7th Grade Summer Reading Part 2
Elsewhere
Liz (the main character) was riding her bike to the mall to meet with her best friend, Zoey. While she’s riding she comes to a stoplight but thinks it’s green. She keeps riding, then, BAM! She gets hit and dies.
Now that she’s dead, she’s on a boat to go to “Elsewhere” (it’s basically afterlife). She didn’t actually notice she was dead until she went to the OD (observation deck) and saw her own funeral.
She has now arrived in Elsewhere and meets her Grandma Betty who died before Liz was born. Fun fact, in Elsewhere you get younger, so Betty looked pretty young (about 30 to 40). Liz missed being alive very much, so she went to the OD every night to see what was happening. She knew there was a way to talk to people on Earth, so she tried but got into trouble. Liz met Owen who she fell in love with (he also was the guy who gave her a warning for trying to talk to people on Earth). She also stopped going to the OD, got an acclimation (a job), and realized to be happy and grateful for the people who is surrounding her in Elsewhere.
A quote “I told you, you could do it if you put your mind to it.” This quote has belief in it since you have to believe and do what’s right for you. --ST
Dark Sons by Nikki Grimes
Dark Sons is a parable between Ishmael, the son of Abraham, and a modern teenager name Sam. In Ishmael’s life, the birth of his brother Isaac is causing a distance between him, and his father, because there is a prophecy about Isaac. In Sam’s world, his father left him, and his mother for another women. This already has Sam questioning life itself, but when his father has a child with that other woman, Sam has to watch his most treasured memories happen to his new brother, David. This book is quite an interesting change from normal books, it doesn’t focus on a strict plot, a strict outcome or anything like that, it is more about the psychology of our two protagonists, and what the characters around them, mean to them. In both stories, Ishmael and Sam both deeply respect their mother(s). For Ishmael, his mother was thrown at his father, because before Abraham conceived with Ishmael’s mother, he was with a women named Sarah, and one day, Sarah and Abraham were walking through Egypt, and a Pharaoh marveled at Sarah’s beauty, so the Pharaoh gave Sarah, and Abraham his daughter. Basically, Abraham has two wives, ultimate playa’. On Sam’s end, he respected his mother because after his father left, she had to work and work and work, and that made Sam also cook, and become more productive around the house. Not only that, but Sam’s mother, is his emotional dam, and he, hers. But above all, what this book masters… is The Grey Area. Looking in terms of black and white, Sam and Ishmael are the protagonists, and Abraham, and Sam’s father are the antagonists. But how it actually works, is the two fathers cause the sons pain, but the sons love them so much, that the fathers aren’t the bad guys, there the unattainable goals to our main characters. The same thing is portray with David and Isaac as well, more so David, but still.
I’d say the theme of this book is acceptance. Obviously because of the emotional mountains the sons have to trek, but because of the ending. At the end, Sam reads the Bible, and happens to read the part about Ishmael, and says to himself, “You survived, and so will I.” I think the book was perfect. It was a very natural, and real experience. And as a sidenote, I like how the majority of the book is focused on Sam, instead of it switching all the time. I give Dark Sons a 10 out of 10 --DM
Dark Sons by Nikki Grimes
“Dad’s as gone as ever, still remarried with a kid who’s half my brother.” The two main characters are Sam and Ishmael. This book takes place in Brooklyn and a dessert. The quote at the beginning is important to the story because the whole book never would’ve happened if Ishmael and Sam’s dad’s had left them and their mothers for different women.
This book is about two different characters named Ishmael and Sam, who both have the same problem. Both of their fathers left them and their mothers for different women. Both of their mother’s are very sad and don’t even know what to do anymore. Both Ishmael and Sam are mad at their dad's for putting them in this situation and all of a sudden just leaving them like that. Their dad’s both had kids with their new wives and Ishmael and Sam got jealous of them. The only difference is that Ishmael’s story takes place in the older days and Sam’s story takes place in the present day’s.
I liked Sam’s story better than Ishmael’s story because it happened in the present time so it felt more relatable. Something that I liked about Dark Sons was that it didn’t have a perfect, fixed ending. The ending was realistic and not everything ended happy. Ishmael and his mother were sent away from where they lived and Sam’s dad moved to LA with his wife and baby. I don’t like it when authors make the ending all better, because for some stories, that isn’t realistic. –LL
Fire from the Rock
It was 1957, and the governor of Arkansas wanted to integrate Central High School. A lot of colored people were scared since most white folks didn’t like colored and were not treating them right.
Sylvia Patterson (the main character) was a great student at school. Her teacher thought Sylvia would be a good student to integrate schools, since Sylvia has good grades, doesn’t get into trouble and is responsible. Sylvia’s parents were at first concerned if they should let Sylvia integrate since it could be dangerous since there could be fights or Sylvia could be picked on, etc. But they knew Sylvia was good for the job, so they let her. There were so many kids who were going to integrate schools. So the white folks got to decide who. People didn’t want to do it. Some people quit and some people kept trying. Sylvia quit because she knew the people who would integrate were the right ones, she just didn’t think it was her. She is brave for at least trying to integrate, but she didn’t feel right doing it, and didn’t want a lot of pressure.
A quote “Do you think they’re scared like we are?” You have to be brave at all times since others might be scared too, so pick up those people and show them how to be brave. –ST
Code Orange
Mitty Blake (the main character) had a term paper due soon about a disease. He hadn’t even started it. That day after school he found an envelope that was in his apartment, in the envelope it had some old variola major/smallpox scabs. So then he thought this would be a good topic to do for his essay. He then actually started to research the topic, take notes, and get interested in it.
Two weeks later he starts to feel different, like he might’ve gotten smallpox. He thought about it and thought there’s no way he could’ve gotten it since they got rid of it a long time ago. He also goes onto his computer to see if there is a possibility if he got smallpox (he sniffed the scabs). The people on the internet said there was a very small chance. But thankfully he didn’t have smallpox, but he was very sick and did go to a hospital. Mitty now knows how to study better and to let someone know if something is not right.
A quote “He did not want his parents making this decision for him.” Sometimes you have to make your own decisions even if you’re a kid. The decisions you make yourself, shows that you are responsible. Those decisions will always make a difference. –ST
Anna of Byzantium
Anna is a princess. She is heir to the throne of emperor. She has worked so hard her whole life and one day- well, let’s not get to the good part just yet.
Anna has been taught by her mother to, talk like a princess, walk like a princess, and act like a princess with kindness. Then one day her grandmother takes a sudden interest in her, and all of a sudden, Anna is being taught all those things that her mother taught her but instead of kindness she is being taught how to do them in malice. Anna is power hungry, being a young teenage girl, and is captivated by her cold grandmother. All seems to be going as well is it can be, until Anna breaks out of her spell and speaks out about her grandmother. All though it was the right decision it ends up costing her the throne. Heartbroken she becomes a recluse. All she can think about is how her father was so blinded by his mother that he chose her evil brother over her. Then one day, the day her father dies, it becomes too much for her and her mother. In a moment of desperation, they plan to kill her brother. But of course they get caught. They are both sent into exile and Anna gets sent to a monestary where she writes her story. This story.
I LOOOOOVEEE THIS BOOK!!!! I could barely put it down. Even though it is about a girl and some boys might be put off by that, I’m telling you, YOU HAVE TO READ THISSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! --MFG
Homecoming
The book starts out with a seemingly innocent family trip to the mall, however once they get there their lives will change forever.
The Tillerman kids Dicey, James, Maybeth, and Sammy are suddenly on their own. Their mother has abandonded them or at least forgotten them and the only way to survive is to get to their great aunt’s house. On their journey they stop at a park and meet a kind runaway couple, and all seems pretty swell until Sammy steals money and food. Now the police is after them and so it is imperative that they get to their great aunt Cilla’s house in Bridgeport. But soon another problem arises. When they arrive at the Conneticut River they are completely out of money, so they decide to stay for a couple of nights to take some odd jobs to get some money for the rest of their trip. One night before their planned departure they meet a pair of Yale students who take them in and give them food and a dry and warm place to sleep. It seems as if they would even drive them to their destination. Then James steals 20 dollars. Although Dicey was sure they would kick her and her band of siblings out, their new found friends forgive James’ actions and drive them o the door of their Great Aunt Cilla’s house, where our beloved protagonists learn horrible news. Their Great Aunt is dead. Although this seems like the end of the road for the Tillermans their aunt takes them in. But it turns out that she resents them and thinks that Maybeth is retarded. That is when they meet the Priest. The priest tells them that their mother is in an asylum. He does give them one piece of good news. They have a grandmother that is alive. Immediately Dicey makes plans to go and see her to see if she will take them in. And these plans were supposed to be for Dicey only, but of course the rest of her siblings find out and insist to go. Even though this trip was supposed to be well thought out like with anything their plans go ary. They do get to their grandmother’s eventually, but now the real question is, will she take them in?
I gave this four stars only because I felt as if there wasn’t enough action. I would recommend this to any one with patience because the only way to enjoy this book is to read and wait to see what happens. --MFG
Dark Sons
This story is told from two different perspectives using free verse poetry. One of the voices is Ishmael Who is scared that his father will abandon him for his "promised son". The other voice is Sam a young boy whose father left him and his mother for another woman and another family. While Ishmael is more sad and scared than angry Sam is furious at his father for leaving him. In Ishmael's case his father's first wife told him to go and have a son with one of her maidservants and turns better when she sees that her maidservant is with baby. Because of this Abraham feels conflicted towards his son since his first wife Sarah whom he loves, has never liked Ishmael because she can only feel regret when she looks at him. Even though this is true Abraham always made an effort to connect with his son that is until Sarah has a son. That all changes when sarah has a son.
On the other side of the story Sam is angry at his father for leaving him for a white woman. He seems determined to never see his father again. His mother is sent into a downward spiral because of these events so he sees it as his responsibility to make sure she is all right even though this means making an effort with his father. At first he is skeptical of his father's warm affection towards him and his stepmother's as well. But as the story progresses he opens up little by little until he is comfortable with staying there for weekends at a time. Then His father drops then bomb shell that he is going to have a little brother. Immediately Sam closes himself off again and feels betrayed. At this point in both stories both main characters are feeling very similarly.
Although Abraham now has his "promised son" he still splits his time and love with both children even though this is difficult with Sarah. So in the end when Abraham passes away Ishmael and his younger brother are both treated equally and their father's blessings and inheritance.
Sam at this point in the story is once again upset at his father but eventually since family is family he finds a way to work it out and he learns to love his father once more. Even though it is difficult to see his stepmom and his step brother Sam still makes an effort to heal his two broken families. Throughout this journey Ishmael and Sam's beacon of light has been god so one day Sam reads about Ishmael story and realizes that just like Ishmael got through it sam can to.
I personally would recommend this book to children in younger age groups and grades because even though I found the story somewhat interesting I feel like the reading level was too low for me and therefore I could not enjoy it as much as if it were challenging. –MFG
Tangerine by Edward Bloor
Can you imagine living in a town where schools fall into sinkholes, where lightning strikes at the same time every day, and where there is a fire that never stops burning? Well, that is a place called Tangerine and it is the setting of this book. The main character is a 7th grader named Paul Fisher. You probably want to hear more about what happens in this strange place, Tangerine, so i will tell you in the next paragraph.
In the beginning, Paul and his family move from Texas to Tangerine, Florida. In Tangerine, the school that Paul goes to iss called Lake Windsor Downs Middle School. At school, Paul meets a friend named Joey. One day at school, the ground started to shake and before anybody knew it, the school started falling into a sinkhole. Instead of returning to the same school, Paul and Joey started going to Tangerine Middle School. Paul really liked this school but Joey didn’t because the kids bullied him. Joey decided to go back to their old school. Paul joined the soccer team and he loved it. His soccer team beat all the other teams that they played against. This book has a really good ending but you have to read to find it out.
For the third paragraph I will be talking about my opinion. I really like this book because it had two stories, the one that I talked about and another one that was about Paul’s brother. Another reason I like this book is because it had a lot of plot twists. I thought that I wasn’t going to like this book because it looked really long. Don’t judge a book by its cover. –LL
Banner in the Sky by James Ramsey Ullman
Banner in the Sky, follows a 16-year-old aspiring mountain guide, Rudi Matt. Rudi Matt lives in a village named Kurtal, right next to the Swiss Alps during the 1860s, where being a mountain guide, is considered the highest rank, in any profession. As I said before, Rudi wants to become a mountain guide, but is on course to be in the hotel business, because his emotionally distraught mother, Frau Matt, fears for him, if he were to become a mountain guide. She is afraid, because before Rudi was born, her husband Josef Matt, attempted to climb a mountain, known as… The Citadel. A mountain no one has ever climbed successfully, but Rudi wants to change that. The story begins with Rudi working at his part-time, washing dishes at the hotel for his boss Teo Zurbriggen, an old man who knew Rudi’s father, but was injured during the climb of The Citadel, that ended Josef Matt’s life. Rudi, a boy that cannot be separated from his love of climbing, sneaks out to go climb casually in a spare mountain to study The Citadel. While climbing the mountain, Rudi saves an English mountain guide, Captain Morgan, and they both learn that they’re trying to climb The Citadel. For the first time in his life, his dream seems closer in sight… then ever before.
This book has many themes, determination, comradery, but I feel what the theme is… is growing up. And I know it sounds pretty generic, but let’s analyze exactly what growing up, would entail. Growing up, would mean going through a transition, discovering who you are as a person, and learning your independance. Rudi finds his independence, by pursuing what he wanted to pursue, and discovers the true mountain guide inside him. My thoughts on the book are positive. The beginning was a bit slow, but as the characters were introduced,and events started to occur, it got very interesting. The author does a great job of fleshing out the characters, with simple actions that they do, so it’s a very well written book. Overall, Banner in the Sky deserves, an 8 out of 10. --DM
The Black Heart Crypt by Chris Grabenstein
This book is about a boy named Zach Jennings. Zach (much like the kid in The Sixth Sense), can see dead people, ghosts. But, on Halloween, the spirits inhabit the land of the living, and Zach’s dog Zipper, runs into a graveyard, where the Ickleby’s, a family that hates the Jenning’s for putting their soul’s in that graveyard, rest’s. Zach stumbles onto their grave, and the Ickleby’s become aware, of their against the Jennings, and plan to destroy the Jennings family. Not only that, but Zach’s dead mother that hated him, Susan, has come back from the dead, to give her former family, an evil visit. Looks like Halloween isn’t going to work out for Zach.
As a book, it’s fairly decent. It’s a light-hearted mystery, that has some tonal issues throughout the book that leave a bad taste in your mouth. For instance, there is a point in the book in which Zach is having a memory about his mother, in which she blames him for some sort of disease she had, in my opinion should be a dark memory. But, the tone remains the same, from a time where things were oh so jolly, that it just doesn’t work sometimes. Other than that though, like I said, it’s okay. I give The Black Heart Crypt, a 6 out of 10 --DM
The Greek Gods by Bernard Evslin
The Greek Gods is basically a collection of stories, each one detailing how the gods throughout The Pantheon, came to be, and other things. The book starts off with the two parents of Zeus; Cronos, a god who overthrew his father, and his wife Rhea. Cronos hears a prophecy that says, if his has a son, that son would someday overthrow Cronos, just like Cronos did to his father. So, what Cronos did, was he ate every child that he, and Rhea created. Some of the gods that were eaten, were Hades, Poseidon, and Demeter. After a while Rhea grew weary of this, so she hid their unknowingly last child, that child, was Zeus. Zeus grew up, and fulfilled the prophecy, and Zeus rescued his siblings still trapped within Cronos. Then, Zeus chose to be the god of the sky, Hades ruler of the underworld, Poseidon god of the sea, and Demeter goddess of harvest.
Let’s be honest, the stories in this book are pretty ridiculous. If Cronos wanted to avoid the prophecy, don’t eat the kids, just don’t have any. I know that was the only way to bring in the other gods, but it’s still a plot hole. I don’t think the book’s real goal is to make a good story, that has good characters and everything, but it’s to teach a lesson. There is one story, with a girl named Arachne, and the goddess Athena, and basically what happens is, Arachne is a great weaver, and one day she says, “I weav better than Athena”, and long story short, Arachne is turned into an arachnid. The moral of the story is, don’t challenge the gods. This book is alright, nothing that special. I give The Greek Gods, a 7 out of 10. –DM
Knucklehead
Jon Scieszka is the author and the main character of this book since it’s a memoir of his childhood. Mostly it talks about his family, and the funny stories he has to tell the reader.
One of the stories I really liked was “Stop Breathing My Air”. The story begins when the whole family was in a station wagon (I should inform you that Jon had 5 other brothers and 2 parents in a car, that’s a lot of people). It was a very hot day, so I bet it was miserable inside. Every boy was complaining, fighting and trying to make more room inside. But when they were fighting, Jeff (one of Jon’s brothers) said “Stop breathing my air.” Then Jim and Jon started chanting “Stop breathing my air.” It then became a Scieszka family classic saying.
A quote “It was the place where I learned to think for myself.” I think that’s important because you get more creative, and be more mindful of your surroundings. –ST
Dark Sons
The main characters are Ishmael and Sam. Ishmael lives in biblical times and Sam lives in the modern day. They are both going through some problems with their dads. Their problems are different but both are thinking a like while they go through them.
Ishmael’s story: It all started when Sarah and Abraham wanted to have a child. But they couldn’t so then Sarah makes Abraham have a baby with Hagar (one of Sarah’s servant’s). Abraham and Hagar have a child named Ishmael. A couple years later Sarah and Abraham try again to have a child, and they do and they named him Isaac. Now Ishmael is always thinking to himself if Abraham (his dad) will treat him differently from Isaac.
Sam’s story: Sam’s dad left Sam and his mom. After his dad left him he’s always wondering why did he leave the both of us. Sam is now trying to avoid his dad after he left them. After Sam’s dad left, he found a new wife and then had a child with her. Sam is trying to stay calm but at the same time he feels like his dad is replacing everything and everyone. Since Sam has this struggle to deal with, he’s trying to find as much peace as he can.
A quote that stuck out to me is “I am always with you” I found it on pg 93. I feel like this quote is opposite to both what Sam and Ishmael think since they feel like no one is feeling what they are feeling. But they are also wondering if God knows what they are going through and they both want help from someone.
I really enjoyed this book since both characters can relate to one another and the story was easy to understand. I would recommend this book to a person who likes poetry or to a person who wants to read a different form of writing (poetry). --ST
Crash
This summer I read Crash by Jerry Spinelli. This book is about a boy named John (but some people call him Crash) who lives in Pennsylvania and has a new neighbor his name is Penn Webb he is the same age as John. He learns new things about Penn, like how he is a vegan, and doesn’t believe in war. Years pass John and Penn are still friends but in sixth grade John makes a new friends named Mike Deluca, him and he make are the prancers in school they mostly make fun of Penn. Now there in seventh grade, theres a new girl called Jane in the school and John seems to think she’s cute, but he tries to talk to her she ignores him.It’s now the football season John is making many touchdowns, but while the game he searches for his parents and feels upset that they haven’t came especially because Penn's parents came to see him cheerleading so he feel jealous.After the game he finds his grandfather in the house cooking, he tells him and his sister Abby scary and stories. When its the school dance John flirts with Jane and asks to dance with him but declines his request and calls him out saying he is a bully. When it’s Thanksgiving John gets worried about his grandfathers health, then in December Scooter(his grandfather) gets hospitalized after have a massive stroke. While he is in rehab the Webb’s give some food to John family and Penn gives him a Missouri River Mud which has medicinal powers. During Christmas break John and Mike get into a fight, and there friendship starts to fall apart. Then the next school year Mike starts targeting on Penn. During the night John sees Penn running around the neighborhood then finds out that he wants his great- grandfather to see him run in the Penn Relay. So John joins the track team too. When its the day of the race for the extra spots John lets Penn win. Then John mom announces that she will be working part-time and he encourages her to resume her painting hobby. At the end he has a party at Jane’s house and now Penn is his best friend. –ML
Code Orange
This story is about a young boy named Mitty Blake that honestly couldn’t care less about school and his grades. The only reason he even bothers to COME to school is Olivia. Olivia and Mitty are kind of like that classic will they or won’t they couple. You know what they say though, opposites attract! Olivia and Mitty are the epitome of this. Olivia is hard working, and care a lot for her grades. Mitty usually lets her do most of the work for him, until one day his science teacher assigns them a project about infectious diseases. Mitty thinks, that he will just throw something together for his rough draft, but the day before it is due, he stumbles upon some old books. Upon opening the old books, Mitty finds two scabs inside of an envelope. When he goes to grab the scabs one crumbles and he breathes it in. Little did he know that when he did that, he set the FBI, the CDC, and global terrorists hot on his trail. If only he knew.
The reason I enjoyed this book so much is because of how it has the perfect balance between mystery and adventure. I found myself turning each page with more enthusiasm than the last. I would definitely recommend it to everyone in my class. –MFG
Catherine, Called Birdy
Catherine is a young 13 year old girl who’s father, a well set off Baron, is set on marrying her off to the highest bidder. The story takes place in the form of a diary which she is keeping to please her older brother Edward who is a monk. For most of her life, Catherine has spent most of her life sheltered from the outside world, BUT that is not to say she is not smart and clever. Her father has been bringing her suitor from all different areas, races, and ages. To her father nothing matters except money and title. Although this be true, Catherine has managed to come up with crazy, and sometimes heinous things to run away her suitors. Her most ingenious plan, was an accident! She set fire to the loo when her possible fiancé was using it. After that… incident, Catherine is pretty sure that her father will give up on finding her a husband until she meets the worst suitor of all. And this time she isn’t sure if she can drive him away.
I highly enjoyed this book, but the only reason I couldn’t give it 5 stars, is because of how slow it started. If you enjoy action filled books, I would not recommend this to you. –MFG
Liz (the main character) was riding her bike to the mall to meet with her best friend, Zoey. While she’s riding she comes to a stoplight but thinks it’s green. She keeps riding, then, BAM! She gets hit and dies.
Now that she’s dead, she’s on a boat to go to “Elsewhere” (it’s basically afterlife). She didn’t actually notice she was dead until she went to the OD (observation deck) and saw her own funeral.
She has now arrived in Elsewhere and meets her Grandma Betty who died before Liz was born. Fun fact, in Elsewhere you get younger, so Betty looked pretty young (about 30 to 40). Liz missed being alive very much, so she went to the OD every night to see what was happening. She knew there was a way to talk to people on Earth, so she tried but got into trouble. Liz met Owen who she fell in love with (he also was the guy who gave her a warning for trying to talk to people on Earth). She also stopped going to the OD, got an acclimation (a job), and realized to be happy and grateful for the people who is surrounding her in Elsewhere.
A quote “I told you, you could do it if you put your mind to it.” This quote has belief in it since you have to believe and do what’s right for you. --ST
Dark Sons by Nikki Grimes
Dark Sons is a parable between Ishmael, the son of Abraham, and a modern teenager name Sam. In Ishmael’s life, the birth of his brother Isaac is causing a distance between him, and his father, because there is a prophecy about Isaac. In Sam’s world, his father left him, and his mother for another women. This already has Sam questioning life itself, but when his father has a child with that other woman, Sam has to watch his most treasured memories happen to his new brother, David. This book is quite an interesting change from normal books, it doesn’t focus on a strict plot, a strict outcome or anything like that, it is more about the psychology of our two protagonists, and what the characters around them, mean to them. In both stories, Ishmael and Sam both deeply respect their mother(s). For Ishmael, his mother was thrown at his father, because before Abraham conceived with Ishmael’s mother, he was with a women named Sarah, and one day, Sarah and Abraham were walking through Egypt, and a Pharaoh marveled at Sarah’s beauty, so the Pharaoh gave Sarah, and Abraham his daughter. Basically, Abraham has two wives, ultimate playa’. On Sam’s end, he respected his mother because after his father left, she had to work and work and work, and that made Sam also cook, and become more productive around the house. Not only that, but Sam’s mother, is his emotional dam, and he, hers. But above all, what this book masters… is The Grey Area. Looking in terms of black and white, Sam and Ishmael are the protagonists, and Abraham, and Sam’s father are the antagonists. But how it actually works, is the two fathers cause the sons pain, but the sons love them so much, that the fathers aren’t the bad guys, there the unattainable goals to our main characters. The same thing is portray with David and Isaac as well, more so David, but still.
I’d say the theme of this book is acceptance. Obviously because of the emotional mountains the sons have to trek, but because of the ending. At the end, Sam reads the Bible, and happens to read the part about Ishmael, and says to himself, “You survived, and so will I.” I think the book was perfect. It was a very natural, and real experience. And as a sidenote, I like how the majority of the book is focused on Sam, instead of it switching all the time. I give Dark Sons a 10 out of 10 --DM
Dark Sons by Nikki Grimes
“Dad’s as gone as ever, still remarried with a kid who’s half my brother.” The two main characters are Sam and Ishmael. This book takes place in Brooklyn and a dessert. The quote at the beginning is important to the story because the whole book never would’ve happened if Ishmael and Sam’s dad’s had left them and their mothers for different women.
This book is about two different characters named Ishmael and Sam, who both have the same problem. Both of their fathers left them and their mothers for different women. Both of their mother’s are very sad and don’t even know what to do anymore. Both Ishmael and Sam are mad at their dad's for putting them in this situation and all of a sudden just leaving them like that. Their dad’s both had kids with their new wives and Ishmael and Sam got jealous of them. The only difference is that Ishmael’s story takes place in the older days and Sam’s story takes place in the present day’s.
I liked Sam’s story better than Ishmael’s story because it happened in the present time so it felt more relatable. Something that I liked about Dark Sons was that it didn’t have a perfect, fixed ending. The ending was realistic and not everything ended happy. Ishmael and his mother were sent away from where they lived and Sam’s dad moved to LA with his wife and baby. I don’t like it when authors make the ending all better, because for some stories, that isn’t realistic. –LL
Fire from the Rock
It was 1957, and the governor of Arkansas wanted to integrate Central High School. A lot of colored people were scared since most white folks didn’t like colored and were not treating them right.
Sylvia Patterson (the main character) was a great student at school. Her teacher thought Sylvia would be a good student to integrate schools, since Sylvia has good grades, doesn’t get into trouble and is responsible. Sylvia’s parents were at first concerned if they should let Sylvia integrate since it could be dangerous since there could be fights or Sylvia could be picked on, etc. But they knew Sylvia was good for the job, so they let her. There were so many kids who were going to integrate schools. So the white folks got to decide who. People didn’t want to do it. Some people quit and some people kept trying. Sylvia quit because she knew the people who would integrate were the right ones, she just didn’t think it was her. She is brave for at least trying to integrate, but she didn’t feel right doing it, and didn’t want a lot of pressure.
A quote “Do you think they’re scared like we are?” You have to be brave at all times since others might be scared too, so pick up those people and show them how to be brave. –ST
Code Orange
Mitty Blake (the main character) had a term paper due soon about a disease. He hadn’t even started it. That day after school he found an envelope that was in his apartment, in the envelope it had some old variola major/smallpox scabs. So then he thought this would be a good topic to do for his essay. He then actually started to research the topic, take notes, and get interested in it.
Two weeks later he starts to feel different, like he might’ve gotten smallpox. He thought about it and thought there’s no way he could’ve gotten it since they got rid of it a long time ago. He also goes onto his computer to see if there is a possibility if he got smallpox (he sniffed the scabs). The people on the internet said there was a very small chance. But thankfully he didn’t have smallpox, but he was very sick and did go to a hospital. Mitty now knows how to study better and to let someone know if something is not right.
A quote “He did not want his parents making this decision for him.” Sometimes you have to make your own decisions even if you’re a kid. The decisions you make yourself, shows that you are responsible. Those decisions will always make a difference. –ST
Anna of Byzantium
Anna is a princess. She is heir to the throne of emperor. She has worked so hard her whole life and one day- well, let’s not get to the good part just yet.
Anna has been taught by her mother to, talk like a princess, walk like a princess, and act like a princess with kindness. Then one day her grandmother takes a sudden interest in her, and all of a sudden, Anna is being taught all those things that her mother taught her but instead of kindness she is being taught how to do them in malice. Anna is power hungry, being a young teenage girl, and is captivated by her cold grandmother. All seems to be going as well is it can be, until Anna breaks out of her spell and speaks out about her grandmother. All though it was the right decision it ends up costing her the throne. Heartbroken she becomes a recluse. All she can think about is how her father was so blinded by his mother that he chose her evil brother over her. Then one day, the day her father dies, it becomes too much for her and her mother. In a moment of desperation, they plan to kill her brother. But of course they get caught. They are both sent into exile and Anna gets sent to a monestary where she writes her story. This story.
I LOOOOOVEEE THIS BOOK!!!! I could barely put it down. Even though it is about a girl and some boys might be put off by that, I’m telling you, YOU HAVE TO READ THISSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! --MFG
Homecoming
The book starts out with a seemingly innocent family trip to the mall, however once they get there their lives will change forever.
The Tillerman kids Dicey, James, Maybeth, and Sammy are suddenly on their own. Their mother has abandonded them or at least forgotten them and the only way to survive is to get to their great aunt’s house. On their journey they stop at a park and meet a kind runaway couple, and all seems pretty swell until Sammy steals money and food. Now the police is after them and so it is imperative that they get to their great aunt Cilla’s house in Bridgeport. But soon another problem arises. When they arrive at the Conneticut River they are completely out of money, so they decide to stay for a couple of nights to take some odd jobs to get some money for the rest of their trip. One night before their planned departure they meet a pair of Yale students who take them in and give them food and a dry and warm place to sleep. It seems as if they would even drive them to their destination. Then James steals 20 dollars. Although Dicey was sure they would kick her and her band of siblings out, their new found friends forgive James’ actions and drive them o the door of their Great Aunt Cilla’s house, where our beloved protagonists learn horrible news. Their Great Aunt is dead. Although this seems like the end of the road for the Tillermans their aunt takes them in. But it turns out that she resents them and thinks that Maybeth is retarded. That is when they meet the Priest. The priest tells them that their mother is in an asylum. He does give them one piece of good news. They have a grandmother that is alive. Immediately Dicey makes plans to go and see her to see if she will take them in. And these plans were supposed to be for Dicey only, but of course the rest of her siblings find out and insist to go. Even though this trip was supposed to be well thought out like with anything their plans go ary. They do get to their grandmother’s eventually, but now the real question is, will she take them in?
I gave this four stars only because I felt as if there wasn’t enough action. I would recommend this to any one with patience because the only way to enjoy this book is to read and wait to see what happens. --MFG
Dark Sons
This story is told from two different perspectives using free verse poetry. One of the voices is Ishmael Who is scared that his father will abandon him for his "promised son". The other voice is Sam a young boy whose father left him and his mother for another woman and another family. While Ishmael is more sad and scared than angry Sam is furious at his father for leaving him. In Ishmael's case his father's first wife told him to go and have a son with one of her maidservants and turns better when she sees that her maidservant is with baby. Because of this Abraham feels conflicted towards his son since his first wife Sarah whom he loves, has never liked Ishmael because she can only feel regret when she looks at him. Even though this is true Abraham always made an effort to connect with his son that is until Sarah has a son. That all changes when sarah has a son.
On the other side of the story Sam is angry at his father for leaving him for a white woman. He seems determined to never see his father again. His mother is sent into a downward spiral because of these events so he sees it as his responsibility to make sure she is all right even though this means making an effort with his father. At first he is skeptical of his father's warm affection towards him and his stepmother's as well. But as the story progresses he opens up little by little until he is comfortable with staying there for weekends at a time. Then His father drops then bomb shell that he is going to have a little brother. Immediately Sam closes himself off again and feels betrayed. At this point in both stories both main characters are feeling very similarly.
Although Abraham now has his "promised son" he still splits his time and love with both children even though this is difficult with Sarah. So in the end when Abraham passes away Ishmael and his younger brother are both treated equally and their father's blessings and inheritance.
Sam at this point in the story is once again upset at his father but eventually since family is family he finds a way to work it out and he learns to love his father once more. Even though it is difficult to see his stepmom and his step brother Sam still makes an effort to heal his two broken families. Throughout this journey Ishmael and Sam's beacon of light has been god so one day Sam reads about Ishmael story and realizes that just like Ishmael got through it sam can to.
I personally would recommend this book to children in younger age groups and grades because even though I found the story somewhat interesting I feel like the reading level was too low for me and therefore I could not enjoy it as much as if it were challenging. –MFG
Tangerine by Edward Bloor
Can you imagine living in a town where schools fall into sinkholes, where lightning strikes at the same time every day, and where there is a fire that never stops burning? Well, that is a place called Tangerine and it is the setting of this book. The main character is a 7th grader named Paul Fisher. You probably want to hear more about what happens in this strange place, Tangerine, so i will tell you in the next paragraph.
In the beginning, Paul and his family move from Texas to Tangerine, Florida. In Tangerine, the school that Paul goes to iss called Lake Windsor Downs Middle School. At school, Paul meets a friend named Joey. One day at school, the ground started to shake and before anybody knew it, the school started falling into a sinkhole. Instead of returning to the same school, Paul and Joey started going to Tangerine Middle School. Paul really liked this school but Joey didn’t because the kids bullied him. Joey decided to go back to their old school. Paul joined the soccer team and he loved it. His soccer team beat all the other teams that they played against. This book has a really good ending but you have to read to find it out.
For the third paragraph I will be talking about my opinion. I really like this book because it had two stories, the one that I talked about and another one that was about Paul’s brother. Another reason I like this book is because it had a lot of plot twists. I thought that I wasn’t going to like this book because it looked really long. Don’t judge a book by its cover. –LL
Banner in the Sky by James Ramsey Ullman
Banner in the Sky, follows a 16-year-old aspiring mountain guide, Rudi Matt. Rudi Matt lives in a village named Kurtal, right next to the Swiss Alps during the 1860s, where being a mountain guide, is considered the highest rank, in any profession. As I said before, Rudi wants to become a mountain guide, but is on course to be in the hotel business, because his emotionally distraught mother, Frau Matt, fears for him, if he were to become a mountain guide. She is afraid, because before Rudi was born, her husband Josef Matt, attempted to climb a mountain, known as… The Citadel. A mountain no one has ever climbed successfully, but Rudi wants to change that. The story begins with Rudi working at his part-time, washing dishes at the hotel for his boss Teo Zurbriggen, an old man who knew Rudi’s father, but was injured during the climb of The Citadel, that ended Josef Matt’s life. Rudi, a boy that cannot be separated from his love of climbing, sneaks out to go climb casually in a spare mountain to study The Citadel. While climbing the mountain, Rudi saves an English mountain guide, Captain Morgan, and they both learn that they’re trying to climb The Citadel. For the first time in his life, his dream seems closer in sight… then ever before.
This book has many themes, determination, comradery, but I feel what the theme is… is growing up. And I know it sounds pretty generic, but let’s analyze exactly what growing up, would entail. Growing up, would mean going through a transition, discovering who you are as a person, and learning your independance. Rudi finds his independence, by pursuing what he wanted to pursue, and discovers the true mountain guide inside him. My thoughts on the book are positive. The beginning was a bit slow, but as the characters were introduced,and events started to occur, it got very interesting. The author does a great job of fleshing out the characters, with simple actions that they do, so it’s a very well written book. Overall, Banner in the Sky deserves, an 8 out of 10. --DM
The Black Heart Crypt by Chris Grabenstein
This book is about a boy named Zach Jennings. Zach (much like the kid in The Sixth Sense), can see dead people, ghosts. But, on Halloween, the spirits inhabit the land of the living, and Zach’s dog Zipper, runs into a graveyard, where the Ickleby’s, a family that hates the Jenning’s for putting their soul’s in that graveyard, rest’s. Zach stumbles onto their grave, and the Ickleby’s become aware, of their against the Jennings, and plan to destroy the Jennings family. Not only that, but Zach’s dead mother that hated him, Susan, has come back from the dead, to give her former family, an evil visit. Looks like Halloween isn’t going to work out for Zach.
As a book, it’s fairly decent. It’s a light-hearted mystery, that has some tonal issues throughout the book that leave a bad taste in your mouth. For instance, there is a point in the book in which Zach is having a memory about his mother, in which she blames him for some sort of disease she had, in my opinion should be a dark memory. But, the tone remains the same, from a time where things were oh so jolly, that it just doesn’t work sometimes. Other than that though, like I said, it’s okay. I give The Black Heart Crypt, a 6 out of 10 --DM
The Greek Gods by Bernard Evslin
The Greek Gods is basically a collection of stories, each one detailing how the gods throughout The Pantheon, came to be, and other things. The book starts off with the two parents of Zeus; Cronos, a god who overthrew his father, and his wife Rhea. Cronos hears a prophecy that says, if his has a son, that son would someday overthrow Cronos, just like Cronos did to his father. So, what Cronos did, was he ate every child that he, and Rhea created. Some of the gods that were eaten, were Hades, Poseidon, and Demeter. After a while Rhea grew weary of this, so she hid their unknowingly last child, that child, was Zeus. Zeus grew up, and fulfilled the prophecy, and Zeus rescued his siblings still trapped within Cronos. Then, Zeus chose to be the god of the sky, Hades ruler of the underworld, Poseidon god of the sea, and Demeter goddess of harvest.
Let’s be honest, the stories in this book are pretty ridiculous. If Cronos wanted to avoid the prophecy, don’t eat the kids, just don’t have any. I know that was the only way to bring in the other gods, but it’s still a plot hole. I don’t think the book’s real goal is to make a good story, that has good characters and everything, but it’s to teach a lesson. There is one story, with a girl named Arachne, and the goddess Athena, and basically what happens is, Arachne is a great weaver, and one day she says, “I weav better than Athena”, and long story short, Arachne is turned into an arachnid. The moral of the story is, don’t challenge the gods. This book is alright, nothing that special. I give The Greek Gods, a 7 out of 10. –DM
Knucklehead
Jon Scieszka is the author and the main character of this book since it’s a memoir of his childhood. Mostly it talks about his family, and the funny stories he has to tell the reader.
One of the stories I really liked was “Stop Breathing My Air”. The story begins when the whole family was in a station wagon (I should inform you that Jon had 5 other brothers and 2 parents in a car, that’s a lot of people). It was a very hot day, so I bet it was miserable inside. Every boy was complaining, fighting and trying to make more room inside. But when they were fighting, Jeff (one of Jon’s brothers) said “Stop breathing my air.” Then Jim and Jon started chanting “Stop breathing my air.” It then became a Scieszka family classic saying.
A quote “It was the place where I learned to think for myself.” I think that’s important because you get more creative, and be more mindful of your surroundings. –ST
Dark Sons
The main characters are Ishmael and Sam. Ishmael lives in biblical times and Sam lives in the modern day. They are both going through some problems with their dads. Their problems are different but both are thinking a like while they go through them.
Ishmael’s story: It all started when Sarah and Abraham wanted to have a child. But they couldn’t so then Sarah makes Abraham have a baby with Hagar (one of Sarah’s servant’s). Abraham and Hagar have a child named Ishmael. A couple years later Sarah and Abraham try again to have a child, and they do and they named him Isaac. Now Ishmael is always thinking to himself if Abraham (his dad) will treat him differently from Isaac.
Sam’s story: Sam’s dad left Sam and his mom. After his dad left him he’s always wondering why did he leave the both of us. Sam is now trying to avoid his dad after he left them. After Sam’s dad left, he found a new wife and then had a child with her. Sam is trying to stay calm but at the same time he feels like his dad is replacing everything and everyone. Since Sam has this struggle to deal with, he’s trying to find as much peace as he can.
A quote that stuck out to me is “I am always with you” I found it on pg 93. I feel like this quote is opposite to both what Sam and Ishmael think since they feel like no one is feeling what they are feeling. But they are also wondering if God knows what they are going through and they both want help from someone.
I really enjoyed this book since both characters can relate to one another and the story was easy to understand. I would recommend this book to a person who likes poetry or to a person who wants to read a different form of writing (poetry). --ST
Crash
This summer I read Crash by Jerry Spinelli. This book is about a boy named John (but some people call him Crash) who lives in Pennsylvania and has a new neighbor his name is Penn Webb he is the same age as John. He learns new things about Penn, like how he is a vegan, and doesn’t believe in war. Years pass John and Penn are still friends but in sixth grade John makes a new friends named Mike Deluca, him and he make are the prancers in school they mostly make fun of Penn. Now there in seventh grade, theres a new girl called Jane in the school and John seems to think she’s cute, but he tries to talk to her she ignores him.It’s now the football season John is making many touchdowns, but while the game he searches for his parents and feels upset that they haven’t came especially because Penn's parents came to see him cheerleading so he feel jealous.After the game he finds his grandfather in the house cooking, he tells him and his sister Abby scary and stories. When its the school dance John flirts with Jane and asks to dance with him but declines his request and calls him out saying he is a bully. When it’s Thanksgiving John gets worried about his grandfathers health, then in December Scooter(his grandfather) gets hospitalized after have a massive stroke. While he is in rehab the Webb’s give some food to John family and Penn gives him a Missouri River Mud which has medicinal powers. During Christmas break John and Mike get into a fight, and there friendship starts to fall apart. Then the next school year Mike starts targeting on Penn. During the night John sees Penn running around the neighborhood then finds out that he wants his great- grandfather to see him run in the Penn Relay. So John joins the track team too. When its the day of the race for the extra spots John lets Penn win. Then John mom announces that she will be working part-time and he encourages her to resume her painting hobby. At the end he has a party at Jane’s house and now Penn is his best friend. –ML
Code Orange
This story is about a young boy named Mitty Blake that honestly couldn’t care less about school and his grades. The only reason he even bothers to COME to school is Olivia. Olivia and Mitty are kind of like that classic will they or won’t they couple. You know what they say though, opposites attract! Olivia and Mitty are the epitome of this. Olivia is hard working, and care a lot for her grades. Mitty usually lets her do most of the work for him, until one day his science teacher assigns them a project about infectious diseases. Mitty thinks, that he will just throw something together for his rough draft, but the day before it is due, he stumbles upon some old books. Upon opening the old books, Mitty finds two scabs inside of an envelope. When he goes to grab the scabs one crumbles and he breathes it in. Little did he know that when he did that, he set the FBI, the CDC, and global terrorists hot on his trail. If only he knew.
The reason I enjoyed this book so much is because of how it has the perfect balance between mystery and adventure. I found myself turning each page with more enthusiasm than the last. I would definitely recommend it to everyone in my class. –MFG
Catherine, Called Birdy
Catherine is a young 13 year old girl who’s father, a well set off Baron, is set on marrying her off to the highest bidder. The story takes place in the form of a diary which she is keeping to please her older brother Edward who is a monk. For most of her life, Catherine has spent most of her life sheltered from the outside world, BUT that is not to say she is not smart and clever. Her father has been bringing her suitor from all different areas, races, and ages. To her father nothing matters except money and title. Although this be true, Catherine has managed to come up with crazy, and sometimes heinous things to run away her suitors. Her most ingenious plan, was an accident! She set fire to the loo when her possible fiancé was using it. After that… incident, Catherine is pretty sure that her father will give up on finding her a husband until she meets the worst suitor of all. And this time she isn’t sure if she can drive him away.
I highly enjoyed this book, but the only reason I couldn’t give it 5 stars, is because of how slow it started. If you enjoy action filled books, I would not recommend this to you. –MFG