Author Archives: SMES Student

Book Review: Whale Talk, by Chris Crutcher

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whale_talk_coverThis book review is part of series of reviews written by students at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School for their 7th grade English classes.

Outcast, loner, misfit… these high school boys have to come together to make a winning swim team. Whale Talk was an excellent book written by Chris Crutcher who won the annual Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 1997 recognizing his significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature.

I’ve never been in the situation T.J. Jones was in, but the author Chris Crutcher made it feel so familiar. I almost felt like I was there when a teenage boy from Cutter High School decided to take a risk and help a team of misfits overcome their differences to find their place in a school that has no place for them. The Cutter All Night Mermen swim team struggle to form their own identity and believe in themselves.

T.J. Jones is a powerful character that is the base of the story. He is a high school boy, who has to start a swim team to please his favorite teacher. He perserviers through tough times and helps everyone commit to become better swimmers. He is the glue that makes this story come alive with compassion and love for helping others.

Chris Coughlin is the reason I love this book; it is amazing how one person who starts out shy as a blade of grass in a field can mold into someone so amazing. “He laughs again, as if he’s never considered the idea of Chris Coughlin the stud” (83). There is a lot more going on than just a swim team overcoming their differences and Chris Coughlin and T.J. Jones tell you all about it.

A young girl named Heidi comes into the story about half way through and is another reason the book Whale Talk is so intriguing. She goes through so much for only being about 9 years old, but she has to adjust to difficult circumstances and forget her past to move on through her future.

The Cutter High School Mermen go through a lot of experiences, losses, and hardships through the course of the book. T.J. Jones helps them all put aside their differences such as having one leg or being overweight and to come together as a swim team but also a family. They learn things about others that they didn’t know but also themselves.
Whale Talk is filled with many interesting characters such as T.J., Chris, and Heidi, which makes this story seem so much more realistic and fascinating. Here’s how Mr. Simet the coach of the mermen described T.J. Jones: “Mr. Simet says I look like Tiger Woods on steroids” (17).

T.J., Heidi and Chris are all great characters but I would say the most important character that shapes the idea of this story is T.J. Jones’ father, Mr. Jones. He might not be the main character, but definitely the most important. This brave souled hero risked his life for a young girl who has to go through many hard times in her life. Mr. Jones is absolutely a critical character in this book. Self-sacrifice plays a big role in this book. But Mr. Jones doesn’t simply try to teach heroism and self-sacrifice; it is just a trait that he has that slowly bleeds onto others while being around him.

On the other hand, T.J. teaches teamwork to the fellow swimmers and people he is around. The whole swim team including him learn many things about themselves and how Teamwork is a big aspect of their lives. Through relays and the long bus rides back to school the group of misfits have slowly come together. Water polo plays a big role in my life and I know that you always have to work together as a team to succeed.
Mr. Jones, the silent hero of the book, teaches T.J. that violence isn’t always the answer and that you should stand up for what is correct and friendship is key. He takes in a lonely family helplessly trying to get away from a cruel husband and father and helps them find their way and get back on their feet.

If you want to know what goes on with the Cutter High School Mermen and how they come together and everything that happens on the way you should read Whale Talk and enjoy the story of a group of misfits brought together by T.J. Jones.

-Erin T., 7th grade

Book Review: The Marino Mission, by Karen Chapman

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marino_mission_coverThis book review is part of series of reviews written by students at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School for their 7th grade English classes.

Have you ever had to leave a place that you absolutely loved? Did you end up loving this place that you went to, and not want to leave? Karen Chapman, the author of The Marino Mission, has clearly shown that it is tough to leave family and friends, through the perspective of a young, 16 year old girl, Alexa. Karen Chapman has received a B.S. in Biology and Marine Biology. She has had experiences similar to the one in this book and has reacted towards them as Alexa did.

On the small island of Puerto Marino, every way you look, there is sand, palm trees, and the ocean. There is a large marine safety campus that is where most of The Marino Mission takes place. There are many dolphins that are being held in this laboratory and some that are only a few months old!

Many times, I found myself not able to put this book down. Every minute that I was reading this book, my eyes were glued. I never reached a place that either bored me or lost my interest. I would also found myself at times  laughing at something that one of the characters had said or done. This book is also great because it appeals to many interests, other than marine biology. I would most definitely love to read this book again and even out loud to one of my siblings.

Alexa, who is a very bright 16 year old girl, is the daughter of a marine biologist and a biology teacher at a university. “She looked at her long, blonde, beautiful hair in the mirror as she was brushing it on her way to school.  She had never been one of the “popular” people in her school, but she did have many great friends” (17). Over the years, Alexa started to love working in labs with her mother and father. Soon after working in labs, she was told by her mother that she would be moving to and island over the summer, for her mother’s job. When Alexa arrived at Puerto Marino, she was very sad about leaving her friends back home. After a few days of working in labs in the marino, she decided that she would like to go and see the ocean. While she was on the beach, a young boy had shouted out to her. After Alexa realized that he was talking to her, she was embarrassed and ran back to the lab. A few days had gone by and she returned to the same beach. Alexa heard a voice behind her and instantly knew that it was going to be the same boy. The boy had introduced himself as José. Over the three months that Alexa was visiting Puerto Marino, she and José developed a great friendship. Through this friendship, Alexa and José were faced with a magnificent challenge. José and Alexa had worked very hard together to come up with a plan that would help them solve their problem.

Karen Chapman had come up with a great idea that has captivated many readers minds. She had placed characters in the story knowing exactly which role they would play to help Alexa with her problem. Throughout the story I would wonder what the author was seeing as she was writing this book. After finishing this book, I realized that she was painting the picture, that everyone is given challenges, either large or small.  However people choose to get through their problems always ends up helping either them selves or someone/something else. “I have never been more happy to see people back together, than I am right now seeing them, knowing that I have helped” (202-203).

I would most definitely love to read this book again, and even to one of my siblings.  I have found that this book would be appropriate for ages 10 and up because in some places of this book, it is the slightest bit, hard to read clearly. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a book to enjoy. I would also like to see if there are any other books that are written by the same author so that I could yet again enjoy a book.

-Zoe P., 7th grade

Book Review: Paralyzed, by Jeff Rud

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paralyzed_coverThis book review is part of series of reviews written by students at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School for their 7th grade English classes.

I don’t know if you have ever played sports before, but I know that horrible feeling when you see somebody laying down on the ground injured. Whether it be on the court, on the diamond, or out on the field everybody holds their breath and hopes that the injured player is okay. Jeff Rud, author of Paralyzed, is a writer of many different sports books.

In the book Paralyzed, Nate Brown, tight end for Milbury High School poorly tackles star middle linebacker Reggie Scott from Lincoln High School when Reggie intercepts the ball. In football, tackling a player leading with your head is very chancy, and he learned the consequence. Nate Brown laid frozen on the field. It is later released
that Nate Brown is paralyzed. As time goes by, Reggie feels guilty about Nate’s injury and that really affects the way he plays football, and the way he is around his family.

Overcoming guilt is one of the great themes and also the conflict in the book. Nate Brown’s mother is an evil character in the book. Reggie tries to visit Nate when Nate’s mom sees him and stammers, “How do you think he’s doing?” The woman was shrieking now. “This is the Intensive Care Unit. How the hell do you think he’s
doing?” (22-23). That then makes Reggie feel very guilty. I really do like Reggie’s perseverance because he keeps trying and trying to go see Nate. That is also a great theme in this book.

One of my favorite characters in this book is Dr. MacIntyre. He is a sport physiologist that Reggie goes to see to help him focus with football. He is a very amenable and casual person and makes the reader feel like you want to be his friend. Dr. McIntyre says some things that make Reggie realize whether he should be visiting Dr. McIntyre or not. “‘Well, I don’t know if I actually need to be here or not,’ [Reggie] said, hedging a little. ‘But my coaches think I do, and my parents think I do, so I guess I do.’ ‘Well, Reggie,’ Dr. MacIntyre said. ‘This is only going to work if you want help. If you’re here just to satisfy somebody else, you might as well not waste your time or mine'” (69). This really helps Reggie focus and decide on his goals.

Does Reggie finally get to visit Nate? Will Nate be okay? Will Nate’s mother still be mad at Reggie for what happened? To answers these questions, you should read the book. I highly recommend.

Logan P., 7th grade

Book Review: Audrey Wait!, by Robin Benway

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audrey_wait_coverThis book review is part of series of reviews written by students at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School for their 7th grade English classes.

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to be famous? Rising up into stardom… having everyone know your name… being the hot topic of the world… I know I do, but for 16-year-old Audrey Cuttler, this was her worst nightmare. Robin Benway, author of Audrey Wait!, describes the not so normal life of Audrey Cuttler. The author of this ostentatious story attended college at both NYU & UCLA. She is known mainly for her young adult novels and outstanding fictional writings.

Audrey Wait! is a fanciful and gaudy story about a 16 year old girl who wants nothing more than to be normal again… oh, and for her ex-boyfriend, Evan, to pay for writing the stupid song… and have all the hot rock band boys stop being jerks… and for James to forgive her, along with Victoria… and– okay you get my point. She wants a myriad of things, but come on, she’s a girl. enough said. Through thick and thin, best friend for life, Victoria, has always been there for Audrey. But will things change? As boys, rumors, and fame, cloud Audrey’s mind, will she get back to reality, or loose the most important people in her life? From leaked photos, to crazed paparazzi hiding in her bushes, will Audrey ever become normal again? Audrey finally gets to tell the world her side of the story, and show the not so good things about being the world’s number one top muse. Like crazed fans and stalkers who won’t even let her go on a simple date, parents who put you on lockdown because you’re famous, how about getting on the cover of the magazines with rumors written all about you, or the worst one, having a leaked video of something you don’t want your parents’ to see online… well, that’s Audrey’s life for you. Follow a story filled with rock band boys, dorky co-workers, fake friends, crazy fans, overprotective parents, girl fights, and a whole lot more, in Audrey Cuttler’s wild, high school ride.

Robin Benway’s unique and quick read book portrays the downsides of fame, rather than the perks. As Audrey goes through a brimming junior year, the author describes the main character’s mistakes, as well as the consequences she must face. This book separates itself from others because ordinarily, most books don’t explain the costs of their behaviors. This results in many teens making poor choices similar to those of the characters’. However, the author makes sure to point out the problems that poor choices can cause. The themes of love, friendship, celebrity and identity are strongly represented in this climactic book.

This book includes fantastic morals that are very cogent for everyone; mainly categorizing teenagers, the age this book is appointed towards. Audrey, as any regular teenager, has to make choices everyday. Some of her choices were better than others, resulting in consequences for her rash decisions. The main morals of this novel include to always stay ethical and to not change due to peer pressure, fame, gossip, or rumors. Also, always try to build friendships up, rather than tear them down, because friendship is key. Lastly, always think before you speak, and take caution over your actions.

Living in hot southern California, Audrey and Victoria spend their days at boring, old high school, lame jobs, and of course rocking out to their favorite bands. Whether they’re dancing in their bedrooms, catching bands at the local jukebox, or tuning it out at a concert, these crazy girls always have a blast. But who can’t, when you’re living in California! Now don’t get all excited, because with benefits comes work; like, when you work at the Scooper Dooper ice cream shop (more like Scooper Pooper shop) Audrey hates her job, especially wearing the untrendy, pink uniforms. “My job sucks the most suck that has ever sucked” (26), Audrey complains. Robin Benway put a lot of effort into making her book comical and entertaining. And just from this sneak peak into the story, you can pick up on how humorous this book is.

Music loving Audrey is the main character of Audrey Wait!. Her personality is similar to her best friend, Victoria’s, and that’s why they get along so well. Audrey is your average-smart student at high school, but all of that changes when she breaks up with her boyfriend, Evan. She is perky, loud, musical, and does NOT want to be in the spotlight. As a natural lover of music, especially rock, she loves to play her music loud. “I like my music loud. I mean loud. I’m not talking the kind of loud where your parents knock on your bedroom door and ask you to turn it down. Please. That’s amateur hour. When I say loud, I mean you-can’t-hear-your-parents-knocking-and-the-neighbors-are-putting-a-FOR-SALE-sign-on-their-house-and-moving-to-another-block-because-they-can’t-handle-the-constant-noise-anymore loud” (9). Audrey continues by talking about how she feels about music. Although, Audrey Cuttler was never a role model of mine, as the story progresses, she grows into a more respectable idol. Now, I believe that she has learned a lot from mistakes and conflicts that have presented themselves throughout her life.

Victoria is Audrey Cuttler’s best friend for life. She was my favorite character throughout the book because I loved her personality and qualities. What really stood out to me was that Victoria was her own person. While in other books, the main character takes most of the spotlight in the story; Victoria has her own completely different limelight. This novel is unique to me because the author doesn’t create one big star, although it is obvious that Audrey is the main character. Both girls have separate qualities that make them special. Some of Victoria’s traits include being fun, loud, crazy, sweet, caring, girly, dramatic, energetic, stubborn, intelligent, and spirited. Victoria loves loud rock music, just as much as Audrey.

Robin Benway created the voice of her story from her interpretation of 16-year-old girls. However, I disagree with her, and think that she did a poor job bringing the characters, setting, and book to life. There was rarely any description or adjectives to describe a character’s appearance or the environment around the character. Although the story line was fantastic and very intriguing, I constantly was side tracked by her attempt to sound like a teenage girl. As cussing becomes more commonly known for teenagers, I blame influences such as this book for that. The author writes swear words into the dialogue between teenagers, but she does it excessively in my opinion. Additionally, there were some editing errors, but overall, I really enjoyed reading this page-turner book.

Audrey Wait! was a fun read, and I would definitely recommend it to others. However, be cautious of the strong language and young adult content in this book. Lastly, above all, make sure to ask your parents if you can read it or not, before you go ahead and read something not for your maturity level.

-Ania O., 7th grade

Book Review: Marie, Dancing, by Carolyn Meyer

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marie_dancing_coverThis book review is part of series of reviews written by students at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School for their 7th grade English classes.

Have you ever wondered what goes through a ballerina’s mind when she dances?

What could she possibly be thinking about as she takes the audience’s breath away? The spotlight is on her, her and nothing else. For a few seconds, minutes or even hours, it’s as if nothing else exists in the world while dancing. Dancers learn to hide their emotions on stage. You can’t show nervousness, fear, or any type of imbalance. You have to keep tempo, stay with the music, and perform the grand jetés, fouettés, and combinations that you practiced so hard to be able to do. Nothing else matters.

The amazing story of Marie, Dancing is an excellent book written by Carolyn Meyer because of her descriptive language and engaging plot. Meyer has also written Doomed Queen Anne, Jubilee Journey, White Lilacs, and many more. This is another one of her great books that teaches perseverance, honesty, and passion. These were the three most common lessons I found throughout the book.

Marie, Dancing takes place in beautiful Paris, France, mainly around the Seine River at her ballet school called the Paris Opera. The story is revolved around a sculpture called The Little Dancer, Aged Fourteen, which is actually in the Louvre today sculpted by Edgar Degas. This is what makes this story unique because it is revolved around a sculpture, unlike many stories.

Marie’s goal is to become a famous dancer, but she has a lot of hardships and set backs such as living in poverty and issues with her family. She is in intense ballet training while a world renowned artist; Edgar Degas offers her a job to pose for his new sculpture. Edgar Degas is a bitter and cold man, but an amazing artist: “He didn’t wait for me to reply or to change my clothes but simply walked off, motioning me to follow his command” (4). She agrees, and every week for one year she went to his studio and posed for him. This helped her get a little closer to her dream of stardom. Meanwhile, she has big ballet examinations coming up to determine if she gets to say at the Paris Opera Ballet School. Her older sister ends up in prison for three months, and she is risking her practice time for the examinations by visiting her troubled sister. Will she get that dream of stardom that she is desperate to have? Will she ever dance again? Will she ever forgive her sister for what she has done?

One of the obvious reasons I love this book is because of the main character, Marie. She is an example of a 14 year old dancer in the 1880s who lives deeply in poverty, but has a huge passion for what she does. Three words to describe her are determined, helpful, and kind. I would say that she is determined because she really wants to become a famous dancer, and trains every moment she has. Marie is also helpful because she basically raises her 10 year old sister Charlotte while her mother is off drinking, and her oldest sister is very selfish. She gets payed by Edgar Degas to model, and she uses the money to pay off the rent on their house. “I reached Rue de Douai and climbed the dimly lit and rank smelling stairs” (137). Lastly, I found that Marie is kind. One of the reasons why she is kind is because when her older sister was in prison, she risked her ballet career just to go give her scraps of food.

This book also kept me engaged because I really like how the author wrote very descriptively, and it was easier to paint a picture of the setting and imagine the the plot in my mind. I would recommend this book to middle school students. Although, this book got off to a slow start, it eventually went by faster and it was very enjoyable to read. Overall, this is a book that I would definitely recommend.

-Valentina M., 7th grade

Book Review: The Boy Who Couldn’t Sleep and Never Had To, by DC Pierson

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boy_who_coverThis book review is part of series of reviews written by students at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School for their 7th grade English classes.

High school is a crazy place! The Boy Who Couldn’t Sleep and Never Had To, a book written by DC Pierson, an author and comedian, talks all about the life of two social outcasts living throughout high school. DC Pierson uses a lot of descriptive words in his book, and with these words he shapes the somewhat normal story into an amazing tale. This book kept me on my toes, pulling out interesting ideas one after another. I did not get bored, because of all the exciting places this book leads me to. The book ventures into things such as mutations, into art, and finally into revenge. I loved all of the twists and turns.

The setting of this book takes place in a high school on the East Coast. There are two kids, Darren and Eric, who are social outcasts, just trying to get through high school, but Eric has a deep dark secret. The book starts off slow as Darren just goes through his life, and then it starts picking up the pace. It goes from multiple days of nothing going on to conflict everywhere you go! This book kept my attention more than most books i have read, and it would most likely do the same to you.

Darren Bennett was a very boring, scrawny, and unnoticeable kid from his high school. He never liked talking to other people, and would rather stay home then go to parties. He enjoys drawing, and started making a graphic novel/mini movie out of these drawings he has. He hates when people ask things about him, and just hates high school in general.

Eric Lederer, a nerdy and weird kid, came to talk to Darren one day while he was drawing. Once they started discussing, Darren “noticed something strange about this kid.” It may have been the way he was standing, but there was something truly weird about him. Eric is an exceptional student who would turn projects in days earlier before they were due, and would get straight A’s. After Eric and Darren become best friends, they work on a graphic novel together for about 6 months. After a while Eric opens the lock containing his secret, and his secret was he can’t sleep, and never has. There is one side effect of this secret… Eric has concentrated bursts of hallucinations every 3 weeks or so. Eric’s secret, if been told to the wrong people, could cause Eric to be tested on by the government.

Christine is a drama geek, who just loves drama and theatre above anything else in the world. Christine meets Darren and invited him to a party. Christine and Darren started hanging out a lot, and eventually became boyfriend and girlfriend. Once Christine comes to Darren crying about how her drama show has been cancelled, and he disappointed her by not quite being support. After Darren was proven to be difficult to understand, she went to talk to Eric. She and Eric became amazingly good friends, and instead of just going on dates with Darren, she started inviting Eric to them as well. One day, Christine goes to Eric’s house, and he was having a hallucination. Their interest within each other increasingly grew, until Christine dumped Darren for Eric.

Darren gets really furious, and thinks of nothing else but how to get back at Eric. Darren finally finds out a way to get even by telling his local church’s priest Eric’s secret. A couple days pass then a mysterious man shows up at their high school searching for Eric, forcing Eric to go into hiding. Eric sincerely apologized to Darren, by breaking up with Christine. So Darren helped Eric in his quest to elude the mysterious man.

What I like about this novel is that it keeps my attention up, through all the conflict and all the secrets. There are many corners to turn with much more pleasure after each one. What I did in fact dislike about this novel is all of the cursing, and drug use. I would recommend this book if you are into books with adventures, but I would not recommend this if you are below 15 years of age because of all the mature content.

-Leo K., 7th grade

Book Review: Fifteen Love, by Robert Corbet

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15love_coverThis book review is part of series of reviews written by students at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School for their 7th grade English classes.

My review on this book is not a good one. I did not enjoy this book literally at all; it was very anti-climactic despite all of the problems that occurred in the story. The writing really did not make me excited. The author Robert Corbet failed to interest me in any way. This story fell flat for me from the anti-climactic problems like this one, “Will Holland is a Mystery” (10). Well, this mystery was easily solved considering that Will Holland is one of the main characters. The reason I didn’t enjoy this book may be that I don’t enjoy love stories very much and I wanted to try something new. My opinion of this book is very bad.

Will Holland; this is one of the three main characters in this story. Will Holland is helplessly in love with a girl named Mia Foley one of the other main characters. The problem is that Mia isn’t in love with Will at all. In fact in the beginning she is repulsed with him. Will always second guesses himself and is so self-conscious that he doesn’t talk to her. This plot is just like any other love story- it is all too predictable. Will was my favorite character because he played tennis, which was the passion I chose. I thought it was interesting how he connected real life problems to tennis. He analyzed everything he did in such depth and I could really relate to him because I also over analyze things. This story is integrated with his tennis and his love life. I really enjoyed the tennis aspect of the story but the main lovey-dovey part of the story did not interest me at all. Will has a brother who is disabled and he has to deal with him every single day. In the story the way he handles all of his brother’s problems is very unrealistic and actually quite sad. He treats his brother like garbage- it makes made me very uncomfortable and I didn’t really like that aspect of this story. Overall Will Holland is the reason why I continued to read this book. His life just seemed so relatable to mine.

Mia Folly in the end falls in love with Will Holland and just like almost every single love story ever this made the whole thing very boring. Mia Folly is just like every single stereotypical girl in a love story: popular, pretty, and very vain. The whole entire story she is saying, “I’m ugly I’m fat oh my gosh.” I really did not enjoy this character. All she did was complain. She and her friend got in a fight and she acted like the whole entire world was going to end. She was a very frustrating character and I didn’t like her presence in the story. She also showed some selfless acts throughout the story she would talk to Will and she would actually do some very kind things in the story. One thing that I liked about the authors writing was how he demonstrated how she started to like will more and more as the story came to an end. Mia was a very self-centered character but the story needed her drama.

Vanessa is the last main character in the story. She was Mia’s best friend until they started fighting. She is a very confident, boastful girl she thinks that she is better than everybody. She is a very annoying character and whenever they even mention her name in the story I cringe. “Oh yeah by the way Raneeta left already” (97). The way she says this is just so obtuse, I cant believe that this is the way that she would give Mia the news that her friend had left her. The way she acts is evil- she feels like a lethal poison being injected into my veins. Whenever she speaks I just get frustrated. I really do not enjoy her presence in the story. She ruins everything in the story– she makes Molly depressed, she starts to date Will just to spite Molly, she is a huge pessimist and I really do not like her presence in this story. Just right when you think Will and Mia are going to go out, she always messes everything up she was by far my least favorite character.

Fifteen Love was filled with cheap thrills and a bad plot. Every page I read became more painful. From the characters to the plotline, it was not the best writing. You may think that I am being too negative but honestly this is what I think about this book. I would not recommend this book to any reader of my age group. I thought it was poorly written and filled with uninteresting events that always fell flat. In other words, I did not love the book Fifteen Love.

-Caden S., 7th grade

Book Review: Home of the Braves, by David Klass

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home_braves_coverThis book review is part of series of reviews written by students at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School for their 7th grade English classes.

David Klass, renowned author and screenwriter, has written multiple books specifically for young adults. He specializes in creating teenage characters that are searching for answers on difficult issues relating to pressures of society and individual worth. He brings his characters alive and you are drawn into their troubles along with them. If you are looking for a book that dives into the reality of teenage life at high school, Home of the Braves by David Klass is the book for you.

Bullies, jocks versus nerds, first crushes and figuring out who you really are fill this novel with multiple themes. Joe Brickman, the main character, attends Lawndale High School in a typical New Jersey town. As captain of the soccer and wrestling team during his senior year, Joe feels that this is the year to make a statement. He is the starting sweeper of the Varsity soccer team and he finally feels ready to ask out his closest friend, Kris. Things begin to crumple all around when Antonio Silva arrives as a transfer student from Brazil and brings about conflict and anger in Joe and the school.

Tension starts early between Joe and Antonio when Antonio and Kris start going out. This is Joe’s best friend, and “the thought of the two of them together was killing [him]” (71), especially since he was finally getting up the nerve to ask Kris out himself. To make matters ever worse, Joe’s coach asks Joe to have Antonio be co-captain of the soccer team. Joe is furious with his coach’s recommendation, since he has worked so long to achieve the captain’s armband, and Antonio could receive it so quickly. Joe feels threatened and angry, “The day he puts on a captain’s armband is the day I take mine off” (160), and then he walks away. Joe’s negative feelings for Antonio keep increasing, and Klass does a superb job of delving into Joe’s thoughts and feelings on the matter.

In addition, not only is Antonio making Joe frustrated, but he is also causing internal conflict within the school. There is an agreement between the students at Lawndale High School that they must “bow down” to the football jocks, who control the school. Both Ed “he mouse,” Joe’s best friend, and Antonio refuse to obey this “rule.” This causes the Jocks to take action and violence erupts at the school. The Administration then enacts a “Zero Tolerance” policy at the school, which frustrates and angers many of the students.

Finally, things start to look up for both Joe and the school when their soccer team makes the play-offs. Antonio has been a key player in bringing the school team so far and many are ready to forget the past. However, at the last minute, a twist in the plot occurs and things change dramatically. You will have to read the book to see how it ends.

Home of the Braves keeps the reader engaged throughout the entire novel. It is a well-written book with suspense, violence, and romantic drama that appeals to numerous age levels. I would recommend this book for middle school and high school aged students who are looking for an action packed book.

-Chase R., 7th grade

Book Review: Airman, by Eoin Colfer

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airman_coverThis book review is part of series of reviews written by students at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School for their 7th grade English classes.

Have you ever wanted to fly like a bird? If you read Airman your wishes will be granted. Eoin Colfer so vividly describes the feeling of flight through the air, you will feel like you are right there next to Conor as he soars through the night air; in his dreams and his future. This amazing author first became known through the best-selling Artemis Fowl series, which fame cast his other books into the shadows. It was left for the chosen few to find that hidden jewel, Airman.

I really enjoyed reading the book because it revolves around one boy split in two, so it is like reading about two different characters. First we follow brilliant young Conor Broekhart as he trains with his French mentor to gain mastery  in academics including extracurricular such as swordsmanship, but mainly aviation. “Conor was born to fly, or more accurately, was born flying” (7). His obsession took root at the very moment he was born, more than a hundred feet off the ground in a quickly plummeting hot air balloon. Conor starts off life like this, but after being falsely accused for a crime he did not commit, he becomes someone else.

Conor Broekhart becomes Conor Finn. A pirate criminal who has no family, friends, or anyone to love. He has nothing to hope for but being top dog in the insanity ward. His many trials as Conor Finn include staying alive from Otto Malarkey’s daily beatings, stashing the diamonds he is mining away from the guards, and escaping from the Little Saltee, a heartless rock-hewned jail. “Right was Great Saltee, wrong was Little Saltee(44).”

Conor Finn’s new closest, and only, friend and mentor on Little Saltee is a blind musician, Linus Wynter, who is also my favorite character. I love how Linus is portrayed by Eoin because he is a man of such complexity described in the most simplistic way. Linus is the only reason Conor lasted longer than 24 hours in prison. He served as the guide to Conor’s success and escape. Mr. Wynter got his eyes removed via hot poker after being caught spying on an Indian camp, but continued spying anyway. He is actually a spy for the good King Nick himself, whom Conor greatly trusted and admired.

The world that Eoin Colfer so truthfully describes in Airman fills your head with  the dangers of our modern world. This intricately spun plot incorporates every human emotion you can dream of from horror to elation. In a renaissance like-time period of innovation in the world, Great Saltee is at the top of the curve, thanks to Conor Finn, aviator extraordinaire.

Airman is a constant race with good against evil, Conor Broekhart against Conor Finn, And the Airman vs. Bonvilian. To find out the final secret in this heinous plot, you’ll just have to get your head out of the clouds, and read the book!

-Parker R., 7th grade

Book Review: Absolute Pressure, by Sigmund Brouwer

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absolute_pressure_coverThis book review is part of series of reviews written by students at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School for their 7th grade English classes.

Seeing color is normal, but what Ian does is not; he feels it. Whenever something touches certain spots on his body, a color fills his vision, but that’s not all; when he sees a particular girl’s face, he tastes blackberries. Ian has an odd, rare (1 in 2000), and very real condition called synesthesia, the joining of two senses. Interesting details like this help to make Absolute Pressure, by Sigmund Brouwer, an entertaining book. Sigmund Brouwer is a well-known writer and though he focuses mainly on children’s books, he has numerous adult books as well. His earliest books date at about 1990, and he has sold over 3 million copies of his books total. Absolute Pressure was written in 2009.

For Ian, a 17-year-old boy, scuba diving is his life. So every year he comes to Key West to stay with his uncle, Uncle Gord, who owns a dive shop there. Ian is and intelligent caring boy, who is calm under pressure, which you have to be while scuba diving. Because if you panic, you don’t think, and if you don’t think, you make mistakes, which can kill you. Ian has learned to live with his synesthesia and the fact that his dad left him.

So, Uncle Gord kind of took over the fatherly position for Ian, but as said by Ian, “Uncle Gord was more like an army sergeant than a father” (34). Uncle Gord is a tough man, but he cares for Ian. Things get complicated though what with Uncle Gord’s business declining and him not having enough money to keep the shop running for long.

One of the dive shop employees is Judd Warner. Judd is a fairly big, strong, and slightly secretive man. Judd has only worked in the dive shop for a few months. So it was surprising to me that he got to stick around while Uncle Gord laid off Ian and the other employee, Sherri.

I loved the plot of this story; it was very interesting and engaging. An important part was that Ian persuaded Judd to let him dive down to place a “treasure chest” for people to look for to increase business. He was on his way up from hiding the chest and the pressure valve breaks on his tank… He can’t control the air and has to swim as fast as he can up to the surface over 90 feet above him, a dangerous risk. Later, the thing that bothers him most is that valves like these don’t just break; upon further examination, he finds that someone had tampered with the valve. This could have killed him if he had not been outside of the wreck in which he hid the chest. If you want to find out who did it and why, you need to read the book.

This all takes place in Key West, the west most island of the Florida Keys. Ian describes it as “Where people can got to escape and live without being asked questions about their lives. Live-and-live kind of place” (68). It’s a fairly small city, with warm weather. Parts of it are busy and loud, while parts of it are quiet and peaceful.

I liked this book because of the plot. It was a page-turner in more than one way. Firstly, it had a plot that had me want to read just a bit further every time I put it down. Secondly, the book was below my reading level, I think so it was easy to read and went quickly. I had a tough time finding new vocab words, but I think you should read it just for fun, regardless of assignments.

-Jadie P., 7th grade