game overall 4/5 stars.

Augie G.

The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams - 3.5/5

2024-10-23 23:50:32 UTC

The book is about two friends escaping planetary destruction, and the events that follow said escape. The best part would be it's writing. It is very descriptive in the way it describes someone, or the actions of someone. Plus, any details could be used for later, so it's best to keep everything that happens in the back of your mind. It's weaknesses, however, bring this book down for me. The book should have been longer, giving more detail to things that were short-lived. The book can sometimes feel like a wall of text, being very descriptive, yes, but taking a long time to describe every minute detail. The book also ends abruptly, leaving the reader wanting more. To clarify, this book is part of a six book series, so if you want to read the full story, you would need to read five more books.

My overall rating is 3.5/5.

-Felix A.

The Outsiders by: S.E Hinton 4/5

2024-10-24 00:16:41 UTC

The Greasers and the Socs, are two gangs who have conflict between them, and the protagonist (Ponyboy) does not know where he belongs. The best part of the is when you can see what loss does to a person and how it can change people, and see their character develop and change. It shows how people can change either for the better or the worse. I believe a a flaw to the book might be the overall solution to the plot was very easy, when i felt it should have been more realistic. My overall rating for this book is a 4/5 stars.

-Isaac V

Tunnels - Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams - 4/5

2024-10-24 00:33:52 UTC

This book is the start of Will's adventure as he and Chester find this mysterious Georgian-like underworld after Will's dad, Dr. Burrows have disappeared. With Will and Chester stuck in there for God knows how long, Will finds that his real family was here underground and figures out that nobody is to be trusted. If Will wants to escape, he's forced to trust nobody; not his family, not the police, no one. As he goes deeper into the underworld, the more grim the threat is to him and his family and friends.

With this thriller plot, I was kept on my toetips with what would happen next. Would Will escape? Will he have to run for the rest of his life? The only complaints I have about this book are the characters and the plot twist. The characters just suddenly popped into the book as they're already connected together, even if it wasn't. After Dr. Burrows was gone, not much else was mentioned about him (maybe for the next book). The plot twist was leaking and somehow predictable (maybe I looked back at the book too much), but I mainly was hooked to this book! 4/5! I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this series.

Christos Miguel D.

You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle 4/5

2024-10-24 00:44:36 UTC

This book gives a story of two engaged people who have " fallen" out of love and they are trying to get each other to call of the wedding. I enjoyed this book because the characters were very relatable and I felt like I knew them in real life. This made the book more enjoyable and easier to read. I also liked how it had some comedy. At times I did feel that the book would get very descriptive at times that were not needed. It made the book feel longer than it actually was. Overall , I would recommended this book if you're looking for something fun to read. It's a very feel-good book and it gives you some sort of connection , but not an extreme amount. It was very fun to read and I would give it a 4/5

- Allison O.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian By Sherman Alexie 4/5

2024-10-24 01:37:28 UTC

This Book is about a kid who grows up on a Spokane Indian reservation that leave all his friends to go to an all white school. He is picked on for having medical problems and being Indian. The best part in watch him overcome these challenges and become friends with his bully's. I think the end was like lots of other books I have read. 4/5

Gavin Lee

2024-10-24 01:39:31 UTC

This book was great it was very much like the move "it" for example there were a group of kids that wanted to defeat a clown that was causing them suffering.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 4.5/5

2024-10-24 01:48:08 UTC

This book is an absolute classic and keeps you interested at every page. It tells an incredibly heartwarming and important story which is something that I enjoyed greatly. Though do keep in mind that for some non readers the pacing of this book may deter some away but if you are into interesting and profound stories this book is definitely. This book details the life of two kids (Jem and Scout Finch) during the mid 1930's in the great depression. Their father, a lawyer, is a kind and fair man has ideas that oppose the social norm but when their father must defend a falsely accused black man the children must learn to sympathize and understand others struggles. I would give this book a modest 4.5/5 stars

Judah C.

Last Day On Mars by Kevin Emerson 4/5

2024-10-24 02:00:28 UTC

In this story, a group of children, Liam, Phoebe, and Shawn are all on their last day on Mars before they go to a new planet, named Aaru, but what happens on the way gets dangerous. The best part I've read so far is when Liam and Phoebe reach the mysterious building on Olympus Mons, because this part has many crazy mysteries to solve, like the alien that was lying on the ground in the building, and the discoveries found in the building. The flaws of the book was that it was strenuous to look for signposts, since the book didn't use enough. I would this book a 4/5, because it would be better if it had more signposts to look for, and more literature language.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 4/5

2024-10-24 02:41:36 UTC

This book is a book that dates way back to the 60s. It's what people would call old. However, this book is still one of the most talked about books until this day. I can understand this because of how good this book is. It's pacing might make people give up on the novel, but if you keep reading it, you'll love it. This book has many quotes in it and many lessons. The lessons helped the kids and the Earth during the time this was in. This book is about the life of two kids that live in The Great Depression in a fictional world city named Maycount, Alabama. The kids have a father who is a lawyer. The kids names are Jem and Scout Finch. The dad is named Atticius Finch. Jem and Scout make a friend named Dill. Attitcius had a different mindset then to all of the other people, but when a colored person gets falsely accused, Attitcius must help him while teaching his kids lessons about life and they way other people are alive. I would give this book a 4/5 stars rating.

Gerardo B.

Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Battle of The Labyrinth By Rick Riordan Rating: 5/5

2024-10-24 02:47:45 UTC

A 15 year old demigod has to travel through a Labyrinth with his friends in order to save his camp, Camp Half-Blood. There is a war between the titans and the gods. Him and his friends have to protect the camp from an ambush from the enemy. This book consists of twists and turns. It shows the characters loyalty and their bravery. The book is really intriguing and makes you want to continue reading it. A weakness this book has is just that if you haven't read the past books then you wouldn't really understand much but if you did then your good. Overall i think the book is really interesting and i would give it a 5/5

Kenzie M.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. (4/5)

2024-10-24 02:48:52 UTC

This book showed the Life of 16-year-old Hazel Grace and her bumpy journey to finding love with 17-year-old Augustus. Personally, the part I found best in the book was when Hazel finally started to allow herself to be happy with Augustus and didn't feel guilty anymore. Specifically, their whole trip to Amsterdam because it really showed how much their relationship had evolved with their feelings and emtional maturity. I also really like how John Green captured the teenage mind because there were many different things the characters would say and talk about that sounded like something I would hear or say, making the whole reading experience so much more fun. The worst part, in my opinion, was how rushed the whole ending was. It left me with a lot of questions as to why John Green ended the book the way he did. Furthermore, the last three chapters had no additional information that gave the story extra plot or added to the theme. It just gave extra unnecessary details. It was the only boring part of the book because it felt like ages trying to get through the last 50-70 pages. Overall, it was a great book I would recommend because it was extremely well-paced besides the ending, I enjoyed the reading, and it captured the teen's view in life, which I loved. I would give it a 4/5, one point off because I did not like the ending.

-Evelin Poghosyan

Catching Fire By: Suzanne Collins. the Rating 4/5

2024-10-24 02:50:29 UTC

This book is basically based on, what happens after leaving the arena, despite leaving the arena, Katniss and her loved ones are in more danger than ever as the threat of punishment looms. There are many wonderful messages to be gleaned from this book about loyalty, love, courage, friendship, what it means to be a family, and doing what's right in the face of evil.

The weaknesses of this book is that it was not very intense and unpredictable. I could always predict what would happen. Overall this is a great book if you are a fan of hunger games or just like reading books. I personally did not enjoy reading this book, but I am very sure that you would like it. That is why I would give this book a 4/5

Nurlybek Tengizbay

Cake Eater by Allyson Dahlin 4/5

2024-10-24 03:03:09 UTC

A princess from the Austro Lands comes to the Franc kingdom to merge their lands to become more powerful, but she gets much more than she anticipated for. In Cake Eater by Allyson Dahlin, I think that the best part was how throughout the book, Marie, the queen in coming, and Louis, the king in coming, grow to love each other more and more. The only flaw that I think that the book has is introducing characters and being really mysterious with them like they're gonna show up again, only to forget them later. But overall, the book had a great twist on the story of Marie Antoinette, 4/5 stars.

-Eminence E.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Book 2: Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan 4/5 stars

2024-10-24 03:20:36 UTC

This book is about Percy Jackson, the son of Posieden leaving camp and risking his life to go on a mission to acquire the Golden Fleece to save Half Blood Camp. The book had many obstacles throught the read meaning it wasn't just one path to one challenge. It was more of 1 large challenge with many little challenges imbedded into it. It also builds up suspense at the end of the book where there is a cliffhanger. The weakness of this book is that you need to have some background of Greek Mythology and have read the first book to understand Percy and his relationships with everyone in the story. Overall this book was an outstanding book and it deserves 4 out of 5 stars.

Nahom T.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner 4/5 stars

2024-10-24 03:32:28 UTC

The book starts with the main character, Thomas, a teenage boy waking up in "The Glade" with no memories prior to his awakening, the book explores ingenuity, courage, and insanity. What stands out to me about this book is definitely the plot twists and how they show some of the characters' mental health decline whether they go insane and/or depressed. One weakness is how sometimes it was paced too quickly, which I believe could have something to do with this next weakness. Another weakness has to do with the point of view, and there probably is a reason why the point of view was third person. However, if it were using first person we would've been able to explore with Thomas and be able to understand him better, and it would allow scenes to feel deeper and slow down enough so we could understand. The last weakness I have with this book is how somewhere in the beginning-middle they found out about this whole opening but never really got into it again till near the end which is pretty odd because it was something new and weird they had just found out about. So, my overall rating would have to be a 4/5, I enjoy how the plot twists were actually unexpected and the way some characters go mad adds depth, the plot is also interesting and unique from other books I read. The reason I didn't give it a 5 was due to the fast pace, the shallow point of view, and how some developments would be completely abandoned.

Hyzzaneesa M

Percy Jack and the Olympians: Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan 4/5 Stars

2024-10-24 03:32:41 UTC

Percy Jackson, the half blood son of Poseidon, faces trouble as Percy's demigod school is being threatened to be over run by monsters. The best part of the book would be how relatable Percy Jackson is. He is a character who is very easy to make connections with. The author voiced out his thoughts and feelings very well, and depicted the character very well as a teenager. Some flaws would be too much foreshadowing and uneven pacing. The overwhelming amount of foreshadowing led to the story being predictable and plot twists not being very surprising or exciting. The uneven pacing also led to sudden shifts in the setting which made the story confusing at some moments. I would give this book a 4/5 as the story and conflicts were interesting and different from of those I read before but the book could have been better.

Jin P.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner 4.5/5 stars

2024-10-24 03:36:06 UTC

In the book 'The Maze Runner', a teen named Thomas wakes up without memories in "The Glade", a small area of land surrounded by towering inescapable maze walls that shift each night. The part that stands out most to me about this book is the suspense and cliffhangers that leave you wanting to keep reading at the end of each chapter in Thomas's quest to escape the Maze. In my opinion, the only flaw that this book has is that the pacing near the end and beginning of the book doesn't seem quite right. In the beginning, a large chunk of the story is of describing the Glade (not the plot itself), and near the end, the chapters keep ending after only a couple of pages. Overall, I would rate 'The Maze Runner" a 4.5/5.

-Seyla G.

Alabama Moon by Watt Key 4.5/5

2024-10-24 03:38:56 UTC

Powerful yet suspenseful, Alabama Moon was a book about how a young boy who had lived with his Pap in the forest his whole life deals with the loss of his father. I think the best part of this book was the suspense. I was always anticipating what would happen next, because there were so many plot twists. I think one of the books weaknesses was the amount of times it contradicted itself, such as having inconsistencies. Most of the time it would get resolved later on, however while reading, it was kind of annoying when I noticed it. Overall, I would give this book 4.5/5 because I really liked it.

Athena W.

The Do-Over by Lynn Painter (4/5)

2024-10-24 03:39:12 UTC

A turn of events takes place on Valentine's Day. The day Emilie, a high-school student, must re live everyday. Emilie wishes to express her love for her boyfriend although, this excitement is cut short seeing as Emilie crashes into her.... ? Just as she thinks things couldn't get any worse, they do. The best part about this is the unique story line, there are many turn of events that take place again and again. However, because of the repetition when reading this book, it felt like forever. Overall I'd give this book a star rating of 4/5, there were multiple ups and downs but this book was able to fulfill any curious questions.

Genn O.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

2024-10-24 03:47:07 UTC

The Road is about a man and his son travelling a destroyed America having only each other to count on. What stands out is the conversations between the boy and the man. It truly feels like they love and care for each other. I also really like the darker aspects of the book, I extremely like one scene involving a cellar. A weakness it has is to be boring at times. Sometimes its just them walking around just talking with nothing really happening. But overall the Positives far outweigh the negatvies so i would give this a 4/5.

Cy S.

The Unbreakable Code by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman 3/5 stars

2024-10-24 03:48:18 UTC

Two friends discover a message about an unbreakable code that takes them on a wild and long journey to find more about it. Along the way they get more clues and are one step closer to solving this mystery. The most interesting part of this book was when the two friends got closer to finding the answer to the mystery because it held a lot of curiosity in me and I felt like i needed to know more. The weaknesses in this book were at the end because it was one of these books that was "to be continued...". My overall rating would be a 3/5 because I liked how entertaining the author wrote the book and the way that for once I found interest in this book, however the ending really disappointed me and I still need to know if the kids ever found the answer to the mystery of the unbreakable code.

Gloria M

The Road by Comac Mcarthy 4./5 stars

2024-10-24 04:06:46 UTC

A father and a son (That go on to never be named) try to survive in a desolate and lonely world meeting strangers along their way. They try to make it down one road eventually leading to the coast. The father makes a great effort to just try to survive just by the skin of their teeth. I really like the unique style of the dynamic between the father and the son. Their conversations don't flowery words or any deeper meaning behind them, they are just small tidbits of commons sense that the dad tries to make up so the kid grows up right. they don't have any uniqueness with their conversations with them usually repeated and reassurance if they're going to be okay. I think one of this books weaknesses is that by the end of the story a lot of questions go unanswered whether that be how the world got to this point or even what the main characters names are. Overall I give this book a 4.5/5 because it was a very interesting read and I loved all the character dynamics.

Azul S.

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger - 4/5 stars

2024-10-24 04:16:28 UTC

The classic "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger regards the life of 17-year-old Holden Caulfield in a time frame of a mere three days after being expelled from preparatory school. The book was particularly interesting because of the language, considering it did take place in the 50's. Every page there were words such as "sore" and "goddam" and "chrissake" which I appreciated because it only added to my own personal experience when reading the book. The book, in my own opinion, had only one flaw that stood out. Holden had been troubled about calling this girl named Jane, whom he had spent a lot of time with one particular summer. This is for certain an exaggeration, but it felt like almost every chapter started with Holden saying "Maybe I should give old Jane a buzz." But he never did. Maybe I should have seen it coming. It was only a disappointment since he had been talking about her throughout the entire book. Overall, I would give the Catcher in the Rye a 4/5 stars considering it did leave some things unresolved, but has strong elements of unique writing.

- Odalis C.

Cake Eater by Allyson Dahlin, 4/5 stars

2024-10-24 04:27:58 UTC

In Allyson Dahlin's riveting futuristic romance novel Cake Eater, a young princess finds herself in a completely new kingdom, ready to marry a prince she only ever met online....But, will things really go as they planned, or will history repeat itself and take a deadly turn? I think the thing that really stood out to me in this book was the plot twist at the end. It managed to tie up all the loose ends I was wondering about, and the suspense of it all had me on edge. Another thing I enjoyed was the unique setting the book takes place in. It is a dystopian, historical, yet futuristic world, where old monuments and architecture have been re-established and decorated with glimmering neon lights. I think it's really unique and cool that the author managed to combine these two completely different styles and time periods, while also making it sound interesting. However, one flaw I noticed in the book was that, despite it being very suspenseful, everything seemed to go very fast towards the end of it, which made it feel a little rushed. Overall, I would give this book a 4/5 because, although it was very exciting and had me on edge, it was a bit too long for my taste.

-- Maia M.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (4/5)

2024-10-24 04:31:05 UTC

The book Catching Fire by Suzanne collins is an interesting twist of dystopia, love and action. I love how Katniss always keeps fighting and standing up on her feet making this story overall very well written. The only flaws is maybe mire figurative language and more background on other tributes. Overall this book is a solid 4/5 being very well rounded yet could have a little more detail in the sentences. -Ian M

The Outsider by: S.E Hinton 4.5/5 stars

2024-10-24 04:33:12 UTC

The outsiders are about a group of kids the Greasers who they have to deal with many problems, like fights with the rich kids, Socs. I think the best part about the book is how real the character feels, and I started to care about what happens to them as the story goes on, especially the kids Ponyboy and Johnny. One weakness about the books is that at the story could feel slow in the beginning before there action picks up later in the story. Overall, I would rate this book a 4.5/5 because it has strong message about friendship and it's emotional.

-Aiden C.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton 4/5

2024-10-24 04:37:29 UTC

This book is a story about two different gangs which are the Greasers and the Socks and don't like each other very much so they get into a lot of fights often but then one night is when everything changed. What I think is the best part of the book is when the characters realized that they had messed up and it was a whole mystery to figure out what they needed to do to get out of the hole that they got in. A flaw that I thought was in the book was that I thought that the ending was kind of boring. I would give the book a 4/5 stars because it was the first book that I thought was kind of fun to read.

Yazan S.

The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams - 3/5

2024-10-24 04:54:55 UTC

The book is about two people fleeing the destruction of the Earth and trying to survive the multiple ordeals in space that follow. The best part of this book is the way things play out mixed with the writer's style. Everything that happens in the book is very sudden, which, paired with the use of syntax, makes it a fun read when things are happening. Its weaknesses are what completely ruin the vibe of the book: descriptive pieces of text that come out of nowhere litter the book. An example of this is when a game is mentioned, and the narrator takes a page to explain what it is, and this game is only mentioned once, this time spent describing things that are only mentioned once or twice could have been used to develop the plot and finish the story. Douglas spent so much time describing things that there was no space for putting them into play. In the end, this leaves you with a seemingly unfinished ending that tells you to read the next book, which makes it seem like you would need to read all five books in the series to complete the story. I feel this book would work well as an audiobook because of its descriptive nature, but because of the time it was released, it was held down by the text.

My overall rating is 3/5.

-Shakil A.

Divergent by Veronica Roth (4/5)

2024-10-24 05:17:42 UTC

This book takes place in a futuristic post-apocalyptic Chicago, where the people are divided into five factions. Erudite, Abnegation, Candor, Amity, and Dauntless. On someones 16th birthday they must choose a faction where they will reside for the rest of their life. This book is about a girl named Tris who follows her heart and is brave despite what her family tells her. This book is about strength, bravery and hope. I think these are some things the book showed very well and the way things were described is the best part of the book. A weakness in this book is that some parts don't connect and it can be easy to get confused while reading. Overall I would give Divergent a 4/5 stars because I enjoyed the book and movie, but I prefer more challenging books.

-Amelia O.

"Fahrenheit 451" , Ray Bradbury, 3.5/5

2024-10-24 05:26:00 UTC

Guy Montag is a fireman who lives in a dystopian society where books are forbidden to read. However, in his world, fireman start fires and burn books instead of putting them out. Additionally, the people in this world don't read, enjoy nature, or spend time individually. Instead, they are to remain "happy" by watching television. One day, a teenager, Clarisse McClellan opens Montag's point of view on the world. He soon begins to realize that he is not happy and that the society he lives in is corrupt. The best part of this book was probably when Montag starts learning how broken his society is and how he is contributing to it. It illustrates the realization and the spark of interest Montag has before rebelling against the very thing he was taught to do. However, a weakness in this book was how long it was. Even though the actual book was 150 pages, I felt that there were lots of extra detail that wasn't necessary. Overall, I would rate "Fahrenheit 451" 3.5/5 stars.

- Naomi Ku | Period 5

Twisted Love by Ana Huang (3/5 stars)

2024-10-24 05:27:34 UTC

"Twisted Love" is a love story where a man, called Alex Volkov, has a stone-cold heart, until he is forced to look after his best friend's sister, and that's where he starts feeling something different. Something that stood out to me was the plot. The author did an amazing job at arranging the mysteries and unexpected twists of this book. I also love how detailed the background information of the characters were and how it helped me know why they acted a certain way. However, one flaw in this book was the ending. It was not what I expected it to be, and it also seemed rushed. I expected the ending to be more heartwarming and ending with the characters' relationship. I also didn't like how the author portrayed Alex as a "perfect" guy who had everything a girl could ever want, which was really unrealistic, but that's why it's a fiction novel. Still, I wished the author could've not added all of these "special" things about Alex and instead, could've kept it more simpler. Overall, I would rate this book a 3/5 because while it did have a good plot, the ending and the characters were not what I expected.

-Scarlet T.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (4.5/5)

2024-10-24 05:30:16 UTC

The book And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie is a story about ten strangers who have been invited to the mysterious Soldier Island, where upon arrival they are all accused of having committed a murder. The guests soon learn that their absent and unnamed host may be planning death for all ten of them, with each murder relating to the macabre nursery rhyme 10 Soldier Boys. My favorite thing about this book was reading how the characters developed over time, as they slowly became more and more insane. I found it very interesting how both guilt over their past actions and fear of the inevitable future began to affect the characters. In my opinion, the only downside of this book was that it was a bit predictable. Since the nursery rhyme, 10 Soldiers Boys, stated how each one of the guests was going to die, I was able to predict a lot of the deaths. In addition, at some points in the story, I felt myself wanting to read further only to reach the end of the book for the explanation, rather than enjoying the actual plot. Despite this, And Then There Were None was still a very well thought out murder mystery with an extremely creative concept. Therefore, I would rate it 4.5/5 stars.

-Milana Z.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt 3/5

2024-10-24 05:32:05 UTC

A 1980s murder mystery in the eyes/perspectives of the murders from a college student, Richard Papen who plunges himself with a group of unconventional peers. As the aberrant group goes into the five classic majors they become fascinated with Greek history, rapping up a murder inside the group. The best part of "The Secret History” is the opening of the story, a clear idea/plot structure shown in the first paragraphs, most of the characters have natural but interesting personalities. “The Secret History” does have one true major weakness to me, which is the pacing of the entire story. I've observed that the story could’ve been shortened to possibly 200-300 pages instead of 500 pages, paragraphs that could be brought down to sentences, having character development too close to the end. Overall this book has a really interesting plot and personality but the pacing of the book brings it down, though this is one of Donna Tartt’s first books so it may be a testament to writing as an author.

3/5 Randy M p2

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter By Erika Sanchez 4/5

2024-10-24 05:36:59 UTC

The story follows Mexican American teenager Julia while she struggles with the death of her older sister Olga while following her dream of being a writer. While she fights sexist social norms and tries to fix her broken family, she uncovers many of her sisters large secrets. Something I appreciated about the story was that it was written in first person point of view, which allowed for lots of surprises and plot twists. I felt that the story did get dull in some parts, and it became hard to read through without getting sidetracked. Overall, I would give this book a 4/5 because I feel that although at times I had a hard time staying interested, the book would always have something shocking or unexpected happen that would hook me and make me want to keep on reading.

-Sandrine B.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt - 3/5 stars

2024-10-24 05:45:01 UTC

This story tells the tale of the killing of Edmund "Bunny" Corcoran from the point of view of Richard Papen, a rich college student who studies languages. The novel explores that profound obsessions are sometimes harmful and can lead to absurdity within the mind. The greatest strength of the book in my opinion is the imagery and suspense. The book keeps you on your toes while reading with its complicated writing style. The book has long sentences yet creates a detail image in the mind of the reader. Although the book had imagery and an amazing style of writing, it was quite slow-paced. The book in itself is 540 pages long but each chapter is around 30 pages which make it a tough read. The book takes pages and pages to finish one conversation or even get into a car. Overall, this book is a 3/5 stars. Not the greatest read but still enjoyable.

Freddy D.

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika Sanchez Rating: 4/5

2024-10-24 05:45:27 UTC

This book follows 15-year-old Julia Reyes as she deals with grief after losing her sister. Julia looks to find out about the truth of her sister's life while navigating her own and trying to find her own identity in spite of the harsh expectations of her traditional Mexican family. This book captures a story of poverty, imperfection, grief, and growth as it shows a lot of character development while including many interesting plot twists. However, even with there being plot twists, sometimes the story was really slow and added details that didn't seem necessary. Overall, I would give this book a 4/5 because I did lose my focus at sometimes, but the author did a really high quality job keeping me interested and wanting to learn what was written on the next page.

- Nora A.

Dark One by Brandon Sanderson 4/5 Stars

2024-10-24 05:51:58 UTC

Two different worlds collide when a man by the name of Paul Tanasin discovers that the mysterious visions he's been having are creatures from another land calling to him and he finds himself in the middle of a long-running conflict of oppression and classism. The best part of the book for me was its ability to maintain a grim and grounded tone despite a fantastical setting. I do not think it was perfect, however. I felt that a lot of the characters seemed one-dimensional and archetypal. Despite this, I still think the book deserves a 4 out of 5 stars.

Sam S.F.

"Fahrenheit 451", Ray Bradbury, 4/5

2024-10-24 07:02:34 UTC

Guy Montag is a fireman in this world that burns the books that once gave his society true freedom from the grasp of the higher power. Guy Montag experiences a journey of change and he realizes that just because he does something that is said to be righteous doesn't mean that it truly is. I like how Montag instead of following the line like everyone else including Faber he actually stands up for his faith and cause and actually aims for change. Faber who was once an English professor should have stood up against the government because they had taken away his passion, but he stood and watched as his career died. Montag was just an ordinary man that knew nothing, and did more than Faber who knew everything. The book is on the shorter side compared to most books that have 200-300 pages, so I would recommend it for people who don't like reading. I do not like how the book just left off with Montag going off to the railroad tracks leaving us with many questions. Did he ever stop the government or did he let it all go on just like Faber did? I would rate "Fahrenheit 451" a 4/5 stars.

-Jayden Deng

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin - 4/5 stars

2024-10-24 07:26:30 UTC

This is the first book in the Books of Earthsea series. It's about a young boy, Ged, who discovers his magical abilities and goes on a journey of self-discovery and redemption. Something that stands out is that the author really goes into depths of certain themes such as identity, power, and the balance of light and darkness. One flaw is that I think the pacing is a bit slow and the wording is very respectful, serious, and reminds me of British. Overall, "A Wizard of Earthsea" is a wonderful mix of fantasy and philosophy that's a fun and impactful read. I give this book a 4/5.

John K.

Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Saenz 4/5 stars

2024-10-24 14:35:34 UTC

Two boys, both different, discover their love for each other and now must discover what it means to stay in love and build a relationship in a world that seems to challenge their very existence. The best part of this book are the deep conversations characters have with each other. It gives an insight on the characters' feelings and thoughts, and even teaches readers the importance of opening up. A flaw that I have noticed is that the story has repetitive parts that may make readers with short attention spans stop reading. Overall, I give this a 4/5. It's a nice book to read, especially if you relate to some of the events in the book.

Heriel B.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner, Rating: 4/5

2024-10-24 14:57:01 UTC

A teenage boy named Thomas awakens in a mysterious place, with no memories of his past. He's rescued by a group of other teenage boys and taken to a location called "The Glade," which piques his curiosity about the Maze. The highlight of the story lies in the characters' interactions and dialogues, which are often either humorous or meaningful. However, the pacing of the plot can be seen as a flaw, as events unfold quickly, leaving little room for a breather before the next moment begins. I would give this book a rating of 4 out of 5 because the characters, despite their differing personalities and appearances, managed to stick together and complete their mission until the end, even though their beliefs didn’t always align.

Amina Kanat

Cake Eater by: Allyson Dahlin 4/5 stars

2024-10-24 15:23:10 UTC

Cake Eater is about a soon to be queen, Marie who has an arranged marriage with another prince. What stands out to me is the relatable characters because Marie seems indecisive just like me. Flaws in the book was probably that the plot wasn't extremely interesting but still somewhat, enough to continue reading. My overall rating would be a 4/5, this is because I feel like the ending was rushed and just too sudden. There wasn't any hints to the plot twist.

Rachel L.

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander (4/5 starts)

2024-10-24 15:26:54 UTC

I think the best part of this book was the unique writing style and the way Kwame used his words. What I mean is in the book he would often make words have the characteristics of what he is saying, for example the word cross over would be written Cross

over

because its a basket ball term. I think the book didnt end of in the best way possible as it was a sad ending but it showed the strength it takes to push on.

Alex S.

Dystopia

2024-10-24 15:34:49 UTC

Animal farm by George orwell is a very good book showing how power is overused and can cause harm to others. I would give it a 5 star review for its great vocabulary and overall story. The story starts with a farmer that overuses his animals. The animals get angry and eventually rise up to take him over. Everyone is happy till they find out their overall leader is a "spy" They banish him and a new leader forms. He slowly works them more and more with less equality until they are the worst treated farm in europe.

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika Sanchez - 4/5 stars

2024-10-24 15:40:20 UTC

I am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter is an enticing book following the 15-year-old Julia Reyes as she struggles to cope with the death of her older sister Olga, while also grappling with her own identity and her family's expectations to be their “perfect Mexican daughter”. On her journey, in every twist and turn, she uncovers huge things about her sister, her family, and most importantly herself. What I love about this book is that it is comedic while also representing a deeper and bigger idea about mental health, culture, and sexist societal expectations. I was able to laugh but also truly feel sentimental while reading. I also loved how many huge twists there were because it made the main character's arc so much bigger, and I really loved watching Julia grow. A weakness that the book had was that the first person point of view didn’t allow for much growth from the other characters, and it made Julia a more of an unlikable character. Julia villainized many of the characters like her mother, not letting the reader try and understand any of the characters on a deeper level. Also, Julia was not very likable, and most of that is because of the first person point of view. Julia often shared unfair complaints and it made even the most positive points of the book a little un-enjoyable. Overall, I would give this book ⅘ stars. It would keep any reader interested with all of the plot twists, and it was able to communicate a deep message whilst being comedic, but the first person point of view made the book a little one sided and I would have appreciated a more positive outlook during certain parts of the book.

- Vida W.

The Crossover By Kwame Alexander. 4/5 Stars.

2024-10-24 15:43:50 UTC

Twins, Josh and Jordan Bell demonstrate their talent in basketball, overcome difficult situations. Josh can dunk, he's 6 feet tall, and he is one of the most popular kids at school, but out of nowhere he loses it all (almost). One flaw about my book was that it was probably meant for fifth or 6th graders because it did not have that many deeper meaning than the straight forward text. Other than that I enjoyed reading this book since it had life lessons and shows how Josh keeps living life even when everything is against him. Because of this I'd give it a 4/5 Stars.

- Pau T.

Catcher in the rye, JD Salinger. Rating: 3.8/5

2024-10-24 16:03:27 UTC

My review on this book is that it is very unusual for other books made in 1951. This book is filled with some slang and some ill language, and i thought that for a book made in 1951 it was pretty unique. Also i enjoyed this book because of the young protagonist that has some funny jokes and some action scenes.

A quick summary is a boy drops out of his school to explore new York and meet old friends and makes new ones.

I think the best part was the relatable characters because of Holden's comedy sense and his character design in general.

A weakness in this book is that sometimes Holden's narcissism makes the book hard to read because it can either get cliche or boring.

My personal overall rating of this book is a 4/5 because besides the flaws it is an unique book with some funny and relatable scenes

Oak. N

Eleanor & Park, by: Rainbow Rowell (3/5 stars)

2024-10-24 16:58:31 UTC

Realistic fiction, rom-com

Eleanor has recently moved back into her stepdad’s house with her family and starts to develop a friendship with her bus partner, Park. I really enjoyed how complicated the characters and their lives were. They showed how complicated different relationships can be. Another reason is because I thought it was really interesting to write the book with two first-person points of view. However, the plot felt uncoordinated and either very slow or very fast. I felt like the author wrapped up the book in a haste. Therefore, I would give Eleanor + Park a 3/5 stars. If you are looking for a quick, cute, romcom, this is the book for you.

Stella F.

Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Battle of the Labyrinth Rating: 5/5

2024-10-24 16:59:30 UTC

"Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Battle of The Labyrinth, consists of a fifteen year old boy named Percy Jackson who travels through the Labyrinth with his friends in order to find the god Daedalus. They travel through the Labyrinth in order to stop the ambush from the main antagonist Luke who is trying to destroy the camp, Camp Half-Blood. Percy is trying to stop this ambush from happening in order to protect his friends who are staying at the camp this summer. The best parts of the book are the plot twists. The book is really intriguing and makes you want to continue reading. In my opinion, i would say there were no flaws in the book which is why i rated it 5/5 stars.

Kenzie M.

Science Fiction

2024-10-24 17:51:17 UTC

The Maze Runner by James Dashner (4/5)

stshughu0001 — 2024-10-24 18:04:49 UTC

Teenager boy, Thomas, finds himself with a loss of memory, and travels to a whole new world. Adventures yet dark, Thomas now has a new life and is set out to adventure. The best part in this book was seeing Thomas improve on his skills in the new world.This showed his development throughout the whole book. Something that I didn't quite like is how slow the book went. I get that its a series, but in my opinion the whole story itself just moved too slow. But, my overall rating is a 4/5, it was a great storyline, and the development of the characters, and overall they're bond made it a great book.

Sophie T

The Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse 4.5/5

2024-10-25 02:02:53 UTC

A teenage girl living in Amsterdam during world war ll gets asked to look for a missing woman, before she is found and killed. I absolutely loved this book. I found that it had a little bit of everything; love, mystery, suspense, history, action. The plot had so much suspense and was interesting on almost every page. The only flaw was that I would've liked to see more friendship developing, as there was definetly characters who would've been great friends, if they had just spent more time together. And I'm not saying that it should be longer, because it was really well paced, I just wish there were some more parts where the main character was with another person instead of alone. Overall, you should definitely read this book and I give it a 4.5/5!

-Vida R :)

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard 4/5 stars

2024-10-25 02:27:56 UTC

This story is about Mare a teenager growing up in stilts after starting working with the queen she discovers a power of sparks that might bring down the royals and the way they rule. I think the best this about this book is the story that this book brings you on, all the detail that the author spent to work on this book to make it the book it is today. A flaw of this book is that after you reach the climax the falling action is very fast and squished all together. My rating of this book would be a 4-5 because although this book was really well written I feel like she should have had more detail and explanation towards the end of the book.

Minka S.

Slender Man, A Tragic Story of Online Obsession and Mental Illness by Kathleen Hale 3.9/5 stars.

2024-10-25 03:56:47 UTC

Slenderman is about Morgan and her friend who try to kill their classmate by stabbing them. The part I like is the tone. This book has a certain tone and feel to it the adds onto suspense. A weakness to this book is how some of the parts are confusing to me because of how the book is written. I also feel the beginning is kind of slow. To conclude this book is great for people who like true crime and suspense. So I would give it 3.9/5

-Jack K

Animal Farm, George Orwell, 4/5

2024-10-25 16:19:33 UTC

"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." Pg 51 (pdf version)

Animal Farm is an amazing book about farm animals taking over the farm. In the beginning they make "commandments" but by the end, they are all broken. Even though these cute animals are nice at first, they start to discriminate against each other. Some animals become slaves, some animals become leaders, and some animals are even left behind. This is an amazing book about racism, discrimination, society, and life in the 40's.

Overview: Farm animals take over the farm the live in.

Best part: The end because you can't tell the difference between a pig and human.

Weaknesses: Very slow book with large almost 2 year time skips in-between chapters.

Overall rating: 4/5 Stars, Andrew D.

You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle (4/5) stars

2024-10-25 17:17:22 UTC

A soon to be married couple who can't stand each other tries to sabotage their engagement, only to rediscover their love along the way. "You Deserve Each Other" is an amazing book about a young Naomi who wants a way out of her engagement without knowing her soon to be husband wants the same. The best part of the book for me is the funny moments where Naomi and Nicholas try to one up each other making the story really interesting and fun. However a weakness can be that some parts feel a little repetitive as they continue with their back and forth pranks. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars because it is a super funny and heartwarming book even though the pacing in the book could have been quicker.

Leela T

Thunderhead, by Neal Shusterman, 4.5/5 Stars

2024-10-27 19:11:08 UTC

In the world's greatest of times, when there was victory over death, "Thunderhead" starts to question the moral implications of a society ruled by an artificial intelligence called the Thunderhead.

The novel's strength lies in its suspenseful plot and deeply relatable characters, who navigate the ethical dilemmas of a near-immortal society. Shusterman's unique narrative style keeps the reader thoroughly engaged.

While the pacing is generally great, some parts of the book could have delved deeper into character backgrounds to enrich the narrative even more.

In conclusion, "Thunderhead" presents a compelling and intellectually stimulating narrative that prompts the audience to contemplate the consequences of an existence devoid of natural mortality. It is undoubtedly essential reading for enthusiasts of dystopian literature.

-Neo R.L.

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez 4/5 stars

2024-10-28 15:18:42 UTC

The book "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" is about a young girl,who has recently lost her "perfect" older sister but all isn't what she had thought. I believe that the best part about this book was that the way the author showed the main character's relationship with her parents was very relatable and realistic to the readers. Although I did enjoy the book and the way I could connect to it, this book did have a few flaws. To me, I saw that the book was rushed especially within the first 80 pages. Overall, I would rate this book a 4/5 stars. Zoe A.

The Fault in Our stars - John Green 4/5

2024-10-28 15:25:44 UTC

This book is about two teens who both suffer from different cancers. When she joins a support group, she meets this guy Agustus. They both get closer and their relationship advances throughout the book. It's a funny and sweet story. The author is good at making this book teenager friendly. There are many jokes in this book, deep talks and sweet moments between the two. The negative side about this book might be the tragedy they face and some people might not enjoy that. The book is also really long which might bore some portion of the audience. Overall, I would give this book a 4/5 because the message and plot is good, it just takes a while to read.

The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow

2024-11-01 17:22:10 UTC

Sleepy hollow is about a man named Ichabod Crane as he attempts to marry Katrina van tassel, but the town is haunted by the ghost of the headless horseman.

The best part is when the headless horseman confronts Ichabod crane, as it is well built as a horror story and put together tightly. It's flaws are how old it is, and uses phrases and metaphors that would not be relatable, understood or appropriate in modern days.

Overall rating 4.5/5

Henry L.

Misery by Steven King 4/5 stars

2024-11-07 01:53:00 UTC

Misery by Stephen King is about a writer who gets trapped by a fan after a car accident and has to use all his strength and wits to survive. The suspense is powerful, especially because of the villain, Annie Wilkes, who is both caring and terrifying, making her unforgettable. Some parts in the middle feel a bit repetitive, and the detailed scenes of pain might be too intense for some readers. Misery is a thrilling horror story that keeps you on edge while exploring the dark side of obsession and survival. This is why I give this book a 4/5 stars

Arrow U.

The Outsiders, by S.E Hinton, my rating: 4/5

2024-11-07 03:50:39 UTC

“You still have a lot of time to make yourself be what you want. There's still lots of good in the world.” pg 240

The Outsiders is a very interesting book, showing the contrast between two groups of people. As well as the challenges each group faces. The outsiders also teaches us differences in social classes do not necessarily make natural enemies of two groups. You will also find many themes in the book such as family, friendship, and identity.

The outsiders, staring the main character Ponyboy who is struggling with his place in society and he feels like an outsider.

The best part of the book would be when we find out that the way the book starts, reflects the way it ends. The ending matching perfectly with the beginning giving the book a loop was my favorite part.

My least favorite part of the book would be the order of events, as well as the pace of the book. I feel at times the book was to slow then to fast. Other times i feel some events in the book are out of place, or happen out of nowhere.

Overall i would give this book a solid 4/5, MA

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 4/5 stars

2024-11-07 23:23:18 UTC

The fault in our stars is about two teenagers journey through life while both having struggles with cancer. Something that stands out was the way the characters stories went,as well as their very different personalities. The best part for me in this book was the whole middle part since I got to see how Hazel and Augustus navigated through various challenges. The only flaw I feel that there was,was that the ending felt very rushed and felt like there was more let to the story. My overall rating is a 4/5 because although I really liked the plot I strongly believe there could have been more to ending. I feel that it needed a shorter beginning to have a more detailed ending which is why I gave it one star off.Overall it was a beautiful story and really made me think about how life is for those who struggle with grief and cancer. It gave me a different perspective on a lot of situations. Every word was very poetic in a way which I really liked. A lot of things said were very quote worthy and really hit a soft spot in my heart.This book was a lot about finding who you are and what your motivation in life was and I really enjoyed that and really enjoyed seeing Hazels journey through that.

-Jaylen A

Ready Player Two, By Ernest Cline 2/5

2024-11-08 05:08:36 UTC

After becoming the wealthiest and most powerful person in the world Wade seems to have no more problems. That is until a second Easter egg hunt is discovered and this time an even more powerful enemy is after this egg. If Wade fails to stop him, the whole world may be in danger. The best part of this book is the villain, they finally found a way to make the villain someone who is easy to understand yet still such a strong villain. Plus they finally can do something with the villain's character. However the whole problem is it felt like they weren't trying to make a good book. It feels like a complete redo from the first book with around the same plot. Al they changed was the villain and even then, they still feel the need to bring back the old one.

2/5 - Silas F/

Maze Runner by James Dashner 4/5

2024-11-08 16:39:51 UTC

Summary: This book is about a guy named Thomas, he wakes up in a place he doesn’t know and doesn’t remember anything. He is in a place called the “glade”. He quickly learns about the maze surrounding the glade and becomes very interested of it throughout the story. While he’s in the glade a lot of weird unexpected things happen as soon as he arrives.

The best part: The best part about this book is definitely that whenever you think know something, there’s another thing you don’t know. It’s really mysterious and we only know what Thomas knows, which I like.

Weakness: I think overall this is a very strong book but if I had to choose a weakness it had, It would probably be that it’s a little longer than I’d like. I think it’d be easier on non readers if it was little shorter.

Overall rating: 4/5

Sakura D

The Outsiders, by S.E Hinton, my rating: 4/5

2024-11-08 20:49:18 UTC

The Outsiders is a very interesting book, showing the contrast between two groups of people. As well as the challenges each group faces. The outsiders also inform us that differences in social classes do not necessarily make natural enemies of two groups. You will also find many themes in the book such as family, friendship, and identity.

The Outsiders is a book and movie starring Ponyboy, who is a “greaser” and is struggling with his place in society.

The best part of the book would be when we find out that the way the book starts, reflects the way it ends. The book starts with Ponyboy writing a letter and the book ends with the death of an important character that had inspired Ponyboy to begin writing. The ending matching perfectly with the beginning giving the book a loop was my favorite part.

My least favorite part of the book would be the order of events, as well as the pace of the book. I feel at times the book was too slow and then too fast. Other times I feel some events in the book are out of place, or happen out of nowhere.

Overall I would give this book a solid 4/5, MA.

Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee 4.5/5

2024-11-13 05:45:28 UTC

A girl in a world full of supernatural people sets out on an adventure to search for her missing brother. What stood out to me about this book is how the author constantly has you questioning at least one thing in the plot throughout the book by giving you some hints but not enough to make it obvious. A weakness was the unnecessary points in the story that seemed to slow the overall plot from moving because of extreme details, repetitive moments, etc. Because of the writing for its good and bad qualities I give this book a 4.5/5 because the story, character, and writing was overall very well crafted.

Madeleine Count

Dune by Frank Herbert. 3/5 stars

2024-11-23 03:58:13 UTC

Paul is a man who moves to a planet called Arrakis where he finds out his powers and loses people he cares about along the way.

The best part of this book was when Paul and his family were being attacked by Harkonens because it was suspenseful and well-worded. A weakness with this book is that most of the book is spent on the exposition and there are a lot of chapters were people just talk for up to four or five pages making it hard to read without becoming bored. My overall rating for this book would be a 3/5 stars.

Jack C.

Percy Jackson And The Olympian’s by Rick Riordan 4/5 Stars

2024-12-10 17:17:02 UTC

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a story about a boy named Percy who finds out he is a demigod and he and his friends are given the task of finding and returning a lightning bolt while monsters from the Underworld try to stop them. What stood out was the humorous nature and writing that the author used which made it relatable. A flaw that I found was that it was a bit predictable especially in the beginning of the book of what would happen.

4/5 stars

Amina K.

The Fellowship of the Ring: Being the First Part of the Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien - 4/5 stars

ajarvis0004 — 2024-12-10 19:37:49 UTC

Frodo Baggins, a hobbit, joins the Fellowship of the Ring after inheriting the One Ring and has to journey to Mordor to destroy it. The best part of this book is J.R.R. Tolkien's writer's voice, which is very descriptive, helping to display the vastness of Middle-Earth and its stunning landcape. The weakness of The Fellowship of the Ring is that it has parts that do not influence the plot at all, such as Tom Bombadil who shows up for a few chapters and then does nothing for the rest of the book, as if Tolkien was just trying to bring up the page count. My overall rating of The Fellowship of the Ring is 4/5 stars.

-Alex J