And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Reviewed by Ellen

“He picked up his drink and drank it off at a gulp. Too quickly, perhaps. He choked--choked badly. His face contorted, turned purple. He gasped for breath--then slid down off his chair, the glass falling from his hand.”

Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None tells a thrilling story of ten people on a peculiar island, with a murderer. Ten strangers each receive a letter from an unknown “U.N. Owen” inviting them to a mansion on Soldier Island. At dinner one night, each of the ten people are revealed to have committed a crime, and by evening, one of them is dead. Soon, each of them begin to die off one-by-one, each death similar to those in an eerie nursery rhyme. Which one of them is the killer? Will anyone survive?

One thing I really liked about this book is how the point of view was written. I enjoyed knowing what each character was thinking. Agatha Christie even put everyone’s thoughts together at times, not telling us who was thinking what. That’s exactly what happened at one point in the book, and it almost felt like Christie was teasing me by not giving me any clues. While every other character’s thoughts were (mostly) innocent, one really stood out to me: “‘The damned fool, he believed every word I said to him. It was easy… I must be careful, though, very careful.’”

Another thing I enjoyed about this book was that it scared me. It might sound strange, but I enjoyed feeling that cold shiver come up my spine and make me look over my shoulder every once in a while, just to make sure no one was watching me. Whenever someone made even the slightest noise, I would nearly jump out of my skin, my heart pumping. At the most suspenseful moments, I felt like someone was right there in my room, sneaking up on me like a predator, and waiting for the best time to strike.

I really enjoyed And Then There Were None, and I would rank it a 10/10. It’s really a great book, and I really recommend it. Agatha Christie has many other books, and though this one isn’t part of a specific series, I advise you to take a look at many of her other mystery books. But wait! You may not really enjoy this book if you aren’t exactly immune to nightmares. This book is on the darker side, with many deaths, so do whatever you need to do to keep yourself from getting clammy hands at night. But otherwise, go give it a read. Now!!!

HarperCollins Publishers, 300 pages

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

Reviewed by Jillian

“ARE YOU A GIFTED CHILD LOOKING FOR SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES?” This odd advertisement is found listed in the daily newspaper. Undercover recruits are needed by mastermind Nicholas Benedict for urgent reasons. You, reader, are about to go on a secret mission with some delightful, or as you may find, indescribable and despicable comrades.

The fate of the world lies on the decisions and actions of four particularly exceptional children. The protagonist, Reynard “Reynie” Muldoon is an exceedingly bright orphan. At only age eleven, he has completed each and every textbook on his own, even those for high schools. Life has always been unbearably dull for him, until he discovers a golden opportunity. Along with four other gifted companions, Reynie must suddenly go undercover as a spy agent into a cynical institute. Reynie meets many adversities, but most importantly, by the end he meets the companions of his lifetime. Trenton Lee Stewart creates The Mysterious Benedict Society, which is a suspenseful but sentimental and scientific masterpiece.

The first reason why I found this book so captivating is all the diverse and identified characters. In the Mysterious Benedict Society, a crew of four powerful kids find it challenging to get along. Reynie is the indicated leader, he is the best at problem solving and planning ahead. George Washington, who demands to be called “Sticky,” is the ultimate brain. He can take in information extremely fast and memorize it to equal extent. Kate Wetherall, is the unbelievably resourceful one in the team. She can perform astounding tricks with her bucket of vital objects she carries everywhere. And last the stubborn child, Constance. To the other members, she has always been a mystery to them; she never does anything productive and besides creating silly poems she doesn’t seem that bright. She’s also a hassle to bring because she is extremely short and pudgy. Why is she recruited? To find success, the others must learn to depend on each other and to be depended on.

Through all the seriousness, the author lightens up the mood with some cherished humor. A perfect example of this is set in a stressful moment. The crew of fine agents know the exact location of the wonderful treasure of answers, but they just don't know how to get inside. They try searching for hidden buttons or levers, prodding it open by force, and even a mighty “open sesame,” all of which they found nothing of success. Out of pure frustration, Reynie randomly kicks it. Surprisingly, it flies open in an ironic manner. Who knew that would be the key!

Ready to start your mission? The Mysterious Benedict Society is waiting for you! This story is the first novel of its series with six other fantastic books, with an impressive rating of 10/10 from an expert like me. I can find no main weakness in this book, so this would certainly satisfy anybody looking for action, puzzles, or a good mixture of comedy!

Little, Brown and Company, 485 pages

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

Reviewed by Aarav

Your military plane crashes into the sea and almost three quarters of its passengers die. When you reach land, you get pulled into the enemy’s prison camps. They are brutal to you and your countrymen. How do you live?

In Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, Louis Zamperini is a former Olympian from a small town in the suburbs called Torrance, California. World War ll drags him into the American military. He serves in the Air Force, bombing important Japanese military bases in the Green Hornet.  But one day, on a rescue mission, the Green Hornet crashes into the sea. Of the eleven people on the plane, only three survive. They are stranded there for weeks, trying to survive as long as possible, and fending off terrifying sharks. When they finally make it to shore, they are transported to a Japanese prison camp. Louis’s number one goal is to survive at these horrid places, but there is a deeper question: If Louis makes it out alive, will he mentally recover from what he experiences at the camps, or will those horrible ordeals scar him for life?

One reason I enjoyed this book is because it was descriptive. In one scene of the book, the author describes how inconsistent one of the Japanese officers was. Hillenbrand says, “One POW[Prisoner of War] recalled seeing him gently praise a POW, fly into a fury and beat him unconscious, then quietly eat his lunch.” This book is so descriptive, I felt like I was in the prison camp myself when I was reading it.

Another reason this book was so good was that it was dramatic. When Louis is in the ocean, one of the many examples of this is, “Without warning, one of the sharks Louie had touched leapt up at terrific speed, lunging at Louie’s head. Louie threw both hands in front of his face. The shark struck him head on…”  Unbroken is so dramatic and terrifying, I gasped in shock and terror as some of the many surprises in this novel left me shaking in my shoes.

I would recommend this novel to people who enjoy action and history. I would give this story a rating of 9/10. Unfortunately, this book is not part of a series. Unbroken is one of the best history books I have ever read. If you want to find out what happened to Louis, why don’t you give it a try? I’m sure you’ll like it!

Penguin Random House LLC., 292 pages

City Spies by James Ponti

Reviewed by Maya

Have you ever been a spy or wanted to be a spy? Has the world ever depended on you to make it right? Has the world's strongest villain ever chased you down because you have something that he wants?
City Spies by James Ponti is about a foster kid named Sara Martinez who is in juvenile detention for hacking into her foster parent’s accounts. And in court, her lawyer isn’t helping her at all. Suddenly, another person comes in and claims he’s her lawyer. Well, turns out the second lawyer that came in isn’t actually a lawyer. Soon after, Sara is moving across the world, going to be a spy. But when the spies learn that there is a huge world science convention coming up, and the biggest evil person in the world has stolen a virus without an antidote and might use it then, how will she save the world now?
The first reason I liked this book is because of the way the spies can solve problems. For instance, one of the teenagers, Kat, came up with this really good plan to get into a building without forcing in. And I could follow each step that she took. They each have special talents, and they are all unique. When they solve a really hard problem, I am always amazed at how they did it.
Another excellent trait that the book has is the background stories of all of the other teenage spies that she worked with. Another spy, Sydney, was a troublemaker at the Wallangarra School for Girls before she got recruited. The backgrounds are all so descriptive, and they felt so real. All of them are super different, too. How it fit in with the rest of the story was brilliant.
I would rate this book 9.5/10. It was super captivating, and I was on the edge of my seat when I read it. I would recommend this to people who like lots of adventure. I hope you go to your local library and check it out. It is the first book of a series, and the second book just came out. I hope you like it as much as I did! 

Simon and Schuster, 400 pages

Poached by Stuart Gibbs

Reviewed by Trisha

Kazoo the koala is missing, and all of the evidence is pointing to Teddy Fitzroy! Teddy must investigate himself to find out who has framed him and prove his innocence. Will he find out who has been causing all the mayhem or get sent off to juvenile hall?

In Poached by Stuart Gibbs, twelve year-old Teddy Fitzroy lives at FunJungle with his mom, a field biologist, and his dad, a professional photographer, who both work for FunJungle. When Kazoo the koala, FunJungle’s biggest attraction for a limited time, goes missing, all the evidence proves that Teddy is behind the crime. Teddy has a reputation for pulling pranks at FunJungle, so his parents’ jobs are threatened, unless Teddy stops investigating and getting himself into dangerous situations. Summer McCracken, daughter of J.J. McCracken, the owner of FunJungle, is friends with Teddy and encourages him to solve the crime. If security is not going to do it themselves, Summer and Teddy must investigate to find the real thief before Teddy is sent off to juvie.

One reason why I liked this book is because it is humorous. When Teddy is disguised as an actor dressed in a FunJungle character costume so he can investigate without being interrogated, a security guard approaches him. At first, Teddy is worried that the security guard recognizes him somehow, but it turns out his koala head is on wrong. When the security guard becomes suspicious that Teddy is not responding, Teddy replies, “No hablo inglés,” hoping that the security guard does not recognize his voice. I like that there are a couple funny moments sprinkled throughout the fast paced, suspenseful tone of the book.

This book is also-action packed and filled with suspense. Teddy has many suspects in mind while investigating, so it was very suspenseful and surprising when he suddenly figures out who took part in the koala kidnapping somehow. I also like how Teddy remembers anything unusual that he sees, and he can piece the information together later on, to figure out how the koala crisis happened with everything he saw before. The final revelation of who the koala-napper is was a jaw-dropping part in the book, and I like how Teddy’s school and his parents all work together to overcome the kidnapper and save Kazoo.

I would rate this book a 10/10. This book is for people who like action, adventure, and mystery in one book. This book is part of a series, so you should read the first book, Belly Up, before reading this one, so everything makes sense. Some of the other books in the series are Big Game, Panda-Monium, and Lion Down. You should check this book out at your local library or online and read it now!

Simon & Schuster, 329 pages

 

Holes by Louis Sachar

Reviewed by Anika 

Think about this: You’re in a camp that’s supposed to be a substitute for jail where you dig holes all day in 90 degree weather for supposedly stealing a pair of shoes. How do you prove yourself innocent?

In Holes, by Louis Sachar, 14-year old Stanley Yelnats has been sent to a juvenile correction center for a crime he didn’t commit! On top of that, Camp Green Lake isn’t really what it says it is. All you do is dig pits for no reason as a “character improvement lesson.” Soon he makes a friend, a boy who goes by the name Zero which goes far back into the cause of the so-called curse that Stanley’s family has. Zero ends up helping Stanley get out of Camp Green Lake and proving him innocent.

One reason I liked this book was because the story was really suspenseful. At the end of the book there is an encounter with a yellow-spotted lizard, whose bite is fatal, a suitcase filled with many valuables that Zero found, and the warden of the camp, who wanted to steal it! It made me want to keep reading to find out more about how Stanley will get out of this situation.

The other trait that made the book extraordinary was the creativity of the story. I’ve never seen a book with a concept like this before and it amazed me how authors come up with such original ideas. The ideas, the characters, the plot, was all so imaginative and that’s usually what I find most interesting and important in a story. The interesting aspect of the book came from a curse Stanley’s family had because his great-great-great grandfather stole a pig! I didn’t know how this would relate to the story itself until Zero’s identity was revealed.

I’d recommend Holes to those who like a little strangeness in their choice of reading because this was definitely out of the ordinary. I would rate this read a 9/10. This was one of Louis Sachar’s most popular books! Since you’re doing nothing but reading this review, why not go check it out right now at your local library?

Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 272 pages

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

Reviewed by Anusha

You are trying to replenish your magic after you messed up a mission and almost lost an important job. Suddenly, you see the worst kind of enemy walk out: a human. With almost no magic to save yourself, you try a last ditch effort. But this human is like no other. He seems to know exactly who you are and what you are doing. His assistant easily tranquilizes you before you can fully absorb what is happening. But you know that the information this human seems to know is dangerous enough to start a war.

In Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, the main character, Artemis Fowl the Second, is working with his butler and closest friend, Butler, to recover his family fortune. He is the special human, and he captures Captain Holly Short while she is replenishing her magic. Artemis is part of a family of crime lords, and after his father is captured, he wants his billionaire status, and his father, back. He holds Captain Holly Short for a ransom of a ton of 24 carat gold, enough to help his family. The police force thinks that they can get rid of Artemis easily, but he is not like any human they have ever encountered.

One of the reasons that I really liked the book is that Artemis Fowl is very smart and  determined. He knows what he wants to do and how he wants to do it. He always surprised me with his knowledge and how he stays one step ahead. He does not give up, even when he has to hard copy every page from the “Book,” run it through multiple different languages, and finally, enlarge and print every single character to compare them with the Egyptian hieroglyphs, staying up past midnight.

I also loved this book because of the adventure. There are many exciting scenes, and this book is filled with suspense and shock. In one of the scenes, Artemis finds out that his cameras have been playing a loop. Meanwhile, a criminal dwarf breaks into Artemis’ mansion and Captain Holly is on her way to regaining her magic. Juliet hurries to the cell as per Artemis’ orders. There, Holly, with her magic, uses it to manipulate Juliet. Then, she escapes, and the real adventure begins.

Overall, I would rank this book a 9/10. It is a great book for readers that love fantasy, lots of magic, a little bit of humor, and adventure. Eoin Colfer has also written many other books, such as The Fowl Twins, Highfire, and Airmen that you might want to read. This book is the first in a series of many, so make sure to check them out too. You can go and check this book out right now! Scholastic, 277 pages

Blackthorn Key Book 3: Assassin’s Curse by Kevin Sanders

Reviewed by Jonathan Sun

Imagine that you lived a few centuries ago, and you and your friend are invited to dine with the king, as you have a reputation of solving mysteries and crimes. But, a murder takes place on that fateful day and it seems like somebody attempted to assassinate the king. What would you do?

Well, in the Assassin's Curse by Kevin Sanders, the main character, Christopher Rowe and his two friends, Tom and Sally, run into an assassin on the loose who seems to have attempted to kill the king. As they investigate this mystery further, they end up finding clues that the assassins were actually trying to kill the French Royalty, not the British. In France, they uncover layers of secrets upon secrets, and they solve many puzzles to try and uncover why the assassins want to kill the French Monarchy. Will they solve the mystery in time before the assassins have a successful attempt at killing the Royalty? I guess you will have to read the book to find out.

The first reason that I enjoyed this book is because I love mysteries that are hard to solve with some action in them. This book’s mystery is really complicated and a lot of things are not as they seem. As they keep on investigating this mystery, Christopher, Tom, and Sally put themselves in more and more danger as they discover secrets that people have killed to try and get. When they confront the assassins, things do not go as they plan it to be, and Christopher and Tom have to fight their way out.

The second reason that I liked this book is because the assassins turn out to be hiding in plain sight. Christopher and Tom have seen the killers a lot of times but they don’t even know it! I love this because at the end of the book, when they figure out who was working with the villains, Tom and Christopher actually had met them a lot of times before. You will be surprised at how many times Tom and Christopher met the assassins.

I would definitely recommend this book to people who like mystery mixed with action. If I were to rate this book, I would rate this 10/10. This book is really great since the mystery is complicated and it doesn’t get boring. Since this book is in a series called The Blackthorn Key, you should definitely check out the novels that take place prior to this book before reading this novel. If this sounds interesting to you, go to your local library and check the series out now!

Simon & Schuster, 544 pages

The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan

Reviewed by Ibu

Imagine just learning that you are a part of the most powerful family in history, and that your relatives have been warring for centuries to become the most powerful people on earth. This happens at the funeral of Dan and Amy’s beloved grandmother, Grace. Mr. McIntyre, Grace’s lawyer, is reading the will, which reveals the existence of a clue hunt to become the most powerful person on earth. This is only the beginning of The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan.

Dan and Amy live with Grace’s sister, Beatrice, ever since their parents died in a fire. The only choice to join the contest is to give up two million dollars, but they know that Beatrice would never let that happen. So the siblings sign up anyway. The siblings run away with their au pair, Nellie, after they are given the first clue of the 39. They follow in the steps of Benjamin Franklin, eventually landing in Paris. But some people do not hesitate to kill. A group of such people are the Kabras, who seem to always be a step ahead. Will the siblings win the contest? Or will they perish at the hands of other competitors?

The first reason why I liked this book is because of the suspense. Amy and Dan don’t continuously win, despite being the underdogs like what might happen in other books. Instead, almost every single time they are defeated, or backstabbed. Even the man that they trusted to help them the most, Uncle Alistair, quickly betrays them in order to gain a clue. Worse, Amy and Dan’s successes just make their opponents work harder, and even join forces to defeat them.

Another reason that I liked this book was the mystery. The Cahill siblings know very little about what’s going on, and it feels like we learn things at the same time as they do. The other teams always feel like they know more. They know what it means to become the most powerful person in the world. The other teams know what they’re fighting for. Dan and Amy know none of that. You, the reader, can’t figure out what’s going to happen at the climax just by reading half of the book, which makes you just want to keep reading until you’ve reached the end.

On a scale of 1-10, I would rate this book as a 9, and I would recommend this book to people who enjoy mysteries and suspense. However, The Maze of Bones is only the first book in the The 39 Clues series, where more mysteries unravel and more alliances are broken. In addition, Rick Riordan has also written many other series such as the Percy Jackson series and the Trials of Apollo series. If you’re in need of a good book, go check it out!

Scholastic Inc, 220

Wonderland by Barbara O’Connor

Reviewed by Omya 

Do you think friendship is always easy at first? Well, not in this book. The two girls in this book seem to be having fun, but their friendship is unstable. Sometimes they are good friends, while other times they will not. And now they were going to go on an adventure to try to make a man named Mr. Duffy happy. Are they going to succeed?

In Wonderland by Barbara O'Connor, the main characters are Rose and Mavis. Mavis is a fearless and bold character, while Rose is a worrier and doesn’t feel like she fits in. They decide to be best friends, but will they have a good relationship? They make their first goal is to help Mr. Duffy, who is not doing his job well due to his dog Queenie dying. When Amanda, Rose's enemy, tells Mavis and her about Henry, a dog in the woods, Mavis is determined to help Mr. Duffy, but Rose is still not sure. They hatch a scheme to find Henry. Rose does not want to go, but Mavis keeps insisting. Henry, on the other hand, ran away from home and craves kindness and comfort, but he doesn’t know where to look for it. Together Rose and Mavis gradually develop each other's personality, but they still are trying to make Mr. Duffy happy. Will they be able to, and what will they do?

One of the reasons why I enjoyed the book is that it taught me a lot about friendship. For example, it shows how two girls make friends over a long period of time. For example, at first, Mavis asks Rose to be best friends. Rose has never had a best friend, but has always wanted one so she agrees. Gradually, the two girls that seem so different, come together and show what true friendship really is.

Another reason why I liked this book is because the adventure is amazing. Everyday, I would want to read longer because I really wanted to know how Rose and Mavis are going to get Henry. Will Mr. Duffy like Henry? But when the time comes and Rose and Mavis give Mr. Duffy Henry he says that he is a racing dog, and he has to go back to Wonderland. Wonderland is the place where racing dogs race until the age of about four.

I would suggest this book to people who like heartwarming stories, and I would rate this book with a rating of 10/10. This book is also for people who want to learn more about friendship and adventures. This book is not part of a series, but Wish and Halfway to Harmony are similar to this book, and are written by the same author. Now what are you waiting for? How about you go check it out right now!

Square Fish, 288 pages

Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina

Reviewed by Wanruo 

Merci Suárez is a sixth grader at Seaward Pines Academy. Unlike the other students at her school, she does not live in a big house or take fancy vacations. Merci is a scholarship student who lives with her family in three little houses they call Las Casitas. Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina is about how Merci solves her problems at school and shows her family that she is not a kid anymore.

During sixth grade, everything seems different for Merci. At school, queen bee Edna Santos has her eyes set on Merci’s Sunshine Buddy, Michael Clark. At home, Merci’s abuelo, Lolo, is acting strange, but no one will tell Merci what is going on. Life gets harder as Lolo gets worse, and school becomes tough. Will Merci be able to stay strong through these hard times?

One reason why I liked this book is because it has a lot of emotions. Sometimes, Merci is angry at how she needs to babysit her young cousins, while other times, she is frightened at the way Lolo acts. Just as she starts to calm down, something makes Merci's feelings burn again, either in school, when Edna’s jealousy causes problems, or at home, where she feels like she is being treated like a baby.

Another reason why this book was so captivating was because of the conflicts. At first, Merci is just dealing with school, specifically, trying to fit in. Then, problems start to rise at home, like when Lolo goes crazy and when Merci feels it is unfair that she always needs to babysit her cousins. This leaves Merci feeling alone and stranded, but her friends at school and her family show that she is surrounded by people who care for her.

I would recommend this book to people who enjoy coming-of-age books, and I would rate this book a 10/10 because I personally like to read books that are about kids and real life, and what they go through. There is another book called Merci Suárez Can’t Dance by Meg Medina which is a sequel to Merci Suárez Changes Gears. Make sure to read both books! Go check out Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina at your local school library today.

Candlewick Press, 355 pages

Royal Ranger: A New Beginning by John Flanagan

Reviewed by Isabella

Imagine being the princess of Araluen. To put it bluntly, you are a brat, spoiled, moody, stuck up, and selfish. So when your parents decide they have enough of you, they decide to send you to a ranger to shape you into a better person and make you a ranger’s apprentice.

In Royal Ranger: A New Beginning by John Flanagan, the sequel of Ranger’s Apprentice, Maddie’s parents Cassandra and Horace finally have enough of her behavior and decide to send her to their old buddy, ranger Will. Will is still grieving over the death of his lover, Alyss, and Horace is hoping to bring a little light into his eyes again by giving him an apprentice. Throughout the book, Maddie starts to grow out of her spoiled self, and learns many important lessons. 

One reason I loved this book is because you make a connection with the characters. Throughout the story, you will meet many new characters who you will fall in love with. For example, as I had mentioned before, Will had lost his lover, Alyss, in a fire. At first when I read that part, I was shaken, I couldn’t believe the author had killed off such an amazing character (I actually cried). When you read it, you form a bond with the characters and read the adventures as if you were actually there!

I also really liked this book because it is quite humorous. In the beginning, Maddie attempts to make some coffee for Will. She doesn't know how to make it, and so she just plopped coffee beans in the pot and didn’t even grind them! There are many humorous parts, like when the rangers talk to their horses, that you will laugh at!

I would definitely rate this book a 9.5/10! The story and detail are really good, and you will want to read more as it goes on. I would recommend this book to people who love adventure and hate cliffhangers. Because this is the sequel series of Ranger’s Apprentice, you might want to read that first, and then move on to this one. I hope you will enjoy this book!

Puffin Books, 636 pages

Dune by Frank Herbert

Reviewed by Lucas

From behind the headboard slipped a tiny hunter-seeker no more than five centimeters long.  Paul recognized it at once-a common assassination weapon that every child of royal blood learned about at an early age.  

In the book Dune by Frank Herbert, Paul, the protagonist, has to flee into the wild desert of Arrakis after his father, Duke Leto, is killed, and the capital of Arrakis is captured by a rival family.  For better or for worse, once Paul is forced into the desert, he begins to acquire strange powers of prescience and mental capacity.  After being rescued by the indigenous Fremen of Arrakis, Paul must learn the ways of the Fremen and how to survive the desert.  Uniting the Fremen under his powers, he becomes one of the most powerful men on Arrakis, but what shall he do with that power?  You’ll have to read the book to find out.

One of the reasons I like this book is because it has so much action.  There’s one thing after another, all in quick succession.  For example, when the rival family attacks the capital of Arrakis, it is very fast-paced, starting with the Duke walking outside of his quarters, only to see the attack, then quickly being seized and bound up by the traitor.  Quickly, the point-of-view switches to the Duke’s wife, who also wakes up captured.  

A different interesting trait of Dune is that it is realistic, in some ways.  As the book progresses, economics and politics are intertwined in the plot, making it feel compelling and similar to real life.  An example of this is the Spacing Guild, a galaxy-wide organization that has great influence and regulates space travel.  In the real world, you can’t just travel willy-nilly; there are laws and regulations about where and how you can travel.  The Guild is representative of that, lending Dune a sense of realism that is not often seen in other science fiction novels.

I would give this book a 8.5/10.  There are a few reasons why I didn’t rate it higher, one of them being that in some places, there is a lot of talking, and the plot is rather slow-moving in some places. However overall, it’s a great book for people who like adventure with a nice dose of realism.  Dune is the first book in the series of the same name, making it a good preparation for the books to come.  You should go get it now! 

ACE, 672 pages

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

 Reviewed by Jackson 

Imagine living in a world where magic, science, and theology mixed together to form the most wonderful, dangerous place. Lyra, living in Oxford, must brace the dangers of living in this world and uncover mysteries that are unknown and save her friend, Roger, taken from a shady organization with sinister intentions for their victims. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman is a harrowing, exciting adventure. 

11 year old Lyra has spent her life at Oxford college playing with her best friend, Roger, the kitchen boy. But rumors are spreading that an organization called the  Gobblers is taking children, and kids are disappearing. One day, Lyra finds Roger missing and is very suspicious that he has been kidnapped by the Gobblers. Lyra is told that he has not, and will show up sooner or later, but she is convinced that he has been taken by the Gobblers and may be right. Alongside that, her uncle, Lord Asriel, is a captive under the most powerful beings, the Armoured Bears, who wear armour made from a powerful material. Using her brave, courageous and daring self, she convinces the company to take her along to the North, a dangerous place. Will she save her uncle and her friend Roger?  What mysterious things is her uncle doing and will she save him? Caught on a journey, Lyra, along with her companions, has to save both her uncle and friend. 

One reason I liked this awesome book is because it really showed a lot of detail, and the journey of Lyra really captivated me when I read it. The plot made me actually think about the story and try to predict what would happen. With Lyra's bravery and courage, she easily escapes from dangerous places and becomes the leader of a group of people which helps her immensely in her journey. The story really was awesome with the action and love that Lyra shows to her companions. 

The second reason I liked this book was because of the action. The action of this story was electrifying, with battle and almost real scenes of chaos. Pullman is constantly dropping unexpected, compelling, and sensational action-- for example, when Lyra breaks out of the Gobblers’ jail for victims along with other captured kids. The story was awesome to read and surprising turns make it full of suspense. 

I would rate this book a 10/10 for its awesome action, plot, and suspense! Anyone can read this book unless they don’t like gory things, for example, when barbaric warriors start ripping each other apart, and bears crashing into each other. Overall this story does contain a considerable amount of blood. This book is part of a series called His Dark Materials which contains The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber SpyGlass, which continue Lyra’s epic journey! Philip Pullman has also written many other books, like The Book of Dust, and The Secret Commonwealth all of which take place in the same world as Lyra’s. Is a library near you? Why don’t you check it out?!

Scholastic Corporation, 399 pages

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood

Reviewed by Regina

Trying to manage three children raised by wolves is not easy. Especially when the lady of the house is a young, spoiled brat. Then, you have to prepare for a fancy Christmas dinner, not wanting to break the reputation of the family you’re working for.

In The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood, Penelope Lumley is hired to become a governess for the Ashtons. She thinks that it’s young, innocent, and normal children, but is greeted by two boys and one girl with messy hair and clothes. Lady Ashton wants Penelope to teach the children manners so she won’t become embarrassed when the Ashton family holds the Annual Christmas Ball. However, the Incorrigibles can not take up human traits as easily as regular children, for they were raised by wolves.

One reason why I loved this book is that it shows the wolfish traits of the children. Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassandra like to bark and growl at each other, people, or objects they don’t like. They also chase after smaller animals, such as squirrels or birds. They do not know about human hygiene and clothes. Beowulf refuses to take a bath even if Penelope begs him to. The first time the two boys wore shirts and pants, the shirt was upside down for Beowulf, and Alexander’s pants were, too.

Another amazing trait of this book is that it kept me excited and wanting to keep reading until the end. Most books just have one climax, where the usual “battle” is, but almost all of this book is the climax. Most of the chapters end with a cliffhanger, and it’s hard to just put it down to rest or do something else. The protagonist, Penelope Lumley, has to face many challenges before the real climax of the book. This way, the reader will be able to last the whole book without becoming bored or unhappy about what they’re reading.

I would rate this book a 9 out of 10 because the ending is a cliffhanger. Most people like the book to end cleanly, with someone saving everyone from the “disaster” and everyone lives peacefully. However, this book leaves you on the edge of your seat, wanting to read the sequels all until the seventh book. I recommend this book for anyone who just wants a nice classic adventure to read curled up by a warm place. After reading this book, everyone should check out the whole series, The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place! The author, Maryrose Wood, has also written the series The Poison Diaries, which you might enjoy after reading this series. I hope all of you have a good day and will pick up some time to check out The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling!

HarperCollins Publishers, 288 Pages