Kids Talk Books -- by kids, for kids

The Blind Side

2010-05-04T16:29:00.000-07:00

I'm at the very end of the book The Blind Side, and let me tell you, it's a good book. Because I saw the movie, I really wanted to read the book. At first I didn't know where to get the book, but then it just showed up in my room and, boom, I started reading.

This book is about a teen named Michael Oher, sometimes called ''Big Mike''. He was picked up by a rich family one night, and got taught to play football and turned into a huge and tough offensive guard.

When I read this book, I thought about how hard it would be to go through what Michael went through. For example he was raised in a really bad and rough neighborhood and his dad left so he never saw him. If I had to go through that I would be different then how I am now. Without my dad, I wouldn't know the sports that I know today. I was also thinking about how nice the family was to pick up Michael and teach him how to play football. This book made me think a lot and that's why I like it. I love this book, and I cant wait to read the end.

Flush

2010-05-03T20:46:00.000-07:00

Right now, I have recently started the book Flush, by Carl Hiaasen, which I have also read Hoot from this author. The thing that surprised me about this book is that it was not all fun and games, a bit like how the title sounded. To me, I can't make many connections about the book so far, but in any book, I have to have at least a few.

The main character, Noah, is very serious about saving a certain family member in this book, as I would be if my family member was in the same position as Noah's. Like Noah, I also have trouble getting my parents to get along better. Except in this particular story, Noah's parents don't get along for different reasons then mine. Although, generally the same.

How old Noah is, I don't know, but things he's doing seems about right for my age at the time, ten. Now Noah also has a sister as I do, but I feel that the connection between Noah and his sister, is more alike between my brother and I. In the book, the author describes Noah's sister as younger then him, but she seems very mature for her age, almost as if she is older.

I infer that Noah's dad really did do something terrible, but for now I think the author is trying to make the dad sound harmless, increasing the excitement in the story. I look forward to see if my inference is right, and to know what happens next in the story.

Hunger Games

2010-05-03T20:33:00.000-07:00

The Hunger Games is the most action packed book I have read in my life. After reading it for the second time I got more details out of it and understood it better. I can't wait until fall, that is when the third book comes out. Until then I will read the first and second books.

If your parents read this book they wouldsay its just a little too grusome. Bt it still is very well written and is just right reading for me, and probably just right reading for many fifth and sixth graders.

This book is 100% action packed, and I am not over exagerating. If I were Katniss I think I would do the same to Protect my sibling and take their plae in the hunger games. Also if I were in the hunger games I would just hide through it until it was over. it would be the scariest tihng in the world to be in the hunger games.

The Hunger Games was a very good book and was the best I have read ever, so if you ever think about reasding follow your thinking.

Boy: Tales of Childhood

2010-05-03T20:00:00.000-07:00

Boy: Tales of Childhood was a very good book, but I won't go into details. This book is an autobiography of Roald Dahl, and how he got all of his ideas; from his own life! Now, I realize that Roald Dahl had a difficult life. He almost got his nose ripped off in a car accident, got the cane at every school he went to, and got envolved in "The Great Mouse Plot of 1924."

When I was reading this book, I was thinking over and over and over again the same general thought: "Man, were people cruel!" I was also thinking "ewww! and "gross!" and "ouch!"

This is a very gross book, but, on the contrary, it is good. I hope all you Roald Dahl fans enjoy this one.

Al Capone Does My Shirts

2010-05-03T19:59:00.000-07:00

Just reading the first few pages of this book tells me I am going to love it. It seems like its going to have a lot of action and definitely a lot of humor. Most of all I think were going to learn something about our history of criminals and Alcatraz. Maybe that's why we do book clubs. In this book you only have to read the first few pages to know the main character. Our main character is Moose or Mathew. Ideas for the scrapbook already are popping into my head.

The Tiger Rising

2010-05-03T19:58:00.002-07:00

I am reading The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCammilo. I have only read about 10 pages so fare and it's been a really sad book so fare. As soon as I heard that Rob's (the main character's) mom died. On the bus every day he would get bullied by two kids but the worst thing about it is that they would hurt him and he would just sit there not fight back but just let them hurt him.

I'm really thinking this book is going to be really good. So far this kid has a lot of different problems in his life and there all pulling him not letting him go. These little details in the story have really kept me on my tows without them this book would be wiry not have a plot or a meaning.

AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS

2010-05-03T19:28:00.000-07:00

I have just started reading the book called Al Capone Does my Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko. I have figured out that the main character is Moose and he has a sister named Natalie and they have a mom and a dad and they all live on Alcatraz. Moose is still freaked out that there is criminals like Al Capone and Machine gun Kelly. Moose is also very sad that he cant see his dad most of the week because he is a guard and he is a mechanic for the prison. I am predicting that he will get in trouble trying to sneak into the guard tower because Moose asked his dad if he could show Moose the guard tower but his dad said that he is not allowed to let kids up their.

I think I have connections to Moose because he wants to go up to the guard tower but he is not allowed to. I have really wanted to go to a roller coaster park but my parents said "it's a family day today." I also think that Moose will be wondering around were he is not allowed to be and he is going to run into some criminals including Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly and they are going tostart picking on Moose. I just suspect that because of the title.

Fly Girl

2010-05-03T19:05:00.000-07:00

I just started reading Fly Girl and I really like it so far!

Fly Girl is about a teenage girl named Ida Mae Jones. She is an African American who wants to be a pilot. This is a book that takes place in 1945, so not many women were allowed to be pilots especially African American women. This book is basically about the struggles she goes through to chase her dreams. I like how the author put a message in this story. In this book the message is you have to keep fighting to chase your dreams and have them come true. You also have to follow your heart! The message is one thing that I really like about his book.

Another thing I really like about this book is that it takes place in the 1940's and I don't know why but I really like reading about a time other than right now because I think it's very interesting to see how my life and my lifestyle is very different and similar to people who lived a while ago. For example, most women a while ago were treated a bit different then men were treated, like in the book Ida Mae wants to be a pilot. It was very rare that women got to be pilots and get there license especially African Americans like Ida Mae. Now a days both men and women are treated equally.

Also, back then African Americans were not treated the same as white people. For example, in the book Ida Mae and her friend went to a wedding. Ida Mae's skin is very light compared to a lot of other African Americans so she gets treated just like a white person, however her friend who has really dark skin has to sit in back of the service because people thought she would be farther away from God because she doesn't deserve to be close to God. One last example, is that the white people at the wedding took a brown paper bag and held it up to the African American person's face and if their skin was darker than the paper bag, they had to sit in the back of the church because the white people thought they weren't worthy of being in God's presence.

I really enjoy reading this book and I can't wait to read more, and find out what happens next!

Hunger Games

2010-05-03T18:26:00.001-07:00

When this assignment popped up, I had Inkheart as a book to read although I have already read it a couple times. Then Maggie told me about Hunger Games, she wasn't the only one who recommended it to me, but she gave me her copy to read.

Right after reading the first page I was already thinking about what to wright, then Maggie told me that because I only read the first page that I should base my post on my ideas from the cover,back,inner flap, and the first page. I only have a handful to say about the cover like, what does the bird mean? But, I figure that one out *cough*PATRICK.

I still have a lot to learn about this book, and a lot of it I will enjoy. This book is very

good and I love it so much and I hope you do too.

Al Capone does my shirts

2010-05-03T18:26:00.000-07:00

The book I am currently reading is Al Capone does my Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko.

The book is about a boy named Moose and his mental sister, Natalie. They live in a very bad town called Alcatraz. Well we all know where that is. This book takes place in the 1930's so that is when the jail was open. Moose's dad is the jail guard and the electrician. Moose has a hard life because who on planet Earth would want to live on an Island with deadly criminals on it! Well, would if Al Capone cleaned your shirts? This was not like in the movies thank goodness because you never want anyone slipping out of their jail cell; no sir.

I think this book is very interesting because I love books that take place in a different time. You just get to know what it was like when there were people in jail. The book is written what Moose is thinking and what others are saying. I really enjoy books that are written what the main character is thinking. I am learning a lot about Moose's manners; why, well he has to speak in a very polite voice to his dad's boss. Such as, Yes sir, No sir. It is funny because the boss's daughter calls him sir too. Well I definitely recommend this as a good book.

The Giver

2010-05-03T18:09:00.000-07:00

This week I am reading The Giver, by Lois Lowry. Although I have already read more than half of this book, I am ambivalent whether I like it, or not. There are reasons I like it, and reasons I don't. I have even re-read many parts of it to to help me decide what is enjoyable or not, but I am still indecisive.

The reasons I like the book are because Lois Lowry does a great job describing all the scenes and the character development is great. Her use of descriptive adjectives really paints a picture in my head. "Tiny, cold, featherlike feelings peppered his body and face". Instead of just telling us about the sensation of snowflakes on the skin, Lois tries to help us imagine what it would be like for someone who has never experienced snow. For me, the best books are all about the characters. In the beginning of The Giver, a baby boy, Gabe, was brought into Jonas's family unit. Jonas, the main character, did not really care for all that much for this new baby boy. At first, this story may seem pretty normal because many kids are uncertain when a new baby sibling comes into their household. But we realize that this is not a normal family unit and Jonas's life is very different than most kids. This difference is what makes the story and characters interesting to follow.

One reasons why I did not enjoy the book is because the plot is hard to follow. So far, I am on page 121, and I am still waiting for something interesting to happen. It seems like the plot just describes Jonas's memories, but the recollections are random and scattered. They don't seem to connect in a logical way. His world is so different and disjointed that it makes the book confusing. I am not sure if it is just me, but after about 80 pages, I had to start reading the book from the beginning again because I was getting lost.

Overall, I really cannot decide if I like this book or not, so far. If someone else chooses to read this book, I would like to hear their input, and maybe they can help me understand the book a little bit better. When I finish the book, I hope that many of my unanswered questions will be explained and, hopefully I will know how I feel about it.

How To Survive Middle School

2010-05-03T15:43:00.000-07:00

How To Survive Middle School is a great book written by Donna Gephart. The book is about a middle school kid named David Greenberg who suddenly finds he has a lot of problems in his life. The main thing that happens to him is that his best fiend Elliot goes girl-crazy. All Elliot wants to do is hang out at the mall and look at and talk about girls. Poor David.

I really admire David though. I admire him because he is brave and strong. At one point in the story, Elliot deserts David completely. David is sad, but keeps on going. His daily life isn't the same without his best friend (even if all he talks about is girls) and he manages to keep it together even though he feels like his heart is encased in stone. If I were David, I don't know what I would do in that situation. I think it took a lot of guts to not show everyone how lousy he felt. Luckily, in the end, all that strength pays off.

Even though this book was really funny in a lot of parts, I'm hoping a lot of thing the things that happen in the book don't really happen to all middle school kids.

The Secret Order of The Gumm Street Girls

2010-05-03T15:36:00.000-07:00

The Secret Order of The Gumm Street Girls, by Elise Primavera is a pretty good book so far. I like the part in the beginning where it said something like, '' You might think that these four girls, all the same age , on the same street, are BFF's and their always ''there'' for one another. But you are wrong.'' When I kept reading I noticed the it was true, I was wrong. All the girls hate each other and they have very few things in common. I think Its a good way to start the story.

There is a part of me that is thinking that this book is realistic fiction, but then comes the blank and the blank. I wish I could tell the part that makes me think it's a mystery, but I'll just say that there is a girl that kind of has a spell on her. So, I'm pretty sure that the story is a mystery.

Even though I'm not half way through the book I think it is great.

Fire Bringer

2010-05-03T15:16:00.000-07:00

Fire Bringer, a book by David Clement-Davie, is a book about a fawn named Ronnoch with the mark of an oak leaf upon his brow. It is a wonderful story full of tragedy. Though it is confusing at times because of their use of animal tongues (language), it’s still exceptionally good. While I was reading this book, I began to forget it was about deer. Also, while reading this, I beginning to feel as if I was there. This is a good book for any who like animals.

Eldest

2010-05-02T19:45:00.000-07:00

I am reading Eldest, the second book in the Inheritance series. This book has been very interesting, some parts I really love, and can't wait to keep reading, and other parts, I am not that interested in.

I love the parts of the book about Eragon, when he's in training, learning new things, it's very interesting, though some of the decisions he makes seem unwise to me, and I don't like reading them because I know he's making the wrong decision. One time he really liked this elf, her name is Ayra,(AR-ee-uh) and she is the Queen's daughter, and she came to see how his training was going. Eragon was learning how to make a picture on a slab of stone with magic, and because of his feelings toward Arya, he made the picture of Arya. When he uttered the spell to take the picture of her from his mind, the picture on the slab was a beautiful view of Arya in a blazing back round that made her pop out and look very special. Now when I read this, I was loosing it! Why would he do that? Why would he show his feeling towards her, I mean by what the author says when they're talking, Arya definitely does not have the same feelings for Eragon! Besides, Arya is very sensitive, and when she saw his vision of her, she threw a fit. She took the stone, and smashed it on the ground, then ran away from Eragon and avoided him for a while. Eragon was silly to show his emotions like that, and it was hard for me to read that, and believe it.

Other parts of this book are about Roran, and his adventures. Roran is Eragon's cousin, and he lives in Eragon's old town. The town suddenly gets in a horrible fight with some soldiers from the king, that are looking to capture Roran because Eragon is a Dragon Rider. Roran and most of the town are tired of fighting off the soldiers, and loosing so many loved ones, that they leave their town and start heading towards the Varden who can hopefully help them and protect them from the King. The Varden are a group of people, dwarves, and elves who hate the King and his men, and fight him, and protect each other. If Roran and his friends make it to the Varden, and are excepted, they will be protected from the empire. Along the way, they have some trouble, and decide to take a boat down the coast to get away from the mountains and rough land. They manage to get a ship worker to take them, but the man thinks they're transporting livestock down the coast, so when he leaves the town and goes a little down the coast and finds a little village that he is to transport, he is quite shocked. I had a difficult time reading this part too, because they lied to the man, and now they could get this innocent guy in trouble, because the soldiers are after them. I had an even harder time reading about how the village was planning to ditch the poor guy, and after the ship ride just run away without paying the full price! That is not fair and I was not pleased to see that the settlers were in such a panic they didn't care if they were cheating this guy.

This book is great, I am really liking it! But, there are some places that I find hard to read because I wouldn't make that decision and I don't think it's right. This is a fantastic read though!

Bird Lake Moon

2010-05-01T20:05:00.000-07:00

I'm reading Bird Lake Moon by Kevin Henkes. He is one of my favorite author's because two of my favorite books are by him so I'm glad to be reading another. Bird Lake Moon is about a boy named Mitch who lives with his mom and grandparents in a house on Bird Lake. This book has a character change after each chapter so the other character is Spencer. Spencer with his family, came to visit Bird Lake during the summer. The mom is scared to go there because that's were her older sun drowned in Bird Lake when he was little. Spencer and his family stay in the house right next door to Mitch. At first they are not getting along so well and you'll have to see if they become friends or not. I have not gotten that far in the book to find out though.

I really like this book so far. At times its a little confusing because they switch off between Mitch and Spencer, but otherwise its a fun book to read. Usually I don't really like reading that much but this is actually a really good book. One thing I really like about Kevin Henkes is that he always writes books that want me to keep reading. I loved Olives Ocean and Protecting Marie. Those we also really great books that wanted me to keep reading. I like the way he makes his books interesting and not boring so you will quit the book.

So far this book is happy and sad. Sad because Mitch's dad left there family and went to another woman's house. It was also sad because Spencer's older brother is dead and died at the lake they swim at every day. But it is also a happy book because They get to go to the lake every day, have someone almost your age staying next door, and getting to live with your grandparents to keep you company. For some reason this book makes me happy when I start to read it. Maybe because both of the boys had a hard time in life and got though it or just having sad moments turn in to happy ones, I don't really know.

I'm really enjoying this book so far and I hope to enjoy it some more as a read on. I cant wait to finish this book!

The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Ptolemy's Gate

2010-05-01T08:12:00.000-07:00

The Bartimaeus Trilogy, is based on demons. Magicians in the series conduct rituals to summon demons from, "The Other Place" and to do thieir master's bidding. The book takes place where America is becoming known, and the city of England, is having some problems. Rebels are coming to fight from America, people are turning against the prime minister, everything has gone wrong. While all this is happening, a great wizard is about to realize his talent. A small kid is taken away from his parents to serve his master until he is of age. This is how it always is. When he is twelve years old, he changes his name, to keep his real name secret from any demons, because if a demon found his real name, the it could do horrible things to him, things you could not even imagine. But, before he turn twelve, he thinks he can conduct a summoning on his own. So, without telling his master, he summons a demon, and the demon learns his real name, but he will be frozen for ever because of a spell the kid learned, if he tells it to anyone. So they have a kind of truce. And so the book goes on, and I think It is a very interesting story, because if follows the lives of three people, one chapter could be about one person, the next, about another person. It is a good story, and series to read. The plot is always good, they are long books, the details are great, but not so much that you have to drag on to that next page just reading about the fly that he saw. This books are great page turners. Anyway, just don't forget about them, I know I can't.

The Baseball Codes, the Unwritten Rules of Baseball

2010-05-01T06:59:00.000-07:00

I am reading The Baseball Codes, the Unwritten Rules of Baseball, by Jason Turbow with Michael Duca. This book is fantastic in my opinion, I think meant for grownups with the more sophisticated language. But I understand it and it's great. The book is about well, the unwritten rules of baseball, which are rules that all the players know about, but the rules are not written in some book (except for this one).

An example, well, one of my favorite examples is when a pitcher is going for a no hitter (when a pitcher does not give up one hit in an entire game, this is good for the pitcher) and then there are two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning and the next batter comes up and thinks, "Oh, I'll give him this no hitter". So he takes the first two pitches for strikes, then is going to get out to be soft for the pitcher, when a ball comes screaming at his head. He falls to the ground, and barely avoids it. (I really, really love how much and how often pitchers express themselves by trying to hit the batter with some blazing fastball) The next pitch, however, the hitter knocks the ball over the left field fence to break up the no-hitter. After the game the hitter said, "I was going to give it to him, I really was, until he tried to hit me in the head". This example was funny for me because really, the hitter was just going to go soft, but then a attempted beanball made his thoughts go askew, and then he was mad.

I didn't know that behind those baseball caps, there is something else going on in pro baseball player's heads. And that is the unwritten rules in baseball. Many people in the MLB get furious at some dekes, as they call them. These are just some plays the players do to trick out other players to help their team do better. If I were that player who deked another player out, I'd be kind of scared, because the next time I came to the plate, the pitcher would be hunting for my head. About headhunters, when a baserunner gets bullied or deked, he then tells the pitcher, and the pitcher knocks him off his feet, and goes for a head shot. That's what is so interesting, baseball is so nasty between the players and that's what makes this book the best baseball book ever!

HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE

2010-04-30T16:07:00.000-07:00

So far this book has been really exciting, for example when Harry got chosen for the 4th champion and he was to young to be a champion that was really exciting, because they had to figure out how that happened and if they were going to let Harry compete. Another thing that was exciting was when Harry saw the dragons and knew what the first task was going to be, I thought that was exciting because he was not supposed to know what the first task was and it was sort of scary. A third thing that was exciting was when lost his wand at the world cup and the death eaters came and recked the tents, that was really exciting because there was a huge commotion, although some parts are really uninteresting, for example when the author just goes on and on about a conversation I don't think that is very fun for the reader. I think that it is a little to long for a book because in my opinion I don't like long book nor do I like short books I like them medium. I am on page 282, and there are 734 pages in the book, I hope to finish it soon.

Lake Rescue

2010-04-30T15:42:00.000-07:00

I am reading the book, Beacon Street Girls Lake Rescue, Annie Bryant. So far, I really enjoy the book, I can always connect to it and I never want to stop reading the book. The Beacon Street Girls is a group of teenage girls that are BFF'S they love fashion and adventures. There are many girls in the club, but the one I am most similar to is, Katani, she has annoying older siblings and loves fashion, just like me!

Although I have not gotten far into the book I am into the story, it sounds fun to be a Beacon Street Girl. They have sleepovers every weekend, they also have someone to tell stories to. That sounds fun to me!

The Lightning Thief

2010-04-29T15:45:00.000-07:00

This past week I have been reading The Lightning Thief. I really like it, because it involves gods and goddesses, and just about everything from Greek Mythology. A lot of the kids in 5th grade read The Lightning Thief, and they said it was really good so I said, " I'm going to read the Lightning Thief."

My thinking about the book is all positive. I'm about half way through the book. So far it is really fantastic. I think that in this book there is a lot of action which is what I like in a book. Because there are so many descriotive words, I can picure the action in my head. My favorite part is when Percy finds out who his father is. But I'm not going to tell, because I don't want to spoil it for anyone.

There are some sad parts in the book, but there are a lot of good parts, and a lot of action parts in the book. I'm enjoying the book, and when I read I can't put the book down. One time when I was reading I read 50 pages, because the part that I was reading was so intense in and exciting way. Reading that many pages is twice as much that I usally read a night. I really like the book and I would recommend it to anyone who likes action. I have to go right now but I hope you read The Lightning Thief.

Witch Child (Eric, Max, Talia, Haley, Tommy)

2010-04-05T13:31:00.000-07:00

Eleven (Jayden, Jackson, Harrison, Sydney, Audrey)

2010-04-05T13:29:00.000-07:00

The Giver (Olivia, Olivia, William, Henry, Anna)

2010-04-05T04:21:00.000-07:00

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle (Eva, Levi, Ben, Riley, Jack)

2010-04-05T04:19:00.000-07:00

Number the Stars (Maia, Becca, Tallulah, Abby, Patrick)

2010-04-05T04:16:00.000-07:00

The Sisters Club

2010-03-16T14:09:00.000-07:00

The wonderful book I am reading is called, The Sister's Club by Megan McDonald. She wrote the "Judy Moody" series.

This book is about three sisters that made a club and you talk about family news and basically about interesting news. The mom, dad and Alex (the oldest sister) are all actors and actresses. I have a connection. Joey the youngest always feels young and she is always managing everything like I do. Like for example she writes everything down and she is always the good character in all plays. The middle sister Stevie is always jealous of her. Sometimes I feel bad for my sister because I am always getting attention. But most of the time I am getting bad attention.

I have another connection. My dad is like Alex and I am like Stevie. She is bossy and I can handle it but she is the biggest. And I take long showers and she is always saying "Don't take such long showers!"

This book is interesting because of the connections from me and the characters.

Artemis Fowl Connections

2010-03-16T14:07:00.000-07:00

I am reading the book Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code but I can't say that Artemis and I have a lot in common but I'll do my best. For one Artemis is not athletic and neither am I. The sports I'm probably the best at are probably jump roping or golf. Another way Artemis and I have something in common is, that we are both kids although he is 12 and I am 10.

We have the same number of things that we don't have in common than things that we do have in common. One thing that we don't have in common is that I am not a criminal mastermind but he comes up with the most brilliant schemes ever. Another thing that we don't have in common is that I don't have contact from fairies from a world under us.

It's Raining Cupcakes

2010-03-16T14:05:00.000-07:00

I was reading It's Raining Cupcakes. It was fantastic, the part that I was interested in most was the when her mom was opening a cupcake shop called It's Raining Cupcakes. The book was about this little girl named Isobel and she moves to an apartment so her family and her can open up a cupcake shop. She really wants to travel around the world but she cant's. But she gets a chance when she sees an add in the paper to make a recipe of an desert and the finalist get to go to New York and she's never been outside of Oregon.I had a lot of connections in this book. Like it involves cupcakes and I love cupcakes. It takes place in organ and I love Oregon. Isobel the girl in the story has a lot of problems and I do to. And I recommend it to people who like treats.

Mattimeo

2010-03-16T14:03:00.000-07:00

Mattimeo is about a young mouse and his friends get kidnapped. One of my connections to the book is on page 157. My connection is when people were depending on John to decode a lamscript. Why that's my connection is because sometimes people depend on me in important situations. It is pressuring, but sometimes you can be right. Another one of my connections is when Cornflower remained sitting while everyone else left. Sometimes I will do that when I'm thinking about something important or when I think something is wrong. My final connection is on page 19, when Mattimeo is late to see his mother. Why that's my final connection is because sometimes I can wander off and not turn around and stop when they call my name.

Vanished

2010-03-15T21:02:00.000-07:00

I am reading Vanished by Marc Tyler Nobleman. Vanished has a new story each chapter. The chapters are about people that have been kidnapped or just disappeared. I don't really want to have a connection with this book but I do. The first chapter is about this 7-year-old girl who gets kidnapped and the kidnappers keep her in a abandoned house that people think the house is haunted. She is trapped there over night while her family mourns over her disappearance. The next morning she find a way to get out and she gets rescued by to kids that were just playing around that house then heard her cries of help. She and the kids won an award for being brave.

I can connect with this 7-year-old kid because one time I almost got kidnapped and it is really scary. It was around 6:00 though and her kidnapping was when she was walking home from school with her little sister. When I almost got kidnapped me and Georgia were in third grade and we were having a sleep-over. Her mom said we could go outside until dinner. We were telling scary stories to each other, I was telling her about the frightening story "Claws." Then a white car with a black car bra came and stopped driving right next to where we were standing then the man in the car yelled, "HEY KIDS," amazed and worried I stood there and couldn't budge. Thankfully Georgia yanked me along and told me to run. So I followed her. We started to run and the car kept moving to stay next to us. This was the scariest part. Next I told Georgia to hide behind the trash can coming up. She dove behind it and I followed right after her. The man in the car thought we turned the corner and he kept going around. When ran inside and we told Georgia's mom, Brenda, what happened. She called the police and reported him. The next night I got a call, my mom answered it and told me it was for me. I picked it up, it was the police. He told me he went over to Georgia's house and asked her some questions about the car and the person inside it. He asked me all kinds of questions.

I couldn't imagine actually being kidnapped. I couldn't imagine how her family felt too. I bet it feels like a temporary death in the family. But I can't imagine how she felt after the kidnappers car drove away. The police found out who the kidnappers were and they got thrown in jail. If I didn't give away too much of the book I would recommend this book to whoever is reading my post.

Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism

2010-03-15T20:42:00.000-07:00

I am currently reading the first book in the Molly Moon series by Georgia Byng. It's called, "Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hyponotism." I am really enjoying this book and every chapter is like a step into a new adventure. I have to say, at first glance, Molly Moon and I don't have much in common, but that is not what I'm focusing on here, I'm focusing on what we do have in common. First of all, Molly found an old hypnotism book and is learning all the hypnotism tricks, kind of like I have a magic book and I'm learning many magic tricks. Molly has a deep connection with her little dog Petula. I can see how she felt when Petula got lost because once my rabbit Peter was lost, and I feel very close to him just as Molly does to Petula. I know how Molly feels about her closest friend Rocky and when she was separated from him I know how it felt because I am very close to my friend Celeste and if were to be away from her for months and months, kind of like I was from my other good friend Haley, I would have felt sad like I did when Haley left for a while, and also very lonely and upset. It seems, at least according to the book, that Molly also does enjoy getting her way as much as (I hate to say it) I do. In addition, both Molly and I sometimes get made fun of. It's for different reasons, but it is true. This book has taken me on a roller coaster of fun and thought, and I can't wait to read the next book in the Molly Moon series!

The Mysterious Benedict Society

2010-03-15T19:26:00.000-07:00

This week I am reading the book The Mysterious Benedict Society. This book by Trenton Lee Stewart, is wonderfully written about four orphans, Sticky, Kate, Reynie, and Constance, who are pulled together by a mysterious man to fulfill a secret mission regarding the human minds of the world. In order to do this, the children must use their genius minds and put aside their differences to succeed.

The characters in the Mysterious Benedict Society and I have some things in common, but we are also very different. For one thing Reynie Muldoon, a puzzle-solving eleven year old boy prefers tea, over juice, as do I. Even though, we both like tea, there can be differences. He likes his tea with honey, whereas, I like mine with milk. Kate Wetherall, a resourceful twelve year old girl has something surprisingly in common with me. When she is nervous, she cannot sleep, as many people can't. The only difference is, after she falls asleep, she will arise very early, eager or not to start her day. I, on the other hand, like to sleep in as late as possible. Constance Contraire, a very stubborn, yet clever clever girl is like me, but only in size. Constance is the smallest member of the group, and I am the smallest girl in my class. The only difference is that Constance hates it, because she feels she cannot keep up with the group, because her legs are so short, and she feels out of place. I, on the other hand, do not feel out of place, and feel quite comfortable and content with my petite size and abilities.

Sticky Washington is a brilliant 11 year old boy who knows more than 3 college professors. Sticky and I both have good memories. He remembers everything he sees, reads, and hears. The only thing that sets us apart, is he remembers everything forever. The information he learns never escapes his head. Although I am able to remember things pretty well, sometimes I have to repeat it several times before I have it memorized, like the state capitals or multiple tables. Sticky knows it after only one time. That is pretty amazing.

In the end, I realized that I enjoyed this book because the characters are all so interesting and each one has something that I can relate to. I'm grateful that I am not an orphan like them, although it would be an exciting adventure to join a group like the Mysterious Benedict Society.

Breaking Dawn

2010-03-15T19:17:00.000-07:00

I have read all the books in the Twilight saga, by Stephanie Myer, and by far I think this one is the best. I think this because the author captures the great perspective of writing, with the brilliance of her imagination.

The main character, Bella Swan, and I do not really have much in common. She is a 18 year old with a stubborn personality, and a Vampire boyfriend, Edward Cullen. The only thing we have in common is, she has one really good friend, Jacob Black, and does not really click with many others.

I have read this book before and I am presently reading it again. I loved reading this book and it was a very enjoyable reading experience.

Masterpiece Connections

2010-03-15T18:19:00.000-07:00

I am reading the book Masterpiece, by Elise Broach. I am not too far into the book yet so I don't have a lot of connections, but I have a few that I will share. In the book, James, the main character, gets a gift that is an art set, from his Dad that he does not like, but he try's it anyways, and ends up loving it. That has happened to me to I got these clothes that I didn't like, and I wore them, once, and now I love them!

Another connection I have to James is when James gets asked a question, he often says, " I don't care", in reply. I do that too. Like, in the book, someone asks James "do you want to go to the Art Studio", and he said "I don't care". Now in my life my friends always ask me "what do you want to do"? I say, " I don't care".

Those are all the connections I have with the beginning of the book. I hope I will make many more later on in the book.

The Titan's Curse

2010-03-15T18:08:00.000-07:00

The Titan's Curse is the third book in the Lightning Thief series. Percy and I are alike in some ways but not a lot. For instance I would not want my sister to abandon me, so I agree with Percy. I am not a half blood, but I do understand things that he does. I would like to be a half blood son of Posidion just like Percy, but I am not so I will just half to deal with what I have.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phinox

2010-03-15T17:41:00.001-07:00

This book so far is pretty good.This book is about A boy that has magical powers and gets put into a magic school named Hogwarts.There he met 2 kids named Ron and Hermione and went through a lot of adventures at the school

There were some ups and downs 1 up was that it kinda leaves you hanging after a chapter.1 down was that they could have done a little better on getting you hooked and there wasn't a lot of action in this one so that wasn't good .Another up was that they made it really mysterious at the end.This for me is the least interesting of the 7 books.But over all I think the book was pretty good.

INKHEART

2010-03-15T17:25:00.000-07:00

I am a person who likes to read fantasy books so I may not have a lot of connections but I have a few. My first connection is my family would read me bed time stories everyday.(I put day because I was young then and I would go to bed at like 4:00 or 5:00). I can't relate to much more but I can tell you some things that I can't relate to. Like with having a stranger in my front yard but actually sometimes my dad brings people over that I don't know so when I answer the door most of the time it scares because they know me but I don't know them.

Ragweed

2010-03-15T17:15:00.000-07:00

You may have heard of the book Ragweed, and it is surprisingly good for both genders. It is about a mouse named Ragweed who wants to see the world and goes on a train to the city of (mostly desserted) Amperville. Then he becomes friends with two other mice. Together, Clutch and Blinker, Ragweed's friends, help Ragweed defeat Felines Enraged About Rodents (F.E.A.R.). F.E.A.R. is made up of two cats, Silversides and Graybar.

I think I am alike and different from Blinker because we are both willing to betray our friends to keep them alive, but are brave enough to ventre out alone. We are different because I, personally, love double-crossing people. I don't know why, I guess it's because I get to see their astonished, smug little grins after they realize I have won. Blinker doesn't like it, though, he did it anyway to "keep them alive."

This, overall, is a very good book and I think you should read it, for school or for fun, that is your choice.

Eldest

2010-03-15T16:37:00.001-07:00

All books are considered good by one person or another, but this book is a favorite of mine and many others. This book I’m going to tell you about is a very good book and is one that, even though it’s a long read is still very interesting the only problem is that it’s one of those books that you look at it and immediately reject it for being so thick. This book is Eldest it’s about a boy and a dragon, it’s a wonderful book and is a mix of all genres. I won’t give any more to what the book is about because that would give the book away this is a good book and I recommend it to any searching for a book. I think that it’s the best book ever, well second to harry potter that is. This book really is a good book, but I think that the real reason I liked is because the dragon I really want to see and feel a dragon as well as experience magic, I guess that’s why I like to read so much. There are other things that I make connections with, though not many, because this is a book of fantasy and not fiction. But one connection I did make is that both this book and dragon rider have a dragon, a cat, a rider, and the dragons are both blue.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

2010-03-15T16:10:00.000-07:00

I am reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, by J.K. Rowling. I relate to this book in some ways. I am like Harry because I never find out what is going on and I always want to know. When my dad became a baseball coach I was the last to know. When Sirius Black escaped Harry was the last to know. I am not like Harry that much. I don't relate to him in anything more, except when it comes to sports, I am really good at sports and so is he. When we do races in P.E., I always finish first. When Harry plays Quidditch he always catches the snitch first. We are alike in some ways.

The book is about the goblet and how Harry is too young to put his name in the cup. It is about him going through the tasks. It is really good. I am on page 85. I hope to finish it soon.

Carlie Bone and The Beasts

2010-03-15T15:43:00.000-07:00

I've been reading the Charlie Bone series, I'm on the sixth book. There great, my momread 1-5 to me a long time ago, now I restarted them onmy own.

At first I though I didn't have any connections to the guy in my book but now that I look deeper I found a few. One way how we are both alike is we both hate it when kid notmuch older then you acts like there in charge of you. The reason i say this is in the story Charlie, the main character, goes to an academy called Bloors. At this school there are people who are in there last year that are prefect one of them's the son of the principal,his name is Manfred, he's really mean and he acts really arrogant. Some times my sisterdoze that some times and I hate it. When Charlie was small he lost his dad if this were ever happen I would never get over it I fell so bad for him. Charlie is endowed which I think is really cool, but for him it stink, because he has to go to that school called Bloors.

The Shadow Thieves

2010-03-15T15:29:00.000-07:00

In this book I relate to I person and that is Zee. Zee is a boy who plays soccer. I like soccer because it is a fun sport and it gets you fit. Zee is weird. I am weird by saying random stuff. I think he is wierd because one time when something happened he said "they followed me". He and I are not weird in the same way but we are both definitely weird. Zee and I both love soccer in the same way. Zee seems to love soccer so much that he goes to a sleep away soccer camp. I am going to do the same if I get the chance. Although we don't have much in common thigs that we do have in common are very important.

Flush

2010-03-14T21:08:00.000-07:00

I'm just about to finish Flush by Carl Hiaasen. It is a really good book. It was much better then I thought it would be. A lot of people said this was a good book so I thought I would give it a try. I thought I was not going to like it because the title was weird. Now I know never ever judge a book by its cover because it could be really really good.

I did not have many connections with most of the characters. I think I was most like Noah. Even though he did some crazy things, I think I have some connections with him. We both are very curious. We always want to know whats going on. Noah has a little different kind of curiosity. His dad is in jail so Noah visits him almost everyday. He always wants to catch up with whats going on and wants his dad to answer all the questions he has. He also listens to all the conversations his mom and dad have to try and get the inside scoop to whats happening with there relationship. My kind of curiosity is different. I like to try and ease drop on conversations whenever I'm close enough. I want to know everything that's going on but I never end up getting to. I also have a connection with Abbey, Noah's sister. She also is very curious. We have that in common but we also over hear something wrong and think its true. Abbey overheard her mom talking on the phone about divorce. Abbey got all mad and told Noah and he got mad too. Than the next day they saw there moms suitcase out on her bed. They thought for sure it was going to happen soon. Well they did not get divorced after all, well not yet. I once overheard my talking on the phone about my family moving to a new house in Tiburon. I got all scared to leave Park School. Turns out my mom was talking about her friend moving to Tiburon. I was so happy after I figured out the truth.

I did not have much connections with the characters in Flush, but I still think its a really good book.

Pushcart war

2010-03-14T17:42:00.000-07:00

To start off I don't have many connections with this HISTORICAL-FICTION book I got stuck with.

If I did have any it would with the main guy's friend. He has only one friend, the main guy. Now I have a connection which is that, I have a friend who only has one friend...me. At first I thought that this person was weird, but when you got to know "this person" they were very nice and funny. In the book their friendship is way different than anything normal, as with mine it is just a friendship.

Although not many connections, that is one that counts.

Eragon

2010-03-11T18:11:00.000-08:00

Eragon is a fantastic book, it is adventurous, very mystery and fantasy like, and has quite a lot of fighting scenes, which are very surprising and entertaining. It is a different kind of book then I normally read, however, I really like it.

The main character, Eragon and I don't have many connections. He lives such a dangerous life, and he has such a different way of thinking then I do. His whole life he is being chased by someone, the King, the Varden, (a group of people against the king, or empire) or some other crazy monster working for one of the groups. He is always on the move, and when he meets people, part of this long mystery of strange events starts to unfold. I on the other hand, have a much more realistic, and sometimes boring life. In my life, there are no urgals, (big ogres that work for the empire), elves, dwarves, dragons, and there are no people with names like, Ajihad, Orik, Arya, Galbatorix, Morzan, or Brom! However, we are both learning about our past, and we have both had some tragedies happen in our life, Eragon more so then I. We are both very curious people too, we have a lot of questions, and we are always worrying. In one part of the book, Eragon is taken on a quest with a very talented man that teaches Eragon a lot of his knowledge, to find his uncle's murderers, and along the way is figuring out how powerful he really is. He asked Brom, the talented man, a whole bundle of questions, pestering him about Eragon's power every day, and as I am reading the book, I have questions pop up in my head too.

Eragon sometimes surprises me with his actions. Sometimes he will do things that I do not understand why he does them, and then I will think that we really don't have very many connections, and that we are so different. One time, Eragon was in a place where their king, was telling him it was time to go to the land of elves, because they could train him better, but Eragon was upset that he didn't get to put his opinion on the matter! I was gasping when I read this! How can he be angry when a king just told him with respect, that he will go to train with the elves? I would be thrilled! I would be excited and very pleased to be able to train with the elves, right away.

Eragon also changes his personality on me sometimes, and then I think we might be the same. In the story, I know him as brave, daring, and will do whatever it takes to stay alive, and keep his travelers alive too; then in one part of the book, a soldier is going by, that was going to take them as slaves, but falls off his horse and begs for mercy, as Eragon's friend slices off the soldier's head. Eragon is suddenly furious, he gets all infuriated at his friend, just for killing someone when Eragon thinks the man's life should have been spared.

Eragon and I have some similar connections between us, but we are sometimes not connected at all!

The BFG

2010-03-11T16:40:00.000-08:00

In 3rd grade Ms.McCormick read us The BFG, aka Big Friendly Giant. And when I finished The Last Olympian, I had no idea what to read. But then I looked through the SFF (science fiction fantasy) bin and saw The BFG. I thought, why not, I forgot every thing about it anyway. So, since then I have been reading it.

The book and I have barely any similarity's. First of all I have never seen a giant, not even in my dreams. And Sophie has seen one. Oh, but when the BFG first snatched her out of her bed and took her to Giant Land, Sophie thought he was a Big Bad Giant and would eat her on the spot. My reaction would be the same. I mean, why would a giant grab someone out of there bed and take them miles away and not eat them. Not only is the BFG a nonhuman-eating-giant, but he is also a dream catching giant. He catches dreams with a net in this dream place, where all the dreams stay. At night the BFG blows dreams into children's bedrooms wile they are sleeping. And everyone sleeps and dreams. The BFG is made up but he could have done it to me. Because he is very sneaky. Which I am not. When I am three feet away from someone and I'm ready to say ''boo'', I crack up, and it ruins the whole thing.

I guess I do have some similarity's with the book The BFG. Who knew.

The Mysterious Benedict Society

2010-03-10T18:53:00.000-08:00

I am reading The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. This is kind of my second time reading it. What I mean by that, is that in the beginning of fourth grade my mom wanted to read it to me so I let her. Every night before I went to sleep she would read a little bit to me, so I kept renewing it and after about the fifth time renewing I was not allowed to renew the book anymore and we still had not finished the book. So then my mom bought the book for me, and ever since fourth grade it just sat on my shelf, and one night I started reading it.

I don't have that many connections to the characters in the book The Mysterious Benedict Society. One of the connections I do have is to a character in the book named Reynie Maldoon. and I both tend to doubt ourselves. For example, in the book Mr. Benedict sends out a message that Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance have to figure out what Mr. Benedict means. Reynie suggests that Mr. Benedict's message means cheating but then he starts to doubt himself even though he is right. I tend to do the same exact thing as Reynie. Another connection I have to this book is that the Mysterious Benedicts Society's mission is that they have to spy and not get caught. When I want to know something that I'm not being told, I usually eavesdrop and find out what I want to know. For example, I climb up on the kitchen counter and look out through the window and watch my neighbor and her boyfriend cook dinner--ha, ha, ha!

As I said the characters in the Mysterious Benedict Society and I don't really have very much in common. Like Kate, another character in the book is very risky, and she likes to take chances. I on the other hand prefer to keep it safe. Also Constance, another character in the book is annoying and complains like no tomorrow. I try not to complain, because my sister does it all the time, so I know how annoying it can be. Also, all of the kids in this book are incredibly smart, and I'm pretty smart, but not as smart as any of them.

I think that one of the reasons I like this book so much is since I'm very different to the people in this book and it's interesting to see how different people can be from one another.

Rangers Apprentice

2010-03-10T16:54:00.000-08:00

I think that I can connect to the main character of the Rangers Apprentice books, because, he uses a bow and arrow, and I personally really like Archery. I'm staring to take classes on it. Also, sometimes he will accomplish something that he really didn't think he could do, and he will be really surprised, and I think am kind of the same way. I'll try something, that I'm convinced I can't do, and if I do it, I kind of go into a kind of small trance for a second or two. He is the same way. Like, he tried to shoot an arrow, knowing he could not do it, but then he did it perfectly, and was wide eyed with surprise. All and all, my life is in a small way the same as his, always changing for him, moving from where he is working to the next place, and same with me, I move from house to house. He has all kinds of challenges to pass, and at times I do to. Not necessarily the amazing heroic kind for me, but like a challenging math paper or something at school. I think we have more things in common as well, but none as common as those couple. Its a great book to, you should read it if your looking for a book.

POPPY

2010-03-09T13:10:00.000-08:00

I have lots of connections in this book, such as Poppy is very exciting, and he has a very very thrilling life. My life is like his but my life is also a bit more normal, my life is very exciting and thrilling because of all of the sports that I play, and I am like the hero on all of my sports teams because I have ninja powers! I actually don't but I play like I do. I am a one man team just like Poppy too. I also know that it is hard to go solo because whenever I play flashlight tag at night with my two older brothers, I have to hide by myself and they always try to scare me. So I always have to be on the look out or else something bad will happen like when Ragweed got eaten by the owl. I think Poppy is very curios too, and I am curios because whenever I am near anything ideas start popping into my brain of what I could do with it, I also love being a "ninja" in my sports part of my life, there is so much thrill! I also have a connection with Poppy because we are both totally awesome, we are both curios, and we are both have thrilling lives. So I guess you can say that we I have a lot of connections.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Connections

2010-03-09T13:04:00.000-08:00

This is the second time I have read the Harry Potter series of books by J.K. Rowling. The first time I read the books, I actually got halfway through The Goblet of Fire, then sadly, got a little bit bored and stopped reading them. So this year I started up the Harry Potter books again, and right now I'm on the 3rd book, The Prisoner of Azkaban. It's really great to reattach my connection and love with the pages inside J.K. Rowling's imagination.

I feel like Harry Potter and I really don't have much in common. One of the things we have in common is that our parents really love each other, and in his case, loved. It's really sad that his parents died so early in his life, and I hope a tragedy like that never happens to me. But one thing that's different is that my current gaurdians (my parents) love me unlike the Dursleys. I didn't defeat a horrible villain like him, and I don't have a blazing red scar on my forehead. I'm glad for my life, compared to Harry's. Harry's life really seems to be so horrible and sad. The thing is, what he looks forward to every day is going to a school that can put him in terrible danger. I find that to be a reason why Harry's life is so bad. He lives with a fat, mean, and ugly uncle, with his son Dudley, following in his footsteps. Also an aunt who will never mention anything related to the thing in the world that makes Harry enjoy life. Magic. Thats another thing that we definatley do not have in common. I have no magic in me at all, except for sometimes REALLY good luck that can be magical at times. But all in all Harry is a true wizard, and I am not. Harry has an incredible amount of bravery, I can barely jump a long distance from table to table without hesitating about 15 times. Harry can fight Voldemort without a bit of hesitation. But I guess I don't really know for sure what Harry Potter feels when he faces "He Who Must Not Be Named".

Someone who I feel I actually have a connection with is Ron Weasley. Apart from the magic routes running through his family, I think we are alike in some ways, unlike Harry and me. Probably if one was to see me face on, they would notice something obvious. We both have red, blazing hair. Or as some people call it, we are both gingers (another word for red-headed person). Another thing that I notice is that we both have is a great big, connected loving family to back us up. Ron's family is a little bigger, but I feel a kind of cozy feeling with my family which is the same feeling I feel with the Weasley family whenever I am reading about them in the books.

Harry Potter and his world I can't really connect to because he lives in a another whole world of magic, wizards, and witches.

Dying To Meet You

2009-12-17T16:18:00.000-08:00

I read Dying To Meet You by Kate Kilse. It was a fantastic book. I think it was one of my favorite books. The one thing that I liked about this book was that Ignatius B. Grumply went on a date with Olive, a lady who owned the house that Mr. Grumply was staying in for the summer. He was writing a book and just happened to meet Olive, who had been dead for a long time, by seeing her glasses. This story was told thru letters going back and forth between Olive and Ingantius. Every time someone wrote a letter to a character in the book, I would predict what the person would say back. Sometimes my guess was wrong and sometimes my guess was right. In the end, the two main characters ended up living in the house together.

Molly Moon and the Incredible Book of Hypnotism

2009-12-16T19:58:00.000-08:00

Molly Moon and the Incredible Book of Hypnotism is about a ten year-old, gracious, but perplexed girl, that was dropped off at the doorstep of an orphanage when she was just a baby, and has been living there ever since. She can be very admirable and yet a devious little girl.

I really admire Molly because she is one of the most giving people. Molly grew up in an orphanage, so she was taught to share often, and give to others. Molly has demonstrated acts of kindness and humbleness including taking care of multiple younger ones and dealing with cooking and cleaning. Even when Molly used her hypnotic powers to get rich and famous in New York, she eventually packed her bags and returned to the orphanage in England, which she still feels is her real home. She made a hefty salary of forty thousand dollars a month, and gave it all to the orphanage.

Molly is a very thoughtful person, but there is a trade off. She deceives others in order to give to the less fortunate. She is very confused about how to use her special powers. Molly hypnotized everybody watching Broadway shows, and everybody working on Broadway to make herself famous and wealthy, but in the end, she used the money to help the orphanage. Molly also hypnotized a crook, but hypnotized him to be a loving person.

I think that Molly, like many orphans, wants to know who her parents are, and wishes that she has someone to look up to. Considering she has no role model, she makes some pretty logical decisions when there is nobody there for her. For the most part I see Molly as a giving girl, but I wonder how she will turn out in the next couple of books.

Dying To Meet You

2009-12-16T19:11:00.000-08:00

I read Dying To Meet You by Kate Kilse

, it was a fantastic book, I think it was one of my favorite book I have read. The one thing that I liked about this book was that, Ignatius B. Grumply went on a date with Olive a lady who owned the house that Mr. Grumply who was staying in for the summer. The thing that I liked about the book was that the book was telling a story in letters going back and forth, which I liked. Ever time someone wrote letter to a character in the book, I would predicted what would the person say back. Sometimes my guess is wrong and sometimes my guess is ri
ght, but everthing life can be wrong or right.

BEST BOOK EVER

2009-12-16T18:41:00.000-08:00

I’m reading the book the mysterious Benedict society. I’ve read this book twice this is my third time reading it. This book is a very good book, but a very long read, well its taking me a long time to read. This book really got me hooked it’s a mystery and a adventure all in one. The book is a little confusing some times. For example sometimes there’s a question and you know the answer but you think your wrong because the characters are suppose to be geniuses. I think that my favorite part is at the back theirs a quiz you can take to see how much you paid attention well you were reading. I think this is a book many people would like if they only tried it.

The Titans Curse

2009-12-16T18:40:00.000-08:00

This book is called The Titans Curse by Rick Riordon. This story is about a boy named Percy Jackson, he has gone on quests during the first two book and they were very exciting. since I am only on the 63rd I hope and infer that it will be the same in this book.

Usually I stop when I am in the middle of a series if it is an average series but I am 100% sure that I am going to finish these books because they are so wonderfully written. It has the humor, excitment and action. It is also my reading level. I think that I am going to finish this series and wish it kepped on going forever. This is a great book.

In my perspective its like Rick Riordon made this book specifically made for fifth graders, because if for intance a second grader read this book he/she wouldn't understand it. This is a individual book, meaning that I can not think of a text to text. This is also the best book in the series in my perspective...so far.

SUMMER VACATION

2009-12-16T17:44:00.000-08:00

I've been reading the book Summer Vacation by Erik P. Craft. I really enjoy the humor in this book because its definitely has my style of humor. I also like the way he described the characters so much because it made it easy for me to paint a picture in my mind.

I enjoyed reading this book because it had alot of descriptive language so it made it seem like I was right there at that spicific time. Something that I dont like about him is that he gives me a bunch of questions that make it hard to understand.

Jerimy Fink and the Meaning of Life

2009-12-16T16:56:00.000-08:00

I was just closing the book Jerimy Fink and the Meaning of Life. And there were tears running down my face, because I was so surprised and it was sad to me but this girl is an emotional freak and I have problems with the movie Nancy Drew, because it is the most scary thing I have ever seen! I think this is also weird because in the end you will say "WHAT!" and as Maggie said "Don't give the book away!" Anyways the main idea of the book is A boy named Jerimy finds a box that says "For Jerimy to open on his thirteenth birthday." And he and his friend Lizzy were like "what the heck is going on!" So they found four key holes and they saw no keys. So obviously they try to find the keys.

The Mysterious Benedict Society

2009-12-16T16:36:00.000-08:00

The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Steward, is about four ordinary kids named Reynie, George (Sticky), Kate, and Constance. The thing that makes these kids special is that they are all very smart and have special abilities. They all take a test from a weird man called Mr. Benedict who recruits them as secret agents. They end up getting a mission to destroy a device called the whisperer, which soothes fears and reads thoughts. They kids have to keep the whisperer from Mr Curtain, the bad guy in the story, who wants to use it to dominate the world.

Unlike the characters in the Harry Potter series, the Mysterious Benedict Society kids can't do magic and they don't have any mystical powers. I did find a lot of other things in common with the Harry Potter series though. This book reminds me of Harry Potter because Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance are all bound together by friendship just like Harry, Ron, and Hermione were. The are all brave and daring. Also, The Mysterious Benedict Society kids don't live with their parents, just like the kids in Harry Potter who live at Hogwarts. Both sets of kids go on all kinds of amazing adventures and have to keep things from getting into the bad guy's hands. All of these kids have to fight against evil in some form and solve mysteries. They also need friendship, loyalty and good leadership to succeed. Even though they are not all orphans, the children have all been left alone by grownups and have to learn to work together and to trust each other to survive.

Ender's Game

2009-12-16T16:16:00.000-08:00

I am reading Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card, right now, and it is fantastic! I am glued to this book, so of course, I am reading it really slow, because when I like a book a lot, I read it really slow, to make sure I get all the information to understand it.

Ender Wiggin, the mane character, is a 12 year old boy. Though in the beginning of the book he is 6. In this book, the world is different. People are only allowed to have 2 kids, there are buggers, which is a sort of alien, and there is something called the I.F, International Fleet, which is a big army that protects the world from buggers. When a child is about 2 to 3 years old, they have a monitor on the back of their neck, that can kind of tell what the child is thinking, and it protects them. When a child gets this they are being tested to see if they would be right for the I.F.

When Ender gets recruited for the I.F, he must prove that he has the guts to survive battle school. Everything is new to Ender, except trying to stick up for himself by older kids, his brother has already taught him that with his life threatening fights against Ender. Will Ender live up to be a commander of an Army team? Will he show himself smarter, stronger and a strategizing genius, or will he dissolve among the pressure of being picked on, and being away from the only person who loves him, his sister Valentine?

The reason I told you that people are only allowed to have 2 kids in this book, is because, Ender's parents had 3. They had Peter, Ender's mean older brother first, but the tests on Peter showed that he was too high tempered to be on the I.F. Then they had Valentine, but she was too soft tempered to be on the Fleet team, so the governor asked if they would have Ender, and so far Ender's tests have proved him to be a good soldier.

I am really liking this book! It is very intense, and surprising. I think it is surprising because when I think Ender is finally going to be happy with himself, he isn't because he thinks of something like, I am bullying people around, just like Peter, when all he did was grab a kid and push him to the wall. This book has some cuss words, and is not like your everyday read, but it really is a great action packed, very exciting, descriptive book.

The kid from Tomkinsville

2009-12-16T14:27:00.000-08:00

I just finished The kid from Tomkinsville by John R. Tunis and I wouldn't say it was the best book but it was good.One of the things I liked about this book is normal Baseball books there not that good but this one actually had some action packed parts that got me to sit on the edge of my seat but not all scene's were like that.
Oh right The kid from Tomkinsville is about a kid named Roy Tucker that was a farm boy utill people started seeing his talent at baseball and surprisingly made it in to the major leagues and gets drafted to the Dogers.And right when he started make the team respect him he got in a freak car accident that was going to ruin his chances of pitching in the World series.
This book...is well come to think of it is a pretty good book.

Queste

2009-12-16T14:13:00.000-08:00

Queste is the fourth book of the book series, the Septimus heap series. Queste is about a young boy who was in the young army and he was known as 412. 412 is a young boy with blonde hair and green eyes. If you haven't read the other books in the series, then Queste won't make much sense. In Queste Septimus is trying to avoid doing a queste, which is something that all of the extraordinary wizard apprenices have to do. Since it's only the beggining of his apprenticeship, he doesn't know why he has to dothe gathering yet. He decides to run away for a little while until the gathering was over, and then Marcia, the extraordinary wizard, would be able to find him and bring him back to the castle. Before Marcia finds them, Septimus, Jenna, the princess, and Beetle, Septimus's best friend, try to find Nicko, one of seven of septimus's brother. But on the way something strange is happening. All Septimus remembers is that he excepted something from Hildegarde, but Septimus has doubts that it's what he thought it was...

The Titans Curse

2009-12-15T19:50:00.000-08:00

The Percy Jackson series are so intense and exciting. I love them! I am reading The Titans Curse by Rick Riordan. So far, I think it's the best book ever.
A few characters are in the first book,The Lighting Thief,Percy, Annabeth, Grover, Chiron, and some more. But as I was reading I notist that the character trait has really been expanding. The more pages I turn the more characters I know. To me, more characters make a book better, because there is more dialogue and secrets that are told. For example, action goes really well with the new characters. There are new weapons, such as bo and arrows, from the Hunters.
I don't really know who my favorite character is, but I think it's Artemis. She is super brave and she is kind of like a boss to the Hunters. But I am the opposite. For example, Artemis announced,''Zoe, we will rest here for a few hours. Raise the tents. Treat the wounded. Retrieve our guests' belongings from the school.'' And I am getting orders from my brother.''Audrey, put away my Lego's.''
Rick Riordan's series are so fun for me to read. I love the monsters and the fighting. When ever I get to a part were the page is full of fighting,I always change my position and make it comfy. I also read slow. I want to cherish the moment of description.
The Titans Curse is the best book ever.

The Omnivore's Dilemma

2009-12-15T18:49:00.000-08:00

I am reading The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan, and so far it is a great book. There are so many things in this book that a lot of other people probably would not know. For example, who knew that corn is in every single thing we eat? When I say that, I don't just mean corn and things with corn syrup, I mean everything! If someone wants a book that does not tell a story, but instead has a lot of interesting facts and is fun, but not too easy to read, this is definitely the book for them! All I know, is that it was definitely the book for me. In fact, every chapter's title sounded like something I would want to know about--every time I got to a chapter, I read the title and just said to myself, this sounds so interesting!

The other thing about this book is that it doesn't really leave anything out when it's talking about something in a chapter. For instance, every time I had a question that I did not remember reading in the book, in the next two or three sentences it answered my question. Also, if more people decide to read this book, it may change the way we eat and it might change the way we look at food, and if it does that our diets are going to be much healthier in the future! So, by just reading this book you can become healthier and happier in your life! That's something that I think the author did a good job on.

This author also uses evidence from his own life. For example, he talks about the times when his family went to fast food places and what they ate there and other things like that. Another thing I like, and probably many other people would like about this author, is that he makes the reader, which in this case me, feel like I'm really in the story sitting next to him as he tells it to me. This is something lots of authors probably do, but what this author does, is that he tells where he got his information after he makes a statement about something.

I find this helpful, because if I wanted to know more then what he's told me about that topic, I can either buy the book he got the information from or go to the website he got used. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to be a food detective and know the secrets behind what they eat.

Fever

2009-12-15T17:54:00.001-08:00

Fever by Laurie Halse Anderson. I started to read this book because two of my classmates told me this book was "Great!" They were absolutly right. I love this book and I know anyone who reads it will agree with me. It is about a girl named "Mattie Cook" that lives in philadalphia at her dead dad's handmade coffee shop. When suddenly fever strikes. Now her and her grandfather struggle to survive this virus.
I think the author of this book did a great job intruducing the book to . In other words I loved the catch. I will not say the catch, because if I do Im going to retell the story and I want everyone that reads this to read the book themselves.

Copper Sun

2009-12-15T16:49:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading the book, Copper Sun by Sharon Draper and I think it's one of the best books I have ever read.

The book Copper Sun is about a girl named Amari who was living in Africa when some white soldiers killed everybody in Amari's village except her and a few other people. When Amari gets sold to slaveowners, she has to learn how to speak English and learn how to be a slave.

I really enjoyed reading Copper Sun because it was so interesting and full of very descriptive words that helped me imagine what was going on. I really liked that Copper Sun was full action, had descriptive language, and had an incredible ending.

One of the best thing about this book was all the action. Almost every part of the book had action in it. I really liked that because I never got bored and I always wanted to keep reading. There have been nights were I have stayed up till twelve o'clock even though I was tired because there was so much action and cliffhangers. An example of a good part filled with action is where Clay finds Amari, Polly, and Tidbit and was threatening to kill them. That was one of the moments in the book that kept me on the edge of my seat!

Something else I enjoyed about Copper Sun is the descriptive language. There is so much descriptive language in this story, and I really liked that because it helped me imagine what was happening in the book. An example of descriptive language is the when Amari gets whipped. The words and phrases they used like "I felt like my skin was sizzling" were so intense that I felt like I was in the book at that very moment.

The best part of the book and the part that I enjoyed the most was the ending. I think the ending was one of the best parts of the book because it was very happy and most parts of this book are very sad.

I think that Copper Sun is a very interesting and well written book!

The Omnivore's Dilemma

2009-12-15T16:15:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading a book called The Omnivore's Dilemma The Secrets Behind What You Eat by Michael Pollan. The book is about where our food comes from.

There are lots of interesting facts in this book like how non organic potatoes are grown with a pesticide so toxic to our nervous system that no one is allowed in the field for 5 days after its sprayed then after the harvest the potatoes have to be stored for 6 months so the chemicals wear off before they are safe to eat. The book explains how a lot of our food is made with corn. You think there is lots of variety of food but it's mostly corn. For example corn is in Cheez Whiz, frozen yogurt, tv dinners, canned fruits, ketchup, candy, hot dogs, salad dressing, and cake mix. The industrial farms are feeding there cattle corn instead of grass and that's making the cows sick and diseased and they can pass bad bacteria to us like e. coli which can kill people.

I would recommend reading this book for people that want to know where their food comes from and how to make better choices about what we eat.

Marley: A Dog Like No Other

2009-12-15T16:03:00.000-08:00

Marley: A Dog Like Other is about the heartwarming, naughty bond between master and dog. It is the kid's version adapted from Marley and Me, the adults and original version.

Marley is really sad. I'm warning you. I was crying at the end, and my dad gave a big lecture about how everything dies. You know, that got me thinking. I've realized everyone, everything, every creature is going to die at some point. Some point, everything is going to die. Keep that in mind.

Anyway, John Grogan, the author did a really good job describing everything in the story. It seemed like I was there. I know it seems like every author does that and everyone tells about it in their blog post, but he did an especially good job. Thanks John!

Marley is a memoir, which is like a autobiography, but it doesn't tell an overview of the whole persons life, it just tells short, important moments. The dog dies, but it was pretty obvious that it was going to die. But hey, it's a memoir, so you can't really give away the story that well.

THE LIGHTNING THIEF

2009-12-15T15:48:00.000-08:00

The Lightning Thief is a new book and cerise that I have started. This book is really goodfrom where I am at. The reason I like this book is because it is a book about Greek and Latin mythology. The book is about this boy named Percy Jackson. He is an orphan how lost his mom in a fight against a half human half bull. Now he is in this cap called Half Blood Camp where kids like him are sent, different kids are sent.

Now I know that a lot of people know about this book and I hate to bore somebody how has already read the book but it just happened to be the book I am reading.

Artemis Fowl

2009-12-15T15:42:00.000-08:00

Artemis Fowl is a great series anyway you look at it. It's a mix of modern day technology and fairies, dwarfs, goblin's and centaurs! Artemis is a 12 year old genius who unfortunately uses his massive brain for criminal activates. Soon Artemis discovers the existence of many new creatures previously only childhood storybooks. Knowing that they have been discovered, the fairies launch an attack on the Fowl mansion. Artemis Fowl is a great and exciting series that I recon girls or boys would like. I think that Artemis is similar to, a character in Eragon, Eldest, and Brisingr. That character being Murtagh, Murtagh is the son of one of the major bad guys in the story, but yet he is determined to fight against his dads army's and maybe some day hos dad himself. Artemis is the same sort of person in a way. Artemis used to be a criminal always wanting more and more money, but as the series progresses Artemis becomes less of a greedy kind of man, and eventually will want nothing in returning for risking his life on more than one occasion. So I think that Murtagh and Artemis are similar in a sort of way. I also think that tht author also did a good job of giving the character good such as Mulch, Foaly, Artemis, and Opal. I like the way that Eoin Colfer, the author, took a usually old and polite job such as a Butler, and gave a character that is extremely, fit, buff, a weapon master, and marshal-arts master the name butler I think that it is a funny little detail that seemed to catch my attention. I think over-all that Eoin Colfer did a great job writing the Artemis Fowls.

Al Capone Does My Shirts

2009-12-15T15:31:00.000-08:00

I am reading the book Al Capone Does My Shirts, by Gennifer Choldenko. This Book is about a 13 year old boy named Moose who has an older sister named Natalie. She is 16, but she acts like she is eight, so Moose has to take care of her.
On Alcatraz things are not going so well for Moose, will he ever make any friends? I like this book because not many books are about jail or a sister with a handicap problem, and the setting is fantastic to!
My favorite quote from the book is, "Yep, but not the same school, remember? Your going to this nice place called the Esther P. Marinoff." I like this because it gives so much information about where she will go now. Sometimes it's hard for me to understand books that take place in another time, however this book is in 1935, and I can understand it. So that was a bonus feature for me. I still have not gotten to the part where Al Capone is in the story. I hope the story continues to stay as interesting as it is right now.

Charlie Bone and The Time Twister

2009-12-14T18:22:00.000-08:00

I read Charlie Bone and The Time Twister. It was an amazing book that I really enjoyed. The book kept me on my tippy toes at every second. It was mainly about a boy named Charlie Bone who runs into lots of trouble.

I found this book, Charlie Bone and The Time Twister, very interesting. He's always in some sort of adventure throughout the whole story.This keeps you interested all the time. Every part of the book made me want to read more. Some times I would go to bed super late not know it was past 9:00. Even the chapter names would draw me into the story, some of them were: In To The Freezer, "You Can't Go Back", The Black glove, and "Take Him To The Dungeons". Those weren't the only things that kept me reading. There were much, much, more. I also really liked how the author described the settings in the story. This really helped me picture the time and place in the story.

This book, Charlie bone and The Time Twister, is very interesting in many ways, such as, in

the story Charlie has a gift. He can look at a picture and hear what the people are saying at that

moment in time. People like him are called endowed children. These children are descendants of

the Red King (A man that had many different powers and was a magician. He had 10

children who each had one of these talent. These talents were passed on through the years.)

I really love this astounding book. I love it so much I'd give it first prize out of all the books I've read.

The Lightning Thief

2009-12-14T17:37:00.000-08:00

Some time ago somebody, more like everybody, recommended this book to me I finished the last series of "Inkheart" so then I just picked it up and read a couple of pages and got totally sucked in to the story.

Rick Riordan is a total genius. I can not wait to read the rest of his series, then another of his. I am only on like the 40th page and I cannot stop there, no way.

The book the Lightning Thief is a mix of adventure and exiting demons and monsters waiting to suck up Percy in his adventure. Percy being a eager boy for a little excitement outside his life waiting for the right time to turn around his life from blowing buses up with a canon to being at his house for a change.

I hope as I read on something even more exciting will happen! (If even possible) Although those three old woman were creepy Percy made the right decision by running from his friend I would if they were coming after me.

Savvy

2009-12-12T11:30:00.000-08:00

I'm reading the book Savvy by Ingrid Law. I'm not so far into the book right now but it's still really good! Savvy is about a girl named Mississippi who is about to turn 13. There family is different than others. When a kid in their family turns thirteen they get their own savvy. A savvy is pretty much like a power, but I don't think they can ever loose it. When Mississippi turns thirteen she does not feel any change so she's worried she wont get a savvy. Her Papa is in the hospital and her mom and older brother, Rocket, are taking care of him. Mississippi has to have her thirteenth birthday with out her mom, dad, and Rocket. She is staying with her brother, Fish, and Samson, and her sister, Gypsy, and this friend of her moms, Miss Rosemary. She has one daughter named Bobbi and one boy named Will Junior.

Savvy is full of exciting things. It always surprises me. Savvy has brave, interesting, bratty, and loving characters, Mississippi, Rocket, Fish, Gypsy, Samson, Bobbi, Will Junior, and kids from Mississippi's Birthday party. My favorite character is probably Bobbi, Miss Rosemary's daughter, because she is kind of rude person and I like to watch how she interact with the other characters. I also like her because she is a nice and warm person in the inside, but on the outside she's a quiet, bratty girl. I also like Mississippi because she has a good sense of humour and is very brave. Mississippi does not really care what other people think of her and I like that.

I like the style Ingrid Law used. I thought she picked a strange subject but turned it into a FABULOUS story. I always wonder while I'm reading, why she named the characters such strange names like, Mississippi, Rocket, Fish, Bobbi as a girl, etc. I was also wondering how she came up with the setting and how she thought of a savvy. I thought that was cool.

As I said this book was really awkward and interesting, I thought It was very thoughtful, fun reading, and sad and happy at the same time. It was sad because the papa is in the hospital not able to wake up and how Mississippi is trying to help him. I was also happy reading Savvy because Mississippi was brave and how she and her friends cared about other people. This book is fantabulous. I highly recommends this book if some people are looking for a good book that is entertaining.

The Last Olympian

2009-12-10T18:47:00.000-08:00

I'm reading The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan, and it is the 5th and final book in the series. I think this one is very, very good.

The last 4 books, the Battle of the Labyrinth, the Titans Curse, which takes place on Mt Tam, the Sea of Monsters, and the first and my favorite that I've read so far, the Lightning Thief. These are all such great books except for this book just beats them out in fright, tension, and excitement. This book is the final book in percy Jackson's battle against the Titan Kronos, so, it gets a little more intense.

My feelings about this book are, wow, what a great idea. My feelings before these were, oh,
i'll just try this series. Man, I hope it's good. And it definaltley turned out to be great. Before my
when I was a little younger like 7 or 8 my dad would read the books to me and my brothers.
My brother, Aaron, usually suggests me books and this time no difference. He read them a long
time ago. So I tried them. Greek mytholigy really is interesting. But actully really surprisingly
creepy in my opinion. That is what makes them great. Creepy, but not too creepy like they give
one nightmares and it makes one not want to read them. It makes one WANT to read them and
take one onto the edge of their seat. It's really fun.

In these compelling books there's all this Greek mytholigy, Medusa, the Minatour, and snake women called draecene and much more mixed up monsters with different animal parts on them. There are many grudges in this book and rivalries which I find very interesting. And also rivalries as well.

These books might be my favorites ever because of the great content inside those great pages. Again, the Last Olympian is my favorite in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.

The Giver

2009-12-10T18:24:00.000-08:00

I just read The Giver. The Giver is about a boy, Jonas, who lives in a community with so many rules it is confusing. Such as; everybody has their birthday in December, someone who lives in community receives a general present that everyone in one's age group will get too. For instance, when someone turns eight the boys get a haircut and the girls get to take their hair ribbons out. Or when one turns nine each new nine year old gets a bike. He receives an assignment when Jonas is twelve, like everybody in the community. But Jonas doesn't get assigned, he gets selected. Until his mysterious surprise, he is clueless.

What I liked the most about The Giver is how Lois Lowry, the author,

made you figure things out when Jonas did, so it makes it feel sort of like a

mystery. In the community that Jonas lives in seems like it is in the future because nobody

knows what an animal is, their is no such thing as snow.

When I read The Giver I felt like I was in the story. I also feel sort of bad for the people

that live in this community because they don't actually get to experience life the way they

want to because they're held back by all the rules.

We have to read it next year for Sixth grade, but it is worth reading again so you can

squeeze out all the facts and important things someone could miss the first time they read this

wonderful book.

If you like to feel, smell and "see" what you are reading, I recommend that you read this

book, because you will enjoy it!

The Battle of the Labryinth

2009-12-10T16:50:00.000-08:00

The Battle of the Labrynth was about Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and Tyson going in to a labrynth that went around the whole world. They were trying to stop Cronose's army from invading there camp, Camp Half-Blood.

Cronos is an evil god, the titan god. Him and his army are trying to destroy all of western civilisation. Percy and his friends went into the labrynth to get the string so Cronose's army don't now how to navigate the labrynth. The string is a magic string that navigates the labrynth.

I really like this book because it is always very intense. It is like I read my half hour of reading I want to stop and do something eles, but I don't, sometimes I want to keep reading.

Al Capone Does My Shirts

2009-11-17T15:30:00.000-08:00

Al Capone Does My Shirts is about a boy named Moose. His family has to move to Alcatraz because his dad is the jail guard and the electrician. Moose and his 16 going on 7 year-old sister think it is going to be torture. When Moose and his new friends get in trouble with the warden, who made clear rules that they just broke, Moose almost gets kicked off the island.

I am really enjoying this book because I never really know what's going to happen next. It is a pretty thin book but it is very entertaining. Such as his sister, she is about sixteen but she acts like she is about eight. She has a button collection she is obsessed with. Whenever Moose takes one button she always knows which one he took. She also has mental brake downs. I say that because one time when she was playing with her buttons and Moose accidentally knocked them over she curled up into a ball for more then an hour and went into her own little world. So then their dad had to pick her up and carry her back to the apartment.

I would recommend this book to anyone. It is fabulous!

Dovey Coe, by Frances O'Roark Dowell

2009-11-15T08:23:00.001-08:00

Since we're reading Dovey Coe in class, I thought you might like some of these links:

Facts about Frances O'Roark Dowell - This is the author's website. It's kind of fun to see what she's about!

Voices from the Heart - This site includes a biographical sketch of author Frances O'Roark Dowell. Dowell discusses how she wrote the book.

Boone, North Carolina - Learn about Boone, North Carolina, the town Indian Creek is loosely based on. Includes a brief look at the history, climate, and population of Boone today.

2009-10-28T14:12:00.001-07:00

The Number Devil is about a kid named Robert, who has trouble with multiplication but is lucky to have a special, I guess, a gift.The gift isn't a toy or a pet,it is a little devil.The devil isn't isn't a bad guy,but he teaches Robert some multiplication like the rutabaga of 2 and he also teaches Robert about exponents.Some people would probably think that The Number Devil is a boring book, but it teaches people stuff they didn't know before in a totally new way.This book is from the author Hans Magnus Enzensberger and the illustrations are from Rotraut Susanne Berner.He might have wrote this book in a different language because it was translated by Michael Henry Heim.

Y2K-9

2009-10-28T11:46:00.000-07:00

Y2K-9, The Dog Who Saved the World is a book by Todd Strasser. Y2K was the start of the century 2000. Saying Y2K-9 out loud sounds like "Why to Canine." Pun intended, the message to Byte (the dog) was about Y2K. If you want to find out more, you gotta' read it.

Byte reminds me of my teenage cousin, but obviously, he is not a dog. They both go onto chat rooms. Oops! Gave some of the story away, but at least it's not important. They meet interesting people but they don't really know them, because they can't see them. In this story, Byte meets people who become his friends, without them realizing Byte is a dog. It's safe to say that my cousin doesn't meet many golden retrievers in a chat room.

The old lady in this story reminds me of Amanda Young in the book Honus and Me. Young doesn't do the same kind of stuff Foxybabe (the old lady) does, but they are both very old. They both get surprised as their stories develop. Byte also meets a teenager named Richgirl and a guy in his mid-twenties named Buffhunk, who help him on his adventure.

I hope some day I have a chance to solve a crime with a golden retriever!

The Paerfect Pair

2009-10-27T21:20:00.000-07:00

I read The Perfect Pair by Madonna. It was a great book,because it is about a girl named Nicole she gets paired up with a boy that is really good at soccer named Jammie but he is really bad at sience.Another boy named Jude who got in first place in the sience fair at the end of the book they dance together at the valintin's day dance.

But at the end of the book at the sience fair Nicole and Jammie won and they went to the dance, Nicole was wearing a yellow dress and Jammie was wering a blue suit. I think this was a really good book because it suprised me because at the end I thought that Nicole would dance with Jammie not Jude.

2009-10-27T20:33:00.000-07:00

I'm reading the 39Clues book 2 and I really understand the type of writing the author Gordan Korman uses in his books. My favorite character is either Nellie or Dan because Nellie is able to speak many different languages and Dan is similar to me because he is impatient and hates visiting museums.

I like the second book more than the first because it has more cliffhangers and Nellie is cooler in the second one because she drives more crazy and she actually knows about the 39Clues. Whenever I read this book I think of the TV show called Wipeout which is a game show where people go through obstacles and try to stay alive. I think they are similar because there both intense and interesting.

In the second book the Holt's (a competitor in the 39Clues) are trying to kill Amy and Dan which makes the book more exciting and I hope it is like that in the third book.

Ghost Of Fossil Glen

2009-10-27T19:07:00.000-07:00

I am reading The Ghost of Fossil Glen by Cynthia Defelice. It is about a girl named Allie who is some how being haunted by a Ghost. Allie is trying to figure out what is persuing her and why it is following her. Her friend Dub is helping her and is very interested in this situation.

I've got to admit I wouldn't have picked up this book if my sister did'nt recommend it to me but so far it turned out to be a great book. This book is creepy and it relates to real life sometimes. For example she keeps on hearing a voice that is giving her directions. She also goes to school and deals with some of the same stuff we do. On most of the pages she is angst and she would be nirvana to get that voice out of her head. I wish this book could just keep o going and going without an ending point.

I love this book and I am in nirvana to know that a sequal is after this book. I love how the author makes it seem so real. This is the best book I've ever read. Mostly I like this book because the story line is not confusing to me and you never know what is going to happen.I am excited to finish this fantastic book.

Because Of Winn-Dixie

2009-10-27T18:24:00.000-07:00

I read Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo, it's a great book and I really enjoyed it. This book is about a girl named Opel whose mom left her at an early age. Opel never knew her mom, and because of this I felt bad for her. One day she was at the grocery store where there was a dog running around like crazy. When the manager finally caught the dog, he said "WHOSE DOG IS THIS!" Opel said "He's mine." Even though this wasn't true, Opel didn't want the manager to hurt the dog. Those words changed her life.

I really thought this book was amazing. When I was reading I could never stop. As proof I read this book in five days, and I don't even love to read that much. Also, it would usually takes me a month or so to finish a book if it wasn't that interesting.

Along the way in the story Opel meets a man named Otis. I felt bad for Otis because he was thrown in jail. He was thrown in jail because he hit a police officer. Otis hit the police officer because they tried to put handcuffs on him. They tried handcuffing him because he wouldn't stop playing his guitar even though they told him to stop. The reason this makes me feel bad for Otis is because I think Otis should be able to play his guitar wherever he is.

The last thing I want to share about Because of Winn-Dixie is how much the main character, Opel, made me sad and happy. Opel had a hard time without her mother being with her, but Opel made a lot of friends once she meet the dog named Winn-Dixie.

Two Minute Drill

2009-10-27T18:19:00.000-07:00

Two Minute Drill is a book about a new kid in school and he has a secret talent at football, he can kick better than any one he knows. He has one friend in school and his friend doesn't tell that he can kick so well. When he joined the school football team the kids in school were shocked. Other than being a good kicker in foot ball he is smarter than ten people together. I have not yet finished the book but when I do I will blog soon.

Because of Winn-Dixie

2009-10-27T18:04:00.000-07:00

The book Because of Winn-Dixie is a great book to read at home or in class. The book takes place about a dog named Winn-Dixie and A boy that tries to find his mother. The boy and Winn-Dixie are really good friends. Winn-Dixie hats thunder storms so he get really crazy about them. Then there was a really big thunder storm Winn-Dixie got lost and ran away the boy searched and searched but nothing. So it can be sometime a mystery or not??

My opinion of the book is that it was a great book because it has mystery and a little bet of nonfiction. Another thing about this book is that it is a good level for plenty of people. I also recommend this book at the people that read my blogs.

A Smart Girl's Guide to Friendship Troubles

2009-10-27T17:30:00.000-07:00

I am reading this book called A Smart Girl's Guide to Friendship Troubles by Pattie Kelley Criswell and illustrated by Angela Martini. It is a picture book, but it is a informational book that is trying to teach the reader how to solve friendship troubles. This is not a chapter book, but it has sections like, all about friends, friendship hot spots, working it out, and more. I really like this book because it teaches me about friendship problems I have in a fun manner by having people write their stories and sending it to them. Then it says how to solve there issues. Another reason is that is has bright pictures, colorful text, and informational writing. It is a very good book and I think anyone should read it.

39 Clues Book 2/3

2009-10-27T17:12:00.000-07:00

I'm on my final pages of the book 2 of the 39 clues series by Gordon Korman. Also the setting takes place in Austria Germany. And they thought it was the most wonderful place they've ever seen,I've been to Austria and I didn't think it was that wonderful at all. It also took place in a lot of water places mostly like water parks.

They have been to the canals of germany and the way they got across the canals or travel down them,they would steel a boat. Thats the thing that I like is the humor heres some funny lines that were in the book "Maybe we should steel another boat," "And the father of the bride almost tumbled over board," well that one was kinda funny in a sad way "you mean stand on your head and spit nickels kinda crazy,?" and "let them eat cake" and Dan made a face "You can get famous for that" and thats All I read so far in the book.

--The End

--Cole Jordan--

Zoe Lama

2009-10-27T16:31:00.000-07:00

Zoe Lama is a hero to most people. The day she got famous for being "Zoe Lama" she made a bully cry and get all his bad feelings come out. It was amazing because she was like a theripist. I would pay for a friend like that. And Lama as in the Dali Lama. Now she has kids and teachers ask her questions and tell her things that she can help her with. Zoe ia a pretty strait forward girl and likes to do what ever she wants to. But she does not really get in trouble because she is such a helper to her teacher. So really her life is perfect, I think. But one problem, she does not have a dad. I think all girls deserve to have a dad. She did have one but he died. I think she likes this boy named Riley. Definitly not the one in our class. Zoe has invisible rules that she keeps in her mind. And one of them is "The possibilities for a diaster are endless with balloons." She has a phobia of balloons. I think that is tottaly weird for a person like her. Well sometimes the most perfect person, that you think is perfect always has something weird going on with them. Well I better be of to read now!

p.s. if your parents think that crap is a bad word than don't read this book.

Alcatraz versus the Evil ;Librarians

2009-10-27T15:54:00.000-07:00

THIS BOOK IS REALLY WEIRD the reason I have put this statement out to the world is that I truly do believe that this book is one of the weirdest ever written. The name of this book is Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians. Two more reason I made that strange statement is that if a character in a book is named after an inactive jail well that is a little weird in truth. The other is that they say that librarians are evil I mean it is the title of the book now that is weird for you! In this book a boy named Alcatraz Smedry an orphan passed from foster home to foster home, because of his unusual breaking habits (he broke a chicken once he was holding it during a school field trip and when he put it down it lost all its feathers.) he burns down a kitchen. Then gets some sand sent to him from his father he thought to be dead. and finally learn that the world is not as it seems. I think that this book should not be read by somebody with no imagination.

The Secret Order Of theThe Gumm Street Girls

2009-10-27T14:56:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading The Secret Order Of The Gumm Street Girls by Elise Primavera and I think it's a great book! It's about four girls, Cat, Pru,Franny and Ivy who go on an adventure. When a wicked witch, Cha Cha, tries to take a pair of ruby red slippers that don't belong to her, the four girls try to get them back before Cha Cha does something bad.

I think The Secret Order Of the Gumm Street Girls is a very good and detailed fantasy book. I really like that the author took the movie The Wizard Of Oz and incorporated it into the book. I think the author was very creative and she kept me at the edge of my seat making me want to read more and more. An example of that would be when you don't know if Cha Cha will get the other ruby red slipper with magical powers. I also really liked how this book is action packed. One of the reasons I really like this book is that there is something happening every second so I never get bored! I think this book is phenomenal, and so different from all the other fantasy books I have read.

I think the author added a moral to this book and that is don't hold grudges on people and give them another chance. This applies to the book because all of the four girls hated each other for something that they all did to each other in the past. They avoided each other until they all got thrown into this mission and they really got to know each other and at the end of the book they all became very close friends.

Witch's Business

2009-10-26T20:15:00.000-07:00

I just finished a book called Witch's Business by Diana Wynne Jones. This book wasn't one of my favorite book's but it was very exiting and mysterious. I started reading the book because my sister read this book in 5th grade and she said it was pretty good so that's why I read this book. I also picked it because Halloween is coming up and this book has witch's in it. The book's main characters are Jess and Frank they have the regular brother sister relationships where they get in fights some times,play pranks on each other,and scare each other. This book had some parts that were unpredictable and it had some pars that were very predictable. I like this author because she put's a lot of detail into her book's. Overall I think this book is interesting but I prefer a book that keep's me on the edge of my seat.

The Titan's Curse

2009-10-26T20:12:00.000-07:00

The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan is the third book in the Percy Jackson's Olympian series. Percy is on yet another quest to save two half-bloods when Grover sends him a message. He will fight monsters, titans, and go through hilarious adventures, which cause awkward and amusing chapter names.

One of the things I like about Rick Riordan's writing style, is that he puts humor such as funny chapter names that hook me: The Demon Pigeons Attack, I Vaporize my Pre-Algebra Teacher, and I put on a Few Extra Million Pounds. I love it when writers do that because it encourages me to continue reading. Last year I did not find books or authors I really loved. I was always starting but never finishing books. However, Rick Riordan is definitely my favorite author because of his special style.

This books is great for avid readers and especially for people that used to be like me, who weren't so keen on reading for pleasure. I can highly predict you that you will be absorbed in this series as soon as you give it a chance.

Dragon Rider

2009-10-26T20:06:00.000-07:00

I am reading Dragon Rider, by Cornelia Funke, and I love it! One of the reasons I love it is because after reading the great series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, this book is a great follow up, with another great story. This book is about how Firedrake and his brethren dragons are scared that they are out of hope when they think that the humans are coming to get their land. Firedrake is the only dragon brave enough to leave the others and go search for the long lost land that the dragons used to live in called The Rim Of Heaven.

I really like the characters in this book. They are all very different in physical characteristics and personality traits. Firedrake is a silver dragon. He is calm, kind, and curious. Sorrel is a brownie. A brownie is a cat/human/other strange thing. Twigleg is a homunculus. That is basically like a tiny person created to serve his or her master and maker. Ben is a human child, though he is on his own. So when he meets Firedrake and helps him get away from the humans, Firedrake decides he can come on their journey. One of the reasons I like these characters is because of the way they talk to each other and how each of their personalities stands out among the rest. Sorrel, for instance is very grumpy, especially when Firedrake decides to bring Ben on the trip with them. Although along the way Sorrel learns to like and respect Ben.

I really like this books genre. I like how it's a little adventure, and fantasy and mystery. It's adventure because, well the book's all about if Firedrake and his friends can complete their quest to save the dragons and bring them to The rim Of Heaven. It's fantasy, because there are mystical creatures like mountain dwarves, elves, dragons, brownies, homunculuses and much more. And it's a little mystery because on this quest they hear this legend about an old golden dragon that ate other dragons long ago. Mean while a spy, that is there whenever Firedrake has something important to discuss, is reporting back to this golden dragon about the newest things that are happening.

One thing I don't like about this book is that it has small pictures for every chapter title. However, pictures do not necessarily mean that this book is easy to read. I think it is a perfect level of reading. Although the pictures are good and give me a hint of what the author is saying, they kind of ruin my imaginary pictures in my head.

I think this book is a great action packed novel that sucks the reader into the book, never spitting them out until they're finished experiencing this great book!

The Tale of Despereaux

2009-10-26T17:15:00.000-07:00

I am reading The Tale of Despereaux, by Kate DiCamillo. Even though I have enjoyed reading this story, I have found the book very complicated. First it talks about one character and then another and then another so it has been hard to keep track of who is who.

Once I understood who each character was, I could focus more on the story. One scene that reminded me of a similar situation in my own life was when Despereaux gets caught by a cook with a knife and seems to have no chance of escaping. This reminds me of the time I got stuck in an elevator between two floors. When I was stuck in the elevator, I felt tiny, helpless and trapped which is exactly how Despereaux feels too. I thought it was interesting that a mouse and I could share the same feelings. I really understood what Despereaux must have felt like and it made him a very real character.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes action, adventure and even romance (don't freak out -- it's not too bad).

Eleven

2009-10-26T16:23:00.000-07:00

I am reading the book Eleven , by Lauren Myracle. I like this book because it feels so real, and I feel like this could happen to me in real life. The characters are only eleven when they act like they are 17. In Winnie's point of view the main character if one little thing goes wrong your life is ruined, and everything is stupid to Winnie and her friends. Winnie is an eleven year old girl in 5th grade and she has gotten the best birthday gift from her friend Amanda. But when Winnie and Amanda got to 6th grade Amanda may have grown out of her friendship with Winnie. This book goes by months instead of chapters and I like that so I know what time of year it is. Winnie and Amanda may be eleven, but they are sassy girls.

The Leanin' Dog

2009-10-26T07:37:00.000-07:00

I'm reading The Leanin' Dog by K.A.Nuzum. The book is about a girl named Dessa Dean she has a phobia of the outside because when she was young her mom died from frost bite and she's to scared to go outside. One day a scratching came at the door and Dessa Dean's life was changed for ever. When Dessa described the dog she said the dog is fudge colored mostly, but around her neck, like a mane, is a red ruff, but Ruff is not her name. I checked. I like this book because I like books that sound real and the book is really good so far. In the book the dog is a wild dog and the girl always was saying to her dad I want that dog to come back. I have not read that much so far but already I think this book is sad and at the end it's going to be sadder and better. I think this book is already sad because Dessa always talks about her mom and she thinks that her dad thinks she's loony. She always think her dad thinks about her like that. I wouldn't like it inside and she watches all the other kid playing. In the first chapter she tries to go outside but she's to scared to. I think animal lovers would like this book because it can be sad and happy and that's what I like in books.

Seer of Shadows

2009-10-26T07:26:00.000-07:00

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The Thief Lord

2009-10-25T17:02:00.000-07:00

The Thief Lord is a book by Cornelia Funke. This is a book about two kids in italy that ran away from home and now there parents tracking them. My thoughts on this book are wow this book was better than I thought it was going to be in the begining. I mean I thought it was going to be the whole kids go missing dective trys to find them big woop but this story has a whole other side to it. In some books I can preict what is going to happen next but in this book I have no clue and the only way to find out how is to keep reading.