Book reviews for young people by young people (who actually read the books)
By James Riley
Plot: Jack is the son of Jack the Giant Killer, and now he has his family name’s reputation to fix. Everything changes when “princess” May lands in his fantasy world, sparking a fractured-fairytale adventure across the land to recure May’s grandmother. Continue reading “Half Upon a Time”
By Justin Somper
Plot: When Connor and Grace’s father dies, they have no idea where to go. Their father left them with nothing, and their only options are the orphanage or a stuffy banker’s home. Instead, they steal back their family’s small yacht and sail off… right into a storm. When the storm finally drifts away, Connor finds himself on a pirate ship, learning to become one himself, and Grace discovers the Vampirates ship, in an entirely different situation. Continue reading “Vampirates”
By Leigh Bardugo
Plot: Seventeen year old crime boss prodigy Kaz Brekker has a plan. But he needs help to execute it. Kaz brings in a vengeful convict, a sharpshooter, a runaway, a spy, and Heartrender grisha. Can the impossible crew make it out of this heist alive? Continue reading “Six of Crows”
By Brandon Mull
Plot: Siblings Kendra and Seth arrive at their grandparents’ house expecting a completely boring summer, until they discover mythical creatures hiding in the woods! Turns out that their grandparents are really caretakers of a safe haven for these creatures: Fablehaven. Continue reading “Fablehaven”
By Scott Westerfield
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 Continue reading “Spill Zone”
By Michael Buckley
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! Continue reading “The Sisters Grimm”
By Richard Paul Evans
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”
By Christopher Paolini
Plot: Eragon is a lowly citizen in an obscure town. When he finds a shiny blue rock in the wild one day, he brings it home and discovers it is a dragon egg! Suddenly, he finds himself involved in a war to take back his oppressed country from an evil tyrant, with the help of his new dragon companion. Continue reading “Eragon”
By Rachel Hartman
Plot: Seraphina is a normal girl… except for the fact that she is a halfblood, the spawn of a dragon and a human. Her society fears dragons and dragon look down on humans, but neither side feels much sympathy for half-bloods. When a rogue dragon infiltrates the royal court, Seraphina is the only one who can stop them. Continue reading “Seraphina”
By Delilah S. Dawson and Kevin Hearne
Plot: “Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, a hero, the Chosen One, was born . . . and so begins every fairy tale ever told. This is not that fairy tale. There is a Chosen One, but he is unlike any One who has ever been Chosened. And there is a faraway kingdom, but you have never been to a magical world quite like the land of Pell. There, a plucky farm boy will find more than he’s bargained for on his quest to awaken the sleeping princess in her cursed tower.” Continue reading “The Tales of Pell”