MY NAME IS AMERICA: THE JOURNAL OF RUFUS ROWE, A WITNESS TO THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG by Sid Hite

Its about Rufus a boy who runs off to Fredericksburg, Virginia with only ten dollars and then he gets two jobs but in about a month a whole army of union troops come. Luckily they don't attack at first that gives time for the confederate army to come. After along time waiting the confederates come but the union have a bridge all the citizens go out of town except the army, a couple blacks, and the brave Rufus Rowe stay. Houses shatter, people die the unions try to get to the other side. Will the succeed to beat the confederates or will they fail and charge through the lake?

Rufus Rowe (the main character) is in conflict with war (society).

The conflict for the main character was that he was close to some of the people that died and he feels that if you lose you lose and if you win you lose.

Rufus changed during the course of the book being happy to get away from his mean father but near the end he was not happy because so many people died (upwards of 6,800).

I feel the same way as he did (Example : Before I fight with my brother I feel happy but after I fight I feel unhappy.

Rating : *****


Yan

THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM THOMAS EMERSON by Barry Denenberg

William  Emerson had a normal colonial life until one day when a thunderstorm rolls along and lightning strikes the house melting the bowls onto the table and incinerating his family. Then he meets a man named Mr. Heath who gives him to Mr. and Ms. Marsh. A few years later  he runs away to the Seven Star Tavern and soon finds himself caught in the revolutionary war.

The main conflict was all of the English army or the "red coats".

The main character became much braver because he spied on suspects of the British army and cut a British officer to the death.

I would give this story *****.

Alex

MY SECRET WAR by Mary Pope Osborne

The plot of the book is a military girl living with her mom when her dad is in the military. And changing schools all the time. Madeleine and her mother are always worried about her dad.

The main character of the book is Madeleine beck she struggled by all ways having to go in to new schools and make friends.

The conflict is she was worrying if something happened to her dad and if he was ever coming back  and if he got hurt during the war.

At the beginning of the book she had no friends and wasn't able to make friends but then at the end of the book she makes so many friends. At first she had no job and was only caring for her self but then she was working for the red cross.

My moms dad was a Lieutenant Colonel and my mom would be away from her a lot so she would just live with her mom and siblings. When she went to new schools it was hard for her to fit in.

RATING: ***

Jillian

DUST BOWL MIGRANT

This book is about a dust bowl migrant from Oklahoma.  He is moving to California because of the Dust Bowl.  Him and his family are moving there to grow good crops and to survive the Dust Bowl.  California is a terrible place for people from Oklahoma.  People in California call people that come from Oklahoma "Oakies."

The main character is in conflict with the people in California and nature.

He was in conflict with nature because of the dust storms.  The dust storms brought down his roof, and are destroying the town.  The dust storms are destroying the town by flooding the town with dust, and by killing animals.  He was also in conflict with people in California because they are treating him really badly.  The people in California are doing things like pointing guns at his fathers chest.  His father ended up going to jail because he punched a guys who was yelling at his daughter.

I related to this character by the fact that he tries to be as nice as he can, and to be humble.  This is how I relate to the character, and to what I try to be.

RATING: *****

Ben

THE DIARY OF CLOTEE, A SLAVE GIRL by Patricia McKissack

Here are 3 or 4 main idea's

-She learns about writing & spelling plus learns her ABC's.

-Caroline couldn't tell anyone though about her learning...

-She wanted to tell m.z  Lilly,but she couldn't trust her she would tell everyone!

Her are the important Characters.  Caroline, m.z Lilly & her Dad.

The struggle in this conflict was when Caroline was learning  her ABC's and trying so hard to keep it a secret & if she told someone the whole Family would end up knowing.

The main Character changed by the end because she ended up telling the whole family and then felt good.

I related to this book by when i was 9 yrs I had a secret that I couldn't tell anyone but later on I ended up telling my mom and I felt very happy.

RATING: *****      

Lily 

MEET ADDY(book 1) by Connie Porter

The Plot: Addy and her family are slaves and her aunt and uncle are living as slaves too.She has a older sister and a 15 year old brother. Some days her and her family struggle to get through the day. Her mom and dad have a dream to get away.But will they get away?

Addy struggles against slavery.

Addy struggles to get through living as a slave with her family working as slaves and being beaten up.

Addy changed during the book because at the begging she was hurt and beat up towards the end she was happer.

I related because sometimes  am sad but the next day I am happier

ratting *****

A PICTURE OF FREEDOM: THE DIARY OF CLOTEE, A SLAVE GIRL, BELMONT PLANTATION, VIRGINIA 1859 by Patricia C. McKissack

This book is about a young slave girl named Clotee on a Virginia plantation in 1859. The young slave secretly taught herself to write while fanning the owner's son William. While he is in school Clotee is discovered by Mr. Harris the sub, who is actually trying to free the slaves.

Clotee was struggling against society and slavery.

At first Clotee was a shy girl, now she is the conductor of the underground railroad.

Clotee reminds me of Abe Lincoln because they both wanted freedom for the slaves.

RATING: *****

Hugh

THE JOURNAL OF PATRICK SEAMUS FLAHERTY by Ellen Emerson White

Everybody is packing as much as they can carry. Most of the people have anti-tank assault weapons.The terrain's too rough for tanks but they could use the LAWs to take out the bunkers.

The scariest part was when a guy got bitten by a rat in the stomach.

I would not recommend this book for both boys and girls who are ages 0-7.

Rating:*.

Reported by Nikhil

THE JOURNAL OF SEAN SULLIVAN, A TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD WORKER, NEBRASKA AND POINTS NORTH 1867 by William Durbin

 

 This is the story of a fifteen year old railroad worker named Sean, who is working on the transcontinental railroad. He is working there with his father from 1867-1869. Sean wants to continue being promoted so he can become a spiker who pounds in the spikes to the rails. The railroad's goal is to beat another railroad from Nebraska to Utah. The story tracks sean's adventure on the transcontinental railroad.

The scariest part was when Sean was in his bed, and almost got shot by a Native American.

I would recommend this book for boys eight-twelve years of age.

RATING:****

Michael

SEEDS OF HOPE by Kristiana Gregory

 Susanna's, Clara, her papa, and her mama go to Miner's Creek, San Francisco, for a better life. But it turns out, many people die in Miner's Creek and there are many murderers. Susanna wants to have a home in Oregon but her papa says no. Will Susanna ever have a life in Oregon?

 The saddest part was when Susanna's papa had to amputate Sam's leg.

 I would recommend this book to both boys and girls who are ages 6-99.

*****
Amelia

VOYAGE ON THE GREAT TITANIC by Ellen White

    This book is the story of Margaret Ann Brady. Margaret lived in London until Mrs. Carstairs asked her to be her companion on the Titanic. She loves everything about the Titanic. The food, the rooms, and Robert a 3rd class boy on the ship. Until CRASH!!!!! The ship struck an iceberg. Margaret rushes to Robert. The ship goes lower......... lower...........and lower........ what will happen next?
    The scariest part was when the ship was very close to the waters edge with Margaret still on it.

I would recommend this book to girls who are ages 9-12
  Rating: ****

Sarah

LIKE THE WILLOW TREE by Louis Lowry

    In this book, there is a girl named Lydia Pierce. Her mother, father, and little sister Lucy passed away during the Spanish Influenza. Afterwards, Lydia and her older brother Daniel are lead to the Shakers by their uncle. There, she is lead to become a  Shaker girl as part of her life. After only a few weeks of working, Daniel flees the Shaker village. Will Lydia ever see her brother again?
I think the saddest part was when Lucy died.

I would recommend  this book to girls from ages 8-11 would enjoy this book.

Rating:  *****

Cynthia

journal of patrick seamus flaherty united states marine corps khe sanh veitnam 1968 by elea emerson white

The book was about a united states marine by the name of Patrick seamus flahrty in the khe sanh Vietnam
war on hill 881n who was in a squad with tough guys that he gets along with.

the worst thing that happened was when patrick seamus flahrty got injured when a missile hit nearby and he
got a lung puncture and shrapnel all over

i rate this book *****

this book is a war book for boys or girls who are 10-13.

this book is a historical fiction book in the dear America series that takes place in the khe sanh veitnam war.
Maxwell

MY SECRET WAR by Mary Pope Osborne

My Secret War is a World War II diary of Maddie Beck. Maddie is an 8th grader from Long Island, New York who wanted to make a difference because her dad was in war. She started by creating a club called Kids Fight For Freedom to help soldiers in need. Then one day her family received a telegram that turned Maddie's world upside down.

My favorite part took place on June 23rd,1942. I liked it because it was exciting and scary at the same time.What happened was Maddie and her friend Johnny were patrolling the beach for Nazi soldiers when they found a big pile of seaweed. They started to dig it up. Underneath was a box filled with tubes and white powder. Near by was a pack of German cigarettes, 2 coats, a pair of overalls and 3 caps with Nazi swastikas on them.

I would recommend this book for boys and girls ages 8-11
Rating*****

Riley

SO FAR FROM HOME by Barry Denenberg

    Mary Driscoll, an Irish mill girl, bobs on the waves of the Atlantic Ocean on the ship to America. She pushes on with high hopes, seeing people getting sick or even dying. She still helps out with watching younger children and helping elderly friends. When she gets to America, she is taken to work in a stuffy mill. It feels as  if good times will never come. Can she get through the bad times and move on to the better?

  My favorite part was when the ship arrived at the port. It was full of rejoicing, and the author described how people were kissing the ground at the harbor.

 I  would recommend this book to girls ages 8-12.

RATING ****

Mary  

CHRISTMAS AFTER ALL by Kathryn Lasky

Christmas After All is about the great depression diary of Minnie Swift who lives in Indianapolis in Indiana during 1932 and her family gets a kid from Texas to take care of and her name is Willie Faye and she is poor and comes with barley anything Willie Faye has a suitcase made of cardboard, pictures, and 3 pairs of clothes.She is all dirty and doesn't know what anything is like a bathtub or toilet because she had to use an outhouse and those things. Will Willie Faye ever even go to school and learn what it is like to live here?

My favorite part was when I learned about Willie Faye and how she won a pumpkin contest because it seemed like she had nothing. It made me happy that she had the biggest pumpkin and a little house in it because it was so big.

I would recommend this book for girls from ages from 9-97 years old.

Rating ****

Sophie

COLOR ME DARK by Patricia C. McKissak

The main character of the book, Nellie Lee Love, is moved up North to Chicago when her uncle dies suspiciously down South. But Chicago is not as safe as her family hoped. There are riots, fighting, and prejudice. Through the trials of their new home, the family’s love keeps on getting stronger. The worst part of the book was when Erma Jean loses her voice after her favorite uncle dies. I think girls who are 9-13 years old will enjoy this book. RATING: **** Jennette Alberts

MY SECRET WAR by Mary Pope Osborne

This is a book about a girl who lives with her mother in a boarding house. It is World War 2 and her father is away fighting. My favorite part is when the girl gets caught walking on the beach by who she thinks are Coast Guard patrollers. I think that girls 8-16 would like this book. RATING: *************************************************************************

MY SECRET WAR by Mary Pope Osborne

This book is about a girl living with her mother in a boarding house during World War ll. During this time her dad is fighting.

My favorite part was when the girl got caught by who she thinks are are Coast Guard patrollers late one night at the beach.

I think girls that are 8-16 will enjoy this book.

RATING: ***************************************

NN

Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie by Kristina Gregory

It is about a child named Hattie. In the beginning a family relative dies. They end up headed for Oregon Trail. And a bunch of people die. The saddest part in the book is when two twins went looking for flowers and the next thing they know they're missing. And everyone had to move on. RATING: ****and a half Brandixx