Genre: Middle Grade, Mystery, Horror
Student Reviewer: Jaiden W.

"The Ash House" is an excellent middle-grade novel that explores the themes of belonging, friendship, bravery, and defiance. The author has done an exceptional job of creating an intriguing, mysterious, and eerie setting that keeps the reader engaged throughout the story. The characters are well-developed, and their backstories are revealed gradually, making the readers invest in them emotionally. The protagonist, Sol, is an incredibly relatable character, and his struggles with his complex pain syndrome are depicted sensitively. The Ash House is a place where the abandoned and forgotten children live, and the headmaster is a mysterious figure who controls everything. The story takes a dark turn when Sol realizes that the headmaster's intentions are not as benevolent as they seem, and he must find the courage to defy him and rescue his new friends. The book's pace is perfect, and the tension builds up gradually, culminating in a thrilling climax. The author has also included several plot twists that keep the readers guessing until the end. Overall, "The Ash House" is a compelling and thought-provoking read that is perfect for middle school readers and anyone who enjoys a well-crafted, engaging story. 

 

Student Saturday: The Cat With the Yellow Star by Susan Goldman Rubin and ElaWeissberger

Genre: Middle Grade, Biography
Student Reviewer: David P.

This book was cool, finding out about my own country's history even more, that the place where they make good pancakes has had such terrible things happen there. Anyways this takes place in... Czechoslovakia (Now the Czech Republic) in the city Terezín (The place with the good pancakes!) and the main character is Ela with her friends. They are stuck in a camp for the Jewish population built after the nazis invaded us. They are sad, however they find out that the main composer for brundibar is also there, so they decide to have some fun.... Did you really think I was going to tell the entire thing to you? No, you will have to read this book to find out though... Anyways as a Czech myself I really enjoyed this book, so I recommend this to anyone who likes WW2 history or History in general.

 

Student Saturday: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Genre: Middle Grade, Young Adult Autobiography

Student Reviewer: Sofia D.

 

This book is a remarkable read and I think it is very interesting and informative on the tragic events of the Holocaust. Anne Frank was a girl which such a daring personality and I think she is very clever and independent. This book took place in 1942 and ended in 1944 when she was only 13-15 years old. The diary talks about her thoughts and experiences in hiding in the secret annex which is a covered area behind her dad’s work. The diary also discusses betrayal and tragic loss. I liked how descriptive it was the book painted a picture in my head as I read. If I was in Anne Frank’s place, I would not handle it as well nor, be as intelligent as she was. I think it is a wonderful book, and I recommend it to people interested in historic events and being on that side of events from a personal point of view.