The Ultimate Gift

The Ultimate Gift, by Jim Stovall [adult Fiction]

by Jeana, 8th grader

My friend told me: “You can’t judge a book by its movie,” and she was right. I saw The Ultimate Gift movie, so I read the book. Where the events are rather different from book to movie, the “gifts” and general theme are kept the same. Jim Stovall always delivers very powerful themes in his books, normally about people distancing themselves from materialistic lives, and The Ultimate Gift is no exception. If you want a fairly short feel-good book, then this one’s for you.

Sign of the Qin

Sign of the Qin, by L.G. Bass [YA Fiction]

by Katie, 7th grader

This is a story filled with mystery. A volcanic eruption causes demons and evil spirits to come out from the sealed volcano. There is hope in a newborn child.

Voyage on the Great Titanic

Voyage on the Great Titanic, by Ellen Emerson White

[J Fiction, Dear America]

by Philana, 5th grader

This book is about this girl named Margaret and she’s an orphan. She goes on the Titanic. You have to read this book to find out what happens next!!

The Eternal Flame

The Eternal Flame, by T.A. Barron

(The Great Tree of Avalon, Book 3) [YA Fiction]

by Monica, 12th grader

If you read into the older reviews on this blog, you’ll find that I really like T.A. Barron. The Eternal Flame is Barron’s most recent entry in the trilogy about Avalon and the heir of Merlin. I think this book is actually one of the worst that Barron has written, but since his books are as a rule incredible, even the worst among them is quite good.

Shattered Mirror

Shattered Mirror, by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes [YA Fiction]

by Marina, 8th grader

Sarah is a witch. A vampire hunter. A Vida. She belongs to the most renowned family of vampire hunters in the world. Vampires fear her family. She transfers to a new school. (At her old one, she was expelled for fighting a vampire and damaging school property). To add to her luck, her seat is between two vampires. They are friendly, though, and befriend Sarah. She mistakenly starts to think of them as friends. But she gets caught up in family problems, murderous vampires, and the temper of her mother. Befriending vampires, no matter how weak, goes strictly against all Vida laws. Soon she finds herself up against one of the most powerful vampires. She has to decide between friendship and life, while her mother threatens to strip her powers and ban her from the family. This book is exciting and page-turning. You don’t know who’s good, who’s bad, or who to trust. You have to read it.

by Bryttany, 7th grader

This book is about 2 children, Sarah and Chris. Sarah is a witch who kills vampires, and Chris is a vampire who kills witches. Sarah and Chris are best friends. Should Sarah kill her best friend, or should Chris kill his best friend?

Alanna: The First Adventure

Alanna: The First Adventure, by Tamora Pierce [YA Fiction]

by Katie, 7th grader

Alanna is a spell-binding book about a girl named Alanna and a boy named Alan. Alanna wants to be a knight, but her dad won’t let her. Alan wants to be a magician, but his dad won’t let him. Read about how they switch places and go through love, hardships, and mystery.