Kid's Advisory Board Reviews
These are reviews written by members of the Kids Advisory Board.
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I loved this book, but it was slightly confusing. Then again, that is what happens when people meet themselves. I suggest it to people who aren't easily confused. Amazing for sci-fi lovers.
-review by Jack
I expected this graphic novel to be kind of stupid and excessively girly, but it was really pretty good. Yes, it goes have unicorns, castles, and rainbows, so if you don't like those things, don't read it. Pacey always dismissed her sister Mina as having an overactive imagination, but when she hears a noise upstairs and checks on Mina, she finds there are actually unicorns in the room, and Mina's "plushie" is actually talking. They gallop across a rainbow to get to a castle, but she and Plushie fall off into a wilderness. From there, they have to find their way through the wilderness to the castle. Meanwhile, not everything is what it seems. The book has pretty broad appeal, with some really great characters in this story and a lot of plot twists at the end. I would recommend it to elementary readers, especially girls.
-Review by Michael, age 11
This was a creative and original steampunk type of adventure. The main character Hannah visits the switchboard facility in a building her dad owns. It has all kinds of moving parts, not just machinery - sections of the whole building move, but only a few people know the secret of how to move it.In the building, Hannah meets an orphan boy who has been making his home among the equipment, hiding out and learning its secrets.He has nowhere else to go. Some people help him out, while others want to see him gone. It turns out he's guarding a secret, and together he and Hannah must work together to save the city. The art was unfinished in the advance review copy I read, but the style was intriguing and I really loved how the building worked. I'm eager to see the full color book.
-Review by Michael, age 11
The Montague Twins, who are teenagers, solve mysteries. One day, while investigating a mysterious storm, they find a fox that hold the key to their town's mysterious past, and possibly some things about their own family's past. This was a really interesting story. I haven't read a whole lot of things like it. I would recommend it for middle and high school readers who like graphic novels, mysteries and a little bit of the supernatural. People who like the "Lumberjanes" series might like this.
-Review by Michael, age 11
This book had really charming illustrations. It was not really my thing but it was really well-done. Elementary-age girls would probably like it a lot. My favorite character was the one-eyed surfing cat, Cap'n Bill. This book was not as good as the one that went before it: Sea Sirens, which opened up hidden undersea realms complete with mermaids and (not-so-scary) monsters. This sequel is set more in the "real world." It focuses on an island which used to be an amusement park and has supposedly been abandoned. But the main character finds out that it has been mysteriously restored by a weird guy who has captured one of her mermaid friends.
-Review by Michael, age 11
I completely loved this book. Anyone who liked The Cardboard Kingdom would love this book. It was an adventure to remember. I recommend it to everyone with a creative mind.
-Review by Jack
This was a really great graphic novel with an amazing story and really fun drawings. The set-up for the plot is that humans finally meet an alien species. A visitor to the Earth brings with him alien technology which brings about a new Renaissance. This provides an opportunity for kids from a space school to go on a mission elsewhere in the galaxy. The students are really excited, and two of them, Petra and Jide are chosen to go on the space adventure, where they are amazed to find out they'll be joining with other species from throughout the galaxy. There's a fun counterpoint between the kids and the adult astronauts who think they ought to be the ones to go on this mission. It's really humorous, action-packed and fun to read. I would recommend the book to anyone who likes other Jeffrey Brown books (like the Jedi Academy series) and also for people who like science, since there's a lot of real science mixed in with the fictional plot.
-Review by Michael, age 11
I really enjoyed this book. It was about Yorick, and his dog, Bones, who dug him up. Yorick is a skeleton. At first, they did not get along well. Yorick does everything possible to get away from Bones, and later got help. Suddenly he had an idea to use Bones to make a friend. He tried and failed, not knowing HE was the skeleton. I can't tell too much more, but I suggest it to all ages.
- review by Jack, age 10
Subtitled "the Last Graphic novel by William Shakespeare" which is funny in itself, this book features as its main character the skeleton Yorick. People who are familiar with the Shakespeare play "Hamlet" will recognize the name as the skull that Hamlet talks to, who once served as a jester. In this story, Yorick's bones have been buried for centuries, until a witch spills a magical potion on the ground above him and it seeps down and reanimates the skeleton. Yorick starts to call for help and a passing dog, Bones, hears him and digs him out. Yorick just wants to make friends and does not realize he is a skeleton. He keeps scaring people, inadvertently. He's really depressed when he finally figures it out.Initially, Yorick views the dog as kind of a nuisance but eventually he realizes that the dog has been his friend all along.
-Review by Michael, age 11
The main character in this graphic novel, Gabby, travels with her family to a home in the woods for the summer. She likes reading mysteries, especially murder mysteries. Soon, she comes across a creepy old house near her cabin and she instantly starts thinking that's the kind of place where a murder could have happened. She shares her ideas with the neighbor kids she meets and immediately, they want to check it out. "But that's trespassing," she says. They're in a quandary - follow the law or solve the mystery they're sure is lurking on the creepy property. And the more they learn about the potential "murder scene," the more it seems like an actual murder did happen there. I would recommend this story for upper elementary readers, especially mystery and graphic novel fans.
-Review by Michael, age 11
The book is about Rex. He got cursed by the Grimm reaper to see the recently departed animals and has to solve the mysteries behind their deaths. I loved this book and I want every one to read it. It's such a silly mystery book.
-Review by Harlan, age 12
This book was the second in an interesting new nonfiction series. The format is really readable and it contained a lot of great information, most of which I didn't know before. There's a lot of science and history in there but it's illustrated like a graphic novel so you could visualize what was happening.
The book touched on a lot of important computing inventions going way back, including many contributions by females or people from other areas of the world. In an original way of framing this information, the book has a narrator, an Arabic mathematician who lived a long time ago. Lots of math - and early technology in the area of math - has its origin in this area of the world, like algebra. One of the early "computers" was a weaving machine that could put patterns into cloth using punch cards with metal bits. Everywhere a hole was, a metal needle with a string pushed through. Otherwise, it was blocked. I really liked the information about the "Difference Engine," an early computer designed but never built by Charles Babbage to calculate complex math equations up to strings of thousands of numbers. The "Enigma" was also fascinating. This was a coding machine that would type a different letter every time you pressed a key. It was supposed to be uncrackable but they are beginning to figure it out. The history continues all the way up through Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, the Internet and iPhones. I recommend the book to people who are interested in science, technology, biography and history.
-Review by Michael, age 11
This was a really good book, full of surprises. Kyle is a new kid who loves to draw. His mom wants to send him to Camp Pathfinder. There, he hooks up with five friends with different personalities. For example, there's a goof-off, one who's good with numbers,and one who comes up with swift solutions. As well as drawing, Kyle is good at figuring out patterns. As a team, they work together well. They set out on a treasure hunt for a treasure supposedly left behind by the local person who founded the Pathfinders. Looking for historical tiles in the community which could provide clues to the treasure's location, they discover some weird stuff about the town. I'd recommend this book for readers age 8 and up, especially fans of graphic novels and adventure stories.
-Review by Michael, age 11
It was good and I liked it. It is about a pig named baloney he has friends named Peanut, Krabbit, and Bizz. I hope someone else reads this book too.
-Review by Mady, age 7
Wally and Arthur are thieves, trying to rise up in the ranks of a mysterious gang in Kingsport, their city. Both owe a lot of people money and are trying to raise enough to pay them back. Wally has a brother in a mental hospital he's trying to help get out, and Arthur's dad drinks too much, leaving nothing for them to live on. When they see some rich-looking people coming out of an apparently abandoned manor, they think they would be good targets. Little do they know, they've stumbled on Weirdwood Manor, which connects the real and imaginary worlds. As they learn more, they have to stop an evil organization from dissolving the veil between the two and letting chaos rain down on their world. At first, they don't even know which side is the good side. This is a great tale of adventure and magic for upper elementary and middle school-age readers.
-Review by Michael, age 11
This was a good graphic novel with an original tale of a physical and magical war inside a house. The main character, Henrietta, was orphaned in a war 9 years ago and has been living in an orphanage when she suddenly learns she has inherited a mansion in an out-of-the-way village from her uncle, who apparently was a wizard. She has never heard of him. She's called to the rundown town where her uncle lived and the townspeople are glad to see her, hoping she can put an end to the magic and the magical creatures which keep leaking from the house and overrunning the village. Meanwhile, a whole lot of people have gone into the unbelievably huge mansion because of rumors of hidden treasure, and a physical war has erupted inside the structure. When Henrietta enters, she's mistaken for another treasure-hunter. No one believes she's the heir. So she sets out to try to find out what happened in the house and how to truly claim her inheritance. This is just volume 1 of a series, so I am eager to know what happens next. I'd recommend the book to fans of fantasy, graphic novels, and slightly wacky fiction.
-Review by Michael, age 11
This was a really good graphic novel for readers who like realistic fiction with just a hint of the supernatural. The two main characters are best of friends, and then one gets a girlfriend and their friendship spirals downward. They have been working on a movie documenting the legend of the "Jersey Devil" monster that supposedly lives close by, and they have been holding off on the last scene because they hope to actually see the monster. But that gets pushed aside when the two boys are not talking to each other. Then new Jersey Devil sightings start being reported. They have to get through their issues so they can work together and finish their project. It all works out in the end - with a fun twist. I would recommend this for readers who like graphic novels like Guts, Smile, and Swing it Sunny.
-Review by Michael, age 11
I could not put City Spies down, I just wanted to stay in that world with Sara, Mother and the MI6 agency. It reminds you that you can turn from a criminal to a hero in a blink of an eye if you have the love and support you need. City Spies is a book that you will connect with, no matter what. It could be the things Sara has gone through, the home the MI6 agency made for her or just the interactions between characters.
-Review by Krin
Copycat is a book that talks about things that kids go through every day, but then also, things that you would never dream of happening. The book was a little hard to get into, but by the end I couldn't put it down. I love the way Wendy Mcloed Macknight ties in fantasy with realistic fiction.
-Review by Krin
This was a fun, fast read. The main character, Jon, is part of an interplanetary pen pal program and he gets assigned a pen pal from the farthest away, coldest, smallest, darkest, "stinkiest" planet, Pluto. He does not realize right away that his pen pal is a girl - even though it was kind of obvious to me - and apparently, he thinks that's bad. The book is told through the pen pals' letters.I didn't expect much of a plot from a book made up totally of letters, but it was actually pretty good. Together, the pair ends up having to save Pluto from a total ecosystem collapse. I would recommend this book to older elementary readers and people who like books like Annie's Life in Lists.
-Review by Michael, age 11
This graphic novel tells the story of people in South Korea in the 80s under harsh military rule, where people who disagreed could be imprisoned or killed. It was really good and very educational. I liked the graphic novel format, which made it easier to understand. The main character wants to go to college, and she gets a recommendation to join a book club. She thinks it's going to be about the classics, but when she goes, she finds out they're talking about banned books. She doesn't want to get in trouble, so she decides not to join, but later, she ends up coming back. With this group of rebels, she learns that the government is hiding things and the situation is so much worse than she thought. The banned books relate to what the government is doing and they're full of ideas the government considers dangerous. Meanwhile, people are being "questioned" (read that as "tortured"), called "Commie rats" and pressured to give up the other members of the club. I would recommend this to older readers and people who are interested in political science.
- Review by Michael, age 11
A High Five For Glenn Burke is a story that will leave you thinking for days. Silas is a sweet, entertaining, and sometimes a little quirky middle school kid. It is packed with so much detail and emotion that you feel like you really are in Silas's shoes, like you are finding out who you are, just by reading the book. Phil Bildner told the story perfectly. He told it in a way that makes it so you don't want to put the book down, or you want something to happen so much that you could just jump into that world and make it happen. This book has reminded me what the consequences of not being you, really are.-Review by Krin
A Home For Goddesses And Dogs is a heart-warming story that Leslie Connor put so much detail and love into. The characters are well developed, each one having a unique personality. Lydia is a middle school girl who many kids can relate to. Her mom passed away and her dad left her when she was little, so she is living with her aunt and her family. It is a book about family and trust, even if the trust itself takes a while.
-review by Krin
This hilarious book was very exciting. The characters were always ready with a snappy come back. Aha! Ha! Ha! I liked how there were two plots happening at once, the one with the investiGATORS and the one with the guy they were trying to track down.
-Review by Elli, 12
I really liked this book. I loved the part where she was sucked in the black door. I recommend the book to kids 5+.
- Review by Harlan
This book is about a DC villain named Zatanna and her father, Zatara the Great who has disappeared in her house. Zatanna soon finds out that her house is magical and she is the Keeper! She now has to save her father from an evil Witch Queen and her son, Klarion, who has become her friend, AND face the struggles of not fitting in with the middle school kids. I suggest this book for people who like action, struggles of daily life, passion, caring for people you love, NOT thinking before you act, and mysteries. Also for kids 11+.
-Review by Emma, age 13
I liked the friendship between 2 Rhino Beetles. They go on adventures together and they meet a spider and bees. They also have a friend Dragon Fly. They met some termites. The story was easy to follow because graphic novels have squares so it's easy to follow the squares and that's what this book had. At the ending of almost all the graphic novels it had how to draw the main characters. This one did have that and the main characters were Rhino B and Stag B.
-Review by Mady, age 7
Parked was a jaw-dropping book. I can't believe that the mother-daughter team made it through the times that they had less than $10.00 to spend. I love the way the Danielle Svetcov describes the friendship between two of the main characters (Jeanne Ann and Cal) so well. This book tells us that friendship can save our lives.
-review by Krin
This is meant for audiences a little younger than me, with the ideal age being around 8 years old, but I still enjoyed it. The story was sweet and heartwarming. The main character, Owly, just wants a friend, but everyone runs away when he approaches because he's a predator and therefore dangerous. Eventually, he meets a poor, defenseless worm in a rainstorm. The worn has lost his home and Owly wants to help the worm find his parents. In the second part of the book, they meet up with some hummingbirds. I'd recommend it to younger readers who like graphic novels and sweet, traditional stories.
-Review by Michael, age 11
This graphic novel would be good for those who liked White Bird, another graphic novel set in World War II, an interlinked story to Wonder. But where White Bird is fictional, this graphic novel tells a true story, loosely based on the life of the author's mother. The main character, Rachel, lives in Paris. She is Jewish and when the war starts, she has to change her name to the non-Jewish-sounding "Catherine." She goes into hiding and travels the country, in connection with the French resistance. A photographer, she documents the war through pictures. I found the story to be well-written, though aimed at a younger audience than White Bird, and the illustrations to be basic but well-done. I would recommend it to young readers interested in exploring this era of history and fans of historical graphic novels.
-Review by Colleen, age 15
This was a good book with original characters and a strong plot.
If you didn't know about the Green Lantern superhero, this book stands completely on its own. Tai, the main character, is 13. He just inherited a jade ring from his grandmother, and he discovers his gramma was part of a kind of superpower "space cop" organization to spread peace. He soon discovers he has powers of his own, which he can access with his mind. And as in all superhero books, he has to fight against an evil guy who wants to take over the planet, while dealing with normal teen problems like the local bully. Fans of other DC remakes that have come out recently will like this.
-Review by Michael, age 11
The graphic novel was short and easy to read. It has a clever set-up and the stories are done in an interesting way. The main character is a princess, Robin, who finds her castle boring and runs away. She gets into a bunch of fun adventures, told in a series of three different stories. There's a little something for everyone in here. The book would be good for readers age 7 and up.
Review by Michael, age 11
Friendship, worries, wonder, and baking. From The Desk of Zoe Washington is a mix of all of these. I love baking, so I connected with Zoe as she was baking. The story reinforced that you can do great things if you are determined and have a friend to help you out. The book is about the life of Zoe Washington, and the things she is going through.
-review by Krin
This exciting story was both suspenseful and eventful. I like how there were very surprising plot twists. And, the characters were amazingly complex.
-Review by Elli, 12
This was just a great book, very original, one of the best I've read recently. The characters are very individual and believable, and the story is amazing. It's set in a near future, where instead of Smartphones, everyone has a robotic animal companion that serves the same function, a Baku. Lacey, the main character, has wanted for her entire life to work for the tech firm that makes Bakus. She even has a little Baku repair workshop in a storage shed and she's a really good engineer. She has no "Plan B" and is sure her purpose in life is to work for that company. But she's rejected by their training school - she only learns later that it's because she wasn't able to afford a top-of-the-line Baku. Then she finds a smashed up Baku - a cat - and takes it home and fixes it up. Shortly after, she's accepted by the school that already rejected her. All signs point to something not being normal about this Baku, which seems to act independently rather than just giving programmed responses. Then Lacey learns some people would do anything to get their hands on this advanced Baku. I'd recommend the book to fans of cats, technology, and near-future sci fi.
-Review by Michael, age 11
I read this exciting book at least 20 times! It was captivating and the character development was exquisite. I could not stop reading.
-Review by Elli, 12
