Monthly Archives: November 2013

Book Review: Beautiful Darkness, by Margaret Stohl & Kami Garcia

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beautiful_darkness_coverEthan Wate and Lena Duchannes grew closer and closer in the first book in this series, Beautiful Creatures, when they tried to ward off evil spirits. After the horrifying night of Lena’s Sixteenth Moon, they are not looking forward to another battle. Unfortunately, they soon learn that Lena will have to face another Claiming, when a Caster decides to be Light or Dark.

They start to worry and try to find answers, but the Seventeenth Moon gets nearer and they start to give up. Just when things are bad enough, Lena starts to pull away. Ethan is angry, but more confused, when he sees her with another guy. He and his friends try to find Lena and save her from her depression, when she thinks she is going Dark. He tries to think positive. Maybe this isn’t the end for them, but maybe it is.

This is the second book of the Beautiful Creatures Saga. In this book, they meet some new friends and uncover some dangerous secrets. It was a really entertaining book. I couldn’t put it down. Every chance I got, I would read. The authors leave great cliffhangers at the end of chapters. I was really surprised at some parts. When the story ended, I was sad because it was so good. I’m happy there is another book in the series, though. I hope everyone else loves this book as much as I do.

-Sabrina C., 8th grade

Book Review: Voyage of the Beagle, by Charles Darwin

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voyage_beagle_coverOver the summer, my family visited the Galapagos Islands. Fascinated by the diversity of the animals and ecosystems, I came home and read Voyage of the Beagle by Charles Darwin.

The entire book documents the second voyage of HMS Beagle, which sailed around the world visiting different lands. The original purpose of the voyage was to survey the coasts of South America. While the seamen surveyed, Darwin would embark on land to observe the geography and wildlife. Based on the observations of animal diversity, Charles Darwin eventually developed his theory of evolution. Famed for its controversial ideas, his newly published book quickly gained fame.

Darwin’s story begins in 1821. The entire book consists of multiple journal entries, each documenting his observations of the surrounding geology and ecosystems. Similar to a scientific journal, Darwin describes the fine details of many plants and animals. Besides his botanical reports, the story is much like any other entertaining novel. After all, Darwin did circumnavigate the globe, exploring relatively uncharted regions.

Galapagos Islands

photo of Galapagos Islands birds by flickr user Michael R. Perry

Even though Charles Darwin didn’t think of his theory of evolution during the journey, it is clear that his thought process was hinting towards it. For example, Darwin stated that it seemed as though the animals there were merely a modified version of a previous creature. Reading this book, I could really tell that Charles Darwin was a very intelligent person. His skills in observation and deduction are considerable for a person in his twenties. He has a very distinct personality that shows in his book, particularly influenced by the time period in which this was written.

Considering the scientific importance and the controversy, Voyage of the Beagle is an excellent read for everyone. Although the language is almost two centuries old, most of the sections are fairly easy to understand. Sometimes I skimmed over the botanic studies and documentations, but most of the book was still adventurous enough for me. So, if you want to learn how the idea of evolution came to life, this exotic adventure is perfect for you.

-Phillip X., 8th grade

Book Review: Willow, by Julia Hoban

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willow_coverThe book Willow by Julia Hoban is a very touching story. Personally I think you would have to be mature enough to read this book– it’s definitely not for all ages. The background of the story is that this girl Willow was out with her parents and her parents had a drink or two and they couldn’t drive, so they have Willow drive. Willow drives down this road in the rain and spins off the road and crashes into a tree, which kills both of her parents but she is still alive and has to live with her older brother and his wife or girlfriend and their daughter.

This girl Willow has to go to a new school and she cuts herself to release her pain. Her brother doesn’t know that, but she does because she can’t stand her stress and pain, so she cuts herself with a blade or anything she can find. One day she bumps into this guy and she tries to get away from him, but he finds her stash of blades in her backpack and she tries to stop him from telling her brother, but he has this sense where he needs to help her stop and can she trust him and let go of her blades? Or does she ignore his help and continue?

Personally I love this book; it gave me a new view of life and the pain people put themselves through to feel better, and it was really sad but a real eye-opener. I found out about this book because I was at the bookstore and I saw it on the shelf and I thought, “this seems interesting,” so I went to my public library and got it. I think it’s an amazing book, but I think 13-year-olds or older can read this, because you have to be really mature.

-Meagan R., 8th grade

Book Review: Half-Moon Investigations, by Eoin Colfer

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half_moon_investigations_coverHalf-Moon Investigations, a mysterious detective story by Eoin Colfer, is about a boy named Fletcher Moon who walks straight into the wrong fighting ring.  The story starts out with Fletcher Moon, private eye, coming to school ten minutes early to find out he should have quit his detective business for good.  He walks into a fighting ring with a Sharkey fighting in it.

Now the Sharkey family is a rule-breaker family.  If there ever was a rule that was to be broken, the Sharkeys would go far out of their way just to break it.

This time in the fighting ring there was the tallest, biggest kid in the school and Herod Sharkey.  They were in a headlock waiting for Mr. Detective Fletcher to show up. They then send Fletcher on a life-changing case.

Fletcher believes he has solved the case, but every afternoon he is asked to visit a different person’s house.  He is working for many people when he discovers his badge is missing.  At this point in the story, I think the Mission Impossible theme song should begin.  There is a conspiracy appearing behind all of the smiling, innocent faces.  Fletcher goes out on his own exploration turning away from FBI to CSI.  He finds himself in the hospital the next morning with a small concussion and a broken wrist.  He is not done yet with his new CSI job.  He creeps out of the hospital only to find himself back in the hospital hours later with a burnt-out torch in his hand.  What is happening?  Fletcher makes an unlikely friend, is treated differently, and uses his smarts to solve the mystery.

He gets his badge back, mentors another detective-in-training, and is a hero to new friends and an enemy to old.  As a film, I would recommend the song Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson during the credits, because it reflects how Fletcher feels during the entire book.

I think Eoin Colfer did a fantastic job with this book!  I have his Artemis Fowl series, and I found a few connections between the different genres.  I love the detective aspect of this story, and Mr. Colfer wrote as though he was the detective.  I would definitely rate this book a 10 out of 10 for its wonderful detective characteristic and the superbly written story.

-Maya S., 6th grade

Movie Review & Book List: Gravity, with Sandra Bullock & George Clooney

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gravity_posterRecently I watched the movie Gravity in which Sandra Bullock and George Clooney are the main characters. In the beginning Sandra and George are in a space station. They are just doing routine check ups on the ship until they get a warning. The warning says that a foreign satellite broke and pieces of it are moving rapidly across the atmosphere. It was going to hit them! Sure enough it hits the ship and SPOILER ALERT—- kills George and another guy on the ship. Sandra is the only survivor, but does she have the equipment to get home? Will she ever see her home again?

I personally thought that this movie wasn’t dynamic enough. Example, in the trailer it was full of action, but the movie was filled with action for 15 minutes. The rest of the movie after the ship wreck was very dull and boring. But many people older than me thought this movie was very engaging and fun. All I know is it didn’t appeal to me. I wouldn’t say don’t see it. But I would say do not waste your money to watch it in theater. Just wait for it to come on dvd. I think many people of my age group, 7-15 years, would find this movie to be boring, because most people my age like action. But is you are not the total-action type or the Avengers kind you might have an interest in watching this movie.

All in all I would rate this movie a 6.5/10. It lacked many things to my mind. Gravity disappointed me… but just in case you’re a fan and would like some book recommendations that pair well with this movie, I recommend the following:

  • Space, by Roger Reid
    Fourteen-year-old Jason accompanies his father to the annual reunion of long-time science colleagues at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and finds himself involved in a dangerous and complicated mystery.
  • Geronimo Stilton #52: Mouse in Space!
    When an evil professor begins threatening New Mouse City with terrible inventions, Geronimo Stilton is enlisted by local authorities to embark on a top-secret mission to outer space to thwart a nefarious plot.
  • Space Pilot Connor Grant, by Todd Templeman
    In a future that embraces humanity’s desire to explore and exploit the Solar System, raiding pirates have managed to hide their enormous strange base somewhere inside it. Space Pilot Connor Grant is about to learn just how immense it can be out there.

-Satej B., 7th grade

Book Review: Starlight, by Erin Hunter

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warriors_starlight_coverOut of all the ten books I have read of the Warriors series, this one was my most favorite. Starlight, by Erin Hunter, is a story about wild cats that move into a new home. They have to learn how to survive in surroundings that are much different from their past home, as the forest is now being destroyed by Twolegs (humans).

The four clans of warrior cats– Thunderclan, Windclan, Shadowclan, and Riverclan– try to settle in their new home by seeking food, shelter, and boundaries to set up defenses to protect their own territories. When the Windclan leader dies and there is no place for the clans to speak with Starclan, the clans’ warrior ancestors, the cats think that all hope is lost. But one certain character will not give up in order to unite the clans together. Will Brambleclaw succeed or will chaos take over?

Throughout the whole Warriors series, I have grown to love the main characters’ personalities. All of the cats are very skilled warriors who are caring, courageous, honorable, and selfless. In addition, they fight like leaders to protect each of their clans. There are many scenes in the book when the warrior cats fight and this is what made Starlight so fast-paced. The suspense made me want to keep reading to the next chapter and I couldn’t put the book down! In my opinion, I would rate this book an eight out of ten and would recommend it to kids ages ten to sixteen who enjoy fantasy and action.

-Riley W., 6th grade

The Fantasy Genre: Helpful or Not?

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harry_potter_kazu_kibuishi

Cover art by Kazu Kibuishi for the 15th anniversary edition of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

In an article published last month in The Telegraph, author Joanna Trollope declares the fantasy genre to be less “helpful” than the classics. I disagree with her assertion but I understand why she finds the fantasy genre to be less helpful than classic novels. A quote by another author, Neil Gaiman, summarizes what I learned from the article:

“Well-meaning adults can easily destroy a child’s love of reading: stop them reading what they enjoy, or give them worthy-but-dull books that you like, the 21st-century equivalents of Victorian “improving” literature. You’ll wind up with a generation convinced that reading is uncool and worse, unpleasant.”

This quote reveals the possible consequences of dragging children away from the fantasy genre. I believe that Trollope means well by wanting children to challenge themselves with classic novels, but forcing children away from the fantasy genre will only hurt them. Readers of all ages, especially children need the fantasy genre to show them that there is so much more to our world than it appears. However, regardless of what children choose to read, is important to encourage them to continue to read.

Yet, I believe that the fantasy genre can facilitate much more imagination and intelligence than classic novels are able to. I believe that the fantasy genre is, in fact, more helpful than the classics. While I love both classic novels and fantasy novels, I find that fantasy novels are much more helpful to me than classics are. To me, they are more relatable and frankly much more interesting.

A fantasy title that has helped me grow and learn is the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. These novels have left such a profound impression upon me and they have become a part of me. They offered me an entire universe to explore and escape to. They have shown me love, hope, and even death. They have done more for me than any other novel of any other genres have.

The fantasy genre is quite commonly dismissed like the way we see in this article, but those who read the genre know that it is so much more than escapism. It allows the reader to see the world in a different way. A quote that exemplifies this is:

“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten” – G.K. Chesterton

This quote is important because it emphasizes the very essence of fairy tales and the fantasy genre as a whole. They inspire and give hope to the reader. They make them believe in not only magic or monsters but in themselves. The fantasy genre provides a whole new world for readers of all ages. Through fantastical lands and creatures, they are exposed to new points of view and experiences that they are not able to gain from any other genre. The fantasy genre is essential for readers because it shows them that there is more to life than their own life.

-Sarah B., 12th grade

Book Review: Ostrich Boys, by Keith Gray

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ostrich_boys_coverWhen their best friend, Ross, accidentally bikes in the path of an oncoming car and gets hit, Blake, Kenny, and Sim are devastated. At Ross’ memorial service, when no one seems to be incredibly sad, Blake, Kenny and Sim become angry; first spraying graffiti on their History Teacher’s house, and then another classmate’s house, in retribution for the way those people had treated Ross in life. Now, the three boys turn off their cell phones, steal Ross’ ashes, run and the story’s narrative is set.

In Ostrich Boys, by Keith Gray, the three protagonists start from their hometown in England, and escape from their parents, taking Ross’ ashes with them to give Ross a proper burial in Ross, Scotland. On their journey, the boys learn how to accept each other, and experience many heart pounding and exciting moments, only to find the FBI looking for them, and to uncover a shocking truth.

Ostrich Boys is one of those books you will want to read just by glancing at the front cover and title. Although this book is not on the popular radar, I would definitely recommend it. However, this book is probably only for teens 13 or 14 and older. Ostrich Boys is a find and one you will likely enjoy.

-Will R., 9th grade

Book Review: Out of My Mind, by Sharon Draper

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out_of_my_mind_coverOut of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper is a beautiful novel about a special eleven-year-old girl named Melody. She is extremely smart, and has an incredible memory. Despite all the amazing qualities that Melody has, nobody is aware of them. They all think that she is not capable of learning anything. But, why is that? – Melody cannot walk or talk or write because she has a condition called Cerebral Palsy.

Once Melody turned five she was enrolled into a school. Melody was not with the “typical” kids. Instead, she was in a special program for children with special needs. She had been in the program for five years. Now she is in 5th grade and is eleven. Melody does not like the fact that she cannot express what she wants to say. After some online research, she discovers a device called the Medi-Talker. The device just needs to be controlled by thumbs, which she is very much capable of. She asks her parents for the Medi-Talker. Would her parents say yes to it, will she be able to use and communicate like she always wanted to? Well, you have to read this heartwarming book to find out her great achievements despite her limitations.

I loved this book! It had been such a long time since I read a good book like this. My favorite part was Melody’s positive spirit despite all she had been through with her life. I would recommend it to anybody who needs an uplifting story like this.

-Anmol K., 7th grade

Book Review: Circle of Cranes, by Annette LeBox

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circle_of_cranes_coverAsian legends about cranes and real life in New York during 1999 and 2000 are two subjects I would find very interesting to be in the same story. In this book, Circle of the Cranes by Annette LeBox, the author masterfully combines the two to create an amazing tale that is both rooted in truth and fiction,

The story is about a thirteen-year-old orphan girl by the name of Suyin who is sent away to New York by her Chinese village. Her life is far from easy in New York. She works in a sweetshop earning barely pennies each day. She also finds about her connections with an ancient Crane Sisterhood that is high above the earth in a place called He-Shan. She goes through the trials and trouble both with the Sisterhood and in New York. Suyin perseveres through all of this and eventually the good things start to happening.

It books is personally one of my favorites of a combination of real life and legends. Suyin is just a normal 13-year-old girl but she seems so much older. Some stories I have read have a really hard time with combining Chinese legends with American history due to the fact that they are barely related to each other. This book pulled it off amazingly. All the characters were well created and fleshed out in a way that you get to know them really well and they seem to come to life.

Other than Suyin, my favorite character is a boy named Pang because he is a normal boy who plays a large part in the story. His personality makes him very likeable too. This book deals with the fact of unfair labor laws and there is somethings that only slightly more mature teenagers might be able to understand. Well, for me this is a great book to read but you might think differently– so read it for yourself.

-Sarah J., 8th grade