Once by Morris Gleitzman

The book that I read is Once by Morris Gleitzman. The story is about a Jewish orphan named Felix, who seeks the find his parents during the Holocaust. He makes up great adventures on his way about how his mother and father travel around the world to try and saved all the books created by Jewish authors. Little does he know what really is going on. On his way to finding his parents he meets a little girl named Zelda, and shortly after they travel together to find her parents too, even though Felix knows something about Zelda’s parents and doesn’t want to tell because it’ll break her heart. After traveling with Zelda, they get caught by Nazi soldiers and are forced to march with them but a brave man named Barney comes and rescues them. After they are rescued from being killed Barney takes them to his house, where there are five more little kids. Three girls and two boys, one of the girls is Ruth and the other is Chaya. The boy’s names are Jacob and Moshe, the third girl, a toddler, is named is Janek. As the time spent with Barney and the others Felix, encounters many situations such as telling stories to a Nazi soldier who gets his teeth fixed by Barney.

What I liked about the book the most is the creativity.  The author made Felix’s stories in a way that I can actually picture being one of the little kids and how hard it was to stay quiet so that Nazi soldiers wouldn’t find you. The bad part about this book was that when the author had you on suspense he didn’t really capitalize on it more in the next chapter. He transitions into a whole different story, that Felix was telling. I also liked that each chapter started with once as if Felix was telling stories throughout the quest to find his parents. This story reminds me of the little girl in the red coat in Schindlers list because throughout the whole story Felix would come by Nazi soldiers and they would just let him wonder on. As if he was invisible.

Overall, the book was really good and it made you keep reading, to see what would happen to Felix (for example, is he going to survive or is he going get caught and brought to a camp where he will die?). I recommend this book to people who like non-fiction books and who are interested in the Holocaust and how some of the Jewish families or people survived without being caught. The age group for this book would be from 12-15 years old because around that age group you start to learn about the Holocaust. I would rate this book 3 stars, because someone the events in the story aren’t that realistic and can’t compare to the Holocaust as much.

Crank- by katy tufo

Crank

By: Ellen Hopkins

The book I read was “Crank” by Ellen Hopkins. This book was about a girl, named Kristina, whose parents are divorced, and goes to spend the summer with her dad. While she’s there she meets a boy, named Adam, who gets her into the drug called Crank. She starts dating this boy and gets really hooked on it. She even did it with her dad, because he is really into drugs as well. When she goes home she continues doing the drug, and leaves her old friends behind. As she continues to do crank, she gets into a lot of trouble and realizes how bad the drug is. Towards the end she tries to quit, but finds out something huge. Main characters are: Her father, her mother, her step-father, her sister, the three boys she was involved with Adam, Brandon, and Chase.

                What I liked about this book was how it was written in poem form. The pages were shorter and it made it a lot easier to read. Also, I liked how it gave good detail, so that the reader fully understood the situation. What I didn’t like was how the book ended; it was really unexpected, and surprising.  My favorite part of the book was when she met Chase, because he was nicer than the other two boys she had dated. I can connect this book to “Go Ask Alice” because that is also a book about a girl who gets addicted to drugs and has bad experiences.

                If recommend this book to anyone who likes a sad book, with a little romance in it. I think this book would be best for teenagers around 15-18 because it really describes what it’s like to be hooked on drugs, it explains all the bad things that happen from being on them. Also, it shows a little bit of teenage love, which people like to read about. I would rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because it was really interesting to read about what this girl went through while on this drug and her struggles as a teenager. Also, it was an easy read because of the way the book was set up and written.  I think teenagers should read this book to understand the disadvantages of doings drugs like crank.

The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller is about a girl named Haven that had been reincarnated. She was living in Snope City which is located in Tennessee she hoped to move to New York when she was older though so that she could go to school and meet the boy she was destined to be with. Though along the way she struggles with weather this boy was actually the one. Finally by playing it safe in New York and by trying to avoid the paparazzi before the people from a secret society get to know to much information.
I liked the book because it left you wondering what would happen next it also made you make many predictions though out the book. everything in the end though went together in the end i didn't like that in the end they made you wait for answers to the questions that where running though your head at the time. My favorite part of the book was when Haven found that the one she loved was not actually dead.
I would recommend this book for anyone that likes a suspenseful romance story. I would also recommend this book to people in there teen age years. If i where to rate this book i would give it 3.5 stars because it was really good but the start of the book started a little slow but by the end of the book you didn't want to put the book down. This book will blow you away with it's intriguing yet suspenseful moments in the book though there is also some romance to the book.

Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown

Book Review by: McKenzie Roy

The book that I read in my reading writing workshop class is Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown. This book is about a girl named Elle. Her boyfriend, Warner, breaks up with her so she goes to law school to win him back. However, when she gets there her ex-boyfriend is already engaged to a girl named Sarah. She stays at the law school to win him back. It’s very hard for her in the beginning because she doesn’t have any friends but then she meets Eugenia who helps Elle through her problems with Warner. I really like how the book is not like the movie version of it. I have seen the movie so many times that I was glad to read the book and see if it had any similarities to the movie. There are some similarities but not that many. For example, in the movie Elle doesn’t make any friends at law school, instead she becomes friends with a lady who works in the nail salon that Elle goes to. There is not anything I have not liked, so far I think the book is very good. I am about half way through it now and I think I will like it as I finish reading. I would definitely recommend this book to girls of the ages of 13-17. I think that many girls should read this book because I bet many teenagers can relate to Elle. I would rate this book 3 stars because some parts are confusing but overall it’s good. It is very descriptive.

jacob frazier book review

The book that i am reading is called Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick the genre is probably non-fiction. The book is about a kid named max whos dad is in jail for killing max's mom. people look at max like he is a very wierd kid because he is a very tall and because of his dad people think hes just like him and just has a very differant way of looking at life. one day he meets a very smart kid named kevin. who brings the life of max out and shows how to have fun, but in midevil ways.and they become very good ways. my favorite part was when they went to the fair.

Book Review#1 Chris Landry

I am reading the book Hatchet by Gary Paulson. Genre is either adventure or suspense. The story is about a boy named Brian Robeson who gets into a plane and while in the air the pilot has a violent heart attack. Brian strears it into a lake and it stuck him in the middle of a Canadian wilderness with no one with him and nothing to use to survive. He has to use only what he can find to survive.

This book kept me interested because of the way the author describes the situations and the way Brian handles them. My favorite part of the book was when he the pilot has the heart attack and Brian is panicing on what to do and how to land the plane without getting killed. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading suspencful books and younger kids might not truly understand whats going on. Also people who like wildlife becasue he deals with alot of animals and forest. I rate this book 4 stars because I was able to read it and stay interested and actually painted a vivid picture what was going on.

It is definitly a great book to read!



Book Review #1 By Katy Tufo

If I Stay

By: Gale Forman

Mia and her family are in the car going to their Grandparents house because they have a snow day. The roads are really bad from the snow which causes the car to crash. Her parents are thrown from the car and die immediately, but Mia and her brother Teddy are sent to the hospital. Mia is in a coma and is telling the story from her point of view outside her body. She tells about being confused on whether to wake up, and be with her boyfriend, her best friend, and her Grandparents, or to die and go to heaven with her parents.

What I liked about the book is that Mia would tell flashbacks about her life before the time. I also liked how the end of the book kind of left you hanging so you want to read the second book. What I didn’t like about the book was that it was so sad. After the car crash, bad things just kept happening to her. My favorite part of the book is when she remembers her first date with Adam. I would connect this to the episode of Hannah Montana, when she got in a snowboarding accident and was in a coma. She was also outside of her body seeing everything that happens around her.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes love stories, cliff hangers, or trauma stories. I would say this book would be for mostly teenagers and up. This tells the story of a teenage girl so most people my age would like to read this book because of that. I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars, because it was really well written and I loved the book. I think people should read this book because it’s one of those books you can’t put down.

Looking for Alaska

The book I read was Looking for Alaska by John Green. Don't be mistaken by the title! The book is about a boy who goes to a private school and becomes best friends with his roommate. His roommate was also friends with Alaska, a very pretty girl described in the book. The main character was Miles and his roommate was called the Colonial. Throughout the book the two become basically brothers and do everything together. At the school many crazy things happen, relating sex/drugs and lots of drama.
             I didn't like how the book was long and took a long time to get to the plot. The book also had lots of added stuff that didn't really fit. I liked how the book told a good story to not to drugs or under age drink. I also liked the ending of the book. I cant make a connection to this book.
        I recommend this book to older kids over the age of 14. I think its very inappropriate so no younger audience should read this book. On a scale 1 to 4 I would give it a 2 because i thought it was very well written. It painted a good picture in the readers head. But it went off topic often and the story line is hard to understand at first.
       
    I think you should think about choosing other books before you choose this book but if you do choose it, it will keep you reading to find out whats gonna happen.

Dunk Under Pressure

Book Review #1 by Neil Patel

The book I am reading is, “Dunk under Pressure” by Rich Wallace and the genre for this book is sports and is a long book.
The plot is when Dunk and his team are trying to win the championship for the first time and the characters are Dunk, Fiorelli, and etc. Dunk really wants to win all of his games. He loses some games but the championship is intense. Dunk is a really good player and reminds me of me.
I like how this book is about basketball and teaches on how to win games. This book connects to my life as a basketball player and Dunk is a basketball player. Also I connect this book to other basketball movies and videos etc.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes basketball between the ages of 10-16. I rate this book, 3 stars because it is a good book and is about a true player.
I think you should read this book because it is a great story about a life of a true basketball player.

Star Wars: Cloak of Deception Book Review by Patrick Reynolds

Book Review #1 by Patrick Reynolds

The book Star Wars: Cloak of Deception by James Luceno is in the genre of Sci-Fi/Political Thriller. Star Wars: Cloak of Deception is based before the movie Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace and is about a nation known as the Galactic Republic full of corruption. The newly formed trade group known as the Trade Federation which is lead by many members including Nute Gunray and the organization controls the free trade routes and promotes commerce but they are constantly under attack by the terrorist organization called the Nebula Front which opposes the Trade Federation. After one attack over the planet of Dorvalla one of the Trade Federation’s vessels is obliterated while the two Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi are investigating the mercenary Cohl who is working for the Nebula Front. The Trade Federation soon goes to the Galactic Senate to plead their case and try to be able to get their own army. Supreme Chancellor Valorum ponders the thought while his colleague Palpatine, a senator from Naboo, advises him. Nebula Front attempts to assassinate Valorum but the plot is foiled by Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. The Supreme Chancellor decided to host a trade summit on Eriadu to discuss he taxation of trade routes. The Trade Federation is already buying a droid army to protect themselves but they have darker plans for the Sith Lord Darth Sidious consults Nute Gunray and convinces him to use his army for something else...

There are many things I like about the book but there are some things I don’t. The things I liked about about the book was that it was a perfect mixture of politics, science fiction, and action. I also liked how it lead up to the movie Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace which gives you more background knowledge of what happened before the movie. One thing I didn’t like was that in the beginning it took a little longer for the action to play out and there was a lot of politics but it further explains why the action took place in the book when it did.

If you like Star Wars, Sci-Fi, Political Thrillers, or Action books you will love this book because it has a balance of all four. If you are 14 or older this would be a good age to read it. I give this book 3 stars. That is because it is very well written and has many plot twists. Also it fills your hunger for Sci-Fi action and politics in the Star Wars world. This book is also very exciting and many things happen that may look like small things then but later have an affect in the Star Wars movies. So overall I recommend this book to any Star Wars or Sci-Fi fans and I think it is a very great book.

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

by: Sydney Mountzouris

Dear John is a realistic fiction romantic novel. The main character John, a young man in the military, meets a girl named Savanna at a beach. They instantly fall in love when John retrieves her purse from the waters. Shortly after meeting, John is retreated back to the army. Even though they are apart they still keep up a steady long distance relationship. Six months later John returns but unfortunately there love is not the same. There love is put to the test and they discover true love, loyalty, and heartbreak.

I enjoyed the book very much. I was very engrossed through the entire time and at some parts I could not stop reading. The plot was very good and the book was well written. Nicholas Sparks is an excellent writer and his books are very easy to read, but at the same time sends a very good message. I was very happy with the book until around the end. I did not enjoy the ending at all. It was a very good twist to the story, but I was expecting something different. It also bothered me that over time, Savannahs character changed and did things that I think she would never do. When Savannah was introduced I liked her very much, but as the story progressed I started thinking differently of her.

My favorite part was the first week of John and Savannah meeting. I thought that everything they did was just so adorable. The reason that they met was very creative and sweet. Overall, I enjoyed reading about their relationship. I also really liked how John respected Savannah which made me like his character very much.

I would recommend this book to any female reader from young adult to senior who is interested in realistic fiction romance novels. This book is very easy to read and isn’t very hard to finish. I would rate this book three stars because it is very well written, has a good plot, and I was interested in reading the story the entire time. The reason I would give this book three stars is because there were some parts when I thought the characters did things that I did not think they would do. Also, the ending was nice but disappointing, and I expected something different. Essentially, Dear John was a very good book that really defined true love, loyalty, and heartbreak. It was easy to read and kept me interested the entire time. If you are interested in realistic fiction romance novels, you should take into consideration reading Dear John.

Stephen King - The Shinning

Stephen King- The Shinning.
By: Erik Karlson
There is a family there is a mother a father and a son. Jack is the father Wendy is the mother and Danny is the son. Jack gets a job as the winter caretaker at the Overlook hotel. They find out later that the old winter caretaker killed his wife, two daughters’ and himself, brutally. Their son Danny has the Shining. This allows people with the Shine to see into the future. Also people extremely gifted can see the dead. Danny, exploring the hotel comes across the two girls that were killed by their father in room 217. The girls haunt that room.
I liked how suspenseful the book was, it always kept you thinking and wondering what was going to happen next. I did not like how slow the book was at first, it took a while to get to the suspense, but one there I couldn’t put the book down.
If you like horror, suspense, and creepiness in a book, this book is for you! I think that this book should be for people who are at least of 16 years of age. I think this because the dialogue of this book is extremely hard and it is too graphic for the younger generation. I would give this book four and a half stars. This book is great for people that like to be scared.