Here are some reviews from our local volunteer Book Reviewers.
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Lovely War by Julie Berry (2019)
Review by Caitlin- Grade 11
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Mythology
Find it Digitally: Overdrive/Libby eBook, Cloud Library Audiobook
Rating: 10 out of 10
REVIEW:
Four young adults, five powerful Olympians, and one despicable war. Lovely War, by Julie Berry provides a unique spin on the classic tale surrounding the power of love. Hazel, James, Colette, and Aubrey, four innocent young adults drawn to each other during the terror of World War I with help from the goddess of love, Aphrodite. When Hephaestus, god of fire puts his wife Aphrodite on trial,
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (2017)
Review by Manpreet- Grade 11
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Find it Digitally: Overdrive/Libby eBook, Overdrive/Libby audiobook, Hoopla eBook, Hoopla audiobook
Rating: 10 out of 10
REVIEW:
The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas, is a young adult fiction novel that tells the story of a sixteen-year-old black girl, Starr Carter, who lives in a black neighborhood and attends a wealthy, white prep school. One day, she attends a party, where she meets her friend, Khalil Harris, and he offers to take her home. On their way back to Starr’s house, a police officer pulls up and shoots Khalil.
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (2012)
Review by Jack- Grade 11
Genre: Fantasy, Action/Adventure
Find it Digitally: Overdrive/Libby eBook
Rating: 8 out of 10
REVIEW:
The protagonist, a mysterious girl from the labor camps, Celaena, is dragged out to the kingdom of Ardalan by none other than the Crown Prince. She is to participate in a 24-man competition to become the "King's Champion", an assassin that does the king's bidding. Despite her hate for the king, faced with the reality of her situation she realizes winning is her only opportunity to escape from the labor camps.
Paper Towns by John Green (2008)
Review by Manpreet- Grade 11
Genre: Mystery, Young Adult Fiction
Find it Digitally: Overdrive/Libby eBook
Rating: 8 out of 10
REVIEW:
Paper Towns, by John Green, is a young adult fiction novel that tells the story of a senior in high school, Quentin Jacobsen, who is in love with Margo Roth Spiegelman, a popular girl in his school. Margo, who has not interacted with Quentin since they were nine, shows up at his window one night. She asks for Quentin’s help to take revenge from her boyfriend, who has been cheating on her.
City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab (2018)
Review by Manpreet- Grade 11
Genre: Horror, Paranormal Fiction
Find it Digitally: Overdrive/Libby eBook, Hoopla audiobook
Rating: 8 out of 10
REVIEW:
City of Ghosts, by Victoria Schwab, is a horror fiction that tells a story of a middle schooler, Cassidy, who has the power to enter into a Veil (the curtain between the worlds of the living and the dead) and can see ghosts. Cassidy and her parents are off to Scotland to film their show about haunted places. Things get pretty strange after she arrives in the City of Ghosts and encounters a ghost hunter, Lara Chowdhury.
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (1977)
Review by Manpreet - Grade 11
Genre: Historical Fiction
Find it Digitally: Overdrive/Libby eBook, Overdrive/Libby audiobook
Rating: 9 out of 10
REVIEW:
The book, Number the Stars, is deserving of nine stars. This book elicits all types of emotions. Parts of the story are upsetting and depressing, but other moments are sweet and lovable. The author explores how family and friends are extremely valuable, and will always be by your side whenever you need them. In the story, Annemarie Johansen, a young ten-year-old girl, lives in Denmark with her loving family and in the same neighborhood that her best friend Ellen lives in.
Panic by Lauren Oliver (2014)
Review by Giulia- Grade 11
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Thriller
Find it Digitally: Overdrive/Libby eBook, Hoopla audiobook, RB Digital audiobook
Rating: 8 out of 10
REVIEW:
Panic by Lauren Oliver is for sure one you want to read. With constant plot twists, the novel will keep you reading. The Young Adult realistic fiction story takes place in a small town in New York. Every summer, the teenagers of the town compete in a game called Panic. By the name, readers can tell the type of game it is. A dangerous, yet exciting one.
The Shining by Stephen King (1977)
Review by Ava - Grade 11
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Find it Digitally: Overdrive/Libby eBook, Overdrive/Libby audiobook
Rating: 10 out of 10
REVIEW:
The Shining, by Stephen King, is a terrifying thriller that can instill fear into even the most hard-core horror fans. The plot follows a mildly troubled family as they attempt to reside in a hotel that they have been assigned to care for; but they soon learn that there is much more to the hotel than meets the eye.
I am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Christina Lamb and Malala Yousafzai (2013)
Review by Manpreet- Grade 11
Genre: Nonfiction, Autobiography
Find it Digitally: Overdrive/Libby eBook, Overdrive/Libby audiobook, RB Digital audiobook, Cloud Library audiobook
Rating: 10 out of 10
REVIEW:
The book, I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban, is deserving of ten stars. This book shows hope, persistence, violence, war, love, peace, survival, and more. In the book, Malala talks about her life and what she and her family have gone through.
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