Nick's Book Reviews

Book Reviews From A ReReader

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Cover Up: Mystery at the Super Bowl

Book Title: Cover Up: Mystery at the Super Bowl

Author: John Feinstein

Subject: Sports Fiction

Pages: 298

Type of Read: Easy

Age: 9-13 Boys

Times Read: 1 time

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Overall Impressions:

This book was quite good. I like that Stevie and Susan Carols relationship. I also love that you never knew exactly what was going on until the very end. Overall, I would recommend this book and the rest in this series. I believe that this is the 3rd book in the series.

  Summary:

Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson are the main characters in this book. They are kid reporters that have uncovered two major scandals. One was at the Final Four and the other was at the U.S open for tennis. Now Stevie and Susan are on a show called Kids sports. Actually, I should say that Susan is on the show because Stevie gets fired at the beginning of the book and is replaced by Jamie Whitsitt, a boy band singer who knows nothing about sports. Now, Stevie and Susan are both going to the Super Bowl. Stevie gets there and notices that something is weird. He gets Susan and they figure out that 5 offensive linemen had their steroid test covered up. Stevie and Susan need to find who covered up those test. The only question is, can they do it before the big game?

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Perfect Season

Book Title: Perfect Season

Author: Tim Green

Subject: Sports Fiction

Pages: 400

Type of Read: Easy

Age: 9-13 Boys

Times Read: 1 time

Rating: 9 out of 10

Overall Impressions:

This book was very good. There was a lot of plot twist and I couldn’t stop reading.  I hope there is a sequel to this book. There is now about 5 or 6 books in this series and I loved all of them.

  Summary:

The main character is Troy White. He is a 14 year old that has a natural talent for football and can see what plays the other team is going to run before they run it. Troy’s abilities were a major factor in the fact that the falcons won the super bowl. Troy was calling out what the offense was going to do the defense for the Falcons knew exactly what to do. The Jets hired the next year Troy and he got a 5 million dollar signing bonus, but then Troy’s father, the guy that manufactured the deal with the Jets, stole the 5 million dollars and ran away.

Troy has to move to New York with his mom and go to a horrible school. Then he gets put on the Varsity football team for the high school and turns the team around with his skill at quarter back. For most of the season with the Jets though, Troy hasn’t been able to use his football genius ability to see the plays. If Troy can’t do his work with the Jets, he will be fired and he and his mom will be bankrupt. Can Troy figure out how to get his powers to work again, or will his life be ruined forever.

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I Am Number Four

Book Title: I am Number Four

Author: Pittacus Lore

Subject: Action-Adventure

Pages: 440

Type of Read: Moderate

Age: 10-14 Boys

Rating: 9 out of 10

 Times Read: 2 times

  Overall Impressions:

This book was great. I loved the plot and I always wanted to read more. The battle scenes are super awesome and John is a total beast. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who enjoyed Percy Jackson, or Michael Vey. This book has a sequel that is equally as awesome.

  Summary:

A boy named John looks like an average 15 year old, but he is hiding a very important secret. John is actually an alien from a different planet and his real name isn’t John. His name is Four. This is because when his home planet was destroyed him and 8 other kids were sent to earth so that when they gained their powers they would be able to restore their planet, Lorien, back to its former glory. The planet was destroyed by an evil species’ called the Mogadorians, otherwise known as the Mogs. The Mogs are also on earth and are searching for the last 9 kids. The children are given a Cepan, or guardian who will look over them.

When the third child is killed, John knows he is number four. John moves to a small town in Ohio. He is able to hide is abilities and even makes friends. His best friend is Sam who is obsessed with aliens, isn’t that ironic. John’s Cepan is captured by the Mogs and John goes to save him. John believes he is safe until number 6 shows up and tells him the need to leave before they are attacked by the Mogs, but it is to late. John knows that it is his first true test of his power, the only question is, will he pass or fail?

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Michael Vey: Prisoner of Cell 25

Book Title: Michael Vey: Prisoner of Cell 25

Author: Richard Paul Evans

Subject: Action-Adventure

Pages: 326

Type of Read: Moderately Easy

Age: 10-14 Boys

Rating: 7

out of 10

 Times Read: 3 times

  Overall Impressions:

I believe that this book is good, not great. The story was very interesting and I liked it, but there was nothing super special about it.

  Summary:

A boy named Michael Vey has had the ability to electrocute people. He keeps his power hidden until he uses it on some bullies and a girl sees him. He tells her about his powers when she asks him and she tells him that she can “reboot” peoples mind using electricity. They do some research and find that they were both born at the same hospital and went through a machine that killed about 40 kids and 17 kids lived through the machine. They were 2 out of that 17. Then the girl, Taylor, is kidnapped along with Michael's mother and he sets out to find them. Dr. Hatch, the man that kidnaps Taylor locks her up and then captures Michael when he goes looking for her. Michael Sets her free along with some others and they defeat Hatch. They learn that Michael's mother was taken to a different compound so they set out to find her. Read the next book to find out what happens.

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Divergent

Book Title: Divergent

Author: Veronica Roth

Subject: Post-Apocalyptic, Action

Pages: 487

Type of Read: Moderate

Age: 11-14 Boys and Girls

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Times Read: 1 times

Overall Impressions:

I thought that this book was very good. This book never bored me. Some books are boring during the begging or end if they are dragged out, but I never experienced that during reading this book.

  Summary:

The city of Chicago is split into 5 factions. The fractions are Abnegation, for the selfless; Amity, for the peaceful; Candor, for the truthful; Dauntless, for the brave; Erudite, for the knowledgeable. When children turn 16 they have to decide what faction they want to go to. Once, they choose there is no turning back. Before the test they take an Aptitude test and that tells them what faction they are best suited for.

Main character, Beatrice Prior, is currently living in Abnegation, but her 16th birthday is quickly approaching. During the Aptitude test she is told she is called, Divergent, which means she has the aptitude for 3 different factions. When the day to choose comes, she chooses Dauntless. When she leaves she changes her name to, “Tris.” She makes it past all of the tests, and after she passes the last test everyone is injected with a serum without them knowing. The serum causes everyone except Tris to attack the city. Tris manages to escape being caught and shut down, the simulation. Find out what happens next in Insurgent.

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The Drowned Cities

Book Title: The Drowned Cities

Author: Paolo Bacigalupi

Subject: Post-Apocalyptic

Pages: 434

Type of Read: Moderate

Age: 11-14 Boys

Rating: 6 out of 10

Times Read: 1 times

Overall Impressions:

This book was very boring at the beginning. It got better as the story went on, but the beginning was so boring I had to force myself to read. Usually I can just get into the book and read but this book was had to get into.

  Summary:

In the future the world is in disarray. The U.S is in ruins. There are 3 armies trying to take control. Mahlia lives in a small town away from the danger, and she has always wanted to too leave the U.S and go to a different country. When she and her friend Mouse happen to find a “Half Man” (A genetically modified, super powerful, and strong killing machine), Mahlia nurses it back to life. The monsters name is Tool. The soldiers capture Mahlia and Mouse. Mahlia escapes, but Mouse stays in custody. Mahlia convinces Tool to help he free Mouse and then they would escape together. Mahlia’s plan fails and Tool and her are both captured. They make friends with one of the captains and Mahlia actually becomes a friend of t the army. The soldiers also ant to get out of the cities, and will Mahlia help them get out?

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Change Up

Book Title: Change Up

Author: John Feinstein

Subject: Mystery

Pages: 308

Type of Read: Moderately Easy

Age: 10-13 Boys

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Times Read: 5 times

Overall Impression:

This book is a sequel to Last Shot. I think this book is better, but very similar. Plot is pretty much the same.

  Summary:

Steve and Susan are given the honor of being reporters at the World Series. They are interviewing people and Steve notices Norbert Doyle of in the corner. Steve talks to him but notices he his very sad and doesn’t seem very happy to be in the World Series. Stevie and Susan notice a few other suspicious things and decided to investigate a little more. They travel to Norbert’s hometown and get a few stories that don’t coincide. When Norbert, who was a backup reliever, starts the first game of the World Series, they know something is up. If they don’t uncover what is going on Norbert will make millions and the truth will never be unveiled.

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Last Shot

Book Title: Last Shot

Author: John Feinstein

Subject: Mystery, Sports

Pages: 251

Type of Read: Moderately Easy

Age: 9-12 Boys

Rating: 7 out of 10

Times Read: 2 times

Overall Impressions:

Good very similar to his other books that I have read. I would say that once you have read one of his books you have read the all. The only difference is that his other books involve baseball and football instead of basketball.

  Summary:

Main characters are 8th graders Steve Thomas and Susan Carol. They won a contest to be reporters for the final 4 during March Madness. Stevie and Susan both like different teams but they become really good friends. One day they over hear the star player Chip Graber being blackmailed into losing in the Championship game. Susan and Stevie try to uncover the reason for this blackmail and why Chip doesn’t just tell his coach. Susan and Stevie need to solve the mystery, meet their deadlines, and stay out of the way of people that will do anything to get what they want.

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Prodigy

Book Title: Prodigy

Author: Marie Lu

Subject: Post-Apocalyptic

Pages: 374

Type of Read: Moderate

Age: 11-15

Times Read: 1 times

Rating: 8 out of 10

  Overall Impressions:

I liked this book, but not as much as the first one. I didn’t like it as much because it wasn’t as exciting as Legend. But I still would recommend it. This is the second one in a series of three and the third one is better.

  Summary:

Day and June escape the Republic after Days near execution. They need to make it to the Patriots so that they can help fight against the Republic. When they get to the Patriots they become involved in a plan to assassinate the Elector.

June goes undercover to lure the Elector into their trap, but the more time June spends with the Elector the more she realizes how much better he is. She tries to stop the assassination, but they carry through with it anyway. She manages to save the Elector, but her and Day have to runaway together. She convinces Day that the elector is good, but will Day choose the Republic he has always hated or the rebellion.

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Alex Rider: Ark Angel

Book Title: Alex Rider: Ark Angel

Author: Anthony Horowitz

Subject: Action/Adventure

Pages: 323

Type of Read: Moderately Easy

Age: 10-13 Boys

Times Read: 4 times

Rating: 8 out of 10

  Overall Impressions:

I would say this book is pretty similar to the other books. I enjoyed it and I would recommend it. The chase scenes are really good which they usually are.

  Summary:

Alex Rider is in the hospital and he makes friends with a boy named Paul Drevin. In the middle of the night he wakes up and sees 4 men come in and overhears them planning to kidnap Paul. Alex pulls a trick on the men and instead of Paul being captured he is.

  The men bring him back to a building and when they find out he isn’t Paul they leave him in a building and set it on fire. He manages to escape and Paul’s father, one of the richest men in the world, invites Alex to come on a trip with them.

  When MI6 hears what happens, they tell Alex to spy on Paul’s father, believing he may be a criminal. Alex discovers that he is working on a secret project that ultimately may kill millions of people.

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Legend

Title: Legend

Author: Marie Lu

Subject: Post-Apocalyptic

Pages: 350

Type of Read: Medium

Age: 11-15 Boys

Times Read: 3 times

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

  Overall Impressions:

Was very good and I loved the fact that I kept switching from the views of Day and June. Kept me in suspense through the whole book. It has a sequel that I would recommend.

Summary:

This book has tons of background information, so here it is. In this society every one has to take a test called the Trial at age 10. What score you get on the Trial tells you what job you get. You get you score out of 1500. If you get a perfect score life is great and you get to have money and riches and whatever job you want. If you fail which is a score of 1000 or lower then you are sent to labor camps. There, understand what I said about a lot of background information.

Main characters are Day and June. Day failed his Trial and June aced hers so the could not have different perspectives. Day is living on the street waging his own private war against the Republic (the society’s government). June has skipped 4 years of school at a high level military academy and is going to get a high paying job when she finishes school. When Day breaks into a hospital to steal medicine and June’s brother is killed, June vows to hunt down Day and have him executed for his crimes. Day and June meet on the streets when she is undercover, and they discover that they might not be so different, and that they might even have a common enemy.

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Best of the Best

Title: Best of the Best

Author: Tim Green

Subject: Sports Fiction

Pages: 272

Type of Read: Easy

Age: 9 -12 Boys

Times Read: 3 times

Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Overall Impression:

Is not as good as the first or second book in the series. The best parts of these books are when he talks about baseball and this book talks more about Josh’s life with his parents divorce and things like that.

Summary:

Josh is feeling great after winning his championship in Cooperstown, but when his dad divorces his mom and starts dating Diane, life for Josh takes a turn for the worst. His dad takes him off the Titans and puts him on a team that is going to the little league world series. This is fine with Josh until he finds out that Diane’s son is one the team. Diane’s son is worse than Diane herself, and Josh knows that he needs to get his family back together. When he and his friends do a little research he finds that Diane may not be the perfect real estate agent everyone knows, and Josh hears that his dad is going to invest the Nike contract in scam that Diane is involved in. Josh needs to show his dad who Diane really is before he loses all his money.

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Rivals

Title: Rivals

Author: Tim Green

Subject: Sports Fiction

Pages: 261

Type of Read: Easy

Age: 9 -12 Boys

Times Read: 5 times

Rating: 7 out of 10

Overall Impressions:

This book was okay. Not as good as the first book. It has a sequel that I will read, but won’t be a book that I can’t wait to get my hands on.

Summary:

12 year old Josh and his 12U team the Titans have made it to the last game of their tournament. If they win this game they get to go a tournament in Cooperstown and the winners of that, get a 5 year contract with Nike. During they game Josh gets hit in the face by the ball, but they still win. Josh’s Titans and another team, the Rockets, are the favorites in the tournament. The Rockets are coached by the famous baseball player Mickey Mullen. Mickey Mullen’s son, Mickey Mullen Jr. is just as supposed to be just as good at pitching as Josh is at hitting. He will be Josh’s first true rival, but after watching some of the Rockets games, Josh and his friends realize that something is wrong. Josh and his friends need to uncover the scandal before it’s too late.

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Stormbreaker

Title: Alex Rider: Stormbreaker

Author: Anthony Horowitz

Subject: Action Adventure

Pages: 234

Type of Read: Moderately Easy

Age: 9 -13 Boys

Times Read: 3 times

Rating: 8 out of 10

  Overall Impression:

This book is very good. I love all the gadgets that Alex is given. This book has tons of cool twist and turns in plot that kept m engaged. This book has a sequel that I read and loved.

Summary:

Alex Rider is 14 year old and he lives with his uncle. One day his uncle dies on a business trip. The police say that he wasn’t wearing his seat belt, but Alex knows that his uncle was very cautious. Then at the uncles funeral one of the men from his uncle’s work place is carrying a gun. Alex doesn’t buy the story that his uncle dies in a car accident. When Alex breaks into his uncle’s office he finds out that his uncle was secret agent. He is found and taken to Alan Blunt who is the leader of MI6. Alan tells him that Alex has to work for them or Alex’s caretaker, Jack Starbright, will be sent back to America and Alex will be sent to a military academy.

Alex is sent undercover to a computer plant to investigate a man by the name of Herod Sayle, the CEO and founder of Sayle Enterprises. When Alex gets there he does some research and finds that Sayle is donating millions of his newest computer model, the Stormbeaker, to all the schools in Britain. Alex finds the information that shows that Sayle isn’t the great Samaritan that everyone thinks he is, but before Alex can relay that information to MI6, he is discovered. Alex needs to escape and capture Sayle, before Sayle has a chance to put his plan into action.

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Alex Rider: Point Blank

Book Title: Alex Rider: Point Blank

Author: Anthony Horowitz

Subject: Action Adventure

Pages: 274

Type of Read: Moderately Easy

Age: 10 -13 Boys

Rating: 8 out of 10

Times Read: 4 times

  Overall Impressions:

It was quite good, quite a few plot twists, keeps you engaged. It is the 2nd book in a series of 7.

Summary:

Main Character is 14 year old, Alex Rider, who is an orphan and has become a secret agent. To find out how he became a secret agent you need to read the first book.

 In this book, Alex is hired by MI6 to infiltrate a private school in the French Alps, Point Blanc. This school is very exclusive and very expensive. He is sent there because two very wealthy business men died in the span of three days, and the connection between the two deaths is that their kids went to the school.

 Alex gets to the school and makes friends with one of the boys, James. James is usually very rebellious and doesn’t follow the rules. All of the other boys follow the rules strictly. One morning when Alex goes down to the dining hall, James starts acting strange like the other boys. Alex knows something is up and sets out to find out what is going on.

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Baseball Great

Book Title: Baseball Great

Author: Tim Green

Subject: Sports Fiction

Pages: 250

Type of Read: Easy

Age: 9 -12 Boys

Times Read: 6 times

Rating: 7 out of 10

Overall Impressions:

It was good, but once the main plot was revealed it became a bit predictable. But I would recommend and it has a sequel, which is pretty good as well.

  Summary:

Main Character is 12 year old, Josh LeBlanc, who is 6ft tall and is really good at baseball. His dad played baseball and threw a no-hitter in high school and was the 17th pick in the draft. He also played in the minors for a long-time and is finally let go at the beginning of the book. And he has a lot of influence over Josh.

Josh plays for a 14U travel team called the Titans coached by Rocky Valentine. Josh starts at shortstop despite being only twelve. Rocky’s team is on their way to winning the Junior Olympics. Josh and two of his friends discover that Rocky isn’t winning with honesty. Josh and his friends spend the majority of the book trying to expose Rocky’s secret.