In the Shadow of Blackbirds
By Cat Winters
I was drawn to this book for many reasons including my love for historical books and all things supernatural. The fall of 1918 was a bleak time in U.S. history. World War I was ending and the Spanish Influenza had the country in a death grip. Mary Shelley Black moves to San Diego to live with her Aunt Eva after her father is imprisoned for treason. The war and the flu have left a lasting impression on the city. Women are forced to work in the factories and shipyards, bodies are piling up on every street corner, and people are desperate to contact their love ones in the afterlife. Mary Shelley sits for a photo shoot with her friend who claims to be a spiritualist photographer. She doesn’t believe he can capture the dead in a photo, but she begins to question her belief when a grim figure surfaces in her photograph. She learns that her beloved Stephen Embers has died at war, and she soon begins to see his ghost. But, why? Mary Shelley must find out the truth about Stephen’s death, and the truth about the afterlife.
Cat Winters paints a very grim scene in San Diego in 1918. Life becomes a day to day battle to stay alive despite the flu running rampant in the streets. My favorite part of this book was the descriptions of the setting. I almost felt like I was transported back to 1918. Fans of supernatural and historical books will devour this book. Mary Shelley is a believable character with real fears and real weaknesses. In the Shadow of Blackbirds is creepy and sinister, but it offers a real glimpse of our history with a fictional story.
-Beth
Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R Tolkien
I’m Megan and I’m 12 years of age. I read the first part of lord of the rings. It was fantastic! It had adventure and a good history of the hobbits. I loved it! It kept me turning the page and I would give it 5 stars!
Megan, age 12
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
I am a 12 year old boy named Joe. i recently read Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. i found it very interesting as it has a very engaging plot that caught my interest from the first page. i would give it 5 stars.
Joe, age 12
Rise of the Wolf by Curtis Jobling
4.5 stars
I love this book. I have been meaning to read it since I saw the most recent book at the main library. I am so glad I finally read it. I enjoyed the fact it wasn’t short but it was a quick read. I absolutely adore the main character. Unfortunately it is slightly irritating how Drew is not dead yet. NOT THAT I WANT DREW DEAD! Its just he’s survived many things that would kill a normal human by themselves along with the trauma he seems to just in a way shrug off.
Still amazing plot, cute pairing, cool characters.
Mariah, 17
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
I just finished reading the book Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. It is one of my favorites now. I’ll give it a 4 and a half in rating because the ending wasn’t how I thought it should be. This book is very mysterious, creepy, and even a bit romantic. I like mysteries and adventurous books, so it suited me.
Emma, 15
The Giver by Lois Lowry
I read The Giver by Lois Lowry. I give it 4 1/2 stars. Its a really good book about a Utopian society. I recommend it to all ages!
Madison, 12
Midwinterblood
By Marcus Sedgwick
I have read books by Marcus Sedgwick before, and this one did not disappoint! I read this book lightning fast because it was that good! The book is set on a fictional island called Blessed. Very strange things occur here. People do not seem to age, and there are no children on the island. There is also a very mysterious flower that looks like a dragon’s head. It is said to have magical powers. The main characters are Erik and Merle who take on many different forms throughout the book, and the chapters progress from future to past. Does this sound confusing? I know, but it’s worth it.
This book reminded me of the television show Lost. I was a huge fan of Lost for many reasons but mainly because it was amazing how the characters were all intertwined even though they did not know it. Midwinterblood is a lot like Lost in that way. This book will have your guessing right up until the end, which makes it a fast read because you are dying to find out what happens!
Check out two of Marcus Sedgwick’s other books White Crow and Revolver.
-Beth
Themocracy