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By Kids For Kids |
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fiction
Captains Courageous
by Rudyard Kipling
From The Jacket: A pampered millionaire's son learns to be worth his salt among the fishermen working the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. This classic tale has delighted readers of all ages since Eighteen ninety seven.
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|  Harvey Cheyne Jr. is a rich spoiled brat. His father owns railroads, tea clippers and he lives in a huge mansion in California. He always gets what he wants and doesn’t take no for an answer. He has ponies and a rich future. Just one slip can change all that. The Cheynes were on a trip on an ocean liner and Harvey wasn’t getting the attention he wanted. Harvey stepped out on deck for a moment and never came back. Later he was picked up by a fishing schooner and was forced to learn their ways. Will Harvey Cheyne Jr. ever get back to his family? This book was very entertaining and I liked it because it took place in the eighteen hundreds. I also like it because it took place on a boat. It had a happy ending and many turning points throughout the story. I would recommend this book to kids in third through fifth grade because it was very easy to read. I would give this book three and a half stars because it could have had more details and adventures. Reviewed by Ben M. - Grade 7 2010/06/23, 07:18 PM |
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fiction
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
by J K Rowling
From The Jacket: During his third year at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry Potter must confront the devious and dangerous wizard responsible for his parents' deaths.
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|  Harry Potter is finally entering his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. All he has to do is deal with his awful relatives, the Dursleys, for a couple of more days. After an incident in which he accidentally blows up his aunt, Harry gathers his belongings and storms out of the house. Luckily, Harry is picked up by the Knight Bus and brought to the Leaky Cauldron (a pub/inn). Ron and Hermione, Harry’s best friends, meet up with Harry. Harry stays with Ron’s family at the Leaky Cauldron until it’s time for school. In that time, Harry learns about the escaped criminal, Sirius Black. After secretly overhearing a conversation, Harry also learns that Black is out to kill him. For some reason, Harry isn’t that spooked out when he learns this. As the school year moves along, Harry learns more about Black and his won family. Security is constantly being tightened as sights of Sirius Black occur near the school. Harry always being watched and is getting annoyed by this. When he sneaks off to a wizard town called Hogsmeade, Harry learns the secret that will change everything. Now Harry is furious! What is the secret that is making Harry mad? Will Black kill Harry, or will Harry find Black first? This book is even better the second time! It is the book that really starts the series. What I mean by this is that the whole plot of the series really begins in this book. I love how in “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”, there are so many major twists and turns. One of them was when I found out that Ron’s rat isn’t actually a rat at all. You are going to have to read the book to find out what I’m talking about. The other thing I really like about the book was how the author emphasized the characters emotions. An example of this is when Malfoy, Harry’s enemy, pretended to be hurt. Harry was furious and was about to attack Malfoy. The next example of the author emphasizing emotions was when Buckbeak was sentenced to death. Hagrid was so depressed. The author showed this by having him drop objects and say unclear dialogue. If she didn’t do this, I wouldn’t know that the character was that upset. When I’m depressed, I mumble just like Hagrid and people can’t understand me. I give this book five stars out of five. I recommend “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” to people who have already read the first two books. People who like long series or are in sixth, seventh or eight grade should also read it. If you are one of those people who hate huge books, I don’t think you’ll like it. After reading this book, I think I’m going to reread the next one too! Reviewed by Jack F. - Grade 7 2010/06/23, 08:46 PM |
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fiction
The Kingdom Keepers
by Ridley Pearson
From The Jacket: Finn Whitman and his fellow DHIs, teenagers chosen to serve as actors for a new technology, must investigate strange occurrences at Disney theme park attractions, racing to uncover a supernatural force that could destroy the world.
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| | Finn Whitman’s life was a normal as every thirteen year old can hope for. He got good grades, he was ok at sports and he was accepted by his peers. This all changes when he tries out for a spot as a Disney DHI Host (Disney Host Interactive and Daylight Hologram Imaging) in the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida. He and four other kids are selected, Willa, Maybeck, Charlene and Philby. That night Finn wakes up in the Magic Kingdom at night as his DHI. He meets and old Imaginer named Wayne. Wayne tells him about the park at night and how every attraction runs both day and night. But also about the over takers, the evil forces of Disney, who are trying to take over the park. Lately a lot of strange stuff has been happening in the Orlando area and Wayne and the Imaginers think the overtakes are behind it. Finn learns that only him and the other kingdom Keepers can save the park and bring balance to Disney. He must contact the DHI hosts and call a meeting at night in Disney to discuss with Wayne about what should be done. They agree to help after the overtakes show that they will do everything in their power to stop the kingdom keepers. They are attacked by pirates with cars from Space Ranger Spin but Finn is burned by a Lazar shot by one of the pirates. Meanwhile, Finn and the other Kingdom Keepers keep experiencing strange things. A girl that seems to be everywhere and know everyone and her mom who is more then she seems. At night they must solve the stone cutters Quill, a riddle lift by Walt Disney to defeat the overtakers. Maybeck is kidnapped, and loyalty is compromised. They are thrown in to a world right out of the storybooks. Overtakers appear everywhere from security guards to cast members like pirates and ghosts. Maleficent the might be leader of the overtakers comes face to face with the Kingdom Keepers. The overtakers include all the evil characters in the movies and many of the rides as well as some security guards and human cast members. They will stop at nothing to take over and destroy the Disney dream. The lines have been drawn, loyalties forged but will the Kingdom Keepers have the strength to stop the overtakers? I thought this book was amazing. It is the first of three Kingdom Keepers books. It combines real life characters and settings with fictional and science fiction type events. You learn more and more about Finn, Maybek, Philby, Charlene and Willa as the book progresses. I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever wondered what happens when the gates are closed and the lights go out. Reviewed by Griffin S. - Grade 7 2010/06/23, 07:52 PM |
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fiction
Handle with Care
by Jodi Picoult
From The Jacket: Things break all the time.Day breaks, waves break, voices break.Promises break.Hearts break. Every expectant parent will tell you that they don't want a perfect baby, just a healthy one. Charlotte and Sean O'Keefe would have asked for a healthy baby, too, if they'd been given the choice. Instead, their lives are made up of sleepless nights, mounting bills, the pitying stares of "luckier" parents, and maybe worst of all, the what ifs. What if their child had been born healthy? But it's all worth it because Willow is, well, funny as it seems, perfect. She's smart as a whip, on her way to being as pretty as her mother, kind, brave, and for a five year old an unexpectedly deep source of wisdom. Willow is Willow, in sickness and in health. Everything changes, though, after a series of events forces Charlotte and her husband to confront the most serious what ifs of all. What if Charlotte should have known earlier of Willow's illness? What if things could have been different? What if their beloved Willow had never been born? To do Willow justice, Charlotte must ask herself these questions and one more. What constitutes a valuable life? Emotionally riveting and profoundly moving, Handle with Care brings us into the heart of a family bound by an incredible burden, a desperate will to keep their ties from breaking, and, ultimately, a powerful capacity for love. Written with the grace and wisdom she's become famous for, Jodi Picoult offers us an unforgettable novel about the fragility of life and the lengths we will go to protect it.
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| | Charlotte and Sean O’Keefe were a happily married couple with one daughter, Amelia. But like most young couples, they wanted another child. Unfortunately, they did not know that this child, their daughter Willow, would not be a healthy kid. This is because Willow was born with a serious health problem; she has Osteogenesis Imperfecta, otherwise know as brittle bones. With this health issue, Willow cannot live a normal life. She has had sixty eight broken bones in the six years that she has been alive. Now, her mother Charlotte is suing her doctor for wrongful birth. The thing is, Charlotte’s doctor is her best friend Piper. Will this case turn out the way that Charlotte hopes? Will friendships be torn apart? And will Willow understand why her mother is saying that she wished Willow had never been born? This book is upsetting, yet astounding. On the inside, Willow is a normal six year old girl, but on the outside, she will never be able to live a normal life. I find it hard to believe that somebody can break a bone just by sneezing, but apparently is possible. I have also read some of Jodi Picoult’s other books, and I can see many similarities and connections between them. Daughters that have health problems, lawsuits that threaten to tear families apart, and other similarities appear in all of the books. Although I do not enjoy some of the plots, I do love her writing style. This book is entertaining and I could not put it down. Reviewed by Sarah F. - Grade 7 2010/06/23, 08:00 PM |
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Biography
Luckiest Man
by Jonathan Eig
From The Jacket: Lou Gehrig was the Iron Horse, baseball's strongest and most determined superstar struck down in his prime by a disease that now bears his name. But who was Lou Gehrig, really? What fueled his ferocious competitive drive? How did he cope with the illness that abruptly ended his career and drained him of his legendary power? Drawing on dozens of new interviews and hundreds of pages of Gehrig's personal and previously unpublished letters, this definitive biography gives us a deeper, more intimate understanding of the life of an American hero.
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| | On thing can change everything. This is what happened to Lou Gehrig. Lou’s birth name was Henry Lou Gehrig and he was born on June nineteenth, nineteen hundred three. Both of Gehrig’s parents were born in Germany and immigrated to America. Lou Gehrig grew up mostly on the Upper East Side of New York but was always moving around to different apartments. Gehrig went to Commerce High School and played baseball and football. He then enrolled at Columbia College to play baseball. Then one afternoon everything would change. When Columbia College played Rutgers one afternoon the scout from the Yankees, Paul Krichell, was seeing if he could find any talent. When he saw Gehrig playing he knew he was the one. Krichell went to owner Jacob Rupert and said they had to sign Lou Gehrig. After only a couple of days, they signed Lou Gehrig. This was the beginning of Lou Gehrig’s Legacy. In his first two years, he only played a couple of games, but by nineteen twenty five he was the starting first baseman and batting fourth. Once Gehrig got in the line up he held his own from that point on. In nineteen thirty seven, the first signs of ALS started nagging Gehrig. He began running awkwardly, tripping over stuff and having a tough time keeping his balance. Lou Gehrig then retired in the early season of nineteen thirty nine. He then said his famous line in a speech given at Yankee Stadium. “Today, I consider myself the luckiest man, o the face of the earth”. This may be the most famous quote of all time. Lou Gehrig died on June ninth, nineteen forty one. Lou Gehrieg was gone but never forgotten. This book is about the life and death of Lou Gehrig. It is an outstanding biography with incredible details. Jonathan Eig did some great research. This book shows the legacy and life of Lou Gehrig. It shows all the people that contributed to his great life and the real person Lou Gehrig was. I would recommend this book to all baseball lovers who enjoy a good story. When you read this, you will enjoy the ups and downs of Lou Gehridg’s life. You will be with Lou the whole time through the pain and glory. I was a very enjoyable read and was very informational. Reviewed by Matt P - Grade 7 2010/06/23, 08:04 PM |
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fantasy
Eldest
by Christopher Paolini
From The Jacket: After successfully evading an Urgals ambush, Eragon is adopted into the Ingeitum clan and sent to finish his training so he can further help the Varden in their struggle against the Empire.
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| | Eldest is the second book in the Inheritance series. It is about a young farm boy named Eragon that becomes a rider. He must learn how and when to use magic. He goes to Du Weldenvarden, where the elves teach him how to be a rider. His dragon, Saphira, is also there to learn the ways of the dragons. Eragon’s biggest problem is he is crippled. In his last battle he had been cut by the shade Durza. Now, whenever he stretches it, he falls to the ground and cries out in pain. A battle is approaching and how can he fight with his back problem? As Eragon is in Du Weldenvarden, Roran has his own problems. They had to flee their hometown of Carvahall. They had committed treachery and are now fugitives. They must make their way out of the Empire if they wish to survive. How will Roran lead the town out of the Empire when there are soldiers in every town the pass? You’ll have to read the book to find out. Eldest is a great way to continue the series. It sets you up with many problems that make you crave for the next book. The suspense keeps on rising through each story. Your eyes are glued to the page every minute of the day. I expect the third book to be even better with all the problems set up in the second book. I would recommend this book to any one ten years and up. Before you get to this book, you’ll have to read the first book, “Eragon”. This is a great book for anyone who is looking for a good adventure. Reviewed by Liam T. - Grade 7 2010/06/23, 08:15 PM |
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fiction
Scat
by Carl Hiaasen
From The Jacket: Bestselling author and columnist Carl Hiaasen returns with another hysterical mystery for kids set in Florida's Everglades. Bunny Starch, the most feared biology teacher ever, is missing. She disappeared after a school field trip to Black Vine Swamp. And, to be honest, the kids in her class are relieved. But when the principal tries to tell the students that Mrs. Starch has been called away on a "family emergency," Nick and Marta just don't buy it. No, they figure the class delinquent, Smoke, has something to do with her disappearance. And he does! But not in the way they think. There's a lot more going on in Black Vine Swamp than any one player in this twisted tale can see. And Nick and Marta will have to reckon with an eccentric eco avenger, a stuffed rat named Chelsea, a wannabe Texas oilman, a singing substitute teacher, and a ticked off Florida panther before they really begin to see the big picture. That's life in the swamp, kids.
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| | Bunny Starch isn’t the ideal biology teacher. She is a heart-less woman with no known family. She is a very strict teacher with no room for fun. She also gives unusual punishment based on what you get in trouble for in class. Duane Scrod Jr. (Smoke and Mrs. Starch get in an argument that causes Smoke to walk out of school the day before the field trip to Black Vine Swamp. Smoke is furious and has a tr4oubled past. The day of the field trip comes and the children are less than excited: spending the day in Black Vine Swamp with the most hated teacher. When Smoke doesn’t show up for school and Mrs. Starch goes missing during a brush fire; just about everyone is suspicious. The next day when they return to school they find out that Mrs. Starch goes on an extended absence because of a family emergency; but she has no family! When Nick and his best friend Marsha get suspicious, they go on a mission to find out what happened to Mrs. Starch. Will Nick and Marsha find out what the “family emergency” was? Was smoke responsible for the forest fire and the disappearance of Mrs. Starch? To find out read, “Scat” by Carl Hiaasen. This is one of my favorite books by this author. It is a wonderful mystery novel that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It is action pact and never boring. It was an easy read because I had read it in the past. The last time I read it though, I didn’t understand parts. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mystery novels. I recommend it boys and girls form the age of eleven to fifteen. It is a great novel that is appropriate for all ages. I could read this book over and over and over again. Reviewed by Cody C. - Grade 7 2010/06/23, 08:24 PM |
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Science Fiction
The Lightning Thief
by Rick Riordan
From The Jacket: After learning that he is the son of a mortal woman and Poseidon, god of the sea, twelve year old Percy is sent to a summer camp for demigods like himself, and joins his new friends on a quest to prevent a war between the gods
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| | Percy Jackson was never able to fit in. There was always something different about him. He had been kicked out of every school he had attended and is about to get kicked out of the school he attends now. Percy has also been diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD. At his school he only has one friend, Grover. Grover has had his back and now Percy was leaving. Percy has always wondered who his real father was. For Percy’s whole life the only person he really loved was his mom. Percy has a stepdad named Gabe but he never really liked him. Percy always thought that if he knew who his father was everything would change. Lately there has been lots of weird stuff going on. First, on a field trip a monster tried to kill him, but he was saved when his pen turned into a sword and he killed it. Then on the way home their bus broke down in front of three witched knitting a giant sock. Finally Percy over heard his teacher, Mr. Chiron, and best friend Grover talking about him. They were talking about Percy and the summer solstice. Percy is clueless. Finally, it is the end of school and Percy is home for the summer. When Percy gets home he finds out that he and his mom are going on vacation to the beach. At the beach a terrible storm rolls in. Then right before his eyes Grover and Mr. Chiron appear. They warn him that he is the son of a God and monsters are after him. To get away they go to Camp Half Blood, a camp for God’s children. Will Percy find out who his father is and also stop monsters from attacking him? I really enjoyed reading this book. I would give it five out of five stars. It had a great story line and awesome turning points. When I was reading this book it had me on the edge of my seat wanting more. I would recommend this book to anybody who really wants to read a good action adventure book. After reading this book it has encouraged me to read the rest of the series. Reviewed by Stephen F. - Grade 7 2010/06/22, 09:02 AM | | Percy Jackson has always been a different and abnormal child. Diagnosed with Dyslexia and ADHD, his school life has been tough. He has had strange things happen to him, supernatural things that no one would believe. In Kindergarten someone had stalked him on the playground, but when he said that the stalker had only one eye no one believed him. When he was in day care he had a strange snake crawl in to his crib, but he was able to kill it with his pudgy toddler hands. In every school he has been to something strange had happened to get him expelled. He always tried to fit in, but he didn’t. He was marked from his first day different, strange, and abnormal. The teachers saw him as a rebel. The strange things were always put off as coincidences until his Pre Algebra teacher tries to kill him on a field trip. Then soon after his mother is kicked by the Minotaur while trying to deliver him safely to Camp Half Blood, he is thrust into a world of half bloods, satyrs, dryads, naiads, centaurs and ancient Greeks gods and goddesses. As he learns more and more about himself and what he is he finds out he is the first son of Poseidon for sixty years because of a pact between Zeus, Poseidon and Hades to not have any more children because they are too powerful. This pact was created soon after WWII ended because the Big Three believe their children are too powerful and are changing the course of human history too much, so they decided not to have any more children. Now Zeus’s lightning bolt has been stolen and the prime suspect is Percy and his Father Poseidon. Percy believes Hades took the bolt so now he must go on a hair spinning adventure with his friends, Grover and Satyr and Annabeth, daughter of Athena. They must go on a quest west to the underworld to confront Hades and obtain the master bolt. Their quest takes them deeper in to the ancient Greek world both good and bad. Will they be able to retrieve the lightning bolt and maybe Percy’s mother and get out of the underworld alive? This book is the first of five books in the Olympian Series. It is an amazingly written book and teachers you about mythology at the same time as telling a great story. As the book progresses you really get to know the characters like Percy, Annabeth, and Grover. This book allows you to visualize the settings and the characters and get a good understanding of there personalities. I would recommend this book to every child who loves history and Mythology as well as stories of modern times. It deals with the stress and difficulty of someone less fortunate then yourself. It deals with hardship, championship and friendship all at the same time. I truly believe whoever reads this book will want to read the rest of the series and learn more about Greek Mythology. Reviewed by Griffin S. - Grade 7 2010/04/03, 10:39 AM | | Percy Jackson is a boy that is dyslexic and has A.D.H.D.. He’s about to be kicked out of boarding school again and it doesn’t help that he sees Greek mythology wherever he goes. The thing is, he’s angered some Greek Gods. The God of the Gods, the God of the sky, Zeus’s master lightning bolt has been stolen, and because Percy is the son of Poseidon, he’s the perfect suspect. In order to prevent the biggest war in history, Percy must find the bolt within ten days and return it to Mount Olympus. To make matters worse, the Oracle warns him of a betrayal of one who calls him friend. Rick Riordan has a wild imagination and makes interesting books that are filled with surprises and details. The characters he creates are smart, strong and up to the challenge. He makes me feel as Percy does because I remember I’ve had deadlines on short notice. When I first started “The Lightning Thief” it amazed me to think that Greek Myths were real. Rick Riordan helped expand my imagination. I suggest this book to kids from eleven to sixteen years old. Reviewed by Brandon G. - Grade 7 2010/03/27, 12:29 PM |
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fiction
The Last Song
by Nicholas Sparks
From The Jacket: Bestselling author Nicholas Sparks's new novel is at once a compelling family drama and a heartrending tale of young love. Seventeen year old Veronica "Ronnie" Miller's life was turned upside down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alientated from her parents, especially her father, until her mother decides it would be in everyone's best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him. Ronnie's father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church. The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story of love on many levels first love, love between parents and children that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that love can break our hearts, and heal them.
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| | Vernica “Ronnie” Miller, her brother, Jonah, and her mom, Kim are all driving down to Wrightsville, North Carolina. Jonah and Ronnie are spending their summer at their Father’s beach house. Ronnie is totally against this, but Jonah is all for it. Three years ago, Steve Miller (their father) and Kin divorced because of an affair. In those three years, Ronnie hasn’t talked to her dad. Ronnie isn’t enjoying her first few days in Wrightsville beach. She isn’t enjoying anything until one day at the beach. Ronnie was at the beach and was walking around with a soda in her hands. A boy playing volleyball knocked into Ronnie, causing her soda to spill all over her shirt. That boy was Will Blakelee. Will and Ronnie’s relationship lasts until the end of the summer. They go through some good times and s some bad times. To find out more about the summer and Will and Ronnie, read “The Last Song”. “The Last Song” was one of the best books I have ever read. The book deals with romance, comedy, and a little adventure. Nicholas Sparks should write a series because the first book leaves you hanging with a new relationship, a new state, and a new future for Ronnie and Will. I recommend this book to girls sixth grade through tenth grade (sophomore). The book was so amazing; I would like to read it again. Ronnie changes throughout the book, which I like, because in the beginning, she was uncaring and disrespectful. In the end, Ronnie was caring and respectful. I loved this book. Reviewed by Melissa G. - Grade 7 2010/06/22, 09:04 AM | | Veronica “Ronnie” Miller’s parents divorced when she was a freshman in high school. When they divorced she stopped playing the piano even though she was extremely talented. Her father Steve was a teacher at Julliard who also played the piano and he was Ronnie’s first piano teacher. After the divorce he moved from New York to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. Ronnie hadn’t seen her father in over three years and now her mother was forcing Ronnie and her little brother Jonah to go and live with her father for the summer. In North Carolina Ronnie has a hard time. She hates her father and hates when he plays the piano. Ronnie spends most of her days out with a girl named Blaze and Blaze’s boyfriend Marcus. It turns out that Blaze and Marcus are bad company and they do something horrible to Ronnie. Ronnie also meets a boy in North Carolina whose name is Will. Will is a good kid who comes from a rich family. Through a long chain of events Ronnie and Will fall in love. This book takes you through a classic tale of a young girl, and how much her life can change during one summer. “The Last Song” is a heart warming story that shows a special bond between father and daughter. At the beginning of the book there were many flaws in Ronnie and her father’s relationship, but they were able to turn those flaws into something special that would last a lifetime. This special bond is what makes the end of the story. Some parts in the book are amusing and you can easily connect to it. However, other parts of the book are horrible and it makes you hope it will never happen to you. I would recommend this book to any person from the age of eleven up. The storyline is easy to follow, but you will need to pay attention to the many intricate details. Reviewed by Sarah F. - Grade 7 2010/03/28, 09:49 AM |
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Mystery
The Red Pyramid
by Rick Riordan
From The Jacket: Since their mother's death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist Dr. Julius Kane.One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a research experiment at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives.Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe on a quest which brings them ever closer to the truth about their family, and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.
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| | The Red Pyramid is the first book in the brand new series, The Kane Chronicles. Carter and Sadie lost their mom at a young age. Carter lives with his dad as they travel the world, while Sadie lives with their grandparents. There has been one secret that their parents kept from them. They’re magicians. They can perform actual magic by saying the right words. A group of magicians called the House of Life, group together to contain the Egyptian gods. The Egyptian gods can posses humans. Each god can be in many places at once by possessing many hosts. Carter and Sadie’s mom caught a glimpse of the future and she has been working with her husband to prevent it. They had to release the gods. By doing this, it made the House of Life their enemies. One of the many rules of the House of Life is you can’t be a host to the gods or release them. This is how Carter’s mom died, by releasing gods. Now that Carter and Sadie’s dad went missing, they need to follow in their footsteps. One of the problems is, by releasing some of the gods, Carter’s dad accidently released a powerful chaos god, Set. Eventually, they are going to have to fight the powerful Egyptian god. With the House of life as their enemy for being a suspect of hosting gods they travel across the country to stop Set and release their Father. Oh, and id I mention Set is trying to create a storm big enough to destroy all of North America? The Red Pyramid keeps your eyes glued to the page from page one to page five hundred fourteen. I can’t wait for the next two books in the series to come out. Once you read this book, you’ll understand how excited I am. Reviewed by Liam T. - Grade 7 2010/06/09, 06:51 AM |
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Science Fiction
The Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins
From The Jacket: Katniss is a 16 year old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games." The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When her sister is chosen by lottery, Katniss steps up to go in her place.
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| | Katniss Everdeen is a sixteen year old girl living in District twelve of Panem. Panem is the remains of what used to be the United States. She is strong, athletic, and spends her days hunting with her best friend Gale in order to take care of her family. Then one day, everything changes. He sister is chosen for the annual Hunger Games, and Katniss volunteers to take her place. The Hunger Games is an event held by the Capitol where two children from each district (out of twelve districts) must participate in games. These games place children in an arena where they must battle to the death. When katniss and another local, Peeta Mellark, are chosen from District twelve, everything will change. Does Katniss have what it takes to survive the Hunger Games, or will she return home to her family again? I thought that this book was incredible. The storyline was packed with the perfect mixture of action and romance. The scenes from the stadium made me feel almost as if I was there with Katniss. At every climatic point, I could almost feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins. I would recommend this book to anybody over the age of eleven. Some parts of it are brutal and inappropriate for little kids. “The Hunger Games” was thrilling and I became so attached, I could not put the book down. Reviewed by Sarah F. - Grade 7 2010/06/06, 07:38 AM |
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Science Fiction
The Last Olympian
by Rick Riordan
From The Jacket: All year the half bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of victory are grim. Kronos's army is stronger than ever and with every god and half blood he recruits, the evil Titan's power only grows. While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it's up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time. In this momentous final book in the New York Times best selling Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the long awaited prophecy surrounding Percy's sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate.
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| | “The Last Olympian is the last book in The Percy Jackson and The Olympians series. Since the Titan Lord Kronos raised Olympus has been endangered since. Olympus is located on the two hundredth floor in the Empire State Building. Last summer when Percy was in the Labyrinth he disturbed the monster Typhon and now Typhon escaped. The gods are occupied with him and now the demigods from Camp Half Blood need to protect Olympus. Also to make things worst Poseidon is fighting a war down in the ocean against the old sea titan Oceanus. So this makes him incapable to help fight Typhon. With Empire State building clear the Titan Lord Dronos is looking to move his army in to take Olympus down. But what he doesn’t know is the kids from Camp Half Blood are in his way. Will the demigods step up and protect Olympus or will Kronos over urn Olympus with the help form Typhon? This book was a great ending to the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. It was action from the beginning and there was ever some romance at the end. I really enjoyed that all the kids from Camp Half Blood helped in the defending of Olympus and not just Percy. I also enjoyed how the ending wasn’t as predictable as the others. I would recommend this to all teenagers who enjoy mythology and an amazing story about a hero. This book gives you a little social studies lesson and a really good story. It is very interesting and just makes you keep wanting to turn the pages. Rick Riordan, just like the other four books, wrote an outstanding book with a great plot and solution. Reviewed by Matt P. - Grade 7 2010/06/06, 10:47 AM | | The half bloods, sons and daughters of Greek gods, have been preparing for a battle they know will come. The Titans powers have been increasing and chances of victory are very slim. Kronos, the Titan of time, is completely reformed and gets more powerful with every half blood his army recruits. All the Olympians are focused on defeating the creature Typhoon that they’ve fought once and barely won against. Meanwhile, Mount Olympus, the source of the Gods power, stands unguarded on top of the Empire state building. Now, only Percy Jackson and a group of young half bloods must defend New York and stop the lord of time. This book was full of surprises and strategies. The final book in the series unfolds Percy’s Great Prophecy which states that he will either destroy or save Mount Olympus. This will all happen on his sixteenth birthday which is only in a week. I recommend this book to nine to sixteen year olds. It was the best in the series in my opinion. Percy finally gets to see Poseidon, his father underwater palace. Reviewed by Brandon G. - Grade 7 2010/04/03, 10:19 AM | | Percy Jackson isn’t a normal fifteen year old. He is the son of Poseidon, the god of the sea. Kids like him are called demigods. Percy’s sixteenth birthday is coming up and he has a huge decision to make. Several times he is put to the test to see if he will make the right decision. Percy is fighting a war against the titans. The titans are trying to take over Olympus and Percy is trying to protect Olympus. Kronks (the king of the titans) is much more powerful than Percy. Kronks has monsters that come back to life and Percy only has his fellow campers. They don’t come back alive. The final battle comes down to Kronks and Percy. Will Percy make the right decision? This book was one of the best books I’ve ever read. The ending really surprised me. I would give this book a ten out of ten. I couldn’t put it down. I just hope they don’t make a movie out of it. It will probably let me down. I would recommend this book for anyone from sixth grad and above. In fifth grade I read the first Percy Jackson book and it was a little too much for me. Now in seventh grade it was the perfect reading level. Reviewed by Ben M. - Grade 7 2010/03/27, 10:07 AM |
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fiction
Glitter Girls and the Great Fake Out
by Meg Cabot
From The Jacket: When her parents announce they're going out of town, Allie is convinced she's going to have the best weekend ever with Uncle Jay in charge...until Allie's mom announces that Allie has to go to Brittany Hauser's birthday party. But Allie doesn't even like Brittany Hauser, or want to go with all her snobby friends in a stretch limo to her big blowout birthday bash at the Build a Bear store, and then spend the night in a deluxe hotel suite in the city. Allie's going to miss all her real friends. Besides, Allie knows Brittany only invited her because Mrs. Hauser made her, since Allie's mom is the star movie reviewer for Good News!, the local cable news show. When her parents announce they're going out of town, Allie is convinced she's going to have the best weekend ever with Uncle Jay in charge...until Allie's mom announces that Allie has to go to Brittany Hauser's birthday party. But Allie doesn't even like Brittany Hauser, or want to go with all her snobby friends in a stretch limo to her big blowout birthday bash at the Build a Bear store, and then spend the night in a deluxe hotel suite in the city. Allie's going to miss all her real friends.
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| | Allie thought she was going to have the best weekend she has ever had at the Twirlacular baton competition with all of her friends. A Twirltacular baton competition is where young girls and boys make a routine that uses a baton and they try to win the grand prize. All the boys and girls get all pretty or handsome and show off their baton moves. Allies friend’s sister, Missy, was in it. However, Allie’s plans changed, she found out she has to go to her old bratty friend Brittany Hauser’s birthday. At first Allie was disappointed then she finds out that Brittany’s birthday party includes all these fun things like a limo! Allie does not know what to do. How is she going to break it to her friend’s hat she can’t go to the Twirltacular? This book shows how you can solve a problem even if you have to “break some rules”, as Abby always says. You should not “break the rules” a lot but enough to get you out of your problem. I recommend this book to young girls of the ages eight through twelve. I am twelve and it was a nice quick read for me, which I like. The book overall was a quick, fun read. Reviewed by Mackenzie Q. - Grade 7 2010/06/06, 07:33 AM |
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fiction
Sent
by Margaret Petterson Haddix
From The Jacket: Thirteen year olds Jonah and Chip are reeling from the news that they're both missing children from history, kidnapped from their proper time period. Before they can fully absorb this revelation, a time purist named JB zaps Chip and another boy, Alex, back to the fifteenth century, where they supposedly belong. Determined not to lose their friends, Jonah and his sister, Katherine, grab Chip's arms just as he's being sent away. The result? Jonah and Katherine also end up in the fifteenth century, where they decidedly do not belong. Chip's true identity is Edward V, king of England, and Alex is his younger brother, Richard, Duke of York. But Chip is convinced that his uncle, Richard of Gloucester, plans to kill them and seize the throne for himself. JB promises that if the kids can "fix time," he will allow them to return to the present day. But how can they possibly return home safely when history claims that Chip and Alex were murdered? In a riveting tale that climaxes on the battlefield at Bosworth, master storyteller Margaret Peterson Haddix brings readers back in time to an unforgettable moment in history and plunges them into the adventure of a lifetime.
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| | Sent is the second book in the series, The Missing. Chip, Jonah and Alex just found out that they are famous people in history. They were taken from their time by people in the future because their lives were in jeopardy. Along with Jonah’s sister Katherine, they were sent back into Chip’s and Alex’s time because if they didn’t everything in the future would be wrong. Now they need to fix their time in order to get back to the twenty first century. They also have to remember that Chip and Alex are supposed to die, so how are they going to make everyone think they’re dead? You’ll have to read the book to find out. This book is well thought out. Haddix takes many things from history and puts them into the story. Even though it is a great book it still has its boring parts. Its is easy to get past those parts and get to the exciting parts (which is most of the book). I would recommend this book to kids ten and up. Reviewed by Liam T. - Grade 7 2010/06/06, 08:15 AM |
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fiction
Peeled
by Joan Bauer
From The Jacket: In an upstate New York farming community, high school reporter Hildy Biddle investigates a series of strange occurrences at a house rumored to be haunted.
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| | Hildy Biddle, a high school journalist, is writing an article for her school paper. The only competition is The Bee. The big story is The Ludlow house, on Farnsworth Road is haunted. Hildy’s high school newspaper, The Core, is investigating the house. Someone tried to break in early one morning. Hildy is doing her story on the break in. Banesville, New York is known for its beautiful scenery and all of the apple orchard throughout the city. The annual Banesville Market sale is approaching and so is the crowning of the “Apple Queen”. When the Core is suddenly shutdown, Hildy and her friends start an anonymous paper, called “Peeled”. No one knows that the ex staff of The Core writes the articles. This book was a great book to read. I enjoyed it when Hildy found a “plan b” to start up another newspaper. What I didn’t expect was what happened at the end. I also could connect and relate to much of the scenes and some of the dialogue. I recommend this book to ten to thirteen year olds with a love for mysteries. This book was exciting and suspenseful. Reviewed by Melissa G. - Grade 7 2010/06/06, 08:28 AM |
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fiction
The Secret Language of Girls
by Frances O Roark Dowell
From The Jacket: Marylin and Kate have been friends since nursery school, but when Marylin becomes a middle school cheerleader and Kate begins to develop other interests, their relationship is put to the test.
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| | Kate is a normal eleven year old girl with the best friend anyone could ever want. Marylin, Kat’s best friend, lives right around the corner from her. Kate’s life was just the way she wanted it until a girl their age moved in right between the two best friends. The new girl’s name was Flannery and she seemed really nice. Kate and Marylin started hanging out with her and they started becoming friends. Kat’s dad unfortunately had a heart attack, and Kate had to stay at Marylin’s for a couple of nights. Flannery had gotten jealous and was mean to Kate. The girls still hung out together almost everyday. Marylin had a birthday party and luckily for Kate, Flannery couldn’t make it. After that party Flannery made Marylin ignore Kate. Kate followed them everywhere even after school to Marylin’s house where they still ignored her. Kate was upset because she had to eat lunch by herself for a couple days. Since Kate was one of the best writers in her class, she was invited with a couple other kids from her homeroom to go to a poetry class for first period. A couple of the kids from other homerooms went too. Kate died a little inside when she saw Marylin walk into the room. Surprisingly Marylin was being nice to Kate, but she told her that whatever Kate said to Marylin, Marylin would have to tell Flannery. After that class the two girls started getting along better day by day. They weren’t as good of friends as before, now they are better. When I read this book I felt every emotion as Kate did. I know what it’s like to be ignored by someone and it doesn’t make you feel good. I loved this book, but I think it was too quick of a read for my reading level. I read through the pages very fast, and I understood almost everything. Once I picked it up I would read almost seventy five pages before putting it down. I finished this book in about three days. “The Secret Language of Girls” is a very realistic book that has problems that many girls around the world are facing with. The only thing that I didn’t like was that it was written from the third person point of view. I love this book, and you should too. I recommend this book to girls between the ages of then and thirteen. Reviewed by Erin B. - Grade 7 2010/06/06, 09:18 AM |
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fiction
The Sea of Monsters
by Rick Riordan
From The Jacket: When Camp Half Blood, the only safe haven for demigods, comes close to being overrun by mythological monsters, Percy must find his best friend Grover, who is prisoner on an island in the Bermuda Triangle, and then set out to save the Camp.
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| | Percy Jackson was finally ready to go back to Camp Half Blood. This is the only place where Percy feels safe from the monsters that are out to kill him. For once in his life, Percy wouldn’t be expelled from school. In past years, something has always gotten Percy expelled from school and sometimes it had to do with him being a half blood (half god and half human). Percy went to school more confident than ever. He had to get through only one more day of school until he could go back to camp. Percy arrived at school with his friend Tyson. Since it was the last day of school, Percy would be leaving right afterward. The school day probably was the worst in his life. Percy and Tyson were attacked by cannibal giants and escaped the destroyed gym with the help of Annabeth. Percy was once again a wanted boy. They got to Camp Half Blood and discovered that Thalia’s tree was poisoned, Tyson was Percy’s Cyclops brother, and Chiron was fired. Without the protection of Thalia’s tree, the camp would be attacked and destroyed by monsters. With the help of Annabeth and Tyson, Percy escapes camp and sets off to find the Golden Fleece. The Golden Fleece will restore the camp and Thalia’s tree. The Fleece is located in the Sea of Monsters, a place as deadly as it sounds. Percy has to steal back the Golden Fleece from Polyphemus, the Cyclops, rescue his old friend Grover, and try not to get kicked along the way. Will Percy and his friends manage to escape with the Golden Fleece, or will Camp Half Blood be destroyed with all its campers? This book was better than the first in the series. The ending was fantastic and unpredictable. I like how in this book, most things are predictable, but at the same time they aren’t. I am basically saying that you know something bad is going to happen, but you don’t know what the bad thing is! An example of this was when Annabeth and Percy landed on C.C.’s island. I knew something bad was going to happen, but I didn’t know what it was. I was right and Percy got turned into a guinea pig. The next thing I liked about this book was its chapter titles. Most of them were wacky and made you think about what the chapter would be about. For example, one of my favorites was” Nobody Gets the Fleece.” It ended up being about Percy pretending he was a person named Nobody. This was to fool Polyphemus the Cyclops. Before I read it I thought that Percy failed at getting the Golden Fleece. I give “The Sea of Monsters” five out of five! It was a quick and fun read. I recommend this book to kids in sixth grade and up. If you read the first one, you have to read this one. Adults who like fantasy or Greek mythology would also enjoy “The Sea of Monsters”. Tell me what you think. Reviewed by Jack F. - Grade 7 2010/06/06, 12:44 PM | | Percy Jackson is fourteen years old and has a very different life. First of all, he is half god and half human and his father is Poseidon. He is always getting tracked down by monsters and he has made friends with a satyr and a Cyclops. This summer the camp that half bloods stay at is vulnerable because its magical borders are down from the poisoning of a magic tree. Percy, Annabeth, a Satyr and a Cyclops must now go on a dangerous quest to find the only source of healing the tree, the magic fleece. The only problem is that the fleece is in the middle of the sea of monsters and monsters are attracted to half bloods. To find out how it ends you will have to read it yourself. I enjoyed this book a lot. I never wanted to put it down because it was so exciting. There were a lot of twists and turns but they all flowed nicely. One thing I liked about this book was that it was a fast read. I hate it when you spend a couple months on one book. Another thing I liked about it was that all the events led into each other. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Greek Mythology and an exciting read. Reviewed by Kevin K. - Grade 7 2010/06/06, 09:28 AM |
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fiction
Crank
by Ellen Hopkins
From The Jacket: Kristina Georgia Snow is the perfect daughter: gifted high school junior, quiet, never any trouble. But on a trip to visit her absentee father, Kristina disappears and Bree takes her place. Bree is the exact opposite of Kristina she's fearless. Through a boy, Bree meets the monster,crank. And what begins as a wild, ecstatic ride turns into a struggle through hell for her mind, her soul her life.
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| | Kristina was an ordinary good girl who had straight A’s and was nice. That was until her Mom sent her away to her Dad’s for two weeks. There, her whole life changes. First she meets Adam and he introduces her to the monster, crank! She and Adam fall in love, but Adam is a horrible influence on her. With Adam and the monster, she feels like a totally different person. She calls this side of her, Bree. When Kristina returns back to her Mom’s house, she is not the same. She is addicted to crank and cannot stop doing bad things. She is still Bree. But what happens when she’s Bree and can’t get the old Kristina back? I loved this book. Ellen Hopkins’s writing is phenomenal but pretty advanced. Just to give you a heads up if you want to read it, it’s all poems. I liked that though because you kind of had to figure out what was going on instead of them directly saying it. I thought this book was amazing. The ending is surprising and you never know what crazy thing Bree was going to do next. I recommend this to teenagers who are advanced in reading and love drama. Reviewed by Kelly N. - Grade 7 2010/06/06, 10:03 AM |
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fiction
The Batboy
by Mike Lupica
From The Jacket: An unlikely friendship slowly develops between a former baseball great in need of a family and the 14 year old batboy in need of a father, in Lupica's most powerful and kid friendly work to date.
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| | Is it not every boys dream to be a major league batboy? Well, for Brian Dudley this dream has just came true. Brian will be the batboy for the Detroit Tigers next season. He will be the batboy through the whole summer. Brian lives with his mom right in a house in the town over. Brian’s dad was a professional pitcher for many different teams but he left them and went to Japan to coach a Japanese team. Brian can’t wait to meet all the players and see the locker room. What just made Brian’s job ten times better is his all time favorite player Hank Bishop is returning to the Tigers. Brian is hoping that finally seeing the game the way his dad saw it: from the inside, will bring them closer. Once Brian starts this job Hank Bishop his hero starts to show his real colors. For one boy in need of a family and a hero in need of somebody to believe in him again, this summer turns into one that nobody expected. Will Brian and his dad get things straightened out? Will Hank Bishop be his old self? Only the summer will tell. I really enjoyed reading another book by Mike Lupica. Once again his writing astounded me. He bought me into the book and it felt like I was in the dugout of the Detroit Tigers. I will be waiting for Mike’s next book to come out. I would recommend this book to all kids who enjoy playing baseball. It will make anyone want to get a job as a batboy. When I read this book it made me dream of being a batboy for any MLB team. This was another fantastic book by Mike Lupica. Reviewed by Matt P. - Grade 7 2010/06/06, 10:17 AM |
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fiction
The Impact Zone
by Ray Maloney
From The Jacket: While trying to deal with his parents' marital fortunes and his own burgeoning sexuality, fourteen year old Jim runs off to Hawaii where he courts death by riding the Pipeline.
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| | Jim Nichols’ world has fallen apart except for his joy of painting. His parents have been divorced. His mother has married someone Jim hates. His father, a professional water photographer has moved to Hawaii and may move again. He has not seen his father for a very long time. To top it all, his stepfather has been threatening to throw Jim out of the house and his mother is powerless to stop him. As Christmas vacation approaches, Jim is notified by his father that he could come to Hawaii for the break. Jim is overjoyed because he has never been to the Hawaiian Islands. His stepfather refuses because of Jim being involved in some minor illegal activity. Jim is enraged; he had been looking forward to this for months. He gets in a huge fight with his stepdad because of it. Jim is still angry when Christmas vacation begins. His friend puts the idea of running away into his head while out together. It stays there and he starts to plan. He maps out the route from Ventura to Los Angeles, California, its sixty miles on a bike. Christmas night he gets up and packs his backpack with paint, clothes and money. He gets on his bike at two am and starts to ride. He has no idea that his journey will be impeded by many mental and physical obstacles. When he reaches Malibu at that moment there is a landslide due to the heavy rain fall they had that night. Will Jim survive the landslide as well as the journey ahead of him and the crashing of waves as he closes the distance between himself and Hawaii’s most dangerous surf spot? This book is a book about perseverance and courage. It shows the difficulties of teenagers and the anxiousness of the anger and the want to express yourself. It connects to me because I have always dreamed of surfing The Pipeline which is probably the most dangerous surf spot in the world. The story gives you fictional characters with believable incidents. I recommend this to teens that enjoy a novel about real life experiences and characters that learn more about themselves throughout the story. Reviewed by Griffin S. - Grade 7 2010/06/06, 10:36 AM |
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fiction
Eagle Strike
by Anthony Horowitz
From The Jacket: After a chance encounter with assassin Yassen Gregorovich, teenage spy Alex Rider investigates pop star Damian Cray, whose new video game venture hides sinister motives involving Air Force One, nuclear missiles, and the drug trade.
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|  Alex Rider isn’t an average fourteen year old. He is a spy that works for the M sixteen in England. Alex has saved the world three times and could do it again. Both Alex’s parents are dead and his uncle who was watching him also died. Now he lives with his housekeeper, Jack. Alex went on a vacation with his friend. On vacation he saw some one he knew, Yassen Gregorvich, a contract killer. It was no coincidence later that day the house he was staying at blew up and his friends’ dad was badly injured. Alex knew it was Yassen. Alex had to find out why the house he was staying at blew up and who hired Yassen Gregorvich. More importantly, who was the target of the bombing? This book was good. At times it got kind of dry compared to the other books in the series, but in the end it didn’t disappoint. I would recommend this book to proficient readers because at times the book was confusing. I would give this book three out of five because of the boring parts in the book. Reviewed by Ben M. - Grade 7 2010/06/06, 12:43 PM |
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fiction
Nick of Time
by Ted Bell
From The Jacket: Nick of Time is the first young reader's book written by bestselling author Ted Bell. In the grand tradition of epic novels like Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island comes a wondrous tale of time travel, adventure, and riches, in which twelve year old Nick McIver sets out to become “the hero of his own life.” The setting is England, nineteen thirty nine, on the eve of war.
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| | Nick McIver is a boy living in England in Nineteen thirty nine. He lives on an island in the English Channel named Grey Beard Island. Nick loves being outside. He is always on an adventure or sailing around the island in his little boat. Nick’s family has been sailing for generations. One day, when he was walking with his sister, Nick spotted an old sea chest with a squawking, colorful bird on it. Odd enough the chest even has Nick’s name on it. He decides to take it home and it causes a lot of trouble. Another day, while he was sailing, Nick sees a U boat periscope sticking out of the water. He decides to throw a line around it and it tows him on another wild adventure. This book was very good. In my opinion I would give it a five out of five. I couldn’t put it down. I would recommend it to any one over fifth grade that likes a good adventure. This read was a bit hard because of all the things going on during it. Reviewed by Ben M. - Grade 7 2010/04/06, 08:00 AM |
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fiction
My Almost Epic Summer
by Adele Griffin
From The Jacket: Irenes got big dreams someday shes going to own an exclusive salon in L.A. Its a good thing she has dreams, since her reality is a nightmare. Shes just been fired from her moms beauty salon for her tear jerking shampooing technique and is forced to take the only other job she can findbabysitting. Now shes stuck at the beach entertaining kids while everyone else is having a glamorous summer. Will she ever get a life? Then Irene meets Starla, a mindbogglingly beautiful lifeguard, whose diva attitude, dangerous obsessions, male admirers, and fiery blog hold enough real life drama and romance to fill a book. Suddenly Irene finds that the countdown to real life is over and her fate is in her own hands.
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| | Irene Morse just got fired from her mom’s hair salon. That was her only summer job, where can she go now? Judith Prior, a friend of her moms, offers her a job babysitting her own children. Irene is thinking “what are the perks of that job?” During her babysitting, Irene learns that those two kids, Lainie and Evan, aren’t the worst kids in the world. While at the beach, with the kids, Irene meets Starla, a lifeguard. They become good friends. This book was a little confusing to me at the beginning, but I understood it more as I read along. Irene is an interesting character. One day she is babysitting Evan and Lainie, she loses her book. She said “we aren’t going ANYWHERE, until we find this book!” I thought that Irene can be a little edgy. This book was okay for me; I had to sometimes read passages over. Reviewed by Melissa G. - Grade 7 2010/04/06, 08:59 AM |
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fiction
Call Me Hope
by Gretchen Olson
From The Jacket: As 11 year old Hope struggles to live under the pressures of her verbally abusive mother, she's tempted to run away but instead chooses resilience. She creates a secret safe haven and an innovative point system (giving herself points for every bad thing her mother says to her); finds comfort and inspiration from Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl; and gains a support team. Ultimately, Hope is able to confront her mother about her hurtful words and help her begin to change.
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| | Hope is an eleven year old girl who is getting bullied. Even worse, the bully is her own mom! People think of moms being caring and nice, but Hope’s mom is neither caring nor nice. Hope’s mom does not even call Hope by her first name, she calls her Hopeless or Stupid, which Hope, does not like at all. This book I have to say is my favorite book I have ever read. It tells a great story of how a girl, the same age as me, gets over her fears and just stands up for herself and makes a difference. Hope tolerates her mom’s abusive words at first until her mom goes way too far and Hope finally decides to call for help. I would recommend this book to eleven year old girls like Hope and I. I am sure anyone who reads this book will just love it as I did. Reviewed by Mackenzie Q. - Grade 7 2010/04/03, 11:48 AM |
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fiction
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
by Jeff Kenny
From The Jacket: Greg records his sixth grade experiences in a middle school where he and his best friend, Rowley, undersized weaklings amid boys who need to shave twice daily, hope just to survive, but when Rowley grows more popular, Greg must take drastic measures to save their friendship.
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| | Diary of a wimpy kid is a fun, easy, and quick read. It is a great book, if you have a good sense of humor. If you read the first book you should read the series because the next three are even more funny. The main character in the story is Greg Hefley and he has a best friend named Rowley. They do a bunch of fun and stupid stuff together. Personally, I think it is very hard to put this book down the first time you start reading it. This book is most about Frank Hefley who thinks he can get his son Greg Hefley to toughen up and get him to play sports. Well, he is thinking wrong because anything Greg can do to side stop his father’s efforts he does. When Greg’s dad threatens to send him to military camp, Greg then tries to think of as many things he can do to make his dad think he is tough without being tough. I would recommend this book to any kid of the age ten to thirteen. It is a great comedy. Also a great read. I would give this book four stars. Reviewed by Ernie B. - Grade 7 2010/04/03, 11:57 AM |
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