Aura follows the awakening of Crystal, a girl who has moved around so much that she’s never fit in. Now, when she finally has a boyfriend, a best friend, and a successful part in the school play, she’s realizing that she’s more special than she ever knew. Crystal’s parents have tried to hide the truth […]
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As I’m just wrapping up teaching this book with my juniors, I thought I’d write a review. The Grapes of Wrath is a classic, one of those books you should put on your bucket list. Don’t let its length scare you away, but know that the book is meant to be enjoyed at a leisurely […]
This is a young adult dystopian novel taking place in an alternate reality in which the discovery of “halves” in the past has drastically altered the present. Each time a child is born, a paired “half” is born on the same day in some location around the globe. Halves are matched with their counterparts on […]
How do I review what could possibly be my favorite book? This review will be a long one, and it will contain spoilers. Orwell wrote 1984 in 1948 after experiencing the horrors of World War II, revolutions, and colonialism. Primarily, the book serves as a warning, showing the worst extension of the evils of man. […]
It’s Just Lola is the story of Lola, the author’s grandmother, as told to Lola’s daughter, and then from Lola’s daughter to the author. As the author attests, the story is based on truth, but any holes in the plot were filled with fiction. Even more intriguing is the fact that both Lola and her […]
This is a middle-grade quick read about a girl named Storee who dreams of being an author. The names are allegorical: the protagonist Storee Wryter, her cat Critique, and even her new dog Addie (who has been “added” to the family). Storee keeps writing ideas in a file in her room and is always thinking […]
I received a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. The Crystal Scepter is based on the myth of Perseus and the Gorgon with many other details added. The book follows Pythius, the king of Paladya, who seeks immortal or lengthened […]
Eve Hallows and the Book of Shadows follows the adventures established in the first book of the series, Eve Hallows and the Book of Shrieks (you can read my review of Book One here). Where we left our heroes, Eve found herself a human living in Gravesville, the world of monsters, and somehow the one […]
Book 2 continues the adventures of Wirt established in Book 1 (you can read my review here). I enjoyed the second book more than the first, as I felt the characters were already established, and I was rooting for them from the start. In this book, a new student arrives, and no one seems to […]
From the start, this book reminded me of Harry Potter. The main character, an orphan named Wirt, mysteriously winds up at the Alchemists Academy. His arrival is a mystery, as the school is highly sought-after by students from many worlds and time periods and is highly competitive and even political: People don’t just “show up.” […]
