Book Reviews #9

Here are a few more, very honest, book reviews from some of our avid readers....

Eight Keys by Suzanne Lafleur
Reviewed by Hannah A in Grade 5

A girl’s parents had gone when she was small. Her parents had left her clues to find rooms filled of things about her parents. At first she sees the key and doesn’t  know what she is supposed to do with it. Then after she has opened the first room she starts to realize all these important things in life and that people who bully her are just being mean and selfish but they are doing  it because there is something wrong in their own lives. 

Hannah says: "I started Eight Keys thinking it was a vintage, sad story. My friend had told me about the story and she had exaggerated and made it sound so cool but actually it wasn’t.  It was actually really boring like about these two people who go to normal school and the one gets  bullied its really, really boring. I rate it 0 stars. I did not like it at all."

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Five Go Off in a Caravan by Enid Blyton

Reviewed by Jaden in Grade 5

This book is about 5 kids named: Dick, Anne, Julian and Georgina  (likes being called George) The one that I'm reading is the one with the one with the circus and a kid called Nobby. In the book, the kids are on their own in their own caravans. There are two caravans  and they are different colors. The one is red,  that’s for the girls and there is a green one for the boys. They are close to a farm where they get  their supplies and they are close to a lake where they get their water  from. There was  a hidden underground lair where these people from the circus hide things they've stolen. They stole all sorts of things that are PRICELESS. 

Jaden says: "I'm done with the book and I think that you will enjoy the book very much. I am not saying anymore about the book. Thank you for reading my review."

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The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snickett
Reviewed by Josi in Grade 4

Three Children aged 14,12 and 1 get sent to live with a horrible family relative, Count Olaf , because their  beloved parents died in a fire. Count Olaf tries to steal the Baudelaire family's fortune. At the end of this book the Baudelaire orphans are about to arrest Count Olaf when he and his filthy theatre troupe escape. You can find out what happens next by reading the other books

Josi says: "I loved this book. At beginning it was pretty boring but in the middle it started to get more interesting. The book is enjoyable in a sad way. There were a few happy parts in the story but there isn't exactly a happy ending."

Book Reviews #8

The Book Club have been reading loads of wonderful books and have reviewed them here for you. See a book reviewed that you may be interested in reading? Come done to the library and ask Miss Saaiman if it's in. 

Jinx on the Divide by Elizabeth Kay

Reviewed by Hannah A in Gr 5

Betony, the tangle girl, comes to stay in Felix’s world for Christmas but Rhino, a boy from school, finds out about magic and gets trapped in a magical lamp. The magic lamp goes across the divide and so Felix and Betony must go and get it. They go into the other world and they meet up with all their old friends and together they all look for Rhino. But even though they make a very big mistake by bringing a jinx box along, it still ends well.

Hannah says: "I like this book because it’s magical and mysterious and you can’t put it down. I rate it 5 Stars!" 

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The Hobbit by J.R. Tolkien

Reviewed by Luke S in Gr 7

The Hobbit is about a young hobbit called Bilbo Baggins. He goes on an adventure with the wizard Gandalf and 13 dwarves to the lonely mountain to take back the gold that was taken by the dragon Smaug. On the way they encounter trolls, giants, goblins, elves, a dragon, giant spiders and Gollum. Along the way Bilbo finds a ring that can make you invisible which comes in handy. He helps his friends out of sticky situations and surprises even himself with his skills as a burglar. 

Luke says: "I would recommend this book because it isn't complicated (like the Lord of the Rings trilogy) and you are never confused by what is going on."  

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Pony Pals: Pony for Sale by Jeanne Betancourt

Reviewed by Indigo C in Gr 5

Pony for Sale is about three best friends (Pony Pals) who meet Maggie the Magician and her pony, Cloud. Pam hates how Maggie treats Cloud so they help the poor pony out. Every story ends with a happy ending so his old owner becomes Cloud's owner again when the Pony Pals find him. 

Indigo says: "I think this book is a great book. I would definitely recommend this book to people."

Book Reviews #7

Are you wondering what to read next? Well, maybe after reading the reviews below you may be interested in reading one the these interesting books...

Iggie's House by Judy Blume

Reviewed by Safiya M in Grade 3 La

Winnie's best friend, Iggie, moves to Tokyo. The neighbourhood will never be the same again and Winnie is miserable. Then the first coloured people in the area move into Iggie's house. At first Winnie is shy and thinks that they may be different. The Garber family are lonely because there are many racist people who don't want to accept them. Winnie does and soon becomes best friends with Tina Garber. 

Safiya said: " I liked this story because after apartheid in this county Winnie's story is a good lesson to all the children who want to make a rainbow nation."

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Lionboy by Zizou Corder

Reviewed by Cleopatra K in Grade 6 Wi

Charlie Ashanti is the son of Professor Magladen Start and Dr. Aneba Shanti. And he can speak cat. When Charlie's parents get kidnapped, it's up to Charlie to save them. When Rafi Sadler tries to kidnap Charlie, he hops aboard a ship which leads onto a circus ship called the Cire. Along with the jelp of six lions, Charlie has to save his parents. 

Cleo says " I thought it was brilliant. I love the cub called Elsina as well. She is so cute (that's how she was described in the story)."

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My Sister the Vampire by Sienna Mercer

Reviewed by Caitlin H in Grade 6 La

This book is about a teenage girl who goes to a new school. Somehow she bumps into a girl that looks just like her. They both discover they are actually adopted. Are Ivy and Olivia twins? Find out for yourself.

Caitlin says: "I really like the book because when they meet Ivy says they should switch so Olivia could help Ivy by going to a meeting dressed like her. Ivy then goes to Olivia's cheer leading practice. This book is cool and funny and I hope you enjoy it too." 

Book Reviews #6

Check out these book reviews done by some of our avid readers. These books are available in our library so come and ask Miss Saaiman about them if you're interested after reading these excellent reviews....

Sky Horses by Linda Chapman

Reviewed by Josi L in Grade 4 Ra

This story is about a girl who believes in magic and always will. One day she sees magic horses in the sky. She can’t believe it until she finds out that she is magic too. Erin [the girl] has to stop an evil spirit from destroying the horses world.  Can she stop the evil spirit before it’s too late? Find out by reading the book.

Josi said: "I  think the story was GREAT! And I think you would too. The moral of the story, in my opinion, was that you should never give up and always believe no matter how hard it is. So give the book a try. I read it twice because I liked it so much.

The Incredible Adventure of Professor Branestawm by Norman Hunter

Reviewed by Safiya M in Grade 3 La

This is a collection of 14 stories about an absent-minded professor who has five pairs of spectacles. He invents lots of mechanical objects. His friend, Colonel Dedshott, helps him and enjoys tea with him. His housekeeper, Mrs Flittersnoop, helps remember all his stuff. Sometimes there is a lot of trouble. My favourite story was The Fair at Pagwell Green.

Safiya says: "This book was first published in 1933 but I still found it funny. All the stories end happily and Professor Branestawm is a crazy, mad scientist. The inventions are quite outdated, but it is from the olden days."

Book Club Reviews

Clean Break by Jacqueline Wilson

Reviewed by Hannah A

Emily, Vita and Maxi's dad left their mom on Christmas morning. They love their dad very much and miss him a lot but he goes to Scotland. They don't see him for a year but then Emily's granny takes her to get her books signed by her favourite author and she breaks her arm and her dad is there and he takes her to hospital.

Hannah said " I liked this book because it's sad and happy at the same time."

Nim's Island by Wendy Orr

Reviewed by Safiya M

Nim and her scientist father live alone on an island in the middle of the ocean. Her mother died many years ago. They are only connected to earth by a satellite phone and email. Her father goes off to research plankton and does not return on time. She has an animal friend who she talks to. 

Safiya said: "This is a survival story. I liked the book because it was funny and a great adventure. It is a bit far fetched because a girl can't survive alone on an island. This was an excellent book."

The Pony and the Haunted Barn by Jeanne Betancourt

Reviewed by Mckenna R

Pam, Lula and Anna were riding on their ponies to Morristown when they came across a barn. Then they went into the barn and Anna thought that it was haunted. The door slammed but there was no wind. They all though that the barn was freaky and spooky. They went to the library to see what they could find out about the barn and they discovered that they went to the barn on an anniversary of a fire that burnt the barn down. The next day they went to the barn and it was GONE!

Mckenna says: "I loved this book. It was adventurous and very, very interesting. I love the Pony Pals series of books."