2019-2020 School Year
Student: Hailey
Book: I Am Alfonso Jones
Author: Tony Medina
Rating: 5 stars
Review: This is about a young boy names Alfonso Jones. Alfonso and his friend go shopping, and a white police officer shoots Alfonso after a misunderstanding. The book follows Alfonso as a ghost, haunting and visiting those he knows.
I really liked this book because it deals with real-life matters and issues that aren’t talked about that often [in] books. The book gives good details and shows how much things change for everyone after a tragic event.
#IamAlfonsoJones #justice #blacklivesmatter
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Student: Nariah
Book: The Plain Janes
Author: Cecil Castellucci
Rating: 5 stars
Review: This has got to be one of my favorite books now. I love that Jane was so confident in herself and the world, even though her friend was in a coma and Jane was also involved in a tragedy. I love the art in the book as well. The book has a great message: never give up.
#ArtIsTheKeyToAnything #JaneIsTheTrendingName
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Student: Macy
Book: I Moved to Los Angeles to Work in Animation
Author: Natalie Nourigat
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Review: This seemed like a cool life story so I picked up the book. It talked about the author’s troubles on her way to LA. She also discussed some of the friends and experiences she had along the way.
I liked the book because it was an easy read and an interesting topic. It’s not a step-by-step guide for how to make it an animation, but it still gave good information.
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Student: Kaden
Book: The Young Elites
Author: Marie Lu
Rating: 5 stars
Review: This book was super cool in concept and in characters. This book is a dystopian-type story, so if you like things like that (similar to Divergent) then this is definitely a book worth reading!
#NotAsItSeems #Energy #Markings
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Student: Mariah
Book: Fallout
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Rating: 5 stars
Review: This is an amazing book! It does start a bit slow in the beginning, but it gets so good. It gives amazing detail. I really enjoyed the story.
#familydrama #allaboutme #bigsecrets
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Student: Nariah
Book: YOLO Juliet
Author: William Shakespeare and Brett Wright
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Review: This is a really good book–two people who are supposed to be enemies are instead madly in love with each other. I love how they use emojis in the story, and I love how intense this story is too. The only reason I rated it 4 1/2 is because I don’t like the ending. I wish Romeo was just a bit smarter and waited instead of jumping to conclusions..
#loveistodiefor #thelifestruggleofjuliet #yoloromeo
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Student: Gabby
Book: The Lost Boy
Author: Dave Pelzer
Rating: 5 stars
Review: I gave this book 5 stars because it is a rollercoaster of emotions. It got to me very quickly, and I didn’t want to put it down. Also, I personally could really relate to this story.
#fosterchild #moving around #freedom
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Student: Emily
Book: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul
Author: Jeff Kinney
Rating: 3 stars
Review: I rated this book a three-star because there were a few things wrong with it, in my opinion. First, I just didn’t find it that interesting. The story moved really slow to me. Also, the characters went through tough times. I know that really happens, but it just made the book hard to read.
#roadtrip #worstexperience #family vacation
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Student: Maelynn
Book: The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Review: I really liked this book. There were a lot of emotions, mostly love and sadness. This book is about life, and life has ups and downs. It is not all just happy. But it is also not all sad. So just be prepared for the constant up and down, but I liked that.
#sad #loved #cancer
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Student: Nariah
Book: Greek Gods #squadgoals
Author: Courtney Carbone
Rating: 5 stars
Review: I rated this book 5 stars because I loved how it made me smile and laugh so many times. The book just relates various stories of the Greek gods and their adventures. I love the slang used in the story and the fact that it uses emojis too. The Gods were so hilarious in their own ways. I even have a favorite part in this book that I will remember: when Daedalus discussed Icarus taking a selfie as he fell to his death. It may not sound funny without the rest of the story, but it will make you LOL.
#GODBODmorelikeDeadBod #Icarus #lastselfieofmaybemywholelife #sillyGreekGodskidsaresupposedtolive
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Student: Em
Book: Speak
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson and Emily Carroll
Rating: 5 stars
Review: First of all, be aware that the book is about rape. However, it handles the subject well and really shows how a traumatic experience like that changes someone forever. I rated this book 5 stars because it was a good story. Plus, I feel like the book can really help someone who might have had the same experience.
#standupforyourself #it’sokaytotalkaboutit #notyourfault
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Student: Elijah
Book: Long Way Down
Author: Jason Reynolds
Rating: 5 stars
Review: I’m really having trouble putting my thoughts about this book into a review. The author packs so much into this story but you wouldn’t think that at first glance of the novel.
The story is told in poems and takes place in a very short amount of time. Will, the main character, has lost his brother to violence. He’s lost. Hurt. Confused. All he can think of are the rules passed down to him and what he must now do to “honor” his brother. On his elevator ride down, though, his entire life changes.
I loved this story. It’s actually probably my favorite book I’ve read in the last 2 years. I want to read it again because I feel like this is the kind of story where you’d notice new things or see something different if you read it again. It really is a “must-read” book.
#powerfulwords #therules #ghostsofthepast
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Student: Brayden
Book: The Son of Neptune
Author: Rick Riordan
Rating: 5 stars
Review: Percy’s adventures continue in this book. I loved this story because it has so many parts that are cliff-hangers, so you just want to keep reading. And there are so many battles! If you are a fan of Percy Jackson, you’ll enjoy this story too.
#lostmemory #thegorgons #bizarreadventures
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Student: Emily
Book: Abduction
Author: Peg Kehret
Rating: 5 stars
Review: This book is about a young boy who gets kidnapped from school. He left the classroom and then just disappeared! Turns out, the family’s dog is missing too. So Bonnie, the sister of the boy who is missing tries to figure out what’s happened. I feel like this book definitely deserves 5 stars because it’s a very exciting book. It keeps you guessing!
#kidnapping #mystery #search
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Student: Nariah
Book: Macbeth #killingit
Author: William Shakespeare and Courtney Carbone
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This story is about a king and queen that are absolutely crazy. They kill people who disobey them, who don’t like them, and who get in their way. Lady Macbeth seems to want to just kill people for fun! Macbeth listens to his wife at times, but at other moments thinks she’s going crazy. At the end of the story, events don’t turn out the way they both think they will.
I rated this story 4 star because I love how this whole book is written. I really like the use of text messages and emojis. There aren’t long pages full of just clutter and too much description. The emojis add to the story I think. However, I didn’t like the end of the story. It left me on a cliff because I want to know what is going to happen next!
#InsaneInTheBrain #There’sSomethingWrongWithLadyMacbeth
#LadyMacbethOnTheGo
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Student: Daniel
Book: Orphans Volume 4
Author: Roberto Recchioni and Emiliano Mammucari
Rating: 3 stars
Review: This series follows a group of orphaned friends following a big attack. In the beginning, the friends betray each other and end up killing a team member. In between the action, it shows flashbacks of their pasts.
I have liked this series, but I gave the book a 3 star because all of these characters were a family and in the end they just end up killing each other or hurting themselves.
#Action #Fiction #Orphans
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Student: Quaid
Book: Bone 3: Eyes of the Storm
Author: Jeff Smith
Rating: 4 stars
Review: In this book certain secrets are finally revealed. And of course, the Bone creatures have all kinds of adventures.
This book is very funny and has a little bit of everything for every type of reader.
#PayUp #FreeDrinks #Let’sMakeADeal
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Student: Alexis
Book: Long Way Down
Author: Jason Reynolds
Rating: 5 stars
Review: Shawn gets shot, and now it’s Will’s job to get the person who shot Shawn and kill him. WIll goes in an elevator, and as he gets to each floor someone who has died walks in. Will even sees Shawn! Shawn says nothing in the elevator, but when it gets to the lobby, he says only two words.
This book was amazing! It took me only two days to read this because I just got so sucked in. It’s like you’re in the book! I thought it was so cool to see everyone every time the elevator stopped on a new floor. It’s a very sad book but an amazing one. I’d recommend this book to anyone because it’s so touching and shows that people need to enjoy the little moments in life.
#sad #byeshawn #relief
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Student: Nariah
Book: Dark Night: A True Batman Story
Author: Paul Dini
Rating: 5 stars
Review: This book is the true story of a cartoon writer who wrote for Batman: The Animated Series. One night, Paul was mugged while walking home. After the attack, Paul has a long recovery. Throughout his recovery time, Paul imagines visits from the Batman villains. Batman himself even stops in for imaginary visits too. It’s through his pep talks with Batman that Paul finds the courage to keep working.
I rated this book 5 stars because, first of all, I love comics. But the book also had me asking questions like why are the Batman characters showing up? Do they pop up for a reason? The more and more I read, the more my questions were being answered. I loved how these characters in Paul’s imagination showed up with advice. I actually didn’t know if I’d like this story in the beginning, but it was very interesting. It also made me want to read more about Harley Quinn’s story!
#HaHa!What’sThePoint? #AreYouAQuitterOrAWinner? #HarleyQuinnOnTheGo!
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Student: Gabby
Book: Light Filters in Poems
Author: Caroline Kaufman
Rating: 5 stars
Review: Caroline is going through a lot of stuff. She’s really trying to get through it all though. She’s been through self-harm, rape, poor body image, and so much more. This is her story.
I liked this book because Caroline uses a lot of strength to get through everything and ends up overcoming everything. She learns to love herself once again, and that’s a good message for a lot of readers.
#GettingThroughObstacles #Pushing #Survivor
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Student: Alexis
Book: Long Way Down
Author: Jason Reynolds
Rating: 5 stars
Review: This is about a young man named Will. His brother was murdered. Now Will has to follow “the rules.” No snitching. No crying. Just revenge. Will goes to Shawn’s middle drawer and gets his gun (because his brother was in a gang). He goes to the elevator. Presses “L.” Then the door opens. Buck. Dani. Uncle Mark. Pop. Frick. And Shawn. They all eventually show. They talk to Will, interrogate him. Then the elevator stops. The door opens slowly. The “L” goes out. They all walk out. And Shawn asks Will an important question.
This book is the best one I’ve ever read. It’s so good! The mystery, the deep talking, the deep feelings…it was all so good. And the book wasn’t slow at all. It went straight in. It explained everything. The end was good but I do wish more happened. I have too many questions.
#L #Riggs #Elevator
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Student: Quaid
Book: Bone Tall Tales
Author: Jeff Smith
Rating: 4 stars
Review: This book is all based on the Bones and all their good/not so good ideas. There are a lot of times where they get lost in the forest! And there is always a monster/rat chasing them!
I rated this book a four star because it is a pretty good book, but I feel like it could be better. The book is pretty funny, though.
#dragons #coolestbaby #winterbaby
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Student: Maelynn
Book: The Maze Runner
Author: James Dashner
Rating: 4 ½ stars
Review: This book is about a 17 year old boy (Thomas) who was put into the Glade. The Glade is basically a big maze. When people first go into the maze, they cannot remember anything, not even their name. Their names usually come back to them in a couple of days. The “Box” is what provides them with supplies and a new greenie. A greenie is what they call a new person who comes out of the box. The box comes every month. At the end of the book, they get out of the maze and they get picked up by some mysterious guys in a helicopter.
I gave this book 4 ½ stars because it was a really good story. It has love, sacrifice, care. I thought some of the characters were very brave and courageous. However, the end is very sad.
#Sad #Grievers #Funny
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Student: Drew
Book: Zen and the Art of Faking It
Author: Jordan Sonnenblick
Rating: 3 stars
Review: San has moved to a new town and is already having a hard time. First, he had to sell his X-box and more. Then he meets a girl named Woody, who he starts having feelings for, and that’s confusing. Finally, San doesn’t want anyone to know he’s adopted, so he always keeps a low profile. These are just a few of San’s challenges. There are lots of other obstacles he faces throughout the story!
This was an okay book. San feels lost. He misses his old friends, house, and such. That part is easy to relate to. But there were times I struggled with the book. It has some parts I found boring, and some parts where I got confused and couldn’t follow the story. I also didn’t like how Zen lied so much. It makes sense why he would do that in the story, but at the same time, it seemed like he was just creating more and more problems for himself.
#newfriends #newhome #adopted
