Hoop Girlz by Lucy Jane Bledsoe

In Hoop Girlz by Lucy Jane Bledsoe, River is obsessed with basketball. She would love to be in the WNBA when she grows up. One day River decides to tryout for the school team. River is heartbroken when she finds out that she does not make the A-team, but her best friend, Kammie did. The coach tells River she has potential and she is put on the B-team. The B-team is certainly inferior to the A-team until River’s brother becomes the coach of it. Later on, The A-team and the B-team play against each other in a tournament. Will the B-team win? Will River win MVP of the tournament? Read the book to find out!

I really enjoyed this book because of how River dealt with not making it on the A-team.  It really was a tragedy to her and she totally dealt with the situation in a calm, mature manner.  I can relate to this story because there are teams that I have tried out for that I did not make, and like River, It only made me try harder for the next time.

Reviewed by: AthleticGirl08

Brave Like My Brother by Marc Tyler Nobleman

Brave Like My Brother by Marc Tyler Nobleman is a 2018 RICBA Nominee. This is a story told through the letters that Joe sends to Charlie, his little brother. Joe is a soldier stationed in England after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. He is going through training and Joe's letters takes the reader right up to the day before D-Day when the Allied troops invaded Normandy to fight against the Nazis.

This is also a story about an older brother who is trying to help his little brother with his own battle against the bullies that bother him at school. The book has plenty to offer, especially to war buffs. I especially liked that the story was told through letters and I would advise you not to skip the author's note at the end, it was very interesting and informative.

Reviewed by Mrs. Castro

The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher by Dana Alison Levy

The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher by Dana Alison Levy is a RICBA nominee for 2017. This is a story of a family of all boys, four kids and two dads. They are a lively, loving family and I enjoyed reading about their school year. The boys all have various problems they are dealing with; new school, tough assignment, imaginary friends. I loved the family traditions the family Fletcher have, like making a hockey rink in the back yard when it's cold enough and their big annual Halloween party. Although things often fall apart a bit, like the ice rink collapses, or the party gets rained out, they find a way together to make everything better. It is a touching story about what it is like to be part of a family.

Mrs. Castro

Sunny Side Up by Jennifer L. Holm

Sunny Side Up by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm is a very good book. I like the book because there is this girl named Sunny. She is on a summer vacay with her grandpa. Her grandpa took her to Disney world. She didn't think that it was going to be a good idea because her brother is kind of a troublemaker.  The book was very intense.

This book is really good I love it and my favorite part is when Sunny was at a New Year's party, when her brother hit her in the face and she started crying. She couldn't believe that her brother hit her in the face. He hit her because she didn’t take his side and give him an excuse for being late. That was when the book got really intense. Will they work it out?       READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT!    

#1 CAM NEWTON FAN

Brother From a Box by Evan Khulman

Brother From a Box by Evan Khulman  is a great book, especially if you're looking for a good adventure story with humor. Either way this story is about a boy named Matt, who gets a robot shipped from France that looks almost exactly like him. Matt needs his robot brother Norman, which is what Matt named the robot, to be able to fit in like the rest of the kids. Matt wants him to go to school, do normal things and speak English, not French like Norman first did. But there are a few issues, Matt and Norman encounter many problems as they try to fit in. When Matt seems to look out for his robot brother Norman, this reminds me of how I look out for my brother. Also this reminds me of when a new kid goes into a new school and has to try to fit in with the other kids in his school. I would suggest you read this book. It is a fun read and I enjoyed reading it. I hope you do as well.

Reviewed by: Right Twix or Left Twix

The Swift Boys and Me by Kody Keplinger

The Swift Boys and Me by Kody Keplinger is a RICBA nominee for 2016.  It is a very touching story of a young girl named Nola and her three neighbors Brian, Canaan, and Kevin Swift. Right at the beginning of the summer, Nola witnesses Mr. Swift, the boys' father driving away from the duplex where they live. Nola soon finds out something is very wrong next door. Nola expects the summer to be filled with fun with her three best friends, just like every summer she can remember. But this summer is a turning point in all of their lives, one where the children get caught up in problems they can't control.

I fell in love with the tragic story of Nola and Canaan. It is the story of a childhood romance, with raw emotions and true feelings, a real tearjerker. Keplinger does a terrific job giving her characters voice. When you finish the book you will feel like all the kids in the neighborhood are people you know and care about.

Reviewed by Mrs. Castro

The Swift Boys and Me by Kody Keplinger is a great story of a girl named Nola and her neighbors Brian, Canaan, and Kevin Swift and what they go through one summer. One night, Nola sees Mr. Swift ( the boy’s father)  drive away from their house. Everyone wasn't quite sure if he was ever coming back. But Nola discovers something that everyone else doesn't know. While her neighbors deal with their own problem, Nola has to deal with all sorts of new things happening in her life. Read this story to find out more!

I thought this book was awesome and I enjoyed reading this story very much! I recommend this book for grades 4-6. I love the author’s type of writing style too! The characters in this book remind me very much of other characters I have read about before, such as the main characters in Drama. If you haven’t read this book, you will enjoy it as much as I did!

Reviewed By: bubblegum-yum

The Swift Boys and Me by Kody Keplinger is a very heartwarming and emotional story about a girl named Nola who lives in a duplex with three boys named Kevin, Brian, and Cannan. One morning she witnesses their father drive away and never come back. Turns out the wave he gave her was a bigger goodbye than the boys ever got.

     I loved this story. There were ups, downs, sad and funny, but most of all touching moments. This book is great for any 6th or 7th grader. My favorite part was when Nola, Kevin, and Cannan snuck into their neighbor's yard and jumped on his trampoline without asking and used Kevin as a lookout! This book reminds me of when me and my friend got in a big fight and didn’t talk for a while but we are best friends now. Go check out this book for an amazing experience you'll never forget!

Reviewed by Cupcake _22

The Swift Boys & Me by Kody Keplinger is about a girl named Nola and the boys that live next door.  Nola tries to solve a problem to get her and the boys to be friends again and also to try to fix everything with their dad. There was some trouble with the boys. One of them is  sleeping at his friend’s house. One of the other brothers is being friends with the boys that bully Nola. Will he realize that he’s wrong and stand up for her against the bullies? Will he apologise for being mean to Nola and will she still be mad at him? Follow Nola on the amazing journey to get her friend’s dad back and face many crazy challenges!

It is a great book with a bunch of topics; drama, bullying, sadness, happiness. But it kind of is like real life because bullies, drama, feelings, sadness, and happiness are all a part of a regular life. This reminds me of a time me and a friend got into a fight. I think this is a good book for 4-6th graders because some people deal with this stuff every day.

Reviewed by dance star 13

Kinda Like Brothers by Coe Booth

Kinda Like Brothers by Coe Booth was raw and gritty. Dealing with sensitive issues like mental health, foster care, homelessness and child abuse it is for the mature reader. That being said, the author weaves a realistic picture of life in the inner city of Newark, NJ. One of this year's RICBA nominees, Kinda Like Brothers tells the story of Jarrett, an 11 year old boy who lives with his mother. She is a foster mother and takes in babies who need special care. When she decides to foster 12 year old Kevon and his baby sister Treasure it is a new situation for Jarrett. He's gotten used to his mother caring for babies, but sharing his room, his school, and his friends with Kevon proves more than he can handle. Jarrett's blood is boiling and his temper is pushing him out of control.

Reviewed by Mrs. Castro

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick was an exciting book to read. This historical fiction book will definitely appeal to students who love adventure and are war buffs. Philbrick writes a lively tale about Homer, whose older brother Harold is illegally sworn into the Union Army by their crabby Uncle. Homer runs away to find his brother and bring him home. I really like Homer's personality. He is quite the storyteller and it's funny when he misleads the adults he encounters on his quest. As entertaining as this book was, it actually takes the Civil War battle scenes to an intense level. Be prepared to have your heart gallop along for the ride!                                                                                                                                    
Reviewed by Mrs. Castro                                                                                                                    

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander is about twins whose whole lives revolve around basketball. The older twin, Filthy MCnasty, and JB, his younger brother are both basketball stars. Their dad went to the world championships when he was younger and when he was doing a slam dunk, he hurt his knee. He could have had surgery for the injury but he decided not to. That was the end of his career and he never competed again. Skip foward years now and he is teaching his twins to be basketball prodigies.

One day in school JB finds a new girl walking in the cafeteria, and she is a basketball player too. Filthy MCnasty doesn’t approve of “Miss Sweet Tea”, the new girl, aka JB’s girlfriend. He starts spending all his time with her and he starts skipping practices and games. Meanwhile, the twins dad starts getting sick and he won't do anything about it. Will the twins make up and go to the championships? Is their dad going to be ok? What will happen to Miss Sweet Tea?

This book is both intense and caring. I give this book four and a half stars because the detail is AMAZING and you can feel the tense times the character goes through. You feel and live what is written on these pages. I like this book because it reminds me of the hard times but you will make it on the other side eventually, because life gets better.

-amazinga142

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander is the well deserved winner of the 2015 Newbery Award.   Wow, what a great book!  Told in poetry that is bold and powerful, this book sings!  The author tells the story of twin brothers who are basketball stars on their school team.  Lots of fast action on the court will thrill basketball fans.  The book goes deeper than basketball, because what is happening on the court reflects the complications of life off court.  Drive toward the hoop with this heart hammering winner of a book.  I finished it in a single reading.  Could not put it down!

Reviewed by Mrs. Castro

Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool

Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool is one of the 2015 Rhode Island Children Book Award Nominees.  Vanderpool has also written Moon Over Manifest, a Newbery Award book.   Navigating Early is a true adventure story that takes place in the mountains of Maine.  In Vanderpool's story, her character, Early Auden is fascinated with the story that the number pi (3.14...) tells him, about a boy named Pi.  When Jack Baker moves to Maine from Kansas, to attend a boarding school for boys after his mother's death, Early and Jack become friends.  Both of the boys have had to face the loss of beloved family members, Jack's mother, and Early's brother.  The story of Pi is set within the story of Early and Jack.  Early and Jack set out on a quest together to search for Pi, who is missing.  The quest is a dangerous one.  The boys will be threatened by frightening gun-toting men, hunted by dogs,  and faced with a huge bear.  Can the boys survive the wilderness and find what they have lost?  Read Navigating Early to decide if you want to vote for it in February of 2015.

At the end of the story the author references Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant: A Memoir by Daniel Tammet.  I was glad that I had already read this book and remember how fascinated I was by the author, who saw numbers in colors and sizes and shapes, just like Early Auden.   If you are interested in understanding someone who thinks differently than you, you can listen to Daniel Tammet giving a talk about how he sees numbers and words.  He shows paintings that express how numbers, including pi, look to him.

Reviewed by Mrs. Castro

Deep Zone by Tim Green

Tim Green, author of many sport books, published Deep Zone. I think this is a great book.  Not only because it’s a sports book, but it’s got other interesting parts in it.  It starts in New Jersey, but Ty won his state championship and had to go to Florida for the national championship.  Will Ty have any problems, or will it all go smoothly for him?  Will he survive?  You will find out if he survives if you read the book Deep Zone.  

Reviewed by CR4ZY WINNER

If you like football books, then Deep Zone by Tim Green is the book for you!  The main characters are Ty and Thane Lewis.  Ty is the brother of an NFL superstar, Thane Lewis.  Thane is an All-American wide receiver for the New York Jets.  But, behind the scenes Ty and Thane’s Uncle has been working with criminals and has exploited them.  Now they are after Ty and His Uncle.  Then… disaster strikes, going up for a catch Thane comes down hard and he tears his ACL and MCL in his knee.  Now with Thane in the hospital there is no one to protect Ty.  What will happen?  Will Ty survive?  Will Thane ever play football again?  Read the book to find out.  I truly recommend this book.

Reviewed By: KingJames23

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann is a terrific book.   The main character in the story is Alex, an Unwanted, who has a twin brother, Aaron, a Wanted.  Unwanteds are creative kids who are eliminated from a futuristic world where they live, named Quill.  Yes, eliminated, sent to die in a lake of boiling oil.  Alex is separated from his brother and sent away to meet his end.  Except that he and his friends don't die.  They are taken in by a wise magician who teaches them how to use their creativity and their magic to fight back against the Wanteds (the strong and intelligent people who are controlled by Quill's leaders).  Together the Unwanteds live in a secret, magical place called Artime.  Can Artime and its group of Unwanteds win against the stronger Quillens?  Can Alex recruit his twin brother, or will he have to fight against him?  Read and find out for yourself. I couldn't put this book down.  If you enjoyed reading The Hunger Games, you will be reminded of that series.  I'm hoping this will not be the last book about the Unwanteds.

Reviewed by Mrs. Castro

The Unwanteds was written by Lisa McMann. This book is now in my definite top five favorites. The Unwanteds is an amazing fantasy book that starts in the bland world of Quill under the reign of the evil High Priest Justine.  Every year there is a purge where kids with infractions are sent to their doom to be thrown in the lake of boiling oil. Alex has several infractions and is being sent to the death farm but he finds it's actually the magical world of Artime. This is an amazing book and I DEFINITLY recommend this book.  If you are reading or have already read this book, please tell me if you enjoyed it in the comment section below. 

This review was written by MidgetMayhem

The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney

Diary of a  Wimpy Kid, The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney is funny, weird, and crazy. You should read this because it is about a kid named Greg Heffley and his friend Rowley. It is funny because he was thinking about when he was old and having kids.             

The book is mainly about Greg, Rodrick, Rowley, and the rest of his friends and family. I relate to this book because it is a stupid-funny book. It’s funny because there are scenes that say things like, "Your underwear goes UNDERNEATH your clothes,dad!” then old Greg says, ”eh?” Sometimes, I’m like that. I love this book, and you should like it too.

Reviewed by NinjaHyperx                                                                             


Do you like Diary of a Wimpy Kid books?  If so, you should read The Ugly Truth.  If you haven’t read it yet, go ahead because it is a funny book.  In the book, their mother has to go to work so Rodrick has to make Greg's and Manny's lunch.  So on Greg's bag Rodrick wrote, "Don’t forget to change your diaper".  What will Greg do with his lunch when he gets to school.  I would recommend this book to people who like funny books.

Reviewed by Basketball15

In Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth, Greg is trying to get into a huge party for this guy named Jordan Jury.  But Greg finds out that they were only invited to serve Jordan and the other teens.  I like Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth because it is funny and exciting.  Who knows what will happen next!

Reviewed by footballman62

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke

This book is amazing!  I would totally recommend it any day of the week.  It drops you right in Venice, Italy with Prosper and Bo, two runaway orphans.  They only ran away because of their mother’s stories of Venice.  They join up with the Thief Lord and his gang.  The Thief Lord and gang steal items from the rich to make money to survive, but Prosper does not feel right.  Their Aunt sends a famous detective after them.  Secrets can be dangerous.  The book is edge of your seat exciting!  You will learn something you never would guess about the Thief Lord.  If you liked Harry Potter, you will like this book.  Can you handle it?

Reviewed by Cupcake333

Lost and Found by Andrew Clements

The book ¨Lost and Found¨ by Andrew Clements is about twin boys, Ray and Jay. Jay is sick on the first day of middle school and Ray realizes that one of the files that had all their personal or school information was lost. Once he sees his file he realizes that they put both of the files together. He tells his brother. They play with it and switch staying home every day for a long time. They hide it from friends, their parents and teachers.  Read the book to find out what happens to Ray and Jay.

This book reminds me of the book ¨Trading Faces¨. Trading faces is very similar to this book, ¨Lost and Found¨. In the book ¨Trading Faces¨ two girls switch places to avoid being humiliated.  In ¨Lost and Found¨ they do trade places too.  If you liked one of these books, then you probably will like the other one.

-Kitty4523


In Lost and Found by Andrew Clements, Ray and Jay are new to the town and are starting a new school.  Ray is sick so Jay has to start the first day without his twin.  Back in his old school, everyone had always mistaken Ray as Jay, or Jay as Ray.  Jay was thrilled that Ray wasn’t there, not to be mean, but he knows the first day would be a drag.  Jay quickly discovers a major mistake: no one seems to know that Jay has a twin brother named Ray.  Ray doesn’t have a locker, is not on the attendance list, and doesn’t have a student folder.  Jay wanted to tell them they made a big mistake, but then thinks of a way the mistake would be fun and the lost information would be very useful.  Read the book to know what happens next.  Will Jay and Ray get in trouble, or will nobody notice?  If you love books that are sneaky and mysterious, this book is the right one for you.

 ~Reviewed by Star

Lost and Found by Andrew Clements is a book about twin boys named Jay and Ray. They moved, and now they have to go to a new school. Ray is sick so Jay has to go to the new school alone. When Jay goes to school and arrives. They do attendance and he doesn’t hear Ray’s name. He doesn't hear Ray’s name in any of his other classes either. Later in the story, he finds a note in his lunch bag… it says “Tell the principal that you have a twin brother and he is sick.” He doesn't tell the principal. What’s going to happen next? Read the book to find out.

           I really enjoyed this book. I think everyone should read this. But don’t ever not tell your principal if you have a twin at home who is sick! If you lie, or not tell anyone something important, there are always consequences. This book makes you learn about not lying and telling the truth. The theme if the story is to tell the truth, and to do the right thing.

Reviewed by Dancer022

Football Hero by Tim Green

Football Hero by Tim Green is a good book.  It’s about a boy named Ty who lives with his uncle and aunt.  He wants to join the football team on his birthday so he can be like his bro because his brother is so famous. During a game something happens that is good. You have to read the rest to find out.  I connected to this book because I play football and learned about the mafia in school this year.  This is a book you'll have to look for in the public library.

User name: Mamaluigi35