Category Archives: Realistic Fiction

Genre

May
04
2017

Holes, by Louis Sachar

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I read a book called Holes, by Louis Sachar. It is about a boy named Stanley Yelnats who goes to an illegal camp called Camp Green Lake for being falsely accused of stealing  Clyde ‘Sweet Feet’ Livingston’s shoes. I won’t spoil who takes the shoes, but, it is someone at camp Green Lake. It is set in Texas in modern times but part of the story is in the recent and not as recent past. The other kids at CGL are Rex, “X-ray”, Hector, “Zero”, Theodore, “Armpit”, Ricky, “Zigzag”Magnet, Squid, and Twitch. The counselors are Mr. Sir, The Warden, Mr. Pendanski, and a whole lot of other unnamed counselors.

 

Stanley is nice, smart, and brave. He is nice because he taught Zero how to read and write. Stanley is smart because he remembered the story of Kissin’ Kate Barlow from many years ago. He is brave because he took the blame for stealing Mr. Sir’s sunflower seeds even though he really didn’t.

 

One interesting part of the book was when Stanley went to The Warden’s office for “stealing” Mr. Sir’s sunflower seeds. This was interesting because it kept me on my heels wondering if he would get severely punished, or just merely punished. Every Kid there got the same stuff. A canteen, a hole, a shower, same punishments.For example, a mere punishment is, no shower. A severe punishment is, extra holes to dig. A second part was when Zero and Stanley get stranded in the middle of the desert. This was interesting because they almost died a bunch of times. One important quote was when Stanley said “The forty-fifth hole is the hardest.” This is important because it tells you how hard it was to dig holes.

 

I really enjoyed the book because it has lots of action and suspense that makes you want to read more. I would recommend this book because it has action, adventure, and suspense. This book reminds me of The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler because there are two friends out alone and they are solving a mystery. I still think Holes is way deeper because Stanley and Zero are fighting for their lives. I would give this book a five star rating.

May
04
2017

Ghost, By Jason Reynolds

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The book I read is called Ghost. It takes place around now in a small neighborhood. It is by Jason Reynolds. The main character is named Ghost (Castle). He loves basketball but finds himself on a track team. Ghost finally has something to take his mind off of his dark past. One night, Ghost is in his bedroom sleeping when his mom comes in screaming for him to go. When he is running down the hallway with his mom, he sees his dad with a pistol pointing at him. That was the night Ghost learned to run. Several years later, Ghost is on a track team, considered a newbie. His father went to jail, leaving his mom to take charge. They are very poor so Ghost can’t afford track gear, much less anything that he needs for track. His Coach creates a strong bond with Ghost throughout the book, and they find out later that they have more in common than they think. The main question in the book is, Is Ghost running for his life or from it?

SPOILER ALERT!!!

Ghost is brave, smart and mischievous. He is brave because he is willing to do almost anything, and he is determined about it. He is smart because he finds his way out of things, in a clever way. He is mischievous because he steals a pair of sneakers, without getting caught.  He dosen’t have enough money to buy track shoes, so he cleverly does it. He also is one of those characters that you don’t know if what he is saying will happen or not.

The most interesting part was when Ghost created bonds with the other ‘newbies.’ They told each other their biggest secrets, they were surprisingly similar. A famous quote from the book is from Coach “Trouble is, you can’t run away from yourself.” Coach snatched the towel from his shoulder, folded into a perfect square, and set it in the space between us. “Unfortunately,” he said, “ain’t nobody that fast.” I  think this quote is important because it shares a lot about Ghosts life. He wants to run away from his past but can’t, so this track team helps Ghost a lot. When you read this book, that quote will stay with you throughout the whole book.

I definitely enjoyed Ghost. I loved every character’s personality, and how they were all so different yet the same. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves sports, a fast-paced book that you can’t put down and a book that you make connections with everyday. Ghost is very unique and has his own, teen, spunky and slang-talking personality. I would rate this book 5 stars because the book is all about sports and has a very unique setting. 

 

May
04
2017

A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning By Lemony Snicket

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WARNING THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!

“A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning” is about the three Baudelaire children: Violet the eldest, Klaus the middle child and the baby Sunny. Their parents had died in a fire and they went to live with a horrible man, Count Olaf. Since the Baudelaire parents had a lot of money, Count Olaf wanted it but Violet hadn’t come of age yet and when she comes of age it will be hers. I think the time is about year 2007 because it seems modern but not as modern as 2017.

(DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU DO NOT LIKE SPOILERS)

I think that Violet is smart, inventive and protective. I think she is smart because she has read a lot of books and she likes to build machines. I think she is inventive because when her sister gets trapped she makes an contraption  that makes her go up and save her. She is protective because when anything happens to her siblings she always protects them in different ways.

The quote I think brought together the whole story was when Klaus said “you can’t marry my sister!”.  I thought that brought together the whole story because Count Olaf wanted to marry Violet so he could get hold of the Baudelaire’s fortune. I think an interesting part is when the banker, Mr.  Poe,  tells the kids that their parents died. Another interesting part is when Sunny bites Count Olaf’s finger.

I did enjoy this book because it is so unique. I would recommend this book if you like realistic fiction. This book only reminds me of the movie and the Netflix series A Series of Unfortunate Events. I would give this book five stars because it is amazing and it is not like any other book I have read before.  

 

      

 

May
04
2017

My Life In Pink And Green, By Lisa Greenwald

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The book I read is called My Life In Pink And Green by Lisa Greenwald. This book is about twelve year old Lucy, who lives with her mom and her grandma. Her family owns the local pharmacy in her hometown, Old Mill. The Pharmacy has been struggling in the last few years. That is until high school prom queen Courtney Adner, goes to the pharmacy to ask for help with her tremendous bad hair day. When Lucy fixes Courtney’s hair, she gets the idea to start an eco-spa at the pharmacy.

WARNING: DO NOT READ THESE NEXT FEW PARAGRAPHS IF YOU DO NOT WANT THE BOOK  TO BE SPOILED!

Lucy is determined, caring, and independent. She is determined because she wants to save the pharmacy and she won’t let anyone stop her. For example, when her grandma tells her she is too young to save the pharmacy, Lucy doesn’t give up and keeps going. Secondly, Lucy says “Still I don’t give up faith, after all, that is what grandma always advised.” This quote shows me how determined and dedicated Lucy is to save the pharmacy. She is caring because when her best friend Sunny is forced by her mom to join the Earth Club, she does it with her. Lucy is independent because she did all the work to save the pharmacy without her parents help.

One of the most important parts of the book is when Lucy joins the Earth Club. Though Earth Club may seem boring, it is where Lucy learns a lot about having eco-friendly pharmacy. Another important part of the book is when Lucy transforms the pharmacy’s boring waiting room into a comfortable relaxation room. Instead of just having fold up chairs, the relaxation room has a couch, magazines, and pretty lights.

I really enjoyed this book a lot. I liked how the book talks a lot about how kids can make a difference and not just adults. Also, I like how the book focuses on things families and businesses can do to help the environment. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy reading fiction and friendship books. Secondly, read this book if you think kids can make a change and they can do more than just go to school. This book doesn’t remind me of any books I have read, or any movies or television shows I have seen. It’s unique because I have not read many books about climate change and kids whose family is financially struggling. I would rate this book four and a half stars.

 

May
04
2017

The Courage Test By James Preller

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This book is called The Courage Test by: James Preller. It is about a boy named “William Meriwether Miller” and his father going camping trip to spend some “father and son time” alone. This trip was inspired by the explorers William Clark and his partner Meriwether. On this trip he has a rare and frightening experience with a grizzly bear. He also meets a girl who was in the country illegally. This book takes time and place around the time we are in now because they had fast food places and iPhones.

William is brave because he once was face to face with a bear and didn’t run away He was a little more cautious after encounter. He is also lazy because when it comes to something like hiking he  would rather sit down and have a bag of doritos. He is smart because when it comes to almost drowning he knows how to react by just staying still and not struggling.

One part of the plot that I liked was when Will was left behind and his father left him with a stranger.I liked that because when you read the book you will think that the characters will stay together because it’s a father son camping trip. I also liked that because most books don’t just lose their characters by killing then or something. One of the book/Will’s quotes is “Often the test of courage is to not die but to live.

I really liked this book because it has a few cliffhangers. Another reason this book is good is because it has lots of new characters joining the adventure. I would recommend this book if you like a fast paced book with a lot of characters. Also it would be good for you if you like lazy couch potatoes. This book is one of my favorite adventure books because it has a lot of characters and each is different than the next. Another reason it is good for this type of book is because it’s kind of like a diary or a journal.  I would give it a five because it has a lot of characters and some are lazy(like me)and it has historical facts that teach me about The first people who came to america and trails they took.

 

 

May
04
2017

One Crazy Summer By Rita Williams Garcia

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I read One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia. This is a historical fiction novel about three sisters, Delphine (11), Vonetta (9), and Fern (7) who live with their father and grandmother in Brooklyn, New York. The girls’ father sends them to Oakland, California one summer to stay with their mother, Cecile, who abandoned them seven years before. Cecile is a Black Panther, and spends most of her time in her kitchen writing poems and printing flyers. The Black Panthers were a political party whose  purpose was to patrol African American neighborhoods to protect residents from acts of police brutality. Cecile repeatedly tells the girls that she never asked them to visit her. She sends them out of the house everyday to The People’s Center, run by the Black Panther Party, for breakfast and day camp.The setting of the book is Oakland, California in 1968.

 

Delphine is mature, loyal, and cautious. She is mature because she is responsible for her two younger sisters the whole time they are in Oakland. Delphine makes sure the girls have been fed and bathed, and encourages them to behave properly. Delphine is also loyal to her father and grandmother. Delphine knows that her father and grandmother would not approve of the girls eating takeout every night, so Delphine decides to go grocery shopping to make a dinner similar to one they would eat at home. Lastly Delphine is cautious. She is nervous about possible violence at the Black Panther rally and tells her sisters they will not attend.

 

One of the most interesting parts of the book is when Delphine rides her friend  Hirohito’s go-kart for the first time. This is the first time in the book that Delphine acts like a child having fun, not like a parent to Vonetta and Fern. “As the go-kart went faster, I felt the rumbling of the wheels hitting the concrete underneath me. I screamed. So loud I startled myself. I had never heard myself scream. Screamed from the top of my lungs, the pit of my heart. Screamed like I was snaking and falling. Screamed and hiccupped and laughed like my sisters. Like I was having the time of my life, flying down that glorious hill.” This is the first glimpse of Delphine enjoying herself, without concern for her sisters. Another part of the book I enjoyed was when Fern spoke at the Black Panther rally, and announced that one of their members, Crazy Kelvin, was friendly with the police. It was exciting that Fern had made the discovery, and was praised by the Black Panthers at the rally.

I enjoyed the book because I learned more about the Civil Rights Movement and was introduced to the Black Panthers. I also liked the relationships between the three sisters, who were all very different but loved each other deeply. I would recommend this book because it teaches about the Civil Rights movement in an interesting and exciting way. I would also recommend the book because, although it addresses serious topics, can be funny. This book is similar to “Turning 15 On The Road To Freedom”. Both books have young women as the main characters and are about the Civil Rights Movement. I would rate my book four stars.

Wonder by R.J Palico

The book I read is called Wonder by R.J Palacio. The book is about a boy named August Pullman who was born with a facial difference. He has to learn how to fit in, and make new friends in his first year of actually going to school at Beecher Prep. This book takes place in present time in New York City.

August is brave, nervous and extraordinary. August is brave because he is willing to give school a try even know he might go through some tough times. August is nervous because he is scared people won’t want to be his friend or that he won’t fit in. You sort of have to realize as a new kid that it can be hard especially when you were born with a deformed face. August is extraordinary because he goes to school for the first time and does his best to fit In and that is very hard. I think that that is very special.

I thought it was interesting when August and a couple of friends got beaten up in the woods and some kids that were sort of grossed out by August came and stood up for them. I thought it was interesting because it was really surprising and I didn’t see it coming. I didn’t expect it like in the other book I read. In the other books I read I sort of knew what was going to happen. I also thought it was interesting how August’s friend Jack stood up for him by punching a boy who was making fun of August. It was interesting because at that time they weren’t best friends yet. He almost got expelled from doing that and I think it was sweet in a violent way. My favorite quote in the book is when August keeps doubting himself and his mom says to him “You’re not ordinary you’re extraordinary!” I think that this quote describes him well because he went though a lot during his school year and was very brave. It was a lot of pressure but he got threw it and he very extraordinary for that.

I enjoyed his book a lot, it’s probably my favorite book. It is my favorite book because it’s just so unique, the story that is told and the lessons that are learned in this book is just really interesting because they teach you more things in this book then in usual books. I would recommend this book for sure, it is rally unique in its own way. I would read it a thousand times if I had to. I’m really excited for the movie that is coming out this November! I want to see what the characters will look like especially August. Hope there will be a commercial soon. On a scale from one to five, one meaning I didn’t like that much, five meaning I really liked I want to read it again, I would rate it five stars of course! Hope you can get a chance to read this as well.

Apr
19
2017

Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome

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Review by Margot Story

 

Is Captain Flint an ally, or an enemy? Over Spring Break I read the book Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome. The Swallows and Amazons series consists of twelve books. Swallows and Amazons was written in 1930, and the rest of the books were written in a pattern: 1931, 1932, 1933 etc. It is also a British book, which changes some of the language. The main characters are the four Walker siblings and the two Blackett sisters. The Walker siblings are: John Walker (the eldest), Susan Walker, Titty Walker, and Roger (the youngest). They also have a baby sister Vicky, who is mentioned throughout the book. The two Blackett (usually mentioned as “Amazon”) sisters are: Ruth Blackett (though her pirate name is Nancy, and that is her name throughout the book – She changed her name after her Uncle Jim said that pirates were “ruthless”.), and Peggy Blackett. It is set in the Lake District in England, though some of the later books are set in other places. The four Walker siblings convince their mother to let them go on an adventure while on summer vacation. They consider themselves explorers, while the Amazon sisters consider themselves pirates.  They meet the Amazon sisters and they form an alliance. Then they get into a whole series of events which included the Amazons and the Amazon’s Uncle Jim, who they refer to as Captain Flint.

 

I am going to describe Titty because I feel that she is the most interesting. Titty is independent, brave, and curious. She is independent and brave because she stole the Amazon during one of the events that happened in the book. She also volunteered to stay alone on the big island at night, with absolutely no contact with her sister and brothers. She is curious because when she was alone she thought that some pirates were burying treasure on the island, and to have proof when her sister doubted her, she actually went to the spot and dug around. She also was very curious about Captain Flint at first, and decided to try and find out things she was curious about throughout the entire book. She has a big imagination because she thinks that Captain Flint is a retired pirate, and also she loves role-play. Whenever she role-plays she is Robinson Crusoe, and she pretends that her mother is Man Friday, two explorers from a very famous old book a little similar to Swallows and Amazons.

 

One of the most interesting (to me) parts of the book is when the Swallows see Captain Flint waving his fist at them. It is a minor point in the book, but I find it interesting because they have absolutely no idea what he is waving his fist about, yet later in the book when John goes to visit Captain Flint it is made known that Captain Flint believed that the Swallows lit his houseboat on fire. While the visit seems more interesting, I think that the fist waving is more important. It starts the relationship between the Swallows and Captain Flint, which is needed to start the series of events in the books that makes Swallows and Amazons one of the most interesting and pleasurable to read.

 

As you can probably tell already, I really love this book. I do think, though, it is a VERY difficult book to read, as the vocabulary is very advanced, using phrases like “make fast”, and using the word “native” as an offensive term. These are some outdated old British sayings which makes it hard to read, but if you use the context and read it over and over you can probably figure out what the words mean (with the help of Google), and then you can really enjoy the book.. I wouldn’t recommend this book for younger children, because of the vocabulary issue, and because it is such a long book I think they may find it draining to read. I think that if you want to try to read this book, go for it! It may be tricky at first but it’s a very enjoyable book to read. I am actually on my sixth time reading it, so get reading, you fo’c’sle crew!
My rating for this book is: Five stars! It was so fun to read. And I just loved the storyline!                   

Apr
19
2017

The Big Wave

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The Big Wave

Book by Pearl S. Buck

I  read the book “The Big Wave” by Pearl S. Buck and would like LOVE to write about it.  Image result for the big wave

Pearl S. Buck has written many novels and books, mostly about Asia like China, Japan, and Korea.  But let’s get back to “The Big Wave.”

“The Big Wave” takes place in Japan, when the Great Wave takes place.  Kino and Jiya are best friends.  Kino is a farmer and Jiya is a fisherman.  Jiya is tall, handsome, healthy, and likes Kino’s  sister Setsu.  Even though Jiya is a fisherman he (and all fishermen) are afraid of the sea’s anger.

Kino is a farmer.  He loves to swim and is afraid of the volcano.  Setsu is a mischievous girl who likes to hide things.  

When Kino and Jiya swim (after checking to see if the sea is angry) they swim to an island, Deer Island.  The person who owns the Island is the Old Gentleman.  The Old Gentleman lives in a Castle and only comes out when he is angry.  

One day when IS angry, he sends a great wave that wipes out most of the fishermen…and Jiya’s family.

Jiya then moves in with Kino’s family and sleeps in sadness, scarcely waking up.

After a long while Jiya finally gets over the loss of his family and marries Setsu.
Please note that there is WAY more to the book.  If you thought that Jiya marrying Setsu was the real end you are wrong.  I really hope you read “The Big Wave by Pearl S. Buck” and enjoy it as much as I did!

Mar
17
2017

Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes

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I read Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes. It is the story of ten-year-old Deja Barnes, who lives in the Avalon Family Shelter in Brooklyn with her parents and two siblings. Deja is just starting 5th grade at a new school where she meets her new friends, Ben and Sabeen. At Brooklyn Collective Elementary, the students learn about  9/11 as it is the 15th anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks. As Deja discovers more about New York’s history and what it means to be part of a community, secrets about her father are revealed. The setting is Brooklyn, New York at the Avalon Family Shelter and Brooklyn Collective Elementary School in 2016.

SPOILER ALERT; DO NOT READ IF YOU DO NOT WANT THE BOOK TO BE SPOILED!

Deja Barnes is mature, proud, and inquisitive. She is mature because she often has to take care of her brother and sister. Deja’s father can’t work, and spends most of his time lying in bed with a headache. Deja is in charge of her siblings when her mother is working to earn money for their family. Deja is proud because she willingly tells her friends and teachers at her new school that she lives in a homeless shelter, without being ashamed. She is inquisitive because she is eager to learn as much as she can about the Towers, even though her father has forbidden her. He and Ben skip school to visit the Tower Memorial.

One of the most interesting parts of the book is when Deja’s father tells her the story about 9/11, when he was working as a security guard in the North Tower. He was able to rescue one older women in the building, but the building collapsed after he took her to the ambulance. Deja’s father has felt guilty since then because he was not able to save his two closest friends from work. Deja starts to respect her dad and begins to see him as a hero. Another interesting part of the book is when Ben shows Deja the video of the twin towers collapsing. I found this part interesting because I realized what it is like to grow up in poverty, without access to the internet or a television.

I enjoyed this book because it teaches about 9/11 in a way that is honest but not scary. I also liked the book because Deja’s friends, especially Ben and Sabeen, as kind and accepting towards Deja. Many books show kids being cruel to each other, but when Deja starts her new school, she is welcomed immediately. I would recommend this book because it teaches about what it is like to be a homeless child in New York City. It is hard to imagine what it is like to not have enough money for a backpack or even school supplies. I also learned about 9/11 and the heros in New York City that day. This book is similar to Nine, Ten because they are both novels about the Twin Towers falling. I would give this book 4 and a half stars.