Student Saturday: Escaping the Giant Wave by Peg Kehret

 

Genre:  Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction

Student Reviewer: Jillianna H.

Kyle is a thirteen year old boy that had goals to raise his allowance and stop Daren from bullying him. Kyle had always been pushed around and poked by Daren and didn’t like him at all. But when they got stuck together on a family vacation Kyle planned to finish his goal and stop Daren.

Kyle’s dad got awarded the salesman of the year, because of this they got offered a free trip to Oregon. Kyle found out that Daren's parents work for the same company as his and that they would be staying at the same hotel. They had plans to stay at a new hotel in Fisher Beach, but it was unfortunately closed due to construction. So, the family got moved to an older hotel that was closer to the beach. The sign on the beach had a warning that said that the beach is in danger of a tsunami. The family read the direction to go uphill as far as you could once an earthquake happens so you would have a better chance of surviving the tsunami. The next day the parents went on a cruise to celebrate the dad's award and left Kyle and his sister alone at the hotel. An earthquake happens and Kyle makes the decision to go uphill. They ended up at the top of the hill with a couple named Norm and Josie, with their dog pansy.

I thought this was a great book and I was even scared for them while reading. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes suspense and books that will make you feel like you are with the characters.

Student Saturday: The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman

 

Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy

Student Reviewer:  Olivia S.

Elizabeth Rew is a Highschool student in New York, that just moved to her new school. Due to her mother's death and her father's remarriage, her family goes through a rough financial situation. Elizabeth gets recommended a job as a page at “New-York circulating material repository” to earn some money and to make some friends. She soon gains access to the Grimm collection and learns that the library is magic. When some of the items in the Grimm collection go missing, Elizabeth and some of her new friends must investigate to find out where the stolen objects are. Can Elizabeth find out where the stolen objects are disappearing to and find out who is stealing them before the entire Grimm collection disappears and gets into the wrong hands?

This book is called “The Grimm Legacy” and is centered around a girl named Elizabeth. Elizabeth is sarcastic, easy to talk to, and loves fairytales and anything magical. This book reminds me of another book called “Mr. Lemoncellos library.” Kyle Keely and Elizabeth Rew both go to a library and discover magical things and objects. I would recommend this book to ages 11 to 16, since it is light on any violence and there is some romance. This book met my expectations, and I am looking forward to reading this series.

Student Saturday: Crocodile Tears by Anthony Horowitz

 

Student Reviewer:  Robert M

Genre:  Middle Grade, Adventure

Alex Rider is back in the eighth installment to the series called Crocodile Tears. He yet again has to save the word, and this time, there is a virus so powerful that it can destroy a country’s resources, and while doing that also making sure he secret doesn’t get out.

The story begins with Alex, Sabina Pleasure, and her dad— Edward Pleasure— going to a party hosted by a millionaire named Desmond McCain in the Highlands of Scotland. Quickly, Alex finds himself in danger as the tire of Edward's car blows on the icy road and they plummet into the deep below-freezing lake. Back in London with his housekeeper and closest friend— Jack— he fights people claiming to be an employer of Major Yu, the main antagonist of the previous story. Long afterward, Alex is taken to Africa and tortured, and a man who he had seen after he had gotten out of the lake saves him. Some of this book reminds me of a movie called “Breakthrough” about a boy who falls into a frozen lake and eventually comes out safe. This is a very good book for people with time on their hands because once you start, you can’t stop reading it.