Teens and tweens, LitPick wants you as a student reviewer! But what does a student reviewer actually do? Today, Estrella, who reviews under the username Star360, joins LitPick for Six Minutes with a Student Reviewer and answers all your burning questions.
What made you decide to become a student reviewer for LitPick?
When I was little, my nose was always in a book – literally. My teachers had to tell me to stop reading in the hall! I enjoyed helping my classmates choose books on library day. When a reluctant reader would tell me that they ended up liking Percy Jackson or Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, I felt that I had made a positive impact in their life. When I came across the LitPick website, I was excited to discover a community where I could help fellow teens find their next favorite story. I also liked that I could get books before they hit stores – very exciting for a literature nerd!
What do you do as a LitPick student reviewer?
I log onto my LitPick account and order a book to review. All e-books are free, but for the low price of $15 a year you can choose print books. Since I love holding a real book in my hands, I usually order print books. As soon as I receive the book, I get to work. I have four to six weeks to submit a summary and an opinion paragraph online. I try to finish the books quickly so that I can order another one! Within two weeks of my submission, an underwriter sends me feedback to improve my writing. Then, the cycle starts again!
Please tell us three things about yourself.
—In fourth grade, I read Gone with the Wind, a 1,036-page drama in two weeks. I fell in love with the sweeping Civil War romance, and I’ve read it many times since. It’s my favorite novel because it solidified my love for reading.
—I love to travel! I’ve been to Paris, Puerto Rico, Prague, and Salzburg. My dream destinations are London, because Brit lit is absolutely smashing, and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, because I’m convinced that my Hogwarts letter got lost in the mail. Go Ravenclaw!
—There’s nothing like tying on my apron and trying a new recipe! I make a delectable summer tomato pie, but my specialty lies on the sweeter side. Chocolate chip cookies and scones are my favorites.
What types of books do you like to read?
My ideal book would be a mysterious fantasy set in the 18- or 1900s that has a touch of romance. That comes from my love of whodunits (Nancy Drew, Poirot), whimsy and magic (Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter), history (Chasing Lincoln’s Killer, The Devil in the White City) and classic love stories (Jane Eyre, Sense and Sensibility). I’m also fond of clever twists on fairy tales and mythology (Percy Jackson, The Chaos of Stars, Beauty).
Where is your favorite place to read?
I like to curl up on the couch or relax in my room. John Newman, Taylor Swift, U2, Coldplay, and Jesse y Joy accompany me from my iTunes.
Is there anything else we should know about you?
I was raised by my mother on a steady diet of Austen and Dickens, so it’s unsurprising that I want to study English Literature and History in college. I watch a lot of BBC, ITV, and Masterpiece – but it’s all for research, I promise. (Love you, Sherlock!) Fandom memes always make me laugh. I get really excited whenever a book becomes a movie, even though I usually like the book better. The one exception is Catching Fire. Favorite. Movie. Ever!
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Estrella, thanks for taking time out of your summer to spend six minutes with LitPick! Interested in becoming a LitPick student reviewer? Email Tynea at tynea.litpick@gmail.com for more information about signing up.