Blog Archives

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

3/31/2017

I read the fictional book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling. It is about a boy “Harry” who is learning to live with the fact that only one can live while the other survives. The main character Harry is not living with his aunt and uncle but he is now a wanted man and is on the run.The main plot is that Voldemort has only one chance to kill Harry and Harry only one chance at Voldemort. My opinion of this book is that it is a wonderful book filled with action and the plot makes me want to gobble it up. But I would strongly recommend that one read the first 6 books first.-Haile

The book/movie Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows written by J.K. Rowling is a fiction book about a boy and two of his friends who are on a quest to find and destroy horcruxes and battle the most dangerous wizard in the whole world. The main character, Harry Potter, is a seventeen year old boy who lived after a dangerous wizard (Voldemort) killed his parents and tried to kill him, but his mom's protection was too powerful. The main problem in this story is that Harry has to kill Voldemort and in order to do that, he has to find and destroy all of the horcruxes. Harry and his friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, go through a lot of dangerous journeys in order to find all of them. This story had a lot of action because it showed a lot of fighting and killing at the end. It also shows snakes and scary animals in this book/movie. This story made me feel lucky that I did not have to go through all of this, but I also felt sad that the characters had to go suffer fighting when they are only seventeen. -Jennifer

The School For Good and Evil

3/27/2017

The title of the book is The School For Good and Evil. This is a fiction book by Soman Chainani. The main characters are Sophie and Agatha of Woods Beyond. They are two girls who live in Gavaldon that have an ordinary life. Or so they think. They end up in a fairy tale that has a ton of unexpected twists and turns and they always have a new problem on their backs. I absolutely loved this book and would most definitely recommend it to a friend. It is a good book but it does have a small amount of gore so if you are scared of gorey stuff then I suggest otherwise. Overall this is the best book I have ever read! -Mikayla

Paul Revere’s Ride

3/27/2017

Paul Revere’s Ride is a poetry book by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow about how Paul Revere went to towns warning people about the British. The main character is Paul Revere. He is a Patriot and a writer. He is famous for his ride to warn the people in Concord and Lexington that the British were coming. I enjoyed this book because it gave good detail and it made me want to learn more information. It was very interesting how the man in the church told Paul how the British were coming with lanterns. -Owen L.

Half a Chance

3/27/2017

The realistic fiction novel Half a Chance by Cynthia Lord is about a girl who enters a photograph scavenger hunt contest while she goes through the bumps of friendship and love for animals in her intriguing quest to search. The main character is Lucy, she is a shy and intelligent girl who cares for the connection of her family and friends. Lucy gets her skills at photography from her famous photographer dad. She always wants to please and impress her parents, since they never have much time together as a family. Her heart is also very caring to her friendships, because they never to last long. Her family has to move all the time, either for work, pleasure, family matters, and more! The main problem is Lucy’s friend, Nate’s grandmother. Grandma Lilah. Grandma Lilah is experiencing the serious effects of dementia. She is losing her memory very fast, and will someday even forget Nate. One of Grandma Lilah’s treasures are the beloved loons (a type of bird) that live on the lake in front of her summer house. Lucy wants to win the contest to buy Grandma Lilah a motorized raft, so she could go out and see the loons, since she is too old to kayak across the lake. The real problems are the amount of money, and if Lucy will win the contest, and Megan. Megan is Nate’s other best friend, but Megan wants to be the one and only. Throughout the book Megan is very mean and cruel to Lucy, but in the end… you know what, just read the book. My opinion is that this is one of the most detailed books I have ever read! It has to be, since the photographs have to be the best, detailed to description. The way the storyline was set up, kept me reading till the very end! The one thing I could have changed was how much action there was to the story, there wasn’t much. Don’t get me wrong, I like a nice action-packed tale, with humor, romance, and all the other components of emotion. But the chapters in this book were full to the top with emotion and feelings, no balance of action that I like. So if you’re not like me, and just love a cuddly, sweet book that has all the feeling, tenderness, and affection rolling through the pages, then I suggest you go for it! -Serena

Katie’s Trunk

3/27/2017

Katie’s Trunk by Ann Turner is frightening realistic fiction book. While the Rev. War is happening, Celia is wondering if her family will be okay during a Rebel raid. Ceilia is young, brave, and determined girl who will do anything for her family to live. The problem is that the Rebels are raiding Ceilia’s home. This story made me always want to keep reading because I was always worried about Celia. This story had a ton of action, it did because I was always scared that the soldiers would find Celia. The plot was unexpected because it was a big game of hiding seek. This story made me feel happy that I do not have people raiding my home daily. -Jared

Flush

3/27/2017

This book is called Flush by Carl Hiaasen, and its genre is fiction. This book is a fast paced Florida adventure with the characters such as Shelly, Noah, Abbey, Mom, Dad, and Jasper.Jr. The problem is that Noah's dad is sure that the owner of the Coral Queen casino boat is flushing raw sewage into the harbor – which has made taking a dip at the local beach like swimming in a toilet. He can't prove it though, and so he decides that sinking the boat will make an effective statement. IN my opinion this is a good book that indicates that if their is a problem be a good person and fix it. The narrator, Shelly, takes an interesting Journey to a wondrous place when anything could happen. Shelly ( The main character) is trying to find a way to stop this incident as soon as possible. -Peter

Where Was Patrick Henry On the 29th of May?

3/27/2017

Where Was Patrick Henry On the 29th of May? by Jean Fritz is an amazing nonfiction story. This story is about Patrick Henry and how is life developed. The main character of course is Patrick Henry and he was a unique character in the world he lived in. The main problem is that Patrick can’t find a job that he likes. I thought it was very amazing that Patrick Henry was an ordinary boy, but he help start the United States of America by being a lawyer. The story had a lot of suspense. It did because you never knew what would end up being his job! The setting was pretty cool because it helped me learn about Virginia back then. The story made me feel lucky that I’m smart and have school to learn. -Jared

Neptune Project

3/27/2017

The science fiction novel Neptune Project by Polly Holyoke is about a teen who soon finds out she is half-fish, as she sets out to live her new life at sea, she meets up with a group of teens just like her, and they explore the ocean waters up close, both the beauty and the danger. The main character is Nere, before she was born, her genes were altered to survive in the ocean, along with many others. These new adaptations allowed her to see in the dark and deep waters of the sea, heal quicker than on land, breathe underwater using her gill filaments, and speak telepathically (since you can’t really talk underwater). Nere is a very caring and loving to all of her beloved. She has proved that, even if there is a deep wound, Nere can always find a way to forgive. When Nere first rose to be the leader, she was nervous and unsure, but later, Nere became confident and secured through the help of her friends. The main problem is the risky and treacherous journey to the safe haven that Nere’s father has prepared for a new underwater colony. Along the way are the ever constant sharks that come darting to the smell of blood, as well as all the other deep sea predators, such as the giant squid, with its razor sharp beak and lashing tentacles, with a thousand suckers on each one, each sucker sharp like a knife. There is also the ever-present worry that they might get captured by the Marine Guards, then sent to a work camp, or a lab, or even a prison ship! The most devastating fact, is that everyone on land wants to take them captive, for the offer of a large amount of money. My opinion is that this is one of the best science fiction books I have ever read! For one, I love the romance! It’s not too deep, but enough to keep you going. There is also the action that I love, when they fight the sharks, explore the caves, and have hand-hand combat lessons. I also love how every single page keeps your eyes stuck to the words. When I read just a few chapters in, I couldn’t stop! It was so good. No matter what you’re looking for, romance, action, science, sadness, joy, this book has got it all! Although I do recommend, that if you want to stop reading when you are into this book, don’t even try to stop at the end of a chapter, each one is like a cliffhanger! -Serena

Redcoats and Petticoats

3/27/2017

In the fiction book Redcoats and Petticoats by Katherine Kirkpatrick, a kid named Thomas gets his dad kidnapped by the British. So Thomas’s mom, who is is a spy, tells Thomas to look for a whale boat. The problem is Thomas can’t find a whaleboat without the British taking him prisoner and giving up all his fish. Something that made the story change was in the plot. Thomas’s father was kidnapped for being a spy for the Americans. The setting was interesting by how they had to move from Connecticut to other places throughout Connecticut. -Carson

Redcoats and Petticoats is a historical fiction book by Katherine Kirkpatrick about a boy who’s father got captured by the British and his mom and him need to get him back. The main character in this book is Thomas, a teenage boy who is brave because he was not scared when sailing to see the British. The problem is Thomas’s father got captured by the British and they have to get him back. I liked this book because it had a twist at the end and you never knew what was going to happen next. -Shayan

Redcoats and Petticoats by Katherine Kirkpatrick is a jovial, mysterious revolution story that's historical fiction. Redcoats and Petticoats is about a child named Thomas who doesn’t know that he is spying in the Revolution at Conscience Bay! The problem is that his dad has been captured by the Redcoats. The story held my interest a ton because I kept wanting to know if Father would come back and I wanted too keep reading and reading. This story had a ton of action. It did because he was constantly meeting up with redcoat soldiers. The plot was unexpected a lot for me. I thought father was going to die, but he didn’t so that was surprising especially when on your on a ship in the middle of the ocean. Redcoats and Petticoats was a great book that made me happy to live in the 21st century! -Jared

Green Eggs and Ham

3/27/2017

Dr. Seuss made this awesome fantasy book called Green Eggs and Ham about this guy named Sam I Am. Sam I Am is trying to get this other guy to eat green eggs and ham. The main character is Sam I Am. The main problem is getting the other guy to eat the green eggs and ham. The story had lots of humor. The way Sam I Am kept trying to get other guy to eat the green eggs and ham. The setting was a normal place except without the uncolored trees and things like that. -Regan

The book Green Eggs and Ham is by Doctor Suess is fiction. The book is about Sam, who wants to make someone eat green eggs and ham. Sam I Am is the main character. The problem is the grouch won't try green eggs and ham. The story made me want to keep reading because of all the tongue twisters. The setting was very interesting because one second they are in a box than another they are on a train. -Keely

Mrs. Laney is Zany

3/21/2017

Mrs. Laney is Zany is a Realistic Fiction book by Dan Gutman. AJ is a boy in 3rd grade who hates school, working, and a girl named Andrea. He has funny hair. The book is about AJ’s school shutting down. The problem is, the school is shutting down and teachers are getting fired. They are trying to learn, but furniture keeps leaving. AJ and his friend were happy at first, but they realized they would just go to another school, so they started to care. But, Mrs. Laney, the speech teacher, decides to start a play. But, something happened that changes the whole story. In my opinion, the book was great! It had a lot of twists, like when the furniture was taken away, and when a lot of important teachers were fired. This story held my attention, because I wanted to know if they would get the school back. -Brandon K

Mr. Nick is a Lunatic

3/21/2017

Mr. Nick is a Lunatic by Dan Gutman is a fiction book narrated by a boy named AJ. Ella Mentry School teachers are going on strike! AJ, his friends, and Andrea are all scared. Will things ever be the same? AJ is a curly haired 3rd grader, that loves football, and hates school, and love. The problem is that all of the Ella Mentry School teachers all on strike over coffee! They get replacement teachers, but they are weirder than the old ones. Maybe a little too weird. Will anything ever be the same? In my opinion, it was a great book. It made me want to keep reading because I wanted to see if they would get their old teachers back. Also, it was unexpected when they went on strike, just because their coffee machine broke! -Brandon K

Big Nate: In a Class by Himself

3/21/2017

Big Nate: In a Class by Himself by Lincoln Peirce is a Realistic Fiction book. It is about a boy named Nate, who gets a fortune that says “Today you will surpass all others.” And that’s where things start getting bad. Nate is a not smart person in 6th grade who has spiky hair, and two best friends, Francis and Teddy. The problem is that Nate gets a fortune that says “Today you will surpass all others.” He tries too hard to make that fortune come true, and next thing you know he is getting in trouble. In my opinion, the book was awesome. It was very unexpected when Nate ate all of those green beans! I just wanted to see what else he would do, so I kept reading. -Brandon K

Alien in My Pocket

3/21/2017

Alien in My Pocket is by Nathan Ball is a fiction book. The main characters are Zack and Amp. Zack is a kid who is getting bad grades on his test. Amp is a blue alien who came from a different galaxy. The main problem is that an alien invasion is going to happen soon. Zack has to get Amp on his plant before the invasion. I like this book because the invasion is actually going to happen in 100,000 days and it was very funny considering the fact of all the craziness to get Amp to his planet before the invasion. -Brandon C

Mrs. Dole Is Out of Control

3/21/2017

Mrs. Dole Is Out of Control by Dan Gutman is a Realistic Fiction book about a AJ and his friends graduating from 2nd to 3rd grade. Mrs. Dole, Ryan’s mother, is the planner. Ryan is one of AJ’s friends. But, Mrs. Dole is crazy! AJ is the narrator. He has curly, brown hair, hates school, and loves summer. The problem is, AJ has to miss summer to go to a graduation that has gone way too far. But, it all falls down in pieces when something bad happens. In my opinion the book was good. I didn’t expect that there would be a petting zoo! Also, AJ was really funny when he was talking to Emily. -Brandon K

Mr. Granite Is From Another Planet

3/21/2017

Mr. Granite Is From Another Planet by Dan Gutman is a Realistic Fiction book about a boy named AJ and his friends. Andrea starts to think that their new teacher is an alien! Why would she think that? AJ is a 3rd grader from Ella Mentry School, who hates school. He also hates Andrea. The problem is, Mr. Granite is an alien! But, all he needs to do is get home on a spaceship powered by potatoes. How hard could that possibly be? This book was awesome. I liked the twist where they found out that he was an alien. I literally didn’t put it down until I was done. -Brandon K

A Place for Zero

3/21/2017

A Place for Zero is by Angeline Lopresti is a fiction book. The main character is Zero. He is sad because he thinks he is not important in Digitaria a city of numbers 1-9. The main problem is that zero is sad because he thinks he isn’t important. I like this book because I like the plot twist about how zero is important to make different numbers and I wanted to find out if he helped and proved that he was important. -Brandon C.

The Santa Trap

3/21/2017

The Santa Trap is by Jonathan Emmett is a fiction book. The main character is Bradly and he is very bad and rude. The main problem is that he is going to capture Santa and demand Santa to give whatever him he wants. I like this book because it is funny and I like after all that Santa still gives him something. -Brandon C.

No Talking

3/21/2017

The book No Talking is a realistic fiction book by Andrew Clements. It is about a boy named Dave Packer and how he and a girl called Lynsey created this “ Game” when you cannot talk for no more that 3 words. This game was inspired by a person called Mahatma Gandhi. He practically pushed the whole British army out of India by himself. But he didn’t use weapons or violence. He fought with words and Ideas. So Dave wanted to do that. The main problem is that it is hard to not talk at school, or at home. So everyone needs to think of an idea to not talk. I think that the story made me feel excited and wanted me to keep reading it because the plot at the end is very unexpecting. Also the story used a lot of words that made me imagine what it will be like if I was in the story. -Emily

A Wonderlandiful World: Ever After High

3/21/2017

The fiction story A Wonderlandiful World: Ever After High written by Shannon Hale is a wonderful novel of the famous teenage Wonderland characters that are trying to save their school from the sinister Jabberwocky. The main characters are Maddeline Hatter (Maddie), Mad Hatter’s daughter. She is Raven Queen, the Evil Queen’s daughter’s, best friend. Maddie is very bubbly, always happy, and she loves tea. She can hear the Narrator, and has occasional chats with her throughout the book. Lizzie Hearts, the Queen of Hearts daughter. Lizzie has a reputation of a strict, loud, and opposing character, but inside all she wants is to fit in. Lizzie owns a magical wonderland garden, and loves hedgehogs. Then last of all, Cedar Wood, Pinocchio's daughter. Cedar can only tell the truth no matter what, she is very earnest and curious. Cedar loves to paint and make beautiful artwork. The main problem is that the Jabberwocky is trying to take over Ever After High, since it escaped from mirror prison. The three friends have to join together to achieve the Wonderland sword, the only weapon that can kill a Jabberwocky, and slay the monster. My opinion is that this book is a fantastic blend of magic and wonder. I love the setting, which is a high school that teaches the sons and daughters of fairytale characters to embrace and follow their parents footsteps. I also loved the change that happened in the characters. Lizzie changes from a ensure princess to a confident queen! Cedar also found new friends, while expressing herself beyond her words. This novel is a marvelous twist of fantasy and love for your friends! -Serena

The Unfairest of Them All: Ever After High

3/21/2017

The fiction book The Unfairest of Them All: Ever After High by Shannon Hale is the story of two teenage girls that are trying to save their friend from getting banished. The main characters are Raven Queen, the Evil Queen’s daughter. Raven is very sweet and determined, but everybody is scared of her because of her mom. She does not believe in her school's purpose (To teach the students to follow their parents footsteps). Raven thinks that we should have the choice whether or not we want to follow your parents footsteps or to create your own, to have freedom. Raven loves to sing, and is the leader of the Rebels (want to break free from story). Then there is Apple White, daughter of Snow White. Apple is always flattered by boys, and is always there to help. Apple is the leader of the Royals ( want to continue their story). Apple believes in destiny, she wants to follow her story no matter which way it turns. Apple is the school’s co-president along with Madeline (Maddie) Hatter, Apple loves apples, and all the good animals love her. The main problem is that Maddie was accidentally blamed for the escaped Jabberwocky, a wonderland monster. Now Raven and Apple have to save her from getting banished to Neverland. By doing this, they have to confront the Evil Queen (Raven’s mother), then they will have to solve many riddles to do a spell that will reveal the truth about what happened. My opinion is that this is a terrific spellbinding tale that makes me think throughout the riddles and laugh at the jokes. I love how the plot suddenly changes, with the Evil Queen betraying her own daughter, Apple changing her mind, and Maddie with her ever-present smile popping back again. This story made me feel great when I read it, since it had many of the humorous chats that Maddie has with the Narrator, I always finish laughing! I also love how I can participate a little with the magical riddles, silently cheering the answers on! -Serena

The Wide-Awake Princess

3/21/2017

The fiction tale The Wide-Awake Princess by E.D. Baker is a story of Princess Gwendolyn, the destined Sleeping Beauty’s sister, Princess Annie, searching far and low for princes to awaken her. The two main characters are Princess Annie, she is very adventurous and daring, knows how to take care of herself,and loves her family. Annie was born unlike her sister, Gwennie, who got the gifts of beauty, grace, melody, etc. all the gifts princesses have. Annie’s parents didn’t want her to get the 100-year curse as well, so they asked a fairy to help them. The fairy gave Annie her first and last gift she would get, the spell that no magic, no matter good or bad, could touch her. This means that anything that has magic that is close to her will begin to lose it temporarily, and any magic that is cast upon her will rebound as well. Annie has grown up without any magic to help her, to be a strong princess no one has ever seen. Next, is Annie’s lover Liam, he is extremely caring of Annie, he is very kind and daring as well. Liam has made many impressions on the royal family, he first appeared as a guard for them, but later revealed that he was a prince of a nearby kingdom. Liam is like Annie, in the shadow of his older brother, who got all the gifts. But he is well happy with being close to Annie, because he would give up everything he had just for her. The main problem is that Annie has to find the perfect prince to kiss Gwennie to wake her up, all along an enemy kingdom is advancing on them secretly. My opinion is that this novel has the right amount of romance and humour to it, when Annie and Liam stand up for each other with loving words. Then the funny comments that Liam makes, or the hilarious thoughts that Annie has. I love how the characters are part original, and part new. As in princess Gwendolyn, is Sleeping Beauty, but princess Annie is a whole new twist that adds some amaze to the story! This really shows the girl power that is coming back! -Serena

The Pet War

3/21/2017

The realistic fiction book The Pet War written by Allan Woodrow is a fantastic book about a war between getting a cat or a dog. Otto, a not so perfect eleven year old boy, battles his straight A perfect older sister Lexi. Otto lives in a family where nothing really happens until one day he asks his mom if he could get a dog. His sister Lexi, just to defy him, says that she wants a cat. They both run a campaign against each other to raise $500 to by the animal first. It's a race to the finish. My opinion of this book is five stars. I loved this book because it kept me interesting like when otto got fired and the dogs ran away when he was playing soccer. Also I found it unexpecting that booth of them did not raise an of munny to get a pet. -Ryan

All Four Stars

3/21/2017

The fiction novel All Four Stars by Tara Dairman is a story of a young girl who keeps her cooking, a secret from her junk food loving parents, as she strives to conquer the challenges that face her friendship, family, and her bright-blinking future. The main character is Gladys, she is smart, kind thoughtful, and carries the same hopes and worries like all of her fellow sixth graders. Gladys is very honest to her friends and family. She is also extremely polite when it comes to strangers, she has a sense of humor, but hates it when people bully each other. When Gladys was young, she knew that she loved good-quality food, but since she couldn’t get it from her parents, Gladys cooked food herself and kept it a secret. The main problem begins when Gladys’s parents find out about her cooking. When Gladys’s entries for a school project turns up in the wrong place, Gladys turns from a regular sixth grader to a secret food critic overnight! Now Gladys has to travel to restaurants to taste their food, without anyone knowing who she is, or what she’s doing! I love how this story is based on a young girl, my age, going around doing adult things in secret! I also like how the story has a twist, with Clarissa, the bully, turning into Gladys’s sort-of friend, through a series of foreign dessert tastings. I also love how the author made me feel hungry for the foods that Gladys described, like the savory sweet-sour taste of the Bluerabarb Crumble, or the crunch and slide of the Indian Carrot Pudding. This is one of the best food related novel I have ever read, plus bonus that I tried at home-----two delicious recipes at the back! -Serena

True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle

3/21/2017

The historical fiction novel The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Edward Irving Wortis or better known as Avi, is about a prim and proper teen that changes through mystery and murder on the high seas. The main character is Charlotte, she is a naive, self-conscious teen born into a rich and proper family. Charlotte is extremely obedient at first, but later changes to a self-proven, responsible woman. The main problem is that the captain of the ship Charlotte is sailing on, is a cruel, evil, murder and the crew Charlotte is with, wants to have an uprising against him. Charlotte is stuck in between the rivals on the rough seas, with nowhere to escape. She is torn with whom to believe, and the challenges that face her. My opinion is that this is one of the most adventurous tales I've ever read. It made me almost cry in the moving parts, where a beloved sailor had died. There was also the parts where my heart would move with the character’s, and we would be one, experiencing the fear, hatred, and sorrow of the crew. I love how the author would put so much detail into describing the ship. All the way from the striking bowsprit to the dusty dungeons, the captain’s marvelous headquarters to the crews’ messy lounge. This is one heart-pounding story that I will never forget! -Serena