Title: Crunch
Author: Leslie Connor
Age Range: 10 and up
Reviewer: Rose
Note: This book will be release May 2010
Crunch is part mystery, part realistic fiction, and part science fiction but in an entirely realistic way. It's about a complete lack of fuel and how suddenly bikes are a lot more valuable. And with so many bikes on the road, you're going to need a repair shop. Dewey Marriss's dad runs a bike repair shop, but he got stuck up in Canada with Dewey's mom. So that leaves Dewey and his four siblings to run the place, repairing bikes, dealing with customers, doing farm chores and tolerating each other and a kleptomaniac neighbor, which they manage to do wonderfully, remaining cheerful under stress for the sake of the five-year-old twins, Eva and Angus. But when a surprising thief is caught stealing parts from the Bike Barn, they're featured on television, bringing in customers they never wanted. Soon everyone is under too much strain and they snap. Can Dewey bring everyone back together again before their much awaited parents return home?
With an engaging (although a bit confusing), beginning and distinctive characters, Crunch is a book that most readers will find enjoyable. I wish that Leslie Connor had said more about why there was a lack of fuel, but doing so might have made the book sound preachy. I was really struck by how much fun it would be to bike down the freeway with other riders, hardly worrying about traffic!
Showing posts with label Chapter Book. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chapter Book. Show all posts
March 28, 2010
Hawksmaid by Kathryn Lasky
Title: Hawksmaid
Author: Kathryn Lasky
Age Range: 10 and up
Reviewer: Rose
Note: This book will be released May 2010
With strong characters and a well-developed plot line, Hawksmaid pulls the reader into a new version of the story of Robin Hood. Seen through the eyes of Matty Fitzwalter (who would later take the name Maid Marian), Robert Woodfyn (later Robin Hood) and the hawks Matty learns to fly, this story tells of corruption, loyalty and coming of age. For an added twist, author Kathryn Lasky masterfully brings in the ancient art of falconry.
I found this book impossible to put down and very well done. My one problem with it was that when the author told the story from the hawks point of view they didn't seem very hawk-like. They were too pack-minded and hawks tend to be solitary birds. But other than that one detail this story was a great read.
Author: Kathryn Lasky
Age Range: 10 and up
Reviewer: Rose
Note: This book will be released May 2010
With strong characters and a well-developed plot line, Hawksmaid pulls the reader into a new version of the story of Robin Hood. Seen through the eyes of Matty Fitzwalter (who would later take the name Maid Marian), Robert Woodfyn (later Robin Hood) and the hawks Matty learns to fly, this story tells of corruption, loyalty and coming of age. For an added twist, author Kathryn Lasky masterfully brings in the ancient art of falconry.
I found this book impossible to put down and very well done. My one problem with it was that when the author told the story from the hawks point of view they didn't seem very hawk-like. They were too pack-minded and hawks tend to be solitary birds. But other than that one detail this story was a great read.
March 2, 2010
Pony Pals #2: A Pony for Keeps
Title: Pony Pals #2 A Pony for Keeps
Author: Jeanne Betancourt
Age Range: 7 and up
Reviewer: Sophia Hatfield
Do you love ponies? Then you might like this book. It is about a girl named Anna. Anna loves her pony Acorn. She does not want to give him away, but she might have to because her parents think Acorn is the reason she is doing badly in school. Anna has two friends Pam and Lulu, they have ponies too. The three girls call themselves the Pony Pals. Will the Pony Pals be able to help Anna and Acorn?
My favorite character is Anna because she trusts Acorn so much. I like the book because it is scary and happy and sad .
September 24, 2009
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Title: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Author: Roald Dahl
Age Range: 6 and up (Mom read it aloud to me)
Reviewer: Joe (as dictated to Mom)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is about a boy named Charlie who finds the last golden ticket and he gets to go to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. At the factory, there are lots of rooms full of different candies. There are five kids that go to the factory and afterward they get a lifetime supply of candy. First Augustus Gloop gets sucked up by a fudge pipe because he fell in the chocolate river because he was drinking it. And then Violet Beauregarde chews up bubble gum that she wasn't supposed to chew because Willly Wonka hadn't made it right and it made her turn into a giant blueberry. Veruca Salt goes into the Nut Room where squirrels attack her and push her down the garbage shoot and she goes into the furnace along with her mom and dad. Then Mike Teavee goes into a t.v. room and sees chocolate get sent over him and them Mike Teavee sends himself by television and he wasn't supposed to and he gets really small and he has a tantrum because he wants to watch t.v. and his mom won't let him anymore. Charlie is the last kid left and Willy Wonka gives him the chocolate factory because he won. He was the only one left because all of the other kids did bad things.
I liked the book because it was funny. I think kids would like it too.
September 14, 2009
The Boxcar Children
Title: The Boxcar Children
Author: Gertrude Chandler Warner
Age Range: 6-12 years old
Reviewer: Sophia
“One warm night four children stood in front of a bakery. No one knew them. No one knew where they had come from.” That is how The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner begins. The four children where orphans they did not want to go to their grandfather, and they roamed in the forest and found a boxcar and made it their home.
My favorite character is the oldest girl, named Jessie. The children were very smart and helped each other. My favorite part is when the oldest boy named Henry won a race.
The book was exciting and is the first in a series. I am looking forward to reading them all. I am a beginner reader and the book was hard but not too hard. I recommend it to anyone who likes exciting books about families helping each other.
Author: Gertrude Chandler Warner
Age Range: 6-12 years old
Reviewer: Sophia
“One warm night four children stood in front of a bakery. No one knew them. No one knew where they had come from.” That is how The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner begins. The four children where orphans they did not want to go to their grandfather, and they roamed in the forest and found a boxcar and made it their home.
My favorite character is the oldest girl, named Jessie. The children were very smart and helped each other. My favorite part is when the oldest boy named Henry won a race.
The book was exciting and is the first in a series. I am looking forward to reading them all. I am a beginner reader and the book was hard but not too hard. I recommend it to anyone who likes exciting books about families helping each other.
September 13, 2009
Leaving the Bellweathers by Kristin Clark Venuti
Title: Leaving the Bellweathers (released September 22, 2009)
Author: Kristin Clark Venuti
Age Range: 9-12
Reviewer: Rose
This is a tale of trials endured by Benway, the Bellweather family’s indentured butler, who wishes to leave employment, but cannot because of a family promise made 200 years ago. His trials include Endangered Albino Alligators, cleaning up after five children including triplets who only speak in a shout or a whisper, and dealing with Dr. Bellweather’s drastic sense of humor. Benway, who knows that the 200 year promise is almost over, can’t wait to leave the chaos and lack of appreciation. But as the time gets closer, the Bellweather children, realizing he how much he does for them, each work in their own strange way to convince him to stay.
Action-packed doesn’t even begin to describe this book. Even children who don’t care much for reading will be eagerly turning each page to see what this crazy household comes up with next.
Author: Kristin Clark Venuti
Age Range: 9-12
Reviewer: Rose
This is a tale of trials endured by Benway, the Bellweather family’s indentured butler, who wishes to leave employment, but cannot because of a family promise made 200 years ago. His trials include Endangered Albino Alligators, cleaning up after five children including triplets who only speak in a shout or a whisper, and dealing with Dr. Bellweather’s drastic sense of humor. Benway, who knows that the 200 year promise is almost over, can’t wait to leave the chaos and lack of appreciation. But as the time gets closer, the Bellweather children, realizing he how much he does for them, each work in their own strange way to convince him to stay.
Action-packed doesn’t even begin to describe this book. Even children who don’t care much for reading will be eagerly turning each page to see what this crazy household comes up with next.
September 10, 2009
How to Write Your Life's Story by Ralph Fletcher
Title: How to write your life’s story
Author: Ralph Fletcher
Age Range: 6-12
Reviewer: Rose
From the author of A Writer's Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You and Marshfield Dreams, this book starts in a new way. The introduction (a must read) is about his father’s ‘Buffalo’ and his memories around it. Ralph then goes on to describe how to map out your life. He also tells you four lies about writing your life’s story. Through out the book, he includes some samples of kids’ writings, which I find necessary in a book that is for kids. Interviews with three adult authors are also included.
I enjoyed this book, although it was not too inspiring. I would really recommend it if you were looking for a book that showed you a step by step process of how to write your life’s story, however if you already knew how to write a story, this book is more for beginners.
One part that I found particularly useful was the list of multi-genre. He listed several new types that I had not come across, including weather report (describing yourself as if you were weather), recipe, and obituary. I enjoyed his metaphors and found that he really knew how to begin and end a book. I look forward to read more of his books.
Author: Ralph Fletcher
Age Range: 6-12
Reviewer: Rose
From the author of A Writer's Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You and Marshfield Dreams, this book starts in a new way. The introduction (a must read) is about his father’s ‘Buffalo’ and his memories around it. Ralph then goes on to describe how to map out your life. He also tells you four lies about writing your life’s story. Through out the book, he includes some samples of kids’ writings, which I find necessary in a book that is for kids. Interviews with three adult authors are also included.
I enjoyed this book, although it was not too inspiring. I would really recommend it if you were looking for a book that showed you a step by step process of how to write your life’s story, however if you already knew how to write a story, this book is more for beginners.
One part that I found particularly useful was the list of multi-genre. He listed several new types that I had not come across, including weather report (describing yourself as if you were weather), recipe, and obituary. I enjoyed his metaphors and found that he really knew how to begin and end a book. I look forward to read more of his books.
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