Book Review: I Am Number Four

“Three Are Dead”

Get ready for some sci-fi that will blow your mind! In this book we accompany one of Lorien’s chosen ones which were sent to earth to someday restore their planet and race. His name is Number 4, although we may know him as Daniel Jones or John Smith. He was sent to Earth along with 9 other Loriens, all who have special powers which will one day restore their earth. Only problem is that the race that attacked and exterminated most of their species, the Mogadorians, are looking for them. Thankfully one of the elders from Lorien cast a powerful protective spell that guaranties that they can only be killed in the order of their numbers. Number 1 was killed in Malaysia, Number 2 in England and Number 3 in Kenya. He is Number 4, and he is next…

I strongly recommend this book to all readers who enjoy action, sci-fi, mystery and romance. You can count on my word that this book will keep you entertained the whole time and that you will want to read it again, just for the pleasure. So if would like to see some alien butt being kicked (as well as some jerk’s butt), then this is the book for you.

Since I believe that you will like this book a lot then I will recommend you read the rest of the series:

• Book 1: I Am Number Four
• Book 2: The Power of the Six
• Book 3: The Rise of Nine
• Book 4: The Fall of Five – Coming out in August of 2013

Note: This book is available at the library! You can also buy it for your Kindle or on iTunes.

– Review by Abel E., year 12

Book Review: The Lost Hero

THREE NEW HEROES. ONE MISSING DEMIGOD.

A CURSE THAT THREATENS TO DESTROY THEM ALL …

Camp Half Blood is back with new adventures for the fans of Percy Jackson! This time we meet three new demigods, Jason, Piper and Leo. One day Jason wakes up and can’t remember anything, while his two friends Piper (who is his girlfriend) and Leo are shocked. That’s not the end, because several days later they figure out they are demigods and that they must save the world by rescuing the great goddess Hera! Not only that, but they seem to be part of the next Big Prophecy! These three new heroes will meet many new friendly gods and some which are not so friendly.

For those people that enjoy adventures filled with mystery and action, or for those who wish to see new and old demigods kick some monster butt, this is the book for you! I highly recommend this book; it is filled with mystery and action, it will keep you at the edge of your chair, and even stop you from sleeping at night.

If you like this book then I suggest you read the rest of the series:

• Book 1: The Lost Hero
• Book 2: The Son of Neptune 
• Book 3: The Mark of Athena – Coming out in July 2013
• Book 4: The House of Hades – Coming out in October 2013
• Book 5: Coming out in 2014!

Review by Abel E., Year 10

This book will be available in the Secondary Library in September when the new book shipment arrives.  Until then, you can purchase these books online as an eBook through Amazon and iTunes.

Book Review: The Seventh Level

“Every step gets him closer to greatness or disaster.”

Brief Summary

The book talks about a seventh grader called Travis Raines who found an envelope in his locker that says he is being chosen to be part of this secret society in school called “The Legend”. He must solve puzzles and mysteries but one question is not answered: who is sending him the letters? Travis Raines is a troublemaker and not a very bright boy but Is he the one making all of those pranks?

Recommendations

I would recommend this book for people who like to read books about mysteries and solving puzzles and problems.

– Review by Year 8 Student, Marcelo Fernandes

This book, The Seventh Level, is available in the secondary library, call # FIC FEL.

Book Review: Shrinking Violet

Image for educational purposes only

This book is about two twins who are really different: Violet is very shy.  She is always in Lily’s shadow, has few friends and she doesn’t really know how to make friends. Lily is popular at school; she has a lot of friends and goes to parties. But one day Violet founds something that Lily doesn’t have: she finds a pen pal, Katie! Violet is so happy to have a new friend until one day where she has to meet Katie.

She will learn how to be friendlier but she will also have some problems.

I really liked this book.  It is not really hard to read and not too long. I think girls will like this book a lot. You always want to know what is going to happen and you don’t want stop reading this book. Read it and I’m sure you’ll like it!

Rachele S. – Year 7 Library Assistant

Thanks to Library Assistant Rachele S. for this review of Jean Ure’s book Shrinking Violet.

Book Review: Public Enemy Number Two

Review by Forest

This is the second book in a mystery/thriller series called The Diamond Brothers.  This series was written by Anthony Horowitz, the same author as the Alex Rider series, so if you like that series you will love this book.

Nick Diamond lives with his brother and they are very poor.  His brother is a private eye but he hasn’t had any cases for a while and they are surviving on beans and toast.  He is visited by the police because they want him to go undercover to get some information, but

Nick refuses.  Then, on a field trip to a museum, he is framed for stealing a precious gem and sent to a high security prison.  He needs to prove he isn’t guilty, but first he needs to escape from prison.

Overall this is a really good book, and I would recommend reading this book.  If you are a fan of mysteries or even action thrillers with some added humor, this will be the book for you.

Thanks to our library assistant Forest, year 8, for writing this review.

Book Review: And Then There Were None

“Ten little indians boys went out to dine;
One choked his little self, and then there were nine”.

10 characters.

A desert island.

A mysterious host.

That’s the setting of the Agatha Christie masterpiece, And Then There Were None. The plot of this amazing detective novel, which is the world’s best-selling mystery ever, has as its starting point a rhyme entitled “Ten Little Indians”. After being mysteriously invited by an unknown host to stay at a mansion on a deserted island, the ten guests are invited ​​to listen to a disc on which the voice of the owner of the house is recorded. The voice tells them that they were gathered there to expiate their crimes: in fact each of them is accused of a terrible crime for which they were never punished. It is with horror that, one by one, the characters in the house begin to die. And every death reflects a verse of the nursery rhyme…

The power of this novel lies in the suspense. In fact, as each character progressively dies, the circle of suspects narrows down and the tension rises. Trusting people becomes more and more dangerous and, as a macabre signal, each of the guests finds a copy of the rhyme in his room. Who’s going to be the next one? And, more important, under whose identity is the murderer hiding? But the writer manages to surpass herself. Clues, hidden symbols, amazing twists: Agatha Christie manages to write a finely crafted thriller where nothing is taken for granted and anything can happen.

If you like detective stories and thrillers, this is the book for you! Furthermore, several movies were made from the novel. The first film adaptation was in 1945 by director René Clair.  Even though the film is not the most recent, in my opinion, it is extremely well done and could be an excellent way to complement the reading of the book. – Thanks to Bianca S., Year 12 student, for writing this book review.

Book Review: Across the Universe

 

 

“Across the Universe” is the first book in a gripping science-fiction trilogy by Beth Revis. In the novel, seventeen-year-old Amy is cryogenically frozen along with her parents so that they can endure a 300-year journey to a new Earth on the starship Godspeed. However, she is woken 50 years too soon. She then meets Elder, the future leader of the ship. Together, they join forces to find out who is responsible for unplugging the other cryogenically frozen passengers. This only leads them to a series of overwhelming lies, hidden for generations within the cold, metal walls of Godspeed.

Across the Universe is an enthralling tale of murder, mystery and action with a tinge of love. Beth Revis does an excellent job of bringing all of these elements to the table as well as truly immersing the reader in the atmosphere of the starship Godspeed.

Recommended for: Fans of science fiction, mystery and fast-paced action.

Want to try it? Check the book out from the LIS Secondary Library or purchase a Kindle copy on Amazon. If you liked “Across the Universe”, remember to check out “A Million Suns” and “Shades of Earth” the second and third installments in the Across the Universe trilogy.

– Thanks to Isabela C, Year 12 student, for writing this book review about Beth Revis’s Across the Universe. 

Tech Tuesday – Voicethread

Hey LIS Students and Teachers!

Do you need to tell a story or communicate information with audio and images?  You should check out VoiceThread. It can be used as simply as narrating a sideshow of pictures or for much more complex collaborative projects and reflective learning activities.

Visit our Tech Tuesday – VoiceThread page to learn more or come see Ms. Katy in the Secondary Library.

Lionboy – Review by Zoe

Lion Boy: The Chase

In Lionboy, there is a boy called Charlie. His parents are scientists. Charlie is no ordinary boy; he is a boy who can talk to cats, lions and maybe more. One day, Charlie’s parents aren’t home and Charlie is locked out of his house. The oldest, coolest kid in town, Ralfi, says that Charlie’s parents told Ralfi that Charlie should come with him. Ralfi is a kid that gets into lots of trouble, but everyone wants to be friends with him.

The stray cats tell Charlie that Ralfi is lying and that he has something to do with the disappearance of his parents. After sleeping half a night at Ralfi’s place with his door locked, Charlie gets up and escapes. When finally outside, Charlie heads out to find his parents, who he has heard are heading to Paris. When something unexpected happens, he joins the circus on water and gets a job with the lions. You will have to read this book to find out more!

The author writes well and explains in great detail. I would recommend this book to people who like animals and a book with a great adventure, but you need to read the whole series before the end is revealed! – Zoe B., Year 8 student

Want to know more? Watch this book trailer.