I’ll admit that it took me a few pages before I really felt pulled into The Maze Runner — when the story opens, Thomas remembers nothing about himself, knows nothing about where he is, and is too overwhelmed to interact much with the boys around him. Given where the story is [...]
Category Archives: Book Reviews
Book Review: Darkwood, by M.E. Breen
A lot of the fantasy I’ve read over the last few years seems to all be drawing from the same pool of ideas — but definitely not Darkwood! This is an incredibly compelling book.
While it’s great watching Annie (the main character) learn more about her world and her family, and [...]
Book Review: Tales from Outer Suburbia, by Shaun Tan
In the 48 hours after receiving Tales from Outer Suburbia, not only did I devour it myself and share it with two friends, I even showed it to random people on the bus. Every single one was blown away by how amazing this book is — regardless of the fact [...]
Book Review: Claim to Fame, by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Margaret Peterson Haddix is one of my favorite authors, but I’ll admit that I love some of her books far more than others. I don’t know that I’d consider Claim to Fame one of my faves amongst her books, but it was definitely a good read.
In “Claim to Fame”, Lindsey is [...]
Book Review: Girl in the Arena, by Lise Haines
Girl in the Arena is an amazing book that really stands out above the crowd in a lot of ways. I think it would appeal to a wide range of readers, and I have already passed it on or recommended it to many of my friends.
The book is about Lyn, the [...]
Book Review: Birthmarked, by Caragh M. O’Brien
There’s a lot of dystopian YA out there right now, but this book is among the best. In Birthmarked, Gaia is a 16 year-old midwife following in her mother’s footsteps in a tightly controlled world of post-environmental collapse. The book description at Amazon describes the set-up and premise pretty well, [...]
Book Review: Aliens Love Underpants, by Freedman and Cort
If there’s anyone out there who is looking for a good picture book to pick up — for a child, a present, whatever — I can totally recommend Aliens Love Underpants (by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort).
The title alone made me so happy that I expected the book itself to seriously let me down, but [...]
Book Review: Child of a Rainless Year, by Jane Lindskold
Easily the best new book I’ve read in several years
It’s hard to believe that it came out in May and I’m just now coming across it, but Jane Lindskold’s Child of a Rainless Year is the best new book I’ve read in a long time. I’d read some of her short stories here [...]
Book Review: Putting Up Roots, by Charles Sheffield
A good book, and would be great for use in the classroom
Putting Up Roots is a really interesting book about a group of kids who *think* they are training to be colonists on a new planet with their families — only to discover when they get there that their families aren’t coming, and [...]
Book Review: Hidden Talents, by David Lubar
Probably my favorite choice for struggling or disengaged students
Really, Hidden Talents is a great read for just about anyone — it’s probably targeted at 4th-8th graders, but I know plenty of adults who have enjoyed this book about reform school “misfits” who discover hidden powers just as much as their children.
There are lots [...]
Search! Hunt! Fly!
