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Black Eyed Susan Book Reviews 2007-2008 |
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Archer's Quest by Linda Sue Park |
TITLE: Archer's Quest
AUTHOR NAME: Linda Sue Park
NAME: Alexandra G
AGE: 11
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Mrs. Strain
WHY READ: It is a funny, creative story that you will probably enjoy.
SUMMARY: A boy named Kevin meets this Korean/Chinese guy named Chung-mo Ko who appears in his room one day. Chung-mo is from the past, and Kevin has to help him return to Ancient Korea.
WHY LIKE: It had humor, and suspense and the whole book in general was well written.
CHARACTERS: Kevin Chung-mo, Archie, Mr. Lee
WHY GOOD: The humor, the suspense, and the fact that Archie/Chung-mo is completely ignorant in the way we do things in America.
RECOMMENDATION: Good
GENRE: Fantasy
DATE: 11/8/07 |
TITLE: Archer's Quest
AUTHOR NAME: Linda Sue Park
NAME: Domenico R
AGE: 11
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Mrs. Strain
WHY READ: It is a really good book
SUMMARY: A king from ancient Korea comes from the past and is helped by Kevin to try to get back to his own time.
WHY LIKE: I like that it talks about fantasy
CHARACTERS: Kevin
WHY GOOD: It talks about a person coming from the past
RECOMMENDATION: Excellent
GENRE: Fantasy
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TITLE: Archer's Quest
AUTHOR NAME: Linda Sue Park
NAME: Santiago N
AGE: 13
GRADE: 8th
TEACHER: Mr.O'Halloran
WHY READ: It is a very creative book and it uses a lot of Korean folklore. it also involves the Chinese zodiacs.
SUMMARY: It is about a boy named Kevin who lives in present day America. When a man from the ancient Korean civilization appears in his room, Kevin sets out to get "Archie" back to his own life.
WHY LIKE: It is an ok book because of the depth that Linda goes to in order to create the circumstances of getting Archie back to his own time period.
CHARACTERS: Kevin and Archie or Archer
WHY GOOD: It involves a lot of thinking and knowledge to write because it talks a lot about the Chinese signs of the Zodiac.
RECOMMENDATION: Okay
GENRE: Historical Fiction
DATE: 02/21/08
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TITLE: Archer's Quest
AUTHOR NAME: Linda Sue Park
NAME: Joy W
AGE: 11
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Mrs. Strain
WHY READ: It’s a great book filled with action, some fantasy, and even a little amazing Chinese and Korean history.
SUMMARY: An Asian man named Chu Mong gets trapped in the future and meets Kevin, a 12 year old boy. They go on a quest in present- day New York to find a way to send Archer back to his homeland by the end of the day or he'll never get back. On their journey, they both learn many things about themselves and others.
WHY LIKE: It’s funny, it has adventure, and fantasy.
CHARACTERS: Kevin and Chu Mong [aka archer]
WHY GOOD: It's a funny, adventure book filled with fantasy and a little interesting history.
RECOMMENDATION: Excellent
GENRE: Adventure
DATE: 11-19-07 |
Crooked River by Shelly Pearsell |
TITLE: Crooked River
AUTHOR NAME: Shelly Pearsell
NAME: Santiago N
AGE: 13
GRADE: 8th
TEACHER: Mr.O'Halloran
WHY READ: It is about the old days in the western part of America so it may or may not interest you.
SUMMARY: It is about how a girl growing up in the west has to deal with an Indian who is accused of committing "murder" and has to be keep prisoner in her attic. So she must cope with the fact that he may be innocent and is going to be executed.
WHY LIKE: It is about the west which is a good topic for the book because it is an exciting and dangerous place, so it is easy to tell a good story about it.
CHARACTERS: Rebecca, Laura, Pa, Peter, Kelly and Indian John.
WHY GOOD: It has a good setting which is key for a good book. And it is a mystery because nobody knows what happened between Indian John and the man he killed, but Rebecca has to figure it out.
RECOMMENDATION: Good
GENRE: Mystery
DATE: 03/04/08
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TITLE: Crooked River
AUTHOR NAME: Shelly Pearsell
NAME: Megha K
AGE: 11
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Mr. Unger
WHY READ: This is a REALLY good book!
SUMMARY: Rachel's dominant dad captures an Indian in the forest. The Indian is accused of a murder, a murder he did not commit. Apparently, no one wants to believe him, except for Rachel. But how will SHE save him?
WHY LIKE: The fact that one girl is able to save an Indian from a group of blood-thirsty settlers. That's something I like to read about.
CHARACTERS: Rachel Carver, Amik AKA Indian John, Laura Carver, Peter Kelley, Pa
WHY GOOD: The way it jumps from mood to mood. It starts off really depressed and sad, and then turns to defiance and glory. The characters are alive and the plot is strong. That's a good story.
RECOMMENDATION: Fantastic
GENRE: Adventure
DATE: 11-21-2007 |
Crossing the Wire by Will Hobbs |
TITLE: Crossing the Wire
AUTHOR NAME: Will Hobbs
NAME: Santiago N
AGE: 13
GRADE: 8th
TEACHER: Mr.An
WHY READ: It is very exciting, and it is about a topic most teens have heard about but don't know alot about.
SUMMARY: It is about a boy from Mexico whose family is more poor every day, so he crosses the border into America illegally. His friend who went before him finds him on their greatest adventure.
WHY LIKE: It is a book that is about a topic that is very important, and it is a good way for people to learn about it.
CHARACTERS: Victor and Rico
WHY GOOD: It is well written and is informative as well. Also, the author Will Hobbs, created many obstacles for Rico and Victor.
RECOMMENDATION: Excellent
GENRE: Realistic Fiction |
Do you know the Monkey Man? by Dori Hillestad Butler |
TITLE: Do you know the Monkey Man?
AUTHOR NAME: Dori Hillestad Butler
NAME: Suzanne X
AGE: 11
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Ms.Boyd
WHY READ: It is really interesting, though the beginning is a little boring.
SUMMARY: Samantha (Sam) had been told all her life that her twin sister died in a canoe accident many years ago. But when she discovered articles about the search for her sister, she realizes that the body was never found. Now she is trying to find her father and find the truth about what happened to her sister.
WHY LIKE: It has unexpected twists, like how Sam found her father or when she found the articles. And who could forget her sister's reaction to her.
CHARACTERS: Joe, Sam's mom, Angela, Sam, Sarah (T.J.)
WHY GOOD: It has unexpected things and is believable, though unlikely. Plus, her writing is fluid.
RECOMMENDATION: Fantastic
GENRE: Realistic Fiction
DATE: 1/19/08 |
TITLE: Do you know the Monkey Man?
AUTHOR NAME: Dori Hillestad Butler
NAME: Joy W
AGE: 12
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Mrs. Strain
WHY READ: This book is kind of boring at first, but then suspense arrives and you can't put down the book.
SUMMARY: A girl (Sam) goes to a psychic who tells the girl that her twin sister (Sara) is still alive. Sam was told that her sister drowned in a quarry when they were both three years old, but she has a feeling that her sister might be alive. She sets out on a quest to find out what really happened. The question is, will she like what she uncovers?
WHY LIKE: It had an amazing plot, and the characters have their own personalities.
CHARACTERS: Sara, T.J., Sam, Joe, Bob (yes his name is really Bob), Angela, and Sam's mom
WHY GOOD: It has adventure, suspense, and a great plot.
RECOMMENDATION: Excellent
GENRE: Realistic Fiction
DATE: 3/11/08
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TITLE: Do you know the Monkey Man?
AUTHOR NAME: Dori Hillestad Butler
NAME: Caroline C
AGE: 12
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Mrs. Strain
WHY READ: It's really good and sad
SUMMARY: Sam, the main character, goes looking for her dad. Her parents divorced after her dad went canoeing with her twin sister, Sarah, and Sarah drowned. Sam believes that if she can find her dad, her twin sister might still be alive.
WHY LIKE: There was a lesson
CHARACTERS: Sam, her mom, Angela
WHY GOOD: The lesson is really good. It's never give up. Everyone told Sam that she was crazy to go looking for her twin sister because they knew she had died. Sam still wanted to search for her sister because she believed if she kept trying, she might find her dad and maybe her sister, too.
RECOMMENDATION: Excellent
GENRE: Realistic Fiction
DATE: 3/5/08
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Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick |
TITLE: Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie
AUTHOR NAME: Jordan Sonnenblick
NAME: Melinda L
AGE: 13
GRADE: 8th
TEACHER: O'Halloran
WHY READ: If you are going to read this book, be prepared to cry.
SUMMARY: When Jeffery, Steven's little brother gets sick, Steven's "peaceful" world corrupts as he tries to deal with Jeffery's cancer, the change in his parents, keep himself in one piece, and go on living his life.
WHY LIKE: It contains humor and it’s touching.
CHARACTERS: The main characters are Steven and Jeffery.
WHY GOOD: It makes you laugh, cry, and teaches you a lesson.
RECOMMENDATION: Fantastic
GENRE: Realistic Fiction
DATE: 12/20/07 |
TITLE: Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie
AUTHOR NAME: Jordan Sonnenblick
NAME: Janie G
AGE: 11
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: M. Unger
WHY READ: It’s sad
SUMMARY: Steven thinks his brother, Jeffrey, is annoying and he doesn’t like Jeffrey. His family learns that Jeffrey has leukemia and Steven gets scared that his brother is going to die. He cares more for his brother and he learns to like him.
WHY LIKE: It shows you that you shouldn’t hate your family because you never know when something might happen to them.
CHARACTERS: Steven, Jeffrey, Annette, mom, dad
WHY GOOD: The change throughout the book involving Steven
RECOMMENDATION: Excellent
GENRE: Realistic Fiction
DATE: 11/21/07 |
TITLE: Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie
AUTHOR NAME: Jordan Sonnenblick
NAME: Tara S
AGE: 13
GRADE: 7
TEACHER: Wolf
WHY READ: It is a tear jerker
SUMMARY: Steven's little brother Jeffrey gets cancer, and Steven's world falls apart. He has to deal with school life and his brother’s sickness which is very difficult for him.
WHY LIKE: I love books that make me cry.
CHARACTERS: Steven and Jeffrey.
WHY GOOD: It's a good combination of sad and happy.
RECOMMENDATION: Excellent
GENRE: Realistic Fiction
DATE: 4/2/08 |
TITLE: Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie
AUTHOR NAME: Jordan Sonnenblick
NAME: Caroline C
AGE: 12
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Mrs. Strain
WHY READ: This book is really sad, but funny the way Jeffery talks.
SUMMARY: Steven struggles to adapt to having his mom always at the hospital with his little brother, Jeffery. His dad barely talks to him, and he's failing all his subjects in school.
WHY LIKE: It was funny the way Jeffery talked. Jeffery and Steven were both really brave.
CHARACTERS: Steven Alper, Annette, Jeffery Alper, and Steven's parents
WHY GOOD: Steven learns that even though his family is in debt, instead of trying to change the things he can't, he should change the things he can – he tries to save his family money for Jeffery's bills by quitting drum lessons.
RECOMMENDATION: Fantastic
GENRE: Realistic Fiction
DATE: 2/26/08
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TITLE: Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie
AUTHOR NAME: Jordan Sonnenblick
NAME: Cassandra L
AGE: 12
GRADE: 7
TEACHER: Ms. Larrain
WHY READ: That it is a very heartwarming story with lots of care and love put in it.
SUMMARY: The book is about a big brother, Steven, whose little brother, Jeffery, gets leukemia, and Jeffery is sent to hospitals to get major treatments. Steven has to deal with all this commotion and learns to be thankful for having a little brother and not call him a brat. Steven eventually learns that fact that Jeffery loves Steven and that Steven, himself, needs to put more love and care into his little brother, Jeffery.
WHY LIKE: I liked this book because it is very well thought out and that it holds a very important moral accompanied by some laughter
CHARACTERS: Steven and Jeffery and Annette
WHY GOOD:The style of this book makes it great and also makes you want to read it more and more until you are finished.
RECOMMENDATION: Excellent
GENRE: Realistic Fiction
DATE: 2/3/08 |
Gossamer by Lois Lowry |
TITLE: Gossamer
AUTHOR NAME: Lois Lowry
NAME: Megha K
AGE: 11
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Mr Unger
WHY READ: This is a good book
SUMMARY: There are creatures called dream-givers, who give dreams to humans. One dream-giver, Littlest, is assigned to a home housing an angry 8-year-old and an elderly lady. The story unfolds as these two learn how to love again after a conflict.
WHY LIKE: This book explains the "real" reason for dreams. It has a good mixture of fantasy, but not too much. That's why I liked this book.
CHARACTERS: John, Littlest, John's foster parent, and John's real mother
WHY GOOD: It was a little sad, but it had a really happy ending. The characters were creative and original.
RECOMMENDATION: Excellent
GENRE: Fantasy
DATE: 12-15-2007 |
TITLE: Gossamer
AUTHOR NAME: Lois Lowry
NAME: Santiago N
AGE: 13
GRADE: 8th
TEACHER: Mr.O'Halloran
WHY READ: It is not a complex story. The plot is simple and to the point; not to mention the fact that it is boring.
SUMMARY: The book is about small creatures who stalk around human houses at night and they collect memories from the things they touch. Then they give us dreams. But there are evil creatures who do the same -- only with nightmares.
WHY LIKE: I did not really enjoy it.
CHARACTERS: Littlest One, Thin Elderly and John.
WHY GOOD: It talks a lot about child abuse and how some children have to leave their homes and go live in foster care for some time.
RECOMMENDATION: SoSo
GENRE: Realistic Fiction
DATE: 02/29/08
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TITLE: Gossamer
AUTHOR NAME: Lois Lowry
NAME: Domenico R
AGE: 11
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Mrs. Strain
WHY READ: It is a great book
SUMMARY: It talks about a dream-giver that needs to fight against creatures that give nightmares. With a helper , Littlest needs to help a boy by stopping his nightmares that the creatures are giving him.
WHY LIKE: It is really exiting/breath-taking
CHARACTERS: Littlest One, Most Ancient, Thin Elderly, Fastidious
WHY GOOD: The fantasy makes you think it is real!
RECOMMENDATION: Fantastic
GENRE: Fantasy
DATE: 11/30/07 |
TITLE: Gossamer
AUTHOR NAME: Lois Lowry
NAME: Lacy F
AGE: 11
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Mrs. Spector
WHY READ: A deep, interesting novel for those who enjoy their novels rich in detail.
SUMMARY: Have you ever wondered what is behind the story of the object in front of you? All the memories you have of that? Littlest One is one to help you remember in your dreams. She can bestow your memories to you.
WHY LIKE: A wonderful story about the struggle for good and the fight against evil.
CHARACTERS: Littlest One, the old woman, Toby, and the boy
WHY GOOD: This story combines many lessons about kindness and love for those who need it.
RECOMMENDATION: Fantastic
GENRE: Unknown
DATE: 11/21/07 |
Heat by Mike Lupica |
TITLE: Heat
AUTHOR NAME: Mike Lupica
NAME: Sean C
AGE: 11
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Ms. Boyd
WHY READ: It's a spellbinding book that captures your attention.
SUMMARY: Michael Arroyo is a great pitcher, but other kids don't believe he's twelve. His pitching career may end because of some snot-nosed punk named Justin.
WHY LIKE: The plot is well set up and very interesting.
CHARACTERS: Michael Arroyo
WHY GOOD: I think the book is good because the whole bully idea is really interesting, and the birth certificate retrieval was interesting.
RECOMMENDATION: Fantastic
GENRE: Sports
DATE: 11/21/07 |
TITLE: Heat
AUTHOR NAME: Mike Lupica
NAME: Maimuna A
AGE: 12
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Ms.Boyd
WHY READ: The book is sad, but it ends up with a happy ending.
SUMMARY: The book is about a boy who has moved here from another country illegally. His father dies so he and his brother are left alone even though his brother is not even 18. Yet they live together and nobody knows their dad is dead. The youngest brother is a very good baseball player, but when his age is questioned, his whole life comes crashing down.
WHY LIKE: I liked the book because it was unpredictable unlike many other books.
CHARACTERS: Michael and his brother Carlos.
WHY GOOD: There are many unexpected events and turns in the story
RECOMMENDATION: Fantastic
GENRE: Sports
DATE: 1/28/08 |
TITLE: Heat
AUTHOR NAME: Mike Lupica
NAME: Santiago N
AGE: 13
GRADE: 8th
TEACHER: Mr.O'Halloran
WHY READ: It is a thrilling book in which many secrets are made and discovered and Michael’s dream is fulfilled.
SUMMARY: It is about a boy from Cuba whose father is dead. He can't let anyone find out because they will separate him from his brother. Another part of the story is that Michael is very, very good at baseball, but he is so good that the other coaches he plays against are suspicious of his age, and he has no birth certificate so he can't prove that he is thirteen.
WHY LIKE: It is very well written
CHARACTERS: Micheal, Carlos, Manny, Ellie, Mr.Gibbs.
WHY GOOD: It is written very well, and the plot twists and turns a lot; it is hard to predict what will come next. The ending was also good.
RECOMMENDATION: Good
GENRE: Realistic Fiction
DATE: 02/20/08
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TITLE: Heat
AUTHOR NAME: Mike Lupica
NAME: Sun H
AGE: 11
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Mr.Unger
WHY READ: It's a good book-- you should read it
SUMMARY: It's about a boy whose father is dead; he's stuck in America with his older brother Carlos. He is a great pitcher, fan of the great Yankee pitcher, El Grande. Then there’s a problem; he can't play baseball without his birth certificate. With the help of El Grande, a fellow Cuban, he can now play baseball.
WHY LIKE: I like sports
CHARACTERS: Michael, Carlos, El Grande, Manny, Mrs.C
WHY GOOD:
RECOMMENDATION: Fantastic
GENRE: Unknown
DATE: 11/21/07 |
TITLE: Heat
AUTHOR NAME: Mike Lupica
NAME: Daniel W
AGE: 12
GRADE: 7
TEACHER: Ms. Larrain
WHY READ: It's about baseball
SUMMARY: It's about Michael Arroyo who is an awesome pitcher. Then someone thinks he's not the age he says he is, so he asks for a birth certificate. But he can't get a birth certificate because his dad is dead and he's living with his older brother Carlos.
WHY LIKE: It's about baseball
CHARACTERS: Michael, Carlos, Manny, Mrs. Cora
WHY GOOD: It's about sports and this story could happen to anyone
RECOMMENDATION: Excellent
GENRE: Realistic Fiction
DATE: 1/08/08 |
Perfect by Natasha Friend |
TITLE: Perfect
AUTHOR NAME: Natasha Friend
NAME: Jacob H
AGE: 11
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Mrs. Strain
WHY READ: I would say that it is a great book and you should read it.
SUMMARY: The book is about a girl named Isabelle. She is fat and tries to lose weight by making herself throw-up. Her mom sends her to group, and the prettiest girl in school walks through the door.
WHY LIKE: I liked it because it was it was about something that could happen to someone.
CHARACTERS: Isabelle, April (Ape Face), Isabelle's Mom, Aunt Weezy, Ashley Barnum
WHY GOOD: It is an adventure of a girl trying to prevent herself from throwing-up to make herself lose weight.
RECOMMENDATION: Excellent
GENRE: Unknown
DATE: 12/16/07 |
TITLE: Perfect
AUTHOR NAME: Natasha Friend
NAME: Janie G
AGE: 11
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Mr. Unger
WHY READ: It’s a sad book because Isabelle is so sad, but it teaches a good lesson- puking doesn't solve your problems, and be happy with your body.
SUMMARY: Isabelle is always "fine" and she has bulimia. She always hears her mom cry when she sleeps, and she isn’t happy with herself. She has to go to counseling and she learns that her role model, Ashley Barnum, isn't perfect at all. She has bulimia, too. She learns that not everybody is as perfect as they may look.
WHY LIKE: It taught me to be happy with myself.
CHARACTERS: Isabelle, Ashley, Isabelle’s mom, Ape Face (her sister)
WHY GOOD: It teaches you about dealing with your problems in a healthy way and not to think everybody is perfect, because nobody's perfect.
RECOMMENDATION: Excellent
GENRE: Realistic Fiction
DATE: 11/10/07 |
TITLE: Perfect
AUTHOR NAME: Natasha Friend
NAME: Tiffany C
AGE: 11
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Ms. Boyd
WHY READ: This book is about a girl named Isabelle who thinks that a girl named Ashley is perfect. She has everything that a girl could want, but, guess what?-- being perfect now means that you had something bad happen to you at home or in your childhood.
SUMMARY: This book is about a girl named Isabelle and her father died. Her family is really sad, especially her mom. Anyways, there's a girl at her school whom Isabelle thinks is so perfect because she has great looks and every guy at school likes her. Isabelle thinks that she is too fat, so every time at night, she would go downstairs, stuff herself with food, and then go to the bathroom to throw up. When her sister found out, she told her mom, and now Isabelle has to go to something called Group. So, when she's there, she finds out interesting things on the way about Ashley and other people.
WHY LIKE: I like this book because it teaches that nobody's perfect. Sure, some people think people are perfect, but inside they might have something bad which they don't want to share.
CHARACTERS: Isabelle, Lee, and Ashley Barnum
WHY GOOD: The plot of the story.
RECOMMENDATION: Fantastic
GENRE: Unknown
DATE: 12/27/07 |
TITLE: Perfect
AUTHOR NAME: Natasha Friend
NAME: Lacy F
AGE: 12
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Mr. Unger
WHY READ: A story of an eighth grader who has become bulimic.
SUMMARY: Isabelle Lee has never been the same since her father died. She has then become bulimic. One day when her sister catches her purging, her whole life changes.
WHY LIKE: I didn't. This shows the negative side of middle school, but it's got the truth there.
CHARACTERS: Isabelle Lee, Ashley Barnum, April Lee, Mrs. Lee.
WHY GOOD: It shows how easily we are set off and changed by emotions.
RECOMMENDATION: SoSo
GENRE: Unknown
DATE: 3/20/08
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TITLE: Perfect
AUTHOR NAME: Natasha Friend
NAME: Michelle H
AGE: 12
GRADE: 7
TEACHER: Mrs. Gilbert
WHY READ: It's really good, and it centers around two teenage girls so you can relate well with the book.
SUMMARY: It is a really moving book about this girl, Isabelle Lee, who has an eating disorder (binging and purging), the result of her dead father and her grieving mother. But in the midst of it, she meets the most popular girl in school, Ashley Barnum, who also has a secret... the same secret as Isabelle. Isabelle and Ashley binge and purge together, go to the same eating disorder support group,and becomes friends... until Isabelle realizes something that has to be changed.
WHY LIKE: It was moving how Isabelle tried to overcome both her sadness of her father dying and her eating disorder-- but she had also helped the most popular girl in school with HER eating disorder too. I was really proud of Isabelle when she declined the urge to throw up, even though Ashley (the popular girl) was doing it.
CHARACTERS: Isabelle lee, Ashley Barnum, Isabelle's mom, Isabelle's aunt, and April (Isabelle's little sister)
WHY GOOD: It's written very well, and it makes you want to read more and more and more until you finish the book.
RECOMMENDATION: Excellent
GENRE: Realistic Fiction
DATE: 4/2/08
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TITLE: Perfect
AUTHOR NAME: Natasha Friend
NAME: Eunjae L
AGE: 13
GRADE: 8
TEACHER: Mrs. Tauber
WHY READ: This book is mostly about teen problems but everyone should read it!
SUMMARY: Isabelle Lee, the protagonist in the story, is battling against an eating disorder. She feels that her family is falling apart after their father's death, and her mom cries herself to sleep. Isabelle tries to find out who she is and bring her family back together.
WHY LIKE: How every person can have an eating disorder; not just the "unpopular" kids in school. Also how the popular girl turns out not to BE PERFECT.
CHARACTERS: Isabelle Lee, Ashley Barnum
WHY GOOD: The fact that two girls become friends and help each other with their struggle with an eating disorder.
GENRE: Unknown
DATE: March 2008
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TITLE: Perfect
AUTHOR NAME: Natasha Friend
NAME: Suzanne X
AGE: 11
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Ms.Boyd
WHY READ: This book is a great. It has some sad parts, but it has a great plot.
SUMMARY: This book is about a girl named Isabelle Lee who has an eating disorder. When she goes to "Group" for it one day, she is surprised to see her role model, Ashley Barnum, there. Then she learns that the outside is not a great way to judge a person.
WHY LIKE: It had a great main line and an important lesson.
CHARACTERS: Isabelle, Ashley, April, her mom, and Trish
WHY GOOD: It shows that no one’s perfect, and has some touching parts.
RECOMMENDATION: Good
GENRE: Realistic Fiction
DATE: 12/18/07 |
Revenge of the Witch (The Last Apprentice series) by Joseph Delaney |
TITLE: The Revenge of the Witch (The Last Apprentice series)
AUTHOR NAME: Joseph Delaney
NAME: Sean C
AGE: 11
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Ms. Boyd
WHY READ: It has a somewhat scary plot and the plot is very interesting.
SUMMARY: The book is about the main character, Tom, who wants to become a spook, and destroy the evil spirits.
WHY LIKE: The monsters are very fantastical and the whole witch and mystical theme is very interesting and well put.
CHARACTERS: Tom, Alice, The Spook
WHY GOOD: The monsters, the plot and the weapons
RECOMMENDATION: Fantastic
GENRE: Fantasy
DATE: 11/21/07 |
TITLE: Revenge of the Witch (The Last Apprentice series)
AUTHOR NAME: Christopher Evan Welch
NAME: Yousuf K
AGE: 11
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Mrs. Strain
WHY READ: The book looks like a dark story and sort of is, but the name of one character is really cheesy, the Spook.
SUMMARY: A person becomes a Spook's apprentice.He accidently frees an evil witch so he must fix everything.
WHY LIKE: I didn't really like this book.
CHARACTERS: The apprentice in my opinion did almost everything, the Spook is somewhat involved.
WHY GOOD: I didn't like this book, but you may.
RECOMMENDATION: So-So
GENRE: Fantasy
DATE: 11/21/07 |
Shakespeare’s Secret by Elise Broach |
TITLE: Shakespeare’s Secret
AUTHOR NAME: Elise Broach
NAME: Santiago N
AGE: 13
GRADE: 8th
TEACHER: Mr.O'Halloran
WHY READ: It is a thrilling mystery about a necklace.
SUMMARY: Hero moves to a new school and is just adjusting when she finds out that a diamond necklace hidden in her house.
WHY LIKE: I enjoy mysteries, and as far as they go, this is a pretty good one.
CHARACTERS: Hero, Danny and Mrs. Roth
WHY GOOD: It is a mystery about the necklace and a mystery about Shakespeare and who he was.
RECOMMENDATION: Excellent
GENRE: Mystery
DATE: 02/25/08
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TITLE: Shakespeare’s Secret
AUTHOR NAME: Elise Broach
NAME: Lacy F
AGE: 12
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Mr. Unger
WHY READ: A great mystery. You'd love it.
SUMMARY: A 12-year-old girl named Hero (you'll see why later) moves to a new home in Maryland. At school, she discovers that her new house is drenched in mystery. A diamond was supposedly stolen, but was it really stolen?
WHY LIKE: I love mysteries and books about new kids.
CHARACTERS: Hero, Danny, Mrs. Roth
WHY GOOD: It has mystery, adventure, and a touchy ending.
RECOMMENDATION: Fantastic
GENRE: Mystery
DATE: 3/20/08
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TITLE: Shakespeare’s Secret
AUTHOR NAME: Elise Broach
NAME: Domenico R
AGE: 11
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Ms Strain
WHY READ: It was a wonderful book; you should read it.
SUMMARY: Hero is a kid who is interested in finding a diamond that was the property of the person who sold Hero’s parents their house. With Mrs. Roth who lives next door, she tries to figure out the diamond’s past and its location/ then she is joined in the search with Danny Cordova
WHY LIKE: It made me try to predict what would happen next
CHARACTERS: Hero, Danny, and Mrs. Roth
WHY GOOD: It makes you think of what might happen next
RECOMMENDATION: Excellent
GENRE: Mystery
DATE: 1/2/08
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TITLE: Shakespeare’s Secret
AUTHOR NAME: Elise Broach
NAME: Joy W
AGE: 11
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Mrs. Strain
WHY READ: This book is a great book that everyone should read.
SUMMARY: The least popular 6th grade girl named Hero, an old lady next door to Hero named Mrs. Roth, and the most popular 8th grade boy named Danny, team- up to find the Murphy diamond, a 17 carat diamond that was claimed to have been stolen. On their quest, they learn what Shakespeare wanted to keep a secret.
WHY LIKE: I can relate to this book.
CHARACTERS: Hero, Mrs. Roth, and Danny
WHY GOOD: The book is filled with suspense and unsuspecting events that relates to everyone.
RECOMMENDATION: Fantastic
GENRE: Historical Fiction
DATE: 11/28/07 |
TITLE: Shakespeare's Secret
AUTHOR NAME: Elise Broach
NAME: Tiffany C
AGE: 11
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Ms. Boyd
WHY READ: This book is about a girl who moves to this town and finds out a lot about her new home.
SUMMARY: The book is about the girl named Hero who finds out that the Murphy's diamond was somewhere around her new house. She tries to find it with a friend named Danny and her neighbor, Mrs. Roth, who knows a lot about the diamond. Can she find it and return it to its rightful place?
WHY LIKE: It is a mystery book and when you start reading it, you get more and more addicted to it.
CHARACTERS: Hero, Danny, and Mrs. Roth
WHY GOOD: The plot of the story
RECOMMENDATION: Fantastic
GENRE: Mystery
DATE: 11/13/08 |
TITLE: Shakespeare's Secret
AUTHOR NAME: Elise Broach
NAME: Constanza S
AGE: 13
GRADE: 7
TEACHER: Mrs. Gilbert
WHY READ: It is very fun to read and very interesting so you just want to keep reading. It has many surprises as you read and it teaches you a lot about Shakespeare.
SUMMARY: Hero has just moved to a new neighborhood and has an older sister named Beatrice and her dad, who dedicates his life to Shakespeare. School is bad enough (being the new girl) when during attendance, a snotty girl mentions she has a dog named Hero, too, and everyone starts making dog jokes and barking at Hero. But it all becomes more interesting when an old lady named Mrs. Roth from across the street tells Hero that there might be a 500 year old diamond hidden inside her house. Along the way, trying to find the diamond, Hero learns a lot about Shakespeare.
WHY LIKE: It is very fun and interesting, and I like the way everything relates to something else making it one whole subject about Shakespeare. I learned a lot of stuff about Shakespeare I didn't know which what is made it so interesting.
CHARACTERS: Hero Netherfield, Danny Cordova, Mrs. Roth, Hero's dad.
WHY GOOD: The fact that everything relates to Shakespeare, and how one clue leads to another, making you want to keep reading it until the end. And when it ends, you want there to be more.
RECOMMENDATION: Fantastic
GENRE: Mystery
DATE: 12/28/07
TITLE: Shakespeare's Secret
AUTHOR NAME: Elise Broach
NAME: Megha K
AGE: 11
GRADE: 6
TEACHER: Mr. Unger
WHY READ: It's an amazing mystery
SUMMARY: Hero and Danny want to find the Murphy diamond, the biggest diamond in history. Along the way they uncover a lot of secrets of the legendary William Shakespeare, which question the fact that Shakespeare really wrote those plays.
WHY LIKE: It had an original plot and a happy ending.
CHARACTERS: Hero, Danny, and Mrs. Roth
WHY GOOD: The author holds you in suspense for awhile. You don't know how it will end. And along the way, there are more and more secrets.
RECOMMENDATION: Fantastic
GENRE: Mystery
DATE: 12-15-2007 |
Student book reveiws organized and maintained by Beth Richard, Media Specialist.
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