Redwall by Brian Vacques, Book Review by Carter

I liked this book because it is full of fantastic, suspenseful adventures that will keep any reader hooked.  I also liked this book because it is old and uses words such as "thou".  I chose this book because it is my favorite and in a series.  So if readers get hooked, they can read more! 

In this book a very brave little mouse becomes a hero and a warrior, but he learns that being a warrior is not required in times of peace.

*****5 Stars. 

Confetti Girl by Diana Lopez, Review by Elizabeth

I like this book because it is a happy story and it really builds suspense.  This book sounded really good and everyone was talking about it.  Everyone was saying they liked this book.  After losing her mother. the main character's dad begins to escape more and more into books.  It is a wonderful story about friendship.

****Four Stars. 

The Tulip Touch by Anne Fine, Review by Lily Ana

What I liked most about this book is that you learn a lot about friendship and how friendship is tested.  I chose this book because it traps you inside, and page after page has more suspense.

Tulip and Natalie have a struggling friendship.  Natalie lives a life in the hotel business.  Tulip has a life in farming.  Anne Fine wrote this story about these two girl's friendship.  What happens when Tulip stands up for Natalie?

****Four Stars.

Capstone Press & Stone Arch Books Create Your Own Sports Star Contest

Mrs. Finn is so pleased that our school had 12 character entries place in the Top 50 nationally.  These finalists received two free Sports Illustrated Kids Graphic Novels; one for the student and one for the school library.  Each student also received a letter and certificate of participation.  Congratulations to the following students in their wonderful accomplishment!   You made Mrs. Finn so proud!  

Jack R.

Megan K.

Janelle D.

Rachel P.

Emory K.

Joseph S.

Meghan M.

Dominick L.

Daisy K.

Morgan W.

Kierce M.

Kathryn A.

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell, Book Review by Alexandra

I liked the book the Island of the Blue Dolphins.  It was very descriptive about the island and what was there and the author kept it in suspense.  Also, the book told how a girl survived on an island by herself.  This is why I liked the book. 

This book was the latest book that I read.  It was easy to remember all of the details of the book.  It was also interesting how a girl our age survived on an island by herself and how she managed to get through it.

This book is about a girl (Karana), her family, and the villagers who live on the island shaped like a dolphin.  Soon, an Aleut ship came to their island to hunt otter.  They get in a fight, killing the island's leader.  They must then find a new leader.  What will happen when the ship comes back for them?  What will Karana do?

****I rated this book four stars.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne, Book Review by Brenna

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is about a boy named Bruno who is the son of a commandant in Germany in World War 2.  Bruno has always been happy in his home in Berlin with his mother, father, and his sister Gretel, who was a hopeless case. When Bruno's father gets a promotion from Adolf Hitler, Bruno and his family are moved away to a house out of the country known as "Out With."  Bruno is sad that he has to move away with his friends and most of his family to a house in the middle of no where.  When Bruno goes exploring one day , he finds a big fence, with many scary, dirty, and sad-looking people inside it.  Bruno meets a little boy his age.  Bruno and the little boy befriend each other, but when something sudden will test their friendship, will Bruno do the right thing?

I liked this book because it showed that you can find friendship anywhere in a place where there is sadness.  It also shows what people were like back then. 

I chose this book because it was recommended to me many times.  I thought that it was a great read!

*****Five Stars!

Murder at Midnight by: Avi Book review by Grantham

The reason I liked this book because I liked the personalities of the characters. Also I thought the story and setting was good.

I chose this book beacause when I read the summary it pulled me into the story also if you like mysteries then you would like this book.

Here is a short summary of the book:

Fabrizio,a slave boy, helps his master,a magician, is acused of making treasenous papers against the king. When Fabrizio's master is in jail and is about to go into court Fabrizio meets a girl who brought a printing press to town. The prince asked the girl to print the treasenous papers. At Fabrizio's master's court Frabizio proved his master innocent andthe price was put in jail.

I give this book a 5 star rating *****

Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian By Rick Riordan, Review by Ian

I like this book a lot because it has a lot of action, comedy, and it is fast paced. It had a really good story line that comes out and grabs you. You always want to keep reading it no matter what you are doing. I really suggest this book to anyone who likes fiction books.

I chose Percy Jackson and the Olympians because I like Greek Mythology. It really interests me how they added a modern twist and an amazing storyline to such an old thing. It is an amazing book that adds a lot of comedy and action to and old time story.

This is a short summary to the book. A young boy named Percy Jackson is a perfectly normal boy. Until he finds out his father is a Greek god and his best friend is part goat. Once he finds this out, terrible things start to happen. Like, he is accused with a terrible crime that could set the entire world into chaos and war, but he has nothing to do with it. So to prove himself innocent and save the world, he has to go on a perilous journey that could kill him and his friends. He must face terrible beasts and impossible puzzles.

*****Five Stars

The Secret Garden By Frances Hodgson Burnett, Book Review by Mary Austin

This book is very mysterious, full of surprise and it makes you want to keep reading it until you finish the whole thing.  I chose this book because it has good description, is long and also funny.

Mary Lennox moves in with her uncle, Dr. Craven, in a mysterious mansion.  At first, she hates it.  However, she goes out into the moor and meets many new friends, discovering many new secrets.  She unlocks the Secret Garden which no one has been in for ten years.  She and Dickon fix up the garden and make it their own.

How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O'Connor, Book Review by Sophie

I liked this book when Georgina and Toby must decide if they will take the dog back to the owner because it would be the right thing to do.  I chose this book because the title sounded interesting and I like dogs.

Georgina, Toby, and their mother live in a car.  Georgina sees a lost dog poster.  She gets an idea.  Her and Toby "borrow" a dog and return it.  Then, with that reward money, they can pay for a house.  When Georgina "borrows" a dog, it may not work out.  Georgina and Toby face several problems.  Read this book to find out how they work to solve their problems.

****Four Stars.

Scat by Carl Hiaasen, Book Review by Sean

I liked this book because it had a lot of suspense.  It was also very strange with a weird teacher.  It was the best book I have ever read.  I got this book for my birthday.  Scat is about a boy named Nick.  He goes on a field trip and the woods catch on fire.  His teacher disappears and the prime suspect is Duane Scrod, Jr.  Things will go crazy, read to find out what happens next!

A Dog's Life: An Autobiography of a Stray by Ann Martin, Book Review by Vivian

I liked how the dogs in this book go on an adventure and it tells the story of a dog's life.  It is told from a dog's perspective.  I chose this book because it was the best book ever.  It is cool to see things through the dog's view and is very funny.

This book is about a dog name Squirrel and he is born a stray with his brother, Bone.  When Bone is taken, Squirrel hangs out with another dog named Mooh.  

*****Five Stars

High Wizardry by Diane Duane, Book Review by Beth.

I like this book because it is exciting and an adventure, and at the same time touching and suspenseful. It combines all of these things to make it a book that is really good. It is a perfect book for any fiction reader.

I chose this book because it was the third book in a series I was reading. Each book is better than the last, until this one. I am on the ninth book but this book (High Wizardry) is the best in the series.

High Wizardry is about a family. The older daughter, Nita, is a wizard, but her sister, Dairine is jealous. The next day the family gets a new computer. While they are trying to set it up, Dairine messes with it and a copy of the computer appears with her version of the wizard's manual. The rest is an adventure of planet-hopping, creating life, a near death battle...a happy ending until the next book?

****Four Stars.

Holes by Louis Sachar, Review by Brady

This book builds suspense on every page. It was wonderful. I never wanted it to stop. It was awesome. Every chapter got better and better.

This book has a really cool cover. It is small and pretty short, so I could read it in the car.

Stanley has a history of bad luck and he is in the wrong place at the wrong time when he gets sent to juvenile detention. I could not imagine going to dig holes for as long as he did.

****Four Stars.

Terrible Times by Philip Ardagh, Book Review by Michael

I liked this book because it was hilarious and filled with comedy. It's funny because his family is messed up and his aunt keeps hurting his uncle. I also liked this book because it shows you how hard it was for people on ships back then.

I chose this book because it had to do a book report and a friend recommended it.

Young Eddie Dickenson is told he must go to America to see what happened to the Terrible Times, his family's newspaper. Along the way he is accompanied by his messed up family. While on a ship with criminals, he must keep the captain's diamond safe.

*****Five Stars