Ken Sparling

Read it for the awesome life quotes — THE SECRETS OF LILY GRAVES reviewed

August 27, 2014 | Ken Sparling | Comments (2)

The Secrets Of Lily Graves by Sarah Strohmeyer   Reviewed by Anupya, age 15   “More often than not, it was the little things that brought you down.” – Lily Graves   The Secrets of Lily Graves is a crime novel by Sarah Strohmeyer about the death of seemingly perfect Erin Donohue, frenemy of Lily […]

Like a projector in my head! DYING TO GO VIRAL reviewed

August 26, 2014 | Ken Sparling | Comments (7)

Dying to go Viral by Sylvia McNicoll!  Reviewed by Nicole Would you believe me if I told you you had the chance to relive one week of your life after you've died? Probably not. But Jade, a 14-year-old girl, does. After passing away from a bad skateboarding accident, she's left the world without saying goodbye […]

Friendship, loyalty, world-building and explosions — IDOLS reviewed

August 25, 2014 | Ken Sparling | Comments (3)

Idols, by Margaret Stohl Reviewed by Anupya, age 15 “How do we fit together? These men who call us children yet insist we are not?” -Doloria A sequel to Icons, Idols is an action-packed, fast-paced novel written by Margaret Stohl about Doloria Maria De La Cruz, her position as an Icon Child and the responsibilities […]

You can’t stop reading once you start! SMELLS LIKE DOG reviewed

August 22, 2014 | Ken Sparling | Comments (4)

Smells like Dog by Suzanne Selfors Reviewed by Ashanth, age 13 This book is about Homer Pudding who's an ordinary farm boy but he's got some big dreams and he wants to become like his Uncle Drake who is a famous treasure hunter but when he goes missing and is pronounced dead because he was […]

Can this book change our life? — CATCH-22 reviewed

August 12, 2014 | Ken Sparling | Comments (4)

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller Reviewed by Isis “There was only one catch and that was Catch-22…" To be completely clear, there is seldom a time at which a war novel would appeal to me. Ever. They all seem to perpetuate the stereotypes of heroes and villains – he who fights is the one who saves […]

Aaaahh, this was FANTASTIC!! HYPERBOLE AND A HALF reviewed

August 11, 2014 | Ken Sparling | Comments (7)

Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh Reviewed by Fatma, age 16 Here is a list of adjectives describing this book:  1) Hilarious: I don't know how anyone can read this book and not laugh at least once. I found it to be so entertaining and such a breath of fresh air. (Refer to 2) Sarcastic ) 2) Sarcastic: Which made it all […]

Zombies as good guys — WARM BODIES reviewed

August 5, 2014 | Ken Sparling | Comments (4)

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion Reviewed by Kristine, age 14 The book Warm Bodies written by Isaac Marion is a romance, action, comedy, and fictional. Warm Bodies describes the everyday life of an average man called 'R'. Sadly, he does not remember the rest of his name, for he is a rotting zombie.   It […]

Moving, insightful, compelling — EVERY DAY reviewed

August 4, 2014 | Ken Sparling | Comments (5)

Every Day, by David Levithan   Reviewed by Fatma, age 16   “Once you experience enormity, it lingers everywhere you look, and wants to be every word you say.” And reading this book was experiencing enormity indeed.   Here's a quick checklist of the wonderful things this book contained:☑Moving, lyrical prose: David Levithan has a way with […]

Deep messages — PAPER TOWNS by John Green reviewed

August 2, 2014 | Ken Sparling | Comments (8)

Paper Towns by John Green Reviewed by Tina, age 13 Paper Towns is teen fiction and a mystery novel. Quentin Jacobsen, an intelligent but shy character, has been innocently in love with his childhood friend, Margo Roth Speigelman, a cunning and intriguing woman. After years of being apart, Margo shows up in Quentin's bedroom asking […]

Ticks, hair loss and hysterical coughing — CONVERSION reviewed

August 1, 2014 | Ken Sparling | Comments (3)

Conversion by Katherine Howe Reviewed by Kieona History repeats itself. Inspired by true events, in Katherine Howe’s Conversion, readers experience the truth in that famous saying. The story is told from the perspective of Colleen Rowley, a senior at St. Joan’s Academy. Senior year is proceeding normally, until the most popular girls at St. Joan’s […]