Category Archives: Fiction

Apr
02
2014

Emily Windsnap and the Sirens Secret, by Liz Kessler

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Over spring break I read the third book in the Emily windsnap series, The Sirens Secret by Liz Kessler. The main character in the Emily  windsnap  series is of of course Emily. Aaron and Shona are Emily’s best friends and are with Emily throughout the story. Emily has a crush on Aaron which makes things really awkward between them.  Emily is a loyal friend, determined, funny and shy towards new people. The setting of the book is mostly in the water because well the main character is a mermaid. Emily’s mom is a human so the story of course takes place on land too.  If you have not read any of the books on this series I would suggest reading the book reviews on the first and seconded books.

UnknownOne day Emily and Shona are really bored so Shona advises that Emily and herself go to see the lost sirens. A siren is a mermaid that attacks fishing boats that come into certain parts of the sea, they lore the fishermen into the sea bringing them to instant deaths by their siren songs. Anyway shins went looking for the lost sirens and decided to split up.  Emily was swimming along when she felt a strange current pulling her into what looked like an old well. Emily made the decision to jump into the well which led her to the lost sirens. At first when Emily met the sirens they seemed so nice and gentle. But after a while their soft tone turned into an impatient sharp tone that was when Emily had a feeling that the sirens were slowly but forcing her to do something, but Emily wasn’t sure

what that thing was…at least not yet. SING! Emily was not told why she had to sing but some feeling inside her told her to do what the sirens said or else… After a few hours Emily remembered about Shona, she had to find her. As Emily was remembering Shona guess who shot herself down that well, no one but Shona. They tried to go up the well but soon realized they were trapped they had to get out some how…

One important part is Emily’s big problem problem but that is in the paragraph above so another important part which so happens to be my favorite part too. When Mr. Beaston discovers the truth about his past. With the help of Emily, Shona, and Aaron a secret of a lie is on covered. This is an very emot

ional scene when all the most of the characters help one another that’s one of the good things about the Emily windsnap series. The books are all about love, friendship, and how important helping others is.

I really enjoyed this book because of its messages and the little problems that come up here and there. People who like sad books, books about friendship, love and and a little bit of mystery this book is for you. One of my favorite quotes in this book is “So what are we supposed to do now?” I like that quote because when something goes wrong Emily assumes that someone else is always supposed to have a backup plan. I would give this book ***** out of ***** stars.

Apr
02
2014

My Name Is Mina And I Love The Night Anything Seems Possible At Night When The Rest Of The World Has Gone Sleep, By David Almond.

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“My Name Is Mina” is about a girl who starts to write a journal about her life. But there is a catch. She does it at night. She says anything is possible when the rest of the world has gone to sleep. Well Mina isn’t the coolest kid around. She writes in another diary during the day in a tree. So she gets bullied a lot. This book changes years constantly so you kind of have to keep up. Mina lives in England. She gets kicked out of school because she write nonsense on an important essay the had to write.

 

Here is a quote from “My Name Is Mina.” “Sometimes I look at the world and I am amazed that there’s anything at all. Why is there anything? Why is there something? Rather than nothing? Why? Why? Why? Why? Was there just nothing? And did that nothing turn into something? And if that nothing turned into something how did it do it, and why? Why? Why? Why?

 

Well Mina isn’t exactly the worlds, average kid. She is a bit mental. So she is not mental in a way that makes her stupid just in a way that makes her strange. Find out if Mina gets back into school and gets a normal life. If you read this book. I give this book a four and a half star rating. It was good but it was a little weird. At first I thought it would be a complete waste of time.

 

But this book really taught me that we are lucky about what we have. And what our brain is like. We have normal brains. Some kids are really messed up in the head. But we are lucky enough that that did not happen to us. I also liked the book because it was they gave you interesting facts and fun things to do when you have free time.

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Apr
02
2014

Taggerung, By Brian Jacques

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This is a book from the Redwall series. It is called Taggerung. This book is about a young otter whose father was slain by vermin. These vermin took him in, and named him their taggerung. A taggerung is a beast who is very fast, very strong, and extremely dangerous. Taggerungs also have very good eyesight, hearing, and tracking skills. When this taggerung leaves the vermin clan because the chief Sawney Rath was becoming too dangerous for his own good, he goes off adventuring and eventually ends up at Redwall Abbey.

The main characters are Tagg, ( The taggerung) Nimbalo, ( a harvest mouse) Mhera, (Tagg’s older sister) Cregga Badgermum, ( The abbey’s caretaker) and Filorn ( Tagg and Mhera’s mother). This book takes place in Mossflower Woodlands.

A very important thing is that Taggerung goes through a change to find his real self. The taggerung realizes that he is not a vermin, and he has things that he wants to do anyway. Here is what the taggerung told Sawney Rath when he left. “ I no longer want to be with you or your clan, Sawney. You’ve become too dangerous for your own good. I’ve watched you change over the seasons from a clan chief, to a bad old beast. I go my own way now. our paths will never cross again, so I wish you better times and hope you learn to treat others more wisely.”

When Tagg leaves Sawney’s band, there are many plot twists. One of them introduces a very important character, Nimbalo. Tagg and Nimbalo become very good friends, and they are usually found together, having adventures.

I enjoyed this book a lot, and I would totally rate it 5 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this book to people who like funniness, action, animal perspective, and don’t mind a bit of violence. Also, you should be prepared for a little tiny bit of grossness. But other than that, I think that this book should be a movie so that we could watch it! That would be awesome!

This is the cover of Taggerung. The otter on the cover is the Taggerung.

 

Mar
12
2014

Fantastic Family Whipple, by Matthew Ward

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The fantastic family Whipple is written by Matthew Ward.

This book’s main character is Arthur Whipple, whose 11 years old. His parents are Charles and Elisa Whipple. Charles is always very hard on Arthur and gives him a rough time about breaking a record because everybody in Arthur’s family has broken a record so far, except for Arthur. Even though he has not broken a record yet, he has more to be ashamed of, according to his father. But his father Charles is not motivating him at all. “Arthur, you are a shame in our family. We are too loyal, you are just no good for any of us.” But his siblings say that’s not true.

All of the Whipple children: Henry, Simon, Cordelia, Penelope, Edward, Charlotte, Lenora, Franklin, Abigail, Beatrice, George and Ivy are all born on the same day, march 1st, except for Arthur, whose birthday is one day before, on february 29th, only every 4 years. But at the birthday party they meet someone who will change their lives…

This is a thick book, which has 368 pages and a lot of details. Look at this book and go on there fantastic family fine trip! From the Whipple family.

I rate this book 3 stars because I got spoilers and I knew what was going to happen next. ***

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Mar
03
2014

The Austere Academy by Lemony Snicket

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200px-Austere_academyI read Lemony Snicket’s 5th book from the series of Unfortunate Events called Austere Academy . It continues the story of Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire who are still up against the evil Count Olaf who has been trying to get their fortune for a very long time now! This story takes place in a boarding school. This is where the siblings meet another pair of orphans [as they are orphans themselves]. The other orphans are twins, a boy and a girl. They also had their parents die in a fire and also have there own little fortune of their own.

Also Count Olaf seems to follow them everywhere they go and that is why they are sent to the boarding school so that the man in charge of them Mr.Poe, can find a good home for them. But while at the boarding school Count Olaf still finds them and their new friends disappear with Count Olaf. Anyway  the boarding school is a terrible place because of so many reasons. One reason is that Sunny has to make staples all day.  And I must tell you that she is only one one-years-old. “Debo” is something that she says in the book which means “Why in the world would I have to make staples?!!?”

I really liked this book because it was an adventure and mystery book. I would recommend this book to 4th graders because I think that they would understand it the most.It is a bit complicated because you have to remember a lot of little details to help figure out the mystery. Well 4th grader and up would like this book. I would give this book 5  stars because it is a really good book!!

Mar
03
2014

Mallory on the move by Laurie Friedman

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Mallory On The Move is a book about a girl named Mallory who has to move away from her lifelong BFF. When she moves she will have to make new friends with new people she is not so happy about that. She meets a boy whose name is Joey and Mallory likes that she has a friend. Mallory and Joey love the street that they live on because the street that they live on is called Wish Pond Road. Wish Pond Road has a wish pond.

 

Mallorys BFF Mary-Ann comes to visits Mallory and she is not expecting Joey to be friends with Mallory. “How about we all play,” Said Mary-Ann. That is a good idea to her, but most groups of three don’t work if they all play. Bad decision. Read the book to find out what happens next so I don’t spoil the ending.

 

This book is a really good book because there are 14 books in the series so you can read them all. The names of them are  Mallory on the Move,  Back to School Mallory, Mallory vs. Max, Happy Birthday Mallory, In Business with Mallory, Heart to Heart with Mallory, Mallory on Board, Honestly Mallory, Campfire Mallory, Step Fourth Mallory,  Red White & True Blue Mallory, Happy New Year Mallory, Mallory Goes Green and Mallory in the Spotlight. ( they are in the order to read them.) I rate this book 4⅔. If you are 8-12 This book is good for you.

 

 

 

Feb
27
2014

Alex Rider: Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz

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My book is called Alex Rider: Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz It is about this kid Alex who becomes a spy. He is very fast, sneaky, and well built up.He is a black belt in Karate, he has been on many hikes, bungy jumping, and mountain climbing.This book takes place in England.

Alex’s parents died before he really got a chance to meet them. He lived with his uncle Ian Rider who worked for a bank called the Royal and General. When Ian dies Alex learns that Ian was in fact not a banker but a spy. When Alex was called upon by MI6 (The Royal and General) his life is changed completely. And at age 14 Alex Rider is shipped off to boot camp. He hates boot camp the assault course he refers to as “The adventure playground from hell”. Alex works with a couple of people they are not very nice but he helps one of them and then they are nicer to him.

I loved Stormbreaker because it is very fast exciting and a spy book. I would recommend this to anyone who likes fast moving spy adventures. I give it fifty of five stars. *****I*********************************************200px-Stormbreakerbook

Feb
27
2014

Spy School, by Stuart Gibbs

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Spy School is a book filled with action…

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It’s about a kid named Ben Ripley. He is in 5th grade. He is very smart (I mean… VERY smart) but has a very boring life. One of the only things that he does is that he watches spy movies and looks at the CIA website…

 

But a second later, in the middle of the school year; a CIA agent named Alexander Hale  breaks into his house and tells Ben things he knows about him. The Hales have generations of CIA agents and Former ones. Keep in mind that skill skips a generation. Before Ben knows it, he’s being told about spy school: a school for future spys.

 

But Ben’s parents would know if Ben was missing… and the school is top secret. So there’s the lie that convinces the parents. The lie is: it’s the academy of science (they don’t say anything else). His parents say yes, and there he goes… of the Spy School.

 

But why is this happening in the middle of the school year…

 

That’s all I have to say. This is just the beginning and There are so many spoilers that that’s all I can say.

 

I would rate this book 6 out of 5 stars (yes, 6.)

 

Enjoy!

 

Feb
27
2014

Ranger’s Apprentice Kings Of Clonmel By John Flanagan

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John Flanagan Ranger’s Apprentice series is a good book. Since I am on Kings Of Clonmel. I will tell you a blurb of that. In Kings Of Clonmel, Horace Halt And Will travel to Clonmel in Hibernia where the failing king, Lord Ferris, is having a weak hold on his country.

 

For instance, raiding parties have been pillaging villages while the king does nothing. The people of Clonmel are furious. So, a group called the Outsiders, protect any village who pays for their service. But maybe there is a dark side to this mysterious group…

 

Horace is the former apprentice to Sir Rodney the knight and Horace is now an official knight, too. Horace is also Will’s best friend as shown in the past books two – seven.

 

Halt is Will’s former mentor and friend. He is an old, greybeard ranger who has a very sad life. Who, surprisingly, brings joy to Will and his friends. Halt is usually sad because he has never found a spouse until now…..

 

Will, is the biggest character in the series because he is in every single book. He also has a close friendship with Horace and Halt. He is an orphan whose dad died in a battle against fearsome creatures. Will is very kind and pleasant. People seem to be happy when Will is around. Will is also very funny. He even made a parody of a song called Old Man Joe and turned it into Old Greybeard Halt, His mentor!

 

The whole thing is set in a fantasy world but Of all the places in it, there is Hibernia, Araluen, Skandia, Genovia, Arrida, Celtica, Picta, Eastern Steppes, Nih-Hon-Ja, Gallica, Toscana, Iberian, Sonderland, Aslavia. Those are all the places.

 

Horace, Halt, and Will, travel to Clonmel and try to sort out Ferris’s problem with bandits and the Outsiders. They scavenge around the countryside for information. Will stalks the bandits and follows the Outsiders. Halt gets a prisoner bandit to pretend to be him. And so on.

 

I enjoyed this book very much. Because it has a lot of information that is exceptionally interesting because of all the mystery and medieval fantasy involved. I would recommend this book for people who surprisingly, don’t like fantasy because I assure you that once you read this series, you will love fantasy like never before.

I would rate this book and the whole series 5 out of 5 stars.

 

This series is amazing, period.

•Also, if you don’t know what an apprentice is, it’s a student learning to enhance a specific craft or skill.

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Feb
27
2014

Better Nate Than Ever By Tim Federle

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    This book is called Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle. The main character is Nate (Nathan), who is short and small with a horrible home where he’d be fine being anywhere but his home with his family. The setting of this book is in modern times so about 2013, in Pennsylvania and New York.

 

    Nate wants to run away from home to go on Broadway because his parents are horrible and the don’t care about him at all. His best friend Libby Marshall helps him with training for Broadway. When he gets to New York, he realizes that he is homeless, but out of the blue comes Aunt Heidi, his mother’s long lost sister, who had had a big fight with his mother and had run off to New York. When Nate needs someone to vouch for him she comes and vouches for him.

 

    I enjoyed this book because I liked the characters. I liked the characters because they were funny and complicated. I would recommend this book to people who like acting and to see personal problems resolved because that happens a lot in this book. I would rate this book 3 out of 5 stars because it wasn’t has hooking as some other books I have read.