Black Eyed Susan Book Reviews 2010-2011 Jolted Boost Wating for Normal Chasing Lincoln's Killer Every Soul a Star When the Whistle Blows All the Broken Pieces Compound Anything But Typical When You Reach Me Jolted by Arthur Blake TITLE:  Jolted AUTHOR NAME:  Arthur Slade NAME:  Aaron G AGE:  11 GRADE:  6 TEACHER:  Mr. Unger WHY READ:  If you like interesting books, this is for you. If you like cranky great grandma's, pigs, and lightning, this book is ALSO for you. It is truly a one of a kind book. SUMMARY:  Newton Starker's family has a curse, a lightning curse. Everyone in his family has been struck by lightning and the only people left are him, his dad, and his great grandma. He is going to a survival school so he can overcome his lightning challenge. WHY LIKE:  This book has unique characters, and has a lot of humor in it. It also has a funny recipe, haggis, which is very disgusting. CHARACTERS:  Newton, Violet, Jacob, Enid Starker, Josephine WHY GOOD:  The book has a lot of humor, romance, and adventure, but it also has cliffhangers and crazy recipes. RECOMMENDATION:  Excellent GENRE:  Realistic Fiction DATE:  11/23/10 TITLE:  Jolted AUTHOR NAME:  Arthur G. Slade NAME:  Nathan H AGE:  11 GRADE:  6 TEACHER:  Mr. Unger WHY READ:  It is an awesome book with a lot of funny parts in it. SUMMARY:  Newton Starker is a boy who is afraid of lightning. Much of the rest of his family and relatives have been shocked to death by lightning. His father sends him off to Jerry Potts Academy, a survival school, to learn how to survive. Will he survive, or will the Starker curse take out yet another Starker? WHY LIKE:  It was very funny at certain points, and dramatic at others. The author made all the parts very enjoyable to read. CHARACTERS:  Newton Starker, Violet, Jacob, Josephine the pig, and Newton's Dad WHY GOOD:  It has lots of comedy, and it has very dramatic points too, and is overall a great book RECOMMENDATION:  Fantastic GENRE:  Realistic Fiction DATE:  11/23/10 TITLE:  Jolted AUTHOR NAME:  Arthur Slade NAME:  Samuel N  Y AGE:  11 GRADE:  6 TEACHER:  Mrs. Garner WHY READ:  This author is brilliant. SUMMARY:  The book is about a boy whose family is cursed by having lightning strike down on them. Newton goes through a lot of crazy events to find the answer he has been looking for. WHY LIKE:  It was exotic and crazy. CHARACTERS:  Newton Starker, Violet, Newton's  mom, Josephine, Jacob  WHY GOOD:  The action and twists. RECOMMENDATION:  Good GENRE:  Survival DATE:  12/10/10   Boost by Kathy Mackel TITLE:  Boost AUTHOR NAME:  Kathy Mackel NAME:  Leah F AGE:  11 GRADE:  6 TEACHER:  Mrs. Grunley WHY READ:  The first thing I would tell a teen about this book is that in many parts in the book, you can't put the book down because you need to know who did what or what happens next. SUMMARY:  This book is about a girl named Savvy, who just moved to Rhode Island from New Mexico. Savvy is a very talented basketball player and makes an elite team. But, her career as a player gets threatened when she is accused of using steroids. WHY LIKE:  I liked this book because the plot was very interesting and intriguing, and you could never put it down. CHARACTERS:  Savvy, Savvy's mom and dad, Callie, Savvy's sister, Nina Gonzalez a.k.a Gonzo, Savvy's friend, Marc, a football player, and Callie's boyfriend WHY GOOD:  This is a good book because it's interesting thoughout the book and it has a good lesson. RECOMMENDATION:  Good GENRE:  Realistic Fiction DATE:  11/07/10 TITLE:  Boost AUTHOR NAME:  Kathy Mackel NAME:  Eric W AGE:  11 GRADE:  6 TEACHER:  Mr. Unger WHY READ:  It's Awesome!!!!! SUMMARY:  Savvy is in a basketball team called the Fire.  She gets suspected of having steroids in her locker. WHY LIKE:  It has cliffhangers everywhere. CHARACTERS:  Savvy, Callie, their parents, and Gonzo. WHY GOOD:  Everything! RECOMMENDATION:  Excellent GENRE:  Realistic Fiction DATE:  11/23/10 TITLE:  Boost AUTHOR NAME:  Kathy Mackel NAME:  Anu P AGE:  11 GRADE:  6 TEACHER:  Mr. Brandt WHY READ:  This book is about a girl named Savvy who is on a basketball team and she has a lot of pressure to win. SUMMARY:  In this story Savvy is always playing basketball because she wants to win. Since she in working on a farm, she gets really strong. When someone spots steroid pills in her bag, she can’t play basketball. She says she didn’t do this, but no one believes her. WHY LIKE:  This book is unpredictable. CHARACTERS:  Savy,her mom, her dad, Mark, Callie/Caliope. WHY GOOD:  This book keeps the reader to turn the pages. RECOMMENDATION:  Excellent GENRE:  Realistic Fiction DATE:  11-23-2010 Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor       Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James Swanson       Evey Soul a Star by Wendy Mass TITLE:  Every Soul a Star AUTHOR NAME:  Wendy Mass NAME:  Allison C AGE:  11 GRADE:  6 TEACHER:  Mrs. Grunley WHY READ:  This book is great and you learn a lot of astronomy from it. Also, there's tons of adventure and foreshadowing.   SUMMARY:  Three kids named Ally, Bree, and Jack come to Moon Shadow Campground and become connected in the most peculiar way. Together, with the help of other friends Ally, Bree, and Jack discover an exoplanet and after this nobody is the same. When the solar eclipse comes to Moon Shadow everybody discovers a little of something they didn't have before.   WHY LIKE:  There was a little bit of foreshadowing. I like foreshadowing a lot. Also, I am pretty interested in astronomy and planets. This book had lots of information about astronomy.  CHARACTERS:  The main characters are Ally who loves nature, Bree who loves fashion, and Jack who feels left out everywhere. WHY GOOD:  It has adventure. To me, adventure is the best thing you can find in a book. RECOMMENDATION:  Excellent GENRE:  Science Fiction DATE:  11/13/10 TITLE:  Every Soul a Star AUTHOR NAME:  Wendy Mass NAME:  Sprina W AGE:  11 GRADE:  6 TEACHER:  Mr. Unger WHY READ:  It was ok... SUMMARY:  It was about two girls,Ally and Bree, and one boy,Jack. Jack failed science and he doesn't want to go to summer school, so his science teacher called, and said if he went on a science trip, he doesn't need to go to summer school. Bree is a popular girl and she has to move to a camp, and Ally is a nature loving girl and has to move to a city. WHY LIKE:  It was ok but it’s about friendship and science. CHARACTERS:  Ally, Bree, Jack, Kenny, and Melanie. WHY GOOD:  This book was ok. What makes it a good book is that it’s about teamwork and friendship. RECOMMENDATION:  Okay GENRE:  Realistic Fiction DATE:  12/2/10 When the Whistle Blows by Fran Cannon Slayton     All the Broken Pieces by Ann Burg TITLE:  All the Broken Pieces AUTHOR NAME:  Ann E Burg NAME:  Devin T AGE:  11 GRADE:  6 TEACHER:  Mr .Unger WHY READ:  It has a way of exaggeration that makes you want to read more SUMMARY:  It`s about a boy who came from Vietnam during the war. He learns how to play baseball and tries out for a team, but some kids don`t want him on the team. WHY LIKE:  The book showed how kids and veterans where treated once they got back from Vietnam. CHARACTERS:  Matt Pin, Rob Brennan WHY GOOD:  It showed how people adapted after Vietnam RECOMMENDATION:  Excellent GENRE:  Historical Fiction DATE:  11-23-2010 TITLE:  All the Broken Pieces AUTHOR NAME:  Ann Burg NAME:  Samuel N Y AGE:  11 GRADE:  6 TEACHER:  Mrs.Garner WHY READ:  This book is so cool. It is written as a poem, but really isn't. SUMMARY:  All the Broken Pieces by Ann Burg is about a boy from Vietnam living as an adopted child in America. He is on this baseball team but is still sad. He misses his real parents and Vietnam. WHY LIKE:  It is about a man discovering new places. CHARACTERS:  Matt Pin, his adoptive parents, and his real family. WHY GOOD:  It compares the Vietnam War to baseball in an extremely good way. RECOMMENDATION:  Excellent GENRE:  Historical Fiction DATE:  11/23/2010     Compound by S.A. Bodeen TITLE:  Compound AUTHOR NAME:  S.A. Bodeen NAME:  Sprina W AGE:  11 GRADE:  6 TEACHER:  Mr. Unger WHY READ:  It is has a ton of suspense and that it is sort of a mystery SUMMARY:  It is about a boy ,Eli, who has a very rich father who was a nuclear war specialist. One day his dad said there was a nuclear bomb dropped so they rushed down to their compound and can't come out. Just then they noticed their grandma was locked out and so was his twin,Eddy. WHY LIKE:  I liked it because it was had a lot of suspense. CHARACTERS:  Eli (twin in compound), Eddy (twin outside), Terese (little sister), Lexie (adopted older sister), Dad and Mom. WHY GOOD:  It’s very exciting and good. Eli has to find out why they are locked out and how to get out. RECOMMENDATION:  Fantastic GENRE:  Science Fiction DATE:  12/1/10   Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin TITLE:  Anything But Typical AUTHOR NAME:  Nora Baskin NAME:  Anand N AGE:  12 GRADE:  6 TEACHER:  Mr.Brandt WHY READ:  if you love reading books that are sort of like mysteries this is a great book for you. SUMMARY:  This book is a book about a boy who is autistic and he finds a girlfriend, but he does not want her to see him because he is autistic. Read the book to find out more. WHY LIKE:  This book starts out very vague and it becomes specific. It is also a cliff hanger because you feel like reading more and more. CHARACTERS:  Jason,Rebbeca,Mom,Dad WHY GOOD:  It is a cliff hanger and you feels like reading more and more to find out what is going to happen RECOMMENDATION:  Excellent GENRE:  Realistic Fiction DATE:  11/23/10 TITLE:  Anything But Typical AUTHOR NAME:  Nora Raleigh Baskin NAME:  Samuel N Y AGE:  11 GRADE:  6 TEACHER:  Mrs.Garner WHY READ:  It is a great story. SUMMARY:  This book is about an autistic child who is scared because he is different and he worries that people will make fun of him. He is supposed to go to a convention and meet a girl, but he is so nervous. WHY LIKE:  I liked this book because it shows how everyone is different, and that it is okay. CHARACTERS:  Jason Blake, Phoenix Bird (Rebecca) WHY GOOD:  It inspires other people to make a change by how they treat other people. RECOMMENDATION:  Excellent GENRE:  Realistic Fiction DATE:  11/23/10 When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead TITLE:  When You Reach Me AUTHOR NAME:  Rebecca Stead NAME:  Jodi C AGE:  11 GRADE:  6 TEACHER:  Mr. Unger WHY READ:  I would tell them how this book is all about mysteries, and if you like mysteries, or want to start reading them, they should DEFINITELY read this book. SUMMARY:  This story is about a 6th grade girl named Miranda who receives mysterious notes and doesn’t know what to do. One day she gets a death threat, but it’s not to her--it’s to her best friend. Who is this mysterious person and where are the notes coming from??? WHY LIKE:  I liked this book because I really enjoy mysteries and because the cover of the book looked amazing (even though you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover). CHARACTERS:  Miranda and Sal WHY GOOD:   It is completely not predictable RECOMMENDATION:  Excellent GENRE:  Adventure DATE:  11/23/10 TITLE:  When You Reach Me AUTHOR NAME:  Rebecca Stead NAME:  Doris C AGE:  11 GRADE:  6th TEACHER:  Mr. Unger WHY READ:  It has a lot of talks on time travel and how it works. So open your mind to it. SUMMARY:  Miranda's friend gets punched, and all of a sudden she starts getting strange notes. Slowly she also starts noticing things go missing. Like money and house keys. WHY LIKE:  The sad events especially toward the end of the book. CHARACTERS:  Miranda, Sal, Marcus and the laughing man. WHY GOOD:  The event that lead up to the major event. RECOMMENDATION:  Good GENRE:  Fantasy DATE:  11/23 10 TITLE:  When You Reach Me AUTHOR NAME:  Rebecca Stead NAME:  Jack S AGE:  11 GRADE:  6 TEACHER:  Grunley WHY READ:  It was interesting. SUMMARY:  A girl used to have a best friend. They hung out all the time. But one day, a random kid comes up and punches her friend. He goes home and the friends don't see each other for a while. She meets the guy who punched her best friend and they somehow become friends. Also, she starts getting notes from somebody who seems to know her. Then it all just gets stranger.... WHY LIKE:  Because it was creative and not corny. CHARACTERS:  some kids. (3) WHY GOOD:  The confusion and suspense makes you want to keep reading. RECOMMENDATION:  Excellent GENRE:  Adventure DATE:  11/23/10 TITLE:  When You Reach Me AUTHOR NAME:  Rebecca Stead NAME:  Dana R AGE:  11 GRADE:  6 TEACHER:  Mr. Brandt WHY READ:  This book is an amazing and very touching story, and will help teens learn more about their inner-self. SUMMARY:  WHEN YOU REACH ME by Rebecca Stead is about a girl who loses her best friend due to an unexpected injury caused by a stranger. Also, she starts getting mysterious notes. While Miranda has troubles with her life, her mom is competing in a game show that could make them "rich". Only if they won.... WHY LIKE:  This book helped me understand more about the universe and the way things worked. CHARACTERS:  Marinda, Sal, and Marcus. WHY GOOD:  This book is one of those books that has a weird point of view which is why it is so special. RECOMMENDATION:  Excellent GENRE:  Fantasy DATE:  11/23/10 TITLE:  When You Reach Me AUTHOR NAME:  Rebecca Stead NAME:  Eowyn P AGE:  11 GRADE:  6 TEACHER:  Mr. Unger WHY READ:  There is some time travel and a lot of revealed secrets and shocks. SUMMARY:  Miranda doesn't believe in time travel until she starts getting these mysterious letters from somebody she doesn't think she knows. It turns out that her friend Marcus is the crazy old man that's always hanging around the mailbox and also the one who sent her the letters. Is time travel really possible? What is the reason for all this? Read the book to find out. WHY LIKE:  I liked the book because it's almost a realistic fiction book without the time travel parts which is the type of genre I prefer. Although it's not completely realistic fiction, the added time travel events made the book more exciting. CHARACTERS:  Miranda, Marcus, Annemarie, and "older Marcus"(older Marcus time traveled to the "past" time so there were two Marcus's but they were the same person) WHY GOOD:  The words weren't hard to understand which made it enjoyable, and the setting was like real life which I always love to read. RECOMMENDATION:  Fantastic GENRE:  Unknown DATE:  11/23/10 TITLE:  When You Reach Me AUTHOR NAME:  Rebecca Stead NAME:  Sprina W AGE:  11 GRADE:  6 TEACHER:  Mr. Unger WHY READ:  It was confusing but good. SUMMARY:  It’s about this girl who has a best friend, Sal. He at one point got punched and wasn't her best friend anymore. WHY LIKE:  It was really confusing; you would have to understand the plot to like it. CHARACTERS:  Sal and Miranda WHY GOOD:  It was confusing, but really good because it was challenging. RECOMMENDATION:  Excellent GENRE:  Unknown DATE:  12/2/10 Student book reveiws organized and maintained by Beth Richard, Media Specialist. Back to Student Book Reviews
		Back to Cabin John Media Center
Last updated January 13, 2011 Web site designed and maintained by Brenda Green MCPS HOME | ABOUT MCPS | SCHOOLS | FOR PARENTS | FOR STUDENTS | FOR STAFF | COMMUNITY © 1995-2011 Montgomery County Public Schools. All rights reserved. Privacy | Get Adobe Acrobat Reader | Get RealPlayer |Montgomery County