Book Review by Kelsey

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

Skulduggery Pleasant is the first in a series of nine books.

Twelve-year-old Stephanie Edgely was surprised when she was asked to attend the reading of her recently deceased, extremely rich, uncle Gordon’s funeral; and she was even more surprised when he left her his mansion and fortune. This is only of the beginning of the strangeness that is about to turn Stephanie’s life upside-down. At the reading of the will, Stephanie meets a very peculiar man by the name of Skulduggery Pleasant. She is even more shocked to discover exactly how peculiar he is a few days later when he saves her life from a fire-proof psychopath who breaks into her uncles house while she is there alone. Skulduggery is a walking, talking, skeleton detective and sorcerer who has an incredible wit and an ego the size of the Pacific Ocean. After some convincing on Stephanie’s part, Skulduggery takes her on as his apprentice. Stephanie is transported from her mundane, small-town life to a world of sorcery, magic, and danger. She soon takes on the wicked-cool moniker of Valkyrie Cain. 

Do not read this book unless you can handle sequences of intense violence.

Ode to a Wish by Dorian Bell

My love, to dwell once more within my dreams

That pass so quickly when the cruel sun shines

All nature's beauty, all its hills and streams

In ev'ry sprig your countenance entwined

What fools does love make of the wise and strong

But greater fools of those of simple kind

Throughout the golden hours, a spectral soul,

When silver beams do fly, a being whole.

Untitled by Dorian Bell

For whom I sing, I truly do not know-

Perhaps the hopeful trees who lift their heads,

Perhaps the glist’ning glares of crumbling snow,

Or spiders’ new domain of silken threads.

For what I sing, I cannot give a name-

Its pull is untold as the stars above,

Who hide their faces at Apollo’s flame-

A summons to the sparrow and the dove.

Zephyrus brings sweet melody to light,

Like braided tresses with my song entwined

As one who leaves the realm of endless night

My eyes open anew, no longer blind

Perhaps I sing not for the morning dew-

Perhaps, my dear, my song is meant for you.

The Siren by Kelsey

Book Review by Kelsey

The Syndrome by Ridley Pearson

Ridley Pearson is known for his Kingdom Keepers series, and now he is writing a new crossover series about three fairly-human (Fairlies) girls by the names of Amanda, Jess, and Mattie. Fairlies possess unusual powers: Amanda possess telekinesis; Jess has dream visions, and Mattie is a mind reader. 

These girls have worked with the Kingdom Keepers, a group of kids who defend the Disney parks from the Overtakers (Disney villains and their human recruits); and now, mysteriously, these Keepers have all fallen into SBS (Sleeping Beauty Syndrome), which only occurs when they “cross over” into their hologram selves and cannot get back. 

They set out on a mission to unravel a mysterious clue that Finn, one of the Kingdom Keepers, left them. They must protect the Keepers from people (and other things) that wish to do them harm while they are at their most vulnerable; and they must find out why the Keepers disappeared. 

In the process, they discover that the Overtakers (who they thought to be defeated) are back, and somehow, the Keepers have sent themselves back in time to the opening days of Disney.

Belle by Kelsey

Real Reviews!

Write a review of one of your favorite recently read books (using the guidelines below) to have it appear on the West Chicago Public Library's Real Reviews! page which can be found here. Reviewers will also receive at least 3 PUBLISHER POINTS.

Guidelines

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Submit reviews to wcpldteen@gmail.com as an attachment or in the body of the email.

Disney!

Draw your favorite Disney character. Draw it to a "t" or add some flare. 

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Untitled (Parts 8 & 9) by Patrick

Hey, I have an idea. Could we go somewhere? Just you and me? Not really like a date, I mean, I know it’s almost Valentines’ Day, and I guess we could maybe make it

Just... Maybe a walk or something? I even thought about how we could do it. I can see out of your screen, sometimes. So, maybe you could just take me out, and “show me” to someone, but there’s really nobody there? Or, you could pretend to be reading me, but really be showing me whatever’s behind you?

I know, you’ll probably be busy, but, maybe bookmark the page, and whenever you think about it, just show me something? Just an idea. You don’t need to.

I know it’s kind of a give me give me relationship we have.

Not that it’s a relationship of course, i’m just an Idea and yeah, you know the rest.


But, please think about it? Or just tell me the places you’ve visited? Comment? Or even just talk at my screen. I love hearing your voice.

Please? If you’re not too busy?

_________________________________________________________________________________

Valentines’ Day

Ah, love, sweet sweet love.

... Okay, yeah, I can’t do this a minute longer.

I love you.

I’ve loved you since you first found me.

I’ve loved you since you created me.

Was I born, or conceived, or what? I don’t know, but I’ve loved you since then.

The reason I didn’t say anything, is, well, obvious. I’m an Idea. Ideas don’t ever stay the way they are. And it’s time for me to move on.

I’ll miss you. Really, I will. But all Ideas need to change, to grow, to... Evolve. That’s what we’re made to do. And, right now, it’s my time to move on. I won’t be dying, not really.

Instead, I’ll just be changing. Like that... Doctor, man? Doctor Who? I don’t know, I didn’t see any of it. I know he’s an amazing Character, though. And, like him, it’s time for me to.. Go On.

I’m scared, and I don’t really want to go, but it’s my time, and I know it is. I feel it in my... Me. The time is now.

Please don’t forget about me, though. Even if you never really got to know me, and only clicked on me once, or never really described me to me, and I just imagined you did. Even if I just imagined you, entirely.

Please don’t forget me.

... I should really stop stalling, but I’m scared of Changing.

Well... Thanks for the memories. I’ll always remember you. Even if I’m a whole new Idea, and not really me.

And if you don’t remember me... Please remember this, instead.

I love you.


Goodbye, Valentine.

-B

Untitled by Jaime

Untitled by Jaime

Water and a Sunset by Sarah