The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Selznick, Brian. The Invention of Hugo Cabret. New York City: Scholastic Inc., 2007. 523 pages. (Historic Fiction)

Hugo Cabret lives in a clock worker’s apartment in a train station. Hugo steals food and toys from the shops in the train station. His father is dead. His uncle has disappeared never to return. He is alone.

One day while attempting to steal a toy from a toy booth, Hugo is caught. The toy seller holds Hugo still and demands for him to empty his pockets.

Hugo looses one of his most valuable possessions: his notebook.

He will stop at nothing to get it back.

And so begins the mysterious adventures of Hugo Cabret…

This book was incredible! I cannot even describe the level of detail put into this book. Although there are 523 pages in this book, 284 of those pages are illustrations. It took me less than two hours to finish this book, and that’s including examining the incredible illustrations in this book. If you do read this amazing book~ stop and look at the pictures. Whoever drew them is extremely talented and you won’t understand the book unless you really look at the pictures.

This book deserves to be read and praised.

THE most unique and incredible book I’ve ever read!

Reviewed By: DancingPenguin96

My Sister’s Keeper

Picoult, Jodi. My Sister’s Keeper. NY: Washington Square Press, 2004. 423 pages. (Fiction)

When Kate’s parent’s find out about their daughter’s disease they decide to have a child that is made genetically to fit Kate’s blood type and be a perfect match as an organ donor. The only problem is when Kate gets to the point where she needs a kidney transplant her genetically matched sister, Anna, is realizing that her parents only had her to keep Kate alive. Anna gets in touch with a lawyer, Campbell Alexander, and files a law suit against her parents for signing over her body to her sister without permission from Anna. The decision that Anna makes will tear her family apart even more than it already is and possibly kill her own sister.

My Sister’s Keeper is the saddest book I have ever read. Just reading about how a family can be torn apart by one thing and then ripped to shreds by another, proves that there is usually always someone out there who has it way worse than you do.

Reviewed by: BlueBerryBuddy

Chains

Anderson, Laurie. Chains. NYC: 2008. 300 pages. (Historical Fiction)

1776.

Revolutionary War.

Isabel and Ruth, sisters~ SLAVES.

Their Mistress dies, where do they go?

New York City.

To the Lockton's LOYALISTS

Soldiers, beatings, hangings, brandings, battles, fires...

SOLD.

Isabel is no Patriot; She is no Loyalist;

She will help whoever can promise her

FREEDOM.

Review:

Amazing,

Powerful,

Painful,

Shocking

...

TRUE.

This book was written so well! It had so much detail, it felt as though I was there. I could feel Isabel's fear and pain, her anger and resentment. Although I have never had my flesh boil under a hot iron, I could almost feel it when Laurie Halse Anderson described it. I actually learned a lot from this book. I learned about the lifestyles of slaves and rich folk in 1776. I learned about the Revolutionary War and the conditions of Rebel and British Soldiers. The way she described it, it almost seemed like Anderson experienced these events herself. She obviously put a lot of research and work into this book, and it deserves to be read by all.

Reviewed by: DancingPenguins96

The Outsiders

Hinton, S. E. The Outsiders. New York City: Penguin Group Inc., 180 pages. (Fiction)

Ponyboy Curtis has had a very hard time with life after his parents both died. He can’t rely on anyone except his brothers and some of his friends. With Pony’s school grades dropping, he also has trouble with the Socs, a gang who thinks that their all that and who are strong in numbers. Pony has been able to live like this for a long time until one night things take a turn for the worst.

This is a thrilling story that includes courage, trust, and most of all, friendship. I think this is a really good book because it teaches people to cherish their friends and family. One reason why I think people should read this book is because the author, S.E. Hinton, always keeps you on the edge of your seat after every chapter and always has action going on. Plus, she gives great descriptions of the characters in the book.

Reviewed by: Baseballplyr

Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception

Colfer, Eoin. Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception. New York City: Hyperion Books for Children, 2005. 340 pages. (Fantasy Series/Humor)

Artemis Fowl is back! After being mid-wiped by the fairies, he has returned to his old criminal-like self again. He has now devised a plan to steal one of the most cherished paintings in the World… “The Fairy Thief” One of the best paintings ever painted. It has only been stolen eight times and Artemis plans to steal it for a ninth. However, little does he know, an old enemy has been watching his every move. Opal Koboi is back to destroy whoever foiled her plan before and Artemis Fowl is at the top of her list. Once she destroys everyone she wants, Opal will try to collide the fairy world with the human world. As always Captain Holly Short is dragged into this mess, however, she knows she will not be able to beat Opal Koboi herself so she does the only thing she need to. She needs to save Artemis Fowl. Who will live? Who will die? Will Artemis Fowl come back to his senses, or will he stay a criminal forever? Find out in Artemis Fowl, the Opal Deception.

I think this is one of the best books in the series because it’s easy to understand, plus it’s full with action and excitement. I also like it because a lot of different things shock you at first but then you figure out later in the book that it would’ve happened anyway or it just had to happen. Even though it jumps around a little bit, it gives everyone in the story their own opinion so it makes it more interesting as reader to see what everyone really wants and what happens when they don’t get it. I highly recommend this book to all the Artemis Fowl fans.

Reviewed by: Baseballplyr

Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code

Colfer, Eoin. Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2003. 446 pages. (Fantasy Series/Humor)

Brilliant Artemis
Fowl constructs a cube
Out of stolen tools.

Unwittingly he
Sends the fairies into lock-
Down. Then he needs help.

Butler has been shot.
Artemis requires help
To save his friend’s life.

Holly on the case.
Against all odds she heals
Butler- but he aged.

Now fifty year old
Butler is out of the game-
The cube is stolen.

The fairies are in
Danger of exposure. Can
They succeed again?

A tycoon, who is
Insane and dangerous. No
Thing can save the cube.

Artemis is forced
To submit to a mind wipe
After the mission.

Juliet, Butler,
And Artemis will forget.
Or will they give in?

The third book of the Artemis Fowl series is better than the first two. This one was also really funny. Pex and Chips were the main reason. They’re two bodyguards for Jon Spiro, the evil tycoon. They were so stupid; it made me laugh out loud. If I had to pick three words to describe this book, they would be hilarious, superb, and original.

Reviewed by: FunkyZebras19

Artemis Fowl

Colfer, Eoin. Artemis Fowl. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2001. 396 pages. (Fantasy Series/Humor)

Artemis Fowl:
Boy genius, millionaire,
And criminal brain.

Holly Short: police
Officer, elf, fairy, smart.
About to collide.

Boy with bodyguard
And elf. A fairy-napping
Plan. War of species.

After Artemis
Captures Holly, all fairies
Storm Fowl Mansion.

As his house crumbles
Around him, will Artemis
Hold onto his prize?

This book was AMAZING!! I loved it all. It had a lot of laughs and on the opposing side, suspense. My friend was reading the series and told me how good it was and at the same time my dad bought me the first four books in the series. I started the first one and got hooked. So I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. And I also read another book in sixth grade by the author, Eoin Colfer. He’s a really good writer.

Reviewed by: FunkyZebras19

The Black Book of Secrets

Higgins, F.E. The Black Book of Secrets. New York City: MacMillan Children’s Books, 2007. 266 pages. (Fantasy)

Ludlow Fitch is alone. He catches a ride on the back of a carriage leaving the city. He ends up in Pagus Parvus in the middle of the night. He is soon taken is by Joe Zabbidou, a Pawnbroker. Not only is he a Pawnbroker, but a Secret Pawnbroker. One night Joe asks Ludlow a peculiar favor and Ludlow soon learns what a Secret Pawnbroker is; Joe buys secrets.

Ludlow will soon learn that behind the villagers nice faces are crimes and regret. There’s trouble coming, and it may be deadly...

I loved this book! It was well written, it was interesting, and it had secrets in it that I was dying to find out. Most secrets are revealed at the end, but some are saved for the next book of Ludlow and Joe. Definitely worth reading!

Reviewed By: DancingPenguin96

Breaking Dawn

Meyer, Stephanie. Breaking Dawn. NY: Little, Brown, and Company, 2008. 754 pages. (Fantasy Series / Vampires)

Bella's brand new life
She has a new family,
Her own family

Bella and Edward
stay together forever
for their cute, new child

Their very own home
Some time to spend together
Nights to hold onto

A danger arose
A visit from friends
that aren't to friendly

What will happen next?
Read Breaking Dawn to find out
It is a great book

Breaking Dawn is packed with adventure romance and sadness. come join Bella and her new family to a new life . this book is great and i loved reading it. the way Stephanie Meyer writes her books is awesome. you feel like your right beside Bella throughout the whole adventure.

Reviewed By: GinniGirl