Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

Erick Arias

Plot Summary

In the world of Ender's Game, kids are taught differently to make them smarter. This book is about Andrew Wiggin, also known as Ender Wiggin is selected into a new form of military where they choose kids from all over the world to command a fleet to destroy an incoming attack by aliens, known as the Buggers. Even though Ender is the most gifted of them all, he faces hardships throughout battle school.

Critical Evaluation

I give this book a 9/10, what keeps from giving this book a ten out of ten is that the battle against the bugger fleet was not all that exciting. It ended in 5 pages. But the rest of the book is cool as it talks about kids training to becoming the best, a lot of competitive moments.

Where Futures End by Parker Peevyhouse

Gordon Jack

Plot Summary

Where Futures End starts out strange and gets stranger as you read. And that’s a great thing. In chapter one, a teen develops a sixth sense that allows him to see into another world, one so magical he wants to disappear into it. As the novel progresses we move forward in time to discover new characters and new information about this parallel universe and how it impacts our world.  

Critical Analysis
I'd rate this book a 10 out of 10. If you love stories like Winterblood by Marcus Sedgwick or Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, where the plot unfolds across multiple time spans and settings, then this is the book for you. Each chapter is filled with imaginative settings, social satire and great characters.

Undertow by Micheal Buckley

Plot Summary

Carlos Diaz

Plot Summary

Kids that go to the mixed school of Coney Island are constantly under surveillance and searched every school day. This book is about a girl named Lyric Walker who goes through an emotional and physical change when she meets the Alpha. She is drawn to the Alpha prince, Fathom, but she feels that they may not be able to be with each other, because she is human, and he is Alpha.

Critical Evaluation

This book would rate a 8 stars out of 10. This book is a solid book with a persistent mix in emotions and action. The changes in characters will keep you reading to uncover more about the characters past, and their true intentions.

Shadowshaper by Daniel Jose Older

Gordon Jack

Plot Summary
Sierra Santiago is a teenager who spends her days hanging out with friends and painting murals in her Brooklyn neighborhood.  When people in her community start dying and coming back as reanimated corpses, Sierra realizes that sinister forces are out to kill her family and friends.  Soon, she becomes immersed in the world of shadowshaping, the ability to provide physical forms for the spirits of her ancestors. This skill will be the only thing that can save her from a man out to destroy everyone she loves.

Critical Evaluation
I would rate this book a 9 out of 10. Older does a great job of showing a community trying to maintain its cultural heritage as their neighborhood becomes gentrified by hipsters. Sierra is a great character, a tough fighter who loves her "fro" and "curves".  I had trouble at times understanding the history and rules of shadowshaping, which kept me from feeling the peril the characters experienced. Besides this though, this is a world I was happy to get to know better.

Navy Seal Dogs by Mike Ritland

Alexis Torres Aguilar

Plot Summary
The book Navy Seal Dogs explains how author Mike Ritland trains dogs so they are capable to go to war and protect their handlers. Mike also has the passion to work with dogs and comes up with a great idea to combine dogs and the SEALs. Ritland explains how loyal the dog is and why the bond between the dog and soldier is important. Building trust with the military dog is super important because if the handler gets shot or harmed the dog will protect you from getting severely wounded.

Critical Evaluation
I rate this book an 8 out of 10 because at the beginning the book didn’t really get my attention. However he tells a few stories about the dogs and how they save other members’ lives by detecting explosives and taking down snipers.

Ask the Dark

Daniel Bautista

Plot summary:
In this book A boy named Billy is looked down on by most of the people of the town because he steals a lot. Not many kids like him either. His father is going to lose the house unless he can make the many to pay the bank. However, on a silent night walk he stumbles upon a dead body. He knew the kid, and turns out that there was a serial killer that only targeted boys. Billy starts digging into the case and Somethings happen and He finds out who it is and surprisingly it has a good ending.

Critical evaluation:
While this book was okay, i wouldn't read it again based on the fact that the plot and the whole story is pretty cliche. I would rate this book a 7/10 just because of the humor. That's what kept me reading. It was the foul language this book has and how it's used.

All The Bright Places By Jennifer Niven

Maria Ortega

Plot Summary:
Two troubled teenagers meet unexpectedly in a situation that will connect them together. In a struggle that will embark them in a romantic adventure. Soon Finch and Violet realize that they need and count on each other for love and support that they are neglected at home.

Critical Evaluation: 
I rate this book a 10 out of 10. Since it was real page turner and had built a lot of suspense in the end of the book. Also its teen romance book with a slight twist but the good kind.