September 1, 2009
· Filed under Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Noah and his little sister Abby need to prove that Dusty is dumping waste from his casino boat into the ocean. But with their dad in jail for sinking the boat, they don’t have anyone to help them, except Lice and his girlfriend.
I thought that Shelly was a memorable character because she was really tough at the beginning and not so much at the end.
I think that the title means that they need to prove that Dusty is flushing waste into the ocean.
I liked this book because it is pretty funny. I recommend this book for grades 5-7. I give this book 4 stars.
- Review written by Leah C., grade 6
September 1, 2009
· Filed under Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Claire is finally one of Massie’s friends, but is Alicia? When Alicia gets
tired of Massie being in charge, she starts her own clique, and things get a little messy. Who will Kristen and Dylan side with?
I think the most memorable character is Alicia because she dares to be different from Massie.
I think the title means that the wannabe (Alicia) finally gets revenge.
I liked this book because Alicia tries to finally show Massie she’s not the boss.
I recommend this book for grades 5-8. I give this book 5 stars.
- Review written by Leah C., grade 6
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September 1, 2009
· Filed under Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Massie Block lives in Westchester, New York, with her three best
friends: Dylan Marvil, Alicia Rivera and Kristen Gregory. When one of her dad’s friends and his family move into Massie’s guesthouse, Massie can’t stand Claire, the family’s daughter. Massie makes sure that Claire won’t be popular at school and won’t fit in. Massie does not want to be seen with the new girl.
I think the most memorable character is Claire because she really tries to fit in with Massie and her friends.
I think the title means that when Massie meets Claire she automatically doesn’t like Claire.
I liked the book because it really is something that can really happen.
I recommend this book for grades 5-8. I give this book 4 1/2 stars.
- Review written by Leah C., grade 6
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August 31, 2009
· Filed under Fiction, Realistic Fiction
In The Accidental Cheerleader, shy Sophie is convinced by her best
friend, outgoing, energetic Kylie to try out for cheerleading. Even though Sophie is only doing it so Kylie can get in, she ends up being the flyer, and Kylie only gets to be the mule mascot. Daily after school cheer practices take away time that the two friends used to spend together. Since Sophie makes new friends on the team, she often has to choose between them and Kylie. Ironically, it could be the cheer tryouts, which Kylie had wanted to do so much, that might break apart her friendship with Sophie.
A memorable event is when Sophie, a former nobody, slow dances with Scott Hersh, the school’s star quarterback.
The title is important because Sophie only tries out for the squad because Kylie needs a partner in order to qualify. Even though she doesn’t mean to make it, Sophie is picked instead of Kylie.
I like this book because it shows how true friendship can make it through really tough times. I recommend The Accidental Cheerleader to girls grades 4-7 and rate it 5 stars.
- Review written by Alissa R., grade 6
August 31, 2009
· Filed under Fiction, Realistic Fiction
This book is about a girl named Willafred (Willa) who has always longed
for a best friend, a real home, and a father. Willa and her widowed mother, Stella, have lived all allong the Atlantic coast, moving whenever Stella gets scared of getting close to someone. When they move to Cape Cod, Willa finally feels at home and gets to know her grandma. She also makes a best friend named Tina. Plus Stella really seems to like Willa’s English teacher, whose wife and son were killed in a car crash years ago.
Stella, the wedding planner, has a layer of steel around her broken heart from when her husband died.
The title is important because Willa’s mom planned other people’s weddings for her job. Willa wasn’t supposed to go near her mom’s studio, but the night before every wedding, she secretly sewed cherry pits into the hem of the bride’s gown to symbolize love.
I liked this book because throughout it Willa tries to break the coating to get to Stella’s heart so she can make her dream of having a father come true. I recommend The Wedding Planner’s Daughter to girls ages 10-13. I give it 5 stars.
- Review written by Alissa R., grade 6
August 30, 2009
· Filed under Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Stylie Kylie Lovett and shy Sophie Smith have been BFF’s forever. So when Kylie signs them both up for cheerleading tryouts, of course Sophie ends up making the team and Kylie ends up on the sidelines as mascot. Now Sophie and Kylie aren’t spending as much time together because 8th grade queen and head cheerleader Keisha Reyes is keeping Sophie all to herself. Now Sophie feels torn between her BFF and the other cheerleaders. Will Sophie and Kylie become best friends again or is it already too late?
A memorable event in the book happens when the cheerleaders ban Kylie from a couple football games but they let her come back for the championship. My favorite part of the book was when Sophie was told she made the cheerleading team.
The meaning of the title is that Sophie became a cheerleader by accident.
I recommend the book for grades 4-7 and give it 5 stars.
- Review written by Sierra B., grade 6
August 30, 2009
· Filed under Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Antonia is certain of two things in her life. She wants to be a saint, and
she is in love with Andy. Both are a problem for her. To be a saint you must be dead, and, at 15, she isn’t ready to die yet. Meanwhile, Andy doesn’t know she exists since her mother won’t let her out of the house. But Antonia won’t let that slow her down; she will become a saint and get Andy to notice her even if it kills her.
A memorable event is when Antonia stops by Mrs. Bevalaqua’s house. Antonia prays for Mrs. Bevalaqua, an old handicapped woman. Later that afternoon, the woman comes into Antonia’s family’s store and she is walking. The miracle gives Antonia the boost of confidence she needs to pursue her dream of sainthood.
The title refers to the small possibility of sainthood available to Antonia.
I liked this book because of all the familiar Italian customs that Antonia has to follow. I give this book 5 start and recommend it for grades 7 and up.
- Review by Maggie P., grade 8
August 30, 2009
· Filed under Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Annabelle looks like the perfect girl. But her sister has an eating
problem, and her best friend, Sophie, hates her. When Annabelle finally meets Owen, an outcast just like her, she starts to confide in him. Owen starts to convince Annabelle that it is okay to tell the truth to people even if they don’t want to hear it. Will Annabelle ever be able to tell anyone the truth about the night Sophie started hating her?
One memorable event is when Sophie and Annabelle meet. Sophie is trying to befriend Annabelle’s older sister, Kristen. When Kristen suggests that Annabelle try to be friends with Sophie, Sophie decides to be mean about it, because she wants to have older friends like Kristen. That’s when Sophie decides to be friends with Annabelle instead of Kristen.
The title refers to a song that Owen finds just for Annabelle called “Just Listen.”
I liked this book because it teaches you that you don’t always have to go with the crowd. I give this book 5 stars because of how well the book moves along and Sarah Dessen’s vivid detail. I recommend this book for grades 8 an up.
- Review written by Maggie P., grade 8
August 30, 2009
· Filed under Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Growing up in a religious community, two best friends couldn’t be more
different. Honey is a free-spirited girl who wishes nothing more than to leave this dreadful place. Agnes, a rule follower, believes in nothing more than what she has been told. When Nana Pete (Agnes’ Grandma) comes to town, she finds out something that she can’t handle. Then Nana Pete runs away with Agnes, Honey, and Benny (Agnes’s brother).
One memorable event is when Benny’s fingers get slammed in a door, and the top digits fall off. Emmanuel, the religious leader of the commune, sews them back on with thread. Nana Pete then takes Benny, Agnes and Honey, to the hospital to have Benny’s fingers sewn on. When the doctor comes out of the operation, Agnes asks the doctor if what Emmanuel did was a miracle. When the doctor clearly says, “No,” it makes Agnes start to question all that she has ever believed.
The title refers to how Honey likes butterflies, and Agnes wants nothing more than to be a saint.
I liked this book because it reminds us that you can change, and God will still love you. I give this book 5 stars for the way it makes you think about what is moral and recommend it for grades 8 and up for some mature points.
- Review written by Maggie P., grade 8
August 27, 2009
· Filed under Fantasy, Fiction
On assignment day at school, Lina Mayfleet desperately wants to be a
messenger but draws the job of pipeworks laborer instead. Doon Harrow draws messenger, so they trade. Lina and Doon live in the city of Ember where everything is dark except the light of the glowing streetlamps which sometimes go out for short periods of time. So when they find out that Ember is running low on lightbulbs, Lina and Doon are determined to find a way out of Ember and lead everyone to safety. Can they do it? Read the book and find out.
A memorable event is when Lina’s grandmother dies, so she and her sister Poppy move in with Mrs. Murdo, their friend. My favorite part of the book is when Poppy, Doon and Lina find the new world. They are surprised by grass because they have never seen or heard of it before.
The meaning of the title, The City of Ember, is that everybody lives in Ember and that is where the story takes place.
I recommend this book for grades 4-7 and give it 5 stars.
- Review written by Sierra B., grade 6