Books Reviewed by Reader
Perloo the Bold by Avi (reviewed May 6, 2003)
5 Perloo the Bold is a very intriguing book about a Montmer named Perloo and all the adventures he goes through. Perloo loves to just curl up on his bed in his smock and read his book. One day Luburaca, the assistant to the current granter, bursts into Perloo's door with an urgent message: Perloo is to come to central Tribe Burrow immediately under the orders of Jolaine the sick granter. Perloo dejectedly gets up and follows Luburaca to the Central Tribe Burrow. Once he gets there he learns something that will change his life forever, after which Jolaine dies. Berwig, Jolaine's only cub, really wants to be and becomes granter. He also wants to get rid of Perloo and lies to the tribe. So Perloo and Luburaca run away during a storm, which has been going on for the whole book so far. They end up running right into the den of the chief of the Felbarts, the Montmers' enemies. Perloo decides to stay but Luburaca escapes, leaving Perloo to face a challenge greater than anything he has ever done before. This book was great because it was very suspenseful in between chapters which made me want to read more without stopping. I like books that are suspenseful. Avi also had a great writing style, making the book funny while also sometimes making me worry about the characters which also made me want to read more. If you like suspenseful books this is the book for you.
Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix (reviewed Feb 26, 2003)
4 When I read
The Elevator Family by Douglas Evans (reviewed Feb 5, 2003)
2 A very peculiar book about a family that takes a vacation and ends up staying in an elevator. They get all kinds of suprised visitors and welcome them. If you are looking for an easy book to read to get your mind off of things read this book.
Pinky Pye by Eleanor Estes (reviewed Feb 5, 2003)
5 A very intriguing book about a family that goes to Fire Island, New York. There a cat appears at their doorstep and they decide to keep it. They name it Pinky. Pinky ends up being able to type and talk. This leads to the Pye family being well known. I like this story because it is funny and cleverly written. Pinky is my favorite character because she is adventurous and has a very good sense of humor.
Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women by Catherine Thimmesh (reviewed Feb 5, 2003)
5 A very interesting book of things women have invented. It explains how they invented it, and where. For example, Mary Anderson invented windsheild wipers. Everybody who shops should thank Margaret E. Knight. She invented a machine that folded sqare bottomed paper bags. If you like to learn how some things came to be, you should read this book.
Cool As Ice by Matt Christopher (reviewed Feb 4, 2003)
3 I liked this story because I play hockey. It is about a boy who figure skates and then goes out for the hockey team for his town. He is a good skater and his teammates and coaches admire that, but he is not a good stick handler. There is another guy on his team who is really good, but not very nice to anybody. They become friends and help each other.
How Come? by Kathy Wollard (reviewed Feb 4, 2003)
5 Did you ever want to know why leaves change color? Or why people yawn and why yawns are contagious? Or what the arora borealis is and what causes it? Well this book tells you all this amd more. It has useful information and answers to questions, probably some you have never even thought about. There are also funny comics that go with the questions. I like to read this book when I want to know something or when I just feel like learning about science, the solar system, or us.
The Library Card by Jerry Spinelli (reviewed Feb 4, 2003)
5 In this book there are four short stories about characters whose lives are changed by a library card and the experiences they have in a library. In the first story, a boy named Mongoose does things that are not right like stealing candy. With some candy he stole, he finds a library card and begins to visit the library and read books. It changes his attitude about what is right and what isn't. The other characters have similar experiences relating to the library that change their attitudes about different things. I like this book because I like to read and feel like reading changes the way I think and look at things.
The Janitor's Boy by Andrew Clements (reviewed Feb 4, 2003)
5 A boy named Jack puts gum on the bottom of a school desk. He has to clean gum off all the tables and chairs in the school. Jack finds a cabinet of keys while getting his supplies to clean the tables and chairs. He takes two of them. One of them leads to the tower of the school building and the other leads to a very big adventure that you have to read the book to find out about. In the beginning of the book, Jack is embarrassed that his father is the janitor of his school, but in the end he is not embarrassed because of the adventure he has.
The Art of Keeping Cool by Janet Taylor Lisle (reviewed Feb 4, 2003)
5 A good book about a boy who lives during World War 2. His dad is a pilot for the Royal Canadian Air Force. He goes through some hard times while his dad is away but learns how to "keep cool" from his cousin Elliot. Sometimes it is even scary because you feel like you are there experiencing it with them. It is the kind of book where you just want to keep reading and never stop because it is so exciting. There are good times, too, and to find out what they were you have to read the book.
The Tarantula in My Purse: And 172 Other Wild Pets by Jean Craighead George (reviewed Jan 14, 2003)
5 READ THIS BOOK NOW! A very, very good book full of information about animals. It's an autobiography about Jean Craighead George and her pets. For example she writes about her turkey vulture named Nod that thinks Jean's mom is its mom. And about her characteristic crows named Light Foot, Bituminous, and New York. Then Crowbar came and went.
Love That Dog by Sharon Creech (reviewed Jan 14, 2003)
5 A good story in poems. A boy who doesn't think he can write poems discovers that he can because of a dog, his teacher, and a poet named Walter Dean Myers. It's a story full of love and frustration.
Girls Got Game: Sports Stories and Poems by Sue (ed.) Macy (reviewed Jan 14, 2003)
5 A good book of short stories and poems. The stories are all about different sports, including softball, basketball, soccer, football, and baseball. All of the stories are about girls. Most of the stories are based on believing in yourself. I think that all of the stories are good, I didn't have a favorite. Sort of an easy read, definitely a good read.
Fever, 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson (reviewed Dec 20, 2002)
5 I read Fever by H. Anderson. It was a sad book but good. For the sadder the book is the better. If the book is sad you want to keep on reading it to find out if everything is going to be all right. I like suspense, too, and sad books tend to have a lot of it. If the book is scary then the suspense to me is not good because I think something bad is going to happen. But when a book is just sad it is good. This book was about a girl named Mattie Cook. She lives in Philadelphia in the 1700's. The book takes place during 1793 after the American Revolution. "The Fever" as they called it, basically took over the city of Philadelphia. I felt like I was there, that was how detailed it was. I thought Mattie's grandfather was a very good character. I got very attached to him. I recommend this book to everyone who likes to read.
The Graduation of Jake Moon by Barbara Park (reviewed Dec 18, 2002)
5 The Graduation of Jake Moon is about a boy whose grandfather, Skelly, has Alzheimer's. Jake has many adventures and learns a lesson he won't forget. It was sad, funny and exciting at the same time. Jake goes from being embarrassed by his grandfather to being more comfortable around him. Skelly makes it hard to have friends over which makes Jake a little mad at his grandfather. Eventually he finds out that he loves his grandfather a lot and doesn't care that he has Alzheimer's. There was a lot of good detail. I felt like I was there. Definitely read this book.
Riding Freedom by Pam Muñoz Ryan (reviewed Dec 18, 2002)
5 A book about a girl (Charlotte) who runs away from the orphanage where she has lived since she was two. She runs away because she is not respected by William, a mean boy who teases her. She is also not able to do the things she wants because she is a girl and girls were not allowed to vote or have the types of jobs Charlotte wanted. She wanted to work with horses and live on a ranch. Charlotte is courageous and determined and creates a new life for herself and even becomes the first woman to vote! Read this book and find out how.
The Wanderer by Sharon Creech (reviewed Dec 16, 2002)
5 A very well- written book, full of action and success. A girl named Sophie who loves sea adventure. When she gets the chance to sail across the Atlantic Ocean she doesn't want to miss it. But will she be able to put up with Brian and Cody? Will she be able to stand being the only girl on the journey? She has many more questions that are answered in this book. Definitely do not miss this engaging book.
