Category Archives: Realistic Fiction

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Jun
09
2016

I Funny by James Patterson

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 This is my last book review of fourth grade. I chose to do a diorama because I enjoy working with clay and model magic.  Well here it is. This scene is important because this is the first time that Jamie performs at a comedy completion. Also, this is when his friends get mad at him for making jokes about them during his act. He says. “Who needs joke books when I have you guys?” Jamie regrets making fun of his friends, but When Jamie gets home, all of his friends are there. Jamie says that he is sorry and will never do that again. They all have a party and are happy.  

Jun
07
2016

Lily by Holly Webb

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For our last book review we were told to do something creative. I chose to do a diorama because it seemed like the best way to express this book.  My diorama displays a very important scene to Lily. The story to Lily is that their mom is evil and is trying to use Georgie (Lily’s sister) to assassinate the queen. Lily and Georgie run away before Mama kills Georgie (because Mama says she is “useless”). They have to cross an ocean to get off the island and go to the mainland. Turns out Mama’s SUPER smart because she made the ocean VERY rough so they could not pass. Mama has gotten her powers from generations of magicians before her. Her parents were magicians so, so is she.  In the end they did pass but it was as very good part for a diorama when Lily is about to fall off the boat. As you can see, there are popsicle sticks sticking out of the box connected to the waves so that the waves are moveable because the waves ARE moving in the scene. Hope you like the diorama!

 

Jun
07
2016

Bridge To Terabithia

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The reason I chose this scene from the book to be in my diorama because I think it’s an important scene in the book. It is also when Jess (the main character) and Leslie (Jess’s best friend) made their land which they call Terabithia.Terabithia is a made up fairy tale place that sort of takes them out of the real world. I think this is an important part of the story because Jess and Leslie go on little missions, like to slay a giant (really just a big bully in school). This story is very thoughtful and fun, but take your time when you’re reading it don’t rush. Even though it is a good book it can be confusing. This diorama is showing the scene in the story that most speaks to me.Sofia's Diorama

Jun
07
2016

Henry and Ribsy,By Beverly Cleary

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For our very last book blog this year, our teachers said you can choose any kind of book review. One choice was an animation. So I choose to do a Lego animation. I choose the part in the book when Ribsy gets chased by a policeman. I choose this part for two reasons. Reason one: it’s the first chapter, reason two: I like how so much happens in this chapter.

If you did not get what happened, then here’s a long explanation: Henry and his Dad drive to a shop to get their car checked. They bring their dog Ribsy. After they get out, Henry wants to be in the car while it gets checked. His dad is fine with it. His dad goes to the store to buy something right across the street. Ribsy waits in the shop with a bone. Then a police car comes and the policeman comes out. He goes to the same store his dad goes to for milk. Ribsy notices that the policeman left his lunch in the car. He goes into his lunch and eats the chicken and croissant!!!!

Some frames later the Policeman comes back with his milk. He finds Ribsy eating his lunch! He drops his cup and starts chasing Ribsy. The policeman trips and Ribsy eats the apple from his lunch! Ribsy ate all his lunch. The policeman gets FURIOUS! They keep on running, but the milk the policeman spilled made a little puddle and he slipped on that too. Then they run off the Lego board. Later Henry’s friend Scooter comes by and checks his bike. They say hi, then he leaves. Ribsy come back and runs into Scooter. The Policeman helps him up and then goes back to chasing Ribsy. Finally he dives for Ribsy and he misses!

Ribsy runs into the Dad. The Dad makes the policeman happy again by giving him a croissant. Then the car is done with its check up and then they leave. Then everyone leaves. Then its empty. Then it’s THE END.   This ending part is important because at the end the Dad is the one who stops this half fight and half chase. This tells you that Henry is not the only one who has to take care of Ribsy. Also I tried to make this as accurate as the book.

Jun
06
2016

Sally J. Freedman Starring Herself By: Judy Blume

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Introduction

The characters in this scene are Sally (the main character), Barbara (one of Sally’s best friends), Douglas (Sally’s brother), Darlene (Douglas’s lady friend), and Arnold ( Sally’s Dad). I chose this moment because I thought it was when Sally and Barbara became closer friends. This scene takes place in the Goodyear blimp going over scenic Miami. Sally’s dad signed them up to ride in the blimp for $10 each. The Goodyear blimp is silver/white. I really liked this book. I would rate it 4.5 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this book for ages 10+.

Below is a diorama of this scene.

Screenshot 2016-06-06 at 6.34.39 PM

Facts about Helium and Blimps*

Helium is a chemical element with symbol He and atomic number 2. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, inert, monatomic gas, the first in the noble gas group in the periodic table.

A blimp controls its buoyancy in the air like the way a submarine does to ascend or descend. The ballonets (which is the person who controls the balloon) control the height of the balloon. When the blimp finally gets lift, the pilot will vent air from the ballonets through the air valves.

*facts from Wikipedia and Google search

Mar
10
2016

I TOTALLY FUNNIEST, by James Patterson

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51KQihg1QYL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_Are you really low on jokes? Well here’s a book that can help you and it is a great read. I read I TOTALLY FUNNIEST by James Patterson. The main character in this story is Jamie Grimm. Jamie is going onto the final rounds of the world’s funniest kid comic, and he needs to be extremely funny to win the competition. The competition is in Hollywood, and that is very far away from his home, Long Island. The time period is modern, so it isn’t a history kind of book.

 

Jamie loves comedy, and he is really great at it, that is what makes him Jamie. For example, “He is funny,” said someone else. Plus, everywhere in the book he says a joke. For example, when he is at the diner he tells a joke to every customer. Jamie is a disabled kid in a wheelchair, so he likes to help all the kids like him, because he understands what it is like. An example is, when all the people in Long Beach were a disappointed about a storm, because it had  been a terrible tragedy, he helped them out by giving them a laugh. He also admits when he has done something wrong, like when he said, “I was a jerk.” And then his friend said,“I know.” An interesting part was when he forgot what he said during his comedy act. He said jokes, and then forgot if people laughed or what he even said. So when they announced the winners of that round, he had no idea if he did well. Another interesting thing was when he went mean.  A very, very, kind guy, went mean. (Started to be mean and selfish to his friends and family.) I didn’t think a competition could separate him from his friends and family. And Jamie has to choose between concentrating on the competition or being with his friends and family. He has a lot of trouble trying to do both.

 

I like this book because it was different, but it was also good. I normally read Action and Adventure, but this was more, Comedy. An example is, the title. I TOTALLY FUNNIEST. It really made it clear this was a different type of book. Then you read it and it is about a guy who loves comedy. I also liked it because it started with a guy who was a normal person, living in Long Island, then he becomes a famous comedian. For example, this is a kids reaction when he sees him, “Hey, you’re Jamie Grimm!” It is everyone’s reaction actually. I also like that the author included himself in the story for a little while. I would definitely recommend it to everyone who sets eyes on it. It is a comedy book, and it is really good so at least read a chapter of it. I would recommend this book to kids, that are  8-14. But there are a few bathroom words, so just be careful of that. I have never ever read or experienced any kind of thing like that so it was cool to read those books. But, before you read I TOTALLY FUNNIEST, make sure to first read I FUNNY and  I EVEN FUNNIER first. I would give this book five stars.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mar
09
2016

Frindle By Andrew Clements

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Sorry, I need to borrow your Frindle

By Madiba Johnson

Nick Allen (the main character) lives in Westfield and goes to Lincoln Elementary School in New Hampshire.

I think the two main characters are interesting. Nick (the student) is extremely and greatly consumed by his own creativity and his teacher, Mrs. Granger is strict and super powerful and that is all because of her eye’s. She can give looks that are very strong. Nick is the central character.

 I think that Nick  is a very adventurous, daring and exceptionally creative. In the story Nick creates his own word using something that already has a name. He calls a pen a Frindle. He makes his friends use the word and over a little bit of  time the town and even the country starts to use the word Frindle. Mrs. Granger wants Nick to stop this word from spreading but there is nothing they can do to stop it because the word is not his anymore. The word has spread around the state and then the the country and then then the whole world. I like this book because this story can actually happen in real life. I think I can see myself doing something like this in real life. In the first chapter the title is “Is Nick Allen a Troublemaker?” That makes me think because later in the story it seems like he is a troublemaker but he’s also at the same time not a troublemaker. He is a troublemaker because he creates a word that some people want to stop from spreading but he is not a troublemaker because he did not know it would become a world wide known word! In the first chapter Nick makes his first grade classroom into a replica of a beach while the teacher says “It’s so creative!” And “It’s so colorful!” I think that the author took his time to really think about this book. I would give this book ✮✮✮✮✮ because it makes me realize how things that happen in books can really happen in real life!  

 

Mar
09
2016

Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret

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Margaret Anne Simon, the narrator of Judy Blume’s engaging Tween 1970s novel, moves from New York City to Farbrook, New Jersey and learns more about being twelve than she bargained for.

Margaret is in 6th grade and she is an only child. This is Margaret’s first year in Farbrook, New Jersey and in the school she is going to.

Margaret’s best new friends are Nancy, Janie and Gretchen. They have a club called the Four PTS’s, which stands for Pre-Teen Sensations, which I think means they think they are fabulous. I don’t really agree with that because they’re not the most sensational girls on earth, they’re pretty normal. The club meets every Monday after school, and mostly they discuss a “topic” which I don’t feel comfortable talking about much less writing about, especially in front of boys. So from here on in, I will refer to this “topic” as “Dot.” What does “Dot” stand for you ask? All I can say is it’s something that starts happening to girls every month when they reach a certain age that is different for every girl but it usually happens between ages eleven and 15. Fine, I’ll say it once… menstruation.

Okay, now that I’ve admitted I’m uncomfortable writing about “Dots,” I realize I’m also kind of embarrassed talking about all of the physical changes that go along with “Dots.” Like the things that happen that make the PTS’s decide they will “All feel each other’s backs to make sure we’re wearing our…” I’m talking about a piece of clothing people! An undergarment! A Tiny Tank-top! You get the picture.

Anyway, about the TT’s Margaret says, “We all were.” (Wearing them.)

There is this girl in Margaret’s class named Laura Danker. Everybody is jealous of her including Margaret because Laura is pretty, tall and popular. Not only that, she looks like she actually needs to wear a TT unlike Margaret and her friends.

One day in the library when they are studying together after hours, Laura tells Margaret she’s not supposed to copy “word for word” out of the encyclopedia and Margaret gets so angry, she says a bunch of really mean things to Laura, like “I know all about you anyways…About how you and Evan and Moose go behind the A&P.” The A&P is a grocery store.

Again, I’m not very comfortable telling you what Margaret thinks they do behind there, but it’s kind of gross. Like too gross to ever imagine.

Laura gets really upset and tells Margaret it’s not true and Margaret believes her because she happens to know her friend Nancy, the one who told her that, is a liar because she lied about having her “Dot.” When Laura asks Margaret how she would like being the biggest girl in class, Margaret realizes that even though she thought Laura didn’t have any problems, she actually does, and it makes her feel really, really bad for being mean.

Margaret’s mom is Christian and her dad is Jewish. Margaret says, “I’m not any religion.” This is an interesting thing for her to say because she struggles with the idea of religion throughout the book and talks to God every night about the important things that happen to her during the day. Margaret’s friends, like her parents, are either Jewish or Christian. The Jews go to the Jewish Community Center and the Christians go to the Y. Margaret tries out different religions: she goes to Church and Temple and once, after being really mean to Laura Danker, she tries to go to confession, but she doesn’t feel God in any of those places. Margaret finally asks, “Why do I only feel you God when I’m alone?”

Margaret has only met her dad’s mom, Sylvia Simon, whom she loves because she’s fun and nice. Sylvia takes her to concerts at Lincoln Center and hand knits sweaters with tags that say, “Made Expressly For You…By Grandma.” When her mom sends a card to her parents, they send a letter back saying they are coming to visit. They have never met Margaret before and Margaret has never even seen pictures of them. It’s kind of like Margaret’s mom doesn’t have parents. Margaret gets really sad because they are coming the day she was going to fly on a plane, by herself, to see Sylvia Simon in Florida. Something she had been looking forward to for weeks, and now her trip had been canceled.

Margaret is really happy when Sylvia and her boyfriend come for a surprise visit after her mom’s parents leave. By the way, no one likes her mom’s parents because they are the exact opposite of Sylvia. They’re not nice or fun.

I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend this book to ages 10 and up. This book has some girl stuff in it so I wouldn’t recommend this book to boys. If boys liked this book review, there is a book by Judy Blume which is technically the same but for boys, called Then Again, Maybe I Won’t. The genre of this book is Realistic fiction. I would rate this book Five stars out of Five stars.

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Mar
09
2016

The Vanishing Violin By: Michael D. Beil

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Can you solve three mysteries at the same time? Well, the Red Blazer Girls can. The Red Blazer Girls are from The Vanishing Violin by Michael D. Beil. The Vanishing Violin is very different from my other books because I usually read realistic fiction or magical realism but this book is mystery. Mystery is very different than realistic fiction because a lot can happen that is not realistic but depending on the book a lot can be realistic too. This book is part of the Red Blazer Girls Series. They call themselves that because they wear red blazers for school. “They” is Sophie St. Pierre, Rebecca Chen, Margaret Wrobel and Leigh Ann Jaimes.

 

In the first book – The Ring of Rocamadour – they found the ring of Rocamadour and now in the second book they have to figure out who is sneaking into the school and cleaning it, crack a bunch of codes that lead to a violin and last try to find yet another stolen violin. This book does not ever mention when it takes place but I am guessing around the same time it was written which was 2010. I also think it is about modern time because there are iPhones, motorcycles and the subway. This all takes place in New York City and sometimes at their school, St. Veronica’s.

 

I think I would describe Sophie as silly. For example,  When someone says “Hey, loooosers.” she responded “Nice to see you, too, my dearest darling pal,” She also really likes math so that helps her figure out some mysteries. Like when she said “The ring is about three inches in diameter, so the circumference is a little over nine inches. (That’s pi times the diameter, if you’re keeping score-I love math.)” This book is interesting because it is from Sophie’s perspective like when she says “I” or “me”. An important part of the story is that Margaret is getting mystery letters from somebody that leads to the mystery violin. All the friends help her and figure out more clues. Will the clues ever stop? Also, the head of their school is counting on them to figure out is cleaning the school but with two other mysteries on their hands that can be lot!

 

Some of the events that change the direction of the story is at Mr. Chernofsky’s (Margaret’s friend) violin shop he hires someone else that seems a little suspicious considering he went to jail…  I really enjoyed this book because of how the author sets up the story and I also really enjoyed the ending that the author makes. Another reason I enjoyed this book is how everyone’s personalities. I would recommend this book to readers that like series since this is part of the The Red Blazer Girls series. Some connections is to the friends because I feel sometimes I feel like the friends are a lot like my friends. I would definitely rate this four stars. ☆☆☆☆
How does it all connect? 

Mar
04
2016

Rules by Cynthia Lord

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cover-rulesThe novel Rules by Cynthia Lord shows the struggles of a middle school girl trying to control her unpredictable brother with autism. Catherine is very worried about her image, which is why she keeps a set of rules for eight year old David to follow so that she can try to make him fit in. Meanwhile, Catherine is trying to find ways to make her new next door neighbor Kristi become her best friend. Catherine likes to tag along with her mom and David when they go to the autism clinic, where Catherine becomes friends with a teenage boy named Jason, who is unable to speak or walk. Along the way the author of Rules makes sure to get the message across that “you’ve got work with what you’ve got.”

One of the most important moments in Rules is when Catherine actually breaks the rules. Catherine never really lets loose, or others do their own thing. It all started at the clinic when Jason described his feelings of being trapped in a wheelchair to Catherine. Catherine decides she wants Jason to experience the feeling of freedom. She does that by taking Jason out into the parking lot. There, Catherine wheels Jason around really fast; everybody starts to stare. For once in her life, Catherine does not care what other people think of her. Jason feels like a new person. This is a unique scene because Catherine usually does not call attention to herself. In another scene, Catherine speaks out when her school mate Ryan is mean to her brother. Even though Ryan knows that David is autistic, he still teases him by offering David a piece of gum that turns out to be an empty wrapper. Catherine reacts by yelling at Ryan for confusing her brother and storming off. This is a very important moment because Catherine shows a new side of herself by standing up for her brother in public. Another fascinating scene is when we meet Catherine’s father for the first time, while he is tending his beloved tomatoes. Catherine walks outside to ask her dad if they could do something fun together, her dad’s responded, “Maybe later. I am busy with the tomatoes.” “That made me wonder if the dad love his tomatoes more than he loves his own kids.” I think that is wrong because Catherine helps David out so much; you would think her dad would have a little respect for Catherine.

Three adjectives to describe Catherine are controlling, protective, and an imagineer. She is controlling because Catherine keeps a set of rules for David on how to live his life. Also if David does not follow them she gets really angry and frustrated. Catherine is protective because when Ryan the bully tried to trick David, Catherine got really mad at Ryan and started saying mean thing to him. The last thing is that Catherine likes to imagen because she thinks Kristi “her next door neighbor” is different than she really is, like Catherine makes up these adventures that the two of them are going to have, but they never have them. One important quote that Catherine said was “my one wish is that my brother would be normal.” That quote makes me think Catherine does not really accept David, with the disabilities that he has.

I have enjoyed Rules very much because the author has a lot of detail in the book, and you can really understand each and every character. Also I love learning about autism as I read the book. One interesting thing I learned about autism is that kids always like to do something with their hands. I really recommend Rules to fourth graders and fifth graders, because it is a two hundred page book, and it is a very quick read. Also it teaches you “readers” a lot about autism, and autism is really interesting. I think Rules is really unique, because I have never seen or read a book about how a boy with autism communicates with his older sister Catherine. Overall, I rate Rules five stars.