Book Review: Benched by Rich Wallace

Benched
by Rich Wallace
Kickers

Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-375-85756-7
ISBN-13: 978-0-375-85756-0
Publication Date: October, 2010
List Price: $12.99

Review: Whoosh! That is the sound of a soccer ball hitting the net in the book Benched, an amazing book. Benched is part of the Kickers series which is written by Rich Wallace, and Ben is the main character. Ben, a nine year old boy who plays soccer and is very energetic, plays soccer for a team is called the Bobcats. Therefore, this book would be a great choice for any soccer player.

Soccer is more than a sport it is a lesson where you and Ben learn many life skills. For instance, Ben learns many things out on the soccer field. One, thing he learns is how to handle being bullied and what to do. Ben, also learns that there are consequences for bullying the other team back. Some consequences are good and some are bad, but they all have an outcome on the story.

Benched is a considerably remarkable book. The way the author Rick Wallace makes you feel the character's emotions. For example, in the book Ben gets really upset because he is getting fouled and the referee isn't calling the fouls. The reason I picked up this book and read it because I am also a soccer player and have hardships and wanted to hear what other soccer players go through. Also, I have a connection with Ben. My connection is that Ben keeps getting fouled and the referee isn't calling it. That same thing happened to me. The only exception is that he didn't get physically hurt like I did. I got fouled and got hurt and the referee didn't even call it! So you can feel the tension and heat between the two teams. Anyone who loves soccer would love Benched.

Review written by Caitlin (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Benched for this review.

Have you read Benched? How would you rate it?

Book Review: The Reinvention of Bessica Lefter by Kristen Tracy

The Reinvention of Bessica Lefter
by Kristen Tracy
Non-series

Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0385736886
ISBN-13: 978-0-385-73688-6
Publication Date: January, 2011
List Price: $15.99

Review: I would like a Pixie haircut please! is something that Bessica Lefter never thought would change her entire life for the worst. In The Reinvention of Bessia Lefterit tells about a girl named Bessica Lefter and how her life is flipped upside down from just one trip to the mall. The author (Kristen Tracy) really showed how this girl faced middle school by herself, with no best friend to keep by her side.

When Bessica calls her best friend, Sylvie Potaski to go shopping for new school clothes, somehow her whole life gets as bad as it could ever get. They want to go from elementary school to middle school as completely new people. To do so they decide to get all new clothes, get all new haircuts, and go to a different school than their elementary classmates. When Sylvie walks into her house with her extremely short haircut, her mother goes crazy. She even goes to Bessica's house to forbid the two girls from ever seeing each other again. Therefore, Sylvie has to go to a different school than Bessica. This makes Bessica go crazy as well. But not only does Bessica have to face middle school by herself, but her grandmother (the only one who seemingly understands her) is going on a trip with her crazy boyfriend she met online, for six whole months! She has already planned to try out for many things and join many clubs, so even though she's alone she still does everything as planned, in hopes of making new friends. But in the end when she almost tries out for cheerleading, something else much unexpected happens, and she tries out for mascot! In the end she ends up fighting for the spot against a popular cheerleader, and a puker! Will she work as hard as she can for the coveted spot of mascot? At this point, Bessica doesn't even know if she will!

There were things that made me like the story at some points, but at other times, I didn't seem to enjoy it as much. For example, at times the author would go into extreme detail, and then go completely off the topic as described. But then I usually liked how the author made it seem like Bessica was actually telling the story, she did this by saying and doing things that adults usually wouldn't do. For example, I don't imagine adults calling their friends stupid very often, or going to the mall to buy new school clothes. I feel this way because she said things that I don't imagine adults saying to their friends. I also didn't like how she overused some terms that sixth graders would use. One term that the author overused was "not so hot". Sometimes it wouldn't even make sense with what the author was saying or explaining. This story did not win any awards but I indeed think that in some point in time, it will since it is a recently published book.

Review written by Bianca (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of The Reinvention of Bessica Lefter for this review.

Have you read The Reinvention of Bessica Lefter? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Montooth and the Canfield Witch by Robert Jay

Montooth and the Canfield Witch
by Robert Jay
Carty Andersson

Cloverleaf Publishing
ISBN-10: 0-615-29645-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-615-29645-6
Publication Date: August, 2009
List Price: $27.99

Review: Legend has it that the Canfield family is really a family of witches. They've been around for years, but still remain a secret. Now there's only one Canfield left, Sally. So what happens when an average eighth grader meets Sally Canfield? The magnificent story is told by Carty Andersson, a brave young eighth-grader who has just that opportunity. Carty's magnificent adventure comes to life in Montooth and the Canfield Witch, written by Robert Jay. Montooth and the Canfield Witch is the first book of the Carty Andersson series.

Carty Andersson is a typical eighth-grader who lives in Florida. She loves visiting the swamp near her Aunt Lilly's house. One day Carty is on her way back from her aunt's house when she runs into a huge alligator in the swamp. While she is hiding from the alligator she spots the Canfield's house, and is curious because the Canfield's are supposedly witches. She also spots two men spying on Sally Canfield, the last member of the Canfield family. A while after the encounter, Carty must again travel into the swamp to look for plant species for her science project. While she is searching with her friends she spots a rare plant that they need for the project on Canfield property. So, Carty has to take on the difficult task of asking Sally Canfield if they can have a sample of the plant. When Carty goes to ask Sally, Sally invites her and her friends into the house. While there, Sally reads them an old fable about a large alligator named Montooth. Soon Carty begins to like Sally and becomes very worried for her. She has discovered that the two men who she saw in the swamp were treasure hunters plotting to steal something from Sally. Carty has to make a difficult decision. Should she risk her life and try to help Sally? Or should Carty keep herself safe and let the men hurt Sally?

Montooth and the Canfield Witch is a delightful story that combines fable and fact. I love the way the author made Carty a strong and determined girl. The author's descriptions of the swamp were also amazing. They made you feel as if you were right in the swamp with Carty. The other thing I liked was that the author used both fable and fact in the story. He used the fable or legend of Montooth, and he used the fact about the Salem witch trials. I thought the Salem witch trials added an interesting touch to the story. I enjoyed the fact that the story takes place a long time ago, during a period without modern technology. The plot of the story was very suspenseful and made you want to keep reading. The location was also very interesting, because the story takes place in a Florida swamp. I thought it was interesting that Sally's house is some what near Carty's aunt's house. Usually you would think that witches would live very far away from everyone. You would also not think that a witch would invite someone into their house. But I liked the fact that Sally was not necessarily a wicked witch, just a different person from everyone else. Montooth and the Canfield Witch is a great read for anyone interested in witch stories or fables.

Review written by Savannah (6th grade student).

We would like to thank MM Book Publicity for providing a copy of Montooth and the Canfield Witch for this review.

Have you read Montooth and the Canfield Witch? How would you rate it?

Book Review: My Name is Not Angelica by Scott O'Dell

My Name is Not Angelica
by Scott O'Dell
Non-series

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN-10: 0-395-51061-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-395-51061-2
Publication Date: January, 2011
List Price: $18.00

Review: Do you like stories about the trials and tribulations of African slaves? If you do, than the story My Name is Not Angelica is the book for you. Written by Scott O' Dell, this story is a wonderful one in which Raisha, called Angelica by the Danish people, is brought over to the Danish Virgin islands. I've jumped ahead of myself. Let me tell the story from the beginning.

16-year-old Raisha lives in a tribe with her native people in Africa. The whole tribe is invited to a king's banquet, so they immediately accept the offer. During the night, when the tribe is sleeping, Raisha, Konje, to whom Raisha is betrothed, and Dondo are taken by slavers and transported to the Danish Virgin islands. The small island is having a drought and the slaves are working extra hard. Slaves are encouraged to stay with their masters and they will be tortured if they disobey. Escaped slaves have been gathering in local encampments and talk to each other in the same way that they would communicate in Africa, by talking drums. Konje escapes and soon becomes the head of a camp. After Dondo is caught trying to free a slave, he is tortured and Raisha heads to the local camp that Konje leads. Many slaves gather there and are planning to defend themselves when they receive news that French soldiers from nearby Martinique are coming. They face almost certain death when they are outnumbered by the French soldiers. Everybody jumps over the cliffs so they can't be punished for what they did, that is, everybody except Raisha, who tries to save the life of her unborn child.

I found My Name is Not Angelica very interesting. At first it was a bit difficult to keep the numerous characters straight, but it got easier as the story progressed. The story flew by at the beginning and it didn't concentrate on the details as much as I would've liked. However, I felt as though I was right there with Raisha going through the difficult situations she faced. Believe me, there were many decisions that she had to make and she knew that each one would change her life forever. It would be a pretty hard decision to make. I highly recommend this book especially for kids looking for a quick but interesting read. It is a fairly easy read, probably targeted for a middle school audience. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

Review written by Colleen (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of My Name is Not Angelica for this review.

Have you read My Name is Not Angelica? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Snakes and Other Reptiles by Mary Pope Osborne

Snakes and Other Reptiles
by Mary Pope Osborne
Magic Tree House Research Guide

Random House Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-375-86011-8
ISBN-13: 978-0-375-86011-9
Publication Date: January, 2011
List Price: $4.99

Review: Snakes, lizards and more reptiles! Snakes and Other Reptiles is written by Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce. Snakes and other Reptiles is part of the Magic Tree House series, but it is a research guide. It is the 21st research guide in the series. It is for any age since Snakes and Other Reptiles is a nonfiction book so people can read it for fun or to study and get a little knowledge on reptiles.

Snakes and Other Reptiles focuses on snakes, lizards, crocodilians, turtles, and tortoises. It also, includes a section about the future of reptiles. Some of the most interesting snakes can "fly", spit, and strike fast over a foot. Also, readers will learn how some cultures honor snakes. For example, ancient Egyptian and the Hindu cultures respect snakes. Snakes and Other Reptiles also, includes information about predators of snakes, lizard and turtles. Readers will also learn about many different types of lizard. The biggest lizard is the Komodo dragon, and the smallest lizard is the jaragua lizard. Snakes and Other Reptiles includes sections about crocodiles, turtles and tortoises, too. It is simply filled with exciting facts about snakes and other reptiles.

I liked Snakes and Other Reptiles very much since I learned a lot from it. I learned about snakes and lizards that I had never even heard about. The pictures are also really engaging. Plus on the side or bottom of the pages, the two characters from the Magic Tree House series, Jack and Annie interject some humorous facts. Finally, the facts are organized neatly so that it can be used as a good reference book as well as an interest book f pleasure. Snakes and Other Reptiles will teach readers all about snakes, lizards, crocodilians, turtles, and tortoises. I enjoyed it very much.

Review written by Vraj (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Snakes and Other Reptiles for this review.

Have you read Snakes and Other Reptiles? How would you rate it?

Book Review: A Crazy Day With Cobras by Mary Pope Osborne

A Crazy Day With Cobras
by Mary Pope Osborne
Magic Tree House

Random House Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-375-86823-2
ISBN-13: 978-0-375-86823-9
Publication Date: January, 2011
List Price: $12.99

Review: King Cobras! A Crazy Day with Cobras is written by Mary Pope Osborne and it is the 45th book in the Magic Tree House series. Also, it is mostly fiction with small passages filled with facts. Annie and Jack travel back in time 400 years to India. The Magic Tree House Books are mainly for children ages 12 and under. As they travel back in time to India, Annie and Jack are heading for a lot of trouble and scary situations.

Suddenly, after school Teddy and Kathleen came to tell Jack and Annie that something is wrong. Annie and Jack are brother and sister who found a Magic Tree House in the woods and constantly something goes wrong and they go on a mission to help their magical friends. Two of the magical friends are Teddy and Kathleen. They live in Camelot and Merlin is the leader of Camelot. His favorite orphan penguin, Penny, has been turned into stone by Teddy and they have to save the penguin by collecting four objects. Teddy and Kathleen uncovered the first one which is an emerald shaped in a rose. Jack and Annie travel to Agra, India where the Great Mongol, Shah Johan, ruled. They pretend to be ambassadors from Frog Creek. They find the Emerald stone but, Annie's love of animals causes Jack and Annie to stay longer and head for more trouble.

I liked A Crazy Day with Cobras very much. It contains facts with some fun and adventurous fiction. Some of the characters actions are funny. In fact, they sounded so calm in scary situations. Also, the illustrations are excellent. You can really see what the characters are doing. You can also see the situations and what the characters are seeing. A Crazy Day with The Cobras was really awesome and I liked ending. Also, the author didn't make the beginning slow so you wouldn't be bored for a long time before Jack and Annie would get mixed up in dangerous. All the 45 Magic Tree House books are good. This book was one of the best Magic Tree House books I have read.

Review written by Vraj (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of A Crazy Day With Cobras for this review.

Have you read A Crazy Day With Cobras? How would you rate it?

Book Review: A Young Wizard's Handbook: How to Trap a Zombie, Track a Vampire, and Other Hands-on Activities for Monster Hunters by A. R. Rotruck

A Young Wizard's Handbook: How to Trap a Zombie, Track a Vampire, and Other Hands-on Activities for Monster Hunters
by A. R. Rotruck
Non-series

Wizards of the Coast Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-7869-5548-1
ISBN-13: 978-0-7869-5548-0
Publication Date: September, 2010
List Price: $12.95

Review: Have you ever wondered how to trap a zombie, or kill a medusa? If so, then you should read How to Trap a Zombie, Track a Vampire and Other Hands-On Activities for Monster Hunters by A.R Rotruck. As soon as you start flipping the very first pages in the book, you will immediately be pulled into the story.

Throughout this book, there is a wide variety of mythical creatures and the information you could ever want to know about them. One of the creatures in the book is the goblin. In the brief paragraphs about goblins, it reads "sometimes known as the mosquitoes of the monster world." On every page (including the goblin page), there is a fun activity you make and play, use, trap, etc. I liked this book mostly because of the fun activities tucked deep inside the book.

Not only does this book explains about a specific creature, but it also explains how to trap, kill, and banish a creature. Do you have an unfriendly ghost in your house? Or maybe you are curious as to how to track a vampire? Look deep inside this book and follow the directions EXACTLY to how they are written. You might even get lucky enough to catch a werewolf. This book is suitable to any person who can handle unusual creatures. I suggest this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy books involving the mythical creatures that live within feet of you. Also, to any child who has a mind that wanders. How to Trap a Zombie, Track a Vampire and Other Hands-On Activities for Monster Hunters taught me multiple useful and handy tips about the mythical creatures of the world and I think it will teach you too.

Review written by Krystyna (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Raab Associates for providing a copy of A Young Wizard's Handbook: How to Trap a Zombie, Track a Vampire, and Other Hands-on Activities for Monster Hunters for this review.

Have you read A Young Wizard's Handbook: How to Trap a Zombie, Track a Vampire, and Other Hands-on Activities for Monster Hunters? How would you rate it?

Book Review: The Coming of the Dragon by Rebecca Barnhouse

The Coming of the Dragon
by Rebecca Barnhouse
Non-series

Random House Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-375-86193-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-375-86193-2
Publication Date: October, 2010
List Price: $16.99

Review: Dragon! The Coming of the Dragon is written by Rebecca Barnhouse and it is not part of a series. The main character is Rune. The Coming of the Dragon is encouraged by the epic tale of Beowulf, and it takes place in the Kingdom of Geat which is the place in the epic poem of Beowulf. The Coming of the Dragon contains old English names and it is intended for readers' aged 14 years and younger.

Rune is a child who is thought to have a curse that will bring trouble to the kingdom of Geat. A stranger has awakened a dragon in the mountain and the villagers blame Rune for the bad luck. They thought Rune is an offering to the god when he was a baby found in a basket in the ocean. To them, it is wrong to save an offering. Amma, a foreseeing woman, somehow knew Rune is not an offering. The kingdom's people did not agree but, King Beowulf agreed to keep him. Now since the dragon has come, someone has to stop it. This dragon cannot be defeated by Beowulf alone. Who will the successor be if King Beowulf dies?

I thought The Coming of the Dragon was an okay book. I liked title of the book. It really suited the book. I first thought there would be only action and a little suspense. There is also romance in it. So if people like a little romance The Coming of the Dragon could appeal them. There if there were pictures in the book, I could visually see the characters. There was not very good description of characters and dragon. The descriptions of the characters were okay but, they were not described overly well, but they were not described horribly. In the end, I kind of liked The Coming of the Dragon.

Review written by Vraj (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of The Coming of the Dragon for this review.

Have you read The Coming of the Dragon? How would you rate it?

Book Review: The Princess of Las Pulgas by C. Lee McKenzie

The Princess of Las Pulgas
by C. Lee McKenzie
Non-series

WestSide Books
ISBN-10: 1-934813-44-3
ISBN-13: 978-1-934813-44-7
Publication Date: December, 2010
List Price: $16.95

Review: "I should have stayed home sick." Don't you always feel this way when you don't want to go to school? This is what Carlie Edmund and her brother Keith Edmund feel after the death of their father in The Princess of Las Pulgas by C. Lee McKenzie. Carlie has grown up in the town of Channing. From time to time, their school's track team plays against Las Pulgas' team. The people from Channing have never liked Las Pulgas. Their track team isn't even as good as Channing's team. Carlie has bonds with people in Channing, and Keith is on their track team. When they find out that the death of their father results in a move to Las Pulgas, they aren't happy.

Carlie and Keith have just lost their father from cancer. When their mom finds out that she can't pay for their house anymore, everyone is appalled. She finds an apartment, but it ends up being in Las Pulgas. Carlie and Keith are super angry with their mom, but that doesn't change anything. Finally the big day comes and the apartment is . . . a drab. The place is filled with cobwebs and is trashed with dust bunnies. It doesn't get much better when the find out that when their neighbor is not smoking, she is swearing at her husband. Carlie feels that with every day in Las Pulgas, she is drifting more and more away from her best friend, Lena. To top it all of, she doesn't favor being the new girl. Everyone is always staring at her.

I love The Princess of Las Pulgas. It explains the feeling you get when you hear someone's voice when they aren't actually there. This adds a sense of suspense. You know that Carlie is trying to talk to her dead father, but while this is all happening, what will happen next? I didn't have to wait long to find out. I like how this book kept moving and did not drag along. Also, when C. Lee McKenzie wants to show a time lapse in the story, she summarizes it, as if Carlie was speaking. It doesn't take up unnecessary space in the book. The best thing about this book is probably how fast I got hooked on. Just by reading the short first chapters made me wonder what is going on. It made me want to read more, and eventually finish the book. If you like realistic-fiction books and reading about someone's troubles and how they are fixed, you will love this book. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. I suggest you read this book.

Review written by Sahaj (6th grade student).

We would like to thank JKSCommunications for providing a copy of The Princess of Las Pulgas for this review.

Have you read The Princess of Las Pulgas? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Rome Antics by David Macaulay

Rome Antics
by David Macaulay
Non-series

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN-10: 0-618-38007-8
ISBN-13: 978-0-618-38007-7
Publication Date: January, 2011
List Price: $9.99

Review: When in Rome, fly the scenic route. Rome Antics by David Macaulay is about a carrier pigeon who decides to stop and enjoy the view in Rome. Little does he know that things have changed in Rome, Italy. Rome Antics is a historical fiction picture book that is fun and educational for all ages!!! The main and only character in Rome Antics is a pigeon.

Set in present day, a carrier pigeon is delivering a message while he decides to go the long way and see the beautiful city of Rome. This pigeon sees many sights like the Coliseum and the Pantheon. But the poor pigeon doesn't know Rome, Italy has changed from old times. He runs into many hardships like dogs and cats trying to eat him. Also, children playing soccer hit him with soccer balls. Many clothes lines also get in his way of seeing where the pigeon is going, and cars are a big trouble. This pigeon is wishing he never took this route until he sees the beautiful country land and delivers the message.

Rome Antics is a great historical picture book. I loved the beautiful drawings of the architecture of Rome. It was like I was flying above Rome with the pigeon. I also like the end of the book. I would give this book 5 stars for wonderful pictures and funny quotes. This book is great for all ages. I loved how after the story there is a map and a few pages of the history of the places the carrier pigeon went. This story was educational and fun!!!

Review written by Kyle (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Rome Antics for this review.

Have you read Rome Antics? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Lives of the Presidents: Fame, Shame (and What the Neighbors Thought) by Kathleen Krull

Lives of the Presidents: Fame, Shame (and What the Neighbors Thought)
by Kathleen Krull
Lives of . . .

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN-10: 0-547-49809-8
ISBN-13: 978-0-547-49809-6
Publication Date: January, 2011
List Price: $21.00

Review: Historical, interesting, and downright funny are some of the many different words that describe Lives of the PresidentsFame, Shame, (And What the Neighbors Thought) . This updated book by Kathleen Krull and Kathryn Hewitt makes you laugh when you hear what some of our presidents have done. Are you curious to find the odd things about each president? Then you have read the right review. Find out some of the most interesting historical facts to ever be published.

Our book starts with George Washington. I am not referring to it as a story because the book is made of a collection of small biographies of each president. The book goes in order of when the president took office. From the first president to the 44th president all are included. In each biography, you get some basic information. It includes schooling, family, historical accomplishments, and fun facts. Sometimes they include favorite sports, foods, bad habits, and renovations to the White House. Which president was the first to install electric lights? Who tailored his own suites? Which president is considered our worst president? These questions and many, many more are answered in this collection of biographies.

I absolutely love this book! I found it very interesting. There are so many things that I never knew about that happened in the White House. All sorts of unknown things about their childhood are brought to your attention. Abraham Lincoln walked six miles to borrow a grammar book when he was young. Lots of interesting things like that are in Lives of the Presidents. You never know what is coming next in the book. Of course, there are some known facts and accomplishments. George Washington being a general in the Revolutionary War is an example. We all know that but the authors elaborate on details of the event. The book is all about the unknown details of our presidents' lives. I could not keep myself from laughing at some of the things our presidents did. Such as barking like a dog. Lives of the Presidents also made me realize how much I do not know about history. It made me want to learn more about things I have not experienced and have not learned. If only the rating scale went to six stars!

Review written by Kathryn (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Lives of the Presidents: Fame, Shame (and What the Neighbors Thought) for this review.

Have you read Lives of the Presidents: Fame, Shame (and What the Neighbors Thought)? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Jake by Audrey Couloumbis

Jake
by Audrey Couloumbis
Non-series

A Random House Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-375-85630-7
ISBN-13: 978-0-375-85630-3
Publication Date: September, 2010
List Price: $15.99

Review: MOM! said Jake as his mom fell. Jakes life will never be the same in this book titled Jake. It is the only book in its series. It is written by Audrey Couloumbis. This book is exiting, heartbreaking and caring. The main character is Jake who is 10 years old.

One day Jake and his mom are walking out of the grocery store, and when they get to the car, Jake's mom slips on ice and blacks out. She is taken to the hospital by ambulance where she finds out that she has a broken leg. Jake finds a person who will take care of him while his mom is in the hospital, but he is mad that she might miss Christmas. His Granddad comes to help and gets Jakes mom a better doctor. But even so, she still is in the hospital and not in good shape. Will Jakes life ever be normal again?

The ending is very good and has a special pizzazz. It doesn't make that much sense, but you get a good feeling about it. The farther you get into the book, the better it gets, and eventually you start to fall in love with it, and you want to read it over and over again. That's why I read it faster then you can say Jake. It's hard for Jake because his mother is hurt and he wants to help as much as he can, but there is not much he can do but hope. Jake is phenomenal and has great meaning to it. If you ever see this book in the bookstore or anywhere else, then definitely take a chance with it.

Review written by Carson (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Jake for this review.

Have you read Jake? How would you rate it?

Book Review: A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park

A Long Walk to Water
by Linda Sue Park
Non-series

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN-10: 0-547-25127-0
ISBN-13: 978-0-547-25127-1
Publication Date: November, 2010
List Price: $16.00

Review: Imagine being in the middle of a shoot out and being separated from your family. You would probably dread it. Salva could not dread, it was pure reality. Oh how I could just feel the pain and sorrow of Salva. A Long Walk to Water is about how Salva gets separated from his beloved family by countries away. This tragedy is because the Muslims want the people from Sudan to become Muslim. So Salva is on a quest to freedom. Will he survive or not?

Salva has to cross unbearable deserts just to get food and water. However, he does have one companion, his uncle. Though he and his uncle were not the only ones struck by the war. Hundreds were affected. Salva felt as if all of the people were coming to join his "group". Now with all the strangers surrounding Salva and his uncle it makes life much harder. Triple the amount of food but wait no water. Crossing lion-infested desserts with no water what so ever was going to be impossible. A couple months later the huge group made it to a refuge camp, but on the way a soldier kills Salva's uncle. Alone, after some years at the camp Salva is forced to leave and go to Kenya. His journey now starts with being in another refugee camp and ends with living in a cozy home in New York.

A Long Walk to Water is fantastic but also sorrowful. After reading this book I rate it a four stars out of five. It was extremely suspenseful, like when Salva was getting out of the shootout I thought he was going to get hurt. That just kept me reading. However when the refugee camp got repeated the book got less interesting. In the end, I recommend this book for eight and up because of the killing (it might be inappropriate). I have never read a more interesting book ever!

Review written by Zain (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of A Long Walk to Water for this review.

Have you read A Long Walk to Water? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Black Radishes by Susan Lynn Meyer

Black Radishes
by Susan Lynn Meyer
Non-series

A Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-385-73881-1
ISBN-13: 978-0-385-73881-1
Publication Date: November, 2010
List Price: $16.99

Review: The Eiffel Tower looked ugly, thinks Gustave as France is gray. Gustave lives in the times of World War II with the Germans breathing down his neck. Gustave is just an ordinary eleven year old kid with one quality that worries him and his family, he is Jewish. As he goes to boy scouts with his friends Marcel and Jean-Paul. The three face tough times being Jewish considering the fact that it is not safe to live in France. As Gustave goes back home, he overhears that he and his family may be moving to Saint-Georges. Gustave is furious at his parents that he needs to move. So begins Black Radishes written by Susan Lynn Meyer.

When Gustave moves into the new town, he walks through the city streets with his monkey in his hand. Gustave comes to the realization that his friends are all gone. As he continues walking towards the bakery, he sees a boy. This excites him until that same kid shoves him into the fountain. With this, the largest rivalry Gustave has ever known begins. Gustave goes to school with the same kid, which gets Gustave furious. Gustave must continuously work to keep his identity hidden. Is it even possible? Will Gustave learn to adapt to his new surroundings? Will Gustave ever catch up with his old friends?

Black Radishes touched my heart, and I really couldn't put the book down. Susan Lynn Meyer is a fascinating author. Black Radishes deserves five out of five stars because the story line is astounding and depicts the life of a child who faces the struggles of his parents, schoolmates, and the German soldiers during one of the most horrific wars in history. Many books have been written about the German persecution of the Jewish people, but Black Radishes stands proudly as one worthy of being read.

Review written by Max (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Black Radishes for this review.

Have you read Black Radishes? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton

Tyger Tyger
by Kersten Hamilton
Goblin Wars

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN-10: 0-547-33008-1
ISBN-13: 978-0-547-33008-2
Publication Date: November, 2010
List Price: $17.00

Review: Until HE arrives Tea has had a great life. She is focused on getting into a good college and has great grades, but in Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton Teagan 'Tea' Wylltson loses her perfect life. This fantasy book is going to have a sequel.

Tea went from an easy job at the zoo to running to another world. She started off with a perfect life in a suburb and ended with a not-so-perfect one, being chased by goblins and other creatures she didn't even know existed. All of this happened because Finn Mac Cumhaill arrived. Because of Tea's love for Finn, her attempts to reach her goals are weakened. But Finn, unknowingly, brings something else with him, a goblin. Finn destroys the creature and then whisks Tea and her little brother, Aiden, away to his grandmother. Finn's grandmother tells them to go to the Goblin world, and they do. The problem is that goblins keep chasing and attacking the children. Will they survive? Will they even make it out of the goblin's world? You have to read to find out.

In Tyger Tyger I enjoyed the mixture of modern life and fantasy. The abrupt ending of the book, however was disappointing. But, at least this will be fixed when the next book in the series is released. The characters are mostly likeable and are developed and easy to understand. They have a real-life problem and the characters change and develop throughout the story. The dialogue of the story is usually easy to understand, except some of the words are an Irish dialect. If you completely disapprove of swear words, then you should be careful reading the book, because there are a few swears in the book. The main story is big and poses a big problem, with small solutions leading up to another situation. As I said before, there is an abrupt end, but there is another book coming out. The book is fast-paced and there is always something happening that you can chew on and think about. The rating of this book from me would be a 9/10, because the book is fantastic, but it's not my favorite.

Review written by Sean (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Tyger Tyger for this review.

Have you read Tyger Tyger? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Zia by Scott O'Dell

Zia
by Scott O'Dell
Island of the Blue Dolphin Sequel

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN-10: 0-547-40633-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-547-40633-6
Publication Date: January, 2011
List Price: $6.99

Review: Zia, is the heartwarming and heartbreaking sequel to the Island of the Blue Dolphins. Written by Scott O' Dell, it answers the biggest question from the first book, "What happens to Karana?" The main character, Zia, wants to find her long lost Aunt Karana. Zia's tribe consults with her about leaving Karana behind at the Island of the Blue Dolphins, but she wants to find her and bring Karana home to the Mission Santa Barbara. The Mission is Zia's new home. This is a spectacular story about making dreams come true.

People don't need words to communicate, just ask Zia and Karana. They communicate through hands and motions after Karana is brought to the mission. Before Zia lived at the mission, she lived in peace with her tribe. Then Zia's tribe was asked by two padres, to go to the mission to work and live there. Zia, likes the mission because the people there feed and clothe her. One of the fathers at the mission, Father Vincente goes to find Karana, and brings her home to the mission. This part of the book kept me on my toes the whole time wondering whether he would be able to find her and bring her home.

Zia is a fantastic book. The author Scott O'Dell really sets the scene with the people's feelings. For instance, he makes the reader feel the misery or the joy people are feeling. The misery is mostly at the mission. For instance, it is miserable to have to work with no pay. This book is not only heartwarming but also heartbreaking at times. I rate Zia five stars. I hope this book will be part of a long series of books. Zia taught me a huge lesson, to never stop trying until you have succeeded at your goal. That can be applied to my life because I always feel like I want to give up but Zia taught me not to. Zia is the best in the series so far!

Review written by Caitlin (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Zia for this review.

Have you read Zia? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Condoleezza Rice: A Memoir of My Extraordinary, Ordinary Family and Me by Condoleezza Rice

Condoleezza Rice: A Memoir of My Extraordinary, Ordinary Family and Me
by Condoleezza Rice
Non-series

A Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0-385-73879-X
ISBN-13: 978-0-385-73879-8
Publication Date: October, 2010
List Price: $16.99

Review: A Southerner girl who was brought up right and went against the odds to fulfill her dream is what describes Condoleezza Rice: A Memoir of My Extraordinary, Ordinary Family and Me. It is two hundred and ninety three pages, which are the actual story pages, and there are twenty-six more pages on the glossary and chronology of events. Plus, towards the middle of the book there are photographs of Condoleezza and her family, some dating back to slavery in the south, and others going to as recent as 1992. Condoleezza has pictures of different artifacts that are mentioned in her book, and gives many detailed facts about each picture.

Condoleezza Rice: A Memoir of My Extraordinary, Ordinary Family and Me is basically all about the "extraordinary, ordinary family" and Ms. Rice. It begins with the story of Condoleezza's ancestors who were slaves in the south, going as far back to her paternal great-grandfather and great-grandmother, her great-grandmother being a favored household slave who learned to read and write. It then chronicles her parent's lives and eventually her growing up in the horrors of segregation, instead of bringing her down, this fires her up, and she tries as hard as she can to make people feel equal, or at least make people of her own race feel better about themselves. This is what has kept Condoleezza going for her whole career. It's what got her into the piano, ice-skating, going to college at the age of sixteen, attending the University of Denver, then going on as a provost at Stanford University after going to the University of Notre Dame for graduate school. Ms. Rice kept going even farther to achieve, which got her to one of her biggest successes, becoming the Secretary of State. Condoleezza Rice: A Memoir of My Extraordinary, Ordinary Family and Me is an inspiring account of the ups and downs in the life of Condoleezza Rice.

Ms. Rice did a wonderful job on telling her readers all about her family and her life. As I read the book, I too felt as if I were a member of the Rice family, because she shared with me every single detail of her whole life. It was as if she had started writing the book when she was two years old, and continued up until 2010! I found myself crying when Ms. Rice's father and mother passed away, and at the reasons why they had had such a hard life. By the sacrifices they made for their one and only daughter, whether it be through money problems, or family problems, or any problems at all, Mr. and Mrs. Rice would do whatever it took to make their daughter have the best future any African-American could have before and after segregation. Condoleezza was such a good author in this book; I can't wait to read another book by her! An inspiring detail that I thought was positively genius to put inside the book was the naming process of Condoleezza. Mrs. Rice didn't want her daughter to have a name that any other child could possess, she wanted it to be special. Mrs. Rice could tell her daughter was special from the moment she was born, which is why she picked the name "Condoleezza", meaning "with sweetness". One time when Condoleezza graduated high school, the school spelled her name wrong, so Mrs. Rice sent the certificate straight back so they would spell Condoleezza with two z's and not one. I found all of Ms. Rice's family tales and adventures very amusing and informing. I feel like I have one more family, or at least I know everything there is to know about this family. Nobody can quite make you be in his or her family, but they can make you feel like you're just like family. That is exactly what I felt this book made me feel like throughout every chapter, every page, and every word.

Review written by Amber (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Condoleezza Rice: A Memoir of My Extraordinary, Ordinary Family and Me for this review.

Have you read Condoleezza Rice: A Memoir of My Extraordinary, Ordinary Family and Me? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Scared to Death by Norah McClintock

Scared to Death
by Norah McClintock
Chloe & Levesque Mystery

Kane Miller
ISBN-10: 1-61067-004-3
ISBN-13: 978-1-61067-004-3
Publication Date: March, 2011
List Price: $5.99

Review: I opened the front door on the third ring of the doorbell and found Tessa Nixon standing on my front porch, biting her lower lip and clutching a thick binder and two textbooks to her chest as if they were armor.That is how Tessa appeared at Chloe's house two days before she is found dead in the lake in the novel by Norah McCintock, Scared to Death, which is the third book in the Chloe and Levesque series. Chloe is curious as to how she died and why Tessa appears at her house searching for Chloe's dad, Levesque, looking Scared to Death.

Scared to Death is a book about a girl named Chloe who tries to solve the mysterious death of a girl who goes to her school called Tessa Nixon. Though her stepdad Levesque won't tell her anything she is determined to find Tessa's murderer, especially when her friend Ross is involved. Besides the fact that her schoolmate is murdered Chloe has other issues with her friend Ross getting into trouble and there is something wrong with the people she babysits for. Can Chloe figure it out on her own?

I think this book is an amazing story with interesting characters and ominous tension rising throughout the book. Chloe is a smart character who is open to new ideas which, is one of my favorite things about her. She is also the one telling the story. What I don't like is Chloe is impatient and she likes to complain, but that is mostly shown in her thoughts and not her conversations. Levesque is a quiet and grumpy character who is a serious policeman. Ross, who is Chloe's friend and Jake are both suspects in the book. They both liked Tessa and have bad alibis, which make them prime suspects. Also they are both very hard for me to like because they are both one sided and do not listen to anybody. The author has a wonderful use of dialogue, and the conversations reveal a lot about the characters. The best thing about this novel is the plot which is well thought out and has a high level of suspense. The ending wraps up the book completely making it a good stand alone novel in the series. You get hooked right when you learn Tessa's death is not an accident which is only right after the first chapter. I think this book is set at a medium pace until the ending where the action rises. The paranoia looming over Chloe about someone watching her keeps the excitement up throughout the book. I suggest this book for middle school kids and anyone looking for a good mystery. I rate this book a 9/10 because it has an exciting plot but is not the greatest book I have ever read. But, if you read this book the suspense will leave you "Scared to Death".

Review written by Shannon (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Kane Miller for providing a copy of Scared to Death for this review.

Have you read Scared to Death? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science by Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos

Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science
by Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos
Non-series

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN-10: 0-618-57492-1
ISBN-13: 978-0-618-57492-6
Publication Date: October, 2010
List Price: $20.00

Review: Sugar really did change the world! Sugar Changed the World is a non fiction novel written by Marc Aaronson and Marina Budhos. It is a true saga about how sugar affected the economy of various countries all over the world. Marc Aaronson and Marina Budhos are on a little quest to find out the "nature" of sugar. These two daredevils travel all over the world to find out the history and uses of sugar. You won't believe how many uses sugar has. It is truly amazing.

You might just think of sugar as a sweetener, correct? However, sugar in the past and present has served many purposes. To my surprise I learned from my readings that sugar is used commonly in religious ceremonies. Also, I learned that thousands of people lost their lives just to gain power to grow sugar in countries like India. It is funny to say that such a sweet thing was not sweet after all. On the other hand, one good aspect was slaves got their freedom just because of the sugar boom. I thought that was amazing because one plant saved hundreds of people. Astonishingly this helped the economy and bettered many people's lives. Another interesting fact was that that a majority of the world's sugar comes from India. I was surprised because the first sugar cane plant grew in New Guinea. The Indians did not just plant the most sugar they kind of helped lead up to the word candy. Basically, kahanda in an ancient Indian language meant "piece of sugar". Then, it got passed through Persian then Arabic and finally, stopped in Europe and became candy. In addition, Indians used sugar as an antidote. I think this is funny because when you think sugar what pops up in your mind is unhealthy! Ironically, if you think about it we cant live with out sugar it falls in almost everything people nowadays consume.

Sugar Changed the World is the most interesting non-fiction book I have ever read. Over all, I rate this books a four star (out of five stars). I rate it a four star because I learned much about the aspects of sugar as well as the interesting history behind it. However, I wasn't truly addicted to the book because it was not a thriller but more like a textbook. I recommend it for ages 11 and up because the vocabulary might be a little challenging and at times grueling to read. In the end, if you finish the book you will find interest in not just the sweet characteristic of sugar but its many purposeful uses around the world.

Review written by Zain (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science for this review.

Have you read Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science? How would you rate it?

Book Review: Nikki and Deja: The Newsy News Newsletter by Karen English

Nikki and Deja: The Newsy News Newsletter
by Karen English
Nikki & Deja

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN-10: 0-547-40626-6
ISBN-13: 978-0-547-40626-8
Publication Date: January, 2011
List Price: $4.99

Review: 'The Fulton Street Newsy News Newsletter is Born (Officially)' Nikki & Deja: The Newsy News Newsletteris written by Karen English and illustrated by Laura Freeman. The main characters in the book are Nikki and Deja. The Newsy News Newsletter is the third book in the Nikki & Deja series.

On Fulton Street, there is always something happening. Darnell, a fifth grade boy who lives on Fulton Street, shows Evan, another boy who lives on Fulton Street, how to do a skateboard trick. But, Evan breaks his arm. Nikki and Deja take note of this event. Then, Nikki thinks that it would be a good idea to make a newsletter for Fulton Street. She thinks that it would help her skills to become a reporter later in life, but mostly because there is so much news to tell. Nikki and Deja decide how to make it, how much they are going to charge and when they will sell the newsletter. Nikki spends the rest of the day trying to find news. She walks around and writes news down in her notebook, including overhearing other discussions and seeing things happen. The girls put the news on the computer and then print it all out. When they start selling it, everyone is buying it. But then Deja's aunt reads it and gets very upset. She tells them that they are putting wrong information in the Newsy News Newsletter. She makes them write one last issue that provides the right information for the ones they messed up. They still also have to give a face to face apology to the stores that they criticize.

I like the book because it is very easy to understand. This is good, knowing that it was probably written for kids eight (8) and under. Girls will most likely enjoy this more than boys. I think that Nikki & Deja: The Newsy News Newsletterhas an abrupt ending. I would have liked to have a strong closing. The book does not have enough action for me, and I think that this book could have a more regular chapter length. In other words, some chapters could have been combined. I recommend this for kids age 8 and under and would rate it a 3 to 4 out of 5 for this younger age group.

Review written by Michael (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of Nikki and Deja: The Newsy News Newsletter for this review.

Have you read Nikki and Deja: The Newsy News Newsletter? How would you rate it?