Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson
This is the first book in the series. It’s about Maximum Ride, a fourteen year-old girl who is 98% human and 2% bird. But she is not the only one—there are more in her “flock” as she calls them. When one of her flock members gets kidnapped by the erasers, all goes wild. Now Maximum is trying to figure out who she really is while taking care of her flock and finding out that she might be alive just to save the world! This book is fast-paced, thrilling, and makes you want to keep on reading. You’ll never want to stop, no matter what!
Reviewer: Alyssa Bradford, Grade 8

Breaking Through by Francisco Jimenez
Breaking Through is an autobiography by Francisco Jimenez, a Mexican immigrant working to support his family. Even when things take a bad turn, Francisco learns important lessons, such as keeping a positive attitude and pushing the boundaries and expectations of other people to show what he can do—much like the title, breaking through to do his best! I would recommend this book to anyone. This autobiography is uplifting, inspiring, and makes you want to go out to do things to make the world a better place.
Reviewer: Alyssa Bradford, Grade 8

Alabama Moon by Watt Key
The book Alabama moon is about a boy named Moon and his father living in the forest. When Moon’s father dies, his father’s last instructions for him is to make it to Alaska and find more people like him and his father, people that hate the government and live in the forest. Moon tries to fill his father’s wish, but struggles to fulfill it because obstacles are being thrown at him non-stop. But even with that, Moon is determined to get to Alaska. On this journey he makes friends and enemies. So now, who says a ten year-old can’t survive on his own? Alabama Moon is fast-paced, never has slow parts, and keeps you hanging on every word!
Reviewer: Alyssa Bradford, Grade 8

A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
This book is about the three Baudelaire children—Violet, Klaus, and Sunny. When they go for a walk on the beach one day it turns out a fire burned down their house with their parents inside and now they are orphans. The only thing they are left with is memories and a fortune their parents left them. Violet, Sunny, and Klaus are sent to live with a distant relative, Count Olaf. Count Olaf is obsessed with getting his hands on the Baudelaire fortune and he will do anything to have it. So he hatches a plan, which is to marry Violet. Much like the title, these children are going to stumble upon unfortunate events. I would recommend this book—I just loved it! Lemony Snicket is a brilliant writer. Also, he is very clever. Mr. Snicket has written an excellent series hitting the key parts all books should have.
Reviewer: Alyssa Bradford, Grade 8

A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket
The second book in this series, The Reptile Room, is about the Baudelaire children, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny. They are going to live with their Uncle Monty and put the past behind them, hoping never to see the evil man named Count Olaf again! But, just their luck, Count Olaf is posing as their uncle Monty’s assistant, Stephano. Now the Baudelaire children are stuck. They can’t tell their Uncle Monty, or anyone, or someone will get hurt. Well, I guess things don’t last forever. Of course I would recommend this lovely book. It is very humorous and mysterious. Lemony Snicket’s writing style is very different than other authors’ styles and that is why his work shines.
Reviewer: Alyssa Bradford, Grade 8

The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod by Heather Brewer
This is a very creepy, yet spine-tingling series. In the book, Vladimir Tod, who is half human-half vampire, is struggling to live life as a regular teenager in the suburbs. Things go berserk when his aunt gets kidnapped, he meets an uncle he has never known, and he is forced to meet the same fate as his father. Vlad’s life is anything but normal. I would recommend this book to anyone who asks. It’s funny but has an edge and what’s not to love about it?
Reviewer: Alyssa Bradford, Grade 8

Cirque du Freak: Vampire’s Assistant (Book 2) by Darren Shan
The book Vampire’s Assistant is about Darren Shan, now half-vampire, living life in the nighttime as Mr. Crepsley’s assistant. Darren gets very depressed that he has no friends and cannot see his family, so Mr. Crepsley has an idea—return to Cirque du Freak. Darren is basically in heaven, living with the cirque, but all things will have a downfall. I would recommend this book because it’s fast-paced, suspenseful, thrilling, and will keep you turning pages.
Reviewer: Alyssa Bradford, Grade 8

Bad Boy by Walter Dean Myers
This autobiography is about Walter Dean Myers, a little boy that lived in Harlem. He wanted to find out more about his family history during the 1940s and 1950s, but he is having trouble doing it. I would recommend this book to students who don’t know about their family’s history and find how Walter Dean Myers found out about his family’s history.
Reviewer: Ananyah Nailon, Grade 6

Icefire by Chris d’Lacey
David is a man who lives with dragons, but really small ones. He is a tenant and has a lot of things on his mind, like: Who is Lorel? Why is Dr. Bergstrom giving me a test on the arctic? David has to learn how to use his magic. He learns why Aunty Gwyneth is here—or is that her real name? I recommend this book to anyone who has read the first book, The Fire Within, because you will want to know more about how David came to the landlord’s house.
Reviewer: Anthony Buck, 6th Grade

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Brian Robeson is a 17 year-old boy who is dealing with divorced parents, and what makes matters worse is that he is left in the wilderness alone. As he goes on a trip to see his father, the pilot flying the plane has a heart attack, and Brian doesn’t know how to fly a plane. He tries to, but his tries are unsuccessful. He finds a pond big enough to land and crash the plane. He goes down at tremendous speed and he lands right in the pond. He finds himself with minor injuries and as he looks around, he finds himself alone in the wilderness. He faces hardships he would never imagine. Those who like adventure and love suspense and horror would like this book.
Reviewer: Alyssa Ramos, Grade 7