Friday, February 26, 2010


Kit’s Wilderness by David Almond
This book is about how people think that these four kids had disappeared, but they didn’t disappear, they were in a cave with one of their friends. They ended up in there because they were playing a game called “Death,” and one of these four kids had to die (not really). The other people leave the person that “died” and the game goes on and on. One time it took the kids a long time to find their way out of the cave and that’s why people started looking for them. I would recommend this book because it is weird, but interesting because it is like nothing I’ve ever read before. Another reason I would recommend this book is because of the way the author writes.
Reviewer: Miya Reed, Grade 6

Blood on the River by Elisa Carbone
This book is about a boy named Samuel Collier, who fought to survive in James Town 400 years ago. He didn’t have anything until he heard about a shore with gold that washed up at every tide. I would recommend this book to students that enjoy reading mystery books to find out how he survives in James Town 400 years ago.
Reviewer: Ananyah Nailon, Grade 6

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
The book Twilight is the first in a fascinating series. In Twilight, Bella has just come from Phoenix, her hometown, to live with her father, Charlie, in Forks. When she meets an unusual boy named Edward Cullen, her life takes a twist from better to worse. Bella learns the secret Edward is so desperate to keep. Stephanie Meyer is a very amazing writer. She writes a very thrilling book about love and pain. You’ll want to read her book every minute you’re awake!
Reviewer: Alyssa Bradford, Grade 8

Extras by Scott Westerfeld
Extras is the fourth book in the “Uglies” series. In this book Tally has been gone from the public eye for a couple of years since the creation of “Mind Rain.” Now her comes Aya Fuse, a “Kicker” who is obsessed with becoming famous “tech-heads.” Her face rank of 451, 369 is lower than ever so now she is out to kick a story to bump her face rank. When kids find out about a lead on a story, she gets caught up in trouble with everyone. Now Tally has come into the public eye to try and stop what Aya created, a special circumstance. Scott Westerfeld has created an amazing series. This book is thrilling and exciting, and never gets boring.
Reviewer: Alyssa Bradford, Grade 8

Specials by Scott Westerfeld
This book is the third book in the “Uglies” series. If you’ve read the first two books, Uglies, and Pretties, you would know that Tally Youngblood used to fight the Specials, now she is one of them! She and her special clique, the “Cutters,” are on a special task to stamp out the “New Smoke.” Now Tally is faced with decisions as never before. Everything gets out of control! I would totally recommend this book. As I’ve said before, this book is very well written. Scott Westerfeld has made this book in this series a real page turner.
Reviewer: Alyssa Bradford, Grade 8

Cirque Du Freak by Darren Shan
The book Cirque Du Freak is about a boy named Darren Shan. He is an average boy living a regular life. But when a freak show comes to town, al goes downhill for Darren. Darren is having to sacrifice things like never before now that he’s making new enemies, and friends. This book is very compelling, funny, and exciting. It’s a book that will always have you on edge, and you’ll never be bored again!
Reviewer: Alyssa Bradford, Grade 8

Thursday, February 11, 2010


Blood on the River by Elisa Carbone
Blood on the River is about an English slave’s experience on going to different parts of the world that England discovered. The slave had to come because he attempted to steal. As the crew and slaves went to travel the Caribbean Islands, everyone under deck was complaining during every storm that struck. Once that ended, they arrive to the islands with Captain John Smith trying to communicate with the natives. After they stayed there for a few days, they left the islands to travel to another place to search for gold because they were ordered to go to different places to find gold. However, when the ship arrives in Virginia, more horrible events happened. I would recommend this book to another student because this book has a lot of information about this piece of history. Also because this book can excite students about the adventures the people in the book had.
Reviewer: Jezliah Pelayo, Grade 6

Alabama Moon by Watt Key
This book is telling you about how a 10 year-old boy named Moon is surviving in the forest by himself because his father died. His father’s dream is that Moon will move on to Alaska to find people like them and to get away from the government. Students who love to read mystery books will love this one because it is telling you what Moon had to do to get away from the government and move to Alaska.
Reviewer: Ananyah Nailon, Grade 6

Wednesday, February 10, 2010


The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

This story is mostly about a boy named Holling Hoodhood and he thinks that his teacher, Mrs. Baker, is out to get him because his teacher makes him read Shakespeare outside of class. Holling Hoodhood is supposed to stay out of trouble but he can’t because his teacher is out to make his life horrible. I would recommend this book because if you just look at the cover, you automatically know it is interesting because it is colorful and when you read it, you might feel the way this boy feels.

Reviwer: Miya Reed, Grade 6

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

This book is about a seventh grader named Holling Hoodhood. He just started seventh grade and he thinks his teacher, Mrs. Baker, is out to get hime because she makes him read Shakespeare outside of class. Holling Hoodhood is really in for it! The book is telling you how hard it was for Holling Hoodhood in seventh grade and maybe you know how he is feeling or you might be going through the same things. Some people can relate.

Reviewer: Ananyah Nailon, Grade 6

Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

The book Pretties is the second book in the series Uglies. It is about Tally becoming a pretty. She is having a blast, going to parties and has a hot boyfriend. But all that stops when she gets a letter from her past. Now Tally is out to find a cure to treat all the pretty-minded! The “specials” won’t even stop her. Scott Westerfield has outdone himself again. This is a great story about being yourself and not being programmed to be something you’re not. I loved this book!

Reviewer: Alyssa Bradford, Grade 8


Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

The book Uglies is a very good book. It’s about a girl named Tally who’s obsessed with becoming a “pretty.” All that is put on hold when Tally meets a new girl named Shay. When Shay runs away, Tally is presented with an ultimate decision—stay an ugly for life or become a pretty and betray her friend, Shay. I would recommend this book to my friends because, first of all, this book is amazingly well written. The story is all-original, not a spin-off of other books, and the author is an amazing writer.

Reviewer: Alyssa Bradford, Grade 8

The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: 8th Grade Bites by Heather Brewer

Vladimir Tod is a teenage vampire living off of bags of blood that his Aunt Nelly gets for him. His crush has a crush on his friend, Henry. But when a creepy new teacher comes in and replaces a missing teacher, Mr. Craig, all this creepy, strange stuff starts to happen. Vladimir is in the center of the horror and confusion. What will he do?

I would recommend this book because, other than the vampire stuff, it’s kind of what a normal kid would go through.

Reviewer: Tiffany Blodgett, Grade 8


The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith

The story is mostly about a girl named Ellen. She thinks something bad is going to happen and she feels scared and lost. She feels lost because she got home from the airport and was waiting for her mom and dad, looking out the window, but they were not there. She feels lost without them. She feels scared because she does not want to meet new people. Ellen has to live with her sister Margaret and her aunt Judith. She goes to high school and she wants to be the girl that every boy wants and the girl that every girl wants to be. I would recommend this book to other students because, if you haven’t watched the show, the book will keep you wondering about what’s going to happen next. It is very interesting to read.

Reviewer: Miya Reed, Grade 6