Book Beat Reviews

A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen My name is Madeline. I am in middle school and enjoy playing the violin, ice skating and reading good books! A Night Divided by Jennifer A. Nielsen is an enthralling historical fiction story told through the eyes of a young girl who recounts her family’s sufferings and courage during the time of the Berlin Wall. The tensions between East and West Germany are quickly mounting, and eight-year-old Gerta’s family, who lives in the Soviet … [Read more...] about A Night Divided

House Rules by Jodi Picoult My name is Elizabeth. I love reading, and my favorite book is My Sister’s Keeper. I am in the 8th grade and enjoy dance. I have recently read House Rules, also by Jodi Picoult. This book is about a teenager named Jacob Hunt, who was born with Asperger’s syndrome. This means that he can be incredibly smart, but he can’t interact in social situations. He often becomes incredibly obsessed with one specific subject. His current focus is now on … [Read more...] about House Rules

Educated by Tara Westover 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 first time Tara Westover set foot in a classroom, she was seventeen and attending Brigham Young University after teaching herself enough math, science, and English to pass the ACT. She spent her … [Read more...] about Educated

The Tiny Hero of Ferny Creek Library by Linda Bailey Review by Ella; dreamer, ski racer, writer, and rock climber. Ella lives in SV, Idaho with her mom, dad, cat, dog, gecko, and fish. Eddie, the main character in The Tiny Hero of Ferny Creek Library, is a bug who lives behind a chalkboard in Room 19 at Ferny Creek Elementary school. His Aunt Min suddenly goes missing after taking a trip to the Library. Eddie is very worried and can’t get over the fact that the bug who taught him to … [Read more...] about The Tiny Hero of Ferny Creek Library

Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome My name is Madeline. I am in middle school and enjoy playing the violin, ice skating and reading good books! Swallows and Amazons, by Arthor Ransome, is an exciting, highly imaginative story of the lively escapades of children, who have an island to themselves. When four siblings, John, Sarah, Titty and Roger, spend their summer holiday upon the shore of a large lake, they discover a small island at its end. They decide to spend the rest of their … [Read more...] about Swallows and Amazons

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli I am Elizabeth. I love reading, and my favorite book is My Sister’s Keeper. I am in the 8th grade and enjoy dance. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli is about a girl named Stargirl, as she moves to Mesa, Arizona. The students at her new school think that she is way too weird for them. They try to ignore her and her weird habits. The whole school is mean to her, except for a few select students. One of them is Leo. Leo and Stargirl become good friends, but Leo is … [Read more...] about Stargirl