Greenglass House

Author: Kate Milford

Genre: Adventure, Mystery, Realistic Fiction


Your opinion: I loved this book, from the first page to the last page, it was the best book and plot. All I have to say is, Suspense + Mystery + Friendship = BEST BOOK EVER! I also liked how Milo, found out his true self.    5  

Rating:  5 out of 5 stars

Who would like this book:

Reviewed by: OB 

I Am Malala

Author: Malala Yousafzai 

Genre: Biography

What this book is about:  Malala Yousafzai was only ten years old when the Taliban took control of her region. They said music was a crime. They said women weren't allowed to go to the market. They said girls couldn't go to school. Raised in a once-peaceful area of Pakistan transformed by terrorism, Malala was taught to stand up for what she believes. So she fought for her right to be educated. And on October 9, 2012, she nearly lost her life for the cause: She was shot point-blank while riding the bus on her way home from school. No one expected her to survive. Now Malala is an international symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest ever Nobel Peace Prize winner. In this Young Readers Edition of her bestselling book, we hear the remarkable story of a girl who knew from a young age that she wanted to change the world -- and did. Malala's powerful story will open your eyes to another world and will make you believe in hope, truth, miracles and the possibility that one person -- one young person -- can inspire change in her community and beyond.   

Your opinion:  I personally loved the book, I loved how she stood up for herself and stood up for what she believed in. This book is so inspirational and shows how Malala's education paid off. I especially love how she writes; descriptive words enabling the audience to imagine what she went through and how she connects the words together in perfect harmony. I LOVED the book.

Rating:  5 out of 5 stars

Who would like this book:   I think readers who like reading about real-time events and about peace and calmness. This version of her book fits more for younger readers. I recommend it for grades 4th and up, while the real version has much more violence and terrorism. I recommend grades of maybe 5th and up, but really 6th and up. Overall, it was a great book and also inspirational. I gave this book a 5 out of 5 stars.    

Reviewed by:  OB  

Snicker of Magic

Author: Natalie Lloyd

Genre: Adventure, Realistic Fiction, Family and Friendship

What this book is about: Twelve year old Felicity, and her family (mom and little sister) move to Midnight Gulch with her aunt. Midnight Gulch used to be a magical place; a town where people could sing up thunderstorms and dance up sunflowers. In the midst of those citizens, there were the brothers Stone and Berry Weatherly. Legend says they put a curse on the whole town with a wandering heart, seems that way with Felicity's mother. She packs up her kids and drives to a new town in the Pickled Jalapeno without any reason, except for her guts. In Midnight Gulch, Felicity sees words like home and love; it's the first time she has seen love. With that, she is determined to stay in this town. Along the way, she meets a do-gooder, Jonah, who lights up Felicity's world. To stay in this town that she loves, she has to break the curse, bring back the magic, an fix her mother's broken and wandering heart.

Your opinion: I thought this book was pretty good and showed a lot of friendship. I gave this book a 4.5 because I love how Felicity is unique in her own great way and how being generous and kind can change someone, and maybe the entire town. The only reason it wasn't a whole 5 stars because I couldn't believe the fact that a mother would all of a sudden leave, not mattering what was going on except that her wandering heart was pulling her another way.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Who would like this book: I think 3rd and up would like this book because of how it's set and its language. I personally think readers that like magical plots and protagonists that overcome things would like this book. Overall, it's a great book.

Reviewed by: OB 

Bo at Ballard Creek

Author: Kirkpatrick Hill

Genre: Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction

What this book is about: It's the 1920s, and Bo was headed for an Alaska orphanage when she won the hearts of two tough gold miners who set out to raise her, enthusiastically helped by all the kind people of the nearby Eskimo village. Bo learns Eskimo along with English, helps in the cookshack, learns to polka, and rides along with Big Annie and her dog team. There's always some kind of excitement: Bo sees her first airplane, has a run-in with a bear, and meets a mysterious lost little boy. Here is the story of a little girl growing up in the exhilarating time after the big Alaska gold rushes.

Your opinion: I personally thought it was a horrible book. It had no plot, and it just seemed to take forever to finish. I do not see how it was on the Bookworm's list. It clearly to me, did not deserve a spot on the list. I gave the book a 1.5 out of 5 stars. It may seem harsh, but I personally did not like the book AT ALL.

Rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars

Who would like this book: I think maybe readers that like reading about historical events with a little twist on it, would like it. Maybe readers that like reading about different kinds of families and how they overcome various obstacles would like it. I think this is appropriate for 2nd graders and up. There was no bad language and seemed to be a nice, clean book telling about a girl living in Alaska in the 1920's. Overall, it clearly is my least favorite book on the list, so far.

Reviewed by: OB 

Rain Reign

Author: Ann M. Martin

Genre: Realistic Fiction, Disabilities   

What this book is about:  Rose Howard has Asperger’s syndrome, and an obsession with homonyms (even her name is a homonym). She gave her dog Rain a name with two homonyms (Reign, Rein), which, according to Rose’s rules of homonyms, is very special. Rain was a lost dog that Rose’s father brought home. Rose and Rain are practically inseparable. And they are often home alone, as Rose’s father spends most evenings at a bar, and doesn’t have much patience for his special-needs daughter. Just as a storm hits town, Rain goes missing. Rose’s father shouldn’t have let Rain out. Now Rose has to find her dog, even if it means leaving her routines and safe places to search. Will Rose find Rain?   

Your opinion: I loved how the author showed the perspective of life through a girl with autism and shows what she deals with. You can see what people with disabilities fight through. You think to yourself, "How would I have treated her?"

Rating:  4.5 out of 5 stars

Who would like this book: I think readers who like reading books with characters that have disabilities. I also think readers who like reading about bonds with animals will like this book. Although, it's a touching book, I think it's appropriate for 4th graders and up because of the language and the violence that the father says and acts. Overall, it shows a great perspective from a child who is dealing with autism.    

Reviewed by: OB

Hook's Revenge

Author: Heidi Schulz

Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Humor

What this book is about:  Jocelyn Hook is the daughter of the dreadful Captain Hook - but how are you sure you're someone's daughter, if you haven't met him or gotten letters? After not having a mom growing up, she waits for an adventure so she can be like her dad, but her grandfather doesn't agree. He wants her to become a proper lady, so he sends her to Miss Eliza Crumb-Biddlecomb's Finishing School for Young Ladies. She can't follow in  her dad's footsteps if she's surrounded with white gloves, pink, and ballroom dancing, so when she gets a letter from Captain Hook, she bolts off to Never land to get revenge on the crocodile that ate her father. But, when she gets there, the task gets harder. If defeating the croc is not difficult enough, she has the worst crew of pirates ever, but with one key characteristic from each of them. She also has to try to get her best friend out of the pack of the Lost Boys and ignore Peter Pan, who keeps coming uninvited. Will she defeat Neverland's crocodile or will her doubts defeat her first?  

Your opinion:  I personally loved this book because the author showed throughout the book that being unique or different doesn't make you weird or unpleasant in any way. I also liked how it showed how Jocelyn Hook lost that girliness to her because of growing up without a mom, but shows that she still has little of that sparkle inside. I also liked how it brought in parts of the Peter Pan story. 

Rating:  5 out of 5 stars

Who would like this book: I think readers that like books with characters that have girls being treated the same way as men would enjoy this book. It will also fit readers who like books that pull in parts of stories from other books. I also liked how it reminded me of the Neverland tale.

Reviewed by: OB    

Absolutely Almost

Author: Lisa Graff 


Genre: Realistic Fiction

What this book is about: Albie has never been good at things: tetherball, drawing, and especially making his parents proud. After getting kicked out of his last private school, he moved to a public school with teachers that try to help him succeed. Along with the public school change, he doesn't get to have his best friend at school and gets a new babysitter, Calista, to help him out with school. He gains friends and gets bullied. While trying to make it through school and his social level at school, he is mainly trying to keep the friendship he has with his apartment neighbor and best friend. Even though Albie is absolutely almost with mostly everything, Calista helps him figure out the things he is good at and helps him take pride in them. 

Your opinion:   I liked the book a lot, especially how friendship and bullying was key to the book. It shows some things that you might encounter being a 5th grader in school like being cool and fitting in. I loved also how Lisa Graff shows that you might not be good at most things, but the things you are good at, take pride in them.

Rating:  4.5 out of 5 stars

Who would like this book: I think readers that like realistic fiction and friendship books would like this book. I would say that this book would be for 2nd graders and up. For the 2nd graders it might be a little hard, but it's great book.

Reviewed by: OB