Tag archives for Classic Novel
Posted by BOOK NAME: Little House on the Prairie
AUTHOR: Laura Ingalls Wilder
Hi guys. You know that book series of The Little House on the Prairie books? All of those books are about a real girl growing up in pioneer times with her family in the midwest. There’s one book in the series though that is about her husband when he was a boy. It’s called Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Farmer Boy is about Almanzo Wilder who is about 9 years old in the book. Though he’s just a kid in terms of age he is expected to work like a man most of the time. He plows fields, chops wood and drives a team oxen when he isn’t going to school, which he hates, by the way. What he really wants to do is work with his family’s horses, but his father who is pretty strict doesn’t think he is old enough.
I really liked this book even though I wasn’t sure about it at first. It gave me a clear picture of what it was like to grow up on a farm in the olden days–lots of work but lots of unstructured time also. I thought the author used great descriptions in the book and some humor too. Almanzo is an easy character to like because even though he lived so long ago he is pretty much like all kids I know. He’s pretty nice and hard-working overall but has some not so nice and lazy feelings also. I could really relate to Almanzo because he wants to grow up so badly but he’s treated like a little kid sometimes. In the end of the story, which I won’t give away, Almanzo realizes that his father understands him after all. I really recommend this book to anyone, but especially to boys ages 7-12. It’s totally worth it!
DogEared: Read Sheila’s review of Little House on the Prairie!
Posted by BOOK NAME: The Outsiders
AUTHOR: S.E. Hinton
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is like a stew cooked with ingredients like violence, crime, horror, friendship, bravery, and kindness.
Ponyboy Curtis is a smart and defensive fourteen year old boy who lives in Oklahoma with his two older brothers. He is part of the gang known as the greasers who are poor and are characterized by the grease in their hair. They constantly fight with another group, the Socs, who are rich kids who have a cold, hard, and mean personality. One day things go too far between the two groups and Ponyboy and his friend Johnny kill a Soc in self-defense. They run away to the countryside and hide in a church. Later, the church catches fire, and Johnny and Ponyboy risk their lives to save the children inside. They are hurt badly but are recognized as heroes. But, what dramatic events await them?
The engaging plot of this book, revolving around distinctive personalities, the ordinaries of friendship, and the outsiders in a group, suits the taste buds of all teenagers. Teenagers can relate very well to the characters and incidents in this book because the author, S. E. Hinton, was a teenager herself when she wrote this book. Also, this book has vivid descriptions which come out strongly with the use of similes. I like how the book teaches that groups are not barriers to friendships. So, if you are a teenager, pick out The Outsiders from the library shelf.
BOOK NAME: The Witch of Blackbird Pond
AUTHOR: Elizabeth George Speare
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare is a story of fitting in, friendship, bravery, and love.
Kit, a well-known girl in Barbados, moves to the colony of Connecticut in the late 1600′s aboard the ship, the Dolphin. Kit comes here to live with her aunt. But, everything in America feels so different to Kit, all the housework, plain dresses, dull landscape, and so much more. Slowly Kit learns to do the housework, but she still feels lonely and homesick. The only place where she finds comfort and peace is kind, old Hannah Tupper’s home. But, the colonists believe Hannah is a witch and one day set out as a mob to kill her. Kit’s time has come to show her courage and to go save Hannah. Will Kit do this, or will she get scared and give up? Read this book to find out.
This is an outstanding novel for teens. The author uses vivid language which allows readers to understand the different feelings such as loneliness, curiosity, and anxiety that a newcomer like Kit goes through. This book takes you back in time to the late 1600′s when people were just beginning to settle in New England. It shows how harshly the religious-minded Puritans treated the Quakers who trembled at the word of God. The Newbery Medal on this book is just another reason why you should get this historical fiction book off the library shelf.
Posted by BOOK NAME: The Invisible Man
AUTHOR: H. G. Wells
Invisible, twisted, and evil, that’s the Invisible Man! Once a physicist named Griffin, he is now an invisible terror! The problems started when Griffin turned himself invisible during one of his physics experiments, and it was no accident! Once he was invisible, he burned down a house, ransacked, and robbed from several homes and stores. However, major issues did not begin until he arrived in a village known as Iping. During his stay in Iping, he revealed himself to the citizens as an invisible man and mass hysteria began. The Invisible Man physically beat people in Iping and in surrounding villages and towns. He also broke into houses and banks and stole money. That’s not all! The Invisible man hopes to establish a reign of terror! Can he possibly be stopped?
This book was one of the most spine chilling novels I’ve ever read. This book is different from other horror novels because it is believable. Griffin’s explanation of the anatomy of human beings and their potential for transparency seemed possible! It made the idea of an invisible criminal seem achievable! This book was packed with suspense, and I just had to find out what happened on the next page. For example, the Invisible Man mailed a letter to a man named Dr. Kemp that stated that Kemp was to be the first victim of the reign of terror…It really makes you want to find out what happens next, doesn’t it? I also liked the way that the book ended because it left you with questions, but I won’t spoil it for you. Read the book yourself!
Posted by BOOK NAME: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
AUTHOR: Retold from the Mark Twain original by Oliver Ho
Note: this is from the Classic Starts series from Sterling Publishing
Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer are best friends. They have so many adventures. But this one takes place with one of Huck’s friends Jim.
Huck found treasure with Tom Sawyer in a cave, which they stole from Injun’ Joe, a thief, which you might have heard about in my other review. He ends up living with a wealthy family. Huck’s real dad came and took him away because he thought that Huck was showing off and being better than him. His life in his dad’s small cabin was horrible so he cuts a hole in the cabin to escape. To trick his dad and make him think that he’d been killed, he puts an axe in the door and a gun on the ground and pig’s blood all over the place.
Huck runs away to a small island. His friend Jim is on that island because he thought that Huck was killed and he was very upset.
They go on adventures together like almost getting crushed in the wheels of a giant paddleboat and living on a raft with two frauds that cheat people just to get money.
And that’s all I’m going tell you because it’s a really really good book. It has a ton of adventures and Tom Sawyer will show up.
