Steck Stars: Literature Reviews: December 2016

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Wild Life

Wild LIFE

By CYNTHIA DEFELICE

Have you ever wondered what it is like to live on your own,with a gun and a dog you love?That is just what twelve year old Erik is choosing to do.I am doing a book review on Wild Life. It is a thrilling realistic fiction book by Cynthia Defelice.

In the book Wild Life 12 year old Eric has parents getting deployed for the army.While Eric’s parents are away he is traveling from New York to North Dakota to see his grandparents that he barely knew.He tried to persuade his mom to let him stay with a friend but could not do it.

On the second day in North Dakota Eric found a dog that got stuck in the face by a large porcupine. When a vet arrives,he pulls the quills out.Before the vet leaves he tells Eric That he can keep the dog until the owner can be contacted.That night Eric is thinking of names and comes up with Quill.

When the vet calls the following date to tell Eric that the owner will come pick up his dog the next day,they…

I would recommend this book if you are 10 -12 years old.But if you are like me and like adventures I would read this book. I like Wild Life because it has great content and the story line is followed all through the story.Another reason I like this book is it shows all of the characters emotions.This book shows what challenges nature can bring,another thing is that it shows what judgement is useful and when.Wild Life is a 5 star classic read.

This is why I think you should read Wild Life ,the story of Quill,Eric and a bold move.

The Candy Smash

The Candy Smash by Jacqueline Davies

The Candy Smash by Jacqueline Davies is book number 4 in the Lemonade War series. This book tells about Valentine’s day and rumors going around about different “couples” in the 4th grade classroom of Mrs.Overton.

The Candy Smash is mostly about Jessie and Evan Treski who are brother and sister. They are in class making Valentine's Day boxes because in a couple of weeks it would be Valentine's Day. In this book there are certain rumors going around in the 4th grade about a certain ‘’couple’’ in the class. The rumors in the book are about a girl named Megan Moriarty and Jessie’s brother, Evan Treski. There is a lot of drama in this book about the rumored ‘’couple’’. It is so dramatic it is funny. Except for the fact that Evan hated when Jessie would spread rumors about Megan and Evan being madly in love.

In the book The Candy Smash I loved when in the middle, towards the end of the book Jessie brought all of the love surveys home. When she went to double check or count to see if she had all 27 surveys, there were only 26. So Jessie looked everywhere for the 27th survey, but it was nowhere to be found. It was such a love mystery. I also liked the part where Jesse wrote down in her clues notebook then whispered to herself as she wrote ‘’8:44am Evans desk no hearts…

It is such a love mystery. I love it.

I think a good age level for this book is 8-10. Younger would most likely like to have the book read to them. I give this book a total of 3 out of 5 stars because the book was a little too easy for people over 10. Also for me the book was a little to lovey dovey, but I still did really enjoy reading The Candy Smash by Jacqueline Davies.

School of Fear

Have you ever heard of a fiction book called School of Fear? My book is called School of Fear and the author is Gitty Daneshvari.

School of Fear is about four kids who have fears and their parents send their kids to the School of Fear to make their fears go away. First of all, the four kids never even wanted to go to School of Fear. But since their parents made them go they had to go. For example one of the characters name is Lulu Punchalower and her fear is that she is terrified of confined spaces. Secondly, when the kids arrive at the school the kids start to have bad feelings. For example, when the four kids see the school they are shocked.

School of Fear has become a favorite read for me (If you are in 4th or 5th grade like me.) First, I love the part when the kids were shocked to see the inside so elegant while the outside was so worn out. Secondly, what I like about the book was the topic of the book like how the children spend their time at the school. What I dislike about the book is that there weren’t many pictures. There was only a picture in each chapter and each chapter is pretty long.

I would recommend the book School of Fear for ages 7-10. Also, the book is pretty funny even if the book sounds scary. For example when a dog named Macaroni wears pajamas every night. I would rate this book 4 out of 5 because it did not have many pictures. I hope you think my book is nice. I recommend you read School of Fear.

The Maze Runner

Ready to read the amazing book called The Maze Runner by James Dashner? Well get ready! Follow the story of Thomas as he runs through the maze. He wakes up in a black box with nothing, confused and scared… He finds himself with fifty other boys inside a maze.

So Thomas has been in a maze a few days now and a girl shows up, the first girl in the history of the maze. A new guy shows up every month except now two people in a week? On top of that the girl is in a comatic state and has a note from the creators. Then back to Thomas. He isn’t like the other gladers (gladers are what they call themselves in the maze). They all cried themselves to death for their first week. On top of that Thomas wants to be a runner and go out into the maze with the grievers (grievers are monsters inside the maze). Something’s going to change and they know it even Thomas…

Well this book was straight up awesome! Okay so it doesn't get going until about page seventy or so. There is a great mystery aspect, like why fifty teenage boys are stuck inside a gigantic maze that has moving walls. There is also an action scene about every fifteen pages so you could definitely say it is a action book. Sure it’s a three hundred page book but when you read it the pages just fly by. There’s one action scene where it lasts for about thirty five pages, but it doesn't feel that way. There’s a good bit of death but not too bad.

So all in all it is a great book. It’s great for fourth to seventh grade. It probably is most appealing to boys. After you read the first book you will be hooked on the rest of the series. This series is awesome! I am on the fourth book now and I think there is only one book after this. Unless James Dashner decides to write another one.

Honestly this is one of the best books I've read since Wonder . Just non-stop action and mystery. All the times when you feel like you are actually inside the book. One time when I was reading I forgot where I was! (kinda). I give this book a ***** rating! Go check it out!

Gertie's Leap to Greatness

Have you ever wanted to read about a girl who never gives up ? Well, in the book, Gertie’s Leap to Greatness by Kate Beasley there is a girl named Gertie who always shows grit and never fails a mission even through challenges.

In Gertie’s Leap to Greatness , Gertie ( the main character) wants to be the smartest in her class and needs to have the best part in the school play to get her mom to come back to Gertie, Gertie’s dad, and Aunt Ray. The story does not tell why Gertie’s mom left her family. In the story, Gertie decides to study a bunch of books and study guides to become the best in her class. Gertie tries to get the most important part in the school play. The play is about a girl who only eats candy , not fruits and vegetables, until the girl learns how candy is not healthy for you. Gertie wants to be that girl in the play. Through these two missions of being the greatest in her class and trying to have an important role in the play, she still runs into problems. Gertie loses a friend name Jane during the mission of being the smartest in her class. Gertie also makes the new girl cry because the story shows the new girl ( Mary Sue ) say ,”You’ve tried to ruin things for me ever since I moved here.” This piece of evidence shows how eager Gertie is to get a good part in the play and be the best kid in her class.

The reason I like Gertie’s Leap to Greatness is because Gertie reminds me of my brother ( Jack ) . One reason Gertie is like my brother is because Gertie says,” This is my moment.” That makes me remember my brother say in a sneaky voice,” This is my moment to sneak up on daddy.” Jack never gives up, just like Gertie. On a snowy day, Jack and I were making an igloo and I got so cold I wanted to stop. I headed for the steps and then Jack said,” Come on Olivia! Don’t give up now!” In Gertie’s Leap to Greatness , Gertie doesn’t like studying she does not want to give up because she wouldn’t accomplish her goal of being the top student if she didn’t study. That means Jack and Gertie have the same attitudes of being strong, showing grit, being tough and being confident.

I recommend Gertie’s Leap to Greatness to 4th, 5th, and 6th graders ( ages 9,10,11 and 12 ). If I were to rate this book and five stars was the highest ,I would give Gertie’s Leap to Greatness a 4 ½ .

Road to Oz

This book is the Road To OZ. This is the true story by Frank Baum and is a sequel to the first book, the The Wonderful Land of Oz. I thought the old and classic book was an amazing book.

Have you wondered how it would feel to get lost in a fairy land (Oz) and have to stumble over many issues? Well this was a very good story.

In the story Dorothy meets these strange people and she gets lost. Dorothy and her “strange friends” have to find out how to get to OZ so Dorothy can go home again. But they have to struggle to find a way to go back to Kansas. The places they go are fun like: the country Donkyton, Foxville and at the end they have to avoid getting eaten by a wicked country, the

Wismises. Dorothy and her companions have to get out of the cave they are in. Also they have to go to this place called the Pond of Truth so the shaggy man and Button Bright, her companions, can get their heads back from having a donkey head and a fox head.

I would give this book a 8/10 rating which is a pretty good rating because some parts to me were not so good. This was a great book for ages 8-11 because of the amazing pictures and how the words make a picture but it is also a good book for people who like a book that is not too long (I really like long books). Also it was a good experience for me and the characters.

Their actions are entertaining and the setting in the book is familiar. It was also made into a movie.

I hope you get to read this book. If you really like adventure books I recommend you read books 1, 2, 3 and 4 first.

Strong is the New Beautiful

Book Review:strong is the new beautiful by Lindesy Vonn

Have you ever heard of Lindsey Vonn ? Well Lindsey Vonn is a Famous downhill skier .

So i read strong Is the new beautiful by Lindsey Vonn . I learned a lot from this book that I wish everyone could.

This is mainly about Lindsey Vonn's life and her being a downhill skiing sensation! from the start Lindsey is a normal little girl in Burnsville, Minnesota. She skied at a place Called Buck Hill which had only a 310 foot vertical foot drop, shorter than most water sides. Lindsay always enjoyed other sports. then on page 9 the story really gets started. she started taking trips to Vail, Co and ended up moving there with her whole family, including her mom, dad, brothers and sisters. Next in 2002 sHe made it to the Olympic team. In 2004-2005 she made it to the podium by placing in the top 3 at Lindsay's first race in cortina, Italy. In the table of contents there are chapters about mind, diet, Fitness and Glamor.

I really enjoyed this book except its diet chapters. I think most 9 year olds would be a little bored so I recommend 9 and a half year old girls but boys could read it too, especially for the exercises for getting stronger. I found quotes that really mean something to me and probably others. this is one that you can find at the back of the book, “The most powerful, enduring, and life shaping strengths you can ever build is the one of self-love. And if you learn to love yourself you will be beautiful on the inside and out no matter your age for your body changes forever and ever.” I think if you really think about this quote as the book you will really enjoy your life. When you get to the exercises don't worry; you can come back to them and finish the amazing book.

Finally from reading this book from cover to cover Lindsey has gone through a lot in her life and she still is. I give the book 5 stars because Lindsay's a really inspiring person in life. I really enjoyed this book and if you read my book Review you will end up wanting to read it too. I will always remember that “when you commit to getting strong you agree to go on an incredible journey that will transform you.”

Strong is the New Beautiful

Book: Strong is The New Beautiful Author: Lindsey Vonn

The book that I read is called Strong Is The New Beautiful. In this book you will go on the exciting adventure of Lindsey Vonn’s life!

This awesome book is mostly about how Lindsey faces problems through her life’s adventures, these problems may involve life changing crashes, or fitness. She will also explain that being the strongest of the pack is just as good as being the prettiest of the pack! The book also explains how a Burnsville, Minnesota family girl Lindsey Vonn loves skiing but doesn’t have a place to do so, except for five hundred ten foot Buck Hill across the street! But she does experience skiing. Lindsey Vonn by age 9 is making frequent visits to Vail, Colorado and by 2012 she made it to the Olympic Team! She then ended up actually moving to Vail!

I think this book is definitely for girls, and girls that maybe haven’t figured themselves out yet. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars, and recommend it for girls 9 1/2 and older , so like in fourth grade or so! I think you should read this book because it's very inspiring. For example here is a quote that I found awesome: “The most powerful, enduring, and life shaping shape you can ever build is the one of self-love. And if you can learn to love yourself, you'll be beautiful inside and out, no matter how your age or your body changes, you’re forever and ever.” This book is filled with these inspiring quotes which would be good to read when you are feeling down or not feeling strong enough and/or are not feeling beautiful enough. These are the names of the shape-shifting chapters! The Power of Strong. Change Your Mind Change Your Body. How to Eat to Get Strong. 5 Steps to Start Eating Lean. The 1 Week Challenge. My favorite is Get Strong Meals. Finding your Fitness You. 9 Ways to Make Exercising Exciting. 7 Amazing Reasons to Start Strength Training. How to Warm Up, Stretch and Prevent Injuries. My 65 Favorite Exercises.

As you get deeper into the book it tells you about how world champion Lindsey Vonn wants girls (or anybody) to stop obsessing over their weight-loss and start focusing on getting strong!

I give the book a 5 out of 5 stars andI want you to know you are as beautiful as you are strong.

The Lost Hero

By: Rick Riordan

Hello! Today I am writing a book review on the book The Lost Hero,

By Rick Riordan, this is an amazing read for a lot of mythology fans, now Mr. Riordan adds roman mythology to this series. I give this book five stars out of five! I recommend this book for ages 8+ and both genders will love this book.

First, this book is the first book in a series of five. The Lost Hero is based upon a kid named Jason who has lost his memories and can’t even remember his two best friends, Piper and Leo. Soon they realize that greek gods aren’t just myths! They work to get Jason’s memory back but that isn’t the easiest task in the world, they have to use Leo’s wits and engineering skills, Piper’s amazing way with words, and Jason’s heritage with the gods.

Next, I would like to tell you why I absolutely adore this book. I am a big fan of the other Rick Riordan books. They are good as well but… This book does such a good job in telling all the character’s thoughts. Each chapter is about a different character’s perspective. Switching the characters points of view really makes it easy to get attached to the book, the plot, and the characters.

All in all, this is the best book I have ever read. Most kids will love this book as much as I did, I’ll say it for the second time, it is an amazing read and it gets five stars from me!

The Enemy Above

Imagine you had to hide to survive.

That’s just what a 12 year old boy had to do in the novel, The Enemy Above

By: Michael P. Spradlin.

In The Enemy Above a boy named Anton has to hide. But when Anton’s hiding place is found by the Nazis. Anton’s grandma and two others are taken by the Nazis. Anton must come out of hiding and go try to save them.Want to know what happens just by the book and see for yourself. Most of the book is about hiding but there is still a lot of action, I can't tell you what happen completely but I can tell you to read the book to find out.

I recommend this book because there is pretty much everything.this is about historical events but this story is not real so it is historical fiction.I think by reading this story it will show you to always be courageous also be safe and smart.

This book will show you how hard life was as a jew during World War 2 during the Nazi invasion.

Also the courage of Anton is amazing it might even make you more courageous.

I recommend this story for 4th-7th graders also I give this novel 5 out of 5 stars I hope this made you want to read the book if you do good luck trying to stop.

A Long Walk to Water

Have you ever had to walk 6 miles to get one jug of bad water?

The book that I read is called A Long Walk To Water by Linda Sue Park. That book

is the most attention grabbing book I have ever read.

A Long Walk To Water is about two people that go through many real world problems in

Sudan. This book is a nonfiction story about life in Sudan. One of the people in the book

is a boy named Salva that has to abandon his home and go away from the war. Another is

a girl named Nya. She has a pond near her home but the pond dried up and she and her

family have to move to a camp next to a lake. If you want to know what comes next,

read the book, A Long Walk To Water.

I like this book because once you get into the real life action it makes your heart

seem to beat faster than the speed of light, and in certain parts it will make you shed

a tear of happiness and sadness. Another reason why I like this book is because it is

the best combination of action and peace. I will give you evidence on why I like the book.

In the beginning of the book, Salva goes to school and in class they hear gunshots. At that point Salva said that he could hear his heart beating. Next, in a different part of of Sudan, Nya and her family were walking along going to the “water camp.” Their family did this every year in the dry season, but something different will happen this year…...

I think you should really read this book if you like real-life action. Also if you like books that touch your heart this is also the book for you. If you like both, even better! If I were to rate this book 1-5 stars, I would give it a full 5 stars! I really hope you will take the time to read this book.

Took

TOOK

If you like adventurous stories then you would like this exciting book.

Took is mostly about a boy, Daniel and his family who moved to rural West Virginia. Once there, the kids at his new school start telling Daniel stories about an old auntie. These stories are about an old auntie kidnapping girls for 50 years and casting a spell so the girls won’t remember their family and their personality. Also, Auntie used the girls to work and clean her cabin and whatever else old Auntie says for them to do. Daniel is worried about his sister Erica being kidnapped .

Auntie is a real and she lives in a cabin. Daniel is determined to save his sister, so he goes hunting by old Auntie’s cabin. Nobody in that town ever goes near that town except Daniel. He is very brave but when he goes twice he finds old Auntie and bloody bones.

Read the book to see what happens to Erica her brother Daniel and old Auntie.

I like this book because I'm interested in the subject. By that I mean I am obsessed about ghosts! If you're like me then you will like this book, too. If you are eight and up then yes, you will enjoy the book, especially when Daniel goes to Old Auntie’s cabin to steal his sister back. Also, read this book if you like adventures by being chased. What if that was you?

I also recommend this book if you like fiction ghost stories that are scary, very scary. I would give this five stars because the book is better than anything for Halloween time! The book is also a good book to read anytime of the year. So if you want to be a smooth, scared reader decide to read on to the end.

Wonder

Wonder is by R.J. Palacio.There are many different kinds of books but this is about a boy who looks different from any other boy.

This book is about a boy named August who has never gone to school before. Why? Because everybody always stares at him because he has a deformed face. In August’s case his mouth and eyes aren’t where they usually are. August pretends not to notice other students staring at him but he does. He doesn’t have any friends and some try to be his friend but none mean it. August went to school finally and has made friends or so he thinks. Read this book if you have ever felt different.

I like this book because it is about how we shouldn’t judge people by the way they look. Also don’t stare at others when they are different .I dislike this book because it can make you sob and feel very sad. For example, when August doesn’t have any friends and everybody is staring at him. I would recommend this book to 10-13 year olds and up. It is a good read and makes you think a lot about how people are different. I like how the author switches to other people in the book’s point of view.For example, each chapter/section is from a different person’s point of view or memory, like August’s sister or one of his friends.

I would give this book five stars for how many emotions and great events it shows you.

The Doldrums

Do you like adventure? Do you wish you could travel the seas of Antarctica, and beyond?

The Doldrums is an awesome book of travel, adventure, and curiosity. It's about a boy named Archer who lives with his parents (but they're not so much like Archer), and his grandparents are stuck on an iceberg! He’ll need a lot more people to help him save them. I love the characters. Archer is a very imaginative, curious, and mischievous child. I can’t blame him! He’s never even seen his grandparents! Then there's Adelaide, (Archer’s neighbor) she is very kind and can always speak up for what she believes. She has a wooden leg (but does not like saying the truth about how she got it). Finally there’s Oliver, (another friend of Archer’s) he’s not really the adventure type. All he wants is a friend and someone to hang out with! In the end they've all had their ups and downs.

The Doldrums is a great book for kids 8-10. Even though the book may be easy for some, it sure brings you to great places! I liked this book because it had characters that I could relate to and the characters go amazing places and meet many strange people. Another reason that I like this book is because it sets you in a very curious mood because of all the suspenseful parts. I also like the book because you must read every part because along the way there are some hints that tell you what might happen next.

I thought that The Doldrums was an amazing book to read and really sparks your imagination! Out of 5 I rate it 5 stars! Well...what do you think?