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Really Cool Realistic Fiction Reviews By: Alex Raia
What My Mother Doesn’t Know By: Sonya Sones
What My Mother Doesn’t Know by Sonya Sones has 259 pages and is in a poetry format. It is a very
quick and easy book to read. It has a fantastic blend of romance and comedy about a fourteen
year old girl named Sophie. Sophie is going through a lot of stress at home because her parents
are always fighting and they don’t act like a family. She does a lot of things that her mother
has told her not to do. Sophie has a boyfriend named Dylan. At the beginning of the story she
and Dylan are so deeply in love, but as the story goes on she begins to feel less attached to
him and more so to a boy in her art class named Robin. She can’t admit to herself, or to her
friends, that she is in love him. This book teaches young teens that it’s the person on the
inside that counts.
My Almost Epic Summer By: Adele Griffin
My Almost Epic Summer is a 192 page novel about a fourteen year old girl named Irene Morse, who
always wanted to be a “heroine hairstylist”. She reads books and sketches the heroine of the
books’ hairstyle into her sketch book. But when she is fired from her mom’s beauty salon, she’s
forced to baby-sit for two fidgety kids. Irene takes the two kids to the park and becomes
friends with the beautiful lifeguard Starla Malloy, and suddenly life goes from dreary to
exciting. Starla still has feeling for her ex-boyfriend, Drew, and tries to make him jealous.
One night Irene gets an unexpected visit from Drew. Summer gets more complicated when the latest
of Irenes mother's volatile, drifter boyfriends takes off and the teen is left trying to console
the heartbroken woman. This is such an intense book and a great read for 7th-10th graders. I
liked this book because it was funny and it held my attention, and the events in this book could
really happen to anyone.
Peeps by Scott Westerfield
A Book Review by Chrissy Belanga
Peeps is a science-fiction book by Scott Westerfield. It has 312 pages, and I believe
it’s appropriate for middle school or high school students. This book takes place in present-
day New York and New Jersey. A young Texan graduate finds out that he’s a carrier of a disease
with vampire-like symptoms, and must find all of his past girlfriends to make sure they don’t
also have the disease. The end is surprising, suspenseful, and a little bit scary. I liked how
the author uses real parasites to describe the disease, and told true facts of the insanely
unbelievable creatures that live in deeply unexplored parts of the underground, such as huge
rats and worms. These facts made the disease seem entirely possible to develop. Therefore, this
book really made me think: If these weird infected organisms were ever to travel to earth’s
surface, what kinds of alien diseases could be diagnosed?
Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone over the age of thirteen. The characters
are well developed, the plot is only slightly complex, and the real-life science involved is
unbelievable. This book further proves the variety that Scott Westerfield’s novels offer.
Pretties by Scott Westerfield
A Book Review by Chrissy Belanga
Pretties is the second science-fiction book in the Uglies trilogy, written by Scott Westerfield.
It has 370 pages, and in my opinion, it is appropriate for middle to high school. The book
takes place in a futuristic world in which everybody’s status depends on their appearance. For
example, those who have an operation that makes them pretty (and dull) live in “New Pretty
Town”. Those who haven’t yet had this operation are basically average people, and live in either
The Smoke or The Crumble. Some “Pretties” and “Uglies” have heard about the Specials, but
scarcely see them. The “Specials,” once “Pretties,” have had an operation that makes them
invincible, “cruel-pretty”, and super-human.
In this book, Tally, a young “Pretty,” is very excited about her glamorous new life, but
wonders why, after the operation, she doesn’t remember her old life in The Smoke. She also
wonders why everyone in “New Pretty Town” is so dull, but she’s so bubbly all the time. After
receiving a note from her past self, she must escape from “New Pretty Town”, and leave behind
all of the twisted truths of the “Pretties” operation. The book’s conclusion is suspenseful,
surprising, and definitely hints at what is going to happen in the next book, Specials. This
book made me realize how critical our society is of those who aren’t as attractive as others,
and America’s stereotypes against the lower class. I pondered the fact that if we continue on
this path, would we have a future just like in Pretties?
I definitely recommend this book to anyone in middle school or high school. It has
amazing characters, a complex plot, and a great ending. Overall, this book broadened my horizons
on science fiction, and I could barely put it down. Scott Westerfield is a great writer, and I
greatly applaud this entire series.
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
A Book Review Tom Dion
Johnny Tremain is a story about a gifted apprentice silversmith during the Revolutionary War
era. Johnny is a fourteen-year-old boy who is adopted by the Lapham’s, a caring family. He is
an apprentice for Mr. Lapham, a very well known silversmith in Boston. After a terrible
accident, Johnny is no longer able fulfill his dream of becoming a silversmith. After his
dreadful accident, he gets entangled with Sons of Liberty members, such as James Otis, John
Hancock, and John and Samuel Adams. He becomes involved in acts like The Battle of Lexington
and Concord and The Boston Tea Party. Johnny Tremain is an awesome historical fiction story. I
really loved how the ending draws a conclusion to the book. Esther Forbes really outdid herself
in this amazing novel. I would rate this book an 8.5 or a 9. This became one of my favorite
books after I read it, and I guarantee that the same phenomenon will happen to you because of
its well developed characters, superb description, and awesome storyline.
Until I Have No Country by Michael J. Tougias
A Book Review by Tom Dion
Until I Have No Country is an action-packed love story about a Native American named Tamoset, a
close friend of King Philip, a famous Native American tribe leader during King Philip’s War.
Tamoset is forced to leave his wife, Napatoo, and son, Chusett to fight the Englishmen. During
this novel, Tamoset and his “braves” invade many towns such as Providence, Sudbury, and
Medfield. Tamoset becomes involved with a Nipmuck woman, Quinna, after he finds out his wife
dies. Meanwhile, a colonist, John Homer is trying to protect his farm while fighting the Native
Americans. I would highly recommend this book because of its superb description and its
excellent battle scenes. It is also a great love story. Michael Tougias is an excellent author
with a phenomenal first book. I loved this book, I would give it an 8 and I guarantee that you
will too.
Fantasy Book Reviews by Andrew Mason
The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
The Sea of Monsters is the sequel to The Lightning Thief. In this book Percy and his friends, go
on a long and mysteries quest to save Camp Half Blood. Percy is the heroic son of the god
Poseidon. The camp is for people that are a son or daughter of a god or goddess. The problem is
that an invisible protective barrier around the camp is wearing off. Without it the camp will be
in grave danger.
To save it they must go retrieve the Golden Fleece. The biggest problem is that something
monstrous and ferocious is guarding the fleece. This book is full of suspense and action. It
combines the ancient way of Greek Mythology with fantasy. It is a great continuation of the
first book. I would give this book a nine because of its great description and action sequences.
Will Percy and his friends save the camp or will it fall into the hands of the monsters?
Flyte by Annie Sage
Book review by Andrew Mason
Flyte, by Annie Sage, is an amazing fantasy with 511 pages. It is the second book in the
Septimus Heap series following Magyk. The main character, Septimus Heap, is the apprentice of
the Extra Ordinary Wizard which is a huge accomplishment. His problem is that he is after the
Flyte charm but, someone else is after it too. His name is The Hunter. He is a mysterious
character who lives to be a spy.
The ending of this book is phenomenal. It is a perfect cliffhanger that leads right into
the third book, Physic. The book made me want to get the sequel and start reading it right away.
You should read this book because it is filled with plenty of action and creativity. This book
is the perfect book for anybody who loves fantasy.
Dreamland by Sarah Dessen
A Book Review by Gabriella Rose Geiger
Plain Caitlin, just a girl in high school, is trying to live up to her perfect sister’s
shadow. Suddenly, everything changes when ‘perfect’ Cass disappears in the summer before she
starts Yale. Caitlin watches as her life, her family, and finally herself, start to slowly
crumble. She then meets the mysterious, dangerous Rogerson Biscoe, who fills the hole left from
Cass, and everything horrible about her dull life. Soon she’s stuck drifting in a metaphoric
fake world where everything revolves around Rogerson. How can she escape this Dreamland? Sarah
Dessen, author of This Lullaby and Dreamland, ingeniously narrates modern teen struggles in a
realistic-fiction book. This story is touching, yet sad. Dreamland deserves a seven in a scale
of one through ten. This book is just an inch shy of being top-dog due to a lull in the rising
action during the middle of the book. However, what I loved the most about this masterpiece is
how the characters just come alive in a vivid, gradual plot. Plus, everything in the story is
shown to the reader through Caitlin’s head, not bluntly told. I also am pleased that the story
ends on a high note, lifting my spirits. I recommend Dreamland for girls in middle and high
school.
Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
A book review by Gabriella Rose Geiger
Just by reading the title, Summer of my German Soldier, I had high hopes that this
historical- fiction book would be as beautiful and compassionate as its name. The story lived up
to my expectations with well- described characters and a plot that pulls me into the story’s
depths. It all begins when Patti Bergen’s in-the-middle-of-nowhere Arkansas town is visited by
captive NAZIs on their way to a prison camp nearby. Patti, who is lonely and hurting from her
forever unsatisfied mother, mentally unstable father, and isolation from her peers, is desperate
for a loving friend. She then meets Anton, a kind and well-educated man, who just happens to be
a NAZI. When he escapes from the camp, Patti immediately offers him shelter and protection. In
return, Anton teaches her to believe that she is a person of value. Unfortunately, Anton and
Patti’s time together is cut short. How will she handle Anton’s absence? This heart-wrenching
book is perfect for snuggling up in bed to have a good cry; I rate it ten stars. The author,
Bette Green, has also written the sequel, Morning is a Long Time Coming, that continues Patti’s
inspirational story.
Book Reviews by Marie Ralff
Millicent Min by Lisa Yee
Millicent Min is a story about a girl who is feeling rejection by most of the people around her.
The author is Lisa Yee, who is a genius at writing. Although the book is only 248 pages, it is a
really good read. This is an astounding book; you’ll never want to put it down. Millicent is a
girl genius, who enters college at age twelve. She doesn’t have many friends, since kids her age
are in seventh grade, not college. She feels rejection; her only friend in college dumps her for
her boyfriend. She also has many family problems; her grandpa dies and her grandma whom she
adores goes off to London. I really liked the character Emily, because she is kind and
compassionate. She likes Mil no matter who she is. The ending is very good, and I think that it
made up for the slow beginning. I thought that the ending is very satisfying because it tied up
all of the lose ends and all of her problems were solved. I would highly recommend this
realistic fiction story. It is great story for many reasons. For example, it had a lot of
flashbacks, to slowly reveal Mil as a character, and it had lots and lots of description. Also,
the book appeals to anyone who has ever felt left out. It is a fantastic book about a girl who
has to find out who she really is.
Gossamer by Lois Lowry
Gossamer is a book about imaginary dream-givers. This wonderful fantasy book is 176 pages long.
It is written by the fantastic author, Lois Lowry. The book is about a little dream-giver,
Littlest One, who bestows dreams to people and animals. She has to learn the ways of the dream-
givers, and Thin Elderly and she have to battle some evil creatures called Sinisteeds. They look
after a little boy, John, who has been abused and neglected by his father. His mother sends him
to a program where he lives with someone else while she gets her act together. John lives with
an old lady as an angry foster child, and he is never happy enough until his mother comes back,
even though the old lady tries so hard to make him happy. Meanwhile, Littlest One also has to
work with John through his dreams. The character I like the most is Littlest, because she is
energetic, and very fun. She is curious about everything. I really like the ending of this book
because it lets you imagine what happens with Gossamer and New Littlest, and it leaves you
hungry for a sequel. The book is very descriptive, which is what I really liked about this book.
I would really recommend this easy read because it is a really cute story.
Wanted
By: Kathryn Riley
“I killed him good,” said the mysterious voice it was thin like paint distorted with
tension. Killed him what him did that mean? Not Alice’s him, not Daddy! “NO,” said Alice to
herself,” no”! Then she waited for the man’s heavy footsteps to walk out the door and start the
car engine. “Ok,” I said to myself,” ok I need to get out of here.” I jumped in the Vette with
my heart beating so fast that it was like working overtime. I put in the key, started the
engine, and backed out of the driveway. Alice,” you can do this I said out loud.” You may not
have your license yet, but you can do this. That is an expert from the exciting book Wanted,
written by Caroline B. Cooney. The book Wanted has two hundred and thirty pages. I recommend
this book to the people in grades 7 – 9. I think that it would make a good read, especially if
you like mystery or suspense. Caroline B. Cooney has written many exciting novels including: The
Face on the Milk Carton, Burning Up, and The Ransom of Mercy Carter, those are just a few of the
many novels that she has written. Caroline B. Cooney is also an award winning author. Wanted is
a bout a teenage girl, (Alice) who is the main suspect on her father’s murder. Alice really
knows that she didn’t kill her father because she saw who did it, and on one believes her.
There was one main character in the book Wanted, Alice. Alice is a sixteen year old girl
with divorced parents. Alice had her life made, she was a good student, had two walk-in closets
full of clothes, and friends. But one thing made Alice’s life go totally wrong, and after that
one wrong moment Alice’s life turned completely UPSIDE DOWN. Alice is a brave young woman who
doesn’t know where to turn when her father is murdered, but she is creative and clever. For
example; when Alice had no where to go she decided to ask these college girls for a ride, but
they were only going back to campus, so Alice said that she was a freshman, and that her
boyfriend just broke up with her. The college girls ended up buying it and took her back to the
campus. Then she said that her roommate was driving her crazy and they let her stay in their
dorms for the night. Then Alice had to figure out how to get into the food hall and the computer
lab without a student I.D. she ended up figuring it out, and then left the next day without
being noticed. Alice even figured out how to avoid the cute jock stud from her school that was
looking for her. Alice is a great young person with her head on straight and knows that she
didn’t kill her father.
The book takes place all over a suburb town and city. The first two chapters would take
place in Alice’s father’s condo. Then for the next few chapters Alice is in her dad’s car. Then
the rest of the book takes place in all over the city and other places in between. The major
conflict in the book is that Alice is accused at murdering her own father, even though Alice
knows who did it, and saw the crime happen. The ending was very satisfying. Throughout the whole
entire book the author kept you guessing at whom really did it.
This book made me realize many things. This book made me feel mad at the people who
accused Alice of murdering her own father. This book also made me believe that anything can
happen and anybody can be blamed for that accident even if they didn’t do it. The theme of this
book was that believe in your self and follow through until the end. This book also made me
think what if I was in Alice’s shoes, what would I do? The truth is I don’t know what I would
do, I would probably just cry as the police would try to take me away. Another example about
this book is that it made me hope that people who are accused of doing something, but they
didn’t do it should get a chance to tell their side of the story. That is what the book made
feel and think.
This was a tremendously awesome book. This book was awesome because it had a fast plot
that was believable and credible; because this could actually happen you see things like this on
the news all the time. Also the author just grabbed me into this book; I was enthralled form
begging to the end, from the summary, to the very last sentence. For example right in the
beginning of the book Alice gets a mysterious phone call from her father. The dialogue was also
very real I felt as if I was in the book with all the characters. For example when Alice was
talking to herself you could feel like that you were actually there. I think that people ages 12-
14 would find this book very interesting and a fun read, especially if you like to read
mysteries with suspense and wonder.
The ADHD Corner, by Susan Stoller
Book Reviews on Sparky’s Excellent Misadventures by Phillis Carpenter and Marti Ford, Learning
to Slow Down and Pay Attention, by Kathleen Nadeau and Ellen Dixon, and Delivered from
Distraction by Dr. Edward Hallowell and Dr. John J. Ratey.
“When school started, I was shooting pretend aliens with my finger because I didn’t know
what to do yet, but then Mrs. Warren gave me back my story.” So says the protagonist, Sparky,
the star of the endearing children’s book about a young boy’s journey with ADHD, Sparky’s
Excellent Midadventures. Written in first person as a journal, this story follows Sparky’s ups
and downs as he gains an awareness of why he has “wild wiggles,” why he will take, “little pills
to help him focus,” and why pretty Mrs. Saunders makes it easy for Sparky to talk about his
problems and how to fix them.
This book is perfect for any children who are struggling with understanding what ADHD
is. The illustrations add much to the text and are very creative. The authors are wise to not
make medicine the solution for all of Sparky’s issues. Its optimistic, upbeat character,
jaunty writing style, and realistic, comprehensive look at all the typical behaviors of ADHD
kids, is one not to be missed.
Learning to Slow Down and Pay Attention takes kids on an interactive journey of self-
realization. Through bold graphics, interactive questionnaires, and simple survival tips,
elementary students can have fun while enjoying this positive and realistic book. The book is
divided into four parts: A Checklist About Me, Things Other People Can Do to Help Me, Things I
can Do to Help Myself and Special Projects with My Parents. Each chapter even includes an
activity page. Kids get useful step by step tips on getting ready in the morning, how to clean
a bedroom, learning not to interrupt and even how to make friends. It appears this book would be
relevant for many children, not only those with ADHD.
Delivered from Distraction, Getting the Most out of Life with Attention Deficit
Disorder, is the updated edition of Driven to Distraction, a look at the world of ADD written
by “Ned” Hallowell, an expert in the field who also has ADD. Hallowell presents a “strength
based model which looks for what is good and strong and healthy in the person, then secondarily
what is in need of remediation.” (vii) The strength of this book is it offers the most
comprehensive and current research and specific information about brain research and treatment
options. This book is eminently readable because of its anecdotal style. The combination of
scientific information, true life stories, and solutions to the problems a child, teen, adult
and family of an ADHD child faces makes for a fantastic read.
It is not a book to read from beginning to end, but one to pick up and use as a reference to
answer a question, or talk to your child about how the diagnosis can change him/her for the
better. It also offers an interesting look at new, alternative therapies such as cerebellum
stimulation, physical exercise, and the nutritional component of treatment. Even if you are new
to this “ADHD,” world, you will not feel overwhelmed with the quantity and quality of
information in this text.
Indiana Jones and the Peril At Delphi
Book Review – Christian Gonser – 11-6-06
“What happened?” said Indy. Just as those words jumped out of his mouth, a sharp red-hot
pain ran through his chest. Then he remembered. Indy had fallen from an ancient stone tablet
down two stories onto a hard stone ledge. “How am I going to get back up?” thought Indy.
Exhausted from the struggle to remain on the stone tablet, Indy wandered if he the strength get
out alive. This is an excerpt from the book, Indiana Jones and the Peril At Delphi, by Rob
MacGregor. Read this exciting book to find out what becomes of Indy. The scene outlined above
happens from pages 128 to 138 in the book. Indian Jones and the Peril At Delphi is about
Indiana Jones, or Indy, as he is known traveling to Delphi, Greece after being invited to take
part in an archeological dig at a temple. From the moment Indy arrives in Delphi, he is
confronted with a variety of life threatening adventures. I would highly recommend this book to
any middle school student who enjoys action and adventure stories.
In the book Indiana Jones and the Peril At Delphi, I liked many characters. One of my
favorite characters is Indy. He is smart but a rebel in many ways. One example of his
rebelliousness is when he hangs manikins from lampposts after dressing them up like our founding
fathers. Another interesting character in the book is Jack Shannon. Shannon, as he was known,
was a college roommate and close friend to Indy. Jack was offered a comfortable position in the
family business, but turned it down to pursue his dream of being a jazz musician. Shannon was a
risk taker.
Indiana Jones and the Peril At Delphi takes place in two locations. The first location
was at Indy’s college in Chicago prior to his adventure in Delphi. The second and principal
location for the book was in Delphi, Greece. In Delphi, Indy and a team of archeologists are at
a temple investigating a crevice that had been opened by a recent earthquake. The climax of the
story is when Indy goes into the crevice and gets stuck. The ending of the book was a
cliffhanger and purposely unclear. Since this is the first in a series of Indiana Jones books,
the ending purposely leaves the reader hanging and wanting to read the next book.
The theme of the book is to not trust anyone. Someone who can be your best friend can
turn out to be your worst enemy. This book made me wonder why people can be so deceitful and
aggressive in their thirst for power.
Indiana Jones and the Peril At Delphi emphasizes the strength of the main character,
Indy, and pulls the reader into the story. The book features excellent dialogue and descriptive
character outlines making the story realistic and the characters believable. For example,
Dorian, Indy’s college professor, fools everyone repeatedly into believing that she is to be
trusted when she is actually an enemy. Finally, the title of the book was excellent. The title
connects the perils Indy faces with the main location of the story.
Indiana Jones and the Peril At Delphi is an adventurous read. I would recommend this book
highly. Find out how the Indiana Jones legend begins.
Saffy’s Angel
By: Taylor Smith
Saffron Casson feels alone; more alone than ever before. The Banana House with the
overgrown garden and rodents isn’t hers. Her artistic parents are only her aunt and uncle, and
her brother and sisters are merely her cousins. When Saffron was three, her real parents died
in a terrible accident. But how? The only thing that hadn’t changed in Saffron’s life was her
grandfather. He had been the same for her whole life. Now he’s dead. Saffron’s life is the
same as a bumpy road, and now she has to move over the biggest rock yet. In her grandfather’s
will, something has been left for Saffron; an angel. The stone angel. The stone angel in the
garden. But what is it?
My favorite character in the story Saffy’s Angel, by Hilary McKay, is Caddy, the
protagonist’s older sister. In the book, Caddy is always jubilant and careless. She is very
optimistic, and is rarely ever troubled. During college and driving lessons, however, she gets
very distressed. Her father made her retake all of her college exams, because she astonishingly
failed all of them. Her only brother, who is seven years younger than her, is very supportive
of her studying, and helps her bounce back when she is distracted or moody. During her driving
lessons, she is obsessively love struck by her young driving instructor, Michael. Caddy is very
determined to prove herself to Michael, when she finds out that he already has a girlfriend.
She has a brief internal conflict on whether or not to pass the driving test. She wants to fail
so that she can still be with Michael, but wants to pass because the lessons are extremely
expensive for her family. Toward the end, Caddy decides that her own inconsistencies don’t
matter anymore. She is one of the keys to her cousin Saffron’s happiness, and she realizes that
she needs to do what she can to help her adopted sister find peace once more.
Saffron spends most of her time in her unique house. The Banana House. No one in her
family can figure out why these words on a plaque are mounted above the front door, because the
outside, nor the inside, symbolize a banana whatsoever. The coal fires in every single room
make the home seem unspoiled, and the scent of burning wood and dirt seem to close itself
between the walls. The chipping paint on the house, and the overgrown garden infested with
guinea pigs seem to make it distinctive. When the Casson children await the close end of the
school year, live birds fall down the chimneys, and ants, wood lice, and ivy creep through the
cracks of the windows and doors. Snow and leaves spill through the front door whenever it’s
opened during the colder months, but the Cassons do not mind any of this. In the cozy kitchen
with country-styled cabinets, and rustic pots and pans, Saffron learns that her grandfather left
her something in his will. The stone angel in the garden. This garden is in Siena, Italy. She
used to live in Siena with her parents before they died, and she now desperately wants to find
her angel, to prove that it truly exists, and to find peace within herself. But how can she get
herself from England to Italy? Only the devoted help of a true friend can aid her in a cunning
plan to get to Siena. For a quick hint of the ending: it was phenomenal! The ending was about
the most supreme one I have ever read in my entire lifetime, which is really saying something.
It was most definitely extremely satisfying, and it made me think that Saffron deserved what she
received.
The theme of Saffy’s Angel is “There’s always a light at the end of even the darkest of
tunnels.” This book made me realize that I should take my life for granted. After reading this
exceptional story, I know that I will never think “life can’t get any worse,” because it most
certainly could, compared to all of Saffron’s predicaments. This book also made me believe that
anything is possible. The genre of the story is realistic fiction, but this kind of situation
would rarely happen in the real world. Whenever Saffron stood out to face her dilemmas in life,
I always had faith for her. Saffy’s Angel also made me hope that Saffron would find peace in
the end. All through the book, even since the beginning, I wanted this book to have a blissful
ending, because I knew that Saffron earned it. I absolutely adore this book, and I can say it
is one of my all time favorites.
I would recommend this brilliant book to anyone. Most likely, girls around the ages of
ten and thirteen would enjoy this reading because the main character is a thirteen year old girl
throughout most of the story. This book is perfect for people who like suspenseful fiction
stories. This is for the reason that the book has many thrilling action scenes, and that it is
realistic, yet fantastical at the same time. It is also very depressing. If a reader dislikes
stories with unhappy parts in it, then I would not advise you to read this story. There are a
few deaths in this book, and nothing is much worse than death. This story is an extraordinary
one, and I urge anyone to read it. Remember, a light is always found at the end of even the
darkest of tunnels.
The Red Pony Book Review
By Cam Lyon
His prize possession was gone. As Jody walked into the barn, he was shocked to find that
his gift, the red pony, was gone. He began to panic. Jody looked around the barn. He looked
around the yard. Then he turned to the open barn door. A trail of fresh hoof prints in the damp
grass led over the hill. Jody ran out into the crisp November air and followed the tracks of a
weak pony across the field. Jody reached the top of the hill in time to see buzzards surrounding
the pony. Seconds later, it collapsed and died. This is a scene from the historical fiction novel, The Red Pony. The book was written by
John Steinbeck. This book is about an eleven year old, Jody, who is growing up on a California
farm. It is an appropriate book for students from grade five to grade eight.
The main character in the story is Jody. He is a curious boy who lived on a farm in
California. I like him because he is always exploring his surroundings. In a few ways, he is a
lot like me. Every day, he goes outside and walks around the family ranch to explore something.
He also does lots of work around the house to get his pony. Another character in the story is
Billy Buck. He is the hard-working ranch hand. Billy Buck lives with Jody’s family. Billy is
very helpful to Jody. For example, Billy tries to help Jody when his horse is ill. He does
anything he can to help him. These characters are the most important ones in the story.
The Red Pony takes place in the Gabilan foothill of California. The ranch is on a hill on the
great California plains. The major conflict in the book is Jody working for months to earn his
horse. In the later parts of the book, he faces the decision of what path he takes for his life.
I would say that the ending of the book is satisfying. It made me realize that growing up on a
farm is not an easy task.
I would say that the book makes me feel a number of different things. It makes me feel bad for
the main character, because the pony he had worked so hard for dies. The book also makes me see
the Gabilan foothills with the enormous mountains in the background. John Steinbeck’s writing is
very descriptive.
I’d say that there are three reasons for why this is a great book. First, the dialogue is very
realistic. It makes you hear the characters when they are speaking. Second, the description and
details are excellent. The author clearly paints a visual picture of the story. Lastly, the
characters are well developed and each one had his or her own special characteristics. Overall,
I would say that this is a good book that portrays the life of a young California boy. People
should read this book if they don’t like fast moving stories. I think that the book is great,
and I would recommend it to anyone.
Fig Pudding
By: Kaitlyn Diesso
He jumped onto his flaming red bike and shifted both feet up the steep
hill. He finally reached the top and turned around. He phenomenally flew down the hill, almost
halfway down; he smacked his hands on the breaks to stop. He pushed the breaks, but he kept
rushing down the hill. Up ahead he saw a white blur right where he was headed. This scene is
found in the amazing book, Fig Pudding by Ralph Fletcher.
This book is outstanding and so aren’t the characters. My two favorite characters are Josh
and Brad. Josh is the youngest at age two. He always makes trouble in the house but always seems
to be kind at the right moments. Josh has a way to make the family laugh. Brad is my other
favorite. Brad usually goes for the more dangerous events. He always wants to protect the family
against harm and comfort them when they were hurt. He has a smile on his face every single day.
This extraordinary book is about a family. Not just any ordinary family; a family that goes
through a lot of tough times, and has a lot of conflicts. The story takes place at the
Abernathy’s home. The characters are Mr. and Mrs. Abernathy, the oldest child, Clifford, the
second oldest, Nathan, the third oldest, Cynthia, the fourth oldest, Teddy, the fifth oldest,
Brad, and the youngest, Josh. Teddy isn’t a problem in the family; he just likes to be the
cause of problems. Brad does whatever he’s not supposed to do. Josh is only a toddler. He
doesn’t make that much sense. Nathan doesn’t really do much but talk. He likes to make messes
and not clean them up. Cynthia is very mature at age eight. She always does what she’s told, and
never stops helping. Of course, Clifford, the oldest, is very mature as well. He is always
helping all his siblings, and does what is right. He also is the narrator of Fig Pudding. The
biggest conflict of the story is when Brad is riding his bike down a hill and he crashes into an
ambulance. It’s very upsetting to the reader, me, and to the family when they hear that he had
that tragic accident. The ending almost made me want to cry because of how joyful, yet upset the
characters were. The ending was very satisfying.
The theme of this book is about a family and how their life is with so many conflicts. It
shows you how to get through with upsetting things. This book made me realize that life isn’t
just a game; it’s a present that you were giving to succeed in. This book made me believe that
even the biggest family and most difficult can succeed. This book made me wonder about life. Is
it just about having tons of difficulties to get to succeed? This book made me feel sad. It
makes me want to cry at the ending. This book made me see how a big and difficult family can
actually make it through a really tough time. This book made me realize and believe a lot of
things.
This book is so amazing; I couldn’t come up with a reason why someone shouldn’t read it. If
you like to read books that are sad but also happy at times, this book is great for you. This
book also teaches a cluster of lessons. It has some really sad parts and some parts where you
just want to laugh. After I read this book, I realized it is my favorite.
The “Baby” by Jillian Capone
Why did Dad want me his fourteen year old daughter to drive his precious corvette to our
favorite ice cream place? Why did he want me to bring him two identical disks? Why were the
disks labeled TWINS? What is on the disks? Why did Dad sound funny when he called? These
questions ran through Alice’s mind as she struggled to drive her father’s “baby” through the
busy city. In this suspenseful, 230 page mystery, Wanted, a fourteen year old Alice is faced
with a tough, frightening task. Caroline B. Cooney really shows what a phenomenal author she is
in one of her older books. Wanted is great for anyone older than a preteen. When Alice is
ordered to drive her father’s corvette to the ice cream place and hand off the disks to her
father she worriedly obeys. She really starts to worry when he doesn’t show up. What happened to
her father preventing him to show up at the designated place? Find out, in one of the books on
my top book list, Wanted.
The characters in this book feel everything, happy, sad, scared, relieved, nervous, and
many more. I have one character that stands out to me and that is the fourteen year old girl,
Alice. She is very brave. Someone that young shouldn’t be put on with that much responsibility
to deliver important and life threatening disks. She was smart when the stranger came into her
house and she hid under the car and when she drove her father’s corvette. Another character that
stands out to me is Richard. He doesn’t stand out to me because I like him, but because he is
the protagonist in Wanted. He causes all the problems. Richard tricks Alice into coming to his
house so he can capture her or even kill her. He tells her that her mother is there and wants
her to come over. There are very interesting characters in this suspenseful mystery.
Wanted took place mainly in Alice’s house, in the corvette, or on the run. The time
period of this book is very close to ours. It is around the 1900’s to the 2000’s. In Wanted the
main conflict is the fact that Alice’s father has gone missing and was murdered. Alice is now on
the run because she was accused of her father’s murder. She is trying to solve this mysterious
case. I enjoy books containing good and satisfying endings. If the ending is a dead end and
leaves you to do the rest of the thinking I don’t enjoy it as much. This ending was a surprise
ending. It came out of no where. I like how the ending wrapped everything up. It was a very
satisfying ending.
Wanted made me realize a lot about life, facts and opinions. First of all this book made
me realize that you may think it is just an ordinary day but things may take a turn in the blink
of an eye. While I was reading Wanted I felt like I was right in with the action. The author did
a great job describing the setting. She makes you feel like you are actually experiencing the
events going on in the book. You never know when you might be in danger or when something bad
might happen.
The book, Wanted, is a great book to read if you are someone who like to read horror and
mysteries. The character Alice was struck with a problem when her father suddenly disappears, is
found murdered, and everyone accuses her of his death. The author makes you believe in the
character, Alice, and gets you close to her. The book gives you a little hint of what the book
is about in the title. It reflects what the plot is about. The author outs a real twist to the
ending. She makes the ending surprising and you can’t guess what happens after a few chapters.
This book will entertain a young adult or adult if you are interested in mysteries and horror
books.
Life or Death
By Cayleigh McCarthy
“If Mr. Webster decided to put the word freak in his dictionary…I would be the perfect
definition. It should say Anna Fitzgerald right on the page.”
I read the book My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Piccoult. I personally think it was one of the best
realistic fiction books ever written. Maybe the reason that I thought it was so good, everything
in this book could actually happen. It’s really a touching story about a girl, named Anna, who
wants medical emancipation from her parents. Anna is a really sweet girl who loves hockey and
reading. Even though, her sister can make doing these things very difficult sometimes.
I could actually hear character’s voices and tell what they were like just by how and what they
said. It was truly amazing. Jodi Piccoult never once gave a description of a character; I could
figure it all out from dialogue or the character’s thoughts!
Anna was definitely my favorite character, she is thirteen years old. I could make personal
connections to her character because of her age and the things that she goes through. Like for
example…she would have some days where she would feel like she didn’t belong. The dictionary
comment really gives a good example. Or she would have trouble finding out what to wear. I think
everyone can relate to that. Anna was a very opinionated and well developed character, actually
all the characters were! The book was a much quicker read, just because of the characters
development and depth! I also really liked the way that Jodi Piccoult laid out the book. Every
chapter there is someone new narrating, and no time has passed when they switch! I got to see
everyone’s point of view; it really made the book a fun to read because you got to see all the
controversies between the characters!
The major conflict in the book is the fact that Anna is filing a lawsuit that she hopes
will end in her medical emancipation. If she succeeds, Kate might not survive. This conflict
strikes each character in the book differently. Anna, only sees the fact that she would be free
to do what she wants, because now…Anna’s parents always need her close in case something happens
to Kate. For Sara, Anna’s mother…she only sees the outcome as Kate dying, and there is no way
she is about to lose her child. Brian, Anna’s father, is kind of on Anna’s side…he knows Kate
will die someday…so she doesn’t want Anna to give up her life to fight something that can’t be
stopped. Kate, well she wants Anna to win the battle because she says that she is not afraid to
die…and says she might as well do it now, before something really important happens. In the end…
well, if I said anything it would ruin the whole purpose of reading the book! Jodi Piccoult
brings a whole new meaning to the “surprise ending” saying. If you want to know the ending
you’ll have to read the book yourself!
There is definitely a strong theme to this book, sisters can be sisters, but they can also
be the best of friends. Anna loves Kate, but she wants to be free and finally get to be a kid.
Kate doesn’t want Anna to suffer for her life anymore…at this point Kate wants Anna to have the
best life that she can. In my opinion, if you are willing to do that for someone, that’s when
you can truly see they care. This made me feel really sad, but happy at the same time. I mean,
if you had a sister who was dying from leukemia how would you react to the countless donation
surgeries and in the back of your mind knowing your sister will die? It made me realize that
you have to take advantage of every moment you have…because one day, you might get sick like
Kate and never be able to do the things that you like anymore. In the book you never hear about
Kate sitting on the couch and watching television. That’s because she is taking advantage of
every healthy moment she has. It made me think about how fortunate I really am, to be healthy
and able to do all the things that I like to do.
This book is extremely inspiring, and should definitely be given a try…so far out of all
the books that I’ve read, this is my favorite one! I could actually hear character’s voices and
tell what they were like just by how and what they said. It was truly amazing. Jodi Piccoult
never once gave a character description. I could figure it all out from dialogue or the
character’s thoughts! I thought it was a really cool way to write a book. At the end of each
section of the book there was some sort of thought that made you almost need to read more! No
matter what time of night it was…I just couldn’t put this book down! The plot was believable,
very fast moving, and lots of things happened in very short periods of time. I never got bored
reading this book, there was always something going on! Let me finish with this final thought…
READ THIS BOOK!!! It might be a longer, more grown-up read (appropriate for ages 12 and up) but
I guarantee this will be a favorite to all who read it. Whoever reads this will not be included
as a freak in the dictionary!
Avalon High Book Review
By: Shannon Souls
“No! No!” Ellie screamed. “He would never do that. He would never try to kill his
stepbrother. He may be creepy, but he wouldn’t kill Will.”
“I am sorry to say that you are wrong,” said Mr. Morton. “He is not who you think he is.
The reason he was expelled was because he tried to kill me. I told him that he should not kill
Will. He obviously didn’t like me interfering. So he tried to kill me.”
“Maybe it could happen, but I still don’t want to believe it,” Ellie said apologetically.
The author of this two hundred eighty-eight page fiction novel is Meg Cabot. She has written the
Princess Diaries Series and The Mediator Series and many others. I think kids ages eleven
through seventeen would really enjoy this book. This book is full of excitement from cover to
cover. This book is about a High School Student named Elaine. When she firsts starts at this
school it seems so normal there is Lance ,the football jock, Jen ,the cheerleader, and Will ,the
student body president, quarterback, and all around good guy. Little does she know the mystery
behind this whole school.
In this story my two favorite characters were Ellie and Will. At Avalon High Will is
popular. He is the coolest and nicest person in the school. The day he sees Ellie in the woods
while running he knows he will become friends with her. Ellie feels the same way. When he sees
her in the halls he remembers her and says hi. While Ellie is lounging in the pool one day Will
shows up. Now Ellie is very surprised because he is popular and she is not, and she didn’t even
think he knew who she was. They talk for a while he stays for dinner and after a little while
they become good friends. Ellie is the new girl in school, she met some friends but she was the
last thing from popular. Even though she wasn’t considered cool Will and her still became good
friends. Ellie cherishes her friendship very dearly with Will. They go through many hard times
together in this book, but because of each other they get through them.
The setting of this book is in a small town right outside D.C. in Maryland. In this town
the setting goes from in Avalon High School where they go to school, Ellie’s house, Will’s
house, or the park. This story takes place in the month of September. As they say in the
book “she smelt the air it was that crisp smell of fall.” The conflict of this book is that
Marco is trying to kill Will, his step brother. He is trying to take revenge on Will and his
father. Marco believes that Will’s father killed his father by sending him to war and he got
killed there. Then right after Marco’s father died Marco’s mother married Will’s dad. Marco has
always been jealous of Will. He thinks Will is always perfect and everyone likes him better. I
think the ending was really suspenseful. It was defiantly a surprise ending. The ending took a
total twist. I really liked the ending though. Do you think Marco ends up killing Will? Or do
you think everyone has talked enough sense into him, to stop him? Find out in the amazing
fiction book Avalon High.
The theme of this book I think is that you need to stay true to yourself. By this I mean
Ellie was just a normal not cool girl, but when she met Will everything could have changed.
Ellie and Will became great friends. Ellie still didn’t become popular. She could have but she
didn’t want to because she knew that wasn’t who she really was. Will and her were still great
friends, but she only had to be herself around him. This book made me realize that if people are
really my friends they won’t care how I act. This book also made me believe that I should just
act like myself and I will find friends that really like me. This book also me decide to accept
people for who they are and not who they are trying to be. I think by reading in between the
lines I saw many life lessons from this book.
I think someone should read this book because it had very well developed characters. For
example the author made each character so I could relate them to real people. All the characters
had unique personalities either good or bad. This book also had an amazing plot. It was such a
fast moving plot. Another reason why someone should read this book is because the author, Meg
Cabot, makes you want to keep reading her book. For example she leaves cliff hangers at the ends
of chapters. People should defiantly read this book if they love fantasy, romance, or history.
As said by SLJ “The author weaves together fantasy, romance, and history. Well done with good
characters and a good dose of style. It will fly off the shelves.” — SLJ
Molly Jeffrey and Emily Burke recommend True Notebooks by Mark Salzman to anyone. They would
rate this book a nine because there wasn’t an interesting plot. The plot was kind of boring in
the beginning, but it got more interesting towards the middle. The events that took place were
real and they made me wonder more about what happened to Mark Salzman and the kids after the
writing class was over. The book was very interesting and they always wanted to read more. When
they first picked up the book, they thought it was going to be about the life of juvenile
delinquents, but it wasn’t. It was about the kids struggles to live without something or someone
that was important to them. The memoir included actual writing pieces from the students in the
class when the author taught at Central Juvenile Hall. The writing pieces from the students in
the class were really well thought out and were not about the kids’ gang days. They thought they
were really interesting to read and wanted to read more.
Book Review - Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
Reviewer - Chris Hoye
“We meet because of a beheading, of all things.” Dr. Paul Farmer was in
Haiti to inquire about the beheading of the assistant mayor of the town of
Mirebalais. He was asking Captain Carroll, an Army officer stationed in
Haiti to keep the peace. He had only eight men, but they were doing a great
job-in the past month, the only sign of political violence was the murder of
the assistant mayor. Farmer was also there to ask about the outpost’s
medical facilities. The captain said they had some sick prisoners whom the
local hospital wouldn’t treat.
“I ended up buyin’ the medicine myself,” said the captain.
“You’ll spend less time in Purgatory,” remarked Paul. “Who cut off
the assistant mayor’s head?”
“I don’t know for sure,” replied the captain.
“It’s very hard to live in Haiti and not know who cut off someone’s
head.” Farmer shot back.
Paul Farmer is a confident, plucky doctor who has made it his
mission in life to cure the infectious diseases of the world. Mountains
Beyond Mountains is his biography, and it takes the reader from Harvard Yard
to Haiti, Peru, Cuba, and Russia. While in Haiti, Dr. Farmer works in a
hospital called Zanmi Lasante. Compared with America’s, Haiti’s medical
standards are like comparing living in a house with living under a piece of
Styrofoam. But Dr. Farmer had an exceptionally high-quality hospital (for
Haiti) in Zanmi Lasante. When he first worked there, the hospital board
still charged poor, destitute patients for medical care. When Farmer was
unable to repeal the fee, he simply found a way to bend the rule to not
include women and children, the destitute, and the seriously ill. What does
this mean? Everybody had to pay…except for everybody. And no one, absolutely
no one, could be turned away-his rule. This is just a small example of Dr.
Farmer’s unique personality.
Paul Farmer was born in Massachusetts, moved to Alabama when his dad
heard about some great opportunities for salesmen like himself, and the
moved to Florida in a big bus when the political strife in Alabama became
too much for them. Coincidentally, this bus used to be a mobile clinic for
tuberculosis, one of the diseases that Farmer attempts to cure in adulthood.
Another fact about Paul Edward Farmer, Junior- he is a genius. An utter
genius. In fourth grade, he invited all of his classmates to his herpetology
club. He had his mom make Rice Krispie treats, Kool Aid, everything. But no
one showed up. His sympathetic father, Paul Sr., made the family the club.
Everyone had to go to every meeting. At first, his sisters remembered
thinking, “We should just beat him up and go out back and play.” But even
they had to admit that the strange facts he revealed were fascinating and
the charcoal drawings that Paul made were incredibly detailed and realistic.
They even began asking questions about the various creatures he exhibited.
Paul, or P.J. as his family calls him, is much the same as an adult
as he was as a child. While in college, his roommates remember thinking that
he was just a workaholic bent on getting Godlike grades. That was when he
would take them outside and force them to sing songs from The Sound of Music
on the silent Duke campus at three AM. P.J. was also remembered for being
able to make many friends, at least as many females as males. His respect
for the underdog and minorities was shown when he dropped out of a
fraternity because he didn’t want to be in an all-white organization. “I
received quite a frosty reply,” he said later, somewhat bewildered.
After he received his degree, he went to work in a Boston hospital,
the Brigham and Women’s. While working there, after earning himself high
esteem in his colleagues’ eyes, he encountered a man known simply as Joe.
Joe was homeless, HIV positive, drank about half a gallon of vodka a day,
smoked a pack a day, used cocaine intravenously and inhaled it, and had
recently overdosed on heroin. He also had terrible teeth. “He’s a nice guy,”
one of the nurses had said. When Dr. Farmer went to meet him, stopping about
a million times on the way to talk to people, he saw Joe for the first time
and had a huge revelation-this man, the homeless Joe-he had most of his
teeth, but soon wouldn’t. This was the first thing Paul noticed about him.
After negotiating with Joe and inquiring about his lifestyle, he and Joe
came to an agreement. Farmer left a sign on Joe’s door.
JOE
OUT IN
Their drugs Our drugs
Cold Warm
½ gal. Vodka Bud Light
Beneath this, someone had scrawled in their notoriously messy doctor chicken
scratch, “How do I know Paul Farmer made this?” Everybody knew about this
confident doctor with a big personality and bigger ideas.
Mountains Beyond Mountains really opened my eyes to what’s happening
in other places around the world, especially impoverished ones like Haiti
and the fallen superpower of the former Soviet Union, Russia. I always hear
about the political strife in countries like Haiti and the effect that its
poverty has on its medical abilities, military, etc., but I never really
knew what it was like until I read Mountains Beyond Mountains. This was a
great book, and I think it would be a great read for just about anybody. It
was not hard to read or understand, and it was truly interesting, too. Dr.
Farmer has the kind of life that seems like something from a movie. In fact,
maybe it should be made into one. Mountains Beyond Mountains was a great and
compelling book. I highly recommend it.
Book Review of The Return by Sonia Levitin
Review by Molly Plaehn & Michelle Crocker
“The ram represents our God. He is calling us, His flock, to follow
Him. He will lead us out to a land of plenty.” This quote from the book
The Return, a sparkling historical fiction piece about a young Ethiopian Jew
trying to make her way with her young sister to Israel in the 1980s, reveals
the reasons that so many Ethiopian Jews tried to make the long trek to
Israel, the land they considered their home. This book was written by Sonia
Levitin and is most appropriate for students in grade seven and up. It is
one hundred and eighty pages long.
One character that really jumped out for us was Joas, Desta’s older
brother and the leader of their little family after their parents die. Joas
wanted to go to Israel most out of the three siblings. Joas was determined
and kind to his sisters, and it was very clear how much he loved them and
wanted freedom for them. Joas was, in our opinion, by far the best
character in the book.
This book took place in Ethiopia for the most part, but much of it
was also on the road traveling to Sudan, and finally in Israel. Desta and
her sister, Almaz, were alone on dirt roads in the mountains, traveling only
by night and with little food. The ending of this book was satisfying
because Desta and Almaz were happy and safe, which is what the reader will
hope for while he or she reads the book.
The Return made us realize how much people in other parts of the
world have to go through just to get through one day in life and how
underprivileged they are. We also had no idea that only twenty years ago,
people were being held captive in their countries. This book made us decide
that everyone should do more to help people in deprived countries because
they are people too and they deserve freedom and happiness. Desta had never
even tasted chocolate or watched television before she went to Israel. This
book also helped us to believe that there is hope for people in third world
countries, like Ethiopia, because Desta thought that there was no way that
she and her little sister would make it through the journey alone, but
through determination and perseverance, and with some help from others, she
and Almaz, made it out of the oppressive ways of Ethiopians. The Return also
made us wonder why more people don’t start things like Project Moses, the
airlift that picked up Desta and her family in Sudan, as well as thousands
of other people, when they help people so much. This book also made us feel
upset about what Desta had to go through when she was living in Ethiopia. It
helped us to know that not everyone have the things that a lot of us think
come naturally like TV or chocolate, or even more important, the freedom to
live.
The Return, an educational book based on true events, is about two
young girls’ struggle to make it through their journey is a book that people
should definitely read. It was a very factual book, but not too boring, and
in a way it was almost depressing to read about all of the poverty. We would
rate this book a seven out of ten because the book was very descriptive and
was an astounding story with a bittersweet ending.
Rivers of Zadaa by D.J. McHale
Book Review by Phil Stone
What would you do if you were told that you were a traveler whose
duty was to jump through flumes across time and space to unknown worlds to
save them from an evil villain trying to control everything that ever was,
is, and is about to be? This book, The Rivers of Zadaa, written by D.J.
McHale, is the sixth book in the Pendragon series about a sixteen-year-old
boy (now eighteen years old) named Bobby Pendragon who was told exactly
that. In The Rivers of Zadaa Bobby is sent to the territory (world) of
Zadda, made up entirely of desert, and has to renew a peace between the only
civilized tribes in the territory, who are now experiencing a growing
rivalry. If the two tribes result in war, the whole territory will be
thrown into chaos. Saint Dane, the villain, is doing everything he can to
destroy Zadaa, and Bobby is doing the best he can to stay alive, kill Saint
Dane, and save Zadaa. Can he do it?
My favorite character in this book is Alder, a traveler from the
territory of Denderon who has come to help Bobby train to defend himself and
protect Zadaa from Saint Dane. Where he comes from, he is a knight and
exceptional warrior. While not fighting, he is a clumsy, kind-hearted man
whose determination and kindness go a long way. He is not one to attempt to
make people laugh, yet I believe he does a fine job at it. He may be a
fantasy character, but he is someone I would love to be just like.
The book takes place in the middle of an endless (literally) desert
on the territory of Zadaa. Water has grown scarce, and therefore so has
food. Hate is mounting between the tribes and Bobby fears that war is
near. If Bobby doesn’t think of something soon, both tribes will die of
hunger and thirst.
The theme of this book is what it is like to live and get through a
hardship. This book made me wonder if anything similar to this book (minus
Saint Dane and the travelers) was taking place or has taken place somewhere
in our world. Did two tribes ever rely on each other for certain things?
Did they ever have a drought that threatened their friendship and/or lives,
and start a war over it? This book brings forth many of these types of
questions.
I think that this is a book almost anyone would enjoy. There is a
lot of action, suspense, and twists. Sometimes you think that you know
exactly what will happen next, and then exactly the opposite will happen.
Other times it seems like anything could happen, and suspense will build up
fast. I would not recommend reading this book if you have not yet read all
the previous books in the series already. Finish the first book, and I
almost guarantee you’re going to want more. I sure did. Read about the
adventures of Bobby Pendragon, and be prepared for one of the greatest
reading experiences of your life.
Book Review – Odd Girl Out by Rachel Simmons
It’s the mid-December frenzy. Shopping malls, baked cookies, loaded
calendars, family obligations. Your second grade daughter lumbers off the
bus. Tears start flowing the minute her eyes meet yours. In between sobs
she recalls the horrors of her day in heartbreaking detail. Her friend and
another girl from class wouldn’t let her sit with them at lunch or near them
on the rug during meeting. They said your daughter wasn’t allowed in their
new private club and never would be. As you try to siphon reality from
drama, you begin thinking of how to help. “I can see you’re upset and it
must hurt. I am sure “Morgan” and “Lanie” did not mean to make you feel
this way. How about telling them you don’t like to be left out? Be nice.
I am sure in a few days this will pass.”
This parent’s reaction is all too common, and all too damaging
according to Rachel Simmons, in her provocative best seller, Odd Girl Out.
Simmons theorizes that boys have “access to a wide range of ways to express
their anger.” (8) “Aggression is a powerful barometer of our social
values.” (17) In our western culture, being masculine means being
aggressive. It is not only acceptable for boys to get rid of their anger
by getting physical or acting tough, but encouraged through some forms of
athletics.
On the other hand, “good girls’’ have lots of friends, are “nice”
before they are anything else, and are expected to be nurturing caregivers.
The thesis of this book is that “keeping girls away from natural feelings of
anger can lead them to cruel and inappropriate acts. “(149) Simmons proves
this thesis by sharing disconcerting results of the thousands of interviews
she conducted with ten to fourteen year olds from all ethnic and
socioeconomic backgrounds. Her book is a series of case studies that
underscore the need for parental awareness of what Simmons
calls “alternative aggression.” Although public awareness of bullying has
increased and bullying programs have been implemented over the past few
years, the direction these programs take needs to be shifted from one which
simply teaches, “don’t do it and be nice,” to programs which help girls to
understand that it is ok to show their anger and express their uncomfortable
feelings.
This provocative book offers an anecdotal look at the girls’
aggression, why it goes unrecognized, and what needs to be done. Finally, a
series of practical, but not profound solutions are offered for this
pervasive problem.
Eaters of the Dead, by Michael Crichton
Eaters of the Dead is a mostly fictional, 278 page book about an
Arab’s journey into Scandinavia with a group of Vikings to combat a strange
army of creatures terrorizing the local areas in 922 AD. Ibn Fadlan is a
messenger from the Caliph of Baghdad to a stingy merchant who hoards his
gold and also his wife, supposedly beautiful beyond imagining but whom none
but the merchant can recount seeing. Fadlan arrives at the merchant’s house
to find that he is out on errands. He meets the merchant’s wife and does
some things he later regrets. When the merchant returns home, he becomes
suspicious of the pair’s doings and asks the Caliph for a suitable
punishment. Not wishing any offense, the Caliph decides to send Fadlan to
Saqaliba to assist the king, who has requested some kind of help from
Baghdad. Off our hero goes, up through Iraq, the land of the Turks
(apparently not just Turkey in 922) and then into present-day Russia.
One of the many turning points of this historical fiction page
turner is when the Arab, Ibn Fadlan, meets the Vikings. He is shocked by
their culture-warfare, filth, strange religion, and their perpetual
armament. A strange messenger comes from Denmark and informs the Vikings of
a strange horror slaughtering the messenger’s people. One of the more
influential warriors, Buliwyf, decides to help out the messenger’s kingdom.
Before he knows it, Fadlan is fitted with chain mail, given a small sword,
and he’s sailing across the North Sea.
In the course of this story, Fadlan meets the wendol, survives multiple
attacks by the wendol, crosses the desert of dread, and overcomes several
more daunting obstacles. Eaters of the Dead is a fantastic book with an
involving plot, likable characters, exciting climax, and surprise ending,
and contains a lot of firsthand information about Viking culture. Despite
being educational, it was electrifying, and I recommend it to anyone who’s
looking for a book, a Michael Crichton fan, or just bored. It may not have
been Jurassic Park or Timeline, but it was still great.
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
By: Olivia Sugrue
I was accused of murder, brought to trial and found guilty. I couldn’t imagine what I had
done to kill someone and not even know it. The dead body was being thrown over board in a
hammock as I watched secretly from above. The tears in my eyes were as big as my heart felt that
bright morning. Had I really killed my best and only friend? I put the knife back under my bed
and never looked at it again.
So continues the inspiring story of thirteen year old Charlotte Doyle in The True
Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. It was written by my favorite award winning author Avi, who has
also written Something Upstairs, and Things That Sometimes Happen. This is a four point five
grade level book and it has about three hundred pages.
My favorite character was the main character Charlotte Doyle. Charlotte is a thirteen year old
girl who was going on a ship called the Seahawk to see her father in Providence, Rhode Island.
While on board she sees a bunch of rough looking men that she does not recognize. Charlotte goes
to the kitchen to quench her thirst and she is handed a knife by a man she does not know. He
tells her the knife is for her own protection should something happen.
This story takes place on the Seahawk sailing the Atlantic Ocean. It was headed from Liverpool,
England to Providence, Rhode Island. The first few days were smooth sailing until the crew men
and Charlotte were caught in a storm. The major conflict in this book was about different types
of people and assumptions. Charlotte felt that all the poor men on the boat were mean, nasty,
and ratty looking. The crew felt that Charlotte was a rich, spoiled, girly girl. Charlotte also
felt that since the captain was clean, had his own quarters, didn’t smell, and knew her dad that
he was going to always help Charlotte. The ending was relieving and somewhat sad. Charlotte’s
dad was not nice to her at all.
This book made me realize how there was so much trust in everyone. Now a - days kids don’t
travel by themselves over seas or anywhere. I guess back then they didn’t think of all the bad
things that could happen. This book made me think before I judge people. Charlotte was not right
to make assumptions about everyone as a group. For example Charlotte thought all the crew men
were old, cruel, and poor. When she should have took the time to meet each one individually.
If I had to rate this book from one to ten I would defiantly give it a ten. I think this was
a good book because there was sadness. The author did a wonderful job with the use of
adjectives. I really cried when everyone accused her of killing her best friend. The plot was
fast-moving and definitely made me wonder what was going to happen next. I could not put the
book down; there was one problem or exciting part after the other. I could barley keep track of
everything going on, it was awesome. The author also started with a snappy lead. As soon as the
man gave her a knife to defend herself should something happen I knew there was going to be some
action. I think someone should read this book if you like action, some sadness, making friends
and mysteries.
Runt by Emily Manning
Imagine being an outcast among your family members and suddenly becoming lost while trying
to gain respect. That’s what a wolf named runt had to go through. Ever since he was born he has
been known as runt. He was expected to die soon so they didn’t have any better names. Marion
Dane Bauer has incorporated the life style of animals and a wonderful story in the book “Runt”.
This book is great for animal lovers and anyone else who would like a great book just to read
for enjoyment.
Runt is a pup of the packs leader and has many people waiting to see the beautiful sons and
daughters of star, the leader. But what they see will surprise them. There are four healthy
pups…and the one runt. I like runt because through out the whole book he all he is trying to do
is make his father proud of him like he is proud of runt’s siblings. Another character I like in
the story was silver, the litter’s mother. She never gives up hope on runt.
This book made me wonder how it would feel to be an outcast. Would you end up losing hope, would
you give up all together, or would you just pull through? It is clear that some people would do
different things but there is always that one really dedicated person who will pull through.
This story takes place in a den in a forest. This is the home of a pack of wolves whose lives
are about to change with the arrival of the kings pups. I feel sorry for runt knowing that he
was not respected just because of his size. If I were him it would be tough to get through life
knowing that no one believes in me.
Marion Dane Bauer includes the perfect amount of detail in this book. Not too much that
it’s boring, but just enough that we can still imagine some of the characters. She makes sure
that everything is clear. So clear that one you read the first page it feels like you’re in the
story with runt. The ending was creative too. I would have never thought that that would happen.
Madness in the Vatican
By Riley Odams
Murder. Treachery. Deceit. These are only some of the driving forces in Angels and Demons,
by Dan Brown. It is five hundred sixty four pages long and for reading levels of high school.
The main idea of Mr. Brown’s masterpiece is very complex. In the Vatican, a nuclear time bomb’s
fuse is running short. On the eve of conclave, four cardinals have been kidnapped and are being
publicly executed throughout Rome. The Pope has been murdered. Out of the darkness, a hero
emerges. Will Robert Langdon- the main character- be able to save the Vatican from the
Illuminati menace?
The characters and their personalities are just as varied as the plot line. Robert Langdon
is the unwitting American scholar who is called upon to be the man of the hour. I really liked
Robert because he is always the one you can turn to in the face of danger. For example, when
his best friend is taken hostage by one of the most ruthless assassins in the world, he bravely
runs into the room where she is being held and fights to save her. Speaking of which, Robert
Langdon’s best friend is the brilliant Italian nuclear physicist Vittoria Vetra. Ironically,
she was the one who constructed the nuclear device that she is now attempting to find. My
favorite characteristic of Vittoria’s is that she is the most faithful person in the book. In
one instance, when offered a chance to save herself and leave Robert, she decides to die with
him. They end up escaping due to her brains, any ways. There are many other characters in this
book as well, some of them as evil as Robert Langdon is noble.
The setting of this book is constantly changing. One minute, Langdon is asleep in his bed in
Boston, the next he is speeding on a plane towards a nuclear laboratory in Switzerland. After
that, he goes to the Vatican. The book plays out over a period of 8 hours in the evening. The
main conflict in this book is between the ancient satanic cult known as the Illuminati, who have
a serious grudge against the Catholic Church, and the church itself, who is under attack.
Robert Langdon and Vittroia Vetra fight on the side of the Vatican, whereas a shadowy figure
known only as the Hassassin wages war for the Illuminati. All of these people make for an
interesting ending as well. I personally think that the ending, although satisfying, left too
many questions unanswered. The ending wasn’t the best, but it effectively ended the book.
This book made me feel many different ways. This book made me think about what modern
weapons could actually do. If someone developed a weapon like antimatter, it, like in the book,
could be used as a terrorist weapon. This book also made me realize the ongoing battle between
science and religion. It is hard to say who is winning, but the book certainly made me think
about this issue more. Something this book made hope for was that the Swiss Guard will
hopefully decide someday that swords are simply no longer what terrorists use as weapons.
Seriously, this book opened my eyes to many ideas I never really considered.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a thriller. I consider
this book one of the best books I have ever read. I was enthralled by Dan Brown’s skillful
exploitation of human emotion. That is a huge argument for reading this book. It will make you
feel many things at once. Another reason I would argue for reading this book would be the
amazing plot he was able to create. The complexity of the situations in this book is nothing
short of literary genius. The last reason I would recommend this book is the characters.
These characters are so vividly described, their actions so scrutinized, that you will forget
that it is only a book. I for one was cheering for Langdon and booing at the Illuminati
henchman. Finally stated, this book was a magical reading experience for me, and for all who
read it. I implore you to read it as well.
The Amulet of Samarkand
By Alexandra Daigle
Lovelace lifted the cracked and stained horn to his lips and blew. The crowd gave a roar
of shock. They had no chance of escaping the death about to descend upon them. They were locked
tight into the giant room. Voices raised in alarm as shock turned to panic. Spells were sent
toward Lovelace, but were only absorbed into his chest. No one knew why Lovelace was unaffected
by the spells. Nathaniel and the djinni, Bartimaeus, understood perfectly what was happening.
They needed a plan to destroy Lovelace once and for all. Above the podium a rift appeared. It
looked as if the air had been torn. That’s when the changes began. The podium turned from wood
to clay and finally to something that looked oddly like candle wax. Crystal drops from the
chandelier above turned to water droplets and fell to the ground as rain. The rift opened as a
large arm was thrust through it. The beast was coming.
This is a scene from The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathon Stroud. It’s a 462-page book that’s for
about ages eleven and up. It’s about a magician-in-training named Nathaniel, who seeks revenge
on a grown magician who had humiliated him as a young child. Nathaniel himself pulls the djinni,
Bartimaeus, into the mess of events. Nathaniel and Bartimaeus are the two main characters.
Nathaniel is one of my favorite characters because he is very determined. He knew he had to fix
what he had started. However, he isn’t always sure about what he wants. He knows how he wants
things to be, but doesn’t know how to go about changing them. He reminds me of any other
teenager. Bartimaeus is another one of my favorite characters. As a reluctant djinni, Bartimaeus
follows and helps out Nathaniel along the way. His witty and amusing remarks will give you a
good laugh.
The book is set in London. Nathaniel summons Bartimaeus and sends him on a mission to steal
an amulet from a very powerful magician. At this point Nathaniel has bitten off more than he can
chew. This sets off a set of disastrous events. Nathaniel must finish off what he has started.
The ending of the book is very satisfying and couldn’t have been written better. It gave a lot
of detail.
This book made me decide that seeking revenge isn’t a way to solve most problems. Nathaniel
lost many things and got into a lot of trouble for seeking revenge. This book made me realize
that a lot of things in life aren’t worth taking for granted. Nathaniel took everyday things for
granted, but when he lost them he realized how much they really meant to him. The Amulet of
Samarkand made me wonder what the world would be like if it had magicians and djinnis like in
the book. Everyday life would probably be different in some way. This book made me feel the
characters emotions. Wonderful descriptions were given of how the characters felt.
This book was great because it had amazing detailed descriptions. It also has moments that
you might be able to relate to in some way. It also has moments where you know what Nathaniel
should do, so it makes you make predictions. This is a great book with a lot of detail that I
know you’ll love.
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