The Eye of Minds

The Eye of Minds by James Dashner

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In typical James Dashner fashion this book takes off at a gallop and never slows down.  In fact this would be my complaint with the book, there is no situation where the reader can "catch his breath" a little and at least hope things will be okay. In this way it reminded me a lot of Dashner's Kill Order.  But, I doubt that many middle schoolers would have this complaint.  The story is geared for middle school or high school age group with the main character being an ultimate gamer in this future world where gaming is more a part of life than the real world. Michael enters the "coffin" everyday to join his friends in the VirtNet. He and his friends are great at making and hacking code, so they are able to move through games with ease. This is true until they forced by VirtNet Security to hunt down Kaine, who is taking over the Virtual World and destroying people in and out of the VirtNet.  Again the action speeds along from one harrowing situation to another.  I doubt many of our middle school or high school gamers will be able to put it down. 



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The Boy on the Wooden Box

The Boy on the Wooden Box by Leon Leyson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This memoir by Leon Leyson gives a look into the life of a young Jewish boy during the Holocaust.  It is of particular interest because Leon was chosen as one of "Schindler Jews" and was protected by this powerful man.  It is clear in the book, that even though his father was able to arrange very carefully for his wife and some of his children to be on Schindler's protected list, they still were not protected from the atrocities felt by Jews during Hitler's reign.  But, it is clear just how much Schindler risked protecting and trying to feed them as his factory workers.  He even had little Leon stand on a wooden box to operate the machinery to show he was working in his factory, hence, the name of the book.  Leyson didn’t share his story until after the movie Schindler’s List came out, but as a reader, I am grateful that he did.



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A Bag of Marbles

A Bag of Marbles by Joseph Joffo

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


One of our teachers has asked to have her students check out free reading books in connection with a unit on courage and the Holocaust.  In gathering books for this book talk, I came across a recent graphic novel that will be a nice choice for these 7th graders.  It is the story of two Jewish boys living in France during the war.  When the boys’ mother sews a yellow star on their clothing, they find that everything about their life changes.  But it isn’t until they are beat up at school, that their father decides they must go away to the free zone of France.  He gives them money, and 10 year old Jo and his older brother Maurice have to grow up fast as they make their way alone, one step ahead of the Nazis.  Based on the 1973 memoir of the same name by Joseph Joffo, this book conveys an important picture of children during the war in an easy to comprehend format.  





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The Reluctant Assassin

The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Although the book was a little difficult to get into, it turned out to be another enjoyable read by Colfer (Artemis Fowl). The story begins with Riley, an orphaned boy in the late 1800’s in London.  He is apprenticed to Albert Garrick, a paid assassin, and is expected to make his first killing.  Fortunately, he is saved from this task because the victim turns out to be a scientist from the future, a member of FBI’s WARP (Witness Anonymous Relocation Program).  When he is about to commit the act, he finds himself instead transported through the “wormhole” to modern day London.  Unfortunately, Garrick follows him through the wormhole.  After arriving in London, Riley meets up with a seventeen-year-old FBI agent guarding the wormhole, Chevron Savano, assigned to the task after she botched a previous assignment.   Since Garrick is intent on finding Riley, Chevie and Riley end up together trying to escape the evil Garrick.  The story moves between modern London and historic London through the wormhole.  There is plenty of violence and vivid descriptions of a sordid London of the past as the story moves on at an exciting pace.  Sequel to come, but there is a nice resolution.  Middle School boys and girls should find this a favorite.  



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Magyk

Magyk by Angie Sage

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Several students recommended this, so it became a necessary read.  The story is of a princess, found in the snow by Silas Heap, and taken home to be the daughter in a family of six wizard sons.  There were actually seven sons, but Septimus Heap, the baby supposedly died, and was whisked away by the midwife.  Jenna, the princess, lives happily with her "family" for 10 years, but has been discovered to be the princess.  DomDaniel, an evil wizard, is determined to destroy the princess and take over as ruler.  There is plenty of magyk (magic) in this first novel by Angie Sage.  It is understandable why this has been such a favorite.  It is a long novel, and could have used a little more editing, but definitely one to recommend to our middle schoolers.



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Shadow and Bone

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo was an unexpected pleasure.  Alina and Mal, two orphans in the town of Ravka, are brought to the Duke’s estate to learn to read and write.  Later they become part of the military regiment, Alina as cartographer, and Mal as a tracker.  Their regiment is called on a mission to pass through the “Shadow Fold,” a deep darkness created magically which divides the city, inhabited by flesh-eating volcra.  They enter the fold, and everything seems to go all right for a while, and then the volcra attack.  As Alina tries to ward off the attack of the volcra on Mal, she discovers that she has magical powers.  She drives the volcra off by creating powerful light, and thus is discovered to be a “Sun Summoner.”  With this power, it is believed that she might be able to destroy the Shadow Fold.  She is called to live in the Grisha palace in order to develop her talents with the help of the Darkling, a man with tremendous magical powers, and who is second in power to the King.  The story unfolds with plenty of unexpected twists and turns, and romance mixed in along the way.  Perhaps a little mature for 6th and some 7th grade, but should be acceptable for 8th grade readers.  



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Obsidian Mirror

The Obsidian Mirror by Catherine Fisher

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This beginning book in a new trilogy by Fisher is one that Fisher's fans can enjoy.  The story begins with Jake Wilde stabbing one of the actors in his school's performance of Hamlet.  Jake has deceitfully taken over for the actor playing Hamlet, and thus he is in able to really stab Laertes. His motive is be sent home to his guardian Venn.  And, he is successful.  Jake believes Venn has murdered his father, so he is bent on finding out the circumstances.  When he gets to Venn's Wintercombe Abbey, he find the story much more complicated than he figured.  Venn has a magical mirror, the Obsidian Mirror.  The magic of the mirror is that it is able to transport people through time.  This is what has happened to Jake's father.  Other characters come to the Abbey, and make the story more interesting, or more confusing if you don't follow closely enough.  But, overall it is a satisfying story that leads us carefully to the next book in the series. 



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