Sam and CY students & staff are reading…

Classic

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

by on May.14, 2014, under Adventure, Classic, Fantasy, Student Reviews

peterReview by Nick Y.

Who would like tho book? Children 6 and older. It’s a classic, what do you expect? Although the words may be a little difficult for beginners.

The goods on this book: After their parents left, Peter Pan came in. He came in looking for his shadow, hoping he’d catch it. And he does, with the help of a young girl named Wendy. Peter Pan later takes Wendy and her two younger brothers to a world beyond ours; Neverland. Neverland is a dream for children who never want to grow up and become an adult, although it’s a nightmare for children who fear pirates. Will Wendy and her brothers come back home from Neverland? Read this swashbuckling adventure to find out!

The details: 216 pages; 1904 (original); 2004 copy)            Review by Nick Y.

Comments Off on Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie more...

The Lord of the Ring: The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien

by on May.11, 2014, under Adventure, Classic, Fantasy, Student Reviews

kingReview by Nick Y.

Who would like this book?  I recommend this books for people 11 or older. This one has more violence than the first two books in the trilogy.

The goods on this book: Frodo and Sam are finally in Mordor. Will the two find their way to Mount Doom to destroy the ring once and for all? If they do succeed, will they be alone? Mordor has planned a siege on Minas Tirith, a castle of Gondor. Gandalf, Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas must find a way to stop the siege. But how? This is the last book to the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

The details: 544 pages; 1955

Comments Off on The Lord of the Ring: The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien more...

The Chimes by Charles Dickens

by on Apr.20, 2014, under Classic, Mystery, Student Reviews

chimesReview by Nick Y.

Who would like this book? If you have read A Christmas Carol, you’d probably love to read The Chimes. This book has a great moral and is greatly written. It may be difficult for someone who doesn’t know many archaic English words.

The goods on this book: The Chimes is a story about Toby Veck (better known as Trotty Veck) who is in his sixties and is very, very poor. When his daughter comes to him and asks for his blessing to get married, what would he say? Trotty Veck seems to have this gift with these chimes that can tell him of burdens or of great fortunes. But when Trotty got up to the chimes (of a church), he saw something much different than just chimes.

The details 96 pages; originally published in 1844    Review by Nick Y.

Comments Off on The Chimes by Charles Dickens more...

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

by on Apr.16, 2014, under Classic, Student Reviews

carol1Review by Nick Y.

Who would like this book? I recommend this book for all ages! This may be a bit difficult to read because of the archaic English words used.

The goods on this book: In London in the time of the great Industrial Revolution, an old curmudgeon named Ebenezer Scrooge has to face three ghostly spirits who will show the past, present, and the future. Now Scrooge has to choose how to live after this paranormal event: will he choose to fix the mistakes he has done, or will he continue in his boring life of loneliness and pain? Although, remembering the warning from his dead partner Marley (whom I have forgotten to mention earlier before the three spirits have come), that money can only bring greed to the humble hearts of men.

The details: 68 pp. Originally published in 1843             Review by Nick Y.

Comments Off on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens more...

William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope by Ian Doescher

by on Jan.12, 2014, under Classic, Sam's Reviews, Science Fiction

starWho would like this book? Fans of Star Wars and fans of Shakespeare would appreciate this book.

The goods on this book:  One doesn’t usually think of Star Wars and a Shakespeare play in the same breath, but that combination inspired author Ian Doescher to create William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope. This book is a five-act play with the familiar Star Wars characters speaking entirely in the iambic pentameter verse of Shakespeare’s day, using Elizabethan language and style surprisingly and successfully. Doescher strikes a nice balance between acknowledging the absurdity of the concept and treating his source material seriously.  The entertaining pen and ink illustrations by Nicolas Delort echo this balance with a stunning mashup of Star Wars characters in Elizabethan-style costumes. Much fun awaits Star Wars fans in this clever and charming reimagination of the iconic story. 

The details: 174 pages; 2013     Review by Samrarian

Comments Off on William Shakespeare’s Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope by Ian Doescher more...

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

by on Nov.26, 2013, under Adventure, Classic, Student Reviews

20,000Review by Noah D.

Who would like this book?  This book is very long with lots of details. I think that young adults and adults who like adventure would enjoy this book more than teenagers. It took a long time to read this book, but I liked it.

The goods on this book: The United States government hires Professor Aronnax, his assistant Conseil, and a master harpoonist named Ned Land to find a sea monster in the Pacific Ocean. They join an expedition from New York on the USS Abraham Lincoln. The three men find that the monster is actually a submarine after it attacks the Navy vessel, and the men fall overboard and get captured by its leader, Captain Nemo. Arronax, Conseil, and Ned Land can never leave this submarine because Captain Nemo is mad at his homeland and wants to stay away from civilization forever and study under the water and marine biology. Captain Nemo is very mysterious and smart, and he designed this submarine called the Nautilus. The Nautilus travels all over the world to places like the South Pole, the Red Sea, the Mediterranean, the Antarctic, and the lost world of Atlantis. When it returns to the Atlantic ocean, a giant squid attacks the propeller, and eats a crew member. The Nautilus is attacked by a ship at the end of the book, and Arronax, Conseil, and Ned Land want to be released and go with the other ship back to being free. Captain Nemo ends up sinking this other ship and killing all the crew inside it. The end of the book has Captain Nemo becoming really sad and depressed, and he lets the Nautilus wander into a huge whirlpool off the coast of Norway. Professor Arronax, Conseil, and Ned Land all escape before the Nautilus goes into the whirlpool, but no one knows what happened to Captain Nemo or his crew.

The details: 371 pages; 1870 (original date)          Review by Noah D.

Comments Off on Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne more...

Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder

by on Nov.26, 2013, under Classic, Student Reviews

farmerReview by Lily S.

Who would like this book? This book is for people from the time they can read and the time until they die. This is also a good book for people who might farm because it could give you hints.

The goods on this book: This is about a boy, Almanzo, who lives on a farm and works like a man, day and night no matter what the weather is. He has two sisters and a brother. Even though they work really hard every day, there is still some play time. Almanzo loves horses like nobody else, but the problem is that his father doesn’t trust him with the young spirit colts. Will Almanzo ever get to break a colt?

The details: 371 pages; 1953   Review by Lily S.

Comments Off on Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder more...

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

by on Apr.25, 2013, under Classic, Student Reviews

lordReview by Chloe H.

Who would like this book? As long as you can tolerate depressing sad stories, you’re fine.

The goods on this book: A touching story with love and learning the meaning of family and a fantasy like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings..NOT.
Ok, Here’s the deal, This book is Dark. Creepy. Sad. and just downright scary. It’s about these schoolboys who get stuck on an Island, with no adults. Our young male protagonist is a boy named Ralph, who we follow throughout the book. Ralph was elected Chief by the other boys to put in some rules, over a boy named Jack. (Keep Jack in mind.) Ralph is easily a good chief and does his best to maintain order in the absence of adults. Among other boys are Simon, the rogue-ish young boy who actually figures stuff out before anyone; Piggy, Ralph’s best friend who also gives advice; and the loveable twins Sam and Eric. They try to contact passing ships with smoke signals, so they can go back home. However, Jack and Ralph clash, there’s major conflict, and eventually everything goes to h… (Pardon the language if that offended you.) I’m not going to sugarcoat this; people die in this book. It’s like the Hunger Games, except not in the future…no games…no satisfying ending… These boys are brutal. Despite that it sounds like I’m completely bashing this book, I’m not. I’m giving you a heads up. This was a well written book with a lot of good characters, and even though I almost threw my book across the room in rage, that’s good, because it made me want to know what happened next. Overall this is a very good book. Just…Not for everyone.

The details: 208 pp. 1954   Review by Chloe H.

Comments Off on Lord of the Flies by William Golding more...

The Hobbit, or, There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien

by on Jan.13, 2013, under Classic, Fantasy, Student Reviews

Review by Shaylee

Who would like this book? I would say just about anyone would like this book. It just takes a little patience.

Why? The Hobbit is an adventure book about a little hobbit named Bilbo Baggins. When he meets Gandalf the wizard, things change. His little hobbit hole becomes a meeting place for dwarves and they want Mr.Baggins to accompany them in their adventure. Throughout the book they have to go through Goblins, Wargs, Trolls, and Elves. But in the end, the the long journey was worth it. I love The Hobbit; with adventure, suspense, danger, this is a great book.

The details: 300 pp. 1937    Review by Shaylee

Comments Off on The Hobbit, or, There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien more...

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

by on Aug.17, 2012, under Adventure, Classic, Environment, Newbery, Sam's Reviews

Who would like this book? People interested in wilderness survival would love this book, as would people looking for an adventure classic.

Why? Sam Gribley hates living in his family’s cramped apartment in New York City. He loves his parents and his brothers and sisters, but he longs to live in the wilderness. The book opens with him accomplishing this feat, weathering a winter squall from the safety of his house in a hollowed-out tree. Once the reader knows that Sam will succeed in his plan to run away and live off the land, Sam doubles back in time to New York City and his preparations for running away. The first person narrative from Sam’s point of view is the best part of the book. His voice is curious and honest, effectively carrying Sam’s intelligent and innovative mind. Interspersed with the narrative are Sam’s journal entries, adding a different perspective that deepens our understanding of Sam. Written in 1959 when the pace of life was slower, the book might be a challenge to readers who are used to today’s fast-moving plots. Excitement in Sam’s life might be meeting The Baron, his neighbor weasel, or training Frightful, his pet falcon. For readers looking for a captivating story of living in nature, this book is the one to grab!

The details: 177 pp. 1959 (originally published)   Review by Samrarian

Comments Off on My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George more...

Looking for something?

Use the form below to search the site:

Still not finding what you're looking for? Drop a comment on a post or contact us so we can take care of it!