Tag archives for Classic
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BOOK NAME: Of Mice and Men
AUTHOR: John Steinbeck
Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, is a story of friendship and hardship.
George and Lennie are two men who are best friends. Lennie, with a huge build, is not mentally sound and often acts like a little child. George, the exact opposite of Lennie, is short and straight to the point. Together they work on a ranch, hoping to gather enough money to buy their dream house – a small farm with rabbits, chickens, and alfalfa. However, Lennie, who is immature, often gets in trouble with Curley, the ranch boss’s son. As a true friend, George supports and cares for Lennie through all his hardships. However, one day Lennie takes things too far by accidentally strangling Curley’s newly-wed wife. How will George manage to help Lennie in this tragic incident?
Of Mice and Men is an amazing book for teens. It realistically portrays the two men’s friendship through good times and hard times and their everlasting support of each other until the very end. At times, the plot is dramatic and the story turns in ways I would never have expected. The unexpected ending mystified me and left me with mixed feelings. However, the author’s descriptions helped me clearly picture the plight of the ranch workers during the Great Depression.
BOOK NAME: Where the Red Fern Grows
AUTHOR: Wilson Rawls
Where the Red Fern Grows is a book that shows hard work, adventure, victory, and grief. It is a
fictional book written by Wilson Rawls.
Billy is a young adventurous boy living in Ozark country. Hunting has been his sport and he has
always longed for two hunting hounds. Billy finally gathers enough money through his hard work and
gets his two hounds. He names the smaller female dog, Little Ann, and the tougher male dog, Old Dan.
They make the best loving team of three; the dogs are a pair who will never leave each other’s side. Old
Dan has the courage to fight, Little Ann is the planner and has the common sense, and encouraging Billy
leads them into the hunt atmosphere. Soon, they participate in a big hunt competition which is having
some of the most talented coon hunters and hounds in the nation. Danger awaits them in this unfamiliar
land, but what about victory? Read the book to uncover the answer.
This book is a perfect classic read for any middle school child. It has all the ingredients to a
delightful soup. A tasty plot that has you continuously reading, conflicts that arouse, a catchy
introduction, and personal in-depth characters all add to the wonders of the meal. However, the author
overdoes the heartbreaking ending, so be ready for some tearful tragedy. There are detailed
descriptions like “It screamed its way into the cave and rang like a blacksmith’s anvil against the rock
walls” (47), painting vivid pictures in the readers’ mind. So head out to the library and enjoy a fabulous
read.
Posted by BOOK NAME: Harriet the Spy
AUTHOR: Louise Fitzhugh
Harriet M. Welsch is a spy. She goes out every afternoon and spies on different people. Then, she writes everything she sees in her private notebook. She writes about her neighbors, classmates, and friends. Harriet is sure to never let anybody see her notebook.
Harriet has two best friends, Janie and Sport. She also has a babysitter named Ole Golly. One day, Ole Golly gets married to a man named Mr. Waldenstein, and leaves Harriett to grow up on her own. Harriett is definitely not happy about this. She loves Ole Golly! But now she must learn to get around by herself. She continues to spy every afternoon.
One day, Harriet drops her spy notebook and it gets in the wrong hands. Soon her classmates start reading the true, yet awful things she said about them! They start to turn against her. Will Harriett be able to put her life and friendships back together?
I really loved this book. I’d say even seven year olds can read it! I love how the author portrays Harriet; a girl with a large imagination, curiosity, and love for reading and writing. I find myself very similar to Harriet. I love reading, writing, and I’ve always been curios and creative. Harriet the Spy is really worth reading!
BOOK NAME: Bridge to Terabithia
AUTHOR:
Katherine Paterson
The book Bridge to Terabithia is like a roller coaster of emotions which rides you through feelings of sweetness, happiness, sadness, and comfort. The author, Katherine Paterson, brings out all these sentiments in this Newbery Medal award-winning book. It is a realistic fiction book with a touch of tragedy. The theme of this book is that best friends can have lasting changes on one another’s lives.
Ten year old Jess Aarons lives in countryside Virginia. He becomes best friends with Leslie Burke, a ten year old girl who has recently moved into the neighboring house. With Leslie’s imagination, the two of them create the secret, magical land of Terabithia where they reign as king and queen. In Terabithia, they build a castle for themselves, fight off imaginary enemies invading Terabithia, and pray to spirits in the pine grove. However, a tragedy strikes, leaving Jess sorrowful and heartbroken. It is painful for Jess to go through this challenge, but slowly he gathers the courage to cope with it.
I would recommend others to read this outstanding book. The author’s writing style makes it easy to follow and simple to comprehend. One doesn’t need to run away from this book because there is a sad part. There are many moments of adventure, happiness, and friendship, too. I like how the woods are transformed into a magical land, sparking imagination–turning the ordinary into extraordinary. Bridge to Terabithia is an exceptional book to grab off the shelf and start reading.
Want another opinion? Check out Sheila’s review!
Posted by BOOK NAME: Stone Fox
AUTHOR: John Reynolds Gardiner
Welcome to today’s book club meeting!
We just finished reading Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardner. It was a short book, and a sad one, but we enjoyed reading it.
If you have finished the book, click “See More” to go to the meeting.
If you haven’t finished yet, stop here!
Do you have an idea for what book we can read in December? Leave a comment, and your pick might be a future Book of the Month!
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BOOK NAME: Stone Fox
AUTHOR: John Reynolds Gardiner
Welcome to today’s book club meeting!
This month, we’re reading Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardner. For today’s meeting, we have read through chapter six.
If you have finished chapter six, click “See More” to go to the meeting.
If you haven’t read that far, stop here!
BOOK NAME: Stone Fox
AUTHOR: John Reynolds Gardiner
Welcome to today’s book club meeting!
This month, we’re reading Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardner. For today’s meeting, we have read the first three chapters.
If you’ve read the first three chapters, click “See More” to go to the meeting.
If you haven’t read that far, or if you haven’t gotten a copy of the book yet, stop here.
BOOK NAME: Stone Fox
AUTHOR: John Reynolds Gardiner
For November, we’ll be reading Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner. This is the story of Little Willy, his dog Searchlight, and their struggle to save Willy’s grandfather’s farm. This book was recommended by DogEared member Learn more about this month’s book on the Book of the Month page.
Look for a copy of the book in the local library, or ask your parents to help order it online. We will read the first three chapters of the story for our meeting on Wednesday, November 10. See you there!
-DogEared
Posted by BOOK NAME: Adam of the Road
AUTHOR: Elizabeth Janet Gray
Being a minstrel, Adam wanders the streets happily, doing cartwheels and bringing joy upon others. For years, Adam has done nothing but roam the streets with his red spaniel, Nick, and his minstrel father, Roger. When Adam’s father disappears and Nick gets stolen, Adam spends all his days looking for the two dearest things that belong to him. Roger and Nick.
I really enjoyed how the author described the scenery and how someone felt. I’d have to say my favorite character is Adam, the main character. The author just put so much personality into him. In this book, the “bad guy” was the man who stole Nick and I think I enjoyed having some amount of crime and mischief in the book.
Adam of the Road was a book I read for school. It isn’t a book that I’d read out of interest, though. I wouldn’t say that is a good book or a bad book. The reading level was too easy for me and the story seemed to drag. I think that it’d be interesting for a child of a younger age, but not so much for me.
Posted by BOOK NAME: Bridge to Terabithia
AUTHOR:
Katherine Paterson
This book was a great read and I went through it very quickly. I found many parts very powerful in that they threw you into the scenes and made you feel the same emotions as the characters. This is a very sad story, but please give it a chance even if you don’t like sob stories. I can’t say too much without revealing key points, so I’ll try not to make this review a spoiler!
The story has a different setting than most books. It takes place in the countryside and of course, the magical Terabithia. I can promise that you will be enchanted when you get there! You start out finding a boy, Jess, who is 11 years old and wants to be the fastest kid in the 5th grade. He has been running every morning through the summer to finally be the fastest and the best. One morning while running, Jess saw a girl sitting on a fence. Her name is Leslie and she is longing for a friend and a place that she can create in her own way. Jess and Leslie share that desire and soon they find Terabithia and crown themselves rulers.
Throughout the book, whenever they have a bad day or are just looking for something to do, they just wander to Terabithia by swinging on a rope. This is surely a book not to miss and even though a devastating event befalls them, there are still many happy endings. And one more thing to consider, it is up to you to decide if Terabithia is real or just fiction I’m not revealing what I think, but excuse me while I go now and find a rope to swing on!
BOOK NAME: Return to the Hundred Acre Wood
AUTHOR: David Benedictus
When you first hear the name Winnie-the-Pooh, you may think of a cute bear with a red shirt and a laugh that seems to float on air. But first, clear your mind for ten seconds and listen. This is the original Winnie-the-Pooh, not the Disney kind that you always see. This is a fun book and a light hearted read, especially if you are an optimist.
This book was written 80 years after the original and picks up right where the last story left off. There is quite a buzz in the Hundred Acre Wood as news of Christopher Robin’s return spreads quickly throughout the forest. Pooh can hardly contain his excitement and is once again ready to share his “hunny” with his best friend. Did you know that Christopher Robin is based on a real person? He is named after the son of the author of the original book series, A. A. Milne.
This book contains ten different stories all of which are quick, easy reads. They are delightful and satisfying despite their short length. In one of these stories, a new character is introduced. It is an otter named Lottie. Amazingly bold, you will remember her forever. She is a great addition to the usual cast of characters. In fact, all of the original characters are back in this book for new adventures together. Their whimsical and carefree way of life is a great escape. This is a children’s book collection that’s certainly worth revisiting.
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.
BOOK NAME: Island of the Blue Dolphins
AUTHOR: Scott O’Dell
This is a book in the genre of survival which you don’t see often, so it’s a lovely break from the more popular genres such as fantasy. The author, Scott O’Dell, is an artist in my mind because from the first page to the end of the book he “paints” the scenes in your mind. Island of the Blue Dolphins features twelve year old Karana who ends up spending many years alone on the island and must learn how to survive. Fortunately, she is not exactly alone. She has her trusty companion, Rontu, a dog she tames from the wild. Together, they face many challenges and have many adventures together.
I think Karana got off easy compared to the boy in Hatchet because he had no one with him, not even any animal friends like Karana did. In Island of the Blue Dolphins, Karana had many items at her disposal such as a fence, food around her all the time, and she even had a canoe. Compared to Hatchet where he had to build his own fort and didn’t have much food or weapons, Karana did pretty well. That is, until she met the devil fish one day!
Based on a true story, it will surely become one of your favorites. I highly recommend this as a challenge for young and developing readers. It is a forgotten classic that should be known again. I also recommend another one of Scott O’Dell’s books Thunder Rolling in the Mountains.
BOOK NAME: Tom Sawyer
AUTHOR: Mark Twain
Adapted Tim Mugg, Writer and Rad Sechrist, Artist
This is a graphic novel of the famous story Tom Sawyer. It’s about a boy named Tom Sawyer and his best friend Huckleberry Finn, who’s an orphan.
They have these crazy adventures. Once Huck found a dead cat and he said that if you put it on a just-buried persons’ grave, the devil will come and take the cat. And as a reward, the devil will take a wart away – no matter how big it is. So they put the dead cat on a grave and Tom thinks he sees the devil. But really it was grave robbers. Tom and Huck go hide behind a tree and the grave robbers end up getting into a fight and one gets killed. Tom is an eye witness and has to go to court because he saw what really happened. He frees the guy who didn’t kill him, and says who it really was – Injun Joe. Joe jumps out the window and runs away.
The rest of the book is other cool adventures like once they went to an island and they forgot to tie their raft up. They were stuck there for a day! But don’t worry…he meets Injun Joe again.
This is just one classic book that’s a graphic novel. There are others in the series like Dracula.
I’m reading The Magician’s Elephant next. It’s by Kate Dicamillo who also wrote Tales of Despereaux which I reviewed. See ya next time.
