Skip to main content

Review: Read At Your Own Risk

Image
By
Read at Your Own Risk
By Remy Lai
New York: Henry Holt Books, 2024. Fiction. 160 pages.

Hannah Lee didn't think that skipping assembly with her friends would be a big deal. After all, the rumors that the school's attic is haunted are obviously just rumors, what could possibly happen if they tried to contact ghosts? It turns out, Hannah is now haunted. Not just haunted, cursed. In Biology, a scalpel flies out of her hand and lands in the middle of her forehead; an itchy sensation in her gums turns out to be centipedes; and that's only the beginning. Hannah decides to start keeping a journal to keep record of what is happening to her. Of course, that doesn't mean she is immediately forthcoming with the truth. And it doesn't do anything to stop the evil spirit from inhabiting her journal as well. Hannah thinks that local horror author Leon Star might be able to give her advice, but all he can do is warn her she doesn't have much time left. 

This very scary and very enjoyable book is certain to be popular with anyone who likes to be a little bit spooked. The sketch journal format works really nicely in making this book just a little scarier, and supplying some welcome dark humor. A twist at the end serves as a larger metaphor and fits into the book really nicely without disrupting the story. Confident and reluctant readers will cruise through this book.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Painting for Peace in Ferguson

By
Painting for Peace in Ferguson By Carol Swartout Klein Treehouse Publishing Group, 2015. Nonfiction. When the city of Ferguson was overrun with so much hate and despair that homes and businesses had to be boarded up to protect property, citizens of the community decided to bring a message of hope by painting the boarded windows. Klein’s rhyming text supports the photographs of the hundreds of artists and volunteers and their artwork as they bring the messages of peace, hope, love, and that by being united they can make a difference. A great book to show children how a community rallied to make a positive change and that even a small gesture can make a huge difference. A great discussion opener on how we should treat each other.
Post a Comment
Read more

Dragon Run

By
Dragon Run by Patrick Matthews Scholastic, 2013.  336 pgs.  Fantasy      Al Pilgrommor is excited for Testing Day, when he will receive his rank, a tattooed number on the back of his neck, and a path forward to his future occupation and life.  He feels confident because his parents were fours on a scale of seven, but he is worried for his friend Wisp who doesn't have much of a chance of scoring above a two at best. But when Al is scored a zero, he not only has no prospects, he may lose his life as the dreaded Cullers are unleashed to kill him and his family to purify the land's bloodlines.  Al's world is ruled by dragons--the lords and supposed creators of humankind--so he thinks that even if he survives, he will have to make his living as a beggar or thief. But when Al sticks up for his Earther friend in front of Magister Ludi, he is drawn into the struggle of a secret organization hoping to destroy the Cullers, and perhaps the dragons them...
1 comment
Read more

Review: Growing Home

By
Growing Home Written by Beth Ferry Illustrated by The Fan Brothers New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025. Fiction. 261 pages. This book has some entertaining characters! We get to read about Toasty, the goldfish who loves to eat cheese puffs, Ivy, a plant with magical powers, and Arthur, the spider who ends up with a broken leg. Jillian is the main human character in the book. She loves Toasty and Ivy, and would probably love Arthur, too, but she doesn't know about him....yet. Her parents own an antique shop, but they are facing some economic hardship.  This charming story is about magic, teamwork, and friendship. I loved that there were all kinds of shenanigans happening. While we are on a journey where the fish, the plant, the spider, and the girl are working to solve one mystery after another, the author beautifully guides us to the realization that words are powerful, friendships can heal hearts, and books have their own magic power to help in all kinds ...
Post a Comment
Read more