Matched

I am reading Matched by Ally Condie. This book is about a girl named Cassia and her family;  mother, father, and little brother Bram. So far in the book Cassia has been matched with her friend Xander. People are never matched with someone they know. This hasn’t happened in about 100 years. Matching is when the society chooses who you will marry. The Society, or government, in this book makes all decisions for you; the music you listen too, books you read, your job, and even the food you eat! Cassia is brave because she hides a poem that she shouldn’t have. It’s not one of the 100 poems that are allowed.

Cassia’s grandpa died and it all went downhill from there. Her father did something bad for the grandpa and the dad lied to the mom about what happened. He told her  it was an “accident”. Then Cassisa got a micro card to look at all the facts about Xander. But when she looks at the card she briefly sees  someone else’s face. His name is Ky, another boy from Cassia’s school, but then her screen  glitched back to Xander. How could this happen? Matches are supposed to be perfect. Could they have gotten it wrong? The matching department said somebody did this, not the society. The matching department said Xander is still her match.

My opinion of the book is that it is amazing. I love this book because I liked the book Divergent and this one is very similar. Yes I would recommend it to everyone this book is kind of like Divergent because people are separated and controlled by the government. So if you like Divergent you would like this book. 

Matched, Ally Condie

AR level: 4.8

By: Kiana F.

DOWK: Old School

I read Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School by Jeff Kinney. The main character is Greg Heffley. This book is about how Greg’s mom wants to get the neighborhood unplugged, but Greg doesn’t want it to.Then Greg’s mom gets people to sign up. Now Greg needs to go without electronics.What will he do?!? Greg is a gamer, he plays all the time.

Greg’s mom makes him go to the park to clean up and rebuild the playground. Then, guys from prison come and help clean up the the park. One guy escapes and Greg goes with him because he doesn’t want to clean up. Girl scouts find and chase them, but then they lose them. Greg’s mom uses her “pet-tracker app” on Greg to find him. Then Greg tells his mom that the prisoner stole him so they put the prisoner back in jail longer.

I really liked this book. I read the whole series and I like this one the most. My favorite part in this book happens at the end when Greg goes on a field trip to Hardscrabble Farms. It is a scary and suspenseful ending! I also liked this book because I wanted to see how Greg could survive without electronics. What would you do if you couldn't use electronics for 48 hours?

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School, Jeff Kinney

AR level: 5.6

By: Sean C.

Red Queen

I recently read Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. This new young adult series is about a girl named Mare Barrow. She is a poor thief from the Stilts, dreading her upcoming conscription on her 18th birthday. For over a hundred years Red soldiers have fought a Silver war, spilling their common red blood to protect their gifted, silver-blooded kings. Mare's story is one of bravery and courage. She stands up for what she believes in and will do anything for the people she loves. That's why it is so important for her to avoid being sent to war. For Mare's people, war means death.

You see, there are two kinds of people in the Kingdom of Norta. There are Silvers (Kings, Queens, Lords and Ladies) who have money, power, summer palaces and winter palaces. And there's everyone else, Reds like Mare, whose only purpose in life is to serve the Silvers. They are forced to be laborers, working hard for very little pay. The Reds outnumber the Silvers so why don't they fight back? Silver blood comes with supernatural abilities, powers that Reds don't have. Magnetrons can control metal, shadows can bend light, nymphs can control water, and strongarms have immense strength. But these are only a few of the amazing abilities silvers possess. 

Their blood is a threat, a warning, a promise. We are not the same and never will be. This is the true division between Silvers and Reds: the color of our blood. This simple difference somehow makes them stronger, smarter, better than us. (page 9) 

One day, Mare discovers that despite her Red blood she has a superior Silver ability, an ability that could save her or doom her. Of course Mare makes this discovery in front of the entire Silver community where all eyes were on her! No one can know of her Red blood, so she must turn her back on everything she has ever know, anyone she's ever loved, and lie to the world. Pretending to be the a Silver princess, Mare is forced to hide her true identity. 

She has only one choice to make... play along or join the rising rebellion. 

You'll have to grab a copy of Red Queen to find out!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy novel. Victoria Aveyard expertly creates a world where anything seems possible. She makes the Kingdom of Norta feel like it's the town right next door. Best of all, Mare's story does not end here! After devouring Red Queen, check out the sequel Glass Sword and the novella Cruel Crown. Aveyard is still writing the third book in the trilogy and I cannot wait to see where Mare's journey ends!

 

Red Queen, Victoria Aveyard

AR level: 5.2

Masterminds

I read the book Masterminds by Gordon Korman. It is about a girl named Eli on an unforgettable adventure to escape her town Serenity, New Mexico after she and her friends find out they have been watched and trapped in their town their whole lives. They also learn their true Identity. Eli is very brave because she wants to break out of her town even though she is only 11. She does not know much about the world because the whole town has lied to her and her friends.

When Eli goes on an adventure with her friend, Randy, to explore an old famous car not too far outside their hometown. Then Eli finds herself sick and once she has recovered she finds out that her best friend Randy is leaving. While Randy is in the car heading to “his grandparents” he says to Eli very strictly, “I will write to you!” Eli has an idea. Eli and her friend Tori find a note Randy left Eli and tell Malik, they all decide to break into the so called Plastics Factory through the roof. Once inside they find out they have been watched and lied to their whole lives. They discover that they are not who they think they are. When it is time to break out of their town they decide to try to get on a train to make it to Colorado to Randy’s boarding school because their car blew up and they lost one of their friends.

I loved this book. I would recommend this to anyone who likes adventure and mystery. This book is full of action and keeps you on the edge of your seat! Personally, I really want to read the second book because this one ended on a huge cliff hanger!

By Alanna B.

Thanks for a great review Alanna! I truly cannot wait to read this book! I found a book trailer for the second novel and I can see what Alanna was talking about. The suspense is UNREAL!

Masterminds, Gordon Korman

AR level: 5.2

The Eighth Day

Our class just finished reading The Eighth Day, by Dianne K. Salerni. It is about an extra day of the week between Wednesday and Thursday. Not everyone gets to experience this magical extra day. The only people that are able to go into the eighth day are Transitioners, like Jax and his guardian, Riley. The eighth day was created to protect the “Normal” world from a race of magical people called Kin. Jax and Riley have to race to stop and evil Kin Lord from trying to destroy the world. Jax is courageous because he risks his life to save his friends.

A lot of exciting things happen in The Eighth Day.  When Jax first transitions into the eighth day, no one is around and he things it is a zombie apocalypse. Jax;s survival skills kick in and he steals canned food and bottled water from Walmart. When he wakes up, everyone is back and Jax thinks it was all just a bad dream. Until his school bus passes by Walmart with it's busted front door. When Jax finds out he is an inquisitor, with the talent to force others to answer his questions, his family crest is tattooed on his wrist. Further on in the story Jax is kidnapped. Not once, but twice!

I loved this book. Each twist and turn in the plot felt like a roller coaster ride. The nonstop action kept the story moving at a fast pace so I was never bored. The Eighth Day would be perfect for fans of the Percy Jackson series. You won't find any Greek mythology in this book, but you will discover a deep connection to the legend of King Arthur and his magician Merlin. SO if you like magic, epic battles, and cold burritos then this book is for you!

What would you do with an eighth day?

The Eighth Day, Dianne K. Salerni

AR level: 5.2

Battle of the Books Finals!

The Final Four - Battle of the Books Round 3

Battle of the Books Round 2