Friday, December 28, 2018

Dog Man: Unleashed by Dav Pilkey

Dog Man: Unleashed by Dav Pilkey was a very funny and humorous book. First, it was Chief’s birthday and Dog Man didn't get get him a gift! He went out to the pet store and got Chief a fish. The other police officers got Chief brain dots, (a fake medication to make you smarter.) Chief put his fish in a bowl, on a table, next to the brain dots. As he was leaving he knocked the brain dots over into the fish bowl! The fish thought it was food and ate it. The fish ate so much, that he got so smart, he could move things with his mind! He escaped with his mind powers, and turned EVIL! Read this book to find out if dog man saves the day, or, if he can't, AND THE FISH TAKES OVER THE WORLD!

I decided to read this book because it was a book that my friends suggested. I suggest you read it too. My friends said it was funny and it sure is, and they said it was the second book in the series. I read the first book, so I read this one. It did not disappoint.

Review by FortniteKid12

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

       Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate is about a boy named Jackson and his family. His mom and Dad and his sister and dog might have to live In a minivan again. They are falling into hard times with no more money to pay rent. Crenshaw is a cat, he's large, he’s outspoken, and he’s imaginary. He has come back into Jackson’s life to help him. Crenshaw is so real to Jackson that it’s like Crenshaw is alive. It’s like when he closes his eyes, then opens them Crenshaw is still there. The imagination of a big cat is kind of weird.

I like Crenshaw because this book shows a lot of empathy, and I have an imaginary friend. In this book it shows how strong Crenshaw is, even if he’s imaginary. For me I don’t like cats, but he’s a big cat so I like this cat. I like books like this because you can’t stop reading it because you want to know what happens next. I really wanted to know what happens to Jack’s family. I pretty much think this book is really good and it catches you and makes you not stop reading, so maybe you will like it too.

Reviewed by KlameRider442

Diary of a Wimpy kid Getaway By Jeff Kinney

Diary of a Wimpy kid Getaway By Jeff Kinney is about Greg Heffley, who is the main character. He goes on a vacation in the winter because his friend Rowley Jefferson goes to a lot of places. Rowley just talks to Greg all about his vacations, so Greg gets mad at Rowley for bragging to Greg about how he went to all those places. Greg Heffley and his finally family went on a trip and he can tell Rowley about his trip or brag about how good his trip was.

I like Diary of wimpy kid The Getaway because I like to read this book because its interesting and you never know what's going to happen next. I like to tell my friends about how good my vacation is because I go to Iowa. My mom’s side of the family lives there. I think you would like it if you like the other Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, or if you like funny books.

Review by SOCCER_SPORT

In Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Getaway by Jeff Kinney Greg Heffley and his family are going on vacation. Paradise should be the ultimate  place for vacation, especially if it is in the tropical regions.. But they soon discover in Paradise that Paradise has some consequences, like sun poisoning, stomach problems and poisonous critters that  threaten to ruin their vacation. So will their vacation be saved or will it be a vacation that Heffley will never forget?

This book is very good and reminds of the Long Haul, but the question is, How is it going to end? This book also makes you feel really lucky and I hope that happens to everyone, so you should read this.
               
REVIEW BY I.M. SPOOKY


Paper Chains by Elaine Vickers

 Do you like heartwarming books? If so Paper Chains is the book for you! Paper Chains by Elaine Vickers is about these two middle school girls Kate and Ana. Kate has to keep her secret that she's adopted and also has issues with her heart.  She has to keep these secret because she thinks it will ruin their friendship, also she thinks it might even ruin their family. On the other hand,  Ana’s father has left their family and there’s suspicion that he is not coming back. In this story their actions create more problems because of their secrets. This books appeals to me because of how different the characters are. Will the girls tell each other their secrets? Or will they find out from somebody else?

      Personally, this is one of my favorite books . Paper chains isn’t just like any other book. The author, Elaine Vickers makes and adds and builds this book so that it is organized magnificently.  The characters are so different,  but still they manage to become friends. This book reminded me of one of my best friends. This book talks about the hardships that friends can face, also what they can overcome. Just remember, friends and family are worth fighting for.  How will  Kate and Ana  resolve their problems?

Review by Potato_Girl

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

Today I will be sharing with you The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo. The Tale of Despereaux is a very unique book. It is about a mouse and a rat that both want to get to the light. The rat is supposed to be in the darkness (the dungeon), but is hoping to get to the light (upstairs in the castle). Then he falls in a soup and almost gets caught, but runs back down to the darkness. On the other hand, Despereaux, the mouse breaks the rules by talking to a human princess and gets put in the dungeon darkness. This mouse loves to listen to music and stories. The Princess Pea gets put in the darkness by the vengeful rat. Will all three of them work together to get out?

I liked this book because I like animals. I also hate it when animals are hurt or when they are endangered. I feel like this book is also cool and has some new words that I did not know. The author, Kate DiCamillo, is also my favorite author and this is one of my favorite books by her.
                             
Review by COOL@HOCKEY3  


Thursday, December 20, 2018

Dog Man the Lord of the Fleas by Dav Pilkey

Dog Man the Lord of the Fleas by Dav Pilkey is about a cat who is in cat prison. He has escaped 6/7 times. A doctor comes to see him and it turns out to be a friend that used to be in a group called Critter Scouts. Piggy is trying to get revenge on Petey the cat, who is evil. Piggy is trying to get revenge on Petey because he erased his badges. Petey’s badges were erased too. Petey will have a decision to make. Will he try to change and be a hero, or will he be the same old evil cat he always was? Find out in the story, Dog Man the Lord of the Fleas.

I have a connection with the book because it was funny in a lot of ways. It was a cool book, and it had cool characters. The book was a graphic novel and I like comic books. It was also a very creative book and it was a good story.

By, The Person That Is a Person

Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hilton

   Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hilton is about a girl named Mimi who is half Japanese and half black. She starts middle school in the middle of the year. She meets a girl who is one of the only students who will do stuff with her. But almost everywhere she goes people have to ask her what she is. That is the question she asks herself, What am I?  After a while at school, she wants to take shop instead of home economics. Then she meets a boy that lives next door and he lets her use his grandpa’s tools. But when her friend and she stand up to her principal, they get suspended. When they finally return, their whole grade stands up to the principal. The principal tells them he will think about letting girls take shop. Will the students finally they get their way?

    I chose this book because I think this could happen to a lot of people. I think it is really sad if someone whom I know is getting bullied. If you moved and got bullied, and no one wanted to hangout with you, what would you do? 

Review by #DanceForLife13

Something Upstairs by Avi

Something Upstairs by Avi is about a new kid, Kenny, who moves in to the neighborhood and he has the scariest house on the block. In the attic there is something upstairs and it sent him to the past to see what slavery was like back then and to learn what happened to the person in the attic. In the story Kenny has to kill a slavery owner to get back to the present time. He is scared he will get caught and killed.  Will Kenny kill the slavery owner or will he be stuck in the past?

I personally think that the story was one of my favorites. It was one of my favorites because it was interesting and it had a little scare to it in a few parts, but not scary enough to give you nightmares. It is my favorite type of book, a mystery! In some chapters the ending was a cliffhanger to make you want to read more! This trick really worked on me. Do you think this trick would work on you? 

Review by Cupcakequeen44

Cilla Lee Jenkins, Future Author Extraordinaire by Susan Tan

Cilla Lee Jenkins, Future Author Extraordinaire by Susan Tan  is about a girl named Priscilla who is half Chinese and half American.  She is soon expecting a baby sister.  She doesn't want a sister because she thinks that her parents won’t pay attention to her anymore.  Her best friend is named Colleen, but they got into a fight.  Cilla’s favorite book is called Selena Moon And The Moonstone.  When it’s Cilla’s birthday she gets a very cool gift and everyone puts their hand print on it, but Cilla saves one section for her sister.  When her baby sister is born Cilla loves her even though she thought she wouldn’t.

I love this book! It reminds me of me and my brother because we didn’t want a little sister. Now we have one, but she’s not so little anymore, and we love her.  In the book the same thing happens. I’ve read this book 4 times and I still love it.  I can’t wait to get the second and third!  Maybe when MY sister learns to read she can read it for herself.  This is by far one of my favorite books.  If you like to read, write, and have fun, then I think this is the perfect book for you!

By: ILovedogs!2292

Bailey’s Story by W.Bruce Cameron

Bailey’s Story by W.Bruce Cameron, is a very exciting story that leaves you wanting more. Bailey is a dog who escaped from a shelter never to see his mother or siblings ever again. After escaping, he explored the outside world, wandering on streets and going down grassy paths. He then was found by a boy who took him in to stay with him as his forever home. That’s where Bailey was cared for and loved for years, until one day Bailey  and his new family experience things so unbelievable it almost leaves them close to death.

I can connect to this story in many ways. For one, it reminds me of myself, an adventurous person with tons of personality, not always wanting to do what everyone else does! This book is something that made me feel so many different emotions. When it ends you’ll go looking for and wanting more. Bailey’s Story is one of my favorites of all of the Bruce Cameron books and always will be.

Reviewed by: Paisley_Luna_Camelot

Thursday, December 13, 2018

Dork Diaries; tales from a not-so happily ever after

Tales from a Not-So-Happily Ever After by: Rachel Renee Russell is the eighth book in the Dork Diaries series. This book is about a girl named Nikki who has an injury and when she wakes up, she's in a magical fairy tale world! She finds that all her friends have turned into fairy tale characters, including herself. Nikki and her friends go through a long journey to get out of the fairy tale world. But a witch is angry with Nikki for a reason I don’t want to spoil. Nikki goes to a castle to find out how to go back to her world. At the castle she finds her mega crush, Brandon. Read this book to find out what happens next.

I love the Dork Diaries series, but this book is my favorite. I think it would be kind of cool to become a character from a fairy tale. I also love how the author put all of the cool fairy tales into one book! The end is my favorite part because this book is like a fairy tale with all fairy tales inside so at the end, HAPPILY EVER AFTER!

Reviewed by CraftyCoffee



Fantasy books are THE BEST!!!  Dork Diaries; tales from a not-so happily ever after by Rachel Renee Russell, is a book of fantasy fairy-tales that Nicki Maxwell goes through.  But, with their own twists! She passed out during gym, and now, she is in a world of fantasy. There are these fairy tale characters combined from all different stories, but why do they look like Nicki's friends?  Find out in Dork Diaries, Tales from a Not-So-Happily ever after.

This book reminds me of a book series, (That I absolutely LOVE). The name of the series is called Pegasus. It's a fantasy book about Roman and Greek myths. The fantasy part is that a girl named Emily actually MEETS Pegasus.  There is also all different places they visit, like Earth and Olympus! Both the books are very interesting to read. I feel they both have lots of details, so I can imagine lots of things. Even though Pegasus has no pictures, and Dork Diaries has many pictures, I think they are both super fun to read!


Review by Puppy_Girl_101

Trials of Apollo: The Burning Maze

In the Trials of Apollo series by Rick Riordan, it is the same as the  regular world, except mythology is real. In the first book, Apollo is cast down as a mortal for almost causing complete annihilation to everything. He finds that the Python has captured all the oracles, keeping everyone from knowing the future, except the Python himself. Apollo has to defeat the Python and free the oracles to regain his godhood. In the burning maze, he finds himself rescuing an oracle who talks in word puzzles, like crosswords, but more difficult.

 Some of the more interesting parts of the book are only able to be understood by reading the first two books, so maybe if you read the first two, you would understand the third. Either way, I would fully recommend it to a friend and think it is an amazing book. Hopefully, someone will read my post and buy the book. It is far too good for nobody to read!

Review by Laser Viper36


Monday, December 10, 2018

The Temple of The Ruby of Fire by Geronimo Stilton

  The Temple of The Ruby of Fire by Geronimo Stilton is about Geronimo Stilton who is helping his friend, who is a scientist. He is helping him find an Incan Temple. It’s a mystery because Geronimo, Thea, Trap, and Benjamin are trying to find the temple of the ruby of fire. They try to find where the ruby is but some bad guys are trying to find it too! I can’t tell you the ending because you wouldn’t want to read it!

     I like to read books by this author because most of his stories are funny and have just the right amount of mystery. What’s funny about it is that in one part of the book Geronimo gets seasick easily, and he throws up when he was on professor Paws Von Volt’s submarine. If you like mice and adventure this book would be perfect for you!

Review by Springman999

Sunday, September 23, 2018

The Wizard's Dog by Eric Kahn Gale

The Wizard's Dog by Eric Kahn Gale is a RICBA Nominee for 2019. Nosewise is a dog who belongs to Merlin the Magician. Nosewise knows lots of tricks, like sit and stay, but what he wants to learn are the magic tricks that Merlin teaches to his apprentice Morgana. When Nosewise accidently ends up with Morgana's magic stone around his neck, he can suddenly speak, in words! But before Nosewise can learn any magic, Merlin is taken away by an evil Fae, who wants to use Merlin's magic to become King of the humans. It is up to Nosewise to save his beloved master, with a little help from a boy named Arthur.

I am a big fan of the King Arthur legends and love reading this new take on the  story from the point of view of Nosewise the dog. Nosewise is quite funny and it's cute to see into the mind of a dog, "stupid doors"! Watch a trailer for the book.

Reviewed by Mrs. Castro

The Marvelwood Magicians by Diane Zahler

The Marvelwood Magicians by Diane Zahler is one of the RICBA Nominees for 2019. This story's main character is Mattie Marvelwood. She travels around the U.S. with her family as they set up their wagon near fairs and circuses to perform. Mattie is a mind reader. When she touches someone, she can read their thoughts. Her whole family have magical abilities, from her disappearing brother, to her floating little sister. But her family knows that if anyone ever found out that their abilities are real, and not tricks or illusions, they would be in danger. The Marvelwoods join a circus run by Master Morogh and suddenly they and all their new friends are in danger of losing their talents. Mattie has to figure out a way to save her family and friends, without losing a part of herself.

I love magical stories and Diane Zahler's decision to place the Marvelwood family in a circus setting was just perfect! I love how Mattie could understand the thoughts of the circus animals. This story has great imagery, I can easily picture it making a fantastic movie. Read it and see if you agree!

Reviewed by Mrs. Castro

Monday, September 3, 2018

Surrender the Key by D.J. MacHale

Surrender the Key by D.J. MacHale is one of the RICBA Nominees for 2019. It is the first book in a series that promises to be adventurous and scary. In this story Marcus, Theo and Lu quickly get wrapped up in a mystery. Marcus O'Mara is in detention for standing up for a classmate who was getting bullied by a nasty teacher, when a bull runs through the school, smashing into a class trophy case. Yes, you read that right, a bull. Except, Marcus is the only one who can see the bull, the man in his pajamas holding a key, and the message written in broken pieces of glass.... "Surrender the Key".

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and am glad there will be more of them. This is one of the times I don't want to tell too much about the book, because it was fun to discover what is happening as the author unfolds the story. I will say that Marcus and his friends are in grave danger and this was a delicious page turner because I wanted to know what was going to happen next. 

Review by Mrs. Castro

The Losers Club by Andrew Clements

The Losers Club by Andrew Clements is about a sixth grader named Alec Spencer who is in trouble again at school.... FOR READING! Yes, Alec is a sneaky reader, every time a teacher has his back turned, or her attention on something else, Alec has a book open on his lap and he is not paying attention in class. This time his parents have had enough, so he must promise to pay attention and stop reading in school, and since this is the start of a new school year, Alec does try to turn it around. At least he can read in peace during the after school program, when he starts his own reading club. He ingeniously names it the "Losers Club" hoping the name will keep anyone else from joining. Except he does need at least one other person to join in order to start his club, and that turns out to be Nina Warner. Nina is pretty and nice, and most importantly loves to read. But the school jock calls Alec "bookworm" and he seems to like Nina too. Then to make things worse, other kids start joining the club!

Clements is a great author for school stories. In The Losers Club he does a great job of capturing those first feelings of interest in girl/boy relationships. He also will give you a terrific list of books to read as Alec and his reading buddies talk about the titles they love. I hope you enjoy this RICBA Nominee for 2019.

Review by Mrs. Castro

Monday, August 27, 2018

The Trail by Meika Hashimoto

The Trail by Meika Hashimoto is another RICBA Nominee for 2019. It is about a boy named Toby who is attempting to hike a section of the Appalachian Trail.... alone. He has run away from his grandmother and he knows she will be worried about him. He's frightened a lot of the time. There are bears in the woods and he feels bad luck seems to follow him wherever he goes. But, he is one determined boy. Can he succeed in accomplishing the goal he set with his best friend Lucas? Lucas, who should be hiking right along with him, but is not.

I love hiking and have traveled most of the trails in Rhode Island, so this book appealed to me. I like how Toby faces his fears when he is feeling completely overwhelmed, always trying to remember the rules of survival he learned from Lucas's father. I also enjoyed the characters Toby meets along the way, the other hikers, and a very hungry dog who needs a friend just as much as Toby does.

Review by Mrs. Castro

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Sidetracked by Diana Harmon Asher

Sidetracked by Diana Harmon Asher is a Rhode Island Children's Book Award Nominee for 2019.  Joseph, is a student who has difficulty paying attention in school. He is in 7th grade and has trouble making friends because he is different. His resource teacher Mrs. T. encourages him to sign up for the track team. A new girl in school, Heather joins the team too. Together they face the rigors of preparing for a competitive sport and the bullies that seem to dominate in all schools.

Oh wow! I loved this book. The characters are so likable, and well developed by the author that you will feel you know Joseph and Heather. Joseph has Attention Deficit Disorder and Asher seems to know just what it is like to be easily distracted. Full of humor and heart, this is an excellent read aloud for the start of school. This book encourages empathy, a respect for differences, and an understanding of what it is like to struggle to succeed. A great "do your best" lesson.

Review by Mrs. Castro

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Perez

The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Perez is the 2018 Kids Read Across Rhode Island book. The book is about a girl named Maria Luisa, but she likes to be called Malu. Malu calls her mom SuperMexican, because she feels that her mother pushes her to speak Spanish and wants her to learn about her Mexican background. When Malu has to move away from her dad and live with her mother in Chicago for two years, she is not happy. Some of the kids at her new school are not nice and they call her a "coconut", brown on the outside, white on the inside. They make fun of her because her Spanish isn't fluent and she dresses like a punk rocker. Malu struggles to fit in at her new school and still follow the first rule of punk, "Be yourself."

Sprinkled throughout the book are references to Punk music, which Malu loves, and copies of her zines. Malu's zines are small books she creates with text, drawings, and pictures cut from magazines. Malu uses the zines to explain how she is feeling. I thought this book was very interesting. I think you will enjoy how tough and resilient Malu is as she fights to find her place in the world. It would make a great beginning of the year Read Aloud for teachers. I am sure many students will want to create their own zines about their family cultures as an extension activity.

Review by Mrs. Castro