Tag archives for Murder
Posted by 
BOOK NAME: Rucker Park Setup
AUTHOR: Paul Volponi
This book isn’t anything like a fairy tale. It isn’t a thing like any of the other basketball books and movies I’ve seen before. Through a murder mystery, it teaches a lesson through the harsh experience of a teenage boy named Mackey.
Mackey was a boy who never got to meet his father; he died before he was born. His mother didn’t have many words of advice to give Mackey about anything, and his step-dad wasn’t much help either. His only friend was J.R., and the only person who helped guide him through life was J.R.’s dad, Stove.
Mackey and J.R. were offered a chance to play on the Greenbacks basketball team. This was not only Mackey’s dream, but J.R.’s especially. They played extremely well throughout the season, and right before they play Fat Anthony’s team in the tournament, J.R is killed. The book then focuses on who did it, how and why.
The entire book is based on foreshadowing, and some of the best I’ve ever seen too. You know that J.R. is going to be killed when reading the prologue, and that it is somehow Mackey’s fault. Once you figure out who did it and how, you will have an “Ohh… That makes sense!” moment.
All of the parts fit together really well. My favorites are when you here from the view of a different character of the book for about a page at a time, and then it goes back to Mackey’s view. It can really reveal a lot of the hidden parts of the book. I highly suggest that you read this. It teaches a great lesson, and you’ll want to read it again to look at all of the hints that it gave you about who did it.
Posted by 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!
Posted by BOOK NAME: Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer
AUTHOR: John Grisham
I had a summer book review due for school. I liked Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer so much I picked this one for the book review. And you know how much I read!
This book is about a 13-year-old kid who wants to be a lawyer and he’s already almost as smart as a one. He’s always in the courtroom in his hometown because his parents are lawyers and that’s where he wants to be. Also, he sometimes handles small cases for the kids in his class, and even argues for them in court (things like problems with their pets).
There’s about to be a huge case about a murder. The judge case let’s Theo’s Government class sit in the bleachers for the first session. The case is about a man who murdered his wife. His lawyer is the best defense lawyer in the town and it looks like the suspect is about to get away.
It turns out that one of the kids that Theo tutors at the homeless shelter has a cousin who was an eyewitness to the murder. BUT, the eyewitness is an illegal immigrant so he doesn’t want to tell anyone because he’s afraid he’ll be arrested and sent back to his home country.
Theo has to find a way to help the cousin step forward without getting arrested. The rest of the story is about how Theo has to solve the case before the suspect is set free.
This is a great book for 3rd grade and above. It’s not that long and I loved it.
