The Iron Trial (Magesterium #1)

The Iron Trial

by: Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

I really wanted to love this book. I decided to read it next because a student returned it to the high school library and begged for the next book in the series. He told the librarian he had never read anything with so many plot twists in his life. (Obviously he has never read a Robert Galbraith book.) I'm not sure if it was the time of year, or the content, but I struggled to stay awake every time I sat down to read this book. In defense of the book, the two weeks before Christmas break are some of the worst teaching weeks of the year. I did enjoy the plot twists. I did enjoy the anti-hero point of view. It just felt a little too similar to Harry Potter in structure. (An outcast boy at magic school. He has a best guy friend and a best girl friend.) I feel like I didn't hardly get to know Call's sidekicks, Aaron and Tamara. I wanted to know more about them. In the end I was just left with more questions, which I guess is the point since it's a series. I was not curious enough to get the next book in the series though. 

I would recommend this to my middle schoolers that love Harry Potter or fantasy. High school would enjoy it as well, but I think it suits the middle school angst a little more. 

Dry

Dry

By: Neal and Jarrod Shusterman

This book gave me so much anxiety. I ended up Googling how to siphon gas while I was reading. I also took a mental note of all the drinkable liquid I had available in the house. The problem with this book is, it's completely possible. My sister has a biology degree with a minor in geology. She has already told me more than once that we are consuming our drinkable water at a rate that's unsustainable. I definitely recommend this book. It stressed me out. It made me think. It was something new and different. I will admit I wanted a little more resolution, but I think I always feel that way. I like things to end with a neat bow. I enjoyed this book so much more than I expected to.