The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

Reviewed by Shanara R.
Grade 7

"Let the lying game begin" as said by Emma in the book The Lying Game, written by Sara Shepard, writer of the book series Pretty Little Liars. If you read and loved the series Pretty Little Liars you might have your eye on The Lying Game. This book has twists and turns and nothing you expect that will happen with a writer like Sara Shepard; everything is not what it seems in this book.

Sutton has a perfect life: popular, friends, and dating the hottest guy at school. Unlike Sutton, her long lost sister Emma's life is a disaster--passed from foster family to family. She was left alone in the world by her mother at age five, only leaving the memories behind. One day, Emma finds a video of someone who looks surprisingly like her getting strangled to death with a necklace, which seems a little out of the ordinary to her. Wondering who this is she finds out who Sutton is. Emma finds her on Facebook and decides to send her a message. She gets a reply, not knowing her long lost sister is dead before she even gets meet her. Suddenly Emma is put in Sutton's shoes and has to live her life before she's next. Having the life she never had, Emma's trying to put the puzzle pieces together and figure out who killed her sister Sutton.

While reading the book The Lying Game, I have made some opinions about the characters. I have decided that my favorite character is Emma. She starts out as the girl that everyone wants to be. While being in Sutton's shoes she finds out what her personality is. Emma is determined, hardworking, and she never gives up. She will not give up until she finds out who her sister's killer is.

I do recommend this book to teens everywhere. The author writing style is suitable to tweens and teens. It is a mystery fiction book, and I feel like who ever reads this will enjoy it. Make sure to read, the next book coming out August 15th, Never Have I Ever.

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett

Reviewed by Stacia M.
Grade 6

Petra and Calder are after one of the world's most famous paintings--A Lady in Waiting. Many people are after this priceless painting, but with Petra's dreams and Calder's pentominoes, they're one step ahead of everyone else!

The famous Vermeer painting, A Lady in Waiting, is in trouble and Petra Andalee and Calder Pillay are going to save it. The only way to save it is to find it first. Petra has weird dreams about the painting that give them clues. Calder has puzzle letters called pentominoes that do the same. A few people along the way like Ms. Hussey and Mrs. Sharpe help them too. Will they beat the real thieves to the painting?

I like the book's setting because it has a lot more than one. The book ends up taking place wherever the mystery takes them.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend Chasing Vermeer. The author's style is slow moving. However, it does get better towards the end. It's a little bit hard to follow too.

I So Don't Do Spooky by Barrie Summy

Reviewed by Stacia M.
Grade 6

Sherry has another mystery! Her stepmom, AKA The Ruler, has a stalker. Sherry and her ghost mom try to solve the mystery, but when the stalker starts leaving clues that just don't seem to fit together, they both start wondering--will we ever catch him?

Sherry's mom is a ghost. Her mom was a cop and got killed on the job the year before. But they she came back to talk to Sherry and help with the mystery of The Ruler's stalker. If Sherry and her mom solve the mystery, her mom can come back into human form for five minutes.

My favorite character in the book is Sherry. She's very curious and determined. For example, every time a clue was set and discovered, she wondered about it and tried harder and harder [to figure it out]. She wouldn't rest until the mystery was solved. She wanted her mom to return for five minutes so badly.

I would definitely recommend I So Don't Do Spooky. The author's style in this book is a mix of a kid-friendly ghost story, some fiction, and some non-fiction.

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

reviewed by Lisa B.

Jace and Clary should have had their happy ending. City of Fallen Angels marks the fourth book in The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare, a series that was originally planned as a trilogy. Fans of the series wanted it. Publishers were salivating over it. Clare was willing to write it. But was it really necessary to put these two lovebirds through fresh hell?

In this latest entry readers learn of how Simon is adjusting to life as a vampire while still trying desperately to cling to his humanity and the world he’s always known. Meanwhile, something sinister is brewing with Jace, something that threatens his one-of-a-kind love for Clary. And to top it all off, something or someone is killing Shadowhunters in New York. Each new body is found in different Downworlder territory, be it werewolf, fey or vampire. Is someone attempting to break the fragile peace between Downworlders and Shadowhunters? And what, if anything, does all this have to do with Jace’s increasingly violent dreams about harming Clary?

Jace has always been what the cool kids are calling “emo.” And in this book, he manages to crank it up a notch to UBER emo. Instead of discussing his disturbing dreams with Clary, for example, he decides that a better solution would be to distance himself entirely from her—a perfectly healthy choice in a loving relationship, right? There is, however, an intriguing addition to the ensemble cast of characters. Kyle is the newest member of Simon’s band, but it becomes clear that there’s more to him that meets the eye, and he’s not entirely unknown to one of the characters we already know. There is promise in this character, his relationship with someone from his past, and the mission to which he’s committed.

Fangirls (and boys) of the first three books in the series will clamor for this new entry, but those satisfied with the ending of City of Glass should probably stop with that one. This new volume seems more financially motivated than story inspired. And the “I desperately love you, now go away” riff that sets the tone for Jace and Clary’s relationship seems like a complete rehash of what we’ve already read in the first three books. Sometimes too much of a good thing turns the good thing into a bad thing. Quality over quantity is the key. Jace and Clary should have had their happy ending.

Also available in CD audiobook form!