Review: The Improbably Tales of Baskerville Hall

 

* First in a new series * 

Arthur Conan Doyle used his quick wits to save a baby, but in doing so, he also saved himself. Because of his quick actions, he's been gifted an opportunity to go to boarding school. He's excited to go to Baskerville Hall and to keep learning. He's hoping that soon, he will be able to make his family more comfortable. 

He soon meets three friends who help him settle into the school. Although, he does make an enemy. This enemy seems determine to make trouble for Arthur. When a secret society calls upon them, Arthur will have to make choices that will change everything.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book - lots of action and danger. There are secrets to uncover and truths to sort out. Everything is not what it seems - which makes for quick page turning. I liked the Baskerville Hall - from the studies, the students, and the grounds. I loved the different friends and their quirks. I'm eager to see where this series is going. But I do hope there's a little more about Arthur's family life. 

Cover Thoughts: Charming

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A great book for your school and public library collections. Highly recommended. 

Review: Who in the world is Carmen Sandiego?

Carmen Sandiego knows nothing about her past. She grew up on an island that's home to a school. For the first eighteen years of her life, she never left the island - but that was before she learned the truth and everything changed.

Now she's a criminal mastermind; always ahead of anyone trying to capture her. When she runs into an old friend on a train, we learn how she became a world class thief. But how did she learn it all?

My Thoughts: I really liked this book; it brought me back to my childhood. I played the computer game often. I really enjoyed learning about Carmen's back story - and why she steals. The school was interesting - as was her failures. I loved learning why she dresses the way she does and why she steals the items she takes.  Plus I'm even more curious about the Netflix show now...

Cover Thoughts: Great
Source: My Library
Library Recommendation: Grab this one for your school and public libraries.

Review: Going Geek

Skylar was excited to go back to her elite East Coast boarding school for her senior year, she just wasn't excited to share the news that she was now there on scholarship.  Besides her parents' money troubles, everything in her life was perfect. Great School. Great Friends. Perfect boyfriend.

Until she arrived.

And realized she'd been kicked out of her dorm and moved into a tiny dorm with a bunch of strangers. Skylar is less than thrilled, but she's determined to make the best of it.

Until she realizes how it all went down.

Now she's scrambling to save face. Her white lies about her summer and her parents' money trouble come tumbling out. The people she thought were her friends ignore her and she's left floundering. But she's not giving up without a fight. Even if it means changing her way of thinking, she's still determined to make this year count.

My Thoughts: It look me a while to warm up to Skylar when all she wanted was her old life back and how she didn't want to work to achieve her future. But that changed. I like how she was forced to branch out. I like how she helped her housemates. Her housemates were a breath of fresh air. I like how they all had their own passion and they weren't afraid to show it or explore it. 

I like how she tried to change the culture of the school - just a little bit. I like how she stood up to the girls who ruled the school. I loved her determination and her grit. I loved the slow burn romance. I loved the quirky events she wanted to add to the calendar. As she grew up, I began to like her a bit more but I think that was my adult side showing. I devoured this book after I warmed up to the main character. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute, but a little bland
Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Perfect for anyone on the outside looking to belong, recommended for school and public libraries.

Review: Legacies

Spirit White wakes up from a car accident to discover her body's beat up, her parents and her sister died, and her house burned down. She has no one in the world and no possessions. It's hard to fight back, but eventually time heals her.

Then she learns of a school for orphans where her parents set up a trust for her in case anything ever happened to them. It is a huge mansion filled with amenities for sports and academics. It's also a place for people with magical abilities. Spirit believes there's been a mistake. She has no magical powers.

It's quite evident during the first day of testing. However, she's a legacy to the school. She must have one; it simply hasn't appeared yet.

Despite its grandeur, Oakhurst thrives on rules. As Spirit's finding her place at the school and amidst all the guidelines, a student goes missing. It might not have made a huge difference, until another student disappears, too. Spirit and her friends begin to question these disappearances and come to the conclusion that there's something strange going on at Oakhurst. Can they solve the mystery before the same thing happens to yet more students, possibly one of them?

My Thoughts: LEGACIES is a fun start to a new series that creates a blend of magic and mystery with a dash of potential romance. Once Spirit and her friends comprehend the danger within the school, they do everything in their power to change the situation. They must unravel layer upon layer of mystery, all while keeping their suspicions to themselves. I loved the double lives they lead and the lengths they go to in order to keep them separate. I'm curious to see where book two will go.

Cover Thoughts: The cover first drew me into the book - while it doesn't quite match the book, it's mysterious and intriguing.

Source: My library - also reviewed for www.teensreadtoo.com

Review for www.teensreadtoo.com: Firespell

Lily’s parents just broke the news that they’re taking a two-year sabbatical in Munich, Germany - and that she’s not invited. Immediately, Lily has visions of staying with Ashley while going through the SATs, college application process, and the prom. Her daydream fades as her mom breaks the news about a boarding school in Chicago. The first day at St. Sophia’s raises questions for Lily. She’s so unsure why she’s enrolled. Most girls have been coming here for years. She does connect with one of her suite mates, who could be her new best friend. But Scout has a secret, and it involves sneaking off until the middle of the night.

Scout’s not about to fill Lily in just yet, so unable to hide her curiosity, Lily follows her one night down into the depths of the school in a maze of twists and turns. She stays behind a locked doorway until she hears Scout on the other side. Lily has tons more questions that Scout refuses to answer in order to keep her safe.

Trouble follows Lily around, and before long she falls victim to a prank and ends up locked in a room in the basement. By the time she figures out how to unlock the door, she runs into Scout and two boys running for their lives. Together, they race for the door to escape, but Lily get hit with magic and goes down. She wakes up in a hospital and forces Scout to spill the secret. Once she finds out, she wishes she didn’t know quite so much.

My Thoughts: Chloe Neill starts off her YA debut with a bang and never looks back. The mysterious school, bratty classmates, secret societies, and one best friend combine together to make an awesome start to a new paranormal series.

I gave it the:


Cover Thoughts: It's cute and eye catching, but I'm not sure I get it.

Source: review from www.teensreadtoo.com