THE GHOST OF GRAYLOCK by Dan Poblocki

A new boy in town hears a rumor. A rumor about a ghost. Continuing his reputation in his old town he has to find this ghost. Going to the medical where the ghost lives, he finds some supernatural things that he doesn't expect.

The boy Neil Cady had struggled finding the ghost.

The conflict was if the ghost is real or not. Was it just a rumor and if it was real what would the real ghost do?

At the beginning he hated moving but after meeting friends he wanted to stay at his new home.

I personally loved fake stories. The boy likes them too. That is our relation.

I rate this book ****

Anna

HOW I, NICKY FLYNN, FINALLY GET A LIFE (AND A DOG) by Art Corriveau

Plot:  Nicky Flynn's parents got a divorce so he moved to a new to a new town with his mom and got a dog. Nicky runs away to his dad because he never sees him.  Nicky tries to find out why Reggie was in a shelter. Nicky and his mom getting along and happy with Reggie.

Conflict:  Nicky is in conflict with his parents because his dad never sees him and he blames his mom, but he always gets yelled at for blaming her.  His mom drinks way too much wine at dinner and at night.  

Character Change:  Nicky changed after getting a dog.  Through out the story, he begins to learn the history of Reggie and begins to like him more an more.  In the end, he actually realized that he could count on Reggie to be his friend and decided to keep him instead of giving him back to the pound.  Also he realized that he doesn't blame his mom anymore for the divorce and not seeing his dad enough.

Relate:  The three things that I relate to him is that my mom and dad are divorced and my friends name is Nick.  I understand Nicky's feelings about the divorce and not seeing his dad much, but I'm lucky because I see my dad every day.

Rating:  ****

TYLER Room 10

BORN TO RULE by Kathryn Lasky

The Plot: Princess Alicia was put into the south turret with princess Kristen and Gundersnap. There are rumors that the south turret has been haunted for years now. When Alicia and her friends try to find the unfinished tapestry they discover lots of unusual things. Meanwhile they're training a songbird how to sing a song for an important contest. They all go through many challenging tasks to overcome and to complete  along their journey.

The main character(s): The main characters are Princess Alicia, Princess Kristen, and Princess Gundersnap.

The Conflict: The conflict for the main characters was to teach a songbird how to sing and trying to find the missing tapestry.

The main character changes: The main character changed during the course of the book because she gained courage in herself when staying in the haunted south turret and swimming for the first time in a swim test!  Here is an example from the book that says, "Something cold brushed her cheek.  And once again a voice whispered "Young Princess, I am old.  Please help - not all my tale is told."

Relate to this character:  I relate to Alicia because I get scared at night just like she does and she thinks her turret is haunted.

RATING:  ****

Lauren

THE LAMP FROM THE WARLOCK'S TOMB by John Bellairs

                         

                    Anthony Monday buys a lamp for a science project, but it wasn't a ordinary lamp. It was stolen from the warlock Willis Nightwood. Through all the twists and turns will Anthony, Miss.Miss. Eells, and Emerson help save the universe before the lamp destroys it first.

                       Anthony is in struggle with the lamp.

                      The struggle for Anthony was to stop the lamp from spreading evil because it caused a murder and it found the earths dark side.

                      I think Anthony changed during the book because he used to be shy and awkward and now he is brave and strong.

                       I think I could relate Anthony to my old neighbor Emmie because she was brave and a real dare devil.

***

             Keira

                                     

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 HAUNTING OF GRADE THREE by Grace Maccarone - Sophia

                 The main idea of this story is that there was a boy named Adam and he was in a committe with his friends from class. The committe had to find ghosts in there school. So one night they went looking for ghosts at there school. They searched and searched and heard weird noises but no sign of ghosts. The disagreement was that the other kids in Adams committe did not want to of look for ghosts but Adam. And the disagreement with adam was that in the beginning none of the kids wanted to do the ghost committe but Adam. So Adam kept saying "come on guys who wants to look for ghosts" but no one said anything but adam because he wanted to look for ghosts.

Adam changed from the beginning of the story till the end because in the beginning misterious things  were happening. Like when all the kids were at there desks the pencils fell off there desks row by row. And also other misterous things happened like they heard weird noises then at the end of the story Adam and his friends searched and searched for ghosts and never found them again.                                                                                

Rating:****

   SOPHIA

JULIAN SECRET AGENT by Ann Cameron

              Julian and his friends Gloria and Huey want to start their own detective agency. They rescue a dog from dying and a kid from drowning. They find a man who looks just like a man who is wanted and the reward is $25,000. Will the man be him? Or is he just a fake?

            Julian wants to find a criminal so that he can get the reward money.

            Julian couldn't find any criminals and he really wanted the reward money.

            Julian changed from being an amateur to telling a police chief that there was a criminal right in town. First he went from rescuing a dog by telling the owner to open up his car windows. Next, there was a child drowning, and they saved him from dying. He gets so good at detecting, he actually gets involved with the police for one of their crimes.

            I relate to Julian because I like to be a detective too. For example, I like doing scavenger hunts.

RATING: ***

DOVEY COE by Frances O'Roark Dowell - Leah

Little Dovey Coe clearly hates Parnell Caraway. He's rich, snobby, and very mean. But would she really go so far as to kill him? That's what the town thinks when he shows up dead!


Parnell Caraway constantly bothered Dovey Coe and her family. Caroline Coe is courting Parnell, but when it comes to marriage, she says no. Parnell is very angry and soon shows up dead.
It's up to Dovey to clear her name.

My rating: ***

Leah

EDGAR ALLAN'S INVESTIGATION NOTEBOOK by Mary Amato

            This story is about a boy names Edgar and Patrick and a crime happens at their school. Lots of stuff get stolen like goldfish, iris, fan, tea. Edgar  and Patrick are enemies. They have a race to see who will find out who commit the crime first.Their are many witness to the crime like Mr.Crew, Kip, Taz, Destiny, and Mia. Mr.Crew acts suspicious about poetry; he says poetry is a gift. They're going to get a lot of clues to find out who did it.Who will find it first ???
 
   
           Edgar is the main character. Edgar struggles with Patrick  because always Patrick beats him to everything in Edgar always get embarrassed and always fail and everyone laughs at him.                    


          The conflict for the main character is Edgar just wants to get to the crime before Patrick. So he does not get laughed at and embarrassed again like he always does. Edgar did not have many friends in the begging of the story then at the end of the story Edgar had many friends in his class.                  


       Edgar changed  at the course of the book by .At the beginning of the story Edgar was enemies with Patrick at the end of the book when Edgar got to the crime Edgar felt bad for him so he went over to Patrick and said do you want to come to the willow tree with us.


       I related to this chapter because sometimes people in the game all around the world people beat me  and I fell embarrassed because I failed and then I go up to the person who beat me and a say good game.


       RATING:****

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 

THE SHIPWRECK By Jorn Riel

    Leiv finds out that his father was killed. Than Leiv go's on board another ship and that ship sinks. Than Leiv drifts to a beach in Greenland and Narua and Apuluk find him.

 Leiv is angry at the person who killed his father.

Leiv changes by surviving in the wild and understanding Apuluks language

Leiv tarted to understand and talk the natives language. He also didn't miss Iceland anymore.He also makes peace with the person who killed his father.

RATING:  *****

Elischa

TIME TRAVELER #4: THE AMAZING BEN FRANKLIN by Peter Lerangis

Basically more than 200 years ago Ben Franklin tried to prove  that lighting is electricity with a key and a kite.

Ben struggled to prove that lighting is electricity nature.

Ben Franklin tried to prove that lighting is electricity and did it with a kite and a key.

At first the people said that lighting was not electricity but then Ben proves them wrong he gets creative and then uses a kite and a key and proved that lightning is electricity.

In baseball I tried to prove that I could hit a home run after some practice and hard work I hit a home run!

RATING: ***


   Will

GHOST AT THE WINDOW by Margaret McAllister

Genre: mystery

        This book is about a boy named Ewan. He is a normal boy who lives in a not so normal, historical house with his not so normal parents. This house is so old that Ewan and his guardians can see the past through it. However, the past can't see them, or at least not all of it can. And one ghost comes to seek help.

Ewan Dart is the main character in this story.

        Ewan's conflict was that this ghost needed to be set free into "The Light." However, whenever he tried to help, it didn't work. Something was blocking their way. Soon, Ewan figures out what that something is that's keeping the door to "The Light" and the mysterious jammed closet door in his bedroom, closed... fear.

        The main character changed throughout the story because, at first, Ewan did not want to help this girl ghost at all, but soon, it was all that his mind was set on. He was determined to find out what this mystery is and also how this soul died.

         This main character reminds me some what of myself because, sometimes, if I have my mind set on something, I will never give up on it.

****
Katherine

THE MYSTERY OF THE THIRD LUCRETIA by Susan Runholt

Kari and Lucas travel to London where they see a man who is copying a painting who they already see in Minneapolis is in a art museum. They spy on that man and learn he is doing something illegal.What happens
next? Read and find out.

The main character struggles with the Gallery Guy
Lucas and Kari struggle with the gallery guy who suspect is copying artwork. They almost even get killed trying to find out.

In the beginning, the girls spy on the man for fun and are very confident, but by the end they are both scared and almost get killed.

It reminded me of the Boston bombings and how whatever the crime it is, it  hurts someone.

RATING: ****

Vishal

CAPTURE THE FLAG BY Kate Messner

A secret society steals the flag that inspired the well known song the star spangled banner. Three

 kids Anna,Jose and, Henry go to find it.All of their parents are part of a art protecting society called the silver jaguar society and all of them are related to famous artists and engineers.Will they find the flag in time?

Anna,Jose and,Henry struggle with who might be the biggest art thief EVER.

The biggest conflict they go through is with snake arm a man with giant muscles and a snake tattoo.When they get chased the are about to get caught when they find a giant bottle of shampoo and squirt him in the face!

Henry definitely changed from being a mad kid who hogged an outlet to a crime fighting kid.

Their struggles did not remind me of any of my ordeals in real life

I rate this book ****

 Logan

STORM MOUNTAIN by Tom Birdseye

Suddenly there was a crooked line between Cat's feet. Avalanche!! The world went dark. She was digging, clawing to get to hold of the snow on the surface but just seemed to sink deeper. Her cousin Ty is trying to help but not his best. like a fool she walked straight into the dragon's trap. Finally Cat climbs out but the two still need to put their mountaineering knowledge together to climb down the mountain.

Cat's struggle is with nature, she is caught in a avalanche and is trying to survive.

Cat was in trouble in the avalanche with her cousin Ty. Ty is trying to help but it is no use. The wind is strong and her phone is dead.

At the beginning of the book Cat was mad that Ty showed up at her door and brought her to storm mountain. At the middle Cat was very scared because she was in an avalanche on a very big mountain. Cat was digging and clawing to get to the surface. By the end Cat was happy she got out of storm mountain.

I could relate to this book because Cat was in trouble in the avalanche and I was lost in Disney World. My mom and dad were looking for me and Ty was looking for Cat.

****
Dylan

MOBY DICK By Herman Melville

The plot of the story was first in a town and hotel.Then the two main characters Queequeg and Ishmael found a job on a boat called the Pequod. The boat was a whaling boat in Nantucket.

Ishmael is struggling with Moby Dick. And himself because he has to get used to whaling everyday.

Ishmael struggled with getting used to whaling everyday. Ishmael had to go through so much everyday. Ishmael had to row a row boat so hard it almost broke his back and he pulled a few muscles. His row boat usually broke because when the whale jumped up and a huge wave flipped the boat over and Ishmael and his sailing crew flung off the boat. His sailor mates and Ishmael got sea water in their mouths and the wind knocked out of them. It took Ishmael a wile to get used to whaling.

Ishmael first was a man with no money out wondering the streets. Then he found a hotel he could stay at for free with a room mate. That's when he and Queequeg went to find a whaling boat. Then they found a whaling boat named the Pequod. He changed by going from a sad poor man to a man who is on a journey to find a HUGE whale called Moby Dick!

My friend relates to Ishmael by wanting to get a dog for years and years and she finally got a dog. Just like Ishmael wanting to get a job on a whaling boat.

Rating ***

Ashlyn




        

JAGUAR by Roland Smith

       Jacob Lansa comes with his dad, whom everyone calls Doc, Flanna Brenna, Jay Silver, and Buzz on a jaguar expedition in the Amazon rain forest. Sounds fun, right? It's not. There are many challenges out in the wilderness and deadly diseases floating around the thick canopy. Jake is losing hope. To top it off, Doc may have caught malaria. Will they arrive home safe?

Jake is in conflict with Fred Stoats. They disagree on the jaguar, what to do with it, and they just plain don't like each other.

He changes his feelings about the jaguar expedition from thinking it's silly and obnoxious to coming home feeling good.

I can relate to Jake because we both like outdoors and adventure.

I rate this book ***.

Mary

DRAGONBREATH LAIR OF THE BAT MONSTER by Ursula Vernon

The main idea was that there was a giant bat and it came charging toward Danny Dragonbreath and his friend Wendell. They picked Danny up and took him away. The bat thought Danny was a baby. Danny couldn't escape until he hid behind a bush

Danny Dragonbreath was the main character and he ran into a giant bat that thought Danny was it's baby

The struggle was that Danny was in the monster bats hands and he couldn't get out. The bat thought he was it's baby.

Danny Dragonbreath didn't know anything about bats. But after he learned alot and ran into a giant bat he knew alot about bats

Danny had a school assignment to learn about bats and write about them and I had to learn about something for a school assignment

Rating ****

Owen

ELDEST by Christopher Paolini

       This book is about Eragon training with Oromis and Glaedr the only living old riders in Ellesmera. In the middle of his training he gets a vision that the Varden needs help. He leaves and goes to them and in the middle of the war he meets a new enemy that will make him train harder.
       Eragon was in a conflict with the elf named Ayra.
       The conflict was that Eragon develops feelings for Ayra which gets in the way of his training. When Ayra finds out she gets furious with him does not speak for a while.
        Eragon changed completely in the midst of his blood-oath celebration because Oromis and 2 dragon ladies change Eragon into a were-elf. he gets the traits of a elf. Eragon begins to look like an elf. he becomes as fast and as strong as an elf but is better because he is a Dragon Rider. Eragon becomes more fond of Saphira.
         It reminded me of Percy Jackson and his love for Annabeth. It reminds me because Eragon (Main Character) loves someone. (Ayra) Percy (Main Character) loves someone to. (Annabeth)





                                             *****

WAITING FOR THE MAGIC By Patricia MacLachlan

    The plot  was in the beginning of the book when the father left .  While he was gone the other part of the family meaning the son, daughter, and the mother got 4 dogs and 1 cat because the kids were really sad. Then the father came back, but the mother was still sketchy with the father and kept a secret from him.
 
 The main character was in conflict with the father.
 The coflict with the main  character  was that his parents had some struggles.
 The main character changed by at first not accepting and during the book was accepting. It reminded me how my friends dad left and then came back.

Rating :  ****

PERCY JACKSON AND THE SEA OF MONSTERS by Rick Riordan

The book is about Percy finding out who poisoned Thaila's tree and saving Grover from Polyphemus and knowing  Tyson is his brother.
Percy was conflict with himself. He was having a hard time helping his friend.
In the beginning Percy felt embarrassed knowing that Tyson was his brother; in the end he didn't felt embarrassed.

It didn't remind myself.

****                                                                                            

:RAMINTA SPOOKIE: GHOSTSITTERS by Angie Sage

The book I was reading was Ghost Sitters. It was about this girl who got left home with her sister while there parents went to see the bats of  Transylvania on her birthday. While the parent were away they had some trouble along the way from poltergeist, from ghost fights to saving old castles. But the worst of all on her birthday her sister and her cousin were keeping secrets from her... what could they be planing? I guess you will have to read to find out.

My favorite part was when they had a ghost fight to get back there castle.

 RATING: :*****    

I suggest this book for girls and boys who like ghosts.

MY HAUNTED HOUSE by Angie Sage

Araminta Spookie's aunt wants to sell their huge haunted house when Araminta is against it. Its up to her to make traps in the house so the people who want to buy the house won't want to buy it anymore, but in the process she finds a key to a secret passage way.

Araminta Spookie was the main character.

The struggle for Araminta Spookie is that her aunt wants to sell her house.

Araminta Spookie never changed, she always was against selling the house.

This book reminded me of when my dad used to live in a house that I liked but he sold.

RATING *****

Ryan

THE GHOST OF CRUTCHFIELD HALL BY Marry Downing Hahn

When the twelve-year old Florence boards the horse drawn couch in London, she looks forward to her new home with her great-uncle's manor house, but then she is in for a treat when she figures out the house she thought was safe was haunted!

The main character that faces the adventure is a girl named Florence.

The struggle for Florence was to get though the haunted house and the ghost that come to haunt her.

This character changed by being so excited about going to her great-uncle's, but after she sees it's haunted Florence cries to go back home.

RATING
****

Celana

THE RUINS OF GORLAN by John Flanagan

This book is about a 15 year old boy named Will who is a rangers apprentice who faces great adventures. Also his teacher Halt gives him a great deal of training day and night. Then a unexpected twist comes at the end when Will has a mission. And Halt is in danger.

One of the struggles was that three second year battleschool apprentices were attacking his friend Horace badly. Then one afternoon the three apprentices beaded Will cause they thought he embarrassed the battle school in a boar hunt. Also the long endless travel back to Castle Redmont to tell a urgent message to the baron.

After an unsayable amount of training Will's maturity increased a ton. Also the battle with the Kalkara made him much more independent and brave. Also while he trained day after day his archery skill improved.


He sort of relates to me because when ever I'm alone in the house and no one else is with me I here a lot of different noises.


RATING:****
Koa

Ever After High - By Shannon Hale

On Legacy Day each year the students at Ever After High get to determine their faith by signing the story book and taking the pledge to follow her parents destiny. There just one problem, Raven Queen is the daughter of the evil Queen but Raven doesn't want to follow in her mothers villainous foot steps but it is foretold that if you don't sign your destiny you will vanish poof! Just like that. But is the saying true.

 Raven is destined to find out with the help of her friend and to stop people being scared of her she is willing to take the risk. But there's just one more question...will it destroy Apple Whites destiny (The daughter of Snow White) Raven is destined to give that poisonous apple to Apple White... if she doesn't will that ruin her destiny?

Rate *****

Rokibat 

RETURN OF THE VAMPIRE by Geronimo Silton

  The main idea is a vampire shows up at the Cracklefurs castle asking for help. Because this castle is infected with monsters. he needs help from the Cracklefur family to get the monsters out of his house.

  The main character in the conflict was Franco Fangly

  The struggle of that Franco Fangly's castle had monsters and needs help to get them out.

  The main character change in the course  in the book; one way was that Franco was get to tricked by snip and snap with breadcrumbs slipping on cream cheese and drinking garlic tea but by the end he wasn't getting tricked any more and he made new friends.

       RATING  *****

Alijah 

THE SECRET OF LAUREL OAKS by Lois Ruby

Ever since her friend, Roberto, died Lila has been hearing his voice every  night chanting and drumming. When she and her family are staying at a hotel that is supposedly haunted Lila starts to see things that aren't really there. One night when Lila gets a visit from the ghost spirit, Daphne, she starts to wonder if there is more to Laurel Oaks than what meets the eye.

Lila is in conflict with her brother, Gabe. She is trying to convince him that the things she is seeing and hearing are real and she is not going crazy.

In the beginning Lila is afraid of the supernatural events. But once Timberlarken, the tree, tells her who was responsible for the poisoning of the girls Lila is no longer afraid of Daphne. In the end she is not scared of the supernatural and even becomes friends with Daphne.

RATING *****

Lauren

SECRET AGENT JACK STALWART, THE FIGHT FOR THE FROZEN LAND By:Elizibeth Singer Hunt -

Jack gets a mission to save 3 scientists in Antarctica. 3 other people captured the 3 scientists. Soon after, Jack gets a mission call. He rushes to the arctic and saves the 3 scientists right before they could have gotten eaten by a polar bear.

The main character is Jack.

Jack had to save 3 scientists from getting eaten.

Jack went from  a normal kid my day to a secret agent by night.

I have 3 friends in the air force and they save people just like Jack

RATING: **

gianna

THE ROCK JOCKEYS By Gary Paulsen - 16

   

 3 boys are on a rock climbing trip and decide to break the rules go on a straight up smooth wall of rock... and nobody that's gone up ever came down. Well their up there they find a crashed B-17 bomber plane. The path is hard from the high brushes and the close trees. All the clear paths have booby-traps. If they fall in will they make it out?

The three boys Spud, Rick, and J.D. are all troubled  with each other and nature.

The boys argue on which way to go. The boys explore further and further into the forest arguing and saving each others lives. The bushes are so tall and trees so close together, and all the paths that are clear have one or two booby traps.

The main characters change from arguing to helping each other in the wild forest on a mountain. Of course there's complaining and saving from life-death situations.

I related to this characters because I get annoyed by my sister and we always get in to arguments. I love walking in the woods so some times I have to go through some tough places.

RATING: ****

ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS by Scott O'Dell

Tweleve year old Karana lives in a tribe with her six yer old brother Ramo. When searching for roots a ship full of aleuets , lead by a Russian names captain Orlov arrives. When Orlov gets in a fight with the chief of Karana tribe, her dad, a war happens. Many lives were lost on each side including her dad the chief.

Karana has a problem with another character.
Karana has a problem with Captain Orlov because they killed her father.

Karana changed because first she hated the wolf because it killed her little brother when they were alone on the beach, But now she has a change of heart when she meets the leader of the wolf pack named Yellow Eyes. She was able to tame him.

Karana and I are alike in the way that we first can be very wary of animals and not want to be around them. After a while and getting to know them I ,like Karana get to know the animal and get along with it.


Rating ****

Eyva

BEAUTIFUL LAND by Nancy Antle

The plot is Annie Mae and her family live in a house that is a rock in the side of a hill. They  are moving to Oklahoma where there cousins live. Annie  Mae learns about the new land Oklahoma .

The main characters are Annie Mae and her brother Dan.

The conflict was when they were moving they took a carriage and they kept running in to mud and bad weather. 

Annie Mae changed by thinking it would be bad to move to Oklahoma because she would lose her friends,
but once she got there she was having fun with her cousins and new friends.

Also Annie Mae's father changes because he thinks his brother is annoying but in Oklahoma he has fun with him and now he thinks he is great.

I related to this characters struggle because when I went to Arizona the flights were delayed because weather.

RATING: ***

Willy

BEN & ME an astonishing LIFE of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN By His Good Mouse AMOS Discovered, Edited & Illustrated by ROBERT LAWSON

David 
Historical History Reading Book
6/2/2014

HISTORICAL FICTION: 

BEN & ME an astonishing LIFE of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN By His Good Mouse AMOS 

Discovered, Edited & Illustrated by ROBERT LAWSON

This story was discovered after an architect had renovated an old house in Philadelphia. The architect found a small room behind a wall with a small desk, leaves to write on and a manuscript with writing on it.  Robert Lawson was given the manuscript and he published the stories told by a mouse that claimed to be Ben Franklin's best friend.

     The story is told by a mouse named AMOS he lived in Benjamin Franklin's House.  He slept in an old hat that Ben Franklin wore it had a whole in the middle of it so AMOS could sneak into the hat and sleep.  It was the perfect place to sleep because it was nice and warm.  

PLOT:     

In the book , two tour groups were visiting a statue of Benjamin Franklin one group was made up of humans and the other a bunch of  mice. The human tour group talked about Ben Franklin's life and all the things he invented, and the leader of the mouse tour group told the story of a mouse named Amos and how he helped Ben Franklin come up with all the ideas for his inventions.

In 1745, Amos, the oldest of twenty-six brothers and sisters lived in a church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  AMOS decides to leave his home and find somewhere to work.  After looking for work for a long time it was getting dark and started to snow so AMOS looked for someplace to get warm. Amos makes friends with Benjamin Franklin, and AMOs helps him write, make new inventions and be a leader in politics.  Amos helped Ben Franklin invent bifocals, the wood stove and make a news paper. AMOS gets mad at Ben Franklin when they were trying to invent electricity AMOS got caught in the kite and was scared for his life so he left Ben Franklin's house and moved back home with his family.  Ben Franklin was very sad without AMOS to help him.

For a long time they would not see each other until Ben Franklin is sent to England to talk with the king.  The king did not want to listen to Ben Franklin and they did not end up talking.  The people in the colonies were mad because Ben Franklin did not talk with the king and he needed help.  AMOS decided to help him and they became friends again.  AMOS helped Ben Franklin and he helped Thomas Jefferson write the Declaration of Independence. 

CHARACTERS IN THE CONFLICT:

The two main characters in the conflict were Benjamin Franklin and AMOS the mouse. The conflict was character against character.  They were both strong-willed and had a hard time getting along.  AMOS left and didn't come back for a long time.

The conflict with AMOS was also Character against Society.  He had to go to work to help his family.

CONFLICT:

AMOS has a conflict because he is the oldest of all of this brothers and sisters and he has to go and get a job to help the family.  He leaves his home and struggles through the winter storms (Character vs. Nature).  Then he finds a place to live and helps Ben Franklin invent all kinds of things.

AMOS and Ben Franklin got into a fight and AMOS left and they did not see each other for a lot of years.  (Character vs. Character)

Ben Franklin was a leader in the colonies and he came back from England and did not talk to the king.  The people were mad at Ben Franklin and he needed help (Character vs. Society)

Character Change:

When they start the story Ben Franklin is not able to finish any of his writing because he would sneeze and loose his glasses.  Then he would put his pen down to get the glasses and when he was ready to write again he would start sneezing again.  He never finished anything.

By the middle and end of the story Ben Franklin was inventing all kinds of things, writing a book, and was helping to free the colonies from the kings rules.

When they start the story AMOS is the oldest of 25 brothers and sisters so he follows along with everyone and does not do anything different. When AMOS leaves and finds a new place to live he does things that his brothers and sisters have never done.

By the middle and end of the story AMOS does a lot of great things and becomes a famous mouse.  He helps his family and Benjamin Franklin. He becomes independent and he is very smart.  He helps with making inventions and writing books with Benjamin Franklin and he is happy.

RELATE TO CHARACTER:

I was able to relate to Ben Franklin because I know we think the same way.  He has trouble focusing and finishing stuff and I do too.  He is very smart and I am too. It can be frustrating when you know the answer or what you want to write and your brain just doesn't want to let it out or put it on paper.  When AMOS comes Ben Franklin gets the help he needs to finish things and write things down just like I have been able to do with the help from my teachers.

I can relate to AMOS because I am the oldest and I have to take care of my little brother too.  That is a big job.  I am glad I don't have 25 brothers and sisters to take care of.  

RATING:   *** 5 stars**  I liked this book I learned a lot about Ben Franklin and all of his

                            inventions.

Labels:

Room #218

Historical Fiction

Author:  Robert Lawson

Other books by Lawson:  MR. REVERE AND I; EDWARD HOPPY & JOE; RABBIT HILL; 

                                              THE TOUGH WINTER; and THEY WERE STRONG AND GOOD

"THE STARVING TIME" by Patricia Hermes

Elizabeth (a 9-year-old Jamestown immigrant) and her Colony, Jamestown have run out of food.The "Indians" are killing the men who guard the fort she lives in.There is a boat coming to Jamestown with her twin brother Caleb aboard plus lots of goods like food. But there is a chance that the boat will crash or be shipwrecked. Will the boat come or will she starve find out in,"The Starving Time."

The main character struggled with just getting her basic needs like food or water because when someone went out to go get some food they usually died.The main character changed by starting to grow up she fed the baby and cleaned most of the time when she was well.

It reminded me of my mom because when she was 9 or so she was cooking and doing the laundry.

RATING ***** it was so interesting and you couldn't really predict when someone would fall sick because there were just random outbreaks.

Colin

A PERFECT PLACE: JOSHUAS OREGON TRAIL DIARY By Patricia Hermes

Most of the book they were in a very big wagon because of this horrible rain storm. They didn't really spend that much time at home. They had a very small home so they tried to find or build a new one. Since they wanted a new house they spent most of there time at the Motts house. The Motts house is very small to but they were very nice to let them stay there with them.

Joshua's aunt is having a baby and he really wants to help her but she doesn't him want to.

Joshua's aunt needs help but she doesn't want it but he try's to help her anyways.

Joshua's got help by Charlie to build the house for his mom and aunts too. Joshua's grandpa died so he got upset at the end of the book.

 I relate to Joshua because I got caught in a really bad rain storm too but not as bad as his.

Rating:***

I SURVIVED THE SHARK ATTACKS OF 1916 by Lauren Tarshis

Charlie 

June 2, 2014

Room 218

Mrs. Shaughnessey

The Shark Attacks of 1916

By: Lauren Tarshis

In July of 1916 sharks fatally attacked four people and wounded one off the coast of New Jersey. Two of the attacks didn't even happen in the ocean, surprisingly, they happened in at Matawan Creek, 16 miles from the ocean.  The story takes place in Elm Hills, New Jersey. The main character, Chet Roscow is a ten year old boy who lives with his Uncle Jerry. Even though Chet has not been living in the beach town for very long, he has made three friends: Dewey, Sid and Monty. The friends liked swimming in the nearby creek and pranking each other.

During this time period, people thought sharks were gentile creatures; however a local man, Captain Wilson said he had seen shark attacks while he worked as a whaler. Shark attacks had been reported, but most people thought they were just hoaxes.

Because Chet and his friends like to play pranks on each other, no one believed Chet when he said he saw two beady eyes as dark as coal in the creek. Chet was scratched by the shark’s teeth as he tried to swim to shore. He ran back to town and eventually convinced Captain Wilson and his friends to follow him to the creek. Sid was in the water when they saw the shark. Everybody got out except for Sid. Chet jumped in and saved Sid, but was bit in the leg and a chunk of flesh came off. Captian Wilson arrived just in time and with one gunshot saved Chet.

I think Chet changed in the story because at first he was pranking everybody but in the end he learned a valuable lesson about joking. I think Chet learned not to "cry wolf" anymore.  

I can relate to Chet because we are both ten-year-old boys who like swimming and playing with friends. Like Chet, I would try to save my friend if they were going to be attacked by a shark. 

RATING: **** 1/2
Charlie

A PICTURE OF FREEDOM By Clotee (unknown last name)

A slave girl named Clotee is fighting for freedom. Along with that, she makes some friends. Sadly, it involves death.

Clotee struggles with slavery in her childhood

The main problem for Clotee is that she wants FREEDOM not slavery!

Clotte changed from being shy to being brave. For example, she has stood up and helped her friends escape to freedom.

Clotee reminds me of Fredrick Douglass because he went through the same problems and got the same results

I would give this book a whopping * * * *!

                                          -Leo

FLIGHT OF THE HAWK By Gary Paulsen

Main idea: A boy named Andy lost his parents when a driver hit them. Andy had to live with his grandfather and grandfather's assistant. Andy's grandfather was a inventor to invent the things that help human kind. He showed a jetpack to Andy and that got Andy's attention! But when his grandfather got murderd Andy took the jetpack and to fight villins.


Andy's struggle with another character was, the man who killed his parents.


The struggle with Andy was, when he had to go through the saddness of his family members death.


Andy didn't really change.

nobody i know relates the same struggle with Andy.


Ratings: **



 

MEET KIT BY: Mary Cassanova

The main idea of the story is when Kits father loses his job.  The family is worried that they won't have enough food to feed everybody . It's bad enough that another family is staying at Kit's home because the family doesn't have enough money to afford a house and they hope there is enough food!

In this story Kit is the main character.

The conflict (struggle) for the main character was that there was a new family staying at Kit's house and Kit doesn't like the idea of another family staying at her house but she tries to make friends with the little boy but that isn't easy because the boy is always sick and Kit finds it very annoying. So then she just gives up on trying to make friends with the boy.

Some examples / an example of  how the main character changed was at the beginning of the story Kit was happy that her father did not lose his job during the great depression  to disappointed that her father lost his job.

I did not relate to this character in any way.
RATING: ***

Amber

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

JULIE'S JOURNEY by Jacqueline Greene

Julie has been riding on a carriage for the first time, her cousin April told her once she rides her car again she wouldn't feel the same.Julie and April went to many different pit stops but, suddenly her carriage got stuck in a hole while they were riding the carriage up  a mountain.They managed to get out but her sister Tracy had to leave her pioneer dress because it was too much wait and she never liked the dress anyway, but still she was meant to bring it and where it.In surprise someone brings her pioneer dress just in time for a party.

One conflict in the book is when Julie had a scroll signed by a famous person, it got stolen.

Another conflict for Julie [main character], was when Julie went on a horse with her cousin and went 10 miles for a signature from the oldest man in the country and, his ancestor signee d the Declaration of Independence.She convinced him to sign it but someone stole it after she got it done.Soon Julie finds out who stole the scroll and becomes a hero.

One change on the main character is when Julie rode a horse named Hurricane because she always wanted to didn't turn out so well.The reason why is because Hurricane went to fast and Julie fell of luckily she fell in a pond everything was fine except her shoulder for bumping into a rock.She told April she was never going to ride Hurricane again but she actually towards the end of the story.

The story reminded me when I rode a horse for the first time, the horse was very fussy and i didn't know that.Soon when I was riding her the horse tried to push me off her back.

RATING: *****

LEXI'S TALE by Johanna Hurwitz

This book was about Lexi, and how her friend, Pee Wee, meets a human who is very cranky but nice at the same time. But when Lexi makes a wrong turn, every thing turns the wrong way. Lexi gets in a lot of trouble , by Pee Wee. He yells at Lexi for hurting him in public,She tries to apologize to Pee Wee, he doe forgive her, but is still angry at Lexi for hurting  him.

Lexi, and PeeWee because she was in a lot of conflict with the HUMAN!

Lexi was struggleing with PeeWee, for yelling at her ,and started a fight with PeeWee. After, Lexi , and PeeWee were becoming nice and never yelling agian . They learnd a lesson NEVER to yell agien.

Lexi changed from nice to mean and rude. Here is a exsample - ONE ACORN WILL NOT FILL YOUR BELLY !PeeWee was crying .

No . Lexi  doesn't act like me.

RATING: *****
I would recommend this book to both boys and girls ages 10 -29

Maria S

LEXI'S TALE by Johanna Hurwitz

    The main idea is about a squirrel named Lexington (Lexi for short). He has a friend named PeeWee that finds a human named Stefan Klopot. He was homeless and couldn't speak English. Lexi and PeeWee had decided to help this stranger by riding in a police car and hunting for food.
    Lexi struggled helping Stefan Klopot.
    Lexi struggled helping Stefan Klopot because squirrels came by asking Lexi what he was doing. Caring for Stefan also meant looking for extra food. Lexi also needed time to practice for the great big squirrel circus.
    Lexi changed by instead of being a squirrel that doesn't help humans into a rare squirrel because he helped Stefan.
    This book related to me in kindergarten that my friend could barely speak English so a 2nd grader helped her with class work that could speak her language
    Rating ***
   
Noy

ADVENTURES OF TOM SAYWER By Mark Twain

Go on the many adventures with Tom Sawyer and his gang through a small town along the Mississippi River that has kids with a big personality for being brave. They go from running away to be a pirate to solving a murder. One night, Tom and one of his best friends Huckleberry Finn decide to go to the graveyard at half past nine. When they got there, they saw 3 people. Muff Potter, Dr. Robinson and fearsome Injun Joe-a murderer. They  plan to dig up a grave. Find out what happens next and discover they many more adventures that lie in the pages of The adventures of Tom Sawyer!

Tom Sawyer is in conflict with himself.
The struggle for Tom was he was a mischievous person and that gets him into trouble.

Tom Sawyer changes by realizing adventure doesn't have to be running away to a pirate island but it can be solving a mystery and helping the community.

Tom Sawyer reminds me of Jack and Annie from The Magic Tree House because they have a lot of adventures involving saving someone or something.

I rate this book *****

Riley

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS By Jules Verne

Phileas Fogg makes a bet with his friends at the reform club that he can travel around the world in 80 days. He grabs his servant and heads off but runs into many problems along the way, for example Mr. Fix is trying to arrest Phileas Fogg because he thinks Fogg robbed a bank! Fix follows Fogg around everywhere trying to confirm his arrest.Things don't work out well for fix so can Fogg do it with all his other difficulties and win his money he bet back?

Phileas Fogg was in conflict with another person, Mr.Fix.

Phileas Fogg was in conflict with Fix because while Phileas was trying to get around the world, Fix was
trying to arrest him because he thought he robbed a bank, which he didn't.

Phileas Fogg changed because he was very fancy and had a lot of money but in the middle he ran out of money and was poor and didn't wear fancy clothes, once he got home and had won his bet and all his money he was wealthy again.

Phileas Fogg reminded me of myself because I have tried to accomplish something before, and I have done it before just like when Phileas accomplished his goal of getting around the world in 80 days.

I would give this book a **** rating.

Sophie

SWINDLE by Gordon Korman

Griffin finds a Babe Ruth card and takes it to the dealers. The dealer tells him its worth $100 he sells it because his family needed the money but he sees the man on the news is claiming he found the card and is selling it for one million dollars.

Griffin and his friends sneak into the house to take the card back...will they make it?

Griffin was swindled by the dealer for $999,900 and wants to get it back

He breaks into the dealers house and gets it back

This book reminded me of my brother selling me magic cards

****

Nathan

ROXIE AND THE HOOLIGANS by Phyllis Renolds Naylor

Roxie was a little girl who always got picked on by the Hooligans. One day, Roxie's uncle dangerfoot went to the Warbler's house,(Roxie's house) to tell Roxie some of of his adventures. As Roxie went to school one morning, the hooligans were right behind her. They chased her all around the school yard intill she fell into a flat bed truck with the Hooligans. The truck had been driving to the ocean and Roxie and the Hooligans got dumped into the ocean.They washed up on a deserted island and two men are talking and they have robed a bank. Will Roxie and the Hooligans survive?

Roxie had to survive on a deserted island with the Hooligans.

Roxie's main struggle in life is getting bullied by the Hooligans. Roxie had gotten bullied by the Hooligans hundreds of times. They call her elephant ears and many other hurtful comments.

Roxie started getting braver and braver as she kept spending time on the island. She was even brave enough to steal water from the robbers den. Isn't that brave?

I can connect this to my uncle because he had to struggle through cancer and Roxie had to struggle through the Hooligans.

*****

Andrew

FISH By Gregory Mone

            Fish lived in a farm near a lake. He has many brothers and sisters and lived by growing potato and vegetables. Fish who got his nickname when his brother pushed him in the deep parts of the water. He didn't know  how to swim until he fell in to the water. He could swim like a fish and his mother said "I'm going to raise a man, not a fish and got his nickname. When Shamrock dies Fish has to go to work, and Fish gets stuck in a pirate adventure.
                                                                                                                                                              The conflict was scab who was violent unlike Fish who was peaceful.

The conflict was when  mutiny struck the Scurvy Mistress and Fish is trying to stop them from killing them and the crew.

Fish changed during the book when they thought he never belonged anywhere but then he found out that everyone belonged somewhere. Sometimes it is just never found.

I know how uncomfortable it is when brothers fight

RATING: ****

Incheol                                

CAT AND MOUSE IN A HAUNTED HOUSE by Geronimo Stilton

The plot of the story:
              The plot of the story is Geronimo went into a haunted house to while going to his grandma's house and thought that he was seeing things because when he saw something it would vanish but by the end he saw that things he saw were part of tricks to scare people away.
 Main character in conflict another character or them self:
   Geronimo was in conflict with a cat.
  The conflict for the character:
The conflict for character was he was seeing things and  he got scared  because there was a mummy, a witch and a vampire.
     How the main character changed :
In the beginning of the story Geronimo was doubting him self because he went into a castle and there was a ghost then when he realized it was a joke he didn't doubt him self.
  how did you relate to the characters struggle;
It reminded me of my friend because they are also afraid of mummies as well.
Rating:****

by Waleed

THE AUSTERE ACADEMY by Lemony Snicket

The Baudelaire orphans go to a boarding school called Prufrock Prep, and since they don't have parents to sign a permission slip, they have to stay in an ugly, old, orphans shack intead of a nice dormitory. They meet other orphans at the school who help them struggle through the unfair rules of the academy.Then the Baudelaire's worst enemy comes for "work", and things get a whole lot worse . . .

Violet, Kluas, and Sunny Baudelaire vs. Count Olaf, Vice principal Nero, and Carmelita Spats

They were treated unfairly by the other kids, their teachers made them and the rest of the class do nothing but mearsure and copy down worthless stories every day (plus, there were no weekends), and Count Olaf in disguise made them run laps all night every night.

The Baudelaire orphans worked hard at the beginning, but Count Olaf's tiring laps made them almost fall asleep in class near the middle and end.

I'm not always treated fairly by some people.

* * * *

Rachel

MISSISIPPI RIVER BLUES by Tony Abbott

This book is about 2 boys and a girl teaming up to clean up trash from the Mississippi River.Their names are Tom, Frankie, and Huck. They go there every day but there is more and more trash. So they design a trash pickerupper.Will it work? I think it will.

The main charecter was Tom. His problem was before he met Frankie and Huck he was by himself going to the river every day he couldn't do it all by himself.

Toms struggle was he coudnt keep up with it there was just more and more trash every day.

The character changed by letting Frankie and Huck join when Tom met them he really wasn't sure to let them join it seemed like Tom didn't like them. At the end they all became friends.

Rating:****

THE SNOWSTORM by Jorn Riel

After the invasion of Viking raiders at Stockanees, Solvi, Leiv, Narua, and Apuluk are driven out and Solvi's master Thorstein was never seen again. They are now in Greenland and the friends want to find out where he could be and are restless for an adventure. So they set off. As they start to journey north, a terrible storm hits and the friends are forced to find shelter. When the storm ends, the four friends continue on, and are invited to stay a night with a small group of Inuits. When Leiv mentions the Northmen's ship, the Inuits say that they had seen the ship and it had traveled north, but was unfriendly and was hostile. Leiv gets curious and the four of them continue to head north. Solvi and Narua stayed behind while Leiv and Apuluk went hunting for food. Days pass but Leiv and Apuluk do not return. Will the girls ever find Leiv and Apuluk? And will Leiv and Apuluk survive on the ship?

The main characters were in a conflict with society, because when Leiv and Apuluk ventured out for food, they came across a ship. But they didn't get far, pirates ambushed them before they could arm themselves and were taken in as prisoners.

The main characters changed during the book because
Leiv , Apuluk, Solvi and Narua helped each other when times were tough. For example, when Leiv and Apuluk  were trapped aboard the ship, Solvi and Narua went looking for them. They spotted them with other prisoners being chained across the ice. They sneaked aboard the ship and helped them get free and set the ship on fire. Because when at the beginning of the journey, they didn't all have to help each other  together that much.

This relates to me of a time when I got lost and my mom couldn't find me. Luckily, a lady and her daughter helped me feel better while we waited for my mom to show up. Finally, she saw me and was relieved that the lady and her daughter let me stay with them. This relates to Leiv and Apuluk missing on the ship and the girls not knowing where they were, but the girls found them.

rating:****

Catherine

TUMTUM AND NUTMEG by Emily Bearn and Nick Price

The book was mostly about Tumtum and Nutmeg are two mice who live in  Nutmouse hall in rose cottage.When Aunt Ivy arrives who hates mice, then a whole disaster starts.  When the general comes to help defend Aunt Ivy from spraying her hair color that will kill mice, they try to scare Aunt Ivy But will they

The main characters in conflict were Tumtum, Nutmeg, The General, Lucy, and Arthur VS Aunt Ivy.

The conflict was that it was hard for Tumtum and Nutmeg to not get found by humans. Also Aunt Ivy was going to kill them. They had to fight her off in the end.

The main characters changed through out the story. In the beginning Tumtum and Nutmeg were trying to hide every thing including there identity. For example when they go to help Arthur and Lucy they have to leave a note that claims they are fairies. At they end they don't mind about getting seen. But, they still need to be careful.

My connection to these characters struggle is sometimes when i'm angry I try to fuss with my brothers. Then for the next hour or so I try to avoid them and not talk to them.

I give this **** rating

Max