Entries Tagged 'Family Life' ↓
February 15th, 2010 — 3.5-4 Treasure Chests, Book Review, Family Life, Historical Fiction, M-O, Romance
by Captain Lyaf Yarr
Title: Sarah Plain and Tall
Author: Patricia MacLachlan
Format: Paperback
# of pages: 58 pages
Grade Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Summary: When Anna and Caleb's dad invites a mail ordered bride to come and stay with them for a month all they want is for her to stay. But will their fathers' and Sarah s' differences get in the way? Or well the month she's with them be a waste of time?
Why I Started the Book:
I started this book because I was going through my bookshelf and both my sister and my mom said they really enjoyed it so I thought that I would give it a try.
Likes:
- I liked the character Sarah. She's a very independent woman for her time. She answers an ad for a mail order bride but sets her own rules. She'll come out for a trial period and then decide!
- I liked how Sarah was honest from the beginning about herself and her expectations. She didn't act like she was coming for the love of their father, but just to help them out. She's not afraid to get down and dirty.
Dislikes:
- This book was good but I wish it was longer and that more happened in it.
- I wished that the kids made something happen, like if they didn't want Sarah to be their mother then they would try to make bad things happen to her. They didn't really do anything. They were good kids and just agreed to everything and were excited and happy. Not much conflict there.
Last minute thoughts: Sarah describes herself as “Plain and Tall” but really she's not plain at all. I also searched this book on Amazon and I found out that there is a movie to this book! So I will get the movie from the library and watch it!
Buy: Sarah, Plain and Tall
Book Rating: I give this book 3.5 treasure chests!
February 1st, 2010 — 4.5-5 Treasure Chests, A-C, Book Review, Family Life, Guest Review, School Situations, YA Genre
by Second Mate Embry, guest reviewer
Title: Extra Credit
Author: Andrew Clements
Format: Hardback
# of pages: 183
Grade Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Summary: Abby Carson is going to be held back! Unless if she can raise her grades and get either a B or higher on all of her future quizzes and homework. She decides that she will do an extra credit project. The teacher assigns Abby to write to a pen pal in another country. She thinks her pen pal is a girl, but it is against tradition for a boy to write a letter to a girl where her pen pal lives. Sadeed, Abby's pen pal, must have his younger sister sign the letters. When Abby finds out that she's not writing to who she thinks she is what will happen? Will Abby get held back?
Why I Started the Book:
I started this book because the cover caught my eye. Also the title grabbed my curiosity. What is this book about and how does it relate to extra credit?
Likes:
- I like how this book shows both points of view of Sadeed and Abby. That's pretty cool.
- This book was different (in a good way) for me. I've never come across this plot before. I enjoyed it a lot.
- I love Sadeed's ideas of mini mountain!
Dislikes:
- The names of the men in Sadeed's village confused me whenever they were mentioned. It was a little hard to follow at first and I had to double back and figure out who was who.
Last minute thoughts: This book really surprised me. It kept me entertained and I enjoyed reading it
Buy: Extra Credit
Book Rating: I give this book 4.5 treasure chests!
January 5th, 2010 — 2.5-3 Treasure Chests, Action & Adventure, Family Life, Fantasy, Guest Review, Humorous, S-T, YA Genre
by Cook Cutlery, guest reviewer
Title: The Bad Beginning (Book 1) Series of Unfortunate Events
Author: Lemony Snicket
Illustrator: Brett Helquist
Format: Hardback
Page Count: 162
Grade Reading Level: Ages 10+
Summary: Violet, Kluas and Sunny Bauldilair were at the beach when Mr. Poe comes and tell them that their parents had died in a fire. At their house all they find are ashes. Arrangements are made so that the kids live with Mr. Poe at his house while he tries to find them a relative to live with on a permanent basis. Mr. Poe finds them a place to live with Count Olaf. At Count Olaf's many bad things happen to them... in a series of unfortunate events!
Like:
- I love Violet. She is always trying to invent something. For instance, later in the story Violet invents a grappling hook out of old clothes and old wire. How does she think of things like that so quickly? I would be hard pressed that is for sure.
- Justice Starauss is very kind to the kids. He lets them use the library and helps them buy food so they can cook for Count Olaf and the troupe of people living with him.
- Klaus and Violet are always taking care of Sunny and making sure she doesn’t get into trouble. I have a hard time with one sister that's closer to my age! So while it might not be very accurate in normal circumstances, the Bauldilair kids are a whole other ball of wax.
Dislike:
- Mr. Poe doesn’t believe them when they are trying to tell him that Count Olaf is a terrible man and gives them way too many chores to do. Mr. Poe should know what sort of kids they are from when they lived with him and it's really important for adults to take kids seriously when it comes to stuff like that.
- When Count Olaf puts on a play that is called the Marvelous Marriage. In actuality it is not a play but a real marriage ceremony. He wants to get the Bauldilair fortune that they were left with and does it through trickery. Plus, can you imagine being married to the guy? Gross!
Buy: The Bad Beginning (Hardback)
, The Complete Wreck (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Books 1-13)
, The Trouble Begins: Books 1-3
, The Situation Worsens: Books 4-6
, The Dilemma Deepens: Books 7-9 
, The Gloom Looms: Books 10-12 
Rating: I give this book 3 out of 5 treasure chests.
December 11th, 2009 — 2.5-3 Treasure Chests, Book Review, Family Life, G-I, School Situations, YA Genre
by Captain Lyaf Yarr
Title: Ida B
Author:Katherine Hannigan
Format: Paperback
# of pages: 246
Grade Reading Level: 5th grade, Ages 9-12
Summary: When Ida B Applewood's mother gets cancer she is forced to go to public school (she was homeschooled before.) She arrives with a bad attitude because she chooses not to enjoy it no matter what. With a grudge against her parents she discovers that her plan might not be easy and it's gonna take more then just a little work. Can Ida B avoid disaster? Will she get herself into more trouble then ever before? Will the life she used to have be lost forever?
Why I Started the Book:
I started this book because my teacher had given it as a class assignment.
Likes:
- I liked Ida B's crazy and far out imagination. I guess anything is possible in her book as long as you try hard and put your mind to it. It's a really good attitude to have, I think.
- Mrs. W (Washington) was a great character. She seemed like the answer to all of Ida B's questions, and she was always right by her side.
- I enjoyed how Katherine Hannigan wrote the parts about the trees. They were either talking or doing something. They we're just like regular people but in tree form.
Dislikes:
- Ida B in general is sort of crazy. I mean talking to trees? “Nothing weird about that.” It's just at some parts of this book were a little too weird for me.
- Ida seemed immature to me because even if she was joking around about something it would still sound immature and childish.
- This book was an easy read for me. The font was big and the lines were double spaced. For a book that talks about saving trees they sure used a lot of paper.
Last Minute Thoughts: As I was reading I could see everything as if it was in theaters. Katherine Hannigan writes in a very visual way. I wonder if they will make his book into a movie?
Buy: Ida B: . . . and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World
Book Rating: I give this book 3 treasure chests!
November 24th, 2009 — 4.5-5 Treasure Chests, Family Life, G-I, Guest Review, Humorous, YA Genre
by Second Mate Embry, guest reviewer
Title: The Kid Who Ran for President
Author: Dan Gutman
Format: Paperback
# of pages: 155
Grade Reading Level: 5.4, 6-8 grade
Summary: Judson Moon and Lane Brainard decided that they've had enough of adult decisions. They believe that a kid should have a shot at being the president of the United States. They get their campaign rolling and soon Judson Moon is on the ballot for being the next president of the United States. Will he become president? Or will he fail?
Why I Started the Book:
I remembered a few years ago my teacher assigned this book for me to read and that I enjoyed it a lot. So when I came across it again I thought I would reread it.
Likes:
- I love the concept of a kid running for president! I wish that kids had the right to vote and run for president. Go kids!
- Eventually Judson gets sick of running for president and during a national debate between the runners he comes up with juvenile answers such as – Q: “How do you feel about school prayer?” A: “Every morning I pray school will be closed.” and Q: “Which president do you admire most and why?” A: "Grover Cleveland because, he became president despite the fact he was named after a character from sesame street.” It was very funny!
Dislike:
- Throughout the book I thought that Judson should have listened to Lane more than he did. It would have been wiser.
Buy: The Kid Who Ran For President (Paperback)
Book Rating: I give this book 4.5 treasure chests!
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