Ungifted by Gordon Korman

Ungifted by Gordon Korman is a funny cause and effect story.  Ungifted was a RICBA nominee in 2014.  Read it to find out what happens when Donovan, an impulsive likable main character, whacks a statue's butt.  Events are sent "rolling" as Donovan tries to keep from getting into trouble.  The humor of this book lies in the author's ability to keep Donovan dodging, as he tries to avoid one kind of problem or another.  Korman is the author of Swindle and Zoobreak.  Ungifted is similar to each of those books, and like them, it is centered on a group of students trying to navigate the adult world of rules.  Read and enjoy!

Reviewed by Mrs. Castro

Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead

Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead is the third of Stead's books.  I've read the other two, Light, and the Newbery Medal winner, When You Reach Me.  I enjoyed both, but I think Liar and Spy may have just become my favorite.  Stead does a great job creating a cast of very quirky characters.  They instantly become very real to the reader and you care about their struggles.  The story takes place in Brooklyn, NY and alternates between a school setting and an apartment building.  The main character, Georges, has just moved from the home he grew up in, to an apartment nearby because his father was laid off from his job.  As Georges struggles with the bullies in school, his loner status, and his mother's absence, he is distracted by his funny new neighbor Safer.  They start a Spy Club together and begin to keep an eye on one of the mysterious tenants in the apartment building where they live.

I truly loved the characters in this book and Stead does such a masterful job at creating a story line steeped in mystery, that I hesitate to say much about the plot.  I'll just say that there is mystery, danger, friendship, spies, humor and sadness all rolled together in a great story.  Liar and Spy is one of the 2014 RICBA Award Nominees.  You still have time to read it and see if it would get your vote!

Reviewed by Mrs. Castro

Chad and Mal by Stephen McCranie

Chad and Mal by Stephen McCranie is a book I like because it’s funny.  Mal has lots of inventions to make his life better. He made a weather cube to do his chores, so he wouldn’t have to do any work.  My favorite invention is the clock he made to pat him to wake up, but instead while he was working on it, the clock slapped him! Because  Mal wanted to be a scientist kids make fun of him and think he is a nerd, and call him names.  I think it’s a great book to read to people.

Reviewed by Mr.Swagger

The Big One-Oh by Dean Pitchford

The book The Big One-Oh by Dean Pitchford is a Realistic Fiction book about a kid named Charley Maplewood, who is having trouble planning his 10th  birthday. I would recommend this book to people who like stories with a mix of sad, funny, and exiting feelings. Charley and I have one thing in common; we’re both terrible at planning our birthday parties. The setting is in the present at school and at home. Will Charley be able to prepare for his birthday party before time runs out? Read the book and find out!

Reviewed by Green Giant                      

Black Beauty, retold from the original by Anna Sewell

Black Beauty, retold from the original by Anna Sewell.  I think this book was sad because it was about this guy that abused Black Beauty, who was a horse.  And after that they gave Black Beauty to another person and then he treated him nice and sweet.  What I think is that people should stop abusing animals and it’s wrong that they think that it’s cool.  I connected with this book because it was really sad, interesting and it was amazing.  And yes, I would recommend this book. 

Reviewed by WereWolf Lover 82

Comeback Kids: Two Minute Drill by Mike Lupica

Comeback Kids: Two Minute Drill was written by Mike Lupica.  He also wrote Heat. The book is about Chris Conlan and his football team. They are underdogs and they are working toward a championship. I will not tell you the end of the Comeback Kids.  One time my team was an underdog in baseball, and we won a championship game.

Review by HAM8  

Romeo and Juliet Code by Phoebe Stone

Romeo and Juliet Code by Phoebe Stone is truly breathtaking.  Some of the main characters are Felicity, or Flissy and Captain Derek.  Felicity is a young girl when her parents leave her in Maine with her uncle, aunt, and Gram.  Flissy is simply devastated.  When Flissy and Derek become close friends, Flissy falls in love with Derek.  When Derek and Flissy follow Uncle Gideon to a small light house on Peace Island, they see a shocking sight that has been happening the whole time…….  I personally love this book, and if you’re into adventurous, realistic fiction, then this is the book for you.   

Reviewed by Fluffy_PANDA101              

Penny From Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm

Penny From Heaven was written by Jennifer L. Holm. She also wrote the books, Our Only May Amelia, Trouble with May Amelia, and Turtle in Paradise. Two cousins, Penny and Frankie keep getting in trouble. They are always sneaking into people’s houses and looking for antiques. Then one day Penny and Frankie go to their Uncle Dominic’s meat shop and something terrible happens to Penny. If you want to find out what happened to Penny, read the book. Penny has to go to the hospital and has to stay there for a few weeks. Frankie was blaming himself about Penny’s accident. This book was really sad at the end. Then something good happens to Penny. Read the book to find out what happened to Penny. If you like happy endings, this is a good book for you. I truly loved this book. Penny was my favorite character because she is funny and adventurous. This book has to do with family and secrets. I would recommend this book for 5th and 6th graders.

Reviewed by: panda_bear_9

The Bell Bandit by Jacqueline Davies

The Bell Bandit by Jacqueline Davies is a story about two kids, Jessie and Evan.  They go to visit their grandma when they find out that she is in the hospital. So they take her home, then Evan meets this guy named Pete, who was fixing the house because the house was so messed up. In the story their grandma likes to take walks alone, so the kids have to go with her, but they keep losing her. Then the kids find out that someone has taken the New Year’s Eve bell. Where is the bell? Who do you think took the bell? Personally I think that this story is really good. If you like adventure and mystery, then I think this is the book for you. You should read this book to find out who took the New Year’s Eve bell.

Reviewed byUNICORN_madness24   

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Wonder by R.J. Palacio is about the difficulties of a boy with an abnormal face. Everyone keeps judging him and he finally starts going to school. See how he overcomes getting bullied by the people in his school.

The book gives a few life lessons that I really liked. This reminds me of the difficulties of school and how I'm pulling through. One of the life lessons is to be kind to others and people will be kind to you. In other words, treat people the way you want to be treated. Sometimes I get bullied in school by a person that shall not be named, but I have my friends to help me, just like the protagonist in this book.

Review By: robloxjb0007

In this book Wonder by R.J. Palacio, which is a #1 New York Times Bestseller, there is a boy who has a deformed face. He goes to school for the first time and he has to face all the struggles of school and bullies because he is different. It is very difficult for him in the beginning since people at public school aren't used to having someone as different as him there. Read the story to find out more and get a touching feeling in your heart. I really like this book because it is a touching story and really hits a soft part of your heart. It is so meaningful and you should truly read it. Wonder is emotional and is such a great story with great details you just want to keep reading.
Review by Cherryshell

Wonder by R.J. Palacio. is a pretty cool and nice book to read in class or at home for some calm time. I read this book in 4th grade and thought it was very touching and a very calming story. Auggie is a boy who has a not so normal face. His face looks a little weird. but other than that he has some good friends and keeps his Friendships! Wonder was a good book to read. I really think this was really helpful for friendship and bullying. I really think people should read for help on bullying and to not judge people on the way they look on the outside, but what they are like on the inside.
Review By theminecrafter

The book Wonder by R.J. Palacio, is about a boy named Auggie who was born with a deformed face. He starts the fifth grade in a public school for the first time. Auggie faces many challenges along the way, such as bullies, friends, and family. As the school year goes on, Auggie makes some great friends too. Will Auggie continue going to a public school or will he have his mom homeschool him again?

I like this story because it gives me many different feeling as I read it. It made me feel happy, sad, confused, angry, and excited.  I can relate to Via, the older sister because my brother just started school too. He’s in kindergarten but he doesn’t have a facial deformity. Because he just started school, we tend to focus on him more. This doesn’t really bother me as much as it bothers Via though. My family still focuses on me a lot too, just a little less than before, but I’m fine with it.

Reviewed by- #1wonderfan


In the story Wonder, by R.J. Palacio, there is a boy named Auggie. The problem is that Auggie is different than most of the other kids. He has to try to fit in at his new school. It was his first year in a school after being home schooled for his first five years of school. The cause of this problem is that Auggie’s face is deformed. Will he survive middle school?

I thought that the book was very good and had a lot of detail. The author gave me a very vivid picture of the characters and the situations. It was very sad when Auggie had to try and fit in and the other kids wouldn’t accept him.

When I was new at this school, I didn’t know many people. I had to make new friends even though it was a challenge. This made me feel a connection to Auggie.  My first friends were Jack and Will, and one of Auggie’s first friends was Jack Will.

Reviewed by TB12

The book Wonder is by R.J. Palacio. It is about a kid that gets picked on because he has a deformed face. Auggie Pullman had been home schooled until the 5th grade. This kid named Julien is a jerk to Auggie because he is deformed. Auggie made a friend named Jack Will. They also did a project together and got first place. How do you think Auggie is going to end up with the rest of the 5th graders.

I love this book. It  is a really good book that makes you want to read on. I really recommend this book for you. This book reminds me of a kid that does not care what people think of him. It is not right for people to judge you on how you look or feel.  

Review bye Hankdatank25

In Wonder by R.J. Palacio, there's a kid named August with a deformed face. He's been homeschooled all his life because of all his surgeries. His doctor says he doesn't need anymore surgeries for a couple years. His mother is making him go to school this year. He likes the school but there are some issues along the way. Read more to learn about how August survives his new school!

I enjoyed this book because of how it grabbed me and I just couldn't let it go. The story was told by different points of view. I liked August's point of view the most. August is a really nice kid. This book is kind of like the movie A Girl Like You because she gets bullied but keeps it inside. August gets bullied and doesn't tell anyone.

Panda*

Wonder by R.J. Palacio is a fantastic book!  I would go so far as to say it should be required reading for every sixth grade student in both of my schools.  I'm hoping that many of my faculty members will put this book on a list as their next read aloud for their classes.  R.J. Palacio writes from the point of view of different children throughout the book and manages to accurately capture each person's feelings and voice.

Okay, by now you probably want to know what this book is about...  Wonder is a book about a boy who is born with a genetic abnormality that causes his face to be deformed.  His name is August, and through his voice we get to see the world from his point of view.  We learn about how he ignores the staring looks of strangers and the way they avoid touching him.  But we also learn how August has a kindness in him that lets him understand and forgive people.  Read this book and put yourself in the shoes of each of the unforgettable characters in the story.  You will learn some things about them, and about yourself in the process.

Reviewed by Mrs. Castro

Have you wanted to read a book that is sad and funny?  Well then read this description of the book Wonder by R.J Palico, and you will surely want to read the whole book. 

The main characters in the book are Auggie and Via.  Via is Auggies sister.  Auggie is in fifth grade and Via is In high school.  In the story Auggie has some trouble, because he is going to public school for the first time.  I know that this sounds weird but there is more.  Auggie has facial deformities and he is scared he will be made fun of.  I know that I would be scared too.  Would you be scared?  Via is in high school and she is also having some difficulties, and that is making friends and losing friends.  Just like Via, in fifth grade I had some trouble, because some of my friends were not so nice to me.  I made new friends and that is what counts.

This story is phenomenal because of its details and how the author explains the story almost as if it is real.  I really hope that you choose this book because it is just so good!   

Reviewed by MADFOOTBALL

The book Wonder is a tremendous and astonishing book for kids! This book is realistic fiction. The main characters are August, Julian, Summer, and Jack Will. August has facial disabilities and he has been home schooled and now he is starting a real school as a 5^th grader. Read to see what happens to August. I think the message is “treat people the way you want to be treated”! The book can be sad and informational at the same time. I would highly recommend this book!

Reviewed by bigpapi20  

Wonder by R.J Palacio is an amazing book. The book helps you understand why you shouldn’t judge people by their looks. It has so many funny moments and also a lot of it is really sad. If you want to know more, READ IT!

           

This book is a connection to my life because my friend in North Carolina named Garret, has a different face but he still goes to school and a lot of bad things happen to him. He gets bullied. I feel like I am like the character Summer, because I stand up for him.

         

Wonder is a very good book for the 5th graders, because they would understand the meaning of this book. I hope you get to this read book, because it’s an amazing book!

Reviewed by #supercupcake16

Wonder  by RJ. Palacio is a very good book. It’s about a little kid named August. He has a cleft palate. Ok this year is August’s first year of school. He was homeschooled his whole life. In the hallway everyone stares at him all the time. One day the 5th grade boys were making fun of August, so his older sister Via screamed at the kids. But just because someone looks different doesn't mean that they are different. Everyone should be treated the same.

Wonder is a very good book. August’s big sister Via always sticks up for him. You should read this book because it is awesome. August is a regular kid. He plays games, sports, and eats ice cream. If you think about it, everyone is the same, no one is different.

Reviewed by Paw Patrol