by Joy Hensley
Summary:
Sam has never backed down from a bet. When her now deceased brother Amos bet her she couldn't be the first female to graduate from the prestigious Denmark Military Academy, she took it as a challenge to be completed no matter what. Now, one of only 5 girls accepted to the Academy, she's finding that not everyone is as accepting of women as they should be. As a secret society puts moves into play to eliminate her and her fellow female recruits in any way possible, Sam will be lucky to finish out the year alive.
Review:
I wasn't sure what to make of this book. At first I thought it was going to be a realistic drama about a girl dealing with the rigors and difficulties of attending a male oriented military academy and all that that implies. I wasn't a huge fan of the whole secret society aspect, it added kind of a silly element that was wholly unnecessary to the plot. Other than that it was a great story about overcoming odds and believing in yourself.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 8th Grade
Showing posts with label Conspiracies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Conspiracies. Show all posts
Friday, March 13, 2015
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Pawn
by Aimee Carter
Summary:
In a world where there are 7 classes, Kitty Doe is a III. It's not as bad as being a I or II, but it means she's in for a life of misery and deprivation. When she's given the chance to become a VII she leaps at it, not knowing what she's getting into. Now she's been surgically altered to be the double of the niece of the Prime Minister, and she's finding out that nothing is as it seems.
Review:
Pawn stands out in the sea of dystopians out these days. While the class system has been covered in many other novels, Carter does a good job of creating a world that's both believable and plausible. The characters are well developed, and the plot has a few good twists which keep the reader guessing. The trilogy is just beginning, but you could even read the first one as a standalone.
Genre: Dystopian
Age Level: 8th Grade
Summary:
In a world where there are 7 classes, Kitty Doe is a III. It's not as bad as being a I or II, but it means she's in for a life of misery and deprivation. When she's given the chance to become a VII she leaps at it, not knowing what she's getting into. Now she's been surgically altered to be the double of the niece of the Prime Minister, and she's finding out that nothing is as it seems.
Review:
Pawn stands out in the sea of dystopians out these days. While the class system has been covered in many other novels, Carter does a good job of creating a world that's both believable and plausible. The characters are well developed, and the plot has a few good twists which keep the reader guessing. The trilogy is just beginning, but you could even read the first one as a standalone.
Genre: Dystopian
Age Level: 8th Grade
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
172 Hours on the Moon
by Johan Harstad
Summary:
In an effort to get people excited about space again, NASA holds a contest to send 3 teenagers to the moon for a week (along with an experienced crew of course). When Mia, Antoine, and Midori are selected from millions of teenagers across the world they are thrilled to go. But the moon hides some dark secrets, and what they find up there is something none of them expected.
Review:
I don't know what I was expecting when I picked up 172 Hours on the Moon, but I was pleasantly surprised by what I got. Harstad's book is full of suspense, but he writes it in a way that makes it fairly plausible. The government conspiracy will intrigue any who like that sort of thing, and the book even has a little romance thrown in. I'll admit I was completely thrown by the ending, the book was nothing that I expected but is definitely going to be sticking in my memory for quite some time.
Genre: Science Fiction
Age Level: 8th Grade
Summary:
In an effort to get people excited about space again, NASA holds a contest to send 3 teenagers to the moon for a week (along with an experienced crew of course). When Mia, Antoine, and Midori are selected from millions of teenagers across the world they are thrilled to go. But the moon hides some dark secrets, and what they find up there is something none of them expected.
Review:
I don't know what I was expecting when I picked up 172 Hours on the Moon, but I was pleasantly surprised by what I got. Harstad's book is full of suspense, but he writes it in a way that makes it fairly plausible. The government conspiracy will intrigue any who like that sort of thing, and the book even has a little romance thrown in. I'll admit I was completely thrown by the ending, the book was nothing that I expected but is definitely going to be sticking in my memory for quite some time.
Genre: Science Fiction
Age Level: 8th Grade
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Don't Turn Around
by Michelle Gagnon
Summary:
Noa has only relied on herself for years. She beat the foster care system, tricked it into letting her live alone. She's made a name for herself as a hacker, earning enough that she never has to worry. But she she wakes up alone on an operating table, with no memory of what happened, she discovers that there are some things you can't plan for. After she escapes whoever had trapped her there, she finds only one person she can trust, another hacker she's never actually met. It up to her and Patrick to discover what happened to her, and the truth might just get them killed.
Review:
First things first, this is another trilogy. I didn't realize it when I picked it up, but it's good to know. Overall the book is interesting. The book is a bit tech heavy, but the author makes it so that it is pretty easy to understand. Noa is a strong character who has to lean on a stranger to survive. Patrick is the classic boy who had everything who realizes that everything he ever knew is a lie. The book is fast-paced and interesting, good for both genders if they are into thrillers.
Genre: Fiction
Age Level: 8th Grade
Summary:
Noa has only relied on herself for years. She beat the foster care system, tricked it into letting her live alone. She's made a name for herself as a hacker, earning enough that she never has to worry. But she she wakes up alone on an operating table, with no memory of what happened, she discovers that there are some things you can't plan for. After she escapes whoever had trapped her there, she finds only one person she can trust, another hacker she's never actually met. It up to her and Patrick to discover what happened to her, and the truth might just get them killed.
Review:
First things first, this is another trilogy. I didn't realize it when I picked it up, but it's good to know. Overall the book is interesting. The book is a bit tech heavy, but the author makes it so that it is pretty easy to understand. Noa is a strong character who has to lean on a stranger to survive. Patrick is the classic boy who had everything who realizes that everything he ever knew is a lie. The book is fast-paced and interesting, good for both genders if they are into thrillers.
Genre: Fiction
Age Level: 8th Grade
Friday, July 13, 2012
Trash
by Andy Mulligan
Summary:
Raphael, Gardo, and Rat have never known a life without want. Their days are not spent in school, but sorting through the trash dump looking for things they can use or sell. Then one day their lives change with what they find. It may have seemed to be just a simple brown leather satchel, but the map it contained would lead them to a treasure that would change their lives forever. As long as they lived long enough to find it.
Review:
Mulligan's book is told through through the alternating perspectives of Raphael, Gardo and Rat, as well as other important characters who appear throughout the book. While the writing itself is not stellar, and the story itself is a bit underdeveloped. the 3 boys are decent characters who hold your attention. The story does seem to come together a bit superficially, how 3 mostly illiterate boys are able to decipher a complex code is just a little unbelievable. Overall it's good for a quick read for those who like a bit of adventure and danger in their books.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 6th Grade
Summary:
Raphael, Gardo, and Rat have never known a life without want. Their days are not spent in school, but sorting through the trash dump looking for things they can use or sell. Then one day their lives change with what they find. It may have seemed to be just a simple brown leather satchel, but the map it contained would lead them to a treasure that would change their lives forever. As long as they lived long enough to find it.
Review:
Mulligan's book is told through through the alternating perspectives of Raphael, Gardo and Rat, as well as other important characters who appear throughout the book. While the writing itself is not stellar, and the story itself is a bit underdeveloped. the 3 boys are decent characters who hold your attention. The story does seem to come together a bit superficially, how 3 mostly illiterate boys are able to decipher a complex code is just a little unbelievable. Overall it's good for a quick read for those who like a bit of adventure and danger in their books.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 6th Grade
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Double Helix
by Nancy Werlin
Summary:
No secret ever really stays a secret. It doesn't matter how hard you try, in the end, especially if it's a big one, it's going to come out. When Eli starts work for world renown scientist Dr. Wyatt, he is warned by his father to stay far away from him. Suspicious and confused by his father's pronouncement, given with no explanation, Eli begins to investigate further into Dr. Wyatt's experiments. But what he finds may be more personal than he could ever imagine.
Review:
Double Helix is about the dangers of genetic engineering. The book deftly brings up the very sensitive topic about the moral complexities of genetic modification. Is it right to destroy a potential life because you ultimately know it is going to die of a terrible disease or is it better to only allow the healthy to survive? Eli's mother dies of Huntington's Disease in the beginning of the novel, fueling the debate brought up in the book. It is a well written novel with engaging characters which older tweens will like. It's got a bit of conspiracy, a love story, and is overall very though provoking.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Summary:
No secret ever really stays a secret. It doesn't matter how hard you try, in the end, especially if it's a big one, it's going to come out. When Eli starts work for world renown scientist Dr. Wyatt, he is warned by his father to stay far away from him. Suspicious and confused by his father's pronouncement, given with no explanation, Eli begins to investigate further into Dr. Wyatt's experiments. But what he finds may be more personal than he could ever imagine.
Review:
Double Helix is about the dangers of genetic engineering. The book deftly brings up the very sensitive topic about the moral complexities of genetic modification. Is it right to destroy a potential life because you ultimately know it is going to die of a terrible disease or is it better to only allow the healthy to survive? Eli's mother dies of Huntington's Disease in the beginning of the novel, fueling the debate brought up in the book. It is a well written novel with engaging characters which older tweens will like. It's got a bit of conspiracy, a love story, and is overall very though provoking.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
The Season
by Sarah MacLean
Summary:
Lady Alexandra Stafford could care less about the fact that she is a debutante this year. But unless she gets herself ruined, a possibility that although tempting would probably result in her mother murdering her, she will find herself paraded throughout the marriage mart that is the London Season. As the Season progresses, she finds herself entangled in the investigation into her old friend Gavin's father's death, which is much more exciting than balls or tea parties. As danger looms over them Gavin and Alexandra might find more than they bargained for in each other. Will they live happily ever after? Or die at the hands of a traitor.
Review:
The Season is a fantastic regency romance written for teens. It has all the elements of the more adult romance novels written, but without the more racy bits, making it suitable for teens or older tweens. I really enjoyed the book personally and with there was a sequel!
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Level: 8-9th Grade
Summary:
Lady Alexandra Stafford could care less about the fact that she is a debutante this year. But unless she gets herself ruined, a possibility that although tempting would probably result in her mother murdering her, she will find herself paraded throughout the marriage mart that is the London Season. As the Season progresses, she finds herself entangled in the investigation into her old friend Gavin's father's death, which is much more exciting than balls or tea parties. As danger looms over them Gavin and Alexandra might find more than they bargained for in each other. Will they live happily ever after? Or die at the hands of a traitor.
Review:
The Season is a fantastic regency romance written for teens. It has all the elements of the more adult romance novels written, but without the more racy bits, making it suitable for teens or older tweens. I really enjoyed the book personally and with there was a sequel!
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Level: 8-9th Grade
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Test
by William Sleator
Summary:
Every student knows that they need to do well on tests in order to do better in the long run, to help them get into a good college and get a good job. But what if one test was what decided your whole life? What if you only had one chance to make it in this world, and if you failed you're only path was a lifetime of dangerous minimum wage jobs and struggling to make ends meet. As Ann finishes school and prepares to take the test which will decide her future, she stumbles onto a scandal which just might be able to stop the testing forever, provided she can avoid the guys who are trying to kill her for finding out.
Review:
While Test has an interesting premise, on the whole the book was poorly written and not very engaging. Sleator doesn't really develop any of the characters well, and the relationship between Ann and Lep just seems to happen without any sort of explanation. He presents a world where this test has become the be all and end all of a student's life, as well as a way to sort out any potential criminals, but no one outside the students know how important it is. Perhaps a good read to recommend for those really into societal control or conspiracy theory books, but on the whole there are better books out there on a similar topic.
Genre: Futuristic Fiction
Age Level: 6th Grade
Summary:
Every student knows that they need to do well on tests in order to do better in the long run, to help them get into a good college and get a good job. But what if one test was what decided your whole life? What if you only had one chance to make it in this world, and if you failed you're only path was a lifetime of dangerous minimum wage jobs and struggling to make ends meet. As Ann finishes school and prepares to take the test which will decide her future, she stumbles onto a scandal which just might be able to stop the testing forever, provided she can avoid the guys who are trying to kill her for finding out.
Review:
While Test has an interesting premise, on the whole the book was poorly written and not very engaging. Sleator doesn't really develop any of the characters well, and the relationship between Ann and Lep just seems to happen without any sort of explanation. He presents a world where this test has become the be all and end all of a student's life, as well as a way to sort out any potential criminals, but no one outside the students know how important it is. Perhaps a good read to recommend for those really into societal control or conspiracy theory books, but on the whole there are better books out there on a similar topic.
Genre: Futuristic Fiction
Age Level: 6th Grade
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