Aru Shah and the End of Time

Review by Enid, age 8

This is one of the best fiction books that I have read.  It is a story about twelve-year-old Aru Shah who lights a lamp in the museum, where her mother works and awakens the “Sleeper.” She soon realizes that she has made an epic mistake. Her actions lead her to Mini, who is also on the same quest - to save their family members who are frozen in time. To do this, the two girls have to find the celestial weapons, so that ‘Time’ doesn’t end. They also have to find out how to stop the awful Sleeper from getting the weapons and from awakening the God of Destruction. The story is based on Indian mythology, especially about the five Pandava brothers. Although it is the first time I have read this, it is very easy to understand, as the author explains things in detail, and there is also a glossary. I like this book because it is full of surprises. It is also hilarious, and I laughed as I read it. I am sure that kids like me will not want to stop reading until they find out how Aru and Mini go through this mythical adventure to save the people they love.

A Boy is Not a Bird

Review by Samuel, age 10

It’s 1940, during summer break, three weeks before they go back to school and 11 year old Nathan Silver is playing a made-up game called Life and Death on the High Seas with his best friend Max. When Max’s mom sends Nathan home, he worries the Iron Guard – a group of ferocious men dressed in green uniforms who kill people – is following him. He arrives home to a group of 20 people in his parents’ bedroom huddled around their radio listening to the important news about Russia taking over his town of Zastavna. And that’s only the beginning of the full plot! After the Russians take over Nathan’s town, Nathan and his father are questioned in jail at different times. The cop interrogating Nathan threatens to shoot him with a real gun because he doesn’t know where his mom is, but the cop thinks he is lying. Nathan is let go, but his father is not. Later on, Nathan and his mom, along with Max, leave their small town and go to Siberia where Nathan’s dad was sent. This book is really good and it is not like any other book I have read. It is based on childhood stories told to the author by her favourite teacher, Mr. Halpern. One of my favourite parts about the book was when Nathan was talking to a fortune teller and she told him his parents would live to see his children. I am very excited to read the rest of this trilogy! I would recommend this to people looking for a good historical story about World War II.

Cinders & Sparrows

Review by Eileen, age 12

A twelve year old orphan girl named Zita gets a letter from a scarecrow. The letter was from the haunted, magical castle named ‘Blackbird’. She started her adventure to the “Blackbird Castle’ where nobody wanted to go. Zita meets up with two lively castle servants who are in her age, a secretly hidden family, the ghosts (dead humans), Mrs. Cantanker, and Mr. Grenouille. Zita’s adventure to reveal her memories about the past and to save her hidden family starts from here. When I first started this book, I felt like this would be the similar ‘magic’ adventure book that everyone would know. As I flipped through the pages, I got to be more curious and eager to know what will happen next. You would probably feel like you are getting into this book when you just open it. If you are a fantasy lover who is finding a better book to satisfy you, I will strongly recommend you this. Even if I read this over and over, it does not make me bored. It is just like discovering a new world every time! 

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky

Review by Felix, age 8

The Witches: The Graphic Novel

Review by Moira, age 11

The book is about a young boy who discovers witches are real. He and his Grandma go to a hotel for a little vacation, but little does he know the hotel is full of witches! Along with a new friend, they have to find a way to stop the witches from carrying out their evil plan to get rid of all the children in the world! I really liked the story because it was very interesting! I loved how the little boy and girl had to save all of the children in the world, while being stuck in the form of mice. I really enjoyed the graphics of the story and how it made the characters came to life on each page. And I loved how cute and small the grandma was. I also enjoyed the story so much I wanted to read it again soon after finishing it. I have never read a book like this before, it is definitely one of a kind and I would totally recommend it to others.