Student Book Reviews

“Only Septimus Heap can master Flyte!”

 

Flyte

 

By: Angie Sage

 

Reviewed by Trent, grade 7

 

Classification: Fantasy

 

On a scale of 1-5, I rate this book a 4!

 

Flyte is about Septimus Heap who is apprenticed to Marcia Overstrand.  He is walking with Princess Jenna in the Palace.  They meet Simon (Septimus older brother) comes and takes Jenna away for a “ride”.  Soon he realizes that Jenna and Simon are not coming back.  Septimus tries to go after her only to be defeated by Simon.  Jenna then makes attempts to escape from Simon and soon finds a way to find her freedom.

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“A hero, a quest, and a magical sword may hold Redwall’s only hope for survival.”

 

Redwall

 

By: Brian Jacques

 

Reviewed by Lauren, grade 7

 

Classification: Fantasy/Adventure

 

On a scale of 1-5, I rate this book a 5!

 

This story takes place in the Abby of Redwall.  Redwall is a place of peace, refuge, and happiness for all the woodlanders of Moss Flower forest.  That is until Cluny comes.  Cluny is an evil rat whom wants to take all of Redwall for his own.  Redwall’s only hope is Matthias, a clumsy young mouse.  Matthias must find the mystical sword of Martin, before it’s too late!  Can he defeat Cluny? Read to find out!

 

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“The secret garden must never be found.”

 

Secret Garden

 

By: Frances Hodgson Burnett

 

Reviewed by Ciara, grade 7

Classification: Adventure/Mystery

 

On a scale of 1-5, I rate this book a 4!

 

There is a little girl named Mary who got just about everything she wanted.  She was used to being waited on and when her mother, father, and servants die, she is left alone.  She then moves to her uncle and aunt’s house and learns how to play and do everything herself.

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“Beauty pays a price, but this one is more dangerous than you think.”

 

Uglies

 

By: Scott Westerfeld

 

Reviewed by Emily, grade 7

 

Classification:  Survival/Adventure/Mystery

 

On a scale of 1-5, I rate this book a 5!

 

Tally Youngblood lives in a world where when you are 16, you get an operation to make you beautiful.  Her friend Peris has turned pretty 3 ½ months before Tally, so Tally is all alone in Uglyville.  Then she meets a girl named Shay.  Shay claims she doesn’t want to get the operation and runs away.

 

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“A mysterious mystery about a mysterious society.”

 

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey

 

By: Trenton Stewart

 

Reviewed by Othman, grade 7

 

Classification: Science Fiction/Mystery

 

On a scale of 1-5, I rate this book a 5!

 

A group of four kids get reunited after 6 months.  They receive a mysterious letter from a man named Mr. Benedict; the letter was an invitation for a reunion.  When they get to Mr. Benedict’s house they realize that he has been kidnapped.  They then have to follow notes that Mr. Benedict has left for them so they can rescue him.

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“It takes on ranger to stop a riot, but it may take two this time…”

 

The Ranger’s Apprentice:  The Kings of Clonmel

 

By:  John Flanagan

 

Reviewed by Samantha, grade 7

 

Classification: Adventure

 

On a scale of 1-5, I rate this book a 5!

 

Will is on an adventure with his former mentor, Halt and his friend Horace!  This time, they are traveling to Clonmel to stop a religious cult from taking over.  Luckily, Halt’s relationship with the king will help them out.

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“Hundreds of light years from home with a planets worth of lives in her hands…will she succeed?”

 

Enchantress from the Stars

 

By:  Sylvia Engdahl

 

Reviewed by Celia, grade 7

 

Classification:  Fantasy/Science Fiction

 

On a scale of 1-5, I rate this book a 5!

 

In an unknown time and solar system, a girl named Elena stows away on her father’s starship.  Her father works for the service, an exclusive organization devoted to protecting “Youngling” planets that haven’t yet progressed to their full potential.  When they land on a planet called Andrecia, Elena doesn’t know what’s in store for her until the third member of her father’s team is unexpectedly killed by invaders from another Youngling planet.  Now, she’s part of the team and the weight of an entire planet rests on her shoulders.

 

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“You better not send me off to military school!”

 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid 3: The Last Straw

 

By:  Jeff Kinney

 

Reviewed by Alex, grade 7

 

Classification: Humor

 

On a scale of 1-5, I rate this book a 5!

 

Greg the main character is not the strongest kid ever. During the summer a teenager that his dad hates gets sent off to a military academy.  Greg’s dad thinks that’s a good idea and tries to send him to a military school on the first day of summer. His dad thinks this will toughen Greg up and get rid of his wimpy behavior.  Greg does everything he can before to keep his dad from sending him away before summer starts.  Will Greg be tough enough to show his dad that he doesn’t need to go to military school?  Find out when you read this funny book!

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“Lily Owens your jar is open, and so can yours!”

 

The Secret Lives of Bees

 

By:  Sue Monk Kidd

 

Reviewed by Jordan, grade 7

 

Classification:  Historical Fiction/Adventure

 

On a scale of 1-5, I rate this book a 4!

 

In the “Secret Life of Bees,” Lily Owens is a fourteen old girl growing up in 1964 South Carolina, on a peach farm.  Obstacles get in her way while trying to find her past.  Lily’s father T-Ray is a rotten man, and one day Lily and her nanny Rosaleen run away for their freedom to a place they never expected.  The two girls have and adventure of a lifetime when they meet three bee-keeping sisters, but they also discover their true selves.

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“Saving the world? No problem!”

 

Maximum Ride

 

By:  James Patterson

 

Reviewed by Saylor, grade 7

 

Classification:  Fantasy/Survival/Adventure

 

On a scale of 1-5, I rate this book a 5!

 

Maximum Ride is a girl who is 2% bird.  Her and her misfit friends all have wings.  They are constantly getting tracked down by erasers which are made specifically to get them.  Then the youngest of the family gets taken.  It’s up to Maximum Ride and her friend to save her and stay alive themselves.

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“One it seldom reaches anything approaching that amount.”

 

The Purple Emperor

 

By:  Herbie Brennan

 

Reviewed by Brittany, grade 7

 

Classification:  Fantasy/Adventure

 

On a scale of 1-5, I rate this book a 4!

 

One day, the Purple Emperor’s dead body disappears.  Lord Hairstreak shows up with him and orders that Blue Pygrus and others be banished forever.  However, Comma, their little step-brother helps them uncover Hairstreak’s plan.  With the help of Queen Cleopatra and her warriors, they lead an attack on Black Hairstreaks mansions.  What they find, is totally unexpected.

 

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“Freedom and justice must be achieved, and Martin’s just the one for the job.”

 

Mossflower

 

By:  Brian Jacques

 

Reviewed by Lauren, grade 7

 

Classification:  Fantasy/Adventure

On a scale of 1-5, I rate this book a 5!

 

Mossflower is a beautiful forest, but it is ruled by Tasmira, and evil wildcat.  The people of Mossflower are held in terror when she seizes their possessions and homes.  Martin is a warrior who comes across Mossflower, and he vows to save it when he sees the villager’s plight.  It is a wonderful adventure.

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“When life brings you faeries…What can you do?”

 

Fate

 

By: Lynn Barnes

 

Reviewed by Reina, grade 8

 

Classification: Fantasy/Humor/Mystery

 

On a scale of 1-5, I rate this book a 5!

 

Bailey Morgan is a high schooler close to losing her best friends.  What takes away the pain?  It could be that she’s also the Third Fate.  She controls destiny but can’t help her own.  At night when she sleeps, she goes to the other world.  She can’t help love the mystical beings there, even though they might hurt her friends.