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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Kamaran is a Persian high school athlete with a promising future - he'll likely get into West Point, and he's being recruited to play football there. He's got a group of friends, and a girlfriend that he loves...and then a terrorist group releases a video of his brother threatening America. While the person is indisputably his brother, clues his brother drops in the video about games that they played in their childhood lead Kamaran to believe that his brother is in the videos under some form of duress. Anyway, after the videos become a major news item, Kamaran immediately becomes persona non-grata at school, and as more videos are released, he eventually becomes a "guest" (prisoner) at a federal prison. After a prison break-out, Kamaran travels with rogue CIA operatives to save his brother, and also the USA from an impending terrorist attack.
The good:
There is a LOT of suspense here, and the mystery of whether or not Kamaran's brother (Darius) is a terrorist is not revealed until the end. But it is revealed, and the story wraps itself up nicely. This book is also relatively unputdownable (can that be a word, please?), and I was sucked into the mystery and the story. Almost every two to three page chapter ends on a cliffhanger, and the thing reads like an action/spy thriller.
I really enjoyed the games/stories that the brothers made up as they reminded me of games/imagination stuff that I did with my little sister, so there was nice nostalgia factor there. There's also talk about the crap that Iran Americans have to put up with in this country, though this book could've used a little bit more of that element in my opinion.
The bad:
Oh man, SO much action. Like, I found myself skimming through the numerous fight scenes. I can see a certain type of reader being really into it, though. Also, this book is SERIOUSLY unrealistic. Every success our main characters have is waaaaaaaay easier than it would've been in real life, and I found myself rolling my eyes more than once.
My verdict:
I will definitely be booktalking this one, as I can see it being a good HiLo pick for relunctant readers, and yes, especially for boys. Its a fast read, and while it wasn't my favorite, it was certainly entertaining. 2.5 stars.
The good:
There is a LOT of suspense here, and the mystery of whether or not Kamaran's brother (Darius) is a terrorist is not revealed until the end. But it is revealed, and the story wraps itself up nicely. This book is also relatively unputdownable (can that be a word, please?), and I was sucked into the mystery and the story. Almost every two to three page chapter ends on a cliffhanger, and the thing reads like an action/spy thriller.
I really enjoyed the games/stories that the brothers made up as they reminded me of games/imagination stuff that I did with my little sister, so there was nice nostalgia factor there. There's also talk about the crap that Iran Americans have to put up with in this country, though this book could've used a little bit more of that element in my opinion.
The bad:
Oh man, SO much action. Like, I found myself skimming through the numerous fight scenes. I can see a certain type of reader being really into it, though. Also, this book is SERIOUSLY unrealistic. Every success our main characters have is waaaaaaaay easier than it would've been in real life, and I found myself rolling my eyes more than once.
My verdict:
I will definitely be booktalking this one, as I can see it being a good HiLo pick for relunctant readers, and yes, especially for boys. Its a fast read, and while it wasn't my favorite, it was certainly entertaining. 2.5 stars.
Alan Gratz’ Code of Honor is, like his other books, a great read. In this book, 17-year-old Kamran Smith finds out first hand how quickly one can become “public enemy #1” when his brother is accused of terrorist attacks on the US. He sees how fast everyone turns on him because of his heritage as well as his brother’s actions. He and his parents become prisoners in a secret US Government facility. Karmran seems to be the only one who thinks his brother is innocent and there are even times during interrogation that he wonders about his brother’s involvement.
Unfortunately for Kamran, he's seen as a possible accomplice whereby Kamran loses both his friends and his future. It all comes down to Kamran having to prove to the world his brother’s innocence, but he knows he can’t do it locked up. Is he capable and brave enough to escape?
Enjoy this page turning thriller mystery to see if Kamran is successful in clearing his family’s name. This is an easy book recommendation for all readers, especially Middle Schoolers and/or High Schoolers. #librarians
Unfortunately for Kamran, he's seen as a possible accomplice whereby Kamran loses both his friends and his future. It all comes down to Kamran having to prove to the world his brother’s innocence, but he knows he can’t do it locked up. Is he capable and brave enough to escape?
Enjoy this page turning thriller mystery to see if Kamran is successful in clearing his family’s name. This is an easy book recommendation for all readers, especially Middle Schoolers and/or High Schoolers. #librarians
Ma ran was your typical high school teen. A football star, good students, popular andWest Ooint bound just like his older brother. All that came to a screeching halt when Darius, his older brother, was accused of deserting his post as an Army Ranger in Afghanistan and leading a terrorist attack on the US Embassy in Turkey.
This was a fast-paced, suspenseful read that I could hardly put down. I felt there were some problems with believability at some points in the book but it didn't spoil it for me.
This was a fast-paced, suspenseful read that I could hardly put down. I felt there were some problems with believability at some points in the book but it didn't spoil it for me.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A little violent but overall a good read, highly recommended.
I'll be honest, I wasn't looking forward to reading this book, BuT.. . I really liked it. Fast paced, exciting, a mystery, loyalty, brothers, trust. I was like WOW! It's sad but it could totally happen.
Didn't love the book, didn't hate the book. And that is probably the worst critisism you can give a book.
So Kamaran (probably spelt it wrong) finds out that his Brother has been responsible for a terrorist attack on american property in Turkey the night of the senior prom. And it highkey sucks. Mostly because everyone seems to treat him differently, like they're expecting him to go Jihad on the entire school. And apparantly the DHS thinks so too, because they kidnap him and his parents from his home and interrogate them for months.
But through all of this, Kamaran is convinced that his Brother has been framed. Captured by Al-quida, forced to say horrible Things. Mostly because his Al-Quida speeches have some rather odd References to persian legends that never even happened - persian legends he and Kamaran made up as children.
The book is well-written - obviously for a younger audience than myself. Short Chapters, quick pace. With twists and turns that make you root for Kamaran, you really do. But it's not going to get the nobel prize for litterature any time soon. (still this isn't the last book i will be Reading by Alan Gratz.)
So Kamaran (probably spelt it wrong) finds out that his Brother has been responsible for a terrorist attack on american property in Turkey the night of the senior prom. And it highkey sucks. Mostly because everyone seems to treat him differently, like they're expecting him to go Jihad on the entire school. And apparantly the DHS thinks so too, because they kidnap him and his parents from his home and interrogate them for months.
But through all of this, Kamaran is convinced that his Brother has been framed. Captured by Al-quida, forced to say horrible Things. Mostly because his Al-Quida speeches have some rather odd References to persian legends that never even happened - persian legends he and Kamaran made up as children.
The book is well-written - obviously for a younger audience than myself. Short Chapters, quick pace. With twists and turns that make you root for Kamaran, you really do. But it's not going to get the nobel prize for litterature any time soon. (still this isn't the last book i will be Reading by Alan Gratz.)
This book was solidly fine. Read it for work and its good for its audience - a thriller that deals with issues of islamophobia in a kind of typical and not very nuanced but at least sensitive way. Could have done without all the female characters being beautiful and skinny (why is this a thing in thrillers, can someone illuminate me?) but otherwise a decent book for kids wanting something to read with a lot of action and some deeper themes.
This book has the most ridiculous plot, but I loved it. It was full of excitement and adventure and I couldn't put it down. The super short chapters made it fly by and added to the excitement of the plot. A great read.
I can't decide if I like this book. It had lots of action. However, it was soooo predictable and unrealistic. It was hard for me to take at some points. But I can't help but wonder if my students will like this book. It might really appeal to a middle schooler. I almost want one of my students to read it and tell me what they think.