Book reviews from the Castilleja Middle School.
Women learning, Women reading
 By: Cassandra Clare Rating: ★★★★☆ Genre: Fantasy Length: 725 pages Summary: In the Final Book in the Mortal Instruments, Clary Fray, Jace, Simon, and their friends band together to face the greatest threat to the Nephilim, Clary's own Brother. Taking the infernal cup, he captures and transforms fellow Shadowhunters into something out of a nightmare. He splits apart families, and Grows his army in preperation for war. Who will last in the Sixth installment of the Mortal Instruments Review: This is probably the BEST book in the series! It definitley is sad, but it also is really exciting. I would recommend reading this series, and then reading the others. It's so exciting and fun to read, and it's good for people who like fantasy and action. "Prepare to be Hooked!" - Entertainment Weekly Warnings: Romance: ●●●●○ Violence: ●●●○○ Language: ●○○○○ Substances: ○○○○○ Other Books in the Series: The Infernal Devices (Prequel Series) The Dark Artifacts (Sequel Series) The Shadowhunters Extended Universe (Background stories, Sequels, & more!) Reviewed by Marie Dineo, 2025
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 By: Cassandra Clare Rating: ★★★★☆ Genre: Fantasy Length: 544 pages Summary: Clary is shocked to see that Jace has disappeared, and with the Clave stopping the case on Jace, she wants to find him herself. Jace can’t stay away from Clary for long, and she is horrified when she realized Lilith’s magic has bound Jace and Sebastian together. The Clave wants to kill Sebastian, but if you kill one boy, the other boy dies as well. In this terrible turn of events, Clary is willing to risk her life to bring him back, but can she really trust him? Review: This book definitely changed everything! I was suprised by Cassandra Clare’s comeback and how she changed everything completely. I couldn’t stop reading this book! It makes the characters have to create more choices, and be willing to risk what they know to kill Sebastian and not Jace. Warnings: Romance: ●●●●○ Violence: ●●○○○ Language: ●○○○○ Substances: ○○○○○ Other Books in the Series: City of Bones City of Ashes City of Glass City of Fallen Angels City of Heavenly Fire Review by Marie Dineo, 2025  By: Cassandra Clare Rating: ★★★★☆ Genre: Fantasy Length: 432 pages Summary: The War is over, though it is lingering behind them. Clary Fray is back at the Institute in New York, training to be a Shadowhunter. Though everything has begun to feel normal, someone has been provoking tensions between the Shadowhunters and Downworlders by murders, murders that could lead to another war. Simon on the other hand, is being consumed by his thoughts. His mother found out he was a vampire, leading him to be homeless. Everyone around him wants something from him, and they’re willing to do anything to get it.Not to mention he’s dating two girls - and neither knows about the other. Slowly but surely, Clary has set herself in a chain of events that can make her lose everything she loves. Review: This book was really interesting, especially because of all the ties in the story. Cassandra Clare really knows how to strike you in the face! Warnings: Romance: ●●●●○ Violence: ●●○○○ Language: ●○○○○ Substances: ○○○○○ Other Books in the Series: City of Bones City of Ashes City of Glass City of Lost Souls City of Heavenly Fire Reviewed by Marie Dineo, 2025  By: Cassandra Clare Rating: ★★★★☆ Genre: Fantasy Length: 560 pages Summary: In order to save her mother’s life, Clary has to venture to the City of Glass, ignoring the fact that doing so she is breaking the Law. Either way, Jace doesn’t want her there, and has been trying to convince her not to go. And to make matters worse, Simon has been placed in prison by Shadowhunters who are curious of a vampire who walks in Daylight. With Valentine mustering all his power to defeat those who he hates and don’t bow to him, The Clave, Lightwoods, and Morgenstern’s have to devise a plan to save them all. Will Clary be able to use her newfound power, and save the Shadowhunters and Downworlders? Review: This book was exciting and engaging. It really made you want to get so intruiged, for instance, Clary doesn’t fully know why Jace doesn’t want her coming, and it makes you want to see her reaction. “Prepare to be Hooked!” - Entertainment Weekly Warnings: Romance: ●●●●○ Violence: ●●○○○ Language: ●○○○○ Substances: ○○○○○ Other Books in the Series: City of Bones City of Ashes City of Fallen Angels City of Lost Souls City of Heavenly Fire Reviewed by Marie Dineo, 2025  By: Cassandra Clare Rating: ★★★★☆ Genre: Fantasy Length: 464 pages Summary: Clary Fray wishes her life would go back to normal, but the Shadowhunter world isn’t comfortable letting her go. Anyway’s, what’s normal with seeing downworlders and creatures all around you? With her mother stuck in a coma, Clary has decided to help her by looking for her father, Valentine, but Jace isn’t helping. To complicate her choice even more, someone is murdering downworlders. When the Second of the Mortal instruments is stolen, the Inquisitor comes to investigate. Clary in surprise, found she immediately looked towards Jace. Is he really ready to betray everything he knows to work with Valentine? Review: This book was especially fascinating, because of how I can relate it to more books. This book is like an average book, but it adds twists and turns to make it unique. Cassandra Clare found a way to make this story so intriguing, you won’t stop thinking about it. Look forward to the next book reviews, and “prepare to be hooked!” Entertainment Weekly. Warnings: Romance: ●●●●○ Violence: ●●○○○ Language: ●○○○○ Substances: ○○○○○ Other books in the series: City of Bones City of Glass City of Fallen Angels City of Lost Souls City of Heavenly Fire Reviewed by Marie Dineo, 2025  By: Akemi Dawn Bowman
★★★★☆ Genre: Realistic Fiction Length: 369 pages Summary: Summer Bird Blue follows a teenager names Rumi Seto. She and her sister Lea have always shared a deep bond over their love of music and song writing. But when Lea is killed in a car accident, Rumi's life changes forever. Rumi is sent away to stay with her aunt in Hawaii over the summer. There, she meets many new people that help her to realize new things about herself and encourage her to accept who she is. Throughout all of this, Rumi continues to struggle through the grief that came from her sister's death with the goal of finishing the last song that the two had started together. Review: This book was written beautifully, and it explored so many strong and important emotions. Furthermore, it talked about one's identity and the questions that some people may ask about themselves. The theme of family that was used in the book was also very touching and brought up the message of unconditional love. Overall, Summer Bird Blue was a great book and I definitely recommend it. Warnings: Romance: ●○○○○ Violence: ●○○○○ Language: ●●●●○ Substances: ○○○○○ Reviewed by Samantha, 2024  By: Cassandra Clare Rating: ★★★★☆ Genre: Fantasy Length: 496 pages Summary: Clary Fray is an average girl. She lives with her mother and her “boyfriend” Luke. Although Clary doesn’t have many problems, she has only one friend - Simon - who she’s known since she was young. She is living a joyous life, up until she witnesses a murder. A murder that she will never forget. Slowly the tables turn on her, and she becomes the victim herself. Soon, Clary will realize that her world and the people that she loves aren’t what they seem. Review: I really enjoyed reading this book, mainly because I love fantasy books. In addition, it’s a book series, which gives you the perfect amount of time to think about it and not get bored. It has a mix of many types of monsters, creatures, and reality that is sure to make you exited. "Prepare to be hooked!" Entertainment Weekly.
Warnings: Romance: ●●●●○ Violence: ●●○○○ Language: ●○○○○ Substances: ○○○○○ Other Books in the Series: City of Ashes City of Glass City of Fallen Angels City of Lost Souls City of Heavenly Fire More Books Like This: Keeper of the Lost Cities Reviewed by Marie Dineo, 2025  By: Natalie C. Parker
★★★★★ Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Adventure Length: 384 pages Summary: Caledonia Styx blames herself for her family’s deaths. After she trusts a Bullet, her family is killed by the evil warlord Aric Athair and his army of Bullets. Caledonia and her childhood friend, Pisces, are the only survivors. Together they rebuild their family’s ship, rename it the Mors Navis, and put together an all girls crew, who, like them, have lost their families and homes to Aric and the Bullets. The crew are like sisters and will protect each other at all costs. They fight Bullet ships and follow their main rule- no bullets. It stays that way until one day Pisces is attacking a ship and gets caught. Caledonia is worried her friend is dead, until a Bullet pulls himself and Pisces up onto the ship. She’s about to throw him overboard, but Pisces begs her to let him live. She gives in, but still questions whether or not she should let him join the crew. Even with her doubts, she can’t help but wonder- could this boy be the key to saving them all? Review: This book was amazing! The main theme was female power, and the crew and Caledonia are all such strong and devoted women. I can’t wait for the other 2 books in her trilogy to come out. This book is perfect for middle schoolers who are looking for a book full of adventure and even a little romance. Warnings: Romance: ●○○○○ Violence: ●●○○○ Language: ○○○○○ Substances: ●●●●○ More Books Like This: Ash Princess series Reviewed By Anaika, 2025  By: Alyson Gerber
★★★★★ Genre: Realistic Fiction Length: 287 pages Summary: Rachel is starting 7th grade, and it will be the best year ever! She has earned a place with the forwards on her soccer team, her best friends are so much fun, and she likes Tate (and she’s pretty sure he likes her back). But then one appointment with her scoliosis doctor changes everything. She has to get a back brace and wear it 23/7. Just when everything seems lined up for a perfect year everything comes crashing down. Will she be able to play soccer the same? Will her friends still be friends with her? And will Tate like her in her brace? Join Rachel in an exciting book full of middle school drama. Review: This book is so good, and I couldn’t put it down. I love the way Rachel acts and she is super relatable. I really recommend this book to people who like realistic fiction, and I love how Alyson Gerber, author of Braced, has made Rachel come to life. Warnings: Romance: ●●●●○ Violence: ●○○○○ Language: ●○○○○ Substances: ○○○○○ More Books Like This: Smile Drama Sisters Reviewed by Claire, 2025  By: Ruta Sepetys
★★★★★ Genre: Historical Fiction Length: 388 pages Summary: Fifteen year old Lina is a vibrant Lithuanian girl who has a great passion for art. Lina lived a perfectly normal life during the 1940s until Soviet officers invade her home in the middle of the night. After being separated from her father, she is forced onto a crowded train with her mother and younger brother. One treacherous journey later, they arrive at a Siberian labor camp. Risking her and her family’s lives, Lina draws and documents everything that happens at the labor camp. Lina relies on her drawings and hope for seeing her father again to get her through these tough times - because her life depends on it. Review: Between Shades of Gray has become one of my favorite books. Full of danger, compassion, and love, Ruta Sepetys ties all of these elements together in a way that I could never have imagined. Although I don’t normally read books similar to this one, I couldn’t put this book down. Post-reading, I felt moved, inspired, and understood that freedom is a privilege for some. Warnings: Romance: ●●●○○ Language: ●○○○○ Violence: ●●●●● Substances: ●●○○○ More Books Like This: Salt to the Sea Reviewed By Julie, 2024 |
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