Jack's Book Reviews

Michael Vey 2: Rise of the Elgen, Richard Paul Evans. ****(4 Stars) Reviewed by Jack Science Fiction.The much anticapated second book in the Michael Vey series, Rise of the Elgen has lived up to expectations, at least in my opinion. The book starts out with Michael Vey and company making there way to Pasadena, the place where most of them used to live before all of this started, only to find Ostin's parens gone and Jack's house burned down. Meanwhile, a mysterious man who says he's a friend tells Michael that he can help him save his mom from the Elgen in Peru (long story). Though a little sceptical, Michael has to trust him because he's their only hope of ever seeing his mother again. As it turns out, Dr. Hatch has just called all of the Elgen guards (over 2000) from across the world to Peru for a Re-Education (brainwashing) session. As you can imagine, that makes things a lot more complicated. Follow Michael Vey and the Electroclan as they attempt to defy the odds a...

Twenty and Ten, Claire Huchet Bishop ****(4 Stars) Reviewed By Jack  Historical Fiction. Twenty and Ten takes place in WW2 France, during the time that France was occupied by the Nazis. Janet, the main character, and 20 children from school along with their teacher, Sister Gabriel are sent to the countryside to protect themselves from the Nazis and the war. Everything is fine until one day a mysterious man shows up asking the students if they would hide 10 Jewish children from the Nazis, saying that he cannot pay them and that the risk is high. The children and Sister Gabriel readily agree to shelter the 10 Jewish children, not minding that it would mean smaller rations for all of them. This arrangement goes nicely until one day, while Sister Gabriel was in town shopping for food, two Nazi soldiers appeared, demanding to know where the Jews are hidden. A very short (only 76 pages) and entertaining book, Twenty and Ten is a great book for children 10+. There's nothing to warn you...

The Lonesome Gods, Louis L'Amour ****(4 Stars)  Reviewed by Jack Western.  The Lonesome Gods is an amazing book about a boy named Johannes, who's fathers last wish before he dies is to get him across the desert to his only surviving family, his grandfather. The problem is, his grandfather really has it out for his father because he married his daughter, which to him is a "dishonor" as his father Zachery Verne was just a common sailor, while his grandfather was a rich ranch owner. Zachery Verne just hopes that his grandfather will not take his vengeance out on Johannes, who's mother recently died.   Before they can worry about their vengeful grandfather, they have to cross the Californian Desert, and quickly, too, as Johannes' father only has weeks to live before he dies of an incurable disease. Shortly after they make it safely across the desert, Zachery Verne is killed by some of his grandfather's hit men, and Johannes is left out in the desert to die....

Lord of the Flies, William Golding ****(4 Stars) Fantasy. The Lord of the Flies is a dark book about a bunch of British boys who crash a plane onto an uninhabited island in the Pacific, where they have to survive until help arrives- if it ever does. At first, everything seems to be going well. The boys have elected a leader, the quiet Ralph, who gets most of his ideas from his ever loyal friend Piggy (that's the nickname that the boys give him, because of his larger stature, and because of his clumsiness), and they get a huge fire going, as to alert passing ships of their presence.   In a few days things start heating up when the headstrong Jack (not me, I swear) starts to get jealous of Ralph's position and leaves the main group with his followers to go to the forest and live there, where they become something like wild beasts, losing self control and going savage. On top of all of that they have convinced the other boys to join them, leaving...

The Running Dream , Wendelin Van Draanen ***** (5 stars) from KATIE Sports Fiction I really don't think giving The Running Dream five stars is very fair. It is such a good book it deserves ten stars at least. I love this book so much!!!! It's about a sixteen year old girl named Jessica who's track team gets into a car accident, leaving her alive, which is good, but minus one leg. She was the star of the track team and her dream was to get a track scholarship for college. After the accident she wasn't even sure she wanted to live anymore. What's life without running? But her parents and track coach aren't giving up on her. The put her into physical therapy, determined to get her on her feet again, and even more importantly, get her running. This book is so inspiring (it reminds me of the movie Soul Surfer) and you find yourself cheering for Jessica out loud. It makes you want to get up and work harder toward whatever goal you ...

Common Sense , Thomas Paine ***** (5 stars) from KATIE This is an amazing book! I was studying the American Revolution earlier in the year and this book was such an help. Thomas Paine anonymously published Common Sense  on January 10   of 1776. He wrote it to the general public, encouraging them to rebel against the monarchy. His arguments are unbelievably sound, using the Bible and "common sense" as his references. Unlike most of the Enlightenment writers of the time, Paine wrote Common Sense in a very simple, very ordinary way so more people besides scholars could read it. Within months, it sold over 500,000 copies. I absolutely loved it because 1. I'm a history nut 2. It actually made sense and 3. His arguments and points were an "ah-ha!" moments to me. I recommend this book for girls and boys 14+ and I also suggest that you take notes as you read it.