The CHB Read & Review Club is a chance for high school and middle school students who enjoy reading to share the joy of reading with others through reviewing and recommending books. As a bookshop, we often receive special review copies of books in advance of their release dates so that we can review them. However, since we can only read so many books and we value the thoughts and opinions of other readers, CHB is recruiting high school and middle school students who would like to read and review advance reader copies (or arcs) of middle grade and young adult books that we receive, and we'll be posting their reviews here!
Caitlin G. (14) and Samantha B. (15) are Read & Review Club members, and they have each written a review of the new short story collection by Cassandra Clare, Maureen Johnson, and Sarah Rees Brennan: The Bane Chronicles! Check out what they have to say about the book:
Caitlin: In The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare, Magnus Bane’s life is revealed in ten short stories. These stories take readers through many different experiences including warlock cacti, Herondales, and humorous first dates. Clare brings characters from the past, present, and quite possibly the future into this mini-series. I really enjoyed this book because it answers so many questions that I had about Magnus and his past. Also I liked the fact that I knew many of the characters in the stories because of Clare’s Shadowhunter series. Some of the new characters may end up in the next two Shadowhunter series that Clare is writing. In this book, readers are shown who Magnus is and the life experiences that have helped to make him who he is in The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices. I think that people who have read one or both of Cassandra Clare’s past series will greatly enjoy The Bane Chronicles. This book gives reasons for Magnus’s decisions in the Shadowhunter series and looks at Magnus’s immortal friends’ lives. Magnus has always had a special relationship with the Shadowhunters and this book looks into that a little too. Anyone that considers themselves a Shadowhunter will enjoy learning Magnus’s story. Samantha: Cassandra Clare has done it yet again! The Bane Chronicles was absolutely amazing! I could not put this book down! If you liked The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices, you will love this book! The characters were so well developed I almost started perceiving them as real people instead of fictional characters. When the author gives you the ability to lose yourself in the book, that is when you know they have done their jobs correctly. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has read any of Cassandra Clare’s work. These three authors really know how to get their readers hooked from the first page. Through every twist and turn, The Bane Chronicles will have you begging for more. The comic strips drawn in the book are fantastic! The comics that are drawn at the beginning of every chapter really help you visualize what is going on with Magnus. I highly recommend reading this book and the rest of the books by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, and Maureen Johnson. You most certainly will not regret it! These authors will take you on an amazing journey though each of their books.
Thanks to Caitlin and Samantha for their reviews!
