In
her new life impersonating Sutton, Emma is scared to death. Her confidence in
Ethan about her true identity proves to be a plus and their romance is
definitely growing. Against the murderer's orders, Emma digs deeper into the
mystery of Sutton's death. She ignores the threatening messages sent from her
sister's murderer and investigates her current lead: Lily and Gabby. The
Twitter Twins, a nickname given for their obsession with social media, have
several reasons to hate Sutton, one involving a Lying Game prank that resulted
in Gabby having a seizure. Another topic that keeps coming up is Thayer. What
did Sutton have to do with his disappearance?
Being
the second book in the series, I think Never Have I Ever, by Sara Shepard, was an okay read. I
wasn't as connected to the characters as I was in the first book, but there was
a connection. One thing that did annoy me, and Sutton too, was Emma's lack of
courage with Ethan! It was too repetitive yet cute at the same time. Sara
Shepard continues to deliver her spectacular writing however. The cruelness of
the Lying Game and its members is truly frightening. Why would such pampered,
happy girls enjoy the misery of others? What kept me on the edge of my seat
definitely was the determination the Twitter Twins displayed, especially at the
end...I would recommend this book to fans of the television series or previous
Sara Shepard fans.
-Reviewed by Kristine K., grade 9.
Casa Verdugo Library
What
if you were taken from everything you knew? Your family, your home, your
safety? In Stolen: A Letter to My Captor, by Lucy Christopher, sixteen year old British city dweller
Gemma is taken from the life she knew in an airport while on vacation with her
family. Her kidnapper, Ty, takes her to the outbacks of Australia which looks
like a wasteland to the eye of one who has lived in the city their whole life.
But Ty sees an opportunity for a new life, more connected with the earth and
free from the vicious cycle of city life. But Ty is not a stereotype kidnapper,
and soon, Gemma starts to sympathize with him when she sees his true colors. Is
she beggining to realize what Ty's dream is or is this a classic case of
Stockholm Syndrome?
What I like most about this
book is that it is not a very common theme that you see in a lot of
kidnapping-type novels. This one sort of steps outside the box when it comes to
establishing the antagonist because Gemmas captor isn't exactly evil, nor is he
good. It is absolutely an intersting read and it really stuck with me after
finishing it. I would rate it a 8.5/10 for its unorthodox type of plot and deep
character developement. You really see who each character is and the author
gives us a lot of insight on their thoughts and reasoning.
Reviewed by Cody W., grade 12.
Montrose Library
The
Lies of Locke Lamora is a fiction/fantasy novel by Scott Lynch which follows
the escapades of a group of bandit thieves called the Gentlemen Ba******. They
are dedicated to stealing from the rich nobles of the city of Camorr. The book
is separated into two different parts with one chapter following the main
character Locke and his gang of fellow thieves and the following chapter giving
insight into the history of Camorr and the Gentlemen Ba******. The Gentlemen
Ba****** run into a problem when a mysterious and shady man named the Grey King
approaches Locke with a task; to impersonate him in a meeting with lord of the
criminal underworld.
This book is a perfect
twist on Robin Hood and a grade A spy book. I loved reading this novel about
lies, secrets, deception and betrayal. But the non-stop twists in the plot will
have anyone wondering what will come next. If you like fantasy books, this will
be one that you can not pass up! The cleverly woven story is a pleasure to read
and I also like that it explains to the reader the history of Camorr so that we
have a deeper understanding of the people who live in this city of corruption
and greed, as well as thieves and mercenaries.
- Reviewed by Cody W., grade 12.
Montrose Library
The
book When Zachary Beaver Came to Town, by Kimberly Willis Holt, takes place in
a small town where nothing exciting ever happens, until now, when the fattest
boy in the world, Zachary Beaver, arrives. He sits in his trailer all day while
people pay to look at him. Toby, the main character, somewhat becomes Zachary's
friend. Both Zachary and Toby have some life changing experiences that summer,
and when Zachary's visit is over and he has to leave, the whole town,
especially Toby, has forever been changed. He helped them see everything in a
different way, from a different perspective.
I did not really like this
book that much. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone really, it was kind of
boring. I was really disappointed because when I found out what it was about, I
was expecting it to be funny and interesting. It didn't have any suspenseful
moments and I didn't really get into it. I didn't really want to keep reading,
but I finished it in hopes of it becoming more interesting or having a twist at
the end; but sadly there wasn't. I really did not enjoy this book at all and I
just wish there was more to it.
Reviewed by Melody N., grade 9.
Central Library
