Book Review: A King’s Ransom by Jude Watson (The 39 Clues series: Cahills vs. Vespers)

March 25, 2014 Priyanka

Rating: 3.6 out of 5 stars Genre: Adventure Age Recommended: 10 and up I didn’t think that this book was as good as the first in the Cahills vs. Vespers series. The book was a little confusing and there weren’t many details about the characters. ——————————————— Dan and Amy are like puppets at the hands of the Vespers. Vesper One doesn’t tell them anything but he gives them a riddle to solve that will tell them what to steal. Dan and Amy also have a three day deadline to meet. This time, Dan and Amy are in deep trouble. The … Continue reading Book Review: A King’s Ransom by Jude Watson (The 39 Clues series: Cahills vs. Vespers)

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Book Review: Switched At Birthday by Natalie Standiford

March 16, 2014 Priyanka

Rating: 3.2 out of 5 stars Genre: Fiction Age Recommended: 13 and up Switched at birth was an interesting book. There were some inappropriate moments and I felt that those were dragged out. Although, the story was nice overall. This book was an ARC courtesy of Net Galley. ———————————————- Lavender and Scarlet are nothing alike. They share the same birthday but that’s where the likeness ends. Lavender is a nobody and Scarlet is like the queen of the school. They both ignore each other but when they make the same wish on their birthday, to be someone else, their bodies get … Continue reading Book Review: Switched At Birthday by Natalie Standiford

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Book Review: Spartanica by Powers Molinar

March 15, 2014March 15, 2014 Priyanka

Rating: 3.1 out of 5 stars Genre: Sci-Fi and Fiction Age Recommended: 9 and up Spartanica was a good book. There were some extremely violent moments though, that I felt were unnecessary. The book was interesting as a whole, but in certain areas it could have used some more detail. This book is an ARC courtesy of NetGalley. ——————————————– Marcus and Ty Mitchell are brothers in middle school. They live in an area outside of Chicago and are leading normal lives until one day they are sucked into a parallel world through a gateway. As soon as they arrive, the … Continue reading Book Review: Spartanica by Powers Molinar

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Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

March 14, 2014March 14, 2014 Priyanka

Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars Genre: Utopian and Dystopian Fiction Age Recommended: 14 and up “One choice decided your friends. One choice defines your beliefs. One choice determines your loyalties– forever. One choice can transform you.” Divergent was a very good book. Not entirely appropriate for a 12 year old, but as all of my friends were reading it, I wanted to as well. My dad got me the entire set as a gift. I sat down with the book as soon as I got it and didn’t put it down until I was done. This is a book … Continue reading Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

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Book Review: The Medusa Plot by Gordon Korman (The 39 clues series: Cahills vs. Vespers)

March 11, 2014 Priyanka

Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars Genre: Adventure Age Recommended: 9 and up The Medusa Plot is the first book of The 39 Clues Cahills vs. Vespers series. The book is by far my favorite book of the series because it is so action- packed. —————————————– Dan and Amy thought that as soon as they completed the Clue hunt, they could live normal lives. And they did, for a while. Amy also managed to reunite all of the Cahills and set a training plan in motion. She hired training instructors and set up a gym in her grandma Grace’s old house. … Continue reading Book Review: The Medusa Plot by Gordon Korman (The 39 clues series: Cahills vs. Vespers)

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Book review: The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan (The 39 Clues series)

March 9, 2014March 9, 2014 Priyanka

Rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars Genre: Adventure Age Recommended: 8 and up Rick Riordan has become one of my favorite authors! The Maze of Bones is a very fast-paced and interesting book. Dan and Amy Cahill are at the funeral of their dear grandmother, Grace Cahill. Grace had been their guardian ever since their parents died and they loved her very much. Grace left each of her relatives an envelope. It was an invitation to join a Clue hunt. There were 39 clues and all together, they would lead to a power of unimaginable greatness. Dan and Amy could … Continue reading Book review: The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan (The 39 Clues series)

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Book Review: Toads and Diamonds by Heather Tomlinson

March 2, 2014 Priyanka

Rating: 3.7 out of 5 stars Genre: Fiction Age Recommended: 11 and up Toads and Diamonds is an unusual book full of folklore. The author has woven together an amazing story of courage and survival. Diribani is a girl from a small village. She is going to the well one day, when she meets a goddess. The goddess blesses Diribani so that whenever she speaks, precious jewels and flowers fall from her mouth. When Diribani comes home from the well, her step-mother and step-sister, Tana, are astounded by her gift. Soon after though, Diribani’s step-mother starts to panic because if … Continue reading Book Review: Toads and Diamonds by Heather Tomlinson

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Book Review: The Ascendant by Drew Chapman

March 1, 2014 Priyanka

Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars Genre: Fiction Age Recommended: 14 and up I received an Advance Reader’s Edition of The Ascendant, thanks to Goodreads. This is Drew Chapman’s debut novel, and it is also the first thriller of this nature that I’ve ever read! I found the book captivating and exciting. I felt that there was some unnecessary use of cuss words, but then again, this book probably isn’t meant to be read by a twelve-year old. Other than that, the book was amazing. China has declared war. The U.S cannot stop China, but they can retaliate with attacks of their own. China … Continue reading Book Review: The Ascendant by Drew Chapman

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Book Review: Bobby Ether and The Academy by R. Scott Boyer

February 11, 2014 Priyanka

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars Genre: Fantasy Age Recommended: 11 and up Bobby Ether and The Academy was a great book. I loved the storyline where a person seemed nice, then was portrayed as evil, and then turned out to be nice. The writing style of the author was interesting because the focus of the chapters changed often. Bobby Ether is a boy who has “miraculous” abilities. He is at his basketball game when he shoots and the ball is too far away from the basket to make it. Somehow, Bobby envisions the ball going into the basket, and he … Continue reading Book Review: Bobby Ether and The Academy by R. Scott Boyer

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Book Review: The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind by William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer; Illustrations by Elizabeth Zunon

February 9, 2014 Priyanka

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars Genre: Non-Fiction Age Recommended: 10 and up The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind is an amazing book of survival and sacrifice. It shows how when you put your mind to it, anything is possible. This book is a biography about William Kamkwamba and the lengths that he goes to to provide electricity for his family. The book starts when William is about my age (12) and goes on until he is about 22. This book takes one through his life story of creativity, courage and determination against all odds. William lives in a rural village with … Continue reading Book Review: The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind by William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer; Illustrations by Elizabeth Zunon