Battle of the Books 2009-2010
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Nov.25, 2011, under Battle of the Books 2009-2010, Science Fiction, Student Reviews, YRCA
Who would like this book? Anyone who loves a fantastic book that they won’t be able to put down!
Why? Tally Youngblood is almost sixteen. And she can’t wait! Not to get her license or to have a party, but to be pretty! Uglies is a book about how when a teenager becomes sixteen, they get a special surgery to become perfect! But Tally’s new friend Shay doesn’t want to be pretty, so she runs away to The Smoke, a place where uglies who want to stay ugly go to. The authorities have been keeping an eye on Shay, so they send Tally to The Smoke as a spy or she wont be able to become pretty! This book keeps you on the edge of your seat!
The details: 425 pp. 2005 Review by Karla M.
Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Paterson
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Feb.27, 2011, under Adventure, Battle of the Books 2009-2010, Science Fiction, Student Reviews
Who would like this book? People who like adventure stories or thrillers and suspense books.
Why? Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment is about 6 kids who live on their own because a secret scientific research facility (The School) grafted avian DNA into them, giving them wings and other special abilities. While in hiding one of the members named Angel was kidnapped by wolf/human creatures, who took her back to the school. The kids’ leader, named Max, goes after her. They run into a lot of problems and discover more about themselves. This book is a great action/adventure. I recommend this book to people who like adventure or thriller stories.
The details: 422 p. 2005 Review by Austin P.
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Oct.31, 2010, under Battle of the Books 2009-2010, ORCA, Real life, Romance, Student Reviews
Who would like this book? Mostly girls.
Why? Frankie is a 10th grade girl at a private school called Alabaster. No one really noticed her last year, but now everyone notices her… She has grown up a lot and gotten a lot prettier. Her crush Mathew asks her out and later in their relatshionship Frankie finds something suspicious about Mathew and his friends. To find out what their secret is and how Frankie finds out, you need to read the book! I thought it was very good, but at times it got a little confusing.
The details: 345 p. 2008 Review by Sam H.
The Wild Girls by Pat Murphy
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Feb.04, 2010, under Battle of the Books 2009-2010, Historical Fiction, Real life, Student Reviews, Writing
Review by Malay
Who would like this book? People who enjoy books by Pat Murphy; she is a fabulous writer.
Why? The reason I like this book is because it is suspenseful and a great read. It has a lot of detail and is so good.
The details: 288 p. 2007 Submitted by Malay
Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Jan.04, 2010, under Battle of the Books 2009-2010, Mystery, Real life, Science Fiction, Student Reviews
Review by Maddie
Who would like this book? People who like mystery and action-adventure books.
Why? I read about 100 Pages of this book in September. I never really seemed to ge into it too much. I decided to finish it over the break. I read it in less then two days. This book is the best book I have ever read by far! It’s about two adopted friends who get letters from unknown people. They have no idea who their birth parents are. They go on a journey, discover lists of “witnesses” and “victims,” and they try to find out who they are. It comes to a climax at the “Adopted Kids” meeting. Read to find out where all these kids come from! This book is really unpredictable.
The details: 314 p. 2008 Submitted by Maddie
Schooled by Gordan Korman
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Jan.04, 2010, under Battle of the Books 2009-2010, Bullying, Humorous, Real life, Student Reviews
Review by Maddie
Who would like this book? People who like to learn about the “happenin’ events” that went on in the 60’s. People who have grandparents who are still “living in the out-of-sight days.”
Why? I actually liked this book. It’s not one of my favorites, but it was one of those books where I wish there was more of it. This book is about an 8th grade boy who has lived on Garland Farm his whole life. He has been home schooled by his grandma (Rain). At Garland, he and Rain have built up a community together. Rain falls and breaks her hip and the police make him go to school with all the other kids in the city. They elect him as the 8th grade president, trying to play tricks on him. They think he is a loser because he is a hippie…………….until ….
The details: 208 p. 2007 Review by Maddie
Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Nov.21, 2009, under Battle of the Books 2009-2010, Science Fiction, Student Reviews
Review by Ashley
Who would like this book? For anyone who enjoys futuristic settings, fantasy and other books by this author, this is a must read!
Why? Though this book does not exactly take place in the future, it is all about it. Children are found in an abandoned plane that, according to one character, appeared out of thin air. They are transported all over the country and one boy is on their case. He’s found many survivors and when they all end up in his town, he freaks! No one knows why for sure and the details are sketchy. What will happen to these poor kids and what will they do when they are trapped inside a cave, both options in front of them stinking!
This is a real thriller that will keep you up late trying to find out what happens next.
The details: 314 p. 2008 Submitted by Ashley
Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Oct.29, 2009, under Abuse, Battle of the Books 2009-2010, Biography or Autobigraphy, Historical Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Student Reviews
Review by Spencer
Who would like this book? People who enjoy a sad story about a little girl growing up in China with unloving parents.
Why? A little girl named Adeline Yen is the child of a women who died a few weeks after Adeline’s birth. She lived with her Grandma, Grandpa, her loving Aunt Baba, her father and all of her siblings. Her father remarries to a 17 year old women who only loves her birth children. Adeline is separated from her aunt and joins many boarding schools. In each school she is one of the smartest children. She is inspired by her grandfather to write a play and submit it to a contest. After a few months of waiting to see if she won, her grandfather died.. and a few months later she won the contest. Her (normally not caring) father is so proud and he allows Adeline to go to medical school (unlike Adeline’s older sister). She grows up to be a doctor and a writer.
The details:205 p. 1999 Submitted by Spencer
Trapped Between the Lash and the Gun by Arvella Whitmore
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Oct.29, 2009, under Battle of the Books 2009-2010, Bullying, Historical Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Student Reviews
Review by Madison
Who would like this book? People who like to learn about the past.
Why? I am actually still reading this book. I really like this book. I like this book because it is really interesting. This book is about a 12-year-old boy who takes his great-great-great-grandpa’s watch for money to go see his father. He soon gets trapped in the past when there were slaves. He then has to work as a slave. I really have enjoyed reading this book and haven’t been able to put it down. It’s exiting and fun, but a little bit sad. It’s also a Battle of the Books book, so anyone who is doing Battle of the Books, I definitely recomend this book to you.
The details: 184 p. 1999 Submitted by Madison
The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Oct.29, 2009, under Art, Battle of the Books 2009-2010, Graphic Novels, Grief, Real life, Student Reviews
Review by Madison
Who would like this book? Maybe people who like Graphic Novels.
Why? I did not like this book . I am not a graphic novel fan, so that might be why. This book was very odd, and I didn’t think it was very well organized at all. I got very bored with this book. It was often confusing for me and a little mixed up. I only reccomend this book to graphic novel fans. This book is about a girl who moves from a busy city to a safer city. She joins a group called P.L.A.I.N. They draw art in neighborhoods and the town is kind of debating on whether they like it or not. The school teachers don’t like it. Nobody knows who this group is and who the people are in this group. That is why I didn’t like this book, and I prefer books that are not graphic novels.
The details: 2007 Submitted by Madison
