Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy book review #iLoveMG

Welcome to #iLoveMG where I share middle grade books that my fifth graders recommend. (Please note that my fifth graders read a wide variety of books across a wide variety of genres, levels, and topics. Do not think that these books are "only" for fifth graders.) Or check out #3rdfor3rd for recommendations from when I taught third grade.

The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy

Recommended by Pippa and Livi

[From Pippa]

My book was The Troubled Girls of Dragmir Academy. This book is written by Anne Ursu and it is fiction. This book has a very interesting plot line. Nobody notices Marya Lupu, mainly because her brother, Luka Lupu, could become a sorcerer if everything goes correctly. But when Marya does something terrible during his trial, and he is told that he doesn’t possess magic, Marya is shipped off to Dragomir Academy, a “school for troubled girls”. While there, Marya starts to uncover many mysteries, and when a close friend is arrested, and the horrible Dread, which comes in the night and leaves its victims bloodless corpses, threatens to attack the school, will Marya fight for her school or accept defeat? 

I loved this book so much because it is a frighteningly fun feminist fantasy that is especially hard to put down. This book will change your life forever and make you stand up for what you believe in. This book is beautifully written, and it feels like you are standing right next to Marya as she adventures through the halls. I would recommend this book to anybody who likes fiction and plot twists. Finally, I would give this book a 12 out of 10 because it is gripping and has great imagery.

[From Livi]

I really liked the book The Troubled Girls of Dragmir Academy by Anne Ursu. It is set in a fantasy world. 

Marya, just a town girl destined to be a maid at her to be a sorcerer brothers estate, makes a huge mistake when the other sorcerers come to test her brother for magical powers. Then she is sent for life to an academy for troubled girls. When she starts to find out more about the history of her land and the history a magic, she takes a journey, a daring rule breaking journey including courageous stunts and other magical things. 

The book is sad and happy with an ending that no one expects….

Click here for all of our #iLoveMG posts. What are your favorite middle grade books?

City of Ember book review #iLoveMG

Welcome to #iLoveMG where I share middle grade books that my fifth graders recommend. (Please note that my fifth graders read a wide variety of books across a wide variety of genres, levels, and topics. Do not think that these books are "only" for fifth graders.) Or check out #3rdfor3rd for recommendations from when I taught third grade.

City of Ember

Recommended by Louis

The City of Ember, by Jeanne DuPrau, is a dystopian or post-apocalyptic fiction book. The book is centered around two main characters, Lina and Doon. It is about a city where the sky is pitch black and the only thing stopping all light in the city from vanishing forever is a river and a machine that generates electricity from the flow of the river. But during the events of the book the lights are starting to flicker. I think that this design of the post-apocalyptic world is an extremely creative idea. One of the ongoing themes of this book and others in this series is how they managed to make suspense and excitement with a completely non-violent story. 

This book is not like very many other books I have read, as it has an original theme and setting, but if you like books with lots of suspense and several twists and turns along the way, the City of Ember is one of my favorites in the category. In conclusion this is one of my favorite books that I have read and I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants a mystery-ish story with a great plot and lots of suspense.

Click here for all of our #iLoveMG posts. What are your favorite middle grade books?

Book Review: Alone #iLoveMG

Welcome to #iLoveMG where I share middle grade books that my fifth graders recommend. (Please note that my fifth graders read a wide variety of books across a wide variety of genres, levels, and topics. Do not think that these books are "only" for fifth graders.) Or check out #3rdfor3rd for recommendations from when I taught third grade.

Alone

Recommended by Abby

[Alone review, written as a song - invent your own melody and rock out] 

She was a girl in Colorado doing alright 

Then she got abandoned overnight 

Now she’s gotta figure out how to survive 

So many tragedies 

Back in the house with her neighbor’s doggy 

Trying to find food that is tasty 

A whole life of canned food is waiting for her! 

She’s not excited to say (Maddie is alone!) 

 

She’s finding out how to drive at age twelve (Maddie is alone!) Making her way, with fire and intruders every day (Maddie) 

It’s gonna be her time (Maddie) 

To show them all that she’ll 

Live all alone! 

[Or, if you prefer your reviews in prose ...] 

My book is Alone by Megan E. Freeman. This book is written in verse and fits the genre of dystopia quite well. 

Maddie arranged a sleepover at her grandparents summer apartment without her parents knowing. After her friends cancel on her, she spends the night alone. Once she wakes up, it is her surprise to find out that the whole town got evacuated overnight because of a threat. Now she is all alone and working to find out how to survive alone just her and her neighbor’s adorable dog, George. 

I recommend this book to anyone who likes dogs and a bit of danger. The descriptions of George the dog are absolutely adorable and just to die for. My overall rating would be 8.4/10. 

This is honestly one of the best books that I’ve read.

  

Click here for all of our #iLoveMG posts. What are your favorite middle grade books?