Category Archives: Adventure

Genre

Mar
17
2017

Half Magic by Edward Eager

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I recently read a book called Half Magic by Edward Eager. This book is not part of a series. There are four main characters in the book. One of them is named Jane. She is the oldest and most sassy and nice. Another one of them is Mark. He is the only boy in the family and he likes to do adventures. The third one is Katherine. She is the second youngest girl in the family and she’s the smartest. And last but not least there is Martha. The youngest and the most adventurous one of them all. The book is about how one summer Jane found this coin on the Street outside of her house. She didn’t realize that the coin was magical…half magical. The four children have Four different adventures in the book and they do stuff that no kid would ever dream or think of doing. For example  defeating Sir Lancelot and going to a desert island while you’re at the park.

Mark is my favorite character because he struggles through being the only boy out of four kids. Mark is easy going, adventurous, and lonely. Mark is easy-going because when the others made their wish he didn’t object. Mark is also adventurous because he would go to places like a desert and the time of Kings and Queens. Mark is lonely because he is the only boy in his family because his dad died. He doesn’t have a boy to play with but he doesn’t show that he is lonely.

The plot of the story is that one summer day the four children find a coin that is magical.  They go and do many adventures. The trick about the coin is that you can only wish half of something, but if you want to wish something whole you have to say “I wish this twice.” One interesting thing in the book is when Jane wanted to belong to a different family. When she wished she forgot everything about her family. She left the house and went into a cold looking house. It made me sad because she didn’t want to live with her family anymore because she didn’t want to have a stepfather. Another interesting part in the book is when Martha was sleeping underneath a movie theater seat and wished she wasn’t there. She forgot that she had to wish it twice so she was half there. It was interesting to me because Martha started a riot and people were just running everywhere.

I enjoyed Half Magic because there’s magic and I like magic. I also enjoyed Half magic because it acts like real life. I recommend this book to ages 7 and up. You would like this book if you like magic, love, and anger. This book reminded me of Sylvester and the Magic Pebble because Sylvester finds a pebble that is magical just like in Half Magic. I would rate my book 4 out of 5 stars because it’s would not love the if somebody gave it to me to read but I would be interested in it.

Mar
17
2017

The Red Pyramid, by Rick Riordan

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I read a book called the Red Pyramid. The book is by Rick Riordan and it’s part of a series called the Kane Chronicles. The book is about two siblings named Carter and Sadie Kane. They only see each other two times a year because they got separated. Somehow, their dad unleashed mysterious gods and everything goes wrong. One of the gods is evil and tries to destroy the world (starting with North America). Carter and Sadie have to try to stop the god from destroying the world. The book takes place in America, Egypt and London in the 21st century.

 

The first character you meet is Carter. Carter is a scaredy cat. In all of his battles he thinks things are scary. At the same time though, he’s brave. He can fight off a really-powerful-obsessed-with-killing-and-blood god. Also he’s an ally. Carter is an ally because his friend was saying his uncle was a bad person. His uncle was actually not and Carter knew that, so he stood up for his uncle to prove that his uncle was not a bad guy.

 

One of the most interesting parts of the book was that some curses that you do can’t be done again within a certain amount of time. It’s sort of unfair because it’s an all powerful curse. I mean if you have a lot of troubles in one year and you’ve used a curse you can only use once a year and you need to do it in the same year, what would you do? I mean they use those curses for a good reason, not for a bad reason. Another interesting part of the book is that the book is sort of like a story with queens and kings. Rulers be selfish like Desjardins. Desjardins is the chief lector which means he sort of is the king of magicians. It’s illegal in magician law to host a god (which means share your body with a god). Carter and Sadie both host gods (not on purpose). Desjardins figures this out and try to stop them from completing a quest. With the strength of the gods, do Carter and Sadie complete their quest with the most powerful magician trying to kill them?

 

I liked the book. I liked it because the book is action packed and has funny dialogue. The book is action packed because there is a lot of fighting outraged monsters and evil gods. The book is funny because the author (Rick Riordan) pretends pretends that Carter and Sadie are speaking into a mic so when somebody “says” something not so embarrassing like if Carter said “I grew feathers and I saw myself sleeping. Then I flew to this place where evil gods were planning a scheme” (which means your ba left you. Your soul left you. You could die in your ba form). Then you would read Carter say: [Sadie just called me a human chicken]. Then he would go on with what he was saying. I recommend this book. Like I said, the book is action packed (which is my favorite genre!). The book is really unique because it’s an all-about-the-action type of book with a little bit of lovey dovey stuff that is really hard to realize it’s there. I rate this book four out of five stars.

Mar
17
2017

Furthermore, by Tahereh Mafi

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Furthermore

By Tahereh Mafi

The book I read is called Furthermore and it is written by Tahereh Mafi. Furthermore takes place about now but in a completely different world. In this book, Young Alice accompanies a past enemy, Oliver, to find her long gone father. They live in a place called Ferenwood and every year, there is a Surrender. Each 12 year old in Ferenwood has to enter a competition. The competition is to get the best mission by showing their talent. Alice can change the color of things, but makes a big mistake and presents her dancing instead. Unlike most kids, who get a task to complete, the judges don’t give her a task. No She decides to go with Oliver Newbanks to find her father.

Alice is brave, determined, and self conscious. She is brave to enter Furthermore, and risk her life for father. She risks her life because she is determined to find father, even if it means finding him with Oliver. Furthermore has strange creatures… not friendly ones. She is self conscious because she is constantly worrying about her pale hair and skin. One example is that in the book, for the surrender. The reason she danced instead of showing her real talent, was because she thought, what’s the point of changing the color of things… when you can’t even change your own color.

One of the most interesting parts of the book was when Alice failed her surrender. This was important because of the way everyone is the day of the competition versus when they get the envelope.The charting is laid out five to one. If you get a five, you did great, if you got a one, you did horribly, but you still get a task, just one not as good as a five task. This envelope Alice was so excited to open, but to realize she  got a card that was so bad she got a zero and didn’t get a task, (only three people in Ferenwood history had not gotten a task) made her very, very angry.
I enjoyed Furthermore a lot because there was a lot of magical, funny and shocking moments that made your heart stop. One example is when Oliver said, “It makes it so very difficult to stay alive there.” Then Alice said, “Oh, I can’t imagine, I can’t even imagine – goodness. I can’t breathe, can I? I’m sure I can’t breathe.’’ This is one of the many examples of dramatic Alice. Another reason is there is beautiful language in many spots of the book. For example, on page 146 it says, “Oliver had gone white. He was milk and paper and ghostly fright.” I would recommend this book to people who enjoy reading adventure and books you can’t seem to put down. A character I would use to describe Alice would be, yes… Alice from Alice and Wonderland. And not the original as much as the movie ‘Alice Through The Looking Glass.’ I would say this because they are both on a mission, look similar and are both missing their fathers. I would rate this book 4 stars because I loved the book a lot, but not one that I would read twice anytime soon. 

Mar
17
2017

Al Capone Does My Shirts By: Gennifer Choldenko

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Al Capone Does My Shirts about a boy named Matthew but everybody calls him “Moose.” Moose moves to Alcatraz. Alcatraz is a jail for the worst criminals like murderers, mob bosses, and convicts. To many people these are not the average neighbors that you would get in the city. You would find that in 1935 Alcatraz was a place with regular people living there because they have a relative working or something.

Moose is a character that is responsible, brave, and kind. He is kind because his parents are always away and he takes care of his sister because she can’t take care of herself. Moose is responsible because he has to take care of the whole family and when his sister didn’t get into the school she needed Moose to take all the calls on the phone. Moose is brave because he once got up close to “Al Capone,” a world famous criminal of murderer.

Moose has to live on Alcatraz with his dad who is a guard and a electrician so he can’t see him often. One of the challenges Moose has to deal with is his own sister Natalie who has problems thinking and has a problem getting into school. One interesting thing that happened is Moose made it into a school where he has to deal with a girl named Piper who  sometimes gets him in trouble. Moose’s mom is kind of struggling to make things fit with her and trying to get Natalie in school. It’s hard because Natalie is 16 but Moose’s mom says she is 10 so she can actually get into a school because she can’t go to many schools because of her learning problems like dyslexia and will freak out.

I enjoyed this book because it always has something to keep you entertained, like when Moose was taking care of his sister and thought he found a baseball from the rec  yard that cons would play with and needed to give it to a friend. (A “Con” is a inmate of a prison). One more reason I liked this book was because you meet so many new characters that are all different. I recommend this book because you will find out new characters and weird encounters like when Moose was on a boat and he met Capone’s mother! Another reason this book is good is because you will find out things other people in the book don’t know. Then you will know and it will be a cliff-hanger because no one other than you knows what happens. Overall I would rate this book four stars because it has good characters and interesting problems. They face but the book is a mix between slow and fast paced so you might not understand some parts but if you re-read you will mostly understand the confusing parts.

Mar
17
2017

Castle In The Mist by Amy Ephron

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 This book is about a girl named Tess and her brother Max. Tess goes on a big adventure and finds a skeleton key that opens the gate to the castle. In the castle she finds a boy named William and he is very nice and helps them. He lives in the castle. They play lots of games, and have fun while they do it. William’s father is very protective, and that is why there is the invisible gate blocking people from seeing in unless they have the key. Also Tess and Max realize that this castle is very magical and awesome. This book takes place in England in 2017.

Tess is caring, adventurous and, smart. Tess is caring because she will always think about others. This is true because when Max went into the Hawthorn trees she went straight after him. Tess is adventurous because she would always chose something adventurous over anything else. Like when was going to the castle she didn’t know what was going to something bad was going to happen or something good was going to happen.Tess is smart because whenever she does something she comes with a plan or knows exactly what to do. Also when she was on her horse and completely lost she knew how to get back to her aunt’s house.

I think the most interesting part of the book is when Tess goes to the fake or real place after riding the magical merry-go-round where she rides her horse all the way back to the merry-go-round because I like how mystical and mysterious that part of the book was and how interesting it was. The second most interesting part of the book is when Tess was going to the castle because she didn’t know what was going to happen or who was there or if it was cursed even worse!!! The third most interesting part of the book is when Tess, Max and William played the golf game where they had to hit the ball to the bell because so it would make the bell sound to get a point and they had to hit it in a direct hit on the bell which Max really mad. I found really surprising by how safety/security William’s dad is because he has an invisible gate that does not allow people to see in or let them.I am surprised by how exciting this book is because at almost all the parts in this book something new or interesting is happening.

I enjoyed this book. One reason I enjoyed this book is because I like the magic and mystery. The second reason I like this book is that has lots of twists in it that make it more interesting and exciting. I would recommend this book it is fun to read and every chapter has something new. I think this book relates to nothing because it is such a unique book because nothing is like the same type as book as Castle In The Mist. This book is unique because most books don’t have the same backstory as the Castle in the mist.  I would rate this book five stars which means I love it and I want to read it again.

Mar
17
2017

Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies by Andrea Beaty

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I read Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies by Andrea Beaty. The book is about twins Kevin and Joules and their experience at Camp Whatsitooya which are unexpected. Their parents are scientists that do something called SPAM so they don’t pay a lot of attention to Kevin and Joules so they watch a lot of late, late, late creepy shows for insomniacs. So they know a lot about what to do when there are aliens and zombies and things like that. Kevin likes to have plans and charts and Joules likes to take things head on. This book takes place in 2010. It is fiction so the place is made up but Camp Whatsitooya is by Camp Whatsosmelly. Camp Whatsitooya has only three counselors and only about ten campers! That is because it is kind of in the middle of nowhere. The only way Kevin and Joules parents found out was from a spa brochure. The camp is also deep in the woods so the giant fluffy bunnies could hide! The main plot is basically about Kevin, Joules and Nelson their friend stopping the  giant fluffy bunnies from taking over!

Joules is brave, nice, and funny. Joules is brave because she likes to takes things head on like when the were battling the giant fluffy bunnies she grabbed a stick and fought them without a plan! and you have to be pretty brave to fight giant fluffy bunnies with huge teeth and swirling eyes because they can be dangerous or scary. Joules is nice because she and Kevin sat with Nelson when he had no one to sit with in the cafeteria. That is nice because they could have  sat somewhere else but they decided to sit with him to be nice and then he wouldn’t be lonely. Nelson is a boy at camp that will soon be their new friend. Joules is funny because she makes lots of jokes that are mostly about Kevin.

 

At the beginning of the book it tells you a little about the giant fluffy bunnies and where they live and I think it is really interesting because Andrea could have just said there are giant fluffy bunnies who will attack but she really explained and that was really important. It was important because I got to know more about them and I understood them more. I think it was very important when they found out the counselors were eaten and the GFB (giant fluffy bunnies) faked being the counselors. That was important because that was how Kevin, Joules and Nelson found out about the GFBs. It was also important that they found the space base because all the campers were there and the GFBs and that is a very important part of the book. It was important because that was where Kevin, Joules, and Nelson saved the campers and defeated the GFB’s
I really enjoyed the book a lot because it has a lot of humor. One time is when the GFBs are reading a button that reads: PRESS IF TENNIS ELBOW, FLAMING METEOR ATTACK OR INVASION BY THE SWEDES. That is funny for many reasons one is the Swedish are very small country and they won’t be invading anytime soon. Two is why would you launch a rocket because of tennis elbow! I would definitely recommend this book because it has lots of humor and has a very interesting plot to it. It is not very long but each page has a lot of detail, also there are some pictures and comic strips throughout the book. I think this book is very unique because I have never read anything quite like this. It is unique because it turns bunnies, the cute and cuddly animals that everyone loves into giant candy and man eating monsters from outer space. Also this is one of a few books I’ve seen use words and comics/pictures. Not many chapter books have pictures and this one has pictures and comics. I like it when authors do it because I can make a movie in my mind and there movie. I would rate this 5 stars! I loved it!

Mar
17
2017

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

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This book is called Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan. This book is part of the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard series. The book is about a kid named Magnus Chase who finds out that the Asgardian gods are real and that he is a son of Freya the Goddess of Fire. This book tells the story of him “dying” and saving the world. The setting is in the U.S.A. and other dimensions. It takes place in 2016.   

Magnus is strong, warm and brave. He is strong because he survived a river that was going about 100 miles per hour. He survived by luck. He is warm because he is a son of Freya the Goddess of Fire and he is welcoming to other people. An example was when he welcomed a evil dwarf. He is brave because he fought and killed (temporarily) an “unkillable” wolf. This was brave because no one had ever killed this wolf and Freya is not a fighter.

In Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer a part that I found interesting was when I found out how Thor actually looks versus how he looks in the comics with gold hair. He actually has a red beard and red hair. Another thing that was interesting was when Magnus was Magnus was on ship made out of toenails, on the ship was Magnus had a chat with Loki and Loki, “Oh we aren’t actually here i’m still on a rock with snake poison dripping in my eye and you’re still in the river probably dying. our souls are able to be here because these toenails contain our ancestors DNA which allows us to be here.” This was interesting to me because you never would expect someone to be on a ship made of toenails and that it’s cool and strange.

I enjoyed Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: the Sword of Summer because I like the way Rick Riordan. I really like the dialogue in the book because it makes me feel like I’m in the story.  For example: “Your father’s name was Billy, right?” said Fenris in a scratchy voice (I cannot tell you who Fenris is or else it will ruin the story. He’s a big part of it) This was descriptive because it felt like I was hearing the voice. Another reason I enjoyed this book is because it was funny. For example: one chapter name was called “Oh so that’s who Fenris smelled in chapter sixty three.” Another thing that was funny was when you meet someone named Thomas Jefferson Jr. ,TJ for short. This is funny because it’s like this the son of Thomas Jefferson is alive but Thomas Jefferson died in the 1700s well this take place in 2017! I recommend this book because it explains everything and always leaves you hanging no matter where you are. Another reason I recommend this book because it always is positive no matter where you are. This meant that Magnus was always finding the silver outline. This book reminds me of the Avengers because in Avengers there is Asgard, Thor, Loki and Balder the Brave. In Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: the Sword of Summer there is Asgard, Thor, Loki and Balder the Brave. (You never meet Balder the Brave.) I would give this book a three and a half star rating because there was way too much talking and not a lot of action.  

Mar
17
2017

The Invisible Day, By Marthe Jocelyn

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This book is called The Invisible Day by Marthe Jocelyn. It is about a girl named Billie who finds a makeup bag in Central Park. When she tries to put the makeup on, she realizes she becomes invisible. Billie and her best friend, Hubert make it their mission to make her reappear again through one big adventure in New York City.

Billie is curious, determined, and clever. She is curious because when she first sets eyes on the makeup bag, she can’t stop wondering about it until she finally opens it up and tries out the mysterious makeup. Bille is determined. She works hard to figure out how to become visible again. She is told that the juices from chewed up gum will help to make her reappear. Bille chews and chews and chews. Together with Hubert, the friends keep chewing until they have plenty of gum juice. Lastly, Billie is very clever. She is clever because when Billie reappears, she crafts a story so good that it convinces her family and the police that her backpack was taken by a thief and she was on a mission to get it.

One important and interesting part is when Billie has to step into a bath of crushed crackers and chewed gum juice in the dark. That was the only way that she could become visible again. This part was interesting because it made me think, “Wow! What if I tried to do that!? It might work!” Another interesting part is when Billie was walking by a kid and a grown-up. Billie threw out a banana peel, but she was invisible. The kid called, “Daddy daddy daddy! There is a banana peel floating around!” This was interesting because it made me think, “Does Billie know that there is a kid who might see her throwing this out?” Another funny and interesting part was when Billie was in the bathroom and she was invisible. Two girls came in and Billie heard them talking about her. They didn’t know she was there since she was invisible. This part was funny and interesting because Billie heard all of what they were talking about and she was just trying to get her backpack without them hearing her!

I enjoyed this book. The first reason I enjoyed it is because it was really awesome and every chapter ends with a cliffhanger. It is one of those books that makes you want to read more because you think, “I really want to know what happens next in the book!” Another reason I enjoyed it is because in the book, it is a combination of fantasy, adventure, and realistic fiction. It’s a really good kids book because it’s not too long and it is really interesting. I would recommend this book because if you like adventure and science, you will definitely like it. Also, in the book you meet a lot of different characters and they have different personalities. One character is really funny and you wouldn’t expect it. This book is so unique because it is really just an awesome book about being invisible. It really shows you that if you are determined to succeed at doing something, you can always do it with hard work. I would give this book a five star rating because I could just read it over and over again and still love it every single time.

Feb
28
2017

When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead

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When You Reach Me is a good mystery novel that I read. The book is by Rebecca Stead. It’s all about how Miranda receives letters from some mystery person. Miranda learns who to avoid in her neighborhood by sixth grade like one crazy guy on the corner. This book takes place where she lives, in school and around her neighborhood. I would recommend this book for people who like mysteries!

Miranda is curious, adventurous and brave.  Miranda is curious because she likes to know what’s going on around her and she has so many questions in her head that she wants to answer, like when someone keeps writing her letters and she doesn’t know who it is. I like that about her. Miranda is calm because when she reads the letters, she doesn’t tell anyone and doesn’t go crazy about it because she was told not to. Miranda is brave because when boys gang up on her or her friends, she stands up for them. I like that about her because she’s being an ally.

One of the most interesting parts of the book is when Miranda figures out who she gets the letters from. It was also interesting when Miranda’s best friend Sal got punched in the stomach because one of the boys just decided that he wanted to see what would happen if he did that. I think it wasn’t cool how Sal got mad at Miranda for no reason.  It was interesting because he said he really just needed a break from their friendship which is why he didn’t talk to her for a while. He knew that his only friend was a girl and he wanted more boy friends to hang out with.

I enjoyed the book When You Reach Me. I enjoyed it because I liked how I had to figure out what was going to happen next, and who was writing the letters to Miranda. I would recommend this book to people who like mysteries and figuring things out like a puzzle. I find Miranda a unique character because she starts something she doesn’t give up. I really like that about her that’s why I read this book in the first place. I also heard that the book was really good from a lot of my friends. On a scale from one to five I would give this book three stars which would mean it was pretty good. But it is not my favorite book. I think people should read this book!

Feb
23
2017

Diary of an 8-Bit Villager Warrior

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Do you ever need a book to read? If so then read Diary of an 8-Bit  Villager Warrior by Cube Kid. The book takes place in Minecraftia, which is a whole different world. Runt and Stump, the two main characters, are trying to complete their goals in life and become warriors, but they can’t. They’re just every day villagers they can’t be warriors and the mayor won’t let them. They have to be farmers, blacksmiths or librarians. Runt and Stump are in their last year of school and after this year they would have to get a job but they don’t want any of those jobs. Luckily the mayor changes the rule that villagers can’t be warriors because the mobs (zombies, skeletons, endermen, witches, creepers and slimes) are getting stronger and smarter. So now, the top five students can be warriors.

 

But Runt and Stump have some competition on their hands. Even though Runt is the second best student, a bully Max is in first. Max’s best friend is Razberry but he is not doing too well. When the mobs destroyed Steve and Mike’s house the village know that they were in trouble. Steve and Mike came from this weird planet earth, and got transported into Minecraftia by this weird wizard named Noch. They say that they play a game called Minecraft a lot and Minecraftia is a lot like it. Steve and Mike are really good warriors. Since they lost their house earlier, Steve stayed in Runt’s house and Mike… well, let’s just say he did some bad thing earlier. Anyway Runt is really excited for the first combat class but their teacher knows nothing. Runt insisted on letting let Mike out of jail and he let’s Steve and Mike be the combat teachers. He said yes to Steve but he had to prove himself so he did and then they let Mike try and he proved himself too. So now they are the combat teachers and they are actually learning combate.

 

I like this book because it has action and there is always something going on and to think about. I like it because it is also funny and fun to read. I would recommend this book if you like those type of things in a book. I would also recommend this book if you like books that take place in Minecraft even though in this book you don’t notice it and it is in Minecraftia, which is a little different. A connection I have to this book and my life is a game I play is called Minecraft and they say that bad people come and take caritas from the farms and steal things from the blacksmiths and I do that all the time in Minecraft. I rate this book a 4 I really like it.