What if you could study under the most famous geniuses in music? Anna Maria will promise her dying father to study under a world famous musician. When he dies, Anna Maria is sent to an orphanage in Venice, Italy with one possession, a violin her father made her. The violin is her prized possession and the only reminder of her father. Anna Maria arrives at the orphanage not knowing what to expect. She meets the other girls, meets the teachers, and learns the rituals of the orphanage. The only thing that Anna Maria looks forward to during the day is music class with the famous composer, Antonio Vivaldi. Anna Maria loves music and shines in the class. Paolina, the best violinist before Anna Maria comes, becomes jealous. To get revenge, Paolina throws Anna Maria's violin into the canal. Anna Maria goes on a search through Venice to find her violin, and learns about the magic of Venice along the way.
Janice Shefelman wrote a sweet book with a good message. The message of the story is reiterated at the beginning and the end, the message being to not judge a place or people without getting to know them first. Anna Maria, being the main character does put the message across, but it is mostly the minor characters that give the message. For example, the gondolier gives the message. Many of the minor characters in the book play an important role in the overall outcome of the book. This makes the book more unique. I would recommend this book to beginning readers because it has simple vocabulary, and is easy to follow.
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Brownsburg, Indiana United States of America
Thursday, July 01, 2010
Global Warming and the Dinosaurs by Caroline Arnold
The age of the dinosaurs was millions of years ago, but they lived exactly where humans do today. In fact, the dinosaurs covered more of the earth than we previously imagined! The far reaches of the world, the Arctic and Antarctic, used to be covered with forests. Also, global temperatures were much hotter than they are currently. Polar dinosaurs can be found in places such as Alaska, Canada, Australia, and South America. That is because the landmasses were only Laurasia and Gondwana. Since, they have split to become the seven continents that we know today. If dinosaurs were dominant in the world, what brought about their destruction?
The author's goal in this short story is to inform the reader about dinosaurs. She emphasizes the types of dinosaurs from different areas of the world. This book is not necessarily for pleasure reading. Its purpose to inform is met, however, because Arnold uses many descriptive words and presents the material in an organized fashion. I could foresee this book being used to teach elementary school children. My only dislike is that there are almost too many specific dinosaur names listed in the book. It would flow better if there were a chart in the back with the types of dinosaurs and less in the actual text.
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America
The author's goal in this short story is to inform the reader about dinosaurs. She emphasizes the types of dinosaurs from different areas of the world. This book is not necessarily for pleasure reading. Its purpose to inform is met, however, because Arnold uses many descriptive words and presents the material in an organized fashion. I could foresee this book being used to teach elementary school children. My only dislike is that there are almost too many specific dinosaur names listed in the book. It would flow better if there were a chart in the back with the types of dinosaurs and less in the actual text.
Reviewer Age:16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Carlisle, Pennsylvania United States of America
His Own Where by June Jordan
As his dad lay dying in the hospital after a car accident, Buddy Rivers, an African-American teenager, finds himself alone. While visiting his father in the hospital Buddy meets Angela, the abused daughter of his father's nurse. Peering over his father's bandaged body, Buddy and Angela immediately form a bond of friendship and of love. Their relationship only grows stronger as Buddy witnesses the constant physical and physiological abuse Angela endures by her parents. After one final drunken attack by her father, Buddy is forced to take Angela to the hospital. As a result, Angela is taken away from her parents and sent to live in a strict Christian girls' home. While at the home Angela is not allowed to see Buddy and is held under constant watch. It is up to Buddy to free her and start a life together.
While I found June Jordan's His Own Where to be a unique and interesting book, I also thought it to be difficult to understand as the entire book is written in Black English, a dialect used by members of the American-American community. Despite the hard to understand dialogue, I was eventually able to understand the language and found myself intrigued with the New York black culture of the early 70s. Although a fairly short book (only 92 pages) it is not an easy read and it takes work to read it. Nevertheless, for someone that doesn't mind putting in a little extra effort, I found the book to be very interesting and would definitely recommend it.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Potomac, Maryland United States of America
While I found June Jordan's His Own Where to be a unique and interesting book, I also thought it to be difficult to understand as the entire book is written in Black English, a dialect used by members of the American-American community. Despite the hard to understand dialogue, I was eventually able to understand the language and found myself intrigued with the New York black culture of the early 70s. Although a fairly short book (only 92 pages) it is not an easy read and it takes work to read it. Nevertheless, for someone that doesn't mind putting in a little extra effort, I found the book to be very interesting and would definitely recommend it.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Potomac, Maryland United States of America
Cthulhu's Reign by Darrell Schweitzer
Cthulhu's Reign is a collection of stories about several different creatures, such as Cthulhu, a large sea serpent. These creatures come from the past and cause problems for many civilizations. The stories may seem more interesting to someone who enjoys reading fictional stories. One story was about a telepathic girl who helped her family fight its way to safety from the creatures that came to Earth. Several of the other stories were also about people who have visions or omens that help save them from different creatures.
I felt the various authors did an excellent job of using descriptive text. I could easily picture the various creatures and characters. I feel that this book is appropriate for middle school students. I found this book especially interesting because I enjoy researching Greek mythology. I recommend this book to people who enjoy reading science fiction and fantasy.
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Helena, AR USA
I felt the various authors did an excellent job of using descriptive text. I could easily picture the various creatures and characters. I feel that this book is appropriate for middle school students. I found this book especially interesting because I enjoy researching Greek mythology. I recommend this book to people who enjoy reading science fiction and fantasy.
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Helena, AR USA
The Time Pirate by Ted Bell
The Time Pirate is the exciting and fast-paced sequel to Nick of Time. The setting is England during Word War II and the American colonies in the late 1700s. Nick McIver, the main character, has access to a rare time traveling machine created by Leonardo da Vinci. In this book, Nick must face his nemesis, the infamous Captain Billy Blood, who he has battled in the past. He has to betray his country to aid the Americans in the American Revolution in order to ensure their help in the future. This book combines fantasy with historical fiction to create an intriguing and suspenseful book.
I enjoyed this book because the author successfully included two time periods, which was the purpose of the author's writing. The vocabulary was sophisticated, but not too complicated for the age range, which is about 10-12. I found it interesting, and I would definitely say that the quality of writing is just as good as the first book in the series. I thought the ending was appropriate because it had a good closing to the story, without ending the series. I would recommend this series to readers who enjoy adventure and historical fiction.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Bayside, WI USA
I enjoyed this book because the author successfully included two time periods, which was the purpose of the author's writing. The vocabulary was sophisticated, but not too complicated for the age range, which is about 10-12. I found it interesting, and I would definitely say that the quality of writing is just as good as the first book in the series. I thought the ending was appropriate because it had a good closing to the story, without ending the series. I would recommend this series to readers who enjoy adventure and historical fiction.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Bayside, WI USA
The Fire Opal by Regina McBride
The Fire Opal by Regina McBride follows the life of Maeve O'Tullagh, who seems to take after her mother, Nuala, in hearing voices in the secluded Ard Macha, Ireland. When Maeve's sister Isheleen is born, Maeve is overjoyed. It took a while because she had to be reincarnated twice. However, Ishleen and her mother fall under a strange spell that renders them unconscious. Maeve suspects that the handsome yet dark-spirited Tom Cavan has had something to do with this. She discovers that he's made a pact with an ancient goddess to gain control of Ireland. Also, he wants to marry her and finds it hilarious to see her angry after seeing him chuck baby seagulls off a cliff. The goddess lives on a slightly weird ice barge and keeps girls as slaves. Those girls must care for their mothers, who have been frozen by the spiteful goddess. In the midst of all this, Queen Elizabeth of England is fighting the Spanish Armada, but not by herself.
I really didn't like The Fire Opal. The plot didn't seem very original, or just entirely too bizarre. It might have worked with better explanations. For example, the entire idea of cursed goddesses wasn't very well explained and so left the reader hanging. I had absolutely no idea what the goddess was doing on a stationary ice barge in the middle of the ocean, of course guarded by fierce mermaids. Maeve was slightly strange and underdeveloped. While it was nice that she rescued a Spanish soldier, he disappeared and nothing more was heard of him. Also, I wasn't sure how she discovered all these conspiracies or why she kept seeing the nice ancient goddess. Overall, The Fire Opal was pretty terrible. It had some decent ideas, like covering Irish disputes with Queen Elizabeth, but lacked something extra, like depth.
Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Charleston, SC USA
I really didn't like The Fire Opal. The plot didn't seem very original, or just entirely too bizarre. It might have worked with better explanations. For example, the entire idea of cursed goddesses wasn't very well explained and so left the reader hanging. I had absolutely no idea what the goddess was doing on a stationary ice barge in the middle of the ocean, of course guarded by fierce mermaids. Maeve was slightly strange and underdeveloped. While it was nice that she rescued a Spanish soldier, he disappeared and nothing more was heard of him. Also, I wasn't sure how she discovered all these conspiracies or why she kept seeing the nice ancient goddess. Overall, The Fire Opal was pretty terrible. It had some decent ideas, like covering Irish disputes with Queen Elizabeth, but lacked something extra, like depth.
Reviewer Age:17
Reviewer City, State and Country: Charleston, SC USA
Whaling Season by Peter Lourie
Whaling Season is a journey through a spring season in the
Arctic Circle in Alaska with bowhead whale scientist, John
Craighead George, or "Craig." As you follow Craig, vivid
pictures help describe the process of a thorough examination
of a bowhead whale. The tribe that ensures that the whaling
is purely for tradition and culture are the American Indian
tribe, the Inuiat. Once the whales are harvested, Craig
studies them to see what effects pollution is having on the
environment. In the midst of the season, Craig and his
fellow scientists have a contest to see who can get the most
data. Craig and his scientists also study the DNA of the
whales to see if the whales are evolving or adapting to
pollution in any way. Overall, Whaling Season is a very
interesting and factual book.
Whaling Season is a
nonfiction book that lets you feel like you are there in
Alaska. I loved the book because of the interesting facts
in all of the amazingly written detail. As you go through
the season, you learn more about Craig and his team, and
that they are all very smart, willing, and committed people.
The author, Peter Lourie, grabs you into the season while
Craig and his scientists study the whales in the Arctic. I
would definitely recommend this book to people of all ages
because it is interesting has great imagery.
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Pepper Pike, Ohio USA
Arctic Circle in Alaska with bowhead whale scientist, John
Craighead George, or "Craig." As you follow Craig, vivid
pictures help describe the process of a thorough examination
of a bowhead whale. The tribe that ensures that the whaling
is purely for tradition and culture are the American Indian
tribe, the Inuiat. Once the whales are harvested, Craig
studies them to see what effects pollution is having on the
environment. In the midst of the season, Craig and his
fellow scientists have a contest to see who can get the most
data. Craig and his scientists also study the DNA of the
whales to see if the whales are evolving or adapting to
pollution in any way. Overall, Whaling Season is a very
interesting and factual book.
Whaling Season is a
nonfiction book that lets you feel like you are there in
Alaska. I loved the book because of the interesting facts
in all of the amazingly written detail. As you go through
the season, you learn more about Craig and his team, and
that they are all very smart, willing, and committed people.
The author, Peter Lourie, grabs you into the season while
Craig and his scientists study the whales in the Arctic. I
would definitely recommend this book to people of all ages
because it is interesting has great imagery.
Reviewer Age:12
Reviewer City, State and Country: Pepper Pike, Ohio USA
Keyholders 4: The Wrong Side of Magic by Debbie Dadey
Keyholders # 4
The Wrong Side of Magic
This story is about a magical world on the other side of a border where evil creatures live, including trolls and shape shifters.
The main characters are friends, Natalie, Luke and Penny. They are apprentice key holders. A key holder is someone who holds the keys to the border and protects the border from being breached by the evil doers.
The story begins when a troll crosses the border and the adventures continue as some of the other evil creatures try to take over the town and the human's bodies. Natalie, Luke and Penny work to save the world from them.
This book was interesting and entertaining. It kept me excited and wanting to know what would happen next. Anyone who likes books about adventure, will love The Keyholders four.
Natalie, Luke and Penny are the three main characters. Natalie is prissy, Penny is smart and Luke is always up for adventure. I liked them all and it did make me like the book more. Also, it made me want to read the other Keyholder books.
The book was not really funny, it was more of an adventure book. As for the end, I wish I had known for sure that all of the people who had their mind's taken over, were all ok. I know the main characters and their friends were ok, but I wasn't sure about everybody else.
I just finished book Five of Harry Potter. This is the kind of book I can read into between The Harry Potter books when I take a break because it is very short and you can get to the story and the end very quickly.
I would recommend the book because it did keep my attention and I will read the other books in this series now.
Reviewer Age:8
Reviewer City, State and Country: Phoenix, MD USA
The Wrong Side of Magic
This story is about a magical world on the other side of a border where evil creatures live, including trolls and shape shifters.
The main characters are friends, Natalie, Luke and Penny. They are apprentice key holders. A key holder is someone who holds the keys to the border and protects the border from being breached by the evil doers.
The story begins when a troll crosses the border and the adventures continue as some of the other evil creatures try to take over the town and the human's bodies. Natalie, Luke and Penny work to save the world from them.
This book was interesting and entertaining. It kept me excited and wanting to know what would happen next. Anyone who likes books about adventure, will love The Keyholders four.
Natalie, Luke and Penny are the three main characters. Natalie is prissy, Penny is smart and Luke is always up for adventure. I liked them all and it did make me like the book more. Also, it made me want to read the other Keyholder books.
The book was not really funny, it was more of an adventure book. As for the end, I wish I had known for sure that all of the people who had their mind's taken over, were all ok. I know the main characters and their friends were ok, but I wasn't sure about everybody else.
I just finished book Five of Harry Potter. This is the kind of book I can read into between The Harry Potter books when I take a break because it is very short and you can get to the story and the end very quickly.
I would recommend the book because it did keep my attention and I will read the other books in this series now.
Reviewer Age:8
Reviewer City, State and Country: Phoenix, MD USA
The Dream Maker in the Desert by Marie Krushing
Emmet Watts is a lonely teenage kid who has no friends and when he miraculously does make one they are shunned by the rest of the school and leave Emmet who everyone thinks of as a freak. He has been bullied constantly his whole time at school for being a "freak" but Emmet doesn't know why people feel this way since he as always tried to act "normal" to try to fit in. After another day of this sort of torture at school he gets attacked by an evil little man named Braedan. Luckily Emmet is saved by a group of people who say they are part of the Society, that fight people like Braedan who they call the Dark Ones. Emmet is taken by the people of the Society and comes to realize he plays a bigger part in the fight against the Dark Ones that anyone could possibly imagine, while making a new life as part of the Society.
The book was okay. Wasn't the best book I've read but the last half was better. The storyline started slow but once you got to the middle things picked up when the actual battle with Braedan and his minions started. This would be a book that someone should make a movie out of because it has the right amount of different elements like action and romance. The author could have improved the story mostly by making it shorter and maybe chopping a few things in the first half out where nothing that important to the plot was happening. All in all it was a good book to read that I would read again and would most definitely read the sequels to find out what happens to all the characters in their next adventures.
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Loves Park, Illinois, United States
The book was okay. Wasn't the best book I've read but the last half was better. The storyline started slow but once you got to the middle things picked up when the actual battle with Braedan and his minions started. This would be a book that someone should make a movie out of because it has the right amount of different elements like action and romance. The author could have improved the story mostly by making it shorter and maybe chopping a few things in the first half out where nothing that important to the plot was happening. All in all it was a good book to read that I would read again and would most definitely read the sequels to find out what happens to all the characters in their next adventures.
Reviewer Age:15
Reviewer City, State and Country: Loves Park, Illinois, United States
The Cardturner by Louis Sachar
Alton barely knows anything about Uncle Lester, except that he is wealthy, blind and elderly. When Uncle Lester calls asking Alton to be his cardturner, he is very surprised. Alton's mother pressures him to become tightly knit with Uncle Lester, with high hopes that they will inherit a fortune, but there is other competition. In the process of becoming cardturner, Alton learns to enjoy the game of bridge. In the twists and turns of the novel, Alton realizes that he has more in common with Toni, the competition for the fortune then he thought, and discovers the mysterious past of Uncle Lester.
Louis Sachar builds the character's knowledge of bridge, the past, and each other in a creative way that hooked me as a reader. One of the main characters, Uncle Lester, had an interesting past that made me want to find more. The main topic of bridge may be thought of as boring, but Mr. Sachar navigated around that in a way that made it interesting. The book's writing style was interesting and funny. I recommend this book to boys and girls from grade 6 to adulthood.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Lake Bluff, IL United States
Louis Sachar builds the character's knowledge of bridge, the past, and each other in a creative way that hooked me as a reader. One of the main characters, Uncle Lester, had an interesting past that made me want to find more. The main topic of bridge may be thought of as boring, but Mr. Sachar navigated around that in a way that made it interesting. The book's writing style was interesting and funny. I recommend this book to boys and girls from grade 6 to adulthood.
Reviewer Age:14
Reviewer City, State and Country: Lake Bluff, IL United States
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