Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis is a winner of the Coretta Scott King award and a 2008 Newbery Honor book.  This story has a great mix of adventure, danger, and heart.  Elijah is an eleven year old boy living in Canada.  He was born in Canada after his parents fled from America to escape slavery.  Although he's never known what it was like to live like a slave, the adults who surround him all carry the weight of their past.  Elijah describes himself as a "fragile" boy.  He often runs into the woods hollering if something frightens him.  Before the story is over you will learn how Elijah must find his courage in order to help his friends and play his own part in helping someone find freedom.

Christopher Curtis does a great job bringing Elijah and his family to life.  As a reader, I really cared about what would happen to Elijah.  I found myself frightened for him, and even moved to tears as Elijah struggles to grow up and be brave.  If you enjoy historical fiction and adventure, you should check this one out!

Reviewed by Mrs. Castro

The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place by E.L. Konigsburg

The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place by E.L. Konigsburg is a story about a 12 year old girl named Margaret Rose.  When we first meet Margaret she is at summer camp.  Margaret is bullied and picked on at camp until her Uncles come to her rescue. What Margaret does not know is her Uncles have been dealing with some bullies of their own, and they're going to need Margaret's help just as much as she needed their help.  I really liked this book.  Margaret is such a gutsy strong character I could not help cheering her on.  I could tell you more about this book, but in Margaret's own words, "I prefer not to."  ; )  I guess you'll have to read it for yourself!

Reviewed by Mrs. Castro

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, by Tom Angleberger

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, by Tom Angleberger is an entertaining book about a group of 6th grade friends.  The entire book is a series of stories written by members of the group.  Each friend tells his story about the advice they were given by Origami Yoda, a finger puppet made and worn by Dwight.  Dwight is an odd, but likable character, who seems to enjoy being different even though it often gets him trouble with both his friends and the teachers.  This book is the winner of the 2012 Rhode Island Children Book Awards.  That means, a lot of students read it, and liked it enough to vote for it.  Why don't you check it out?

Reviewed by Mrs.Castro

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda is a really good book.  It's funny and has hilarious characters.  The main characters are Dwight, Tommy, Harvey, Rhondella, Sara and Keller.  They are also creative.  The book is about a kid who makes an origami version of Yoda and is answering questions for everyone.  It takes place in an average middle school.  The author's message is that everyone is different.  You'll get the message as you read it.  I would recommend this book for people who like comedy.

Reviewed by Coollegoguy

Anything but Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin

Anything but Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin is one of those books that you start reading and can't stop.  The book is about Jason, a 12 year old autistic boy who likes a girl that he met online.  The author does an amazing job of getting inside the head of her character and letting the reader understand the world from his point of view.  Jason is not typical and when you begin reading, you may think you and he have nothing in common.  However as you continue to read, you find out you really aren't that different from Jason.  If you've ever worried about fitting in, or how other people think about you, this is a wonderful read.

Reviewed by Mrs. Castro

The Shadows by Jacqueline West

The Shadows by Jacqueline West is the first book in a new series, The Books of Elsewhere.  I really enjoyed this book.  The main character, Olive moves into a new home on Linden Street with her super smart, mathematician parents.  The McMartin's were the former owners of the home, and they've left behind all of their furniture and their three cats.  Olive soon finds out this is not a normal house and there is absolutely nothing normal about the strange paintings that hang on the walls and refuse to be removed.  And wait, did something just move inside that picture???  Follow Olive into a new world, Elsewhere... if you dare.

Reviewed by Mrs. Castro

The Books of Elsewhere first book is The Shadows.  It is a book that will have you at the edge of your seat biting off all your nails down to the nub just to find out what happens next. When Olive Dunwoody moves into a large, stone house on Linden Street, she finds out the house is keeping secrets. She also finds out about the three cats and the paintings that won’t come off the walls in the hallway! And what about everything else in this house? Or what about Elsewhere?  Like it says on the back of the book, “This house is keeping secrets . . . be careful where you look!”

Reviewed by parrotcarrots

 

Young Fredle by Cynthia Voight

Young Fredle by Cynthia Voight is a sweet book about a little kitchen mouse.  Poor Fredle (rhymes with metal) eats too much chocolate and gets kicked out of the nest because he's sick.  This is where Fredle's adventures begin.    As the reader you get to discover the world through Fredle's eyes, as he sees grass, and birds, and the stars for the first time.  Much of the world is very dangerous for a fat little kitchen mouse, so Fredle has to learn quickly how to survive without his family to rely on.  My favorite character in the book is Sadie.  She's one of the two dogs that live in Fredle's house.  She is ditsy and funny, and becomes a good friend to Fredle.  I'll bet you love her too!
Cynthia Voight's website
Reviewed by Mrs. Castro

Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin

Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin is one of the 2012 Newbery honor books.  It has illustrations that remind me of the Hugo Cabret book.  For those of you looking for a quick read, this is a good one.  The book takes place in Russia during the time of Stalin.  This was a very dangerous time to live in Russia when many people were locked up and executed by the government.  Sasha, the boy in the story has to face life without a mother, and the imprisonment of his father.  The story is very gripping and moves the reader quickly through Sasha's tough and frightening times.

Reviewed by Mrs. Castro

Artemis Fowl and the Time Paradox by Eoin Colfer

The series of Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer is about the life of a billionaire kid.  Artemis Fowl and the Time Paradox faces a dilemma; his mom has to go to the hospital because of an internal organ eating disease.   I can’t recall the name of the disease.  (I really don’t get how she gets the sickness or if it is real, but otherwise just go with it).  Before his mom got sick, he went to Ireland where he met a fairy and captured it.  He was with his friends (Holly and Butler, the security guard).  They try to help do whatever they can to find a cure.  This reminds me of the time my mom came down with the flu.  She got better but it did take a while.   I would recommend this book to anyone that likes fiction, or if you like weird and awesome young adult books.

Reviewed by Deathninja

Heroes Don't Run by Harry Mazer

Heroes Don’t Run is a book by Harry Mazer that takes place in 1994. In the story the main character, Adam Pelko is the son of a lieutenant. Follow Adam through boot camp, war, and find out if he goes home hurt or if he fights through till the end.  I would recommend this book to a friend that likes books about war.  A personal connection I made was how my Pepa was in World War 2.  I wonder what it was like to be in a war like them.

Reviewed by :sk8551

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai is one of the 2012 Newbery Award Honor books.  (It is a very fast read, for those of you trying to finish your 25 books this year!)  It is written in a poetry format.  It is a fiction book, but the story line follows the author's own life story pretty closely.  In the book, the main character is a young girl growing up in Saigon, during the Vietnam war.  She ends up making it out safely with her mother and brothers, to end up living in Alabama.  The story lets you feel how difficult it would be to move from one country to another, be the new kid in school, and the first Asian the other children had ever seen.  There is a definite bullying theme that runs throughout the book.  Read it to find out how the character survives and adapts to her new home.

Reviewed by Mrs. C.