Book review of HALO GHOSTS OF ONYX

And last but not least, my last book review winner was Curtis Wade.  See his review of Halo Ghost of Onyx below:

Review of Ghost of Onyx by Eric Nylund
Review by Curtis Wade



5 stars for HALO GHOSTS OF ONYX!


The main character is Kelly, she is a full grown Spartan sent to planet Onyx to protect the survivors from the terrible force known as the Forerunner technology. The book is about a training camp for children ten and up. They take physical tests to make sure they are good enough to be in the Spartan program, but when a group of trainees wander into a sector that is forbidden they awaken an ancient technology and are attacked. They must do everything they can to survive. They contact help but will it ever come? They have another problem, an alien race known as the Covenant are coming to planet Onyx after getting strange transmissions.

I personally like the book. There is a lot of action and suspense. My favorite part is where Kelly and some trainees try to defend the training camp but have little ammunition.

The only part I did not like about the book is the point of view. The Covenant call the aliens by the name of their race, but in the Spartans point of view they call them by the name that people actually know them by which is what I prefer.

The book is a science fiction thriller based on the very popular game series known as Halo. I recommend this book for Halo fans and gamers everywhere. This book has a ton of action with guns and glory and you will never want to put it down. It also shows honor and respect towards the survival of the human race.

If you have read HALO GHOSTS OF ONYX, I recommend the Halo series of books including Halo-The Fall of Reach, Halo-The Flood, and Halo-The First Strike. If you read all these books and you’re a gamer, I suggest the video game series Halo, Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo ODST, Halo Wars, and Halo Reach.

When I finished this book, I continued reading the other series and I hope that the author, Eric Nylund, continues to make more Halo based books.

Review of The Steps

See Haleigh's review of The Steps below.  This has been a popular choice of books in my room for the last few years.  It's one I always recommend.

The Steps by Rachel Cohn
Reviewed by Haleigh Tieken
4 out of 5 stars!




In The Steps, written by Rachel Cohn, Annabel is used to having her dad all to herself, but she is worried when she goes to visit her dad’s “new” family in Australia. When Annabel gets there, the first few days with “the steps” are not going well, and Annabel is ready to go back to New York City. Will Annabel end up liking her step family after all?

I really enjoyed reading this book. I liked reading about a girl my age meeting her step family for the first time. This book brought humor as well as adventure. One of my favorite parts in the book is when Annabel and her step sister, Lucy, were at the park and Annabel met Ben, Lucy’s cousin. I also enjoyed reading how the two step-sisters didn’t like each other at first but started to become pretty good friends.

One of the things that confused me was all of the names of the characters. Also, at the end, the author should have told about Annabel’s trip back home and just a bit more about moving into her other step-family. Likewise, I thought Wheaties wasn’t a very good character and just took up space in the book.

The Steps is a book mainly for girls since it is about things from boy crushes to fighting with your step-sister. If you would like Diary of a Wimpy Kid combined with a girlie novel, then you will love The Steps. It is filled with family, love, humor, and excitement! I guarantee you will love it!

Book Review of Poser

Janie Antie is our next winner, and she reviewed Poser.  See her review below:

Poser by Sue Wyshynski


Review by Janie Antie




4 out of 5 stars for Poser

In the book Poser, written by Sue Wyshynski, Tallulah Jones just moved from Florida to California. Tallulah didn’t mean to lie about knowing how to surf, but it just came out of her mouth. Will Tallulah ruin a good friendship because she lied?

I thought Poser was pretty good. I like how Tallulah makes a best friend named Katie, and how Katie helps Tallulah learn how to surf. I would have to say my favorite part of the story was when Tallulah saves Jenna from a big storm, and they become friends. After Tallulah saves Jenna, Corey (Jenna’s older brother) and Tallulah start dating. I like that too!

Even though this was a really good book, if I could change something about it, it would be the supporting characters. I feel like Tallulah’s friend, Marcus, should have been in the book a bit more. Also, maybe when Corey comes to save the two girls, it should have been more dramatic. I really don’t like the character Coco either, but I understand that you normally need a mean character in book or they would be boring.

This young adult book is a realistic fiction novel with a bit of romance mixed in. I think that people who like a little adventure and a little romance would like Poser. Also, if you like surfing, this would be the book for you. I give it for 4 out of 5 LSU tigers!

Review of Million Dollar Throw

My next book review winner is Tyler Bentley.  See his review below:
Million-Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica

Review by Tyler Bentley




4.5 stars for Million Dollar Throw!

In Million Dollar Throw, written by Mike Lupica, 13-year-old quarterback Nate Brodie’s life is about to change. While going to buy an autographed Tim Brady ball, he signs up and wins a chance of a lifetime, to try to throw a football through a football target at a Patriots game for $1,000,000. His family is going through a lot and their house is at risk. Nate knows that this could be his chance to save his home.

This book goes up in my all time favorites. It was amazing because I can relate to Nate’s life. It’s kind of like reading a story written about me. The best part of this book has to be when Nate was on the field about to make the throw of his life time, Tom Brady came out of the locker room to talk to Nate. It’s amazing because Tom could relate to Nate’s situation.

Although I loved this book, there were a few moments I didn’t get. Like the time Nate’s friend Abby was going blind, and 10 pages later she was out on the field playing catch with Nate. Also, this book could have been better if there was a little more action.

The Million Dollar Throw is realistic fiction. It seems so real to me, like it could really happen. I think everybody would enjoy this book because it has something for everybody. I strongly recommend this book to sport lovers. It is a page turner and true to life. Normally, I hate to read, but this book changed that. It even had me at home reading. Truly an amazing book. I give it 4.5 stars.

Review of In Ned's Head

The next book review winner was Matthew.   Check out his review of In Ned's Head below:

In Ned’s Head


Review by Matthew Caterina

4 out of 5 stars!




In Ned’s Head is a book about Treb, a.k.a. Ned, who is just trying to survive the seventh grade. But soon enough, Treb has some difficulties with this goal when his strange friends, Nugget, Arnold, and Little Eric get in his way. Also, when Treb sees the love of his life and acts like a jerk, he knows the year is going to be a bad year. Can Treb survive the rest of the year with a crawfish party gone wrong, joining a camp, finding a new love, and write all of it down in his diary? You tell me when you read In Ned’s Head by Soren Olsson and Anders Jacobson.

I liked this book very much for its realistic humor and problems. This book was very good because it told the life of a seventh grade boy that I could definitely relate to. My favorite part in this book would be when Treb tried to show off his peeing skills to Little Eric but mistakes a girl for him.

There are really no problems for me in this book except the character Nugget. I feel like he could’ve been a little bit worse than he was, but other than that, In Ned’s Head was a great book.

This book is a funny, realistic fiction novel, and I would recommend it to people who love to laugh. And if you happen to like Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Notes from a Dog, then this is the book for you. So, if you like a hilarious, page-turning book, then you should read In Ned’s Head. After reading this book I gave it a total of 4 out of 5 stars!

Review of The Maze Runner

And for for next winner of my book review contest, I present you with a review of The Maze Runner, a very popular book here at my intermediate school.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner


Review by Ray Henriksen




4 out of 5 stars for The Maze Runner
Sixteen year old Thomas mysteriously wakes up on a huge, dark elevator with no memory of how we got there. Eventually the elevator stops, and he finds himself in “The Glade”, a large grassland surrounded by massive steel walls, with doors that defy gravity. “The Glade” is inhabited by 60 other teenage boys. But the next day, a girl shows up, breaking the normal schedule of new arrivals. More importantly, the note she was carrying could end them all . . .

I liked this book because it is right up my alley of fast-paced, action-packed novels. I liked how the plot pretty much included everything: distrust, action, mystery, memory swipe, etc. Another good thing is how almost everything is realistic enough for me to really connect with the character. My favorite part is during the climax when they are forced to battle the seemingly invulnerable creatures that surround them.

Now comes an author’s least favorite part: the bad things. Honestly, I can’t think of too many things that I didn’t like, but no book is perfect. There are some questions unanswered. You would hope that they will be answered in the sequel (some are, but some aren’t). There were a few slow parts sprinkled throughout the story, but none longer that two or three pages.

The genre of The Maze Runner is science-fiction, but the characters are very realistic. If you enjoy fast, suspenseful, action-based novels, then this book is right for you.

Review of The Ordinary Princess

My second book review winner is Emily.  See her review below:

The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye


Reviewed by: Emily Vergaray


Five Royal Crowns for The Ordinary Princess

In The Ordinary Princess, written by M. M. Kaye, day old Serene Royal Highness, Amethyst Alexandra Augusta Araminra Adelaide Aurelia Anne’s life is turned up-side down when one of her many fairy god-mothers, Crustacea, gives her the gift of being ordinary. Years pass and Amethyst becomes more and more ordinary. Her hair turns mousy brown, has a turned up nose, and freckles. She was so ordinary that no prince wanted to marry her, but who would want to marry a stuck-up prince anyway? Running off into the forest sounds like a perfectly good way to spend her life, and as the story continues, an enchanting adventure unfurls itself.

I loved this book because it’s fast-paced, romantic story. It’s one of those books that you just can’t put down about a perfect friendship that turns into a romance. There isn’t much that I didn’t like about this book. The only thing that would have made it better was if the author continued the story. It would have been nice to hear more about the future of the ordinary princess.

This book is a cheerful, fast-paced, adventurous, funny romance that every one of all ages would like. If you like books like Beastly, then you will love reading The Ordinary Princess.

Book Review Contest

I held a book review contest with my 7th grade students.  They were asked to pick a fiction novel of their choice, and the winners get to be featured on our blog.  I will be posting one a day of the next seven days.  See the first winner's below!

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
Review by Beka Carnell

4 out of 5 stars for The Last Song:



In The Last Song, Nicholas Sparks told the story of Ronnie Miller, a troubled teen sent off with her little brother to her dad’s house for the summer. Ronnie always resented her dad for leaving their family. While Ronnie stays for the summer, she finds herself getting into some trouble and falling for blonde-haired, blue-eyed Will Blakelee, who understands her more that she ever thought anyone could, but when her father becomes sick, her worlds seems to fall apart.


The Last Song is one of my favorite books. I loved the strong, real passionate connection between Will and Ronnie. I loved it when he took her fishing because, even though she thought it was disgusting, he was not afraid to show his true self.
The only part I didn’t like about this book was the conflict between Will, Scott, and Marcus. I found it confusing and hard to follow.
If you like falling in love and summer romances, you will fall in love with this book. I found myself unable to put this book down. This love between Ronnie and Will felt so real. Also, if you liked A Walk to Remember, you will love this book. The Last Song is a page-turning, suspense-filled, romantic story and is something everyone should read.