Reviews written by Samantha Randolph

302 results - showing 1 - 15
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Ordering
July 19, 2022 (Updated: July 19, 2022)
Overall rating
 
4.7
Plot
 
4.0
Characters
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
Young Adult Fiction
3 Reasons to Read BAD THINGS HAPPEN HERE

Luca lives on Parris, an island primarily inhabited by the rich and well off. But underneath the glamor is a haunting string of dead women. When Luca's sister, Whitney, is the island's latest victim, she knows she has to find out the truth before the curse comes for her next....

July 19, 2022
Overall rating
 
4.0
Plot
 
4.0
Characters
 
4.0
Writing Style
 
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
4.0
Kids Fiction
A cloud that outgrows its home

Lizzy finds the perfect cloud pet and names it Milo. She carefully reads the instructions for caring for a pet cloud and helps Milo grow bigger and bigger. Soon, Milo is huge and can't fit in Lizzy's room any more. Lizzy has to decide to do what is best for...

July 16, 2022
Overall rating
 
4.3
Writing Style
 
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
4.0
Learning Value
 
5.0
Introduction to the anglerfish

ANGLERFISH: THE SEADEVIL OF THE DEEP introduces young readers to a mysterious fish that lives the majority of its life in the deep, dark parts of the ocean. Elaine M. Alexander and Fiona Fogg join accessible text with soft, detailed drawings that show the anglerfish as it is: a unique,...

May 26, 2022
Overall rating
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
Learning Value
 
5.0
A must have for any YA nonfiction shelf

The Black Panther Party is often shrouded in distorted rumors and images. Kekla Magoon sheds a light on a typically misunderstood movement with REVOLUTION IN OUR TIME. Highlighting key figures and facts, clarifying myths, and tying the Black Panther Party into context of both the past and how it has...

May 23, 2022
Overall rating
 
3.0
Plot
 
3.0
Characters
 
3.0
Writing Style
 
3.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
Young Adult Fiction
Can a witch and a pirate fall in love?

Charlotte Pettifer is prophesied to be the future leader of a secret society for witches. When the long lost (and very powerful) amulet of Black Beryl is stolen (before she can steal it), she knows she must be the one to get it back. Unfortunately, the only person who might...

April 25, 2022
Overall rating
 
3.0
Plot
 
3.0
Characters
 
3.0
Writing Style
 
3.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
Young Adult Fiction
Lovecraftian horror with a twist

Adelle and Connie, polar opposite best friends, share a love for a rare gothic romance novel. Adelle loves to get lost in the romance of the hero and the aesthetics. Connie is enamored with the fiery heroine. When they are given the option to transport themselves into the story, they...

April 18, 2022 (Updated: April 18, 2022)
Overall rating
 
3.7
Plot
 
3.0
Characters
 
4.0
Writing Style
 
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
Young Adult Fiction
How do you become the main character of your own story?

Marnie Barnes wishes she were like her favorite heroine, Lizzie Bennet. After several kerfuffles, Marnie realizes the devastating truth: she isn't Lizzie Bennet. She's Lizzie's unlikable, pedantic middle sister, Mary. Seeking to change her story, Marnie sets a plan to leave Mary Bennet behind and become someone better. Once...

April 09, 2022
Overall rating
 
3.5
Plot
 
3.0
Characters
 
4.0
Writing Style
 
3.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
4.0
Young Adult Fiction
3 Reasons to Read CRUMBS

Ray is a seer who can only see the present, exactly as it is, and wonders if the Council is the best place for her talents. Laurie works at his aunt’s magical bakery and dreams of being a famous musician. When a romance blooms between them, neither will be able...

March 30, 2022
Overall rating
 
4.3
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
4.0
Writing Style
 
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
Young Adult Fiction
Atmospheric retelling of Poe

After Alex Easton receives a letter implying that their friend, Madeline Usher, is likely dying, they rush to the House of Usher. Once there, Alex realizes something strange is afoot. Madeline is ghostly pale, walking at night, and talking in the strangest way. Roderick, her brother, is equally unnerving, consumed...

March 21, 2022
Overall rating
 
4.0
Plot
 
4.0
Characters
 
4.0
Writing Style
 
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
Young Adult Fiction
3 Reasons to Read EXACTLY WHERE YOU NEED TO BE

Florie is spending the summer after high school dreading her best friend, Kacey, moving to a big city for college. Because of her OCD, Florie's mom advised her to take a gap year, but lately, Florie has been thinking more and more about good vs. bad stress and what she...

March 04, 2022
Overall rating
 
4.0
Writing Style
 
N/A
Plot
 
N/A
Characters
 
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
Young Adult Indie
A horror sequel not for the faint of heart or those with arachnophobia

Nearly a year has passed since the tragedy in Hazel’s hometown. She still has the Shadow inside her, but she’s done her best to leave it starving and dormant. When her girlfriend Jen invites her to her basketball tournament, Hazel and her best friend hit the road for a fun-filled...

March 03, 2022
Overall rating
 
5.0
Plot
 
N/A
Characters
 
N/A
Writing Style
 
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
Artistic story connected to famous tapestries

A Lord and his men are determined to use the woods for hunting and trampling, never caring for the wreckage they leave behind or the value of the lives of mystical creatures. Their most illusive prey is the unicorn, whose horn can remove all poison. Will they manage to capture...

March 03, 2022
Overall rating
 
4.5
Plot
 
N/A
Characters
 
N/A
Writing Style
 
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
Kids Fiction
Adorable witchy picture book

A witch is demonstrating how to make frog soup, a classic witch delicacy. Everything is going fine until it's time to add the special ingredient: the frog itself. Suddenly, frogs are hopping around everywhere, and the witch struggles to catch one. With hijinks and humor, this is a cooking demonstration...

February 28, 2022
Overall rating
 
3.3
Plot
 
N/A
Characters
 
N/A
Writing Style
 
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
Young Adult Fiction
Solid pick for Veronica Mars fans

Hallie ‘Hal’ Mayhew is one busy senior. Between school, her main part-time job as a pest control technician for her father’s company, another part-time job with her mom’s company, and an occasional restaurant gig, she doesn’t have much time for anything else. Her sights are fixed on winning a local...

February 25, 2022 (Updated: February 25, 2022)
Overall rating
 
5.0
Plot
 
N/A
Characters
 
N/A
Writing Style
 
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
N/A
Middle Grade Fiction
A beautiful love letter to transkids

Bug isn’t doing great. Uncle Roderick just died, middle school is about to start, and things with best friend Moira are weird. Moira wants to do makeovers, go shopping for dresses, and decide which boys are cuter, none of which appeals to Bug. The home Bug lives in is always...

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