Student Saturday - Twelve – Lauren Myracle

Student Saturday is a day I post reviews written by other students.  The review that follows is written by Brianna W

I really fell in love with this book.  I know what it is like being twelve and growing up.  Winnie is starting to hit puberty.  Her friends Cinamon and Dinah are Winnie’s best friends and Lars is Winnie’s boyfriend.  Sandra is Winnie’s big sister and she tries to help her out through everything.

 Winnie just got out of elementary school and she just turned twelve.  She is going through a tough time but with the help of best friends and an older sister she can make it through puberty. The place it takes at is mostly her house and at school.  I really loved this book and I really want to read the next book, which is thirteen.  I mostly recommend this to girls because it can help girls when they turn twelve and start going through the same things Winnie is going through right now, and it can give you some good tips for when this happens to girls. I would not recommend it to boys because it is mostly about what happens to girls and nothing really about boys.

Student Saturday - The Girl Behind the Glass – Jane Kelley

Student Saturday is a day I post reviews written by other students.  The review that follows is written by Lauren

The Girl Behind the Glass is about two twins, Hanna and Ana that move to an old house on Hemlock Road.  I liked how it was a ghost story that wasn’t that scary. There was no really scary things in it. I liked how the girl behind the glass narrated the story and slowly revealed things about her and what had happened.  I liked how she could read everyone’s mind and talk to them without anyone else hearing her.  I think kids ages 9 – 13 would enjoy this book.  It’s a fun and enjoyable book to read and I couldn’t put it down.

Student Saturday - Bullyville - Francine Prose

Student Saturday is a day I post reviews written by other students.  The review that follows is written by Kaylie

At first Bart was just a normal thirteen year old boy.  Well… sort of a normal thirteen year old.  His parents were getting divorced and dad already had a girlfriend named Caroline and all three of htem worked in the office (A.K.S the Twin Towers).  But then Bart had a high fever one day and his mom refused for him to stay at home alone.  Little did they know that it was the day that would change both of their lives.  ON the T.V. they saw it all and the buildings came crashing down. They then got a call from Caroline saying that he didn’t make it. Bart then becomes the miracle boy that saved his mother’s life. Yet, being famous doesn’t help the fact that he has lost his dad ad his world is turning upside down.

To make everything worse, in an act of kindness and charity, Bart is given a full scholarship to the local private prep school, Bailey well, or as he calls it Bullyville.  Everyone knows that kids go there to learn how to bully.  Bat learns this up close and first hand when the biggest bully ever is assigned to be his mentor.

I really could relate to this because my parents are also divorced, but my dad is not dead.  Bart never really talked to his dad and I don’t talk to mine either. When his dad called he refused to talk. I do the same when my dad calls.  His dad also texted him and he never answered them. I do the same with my dad.  I think it would be really cool if I could meet Bart just to talk so I know I’m not the only one just knowing how much we have in common is really interesting. Also, I started relating to Bart in the first chapter.        

Dead Man's Hand - Eddie Jones

Publisher:  Zondervan

Pages:  224

Genre:  Middle Grade/Young Adult Mystery

Source:  Review copy received in exchange for my honest review

If you are looking for a great mystery for your tween/teen to read this summer then this book is the one for you.  This is a book that both boys and girls will enjoy.  Nick Caden is doomed to spend his summer vacation with his parents and his young sister Wendy at the Deadwood Canyon Ghost Town in Montana.

He can think of nothing more boring.  It is supposed to be an old time western ghost town complete with cowboys, re-enactments and history lessons. To me this sounded wonderful.  I live in Florida and when I was in my teens we had an old western town in Ocala, Florida called Six Gun Territory.  This story immediately took me back to that time and place.  I had great memories there.   I assumed that since I loved something like that, then maybe a teen would as well. 

Nick stumbles upon the dead body of Billy the Kid.  When he gets the sheriff and they return to the spot, there is no body.  He is told that it was probably all a part of the act.  Nick doesn’t buy it.  In his free time back home he and his friends participate in a Cyber-Super Sleuth club.  Solving mysteries is what he does and he is determined to solve this one.  He is helped in this adventure by Annabel, also known as Annie Oakley.  Her uncle, Marshal Buckleberry deputizes him and allows him to question the tourists as long as he doesn’t mention the dead body.    You know that at some point he is going to question the wrong person and that can and will lead to trouble. 

This is the first book in the  Caden Chronicles and not the last one I will read.  This is a book I know several of my students will enjoy.  From the book we learn that Nick’s family are not Christians.  Nick finds a Bible with highlighted passages and begins to question things.  This is very light on the Christian end of things. I do hope there is more along that line in the second book.  I know as an author myself that balancing on  that fine line is very difficult.  I do believe that Eddie Jones is up to the challenge.  I recommend that tweens, teens and adults read this book.  It would definitely make a great summer read.

Student Saturday - The Last Olympian - Rick Riordan

Student Saturday is a day I post reviews written by other students.  The review that follows is written by Garima

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan was one of the greatest books I’ve ever read! It was juicy on the flavor of surprise, adventure, and mystery. The book was about a young boy named Percy Jackson, a demigod. A demigod is a half god and half mortal child. He is in this camp called Camp Half-Blood, a place for demigods, like Percy. Percy is the son of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. In this book, Percy has to stop Kronos, the god of time, since Kronos wants to take over Olympus and, the home of the Greek Gods and Goddesses. After all, if your fear of your children dethroning you comes true and you finally become your full self after a bad collapse, you would want to get revenge. This was Kronos’ idea of revenge. He wanted everything to himself. So, Percy goes on this magical adventure and meets allies and old friends that help Percy while on the road to stop Kronos and his army from taking over Olympus. What will happen? Read The Last Olympian to find out!

I think that students and teachers should read this book because the book has something that mostly everyone likes: a fictional adventure. Rick Riordan also has a good sense of humor in the book. The book reminds me of “The Chronicles of Kane because they both are by the same author, Rick Riordan and they are both about mythology. The only difference between the two books is that The Chronicles of Kane focuses on Egyptian Mythology, while The last Olympian is about Greek Mythology. The book teaches me not to always rely on friends too much, but when in need, ask for help. The book also taught me to never give e up, lose hope, and to always make the right decision.

The Fallen Pharaoh - S.W. Lothian

Wonderful Middle Grade Book that not only entertains but teaches about Ancient Egypt. 

Wow!  This third book is absolutely awesome.  I read it in under two hours.  JJ, Linc, Rani  join together once again to meet their friend Khafre.  He has both bad and good news to tell them.  His father has died and he is to be the new pharaoh. They are there to visit and have a good time. They are not there to fulfill a quest.  Upon arriving they are told that Khafre's father has died and Khafre is to become the new Pharaoh. They get to watch both the funeral and coronation.  Khafre doesn't really believe his father's death is an accident.  Suddenly he is gone.  The team must come together to find the Ankh of Life before Khafre's brother becomes the new Pharoah.  Without the Ankh of Life there is no protection for the new Pharoah.  It is up to the kids to solve this mystery and find the Ankh.

There were a couple of things that really stood out for me. I loved that they were able to travel to Paris. I love the addition of Mr. M, the mummy they found in Paris.  I am definitely interested in finding out more abut Leesa and why she is following the kids around.  Most importantly I am excited to find out what happens next in the book.  The book is well written and is such an intriguing adventure you can't put it down.  What I really enjoy is learning so much Egyptian information from a fiction book.  This is one I can recommend to my Humanities teacher and will definitely have a place on my shelf.

If you aren't familiar with S.W. Lothian then you need to check him out.

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