SKELETON CREEK By Patrick Carman

             Ryan wants to find all about Skeleton Creek but his friend Sarah is leading that dream in a dangerous path. After getting sent to the hospital a few times, Ryan gets separated from Sarah and is not allowed to talk to her anymore. When they keep trying to meet up. Ryan breaks his leg. Will Ryans mom figure out they were still communicating? Or will it keep it a secret and more disastrous stuff will happen? CRUNCH!

             The main character struggling was Ryan.

             Ryan was struggling with Sarah because he kept trying to persuade her not to go to Skeleton Creek again but she wouldn't listen.

             Ryan changed by at the start of the story he didn't take Skeleton Creek and Sarah that seriously but at the end he realized Skeleton Creek had more to it then the "machine", the forest itself and the town.

             Ryan's struggle with Sarah trying to keep her safe is like when I have a "talk" when she does something bad and I talk to her about it but she ignores me.


              Rating ***

              Ittai
     

I SURVIVED THE TITANIC SINKING IN 1912 by Lauren Tarshis

This story is about a kid named George traveling on the greatest ship ever built the titanic.When the unthinkable happens the titanic starts to sink. Will George be able to make it or will he sleep with the fishes?

George during the book struggled finding his sister during the sinking of the titanic.

One of his conflicts is hes trying to make out

RATING: ****

Kai

ELLA THE VOCAL VIRTUOSA by Max

Ella was born in Newport New,Virginia,United States April 25, 1917
Ella was a child of William and Temple Fitzgerald
Ella lived in Newport News,Virginia, United States then moved to Yonkers,New york, died in Beverly          Hills,California June 15, 1996
Ella practiced tap dancing with no one else's knowledge but her own
Ella overcame racism, the fearsome cites,and fear
Ella worked as a singer/vocalist
Ella was challenged by different types of music she had to learn.
Ella's personality could be described as happy, kind, really focused on things she loved
Ella was always aware even though she was famous she never tried to stand above everyone else
Ella was best known for her songs, and her voice
Ella was a great singer, and kind person

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

THE VOLCANO DISASTER by Peg Kehret

This story is about a kid named Warren he's trying out his grandpas invention .Next thing thing he knows is he's at Mount Saint Helens on May/18/1980 when it had one of the biggest eruptions ever and it's about to erupt! How will warren get out of this pickle.

The scariest part of the book was when Mount Saint Helens started to erupt!

I would recommend this book to boys ages 7-16

****

Kai

THE SEER OF SHADOWS by Avi

The book The Seer Of Shadows is about a boy named Horace Carpentine who brought back a girl from the dead. The girl who he brought back from the dead had a goal to kill her neglecters. My favorite part in the book is when the girl tries to put the house on fire. I think children who are 13 years old will enjoy this book. RATING: ******************************************************************************* Stacy Hiller

Augustus Pelletier by Kathryn Lasky

The book is about a boy who is on the Corps of Discovery with Lewis and Clark. It is when President Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory. He tried to find a water way all the way from teh Atlantic to the Pacific. My favorite part was when he made it to the Pacific Ocean. I think boys who are 9-15 years old will enjoy this book. RATING: **** United Kingdom

Just read "To Be a Slave" (Lester) and "Slave Dancer" (Fox) for a 5th grade teacher concerned with the use of the "N" word...both books were excellent, and although the pc-ness (political correctness) of the "N" word is up for discussion, I felt the accurate portrayal of history overpowered any reservations we may have had. I would recommend both books...they were different, in that "Slave Dancer" was historical fiction, and "To Be a Slave" was a compilation of accounts from prior slaves. But again, both exemplified the conditions of the era and were extremely well-written.