Category Archives: 2014-2015

Dec
12
2014

My Life as a Stuntboy by Janet Tashjian

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imgresMy Life as a Stuntboy is by Janet Tashjian. The series is My Life series. The main character’s name is Derek Fallon, who gets to be a skateboard stunt-boy in a movie about a kid that runs away from danger.  The book takes place in California.

An important thing in my book is Derek got a part in a movie but his friend didn’t. So his friend got mad. Derek also has a hard time reading. But he does not know that one time when he had a tutor come to his house he was filmed by his best friend Matt. Matt put the film on youtube because he was mad at Derek. Another important thing in the book was before Derek got the part in the movie he got a monkey! He was really brave when his monkey got stolen by a kid in school. The kid in school put him in the top of his garage on the fifth shelf and Derek got him! Derek is not that smart. He left his monkey in his room with his toys, and his monkey ate them. Derek is normal. Like most kids he is excited to be in a movie because he does not get to be in a movie every day.

I did like this book because of the monkey. Especially when Derek’s family found out they could keep his monkey. I also like when the author drew pictures of new vocabulary words that some people might not know. I would recommend this book to people that like easy ways to figure out hard words. This book reminds me of Diary of a Wimpy Kid because it’s the same author. I give this book five stars.

 

Dec
12
2014

Famous For Thirty Seconds by P.G. KAIN

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The series I am reading is called Commercial Breaks and the name of the book is called Famous For Thirty Seconds by P.G. Kain. The main character’s name in the book is Britney Rush. The book is mainly about a girl who moves to Hong Kong for a year and when she gets back she does not have such great luck getting in for bookings go-sees and auditions will she realize  that there is more to life than being Famous For Thirty Seconds.The main setting of the book is casting places her house.

Something that I found the most interesting is that Britney has a twin and she expects that her and her sister are supposed to be exactly the same. Because just because you look like someone does not mean you are exactly the same. Another thing that surprised me was that the book talks a lot about the city and Washington Square Park and NYU because the author works at NYU  and my mom works at NYU so thats how I got this book.

 Finally that the person who wrote the book used to be an actor himself. That’s why he knows so much about acting. If I had to use three adjectives to describe Brittany the first one would be competitive I think that because any time her ‘’friend’’ Phoebe gets a booking she says that Phoebe did that purpose just to make her feel bad. The second adjective would be insecure I say that because she is always thinking about what other people think about her not what she thinks about herself. Third would be very friendly I say that because anytime time she sees people who she has seen before she says hi even though they keep walking.

I enjoyed this book so much because I can relate to this book soooo much because I go to auditions like Britney and when I go to them I  see people and one day later  I see those kids on TV. Also because she is always trying to get an audition and if she doesn’t then she gets very mad she almost quit acting. I recommend this book because  even if you do not go  on  auditions she still has a regular life just like us.She can also relate to people because sometimes people like of love things and they do not focus on anything only that and she does not realize she is in reality. I don’t think this book is related to any movies or TV shows or other books because i have ever heard of any and also because this is just such a great book so it will be hard to top. If I had to give a rating about the book out  of a possible 1 meaning I did not like that much. 2 I didn’t like it. 3 it was pretty good. 4 I really liked it.  and 5 I loved it. I want to read it again. I choose a five I really like this book.

 

Dec
12
2014

Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George

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    The book I read was Julie of the Wolves written by Jean Craighead George. This book is part of a series called Julie. The main character is Miyax and she runs away from her home. Then she gets lost in the Arctic with no food and starts to live near a pack of wolves. After that she starts to examine the wolves to see how they communicate. She tries to communicate with some of the wolves to get food.  The book takes place in the Arctic and Alaska.

      In this book Miyax talks about her past and her family which is very important because it explains why she is doing some things. She once talked about her father and how he communicated with the wolves one time when he went hunting and there was no game. He came back with a deer that the wolves gave him and he left soon after that to go hunt seals and he never came back. Miyax also says that she left home and was planning on going  to San Francisco to her pen pal. She takes a lot of risks in this book.  Miyax is adventurous, hopeful, and hard working because she is communicating with wolves which represents all of those traits.

       I thought this book was pretty good because even though there were  some good parts there were some parts I didn’t really like. There were some parts that I thought were strange.  An example is, when Miyax was with the wolves, she noticed that one of them wasn’t staying with the pack.  I think wolves stay together as a pack and they don’t kick one of their kind out.   One of the parts I did like was when Miyax saw her reflection in a pond after weeks of being lost in the Arctic and she was surprised what a mess she was.   I would recommend this book because it is full of adventure.  It is an exciting book about a girl who survives months in the middle of nowhere.  This book reminds me of Hatchet, which was about a boy who gets in a plane crash  on his way to his mom and has to survive in the wilderness with a hatchet that his dad gave him. They are alike because they are both about surviving in the middle of nowhere.  From one to five, I would rate it three stars.

Dec
12
2014

Alvin Ho by Lenore Look

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alvin_hoThis book that I read is called Alvin Ho and it is by Lenore Look. The main characters are Alvin Ho and his little sister Anabella. The book is about Alvin Ho, a little  boy that is afraid of everything like tunnels, wasabi, airplanes, girls, the dark and a lot of other things. The setting takes place in his  school and his house and a little in the piano teacher’s house.

The book is also about Alvin Ho going to school on the first day. He is a little bit nervous about school but his mom and dad made him feel ready. He is nervous because he doesn’t have any friends. He gets to meet a lot of good and mean people in the book he also makes a lot of good friends. He also has a cousin that knows a little bit of something of everything. He doesn’t talk at school but he talks at home. He is 7 and he is going into 3rd grade. He lives in Concord Massachusetts. He also likes superheroes. He is nice because in the book he was really nice to people by being friendly to people. He also wants to be a gentleman like his dad. He is afraid and he also gets shocked by many things. The last thing is that he doesn’t  want to go to school because it makes him nervous.

I liked this book because  I can relate it to my one life. There are many things that I am afraid of like the dark, pigeons and roller coasters. I  also liked this book because there was no part that was boring in this book. I Also like this book because he would say funny things like jokes. I would recommend  this book to people who like fun and exciting books. I would also recommend this book if you are afraid of things to.I would give this book 4 stars because it was a good book and interesting but I would not read it again. I can’t compare  it to any shows or movies.

 

                                                     ****

Dec
12
2014

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

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The book I read is Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K Rowling, this book is number five of the series Harry Potter. This series is about Harry’s life through the ages 11- 17 at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This particular book is when Harry is 15, and is in his fifth year at Hogwarts. During the year he is trying to learn how to fight Voldemort the Dark Lord, prepare his fellow friends with secret meetings, learn how to keep calm with Professor Umbridge, and learn to cope with Professor Snape while learning occlumency. The main characters of this book are Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, and Hermione Granger. This book is set in the present time in England, London.

A part I found important was when Grawp (a giant), Hagrid’s  step brother (Hagrid is a half giant) saves Harry and Hermione from rampaging centaurs. It was important because Grawp had a lot of courage and bravery , and showed true friendship. Another  part that I found interesting was when Harry invaded Snape’s privacy. It was interesting because when Snape found out, he did not want to teach Harry anymore. Hermione is loyal because she stuck with Harry and Ron when times were tough for example when they were escaping Death Eaters when she could of saved only herself. She is a forward thinker because when the group was in a circular room and all the doors looked the same but she put a X on the doors she already tried. She is also generous because over the year she was knitting hats for the house elves to set them free even though they didn’t want to be free.

I enjoyed the book because the breath taking adventures and funny love stories. A funny love story was when Harry kissed Cho under mistletoe and the breath taking adventures are when they battled Voldemort. I would recommend this book to readers the age of 9-10000000000. I would recommend at that ages because there is some violence and weird things . But anything else is totally acceptable for younger ages. The book is really great and descriptive (it is 870 pages) and it is enjoyable for many readers. I think the Percy Jackson series is very similar. I know that because they do not know about their kind for a long time, they have to fight, and they make great friends. I would rate this book 4 stars ****.

 

Dec
12
2014

Hiding Out at the Pancake Palace by Nan Marino

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I read Hiding Out at the Pancake Palace by Nan Marino. The main character’s name is Elvis Ruby and the story takes place in Wares Grove, New Jersey (although Elvis starts the book living in New York City). Elvis is a famous singer who goes on a reality show called “Tween Star” but forgets his part. It’s so embarrassing. How would you feel if people laughed at you on national TV!? The plot is about how he then needs to hide from the paparazzi who are chasing him in a small town where he can be just a normal kid.

 

Elvis changes his name to Aaron and gets his haircut to disguise himself in his new town. He lives with distant relatives who own a pancake “palace” which apparently is the only restaurant in Wares Grove. The Pancake Palace is very popular and a lot of people go there so it’s hard for Elvis to hide. The next-door neighbor, Cecilia, figures out who he is and cannot keep a secret. Then Cecilia tells her friend R.J. about Elvis/Aaron. R.J. tells his mom and when he’s telling her, his sister Elizabeth overhears and learns the truth about the new kid. Turns out, Elizabeth is obsessed with Elvis (who she saw on TV) and she starts to flirt with Elvis. Elvis is shy because he doesn’t want anyone to know he is famous and he is really being very careful about it. He is nervous about being in a new town with new people but ends up learning who he can trust and makes new friends. Elvis is helpful — he offers to help his relatives in the restaurant and make pancakes and he helps Cecilia with an important task. (I don’t want to ruin it for you.)

 

I liked this book because it was action packed and surprising. The scenes where the paparazzi try and find Elvis are hilarious because the photographers get confused and lost. At first it doesn’t seem like Elvis is going to help Cecilia but in the end he comes through. I think this book is similar to a television reality show if a famous person moved to a small town and tried to hide his identity. (Pretend if Tom Brady or Taylor Swift did this.) I would recommend this book to people who like action because it’s filled with it! It’s laugh out loud funny when all the characters come together. I would give this book 5 stars on a scale of 5 stars because it’s a funny, hilarious and one of the best books I’ve read.

 

                                                                 *****

Dec
12
2014

The Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter

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The book I am writing about is called The Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter. The main characters are three siblings,one girl named Lucia who wished something interesting would happen, Max the youngest who always knew better, and the oldest brother Otto and he had something unique about him and that was sign language. The book is about three siblings going to their aunts house in London and when they arrive they find out that their aunt isn’t in her house. Then a young girl comes out and says that your aunt isn’t here she left for a trip. Next Max remembers that Haddie Piggott their mothers mom sent them a letter long time ago. And Max found it and remembers that it said “Snoring By The Sea.  Max asks someone, “do you know what “snoring by the sea is?” People said it is part of London. Then they traveled to snoring by the sea and went there and then as they traveled they came across a fake castle and they go in it and they see their moms mother Hattie Piggott there and they have some exciting scary adventures thats all I’m telling you. It takes place in a fake castle in London in a place in London called Snoring By The Sea.

Their father goes on a lot of trips and doesn’t see his kids and  leaves Otto Lucia and Max alone at the house. I think that is interesting because there all alone with no care and he never sees them and I think that might be hard on the kids. Three adjectives that I can call Lucia is stubborn because in a part in the book Lucia wanted Otto to run but he didn’t listen so (Otto was wearing a scarf but gave it to Lucia to hold and it is very special) Lucia said I will throw your scarf in the ocean if you don’t run! Then otto ran. Lucia is nice because otto was feeling sad and lonely so Lucia came over and said some nice words to otto and he felt better. Another way I can explain Lucia is brave because in a part of the book Lucia went on a bike that was on a cord and went very high up and she could have died any second  and she was brave and she was perfectly fine after she did it.

I loved The Kneebone boy because it had different cities in it like London and I love London and it was scary kind of and it was fun because when Lucia went on the bike on the cord I didn’t know if she was going to die and I didn’t want her to. And it was fun because I had  a little bit of scary fun adventurous parts and I love those things in a book. I would definitely recommend this book because you get to learn different parts of London and if you like a little scary and fun also adventurous then you’re in for a treat because the Kneebone Boy has all of those things. I don’t really know a movie or a television show that is like The Kneebone Boy but there is probably a show or movie that is like it. I would give this book five stars if I could I would give it 10 stars because I love London and scary and fun and adventurous books also I’ve been reading a book like the Kneebone boy before.

Dec
12
2014

The One And Only Ivan by Katherine Applgate

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                The book I read was The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. The main character’s name is Ivan, he is a gorilla that is personified and he’s a really smart when it comes to logic and noticing all the little details in his life like the fingerprints of children on the glass of his terrain.He’s also good at seeing things a different way like how the sun reminds him of a ripe nectarine and how some humans are like chimps. The book is about Ivan doing the same things in his cage  or  terrain  then his life takes a big turn and it’s time for him to to step up and protect someone he said he would protect and be the mighty Silverback he’s supposed to be with the help of his friends and artistic vision. He lives in a mall called the Big Top Mall where he has many nicknames and a few neighbors none of which are gorillas. For 9855 days he was alone.

  Some things I liked in this book was the author’s use of language and how she was always making similes and really thinking about  how a gorilla might feel about his life and the things around him. Another thing I liked was how people in the story gave him many different names with different  meanings like The One And Only Ivan or Ivan, Mighty Silverback . The two last things  I really liked about this book were, one – I love the big feelings Ivan has in this book and the strong opinions he has and two – Ivan is a really great friend with a big heart that he’s always sharing with the animals and people around him. Three adjectives I would use to describe Ivan are; interesting, because he always has very strong opinions that I find interesting like the idea people talk to much and I really wanted to read on to see what he thought about the matter. I would also consider Ivan a little bit gross because of the stuff he likes to eat like banana peels and yogurt raisins . The last word I would use to describe Ivan is Patient, because he doesn’t always freak out when people our being mean to him by spitting, throwing rocks, and some other mean stuff but he always keeps his cool.

 I really enjoyed this book because it was full of big feelings like how he felt about being in a cage. It was cool to see how other people thought about what was going on inside a gorillas head. I think it would have been cool if I could hear it from someone else’s point of view maybe Ivans mom or dad or someone else he was close to . My teacher Jen recommended it to me so if you like it talk to her about more books. I have never read a book like this it was phenomenal  and a delight to read. I loved it I want to read it again so i give it 5 stars!

Leah

 

Dec
12
2014

Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling

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The book that I read for this review was The Prisoner of Azkaban, the third book in the Harry Potter series.The main characters are Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. The book is mainly about Harry’s godfather Sirius Black escaping from prison and trying to come and get him. The book is mainly set in Harry’s school, Hogwarts.

One interesting part is when Harry leaves the Dursleys house and he gets on the knight bus. It’s interesting how a bus can go anywhere for wizards and witches. Another interesting part is when Sirius Black comes and breaks Ron Weasley’s leg because he becomes a dog and drags Ron into the Whomping Willow that is a tree that can move its branches but not its trunk. Harry Potter is athletic because he plays a sport named Quidditch and he is a position called seeker. He is brave because he stands up to a mean person named Draco Malfoy.He is also smart because he saved two lives in one hour.

I liked the book because I liked to read all the fun, shocking, surprising, exciting things that happened.It is fun to imagine the things in your brain. I would recommend this book if you want to read a book full of surprises and that makes you want to read more. The reader gets to understand and feel Harry’s experiences as he grows up. The movie to this book is related because it is about the same thing but some things are cut and added on. I rate this book four stars I really liked it.

Dec
12
2014

The Borrowers by Mary Norton

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For my book review I read The Borrowers by Mary Norton.The main character is a borrower named Arrietty. A borrower is a tiny person who borrows things that they need from the house they live under.  The book is about Arrietty and her family of borrowers who live under the floor of a house. The setting of the book is under the floor of a house, in the house and the yard.

Something I found interesting was when the boy who stays in the house became friends with Arrietty. That is interesting because borrowers aren’t supposed to become friends with the people who live above them. Arrietty meets the boy when she is out borrowing with her father. The boy sees her in the garden and they start talking and become friends.  Another thing I found interesting was when the boy gave a lot of furniture from a dolls house.  The furniture fits for them because they are tiny. Also because they are tiny food is bigger to them. A crumb would be a scone , a nut would be a loaf of bread and a piece shrimp would be a turkey.I think that Arrietty is brave because she talks to the boy when he could be tricking her.I also think Arrietty is sad because she is stuck in the floor all day. I think Arrietty is curious because she keeps on asking her mom and dad if she can go outside.

I enjoyed the book because it is fantasy, and I enjoy fantasy because anything can happen. I also enjoyed it because it’s about a girl like me and I can imagine what it would be like. I would recommend this book. I would recommend it because when you start it you can’t put it down.I also would recommend it because it is fun to imagine what it would be like if you were a borrower. I think that Stuart Little is similar because it’s about a mouse who becomes friends with a person he’s not supposed to. I also think the Cricket in Times Square is similar because it’s about someone little.I would give it three and a half stars.