Peak

This book is called Peak because I know it sounds crazy that's the main characters name. Peak was born a climber. His dad makes a living by guiding tours up Everest. HIs mom quit climbing when he was born but both his parents were rock rats. I think that what Peak does was way to risky. He basically just wanted to climb. So instead of just plain saying can we go climbing he decided to do it himself. So he scales skyscrapers. ( Illegally by they way.) Of corse his plan doesn't involve being caught but when he his he faces three and a half years of jail or going to Nepal to live with his dad. There is one twist. He doesn't go to Nepal right away. He goes to Tibet to climb Everest. His dad wants to have the youngest person to ever climb Everest have climbed with his group for publicity. I think that his dad is completely selfish and greedy. I know that isn't very fair but still. Most of the people who climb Everest don't come down to tell the tale. So using his son for publicity and at the same time risking his life seems so selfish. Though still this book was good. It was mainly about survival and if you know everything about me you know that I love survival stories. Plus it also shows you how lucky you truly are. The sherpa on the mountain that help you while you are climbing have to risk there lives like that to just support their family, put food on the table, and clothes on their backs. That piece of the book seemed to sting when you think about how much we take for granted. I hope that you at least consider reading this book.

Hurt Go Happy

In past posts I have rated books 10 but that's because I didn't get the rating system. But this book was absolutely life changing for me. It is about a girl who is deaf named Joey. Her mom doesn't let her learn sign language so she lip-reads. One day she meets an old man who has a chimpanzee who knows sign language, and starts to teach Joey. Some of you might know that I am 100% against animal testing and animal cruelty. This book was really an eye-opener for me and it is part of what influenced me to become a vegetarian. Towards the end I was crying so hard that I had to take a break from it to think it over. Of course I finished it and it is actually the best book I have ever read.

May Bird

The book May Bird looks a bit cheesy on the outside, but it's one heck of a book on the inside! This book has creatures like spirits, house goasts, dead robers, dead cities, and much more. May Bird, a girl who could never blend in with the girls at school, finds a passage from her world, her homeBriery swamp. May is not afraid of dark forests, and there is a forest right across the way from May's house. Her mom warned her not to go exploring in the forest, but of course, she explores anyway. She and her cat, Somber Kitty, discover a swamp that was said that people disapeared and never came back from this area. May ends up being dragged through the gateway of her world and the dead world by a house goast. May encounters new helpful friends and enimies that don't want May to leave the dead world.........alive.
May's goal: to get the heck out of the dead world.

Grossology

Egh! What is that icky goopy slimy lump? Ugh! What is that discusting morbid blob-like mass? If you want to know what these icky, goopy, slimy, lumpy, discusting, morbid, blob-like masses are, check it out in the grossley-orgonized book of GROSSOLOGY. This is the best book I've ever read to get the most putridest imformation out of and if you're the kind of person that likes stuff like this then this book's for for YOU. This book helped me learn more about all of the things you just read in the first two sentences from bruises to warts, from boiles to pus and brains to guts. Icky to ouchy, lumpy to goopy.

I would rate this book of yucky facts a 9 1/2

The Family Reunion

The Family Reunion is about a little girl and her grandma and they have cooking day every Saturday together. But then they went to the family reunion and turned out to not be happy. I liked this story because it shows that you don't have to be first at everything. I would give it a 10.

Watership Down

Watership Down was recomended to me and now I am really into it. It may be a bit to challenging for some people, and it started a bit slow, but its getting really exiting and the cool thing is the rabbits who are the main charecters have there own tipe of languege! It can be sad in some part so be prepared. I would give this book a rating of 8 because it is exiting but not so catching some times.

Goosebumps, Ghost beach

A boy named Jerry finds a creepy cave on the beach. Then some other kids tell him there is 300 year old ghost deep in the cave. He thinks its just a myth of the old times.

This book is great because of course, most of the Goosebump books are creepy. I think its great because I like ghosts and other things like that. 10!

Parrot In the Oven, Mi Vida

Parrot In the Oven is a great book to read, it is about a boy whois growing up in ghetto. His family is very poor, so the book can tell you about what its like when you are poor. I would give this book a 10 for it's humor, and plot. I just think that this book is one of the best I have ever read in my whole life. My favorite part is when he is working with his brother to pick peppers in a field. The humor in that part is great! I really recommend this book, but it does swear some.

The Cross of Lead

The Cross of Lead is probably the best book I've ever read!  I think it was a book wrote for me, it's not onley about companionship, but archery and sword fighting!  The beginning is teribly boring and sad but the middle and end are fantastic!  The author is Avi and I hear theres a sequel.

Judy Moody Predicts the Future

This book is really funny. A girl named Judy gets a mood ring out of a cereal box. She trys to change it but it doesn't work. So she trows it away in the trashcan in her brothers room. Judys brother "Stink"gets it out and trys it on. He discovers it does work. Judy trys to get it back by telling him she has ESP. She also makes a predictsion at school. I would give this book a 9.

Incantation

I just read this book and it was really good. It is about a girl who lives in Spain and is raised Catholic and is one day told she is secretly Jewish. By the way this is all happening during the crusades. Which is the time when Jewish people were killed for being Jewish if they didn't convert. Something I really liked about this book is basically every chapter something really unexpected happens! And believe it or not, at the end I was bawling it was so sad.

THE WHIPPING BOY by Sid Fleischman

This book is a good one because:
*It's a Newbery Medal (which really doesn't matter.)
*I like books in this time-zone
*A good plot
And much more!

The Ara is between, Victorian, and, mid-evil times. I like reading fiction and (again) this time-zone of books.
I only give this book a 8 1/2 because it has a quick plot turn (exciting!) but, the ending was what I would of guessed but, it ended to short.

Judy Moody around the World in 8.5 days

Judy Moody can be a strange book because the characters have funny names and some of them have strage personalites. If you like funny, wierd, rhyming names then this is a great book for you to enjoy. There are many other books of Judy Moody. I would rate this book a 7.3 because its not my type of book, but 7.3 is not a bad score for a book. Judy Moody doesn't brush her hair and she likes to collect chewed up gum, so don't follow what she does PLEASE!!

The Land of Silver Apples, by Nancy Farmer

Do you love the book The Sea of Trolls?  If so, you'll really like Nancy Farmer's sequel, The Land of Silver Apples.  This historical fiction book blends English and Norse mythology with early Christian history to produce an engrossing fantasy that is hard to put down!  Characters include elves, bards, kings, druids, hobgoblins, and an apprentice on a quest.  I recommend reading the Sea of Trolls before The Land of Silver Apples because I think that the reader benefits from the rich context of the story and the character relationships that are established in the first book. Rumor has it that the third book in the series will be out next year!

I rate The Sea of Trolls at a 9 and The Land of Silver Apples at an 8 because they really held my interest and made me want to learn more about European mythology.  To answer Clem's question before she asks it: neither book is a 10 for me because, while I love them both, neither is a life-changing piece of literature, which is one of my criterion for a 10.  The book will be back in the classroom tomorrow and available for reading over vacation.

Princess Lessons (one if the princess diaries books)

In the book it's slit up into sections: beauty, etiquette, fashion, character, and education. each section tells how you can look like a royal. in fashion and beauty there is a list of essentials. in characters it tells you how to make a friend,a good spectator, and other things that important.

I like this book because it tells you how or act like a royal. This book reminded me of the Amreican girl books because they tell you infomation about useful things.

Molly Moon (the series)

I am going to start the 4th in the series. I really liked the first three books because
they were all fast-paced and action packed.

Anyway, Molly Moon is about a girl who lives in an orphanage and her life is basically really bad. Then she discovers a book on hypnotism and that changes her life forever.

What first got me into the book was the cover. I love dogs and there was a big picture
of a dog on the cover and at that point I was into reading books about animals. I tried reading it. It wasn't about a dog after all. I could literally not put it down. When I finished, I could not wait to get my hands on the next one.

The next one was awesome also. The third was complete action.

I really,really,really recommend this series!

I would give them a 10.

The Amber Spyglass

I am reading the Amber Spyglass, the epic conclusion to His Dark Materials, a trilogy about a girl named Lyra, and a boy named Will. It has a complicated story line, 

but most fifth graders could figure it out. I thought that the first book, the Golden Compass and this book were about the same rating, around 7+, which is good... but definitely very complicated and you HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION! If not, you will most likely lose your spot in your head. (I've had that and it is not fun, trust me). This a very interesting trilogy for ages 10 and over,

                                                  

And for all those Harry Potter readers, read this next.              

Granny Torelie Makes Soup

This book is by Sharon Chreech, the newberry winner for walk two moons well back to the book. This book is about a girl and her friend Bailey and they get in a fight and the girl is very mad at "that Bailey". Then Granny Torelie comes in and helps out the girl ( I am sorry but I do not know the girls name). I can relate to this book because sometimes I get in fights with my freinds and get so mad at them that I wish I never knew them but thena at the end my fight with my friend we always makeup, usally. I would say to my uppinion this book is a quick read but it is very good and it taught me a lesson to alsways listen to my family and friends if they are trying to help me when I am in a fight.
I would give this book a 10 because to me this book was good and taught me a lesson so that is why i put the book at a 10!.

-Maddy Decarlo

The Stranger

I read this book called the Stranger. I would recomened this book because it is about a man who hit's a guy that forgets who he is. I would read this book if you like mastereose books. It is not that long but it is a really good book. I would maybe give this book a 8 1/2 maybe not a 10 because it is not that good but I like it maybe you will to. I don't know what you would give it but you mit give it a 9 or a 10. The man that get's hit lives with the man that hits him. The man that gets hit never learns who he is. I really want you to try to read this book.

Gender Blender

Gender Blender is my favorite book. It was the first book that i have read that has made me laugh out loud. It is so funny. However, at parts, it may be a little inappropriate. This book is about a boy, Tom, and a girl, Emma. They get pared up for a n assignment, and things go terribly wrong. This all happens because they hate each other. Emma and Tom switch body's. Gender Blender is about how they deal with their differences. I think that this book is really good to read, because is written around a good life lesson, it doesn't matter what is on the outside, it matters what is on the inside. This book was not only funny, but it taught me something too, like girls and boys are not much different on the inside. I would defiantly give this book a 10!

Rules

This book is called rules. It's not a very common title and because of that the author, Cynthia Lord, comes right out and says why. It is called that because the main character ( Catherine) is suffering the regular stress of being a twelve year old girl. As if that isn't enough her younger brother David has autism. This means that he sort of has problems with everything. So Catherine has "helped" him by giving him an ever growing list of rules that it is essential he follows. Then when her best friend goes to California with her dad for the summer, and a new girl moves in next door tons of problems come up in her life and just won't budge. Basically this book is about Catherine's life as she tries to make friends with Krisit ( the new girl), fend for her little brother from the bully Ryan, and keep up a friendship with a boy who can't talk and doesn't know sign language. So while this is all going on Catherine's sticking to her set of rules.
There are plenty of times where I have felt a pang or a wave of sadness creeps over me because of what happens. I feel like it is so easy to slide into Catherine and feel exactly what she would feel. This is a book that has amazing talent. It really allows you to see all the sides of the story, feel what everyone's feeling, and down right get sucked up. I think that I would rate it an eight. I would rate it that because it's a good plot and wonderful talent, but it can be slow. Thus numerous times boring. Even though I hope you read this book. Rules.

The Gift of the Magi

The Gift of the Magi is a booklet of tiny stories. The most famous one is the Gift of the Magi. That one is about two people who are in love and they basically try to by eachother's love.

O.Henry is a very tricky writer and his stories usally end with a twist. There are lots of miny stories for you to unravel. I am not done with this book because it's pretty tough to read at part's.

I would rate this book a 9.5 because it's really good but parts of it are confusing.

The Wednesday Wars, by Gary Schmidt

Mrs. Ritter put this book in my hands last week -- and when she recommends a book, it's always good!  Last summer she loaned me Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, another book by the same author, and I enjoyed it tremendously.  

Both books require a good amount of background knowledge, which might make them tricky reading for 5th graders.  But for those of you who know a little bit about the sixties (Vietnam, VW buses, Martin Luther King, Jr.), the time in which the story takes place will make sense to you.

This is also a good book for anyone who enjoys Shakespeare and might have a particular interest in learning some of Caliban's curses!  I give this book a hearty 8.5 rating.  

The Entertainer and the Dybbuk

Yeah, I know what your all thinking. What is a dybbuk, well thats actully a jewish spirit from the holocaust. It's about a guy named 'The Great Freddie' that works with puppets, one night he goes hom and gets possessed by a dybbuk. Freddie isn't that good at not moving his lips when the dummie is supposed to be talking so the dybbuk helps him for 2 things, if Freddie helps him get a bar-mitzvah (a jewish ceremony that makes someone jewish into an adult) and to help get revenge on the man who killed him. I would give this book a 8 and a half because it teaches you about the holocaust and it has some humor, but be prepared because this book is kind of sad. But still, it's a 8 and a half

The House On The Gulf

This book is by Margret Peterson Haddix. When I first saw this book I thought that it was going to be abouta flood or a big lake that over flows but it is not. This book has three main charicters who are the mom, the sister Britt, and the brother bran. In this book Britts brother Bran lands a summer job house-sittingin Florda, it seems great for Birtt and her family but then Britt suspects that the owners are not who Bran says they are. I would give this book a 10 because it is so well written and when I finish this book I will try out the authors other books and write about them on the blog. The tipe is sort of small but it is not that bad. I would reccomened this book to people or kids that enjoy books that ar kind of mysterie but also kind of ragular.
If you read the book have fun on Britt, her moms, and Bran her brothers journey through babysitting a house that might not be who they think the owners houe is.

-Maddy

Rascal

Rascle is about a racoon that becomes friends with a boy. They love each other. They are best friends.

Then, summer strikes. Its time for the racoon to go. Its to hard for them to seperate and the boy can't leave him. How will they deal with it? Will the racoon go or stay?

This book looks so sad to me. I am reading it with Max in a book club. I know I'll love this book. I dont know why but it seems like its going to be great.

Finding Her Way

I read a story calld Finding Her Way. It was about how blind people
can do everything that we can do. And how they do stuff a little different.
The girl that was blind had a schedule for the day. I liked this book because
it showed haw it does not matter what or who you are. And that is why I give
it a 10.

Ragweed

Ragweed is a mouse that moves away from his family to find adventure and gets to a city called ampperville. There are many mice that have clubs and stuff but there is also there cat group called F.E.A.R.(Felines Enraged About Rodents)Can Ragweed help mouse town fight back? I would give this book a ten because its very action packed and fun.

Pixie Tricks

I read a book called Pixie Tricks. I would give this book a 7 1/2-8 1/2 because it is non-fiction it is a good book because it is not so hard and not so easy. I really recomend this book if you like magical book's or if you like faries or pixie's. This book is not so long but it is a really good book. I could really picture the story. I think you sould try to find this book in the store's.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows

I am reading Harry Potter the 7th I think it is the best Harry Potter book yet. If you want to read this book you would have to read the other books before this one. This book is very intence. If you are a big Harry Potter fan and you haven't read the last Harry Potter you better get reading "just kinding". If I had to rate this book to 1-10 I would rate it a 10 because it is a very magical and mysterious and it can get scary in parts. If you don't have somthing to read then Harry Potter the 7th is on the line of best books ever.

Mrs. Piggle Wiggle

This is a series about a sweet women who adores children. She adores children because of course children adore her. She spends so much time with children that she even has cures for their bad habits. This is a great book for a family and can be just right for a large range of grades and ages. It's a very settle and simple book but I love it. It's one of those books that you pass down for generations. I would rate it a ten but a different kind of ten. It's not that it has any problem (in fact to me it's flawless), it's just that for some people, it's a bit too layed back. I love the cozy warm feeling you get from reading this book, but other people may think that it doesn't have enough adventure, action, emotion or other things like that in it.

Little House on the Parrie

Its about a girl and her family and they move to a new country. Though this was 100 years ago so, they have to go by a covered wagon. And when they get there they have to re-build everything.

The Little Prince

I am reading, The Little Prince. It is about a tiny boy who visits tons of planets.

I really like it because it is funny. I think it's funny because the prince always asks ridulous questions like, "Will you draw me a sheep?" He said that to the narorator. This book also has wierd ideas because the prince is always refering to grown-ups as
"pecular" or "some what interesting" There was one man who would count every star in the sky and say that he "owned" them.

I'd rate this book a nine and a half because of it's humor and wierd ideas.

Hang A Thousand Trees With Ribbons

I am reading this book right after I just read Copper Sun. They are both about slavery, and about a girl who comes to America from Africa to be a slave. The difference is that in Copper Sun Amari was treated awfully and didn't have a good life. In this book, Phillis is treated like part of the family that bought her. In Copper Sun, Amari hates that boy that does things with her. But in this book, Phillis falls in love with the boy who is almost like her brother.

The Rabbit-Proof Fence

I loved this story so much! It is about these three aborigeny girls that are taken away from their poor town, Jigala, and brought to a place for blacks. Then, they try to escape, and get farther than anyone that has tried before. This is because the shelter that they stayed at has an amazing tracker that finds missing people. But because Molly, (the oldest girl), is so smart, she finds a way to hide their scent. I think that the tracker was a tiny bit on the girls side. Every time he could not find a scent, he would smile and he would seem happy for them. How they got home was they followed the worlds longest fence which led them to their town. This is a really good book or movie to watch. It has a lot to do with race and how bad it was. I would give this story a 10+.

Into the Woods

This book was recommended to me by Miss. Ritter. So naturally I have high expectations. This is one of those books where you can tell what mood the author was in when she wrote different parts of it. Like for instance if your mental picture is harder to form then there wasn't much detail. Though from this book the author is very skilled in putting out detail enough to make a mental picture but have it still be your own and unique. In the parts where she is rushing, these parts seem darker and blurrier. It makes me think that the author was annoyed.

The hook on this book is really amazing, it starts out as a big picture of rats then the way the author seems to be rushing made me wonder, "Are Storm, and Aurora rats?". I started reading through to find out. Before I knew it I was three chapters into the book. (and no they are not rats)

The cool and interesting thing about this book is it is continuously tying back to a fairy tale. It is a different one every time. Like the first chapter called The Piper Returns is about Storm wandering into a mysterious part of town called Hamilin. Then she sneaks into their town counsel and finds out their food was being devoured by rats. That they where trying to get an exterminator. Then someone said remember the last time!? So I think that was where the Pied Piper went. Or in the second chapter Storms sister Aurora pricks her finger making a blanket and gets really scared, then before (well what happens I can't say) it happens there is a note saying "Be sure to tell Aurora to be careful on her sixteenth birthday.

All-in-all this book so far has met my expectations and gone farther. This book is just plain (well there is nothing plain about it) great and I hope that all of you read it.

Amulet of Samarkand

I'm reading a book called the Amulet of Samarkand, by Jonathan Stroud.  It's a challenging yet incredible, you really have to understand the concept of magic!I suggest reading the Harry Potter series before.  Some things you should know about are: djinni (of the fourteenth level), scrying glasses, summonings, miner imps, uttuku, and horla!Unfortunetly I can't tell you what any of those things are, so you'll just have to read it!

Fly By Night by Frances Hardinge

I couldn't put this book down all weekend. Unfortunately, that meant that I left a lot of my chores, well, undone. Has that ever happened to anyone else?

Fly By Night is loosely based on English history, but the genre is definitely science fiction/fantasy. I was drawn to the book by one of the graphic elements on the cover which read, "Imagine a world in which all books were banned!" The main character, Mosca Mye, loves books but she lives in a time when all but "sanctioned" book are banned.  She has lots of adventures,  and I kept being surprised by the twists and turns in the plot, right up until the end!

We don't have this book in our classroom library, but Mrs. Ritter has it in the school library. This book would make a great book club book because there are so many twists that it would be fun to make predictions and have conversations about what is really happening that the main character may -- or may not -- know about.

Farmer boy

I thought Farmer Boy was really interesting because it was fun to see how they did everything back then. I thought that it was wild that the teachers would fight boys, as their punishment, if they came in late for school. The boys and girls could not have recess together and could not sit next to each other. It's a great book and I would give it a 9.

Go Ask Alice

Go Ask Alice is about a girl who lives a normal life. She has normal parents, and normal friends. Untill everything goes wrong. One day a boy introduces her to drugs. She loves them. Little bye little she tries every kind of drug she can get. Finally, her drug use gets out of control and she decides to leave home with her friend and start a buisness. That of course goes all wrong too and she comes home again. Again, and again she messes up her life. Follow Alice on this never-ending journey and help her find her life. Watch out for the tearjerking ending.

This book has taught me never to even THINK about using drugs. It is really scary the things that happen to her. I would give this book a 10+ and I was sad when it was over.

Chasing Vermeer

If you like mysterys, you would like Chasing Vermeer. I just started this book. It is not so amazing in the beginning, but I have heard it is great at the end. If I had to rate this book 1-10, I would rate it a 5 because it is the not the greatest book but it is not the worst book. Most of the book stays in one setting so far and I think it would be more interesting with more settings. I hope it is going to get better farther in the book.

The Report Card

This book The Report Card,is about a boy and his friends. One day they were late getting on the bus because they had to stay and get there report cards; Stephen and Nora sat in the back of the bus. Stephen said "my favorite subject is spelling." Nora got A's in everything. Stephen got a D in math, a D in science, a D in english, D in art and last but not least a C in spelling. I like this book because I like the author Andrew Clements, and it is good because at first Stephen did not want to tell Nora his grades because it will spread around. I would rate this book 10 because I really enjoy the book.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

I'm reading the 6th book in the series. I'm half way through the book. Harry's getting help from this intersting, mysterious Half Blood Prince. Harry has his old potions book.I think the prince is just a nick name or a made up name. I really want to know how the Prince is. The book is 50 years old. I think that J.K. Rowling a great writer because she has you hooked so that you sometimes don't want to put the book down and she also leaves you at a clef hanger at the end of a chapter.

Titanic

I read a book called The Titanic. About 1 year ago I wen't to a museum that was called The Titanic. It was nothing like the book. The book is kind of scare because the Titanic crasses in to an ice barge. But there is only 2 life boats. So Ruth was the last kid on thye secont life boat. Her family got oin the first life boat. Her and her family had to go to New York because her brother Richered was sick. I wish the Titanic didn't crash in to the ic e barge. I feel very sorry for the people who pased away. Some scientes found part of the Titanic in the ocean.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth book in the sieries. I'm not very far in the book but I can tell you what I think. Well in the first chapter of this book, it literally feels like you are there. There is a house keeper listening to Voldemort and Wormtail (Peter Pettigrew). And when I was reading it, I thought that was right there with the house keeper. It was amazing how J.K. Rowling can hook you in like that. An then with Harry going to see the Quiditch World Cup and seeing all the weird tents is just so fun. That is why I give this book a 8 and a half already! I have one question though, will Harry get attacked at the world cup?

Twilight

Twilight. This book is about a girl named Bella who goes to live with her dad, Charley in Forks. One reason I am enjoying this book because the author(Stephenie M- eyer) gives a lot of detail in what she writes. I also like this book because it is a scary book but not so scary that you will scream and break into sweat. I think that Clem would like There are two other books in this series. New Moon and Eclipse. I think the order of the books is Twilight, New Moon and then Eclipse. Clem is reading Eclipse first, so I guess you can read them out of order but it might make more sense if you read them in order. I think that Clem would like Twilight because it seams like her book.

Marley, a dog like no other

This has got to be the best non-fictional book that I have ever read. It's got a great plot, it's absolutely hilarious, and the best part is that it's in story form. The book is mostly about the life of the author and his hyper, sloppy, uncontrollable dog. It show how much they have a bond with each other, and it shows a lot about loyalty between a man and his dog. It's quite happy other than the that in the end . I absolutely love every part in it. Marley is one of the greatest, funniest and friendliest dogs in the world. It's no wonder why I pulled this 10 rated book out of the favorites section!

The Subtle Knife

I am reading the Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman. It is an interesting and complicated story from the series His Dark Materials, which includes the Golden Compass, another great book by Philip Pullman. The Subtle Knife is about a girl named Lyra, and a boy named Will, but Will is basically the main character, I think. The Subtle Knife is a magical blade that can cut through dimensions. But the point of the Subtle Knife to me was very complicated. I didn't know why the other bearers were chosen to carry the knife, and you don't even know why Will even is. I have many questions, even though I'm finished! This book, and His Dark Materials in general, would be an 8+.  

Dominic

Dominic is a very happy book. The auther is William Steig and it is a 146 page chapter book. It is about a dog called Dominic who wants to see the world. There is a Gang of bad guys who want to get him because he has a lot of treasure that he got from an old dieing hog. He helps all the animals in need and giving away his treasure. He is a wonderfull and nice charecter who is known kindly though the whole city. I read it in second grade and I LOVED it! I'd give this book a 10 because its very good for people who don't like sad things.

The End of The Beginning

The End Of The Beginning is a good book but it is an easy read. When I first picked up this book it looked really childish to me, like a 1st or 2nd grade book but i was wrong, this book is about how two not so good friends go on an adventure and get lost, a lot. I would recommend this book to kids or people that enjoy easy reads and books about weird things like animals talking but I wont give all of it away to the people that want to read the book. I would have to give this book a 9 1/2 because it a little to easy for me but I enjoyed the book. I have never read another book by the author but I can not tell you who the author is because I forget his name but I know for a fact that i have never read another book by him.
-Maddy DeCarlo

George's Marvelous Medicine

George's Marvelous Medicine is about a boy named George and his marvelous invention. One morning, George's parents told him that they were going out for awhile. Poor unlucky George had to stay home with his grizzly,wichy,wicked,evil,beastly and most selfish grandmother. "Don't forget to give your grandmother her medicine at eleven o'clock!" George's parents called out. So there George was, with this 85 year old monstrosity with him. A few hours past and it was almost eleven o'clock, and then all of the sudden, George's brain hached an idea. "You know what," said George, "I will give grandma my own little surprise. I'm going to give grandma a little taste of her own medicine. I think this boo is really funny because Roald Dahl is a funny guy and all of his books have that same kind of humor that makes you want to keep reading because you know that the rest of the book isgoing to be funny too. I myself think that this book is pretty cheesy because it's about a boy living on a farm and most books with grandmas to me are somehow cheesy.
I would rate this book a 8 1/2 because of the cheesiness.

Why I'm Afraid of Bees

By RL Stine

Why im afraid of bees is about a kid who gets turned into a bee. He has to find a way out of it, and quick, or else someone could squish him!I love this book because it has some creepyness, and a little humor. But don't read it because of humor, it barly has any. But that makes it so good. If I were turned into a bee, I would just wait for death, there would be no chance of me surviving like that. But I realy could try, but I don't think there would ever be a solution. All and all, this book is rated 10! Please, read this book.

The Akenten Adventure

The Akenten Adventure has got to be just up there in the my coolio,froolio book list, and I really think I should tell you why! John and Phillipa Gaunt are two ordanary children untill they figure out there djinni,(genie)! I think that one reason I loved the books so much is because there is so much magic and dueling and possesing! Although the book is very cool, be warned it is deffinetly not a comedy! I would give it a 8 for a rating, because I'd give it a 10 if it was funnier, and I'd give it a 9 if they could use their powers even when it was cold out!

The Castle Corona

I read The Castle Corona, by Sharon Creech. It is pretty good. It's a jumble of people and problems in the begining but afterwards, everything ties together. I like it because it is interesting. Interesting meaning it has alot of visaul ideas. The book discribes about how there's a little tunnel made of trees that only the queen can walk through. Sometimes, Sharon Creech puts a bit of humor in the book. For instince, she talks about how Pia- a peasant girl- is so bord that she is looking at how her masters nose is inprinted on his face.

I'd rate this book an eight and three quarters because the ending was a bit abrupt with no reason or ryhme. On the bright side, this book has a good use of words and a good plot!

What ~the~ Dickens

I am reading the book What ~the~ Dickens. This book is about a little fairy named What the Dickens. In this book, What the Dickens meets the tooth fairy and is taken to a fairy land. I know that it sounds cheesy, but Fairy land is a lot more interesting then it sounds. I think that the author did a really good job with all of the different fairies personalities. I loved it when The tooth fairy was getting the tooth, it was really cool how she used floss for a lasso. The detail in this book is so good! I also loved the conversation that was being held between the grandma and the fairy about her dentures. I cant wait to see what happens next. I am loving this book!

Lion Boy

This book is about this boy named Charlie. It I am inferencing takes place in the future, because cars have been banned, almost everyone has Asthma, and if they want to suggest that something took place a really long time ago they say something like. "I believe that it took place sometime near when the gasoline pipes still ran." He is sort of well, a rebel. His parents always encouraged him to be unique and reckless and always do whatever he knew was right even if it got him in over his head. I think that it is a good thing he was encouraged that way. It is important that people do what is right and do what they really have there heart set on doing because if they think that the opportunity will just roll around they will use so much time waiting that could be used to reach your goals. Anyways Charlie is special because when he was a baby his father was in the jungle collecting samples for his lab.(Both his parents are successful scientists) When he heard the distrust call of the Jaguar because her cub stepped on a snake and has snake bite. Then well, I won't tell you what happens but ever since then Charlie was able to speak the language of cat. One day his parents go missing and then Rafi Saddler. The cool kid in town delivers a letter from his mom. Charlie can plainly see that the letter is a sham. So to escape Rafi he stows away on a circus and becomes the lion boy. Befriending young lion and gaining trust of the others they scheme a plan to escape Maccomo ( the lion trainer) and save Charlie from Rafi. This book has a twist to it that makes it so enjoyable because of the way Zizou Corder ordered the words to draw her picture. I think that she chose the perfect time to end the book. Not because it has a satisfying ending, but because the ending is such a cliff hanger. I really enjoy books that have that kind of an ending with one exception. The next book has all ready been written. I hate to wait for a book to come out. If it says in the back of the book coming in 2008 the author seems to wait until the day before New Years. I think that we have the second one in our library. Anyways even though I didn't give a lot of details about the actual book I hope you read it. It's quality is to good to have the bookworms get to it.

Aftermath of the Spill (Marin IJ top story, 11/14/07)

This blog was made for talking about the books we read, but sometimes something so big comes along that we need to get into it and share some reading around it. That's why I'm asking you all to post your thoughts about the aftermath of the oil spill in the San Francisco Bay. Read the lead story in today's Independent Journal, talk to people around you about what they know, and share your thinking back and forth with each other here.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

I'm reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, I would give this book a 10 straight up. It has great humor, action and drama. In this book Harry finds out about a man named Sirius Black. He finds out that Black betrayed his parents and was helping kill his parents; Lily and James Potter. This book is also really good with the hook, I could read this book all day.
This is a super good book.

Whatever Happened to Janie?

What would you do if you saw your face on the missing person side of a milk carton? In The Face on the Milk Carton that is exactly what happened. Janie, an average girl in high school was drinking milk and she saw her face on the milk carton. She finds out that she was kidnapped by her "parents" and her real family was worried sick about her. In Whatever Happened to Janie?, Janie goes to her real family, leaving her other parents miserable. Who knew that an ordinary milk carton could change a person's life? I liked these books because the mysteries were scary but not too scary. I also liked these books because things like this could happen to other kids. They could be having a normal day then, BAM! they learn some horrible thing that will turn their life around. Another reason I like these books is because I can feel the way the characters are feeling because the author (Caroline B. Cooney) described the scenes so well.

Copper Sun

The first thing I want to say is wow. This book is extremely powerful. As soon as you open the book you jump into the life of fifteen-year-old Amari. She lives in Africa. She speaks the language of Ewe. She is engaged. This book is very mature in some ways that are inapropriate. But it is a great, even fantastic book to read if your parents are okay with it. This book made me sit and think for a long time because the discription is so intense. Of Amari leaving her tribe and being thrust upon a mysterious boat to America. On the boat ride over she has to encounter great horrors that no fifteen-year-old should have to. She is sold to a very rich man who lives on a plantation; Master Derby. Amari is intended to be a birthday present for Master Derby's son Clay Derby. The thought of a human being SOLD to someone for a birthday present is unimaginable. But it's real. It's the story of Slavery. The story of misery. The story of hope.

Love from your friend Hananah

This book takes place in from September 1937 to July 1980 in Grand View, New York. Hannah the main charterer writes to 6 different people. those people are Edward, Mr. and Mrs. Roosevelt, Aggie, her Grandma, and Missy. Edward is pen pal Hannah but she doesn't want to be pen pals with a boy. Aggie is her best friend who moved away.Aggie doesn't answer any of Hannah letters. Hannah wrote 16 letters to her. Mr. Roosevelt is the president at the time and Mrs. Roosevelt is the First Lady at the time. Missy is Mr. Roosevelt secretary.

I really like this book because it's all letters and the letters tell the story. My favorite letter is when Edward wrote to Hannah on April 19,1938 and told her a secret.It's my favorite letter because Edward trusts Hannah enough to tell her the secret.

Wringer

Wringer is a book that Clem and I are reading for book club and so far it is great! This book is about a young boy that loves birds and his father and his friends are all becoming wringers (bird hunters). They all try to encourage him to be one, but he just can not. He can not wring the necks of the tiny innocent little creatures. Then one morning he sees a pidgeon sitting apon his windowsill.
How will he hide this small pigion? It's up to you to find out!

Holes

Holes is about a boy named Stanley, who did something bad but, is really innocent. He is sent to a boys "concentration" camp where they have to dig holes, and when I say holes, I mean big holes and they are dug in hard ground. The book is basically getting to the point of why they are digging the holes.

Stanley (the main character) made a deal with X-Ray (a boy in his group) that if he found anything in his hole he would give it to X-Ray so he could have the day off. When Stanley finds the golden tube and gives it to X-Ray, then the warden comes and thinks X-Ray found it. The warden is usually mean to everyone and I am kind of suspicious that the warden is being so nice to Stanley. It seems good, but I think that he wants something from Stanley - whatever it is I don't think it's gonna be good.


I can't wait to find out what happens next!

The Golden Compass

The Golden Compass tells of a girl named Lyra she lives at Jordan Collage.I like this book because of it's action.There are kidnappers a.k.a.Gobblersand Lyra loves adventure.There is also a basemant which is like a graveyard underground.Lyra,her best friend Roger,and their 2 daemons explore all the parts of Jordan.Other charcters are her uncle,the master,her dad Lord Aseril,and a bunch of other daemons, servents, and scholers.The master has a plan of his own which is to kill Lord Aseril.I would rate this book a 10 because of it's action.

Holes by Louis Sachar

I'm reading Holes for book clubs. So far nothing much has happened. There is a boy named Stanly. He did something so called illegal that got him into a camp for bad boys. At the camp you have to dig holes. So far the author is basically just explaining what is going on as you can see. I think that they are digging for a reason though the owner of the camp ( the warden) is the one who is making them dig but "digging to moll over your problems" as the warden says seems a little bit cheesy. I think the warden is making them dig for a reason.

HOLES

What!? No one in my book club has posted yet and it's past 6:30pm. Oh well.

Holes is a great book. It's about a boy (named Stanly) and how he gets in trobble for some thing that he didn't do. Not relly how he gets in trouble but that is a big part in the story. Because he gets in trouble he has to go to jail or this camp called CAMP GREEN LAKE. He picks the camp, well, at lest he gets to go swimming every day, NOT. The lake has been dry for a very long time. You might of watced the movie HOLES like I did. Well your in luck because this book so far is pretty much the same as the movie. I give this book a 9, its good but did not finnish.

George's Marvelous Medicine

George's Marvelous Medicine is a great book. George's grandma is a mean old crancky and nasty old lady. George wants to make a medicine that will blow her bad attitude away. If you read this book you would hear all the gross things he puts in the medicine. If you like a wierd, magical and nasty book then George's Marvelous Medicine would be a great story for you.

Frindle

Frindle is about a boy named Nick that makes up the word called Frindle.
Then Nick starts calling pens Frindle. And spreads the word in the school.
There is a teacher named Mrs. Granger, and Mrs. Granger loves the to use a dictionary. If any kid says Frindle and a teacher hears it,they have to
stay after school and write a sentence one hundred times.

Blue Roses

Blue Roses was written by some kids in MVMS who's parents are divorced. If you read it and your parents aren't divorced, then you can get a pretty good idea of how a divorce is. And if your parents aren't divorced, then you can make some connections. Like I think that some of the facts about a divorce in the book are just things that you would probably think happens in a divorce. But some things are kind of true. I think it's great that the MVMS kids included things like " the thermometer" for you to see how your parents are doing (even if your parents aren't divorced). I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know what's behind the curtains in a divorce.

Stargirl

Stargirl is a book about a boy named Leo and he is interested in a girl named Stargirl. Stargirl is very upbeat and is a change to Leo's school.

The book Stargirl is pretty good, it gets a bit gross at times but it has some golden lines! I'd probably rate this as an eight and a half.

I like this book because it's sweet and it has some touching lines in it. Stargirl is a charector that I wish could be everywhere because she is so sweet. Stargirl is sweet because on holidays or even normal days she buts a little somthing on everyones desk, it makes everyone smile! One day she wheres a long white dress and the next day you could find her in a pare of overalls. She really changes the way people judge others on the way they look. Before Stargirl went to Leo's school (MAHS) everyone folwed someone else. For example, if everyone wore jeans and tank tops then nobody would come to school with a dress on.

This is a good book and it's a quick read!

Stargirl

The Prophet of Yonwood

This book is the Third book in the City of Ember series. It is a really confusing book though. See it is about this ten year old girl, Nickie. It takes place in North Carolina during the Crisis. When U.S.A was in this on going fight with the Phalanx Nations. Not really a war just an argument sort of. People thought that there was going to be a war and the world would be over. This book takes place in Yonwood. It is an ity-bity town. The people there were trying to build a shield of goodness. So that when the war hit God would protect them. There was a woman there her name was Athelea Tower. She had this vision, right after the vision she became ill. She kept muttering things like, no sinnies and no likes. No one could tell what they meant but they thought that it was she was becoming an object of which God could talk though. This is where I think that everything becomes a little harsh. There is this Counsel. They are the Tower members. What the Tower members do is they try to interpret what The Prophet(Athelea) means. Then once they decide it is reasonable they go around trying to get everyone to stop doing that thing. For instance if she said no singing. Then all radios would go off, no one would sing in the shower, and people would wince when the heard bird song. I think that all of that is silly. But then in such a small town it seems that everyone has a say, and there is no real head person. It is just that it is like they are over reacting. See if the find you doing something wrong, and you don't stop they put this impossible to break bracelet on you and it runs on like, an everlasting battery. It goes MMMMMMMMM-mmmmmmmm MMMMMMM-mmmmmmm. Ultimately if you don't stop they never take it off and it drives you crazy. I think that is silly but with something as big as the world about to be over I guess it's a little like when people thought someone might be a witch. You are just so scared you don't know what to do. So at the time it seems like the perfect solution. The whole book though I was trying to figure out how it tied into City of Ember and The People of Sparks. I finally gave up trying to make connections and said to myself that I was to young to remember.( My mom read them aloud to me) I turns out though, that it is actually the Prequel. But Jeanne DuPrau ( the author) wanted them to be read that way. Even though this book is confusing I hope that you read this trilogy.

Racso and the Rats of NIMH

To start with,this is actually the sequel for the book Mrs. Frisby and the of NIMH. Look in the October section for the post on the book. Any way, between the books, they're both really great books. They both have very elaborate plots. The plots are also very close. However, I might give it away if I tried to explain them. However I think that Mrs. Frisby and the rats of NIMH actually did have a better plot than the other book. In the sequel it shows a lot of only Racso and his socialization with others around him. It can get a bit tiring. Also some parts are a bit sad, and sadness and/or gloominess is not what I prefere. But the scale of how much I like the books is pretty balenced. (I give Racso and the Rats of NIMH a 9 and 1/3- a 10)

The Ear,the Eye, and the Arm

This book takes place in Zimbabwe,2194. The future, so this book is obliviously really wacky. It is about three kids, Tendai, Rita, and Kuda. Regular kids right? Wrong, these are General Matsika's kids. If you read the book you start to get the impression that General owns the Country. He doesn't but it seems that way. The thing is his kids never get to do anything, never get to go outside, down the street , to the Mebare Matista. No where. See because General owns the Country you can imagine what kind of ransom you could get for them. This book is something that before I read it I thought it would be super weird and wacky advanced technology. Stuff like that. The weird thing is, this book made me think of Ancient Africa. Not however many years in the future. I think that was because everyone uses weird (well not weird just not invented words. I think that made me think of words that they used in the past. Anyways why call it The Ear, the Eye and the Arm? Because when the children go missing their mellower.( Mellower are a mix of Praise singer and companion) Suggests that they hire detectives to go look for them. That's where Eye, Ear, and Arm come in( yes those are their names). The reason they are called that is because Ear has gigantic ears that enable him to hear really tiny things like an ant on the sugar bowl. Arm is super tall (he could just as well be called leg) and he has this unusual ability to sense when things are going to happen. Like when the Baboons are planing to raid the Wheat fields. Eye because his eye-sight is really keen. He can see dust particles on a Hawks feather. This is because a chemical leaked into their mothers water, the chemical effected them in that way. The weird thing is that Arm starts to read peoples thoughts and emotions. That was really interesting to think about when he finds this baby girl and how there thoughts clash. I hope that you read it.

The Wright 3

This book at first thought made me think of the Wright brothers, and that this book was going to be about a mystery involving them, well I was close. See the reason I thought that was because the other book by Blue Balliett( Chasing Vermeer) is about a mystery that spouted from Vermeer (an artist) work. So I thought that after reading Chasing Vermeer this book would also be about a person from history. The only people who came to mind were the Wright brothers. But this book is actually about the architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It is a mystery about on e of his houses, but in this book there is a twist, Tommy comes back. This is a twist because while Tommy was away Clader became good friend with Petra. The problem is that Tommy and Petra don't get along, they constantly fight about everything. I think that Clader was stuck in the middle because when he mentions one to the other they close up and get upset. I know the way Clader feels because I have had friends who don't except each other and it's really annoying because they are just different people. There is no reason to try and block them out. This book also showed me that every little detail is important, I think that this book would be a good book club book because thick questions jump up and nip your nose all the time. This book I think was pretty confusing and sort of weird, because the entire plot basically comes from coincidences. I think that it shows friend ship and bravery and that you should read it.

Tuck Everlasting

To start off, I am going to judge this book by it's cover. When you pick up this book, you probably will think to yourself, ''This looks really boring.'' And set it down, but I am here to change your point of view. When I first picked up this book, I thought the exact same thing and set it down. A year later, I picked up the book again and thought the same thing. This year, for my birthday, my sisters game me all the books they liked from when they were my age. My sister Zoe gave me lots of incredible books, and so did my sister Ella. But my sister Ella also gave me Tuck Everlasting. Of course, since I read all of Zoe's books, and most of Ella's books I had to read Tuck Everlasting or it would be offensive. When I read the first couple of pages I still thought it was boring, but I kept telling myself I had to read it. When I got to about the middle of the book I got really intrigued. Because there is this kind of water that the Tuck family found that can make you last forever, and one of the sons Jesse was telling Winnie that when she was 17, she should drink some of the water and then they can get married and live forever. But the whole story has a catch to it, it sturns out that it is really miserable after you drink the water because you live forever but you will always stay whatever age you were when you drank the water. I would give this book an 8 because it's really good, but it doesn't get very good untill the middle.

The Titan's curse

I just finished this series(Percy Jackson & The Olympians) and I really, liked it. One of the things that made the series really great is the author's style. I like the author's style because:

*He wrote with lot of energy.
*He made the characters sound like real kids.
*He kept things moving.
*It was fast paced.
*He has a good sense of humor.
*He had the characters move from place to place.

In the Titan's curse I liked how it took place in San Francisco and on Mount Tam!

This is a great series! I would highly recommend it!

The Mouse And His Child

The book The Mouse And His Child by Russan Hoban starts out in a toy store on Christmas eve when a toy mouse and his child are sold to people and later a cat destroys them and they are thrown away. A human fixes them and sets them off free to find the elaphant, the seal, and live as a happy family in the toy house. They go though many adventures and meet many people on there exciting jurney. I would recamend this book for almost everyone because you can really enjoy the book and really be in it. The beginning went on very slowly but then you really get in to it because it gets all dangerous and exciting and it makes you read on all the way to the end, not wanting to stop.

My Life In France

My Life In France is a book about Julia Child. How she got to know french cooking, how she met Paul(her husband) and how she became an all time time famous chef.

This book is very informatoinl, so it would only do for very advanced readers that like nonfictoin.

I really do like this book because in fourth grade I was Julia Child for famous Californians. So now I can compare the information that I found out, to the information that the author, Alex Prud'homme, got. I think that the author got more accurate info because he interviewed THE Julia Child.

Dive the Deep #2

The first book of dive was very confusing to me. This was because every couple of chapters Gordon Korman would put two page chapters about the history of the what was going on. That's not the only part that's mysterious about these books. When four divers go away on a internship you wonder why their all not very good divers. Then when Dante one of the four teen interns finds something shinny thins really start to get fishy. I like mysterious books so this book really fit for me at some parts it even got spooky and tense.

Witch Child

This title may make you think that this is about some girl with an amazing power that's secret and it's all fantasy. Well there you are wrong. This book is actually Historical Fiction. See it is during the Colonial times, and what they would do to you if they thought you where a Witch. I really liked it because it actually came from a girls diary. This girl's grandmother was proven guilty of being a Witch. Because of that she was sent away from her town to Salem. She thought that she would be safe from everyone accusing her but instead it just gets worse. I think that this book was really interesting because they thought that ( to me the silliest) things prove you guilty. One accusation in particular is if you float. I think that just because someone has buoyancy they shouldn't be accused of something that can cost them their life. Like take my sister, she is really buoyant, if you put her in the pool she floats with her heels out of the water. Just trust me on this one, she is far from being a witch. The thing is that the people who believed you where a witch where I think just scared. I mean so much is against these poor people. Take the girl in the book for example. She saved a baby who everyone thought was dead life. When she got on the ship suddenly there where a ton of rabbit sightings. She went into a neighboring settlement and as soon as she did that family got sick and their mom died. So I can see both sides of this, I think the towns people where just scared is all, and can you blame them? Wouldn't you be scared if some person walked into your house and you suddenly got sick? But then at the same time maybe someone floats because they know how to swim? I think that it is truly amazing if you think about it. I mean people are ready to believe anything when they're scared. But the results can be a real tragedy. So that's my idea for you.

Life of Pi

Yann Martel

Life of Pi is about a 16 year old named Pi who finds him self on a boat stranded in the middle of the ocean, with only a huge Bengal tiger on the boat with him.

So far Pi is just a kid who lives in a zoo and helps tame animals. I think at this point in life I would make my life more interesing. I probably would go on the cruise... but not have a crash.

I think this book is very interesting. It has a lot of description. If I were Pi, I would learn to become friends with the tiger. Besides the fact I didn't grow up in a zoo like Pi did. So he probably has more experience with tigers. From a scale on 1-10 I would give it a 9.9. It falls because it is kind of slow. But if I had to do a whole number... 10 for sure.

The Golden Compass

I am reading this book with my dad. This book is about a girl how lives at Jordan College in England.This book has a lot of old English in it. It also has a lot of hard grammar. I think it's a great book to help you get better grammar. I know that I've have learned a lot more words. We have to look up words we don't know; but it makes the book even better because we know what the words mean.

Miracle on 49th Street by Mike Lupica

This is an amazing book! There is this girl who has no father and her mother just recently past away. So she is living in the house of a friend of her mom's who has a daughter named Kim. Since her mother died she has been trying to find out who her father was. When she goes to Boston she meets the best basketball player on the Celtics. He tells her that he was the man dating her mother when she died. Be but he sends security when she tries to convince him that he is her father. Join her on her journey through Boston and New York to convince a basketball player that he is her dad. I rate this book a ten because of the great description and the fun, lucky, and unlucky journey through two winter cities.

The Wish

In this book there is this girl named Wanda. At the begging of the book Wanda was pretty much of a no one but then she meets this lady on the subway but the lady is actually a wich and grants Wadna a wish wich is to be really popular at school. She then goes to school about a day later and she is really popular and gets all of these notes from boys and girls and some where anonamis.
I would give this book a 10 because it is about a girl sort of like me and the begging of the book has a really good hook and I would definetly recommened it to most girls who would like books about sort of fairy tales but also about ragular girl and sort of popular girls.
I could definetly relate to the begging of the book because Wanda has a pretty normal life like me and she has a dog that in the book sounds really cute and nice! I just love this book so much and just like it says I woud definetly recommened it to most of the girls in my class and maybe boys if they like sort of girly book.

-Maddy

101 Ways to Bug Your Parents

Just if you would like to know, this book is about a kid who loves inventing and has plans to go to San Francisco for an inventors convention to meet up with a famous inventor to show him one of his inventions that so he can put it on the market. But then his parents cancel his vacation because of money problems. But then he comes up with an idea that will let him go with, or without his parents. I think this is an ingenious book. I love how sneeze (that's the main characters name)and hiccup (that's his friends nickname) work together to test all of the different ways to annoy sneeze's parent's for the book he is making. I also like the stories from the golf club sneeze and hiccup work at. I'm not quite sure why, but it just sounded fun to me. I love the plot of the story too. It runs in a nice order which is something I always like to have. I also love electricity and things related to that. I really don't actually know why I like this type of genre, but I did the best could. I'd give this book a 10 out of 10 for a rating. I really recomend it

The Giver

The Giver is about a boy named Joana. He lives in a community that is very interesting. I liked this book because it is sad and fun. They get a job at the age of 12 and their life takes a turn. Their life is all about rules.

I don't think I would like to live in their world because the kids have to do things that would make me really sad. I think this book is good for book clubs because you can have a lot of discussions about what is happening. This book is sad in a lot of places but is also very happy in many places. I would give this a well deserved 10.

The 6th Grade Nickname Game

The 6th grade Nickname Game by Gordon Korman has two main characters, Wiley and Jeff. They hve fun giving people nicknames. Here are some nicknames they gave kids and why they have them. Peter Widman got stuck with the name "Skunk" because of his brown hair with a blonde wide streak going back on his head. He can't help it but Charles Rossi spies a lot so he got the nickname of "Snoopy". Cassndra Levy, the new girl at school, for some reason they just can't think of a nickname for her. Most of the people like thair nickname but some don't. I predict that Cassandra will never get a nickname. This book gets a 8 1/2 because I didn't finish it.

Mick Harte Was Here

This book is all about Phoebe and Mick. They are brother and sister and they fight all the time. One day Phoebe is looking through a cearal box for a skull and cross bones tatoo. Mick walks in and grabs the cearal box and starts looking through it. THey start to fight over the tatoo. In the end they go to school. But they did not know that it would be their last morning togheth. Later that afternoon Mick is riding on his bike to a friends house without his helmet on. He hits a rock and crashes into a truck. He gets massive head injury. THe hospital can't help him and he dies. It is very sad how Phoebe goes through the 5 stages of grief denial, anger, bargaining, and acceptance. In my opinon it is a very sad book. But it teaches kids about bike safty. I would rate this book a 9.5. Becuase it is sad but is good in teaching kids about safty

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter 2 is a great book to read, I recommend it because it has action, magic and humor. What more could you ask for in a book? But I do recommend reading the first book before you read this, it will make a lot more sense that way. I would probally give it a 10 because it just gets into me. Its just cool line after cool line. Basically, there is Harry the main, and on his 12th birthbay at night he meets this creature who tells him not to go back to Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry. He doens't listen to him though and go's back. But was that a mistake for Mr. Potter? Read the book to find out.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is about a factory that was closed for about 10 years. So Willy Wonka invites five children and only one family member to go along with them and they have a journey. The last kid that was good got a surprise not just any surprise but a great surprise. I really like this book because it is funny. But I don't want to give it away. Has anybody in the class read it?

Forever...

Forever... by Judy Bloom is a great book! But it isn't really for 5th graders. There are a ton of innapropriate scenes but the rest of the book is fantastic. This book is about a girl who's friends invite her to a party. She meets a boy there named Michael and it's like love at first sight. They soon be come boyfriend and girlfriend and do everything together. My reason for thinking that it's so good is it's really easy to get soaked up in the book. I picked up the book, sat on my couch, and read it for an hour straight through, I had 30 pages left but I made myself save some because I didn't want to stop reading it! This book is in the realistic fiction catergory and the main characters in it are 17 or 18. This book gets me soaked up because you really feel like your part of the story. Also, if you wan't to read this book, it's a good idea to ask your parents permission first. I give this book a 10+

So You Want to be a Wizard

Do you like the Harry Potter series? If you do, you should read So You Want to be a Wizard. It is about a girl named Nita and a boy named Kit who live in New York City. They are wizards in training. One day the were working on a spell and got trapped in a "darker" New York City with lots of evil things. Will they be able to escape? When I first got the book, I was excited to read it, yet I was scared. The cover has a very scary picture on the front. Since I was reading it at night I got scared and had to put a book cover over the cover. Now, since I finished the book, I am going to take the book cover off. I liked this book because I am into wizards. I also liked this book because the kids are about our age so I could relate to them a lot. I love this book and would rate this a 10. This is the first book in the Young Wizardry series so, if you like this book there are more fabulas books to read with Nit and Nita.

Chasing Vermeer

Chasing Vermeer, is about the mysterious disappearance of a painting. Two kids try to solve this mystery. There are many confusing clues, from puzzles to dreams, this book will keep you "in the zone". Chasing Vermeer is very exiting, it is unpredictable, creative, and it kept me wired in. In the end, all of the clues began to fit together. I just cant believe the who the thief was...and the rest you will have to figure out! I think that Blue Balliet did a very good job writing this book. I also loved the illustrations. This book is great to read. Chasing Vermeer taut me about art, and how much it means to some people. I also learned about the artist, Charles Vermeer.

The Dark is Rising

I saw part of the movie. So far in the book there is a kid called Will and he is the son of the seventh son. The Dark is Rising is all about a boy that turns 11 and becomes a seeker for the signs. This book is about the dark and the light fighting for evil and justice. the signs are to take on the dark that is trying to destroy all humanity. By doing so Will must find all signs in the past and the future before a special time limit for the world to end. I am not very far in the book but it has been a very good book!. On a scale of one to ten i would give it a 10 because it is a suspending and thriling adventure and a scary book. That is why i would give it a 10!.

The BFG

I am reading the BFG. There is a girl named Sofie & she is an orphenig. She gets taken away by the BFG. The BFG takes Sofie to his house. Sofie thinks the gint is going to eat her. But the gint dosen't eat her. The gint tells her that all the other gints eat little girls. I wouldn't like to meet a gint sometime.

Maximum Ride

Maximum Ride is all about six children who are illegally, genetically engineered to fly!
They have bird wings on their back!
But be warned, this book has a ton of nonstop action and I hily recomend to read the Pendragon series, ( by D.J. Machale) before reading this book.
This is a book for people who like action and a wee bit of violence.

Half Magic

This book is about four children and the second yungist finds a nickl and when someone has the nickle and they wish for someone their wishes come half true. They wish for all different wishes, like they wished that they were at the time of Camolot true times more. And wanted to go to the desrt and when they came back from Camilot, they went to the movies an the oldest sister was mean to the youngest sister so she went under the oldest sisters chair. Then she wished she wasnt even alive so she got dimer and dimer till she looked like a ghost. Then she went threw the mall and everyone thought she was a ghost so she turnd into the ghost. I'm going to have to tell you that 7 is a magic number so thats how many days she can get back to her normal self but her trip she already had was a cupel days. Will they prevent her from disappearing?

The Book of Story Beginings

First off this book is not a book with a bunch of beginnings that you make up the rest. No, no, no, that's what's the book is manly about. See there is this boy named Oscar, he found a book, it was called the book of story beginnings, there was a creepy warning in the front, but did he pay attention, I bet you can guess. Because of this book he becomes lost in it's stories, until his sister re-dreams what happens and then in Lucy, ( Oscar's great niece) gets dragged into the adventure a long with him. She finds the book to, ( wow it must run in their family to not pay attention to warnings) then she right's a story and accidentally brings Oscar years into the future. Will they save Millie, Captain Mack, the entire Cat'n'berd Island, each other, Tom, and so many others? Well, you'll just have to read it for your self. But realize that before you read it you are dragging yourself into an ever going (until you finish that is) story. It really dragged me in because of how "around every bend in the mountain side you find and new" oasis you could say. I really liked it because it was so adventurous.

Chew On This

Chew on This is an interesting book in which it talks about how hamburgers were invented, how fast food started and how it became to be so bad for you.

Me and my grandmother read this book together and after she had read about how they make fries she said " I am NEVER EVER eating any more french fries. I really like this book because it makes people (expeicly Americans) open thier eyes and show them that fast food really is bad for you.

Do you want to kmow how they invented the hamburger? Started Mcdonalds, Subway, Burger King, Jack in the Box, Taco Bell etc.? Well, it's all in Chew On This!!

War of the Worlds

War of the worlds is about aleins that come from mars to invade earth(in other words, wipe out the whole world.) Now the world must survive big death rays, tenticals, and blood thirsty aleins.

The main character is a father who must protect his daughter an find his son.

I absolutly love this book because It is a total science fiction story. So for all you scince fiction lovers out there, you will love this.

On a scale to 1 to 10, I would give it... 10+!

Blue Jasmine

This book is sort of like a biography but it's closer to historical-fiction. The author (Kashmira Sheth) grew up in both India and Iowa City, then she recreated herself into the book. Seema an eleven year old girl who lives in India has a wonderful life she lives with her Sister, Ma and Ja. Cousins, Kaki, Kaka, Daddima, and Daddija. Her dad also has a pretty good job as a microbiologist, he very much enjoys it and it pays well. But he got a job offer for and better paying, high class job in Iowa City. At the end I fifth grade Seema will move there. No worries, but finally summer rolls around and they're off. I think this book is really amazing, I liked or I guess thought it was interesting how she thinks of America. How when she goes out side there are horrible monsters on the street, how there are very few people taking walks, how when she goes to the market everything is different and needs a substitute and how the substitutes aren't the right thing at all. I think that this book shows just how much everyday things are taken for granted, and how every culture has it's own ways, but that they are also interesting and respectful they are.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

First of all if you like mouse books such as Poppy, you will almost definitely love this book. It's about a mouse widow that has four children. The family lives in a cinder block that is buried in the ground. The cinder block is in a garden located in the middle of a farm. Unfortunately, Mr. Fitzzgibon the farmer plows through the garden every year. That means that Mrs. Frisby has to move out of her two room cinder block and needs to move to a safer area. However her son Timothy is sick with pneumonia and can't move through the winter cold. But then she soon meets to the rats from NIMH, a breed of super intelligent rats who believe that they can help solve her problem.
The book has an outstanding plot! There is one part about a rat telling Mrs. Frisby where he and his friends came from. That completely sucks you in the minute you start to read it and the way it can make you visualize it is like watching a movie! It's an absolute 10 on a 1-10 scale. I'm not quit sure if it has a sequel, but it's a really great book. Hope you try it!

The Winning Attitude

by Michelle Kwan

This is a book that I read this summer but I really liked it so I to write decide about it. It's about her life and how she became a 8 time National Champion and 5 time World Champion. Each chapter forces on one trait that helped her be a champion. At the end of each chapter there are quizzes to help you determine if you have what it take to be a champion. I think this book will help everyone get their dream.

By Emily

The Egypt Game & The Gypsy Game

Because of the bad things happening in the town, the Egypt Gang, April, Melanie, Marshall, Elizabeth, Toby, and Ken have worried parents like now in Mill Valley but worse. Nobody walks to school by themselves. I can’t walk by myself because of the recent newspaper story, but their circumstances are a little bit worse. All the kids in that town walked swiftly and with their heads down.

It happened again, I mean the bad things that happened in The Egypt Game, happened in The Gypsy Game too, but it was a different bad thing. The reason I call it “a bad thing” is because I don’t to give it away in these books.

P.S. These books are by Zilpha Snyder.

THE END

I am reading The End witch is the last book of The series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket . I started the series in forth grade and got carried away with other books so did not come back to it till now. The series is getting pretty easy but it still gets my attention. It is a very mysteries series more mysteries then you think. There are lots of ways you could think about this series such as sad, depressing funny, or mysteries. I happened to think about as funny and mysteries. Try the series I don't think you'll stop.

Coraline

Coraline is a girl that moves to an apartment. In her house there is a room that has all her grandmas stuff in it. In that room there is a door that leades to a house that looks like her house. Coralin goes in the kitchen and sees a women that looks like her mother. When the women turns around the women has BIG black butten eyes.

I would not like to have another mom that has BIG black butten eyes. I would be sceared. I think Coralin is confused. I would be confused.

Hatchet

by Gary Paulsen

Hatchet is about a kid who crashes in a plane. When he wakes up to find himself in the alpine, that's when it gets bad. Now Brian has to survive the bears and bugs. Will he make it?

When I read this book I was wide eyed the whole time. Maybe you will be too. I think the adventure never stops. It's so great.

My rating for this book is 9.9 (or 5 stars)

Chasing Vermeer

I am reading the book called Chasing Vermeer. Ever since I started reading it, i didn't want to stop. this book is an adventurous, mystery and has an unpredictable plot. Chasing Vermeer is a book about 3 kids who receive a strange letter saying that they have been chosen to solve a mystery. (Since I am not very far in this book, i have only learned about 2 of the 3 kids.) A young girl has been chosen, she is in middle school, and is not very social. Her name is Petra. another kid, is Calendar, he is friendly boy in Petra's class, he and Petra are also neighbors. Although, Petra seems to think that Calendar is weird. I really recommend reading this book. Its a fun book, filled with excitement.
-Zoe

Fairest

The book Fairest is the sequel to Ella Enchanted-well that's what it says on the cover, but the only thing that really relates is that it takes place in the same setting and it uses some of the same characters. I really liked this book because it is another romance novel, but it isn't really trashy. I also really like the setting because it is magical and there are gnomes, and giants, and fairies. I would give this book a 10+, I was sad when I finished it!

Phantom Tollbooth

Milo (the main character) is always bored. One day an anonymous person sends him a giant package. It's a tollbooth. On the other side of the tollbooth it's a whole different world. In that world Milo meets a giant humbug (Humbug), a dog with a clock on the side of his stomach (Tock), two kings that argue over everything (the Mathematician and King Azas), and a bunch of other strange people. Together, Milo, Tock, and the Humbug journey to go fight the demons and save princess Rime and princess Reason from the castle in the air.

I recommend this book to anyone with a good sense of humor.

The Sea of Monsters

The Sea of Monsters is a different book than most books. It was so good that when I wasn't reading it, I would say," I wish I were reading The Sea of Monsters right now."

The Sea of Monsters is a book about a boy named Percy Jackson and his friend Annabeth Chase. They're both half bloods, wich meens they have a parent who's a greek god and another parent who's a mortel. Most Half bloods live in a camp called Camp Halfblood. This is where they can be safe, meaning if they live in the mortal world then they'd be sniffed out by monsters and eaten alive. They also train to defend themselves with swords or bow and arows.

Percy finds out that his best friend, Grover the sayter, is in trouble. A grown cyclops is holding Grover captive on an Island in the sea of Monsters. But that's not all of Percy's problems, his beloved home, Camp Halfblood, is in danger. The pine tree wich protects the borders of Camp Halfblood has been poisoned and has only one medecine as a cure: the Goldin Fleece, wich is extremely hard to find. Percy, Annabeth and a young cyclops they befriended have to save Grover in the Sea of Monsters AND safe there beloved Camp Halfblood before it'll perish.

I thought of this book as a new creation. I thought that this book was great because, it has really cool stuff about Greek mythology and I love Greek mythology. So if you like greek mythology then you'd love this book! This book is fun filled and action packed with smiles and tears. So why don't you give it a try? You might enjoy it, just like I did!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter is about a teenager who is called Harry Potter and is a wizard. So he goes to a school for wizards. In number seven Harry gets more mature and startes to use more edvanced magic. When i picked up the book and i looked at the cover i was just amazed on how good the book is going to be. I really recommend this seires to who likes the mithical stuff and magic. On a ranking 1-10 i would give it a 10++.

Dragon Rider

This book has a lot of magical creatures. It is about a dragon, a boy and a Brownie and they are trying to find the Rim of Heaven. There is an evil Golden Dragon and he likes eating other dragons. Along the way to the Rim of Heaven they get stuck in difficult situations. I would rate this book a 9 and a half. If you like reading books with made up creaturesand lots of adventures this book whould be a great one for you.

Stormbraker Anthony Horowitz

Stormbraker's a really intriuging book it's about a 14 year old boy who is recruited by MI6, (a secret agency).
All though it's a really intriuging, upbeat book, it's not for the faint of heart, (meaning the occasional gun shooting).
Actually, it's not petty shooting, it's hands on marksman hanging upside down from the helicopter snipering!
I think that in some parts in the book made me mad and some parts of it put me in a state of awe.

Rules

By Cynthia Lord

I loved this book. It was a page turner, I couldn't stop reading it. It is kind of hard to explain why I liked it. The thing that made it funny for me was because of her brother and that he had the disorder autism. Sometimes I would sort of talk to the characters in my head because I wanted them to do something. I think cathrine was turning evrything that her brother did into a worse problem, then it really is. I kept on wanting to read it because she put so much energy into the book. This is why I would give it a ten.

MIDNIGHT LIBRARY-LIAR

Liar is about an ordinary girl named Lauren that isn't very popular, so she desides to fix that. So she sits doun at her desk and starts typing about a made character supermodel and pretends to be typing what she/or "supermodel" is,saying things like: youshuold really get to know Lauren or Lauren is my best friend so people would like her more.


But something goes teribly wrong.


I love this book so mutch because it's creepy (I like creepy things)and scary (I like scary things)

I would give this book a 9.3.8 1/2 and 2.7 corters or a 10.

Stranger from the Depths

by Gerry Turner

Stranger from the Depths is about these kids who find a little statue and start finding out about a huge civilisation.

I love this book because the hook is so amzing. As soon as you start the book, you can't stop reading it. Sadly the book does not sell any more. You can't buy it in stores. But you can order online like on ebay or amazon. It is a 1967 copy.

If you can get past the middle part, that slows down abit, than you will love it.

I havn't finished yet, but I still L-O-V-E it!

If I had to rate this book, I would give it a... 10++!! I really recomend it.

The Cobble Street Cousins

There are 3 cousins named Rosie,Tess,and Lily. They have to live with there aunt Lucy for a year whle there parents are on brodway. In the summer they start a cooking compeny. They put up posters all over town. They get some calls the next week. There first peorson is Mrs. Haverstock. The girls go to her house and give her cinimon wrinkels. At her house they see a man it's Mrs.Haverstocks brother. His name is Mitchel. They tell him about aunt Lucy. Mitchel gets all red because he likes aunt Lucy.
I would like to start a cooking compeny.

I am sad that there are no more bookes in the seares. I think you should read this book. I cant really realate to the carecters. It would be cool to have parentes on bradway. It is a really good book.

A Series of Unfortunate Events Books 1-3

I read these books and I really liked them because they have so much action plus the humor is really great. I would probally give the books 1-3 all 9s. Its about 3 orphans named Sunny, Violet, and Klaus. They're parents died in a house fire so they were forced to go live with a reletive named Count Olaf. When the parents died, they left behind a fortune that Count Olaf wants to steal so he can get rich. Read the books to find out what happens to the orphans.

The Lightning Theif

The book Lightning Thief is about a boy named Percy. When Percy is sent to a camp he found out he is a son of the big three (which are gods) and is sent out on a quest to save his dad from danger if he dose not help him fast there will be a war between the big three but Percy is just doing it for his mother since when she dropped him off to the camp, a Minostaur killed his mother, Percy thinks his mom is in the under world with Hades so he has to get the master bullet or else Zeus will blame it on his dad. Will percy be able to the complete quest? Read and find out. I would give this book a rating of 10.

Bloomability

This book is really good and i would reccomend it. This book is about a girl named Domenica Santolina Doone or you could call her Dinnie. She is pretty much moving every day but then her parents make her move all the way to Switzerland with her moms crazy sister and her husband. Dinnie has to learn a new Language, she has to go to a new school, and deal with friend that always complains. She also thinks that her Aunt Sandy and her Uncle Max are kidnapping her and she trys to make signs that say "HELP" and "KIDNAPPED, HELP ME"and much more but for some reason she just cant get the words right and she is writing "I NEED A HAIR CUT" in Italian but she does not know that she is spelling it that way.

Harry Potter and The Sorcers Stone

This book is all about magic. IT is about a young boy named Harry Potter. When his was a baby,his mother and father were killed by the evil Lord Voldemort. Harry grows up with his aunt and uncle. When he is 11 he goes to Hogwarts school of magic. There he meets two new friends named Hermione and Ron. He also meets his new enemy Draco a.k.a. Mafoly. Harry, Hermione and Ron go on big adventures. Will they get expelled? Read the book and find out. I would rate this book a 9.5 or a 10.

Ten Animal Rescues

Dogs. Cats. Hamsters. Do you like these animals? Then you should read Ten Animal Rescues. It is a about dogs, cats, and hamsters saving peoples lives. I think that this book is a good book for animal lovers, but also for people who are moving out of fiction into non-fiction. The reason I say that is because some of the animal rescues are so amazing that they could be fiction. I would rate this book a 9. We have this book in the class library, but I have it right now.

Inkspell(sequel to Inkheart)

Inkspell is about a girl and her dad who have this extraordinary talent. That talent is being able to read anything out of a book, or anything into a book. In Inkheart, the dad accidentally reads a bad character and his gang out of a story. In this book the girl and her dad are read into that same book. Now, this book has a world of its own. And it's pretty interesting with all the fairies, trolls, glass men, fire elves and so on. But there are bad things too. Like the Adderhead, Evil ruler of half of that book's world. So now our travelers, the girl, her dad, and a couple other friends have to make new friends, shake off enemies, and get out of the book's world and into their world.

I really love how in Inkspell the description of the characters were very life-like. Like when I finished Inkheart and started reading Inkspell, whenever I came across a character from Inkheart, I had a good visual image inside my head.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

This is a very good book for people who are into humor and cartoons. It is about a boy named Greg and the whole book is like you are reading a diary. It tells all about Greg's life, and how some things don't always come out like he hopes for. His best friend Rowley has a lot more luck. Greg also has an older and a younger brother. His older brother named Rodrick in high school and is into rock and roll and tricking Greg. His younger brother named Manny is into toys and annoying Greg. I loved reading this book I hope you try it to. I would rate this book 10+.

Warriors

Warriors is a great series about four clans of cats. There are Thunder, Wind, River, and Shadow clan. They believe in star clan and fight for territory and food. The story starts when a kittypet (pet cat) named Rusty wants to join Thunder clan. Thunder clan needs more warriors, and for the first time ever a clan lets a kittypet from a twoleg (human) house in to the clan. Rusty made friends with Graystipe whos mentor was Lionheart. Rusty became Firepaw when he got his aprentis name. Firepaw must help his clan leader, Bluestar, to lead the clan through dangerous times. Read Warriors and find out what happens next.

How to Rule the School

This book is about Justin and how one day he will be president.

In Mr. Bailey's class they were having a project. The project was that everyone had to write what they would do if they were king or queen. Whoever had the best essays that he picked they would be king or queen for two weeks. Mr. Baliey read two essays, one was Justin's and one was a mean girl's named Andrea.

Justin wanted it so bad because then he could show what a great leader he could be. The reason he wanted that was he was planning to be 5th grade president that year.

I think this book was an 8.

Journey to the River Sea

This book is for people a little bit older than us but I still recommend it. It's about a girl named Maia she's an orphan who lives in England. She is more or less miserable until she receives a mysterious letter from the Amazon, the Carters want her to be part of their family! Everything goes well until she finally gets there. Instead of a wonder full garden and being able to roam free out side. It's a proper British house with absolutely no plants or animals. She can't see the indians and when she makes a promise the Carters see to it that she has to brake it. She manages being "Cinderella" until something that would decide the fate of her Amazon happiness, Colivis', Finn's, Miss Minton's, and soo many others in there pursuit to doge the crows will Maia ever find a place to call home? This book is really good but is for people slightly older than us hope you read it!