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.