Book Bites Reviews

These reviews were written by the members of our tween and teen book club.

Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer
Review by Katelyn
3 girls, Bea, Gigi, Neerja, how they are overachievers and they want to get noticed. Everything is turned upside down. My favorite characters are Mike and Bea, because Mike is really funny, smart and sarcastic, and the same reasons for Bea. I loved this book because it has humor and romance and it is a really good story.

Jinx by Sage Blackwood
Review by Hannah
A boy named Jinx is abandoned in the magical forest, Urwald, and adopted by a wizard, Simon. At first Jinx is just a person who cleans Simon's house, but eventually he finds a way into the Forbidden Wing of the house and convinces Simon to teach him magic. Jinx becomes a listener of the trees of the Urwald. no one believes him because there hasn't been a listener in over a thousand years. Simon then performs a spell on Jinx that takes his life. To get his life back, he travels to Dame Glammer's (an evil witch) house and meets Elfwyn and Reven (two other kids with curses on them). Then on Dame Glammer's advice he goes to the Bone Master's (an evil wizard) house. They are imprisoned for a time and finally find a way out.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Review by Tori
Mia and her family get in a car crash, killing all her family and severely injuring her. Realizing the death of her family, she decides between life and death. My favorite character is Kim because she is strong even when her friend's life is in jeopardy. I loved this book because the emotion portrayed in the story is a tear dripper!

White Fang by Jack London
Review by Paige
White Fang is a wolf who is curious and adventurous. Scott, his owner, after a long life, finds White Fang and turns his hate into love. My favorite character is White Fang because he is curious about the world. I loved this book because I like how he's adventurous and survives through lots of problems and it is an amazing book.

Also discussed: House of Night Novels by P.C. Cast

Book Bites Reviews

In The Belly Of The Bloodhound by L.A. Meyer
Review by Paige
Jackie Faber and the Lawson Peabody school for young girls goes on a field trip but they are being tricked onto a slave ship. I like this book because Jackie plans an escape to save herself and her friends. You should read this book because it is adventurous.

Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer
Review by Paige
This book is about a girl whose name is Mary but changed it to Jackie when she goes on the ship H.M.S. Dolphin. She is disguised as a boy to get on the ship. I like this book because she has lots of adventures on the ship and is a ship's boy and makes a Dread Brotherhood with all the ship's boys. You should read this book because it is very adventurous and is amazing and is a great book.




The Artsy Smartsy Club by Daniel Pinkwater
Review by Melody
This book is about some kids who are on their own with a chicken that eats marshmallows. I like this book because I can relate to the chicken. You should read this book because I like it.

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
Review by Tori
Cala makes the mistake of saving a mountain hiker from a bear. The Union is nearing when Sha, the hiker she saved in the wood, appears and confuses her life. I like this book because the idea is great. But I'm still deciphering whether Cala is a strong or weak character. You should read this book because it's an action packed story.

Dying to Meet You by Kate Klise
Review by B-liz
A ghost and Seymour live at 43 Old Cemetery Road. Mr. Grumpy is a book writer who has writer's block. I like this book because the ghost doesn't like Mr. Grumpy but loves Seymour. You should read this book because it is all letters and it's really funny.





Other Titles Discussed
Black Butler by Yana Toboso
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia
Stork by Wendi Delsol
Darkside by Tom Becker
Lifeblood by Tom Becker
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
Seer of Shadows by Avi
Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross

Book Bites Reviews

Nicky Deuce: Welcome To The Family by Steven R. Schirripa
Review by Elizabeth
This book is about a boy from a fancy city who comes to his grandma's house and gets into some bad stuff. Then he calls his dad to get out of it. I like this book because it was funny and the food sounds very good. You should read this book because it was very funny.

The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford
Review by Paige
This book is about 2 dogs and a cat who's owners went away to Canada and somebody is watching the dogs for them. The dogs and the cat go outside and start the incredible journey to find their owners. I like this book because it is very adventurous and all of the animals help each other out; like when the old dog got attacked by a bear and the cat kills animals for him. You should read this book because it's very adventurous and they go through lots of problems and the are separated and come together.

Beatrice Doesn't Want To by Laura Numeroff
Review by Melody
This book is about a dog who hates libraries, books and reading. But Bea's Brother Henry has a report on dino's so Bea has to go to the library for the next 3 days. The first day, Bea says I want to watch but she bothers Henry too much. So the next day Henry found a comfy chair and Bea still managed to bother Henry. The third day came and Henry saw a sign that said there was a book club, where the lady reads a book to kids. At the end Bea asks for the book and Bea found the comfy chair and read. Henry finishes his report.I like this book because there is a lot of detail.

Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa
Review by Tesa
This book is about two brothers who are in the government end up in a small town run by a priest. They are on a quest looking for the Philosopher's Stone, which they suspect the priest has. Further along, going back to the capital, they end up on a train ambushed by a gang, and have to save the hostages and the train. I like this book because it is well written with a good plot. You should read this book because it is interesting and funny.

The Frog Princess by E.D. Baker
Review by Katelyn Jacques
A princess has a reversal charm bracelet and then she kisses a frog. So she turns into a frog and she has to figure out how to be a princess again. I like this book because it is fun. You should read this book because I liked it and it is funny.

Titles also discussed:
Hearts Blood by Juliet Marillier
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Book Bites Reviews

The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis
Review by Tori
Digory and his friend Polly wind up in his uncle's study, when he tricks Digory and Polly into going to Narnia by yellow and green rings. I like this book because it sums up all the missing pieces in the multiple books before it. You should read this book because it is filled to the top with adventure.

Dear Dumb Diary, Year 2, Books 1&2 by Jim Benton
Review by Hannah
Jamie Kelly starts 6th or 7th grade and she is doing well in all of her classes except math and she has lots of excuses why she shouldn't do well in math. Then her friend Isabella gets her to get better at math. In book 2 she is planning the school dance. I absolutely love Jamie Kelly because it's really funny.

Love? Maybe by Heather Hepler
Review by Elizabeth
This book is about a girl whose birthday is on Valentine's Day but hates any romance. She ends up dating the most popular guy in the school. I like this book because it is very funny. You should read this book because it's very good.

The Yanti by Christopher Pike
Review by Paige
This book is about a girl who is trying to find out a bunch of things and who needs to go to another world. Since she is queen of all fairies, she has lots of powers. I like this book because it is a fantasy and has elves, dwarfs, fairies, trolls and other fantasy creatures. You should read this book because it's a fantasy!!!

Does My Head Look Big In This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah
Review by B-Liz
This book is about a girl making decisions. She likes a guy and the guy kind of likes her. I like this book because it helps me live a better life. You should read this book because it will change your life.

Finally by Wendy Mass
Review by Hannah
This book is about a girl who turns 12 and gets to do all of the things that she ever wanted to do that her parents wouldn't let her do before. She doesn't get what she expects with many of her experiences. For example, when she purchases a rabbit for a pet, he gets out of his cage and tries to sit on her face while she is sleeping, which almost suffocates her. then in her experiences with make up and getting her ears pierced, she finds that she is allergic to gold and organic ingredients. Next, when she's getting her cell phone, she looses it in the first 15 minutes that she has it. then, when she gets a new phone number, it's so similar to a p hone number for a pizza shop, so there are people calling her ordering pizza around the clock. This book is really funny, and my favorite part is when Rory realizes that growing up isn't all fun and games, and you can't just do whatever you want when you reach a certain age or get older.

The Nightmare Begins, Cirque Du Freak by Darren Shan
Review by Allie Orr
A boy named Darren goes to a circus with his best friend. He falls in love with Madam Octa, which is a poisonous spider. He steals her, but his friend gets bitten. Darren asks for help from Mr. Crepsley, but Mr. Crepsley has a secret; he's a vampire. Now Darren will have to put it all on the line, including his humanity to save his friend. (Only someone really stupid would steal a vampire's spider.) You should read this book because it's funny and has a really good plot.

Times Squared by Julia DeVilliers
Review by Katelyn
This book is about twins, Emma and Payton. Emma is in the Mathletes and Payton is in the drama club, and they both get to go to New York. Payton gets stuck with the boring chaperone and Emma is with the fun teacher. Payton wants to switch places and when she does, Payton goes to the giant Ferris Wheel with Nick, her crush. Sydney, Payton's arch-nemesis thinks it's Emma, who likes Ox, and now everyone thinks she is cheating. At the theater, Payton sees Ashlynn and they don't like each other.  Ashlynn is the star of the show and she tries to embarrass Payton and afterwards. she becomes her stage slave. But emma is training for her mathletes and she gets 3rd place. At the final performance they embarrass Ashlynn. I like this book because it was funny and interesting. You should read this book because I liked it.

Cat Paradise by Yugi Iwahara
Review by Paige
This book is about a girl who goes to a school and has a cat and needs to choose a power of something she's good at. I like this book because her power she chooses was KNITTING! You should read this book because the cat has strength as a power and can turn into human/cat.

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
Review by Elizabeth
This book is about a family that can live forever and stays in hiding. When Winnie finds the spring that made the Tucks live forever, they have to kidnap her and tell her their secret. I like this book because it is funny, and sad sometimes  but it has a great ending. You should read this book because it's great.

Imadoki by Yuu Watase
Review by Tori
This book is about a girl who slowly becomes friends with a boy w ho never opened up to anyone in his life. I like this book because it is a heartwarming book. You should read this book because it's easy to read and the pictures are awesome.

As Dead As It Gets by Katie Alender
Review by B-Liz
This book is about ghosts, poltergeists and Carter.

The Giver by Lois Lowry
Review by Paige
This book is about a guy who has a perfect world, no wars, no fighting  but in his "perfect world" there is no color. When the ceremony time comes, when they get their jobs, they skip him and he gets real scared. I like this book because the job he gets is very special. He is the giver.

Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
Review by Hannah
Percy finds out that he has a half-brother Tyson, and he sneaks on a quest to heal Thalia's magic tree and find the golden fleece. My favorite part is when Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase get stranded on Circe's island and Percy gets turned into a guinea pig. You should read this book because the story keeps getting better.

Small As An Elephant by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
Review by Elizabeth
This book is about a boy who loses his mom and then looks for her in the state of Maine. I don't like this book because the boy's mother is crazy and this boy almost dies. You should not read this book.

Witch and Wizard by James Patterson
Review by Kayse
A young girl named Wisty and her brother Whit are being accused of witchcraft. They get kidnapped from soldiers and taken away from their parents. They soon escape in search of their parents. Whit finds out about  his missing girlfriend. I like this book because it gives a lost of detail and always leaves with a cliff hanger. You should read this book because it leaves you on the edge of your seat.

The Vampire's Assistant, Cirqu Du Freak by Darren Shan
Review by Allie
Darren is now half vampire. Worried about becoming a monster, Darren only eats animal blood. Without human blood, Darren is dying. Will the death of his new found friend Sam Grest make him see the goodness in his heart or will he die...I like this book because it's an amazing book. It has vampires, snake boys, wolf men and a crazy eco warrior. You should read this book because you don't know what Darren will choose, life or death.




Also  Discusses:
As Dead As It Gets by Katie Alender
The Salamander Spell by E.D. Baker

Book Bites Reviews

Cracker! The Best Dog In Vietnam by Cynthia Kadohata
Review by Tori
A dog named Cracker is being cruelly taken away from it's lovely home to be held at Vietnam to work as a war dog. Lovely book! I like this book because it made me cry! (in a good way!) You should read this book because this book is amazing! So touching...

Fruits Basket 17 by Natsuki Takaya
Review by Paige
This book is about a girl w ho is trying to break the Zodiac curse but she doesn't know how. And it's a story about Akito the leader. I like this book because it's a manga and you figure out a lot of surprises. You should read this book because it is very fascinating and each person has a characteristic about the animal they are.

Curiosity Killed the Cat by Sierra Harimann
Review by Katelyn
This book is about a girl who moves in by a cemetery and a cat starts haunting her and her stepsister. Then they try to figure out why she is being haunted. I did not like this book because I do not like cats and it is very slow. you should not read this book because it is not that interesting and not very entertaining.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Review by B-liz
This book is about an evil queen, a stepmother and plague. I like this book because there is a prince and it's like Cinderella. There are ugly/pretty people. You should read this book because it's about robots and flying cars.

The Dark Hills Divide by Patrick Carman
Review by Hannah
This book is about Alexa Daley. She is a 12-year-old girl who is spending a summer in Bridewell with her father. Alexa wants to learn what is beyond the wall that surrounds all of the towns of Elyon. In the Dark Hills, outside the town an unknown evil is feared by the townspeople. Alexa unravels the truth about what lies behind the wall, and discovers both an unexpected enchantment and a traitor in the midst that could change the Land of Elyon forever.

Other Books Discussed:
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Pretties by Scott Westerfeld
Specials by Scott Westerfeld

Book Bites Reviews

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
Review by Tori
This book is about a girl who lives in a "touch me not" cottage by the woods. Looking for adventure, she wanders into the woods to meet the Tucks who live forever. I like this book because the theme is wonderful! it's not my favorite book but I definitely would never rate it below 3 stars. You should read this book because it is a quick read that's hard to put down. I read it straight through.

Guitar Notes by Mary Amato
Review by Katie
This book is about musicians. I like this book because I am very musical and I really love reading books about music and instruments. You should read this book because you will enjoy it if you like reading about music.

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
Review by Tim
This book is about a boy named Carter who travels the world with his dad, while his sister Sadie lives with her grandparents. Carter's dad is stolen and thrown into a sarcophagus by "the fiery man". Then Carter and Sadie have to save him. I like this book because it's just good. (Trust me, it's just good.)

Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya
Review by Paige
This book is about a girl whose mother died and she knows about the zodiac legend. She lives outside of this house and they find her, welcome her into their house where she finds out that the family are actually the animals from the zodiac legend. I like this book because when one of the family members hugs a person that isn't in the family they turn into their animals. Each person has his own animal and has a character of the animal. You should read this book because it's a manga and it has many good parts in it.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney
Review by Hannah
This book is about Greg worrying about the Valentine's Day dance, it's really boring. I believe that Jeff Kinney is kind of losing his touch or just tried to write this book really fast, so it's not very good like the other ones. You shouldn't read this book.

At First Bite by Ruth Ames
Review by Katelyn
Ashlee Lambert is a vampire in L.A. and their's a Dark One in the school and she tries to figure out who it is. I like this book because it was funny and entertaining. You should read this book because it was really interesting.

Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patt
erson
Review by B-liz
This book is about teenagers who have to deal with the murder of their parents; super human people. I like this book because it is a mystery. The people are really mean. You should read this book because  it has music and rich snotty people.

Other books discussed:
Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Book Bites Reviews

The Lucky Stone by Lucille Cliftor
Review by Paige
This book is about a slave who finds a black stone and good things start to happen to her. I like this book because it could be a true story. You should read this book because it's in her point of view.

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
Review by Tori
This book is about Ben is half deaf and Rose is looking for an actress. I like this book because it's awesome. You should read this book because the drawings are great.

How To Tell If You Cat Is Plotting To Kill You by Matthew Inman
Review by Melody
This book is about how to tell if your cat is plotting to kill you. I like this book because I just do. You should read this book because I like it.

The Forbidden Schoolhouse by Suzanne Jurmain
Review by Tim
Prudence Crandell builds a school for white women. Then she changed it to an all black women's school. Everyone in Caterbury hates her but she won't back down. She goes to jail and fights for the freedom of blacks. I like this book because it is the only good nonfiction book...because it's good...OK just deal with it. It's good. You should read this book because it's good.

A Mutiny in Time (The Infinity Ring Series) by James Dasher
Review by Hannah
This book is about three kids. Sera, Dak and Ria are in the future, maybe 20 or 30 years from now, and there's an organization called the SQ who have caused history to be altered. People know when the SQ alters history because they have Rembrants (mind conditions). Sera, Dak's best friend cracks the formula of the Infinity Ring and now the Hysteryians (a group who rights the SQ's wrongs) can travel back through the future and fix history before the Time Wardens, working for SQ get them.

Max by James Patterson
Review by B-liz
This book is about flying kids and tests. Also, somebody's mom gets captured. I like this book because there are hot guys (Fang), and people get shot at. You should read this book because it's action packed, never disappointing, and give me hope for the future with a very hot boy.


Other Books Discussed:
Moonlight by Rachel Hawthorne