Blogging about Books!
Blogging about Books!
Blogging about Books!

Monday, June 16, 2014

Number The Stars

Madison Thornton
June 4th, 2014
ELA
Book Review: Number The Stars

The book I read was a historical fiction novel, Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry. I chose to read this book because I've heard good book reports on it, and it was suggested to me by multiple people in my class. I think it had a very good story to it, and it made me think differently about the holocaust.

This book took place in Copenhagen, Denmark during the time of World War II. The main characters of this book were Anne Marie and Ellen. The plot of this book was that Anne Marie was hanging out with Ellen, who was taking care of her younger sister Khristi. After some time passes, the Nazis start taking Jews to somewhere no one knew of. Anne Marie and her mother had many run-ins with some of the Nazi soldiers. Such as during her Uncle's funeral, and delivering a package through the woods to her Uncle's boat. Annemarie finds Ellen's necklace, the Star of David, and hopes to return it to her when she comes back home. The tone of this book was very hopeful. It kept me on my toes, and always kept me hoping that everything would work out in the end.

In my opinion, some of the strengths of the book were the details she put into telling the story, and how she used pathos to get to the readers emotions. She also used foreshadowing through the chapter subtitles, and the beginning of the chapters. From this book, I learned about the true meaning of friendship and loyalty. It taught me to help others in their time of need. I would definitely recommend this book to others. I don't think it's too hard for young children, and it's not too easy for teens. This book truly changed my perspective on certain things, and I believe it could have the same effect on a lot of others as well.

The Fault In Our Stars



The Fault In Our Stars

In the realistic novel, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, you will go on a very emotional roller coaster with 16 year old Hazel Grace Lancaster, her friends, family, something she didn't bargain for, and something she didn't expect.
The Fault in Our Stars is about Hazel Grace and her tragic story of trying to be a normal teen but with lung cancer. The setting mostly takes place in Hazel's home and support group she attends. Hazel is much of a home-body until she mets Augustus Waters.
The setting also takes place at Augustus's house and on the many adventures that Hazel and Augustus take.   However, not all the adventures are all that grea...together they go there so much that will put a smile and then you'll be in tears, but that's no reason not to read this book. Isaac is also a cancer patient in Hazel's support group, who invited Augustus in the first place. These friends go through a lot, from Isaac losing his eyes to cancer then getting back at Isaac's ex-girlfriend.
The relationship Hazel and Augustus are in is confusing. I don't think Hazel even knew where their relationship stood at some points. They went from strangers, to friends, to what, if anything in a number of days. When Hazel found something about Gus, she says "you gave me forever within a numbered days and I'm grateful." This shows that the time they've spent together has been a forever to Hazel.
The theme of this book is, "Pain demands to be felt" but that doesn't mean you need to let it stop you from from living. This book is full of emotion from happy, to sad, to heart-wrenching. Read the book to find out what adventures Augustus and Hazel take, and how their relationship turns out, and if Hazel finally lives HER OWN life.
Milkweed Review
By: Dax Crowley

Milkweed. That is the name of a novel which I recently read. Milkweed is a book about the Holocaust, and mainly takes place in a ghetto. It's historical fiction, 208 pages long, and it's also written by one of my favorite authors, Jerry Spinelli. Jerry Spinelli wrote many books. Stargirl, Space Station 7th Grade, and one of my favorite books of all time, Loser. But Milkweed isn't like any of those books. It is a tale of surviving the Holocaust, except with the Jerry Spinelli style. I mainly read this book because of an assignment  I had to read a Holocaust book, but I also read it just because it's by Jerry Spinelli.

The book Milkweed was written in a first-person point of view. It tells about the Holocaust in the perspective of a young boy, who doesn't even know his own name. The book begins with him running, after he stole a loaf of bread. The first thing he remembers, is the woman he stole it from yelling, "STOP! THEIF!" This beginning alone tells readers that this is going to be a really interesting story, and it is.

The book's setting changes throughout the whole book. I won't spoil it for you, but I'll just say that the book starts out in a city setting. The characters in the book also change throughout the book. Some of the main characters in the book are Uri, a Jew who helps the boy who can't remember anything, and also gives him the name Misha later on, and Janina, a little girl that slowly develops into a strong main character. Each of these characters also are either friends or family with many minor characters. The characters in the book are well developed, so you can visually picture them in your mind, and also undeveloped a little in a good way, so you can see your own spin on how they look.

The plot of this book is that Misha grows up in a Holocaust time, and goes through, and sees many things. Some of the things he sees he doesn't know why they are happening, and some he gets to understand later. The books eventually goes into a ghetto, where most of the book takes place. In the ghetto, there is a constant demand to survive, in the horrible conditions. He has to steal food to survive, and helps other people. I won't give away any more of the book, because you should read it yourself.

Overall, this book is O.K. It isn't my favorite book of all time or anything, but it was an interesting book to read. I'd recommend it to almost anyone. There is some light swearing in it, but it's only PG swearing. I'd rate this book 8 out of 10 stars. I would read this book again, and you should try it too!

Number The Stars

NUMBER THE STARS REVIEW
Nikyla

In the breathtaking historical fiction, Number The Stars, by. Lois Lowry, it's 138 pages covers so much emotion and hope with an ending that leaves you wanting more. I guarantee you cannot put the book down. This book shows loyalty, and to not take life for granted because at any time, it could change drastically in a matter of days. There were many events in this book that kept you hooked, especially the run from the Nazi soldiers. But every story has to start somewhere, and it started with a little girl, Annemarie.

The setting takes place in Copenhagen, Denmark, during World War II. Annemarie, the main character, has a friend named Ellen. Ellen was different though. The thing is, during World War II, her kind of people were dubbed as a monstrosity. What is this kind of people? It was the Jewish "race". Their life was normal; school everyday, dealing with Annemarie's sister Kirsti, and playing together but all of a sudden their world got turned up side down. In the matter of days the average normal day was no longer in tact. Before Annemarie knew it, Ellen had to abruptly stay in Annemarie's home. It was great for Annemarie that her best friend is moving in, but she was wondering why is it so sudden. Why isn't Ellen's parents moving in either. When Ellen stays, she has to take off her Star of David.

Peter, Annemarie's dead sisters fiancée payed a visit one night. Which was kind of fishy because she hasn't seen him for a long time, but their family loved him like their own. When he and her parents explained everything that was happening to Annemarie, she didn't know what to think. Her parents are going to hide the Rosens and bring them to Sweden, which was safe zone for the Jews during this moment in time. She was scared for Ellen. What would happen to her? She contemplated to herself that night whether shed' do everything in her power to save Ellen; she determined she would.


Everything went on as normal until an abrupt visit from a few Nazi soldiers catch them off guard. Annemarie and Ellen broke the chain of Ellen's Star of David necklace and hid it quickly as the soldiers came into the room. When the guards question why they have an extra kid that looks nothing like Kirsti and Annemarie, they get skeptical. Then when their mother hands them a picture of Kirsti, Annemarie and Lise, Annemarie's dead sister. The soldiers look closely, ignoring the date printed onto the picture. Annemarie was thinking how lucky she was that Ellen looked relatively like Lise. Next the soldiers leave without another word. That was close. Too close in fact that Mrs. Johansen takes Ellen, Annemarie, and Kirsti to visit Uncle Henrik up north.

They couldn't just up and leave. The Nazis would get suspicious and come after them. So they start preparing a funeral for a non-existent great aunt. This helped because it gives a reason to have so many people in their house, which consists of Ellen's parents and other Jewish people. After the funeral, Peter and Mrs. Johansen each take a group of Jewish guests out of the to safety.

Alone Annemarie's mom gets back and happens to be injured from a bad fall. Shortly later, Annemarie discovers that an important package Ellen's father was supposed to take to Henrik never made it. Since her mother in injured, she can't take it. So that means Annemarie has to go. She hides the package in a basket with food and hurries through the woods to her uncle's boat. Before she could reach the boat, she met some Nazi soldiers and their dog on the way. They wanted to see what was in her basket, and Annemarie told the. That it was food for her uncle. They didn't believe her so one soldier grabbed piece of bread out of the basket, sniffed it and threw it to the ground. Next, he told her to scram. So she did, and get the basket safely to her uncle.

When the Nazi soldiers brought their dog to sniff out Hendriks boat, the dog didn't pick up a scent. This was because the stuff in the basket had a special ingredient that kept the dogs from finding people hidden on his boat. To think, if she didn't bring the package toy uncle Hendrik, Ellen and the other Jews wouldn't have gotten to safety because they would have been caught by the dog.

The book concludes two years later, when the war is coming to an end. Peter was discovered and killed by the Nazis. After. Conversations about Lise and Peters young and unfortunate deaths, Annemarie went into her room. She walked over the Lise's trunk and grabbed the broken necklace. After asking her dad to repair Ellen's Star of David necklace. "Until then," Annemarie told him, "I will wear it myself."

This is a fantastic read that I would recommend to anyone. It is definitely a hair raiser, and it shows true friendship. Annemarie hasn't seen Ellen for two years and still is waiting for her to return. I believe his book could give a few good lessons; to never give up even with how difficult it could be, there are good people out there that are willing to risk their life for you and be there when you need help, that true friendship does exists, and that you can't always do things on your own, it's okay to get help. It pays off in the long run.








Friday, December 7, 2012

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Do you like ghost stories? 

Marshall Seaver use to like ghost stories...not any more.

Click on the above link for a sneak preview of

Morpheus Road.

Coming soon to a library near you.  (-:

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

I thought of you and this book together...


I've been learning about your reading interests, which you shared on the Inventories. Sometimes I can't help but think of you and certain books I've read, which I think (hope) you might like...

Danielle...The Root Cellar (I did not like historical fiction much until I read this one...has a fantasy element).
Kassy...Looking for Alaska (The characters think for themselves...like you!)
Sean...The Wednesday Wars (You get humor really well!)

Isaac...The Hunger Games (You're athletic...the "games" might interest youl.
Adam...Any one of the books with Joey Pigza as the main character...he is funny a lot but also a deep thinker...like you.
Brittany...The Pretties, The Uglies  (You get the whole dystopia thing and on your inventory, you marked sci-fi)
Skyla...Emily Dickinson's poetry ( You are a deep thinker who understands a lot about life already!)
Haley...The Magicians (I couldn't put this fantasy down...you mentioned you didn't like Harry Potter books...neither did I...sorry HP fans...but loved this one)
Emily...Alanna, the First Adventure (series).More to come!

Thursday, July 5, 2012

I just finished, about three days ago, re-reading The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen(one of my all time favorite authors) and I again truely LOVED IT!!!! It was an easier read so I finished in 2-3 days. It is about a girl who watched her dad die from a heart attack. She blames herself for it and ever since has tried to become perfect. She has a boyfriend named Jason that according to her is perfect. He went away to "Brain Camp" for the summer so she is stuck filling in for him at the library and gets another job catering. There she meets lots of interesting people that help her relize she doesn't have to be perfect. She falls in love with a guy named Wes.... the rest you'll have to read for yourself.

GREAT SUMMER READ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Haley A.

HAPPY LATE 4th OF JULY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Hey Guys I know the 4th of July was yesterday but oh well, Here is the Star Spangled Banner to make up for it.



Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
See u when School Starts!!!(Eighthgraders @ Hancock Grammar School)

-Haley A.

Friday, June 22, 2012


http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/hot_topics.htm


Someone I know shared this website as a neat resource for exploring books. I like the organization. It seems really friendly.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Ahhhhhh....summer at last!!! Eighth grade next year guys!! I'm so excited!!! What have you done so far?

Monday, June 11, 2012

FIELD DAY!!!!!

Remember to bring everything you need and to wear the right color and most importantly have fun!





GOOD LUCK!!!

Friday, May 25, 2012

Silence

I am reading a book called “silence”, it is the third book in the “hush hush” series. It is by Becca Fitzpatrick. This series is about a girl named Nora Grey who has fallen in love with a guy named Patch. He has a secret that Nora finds out in the first book. This series is a fantasy series. I really like this series because of the random things that are happening.
    I picked out this book because it was in the fantasy section in the store “bull mouse.” I saw it and decided to read the back, I read it and got very interested in it so my mom got it for me. Ever since then I have really enjoyed the series. your friend,
Diane


    Hey Guys,

  It’s Haley again. I thought I’d talk to you about a book I’ve recently started called Song of the Lioness by Tamora Pierce. I haven’t gotten far into it but so far its pretty good. This is what the book is about.
     It’s about these two twins named Alanna and Thom. Alanna wants to be a great warrior but her dad is sending her off to become a sorcerer. Her dad is sending Thom off to be a warrior when he wants to be a sorcerer. The two of them switch places so they can do what they want to do. You should try this book if you like a good fantasy.
   
        Your Friend,
                   Haley A.
    Right now I’m reading a book you’ve probably heard of. It’s called the hunger games. So far it is great! Right now I’m on Page 51. The author does a great job of giving a setting and made it easy to understand the background of the story.
    In the book the “Hunger Games,” the main character Katniss lives in the future world. There is a government set up into 12 districts. Katniss lives in district 12. Every year there is a reaping when they select 2 contestants  from each district. Katniss’ sister, Prim Rose, is selected to enter the games and Katniss volunteers “as tribute.”  I will update you on the book as I read it. Hope you read it too:)

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Hearts in Atlantis




   Heya,

    I’m reading a lot of books right now but I’m only going to tell you about one. One of the books I’m reading is “ Hearts in Atlantis “ by Stephen King. This book is a series of five interconnected sequential narratives, but I’m only going to talk about one.  
    The main character of this part, the part named “ Hearts in Atlantis “, is a guy named Peter Riley. He goes to the University of Maine. He has to work in the kitchen at his school so he can afford to go to college. The reason why this part is named “ Hearts in Atlantis “ is because Peter likes to play the card game Hearts with a group of friends.
                        Casey Lee

Pretty Little Liars

                                 


Hey Everyone,

    The book I am currently reading is the first book in the Pretty Little Liars series called Pretty Little Liars. This amazing book was written by Sara Shepard. I’m not very far in but so far it is great! Its is realistic fiction. One of my favorite genres. It is about four girls Hanna, Spencer, Aria, and Emily. They all trusted their secrets in their friend Allison but she went missing two years ago. Their secrets were safe until now. There are eleven books in the series and I can’t wait to read them all and then see the TV series too.

                            Karli

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Hey guys it's Tim. I am reading The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan he is my favorite author. It is the sequel of The Red Pyramid. Carter and Sadie the main characters are trying to save the world from Apophis who to all you people that don't know egyptian mythology very well that is the snake god of chaos. This is obviously fantasy. Well now you know what I am reading and I hope you all read this series.
Dear Classmates,
    I just started the book Precious by Sapphire, my books genre is a memoir/nonfiction. It’s about a black girl who is over weight and is abuse by her father and mother. Her father rapes her and has gotten her pregnant twice. Her mother thinks that Precious is trying to “steal” her husband and beats her for it. Precious cannot read and she’s 16 years old and still in eighth grade. She is going to a special school. The principal from her old school thought she would do better at the new school because she is pregnant. No one knows that she can’t read. I just started to read this book and I can’t stop reading it! I read it whenever I get the chance. It’s kind of hard between soccer and school work to find time to read but I do my best. The one thing that this book has in it that some people not like is swearing and some parts that describe what the father did to her.






Dear classmates
     the book I am reading now is Conrad's War. The main character is Conrad and he said that his dad is fat and I think he is really fat and I just started reading it and I think it’s good. Conrad wanted to build a tank and one night he went down stairs and he found his dad asleep on the type writer and he woke his dad up and he said that he needed help on the tank and his dad said no and Conrad got upset and said I am going to build the tank himself.

Friday, May 18, 2012






Jacquie's bookshelf: read


Delirium
Coraline
Elijah of Buxton
A Discovery of Witches
What Really Matters for Struggling Readers: Designing Research-Based Programs
The House of Sixty Fathers




More of Jacquie's books »




Book recommendations, book reviews, quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists

Friday, May 11, 2012

Summer Reads

Have you thought of what your going to read this summer? If ya have name a few in comments!


I think I want to read as many of Nicholas Sparks' books as I can! He is one of my favorite authors but I have only read a few of his books! 



~Karli

Thursday, May 10, 2012

    Dear classmates,

    My name is Diane and I am a new author to this site. I am in seventh grade and 12 years old. I am going to tell you a little about myself. I love to read books and I am reading a very good one right now. My favorite genre of books are fantasy. My favorite movie genre is horror. My favorite book I have ever read is called “hush hush” by Becca Fitzpatrick. I love this book so much because of the way she crafted all the events.
   
                                    Yours truly,
                                        Diane

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

     
     Hello, I am Michael and I am a new author for the blog about books. I am a seventh grader living the the state of Maine. My favorite genre of book is science fiction while my favorite genre of movie would have to be action/thrillers. 

    The best book that I ever read is “The Enemy” by Charlie Higgson.  Its a book about London after a disease had spread over the continent turning anyone over the age of 16 into zombies. This book is my favorite due to the extensive detail that he was able to put into the characters, that is something that in my opinion a good book needs to be good enough to read. (As well as having a interesting topic.)
 
     From being a contributor to this blog I intend to be able to share the books that I like and read about other books that I should maybe check out for my self, you can expect to see posts from me in the future.
Dear classmates ,
My name is Danielle I'm 13 years old and in the seventh grade. I really m enjoying this blog so far. I love reading though sometimes I don't always get to . I love cheering , softball and tumbling . When I am older I would love to be an engineer and work to find a cure for cancer or an actress or a veterinarian. I haven’t really decided. My favorite author is R.L Stine he has written the goosebumps series which is one of my favorite series. I love it because it is a way to escape the real world and go into an imaginary magical world.
Right now I am reading two books one is called the Thirteenth Winter it is about a girl who has a learning disability and her struggles through school and into adulthood , this book is a memoir . The other book I am reading is Sweethearts . This is also about a young girl who is bullied and only has one friend that sticks up for her but he moves away and then a few months later she finds he has died and her world comes spiraling down .I can’t wait to finish these books and see what happens and then start another great read.
Thank you , Danielle