Sam and CY students & staff are reading…

Who would like this book? 2011-2012 OBOB book. An easy book for football fans and non football fans to understand.

Why? The Atlanta Falcons have lost their first two opener football games. Most people say that Seth Halloway, their star linebacker has gotten slow. Troy could have prevented these losses if only the Falcons would have listened to him. Troy also plays as the backup quarterback for his team. The coach’s son Jamie, plays quarterback even though Troy is a much better player. What makes Troy so special is that he can predict offensive and defensive football plays. Troy needs to help the Falcons win so he is not bullied by Jamie, and to prove that he is a better player than Jamie. Read Football Genius to find out if Troy can help the Falcons to a potential Super Bowl.

The details: 244 pp. 2007  Review by Mason

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Who would like this book? 2011-2012 OBOB Book. If you’ve read A Wrinkle In Time, you will like this time travel book.

Why? he laughing man sits on the corner every day. Some say he is waiting. Waiting for what? Miranda and Sal used to be friends until he gets punched by a kid on the street. Miranda’s mother gets invited to the 20,000 dollar pyramid game show. Miranda is confused about time travel like in the book A Wrinkle in Time. Then the house key is stolen and a mysterious note arrives: “I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own. I ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter.” Miranda doesn’t know what to do. What can she do? Wait. Coincidence? Were these events preplanned or even maybe even post-planned? Read this interesting, 2009 Newberry Award book. (Just make someone change the horrible cover.)

The details: 199 pp. 2009   Review by Mason

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Who would like this book? Disney lovers.

Why? This book was just ok. I didn’t love it, but then again, I didn’t hate it. I think the book was a little bit immature for my age but was too big of a read for younger kids. It is creative in the plot, but what got to me was the fact that he was trying too hard to write from the perspective of a middle schooler. The author basically failed at that. The book is about 5 kids that have to save the world and themselves from a forming threat coming from, believe it or not, DISNEYLAND. The main character, Finn Whitman, has to deal with two different worlds at the same time. Will he be able to overcome the stress?

The details: 324 pp. 2005   Review by Zoe B.

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Who would like this book? Animal lovers and people who are interested in the Vietnam War.

Why? Cracker is a very heartwarming book that is a harsh reminder of the fact that no dogs in the Vietnam War were returned to America because they were considered military equipment. It follows the life of Cracker and a young man named Rick who ends up becoming Cracker’s handler. I thought this book was very good, even though the beginning hook was a bit cheesy. I am embarrassed to admit that I did cry when reading this book, a very rare occasion.

The details: 2007, 217 pp.    Review by Zoe B.

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Who would like this book? People 11 and under

Why? This book is horrible and boring. The begining starts out with a failed attempt at a hook and gets worse as it goes. The things that the criminals do are so stupid and unrealistic that you wonder if the author did ANY research at all. The plot repeats its self on many occasions. I was pained when I had to reread it. Reading a book was, for the first time in my life, boring.

The details: 165 pp, 2008   Review by Zoe B.

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Who would like this book? People who are interested in discovering how a boy who has had so much sadness and depression in his life can still create happiness out of it.

Why? The Circuit is about a boy whose family illegally immigrates to California from Mexico in hopes of finding good paying jobs and a better life. What they find is not what they expected. This story describes their life from the view point of the boy Panchito. Follow him in this heart breaking story as he struggles through poverty, and loss. Will his hard life finally pay off?

The details: 166 pp. 1997   Review by Zoe B.

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Who would like this book? It’s an OBOB 2011-2012 book that dog people and war people would like.

Why? Willie’s family moves to an apartment complex which doesn’t allow animals. Cracker, Willie’s dog, is a giant dog that is stronger than any man but no one wanted him. Willie saw an ad to send dogs to Vietnam and decides that this is his only option for saving Cracker. Willie says goodbye to Cracker as she heads to Vietnam. Rick Hanski doesn’t want to run the family-owned business that his father loves. Rick Hanski wants to whip the world and so he signed up to go to Vietnam to be a dog trainer. Rick, after some training, meets his dog, which happens to be Cracker. Cracker and Rick had a hard start and had a hard time bonding until Rick told Cracker about her being put down if she didn’t start helping Rick. Willie sends letters asking Rick about how Cracker is doing. Cracker, Rick is convinced, is going to be the best dog in Vietnam because she can sniff all the traps and even underwater. Rick and the 67 Infantry Platoon (Scout Dog) is finally sent to Vietnam where Rick and his friends are sent on many missions. Rick completes many missions in Vietnam but before Thanksgiving Rick gets a mission but the entire village is against him. After getting shrapnel from an APC that hit him in the leg, Rick and Cracker get separated. Will Rick be able to find Cracker and will he convince the army that he should keep her? Read the book Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam to find out!

The details: 312 pp. 2008  Review by Mason

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Who would like this book?  People who like to have the truth about things in real life situations.

Why? Brady and his family have been living on Chesapeake Bay. Brady’s friends, J.T. and Digger also live there. They go to school together and also like to spend time together. In the summer, a new family moves in and buys the property that Digger and his family owned for generations. Brady’s family needed some time to get adjusted to the new people. Both families like to go boating. Digger’s family was the one who had the property first, and he didn’t like the new family. One day before J.T., Digger, and Brady go to school, they see the red kayak going down the river and they think it is carrying Mr. DiAngelo. They want to caution him, but they don’t. When they find out who was actually in the kayak, they are all bummed out. This leads to a big accident and bad outcomes for everyone. I thought that this book was very suspenseful and reveals a lot of truth.

The details: 209 pp. 2004  Review by Marika

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Who would like this book? I think saying that people who like football would be bland and untruthful because people who don’t can also get hooked by this book because it’s contents aren’t hard to understand if you you know nada about football.

Why? I think Football Genius is a very exciting book that propels you through different conflicts. It draws out different emotions from the reader and will have you sympathizing with some characters, and wanting to chuck a shoe at others. More to come…

The details: 244 pp. 2007  Review by Zoe B.

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Who would like this book? Anyone who likes adventure and bravery! 🙂

Why? This story is about a brave prince and a brave girl. The prince, Alek, has no mom or dad. The king and queen have been murdered in the war, World War I. Now the prince, Alek, is on the run, trying to find a safe place with his small crew of men. Meanwhile, a girl who always wanted to join the army has gotten her wish. That’s right! She dressed up as a boy. Her name is Deryn. Her dad passed away before then and now her mother is trying to get Deryn to be as girly as she can get. Deryn ran away.

The details: 440 pp. 2010 Review by Grace

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