The Rules of Survival is about a boy, Matt, and his two sisters, Callie and Emmy, who live with their slightly unstable mother, Nikki, in South Boston. One fateful night when Matt and Callie risk walking down to the local grocer store (while their mother is out for the night, of course) they witness a man helping a young boy whose father is screaming at him. That incident sparks a curiosity in Matt and he sets out to find this mysterious, strong stranger. Fate plays out and Matt's neurotic mother and the man, Murdoch, begin having a relationship. For once in Matt's life things are going well, his mother has started acting semi-normal, he starts to relax, his sisters are safe. Things can't last forever. Eventually Nikki slips up, and Murdoch discovers her true personality. Then the only question is will Murdoch own up to everything Matt wants him to?
A strong sense of empathy is evoked for the frightened children in this novel. Livid, animated descriptions and an omnipresent sense of fear play a big part in making this book worthwhile. The plot isn't particularly upbeat but life isn't upbeat, and this story is a life story. The author formats the book so that Matt is writing to his youngest sister, Emmy. As the novel progresses the reader begins to feel as if the entire sad story is truly his/ her own. The characters are all very human, they make decisions which they know aren't the best, they struggle through hard times and feel like they should give up. This story is a good portrayal of what some people go through, it is one which everyone should be aware of.
Flamingnet Reviewer: LSam
Erlanger, Ky
Monday, September 04, 2006
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Elise The Actress: Climax Of The Civil War by Norma Jean Lutz
Ten-year-old Elise is trying to take people’s minds off the hardships of the Civil War. She puts on skits and writes funny poems and clever riddles for her family, friends, and neighbors. One day while shopping for her family, Elise runs into a man who is labeled a traitor. Milton Finney is hated and mistreated by his neighbors because his son went to fight for the South. But tender-hearted Elise feels sorry for Mr. Finney and begins to leave riddles for him. She could never suspect that reaching out to him in kindness would one day save his life! This book is packed with activity and excitement. There are many events that describe the terrible times the country was going through during the Civil War—especially when a brave and noble president was assassinated! To find out how Elise and her family and friends make it through this difficult time, read Elise the Actress!
I liked this book because Elise is so much like a real girl of today, even though the story takes place during the 1800s. She has a sense of humor and is very sharp and smart. Elise faces some really tough problems but relies on her faith to give her strength to get through them. Making people feel better during the war and helping out wherever she can are things a real girl might do, so this is an inspiring story. Also, this book is never boring—some parts are sad and some are funny, and there is always something exciting going on to keep the reader turning the pages. Altogether, it’s a great book, and I recommend it, especially to readers who enjoy the American Girl books.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 10
Reviewer City, State and Country: Saugerties, NY USA
I liked this book because Elise is so much like a real girl of today, even though the story takes place during the 1800s. She has a sense of humor and is very sharp and smart. Elise faces some really tough problems but relies on her faith to give her strength to get through them. Making people feel better during the war and helping out wherever she can are things a real girl might do, so this is an inspiring story. Also, this book is never boring—some parts are sad and some are funny, and there is always something exciting going on to keep the reader turning the pages. Altogether, it’s a great book, and I recommend it, especially to readers who enjoy the American Girl books.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 10
Reviewer City, State and Country: Saugerties, NY USA
Befiddled by Pedro De Alcantara
Becky Cohen is completely miserable. Everywhere she goes she’s made fun of. Will Becky ever learn to stand up for herself? She’s mocked at school, gym class, and even at home in her family’s apartment. She’s mocked the most at violin lessons by her teacher and peers. Becky dreams of being a professional violinist, but because of her stage fright she never performs well. Things start to look up for Becky when the apartment’s handyman, Mr. Freeman walks into her life. At first, Becky is still failing everything. Gradually though, things start to get better for Becky. Mr. Freeman is teaching her so many things about the violin, friendship, even life. She’s making friends, doing well in gym, she’s even signed up for a violin scholarship competition, yet violin lessons are still torture because of her stage fright. Becky decides to quit going to lessons even though she has the competition coming up. When her hardworking mother finds out about her not showing up at violin lessons, she loses everything: her violin, violin lessons, and contact with Mr. Freeman. Can Becky speak her mind and get everything she’s lost back? Will Becky win the violin scholarship? Find out in this novel by Pedro De Alcantara.
I liked the theme because it has a very good lesson, which was that you need to learn to speak your mind. The plot was a little slow. The characters, especially Becky, were very relatable. I liked this book.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Fayetteville, PA USA
I liked the theme because it has a very good lesson, which was that you need to learn to speak your mind. The plot was a little slow. The characters, especially Becky, were very relatable. I liked this book.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Fayetteville, PA USA
Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Brandon Mull’s Fablehaven is bursting with adventure, imagination, and heroism. Kendra and her younger brother, Seth, are less than excited when their parents drop them at their distant grandparents’ house and head off on a seventeen day cruise. The kids are shown to an attic playroom stocked with magnificent toys and even a live hen, Goldilocks, to keep them busy. But they soon find out the real excitement is waiting outside, on the grounds of what they come to find out is a magical creature preserve. It doesn’t take long for Seth’s adventurousness and Kendra’s astuteness to uncover the truth about the preserve, but once they’ve been let in on the secret, they find there’s much more yet to be discovered. For instance, there’s the matter of their missing grandmother. Then, there's the fairies that take a vengeful dislike to Seth. The plot crescendos on the night of the summer solstice, when the creatures are free to do as they please and the caretaker and his meager staff are abducted. Kendra and Seth must summon their courage to venture out onto the grounds to save their grandfather and, in the end, the sanctity of the preserve itself.
Although long and a bit slow at times, Fablehaven is packed with magic, courage, and adventure. Mull uses the setting of an enchanted preserve to get readers thinking about important environmental issues, and the story of an unusual family crisis to inspire thoughts on wrong and right, courage and resourcefulness, and even religion and spirituality. The author has included a reader’s guide at the end of the book to encourage discussion about the material and the topics it broaches. The vocabulary readers will find in Fablehaven may present a challenge for the 9–12 group for which it is intended, with words like “verdant,” “espalier,” and “ubiquitous” gracing the pages, but as long as there’s a dictionary nearby, young readers will benefit from the new terminology. More awkward is stilted prose resulting from a lack of contractions. Mull’s predilection to spell out every “it is” and the like in the non-dialogue parts of the narrative slows readers down and sounds unnatural; a small stumbling block to overcome in return for Mull’s bountiful imagination.
Content:It might be wise to recommend adult guidance with this one, as there are some morbid topics and violent scenes. For instance, before the story begins, Kendra and Seth's other grandparents are killed after a gas leak incident.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 26
Reviewer City, State and Country: Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD USA
Although long and a bit slow at times, Fablehaven is packed with magic, courage, and adventure. Mull uses the setting of an enchanted preserve to get readers thinking about important environmental issues, and the story of an unusual family crisis to inspire thoughts on wrong and right, courage and resourcefulness, and even religion and spirituality. The author has included a reader’s guide at the end of the book to encourage discussion about the material and the topics it broaches. The vocabulary readers will find in Fablehaven may present a challenge for the 9–12 group for which it is intended, with words like “verdant,” “espalier,” and “ubiquitous” gracing the pages, but as long as there’s a dictionary nearby, young readers will benefit from the new terminology. More awkward is stilted prose resulting from a lack of contractions. Mull’s predilection to spell out every “it is” and the like in the non-dialogue parts of the narrative slows readers down and sounds unnatural; a small stumbling block to overcome in return for Mull’s bountiful imagination.
Content:It might be wise to recommend adult guidance with this one, as there are some morbid topics and violent scenes. For instance, before the story begins, Kendra and Seth's other grandparents are killed after a gas leak incident.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 26
Reviewer City, State and Country: Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD USA
Miss O and Friends Write On! The Miss O & Friends Collection of Rockin’ Fiction
The book is dedicated “For all the girls out there who love to imagine, create, and write!” What a great idea! Girls visit the website (www.missandfriends.com) to submit poems and short fiction. The winners are published. The collection includes stories about friendships, growing pains, and family concerns. Sometimes writing ideas are right under your nose and sometimes you find them in poems “at the edge of the universe.”
This book is a creative addition to a middle school writing program. Teachers could use suggestions for submission for lesson plans on writing. These short stories and poems told in middle school voices are sure to appeal to girls, their teachers and parents. Hermine Brindak’s illustrations are delightful and engaging. This is the most exciting book of children’s writing that I have seen in a long time.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10
Reviewer Age: 59
Reviewer City, State and Country: Timonium, MD US
This book is a creative addition to a middle school writing program. Teachers could use suggestions for submission for lesson plans on writing. These short stories and poems told in middle school voices are sure to appeal to girls, their teachers and parents. Hermine Brindak’s illustrations are delightful and engaging. This is the most exciting book of children’s writing that I have seen in a long time.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 10
Reviewer Age: 59
Reviewer City, State and Country: Timonium, MD US
Diva by Alex Flinn
Caitlin McCourt has plans to be a diva- but not a pop star, an opera singer. With this goal in mind, she auditions for the muical theater program at Miami High School of the Arts. Her amazing voice sweeps her in the door, but at this new artsy school, she just doesn't feel as interesting as the other students, who are all self-confident and inhibition-free. Caitlin, who spent the first fifteen years of her life overweight and uncomfortable with herself, spent her first year in a newly thin body with an abusive boyfriend, a perfectionist mother, and a lot of self doubt. After spending so much time just trying to blend in, its a huge challenge for her to learn to be herself again, but her new friends and voice teacher are there to help her out. As she finally has a chance to discover her full potential, will she be able to overcome all the fears and doubts she has had in the past and head for the stage?
I really enjoyed reading Diva. I could associate with Caitlin and grew to really like her, despite her self-deprecation and sometimes grating issues. The fact that she is an opera singer, not an actress or dancer, sets her apart from the slew of books about artsy kids. My only issues with the book come at the very end. While its true I would not have liked Caitlin to continue suffering in her abusive relationship with Nick, I felt like the resolution was a little too abrupt and was unrealistic. I was, however, very excited to see her start a new section of her life, and I was left hopeful for her future as a singer.
Content:adult guidance, for some more mature relationships and problems
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Edina , Minnesota USA
I really enjoyed reading Diva. I could associate with Caitlin and grew to really like her, despite her self-deprecation and sometimes grating issues. The fact that she is an opera singer, not an actress or dancer, sets her apart from the slew of books about artsy kids. My only issues with the book come at the very end. While its true I would not have liked Caitlin to continue suffering in her abusive relationship with Nick, I felt like the resolution was a little too abrupt and was unrealistic. I was, however, very excited to see her start a new section of her life, and I was left hopeful for her future as a singer.
Content:adult guidance, for some more mature relationships and problems
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Edina , Minnesota USA
The Loud Silence of Francine Green by Karen Cushman
Patience, self control, and moderation. These are the qualities that Francine Green has too much of and Sophie Bowman needs a little more of. Francine is a quiet girl who is afraid of trouble and speaking up for what is right. Sophie is a very outspoken individual and takes pride in standing out in the crowd. These two girls make an unlikely pair but become best friends when Sophie transfers to Francine’s school. And in turn each learns a lesson from the other. Francine learns more about what’s going on in the world, especially the Communist Scare, and starts speaking out for what she believes in. Sophie learns the value of friendship and love. Sophie’s father and friend are put on the “suspicious” list as being possible Communists and Francine is warned to stay away from them. Inevitably, Francine loses her best friend when Sophie leaves for a safer place.
I thought this was a wonderful book. Karen Cushman does a great job of describing the world situation and home life of that time period. This book was very thought provoking, which I really liked. It also addressed some of the normal teenage problems, crushes, being overshadowed by an older sibling, and feeling like your parents don’t understand you. Adding period slang was the finishing touch on this remarkable book.
Content:Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Erlanger , Kentucky United States
I thought this was a wonderful book. Karen Cushman does a great job of describing the world situation and home life of that time period. This book was very thought provoking, which I really liked. It also addressed some of the normal teenage problems, crushes, being overshadowed by an older sibling, and feeling like your parents don’t understand you. Adding period slang was the finishing touch on this remarkable book.
Content:Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Erlanger , Kentucky United States
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Chance Fortune and The Outlaws by Shane Berryhill
Superheroes are people that protect the weak from villains, injustice and other evil things. That is exactly what 14-year-old Joshua Blevins wanted to be. His only problem was that he didn’t have any superpowers. After being denied entry to the “Burlington Academy for the Superhuman” he gave up all hope. Then he used his mentors help, Captain Fearless, to give Joshua a new identity and a false superpower. Now, posing as Chance Fortune, he enters the Academy. He rises in social status and in combat teams, becoming his team’s captain. But then an evil enters the Academy and threatens to take over the universe! Can Chance and his team, the Outlaws, defeat this evil, and stay alive themselves?
I enjoyed this book, although I feel it is appropriate for a young age group. It was very suspenseful and exciting. I always wanted to know what happened next. Chance Fortune was a fun read, and I look forward to the next one.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Denair , California U.S.A.
I enjoyed this book, although I feel it is appropriate for a young age group. It was very suspenseful and exciting. I always wanted to know what happened next. Chance Fortune was a fun read, and I look forward to the next one.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Denair , California U.S.A.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Firegirl by Tony Abbott
Tom had a plain, normal, boring life consisting of going to school and to his friend’s house, but one day all of that changed. That day was the day a new girl named Jessica showed up in his class. Jessica isn’t your average schoolgirl because when she was younger, she got severely burned in a fire and is still suffering from its aftereffects. No one likes her, no one talks to her, and they barely even look at Jessica for they are afraid of her and how she looks. A few weeks after arriving, Jessica left school early and the teacher forgot to give her her homework assignments. Lucky Tom was the one who got asked to take them to her since she was his neighbor. Will Tom accept the teacher’s request to take Jessica’s homework to her house or will he turn her down and possibly lose a new friend?
I think Firegirl is an awesome book that teaches you that no matter what someone looks like they have feelings so you should be nice to them. In my opinion this book would make a great book to have a sequel to because the ending leaves you with so many different possibilities for the characters’ futures. Firegirl is an interesting book that keeps your attention until the very end. This book is different from most books I have read and it is very realistic. I recommend this somewhat sad but enjoyable fiction read to ages 8-12.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA United States
I think Firegirl is an awesome book that teaches you that no matter what someone looks like they have feelings so you should be nice to them. In my opinion this book would make a great book to have a sequel to because the ending leaves you with so many different possibilities for the characters’ futures. Firegirl is an interesting book that keeps your attention until the very end. This book is different from most books I have read and it is very realistic. I recommend this somewhat sad but enjoyable fiction read to ages 8-12.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Upper Strasburg, PA United States
Thursday, August 24, 2006
My Not-So-Terrible Time at the Hippie Hotel by Rosemary Graham
The summer has arrived in New York and Tracy's divorced father decides to take the family up to Cape Cod to a hotel for divorced people and their kids. The owner of the hotel, who herself is divorced with a son, has planned activities for the three families sharing an awkward vacation. Tracy, very unhappy about her situation, has taken to eating as a solace. At the Hippie Hotel, she meets Beka, another teenager near her age but nothing like her. The owner's son works for his mom and tries to befriend their guests. Tracy, after going on trips with the group, meets Kevin. Kevin, a skateboarder, appeals to Tracy, especially as she had given up her music. At the end of the summer, the owner requires that everyone take part in a talent show. This presents a challenge for Tracy, can she bring out her true self and her talent once again?
Rosemary Graham presents an emotional situation (the divorce of their parents) that kids can relate to through the media if not real life. The book is positive in the sense that Tracy finally overcomes the stress she was put under emotionally with the divorce of her parents. This book seems to be aimed at pre-teens and Graham does a good job telling the story from a teen-ager's perspective. It's a quick read that doesn't have a complex plot.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6
Reviewer Age: 18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Kansas City, MO USA
Rosemary Graham presents an emotional situation (the divorce of their parents) that kids can relate to through the media if not real life. The book is positive in the sense that Tracy finally overcomes the stress she was put under emotionally with the divorce of her parents. This book seems to be aimed at pre-teens and Graham does a good job telling the story from a teen-ager's perspective. It's a quick read that doesn't have a complex plot.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6
Reviewer Age: 18
Reviewer City, State and Country: Kansas City, MO USA
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