May Bird and The Ever After

Hook:
   "When May opened her eyes, the first thing she noticed were the leaves. And that she was still alive.
'Ouch,' she whispered, rubbing at her face. She sat up and squinted at the brightness around her, fearful and dazed as she tried to focus on the leafy branch above her, which seemed to be waving at her for attention. Beyond it a ......... or were they just spots of sky showing through?" ( pg.63)

"There before him, traced in the sand at the base of the rock, were the eyes of a lady, her face hidden in the sand-traced leaves of enormous tree. Above her, one hand extended upward, with one finger pointed along the sand." (pg. 101)

" She turned and leaped back to see she was face-to-face with a man hanging from the rafters by his knees, his hands hanging down below him, one of them holding a water gun filled with black liquid. May tried to run, but he pushed her up against the wall with on frigid hand, holding the water gun to her throat. He smiled a wicked, sickly grin at her. 'Welcome to the grotto. I hear yer looking for me." (pg 185)


Recommendation:
     Have you ever fallen in to a lake and felt like you wouldn't be able to come up again?
 This book is about May Bird who fell into a lake and ended up in another world, The Ever After. The Ever After is where the dead live. May meets a lot of new ghost friends. Her only friend in the real world is her cat, Somber Kitty. They are in search of a book the is called The Book of the Dead. This causes them great trouble. The Boggy man is searching for May. No alive people are allowed in The Ever After. Will she make it back to our world? I recommend this book to people who enjoy stories about ghosts, creepy, scary things and adventure. I don't recommend this book to people who like happy things. so if you like books about unicorns and rainbows don't get this book.

Book By: Jodi Lynn Anderson
Blog By: Rebecca Diller
Genre: Fantasy

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Cabin Fever

HOOK

"Me and Rodrick shared a room this summer for a weekend.  We had to spend a few days at Gramma's while Mom and Dad took Manny to a kiddie amusement park.  Gramma has a guest room, so I figured one of us would sleep on her couch and the other would get the guest bed.  But Gramma said the guest room was 'occupied,' so we couldn't sleep there.  She'd given the whole room to Sweetie, the dog we gave her.  But you'd hardly know he's the same dog, because Gramma feeds him so much he look like a tick that's about to pop." (half of pg. 184)

Recommendation

Have you ever been blamed for something you didn't do?  Greg Heffly has.  His brothers are always doing things around the holidays that get him in trouble. Like for example, Rodrick told Santa's elf that Greg stole money from his piggy bank.  Greg and family always do crazy things too, like their mom is always exercising.  ALWAYS.  Rodrick and Manny try to get Greg in trouble. Follow Greg and his family through their life.


PLEASE NOTE:  THIS IS THE 6TH BOOK IN THE SERIES.  TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THIS SERIES, READ BOOK 1 THROUGH BOOK 6.  ENJOY!!!!!


Blog By: Logan B.
Book By: Jeff Kinney
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Crash

Hook

“ … He was sitting on the ground with his back up against the tree trunk, and first I thought, great, he’s okay. But questions blew the relief away. Why as he sitting there? Why did he leave that board dangling from one nail above his head? Why was the hammer five feet away in the grass? Why wasn’t he moving?

Downstairs Abby screamed.”

Recommendation

As you get older, you become more mature and learn the ways of life. Take for example Crash Coogan, football player, fast runner, snobby 7th grader, and a bully to a boy named Penn Webb. In this story, Crash comes to realize what’s important in his life after his grandfather suffers a sudden stroke. Not only does it change him, himself, but it also changes his relationship with other people. Crash’s changes give us, in fact, important lessons in life—lessons anyone can use.

This book is suitable for young adults who have a good sense of humor, but can also handle real-life drama and tragedy. It is a well written and has a number of plots about relationships among friends and family. Crash changes for the better as he learns. Maybe, if you read the book you’ll better prepared for life.

Highly recommended.

Blog by Caraline Le Coz

Author: Jerry Spinelli

Genre: Realistic Fiction

The Adventures of Tintin

Hook

“Sir Francis slashed at him again, nearly taking his head off, but at the last moment, Red Rackham dodged, and the blade slit the ribbon hold the pirate’s mask over his face.

The mask fell away as the gunpowder trail burned down the stairs towards the magazine …

Captain Haddock stopped.

‘What?’ Tintin said. ‘What happened next?’ … ”

Recommendation

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to go on a treasure hunt? This fictional story is about Tintin, a boy reporter. He travels around the world in search of the secret treasure of the Unicorn, a pirate ship. If so, this might be the book for you.

Come join Tintin, his trusty dog Snowy, and comical Captain Haddock find the treasure. Kids would really enjoy this book, especially if they have seen the recent movie. I recommend it to all readers, except for younger children (less than 9 years old). I recommend, as well, the original comics by Herge. (Please note, parents should know that Captain Haddock always wants to drink alcohol. He may not be the best role model for younger readers.)

Blog by Caraline Le Coz

Author: Alex Irvine

Genre: Realistic Fiction

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Hook

“He put the key in the heart-shaped hole in the middle of the mechanical man’s back. He had been right. It fit perfectly. Hugo’s mind raced. At last the time had come for him to get the message he had been waiting for.

But just as Hugo began to turn the key, he heard the door rattle.”

Recommendation

Wouldn’t it be neat if you, yourself, had a connection to someone famous? The Frenchman Georges Melies pioneered special effects in movies. This story makes a connection to this famous cinematographer.

It’s 1931, Paris, France. A 12-year old orphan lives in the Montparnasse train station. The orphan, Hugo Cabret, helps his uncle make sure the station clocks run on time. Hugo repairs a mysterious automaton (mechanical man) that his father tried to fix before passing away. The automaton draws Hugo a picture, a clue, to a secret that he and his friend Isabelle must unravel. Their story continues with many twists and turns. I won’t tell you much more so not to spoil it.

I highly recommend this read to people who like big-city adventures. I especially recommend it to those interested in the history of movie making—or, in fact, to those who just like movies!

Blog by Caraline Le Coz

Author: Brian Selznick

Genre: Graphic Novel

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes

Hook

  " … Her parents were in the doctor’s office. Sadako could hear the murmur of their voices. Once her mother cried, 'Leukemia! But that’s impossible!' At the sound of that frightening word Sadako put her hands over her ears. She didn’t want to hear any more. Of course she didn’t have leukemia. Why, the atom bomb hadn’t even scratched her.”

Recommendation

You may, or may not, have heard of the atom bomb? It was dropped on the city of Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945. It helped put an end to World War II. Many innocent people died, men, women, and children. Many people later suffered from radiation, a type of poison released by the bomb. This book is a true story of one of the children, Sadako Sasaki, who later died because of leukemia from the radiation. She is a heroine throughout Japan for her struggle to live. Her simple task of making 644 paper cranes in the hospital, before she died, helped her live longer. She was very brave.

This story is dramatic and sad. It makes you think about how special it is to live, and that, sometimes, even children do not grow old. Sadako was truly a brave girl. We all hope to be a bit like her.

I recommend this book for any one who wants to learn about Hiroshima and the children who suffered.

Blog by Caraline Le Coz
Author: Eleanor Coerr
Genre: Historical Fiction