August 26th, 2010 by fjacksonem
Have you ever pictured living a life as a high school dropout whose only job is working in a grocery store? Well, in the novel
THE CONTENDER by Robert Lipsyte, this is the life of a 17 year old African American named Alfred Brooks. Alfred has no parents and is living with his sweet old Aunt Pearl and her three daughters Charlene, Sandra, and Paula. His best friend James Mosley is sinking further and further into drug addiction. One day when Alfred is beat up by a gang, he decides to go up to Donatelli’s Gym and become a champion boxer. Brooks goes through a lot of training in order to become a hardcore boxer. He wakes up every morning and goes for a long run. Then after his job, he goes and works out at the gym. After a while of training, Alfred quits but then he joins the gym again and this time he got to be a real boxer. While training in the gym, Alfred makes a lot of new friends, Mr. Vito Donatelli, Henry Johnson, Bill Witherspoon (Spoon), Dr.Corey, Horace Marshall Davenport, Jr. (Jelly Belly), Angel, Jose, and Bud Martin. Brooks also has some inspiration from his boss, Lou Epstein, who once was a fighter called “Lightning Lou Epp”.
This amazing novel was a definite inspiration and this book will be loved by all you realistic fiction lovers out there. I would personally rate this book as a nine on a scale of one to ten. I think this will be most suitable for boys ages 10-18 and I am sure a couple girls like me will enjoy this book too.
Annet Kuruvilla
Grade 8
Woodland Middle School
July 14th, 2010 by fjacksonem
Ever moved to a new neighborhood, if you haven’t try
THE SQUEAKY WHEEL by Robert Kimmel Smith.
Mark Baker is losing too many things all because of his parents. He lost his house and has to live in a new apartment in a new neighborhood. He misses his old school and his friends. The new school is tiny, and they eat their lunch in a basement. Mark’s
parents are getting divorced and they say they still love him but not enough to get back together. The thing that worries Mark is that he only gets to see his father on a lousy old Sunday every week. Untill a new friend tells him that ” the squeaky wheel gets the grease”, Mark realizes he will have to fight to get what he wants or life will just get worse. There’s only one problem. Mark has never fought with his parents before. Will he get the courage to say what he wants and get on with his life, or will he just let things get worse than they already are? Read this entertaining and heartwarming story to find
out more!
I recommend this book for people in middle school who is looking for a great book to read!
Riya Shah
Clarke Middle School
Grade 7
April 12th, 2010 by fjacksonem
It’s Pennsylvania or what would become Pennsylvania; it’s the eighteenth century, actually it’s the time of the American Revolution; and it’s Samuel not Brian in the woods with a rifle. This is
WOODS RUNNER, the newest novel by Gary Paulsen.
Samuel, 13, returns from a hunting trip in the surrounding forest near his wilderness home to discover death and destruction in place of the settlement he lived with his parents. As he circled the community, Samuel finds clues that his parents may still be alive and taken as prisoners. There had been rumors of war with the British, but this was taking place in the cities and towns far from the frontier, until now.
Now Samuel begins his quest to save his parents. Along the way he meets friends and enemies. He also takes great strides toward his manhood.
Gary Paulsen tells horrible truths frequently forgotten in the story of the American Revolution. Before each chapter Mr. Paulsen offers historical explanations necessary for the reader to fully enjoy this tale.
I RECOMMEND THIS TITLE FOR YOUNG TEENS AND TWEENS IN GRADES 6 THROUGH 8. IT WILL MAKE A GREAT READ FOR YOUR HISTORICAL FICTION BOOK REPORT.
Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
December 31st, 2009 by fjacksonem
THE OUTSIDERS by S. E. Hinton is a great adventure book. Ponyboy Curtis is only fourteen years old and he is stuck in a gang called the Greasers. Ponyboy’s parents have died recently, so he lives with his older brothers Darry and Sodapop Curtis. Darry is the oldest member in the gang and also the strongest. The greasers are poor and get their name from the hair grease in their hair. But the Greasers aren’t the only gang in town. There are also the Soc’s, who live on the other side of town. The Soc’s are spoiled brats who wear madras shirts and drive expensive Mustangs. They had no business with the Greasers until they decided to jump Johnny and nearly jumped Ponyboy. Johnny is the gangs pet and best friends with Ponyboy and hoodlum Dally Winston, who is too ” tuff ” for anyone. The story takes a big twist from just small fights between the gang when Johnny accidentally kills a Soc for trying to drown Ponyboy. Now with both gangs getting ready for a big ” rumble ” and Johnny and Ponyboy on the run from the police what will happen to the Soc’s and Greasers?
I RECOMMEND THIS BOK FOR READERS WHO LOVE MYSTERY AND ADVENTURE BOOKS.
Yash Shah
W. Tresper Clarke Middle School
Grade 8
December 1st, 2009 by fjacksonem
On November 18th the National Book Foundation will annouced the winner of this year’s best book in young people’s literature. I have read all five finalists and each one is very special. Here are the finalists.
CHARLES AND EMMA by Deborah Heiligman is a romantic biography between the scientist, Charles Darwin and his wife, Emma. Darwin believed in natural selection and questioned the existence of God, while Emma was extremely religious, but their devotion to one another withstood all their differences.
THIS BIOGRAPHY IS RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 8 AND UP AND EVERYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN HOW A SCIENTIST DEVELOPS A SCIENTIFIC THEORY.
CLAUDETTE COLVIN:TWICE TOWARD JUSTICE by Phillip Hoose tells about the remarkable contribution made by a Montgomery Alabama teenager. More than nine months before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a city bus; Claudette Colvin began her quest for civil rights for all. Not only do you get a picture of the 1950’s in the South, but you get Colvin’s own words making this a compelling primary source.
THIS BIOGRAPHY IS RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES 7 AND UP.
STITCHES: A MEMOIR by David Small recreates his real-life journey, when, at age, 14, he awakes from a harmless operation and discovers he is a virtual mute. Small was never told he had cancer, and as an adult he tells his story through cartoon art with limited text. This memoir of the late 1950’s and early 1960’s is a graphic novel.
THIS GRAPHIC NOVEL IS RECOMMENDED FOR HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS AND SENIORS AND ADULTS.
LIPS TOUCH: THREE TIMES is a collection of three stories by Laini Taylor and illustrated by Jim De Bartolo. Each story, Goblin Fruit, Spicy Little Curses as These, and Hatchling, is about the Kiss and each story has elements of the supernatural. .
THIS SELECTION IS RECOMMENDED FOR HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS AND SENIORS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
JUMPED by Rita Williams-Garcia writes about three teenage girls from New York City. The lives of Leticia, Dominique, and Trina are irrevocably intertwined through the course of one day in an urban high school after Leticia overhears Dominique’s plans to beat up Trina and must decide whether or not to get involved.
THIS BOOK IS RECOMMENDED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN GRADES 8 TO 12 WHO LIKE URBAN LITERATURE.
AND THE WINNER IS ……. CLAUDETTE COLVIN:TWICE TOWARD JUSTICE. Ms. Colvin and author, Phillip Hoose accepted the award.
October 19th, 2009 by fjacksonem
Many years ago I traveled to Australia. I saw the cities; I saw the outback; but never did I see suburbs similar to one in Shaun Tan’s
TALES FROM OUTER SUBURBIA. Fifteen illustrated tales makes the mundane suburban world into a magical place. It begins with the water buffalo who sits in an abandoned lot pointing children in the right direction. There is the foreign exhange student, Eric, a tiny leaf-like creature, with a rather large sense of wonder. And there is the Expedition of two brothers; each brothers wonders if the map of their hometown really ends in nothing.
Each story is illustrated by dazzling images to delight fantasy and science fiction fans. These stories are highly entertaining and anyone will read through this short book in just one sitting.
I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR GRAPHIC FANS, FOR FANTASY FANS, AND FOR SCI FI FANS. It is a treasure to behold.
Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
August 26th, 2009 by fjacksonem
For everyone who has read Margaret Peterson Haddix’s book,
FOUND, the first book in
THE MISSING series and have waited patiently to find out what happened to Jonah, his sister, Katherine, and his friend, Chip. The answers can be found in Haddix’s
SENT.
We left the three young people along with a fourth, Alex, leaving the cave as time travelers. They were headed to the fifteenth century. It seems Chip and Alex were the young princes imprisoned in the Tower of London by their uncle the Duke of Gloucester or King Richard the Third of England. Eventhough Uncle Richard was third in line to be king; he wanted the throne for himself, so there was a plan to murder the young princes. This was the reason the young princes were saved and taken to the 21st Century. Was it possible Chip and Alex were being sent back to be murdered or can they be saved? What is going to happen to Jonah and Katherine, since they do not belong in the fifteenth century? The young people must rely on the Time Travelers from the future, but can these people from the future be trusted?
Since there is an element of historical accuracy, we know that no one really knows what happened to the two princes, but our author tells a pretty good tale.
I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO EVERYONE WHO READ THE FIRST BOOK, IS INTERESTED IN ENGLISH HISTORY, AND IS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services
August 1st, 2009 by fjacksonem
The book
DURANGO STREET by Frank Bonham is a great read for all readers. In this book Rufus Henry was sent to detention camp because he was charged for grand theft auto. After many months Rufus is realesed from the camp and is let off in parole. According to Rufus’s parole he must not join a gang under any circumstances. On the first day Rufus encounters a gang called the Gassers because his sister had told the police information about them. Now Rufus already has a gang after him. Now Rufus has no choice but to violate his parole, and look for a join a gang so he can have protection from the Gassers. The next day Rufus goes to meet his friend Walter Gibson and his gang the Moors. Walter Gibson is Rufus’s friend from the detention camp. When Rufus asks the gang leader Bantu to join, Bantu hesitates. After some minutes of tough decisions Bantu lets Rufus join the Moors. Will Rufus be able to survive in the projecks? Find out by reading Durango street.
I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR READER WHO LOVE ACTION AND SUSPENSE I ALSO RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR READERS ENTERING GRADES EIGHT THROUGH TWELVE.
Yash Shah
W. Tresper Clarke Middle School
Grade 8
July 28th, 2009 by fjacksonem
YELLOW FLAG is one of many of Robert Lipsyte’s successful novels. It focuses on something all teenagers can identify with
making choices. The main character, Kyle is forced to put on the helmet and race in place of his brother Kris, who is injured after a win by a spiteful runner up. Coming from a family rich in racing history, Kyle, the quiet trumpet player, is forced to chose between his quintet, the girl of his dreams, the gig of his life, and between following in his family’s footsteps, and another girl of his dreams. The story continues when Kris doesn’t recover in time to race, so Kyle chooses to race for the #12 team instead of practice for the quintet, which he feels he is more out of place there. After gaining his family a major sponsor, he is asked to join the team as a second car on the circuit, #12A. With this offer on the table, he needs to decide where his final loyalties lie, with his family, or with his band.
I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR TEENAGE GUYS AND ANYONE WHO ENJOYS RACING. FOR ME, THE BOOK READ FAST AND IT WAS HARD TO PUT DOWN AFTER THE FIRST FEW CHAPTERS. THE AGE GROUP I BELIEVE WOULD ENJOY THE BOOK THE MOST ARE GUYS (OR GIRLS) RANGING FROM THE EIGHTH GRADE TO THE TENTH GRADE.
Andrew Scarpitta
Chaminade High School
12th grade
May 8th, 2009 by fjacksonem
Borat of Kazakhstan move over and meet Vospop Vsklzwczdztwczky of Slobovia in David Ives’
VOSS: HOW I COME TO AMERICA AND AM HERO, MOSTLY. Voss, 15, writes very funny letters to his friend, Meero back in Slobovia, about his trip to and life in America.
It all begins when Voss, his father, Bogdown, and his uncle, Shpoot, smuggle themselves onto a cargo ship bound for the good old USA in a crate of imitation Cheez Puffs. The crate is owned by Slobovia’s most notorious gangster who is not happy to have crate load of crumbs and wants compensation.
In America Voss discovers the Slobovian section of the city (The author doesn’t specify which city.) is poor, rundown and filled with unhappy Slobovians. Not discouraged by his surroundings Voss goes in search of job to find the American dream, and his job is to babysit a rich man’s daughter and brunch.
Voss finds living in America doesn’t go smoothly.When his father becomes ill, he must be taken to hospital. He learns that not all hospitals care for their patients and must find a way to rescue Bogdown. This part is the AM HERO, MOSTLY.
The letters, or as Voss writes “ladders”, chronicles his misadventures and are very funny. I really enjoyed the story and found it was a very fast read. Sometimes I found myself reading the dialogue out loud, because Voss pronounciation of the English language is as funny to hear as it is to read.
But just like Borat I feel this might not be appropriate for tweens and younger teens, so
I REALLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS AND SENIORS. YOU, TOO, WILL LAUGH OUT LOUD.
Mrs. Jackson
Head of Young Adult Services