Reviews written by Alanna Shaw

230 results - showing 1 - 15
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December 28, 2014
Overall rating
 
3.0
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Young Adult Fiction
Fun summer read

I love a good retelling. Especially when the retelling is of one of my favorite books. Epic Fail is Pride and Prejudice in a new, more modern setting. What you will find in Epic Fail is a fun twist on the setting and character roles....

December 28, 2014
Overall rating
 
4.0
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Middle Grade Fiction
Such a fun read!

The Monster on the Hill is a super cute book. I saw it on the shelf in the kids' section of the library while browsing with my son, and I just had to pick it up. The monster's face just makes me giggle. He reminds me of my grumpy, extra...

December 28, 2014
Overall rating
 
2.3
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Young Adult Fiction
It's ok

I live in a house full of boys that are crazy about super heroes. I live and breathe Marvel and DC Comics. I even have Wonder Woman socks. I consider myself well-versed in all things superhero. While browsing the aisles at Barnes and Noble over the summer, we instantly...

December 28, 2014
Overall rating
 
2.3
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Young Adult Fiction
You will either love or hate this book

This book is both captivating and infuriating at the same time. The cover drew me in right away. What a gorgeous way to grab my attention! As I started reading, I realized there is a good bit of mystery going on in The Winter People. It's pretty...

December 28, 2014
Overall rating
 
2.3
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Hit
Young Adult Fiction
Decent

Aside from a stellar cover, what can you expect from Hit? The answer to the story is both simple and complicated. On the basic level, you have a pretty horrific accident that wrecks havoc on the lives of a family. Sarah is a senior with everything going for her. She's...

December 28, 2014
Overall rating
 
1.5
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Young Adult Fiction
awful

I love a good retelling of a fairytale. In fact, this is one of my genres of choice. I wasn't overly thrilled with the idea of a sci-fi twist on a fairytale, but I figured I would give it a try. After all, I loved A Long, Long Sleep and...

December 28, 2014
Overall rating
 
2.3
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Young Adult Fiction
eh

I'll be honest, the name "Melissa De La Cruz" and the golden dragon grabbed my attention. I thought the cover was pretty stunning, and I'm a complete cover snob. I do judge a book by its cover. Frozen is a bit tricky to categorize. It...

December 28, 2014
Overall rating
 
3.0
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Middle Grade Fiction
The ending is worth it.

Move over Harry and Percy, Callum is in the house! This series is going to be the next big thing. I guarantee it. How could it not with Holly Block and Cassandra Clare as the authors? I'm almost scared to admit that...

December 28, 2014
Overall rating
 
4.0
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Young Adult Fiction
Love it!

This book. Sigh. I am such a fan of retellings. Especially modern retellings of my old favorites. I just absolutely adored this book. It was one part Persuasion and one part sci-fi romance. (and I do...

December 28, 2014
Overall rating
 
3.3
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Young Adult Fiction
annoying love triangle, but still good

I'm not going to pretend and say this is the type of book I like to read. I'm a big baby with a very active imagination. It does not take much to work me up into a gigantic ball of crazy. Sleepless nights aside, I love this series! ...

December 28, 2014
Overall rating
 
4.0
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Young Adult Fiction
Another hit!

One of life's greatest mysteries is how an author like Sarah Beth Durst can write a plethora of books, and yet, each one is unique and vastly different from the others. This woman never ceases to amaze me. Let me just begin by saying one of...

July 29, 2014
Overall rating
 
4.3
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Young Adult Fiction
Great ending to the series

I have put off reading this book because I did not want it to end. I am a bit saddened that there is not more Vincent and Jules, but what a great way to end this series! Lots of things are going on in If I Should...

July 29, 2014
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4.3
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Young Adult Fiction
Love!

Oh man, you guys. This book! In one word: intense. In two words: intense and surprising. I usually figure out the plot of books way before the end, but that was not the case with Variant. It literally kept me guessing to the last word. ...

July 29, 2014
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4.0
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Middle Grade Fiction
Love!

This book is awesome! It is everything that a ghost story should be. I am so glad that everyone else in the book club was too chicken to read this one and it fell to me. This cover perfectly captures the eeriness of The Ghost of...

July 29, 2014 (Updated: July 29, 2014)
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