Author Archives: Anmol K.

Book Review: The Maze Runner, by James Dashner

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maze_runner_coverThe Maze Runner is a dystopian science fiction novel by James Dashner.

The setting of the book is an actual navigable maze and a group of boys live together in the middle of it. These boys are called Gladers and they have learnt how to work with each other to survive in midst of it. A new boy arrives on the same day of every month through the Box.

One day a boy named Thomas comes, and nobody is alarmed– but after he arrives, many uncanny things start to happen. The next day a girl, who was in a coma, arrives. The two weird things about that were: first, she was a girl and second, the next kid to arrive was supposed to come a month later than Thomas. The next odd event was that the supplies that came weekly stopped coming. People starting suspecting that Thomas was somehow responsible, and he had no clue on how it all happened. The Doors normally closed every night, around the boys’ enclosure to protect them from Grievers, a nocturnal horrible creatures that lived in maze, but after Thomas’s arrival the doors stopped closing at night. After that, Thomas was determined to find a way out of there.

Read the rest of the book to find out if they make it out or not. I enjoyed reading the book and the characters were very interesting. The setting was a bit unusual, but it turned out to be a fine book. The ending was not that good as I was expecting. The action in the beginning of the book was excellent, but sort of fell towards the end.  Otherwise, it was a great book. The Maze Runner perfect for middle and high school students. If you read The Maze Runner and enjoyed it, be sure to look for the next book in the series, The Scorch Trials.

-Anmol K., 6th grade

Book Review: The Mighty Miss Malone, by Christopher Paul Curtis

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mightymissmalone_coverThe Mighty Miss Malone is a historical fiction novel by Newbery Medal winning author Christopher Paul Curtis. This story is about twelve-year-old Deza Malone and her family.

Deza has a loving and caring mother and a brother who has a gifted voice. The Great Depression has caused tremendous trouble for black men like Deza’s father, so he leaves their home in Gary, Indiana in search of a job. One month later they still have had no word from him, so Mrs. Malone decides to leave Gary in search for her husband along with her children.

On the search, they find shelter in a camp in Flint, Michigan. Deza starts to attend school, although she encounters racial prejudice. A few weeks later a man at camp hears her brother Jimmie’s singing voice and convinces him to leave the camp so they can find work in Chicago or New York. That same night, Mrs. Malone and Deza leave camp to find a more permanent home.

At last, Deza finally receives a letter from her father. What does the letter say? What
happens to Jimmie? Will she and her mother finally find Deza’s father? Will
they live happily together as a family? Read the book to find out.

I think Deza is called “Mighty Miss Malone” because she is strong and stays positive through hard times. I loved the fact that she is caring and compassionate for her family. I think girls her age can relate to her. I highly recommend this beautifully-crafted book.

-Anmol K., 6th grade

Book Review: Travis & Freddy’s Adventure in Vegas by Henry Johnson and Paul Hoppe

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travis_freddy_coverTravis & Freddy’s Adventures in Vegas, by Henry Johnson and Paul Hoppe, is a humorous book about Travis, with the million-dollar smile, and Freddy, who has the million-dollar brain. They are opposite of each other, but are best friends. Travis and Freddy were born on the exact same day and time. Just a few days from their thirteenth birthday, Travis’ father accidently gambled his house away.

Determined to get $250,000 to save the house, Travis and Freddy make a plan to go to Vegas. They sneak on a plane and manage to make it there. Freddy uses his newest invention, a pair of glasses connected to a computer program to always win at blackjack. Using this technology, and with the help of their cabby driver friend, Sam, they manage to win the money. After discovering their “winnings,” Johnny Large, a Vegas gangster wants their money. Read the rest of the book to see if they escape Johnny Large, make it back home, and if they are able to save Travis’ father’s house.

I loved this book! It is very entertaining and funny. Paul Hoppe and Henry Johnson did a very good job writing this book. I would give this book five stars. It is not disappointing at all. Travis & Freddy’s Adventures in Vegas is a great book for middle-schoolers because the characters are the same age and middle-school students can relate to them. 

-Anmol K., 6th grade