Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thanks!
Thanks to all the readers of Knightlyreading. This blog is no longer being produced, but we had a great two years of reviewing books and providing them here for you. Happy reading to everyone!
Monday, June 9, 2008
:07 Seconds or Less (reviewed by Daniel)
The battle to be the best team in the NBA. The battle between team members to be one of the starting five players. The battle to overcome personal obstacles. These are the real life challenges in the fast-paced, competitive world of the NBA.
Jack McCallum’s :07 Seconds or Less (Simon and Schuster 2006) explores the day-to-day life of the Phoenix Suns with 309 pages of in-depth information about training and strategies during the 2005-2006 season. The author follows players and coaches as they travel from game to game in their quest for the championship trophy. He’s at every practice, game, and charity event, and has a seat on the team plane and bus. He has total access to every team function.
Jack McCallum is a sportswriter for Sports Illustrated. The title of the book comes from the team motto, “:07 seconds or less”, meaning to get the ball and up the floor in :07 seconds or less. He was given full access to write a pre-season article about his experiences with the Phoenix Suns. Instead, after falling in love with the team, he spent the entire year with them. McCallum tells the stories of the Canadian two-time MVP Steve Nash, the star who feels pressure from players and coaches to be the team leader; the constantly under-estimated, under-appreciated, unorthodox, Big-Man shooter Shawn Marion, a high scorer who rarely gets credit for his efforts; and the Frenchman Boris Diaw, a bad player tossed around from team to team who finally finds success on the Phoenix Suns.
This book is excellent. It tells you about what really happens in the NBA. It tells you about the players that make up the spectacular Phoenix Suns and how they got to the team. You read about what coaches say in the locker room before, during, and after the game and what teammates and opponents say to each other on the blacktop.
:07 Seconds or less is an excellent book for people 13 years old and older. Most of the book is actual quotes, so the writer couldn’t edit all of the swear words out. About half of the book is made up of swear words, so I don’t think it is quite appropriate for children. Anybody that is looking for a book about the NBA, this is a great book for them. As the writer walks you through the season, and the playoffs, you learn what it’s really like to be in the NBA. I give this book eleven out of ten and three thumbs up.
Jack McCallum’s :07 Seconds or Less (Simon and Schuster 2006) explores the day-to-day life of the Phoenix Suns with 309 pages of in-depth information about training and strategies during the 2005-2006 season. The author follows players and coaches as they travel from game to game in their quest for the championship trophy. He’s at every practice, game, and charity event, and has a seat on the team plane and bus. He has total access to every team function.
Jack McCallum is a sportswriter for Sports Illustrated. The title of the book comes from the team motto, “:07 seconds or less”, meaning to get the ball and up the floor in :07 seconds or less. He was given full access to write a pre-season article about his experiences with the Phoenix Suns. Instead, after falling in love with the team, he spent the entire year with them. McCallum tells the stories of the Canadian two-time MVP Steve Nash, the star who feels pressure from players and coaches to be the team leader; the constantly under-estimated, under-appreciated, unorthodox, Big-Man shooter Shawn Marion, a high scorer who rarely gets credit for his efforts; and the Frenchman Boris Diaw, a bad player tossed around from team to team who finally finds success on the Phoenix Suns.
This book is excellent. It tells you about what really happens in the NBA. It tells you about the players that make up the spectacular Phoenix Suns and how they got to the team. You read about what coaches say in the locker room before, during, and after the game and what teammates and opponents say to each other on the blacktop.
:07 Seconds or less is an excellent book for people 13 years old and older. Most of the book is actual quotes, so the writer couldn’t edit all of the swear words out. About half of the book is made up of swear words, so I don’t think it is quite appropriate for children. Anybody that is looking for a book about the NBA, this is a great book for them. As the writer walks you through the season, and the playoffs, you learn what it’s really like to be in the NBA. I give this book eleven out of ten and three thumbs up.
The Marker (reviewed by David)
Are you the kind of reader who loves suspenseful stories, or how about medical stories? I know I do. The Marker is a very suspenseful story that is truly a medical thriller.
The Marker is written by Robin Cook in 2005. It was published in 2005 by the Penguin Group and Berkley Books in New York, New York. The Marker has 651 pages including a prologue.
The Marker is about a woman named Laurie Montgomery who might have cancer that prevents her from having a baby. She has to stay at a hospital, but there are strange murders that are happening at the hospital. It turns out that the murders were committed by an ex-soldier named Jazz. Laurie Montgomery’s boyfriend, Jack, has to find and arrest Jazz before she kills Laurie.
I thought this was a very exciting book that had a lot of details and it just made me want to keep reading it. The Marker is probably Robin Cook’s best book yet. I give this book four stars because, it was full of details, it was very suspenseful but, I found that Robin Cook’s books are very repetitive. There is some murderer that uses some sort of deadly disease and tries to kill people.
I recommend this book to middle school students and up because you have to be a bit mature to read this and it has complicated works like auspicious or discernable. In conclusion this a great book for mature readers that never read a Robin Cook book before.
The Marker is written by Robin Cook in 2005. It was published in 2005 by the Penguin Group and Berkley Books in New York, New York. The Marker has 651 pages including a prologue.
The Marker is about a woman named Laurie Montgomery who might have cancer that prevents her from having a baby. She has to stay at a hospital, but there are strange murders that are happening at the hospital. It turns out that the murders were committed by an ex-soldier named Jazz. Laurie Montgomery’s boyfriend, Jack, has to find and arrest Jazz before she kills Laurie.
I thought this was a very exciting book that had a lot of details and it just made me want to keep reading it. The Marker is probably Robin Cook’s best book yet. I give this book four stars because, it was full of details, it was very suspenseful but, I found that Robin Cook’s books are very repetitive. There is some murderer that uses some sort of deadly disease and tries to kill people.
I recommend this book to middle school students and up because you have to be a bit mature to read this and it has complicated works like auspicious or discernable. In conclusion this a great book for mature readers that never read a Robin Cook book before.
Painting the Black (reviewed by Grant)
If you want a great, easy to read sports book, then pick up Painting the Black. It is the story of a high-school student named Ryan Ward who decides to pick up baseball after being away from it for six years. It is a very bumpy road along the way, and Ryan has to make some tough decisions.
The title of my book is Painting the Black, by Carl Deuker. It was published by Avon Books, Inc. in 1997. The total number of pages in this book is 248.
Ryan Ward is a high school kid who stopped playing baseball at twelve years old because of a broken ankle. Now he is eighteen and has no intentions of ever playing baseball again. That was, until Josh Daniels moved into the house next door. He was the same age as Ryan and amazing at football and baseball. Once he talked Ryan into playing catch with him at the baseball field, Ryan never wanted to stop. He worked hard and was the last player to make the varsity team for his High School. Just when things seem like they are going perfectly, Ryan witnesses Josh commit a crime at school. Ryan’s school finds out about this and that Ryan is a witness. Everyone asks the same question: Who did it? Will Ryan spill the beans or back Josh up and say he doesn’t know?
I thought this book was really interesting. It always had something big happening. I enjoyed reading this book and it never bored me. I think it had a great lesson also. The only thing that the author could have improved was the ending. It was too abrupt and ended before everything had settled.
I would rate this book a nine on a scale of one to ten. I rated it a nine instead of a ten because of the ending. I would recommend this book mainly to people who like sports books. This book is mainly about sports but also has some other things a person would usually have in their life. If you just want a good book that is easy to read, I would suggest this one.
The title of my book is Painting the Black, by Carl Deuker. It was published by Avon Books, Inc. in 1997. The total number of pages in this book is 248.
Ryan Ward is a high school kid who stopped playing baseball at twelve years old because of a broken ankle. Now he is eighteen and has no intentions of ever playing baseball again. That was, until Josh Daniels moved into the house next door. He was the same age as Ryan and amazing at football and baseball. Once he talked Ryan into playing catch with him at the baseball field, Ryan never wanted to stop. He worked hard and was the last player to make the varsity team for his High School. Just when things seem like they are going perfectly, Ryan witnesses Josh commit a crime at school. Ryan’s school finds out about this and that Ryan is a witness. Everyone asks the same question: Who did it? Will Ryan spill the beans or back Josh up and say he doesn’t know?
I thought this book was really interesting. It always had something big happening. I enjoyed reading this book and it never bored me. I think it had a great lesson also. The only thing that the author could have improved was the ending. It was too abrupt and ended before everything had settled.
I would rate this book a nine on a scale of one to ten. I rated it a nine instead of a ten because of the ending. I would recommend this book mainly to people who like sports books. This book is mainly about sports but also has some other things a person would usually have in their life. If you just want a good book that is easy to read, I would suggest this one.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Painting the Black (reviewed by Grant)
If you want a great, easy to read sports book, then pick up Painting the Black. It is the story of a high-school student named Ryan Ward who decides to pick up baseball after being away from it for six years. It is a very bumpy road along the way, and Ryan has to make some tough decisions.
The title of my book is Painting the Black, by Carl Deuker. It was published by Avon Books, Inc. in 1997. The total number of pages in this book is 248.
Ryan Ward is a high school kid who stopped playing baseball at twelve years old because of a broken ankle. Now he is eighteen and has no intentions of ever playing baseball again. That was, until Josh Daniels moved into the house next door. He was the same age as Ryan and amazing at football and baseball. Once he talked Ryan into playing catch with him at the baseball field, Ryan never wanted to stop. He worked hard and was the last player to make the varsity team for his High School. Just when things seem like they are going perfectly, Ryan witnesses Josh commit a crime at school. Ryan’s school finds out about this and that Ryan is a witness. Everyone asks the same question: Who did it? Will Ryan spill the beans or back Josh up and say he doesn’t know?
I thought this book was really interesting. It always had something big happening. I enjoyed reading this book and it never bored me. I think it had a great lesson also. The only thing that the author could have improved was the ending. It was too abrupt and ended before everything had settled.
I would rate this book a nine on a scale of one to ten. I rated it a nine instead of a ten because of the ending. I would recommend this book mainly to people who like sports books. This book is mainly about sports but also has some other things a person would usually have in their life. If you just want a good book that is easy to read, I would suggest this one.
The title of my book is Painting the Black, by Carl Deuker. It was published by Avon Books, Inc. in 1997. The total number of pages in this book is 248.
Ryan Ward is a high school kid who stopped playing baseball at twelve years old because of a broken ankle. Now he is eighteen and has no intentions of ever playing baseball again. That was, until Josh Daniels moved into the house next door. He was the same age as Ryan and amazing at football and baseball. Once he talked Ryan into playing catch with him at the baseball field, Ryan never wanted to stop. He worked hard and was the last player to make the varsity team for his High School. Just when things seem like they are going perfectly, Ryan witnesses Josh commit a crime at school. Ryan’s school finds out about this and that Ryan is a witness. Everyone asks the same question: Who did it? Will Ryan spill the beans or back Josh up and say he doesn’t know?
I thought this book was really interesting. It always had something big happening. I enjoyed reading this book and it never bored me. I think it had a great lesson also. The only thing that the author could have improved was the ending. It was too abrupt and ended before everything had settled.
I would rate this book a nine on a scale of one to ten. I rated it a nine instead of a ten because of the ending. I would recommend this book mainly to people who like sports books. This book is mainly about sports but also has some other things a person would usually have in their life. If you just want a good book that is easy to read, I would suggest this one.
Monday, May 19, 2008
10 Things to Do Before I Die (reviewed by Kirsten)
you ever imagined finding out you are going to die and you only have twenty-four hours left to live? Well in 10 Things to do Before I Die, by Daniel Ehrenhaft, that is exactly the case.
10 Things to do Before I Die, written by Daniel Ehrenhaft, who has also written The After Life, Tell it to Naomi, The Last Dog on Earth, and has also assisted writing other books. It was published in 2004 by Delacorte Press in New York and the book contains 219 pages.
Ted Burger, a sixteen year old kid, always hangs out at the Circle Eat Diner with his friends, Mark and Niki, until he is poisoned one day. He finds out he has twenty-four hours to live life to the fullest. So, Mark and Niki write ten things down on a napkin for him to do before his boring self dies. Will he complete all of them in time?
I love this book! It is funny, suspenseful, and at some points stupid, but it made me never want to put it down. It is wonderfully descriptive and the author does a great job explaining every step of the way. I really felt like I knew these characters.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone! I would have to rate this book a ten out of ten because it is just so enjoyable and humorous. I would say that people between the ages of twelve and seventeen would enjoy it most. If you want a book that will keep you engaged pick up a copy of 10 Things to do Before I Die.
10 Things to do Before I Die, written by Daniel Ehrenhaft, who has also written The After Life, Tell it to Naomi, The Last Dog on Earth, and has also assisted writing other books. It was published in 2004 by Delacorte Press in New York and the book contains 219 pages.
Ted Burger, a sixteen year old kid, always hangs out at the Circle Eat Diner with his friends, Mark and Niki, until he is poisoned one day. He finds out he has twenty-four hours to live life to the fullest. So, Mark and Niki write ten things down on a napkin for him to do before his boring self dies. Will he complete all of them in time?
I love this book! It is funny, suspenseful, and at some points stupid, but it made me never want to put it down. It is wonderfully descriptive and the author does a great job explaining every step of the way. I really felt like I knew these characters.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone! I would have to rate this book a ten out of ten because it is just so enjoyable and humorous. I would say that people between the ages of twelve and seventeen would enjoy it most. If you want a book that will keep you engaged pick up a copy of 10 Things to do Before I Die.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Maximum Ride: The Final Warning (reviewed by Josiah)
Do you like sequels to series that you love to read? Have you heard that James Patterson just came out with a new Maximum Ride book called the final warning? It has all the original characters and some new ones. It’s a thrilling fantasy, action, adventure book but it’s about teenage mutants. This is a book I love and I never really like the fantasy books. This is Maximum Ride The Final Warning. But this book you get literally lost in it and you feel like you’re with them there.
This book is Maximum Ride The Final Warning written by award winning James Patterson. As always Little Brown and Company published it in February of 2008. There are 265 pages shorter that there is usually but still a great one. With all the twists and turns.
This one is just as great as the others it has twists excitement and deceit. In this book there is Max Fang and Iggy (blind), Gasman, Nudge, Angel, and Total (dog). This starts where the last ended with them destroying the Itex headquarters it also explains what happened in the one before. So for you new comers you can catch up. This takes place with them in at Dr. Martinez’s house, which is Max’s mom. They travel to Antarctica to study global warming with some other scientists. Then they find themselves in a situation that is unusual, in a action. They are being sold to a country as weapons. They were to be sold in the middle of a hurricane to be the cover. And as they are traveling they go through mutations that are unlike what the school meant them to have.
This is a great read you can read it in a couple of days but it is amazing. It’s a short but great to read. You find what sorts of things that there are other than Itex and the school. As usual you can never predict what will happen next. You can read it many times over, and it won’t ever get old. These books are great to read and its fun as it goes. The way the story is told you fall into the book and can’t get out but u don’t want to. You will believe that they are talking to you.
This is a book for anyone from 12-16 but it all depends on what you like to read. But it was a great action and adventure with a fun twist around every turn you take. It is a fast read it takes a few days to read and it is great. On a one to ten it gets a 9 from me. So I hope you read it and enjoy this series.
This book is Maximum Ride The Final Warning written by award winning James Patterson. As always Little Brown and Company published it in February of 2008. There are 265 pages shorter that there is usually but still a great one. With all the twists and turns.
This one is just as great as the others it has twists excitement and deceit. In this book there is Max Fang and Iggy (blind), Gasman, Nudge, Angel, and Total (dog). This starts where the last ended with them destroying the Itex headquarters it also explains what happened in the one before. So for you new comers you can catch up. This takes place with them in at Dr. Martinez’s house, which is Max’s mom. They travel to Antarctica to study global warming with some other scientists. Then they find themselves in a situation that is unusual, in a action. They are being sold to a country as weapons. They were to be sold in the middle of a hurricane to be the cover. And as they are traveling they go through mutations that are unlike what the school meant them to have.
This is a great read you can read it in a couple of days but it is amazing. It’s a short but great to read. You find what sorts of things that there are other than Itex and the school. As usual you can never predict what will happen next. You can read it many times over, and it won’t ever get old. These books are great to read and its fun as it goes. The way the story is told you fall into the book and can’t get out but u don’t want to. You will believe that they are talking to you.
This is a book for anyone from 12-16 but it all depends on what you like to read. But it was a great action and adventure with a fun twist around every turn you take. It is a fast read it takes a few days to read and it is great. On a one to ten it gets a 9 from me. So I hope you read it and enjoy this series.
Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony (reviewed by Daniel)
Sometimes you just want to lie down and read a nice boring book to rest up for the next day. That is not true for Artemis Folw: The Lost Colony, you need full attention. If you want to know about an action packed book keep listening.
First of all I will give you some statistics. Obviously, the title is Artemis Fowl and the Last Colony, but you did not know the author was Eoin Colfer. It was published by puffin’s books in 2006 and has 385 pages.
In this book you join Artemis Fowl Who is looking for something in different areas around the globe. You later find out that what he is looking for is a creature called demons that pop up around the globe. When he does find one he make sure it gets away without it being seen, but one materialization a mysterious girl captures the demon and brings him/her to her mansion and Artemis has to try and save it, before it is too late.
I loved this book and think it is wonderful to read every time. You could read it in any mood at anytime and it will always make you happy.
I recommend this book to all ages because you don’t have to be any age to enjoy it. All in all you will love this book. It was my favorite of the series.
First of all I will give you some statistics. Obviously, the title is Artemis Fowl and the Last Colony, but you did not know the author was Eoin Colfer. It was published by puffin’s books in 2006 and has 385 pages.
In this book you join Artemis Fowl Who is looking for something in different areas around the globe. You later find out that what he is looking for is a creature called demons that pop up around the globe. When he does find one he make sure it gets away without it being seen, but one materialization a mysterious girl captures the demon and brings him/her to her mansion and Artemis has to try and save it, before it is too late.
I loved this book and think it is wonderful to read every time. You could read it in any mood at anytime and it will always make you happy.
I recommend this book to all ages because you don’t have to be any age to enjoy it. All in all you will love this book. It was my favorite of the series.
Uglies (Reviewed by Kirsten)
Do you like books that contain adventure, suspense, and a little bit of romance woven in? Well, if you do, then Uglies by, Scott Westerfeld. This book is a mysterious and futuristic that keeps you turning pages.
Uglies is written by, Scott Westerfeld and contains 425 pages. It was published in 2005 by Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing Division. Other books Scott Westerfeld has wrote are the sequels of Uglies, Pretties, Specials, and Extras, and has also written the Midnighters series.
Tally, an Ugly, is left alone on the Ugly side when her friend Peris goes to get a surgery to be a Pretty. See everyone in Uglyville, when they turn sixteen, undergo a surgery to make them pretty. After awhile she meets Shay, a girl who has the same birthday as her. They start hanging out, before they know it their a week away from their surgery, but Shay is having second thoughts and decides to run away. So, right when Tally is about to go into her surgery, she is pulled away by Special Circumstances, and is basically told if she does not find Tally she cannot turn into a Pretty.
My overall opinion of this book is it is a suspenseful and adventurous novel. The author has done a marvelous job describing everything and makes it clear what is happening. I never wanted to put this book down.
I recommend this book to twelve through eighteen year-old people. Anyone who likes reading futuristic adventure novels will definitely enjoy this book. If I had to rate this book out of ten, I would give it a complete ten, because it has a mysterious about it and includes a lot of suspense. I highly support you to pick up a copy of Uglies by, Scott Westerfeld.
Uglies is written by, Scott Westerfeld and contains 425 pages. It was published in 2005 by Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing Division. Other books Scott Westerfeld has wrote are the sequels of Uglies, Pretties, Specials, and Extras, and has also written the Midnighters series.
Tally, an Ugly, is left alone on the Ugly side when her friend Peris goes to get a surgery to be a Pretty. See everyone in Uglyville, when they turn sixteen, undergo a surgery to make them pretty. After awhile she meets Shay, a girl who has the same birthday as her. They start hanging out, before they know it their a week away from their surgery, but Shay is having second thoughts and decides to run away. So, right when Tally is about to go into her surgery, she is pulled away by Special Circumstances, and is basically told if she does not find Tally she cannot turn into a Pretty.
My overall opinion of this book is it is a suspenseful and adventurous novel. The author has done a marvelous job describing everything and makes it clear what is happening. I never wanted to put this book down.
I recommend this book to twelve through eighteen year-old people. Anyone who likes reading futuristic adventure novels will definitely enjoy this book. If I had to rate this book out of ten, I would give it a complete ten, because it has a mysterious about it and includes a lot of suspense. I highly support you to pick up a copy of Uglies by, Scott Westerfeld.
Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope (reviewed by Kelsey)
Ana’s Story is a wonderful novel to pick up. It is filled with many different emotions such as; romance, drama, and a little of mystery. I guarantee that when you read this book you will never want to close the cover.
This is a dramatic, 243 page non-fiction novel. Ana’s Story is written by Jenna Bush. This appealing book was published in 2007 by Harper Collins Publishers.
Ana is going threw very hard times in her life, she’s seventeen, she’s been abused, she has a child, and she’s HIV-positive. Ana lives with her sister Isabel, her abuela, and her abuela’s boyfriend. She has been raped, she is HIV positive and she is just trying to live a normal teenage life. Jenna Bush is the author of this book. She has met Ana and this story is written as Ana told it herself. Jenna traveled the world with UNICEF a fund that helps people with HIV/AIDS. On her long journey she met this wonderful girl named Ana and this is a book written as Ana’s life story.
I think this book is a journey through a life that is not yours but when you get into this book it kills your heart knowing that people in the world are going through situations like this one. The book also provides inside pictures that do not show exactly what’s going on but, they give a good abstract look at what this author is seeing. I thought it was a fascinating book.
I think this book is very motivating and it helps young teens see that they don’t have to be perfect but they are wonderful just the way they are. I would rate this book a ten. I thought it was terrific and very engaging. I believe that this would be a better book for young teen women in Junior High or High School. All in all, it would be an excellent choice to consider this book.
This is a dramatic, 243 page non-fiction novel. Ana’s Story is written by Jenna Bush. This appealing book was published in 2007 by Harper Collins Publishers.
Ana is going threw very hard times in her life, she’s seventeen, she’s been abused, she has a child, and she’s HIV-positive. Ana lives with her sister Isabel, her abuela, and her abuela’s boyfriend. She has been raped, she is HIV positive and she is just trying to live a normal teenage life. Jenna Bush is the author of this book. She has met Ana and this story is written as Ana told it herself. Jenna traveled the world with UNICEF a fund that helps people with HIV/AIDS. On her long journey she met this wonderful girl named Ana and this is a book written as Ana’s life story.
I think this book is a journey through a life that is not yours but when you get into this book it kills your heart knowing that people in the world are going through situations like this one. The book also provides inside pictures that do not show exactly what’s going on but, they give a good abstract look at what this author is seeing. I thought it was a fascinating book.
I think this book is very motivating and it helps young teens see that they don’t have to be perfect but they are wonderful just the way they are. I would rate this book a ten. I thought it was terrific and very engaging. I believe that this would be a better book for young teen women in Junior High or High School. All in all, it would be an excellent choice to consider this book.
Flipped (reviewed by Rachel)
If you need a new book to read, check out Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen. It’s a very well-written story and the way that the author writes it makes it a little bit of a comedy too.
Flipped was written by Wendelin Van Draanen. This book was published by Random House Books. It was published in New York in 2001. It is 212 pages long and in addition it includes some information about the author and other books she has written.
Bryce Loski moved into the neighborhood where Julianna Baker lived. This was when Bryce and Juli met for the first time, on the day he moved in. One year at school, Juli does an experiment for the science fair to hatch a baby chick. She ends up having several chickens that she raises in her yard. To be nice, she brings the eggs from her chickens over to Bryce’s house every week. However, Bryce’s family thinks the eggs could have a disease, so he has to figure out how to tell Juli that they don’t want the eggs. This is hard for Bryce because Julianna is such a powerful person in his mind. Later on, the Loskis have the Bakers over to dinner, where they get to know each other better and learn some things about each other’s families. Up until now, Bryce has always been a little bit scared of Julianna and Juli has admired Bryce. Everything starts to change though. Julianna won’t talk to him anymore and Bryce has mixed up his feelings about her, and can’t seem to get them straight.
In my opinion, Flipped was a really interesting book to read because the way the author writes it is very different from most other books. Each chapter is either Bryce or Julianna telling their perspective of something that happened between them. You get to see two views of the same thing and see how different their thoughts are. Also, I found it funny that the characters can make the story sound so dramatic, when the plot is about eggs and chickens. I noticed that Bryce and Juli never seem to be able to get along, because one of them is not happy with the other.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy books that are fiction, but they could happen in real life. This story is about two kids in everyday life, but it certainly adds some unusual touches to the story. Junior high students would probably like this book the most because that is how old the main characters are.
Flipped was written by Wendelin Van Draanen. This book was published by Random House Books. It was published in New York in 2001. It is 212 pages long and in addition it includes some information about the author and other books she has written.
Bryce Loski moved into the neighborhood where Julianna Baker lived. This was when Bryce and Juli met for the first time, on the day he moved in. One year at school, Juli does an experiment for the science fair to hatch a baby chick. She ends up having several chickens that she raises in her yard. To be nice, she brings the eggs from her chickens over to Bryce’s house every week. However, Bryce’s family thinks the eggs could have a disease, so he has to figure out how to tell Juli that they don’t want the eggs. This is hard for Bryce because Julianna is such a powerful person in his mind. Later on, the Loskis have the Bakers over to dinner, where they get to know each other better and learn some things about each other’s families. Up until now, Bryce has always been a little bit scared of Julianna and Juli has admired Bryce. Everything starts to change though. Julianna won’t talk to him anymore and Bryce has mixed up his feelings about her, and can’t seem to get them straight.
In my opinion, Flipped was a really interesting book to read because the way the author writes it is very different from most other books. Each chapter is either Bryce or Julianna telling their perspective of something that happened between them. You get to see two views of the same thing and see how different their thoughts are. Also, I found it funny that the characters can make the story sound so dramatic, when the plot is about eggs and chickens. I noticed that Bryce and Juli never seem to be able to get along, because one of them is not happy with the other.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy books that are fiction, but they could happen in real life. This story is about two kids in everyday life, but it certainly adds some unusual touches to the story. Junior high students would probably like this book the most because that is how old the main characters are.
The Titan's Curse (reviewed by Sarah)
Imagine being 14 and having the whole Olympian Dynasty in your hands, plus having immortal ememies following you wherever you go. In The Titan's Curse, that is the main idea.
Percy Jackson and the Olypmians: The Titan's Curse was written by Rick Riordan in 2007 and has 312 pages in it. It was published by Mirimax Books in New York.
Percy is a demigod, or half-blood.In other words, he has a god (Poseidon)as a father and a human (Sally Jackson) as a mother. He's pne of the Great Three's sons: Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. There is a prophecy that says a son or daughter of the Great Three will have the power to overthrow Olympus. So, he and his friend, Grover, Thalia, and some hunters (goddesses of the Night) go to save Artemis and fulfill the Titan's Curse.
I think this was a great book that was very interesting. I also think they should make a sequel to the third because it ended on a cliffhanger. I recommend this book to anyone overthe age of ten. If i were to rate this book out of five, i would give it a seven
Percy Jackson and the Olypmians: The Titan's Curse was written by Rick Riordan in 2007 and has 312 pages in it. It was published by Mirimax Books in New York.
Percy is a demigod, or half-blood.In other words, he has a god (Poseidon)as a father and a human (Sally Jackson) as a mother. He's pne of the Great Three's sons: Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. There is a prophecy that says a son or daughter of the Great Three will have the power to overthrow Olympus. So, he and his friend, Grover, Thalia, and some hunters (goddesses of the Night) go to save Artemis and fulfill the Titan's Curse.
I think this was a great book that was very interesting. I also think they should make a sequel to the third because it ended on a cliffhanger. I recommend this book to anyone overthe age of ten. If i were to rate this book out of five, i would give it a seven
Urchin of the Riding Stars (reviewed by Taylor)
Are you the kind of person who loves mystery, fantasy, and fairy tales? Do you like books that are out of the ordinary? Perhaps ones about animals that talk? If you do then you’ll love Urchin of the Riding Stars. It was written by M.I. McAllister in 2005. It was published by Miramax Books and has 282 pages.
Some of the main characters in this book are Urchin, Needle, Husk, Aspen, Crispin, Padra, and King Brushen. In this story, a baby squirrel named Urchin is found alone on a beach, his mother no where to be seen. A kind old squirrel named Apple takes him in until he goes to work in the castle as a servant to Crispin, the squirrel that is his role model, and hero. He enjoys this job until Crispin is framed for the murder of the prince. It is now up to Urchin to find out who framed Crispin, where he came from, and how he can help save the island of Mistmantle from unseen evil.
This book is the first of three books in the Mistmantle Chronicles. It includes a wonderful prologue that I would recommend you read first (it explains a lot), and beautifully detailed illustrations that help the characters come to life.
I would recommend this book for children ages 11 to 14 who love unique, mysterious, fantasy books. It takes a certain kind of person to appreciate the simple yet whimsical characters and storyline of this book. At first it may seem like the age group I said would be appropriate for this book is wrong but once you get to a certain part of the book I becomes very clear why I gave it that rating. I certainly hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.
Some of the main characters in this book are Urchin, Needle, Husk, Aspen, Crispin, Padra, and King Brushen. In this story, a baby squirrel named Urchin is found alone on a beach, his mother no where to be seen. A kind old squirrel named Apple takes him in until he goes to work in the castle as a servant to Crispin, the squirrel that is his role model, and hero. He enjoys this job until Crispin is framed for the murder of the prince. It is now up to Urchin to find out who framed Crispin, where he came from, and how he can help save the island of Mistmantle from unseen evil.
This book is the first of three books in the Mistmantle Chronicles. It includes a wonderful prologue that I would recommend you read first (it explains a lot), and beautifully detailed illustrations that help the characters come to life.
I would recommend this book for children ages 11 to 14 who love unique, mysterious, fantasy books. It takes a certain kind of person to appreciate the simple yet whimsical characters and storyline of this book. At first it may seem like the age group I said would be appropriate for this book is wrong but once you get to a certain part of the book I becomes very clear why I gave it that rating. I certainly hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.
Uglies (reviewed by Taylor)
Uglies is a mind-bending book that will have you on the tip of your chair while you’re reading this New York Times Bestseller book.
The book Uglies was written by Scott Westerfeld, who has also written many other great books. This book was also published by Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division in 2005. Although this book has 425 pages I never once wanted to put the book down and flew right by reading it.
Earth in the future is completely opposite of what it is right now. Tally Youngblood is just about to turn sixteen to have her operation to make her pretty. Everybody gets the operation when they turn sixteen including all of her friends who have all already had it. Turning pretty means you can do what ever you like when ever you like and have your looks totally transformed. Tally is lonely and bored until she meets Shay. Shay has a totally different perspective on life and right before her sixteenth birthday she runs away to a place where uglies (people who haven’t turned sixteen and haven’t had their operation yet) go to. Tally is put into an unthinkable situation with authority and will have to make a life-changing decision, turn her friend in or never become pretty at all.
My overall opinion of this book was that it was very well written and really detailed. The book sounds confusing but the author explained everything very clearly and easy to understand. Plus, there are three other sequels to this book and at the end, the author puts the first chapter of the next book, Pretties to give a preview of what this book will be about.
I give a recommendation of this book to people ages 11 to 15 years old because there is a lot of fiction in this book and it is also really long. I would have to give this book a rating of 4 out of 5.
The book Uglies was written by Scott Westerfeld, who has also written many other great books. This book was also published by Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division in 2005. Although this book has 425 pages I never once wanted to put the book down and flew right by reading it.
Earth in the future is completely opposite of what it is right now. Tally Youngblood is just about to turn sixteen to have her operation to make her pretty. Everybody gets the operation when they turn sixteen including all of her friends who have all already had it. Turning pretty means you can do what ever you like when ever you like and have your looks totally transformed. Tally is lonely and bored until she meets Shay. Shay has a totally different perspective on life and right before her sixteenth birthday she runs away to a place where uglies (people who haven’t turned sixteen and haven’t had their operation yet) go to. Tally is put into an unthinkable situation with authority and will have to make a life-changing decision, turn her friend in or never become pretty at all.
My overall opinion of this book was that it was very well written and really detailed. The book sounds confusing but the author explained everything very clearly and easy to understand. Plus, there are three other sequels to this book and at the end, the author puts the first chapter of the next book, Pretties to give a preview of what this book will be about.
I give a recommendation of this book to people ages 11 to 15 years old because there is a lot of fiction in this book and it is also really long. I would have to give this book a rating of 4 out of 5.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
The Prophet (reviewed by Kuroshe)
If you want a book filled with poetry, amazing word choices, and full of spiritual and religious sayings/quotations, then this is the book for you. The Prophet by: Kahlil Gibran is a book that covers all aspects of life. Any age can read this book and get a different understanding, perspective and view from it. My understanding of this book is different than my mom’s and dad’s understandings because we are all different ages and also we see life differently.
The book The Prophet is written by Kahlil Gibran and was first published by Alfred A. Knopf in 1923. The book I own was published in 2007 has 96 pages. My book includes two pages, one referencing all of other books written by the same author and another describing the history behind the type of the font used in this book.
The book talks about the different stages one person will go through in life like freedom, reason and passion, marriage, love, etc. There are no main characters in this book. This book talks in general and not in specifics. This is also an educational book or a “self help” book.
I thought that this book was a very good book because it explains many things that are important to know in life like marriage, and love that no one can really explain to you but this book explains it well or in an understandable way.
I would recommend this book to adults age 20 and over because the book won’t make as much sense to you if you are a younger age. I tested this concept on several of my friends they had difficulty understanding the concept. I thought that this book is a very good book that will keep you on track in life or help you to find your path. It will also tell you about the main events that will happen and change your life. I really enjoyed this book so I hope you will read this book and enjoy it as much as I did.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Uglies (reviewed by Taylor)
Uglies is a mind-bending book that will have you on the tip of your chair while you’re reading this New York Times Bestseller book.
The book Uglies was written by Scott Westerfeld, who has also written many other great books. This book was also published by Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division in 2005. Although this book has 425 pages I never once wanted to put the book down and flew right by reading it.
Earth in the future is completely opposite of what it is right now. Tally Youngblood is just about to turn sixteen to have her operation to make her pretty. Everybody gets the operation when they turn sixteen including all of her friends who have all already had it. Turning pretty means you can do what ever you like when ever you like and have your looks totally transformed. Tally is lonely and bored until she meets Shay. Shay has a totally different perspective on life and right before her sixteenth birthday she runs away to a place where uglies (people who haven’t turned sixteen and haven’t had their operation yet) go to. Tally is put into an unthinkable situation with authority and will have to make a life-changing decision, turn her friend in or never become pretty at all.
My overall opinion of this book was that it was very well written and really detailed. The book sounds confusing but the author explained everything very clearly and easy to understand. Plus, there are three other sequels to this book and at the end, the author puts the first chapter of the next book, Pretties to give a preview of what this book will be about.
I give a recommendation of this book to people ages 11 to 15 years old because there is a lot of fiction in this book and it is also really long. I would have to give this book a rating of 4 out of 5.
The book Uglies was written by Scott Westerfeld, who has also written many other great books. This book was also published by Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division in 2005. Although this book has 425 pages I never once wanted to put the book down and flew right by reading it.
Earth in the future is completely opposite of what it is right now. Tally Youngblood is just about to turn sixteen to have her operation to make her pretty. Everybody gets the operation when they turn sixteen including all of her friends who have all already had it. Turning pretty means you can do what ever you like when ever you like and have your looks totally transformed. Tally is lonely and bored until she meets Shay. Shay has a totally different perspective on life and right before her sixteenth birthday she runs away to a place where uglies (people who haven’t turned sixteen and haven’t had their operation yet) go to. Tally is put into an unthinkable situation with authority and will have to make a life-changing decision, turn her friend in or never become pretty at all.
My overall opinion of this book was that it was very well written and really detailed. The book sounds confusing but the author explained everything very clearly and easy to understand. Plus, there are three other sequels to this book and at the end, the author puts the first chapter of the next book, Pretties to give a preview of what this book will be about.
I give a recommendation of this book to people ages 11 to 15 years old because there is a lot of fiction in this book and it is also really long. I would have to give this book a rating of 4 out of 5.
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (reviewed by Alex)
Imagine that you are waking up in the morning and you feel awful. You think you have a hangover but don’t remember why. As you get ready for work, you see bulldozers out of all your windows, but don’t pay any attention to them. All of a sudden you remember that your house is going to be demolished to make way for a bypass. Your house is very dull and uninteresting, and everyone thinks it’s worthless, so they have no problem with tearing it down. This is exactly what happens to Arthur Dent in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. Arthur’s house isn’t the only thing that’s about to be demolished, however. Soon after, the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic bypass used to travel to distant planets. Everyone in the galaxy who’s even heard of the Earth thinks it’s primitive and worthless, so they have no problem at all with blowing it up. Right before Earth is destroyed, Arthur is plucked off the planet by Ford Prefect, his friend who turns out to be from another planet, and sucked into one of the most hilarious adventures ever written.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy was written by Douglas Adams and was published by Del Rey in 1979. It has 216 pages of hilarious interstellar adventure.
After Earth is destroyed, Arthur realizes that Ford hitched a ride on one of the ships of the Vogon Constructor Fleet. The Vogons are the aliens that destroyed the Earth, and after forcing them to listen to Vogon poetry (their form of torture), they throw Ford and Arthur off the ship. Luckily, they are rescued by a spaceship powered by the Infinite Improbability Drive, which is a new type of engine that powers a spaceship using nothing but improbability. The spaceship was stolen by the President of the Galaxy, the two-headed, three-armed Zaphod Beeblebrox, who also happens to be Ford’s semi-cousin. Along with Zaphod’s girlfriend from Earth, Trillian, and Marvin, a depressed robot, they go on a journey to discover Magrathea, the ancient planet-building planet. This begins one of the most ironic, improbable adventures in the galaxy.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is one of the best books I’ve ever read! The humor is always hilarious, and I cracked up reading almost every page! Although I think almost everyone would like this book, the plot is very unusual, so you have to be willing to read something different. Also, there are a few swear words and occasionally some adult topics, so younger kids might want to hold off on reading this one until they get older. Still, I can’t say many bad things about this book. It’s without a doubt the funniest book I’ve ever read, and I give it a 10 out of 10.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy was written by Douglas Adams and was published by Del Rey in 1979. It has 216 pages of hilarious interstellar adventure.
After Earth is destroyed, Arthur realizes that Ford hitched a ride on one of the ships of the Vogon Constructor Fleet. The Vogons are the aliens that destroyed the Earth, and after forcing them to listen to Vogon poetry (their form of torture), they throw Ford and Arthur off the ship. Luckily, they are rescued by a spaceship powered by the Infinite Improbability Drive, which is a new type of engine that powers a spaceship using nothing but improbability. The spaceship was stolen by the President of the Galaxy, the two-headed, three-armed Zaphod Beeblebrox, who also happens to be Ford’s semi-cousin. Along with Zaphod’s girlfriend from Earth, Trillian, and Marvin, a depressed robot, they go on a journey to discover Magrathea, the ancient planet-building planet. This begins one of the most ironic, improbable adventures in the galaxy.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is one of the best books I’ve ever read! The humor is always hilarious, and I cracked up reading almost every page! Although I think almost everyone would like this book, the plot is very unusual, so you have to be willing to read something different. Also, there are a few swear words and occasionally some adult topics, so younger kids might want to hold off on reading this one until they get older. Still, I can’t say many bad things about this book. It’s without a doubt the funniest book I’ve ever read, and I give it a 10 out of 10.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Artemis Fowl: Lost Colony (reviewed by Gryphon)
Everyone has thought about fairies and demons at one point or another. But what if fairies and the like are still around? In the book Artemis Fowl: Lost Colony, fairies do exist and have been evolving underground for generations until their technology exceeded our own.
Artemis Fowl: Lost Colony is the fifth book in a series by Eoin Colfer. Published in 2006 by Miramax, this book lasts through 400 pages.
Artemis fowl is a 14 year old genius. Originally starting as a criminal mastermind, Artemis’s experiences with the fairyfolk have changed his moral. It is thus that he discovers the mystery of demons, which have been isolated out of time and space on an island called Hybras. With the help of his friends, Holly (fairy) Mulch (dwarf) Butler (bulky bodyguard) and Foaly (genius centaur), Artemis must save a captured Demon, and hopefully the island Hybras that has been slowly deteriorating ever since it was removed from time. Complexions such as the fact that the fairyfolk must not be exposed keep this adventure rolling fast enough to make you want to read and read until you look at the clock and realize its been three hours.
I loved this book very much. I finished it in only three days, this book was just so good. I can’t wait to read the sequel, having read the rest of the series already.
Overall, I give this book a 10 out of 10. I would only recommend this book for people ages 8-14 though, as it is quite a simple read. So go read Artemis Fowl: Lost Colony and see what I’m talking about.
Artemis Fowl: Lost Colony is the fifth book in a series by Eoin Colfer. Published in 2006 by Miramax, this book lasts through 400 pages.
Artemis fowl is a 14 year old genius. Originally starting as a criminal mastermind, Artemis’s experiences with the fairyfolk have changed his moral. It is thus that he discovers the mystery of demons, which have been isolated out of time and space on an island called Hybras. With the help of his friends, Holly (fairy) Mulch (dwarf) Butler (bulky bodyguard) and Foaly (genius centaur), Artemis must save a captured Demon, and hopefully the island Hybras that has been slowly deteriorating ever since it was removed from time. Complexions such as the fact that the fairyfolk must not be exposed keep this adventure rolling fast enough to make you want to read and read until you look at the clock and realize its been three hours.
I loved this book very much. I finished it in only three days, this book was just so good. I can’t wait to read the sequel, having read the rest of the series already.
Overall, I give this book a 10 out of 10. I would only recommend this book for people ages 8-14 though, as it is quite a simple read. So go read Artemis Fowl: Lost Colony and see what I’m talking about.
A Great and Terrible Beauty (reviewed by Rachel)
If you happen to need a good book to read, maybe a story with many cliff hangers and questions to be answered, you should read A Great and Terrible Beauty. Murder, romance, and a girl who is one of a kind will strike you in this book.
A Great and Terrible Beauty was written by Libba Bray. It was published by Delacorte Press in New York in 2003, and it is 404 pages long, including some neat facts about the author.
Gemma Doyle, sixteen, lives in India with her mother and has always wanted to go to London. The problem is her mother never approved. However, when her mother dies suddenly, Gemma is sent to the Spence Academy for girls in London, but now it is the last place in the world she wants to be. The girls at Spence are disciplined, well-mannered, graceful, and unlike Gemma. She meets Felicity, Cecily, and Pippa, the stuck-up, snotty girls and at the same time begins having unusual visions that she keeps a secret and doesn’t know what to do about them. An odd girl named Ann ends up joining Felicity and her friends along with Gemma, who has been accepted into their little gossip group. The visions continue to come and one day she finds a diary. It was the diary of Mary Dowd and Sarah Reese-Toome, two girls writing about their days at Spence and the visions they also had. Gemma doesn’t know who these girls are but hopes to meet them because the have powers in the supernatural world too. The five girls share the diary amongst themselves and read aloud from it, wondering who these girls are. Towards the end of the book, Gemma discovers her ability to bring herself to another realm where she gets involved with her mother and realizes she had never died. If you read this book, you will find out why people thought Gemma’s mother died of cholera, who Mary and Sarah are, and a few things about the academy and Gemma’s powers that she didn’t know before.
In my opinion, this book was one of the best stories I have read for a long time. The beginning was confusing and hard to understand at first, but then once Gemma gets to London, I caught on and things got more interesting. My advice is that if you are going to read this book, once you’ve begun, don’t quit in the middle because it just gets more exciting at the end. This is definitely a curl-up-under-the-covers kind of book and I liked it because I wasn’t always able to predict what would happen next, so I had to keep reading to find out.
I would recommend A Great and Terrible Beauty to readers who enjoy books that are really out-there and not a story you’d see happen in everyday life. This book would be most suitable for girls thirteen years and older. I would give this book five stars because of how much I liked reading it.
A Great and Terrible Beauty was written by Libba Bray. It was published by Delacorte Press in New York in 2003, and it is 404 pages long, including some neat facts about the author.
Gemma Doyle, sixteen, lives in India with her mother and has always wanted to go to London. The problem is her mother never approved. However, when her mother dies suddenly, Gemma is sent to the Spence Academy for girls in London, but now it is the last place in the world she wants to be. The girls at Spence are disciplined, well-mannered, graceful, and unlike Gemma. She meets Felicity, Cecily, and Pippa, the stuck-up, snotty girls and at the same time begins having unusual visions that she keeps a secret and doesn’t know what to do about them. An odd girl named Ann ends up joining Felicity and her friends along with Gemma, who has been accepted into their little gossip group. The visions continue to come and one day she finds a diary. It was the diary of Mary Dowd and Sarah Reese-Toome, two girls writing about their days at Spence and the visions they also had. Gemma doesn’t know who these girls are but hopes to meet them because the have powers in the supernatural world too. The five girls share the diary amongst themselves and read aloud from it, wondering who these girls are. Towards the end of the book, Gemma discovers her ability to bring herself to another realm where she gets involved with her mother and realizes she had never died. If you read this book, you will find out why people thought Gemma’s mother died of cholera, who Mary and Sarah are, and a few things about the academy and Gemma’s powers that she didn’t know before.
In my opinion, this book was one of the best stories I have read for a long time. The beginning was confusing and hard to understand at first, but then once Gemma gets to London, I caught on and things got more interesting. My advice is that if you are going to read this book, once you’ve begun, don’t quit in the middle because it just gets more exciting at the end. This is definitely a curl-up-under-the-covers kind of book and I liked it because I wasn’t always able to predict what would happen next, so I had to keep reading to find out.
I would recommend A Great and Terrible Beauty to readers who enjoy books that are really out-there and not a story you’d see happen in everyday life. This book would be most suitable for girls thirteen years and older. I would give this book five stars because of how much I liked reading it.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Twilight (reviewed by Abigail)
You go to a new school. You are madly in love with a boy. He loves you back. But he might hurt you in the end. The name of my book is Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. It is published by Time Warner Book Group and was made in 2005. It also has 498 pages of excitement! Twilight is a book about a girl named Isabella Swan who moved from Forks, Washington to live with her dad Charlie. As Isabella goes to school she notices this boy, named Edward Cullen. The more she gets to know him the more she wants to be with him. She later finds out that Edward Cullen is not just a human, he is a vampire. Normally if someone was a vampire people would get away from the person. But Isabella is in love with Edward and cannot get away. My overall opinion of this book is 7 out of 10. It is very good but it is very slow. It is in detail a lot but I think it is in too much detail. It also is a little to long for me. I think this book is good for ages 12-16 because this book does not have bad content but it is very mature.
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