Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs

What would you do if your mom came up to you after getting home early from a trip and said you were moving to Greece? Well, in this story Phoebe has no choice but to freak out. Her mom was attending a family reunion and brought back a fiance! Phoebe tries to convince her mom to let her stay in L.A., California with her friends but her mom insists on moving. Phoebe definitely isn't looking forward to moving in with her stepfather, Damian, and her evil stepsister, Stella. She attends the same high school as Stella and her first day she notices that something's different. It's not the classes or the teachers, but the students. That's when she is later told by Damian, that everyone on that island in Greece is a descendant from a Greek God. They all have different powers depending on where they descend from. Phoebe is shocked and doesn't know what to say, she also wonders if she's a descendant from Greek God as well. The only way to find out is to read this book.

The Face on the Milk Carton

The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney is a great book! Jane is just hanging out with her friends in the cafeteria when she happens to look at the 'missing child' on the milk carton. The face is hers. This begins Jane's quest to find out the truth from her parents. Can Jane do this while dating her first crush? Read this book to find out!
This book intrigued me till the very last page! Filled with romance and adventure, this book is perfect if you like The Lost Island of Tamoor. I am now reading the third book, The Voice on the Radio. I recomend this book to ages 12-14. It is a great read!
Review by Georgie

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

By: Grace Lin
Review by: Erika

This is a great book based on ancient Chinese legions, including Old Man of the Moon, the Green Tiger, and the story of Fruitless Mountain. This book is about a girl named Minli and her adventure with Dragon to go visit Old Man of the Moon to get her family more money, for they are poor, and barely get by every day. Every day, the whole family works from morning to night to grow rice, but even with all their hard work, they get barely enough food to feed themselves. They only money they have are two copper coins that were given to Minli on her birthday, and they sit in a bowl on a shelf, still untouched after all these years. Then a goldfish seller comes to this humble little village, trying to sell his goldfish, claiming that they will bring fortune to the owner's home. One goldfish catches Minli's eye, and she buys it with one of the copper coins. When Minli gets home, her mother is furious because Minli spent the money, and now there is another mouth to feed. So, that night, Minli sneaks out, and sets the goldfish free. Then the goldfish, out of gratitude for Minli, speaks to Minli, telling her where to find Old Man of the Moon and how to give her family a great fortune. Now, Minli's adventure begins.

This book talks about sacrifice, how what you want might not be the best for others. This book also talks about greed, and how it can destroy a person. Lastly, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon talks about finding friends in the weirdest places.All the while, different people tell different Chinese legions. This book makes a great read aloud for kids. I hope you enjoy this book.

StormBreaker

So far in StormBreaker by Anthony Horowitz Alex found it his uncle had died in a car accident. He whent to the funeral and there were some strange men there. One of them was carrying a weapon that nobody was supposed to see. When Alex got home that day he found a few things in the house were different.
I think Alex's dad was not really in a car accident because people in the book said he was not wearing his seat belt when he always did himself and always reminded other people to. I think the people at the funeral killed him.

Hidden Talents

I've just started to read a book called Hidden Talents. I'm not very far, so not much has happened yet. So far a boy named Martin has been taken on a bus to a school called Edgeview. Edgeview is basically a dead end, for students, teachers, and furniture. All of the kids who go there have some sort of problem. A boy named Torchie lights things on fire and denys that he did it. Another boy named Trash has random temper tanterums destroys things. But Martin is not like them, all he does is mouth off to people and make them angry.
I predict that Martin will find something out about the school that he is not supposed to. by Madi

The Juvie Three

Three boys are serving time in juvenile detention for three different crimes. When one day a man named Douglas Healy, a man with a goal to make a difference in three kids lives, picks the three boys up for a Half-Way house. A place that slowly reintroduces regular life back into the lives of the trio. Although on a tight leash a boy, Terence Florian, tries to meet up with a boy for a robbery of a store in the middle of the night. He would have managed to meet up with the kid until he was found out while trying to sneak out of the house the he is confined to.

this b00k is so cool u should read this book it has all the characters that u all love and its the simpsons so you got to love it its got homer bart maggie lisa marge flanders moe the kid with the wierd voice there all there so pick it up and read its good

simpsons comics fancy book learnin

The Austere Academy

The Austere Academy

By Lemony Snicket, New York: HarperCollins, 2000, 221pp., $4.99, ISBN 0-439-36552-x

Reviewed by Corbin Stern

Imagine going to a school with the motto “Remember you will die” or you and your two siblings be forced to live in a shack infested with small crabs, hay for bedding, and dripping fungi. It is this and more that happens to the three Baudelaire’s in The Austere Academy - 5^th book in the series “A Series of Unfortunate Events”- by Lemony Snicket. Violet; 15, Klaus; 12, and Sunny an infant, all encounter rudeness and unfair circumstances. So much that they are forced to live in a shack because they are orphans (after a fire killed their parents). Every one is very rude, all but two twins named Duncan and Isadora Quagmire both share many of the same interest as the Baudelaire’s. Count Olaf who is the person who started all of this. He always manages to disguise himself and find then terrorize the Baudelaire’s. Somehow able to keep his “red flag”; a tattoo of an eye on his ankle, hidden, but it is always discovered.

I encourage you to read this series. It is a series I am positive you will love- if you like mystery’s. This book is my favorite of the thirteen book series, and I think it will be yours too.

SPORTS CAMP

Sports camp is an interesting book. its about this kid that didn't have a lot of friends back home but he went to a summer sports camp trying to fit in with the "jocks". The only thing he was good at was swimming. he didn't have a lot of luck at the other sports he had to do like basketball and baseball but in the end all the guys that used to pick on him became his friend.
I predict that he would start hanging out with the neighbor hood kids and "jocks". I also think that when he goes back home.

the juvie three

I just started reading a book called "the Juvie three," by Gordon Korman. It is about three boys who are serving time in the juvenile detention center. Douglas Healy is starting an experimental halfway house in New York. Gecko,Trence, and Arjay are the three lucky kids to be in the experimental house. Douglas picked these three kids because they remind him of him self when he was a former juvenile delinquent himself. I predect that sombodys going to get hurt.....

A Race Against Time

Right now I am currently reading "A Race Against Time" by Carolyn Keene. So far in this book, a car has been stolen and driven into a creek and the main characters are going to compete in a bike race to raise money for charity. I predict that the main characters will run into trouble on the way to the finish line, and that they will win first prize. I will keep reading...
By: Georgie Strobin

Far North by: Will Hobbs

the book that i am reading right now is Far North by Will hobbs. its about a guy that moves to yellowkife and goes in a plane that is takeing people to there villge. on the way the stop on the falls and the engie quits and the plane goes the falls. i think that tghey will find help and be saved.i would tell you more but then i would give a way the ending!


book review by: Maddie W.

The Face on the Milk Carton

I just finished the book "The face on the Milk Carton" and it was an amazing book. Janie is the most popular girl in her school. Every guy dreams about dating her. Janie's school has always had the faces of missing children on the back of their milk cartons. But Janie never expected to see her face there. After that day of seeing her face on the back of the milk carton, Janie's life changed very fast. Memories kept coming back to her about that day. Along this miraculous journey, she picks up a new boyfriend and clues to what is going on. This book leaves you on a very frustrating cliff hanger. What do you think? Will Janie find her real parents?


-Sadiee(:

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

At this time Pillars of the Earth is a breathtaking story set in the medieval times with war, cathedrals, and disasters. The story is mainly about the uprising of king Henry the second, but it pinpoints several people. So far a young mason named Jack is trying to reach his goal of building the most glorious cathedral England has ever seen. Disaster strikes as the famine comes, the town is under attack, his stepbrother is trying to overthrow his title and the bishop who killed his father is trying to kill him. I predict that Jack will complete the cathedral and believe that at some point the bishop will die in the end.

-Rosie Houghton

These Boots Are Made For Stalking by Lisi Harrison

Thus far, this book is about five private school girls (Massie, Claire, Kristin, Dylan, and Alicia) who started a clique called the, "Pretty Committee." They are all in the 8th grade and have massive crushes on a couple of their peers. Massie, being the leader of the group is trying to convince the group that 8th grade guys are immature and they should move to the 9th grade boys. Claire, being the outsider of the group has a boy crush that is in the 8th grade and she isn't willing to give him up. She is being picked on continually and is really getting tired of it. When Halloween finally came, Massie unexpectadly ended up at her crushes house, only to find out he was snuggling with two 9th grade girls on his couch. Massie got really jealous, and it showed. Brianna, the preppy one of the two girls, who liked Massies crush tripped Massie on the way out of the house. When she fell she landed on Landons'(her crush) dog. After the Halloween disaster she showed up and Landon's moms work to try and sort things out and gain her respect again. To do this, she bought the Bark Obama(Landon's dog) a new SnoopDawg 2000 console. Once Landon received this he forgave Massie and everything was fine. I predict that Massie will soon realize that not EVERYTHING is about her and eventually will back up a little. By, Brianna! ;D

D'aulaire's Book of Greek Myths

This book I'm currently reading is just what the title says, Greek Myths. Greek myths have these fascinating stories about gods that once lived. In this book you learn about many of them and their great and not-so-great lives. Some of the gods are born from gods that everyone knows, like Zues or Athena. Others just come out of nowhere, kind of like Aphrodite. People say she arose out of the water on a cushion of foam at dawn. These stories are intriguing and once you start reading you can't stop. I recommend this book to anyone who likes myths.

Flipped

The book that I currently just started reading is called Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen. So far it is about a boy named Bryce Loski who lives in a town and he just got a new neighbor. Julianna Baker is very annoying and irritating in the eyes of the Bryce. She wants to hang out with him and become friends. But Bryce seeks an enemy. Bryce wants to do all he can to avoid Juli. My prediction is that Bryce and Juli will become good friends because I think Bryce will just give up and become friends. I think he will get tired of ignoring her. In the end i know they will be friends. (:

Flight #116 Is Down

The book "Flight #116 Is Down" by Caroline B. Cooney is a great book so far. I'm only 25 pages in but so far it's about Patrick who lives in a small town called Nearing River and is an emergency medical technician yearning for adventure, a teenage girl Heidi who got sent to boarding school, and three very different people getting on an airplane. Those three people are a set of brothers with a wish to die because of their fathers choices, a little 5 year old girl named Teddie who is going back to her parents after visiting her grandparents, and a stuck up middle aged women who despises kids and is just by the luck of it is sitting by Teddie. My prediction is that somehow Heidi and Patrick will meet and be put in a situation where they need to work together, and looking at the title I'm guessing that the plane will crash. Then Heidi and Patrick will be there when it happens and they won't know each other at the time, but they will have to work together and try to save people.
-Gabriella Weiks

Unwind

Unwind is about A boy named Connor, a boy named Lev, and a girl named Risa.
these three people are what their town would call "unwinds". They are childeran that were born to be unwound. an unwind is a child or teenager, that was born for their body parts. If you were an unwind, between the ages of 12 and 18, you will be taken to a building that has operation rooms. It is where they will cut you open, that out all of your organs, and save you skin and bones for other people that have gotten in accidents that need a new limb, or organ.
Unwind is a great book. I am almost finished, and i hope to find out the mystery unvailed!

WOODS RUNNER BY GARY PAULSEN

$15.99 U.S.

$19.99 CANADA

ISBN 978-0-385-73886-2

Imagine spending a long cold day searching for food in the forest and coming home to see warm smiling faces and realizing…… they are gone! Samuel starts to ask people that lived around him if they had seen his parents. After searching for his parents awhile he figures British soldiers that were armed in World War II took his parents. While trying to steal a chicken to survive because he was starving he meets an eight year old girl named Annie and father who says to come in and have supper with them, so he ate and left. After he walked 100 ft. from Annie’s house he heard a gun shot at Annie’s house so he runs back and figures out that Annie’s parents were dead. He sees Annie running so he goes and searches for her. He found her in a ditch and told her that if she wanted to stay with him she had will have to come look for his parent’s with me. She nodded and they went off to find Samuel’s parents…….

If you like adventure, action and surprisingly slow paced book that keeps you wanting to read more, I would recommend a five star book for people who likes Gary Paulsen series that keeps you wanting to turn page by page.

Joshua Cha

Hunger Games Book review

Hunger Games:

2008 Scholastic PRESS $8.99, 343 pages English | ISBN #: 978-0-439-02352-8
Author: Suzanne Collins Scholastic Inc.
A dark day appears for a girl named Katniss Everdeen, when her sister Prim get’s elected to go to the Hunger games. Katniss takes and act of courage and takes her sister’s place in the hunger games. The Hunger games is an arena for children eighteen and under. Every district (Like a state) takes two kids, a boy and a girl, from each of the twelve districts. TO win the hunger games, they have to battle to the death, and the winner gets sent home with fame, glory, and all the money you need for a lifetime.
Follow Katniss through this heart-racing, mind numbing suspense! Each page just seems to lift off the page and come to life. When I read this book I felt like I was there next to Katniss in the hunger games. Suzanne Collins does one of the best jobs of her career when she wrote this book. When I read this book, I couldn’t set it down, sleep, or eat without thinking about what will happen next, and when I did finish the book, I just sat up all night thinking about what happened. If you adore a book with suspense that comes off the page, and is very quick to get sucked into, I guarantee your going to fall in love with: The Hunger Games. And make sure you have a tissue box throughout this book, because it can get very depressing within this amazing book!!!

All in all I’d rate this 5/5 Stars.

Book review By: John Thoreson.

Rangers Apprentice

Rangers Apprentice

In the Rangers Apprentice there is a boy named Will, he was about fifteen years old. He never knew his parents, but he knows that his father was a warrior and died in war. He found out that his mom died giving birth to him. Will wants to go to battle school so he can keep the family name for war going on. But he is a very thin, and small, but Will has a ton of courage. Will is old enough for choosing day but when he requested battle school he was turned down. Halt the Ranger corps leader gives a note to the baron, and Will wants to find out that night what the note said. So that night Will climes the castle wall to get the note, when he makes it to the room the note is in he is suddenly stopped by Halt in the room! Will is waiting to find out what punishment the baron will give him. He will find out later that night.

The Rangers Apprentice is an adventurous book that I give a 5 out of five stares!

Rangers apprentice

Cracker by Cynthia Kadohata

     So far Cracker is a unique book about a dog who ended up having to leave his family and best friend. The family couldn't keep him so he was donated to the army to become a working dog in Vietnam. He hasn't gone to battle yet, but he is being trained in Georgia. He has finally bonded with his new owner and they are great partners. He is one of the best dogs in the company, but still strays off of the beaten path at times. I predict that Cracker will be successful, but there has to be a problem that has something do with being a booby-trap, bomb sniffing dog since he is going into the heart of battle soon. Both Cracker and Rick are upstanding citizens and I have a feeling there is some heroism to come.......

Artemis Fowl By Eoin Colfer

Artemis Fowl is just a regular 12 year old boy, at least that what his mom thinks. But actually he is a master thief! He finds out that fairies are real and their gold, but these aren't the fairies from fairy tales.

ERAGON

by: poloni, Christoper
reviewed by: Adrian Barry

Eragon is a exciting book, with a twist and turn in every paragraph. the book starts off with eragon as a young man hunting a deer. after almost losing the deer, the deer leads him in to one of the most dangerous forests in aligia,the spine. when he finally gives up he stumbals apon a blue stone.

the was as hard as a montan and as shiny as a Sapphire. this is a book Worth reading and once you pick it up you can not put it down

Jacob Have I Loved~ by Katherine Paterson

Review by Samantha Finkbeiner

Sara Louise Bradshaw is a regular 13 year old on her island near Chesapeake Bay, except her twin sister. Caroline has always stolen from Sara. Her parents' love, Sara's hope for education, even her best-and only- friend. Sara wants to get the happiness that Caroline has experienced. But now she is trying to escape her sisters shadow...

I predict that she will fall in love, but Caroline will steal her love.

Zorgamazoo

By: Robert Paul Weston
Review by: Erika

"Here is a story that is a story
that’s stranger than strange.
Before we begin you may want to arrange:
a blanket,
a cushion,
a comfortable seat,
and maybe some cocoa and something to eat.

I’ll warn you, of course, before we commence,
my story is eerie and full of suspense,
brimming with danger and narrow escapes,
and creatures of many remarkable shapes.
Dragons and ogres and gorgons and more,
and creatures you’ve not even heard of before.
And faraway places? There’s plenty of those!
(And menacing villains to tingle your toes.)

So ready your mettle and steady your heart.
It’s time for my story’s mysterious start…"

This is a amazing book,
and if that quote wasn't a good enough hook,
here is another thing that will make you think.
This book is fill to the brink,
with adventures and creature galore,
and jokes that will make you roll on the floor.

I love this book with all my heart,
for there is a little girl at the start.
This girl is a lot like me,
seeking adventure and has lots of places she wants to see.
She has a horrible guardian that wants to change,
her nice little brain into something strange.

Then this girl, her name is Katrina Karwell,
meets a guy who's real swell.
He hates adventures of any sort,
and if he had a choice, he would hide in a fort.
But, he this is what he has to do,
he has to find all of the Zorgles of Zorgamzoo!

This book is a fast-moving ride,
in having read, I take much pride.
With multiple points of view,
this book will be all the more interesting for you.

So I hope you will read this,
for this is a book you don't want to miss.
You can pick it up a the Marshal library,
or get from Amazon directly.

Blogging Netiquette, adapted from YouthRadio

Please do:

1. Remember that the Internet is a public forum. Keep your communication appropriate.
2. Discuss ideas and issues that concern you and your fellow students, especially as they connect to learning about classroom and reading community.
3. Back up your statements with examples, reasons, or other supportive evidence.
4. Read through all the posts in a discussion thread before you respond to one (so you are not asking a question that has already been asked or repeating something that someone else has already posted).

Please do not:

1. Post your full name or others’ last names, phone numbers, home addresses, or other personal information.
2. Attack others. Agree or disagree with others’ ideas using reasons and examples to support your view.
3. Use language that may be offensive to other users.
4. Change font sizes and/or colors unless you are trying to emphasize a point. It’s the content of your message that counts, not the style.

Comments:

Here are some suggestions on for creating good comments for each other. The richer the comments, the more likely it is that someone will answer you back. You can begin your comment by writing and explaining:

* This made me think about…….
* I wonder why…….
* Your writing made me form an opinion about…….
* This post is relevant because…….
* Your writing made me think that we should…….
* I wish I understood why…….
* This is important because…….
* Another thing to consider is…….
* I can relate to this…….
* This makes me think of…….
* I discovered…….
* I don’t understand…….
* I was reminded that…….
* I found myself wondering…….

"Blog Netiquette « Youth Radio." Youth Radio. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2011. .

Is It Night or Day?

I have recently finished reading the book, IS IT NIGHT OF DAY? by Fern Schumer Chapman. It is a great novel about a girl who was Jewish. She was about 12 years old when Hitler started to gain power in Germany, and her parents sent her to America. This book is about her life in America. Fortunately for Edith, the main character, her uncle and his family have agreed to take her in. Also, her sister, who was sent to America earlier, lives in the same city, Chicago. But America isn’t heaven either. Her parents are still stuck in Germany. Edith is also being made fun of because of her race and her accent. Reading this book is going to make you step back and think about all the things you might take for granted. I recommend IS IT NIGHT OR DAY? to anyone who is looking for a good historical fiction book. Review by: Erika

Enders Game

By Madi Hawkins

Enders Game

by Orson Scott Card, Starscape, Tom Dorherty Associates, NY, c.1991, 324 pp, $5.99, ISBN 0765342294

reviewed by Madigan Hawkins, Grade 7

Marshall Middle School, Olympia Washington

The Buggers are attacking the Earth, and all hope is lost. The human fleets respond too slowly, while the Buggers communicate over light-speed instantaneously. The main fleet is destroyed, and only a small fleet of new fighters are left. A single lucky shot by one human pilot and the Bugger ships are mysteriously disabled. The Earth was

saved.

This is the story that young Ender grew up learning. He is a 3rd child, so from the moment he is born he belongs to the government. The day after he gets into a fight and kills one of his classmates, he is taken from his family and sent to an orbiting battle school. While there, he excels at only one thing. Command. At six he controls a launch group, at seven the whole Dragon army. After a fight that would test his skills for the last time at the battle school, he is sent to command school with the best of his generals from the Dragon Army. The final battle of the Bugger wars is beginning.

This was a book of the ages. Its well-written pages flowed with violent, tragic, and confusing scenes. Nothing made sense until the next page, which kept me reading like no other book has. I would recommend this book to anyone who wonders what it might be like to have another race in the galaxy.

Venom

Venom
By: Nikki Tate
Orca Books 1962
168pages $9.95
ISBN 978-1-55469-071-8

Reviewed by Maddie Wieland
Marshal Middle School, Olympia, Washington

You have probably heard of racehorses being drugged. In Venom, Spencer the stable boy thinks that a horse, Lord of the Fires, comes out of the stall. Spencer asked one simple question, ‘what did you give the horse?’ Scampy tries to deny that he gave the horse anything, but Spencer knows that he is giving the horse something, and he thinks it is drugs. What should Spencer do? Turn him in, take the horse, run and not tell. I would tell you more, but the rest is for me to know, and you to find out.
If you have read wild girl, you will like venom, it is probably the book that made me a reader. It’s a very fast paced book, and a good read.

Hatchet

By Gary Paulsen Simon & Schuster Books

2010, 195 pp., 13.39, ISBN 0-02-770130-1

Reviewed by Dallen Pritchett, Grade 7

Thurgood Marshall Middle School, Olympia Washington

Would you be able to survive in the Canadian wilderness all by your self? In this book Hatchet, a thirteen year old boy who’s parents are divorced named Brian was on his way to see his dad in Canada. On the way there the pilot of the plane had a heart attack and the plane crashed in the Canadian lake shaped like a “L”. What will Brian have to do to stay alive? He has to find food and water daily, build a shelter and make sure not to get harmed by any animals. This will be a very difficult challenge for Brian. Hopefully he will make it out of the woods alive. Read Hatchet!

The Red Pyramid

The Red Pyramid

by Rick Riordan, Disney/Hyperion, NY,

c.2010, 516 pp, $20.69, ISBN 9781423113386

reviewed by Georgianna Strobin, Grade 7

Marshall Middle School, Olympia Washington

How would you feel if an ancient god from Egypt inhabited you? What if that same god gave you even more magical powers than you already had? And what if you could shape-shift? For Sadie and Carter Kane, all these “ what if’s” are a reality.

Sadie and Carter are brother and sister. Sadie lives in England with her grandparents and Carter travels the world (but mostly stays in Egypt) with his (and Sadie’s) dad. Their dad is only allowed to visit Sadie twice every year. It is during one of these visits that Sadie and Carter’s world gets turned upside-down. To start it off, they get stalked by a mysterious man, their dad blows up the Rosetta stone and releases a bunch of gods, gets shut in a coffin with one of these gods, and disappears into the floor. Talk about a merry Christmas. Then Sadie and Carter find out a very shocking truth and go on a quest that could save the world…

The Red Pyramid is an awesome book! I give it six out of five stars! If you like suspense, mystery, hilarious characters and the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series then you will love this book! I could not put it down, even when I got yelled at by my mom! If you are hooked on this book after my description, then read it! It is seriously one of the best and funniest books you will ever read!

Mockingjay

Mockingjay

By Suzanne Collins, Scholastic Press

2010, 390 pp., $17.99, ISBN 978-0-439-02351-1

Reviewed by Gabriella Weiks, Grade 7

Thurgood Marshall Middle School, Olympia Washington

Can you imagine being in a deadly, and terrifying dome-like arena where everyone you see wants to kill you and, everyone you see you want to kill? Katniss Everdeen… born a leader that has been through TWO Hunger Games has changed the way the government and rebels live together. Katniss in the new area she has suddenly woken up in, Is the leader and new icon for an almost forgotten civilization. But they wont be forgotten long, no, they will be written in the very next history books. Katniss soon realized that this place where she was home to people that were planning to take over the capital. Will Katniss be able to handle it? Will people believe her in the mental state she is in? Or is the capital just too strong with their amount of people and weapons?

Mockingjay is a thrilling book, and a great way to end the Hunger Game series. It is 390 pages of pure excitement and suspense. Suzanne Collins did a tremendous job showing Katniss’s different personalities. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read an unimaginably great book.

Hot, Sour, Salty, Sweet

by Sherri L. Smith, Delacorte Press, 2008,

176 pp., $12.47, ISBN 978-0-385-90431-5

Reviewed by Julia Maiava, Grade 7

Marshall Middle School, Olympia, Washington

It’s eighth grade graduation and Ana Shen walks up to read her speech. The audience is clapping and this strange rumbling noise happens. A pipe bursts and water is shooting in every direction. The purple graduation gown Ana is wearing starts to stain her dress and her hair gets out of control. Ana thinks it can’t get worse but unfortunately, it can. After the pipe bursts and people are trying to find their families, Ana and her best friend are talking to the cutest guy in school when they accidentally say that Ana’s having a graduation dinner at her house. From then on it’s chaos. Ana and her family have four hours to make the meal. Her grandmas can’t agree on anything while competing for her attention, her best friend is going to be late and the girl she absolutely hates shows up! If you like a humorous, drama-filled book then this is for you.

The Angel Experiment

by James Patterson

Reviewed by Hayley Kuster

Pages: 432 ISBN-13: 9780316067959

$8.09 paperback

Angel has been stolen and taken to the EVIL school! Max and the flock must hurry and rescue Angel before it is to late! Max and the flock are half human, half bird. They have wings and all six weigh less than one hundred pounds. There are six members in the flock Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy (gasman), and Angel. Max is getting tired of always running from the Erasers, (kind of like werewolves) never able to have a permanent home. Will she give up the flock’s safety for her own? This book has many twists and turns. James Patterson can really bring you into the flocks wild adventures! The pacing and tone in this books amazing. I recommend this book to anyone twelve years and older.

Fablehaven

by Brandon Mull, Shadow Mountain,

2006, 356p., $7.99, 978-1-4169-4720-2

reviewed by Amy Stock, Grade 7

Marshall Middle School, Olympia, Washington

Do magical creatures really exist? If you drink magic cow’s milk they do. When Kendra and her brother Seth are forced to go to their mysterious grandparents house in the middle of nowhere they are tested to the limits to see if they can save their grandfather’s secret magical preserve Fablehaven. Fablehaven is one of the last magical preserves left, but Kendra and Seth don’t realize this until they solve their grandpa’s puzzle. When they do Fablehaven comes alive! Butterflies, ladybugs, bees and dragonflies are secretly fairies in disguise. Secret ponds and passages are all over Fablehaven. There are dangerous ogres, power wrenching centaurs, and conniving satyrs. But not all is safe! When an evil witch is freed Kendra must gather all her courage and join forces with a powerful ally to save her grandparents, brother and all the mythical creatures that reside in Fablehaven.

Fablehaven was an excellent book, I gobbled it up, it was so full of suspense. Kendra and Seth had countless people’s lives in their hands. I would recommend the whole Fablehaven series to anyone who enjoys fantasy.

Jacob's book review

Ranger’s Apprentice Book 1: The
Ruins of Gorlan

ISBN: 0-14-240663-5 249 pages published in New York: Puffin Books 2006 By: John Flanagan

Can you imagine living in medieval world? For Will, that is just what he’s doing, living in the Medieval world. Will is just a young orphan boy who wants to do something for his country, Araluen. The Ranger takes him in, Halt. Halt trains him in the way of a Ranger so he can follow in his mentor’s footsteps. Halt, Will, and Gilan go on a journey that takes them to a neighboring land called Celtia. They are tracking the Kalkara, who are deadly assassins of Morgorath the lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night. I recommend this book to people ages 10+. I give it five out of five stars!!!!!

Review By: Jacob Davis

A Tale of Two Cities (from a kid's view)

By Charles Dickens
Published New York Bantam 1981, 356 p. $4
Review by: Erika

A Tale Of Two Cities is an interesting historical fiction book about the French Revolution. At the beginning of the book, it is about a man who is investigating a case about a teenage girl. Her father was supposedly "berried alive", but what it means was that he was put in prison for no reason until he lost his mind. Then someone found him and took him out. The man is to bring the girl to meet her father, and she does, after much convincing. Then, the book shifts to a woman named Madame De frame, who is a leader in the French Revolution, but not many know it yet. As a child, she was a servant, but her family had to send her away for her own safety. She now runs a wine shop with her husband, but seeks to get revenge on her "owner's" family.

Although it is a very tough read, A Tale of Two Cities is very interesting. There are some jokes in there too, but you really have to think to get them. I ended up cheering for the characters at the end of the story even though I did not understand everything at the beginning. It helps to have a French dictionary, or in my case my dad, handy so that you understand the story better. The author, Charles Dickens, writes with the idea that the French Revolution was not necessary for France and it would have been a lot less gory and a lot of lives would have been saved if it had not happened. It is up to you if you agree with him or not, but you might want to get a second opinion too. You also should keep a tissue box next to you at all times while reading this book.

If you have never read a Charles Dickens book before, you should read something like Oliver Twist, another book by Charles Dickens, first, so you understand his style of writing. This book is very deep, and good literature. The author uses many words to explain what he is thinking. I hope you will take the time to read this book.

The Face On The Milk Carton

The Face On the Milk Carton

By Caroline B. Clooney
Laurel leaf books 1990 184pg.
$6.50
ISBN 978-0-440-22065-7

Reviewed by Kaitlyn Wohl, grade 7
Marshal Middle School, Olympia, Washington

Have you ever looked at the back of a milk carton? Well, Janie Johnson did. Once. She looked at the face of the missing little girl on the back of the carton, and froze. Janie for some reason recognized the girl. It was her! Janie thought to herself, how could this be me? My parents are too nice to kidnap! But she still had that certain feeling that it was her. She remembered that dress! The blue and white polka dot dress! This is me she thought. This is me. Is it? Do you think that Janie is the missing little girl on the back of the milk carton? Find out for yourself! Read the book! Once you pick it up, because it is such an amazing book, you won’t be able to put it down! I would recommend this book to anyone! Even if you don’t like to read, do it! I loved this book! I you like great personality in characters, steady pacing, and mystery books, Check this one out!

Hatchet

By: Mitchell Dooley

· Pub. Date: January 2007

· Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

· Format: Paperback, 192pp

· Sales Rank: 1,167

· Age Range: 9 to 11

Have you ever wondered if you were going to crash in a plane on your way to your dad’s house? Well, this is what Brian was thinking.. Thirteen-year-old Brian Robeson is on a plane and his pilot suddenly has a heart attack. Brian takes the controls and pulls up on the wheel. Trying to find the radio controls. Brian cant get a hold of anyone on the radio. Trees and lakes. All he can see. He has to land he can’t fly forever. Brian didn’t know where he was. He decided to run out of gas and landed in a lake, hit his head when he landed. Now he doesn’t know where he is and only has a hatchet.

This book is very gripping. This book is based in the forest if you like he forest then read this book. I would give this book a 5 ½ out of 5!! Yes! Very good must read.

The Missing Book 1: Found

By: Margaret Peterson, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing

2008, 320 Pg, $10.87, ISBN 987-1-416-95417-0

Reviewed by Tsechu, Grade 7

Marshall middle school, Olympia, Washington

Jonah Skidmore got a strange letter. “‘Who’s it from?” Katherine said, jostling against him knocking the letter out of his hand… There were only six words: YOU ARE ONE OF THE MISSING.”

Jonah Skidmore and his friend Chip are getting some very weird messages. After seeing these massages Jonah’s sister Katherine got very interested and want to help to solve this mystery. Finally they found out a shocking discovery, Angela Duper told them:” Thirteen years a go a plane appeared out of now here with no passengers other than thirty-six babies.” Jonah and Chip is two of babies that are from the plane!

Found, is a novel by Margaret Peterson Haddix. I recommend this book to any one that likes to solve mysteries. This book is fast paced; it kind of makes you very nervous. The characters are pretty thoughtful and self-aware. They think what might happen and what would be better. Is such an enormous book, I will give five out of five!

Escape to West Berlin

By Maurine F. Dahlberg, Farrar; Straus and Giroux (BYR);
September 23, 2004, 192 pages; $12.00; ISBN-13: 978-0374309596
Review by Erika Bunge, 7th grader

What if you lived in World War II, you didn’t live in a free country, but there was one, just a mile away? Not as easy as it seems. The border is heavily guarded, and you can’t trust anyone. The walls in your home are paper thin, and everyone is eager to turn you in. Your “friend” isn’t allowed to talk to you, and your grandfather just died. Could things get any worse?

Escape to West Berlin is a historical fiction novel about a girl, her family, and their hope for freedom. This book is relaxed, but fast paced. Like an earthquake, it takes a long time the idea of this book to come forward, but when it is does, the idea turns to a plan, and the plan happens, fast. The book has relatable, realistic characters, with a suspenseful plot. Will she make it over the border alive? Escape to West Berlin has a tense ending where the main character gets… well, you have to read this book yourself to find out!

Magic Under Glass

Magic Under Glass

By: Jaclyn Dolamore Bloomsbury Publishing 2009

225p, $16.99 ISBN 408802120

Reviewed by: Emma Sorensen, Grade 7

Marshall Middle School, Olympia Washington

Imagine being at war one minute and the next you’re trapped in a clockwork body, not moving or speaking. Nimira, or Nim, is a performer surviving of pennies but that all changes when Mr. Parry hires Nim to sing with his automaton (clockwork man for lords and ladies. But there are things he forgot to mention. Like why the singers he hired before her ran away in fear of the haunted clockwork man, or who the mysterious dark figure is that roams the halls at night. But Nim is determined to break the clockwork mans curse even if it means getting thrown in prison, or worse, death.

This is the first book in the Magic Under Series. It was compelling and suspenseful because every page you turn makes you want to know more about the mystery and what secrets the characters hold. I loved this book and would give it a 5 out of 5 stars!

the big empty

What if the whole U.S was evacuated from Central America because a giant desise broke out in dead spots called the big empty?

Would you keep your cool or would you lose it?

7 Teens have an adventure of a lifetime to find the unknown utopia. But to find it they must go in the heart of the big empty to find it. They must use every survival skill they have. Will they get there or will the die trying? These are vary important questions.

The big empty is an action packed book. Every moment has a twist. Recommend this to people 13+. Once you pick it up you cannot put it down.

Thrill Ride

By: Rachel Hawthorne, Avon, 2006, 297pp., $5.99

Review By: Madeline E. Soran

Megan is spending her summer working in “Story Book Land” at Thrill Ride Amusement Park and little does she know her life is about to turn into a fairytale. The beginning of the book starts out when Megan decides to get a job at a park for the summer before her senior year in high school where people from all over the world come to work. The sad part is that she has to leave her boyfriend, Nick, back home in Texas. She is living in a dorm in the park with a roommate named Jordan. Megan is also counting down the days till she can go home to see her sister’s wedding….. and Nick. Then she meets Parker. Who is tall, dark and handsome and her world turns up side down. He is perfect and everything Nick isn’t. Megan has life lessons to learn, feelings to decipher and rides to ride.

Thrill Ride is one of the best books I have ever read! Rachel Hawthorne is a terrific writer who writes wonderful books! Thrill Ride is breakneck because you are always on the edge of your seat to see what happens between Parker and Megan, engrossing because from the beginning the story captivates you, realistic because you can see it happening in real life, thought provoking because you never know what’s on the next page, humorous and romantic because it’s a love story. I give it 5 out of 5 stars! If you read Thrill Ride, you won’t be able to put it down!