Author: admin

Spill Zone

By Scott Westerfield

Book One Cover

Plot: “Three years ago an event destroyed the small city of Poughkeepsie, forever changing reality within its borders. Uncanny manifestations and lethal dangers now await anyone who enters the Spill Zone.The Spill claimed Addison’s parents and scarred her little sister, Lexa, who hasn’t spoken since. Addison provides for her sister by photographing the Zone’s twisted attractions on illicit midnight rides. Art collectors pay top dollar for these bizarre images, but getting close enough for the perfect shot can mean death—or worse.” -Publisher

Writing: (And drawing, in this case.) The art in this graphic novel is beautiful. I read once that a great artist can imply objects with a few strokes of the pencil, and that is definitely the case for artist Alex Puvilland. The story was interesting and exciting, and the theory is creative.

Age Level: Ages 13 and up would like this book. There are a few bad words and ghost-like things and mutants and such, but otherwise it’s okay.

Overall: This graphic novel is a really exciting adventure, not to mention a little creepy in a good way. I thought the illustrator did a good job rendering the creepiness, but the colors are a little too bright for a plot like this. Otherwise, it’s an amazing book!

July Reading List!

Sometimes the summer months can be packed with adventures, but there are always those lazy days when you’d rather read about someone else’s adventure. Especially with the Corona virus pandemic, free time is becoming all too regular.

If you find your own favorite summer stories, feel free to enter your review on the YouReview page for it to be posted on the website!

A few of the books on this list are Realistic Fiction, if you prefer to read about hings that might actually happen to you. A few are more fantastical (my personal favorite.) There are also some long series, which are fun to read during the summer because you can get super into them, and they are often a lot more in-depth and have more three-dimensional stories.

Now go read! Continue reading “July Reading List!”

The Sisters Grimm

By Michael Buckley

Book One Cover

Plot: Sabrina and Daphne Grimm have jumped from foster home to foster home after their parents went missing and were presumed dead. They are eventually taken in by their “Granny Relda” Grimm, who they decide must be crazy when she starts spouting fantastical stories about the town’s residents: Fairy tale characters! When a giant begins rampaging through town, they realize the Granny was right about the town, and they have to save it before it’s too late!

Writing: The writing is simple (in a good way) and doesn’t over complicate anything. The mysteries make sense and the conspiracies connect into an amazing web of twists and turns that are still exciting every time you reread them. The characters all have their own specific voice, and even when something goes wrong you love them all anyway.

Age Level: Anyone 8+ would love these books. Fairy tales are fun for everybody!

Overall: These books remain one of my favorites of all time. The way Buckley recreates these classic stories in ways other people couldn’t have imagined is amazing.

Michael Vey

By Richard Paul Evans

Book One Cover

Plot: Michael Vey is just a normal kid… except for his very abnormal powers. Michael can “pulse” and send shock others with millions of volts. He keeps it a secret until he meets Taylor Ridley, a girl with powers like his. One day, Taylor and Michael’s mom get kidnapped by a corrupted company bent on world domination. Will he be able to stop them? Continue reading “Michael Vey”

The Rithmatist

By Brandon Sanderson

Plot: Joel has alwasy wanted to be a Rithmatist, one of the wizard-like people who can use chalk to draw fortifications and weapons used to battle wild chalk-creatures. Joel has taught himself so much about the Rithmatic brand of magic, he knows that he probably knows and cares a whole lot more than the people who have the abilty! When Joel finally becomes an assistant under a great Rithmatist, he finds himself helping to unravel a plot that could mean the end or many great Rithmatics users. Continue reading “The Rithmatist”

Challenger Deep

By Neal Shusterman

Plot: Caden Bosch is a 15 year old kid who is slowly descending deeper into mental illness. He has lost his grip on reality, in two places at once. Sometimes he is visiting a pirate ship heading to the deepest part of the ocean, and sometimes he is participating in the real world. Will he ever recover? Continue reading “Challenger Deep”

Pippa Park Raises Her Game

By Erin Yun

Plot: Pippa Park is a Korean American living a normal life. One day, she receives word that she had a chance to attend a prestigious private school on a basketball scholarship! She jumps at the chance to make new friends and ends ends up as one of the most popular girls at her new school. Unfortunately, her rich new friends don’t know who she truly is. Things start spiraling out of control when she attempts to hide the truth. Will she survive her new identity? Continue reading “Pippa Park Raises Her Game”

Parked

By Danielle Svetcov

Plot: Jeanne Ann has lived a hard life, but this time she is sure she has sunk to her lowest. After her single mom quits her job, the little family heads to San Francisco for a new beginning. Unfortunately, the city doesn’t turn out to be everything Jeanne Ann and her mom had hoped for. Luckily, Jeanne Ann meets a new friend who is willing to help them through poverty even if Jeanne Ann won’t accept his help. Continue reading “Parked”