Summer Book Reviews

Summer book reviews have started coming in at the libraries. Remember, if you write a review between now and Friday, August 6th, you are automatically entered in a weekly drawing for a $10 gift card. If you’d like to enter, fill out our online book review form. Drawings take place on Fridays.

In the meantime, if you’re looking for a good book, here are a few ideas:

The Monstrumologist, Rick Yancey
Review by: Lauren (IHS, Grade 12)
Rating: Excellent!
A quirky scientist named Dr. Warthrop takes in an orphaned Will Henry after a horrible accident with his parents. Will Henry helps the doctor study his gruesome topic, and sacrifices must be made to further his “science”. I enjoyed this book quite well because the level of diction was highly elevated and made it an interesting read. Also, the detail put into the descriptions along with fear instilling suspense added to the overall story and made it more enjoyable to read. I would recommend this, but only to people that can stomach large amounts of blood, gore, and dismemberment. Not a good book for the week of stomach.

Impulse, Ellen Hopkins
Review by: Rachel (Dake, grade 8)
Rating: Excellent!
The book was about 3 teenagers having to go to a helping facility to help them overcome their problems. Unlike most books, this did not have a happy ending. I would recommend this because this book has very interesting features and not a very basic plotline so the books ending really surprises you.

Batman: Lovers & Madmen, Michael Green
Review by: Christopher (Iroquois, grade 6)
Rating: Excellent!
A criminal named Red Hood is causing mischief through Gotham with glee. But when Red Hood has a incident that has to do with toxic waste, Batman faces a whole new villain who probably is the most dangerous. I like action books and this book has lots of action and suspense. I recommend it because if a kid likes violence and action then there’s a good amount of it.

The Smile, Donna Jo Napoli
Review by: Amy (Dake, grade 7)
Rating: Excellent!
The Smile is about a young girl in Florence, Italy. She is the daughter of a silk merchant and loses her mother at a very young age. When she gets older, she is forced to marry. In the end, however, she becomes the woman in the famous Mona Lisa. I enjoyed the book because I found it interesting to learn about who the Mona Lisa was as a child. I would only recommend this book if they were into historical fiction and Italy because the storyline is greatly focused on these two components.

Peak, Roland Smith
Review by: Fiona (Dake, grade 7)
Rating: Excellent!
Peak is an amazing book about a boy, Peak, and how his father has him illegally climb Mt. Everest. The book describes, in detail, Peak’s hardships and how, in the end, he sets everything right. I did enjoy Peak because of Roland’s detail and creativity. Peak really opened my mind to how challenging climbing mountains is. I would most definitely recommend Peak to other readers. I would do this because all readers deserve the chance to experience Roland Smith’s detail, vivid vocabulary, and creativity.

A Dog’s Life, Ann M. Martin
Review by: David (EIMS, grade 6)
Rating: Excellent!
The book was about a dog that is getting older and older and having adventures around people’s houses to find food and exploring houses. I enjoyed this book because I like books with dogs and I like to play with dogs and enjoy being next to dogs. I would recommend this book to others because maybe people like moms, dads, and kids like to play with dogs. Sometimes, but I will like dogs everyday.

The Best is Yet to Come (The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes), Anne Mazer
Review by: Erin (EIMS, grade 6)
Rating: Exellent!
This book is about a girl named Abby and she graduated from grade 5. She wants her summer to be unplanned and play with her best friend Hannah, but when her mom’s old friend comes with her daughter it wrecks all of Abby’s plans. This book was exciting. You never knew what was coming next. Also, it is half Abby’s journey, half like a regular book. I would recommend this because if you think your life is hectic and unenjoyable, you won’t think that after you read this book. Also this book was great details and is a little humorous, so if you like action-packed books read this one!

Rocky Road Trip, Catherine Clark
Review by: McKenzie (Dake, grade 8)
Rating: Excellent!
The book is about a girl (Courtney) who goes to college many miles away from her friends, family, and boyfriend-Grant. She has trouble adjusting to the change and meets Mary-Jo who is her room mate. On one phone call from “The Tom”- a friend from Courtney’s high school- the whole story changes. Supposedly her boyfriend kissed her best friend. And that proved to be true. They started to slip away from each other because Courtney still couldn’t believe that it happened. Lets just say. LDR’s (Long distance relationships) might not always work out. The book was very interesting and went through true things that can happen to real people. The events in this story were learning events that you can learn from. The book was like watching a movie. It didn’t feel like I was reading a book, it felt like i was watching a very exciting movie.

Published on July 6, 2011.