And we're so excited with the response we are receiving from the participants in our 10 in 10 Reading Challenge for Tweens, Teens, and Adults. Here are just a few of the book reviews we've received so far; more will be posted here over the month to come. A HUGE thanks to all of our guest reviewers for sharing!
Sisters by Raina Telgemeier
Reviewer: Victoria R., Age 10
Victoria's Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Genre: Graphic Novel/Memoir
Audience: Middle Grade/Tween
Victoria's Summary & Review: The book Sisters is about two girls named Raina and Amara. Raina and Amara have to travel for a week in the car to Colorado when the incident comes up again. I think this book is good because its about the sisters. The author is also creative. There is also a lot of drama between the two sisters.
*This book completes the Book By or About Someone I Admire challenge in Victoria's 10 in 10 Reading Challenge!
The Hunt for the Hundredth Key by Geronimo Stilton
Reviewer: Victoria R., Age 10
Victoria's Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Genre: Mystery
Audience: Young Readers
Victoria's Summary & Review: The book, The Hunt for the Hundredth Key, is about Geronimo Stilton wanting to write a book until his sister takes him to help solve a mystery. I like the book because the author is creative. Another reason is because of the characters, setting, and the mystery.
*This book completes the Book I Loved As a Child challenge in Victoria's 10 in 10 Reading Challenge!
The Baby Sitters Club by Raina Telgemeier
Reviewer: Victoria R., Age 10
Victoria's Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Graphic Novel
Audience: Middle Grade/Tween
Victoria's Summary & Review: The book, The Baby-Sitter's Club, is about Claudia, Janine, and a baby-sitters club. Claudia and her friends want to baby-sit while Janine wants to study until an accident comes up. I enjoyed the book because of the setting, characters, and the author. The setting is outside and I like the outside, so that is why I like the setting. I like the characters because they are caring. I like the author, Raina Telgemeier, because she is creative.
Maybe a Fox by Kathi Appelt
Reviewer: Katelynn W., Age 11
Victoria's Rating: 5/5 Stars
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Audience: Middle Grade/Tween
Victoria's Summary & Review: This book is about a sister who loses her older sister while she was running to fast, so she slipped and fell into the slip. Her younger sister has help with her soul animal to find out why her sister had wanted to run faster. I liked this book, Maybe a Fox, because the author, Kathi Appelt, showed emotion well while writing. I also like how she describe every little detail. She also described each personality of the sisters really well. This is why I like the book Maybe a Fox by Kathi Appelt.
Rutabaga The Adventure Chef...Feasts of Fury by Eric Colossal
Reviewer: Katelynn W., Age 11
Victoria's Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Genre: Graphic Novel
Audience: Middle Grade/Tween
Victoria's Summary & Review: Rutabaga continues his mission to find exotic foods for his dishes. While trying to do this, he runs into all sorts of messes. While being a chief he gets taken and forced to work as a chief for an evil goblin. The book was okay because the author didn't show any emotion while writing. Also, I don't really like comics. Another thing is that the characters don't really develop. This is why I think the book was okay.
Death by Toilet Paper by Donna Gephart
Reviewer: Katelynn W., Age 11
Victoria's Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Genre: Realistic Fiction/Comedy
Audience: Middle Grade/Tween
Victoria's Summary & Review: This book is about a kid who enters sweepstakes to earn something for his mom, because their dad died and they are put on eviction at their apartment for not paying the rent on time. I like this book because the author, Donna Gephart, puts good emotion into her writing. She also does a good job explaining how things happen in a different way than most authors do. This makes her writing enjoyable. This is why I think you should read the book Death by Toilet Paper.
Middle School Escape to Australia by James Patterson
Reviewer: Katelynn W., Age 11
Victoria's Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Genre: Realistic Fiction/Comedy
Audience: Middle Grade/Tween
Victoria's Summary & Review: This book is about a kid named Rafe who wins an art competition and wins a trip to Australia. There he finds a group called the outsiders which he fits right into. He then makes a piece of art to display. What the people don't know is that he has a bigger surprise coming. The book, Middle School Escape to Australia, is something you should read. First the author, James Patterson, does a really good job on showing emotion. Also, he does a good job on describing the characters. Not to mention he has a really good plot. He also does a good job on the setting. He makes the setting fit the story. This is why I think the book Middle School Escape to Australia is a good book to read.
EXTRA: Tracy's Thoughts: This was my first Raina Telgemeier book, and I saw immediately why she has become so popular with both readers and reviewers. Her work is full of heart and realistic relationships we can relate to. Here's what I had to say a few years ago, when Sisters made our Best of 2014 list:
In her follow-up to Smile, Telgemeier focuses on the ups and downs of her childhood relationship with her younger sister. The two are wildly different and have frequent battles, and yet they have one very important thing in common. Though there are frequent flashbacks to key moments, the narrative centers on a family road trip to attend a family reunion. The pacing, text, and expressive art are top-notch.
Reviewer: Victoria R., Age 10
Victoria's Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Genre: Mystery
Audience: Young Readers
Victoria's Summary & Review: The book, The Hunt for the Hundredth Key, is about Geronimo Stilton wanting to write a book until his sister takes him to help solve a mystery. I like the book because the author is creative. Another reason is because of the characters, setting, and the mystery.
*This book completes the Book I Loved As a Child challenge in Victoria's 10 in 10 Reading Challenge!
Reviewer: Victoria R., Age 10
Victoria's Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Graphic Novel
Audience: Middle Grade/Tween
Victoria's Summary & Review: The book, The Baby-Sitter's Club, is about Claudia, Janine, and a baby-sitters club. Claudia and her friends want to baby-sit while Janine wants to study until an accident comes up. I enjoyed the book because of the setting, characters, and the author. The setting is outside and I like the outside, so that is why I like the setting. I like the characters because they are caring. I like the author, Raina Telgemeier, because she is creative.
*This book completes the Graphic Novel challenge in Victoria's 10 in 10 Reading Challenge!
Reviewer: Katelynn W., Age 11
Victoria's Rating: 5/5 Stars
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Audience: Middle Grade/Tween
Victoria's Summary & Review: This book is about a sister who loses her older sister while she was running to fast, so she slipped and fell into the slip. Her younger sister has help with her soul animal to find out why her sister had wanted to run faster. I liked this book, Maybe a Fox, because the author, Kathi Appelt, showed emotion well while writing. I also like how she describe every little detail. She also described each personality of the sisters really well. This is why I like the book Maybe a Fox by Kathi Appelt.
*This book completes the BCPL Staff Pick challenge in Katelynn's 10 in 10 Reading Challenge!
Reviewer: Katelynn W., Age 11
Victoria's Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Genre: Graphic Novel
Audience: Middle Grade/Tween
Victoria's Summary & Review: Rutabaga continues his mission to find exotic foods for his dishes. While trying to do this, he runs into all sorts of messes. While being a chief he gets taken and forced to work as a chief for an evil goblin. The book was okay because the author didn't show any emotion while writing. Also, I don't really like comics. Another thing is that the characters don't really develop. This is why I think the book was okay.
*This book completes the Graphic Novel challenge in Katelynn's 10 in 10 Reading Challenge!
Reviewer: Katelynn W., Age 11
Victoria's Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Genre: Realistic Fiction/Comedy
Audience: Middle Grade/Tween
Victoria's Summary & Review: This book is about a kid who enters sweepstakes to earn something for his mom, because their dad died and they are put on eviction at their apartment for not paying the rent on time. I like this book because the author, Donna Gephart, puts good emotion into her writing. She also does a good job explaining how things happen in a different way than most authors do. This makes her writing enjoyable. This is why I think you should read the book Death by Toilet Paper.
*This book completes the Book Your Friends Love challenge in Katelynn's 10 in 10 Reading Challenge!
Reviewer: Katelynn W., Age 11
Victoria's Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Genre: Realistic Fiction/Comedy
Audience: Middle Grade/Tween
Victoria's Summary & Review: This book is about a kid named Rafe who wins an art competition and wins a trip to Australia. There he finds a group called the outsiders which he fits right into. He then makes a piece of art to display. What the people don't know is that he has a bigger surprise coming. The book, Middle School Escape to Australia, is something you should read. First the author, James Patterson, does a really good job on showing emotion. Also, he does a good job on describing the characters. Not to mention he has a really good plot. He also does a good job on the setting. He makes the setting fit the story. This is why I think the book Middle School Escape to Australia is a good book to read.
*This book completes the Book Published in 2017 challenge in Katelynn's 10 in 10 Reading Challenge!