In the book Door by the Staircase, Mary is living in an orphanage where almost no one gets adopted. Until Madame Z shows up. Madame Z whisks Mary away from the dreadful “Home for Girls” and takes her to a big house on the outskirts of a strange town full of performers. Mary has a curious spirit burning inside her so when Madame Z tells her not to open the door, she struggles between doing what's right and what she has been told not to do. As she attempts to pick the lock, her hand is bitten and almost devoured as she shrinks against the wall in terror. In addition, Madame Z assigns her to tame a fire breathing horse. She meets Jacob, a magician's son. Scared, but curious, Jacob and Mary want to confide in each other. However, a traitor appears… the stable hand. Will Mary and Jacob be able to stop him before he hurts Madame Z or one of them? Or will he become Mary’s new guardian and force her into a life of terror? Katherine Marsh has created a fast paced, action packed, suspense filled novel. Mary and Jacob’s stories are entwined together in a tale of magic and exploring the true meaning of devotion. Door by the Staircase is an unforgettable story filled with conflict, love, and the ambition to find home.
In the book Connect the Stars, Aaron and Audrey, two kids with (un)superpowers meet at a camp in the center of the desert. Audrey can tell when people are lying and Aaron can recall everything he's ever seen. They work together on a team throughout challenges but one of the campers goes missing. Jare, the camp counselor, gets hurt which leads to Aaron and Audrey having to work together to find the camper, but will their friendship be able to survive throughout this strenuous challenge? Will Aaron and Audrey forget about their differences to save a life? Marisa De Los Santos and David Teague have crafted a beautifully written, noteworthy novel, whose characters will resonate throughout your heart for an elongated time. Aaron and Audrey discover the true meaning of friendship, and overcoming challenges throughout their journey through the bare, famine filled desert. Connect the Stars is an inventive novel filled with passionate and earnest characters that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Each page will leave you grasping for the next. “Sometimes you have to get lost to find yourself”. |
AuthorNatalie Carslake, a student at Hopewell, is writing reviews of ARC copies to encourage others to read new books. Archives
April 2016
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