The Official Alex Russo Blog

 Hello everyone! I'm officially back from summer break! I'm sorry for the hiatus, and hopefully I'll be able to stay on track for a monthly post the rest of the year. 🍀 For at least two years, I've been hearing about this series called the Maze Runner written by James Dashner. I learned about it when the series received a film adaptation and my best friend told me about a spin-off series. I decided I would check it out, as it looked like a unique series. However, I feel like it didn't live up to all the hype it received. In this post, we're going to take a look at The Maze Runner , the book which the series is named after, and analyze how well it stands up as a teen novel. WARNING: This post contains some spoilers for the first book in order to analyze the quality of the story. If you are planning on reading this series and want some plot or worldbuilding elements to remain a surprise, I would suggest reading this post with caution. Summary of The Maze Runner T...

Hello everyone! While visiting a convention last year, I came across a stall selling the works of S.D. Smith, who is the author of the Green Ember. I heard about this book from a few influencers and friends, and decided to check it out. After reading it, it's my opinion that it's a true gem in juvenile fantasy literature and is also a great book for readers of all ages. What is the Green Ember about? The Green Ember is about two rabbits named Heather and Picket, who are siblings. They live in a clearing with their parents away from any other signs of life, and Heather often wonders why the only other rabbits she's interacted with are her immediate family. One day, tragedy strikes while the two are out on an errand, which leads them to embark on a wild adventure to reclaim the long-lost Green Ember, an emerald that can unite all of the rabbits in the woods. In the course of their adventure, the mystery about their isolation is revealed along with the heritage of a mysterious...