The Bravest Dog Ever, by Natalie Standiford

Reviewed by Jack

   This story takes place in Nome Alaska in 1925. It is about a lead sled dog named Balto. He is the bravest  and smartest sled dog ever. 

    First two children got sick with an illness called diptheria. Then, the train got stuck in the snow. Next the town had held a meeting. The meeting was about how to get the medicine quickly to the children. After that, Balto and Gunnar’s team had to run 53 miles to Nome through a blizzard. Will Gunnar and Balto make it in time to save the children?  I like this book a lot because I have a Boston Terrier.   

I really think all dog lovers should read this book!

The Silver Skateboard, by Bob Wright

Review by Andrew

I enjoyed The Tom and Ricky Mystery Series:  The Silver Skateboard, by Bob Wright, a lot!  I would recommend it to people who like sports and skateboarding.  Tom and Ricky find two men who are acting strange, and then they keep an eye on them and tell Sergeant Collins.  The silver skateboard is a skateboard made out of silver that is the prize for a skateboard contest.  The book was interesting because I didn’t know what the mystery was until near the end. 

Gifts From The Sea, by Natalie Kinsey Warnock

Reviewed by Kylie

   I read the book, Gift From The Sea by Natalie Kinsley Warnock.

The main characters are Aquila, Papa, Celia, and Margaret. This book takes place on Devils Rock Island, off the coast of Maine. Gifts From The Sea is mostly about how Aquila’s mom died and how a family had to deal with problems from the past. This book was inspired by a true story. I would recommend Gifts From The Sea because it’s fascinating and because of the story setting. Devils Rock seems like a very interesting place to live. However, I would only recommend this book to people who are into slow moving stories.

How Angel Peterson Got His Name, by Gary Paulsen

Reviewed by Lucas

   This is an exciting and funny book. The book takes place in Minnesota in the 1950s. The characters in the book are Carl, Angel, Archie, Wayne, Bruce, Orvis, and Alan. This group of mischievous boys likes to terrorize the neighborhood and find ways to be known.

   First, the boys want to go 80 miles per hour on skis behind a car. They are doing this because they want to set a new world record. Then, the boys want to be able to talk to girls now that they are 13-year-olds. They think it would be useful to them later on in their older years. Next, the boys now want to ride a wild bear and be able to win 20 dollars if they can stay on for a minute. To them 20 dollars is a whole lot of money but they would be risking their lives. After that, the boys now want to bungee jump off a bridge with a rope. When one kid jumps off and hits their head on the ground, they finally find out that this is not a good idea. Finally, the boys decide that they are going to see how far one kid can skitch on a skateboard. When a young boy skitches for 7 miles his parents find out about it and he gets in trouble.

   I liked this book because it caught my eye. The book made me laugh with every page I turned. The book never got old and it had many unexpected events in it such as bungee jumping off a bridge with a rope. I would recommend this book to 13 to 14 year old boys and girls who want to read a book with some hilarious and extreme events.

Weed flower, by Cynthia Kadohata

Reviewed by Natalie

     Weed flower is a book about a girl named Sumiko who lives on a farm with her auntie, her brother Tak-Tak, her uncle and her grandfather and her two cousins Bull and Ichiro. She lives on a flower farm in California. There she has no friends and she is always is lonely. One day she finds out that Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. After that they are taken from their homes and taken to Arizona where they are living in an internment camp. Then she finds a friend named Frank who is an Indian, but he is angry because they are living on his tribe’s land. Finally she gets the news that some people are able to move away. Will she be able to give up her new friend or will find freedom?

     I thought this book was very interesting to read about. It tells about what innocent Japanese men and women had to go through after Pearl Harbor. I would recommend this book to people who like history or those who like to read people who triumph over great struggles.

Crash, by Jerry Spinelli

Reviewed by Omar

   Crash is a book about a boy named John Coogan.  John is nicknamed Crash because he “crashes” into people, both mentally and physically. Crash is a rude and selfish person, but he begins to change after a tragedy affects his family. 

   I enjoyed this book because it was hilarious and believable.  The characters are realistic and they all have unique personalities.  The story kept me entertained.  I would recommend this book to fifth and sixth grade boys because it discusses family, friends, sports, and girls.

The Red Kayak, by Priscilla Cummings

Reviewed by Tyler

    Red Kayak is mystery novel that takes place near the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. When a tragedy occurs on the Corsica River, the main character, Brady, searches for the truth. After Brady discovers who is responsible for the crime, he must choose between protecting his friends and relieving his guilt.

   I enjoyed this story because of the way in which the author intertwined Brady’s guilt and compassion for the victim’s family with that of his friends.

   I would recommend this book to middle school students who take pleasure in reading suspenseful stories about their peers.                                                        

Bird, by Angela Johnson

Reviewed by Natalie

     The book, Bird, is about three children with their own stories to tell which all get tied together. The first story is about a girl named Bird, whose search for her stepfather Cecil, leads her to a place called Acorn, Alabama. When she gets there she meets Ethan, who reminds her of her stepfather, and she meets a boy named Jay. Then we meet Ethan a boy who has never had a real friend because he always had to be in a hospital. That all changes when he meets Bird. Finally you would meet Jay a delinquent’ who almost goes to jail like his friend, Googy.

     This book was very interesting. At first it is a little hard to read because there are so many characters to get use to, but after a little bit the book starts to get easy to read. I give this book an 8 out of 10.  

Boy, By Roald Dahl

Reviewed by Sarah

    The book Boy is about Roald Dahl’s childhood of exciting events that occurred from 1922 to 1933. Roald Dahl grew up in a family of six children in Whales. During the story he soon moves to England with his family. He has a few unpleasant experiences and several hilarious adventures while he was at school. He was a very mischievous boy who was also pretty clever. He went on interesting and great vacations each year with his family and relatives. This story took place a while ago and he describes strange rituals and rules. The teachers in the schools were very strict so don’t be alarmed when you read some of it. For example, they did not use anesthesia in operations. That would be a hint if you don’t like gross things.

    I enjoyed this book very much. I would recommend the book to a person who has a good sense of adventure and good humor.

Kira Kira, By Cynthia Kadohata

Reviewed by Natalie

   In the beginning of this book which takes place in the 50’s we are introduced to Katie and her sister Lynn. In the book Katie and her family are traveling to Georgia to find work,which is hard for a Japanese family. After a few years the family is torn apart after Lynn gets terminally ill.

   The reasons why I liked the book were because it had hardships. The book was very believable. The characters are very likable. If I had to rate this book I would give it a 9 out of 10.   

Trapped, by Peg Kehret and Pete the Cat

Reviewed by Diane             

   Trapped is a wonderful story that a cat wrote.  It is about how the cat gets trapped in a vehicle by a fur-trapper.  A fur-trapper is someone who collects fur from animals for money.  Pete the cat’s owner is Alex, and Alex’s brother is Benjie.  A truck driver named Bick was speeding down their road when a pig fell out of his truck.  Alex and Benjie save the pig and build it a pigpen.  The next day, Bick comes back for his pig, but instead he captures Pete the cat.  He tries to kill Pete and Pete struggles to survive.  All of Pete’s owners are on a mission to save Pete.  They get into danger, but they still care about Pete.  

   I recommend this book because it is written by a cat!  It is also written by a person named Peg.  It is not hard to follow when Pete is writing and when Peg is writing.  If you love cats, then this is the book you should read.  

The Year of the Dog, by Grace Lin

Reviewed by Paris

   The Year of the Dog tells the story of a girl named Grace and what happens to her during the Chinese year of the dog.  She was born in the year of the dog so it was supposed to be her lucky year.  She met a new girl at school named Melody and became best friends with her.  They were both Chinese American.  Both families ate traditional Chinese food, but Melodys family ate more healthy foods.  They were less Americanized than Grace’s family.  One main event from the book was when Grace and her classmates entered a book writing contest.  She ended up coming in 4th place and she got rich.  It really was her lucky year. 

   I liked this book because it tells about Grace’s life.  She likes to draw and paint and I do too.  My favorite part was when her mother told her the story of when she had to go to school and they cut her hair because it was too long.  It was lop-sided.  I recommend this book to people who like to learn about people’s lives and other cultures.

Maniac Magee   by Jerry Spinelli

Reviewed by Nolan

     This book is about a kid named Maniac. whose parents died when he was little. Then he lived with his uncle and aunt who always were fighting. and that annoyed Maniac.  He ran away to find a new home.

     I liked this book because I liked how Maniac didn’t care what skin color you were. Also he had lots of guts. I liked how he would do anything for anyone. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes action, or funny books with good characters. It was mostly about kids and not about adults. Also, I liked how skin color didn’t matter to the main character in this book.

Plumed Serpent, by Barbara Brenner

Reviewed by Robbie

I would recommend The Mystery of the Plumed Serpent, by Barbara Brenner.  I would recommend this to people who like to read mysteries.  The two main characters in the story are twins Elena and Michael. There is a new pet store that opened up next door to their house.  Elena and Michael found a gold plumed serpent, which is a snake with feathers, in the pet store.  The owner of the pet store does not seem like he wants customers to come to his pet store.  It seems like the owner is hiding something upstairs in the room above.  The owner does not know anything about the animals he has.  He does not know what they eat or what they are. 

In conclusion, I recommend this book to anybody who likes exciting mysteries. 

Among The Hidden By Margaret Petersen Haddix

Reviewed by Skylar

    This book is about a boy named Luke who is a third child and third children are illegal . He has been hidden all his life and one day he after the forests have been cut down and new houses have been built he discovers a new third child.

    I like this book because it is a thrilling adventure and a mystery. It makes me feel sad for the main character and all the other third children. I feel that everything that  has happened in the book has happened to other children in foreign countries , for example China.  I would recommend this book to people who like suspense and interesting twists.

THUNDER ROLLING IN THE MOUNTAINS, by Scott O’Dell

                                                                  & Elizabeth Hall

Reviewed by Ollie

   I just read Thunder Rolling in the Mountains, by Scott O’Dell and Elizabeth Hall.  The story took place in Idaho and Montana from June through October 1877.  It was about a Native American tribe that got driven off their land by white American soldiers.  Their tribe name was Nee-me-poo, but the American soldiers called them Nez Perce, which was Spanish for Pierced Nose, even though the Nee-me-poo didn’t pierce their noses.  Sound of Running Feet is the main character.  Her dad was chief Joseph who was Thunder Rolling in the Mountains.

   I enjoyed reading Thunder Rolling in the Mountains.  I like historical fiction because you get to learn.  I didn’t realize that the Americans were so cruel to the Native Americans.  I didn’t think this was very fair because they were there first and we just came in and killed everybody.  Scott O’Dell had empathy for the natives and wanted to write books about it.  This was his final book.  He wrote it when he was very sick.  When he died, Elizabeth Hall, his wife, finished it for him. 

Tornado by Betsy Byars

Reviewed by Brandon

Tornado, by Betsy Byars, is a good book.  This book has a bunch of stories in it.  A family was in a storm cellar because there was a tornado.  Pete, the farm hand, was telling stories about when he was a kid.  He was in a tornado too.  Pete began his first story. 

One time there was a tornado.  The people were inside their house.  The roof came off their house, but they were still eating!  Then the tornado was over.  The family went outside to look around. They found a doghouse with a dog in it.  It was still alive.  The dog would not come out of the doghouse because it was afraid.  The mom yelled out, “Supper!”  to the family.  The dog recognized the word and he wasn’t afraid anymore.  They kept the dog and named it Tornado.   

I liked this book because it had some funny things in it.  I recommend this book to people who like dogs.

The Golden Compass By Philip Pullman

Reviewed by Matt

              There have been many books out that are long and hard to follow with the character in rough times.  With heroic deeds from nothing more than a random person struggling to keep up with their actions.  Lyra is an average, young girl living at a college with scholars until one action changes her life forever.  Follow Lyra Belacqua through a series of traps and secret in this strange world of daemons, witches, bears, and ruthless villains.  Watch this young, but adventurous girl stand up to the most horrible and unforgiving opponents and challenges in the book, The Golden Compass.

              Lyra is a thirteen-year old girl living in a college when a once-in-a-lifetime change comes by her.  The Retrieving Room in Jordan College is empty, and Lyra, eager for adventure, creeps in.  The Retiring Room is a lot like a game room, except only men are allowed in.   Once inside, Lyra notices that she is soon not going to be alone, so she quickly tries to hide behind a chair.  In comes the Master of Jordan, and he lays a bottle of wine on the table.  He then pours a powder into a wine bottle.  Once he leaves, Lyra’s powerful, strong, and sharp uncle, Lord Asriel, storms in.  With his snow leopard daemon, his true strength shows.

              After Lyra tries to convince her uncle that the wine is poisoned, a servant starts to open the door.  Lord Asriel gives Lyra the signal to hide.  As the servant comes near Lord Asriel, Lord Asriel (the genius he is) lightly tips the wine glass off the table.  With great care, Lord Asriel makes it look like the servant did it.  After the spill is cleaned up, the servant brings in a projector, all while Lyra hides away in the cupboard.  This is only a bump in the rugged road Lyra must follow in order to start her adventurous and action-packed journey. 

              All together, I believe this is an excellent book that anyone would love to read.  I do not believe this book is against the Church, as many people believe.  I recommend this book to all ages of readers (ages 7-up)!

Francie By Karen English

Reviewed by Sarah

I recommend this book because it is a good story with interesting twists in the plot and brave characters. Francie is a dark skinned girl young girl who lives in a small neighborhood near a town in the south. She works with her mom at other people’s houses cleaning and cooking. She lived in the 1940’s and there was still racism at that time so she went to a different school that was taught by Miss Lafayette. Francie liked her and sometimes she received books from her. Francie is a good student that teaches a boy named Jesse to read and write. When something happens to her friend will she help him?

Messenger By Lois Lowry

Reviewed by Sarah

   This book is about a fantasy journey that takes place in the future. The main character is a boy named Matty who lives in a place called Village. He finds out he has a magical power.  The Village is surrounded by a forest named Forest.  Forest is magical and once someone comes into the Village they cannot leave. Matty is the only one that can go in and out to bring messages to other villages and communities. Village is changing because the people are becoming materialistic. They trade away valuables to get gaming machines and other things. The people become too greedy and they decide to close Village.  Seer, a blind man, which Matty lives with, has a daughter named Kira who lives in a different community and is planning on coming to Village. Seer is worried that it will be too late for her to come because Village is closing. Seer asks Matty to get her but they might not make it through. Matty takes the risk and makes the journey to Kira. There is a change in Forest; will they make it back or not?

The Everyday Witch By Sandra Forrester

Reviewed by Natalie

   The Book starts off with a girl named Beatrice Bailley, a witch. In this book she has to go through four tasks so that she could be decided as a classical witch or An Every day Witch. You may like it but it is not one of my favorites. It did not have that much action. If you like semi scary stories or fantasy this is the book for you.

Skateboarder Steve Stops Falling Down By Eric Burnett

Reviewed by Alex

Steven is a kid who hates school.  He is not a great student and he gets in trouble at school.  Steven lives in Singapore.  Steven gets picked on by his sister and his father gets mad at him a lot.  The only thing Steven really likes is skateboarding, but he never practices after school.  One day Steven gets spoken to by his teacher.  His teacher says if you practice it makes you better.  Steven starts to practice in school and gets better at being a good student.  Then Steven starts to practice skateboarding before and after school.  He gets a lot better at skateboarding every day.  Steven enters a skateboarding competition.  Will Steven win the competition because of all the practicing he has done?

I liked this book because I stink at skateboarding.  It made me think that I should practice a lot more at skateboarding and then I will get better. 

Scorpions by Walter Dean Myers

Reviewed by Matt

   Scorpions is about a fictional gang in New York City.  A boy named Jamal is forced to lead the gang until his brother gets out of jail.  When Jamal joins the gang, he makes choices that are dangerous and idiotic, and that do not fit his personality.  Jamal has a deadly encounter with two other gang members and it changes his life forever.

   I liked the way the author wrote about the relationships between the young characters in this book.  I enjoyed the author’s use of slang, and I appreciated that the ending was realistic.  I would recommend this book to other readers because it is adventurous and mainly realistic.

Rumble Fish by S.E. Hinton

 Reviewed by Lucas

   The book starts off with the main character, Rusty James. He is a tough boy that is 17 years old and wants to be the toughest in the neighborhood. He hangs out with an older teen named Motorcycle Boy that watches over Rusty. They like to play pool at Benny’s bar on Friday nights. They hustle pool and like to party. Rusty lives with Motorcycle Boy and they have a house together. One day Rusty goes to school and was kicked out for drinking alcohol. Then he goes to Motorcycle Boy and they hang out together. They also hang out with a boy Rusty’s age named Steve. He is not like Rusty because he is a bit softer and does not hustle pool. They all go to the city one night to see a movie and Steve got beat up in an alley. They thought he was dead, but he was not. This incident makes Rusty and Steve not as good friends as they were before. When Rusty and Motorcycle Boy go and break into the pet store to free the animals, something bad happens and someone dies. I will leave the rest to you to figure out on your own.

    I recommend this book to 7th and 8th graders looking for a good book with a lot of suspense. This book was a good read to me and I always wanted to know what was on the next page. Well I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did!!!

Warriors by Joseph Bruchac

Reviewed byTyler

   Warriors is a book about a Native American teenager named Jake who leaves his reservation in New York to attended a private school in Baltimore. Although Jake now lives with his mother, he feels sad and lonely with his new life until a tragic event occurs at school.

   I enjoyed reading Warriors because it showed how Native Americans are sensitive to the stereotypes made about them. I would recommend this book to middle school students who like sport stories or books that involve major life changes.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Reviewed by Natalie

   This book is about a boy named Hugo who lives in Paris.  Then, he finds a robot in a burnt out museum.  Next. He finds a friend and learns the mystery behind the robot.  I like this book because it keeps you on the edge of your seat.               

                    Warning

• Do not be intimidated [afraid]
• This book is 532 pages long but its mostly drawings
• You can read this very quickly!!!          

The Video Kids by Jon Buller and Susan Schade

Reviewed by Peter

   The characters are Curtis, Jerome, Lump, and the Four Evil Frogs.  Curtis and Jerome go into their video game.  First, a giant Radish-head almost eats them.  Then, they get a magic flying carpet.  Next, they get a net and a sword.  After that, they face another giant Radish-head and the one big Radish-head turns into four small Radish-heads.  They then face the four evil froggies.  Finally, Lump saves them by stopping the video game. 

   I liked the Radish-heads because they are big and cool.  I also liked that they have a light sword, and the four evil froggies.  I would recommend this book to a person who likes video games. 

The Cay by Theodore Taylor

Reviewed by Ian

   The Cay by Theodore Taylor, is a story that takes place on an island.  The island is located in a place called The Devil's Mouth.  The characters in the story are Philip and Timothy.  Timothy is a local and Philip is an American boy who lives in Curacao because his father works for the Navy.  The book is about Philip and Timothy stranded on the island.  Their boat got hit by a German submarine torpedo during the war. Philip woke up on a lifeboat with Timothy and a cat. One exciting thing that happens is a that a hurricane comes and hits the island.  I would recommend this book to someone who likes books about survival.  I liked the book because it was exciting and adventurous.

Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George

Reviewed by Julia

   The book I read was Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George, which takes place in the present day on the Alaskan tundra. Miyax is the main character, a thirteen-year-old girl on her way to San Francisco. She is very brave and independent because she goes on this journey alone. Kapugan is her father who is truly an Eskimo and is very wise. He has taught all he knows to Miyax. Amaroq is the leader of the wolf pack that Miyax joins during her journey, and soon she calls him her adopted father. This book is mainly about a girl who travels across Alaska to find her pen pal Amy, and on the way she encounters many obstacles.

   What I liked about Julie of the Wolves was how most of the characters bonded with each other, which made the story more emotional. There was only one time when I disliked the book and that was when two of the characters had physical contact with each other that I thought that was violent. At this time Miyax showed her independence by doing the right thing and walking away. Overall, I would recommend this book to people with high vocab and literature skills.

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Reviewed by Chris Thibeau

       Bud, Not Buddy is about an African American orphan named Bud.  He grew up in Flint, Michigan.  This book is very interesting because of the way the author wrote it from the viewpoint of a child.  This book is jam-packed with colorful characters as well as Bud’s vivid imagination.  His adventures take him across Michigan because Bud is in search of his father.  This book takes place during the Depression, and it provides great detail of what it was like to live during that time.  This book is one heck of a page-turner, and I think all ages should read this book.

The Paint Brush Kid by Clyde Robert Bulla

Reviewed by Robbie

   I recommend The Paint Brush Kid, by Clyde Robert Bulla, for people who have already read The Chalk Box Kid.  The Paint Brush Kid is the book right after The Chalk Box Kid. 

   I liked how Gregory painted pictures on Uncle Pancho’s house.  That made Uncle Pancho happy because the pictures told the story of his life.   Uncle Pancho’s house is supposed to be torn down to build a freeway.  Gregory has an idea about how to save Uncle Pancho’s house. 

   I recommend this book for people that like a surprise. 

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Reviewed by Louisa

  Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder was an excellent book.  The book was about Laura Ingalls Wilder growing up. 

     Laura grew up in Wisconsin in the Big Woods in the year 1872.  Laura and Mary have never seen houses together before.

    The characters in this book are Laura, Pa, Ma, and Mary.  Pa is brave because he goes out in the woods alone.  Ma is hardworking because she cooks everything that Pa brings home.  Laura is adventurous because she likes to venture outside.  Mary is imaginative because she makes little saucers out of acorn tops for her doll.

     One day, Pa went maple sugaring at Grandpa’s house.  First Pa has to boil the sap.  Next, Pa has to wait and let the sap sit.  Another event that happened was Christmas.  Laura got her first doll and named it Charlotte.

   Sundays were tough for the children.  When Pa was a little boy, he had to wear his best clothes and behave.

    I learned that a long time ago, days would be very tough because many people had to work hard to stay alive.  I would recommend Little House in the Big Woods to people who like interesting books from a long time ago.

OLD YELLER by Fred Gipson

Reviewed by Ollie

     I just read Old Yeller, by Fred Gipson.  The story takes place in Texas in the late 1860’s.  Travis’s papa was leaving to bring cattle to Kansas to earn money.  Travis is going to be the man of the family now.  He is fourteen years old.  He has a younger brother, Arliss, and his mama.  A stray dog they call Old Yeller comes and the first thing he does is steal meat from the family.  Travis hates the dog and calls him a stealer.  As the story goes on, Travis and Old Yeller become good friends and have a lot of adventures together. 

     I really enjoyed reading Old Yeller.  First of all, I liked it because it was funny and could be serious at the same time.  For instance, Little Arliss was always playing in the family’s drinking water and throwing rocks at his brother.  Secondly, I liked that Old Yeller helped Travis to do all the things he needed to do for the family such as helping him round up the pigs so they could be marked.  Thirdly, even though the book was sad, it ended up good at the end.  In conclusion, I would recommend this book to someone who likes dogs.

Shakespeare’s Secret by Elise Broach

Reviewed by Natalie

     Shakespeare’s secret is about an unhappy girl named Hero who moves to this town and finds out that a diamond may be hidden in her house. Suddenly things are different. The history of the diamond goes back to Shakespeare’s time. If you like history and mystery you would really like to read this book. There is also a lot of action and excitement.

Everyday Witch by Sandra Forrester

Reviewed by Emilee

     This story is about a courageous girl named Beatrice Bailey who is a twelve-year old witch. Beatrice and her friends embark on a journey to become a classical witch. They must break the spell of Dalle Rumpe and free Bromwitch and her daughters to pass the test to become a classical witch. Beatrice finds one of the daughters in Winter Wood. However, she is guarded by a fire breathing dragon. Will Beatrice and her friends survive to tell the tale?

     I strongly recommend this book to people who enjoy reading adventure, comedy and spellbinding twists. I enjoyed the hilarious names in the book and the great friendships. This is just one of the many books of the adventure to save Bromwitch and her daughters.

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

Reviewed by Chris

    Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko takes place on Alcatraz Island in the 1930’s.  The main character and narrator of the story is matt Flanagan.  His nickname is Moose.  His sister Natalie, isn’t what you would call normal.  Matt’s family all live on Alcatraz Island.  Everyone’s attention is on the convicts, especially Al Capone. 

     This book is definitely a page turner.  I would recommend this book to just about anybody, even teachers.

A Barrel of Laughs a Vale of Tears by Jules Feiffer                   

Reviewed by Nick

     A Barrel of Laughs a Vale of Tears is a funny book about a prince named Roger, who is King Whatchamacallit’s son. King Whatchamacallit always mixes up his sentences. Roger makes everybody laugh, so J. Wellington Wizard sends Roger on a quest to make him more mature and rescue Princess Petulia. She turns people into stone because of her beauty. He doesn’t make Princess Petulia laugh and she doesn’t make Roger turn to stone. Also, she is floating on a giant named Philip. Roger meets a man named Tom in the Forever Forest. They start off as friends but Tom turns on Roger because Roger leaves him in the Forever Forest with all of Roger’s other friends. Finally, Roger gets out of the Forever Forest and ends up in the Dastardly Divide. While he is on the Dastardly Divide, he meets a girl named Lady Sadie, who saves his life. She has a plainspoken personality.   At the end of the book they get married.

     A Barrel of Laughs a Vale of Tears is a very good book. One thing I liked about it is that it is very funny. Another thing I liked about it is that something always happens and you never get bored.  A Barrel of Laughs a Vale of Tears is a very funny book and I strongly recommend it.

The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis

Reviewed by Luke

     The Horse and His Boy is an exciting adventure story by C.S. Lewis.  The main characters in this story are Shasta, Bree, Aravis, and Hwin.  This story starts in Calormen during the time of Queen Lucy, King Edmund, Queen Susan, and King Peter.  The story starts with a boy named Shasta raised by an unkind fisherman, and he meets a talking horse from Narnia named Bree.  They both decide to leave for Narnia, so they could be free.  Where did Shasta come from anyway?  Why does he look so different from everyone in the south?  Shasta and Bree then meet allies (Aravis and Hwin), and they all try to get to Narnia. Then, they discover Rabadash, Prince of Tashbaan, wishes to attack Narnia and Archenland to capture and marry Queen Susan.  Shasta wants to warn everyone about the attack.  Who will win?  I liked the plot of the story because it was surprising.  I liked everything about it, especially how it ended.  I would recommend this book to anyone who likes thrilling fantasy books with some action.

The Ghost of Windy Hill by Clyde Robert Bulla

Reviewed by Cady

     The book I read was called, The Ghost of Windy Hill by Clyde Robert Bulla.  The setting is a Boston candle shop and also a farm called Windy Hill.  The characters are Professor and Mrs. Carver, Lorna, Jamie, Bruno, and Miss Miggie. 

     First, the professor gets asked to scare the ghost out of Windy Hill.  Then, the Carvers move to Windy Hill for the summer.  Next, they meet a boy named Bruno who is poor and not able to walk.  After that, they meet a strange woman who disappears quickly after she was caught spying.  Finally, read the book to see the end result. 

     In conclusion, I enjoyed this exciting mystery.  It was thrilling to finish this good book.  I would recommend this book to someone who likes creepy and mysterious books. 

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Reviewed by Lucas

     This is a suspenseful and shocking book. The setting of the book is in a city in the 1980’s. The main characters are Ponyboy, Johnny, Darry, Sandy, Soda, Randy and Two-Bit.

     First, Ponyboy was walking down the street from a movie and a gang called the Socs mugged him right off the block. Then, his friends helped him out. Next, you meet Darry, Johnny, Two-bit and Soda who all are friends of Ponyboy. After that, a few catastrophes occur to the gang. The gang that they are in is called the Greasers. Finally, the group separates over time and goes its own way.

     The book was a great read. It had a few sad parts, but it was mainly not sad. The characters played a good part in the book. There were a few unexpected parts I will say.

I would recommend this book to 7 and 8 graders, someone who is looking for a suspenseful book.

Our Secret Siri Aang by Cristina Kessler

Reviewed by Sarah

     The book is based on Maasai life. It is a good read for people that enjoy excitement. This book is about African culture. The main character is a Maasai girl named Namelok. She is brave and smart. She helps a mother rhino give birth to a rhino and names the baby Siri Aang, which means Our Secret. She does not tell anyone about the rhinos. Then the mother rhino is killed and the baby is missing. Will Namelok find Siri Aang?

The Secret Soldier by Ann McGovern

Reviewed by Mariah

     The Secret Soldier by Ann McGovern is an interesting book to read.  It takes place in Massachusetts in the 1700’s and it was about Deborah Sampson’s life as a soldier in the Revolutionary War.  This book is a biography about Deborah and how she stood up to the law.  It would be a good book for anyone who likes reading about real people.

     First of all, Deborah is the main character in this story.  She was a very brave woman to do what she did.  Deborah pretended to be a man so that she could travel in the army.  She stayed strong even though things got hard.  Deborah fought for what she wanted and won.

     One of my favorite parts from the book was when she decided to become a soldier even though she had to disguise herself as a man.  Another part that I liked was when Deborah got hurt but did not give her secret away.  Deborah did not give up even though she got injured.

     In conclusion, I recommend this book because it shows that women are just as good as men.  The only bad thing was that it was slow in the beginning.  Overall, this book was really great to read in tutorial.

Because of Winn-Dixie By Kate DiCamillo 

Reviewed by Diane

Because of Winn-Dixie is about a girl named India Opal and a dog named Winn-Dixie.  Opal discovers how much she loves this dog that she finds in a supermarket.  He goes everywhere with her.  In the story, Opal meets new friends.  Some are grown-ups with great stories and some are kids who are enemies at first and then turn to be friends.  Opal has just a dad.  Her mom ran away because people talked behind her back.  Opal thought her dad always gave up on things until something happens that makes Opal see that her dad doesn’t give up.  I think this book is a great book to read.  The best part of the book is when she meets new friends.  I liked reading about Opal’s new friends.

 Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan

Reviewed by Jack

     There are many reasons why I liked reading Rick Riordan’s series called Percy Jackson and the Olympians.  This book series includes The Lightning Thief, Sea of Monsters, and The Titan’s Curse.  These stories tie real places with the Greek myths, are filled with humor, and are rich with the life issues of teenagers.

     I enjoyed the author’s imagination.  Riordan turned real places from our world into settings that are in Greek myths.  The two worlds intertwine in many ways. For example, Mt. Olympus is on the 600th floor of the Empire State Building.  Another New York setting is Camp Half-Blood that is on Long Island.  Camp Half-Blood is a home away from home for Percy Jackson.  It is a place where half bloods (demigods) can live in peace for a while or the entire year.  Other examples of special places are Los Angeles and the Bermuda Triangle. Los Angeles is the Gate to Hades, and the Bermuda Triangle is the Sea of Monsters that is where the Cyclops Polyphimus lives.  I was impressed with how Riordan mixes the Greek myths, characters, and weapons into his series.

     I appreciated the humor and the novelty of the books. The series focuses on the three best friends, Percy, Annebeth, and Grover.  Over time, they create nicknames for each other, ex. Percy is called “Seaweed Brain” because he is the only son of Poseidon.  Sometimes the characters do strange and funny things.  For instance, Thalia shocks people since she is the only daughter of Zeus.  Lastly, Grover, as a satyr, eats strange things like cans, plastic, paper, and even some times ping pong balls.  To put it simply, Grover eats garbage!  These hilarious ingredients make the stories much more colorful and the plot much more exciting.

     I found it interesting how Riordan puts the changing life experiences of teenagers into his stories.  First, one of the issues is bullying.  Percy and his friends have to deal with this problem at school and at camp.  Secondly, some of the characters are given quests.  These quests challenged how resourceful, strong, and loyal they are to each other.  Thirdly, Percy deals with liking a girl who is also his friend. Percy is very loyal to Annebeth, but the fact that he likes her complicates things.  He does not want to lose her.  Overall, these adolescent issues in the series make the characters much more believable and enjoyable.  In the end, it was very hard to put down these books.  I look forward to reading the remaining two books in the series.

Gnat Stokes and the Foggy Bottom Swamp Queen by Sally M. Keehn

Reviewed by Ciara

         This story is about a 12 year old girl named Gnat Stokes and her adventure into the Foggy Bottom Swamp.  This story takes place in the Appalachian Mountains where Gnat’s adventures begin.  The characters in the book are exciting, troublesome, and frightening and there is even a cat named “Eatmore Beans”.

        I really liked this book because it is a magical and exciting story.  I recommend Gnat Stokes and the Foggy Bottom Swamp Queen to anyone who likes a good fantasy tale.

A Day No Pigs Would Die By Robert Newton Peck

Reviewed by Hannah    

   The book, A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck is about a boy named Rob, of Shaker culture who grows up in Learning, a small town in Vermont.  He has a father named Haven who inspires him. Also, his mother and aunt take care of him.  His father slaughters pigs for a living and does farm work.  The family believes in only having things that one needs.  They don’t believe in frills or materialism. Rob is naïve, but he learns more throughout the book.  He has a pet pig named Pinky.  The story describes the relationships between Rob, Pinky, his family, and the community.

       There are several reasons why I would recommend this book.  One reason is that the book takes you somewhere else.  You learn about a rural life style.  For example, I learned that to survive, people in rural communities might eat frogs or squirrels.  I also learned about Shaker culture.  Shakers are people who live a simple life and do not believe in frills.  I would also recommend this book because of the inspiring main character.  Rob is a brave boy who wants to be like his father.  Rob is a naïve child at the beginning but takes on challenges and becomes a man.

 

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Reviewed by Spiro

       This is a book review about Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix.  The book is set in the future.  The story is about a third child whose name is Luke.  He is not allowed to be seen because he is illegal.  Luke lives in the attic and sees someone&r