Showing posts with label students. Show all posts
Showing posts with label students. Show all posts

Thursday, February 22, 2024

Book Review - The Changing Man by Tomi Oyemakinde

  


The Changing Man by Tomi Oyemakinde is about a young woman, Ife Adebola, who is trying to adjust to her new school. Ife knows she should be excited about starting at the prestigious Nithercott School. However, she misses her old friends and school. She felt like she used to belong at her old school but at her new school she feels like an outsider.

As her parents couldn’t afford the tuition on their own, she is placed in the Urban Achievers scholarship program. She feels that this makes her an outsider and she is determined to focus on her schoolwork. However, when another student, Malika, starts acting strange, Ife wonders if there is more going on at the school. She wonders if Malika’s new behavior is related to the disappearance of the older brother of her classmate.

I love horror and mystery books, so I was so excited to read this book. The cover had a lot of spooky vibes.  However, I had a hard time getting into the book. The writing didn’t flow very smoothly for me. It also felt forced and disjointed. I had a hard time liking Ife. She was struggling to make friends but, when someone was interested in being her friend, Ife just used her when it was convenient. For example, she was only interested in talking to one girl, Bee, because Ife wanted to use Bee’s phone. I felt that there were also a lot of characters and it was hard to keep track of them all. It was a cumbersome process to remember how they all related to the plot. The book was so slow that nothing happened for more than half of the book. I stopped reading towards the midpoint as there wasn’t anything keeping me tethered to the novel.

 

Thursday, August 19, 2021

Book Review - The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

 

Mariana Andros is certain that Edward Fosca is a murderer but, he is untouchable. He is a devilishly handsome popular Greek tragedy professor at Cambridge.  He is well adored by staff and students especially by the secret society of female students called The Maidens. 

Mariana works as a group therapist and is fixated on Edward Fosca and the Maidens. She believes that they are responsible for the death of Tara, her niece's friend. Mariana was also once a student at the idyllic school but, she suspects something dark is hiding behind the beautiful facade. 

She remains convinced that Edward is guilty despite his alibi.When another body is found, Mariana's obsession with Fosca spirals out of control. As she falls into the rabbit hole, her reputation and credibility is being questioned. However, Mariana is determined to find and stop the killer even if it might cost her life.

I was very excited to read this book because I loved his previous novel. However, I had a hard time falling in love with this book because I didn't care for Mariana. I felt like she was frustrating and annoying at times. I thought the book moved very slowly in the middle and that the story just plodded along. I felt that ending was unsatisfying as it didn't really give any answers.  I would still be open to reading other books by the author.

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Book Review - Captain Superlative by J. S. Puller + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Janey Silverman is used to being ignored and treated like she doesn't exist. But when a student dons a blue wig, red mask, and silver swimsuit to impart a kindness on citizens, Janey is both in awe and confused by the masked hero, Captain Superlative. She is used to being in the shadows, but when she is accidentally pulled into the spotlight, Janey is unsure how to react. When Janey starts a friendship with the budding superhero, she is pulled out from her comfort zone. She starts to define who she wants to be in life. However, her newfound friendship causes Janey to be a target of the school's bully, Dagmar. When Janey discovers her superhero's dark secret, she questions their mission and their friendship. Will Janey and Captain Superlative be able to stay friends or will the secret tear them apart?

The novel was an emotional and wonderful read. While Captain Superlative's dark secret was a bit predictable, it was done with an emotional pull that made readers bond with the characters. The story showed readers a different way people can deal with tragedy along with delicate nature of friendships.  The novel shows how people have the power to chose their own destiny instead of having one specific trait define them. I found the novel to be an inspiring read with a satisfying ending.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**


About the Book:
Title: CAPTAIN SUPERLATIVE
Author: J.S. Puller
Pub. Date: May 8, 2018
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Pages: 256
Find it: AmazonB&NiBooksTBDGoodreads

"Have no fear, citizens! Captain Superlative is here to make all troubles disappear!"

Red mask, blue wig, silver swimsuit, rubber gloves, torn tights, high top sneakers and . . . a cape? Who would run through the halls of Deerwood Park Middle School dressed like this? And why?

Janey-quick to stay in the shadows-can't resist the urge to uncover the truth behind the mask. The answer pulls invisible Janey into the spotlight and leads her to an unexpected friendship with a superhero like no other. Fearless even in the face of school bully extraordinaire, Dagmar Hagen, no good deed is too small for the incomparable Captain Superlative and her new sidekick, Janey.

But superheroes hold secrets and Captain Superlative is no exception. When Janey unearths what's truly at stake, she's forced to face her own dark secrets and discover what it truly means to be a hero . . . and a friend.

About J.S.: 
J. S. Puller a playwright and debut author from the Windy City, Chicago. She has a master's degree in elementary education and a bachelor's degree in theatre from Northwestern University. She is an award-winning member of the American Alliance for Theatre and Education and is actively involved in researching the social-emotional benefits of arts education with the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research. When not writing, she can usually be found in the theatre. Her play, WOMEN WHO WEAVE, was published by Playscripts, Inc.


Giveaway Details:


a Rafflecopter giveaway  

3 winners will receive a finished copy of CAPTAIN SUPERLATIVE, US Only.


Tour Schedule:

Week One:

4/30/2018- BookHounds YAInterview

5/1/2018- Two Points of InterestReview
5/2/2018- RhythmicBooktrovert - Review
5/3/2018- Wonder StruckReview
5/4/2018- A Dream Within A DreamExcerpt