Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Keep Reading
While no more book reviews will be coming in until the start of the new year, please make sure to take advantage of the reviews that are already present and do some reading this summer!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Over Sea, under Stone
Title: Over Sea, Under Stone
Author: Susan Cooper
Genre: Mystery/Adventure
Reviewer: Patrick
This is a story that is centered upon a mythical treasure and a map that the three Drew children find in an attic while on vacation. Simon, Jane and Barney are staying in the Gray House which is the home of their Uncle Merry Lyon. They find an old map that leads to a grail that can fight the forces of evil. There is the struggle of good versus evil throughout the book! The Dark is even an entity in itself! The house has the required secret passages and the feeling of being haunted. Their uncle has a mysterious vibe about him and the best is that even King Arthur comes into the picture during the last struggle and battle in this book!
This book is part of a series of five books and has the Newberry Honor award. I am amazed that they were written starting in 1965. That is 43 years ago!! They are great and I love the adventure and mystery. They are much like the Harry Potter or Dark Knight type of book that can keep your attention and you can’t wait for the next book. I would recommend this book and the complete series! I love battles, action and the mystery. I also like when kids are part of the solution! The next in this series is The Dark is Rising and I can’t wait to start this one.
Author: Susan Cooper
Genre: Mystery/Adventure
Reviewer: Patrick
This is a story that is centered upon a mythical treasure and a map that the three Drew children find in an attic while on vacation. Simon, Jane and Barney are staying in the Gray House which is the home of their Uncle Merry Lyon. They find an old map that leads to a grail that can fight the forces of evil. There is the struggle of good versus evil throughout the book! The Dark is even an entity in itself! The house has the required secret passages and the feeling of being haunted. Their uncle has a mysterious vibe about him and the best is that even King Arthur comes into the picture during the last struggle and battle in this book!
This book is part of a series of five books and has the Newberry Honor award. I am amazed that they were written starting in 1965. That is 43 years ago!! They are great and I love the adventure and mystery. They are much like the Harry Potter or Dark Knight type of book that can keep your attention and you can’t wait for the next book. I would recommend this book and the complete series! I love battles, action and the mystery. I also like when kids are part of the solution! The next in this series is The Dark is Rising and I can’t wait to start this one.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
The House of the Scorpion
Title: The House of the Scorpion
Author: Nancy Farmer
Genre: Science Fiction
Reviewer: Dan
In the science fiction thriller, The House of the Scorpion, young Matteo realizes that he is not like everyone else. Matteo Alacran is a clone. He doesn’t quite know exactly what that is, but he does know that he is treated in a very different way than anyone else. Everyone around him looks at him as if he were a savage beast, but no one would dare to hurt him physically, for he is the clone, or identical copy, of El Patron. El Patron is the leader of the small country, Opium, which consists only of opium fields. He is the drug lord of all drug lords and is feared by all. Matt secures El Patron’s future health, or does he? In this story of adventure, excitement, and courage, Matt endures several instances that would kill anyone else, literally. Can Matt find anyone to protect him in this world of danger and uncertainty about his future?
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good ending and an even better story. In addition to a good story, the book looks at the issues of slavery, the morality of cloning for the purpose of body parts, whether a clone is nothing more than an animal and many more. Anyone who loves adventure stories that teach good morals and ethics at the same time should definitely read this science fiction novel.
Author: Nancy Farmer
Genre: Science Fiction
Reviewer: Dan
In the science fiction thriller, The House of the Scorpion, young Matteo realizes that he is not like everyone else. Matteo Alacran is a clone. He doesn’t quite know exactly what that is, but he does know that he is treated in a very different way than anyone else. Everyone around him looks at him as if he were a savage beast, but no one would dare to hurt him physically, for he is the clone, or identical copy, of El Patron. El Patron is the leader of the small country, Opium, which consists only of opium fields. He is the drug lord of all drug lords and is feared by all. Matt secures El Patron’s future health, or does he? In this story of adventure, excitement, and courage, Matt endures several instances that would kill anyone else, literally. Can Matt find anyone to protect him in this world of danger and uncertainty about his future?
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good ending and an even better story. In addition to a good story, the book looks at the issues of slavery, the morality of cloning for the purpose of body parts, whether a clone is nothing more than an animal and many more. Anyone who loves adventure stories that teach good morals and ethics at the same time should definitely read this science fiction novel.
Mattimeo
Title: Mattimeo
Author: Brian Jacques
Genre: Fantasy
Reviewer: Dan
Slagar the Fox sat pondering the very best way to exact revenge on an old enemy. The sinister fox held Matthias of Redwall accountable for several injuries the fox received when he was younger. With a band of evil stoats, weasels, and worst of all, rats, Slagar was ready for his time of vengeance. His action would take Redwall by the heart. Redwallers would be robbed of what they held most dear. Slagar knew that the Sword of Matthias of Redwall had destroyed greater foes than the fox before, so there would be no epic battle to cause Redwall overwhelming pain, just a clever scheme. Would Redwall be able to defend itself against the challenges brought upon it by the sly fox? Or would the fox succeed in bringing Redwall to its final ruin?
I would recommend this book to others because it is an interesting and fun book that will keep you reading. New twists happen in every chapter. I especially enjoy the personification of the animals. The author is expert at bringing out the character we would apply to the different animals. If you do read this book, I suggest that you first read the book, Redwall.
Author: Brian Jacques
Genre: Fantasy
Reviewer: Dan
Slagar the Fox sat pondering the very best way to exact revenge on an old enemy. The sinister fox held Matthias of Redwall accountable for several injuries the fox received when he was younger. With a band of evil stoats, weasels, and worst of all, rats, Slagar was ready for his time of vengeance. His action would take Redwall by the heart. Redwallers would be robbed of what they held most dear. Slagar knew that the Sword of Matthias of Redwall had destroyed greater foes than the fox before, so there would be no epic battle to cause Redwall overwhelming pain, just a clever scheme. Would Redwall be able to defend itself against the challenges brought upon it by the sly fox? Or would the fox succeed in bringing Redwall to its final ruin?
I would recommend this book to others because it is an interesting and fun book that will keep you reading. New twists happen in every chapter. I especially enjoy the personification of the animals. The author is expert at bringing out the character we would apply to the different animals. If you do read this book, I suggest that you first read the book, Redwall.
Angels in Pink: Holly’s story
Title: Angels in Pink: Holly’s story
Author: Lurlene McDaniel
Genre: realistic fiction
Reviewer: Prabhneet
Angels in Pink is a series that tells the story of three best friends that have been there for each other through thick and thin. From Kathleen’s mother relapsing to Raina’s finding out that she has an older sister, Holly has been there for every one of them. She’s got everything she wants except one thing: a boyfriend. Both Kathleen and Raina have had one and it just so happens that Hunter, Holly’s brother is Raina’s boyfriend. That is the only thing lacking in Holly, leaving her feeling empty. Holly then unexpectedly gets emails from “Shy Boy” who really likes her. She starts talking to him and prints his emails out. She eventually created a book and hid it under her bed. One day, her mother walks in her room when she isn’t home and finds the secret stash.
Holly obviously gets in trouble for talking to strangers and is grounded. She has no one to turn to. She wants “Shy Boy” to keep in touch with her but she has no way to. She turns to the last person that she can count on: Hunter. She persuades him to talk to “Shy Boy”. “Shy Boy” shows up at Holly’s house one day, taking the blame for contacting her and addressing himself as Chad. Chad gets the permission to keep in touch with Holly but not right away.
Meanwhile, a tragedy hit the three friends and their families hard. They found out Hunter was involved in a robbery as the victim and was shot. Hunter had died. As the three families suffer through it all, they know that they are not alone and rely on each other. They are each other’s only hope and light to the darkness that had overcome them. Raina had been the one that was hit the hardest. It cost her days of not being at school which eventually backfired on her. Her grades were going downhill and she was hopeless. She turned to Holly to tutor her. Holly was an excellent student with a bright, glowing future ahead of her besides the loss of one of the most important people in her life. It took days, months for everyone to recover. Yet they didn’t recover, they were to live a life without a loved one which is always hard. At least they weren’t alone.
Holly went to prom with Chad and Kathleen with Carson. Holly learns that Chad was the perfect first boyfriend and realizes that he would be around for a while
I would recommend this book because it is emotional with a touch of suspense and mystery. It really makes you see the wonders in life and the little things that make a big difference. It teaches a lesson of love and to never take one for granted. Life is too short to hold grudges or see the flaws in someone. So live life to the fullest and cherish the moments you have together.
Author: Lurlene McDaniel
Genre: realistic fiction
Reviewer: Prabhneet
Angels in Pink is a series that tells the story of three best friends that have been there for each other through thick and thin. From Kathleen’s mother relapsing to Raina’s finding out that she has an older sister, Holly has been there for every one of them. She’s got everything she wants except one thing: a boyfriend. Both Kathleen and Raina have had one and it just so happens that Hunter, Holly’s brother is Raina’s boyfriend. That is the only thing lacking in Holly, leaving her feeling empty. Holly then unexpectedly gets emails from “Shy Boy” who really likes her. She starts talking to him and prints his emails out. She eventually created a book and hid it under her bed. One day, her mother walks in her room when she isn’t home and finds the secret stash.
Holly obviously gets in trouble for talking to strangers and is grounded. She has no one to turn to. She wants “Shy Boy” to keep in touch with her but she has no way to. She turns to the last person that she can count on: Hunter. She persuades him to talk to “Shy Boy”. “Shy Boy” shows up at Holly’s house one day, taking the blame for contacting her and addressing himself as Chad. Chad gets the permission to keep in touch with Holly but not right away.
Meanwhile, a tragedy hit the three friends and their families hard. They found out Hunter was involved in a robbery as the victim and was shot. Hunter had died. As the three families suffer through it all, they know that they are not alone and rely on each other. They are each other’s only hope and light to the darkness that had overcome them. Raina had been the one that was hit the hardest. It cost her days of not being at school which eventually backfired on her. Her grades were going downhill and she was hopeless. She turned to Holly to tutor her. Holly was an excellent student with a bright, glowing future ahead of her besides the loss of one of the most important people in her life. It took days, months for everyone to recover. Yet they didn’t recover, they were to live a life without a loved one which is always hard. At least they weren’t alone.
Holly went to prom with Chad and Kathleen with Carson. Holly learns that Chad was the perfect first boyfriend and realizes that he would be around for a while
I would recommend this book because it is emotional with a touch of suspense and mystery. It really makes you see the wonders in life and the little things that make a big difference. It teaches a lesson of love and to never take one for granted. Life is too short to hold grudges or see the flaws in someone. So live life to the fullest and cherish the moments you have together.
Angels in Pink: Raina’s Story
Title: Angels in Pink: Raina’s Story
Author: Lurlene McDaniel
Genre: Realistic fiction
Reviewer: Prabhneet
Raina’s story is the second page turning book in the series. It tells a story of a group of three diverse girls. They are juniors in high school and struggle a lot. Raina is the main point of it all. She drags her two best friends, Kathleen and Hollie to come volunteer at the community hospital with her the summer of sophomore year. Kathleen and Hollie eventually agree and tag along to find that it is very rewarding. Kathleen found a boyfriend and Hollie found a new level of comfort trying to console the children with cancer.
Raina is going out with Hollie’s older brother, Hunter. They love each other very much apart from the big fact that Raina does not believe in God and Hunter whole heartedly has faith in Him. Raina’s first day of school is a misery. She ends up seeing her worst enemy, Tony Stoddard. Tony was Raina’s boyfriend in eighth grade. One day Hunter was going to his car from his job at the diner and Tony and his “gang” beat up Hunter and tell him some details about Raina. He comes home to Raina with some cuts and bruises and this astonishes Raina because Hunter is not the type to get into fights. Hunter explains the encounter and asks Raina if all of the “details” about her were true. She hesitated, knowing she couldn’t lie to him and told him the truth. With this running over and over again through his mind, Hunter does not talk to Raina for weeks. Raina becomes desperate and turns over for support from the hospital. She volunteers every second she has out of school. She spends all of her volunteered time with premature babies. She becomes attached to them and feels a connection of them both having no one.
Finally, on Raina’s birthday Hunter, Hollie, Kathleen, and her boyfriend Carson through her a surprise party. Hunter reveals that he is going to become a minister and go to a college in Indiana, miles away from their town in Florida. Raina eventually learns to live through it and cherish the moments with him. Through it all, all three girls gave each other support and will conquer the upcoming tragedies they will face.I think this is a good book because it shows you how much your friends can affect your life and how much you should really support them. You should all be there for each other and give each other love and affection. It teaches you a lesson and really changes your prospection of life.
Author: Lurlene McDaniel
Genre: Realistic fiction
Reviewer: Prabhneet
Raina’s story is the second page turning book in the series. It tells a story of a group of three diverse girls. They are juniors in high school and struggle a lot. Raina is the main point of it all. She drags her two best friends, Kathleen and Hollie to come volunteer at the community hospital with her the summer of sophomore year. Kathleen and Hollie eventually agree and tag along to find that it is very rewarding. Kathleen found a boyfriend and Hollie found a new level of comfort trying to console the children with cancer.
Raina is going out with Hollie’s older brother, Hunter. They love each other very much apart from the big fact that Raina does not believe in God and Hunter whole heartedly has faith in Him. Raina’s first day of school is a misery. She ends up seeing her worst enemy, Tony Stoddard. Tony was Raina’s boyfriend in eighth grade. One day Hunter was going to his car from his job at the diner and Tony and his “gang” beat up Hunter and tell him some details about Raina. He comes home to Raina with some cuts and bruises and this astonishes Raina because Hunter is not the type to get into fights. Hunter explains the encounter and asks Raina if all of the “details” about her were true. She hesitated, knowing she couldn’t lie to him and told him the truth. With this running over and over again through his mind, Hunter does not talk to Raina for weeks. Raina becomes desperate and turns over for support from the hospital. She volunteers every second she has out of school. She spends all of her volunteered time with premature babies. She becomes attached to them and feels a connection of them both having no one.
Finally, on Raina’s birthday Hunter, Hollie, Kathleen, and her boyfriend Carson through her a surprise party. Hunter reveals that he is going to become a minister and go to a college in Indiana, miles away from their town in Florida. Raina eventually learns to live through it and cherish the moments with him. Through it all, all three girls gave each other support and will conquer the upcoming tragedies they will face.I think this is a good book because it shows you how much your friends can affect your life and how much you should really support them. You should all be there for each other and give each other love and affection. It teaches you a lesson and really changes your prospection of life.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Vanguard: Book One (Star Trek)
Title: Vanguard: Book One (Star Trek)
Author: David Mack
Genre: Fiction, Science Fiction
Reviewer: George
This book book falls somewhere during the Starship Enterprise’s journey to explore strange new worlds, to seek new life and civilizations, and to boldly go where no man has gone before. It follows the stories of several characters: a FNS News Reporter, a Federation diplomat, the crew of Starship Enterprise, the crew of Starship Bombay, a illegal and stolen goods courier, and several others.
It starts out with a geology lieutenant named Xiong traveling on the Starship Bombay. He has just come from a recent discovery on the planet Ravanar and is headed to Star Base 47 (Vanguard). Vanguard is the newest space station of Starfleet. It also the space station that was completed in the shortest amount of time.
Every one is wondering why it has been built so fast. Is it because of the new discovery on Ravanar? Is it to expand Federation territory into the Taurus Reach past the Klingon Empire? Read the book to find out!!!
Author: David Mack
Genre: Fiction, Science Fiction
Reviewer: George
This book book falls somewhere during the Starship Enterprise’s journey to explore strange new worlds, to seek new life and civilizations, and to boldly go where no man has gone before. It follows the stories of several characters: a FNS News Reporter, a Federation diplomat, the crew of Starship Enterprise, the crew of Starship Bombay, a illegal and stolen goods courier, and several others.
It starts out with a geology lieutenant named Xiong traveling on the Starship Bombay. He has just come from a recent discovery on the planet Ravanar and is headed to Star Base 47 (Vanguard). Vanguard is the newest space station of Starfleet. It also the space station that was completed in the shortest amount of time.
Every one is wondering why it has been built so fast. Is it because of the new discovery on Ravanar? Is it to expand Federation territory into the Taurus Reach past the Klingon Empire? Read the book to find out!!!
The Floating Island:The Lost journal of Ven Polypheme
Title: The Floating Island:The Lost journal of Ven Polypheme
Author: Elizabeth Haydon
Genre: Fiction
Reviewer: George
This book is for any one who likes a good fantasy story. It is interesting because most of it is written like a regular book but it also has some pages that are written like a journal. Surprisingly
for a book written at this reading level, it also has some illustrations.
It starts out with a boy named Ven whose father owns a ship building company. Ven is a boy, but he isn’t human. He is a Nain and althougth he turns fifty years old on the day the story starts, Ven is still a boy. Ven gets sent out on one of the boats do do an inspection. Nain’s aren’t supposed to like being out on the water, but Ven is having a great time. The inspection was going fine until he hears the thunder of a cannon firing, pirates are attacking. He sets a fire and destroys both of the ships to keep the pirates from getting the new ship his father’s shipyard built. Ven is rescued by sailors on another ship. They say they saw an albatross flying over the water and it lead them to Ven. Ven visits a floating island with the captain who rescued
him. The rest of the story is a bout Ven’s adventures with friends he made on the ship and with others.
Author: Elizabeth Haydon
Genre: Fiction
Reviewer: George
This book is for any one who likes a good fantasy story. It is interesting because most of it is written like a regular book but it also has some pages that are written like a journal. Surprisingly
for a book written at this reading level, it also has some illustrations.
It starts out with a boy named Ven whose father owns a ship building company. Ven is a boy, but he isn’t human. He is a Nain and althougth he turns fifty years old on the day the story starts, Ven is still a boy. Ven gets sent out on one of the boats do do an inspection. Nain’s aren’t supposed to like being out on the water, but Ven is having a great time. The inspection was going fine until he hears the thunder of a cannon firing, pirates are attacking. He sets a fire and destroys both of the ships to keep the pirates from getting the new ship his father’s shipyard built. Ven is rescued by sailors on another ship. They say they saw an albatross flying over the water and it lead them to Ven. Ven visits a floating island with the captain who rescued
him. The rest of the story is a bout Ven’s adventures with friends he made on the ship and with others.
Ingo
Title: Ingo
Author: Helen Dunmore
Genre: Fiction
Reviewer: Sydney
The book Ingo is about a girl named Sapphire and her brother Connor. Sapphire and Connor have what seems like an almost perfect life. They live by the sea, have their own private cove (everyone in town knows about it, but they are the only ones that go there), their father has a boat that he uses to take them out on the sea. The only part of their life that could be fixed is the fighting. Sapphire’s parents often start yelling and screaming at each other. Sapphire hates it. She wishes they acted the way they did when she was younger. No fights. So Sapphire’s world is pretty much prefect. Right? Wrong. Sapphire and Connor’s lives are turned upside down when their father mysteriously disappears while taking his boat out one night after another fight. Now, it was normal for Sapphire’s father to take out his boat in the middle of the night, but he had always come back until this time. Search crews were sent out and neighbors helped search for their father. But there was no evidence of anything and eventually the search crews stopped looking and then the neighbors stopped looking too. Then about two months later someone found their father’s wrecked boat but still their father was missing. Everybody in the town assumes that their father is dead and they hold a memorial service for him, but Connor and Sapphire refuse to believe he is dead.
A year passes and much changes. Sapphire’s mother has a job downtown, is rarely home and always is moving. With no sign of their father Sapphire and her brother become more sober. That is when it happens. Almost a year after their father disappears and Connor disappears too. Sapphire immediately searches the house, but no sign of Connor. Then she thinks of the cove, but she knows that Connor would never go down there without her because they both promised their parents that they would never go down to the cove by themselves. Never the less she goes. As Sapphire gets closer to the cove she starts to feel a pull from the sea. When Sapphire gets to the cove she calls for Connor but he doesn’t answer. Sapphire wades into the water and that’s when she sees them. Connor and some girl she’s never seen before are sitting on a rock a couple feet away. The girl looks like she’s in a diving suit and their both look like they’ve been swimming and they were talking. Neither of them saw her so and Sapphire didn’t want them too. Sapphire looks out at the sunset for a minute then looks back to Connor and the girl. But the girl is gone and Connor is looking at the water. Sapphire calls to Connor and he looks up and comes to her. Sapphire and Connor never keep things from each other so when Sapphire ask Connor about the girl and when he doesn’t tell her she begins to wonder why he isn’t telling her, but that’s not the only weird thing. When Sapphire tells Connor what time it is he begins to insist that it is not actually that late, but it is. The two siblings go home with Sapphire thinking about how Connor lied to her and how he thought it wasn’t as late as he thought it was.
Will Sapphire find out the secret her brother is keeping from her? Will Sapphire and Connor find their father? Read the book to find out.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure and mystery. Something is always happening in this book; it’s almost impossible to put down. It is defiantly a book that should be added to anyone’s personal library.
Author: Helen Dunmore
Genre: Fiction
Reviewer: Sydney
The book Ingo is about a girl named Sapphire and her brother Connor. Sapphire and Connor have what seems like an almost perfect life. They live by the sea, have their own private cove (everyone in town knows about it, but they are the only ones that go there), their father has a boat that he uses to take them out on the sea. The only part of their life that could be fixed is the fighting. Sapphire’s parents often start yelling and screaming at each other. Sapphire hates it. She wishes they acted the way they did when she was younger. No fights. So Sapphire’s world is pretty much prefect. Right? Wrong. Sapphire and Connor’s lives are turned upside down when their father mysteriously disappears while taking his boat out one night after another fight. Now, it was normal for Sapphire’s father to take out his boat in the middle of the night, but he had always come back until this time. Search crews were sent out and neighbors helped search for their father. But there was no evidence of anything and eventually the search crews stopped looking and then the neighbors stopped looking too. Then about two months later someone found their father’s wrecked boat but still their father was missing. Everybody in the town assumes that their father is dead and they hold a memorial service for him, but Connor and Sapphire refuse to believe he is dead.
A year passes and much changes. Sapphire’s mother has a job downtown, is rarely home and always is moving. With no sign of their father Sapphire and her brother become more sober. That is when it happens. Almost a year after their father disappears and Connor disappears too. Sapphire immediately searches the house, but no sign of Connor. Then she thinks of the cove, but she knows that Connor would never go down there without her because they both promised their parents that they would never go down to the cove by themselves. Never the less she goes. As Sapphire gets closer to the cove she starts to feel a pull from the sea. When Sapphire gets to the cove she calls for Connor but he doesn’t answer. Sapphire wades into the water and that’s when she sees them. Connor and some girl she’s never seen before are sitting on a rock a couple feet away. The girl looks like she’s in a diving suit and their both look like they’ve been swimming and they were talking. Neither of them saw her so and Sapphire didn’t want them too. Sapphire looks out at the sunset for a minute then looks back to Connor and the girl. But the girl is gone and Connor is looking at the water. Sapphire calls to Connor and he looks up and comes to her. Sapphire and Connor never keep things from each other so when Sapphire ask Connor about the girl and when he doesn’t tell her she begins to wonder why he isn’t telling her, but that’s not the only weird thing. When Sapphire tells Connor what time it is he begins to insist that it is not actually that late, but it is. The two siblings go home with Sapphire thinking about how Connor lied to her and how he thought it wasn’t as late as he thought it was.
Will Sapphire find out the secret her brother is keeping from her? Will Sapphire and Connor find their father? Read the book to find out.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure and mystery. Something is always happening in this book; it’s almost impossible to put down. It is defiantly a book that should be added to anyone’s personal library.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The Legend of Luke
Title: The Legend of Luke
Author: Brian Jacques
Genre: Fantasy
Reviewer: Kyle
Though this book it titled The Legend of Luke, the main characters at the beginning are Gonff the Mousethief (a mouse), Martin the Warrior (a mouse), Trimp the Rover (a hedgehog), and Dinny Foremole (obviously, a mole). The book starts with Trimp wandering and finding a partly built Redwall Abbey. There, she is welcomed in. She tells everyone that she is from the northlands. Martin then remembers that he was raised on the northland shores. He asks about it, and soon he is always in thought for days. Eventually, the rest of the creatures get worried, and allow him a journey to his homeland. Gonff and Dinny go with him on his quest. On his way there, he meets Log-a-Log Furmo, a shrew, and Krar the Woodwatcher, a goshawk. They travel to the northland shores, where Vurg, a mouse, and Beau, a hare, tell Martin the story of Luke, Martin’s father.
The second part was about Luke trying to get revenge on a stoat named Vilu Daskar, because his horde killed most of Luke’s tribe. Most of the story is about Luke riding a ship called the Sayna, named after his wife, to find Vilu.
I enjoyed reading this book because I just like to read stories that use swords, shields, bows and arrows, spears, and javelins for wars and fights.
Author: Brian Jacques
Genre: Fantasy
Reviewer: Kyle
Though this book it titled The Legend of Luke, the main characters at the beginning are Gonff the Mousethief (a mouse), Martin the Warrior (a mouse), Trimp the Rover (a hedgehog), and Dinny Foremole (obviously, a mole). The book starts with Trimp wandering and finding a partly built Redwall Abbey. There, she is welcomed in. She tells everyone that she is from the northlands. Martin then remembers that he was raised on the northland shores. He asks about it, and soon he is always in thought for days. Eventually, the rest of the creatures get worried, and allow him a journey to his homeland. Gonff and Dinny go with him on his quest. On his way there, he meets Log-a-Log Furmo, a shrew, and Krar the Woodwatcher, a goshawk. They travel to the northland shores, where Vurg, a mouse, and Beau, a hare, tell Martin the story of Luke, Martin’s father.
The second part was about Luke trying to get revenge on a stoat named Vilu Daskar, because his horde killed most of Luke’s tribe. Most of the story is about Luke riding a ship called the Sayna, named after his wife, to find Vilu.
I enjoyed reading this book because I just like to read stories that use swords, shields, bows and arrows, spears, and javelins for wars and fights.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Title: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Author: J. K. Rowling
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy
Reviewer: Kimberly
Harry is running out of time. Lord Voldemort, the most powerful dark wizard the world has ever known, has infiltrated The Ministry of Magic, the wizarding world’s government. People are dying. Nobody can be trusted. Everyone is terrified, people are forced into hiding, and the truth is kept well hidden. Harry, Hermione, and Ron are the only ones who can stop Lord Voldemort, known to his loyal followers, the Death Eaters, as the Dark Lord. They’re running out of clues, of hints to follow, and tensions run high between them. Ron has left his family, expecting Harry to have a plan, and Hermione has bewitched her non-magical parents into believing that they are completely different people who don’t have a daughter in order to keep them safe from the Death Eaters and in order to join Harry on his quest. To win the war, they must find Voldemort’s seven Horcruxes, parts of his soul, ripped from his body through his terrible evil, that are sheltered within valuable objects and carefully guarded. There were originally seven; luckily, two have been destroyed, the diary and the ring, and they’ve found the locket, however, they still have to locate and destroy five more. However, the trail runs cold, they’ve no means of destroying the Horcrux they already have, and Harry begins to seethe with anger at Dumbledore, who died and sent them on the seemingly hopeless task. He wants to find the truth that Dumbledore seemed so keen on keeping from him. However, their efforts go unrewarded as their only clue is that the sword of Godric Gryffindor. Finally, Ron walks out of them, on a night when tempers run high, out of pure frustration.
However, their luck is about to turn. One night, Harry is led away by a mysterious silver doe to a frozen pool. To retrieve the sword, Harry must prove he has the qualities of a true Gryffindor, which includes bravery and chivalry. When Harry uses magic to crack the ice and dive into the pool, he almost drowns and Ron rescues him and grabs the sword. He then proceeds to stab the Horcrux, and with it, another bit of Voldemort’s soul. Ron has returned through use of the Deluminator, an invention Dumbledore had left him in his will. Perhaps this proves that Dumbledore had a plan after all, though Harry still nurtures doubts. Their quest continues, as Ron’s arrival seems to coincide with, or perhaps trigger, a sufficient amount of information and hope. Their adventure is filled with far more peril and danger, but progress is far better than before. Along the way, Harry, Hermione, and Ron suffer tragedies, and occasionally, hear amazing tidings and stumble upon unlikely encouragement. Will they be able to defeat Voldemort? The fate of the entire world will depend on the answer.
I would recommend this book to others because it balances the amazing and impossible feats with crushing reality and conflict between friends. However, comprehension of the book’s theme and plot is easier if you have read the first six books. It isn’t completely necessary, as the book explains things along the way, but it allows the reader to better understand the bonds between characters and their feelings of attachment and fondness or hurt and betrayal. The book was very emotional and sometimes became depressing, but it was also extremely witty with excellent word choice and unexpected twists, which is why I personally enjoyed it and think others will too.
Author: J. K. Rowling
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy
Reviewer: Kimberly
Harry is running out of time. Lord Voldemort, the most powerful dark wizard the world has ever known, has infiltrated The Ministry of Magic, the wizarding world’s government. People are dying. Nobody can be trusted. Everyone is terrified, people are forced into hiding, and the truth is kept well hidden. Harry, Hermione, and Ron are the only ones who can stop Lord Voldemort, known to his loyal followers, the Death Eaters, as the Dark Lord. They’re running out of clues, of hints to follow, and tensions run high between them. Ron has left his family, expecting Harry to have a plan, and Hermione has bewitched her non-magical parents into believing that they are completely different people who don’t have a daughter in order to keep them safe from the Death Eaters and in order to join Harry on his quest. To win the war, they must find Voldemort’s seven Horcruxes, parts of his soul, ripped from his body through his terrible evil, that are sheltered within valuable objects and carefully guarded. There were originally seven; luckily, two have been destroyed, the diary and the ring, and they’ve found the locket, however, they still have to locate and destroy five more. However, the trail runs cold, they’ve no means of destroying the Horcrux they already have, and Harry begins to seethe with anger at Dumbledore, who died and sent them on the seemingly hopeless task. He wants to find the truth that Dumbledore seemed so keen on keeping from him. However, their efforts go unrewarded as their only clue is that the sword of Godric Gryffindor. Finally, Ron walks out of them, on a night when tempers run high, out of pure frustration.
However, their luck is about to turn. One night, Harry is led away by a mysterious silver doe to a frozen pool. To retrieve the sword, Harry must prove he has the qualities of a true Gryffindor, which includes bravery and chivalry. When Harry uses magic to crack the ice and dive into the pool, he almost drowns and Ron rescues him and grabs the sword. He then proceeds to stab the Horcrux, and with it, another bit of Voldemort’s soul. Ron has returned through use of the Deluminator, an invention Dumbledore had left him in his will. Perhaps this proves that Dumbledore had a plan after all, though Harry still nurtures doubts. Their quest continues, as Ron’s arrival seems to coincide with, or perhaps trigger, a sufficient amount of information and hope. Their adventure is filled with far more peril and danger, but progress is far better than before. Along the way, Harry, Hermione, and Ron suffer tragedies, and occasionally, hear amazing tidings and stumble upon unlikely encouragement. Will they be able to defeat Voldemort? The fate of the entire world will depend on the answer.
I would recommend this book to others because it balances the amazing and impossible feats with crushing reality and conflict between friends. However, comprehension of the book’s theme and plot is easier if you have read the first six books. It isn’t completely necessary, as the book explains things along the way, but it allows the reader to better understand the bonds between characters and their feelings of attachment and fondness or hurt and betrayal. The book was very emotional and sometimes became depressing, but it was also extremely witty with excellent word choice and unexpected twists, which is why I personally enjoyed it and think others will too.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The Report Card
The Report Card
By: Andrew Clements
Genre: Fiction
Reviewer: Anon
Do you ever think someone may strive to get bad grades? That seems like the silliest thing ever, well Nora Rose Rowley didn’t think so. She didn’t get bad grades for no reason she did it for a friend, her best friend.
You see, everyone was so obsessed over good grades, her family, teachers, and almost all of the students except Nora. Nora was a complete brainiac but don’t tell anyone because all her life she has been in disguise as only an average, old person. If anyone knew she was so smart she could never prove her point. She didn’t know her little plan would become a huge deal but it did. She started getting treated differently, she had many conferences with her parents and teachers, and worst of all she got grounded. All of Nora’s doings became a huge commotion among all the students at her school. Did all of her hard work pay of or at least prove her point?
I do highly recommend the Report Card. It is a very funny book with many hooks to make you want to read more. I think many type of readers would enjoy this book.
By: Andrew Clements
Genre: Fiction
Reviewer: Anon
Do you ever think someone may strive to get bad grades? That seems like the silliest thing ever, well Nora Rose Rowley didn’t think so. She didn’t get bad grades for no reason she did it for a friend, her best friend.
You see, everyone was so obsessed over good grades, her family, teachers, and almost all of the students except Nora. Nora was a complete brainiac but don’t tell anyone because all her life she has been in disguise as only an average, old person. If anyone knew she was so smart she could never prove her point. She didn’t know her little plan would become a huge deal but it did. She started getting treated differently, she had many conferences with her parents and teachers, and worst of all she got grounded. All of Nora’s doings became a huge commotion among all the students at her school. Did all of her hard work pay of or at least prove her point?
I do highly recommend the Report Card. It is a very funny book with many hooks to make you want to read more. I think many type of readers would enjoy this book.
The Long Patrol
Title: The Long Patrol
Author: Brian Jacques
Genre: Fantasy
Reviewer: Kyle
The book’s main character is Tamello De Fformelo Tussock (Also called Tammo), a young hare who dreams of being on the Long Patrol. The Long Patrol is an army of hares from Salamandastron, a gargantuan mountain where badgers rule, and hares live. As the name suggests, the Long Patrol Patrols the area of Mossflower, a large forest where the woodlanders are free and live together. Tammo travels away from his home, Camp tussock, with his mother’s friend Russa Nodrey, a squirrel. Tammo joins the Long Patrol, and they head off to defeat the Rapscallion army, a horde of rats, weasels, stoats, ferrets, and foxes.
This is a great book because you really never expect some of the things, while you can also guess the answers to some of the riddles. It’s easier to understand the book if you read Mossflower, also by Brian Jacques, first.
Author: Brian Jacques
Genre: Fantasy
Reviewer: Kyle
The book’s main character is Tamello De Fformelo Tussock (Also called Tammo), a young hare who dreams of being on the Long Patrol. The Long Patrol is an army of hares from Salamandastron, a gargantuan mountain where badgers rule, and hares live. As the name suggests, the Long Patrol Patrols the area of Mossflower, a large forest where the woodlanders are free and live together. Tammo travels away from his home, Camp tussock, with his mother’s friend Russa Nodrey, a squirrel. Tammo joins the Long Patrol, and they head off to defeat the Rapscallion army, a horde of rats, weasels, stoats, ferrets, and foxes.
This is a great book because you really never expect some of the things, while you can also guess the answers to some of the riddles. It’s easier to understand the book if you read Mossflower, also by Brian Jacques, first.
The Year of the Rat
Title: The Year of the Rat
Author: Grace Lin
Genre: Fiction
Reviewer: Sidd
This book is a sequel to the book The Year of the Dog. Once again, it is written and illustrated by Grace Lin. In this book, the main character Pacy must deal with many frustrations. They are, such as, the possibility of Melody moving away, painstakingly trying to find her true talent, and learn that change can actually be a wonderful thing.
Written as if the person is on a day-to-day basis, this book is perfect all readers. It also has many interesting illustrations. Be sure to check those out. Singularity and happiness fill the pages of this book from beginning to the end.
Author: Grace Lin
Genre: Fiction
Reviewer: Sidd
This book is a sequel to the book The Year of the Dog. Once again, it is written and illustrated by Grace Lin. In this book, the main character Pacy must deal with many frustrations. They are, such as, the possibility of Melody moving away, painstakingly trying to find her true talent, and learn that change can actually be a wonderful thing.
Written as if the person is on a day-to-day basis, this book is perfect all readers. It also has many interesting illustrations. Be sure to check those out. Singularity and happiness fill the pages of this book from beginning to the end.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Al Capone Does My Shirts
Title: Al Capone Does My Shirts
Author: Gennifer Choldenko
Genre: Fiction
Reviewer: Patrick
This book is the story of Moose Flanagan, Alcatraz Island Boy. If you have never heard of Alcatraz Island, it was a twelve-acre rock covered with cement that housed a prison off the shore of San Francisco, California. It was open during the 1934 and closed in 1964. Moose moved there with his family. His dad was one of the prison guards. Alcatraz or “Devil’s Island” had convicts that are the kind other prisons didn’t want. The worst of the worst, they said it was a prison no one could escape from. Moose had a sister named Natalie that needed a special school, the Esther P. Marinoff School. It was for kids like Natalie that needed extra help. She had autism which no one knew a lot about back then. The story was set in 1935 right after the prison opened.
The story was about how 23 kids lived among the worst convicted prisoners and how strange friendships can evolve. Moose liked baseball and all the things regular kids liked. He had to move away from all his friends for his sister. One of the most famous prisoners was Al Capone, a dangerous gangster from Chicago. The title of the book comes from the fact that Al Capone worked in the prison laundry! Piper, one of Moose’s’ new friends had a scheme to make money by having extra shirts washed in the prison laundry and people would pay to have Al Capone wash their shirts. Until the warden, Piper’s father, found out…. You have to read the book to find out how Al Capone helped Moose, his sister and his family.
This book tells how you can make unusual friends and I would recommend it. It is a book that has a real story and you can make sense of the plot. It is fiction but I believe that it could have really happened. I would have liked to go to have a tour of the prison even though it has been closed for years. That makes the story seem so real. Sometimes you have to put your family first and I liked how Moose was able to make the best of that type of situation.
Author: Gennifer Choldenko
Genre: Fiction
Reviewer: Patrick
This book is the story of Moose Flanagan, Alcatraz Island Boy. If you have never heard of Alcatraz Island, it was a twelve-acre rock covered with cement that housed a prison off the shore of San Francisco, California. It was open during the 1934 and closed in 1964. Moose moved there with his family. His dad was one of the prison guards. Alcatraz or “Devil’s Island” had convicts that are the kind other prisons didn’t want. The worst of the worst, they said it was a prison no one could escape from. Moose had a sister named Natalie that needed a special school, the Esther P. Marinoff School. It was for kids like Natalie that needed extra help. She had autism which no one knew a lot about back then. The story was set in 1935 right after the prison opened.
The story was about how 23 kids lived among the worst convicted prisoners and how strange friendships can evolve. Moose liked baseball and all the things regular kids liked. He had to move away from all his friends for his sister. One of the most famous prisoners was Al Capone, a dangerous gangster from Chicago. The title of the book comes from the fact that Al Capone worked in the prison laundry! Piper, one of Moose’s’ new friends had a scheme to make money by having extra shirts washed in the prison laundry and people would pay to have Al Capone wash their shirts. Until the warden, Piper’s father, found out…. You have to read the book to find out how Al Capone helped Moose, his sister and his family.
This book tells how you can make unusual friends and I would recommend it. It is a book that has a real story and you can make sense of the plot. It is fiction but I believe that it could have really happened. I would have liked to go to have a tour of the prison even though it has been closed for years. That makes the story seem so real. Sometimes you have to put your family first and I liked how Moose was able to make the best of that type of situation.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
The Name of this Book is Secret
The Name of this Book is Secret
Author: Pseudonymous Bosch
Genre: Mystery
Reviewer: Sidd
Well, as the name says, this book's name is secret. Still, this book is also about a secret. Plus, it also contains a secret! Do you think that you could handle that? In this book, there are many things that I can't tell you because it is classified, but I can tell you that this book's plot revolves around the mysterious death of a magician. The main characters are named Cass and Max-Ernest. They aer the ones that try to solve the mystery of his death. Once again, I'm sorry, but I can't tell you anymore. Just go and read this book for yourself.
This book comes with a mysterious narrator who will guide on the way through the main characters' adventures. This book is also filled with word puzzles, anagrams, and many more things that will make this a real page-turner. I swear that this book is just 357 pages of fun! Although is it a little confusing to read, I suggest this book to anyone who loves adventure and mystery.
Author: Pseudonymous Bosch
Genre: Mystery
Reviewer: Sidd
Well, as the name says, this book's name is secret. Still, this book is also about a secret. Plus, it also contains a secret! Do you think that you could handle that? In this book, there are many things that I can't tell you because it is classified, but I can tell you that this book's plot revolves around the mysterious death of a magician. The main characters are named Cass and Max-Ernest. They aer the ones that try to solve the mystery of his death. Once again, I'm sorry, but I can't tell you anymore. Just go and read this book for yourself.
This book comes with a mysterious narrator who will guide on the way through the main characters' adventures. This book is also filled with word puzzles, anagrams, and many more things that will make this a real page-turner. I swear that this book is just 357 pages of fun! Although is it a little confusing to read, I suggest this book to anyone who loves adventure and mystery.
Maximum Ride the Angel Experiment
Title: Maximum Ride the Angel Experiment
Author: James Patterson
Genre: Sci Fi
Maximum Ride is a sci-fi, thriller, and mystery, made by James Patterson. I would call it action if there was such a genre. The Angel Experiment is the first in the series, followed by Schools Out- Forever, Saving the World and other extreme sports, and the most recently released, The Final Warning. The book is about 6 amazing kids who all have something different than us. They where biogenetically engineered to have wings and fly. They were raised in a lab, and tortured in various tests, but they escaped with the help of Jeb. He was a Scientist who actually had feelings to the kids. After the escape, they live in a mountain side retreat. Then one of the kids, Angel, is kidnapped by an Eraser. An Eraser is what the 6 kids call the half-man, half-wolf creatures from the lab trying to capture the kids. Will the kids be able to save Angel? Read this book to find out!
This book was absolutely amazing. It was mystery, sci-fi, and thriller all the time. Always, and I mean always, were you sitting on the edge of your seat. The quick wits and action in this book always add up to one thing, pure awesomeness. Now if you dislike action movies like Mission Impossible, James Bond, and Die Hard (maybe not) you would love this book. Even if not this is still a great book. Now if you are wondering what I personally thought. This is the best book series I have ever read. (I don’t read that much though) I would literally read 150 pages per night. I was on the edge of my seat of course. Read this book if it is the last thing you do!
Author: James Patterson
Genre: Sci Fi
Maximum Ride is a sci-fi, thriller, and mystery, made by James Patterson. I would call it action if there was such a genre. The Angel Experiment is the first in the series, followed by Schools Out- Forever, Saving the World and other extreme sports, and the most recently released, The Final Warning. The book is about 6 amazing kids who all have something different than us. They where biogenetically engineered to have wings and fly. They were raised in a lab, and tortured in various tests, but they escaped with the help of Jeb. He was a Scientist who actually had feelings to the kids. After the escape, they live in a mountain side retreat. Then one of the kids, Angel, is kidnapped by an Eraser. An Eraser is what the 6 kids call the half-man, half-wolf creatures from the lab trying to capture the kids. Will the kids be able to save Angel? Read this book to find out!
This book was absolutely amazing. It was mystery, sci-fi, and thriller all the time. Always, and I mean always, were you sitting on the edge of your seat. The quick wits and action in this book always add up to one thing, pure awesomeness. Now if you dislike action movies like Mission Impossible, James Bond, and Die Hard (maybe not) you would love this book. Even if not this is still a great book. Now if you are wondering what I personally thought. This is the best book series I have ever read. (I don’t read that much though) I would literally read 150 pages per night. I was on the edge of my seat of course. Read this book if it is the last thing you do!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Smiles to Go
Title: Smiles to Go
Author: Jerry Spinelli
Genre: Fiction
Reviewer: Sidd
This book is about a teenager named Will Tuppence. He is your average teenager, he eats pizza, plays chess, has an annoying little sister, has two friends named BT (Anthony Botempo) and Mi-Su, and so on. The whole book is based about his life. The twists and turns of an average teenage boy are about to come alive in this book!
This book is written in a diary format. It a warm-hearted book. I love how this book is very psychological, but it is also filled with comedy and drama. This amalgam-of-emotions book will thrill you. You won't be able to stop reading until you have finished the book. We already know that Jerry Spinelli is an excellent author with is Newberry Honor Book Maniac Magee, so why not read this one? I guarantee you it will give you a smile.
Author: Jerry Spinelli
Genre: Fiction
Reviewer: Sidd
This book is about a teenager named Will Tuppence. He is your average teenager, he eats pizza, plays chess, has an annoying little sister, has two friends named BT (Anthony Botempo) and Mi-Su, and so on. The whole book is based about his life. The twists and turns of an average teenage boy are about to come alive in this book!
This book is written in a diary format. It a warm-hearted book. I love how this book is very psychological, but it is also filled with comedy and drama. This amalgam-of-emotions book will thrill you. You won't be able to stop reading until you have finished the book. We already know that Jerry Spinelli is an excellent author with is Newberry Honor Book Maniac Magee, so why not read this one? I guarantee you it will give you a smile.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
The Hardy Boys-Murder House
Title: The Hardy Boys - Murder House
Author: Franklin W. Dixon
Genre: Mystery
Reviewer: Katie
Have you ever been in a house where a murder has taken place? The Hardy Boys are on a mission to finally get to the bottom of a deadly scare. This story takes place on the television set of the reality show "Deprivation House." The house is a huge villa in Beverly Hills, California, without a single luxury item left inside. This is a reality show where teenagers see how long they can last without the luxury items they are used to.
Frank and Joe, better known as the Hardy Boys, weren't actually contestants on the reality show. They were working undercover on a assignment for American Teens Against Crime. All of the contestants had received death threats, but they thought it was just something the producers came up with to add excitement to the show.
The contestants found messages on the walls of the house and on pieces of paper saying, "House of Death." They also discovered a drawing of a little girl carved into the library wall. There was something that happened in the same house ten years ago that may explain why the house was haunted. Katrina Decter was a actress on her way to superstardom when her husband killed her. It happened in the great room upstairs. She was just out of rehab for drugs and alcohol when she had a relapse. Katrina attacked her daughter, Nina, who was only four years old. Her husband killed her to save Nina's life. He told Nina that a demon killed her mother.
Other horrifying things also happened in the house. Brynn, one on the contestants on the show, let out a scream when she walked into the bathroom. All the contestants came running. They found a bloody teddy bear with the stuffing pulled out on the bathroom floor. After taking a closer look, they could tell that the blood was just ketchup. Later, when the contestants were out in the garden, they saw Brynn lying face down in the dirt. Her light blue jacket was red with blood. But when they turned her over, they were surprised that it was Georgina wearing Brynn's coat. Georgina had been stabbed in the back with a knife.
It seemed like there was a demon in the house that was after Brynn. The Hardy Boys were narrowing down their list of suspects when they heard another terrifying scream coming from Brynn's bedroom. Brynn had four deep claw marks cut across her right cheek and there was blood dripping from her face. She had blood and tissue also under her fingernails. The Hardy Boys thought that Brynn had probably fought off her attacker. They checked all of the contestants to see if any of them had scratch marks on them, but they didn't. Could the demon have done this or was it the producers of the show trying to get good ratings?
Near the end of the story, the Hardy Boys suspected Brynn of being Nina, the little girl who used to live in the huge house. Whenever the rest of the contestants talked about the murder, Brynn would leave the room. So Frank had a plan to talk about the murder to Brynn to see how she would react. When Frank tried to talk to her, she left the room and Joe was ready to follow her. Brynn walked quickly to the garden and dug up a large silver knife. She aimed the knife at her chest and Joe shouted to her to stop. She started to put the knife down as Frank pushed her to the ground. When they asked her what she was doing, she didn't answer. She had a blank stare like she didn't know where she was.
After this happened, the show was cancelled. Some of the contestants thought they should be given some of the million dollar prize because of this. The producer of the show told them that they had all been given something very valuable. They were all given the chance to realize that they had more than they needed. They had learned that they could get by with much less than they ever thought they could.
Brynn was actually Nina after all. She was admitted to a psychiatric hospital for help. Being back in the house where she saw her mother killed by her father was very traumatic. Nina began to have blackouts. She wasn't even aware of the things she was doing. After counseling, Nina was beginning to remember what really happened that night. Her mother hadn't started using drugs or alcohol again. But she decided that she wanted to leave her husband. They fought and he killed her. Her grandparents helped her change her name to Brynn Fulgham so that she would be safe from the media. When Nina realized that a reality show was going to take place in the house where the murder happened, she wanted to go back. She thought that there would be something there to help her remember what really happened to her mother.
Frank and Joe went to visit Nina in the hospital. She was making good progress. The Hardy Boys felt like they had completed their mission, none of the contestants ended up dead.
My favorite character in this book was Ann. She would freak out about the demon every time something bad would happen. I would recommend this book to a friend because it gives you the chills as you read it. It uses good adjectives to describe the horror scenes.
Author: Franklin W. Dixon
Genre: Mystery
Reviewer: Katie
Have you ever been in a house where a murder has taken place? The Hardy Boys are on a mission to finally get to the bottom of a deadly scare. This story takes place on the television set of the reality show "Deprivation House." The house is a huge villa in Beverly Hills, California, without a single luxury item left inside. This is a reality show where teenagers see how long they can last without the luxury items they are used to.
Frank and Joe, better known as the Hardy Boys, weren't actually contestants on the reality show. They were working undercover on a assignment for American Teens Against Crime. All of the contestants had received death threats, but they thought it was just something the producers came up with to add excitement to the show.
The contestants found messages on the walls of the house and on pieces of paper saying, "House of Death." They also discovered a drawing of a little girl carved into the library wall. There was something that happened in the same house ten years ago that may explain why the house was haunted. Katrina Decter was a actress on her way to superstardom when her husband killed her. It happened in the great room upstairs. She was just out of rehab for drugs and alcohol when she had a relapse. Katrina attacked her daughter, Nina, who was only four years old. Her husband killed her to save Nina's life. He told Nina that a demon killed her mother.
Other horrifying things also happened in the house. Brynn, one on the contestants on the show, let out a scream when she walked into the bathroom. All the contestants came running. They found a bloody teddy bear with the stuffing pulled out on the bathroom floor. After taking a closer look, they could tell that the blood was just ketchup. Later, when the contestants were out in the garden, they saw Brynn lying face down in the dirt. Her light blue jacket was red with blood. But when they turned her over, they were surprised that it was Georgina wearing Brynn's coat. Georgina had been stabbed in the back with a knife.
It seemed like there was a demon in the house that was after Brynn. The Hardy Boys were narrowing down their list of suspects when they heard another terrifying scream coming from Brynn's bedroom. Brynn had four deep claw marks cut across her right cheek and there was blood dripping from her face. She had blood and tissue also under her fingernails. The Hardy Boys thought that Brynn had probably fought off her attacker. They checked all of the contestants to see if any of them had scratch marks on them, but they didn't. Could the demon have done this or was it the producers of the show trying to get good ratings?
Near the end of the story, the Hardy Boys suspected Brynn of being Nina, the little girl who used to live in the huge house. Whenever the rest of the contestants talked about the murder, Brynn would leave the room. So Frank had a plan to talk about the murder to Brynn to see how she would react. When Frank tried to talk to her, she left the room and Joe was ready to follow her. Brynn walked quickly to the garden and dug up a large silver knife. She aimed the knife at her chest and Joe shouted to her to stop. She started to put the knife down as Frank pushed her to the ground. When they asked her what she was doing, she didn't answer. She had a blank stare like she didn't know where she was.
After this happened, the show was cancelled. Some of the contestants thought they should be given some of the million dollar prize because of this. The producer of the show told them that they had all been given something very valuable. They were all given the chance to realize that they had more than they needed. They had learned that they could get by with much less than they ever thought they could.
Brynn was actually Nina after all. She was admitted to a psychiatric hospital for help. Being back in the house where she saw her mother killed by her father was very traumatic. Nina began to have blackouts. She wasn't even aware of the things she was doing. After counseling, Nina was beginning to remember what really happened that night. Her mother hadn't started using drugs or alcohol again. But she decided that she wanted to leave her husband. They fought and he killed her. Her grandparents helped her change her name to Brynn Fulgham so that she would be safe from the media. When Nina realized that a reality show was going to take place in the house where the murder happened, she wanted to go back. She thought that there would be something there to help her remember what really happened to her mother.
Frank and Joe went to visit Nina in the hospital. She was making good progress. The Hardy Boys felt like they had completed their mission, none of the contestants ended up dead.
My favorite character in this book was Ann. She would freak out about the demon every time something bad would happen. I would recommend this book to a friend because it gives you the chills as you read it. It uses good adjectives to describe the horror scenes.
The Voyage of the Dawntreader
Title: The Voyage of the Dawntreader
Author: C. S. Lewis
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction
Reviwere: Kimberly
This book began with Edmund and Lucy visiting their awful, disagreeable cousin Eustace. Eustace is selfish and is teasing the two about Narnia, the land that they have visited but Eustace doesn’t believe in. Suddenly, a picture on the wall of a magnificent ship begins moving and rocking, growing larger and larger; the three begin feeling the ocean spray and light gusts of wind. They land in the ocean and are hoisted onboard by the crew of the ship. There, Lucy and Edmund recognize their friends, Prince Caspian, whom they rescued the previous time they were in Narnia, and Reepicheep, the valiant Talking Mouse, who comes up to about the height of an adult’s knees. Caspian, Reepicheep, and the crew are on a quest to reach the end of the world and find the Seven Lords, who were tricked into sailing away and never returned, or avenge them if they had died. They sail across uncharted lands, settle on several strange islands, meet the inhabitants and have amazing adventures.
This book was excellent and I could hardly prevent myself from continuing reading it to the exclusion of all else. The plot was thrilling and unexpected. My favorite island was the island where dreams come true. It wasn’t what I expected and was the most terrifying of all. The adventures on the islands were extremely creative and I would never have been able to imagine them. I would recommend this book to pretty much anyone who can read. Enjoy!
Author: C. S. Lewis
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction
Reviwere: Kimberly
This book began with Edmund and Lucy visiting their awful, disagreeable cousin Eustace. Eustace is selfish and is teasing the two about Narnia, the land that they have visited but Eustace doesn’t believe in. Suddenly, a picture on the wall of a magnificent ship begins moving and rocking, growing larger and larger; the three begin feeling the ocean spray and light gusts of wind. They land in the ocean and are hoisted onboard by the crew of the ship. There, Lucy and Edmund recognize their friends, Prince Caspian, whom they rescued the previous time they were in Narnia, and Reepicheep, the valiant Talking Mouse, who comes up to about the height of an adult’s knees. Caspian, Reepicheep, and the crew are on a quest to reach the end of the world and find the Seven Lords, who were tricked into sailing away and never returned, or avenge them if they had died. They sail across uncharted lands, settle on several strange islands, meet the inhabitants and have amazing adventures.
This book was excellent and I could hardly prevent myself from continuing reading it to the exclusion of all else. The plot was thrilling and unexpected. My favorite island was the island where dreams come true. It wasn’t what I expected and was the most terrifying of all. The adventures on the islands were extremely creative and I would never have been able to imagine them. I would recommend this book to pretty much anyone who can read. Enjoy!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Numbering the Bones
Title: Numbering the Bones
Author: Ann Rinaldi
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reviewer: Patrick
The story takes place during the Civil War beginning in February 1864. Eulinda is the main character in the story. She is a 13 year old slave and the illegitimate daughter of a plantation owner, Mr. Hampton Kellogg. Mr. Kellogg had a wife named Miz Gertrude. Before she died she accused Eulinda’s younger brother Zeke of stealing her ruby ring. For punishment she sells him and sends him off down south. Eulinda’s other brother, Neddy, ran off and joined the war and is now in a prison camp. Mr. Kellogg has a daughter named Annalee who is also 13 and is friends with Eulinda. Mistis is Mr. Hampton’s new wife and pretends to be sensitive to the needs of the slaves. They all live at Pond Bluff Plantation, Andersonville, Georgia.
There is a war prison in Andersonville where Yankee soldiers are held captive and die of starvation every day. 13,000 will end up dying there by the end of the war. In February 1865 Mr. Hampton gathers the slaves and tells them they are now officially free. Eulinda finds a job at the cemetery at the old prision. Rats are starting to uproot the soldiers graves and they needed help to get the cemetery in order. The story then centers around Eulinda and those who also helped with sorting out the names and dates of those who died in the prison. One clerk named Dorence Atwater kept special records that allowed them to pay respect to all the bones. Eulinda works side by side with Clara Barton, a famous nurse, and they bring honor to the prison cemetery.
My sister recommended this book to me to read. At first I did not like the story because I have not read a lot of historical fiction but as you read you become amazed at what they lived through and what they did at such a young age! I am almost the same age as the main character and have not had to experience such things. Eulinda helped by respecting those who died to make her free. I think it is a great book to read to see how far our country has come for freedom and rights. It is especially true as we are about to elect our 44th president and close to the man who helped free the slaves, Abraham Lincoln’s, birthday!
Author: Ann Rinaldi
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reviewer: Patrick
The story takes place during the Civil War beginning in February 1864. Eulinda is the main character in the story. She is a 13 year old slave and the illegitimate daughter of a plantation owner, Mr. Hampton Kellogg. Mr. Kellogg had a wife named Miz Gertrude. Before she died she accused Eulinda’s younger brother Zeke of stealing her ruby ring. For punishment she sells him and sends him off down south. Eulinda’s other brother, Neddy, ran off and joined the war and is now in a prison camp. Mr. Kellogg has a daughter named Annalee who is also 13 and is friends with Eulinda. Mistis is Mr. Hampton’s new wife and pretends to be sensitive to the needs of the slaves. They all live at Pond Bluff Plantation, Andersonville, Georgia.
There is a war prison in Andersonville where Yankee soldiers are held captive and die of starvation every day. 13,000 will end up dying there by the end of the war. In February 1865 Mr. Hampton gathers the slaves and tells them they are now officially free. Eulinda finds a job at the cemetery at the old prision. Rats are starting to uproot the soldiers graves and they needed help to get the cemetery in order. The story then centers around Eulinda and those who also helped with sorting out the names and dates of those who died in the prison. One clerk named Dorence Atwater kept special records that allowed them to pay respect to all the bones. Eulinda works side by side with Clara Barton, a famous nurse, and they bring honor to the prison cemetery.
My sister recommended this book to me to read. At first I did not like the story because I have not read a lot of historical fiction but as you read you become amazed at what they lived through and what they did at such a young age! I am almost the same age as the main character and have not had to experience such things. Eulinda helped by respecting those who died to make her free. I think it is a great book to read to see how far our country has come for freedom and rights. It is especially true as we are about to elect our 44th president and close to the man who helped free the slaves, Abraham Lincoln’s, birthday!
Where the Red Fern Grows
Title: Where the Red Fern Grows
Author: Wilson Rawls
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Reviewer: Taylor
The story starts out on Billy, a 10 year old boy. He’s just like any young boy, struck with puppy love, but for Billy, it goes farther than that. He keeps insisting that he needs hunting dogs. After a while, he starts getting sick because he wants them so bad. His father gets him traps to satiate him for a while, but soon, Billy’s father just tells him the truth. That they don’t have the money for it right now. Billy gives up on it for a while, but when he finds a catalog with an ad saying 2 coon dogs for $100, he starts raising the money on his own. After almost 2 years of collecting cans, he has the money. He walks almost 30 miles to get his dogs. Billy names the girl dog Little Ann and the boy dog Big Dan. He spends the entire off season training them and when the season finally starts, he goes right out hunting. He goes for almost 4 years with those dogs, going through lots of adventures; spending all night for one raccoon, a tragic death, and even mountain lions. He goes through it all with those dogs.
The ending is kind of sad. I won’t tell it all. There is so much to the story; it would be too much to say in one report. It’s so good; I couldn’t put it down until I was finished. I’d say this is good for anyone who likes a good, dramatic book. It’s the best, and it’s a classic. I know Mrs. Gorski’s reading class read it for an assignment, but you shouldn’t wait until you have to read it!
Author: Wilson Rawls
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Reviewer: Taylor
The story starts out on Billy, a 10 year old boy. He’s just like any young boy, struck with puppy love, but for Billy, it goes farther than that. He keeps insisting that he needs hunting dogs. After a while, he starts getting sick because he wants them so bad. His father gets him traps to satiate him for a while, but soon, Billy’s father just tells him the truth. That they don’t have the money for it right now. Billy gives up on it for a while, but when he finds a catalog with an ad saying 2 coon dogs for $100, he starts raising the money on his own. After almost 2 years of collecting cans, he has the money. He walks almost 30 miles to get his dogs. Billy names the girl dog Little Ann and the boy dog Big Dan. He spends the entire off season training them and when the season finally starts, he goes right out hunting. He goes for almost 4 years with those dogs, going through lots of adventures; spending all night for one raccoon, a tragic death, and even mountain lions. He goes through it all with those dogs.
The ending is kind of sad. I won’t tell it all. There is so much to the story; it would be too much to say in one report. It’s so good; I couldn’t put it down until I was finished. I’d say this is good for anyone who likes a good, dramatic book. It’s the best, and it’s a classic. I know Mrs. Gorski’s reading class read it for an assignment, but you shouldn’t wait until you have to read it!
Savvy
Title: Savvy
Author: Ingrid Law
Genre: Fiction
Reviewer: Sidd
Mibs (Mississippi) Beaumont is about to turn thirteen. In the Beaumont family, a thirteenth birthday isn’t about getting a new cell phone. It’s about getting your power, or your savvy. Mibs’s family includes 3 brothers and a baby sister, her mom, dad, and her grandfather. Her brother Rocket creates lightning. Her other brother Fish makes hurricanes. Her grandpa moves mountains. Her other sister and brother are too young. However, disaster strikes the night before her 13th birthday- her dad is in an enormous accident and is taken to the Salina Hope Hospital in Salina, Kansas. Her mom and Rocket go to Salina right after the incident. On the day of her birthday party, Mibs decided that she doesn’t care about her savvy anymore, and all that she wants is a savvy to save her dad. Along with her friends and siblings, they stowaway on a bus to Salina, but when things take a wrong turn, then, only, then, does the real adventure begin.
This book grabbed my interest because it interprets the use of southern vernacular. Also, it shows the youthful teenager in its early stages, but with a different twist. I recommend this book to anyone who is wistful for a good fictional and adventurous story. After reading this book, I think that I’ve even found my own savvy, and who’s to say you won’t either? So, go ahead! Read it!
Author: Ingrid Law
Genre: Fiction
Reviewer: Sidd
Mibs (Mississippi) Beaumont is about to turn thirteen. In the Beaumont family, a thirteenth birthday isn’t about getting a new cell phone. It’s about getting your power, or your savvy. Mibs’s family includes 3 brothers and a baby sister, her mom, dad, and her grandfather. Her brother Rocket creates lightning. Her other brother Fish makes hurricanes. Her grandpa moves mountains. Her other sister and brother are too young. However, disaster strikes the night before her 13th birthday- her dad is in an enormous accident and is taken to the Salina Hope Hospital in Salina, Kansas. Her mom and Rocket go to Salina right after the incident. On the day of her birthday party, Mibs decided that she doesn’t care about her savvy anymore, and all that she wants is a savvy to save her dad. Along with her friends and siblings, they stowaway on a bus to Salina, but when things take a wrong turn, then, only, then, does the real adventure begin.
This book grabbed my interest because it interprets the use of southern vernacular. Also, it shows the youthful teenager in its early stages, but with a different twist. I recommend this book to anyone who is wistful for a good fictional and adventurous story. After reading this book, I think that I’ve even found my own savvy, and who’s to say you won’t either? So, go ahead! Read it!
Eclipse
Title: Eclipse
Author: Stephanie Meyer
Genre: fiction
Reviewer: Prabhneet
Eclipse is the third novel in Stephenie Meyer’s popular Twilight saga. In order to understand and process your thoughts about Eclipse, you would have to read Twilight and New Moon. You also want to read Twilight and New Moon because they are both excellent novels and you are missing out if you haven’t read them. They are very entertaining and keep you thirsting for more. You honestly can’t stop turning the pages once you start.
Bella’s high school graduation is approaching and she will be leaving Forks forever, what she has told everyone: to go to college - but she is planning to turn into a vampire with her boyfriend, Edward. There are some consequences that she is ready to face. Unexpectedly, the dangerous newborn vampires from Seattle come to Forks and dealing with them is dangerous for humans.
Bella, Edward and Jacob’s relationship is basically a love triangle between them. Bella and Jacob have always been friends, until Jacob became a werewolf. This strikes up some complicated problems. Bella has to compromise between her love and her best friend. What makes it harder for Bella is that Jacob is in love with Bella but she is in love with Edward.
Bella realizes that she might lose Edward because of the newborn vampires that he is going to go and put “under control”. When he returns she is happier than ever. Bella and Edward's relationship gets stronger, once again.
Author: Stephanie Meyer
Genre: fiction
Reviewer: Prabhneet
Eclipse is the third novel in Stephenie Meyer’s popular Twilight saga. In order to understand and process your thoughts about Eclipse, you would have to read Twilight and New Moon. You also want to read Twilight and New Moon because they are both excellent novels and you are missing out if you haven’t read them. They are very entertaining and keep you thirsting for more. You honestly can’t stop turning the pages once you start.
Bella’s high school graduation is approaching and she will be leaving Forks forever, what she has told everyone: to go to college - but she is planning to turn into a vampire with her boyfriend, Edward. There are some consequences that she is ready to face. Unexpectedly, the dangerous newborn vampires from Seattle come to Forks and dealing with them is dangerous for humans.
Bella, Edward and Jacob’s relationship is basically a love triangle between them. Bella and Jacob have always been friends, until Jacob became a werewolf. This strikes up some complicated problems. Bella has to compromise between her love and her best friend. What makes it harder for Bella is that Jacob is in love with Bella but she is in love with Edward.
Bella realizes that she might lose Edward because of the newborn vampires that he is going to go and put “under control”. When he returns she is happier than ever. Bella and Edward's relationship gets stronger, once again.
Star Wars: Heir to the Empire
Title: Star Wars: Heir to the Empire
Author: Timothy Zahn
Genre: Science Fiction
By: Andrew
This book is a continuation of the Star Wars movies. It takes place five years after Return of the Jedi.
Grand Admiral Thrawn is one of the evil Emperor’s warlords who survived the last battle with the Rebel Alliance. He has taken control of the Imperial fleet and is planning to attack the new Republic and steal warships from the Slusis Van shipyards. Grand Admiral Thrawn has discovered two secret weapons to help him carry out his plan. It’s up to Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and their allies to defend the Slusis Van shipyards against Grand Admiral Thrawn and the Imperial fleet. Will Grand Admiral Thrawn complete his assault or will the new Republic be able to repel him?
I would recommend this book to any Star Wars fan or anybody else because it tells you what happened after the end of the last movie. It also has tons of action, adventure, and surprises. I can’t wait to start reading book number two Dark Force Rising and book number three The Last Command!
Author: Timothy Zahn
Genre: Science Fiction
By: Andrew
This book is a continuation of the Star Wars movies. It takes place five years after Return of the Jedi.
Grand Admiral Thrawn is one of the evil Emperor’s warlords who survived the last battle with the Rebel Alliance. He has taken control of the Imperial fleet and is planning to attack the new Republic and steal warships from the Slusis Van shipyards. Grand Admiral Thrawn has discovered two secret weapons to help him carry out his plan. It’s up to Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and their allies to defend the Slusis Van shipyards against Grand Admiral Thrawn and the Imperial fleet. Will Grand Admiral Thrawn complete his assault or will the new Republic be able to repel him?
I would recommend this book to any Star Wars fan or anybody else because it tells you what happened after the end of the last movie. It also has tons of action, adventure, and surprises. I can’t wait to start reading book number two Dark Force Rising and book number three The Last Command!
Elly: True Story of the Holocaust
Title: Elly: True Story of the Holocaust
Author: Elly Berkovits Gross
Genre: Historical, auto-biography, non-fiction
Reviewed by: Carly
Elly Berkovits was a blue-eyed, blonde-haired Jewish girl who was born in Simimleul-Silvaniei, Romania. She was born on February 14, 1929. Then, her parents decided to have another child, and on March 16, 1939, when Elly was ten, they had a handsom little boy named Adalbert. Elly loved Adalbert so much because he was her only brother. It was in the spring of 1939, the the Nazis invaded their surrounding areas. A year later, on September 10, 1940, three regions of Romania were taken-over by Hungary. When this happened, Hungary and Germany came to Elly’s hometown and started drafting men from 18-55 years old. Her father was 36 at the time, and was taken into forced labor, they didn’t know at the time, but he was to never be heard from again.
Beginning in the winter of 1944, all Jews had to wear a yellow star of David on them, and people were told to spit on them and chant, “ Dirty Jew, Did a star fall on you?” After Passover, a group of men armed with rifles barged into their home and orderd Elly and her family to leave. They were forced to move to a former brick factory, referrered to as the Ghetto, in Chehul-Silvaniei. There, Elly, 15 at the time, was one of the four lucky woman to be a potato peeler, every night she got to bring back a potato to her mom and Adalbert. In May of 1944, there was a mandatory strip search and the Jews were loaded into cattle cars, about 95-100 per car. They were given two buckets, one for waste and one containing water. Finally, the doors were opened on June 2, that was when the army soldiers threw out the mother and newborn, the ill, the dead, and the elderly. The air had a haunting smell of burnt rubber and the sound of a symphony. Then, there was a man wearing white gloves waiting outside of the car. He was appointing groups of people, left and right. Elly was to the right and mother and Adalbert to the left, she waved to her family, and ran to her group. That was the last time Elly and her family were ever going to see each other, but at the time no one knew that.
The two groups were escorted their own ways. The right side was taken to a builing where they were striped of clothing and belongings, the also had to shave their heads, this was to register into the camp. The next room, was a shower house. When they entered all they got was a tiny bar of white soap that said,”Jude Siefe”, meaning Jewish Soap. Then, they were taken to the cabins at Auschwitz-2/Birkenau. Each cabin housed a minimum of 1,000 Jews. After that,the woman were put to work. Elly’s job was to scrub chimneys with broken bricks and a white chlorox jel that had to be applied with your fingers. Her other job was to give the captors coffee in the morning. In the August of 1944, Dr. Mengele sorted the woman again. Elly survived because he thought she was pregnant, but actually, she got thicker from eating sandy potato peels from the garbage. Then, they were shipped away to Fallerslaben, Germany. The soldiers demanded that Elly washed the living quarters because the fumes made her sick. Usually, the Jews that got sick were taken away forever, but her life was spared. In April of ’45, the group was shipped to Zalsweden, where she was reunited with some of her cousins. Finally, in April 14, 1945, allies came and sent the survivors back to their homelands. When Elly went back to her childhood home in Romania, after this event, her family wasn’t there. Her house had been ransacked, and the residents gave Elly a letter that came for her mom. It said that her father was burned alive in a trailor at Dorsensk, Russia, in the Spring of ’43. Also, she found out that her mom and Adalbert were sent to the gas chambers when they were seperated.
Author: Elly Berkovits Gross
Genre: Historical, auto-biography, non-fiction
Reviewed by: Carly
Elly Berkovits was a blue-eyed, blonde-haired Jewish girl who was born in Simimleul-Silvaniei, Romania. She was born on February 14, 1929. Then, her parents decided to have another child, and on March 16, 1939, when Elly was ten, they had a handsom little boy named Adalbert. Elly loved Adalbert so much because he was her only brother. It was in the spring of 1939, the the Nazis invaded their surrounding areas. A year later, on September 10, 1940, three regions of Romania were taken-over by Hungary. When this happened, Hungary and Germany came to Elly’s hometown and started drafting men from 18-55 years old. Her father was 36 at the time, and was taken into forced labor, they didn’t know at the time, but he was to never be heard from again.
Beginning in the winter of 1944, all Jews had to wear a yellow star of David on them, and people were told to spit on them and chant, “ Dirty Jew, Did a star fall on you?” After Passover, a group of men armed with rifles barged into their home and orderd Elly and her family to leave. They were forced to move to a former brick factory, referrered to as the Ghetto, in Chehul-Silvaniei. There, Elly, 15 at the time, was one of the four lucky woman to be a potato peeler, every night she got to bring back a potato to her mom and Adalbert. In May of 1944, there was a mandatory strip search and the Jews were loaded into cattle cars, about 95-100 per car. They were given two buckets, one for waste and one containing water. Finally, the doors were opened on June 2, that was when the army soldiers threw out the mother and newborn, the ill, the dead, and the elderly. The air had a haunting smell of burnt rubber and the sound of a symphony. Then, there was a man wearing white gloves waiting outside of the car. He was appointing groups of people, left and right. Elly was to the right and mother and Adalbert to the left, she waved to her family, and ran to her group. That was the last time Elly and her family were ever going to see each other, but at the time no one knew that.
The two groups were escorted their own ways. The right side was taken to a builing where they were striped of clothing and belongings, the also had to shave their heads, this was to register into the camp. The next room, was a shower house. When they entered all they got was a tiny bar of white soap that said,”Jude Siefe”, meaning Jewish Soap. Then, they were taken to the cabins at Auschwitz-2/Birkenau. Each cabin housed a minimum of 1,000 Jews. After that,the woman were put to work. Elly’s job was to scrub chimneys with broken bricks and a white chlorox jel that had to be applied with your fingers. Her other job was to give the captors coffee in the morning. In the August of 1944, Dr. Mengele sorted the woman again. Elly survived because he thought she was pregnant, but actually, she got thicker from eating sandy potato peels from the garbage. Then, they were shipped away to Fallerslaben, Germany. The soldiers demanded that Elly washed the living quarters because the fumes made her sick. Usually, the Jews that got sick were taken away forever, but her life was spared. In April of ’45, the group was shipped to Zalsweden, where she was reunited with some of her cousins. Finally, in April 14, 1945, allies came and sent the survivors back to their homelands. When Elly went back to her childhood home in Romania, after this event, her family wasn’t there. Her house had been ransacked, and the residents gave Elly a letter that came for her mom. It said that her father was burned alive in a trailor at Dorsensk, Russia, in the Spring of ’43. Also, she found out that her mom and Adalbert were sent to the gas chambers when they were seperated.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
The Giver
Title: The Giver
Author: Lois Lowry
Genre: Science Fiction
In a community where there is no color, love, war, or even individuality, Jonas is about to turn twelve. When you turn twelve, you become an adult; you get a job, and start training. Jonas is assigned to the mysterious position of Giver. Along with being told of his position, he gets a list of instructions. When he starts training he finds out he has to receive memories from very long ago, and up till the recent past. He encounters memories of love, color, snow, war, and pain. When his father, a Caregiver, takes home a struggling baby, Gabe, Jonas starts transmitting memories of sleep and comfort to help him sleep. When his father takes the child back to the center, he ends up being too tiny. Jonas’s father also tells him of a twin that will have to be “released”. For Jonas, “release” is a part of life. They release the old, any too small children, and anyone who applies for it. But because of the instructions Jonas received, he is able to request anything he likes. He asked to watch the release of the small twin. In horror as Jonas watched, he finds out they actually kill them. Jonas, along with the Giver, come up with a plan to fake his death and escape. I won’t give away the ending, but it’s very good.
This is the first book in a trilogy about children living in these kind of communities. The second book is called Gathering Blue, and the last book is called Messenger. I’d recommend these to anyone who loves a cliffhanger, books that leave you unable to wait to read the next one.
Author: Lois Lowry
Genre: Science Fiction
In a community where there is no color, love, war, or even individuality, Jonas is about to turn twelve. When you turn twelve, you become an adult; you get a job, and start training. Jonas is assigned to the mysterious position of Giver. Along with being told of his position, he gets a list of instructions. When he starts training he finds out he has to receive memories from very long ago, and up till the recent past. He encounters memories of love, color, snow, war, and pain. When his father, a Caregiver, takes home a struggling baby, Gabe, Jonas starts transmitting memories of sleep and comfort to help him sleep. When his father takes the child back to the center, he ends up being too tiny. Jonas’s father also tells him of a twin that will have to be “released”. For Jonas, “release” is a part of life. They release the old, any too small children, and anyone who applies for it. But because of the instructions Jonas received, he is able to request anything he likes. He asked to watch the release of the small twin. In horror as Jonas watched, he finds out they actually kill them. Jonas, along with the Giver, come up with a plan to fake his death and escape. I won’t give away the ending, but it’s very good.
This is the first book in a trilogy about children living in these kind of communities. The second book is called Gathering Blue, and the last book is called Messenger. I’d recommend these to anyone who loves a cliffhanger, books that leave you unable to wait to read the next one.
No Talking
Title: No Talking
Author: Andrew Clements
Genre: Fiction
Reviewer: Billy
No Talking is about a boy named Dave that attends Laketon Elementry School in New Jersey. Dave's main hobby is talking, actually the whole grades' hobby is talking. They were nicknamed the unshushables because of this bad habit. This is how the whole story started. Dave was doing a report on India when he came across a man named Gandhi. Gandhi would not speak for one day of the week every week. Gandhi thought this helped clear his mind and gave him time to think. Dave was very tempted to try this, so he did. Half-way through his challenge he made a bet with a girl, Lynsey Burgess, to not talk for two days, every one in the grade was involved with this challenge. Many rules were made, one was if you made a mess up it counted as a point, whoever had the most points at the end lost. The challenge caused many problems, but it still went on. Throughout the chapters it gets more interesting, like having an assembly to tell the students to talk and go back to their normal selves. I don't know why they would want them to be loud once again.
I would highly recommend this book. The plot of this book was very good. I thought it was a page turner and kept on luring me in chapter after chapter. The outcome will surprise you very much. I could understand how it would be to not talk for that long. Read this book you will love it!
Author: Andrew Clements
Genre: Fiction
Reviewer: Billy
No Talking is about a boy named Dave that attends Laketon Elementry School in New Jersey. Dave's main hobby is talking, actually the whole grades' hobby is talking. They were nicknamed the unshushables because of this bad habit. This is how the whole story started. Dave was doing a report on India when he came across a man named Gandhi. Gandhi would not speak for one day of the week every week. Gandhi thought this helped clear his mind and gave him time to think. Dave was very tempted to try this, so he did. Half-way through his challenge he made a bet with a girl, Lynsey Burgess, to not talk for two days, every one in the grade was involved with this challenge. Many rules were made, one was if you made a mess up it counted as a point, whoever had the most points at the end lost. The challenge caused many problems, but it still went on. Throughout the chapters it gets more interesting, like having an assembly to tell the students to talk and go back to their normal selves. I don't know why they would want them to be loud once again.
I would highly recommend this book. The plot of this book was very good. I thought it was a page turner and kept on luring me in chapter after chapter. The outcome will surprise you very much. I could understand how it would be to not talk for that long. Read this book you will love it!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Frindle
Title: Frindle
Author: Andrew Clements
Genre: Fiction
Reviewer: Niki
It was 5th grade Nick Allen’s big year and he knew it too. 5th grade meant switching classes, homework, and no recess. The way they did it at Lincoln Elementary School there was two teachers for each subject except for Language Arts. There was one, Mrs. Granger and that’s were the trouble began for Nick.
Nick was in the last period of his first day of 5th grade but the problem was his last period was with Mrs. Granger. Nick felt homework coming. So the question quick shot out of his mouth “Where do words come from?” This question could’ve stop from everyone getting homework but Mrs. Granger knew exactly what Nick was doing. She back fired on him and he ended up with an oral report and vocabulary.
You may ask what this has to with the title Frindle. Nick has loads of ideas and Frindle was one of them. Mrs. Granger told the class that words are made because we say so. So he had a meeting with him and his friends. The next week he had all of the kids at Lincoln Elementary to say his new word. Frindle, Frindle his the definition of pen but wanted to start a fight with the Lone Granger. Frindle started as just a game but it ended up as after school detentions, then newspapers, and ended with national television. All of this leads to a letter from Mrs. Granger to Nick. No one knew what was in the letter and no one would know until this Frindle nonsense was over.
I would recommend this book because it’s funny and you can’t stop reading it. It is a great story and you will never know what will happen next.
Author: Andrew Clements
Genre: Fiction
Reviewer: Niki
It was 5th grade Nick Allen’s big year and he knew it too. 5th grade meant switching classes, homework, and no recess. The way they did it at Lincoln Elementary School there was two teachers for each subject except for Language Arts. There was one, Mrs. Granger and that’s were the trouble began for Nick.
Nick was in the last period of his first day of 5th grade but the problem was his last period was with Mrs. Granger. Nick felt homework coming. So the question quick shot out of his mouth “Where do words come from?” This question could’ve stop from everyone getting homework but Mrs. Granger knew exactly what Nick was doing. She back fired on him and he ended up with an oral report and vocabulary.
You may ask what this has to with the title Frindle. Nick has loads of ideas and Frindle was one of them. Mrs. Granger told the class that words are made because we say so. So he had a meeting with him and his friends. The next week he had all of the kids at Lincoln Elementary to say his new word. Frindle, Frindle his the definition of pen but wanted to start a fight with the Lone Granger. Frindle started as just a game but it ended up as after school detentions, then newspapers, and ended with national television. All of this leads to a letter from Mrs. Granger to Nick. No one knew what was in the letter and no one would know until this Frindle nonsense was over.
I would recommend this book because it’s funny and you can’t stop reading it. It is a great story and you will never know what will happen next.
Monday, January 5, 2009
The Tales of Beedle the Bard
Title: The Tales of Beedle the Bard
Author: J.K. Rowling
Genre: Fiction, fantasy
Reviewer: Jimmy
J.K. Rowling writes this book which includes five wizard fairy tales. They are somewhat like are own fairytales, but each has a wizard or warlock as the main character. The wizard and the Hopping Pot tell the tale of a young wizard and the very unusual Hopping Pot. It tells about brotherly love. The fountain of Fair Fortune tells about Asha, Althedia, and Amala, three young witches. They travel with Sir Luckless to receive help with their problems. The Warlocks Hairy Heart is about a young warlock who did not want to act like others in love. This is a surprising tale. Babbity Rabbity and Her Cackling Stump are about a foolish king who wanted magical powers. A charlatan has him believing he has powers. The witch Babbity comes into the story and things happen. The Tale of the Three Brothers is about how they meet Death and fight him off. I recommend reading this book because each tale has its own moral. Some of the tales are humorous while others are a little gross. I enjoyed the way J.K. Rowling wrote a little about each tale in the old wizard version. Also, I am happy to understand all royalties for the book goes to Children’s High Level Group.
Author: J.K. Rowling
Genre: Fiction, fantasy
Reviewer: Jimmy
J.K. Rowling writes this book which includes five wizard fairy tales. They are somewhat like are own fairytales, but each has a wizard or warlock as the main character. The wizard and the Hopping Pot tell the tale of a young wizard and the very unusual Hopping Pot. It tells about brotherly love. The fountain of Fair Fortune tells about Asha, Althedia, and Amala, three young witches. They travel with Sir Luckless to receive help with their problems. The Warlocks Hairy Heart is about a young warlock who did not want to act like others in love. This is a surprising tale. Babbity Rabbity and Her Cackling Stump are about a foolish king who wanted magical powers. A charlatan has him believing he has powers. The witch Babbity comes into the story and things happen. The Tale of the Three Brothers is about how they meet Death and fight him off. I recommend reading this book because each tale has its own moral. Some of the tales are humorous while others are a little gross. I enjoyed the way J.K. Rowling wrote a little about each tale in the old wizard version. Also, I am happy to understand all royalties for the book goes to Children’s High Level Group.
Inkdeath
Title: Inkdeath
Author: Cornelia Funke
Genre: Fantasy, Imaginative Fiction
Reviewer:
Inkdeath is the last book in the Inkheart trilogy, the sequel to Inkspell. In the beginning, Elinor, Meggie’s great-aunt, is longing to see her family again after they were sucked into the pages of the book, Inkheart a couple months ago. Meanwhile, in the pages of the book Mo, Meggie’s father, is playing the part of a robber known as the Bluejay and trying to protect the poor people of the Inkworld; they are vulnerable to the cruelty of the Adderhead, who is immortal but experiencing a life worse than death. Meggie and her mother, Resa, are worried for the safety of her father, and Meggie misses the company of Farid, an Arab boy read out of his own story by Meggie’s father, who once earned the nickname Silvertongue for his ability to pull characters out of their stories. Farid works for Orpheus, a master of Silvertongue’s art, who twists the story maliciously to his own liking. Somehow the story must come together, Mo must defeat the Adderhead and Orpheus and help the story to its happy ending.
I enjoyed this book because of how unpredictable it was and the impossible events that happened, like some of the characters being able to shift shapes with special seeds, and Mo’s meeting with death. I would recommend it to anyone who has read the preceding novels of the trilogy. Inkdeath ties together the loose ends of the story and answers all the questions the reader is left with. The series was just wonderful to read.
Author: Cornelia Funke
Genre: Fantasy, Imaginative Fiction
Reviewer:
Inkdeath is the last book in the Inkheart trilogy, the sequel to Inkspell. In the beginning, Elinor, Meggie’s great-aunt, is longing to see her family again after they were sucked into the pages of the book, Inkheart a couple months ago. Meanwhile, in the pages of the book Mo, Meggie’s father, is playing the part of a robber known as the Bluejay and trying to protect the poor people of the Inkworld; they are vulnerable to the cruelty of the Adderhead, who is immortal but experiencing a life worse than death. Meggie and her mother, Resa, are worried for the safety of her father, and Meggie misses the company of Farid, an Arab boy read out of his own story by Meggie’s father, who once earned the nickname Silvertongue for his ability to pull characters out of their stories. Farid works for Orpheus, a master of Silvertongue’s art, who twists the story maliciously to his own liking. Somehow the story must come together, Mo must defeat the Adderhead and Orpheus and help the story to its happy ending.
I enjoyed this book because of how unpredictable it was and the impossible events that happened, like some of the characters being able to shift shapes with special seeds, and Mo’s meeting with death. I would recommend it to anyone who has read the preceding novels of the trilogy. Inkdeath ties together the loose ends of the story and answers all the questions the reader is left with. The series was just wonderful to read.
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