A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

Reviewed by Sedona K.
Grade 9

“Elementary, my dear Watson” takes on a whole new meaning in this refreshing take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic Sherlock Holmes mysteries. Written from Jamie Watson’s point of view, the great-great-great-grandson of iconic John Watson, this book illustrates the high school lives of both Jamie and a girl named Charlotte Holmes, the great-great-great-granddaughter of sleuthing legend, Sherlock Holmes. Charlotte not only inherited the name, but the smarts and gifts of deduction her grandfather had.

It all started with a murder at a high-class high school, Sherringford Prep. From the second the two long-lost partners meet, their family history begins to take hold, and they immediately have a connection. Quick-witted and shy Charlotte makes a difficult team member with athletic and strong-willed Jamie Watson at first, but as the story progresses, so does their relationship. Jamie wants a normal life, and Charlotte wants to escape what her family thinks of her. With each other’s help, they both understand what it means to have real family and find out how it feels to have a friend who always has your back.

This book was set in a snow-clad Connecticut town, illustrated with beautiful imagery. With each word, I was watching the story play out like a five-star film in my mind. The characters were very realistic, and as you find out their weaknesses and strengths, they become more three-dimensional and as concrete as people we know in real life. This mystery also includes what all good novels do: a villain. The villain embodies every quality that Doyle’s classic culprits did, which makes A Study in Charlotte all that more captivating.

I would recommend A Study in Charlotte to as many people as possible! The book truly takes the classic mysteries we all know and love and transforms them into an updated and relatable plot, filled with characters that re-imagine Sherlock and Watson. I personally enjoyed this book because of my infatuation with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s writing and mysterious flair. The only red flags I would raise would be for both slightly harsh language and notes of substance abuse. All-in-all, this book was very well written, and I cannot wait to see what else Cavallaro has in store for the young adult mystery community.

Mosquitoland by David Arnold

Reviewed by Sedona K.
Grade 9

Mary Iris Malone is a spunky 16 year-old girl who wants to get away. With her father taking her from a comfortable home in Ohio to a new life in "Mosquitoland" Mississippi, she goes with her first instinct and does just that... she runs.

Hopping on a Greyhound bus, teenage Mim begins her odyssey back to Ohio in an effort to reach her former home in time for Labor Day. This beautiful story spans over 6 days and 1,000 miles. Taking only her JanSport backpack, a coffee can filled with money, and her cell phone, she embarks on the journey of a lifetime to regain what it means to be okay and to piece together what it means to be a family. While on her journey she meets new people, and takes the time to write about them, following her Aunt Isabel's wise words to document her life. Through hard times and easy ones, Mim keeps her head held high and her eyes on the prize: to reach her mom back in Cleveland.

From the first ten words of this book, "I am Mary Iris Malone and I am not okay," I was thoroughly hooked on Arnold's writing. This novel was complete with wit and unexpected plot twists which kept me enthralled and made it hard for me to put this book down! Not only did the book fuel my wanderlust, but as I followed Mim on her adventure, I learned what it meant to be a daughter. Reading her letters to a character named Iz, I was able to understand her opinions on subjects in the book. For this being David Arnold's first book, I was sincerely impressed and cannot wait to read his other works!

I loved this book and would definitely recommend it to many people (in fact I already have). It is such a heartfelt tale that takes you through an emotional journey alongside of a unique and true-to-life character. I learned about my own life as well as related my life to Mosquitoland. The book was very realistic because it did not end as you suspected it to, and had language many teens today would use. The language is the only thing I would caution one about, because some of the words used are harsh. Arnold's novel taught me to always persevere and to find my niche in the world because no matter how old or how odd we think we might be, we are all okay.

American Sniper by Chris Kyle

Reviewed by Levon T.
Grade 8

Chris Kyle was a US Navy SEAL. In his autobiography, American Sniper, Kyle illustrates the role of the US Military in Iraq. He also includes his own experiences in the battlefield and at home.

As a young child, Chris Kyle had a great work ethic and a calling to help those in need. He also was a very fit and determined individual. All of this helped him become a Navy Seal, and later a sniper. Kyle was deployed in Iraq for four combat tours, from 1999 till 2009. He became the most lethal sniper in military history. Iraqi insurgents feared him so much they called him “al-Shaitan” (which means “the devil”) and placed a bounty on his head that grew to about $80,000. Kyle became a “LEGEND” among his fellow SEALs, Marines, U.S. Army soldiers, and even the GROM (Polish Special Forces). He fought alongside them in the streets, and protected them from rooftops and stealth positions. Throughout four combat deployments, he was awarded two Silver Stars and five Bronze Stars.

When Kyle came home after the war, he started a company called Craft International, a sniper and marksmanship school for law enforcement and military. He also devoted the rest of his life to helping wounded veterans. Chris Kyle was a very accomplished, generous, and kind person, and he will be remembered for times to come.

I thought American Sniper was an extremely gripping book about the brutal story of war. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about what really went on in the US Military Deployment in Iraq, from the perspective of a Navy SEAL.

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Reviewed by Levon T.
Grade 8

Unwind takes place in a not-so far fetched future, where parents can willingly "unwind" troubled teenagers. Unwinding is the cruel process that salvages all valuable parts of the Unwind’s body, and sells them to other people that are in need. Even though the media makes unwinding sound like a friendly alternative to juvenile detention or worse, teens think otherwise. The story begins through the perspectives of Connor, Risa, and Lev, who are all scheduled to be unwound at about the same time. Even though they were going to meet the same fate, their stories couldn’t be more different.

When Connor saw the unwind form that his mother and father signed, he immediately made his plans for escape. The night before the Juvie police arrived, Connor runs off, taking with him only his bare essentials. When a truck driver offers to let Connor ride with him, Connor doesn’t know that his parents were tracking him. When the truck driver tells Connor that his ride was over, Connor does not expect to be confronted by his parents and several Juvie cops. Risa was a child who had always belonged to a State home. Because of extreme budget cuts in the State homes, and a mediocre recital performance, Risa is sent to her unwinding. Lev is a “tithe”, someone who believes that it is his or her duty to God to be unwound. So at his 13th birthday, Lev is taken away from his parents fully willing, to be unwound.

During the confrontation with the Juvie cops, Connor makes a break for it in the middle of an intersection which causes a major car crash. Risa is on the bus to her own unwinding when her entire bus crashes. She too makes a break for it. Lev was on the way to his unwinding too, when Connor rushes toward his car and drags him out of it. After a few more minutes of running and hiding, Connor, Risa, and Lev soon find themselves fugitives from the law. They have to make difficult choices to escape the law, and to keep Lev from escaping.

I thought the story had a very interesting premise, and I really enjoyed the writing style that the author employed in the book. Each chapter was written from the point of view of a different character, and not just the protagonists. Author, Neal Shusterman made the story very engaging, and it was very hard to put this book down.

I would definitely recommend this book to my friends because of the author’s refreshing writing style, and the interesting and thrilling plot.

Game Over by Andrew Klavan

Reviewed by Matthew C.
Grade 8

What if the border between your dreams and reality was shattered? What if everything in your nightmares became real? That's what the main protagonist, Rick, has to deal with in Game Over.

The story begins in the MindWar Realm; the same place some of the previous books in the series visited. This cyber-universe was created by the deranged inventor Kurodar in an attempt to wreak havoc on the real world.

Rick is a Mind Warrior: someone who goes inside the realm to try and shut it down. However, this time's different - he was dreaming. When he wakes up, a scratch on his right arm is still there. Kurodar has connected himself to Rick and is using him to open a portal between the worlds. Now he has to work to stop the madness that Kurodar started - once and for all.

At times, this book is creative with the creatures that lurk in the Realm - ranging from boar soldiers to a water spirit. It also has an interesting conflict - can Rick bring himself to tell one of his fellow warriors is nothing but a machine? However, this book also has some flaws - it can be overly descriptive at times, such as when the Golden City was first described. But its main flaw is that it doesn't accommodate new readers of the series: it's designed like a "third act"' and the plot reveals itself too fast to hold suspense.

Although this would not be my first pick to read, I encourage readers who like stories about virtual realms to read the series. If you want an enriched reading experience, try reading the earlier books before you read this one. Although it isn't perfect, it can still be a fun read!

The Making of a Navy SEAL by Brandon Webb

Reviewed by Andrew A.
Grade 9

Brandon Webb, a real life Navy SEAL shares his story of the encounters he's made to become a SEAL and the struggles he's been through.

The book starts with Webb's early years as a struggling teen who needed a path. One day he is recommended to join the SEALs by a group of pro scuba divers. This sets his life's journey. He joins programs to get him on his way to be a SEAL. With much doubt from peers, he tries even harder until he's in.

The SEAL training program(BUD/S) is immensely hard for him and he gets very stressed out physically yet even more mentally. When he Passes BUD/S, he goes on to do remarkable things in SEAL Team 3. Stories of his miraculous adventures are told and those stories of others such as Chris Kyle as well.

Brandon Webb, is undoubtedly one of the most motivated people alive today. He takes advice and doesn't forget it. He never stops fighting for what he wants. "The only way I'm leaving is in a body bag through the back door," Webb said in response to being yelled at to leave BUD/S. He doesn't back down to anything and is at the same time very humble. The whole setting is very interesting as it moves many times but always has tons of action.

I'd recommend The Making of a Navy SEAL: My Story of Surviving the Toughest Challenge and Training the Best to anyone. Because of the morals, it inspires you to follow your dreams that much harder and never give up. It shows no matter the circumstances there is always a way to win.

The Eye of Zoltar by Jasper Fforde

Reviewed by Matthew C.
Grade 8

Sure, you've seen magical stories before - but ones with pirates, bandits, and cavemen? That's certainly what The Eye of Zoltar has in store for you. It's a wonderful read that you certainly shouldn't miss, even if you aren't familiar with the first two books in the Kazam series. This book's humor and mystery will keep you entranced until the end!

The story begins with Jennifer Strange and her band of magicians working to capture a dangerous man-eating beast. As the trapping of the reptile continues and eventually ends, Jennifer lays out the backstory; her world is one where magical pursuits have faded due to a series of battles against a race of trolls. Strange is working to make magic a noble business once more.
However; a few days after the capture of the beast, she encounters Shandar, the mightiest wizard in all the lands! Shandar forces her to search for the titular Eye by threatening to kill the last dragons alive, the same ones she has fought to protect. Now she must go on a journey into the wilderness with a magician, a tour guide, a princess turned poor, and a group of suspicious tagalongs!

The plot is nicely explained in a way that doesn't interrupt the flow of the book, such as how the escape of the Tralfamosaur was explained to both you and one of the sorcerers, who was being called in to the mission at the time. The characters are both varied and memorable, such as Wilson, an ornithologist who used to work as a soldier. He was working to resolve the shame he has from letting his fellow soldiers down many years ago. Finally, this book has a lot of detail, as when the behavior of the Cloud Leviathans are explained.

Overall, this is definitely a book I would recommend. Jasper Fforde's writing style is humourous and mysterious; the ending of this book will shock you! The book has many good moments and it is a captivating adventure that you won't forget. When the story continues in the fourth book, I'll be sure to pick up a copy - and I hope you do, too!

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Reviewed by David L.
Grade 9

"VOW YOUR BLOOD and BODY to THE EMPIRE. KEEP your HEART for YOURSELF." When you read a book, it is the questions it asks that you give your undivided attention to. Questions like what truly is freedom? By the side of my loved one or my family? Should I give up when hope seems to be lost? What road to take when my fate is already foretold? Duty or Family?

These are what Sabaa Tahir has in hold for her readers of An Ember in the Ashes. In An Ember in the Ashes, the female protagonist, Laia, goes undercover into the Blackcliff Military Academy to save her beloved brother. In this process, Laia cross paths with the second protagonist, Elias. He is one of the finest warriors of Blackcliff, but secretly trying to escape the harsh reality of Blackcliff. As he tried, he was chosen for the trials to become the new Martial Emporer. This leads both protagonists down their fate, in search of freedom.

In Sabaa Tahir's book, I really loved how she displays her characters and the way the plot unfolds. First the characters, she started off portraying both Laia and Elias as weak and fragile. Then, the characterization fits perfectly with the plot. The plot as in something like against the odds.

Given all of that, I would love to recommend this book to someone else. The author creates the setting of this book in a whole other world, where fantasy exists. Personally, fantasy and supernatural is the type of theme for me, and I would recommend that to anyone else into it. Sabaa also creates this mood throughout the story where things happen, and the protagonists try not to give up to reach their ideal freedom. This of course can be interpreted into a moral of don't give up until you reach your goal, and that is point I can recommend this book to another.

Skink -- No Surrender by Carl Hiaasen

Reviewed by Gillen M.
Grade 7

“She was supposed to meet me here…” These are the words spoken by Richard Sloan to a crazy old man who erupts from the sand while he is walking on the beach. The man says his name is Clinton Tyree, although he hasn’t answered to it in years. He is trying to catch a turtle egg thief by sleeping in fake turtle nests. Richard is speaking of his cousin Mally. She says she was grounded, but she always sneaks out. Richard knows something is up. The next morning, Mally’s friend Beth says that she is gone and won’t say where. Her parents think she left for “early orientation” at the Twig Academy, but Richard figures out that she has run off with Talbo Chock, an older dude she met online. After alerting her parents, Richard runs into the old man on the beach. Skink, as her prefers to be called has just beat the heck out of a turtle egg thief. He tells Richard that his next project is to find his cousin, would he like to come?

With that Richard sets out with Skink on a crazy quest to find Mally and her “boyfriend”. Mally soon alerts him that she wants to leave but that Talbo Chock won’t let her go. After receiving several hints to her location, Skink and Richard find mally but have to face down a crazed kidnapper, a giant alligator, and a monster storm, all while eating roadkill stew.

Skink No Surrender is a fantastic book filled with witty humor, great characters, and a monster gator. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Carl Hiaasen. The reason behind this is the witty humor present in almost all of Carl Hiaasen’s books. From Richard's stepfather's “intellectual limitations” to the all-around air of sarcasm and amusement, Skink No Surrender has quite a few moments of humor. The characters are just as crazy, from level-headed Richard Sloan to adventures and crazy Mally Spence. However, the crazy ex-governor with a shady past and a crazy beard is the character who really sets this book off.