The Death Cure by James Dashner

Reviewed by Carter F.
Grade 6

Freedom -- that is all Thomas has wanted since the beginning of The Maze Runner series by James Dashner. But when he finally has an opportunity in the third and final novel, The Death Cure, will he take it?

After escaping WICKED headquarters, Thomas and the others flee to the nearby city of Denver. As the group settles in, a suspicious letter arrives inviting the teenagers to join a mysterious group. To everyone's surprise, it is led by someone who was thought to be dead and is planning an uprising against WICKED. The problem is that this government agency is out to capture Thomas, so he must avoid the officials while trying to fight them.

The author did a phenomenal job in creating a dystopian future. His elaborate details make the reader think that such a society could realistically exist. I especially enjoyed Dashner's description of the Bergs, which are the massive airships that are used by the members of WICKED. They sound like futuristic helicopters that could hold a lot more people than our current helicopters.

Like the two previous books in the series, The Death Cure is very suspenseful. Dashner keeps readers turning the pages when he unexpectedly sends Thomas back into the maze. I couldn't believe it! How in the world could this end well?

Followed by prequel The Kill Order

Chomp by Carl Hiaasen

Reviewed by Jake L.
Grade 8

Wahoo and his father Mickey are animal wranglers who have a hard enough time keeping each other from getting hurt and putting foot on the table. When a job opportunity with a reality TV show goes South, they have to fight to get out of the Everglades alive.

Wahoo and his father accept an offer to work on a reality TV adventure show, but it is not what they expected. The TV star Derek is a complete fake. When an angry father going after his daughter gets involved, the job Wahoo, Mickey, and Tuna (Wahoo's friend) accepted for some easy money turns into a life or death situation.

Carl' Hiaasen's plot in Chomp is absolutely gripping. The reader never can guess what's going to happen next. The setting is also great.

I would recommend this book to anyone, especially someone who lives in Florida. The author's style is flawless. Every word is carefully chosen and every sentence perfectly executed. Another great one by Carl Hiaasen.

Flush by Carl Hiaasen

Reviewed by Jake L.
Grade 8

Noah's dad is a stubborn man. He landed in jail for sinking a casino boat that he believed was dumping waste into the Florida Keys waterways. Now Noah and his friend, Abby, have to prove that the boat is dumping waste into the water and that his Dad isn't wrong. The stakes are high. This is the last straw for Noah's mom, so if he isn't successful his family will probably fall apart.

Noah is an average teenager in the Florida Keys, but his dad is not the average dad. His dad is an environmental enthusiast who ends up in jail for sinking a casino boat that's dumping waste into the ocean. One problem: no proof of any wrongdoing on the casino boat. Noah and Abby make it their mission to prove that the casino is polluting the water. This leads them into making some unlikely friends, many enemies, and buying a lot of food dye.

I thought the setting and plot were outstanding in this book. Hiaasen's plots are consistently impossible to anticipate but are always gripping. He also gives a very clear picture of where Noah is throughout the book.

I would recommend Flush to anyone and everyone, especially a Florida resident. It teaches lessons in perseverance and protecting the environment. It's just another great book by Carl Hiaasen.

Scat by Carl Hiaasen

Reviewed by Jake L.
Grade 8

Mrs. Starch is the meanest teacher at Nick's high school. When she goes missing no one really misses her, but she left in extremely mysterious circumstances. Because of this, Nick and his friend Marta can't help but try to find their teacher, but will their decision pay off or will they pay a price instead?

Nick's class goes on a field trip to the Everglades and a wildfire breaks out. When Mrs. Starch the strict biology teacher mysteriously disappears in suspicious circumstances during the fire, Nick and Marta decide to look for her. Their search leads them through the Everglades, new friendships, and a few close encounters with the elusive Florida Panther.

This book is truly outstanding and probably one of the best I have ever read. I think the setting and the plot makes this book so special. Hiaasen always gives a vivid picture of where his characters are. Also, the plot is impossible to predict.

I would suggest Scat to anyone. It teaches an important lesson on respecting the environment. Also, Carl Hiaasen really knows how to write a great book.
"

Uncaged by John Sandford & Michele Cook

Reviewed by Jake L.
Grade 8

16-year-old Shay Remby really loves her brother, so much so that she leaves the guaranteed safety of her foster home to go help her slightly autistic brother, Odin, in the mean streets of Los Angeles. The only problem is her brother is a felon, and if she doesn't find him soon he may be dead.

Shay's brother got involved with a radical environmental group that performed a raid on a scientific research facility that was performing experiments on monkeys and other living animals. The radicals thwarted the facilities' experiments by letting the animals out of cages, took video, and stole encrypted hard drives. The group of felons then fled to L.A. Shay follows them hoping to help her brother. It turns out she does more than that with some unlikely partners.

I thought the plot was outstanding. The authors wrote with a clearly thought out plan with many twists and turns. While reading this book you will never know what comes next because of the great plot.

I would recommend Uncaged to anyone because of the plot and the theme. However, this book is a little hard to understand at times, but strong readers shouldn't have a problem.

Foul Trouble by John Feinstein

Reviewed by Jake L.
Grade 8

What is it like to be the best high school basketball player in America? The colleges coming after you... The shoe sponsors trying to bypass NCAA laws and illegally sign you...The agents ... And still being in high school...Read this book if these things sound interesting.

This story follows Terrell, the number one basketball recruit in the U.S, and Danny, his friend and teammate. It chronicles their journey through high School, tournaments, girls, and college choices. The book also follows how agents and sports gear companies try to sway the boys to make decisions that favor them.

I thought the plot and author's style were great. The plot is impossible to predict. Your eyes are glued to the page. The author does an outstanding job with making complicated NCAA rules seem relatively simple.

I would recommend Foul Trouble to any sports fan. The plot is very interesting and the author does a great job developing characters. Anyone who is into sports would appreciate this book.

Spoiler Alert Mini Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Red Queen
Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood -- those with common, Red blood serve the Silver-blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities. Mare is a Red, scraping by as a thief in a poor, rural village, until a twist of fate throws her in front of the Silver court. Before the king, princes, and all the nobles, she discovers she has an ability of her own. To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard -- a growing Red rebellion -- even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction. One wrong move can lead to her death, but in the dangerous game she plays, the only certainty is betrayal.
Spoiler Alert reviewer: Delaney

1=No. Just, no. 2=It's OK. 3=I liked it. 4=I really liked it. 5=It was EPIC!

The Book Itself
How well designed was the plot? 5
How vivid was the setting? 4
How believable were the characters and the dialog? 5
How well did the book hold your interest? 5
How well did the author's language add to the book? 5
How well did the writing match the books intended audience? 4

Worldwide
Rank this book's mass appeal. 4
How readable was this book? 5
How pleasurable will reading this book be to most teens? 4

Personal
How highly would you recommend this book? 5
How likely are you to read something else by this author? 5
How memorable was this book? 5
How did you feel about the ending? 5
If you did not finish, how did you feel about the beginning?
How creative was this book? 5

Marketing
Rank the cover (only if the final cover version has been released). 4
How well does the cover match the story? 5
Rank the jacket blurb. 3
Rank the title. 3
How well does the title match the story? 4
Stopping point in the book? Finished

Tell us what you thought of the book overall:

In one word: Amazing

Tell us what you really did not like about this book: I couldn't find anything I disliked.

Pick 5 words to describe this book: Exciting, intriguing, thrilling, suspenseful, memorable

Spoiler Alert Mini Review: Talon by Julie Kagawa

Talon
To the outside world Ember Hill is an ordinary girl, but Ember has a deadly secret. A dragon hiding in human form, she is destined to fight the shadowy Order of St.George, a powerful society of dragonslayers.St. George soldier Garret is determined to kill Ember and her kind. Until her bravery makes him question all he's been taught about dragons.Now a war is coming and Garret and Ember must choose their sides - fight to save their bond or fulfil their fate and destroy one another.

Spoiler Alert reviewer: Kyra

1=No. Just, no. 2=It's OK. 3=I liked it. 4=I really liked it. 5=It was EPIC!

The Book Itself
How well designed was the plot? 5
How vivid was the setting? 4
How believable were the characters and the dialog? 4
How well did the book hold your interest? 3
How well did the author's language add to the book? 2
How well did the writing match the books intended audience? 3

Worldwide
Rank this book's mass appeal. 2
How readable was this book? 4
How pleasurable will reading this book be to most teens? 3

Personal
How highly would you recommend this book? 3
How likely are you to read something else by this author? 2
How memorable was this book? 3
How did you feel about the ending? 5
If you did not finish, how did you feel about the beginning?
How creative was this book? 3

Marketing
Rank the cover (only if the final cover version has been released). 4
How well does the cover match the story? 5
Rank the jacket blurb. 1
Rank the title. 5
How well does the title match the story? 5
Stopping point in the book? Finished

Tell us what you thought of the book overall:

In one word: Dragons

Tell us what you really did not like about this book: I feel that the romance of the characters was forced.

Pick 5 words to describe this book: Fascinating, slow/fast/slow, odd

Spoiler Alert Mini Review: Conversion by Katherine Howe

Conversion

When girls start experiencing strange tics and other mysterious symptoms at Colleen's high school, her small town of Danvers, Massachusetts, falls victim to rumors that lead to full-blown panic, and only Colleen connects their fate to the ill-fated Salem Village, where another group of girls suffered from a similarly bizarre epidemic three centuries ago.

Spoiler Alert reviewer: Victoria

1=No. Just, no. 2=It's OK. 3=I liked it. 4=I really liked it. 5=It was EPIC!

The Book Itself
How well designed was the plot? 1
How vivid was the setting? 1
How believable were the characters and the dialog? 1
How well did the book hold your interest? 1
How well did the author's language add to the book? 1
How well did the writing match the books intended audience? 1

Worldwide
Rank this book's mass appeal. 1
How readable was this book? 1
How pleasurable will reading this book be to most teens? 1

Personal
How highly would you recommend this book? 1
How likely are you to read something else by this author? 1
How memorable was this book? 1
How did you feel about the ending? 1
If you did not finish, how did you feel about the beginning?
How creative was this book? 1

Marketing
Rank the cover (only if the final cover version has been released). 2
How well does the cover match the story? 2
Rank the jacket blurb. 3
Rank the title. 3
How well does the title match the story? 2
Stopping point in the book? Finished

Tell us what you thought of the book overall:

In one word: Dull

Tell us what you really did not like about this book: No interesting characters, snail-slow plot & everything else

Pick 5 words to describe this book: Boring, not worth a dime

Spoiler Alert Mini Review: Trust Me I'm Lying by Mary Elizabeth Sumner

Trust Me I'm Lying

Having learned to be a master con artist from her father, Julep Dupree pays expenses at her exclusive high school by fixing things for fellow students, but she will need their help when her father disappears.

Spoiler Alert reviewer: Delaney

1=No. Just, no. 2=It's OK. 3=I liked it. 4=I really liked it. 5=It was EPIC!

The Book Itself
How well designed was the plot? 3
How vivid was the setting? 4
How believable were the characters and the dialog? 4
How well did the book hold your interest? 4
How well did the author's language add to the book? 4
How well did the writing match the books intended audience? 4

Worldwide
Rank this book's mass appeal. 4
How readable was this book? 4
How pleasurable will reading this book be to most teens? 4

Personal
How highly would you recommend this book? 4
How likely are you to read something else by this author? 4
How memorable was this book? 4
How did you feel about the ending? 4
If you did not finish, how did you feel about the beginning?
How creative was this book? 3

Marketing
Rank the cover (only if the final cover version has been released). 5
How well does the cover match the story? 5
Rank the jacket blurb. 3
Rank the title. 4
How well does the title match the story? 5
Stopping point in the book? Finished

Tell us what you thought of the book overall:

In one word: Thrilling

Tell us what you really did not like about this book: Nothing

Pick 5 words to describe this book: Fast-paced, exciting, snarky, mystery, entertaining