Wednesday, October 31, 2007

MY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN by Jean Craighead George

My Side of the Mountain is an excellent book about a young New York City boy who runs away to the Catskill Mountains. Sam, the boy, finds an old tree and makes his home. After making it cozy and making some friends, he starts collecting food. Will he have enough food for the winter? It might only be one word to you and me, but it’s whole season of harsh weather to Sam. Will he have the proper tools? Will he survive? Read this exciting and touching book to find out.

Jack

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

ALICE THE BRAVE by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Alice the Brave by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

A month before eighth grade begins, Alice McKinley has to face certain fears that she has been worried about since, well let’s just say forever. What she is afraid of is deep water. In August everyone goes to Mark Stedmeister’s swimming pool everyday so she is panicked. Meanwhile Elizabeth and Pamela, Alice’s two best friends, take care of their own problems and don’t have time to help her. Life is changing for everybody except for Alice. Bravery starts step by step by step. Later on Alice learns that a brother, a father, and some friends may help a lot.

-Anne

UGLIES by Scott Westerfeld

Uglies By Scott Westerfeld

Tally absolutely can not wait until her sixteenth birthday. In Tally’s odd world turning sixteen means getting an operation that transforms you from a low-life uglie to a gorgeous prettie. Once you get your operation you are qualified to live in New Prettie Town where the fun never stops.
Tally’s new friend Shay does not see New Prettie Town the way everyone else does. So when Shay runs away to the wilderness Tally has to make the hardest decision of her life. Should she turn Shay and all the other runaways in or stay uglie forever?
Leah

Friday, October 26, 2007

“Pirates of the Caribbean at World’s End”

Jack Sparrow, one of the best captains ever, was in Davy Jones’s locker. His crew wanted to save him, but they needed the help of Barbossa, one of Jacks enemies. Barbossa agreed to help save Jack. To save Jack Sparrow, Jack’s crew and Brabossa had to go to the underworld. This book is called “Pirates of the Caribbean At World’s End”. It is an adventure book. Read the book to learn if Jack Sparrows crew finally saves Jack and defeats Davy Jones and the East Indian Trading Company.
- Sam

Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul by Jack Canfield

For SSR I am reading a book called Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul. This book is not like any other book I have read but I am kind of enjoying that! Instead of having one story for the entire book, it has many short stories written by various adults about what has happened to them as kids between the ages of nine and thirteen and by sharing their experiences they hope to help others. With its age-appropriate themes and stories, preteens can easily relate to the information or it can also help anyone of any age that needs an uplifting take on life. My favorite story so far is about a girl named Beverley and how once she got home her mom and dad had to tell her that her friends had been in a car accident and her best friend didn’t survive. At the end of this short story Beverley finally realizes how to deal with her problems and still have a good life. “Julie may be dead, but her spirit is quite alive.” This is just a hint about what readers can look forward to reading when opening this book!

by: Kate
How my Personal Private Journal Became a Bestseller
by Julia DeVillers

My Review:
Jamie Bartlett is an ordinary girl. She is not noticed at school and when she is noticed she is made fun of. When her English teacher assigns an essay, Harmony, a friend, lets her use her laptop. Jamie finishes her paper and ends up starting a private journal on Harmony’s laptop. It’s really late when she finishes her journal and quickly e-mails her paper to Harmony to print out- or so she thinks. The next day her English teacher reads one paper to the class and Jamie realizes that instead of e-mailing her English paper she e-mailed her journal! Her English teacher sends her journal to a publishing company and all of a sudden Jamie becomes a bestselling author! Will Jamie stick to her normal life or will all this popularity go to her head?
Emily

Thursday, October 25, 2007

ELDEST

We were traveling to Farthen Dur when we were attacked by Urgals. I quickly got on Saphira’s back and took out my sword. She flew near the ground as I cut through and Urgal. We won but we had some bruises and cuts especially Saphira. We rested for a while and then kept going.
Eldest is an awesome book written by Christopher Paolini. It is full of adventure, magic, and wars. I recommend this book to everyone especially adventure lovers. If you want to find out what will happen to Saphira and Eragon on this journey and a lot of more read this book. I guarantee you will love this book.

Konrad

Monday, October 22, 2007

ONE OF THOSE HIDEOUS BOOKS WHERE THE MOTHER DIES by Sonya Sones

One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies
bySonya Sones

This book is about a girl named Ruby who has to move away and leave behind everyone and everything she loves because her mother dies! She has to move to her father in California! She doesn’t now what to expect from a father that never attempted to visit her, talk to her or even send letters! While she’s in her father’s house she comes across a gay guy named Max who seems to have an interest in her father! How gross is that? Max tries to help Ruby with her troubles when her father decides that she is “too young” to walk to and from school. She hates it when she isn’t able to hang with friends before coming home because her dad is waiting with a fancy new car every day! Will she survive the rest of her life with him or will she decide to take the next flight back home? Find out when you read this book!
Samantha

Thursday, October 18, 2007

ERAGON by Christopher Paolini

Eragon, by Christopher Paolini, is about a teenage boy named Eragon. One day, while he is out hunting, he accidently stumbles upon a polished sapphire blue stone. Eragon doesn’t think much of it. He only looks at it as a way to pay for his family’s next meal. A little later in the year, the stone starts to shake, and cracks start to appear on it. All of a sudden, a strange creature emerges from the stone. When Eragon pets the creature, a strange mark appears on his hand. Soon the secrets of the world around Eragon become clear. The creature he discovered is a dragon, and it is his job, with the help of his new friend Saphira to stop the king. The evil king is now hungry for power, and is starting to take over the kingdom. Since Eragon is the last of the Dragon Riders, he has to stop the king. If you are looking for the perfect book to read, Eragon is it. This fantasy – action book is great to read on a rainy day, or any other day for that matter. If you enjoy reading books about dragons, elves, and mighty warriors, Eragon is a great book for you. So the next time you’re at the book store, or at the library, get Eragon by Christopher Paolini. It will be one of the best books you ever read.

Joseph

FAIREST by Gail Carson Levine

Fairest by Gail Carson Levine

Lady Aza, the main character, is the ugliest maiden in Ayortha. Her parents found her as a baby at the main room of the inn they owned. They raised her like their own child along with their three kids. Aza wins a chance to go to the grand palace as a maid for the duchess. She meets the prince and becomes the queen’s lady-in-waiting. Even though Aza was ugly she had the fairest voice of all. She ‘ilusses’ for the queen and wins the prince’s heart, but the town council wants to put her in jail because she’s so ugly. What happens next? Read the book to find out.

Adline

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

THE LIGHTNING THIEF by Rick Riordan

The Lightning Thief
By: Rick Riordan

Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson has to deal with many things, his smelly step dad, being expelled from boarding school, and Nancy Bobofit the school bully. On his summer break he encounters his first monster that takes his mom. Soon he ends up in Camp Half-Blood and finds out he is the son of Poseidon, the water god. He is accused of stealing the Master Bolt of Zeus, the sky god, and the Helm of Darkness that belongs to Hades, God of the Underworld. Now young Percy must go on a quest with two friends and return what has been stolen. Read this book to find out if Percy survives this truly dangerous quest to Olympus.

Blog by: Sana

A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY by Libba Bray

A Great and Terrible Beauty by
Libba Bray
When Gemma Doyle’s mother dies, she is forced to move to London and attend boarding school where she must learn how to become a proper lady. Gemma discovers a hidden power, visions which have a nasty habit of coming true. She learns about her mother’s abilities and strong connections with a secret organization. With the help of her friends, Gemma learns great and terrible secrets and unleashes the power with in her. A Great and Terrible Beauty is filled with so many twists and turns, you’ll never want to put it down!
Christina

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

STARTING WITH ALICE by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Starting With Alice by: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor


Eight year-old Alice McKinley just started third grade and she has so many problems already. She really wants a mom and nice friends, but doesn’t have either. She doesn’t know anyone in Takoma Park, Maryland, except her next door neighbor Donald Sheavers. During school she meets new friends Sara and Rosalind, and this group of girls she names The Terrible Triplets. Later on in the story you will learn more spicy and juicy details about Alice. ENJOY!!

- Anne

Monday, October 15, 2007

ANNE OF GREEN GABLES by L.M.Montgomery

Anne of Green Gables
By, L.M. Montgomery

This book is about a couple named Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert who want a boy. So one day Matthew goes to the orphanage to pick up the boy they wanted. But somehow he comes back with a girl named Anne. She’s had some unfortunate times before in her life and finally thinks this would have a happy ending. But when Marilla sees Anne will she want to keep her? Or will she give her back to the orphanage?
I thought this was one of the best books I’ve ever read. It had so many emotions in it. If you try it, you’ll like it.

By, Dipthi

A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS #13: THE END by Lemony Snicket

A Series of Unfortunate Events #13
The End
By Lemony Snicket

A series of unfortunate events book thirteen is great book. It’s the last book in the series and I think it’s the best book by Lemony Snicket. The Baudelaire siblings are the main characters. Violet the eldest, Klaus the middle child and Sunny who isn’t even one year old get stranded on an island after being force to commit arson, murder and other devious crimes by Count Olaf, an evil man bent on capturing the Baudelaires for their enormous fortune left behind after their parents’ deaths. The Baudelaires are of course good people living on the treacherous side of life. They stumbled upon a secret organization called V.F.D and since then they’ve dealt with horrible people. They end up ship wrecked with Count Olaf and are welcomed to a tribe. They are forced to drink cordial which is coconut milk which causes them to feel drowsy and acts as a mind control drink. The Baudelaires find out and are forced out of the tribe. Will they survive? Will they find their friends? Will they leave the island? Read to find out.
Janina

THE WESTING GAME by Ella Raskin

The Westing Game
By: Ella Raskin
This book is filled with suspense. You’ll be dying to know what’s going to happen next. It is a mystery game in which all of Mr. Westing’s 16 heirs have to play. They have to find out who murdered Mr. Westing using the clues Mr. Westing left them. The game was made out by Mr. Westing himself before he died. Go through each one of the heir’s struggles when they try to figure out who did it knowing that it was one of the people standing before them. At the end you will be surprised as they reveal the shocking but not so shocking truth about the life of Mr. Westing.


Natalia

ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS by Scott O'Dell

Island of the Blue Dolphins by: Scott ‘O Dell


If you want a book with action, adventure and sadness, this is the book for you. Island of the Blue Dolphins is about a girl named Karana who lives on the Island of the Blue Dolphins with her tribe called Gha-las-at. One day a ship comes to the island with Russians and Aleuts. Their captain is Captain Orlv. They come to the island to hunt seals, but when the Russians don’t pay the price, their captain kills the chief of the tribe, Karana’s dad. His tribesmen attack the Aleuts, but the Aleuts escape. Next, all Karana’s people leave the island except Karana and her brother Ramo. Ramo gets killed by wild dogs. Will Karana ever survive alone on the island? Will the white men ever come back for Karana? You have to read the book to find out.


By: Giulio

MOLLY MOON by Georgia Byng

Molly Moon
Author: Georgia Byng

Molly Moon takes you on a breathtaking journey learning to hypnotize. Her best friend Rocky has been with her since she was a baby at the orphanage. Molly finds a mysterious book on hypnotism at the library and she has been reading it ever since. She learns how to hypnotize people and becomes one the very few in the world to know how. As she learns how to hypnotize she becomes a famous tap show dancer and hypnotizes people to think she is amazing when she is on stage. When another hypnotist finds her he tracks her down to kill her. Read this amazing book to see what happens in her life. And be sure to check out the other two in the series.

Sanjanaa

BECAUSE OF WINN DIXIE by Kate DiCamillo

If you are looking for a mystery book you should read the book called
Because of Winn-Dixie. The book is about a dog that was messing up a grocery
store and Opal didn’t want the dog to go to the pound so she said that it was her dog.
Even thought it was not so she took it home. Her dad said that she could keep it after she begged many times. If you want to hear about her adventures with her new dog, you should read the book Because of Winn-Dixie.

Courteney

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

By: J.K. Rowling

Harry has decided to not go back to Hogwarts so that he and his friends,
Ron and Hermione, can find and destroy the rest of Lord Voldemort’s
horcruxes. On their way, they encounter Death Eaters, bounty hunters,
and come close to seeing Voldemort a few times. But with the help of the
Order of the Phoenix and one very unlikely figure, they are very successful
in the hunt for the horcruxes. Find out the end to the epic journey of Harry
Potter in the seventh and final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Pick one up today!
By:Tim

Thursday, October 11, 2007

THE SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS by Lemony Snicket

The Series of the Unfortunate Events: Book1
By: Lemony Snicket
Are you looking for an interesting mystery book? You should read The Series of the Unfortunate Events book 1. You wouldn’t be able to take your eyes off the book once you start reading it. The book is about 3 orphans named Violet, Klaus, and Sunny. Violet is the oldest, Klaus the 2nd oldest, and Sunny the youngest. It all happen when their parents died in a fire, leaving a big fortune behind, which now belongs to Violet. But she can’t have the money until she comes of age to use it. They now have to live with their evil uncle Count Olaf who tries to take their fortune. He will do the craziest things to get the fortune. Will he get his hands on it or will he get caught? Read the book to find out.

Kim

Friday, October 5, 2007

HEAT by Mike Lupica

HEAT
By: Mike Lupica


This book is about a boy named Michael Arroyo who is an all star baseball player. His father died after they escaped to New York from Cuba. His only family is his seventeen-year-old brother, Carlos. He has to keep his secret about being an orphaned child living with his brother, from Social Services or he will be separated from his brother in an orphanage or worse sent back to Cuba. Read this book to find out more about Michael Arroyo’s Secret Life. If you do read it, it’s full of unknown surprises and a jaw-dropping paragraph in almost every chapter. I love this book and hopefully you will too.

Jenna

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
By: J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is the book for you if you like suspense and drama. Harry Potter, the vanquisher of the dark lord, Voldemort, is finally going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. However, has Harry actually slain the dark lord or is Voldemort roaming the school while Harry learns the basics of wizardry? Harry and his new best friends, Ron and Hermione, must discover the secret of the Sorcerer’s Stone. Will Harry be able to solve this mystery without being expelled or worse killed along the way? Read the book and find out!

By: Alexander

THE LOCH by Marlaine Maddux

THE LOCH- Part 1: By Marlaine Maddux

The Loch is an exciting adventure about a plesior (dinosaur) named Nessandra, and her friends- a mermaid, an electric fish, and an octopus. They are the ones destined to go on "The Knowledge Journey" where they are supposed to find more information about dry walkers (humans) and make other discoveries about the outside world. During the journey, Nessandra and her friends will learn about teamwork and determination. Their homes are in the waters of the Loch. The Loch Ness is right on top of the Loch but, the Loch is nicely hidden. Their journey is dangerous but they are ready. If you want to get answers to all your questions you will have to read Part.2 and Part.3. But, to find out what happens to Nessandra and her friends . . . read this graphic novel today!

Sherene

Monday, October 1, 2007

POLLYANNA by:Eleanor H. Porter

Pollyanna by: Eleanor H. Porter


Pollyanna is a young girl who is sent to her Aunt Polly’s house after her parents die. She is happy because she has an aunt and not just ladies’ aids to take care of her. Pollyanna wants everybody in the town to play a special game that her dad taught her. She teaches the game to some people she knows because she wants everybody that she is teaching the game to, to be happy. Is Pollyanna successful in teaching people the being glad game? Are Pollyanna and her aunt happy about what she has achieved? If you want to find more exciting events with Pollyanna than read this amazing book called, “Pollyanna.”

Hannah