Tangerine  

                The book that I have chosen to review is called Tangerine. It is about a boy named Paul. Paul moves to Tangerine, Florida. In Tangerine, there are two different schools. At one of the schools, he is kicked off the soccer team because he has an eye injury. They think that this is a reason for him not to play his favorite sport. Everybody says that his injury is from looking into an eclipse of the sun. Paul doesn’t remember that. He then goes to this other school, where they just think he wears glasses, so he stays on the team. Paul’s brother , Erik, get into a lot of trouble. He is not a very friendly guy. This is one reason Paul hates his brother,

                I would recommend Tangerine to all age groups. Boys or girls could enjoy this book. They have to like a little bit of mystery in their books. From the people I know have read it, it is definitely a great book.

                One thing that I loved about it was all the different characters. They have such different personalities. This is a good thing though.  Erik is a football player. Paul is a soccer player. Their dad is really into the ‘Erik Fisher Football Dream.’ Mr. Fisher loves football. The three of them liking different things makes the story more interesting.

                The thing that I didn’t like about the book was how there wasn’t too much action. I always seem to like a book that has a little bit of violence of action. Sometimes, however, having action can ruin the book.

                I couldn’t relate to Tangerine at all. This is one of the many reasons I chose to finish the book. If it is so much like my life, then I don’t find it interesting enough. I would rather read something else and learn something from that. I did learn a few things from the book, though. One of the things that I learned was that you can still be a talented person if you are disabled. You can still do sports or do what you love, if you do have a problem, of course, if you are physically challenged, you can not do these types of things. Fortunately, you are always able to do something you love.

Christina Eckloe was the most popular girl at Mooresville High School, along with her best friend Trisha Thomson. Trisha was nice, and so was her boyfriend Cody. Cody had brown hair to his ears, and eyes you could star in all day if you could. Christina was gorgeous! She had layer after layer of thick blond hair and natural brown highlights, sparkling blue eyes like crystal clear water, and a smile you could see from a mile away. Christina’s boyfriend Tucker was the starting quarter-back on the varsity football teem. He had short blond hair, like a buzz, and blazing green eyes. He was the handsomest one in school. But Christina’s perfect world was soon to be over.

Trisha felt new tears forming in her eyes, she braced herself for what was to come, for what she could not change. Christina Eckloe had died! It was the night of March 3, 1995. it was only a few weeks before she would graduate. Will this night be the cause of so many things for the future? Will this drastically change so many lives forever?

Telling Christina Goodbye was based on a true story, written in 1995. I loved it! It was an absolute page turner! The Author does a great job in pulling you in, and making you feel like you were there. I would recommend this book to people who love romance, and sad story’s.

When ten people are trapped on an island for vacation, they realize they were there for only one purpose: To be killed! The murderer’s unusual approach begins when they accuse each guilty guest with a murder, and then does something more bizarre. The murderer kills each person according to the poem "Ten Little Indians". One example is when Mrs. Rogers overslept herself just like the poem said! The poem is posted on the walls of each guest’s bedroom only to haunt them of their fate. Strangely, each time someone dies, one of the ten China Indian figures on the dining table mysteriously disappears. No one can be trusted because everyone is a suspect! Who is the murderer and will anyone survive this spectacular vacation?

Ten Little Indians by Agatha Christie will leave you begging for more. It is everything I think a good book should have like suspense and quality writing. Ten Little Indians is one of my favorite books and both boys and girls would enjoy this mystery filled and action packed book because there are both girl and boy characters. I think It is a  good discussion book too!

Thanks for the Memories
Tracey

            Bob Hope:  My Life in Jokes, by Bob Hope with Linda Hope, is a book that should be read by all Bob Hope fans.  Someone who knows him through pictures, radio, the Academy Awards, his entertaining of the troops, or vaudeville can recognize and appreciate his humor and views on life.  This autobiography is told mostly through his famous one-liners, and includes his humorous perspective of everything from childhood to politics.  The chapters are broken up by decades of his life, and includes an in depth look at politics, technology, and of course, his life and business.  At the beginning of every section, a few paragraphs are written with a less-humorous flare, but are never-the-less still interesting.  In this novel, we can see the ways Bob Hope thanks the world for his memories.  It tells the classic story of a poor boy growing up in England who eventually fulfills that glorious American dream.

            Anyone who is a fan of this One-Liner King will find themselves laughing out loud and totally immersed in the charm of this novel.  It includes his hilarious, quick-witted jokes that will have you rolling on the floor.  Possibly his best-loved jokes are those where he makes fun of himself.  Of course this novel is filled with that type of humor.  While talking about his many brothers, he states, “I was Mom’s favorite, though.  She was always playing with me and tossing me into the air…What fun it would have been if one day she caught me.” 

            My Life in Jokes is not for everyone, though.  Many of his jokes have to do with other big Hollywood stars, politics of the time, and the society and world of the Twentieth Century.  Anyone who doesn’t know and understand those times whether through pictures, books or first-hand experience, may not find his jokes as amusing.  The audience for this book also has to be someone who enjoys Bob Hopes comical views and jokes.  Not just anyone could truly appreciate this book.

            If someone is in need of a laugh or a fun trip back to the Twentieth Century, pick up Bob Hope:  My life in Jokes and share some memories with this timeless idol of the American culture. 

That Was Then This Is Now                                                                                               Katie

      The book That Was Then This is Now by S.E. Hinton was a good book in my opinion. This book was about two sixteen year old boys Mark and Bryon, who are very close like brothers. Mark lives with Byron and his mom. But now getting older Mark and Byron are growing apart. When something happens to Byron’s girlfriend’s brother and has to do with Mark dealing drugs Bryon is faced with a tough decision.

     Many of Hinton’s books are alike. If you read The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton you are sure to like this. I would recommend this book to middle school children. Also people who like realistic events would probably like it. I don’t think people who like a book with a really happy mood and plot would like this book because there’s a lot of crime and drama in it.

    I like this book because it’s realistic and you could relate to things. I think that people could really relate to Mark and Bryon because at first they were really good friends and told each other everything, and in the end they just grew apart There wasn’t much I didn’t like about this book.

     In this book I learned what it’s like to live in a poorer area. Also I learned what it’s like to be more independent and to learn to take care of yourself. 

Then There Were None
Michael

Then There Were None is an outstanding book filled with mystery  and suspense. This was the first mystery I’ve ever read and Agatha Christie sure got me inspired to read more mysteries. And Then There Were None  was confusing first but later on it had me at the edge of my seat.

          I love how Agatha Christie makes you deeply suspect someone and then that person is killed. One thing that Agatha Christie used to make me read on and on is suspense.

            I strongly suggest this book to anyone at the ages twelve and up for the slight difficulties.

They Never Came Home
Review by Elyse
"I want to know who I am!" This is from the book called They Never Came Home by Lois Duncan. I loved this book. Lois Duncan is a great author. She writes with such detail and creativity. I also like how she writes with lots of suspense so that the reader can’t stop reading.

In New Mexico, Joan’s (eighteen years old, tall, main character) boyfriend, Dan Cotwell (eighteen years old, tall, broad-shouldered, husky), and Joan’s brother, Larry (seventeen years old, blond hair), are missing. They were on a camping trip and never came home. People assume they are dead. Or are they? Larry owes money and now Joan has to pay it. Did Larry run away with the money?

I did not have a favorite part because the whole book was great. I recommend this to boys and girls, age ten and up. This 183-page book is a wonderful thriller. This was one of the best books I have ever read. I absolutely love this book. I especially like it because I like action and suspense and this book has a lot. It gets interesting when Dan and Larry are missing. It leaves the reader wondering if Larry and Dan are alive. What makes it more exciting, is that Larry owes money and so Joan has to take Larry’s old job, selling jewelry from Mexico, to pay it back. But what Joan doesn’t know, is that she isn’t just bringing in jewelry to the states. To make more suspense, two new characters, Lance and Dave Carter, come into the story, and the reader wants to know how these characters fit into the story.

This book is extremely suspenseful. I want to know if Dan and Larry are still alive. I also want to know who Dave and Lance Carter are. The whole book makes it suspenseful. Every time something happens, it just builds up more and more suspense. It really hooks the reader in.

One of my favorite passages is on page 149. " ‘I don’t believe anything, not a darned thing you’ve been saying.’ Dave’s voice was controlled, but he knew that his rising rage must show on his face, for the other boy was watching him nervously, his own face drained of color. ‘I think you’re a smooth, practiced, angel-faced liar! I want to see some identification! I want to know who I am! I want to know the truth! I’m bigger than you are Lance, a whole lot bigger, and so help me, I’m going to get the truth if it means knocking you all the way across the room! What kind of game are you playing? I want to know, and I want to know now!’ "

I love this passage because it makes me wonder and waiting. It makes me clueless, trying to find out who they are. It makes me wonder if Dave and Lance might be Dan and Larry. Who knows. This passage speeds the story up. Now the book gets really suspenseful, just wondering.

Will Larry and Dan ever be found? What is Joan really bringing into the states? To find out, read this book, where when they don’t come home, everything goes haywire. Read They Never Came Home because I know you will like it.

The Thief Lord
Ben

Prosper and Bo become orphans when their mother dies. Their aunt takes them into her custody. Even though she won’t admit it she only took Prosper in because Bo is so attached to his older brother. She thinks Bo has an angel face and that is the only way she has ever thought about him. Prosper and Bo have always hated their aunt, so when she gains their custody they have only one thing on their MINDS, ESCAPE… to Venice!

They make it safely to venice and while wondering the streets wondering what to do now that they are here when Hornet a girl named for her somewhat pointy hair finds them. She takes them to a hideout  in an old abandoned movie theatre where her and three other orphans live off of the Thief Lord’s loot and by stealing from tourists.

This book is a great mystery that constantly keeps you thinking. It's great for middle school kids, boy of girl.

The whole book is excellent the author portrays Venice very well with a lot of detail and specifics. The characters have very personalized traits and are very clear.

The only thing I didn’t like was that some of the speaking is done in Italian and you have to go to the back of the book to look it up. 

Children can relate to this book because we are sly and at some point don’t like the way adults run the world we live in.

Things Not Seen           

Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements is about a boy named Bobby who goes invisible and has adventures seeing what it’s like not to be seen.  I was actually surprised that I liked it.  I like reading about things in real life and what I like about this book is that the adventures he goes through are real.  I also like how the author makes both you and the characters have fear for what’s coming next.  Like in the library when Bobby was helping a girl with her computer with out her even knowing he was there.  When he shouted because she accidentally rolled over his toe with her chair I thought she and all the other people in the room knew he was there. 

            I also like the characters in this story because they are described so well.  Automatically I know what they like, what they don’t like, what they like to do and what their personalities are like.

            Even though I like the characters and their personalities one thing I don’t like about Things Not Seen is I can’t relate to any of them.  I like to be able to relate to the characters because I can know what they’re feeling since I’ve felt that way before.  I also think it is more exciting and it is easier to understand and read.

            The type of reader I think would enjoy this book most is a person who likes to read fiction.  A person who likes made up plots, but who also likes characters with real problems.  I don’t think people who like reading about history would like this book very much because it talks about a lot of modern technology and it takes place in recent times.  I also think people who like science fiction would like this book.

            One important thing I learned about reading this book is live one day at a time.  Don’t think or worry about what’s going to happen tomorrow until today is over.  I also learned not to take things for granted because accidents can happen to some one or something you love in an instant.  And if you were taking that person or object for granted it will make you feel ten times worse than if you weren’t.

Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements is about a boy named Bobby who goes invisible and has adventures seeing what it’s like not to be seen.  I was actually surprised that I liked it.  I like reading about things in real life and what I like about this book is that the adventures he goes through are real.  I also like how the author makes both you and the characters have fear for what’s coming next.  Like in the library when Bobby was helping a girl with her computer with out her even knowing he was there.  When he shouted because she accidentally rolled over his toe with her chair I thought she and all the other people in the room knew he was there. 

            I also like the characters in this story because they are described so well.  Automatically I know what they like, what they don’t like, what they like to do and what their personalities are like.

            Even though I like the characters and their personalities one thing I don’t like about Things Not Seen is I can’t relate to any of them.  I like to be able to relate to the characters because I can know what they’re feeling since I’ve felt that way before.  I also think it is more exciting and it is easier to understand and read.

            The type of reader I think would enjoy this book most is a person who likes to read fiction.  A person who likes made up plots, but who also likes characters with real problems.  I don’t think people who like reading about history would like this book very much because it talks about a lot of modern technology and it takes place in recent times.  I also think people who like science fiction would like this book.

            One important thing I learned about reading this book is live one day at a time.  Don’t think or worry about what’s going to happen tomorrow until today is over.  I also learned not to take things for granted because accidents can happen to some one or something you love in an instant.  And if you were taking that person or object for granted it will make you feel ten times worse than if you weren’t.

Three Musketeers||
Peter

The Three Musketeers is a classic. Although the book was a bridged, it is impossible not to like.

The book is really a few stories in one. They talk about a few missions, and primarily following D’artagan. D’artagan is a young man who travels to become one of the few, the proud, the musketeers. He becomes friends with the three musketeers and they help him on some of the missions.

A problem with the book is that since it’s a bridged it leaves out a lot of information in the middle. At some points I felt like I was reading a book written by someone our age.

If someone asked me about it I’d say buy the real one… Borrow the a bridged.

The book Trickser by Laurie Halse Anderson is about horse named Trickster, and a boy named David along with his close friends, who help out at a veterinarian clinic. When Mr. Quinn, owner of the popular Quinn Stables, makes an emergency stop at the clinic, every one worries because there was a big dent in the horse trailer he was carrying. He explained to everyone that he had been hit on the highway, while he was making his way home from picking up Trickster. He thought that he should go right to the clinic to make sure that Trickster was okay. When Trickster was released Dr. Mac, the head veterinarian at the clinic, told Mr. Quinn that Trickster had hurt his front leg and would need some rest.

David and his friends helped out for a week at the stables because Mr. Quinn was short handed and need some help. In the middle of the week Trickster and some other horses became sick because they had eaten blister beetles. Blister beetles are insects that live in hay bales. If horse happens to eat them they would get blisters in their throats and could also possibly die from it.

Laurie Halse Anderson kept the story moving along quickly. She didn’t make it confusing but she kept up the pace. Laurie Halse Anderson would keep a lot of suspense at the end of the chapter so that you would want to keep on reading. The thing I like most about it is that it is about a kid who loves horses. I’m a kid who loves horses also, so I really connected with what was going on. I would recommend this book to boys and girls from ages ten- fourteen. I think those would be appropriate ages because the characters in the book are all about those ages so kids at those ages will understand what is going on better. If you read this book you will get to see how David and his friends all solve problems together!

A Trip to Middle Earth
Carlo

Have you ever wondered that there is more to the Earth than meets the eye? J.R.R. Tolkien, an author, thought so. He created a world of his own called “Middle Earth” and used it in a series of books such as The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings  trilogy. The last book in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Return of the King, is a great book about Tolkien’s “Middle Earth”. It’s full of action and suspense that will blow your mind.

The amount of action in this book will knock the reader off their feet. The main characters in this book, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimili embark on a journey to the mountain of the dead where the souls of Earth live. Many obstacles stand in their path that must be removed with a sword. Nothing will stop these three, even if the odds are slim. Many battles are raging in this book. There is a huge fight scene between the last alliance of men and elves against orcs that will determine the fate of “Middle Earth” forever.

Suspense is something Tolkien favored in this book. Tolkien will make the reader keep going with all the cliffhangers and last-minute saves in this story. There are a series of events in this book were the reader will think all is lost, and then someone pulls another trick out of the hat. While reading, you should reflect back on the things that happened previously, you never know what will come back to greet you.

This is a great book that should be read. I recommend this book to those who can understand an extensive vocabulary (lots of confusing words in the book) and those who have read the previous books in the series. The Return of the King is an action filled adventure with suspense and should be checked out. I guarantee it will pull you in. 

True Ghost Stories  
John                                                                               

I have recently read a book by the name of True Ghost Stories  by Terry Deary.  I recommend this book for ages 8 and up. This is a good  book because it is scary. True Ghost Stories contains a variety of short  stories.  Every story has scary plots which are filled with great details giving you the feeling that you are there.

One short story that I feel that I was there is called “The Flying Dutch Man.”  It is a short story about a ship and how the ocean waves, air and climate affect a ship.  The way Terry Deary described the details is great. I felt like I was a passenger on board during a dark and stormy night.  He writes the stories in a way that you can picture what is happening and  places you in the middle of the story.

All the short stories have drama. They are filled with suspense and you feel a ghostly feeling as if a ghost is sneaking up on you. 

When you finish this book, you want to read another ghost story.    

I also liked that Lois Duncan gives small clues and hints along the way, but you don’t realize until the end. If you like solving mysteries, and suspenseful moments, then this is the book for you.