The Serpent’s Secret Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond #1 by Sayantani Dasgupta Adventure Fantasy Mythology Tween * * * Stars (Pretty good) Kiranmala thinks she’s just an ordinary Jersey kid, but on her 12th birthday, she finds out she’s really a princess from another dimension. Before she can even really wrap her mind around that her guardians (people she’s thought were her parents all these years) are kidnapped, her house gets ransacked by a rakkhosh … Read more
Brave sequel to Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova Graphic Novel Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) Jensen is playing his way through each of his days of middle school like it’s a videogame – complete with monsters (other students who bully him) that he has to dodge between classes and after school. He thought he was tight with some kids from the art club, but one of the girls there teases him constantly, and … Read more
The Time Museum Book #1 by Matthew Loux Adventure Graphic Novel Mystery Science Fiction Suspense Thriller * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) While visiting her uncle over summer vacation Delia Bean follows a kiwi bird into the woods and discovers the Earth Time Museum. It’s a museum of all of planet Earth’s history from all times – past, present, and future! She learns her uncle runs the place and that he’d like her to … Read more
The Hidden Oracle The Trials of Apollo #1 by Rick Riordan Audio Edition Adventure Fantasy Mythology Mystery * * * * Stars (Great!) The Greek god, Apollo, has been transformed into a teenage boy named Lester – complete with acne and flab! He’s not sure why he’s being punished (or what for), but he quickly discovers he’s in danger. He’s lost most of his godly powers and those that remain are hampered by his mortal … Read more
On the Road to Find Out by Rachel Toor Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) When Alice Davis discovers that she’s been rejected from Yale – the only college she wanted to attend – she feels lost. She’s never failed at anything before in her life and she’s wallowing in self-pity like a champion. She’s basically inconsolable until she makes a New Year’s resolution to start running (exercise is definitely NOT her thing), … Read more
I Woke Up Dead at the Mall by Judy Sheehan Funny Mystery Supernatural Suspense YA Fiction * * * Stars (Pretty good) Sarah wakes up dead at the mall and discovers she was murdered at her dad’s wedding reception. Bertha, an angel and death counselor, meets with her and several other recently murdered teens to help them resolve their unfinished business and move on to whatever comes next (for most, being reborn and having another … Read more
Smile by Raina Telgemeier Autobiography Biography Graphic novel Nonfiction Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) Very captivating. Love the pictures. The story is so believable. I can so relate to her getting braces. Her whole family is pretty much EXACTLY like mine. CREEPY. Review #2 * * * * Stars (Great!) I liked “Smile” because the girl in “Smile” Raina had a lot of things happen to her teeth. She knocked her adult … Read more
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle Adventure Graphic Novel edition Review #1 * * * * Stars (Great!) This book is about a family that lost their father but soon they will find these three mysterious ladies, Mrs. Who, Mrs. Whatsit, and Mrs. Which. They will travel through the galaxy and discover new creatures. I liked this book because there was a lot of action.
Radium Girls by Kate Moore Nonfiction * * * * Stars (Great!) During WWI a number of young women worked in factories as dial painters – using radium paint to illuminate the numbers and dials of wristwatches and console panels. They did not know then that radium was harmful. Over time, these women developed terrible and debilitating illnesses, many of which proved to be fatal. Those that sought medical assistance were often misdiagnosed and all … Read more
La Belle Sauvage Book of Dust #1 by Philip Pullman Adventure Fantasy Suspense Thriller * * * * Stars (Great!) In this first book of a series that takes place prior The Golden Compass, Malcolm (12 years old) learns of the existence of baby Lyra (said to be the child of Lord Asrael and Mrs. Coulter) who comes to be looked after by the nuns at a nearby convent where Malcolm helps out. He becomes … Read more