Authors and Reading - Kids on the Net

I am Julia and I decided to do my book report on the book called 'Project Mulberry' by Linda Sue Park. The setting of this book is in a small and peaceful town named Plainfield. This story is about how Julia Song and her best friend Patrick decide to raise silkworms for their silk for the animal husbandry project they have to do for the Wiggle club.

The Wiggle club is a farming club where kids learn about animals and plants on a farm. Julia grew up in Korea and many Koreans used to raise silkworms. Julia thinks the project suggestion is too Korean, and doesn't like the idea of the project. Finally, Patrick convinces her to do the project and they face a lot of problems. One of the problems is that Julia didn't know she has to kill the silkworms to get the silk and when she finds out she is very mad and extremely upset. As the resolution, Julia and Patrick decide that Julia will pick five stick with all the silkworms' names on them and those five will be killed for the silk. In the end, they are very glad they did the project plus learned a lot!

I would recommend this book to all readers who enjoy unpredictable books! I rate this book a five star book! When you start to read this book you can't stop! This book is very entertaining, interesting, unpredictable, and a enjoyable book to read!

Under The Blood-Red Sun

My review is on the book 'Under The Blood-Red Sun' written by Graham Salisbury in 1994. I chose this book because it was based on the war and it had baseball in it.

This main character of this book is an American born boy named, Tomi who is in the eighth grade. His mother, father and Grampa are all from Japan. These characters and others were interesting and described very well. It was easy to picture how they might look and act.

The characters are brought to life back in the time of 1941 as Tomi's life is described before Pearl Harbor, during Pearl Harbor and shortly thereafter.

The book describes how a boy lives in America and how his world becomes turned upside down after the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor. You can read about Tomi's friendships, the description of the attack on Pearl Harbor and how his Father and Grampa are arrested in America just for being Japanese. His father and Grampa are taken away and held prisoner just because they are Japanese and living in America.

The Epilogue at the end of the book tells how in 1945, when the World War II was over, the 'Hawaii Japanese who had been interned or relocated were released and allowed to return to their homes in the islands.' Some of these Japanese immigrants did not have anything or anyone to return to. Forty years later, the United States government admitted to acting in error and agreed to give survivors $20,000.00.

The Epilogue also explains there was never a 'Hawaii Japanese man or woman' who was found guilty of 'espionage or Sabotage against the United States of America' and in fact one of the army's most decorated units of World War II was a Japanese-American team.

I enjoyed this book and recommend it. It was easy to read. I wish it had more descriptions of the attack on Pearl Harbor but, even if you don't particularly like history and war, I think you will enjoy this book.
(September 2008)

Land Remembered Volume 2

In Land Remembered Volume 2, the MacIvey family are trying to live off the land, but the land is being destroyed. The family drives cattle and have an orange grove larger than 300,000 ancers and that worked very well until the open prairies, corrals, and hammocks suddenly disappeared.

This book is very exciting and every little bit I read I believed. The characters are very interesting and in every chapter I find out something about them that I didn't know before. I picture the characters in my mind like they are right next to me. This book is a HUGE page turner. And the cover is very nicely illustrated. There are no pictures in this book but the words are the right size so you don't have to squint to see them. I rate this book a 9 and a half because there are some parts get to be too violent. I think this book is great for boys and girls 10 and up. This a wonderful book and I hope you give it a try.
(September 2008)

Harry and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' is about a young wizard who goes to Hogwarts, a school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In this book, Harry Potter gets chosen from the goblet of fire to compete in the 'Triwizard Tournament'. He did not put his name into the goblet, but it spits his name out anyway, even though he is too young to participate. The Triwizard Tournament is a contest where three champions from three different wizarding schools have to complete three tasks to win. If they win, they get the Triwizard Cup and a bunch of money.

The Tournament takes place at Hogwarts. The funny thing is that one name should be chosen from each school, but two names came out of the goblet from Hogwarts. Those names are Cedric and Harry. The other champions from the other two schools are Fleur Delacour and Viktor Krum. Viktor is already famous because he is a great Quidditch player. Quidditch is a game played while flying on a broom.

The Triwizard Tournament has three tasks that the champions have to complete. The tasks are: stealing an egg from a dragon, rescuing someone from the merpeople, and going through a maze with many obstacles and getting the Triwizard Cup. Harry finished all of these but he and Cedric touched the Triwizard Cup at the same time. It turned out to be a Portkey, which is a transportation portal. They both go through the Portkey, and Cedric gets killed by Voldemort. Voldemort is an evil wizard who is just re-gaining his power.

Luckily, Harry touches the Portkey again, and goes back to Hogwarts to win the Triwizard Tournament.
(September 2008)

The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe

I decided to do for my book 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.'

Once upon a time there were four kids Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy, they are brothers and sisters. Their dad went to the army to fight in the war that was going on. So their mother sent them, the kids, to the Professor's house. Then one day it started to rain, they couldn't play outside so they were bored all day until finally Lucy suggested hide-and-seek, so they said okay. Lucy hid in the green room and found the wardrobe. So she went inside, then came out because she had been gone for hours, but Peter had not finished counting! Then her brothers and sister didn't believe her. So they went in themselves and they realized that it was true, that there was a secret land. Then the adventure begins!

Yes, I would recommend this book to readers.
(September 2008)

The Austere Acadamy by Lemony Snicket

The book I chose to do my book report on is 'The Austere Academy', By Lemony Snicket. The characters in the story are Violet, Klaus, Sunny,Isadora, Duncan, Coach Gehnis/Count Olaf,Mr. Poe, Carmilta Spats, and Vice Principal Nero.

Mr. Poe brought Violet, Klaus, and Sunny to the Austere Academy. They met a nasty girl called Carmilta Spats. She called everyone a 'cakesniffer.' When Violet, Klaus, and Sunny were at the cafeteria, they met 2 people named Isadora and Duncan. They talked to each other and Duncan and Isadora told them that their mom, dad, and triplet brother, Quiggy, died in a fire. Isadora and Duncan are also orphans and are also living in the orphan shack.

Later in the story, Count Olaf, disguised as Coach Gehnis keeps the Baudalaire children, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny, outside at night running laps until dawn. He does this so that the Baudalaires will be too tired to pay attention at school and fail and have to be sent to a guardian. Count Olaf volunteered so that he could get his hands on the Baudalaire fortune. Will the Baudalaires have to go with Count Olaf or will Vice Principal Nero find out Coach Gehnis is Count Olaf and go with Mr Poe? You will have to read the book to find out.

If I were to rate the book 1-10, I would give it a 9. I recommend this book to 8, 9, 10, and 11 year old people.
(September 2008)

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

As a young man in Scotland, Robinson Crusoe accidentally killed a man. He was forced to leave the country so he set sail on a ship. The ship was wrecked in a storm and Robinson Crusoe was the only survivor. Luckily he was able to rescue supplies and weapons from the ship. He also found the Captain's dog Skipper, who became his trusted companion. He built an awesome tree house and showed amazing survival skills. He really missed human company and after rescuing Friday from a group of cannibals,he tried to make him his friend. After much conflict they do become great friends. They joined together to eat,sometimes play and especially to fight off fierce warriors. Friday saves Robinson Crusoe's life by taking him to his own island and curing him after an arrow wound caused him a life-threatening infection. Many years later Crusoe is able to return home.

However, his experience changes his way of thinking. His time on the island with Friday made him question his own culture and beliefs. He no longer saw his culture as the 'right way' and he didn't think of different groups as 'savages'. He returned home a wiser man who frequently remembered his best friend ever, Friday.

I would recommend this book to people who like adventure. It was the best book ever.
(September 2008)

Austere Academy by Lemony Snicket

The Austere Academy is the fifth novel in Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events. After the excitement of the fourth book it would be hard to write another adventure tale that lives up to the preceding volume. But with the humour, anxiety and unexpected twists and turns, some would say it is better than the former book.

The story starts with the Baudelaire children and Mr Poe, a naive bank manager, standing in front of Prufock Preparatory School, the Baudelaire children's new home. As they look up at the latest, in a long line of residences, the Baudelaire orphans see tombstone shaped buildings. Mr Poe thinks the buildings are shaped like toes. The contrast in the way they interpret the shape of the buildings symbolises the traumas the Baudelaires have experienced, and how they fear for their future.

The school is a dull and dismal place, lacking charm and happiness. Although it is devoid of colour and other necessary things to make a school welcoming, the Baudelaires and their new friends, the Quagmires, add a bit of colour and joy of their own and make their time there as enjoyable as possible.

The orphans are forced to live in the 'Orphan Shack' and are deprived, for the first time, of the use of a library. This is significant as in the previous books in the series a library has helped Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire escape from Count Olaf. The loss of the library leaves a void, but one that is soon filled as they make new friends, Isadora and Duncan Quagmire.

The character personalities make the story varied if only slightly unbelievable. On one side you have the intelligent, kind and wise Baudelaire and Quagmire orphans and on the other side you have the Count Olaf, the Baudelaires evil relation, and his troupe who will do anything to get their hands on their inheritance fortune. I think it is too black and white with 'goodies' on one side and 'baddies' on the other and no-one in between.

The book is easy to read and although some of the language used, is not everyday vocabulary the author describes what it means, the translation is often specific to the Baudelaire case and this can be confusing and sometimes misleading.

Overall, The Austere Academy is an excellent read, and although it has its faults, the good points about the book outweigh the bad.
(September 2008)

What Would Joey Do?

'What Would Joey Do?' is about a boy named Joey that doesn't have any friends. All he has is his dog named Pablo because he is home schooled.

There is also this mean girl that he hates and sees almost every day.

His dad has a motorcycle that he really likes. But after a while he gets speared on a branch. 'She' thinks he killed him but he is still alive. 'She' was trying to kill him.

His dad went to the hospital. After a few minutes the cops were trying to figure out who the 'She' was. Joey wanted to help but the cops would not let him.

After that Joey thinks that Pablo 'the dog' is sick so he brings him to the vet. It turned out that Pablo was fine. After like a year Joey goes to a real school and in the middle of the school year he got a part of a play. His part in the play is this guy named Mr.Helpful. But his losing control actions ruin it for him.

At the end of the book he finds the place where he belongs.
(September 2008)

A Journey To The Center Of The Earth by Jules Verne

Journey to the center of the earth is about professor Hardwigg, his nephew Harry, and the guide Hans. It all starts when his nephew finds an ancient book. A scrap of paper falls from the pages with weird writing. Hardwigg told Harry to write what he said and it came out to a wonderful secret. Finally they met the guide and started the journey to the center.

On their way they found the same strange writing. Getting deeper the tunnels get blacker, eating is uneasy, and temperatures rise. Later they are 10,000 feet below sea level. Then the tunnels get low and narrow. Then they found fossil plants and animals. Later in the book a dangerous fire happens and damp gas is everywhere. Then Harry wants to give up, but Hardwigg says to never give up. Later Harry gets lost and falls into a dark tunnel and hits his head.

Hardwigg and Hans find him and then he wakes up and thinks it is a dream. They found the way out and find strange things like a forest of giant mushrooms and bones and teeth of mighty animals. Later they build a raft and fun into some sea monsters and hit a storm. Finally they get home.
(September 2008)

Say What?

The book that I read was 'Say What?' by Margaret Peterson Haddix. This book is funny, because there are three kids, their names are Sukie, Reed, Brian. They think their parents are robots or aliens.

The setting of this adventure takes place in the house. That conflicts that are in the book is the kids always get in trouble. The conflict continued because the kids did not put attention to their parents and they are always in trouble. The end was that the Family eat all together and they enjoy to have cake for dessert. there were some accidents at the table but the parents did not say a thing.
(September 2008)

The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo

The book that I read was 'The Tiger Rising' by Kate DiCamillo. This book was very exciting. I got really into it and when it finished it made me sad. I wanted to keep on reading it.

This book was mainly about two kids named Rob, and Sistine. They both wanted to see the tiger because they wanted to find a way to free it.

The setting of this book is in, Florida. Mostly in Kentucky Star Motel. The main conflict was that Rob and Sistine wanted to save this tiger and help it escape from hunters and bad people. The conflict was solved by them helping the tiger escape away from the hunters and bad people secretly.
(September 2008)

Summer of the Sea Serpent by Mary Pope Osborne

Annie and Jack go looking for the Sword of Light at the bottom of the sea by the Cove of the Stormy Coast. After they got the sword, the sea serpent or the guardian would ask them a question and if they didn't get the question right then the guardian would eat them. But if they got the question right then they would be able to take the sword back to the Magic Tree House. Then they can bring the sword back to Martin, the Master Magician, so he could give it to the Lady of the Lake.

Yes, this story sounds exciting and believable. I could be Annie and be involved in the search for the Sword of Light. Yes, I believe the people in the story except the spider, the sea serpent, the water knight, and the selkie people didn't seem real. They sound very interesting that if I was able to do the same thing and I had to make a choice to be a child or selkie for life, then I would choose to be a selkie person.
(September 2008)
The cover and the pictures are very interesting and eye catching. The book is very exciting and I would tell all my friends to read it, and I would read it again.

The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary

'The Mouse and the Motorcycle', a book by Beverly Cleary, is about Ralph, a risky mouse, and Keith, a generous boy. The story takes place in an old, rusty hotel. Ralph comes out of his hole and finds a toy motorcycle. When he tries to ride it, he crashes into the trash can. Keith finds Ralph and helps him out of the trash can. Keith helps Ralph when he is in need. He is a good friend to Ralph. Keith teaches Ralph how to ride the motorcycle. Ralph is then allowed to ride the motorcycle at night in the hallway.

There is a conflict with Keith and Ralph being friends. Keith's parents complain to the hotel management about a mouse being in the hotel. The management tries to get rid of Ralph and his family. Ralph must face dangers such as a vacuum cleaner, people, and a dog. Then, Keith gets sick and needs an aspirin. Nobody could locate the aspirin Keith needs. Ralph finds an aspirin while riding in an ambulance. He gives Keith the aspirin and Keith gets better.

The story ended when Keith and his parents check out of the hotel. Keith and Ralph promise to be friends forever. Keith lets Ralph keep his toy motorcycle to thank him for helping get the aspirin he needed and so he would remember Keith.

The character that interested me the most was Ralph because he gets to ride a motorcycle and in an ambulance. I identified most with Keith because I understand the things he does, because he is a little boy just like me. I do not think the story was believable because a mouse does not ride on toys. It did make a good story for me to read and I thought the book was a very interesting story about a friendship between a boy and a mouse. I could not wait to see what adventures that Keith and Ralph got into next.

When I saw the mouse and the motorcycle on the cover I thought I would really enjoy this book. The illustrations throughout the book helped me see the story in my mind. On a scale of 1-10, I rate this book an 8. It was interesting and funny, but it did not tell me what Ralph did before Keith found him. Also, the story did not tell much about Ralph's actions during the day.
(September 2008)

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

My book report will be about 'The Invention of Hugo Cabret.' First, I will start off with the plot. The story was very exciting and believable. Also, I think the story would be really awesome if I was involved in the book.

I will always be able to believe in Hugo. In fact, I would be really interested to find out a lot about
the characters because in some books the characters will change. Of course, I can picture them in my mind because the book is very describable and detailed in words and pictures. Well in the beginning Hugo and the Old Man didn't get along but at the end they became friends.

This book is one of my favorite books because I would fall asleep with the book in my hands. No joke, it was that interesting! When Hugo and the Old Man talk to each other it seems real because they talk like normal people and there is no animals talking in the book.

I think the cover of 'The Invention of Hugo Cabret', really describes the novel. Since half of the book has pictures the illustrations were describable, and of course they make the story unique. The painting looks realistic. The text or words size, it was very easy to read.

I would give 10 out of 10 marks for this book because I couldn't shut the book. I recommend this book to everyone, no age limit or gender. Trust me it is a fantastic book, READ IT!
(September 2008)

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

I read Charlotte's Web and found it to be entertaining and fantasy. I was totally entertained because all of the animals could talk along with the people in the story.

Though animals do not usually talk, the characters were so believable that their actions seemed so normal and realistic. If there were to be a Charlotte's Web II, I would be interested to learn more about Mr. and Mrs. Arable, Mr. and Mrs. Zuckerman, Fern, Avery, Wilbur, Charlotte and the rest, and find out how the next County Fair is and how Charlotte's newborns live.

The cover of Charlotte's Web is great because the drawing is of Charlotte, Fern, Wilbur, a goose and a sheep, and allows you to imagine what they look like. The pictures throughout the story allow you to know a little better about what you are reading. Though there are some confusing words throughout the story, I found this book to be fairly easy to read for someone on my reading level.

Overall, I would rate this book a 9 out of 10! I would recommend it to everyone ages 9 years old and up. Charlotte's Web is entertaining, funny, emotional, and encourages you to use your imagination.
(September 2008)

Hatchet by Gary Paulson

Hatchet is the story of a boy named Brian who is stranded for 54 days in the Canadian wilderness. Brian goes on a plane trip to Canada for the summer. The pilot has a heart attack and dies. Brian and the plane crash into a lake in Canada. He is left alone to find food, water, and shelter. Finally Brian is rescued by another plane.

The story takes place in the summer in the Canadian forest. Brian has to learn to live without other people and among wild animals.

The main problem of the story for Hatchet is survival. Brian learns to make shelter, find food, protect himself from wild animals, make fire, make tools, kill game, and other survival skills. He is finally rescued when another plane hears his radio transmission.

Brian was very determined to survive. He shows bravery and intelligence in the way he solves his problems.
(September 2008)

Dark Day in the Deep Sea

This book was both exciting and believable because I can imagine myself as one of the characters, Annie. The author uses very descriptive words that make you feel like you are a part of the story.

Jack and Annie are in the middle of a mystery set on a deserted island in the 1870's. They learn that just because an animal is big doesn't mean that it is bad because the octopus named Charles, is a scary monster to many people but he ends up saving their lives and when Jack and Annie learn that curiosity is one of the secrets to happiness it all makes sense in the end.

There are a lot of exciting pictures throughout the chapters that are drawn very with a lot of details and the cover gives a hint of what the book is about which makes you want to read it! It is written in a type that is easy to read, not too big or small.

I would give this book a 9.5 because even though it's fiction it is based on real facts and that makes it more exciting! Girls and boys of ages 7-9 who are interested in sea-life or adventure would really love this book.
(August 2008)

Semptimus Heap Book One Magyk--Angie Sage

This Book is awesome! It has mystery, magic,and comedy all in one breath.

The magykal seventh son of the seventh son supposedly dies at birth. Then, a baby girl is found in the streets on the same day. Ten years later, the girl(Jenna) on her tenth birthday, finds out from Marcia, the Extra Ordinary Wizard, that she is a Princess and future Queen of the land.

Along with her(step)father, Silas Heap, her older brother Nicko,and The Young Army boy called Boy 412, they escaped to their Aunt Zelda's for protection.

The evil Dom Daniel and his Apprentice seek to destroy the princess. His apprentice claims to be the seventh son of the seventh son but many are doubtful. Who is the real seventh son of the seventh son? Find out by reading the book.
(August 2008)

Skelton Man by Joesph Bruchac

The main problem in the story is that Skeleton Man is eating everybody he can get hold of, but his niece figured out that he is trying to kill her. She tried running away as fast as she could but he caught her. She tried telling her to leave her alone but he didn't listen. Skeleton Man knew he had to catch her. The problem was solved by figuring out that it was all a dream.

My solution would have changed the book by it being faster. Skeleton Man is very clever, but not as clever as his own niece. This book is very good but it is not for people who don't like people getting killed.
(August 2008)

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Project Mulberry by Linda Sue Park