Fuzzy Mud

I read Fuzzy Mud, by Louis Sachar. This book is about two kids who go to a private school in Pennsylvania. One day they cut through the woods to avoid a bully and it changes their lives forever. The main characters are Tamaya and Marshall. Tamaya is nice and smart, and Marshall is smart and tough. Marshall is getting bullied by a kid named Chad. Even though Tamaya is in 5th grade and Marshall is in 7th grade, they have always walked home from school together.

A boy named Chad was bullying Marshall and he challenged Marshall to fight him after school. So to avoid the fight he and Tamaya take a shortcut home through the woods. Tamaya accidentally steps in fuzzy mud when Chad finds them, but they still make it home. The next morning Tamaya has a weird rash and Chad is not at school. Tamaya and Marshall go back into the woods to find him and they get lost. Will they find Chad before it’s too late?

I think the book was good because it had a lot of action. It was very climactic and I would recommend  it to a friend. I give it 9 out of 10 stars. I know it was very action packed because Tamaya gets diagnosed with a disease caused by the fuzzy mud. Can she get cured? 

By Sadie W.

Fuzzy Mud, Louis Sachar

AR level: 5.0

AR points: 5

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

The book I read was Me And Earl And The Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews. The book is about a kid named Greg Gaines, and how he doesn't want to be part of any groups at high school, and doesn't want any friends, so everyone likes him. He is a fat, introverted kid who wants nothing to do with anyone or any group.

Until his old girlfriend Rachel gets diagnosed with leukemia.

*FlashBack Mode*  int. Greg’s House- Afternoon *note- Greg is dating Rachel in the flashback*  - Greg informs Rachel he just wanted to be friends - (The following is Greg - Rachel’s phone Conversation)

Rachel “that’s fine.”

Greg “great”

Rachel “Wanna come over?”

Greg “Uh, can’t.  My foot’s stuck in a toaster.”

Rachel “Seriously, do you want to come over?”

Greg “I have to sort out this toaster thing first.”

                        *Greg Hangs Up*(Greg breaks up with Rachel soon after)

*Out Of Flashback. Back to Summary*

Greg has a friend named Earl. Greg and Earl are not just friends, they are Co-Workers.

Greg and Earl make remakes of films. Four years after the “breakup” Rachel gets diagnosed with leukemia. Greg’s mom forces him to hang out with her. They build a small friendship. Then Earl shows Rachel the films he promised no one would see.

The book was brilliant! However, I would not recommend it to everyone because of it’s mature content. The book was great!!!

By Emma M.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Jesse Andrews

AR level: 5.2

AR points: 8

The Underdogs

I am reading a novel called The UNDERDOGS written by Mike Lupica. So far this book is about a kid named Will who loves football. The town is cancelling his football league because they don’t have enough money. Will is a very fun, athletic, and friendly person. He likes to play with his friends and loves football.

Will and his friends from his football team are all getting together and trying to raise money. They are having trouble thinking of a way to raise money. They are running out of time because there are only 2 weeks left. They have to raise enough to get uniforms, gear, equipment, and also to pay the fees that the Ref charges.

So far I like this book very much. This book is extremely exciting. Is Will going to make the deadline? I highly recommend this book to people. I liked this book because it has a lot of cliff hangers. Once again, I highly recommend this to all sports fans.

By Costa K.

The Underdogs, Mike Lupica

AR level: 5.2

AR points: 9

Brian's Winter

I read Brian’s Winter by Gary Paulsen. It is about Brian Robeson; a thirteen year old boy that is still lost in the Canadian wilderness with one tool, a hatchet. It is the second book in the Hatchet series. This book answers the question, What if Brian was never rescued and had to survive the winter? Brian is smart because he made a bow out of a stick and string and arrows out of sticks and flint. He is also smart because he stayed close to the plane just in case someone knew where the plane was. Brian is brave because he was in the Canadian wilderness by himself with bears, wolves, and other animals that could hurt him. A couple of times he even saw a bear but did not run away.

To survive, Brian used the bow that he made to kill rabbits, deer, and a moose. He hunted foolbirds with the gun he found in the survival bag that he got from the plane in the book Hatchet. Brian made a small spear out of a stick that he sharpened with his hatchet to go spearfishing. He cooked the meat and fish with a fire that he made by using dry grass, a twenty dollar bill that he had in his pocket, a rock that he found on the ground, and his hatchet, which he scraped on the rock to make sparks.  Brian made snowshoes out of deer hide/skin so he could walk on the snow without sinking in. Brian lived under a small overhang. He made walls out of rocks and made a small hole in the top to let the smoke from the fire out. Once when he was hunting, he saw a bear and a skunk that he named Betty. Betty scared the bear away to protect Brian. After that Brian had to keep feeding Betty or Brian thought that he would get sprayed. Also Brian saw wolves eating a moose when he was hunting. When Brian was going to sleep and he heard gunshots kind of close to him, he looked outside and saw nothing so he went back to bed. At the end of the story Brian found dog sled tracks so he followed them and they lead to a house. The house had sled dogs and the dogs were barking at Brian.  A man and his family heard the dogs barking so they came to the door and opened it and said “hello, who are you?”  Brian said “I got in a plane crash over there” and the man said “I smelled your smoke but I didn't want to bother you” and the man let him in his hut to have some beaver because they had enough for everyone. Brian stayed with them for three weeks until a plane came to pick Brian up and bring him home.

I liked the book because of all the skills that Brian used to survive. Also, it was written by my favorite author Gary Paulsen. I would recommend that you read Hatchet before you read Brian's Winter because otherwise you will not understand Brian’s Winter. I would rate it four out of five stars. I will recommend it to my friends and family to read

By Joshua James

Brian's Winter

AR level: 5.9

AR points: 6

DOWK: Old School

I read Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School by Jeff Kinney. The main character is Greg Heffley. This book is about how Greg’s mom wants to get the neighborhood unplugged, but Greg doesn’t want it to.Then Greg’s mom gets people to sign up. Now Greg needs to go without electronics.What will he do?!? Greg is a gamer, he plays all the time.

Greg’s mom makes him go to the park to clean up and rebuild the playground. Then, guys from prison come and help clean up the the park. One guy escapes and Greg goes with him because he doesn’t want to clean up. Girl scouts find and chase them, but then they lose them. Greg’s mom uses her “pet-tracker app” on Greg to find him. Then Greg tells his mom that the prisoner stole him so they put the prisoner back in jail longer.

I really liked this book. I read the whole series and I like this one the most. My favorite part in this book happens at the end when Greg goes on a field trip to Hardscrabble Farms. It is a scary and suspenseful ending! I also liked this book because I wanted to see how Greg could survive without electronics. What would you do if you couldn't use electronics for 48 hours?

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School, Jeff Kinney

AR level: 5.6

By: Sean C.

Red Queen

I recently read Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. This new young adult series is about a girl named Mare Barrow. She is a poor thief from the Stilts, dreading her upcoming conscription on her 18th birthday. For over a hundred years Red soldiers have fought a Silver war, spilling their common red blood to protect their gifted, silver-blooded kings. Mare's story is one of bravery and courage. She stands up for what she believes in and will do anything for the people she loves. That's why it is so important for her to avoid being sent to war. For Mare's people, war means death.

You see, there are two kinds of people in the Kingdom of Norta. There are Silvers (Kings, Queens, Lords and Ladies) who have money, power, summer palaces and winter palaces. And there's everyone else, Reds like Mare, whose only purpose in life is to serve the Silvers. They are forced to be laborers, working hard for very little pay. The Reds outnumber the Silvers so why don't they fight back? Silver blood comes with supernatural abilities, powers that Reds don't have. Magnetrons can control metal, shadows can bend light, nymphs can control water, and strongarms have immense strength. But these are only a few of the amazing abilities silvers possess. 

Their blood is a threat, a warning, a promise. We are not the same and never will be. This is the true division between Silvers and Reds: the color of our blood. This simple difference somehow makes them stronger, smarter, better than us. (page 9) 

One day, Mare discovers that despite her Red blood she has a superior Silver ability, an ability that could save her or doom her. Of course Mare makes this discovery in front of the entire Silver community where all eyes were on her! No one can know of her Red blood, so she must turn her back on everything she has ever know, anyone she's ever loved, and lie to the world. Pretending to be the a Silver princess, Mare is forced to hide her true identity. 

She has only one choice to make... play along or join the rising rebellion. 

You'll have to grab a copy of Red Queen to find out!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy novel. Victoria Aveyard expertly creates a world where anything seems possible. She makes the Kingdom of Norta feel like it's the town right next door. Best of all, Mare's story does not end here! After devouring Red Queen, check out the sequel Glass Sword and the novella Cruel Crown. Aveyard is still writing the third book in the trilogy and I cannot wait to see where Mare's journey ends!

 

Red Queen, Victoria Aveyard

AR level: 5.2

Masterminds

I read the book Masterminds by Gordon Korman. It is about a girl named Eli on an unforgettable adventure to escape her town Serenity, New Mexico after she and her friends find out they have been watched and trapped in their town their whole lives. They also learn their true Identity. Eli is very brave because she wants to break out of her town even though she is only 11. She does not know much about the world because the whole town has lied to her and her friends.

When Eli goes on an adventure with her friend, Randy, to explore an old famous car not too far outside their hometown. Then Eli finds herself sick and once she has recovered she finds out that her best friend Randy is leaving. While Randy is in the car heading to “his grandparents” he says to Eli very strictly, “I will write to you!” Eli has an idea. Eli and her friend Tori find a note Randy left Eli and tell Malik, they all decide to break into the so called Plastics Factory through the roof. Once inside they find out they have been watched and lied to their whole lives. They discover that they are not who they think they are. When it is time to break out of their town they decide to try to get on a train to make it to Colorado to Randy’s boarding school because their car blew up and they lost one of their friends.

I loved this book. I would recommend this to anyone who likes adventure and mystery. This book is full of action and keeps you on the edge of your seat! Personally, I really want to read the second book because this one ended on a huge cliff hanger!

By Alanna B.

Thanks for a great review Alanna! I truly cannot wait to read this book! I found a book trailer for the second novel and I can see what Alanna was talking about. The suspense is UNREAL!

Masterminds, Gordon Korman

AR level: 5.2

The Eighth Day

Our class just finished reading The Eighth Day, by Dianne K. Salerni. It is about an extra day of the week between Wednesday and Thursday. Not everyone gets to experience this magical extra day. The only people that are able to go into the eighth day are Transitioners, like Jax and his guardian, Riley. The eighth day was created to protect the “Normal” world from a race of magical people called Kin. Jax and Riley have to race to stop and evil Kin Lord from trying to destroy the world. Jax is courageous because he risks his life to save his friends.

A lot of exciting things happen in The Eighth Day.  When Jax first transitions into the eighth day, no one is around and he things it is a zombie apocalypse. Jax;s survival skills kick in and he steals canned food and bottled water from Walmart. When he wakes up, everyone is back and Jax thinks it was all just a bad dream. Until his school bus passes by Walmart with it's busted front door. When Jax finds out he is an inquisitor, with the talent to force others to answer his questions, his family crest is tattooed on his wrist. Further on in the story Jax is kidnapped. Not once, but twice!

I loved this book. Each twist and turn in the plot felt like a roller coaster ride. The nonstop action kept the story moving at a fast pace so I was never bored. The Eighth Day would be perfect for fans of the Percy Jackson series. You won't find any Greek mythology in this book, but you will discover a deep connection to the legend of King Arthur and his magician Merlin. SO if you like magic, epic battles, and cold burritos then this book is for you!

What would you do with an eighth day?

The Eighth Day, Dianne K. Salerni

AR level: 5.2