Book reviews for young people by young people (who actually read the books)
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 Marissa Meyer
Plot: Nova Artino has hated the Renegades, a group of superheroes that is the governing power in her world, ever since they didn’t show up to save her family many years ago. Now she is bent on revenge as she infiltrates the Renegades in order to bring them down from the inside. Once initiated, she finds herself making friends and more and wonders which group is right or wrong. Continue reading “Renegades”
By Marissa Meyer
Plot: Marissa Meyer takes four classic fairy tales and re imagines them in a dystopian future in which humans have colonized the moon. Each of these stories connects into a string of adventures to stop the Queen of the moon and save Earth and everyone they love. Continue reading “The Lunar Chronicles”
By Neal Shusterman
Plot: Humanity has advanced to the point where healing is so easy that nobody ever dies. Of course, overpopulation quickly became a problem. The solution: Humans trained in the art of killing, used to kill off the excess immortals. But what happens when some of the scythes decide that they should have the ability to destroy a lot more of the population? Continue reading “Scythe”
By Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
Plot: In California, the drought situation had been escalating for a while. One day, the water completely runs out. Almost immediately, Alyssa’s state becomes a war zone, where people would do horrible things just for a drop of water. This book looks into human nature and what happens when a life-giving resource runs out. Continue reading “Dry”
By Irene Adler
Plot: “While on summer vacation, little Irene Adler meets a young William Sherlock Holmes. The two share stories of pirates and have battles of wit while running wild on the sunny streets and rooftops. When Sherlock’s friend, Lupin, joins in on the fun, they all become fast friends. But the good times end abruptly when a dead body floats ashore on the nearby beach. The young detective trio will have to put all three of their heads together to solve this mystery.” Continue reading “Sherlock, Lupin, & Me”
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”
By Phillip Reeve
Plot: The great traction city London has been skulking in the hills to avoid the bigger, faster, hungrier cities loose in the Great Hunting Ground. But now, the sinister plans of Lord Mayor Mangus Crome can finally unfold. Continue reading “Mortal Engines”
By William Ritter
Plot: Newly arrived in New Fiddleham, New England, 1892, and in need of a job, Abigail Rook meets R. F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with a keen eye for the extraordinary–including the ability to see supernatural beings. Abigail has a gift for noticing ordinary but important details, which makes her perfect for the position of Jackaby’s assistant. On her first day, Abigail finds herself in the midst of a thrilling case: A serial killer is on the loose. Continue reading “Jackaby”
By Leslie Connor
Plot: Eleven-year-old Perry was born and raised by his mom at the Blue River Co-ed Correctional Facility in tiny Surprise, Nebraska. His mom is a resident on Cell Block C, and so far Warden Daugherty has made it possible for them to be together. That is, until a new district attorney discovers the truth—and Perry is removed from the facility and forced into a foster home. Continue reading “All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook”