Battle of the Books 2007
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on May.26, 2009, under Adventure, Battle of the Books 2007, Fantasy, Mythology, Student Reviews, YRCA
Review by Peter
Who would like this book? Boys and Girls who like stories about Greek gods and lots of action.
Why? The Greek gods are real. Percy is half mortal and half immortal. He is the son of Poseidon, the Greek god of water. Percy must get Zeus’s lightning bolt to stop the gods from fighting So he goes across the U.S. and into the Underworld to find the lightning bolt and stop the gods from fighting.
The details: 375 p. 2005 Submitted by Peter
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on May.12, 2009, under Adventure, Battle of the Books 2007, BookCasts, Mythology, Student Reviews, YRCA
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Review by Margo
What if the gods of Ancient Greece were still alive in the 21st Century? What if they still fell in love with humans and had children who might become great heroes — like Theseus, Jason and Hercules? What if you found out you were one of those children?
That is the discovery that launches twelve-year-old Percy Jackson on the most dangerous adventure of his life. With the help of a satyr named Grover and Annabeth a daughter of Athena, Percy journey’s across the United States to catch a thief who has stolen the most famous weapon of mass destruction — Zeus’ master lightning bolt. Along the way, he must face a host of mythological creatures determined to stop him. But mjost of all, he must come to terms with a father he has never known, and an Oracle that has warned him of a betrayal of a friend.
The details:377 p. 2005 Submitted by Margo
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Mar.12, 2009, under Adventure, Battle of the Books 2007, Fantasy, Mythology, Real life, Student Reviews, YRCA
Review by Paige
Who would like this book? Someone who likes facts about the Greek gods and someone who likes imaginary and exciting scenes.
Why? This book was a great book. I barely ever read through a part that wasn’t boring. It was constant excitement and some things really caught my eye. I liked all the parts that included the monsters and all of the attacks. This book also includes a mission that was assigned to a trouble making half-blood, who is the son of the sea god Posideon. This book became one of my favorite books every page I read of it. I would definitely recommend it to readers that like fantasy and monsters and especially excitement!
The details: 377 p. 2005 Submitted by Paige
Eleanor’s Story: An American Girl In Hitler’s Germany by Eleanor Ramrath Garner
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Jan.25, 2009, under Battle of the Books 2007, Historical Fiction, Student Reviews, War
Review by Tom U.
Who would like this book? You will like this book if you like irony, tragedy, or World War II.
Why? This story is from Eleanor’s point of view of her time in Germany. It starts just before World War 2 and when Eleanor is 9 years old. Also it talks about how Hitler used all of Germany’s money for weapons to conquer the rest of the world instead of helping his country’s economy. It explains some of the hardships and challenges of living in a warzone. The book talks about challenges in Germany in that time. Also Eleanor’s family moved a lot around Germany because of the war and dangers of living in Berlin.
The details: 1999, 269 p. Submitted by Tom
Code Orange by Caroline B. Cooney
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Dec.23, 2008, under Battle of the Books 2007, BookCasts, Mystery, Real life, Student Reviews, Thriller, YRCA
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Who would like this book? This book has a little bit of mystery and suspense. I think it’s good for all ages.
Why? This book is mysterious in some parts, and it’s also suspenseful in other parts. A teenager called Mitty Blake has to do a biology paper on a disease. He chose to do his paper on small pox. Mitty has a friend named Derek who wants to try to figure out a murder that happened a long time ago. Mitty likes this one girl named Olivia. She is really smart. Mitty isn’t as smart as her. Mitty is in advanced biology just because he wanted a class with Olivia. Mitty was trying to act all smart so Olivia could notice him. During the weekends, Mitty’s family goes to their other house out of New York, out in the country. Mitty started his paper on small pox. He found an old book on all kinds of diseases. He looked up small pox. He found an envelope inside the book. The envelope wasn’t sealed. He opened it up. The stuff inside the envelope was small pox scabs. Mitty sneezed and the scabs got all over him. He touched his nose with his hands that had small pox scabs. He cleaned the scabs up and put them back in the envelope. The next day Mitty was at school and did more research on small pox. Mitty was afraid of getting small pox because he touched the small pox scabs and got it all over him. Does Mitty Blake get infected with this small pox disease? Well, I am not going to tell you. Read this book to find out if he does get small pox or if he doesn’t.
The details: 195 p. 2005 Submitted by Elsie
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Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Oct.24, 2008, under Adventure, Battle of the Books 2007, Dystopia, Environment, Mystery, Science Fiction, Student Reviews
Who would like this book?
Anyone who loves books about friendship, adventure, and what might happen in the future.
Why?
In this story, the population law is 2 children max due to a food shortage. Luke Garner is an illegal third child, always hiding, always running. He knows no other beings other than his loving family, until he meets Jen, his neighbor, who is also a third child. She too is bored of living in the shadows, and she believes that together, with all third children, they can crush the population law. Can they do it? Read the book to find out!
The details: 153 p. 1998 Submitted by Carley
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Oct.24, 2008, under Battle of the Books 2007, Dystopia, Environment, Science Fiction, Student Reviews, YRCA
Who would like this book?
The people that would like this book are people who like camping and like books you can’t put down because they’re so interesting. I read the book in about 3 days.
Why?
This story is about a 15-year-old girl who is about to turn 16 and get this operation to turn her pretty. All the people are “ugly” before they get this operation.
The details: 425 p. 2005 Submitted by Diamond
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Sep.18, 2008, under Adventure, Battle of the Books 2007, Mythology, Student Reviews, YRCA
Who would like this book? If you are interested in Greek mythology and action this is the right book for you!
Submitted by Isaiah
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on May.18, 2008, under Adventure, Battle of the Books 2007, Fantasy, Humorous, Legend, Student Reviews, YRCA
Who would like this book? I recommend this book to people who like fantasy, Greek Gods and action. I recommend it to boys and girls ages 10 and up. (If you are studying Ancient Greece this is the book for you!)
Why? Percy Jackson live in New York City in a boarding school. He gets kicked out of boarding schools every year. When he gets kicked out of his 6th grade year his mom takes him to a beach where a hurricane hits and all of a sudden Grover, Percy’s best friend, shows up and Percy learns a secret about him. He goes home with them but on the way a minotaur follows them and they have to take take Percy to a camp where he will be safe. When he is there he meets Annabeth. Later in the book he finds out that he is the son of a Greek God! When Zeus finds out he thinks that Percy stole his master bolt, so Percy, Annabeth, and Grover go on a crazy adventure to find it. To find out What happens read THE LIGHTNING THIEF BY RICK RIORDAN!
Submitted by Rachel K.
Airborn by Kenneth Oppel
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Aug.21, 2007, under Adventure, Battle of the Books 2007, Fantasy, Grief, YRCA
Who would like this book? Teens who like fantasy that is laced with historical fiction and swash-buckling adventure. If you like flight and can imagine a dirigible-like, high-class cruise ship that flies over the Pacificus, don’t miss this tale. If you like mythological animals, that’s another reason to read it. Ditto if you’re into pirates.
Why? Oppel writes from the point of view of Matt Cruse, a 15-year-old cabin boy aboard the luxury cruise ship, the Aurora. Matt is a natural on the ship and in the air. The story opens as he makes a daring rescue of a disabled gondola with an older, deceased passenger. This event and the mysterious passenger’s journal frame the adventures that follow, and these adventures kept me rapt. Matt’s relationship with the fiesty and wealthy Kate is perfectly frustrating, and the introduction of a myriad of characters and plot twists is seamless and satisfying. Readers who like the mechanics of ships will appreciate the details that Oppel includes as Matt narrates the adventures; the rest of us will skim ahead to find out what happens next. Matt’s need to make a connection with his father (who died while serving on the Aurora) reminded me of The Kite Rider.
The details: 368 p. 2004
