Cinder

Reviewed by Maxine P.

The book Cinder by Marissa Meyer is extremely good. It is sort of like Cinderella only it takes place in the future and it’s different in many ways. Like Cinder is a mechanic that is also a cyborg and it is set in New Beijing (Beijing in the future). There are androids and lunar people with special powers and a deadly disease, letumosis, the blue fever. When letumosis strikes nearby, and a ruthless lunar queen threatens to take over New Beijing and later the world, Cinder must uncover important (and shocking) secrets about her past in order to save her future. It is like Cinderella because there is a prince and a ball and a stepmother and stepsisters and all that, plus she loses her foot (instead of her shoe) leaving the ball.

I would say the book is for 4^th or 5^th grade and up, smaller kids might not understand it. It is the first in a series of four but I’m pretty sure the fourth one, Winter, is not out yet. I am currently reading the second one, Scarlet, which is supposed to be kind of like Little Red Riding Hood (but different). I highly recommend Cinder for anyone who likes good stories that combine fairy tales with sci-fi, or just plain old awesomeness.

The Land of Nezza

A book review by Dan S.

            The Sands of Nezza is the fourth book of the adventurers wanted series, and also as excellent as the others. The other books, Slathbog’s gold, The Horn of Moran, and Albrek’s Tomb are also excellent and if you like one, you definitely will like the rest. A nod and a wink to classic series like Perceus Jackson and Heroes of Olympus. Definitely an excellent series to read, and especially good for those fantasy liker’s that don’t like stuff like unicorns. If I had to rate it from one to ten, I’d rate it a fifteen, because it is that good.  Especially good for those people who like fast a paced plot instead of two pages about breakfast.

             Alex has moved to one of the known lands of the adventuring world, and has a new horse, replacing the one that he lost. The adventure, begins for him by a letter arriving by bottle-necked geeb (the normal messenger in the adventuring world) that his friend, Skeld, had been captured in Nezza. Alex thus goes out to Nezza, and discovers many things, one being he is unable to exit the land because someone put up a magical barrier. Thus he keeps going forward, invisibly.

            Later in the story, they are free, but have to secure the prince’s throne, for a impostor has claimed the throne. The prince, later in the story, is fought against, because people believed he was dead, and fought against those whom that were claimed to have slain him. The prince however, upon showing himself to the army, added to his forces doubly. In the end, his throne was secured, and war ended across the land.

            Again, this is a great book for those who like fantasy with a strong, fast paced plot, and a storyline that constantly changes. This is also a great book for those who are 10+ years of age, and is a very great book. Many surprises occur, and where least expected. So much happens in this book, and it doesn’t drag on and on. It’s a very fast paced book, and gives classic series another view.

Rumblefish

Author: S.E. Hinton

Reviewed by Griffin H.

Rumblefish is an interesting story taking place in the fifties, with gang fights and multiple close calls to murder. The story is about a boy named Rusty-James and an unusual friend known as “the motorcycle boy”-that get into much more trouble than expected-are the main characters in this action themed novel. A cousin of the classic, The Outsiders, will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat.

I thought that this book was great, because of the ability to really keep you on the edge of your seat, and if you like it I highly recommend reading The Outsiders, which is just as enticing as the book I am reviewing.

I suggest reading this book for ages 9+ due to strong language and a surprising accident towards the end of the book.

The Pearl

The Pearl 

Author: John Steinbeck

Reviewed by: Griffin H.

This captivating story about a pearl diving family that lives in Mexico involves lots of conflict, death, and a very large pearl. This book is amazingly well written and thought out. I definitely recommend this book as a short story to read if you have three or four hours to kill.

The book is about how a man heavily in debt finds a pearl the size of an egg. Lots of conflict and violence ensue after the find, including burning down houses, people tracking him and his family, and a great escape to the mountains.

I think this is a good book for those in 4^th grade and higher, due to an abundance of violence throughout the book. But it is an amazing story and very action packed for a mere ninety pages.

I really loved the book. The ability to keep you on the edge of your seat, the wide vocabulary, and multiple elements used in the story to create a natural image in your head was great. It makes you feel like you were actually in the book, with the action happening around you! I loved this book, and upon reading it, I believe you will too.