Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson and Olympians: The Last Olympian

Rick Riordan ***** (5/5)

Reviewed by Joanna L.

      Most teenagers are usually anxious for their sixteenth birthday to arrive because turning16 usually means a new car, more freedom and more popularity. Everyone… except Percy Jackson. Percy Jackson is a “troubled” soon-to-be demigod who’s getting prepared to face the words of The Great Prophecy, a prophecy speaking of the falling of a great hero. Percy and his remaining demigod allies must be ready to face the challenge of fighting an angered titan Lord and an army of vicious monsters and brainwashed demigods. Throughout the story, Percy not only has to defend Manhattan, he must also encounter the intertwined pasts of his close friend and a traitor that could very well give new meaning to the words of the Great Prophecy and the fate of the whole world.

     I would recommend this book to anyone that finds Greek mythology interesting since this book is pretty much a bunch of Greek myths together with the setting being modern New York. That’s the part of the reason I really enjoyed this book, because it has many Greek myth references and yet it’s still whole other different story with its own protagonists and plot.

I would also recommend this book to anyone looking for a great adventure book or anyone is simply looking for an entertaining book to read. I love how it’s filled with adventure and tense encounters and Percy’s great sense of humor never fails to make me smile.

     The author really makes the reader think about deep things besides warfare and fighting. This story made me think about how we never see the wonderful value of the things and people we have around us and how sometimes we’re too arrogant to realize that we are hurting the people we love most with our ignorance. Another thing it made me think of was the great power of promises and how a few words can really bind us to certain people.

     Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Last Olympian was different from other fantasy books because it was deeper and the plot was sort of complex because so many different things were going on as the story went on, like “flashbacks” and “demigod dreams” (demigod dreams were usually dark dreams about what was happening as the dreamer slept and also about what was going to happen.) For these reasons, it really reminded me of The Odyssey because The Odyssey is a very complex epic full of flashbacks and other features that were also in the The Last Olympian

Honorable Mentions:

Mara: Daughter of The Nile by Eloise McGraw

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

Letters To God by Patcrick Doughtie & John Perry

Letters To God

Patrick Doughtie & John Perry ***** (5/5 stars)

Reviewed by Paige G.

          Why do we suffer from diseases? Where is God when we need him or his help? Why do Godly Faithful kids have to suffer from cancer? Well, this is the story of a young boy suffering from cancer, and also his family falling apart after a tragic accident. A young nine-year-old boy named Tyler Doherty is suffering from incurable brain cancer and is still confused about the loss of his father from a severe car accident. His family hasn’t been doing so well since they found out that Ty has brain cancer that cant be cured, only treated so its not as bad, and also his widowed mother has very little trust and faith in God as she wonders why He let her husband, Patrick Doherty, get “man-slaughtered” in a car accident.

          The problem is that Tyler thinks that god will help his family if he repeatedly sends him letters, called letters to God. He sends him prayers inside the letters, but does he know that god cant receive these letters? This is a great book, so if you like this book review so far then it’ll be an interesting book for you to read, and you wont ever want to stop! I absolutely love this book; it’s my favorite book I’ve read in my life so far. If you are religious and like gospel stories it’s good choice for you. This book reminds me of how lucky I am to have a family always there for me and keeping me safe, also giving me the things I need, and not having to suffer from the cancers and diseases other kids and even adults do. This Book reminds me of another book that i've read before with little different stories about God and how hes helped kids through times in need, this is book is a series of many called Roman Soup for A teenage soul

          When I read this book I thought about my grandmother because she died from cancer, but she wasn’t so close to God and I always told her, “ask God for help and he will supply you with what you need”. In the book before Ty"s dad passed away, he always told Ty the same thing, so this story somehow relates to my life and me also. This is an adventurous book that is sad but also exciting and hard to put down!

Hatchet By Gary Paulson

The book Hatchet by Gary Paulson is my favorite book I've read all year.  Hatchet is a mystery and also very interesting.  Brian (protagonist) was involved alone in the forest in Canada for about three months.  Surviving alone for that long is a very hard task.  Brian had a lot of luck and also some successes.  Brian reminds me of Meg from Kidnapped Book Three.  Meg was left alone in the woods in Virginia for about three and a half days, until the cops found her.  They were both alone and had to survive in the forest, made everything interesting and more of an mystery.  This is my favorite book.

cut patricia McCormick

A review by Anais k.

Cut by:Patricia McCormick

* * * * *

       This book is about a 15-year-old girl named Callie who got sent to residential treatment faculty for teens for cutting herself. Callie hasn’t said a word since she’s gotten there not even to her therapist. All the doctors and her family are trying to find out what causes her to do such harm to herself but because of her lack of talking they are having trouble.

       I really enjoyed this book it was amazing. This book makes people think about other people and their selves it’s very interesting and once you start reading you wont finish it till the end. This book also kind of connected to my life a little because Callie has a younger brother Sam who have azma and so do I so I understood when Callie would get upset when her brother would get a azma attack.

Artemis Fowl By Eoin Cofler

A review By Michael Gorman

Artemis Fowl, Eoin Cofler

* * * * *            If you were a 12 year old boy genius what would you do with your life? Would you save the earth or destroy it? Artemis fowl decided he would commit his life to crime to resemble his father and keep the Fowl heritage alive. He would plan evil plots and gather hordes of gold. On one particular day Artemis stumbled across a book written in strange symbols. Finally after Artemis translates it he discover that it is the holy book of “The People.” The People are all sorts of magical creatures that live hundreds of miles underground in a base they call The Haven. Artemis then captures a fairy by the name of Holly Short and traps her in his basement. Holly must find a way to escape and Artemis must find a way to harness the power from the people.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes science fiction and fantasy plus lots of unexpected twists! If you get hooked on the book there are six other books to keep you entertained.

The Million Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica

Title- The Million Dollar Throw
Author- Mike Lupica
Reviewed By- Shant A.

Imagine what it would be like if you had a once in a lifetime chance to throw a football into a hole in the Patriots Stadium and having a chance to win a million dollars. In this book its about a 13 year old kid named Nate Brodie (nicknamed Brady) who is a huge fan of Tom Brady. He lives in Massachusetts and he was in a raffle where you can have a chance to throw a million dollar throw during halftime of the Patriots game. Will he make the throw? You can find out by reading this outstanding book that always keeps you hanging with amazement.

Honorable Mentions

- The King of Mulberry Street, By Donna Jo Napoli
- Hatchet, By Gary Poulson

Gone by Michael Grant

Gone by Michael Grant   

Review by Abigail V

*****

“FAYZ. Spelled F-A-Y-Z. It stands for Fallout Ally Youth Zone. Fallout Ally, and nothing but kids.” A place without adults, no rules, no school, and all the junk food you can eat… until it runs out anyway. Sounds like a pretty good life to most kids. But for Sam Temple, living with all the strange happenings going on can be hard on for a fourteen-year-old boy. Mutations and fights for power are something to be scared of, and Sam does his best to stop it.

This book reminds me of how lucky we are to have our parents because everyone in the FAYZ loses their parents and will probably never see them again. Each page is filled with excitement, adventure, and tension. It shows how much responsibility these kids have on their shoulders with their parents gone so vividly.

"Unbelievable" By Sara Shepard

Unbelievable By Sara Shepard

Review by Lana W.

*****

“Unbelievable” by Sara Shepard is about four best friends hiding a secret about another girl’s death. Then all of this turn into a disaster! They got death threats, and threats from an unknown person named “A”. Everyday they worry something is going to happen to one of them. There is no way of getting out of this mess. What’s going to happen to these best friends? Read this book to find out. I liked this book because it creates suspense and makes me want to keep reading. This book reminds me of another book I read called “Dirty Little Secrets”. This book reminds me of “Unbelievable” because both books tell the same story. Also they teach the same lesson and have the same theme.

Deep And Dark And Dangerous

Book Review by: Nelli B.
Imagine would it would be like going to an old cottage your mother used to go when she was young. Re-living all those wonderful memories, think again. 13 year old Ally, along with her aunt Dulcie and cousin Emma. They all went to Gull Cottage where Ally and Emma met a strange girl named Sissy. Could sissy be hiding something about her mothers and aunt’s past? About the lake being deep and dark and dangerous? Find out in Deep And Dark And Dangerous.
This ghost story is a spine chilling mystery that will leave you wanting more. It is filled with adventure and anticipation. If you are into books like this then I highly recommend that you READ IT!

Other Recommendations:



A Child Called “It”

Peter and the starcatchers By, Dave Barry and Ridley Peaarson

A review by, Garo H.
Peter and the starcatchers, By Dave Barry, and Ridley Pearson
Recommended by, Garo H.
5 stars
Imagine having the feeling that fills your body with sensational warmth giving you the power to do tricks and abilities such as flying and putting people to sleep at will. When orphan boy Peter sets foot on the lousiest ship in all of England, he finds himself lurching for adventure. When he sees a trunk get loaded onto his ship he gets curious on what is inside it. Talking to his new friend Molly he met on his ship, he learns that she is part of this society called “The Starcatchers”. Peter joins Molly on a quest to keep the trunk away from “The Others” and find out whats inside.
This book reminds me of the book, “Peter Pan” . They are very similar because in both the main character is called Peter and they are both during the time of pirates. They also both include a great deal of magic.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith and Jane Austin

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austin and Seth Grahame-Smith        Review by Anthony L. *****                                                                                   
Everyone believe in some kind of fairytale creature creatures like fairies, dragons, and trolls . . .but zombies? This is the tale of Elizabeth and her sisters who live in a zombie infested London, England and try (try . . .) to be young dainty woman while also being zombie-killing machines. Not only must they fight there way through zombies, ninjas, and other people, the must find the perfect man for them.                                                                                                                           
  This book reminds me of World War Z another zombie book about war, zombies, and depression just as this book has. This book also highlights many themes such as perseverance, love, hate, keeping hope, survival, and responsibilities for your own actions. Not only does this book have very detailed vocabulary it also has very detailed illustrations that can show how gory the scenes can be. I recommend this boom to ANYONE who loves a gory love story.  

                                                             
                                                           Honorable Mention:                                                                                                                                 Alice in Wonderland by Luis Carroll
                                                        Sense and Sensibilities by Jane Austin

Suicide Notes by Michael Thomas Ford

Suicide Notes by Michael Thomas Ford

Review by Sasha Helfner *****

            What would you do if you woke up in a hospital with two slit wrists? You claim that you didn’t cut yourself, but you are still put in a 45 day program. That is Jeff’s story, but it’s not a simple one. The problem is that Jeff doesn’t even know why he tried to commit suicide. Throughout Jeff’s experience in the hospital, he ventures through his mind about topics that he has never encountered before. He talks about death, life, and other topics are thrown out there as well. You could say that his best friend, Allie, is the antagonist, or it could even be Dr. Cat Poop. Either way, they have an impact on Jeff in the old, crummy hospital for 45 long days.

            I liked this book because it gave me a different look at situation. Jeff looks at situations as if they didn’t matter; counted for nothing. Jeff said that when he cut his wrists that the skin bleeding out was like opening a ribbon on a present. This made me learn a different lookout on events. If I were cutting myself, I would be thinking about the pain and ugliness of what I have done. That isn’t what Jeff did. He viewed his action as an exiting activity. Jeff reminds me of Phoebe from “Friends.” This is because they both have different opinions about life. I already mentioned Jeff’s opinion, but Phoebe’s is the opposite. Phoebe thinks that everything that can become a cheerful song, as exampled in her song, “Smelly Cat.” I encourage you to read this book this book not only so that you can figure out what 45 day programs are like, but so that you can see what it’s like to view situations on the dark side.

Honorable mentions: Would You by Marthe Jocelyn

                                    Expect the Unexpected by Larry P. Espling

The host , By Stephenie Meyer

Review by Chrissy F *****


Think about it, what it would be like if you lived in a world with non-stop emotions and feelings. Also having a soul who has been given Melanie's body, knowing about the challenges of taking it over.The overwhelming emotions, very vivid memories. But there was one problem, Wanderer didn’t know that it would be hard to give Melanie’s body back to her without being possessed. Her life is like a bad nightmare and it never goes away. Melanie loves a man - Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from what her body wants, Wanderer trys so hard for a man she's never met. All those bad things that happen to them on their journey makes them both enemies and they set off to search for the man they both love but also bump into things they have to fight for.


I honestly love this book its amazing . These are the types of books I like to read, mystery books and very vivid books. Most of the books that this author likes to write is mostly about those things and vampires or souls. My opinion is that I think more people should read this book I think a lot of people will like It and enjoy reading it.

This book and the character both remind me of mystery’s and vampire stories. It’s a really dark story and very detailed. The character reminds me of someone who likes to keep their thoughts to themselves and a person who doesn’t like to speak their mind. It also reminds me of someone who would write their thoughts and feelings in a book or journal.

This book was an amazing book and I really think people should read it and see what they think of the book.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days by: Jeff Kinney

 

A review by: Jake L Stars: *****

            The book Dog Days is a great book. This is the best book I read this year because it’s funny long and very detailed. It always keeps you interested and always wants you to know what happens next. The shocking part about the book is the beginning started off slow. It was still pretty funny but I didn’t get why it was called Dog Days. But once they actually got the dog it started to pick up. It actually got funnier as I read along, it got more detailed, and it wanted to keep a coming back into the story. This book actually reminds me of the Spongebob movie because Spongebob reminds me of Greg the main character the one the whole book is based on. Patrick reminds me about Rowely the sidekick and the best friend.

            The book is about a boy named Greg Heffely. Who is in the middle of his summer vacation and his dad gets him a dog. The problem is that the dog is very loud and rambunctious. Greg gets easily annoyed by the dog and he needs to figure out how to get rid of it. In my opinion the book is great and if you want a good laugh then read it.

The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

The Battle of The Labyrinth by Rick Riordan *****

            Have you ever thought about the Greek gods? Well what if they were all real: the monsters, the heroes and the gods? What if the gods had half mortal children? What if those children were half gods and fought off monsters on a daily bases? For Percy Jackson all of this is how he lives. He is the son of Poseidon and he fights monsters for a hobby.

            Percy and his friends must venture into the deep, dark endless Labyrinth in order to save his beloved camp, Camp Half-blood. Percy must find and stop an army invasion of monsters. This reminds me of The Adventures of Ulysses because they are both about heroic deeds and ancient Greek gods.

Honorable Mention

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

The End by Lemony Snicket                   Reviewed by Evan Foun

Justin Bieber, First Step To Forever: My Story.

Review by: Romina R.

*****

Most celebrities start their dreams because of relatives, or are born into fame.  But no, not every celebrity started this way.  Some people start people start by just following their dreams.  And this is the story, of am kid who had a dream, and really followed that dream.  This is the story of a kid named Justin Bieber; how he had a dream, and how he followed that dream and it all cam true.  In the blink of an eye.  This kid grew up poor in Stratford, Ontario, and he loved to sing.  He would sing, in competitions, and on the street for money.  But it all started when he put videos on YouTube for his family for his family to see, but when music producers started listening to the music, they knew that something big was about to happen.

This is one of my favorite books ever!  I would definitely recommend reading it!!  It tells you to believe, follow your dreams, and NEVER SAY NEVER!!  This book doesn’t remind me of any other book I say this because it is more like his personal diary.  And he is talking to you and giving you advice.  This is a book absolutely everyone would like!!!

Honorable Mentions:

Ominous by: Kate Brian

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

Nate R.

*****

            Did you ever imagine that you had magical powers? In the case of Carter and Sadie Kane, they don’t need to imagine. Their direct descendants are the mighty pharaohs of ancient Egypt, who were often controlled by Egyptian gods, mainly Horus. In addition to being powerful magicians, Carter and Sadie are possessed by Horus and Isis, respectively. With their new power,  Carter and Sadie must fight Set to keep chaos from ruling the world.

This book reminds me of the ancient Egyptian unit from school. Many gods and pharaohs are important characters in both, such as Horus and Isis. This is my review on The Red Pyramid.

Honorable Mentions:
The Last Olympian, by Rick Riordan
Heat, by Mike Lupica

Knots in My Yo-yo String, by Jerry Spinelli

Knots in My Yo-yo String, Jerry Spinelli

Review by Robert K. ***** 


    How would you like to know about an authors childhood and how they grew up. How would you like to know where they grew up, what were their hobbies, and what they experienced throughout their lives. You can read about this in the memoir of Jerry Spinelli. Read about where he lived and what he did on his free time. Read how his childhood was different than yours right now.

This is a spectacular book! Our lives today are much different than it was in the past when he was a kid. Kids also used to do much different activities on their free time when they didn’t have as much technology as we do today. This story reminds me how my parents tell me what they used to do when they were kids. I highly recommend this book to anyone, even if you are not a fan of memoirs.

Honorable Mentions:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth, by Jeff Kinney

The Dead Man in Indian Creek, by Mary Downing Hahn

If I Stay By Gayle Forman

A review by Deanna S.

*****

Imagine yourself having a nice day with your family and then it all goes bad and you get in a car crash. You can see yourself being air lifted to the hospital. That’s exactly what happened to fifteen-year-old Annabelle. She was going to visit her grandmother in Oklahoma for the day but never got there.

            I liked this book because it keeps you in suspense and is scary at some points. It was like the lovely bones. She was a ghost and could see everything that was happening but couldn’t speak or be seen. That is what Annabelle was like.

Marley & Me by John Grogan

Marley & Me, By John Grogan

Review by Michaela A.  ★★★★★

            Think of a world with the world’s worst dog.  On the outside he is a cute little adorable dog, but on the inside he is a devil trying to break free.  If you were to have the world’s worst dog his name would probably be Marley.  John and Jenny Grogan have a dog named Marley.  All they wanted was a cute calm little puppy.  Instead they got Marley.  Marley is a very active dog that gets into a lot of trouble.  Will John and Jenny put up with Marley being the world’s worst dog or will they have to give him up on their journey with him?

            This book is hilarious, funny, and amazing.  If you want a book about love and truly caring about something then you have to read this book.  It makes you think about how much you really care about something when you have it, and when it’s gone you feel heartbroken.  In a way it reminds me of Lilo & Stitch because Stitch in the beginning of the story he got in trouble all the time and all he wanted to do was mess things up.  At the end of the story he calmed down and noticed that he was acting crazy and stopped acting crazy.  That is just like Marley.  At the end of the story Marley stopped being the crazy dog that he was and started acting like a regular dog.  I think that anyone would like this book, no matter what kind of books they like.

Honorable Mentions

Sliding into Home, by Dori Hillestad Butler

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J.K. Rowling

The Call of the Wild by Jack London

  The Call of the Wild, by Jack London

Review by Rachel Q. *****

      What would it be like to be taken from your happy life and sold to different masters in the Alaskan wilderness? Buck knows. He is a St. Bernard and was taken from his life with a rich judge and sold as a sled dog to different masters who beat him. He struggles to survive among all of the cruelty and hopelessness. Slowly, he becomes cold and hard. He learns to trust no one. Will Buck ever experience love and loyalty again? Or will he have to face the world all by himself?

       The Call of the Wild is an amazing book. When you read it you feel so bad for Buck and it brings to light how easy we have it in our everyday lives compared to others.  It’s just like when I first heard about what happened in Haiti. Their lives were already hard and now they have to deal with having nothing to feed themselves, no shelter, no warmth. You find yourself always cheering Buck on. This is a really good book that I hope everyone enjoys.

Honorable Mentions:

Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe

The Misadventures of Benjamin Bartholomew Piff, by Jason Lethcoe

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

A Mango Shaped Space By Wendy Mass

Review of A Mango Shaped Space by Lola D.M.

***** (5/5 Stars)

      What if color had letters or sound had shapes? Well for 13 year old Mia they do. She has a rare condition called Synesthesia, or a way of experiencing two different senses at once, which can make letters and words have colors, feelings have shapes, shapes have sounds, etc. Mia didn't tell anyone until her parents got notification that she is failing math and French. When her parents found out, they start to bring her to these meetings with people that have her condition. Meanwhile, her best friend wasn't talking to her because she was upset that Mia didn't tell her about her Synesthesia sooner. Then there is Mia's new kitten, Mango, (who has the same eyes as recently dead grandfather, for whom she is still grieving) who is very ill, and to top it all off, Mia has suddenly become popular because of her condition. Life is so confusing for Mia these days. Will she ever get her friend back? Will Mango get better? How long will her popularity last? And what about that boy from the Synesthesia group that keeps emailing her? 

       Life is so much different with Synesthesia. Mia is an excellent painter because of it, but has other problems. I really enjoyed seeing life though the eyes of someone who sees the world in a very vibrant way. It really made me stop and think about the beautiful colors in our world. I read this after The Giver because I was so appalled that there wasn't any color. I had to read a book exploding with color.

     I suggest this to any one who wants to have a new way of looking at the world.

 

The Life of Pi Yann Martel

Review by Niko C. *****

    Pi Patel is a god loving boy, as well as the son of a zookeeper. He has a love for the stories and practices of not only his native religion Hinduism, but of Christianity and Islam as well. When he was sixteen, he his family and all of their animals emigrate to North America on a Japanese cargo boat, but the ship sinks. As the boat is going down Pi quickly finds a lifeboat and jumps in, joining the hyena, orangutan, wounded zebra and Bengal Tiger who are already in the boat. Can Pi make it to land safely? And what about the animals?

    This book is about the hardships Pi faces during his long voyage and how he survives with the animals through many straining ordeals, like landing on an island with carnivorous plants, and simply getting food and water for himself and his companions. It mostly all takes place in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean on a medium sized lifeboat with few supplies. I liked this book because it was very interesting to read about all the ways he survives and gets what he needs to survive for himself and his crewmates, and how he comes up with all these ways to keep himself and his crewmates alive.

   This book makes me think about how important it is to be healthy, smart and creative so you will last longer if you for example, were trapped on a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean with a bunch of animals. It reminds me of all the amazing feats people go through to stay alive in the craziest situations, like the man who had to saw his own arm off with a pocket knife, and how thankful I am that I haven't had to go through the same thing. (So far at least.)

Hero by Mike Lupica

      Reviewed by Jesse C.                                                            You know life can be very hard and weird when your father dies mysteriously but then your dad was not a normal person he had some weird kind of power or some thing and so do you. that's what happened to Zach his dad was on a so called business trip and does not come back turns out your dad is dead.For Zach this was really hard for him to take since he and his dad almost never spent time with each other but still he was very sad he goes to visit the place his dad died and this weird old man tells him that his dad was not normal he had powers and turns out Zach has powers to huh kind a surprise not much of one. Zach did not believe him but then he got in a fight and has a lot    

Sea of Monsters by: Rick Riordan

                                  Review of Sea of Monsters by Nathaniel E.      
           Picture yourself as a 13 year old demi-god. Your father is Poseiden one of the most powerful deities of ancient Greece. Now imagine you have a sword at your disposal just at the push of a pen. Imagine your chooses will determine the fate of Olympus and the Olympians are no exception, nor is earth and all who inhabit it. You can fight for the deities of ancient greece and keep order, join the greatest threat to ever exist and bring Olympus to the ground and the Olympians to their knees. Once one of your greatest friends is out to plot against, and be sure you fail in stopping the resurrection of the greatest evil the magical world has ever known. Not to mention the trials, monsters and losses ahead.

         This is the story of the the young hero Percy Jackson and his friends Tyson, Anabeth, and Grover, who are on a quest the oracle  for told to them. This the second book in a series of 5 books. 1 Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The "Lightning Thief", 2 Percy Jackson and the Olympians: "The Sea of Monsters", 3 Percy Jackson and the Olympians: "The Titans Cures",4 Percy Jackson and the Olympians: "The Battle of the Labyrinth", 5 Percy Jackson and the Olympians: "The Last Olympian." since this is based off mythology, it made me realize all the epic tales the world has to tell.      

kobe Bryant By:Matt Christopher

Kobe Bryant
Reviewed By:Luis M.
Rating:*****




There it is Kobe Bryant the Los Angeles Lakers have won the NBA Championship.I think that Kobe Bryant is a great book because it shows great examples of struggle and being successful and shows how much pressure there is being the number one high school Basketball player in the nation.Another example would be that it can show how to succeed in life and be patient and everything will come out the way you want it to.

Frindle

Frindle
Reviewed by Gabe Gerhske
*****
    Can I please have a frindle, a black one please. Nick Allen was always creative. Who could forget about the time he mocked his teacher by chirping like a bird because of her curved nose. Now he has made his own word. he is famous in the 5th grade and now has been on lots of talk shows. Watch out for Ms. Granger because she is a major obstacle in the course to get frindle in the dictionary. I liked the book because there was so much trouble over one word. Find out what frindle means and so much more in Frindle by Andrew Clements.

Top 8, Katie Finn

     Review of Top 8, By Sofia F   

     Have you ever been hacked before? Or have you ever thought of what it was like to be hacked? Did you ever think losing your friends and your reputation could possibly be the outcome of a hacking?

     Madison MacDonald didn't know either. Now she knows.

In the story Top 8, by Katie Finn, Madison (Maddie) MacDonald went on a tropical vacation to the Virgin Islands. With no internet. The internet is a big part of Maddie's life, especially because she is so involved in a social networking site called "Friendverse.com"

     When she got home and logged onto her "friendverse." The second her profile popped up. She screamed...

     I liked this book because I could relate to Maddie in many ways. For example we are both still in school, we have the same likes, and dislikes, we stick to our own group of friends, we have big mouths, and we are both addicted to social networking websites. In her case it's "Friendverse," in my case it's "Facebook."

        This book really reminds me of the "Pretty Little Liars" series. It reminds me of this series because, all of the girls in both books are in high school, they are dealing with the same types of problems and the voice of both stories are very similar. Both books talk about things and say words that most younger girls or teenage girls use.

        The book Top 8 taught me not to always trust just anyone, and to be careful what i put online.

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

                                          Review of The City of Ember by Yasha P. *****

  

            Could you imagine living in an under ground city under the fear that your power generator might fail any day now. This book is all about Lina’s and Doon’s adventures about finding the way out of Ember. The story takes place 241 years after the disaster, in the city of Ember. Lina and Doon are trying to face the odds of finding the way out of Ember before the generator fails and the whole city goes black.

            This book was very well written. What I liked about it the most was how there were two people involved in the way out of Ember. So, the author would first talk about Lina, then Doon. The book would go back and forth from Lina’s perspective to Doon's perspective. That was just the first quality I liked about the book. The second quality I liked about the book was how the author would go from very descriptive writing to very simple action writing which gave it a pleasure to read. Overall I gave this book a five because the book had suspense through most of the story, making you not wanting to stop reading.

The Mysterious Benedict Society Trenton Lee Stewart

Review by: Karl E.   *****

Can you imagine having the privilege of being a spy, with the world as we know it resting in your hands? That's what life was like for four children by the names of: Reynie Muldoon, George "sticky" Washington, Constance Contraire, and Kate "the Great Kate Weather Machine" Wetherall. All of these children met at a test in Stonetown to be chosen, and then later traveled to and island off the coast of Stonetown. The reason that they were chosen was because they all had a special ability, whether it was solving puzzles, photographic memory, or having an incredible agility. Reynie is the main character though, and he is honest, loves puzzles, and can think in pressurized situations.

 The four chuldren are out to save the world from evil Mr. Curtain, a man sending messages through just about everything that travels through air waves, and says things like: The missing aren't missing, they've only departed" causing people to ignore the disappearances of others they know. The reason he sends messages like this is because he's kidnapping people and taking them to his institute. But how and if they will be able to stop Mr.Curtain is up to you to read!
The reason I enjoyed this book is because the suspense flows off of every page, and there's a lot of emotional changes, like happy to sad, mad to happy, etc. Also it reminded me of how persuasive people can be and that teamwork never fails.

The Golden Goblet By Eloise Jarvis McGraw

Review By: Steven D. 

 *****

Pages: 247

        Ever got your arm cut off for stealing a loaf of bread? The book The Golden Goblet By Eloise Jarvis McGraw is staring a little boy named Ranofer, black long hair, wearing a cross on his right arm and black eyes, this boys father has passed away and is a laborer for his older brother Gebu, a mean drunk man, who cares only for money and wine, Ranofer does 100s of errands a day for pity table scraps for all this hard work, he constantly gets beaten and abused for no reason, Ranofer lives outside of Gebus house in a dirty courtyard, in the the courtyard is a small incomplete brick house that Ranofer lives in, there is hope for Ranofer, he passes a talented skill that is known in Egypt, this might just change his life, the big idea is Gebu is secretly stealing ingots of gold through wine bottles and Ranofer try's to proves Gebu guilty for tomb robing.

         I really enjoyed the book The Golden Goblet and all its cunning tricks it pulled on me when i was reading it, the master plan behind the book was hard to take in but it was fun going through the book reading about the tales of the missing ingots, the details help me to imagine the scenery and background, overall this was a well done book and i recommend it.

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

 

 Dear John by Nicholas Sparks
Review by Ally Kazanjian


 Have you ever wanted to read about true love? The book Dear John was a fantastic book to read because its about a true love between John and Savannah. John first met her at the beach when she drops her purse in the water and John went to get it and that was true love at the first sight.

  John went to the Army,Savannah saw another man behind John's back so they broke up. When John comes to the airport Savannah was there waiting for him and gives him a huge hug.

  John asked Savannah to come to dinner to meet his dad and she loved him. Savannah went to see him when John went to the Army.




                              Will John ever trust Savannah ever again after the incident?      

In Your Room - By, Jordanna Fraiberg

Soleen G.

April 11, 2011

Class Red

Book Review For In Your Room

*****

A boy. A girl. And a room. What usually happens inside? In Your Room is a story of a teenage boy and girl who swap rooms for an entire summer. Though they haven't ever met each other face to face, they seem to know so much about each other. But how? By getting a chance to live in each others houses they grow closer and closer together even though they are living miles apart. Is it even a relationship when you haven't even met the guy that you think you love? In Your Room will surprise you in many way, both positive and negative. This is a great book because many people will be able to relate to the issues that these two teenagers are facing in their relationship. This book really reminds me of all of all the romance movies I have seen, especially 'Love Happens' because, like In Your Room, the movie isn't predicable at all and you will truly be surprised. Also, it is a great romance novel just like 'Love Happens' was a great romance movie. In Your Room is a really surprising and thrilling book that is packed with everything  that usually happens in a relationship; jealousy in friends, cheating, and much more. And even once you've read it cover to cover you won't get enough.

Dragon's Keep by Janet Lee Carey

Review of Dragon's Keep by Mandlenkosi Mandizha
 Dragon's Keep by Janet Lee Carey
      
      Have you ever yearned for that book that has it all? Romance courageous,suspense. Well the book Dragon's Keep by Janet Lee Carey might be the heroic yarn you desire. We are introduced to the Pendragon Dynasty in the English Channel in the Middle Ages. Yet behind her eternal smile is a hideous and grotesque disfigurement , that repels all suitors. Will she ever find love and a sense of closure in her life?                       
                The book's theme is most certainly, "it's whats on the inside that counts." To me a person must have good qualities for me to find companionship with them  I'm not one for romance, yet books that talk about the guidance we feel we need in our lives, or, about destiny make me think about life philosophically some of my favorites. Inquiry is a healthy quality to exercise, and with this book, your brain will start to induce conjusive and creative thoughts and habits. A book that in the long run will lead to a or successful you

    

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Reviewed by Jessica R.
*****

    In this story, you will meet this boy named Hugo who once, long ago, discovered a mysterious drawing that changed his life forever. This story takes place in Paris, in 1931. He lives all by himself, because his dad died and his uncle just left him, and then later died. Hugo lives in an old store behind clocks so when they need to get fixed, he is there to fix them. My opinion is that I like the illustrations in the book because they are very detailed. I also liked that when I first started to read the book I could not put it down. It was a page turner.
      
      I would definately recommend this book to anyone who likes adventures or mystery books because this is a book that has both! 
 

Two of a Kind by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

Two of a Kind
Review by:Molly M.
*****

Have you ever wanted to know what it was like to keep a secret from your sister? Now you can find out. Read the book called Two of a Kind! The protagonists in this story are the twins named Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. The story takes place at there house up in the girls little hangout, the attic, for Ashley's sleepover!  I really liked this book. I really liked it because it had great descriptions and great use of vocabulary. Mary-Kate had a secret that she had never told Ashley before and Ashley gets really mad at her. You have to read the book to find out more on what happens with the twins relationship and what ends up happening with the sleepover.
This book reminds me of what happened when my sister and I both had sleepovers. For example, when my little sister wanted to hangout with my friend and I said no. That usually happens with my sister's friends too. That is why this story relates to my life and reminds me of the things that my sister and I have been through together.

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

Review of Pretty Little Liars by Samantha S.


      Can you imagine your best friend mysteriously disappearing? Have you ever gotten gruesome texts from a person that knows everything about you? Especially someone that you don't even know? Have you ever been afraid to keep secrets and stay safe.

      Pretty Little Liars was one of the best books I have ever read. Four best friends (Aria Montgomery, Hanna Marin, Spencer Hastings and Emily Fields) have to cope with one of their closest friends, Allison DiLaurentis, randomly disappearing after a sleepover in the 7th grade. On the way, they all are getting text messages from someone named "A", who is their "personal" stalker. I liked this book because I like reading about mysteries. This reminds me that you have to keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer.