Fly on the Wall, by E. Lockhart

 The book introduces us to the character known as Gretchen Yee. She goes to Manhattan School of arts. She is a very lonely person because her best friend Kathy is always busy. She sits alone at school and is too shy to make friends or talk to her crush Titus.One day, Gretchen wishes that she could be a fly on the walls of the boys" locker rooms just to learn more about guys. This book shows the story of that wish coming true.

I would definitely recommend, Fly on the Wall, by E. Lockhart. An average teen would probably relate to Gretchen and some other characters. It also really makes you think about a wish coming to reality. It makes you think what you would do if you had that power. One thing I would change about the book would be a better explanation of how this happened. The author took the lazy way out by not including an actual logical way she could have turned into a fly. But, if you really think about it, that's not the main premise of the book. The book is trying to show how this kind of transformation affects Gretchen and what she learned from it, which the book did very well.

Reviewed by EB, Grade 8
Grandview Library

Absent, by Katie Williams *LIBRARY BOOK NOT IN SYSTEM*

I really enjoyed this book. It was a very unique and interesting ghost story that involved humorous characters.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good, short, a well-written ghost story. This story really makes you want to put yourself in the main character's(Paige's) shoes. Thinking about being stuck in your high school for eternity really makes you rethink the story and feel sympathy for Paige. It makes you think about what you would do with this much power to possess the spirit of anyone who is thinking about you, which is the main reason I would strongly recommend this book.

Absent, by Kasie Williams, is based on a girl named Paige who died during a physics class when she fell off the roof. Her spirit is now trapped on the grounds of the high school in which she died. Paige heard many people spreading rumors that her fall was not accidental and was actually intentional like a suicide. Paige could not bear to hear any more of these rumors. After discovering that if someone thinks about her she can take over their thoughts and make them do what she wants, she possesses the spirit of the most popular girl in school to stop the rumors and show the truth about her death.

Reviewed by EB, Grade 8

Grandview Library

The Language of Thorns, by Leigh Bardugo

 AYAMA AND THE THORN WOOD: The second girl of the family was born, she wasn't as beautiful as her older sister, instead she was so ugly. Her ugliness made her to become the maid of the family instead of a daughter, but she was lucky because her sister loved her and talked to her when their parents weren't around. However, her ugliness is why she becomes the hero of the kingdom, the reason why she meets the king's son who is a beast, her ugliness was the reason of how she helped her family to get rich and of how she got the power by love with the beast.

THE TOO CLEVER FOX: The fox of our story was born with ugliness, his mother wanted to eat him just like his other two weakest siblings, but his intelligence saved him. He was different from others, nobody really liked him, but his cleverness made him to be popular and save the animals of the forest. However, there was one thing he did not have. He trusted easily, the reason why he didn’t get to have a happy ending at the end.

THE WITCH OF DUVA: The girl of our story had a really tough life, she was young and innocent. She lost her mother and had to live with her father and the woman who married him, who didn't like her. She suffered by her and couldn't do anything about it, her father stopped listening to her due to his second wife's influence. One day, the daughter was gone and nobody knew where she was, nobody cared. However, she was lucky, she found a witch and lived with her, eating delicious meals, deserts and anything you can imagine of. All she had to do was helping the witch and do her work, but hide from her customers. One day, she decided to go back home, she was tired of how her life has been. She just wanted to go back. Lucky her, the witch helped her. However, things weren't like before. Her father was someone else. Everything changed when she saw her family...

LITTLE KNIFE: She was born to be beautiful and rich. Every man wanted to marry her. Every man that saw her, got crazy and was willing to do anything to get her. When there came a chaos because of her, her father decided to do some deals with whoever was willing to marry her, they had to do some really tough things. He thought of them because he knew the only one who could get her would be the prince, he had everything and he was rich, the father could become richer if her daughter married him. But she did not understand how these deals could get her a husband who would love her, she did not understand how she can marry without love. The story doesn't end here. There was a man who was poor and had nothing, but only the friendship of the water. He knew of the deals, but didn't know how to get them. One day, after he heard the first deal, he talked to the river and asked for help. The river helped him, he won the first deal, but the father didn't expect that so he decided to put another deal. Meanwhile, the prince was also shocked. The competition got harder and harder. Finally, after the last one, the father had no choice, but to give her daughter to him, but the river was the one who stood up and talked. It was the little knife who was never been thanked by the man. Who would get the most beautiful girl, finally? Could it be the river?

THE SOLDIER PRINCE: The Clocksmith was the one who always made the best toys for kids, but he wasn't liked by the people. Nobody wanted to marry him since everybody thought he is cursed. Therefore, he had to do something, he had to marry the daughter of Zelverhaus family, but she was too young and he was too old for her. He didn’t know how to get to know her, her family didn't want him around their children that much. There he came up with a solution. A toy. He made a toy that could talk, that could spy on the girl and tell him what she liked the most. This way, the girl could fall in love with him and finally marry him, but things didn't turn out how he expected...

WHEN WATER SANG FIRE: She was born with an unusual look, she had dark hair and blueish skin, nobody even her family liked her that much, but she was good at what humans call witchcraft. Her voice was magic and she was powerful more than any other mermaid. Sometimes, she thought she didn't belong to her family, sometimes she doubt that her parents are her actual parents. She got the chance to go on land, where humans lived. She found out that what she believed, were to be all lies... She got betrayed...

First of all, the Language of Thorns, by Leigh Bardugo, is divided into six short stories, each different and not related to the other ones.  As you can see, I tried to give a short summary about each of the stories. Overall, the book is pretty good. Beside of the stories, the art is so amazing. I think this book would be good for teenagers mostly and they would enjoy it. I liked it and I recommend it since to me, it was really a different kind of book. However, some stories were tense and I really didn't enjoy them. Some of them really didn't make sense to me and I couldn't understand what happened at the end. Meanwhile, my two favorite ones were the little knife and the last one, especially the last one.

Reviewed by Orkideh, Grade 12
Downtown Central Library

Sapphique, by Catherine Fisher

 The book "Sapphique" by Catherine Fisher is the second book, right after "Incarceron", about a boy named Finn who lives in a giant prison that has been sealed from the outside world for a long time. After the events of the previous book, Finn needs to find his way back into the prison so that from inside he can find a way out so all his friends can leave too. However now he is also presented with the responsibilities of being a prince and trying his best to not get killed in the process.

I really enjoyed reading Sapphique, by Catherine Fisher. The characters were well presented and the story, well told. Although at the beginning the book may be confusing because of just how different the prison is from our world, by the end it all makes sense and I was left surprised by how simple but confusing it was. It is an interesting book I'd recommend to anyone who likes science fiction and/or good books.

Reviewed by Anton V., Grade 9
Montrose Library

Wonder Woman: Warbringer, by Leigh Bardugo

Diana finds a human struggling to survive on the shores of her island. Humans are forbidden, and anyone who brings on onto the island may face exile. But Diana can't leave the human to die. She rescues the girl, Alia, and hides her in a cave. When she leaves to figure out a plan, the island shakes. The first ever earthquake takes. Diana's best friend, Maeve, is injured. Diana knows this has something to do with Alia. Alia is a warbringer, direct descendant of Helen of Troy. That means that when she turns 16, chaos will fall upon the Earth. The only way to stop this other than killing Alia would be to take her to the spring where Helen was buried, in Greece. Diana and Alia go to the World of Man, to stop density.

I loved this  Wonder Woman: Warbringer, by Leigh Bardugo, so much, it surprised me. I honestly did not think I would really enjoy it, but I was wrong. I did not know about the DC icons series, so I was very excited to hear about. My mind was blown! I definitely recommend this book to Superhero/Adventure lovers. Amazing book, 100%. There were so many different aspects and relations to the real world that makes the storyline even more perfect.

Reviewed by Anisa, Grade 8

Casa Verdugo Library

The Retribution of Mara Dyer, by Michelle Hodkin

Mara finds out that she is NOT a patient, but a pawn in an experiment. Angry, she struggles to find Noah, not believing that he is dead. When Jude mysteriously leaves a tape, helping her escape, Mara is surprised. She escapes the Institution with Stella and Jamie, and continues her quest to find Noah, and prove that he is alive. She will do anything for the only one who believed in her. The Restribution of Mara Dyer, by Michelle Hodkin, was the perfect conclusion to the Mara Dyer trilogy. I'm super sad that it's over, but I'm looking forward to checking out the Noah Shaw series. I was really excited when I found out about it. Honestly, I feel as if the books in the series all tied together perfectly, and the plot was spot on intriguing. I highly encourage those who read the other books to finish off the series with this last book. 'Till the Noah Shaw series! Reviewed by Anisa, Grade 8 Casa Verdugo Library

The Witch Hunter, by Virginia Boecker

 Elizabeth is one of the best king's witch hunters. But things change when she is found with some witch herbs which sentenced her to burn at the stake. However, all of her execution plan was only for capturing the most wanted wizard of the country, Nicholas. The king's men knew he would come and save Elizabeth from it because he knew she would help him with his curse, according to prophecies. Meanwhile, Elizabeth doesn't know that her execution was only a lie so she goes with him. As the story goes on, she realizes of what she and other witch hunters have done to the families of who performed magic and she changes her mind about magic. But, something more is waiting for her. Something she needs to face in order save Nicholas.

 The Witch Hunter, by Virginia Boecker, is about 362 pages, which includes 31 chapters. It's a pretty long book to read and takes some hours. In overall, it is a fine book. Its audience is mostly teenagers and young adults, the main character is exactly like today's teenagers even though the story takes place in old times. I liked the book. It shows you how someone can be change by only seeing the other side of view. It teaches you that sometimes something might be so true and real to you, but only by taking a look out of how it is, you'd understand of how it does not seem right at all. In conclusion, I recommend this book to teenagers and young adults who are interested in adventure, magic, witches, power and a little bit of romance.

Reviewed by Orkideh, Grade 12
Downtown Central Library

Endure, by Sara Larson

 Alex is still stuck under Rafe's order of protecting him. Fearing this will hurt Damien somehow, she tries all she can to avoid Rafe, hoping he dies to end his command. With war coming lose, Andion needs to prepare. As Damien readies his troops, Alex sets out to free Rylan from the enemy. As Alex sets foot onto enemy territory, she learns secrets she would otherwise have not known.

I think Endure, by Sara Larson, made an amazing end  to this trilogy. Though I loved this book, there were many events I was upset about. But in all, I'm sure the lovers of the previous two books in the series will want to check out this final story. This book is an adventure/fantasy book for teens. I honestly think this book is the same story line (or similar) to the books by Sarah Mass, Victoria Aveyard, etc. Any lovers of those books should definitely read this series.

Reviewed by Anisa, Grade 8

Casa Verdugo Library

Ignite, by Sara Larson

When twins Vera and Rafe visit the castle, Alexa notices they have something up their sleeve. This theory is confirmed when Rafe takes Jax hostage, and Vera has control over the minds of Damien and the Antonian army. But things don't add up when Blevonese soldiers start attacking. Alexa is stuck between saving Jax, and staying to help Damien. But she is willing to risk her life to save the people she loves.

I think this was the perfect sequel to Defy.  There is a cliffhanger at the end though, which is okay with some, but not others. Ignite, by Sara Larson, is the perfect transition to the next book, Endure. I feel that anyone who read/loved the first book should definitely read Ignite, and will also love it. This book, like Defy, is an adventure/fantasy based book for all readers who love this sort of genre.

Reviewed by Anisa, Grade 8
Casa Verdugo Library