Posted on by Wendy

Scooby Doo 89’s perspective on life is changed by “Unbroken.”

Unbroken

Title: Unbroken

Author: Laura Hillenbrand

Genre: Non-fiction, Biography

Rating: 5 Stars

 Unbroken is captivating and keeps you hooked on the story at the turn of each page.  It has changed my perspective on life and is by far my favorite book.  This story is based on Louie Zamperini: the man that went from Olympian to airman to captive.  Louie starts out as a troublemaker in his little town in California.  That changes when Louie’s brother Pete coaches him in running.  He goes on to break records while getting ready for the 1940 London Olympics.  Then World War Two breaks out, the Olympics are cancelled.  and Louie applies to be a U.S. airman.  After years in his new job, his crew is shot down in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.  Louie and a few of the other men on the plane are stuck on a life raft for 43 days, until they wash ashore on Japanese territory, where they find themselves in even worse danger.  This amazing story is perfect for young adult readers who love adventurous biographies.

Reviewer: Scooby Doo 89

Age: 12

Posted on by Wendy · 1 Comment

rydes406 finds depth to tragedy in “Between Shades of Gray.”

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Title: Between Shades of Gray

Author: Ruta Sepetys

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: 4.5stars

Between Shades of Gray is a sophisticated book about a fifteen-year-old girl from Lithuania named Lina. Her life is perfectly normal until one night, when Soviets come to her house and give her and her family thirty minutes to collect things like clothes. The Soviets take them to the train station and put them on trains to a labor camp in the middle of Siberia. She is separated from her father, as he has been shipped to a prison. The book often revolves around her trying to contact her father and the struggles that she faces while being separated from him, because she was very close to him.

I think this is a very good book for people who like reading about World War II and unknown World War II stories. It goes into depth about the torture, death, and struggles that prisoners like Lina faced at the camp. I think this is one of the best books about World War II mainly because the Genocide of the Baltic People isn’t a very well known story among World War II tragedies. It makes me feel very sorry for the people that had to experience the Genocide of the Baltic People.

Reviewer: rydes406

Age: 14

Posted on by Wendy

Isabella406 finds thrill, mystery and heartbreak in “Twilight!”

twilight-book-cover

Title: Twilight

Author: Stephanie Meyer

Genre: Suspense, Romance, Horror

Rating: 5 Stars

Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer, is thrilling, mysterious, and heartbreaking all at once. Bella, a girl from Phoenix, Arizona moves to tiny, freezing Forks, Washington (the rainiest part of the USA) to live with her dad. On the first day at her new school, she meets a boy named Edward, who seems to despise her from their first interaction.  

As the two grow closer, Bella begins to see Edward as the supernatural creature he is. Mysterious things begin to happen to them and they learn that love for your family can get you in and out of the most dangerous situations… I loved how Bella transitions from an innocent high school kid to a girl whose life will never be the same for all eternity. Twilight is a great series for anyone who wants a fantasy, adventure, and an amazing love story rolled up into one series.

Reviewer: Isabella406

Age: 12

Posted on by Wendy

Duckface is changed after reading “A Young People’s History of the United States.”

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Title: A Young People’s History of the United States

Author: Howard Zinn

Genre: Non-Fiction, History

Rating: 5 Stars

Howard Zinn has written a historical non-fiction book that is thrilling, stunning, and educational. A Young People’s History of the United States is about early American history. It talks about every social class in U.S. history and is not biased for or against one side at all. All the details of the Revolutionary War, The French and Indian War, and more, are explained. How the wars were caused and started is all told and recognized. One interesting fact is that the Natives didn’t even want to fight in the French and Indian War but they got paid a lot, so they fought anyway.

I would recommend this book to historians and kids who want to know more about the history of how America started and about the thirteen colonies. This book has changed the way I see things in my everyday life, because I now wonder how homeless people end up on the street and what their lives must have been like when they were young. They could have been born into poverty like slaves were born into slavery. Or, maybe, their parents had a successful life but they got fired from their jobs and ended up on the streets. All in all, this book has changed my life and how I see the real world.

Reviewer: Duckface

Age: 12

Posted on by Wendy · 1 Comment

Hallelujah… explores the meaning of friendship in “Peaches!”

Peaches.jpg

Title: Peaches

Author: Jodi Lynn Anderson

Genre: Realistic, Romance

Rating: 4 Stars

Jodi Lynn Anderson’s writing is packed with many tender adventures, especially her book, Peaches.  In this book, Murphy, Birdie, and Leeda are three relatable young girls finding their way through adolescence.  Birdie’s family owns a peach orchard where Murphy and Leeda are forced to work all summer. That same orchard will unite these three girls forever.  

At first, Murphy, Birdie, and Leeda are not friends at all: they are quite the opposite of each other. Birdie is shy, homeschooled, and thoughtful, Leeda is bright, attractive, and forgiving, and Murphy is sexy, adventurous, and a troublemaker. But when the orchard goes into financial distress, the three girls come together to save the business.

I thought this book described the meaning of friendship well, and I really loved it!  However, there were some parts I thought to be rude or wrong, like when Murphy stole Rex away from Leeda.  I think the writer could have written Rex to be more loyal or compassionate.  And Leeda was too forgiving in that situation. Nevertheless, I appreciated this book because it is very engaging and a really fun read.  Each character has a wonderful personality and spirit.  I think this is a worthwhile read. I give this book a 4-star rating.  If you read this book, you will learn all about the girls’ unbreakable friendship and the conflict they work out in all three Peaches books.

Reviewer: Hallelujah…

Age: 13

Posted on by Wendy

Nightowl’s breath is taken away by “The Hunger Games!”

Hunger_Games

Title: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Genre: Dystopian, Science Fiction

Rating: 5 Stars

The Hunger Games is an adventurous fiction book about a girl named Katniss who has to survive a life or death game. It is so breathtaking and wonderful that you don’t want to put the book down until you are done with it. It is about Katniss, a 16-year-old girl who is very responsible and takes care of her mom, sister, and friends, and her friend Peeta, a 16-year-old boy, as they try to survive.

The “hunger games“ is a once-a-year gathering. Two tributes are picked: one girl and one boy between the ages of 12 and 18 from each district. It is televised the whole time. They are put into a futuristic forest arena to compete against each other to the death. In a game for their lives, they will face challenges such as murder, sickness, natural disasters, and homesickness. Will they survive? Will they win?

What I liked about the book was that Katniss and Peeta are around my age (a little older), and I could relate to them. Katniss is a girl so that made a difference for me, because not many books have main female characters. I would recommend this book to anyone who has read The Maze Runner by James Dashner or Divergent by Victoria Ross. You would also enjoy this book if you like fast-paced adventure books with cliffhangers. Read The Hunger Games!!!

Reviewer: nightowl

Age: 12

Posted on by Wendy

HockeyDawg is deeply moved by the lasting bonds of friendship in “The One and Only Ivan.”

The_One_and_Only_Ivan

Title: The One and Only Ivan

Author: Katherine Applegate

Genre: Fiction

Rating: 4 Stars

The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate, is a very touching, sad and loving story. It is about two elephants and a gorilla making promises and sacrifices, and being brave.         

In this story, a silverback gorilla named Ivan lives in a domain at the Big Top Mall with an older elephant named Stella and a stray dog named Bob. They perform in a circus three times a day, 365 days a year.

 

When a new, shy baby elephant named Ruby arrives, Stella acts like a mom to Ruby and they learn new tricks together. But a change in Stella’s health worries Ivan and he is scared of what might happen to her and if he’ll be able to take care of Ruby on his own.

 

In conclusion, I loved this book so much that I could read it a thousand times and never get tired of it. Based on a real-life story of a gorilla that was caged in a mall, this story is deeply moving and full of heart. If you like animal stories or stories about the lasting bonds of friendship, this is the story for you.

 

Reviewer: HockeyDawg

Age: 12

Posted on by Wendy

Lbutterfly finds inspiration and adventure in “Nancy Drew and the Secret of the Old Clock.”

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Title: Nancy Drew and the Secret of the Old Clock

Author: Carolyn Keene

Genre: Mystery

Rating: 4 Stars

Nancy Drew and the Secret of the Old Clock is an engaging mystery story with cliffhangers at the end of each page. This book inspires me to do more for others and to appreciate fully what I have. To take nothing for granted.

Nancy Drew stumbles upon a family who is in need of money. This family was depending on inheriting money from their wealthy relative, Josiah Crowley. But after his death, his will went missing and they were left penniless. Nancy has to travel to many of Josiah Crowley’s friends’ and families’ houses where she gathers clues. She takes on this case and, with the help of her father and many other people, Nancy journeys to unravel all the secrets.

This book will make you turn page after page for hours on end. I love the way that Nancy just keeps on going. I recommend this book to anyone who likes books that are filled with lots of action, adventure, and mystery. If you have not read this book, I highly suggest it to everyone.

Reviewer: Lbutterfly

Age: 12

Posted on by Wendy

jay Z finds his oasis in “Ready Player One!”

Ready Player OneTitle: Ready Player One

Author: Ernest Cline

Genre: Dystopian, Science Fiction

Rating: 5 Stars

Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline, is a dystopian science fiction novel, set in the year 2044 and chalk full of 80’s video games, adventure, and mystery.

Protagonist Wade Watts is a teen who has found the first clue in the puzzle to a $200 billion fortune left behind by James Halliday.  Halliday is the recently deceased, 80’s-obsessed creator of the virtual reality video game called The Oasis.  

This fortune is hidden deep inside the game as an Easter egg. The catch: the competition is open to the billions of people who own Oasis consoles and haptic equipment. Furthermore, Wade has to contend with IOI, a giant corporation bent on taking control of the Oasis and cheating their way to the egg.

This book is a fantastic, compelling read.  By the second chapter in, I vowed to add this to my permanent library. The characters Cline brings to life are so crystal clear and lifelike, I wished it would never stop. This story was my oasis from the dull reality of life; for this, I am forever indebted to Cline for his enchanting wizardry with words.

Reviewer: jay Z

Age: 13

Posted on by Wendy

Hellemhockey pushes through with this powerful review of “Unbroken.”

Unbroken.jpg

Title: Unbroken

Author: Laura Hillenbrand

Genre: Non-fiction, Biography

Rating: 5 Stars

Unbroken is an adventurous thriller about never giving up and always pushing through. This book is a true story about a man named Louis Zamperini who was an Olympic runner, and was at the peak of his career when he was drafted into World War 2. His plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. He endured a forty-day raft trip with the danger of starvation, dehydration, and death from sharks. When his raft washed up in Japan, he was captured by the Japanese and put into POW (prisoner of war) camps. Here he used his perseverance to make it through the war.

I really like how Louie is a fighter and never gives up. One example is when he was in the POW camp and held a twenty-foot-long 2 x 4 over his head for twenty minutes because he didn’t want to give the captain the satisfaction of seeing him fail. This captain, named “The Bird,” was one of the terrible leaders of the POW camps.  Louis was beaten, humiliated, and degraded.

In my opinion, this book keeps you turning the pages. I can’t wait to read it again.

Reviewer: hellemhockey

Age: 13

Posted on by Wendy · 1 Comment

FatRat recommends the twists and secrets in “Salt To the Sea.”

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Title: Salt to the Sea

Author: Ruta Sepetys

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: 4 Stars

Salt To The Sea, by Ruta Sepetys, is compassionate and filled with tragedy. It takes place near the end of World War Two. This book follows the perspective of four main characters, all with secrets to hide: (1) a former worker at Hitler’s personal museum now on the run, (2) a fifteen-year-old immigrant from Poland, trying to hide her nationality, (3) a Lithuanian nurse, trying to get to Germany, and (4) a Nazi, at the bottom of the pecking order, with delusions of grandeur, an inflated ego and a desire to please his betters. The first three of these four all meet in East Prussia through luck, bad luck, and coincidence. They get wind of a ship that would take them out of the war and into safety, The Wilhelm Gustloff. Meanwhile, the Nazi is assigned to help clean and manage the very same ship. These characters are pulled along the plotline by tragedy, love, war, and greed to their destiny.

Salt to the Sea is an engaging book and does a great job of bringing these characters to life. I am amazed at how the author was able to show the point of view of four different characters. It is filled with twists and is an interesting book to read.

Reviewer: FatRat

Age: 13

Posted on by Wendy · 1 Comment

Naomi reveals her affection for the priceless and amazing “El Deafo!”

El Deafo.jpg

Title: El Deafo

Author: Cece Bell

Genre: Non-fiction, Memoir

Rating: 5 Stars

El Deafo is the funniest and yet most poignant graphic novel I have ever read. It is a memoir of author Cece Bell’s struggles after she becomes sick and loses her hearing at the age of four.  Until she reaches second grade, Bell lives in her own bubble with few friends because she is shy. All through the book, she thinks of herself as a superhero, known as El Deafo. By the time she reaches second grade, her social life is really only her brother and sister and one mean friend. When a new boy moves into town, she falls in love. The way the author explains how they interact is beyond hilarious.

 El Deafo is so touching and never gets old. I think I’ve read it 10 times and every time I read it, I deeply enjoy it. The cartooning is one of the best parts. The drawings are detailed but not overwhelming, and some of the best cartoons in this book are El Deafo superhero dreams, which are priceless. This is a must-read book full of humor, joy, and friendship between amazing characters.

Reviewer: Naomi

Age: 14

Posted on by Wendy

Martin_Montes finds mysterious threads in “The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night-Time.”

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Title: The Curious Incident of The Dog in The Night-Time

Author: Mark Haddon

Genre: Mystery

Rating: 4 Stars

The Curious Incident of The Dog in The Night-Time, by Mark Haddon, starts with a fabulous mystery because a dog has been killed with a giant pitchfork. The narrator is Christopher and he is an autistic teenager. His mom died two years ago.

In the neighborhood, on the night he finds the stabbed dog, Christopher decides to investigate who killed the dog. Christopher investigates about of the murder of the dog by himself. What will he find?

I like this book because it has so much mystery and I get to focus on the story and it is a good story.  But sometimes, the story is kind of strange. For example, the chapters are in prime numbers. The text includes drawings. The main character misunderstands people because of his autism.

This book succeeds in maintaining a mystery throughout while giving the reader a deep sense of what it would be like to have a mental condition. In this way, the reader learns a lot.

Reviewer: Martin_Montes

Age: 15