A View From Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg

Title: A View From Saturday

Author: E.L. Konigsburg

Stars: 3 1/2

Description: HOW HAD MRS. OLINSKI CHOSEN her sixth-grade Academic Bowl team? She had a number of answers. But were any of them true? How had she really chosen Noah and Nadia and Ethan and Julian? And why did they make such a good team?It was a surprise to a lot of people when Mrs. Olinski's team won the sixth-grade Academic Bowl contest at Epiphany Middle School. It was an even bigger surprise when they beat the seventh grade and the eighth grade, too. And when they went on to even greater victories, everyone began to ask: How did it happen?It happened at least partly because Noah had been the best man (quite by accident) at the wedding of Ethan's grandmother and Nadia's grandfather. It happened because Nadia discovered that she could not let a lot of baby turtles die. It happened when Ethan could not let Julian face disaster alone. And it happened because Julian valued something important in himself and saw in the other three something he also valued.Mrs. Olinski, returning to teaching after having been injured in an automobile accident, found that her Academic Bowl team became her answer to finding confidence and success. What she did not know, at least at first, was that her team knew more than she did the answer to why they had been chosen.This is a tale about a team, a class, a school, a series of contests and, set in the midst of this, four jewel-like short stories -- one for each of the team members -- that ask questions and demonstrate surprising answers.

This isn't one my my favorite book but it was ok. This book is about all of these students, Noah, Nadia, Ethan, and Julian. It has a story about each of these students. Mrs. Olinski has to pick her students for this competition. And this book shows how she comes to pick her students, and how this changed her life.

Who is Your Favorite Character and Why? I don't really have a favorite character, but I really like Julian. Why? Because he is smart, caring, and he isn't like the other characters in the book.

What is Your Favorite Part and Why? I like the end part when Mrs. Olinski says,"Did I choose you, or did you choose me?" And the students answer saying, "Yes!" Why? Because that is a part where you figure out that the students care just as much for Mrs. Olinski just as much as she cares for them.

Why are you like the Main Character or why aren't you?

I don't really know who the main character is, but I am guessing it is Mrs. Olinski. I am not sure. Maybe in some ways. Why? Because at the beginning she is kind of strict she thinks it is not appropriate to applause and cheer. But at the end, her students change her into someone loving and caring. So I would say yes and no!

I liked this book but I wouldn't say this is one of my favorites. But this book is heart warming!
I don't remember any bad words.

Natalie

Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath

Title: Everything on a Waffle

Author: Polly Horvath (Author of The Trolls)

Stars: 5 (I love this book! It ends very good!)

Description: Primrose Squarp simply knows her parents did not perish at sea during a terrible storm, but try convincing the other residents of Coal Harbour on that score. For all practical purposes, at least for the time being, Primrose is an orphan, and there's no great clamoring of prospective adopters. After realizing the impracticality of continuing to pay Miss Perfidy (a moth-ball scented elderly lady) an hourly wage to baby-sit her, the town council is able to locate a relative, Uncle Jack, who is reluctantly takes Primrose into his care. Primrose does warm up to living with him and his home, despite the eerie noises resembling a hockey game that haunt her in the night. But true sanctuary can always be found at a restaurant called The Girl on the Red Swing, where everything including lasagna-is served on a waffle, and where the proprietor, Miss Bowzer offers a willing ear, as well as sage advise. Through a mixture of eccentric humor and probing philosophy, author Polly Horvath makes Primrose's search for peace and understanding a most memorable one.

Everything on a Waffle is about a girl who has lost her parents one day when there is a terrible storm and her father is out fishing and her moth decides to go look for him. Well, everybody else thinks that she lost her parents. Primrose Squarp thinks that her parents are still alive just abandoned out in the middle of nowhere.

This book, I love. My mom wanted me to read it and I love it! In this book Primrose looses her sweaters, a toe, and a piece of a finger but for some strange reason, everything turns out just the way it should.

Who is Your Favorite Character and Why? One of my favorite characters is her Uncle Jack. Why? Because he is so nice and kind.
What is Your Favorite Part and Why? (Don't read any of the question if you don't want to find out that happens) I like it when her parents come back on a boat and her uncle faints!! Why? Because that part is funny!
Why are you like the Main Character or why aren't you? I don't know if I am like the main character. I mean in some ways I am not, because I have parents and in my little town there isn't a restaurant where everything you eat comes with a waffle. But in someways I am like her because I have two loving parents. So in some ways I am like her and some ways I am not.

I really liked this book and I advise you to read.

Natalie

P.S. After each chapter there is a recipe.

Bright Shadow by Avi

Title: Bright Shadow

Author: Avi (He is one of my favorite authors)

Stars: 5 (Though one of the parts didn't end the way I liked it)

Description: In one day, Morwenna has gone from being the lowliest servant in the king's castle to the most powerful person in the land, for she has become the wizard, the bearer of the last five wishes in the kingdom. But with her new gift comes rules: She cannot wish for anymore, she cannot wish for anything for herself, and if she speaks of them to anyone, both she and the wishes will be gone.
Morwenna is just a normal person except for the part that shes works in the king's castle. But everything changes in one day because she becomes the most important person in the kingdom. She is the Wizard. But instead of having hundreds and hundreds of wishes, she only have 5 wishes left.

This book has a lot of wonderful adventures and it is a very exciting book. I did like it all except for one part but I really liked it!

Natalie

The Penderwicks A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall

Title: The Penderwicks

Author: Jeanne Birdsall

Stars: 5 Because this is the most warm hearted book that I

have ever read!

Description: Meet the Penderwicks, four different sisters with one special bond. There's responsible, practical Rosalind, stubborn, feisty Skye, dreamy, artistic Jane; and shy little sister Batty, who won't go anywhere without her butterfly wings. When the girls and their doting father head off for their summer holiday they are in for a surprise. Instead of the cozy, tumbledown cottage they expected, they find themselves on a beautiful estate called Arundel. Soon the girls are busy discovering the summertime magic of Arundel's sprawling gardens, treasure filled attic, tame rabbits, and the cook who makes the best gingerbread in Massachusetts. But the most wonderful discovery of all is Jeffry Tifton, son of Arundel's owner, who quickly proves to be the perfect companion for their adventures. The icy-hearted Mrs. Tifton is not as pleased with the Penderwicks as Jeffery is, though, warns the new friends to stay our of trouble. Which of course they will-won't they? One thing's for sure: it will be a summer they will never forget.

(Sniff) I love this book. I can not tell you how much this book means to me.
When the Penderwicks go for their summer vacation there whole summer is filled with magic and wonderful excitement. Rosalind 12, Skye 11, Jane 10, and Batty 4. These are all trouble makers.

When they end up at their cottage everything changes. They meet Jeffery, a young rich boy who isn't stuck up like his mother. The Penderwicks have to help Jeffery through is terrible lifetime so he doesn't have to go to Pensey, a Military school for young boys.

This story is a very warm hearted story. Me, my brothers, and my mom loved it. My mom cried in it. I really recommend this book for you if you like these kind of story.

There is a couple of kisses in this book.

Natalie

Pit of Vipers by Carolyn Keene

Title: Pit of Vipers

Author: Carolyn Keene

Stars: 5 (Because the last part is very funny)

Description: There's been a snake-napping at the River Heights Zoo, and all the clues about the thief seem to point in my good friend Charlie's direction. But why would Charlie want to steal a snake? I'm not convinced he's the perpetrator, but the cops are on the other side of the fence.Speaking of snakes, George's younger brother, Scott, has been slithering around a lot latley, all sneaky-like. He's not acting himself, but his lips are sealed about what's wrong. Do these mysteries have anything to do with each other? Stick around.

Nancy does not believe that her good friend Charlie Adams would steal a snake. But it turns out that she doesn't know him as much as she thought. He collects snakes, lizards, anything that is reptiles. And how did the police suspect his so fast?

And then George's younger brother is also acting very strange. Ditching swim class that he loves, and acting like a snot on top of it. Nancy, George, Bess, and George's parents have no idea why Scott is acting like this.

I really like these Nancy Drew books so I advise you to read a lot of them!

Natalie

The Stolen Relic by Carolyn Keene

Title: The Stolen Relic

Author: Carolyn Keene

Stars: 4 1/2

Description: My friends and I knew before we got to Arches National Park that it's full of red cliffs, arches, and rock formations-plenty of places for hiking, biking, and getting lost. It's a good thing there are park rangers and guides to help tourists like us find our way. Or at least that's what we thought, until one of the guides left for a second to investigate some noise, and never came back.
It seems unlikely that a respected tour guide who knows the area like the back of her hand could just get lost. Some thing's fishy. And you get bet I'm going to get to the bottom of this before I find my way home...

George has set up and vacation for Nancy, Bess and whoever. The vacation is at Arches National Park were there are very many places for bike rides, hikes and for people to get lost. Well, Sasha, a guide that Nancy, George, Bess, and Ned meet, goes missing.

I really liked this book and I would read it if you like it when people go missing!

Natalie

The Wish List by Eion Colfer

Title: The Wish List

Author: Eoin ColferStars:

5!!!

Description: Meg Finn is in trouble. Cast out of her home by her stepfather after her mom's death, Meg is a wanderer, a troublemaker. But after her last stunt, finding a place to sleep is the least of her worries. Belch, Meg's partner in crime, has gotten her involved in the attempted robber of an elderly man, Lowrie McCall. But things go horrible wrong. After an accidental explosion, Meg's spirit is flung into limbo, and a race begins between the demonic and the devine to win Meg's soul. Meg's really not a bad kid, but she hasn't exactly been an angle either, so the tally of her good and evil is dead even. Her only change on tipping the scales to salvation is to go back to Earth and do good-specifically, to help Lowrie McCall. He's got many regrets in his life to set right-a "Wish List"- and not much time left to do it. But even Meg can persuade Lowrie to get mixed up with her, she's going to have to deal with an even scarier, undead Belch- who's definitely on the side of the devil.

Meg Finn doesn't care were she lives right now or what she does, so as a favor, she helps, Belch (her partner in crime) in a robbery in Lowrie McCall's house. But then when something goes wrong it ends up with Belch in hell and with Meg....neither. All her good and bad deeds are even!The only way to get to heaven is to go back to earth and help Lowrie McCall with his life.He has a lot of regrets in his life so he has made up as,"Wish List". Meg and Lowrie half to do all of the things for both of them to get to Heaven.

I really liked this book and I recommend this book to all of you. But if you are really Biblical, I would have your mom or dad read it first.

Also-there is a little bit of language in her,But I still really liked it!

Natalie

Dangerous Plays by Carolyn Keene

Title: Dangerous Plays
Author: Carolyn Keene
Series: Yes, lots of series
Stars: 5
Description: Dad, Bess, ad I are all set for London when Ned's Shakespeare professor asks us to do a simple favor: to take a look at his townhouse while we're there, since he can't seem yo locate the housekeeper and fears some thing's wrong. Sounds easy enough, so I take the key. Eager to cross the favor off our list, we stop by 53 Banbury Square shortly after we land. And let's just say things in the townhouse aren't quite tip-top. And the key? well, it unlocks a Pandora's box of serious trouble.
Nancy's father, Mr. Drew, decides to take a vacation to London. Nancy is almost ready when Ned calls and asks for her and his professor to eat and talk about something he needs Nancy to do in London. Well, what he wants her to do is to look at his house because he can't contact his housekeeper, Mrs. Elliot.
Shortly after they land they land they go to his first house. They key doesn't unlock it and so they pick the lock or knock, don't remember and Mrs. Elliot and some strange guy is in there and Mrs. Elliot is in there with the Professor's silver candle-sticks in her hands!
And then a little while later Nancy's dad goes missing? Where is he?
I recommend this book to all of you Nancy Drew fans!

Natalie

Secret of the Spa by Carolyn Keene

Title: Secret of the Spa

Author: Carolyn Keene

Series, Yes, Nancy Drew Girl Detective

Stars: 4 1/2

A new spa is having it's grand opening the next day and of course Bess wants to try it out but it is too much money. Well, Nancy's dad just helped the owner out and she gave him some free passes to it. George is very grumpy about all of this spa talk but Nancy and Bess talk her into to going but she is always in a bad mood and keeps rushing off and everything like that.

The spa is great but is a little weird, the spa is supposed to be NO MEAT, but why when Nancy walks into the kitchen and sees meat in the chili? And then other weird things are happening all over the spa, and one of the things almost makes someone over heat and die.

Read this book to find out who is making all these thing go wrong with this spa and why George is acting SO grumpy all of the sudden.

Natalie

En Garde (Nancy Drew) by Carolyn Keene

Title: En Garde

Author: Carolyn Keene

Stars: 5

Back of the book says: If I told you I was worried about George's health because she's taken up fencing, you'd just laugh. Foils today are totally safe, and the gear is padded besides. Right?Well, if so, why did I see blood at George's first meet? Skewering isn't in the legal fencing repertoire-but it soon becomes apparent to me that some one's to fired up to care......

I really liked this book. It has a good moral that if you love to do something, focus on it and block everything out.First of all, George has taken up fencing. She loves it but Nancy doesn't think that she is to safe because at the first meet, when George's friend, Delyn is fencing a girl named Una, Una gets hurt and is bleeding. And then later on, there are more things that cause Una to get hurt, and even more!

Nancy is then determined to figure out this mystery before somebody gets really hurt.

I really liked this book and I recommend it to all of you!


Natalie

Bad Times, Big Crimes, by Carolyn Keene

Title: Bad Times, Big Crimes

Author: Carolyn Keene

Stars: 5

In this book, Nancy Drew goes go back in time but this was a really good book.Nancy Drew goes back in the times of the Great Depression, in the 1930s. People are begging for money and food out on the streets and people loose their homes. But then she finds out that people are robbing the banks and stealing the money!Nancy then decides she wants to help all of these people but it is a little hard because back then they didn't say, "Cool" or "What's up?" (It's funny what the reactions are to this kind of talk in this book!)

Back of the book says,"So I was sitting with Ned in a lecture, and then BAM, Ned's in a three-piece suit, and I'm in a city hall meeting on how to get through the beginning of the Great Depression. As in THE Depression, in the 1930s."What's more, there's a thief to track down. Some one's robbing local banks of what little money they have. Every one's panicked about their money, so the thief COULD be just about anyone. But after spending just a little time in this odd place, I have a hunch that there's more to it......."

I really liked this book and I recommend this book to everyone! Like all of the people who like good mysteries!

Natalie

The Ultimate Baby-Sitter's Hand Book by Debra Zakarin

I am going to be 12 years old and so I can baby sit! My brother Noah got this book for me and it gave me a lot of stuff I need to know!
Back of the book says, Eager baby-sitters discover new ideas and tips from how to get started in a profitable baby-sitting business, to how to face the challenging situations that can arise between you and your KTWs (or Kids to Watch).
With The Ultimate Baby-Sitter's Handbook, baby-sitting has never been so much fun-or so profitable!
I recommend this book to all of you baby-sitters! It will give you A LOT of ideas! I have already done what I need to do! How about you?

Natalie

Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke

Title: Igraine the Brave

Author: Cornelia Funke

Stars: 5

Igraine wants to have an adventure! She is turning 12 and she just can't believe that nothing has happened to her because her great grandfather Peallas had a adventure when he was...um.....can't remember! :)

Well, since she is turning 12 and her parents can do magic, they are working on her birthday present. Something goes wrong, and they turn themselves into pigs. And then a little bit after that, Osmund the Greedy wants to have the Books of Magic and so is preparing to battle!
Igraine's parents can't do anything when they are a pig so Igraine has to go get some giant hairs to help them turn back into humans. But then when she comes back, Osmund the Greedy has already set up camp and is ready to battle.

I really liked this book and there is nothing bad in it. I have read a lot of Cornelia Funke's books and they are all really good!

I hope you will give this book a try and that you will like it as much as I did!

Natalie

Nancy Drew The Clue on the Silver Screen by Carolyn Keene

Title: The Clue on the Silver Screen

Author: Carolyn Keene

Stars: 5

I haven't read a mystery for a while so this is what I read!Nancy Drew came from River Heights to EdgarTown to attend the Martha's Vineyard Film Festival. That night when they go to see the first film, "A Day in the Country," the film is stolen! Who stole it? Nobody knows! And then two other films are stolen a little bit later!

Back of the cover says, "Nancy has come all the way from River Heights to attend the Martha's Vineyard Film Festival honoring the late, great director Joseph Block. Even Velma Ford, the queen of the silent screen , has come out of hiding to take part. But in a scene worthy of one of her movies, Velma's appearance is marked by a sudden and sinister plot twist.

"The festival's opening night is marred by an explosion and the theft of Block's movie masterpiece! Nancy's investigation focuses on the film's last ten minutes- a piece of long-lost footage never seen before. Someone is determined to keep the movie's ending under wraps...even if it means cutting Nancy out of the picture for good!"

I really liked this book and I recommend it!

Natalie

Ghosthunters and the Muddy Monster of Doom!

Title: Ghost hunters and the Muddy Monster of Doom

Author: Cornelia Funke

Stars: 4 1/2

Out of all the Ghost hunter books this would my favorite besides the first one! This one is the also the most scariest.

Tom is about to get his ghost hunter's diploma and to do that he has to catch a ghost. Well, he gets the ghost but there is also another ghost there. The 12th Messenger, a blood sucking, ripping apart, ghost, and if you look into his eyes you are dead with-in the hour. And Tom looks at him........

This book is very good and I recommend it to all of you!

Natalie

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Title: Eclipse

Author: Stephenie Meyer

Stars: 5!!!!

I LOVE this book! LOVE IT! If you have read these books who do you like more, Jacob or Edward? I LOVE Edward. Who do you think Bella should end up with? I can't really decide because I like both of them! I can't wait until the next book comes out!

Edward feels so bad for what happened in the last book, Bella is looking forward to become a vampire, and of course, Edward can wait because he wants Bella to stay human. In the first book, Twilight, you all know about, James who tried to bite and kill Bella, and his mate, Victoria. Well, in this book, Victoria wants to kill Bella. She makes a whole group of new born vampires!! BAD THING!

When they are new, they are very strong. Victoria and the new vampires attack the Cullens. Well, not JUST the Cullens, the werewolves join up with the Cullens!

At the end of the book Bella finds out that she is in love with both, Jacob and Edward. Who will she pick? And also, Edward asks her to marry him, what does she say?

Read this book to find out!

They said, the "D" word and there is also some kisses.

Natalie

Ghosthunters and the Totally Moldy Baroness by Cornelia Funke

Title: Ghost Hunters and the Totally Moldy Baroness
Author: Cornelia Funke
Age: All Ages
Stars: Either 3 and a half or 4

Hetty Hyssop helped Tom in his encounter with a ghost. In this book, the three(Hetty, Tom, and Hugo, one of the ghosts that helps them)ghost hunters go to help Mr. and Mrs. Worm in their castle. They have a GHADAP (GHost with A Dark Past) in side their castle.

It is Hetty, Tom, and Hugo's job to drive out the GHADAP out of the castle walls and to restore the safeness in the castle for Mr. and Mrs. Worm.

Natalie

Review of New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

Title: New Moon
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Age: Young Adults
Series: Yes, go here to see my first review of the first book.
Stars: 5!!!

I really, really, really, liked this book! If you see my first review, Twilight, you can understand this review better.

I am not sure if in the first review if I mentioned, Jacob. Jacob is the one who told her about werewolves, and vampires. In this book, Jasper (one of the new vampires who joined the Cullen family and used to drink human blood) almost bites Bella. So what Edward has to do is to break her heart. He tells her that he doesn't love her anymore and that he has to leave.

As soon as Edward says this, she falls into a DEEP depression. After almost a year, Jacob is the one who helps her through it, but there is one thing that has changed Jacob big time! He has become a werewolf and their duty is to kill vampires!

In the book they find out that Victoria is hunting her! (She is a vampire who drinks human blood and wants to kill Bella because Edward killed Victoria's mate) This book is very exciting just like the first one!

In this book they say, crap, the "D" word, and h***, there also are a couple of kisses.

I can't wait to start the next book and I CAN'T until the next book comes out! But at least we have the third book! :)

Natalie

Magyk by Angie Sage

Title: Magyk
Author: Angie Sage
Age: 10 and up
Stars: 5

My mom read this book aloud to my brothers and I. This book is very good!
Septimus Heap was born just that day while is father is going through the woods and finds a baby girl. When Silas, the father, comes home the midwife runs our the door carrying baby Semtimus in her arms, wrapped in bandages, and is screaming, "He is dead, he is dead!"
In the book you find that the queen has been shot?! Yes!

These are the questions, who is this baby? And if Septimus, the 7th son of the 7th son, really dead?

Just to let you know, the 7th son of the 7th son is supposed to be very magical and powerful.

I really liked this book and you should give it a try!

Natalie

The Balled of Lucy Whipple by Karen Cushman

Title: The Balled of Lucy Whipple

Author: Karen Cushman

Age: 10-14

Pages: 218

Stars: 5

I have read another book by Karen Cushman called," Catherine Called Birdy," and that book was very good. I really like it that the books that I have read so far, the characters practically have the same attitude. They are very funny, sarcastic, and lots of other stuff. Karen Cushman loves history so all the books are based on history!
I really liked this book and all of you should read it!

I didn't really notice anything bad but Butte, her brother, almost said s*** I think. You can tell that me almost did anyway!

Natalie