Books Reviewed by blu
Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer (reviewed Nov 19, 2005)
5 This is a really good book. It's the story of a girl named Hope, who lives with her aunt Addy and moves around often. Wherever she goes, she knows she has one thing to hold onto: the fact that she is a really good waitress. And it does help that Addy's a chef. When Addy and Hope pack up and leave their home in NYC for a tiny, hick town in Wisconsin, Hope is less than excited. But when she reaches the town, and she and Addy take over a diner called the Welcome Stairways, Hope finds herself caught up in a political and ethic battle involving the other Welcome Stairways staff, the townspeople, the mayor, and G.T. Stoop, the owner of the diner, a charismatic, kind, and spirited old man who is infected with leukemia. This is a beautiful and touching story, and the characters are painted with such depth that you forget that they're not your real live friends. I wasn't able to put this book down, and I highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates a not necessarily exciting, but deep and thoughtful plotline with wonderful characters. Don't miss it.
What's in a Name by Ellen Wittlinger (reviewed May 7, 2005)
5 Scrub Harbor, a small town outside of Boston, has been called Scrub Harbor for over 100 years. Now some people want to change the name to Folly Bay, to help real estate. You can imagine the conflict this arises.... This story is told from the points of view of ten different high schoolers, all of differing opinions on the Scrub Harbor/Folly Bay conflict. The ten different kids include: a nobody, a jock, a beauty queen, an activist, an outsider, an immigrant, a really nice person, an exchange student, and a new kid. As the story is run by the conflict of the town's name, and the student population divides into "Scrubs" and "Follies", each kid's personal story unfolds, through their own words, and through the eyes of the others. This is an incredible story of connections between people, standing up for what you believe in, and staying true to yourself. I would recommend it to anyone of high-ish reading level. AMAZING!!!!!!
5 This is one of my all-time favorite books. If you ask me, it's one of the best books in the world. It's a timeless, classic story of love, hate, truth, lies, some really scary creatures, good guys, bad guys, kidnap, rescue, revenge, adventure, royalty, milkmaids, farm boys, a giant, sword-fights, some fairly hilarious characters, some really hilarious names, and in between all that, a little romance. Doesn't sound good enough? Well, this version of the story, by William Goldman, is the "good parts version", with all the boring stuff in S. Morgenstern's original masterpice cut out. William Goldman has a great sense of what matters and what doesn't matter in a story. Oh, and make sure you read his prologue...it's hysterical. I would reccommend this book to boys and girls of a high-ish reading level (there's some really scary vocab...make sure you've got a dictionary with you while reading...). It's a great story you don't want to miss!!!!!
Summerland by Michael Chabon (reviewed Sep 19, 2004)
3 Try mixing a potential bushbaby, two baseball players; one good, one terrible, a boy who thinks he's a robot, a "Tree of Worlds", some very short magical baseball creatures, a kidnapped father, and a baseball tournament over the fate of the world. Not so easy. But somehow this author has managed to creatively weave together all these jumbled pieces into a wild ride of a story about baseball, fantasy worlds, friendship, and survival. Summerland is a bizarre book that's sort of hard to get into, but once you do, you can't put it down. This is a good book to read during the summer or during a school break when you need something and fairly easy.
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen (reviewed Dec 1, 2003)
5 Roy is the new kid at Trace Middle School in Florida. He dreads school and, even more, his bus ride every morning. On the bus, he is harassed, bullied, and attacked by a large bully named Dana Matherson. One morning he sees a boy out the bus window who has no shoes or socks, raggedy old clothes, and is sprinting down the road. Roy gets off at the next stop, breaking Dana's nose along the way. He chases the boy, but does not catch up with him because he gets hit in the head with a golf ball. Then Roy befriends a girl nicknamed "Beatrice the bear" and her stepbrother, who turns out to be the running boy. Together, they stop the city from allowing Mother Paula's All-American House of Pancakes from building a restaurant right on top of a site where burrowing owls have dug their homes. Determined to save the owls, they'll do anything; from stuffing alligators in the porta-potties at the construction site to vandalizing cars. This is an excellent story that I could not put down. So don't miss this amazing tale of friendship, adventure, survival, and owls.
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Caroline Funke (reviewed Nov 16, 2003)
5 Before Prosper and Bo's mother died, she was completely obsessed with Venice. She loved everything about it. Therefore, Prosper and Bo came to love it, too. When their mother dies, they escape their evil aunt and uncle and run to Venice. There, they meet a band of children living in an abandoned movie theater. The kids are led by a child their age who is a thief and makes money for the group off of his stolen goods. Prosper and Bo join the group, as much as Prosper hates the idea of stealing. In this book, the kids learn the truth about their leader, hide from a detective and Prosper and Bo's aunt, and befriend a woman they attempted to rob. This is an excellent book. It does not fit in any one genre, but is a wonderful mish-mash of almost anything you could imagine. Don't miss it.
The Mozart Season by Virginia Euwer Wolff (reviewed Jul 23, 2003)
4 Allegra Shapiro was planning to spend her summer relaxing. But when she finds out that she is a finalist in a big violin contest and accepts the offer to play in it, she finds herself stuck with a Mozart concerto. She braces herself for the most boring summer she'll ever have. But as time between the end of school and the contest whizzes by, Allegra finds herself not bored, but fascinated and sometimes stressed by what she has chosen to occupy herself with. She is searching for a mentally ill dancer's lost song. She is struggling to understand the pain and losses of a beautiful singer. She has discovered a tragic event in her family's past. And during all that, there is the concerto to stress herself over. This was a sort of weird book, but it was good. It's the kind of book that you sort of don't feel like reading when you first pick it up, but if you just plunge yourself into it you get really interested and can't put it down. GOOD.
Zlata's Diary by Zlata Filapovic (reviewed Jun 27, 2003)
4 Zlata lives in the normal life of a fifth grade schoolgirl. Her world is piano, grades, music, skiing, birthday parties, gossip. Until the war begins. Suddenly her whole world is torn apart. As Zlata puts it, her childhood is taken away from her. Instead of the happy world she is accustomed to, she now lives in a world of bombs, shelling, snipers, shooting, blood, death, and horror. Zlata is a real person, and this is her diary. This is a really good book, but you shouldn't read it if you can't hamdle heavy topics or anything sad. The words she uses to describe the whole mess are moving, and this story will stick with me for a very long time.
Artemis Fowl : The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer (reviewed Jun 21, 2003)
5 Artemis is back and he's got another scheme brewing. Now he's stolen LEP technology and has created from a device that he calls the C Cube. The C Cube is a telephone, DVD player, television, MP3 player, and a whole bunch of other stuff that I can't remember. But basically, it replaces all other technology stuff. And the best thing about it is, it's only a little bigger than your thumbnail. Artemis has contacted an American man named John Spiro. Artemis brings Spiro to London for a meeting about the buying and selling of the C Cube. He wants to sell it to Spiro. As Spiro leaves the meeting, he snatches the C Cube and leaves with it. Artemis knows he must get the device back, because it is programmed to pick up LEP stuff. Once again, he must call upon the LEP and his friend/enemy, Holly Short. Will they win the struggle against Spiro. You'll have to read this great adventure to find out. This is a really really really really really GOOD GOOD GOOD book. I would say it's the best Artemis Fowl book so far. Don't miss it.
The Hero of Ticonderoga by Gail Gauthier (reviewed Jun 14, 2003)
4 Tessy LeClerc isn't exactly the best student. She averages a C, and doesn't exactly try her hardest. Every year Mrs. Ford, Tessy's grumpy old teacher, assigns everyone a report on something that has to do with Vermont (which is where this story takes place). Some of the topics are University of Vermont or sugar maple trees. The report on Ethan Allen, who is, according to Tessy, some boring, old dead guy, is given to whoever Mrs. Ford thinks is the smartest student. But when Mrs. Ford has to leave because her daughter is having a baby, a new teacher comes, called Mr. Santangelo. He picks the name of the person who will do the Ethan Allen report out of a hat. And what do you know, he picks Tessy. Tessy at first doesn't want to do the project, but as she goes along, she finds that being a good student is a good thing and that Ethan Allen wasn't just some boring, old dead guy. This is a great book. I found Tessy's confidence and opinions on things very funny. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes humor or school stories. Ananas would like this.
Perloo the Bold by Avi (reviewed Jun 4, 2003)
5 Perloo was quite happy with his quiet life as a member of the Montmer tribe. He was content to curl up with a Montmer history book and a mug of tea. That is, until one day when Lucabara, Granter Jolaine's (the Montmers call their leaders granters, not presidents or kings or queens) first assistant, comes into Perloo's home in the middle of a raging storm to tell Perloo that Granter Jolaine is on her deathbed and has asked to speak to Perloo before she dies. Perloo relctantly follows Lucabara to the castle type thing to speak to his old friend. At the castle (let's just call it a castle because I don't know what the Montmer name for it is) Jolaine's evil son, Berwig, has already started to take over as Granter. But as Perloo learns from his conversation with Jolaine, Jolaine knows her son is evil, and does not want him to take over as Granter. She wants Perloo to take over. Berwig finds the proclamation Jolaine has written that says that Perloo will take over. He immediately starts searching for Perloo, as obviously Berwig wants to kill him so he can regain his position of power. So Perloo and Lucabara are forced to flee from Montmer land and begin a journey to make Perloo the Granter. On the way they will be captured by enemies and Perloo will have to make a decision that will affect Montmers everywhere. This is a great book. It's kind of confusing because you sort of have to figure out all the Montmer systems and all that stuff. But other than that, this is a wonderful book, Avi's best, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes adventure.
Captain Underpants - Series by Dav Pilkey (reviewed Jun 2, 2003)
1 These books are incredibly stupid. I can't believe that some people actually like them. They're about this superhero called Captain Underpants. It's really pathetic. I would recommend these books to anyone who likes reading stupid books.
Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer (reviewed May 28, 2003)
5 Artemis's mother has put Artemis into a school for extremely criminal boys, hoping that this will help him. Artemis, though, escapes. He sets out on a quest to find his father. But as he proceeds with his task, he finds that it will be too difficult to find his father without very advanced technology. So he goes to the LEP Recon unit and Holly Short (whom he kidnapped the previous year) of the underground fairy society for help. They remember Holly's kidnap and are reluctant at first to help Artemis, but then they, too, find a favor that Artemis might be able to help them with. Artemis agrees to help. If the fairies help him find his father. The LEP agrees to that. So Captain Holly Short, Artemis, and Artemis's bodyguard, Butler, set off for Siberia to find Artemis's father. While on the journey, Artemis starts to change his evil ways. He befriends Holly and Foaly, the genius of the LEP and Holly's friend. This is a great book of action, friendship, fantasy, technology, and survival. I would recommend it to anyone who liked the first Artemis Fowl book.
There's a Girl in My Hammerlock by Jerry Spinelli (reviewed May 24, 2003)
4 This is a pretty good book about a girl named Maisie. She tries out for cheerleading because she figures that's the only way to get people to like her. She doesn't make the team and she is very upset. So she decides to try out for wrestling. Yes, wrestling. Well, she likes wrestling and she wants to do it, so she does. She makes the team. But she loses her best friend and becomes an outcast among girls. She's really good at wrestling and the champion of her team. But is it worth losing her best friend? This is a good book. It's about a high schooler so there are some disgusting parts,(one of which turns out to be really funny) but besides that, it's a really good book.
What Would Joey Do? by Jack Gantos (reviewed May 20, 2003)
5 This is the amazing third book in the Joey Pigza series. Joey has moved back in with Mom, and Grandma came with him. They are living an almost normal life when Joey's dad, Carter Pigza, bursts into town with his motorcycle. He chases Joey's mom around. Joey's mom hates his dad, and tries to kill him several times. Grandma calls the two of them "sick lovebirds." Speaking of Grandma, she is constantly talking about dying. When she is not talking about dying, she is talking about how Joey should make some friends. So to please her, Joey tries to make a friend out of his mean-as-a-snake homeschooling partner, Olivia. This is the story of a good kid who struggles to make the best of an insecure, crazy life. It's really good. I admire how Joey tries so hard to help everyone, to please everyone. I would recommend this book to anyone.
The Color of My Words by Lynn Joseph (reviewed May 12, 2003)
5 12-year-old Ana Rosa, a wonderful writer, lives in a poor town in the Dominican Republic, where anyone exept the president trying to publish a book is illegal. Where the cost of a notebook is enough to feed her family for two days. Her life consists of sitting up high in the gri gri tree, away from her alchoholic Papi, helping Mami, watching her brother Guario in his desperate search for a future, and thinking up stories and poems in her head, only to not have anywhere to write them down. When the government announces that they want to sell Ana Rosa's village to a hotel company who will build a hotel there, Guario leads the people of the village in a strike against the government's actions. But is this the right thing for everyone? This is an excellent book. It really shows how unfortunate some people are. Think! To be a wonderful writer but not have anywhere to write your stories! Anyway, this is a great book. I recommend it to anyone who likes to write.
How Angel Peterson Got His Name by Gary Paulsen (reviewed May 5, 2003)
5 This great book by Gary Paulsen is about Paulsen's childhood experiences with doing daring stunts, dangerous experiments, and just being plain stupid. One of Paulsen's friends was pulled on skis by a car at 82 miles per hour. One of them tried to fly. Another peed on an electric fence. This is an excellently funny book about the wonders of being a teenage boy. Don't miss it.
Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great by Judy Blume (reviewed Apr 27, 2003)
3 Sheila Tubman is two people. There is Sheila the Great, the outgoing, know-it-all, perfect Sheila. And there is the Sheila who is afraid of dogs, the dark, swimming, and spiders. When the Tubman family spends the summer in Tarrytown, there is a dog who comes with the rented house, and Sheila's parents want her to take swimming lessons. To make matters worse, she makes friends with a girl who is an amazing swimmer and a dog-lover. Will Sheila be able to face her fears? This book is OK. If you have nothing else to read it's good.
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume (reviewed Apr 25, 2003)
2 This book was uuuhhh, weeelll, let's just say, this book IS NOT A BOYS' BOOK. In fact, if you're a boy, unless you plan on getting changed to a girl sometime soon, DON'T READ THIS BOOK. It's about this girl named Margaret, and she thinks she's not growing up fast enough. It's mostly about growing up and it's got a lot of kissing and other gross stuff in it. I guess it's OK for a GIRL who is at Margaret's age and is going through the same things she is, but boys, I highly advise you to KEEP AWAY from this book.
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman (reviewed Apr 20, 2003)
5 The streets and rooftops of Jordan College have always been Lyra's home. She has run wild with her friend Roger, a kitchen boy. That is, until one night when she sneaks into the Retiring Room, a private room which only Scholars and other important people are allowed into. There she finds out about her uncle, Lord Asriel's trip to the North. When Lyra asks to go with him, he refuses. Lyra is determined to get to the North somehow. When Roger is kidnapped by Gobblers, evil kidnappers who do experiments on children, Lyra sets off on a mission to rescue him. On the way she runs into armored bears, Gobblers, gyptians, and much more. This is a great book. It's kind of confusing, and you have to read a while to get into it, but the parts that are good and interesting are really good and interesting. I like the fact that it's an adventure and fantasy book all at once. I would recommend it to more advanced readers who like adventure, fantasy, and action. (If you like Artemis Fowl it would be good.) I give it a 5.
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes (reviewed Apr 11, 2003)
5 Yes, this is a pictuer book. But I really like it. It's a very funny book about Lily, a mouse, who loves her teacher, Mr. Slinger. He, to her, means the whole world. Then one weekend Lily goes shopping with her grandma. She gets movie-star sunglasses, 3 shiny quarters, and best of all, a purple, plastic purse. She can't wait to show her new things to Mr. Slinger. But at school she is so excited to show her stuff to the class that she interrupts during lessons. Mr. Slinger takes the glasses, quarters, and purse away from Lily until the end of the day. She gets very mad, and so on and so forth. This is a great book that gives a creative and funny example of how little kids' minds work. The illustrations are great, and go very well with the story. Don't miss it.
Joey Pigza Loses Control by Jack Gantos (reviewed Apr 11, 2003)
5 This is an excellent sequel to Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key. It is about Joey's trip to his fathre's house for the summer. Joey discovers that his Dad isn't the bad person his mother has told him about. Together Joey and his Dad go to Storybook Land, play baseball, eat pizza, and play with Joey's chihuahua, Pablo. But then things start to go wrong. Dad talks Joey into living without the medication patch that Joey wears to control his hyperness. Will Joey continue living as a normal kid, or will he lose control? This is a good book, but you have to read Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key first. I would reccommend this book to anyone. It is very GOOD!
Pleasing the Ghost by Sharon Creech (reviewed Apr 1, 2003)
3 This book was OK. It was about a nine-year-old boy named Dennis. Dennis one day starts seeing ghosts. The ghosts appear and they talk to him. One day the ghost of Dennis's Uncle Arvie comes to Dennis's bedroom. Uncle Arvie had some sort of disease that caused him to talk mixed up. He says things like, "Hagga wig pasta?" He is clearly trying to express a need to Dennis, but Dennis doesn't have a clue as to what he means. This book is about how Dennis tries to please the ghost. It's OK, but not the best book in the world. If you have nothing else to read, read it.
Kiss the Dust by Elizabeth Laird (reviewed Mar 25, 2003)
5 Tara, a 12-year-old Iraqi girl, has always known about the war. She has heard the sound of bombs in the night and seen the secret police. She has known that Arabs are against Kurds like herself. But the war hasn't affected her until the day when her and her best friend Leila are walking home from school and see a Kurdish boy killed by the secret police for just simply standing. That opens up a whole new world to Tara. Suddenly she is aware of the war. She understands how close it is to her. That she is lucky that her parents have shielded her from it, and that nothing has happened. And then comes the night when the secret police come for her father. The family is forced to flee into the mountains of Kurdistan. When the bombing and killing doesn't stop there, her father suggests they cross the border to Iran, where they would be refugees. What will Tara and her family do, and how will they survive? This is a wonderful book. It really shocked me that this kind of thing really does happen in countries like Iraq. It also made me have a whole new understanding about the country of Iraq and its people. GREAT BOOK! DON'T MISS IT!
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos (reviewed Mar 25, 2003)
5 Joey Pigza is a good kid, he's just got dud meds. He was born wired, as were his father and grandmother. Joey is crazy in school. First he swallows his house key, then he jumps off a high place into a pile of hay, and then he chops the tip of a girl's nose off with a pair of scissors. After that he is sent to a special school. This book seems weird, like it has no plot, and doesn't, really, but it's a great book anyway. I would recommend it to anyone.
The Wish by Gail Carson Levine (reviewed Mar 19, 2003)
3 This book was kind of good. It was about this girl named Wilma and she is a nobody. One day she is granted one wish by an old lady. Her wish is to be the most popular kid at Claverford, her school. At first she thinks it's great, she hangs out with all the poular kids, and everyone likes her. But what she didn't realize when she made the wish, is that she graduates in three weeks! What will happen when she graduates? This book was OK. I would recommend it to girls. It's a little mushy.
The Upstairs Room by Johanna Reiss (reviewed Mar 18, 2003)
5 10-year-old Annie lives in the small town of Winterswijk when the war starts. Her mother is bedridden and her oldest sister has a job teaching, which leaves her, her sister Sini, and her father almost alone in their small but cozy house. Then the big tree starts announcing terrible things. First Rachel (Annie's oldest sister) loses her job simply because she is Jewish. Then Jews like Annie's family are not allowed to shop at stores or eat at restaurants. And then finally, Annie's father is taken away. Annie and Sini are taken to a kind family of farmers, who will take them in so they will not be killed. They stay there for a few months until it becomes unsafe for them to stay at the Hanninks (the Hanninks are the family) anymore. So they are given to the Oostervelds. This is a true story based on the author's experiences with the terrible aspects of World War II, the Nazis, and most of all, the unforgettable Oosterveld family. This is a wonderful book. Don't miss it.
Double Fudge by Judy Blume (reviewed Mar 17, 2003)
5 This is the fourth book in the Hatcher series, and it's every bit as good as the others. Now Fudge is obsessed with money. Money, money, money is what he sings at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and in all his spare time. He even makes his own special "Fudge Bucks." So Grandma suggests that they go to the mint in Washington D.C. Mom thinks it's a great idea, and much to Peter's dismay, they go. In Washington they meet some long-lost relatives from Hawaii. The relatives......well......they're not exactly what you'd call normal. This book is about how Peter survives, Fudge, seventh grade, and most of all, the "Heavenly Hatchers." This is a great book. Everyone should read it.
Fudge-a-mania by Judy Blume (reviewed Mar 17, 2003)
5 When word reaches Peter that he's going to have to spend three weeks in Maine living next door to his worst enemy, he thinks he might explode. Imagine! Three weeks with his worst enemy, Sheila Tubman! But there is Jimmy Fargo, Peter's best friend. Peter calls Jimmy and asks him to come with them. Jimmy accepts. So they go to Maine. It's a lot worse than they expected. They don't live next door to the Tubmans, but they have to share a bathroom, a living room, and a kitchen with them. In fact, they live in the same house, it just has a wall between the bedrooms! This is the story of Mr. Fargo's amazing success, Grandma's marriage to Buzzy Senior, and other details. This is a great book. Definitely don't miss it.
Superfudge by Judy Blume (reviewed Mar 17, 2003)
5 The Hatchers are back and this time they're having a baby. Fudge is too young to understand really and Peter might blow up. And then Mom tells Peter they're moving to Princeton, New Jersey. Now that puts Peter over the edge. And this time he really does try to run away. Well, only to his friend Jimmy Fargo's house. When Jimmy hears, he's so mad he yells at Peter. Then Peter goes home, mad at the world. Moving day comes and Peter knows there's not much he can do about it. Will Peter survive Princeton? I loved this amazing sequel to Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. Great.
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume (reviewed Mar 17, 2003)
5 I really liked this book. It was about Peter Hatcher, the fourth grade nothing, Sheila Tubman, Peter's know-it-all worst enemy, and of course, Fudge, Peter's crazy little brother. This book was really funny, especially when Fudge ate Peter's turtle. It was a short and easy read, but I loved it. Don't miss it.
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt (reviewed Mar 15, 2003)
4 This book was pretty good. It was about these people who drank from this magic spring that allows them to live forever. They don't want to tell anyone about the spring because they are getting pretty bored with their lives. But when a girl named Winnie Foster finds out and is kidnapped by them so she won't tell anyone else, who knows what can happen. This is a pretty good book. You should read it. P.S. DON"T SEE THE MOVIE. THEY ROMANTICIZED IT WAY TOO MUCH!
A Week in the Woods by Andrew Clements (reviewed Mar 10, 2003)
4 I just finished reading this book and it was pretty good. It was about this kid, Mark, who moves from New York to New Hampshire. At first he hates it there because his teacher, Mr.Maxwell, has decided that he hates Mark. Then they go on the school-famous field trip, A Week in the Woods. A Week in the Woods is a week-long camping trip with the whole fifth grade at a state park. It starts out normal but when Mark is blamed by Mr. Maxwell for something he didn't do, he reacts in a way that will change his whole attitude about New Hampshire. This is a pretty good book. It shows how one incident can change an attitude so easily. I liked it.
Raspberries on the Yangtze by Karen Wallace (reviewed Mar 6, 2003)
5 The Yangtze is a wild, roaring river in China. It is also the name Nancy gives to a rickety old fence in her backyard in the backwoods of Quebec. Welcome to the wonderful world of Nancy. Here are her best friends, Amy and Clare, her worst enemies, the Wilkins family, and, of course, the Yangtze. This book is about how she discovers the wonderous secrets of Tracy Wilkins, how Mrs. Linkwater and Mr. Chevrolet get married, and how Nancy picks raspberries. And all the while, there is the Yangtze. This is a wondreful story. I recommend it to anyone.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor (reviewed Mar 6, 2003)
4 This book was OK. It was about this black family living in Mississippi while all that segregation and bad stuff was going on. It's about all the bad stuff that happened to them and their friends. It was sad but good. You should read it.
Chasing Redbird by Sharon Creech (reviewed Feb 20, 2003)
5 School ended and Zinny started what she at first thought to be a normal summer. Zinny is among 3(?) brothers and 3(?) sisters. She feels left out, like no one in her family pays attention to her except Mae, her sister, who is constantly yelling at her to get clothing off the floor of their shared room. One day Zinny goes out for a walk in the woods behind her house. She finds part of an old trail. She researches old paths and finds out that this one leads to another town. And so she starts uncovering it. This book is about the things that happen that summer, and how they affected Zinny. THIS BOOK IS GOOD!!!! Don't miss this book that is full of feeling and emotion.
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan (reviewed Feb 19, 2003)
4 This book was really easy but I liked it anyway. It was about this family. There are two kids, Anna and Caleb. Then the mother dies. Their father puts an ad in the newspaper saying that he needs a wife. One woman writes to him replying. Her name is Sarah and she is a young woman from Maine. She decides to come and visit to see how she likes the family. She writes to them, telling them what she looks like so that when she comes, they'll know who she is when they pick her up from the train. Her description of herself was that she was plain and tall. Just like me. Anyway, she comes and they find that this woman is very strongwilled and has a mind of her own. The children love her and she marries their father and they have a happy life. THE END. Well, not really. If you want to know about their life afterward, the sequel is called Skylark. And the sequel to that is called Caleb's Story.
The Tarantula in My Purse: And 172 Other Wild Pets by Jean Craighead George (reviewed Feb 18, 2003)
4 This book was pretty good. It was about all the wild animals Jean Craighead George kept as pets and the funny things they did. For example, there was a goose and a duck who got arrested (yes, arrested, as in taken away by the police) for "disturbing the peace". There was also a crow who would go every day over to the town middle school and steal lunch money from the kids. This book was funny, interesting, and gripping. (The beginning isn't great, you have to keep reading.) I liked a lot.
Bound for Oregon by Jean Van Leeuwen (reviewed Feb 16, 2003)
2 This book wasn't so great. It was about this family who lives in Arkansas and then they decide to move to Oregon. It's all about how they travel and how they survive bad things. If you have nothing else to read, this is OK. It wasn't very gripping though. Several times I found myself looking out my window at birds in the sky rather than at the book.
Tru Confessions by Janet Tashjian (reviewed Feb 15, 2003)
3 Trudy (Tru) Walker is your almost typical 12-year-old girl. She wants to have her own TV show. She is obsessed with going online. (The book is actually her online diary) But there's one thing. Her twin brother, Eddie, is mentally delayed. Tru wants desperately to find a cure for him (and to host her own TV show). If she could do these two things she would be happy (well, at least for a year). This book is how Tru searches and searches for answers on how to make her dreams come true. It teaches you that dreams mean everything and if you don't have dreams, you're missing something. It's OK.
Which Witch? by Eva Ibbotson (reviewed Feb 14, 2003)
5 Another fabulous Eva Ibbotson fantasy. This one is about an evil and terrible sorcerer named Arriman. In this book, Arriman knows he is getting old and knows that someone must take over for him when he dies. Which means he needs a son. Which means he needs to get married. So Arriman holds a contest with the witches. In the contest the witches must preform a terrible and evil act of sorcery. Whoever's act is the best, will marry Arriman. Belladonna is a white witch. That means that she has absolutely no blackness or darkness in her. Flowers spring up from wherever she walks and animals go absolutely crazy for her. Belladonna has a mad crush on Arriman and she desperately wants to wed him. How will she be able to change in time? This book is funny, interesting, and pulls you in. Don't miss it.
Girls Got Game: Sports Stories and Poems by Sue (ed.) Macy (reviewed Feb 10, 2003)
4 Who said girls didn't play sports? They do! And this book proves it. Girls Got Game is a collection of sports stories and poems by girls and about girls. There are sports such as soccer, syncronized swimming, softball, football, tetherball, and basketball. I enjoyed hearing other peoples experiences with sports. Like Girls Think of Everything, I recommend this to anyone, but to girls in particular.
Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women by Catherine Thimmesh (reviewed Feb 10, 2003)
4 Do you know who invented the windshield wiper? Or the Glo-Sheet? Or the chocolate chip cookie? Well, it was all done by women. Girls Think of Everything is a nonfiction book about the objects we use every day, their history, and the amazing women (or girls) who invented them. This book has a lot of interesting information I've never read about before. It's pretty good and I would recommend it to anyone, but girls in particular would like it a lot.
The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson (reviewed Feb 9, 2003)
5 This and other Eva Ibbotson books are the only fantasy I will read. She is a wonderful author. Anyway, The Secret of Platform 13 takes place on an island. It is a magical island with magical things. Not normal magical things either. I mean, you've got your mermaids and hags and ogres, but there aren't any unicorns or dragons. Instead, there are creatures called mistmakers, funny little seal-like creatures that love music and create mist around themselves when they hear music. Anyway, on this island there are people and of course, a king and queen. One day, the king and queen have a baby. They hire three nurses, triplets, Lily, Violet, and Rose. Hold on, let me back up. I haven't told about the gump yet. So, the island used to be attatched to the mainland only over the years it sort of slipped away and the magical things just sort of got there somehow. But, you can still get from the island to the mainland in one way. The gump. The gump is a passage leading in from the sea which separates the island from the mainland, to the London underground. It opens every nine years, for nine days only. So now, back to the story. So the nurses decide one day while the gump is open, to take the little prince over to the mainland, just for a little while. To make a long story short, they go there, and the prince gets kidnapped. That was nine years ago. It is now almost time for the gump to open again. The king and queen plan to send a search party over for the prince. They end up with one 8-year-old hag, one kind, helpful fey, an ogre, and a wizard. So the odd foursome sets out on their nine day quest to find the king and queen's long-lost son. Will they be able to find him? And, what if he doesn't want to come back? This brilliant story is sure to keep you interested and excited. Don't miss it.
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket (reviewed Feb 7, 2003)
1 Many people love these books, but I personally can't stand them. To me they are like a list. One bad thing happens, then another bad thing happens, then another bad thing happens. It gets really repetitive. I could barely get far enough in the first one to be able to tell that the books are about these kids whose parents die and they get shuffled from one evil relative to the next and how they make an amazing escape from each relative. And while all this stuff is happening, yet another evil relative is trying to steal the family fortune. Booooooriiiiiing! These are terrible books. Don't read them unless you need sleep desperately.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (reviewed Feb 5, 2003)
4 Yes, I know, this is a picture book. But all the same, I like it. (It used to be the book I would make my parents read to me over and over again.) It's about this caterpillar who's hungry. So he goes and eats all this stuff and gets fat. This book is great if you're looking for an extremely easy read, or if you're looking for vibrant, colorful illustrations. (Eric Carle does a great job on the illustrations.)
Woodsong by Gary Paulsen (reviewed Feb 5, 2003)
5 Gary Paulsen has run several Iditarods. (An Iditarod is an extremely long sled dog race that goes all over Alaska and even over part of the Bering Strait.) The first half of Woodsong is about the preparation for his first one. The second half is a log of the Iditarod itself. The first half tells about his amazing and sometimes scary experiences he had while training for it. These experiences included getting charged by a moose and having hallucinations. It was very interesting hearing about things like having to survive alone in the wilderness and raising dogs. The second half, if possible, was even more interesting. It told about surviving in temperatures down to -60, meeting Eskimos, and more. This is a great book if you want survival, non-fiction, and animals combined, or if you like Gary Paulsen. Don't miss it.
A Step from Heaven by An Na (reviewed Feb 2, 2003)
5 Young Ju, a Korean girl, was four years old when her family immigrated to the United States. Her mother told her they were going to heaven. When they got there, Young Ju asked why it was loud and noisy and dirty in heaven. Her uncle told her it was a step from heaven. This story is about how Young Ju grows up in America, survives her alcoholic father who thinks all girls are worthless, and makes friends. This is a very interesting book, but if you don't like books with lots of feeling, don't read this. In one part, I was so mad that I threw my pillow across the room and in another part I almost cried. But over all, this is a very good book with many things to understand.
Dogsong by Gary Paulsen (reviewed Jan 30, 2003)
2 I didn't like this book at all. It had a really bad opening. I couldn't get through it after that beginning. It was bad because it didn't go anywhere. The story didn't proceed on. It just stayed in one place for the longest time. It was pretty boring. If I were you I wouldn't read it.
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo (reviewed Jan 20, 2003)
5 I know, I know, I've already written a review on this but as I was readig it for the fourth (yes, the fourth) time I had some more thinking about it. Here goes. Because of Winn-Dixie has that real southern-style charm to it. It's a very laid-back, homey kind of story. It also makes you feel like you're right there experiencing it all right along with Opal. And usually books that start with "My name is......" are boring. This one has a "My name is....." beginning but still pulls you in from the first sentence. Don't miss it!
A Stone in My Hand by Cathryn Clinton (reviewed Jan 19, 2003)
5 Ever since one month ago when Malaak's father left Gaza to go to Israel in search of a job, Malaak has spent all her free time on the roof. She sits up there with her pet bird, Abdo, and dreams about flying away to the prison where she thinks her father is held. It is 1988, during the intifada and Malaak's mother knows there is no hope of getting her husband back. But Malaak continues to hope and dream. This is a story of hope and survival written as delicately as a lamb and as harshly as a rock. Don't miss it.
Stowaway by Karen Hesse (reviewed Jan 17, 2003)
1 WARNING: NEVER READ THIS BOOK!!!!!! SO BAD AND BORING! NEVER READ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yolonda's Genius by Carol Fenner (reviewed Jan 17, 2003)
4 In this book a girl named Yolanda moves from Chicago to Michigan. Yolanda is very large for her age, so nobody messes with her. But they do mess with her very talented brother, Andrew. Andrew can play the harmonica like you've never seen. He can summon up anything, a feeling, even a person, on the harmonica. Kids tease and harrass him. Then when his harmonica is broken by a gang, Yolonda must step in and help him. How can she make the kids leave him alone, and put the music back in him? This is a very good book about one girl's love for her brother and how she shows it. Read it.
Matilda by Roald Dahl (reviewed Jan 16, 2003)
5 Matilda is a funny book about a small girl named Matilda. She has two nasty parents who don't care about her or her "silly books." When she begins school she is so bored to death with all the super easy work. (She is very smart.) She discovers she has an unusual power and with it she gets revenge on the evil principal, The Trunchbull. This book is really funny and I like it a lot. Read it.
Lives of Extraordinary Women: Rulers, Rebels (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull (reviewed Jan 14, 2003)
5 Cleopatra, Eleanor Roosevelt, this book has them all. It is a biography of several important women such as Harriet Tubman or Frida Kahlo. There is a chapter about each woman. I learned a lot from this book and its colorful illustrations. Before reading it I had no idea who Eleanor of Aquataine was. Read this book. It is very good.
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli (reviewed Jan 13, 2003)
4 Stargirl is different. Very different. She spreads a tablecloth across her desk (at school) and decorates it with flower vase. She plays Happy Birthday on the ukelele to whoever's birthday it is. She gives people unsigned cards when they are feeling down. She even has a pet rat! Whenever it rains Stargirl runs outside and dances in the rain. She is today, she is tommorrow. At first the students of Mica High are just dumbstruck. Then they begin to like her. Suddenly everybody's desk has flowers and tablecloths. Everybody carries a ukelele in their bag. The town pet store ran out of rats. Whenever it rained about a jillion girls run outside and danced. Stargirl tries out for the cheerleading squad. And of course, she gets on. For the first time ever, Mica High School starts to win games. Then Stargirl begins to cheer for both teams at games. The school is deeply hurt by this and decides to shun her, to completely ignore her (and her friend Leo). Leo convinces her to become normal, the thing that could ruin her personality completely. When I read this, I was surprised at how one girl could turn a whole school topsy-turvy. Good.
Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary (reviewed Jan 12, 2003)
3 I think this book is OK. It's about a boy named Leigh. Leigh is new at his school because he has just moved to a new town. This is because his parents have just been divorced. Like most kids whose parents are divorced, he is very unhappy. He begins to write letters to his favorite author, Mr.Boyd Henshaw. Leigh and Mr.Henshaw become...well....not friends.......more than just pen pals....oh, I don't know.....they become close. This book is written in letters from Leigh to Mr.Henshaw. Tis book is OK.
The Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill (reviewed Jan 12, 2003)
5 I love this book. It's about a class in Alaska who has had so many bad teachers they can't even count them. Bad teachers who call them stupid and won't give them a chance at anything. Bad teachers who don't stay very long at all. Then Miss Agnes comes. Miss Agnes is......different. She doesn't call them stupid. In fact, she sometimes stops lessons and reads Robin Hood instead! All the kids come to love her. But then they begin to wonder, will she stay? This book is excellent. It shows love for a teacher (books rarely do that) and reminds me of one of my teachers.
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (reviewed Jan 11, 2003)
4 This book is pretty good. It's about a boy named Jesse who wants to be the fastest kid in the entire fifth grade. Then the new girl in the school challenges him to a race. Leslie (the girl) wins. Oddly enough, they become friends. Together they create a magical kigdom called Terabithia. You can only get into the sacred Terabithia by swinging on a rope over the stream. Then there is a terrible tragedy. Will Terabithia last? This book is good. It's not one of my favorites but it's good.
My Life in Dog Years by Gary Paulsen (reviewed Jan 8, 2003)
5 Often you hear fictional stories about dogs saving peoples' lives. You never think of it as really happening. My Life in Dog Years is a bunch of amazing stories of dogs who have saved lives, been great friends, hunting dogs, guard dogs, and much more. I absolutely love this amazing biography of Gary Paulsen and his many dogs. I especially liked Dirk and Josh. Definitely do not miss this book.
Gracie's Girl by Ellen Wittlinger (reviewed Jan 8, 2003)
5 Bess wants to make a difference when she enters middle school. She doesn't want to have anything to do with the soup kitchen her parents volunteer at. She wants to be noticed at her new school. She begins to wear wacky thrift shop clothes to school. Then one Sunday when her parents drag her to the soup kitchen she meets Gracie Jarvis Battle, a homeless, old woman who (as Bess and her friend Ethan find out one day) lives near the dumpster behind the department store. Bess begins to bring Gracie food. Gracie not only is hungry, cold, and homeless, but she has a heart condition that is not being treated. Will Bess be able to save Gracie? This is a truly touching story of friendship and effort. Don't miss it!
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr (reviewed Jan 3, 2003)
4 Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes is about a girl named Sadako. She lives in Japan and loves to run. She won the school relay for her team and was going to try out for the junior high track team. Then she starts getting dizzy spells and collapsing whenever she runs. Eventually she gets taken to the hospital where she finds out she has leukemia caused by the poison in the air from the Atom bomb that was dropped in Japan years ago. While Sadako is in the hospital, a friend reminds her of an old legend saying that if a sick person folded 1,000 paper cranes they would get better. Sadako does this, but will it work? This book is REALLY GOOD! You should read it.
The Doll People by Ann M. Martin (reviewed Jan 3, 2003)
4 Annabelle Doll is your normal 100-year-old doll. She's bored with her life and has been in Doll State so many times that it's nothing new for her. She misses her auntie Sarah, who's been missing for several years. She's sick of Nora's (Nora is an extremely pesky human and Annabelle's owner, Kate's little sister) Rancher Family game and being stuck on grimy old cows. Then the Funcrafts move in. Tiffany, who is Annabelle's age, instantly befriends Annabelle. Together they set their minds to go looking for Auntie Sarah, and what they find is just shocking. This book is pretty good. It's sort of something that might come out of a little kid's imagination, but it's more thought out, and better. I like this book a lot. Reading it is really fun.
Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry (reviewed Jan 2, 2003)
4 I thought this book was very good. Though I hated The Giver, this book was fantastic. It was about a girl whose parents died and had a twisted leg. In other words, she was a crippled orphan. The village council takes her to a new home where she begins work embroidering. This book is mostly about her learning of the dyes (the dyes that you color the thread with), the adventures she has, and how she finds out the truth about the woodland "beasts" and her father's death. It is exccellent. I highly reccommend it.
The Giver by Lois Lowry (reviewed Jan 2, 2003)
1 I did NOT like this book at ALL! I thought it was boring, hard to understand and altogether BAD. It is about a boy named Jonas who lives in a world with no color, no choice, and no surprises. It is very boring. (I mean Jonas' world, not the book. Well the book's boring too. THEY'RE BORING!) Then Jonas gets chosen to be the "Giver" or basically the person who holds all the spirit, feelings, and color of the village. (By the way, they don't have those things there either) This book is BAD, boring, BAD, confusing, and BAD. This book is also BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD and BAD. Don't read it.
Love, Ruby Lavender by Deborah Wiles (reviewed Dec 31, 2002)
5 This is an amazing piece of writing that is sure to pull you in. Love, Ruby Lavender is about a freckle-faced girl named Ruby whose bright red hair simply will NOT stay in a ponytail. This book is also about Ruby's grandmother, Miss Eula. Miss Eula is the wackiest grandmother anyone ever had. She has a bright pink house, she wears muumuus (I'm not sure if I spelled that right, but, whatever), and she steals chickens from a chicken farm because she feels that chickens have just as much right to live as humans do. (In case you haven't already guessed, she's a vegetarian.) In this book Miss Eula decides to take a trip to Hawaii to get away from all the memories of her husband (who's dead) and to visit her niece and nephew and their new baby. When Ruby hears this, she is absolutely heartbroken. This book is about how Ruby survives the summer without Miss Eula, her raising of the chickens, and how she makes friends and enemies all at once. This book is interesting, GOOD, and definitely worth reading. GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mick Harte was Here by Barbara Park (reviewed Dec 29, 2002)
5 Mick Harte Was Here is the touching story of a kid who wouldn't wear a bike helmet when riding and died. This story is told from Mick's sister's point of view. It is all about what a great person Mick was and Phoebe's (Phoebe is the sister) feelings after he died. This book is so full of feeling and emotion, it's unbelievable. It was funny, like, laugh-out-loud funny, and it was also so sad that I was literally sobbing in parts of it. This book is both a great read and a great teacher. It teaches a lesson that is so important, your life depends on it. Don't miss this amazingly written book.
Belle Teal by Ann M. Martin (reviewed Dec 26, 2002)
5 Belle Teal is about a girl named Belle Teal. She is a fifth grade girl who befriends African American kids even though everyone else treats them terribly and doesn't understand racism. In this book there are some new kids at her school. They are African American children who are just being released into white schools. One of them, Darryl is his name, is in Belle Teal's class. She befriends him even with all the parents holding up signs outside of the school (not nice signs, signs saying things like, Send them away! and, Go back where you came from!) and the teasing. In this story the words are pieced together so carefully to transform flat, dull, boring statements into beautiful, flowing sentences. This book is excellent. It is definitely worth reading.
Hoop Girlz by Lucy Jane Bledsoe (reviewed Dec 25, 2002)
5 Hoop Girlz is about a girl named River. (Her parents are sort of nature-freaks, that explains the weird name) She is a good basketball player. Her school coach is choosing players for the A and B teams for school. (A is the better team and B is the not so great team.) River knows she is good and expects to be put on A team. When she finds her name on the B team list, she is ready to cry. The other girls are upset too. Quickly, they change their embarrassing name of B team to Hoop Girlz. Yes, Hoop Girlz, not Hoop Girls. When they play against A team in the championship, they are all hoping to be MVP for the year. A team of players all expect themselves to be MVP. You cannot imagine their surprise and disappointment when they find out what really happens. This is an excellent story. I think anyone should read it but I especially recommend it to girls, people who like basketball, and people who've ever been disappointed like River was when she found out she was on B team.
Words of Stone by Kevin Henkes (reviewed Dec 25, 2002)
4 Words of Stone is an amazing story about a kid who is lonely and then makes a friend. As he discovers the wonders of Joselle (the friend) he remembers his mother (who's dead). This is a wonderful story of friendship, love, and memories. Read this book. It is very good.
The School Story by Andrew Clements (reviewed Dec 25, 2002)
4 This is a good book. It is about a girl named Natalie whose father is dead and has a best friend who's more argumentative then then the best lawyer in New York. Those two things were what started it all. You see, in the story, Natalie writes a story. A school story. It's about a girl and her dad. Natalie writes the story to remember her dad. Zoe-the-future-lawyer-and-Natalie's-best-friend reads the story. She thinks it's good enough to be published. This story is about Zoe's wacky plan, how it works, and its results. It is also about Natalie's relationship with her Dad. This book is funny, serious, and very well written. Worth reading.
The Empress of Elsewhere by Theresa Nelson (reviewed Dec 24, 2002)
5 It all started with the fat-haired girl and her little gang. From there, it went crazy. This book is about a boy named Jimmy, his little sister Mary Al, a nasty girl named J.D. (or juvenile delinquent), and a monkey called the Empress. As they go on adventures, get in BIG trouble, and have fun, they become friends. This story of adventure, friendship, and fun is sure to keep you interested. READ THIS BOOK!!!!!! IT IS GOOD GOOD GOOD GOOD!!!!!!!!!! DON'T MISS IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Parvana's Journey by Deborah Ellis (reviewed Dec 22, 2002)
5 This beautifly written sequel to The Breadwinner is the story of Parvana's search for her mother after her father dies, how she lives through hard and frightning times, how she makes new friends, and overall becomes a more responsible, capable girl. This story is full of strong emotions, sadness when Leila dies, fright when they realize they're in a mine field, and happiness when Parvana finds her mother. This book is great. It is a wonderful story and is definitely worth reading. (If I could I would rate it 1,000,000)
The Elevator Family by Douglas Evans (reviewed Dec 22, 2002)
2 Yuck. This book is boring and too silly and easy and it's for little kids. It's about a family who decides to live in an elevator. Since it's an elevator, they have many visitors. It is BAD BAD BAD! Although I can see some people liking it (like my little sister), so I give it a 2.
Soldier's Heart by Gary Paulsen (reviewed Dec 22, 2002)
3 Soldier's Heart is an OK book. It's about a 16-year-old boy named Charley. He enlists for the army (this book takes place during the Civil War), then decides that he hates it and it's bad and he thinks anyone who joins the army is foolish. This is definitely not my favorite book, but it's OK if you have nothing else to read.
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech (reviewed Dec 21, 2002)
5 THIS BOOK IS GOOD!!!!!!!!! READ IT!!!! OK. Now that you get the point I can begin. Here goes. Sal is your typical girl. Well, she's not quite typical. No one is. She is a quiet girl whose real name is Salamanca and can sit on her hair if she wants to. Phoebe is a weird, outrageous, superstitious, and rude (only sometimes) kind of person. Then why are they friends? Don't ask me! Well, anyway, this book is Sal telling her grandparents a story about Phoebe. It is a serious, slightly funny, sad, and altogether GOOD book. Definitely worth reading.
Bat 6 by Virginia Euwer Wolff (reviewed Dec 21, 2002)
4 The first thing I said to myself when I picked up Bat 6 was What is a bat 6? Well, the Bat 6 is a big softball game between two teams of sixth grade girls. This story takes place just after World War II ended. There is a girl on the Bear Creek Ridge team who is Japanese. She is a very polite, kind, smart, respectful girl. While I'm complimenting her, I might as well add that she's fast and excellent at softball. She has just moved from a "Jap" camp (because of the war) back to her old home in Bear Creek Ridge. There is also a new girl on the Barlow Road team. Her name is Shazam. Her father was killed by "Japs" during Pearl Harbor, so she is slightly prejudiced. I take that back. She's extremely prejudiced. During the Bat 6, Shazam does something so terrible to Aki that nobody can believe it. Part of the reason I liked this book was because the person telling the story switches off. For example, one second Ellen (from Bear Creek Ridge) might be telling her point of view and the next second Darlene (from Barlow Road) might be telling her point of view.
Skinnybones by Barbara Park (reviewed Dec 21, 2002)
4 When I first picked up this book I was in third grade and had no idea what a really funny piece of writing it was. Now that I've read Skinnybones, I know. Skinnybones may very well be the funniest book I've read. It is about a boy named Alex who is the smallest kid on his baseball team. Alex doesn't like being small, so he orders a large uniform. His coach takes one look at him, then orders a small. The funniest part was when, during a baseball game, Alex shouts, "Booga, booga!" and the other team's player is so surprised that he drops the ball. If you like humor, I highly recommend this book to you.
Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson (reviewed Dec 20, 2002)
5 Maia has lived most of her life in a boarding school in London. Then she finds out that she will be taken in by some long-lost relatives........on the Amazon! Maia only knows that her new family has a set of twins. She immediately begins imagining two beautiful, kind, lovely, and welcoming girls. But when she meets them, her thoughts are shattered. With no friends, how will Maia survive in an unknown place? If you like good stories of adventure, friendship, and teamwork, read this book. I guarantee you will love it.
1 This book is REALLY REALLY REALLY BAD BAD BAD!!!!!! NEVER READ IT!!!!!! Okay, now you're probably thinking, 'All right, I get the picture, it's bad, but why?' Well, here's why. For one thing, it's non-fiction. (I hate non-fiction) It's a biography of Amelia Earhart. It's not that I don't like Amelia Earhart, it's just that this book is so BAD BAD BAD. It's incredibly boring and has too many details. I mean, there were details about details about details. For example, it went on and on and on about how Amelia's father opposed her marriage. NEVER NEVER NEVER READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT IS BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis (reviewed Dec 15, 2002)
5 In Afghanistan, being a girl is not a good thing. The problem is, Parvana is one. Every day Parvana has to endure walking through the streets of Kabul, helping her father who has a hard time walking. She has to live with all the Taliban eyes drilling through her back. Then when her father is arrested, her family can't make money. How will they survive? READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT IS SOOOOOOO GOOD.
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse (reviewed Dec 15, 2002)
5 The reason I waited so long to read Out of the Dust is because I thought it was written in poems. Well, it is written in poems, but they don't rhyme. It's more just like a story written in poem shape. This story was touching. It was about a girl named Billy Jo who was living in the dust bowl during either World War I or II. But I warn you, if you don't like sad books, don't read this book. I cried in it! But even with it being so sad, I think it's a wonderful book and that you should read it.
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer (reviewed Dec 14, 2002)
5 Artemis Fowl Jr. is a 12-year-old criminal mastermind. Yes, you did read that right. He is 12 years old. He is a criminal mastermind. But not enough of a crminal mastermind to be able to kidnap a fairy easily. In this story, fairies are not fairytale creatures, they're the smartest creatures (in terms of technology) on (or under) the surface of the earth. If you like technology, science fiction, and fantasy mixed, DON'T MISS THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath (reviewed Dec 13, 2002)
5 Everything on a Waffle is a laugh-out-loud-funny book about a girl named Primrose whose parents have gone missing. One of the really funny parts was when Primrose's class pet catches fire. I think anyone with a sense of humor should read this book.
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo (reviewed Dec 11, 2002)
5 Opal is a 10-year-old, red-headed girl who's faster than most boys and loves to be told stories. Her mother is gone and her father is a preacher. Winn-Dixie is a big, shaggy, ugly dog whom nobody owns. Once Opal and Winn-Dixie meet they're inseparable. Because of Winn-Dixie is about Opal's loneliness in a new town, how she meets Winn-Dixie and because of Winn-Dixie, all the things that happen. I liked this book mostly because of the characters. For example, I liked Winn-Dixie because he was funny, smart, and, like Opal, I just felt that Winn-Dixie was a special dog. I think this is a good book for anyone.
Bloomability by Sharon Creech (reviewed Dec 10, 2002)
5 Kidnappers usually aren't related to you, are they? Well, when Domenica Santolina Doone (Dinnie for short) is kidnapped, the kidnappers are her aunt and uncle. Aunt Sandy and Uncle Max (whom Dinnie's never even met) take her from her home in America all the way to Germany! They put her in the new school Uncle Max has opened. At first, Dinnie refuses to open up her mind, but as the year goes on, she realizes how many great opportunities she is missing out on. I loved this book because it stated life how it really is, not like a dream. This is definitely a must-read!
Time of Angels by Karen Hesse (reviewed Dec 9, 2002)
5 A Time of Angels is a very good book about a girl living during World War I. The girl's name is Hannah and she has two sisters named Libbie and Eve. She is Jewish and is living with her aunt (Tanta Rose) in Boston because her parents are trapped in Russia with the war. So in the story, Hannah is living her normal life in Boston with Tanta Rose and Libbie and Eve and their annoying roommate, Vashti. But that's only until the influenza epidemic breaks out. Suddenly everyone, everything around Hannah is sick. When Hannah gets sick herself, she is sent to a kind, old, man in Vermont to recover. She is determined to pull her family back together, but does she have the strength? This book is really, really, really, really good. Read it!
