About Louisville Public Library's Review Crew

The library’s Review Crew offers local teens in grades 6-12 the opportunity to earn community service hours for school or other organizations by reviewing teen books or adult books with teen appeal. We hope to provide local teens with great reading recommendations from their peers while also providing a flexible means of earning volunteer credit.

To join the Crew, please email Teen Services Librarian, Jessica Schwartz, at jschwartz@louisvilleco.gov for more information and review writing guidelines. You will be asked to write a sample review. If your review is accepted, you will be eligible to earn one community service hour for every review submitted. 

Ratings are out of 5 stars:

·         1 star = didn't like it

·         2 stars = it was ok

·         3 stars =  liked it

·         4 stars = really liked it

·         5 stars  = it was amazing

   

The Hollow Boy by Jonathan Stroud

Book: The Hollow Boy

Rating: 5 stars 

Review Writer: James S.

In Jonathan Stroud’s novel The Hollow Boy, the Lockwood & Co. ghost hunting agency take a case from Ms. Wintergarden who recommends the agency to DEPRAC for the Chelsea ghost Outbreak. One thing I liked about The Hollow boy is the continued atmosphere of mystery and surprise. I also like how Stroud adds in Holly Munro, the new office assistant, into the group seamlessly and makes sure to show the reactions of everyone. I also like how Stroud made sure that Lucy’s character began to develop and learn about her Talent. One thing I don’t like is that Lucy is overly untrusting of Holly even though Holly tries to be as nice as possible. I also don’t like how they say that Poltergeists are invisible while in past books they were only described as a faint shape that can barely be seen. Another thing I didn’t like was how Stroud ended the book on a cliffhanger. In the end, I give The Hollow Boy 5 stars out of 5

The Whispering Skull by Jonathan Stroud

Book: The Whispering Skull by Jonathan Stroud

Rating: 4.5 stars 

Review Writer: James S.

The Whispering Skull is the second book in the five book Lockwood & Co. series by Jonathan Stroud. The Whispering Skull follows Lockwood & Co. a group of children in an alternate London who eradicate ghosts for a business. Lockwood & Co. is made up Anthony Lockwood, George Cubbins, and Lucy Carlyle. As George Cubbins is experimenting on a skull in a jar it suddenly speaks to Lucy. One thing I liked about The Whispering Skull is that it  kept the moody atmosphere from the first book and the weird quirks of each character. I also like the little bits of detail that show us what might happen next. I also like how even though a new character is introduced, the skull in the jar, Stroud introduced them and eased them into the story and its plot. I also like how the villain in the book is not very clear until the end giving the book an air of mystery. One thing that I didn’t like about Stroud’s The Whispering Skull is that his details were a bit inconsistent and that it made the book a little annoying. I also didn’t like how the names of some ghost sub-types were changed from the first book.

The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud

Book: The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud

Rating: 5 stars 

Review Writer: James S.

The Screaming Staircase is a novel written by Jonathan Stroud about a group of psychic investigation agents, ghost catchers, in an alternate London where ghosts have suddenly begun to appear. The agents, Anthony Lockwood, George Cubbins, and Lucy Carlyle, are part of a group called Lockwood & Co. which helps the citizens of London clear out the ghosts on or in their property. Stroud was able to incorporate an element of surprise and mystery while still making the book packed with action and detail. He was able to make encounters with ghosts and their eradication packed with action while the monotonous days feel slow and sluggish. He was also able to achieve an air of trust and interest between the characters and Lucy. Stroud also incorporated Lucy’s backstory and history without the story feeling stopped or it being a flashback rather bringing it up as a distant memory. One thing I don’t like about The Screaming Staircase is the suddenness of the cases that take place during the book. I also don’t like how Stroud doesn’t elaborate onto certain ghost types that are talked about in later books. In the end, I give The Screaming Staircase a 5 stars out of 5.