Posted by BOOK NAME: Stolen Into Slavery: The True Story of Solomon Northrup
AUTHORS: Judith and Dennis Fradin
Hello, guys. Check out this awesome new book! Stolen Into Slavery: The True Story of Solomon Northrup by Judith Fradin and Dennis Fradin has made me look for other books like it.
This wasn’t the funniest book I’ve read, and I definitely love books with lots of humor in them, but I don’t think it was meant to be funny. It’s about slavery, after all, so it’s pretty serious. It was set during the time of the Civil War. The main character, Solomon, is a free black man from New York. The ironic thing is that even though Simon is a free man, he is kidnapped and forced to be a slave in the South. It’s so frustrating to see how much he wants to get in touch with his family but can’t because he can’t trust just anyone to deliver mail or messages to them!
I thought this was a great book. I learned a lot while I was reading it and thought a lot about it after I was done. And even though it was as educational as a school book, it wasn’t just a list of facts. Stolen Into Slavery really grabbed my attention right away because it was about a specific person and his life. It has probably been my favorite to review too!
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Posted by BOOK NAME: The White Giraffe
AUTHOR: Lauren St. John
Martine is your average eleven year old girl living in England. But that all changes the night she loses her parents in a house fire. She has no other place to go but her grandmother’s home on a wildlife reserve in South Africa. Now she’s expected to live with this woman who is a stranger to her. Her grandmother turns out to be a kindly lady, but she seems to be hiding something. Martine is especially worried that the kids at her new school won’t accept her and that her traditions will be too different. Fortunately, she meets a boy named Ben with whom she confides her adventures with. He always has a kind ear for listening and helps Martine face challenges that she is intimidated by. Despite all her adjustment troubles, the thing that keeps her motivated is her secret friend, the white giraffe, who is only rumored to exist. The animal lives safely in the reserve, but Martine gets worried when she and her grandmother are finding more and more poacher traps. Do they know of her friend and if so, how can she protect her sacred secret?
The first thing that drew me to this book was the beautifully illustrated cover. The author uses such beautiful descriptive language that it definitely makes the book live up to its cover. I found it compelling, so it was really hard to put down until I got to the end. It has simple black and white illustrations throughout the book too. I recommend this book for almost anyone, but especially if you like adventure books or ones about different countries. This book was fast paced but also had nice sweet slow parts and is a great read for almost everyone.
Posted by BOOK NAME: Ranger’s Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan
AUTHOR: John Flanagan
15-year-old Will has grown up in an area of Castle Redmont called the ward. His friends Jenny, George, Alyss, and Horace, are his fellow wardmates. Children in the ward are the orphaned sons or daughters of war heroes or other important figures. Will is a particularly special orphan. He arrived at the doorstep of the ward, with a note simply stating his name and that his father had died a heroic death. Will has believed for all of his life that his father was a knight that died in a fierce battle with the evil Lord Morgarath and his legion of Wargals. Desperately wanting to carry on his father’s legacy, Will hopes to go to Battleschool and become a knight.
Unfortunately, Will is deemed too small to manage the hard physical labors of Battleschool, crushing his lifelong dream of knighthood. Then Halt, a member of a mysterious group of protectors called the Rangers, takes Will as his apprentice. The Rangers are a suspicious lot, and Will is not entirely sure if he likes his new life. Halt is going to train Will to become a fierce warrior, but not a knight. A nagging doubt about what his father would think of him haunts Will. What he doesn’t know is that Morgarath is planning another attack on the kingdom, and Will’s position as a Ranger’s apprentice may put him face to face with Morgarath’s vicious monsters.
Ranger’s Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan, is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. The storyline is fantastically written. It has just the right mix of suspense, excitement, humor, and fierce battles. My favorite part of the story is the part where Will, Halt, Baron Arald, and Sir Rodney fight the dreaded monsters called the Kalkara. The description of the battle was so riveting that I could not stop reading until I discovered the outcome. My favorite character is Halt, Will’s teacher. He is crafty, very wise, and a master archer. His skill made him a force to be reckoned with, no matter what enemy he faced. His normally stoic nature and steadfast attitude were sometimes interrupted with sarcastic comments, making him interesting to read about. This book is the first book in a series, and if I can get my hands on another Ranger’s Apprentice book, I will most certainly read it. Definitely read Ranger’s Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan.
Posted by BOOK NAME: Tall Story
AUTHOR: Candy Gourlay
This book is about a boy named Bernardo who was very short for much of his childhood and then magically grew to be eight feet tall when he was teenager. When he suddenly grew that tall, the earthquakes mysteriously stopped on the island in the Philippines where he lived with his aunt and uncle. When he was told he could move to England to live with his mother, step-father and half-sister, Andi (who are all pretty short), the people on the island begged him to stay because they were afraid the earthquakes would return with him not there. Bernardo’s sister was both surprised and disturbed by how tall he was. She was an exceptional basketball player, and wouldn’t let her below-average height bother her because she never missed a single shot. Meanwhile, Bernardo could just stand there and tip the ball into the hoop without trying. Life became very hard for Bernardo in school and at home, including his relationship with his sister. He eventually told her the story of how he became so tall and she found it very thrilling. You’ll have to read the book for yourself to find out how he grew so fast.
I liked how the book was written from both Bernardo’s and Andi’s perspectives. Every other chapter was from the other’s perspective, which gave it a lot more voice than if the author hadn’t done this. It was better than just writing it in the third person.
Posted by BOOK NAME: Toys Come Home
AUTHOR: Emily Jenkins
Toys Come Home by Emily Jenkins is a story all about the adventures of a few soft toy animals. The soft toys teach you important morals about friendship and taking responsibility.
Stingray is a blue friendly soft toy who arrives at a little girl’s house as her birthday gift. Stingray is learning all about the house and trying to make friends with the other toys, Sheep and Bobby Dot, the walrus. However, Stingray does not like their personalities as Sheep is lazy and sleepy and Bobby Dot is mean and brags. But, Stingray is a true hero for she rescues Sheep from a thorny bush he gets stuck on. When Bobby Dot dies in the dryer, the girl buys Lumphy, the buffalo to take his place. Stingray and Lumphy become good friends and enjoy playing games together. They are soon joined by a playful intelligent ball named Plastic. The three of them realize that they along with the girl are a true family.
This book is a perfect read when you want to enjoy some simple adventure. It’s amazing how each toy has an individual personality that is reflected by their acts. For example, Plastic is intelligent as she reads lots of books and Lumphy is brave for he saves a mouse from a cat. Also, I could picture the toys so easily because of the detailed descriptions. This book reminds me about little children interacting with each other. I cannot wait to read more about the toy’s adventures in the sequels, Toys Go Out and Toy Dance Party.
BOOK NAME: The Unknown Spy
AUTHOR: Eoin McNamee
Hi again, blog readers! I’m glad to be back but not glad to tell you that I’m reviewing a book that I most definitely did not love. It’s The Unknown Spy by Eoin McNamee.
The book is about a spy named Danny and all his friends going on a quest to save the treaty stone, a stone that makes it impossible for the Lower World to invade Danny’s world, the Upper World. Right before the quest begins, two of the four quest members get stuck at the spy school. Now only Danny and one other quest member are going on the quest. It’s crazy how much double-crossing and lying they go through to get the stone back safely so they can save the world!
I think the main reason I didn’t like it was because I thought it was full of negative stuff. For instance, my favorite character, Les was really funny and a good sport but he was excluded from all his friends’ quests. Who would exclude a nice guy like Les? The guy who excluded him was a big jerk named Bruneholm. He was my least favorite character because he was kind of an adult bully. He was the assistant headmaster of the spy school that Les and his friends attended.
Anyway, this book is a bit scary so I wouldn’t try reading it at night. It freaked me out a couple of times when I was up late with it! It’s a book that is full of surprises, traitors, hatred and war, so if you’re into that kind of stuff, you might just like it. I didn’t though. Sorry!
Posted by BOOK NAME: Amelia Lost
AUTHOR: Candace Fleming
For those of you who were waiting for a review about a non-fiction book, here it is!
The book Amelia Lost tells the story of Amelia Earhart, a courageous woman pilot who encouraged women to chase their dreams. The story begins with Amelia’s birth, and tells the entire story of her life until her disappearance.
Amelia was always an adventurous person. Throughout her entire life, Amelia proved that you can overcome any challenge. She had many difficulties in her family life, like her father’s drinking issues, and her parents’ divorce. She also had many challenges in aviation, like issues with her airplane’s radio, and bad weather. Yet that did not discourage Amelia from doing what she loved most; flying! Amelia broke many aviation records, including being the woman who flew to the highest altitude, being the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, being the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean alone, and others.
Amelia’s biggest record was to be the first woman to fly around the world at its widest point. Yet unlike her other records, this one she never achieved. She got lost on her trip, and was never found.
In this book, the author tells the story of Amelia Earhart’s life in great detail. In between each chapter, the author puts stories of people who heard Amelia’s cry for help when she was lost.
I really enjoyed reading the book! It is amazing how much Amelia encouraged women not to give up on their dreams because of their gender. Amelia always showed the world that women can achieve great things just as much as men. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt said right after the search for Amelia was terminated, “I’m sure Amelia’s last words were, ‘I have no regrets.’”
BOOK NAME: Penny From Heaven
AUTHOR: Jennifer L. Holm
Twelve year old Penny Falucci doesn’t have a father, but she doesn’t mind because she has more than enough of the rest of her crazy, wacky family to fill her time. In fact, sometimes she feels like she has too much love to know what to do with it all. Penny is sick of her mom being overprotective, so to pass the time she usually gets into trouble with her cousin, Frankie. And when Penny has a question, she just goes to her Uncle Dominic who lives in a car and is full of strange wisdom. But living in the 1950s is no easy task when Penny’s mother won’t let her go to the movies or the pool because of the polio scare. Penny feels like she has a lot of responsibilities, especially when her dog, Scarlett O’Hara, thinks the world is her bathroom.
The summer is passing by at a leisurely pace when a tragic event occurs; her mom is dating again! But not just with anyone, she is dating the milkman! How embarrassing is that? This book is one filled with wonderful wackiness, with Penny just riding through her very different life. I loved this book because it was a very light, comforting read all about family and how Penny fits in. I love all the quirky characters that make up Penny’s colorful family with their individual traits. Look for it next time you go to the bookstore or library.
BOOK NAME: Belly Up
AUTHOR: Stuart Gibbs
Hippos may not be the cutest and cuddliest of creatures. They rank second behind the Cape buffalo on the list of the most dangerous African animals. They are often ill-tempered and messy beasts. Henry the Hippo was no exception, but Henry’s special title was mascot for Funjungle, a brand-new and extremely popular zoo/theme park. Shortly after arriving at Funjungle, Henry mysteriously died.
12-year-old Teddy is determined to find the cause of Henry’s sudden and unexpected demise. Teddy is the son of a renowned gorilla researcher and expert wildlife photographer. He spent 10 years of his life in the Congo, so he knows his animals. Henry’s death may not have been from natural causes. When Teddy secretly attends Henry’s autopsy, he discovers that Henry was murdered! A small, sharp object was placed in his food, and it poked holes in his digestive tract, eventually killing him. Teddy decides to try and apprehend the perpetrator of this heinous crime. However, the case quickly gets complicated. It turns out that Henry was not well liked by many people, all of whom are possible suspects in Henry’s murder. Not only that, the real murderer wants Teddy off his/her case, immediately! If Teddy does not solve the mystery soon, he might be the next casualty!
I have high praise for Belly Up. The element of mystery regarding Henry’s death kept my interest. As the story unfolded and new clues were discovered, I kept trying to guess the culprit. In a startling twist, the real murder was someone I had never guessed. The book was also very suspenseful. The killer made several attempts on Teddy’s life throughout the story. Those parts were very exciting. I liked how the book included an element of humor. Teddy often uses sarcasm and makes many funny comparisons and points. For example, he compares one security guard’s physique to that of a rhinoceros. The story was told in first person point-of-view, which added depth to the plot. Seeing the events through Teddy’s eyes, and knowing what he heard, smelled, saw, felt, and thought made it seem as if I was experiencing the story myself.
BOOK NAME: Fever 1793
AUTHOR: Laurie Halse Anderson
An epidemic in the United States, yellow fever, is brought to life in the book Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson.
Matilda is a young girl growing up in 1793 in the town of Philadelphia with her mother and grandfather. In the coffeehouse that her family runs, all the talk is that Yellow Fever is spreading in the city and taking lots of lives. Soon, her mother is infected with fever and there is no good cure. Yellow fever is contagious; hence Grandfather and Matilda flee from the town. However, Matilda contracts the disease and is cured by knowledgeable French doctors. The two of them head home and are shocked to find the city of Philadelphia deserted. Facing such hard times, Matilda wonders when the epidemic will end and life will be normal.
Fever 1793 is a very intriguing historical fiction book. It brings out a tragic time in America’s history through an interesting story. The story weaves in facts about the Yellow Fever like symptoms such as yellow skin and black vomit and treatments for the disease such as bleeding and the drinking of mercury. It is inspiring how a care-free girl like Matilda learns to help others and take on responsibilities in difficult times. At the end of some chapters, there was a lot of suspense, which made the book really fun to read.
BOOK NAME: The Battle of the Labyrinth
AUTHOR: Rick Riordan
Hi people! As you can probably tell, I’m a big fan of fantasy literature. This time I’m reviewing The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan. It’s the fourth book in the Percy Jackson series.
The Battle of the Labyrinth is basically about how Percy, Grover, Annabeth and Tyson go on a quest through the labyrinth, an endless maze of paths. The labyrinth has lots of tricky twists and dangerous turns. The quest involves stopping Luke who is trying to get to the labyrinth entrance and Camp Half-Blood. It’s a suspenseful story for sure!
Annabeth is probably my favorite character in the book. She’s this strong, outspoken person who knows exactly how to communicate her point which makes her cool to ‘listen’ to. She is one of the regular characters in the series, and has to face her used-to-be-best-friend, Luke, in this book. It’s exciting how she deals with the situation. She used to kind of like Luke, and still does a little bit, but she is actually starting to like Percy also. The book isn’t exactly mushy but you can tell there’s some girlfriend and boyfriend feelings going on. Anyway, the Annabeth scenes in the book are very interesting and really made me want to read more and more.
The Battle of the Labyrinth was definitely not my favorite book in the series, but absolutely worth reading. The cliffhanger ending in the book is amazing. I mean, I can’t tell you about it, but when you get to the end of the book you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. Read it and see!
BOOK NAME: The Egypt Game
AUTHOR: Zilpha Keatley Snyder
April comes to live with her grandmother, while her famous mother is on a tour. She moves in to her grandmother’s house, at the Casa Rosada. Also in the Casa Rosada building lives the Ross family. Melanie Ross, who is April’s age, quickly becomes her friend. They share their interests with each other, and discover that they both love ancient Egypt. They find a yard behind a store, owned by the Professor, and decide to create a secret Egypt game there, based on the customs of ancient Egypt.
Soon enough, the Egypt game has six members. They make their own hieroglyphic alphabet, and have Egyptian names. Then, when a little girl is murdered in their community and the police can’t find the criminal, all kids are told not to play outside, and the members of the Egypt game are afraid that they will never be able to return to Egypt (the yard behind the store). Soon, though, the talk dies down, the kids slowly return to play outside, and the members of the Egypt game return to Egypt.
One night, April and Marshall go to Egypt to get April’s math book. Someone grabs April, covers her mouth, and tries to drag her away. Finally, the strange person runs off. People think the criminal is the Professor, because no one really knows anything about him. Can they affirm their suspicion? Can the Egypt game continue?
I really loved this book! I love ancient cultures. My favorite character is April. She seems stuck up in the beginning of the book, but she really is nice. I recommend this book to everyone! It is definitely worth reading!
BOOK NAME: Christmas in Williamsburg
AUTHOR: K.M. Kostyal
When I say the word Christmas, what comes to mind? Things like Christmas trees, mistletoe, and the smell of cookies baking are probably just a few. While imagining this, have you ever stopped to think about where Christmas and the traditions associated with it came from? Most of these traditions are recent and come from many different counties. Many of them were brought by some of our earliest European settlers in Williamsburg and others were originated in America when they came here.
For example, a man from Germany introduced the Christmas tree to Williamsburg and it stuck as an annual tradition (hard to imagine Christmas without it). Today you think of the family sitting around the tree with presents for the kids underneath. But back in colonial times this holiday was not geared for the family, but was mostly a festive holiday party primarily for adults. Many people in colonial times got married during this holiday season because it was the only time the entire family was gathered. Even George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were married during Christmas.
This book describes American Christmas history and traditions from the past and present. It also gives instructions on how to mimic these traditions so that you may enjoy them at home. I followed the craft instructions for the paper chains and as I decorated our tree with my handmade crafts, I felt like it really made this Christmas special by reminding me where our traditions came from. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to put some of the old Williamsburg traditions into their own Christmas. Have fun doing this with your family and have a very Merry Christmas.
BOOK NAME: Beyonders: A World Without Heroes
AUTHOR: Brandon Mull
How would you feel if you were swallowed by a hippopotamus and suddenly found yourself in a parallel world where heroes are nonexistent and almost no hope is left? Would you have the courage to embark on a dangerous journey to save the world you only just entered?
Thirteen-year-old Jason’s life changes forever when his routine day at the zoo ends with him transporting to another world via hippopotamus. Upon his arrival, he witnesses the demise of a group of musicians as they tumble over a waterfall. No one tries to save them.
Jason eventually learns this strange world is called Lyrian, and it is ruled by a tyrant wizard emperor named Maldor. Maldor has broken the spirits of all the heroes who dare oppose him. The musicians that fell over the falls were trying to summon a hero from another world as a last hope. Jason accidentally stumbles upon information about a magic word that can destroy Maldor, making him a mortal enemy of the powerful monarch. Now, his only hope to ever return home is to embark on a perilous quest to piece together the Word, defeat Maldor, and become a hero.
Along the way, Jason meets Rachel, who was also transported to Lyrian from Earth. She decides to assist him in his search for the Word. How can two teenagers ever hope to destroy a mighty ruler and his legions of followers?
A World Without Heroes was an excellently written fantasy novel that I took great pleasure in reading. The storyline was suspenseful and exciting. Jason and Rachel’s near brushes with death and close encounters with Maldor’s deadly minions were enough to keep me engrossed. I also liked that the book had dashes of humor in some portions. Jason and Rachel both use a fair amount of sarcasm to add a happier outlook to their otherwise bleak situation. Maldor is a perfect villain because he weaves complex schemes and is despicably evil. Instead of just killing his strongest adversaries, he chooses to toy with them and give them false hope before crushing their spirit and any resistance they may create. The only thing I did not like about the book was that the ending was very abrupt. I know that the Beyonders will be a series, but I would have preferred the book to tie up a few more loose ends before it finished.
BOOK NAME: Turtle in Paradise
AUTHOR: Jennifer L. Holm
Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm is like a ship that sways with the idea of fitting in, sails far with adventure, topples with betrayal, and regains position after coping with loss.
Turtle is an 11 year old girl who lives in New Jersey with her mother during the Great Depression. Due to her mom’s housekeeping job for a lady who dislikes kids, strong and tough Turtle has to move to Florida to live with her cousins in the Key West. It is hard for Turtle to get accustomed to living with her rowdy cousins. Soon, she realizes how everyone in Key West is related to her in some way. She feels better, but she dearly misses her mother. Turtle joins her cousins in the mischievous activities they do. Together, they find Pirate Black Caesar’s treasure and split it among themselves. But after a disturbing event in the family, Turtle understands what her true treasure is.
I would definitely recommend this 2011 Newbery Honor book for all ages. The book has a simple, interesting plot that brings out customs of the Key West. In the book, Turtle is constantly comparing her life with that of movie star Shirley Temple and Little Orphan Annie, a comic character, both popular in the 1930s. Just like a turtle, the character Turtle has a hard shell due to the tough circumstances she has faced, but she soon realizes that she too has a soft inner self. I really enjoyed reading about the kids’ adventures, especially the treasure hunt.
BOOK NAME: The Lost Hero
AUTHOR: Rick Riordan
Hello, blog readers. I’m back again and excited to share my review of another great Rick Riordan book! This time I’m reviewing The Lost Hero. It rocks!
The Lost Hero is the first book of a new series. It starts off a while after The Last Olympian left off but there are brand new characters! Jason who has no memory, his girlfriend Piper, and Leo who can make fire appear are the three main ones. My favorite is Leo, by the way, because he is really funny and likable, but they are all pretty cool. You can get to know them well in this book because each chapter is from a different character’s point of view.
One of my favorite things about this book is that it didn’t disappoint me. I thought that after reading and loving the Percy Jackson series, I would not like this new series as much but I was very wrong. The Lost Hero includes a lot of mythology in the story which is awesome and brings back a lot of the characters from the Percy Jackson series. It also has lots of suspenseful parts and surprises which made me want to go out and buy the next book in the series right away. I think you should too!
BOOK NAME: The Eiffel Tower’s Daughter
AUTHOR: Bethany Huang
Swanilde is a French girl, whose world turns upside down when her divorced mother gets remarried. If that wasn’t enough, she overhears that her new stepfather is a spy for the French government. Swanilde decides to travel to her real father, and warn him. Who knows what this spy could be hiding?
On the way to her father, Swanilde meets a boy named Val, who she later finds out is her brother, who had run away many years before. Val and Swanilde reunite with their father. But then, Swanilde discovers that her family had been hiding a secret from her for her entire life. This secret is too hard to bear, and Swanilde decides to run away.
Swanilde ends up in France, Egypt, and even Greece! She goes on many journeys, which lead her to discover how important family really is.
I loved this book! While I was reading it, I could not put it down! I saw that there was a page about the author, so I decided to check it out. I was completely surprised when I found out that the author is actually ten years old! She writes amazingly well, and I strive to be like her. I hope you will read this book, it is worth your time!
BOOK NAME: Ninjas, Piranhas, and Galileo
AUTHOR: Greg Leitich Smith
Have you ever thought about how you met your best friend? Was it normal, or was it wacky – like how Elias met Shohei? Pulling a boa constrictor snake named Mathilda out of your backpack can make a remarkable first impression! This book is about three best friends Elias, Honoria, and Shohei, who are united against “That Which Is The Peshtigo School”. Their goal is to make it through the annual school science fair, but things don’t always go as planned.
Elias is part of a family made up of science fanatics who would do anything to win a science fair. Elias isn’t exactly what you’d call the ambitious type, especially when it comes to science fairs. So he becomes like Galileo and “retests” one of his sibling’s past projects. Honoria loves to be ambitious, especially when it comes to being a legal counsel extraordinaire. But when she faces a bigger challenge than beating Goliath Reed or getting a piranha to become vegetarian, she doesn’t know if she can make it. Shohei is an all around slacker who tries to mooch off Elias instead of creating something on his own. His adoptive parents are constantly encouraging him to start “hearing” his ancestors. His mom has even turned Shohei’s room into what looks like a walk-in Japanese museum exhibit!
This book is laugh out loud hilarious and the more you read, the more exciting and unexpected it gets. I love the title on this book because it really made me laugh and want to read the book. I also like how people so different from one another can be such close friends. There is not much excitement in the beginning, but it builds up very quickly. So if you like that type of story, then this is the book for you.
BOOK NAME: 1862: Fredericksburg: A New Look at a Bitter Civil War Battle
AUTHOR: K.M. Kostyal
PHOTOGRAPHER: Lori Epstein
When I first read the title of this book, I knew that the Battle of Fredericksburg was just that, only one battle, so I wondered how it was possible to fill an entire book with information about it. But as I started reading, I realized that this book just isn’t about one battle, but is much more.
The book explains everything from the culture of the town of Fredericksburg, Virginia, to why they even fought the Civil War, and it ends with the description of the battle and how the town was eventually rebuilt. It also explains many of the battles leading up to the Battle of Fredericksburg, such as the Battle of Bull Run and Gettysburg. It even provides parts of real journals written by people who were in the war, including a Union soldier and an enslaved Virginian named John Washington. My favorite journal entry is the one written by Washington that describes the moment he was freed from slavery.
To be honest, the journals were my favorite part of this book because I got to hear the voices of real people who lived the war. I also really liked all the detailed color photos throughout the book.
You don’t have to be a historian or a fan of social studies to enjoy this book.
BOOK NAME: Heart of a Samurai
AUTHOR: Margi Preus
Traveling can be a unique, exciting, and sometimes scary experience. The experiences you have can be remembered for ever and possibly change your life. However, what if traveling came at the cost of never returning home again? Would you still be willing to leave?
14-year-old Manjiro lives in a small village in Japan. One day, in the year 1841, while Manjiro is out fishing with four other fishermen, a terrible storm blows their small boat out to sea, eventually stranding them on a deserted island. Manjiro and the other fisherman are rescued by the crew of the John Howland, an American whaling vessel. Manjiro has grown up hearing tales about “barbarians” from distant lands, but because of his country’s isolation, he is overcome with curiosity about the strange culture of the people around him. It’s this curiosity that leads him on an epic journey to distant countries like America. Even though Manjiro is fascinated by the wondrous places he visits, all he really wants is to go back to his family and homeland. Due to Japan’s isolation policy at that time in history, that may not be possible. If he returns from his travels, he may be imprisoned or executed.
This book was a unique story that I truly enjoyed reading. I am part Japanese, so the story had a special impact on me. I enjoyed learning more about the culture and history of the country to which I owe some of my family’s origins. Manjiro is an interesting character because he is based on a true life diplomat, adventurer, and negotiator. The book even included sketches that Manjiro actually drew about the places he visited and the things he saw. The only aspect of the book that I was not fond of was that it involved whaling. Whales are my favorite animals, and although whaling is a major part of the world’s history, I do not like reading about humans slaughtering such majestic creatures.
BOOK NAME: Soul Surfer
AUTHOR: Bethany Hamilton
You may be familiar with Bethany Hamilton, a surfer who lost her arm to a shark. Check out her book, Soul Surfer, a memoir of this tragedy in her life. The book shows that with strength and faith, one can always overcome challenges.
Bethany Hamilton was a 13 year old girl living on the island of Hawaii. Since childhood she had been practicing the sport she and her family loved most – surfing. Little did she know how one calm Halloween morning would change her life forever. She was surfing gentle waves at dawn that day when she felt the tug on her arm. She realized that her left arm had been bitten by a shark and she was rushed to the hospital. Her family was in a panic, but Bethany kept her faith in God and got through the surgery. Bethany soon recovered and got back to her normal life. She exercised, never gave up, and showed that the loss of one arm would not prevent her from getting back to the waves. Bethany is thankful to God for helping her out through this tragedy.
This is a very inspiring read for kids in middle-school. Since the story is written by Bethany herself, just one year after the attack, feelings and events are very accurate. Also, the book has quite some pages with photos which bring to life Bethany’s passion for surfing and her accident. It is remarkable how Bethany fulfills her childhood dream in spite of a horrific incident.
BOOK NAME: The Son of Neptune
AUTHOR: Rick Riordan
Hello! It’s Hunter! My review today is on Rick Riordan’s newest book, The Son of Neptune. Have I mentioned before that Rick Riordan is my favorite author? This book is an example of why I love just about anything he writes.
In The Son of Neptune, Percy (from the Percy Jackson series, also written by Rick Riordan) is at a Roman camp for half-bloods. He has lost his memory though! The only thing he can remember is one name–Annabeth. We are also introduced to two demigods, Hazel and Frank. I really liked these new friends of Percy and hope that they appear in other books too. Hazel is interesting. She was once dead and then brought back to life by Nico (also from the Percy Jackson series). Frank is very cool. He has a special gift–he can be anything he wants to be! Anyway, they go on a quest with Percy to try to free Death. They also try to join the Greek and Roman camps together so that the Prophecy of Seven can be fulfilled.
I like the way Rick Riordan has a couple of plots going at the same time. It makes this book really exciting and hard to put down. So do you think Percy, Hazel and Frank are successful? Read the book to find out! If you’re 8 years old or older, I think you will love The Son of Neptune like I did.
BOOK NAME: Rumors From the Boys’ Room: A Blogtastic! Novel
AUTHOR: Rose Cooper
You may have read my previous review on Gossip From the Girls’ Room. Now, I am so excited to review its sequel, Rumors from the Boys’ Room!
In this book, Sofia Becker is back! She is the blogger of a school blog, but no one knows that the blogger is her. She and her best friend Nona have the same dream that one day, after Sofia’s blog becomes popular, they will be cool. Sofia’s got a new spying place: the outside of the boys’ bathroom.
On one of her spying missions, Sofia hears two teachers talking about a foreign exchange student coming to the school. She immediately listens in, and blogs whatever she knows.
Also during this time, Sofia’s mother is pregnant with what they call “The Peanut.” Sofia won’t admit it, but she’s very excited to know what gender the baby is! Sadly, she won’t know until it’s born, because her mother has decided that she wants to be surprised.
Through the whole book, Sofia goes on different adventures and spy missions to find out information. At the end of the book, Sofia discovers many things, including the gender of the newest addition to her family!
I really loved this book! The characters are very well developed, and kids can relate to the situations in it. It’s full of surprises and laughs! I totally recommend Rumors from the Boys’ Room!
BOOK NAME: Tangerine
AUTHOR: Edward Bloor
Paul Fisher is a pretty nerdy-looking kid. It’s mainly because of the thick, Coke-bottle like glasses he has to wear since he lost some of his eyesight in an accident as a child. Paul was perfectly happy with his home in Houston, Texas, having friends he enjoyed spending his time with. However, all that changed when he moved to Tangerine, Florida, in the 7th grade. Florida was quite different from Texas with its muck fires and sink holes. But Paul really doesn’t mind all of those things though. What does bother him is his older brother, Erik. Erik is a high school football star and his dad has plans from him to join the pros one day. In fact, the family is so focused on the “Fisher Football dream” that they don’t see what Erik is really like. Erik has a dark side and to get what he wants, he will do anything. He puts on a nice act when adults are around, but even then he is scheming. Ever since Paul was a child he has been in constant fear of Erik. As Erik’s actions become more and more terrible, it is up to Paul to show his parents what sort of person Erik really is.
Paul finds that the one good thing about moving is that he can look forward to soccer at his new school. At his old school he didn’t make the team, so moving presents an opportunity to do what he loves instead of being overshadowed by Erik. Along the way, Paul learns lots of life’s lessons from his new classmates.
There is a lot of symbolism in this book, so try to think about the actual meaning of the text and how the symbols enhance the story. I was impressed with the action and how intense the story was. This is one of the best books I have read in a long time and it will engross you from start to finish.
