Book Review by Cody

Darth Paper Strikes Back

An Origami Yoda Book (second in the series)

Published in 2011 by Harry N. Abrams

176 Pages

Ages 8 and Up

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars!

Summary

      This book is a case file to save Dwight/Origami Yoda. I’ll tell you why later.

      It all started in the library at the beginning of the school year when Harvey had just introduced Darth Paper. Darth Paper is very evil and is trying to prove that Origami Yoda is a fraud. Harvey is trying to prove that Origami Yoda is a fraud too- FYI he is an evil guy.

      Dwight might get suspended from McQuarrie Middle School because he got in a fight in book one and got the blame for it. He also goes to in-school suspension a lot. If he gets suspended again, he might be sent to a school called CREF (the Correctional and Remedial Education Facility) for the rest of the school year. CREF is for kids who need special help with behavior.

      Now Tommy, who narrates the story, is going around the school and asking everybody how Dwight and Origami Yoda helped them. Most of the chapters make a lot of sense, but some of them are confusing.  It's confusing because they skip around really fast. I needed to reread some parts over because they didn’t make much sense at first.

      The chapters usually start out as “Dear School Board”.  A lot of different people talk about their problem, and how Origami Yoda saved the day(or week, or month).

      After that is the ending. I won’t tell you about that because then you wouldn’t read the book.

One theme of Darth Paper Strikes Back is good vs evil.  Origami Yoda, Tommy, Kellen, Dwight's other friends, Darth Paper and Harvey have been fighting all year because Harvey is trying to prove that Origami Yoda is a fraud. Another theme is teamwork. Tommy and other kids are using teamwork to prove that Dwight is a good kid.

My Opinion

      My opinion is that I think this book is one of the best books I’ve read. This book is for ages 8 and up. I think if you’re interested in sarcastic, interesting, and crazy books. This should be at the top of the list.

Visit Tom Angleberger's web page for more info about the Origami Yoda Series

Here is a book trailer

A Student Review of Jeremy Bender vs the Cupcake Cadets

 

  Review by Isabelle 

Jeremy Bender and the Cupcake Cadets

By Eric Luper

Ages 9-12

Publisher: Balzer + Bray                   

Copyright 2011

240 pages

                              

  

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars

When six grade boy, Jeremy Bender, damages his father’s prized Chris Craft boat with some grape soda he has to somehow get money to fix it.  It cost about $475 and he does not have enough to pay for the repairs. He and his best friend, Slater, have to find a way to get the money.  When they saw a poster that you could win $500 by winning a model boat race Jeremy and Slater got super excited until they saw that it is for Cupcake Cadets ONLY( Cupcake Cadets is a club for girls). Jeremy tries to convince Slater to join Cupcake Cadets, but Slater says it is a bad idea.

When they decide to try it, they sneak into Ruthie’s room and change into some cupcake cadet uniforms from Jeremy’s sister Ruthie because she was a Cupcake Cadet a long time ago.

They do not want anyone to find out they are boys because they won’t be able to try to win the money. 

They end up making a lot of messes and mistakes. One of their mistakes is when they wanted to make some pie to earn a badge but it turns out to be a catastrophe. When they bring it to the next meeting everyone was throwing up and saying it was terrible because it was as hard as a rock. When they go camping there are three girls to a tent but no one wants to sleep with them. All the girls made a deal with Margaret that they will sell the rest of her cupcakes if she shares a tent with Jenna and Samantha (Jeremy and Slater). 

     I will tell you it is a great book to read. I won’t tell you the ending though. If you like adventures I think you would love this book as much as I do. I hope you enjoy it too!  :)

Visit Eric Luper's Web page

Here is a book trailer for Jeremy Bender vs the Cupcake Cadets.

Juniper Berry, A Student Review

 

Reviewed by Hannah

Juniper Berry 

Author: M.P Kozlowsky
Published by Harper Collins
Publishing Date:  4/26/11
227 Pages
A Maine Student Book Award Book 2012-2013

Summary

Juniper Berry is a story about an eleven year old girl named Juniper. She lives with her dog Kitty and her parents. Her parents are HUGE movie stars and are very rich. They live in a huge mansion with Juniper and her dog. One of the many things that confuses Juniper is that her parents were never this famous. Her family used to be very kind and happy. Now her parents hardly even notice that Juniper is there. Juniper is dying for excitement and someone to play with [besides her dog]. Her mother and father have been acting very strange lately. I guess you would say more to themselves, but Juniper is determined to find out what changed their personalities.

    

     One day she is playing in the rain with Kitty, when Kitty finds a small boy about Juniper's age on their lawn. Juniper is surprised that there was another person living near her as a neighbor since Juniper has never been outside of the property gates. Juniper is worried for the boy because he is just standing there looking lost and lonely in the cold pouring rain. She finds out that his name is Giles, and why he is out in the pouring rain. He seems to have the same problem Juniper has about their parents. Together they meet a person possibly over hundreds of years old and together they find out what has happened to the parents. They go underground to a secret tunnel and almost do not live because of a certain person. Juniper and Giles have many adventures.

     This book made me very happy and sad at times. I believe that every book has a good ending. I think the theme in Juniper Berry is friendship and adventure. Friendship because Juniper learns how important it is to have a friend and someone who is always there for you. Adventure because Juniper and Giles go on many adventures together. I absolutely LOVED Juniper Berry and I think you will too.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? May 27, 2013

Please visit the amazing blog: Teach Mentor Texts 

who host this terrific meme each week. 

I have been too busy to post for several weeks.  Here are a few of the books I have read. Please visit my Goodreads page for more.

Picture Books-Fiction

A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead

Pete the Cat and His Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin 

The Invisible String by Patrice Karst

 

Nonfiction 

Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet

Giant Squid by Mary M. Cerullo

The Mighty Mars Rover by Elizabeth Rusch

Story of the Titanic by Steve Noon

Graphic Novel

Gabby and Gator by James Burks

Middle Grade Novels

Fenway Fever by John H. Ritter

Prairie Evers by Ellen Airgood

Little Dog, Lost by Marion Dane Bauer

Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine

 

Currently Listening

Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz

I tried to read it, but had difficulty getting into it. 

 Listening seems to be going better, but it is still creepy to me. 

Currently Reading

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu

A Student Review of Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz

Reviewed by Zak

Stormbreaker

by Anthony Horowitz

Published in 2000 by Scholastic Inc 

192 Pages 

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars!

My Summary

This book takes place in London, in the United Kingdom.

The main characters in this book are: Alex Rider, Alan Blunt, Mrs. Jones, and Ian Rider. Alex Rider is a regular school boy, until one day his uncle gets killed. His uncle worked in a bank in London, so Alex wanted to go into his uncle’s office to find out how he died. But, what he didn’t know was... he had people watching him. Afterwards, he ended up being hired for the M16 special operations center which is a spy agency.  Alex was surprised and reluctant to work with M16.  He just wanted to be regular kid.  They coerced him through blackmail and he was sent on his first mission the day after. There were these new “supercomputers” being released soon. M16 knew something suspicious was going on, so they sent Alex out to test out the new computers.

Some amazing, awesome things happen after that, but the only way to find out is to read the book!

I liked this book because I love action-packed, fast-paced, survival sort of books!  It made me feel a mixture of emotions at one time. I was happy or excited at some parts, then scared, and teary at other parts.  My opinion of the book is... well, this is probably my favorite series I’ve ever read so far.

The Alex Rider series IS AN AWESOME SERIES, AND YOU SHOULD TOTALLY READ IT!!!!     

Visit alexrider.com to learn more about this series. 

Here is a book trailer for Stormbreaker.

 

Check out the movie trailer.

Children's Book Week Giveaway Hop

Thank you to I Am A Reader, Not A Writer,  Kid Lit Frenzy and Mymcbooks for hosting this giveaway event!

It is Children's Book Week!  

This giveaway runs from May 13-19

I am giving away 4 packs of books. 

It is super easy to enter!

Simply comment below telling me which book pack(s) you are interested in winning.

Your name will be entered once with your comment.

Want to enter your name more than once and increase your chances of winning???

Your name will be added again when you comment on any of my previous blog posts (one name added per comment up to 3 times total).

#1 Picture Book Pack (2 books)

Nugget and Fang: Friends Forever? Or Snack Time (hardcover)

by Tammi Sauer

Swirl by Swirl...Spirals in Nature (Hardcover)
by Joyce Sidman

#2 Early Chapter Book Pack (2 books)

Marty McGuire (paperback)
by Kate Messner

 Heidi Heckelbeck Has a Secret (paperback)
by Wanda Coven

#3 Middle Grade Book Pack (3 Books)

One for the Murphys (paperback)
by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Capture the Flag (paperback)
by Kate Messner

 The False Prince (paperback)
by Jennifer A. Nielsen


#4 YA Book Pack (3 books)

The Fault in Our Stars (Hardcover)
by John Green

 Cinder (paperback)
by Marissa Meyer

See You at Harry's (paperback)
by Jo Knowles

Remember, comment below indicating which pack(s) you would like to win. 
Comment on up to 3 other posts to increase your chances. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Please visit the blogs listed below to enter more giveaways! 

A Student Review of One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

One for the Murphys
Reviewed by Tabetha

 By Lynda Mullaly Hunt

244 pages

Published by Nancy Paulsen Books (Penguin Group for Young Readers)

May, 2012

Maine Student Book Award Novel

A Tassey Walden Award Winner

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars!

This is a true literary master piece! There could be a lot of different themes to this book so no matter what themes you tend to like I think there is something for you.

The story begins when Carley is on her way to a foster family. When she arrives you are introduced To three new characters. First, Mrs. Murphy who is friendly, and perky who has a secret that she is keeping from Carley. Daniel, the oldest son, is moody and rude towards Carley until she teaches him about basketball. Adam and Michael Eric who are both young. Adam is eight. Michael Eric is four. Carley ends up defending them both from the neighborhood bully. Then, something bad happens to Michael Eric just before a holiday.

Carley has to go to a new school where she meets Tony. At first, they are enemies, but later Tony is best friends with Carley.

Then there is Mr. Murphy. He is hard for Carley to trust, or even get along with, but at the end Carley understands him, with a little help from Tony.

Throughout the story, there is a lot drama going on. For instance when the police come over to investigate Carley’s step father. Or when she goes to see her mother and she tells her something she could never believe.

This is truly an unforgettable tale. You have to read One for the Murphys!     

Check out this book trailer.

A Student Review of Juniper Berry

  Reviewed by Mia 

Author: M.P Kozlowsky
Published by Harper Collins
Publishing Date:  4/26/11
227 Pages
A Maine Student Book Award Book 2012-2013
    
Summary
Juniper Berry is a girl who has parents that do not really care about her anymore.  Juniper remembers when she was younger, before her parents became famous. Her parents never acted like this. Now, her parents are always yelling at her or ignoring her. Juniper is sad, very sad. One day Juniper goes out to play a game with her dog, Kitty. Kitty went into the woods to a very suspicious looking tree. That is where she meets a boy named Giles who is having the same problem with his parents.
    Giles told Juniper that he followed his parents into the woods to this very tree. They talked about why they might be going there and Juniper started to investigate.
     That night Juniper heard her parents get up out of bed, so she got up with them. She followed them down to the same tree. Then Juniper saw them sucking in the air of a balloon and disappearing down into the tree. She thought this was very strange.
    One thing Juniper noticed was that there was a black raven at that tree every time she went to it. I do not want to spoil the ending, but I will tell you some important events in the story. 

    In the Middle of the story Juniper finds a way into the tree with Giles. Also, they found some very mysterious letters that Juniper thinks her father wrote.
     Also in the tree lives Skeksyl, a very mean and persuasive person. He is very sly and sneaky and lives off of souls. The tree is also where she meets the man who makes the balloons and where she spies on her parents.
    Juniper wants her parents to care about her again and she wants them to notice her.  But her parents have been brainwashed into wanting to be famous by magical balloons and a mysterious, old man. Now they only care about their jobs. She needs to use teamwork to get her parents back to normal.
     One theme in this story is teamwork because Giles and Juniper need to work to save their parents and to get them back to normal. Another theme in this story is friendship because along the way, in between all of this confusion, Juniper and Giles form a friendship.
    
My Thoughts
    I rate this story 5/5 stars because I think it is absolutely outstanding. I could not put it down. This book is action packed and full of adventure.  It is written with excellent descriptions that make you feel sad, mad and happy.     
I think boys and girls ages 9-12 would enjoy this book. Also if you like scary, suspenseful stories this is definitely the book for you.
I hope you like Juniper Berry! 

Check out the book trailer.