5S Book Blog

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Alex

2011-12-07T12:03:00.001-06:00

Floors by Brianna

2011-12-06T15:14:00.001-06:00

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by Jeremy

2011-12-06T15:11:00.001-06:00

Hothead by Garrett and Sam

2011-12-06T15:07:00.001-06:00

Video Book Review Directions

2011-11-12T17:09:00.001-06:00

I thought we'd try something a bit different for our next book review. You are all going to make a video book review, and I'm going to leave most of the thinking up to you. Your grade will be based on the quality of the information you give about the book that you read and the creativity of your video. Think of this as a "Book Tube" project where the goal is to share information about the book you read in a creative way. You may have friends and family involved in your video, but how you decide to interpret this assignment is completely up to you! The video is due on December 7th and some of the projects will be posted here on the book blog.

The LMC has three flip cams that we can use at school, so if you don't have a device of some kind that records video at home, no problem...just write out the script, rehearse what you are going to do (many, many times so you've got it down) and we can film it at school, but remember that I will be filming this during school so keep it simple silly! I can't film multiple scenes, just a simple one shot idea if you will be filming at school. Go wild kids and have fun with this assignment! Any questions, ask me at school or send me an email. I'm looking forward to seeing the final products!

Charlotte's Web by Charlotte

2011-10-02T11:01:00.000-05:00

Charlotte’s Web
By Charlotte

I loved the book “Charlotte’s Web”! It’s by E. B. White, and was fun, entertaining and it puts you on an edge because you never know what’s going to happen next. If you like simple fantasy books then you’re going to like this one. The ending puts me in a shock. It felt like it all went by too fast. It freezes you up. It makes you wish the author would write on or make another story. I finished the book feeling blank, but I still loved the book itself. I found it very fascinating.

This book is a great book for animal lovers, because it takes place on a farm. It’s about a girl saving a baby pig from the death of an axe. She takes it in and names it Wilbur. She cares for it until it is ready to be sold. She refuses to sell him to any random stranger and ends up selling him to her uncle across the street. She visits him almost every day she could. But when winter comes her uncle prepares to kill and eat the pig. The only chance Wilbur has is his new best friend hidden in the corner.

I think this is a great book for almost all ages. The book was unique because the author was so creative with the girl and her experience with the farm animals. Plus “Charlotte’s Web” Is already famous, and in plays too. E. B. White is a great author and has a mind for kids. You can find many great books by him including “Charlotte’s Web”. This is a book that allows me to relate to the real world. Some of it is fun and crazy and the rest is realistic and possible. I love this book because it is fun and it keeps you predicting about the fun surprises later on in the story. “Charlotte’s Web” is a great book by E. B. White that I would recommend to most people I know.

Rules by Jude

2011-09-30T21:48:00.001-05:00

Rules by Jude

Are you ever embarrassed of your brother or sister? This is exactly how Catherine feels. Catherine is a 12 year old girl who loves to create artwork. She one day hopes her 8 year old brother David would magically become normal. Only problem is, he is autistic. She struggles to make her brother act like a typical boy. Catherine attempts to do so by creating rules he must follow. Will her goal of a normal brother ever succeed? Will David stop being an embarrassment? Read Rules to find out.

Rules is a realistic fiction book about an girl who only asks that her autistic 8 year old brother become normal. While her brother is at therapy, she draws a 16 year old boy in a wheelchair named Jason. Instead of talking, Jason points to word cards in his binder. While Catherine is drawing Jason, his mom sees the picture and asks if she can show her son. With slight hesitation, Catherine agrees to the idea. Without realizing it, Catherine is creating the beginning of a new friendship.

However, with good things, bad things arrive as well. A new person, Kristi, has moved next door. Catherine really wants to impress her. Kristi asks her to come to the community dance. But she doesn’t know that what she does next will interfere with her friendship with Jason. Will she ask Jason to the dance? Will her brother ever become normal? Unfortunately, you are going to have to read the book to find out.

If you have annoying siblings, then Rules should be easy for you to relate to. I personally love this book because it can be hard when you have multiple problems that need to be fixed at the same time. I also liked it because even though my life is nothing like her life I can still find things that we have in common. If you liked the book Waiting for Normal then you will like Rules because like Addie in Waiting for Normal Catherine is waiting to have a normal life and finds little way to go through it. This book is really exciting and it’s full of surprises.

I wish I had read this book a long time ago because it’s so good. I give this book 10 out of 10 stars. Rules is a book you have to read. It is personally one of my favorite books. It doesn’t matter how old you are or if you‘re a girl or a boy because either way you will love this wickedly good book!

Because of Winn Dixie by Melody

2011-09-30T21:45:00.000-05:00

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
By Melody
Rating=5

Because of Winn-Dixie is about this girl name India Opal Buloni lives with her father (who was a preacher). They move to Naomi Florida. One day she went to the supermarket. While she was there one of the manager yelled get that dog out of here. She glaze down and saw a big ugly dog was looking at her. The manager want to call the dog pound, Opal told him that it was her dog. He asked her what was his name she look around and saw the flyer Dixie and tomato label was Winn she name him Winn-Dixie. Opal felt sorry and bring Winn-Dixie home.

Opal and Winn-Dixie became very close friend. Sometime Winn-Dixie would run off to the witch house and get his favor treat. There they meet Gloria Dump the witch lady, who hand bottle to scare the ghost away. Mrs. Franny the library who has a special candy that makes you feels sorrow. And Otis who owns a pet shop can play beautiful music with his guitar.

I really like this book “Because of Winn-Dixie”. I recommend this book to 9 year olds and up. It is amazing how she went through her troubles with the help of other people. If you read the book Pugsley then Because of Winn-Dixie should be the right book for you. Pugsley is about this pug who finds an owner. And the owner and the pug are always close friends and they will always stick together. Because of Winn- Dixie is the best book ever!! I love dog stories!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Graveyard Book by Sam

2011-09-30T21:42:00.000-05:00

The Graveyard Book by Sam

Do you like a good mystery? Are you ready for an adventure? Do you want to read a book that you can’t put down because it’s just that good? If so, you should read The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. This is an epic story of a boy named Nobody Owens who was adopted by two ghosts named Mr. and Mrs. Owens. Join Nobody (Bod for short) on his quest to avoid The Man Jack, The Jacks, a Sleer, and the ghouls (such as the 33rd president and the Emperor of China). Along the way you will get to meet all Bod’s unique friends like Scarlett, Liza, Silas, and Ms. Lupescu. Learn more about Bod’s adventures by reading The Graveyard Book.

The Graveyard Book is about a boy named Bod that was adopted by two ghosts and given the freedom of the graveyard. The freedom of the graveyard gives Bod the power to walk through walls, fade, and Dreamwalk. Dreamwalking is when you can go into other people’s dreams. I think that Bod’s life is great and all but it’s a bit scary because he’s being hunted down by The Man Jack and the Jacks. Ms. Lupesca is a hound of god, which is a giant wolf two times the size of a real dog. Liza is a ghost witch that was killed when she was 12. Scarlett is the only friend of Bod’s that is alive. Last but not least there is Silas, Bod’s guardian and only male friend that is not dead or alive. I think this book is a fantasy because there are ghosts, ghouls, a giant snake with three indigo peoples’ heads and a giant dog.

I definitely recommend this book. I rate it a 7 because it is off the charts! I cannot say if you liked __________ then you’ll like The Graveyard because you cannot compare this book to any other book I’ve read. To me, this is the best book from all my history of reading. I really like all the details Neil Gaiman put in the book and how he described everything. Really, when I was reading the book it was like I was watching a movie in my mind. It wasn’t just any movie; it was a blockbuster movie that I never knew could be made. I highly recommend The Graveyard book to anyone who likes mystery, adventure and suspense. Let me know what you think of the book by leaving a comment.

Al Capone Does my Shirts by Hanna

2011-09-29T20:47:00.000-05:00

Al Capone Does My Shirts
By Hanna

Why can’t I just have a normal life? Why do I have to move to this “12 acre rock covered with cement?” I WANT TO GO HOME!!!!!! This book can take place in our time, 2011. When Moose Flanagan moves to an island full of murderers, conmen, rapists, burglars, kidnappers, and of course Al Capone, Moose doesn’t know how to survive on the island. He only knows his family on the island. This book is by Gennifer Choldenko. Moose needs some help and that is just what he gets.

Moose Flanagan and his little sister, Natalie, move to an island called Alcatraz. This island was nothing like his house back in San Francisco. They moved to Alcatraz because his little sister is a little cranky. She is NOT like other children her age. Natalie is a very bright kid and only 10. They had to travel all around the world to help her, but couldn’t get her in a school that could help her. Now she is trying to go to a school called “Esther P. Marinoff”. Natalie and Moose make new friends. One is named Piper who gets in trouble sometimes with them. Neither of them has ever been in a place like this before.

I like Al Capone Does My Shirts because this book is an interesting book that gets better and better. I recommend this book if you like Scarlet because both of the characters have the same type of adventure. They both need to get use to living in a new place. In Scarlet’s case she needed to go live with her dad. Al Capone Does my Shirts is about living with new people new places. Children from 8 and up would love this book. I rate this book a 5 out of 5. This is a better book than all the books I’ve read before. This is an awesome book that everyone should read!

The Mailbox by Emily

2011-09-29T20:42:00.000-05:00

The Mailbox by Audrey Shafer is a great novel about a 12-year old boy named Gabe. After Gabe finds his uncle Vernon’s lifeless body in the hallway of their house, he begins a life of mystery. Gabe refuses to tell anyone about his uncle’s death for fear of having to return to foster care. He even keeps his secret from his school teacher and all his friends. Gabe wonders how long he can keep this secret. Will people find out his uncle has died? When Gabe begins receiving anonymous letters in the mail, checking the ‘Mailbox’ becomes an important part of his life. This mystery writer gives him guidance and direction on living life without his uncle.

Gabe comes home from a long day at school to find his uncle lifeless body lying on the floor. Several weeks go by without Gabe telling anyone about his uncle. Then one day after school, Gabe checks the mailbox to find a mysterious green envelope with the lettering “To Mr. G.C.P.” Days later, he receives a letter of great surprise; the mystery writer had left him a dog named Guppy. The letters continue to arrive and Gabe anxiously awaits each letter. One day while on a school field trip, the cops come looking for Gabe. They had found that Gabe was living alone. Gabe had to tell his secret to the cops and his teachers. Gabe wonders will he have to go back to foster care or will he ever learn who is writing him these letters.

I would rate this book a 5. The first 4 chapters were a little slow, but once I got into the 5th chapter, this book really grabbed my attention. With each chapter, I looked forward to learning how Gabe was getting through life without his uncle. The mystery around who was writing him the letters kept my interest. If you like books where the author keeps a secret until the end, you will enjoy ‘The Mailbox’. This book taught me to give books a chance before you stop reading. Even books with boring beginnings can turn out great. ‘The Mailbox’ turned out be a great book!

Frindle by Marisa

2011-09-29T20:38:00.000-05:00

Frindle by: Marisa

Frindle by Andrew Clements is a fascinating book. An ordinary boy named Nick Allen. Nick goes to Lincoln elementary school .Nick is not always a troublemaker. Then he found out he is with one of the strictest teacher, Mrs. Granger. She always tells her kids use the dictionary. She even has her students to carry a dictionary. He always has great ideas; one of his great ideas is making a new word, Frindle. Frindle has spread across the whole world, but Mrs. Granger wants to put a stop to it.

The main characters are Nick, Mr. and Mrs. Allen, and Mrs. Granger. Nick is like any kid you would find at Lincoln Elementary school. Until one day his teacher, Mrs. Granger told the class they can call anything whatever they want. That inspired Nick to call a pen a frindle. You would think Mrs. Granger would be proud of Nick to be inspired by her lesson, but no she wants to put a stop to it. Mr. Allen (Nicks father), Mrs. Allen (Nicks mother) have some rules for Nick, like when he comes home from school he has to do his homework right away. He cannot eat dinner until he finished his homework. This is hard because Mrs. Granger gives out a lot of homework. The genre is realistic fiction. It is realistic fiction because it can most likely happen in the world.

I recommend this book because it has an impact on kids to take something that has already invented and call it something else. You would like this book because it is sort of like a mystery on who is going to win. I rate this book “Wicked Good”. You could learn a lot of new things like never be afraid to express yourself, tell then who you really are. Don’t try to act like someone you’re not. If you liked “Frindle” you might like “No Talking” because it has almost the same problem but instead of affecting the whole world it’s just another school.

Swindle by Garrett

2011-09-29T20:29:00.000-05:00

Garrett’s book report on Swindle

Have you ever had someone rip you off? If you did, what did you do to get pay back? Swindle is a book written by Gordon Korman. The main two characters are best friends named Ben and Griffin. They slept in an abounded house the day before it was to be torn down. In the house, the kids find a Babe Ruth baseball card. They take the card to a collectible shop where they meet a gentleman named Palomino. He tells Ben and Griffin the card is a fake and offers them $100 for the card. After they leave the shop, Ben and Griffin discover that the card was not fake and is more valuable than they were told.

Griffin comes from a poor family. The money from the card would really come in handy. Ben is an easygoing boy who wants to help his friend. Griffin creates a plan to get the card back. Griffin and Ben get a group of friends to help them. They nicknamed Palomino “Swindle” because swindle means to steal, trick, or defraud and that’s what he did to them. They have to do a lot of research and work on lots of details of exactly how to pull it off and not get caught. Will it work or will it not?

I would highly recommend this book. It has a lot of action. I really liked the two main characters because they remind me of my friends. The book shows the power of friendship. It keeps you wanting to read more because you don’t know what might happen. If you liked the Magnificent 12 The Call then you would like this book because both books have characters that go on a quest. Also I recommend some of Gordon Korman’s other books like Zoobreak or Framed. I give this book a rating of 5 out of 6.

Htachet by Emaline

2011-09-29T20:27:00.000-05:00

Hatchet
Written by: Gary Paulsen
Reported by: Emaline

Have you ever seen a man die and then almost died yourself?!?! Well, in Hatchet, 13 year old Brian Robeson did! In this amazing story of survival, Brian was flying over Canada in a small bush-plane to visit his divorced dad when suddenly, Brian's pilots chest tightens up and then falls limp!! Brian soon realizes, his pilot has suffered from a horrible heart-attack! Now, Brian is left flying alone with no help, and the planes gas slowly running out. When the plane does run out of gas, Brian crash lands in a lake barely missing some tall pines that would tear his plane apart! Brian has to learn to survive in the Canadian wilderness with only his hatchet, (a gift from his mother) and the clothes on his back! He has to protect himself from the elements,while embracing what he can extract from them! Brian has to become one with nature! Nature just doesn't let up! Each new day brings another perilous situation for Brian! It's the struggle for food, warmth and to be the hunter, and not the hunted! Will Brian ever be rescued or will he die trying?! Find out while reading Hatchet!

Hatchet is realistic fiction for many reasons. For one, It is possible that someone could have a plane crash in the middle of nowhere. Also, It's possible for an intelligent teen to survive on his or her own for a while; even in the wild! Unfortunately, divorce does happen too, proving once again that Hatchet is realistic fiction. Brian's life is sort of messed up. His parents are divorced, and they are still figuring things out; for now , he stays with his Mom during the school year, and with his Dad in the summer. Brian knows about…… the secret. An unfortunate surprise for Brian; one of the causes of the divorce, the split. It's something that can take over his mind, paralyze him with sadness! If you'd like to know what the secret is, you have to read the book! When Brian crashes the plane, he's stranded, no hope of getting back to civilization by himself! He has to struggle through each day with the hope that, someday, some faithful day, he will be discovered; brought back to his home, his Dad, his Mom. Will he get out?

Hatchet is an amazing story of survival. I loved this book because it was well written! I adored the awesome job Gary Paulson did on showing you how Brian changed, and evolved to his new surroundings! I was totally immersed well reading Hatchet; I literally couldn't put the book down at times!!!!!! If you liked Brian's Winter, or Brian's Hunt, you'll love the first edition to the Brian books! I think any reader 9 and up, would love the Brian books because you can feel all the tense moments that Brian was in, you feel like your there, stranded with him! They're also similar to The Island Of The Blue Dolphins! This book is also about survival of the fittest! Except this book is about a young island girl who gets left behind when the rest of her tribe is moving to a new island! I assume all good readers will like these books. I would also like to establish, that out of a one to six scale I would give Hatchet a 5, because of how you feel the power of each situation Brian has to endure! If you'd like to know how Brian ends up…… you have to read Hatchet!

The Graveyard Book by Matthew

2011-09-29T20:25:00.003-05:00

The Graveyard Book
Author: Neil Gaiman
“There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife.”

The Graveyard Book was one of my favorite books of all time. The Graveyard Book is funny,
actiony, and a little strange. The main character was named Bod Owens short for Nobody.
Bod was raised by ghost at the graveyard. He came there when he was 1. In the book Bod
learns how to fade, haunt, and dream walk. But little does he know that the JACKS OF ALL
TRADES are after him. I love this book!!

Bod’s family was murdered by the JACKS OF ALL TRADES. Bod was given a guardian named Salis. Silas is neither living nor dead. His graveyard parents are Mr. Owens and Mrs. Owens. They care for him ¾ of the time and Silas cares for him the other fourth of the time. Once Silas go’s somewhere and a “strict” Ms. Lupeaca takes his place. Ms. Lupeaca teaches him “boring” stuff that later saves his life. And the worst thing about her is that she makes Bod eat salad!! This book is Fiction because there are ghosts and ghouls. The JACKS OF ALL TRADES
are searching everywhere for him. There even disguising themselves. The Graveyard Book is
the best!!!

When I was little I always got chased by my brother. And when he caught me he would
bring me inside. What this has to do with the book is that I bet that if I read The Graveyard Book then I would have thought of the JACKS OF ALL TRADES. (My brother’s name is Jack)If
you liked “Wolves in the walls” then you’ll like this book it’s another one of his strange,
creepy books. This book is for ages 9 ½ to 9876543210!!! In the book there is this parade
and everyone has to where a big pink flower on their shirt. This reminded me of when I was on
Google images and there was a parade where everyone whore the same color. I rate this book on scale of 1 to 6 a six. On the Schumann scale this would be THIS BOOK IS BOSS!!! I loved this book. It’s my favorite!! :)

Little House on the Prairie, by the Shores of Silver Lake

2011-09-29T19:44:00.001-05:00

Book Report: Little House On The Prairie, By The Shores Of Silver Lake
Author: Laura Ingalls Wilder
By: Allison

What would it be like to live in the 1800’s? What would you wear? What would you do? Where would you live? What would you live in? You will find out all these answers in the book “ By The Shores Of Silver Lake.” This story and the other 9 books in this series are all based on the life of the author Laura Ingalls Wilder. Laura Ingalls Wilder is one of my favorite authors. When she writes she makes you feel like you were actually there in the 1800’s. I was reading the book and I looked up and saw my room and I thought where am I? I thought I was in Laura’s house. She has a special way of writing her books.

In the book Laura has 3 sisters Mary who is her older sister. Carrie who is just a few years younger and Grace who is just about 2 years old. Unfortunately, a few years ago the whole Ingalls family got a deadly disease the Fever n Auge nobody died but, Mary became blind then two years later there family dog Jack died. Jack was Laura’s best friend he was always was happy around her. The Ingalls headed west to go to a town that is being build. They walked about 200 miles with a covered wagon holding all their stuff. When they finally got there it was winter and they do not have property to build a house on yet so they get to live in the prospectors house. It is so fancy for them instead of having sheets dividing the room there are actual walls and there are 3 beds instead of 2 in there other house they had 3 people in a single bed and know they only needed 2 per bed. Soon their neighbors started coming (the prospector had let them use his house but they had to let travelers stay at there house for one night to get food and then keep on moving west.) Their first neighbors had a house only 3 miles away from them. (That was considered close then.) In the book you will explore the town that is being built with Laura. Imagine if only the adults were allowed to talk at the dinner table. You will see just how hard it is to live I the 1800’s.

This is a great book. For a rating I would give it a 5 because it is one of the best books I ever read. If you liked the book The Secret School you would like this book because they both take place in the1800’s. Plus both of the characters have the same personalities. They are both outgoing and interested in every thing. The other books in this series are also such great books. This book is a great book if like reading books that took place a long time ago. If you like reading about the old days. Secret Garden is also like this book because they both travel and go through hard times. I think that this is great book and you should definitely read it.

Hope Was Here by Brianna

2011-09-29T19:42:00.001-05:00

Brianna
Hope Was Here

Hope Was Here is about a girl moving from one place to another. Everywhere Hope goes she takes out a pen and in little letters she writes Hope was here. She had a harsh life. Her mother left her when she was an infant and gave her to her sister, Addie. Hope grows up with her Aunt Addie and sticks to her more and more every year. Hope claimed that Addie was her mother, even though she knew that was her Aunt. When Aunt Addie and Hope get kicked out of their house there is know where for them to go. A man named G.T. needed extra help, so they signed up and got ready to leave. The only problem is that they were in New York and G.T. was in Wisconsin. They drove for hours and hours with a U-HAUL hooked on the back of their tiny little car and they left. When they got their Hope new that this was going to be different from all the other places she had lived.

The main character Hope is a girl with heart and determination. She and her Aunt Addie love each other like mother and daughter. When she gets to Wisconsin she see’s the boss G.T. standing there greeting Aunt Addie. The only thing is he’s pale as snow. She thought of what Aunt Addie told her; he had cancer. Hope thought of how she never had a boss with a life threatening disease. She knew it was going to be hard working with him and how he had cancer. Will she be able to work around this? Or will she quit? The genre of this book is realistic fiction. It takes place in the present and could happen to anybody.

I give this book a rating of 3. It was sad but a little boring. If you like books with sad events and stuff about the economy, trust me you will like this book. I picked out this book because the back of the book talked about going somewhere. I can relate to the things that Hope is going through. I know how it is to move and how you lose your friends, but when you move it is a fresh new slate, a new life for you. That is the good thing about a book when you can relate to a character. A book is your friend. I recommend this book to 3rd and 4th graders.

Charlotte's Web by Juliana

2011-09-29T19:40:00.000-05:00

Charlotte’s Web
A book report by Juliana

Whoever thought a pig and a spider could become best friends? That’s exactly what happens in this book called Charlotte’s Web! Charlotte and Wilbur become friends on the Zuckerman’s farm because the farmer plans to get rid of Wilbur. Charlotte must think of a plan to help her new friend stay alive! But will the new plan really work? Templeton, a very mean and greedy rat, helps with Charlotte’s plan to save Wilbur. The carnival comes to town so Wilbur, Charlotte, and Templeton go with the Zuckermans. Charlotte tells Wilbur that she has some very bad news. Will Charlotte be okay, and what is the bad news? Find out in the exciting book Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White!

Charlotte’s Web is about an 8 year old little girl named Fern. Fern owned a day old little pig, and named him Wilbur. Wilbur was too old to live with Fern so she had to give Wilbur to the Zuckerman’s. When Wilbur got to the farm he met a spider named Charlotte. Charlotte and Wilbur soon became best friends. One day Wilbur heard the sheep say that the farmer was going to kill Wilbur! Charlotte thought of the perfect plan. “We need Templeton to help me with my plan to make Wilbur famous.” said Charlotte. At first Templeton didn’t want to help, but then he said okay. One day the Zuckerman’s took Wilbur to the county fair and Charlotte and Templeton crawled into Wilbur’s cage. They entered a contest for the best pig and…. Wilbur won!!

If you like being on a farm and have a connection to animals then you will like Charlotte’s Web. I especially loved this book because I really have a love for animals too. Once in my life I tried to kill a spider, but my mom said “No! Spiders actually help us.” Another time, I had to give away my dog but I did not want to. I liked my dog very much as much as Fern loved Wilbur. I could feel what Fern felt because I also had to give my pet away also. I would give this book a 4 (4 means, you should read this book!) because I like this book alot, but I wouldn’t say this is my favorite book. I hope you will read this book and like Charlotte’s Web as much as I do.

Scat by Kate

2011-09-29T18:24:00.001-05:00

Scat

Scat is a fun and easy book (Not TO easy) to read. The main characters are Nick, Marta, Smoke, (A.K.A Duane Scrod Jr.) Mrs. Starch, Nick’s mom, and his dad. This is an interesting book because Mrs. Starch disappeared in Black Vine Swamp after there was a wild fire and Libby Marshal lost her asthma inhaler, so Mrs. Starch went to get it but never came back out. What could be happening in Black Vine Swamp? Will Mrs. Starch ever come back out? Will Libby have another asthma attack? (Which occurring lately for Libby) Who or what was the blurry image that Nick caught on video? How did the wild fire start and did someone make it on purpose?

At the swamp, Nick had taken a video when the fire started, and saw a blurry figure, (His hands were shaking) thinking it was a panther. But when Nick went home and played the video in slow-mo, his mom noticed that his ‘panther’ was wearing a belt. This book is a little strange/spooky because there are lots of mysteries and strange parts. Nick’s dad was in Iraq but not sending any emails. Nick checked his computer every day after school but nothing was in his inbox from his dad. If you like Harry Potter, you might like Scat because there is kind of the same routine; the main character is a boy who is a little different, the girl is like the smarty-pants, and the main character’s best friend is silly.

Scat is an awesome book. The end is a little scary, but cliff-hanging. Why is this book awesome? Well I’ll tell you. Not just because of the mysteries, but because you know you have a good review that makes you keep reading. Book reviews are sort of like the motor to a toy car. The car can’t go without a motor unless you push it. If there is no motor, the car just sits there. The book review is the energy to keep you reading and anxious to figure out what happens at the end and discover secrets.-- -Kate

Stormbreaker by Jeremy

2011-09-29T18:23:00.000-05:00

Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz
By Jeremy

Have you ever seen a 14-year old boy taking place of his uncle as a spy? Well, Alex Rider did. Did you ever see a 14-year old doing stunts not even meant for adults and joining the military? Alex Rider did. Things that are hard for other people are easy for him. He barley survives the dangerous things that will happen to him. He even risks his life to complete his mission. Alex Rider is probably the coolest 14-year old in history.

This book is about Alex Rider, the main character, taking place of his dead uncle as a spy. His mission was to stop Herod Sayle, a multi-billionaire, from destroying Britain schoolchildren through computers. In order to do that he got some handy gadgets that help him to complete his mission. He even joined the military to train himself for his mission. He survived an underwater swim in an underground mine, an encounter with a Portuguese man-o-war jellyfish, and ATV cars colliding with him. Will Alex Rider stop Herod Sayle? Keep reading to find it out!

Stormbreaker is a realistic fiction book because all the events in the book could happen in real life, but they never happened. Who knows if it may happen someday? If you like adventure books, you will absolutely like Stormbreaker. Also, if you like the Harry Potter series, you will like Stormbreaker. You will like Stormbreaker because there is lots of adventure, just like Harry Potter. The grade levels for this book would be 4th to 6th graders because there are some violent parts in the story like when Herod Sayle was bleeding after Alex Rider shot him. I rate this book 5 out of 6 on the 5S scale. Stormbreaker is a great book!

Hoot by Ameya

2011-09-29T18:22:00.000-05:00

Hoot
By: Ameya

Hoot should be on everyone’s must read list. It’s an exciting book about how three kids try to save owls. This is a story of a young man moves from Montana to Florida with his family, where he's compelled to engage in a fight to protect a population of endangered owls. Roy joined the new school where a school bully named Dana Matherson, tortures every kid who is younger than him. Dana‘s favorite is victim Roy. The three kids have unexpected adventure in saving the owls. The owls are living were they are going to make a pancake place. The kids do crazy stuff to stop them from making this pancake place. Roy and his friend take help from police to investigate the wrong doing in pancake house building and save the owls.

The book is a realistic fiction book written by: Carl Hiaasen. This boy named Roy has just moved and is new to his school. One day he sees this boy while he was on the bus, Roy wondered what this boy was doing not in school. So one day he decides to go looking for this boy, when the next stop comes he runs of the bus and runs in the direction he saw the running boy go. He falls into a hole and finds three bags he opens one up and finds snakes in the bag. The running boy rescues him and helps him get out, but he doesn’t let Roy see his face. Beatrice Leep corners him in the lunchroom and asks him what he was he doing chasing that boy. It turns that is her stepbrother and he is trying to save the owls. They are making another pancake place there. Roy, Beatrice and the running boy try many things to stop them from making that restaurant there.

I loved this book because I always was wondering what would happen next. I think 3rd to 5th graders would enjoy this book. This book is really about trying to save the homes of the burrowing owls. It also about how we shouldn’t destroy innocent animals homes. This book is wicked good. Will Roy and his friends be able to save these owls or will they fail? You should read this book!

Swindle by Jason

2011-09-29T18:19:00.000-05:00

SWINDLE

By: Gordon Korman

Wacky! Mysterious! Amazing! Swindle has so much to offer its readers. This book really grabbed my attention because it was very unpredictable. It was forcing me to read every night. Boys jump off roofs. A fierce guard dog named Luther attacks. There are mischievous kids in this story. One of the boys finds something spectacular!

Swindle is a mystery that starts out at a sleepover in Stan Winter’s condemned house. The house will get torn down unless his parents pay to have it fixed. That night one of the boys at the sleepover found a very rare baseball card! They were thinking great thoughts. They went to a baseball card shop/ antique shop (Palominos Emporium) and tried to sell it when Palomino stole it. Palomino put it in a safe that is locked onto the front desk. Palomino is a rich person who has a lot of security and a giant golden retriever named Luther. Will the kids get what they need? Find out when you read Swindle.

Swindle is just a straight out awesome book. I rate this book 5 out of 6 stars. There were many reasons I liked it. First it was a mystery which is my favorite genre. Second it was unpredictable. I wasn’t so sure what was going to happen next but I was anxious to read it. And last but not least the ending was great. I’m not going to give it away because I want you to read it! If I were to be one character, I would probably be Luther because being a guard dog would be awesome. If you liked this book, you would like many more, such as, Dan Gutman’s baseball card adventure series. I also recommend Scat and many other Carl Hiaseen books. Finally, I think Swindle was a spectacular book. I’m so happy I chose this book to read. This book was beast very close to boss. You should really read it!

The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook by Swaapnik

2011-09-29T18:18:00.000-05:00

The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook.
By: Eleanor Davis

Review by: $waapnik

The secret science alliance by Eleanor Davis is a graphic novel that takes place in Mosburg Junior High. In his old school Julian was considered as a “ geek” and he was subjected to a constant torment. But now Julian is trying to make sure nobody notices. He makes new friends in school and some dangerous missions along the way. They make new inventions along the way and also makes rivals along the way too! Bullies try to bully him by trying to break it or throw it away or tease him. These trios are the geeks or the greatest inventors in their school. An evil scientist tries to steal their blueprints and hatches an evil plan, and the secret science alliance are on their way to spring into action. Can the three young inventors save their blueprints and defeat the evil scientist?

Julian is a high school kid and gets bullied a lot at his old school, and now he’s trying to not get bullied. He is 11 but people think he is 8. He has a dorky “ back to school outfit”, has a backpack from his mom from when she was in school. He is really short and his hair is always a mess. His friend Ben Garza (who is really good at sports) and his other friend Greta Hughes are really good at inventing so they tell Julian about their secret hideout. They’ve decided to call themselves: The Secret Science Alliance! The problem is that an evil scientist steals their invention and their blueprints. The trios are big fans of professor Andro Kablovsky!

I liked the book “the secret science alliance” because this book is a graphic novel and has some mystery to it! And it also keeps people it curious attitude, like “what’s going to happen next” and etc. I think you would like this because it has some curious actions, and curious inventions. If you like this book then you’ll interested in the Amulet, which is also a graphic novel. You would like Amulet because Amulet is about a girl who moves to a new city, and finds a picture of her great-grandfather. But she doesn’t realize that her great-grandfather was an inventor and created a new portal to a universe! But I won’t tell you how that story goes because you have to read it for your self. I recommend this book to people who likes graphic novels and action. This book is “wicked good”!!!

Scarlett by Jamie

2011-09-29T18:16:00.000-05:00

Scarlett
By: Cathy Cassidy

Have you ever felt like running away from school? All the pressure on you and you just want go to your little world? Well you’re not the only one. Scarlett just wants to be free of all her troubles and go to a perfect little world. Have you ever felt like you just don’t want anything to do with your family because you’re mad at them? Scarlett felt that way. Do you do things that you’re not supposed to be doing? Of course, Scarlett, does. Scarlett will do anything to get away for her family, school and a lot of other things. What kind of girl is Scarlett?

Scarlett is a twelve year old girl who has ketchup-red hair and black fingernails. She is not your average twelve year old Londoner. She gets in trouble at school. She`s gotten kicked out of five schools because of food fights, trouble in class and a lot of other bad things she does. Her mom is sick of Scarlett getting in trouble all the time. So her mom is sending Scarlett of to her dad (They got divorced). It is her a last chance at a new school. Scarlett does not want to deal with her dad or her new stepmom or stepsister. On the first day of school in Ireland she runs away. When she runs away she meets a boy named Kian. Kian helps Scarlett through all the tough times she goes through.

I recommend this book for kids ages 10 and up. If you liked Scarlett you should read The Familiars because it’s about this cat who meets a blue jay and a frog and they go on an adventure to stop an evil queen. Also if you liked Scarlett then you should read The Name OfThis Book is Secret because it’s about a girl who finds a journal and tries to keep others from getting it. A boy named Max helps her to protect it. Cathy Cassidy tells the book so well that you feel like you’re in the book and she uses very good words. For example when Scarlett tries to run away from school she describes how the sky looks and the background looks. She described to sky as looking dark gray to match the way she was feeling at the time. The background was so green with all the leaves of plants, trees and bushes. The new green leaves like the new place that she now lived. This book is the best book I`ve ever read!!!!!!! BOSS!!!!!

Ranger's Apprentice: Ruins of Gorlan #1 by Deja

2011-09-29T18:13:00.001-05:00

Ranger’s Apprentice: Ruins of Gorlan #1

It all starts out with Will who have black hair and 15 never know who his father were skinny and Horace who is a strong young man with blonde. When their the age of 15 they are apprenticed to a teacher with different schools like Battleshool, cook master, department(school newspaper)And Rangers who is the most scared group in scare. And The principle Baron calls all 15 year olds to be appointed to a teacher of all elements. They line up tallest to smallest Horace is the first to go he is appointed to Battleshool just like he dreamed. When its Will turn he hopes he gets appointed to Battleschool but instead go to Rangers.

His trainer name is Halt, who teaches him how to cook, catch horses, how to shoot blades and more. While at battle camp Horace is learning how to defend his self with swords and a shield. Finally he gets tested on his skills and what he learned he passes. At the end of the meeting they report that Kalkara (a vicious creature controlled by Morgarath who wanted to control the kingdom) are killing ranger’s soldiers.

Halt leaves to track down the Kalkara while Will goes for help. The Baron, Sir Rodney, and several others head to help Halt. Sir Rodney and Baron is able to slay one but is badly injured. The last Kalkara was about to kill Halt but Will shot a arrow to kill it. When they get back Will is know of as a hero and earns his leaf As an official apprentice of the rangers. The baron asks him if he wants to transfer to Battleschool but Will say’s “I like it as a Ranger” that’s Will saw Halt smile for the first time.

Shakespear's Secret by Jessica

2011-09-27T18:08:00.001-05:00

Shakespeare’s Secret
by: Jessica

A few hours of uninterrupted diamond hunting was all she needed. Where should she start to look for a brilliant diamond pendent? The bookcase? Loose floor boards? A twinkle in the window? Or could it be buried somewhere outside? When Hero hears about the 500 year-old diamond, all kind of questions pop into her head? What if she could solve the mystery? What would it be worth?

Hero and her family have just moved to an old house in Maryland. For her it’s just another move, another chance to fit in, but with a name like Hero, how could that happen? Making good friends just doesn’t come easily to her, like it does for her sister, Beatrice. For her mom and dad the move is a chance to work on Shakespeare’s documents, a dream come true. When Hero meets her new neighbor Mrs. Roth, she learns about a diamond dating back to Shakespeare’s time that has disappeared. How did it end up here in her house? Then there is Danny the popular boy who keeps hanging around her. Can Hero trust Danny as a friend, or is he only after the diamond? Hero never had friends like Mrs. Roth and Danny in her life before.

I really liked the book “Shakespeare’s Secret” because it was full of excitement and kept me interested. I think you would like this mystery because Hero is a 6th grader and all she wants is to fit in with other kids. This mystery helps her open some doors to friendship. It had a lot of history going back to the time of the Queen of England. Every chapter added a new clue to solve the mystery, so you want to keep on reading and find out what happens to Hero. This book is “Wicked good”.

Award Winning Book Review

2011-09-19T10:37:00.002-05:00

This project is due on Friday 9-29

The work should be emailed to Mr. Schumann, brian_schumann@ipsd.org as a Microsoft Word Doc.

The book review should be three paragraphs, a paragraph consisting of 8-10 sentences. The first paragraph should be written like a movie preview, an exciting teaser that tries to get the reader excited to go get the book. This paragraph should have a great cliffhanger feel that makes us want to read the story, but does not give everything away.

The second paragraph is a summary that includes important information about the characters, genre, and problem in the story without revealing the solution.

The final paragraph is your recommendation. In this paragraph you should have two connections, "If you liked _______, then you would like the book I read because______." You should also include the rating from the scale at the top of the book blog.

Reckless by Angel

2011-03-26T20:11:00.000-05:00

Reckless by Cornelia Funke is a fairytale about Jacob Reckless'sjournies through a magical mirror. Aftrer facing a sad moment when Jacob's dad died mysteriously Jacobdecides to dis-obey his mom's rules and go into his dad's study. Whenhe finds the most beutiful panneled mirror, he then gets sucked into amagical world. He meets many friends along his journy. Twelve yearslater Jacob's little brother Will follows him into the world. He nowhas the curse of the dark fairy that will make Will a awful Goyl thathates humans. Unless Jacob can stop it.

Reckless is a fantasy book because in real life you cannot stepinto a mirror into another magical world. Two sentences to prove thisis a fantasy story is: "Jacob's heart stopped, for one minute, and hefelt his own fear clammy on his skin. The Dark Fairy, 'she turns herenemies into the wine she drinks or into the iron from which her loverbuilds his bridges.'" In real life there are no such thing as fairies.That is what makes this book a fantasy.

Queen Amidala's Journal by Allison

2011-03-26T20:10:00.001-05:00

Queen Amidala’s Journal
By: Allison
Have you ever been in a crisis such as this?!? Droid armies are on their way to invade the kingdom! That is what 14 year old Queen Amidala would be asking you if you were alongside her at Naboo in the beginning of the book. “I must be strong. I have to keep a clear head.” This is Queen Amidala’s first crisis ever and she knows that once the droid army gets to her she’ll be captured. That’s why she calls one of her handmaidens, Sab’e, to come to her room. “She’s exactly my height and has brown eyes, like me. She’s the perfect decoy.” Amidala’s plan is simple, the army finds Sab’e dressed as Amidala and they take it on from there. Meanwhile she will sneak off to safety with some other people. What’s not in her plan is to find Jedi and a gungan and have to go to Coruscant with them for a special meeting. They also end up having to land on Tatooine because they need to repair the engine. On Tatooine Amidala meets Anakin, who becomes great friends with her. Heh heh. Once the group is ready to go Anakin decides to train as a Jedi apprentice. Now Amidala has to find a way to get back Naboo from the viceroy, Nute Gunray; and she does. Her plan contains joining forces with the gungans and breaking into the throne room and making the viceroy surrender. The group follows the plan and all goes well but one thing. Qui Gon dies while fighting against darth maul. The Queen certainly has a rough life.
This book is science fiction because star wars is science fiction and this is related off star wars. Star wars is science fiction because star wars has aliens, space ships, more than one moon, light sabers, and lots more. The Hutt clan reminds me of science fiction because they’re practically talking slugs which are impossible to ever show up in my life time. The Jedi remind me of science fiction because they use an invisible energy field to move things and force things. Plus Jedi have light sabers which probably aren’t real. The word choice helps me know that this book is science fiction because they use words such as alien, gungan, noimoidian, Jedi, light saber, space ship, Jabba the Hutt, and lots more. Queen Amidala’s journal is a great book and I think everyone should read it.

The Graveyard Book by Lucretia

2011-03-25T08:12:00.000-05:00

The book “The Graveyard Book“was a good novel. Here is a detailed summary about it; first, there was a hand in the darkness and it held a knife, the man who held it was named “Jack”. The blade’s handle was made of bone (polished of course), with a blade finer and sharper than any razor ever seen. If you were even cut for sure you would not know. “The knife had done almost every thing it was brought to the house to do, and both the blade and the handle were wet”. The door leading to the outside was cracked open, (just a little) so the man Jack could slip in. “Night time mist slithered and twined into the house through the open door. Jack had a white sheet of cloth; it was used to wipe the gloved right hand of Jack and the blade. He has already killed three people that lived in the house a man, (on the bedroom floor) a woman, (in the bed) and an older child (in her room surrounded by toys). Now there is only an infant left to take care of He could not be found any where, so Jack look all over the top floor of the house, he was no where to be found. The truth is the toddler got out of the crib it was in, and its diaper and, down the stairs, also into a graveyard near his house. (Smart, huh…) Met some really nice ghosts named Mrs. and Mr.Owens. As Nobody drifted into the graveyard he met the ghosts, then the ghosts of his dead parents telling Mrs.Owens to take good care of her son then she slowly disappeared into the mist with her husband and daughter together …
(If it sounds good check it out!)

There are some characteristics that make “The Graveyard Book” a science fiction and fantasy novel. Here are some: There are ghosts, the ghosts talk, they communicate with humans, and they also walk. Those things are fantastical. Here are some things that are science fiction: the ghosts and how they appear in the story. I read the whole book and I pulled out some of the things that make the book the genres it is. Also in the book it says that nobody went to the graveyard and met two ghosts, the ghosts he met had many friends. And in the book it states that when Nobody’s parents and sibling died they came to the graveyard and told the ghosts who found him to take good care of the toddler. Then they disappeared, Nobody’s parents were gone.

Spirit Walker by Alice

2011-03-25T08:09:00.000-05:00

Alice’s Book Report

A shriek echoed within the forest. Torak froze. It wasn’t the yelp of an animal. It was a man. Torak went to see what the man was doing. He was trying to kill an auroch! What was the man thinking?! You cannot kill an auroch, let alone by yourself! And so, Torak got the auroch to go away and went back to the Raven camp. In the book Spirit Walker only a boy named Torak can save the clans from the sickness (or so he thinks), which is when a man or woman goes mad and eventually dies. (Doesn’t it sound nice?) In this sequel to the book Wolf Brother, Torak meets a lot of people such as, Bale, Detlan, Asrif, and the seal mage Tenris. During this historic journey, Bale, Detlan, Asrif, and Torak adventure out into the Heights to find the ingredients for the cure. Will they make the cure in time? Or will it be too late?

This story is a fantasy for many reasons. For one, there is a tokoroth. What is a tokoroth, you ask? A tokoroth is a child that is possessed by a demon and only does what its creator tells it to do. And a demon is something or someone that died and didn’t get the death marks so it only lives to kill. Also there are mages who are skilled atmagecraft. Magecraft is basically magic, but you don’t use a wand or say spells. There is also the sea mother. The sea mother is, well, the mother of the sea. All the animals in the sea can feel her presence. All of these things are real in the book Spirit Walker, and that makes the book a fantasy.

The Secrets of Droon by Kameron

2011-03-23T12:53:00.000-05:00

By: Kameron

The book I read is called The Secrets of Droon, The Mysterious Island. Three friends were playing outside, then went into their basement. Then they noticed a soccer ball started floating and turned into a map of Droon. The ball told them to go through a door in the basement. When they walked through the closet they ended up in another world called Droon. They were on a boat and went to the island of Droon. They met a troll, serpent and a wizard along with other creatures. The friends helped save the princess of Droon.

This is a fantasy book because there are trolls with spider legs and bugs with huge heads. These creatures eat people. They even eat the bones and hearts. There are wizards with huge wands that do magic things like send people to other dimensions and they make lightening come out of them. In real life this is not real. Also, a soccer ball can’t turn into a map like it did in this story.

The Secret of Zoom by Keyonce

2011-03-23T09:43:00.001-05:00

The Secret of Zoom
By: Keyonce
Ten-year-old Christina, has to start understanding her dad's desire to keep her protected in there house.Christina is tired of being cooped up in her house.Also because her dad is so protective of her she also has to be taught by computers. She dreams for school, friends, and most of all adventure. Christina starts to meet with Taft.Taft is a boy from a nearby orphanage that Christina father doesn’t want her to hang out with.Taft starts to lead Christina down a path that will offer her all she has ever wanted for.Even something she hasn't ever thought to dream of the discovery of her mother.But everyone says she died in a science-lab explosion.But Chistina thinks she is actually alive. Threw out the book it is filled with high drama.Also many orphans get rescued, the mean bad guy is brought down by his own greedy and mean people. If you want to find out what happened to Chistina and Taft then you better go get this book.

My book is mostly a fantasy book.I can teel that this book fantasy because of the things that happen in my book.Also in the book it says that Christina and Taft get captued by a evil relative in a mountain and try to get away.Also in the story Chistina and Taft find a secret tunal.Also The story is true at some parts like how the orphans get rescued.Another thing on how this story is true is that Chritina’s mom gets blown up in a scients lab explosion. I can tell that some of this stuff is true because they might happen.Next, this book was just not all sci-fi/fantasy but it was fun and adventure.If you like this book then you might like Emmy and the Incredible shrinking rat.

In Too Deep by Jakob

2011-03-23T09:42:00.001-05:00

In the book In Too Deep, 39 Clues by Jude Watson, Amy and her brother, Dan, start off the book in an airport. Then, once they leave the airport, Dan wants to go into a museum. He convinces Amy to go in the museum and he saw swords, he thought the one that was bloody was cool. They left the museum SAFLEY (luckily) and knew where to go to the next clue. The two of them started going to their uncles’ house. Amy and her brother got to Shep’s (her uncle’s) house safely. They thought “wow his house isn’t organized.” He lives somewhat close to a beach so he drove them there in his jeep. Shep wanted to teach them how to surf. They started learning by “surfing” on a boogie board. The two of them ran into another person, Eisenhower, that is in the race to find the 39 clues. They got into a fight because Amy and her brother got him to go to the wrong country. But because they told Eisenhower the wrong country they gave him a clue. He was still really mad at them. Then Amy and her brother go to Phil Troppo’s house (he is dead for over 50 years now) and they find a clue that he wrote on an old piece of paper and Amy and her brother use it. Read the book and figure out what happens next. The winner in the last book gets $1,000,000.

This book is a sci-fi/fantasy book because of three reasons. This is a sci-fi/fantasy book because NOBODY can TRY to rule the world. If anybody tried to rule the world I think they might have to go to jail for that kind of attempt. The 39 clues is sci-fi/fantasy because at the beach Shep brought them to, there was a 100ft. tall wave coming at Amy when she was fighting Eisenhower. I don’t know how tall the highest wave is but 100ft. seems way too tall for anybody to even see let alone get coming at you or anybody. Since the biggest wave I’ve been in is a foot taller than me, and the waves at the place I was at were supposed to be a little high I don’t think 100 foot would be possible in 1,000,000 light years. This book is sci-fi/fantasy for having an underground church and an underground motel. There is no such thing as anything like a house or hotel that is built under the ground. In conclusion, this book was a sci-fi/fantasy book because events happened in the book that couldn’t happen in real life.

Parties and Potions by Rachel

2011-03-23T09:40:00.001-05:00

Parties & potions
Report by: Rachel

Parties & Potions is a magic filled book of witches, yay! School, yuck. Also, the main character, Rachel is a witch herself! Miri, Rachel’s sister, is also a witch and wants to have a ceremony called a samsorta. Here’s the catch, Rachel’s mother (who is also a witch) will only agree to this if Rachel goes with Miri. However, Rachel doesn’t want to do the samsorta. Will Rachel support her sister and go through with the ceremony, or will her non-witch life get the best of her? Also, Rachel’s boyfriend Raf is not a witch and does not know about Rachel being a witch. Seems like a lot right? Well there is also a new girl at Rachel’s school who is also a witch. However, this young witch wants the whole world to know she is a witch. Will Rachel be able to convince her not to tell the world, or will this young witch tell Rachel’s secret before she can stop herself?

This book is most definitely fantasy. Several things explain this. Such as, all of the witches in the story are not real. Also, there are a multitude of spells in this book. For example, no one can transport in a matter of seconds from the east coast to Arizona like the characters did several times in this book. Also, the party invitations are mobile spells that do something so surreal that even the witches are in awe. I certainly was when I read this book. I definitely wish this book was a possibility. At the same time though, I’m glad it isn’t. Who would want to keep that secret? On that note, I believe that is the conclusion of this book report.

In Too Deep by Charlie

2011-03-23T09:38:00.001-05:00

Summary of Book #6 of 39 Clues Series
“In Too Deep”
The book that I read was book #6 of the 39 Clues “In Too Deep.” The book begins with Amy and Dan at an airport. About half an hour later, an old lady says she thought their cat Saliden was pretty, and secretly stole Amy and Dans’ dead grandmothers necklace. After that Amy and Dan go to a museum and Amy gets locked into a cell door. She assumes it’s locked but it’s really not and gets out in 5 minutes. They find their cousin Shep in Australia, and he takes them to the beach named Bondi. Some time later Amy has a flashback of when three people came to their house when she was small and the people said to Amy and Dans’ parents a decade ago, “Don’t go to Australia, or you will regret it.” It was nighttime when the 3 strangers asked Amy, “Where did you get those koala pajamas and Amy said that her parents got them from Australia. A little later, Amy gets onto a boat with an unknown enemy, Isabell. They steer the boat to a part of the ocean near Australia with sharks and Isabell throws dead fish into the water and threatens Amy to give her a clue or go in the water with the sharks. One of Sheps friends, Hamalton saves her with his paraglider. Later, Amy and Dan go into an old abandoned mine shaft and Isabell drops venomous spiders and snakes on them. Dan has asthma, so he needs his inhaler because it is very dusty in the mine shaft. They get it out of a bag, but it drops right in front of one of the snakes. Amy gets it for Dan and they get out of the mine shaft and get Dan to the hospital because, he keeps wheezing even with his inhaler. About 20 minutes later Dan is better. Amy and Dan are still looking for their grandmothers necklace at the end of the book. Will they find it or not?Fantastical Things from Book #6 of 39 Clues Series “In Too Deep”

Book #6 of the 39 Clues has a couple of fantastical things. The objective of the series is to find all 39 clues and then rule the world, which is fantasy. It is a 1 out of 1,000,000,000,000 chance that someone would be able to rule the world. Another thing that is fantasy is that their guardian Nellie just got into a plane and started flying them somewhere. Nellie had no flight experience, so it is impossible to fly an airplane, and that makes it a fantasy. Another thing is that Dan is 11 and Amy is 14 and it’s impossible for them to travel around the world hunting for clues like they do. One other thing that is fantasy is something that happened when Hamalton was flying Amy, Dan and Nellie somewhere. When they were about to take off, a Hummer started speeding towards them at the end of a runway and they still took off from the runway. That is impossible because the runway was very short. All of these things are fantastical and could never happen.

Red Pyramid by Janhavi

2011-03-23T09:36:00.000-05:00

I read Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan. It is the first book in the Kane Chronicles. Carter and Sadie Kane are the children of the renowned Dr. Julius Kane. Their mother had died when they were four, but they are only allowed to meet two days a year because of Julius’s rivalry with his wife’s parents, who are the guardians of Sadie. Carter and Sadie also do not get along well. But when their father gets sucked into a coffin and accidentally releases five powerful Egyptian gods, it is up to Carter and Sadie to save him. Along the way, they meet their uncle Amos Kane, Bast the cat goddess, Zia Rashid and many others. Carter and Sadie discover that they are magicians like their parents and learn to control their powers. They soon realize that they are hosting the Egyptian gods Horus and Isis. This was an interesting book! There was a lot of mystery and suspense. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

The Red Pyramid is a mythological book because there is a lot of Egyptian mythology in it. Some Egyptian characters in the book are the gods, Isis, Horus, Bast, Thoth, Set, Nephthys and more. There are also lots of Egyptian places like the Du’at and the Ma’at. They show that the one of the obelisks that acts like a portal is right under a mall in Cairo. In the book there are also a lot of monsters. They called one of them Leroy, and one Sekhmet, who is a lioness. Red Pyramid is a mythological book.

The Ranger's Apprentice, The Burning Bridge by Nick

2011-03-22T21:37:00.000-05:00

The book I read was the Rangers Apprentice the Burning Bridge. This book is about the evil lord Morgarath imprisoned by the impassible mountains because of his evil ways and battles. The people have always felt safe because he was imprisoned but lord Morgarath has not been seen or heard of in awhile. Will a ranger’s apprentice, Horace an apprentice knight, and Gilan a friend of Will and a ranger himself accompany each other and a mission. This mission is to warn the Celts (another group of people) that Will and Halt (Wills teacher) found battle plans of a surprise attack led by Moragrath. When they arrive at their destination they are shocked to see a deserted town. Gilan goes to inform king Duncan the leader of their group that all of the Celts are gone. While he’s gone Will and Horace discover something that without knowing would change the book completely. The Rangers Apprentice the Burning Bridge is a fast paced, action packed book with a great dialogue. This is definitely a book I would read more than once!

One reason I believe my book is a science fiction or a fantasy book is that there are fictitious characters. I know this because none of the characters are mentioned in our history books, and none of the characters have last names. I also know it’s one of those topics because the theme of the Burning Bridge is to defend their castles against Moragrath. This probably happened long ago with different people and a different setting. This book also has an open ending. All if not most nonfiction books tell you all the facts in one book; unlike this book it has eight books in a series. The Burning Bridge has an interesting battle where both sides aren’t smashing into each other at once, but as if they’re almost take turns. Today war is where both sides are either fighting or looking for a fight. That is what made the Rangers Apprentice the Burning Bridge a science fiction and a fantasy book.

Harry Potter and the Sorecrer's Stone by Alex

2011-03-22T21:36:00.000-05:00

Harry Potter and Sorcerer's Stone
By Alex Chaves

How would you feel if on one ordinary day a mysterious letter comes, then another letter the next day, and then the next day, and so on. Then one day, the letters come flying into your house and they say “you have been accepted to Hogwarts.” Well, all this happened to Harry Potter. Harry Potter was just a normal baby when his parents were killed by Voldemort, an evil wizard. Then Harry ends up living with his Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia and his bratty cousin, Dudley. But when the letters start coming, his uncle does everything to get rid of them. They even go to an island in the middle of a lake to get away from the letters. But Hagrid the giant gamekeeper of Hogwart comes and makes Uncle Vernon let Harry go to Hogwarts. On the way Harry makes two friends names Ron and Hermine who are also a wizard and witch. Later in the year Harry sets out to find the sorcerer’s stone to keep it away from Voldemort so he can't become immortal. Does Harry succeed in getting the stone? You'll have to read to find out.

Harry Potter is a science fiction book because there is magic in the story. For example, Harry and everyone else who attend Hogwarts are either witches or wizards. They also have wands to cast spells and there are mystical creatures like dragons, three headed dogs and giant trolls. Other examples of science fiction are magic walls, mirrors and doors and magic vehicles like flying motorcycles.

Poppy and Rye by Peter

2011-03-22T21:34:00.001-05:00

Poppy and Rye

This book starts out with Valerian, a mouse, waking up Poppy, his mouse wife, in a scarce manner. There are beavers flooding the area with water. Their home is next.(Du du duuu) After that he tries to talk the beavers out of what they’re doing. That doesn’t work to well though. The family of mice now have to find a new home. And they do. It’s not the best though, nothing like their old home. Later in the book Poppy decides to sneak into the beavers lodge. She gets captured too. Eventually she gets rescued the beavers go away so it ends happily like all children’s books.

Since this book has talking animals it’s fantasy. I’ve never seen a talking animal in real life. It would be interesting if animals did talk though. The animals are also very intelligent. Well, more intelligent than in real life. Some of them even know puns from Texas. The bottom line is that the book is fantasy. This book wasn’t my favorite book but it’s OK.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by Humza

2011-03-22T20:38:00.001-05:00

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
By: Humza

Harry Potter is stuck with his mean uncle and aunt and Dudley that have again been being mean to him over the summer. Harry is ready to go to Hogwarts when he gets a message from an elf. He tells Harry that it is dangerous to go to Hogwarts. Harry refuses and thinks that he should but the elf thinks it’s right for Harry to remain “safe” in his house while he can. Harry goes to Hogwarts anyway and it is in fact dangerous. There is a mysterious person who is turning people into stone. Harry hears strange voices and was told that isn’t a good sign. Who is turning the students into stone and why? Could it be Voldemort, could it be Malfoy or could it possibly be Harry? That’s what Harry tries to figure out!

The thing that made my book fantasy is the magic and the things that they use in the book. They use things like flying brooms, wands, and they also had powders that could make you travel from one place to another. The text has word in the book like spells that they use. And in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets they have ghost teachers

The Titan's Curse by David

2011-03-22T20:34:00.001-05:00

The Titans Curse by: David Guistolise

The book called "The Titans Curse" is a fun fantasy book. It is a book about a kid named Percy Jackson. Percy Jackson learns that he is a "half-blood" (half person, half greek god) and has to go to camp called "Camp Half-Blood".To become a Half-blood, one of your parents has to be an Olympian god. In his next couple of years, Percy begins to train for fighting monsters and goes on a horrible quest of Zoe Nightshade's. During this adventure, Percy, Zoe, Grover, Thalia, and Bianca (some names I forgot to mention) have to fight a terrible monster to get out of Hephaestus's junkyard. Unfortunately, Bianca has to sacrifice herself to kill this monster. Then the group gets a ride from one of the Half-blood's parents and goes to save Annabeth (another person I forgot to mention) and the goddess Artemis. The bad news, Zoe dies. The good news, they others all return safely to camp and Artemis returns to the temple of Zeus.

This book is fiction because this never actually happened. All the details are not real. It’s also fiction because of all the actions that take place in this book. None of them ever happened. But all of the book is really cool. I really liked this book. I give it a 8 ½ out of 10. I really recommend this book.

My Personal Alien by Sophia

2011-03-22T20:18:00.002-05:00

When your house is about to be demolished, and your new found best friend is an alien. Author's world is turned up side down. You know, before it was destroyed. Author and his best friend Ford Perflex go on a journey outside the galaxy. Without a corner to turn Ford struggles to write a book about the galaxies. As this continues Ford and Author must hitch hike throughout the galaxies. Because of their constant distress, in as being attacked by various dangers Ford names his book the hitch hikers guide to the galaxies.

This book is a Science fiction novel because it was about aliens and space. even thought the specific aspect of it was about an earthling. This book shows evidence of space and aliens witch are the most keen aspect of a Science fiction novel. The fantasy aspect of it was that there were false accusations that could never have been true. However, this book also illustrates true facts about our world and other galaxies. Such as there is a star called Betelguse and that there is a galaxy called the horse head galaxy. This book in all was pretty good. But, I admit I'd never read it on my own ideals.

Bras and Broomsticks by Brianna

2011-03-22T20:15:00.000-05:00

Book Report by the Great Brianna Cobb

The book I am reading is Bra’& Broomsticks. This book was about a girl named Rachael who is just a normal teenage girl. Rachael’s life is suddenly turned upside down when her mom tells her that her little sister (Miri) is a witch. Guess what her mom is one to is her mom. But the horrible part is Rachael is not a witch..…yet. Her mom tells her that she may never become one or she will when she gets older. After she gets over the sorrow she gets happy because she thinks she can just have her sister zap whatever she wants up. Then Miri use magic to get rid of their mean, rude, and prissy soon to be stepmom aka STB. Miri help Rachael out by casting a love spell on her crush Raf ,a dance spell on Rachael because it all part of her master plan to get her best friend Jewel back. And so she signs up to be in the school talent show and get time to flirt with her beloved crush RAF. Miri castes a truth spells on STB so their dad can see the true person he is getting married too. But suddenly all the spells start to reverse. For example, their dad likes STB even more than before and the love spell makes RAF’s brother like Rachael a lot. So maybe using magic isn’t the answer to life. Find out how this magical mess turns out in Bra’s & Broomsticks.

This book is a fantasy. It is a fantasy book because it has a lot to do with witches and magic. The thing that tells me this is a fantasy book is it has a lot to do with witchcraft. In the book you can poof up anything like dance spells, truth spells, and many more. They can also transport people, things, and places. For example, when love gets way out of hand for Rachael Miri tries to stop it but they just make it a lot worse. And then they try the anti-love spell but that only makes it worse. So in this book things are not like they are in the real world. This book is very magical.

The Graveyard Book by Julie

2011-03-22T19:50:00.001-05:00

The Graveyard Book
Written by: Neil Gaiman
Reported by: Julie

When Bod was 1 year old, his mother, father, and sister were murdered. Fortunately, Bod was able to escape the house where his dead family remains. When Bod escapes, the one place that catches his eye is a graveyard. When Bod enters the gates, a family of ghosts awaits. The Owens, a dead couple who never had children, decides to take him in. As Bod grows older he gets more suspicious of the world outside of the cemetery’s gates. As his mystery grows, he get’s in a lot of trouble. Meanwhile, the man who killed Bod’s family still wants to kill Bod. The whole cemetery will have to work together to keep Bod alive.

The Graveyard Book is a Fantasy because many abnormal things happen in it. Some includes Bod being raised by ghosts, Bod being friends with a witch, and Ghouls stealing Bod and wanting him to become one of them. Many parts of the story are an exaggeration of the real world. It is near impossible for a little boy to live in a graveyard. The Graveyard Book is a wonderful story and it has a great message!

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by Sydney

2011-03-22T19:48:00.000-05:00

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
By: Sydney

Have you ever read a book with broomsticks wands and even a boy speaking parseltongue? Well if you haven’t read Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. In this book Harry, Ron and Hermione are attending their third year at Hogwarts. Ron’s little sister Ginny is also attending her first year at Hogwarts. Harry, Ron and Hermione found out about something called the chamber of secrets. Only the heir of Slytherin can unseal the chamber. There is a monster that is trapped inside the chamber. Every so often the monster has made some… attacks. 50 years ago the monster killed a little girl. So far there has been five attacks at Hogwarts, luckily nobody has been killed, yet. Harry found a diary that he went into and time traveled into the past 50 years to when the chamber was last opened. Harry thinks the diary will teach him how to get into the chamber and kill the monster. Right when he is about to find out something tragic happens. Will Harry ever get into the chamber and kill the monster? Don’t know.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a si-fi/fantasy because there is no such thing as witches and wizards. Those are fantasy creatures. In the book Harry time travels 50 years into the past. No one has invented time traveling yet. Therefore it is a fantasy element, but it does have a little of si-fi in it too. When Harry meets a giant in the first book named Hagrid, who is also part of the whole fantasy genre. When Ron told Harry that he could speak parseltongue it was something that meant snake language. I think parseltongue is definitely a mythical fantasy language. Mythical fantasy languages don’t exist. Those are only a few ways that Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a si-fi/fantasy.

Clone Codes by Emma

2011-03-22T19:25:00.001-05:00

Clone Codes

The book, Clone Codes, is about a girl named Leanna, who lives in the future. 2170, actually. In her time, clones exist, and are considered a common household item. Clones are referred to as items, its, or things. They are also used as slaves. Leanna, just as everyone else does, she talks trash about clones, until she learns what makes her so special. It turns out, she is illegal! Why? Because of her secret. She can’t believe that one little secret could turn her whole world upside down, but it is. That silly secret!

This book is sci-fi. Why? Well for one thing, it takes place in the future. It also involves aliens called the O. this book also has such a high level of technology that we have nothing compared to them. Another sci-fi part of this book is Leanna’s commglasses. Commglasses are a computer, telephone, data storage, camera, television, video recorder, and virtual portal all in one. I think that the sci-fi part of this book made it more fun to read! Now I really want commglasses! Too bad I have to wait until 2170 to get a pair!

Bras and Broomsticks by Allie

2011-03-22T19:17:00.001-05:00

Bras and Broomsticks

Bras and Broomsticks is more of a book for girls (as you can tell from the title). This book is about 3 people, mainly. Rachel is the main character and her sister: Miri. Her mom is sort of like 2nd main characters. In the beginning, Rachel finds herself at school with the shoes she has wanted for awhile. Rachel doesn’t know how she got the shoes but she did not want to jinx her self by thinking she had taken some one else’s shoes when she changed for gym class. Rachel walks to her locker and sees her best friend Tammy. Tammy went scuba diving with her family and learned an under water communication and she taught most of it to Rachel and they talk to each other like that some times. Rachel told Tammy about her shoes and Tammy just shrugged. After that Rachel thought her mom had given her the shoes this morning so Rachel asks Tammy if she could use her cell phone to call her mom and thank her for the shoes but as soon as Rachel mentions the shoes her mom is silent, After a while her mom demands that Rachel be home right away. Rachel was silent this time because she knows that meant she couldn’t go to her party that was after school. Rachel did not feel like arguing so she slowly hangs up the phone and gives it to Tammy and says that she had to go home. Rachel gets home and finds her mom and Miri sitting on a bed. Her mom looks exhausted and has a cigarette in her hand. Miri is looking as happy as can be. Rachel was confused because she had no idea what would happened or what had just happened. Mom finally gets up and says in a very serious voice “Rachel your sister is a witch”… now Rachel was angry. She thought her mom was playing a dirty joke on her but she wasn’t. Through out the story Rachel goes on a first date with a guy she really likes. She gets a little more used to Miri’s powers but gets a bit jealous and wonders why she didn’t get powers. After all, she was 2 years older! She really wanted to be a witch!

What I think makes this book a fantasy is the whole witches and magical powers thing. I don’t think this book is a Sci-Fi though. This book is not a Sci-Fi because there is no science. Aliens. Robots. Space ships. Or any thing too futuristic. Anyway I (if you are a girl) recommend you read this book. There are 4 books in the series: Bras and Broomsticks, Frogs and French Kisses, Spells and Sleeping bags and Parties and Potions. I have read them all because Rachel recommended them to me and this is one of the best series of books I have read in a while so you should read them!!

Allie

Cosmic by Amruth

2011-03-22T19:15:00.000-05:00

Cosmic by Amruth
Rating: 5 stars

Liam is a 12 year-old who looks like he is 30. On the first day of middle school, the principal mistakes him for a media teacher. He tried to take a Porsche Cayman on a test drive, but his dad found him and took him home. After this incident, he thought his life is frustrating. Then, he thinks of a brilliant idea. He decides to go on the first spaceship with civilians into space. The 5 people who win the raffle, and surprisingly, one of them is Liam. So, he decides to take one of his friends who wanted to come, Florida, and say she is his daughter. After all the training, the spaceship launches. Unfortunately, an error pops up and their protective shield flies off. Using their “emergency” ship, they land on the moon. After all the “civilians” play on the moon, they come back to the mother ship. A severe error again pops up. Will the group make it back to Earth or not?

This book is science fiction because science in this book is “messed up”. The most obvious reason this book is sci-fi is: Civilians (ordinary people) can’t go to space (during the current space era!).The 2nd reason that this book is sci-fi is: Kids can’t know everything in the world, from A to Z. One of the characters (Hasan) states this and the statement he says is really true! How can a child know how to pilot a spacecraft at the age of 9? Many settings also are scientifically wrong. How can the Gobi desert (China) be steaming hot? In real life, the Gobi desert is cold. One other weird reason that Cosmic is science fiction is: Technology rules everything. How can a spaceship’s computer tell how you’re feeling? This reason is freaky! Even though the book is weird in some places, it is a good sci-fi book to read.

Gregor the Overlander by Elena

2011-03-22T19:07:00.000-05:00

Gregor the Overlander by Elena

Gregor the Overlander is about a 11 year old boy that lives in New York . One day, Gregor was in the kitchen when his little sister Boots screams “weeeeeeeeee”. He goes to check on her, then he opened the laundry room door and he fell down a tunnel to the under world. It was an amazing place where there are 5ft tall cockroaches and bats big enough to ride on. In the under world, he tries to get along with these creepy creatures and find his dad that was lost years before. In the beginning, he meets these strange people that live in the under world. At first he thinks they are going to kill him but then they are his only chance of surviving. He is told he is a warrior because of a poem a crazy guy wrote. This is the start of a wild adventure for him and boots.

This is a fantasy book because there are 5ft tall cockroaches, enormous bats, and giant spiders. There are also people with purple eyes that usually kill overlanders. In this book there is also 10ft tall rats that eat people. There are a lot of enormous animals in this book. Plus, Gregor becomes a warrior and his little sister a princess without even knowing it. This is also a fantasy because his laundry room is connected to the underworld. It is one entrance out of 5 in the whole world. To me the enormous spiders, cockroaches, and rats are fairy tales. These animals made the book interesting. That is why it is a fantasy.

Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix by Jonathan

2011-03-22T19:06:00.000-05:00

Harry potter and the order of the phoenix starts off at privet drive When Harry and his cousin Dudley are attacked by dementors. He uses magic to rout the dementors but is expelled from Hogwarts. Later he is tried and he is again enrolled in Hogwarts. He is then showed to 12 Grimmlaud place where the order of the phoenix is based. The order is a group devoted to beating he who must not be named. He returns to Hogwarts to find a new defense against the dark arts teacher, Delores Umbridge. She refuses to teach the student’s defense spells. Soon Cornelius fudge appoints Umbridge high Inquisitor of Hogwarts to check up on teachers. Harry Ron and Hermione then create their own defense class called the D.A. (Dumbledore’s army). They learn to defend themselves. Umbridge doesn’t like Harry and doesn’t keep it a secret. She bans him from the Gryffindor quidditch team. Next Harry has a dream where Ron’s dad is bit by a snake. He was severely injured and taken to the hospital. Snape is then asked by Dumbledore to give harry occlumency lessons to protect his mind from visions like those. He cannot clear his mind of everything which snape instructs him to. Umbridge finds out about D.A. meetings and Dumbledore takes full responsibility and umbridge becomes headmaster. After O.W.L.’s Harry is lead to the department of ministries in the ministry of magic. Sirius Black’s cousin bellatrix lestrange then kills Sirius. Dumbledore finally arrives to harry’s side and defeats he who must not be named in a duel.

Harry Potter and the order of the phoenix is a fantasy because of its fantastical elements. That includes magic, wands, and mythical creatures. Mythical creatures include thestrals, invisible flying horses, Giants and others. Also it includes spells like a patranous which is a silvery, misty, animal. It also includes Hermione making a bird not able to speak. And they are able to walk through glass at a wizard hospital and be unharmed. Also a snake’s venom that makes cuts hard to heal. It also is impossible to fly on a broomstick and a flying gold ball called a snitch. Also to hide a house in a neighborhood unseen. Harry Potter is definitely a fantasy book.

The Graveyard Book by Bella

2011-03-22T19:05:00.000-05:00

The Graveyard Book
Author: Neil Gaiman
By: Bella

The book that I read is called The Graveyard Book. It is about a boy named Bod whose family got killed by a mysterious man named Jack. When he was a toddler he escaped to a graveyard. He was the only one that survived. Now that Bod is all grown up he is being raised by ghosts. He lives in the graveyard he faces many dangers like the legend of an ancient Indigo man living at the bottom of the graveyard. Bod is now on the hunt to find the awful man who has killed his family. This book is a really good book that I hope some of you will read in the future.

The Graveyard Book is science fiction because it has ghosts in it. Ghosts deal with science fiction because ghosts aren’t real. The book usually takes place with Bod and the ghosts that are raising him in the graveyard. It is also a science fiction book because ghosts cannot raise kids. Humans cannot hear legendary things. It would be impossible to do that. Something that would also be science fiction is that there is an ancient Indigo man that is living beneath the hill the leads to an abandoned city that has ghosts there. This book has another reason to be science fiction because in the book there is a guardian that belongs to neither the dead nor the alive. We can see the same fiction in the Coraline book that this author wrote with the same setting of science fiction.

Dragon Slippers by Maeve

2011-03-22T18:56:00.002-05:00

Summary:
When a fair maiden is exposed to a dragon, the usual ending is that a knight saves her from the "horrid beast" and they instantly fall in love. Unfortunately in this situation that is not the case. When Creel, the main character her aunt comes up with the brilliant idea of exposing creel, a young, kind, and quite charming country girl to a so-called " fierce" dragon, her hopes are that like normal, a knight will save her and fall in love and blah blah blah you know what I mean. But the only reason was because so the whole family would be dragged along with her to live in the King house. When Creel leaves her small town to find work in the Kings Seat she learns and does a lot more than she expected. To find out what her journeys were, read the book!!

Why it is Fantasy: This story is a fantasy because it includes nonrealistic, dragons. Also it includes a pain of fine shoes that control the minds of dragons. Completely imposable. These things are selected in the category of fantasy because neither of them exist and both of them would be considered magic.

The Hunger Games

2011-01-11T07:56:00.002-06:00

Elixir Movie Preview by Julie

2010-11-17T13:23:00.001-06:00

Yellow Star Movie Preview by Isabella

2010-11-17T13:21:00.000-06:00

The Dragon Keeper's Guide by Tom

2010-11-17T09:34:00.000-06:00

10 year old cousins Jesse and Daisy are surprised when they find a thunder egg. It turns crazy when it hatches. They also are led to a website called foundadragon.com they have to keep her safe from a dragon slayer. It gets really insane when they have to get her back. You wouldn’t believe this book.

The dragon keeper’s guide is good because of how awesome it is. Another good one is the dragons in our midst series because of the adventure. I never had seen anything like it. You wouldn’t believe it. Pretty amazing.

You won’t believe it. It is awesome. I rate it a 5/5 stars. One of the best books I have ever read. One of the coolest books I have ever read. Kind of weird though.

This story is about these kids who find a thunder egg and open it up and find a dragon. Also something sort of weird is the fact that the dragon smells like hot peppers. But something I thought was weird at first was the fact that it talked. I found out that there is a dragon slayer. But what was really odd was the fact that it was a dragon named Emmy which is short for emerald. But still isn’t that strange? But what I thought was weird was the fact that the kids found it on a mountain. I don’t know about you but you should read this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oks I have ever read. One of the coolest books I have ever read. Kind of weird though.

Elixir by Julie

2010-11-17T09:33:00.001-06:00

~Elixir~

Clea Raymond may seem like any normal 17 year old, but she is not. Her mother is a prominent politician, and her dad is a renowned surgeon. So she has always been in a popular category. But when her father is reported missing in Brazil, things begin to get strange. Clea has been a talented photojournalist all her life. She had usually just taken pictures of family, and fun trips she had gone on, but when she took a trip to Paris with her best friend Rayna, she begins to notice some scary images in her photos.

As Clea is clicking through her hundreds of photos on her computer, a nervous feeling comes over her. She sees a mysterious man in her pictures. At first she just thinks he’s only in one of the photos, but when she looks closer… he’s in all of her photos from all over Europe! As she is zooming in on the man, she notices that he is wearing the same black leather jacket and jeans in every shot. The next day Clea is on a mission to find this man wherever he is. Instantly she and her 2 friends Rayna and Ben are on the first flight to Brazil. Her friend Ben believes that this man will follow Clea. As soon as the 3 teenagers are on the ground, Clea spots the man.

As soon as the kids get information out of the man, he ends up coming with them to find Clea’s dad. The mans name is Sage; he met with Clea’s dad before he disappeared and a lot of danger is waiting ahead. The kids meet with the hotel manager that Clea’s dad knew, and no new information occurred. So now the 4 teenagers are determined to find Clea’s dad. Eventually Clea and Sage fall in love. But this isn’t any kind of love; this is a chemistry feeling, as if they’ve known each other for centuries. And when Clea begins to have dreams about her and Sage in the past times, she begins to suspect something is not normal. Unfortunately, Sage is taken away by men who are suspects of killing Clea’s father. And that is where the story ends.

Julie

Crocodile Tears by Jonathan

2010-11-17T09:32:00.000-06:00

Crocodile Tears Book Report
By: Jonathan
Book by: Anthony Horowitz
5/6 stars
How would you like to spend your New Year’s in a mansion and then at the bottom of a lake in a sunken car? Well Alex Rider did. The car he was in was shot in the tire and the car skidded off the road and plunged into a frigid subzero lake. Luckily Alex had been diving before so he was able to save everyone in the car. Man, what a holiday! And along with that, trying to be killed isn’t much fun either. Alex Rider is a teenage spy who is used to encounters with near death. One time he was shot in the chest inches away from his heart and then the bullet tore through the nerves so he had no sensations in his arm. In this story, he encounters poisonous plants and a pit of crocodiles. Amazing for a 14 year old boy!

I would recommend this book to 5th-9th graders. It has some violence and may have content not appropriate for younger kids. Also, the words Anthony Horowitz uses are more difficult to read and to comprehend. Nevertheless, the book was very suspenseful and made it hard to put down. Alex was always in a predicament and seemed to never rest from the jaws of danger. If you like James Bond books this book would be enthralling to you also. In addition, if you have read the other Alex Rider books you would truly take pleasure in this book also.

What if the CIA recruited me to be their Alex Rider? First, I would need to get physically fit to be able to have the strength to endure the intricate missions. Alex was very healthy, strong and prepared to fight back because he Uncle Ian Rider taught him karate since he was very young. Second, I would need to become more mentally prepared. Alex didn’t have his family to lean on and so he needed to be mentally strong by himself. Could I be the next Alex Rider? Not a chance!

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by Allison

2010-10-05T13:35:00.000-05:00

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
By: Allison Carter

WHOOSH! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s Harry Potter! Harry Potter is back again in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban to save the day in his third year at Hogwarts. But this time it’s not Voldemort, but one of his followers out to kill Harry since his master’s downfall. With the mysterious Marauder’s Map at hand, Harry must identify the traitor and the victim. With the help of Ron and Hermione, Harry uncovers dark secrets and pasts that could reveal everything about his parents and their noble death. Could Peter Pettigrew still be alive; and could the scoundrel be innocent; or is the past overwritten by lies? Read on, and find out!

Next, I think Harry Potter is a great book for people who like fantasy, comedy, mystery, and adventure books. If you like top ten ways to ruin your first day at school then you’ll like Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban because in the top ten book T.B goes on crazy adventures with his two friends who are a boy and a girl just like Harry Potter and his friends. Lots of books seem to be similar to Harry Potter and lots of books jokes like Harry Potter but not even all of those books combined can beat Harry Potter. If you happen to be a fan of mischief and surprises than Harry Potter is the book for you because Harry is very mischievous; it’s just in his blood, and Harry and his friends seem always run into surprises and sometimes even scary surprises. Another great example of a book that is common to Harry Potter is Percy Jackson and the lightning thief series, this series is good for Harry Potter readers( or the opposite way around) because they both include great adventures, magical events, and strong friendships that could stay put if it were shot fifty times by a be-be gun. Harry Potter is a series for all sorts of readers.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban won the Whitbread Award for Children’s Literature and this book has also been given the gold medal Smarties Prize. The Smarties award is an English award so I don’t know what England wants me to think. The Whitbread Award is based on literature and this book is full of it and this boom very enjoyable and could be read to a big audience and everyone would be thinking hard and interested to see what will happen next. I think that this book would have loads of awards if the author was from/living in America. It would have so many awards it would be so much work for J.K Rowling if she lived here but she would probably be a million heir if she did. If I had a choice for a rating for this book I would give this book five out of five stars; the best book I’ve ever read; for the great effort given to write long books for every ones enjoyment and for the great jokes and mysteries in this book. This book is great and I think all of 5-S should read it.

Criss Cross by Keyonce

2010-10-04T13:00:00.000-05:00

Criss Cross
Written by: Lynne Rae Perkins
Rating: 6 stars… Wicked Good! Beast!!!

This story is about a girl named Debbie and her friends Patty Hector, Lenny, and Phil and how their story’s criss cross with each others. In the story Debbie learns to drive (illegally). The story really does not have a plot. Another thing is that Debbie’s friend Hector wants to learn to play the guitar; also Debbie loses her favorite necklace and finds a new one. The new necklace that Debbie finds has an amazing story to tell. Will Debbie ever find her favorite necklace and will Hector learn how to play the guitar? You have to read the story to find out.

I recommend this book to 5th graders and up because; this book has a lot of words that you may not understand. If you like books with adventure then you would love to read “Criss Cross” and other Lynne Rae Perkins books. If you have read “The legend of Annie Murphy” and Harry Potter books you would enjoy reading “Criss Cross”. This story is like Harry Potter and The legend of Annie Murphy because these book’s all have a adventure in them. “Criss Cross”, is a bit of a girly book. But, these are all great books.

I give this book 6 out of 6 stars. “Criss Cross” is one of my favorites; and one of the best books I have ever read. It tells an amazing story. When I began reading it I knew it was the book for me and, I hope you feel the same.

~Keyonce~
~5S~

The Penderwicks by Brianna

2010-10-04T12:58:00.000-05:00

The Penderwicks by: Jeanne Birdsall
By: Brianna

What do four sisters, a very strange dog, two rabbits, a cabin, and two boys have to do with anything? Well, in the PENDERWICKS BYJEANNE BIRDSALL it has whole lot to do with the story. I give this book 5 out of 6 WICKEDBEAST stars because it is a good story about friendship.

Want to read a book about a four year old that ran away from home with the family dog, but without an oap (oldest available Penderwick) or a parent? In this book, the main characters are: crazy Skye, who is crazy; oldest Rosalinda, who is too old to do anything fun; young Batty, who never leaves home without her wings; and adventurous Jane, who likes to write and is spacey. Some of the less main characters are: icy hearted Mrs. Tifton, Cagney, Jeffery, and Dexter. The setting is a summer house in Arundel. The four Penderwicks think they have to stay in Cameron, Massachusetts because their plans have been ruined. But, ha ha, just because their place at Cape Cod is taken, doesn’t mean they can’t go to Arundel to have fun. Yes, this will be a summer to remember. The Penderwicks try to stay out of mischief, but kids will be kids! The four sisters meet two nice boys, Cagney and Jeffery. They become lifetime friends. Jeffery has problems at home that he shares with the sisters. The mean lady in the story, Mrs. Tifton, is Jeffery’s mother. Jeffery gets mad at his mother because she is getting married to Dexter. Dexter has plans to send Jeffery away to military school. Can the sisters help, or is it too late?

I recommend this book to 4th-7th grad. A kindergardner-3rd grader would not get it and probably cry. But, a 4th-8th grader would think it is funny. My 4th grade cousin would love it and thin it was funny. My high school friend would think it is dumb and silly. My mom would think it is fun and funny because she is the best teacher in the world! My book is one of a kind. If you liked The Magic Tree House Books, then you would love the book I read because they both are about adventures.

My book won the National Book Award. It won because it is super cool, very adventurous, and a must read more book. I was always wondering what was next and how it would end. It won because so many people read it until it won. To me, it is an award winning book because it gives you that OMG feeling. I think that this is an end of your seat book. But different people think different stuff. I know you want to read The Penderwicks.

Cheaper by the Dozen by David

2010-10-03T10:39:00.000-05:00

Cheaper by the dozen by: David Guistolise Cheaper by the dozen is a story about a man and his wife and his 12 children that have lots of money and need this money to pay for the whole family. The person who is telling the story is telling it from his point if view in the family. The dad is a engineer and loves to tell jokes. His mom is a psychologist and takes everything nice and slow. His family is a weird family. They have family meetings by their dad whistling a tune he composed himself. At one point his has a family meeting about cleanliness. Instead of any maids they decide to get a dog. A dog would eat all the scraps of food on the floor. A dog would be a good paperweight. Then, one day the dad decides to get the children a surprise. The surprise is a stack of records and a second victrola. He got them a victrola because he wants them to learn a different language so they can communicate with their dad in a privacy. Then they talk about about school and work and how their doing in school. First Ernestine talks about a weird boy in her school. Some of the children think she's saying that because she likes him. She declines that. After that the dad stops her because he's ''bored stiff''. Then the dad talks about a new indian man moving and getting a job at the fathers job place. I think all of that is boring. Then, the dad gets a new job at a typewriting business. After a while the kids want to learn to type write. Then the dad comes up with an idea. They first put chalk on their hands and the keys and tries to memorize where the colors are. Then he covers the keys and the children try to memorize where the keys are and takes them to the test. The best one was going to go into a contest to the fastest typers in the city. The mom stopped them before they could go because she thought the dad was trying to show the daughter off. The dad tried to explain what he was doing but the mom wouldn't listen. Then they have a ridiculous fight over dishes.

I'm not going to tell you about it because I'll rune it because it's to funny. The rest of the book I leave to you so you can read something funny without me telling you about it. I recommend this book because it is a good book. 1-5 1 being the worst 5 being the best, i would probably rate it a 4.5. This was a very good book.

I think this book won an award because he tells lots of details in the story. He makes you feel like your there in the story. I also think he got in award for making the title a joke from the father. The father is very humorous. The author makes this family a very strange but funny family. Again, this was a very good book and I recommend it.

Holes by Charlie

2010-09-30T21:15:00.000-05:00

Holes, by Louis Sachar, Reviewed by Charlie Krzyzewski
I give this book 6 out of 6 stars

Have you ever heard of a camp where kids who are bad go to it for eighteen months? Well in the book Holes Stanley Yelnats is one of the many kids who went there. The author who wrote this book is Louis Sachar. Stanley is an overweight kid who was walking home from school one day and passed under a highway when just at that moment a pair of shoes fell out of the sky. They happened to belong to a famous baseball player called Sweet Feet. He picked them up and then a police car pulled up to him. He was arrested for potentially stealing the shoes. He went to court and he had two choices. He could go to jail or Camp Green Lake. He chose C.G.L.

I would recommend this book for fourth to eighth graders. If you like long books you will probably like this book. It’s one of the best books I have ever read. One character I really like in this book is named armpit. If you like Indiana Jones movies you will probably like this book because Holes is an adventure/mystery book, and these movies are full of adventure and action! Also, if you like the book A Series of Unfortunate Events you might want to read this book because both of the books are mystery adventure books.

Holes has won two awards. One of them is the Newbery Award, which is for the most distinguished American children's book published the previous year by the American Library Association. The other is the National Book Award, which is for Young People's Literature, by the National Book Awards. I feel this book won this award because this could actually happen real life. Another reason I feel this book won this award is because it is nice and long. This book is an award-winning book because it’s a good story about kids working together. I’m glad I read this book. It was really fun to read!

Frindle by Jakob

2010-09-30T21:14:00.001-05:00

Frindle
By Andrew Clements
Written By Jakob
I rate this book 5 of 6 stars.

Frindle is a book about a kid named Nick who finds a pen on the road. It is the best pen he has ever owned. Whenever Mrs. Granger (his teacher) hears the word he made up, she makes anyone who says the word stay after school to write 100 sentences. The word he made up got in The Westfield Gazette, the town’s newspaper. Read the book to figure out what he named the pen, and all pens. This book is really good (almost the best)!!!!!!!!

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone in grades 3-6. This book has really pulled me in. If there were more books based on this story I would check them out at my local library or at my school. If you liked Top Ten Ways to Ruin the First Day of School, (originally named Top Ten Ways to Ruin the First Day of Fifth Grade) then you would love this book because the two main characters like to get in a lot of trouble, they even get other kids in trouble on purpose. Also, if you liked Diary of a Wimpy Kid then you would definitely like Frindle because these books also have people who like to explore nature. You would want to read this book because Nick is a funny character, he gets all excited about the pen he finds. Nick is really funny, for example he doesn’t care when he gets in trouble. When I started reading this book I could really never put it down, even though I hate reading. Occasionally a book I read is fantastic, and this is one I will never forget.

This book has won over 35 awards, which I think is amazing. The award I am typing about is the Christopher Award. This award is given to authors who have very high values about humankind. I think this book has won a lot of awards and earned all of them fairly because he uses humor to make people feel good. Frindle is an award winning book for two reasons. The first reason is because when Nick gets into trouble it makes the story more interesting. The second reason is because getting into trouble is something kids can relate to. This book will definitely win at least some more awards.

Stormbreaker by Nick

2010-09-30T21:12:00.000-05:00

Stormbreaker by

One of my all time favorite books is Stormbreaker . This book is about a boy named Alex. Alex lives with his uncle, a spy that works for M16. Alex was informed that his uncle died on his way home from his mission. He is asked to go out and investigate the crime and to finish his uncle’s mission. Is there somebody behind all this? Will Alex come out alive? Read to find out.

I give this book five out of six stars because it inspired me to think like Alex and to act like him to. If you like spies, and high tech gadgets then you will like Stormbreaker. Alex is similar to the movie character James Bond because they both have weapons and have operations to complete. It can also be compared to the book called the Lightning Thief because the main character in each book is on a journey to save hundreds of people. Its good for people who like an action packed story . When I was reading it I couldn’t put it down!

Stormbreaker received the Rebecca Caudill award. One reason I think this book won this award is because it is perfect for kids around my age who like mysteries . It has fantastic details and many cliff hangers to keep the reader drawn in throughout the entire book.. The author paints a detailed picture inside the readers mind. I`m eager to read the next book in the Alex Rider series. I have high hopes that it will be as great as the first.

Woods Runner by Peter

2010-09-30T21:00:00.000-05:00

I read a book ca lled Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen. It’s pretty good. I’d give it 3 out of 5 stars. It’s about a boy named Samuel who lost his family in the Revolutionary War and wants to get them back from British occupied New York. He meets some new friends and enemies along the way too. If it starts to get boring and you want to forget about it, DON’T. Sam gets hit with an ax. And the ending, it got me really excited. I think you should give it a try.

If you liked other Gary Paulsen books you’d definitely like Woods Runner. Samuel kind of reminds me of Indiana Jones. Both are very adventurous. They also don’t seem to be afraid of anything, except Indiana Jones is afraid of snakes. The name James Bond also pops into my head. They’re both quiet, sneaky, and good with a gun gun. Works for me. Those are just some the people that I think of.

This book didn’t win any award but I think it should. It was a very good book. I don’t know why the award givers didn’t even nominate Woods Runner. It’s dumb if you ask me. I don’t know what award it should win though. I hope you enjoyed my book review on Woods Runner.

Peter H.

The Dollhouse Murders by Maeve

2010-09-30T17:49:00.000-05:00

Review of The Dollhouse Murders, by Maeve

The book that I read was The Dollhouse Murders, written by Betty Ren Wright. The story begins when eleven year old Amy, the main character, discovers a mysterious doll house hidden in the attic of her grandparent’s home. Sorrowfully, many years earlier, Amy’s grandparents were murdered, and the criminal was never found. Amy is staying with her Aunt Clair at this house for a short time while she takes a break from her family. The dollhouse was mysterious because it was an exact replica of grandpa and grandma’s real house. Everything was precisely the same to the smallest detail. However, things get really strange when the dolls and the dollhouse start to give Amy clues about who actually murdered her grandparents so many years ago. The rest of the story takes along Amy’s adventure, as she tries to solve the mystery of who murdered her grandparents.

I would rate this book as a five out of six. In my opinion, this book would be enjoyable for both boys and girls in grades three through five. The author does a great job of explaining how Amy and the other characters feel and what they are thinking. The plot is very suspenseful, and you never want to put the book down. Although you keep getting clues about the murder mystery, you never know how the story ends until the final chapters. If you enjoyed reading The Castle in the Attic, then you would definitely like The Dollhouse Murders, since these are both exceptional mystery tales.

Betty Ren Wright won the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award in 1989. This award is sponsored by The Illinois Reading Council, Illinois School Library Media Association, and the Illinois Association of Teachers of English. Each year these groups select a number of books to receive the Caudill Award to encourage children and young adults to read for personal pleasure. This book won this award because it was selected by other children readers who found it just as entertaining as I did.

Heat by Alex

2010-09-29T07:51:00.000-05:00

Heat
by Mike Lupica
Rated 5 wicked good beast
Book report by Alex

Have you ever thought what it would be like to be born in Cuba? And lose your father at age 12 without anyone knowing except your best friend and brother? Well, Micheal Arroyo had to experience that. Heat is about a boy named Michael who comes to the U.S.A from Cuba as a young boy. It takes place in New York. Years later when Michael is twelve his father passes away. Before he died, their father didn't want any one to know he would be dead because he doesn't want his two sons to get separated. So Carlos and Michael make up that their father is away visiting a sick uncle in Florida. Carlos the older brother has to have two jobs to get by. Micheal is REALLY good at baseball. He plays little league baseball and has a dream to go to the little league world series. But some coaches think he's 13 and too old to play in their league. So they have to get his birth certificate back in Cuba to be able to play. But that won't be easy. I give heat six out of six in rating. Will Michael ever get his birth certificate? Will anybody find out about Micheal’s dad? You'll have to read Heat to find out.

If you liked the book Baseball Great you'll like Heat because both books have a boy who is very good at baseball. And also because you'll never know what's coming next in both books. If you liked the movie Sandlot you'll like Heat because in Heat it's about a boy and his friends getting into adventures and trouble while playing baseball all summer long. I would recommend this book to all people who like baseball and suspense. I also recommend Heat to fifth graders and higher grades.

Heat won the Texas Lone Star Book award. I think it deserves the Texas Lone Star Book award because it's a serious book. Also because once you start reading, you won't be able to put it down. Another reason this deserves the award is because it had a lot of great reviews from critics. This book deserves this award because it is tons of kids favorite book including me. And because its just plain old awesome. I think you should definitely purchase this book or check it out to read it.

My Side of the Mountain by Amruth

2010-09-29T07:49:00.001-05:00

My Side Of The Mountain
Book by: Jean Craighead George
Book Report By: Amruth
Rating: 6 stars : The best book I ever read!!!

Sam Gribley runs away from his family and with a pen knife, a penknife, a ball of cord, a hatchet, and $40 he had saved selling magazine subscriptions, and a flint and steel set that he had purchased at a Chinese merchant's store. Sam gets a ride with a man driving a truck north of New York in search of his family's abandoned and overgrown farm in the Catskill Mountains. He eventually builds a small home in a hemlock tree with his new pet falcon, Frightful. Along with his friend Baron Weasel, they live happily until a lost school teacher, who Sam calls “Bando” because he thought he was a bandit before. But at that time, rumors start that a boy is living in the Catskill Mountains. A few days later when it is Christmas, Bando leaves that day when his dad arrives. Will Sam go with his dad to his home in New York City or will his family move to the Catskill Mountains?

I recommend this book to children in grades 3-6 because it's a just right book for the age group. This book is also very adventurous, so any adventure reading adult would also like this book. The author, Jean C. George , wrote an another 3 books followed by this book, so if you liked this book, keep reading the series!If you liked the book MVP*(Douglas Evans), you'll love this book. You’d love book because both are very adventurous. . An another similar book to My Side of The Mountain is Julie and the Wolves (Jean C. George). Both are similar because both are based on children running away from home and making animal friends.

My Side of the Mountain won the Newbery Honor award. It won the award in 1960. On of the reasons I think this book won an award is that the author, Jean Craighead George won many awards for most of her 80 books including My Side of the Mountain. Mrs. George’s Julie and the Wolves won a Newbery Award. An another reason I think this book won an award because after you read a couple of sentences in the book, you can imagine yourself in the character's shoes and can see what you've done. One of the most obvious reasons this book won an award is that the characters are so humorous and can always make you laugh. This book makes you laugh every minute. I think this book deserved the Newbery Honor award.

The Postcard by Isabella

2010-09-29T07:48:00.001-05:00

THE POSTCARD
By Tony Abbott

By Isabella
You should read this book.

Marnie gets a postcard but doesn’t know who gave them the postcard. Marnie goes to Florida were her grandma died they go to Florida because their at their grandmas funeral. She meets a new kid at a store they start investigating who send them the postcard. They go to the zoo, and to the Gandy Bridge to find the person who keeps sending them postcards. As they go to the midway groves they get a phone call. Marnie answers the phone “so how smart are you” a man says then he hangs up.

I recommend this book to kids who love mystery. You might like this book because there’s mystery, action, you will love. I really liked the book because I am a girl who loves mystery and action. I really like the fact that they try to investigate who gave them the postcard. This book keeps you thinking and wondering what is going to happen next and you don’t know. If you liked the book “Goosebumps” then you’d love the book that I read because, there are two children that are finding out clues of who was in this mystery of people disappearing just like in the postcard.

My book won the Edgar awards because the author that wrote the book is really talented. They picked it because it was the best one they read and I believe that it was really good I think that everyone will like the Postcard. What makes the postcard award winning is that a lot of people liked it and the people who picked thought it was good so do all of us. It is award winning because all the people who read this book likes mystery that’s why it won because its mystery. It keeps you waiting and thinking what’s going to happen next it is a really good book. That’s why it won the Edgar Awards.

The House of the Scorpion by Sophia

2010-09-27T20:28:00.000-05:00

My award winning book is The House of the Scorpion. The house of the scorpion is a very interesting book, however be warned this can get a bit gory. The story line is about a house full of many secrets, in which a child, or at least what appears to be a child is kept. See first there was El Patron, an illegal drug dealer, then there was Matt. El Patron loves Matt as he does himself, because Matt is himself. Some call Matt a monster, others like El Patron and Celia love him. Matt faces many problems because of this, one of the many is when he falls in love with Maria El Patrons grand daughter. If you want to know the depths of these constant concerns, take a look inside the book.

I would recommend this book to 10 to 16 year olds because this book would bore the average adult, scare a 7 year old, and of course a 5 year old would not understand it. If you liked clone codes or pride prejudice and zombies then you will enjoy this book. I’m guessing you haven’t read those books either. Keep in mind this book has three awards. This book shows the up and down of a relationship, being held hostage, a few crazy house servants, a broken window, and a filthy rich old man. So change that haven’t read to a have read.

The house of the scorpion won three awards, of which are the Newbery, the P honor, and the National book award. I think this book won several awards because the literature is great. I really enjoyed reading this book. This book was probable the 5th best book I’ve ever read. Let me tell you I read more than anyone you’ll ever meet. My room is literally a library. So if you so choose to read The House Of The Scorpion, you’ll really enjoy reading it, it’s one those books that is hard to put down.

By Sophia
Written September 29th 2010
Mr. Schumann`s 5th Grade class

The 13th Floor, A Ghost Story by Humza

2010-09-27T11:33:00.001-05:00

Title: The 13th Floor – A Ghost Story
Author: Sid Fleischmann
By: Humza
Rating: 4 out of 6 Stars (You should read this book)

Buddy is an ordinary boy but has been newly orphaned and is living with his sister Liz in their dead parent’s house. They run across books of their family history and while reading these books they find out that pirates are part of their family history! They get this strange voicemail from their dead ancestor, Abigail Parsons, who tells them to go and meet her at the 13th floor of an old building. All of a sudden, Liz disappears. Buddy thinks that she hs gone to the 13th floor to meet Abigail Parsons so he goes to find his sister. He gets to the 13th floor and sees a glowing door that is open and so he goes inside and BAM!!! Now he is in the 14th century on a boat full of pirates in the middle of a windy storm and so the story of mystery, adventure, pirates and witchcraft begins!

I would recommend this book to kids who are most interested in mysteries. Also if you have read and enjoyed the book “The Lightning Thief” then you will enjoy “The 13th Floor – A Ghost Story”. The similarities of both the books are that they are both about the past and the present. “The Lightning Thief” makes references to the Greek mythology which is about the Greek Gods and Goddesses from a long time ago. I really had an awesome time reading this book because it was like stepping into a door like Buddy did which took him to a whole new world. I would also recommend this book to 3rd through 5th grade students who enjoy a good mystery book along with stories about pirates and witchcraft! This was my 3rd or 4th most favorite book. I have read some better books with my favorite topic which is adventure, but if you like mystery as a topic than this one will be your first best!!!

The author is an award winner and has written several other books which have won awards such as the “Newberry Award”, “ALA Notable Book Award” and “SLJ Best Book Award”. I think he has won these awards because he writes books that make you want to look at the next page when you’re not on it yet! Another reason I think he wins awards is because as soon as you open his book and read a couple sentences it kind of paints a picture in your head and you feel like you are part of the story along with the main characters of the book. This book helped me understand how life was like in the 14th century in New England and what kind of things they believed in back then!

The Tale of Despereaux by Emma

2010-09-26T10:52:00.000-05:00

The Tale of Despereaux
Kate Dicamillo
4 out of 6 stars

Despereaux is a small mouse with ears that are too big. Despereaux was born in the walls of a palace that belonged to Princess Pea and her father, the king. When Despereaux is spotted talking to princess Pea, he is sent to his fate in the dungeon, which is where the evil rats live. How will a little mouse like Despereaux save himself from the rats? Will he save himself from the rats? Will Despereaux save himself for his love of the princess? Read , and you will find out!

I would recommend this book to fourth and fifth graders. If you enjoyed the book “So B. It”, then you would enjoy the book “The Tale Of Despereaux”, because they are both about characters that try to complete a journey that nobody else believes that they can go through. If you also liked the book “The Journey of Edward Tulane” then you would also like this book because they are both from the point of view of something that you would not usually think of as having a point of view. I would recommend this book as a read aloud because it is more fun if read out loud with expression. I really enjoyed this book. I think that any fourth through fifth grader will enjoy this book as well.

This book won the Newberry honor award. I think that this book won an award because it has funny characters. Another reason that I think this book won an award is because of the fact that it is about a courageous mouse. Not very many books are about that! I think that Kate Dicamillo deserves an award for this book of hers! She truly is an amazing author!

When You Reach Me by Allie

2010-09-24T08:43:00.000-05:00

“Book” “Bag” “Pocket” “Shoe”, what does that mean or what does it stand for? Well you can find out in When you reach me. This book is about a girl named Miranda and she keeps getting these weird notes telling her the future. Are they saying, the correct future and why is she the one getting the notes? Miranda’s best friend is a boy named Sal. Miranda has many close friends and their names are Annemarie, Collin, and Sal. Julia is one of Miranda’s enemies read the book to find out why.

I would recommend this book to kids in fourth-sixth grade. This was the best book I have ever read so I encourage you to read this great book. If you like realistic fictions you might like this book, but if you like science fiction books don’t read this book. I haven’t read anything like this book before so I can’t recommend any thing else to you. Other than that you should really read this book.

This book won the Rebecca Caudill award. I think it won the award because it got tons of great reviews on the back cover! One says “An exiting mix of adventure and mystery”. I couldn’t have said that better my self! I could not put this book down. I read before I went to bed and the book got better as I went through! I hope you feel the same way when you read it!

By: Allie F.

Stormbreaker by Jonathan

2010-09-23T20:20:00.002-05:00

Stormbraker reviewed by Jonathan
Book by Anthony Horowitz

Rating: 5 out of 6 stars (aka it’s awesome)

Have you been recruited by an agency that works for the government of Great Britain? In Stormbraker, Alex Rider does. After his Uncle got killed in a “car accident” or so says the police, he finds himself in a car junkyard and finding something astonishing and by doing that he ends up getting recruited by M16, a FBI sort of agency. Before all that chaos, he lived an unfortunate life style. His parents are dead, so he pretty much just lives in his uncle’s house with the part time maid, Jack Starbright. But other than family, he is just a normal boy. He Goes to school, goes to movies, any normal thing a teenager does. Will he get killed by an insane psychopath, or will he live to tell the tale?

If you have read any of the other Alex Rider books, read this because it’s the first! Also Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen is like this because he lived with his parents at one point, but then they got captured and he was all alone. You’ll love this book if you like spy books. Also if you like James bond you’ll love this book. I would also consider reading any other books in the Alex Rider series. Anthony Horowitz is an amazing author and can really get you into the book and make you never put it down.

The book Stormbreaker won the Rebecca Caudill Award. The Rebecca Caudill Award is given every year to one book and other books that followed the book who won. A book is voted the winner by kids ranging from 4-8th grade. I think this book won an award because of the intense tale of a regular teenager whose life gets completely turned around because of his uncle. He puts it in a way that no one could make better. While you read it, you will wonder every sentence what will happen to him. I highly recommend this book to mostly 4th through 10th graders.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by Rachel

2010-09-23T20:15:00.001-05:00

Harry Potter and The Sorcerers stone was, in my opinion a great book. There’s so much excitement and adventure in this story it’s unbelievable! Some of the highlights are, a mysterious Christmas present, a horrible family, and a letter. Harry Potter is an eleven year old boy who doesn’t like the family he’s staying with and would love to get away. Then he gets a chance. He receives a letter from a magical school. What is to become of little Harry Potter??? Well you’d better read this book to find out.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mysterious adventure. There are some mysteries, but they’re solved throughout the story. If you liked A Series of Unfortunate Events you might like this story because the boys in both stories are kind of similar. On a rating from one to six, six being the best, I would give this book 5 out of6 stars. I would recommend this book to fourth to sixth graders. Also, if you liked New Moon you would like this book because there are big secrets in both of them. If you like fighting in books, you would LOVE this book.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone won the Rebecca Caudill award. This award is chosen by children. Finally, kids have the power. I think it won this award because I think it is a great book for about fifth graders. Once you read this book, you’ll understand. That is why I think Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s stone won the Rebecca Caudill award

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by Alice

2010-09-23T20:14:00.000-05:00

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
By: J.K Rowling
Book report by Alice

Has a half giant ever come into your house? Have you ever played a game called Quidditch? All this is in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is about 3 kids named Ron, Hermione, and of course Harry on the adventure of a lifetime. This is Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s first year at Hogwarts. A school for witchcraft and wizardry. Hogwarts is run by Professor Albus Dumbledore.

I would recommend this book from third graders to adults. If you like magic, mystery, excitement, and adventure this would be the book for you. I would give this book five out of five stars. If you liked Al Capone does my shirts then you’d love Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone because there is a boy who is trying to get used to a new place that they have never seen before. Also if you liked the movie Avatar, the last air bender than you’d love Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone because there is a boy who is said to be the “chosen one”. Also because there is a boy who meets two new people along their journey.

This book won the Rebecca Caudill award in 2001. It won this book because 1998. Kids just love this book from 1998 (when it came out) to who knows how long. In my school’s library tons of people check out this book. I bet it’s the same for tons more libraries around the globe in many different languages. I’d say “you should check this book out too.”

The Tiger Rising by Sydney

2010-09-15T09:39:00.001-05:00

The Tiger Rising

By Sydney
Rated 5 (wicked good beast)

Have you ever found a tiger and wondered what to do with it? In the book The Tiger Rising a boy named Rob finds a tiger. He has a friend named Sistine, like the Sistine Chapel. Sistine wants to let the tiger go because Rob has the keys. Robs mom died and he lives with his dad at the Kentucky Star. Rob doesn’t quite know if he wants to let the tiger go. So the janitor for the Kentucky Star named Willie May helps Rob decide what to do with the tiger. Is Rob going to let the tiger stay in its cage, or set it free?

The author of this book is Katie Decomilo. She writes a lot of good books, especially this one. I recommend this book to 4th or 5th graders. Some of the words are a little challenging, but overall it’s a great story. If you liked The Bridge To Teribithia, than you would love this book. The characters have similar personalities and both stories take place in the forest. Plus the stories aren’t that different. Also if you like the newer version of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory it is kind of like Rob’s home life is in The Tiger Rising.

I would give this book 5 out of 6 stars. I can tell why it’s an award winning book. I think it won its award because of its heart warming story. Also because it has fun and adventure. It may not have been the best book I ever read, but it’s still very good. I highly recommend The Tiger Rising.

Surviving Hitler by Julie

2010-09-14T15:14:00.000-05:00

Surviving Hitler
Written by: Andrea Warren
Rating: 5 stars… Wicked Good! BEAST!!!

Have you ever imagined what it would have been like in a concentration camp? Well Jack Mandelbaum did experience it! Before the war Jack and his family had a very nice lifestyle. They lived in a little town in Poland called Gdynia. Jack lived with his mother, father, and younger brother and sister. But when he is separated from them all at the age of fifteen he has to adjust to the fact that his family might be dead. Will Jack be able to survive this horrible lifestyle?

If you like the book the diary of Anne Frank, then you would love to read Surviving Hitler because, these stories both take place during the Holocaust. Both of these children suffer from Hitler and the war. The two characters are alike multiple ways. For example they are both Jewish. They each have a family that loves them very, very much. And they each are scared every day from the war.

The book Surviving Hitler won the A Robert F. Silbert Honor Award. I believe it won this award because it is an intense, good and emotional book. Not only does it give a great message, the author has such vivid details and wonderful illustrations! The A Robert F. Silbert Honor Award is awarded annually to the author of the most distinguished informational book. And this book definitely gives a lot of wonderful information.

This book is definitely one of my favorites! Once I started reading it, I COULDN’T PUT IT DOWN!!! You should really read this book. I’m very glad I read it!

~Julie~
5S

5S Summer Reads

2010-05-21T11:38:00.013-05:00

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place from Stephanie

This World We Live In from by Kyra

The Hunger Games from by George

The Bat Boy from PJ

Love Ya Bunches from Julia

Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies from Nick

This World We Live In from Lindsey

The Book Thief from Drew

The Million Dollar Putt from Valerio

The Last Song from Lily, Hayley, and Lauren

Witch and Wizard from Alex

The Tale of Despereaux from Cedric

The Goblet of Fire from Jordan

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Lexi

The Last Apprentice from James

Getting Air from Adam

Steal Away Home from Emma

The Fire Within from Ananth

The Thief of Always from Shoale

When We Were Very Young from Taylor

The Mysteriuos Benedict Society: The Prisoner's Dilemma from Angie

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Cedric

2010-05-04T23:02:00.000-05:00

The Invention Of Hugo Cabret Written by Brian Selznick

Report by Cedric

I give this book 9 out of 10 stars. It is easy to read and has pictures too. The Invention of Hugo Cabret is about a boy named Hugo who loves clocks. He can hide in big clocks , he can take apart clocks , and put back together clocks , pretty much anything a human can do with clocks. His dad loved clocks too. In fact he had a small note book to trace pieces of clocks and write descriptions of what they were used for.One day Hugo and his father went to a museum and went up to the attic and found this broken mechanical dude that can write something down. Will Hugo fix the man or will they just leave it there and forget about it ,read the book to find out.

If you like chapter books that have pictures in it ,then this is the book for you.You might like this book because it is adventurous and mysterious at the same time. You can feel as if you are in Hugo's shoes the whole way threw the book. If you liked the city of ember then you'll love The Invention of Hugo Cabret cause I know I did.

The invention of Hugo Cabret takes place in 1931 in Paris. You can tell this was taken place in the 1900s because of the way the people are dressed in all of the pictures. Also people were pocket watches. lets just say if you don't read the note that Brian Selznick wrote at the beginning , you will not know what time period it is in. If you would like to read a good book in less than a month, this is the book for you!

Blood on the River by Drew

2010-05-03T17:49:00.001-05:00

Blood on the River
By Elisa Lynn Carbone

An orphan, living on the streets and eating with the rats, ran away from his orphanage to start a new life on his own. Being a citizen in the rough neighborhood in London could be tough, but luckily there was an expedition to the new world, and he was chosen to be a cabin boy. Living in the tween deck of the ship the Discovery was hard. It smelled like barf, it was dark and musty, and his two cabin mates were the meanest people alive to him. The only friend he really had was John Smith, the man he served and the captain of the expedition. To the boy, he was the wisest person alive, but little did he know that soon enough, his life would be held in John’s hands.

I rate this book 5 of 6 stars because it was really good and glued you to the book. If you liked the book the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, then you will like Blood on the River because they both tell the story at a young boy’s point of view. Also, if you liked the Book Thief, you will like Blood on the River because they are written in a similar way. This book is compelling and fascinating. I really recommend you read it, and hope it becomes one of your favorites.

This book is historical fiction and takes place during the time when Captain John Smith made the expedition to the new world. My book takes place in the New World (the United States). They were planning to settle there, and succeeded to make the first permanent settlement in America. This book is historical fiction because it takes place during a very important time. Well, I can’t think of anything else worth righting for this book report, so bye!

Fever by Lily

2010-04-26T09:40:00.002-05:00

Fever
By: Lily
Author: Laurie Anderson, Rating: 4 (You should read this book!)

This book takes place during a hard time in American history (1793). An awful plague has taken over, leaving mankind in a twist of confusion, heartbreak, and losses. This heartfelt story leaves readers with courage and(possibly) tears! Matilda , the main character, is in a difficult situation. Her mother is ill and most of her city has fallen dead of yellow fever. She feels a strong need to help her mother, but she and her mother both know doing that would risk her life.

If you like a moving story that takes you back in time, then you would love Fever! This story is really fun to read because you can just imagine the horses on the street, or the fire burning in the dining room. If you liked the book Life As We Knew It, then you would really enjoy this story. I felt like Fever related to that story because there are times in Life as We Knew It and in Fever that both family”s are struggling. If you liked the book Running Out of Time you would also like Fever. These two books are alike because both stories are about family members with an illness.

This story takes place in early Philadelphia, 1793. The characters in this book are smart and clever. If you brought them to our time they would be the most clueless people around. For example, in this book the doctors think the only way to cure an illness is to cut someone on the neck and let them ''bleed the illness out''! Another example, if they were introduced to a T.V. they would think some unfortunate citizen was trapped in a heavy black box! It would be my pleasure to take a time machine and bring a charater to my time and be their tour guide for the day!

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by Adam

2010-04-21T18:06:00.001-05:00

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Book Written By: John Boyne
Book report By: Adam

I would give The Boy in the Striped Pajamas 5 out of 6 stars. This was not the best book I have ever read, but it was still a really good book.

Bruno’s perfect life in Berlin, Germany, during the Nazi period had come to an end. It ended because Bruno and his family had to move to the middle of nowhere in Poland into a house called “Out With”. He met a boy there in striped pajamas that lived on the other side of the fence. The side with the barbed wire. One day the boy, whose name was Shmuel, told Bruno that his dad had gone missing after a truck had taken him away. Bruno told Shmuel that he would help him the next time he came to visit. When Bruno saw Shmuel again, Bruno changed into a pair of striped pajamas and crawled under the fence. Both boys went back to the camp to find clues as to where Shmuel’s father had gone. While they were searching, they heard a whistle blow. All the people in their striped pajamas, including Bruno and Shmuel who were walking hand in hand, were forced to march into a warm, air-tight, concealed building.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a bit of drama and action. If you like fantasy WW 2 books and have an interest in reading about the Holocaust this would be the book for you. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is also very dramatic and sad and touches your heart. If you don’t like sad endings then you might not enjoy the story. I thought The Boy in the Striped Pajamas was really good. I don’t think I’ve read any other book like it. If you like the movie The Blind Side, especially the beginning of the movie when they show the boy’s life story, then you would love The Boy in the Striped Pajama.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas has a historical time period connection because it takes place during WW2 in the year 1944. This was the year before the biggest concentration camp, Auschwitz, was liberated by the Russian army. What the characters were doing was against the law in Germany. A Jew was not supposed to talk to anyone on the other side of the fence. The fiction part comes in because kids were never in concentration camps. In Nazi Germany people that were not able to work were just killed instantly because they weren’t useful.

The Year of Miss Agnes by Taylor

2010-04-19T17:20:00.001-05:00

The Year of Miss Agnes
by: Kirkpatrick Hill
I give this book three stars

Have you ever just wanted a fun, easy read? Well then, you’ll love the book The Year of Miss Agnes. This book is about a teacher that moved away. All the children have had a bad history with teachers. The teachers are always too mean or too strict. The students finally liked Miss Agnes.

The main characters are Bokko, Frederika and Miss Agnes. It takes place in 1948 in Athabascan, Alaska. There are 26 children in a small school with only one room. Do you think you would be able to handle that? Well, Miss Agnes could and actually enjoyed it.

The school year was hard for the children, but very fun. In the story Bokko, Frederika’s sister, is deaf. Their mother thought deaf people couldn’t go to school but she was wrong. Bokko went to school just like a normal child would but was taught just a little differently. Miss Agnes had to teach everybody sign language. Bokko and Fredericka’s mother wasn’t pleased with that. The kids started using sign language at home so her mother got used to it. Frederika was ten and very smart. Their father was very sick and he went somewhere to die. Their mother sewed for a living and had a lot of work. The children spent most of their time at school. They loved Miss Agnes. They started to love learning.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes to have fun, easy reads. If you like the series of Miss Piggle-Wiggle then you’ll love this book because it’s the same type of story. You should read this book because it relaxes you. If you like Finding Nemo then you’ll just completely love this book because the characters do the same with the fish learning and with the children learning. You will feel like you are in the story because all the details given about each character. This book was a little slow but then got better with each page. I usually don’t like books about historical fiction.

This book was very interesting. It took place in 1948. This book is historical fiction because the story talked about World War I and when there were a lot of houses flooding in 1948. The experiences in the story can really happen. Not all of this will likely happen though. This was the most interesting historical fiction book I have ever read.

The Midwife Apprentice by Hayley

2010-04-19T08:44:00.001-05:00

The Midwife Apprentice
By: Karen Cushman
1 out of 6 stars
Historical fiction book report

Do you like books where the characters speak in accents, and really don’t grab your attention at all? Then this is the book for you! It takes place in colonial times and it’s about a girl named Alyce, who lives in Boston, but everyone calls her Beetle or Humbug because they all hate her, and she’s the midwife’s apprentice. The midwife, Jane, then sent her off to get corpus bones. When she left her house she was then blocked from going anywhere by a group of boys. Will, who was in the group, secretly had a crush on her but he acted mean because he didn’t want the other boys knowing that he liked her. He then fell down a river and Alyce rescued him by crawling up a tree and down the tree branch. Later she encountered a soon to be mother and she thought that she couldn’t deliver the baby cause she had tried before but she messed up and the baby died because of her. Well if the mother didn’t give birth soon she would die. So Alyce made a choice, she would try again! Will Alyce actually push the baby out? Will she and Will ever get together? Will Jane take her back?

Like I said before you are only going to like this book if you like boring characters that you don’t know anything about. Also if you like plots that don’t take you anywhere, they just stay in that same neighborhood the whole time. They don’t take you on a wild adventure at all in this book. If you like characters that talk to their cats named purr then this book was made for you. If you liked Flipped then you’d like the book I read because Alyce and Jillian kind’ve have the same personality. Also if you liked fever then you may like the book I read because they’re both set in the same time period.

This book is historical fiction because it relates to the colonial times. Although it doesn’t actually say that it was during this time, you can tell because of the midwife’s and the way they delivered baby’s. Instead of taking them to the hospital, which they didn’t have back then, they used oils and other things they could either make or find in nature. They also delivered them by pushing on the mother’s stomach and once the shoulders popped out they’d just pull the baby’s out. They also talked in an accent. An English accent to be exact. For people who like historical fiction might like this book.

Fever 1793 by Jordan

2010-04-19T08:29:00.001-05:00

FEVER 1793
By: Jordan McKiddy

Fever 1793 is the title of this book. It was written by Laurie hales Anderson. I give this book 5 of 6 stars.

PREVIEW
1793 Philadelphia a young girl, her mom, grandfather, and their cook Eliza they run Philadelphia’s best coffee house. This is the year of one of the deadliest fevers to ever exist on this planet since the history of man. Thrills, chills and everything in between, thieves and scandals are the runners of this new town. This is the impact of this killer disease that took the life of thousands. Kicked out of their wagon when crossing from town to town because of disease. Lying on the side of the road with her dying grandfather. They walk back to town and fight off intruders from their home. Then an unexpected twist takes place. This is only part of the story of Matilda Cook.

RECOMENDATION
I recommend this book to anyone who likes a great thriller. You will like this book if you liked the movie 28 Weeks Later because of the epidemic. If you read the book Blood on the River you would love this great story partly because of the time period. Because it is a book with many genres a lot of people will be intrigued. I recommend this book to kids 11-14 because of the word choice. This is why I would recommend the book fever 1793.

HISTORICAL CONNECTION
This book has a very big historical connection. The main characters of this book are working in a coffee house and fighting the influenza. In 1793 there really was a yellow fever epidemic. In 1793 there already was a struggle every august. This was just the normal fever that took many lives. This is why my book has a very strong historical connection.

Fever by Lily

2010-04-19T08:27:00.001-05:00

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by Shoale

2010-04-19T08:22:00.000-05:00

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Book by: John Boyne
Report by: Shoale

I thought The Boy in the Striped Pajamas was a great historical fiction book. I don’t really like reading historical fiction, but this one did its job. I would give Mr. Boyne’s piece of artwork ******, or 6 stars, or one of the best books I’ve ever read. Either way, it’s the same thing.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas was a very interesting book. It takes place in Poland in 1939, a year that Germany has already taken over the Jews. It is about a boy named Bruno that has to move away from his home in Berlin, Germany to Poland. He doesn’t really like it at his home… well he actually hates it there, so he goes exploring. When he comes to a fence, he meets a boy named Shmuel. Shmuel has the same age and birthday as Bruno. But, then he becomes a friend, which isn’t a good thing because Bruno is German and Shmuel is a Jew, they tell each other that, but they have a nice time together. They tell each other stories. But, what if somebody finds out? I think the idea of the story is that Jews and Germans should have been nice to each other like Bruno and Shmuel did. Will somebody find out? Would it be Mother, Father, Gretel (his sister), or the worst of all, Lieutenant Kotler, the German captain to catch the boys?

So, I’m supposed to give you guys what movie you’ll like. All I’m saying is that you should watch The Boy in the Striped Pajamas movie, after you read the book. I haven’t seen it yet, but I saw the trailer and it looks really cool! Also, if you like The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, you would love The Book Thief, because that is about the Germans and Jews fighting, too. And one more book you would like is The Boy who Dared. That is a great book to read, too, because it is about a boy whose Jewish community was actually segregated while there were conflicts between Nazis and Jews. You would like The Boy in the Striped Pajamas because it has some humor in it, and some sad and uplifting parts, too. It would be the perfect book for 4th to 5th graders because of the content in it, like real historical facts mixed with fiction. I liked this book because it is a really inspiring work of art it said to me, “if two enemies work together and help each other out, they’ll find that they like each other.”

This book took place in Poland where the Germans had already taken over in 1939 and are separated from each other. Bruno wants to have a friend because there are no kids on his side of the fence, where there are only the German soldiers who look really mean. Even though Bruno and Shmuel aren’t “supposed” to be friends because they are enemy races. But the boys don’t care about that, as long as nobody catches them. They don’t want to get caught because then they would go to prison for talking to each other. But, Bruno still wants to go under the fence. Will he go to the other side of the fence where all the Jews are and soldiers keep an eye out for anyone who trespasses? If he does, what’ll he have to do? Maybe actually have to look like one of the Jews?

Thank you for reading my book report! I hope you will enjoy the book as much as I did! Bye!

Woods Runner by Stephanie

2010-04-19T08:21:00.001-05:00

Woods Runner
By: Gary Paulsen

I give this book a 4 out of 6 because it was ok but then got confusing but it was still good, especially for someone who’s not into historical fiction!

Woods Runner. . . “Is about a 13 year old boy named Samuel who lives with his parents on the edge of the wilderness in the British colony of Pennsylvania . . .”
Sam knows how to hunt and survive the untamed forest where he lives. This story takes place in 1776. The characters’ are Samuel, Annie, mother, father, Abner, Coop, colonists and more. Sam is very well trained. And mostly is very polite!

I recommend this book for people who like historical fiction and war stories. I give this book 4 out of 6 stars which is you should read this book it is very well written!! This book has a very happy ending for people who are very emotional. If you liked or ever heard of maybe the movie “glory” is it about the civil war and well it’s a war film, it’s about the war! Another is “saving private Ryan” another movie about world war two and is like an invasion on D-Day. And for those who don’t know D-Day, D-Day is when the U.S.A invaded Normandy, France to free the French from the Germans.

“Woods Runner” takes place in Pennsylvania with the main character Samuel and his mother and Father who live in a tiny house during the invasion/attack of British soldiers. This story takes place in the historical time of 1776. When Sam’s parents get abducted and sent to New York by British soldiers while he is out and hunting. He takes a wild adventure to try to find and save his and Annie’s family. Later in the story Annie and her family help out Samuel and feed him until after dinner her parents go missing and he and her both go out with all the help they can get to find them. Something eventually happens and you will just have to read this story to find out what it is!!!

book report by: Stephanie 5S

The Royal Diaries, marie Antoinette, Princess of Versailles by Lauren

2010-04-19T08:19:00.000-05:00

The royal diaries, Marie Antoinette, Princess of Versailles
By; Kathryn Lasky
Rating; 4 out of 6 stars

The book I read was the royal diaries, Marie Antoinette, Princess of Versailles.
This book is about a princess named Marie Antoinette and she is destined to be the queen of France. The book is not really a story, but a diary she was given by her tutor Abbe de Vermond. The reason her tutor gave her as diary is because she isn’t very good at reading and writing. Her mother, Queen Marie Theresa, of Austria never wants to waste time. So, she tries to make her children marry early. So then her empire will spread and become bigger. The book mostly takes place in her mothers castle, around 1769 – 1771. Well, there are many characters in the story like the tutor, the queen, prince, princess, scullery maids, and others too.

I would recommend this book to people who are interested in historical fiction books that are about queens and other royal people back then. Well, this book isn’t really that easy because it has some words that I can’t even pronounce! Overall, it was a great book it had lots of drama and information about Princess Marie Antoinette. So, if you like historical fiction books then you will like this book, because the book I read was historical fiction! Also, if you like the royal diaries, Elizabeth I then you will like this book, because they are both like the same. They are about a princess, but in diary form.

Well, you are probably wondering why it’s a historical fiction book. This is because; it took place in real places that are real. The book was around the 1760’s and there were still princesses around that time and a lot of other royal things. It was also around the renaissance time. So, things were pretty fancy! Then, there were also paintings of Princess Marie Antoinette and Queen Marie Theresa. So, this tells that they were real people since they had paintings of them.

Dave at Night by Angie

2010-04-19T08:18:00.002-05:00

Dave at Night
Written By: Gail Carson Levine
Rating: 4 out of 6
Book Report by: Angie

In this book, Dave at Night, a boy named Dave goes through a lot of troubles. The trouble starts when Dave’s father passes away. Dave is left with his brother Gideon, and his stepmother Ida. Because Ida does not have enough money to take care of two children on her own, an Uncle from Chicago takes Gideon to live with him, but nobody wants Dave because he is a troublemaker. His stepmother ends up sending Dave to an orphanage called Hebrew Home for Boys, also known as HHB. This is a horrible place where the adults don’t treat the orphans well. Fortunately, throughout it all, Dave makes some great buddies at HHB, and finds a love for art. One night, Dave found a way to escape from the HHB, so he wandered off into the world, and met an old man named Solly. Solly turned out to be a great man who is like a grandpa to Dave. That same night, Dave met Irma Lee, a girl who Dave would be friends with forever. Now, Dave thinks he will never go back to the HHB. He could live with Irma Lee! Then, he remembers his buddies back at the orphanage. Was it fair to leave them there, after all they had been through together? Should he go back to the Hebrew Home for Boys? Should he live with Irma Lee? Dave has a big decision to make ahead of him. Read the book to find out the path that he takes.

I recommend this book for people in 4th grade and up. Although it is a book about an orphan going through tough times, it is mostly a story about great friendships. Dave at Night is one of the books that has a cliffhanger at the end of a chapter. It leaves you wanting more which is another reason why I recommend this book. If you liked the book The Liberation of Gabriel King, then you’d enjoy the book I read because they both have a great lesson on believing in yourself, and helping your friends. Also, if you liked the movie Annie, you will like Dave at Night because these two books are both about an orphan that breaks out of their orphanage, and explores the real world. This book was not the best, but I enjoyed it. I give this book 4 out of 6 stars.

I think that Dave at Night is a historical fiction book for many reasons. This story takes place in the year 1926. There are many clues in the book that show why it is historical fiction. First of all, I noticed that when Dave goes out into the world, he described people with different skin colors as colored. Although there was no slavery involved, this tells me that black or African American people were still not treated as equally as white people, as they are today. Another thing that happened in the book was many people were poor, or did not have a job. I know that the Great Depression happened around that time, so maybe it was a part of that. To sum it up, Dave at Night was an entertaining book.

One Eye Laughing, The Others Weeping by Lexi

2010-04-19T08:16:00.001-05:00

One Eye Laughing, The Other Weeping
By: Barry Denenberg. 4/6 stars: you should read this book.

The characters in this book are: Julie Weiss, who is about 10years old and this book is her diary; Julie’s Mom, who is very strict and doesn’t give Julie hugs or doesn’t want to have anything to do with Julie in anyway; her Dad, who is nice and is a doctor. Julie also has a brother named Max. Julie’s Aunt Clara and Uncle Martin take Julie in when she is sent to America. And finally, there is Julie’s best friend Sophie, who is very brave and outgoing. The story starts out in Julie’s house in Vienna, Austria and moves on to New York, New York. The main idea of the story is basically Julie’s life and how she survives the holocaust in Europe then thrives in America. The period of history it takes place is around 1938 right when Hitler is taking over in Germany before World War 2.

I recommend this book because it is a very strong story about the holocaust, which is a very important part of history. Also, it was a very personal view of a girl that is about my age and was very sad to imagine myself as that girl. If you liked the book The Boy In The Striped pajamas by John Boyne you would like this book because they take place around the same time. Additionally, if you read The Royal Diaries of Anastasia the Last Grand Duchess by Carolyn Myer, you would like this book because it is written in the same Diary format and is from the same series. Finally, Julie Weiss and Anastasia are around the same age.

In Austria, before Hitler was there, Julie had a normal life with her Mom, Dad and her brother Max. Before Hitler came to power, Julie and Sophie were in the same class and allowed to be best friends. When Hitler arrived on the scene, Julie’s Mom couldn’t take it anymore and committed suicide. After that, Julie and her family had to be extra careful about whom they talked to and were even more afraid than before. Also, Hitler and his men burned down Sophie’s father’s book shop and all the books in it. Then Sophie’s family became very poor and couldn’t afford food. They were all too scared to sleep, and couldn’t ever leave their small home. So Sophie’s parents decided the only way to keep her alive was to set her up for adoption. Dr. Weiss [Julie’s Father] decided that he couldn’t risk losing Julie either and sent her to America to live with her Aunt Clara and Uncle Martin. When Julie got to New York, she felt very out of place and was scared that she would be recognized and sent back to Austria. While Julie was in New York, her Dad was killed in a concentration camp. Julie became a famous actress that stared in many plays -- and grew up to be a rich American for the rest of her life. In the end, Sophie and Julie found each other at one of Julie’s plays while Sophie was visiting New York on holiday with her new family that lived in England.

In conclusion, One Eye Laughing, The Other Weeping is an emotional book that you should read. It has interesting characters that you can really connect to. This book captures the drama and feelings of one of the most important and tragic events in history, the holocaust. While reading, you really get a feel for what was going on in the world’s history during this time.

Blood on the River by Alex

2010-04-19T08:13:00.001-05:00

Blood on the River
Paper By: Alex

The author of Blood on the River is Elisa Carbone. I would rate it five stars out of six stars.
In 1606, traveling to a New World as Captain John Smith's apprentice, young Samuel Collier's life is about to change. Samuel was a very tough orphan that was sent to the ship called the Susan Constant to find a New World. He soon discovered the truth. The New World wasn't as amazing as he was lead to believe. While Samuel is in the New World, he gets traded into an Indian village, where he learns the Indian ways. Samuel loses many friends and makes even more. Young Samuel has to fight for his life in this amazing novel.

Blood on the River is an amazing book. I think it is for ages nine and up. If you like the Colonial period, this is the book for you. Also if you enjoy action, you should get this book. I liked the book Blood on the River because I thought it was very interesting to learn what it was like to live in 1606 in the New World. It was also interesting to learn about the Indian culture and how it was different than the culture of the settler's. If you liked the book Fever or if you enjoyed the movie Pocahontas, you should read the book Blood on the River.

Blood on the River takes place in 1606 in Jamestown, Virginia, when settlers came to America in search of gold. But Indians thought the settlers were taking what belonged to the Indians. The settlers and Indians would often get into fights. So, many settlers and Indians died. This continued until Pocahontas married John Rolfe and they had a son named Thomas. This showed both settlers and Indians that they could live together. During this time, the Indians and the settlers barely fought and it became known as The Peace of Pocahontas. But Pocahontas died in 1617 and soon the Powhatan population was decimated.

Storm Warriors by Andre W.

2010-04-19T08:12:00.001-05:00

A great book to read in your free time is storm warriors. This book is about a boy named Nathan who wants to be a surf man. He was just helping with the rescues but suddenly natanen’s dad says forget it. Even through Nathan’s dad said no Nathan continuous to help with the rescues. After a while he goes to the pea island’s surf men station and borrows some books that teach him how to help a patient after that Nathan goes on another rescue but ends up tipping the surf boat. Nathan does not want to show his face to any of the surf men but ends up having to on the next rescue. In the end wait no you have to read the book to find out.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. This book really is in great detail of every thing. You don’t read this book in a 5 min span you read it if you have a hole day set aside. You literally can’t sit the book down with out some thing in your brain saying what is going to happen next?
If you like heat or one handed catch then you’ll love storm warriors because they all tell a wonderful story about a boy with a dream and how they try to accomplish there dream. After you read this book you’ll have used up half your tissues and have bitten your finger nails off.

This book is based on a true story but the main character is fake. It connects to the middle time of sea exploration. The ships are all made of wood. The pea island surf men are all real. They all actual save sailors that where ship wrecked. They are practically the coast guards of their time.

André

Woods Runner by Nick

2010-04-19T08:10:00.001-05:00

Story by: Gary Paulson
Woods Runner Book Report
Book report by: Nick

Do you like books that are exciting and suspenseful, well then Woods Runner is the book for you. Woods Runner is about a boy named Samuel in the American Revolution. One night he went hunting and when he came back to his house his parents were gone. So he goes out to find them and he finds several Indians. One was dressed up as a British soldier and Samuel shot him with his musket. Another Indian got mad and the Indian hit Samuel in the head with a tomahawk. Later on in the story an Indian named Coop helped him with tobacco spit and maggots. Then Samuel meets some people along the way and they help him find his parents. But you`ll have to read the book to find out if he finds his parents.

Woods runner is a book for people who love suspense. It is also VERY interesting. This book is also for people who like books about the American Revolution and this is for people who enjoy talking about war. If you like the book Sent then you`ll love this book because it makes want to keep on reading. Plus if you liked found you`ll love this book because you don’t know what is going to happen next.

This book takes place in the American Revolution. The characters are fighting for freedom against the British. This is a historical fiction book because the guns aren`t modern time. For example they would use muskets and rifles. Now they would use snipers and assault rifles. Also there is no technology in these times. This is book about a war that took place a long time ago.

Out of the Dust by Julia

2010-04-19T08:09:00.001-05:00

Out of the Dust
By: Karen Hesse

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse is an excellent story about a girl stuck in the Dust Bowl. She wants to leave here home like her friends and neighbors. She knows the incident in the story isn’t completely her fault but it still brings a great tragedy to the family; especially with the baby on the way. Her mother is not well. Billy Jo’s mother is supposed to have a baby soon but because of the accident it might not turn out well for her. Billy Jo’s life is turning inside out! She doesn’t know what to do! The story takes place from 1934 to 1935 which was during the Dust Bowl era.
I would really recommend this book to people who like sad books. It explains what is happening in Billy Jo’s life very well. I would read this book again! If you liked Stowaway by Karen Hesse then you would love Out of the Dust because Karen Hesse has a certain voice in writing and you can tall it is hers. Also, if you liked Heartbeat by Sharon Creech then you would love Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse because they are both forms of free verse poems and sad things happen in both books. It would be a good book for grades 4 to 6 because then the readers can really relate to Billy Jo because she is around their age. I would really recommend this book!
Out of the Dust is a historical fiction book because it is a completely true girl but some things are different, like names. This is a true story of the tragic Dust Bowl. The Dust Bowl was when you couldn’t see the sky or your hand in front of you, these terrible storms would come almost every day. People couldn’t grow crops so that meant no money to buy food. The period in the book was 1934 to 1935 which happened to be when the Dust Bowl was taking place. You experience Billy Jo’s everyday life. This book takes you through her sad times and her happy times. The Dust Bowl was real and true and very hard for everybody who had to live through it. This book shows how hard life was for people who lived during this time.

Shackleton's Stowaway by PJ

2010-04-19T08:07:00.001-05:00

Shackletons Stowaway
By: Victoria McKernan
Report by: PJ
5: Wicked Good, BEAST.

Perce Blackborow is your ordinary 18 year old British Sailor in 1914. After the wreck of the Golden Gate, Perce’s first ship wreck, he and William ‘Billy’ Bakewell tried to find another ship in the port, Buenos Aires. One night while out at a bar, they heard that two sailors had been fired. The man who fired them was Greenstreet. Perce and Billy went up to him to get an interview for the spot. Later they learned it was an expedition to Antarctica and the Captain was Ernest Shackleton. They called the names of the crew; Perce Blackborow is not one of them. He gets a spot to help in the gallery until the ship leaves 2 weeks later. The day before Billy leaves, he comes up with a wicked idea, Perce should be a stowaway! With the help of Tim McCarthy, an Irishmen, they smuggle him on board. That doesn’t last for very long. When Shackleton found out that Perce was a stowaway he was furious. Then Shackleton made Perce write a letter to his family explaining his mischief. Things were going smoothly until they got stuck in ice. The Ship started to sink. Will they survive the Artic or would the trembled and fall from Frostbite?

I highly recommend this book to almost everybody. If you like just romance books or just Science Fiction books then don’t read this book. This book makes history ten times better. It’s packed with mystery, action, and suspense. There are a few sad parts though. If you like the show “Survivor” then you’d love this book because it’s practically the same except you can’t quit (you still get money if you survive). Also if you liked the book Timothy and the Kay then you would love this book because in both they can only use natural resources to survive.

Shackleton’s first expedition to the artic regions as captain happened in 1914 as the First World War began. Shackleton attempted this journey because he wanted to discover and claim the last of the unexplored on earth. The ship the Endurance was the ship that took Shackleton and his 28 man crew to the Antarctic. South Georgia Island is a real whaling station. All of the events and characters were based on real events and people. For example, Perce Blackborow really had his toes cut off because of frostbite. Shackleton tried to go on another expedition to cross Antarctica but died at South Georgia Island. Billy and Perce were friends. They never saw each other after the journey but communicated through letters. No one died on the expedition like in the book. The only thing fictional was what the crew members said.

Homesick My Own Story by Valerio

2010-04-19T08:04:00.000-05:00

Homesick My Own Story
Paper written by: Valerio Buzzi

Homesick My Own Story was not a very fun story to read but it was a very informational story about how things happened back in the days in China, this book is written is written by Jean Fritz and this is her life story. Although this was not a very fun book to read but I would give this book a rating of 2 because it really didn’t make any sense to me but it gave lots of information to me.

Jean Guttery is the main character in this story and she is going to a British school and the problem is that they have to sing the British national anthem and she doesn’t want to sing it so the next day she goes to school she doesn’t sing the anthem but this becomes a problem to Ian, a boy in her classroom. Ian comes to the playground where Jean was and twists her arm and says “Tomorrow you better sing “God Saves the King”. And the next day she does. Jean ditches school for the day and roams the little town next to where she lives. When she comes back her teacher was sitting in her living room asking her parents why Jean wasn’t at school today. When her teacher leaves Jean starts crying to her mother and her mother says “Go to your and think about what you did today.” The next day she goes to school and doesn’t sing the British national anthem she whispers the American national anthem. Three days before Christmas Andrea’s family is getting an orphan so that she could spend time with someone on Christmas. Both of the families split the time they get with the orphan. Andrea’s father and Jean’s father both work for a Y.M.C.A, but unfortunately Andrea’s father gets moved to a new Y.M.C.A so the two friends barely get to see each other. After that the Guttery family goes on a vacation to Kiukiang, a small village. Jean’s mother feels pain in her legs and has to go to the hospital and finds out that she has a clot in her legs and she can’t walk for awhile her father had to stay at the hospital a long time too. Jean then knows she has a baby sister but a few days later the baby dies but the doctors don’t know why. After that Jean’s father goes back to the town where they had left for the vacation and her father couldn’t come back because riots were starting and people were getting hurt and he helped at the hospitals. The main characters in this story are Jean Guttery, her grandmother Lin Nai Nai, and Andrea. The setting mostly takes place in Henkow, China. The period of time this book takes place in is where new people that came to China were not easily accepted and everything was a very hard time.

Not everyone would like this book, including me but you might like this book if you like informative books and non-exciting books. One very bad connection I have to this book is to the KKK it reminds me of this because some of the poor Chinese people were starting riots to the rich Chinese people just like the KKK did to black people which was horrible. One other connection I have to this book is how if you or me were somewhere we didn’t know and we felt like we had to go home Jean had to feel horrible being in a place where her baby sister had died and her mother wasn’t feeling well and her best friend had left and she hadn’t seen her in awhile.
These connections are historical because the KKK happened awhile ago but still maybe exists today but the biggest fights happened back in the day this problem isn’t that big of a deal right now. And all of us would feel terribly homesick if you were Jean right now. In earlier years you wouldn’t have enough money to pay for food, clothes, and presents for Christmas but the Guttery family had friends that would help them. The Guttery family wasn’t poor but they weren’t rich they still had to work for the money they earned and pay for Christmas presents and everything their family needed. This book wasn’t very interesting to me but one of you might like this book!