Reviewed by OHS student, Aria E.
Set in a land of two kingdoms, Eldoria and Nezereth. The two used to share the sun and moon until one day when the moon was given to Nezereth and the sun to Eldoria. With their people suffering, Lyra and Vesper must live up the the prophecy’s word and combine night with day.
If you love fairytales, you are sure to love this book. The story is well written and the characters are well described in much detail.
Review submitted by OHS Library Secretary, Mikel Debuse-Losh
Narrated by Clare, this tale takes the reader on a dramatic journey through the occult, which is growing like a black mold just underneath the surface of her sleepy southern town. The writing style is florid and graphic and will appeal to some readers who enjoy stories of demonology, possession, and exorcism. It’s not for the squeamish. The author is adept at crafting vivid, multi-sensory scenes that morph in completely unpredictable ways, but the writing is almost cartoonish in its exaggerated style. You can’t help but root for Clare, regardless. She is portrayed as gritty, insightful and a real trooper given the ordeals she has to go through. It’s a nail-biter to the end.
15-year-old Clare has had a miserable life replete with an alcoholic mom, a dad that died when when she was young, and a scoundrel of a stepdad. Her lifeline has been her good demon, who soothes and settles her – and now her only source of comfort has been ripped from her in an exorcism.
Review submitted by OHS student, Helen J.
Six students survive a school shooting. One student starts a rumor about one of the students that died, and the others want to get the story straight. But their community isn’t that welcoming to this “true” story.
You should read this book because it is a story of discovery and trust. This story is about acceptance of hard trials that people go through.
Set in the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this latest novel by Kiersten White is sure to appeal to many different readers. Even if you have no previous exposure to the Buffy movie or TV series, this book will quickly grab your attention. Twin sisters, Artemis and Athena, have grown up in the world of Watchers – those who help advise and protect Slayers. Nina (Athena) has always felt like an outcast among her peers and family. This “weak” character soon finds herself thrown into the power of becoming the very last Slayer. Adventure ensues to try and take down demons that threaten the world. New found Slayer powers cause Nina to have to make quick decisions for the first time in her life – decisions that will have great impact upon those she loves. Deceit among characters is an underlying factor that helps drive the plot. There are many descriptive fighting scenes, fueled by strong female characters and minimal, secondary male characters. Readers of Fantasy will delight in the characters, setting, and plot of this novel.
Lovely, Dark, and Deep by Justina Chen is a novel with characters who display strength and perseverance while dealing with life changing, difficult circumstances. Viola Li is a die hard comic book fan. She is also an advocate for many different causes; she loves to bake and cook, raising money to donate and educate others about these important issues. At one such bake sale, Viola suddenly develops an extreme sensitivity to sunlight; this turns out to be much more intense and serious than she and her family originally thought. She can no longer attend school because of the florescent lights; she can no longer drive because windows don’t block out the light; she can not be on her phone or computer for longer than 15 minutes at a time because the lights will burn her; she is forbidden see her love interest, Josh, because her parents feel as though he makes risky decisions rather than working to protect her. Viola could choose to give up, but rather than doing that, she comes up with a Plan B that just may work for her future.
The characters are very likable and well developed. The author has clearly done her research in regard to photosensitivity; the situations are realistic and believable. This book is a great addition to any library because of the diverse characters and topics presented.
Review written by OHS student, Lia K.
Eighteen years ago, two princes, heirs to the kingdom of St. John del Mar, were kidnapped and murdered by the rivaling kingdom of Mondrago. Three friends, Elias, Mercedes and Ulises were all deeply affected on a very personal level. So what happens when maps show up hinting that the little princes are in fact alive just hidden? Should the friends go searching for the truth, even if it’s the most dangerous path?
You should read this book because the writing was phenomenal. The plot amazing. It left me on my toes wondering what happened at every turn. It also switched narratives without using first person, which was great!
In The Forest Queen by Betsy Cornwell, the author takes the story of Robin Hood and adds a new spin. The main characters are all based upon characters found within the original tale, but the adventures are completely new. The main character, Silvie, has escaped her town and home because of the cruel ways of her brother, the town sheriff. Silvie and her best friend Bird have made a new life for themselves in the forest. Here they welcome others who need help or want a new way of life. This small band of “rogues” slowly grows to resist the traditional ways. They all look to Silvie as their leader. Amidst the adventure and survival is also a story of love and family in the non-traditional sense. Although a bit predictable in the end, the story moves quickly and will entertain readers both familiar and not with the Robin Hood story.
Will deals with all of his emotions, troubles, and thinking by walking. Ever since his dad died 3 years ago, he’s been walking to try and rid of the past and make sense for what he’s feeling. Will has many people in his life that he cares about and who care for him in return. One friend, Playa, has been in his life since early elementary school. Although they are not in constant contact with each other, they still have a connection. When Will learns that Playa was raped at a party one night, he feels a sense of guilt – thinking he may have been able to stop it. After the incident he decides to show Playa his care and concern by bringing small gifts to her doorstep. In addition to trying to take care of Playa, he begins to spread small acts of kindness to others in his life. Although Will thinks this is caring for those in his life, it is also a great way to help him deal with the loss of his dad and the emotions that brings about.
The book is more of a novella than a full length novel. The text is written on every other page with Chinese characters on the facing pages. The text is written in small chunks throughout. It is a very fast read and would probably appeal to struggling readers. The book discusses the sensitive topics of suicide and rape, but does so in a way that is relatable and realistic. The book is appropriate for grades 8-12.
Reviewed by: Shelley Walter, OHS Library Secretary
This is based in Australia, underground, and not sure what year. The book is in the first person as a young girl, Alyssa Scott, with special abilities is subjected to experiments and medical tests. She does not speak out loud for fear what her words will do. As the book goes on Alyssa reveals her ability to Speak and her intent comes to be. She has no idea of her power and she finds out through a series of training session.
Alyssa is being trained to control her power by one group of people who tell her they are the good guys. She is then kidnapped by a splinter group that she has been told are the enemy. What Alyssa finds out is the enemy is actually the good guys. The book’s climax is when Alyssa confronts the mad scientist that has been experimenting on her not for knowledge but to steal her abilities. The end is open to a sequel continuing with the prospect of more conflicts between the two groups.
James L. Swanson is true to form in his research regarding Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassin. This book, like all of Swanson’s others is rich in historical information, primary source documents and images. For someone who doesn’t gravitate to nonfiction, I was thoroughly caught up in the investigative reporting for this piece. Swanson is a great story teller, not only is this book about the murder of King, it also chronicles in great detail the events and significance of his life. While reading the book, one feels catapulted back in time to the heart of the Civil Rights Movement. Also impressive is the last 1/3 of the book where Swanson lists all references used in the creation of his work. Those interested in the subject will have a wealth of other sources to look into due to the extensive bibliography provided. This is a must have book for all middle and high school libraries.