|
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by Clive Staples Lewis
This is one of the best stories of Narnia I have read. It has been one year
since the four Pevensies visited Narnia, and Edmund and Lucy are staying with their cousin Eustace. Isn't that great? Not really; Eustace is a bossy
and bullying boy that dislikes his cousins. In Eustace's home, Edmund and  Lucy found a picture, which is a passage to Narnia. But unfortunately, Eustace came along. When they were pulled up on the boat, they found out that one person
on the boat was their good friend King Caspian the Tenth. Caspian explained to Edmund and Lucy that the boat they are on is the Dawn Treader and that he is on a
voyage to find the seven lords that his uncle Miraz got rid of. These seven lords are Lord Bern, Lord Octesian, Lord Argoz, Lord Revilian, Lord Mavramorn, Lord
Restimar, and Lord Rhoop. On the voyage, they experience problems finding the lords. These problems are sea serpents, storms, and where the lords are located.
But eventually they find out what happened to the seven lords and they also help some people with problems, such as the Dufflepuds. As they found the seven lords,
some things could have have happened to the lords. They could have either lived a normal life, or be turned into a creature of some sort. In the end, Edmund, Lucy, and
Eustace return to Earth. This is one of the most interesting books of Narnia I have read. Reviewer -- Douglas Nestorovski, March 2002.
A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks  
A "A walk to Remember" is about seventeen year old boy, living in Beafort, North
Carolina, 1958. His was Landon Carter. Things were going great for Landon. Even though he wasn't very athletic, his best friend was the star of the school football team
and the most popular guy in school. Landon had a girlfriend or two, but they weren't really that serious. He would spend his days eating peanuts in the graveyard at night,
playing pranks when he was younger, and hanging out with his friends at the pier. Landon's family was pretty wealthy too. They had a big house with really nice
furniture in it. But Landon never really appreciated it. They had maids and a cook because Landon's mother wasn't much of a housekeeper, and Landon's father was
never really around to actually be a father. In fact, Landon realy didn't know him. I guess you could say Landon was a pretty average guy. But this would all change very
soon. It was his senior year of high school, and Landon had to choose what classes to take other than the basics. You know, Math...science...history,,,etc. so Landon chose drama. He only picked it because
he figured he could just sit there and stare at the ceiling, and have it all be boring and a breeze. He was wrong about that as well. But other than drama, Landon had something else on his mind. He had
nobody to take to the homecoming dance. Everybody already had dates. Then, all of the sudden, a picture popped out of the corner of his eye - Jamie Sullivan. She was the Reverend's daughter. She
was different. She was the "goody-goody" type...always volunteering to help the little kids, donating money, and voluneering at the orphanage... you know those kind of people. Landon knew it; there was
no possible way he could take Jamie to the dance. His friends would laugh and make fun of him. Sooner or later, she came to be his only choice. He aksed Jamie to homecoming. She said yes, but as
long as he didn't fall in love with her. Yeah, sure. Like Landon was going to fall in love with Jamie Sullivan. She was the last girl on his mind. Reviewer -- Mia, March 2002.
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy 
This may be a classic, but I cannot think of a more boring novel on the face of the planet. Following
both the lives of the elite in Russia during the war and the lives of the soldiers, Tolstoy paints a picture
of the contrast beteen them. The only problem is that he seems to like details to a fault. For example, near the beginning of the book, Tolstoy devotes god only knows how many pages to describing
Princess Helene, and how her upper lip doesn't touch her bottom one, and while on a commoner it would have been repulsive, on her it was endearing. See how I just told you that in one sentence? He
took about 10 pages. And there's only so much I can take of mindless drivel and counting every single one of the soldiers who had lost an arm or leg. Help me... You'll probably have to read this in college
some day. Reviewer -- Lauren Andree, 2001/2002 Teen Advisory Board.
The Watsons Go To Birmingham, by Christopher Paul Curtis
 This book is full of anecdotes and funny stories that make you laugh! The main character is Kenny, an African-American boy who comes face to face with
discrimination. His family goes to Birmingham, Alabama so Byron, Kenny's brother, can stay with his grandmother for the summer. Byron has been acting up all year
and his parents thought it was time for some punishment. When they get to Birmingham, they are faced with a disaster. A black church was bombed. Kenny's
sister Joetta was in the church but came out all right before the explosion. Four girls were killed and many injured. The Watsons go back to Flint, Michigan and don't
leave Byron in Birmingham after all. They are too afraid that he will be in danger. This book gives a good account of the Civil rights movement in epilogue. Reviewer --
Amy Werner-Allen, 2000/2001 Teen Advisory Board.
The Watsons Go To Birmingham, by Christopher Paul Curtis
It's a book you should read in school to waste your school time. But you better listen up or you might
miss the funny parts. Reviewer -- Mesiri Princess.
The Junkyard Dog by
Erika Tamar 
When Katie sees the skinny brown dog whimpering behind the junkyard fence, all she can think about is saving him. But Lucky (the dog in the junkyard) doesn't belong to her, and even if he did, she couldn't bring him--dogs aren't allowed in the projects where she lives. Her mom and stepdad say she can feed Lucky, but only if she uses her own money and gets permission from the mean old junkman. All this is hard enough. But when a brutally cold winter sets in, there's no time to lose. Lucky won't survive with out some kind of shelter. And Katie's is the only one that can save him. Will she be able to save him? Reviewer --
Marisol Marin
.
A Wind in the Door by Madeline E'Lengle
Have you ever felt that you were one small thing in a world of endless proportion? Or that you are an
endless galaxy thriving with life. This book describes how it feels to be one of those people, those galaxies thriving with life and how they manage to survive while the devil's henchmen try to capture
them and kill them while gaining complete control over planet Earth. Charles Wallace is and extraordinary boy in more ways than one. Besides being abnormally smart for his age he has the
power to read minds. Charles is always getting beat up by other kids at his school because he is different. But something is wrong. His sister Meg is the first one to realize that something is wrong
when Charles claims that he sees dragons in the twins' (Charles Wallace's twin brothers) vegetable table garden. When Charles starts coming home drained of energy and very pale his mother starts to
get worried also. Charles's mother, a highly renowned scientist, along with her friend Doctor Denneys try as hard as they can to help Charles but it only gets worse. Until one night when Meg's friend Calvin
comes over to apologize for one of his brothers beating up Charles. They went outside to talk when Charles comes out of nowhere points and says, "that's were I saw the dragon." He was pointing to the
star gazing rock when they "feel" the presence of another person and then hear a rustle in the bushes
and then a great figure and a cherubim come out of the bushes. They say that they are "teachers" come
to help them with Charles. There are not just regular teachers, they are the stars of the universe. They go on many adventures while the Echthroi (the devil's henchmen) try to capture them. The Echthroi will
inflict horrible pain on all that they touch. Mr. Jenkins (Charles Wallace's principal) was always a mean person and you would have never thought that he would have played a large part in the book but he
does. But when the Echthroi clone him and act like him the problems start. This book can get very confusing at some parts like when Calvin, Meg the Cherubim go into Charles's mitochondrion and talk
about Farandole. Also all the names in the story can get confusing, but I highly recommend this book the anyone that likes Fantasy. This book makes me feel like I am a little galaxy thriving with life, in a way
we all are, but everyone in their own special way. I hope that everyone that reads this book will get the big point of the story - That violence is not the answer and wars will end and that there will be peace on
Earth. Reviewer -- Carlo, March 2002.
Winterdance: the fine madness of running the Iditarod  by Gary Paulsen
For years, Gary Paulsen dreamed of running the Iditarod, the sheer madness of running eleven hundred miles through freezing Alaska being pulled by 15 crazy
dogs. As a trapper in the Minnesota woods, Paulsen put together a team of dogs to race in the most prestigious endurance race in all the world. Sleeping, eating and
living with the dogs, Gary becomes one of the pack, not just their owner. By receiving many donations from the local towns-people, Gary was able to put
together a successful dog team. With a year of hard work and training, he was able to make his dream come true. Once you begin reading the first few chapters of this
book, you really come to understand how close Gary becomes to his dogs. They are a major part of his family, and he would sacrifice anything for them. I really believe
that Gary became so close to his dogs; it played a great part in his success in creating a team. Most dog owners, like myself, would never even think of eating,
sleeping and spending every waking moment with their dog. When Gary received a new dog named Devil, the dog literally tore him apart. By working with him and spending every moment with that dog, he
was able to gain the trust and friendship that was needed to join the team. This shows great effort and perseverance on his part, working with his dogs to become one. During the Iditarod, Gary encountered
a driver who he witnessed killing one of his dogs. Because he had to witness that brutal act, it actually empowers him to fight the elements and embrace his dogs for how hard they really work. The title,
"Winterdance, The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod," conveys the meaning that the Iditarod is a race that very few dare to challenge. It is a dance with danger and a madness that you must have for
running dogs. It is an experience you dream of and strive for all your life, just to run the race. After reading this Gary Paulsen novel, I recommend it to anyone who enjoys an action packed, real life
experience book. Paulsen goes in depth into all the different stages of the great race and emphasizes how hard work and perseverance can get you anywhere or anything. It is a moderate read, though I
would caution readers about its explicit language. All I can tell someone about this book is it was full of excitement, laughter, fear and the joy of how one man can be pulled through eleven hundred miles of
frigid nights and sun kissed days, through the Alaskan Yukon, to the Iditarod finish in Nome. This novel should be read by all people who enjoy a great real life experience book. Reviewer -- Justin Weyand,
September 2002.
The Word Eater by Mary Amato
How would you like having a pet worm that eats words? Well, lucky Lerner Chanse happens to find a
rare worm, Fip, that eats words. Whatever the worm eats will disappear forever! Lemer does not realize what a big responsibility she has until she has made a few mistakes. Just for fun she deletes spinach
souffles, Mack's thumbtacks, a star in outer space, September 1st, attackaterriers, an exam, and a vending machine. When she deletes the MPOOE club -- Most Powerful Ones On Earth club, she's in for
trouble. She is in the SLUG club -- Sorry Losers Under Ground. To get in the MPOOE club you must accomplish a dare, which Lerner did not do. When the MPOOE club disappears, she accidentally tells
them about her worm. The most popular girl, Reba, convinces them to delete the school. Luckily the name is too long and Fip stops in the middle of the name. Lerner is relieved thinking that what Fip ate
is not a real word -- wrong! The word Fip ate was a hair coloring brand widely used across the country. Peoples' hair magically turned gray a second after the hair color disappeared! Lerner then realizes that
Fip shouldn't be used carelessly. She prints the last two words Fip will eat: "Fip's magic". He is now a regular worm! Reviewer -- Amy Werner-Allen, 2000/2001 Teen Advisory Board.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
I think the book was great it a science-fiction novel about a girl named Megan. Her little brother, Charles, is very bright but everyone thinks he is dumb because
he doesn't talk much. They meet three sisters that take them to their magical place to help rid it of an evil dark shadow. Reviewer -- Deanna Shenk, December 2003.
Zlata's Diary by Zlata Flipovic
In the book Zlata's Diary the author Zlata Flipovic writes in her diary almost every day  about her experiences in the early 90's when her own city Sarajevo was being bombed. She told how she had to go to the cellar when they were being bombed and how the
earth shook when the bombs fell. She didn't get to see her family and friends for months, even years. Some of her friends and family didn't even make it through the
war. Other friends and family moved to different countries and sometimes only heard from them by mail, and sometimes the mail didn't come. Her family had to
live without electricity and water for over 2 years. They barely got any food to eat. There was no sugar ane even if there was there wasn't enough. They had to heat
their house with an old coal/wood furnace, or sometimes they lit a fire in the fireplace. They could not go near the windows in their home for fear that they would
shatter. At the end Zlata and her parents come out alive but it is an experience they will never forget, an experience that changed their lives forever. I thought it was a good book. It reminded me that there is a
human side to war, that most people don't hear about. I thought it was terrible what Zlata and her family had to go through, her city ruined, her family killed by snipers, and took her friends away from her and
drove them to different countries where she would not hear from them for long periods of time. I thought the way she captured the situation was brilliant. It isn't very often you hear war stories from the point of
view of a child. It was really interesting to see how it affected her and her family. You never get to hear a kid's reaction to war, and when you do it shocks you. What they actually go through is amazing. It is an
easy book to read and isn't very long so you aren't dreading reading it. I would recomend you read this book. It gives you a whole new outlook on life and the way you see different situations and conflicts. Go
out and read this book, you'll love it!! Reviewer -- Caroline Brandon, September 2002.
|
|
