Wednesday, October 29, 2008

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

Monday, September 22, 2008

ICarly


Title: ICarly

Nickelodeon

Description: Hey there, people of Earth! It's Carly, Sam, and Freddie coming to you with some of the best episodes from Season 1 of ICarly! Revisit favorite ICarly moments and web features like ICrush It, ISpit takes, random dancing, and more!


ICarly is a TV show by Nickelodeon about a web show that is really famous called ICarly. Her neighbor, Freddie, and her best friend Samantha, otherwise known as Sam, do it with her. They do a show one every week week and they have a lot of viewers.

I favorite episodes are,
IDream of Dance
IScreem on Halloween
IWant a World Record
and
IPromise Not To Tell


Now in this movie there is some bad word such as, Oh my Go*. And it is a little crude in some places but it wasn't to bad.



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

102 Dalmatians


Title: 102 Dalmatians

Disney

Stars: 5

At this place that they do experiments, one of their experiments is to see what happens when they put Cruella with dalmatians. Well, when this happens Cruella has changed, somehow. She is playful with any kind of puppy and isn't mean anymore.

But when she sees a dalmatians she starts being mean again. She then decides to go on with her plan. To make a cloak out of dalmatian fur.

Ok, now this sounds a little weird because in the movies she was playing with dalmatians but then later she sees one and starts being mean again. I don't get that because she would have already been mean because she has been spending all of this time with a dalmatian.

Natalie

101 Dalmatians


Title: 101 Dalmatians

Disney

Stars: 5

I tried to watch this when I was about 5 with a friend and it was to scary. But now I have watched it and I love it! Cruella is a little creepy but it is still a very good movie.
Anita works for Cruella De Vil by designing clothes. Cruella discovers Anita with her work with a cloak with dalmatian spots on it.

But when Rodger meets Anita and they get married everything changes. Anita doesn't work for Cruella that much anymore. Anita and Rodger's dalmatians having 15 puppies.

Well then Cruella gets the idea off having Dalmatians killed and skinned to make a cloak out of their fur. But Anita and Rodger won't give away their puppies and so Cruella decides to steal them....

Natalie

Friday, September 19, 2008

William Carey: Obliged to Go

I have been reading William Carey: Obliged to Go by Janet and Geoff (pronounced Jeff) Benge. It's really good :) Ok, so you know that part :D But, it talks about his life and how he wants to become a Missionary. William wants to become a Missionary in India and it talks about how he gets to India and everything.

I'm not a great reviewer, right? I know. Since i'm not a great reviewer, you better go read it!!!
-Elizabeth