Author Archives: Kate

Jun
20
2014

The Candymakers By Wendy Mass

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The Candymakers is a great summer reading book by Wendy Mass. It’s about 4 kids competing in the annual candy contest, and whoever has the best candy wins.They all visit the candy factory, which leads to some very interesting mishaps. It changes their points of view all through the book, like Wonder. The big question is: Who will win?

 Logan, the candymaker’s son, who has mysterious scars on his face and hands?

Miles, who talks of Afterlife and his weird allergies?

Philip, the stuck-up suit-and-tie wearing boy who has a secret notebook he’s always scribbling in?

Daisy, a pretty girl with a big secret?

Even though the kids are competing, they become very good friends. But during the contest, the friends realize things are not what they seem. Each of the contestants have a secret, some bigger than others, but hiding their secrets makes big trouble, including stealing and hiding in potato sacks, but all is put right in the end.

Of course, all the contestants loved viewing the candy factory, and were surprised at how many rooms there were. All except Logan, who had lived there all his life. “Logan wondered what it must feel like to be seeing the factory for the first time. He tried to pretend he’d never seen the machine that was now compressing the nibs into a gooey cocoa powder. Or the one that ground up up the rest of the bean into a fine brown powder. Alas, he couldn’t do it.” Wendy Mass writes.

I loved this book, and it’s my favorite Wendy Mass book I’ve read so far. I like this book because it’s about candy, and I LOVE candy. I also like it because it’s by Wendy Mass, and she’s so creative when she describes the candy. I also like this book because there are lots of secrets, and it’s fun to try to work them out in your head.

I think people who don’t like candy should read this, because this book will make you like candy. Wendy Mass makes candy sound SO GOOD. She wrote, “All that silky, warm chocolate and those buckets of gooey marshmallows and those freshly baked graham crackers.” to describe a s’more. I would rate this book 100 stars if I could because I used to like candy, but now I LOVE candy!

Jun
03
2014

Every Soul A Star By Wendy Mass

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Every soul a star is another great book by Wendy Mass. It’s kind of like Wonder, where it switches points of view. There’s Ally, Bree, and Jack.

 

Ally is a girl who has no experience with the outside world and civilization. Her parents run the Moon Shadow campground, and she’s lived there all her life. She doesn’t have any friends, except the pretend ones that live on other planets. But her parents are selling the campground, and Ally will have to move to the city and start school. She won’t be able to see the stars anymore. But there is something to be happy for. There will be an Eclipse soon, and thousands of people from all over the world will come to the campground to view it.

 

Bree is the second most popular girl in school. Her life’s ambition is to be a model and has all the magazines to prove it. But her parents are scientists, and don’t understand her at all. So when her parents buy the Moon Shadow campground, Bree is horrified. She doesn’t want to see gross bugs.  But she can’t change her parent’s minds.

 

Jack lives a very normal life, but he doesn’t have any friends. He spends all his time in class doodling, and that’s how he gets into summer school. But Jack’s teacher calls saying that if he comes on an expedition to watch an Eclipse, he can get out of summer school. Obviously, he takes the offer.

 

These three people all find themselves becoming friends. This book really is about them learning to adjust to a new life. Ally has to learn to live in civilization, Bree has to learn to live outdoors and not care about what others think of her, and Jack has to learn how to find himself and make more friends.

 

They all really start becoming friends at this campout where they’re trying to find a planet or star or something like that. There’s a big storm and they have to sleep in a shed because they can’t walk back to the campgrounds. It’s also really cool when the Eclipse is happening and Bree “lets her inner geek be released” in her words.

 

I really liked this book, and I love the author, Wendy Mass. I feel this book wasn’t as good as the others I’ve read by her because it was mostly about Eclipses, and I don’t know that much about those and it was hard to follow. I would recommend this book to people who like and know a lot about science, because it’s a very sciencey book. I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars because as I said before, it’s a little to sciencey for me, but it was still great.

 

        

 

Jun
01
2014

Every Soul A Star By Wendy Mass

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Every soul a star is another great book by Wendy Mass. It’s kind of like Wonder, where it switches points of view. There’s Ally, Bree, and Jack.

Ally is a girl who has no experience with the outside world. Her parents run the Moon Shadow campground, and she’s lived there all her life. She doesn’t have any friends, except the pretend ones that live on other planets. But her parents are selling the campground, and Ally will have to move to the city and start school. She won’t be able to see the stars anymore. But there is something to be happy for. There will be an Eclipse soon, and thousands of people from all over the world will come to the campground to view it.

Bree is the second most popular girl in school. Her life’s ambition is to be a model and has all the magazines to prove it. But her parents are scientists, and don’t understand her at all. So when her parents buy the Moon Shadow campground, Bree is horrified. But she can’t change her parent’s minds.

Jack lives a very normal life, but he doesn’t have any friends. He spends all his time in class doodling, and that’s how he gets into summer school. But Jack’s teacher calls saying that if he comes on an expedition to watch an Eclipse, he can get out of summer school. Obviously, he takes the offer.

These three people all find themselves becoming friends. This book really is about them learning to adjust to a new life. Ally has to learn to live in civilization, Bree has to learn to live outdoors and not care about what others think of her, and Jack has to learn how to find himself and make more friends.

They all really start becoming friends at this campout where they’re trying to find a planet or star or something like that. There’s a big storm and they have to sleep in a shed because they can’t walk back to the campgrounds. It’s also really cool when the Eclipse is happening and Bree “lets her inner geek be released” in her words.

I really liked this book, and I love the author, Wendy Mass. I feel this book wasn’t as good as the others I’ve read by her because it was mostly about Eclipses, and I don’t know that much about those and it was hard to follow. I would recommend this book to people who like and know a lot about science, because it’s a very sciencey book. I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars because as I said before, it’s a little to sciencey for me, but it was still great.

 

 

May
01
2014

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In A Ship Of Her Own Making By Catherynne M. Valente

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The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland In A Ship Of Her Own Making is a very complicated but awesome book by Catherynne M. Valente. September, an ordinary 12 year old girl, is tired of washing pink teacups and playing with the same small amiable dog, and longs for adventure, the kind of adventure girls have in fairy tales. But she can’t find very much of that in Omaha, Nebraska. That’s why when the green wind rides up on a leopard and asks if September wants to go to Fairyland, she immediately accepts. (Wouldn’t you?) But there’s trouble in Fairyland, and September needs to sort it all out; and of course, there is fun included.

 

Through all her problems and adventures, September has always had friends to help her. All, strange, yes, one being made out of soap, another being half dragon half library. And she’s made many sacrifices along the way for other creature’s benefits, including trading her shadow for a pooka girl’s safety. She also has visited some very strange cities, like a city where it’s always Autumn, and a city made out of yarn. “I wonder if every city in Fairyland is made of some strange thing?” is all September can say when she steps through the bread gates of a town made all out of golden-brown baked goods.

 

I thought I wouldn’t like this book at first because I thought it was one of those magical-land books where the character goes on the same boring old-fashioned adventures, wishes to go home, and gets home. But it’s more of a mix between a book of riddles and The Wizard of Oz, with the bad parts of each taken out. So I would recommend this book to people who like both. I like both, and I loved this book, though at some points it got a little too crazy to understand the direction of the story. I would rate this book 4 stars because I loved it, but it was hard to understand at some points and it got a little boring towards the middle. But don’t stop reading in the beginning, because that’s what I did, but my mom told me to keep reading, and it got better.

P.S: The book’s as good as the title!

      

Apr
02
2014

Emily Windsnap and the Land of the Midnight Sun By Liz Kessler

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Emily Windsnap and the Land of the Midnight Sun is the fifth book in a series by Liz Kessler. The main character is Emily Windsnap, of course, and she’s half human half mermaid. She used to live on an all-mermaid island, but she moves back to Brightport where she used to live before she discovered she was a mermaid. The reason why is in the 4th book, which you’ll have to read.

Emily is very adventurous. That’s why she accepts to go on a dangerous mission assigned by Neptune, king of mermaids. But she also is very loyal to her friends. Like when Neptune made made her promise not to tell anyone about her mission, and gives her a shell phone to communicate with her, Emily gives the phone to her best friend, Shona as a token of friendship. This book takes place mostly in the place Emily is going for her mission, but other places, too.

Neptune has been having very strange dreams lately, so he asks, or orders Emily and her friend Aaron to find out why he’s having these dreams. She’s having a lot of trouble with her mission because she doesn’t understand what Neptune asks of her and Aaron.

But during that, she’s having friendship problems with Aaron, and on top of that, missing Shona. Most of the book revolves around about that. But some of the book is also about getting past that, and doing her mission. Like once, she was trying to just do her mission instead of getting mad, so she said, “I swallowed down a furious response and tried to gather as much dignity as possible.”

I would give this book 4 stars because I loved this book and I love adventure and friendship books. I love this whole series. Also, I like how you find out more about the characters in this book than the fourth, third, second, and first. But it wasn’t the best book in the world.

 I would recommend this book to people who like adventure and friendship, and who have the other books.

Feb
27
2014

The Nine Lives Of Alexander Baddenfield By John Bemelmans Marciano

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The Nine Lives of Alexander Baddenfield is an evil but awesome book by John Bemelmans Marciano. Alexander is the main character and lives in the Baddenfield castle in New York City. Alexander is an evil boy who thinks life is too short. He does all these horrible things such as find a mouse and put it in his python’s cage to be swallowed. His guardian/servant Winterbottom lets him do these things, but only because Alexander will probably tackle him if he says anything.

 

Alexander comes from an evil line of Baddenfields. It was Pieter Boddenfield who bought Manhattan for $24 in beads and such and cheated the Native Americans. But the earth always found a way to kill a Baddenfield, because of their meanness. So after Alexander’s parents and only relatives get killed in a hunting expedition for endangered species, Winterbottom swears to keep Alexander alive for as long as he can. He has Alexander on diets. He makes him look both ways before crossing the street. He even made Alexander use a stroller until he was eight. But Alexander wants to change that, once and for all. And he will, because this is what he says when he doesn’t get what he wants: “Alexander Baddenfield is unfamiliar with things not going his way. Alexander Baddenfield does not like the word ‘no.’ Alexander Baddenfield is going to start firing people.  And worse.” And he does change, but not in the way he thinks…read the book to find out!

 

I thought this book was okay, not the best, but not horrible. I love sinister and evil books, but this was a little too sinister. But one thing about this book I love. I love how the main character is evil, because evil people do ridiculous things, like listening through a tube if you’re deaf. I wouldn’t recommend this to below 3rd grade because the character does some pretty terrible things, and pretty terrible things happen to him. I would rate this book 3 ½ out of 5 stars because as I stated before, I thought the book was okay because I like sinister books, but it was a little too sinister.

 

 

Jan
30
2014

Emily Windsnap and the Monster of the Deep by Liz Kessler

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Emily Winsnap is a wonderful series of books by Liz Kessler. (Warning: Don’t read the next sentences if you haven’t read the books.) In the 1st book, Emily finds out she can turn into a mermaid when she goes in the water, and tries to hide it so she doesn’t end up in a scientist’s lab. But she finds out a secret that has been hidden since Emily’s birth, that her mermaid friend, Shona, helps her figure out:  Her dad’s a merman! Emily’s dad has been missing since her birth, and when she finally rescues him, her family and Shona go to live in Allpoints Island, where mermaids are safe from humans, which leads to the 2nd book. But we figure out that mermaid girl’s lives aren’t that different than our own. They go to school, have sleepovers, and chat together. But when Emily’s chance to impress the mermaid girls goes horribly wrong, only she can fix it. And to top it off, her only friend isn’t speaking to her. What can she do? Read the book to find out!

Jan
10
2014

13 Gifts By Wendy Mass

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13 Gifts is a wonderful book by Wendy Mass. It’s in a series of books, but you don’t have to read the first two books before you read this third book. In this book, a 12 year old girl (almost 13!) named Tara keeps moving, and it’s getting on her nerves. A girl her age should stay put and have friends; But not her. So, when she finally has a chance to prove herself popular, even if it means stealing the Principal’s lifesize stuffed goat (don’t ask) she should do it, right? Wrong. Her so called, “friends” abandon her and let’s just say the results include pepper spray in the eyes and a very angry principal. Her parents think that Tara needs to take a break from everything for a while, so they send her to Willow Falls, a mysterious little town where her Aunt and Uncle live with their 11 year old daughter that Tara’s never met before. But some pretty weird things start to happen in Willow Falls. What will happen? Read the book to find out! I would rate this book 6 out of 5 stars because it was AWESOME! You should read this book if you like mysteries, because this story is very mysterious.

 

Dec
19
2013

In A Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz

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In A Glass Grimmly is a bloody but funny book about two twins named Jack and Jill. Jill is a princess, and Jack is a peasant and they both live in a kingdom called Märchen. The princess’ mother is obviously the Queen, and very pretty, but very rude. One day, before the Queen’s half birthday (it was the biggest holiday they celebrated, except the Queen’s real birthday), a silk weaver comes to make the Queen a dress, but it won’t fit. So he makes it for Jill. But Jill can’t see the dress. It’s invisible to her. What will happen when she wears it in front of the whole kingdom? Something strange happens to Jack also. What is it? Read the book to find out! I would definitely rate this book 6 out of 5 stars because the book is basically fairy tales, the GRIMM way. Also, it has a narrative voice, which I like. If you like really funny books, you should definitely read this book.

Dec
13
2013

Frankly Frannie: Principal for the day, By A.J Stern

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Frankly Frannie is a hilarious book by AJ Stern. It’s a series about a girl who already has a résumé, business cards, and mustard packets (they’re so much more grown-up than ketchup). So why is it taking eleventeen hundred years for her to find work? Frannie goes on a different mission to find work in each book. In this book, Frannie’s school is having a competition. Whoever has the best composition gets to be the Principal for the day! Frannie is so excited! Who will win? I think people who like funny books should read this because it’s a really funny book and Frannie makes up a lot of funny words like excitified,pricipalish, and more. And if you read dark scary grim books like I do, this would be a book that you can relax on and laugh at. I would rate this book 4 stars, because even though it’s not the best book in the world, it’s good for some light reading and if you want a funny book to read, read Frankly Frannie: Principal for the Day!