Reviews by Category: Kids

Teen Review
Starfish by Lisa Fipps

Starfish

By Lisa Fipps
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Calissa
Jun 20, 2023

Starfish is about a girl named Ellie Montgomery-Hofstein who loves to swim and has a pet dog. Her life is troubled by school bullies commenting daily on her weight and her mom, who doesn’t seem to realize she’s making Ellie’s life difficult by arguing with her about what she eats and continues to make Ellie doubt herself. Even though her father is kind to her, Ellie’s mother and siblings seem to only see her as a nuisance because of her weight.

Staff Review
Book cover

Poison for Breakfast

By Lemony Snicket
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by Chris K.
Apr 28, 2022

A perfect little gem of a book.

A book I quickly fell in love with. It may not be a perfect book for every reader, as we all have our different preferences. Not everyone will love it as much as I. But I love it. I find it hard to imagine a book that could be more perfect.

I rarely buy books. I work in a library, so I feel almost every day I have all the books I could ever want at my fingertips for free. I don't often feel the need to buy them for myself. Plus, buying a book means I am unlikely to read it.

Teen Review
Cover photo of the book Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

By J. K. Rowling
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Sriha P.
Jan 13, 2021

There is a breakout from Azkaban! Sirius Black is on the loose, and he is trying to find Harry Potter, for Black was a supporter of the Dark Lord. Sirius Black is also known for killing thirteen people with a single curse. Because of Harry Potter’s defeat against the Dark Lord, there was a downfall for all the dark wizards, including Sirius Black. Azkaban guards heard Sirius Black saying “He’s at Hogwarts...He’s at Hogwarts,” which happens to be the place Harry studies at. Even though Harry is protected by spells and Professor Dumbledore, he is not safe.

Teen Review
Cover photo of the book Fantasy League

Fantasy League

By Mike Lupica
Star Rating
★★★

Rated by
Raghu P.
Dec 3, 2020

Charlie is a fantasy football geek who cheers for the LA Bulldogs. The Bulldogs are so bad that their nickname is “the dogs.” Charlie and his best friend Anna, who is also a huge Bulldogs fan, love watching all of the games together. Luckily, Anna’s grandfather is the owner of the LA Bulldogs. Charlie attends a game with him and shares some of his thoughts to improve the team and suggests to sign an aging quarterback that is going under the radar. Mr. Warren, Anna’s grandfather, signs the quarterback and the team starts to get the success they have been wanting.

Teen Review
Cover photo of the book Wonder

Wonder

By R. J. Palacio
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Sriha P.
Dec 2, 2020

Auggie is going to school for the first time and he is completely petrified. August Pullman has had 27 surgeries to help him hear, breathe, see, and talk. He has been homeschooled for his whole life by his mom and now he is starting middle school in an actual school. Auggie makes some friends and some enemies in middle school. While Auggie is going to middle school, his sister, Via, is starting high school, when she finds out her only best friend abandons her. At school, Auggie meets Jack, Will and Julian but only becomes friends with one of them, while the other makes fun of Auggie.

Teen Review
Cover photo of the book Maxi's Secrets

Maxi's Secrets (Or, What You Can Learn From a Dog)

By Lynn Plourde
Star Rating
★★★★

Rated by
Sriha P.
Nov 20, 2020

Timminy, not Timothy, is moving into the country to some boring town, and has to start middle school there. He knows that middle school will be hard, because he has the height of a 2nd grader.  As a surprise, his parents get him a dog named Maxi. They discover that Maxi is deaf. Timminy also makes a blind friend named Abby. Abby does not let her being blind stop her from being a middle schooler. Will Timminy get through middle school without being made fun of for his height, or will he start living in a gym locker?

Teen Review
Cover photo of the book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

By J.K. Rowling
Star Rating
★★★★★

Rated by
Sriha P.
Nov 9, 2020

Harry Potter thinks he is just a normal ten-year old boy living at his uncle and aunt’s house. Harry thinks that his life is terrible, but what he does not know is that his life is about to get a whole lot more interesting. Harry finds out he is a wizard! When he goes to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he becomes friends with Ron and Hermione. The Sorcerer’s Stone is moved, which gives the wizard immortality. The Dark Lord is trying to steal the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter is trying to protect it. Will Harry defeat Voldemort, and save the Wizarding World, or will he fail?

Teen Review

The Ark Plan

By Laura Martin

Rated by
Mary from Lackman
Aug 27, 2018

Adventures with two boys a girl and a whole lot of dinosaurs. Sky and Shawn just escaped from the North Compound to find more information on Sky's dad, they meet tons of dinosaurs and a new friend Todd on the way who has been living topside since the pandemic.

The perfect book if you are into adventure and excitement.

Teen Review

Fish Girl

By Donna Jo Napoli

Rated by
Olivia from Leawood Pioneer Library YAAC
Mar 29, 2018

She is a mermaid. She has lived her entire life in an aquarium located on the boardwalk. She is the main attraction, but visitors can never catch more than a glimpse of her. She can’t walk or speak, but she can make friends with Livia, an ordinary girl, and yearn for life outside the water. She can grow stronger and braver, and with the help of her determination, a touch of magic and the help of a loyal octopus, she can do anything.

Fantasy and reality intersect in this mermaid tale. It was beautifully drawn, with a good story too.

Teen Review

Hundred Percent

By Karen Romano Young

Rated by
Cathy from Leawood Pioneer Library YAAC
Feb 26, 2018

Tink is heading into sixth grade, her last year in elementary school and she must deal with everything from her body suddenly changing to the ever increasing strain between her and her best friend, Jackie's, friendship. Hundred Percent is an authentic and true look into the mind and life of a girl transitioning from a child to a young adult.

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