The Tale of Despereaux

by Kate DiCamillo

reviewed by Anthony Chan

Fall 2016

REVIEW: The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

ISBN#: 9780439701679

THE STORY:

A mouse, a princess, a rat, and a servant girl living in a castle from the medieval times in the nineteenth century. All of them are tied together by fate and destined to meet each other. Despereaux, the mouse, was born the same day Chiaroscuro, the rat, first stepped into the light upstairs. Roscuro, shortened name of Chiaroscuro, caused the death of the princess’s mother by falling into her bowl of soup after he heard the princess call her a rat as he was swinging on the chandelier. His first experience upstairs led him to a broken

The Daughter She Used to be

by Rosalind Noonan

Reviewed by Heather Li

Fall 2016

REVIEW: The Daughter She Used to be by Rosalind Noonan

ISBN-13: 9780758241689

ISBN-10: 0758241682

THE STORY:

In the city of New York, Sully is well known as the cop who was forced to retire, but his children continues to follow in his footsteps. His daughter, Bernadette, is an assistant District Attorney, his sons have joined the best force in New York, and Bernie’s sister is married to a cop. From sitting at the table for years and listening to the stories told by the cops, Bernie has a clear-cut view of what is morally right or wrong. Lately though, she has been wanting a family of her own, but has never doubted her choice. Tragedy strikes when a man enters Sully’s coffee shop, killing three cops, and injuring one. Shock and a wave of sadness passes over the house. After grief passes for the death of her brother, Bernie discovers her views have shifted and the line between right and wrong have blurred to the point where she can’t look past people’s past and their stories to decide a punishment.

Soccerland

by Beth Choat
Reviewed by Gaby Tran

THE STORY:

Flora Dupre, a fourteen year old girl from Acadia, Maine, has dreams of playing soccer for the U-15 U.S. National Team. She is selected to attend an exclusive camp at the International Sports Academy that allows her to play in front of the U.S. coaches, so they can determine whether or not she has the talent and potential to play professionally for the U.S. At first, Flora feels

Court Of Fives

By: Kate Elliott

Reviewed By: Emma Sumanaweera

Fall 2016

REVIEW: Court Of Fives by Kate Elliott

ISBN#: 9780316364300

THE STORY:

Jessamy is one of four daughters of a highly regarded army general. She lives a good life as a general’s daughter, though the family’s situation is unique because while her mother is a native of the country, Efea, and is therefore part of the Commoners class, her father is a native of the old empire, Saro, and is part of the Patron class. Jessamy and her sisters are commoners because her father and mother are not married as it is illegal for a Patron and a Commoner to do so. Jessamy does not like the way her life is, so she secretly trains for the Fives, a sort of obstacle course that people race in. When her father comes home early from the war, Jessamy’s dream of sneaking out to run the Fives is ruined. Her father does not know that she trains for the

Gone

by Michael Grant

Reviewed by Sydney Liu

Fall 2016

REVIEW: Gone by Michael Grant

ISBN#: 9780061448782

THE STORY:

Sam Temple is an ordinary fourteen year-old kid living in Perdido Beach, California, leading an unassuming life. That all changes though, when one day everybody fifteen and older in the town disappears and technology ceasing to work. Understandably, there is much chaos as first with the loss of authority. There is also a dash of some horror with the depiction of how many young children are at risk without their parents and the limited supply of food.