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

I SURVIVED THE SHARK ATTACKS OF 1916 by Lauren Tarshis

Chet Roscow is a 10 year old boy living In Elm Hills, New Jersey in 1916.At that time scientists didn't study sharks so people thought they were harmless.  In the summer of 1916, there were shark attacks in a creek and at the shore in New Jersey.

Chet Roscow was in conflict with the townspeople and a shark.

Chet got bumped by a shark while swimming in the creek so he told the townspeople, but no one believed him.

Chet learned not to prank people. He became close friends with people he barely knew.  He got bitten by a shark shark and had part of his leg chewed off.

Chet is my age and we both enjoy swimming with our friends.

RATING: ***

By George

MY BROTHER'S KEEPER BY Mary Pope Osborne

Ginny is trapped in a town called Gettysburg . Every thing is normal until one of the biggest war is going on in her town. It is the Civil War. She has to hope she will be safe when the battle is surrounding her.

Ginny is the main character another character is Uncle Jack. He helps her by letting Ginny stay with him.

The struggle for the main character is that there is a big war going on in her town. Will she survive?

Ginny's emotions changed during the book. In the beginning and the middle she seemed kind of freaked out about the war. At the end her emotion's changed she seemed a lot more relaxed now that every thing is over.

I did not relate to Ginny but I kind of felt her pain it must be scary having a war going on around you.

RATING: ????

By Bella

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 *****

FLAT STANLEY by Jeff Brown

Stanley was accidentally flattened by a bulletin board, Stanley has to adjust to being flat. Stanley and his family make the best of the situation. Near the end, Stanley becomes a hero by catching the sneak thieves.

He struggled with his brother Arthur and got tangled in a tree and the sneak thieves. The main conflict is getting used to being flat.He was made fun of a lot because he was flat.

Flat Stanley learned to be gentle with his brother's feelings, who was jealous. He learned to help others because he was flat and so he could do things like slide under doors and be flown like a kite.

People need to accept themselves the way they are (and I do that). 

RATING *****

Collen

IREDESSA LOTS AT SEA

The plot is to get a bottle so that IREDRESSA can put light in the bottle to scare the wild owl.

The main caractar is a fary named IREDRESSA

The conflict is being in the bottle because she wont make it on time thats the stuggle.

the main carectar learns nothing after all.

THE MEANEST DOLL IN THE WORLD by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin

   Annabelle Doll and Tiffany Funcraft are 2 dolls who have been best friends ever since met in Kate Palmer's house. After an adventure in the attic, the 2 friends jumped into Kate's backpack and went to school. At the end of the, unknowingly, they climbed into a different backpack and ended up in someone else's house! Will Annabelle and Tiffany be able to get through the obstacles in order to get back to their family?

   Annabelle and Tiffany are in conflict with another character.
 Mean Mimi is a doll that Annabelle and Tiffany struggled with. Thinking that it wouldn't be that hard to escape from BJ's house, they realized it would be more difficult than they thought when they heard a big bang behind them.

   At first, Annabelle was always a shy girl. She would get nervous when something exciting happens like when she went on an exploration with Tiffany and her Auntie Sarah. But after having a family meeting, Auntie Sarah and Tiffany told her that although she is not very active, she is the best friend they could ever have. So then on, she would always think about that time she was told about how wonderful she is.

   Annabelle and Auntie Sarah reminded me of Mrs. Elien and I. When Auntie Sarah told Annabelle that she has a good brain and heart, it reminded me of when Mrs. Elien told me that my positivity is contagious.

 *****

EMILY WINDSNAP AND THE SIRENS SECRET by Liz Kessler

Emily Windsnap is part human and part mermaid and her life is absolutely perfect, but that doesn't last long! Emily is now finding herself on a mission to bring to the two worlds together, humans and mer- people. With her friend Aaron by her side, they work together to come up with a plan to make that happen. That's not all, Emily's BFF, Shona is trapped with nasty sirens  who are stuck and can't gel out! Will Emily be able to
perform her task of bringing to two worlds together? Will Shona be stuck with the sirens forever? Find out!


Emily struggled with herself and another character
The struggle for Emily was no matter how hard she tried, Emily always blurted her thoughts out even when she wasn't suppose to. Emily also struggled with a character  named Mr. Beeston. She struggled with him by not knowing the truth from him and that he could easily fool someone with a lie.

Emily changed by not always jumping to conclusions. When Emily thought Mr. Beeston was the one who stole the shell to keep Shona and the sirens there in the cave. She learned that the shell was nothing and anyways Mr. Beeston was only stole it because he knew what it meant to do. Also in the newspaper Emily thought Mandy was the one who wanted the mermaids to be captive and that she was the one who posted the photo of her. But Emily learned that is wasn't Mandy, it was someone else in the town.

Emily reminded me of myself. I sometimes jump to conclusions. When I really think it's a certain person did something I sometimes end up blaming someone who had nothing to do with it like how Mandy had nothing to do with it.

RATING: *****

katie

PANDORA THE CURIOUS by Suzanne Williams and Joan Holub

      Pandora is a very curious girl in a school  called Mount Olympus Academy (MOA). One day, while talking to her friends, a mysterious box catches her eye. She just has to open it! Pandora can't stop herself when the box comes flying into her hands.Out come many troublesome bubbles that pop on her friends and teachers and change their personalities! Pandora realizes it's up to her to get all the bubbles back. What will she do?

    Pandora was in conflict with the bubbles (the bad things inside them) and she was also in conflict with her friends that didn't listen to or believe what happened.

   Pandora changed throughout this book. She became more careful with her curiousness and she learned not to snoop anymore. She also learned to respect differences like how Epimetheus was different because he was a Titan. 

   I relate to Pandora because I am also curious. I was very curious to know what was in my Christmas presents and if I did, I would be in trouble. (not with bubbles though.)

   

RATING: ****

-Sarah W

     

THE JOURNEY TO ATLANTIS by Thea Stilton

Five mouslets named Colette, Violet, Pamela, Paulina, and Nickey discover a  mysterus blue skinned boy washed from the ocean. As they try to find out where the boy came from a short detective pops up out of nowhere. The group of five mouslets, nicknamed the Thea sisters, follow the clues to uncover the mystery of where this boy lives. These clues lead them to a librarian who takes one of them to a secret base that researches mysteries.The mysterious detective pops up every where and tries to take Atlas who is the blue skinned boy. To be safe they need to send Atlas back home. Follow this adveture to see what will happen.

Atlas is in conflict with the detective Quasar.

Quasar is trying to kidnap atlas for a reason only Quasar knows. But Atlas needs to go home to Atlantis where he is the prince.
At first atlas knows nothing about where he is and the language. In the end of the book he learns a little of the land and now can tell his under water world of the world above.

I cant relate to the kidnapping plot or the fact that Atlas entered a new world and does not know a single word of the language.

RATING: ****

Niles

THE SISTERS GRIMM: FAIRY TALE DETECTIVES by Michael Buckley

   The plot of this book was Sabrina and Daphne Grimm's parents disappeared one year and a half ago. They have run away from every foster home they have been to. Now they have found their grandmother who they thought was dead! Then they realized she was crazy because she said all of the fairy tale creatures are real and living among them! Right before they run away from her she gets kidnaped by a giant and they will do anything to get her back.

   Sabrina and Daphne stuggled over the death of their parrents and the kidnaping of their grandmother.

   The conflict was Sabrina and Daphne trying to rescue their grandmother from the giant.

   Sabrina and Daphne change by deciding to stay with their grandmother and they will also help their grandmother with her job which is solving fairy tale mysteries!

   Sabrina is like me because she thinks about her future and how to make it better.

Rating:*****

   -Michael 209

RANGER'S APPRENTICE: THE BURNING BRIDGE by John Flanagan

The plot of the book is: Will, a ranger, ( a sneaky person who is trained with bows and knives), and Horace, an apprentice knight, go on a mission to find allies for the upcoming war-only yo find that everyone in the neighboring village is gone. Then they meet Evalyn, a maid, and go on  there journey.

The main character in conflict with is: Morgarath, a commander of an army

The struggle for the main character is: Will couldn't find anyone in the neighboring village and he had no clue where everyone went.

The main character changed to the course of the book when: In the beginning, Will was scared of going on a mission alone but in the end, he isn't scared and he's aware of his powers.

I can relate to the character because: Will does archery and I do archery too.

Rating: ***** ( 5 star)

By: Pranav

ELLA - Khaleis

Ella was born in Newport news ,Virginia.
Ella was a child of parent William and Temple.
Ella lived in Yonkers, New York.
Ella studied jazz music.
Ella overcame a heart attack and leg surgery.
Ella worked as a singer.
Ella was challenged by racial segregation.
Ella's personality could be described as happy,sad,excited,and surprised.
Ella was always singing and performing.
Never negative to others.
Ella was best known for her scat singing.
Ella was talented and very helpful to others she makes me feel happy.

Ella jane fitzgerald tyler K

Ella was born on , April,25 , 1917
Ella was child of Tempie and william
Ella lived in Yonkers, New York
Ella studied dancing
Ella overcame leg surgery
Ella worked as a Jazz singer
Ella was challenged by diabetes
Ella personality could be described as nice, kind, calm
Ella was always stould up for her self
Ella never got songs from other people
Ella was best known for the first lady of jazz
Ella was a calm and loud singer









               

ERAGON By Christopher Paolini

Eragon is traveling in the Spine and finds a mysterious stone.One night, the "stone" hatches into a dragon and he raises it (the dragon's name is Saphira).One day he is traveling again but when he comes back, the Razzac destroys his home, and kills his step-father, Garrow. Eragon is angered by Garrow's death and want revenge. Brom, a magician and he travel to get Eragon's revenge. Then another character named Murtagh joins the crew while Brom dies. Will Eragon survive all the encounters?!

Eragon is in conflict with the Razzac, the shade and himself trying to learn magic and swordsmanship.

The Empire Galbatrix and the Varden are at war and Saphira and he are teaming up with the Varden. But the Urgals team up with Galbatrix so he fights a lot of Urgals. At the end, when he was in Tronjheim, Urgals raid the city so Murtagh, Saphira, Eragon, and the people of Tronjheim have to fight off hundreds of urgals (and one Shade). Eragon also fights off a Shade who wants revenge.

Eragon changes in a lot of ways. First, he used to fight with a bow &arrow. Now, he uses a sword(Zar'roc). Before he traveled with Brom, all he could use was his bow &arrow. Now after practicing with Brom, he can use a lot of magic, swords, and bow &arrow.At the end, Eragon learns to forget about the past and move on.

Eragon reminded me of myself because if I lose, I want to get revenge like Eragon wants revenge on Razzac for the loss of his step-father.I wish I could forgive people like Eragon.(it's not like I can't forgive people. I just need to get better at it.)

Rating: *****

                                            Shun

Cherry The Cake Fairy, BY Daisy Meadows

 The main idea is Kirsty and Rachel got invited to the fairy king and queen's 1000th anniversary surprise  party! But they got invited on Kirstys birthday! Kirsty got a surprise with a goblin , the goblin ruins the cake!  Will the cake fairy fix it in time?
 Jack frost and his goblin are the struggle character in this book!
 The struggle for Kirsty and Rachel is that the cake gets ruined by the goblin. Will the cake get fixed? Will the  goblin just leave them alone?
 Rachel and Kirsty change throughout the book. Some reasons how they change are Kirsty turns  9 and they  just have the greatest ideas all through out for example Kirsty tigers out a way to trap the goblin but will it    get out?
 Kirsty reminds me of my older sister because my older sister always has great ideas like Kirsty!

 The rating of this book will be ***** stars out of 5 stars!



                                 ~Melanie~
 

CHARLIE AND THE GREAT GLASS ELEVATOR by Roald Dahl

Willy Wonka and Charlie Bucket  return in Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator! With 8 passengers aboard the intricate elevation cube, they spot Space Hotel U.S.A! Suddenly, the president calls the spacecraft hotel while  Mr. Wonka and the 7 other guests are currently on the craft made for space! What did the president say?

Mr. Willy Wonka was in conflict with the Venomous Knids!The destifying creatures were attacking the great elevator and the hotel in space!

Mr.Wonka's personality changed when he was in space. His personality on Earth was cheerful. In space, his attitude was commanding.

This reminded me of when my little brother attacked me.

*****