Review: Notes from the Dog by Gary Paulsen

Notes from the Dog by Gary Paulsen.

Ember
Publication Date: January 2011
List Price: $6.99
ISBN-13: 9780375855429

Review: Many people are inspired by smaller stories written in a non-fiction form, I read this book and this story inspires me so much. Notes From the Dog is a book about a boy named Finn, his best friend (that is basically living with him), and his dog Dylan. One day Finn and Dylan got a new neighbor, and her name is Johanna she has breast cancer. Finn and Matthew were helping Johanna raise $10,000 in sponsorship money for a triathlon that Johanna was participating in. About midway through the story just a day before the triathlon Johanna gets sick and cannot attend the triathlon but instead Matthew and Finn attend it because they know that this triathlon meant a lot to her. The notes that the dog writes are actually written by Johanna and quite frankly the notes are very philosophical. At first Finn thought that Dylan was writing the notes but then realized that Johanna was writing them.

Overall the book is amazing, I recommend Notes From the Dog to anyone who loves heartwarming books and stories. This story made me actually think about my life decisions and helped me make better ones. It has a moral, which is to basically help everyone and treat everyone with respect whether or not you are friends with him or her. Even if you don't know them still show them, respect to show that you are a good person. Notes From the Dog is for people at about the age of 12-14 because this book has some strong language and the maturity of the issue and the way it was presented. This book has really touched me, and I know that this will really touch you. I highly recommend this book.

Review written by Aaron (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Ember Publishing for providing a copy of Notes from the Dog for this review.

Have you read Notes from the Dog? How would you rate it?

Review: The Galaxy Pirates: Hunt for the Pyxis by Zoe Ferraris

The Galaxy Pirates: Hunt for the Pyxis by Zoe Ferraris.

Crown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 2015
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780385392167

Review: BOOM! The argh is crashing! People shout all around the massive boat. This sets the stage for The Galaxy Pirates: Hunt for Pyxis written by Zoe Ferraris, a story about two kids (Emma and Herbie) who travel to outer space to find Emma's mom and dad. They then take a boat through a portal to a sea in outer space where they begin their quest to save the planets and her parents. Along the way they encounter a ship called the Argh and the people aboard it. Some of the people on the ship with them and go them on their adventure.

The way Zoe Ferraris imagines space and the planets in the book is cool and gives you a new perspective on constellations.The idea of pirates in space is really compelling and interesting. This book is recommended for ages 8 - 12 because of some bloody or graphic parts and some inappropriate words for younger readers. Galaxy Pirates is really good, and I enjoyed it. I recommend it to any kids within the ages recommended above. I am also glad that when I finished it it sounded like there is going to be another book.

Review written by Ethan (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Crown Books for Young Readers for providing a copy of The Galaxy Pirates: Hunt for the Pyxis for this review.

Have you read The Galaxy Pirates: Hunt for the Pyxis? How would you rate it?

Review: Whippoorwill by Joseph Monninger

Whippoorwill by Joseph Monninger.

HMH Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 2015
List Price: $17.99
ISBN-13: 9780544531239

Review: Claire hears the chinking of WallyÕs chain on the pole next door. ItÕs not even that she likes dogs; she just doesnÕt think anything should have to go through what he has. Eventually Claire convinces Danny, WallyÕs owner that Wally is a good dog deserves to be treated like it. Claire, and Danny develop feelings for each other, but what happens when DannyÕs abusive father gets tired of Wally? Read Whippoorwill by Joseph Monninger to find out.

Junior high, and high school kids will love Whippoorwill because of all of the crazy plot twists, and the plot and writing is done so well that even adults will love Whipporwill just as much as kids. Author Joseph Monninger really knows how to write from all different points of view, almost as if he was living the story. This book shows that a little kindness goes a long way. Whippoorwill has everything you might want in a book, an adorable dog, sad start, and just a hint of romance.

Review written by Emma (6th grade student).

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

Have you read Whippoorwill? How would you rate it?

Review: How to Swallow a Pig: Step-by-Step Advice from the Animal Kingdom by Steve Jenkins

How to Swallow a Pig: Step-by-Step Advice from the Animal Kingdom by Steve Jenkins.

Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication Date: September 2015
List Price: $17.99
ISBN-13: 9780544313651

Review: Have you ever wondered what it's like to be an animal? Have you ever wondered how they survive in the wild? Well, in How to Swallow a Pig: Step-by-Step Advice from the Animal Kingdom by Steve Jenkins is a perfect choice for curious elementary students who like animals. This book is filled with many interesting facts on a variety of animals. It explains how a python can swallow a pig, how to catch a meal like a crocodile, or even how to disguise yourself like an octopus. The vocabulary is not hard. A first and second grader might enjoy this book but it would have to be read to them and they might need to see the pictures to understand the concept of the book. The pictures are fun and interesting, so all readers are sure to be engaged. Adults could learn something from this book too. The vocabulary is appropriate for an upper-elementary reader.

I enjoyed this book; it was very interesting. At first when opened the book; I thought it was for little kids because of all the pictures, but then when I started reading it, I saw it was very informative. If you like animals and want to learn about them, How to Swallow a Pig, is for you.

Review written by Jenny (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of How to Swallow a Pig: Step-by-Step Advice from the Animal Kingdom for this review.

Have you read How to Swallow a Pig: Step-by-Step Advice from the Animal Kingdom? How would you rate it?

Review: Legends: The Best Players, Games, and Teams in Football by Howard Bryant

Legends: The Best Players, Games, and Teams in Football by Howard Bryant.

Philomel Books
Publication Date: September 2015
List Price: $17.99
ISBN-13: 9780399169045

Review: TOUCHDOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Legends: The Best Players, Games, and Teams in Football by Howard Bryant is about players in American Football becoming legends and playing in the Super Bowl, and how coaches become some of the most famous people in the world, and it's even about how they got the trophy named after them! Legends gives readers an inside look into the world of football.

Legends by Howard Bryant is a book that I enjoyed very much because I love Football. It probably is not the best choice for people who don't have a passion for the sport. The vocabulary in this book is average for a middle school student, which makes it perfect for that age group. Howard does an amazing job at making all of his chapters a cliffhanger by showing most of the teams scores and wanting you to read the next chapter wanting to know which teams will make the playoffs and the Super Bowl, which makes you want to read more and more, and then you realize that the book is over. Legends is a great book to reach those reluctant middle school readers.

Review written by Ansh (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Penguin Random House for providing a copy of Legends: The Best Players, Games, and Teams in Football for this review.

Have you read Legends: The Best Players, Games, and Teams in Football? How would you rate it?

Review: Nearly Found by Elle Cosimano

Nearly Found by Elle Cosimano. Sequel to Nearly Gone.

Kathy Dawson Books
Publication Date: June 2015
List Price: $17.99
ISBN-13: 9780803739277

Review: Being an engaging young adult 12 and up recommended book, Nearly Found by Elle Cosimano grabs your attention with its suspenseful mysteries that you won't stop reading until they are solved. Nearly Found by Elle Cosimano has appropriate and easily read vocabulary for the recommended audience. In Nearly Found by Elle Cosimano, Nearly Boswell starts to work as an intern at a forensics science or crime lab. On her first day, she finds out she's working on a girl from her neighborhood, Adrienne, who she has been helping to find with a good friend. Soon after that, she and her friends receive notes found mysteriously in their houses. They believe that their old classmate who has been just released from jail, is sending them. The body of a missing person then turns up, but with a message for Nearly scratched into the bones. Who could this corpse be? You will find Nearly Found by Elle Cosimano as an engaging and suspenseful mystery you can't stop reading!

I found Nearly Found by Elle Cosimano a great mystery that I read for hours each day trying to solve. I loved the plot twists and suspenseful events that caught me by surprise. The characters are also well developed, but you might want to read the first book in the series to better understand the primary characters. Nearly Found by Elle Cosimano was the best book I have read since Nearly Gone, the first book in the series!

Review written by Erika (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Penguin Young Readers Group for providing a copy of Nearly Found for this review.

Have you read Nearly Found? How would you rate it?

Review: The Story of Diva and Flea by Mo Willems

The Story of Diva and Flea by Mo Willems.

Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: October 2015
List Price: $14.99
ISBN-13: 9781484722848

Review: Two worlds collide in The Story of Diva and Flea written by Mo Willems and illustrated by Tony Diterlizzi. Diva is a little dog who is used to life in a home, and Flea, on the other hand, is used to life on the street. But one day they come together and find out that together they can have a lot of fun and they develop a friendship as they discover the world together.

The Story of Diva and Flea was written not only for enjoyment, but also to describe the friendship that can develop in spite of differences. This book is recommended for early readers 1st through 3rd graders.

Review written by Sabina (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Disney-Hyperion Books for providing a copy of The Story of Diva and Flea for this review.

Have you read The Story of Diva and Flea? How would you rate it?

Review: A Voice for Kanzas by Debra McArthur

A Voice for Kanzas by Debra McArthur.

Kane Miller
Publication Date: January 2012
List Price: $15.99
ISBN-13: 9781610670449

Review: Do you like a book that has a plot set in the past? Do you want to know what it's like to have to hide things from your family? Then A Voice For Kansas written by Debra McArthur is a perfect choice. A Voice For Kansas is about Lucy moving to Kansas in 1855 and finding Annie and Levi, a local Indian boy and a girl who helps runaway slaves. When she discovers the liberty line, a she also tries her best to help free the slaves. Meanwhile Kansas is having trouble with outsiders making it hard to become a free state. Will Kansas fall into the wrong hands? Will Lucy fail to help? Read this book to find out.

The characters wrap the book up with amazing plot twists. Some of the characters I loved and some I hated. The book is set for anyone 8 years old and up because of the vocabulary. The story is easy to read because the writing helps the plot create wonderful pictures in my mind. This book deserves five stars because I've never read anything like it.

Review written by Angelina (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Kane Miller Books for providing a copy of A Voice for Kanzas for this review.

Have you read A Voice for Kanzas? How would you rate it?

Review: The Lost Girl by R. L. Stein

The Lost Girl by R. L. Stein. A Fear Street Novel.

St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: September 2015
List Price: $17.99
ISBN-13: 9781250051639

Review: Do you like a good scary story? Do you like staying up all night? If you do, The Lost Girl: A Fear Street Novel by R. L. Stein is the book for you. The Lost Girl is about a boy named Michael who finds this mysterious girl named Lizzy. With his group of friends (Pepper, Gabe, Katherine, Diego) and Lizzy, he runs over and kills someone who is now killing them one by one...

The Lost Girl isn't for anyone under the age of 9 because the book has some disturbing content. This book would make a good ghost story, but not a read aloud since the book is long. The vocabulary is for advanced readers. The main character and the supplementary characters really tie the story together, and I was led to really like the character that turned out to be the killer. This story creates a lot of suspense and kept me scared for almost the whole book. There are no pictures in the book but the story is still clear. The Lost Girl has well developed ideas, like the main plot twist. The characters are different from many other books I've read because they are actually breaking the law. I've actually never read a scary book like this before, and I loved it!

Review written by Angelina (6th grade student).

We would like to thank St. Martin's Griffin for providing a copy of The Lost Girl for this review.

Have you read The Lost Girl? How would you rate it?

Review: Tom Gates: Everything's Amazing (Sort Of) by Liz Pichon

Tom Gates: Everything's Amazing (Sort Of) by Liz Pichon. A Tom Gates Book.

Candlewick Press
Publication Date: September 2015
List Price: $12.99
ISBN-13: 9780763674731

Review: Everything seems to be amazing for Tom Gates, but in Liz Pichon's Tom Gates series, Tom Gates: Everything's Amazing (Sort Of), Tom finds that everything might not really be quite so amazing. Tom Gates gets ready for his birthday and school disco and hopes that he can stop them from becoming a complete failure.

The intended audience for Tom Gates Everything's Amazing (Sort Of) is for kids ages 8-12, and the vocabulary is perfect for that age group. The protagonist is a middle school student and is a fun character that readers will enjoy, and the plot of Tom Gates Everything's Amazing (Sort Of) is not complex, which makes it a fun and easy read. The moral of Tom Gates Everything's Amazing (Sort Of) is that you shouldn't assume anything or you can make things worse for yourself. The illustrations in this book are humorous and add to the enjoyment of the book.

Review written by Connor (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Candlewick Press for providing a copy of Tom Gates: Everything's Amazing (Sort Of) for this review.

Have you read Tom Gates: Everything's Amazing (Sort Of)? How would you rate it?

Review: The Adventures of Beanboy by Lisa Harkrader

The Adventures of Beanboy by Lisa Harkrader. An Adventures of Beanboy Book.

Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication Date: February 2012
List Price: $12.99
ISBN-13: 9780547550787

Review: Weird, likable, and interesting. In Beanboy you will find 4 interesting characters: Two 7th graders named Tucker and Sam. Beech, Tucker's little brother and Tucker's mom. In Beanboy Tucker MacBean is going through some hard times. His mom is always at work, and he and his brother Beech are forced to do everything by themselves. Tucker is really into comics and there is this competition going on where you have to create a comic sidekick. The best one wins a big money prize. So Tucker tries to win because he wants to give the big money prize to his mom so she can be home.

In addition to having to fend for himself, Tucker is being bullied by a girl named Sam at school. Sam is actually in the same kind of situation that Tucker is in, she is going through a really rough time at home too. Sam's parents are dead and she lives with her uncle whose wife recently died. So Sam is trying to make money to support her family too. She ends up babysitting for Tucker's baby brother, Beech. Sam and Tucker wind up spending a lot of time together and they realize they have many things in common. They actually start to like each other and go to the school dance together.

This book is great for anyone 10 - 12, with crazy events, amazing twists, and cool action scenes this book is bound for preteens. The vocabulary in this book is not very tough unless you're under the intended age group. If you would like funny comics and are interested in superheroes this book is definitely for you because there is a lot of humor and action in this book revolving around super heroes. There are not very many Illustrations in this book either so if you like pictures this book is not for you. Lisa Harkrader did an amazing job on this book and all the events within it. I can't wait to read her next book.

Review written by Sammy (6th grade student).

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

Have you read The Adventures of Beanboy? How would you rate it?

Review: Both of Me by Jonathan Friesen

Both of Me by Jonathan Friesen.

Harper Collins Publishing
Publication Date: December 2014
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780310731887

Review: Imagine traveling across the world. You just got off the plane to explore a new country, and then you realize your journal has been switched. This is where you then suddenly find yourself stuck in Minneapolis, Minnesota at Phinn's Bed and Breakfast. The boy who switched the journals intrigues you; you end up staying in Minneapolis longer than intended. You start to wonder what will happen next in Minneapolis, and then find it will become a wild journey. In Both of Me by Jonathan Friesen, readers will be able to embark on that wild journey.

While in Minneapolis, Clara, meets Elias she has some fun with him, but then they meet ÒThe Other One.Ó Clara and Elias go throughout the U.S. to help ÒThe Other OneÓ find what he needs for the Queen of Salem. Salem is Elias's second world in a sense and the queen is Clara's deceased mother. Clara thinks that ÒThe Other OneÓ knows about what she has done in the past. So to figure out what she wants to know, her and Elias go through Wisconsin, Chicago, Ohio, and New York. While traveling they experience some wild things that don't happen to regular teenager. Along the way she finds that she starts to get feelings for someone. She vows never to do that while traveling around the world. The ending of the book is shocking and unexpected, definitely worth reading.

This book is intended for ages 12+, because it deals with a lot of issues. The main characters in the book are Clara, and Elias. Together they and the others at the inn explore Salem, Elias's alternate world, and everybody is trying to figure out how Salem works and how long everyone can keep Elias in Salem. The main conflict in the story relates to ÒThe Other One,Ó as she calls Elias's second personality, and what he really knows about her. Although some parts are slower, it is overall a good book.

Review written by Mekenna (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Harper Collins for providing a copy of Both of Me for this review.

Have you read Both of Me? How would you rate it?