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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

Hello, my name is Allen I am in 7th grade. My favorite book series is Harry Potter closely followed by Harry Potter. I enjoy Hunting, Fishing, Skiing, Football, and Golf.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling is the fourth of seven books in the Harry Potter series (Do NOT read this book until you have read books 1,2,3). In this book, we get to experience what the wizarding sport Quidditch is really like. I love the detail that Rowling puts into the campground and what the wizard tents are like. As the students arrive at school, we find Harry in a very sticky situation when his name unexpectedly comes out of the Goblet of Fire. Everyone is angry and suspicious that Harry put his own name in the Goblet. While Harry communicates back and forth with his newfound godfather, he tries to work out who and why someone put his name into the Goblet of Fire, all while also trying to stay alive through the deadly wizarding tasks. In this book we also see drama unfold when Harry sees the girl he likes go out with the “pretty boy” of the school. 

I really enjoyed this book for the suspense and the detail. I love how Rowling leads you through Harry’s life at Hogwarts and what he goes through as a young wizard. I find it amusing to compare yourself to the characters that Rowling brings to life and to think about what you would have done in their situation. I like how we get to see wizards from other countries and what they are like. This book is the turning point in the Harry Potter series. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. 

Find it in print, ebook, eaudiobook, CD, and DVD here.

The Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Hi, I am Sarah. I am fourteen years old and an avid reader; it is one of my favorite things to do. Inspired by authors’ creations of magnificent places and surprising havens built by simple letters, I aspire to be an author and, meanwhile, nurture the love to write.

The year is 1878, and after her aunt’s death, Tessa Gray, headed from New York to London to live with her brother, finds herself in a vastly different situation than the one she expected. Kidnapped by her an organization called “The Pandemonium Club,” she spends six weeks forced to perfect a skill she had no prior knowledge of: the ability to shapeshift into someone else, living or dead, using an item of theirs. This is an ability the ruler of the club will stop at nothing to possess. 

This is only the first in a series of life-changing events. Tessa’s trip to London becomes an introduction to the world of the Shadowhunters: part-human, part-angel warriors on an endless hunt to defeat the Downwolders, demons and monsters that haunt the shadows of the human world.

The appearance of Tessa, the likes of which is unheard of, at the Shadowhunter institution is unprecedented, and none are more confused about it than Tessa. But when a series of clockwork automatons cloaked in human skin begin pacing the streets of London, Tessa joins the Shadowhunters in untangling the complicated thread of truth… and finds that the world she always knew isn’t the world she lives in. 

This satisfyingly complicated book is the perfect entrance to a new world, layered just underneath the one we know. With a morally diverse cast of characters, twists around every corner, and an antique setting, Cassandra Clare writes the perfect book to devour—and leaves you hungry for more. 

Find it in print here.

The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

Hi, I am Sarah. I am fourteen years old and an avid reader; it is one of my favorite things to do. Inspired by authors’ creations of magnificent places and surprising havens built by simple letters, I aspire to be an author and, meanwhile, nurture the love to write.

The year is 1938, and World War II is brewing in the faraway land of Europe. For five-year-old Peekay, it’s a thought as foreign as the ocean when all he has ever known is the South African lowveld where he grew up.

Peekay has a life as challenging as it is fortunate: a childhood marred by humiliation and torment, serving as a place from which to rise with aspirations of a brighter future. It is a life of opportunity: from lessons in music and botany to more informal ones of boxing and scamming. It is truly, wholly, a life of discovery: discovery of humanity, in a world divided by the prejudice of war and the seeds of apartheid; discovery of self, of finding ones’ own ambitions in a sea of expectations—a discovery of the power of one: that “in each us, there is a flame that must never be allowed to go out. That as long as it burns within us, we cannot be destroyed.”

While it was one of the most challenging books I’ve ever read, I truly enjoyed this story, if only for how different Peekay’s experiences are from my own. Bryce Courtenay weaves an epic, coming-of-age account of how one boy’s life is shaped by those he encounters on his way to maturity. It peeks into the beginnings of Apartheid in South Africa and ultimately provides such a different way to see the world that is well worth the read.

Find it in print and ebook here.

The Gryphon’s Lair by Kelley Armstrong

Hi, I am Advik. I am eleven years old and am an avid reader; it is one of my favorite things to do. Something I also love doing is playing video games, especially Minecraft. I also love to play basketball and go swimming.

The Gryphon’s Lair, is the second of the four in the series, The Royal Guide to Monster Slaying, written by Kelly Armstrong. The story revolves around Tiera, the Gryphon, which was initially kept by Princess Rowan to learn her behavior. However, when the purpose did not materialize and Tiera starts growing too fast to be controlled, the Princess rightly decides returning her to aerie. The book is a beautiful narration of the events that happen thereafter. 

In my opinion, The Gryphon’s Lair, is an engaging book. Kelly’s narration of the events make you visualize the story, as if you are watching it instead of reading. Kelly did a great job describing the animals throughout the book. I also love the way Kelly incorporated the various monsters in the challenges and adversities the princess faces on her journey to make the book entertaining and thrilling. 

The author made this book flow great, and it was not turning to conclusions. Another great thing about his book are the characters. The characters have such unique personalities it makes the book far more interesting. I think I did not like the part where the Princess make amends with Dain, as it was not very compelling, but I think it was necessary for the story. I believe Kelly could have elaborated the climax of the story a bit more. I was craving for more. Overall, I would recommend this book any day!

Find it in through Interlibrary loan here.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

My name is Camila. I am 13 years old. I have been living here in Blaine County for the past 11 years. I love to try new things every day.

This book is an incredibly good book. It talks about a China Rabbit named Edward who lives in the Tulane house with Abilene Tulane and her family. Every day, when Abilene had to go to school, she would wake up put on her clothes, and then she would change Edward into his fancy suit. What could possibly go wrong? That was what Edward used to think until one day when the Tulane family decide to go on the Queen Mary ship all the way to London. While on the ship, Edward was thrown far into the ocean by some naughty kids. He spends his days then weeks, which turned into months until he is found by someone. Will Edward make it back to the Tulane family or will someone else keep him forever and have to start a brand new life? That, you will have to find out on your own.

This book made me feel a lot of different emotions. I cried, I laughed and even got mad at some point during the book. I was able to connect to many of these senses which made me really interested in this book because I hardly feel what I felt about the book. There were also times in this book that did not really catch my attention, Like the part where the two, not well-behaved kids started to toss Edward back and forth. This made me really mad because you know that one wrong step and what was yours will no longer be yours. 

I think that this book is a really good book. It is one of a kind and definitely will go on my favorites lists. I totally recommend this book to everyone, each page is full of excitement.

Find it in print, ebook, eaudiobook and CD here.

Restart by Gordan Korman

My name is Jasmine. I am 11 years old and live in Ketchum, Idaho. I love ski racing, snow/winter, and many other fun things.

Before the accident, Chase was a big deal at his school. People either shivered in fear when Chase came by or treated him like a hero. He was the big bully of his school, the kind that got him in real trouble. Nevertheless, he was a very successful athlete being the second after his father to win the championship games.  The accident gives Chase a chance at what many people desire a chance to restart, to start on a blank canvas. 

Chase falls off his roof in the summer and forgets the past 13 years. He remembers how to talk and walk but loses his memory. Chase does not remember himself or anyone, except one little girl. The girl is a mystery to him. He doesn’t remember anything about her. Chase finds himself to be a new person, a good, nice, empathetic person after restarting his life. Chase is forced to ask the question. Who is the old Chase and do I really want to be him? Overall, this book was really interesting and based on Gordan’s opinion that people can change if they really set their minds to it. Lose your memory to find your life. I too believe that people can change however, only if they truly want to.

Find it in print and eaudiobook here.