school – Page 3 – BookBunnies

Marshmallow reviews All’s Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson

The book bunnies are quite fond of Renaissance fairs and have been to a few in the last few years. So when Caramel brought home a library book about a young person growing up around these festivals, Marshmallow had to devour it, too. And today she is talking to Sprinkles about All’s Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson, first published in 2017.

Sprinkles: So Marshmallow, you just had to read this book!

Marshmallow: Yes! But I did wait until Caramel finished it first. You know, he was the one who brought it home, so it is only fair.

S: Agreed. So tell me a bit about the book.

M: It’s about a girl named Imogene whose parents work at a Renaissance Fair. She occasionally works there, too. The book starts with her being nervous about starting middle school. She has always been home-schooled before, so she is not sure what to expect.

S: I see. So why is she going to middle school then? Why is she not continuing with home-schooling?

M: I am not sure. I think she wants to go because she thinks it is a brave thing to do.

S: I see. So how does it go?

M: She is not sure how school works, so she has difficulty understanding what the rules are.

S: Can you be more specific? What kinds of rules?

M: There are some unsaid social rules about who hangs out with whom, and she does not know how to read any of the social cues.

S: Okay.

M: Then she makes friends with a group of girls who seem nice at first, but then they are actually kind of toxic.

S: This is reminding me of the movie Mean Girls. There is a new version of the movie too, but we only saw the original one from 2004.

M: Yes, actually it is kind of similar. The main character there was also home-schooled and had some trouble fitting in with the kids in her high school. And just like the main character there, Imogene also makes a huge mistake.

S: She is unkind to some people so she can fit in with the “cool” kids?

M: Kind of. But of course this is middle school, so it is a bit different than the movie.

Marshmallow is reading All's Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson. — Marshmallow is reading *All’s Faire in Middle School* by Victoria Jamieson.

S: Okay, so tell me a bit about the graphics. Did you like the drawing of the main character?

M: Yes.

S: The color scheme kind of reminded me of some of the books you reviewed from Raina Telgemeier.

M: There are some similarities I think. But I do not think one artist was necessarily influenced by the other. I think they are both neat illustrators. They both manage to draw very expressive faces and bodies with only a few strokes of their pen.

S: Sounds like you liked the book!

M: Yes. I’d rate it 100%.

S: Wow! That is great! I am glad Caramel found this in his school library.

M: Me too.

S: Okay, let us wrap this up then. It is getting late. What would you like to tell our readers as we finish this up?

M: Stay tuned for more amazing reviews from the book bunnies!

Marshmallow rates All's Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson 100%. — Marshmallow rates *All’s Faire in Middle School* by Victoria Jamieson 100%.

Marshmallow reviews Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tọlá Okogwu

The book bunnies are back from their winter break and it is time for Marshmallow’s first review for 2024! For this review she chose to write about Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tọlá Okogwu, the first in Okogwu’s Onyeka series, first published in 2022.

Marshmallow’s Quick Take: If you like books about Nigerian culture and mythology, embracing yourself, exploring your abilities, friends, and family, then this might be the book for you.

Marshmallow’s Summary (with Spoilers): Onyeka’s most striking feature is her hair, of which she has a lot. Her hair is not very agreeable and is extremely hard to maintain and style, frustrating Onyeka and her overprotective mother to no end. While her best friend (Cheyenne) couldn’t care less about what people think, Onyeka would be perfectly happy to be more normal, more like everyone else. It doesn’t help that Onyeka’s mother is always reminding her that she has to be extra careful because she’s not like everyone else.

Onyeka’s mother has her wear a swimming cap to Cheyenne’s birthday pool party, which makes her feel even more different. But at the party, Cheyenne almost drowns until Onyeka’s hair becomes somehow animated and saves the two girls. Soon, the meaning of her mother’s warnings become clear to her: Onyeka really isn’t like other people because she is a Solari. The Solari are people who each have a superhuman or supernatural power (called an Ike) and who originate from Nigeria. (There are exceptions; some Solari have two powers.) These powers, Onyeka is told, come from an accident, from exposure to a leaked material.

There is a school named the Academy of the Sun, for Solari children so they can learn to control their powers. Onyeka and her mother travel to Nigeria so she can attend this school. They used to live there originally but left after Onyeka’s father disappeared when she was small. She and her mother fled after receiving a letter telling them to.

Now upon their return, Onyeka’s mother plans on finding answers. Meanwhile, Onyeka starts to attend the Academy. She receives instruction from teachers and pupils, making new friends and enemies. Unfortunately, every time she uses her Ike, she feels extremely unwell. Join Onyeka as she discovers the magic and danger of the new world of the Solari.

Marshmallow is reading Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tọlá Okogwu. — Marshmallow is reading *Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun* by Tọlá Okogwu.

Marshmallow’s Review: I really liked reading Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun. Onyeka is a very relatable character. She is not as rash as Harry Potter or as carefree as Percy Jackson, and she is definitely not perfect. Even though she is emotional, she is just as brave as those other famous heroes, and in the end, she manages to use her emotions in productive ways.

The magical world the author builds is fascinating in itself. Even though a lot of the story happens in Nigeria, just like in Ikenga by Nnedi Okorafor that I reviewed earlier, this world was quite unique. The trope of a young person finding out they have superpowers is also well developed in a whole lot of books, but somehow the Solari add a totally new flavor to the genre.

There is a neat plot twist at the end of the book, which caught me by surprise. I enjoyed Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun very much and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Marshmallow’s Rating: 100%.

Marshmallow rates Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tọlá Okogwu 100%. — Marshmallow rates *Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun* by Tọlá Okogwu 100%.

Caramel reviews Spy Ski School by Stuart Gibbs

Caramel has already reviewed the first three books of the Spy School novels by Stuart Gibbs. Today he is talking about the fourth book, Spy Ski School, first published in 2016. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking followup questions.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, here we are, and you have yet another Spy School book in your paws.

Caramel: Yep.

S: So tell me, what is this one about?

C: In this book, Ben becomes an actual agent for the CIA and stops a bad person from setting a bomb off in Oregon.

S: Wait, Ben is still a kid though?

C: I know. But he still becomes an agent.

S: I am not sure that is terribly realistic.

C: Well, nobody said anything about realistic. That is why it is called fiction, Sprinkles!

S: Okay, okay, you are right. So there will be some unexpected things happening. So tell me, are there any new characters in this book?

C: Yes. Dane Bramage, Jessica Shang, and Leo Shang.

S: Okay, so who are they?

C: Leo Shang is an evil dude; he is a Chinese salesman. Jessica is his daughter but she is not at all evil. And she becomes friends with Ben. And she has a crush on him.

S: Okay, so wait, does the book get too mushy?

C: No. you know I would not like it if it did.

S: Right. Okay, so who is Dane Bramage?

C: He is a bodyguard; he guards the Shangs. His name looks like Brain Damage.

S: Yeah, I can see that! So is Leo Shang the main baddie in this book?

C: Yes, but Murray Hill, the main bad person from the first book, Spy School, also shows up.

S: Okay. So what is the ski school part about?

C: Ben goes to a ski school in Oregon to infiltrate the evil network.

Caramel is reading Spy Ski School by Stuart Gibbs. — Caramel is reading *Spy Ski School* by Stuart Gibbs.

S: What did you like about this book most?

C: The time where Ben knocked Murray out.

S: Why?

C: Because it serves him right!

S: I see. So there is a lot of violence in these books?

C: I guess.

S: I suppose that could be expected. After all, these books remind me of the adventures of James Bond. One of our readers even suggested that SPYDER could be analogous to SPECTRE, the international crime syndicate in many of the Bond stories.

C: I have not watched enough Bond movies to agree or disagree.

S: That was a very diplomatic answer Caramel! Anyways, let us get back to Spy Ski School. Can you describe it using three to five words?

C: Intense, funny, and suspenseful.

S: Those work! Does this book make you want to continue to read the rest of the series?

C: Yes, of course. I have to get my paws on the next book!

S: Okay, okay. So let us wrap this up then. What do you want to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel has loved reading Spy Ski School by Stuart Gibbs and cannot wait to get his paws on the fifth book of the series. — Caramel has loved reading *Spy Ski School* by Stuart Gibbs and cannot wait to get his paws on the fifth book of the series.

Caramel reviews Evil Spy School by Stuart Gibbs

Caramel is going through the Spy School novels by Stuart Gibbs one by one and reviewing them for the book bunnies blog. Today he is talking to Sprinkles about the third book: Evil Spy School, first published in 2015.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, here we are, talking about yet another Spy School book.

Caramel: Yep, this is the third book. I think there are a few more.

S: I think there are eleven in all so far.

C: So I have eight more to go.

S: Yes, that sounds about right. I don’t think these later books have the graphic novel versions just yet.

C: I don’t think so. But as soon as those show up, I will need to review those too.

S: I can see that. Okay, so this third book is called Evil Spy School. Why? Can you tell us a bit about what this book is about?

C: Ben is thrown out of his original spy school and so he enters SPYDER’s school.

S: Wait, isn’t SPYDER the evil organization that Ben was fighting against earlier?

C: Yes.

S: So why is Ben changing sides?

C: Well, they kicked him out of the other school.

S: Wait. The CIA was behind the original Spy School. So who is behind SPYDER?

C: It’s a secret.

S: I see. Are there any new characters?

C: Yes. There are at least two people that are new: Ashley Sparks and Nefarious Jones are the ones I remember.

S: Okay. So who are those?

C: They are both students at the evil spy school. Nefarious Jones sits on the couch all day playing video games, and he is not a very nice person really. Ashley Sparks was kicked out of the Olympics so decided to turn evil. I am not sure I totally got her reasoning, but she seems a bit weird. She actually seems to enjoy being evil.

S: I see. So does Ben become friends with these people?

C: Yes and no. But I am not going to say much more because otherwise I will give away some of the plot.

Caramel is reading Evil Spy School by Stuart Gibbs. — Caramel is reading *Evil Spy School* by Stuart Gibbs.

S: What did you like about Evil Spy School most?

C: The fact that Ben figures out the plot again.

S: Why?

C: Because I think that this was a good ending to the mystery.

S: Hmm, I see. I guess you cannot say much more without giving more away. So how about describing the book? How would you do that it using three to five words?

C: Action packed, funny, and spy-full.

S: That sounds like the book just hit the spot for you. Did it also make you want to continue to read the rest of the series?

C: Yes yes yes! I am ready for book four!

S: Okay, then, let us wrap this up so you can dive right into that one. So what do you want to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel enjoyed reading Evil Spy School by Stuart Gibbs and is ready for book four! — Caramel enjoyed reading *Evil Spy School* by Stuart Gibbs and is ready for book four!