Newbery
The Giver by Lois Lowry
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Sep.28, 2014, under Dystopia, Newbery, Science Fiction, Student Reviews
Review by Lee T.
Who would like this book? I think the targeted audience is people ages from ten to fourteen.
The goods on this book: The Giver is set in a town in the future were everyone but a person named “the Receiver” is oblivious to the past. The government controls everything people know and even see. Jonas, the main character, is selected to be the new Reciever. He knows nothing about the past, but he has to learn about it. Also the government took away the peoples’ abilty to see color. When Jonas see color, he thinks he is going insane. Every thing Jonas knows is nothing compared to what he is about to learn.
The details: 180 pages; 1993 Review by Lee T.
The Giver by Lois Lowry
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on May.13, 2014, under Dystopia, Newbery, Science Fiction, Student Reviews, YRCA
Review by Nick Y.
Who would like this book? I recommend this book for children 9 or older. The theme is pretty dark and the community in which Jonas lives in is very creepy, although it may sound normal at first.
The goods on this book: Jonas is becoming a Twelve, the year you get assigned your job. A Twelve is when you become an adult, and the time for promotion is soon. On the promotion Jonas is assigned the job as Receiver of Memory: What could this mean? Jonas didn’t understand. The job assigner explained to Jonas that this job is at the highest respect, although it is a very painful job. A very painful one indeed. What is the Receiver of Memory? Who is The Giver? Read the book to find out!
The details: 180 pages; 1993 Review by Nick Y.
Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Feb.28, 2014, under Historical Fiction, Newbery, Real life, Student Reviews
Review by Brailey B.
Who would like this book? Teens who can be interested in character study rather than action, or people looking for a book that can be entertaining and make you think existentially.
The goods on this book: There are four kids, Lenny, Hector, Debbie, and Hector, who live in a small town called Seldem. Each of them seems like an ordinary teen, but as the reader watches them interact, you can see exactly what kind of people they are. Each one of them goes on their own journey through life, though you focus on Hector and Debbie. Hector is sure that he won’t grow up to be as graceful and cool as his older sister and tries desperately to outgrow himself. Debbie chases after her popular crush, Dan, and tries to find herself at the same time. Overall this is an amazing book if you don’t mind a lack of action and adventure.
The details: 337 pages; 2005 Review by Brailey B.
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Oct.07, 2013, under Abuse, Adventure, Animal, Newbery, Sam's Reviews
Who would like this book? People, ages 8 and up, who like stories told from the point of view of animals (in this case, a silverback gorilla) with a strong theme of friendship and hope.
The goods on this book: Ivan has lived a depressing life for 27 years at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, a terrible type of inhumane “zoo” that used to be common. Stella, an old elephant, and a feisty dog name Bob, keep him company, but Ivan has given up hope for a better life. He tries to console himself with his art, but he is close to giving up hope. Things in the zoo are turned upside down when Ruby, a baby elephant, arrives and awakens Ivan’s protective nature. Ruby is the spark that makes Ivan and Stella hope for a better life, and Ivan comes up with a highly unlikely plan that capitalizes on his unusual artistic talent. The layout of the book, with timely illustrations and lots of white space, adds to Ivan’s storytelling. I found this book to be moving and inspiring, and I especially loved the ending. It’s not a surprise that it won the prestigious Newbery Award for 2013.
The details: 305 pages; 2012 Review by Samrarian
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Jun.04, 2013, under Mystery, Newbery, Student Reviews
Review by Grace K.
Who would like this book? Anyone who love mystery and surprises. This book also has a lot of suspense.
The goods on this book: Thirteen years ago, Sam Westing, a millionaire and founder of a very successful company, disappeared. Now, 16 people who live in Sunset Towers find out that they are all nieces and nephews to Sam Westing, a dead millionaire. Sam Westing left a will for his heirs. It said that his life was taken by one of them. So Sam Westing designed a game, a game where 16 people try to find out who murdered Sam. Whoever wins gets 2 hundred million dollars.
In my opinion, this story is the best, most thought through mystery I ever read. It makes me wonder how long Ellen Raskin brainstormed about this story. It’s very good and entertaining.
The details: 172 pp. 2002 (1979) Review by Grace K.
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Apr.21, 2013, under Adventure, Battle of the Books 2013-2014, Historical Fiction, Newbery, Sam's Reviews
Who would like this book? Fans, ages 9 and up, of seafaring adventures and plucky female characters would love this book!
The goods on this book: The year is 1832, and Charlotte Doyle is a prim, proper young lady who has been educated at a private school in London. She must return to her upper-class family in Rhode Island and, despite warnings, boards the Seahawk for the passage across the Atlantic. Charlotte overcomes her shock at her cramped quarters and terrible seasickness, only to discover that she is the only passenger and the only female on a ship seething with bad omens. The cook, Zachariah, tries to befriend her and warns her about the brutality of Captain Jaggery. Charlotte tells her own story as she discovers who she can trust and what her true qualities are in the midst of wild adventure on the high seas. Avi’s descriptions through the eyes of Charlotte made me feel as if I were on the ship. The plot turns kept me in suspense right up to the final page. A Newbery Honor Book when it was published in 1990, this book holds up well and is a totally satisfying read for lovers of adventure, historical fiction, and 1st person narratives. I hear that a movie is due out in 2014.
The details: 229 pp. 1990 Review by Samrarian
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Apr.09, 2013, under Adventure, Animal, Newbery, Student Reviews
Review by Madissyn
Who would like this book? Everyone!
The goods on the book: A boy, Sam, runs away from home and must live on the land. He meets a lot of friends like The Baron Weasel, Bando (a professor who is lost in the woods), and Jessie Coon James (a raccoon). His dad comes to see him and is proud that he made his own house. His family comes and sees him, too. This is a great book. More to come
The details: 177 pp. 1988
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Mar.18, 2013, under Historical Fiction, Newbery, Student Reviews
Review by Madissyn
Who would like this book? All ages
The goods on the book: Annemarie Johnsen is ten years old in the year 1943 when World War II was going on. She lives in Denmark with her family. Her best friend Ellen Rosen is Jewish. When the Rosens heard that the Nazis were planing to relocate all of the Jews, the Johnsens help smuggle all the Jewish people across the border to Sweden. More to come…
The details: 137 pp. 1989 Review by Madissyn
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by David Selznick
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Jan.22, 2013, under Historical Fiction, Illustrated, Mystery, Newbery, Student Reviews, Teen Top 10
Review by Cass E.
Who would like this book? I think this is a great book for almost anybody. People who like pictures, this is a good book for you. Everybody who reads this book will like it, boy or girl. Hugo is a book with a lot of pictures but I recommend it to advanced readers.
The goods on this book: The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a great book. It is about a boy named Hugo and his life in 1931 Paris. Hugo works every day on the train station clock and he would spy on the toy booth. Then he would go steal parts for his machine until he was caught by Georges, the owner of the toy booth. Georges took his notebook, and Hugo wanted to get it back. He got the automation fixed and working. I hope you will enjoy this book as much as I did cuz it is a great, fun book.
The details: 533 pp. 2007 Review by Cass e.
Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Oct.05, 2012, under Historical Fiction, Newbery, Student Reviews
Review by Marcus
Who would like this book? Anyone 13 or older would enjoy this book, whether male or female, especially if any of these people like books about medieval times.
Why? The main Character is Crispin, a boy who does not yet know his name and is called Astas’ son. He lives in a small village named Stormford, one of many that a lord named Lord Furniva owns, this one looked after by one of his sons, John Acliffe. Recently Astas’ mom had past away, leaving him alone. Scared, he run into the woods and soon tires and falls asleep. When he wakes, John Acliffe is having a talk with a messenger of his, obviously made to be kept secret. John spots Astas’ son and runs after him. Astas’ son escaped unharmed, but when he returns to his village he finds out that he is a wolf’s head. Now, anyone may kill him. He heads for home but finds soldiers tearing his house down. The next night he searches for a way out of the village. He succeeds but is now alone with no food and barely enough strength to go on. Luckily, he finds a village. Sadly though it is deserted… or so he thought. When he comes to the church, he finds a dark figure looking at him and he is petrified, scared of what this mysterious figure will do if he ever learns his secret.
The details: 262 pp. 2002 Review by Marcus
