Book Review: The Fantastic Family Whipple, by Matthew Ward

Posted on December 6, 2013 by Anmol K.

In his first novel, The Fantastic Family Whipple, Matthew Ward writes about the most record-breaking family on Earth. The Whipple family, from father Charlie Whipple to young baby Ivy Whipple, has broken all sorts of world records. Except for twelve-year-old Arthur Whipple, who the main protagonist of the story, has not broken any world records. Rather shocking, for the rest of the Whipple family.

All fifteen members of the Whipple Family, except for Arthur (born on the 29th February), are all born on March first. The Whipple family celebrates their birthdays together and throw a huge party.

While cutting the World’s Biggest Birthday Cake, the cake starts collapsing, lighting the party venue on fire and nearly crushing the Whipple Family. During the party, Arthur sees two clowns. Their appearance is unusual because one is rather tall and the other rather small. Arthur pins them down as suspects of the cake collapsing.

Is Arthur’s instinct right? Will someone be able to catch the person(s) responsible for this? Read this realistic fiction book to find out who is the master of this crime.

The Fantastic Family Whipple is an amazing, entertaining book to read. It had a unique storyline that can be enjoyed by any age. I liked the fact that anyone could relate to Arthur because he was attempting to break a world record. The ending was a bit disappointing, but it was okay. All in all, this book is for anybody who wishes to break a world record. If you enjoy this book, watch out for the sequel coming fall 2014.

-Anmol K., 7th grade

Book Review: The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien

Posted on December 5, 2013 by Rabani S.

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.” And from this hole came my new favorite fictional character, Bilbo Baggins, the central protagonist in The Hobbit. With the release of the new Lord of the Rings movie, I decided to start reading the famous book. I had high expectations after I found it as number 3 on a list of books to read before dying, and I wasn’t disappointed in the least.

The Hobbit takes place in Middle Earth, a fictional world that contains wizards, elves, dwarves, goblins, and hobbits. Hobbits are small people who love peace and quiet, food, farming, and parties. They live in a land they call The Shire and most of them dislike adventure.

This prelude to the Lord of the Rings trilogy centers around a peaceful hobbit named Bilbo Baggins who has adventurous ancestors and lives in a lovely underground home called Bag End. The book begins as a wizard named Gandalf visits Bilbo and invites him to join an adventure he is arranging. Bilbo refuses immediately. The following morning, Gandalf visits Bilbo again, this time with thirteen dwarves. The dwarves believe that Bilbo can help them in their journey to the Lonely Mountain to gain back their ancestral treasure from a vicious dragon named Smaug. Bilbo is extremely reluctant to leave his cozy home and join them, but Gandalf manages to convince him to accompany them. The Hobbit follows their adventures as they head to the Lonely Mountain and confront the great dragon Smaug.

I found The Hobbit to be an extremely interesting book. J.R.R. Tolkien uses a conversational, light-hearted tone and uses humor to hook the reader. The book doesn’t have much detail, and the ending is very abrupt. The author does not spend much time describing anything, which is really different from most fictional books I’ve read. However, I enjoyed The Hobbit immensely and I’m definitely going to see the second part of the film adaptation, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, when it’s released in movie theaters next week!

-Rabani S., 9th grade

Book Review: The Name of This Book is Secret, by Pseudonymous Bosch

Posted on December 5, 2013 by Maya S.

‘WARNING: DO NOT READ BEYOND THIS PAGE!’ is how the fantastic, yet mystifying book, The Name of This Book is Secret begins. Secrets, secrets everywhere! So scary and dangerous, Mr. Bosch leads the reader through a world unknown to the average population, but just into the peculiar world where long-since magicians and alchemists reside. When the main characters find a strange box labeled ‘The Symphony of Smells’, they are led into a trap with immortality and cruelty.

Max-Ernest, a boy wanting to be a stand-up comedian, and Cassandra (Cass for short), a very serious and vigilant survivalist, come together on a rollercoaster of an adventure throughout this well-written book. There are a lot of unanswered questions that the peculiar narrator, Pseudonymous Bosch, poses such as what Max-Ernest’s ‘condition’ is, or who Cass’s father is. At this point in the story, if it were a motion picture, I envision the song “Come Together” by the Beatles, because I believe it shows perfectly how Cass and Max-Ernest meet and come together to begin their adventure. Situational irony is inserted in odd parts of the story, The Name of this Book is Secret, which makes it one of my top five favorite book series and earns this an 11 out of 10 rating!

I would definitely recommend this book for ages 10-100, because the writing style makes the mystery impossible to put down.

-Maya S., 6th grade

Book Review: Rot and Ruin, by Jonathan Maberry

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Miranda C.

Fourteen years after the First Night of the zombie apocalypse, humanity is reduced to scattered towns protected by fences and bounty hunters. At age fifteen, Benny Imura must find a job or have his rations cut in half, and after failing to find any other work, he is forced to join his stuffy older brother Tom as a zombie hunter. Benny is unimpressed by his brother’s tedious approach to training and aversion to violence, especially in comparison to the more adventurous hunters who are town heroes– but after firsthand experience of the “Rot and Ruin” outside the town gates he starts to see the undead in a different way.

I was impressed with the way the author balanced action and worldbuilding (it is a zombie apocalypse story) with the stories and motivations of the human characters. The reader, like Benny, learns that fighting the undead isn’t a heroic adventure or a video game-like massacre, but a duty of euthanizing infected people who are survived by their grieving families and friends. The book also explores how less compassionate characters deal with the task– maiming zombies to take their limbs as trophies, fighting them against each other, and even setting up illegal games where participants can win money by surviving a zombie pit.

Another plot thread deals with Benny learning about his parents’ deaths on First Night, of which he has few memories. The surviving humans’ society seems like a realistic response to their apocalyptic situation: in it, they find art, celebrity, job opportunities, and moral conundrums.

I recommend Rot and Ruin to anyone 12 and up (for violence mostly) who likes futuristic books, action, and suspense.

-Miranda C., 12th grade

Book Review: The Five Ancestors: Out of the Ashes – Lion, by Jeff Stone

Posted on December 3, 2013 by Will R.

If you have read the Five Ancestors series by Jeff Stone, about five cousins with five different types of animal Kung Fu, Tiger, Snake, Monkey, Dragon, and Crane, who have to fight for their lives to save their kingdom from their evil brother who knows Eagle Kung Fu and his army, then you are in for a real treat. Jeff Stone has released a new series that follows the Five Ancestors– however, the new series takes place in the 21st century and it is called The Five Ancestors: Out of The Ashes. So far, Mr. Stone has written two books for this series: Phoenix and Lion. Lion is the book I will be reviewing.

Lion is a continuation of Phoenix, containing all of the same characters that are in the first book: Ryan Vanderhausen, Phoenix, Hú Dié, and Ryan. In the book Lion, Ryan is trying to get rid of an evil powder called dragon bone that his uncle experimented with in the previous book, Phoenix. Dragon Bone makes Ryan stronger, yet it can paralyze him if he does swallow some of it everyday. Also, Ryan and his friends are invited to train on road bikes with Ryan’s cousin, Peter, in California. However, an evil man named DuSow, and his accomplices want to get their hands on Ryan’s supply of dragon bone to make themselves more powerful.

Overall, this series is turning out to be just as good as the first series of the Five Ancestors, and I am really looking forward to reading the next book. However, I made the mistake of reading the books out of order, and I accidentally read Lion first. Make sure you do not do this, as the book will be very confusing if you read it out of order. This book series is a must read and I recommend it for any age, however it is geared more toward the male gender in my opinion.

-Will R., 9th grade

Book Review: Stargirl, By Jerry Spinelli

Posted on December 2, 2013 by Leila S.

As the story begins, Leo Borlock receives a porcupine necktie to add to his collection as a birthday present from a mysterious sender. That next school year, a new girl joins Mica Valley High School. This new girl, who calls herself Stargirl, stands out in the crowd of ordinary high schoolers. As Leo finds out, she has been homeschooled up until this year.

Stargirl is by no means ordinary. She has a sunflower bag, in which her pet rat, Cinnamon, rides with her to school every day. She brings a ukulele to school to sing “Happy Birthday” to every kid celebrating a birthday. She even sets a vase containing a fresh flower on her desk for each one of her classes at the start of each week.

What is your favorite characteristic about Stargirl? Do you do anything that is similar to her actions? What would you do if a student like Stargirl showed up at your school?

In his case, Leo and his friend, Kevin, go to see the mentor and wise man of their town, Archie. Archie’s description of Stargirl fascinates the boys. As Leo and Kevin find out, Stargirl is just a name the new girl gave herself. She has named herself several times before. Her previous names include Mudpie and Hullygully, and her birth name: Susan Caraway.

Stargirl (or Susan as she renames herself during one part of the school year) experiences many highs and lows in regard to her acceptance while at the high school. If a student like Stargirl showed up at your school, what would you think of her? Would you and your friends welcome her at your lunch table? Would you be embarrassed if she sang “Happy Birthday” to you?

As Archie’s wise words say at the end of the story, people like Stargirl, who seem so close to Earth’s beginnings, are very special people. Stargirl is someone who is proud to be herself. I would love to hear about any “Stargirls” or “Starboys” you know. What makes them unique? Please write in the comments section below.

Still want to find out more about Stargirl? Read the book! And its sequel, Love, Stargirl. I recommend Stargirl to middle schoolers and up; I would rate this book a 9 out of 10.

-Leila S. (8th gade)

Series Review: The Lorien Legacies by Pittacus Lore

Posted on November 28, 2013 by Kaylie W.

When most people think of aliens, they imagine a green Martian with antennae and gigantic eyes. They usually don’t imagine an alien as a normal-looking teenage human being who has amazing super powers.

Like most science fiction books, The Lorien Legacies, written by a pseudonym under Pittacus Lore, is an ongoing series that’s full of action, suspense, and (for you girls out there) a little romance. The books are titled: I am Number Four, The Power of Six, The Rise of Nine, and The Fall of Five. The fifth book in the series is expected to be published in 2014.

The series is set in a modern day world. The planet Lorien, which is similar to Earth, has been obliterated by another race of aliens called Mogadorians. The only Loric to survive are (supposedly) nine teenagers, called the Garde, and their Cepans, who are assigned to protect their chosen Loric. Seeking salvation, the nine teenagers have come to Earth to train for combat. Their goal is to be able to destroy the Mogadorians and reclaim their home planet in time. They are each named after a number and possess amazing abilities called Legacies. Protected by a unique “charm”, the Garde can only be killed off in numbered order.

The first book in the series starts off with the story of Number Four, which means Numbers One, Two, and Three have already been killed by the Mogadorians. As the series goes on, readers will be able to meet more members of the Garde. This series is one of my favorites because the main characters are often faced with very difficult decisions and have to struggle through a number of life-threatening moments. Because they are only teenagers, the Garde sometimes don’t know what the right choices are. In the beginning, they constantly argue because they each have different views and personalities. The Garde has to learn to rely and trust one another, sort of like a team.

I would rate the Lorien Legacies a 9.5 out of 10 and would highly recommend it to anyone over the age of 12 who enjoys sci-fi and action. There are many surprising moments that will surely keep you in constant suspense and on the edge of your seat!

-Kaylie W., 9th grade

Book Review: My Brother Sam is Dead, by James Lincoln Collier & Christopher Collier

Posted on November 28, 2013 by Marilyn J.

Spoiler alert! Spoiler alert! The authors of this book definitely need to make some adjustments to this title. I mean seriously, why give away the ending of this book in the title– the first thing a person reads when looking for a book.

Anyway, if you are looking for a story with lots of true facts and details on the American Revolutionary War blended in with some fictional characters, this is the perfect book for you. Sam, a farm-boy, has just gone off to school when he decides to go and fight the Redcoats with the Continental Army. With a tavern to run and a farm to maintain, Sam’s mother, father, and younger brother, Tim, beg for him to stay. With his heart set on going to war, Sam runs away. With nothing to do but pray for his brother, Tim takes over his brothers job and soon finds himself on a trip with his father delivering cattle to the British troops. On his way home he soon finds that his father is missing. With warnings of thieves Sam doesn’t know whether he should look for his father or go home. Will Tim find his father?

This is a suspenseful and educational read. I would rate it 9 out of 10 on my favorite historical novels list. The story kept my interest and was hard to put it down. I recommend this book if you enjoy reading an intense historical fiction.

-Marilyn J., 8th grade

Book Review: Possession, by Elana Johnson

Posted on November 27, 2013 by Amanda D.

Possession, a dystopian fiction novel written by Elana Johnson, follows the life of narrator and main protagonist Violet (Vi) Schoenfeld. Vi is a free thinker, which in the world she lives in, makes her a dangerous outcast. She soon finds herself caught in a love triangle between bad boy Jag and her best friend Zenn.

One of the best things about this book is the plot. With twists and turns on every page, it was definitely interesting. The characters were also captivating, and fairly relatable. In addition, the book is narrated in a way that teenagers would speak today, which made it even more relatable.

However, that being said, the book was somewhat disorganized. Most parts were extremely difficult to follow. With dystopian fiction, one of the most important things the author needs to do is lay out the setting in a way the reader can easily understand. Despite my eagerness to learn more about Vi’s world, I found myself let down and confused at the lack of description.

Overall, this book had a nice, captivating plot, but was relatively difficult to follow. If you are interested in the genre of dystopian fiction, I would recommend reading this book for the plot alone. However, do be cautious as you may, like me, become frustrated at the lack of organization throughout the novel.

-Amanda D., 11th grade

Series Review: Delirium, by Lauren Oliver

Posted on November 27, 2013 by Nirmeet Bhogill

I wrote a blog a couple of months ago about author Lauren Oliver’s visit to the Mission Viejo Library, which was absolutely phenomenal. It was a great opportunity to meet the author of a really prestigious series. While I was there, I received a free copy of the final novel in her Delirium series, Requiem. This series was absolutely marvelous. I have read a lot of novels, but this is definitely going to remain my favorite for a long time.

This series is about a girl, Lena Haloway, who lives in a world where love, or deliria, is a disease. In this world, when you turn 18, you get cured from deliria, and you get assigned a husband and a job for the rest of your life. There is a community of “Invalids” beyond the border of Portland, Maine, that are individuals who have never been cured of deliria. However, Lena Haloway’s life takes a turn for the unwanted.

Soon, before her cure day, Lena meets a perplexing boy named Alex, who she soon develops feelings for. A budding romance flourishes, however Lena is coming closer and closer to her cure day.

In this uniquely written novel series, Lauren Oliver puts her readers through a rollercoaster of an unwanted life in a different world.

-Nirmeet B., 10th grade

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