Book Reviews submitted by Marlin Teachers and Students will be posted on this page in alphabetical order by TITLE. Participate: Write reviews and Refer to these reviews as a selection tool!

Title: Are We There Yet? by David Levithan
Are we there yet was ok, but it wasn't that enjoyable. I felt like there were no surprises in the book. And when the book says that the two brothers the meet the same girl, that is a lie because its really just the younger brother that really falls for the girl and the only time the older brother has a likening to the girl it was a brief moment and nothing happened. As well the ending made no sense, it just suddenly end, I thought that it would end with the younger brother asking out his best friend. But it did not and I don't recommend this book.
Submitted by Thalia
Are we there yet was ok, but it wasn't that enjoyable. I felt like there were no surprises in the book. And when the book says that the two brothers the meet the same girl, that is a lie because its really just the younger brother that really falls for the girl and the only time the older brother has a likening to the girl it was a brief moment and nothing happened. As well the ending made no sense, it just suddenly end, I thought that it would end with the younger brother asking out his best friend. But it did not and I don't recommend this book.
Submitted by Thalia
Title: Blood On The Moon by Jennifer Knight
Although vampires and werewolves do not suit my taste, relatable characters and romance does. This adventure following Faith Reynolds was an amazing one, and each sentence had me longing for more. I admit this is a vague review, but if you do enjoy the book check out the sequel Moon Crave. Submitted by: Ariana |

Title: Boy Shopping, by Nia Stephens
Boy shopping wasn't really that great. Throughout the book it jumps around to different stories and it also has more than one outcome for each person that the main character goes through. It was really hard to keep track of where you were at in the book. Another thing I didn't enjoy was the ending, because one you weren't really expecting for it to end like it did and it just left you wanting to ask questions. I don't recommend this book unless you like to be confused.
Submitted by Thalia
Boy shopping wasn't really that great. Throughout the book it jumps around to different stories and it also has more than one outcome for each person that the main character goes through. It was really hard to keep track of where you were at in the book. Another thing I didn't enjoy was the ending, because one you weren't really expecting for it to end like it did and it just left you wanting to ask questions. I don't recommend this book unless you like to be confused.
Submitted by Thalia

Title: Cut by Patricia McCormick
This is a book that deals with cutting, which is also known as self-harm. I personally read this book to help out a friend. This book discusses why some teens cut, but it also teaches people how people that cut can get help. This book is a little hard to get into at first, but the further in you get the better it gets. I really and truly suggest that every teenager reads this book. It is a very informative book that helps out with the issue of cutting.
Submitted by Celeste
This is a book that deals with cutting, which is also known as self-harm. I personally read this book to help out a friend. This book discusses why some teens cut, but it also teaches people how people that cut can get help. This book is a little hard to get into at first, but the further in you get the better it gets. I really and truly suggest that every teenager reads this book. It is a very informative book that helps out with the issue of cutting.
Submitted by Celeste

Title: The Diary of a Young Girl: the Definitive Edition by Anne Frank
The Diary of Anne Frank is a touching story. She spills her heart out in her diary just so she has a friend. Her beloved Peter always in her heart but his with Margot for the longest time. Anne Frank keep it real during the whole tragic events of her life. She went through some major world events like the Nazi Invasion leading into World War Two. She got sick at the concentration camp in 1945. This is an amazing book.
Submitted by Sharon
The Diary of Anne Frank is a touching story. She spills her heart out in her diary just so she has a friend. Her beloved Peter always in her heart but his with Margot for the longest time. Anne Frank keep it real during the whole tragic events of her life. She went through some major world events like the Nazi Invasion leading into World War Two. She got sick at the concentration camp in 1945. This is an amazing book.
Submitted by Sharon

Title: Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
No wonder this book was made into a movie! The thrilling detail of living in space just to defend the galaxy from an evil race of bugs will enthrall any reader, avid or not! Ender Wiggin is a dynamic character that many readers can connect to, even though he is only eight, because he is an absolute genius! And not only that, but he changes. He has feelings, other than "kill everyone, be a hero." He is a lovable character placed in situations that make us sympathetic, and handles them better than anyone before. And the technology is enough for anyone to enjoy. Simulators with life size battles, battle room with really intense laser tag, all keep you on the edge if your seat! Even better, it's a series! I adored this book!
Submitted by Emily
No wonder this book was made into a movie! The thrilling detail of living in space just to defend the galaxy from an evil race of bugs will enthrall any reader, avid or not! Ender Wiggin is a dynamic character that many readers can connect to, even though he is only eight, because he is an absolute genius! And not only that, but he changes. He has feelings, other than "kill everyone, be a hero." He is a lovable character placed in situations that make us sympathetic, and handles them better than anyone before. And the technology is enough for anyone to enjoy. Simulators with life size battles, battle room with really intense laser tag, all keep you on the edge if your seat! Even better, it's a series! I adored this book!
Submitted by Emily

Title: Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
This ingenious story by the renowned author Ray Bradbury will keep you on the edge of your seat and will hold your interest from beginning to end. This story occurs during some period in the future where book are illegal and if you are caught reading the “Firefighters” will take you away and burn your books and this one firefighter now as Guy Montag with the help of a girl named Clarisse ponders why do they burn book or what makes them so bad. So Guy does something no one expected from a firefighter he grabbed books from a house and he started to read and found the wonders in books. This book is wonderful and includes many literary elements such as the salamander which is what the firefighters wear and it represents how salamanders are thought to live in or survive in fire and how the firefighters burn books in fire. Even the title has a significant meaning; the temperature 451 is the temperature in which paper spontaneously catches on fire and burns…
Submitted by Damian
This ingenious story by the renowned author Ray Bradbury will keep you on the edge of your seat and will hold your interest from beginning to end. This story occurs during some period in the future where book are illegal and if you are caught reading the “Firefighters” will take you away and burn your books and this one firefighter now as Guy Montag with the help of a girl named Clarisse ponders why do they burn book or what makes them so bad. So Guy does something no one expected from a firefighter he grabbed books from a house and he started to read and found the wonders in books. This book is wonderful and includes many literary elements such as the salamander which is what the firefighters wear and it represents how salamanders are thought to live in or survive in fire and how the firefighters burn books in fire. Even the title has a significant meaning; the temperature 451 is the temperature in which paper spontaneously catches on fire and burns…
Submitted by Damian

Title: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
This book is amazing! There is a love triangle that goes on in this book, and it reminds me of a reality show. Gatsby is a rich guy, and every girl would want to marry Gatsby. This book is addicting, and even though this book isn't based in our time it is still a fabulous read. If you don't get to read it in class, then I strongly suggest reading it on your own time.
Submitted by Celeste
This book is amazing! There is a love triangle that goes on in this book, and it reminds me of a reality show. Gatsby is a rich guy, and every girl would want to marry Gatsby. This book is addicting, and even though this book isn't based in our time it is still a fabulous read. If you don't get to read it in class, then I strongly suggest reading it on your own time.
Submitted by Celeste

Title: My Brother's Keeper by Patricia McCormick
This book can probably be relatable to teenagers because at least one of us knows someone that had issues with drugs at one point in time. This book discusses a family that deals with a child who has drug problems. You will get to learn about how a family deals with the problem, how the kid started drugs, and why he started in the first place. This book is great to read for entertainment because some parts of it were kind of funny to me. I suggest that everyone should read it.
Submitted by Celeste
This book can probably be relatable to teenagers because at least one of us knows someone that had issues with drugs at one point in time. This book discusses a family that deals with a child who has drug problems. You will get to learn about how a family deals with the problem, how the kid started drugs, and why he started in the first place. This book is great to read for entertainment because some parts of it were kind of funny to me. I suggest that everyone should read it.
Submitted by Celeste

Title: Night by Elie Wiesel
This story is a true-life story about a Jewish boy and his family that lived in Sighet during World War 2. This story show many great characteristics about human such as persistence and the will to keep on living. The story starts in the town of Sight were Elie and his family was taken to concentration camps by the Nazis. Throughout his experiences we see the horrors that he endured during his stay in Auschwitz. It ha many twists and turn that will leave you with a greater appreciation for life than anything else. It has multiple examples of symbolism such as the soup, which symbolizes the justice when it has done something right, or when it has done something wrong. Another reason why I think that this story is so great is because of its authenticity (all of this described actually happened to the author and he has the will power to relive these moments and write it down for people to know). Finally this story will be a great read for anyone craving for an emotional roller coaster.
Submitted by Damian
This story is a true-life story about a Jewish boy and his family that lived in Sighet during World War 2. This story show many great characteristics about human such as persistence and the will to keep on living. The story starts in the town of Sight were Elie and his family was taken to concentration camps by the Nazis. Throughout his experiences we see the horrors that he endured during his stay in Auschwitz. It ha many twists and turn that will leave you with a greater appreciation for life than anything else. It has multiple examples of symbolism such as the soup, which symbolizes the justice when it has done something right, or when it has done something wrong. Another reason why I think that this story is so great is because of its authenticity (all of this described actually happened to the author and he has the will power to relive these moments and write it down for people to know). Finally this story will be a great read for anyone craving for an emotional roller coaster.
Submitted by Damian

Title: Salem's Lot by Stephen King
This book was simply remarkable! I have read many of Stephen King's books, most of them the newer ones, so this was a step out of my comfort zone for me. I am so glad I took that step! With vampires written like they actually should be, an interesting plot line that follows not one, but three characters, this book was thrilling from start to finish. The one thing I found fault in was the over detailed beginning, which was fairly slow, but all the information given in this beginning was vital, and I can't really blame Mr. King. I gave it a five out of five stars because it had a thrilling plot, interesting and dynamic characters, and emphasized the point that kids can be heroes too.
Submitted by Emily
This book was simply remarkable! I have read many of Stephen King's books, most of them the newer ones, so this was a step out of my comfort zone for me. I am so glad I took that step! With vampires written like they actually should be, an interesting plot line that follows not one, but three characters, this book was thrilling from start to finish. The one thing I found fault in was the over detailed beginning, which was fairly slow, but all the information given in this beginning was vital, and I can't really blame Mr. King. I gave it a five out of five stars because it had a thrilling plot, interesting and dynamic characters, and emphasized the point that kids can be heroes too.
Submitted by Emily

Title: Sold by Patricia McCormick
I read this book for a project my sophomore year. It was a fabulous read because it discusses the issue of human trafficking. This book takes place in India, but the area of India that Sold takes place in is poor. In this book you find out how some people get into human trafficking, and you learn that not everyone that's in human trafficking wants to be there. You may be sickened by some of the people in this book. Overall though the book is wonderful, and is a huge eye opener to what really goes on.
Submitted by Celeste
I read this book for a project my sophomore year. It was a fabulous read because it discusses the issue of human trafficking. This book takes place in India, but the area of India that Sold takes place in is poor. In this book you find out how some people get into human trafficking, and you learn that not everyone that's in human trafficking wants to be there. You may be sickened by some of the people in this book. Overall though the book is wonderful, and is a huge eye opener to what really goes on.
Submitted by Celeste

Title: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
This book is now my all-time favorite book. I did not know what I was getting myself into when I opened it for the first time and began reading. I had heard that it was an interesting work, but I did not know it was this amazing. I could not stop reading once I got into, which only took about one chapter and I was hooked. I never knew one book could have such a huge effect on me. Every single word in there leaves you thinking about what you just read for days after. It was good to connect with recent events since it takes place in the modern Middle East. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a heartfelt, and exhilarating read that will make you read for hours on end.
Submitted by Tiffany
This book is now my all-time favorite book. I did not know what I was getting myself into when I opened it for the first time and began reading. I had heard that it was an interesting work, but I did not know it was this amazing. I could not stop reading once I got into, which only took about one chapter and I was hooked. I never knew one book could have such a huge effect on me. Every single word in there leaves you thinking about what you just read for days after. It was good to connect with recent events since it takes place in the modern Middle East. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a heartfelt, and exhilarating read that will make you read for hours on end.
Submitted by Tiffany

Title: To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
In “ To kill a Mocking Bird” Harper Lee depicts an extremely realistic situation in the past when racism and discrimination was still very prevalent. The novel starts out as a simple book staring Scout a little girl, Jem (Scout’s brother), and Dill (Scout and Jem’s friend) and it depicts their experiences and the lessons that they learn throughout the story, such as putting yourself in someone else’s shoes or to not kill a mocking bird. Later the book develops a more serious story dealing with Atticus Finch (a lawyer as well as Scout and Jem’s father) and how he got a case to defend an innocent black man accused of raping a white woman. This story has many lessons that you can learn as well as apply to your life such as not to kill a mocking bird and that tells you not to take advantage of people weaker than you. Also this book provides many mature topics seen through the eyes of innocent children and what they learn about the world. Over all, this book is a great read…
Submitted by Damian
In “ To kill a Mocking Bird” Harper Lee depicts an extremely realistic situation in the past when racism and discrimination was still very prevalent. The novel starts out as a simple book staring Scout a little girl, Jem (Scout’s brother), and Dill (Scout and Jem’s friend) and it depicts their experiences and the lessons that they learn throughout the story, such as putting yourself in someone else’s shoes or to not kill a mocking bird. Later the book develops a more serious story dealing with Atticus Finch (a lawyer as well as Scout and Jem’s father) and how he got a case to defend an innocent black man accused of raping a white woman. This story has many lessons that you can learn as well as apply to your life such as not to kill a mocking bird and that tells you not to take advantage of people weaker than you. Also this book provides many mature topics seen through the eyes of innocent children and what they learn about the world. Over all, this book is a great read…
Submitted by Damian