Author Archives: 24violetw

Jun
07
2016

Lily by Holly Webb

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For our last book review we were told to do something creative. I chose to do a diorama because it seemed like the best way to express this book.  My diorama displays a very important scene to Lily. The story to Lily is that their mom is evil and is trying to use Georgie (Lily’s sister) to assassinate the queen. Lily and Georgie run away before Mama kills Georgie (because Mama says she is “useless”). They have to cross an ocean to get off the island and go to the mainland. Turns out Mama’s SUPER smart because she made the ocean VERY rough so they could not pass. Mama has gotten her powers from generations of magicians before her. Her parents were magicians so, so is she.  In the end they did pass but it was as very good part for a diorama when Lily is about to fall off the boat. As you can see, there are popsicle sticks sticking out of the box connected to the waves so that the waves are moveable because the waves ARE moving in the scene. Hope you like the diorama!

 

Mar
09
2016

The Vanishing Violin By: Michael D. Beil

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Can you solve three mysteries at the same time? Well, the Red Blazer Girls can. The Red Blazer Girls are from The Vanishing Violin by Michael D. Beil. The Vanishing Violin is very different from my other books because I usually read realistic fiction or magical realism but this book is mystery. Mystery is very different than realistic fiction because a lot can happen that is not realistic but depending on the book a lot can be realistic too. This book is part of the Red Blazer Girls Series. They call themselves that because they wear red blazers for school. “They” is Sophie St. Pierre, Rebecca Chen, Margaret Wrobel and Leigh Ann Jaimes.

 

In the first book – The Ring of Rocamadour – they found the ring of Rocamadour and now in the second book they have to figure out who is sneaking into the school and cleaning it, crack a bunch of codes that lead to a violin and last try to find yet another stolen violin. This book does not ever mention when it takes place but I am guessing around the same time it was written which was 2010. I also think it is about modern time because there are iPhones, motorcycles and the subway. This all takes place in New York City and sometimes at their school, St. Veronica’s.

 

I think I would describe Sophie as silly. For example,  When someone says “Hey, loooosers.” she responded “Nice to see you, too, my dearest darling pal,” She also really likes math so that helps her figure out some mysteries. Like when she said “The ring is about three inches in diameter, so the circumference is a little over nine inches. (That’s pi times the diameter, if you’re keeping score-I love math.)” This book is interesting because it is from Sophie’s perspective like when she says “I” or “me”. An important part of the story is that Margaret is getting mystery letters from somebody that leads to the mystery violin. All the friends help her and figure out more clues. Will the clues ever stop? Also, the head of their school is counting on them to figure out is cleaning the school but with two other mysteries on their hands that can be lot!

 

Some of the events that change the direction of the story is at Mr. Chernofsky’s (Margaret’s friend) violin shop he hires someone else that seems a little suspicious considering he went to jail…  I really enjoyed this book because of how the author sets up the story and I also really enjoyed the ending that the author makes. Another reason I enjoyed this book is how everyone’s personalities. I would recommend this book to readers that like series since this is part of the The Red Blazer Girls series. Some connections is to the friends because I feel sometimes I feel like the friends are a lot like my friends. I would definitely rate this four stars. ☆☆☆☆
How does it all connect? 

Jan
14
2016

Rose and the Magician’s Mask, by Holly Webb

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I am reading Rose and the Magician’s Mask by Holly Webb which is part of The Rose Series. The main character of my book is named Rose. There are also other characters like Freddie who is Mr. Fountain’s apprentice and Bella who is Mr. Fountain’s daughter who is very spoiled and screams a lot. The main problem of this book is that Gossamer stole a mask from the king’s palace in England but the worst part is that the mask can do anything! Rose and the gang have to stop Gossamer and the mask before they build an army to take over the world! This book takes place in Venice and England in 1943.

When Gossamer steals the mask from the King’s palace in England, Gossamer runs off to “The City of Magic” (Venice) to unleash the power of the mask. Mr Fountain, Freddie, Bella and Rose chase Gossamer in Venice where nothing is quite what it seems. Some of the events that change the direction of the story are when Mr. Fountain almost does not bring Rose, Freddie, Bella or Gus (the really wise talking cat who guides them through magic) but at the very last moment he changes his mind. I think this really changes the direction of the story because if Mr. Fountain did not bring them they would not be as successful in the end.

I think something very surprising is that Bella screams so loud and it combines with her magic. She does not realize it is so loud that she knocked down a big boat and makes a few people’s ears bleed (actually). I think that Rose has a really hard life because when Mr. Fountain chose her to be his apprentice she still wanted to be a maid. In the book she has to be a maid and a magician’s apprentice and it is hard to find time to do both those things when she is trying to chase Gossamer.

Another thing that makes Rose’s life hard is that all the servants act weirdly around her because they feel weird about magic. When the people you always clean with barely talk to you it does not feel very good. I think Rose is very brave because she was not very scared until the end because unexpected things happen then.  Also, Rose is not very self confident because although she is brave she always doubts her decisions. I think Rose should believe in herself more. Rose is also very shy because she didn’t talk to kids very much in the orphanage.

I really liked Rose and the Magician’s Mask (and the rest of the Rose Series) because Rose has a really strong personality. Rose also has the courage to take risks, which is a good trait to have. I also like Rose and the Magician’s Mask because everyone has a part in saving the mask. I would recommend this book to readers who like unexpected surprises because there are a lot of surprises. I also recommend it if you like magical realism. I would do this because this book is all about how Rose learns how to use her magic. One connection between me and my book is that it is usually loud in the Fountain Mansion and it is like that in my house. If I had to rate this book it would definitely be five stars (out of five)!

Dec
10
2015

Rose, by Holly Webb

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11179335Rose is about a orphan who learns what she can really do. Rose by Holly Webb and is a great fourth grade book. The main character is named…well…Rose. Rose is a kind-hearted orphan who gets chosen to work at the most famous magician’s house! When Rose learns she has magic too, she tries to get rid of it. If she can’t get rid of it, can she at least learn how to use it properly? Someone puts her magic to the test when children are being stolen and Rose has to save the day. The beginning takes place in St. Bridget’s Home For Abandoned Children; after that most of the story takes place in Mr Fountain’s mansion.

As the first book of the four book Rose series, this book really explains who Rose is. Rose gets picked up from the orphanage to work at the house because she could’ve used her powers in bad ways by accident! There are lots of problems for Rose including when the St. Bridget orphans go missing. Another problem is the mean housecleaner Susan, who despises Rose. Rose decides to save the orphans with the snobby Freddie from the Fountain mansion which might not go as well as planned but Rose won’t give up. Rose is a determined character who struggles through the twists and turns of all the magic and weird things going on in the Fountain mansion. Rose only wants to be a housemaid and she really tries to be an obedient servant and kind orphan. For example, Rose says “It’s not that I don’t want to stay,” she murmured. “But I’d like to earn my own living.”

I really enjoyed the first Rose book and I am reading the second Rose book right now. I love the descriptions in the book and how they build Rose’s personality throughout the book. I also liked how Holly Webb added a mean servant because it gives Rose more challenges. I would recommend this book for nine to ten year olds because it has some hard words and long pages. I would recommend Rose to kids who like series of books because Rose is a four book series including Rose, Rose and the Lost Princess, Rose and the Magician’s Mask, and Rose and the Silver Ghost. Over all, I would rate Rose five stars.