Review – Ender’s Game

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2

Ender’s Game is a fictional adventure about a boy named Andrew who goes by Ender. A man named Graff comes to take Ender from his parents, his older brother, Peter, who will kill him, no joke, and his loving sister Valentine who shed the most tears at his departure. The book is about Ender’s journey through battle school with his fear of turning into a killing machine like Peter. He is good at playing training games, but will that work when the real war has to be fought?

I love this book because Ender is such a determined person. I think that Orson Scott Card has a great view of Ender and equality. I think it should be recommended for ages 9+. I would give it 4 1/2 stars.

Natalie G., Redwood Day, 6th Grade

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Recommendation – The Crossover

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

This is an amazing book about basketball, family, and brotherhood. Twin brothers Josh and Jordan, star basketball players and best friends, find their close relationship unraveling when Jordan starts dating. But when the unthinkable happens, they must come together and rely on each other despite the tension between them. You will cry and laugh after reading Alexander’s powerful verses. I love this book and I hope you will too. I recommend this book for ages 10 and up.

Charlotte, Thornhill Elementary, 5th Grade

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Review – Stargirl

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

★ ★ ★ 1/2

This book is about a girl who goes to a new school in Arizona and no one likes her…except for a boy named Leo. What will happen when the whole school sees them together?

I read this book with a book club, so that meant only reading five chapters a week. I was so tempted to read more but that would get me into a lot of trouble. This is a story for about ages 9+. I would give it three 1\2 stars.

Natalie G., Redwood Day, 6th Grade

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Review – The Tale of Despereaux

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo, ill. Timothy Basil Ering

★ ★ ★ ★ Star Review

The Tale of Despereaux is split into four parts, and each part is filled with adventure. The first part is focused on Despereaux himself and is called “A Mouse is Born”. The second part is about a rat named Chiaroscuro who lives in a dungeon. “Chiaroscuro” is the name of the second part. The third part is about a girl named Miggery Sow, Mig for short. Mig is an acquaintance of a princess in the same castle Despereaux and Chiaroscuro live in. The third part is called “Gor! The Tale of Miggery Sow”. The fourth part is how all of the characters come together, called “Recalled to the Light”.

I love this book because it is full of adventure, love, beauty, and humor. I think the age would be 7+ because of some gruesome and scary parts. I would give it four out of five stars.

Natalie G., Redwood Day, 6th Grade

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Recommendation & Art – Odd Duck

Odd Duck by Sara Varon and Cecil Castellucci

This book is about a precise duck named Theodora, who wants everything to be perfect and doesn’t like anything out of the ordinary. One day, a new duck moves in next door and he is completely the opposite of her style. You should read the rest to find out what happens.

I like the book because of all the different ducks’ personalities. The new neighbor is very disorganized and creative. When they first meet, Theodora thinks they could never be friends.

I made a copy of A History of Good Ducks, which is a library book that all the ducks read in Odd Duck.

Cameron E., East Bay School for Boys, 11 years old, 6th grade.

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Review – Invisible Inkling

This book is called Invisible Inkling. The author is Emily Jenkins, and the illustrator is Harry Bliss. I think this book is great. What happens is a boy (Hank Wolowitz), finds an invisible creature called a bandapat named Inkling. Hank finds Inkling by feeling something furry, and saves Inkling from their neighbor Seth Mnookin’s dog, Rootbeer. Inkling needs squash and pumpkin to be bandapat-like, so later on in the story, he plans to go to a pumpkin farm.

Before that, he needs to bite Bruno Gillicut on the ankle because Gillicut is a bully and is being mean to Hank.  Before he bites Gillicut, Hank finds out you can see Inkling in mirrors. He holds Inkling up and Inkling does NOT like when Hank picks him up and doesn’t like being seen. He decides to leave earlier than when Hank and him planned to bite Gillicut. Will Inkling come back? Will Inkling bite Gillicut on his ankle? You’ll have to read to find out!

I like this book because it is very suspenseful. It is also very funny.  I also like the fact that Hank had an invisible friend to entertain him.  I like that you could imagine yourself having an invisible friend.  If you like this book, there are two more in the series.  Thanks for reading!

By Leela C., Redwood Day School, 8 years old, 3^rd grade

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Recommendation – Bake Sale

Bake Sale by Sara Varon

This graphic novel features two good friends, Eggplant and Cupcake. Cupcake owns a bakery and they are trying to get to Turkey to meet another friend called Turkish Delight. Cupcake sells little cupcakes to other food characters. If you like funny graphic novels, this might be a good fit for you.

I like this book because it isn’t just about people, it is about food transformed into walking, talking creatures. It is very funny because Cupcake makes cupcakes, not cupcakes like him, but mini-cupcakes and sells them.

Cameron E., Berkwood Hedge, 11 years old, 5th grade

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Recommendation – The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley is the first of eight Flavia de Luce novels that this author has written. In The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, aspiring chemist Flavia de Luce is out walking in her garden when she finds a stranger dying in the cucumber patch. He breathes his last words into her face before dying and when Flavia calls the police, they pronounce it murder.

Soon she realizes that she would do a much better job of solving the murder than the police, and embarks on a path filled with dark secrets and betrayal. She uncovers secrets that were buried deep in the ground. As she grows closer and closer to the answer she starts to sink deeper and deeper into a deception that has been running for 30 years.

My favorite character is Flavia because she is super intelligent and knows so much about how the world runs. She knows how every poison works, exactly what happens when two elements mix, and knows how to do every science experiment on the Earth.

This book will be great for anyone interested in science, murders, and mysteries (as well as if you are a philatelist).

Isadora C., St. Paul’s, 12 years old, 6th Grade

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Recommendation – I Lived on Butterfly Hill

I Lived On Butterfly Hill, written by Marjorie Agosin and illustrated by Lee White, is a heart-breaking story of an 11 year old girl named Celeste Marconi who lives in Valparaiso, Chile. She loves everything about her home. Her friends, her house on a hill, and most importantly, her doctor parents.

When warships threaten Celeste’s city, and her classmates and loving parents are forced into hiding, she finds herself shipped off to America to an aunt, without parents and without hope. The government has declared that artists, protestors, and most importantly, doctors, a danger to Chile and that they must be taken away, including her parents.

When Celeste gets to Maine, she finds this snowy, cold place completely different from her friendly, warm home. She makes and loses friends until finally she gets to return to the old Valparaiso, with everything back in place, or so it seems. Though she’s back, some of her friends are still missing, as well as her beloved parents. No matter what, Celeste believes that her parents will be back and she will be waiting for them, in her home on Butterfly Hill.

My favorite character is Celeste because no matter what, she always believes that her parents will come home. Her unfading faith in everything around her makes her a happy person, even with so many problems weighing her down.

Isadora C., St. Pauls, 12 years old, 6th grade

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Recommendation – The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flammel

The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott is an amazing series about two twins, Sophie and Josh Newman, and their journey to discovering the truth about themselves and about the world. It all starts when the bookstore where Josh works, blows up in a sulfur-smelling blast. Sophie, who works across the way in a smoothie shop runs over to try and help. She finds Josh’s boss and a strange man fighting with magic!

They soon set out on an unforgettable journey of truth, justice, and magic. As they find themselves forced to make great decisions, one of them cracks under the pressure. Filled with surprises, tragedy, and adventure, this book is great for anyone who loves books on fantasy and history!

My favorite character is Perenelle Flamel, who is the wife of Nicholas Flamel. I like her because even though she is trapped by her enemies, she still finds little ways to rebel and try to escape. I also like the character Scatty because she is brave and loyal, and will always stick with you, even when in a different time period (it’s a long story).

I hope that everyone finds time to read this amazing, tear-inducing, shocking, surprising book and discovers the magic of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel.

Isadora C., St. Paul’s, 12 years old, 6th grade

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