Reviews written by Jason Gallaher

“Wow. Just wow.” That’s all I could think when I put down Michael Hassan’s “Crash and Burn.” It’s one of those books that I’m still digesting, even now, but in the best possible way. “Crash and Burn” follows recent high school grad, Steven Crashinsky, as he’s tasked...

The first two books of the 39 Clues series were rather similar, which was great. They established the world of the series, and got us into the mindset of Amy and Dan Cahill so solidly, that by the time the third book came around, I was looking for something a...

Panda Express, dinosaurs, any ex-Disney actress turned megastar, and of course, books. Here’s a list of things I love. Not just strongly like, but capital L-O-V-E, LOVE! So when I dove into Lauren Oliver’s “Delirium,” about a dystopian world where love has been scientifically cured, I was already heartbroken that...

The beauty of graphic novels is they can be flipped through a lot quicker than your average book, but still be packed with adventure. The downside to this is that when that graphic novel is crazy good, and you’re flipping through these pages like your life depends on it, you’re...

Mash together the quirky family of “Full House” with the mystery and magic of Cornelia Funke’s “Inkheart” and what do you get? Chris Columbus and Ned Vizzini’s “House of Secrets.” “House of Secrets” follows the Walker siblings as they move to an outrageously underpriced mansion in the...

I loved the first book of the 39 Clues series so much that I was worried the bar may have been set too high for an equally as captivating follow-up. In true Cahill style, Gordon Korman rose to the challenge with “One False Note,” the second book in the series...

I fell in love with action-packed scavenger hunts that lead participants across the globe in the ‘90s after watching Alvin and the Chipmunks in “The Chipmunk Adventure.” I thought I would never find a scavenger hunt as entertaining as Alvin’s. After reading the first book in the 39 Clues series,...

I’ve always been on the fence about whether or not I’d like aliens to visit Earth. After reading Rick Yancey’s “The 5th Wave,” I can solidly say no. Ain’t nobody got time for no close encounters of the third kind. “The 5th Wave” is set in a...

It only makes sense that fairytale princes, princesses, and villains need to learn how to be so heroic, dainty, or downright evil. I mean let’s face it, Rapunzel didn’t have her own version of “Rapunzel” to learn from, so they had to learn somewhere. Soman Chainani has given me the...

I’m going to start off this review by coming straight out of the closet as a reader who loved Bill Konigsberg’s “Openly Straight.” As an openly gay man, I wish this book had been out when I was a high school student trying to go beyond labels to be seen...

My occasional urges to indulge my latent Brony-ness and watch “My Little Pony” have given me a solid knowledge that unicorns are sweet creatures intent on spreading the magic of friendship. Thanks to Platte F. Clark’s “Bad Unicorn,” I may have to rethink my vision of these horned beasts. ...

Who knew that a hostage situation could be described as endearing and sweet? I sure didn’t, until I read Adina Rishe Gewirtz’s “Zebra Forest.” “Zebra Forest” follows eleven-year-old Annie and her younger brother, Rew, as they make it through a scorchingly hot summer in a sleepy town....

I’ve never experienced a butt-whoopin’ that felt this good, because my you-know-what was kicked from how fantastic Meg Medina’s “Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass” is! “Yaqui” follows fifteen year-old Piedad Sanchez (aka Piddy) as she enters a new high school and becomes the unfortunate victim...

I can’t ever remember cringing as much during a first chapter as I did during Beth Revis’s “Across the Universe.” Never before has an opening scene had me more intrigued and grossed out all at the same time. Sci-fi novel “Across the Universe” follows Elder, a sixteen...

Catherine Fisher is at it again with “The Obsidian Mirror,” the first book in a new trilogy that blends science fiction, fantasy, and time travel. “The Obsidian Mirror” follows Jake, a boarding school student who will do anything to get out of school and confront Oberon...