Have A Nice Day

Author: Julie Halpern

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

After coming back from Lakeland, the awful mental hospital Anna Bloom was sent to because of her panic attacks, she doesn’t feel as though she fits in. She misses her sort-of boyfriend, Justin, her roommate, Sandy, and another friend, Matt O. Suddenly, her friends back at school seem...different. And to top it off, her parents’ arguing has suddenly reached a crescendo. Will she be sent back to Lakeland? Or will she find peace in her life at last?

Have A Nice Day would attract readers interested in books about reality. Anna Bloom, the strong main character is easy to relate to if you’ve ever had friendship or confidence problems. I don’t think that boys would enjoy this book as much as girls would.

Have A Nice Day was an incredible read. Anna has a strong voice, full of sheer honesty that made the book different than all others. A touch of comedy makes this masterpiece even better. The only thing I would even consider changing are some of Anna’s reactions to things that happen to her. Some of them don’t seem very realistic. But all in all, I would give this five stars out of five. 

Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different

Author: Karen Blumenthal

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Steve Jobs, one of the men who brought computers into your home wasn’t always the successful CEO of Apple Inc., the company that produced the very popular iPhone, iPod, and iMac. Starting from very humble beginnings, Steve Jobs brought the company to life, through ups and downs. He dealt with so many problems, even being fired from the company he cofounded. But ultimately, everything pulled together.

Any reader interested in Steve Jobs or looking to learn more about him would really enjoy this, as would readers who are interested in the beginnings of computers. I believe that all ages, as well as boys and girls, would like this, but I think it is aimed more at teens in general. Anyone who also likes nonfiction or biographies about influential people in history would like this. 

Steve Jobs: The Man Who Thought Different was very good. I don’t usually enjoy reading biographies or nonfiction, but this was amazing. I learned a lot about Steve Jobs and Apple Inc. I really liked that in this book, the author didn’t just throw facts, dates, and names at you, but instead gently introduced them to you. As a user of an iPod touch, and Apple computers, it was very interesting to learn the beginning of the company that developed them. 

BZRK

Author: Michael Grant

Publisher: Egmont

Sadie (now Plath) and Noah (now Keats) have just been plunged into a war. A war between two sides that each use microscopic technology to kill and control. Plath and Keats are forced to work together, despite not knowing anything about each other, not even their real names. Plath is fighting because the enemy of her side killed her father and brother. Noah is fighting because his brother was a part of the war and the skills that you must have are usually found in siblings as well. Both will have to fight for their 

lives-- and what they believe is right.

BZRK is definitely for older readers. Parts of the book are violent and descriptive, which younger readers wouldn’t enjoy. I think that readers who enjoying reading books that take a scientific or technological look at things would also like this read. I think that boys would enjoy this book more than girls because there is so much action in it. 

I did like BZRK. But there were some flaws. First off, you were plunged into all these new terms and names and words as though the author thought you knew what they meant. I also didn’t like how violent it was at parts. However, the plot was very action-filled and I couldn’t stop reading! Also, I really liked the characters’ personalities, how different they are, and how the author tied them into the story. 

The Fire Chronicle

Author: John Stephens

Publisher: Random House

After being sent back to the Edgar Allen Poe Home for Hopeless and Incorrigible Orphans, Kate, Michael, and Emma are taken on the second adventure that is caused by the Books of Beginning. Kate goes 100 years into the past when she frantically tries to get away from an enemy, while Michael and Emma begin their journey to find the second Book of Beginning, the Chronicle.

Any reader who enjoyed The Emerald Atlas, the first book in the Books of Beginning Trilogy would definitely enjoy The Fire Chronicle. Since the point of view switches between Michael and Kate, both boys and girls would enjoy this. Readers that enjoy genres such as fantasy and action would also like this read.

The Fire Chronicle gets an A+. I wouldn’t change anything about it. The characters are easy to relate to, realistic, and seem almost real. The plot moves along quickly, but not too fast. And the author manages to write this book so that you never have any idea what is coming next, which I enjoyed. 

Infinity Ring: Divide and Conquer

Author: Carrie Ryan

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.

Dak, Sera, and Riq recently were thrown into a world of time-traveling to change major events in history and restore order to their chaotic world. The SQ has taken over most of their world and lots of natural disasters are threatening to end the earth. With the help of the Infinity Ring, a time-traveling device, they must go back in time and change different events the were changed by the SQ. And, the only help they have is their SQuare, a computer that gives them cryptic clues to finding the next discrepancy in history.

Any fans of Infinity Ring: A Mutiny in Time will definitely like Divide and Conquer, the next book in the series. Readers who enjoy action-packed books will enjoy this read because the the lots of action and adventure that Dak, Sera, and Riq face.

Divide and Conquer was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. It really pulled me in and kept me wanting to read more. Unfortunately, the book was very short and didn’t really include many details, which only would’ve helped this novel. Another thing I would change about the overall series which I noticed was that whenever they were in a very tight situation, the same thing always got them out of it. I think it would’ve been much better if there was a bit more variety to their problems and their various solutions. 

Author: Kerstin Gier
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Gwen’s life was turned upside down when she realized she carried the gene in her family that allowed her to travel back into the past. After learning much about her family, the Circle, and the past, she begins to do more trips back in time. Not to mention Gideon, the adorable time traveler from a different family, who Gwen finds herself in love with...

Anyone who enjoyed Ruby Red, the book before Sapphire Blue in the trilogy would definitely enjoy reading this as it continues telling the reader about Gwen’s struggles. Since the book mixes lots of genres together-–fantasy, historical fiction, comedy, and romance–-I believe that lots of readers would enjoy this.

Sapphire Blue has one of the best and most original main ideas that I’ve read in a long time. But unfortunately, the author doesn’t do the plot justice. Throughout much of the story, it found myself not really believing in anything the characters were doing. It just seemed fake. Another thing that would improve Sapphire Blue would be adding more action. There is a lot of dialogue and scenes where nothing is happening, yet they are drawn out.

Under Wildwood

Author: Colin Meloy

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Life has returned to normal...until Prue finds herself with her life at risk once again. She will have to return to Wildwood, where she sees Curtis and joins him to try to save Wildwood from ruin. All the while, in an orphanage on the edge of Wildwood, Curtis’s sisters are working in a machine factory...until the unthinkable happens.

Anyone who read Wildwood would definitely fall in love with its stunning sequel, Under Wildwood. Readers who enjoy fantasy and also just normal life would like this book. Readers who also like fairy tales or folk stories would like this because the author writes in a way which makes Under Wildwood seem like a folk story.

I definitely enjoyed Under Wildwood. It blends my two favorite genres together into a fairy tale that is hard to forget. Unfortunately, some scenes in the book seem forced and awkward, and the characters don’t seem like themselves. But the author makes up for that in the many descriptive paragraphs that really make Under Wildwood what it is.

The Raft

Author: S. A. Bodeen

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

The plane you are on just crashed, and you and a boy are the only survivors. The only things you have? A raft. Some flares. No food, except a bag of Skittles. And no fresh water. Robie’s plane crashes flying to her home from Honolulu and she has to fight for survival with Max, the only other survivor. As things get worse and worse, Robie begins to realize things about herself she never knew and will ultimately survive–-or perish in the middle of the ocean.

Even though The Raft is a pretty easy read, the ideas it presents would be better understood and thought over by readers in late middle school. Readers who have read and enjoyed other books, such as Hatchet, would like this book because of the survival plot.

Overall, The Raft was very good. However, the book was rather repetitive and very similar events continued to happen. In addition, it seemed as though some of Robie’s thoughts were too old for her, as though she was much older and wiser. And in other parts, her thoughts seemed to be coming from a five-year old. If the plot could have newer events and Robie could have more relevant thoughts for her age, this book would be amazing.

Crewel

Author: Gennifer Albin

Publisher: Farrar Strauss Giroux Books for Young Readers

After being taken away from her family to be a Spinster, a glamorous and yet difficult job, Adelice meets an array of new people who guide her. Some are kind, and some are cruel and deceiving. As Adelice learns how to weave, the special way to control her world, she gets to know these people and finds friendship, enemies, and maybe even a little romance.

Crewel would definitely get boring for younger readers. It mixes fantasy and a futuristic world together into a surprisingly believable and relatable story, so readers who enjoy either of these genres would enjoy this novel.

I did like Crewel. But I didn’t enjoy it as much as I could have. In a lot of the book, the plot was very slow and there was nothing that really pushed me to read ahead. There were also just a lot of long explanations that made it less action-filled, which I think this book could easily be with a bit of tweaking. Overall, however, it was a good read. 

The Edge of Nowhere

Author: Elizabeth George

Publisher:Viking

You can hear whispers–or bits and pieces of people’s thoughts, and this special ability forces you to move away from your old home and completely leave you old identity behind. Becca King, previously Hannah Armstrong, moved to Whidbey Island to escape what her cruel stepfather had done. She has to leave her mother as well, and when things don’t go as expected, Becca finds herself learning more about Whidbey Island than she thought she would...including helping to solve a crime.

The Edge of Nowhere is definitely a book for eight graders or high school students because younger readers might easily become bored. Even though the book is centered around a girl, I think that some boys would like this read. Any reader who has ever moved to a completely new place will be able to relate to Becca and her struggles to fit in as the new girl. 

I really enjoyed The Edge of Nowhere. The plot seemed like a very original idea, which made this book even better. The thing I liked best about this book is how it was very truthful and seemed like it could be happening right now. The characters are all very believable and I could relate to them easily even though I’ve never been through anything they are going through in The Edge of Nowhere. 

That Time I Joined the Circus

Author: J. J. Howard

Publisher: Point

What would you do if your mother ran away and your father died? Well, if you were Lexi Ryan, you would try to find your mother–and end up working for a traveling circus. Callie, Lexi’s mom, ran away when she was younger, and Gavin, Lexi’s dad, just recently died. Since he died right after she betrayed a friend, she has no one to turn to and runs away, attempting to find Callie. Little does she know that she will soon be making friends and working in the circus...and finding answers to some of her hardest questions.

That Time I Joined the Circus is definitely a middle school girl’s book. Boys probably would not like it because of the romance that is weaved throughout this funny and touching book. Anyone who has ever felt lost will be able to relate to Lexi in her struggles to find herself.

I loved That Time I Joined the Circus. The author did an amazing job of making running away and joining the circus seem amazing and fun. I also really enjoyed how the author developed the main character Lexi, because even though my parents aren’t dead or gone and I haven’t betrayed a friend, I could easily relate to her woes. Everything in this book was described very well, making it seem better, and almost magical. 

Magisterium

Author: Jeff Hirsch

Publisher: Scholastic Press

What would you do if you realized everything you thought you knew was a lie? Glenn Morgan lives right next to the Rift, a boundary that keeps her people inside. Beyond it is said to be desolate, lifeless land for miles and miles. But when Glenn’s father finishes work on the Project, a project he’s poured long hours into, life will never be the same for Glenn. Will she survive the shocking realizations and devastation? Or will she give up?

Magisterium would be best for middle school boys and girls. Readers who enjoy reading about fantasy would like this. Anyone who likes books about possible future societies would also like this.

I can’t say that Magisterium is bad, because it isn’t. However, I couldn’t get into the book at all. The writing wasn’t very interesting to me. I did like the main ideas that the author wrote about, though. Another thing that made it hard to like was that I could predict almost everything that was going to happen. It didn’t make me as excited to read on when I already had guessed what was going to happen. 

The Peculiar

Author: Stefan Bachmann

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Lately, changelings like yorself have been showing up dead in the river–which gives you an even bigger reason to stay hidden in your house. Bartholomew is a changeling–part human, part fairy–and so is his sister, Hettie. When a mysterious woman takes one of your friends, you decide to investigate and find yourself thrown into a world of traitors, likes, and also, true friends.

Even though the main character in The Peculiar is a boy, girls will enjoy this read as well. Readers who like historical fiction and fantasy will enjoy this read where the author wraps it all together.

I really enjoyed The Peculiar, for several reasons. The plot and story were childish in their ideas, yet somehow grown-up seeming and easy to read. The author also described things in a way that made everything seem more colorful and real. Another thing I loved was that the characters were incredibly realistic and added a bit of depth to the story. 

Note: On page 163, 'Mr. Jelliby' is spelled 'Mr. Jellinby'.

          On page 318, the sentence 'The glass with completely dark...' should be 'The glass was...'

          

Almost Home

Author: Joan Bauer

Publisher: Penguin Group

Sugar Mae Cole has never had the most stable life. Her father, a gambling and drinking man, leaves and returns randomly. Her grandfather recently died. And now her mother can’t pay for their house and they are forced to leave their home. But Sugar’s mother is taking Sugar to a family member’s house who emailed her about a great job she holds. But when they get there and Sugar’s mother breaks down under the stress she’s been under, Sugar suddenly has to grow up a lot. Will Sugar and her new puppy, Shush, be able to take the stress, or will she break down like her mother?

Almost Home is definitely a book that girl’s would like that boys wouldn’t like. Anyone who likes dogs, puppies, or any animal or owns one will love Shush and understand Sugar’s strong love of Shush. Anyone from fifth grade to eighth grade would enjoy this read.

I really enjoyed Almost Home. The way that the author describes things and Sugar make the story incredibly realistic. Each character was very unique and that made the story very good. Another thing I liked was the main storyline. It was interesting and was clear throughout the story, unlike some books where the plot gets lost. Almost Home is an all-around magnificent book. 

Prisoner B-3087

Author: Alan Gratz

Publisher: Scholastic Press

What would you do if you were taken away from your family to a series of horrible concentration camps-–the only reason being you were Jewish? Shortly after Yanek Gruener’s parents and several other family members are taken by Nazis, Yanek himself is taken away. After that, he is taken to the Plaszów Concentration Camp, and after that another camp. Yanek soon realizes that he is used to death now–and finds himself wondering if it would be better to survive or not. 

Prisoner B-3087 is historical fiction, (almost non-fiction, since it is based on a true story by Jack Gruener) so readers that enjoy historical fiction will like this. Another thing about this book is that it is very honest. Younger readers wouldn’t like this book because of some of the violence and cruelty that are present in this novel.

One of the things that I kept remembering throughout Prisoner B-3087 was that it is based on a true story. The level of honesty that the author used was astonishing. One thing that I liked about this read is that it isn’t a detailed look at one concentration camp, but instead a broad look at the series of camps Yanek is sent to, all the way throughout the story. As Yanek progressed through several years of practically torture, I found tears coming to my eyes at how hard it would’ve been to be Yanek during those times. 

Shadowfell

Author: Juliet Marillier

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers

After suddenly being orphaned, Neryn begin a long journey to a place that might not even be real–Shadowfell. But Neryn is also hiding an incredible magical ability that would not be looked upon kindly by the cruel king that has taken over her country, Alban. As Neryn moves forward, she encounters challenge after challenged that test her in many ways...including Flint, a strange soldier and friend of the king that she can completely trust...or can she?

Shadowfell is a book that would be enjoyed by middle school girls. Since the main two genres in this book are fantasy and romance, readers that enjoy reading those genres will definitely like this book. Anyone who has every lost a family member will be able to empathize with Neryn and her struggles as she attempts to put her past behind her and move on.

I can’t say that I didn’t like Shadowfell, but I didn’t really like it either. I wasn’t impressed with the beginning, which was very slow and boring. After you got through the beginning, it wasn’t a bad book. However, for some reason I couldn’t get into the book–I couldn’t relate to the characters very much, it lacked the suspense and foreshadowing that lots of readers crave when reading, and I lost sight of Neryn’s main goal in the beginning of this novel. Another thing I didn’t like about this book was that it was almost exactly the same basic plot as another book I’ve recently read, making it harder to really get into. 

Note: On page 180, there is a sentence that begins with "fPut on your cloak...".

The Dark Unwinding

Author: Sharon Cameron

Publisher: Scholastic Press

After being sent by your aunt to your uncle’s estate, where he is supposedly wasting the family’s money, Katharine Tulman finds “Uncle Tully”. Uncle Tully lives on a private estate where another nine hundred people he has taken from London and from poverty live. Katharine also finds that Uncle Tully is surprisingly like a child in his commitment to his workshop, where he invents incredible “toys”. But as Katharine suddenly finds herself learning to love Uncle Tully and his strange habits, she also realizes she doesn’t want to betray him to her aunt–but this will prove harder than Katharine thinks. 

The Dark Unwinding is based in the past, so readers with a liking of historical fiction will appreciate this book. Readers that are really looking to think as they read will definitely enjoy this book because of the questions that it makes you think about as you read.

The Dark Unwinding is definitely a book for older readers. Because of the not very fast (but not slow, it’s just the way the book is written) plot, younger readers would probably get bored. Another thing I didn’t like very much about this book was the barrage of names it presented you with. I got confused very rarely, but it did happen, unfortunately. There were lots of names and facts that you had to remember. However, I did like this book in that it made you think a lot. Just about every chapter there was a new question or idea to ponder. 

Under the Bridge

Author: Michael Harmon

Publisher: Random House

Skateboarding is what Tate and his brother, Indy, love. School is definitely lower on their list of things they enjoy. But for Indy, it’s not something that is even important. After Indy gets in more trouble with his dad, he leaves home and starts making bad choices. And Tate will have to make good decisions to bring him back-–but what happens when there are so many decisions that it is impossible to know which ones are right?

Some girls might enjoy Under the Bridge, but boys will be more interested in the characters and their problems. Readers that love skateboarding will understand Tate and Indy’s loyalty to it. Also, skateboarders will understand what some of the skateboard tricks are that are mentioned throughout the story.

Under the Bridge is amazing in several ways. First of all, each of the characters is completely unique and realistic. Second, the story pulls you in and doesn’t let go without a fight. And last, but definitely not least, each page offers a new scenario where you ask yourself “what would I do?”. The only thing I didn’t appreciate was that the author occasionally used skateboarding terms that I didn’t know, but you didn’t absolutely need to know what they meant to understand the story.

Mystic City

Author: Theo Lawrence

Publisher: The Inkhouse

Soon you will be married to the love of your life, Thomas...but suddenly you aren’t so sure that he really is the love of your life. Aria Rose lives in future Manhattan, or Mystic City. Mystic City runs on power drained from specific people, called Mystics, who have special powers. The Mystics are singled out and live in poverty away from the rest of Mystic City. And after Aria wakes up and doesn’t remember anything about her supposed romance with Thomas, she starts to dig deeper and uncovers secrets that won’t only change her, how she sees the Mystics, and her family, but all of Mystic City.

Mystic City is a blend of fantasy and realistic fiction. Any girl from fifth grade to eighth grade will love this book. 

I definitely loved Mystic City. Especially the plot and idea that the author introduced. This book was a new sort of genre that is becoming more popular–a sort of futuristic fiction. But Mystic City is different than the other books I’ve read and I really liked that about this book. The only thing I would change is that some areas in the story move too fast and I would miss something and have to reread.

Bomb

Author: Steve Sheinkin

Publisher: Flash Point

There’s a race going on–-between the Soviet Union and the United States–-to make the first atomic bomb. And it’s an intense race. Spies for the Soviet Union relay information about the atomic bombs the United States is manufacturing. And as the United States draws closer to building the bomb, so does the Soviet Union. 

Since Bomb is nonfiction, readers that enjoy nonfiction books about wars in the past will like this read. Although boys may like this more, some girls will also enjoy Bomb. This book is probably best for middle school to high school readers.

Despite not usually reading or liking nonfiction, Bomb pleasantly surprised me. I’m usually not interested in the topics it covered, but as I read through the book, I found myself very interested and wanting to keep reading. The author managed to create suspense even though I already knew some of the major events that were going to happen. A lot of nonfiction books I’ve read also bombard you with names and dates, but Bomb didn’t, which was very nice for me–and other readers I’m sure.