Posts in “Jordan” Category

BOOK NAME: A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie "Peanut" Johnson
AUTHOR: Michelle Y. Green

This is a biography about an African-American girl who wants to play baseball. Her name was Mamie "Peanut" Johnson. Mamie loved baseball so much that people think that she was born with one in her hand! She wanted to play in the higher leagues but they wouldn't let her because she was African-American. They would yell at her if she tried to go in any training facilities because they are for Whites only. So Mamie tried out for the Negro League and made the team. She played hard with a winning record of 33-8 and a batting average of .284. Mamie is still alive and lives in the Washington D.C. area.

I read this book for a biography book report. I chose her because I was a softball pitcher so I thought that I would like to read a book related to that. Mamie is an awesome baseball player I found out. She even struck Babe Ruth out! I don't read biographies often so it was cool to learn about someone I hadn't ever heard of.

If you were to write a biography about yourself than what would you title it? EXAMPLE: Jordan; the Blog-Writer. Leave a comment with your answer.

BOOK NAME: So B. It
AUTHOR: Sarah Weeks

Heidi's Mom is not normal. She's been diagnosed with Down syndrome and can't talk right. Heidi doesn't know anything about her mother's past. They live with a friend named Bernadette who took care of them after Heidi's mom was caught wandering outside with a baby. Heidi has been living with Bernadette for years now. Bernadette, on the other hand, is afraid to go outside ever since her father died so both Heidi and her mom has to go get the groceries and other chores.

One day Bernadette finds an old camera in the closet with peculiar pictures in it. One of them had her mom at some Christmas event next to a sign that read: Hillside Home. Heidi decided to take a bus all the way to Liberty, New York alone to try to find out the history of her family. The trip takes her about three days to arrive in New York, when she discovers the secret about her family.

I enjoyed reading this book because l liked the story line to it. It did get a little boring at parts though. I took a long time to get started since the first six chapters were from the past rather than present. My favorite part of the book was when Heidi found out that the manager of the Hillside Home was her grandfather and one of the mentally disordered men was her dad. My least favorite part of the book was at the end. I would like to read another one of her books because I like her creativity and the way that she writes.

BOOK NAME: Scat
AUTHOR: Carl Hiaason

 

This story is about Nick and Marta who go to school in Florida. Their teacher Mrs. Starch is a mean and weird teacher who you don't want to mess around with. After the disappearance of Mrs. Starch on their field trip to Black Vine Swamp things start to get spooky. First this kid named Smoke has a bad reputation with Mrs. Starch so they think he has something to do with her disappearance. Second, Nick and Marta go take a look around her house and another intruder drags them to his car and brings them back home. And lastly, a panther has been spotted at Black Vine Swamp.

This is one of the many books written by Carl Hiaason. He seems to like writing stories in Florida. I liked the book but half the time I was reading I was scared and had to turn on my closet lights or go under my covers. You will enjoy reading this because it has a lot of surprises. The point of view keeps on changing so you will have to keep up.

This book's genres are mystery and fiction. If you like this book then you can read some of his others like "Hoot" (which is also a movie), and "Flushed."

Keep on reading!

BOOK NAME: The Book of One Hundred Truths
AUTHOR: Julie Schumacher

 

Thea spends six weeks every year at her Grandma's beach house, but this year is different. She spends most of the time there either babysitting her nosy 7-year-old cousin, or writing in the Book of Truths that her mom gave to her. The thing about Theadora Grumman is that she is a liar. Because she's such a liar, Thea's mom is making her write a book with 100 true things, like the story that when she was at Three-Mile Creek and her friend almost fell through the ice and died, and the truth that she doesn't even have very many friends. 

Thea's cousin is always trying to find out what Thea's writing in her book. She is bugging Thea like crazy, but what is also bugging her is that something is going on with her aunts.  They're acting very secretive and suspicious and they won't tell anyone what they are up to so it's up to Thea to find out why.
       This was definitely a book I would read over again! I like how the author really made it a fictional mystery and exciting all at the same time. I could never put it down!   really hope that the author has other books of hers that I can read. I hope you find it somewhere because you don't want to miss out on a great read.
 

BOOK NAME: Eleven
AUTHOR: Lauren Myracle

Winnie is turning eleven and realizes that things are changing in the world and in herself. First of all, her best friend Amanda is dumping Winnie for another girl who is just a snob. Then, her older sister is moody all the time. Next a dork in the class wants to hang out all the time with Winnie and that does not help Winnie's coolness factor. Lastly all of the girls in her class have a boyfriend except for her. Winnie will find a way to make things better but that might mean giving up something.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My friends had been telling me that it was such a good read and I needed to buy it. It has many sequels which I will surely get and blog on. It is very interesting because there's love, competition, friendship and fighting. It's neat because the story is told in each month of the year so that means that there are twelve chapters. It never EVER got boring and it was a learning adventure.

I would definitely not miss reading this book especially if your are a girl who likes some fun fiction. Post a comment if you have ever been dumped by a friend like Winnie.

BOOK NAME: A Wrinkle in Time
AUTHOR: Madeleine L'Engle

Meg, an unattractive, unintelligent, and an unpopular girl lives with her super brainiac brother, Charles Wallace, her twin brothers and her mom. Meg's dad disappeared a few years ago so life has been hard for their family. Meg wants to find her dad but doesn't think that there will be much chance left. 

One stormy night, a strange lady knocks on her door and she tells them her name is Mrs. Whatsit. She says that she can help them find their dad. Meg eventually meets these three witches who say that they can help Meg find her dad. They take Meg, her friend and her brother on an adventure. They get taken to a planet called Camazotz where Meg's dad is being held captive. One problem is that IT hypnotizes Charles Wallace while trying to save their dad so Meg has to save her brother AND her dad before IT has already taken over the world. They get help from octopus-like friends from another planet.  Meg finally believes in herself and stands up to IT. She defeats IT, save Charles Wallace and her dad and goes back home to her family.
 
This book is one of the most confusing books that I have read for the blog! This book was a one that I had to read for a Parent-Choice book project at my school. I struggled reading it at parts because it kept on carrying on about every little thing. This is definitely a book for good readers who are up for a hard challenge and who like Fantasies and Mysteries!
 
Have you ever read a book that you thought was confusing and you almost gave up on it?  Which book was it?

BOOK NAME: The Wizard of Oz
AUTHOR: L. Frank Baum

The Wizard of Oz is about a little girl who lives in the grasslands of Kansas. She lives with her aunt and uncle.  One day a cyclone comes and twists her house up in the air.  Dorothy lands in the middle of a world that is unknown to her. In the land she meets the Good witch of oz who tells her how to get back. Dorothy is told the she needs to go find the Wizard of Oz. On her journey she encounters many friends and enemies. 

I LOVED this book!!!  When I first got it I thought that it would be boring but it is the exact opposite.  There are so many adventures all in one story so you'll never get bored. The book is MUCH better than the movie because the movie takes out most of the fun things. A few things that aren't in the movie are the scene in which the characters visit a dainty China Town where everybody there is made from china!  HOW COOL IS THAT!!! You have to read this book.
This book is for readers who like fantasy and adventure (or scarecrows!).  Don't miss out on the movie once you are done with reading book. Which do you like to do first, read the book or watch the movie?

BOOK NAME: Feathers
AUTHOR: Jaqueline Woodson

   
"Hope is the thing with feathers" was Frannie's favorite poem. Frannie is a twelve-year-old girl who lives during the time of segregation. She was born in an African-American family and has a brother who is deaf. At school she is bullied by two boys named RayRay and Trevor, and there's some new kid from the white side of town moves into the town and now goes to their school. To make matters worse Frannie's mom has been acting a little weird when she finds out that she's pregnant.  The story is all about how Frannie struggles through tough times in and out of her private life.

    I would give this book 3 out of 5. It was pretty hard understanding at parts but by the end it got easier. It's kind of an interesting topic in a sort of way that it's not the usual thing that you see sometimes in books. It is definitely not the kind of book that has action in every chapter, but it's more about what's going on around the characters. I was glad to see that it was a short read just because I needed to take a break from those heavier books.
   
Post in the comments if you have ever felt strange at a new school or felt left out and can relate to Frannie.

BOOK NAME: Superfudge
AUTHOR: Judy Blume

Superfudge is a fun book about a regular a boy named Peter and his brother named Fudge.  Fudge is going into kindergarten but he's a little out of control.  Peter absolutely wants to have nothing to do with Fudge but when he finds out that their mom is going to have another baby things only get worse.  On top of that, they are planning on moving for a year out of the city.  Peter tries to handle moving, two crazy siblings and staying cool all at the same time, but things tend to get a little hectic!  
     I LOVED reading Superfudge!  It was so much fun to read all the wacky things that Fudge ends up doing.  I am definitely planning on reading the sequels to it.  It was an easy read so I could take a break from all of the other much harder books I have for school.  The book reminds me of my own life in a way that I am in 6th grade and Peter is too.  My youngest brother Brady is SO the Fudge of the family.  He and Fudge are like wild childs.  We really do have a lot in common with them.
     I rate this a FIVE out of FIVE!  It is a great read for people who like humorous fictional types of books or Judy Blume's others in the series.  If you have a 'Wild Child' in the family, tell me about it. 

BOOK NAME: The Tales of Beedle the Bard
AUTHOR: J.K. Rowling

     The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a fairy tale book only it takes place in the wizarding world of Harry Potter.  The characters always learn from their journey and leave you with a moral.  At the end of each story, Albus Dumbledore tells you the meaning of the story.  He explains why certain stuff is there and he gives you his review of the story.  In my opinion it does get a little boring at that part but it's always worth it in the end.
There are five stories in the whole book.  Here is a look at three of my favorites.  In the story called The Fountain of Fair Fortune there were three witches that were seeking the fountain of glory and they each needed it for different reasons. 

     In the story Babbitty Rabbitty and her Crackling Stump a foolish king wanted power all by himself.   He gets magic lessons from a fake sorcerer then he decides to have a magic show in front of his people.

In the last story The Tale of Three Brothers, which was my favorite, three brothers each wish for three objects: an invisibility cloak, a rock to bring back the dead and a wand of more power than anything imaginable. 
   
     I will have to rate this four out of five.  This book is good for people who like the whole Harry Potter series and fantasy stories like those.  Write back and give me a story topic that you think J.K Rowling should use if she were to make more of these types of stories.